Chair with inflatable cellular insert
A chair having a backrest and seat with a seat cushion including a base with an inflatable air cell pad positioned securely within the base so as to be positioned under the areas of high-pressure areas on the buttocks of a normally positioned user. The inflatable air cell pad is operatively connected to a pump device having an external control on the chair for access by a seated user of the chair. The user can sit on the chair seat and inflate or deflate the air cell pad for optimal support and comfort. In one aspect of the chair the pump is an electric pump. In one aspect of the chair, the backrest also comprises a base with an inflatable air cell pad.
This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10/896,572, filed Jul. 22, 2004, which claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/489,041, filed Jul. 22, 2003, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates generally to furniture and more specifically to a chair cushion that provides improved pressure distribution and reduced pressure at high pressure points.
Sitting on a chair for long periods of time can result in discomfort in the buttocks, particularly at high pressure points such as the ischia and bony prominences. It also can cause discomfort in the back, for example, the spine, shoulders and shoulder blades. Although a number of chairs are available having padding or the like, it would be beneficial to provide a chair that includes a seat cushion that provides improved pressure distribution and reduced pressure at high pressure points, and even more beneficial if the user can easily and conveniently adjust the pressure distribution and reduction aspects of the cushion. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide a chair, particularly a lounge chair or recliner, that provides improved pressure distribution under the back, arms and legs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONOne aspect of the invention provides a chair having seat including a contoured, padded base with an inflatable air cell pad positioned securely within the base and encased within a cover. The air cell pad is optimally located in the base so as to be positioned under the user's buttocks, particularly under the high-pressure areas of the buttocks of a normally positioned user. The inflatable air cell pad is operatively connected to a pump device located outside the cover for access by the user of the chair. The user can sit on the cushion and then inflate or deflate the air cell pad for optimal support and comfort. The pump can be of any acceptable design. In one aspect of the invention the pump comprises a bulb and valve combination.
In another aspect of the invention, the seat cushion is employed in an easy chair, lounge chair or recliner. The inflatable air cell pad cushion is operatively connected to a pump such as the one described. Alternatively, in another aspect of the invention, the inflatable air cell pad can be connected to an automatic pump, such as a small electric pump. The pump is operatively connected to a controller. The seated user can actuate the controller to set the inflation level of a desired level for optimal support and comfort.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the base with an air cell pad is positioned in the back rest of the chair and can be operatively connected to a manual or automatic pump and controller.
In another aspect of the invention the base comprises a substantially rigid frame with the air cell pad positioned within the frame. The base and air cell pad are enclosed within the chair seat or backrest or both.
In another aspect of the invention, the chair has pressure-distributing pads under high-pressure areas, including the seat, the backrest, head and/or neck rest, the armrests and a leg rest.
Moreover, in another aspect of the invention, the pressure-distributing pads comprise a pad selected from a group of pressure-distributing pads consisting of air cell pads, inflatable pillows or gel-type pads.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe patent or patent application contains at least one drawing executed in color. Copies of this patent or patent application publication with color drawings will be provided by the Office upon request and payment of the necessary fee.
A chair, employing a seat cushion of the present invention is indicated generally in
Backrest 23 includes a structural frame (not shown) and is attached to the seat pan by an appropriate brace 31 or the like. In most embodiments, base 25, casters 27, pedestal 29, pan 30, brace 31 and the backrest frame are constructed of metal. Hence, the backrest is padded for comfort, as is the seat cushion, as will be explained below, and both are enclosed by an acceptable cover 33. Cover 33 usually is a durable, aesthetically pleasing fabric. In the present invention, certain physical qualities are preferred, particularly the cover of seat cushion 21.
It will be appreciated that chair 20 as shown is a basic configuration for simplicity of description, and the acceptable configurations of a chair employing the seat cushion of the present invention are unlimited. The chair can have a headrest, arm rests, legs, and so forth. The claimed seat cushion can be used in any seating environment. It can be particularly suited to those users who are seated for extended periods of time, such as chairs in theatres, dentists' chair, chairs in hair salons, barber chairs, and chairs for home use, similar to those described below.
Seat cushion 21, without a cover, is shown in greater detail in
In alternative embodiments of the invention, for example, as shown in
Air cell pad 39 is located in base 35 at a position that places the air cell pad under the ischial area of a normally seated user. The ischial tuberosities are the lower portions of the hip bones and usually represent the area of greatest pressure on the buttocks of a seated user. Most discomfort experienced from prolonged seating is felt in the buttocks at the ischial area.
In any event, air cell pad 39, shown in detail in
The geometry of the air cells, however, should provide minimal resistance to conformity to the shape of the buttocks of the seated user. In a preferred aspect of the invention, the air cells are approximately 2 inches in height. As seen in
As shown in
Base 35 is enclosed in cover 33. In the illustrated embodiment, the top surface of cover 33 should stretch to deform under the seated user, ideally 250% by 170%. It is not necessary for the cover material over the sides of the seat cushion to stretch. The cover material at the top surface preferably also should be breathable. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover also encloses air cell pad 39.
It will be appreciated from the drawings that in the illustrated embodiment, bulb pump 48 is located on one side of seat cushion 21, outside cover 33 so as to be accessible to the user seated on the chair. The pump can be located in any convenient place on the chair as long as it is easily accessible by a seated user and is in fluid communication with air cell pad 39. The pump actually could be under the cover, as shown in
To achieve optimal benefit of the seat cushion of the present invention, the user sits on the cushion with the ischial area positioned over air cell pad 39. The user then can actuate pump bulb 50 and pump air into the air cell pad until that individual user is comfortable and well supported. The cells 42 deform under the buttocks and thighs to provide a maximum Air Floatation® support surface. The user also can allow air to escape through the valve until he or she reaches a desired immersion into air cell pad 39 to provide customized support surface. This support surface provides superior pressure relief over prior art seat cushions, as shown by pressure mapping illustrated in
In any event, chair 60 includes a seat cushion of the present invention indicated generally by reference numeral 74 in
Alternatively, air cell pad 78 can be employed directly in a seat, without base 76, as will be explained below in reference to
As seen in
Chair 60 also includes an air cell pad 90 in backrest 64. Air cell pad 90 is positioned within a base 92, which can be a resilient foam base of the type described above or, alternatively, it can be a base comprising a substantially rigid frame with underlying support structure such as springs, as will be described below. There can be padding surrounding the base and air pad combination or the base and air cell pad can comprise the entire backrest. There can be a layer of padding on top of the air cell pad or a thin layer of foam or nothing at all. Backrest 64 is enclosed in an appropriate cover material, including stretchy fabric over the air cell pad, if desired. In the illustrated embodiment, air cell pad 90 is in fluid communication with pump 82 by air conduit 94. As with the air cell pad 78, control 88 can be used to select a firmness of air cell pad 90.
In any event the respective air cell pads, regardless of the location in the various chairs can be pre-inflated at the time of assembly or can be connected to a bulb type pump, or to an electric pump and controller of the types previously described, for inflation. The fact that the supportive characteristics of the base and pressure distributing pad configurations of the present invention, whether employed in a chair seat or a chair backrest, armrests or leg rests, can be provided in chairs of unlimited styles and configurations to enhance the support and comfort of a seated user.
It will also be appreciated that in addition to the air cell pads described above, the chairs can be equipped with support or pressure distributing pads having similar support and pressure distributing characteristics, such as single bladder inflatable pads, inflatable pillows, or gel-type pads. Gel pads, for example, have good support and pressure distributing characteristics and can be used in place of the air cell pads to impart desired support and pressure distribution characteristics to a chair. Hence, a pressure distributing pad, in the present invention, can include the air cell pads described above, or any other type of inflatable or gel-type support that can impart support and pressure relief characteristics to the chair seats, backrests, armrests or leg rests or any other section of a chair.
The pressure maps in
In creating the pressure maps approximately 35 to 40 mm Hg pressure was applied to the cushion by a seated load. The darkest areas of the black and white pressure maps, which correspond to the red areas of the color pressure maps, represent the areas of greatest pressure.
Finally,
It will be appreciated by comparing the darkest areas of the pressure maps in the black and white pressure maps, which correspond to the red color in the color pressure maps, that the seat cushion of the present invention reduces pressure, particularly at the ischial areas when measuring three different pressure distributions under a constant force load.
It will be appreciated that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings illustrate one representative aspect of the invention, including the best mode of working the invention presently known to the inventor. However, the specification should be viewed as illustrative of the broadest aspects of the invention and should not be construed in a limiting sense.
Claims
1. A chair for support of a seated user, comprising:
- a backrest to support the back of a normally positioned user;
- a seat to provide support under a buttocks area of a normally positioned user;
- the seat comprising: a base; an inflatable air cell pad positioned securely within the base and located in the base so as to be positioned under an area of high pressure on the buttocks of a normally positioned user; and
- a pump device operatively connected to the air cell pad and positioned for access by the user of the chair so the user can sit on the seat and inflate or deflate the air cell pad with the pump device for optimal support and comfort.
2. The chair of claim 1 wherein the pump device is an electric pump.
3. The chair of claim 2 further comprising a control operatively connected to the electric pump wherein the user can inflate or deflate the air cell pad with the pump device for optimal support and comfort
4. The chair of claim 1 wherein the pump device comprises a bulb and valve combination.
5. The chair of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a cavity for placement of the air cell pad.
6. The chair of claim 1 further comprising a second inflatable air cell pad positioned in a base within the backrest.
7. The chair of claim 6 wherein the second inflatable air cell pad is operatively connected to the pump device.
8. The chair of claim 6 wherein the recited air cell pads comprise a flexible base, an array of individual interconnected air cells on the base, and an air conduit having one end in fluid connection with at least one of the individual air cells and a second end connectable to the pump.
9. The chair of claim 7 wherein the air cell pad is formed from neoprene.
10. The chair of claim 1 wherein the base is formed from polyurethane foam.
11. The chair of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a framework positioned within the seat to secure the inflatable air cell cushion in place
12. The chair of claim 1 wherein the air cell pad is formed from a plastic material.
13. A chair for support of a seated user, the chair comprising:
- a backrest for supporting the back of a seated user, said backrest comprising a base and a first inflatable air cell pad positioned in a space defined by the base;
- a seat cushion for support of a buttocks area of the seated user, said seat cushion further comprising: a base defining a space for an inflatable air cell pad; a second inflatable air cell pad positioned securely within the space defined by the base so as to be positioned under an area of high pressure on the buttocks area of a normally positioned user, a pump device operatively connected to the second air cell pad for access by the user of the chair so the user can sit on the seat and inflate or deflate the air cell pad with the pump device for optimal support and comfort; and a control for actuating the pump device.
14. The chair of claim 13 wherein the pump device is an electric pump.
15. The chair of claim 13 wherein the first air cell pad is operatively connected to the pump device.
16. The chair of claim 13 wherein each air cell pad comprises a flexible base, an array of upstanding, interconnected air cells on the base and, an air conduit in fluid communication with at least one of the individual air cells;
17. The chair of claim 13 wherein the base is a resilient foam base.
18. The chair of claim 17 wherein the space defined by the base is formed through a top surface of the base.
19. The chair of claim 17 wherein the space defined by the base is formed through a bottom surface of the base.
20. The chair of claim 13 wherein the base further comprises a substantially rigid frame defining the space for an air cell pad.
21. A chair for support of a seated user, the chair comprising:
- a backrest for supporting the back of the seated user:
- a first inflatable air cell pad positioned securely within said back rest, said air cell pad comprising a flexible base, an array of upstanding, interconnected air cells on the base and an air conduit in fluid communication with at least one of the individual air cells;
- a seat for seating of the user, the seat comprising a base defining a space for a second inflatable air cell pad, which is positioned securely within the base and located in the base so as to be positioned under an area of high pressure on the buttocks of a normally positioned user, said second air cell pad comprising a flexible base, an array of upstanding, interconnected air cells on the base and an air conduit in fluid communication with at least one of the individual air cells; and
- a pump operatively connected to the air conduit of the second air cell cushion and positioned for access by the seated user of the chair so the user can sit on the seat cushion and inflate or deflate the air cell pad with the pump for optimal support and comfort.
22. The chair of claim 21 wherein said pump is an electric pump.
23. The chair of claim 21 wherein said pump is operatively connector to a control wherein said control allows the user to select an inflation level of the seat air cell cushion.
24. The chair of claim 21 wherein the air conduit of said first air cell cushion is in fluid communication with the pump and wherein the control allows the user to select an inflation level of the back rest air cell cushion.
25. The chair of claim 21 wherein the base is a foam base having a cavity formed through a top surface of the foam base.
26. The chair of claim 21 wherein the base is a substantially rigid framework defining the space for the second air cell pad.
27. The chair of claim 21 further comprising a leg rest and a reclining mechanism.
28. A chair for support of a seated user, comprising:
- a backrest to support the back of a normally positioned user;
- a seat to provide support under a buttocks area of a normally positioned user;
- the seat comprising: a base; and
- a pressure distributing pad positioned securely within the base and located in the base so as to be positioned under an area of high pressure on the buttocks of a normally positioned user; said pressure distributing pad selected from a group of pressure distributing pads consisting of an air cell pad, an inflatable pillow, and a gel-type pad.
29. The chair of claim 28 further comprising a pressure distributing pad positioned within the backrest, said pressure distributing pad selected from a group of pressure distributing pads consisting of an air cell pad, an inflatable pillow, and a gel-type pad.
30. The chair of claim 28 further comprising leg rest having a pressure distributing pad positioned within the leg rest said pressure distributing pad selected from a group of pressure distributing pads consisting of an air cell pad, an inflatable pillow, and a gel-type pad.
31. The chair of claim 28 further comprising a first and second arm rest, each said arm rest having a pressure distributing pad positioned within the armrest said pressure distributing pad selected from a group of pressure distributing pads consisting of an air cell pad, an inflatable pillow, and a gel-type pad.
Type: Application
Filed: Feb 18, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 14, 2005
Inventor: Anthony Sprouse (Shiloh, IL)
Application Number: 11/061,288