Abstract: A bicycle seat has a bicycle saddle with a forward end and a rearward end, the saddle having an ischial region. One or more cushioning pads are placed on the saddle in the ischial region. The cushioning pads have an upper surface, with the cushioning pads being connected to the saddle in a manner that enables the upper surface of the cushioning pads to move either from side to side with respect to the saddle during pedaling, or forward and rearward with respect to the saddle during pedaling, or both from side to side and forward and rearward during pedaling.

Abstract: A bicycle seat has a bicycle saddle with a forward end and a rearward end, the saddle having an ischial region. One or more cushioning pads are placed on the saddle in the ischial region. The cushioning pads have an upper surface, with the cushioning pads being connected to the saddle in a manner that enables the upper surface of the cushioning pads to move either from side to side with respect to the saddle during pedaling, or forward and rearward with respect to the saddle during pedaling, or both from side to side and forward and rearward during pedaling.

Abstract: An anti-thrust seating system and low profile, adjustable back system primarily intended for use in a wheelchair. The anti-thrust seating system includes a base seating member with a forward section to support the user's thighs and a rearward section to support the user's buttocks including the ischial tuberosities. The upper surfaces of the forward and rearward sections meet to form an edge extending across the base seating member. The upper surface of the rearward section has two portions which form a first step face or anti-thrust barrier to the user's ischial tuberosities. The seating system further includes at least one separate step means that can be removably positioned adjacent and rearwardly of the first step face wherein the separate step means has a second step face. The separate step means also has an upper surface which serves to effectively extend the thigh supporting surface or shell rearwardly.

Abstract: An anti-thrust seating system and low profile, adjustable back system primarily intended for use in a wheelchair. The anti-thrust seating system includes a base seating member with a forward section to support the user's thighs and a rearward section to support the user's buttocks including the ischial tuberosities. The upper surfaces of the forward and rearward sections meet to form an edge extending across the base seating member. The upper surface of the rearward section has two portions which form a first step face or anti-thrust barrier to the user's ischial tuberosities. The seating system further includes at least one separate step means that can be removably positioned adjacent and rearwardly of the first step face wherein the separate step means has a second step face. The separate step means also has an upper surface which serves to effectively extend the thigh supporting surface or shelf rearwardly.

Abstract: An adjustable back system for releasable attachment to spaced-apart substantially vertical wheelchair frame posts (52). The back system includes a relatively rigid shell back (36) formed to extend transversely between the posts (52) for support of a user's back, a plurality of post-engaging assemblies (50) coupled to shell back (36) by a plurality of independently adjustable coupling assemblies. The post-engaging assemblies (50) including an upper pair of post-engaging assemblies extending transversely from opposite sides of shell back (36) and a lower pair post-engaging assemblies extending transversely from opposite sides of shell back (36) below upper post-engaging assemblies.

Abstract: An anti-thrust seating system and low profile, adjustable back system primarily intended for use in a wheelchair. The anti-thrust seating system includes a base seating member with a forward section to support the user's thighs and a rearward section to support the user's buttocks including the ischial tuberosities. The upper surfaces of the forward and rearward sections meet to form an edge extending across the base seating member. The upper surface of the rearward section has two portions which form a first step face or anti-thrust barrier to the user's ischial tuberosities. The seating system further includes at least one separate step means that can be removably positioned adjacent and rearwardly of the first step face wherein the separate step means has a second step face. The separate step means also has an upper surface which serves to effectively extend the thigh supporting surface or shelf rearwardly.

Abstract: A mattress pad primarily intended for use with a standard hospital bed frame to reduce the development of decubitus ulcers or bed sores in patients using the pad. The pad is multi-layered and includes a cover or casing containing interior strata of a plastic film layer atop a fluid bladder layer supported on an underlying layer of foam. The pad is specially designed to reduce lateral and normal pressures and forces on the patient which can lead to the development of such ulcers. The reduction of the lateral shearing forces is accomplished in a number of ways including by oversizing the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer on the underlying layer of foam and by positioning microbeads between the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer to dramatically reduce the frictional drag or lateral shearing forces between the layers.

Abstract: A method for assembling a seating system by providing a base member and pad filled with fluid. The pad has a front, rear, and sides with the sides flaring outwardly of each other and of a center axis. The pad further includes an arcuate, transverse seal extending substantially from side to side across the pad and opening to face toward the front of the pad. In the method, the pad is gathered into pleats by bringing the sides toward each other until the arcuate seal assumes a substantially straight line and then positioned in its gathered state over the base member.

Abstract: A wheelchair back system adapted to provide a customized fit to the user. The system includes a rigid back shell removably affixed to the wheelchair, a plurality of foam blocks, and a pad member containing flowable fluid material. The back shell has a forward facing, front surface and the foam blocks are removably positionable forward of the back shell to form a substantially continuous layer of foam of substantially uniform depth forward of the back shell. Each foam block is individually and separately removable to provide a recessed area in the otherwise continuous layer of foam to provide a customized fit to the user. The pad member overlies the front surface of the foam blocks and is received in any recessed area formed by the removal of a foam block. In this manner, the system can be customized to the deformities or other abnormalities of each individual user.

Abstract: A lightweight contoured base for a seat cushion is produced by first forming a shaped lightweight foam core with a void corresponding to the ischial tuberosities of a user and then forming a sandwich assembly by placing a layer of foam or foamable material against both upper and lower surfaces of the shaped lightweight foam core to form a sandwich assembly. The sandwich assembly is then molded to produce the finished contoured base for a seat cushion.

Abstract: A seating system for wheelchairs and other applications. The seating system includes a base member with an upper surface and a fluid pad positioned on the upper surface. The upper surface is preferably contoured and dimensioned to have areas corresponding to the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx as well as the user's femurs including trochanters. The fluid pad in the preferred embodiment is one piece and has at least three separate and distinct pouches filled with fluid. Each pouch includes seals to contain the fluid in each pouch and to isolate and prevent fluid communication with the fluid in the other two pouches. Each pouch of the pad is then respectively positioned on the upper surface of the base member under the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx. In this manner, each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx is thereby supported on its own separate and distinct fluid pouch.

Abstract: A seating system for a wheelchair including a base member and fluid pad. The base member has forward and rearward sections respectively supporting the user's thighs and buttocks. The rearward section supporting the user's buttocks includes a depressed, seating well with front and rear upper surfaces. The fluid pad has a front-to-rear, center seal and a transverse seal dividing the pad into four pouches. The transverse seal crosses the center seal substantially closer to the rear of the pad than to the front and substantially midway across the seating well. In use, the pad is positioned on the base member wherein the user's thighs and front of the user's buttocks are supported on the forward pouches which, in turn, are positioned over the forward section of the base member and the front portion of the seating well of the base member. The remaining, rear portion of the user's buttocks is supported on the rear pouches over the rear portion of the base member.

Abstract: An anti-thrust seating system and low profile, adjustable back system primarily intended for use in a wheelchair. The anti-thrust seating system includes a base seating member with a forward section to support the user's thighs and a rearward section to support the user's buttocks including the ischial tuberosities. The upper surfaces of the forward and rearward sections meet to form an edge extending across the base seating member. The upper surface of the rearward section has two portions which form a first step face or anti-thrust barrier to the user's ischial tuberosities. The seating system further includes at least one separate step means that can be removably positioned adjacent and rearwardly of the first step face wherein the separate step means has a second step face. The separate step means also has an upper surface which serves to effectively extend the thigh supporting surface or shelf rearwardly.

Abstract: A mattress pad primarily intended for use with a standard hospital bed frame to reduce the development of decubitus ulcers or bed sores in patients using the pad. The pad is multi-layered and includes a cover or casing containing interior strata of a plastic film layer atop a fluid bladder layer supported on an underlying layer of foam. The pad is specially designed to reduce lateral and normal pressures and forces on the patient which can lead to the development of such ulcers. The reduction of the lateral shearing forces is accomplished in a number of ways including by oversizing the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer on the underlying layer of foam and by positioning microbeads between the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer to dramatically reduce the frictional drag or lateral shearing forces between the layers.

Abstract: A mattress pad primarily intended for use with a standard hospital bed frame to reduce the development of decubitus ulcers or bed sores in patients using the pad. The pad is multi-layered and includes a cover or casing containing interior strata of a plastic film layer atop a fluid bladder layer supported on an underlying layer of foam. The pad is specially designed to reduce lateral and normal pressures and forces on the patient which can lead to the development of such ulcers. The reduction of the lateral shearing forces is accomplished in a number of ways including by oversizing the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer on the underlying layer of foam and by positioning microbeads between the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer to dramatically reduce the frictional drag or lateral shearing forces between the layers.

Abstract: A wheelchair back system provides height adjustability of the back for the user, a lumbar support and bolsters for the back, as well as adjustment of the tilt of the back. The back system is removably affixed to the wheelchair by a pair of vertical channels adapted to partially encircle the vertical wheelchair posts, brackets affixed to the wheelchair posts, and straps which engage the brackets. A twist lock may be used to secure the straps in the brackets.

Abstract: A mattress pad primarily intended for use with a standard hospital bed frame to reduce the development of decubitus ulcers or bed sores in patients using the pad. The pad is multi-layered and includes a cover or casing containing interior strata of a plastic film layer atop a fluid bladder layer supported on an underlying layer of foam. The pad is specially designed to reduce lateral and normal pressures and forces on the patient which can lead to the development of such ulcers. The reduction of the lateral shearing forces is accomplished in a number of ways including by oversizing the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer on the underlying layer of foam and by positioning microbeads between the plastic film layer and fluid bladder layer to dramatically reduce the frictional drag or lateral shearing forces between the layers.

Abstract: A wheelchair back system is disclosed having a bolster with an improved mounting means. The bolster has a rear surface which is positioned on a lateral portion of the wheelchair back. A strap attached to the front surface of the bolster extends to and engages the front surface of the back, toward the center of the back. The strap provides the bolster with enhanced resistance to lateral forces which may be applied to the bolster during the use of the wheelchair.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wheelchair seat system which may be adapted to fit virtually any wheelchair frame and provides a high degree of adjustability in order to fit virtually any user and to achieve various therapeutically significant functions. Specifically, the wheelchair seat system of the present invention provides a seat which may be raised or lowered, pitched forwardly or rearwardly, rolled to one side or the other, and slide forward or backward to accommodate the wheelchair user's needs. Further, the seat system of the present invention provides for ready adjustments, and, at the same time, provides for easy disengagement and set-up of the seat system when it is desired to fold up the wheelchair for transport or storage.

Abstract: A wheelchair back system provides height adjustability of the back, adjustment of the tilt and a lumbar support for a user. The back system is removably-affixed to vertical wheelchair posts by pairs of upper and lower channels at the lateral edges of the back. One of the channels on each side is open to the rear and the other of said channels is open to the front, whereby the channels engage the wheelchair posts. A clip, affixed to the rear side of the wheelchair posts, releasably engages the front opening channels to secure the back in engagement with the wheelchair post.