Multicell cushion
US4541136A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 1, 1983 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 1985 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 1, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA47C27/081
- WIPO fieldFurniture, games
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An inflatable air cushion has a base and air cells arranged in rows upon and projecting away from the base, with the outer ends of the air cells forming a supporting surface. The base and air cells are formed from a flexible elastomeric material and are in communication through the base, so that when some of the air cells are deflected by a supported load, all the air cells nevertheless remain at the same internal pressure. Thus, those air cells that are against the load exert equal forces on the load, irrespective of the amount of deflection. Adjacent air cells when inflated are adapted to contact each other along their sides so as to provide a generally continuous supporting surface. To this end, each air cell when deflated has four fins arranged symmetrically about its axis, with each fin having spaced apart side walls. The side walls of adjacent fins are connected near the center of the air cell to provide depressions that open out of the air cells. Between each depression and the base is an inclined wall, and the four inclined walls serve to provide the air cell with a square pedestal. When the air cells are pressurized, the side walls of their fins and the inclined pedestal w…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.