Constant force cushion
OwnerRobert H. Graebeinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A cushion is composed of strips formed from resilient foam material, and these strips provide a displaceable surface which, when deformed, exerts a restoring force that is generally constant irrespective of the extent of the deformation. Thus, the cushion will apply a generally uniform supporting pressure against an irregularly contoured body that is supported on it. Each strip is composed of a succession of arch-like segments. Moreover, the strips are arranged side-by-side with the arch-like segments of any strip being offset from the arch-like segments of the strips adjacent to it.
Claims20
A cushion comprising:
- arch-like segments formed from a resilient material and arranged in a plurality of side-by-side rows such that each row possesses a generally undulated configurastion, each arch-like segment having a curved convex surface and a curved concave surface, as well as generally flat side surfaces between the curved convex and concave surfaces, the arch-like segments of the rows being arranged such that the curved convex surfaces are presented in one direction and the curved concave surface are presented in the opposite direction and further such that side faces of the arch-like segments in adjacent rows face each other and are located in close proximity to each other, the arch-like segments of any one row being offset with respect to the arch-like segments of a row adjacent to that one row so that curved surfaces of the arch-like segments in the two rows do not align.
A cushion comprising a plurality of strips which are located side-by-side and are formed from a resilient foam material, each strip having a front face which is presented toward the user of the cushion and a back face which is presented away from the user of the cushion and generally flat side faces extended between the front and back faces, the front and back faces of the strips being configured to provide a succession of arches along each strip with the arches being oriented to impart a generally undulated shape to each strip, the strips being positioned with the side faces of any one strip being close to and facing the side faces of the strips adjacent to that strip, and with such facing side faces being substantially detached from each other so that the strip does not significantly impede flexure of the strips adjacent to it and vice-versa, the strips also being positioned such that the arches on any one strip are offset with respect to the arches of the strips adjacent to that one strip, so that the arches of adjacent strips do not align across the cushion.
A cushion comprising a resilient material having a front face presented toward the user of the cushion and a back face presented away from the user, the resilient material at one of its faces having convex surfaces that come together and form valleys and at its other face having concave surfaces, there being a single concave surface directly behind each convex surface so that any convex surface and the concave surface which corresponds to it form an arch in the resilient material, with the arch having generally flat side faces that extend generally between the concave and convex surfaces, the arches being arranged in rows with side faces of the arches in any row being presented toward and facing the side faces of the arches in the rows adjacent to that row, the side faces of the arches in any one row further being in closed proximity to the side faces of the arches in the rows adjacent to that one row, yet with the side faces of the arches for adjacent rows being generally detached so that the arches of adjacent rows will flex generally independently of each other, the arches in any one row being staggered with respect to the arches in the rows adjacent to that one row, so that the convex surfaces of adjacent rows are offset with respect to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.