Pneumatic Cushion
A pneumatic cushion for use as a sitting, lying and reclining cushion. The cushion includes a casing made from limited-extensibility material. The casing includes a plurality of webs made from limited-extensibility material, the plurality of webs are adapted to divide a cross-section of the pneumatic cushion into a plurality of chambers and positively connect opposite sides of the casing to each other thereby limiting the cushion's maximum spread at web level. A plurality of gas-tight bladders capable of being pressurized with a pressure fluid are inserted in each of the plurality of chambers created by the plurality of webs and the casing.
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a pneumatic cushion, particularly for use as a sitting, lying and reclining cushion.
2. History of Related Art
Pneumatic sitting, lying and reclining cushions are known in the art. They comprise, for example, a plurality of juxtaposed communicating air tubes or air vessels, which can be inflated and deflated via a common valve, and therefore resemble the known airbed in structure and form.
A main problem associated with pneumatic cushions involves giving the cushion a predetermined form without making it hard and uncomfortable as a result. A bladder made from flexible material will immediately take on a substantially spherical shape when inflated. In order to give the cushion a particular form other than that of a sphere, the person skilled in the art will be familiar with the use of inflexible fabrics cut to shape, combinations of air vessels or air chambers and/or webs. The stiffer this fabric, however, and/or the more internal, shaping textile webs contained in the cushion, the stiffer and more uncomfortable it becomes. The problem therefore involves finding the best possible compromise between the dimensional stability and softness of the cushion.
One example of a pneumatic sitting cushion made up of air tubes placed side by side is disclosed in WO 94/07396.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe object of the present invention is to create a pneumatic cushion, particularly for use as a sitting, lying and reclining cushion, which offers good dimensional stability, is able to satisfy rigorous requirements in relation to sitting comfort and has a substantially smooth surface without bulges caused by air tubes. In particular, despite great freedom in relation to design options for its form, the cushion should not become stiff or even hard, as is usually invariably the case when using many shaping webs.
The object of the present invention is to create a pneumatic cushion, particularly for use as a sitting, lying and reclining cushion, which facilitates a good design, deviating from the usual round, pneumatic forms, in addition, has a substantially smooth, bulge-free surface and, at the same time, guarantees a high standard of sitting comfort. In particular, the structure should not become stiff or even hard, despite great freedom in the design options for its form. Furthermore, the cushion should be capable of being produced simply and cost-effectively.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA more complete understanding of the pneumatic cushion of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the following Detailed Description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings, wherein:
The chambers are created by four star-shaped webs 2 radiating from a central axis 5 lying substantially lengthways inside the cushion to the casing 1. A gas-tight bladder 3 is inserted in each of these chambers. This bladder 3 is made from a thin, gas-tight, flexible membrane, for example, PU film. It may be produced from sections of tube, for example, by heat-sealing the two ends together. The bladders 3 are either each provided with a valve 4, through which they can be individually pressurised, or the bladders 3 communicate via lines or openings and create networks of bladders 3.
The casing 1 may, for example, be positively connected to the webs 2 simply and cost-effectively by sewing. The seams need not have costly gas-tight seals. The casing 1 provides the cushion along with the webs 2 with its form and, in addition, offers the airtight bladders 3 protection from mechanical action. Primarily, the bladders 3 assume only a sealing function in relation to the pressure gas. The shape of the cushion is determined by the cut of the substantially inflexible casing 1 and the form and configuration of the substantially inflexible webs 2.
By separating the sealing function, undertaken by the bladders 3, and shaping, undertaken by the substantially inflexible casing 1 and the substantially inflexible webs 2, the cushions can be produced simply and cost-effectively.
A third embodiment is depicted in cross-section in
Further embodiments in accordance with the invention can be produced by the person skilled in the art by freely combining features of the various embodiments shown above.
Claims
1. A pneumatic cushion for use as a sitting, lying and reclining cushion, comprising:
- a casing made from limited-extensibility material;
- a plurality of webs within the casing and made from limited-extensibility material, the plurality of webs are adapted to divide a cross-section of the pneumatic cushion into a plurality of chambers and positively connect opposite sides of the casing to each other, thereby limiting the cushion's maximum spread at web level; and
- a plurality of gas-tight bladders capable of being pressurized with a pressure fluid are inserted in each of the plurality of chambers created by the plurality of webs and the casing.
2. The pneumatic cushion according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bladders are connected to each other by means of openings or lines and are subject to the same pressure.
3. The pneumatic cushion according to claim 1, wherein each bladder of the plurality of bladders or each network of communicating bladders is fitted with at least one valve subjecting the plurality of bladders to be pressurized at different pressures.
4. The pneumatic cushion according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of bladders are made from plastic tubes heat-sealed at both ends and provided with openings or lines.
5. The pneumatic cushion according to claim 1, wherein at least one bladder of the plurality of bladders is centrally positioned and only adjoins the plurality of webs but not the casing in cross-section.
6. The pneumatic cushion according to claim 1, wherein the casing is made from textile, limited-extensibility material.
7. The pneumatic cushion according claim 1, wherein the plurality of webs are made from textile, limited-extensibility material.
Type: Application
Filed: May 19, 2005
Publication Date: Feb 7, 2008
Inventors: Res Kammer (Mirchel), Laszlo Kerekes (Zurich), Daniel Habegger (Zurich)
Application Number: 11/628,473
International Classification: A47C 27/08 (20060101);