Seat pad
An improved seat pad and integrated gripping member is provided, which prevents the pad from slipping when placed between a seating surface and individual. The gripping member is permanently attached to the seat pad along its edge and covers a portion of either side of the seating surface. The gripping member is reversible therefore either side of the seat pad may be selectively exposed during use. This allows both seat pad sides to be constructed of different materials, colors, or patterns and be interchangeable when desired by the user.
The invention pertains to seat pads, and more particularly to seat pad assemblies that are constructed of a cushion, a non slip member and providing a multi functional, decorative, protective cover assembly for an individual to sit comfortably and securely on an adjoining surface or structure.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMany pads exist in the market today that have various shapes, sizes and fashion designs. Seat pads are sold in the market constructed mostly of a fabric like material, and it is not uncommon to find these materials made of synthetic, natural fibers or other man made materials. Filler materials such as foam or other like materials are used to create cushioning comfort in the pad. Pads are typically constructed to provide the same cushioning comfort when the pad is rotated from one side to the other. Chair pads, seat pads, decorative pillows and cushions (hereafter “pads”) are examples of articles that may be placed over a smooth surface and are intended to remain in a stationary position during use. Pads are manufactured for use in boating, vehicles and as home furnishings. These items are typically fastened to chairs, boats and the interior of vehicles using various fastening devices such as ties, hooks and clips that can be cumbersome to attach or secure to the adjoining structure. Furthermore, these types of fastening devices do not adequately secure the items they are attached to and may become prematurely worn or lost. Many materials found in the market today offer a means to reduce the movement between a pad and the seating surfaces. For example, a chair pad may include a rubber or plastic surface area with a high coefficient of friction on its bottom portion. This material may be utilized as a separate component that offers a non-slip surface between the seating pad and the mating surface. Unfortunately, when the non-slip materials are not attached to the seat pads they often become lost during shipping or storage, or have an inconvenience of additional handling during assembly and use. It also should be noted that compact, portable designs are also beneficial to consumers providing user friendly, no assembly, and multifunctional marketable features for consumers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ARTSeat pads and cushions found in the market today have a variety of patterns and decorative designs. Seat pads and chair cushions are fashion driven and functional to specific products or structures that may require soft or elevated seating surfaces. Numerous features such as washable, non slip, easy to attach fasteners, and comfort features are required by today's consumer.
Seat pads and cushions are available with gripping surfaces to prevent them from sliding over smooth surfaces. Pads are also sometimes reversible with two sided decorative designs that may be interchanged when desired. The desired side is positioned face up with the gripping component or surface between the smooth surface (e.g. chair seat) and the bottom facing pad surface. The gripping component or surfaces may be provided as separate items or fixedly attached to one side of the pad or cushion. Gripping surfaces can be provided as separate components that are glued or stuck to the pad or seating surface. These types of non-attached gripping surfaces could become a safety hazard due to the likelihood of separation from the pad. Other pads on the market today provide a removable cover with a one sided fabric layer, a foam insert, and a rubber mesh layer fixed by a bias on the opposite side of the fabric, functional only on one side to prevent slipping. Products can be found in the automotive or consumer products market, where a rubberized material is used to stop slippage of a small child's car seat, or booster. These designs folded with a fabric backing may be reversible but not stable without additional fasteners or fixtures to prevent shifting or rotating movement when weight is applied. Some pads provide one sided gripping surfaces and others provide two sided decorative patterns. It has been noted that there are seat covers in the market, more specifically in the automotive market, that have a seat back, fabric like decorative design and second component, a lower seating portion of rubberized material. The seat cover can be folded at a mid plane to provide a means to overlay the fabric portion, but the overlay of two layers do not provide a means to resist slippage between the two layers, and are often big and bulky to store and to handle. Some pads found constructed of polyvinyl chloride material may offer some slip resistance, but not always adequate in gripping mating surfaces, limiting in material selection. The U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,212,717 and 5,896,603 disclose chair cushions and place mats formed of a top fabric panel attached to a bottom panel that has a high coefficient of friction. The bottom panel is preferably a rubberized web material with an open or mesh pattern. The rubberized material prevents the chair cushion or place mat from sliding over smooth surfaces. U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,032 discloses a cushion having a lower layer that also has a high coefficient of friction. U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,852 shows another chair pad or cushion also having a lower panel with a high coefficient of friction. The U.S. Design Pat. No. 360,794 illustrates a combined child cushion and rubber grip pad unit. A disadvantage of the above chair cushions with permanently attached gripping surfaces is that only one side of the cushion can be exposed during use. If the exposed side becomes irreparably damaged or stained, then it may require replacement because the cushion cannot be reversed. Published patent application No. 20050146177, dated 7 Jul. 2005, to Peter Jerome, discloses a seat cushion with an integral gripping member that prevents the cushion from sliding during use. The gripping member attaches to the cushion by a connecting strap which allows the gripping member to be selectively placed in contact with either panel of the cushion. The gripping member is detachable and is not formed as a reversible permanently attached part of the cushion. If the gripping member was permanently attached the chair pad would be somewhat bulky and cumbersome to handle, and it also should be noted the seat pad and gripping member may not provide sufficient gripping support if twisting or torque is applied to the seating surface, having only one side or panel attached to the gripping member. One disadvantage of the above disclosed seat cushion is the seat pad and gripping surface are not securely attached to prevent movement between the pad and seating surface and does not offer an economical means to fabricate the seat pad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, an integrated seat pad assembly is provided. The assembly includes an affixed gripping member that forms a pocket and prevents the pad from sliding during use. The gripping member is secured along its edge to the seat pad forming a pocket thereon. The gripping member is rotatably reversible, and attached to the seat pad assembly held in close proximity of either side of the seat pad surface area allowing for alternative sides of the seat pad to be selectively chosen, thereby exposing alternative sides for cleanliness, variations in materials or fashion designs.
The seat pad construction ensures that movement is substantially eliminated between the gripping member and seating surface when weight is applied to the pad seating surface. The pad offers an improved, secure, means providing a non slip seating surface without the use of strings, ties or other fastening means. The construction of the multi-use pad is manufactured at a low cost minimizing the expense of materials, separate fasteners and attaching mechanisms.
The pad gripping component is resiliently reversible, and fixedly attached to at least a portion of the outer perimeter of the pad assembly and preferably at least two sides or points between the top and bottom surfaces of the seat pad assembly. The pad gripping component may also be fixedly attached to at least a portion of three sides of the approximate midsection of the side panel in a square or rectangular shape body. The gripping component securely fastened to a portion about the perimeter of the pad assembly forms a pocket on at least one panel of the seat pad assembly offering an added feature of a convenient storage. For cost savings in manufacturing, the seat pad uses only a portion of the gripping component anti-slip material as compared to the prior art. The pad gripping component can be selectively placed to secure the seat pad from movement, at a minimum approximately one quarter to one half of the surface pad area that contacts the seating surface or structure.
In another embodiment of the invention, the seat pad can be made of fabric, plastics or like materials. The pad may include foam, natural fibers, or other like filler materials. The pad may contain a foam or like filler material with a series of holes for air cushioning thereby reducing the amount of foam material used. In some cases the reduction of filler material may be up to or more than fifty percent. A thin sheet of resilient film like material can be adhered or laminated to at least one side of the perforated foam or like filler material, providing a different cushion comfort when the chair pad is rotated one side to the other, providing a firm to soft feel.
Yet another embodiment of the invention, a seat pad assembly includes an inflatable bladder assembly to vary the height of the seat pad to accommodate different users. The inflatable bladder may consist of a semi-rigid sheet of plastic material, a spring like member, an airtight sealed bladder or bag with a valve to allow air into the bladder providing various heights with a desired volume of air entering the bladder, or various adjustments in comfort level as desired by the consumer. The spring member may also assist in improving the rate of filling the bladder with air when the valve is open, to accommodate variations in desired height or comfort.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a seat pad with an integrated anti-slip material permanently affixed thereto, the anti-slip material covering a portion of a side of the pad, the seat pad adaptable in shape and size to accommodate various dimensioned seating surfaces.
It is a further object to provide a seat pad that is portable, economical to manufacture, with added value. The seat pad having an anti-slip material that is reversible to either side of the pad's opposing seating surface, the reversible anti-slip material allowing exposure of either side of the seat pad with a functional gripping feature.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a seat pad with a convenient storage pouch, the storage pouch formed from a pivotably, reversible anti-slip material construction.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a seat pad having different cushioning comfort levels, the levels of cushioning selectable by rotating the seat pad into a different position.
It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a seat pad having an anti-slip material that is coupled with a cache of stacked disposable liners to maintain cleanliness of the seat pad surface; they may include decorative designs or like materials.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable seat pad having an optional anti-slip material, and that can be rotatably reversible to either the front or bottom surface of the pad and also provide a thermally insulated component within the pad to improve thermal effects between the body and seating surface.
The present invention is not however limited hereto. Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the inventions and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings in which the details of the invention are disclosed as part of this specification. These and other advantages of the invention along with the invention itself shall be fully understood after review of the following figures, detailed description and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
While the invention described is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, they are shown in the drawing, specification and herein described in the detailed specific embodiments and is not intended to be limited to the specific embodiments illustrated. Referring to
A filler opening 35 located between the upper panel 10, and lower panel 15, to load and unload the seat pad 1, with filler material. The filler opening 35 may be secured by a mechanical fastening means for loading and unloading the filler material or otherwise permanently fastened. The seat pad 1 can be constructed in various shapes and sizes to accommodate a stool, chair, or bench type seat. The seat pad 1 material can be made from fabric like materials such as woven, non-woven, flax, wool, cotton, polycotton, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, olefins, and rubber or other synthetic and non-synthetic materials or combination thereof. The seat pad 1, comprising an anti-slip component 30 securely fastened between the upper panel 10 and lower panel 15 in close proximity at two points, having the ability to pivotably rotate about a portion of the midsection of panel 20, providing a secure rotatable, reversible means. However it is understood that; panels may be combined or may vary in size, shape and length to accommodate various designs and manufacturing methods without deviating from the scope of the invention. Referring to
The seat pad 1 assembly can be constructed by stitching, mechanical fastening, radio frequency or heat welding. The seat pad 1, and upper panel 10, and lower panel 15, may comprise of a non woven backing material, and or reflective foil material, improving the material properties and providing added benefits to the seat pad 1, and reducing effects of radiant heat, enabling the user to stay cool, or retain heat inside their body when sitting on the pad in adverse temperature conditions. Aluminum reflective foil reflects radiant heat and therefore minimizes the temperature effects on the pad. In addition to stabilizing internal temperatures of the seat pad, the reflective foil radiates heat back to the human body to minimize heat loss when in use. Other common materials can be used to fill the volumetric three-dimensional structure. Alternative phase change materials may be utilized as a filler material to stabilize the temperature of the seat pad and minimize adverse effects of various temperature conditions.
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The materials for construction may be desirable as a resilient air sealable sheet film or fabric like material. The bladder 46 may be fabricated of resilient PVC (polyvinyl chloride), polymers, thermoplastic elastomer, urethanes, polyester, or other like films. The airtight semi-rigid member 48 and semi-rigid member 50 can be fabricated from plastic, film extrusions, using radio frequency welding, heat sealing or alike.
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It should be understood that the proceeding is merely a detailed description of one embodiment of this invention and that numerous changes to the disclosed embodiment can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention.
Claims
1. A non slip seat pad, comprising:
- an upper panel, said upper panel comprising an edge formed about a periphery of said upper panel;
- a lower panel, said lower panel comprising an edge formed about a periphery of said lower panel;
- means for joining said upper panel and said lower panel to form an enclosure;
- cushion means disposed within said enclosure, said cushion means comprising a compressible seating surface; and
- a gripping member, said gripping member comprising an edge formed about a periphery of said gripping member, said gripping member edge is securely attached to said joining means, said gripping member having a gripping surface covering a portion of said joining means, and wherein said gripping member gripping surface is reversibly rotated in close proximity to the said seat pad assembly, to cover a portion of one of said panels when the seat pad is placed on the seat.
2. A reversible seat pad as in claim 1, wherein said means for joining said upper panel and said lower panel further comprises a first side panel, a second side panel, and a third side panel, said first, second, and third side panels comprising and edge formed about a periphery of said panels, said edge attached to said edge of said upper and lower panels, said second and third side panels adjacent one another and forming a seam therebetween, said gripping member edge attached along said seam, wherein said gripping member surface is rotated to cover a portion of one of said upper or lower panels.
3. A reversible seat pad as in claim 2, wherein the gripping member can be utilized as a handle to carry the said seat pad.
4. A reversible seat pad as in claim 1, wherein the gripping member is securely attached and forms a pocket over said portion of one of the said panels.
5. A reversible seat pad as in claim 1, wherein said cushion means comprises a compressible foam assembly, said foam assembly further comprising a three dimensional shape with thru-holes coupled to an airtight membrane, to provide an enhanced cushioning effect when rotated 180° degrees.
6. A reversible seat pad as in claim 1, wherein the upper or lower panel is constructed with a reflective foil like material.
7. A reversible seat pad as in claim 1, wherein said first panel has a first feature design and said second panel has a different second feature design.
8. An anti-slip seat pad, comprising:
- a three dimensional shape wherein the main body comprises;
- a first upper panel, said upper panel having a defined shape of the outer edge periphery;
- a second lower panel, said lower panel having a defined shape of the outer edge periphery;
- a side panel, said side panel having a width to define the approximate height of the seat pad assembly;
- an anti-slip component, securely fastened between the first upper and second lower panel, pivotably rotatable around the midsection of the said side panel, about a portion of the outer periphery, whereby the seat pad construction forms a pocket and is rotatably reversible to cover at least a portion of the said first upper panel or second lower panel as desired by the consumer for alternative designs.
9. A reversible seat pad as in claim 8, wherein said gripping member surface covers from about one third to about one half of said portion of one said upper or lower panels to reduce material and cost.
10. A reversible seat pad as in claim 8, wherein said gripping member surface forms a pocket over said portion of one of said panels.
11. A reversible seat pad as in claim 1, wherein said gripping member edge attachment to said seam extends to a portion of the length both ends to cover said lower and said upper panels.
12. A reversible seat pad as in claim 1, wherein said cushioning means are variable according to orientation of said seat pad.
13. A seat pad, comprising:
- a first upper panel, having a first outer peripheral shape defining the three dimensional pad construction;
- a second lower panel, having a second outer peripheral shape defining the lower three dimensional pad construction;
- a third side panel, having a length about the perimeter of the first upper panel and the second lower panel fixedly attached to the said panels to form a three dimensional shape;
- a filler material comprising of a foam like material perforated with a series of thru-holes;
- a thin, flexible member affixed to one side of the filler-material to create an airtight seal;
- whereby the seat pad can be rotated 180° degrees for a desired cushioning effect of the seat pad.
14. A reversible seat pad as described in claim 13, having and anti-slip member pivotably rotatable about the midsection of the third side panel.
15. A seat pad as described in claim 13, having a self-inflating bladder to adjust the seat cushion to a desired height.
16. A reversible seat pad as in claim 14, wherein the gripping member forms a pocket over said portion of one of the said panels.
17. A seat pad as in claim 13, wherein the first upper panel is coupled with disposable liners.
18. A seat pad as in claim 13, wherein one of the said panels has a visual indicia means.
19. A seat pad as in claim 12, wherein the visual indicia is a temperature indicator.
20. A seat pad as in claim 8, wherein the anti-slip component is securely attached to about fifty percent of the outer periphery.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 2, 2005
Publication Date: May 3, 2007
Inventor: Carl Conforti (Fall River, MA)
Application Number: 11/265,007
International Classification: A47C 27/00 (20060101);