Personal Comfort Pad
This invention is a semi-permanent personal comfort pad designed to provide for relief from discomfort produced through pressure points on the human body typically occurring when in a sitting position. It will consist of a visco-elastic polymer with a variation in density and shear properties formed into a variety of shapes, thickness and contours, encased in a polymer film and covered with a flexible fabric cloth to provide for additional comfort and to accommodate the aesthetic needs of the user. The flat bottom portion of the personal comfort pad shall have a semi-permanent adhesive and as an alternate the visco-elastic polymer will be used as an adhesive by perforating the film on the bottom of the comfort pad. In those applications where applying an adhesive to a cloth or leather is inappropriate, a flat plastic plate with accompanying straps with hook and loop attachments will be utilized as the means to attach the comfort pad to the surface.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIXNot Applicable
REFERENCES CITED
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,713
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,288
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,405
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,566
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,396
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,271
- U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,049
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,374
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,711
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,914
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,553
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,735
This present invention is a semi-permanent personal comfort pad designed to provide for relief from human discomfort produced through pressure points on the human body typically occurring when in a sitting position such as but not limited to an office chair, vehicle seat or other such stationary positions. The personal comfort pad is designed to provide for the long term distribution of energy wherever portions of the body such as elbows, forearms, wrist, knees, ankles or legs come in regular and prolong contact with a harder surface, causing an uncomfortable pressure point on the body, that if continued could produce a host of underlying medical conditions
A variety of comfort type pads have sought patent protection for applications in vehicle seats, chairs and other apparatus use to accommodate humans in a stationary seating position. For example,
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- U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,713 appears to show a removable armrest for attachment to the windowsill of a vehicle door.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,288 appears to show an armrest which is selectively attachable to the car door arm rest.
- U.S. Pat. No. US 6,827,405 appears to show a portable armrest cushion for use with an existing chair.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,840,566 appears to show a removable arm support of a vehicle door.
- U.S. Pat. No. 7,431,396 appears to show a portable cushion for ridged seat armrest.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,506,271 appears to show an elastomer film laminated cushion that does not inhibit the underlying properties of the gel.
- U.S. Pat. No. 2,877,049 appears to show and arm rest that covers the window frame of a vehicle.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,374 appears to show a padded armrest for a chair using foam and bands for attachment
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,692,711 appears to show a vehicle armrest that is attached to the door armrest
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,578,914 appears to show an adjustable chair armrest cushion that has a hard base and straps for attachment.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,694,553 appears to show a gel pad with a supporting frame
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,981,735 appears to show a comfort pad for auto that resides over the window frame
Each of the prior art references cited include at least one or more of the following disadvantages. Due to the many different types of seating arrangements and pressure points specific to the body type, individual seating preferences and material types of the surfaces where the body comes in contact, most prior art depicting devices used to relieved pressure on the human body are not universal and they do not include variable adjustment means so as to allow the user to place the cushioning device in a position specific to their unique situation and preferences. An additional disadvantage of the prior art is lack of ergonomic qualities of the material used to provide for the continuous comfort of the user. Still a further disadvantage is the lack of ability to place their device in any position that the user desires wherever they may experience a pressure point on their body. Yet another disadvantage is that most are limited to either a mechanical attachment or adhesive attachment but not both so as to limit the variability of applications.
Technologies that address the needs of humans to relieve pressure points have been available from the beginning of time when human first placed leaves or animal fur on the rock to disburse the pressure energy into their body. These technologies have evolved over time but for the most part the focus has been on durability rather than comfort. Those that have been developed are generally specific to a limited application by the user. Experience has demonstrated, that while many manufactures of devices associated with accommodating humans in one position for long period of time, tend to design some form of support and relief from pressure points on the body, they are generally designed for durability, not comfort and for one body type(s) and or position. A variety of devices have been made to modify or adapt existing structures to provide for improved human comfort but due to their own limiting factors and the extreme variations in the types of structure designed for holding humans in one position for extended periods of time, they have never gained widespread acceptance. This combined with the limiting energy dispersing capabilities and rapid degradation of their materials, have produced a less than satisfactory performance in delivering personal comfort. The personal comfort pad device described herein will serve to address these issues.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention built using a combination of visco-elastic polymers for energy dispersion, high quality flexible fabric and non-permanent adhesives and or mechanical fasteners, the personal comfort pad can be attached to most any surface and in any position, giving it the flexibility to meet a host of human comfort needs. The properties of the visco-elastic polymer whose features mimics that of soft human muscle, are transferred through the flexible film and fabric and provides a superior level of continuous comfort not offered through many other products. The ability to attach the comfort pad to most any surface and any seating application solves the problems of other products that are more application specific. The personal comfort pads are designed to be compact and aesthetically pleasing so as to complement the existing environment. The flexibility in attachment combined with energy disbursing properties and resiliency of the visco elastic polymer within the personal comfort pad, will allow a person to achieve relief from pressure points that is specific to their body size, type and position and particular to their every changing experience.
The comfort pad invention consist of a combination of a visco-elastic polymer of various densities, shear properties, elongations, shapes, thicknesses and contours 1 for the interior of the comfort pad 12 that has the physical properties that mimics the feel of an soft human muscle, covered on the top, bottom and sides with a polymer film 2 that does not significantly diminish the properties of the visco-elastic polymer 1. This encapsulated visco-elastic polymer is covered in a flexible fabric 3 on the sides and top that retains the properties of the visco-elastic polymer. The comfort pad is attached to the surface of the users choosing either through an adhesive film 4 or through the perforated surface of the polymer film 10 located on the bottom portion of the pad. The surface to which the comfort pad will be attached directly will be any solid non-cloth material. For cloth surfaces an alternative method of attachment is provided that consist of a flat plastic plate 18 matching the adhesive footprint of the comfort pad 12 that is attached to an armrest 19 using a combination of straps 14, buckle 15 and hoop and loop fasteners 17 and whereas the comfort pad is attached to the plastic plate 18 using one of the two adhesive methods described above.
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Claims
1. A personal comfort pad consisting of a visco-elastic polymer of various densities, shear and elongation properties, shapes, thicknesses and contours encapsulated in a polymer film of which properties serve to transfer the cushioning, elongation and shear characteristics of the visco-elastic polymer to the user.
2. The personal comfort pad of claim 1 with a flexible cloth fabric of which whose properties serve to transfer the cushioning, shear and elongation properties of the visco-elastic polymer to the user, fastened to the visco-elastic polymer film of the personal comfort pad.
3. The personal comfort pad of claim 1 with a semi-permanent adhesive fastened to the bottom portion of the visco-elastic polymer or polymer film to allow for attachment to a variety of surfaces and in a variety of positions.
4. The personal comfort pad of claim 1 without the adhesive of claim 2, and with the polymer film on the lower surface having voids to expose the visco-elastic polymer whereas the visco-elastic polymer's natural adhesive properties are used as the adhesive to attach the device to a variety of surfaces and in a variety of positions.
5. A flexible plastic sheet of various thicknesses and rigidity and of a size to match the bottom footprint of the personal comfort pad of claim 1 along with multiple straps, buckle and hook and loop fasteners system for attachment to an armrest of a vehicle or chair to which the personal comfort pad would attach via an adhesive as described in claims 3 and 4.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 29, 2013
Publication Date: Apr 30, 2015
Inventor: Patrick John Winkelman (Ozona, FL)
Application Number: 14/066,337
International Classification: B60N 2/72 (20060101); A47C 7/54 (20060101); A47C 7/02 (20060101);