WO1987004606A1

WO1987004606A1 - Resilient support cushion

Info

Publication number: WO1987004606A1
Application number: PCT/GB1987/000059
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Bernard Paxon
Original assignee: Paxon John B
Priority date: 1986-02-04
Filing date: 1987-01-29
Publication date: 1987-08-13
Also published as: GB2189990B; AU6936687A; GB2189990A; EP0296157A1; GB8702036D0

Abstract

A convex resilient support pad (2) resting on a plate or board or on strips placed across a frame (1). The complete structure or assembly can be placed between two pieces of foam for example (10) and finally covered by an outer case (11) to form a cushion. The resilience of the mass or convex support pad makes the whole cushion automatically adjustable to suit the weight of the user. The plate or board may be in the form of a wide frame into which a mass, that is fitted to resilient strip fixed by a sliding fit into guides fitted to the surface of the frame, can move inwards against the weight of the user. On a solid board without a hole the mass may itself be resilient or can be resting on resilient bases held onto the board by the foam on or surrounding them or by other means. The board or plate may be longer than the cushion to form a rest for the head or a support for the head-rest. An additional extension (14) board can be fitted to support the head of the user or a head-rest (12) that may be adjustable and that may be trapped in the desired position by an additional cover (15). The Resilient Support Cushion can be made with a folding area (17) that helps to prevent creasing when packed.

Description

RESILIENT SUPPORT CUSHION

The invention relates to RESILIENT SUPPORT CUSHIONS hereinafter known as the Resilient Support Cushion.

Proposals have been made involving the use of springs of the same length or foam that does not give proper contoured resilient support or in some instances full support to the whole of the back at the same time giving localised support to specific areas of the spine for example the lumbar spine. Should such cushions incorporate a folding section the fold is made possible by hinges which can be welded to each opposing section of cushion or each section of cushion is joined by a separate strip of material sewn to the section so that if the sewing were to be removed or come loose the sections would separate. Or they are made with one continuous strip of material folded over each section of filling and sewn or welded down onto the inner face of the said material. Cushions with head-rests are normally fixed to chairs and have head-rests fixed rigidly or attached to a band of material which is stretched over the chair back. Such methods of folding the cushions and those types of head-rests are more expensive to make and more complicated to produce and the head-rests do not offer the same degree of simple adjustment. In the case of welded hinges these necessitate the use of specialised types of material.

The aim of the present invention is to provide a simple and cheap form of firm body support that is rssilient to suit the different degrees of curvature of the spine and the weight of the user and that can be quickly and economically assembled. According to the invention the support cushion comprises a flat or curved plate or board or frame that acts as a base against which localised resilient supports, hereinafter referred to as 'the resilient localised device' of various kinds can be compressed by the weight of the user. The device shall preferably be convex in shape. The resilient localised device may take the form of a piece of tube cut lengthwise and placed open-end downwards on to the board or plate or frame. Kept in position by the foam or other filling and the outer cover placed over it, when weight is applied by the user the ends of the 'half-tube' move outwards along the surface of the plate or board or frame having a resilient support effect on the user the half tube returning or springing back to its original shape and protrusion on the removal of the weight of the user. The resilient localised device may comprise a shaped mass fitted to resilient strips, for eaample steel or plastic or it may be made in a single moulding or pressing for example, the strips preferably protruding from under it on each side and preferably localised into slots cut into or otherwise made in the board or plate or frame or into separate fabricated or moulded runners for example fixed to the front face of the board or plate or frame near to the outer edge of the board that is to say on each side of the board to the right and left of the mass that is preferably convex. When weight is applied by the user onto the part of the cushion above the mass the strips slide into the slots or runners and the convex mass moves under resilience into a cavity that shall be preferably made in the board or plate for the purpose of creating greater movement of the mass away from the user as his weight is applied. To enable greater movement as aforesaid the runners fixed to the board or plate or frame may be higher in relation to the board or plate or frame surface. A steel frame may instead be used to allow movement of the mass further inwards into the cushion in which event slides or runners may be welded or otherwise fixed to the upper or lower side edges of the frame. When pressure or weight is removed the strips return in their slides or runners to their original position together with the mass.

The resilient localised device may consist of a number of coiled springs fitted in a localised position to the board or plate or to strips fixxed or resting on the frame or held in place just above one of them or two by foam that is itself held in place by an outer cover. When pressure is applied to the outer case the ends of the springs furthest from the pressure applied, or from the user, if not already attached to the board or plate or strip/s as aforesaid come into contact with the board or material immediately situated between the board or plate or strip or strips as aforesaid and the ends of the said springs and then contract under the pressure, thereby creating resilient support to the user.

The resilient localised device may comprise a non-resilient or resilient mass placed on springs that are fixed to or positioned over a board or plate or on strips of rigid material placed across a frame by foam for example and an outer case or a solid or hard-surfaced mass that can be hollow or a mass placed in a localised area on a 'bed ' of springs the said mass being held into position by fixing it to the springs, or by foam or by other filling over it and preferably an outer case When weight is applied to the case over the area of the mass the springs if not already in contact with the board or plate or strip/s of rigid material placed across a frame or if not in contact with the material between the end of the springs and the board or plate or strip/s then make contact as aforesaid and resilience is felt by the user.

The resilient localised device may comprise a resilient or non-resilient mass placed on to or being part of a localised piece of resilient material for example foam or a piece of material localised on a larger base of resilient material in the cushion and preferably covered by an outer case, when pressure is applied to an area immediately over the mass the said mass moved inwards against the said resilient material on which it is placed and resilient support is felt by the user. The resilient localised device may comprise a piece of shaped foam stuck to or positioned over the board or plate or on strip/s of non- resilient material placed across a frame in a localised area or areas or with other less protruding material surrounding it or it may be part of the filling itself standing proud in one or more localised areas of the cushion. When pressure is applied more resilience is felt in the localised area/s than in other areas of the filling.

An alternative form of resilient localised device can comprise a 'U' - shaped spring fixed to the or localised on the board or plate or frame or on strips placed across the frame or localised on covering placed over the board plate or frame or strips as aforesaid and the foam or other filling that preferably keeps it in position. When pressure is applied, the back of the spring, if not already in contact with the material or the base over which it is placed, comes into contact with it and resilient support is then felt by the user. The resilient localised d vice may be a mass fixed to a board or plate, frame or strips on a frame as aforesaid or suspended in the filling over a board, plate, frame or strips on a frame in which the board, plate, frame itself may be resilient. When weight is applied the board, plate or frame and the mass which then becomes a a localised resilient device moves inwards against the weight of the user. The board, plate or frame in this instance being springy creates the resilience that is required in the area/s in which the mass has been placed on the board, plate or frame which returns to its original shape when pressure or weight of the user is released or removed.

The board or plate or frame which may be made of any material is designed to prevent the colapsing of the cushion under the weight of the user except that in one of its forms as aforesaid it may itself be made of resilient and springy material. It may be of any width and length in relation to the width and length of the cushion except preferably in instances where the board plate or frame is surrounded by the outer cover and may be applied to the back of the cushion through an opening made in the top of the outer cover after the cushion has been made. The purpose of this is to enable the user to change the board or plate to suit the length of the back of his chair. For example if a chair has a short back the extra long board or plate or frame will give additional support to the top of the cushion or will enable the user to rest his head or to support a head-rest on that part of the board or plate or frame. The board or plate or frame may be fitted into the back of the cushion case or be supplied to place against the chair seat loosely or into bands of material, for example elastic, sewn on to the back of the cushion. When pressure is applied to the front of the cushion the resilient device/s in the cushion and fitted away from the board or plate or strip/s placed on the frame only become effective as resilient support devices when the outer ends of the devices come into contact with the board or plate or strips across a frame or in some instances with the frame itself or into contact with the material between the end of the resilient localised devices and the said board or plate or strips placed across the frame or the frame itself. Those resilient devices fitted to the board or plate or frame or strips fitted to the frame are already in contact with the said board, plate frame or strip/s as aforesaid or with the material covering them if resting on the said material, and the botrd or plate or frame cannot be changed easily as can the board, plate or frame onto which no resilient device has been fitted.

For this reason a simple form of the invention is to fix the resilient localised devices to the plate, board or strips or frame or to the cover immediately over them and to supply an extension board, plate or frame for the cushion and that can be fitted into pockets or straps sewn to the outer face of the cushion to enable the user as aforesaid to quickly lengthen the cushion and to enable him to rest his head or to support the head-rest against the board or plate or frame should he so wish.

The localised support shall preferably be kept in position by the filling but can be localised by non- resilient connections between it and the board or plate or bet ween it and a frame, or it can be localised by the inside face of the outer case. The non-resilient fixings can be made to rotate or pivot on their connections to the board plate or frame when pressure is applied.

A head-rest that may be stitched along its edge or at its ends or both to permit it to be hinged downwards or upwards to suit the length of back of the user, may be fitted to the outer case of the resilient support cushion or the board or plate or frame. The outer case may be zipped for easy access for assembly and manufacture and adjustment.

The head-rest may be trapped in the desired position either by the head of the user or by an additional cover of any length and style to suit the user, being placed over it.

The filling of the head-rest may be placed in a loose bolster kept in place by a piece of material stitched at either or both of its ends to the cover or zipped or studded at one or both ends for easy removal of the bolster.

If it is preferred to make the cushion to fold easily without creasing the filling can simply be divided into more than one section or piece and a row or rows of stitching made across the cushion cover to create separate areas or pockets into which the filling can be inserted. Or stitching may be placed across the filled area.

Rows of stitching can be made after the cover has been made and before the filling is inserted or the stitching can be carried out after the filling has been inserted in such a wajj as to leave a space of air between the pieces of filling. Alternatively the air gap created by the removal of the filling or the dividing of filling where the fold is to take place can be left unstitched, the material from which the cover is made in that instance preferably being longer than the material on the opposite broad surface of the cover to prevent stretching of the cover. When a head-rest is fitted it may be formed from the existing cushion by placing a separate piece of filling inside the cover at the top end of the cushion and retaining it in that position by stitching along all or part of the width of the cushion underneath the level of the filling piece placed therein.

Alternatively the separate bolster may be fitted along its edge or at its ends to the cushion cover or it may be fixed to the board in a fixed position or in such a way, by straps for example, to hang loosely to enable the user to trap the cushion head-rest in any position to suit him by his head.

A gap may be left at the top of the cushion between the filling and the inside surface of its cover to enable the user to lower the head-rest to suit his height when seated or when lying down should the cushion be placed in a horizontal position. Alternatively if a separate filling is used for the top end of the cushion the top filling can be made smaller to allow for more adjustment in the positioning of the head-rest,

To enable the back board or plate or frame to fold with the cushion this may be made in two or more pieces joined together by a hinge.

A vibrator may be incorporated in the cushion and will preferably form part of the localised device.

A container of heat-creating chemicals preferably in the form of crystals solids or liquids may be incorporated either by the manufacturer or by the user into a pocket for example provided for that purpose. When the cushion is moved, or shaken by hand or by the vibrator heat is generated for the benefit of the user. A standard heat pad could instead be used .

A Resilient Support Cushion all in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which :-

Figure 1 is the front and side view of the resilient support cushion showing the ' half-tube' configuration resilient localised device resting on the beard or plate.

Figure 2 is the resilient localised device

( front view) consisting of a convex pad fitted to resilient strips that slide under pressure into guides or runners. Figure 3 is the flexible back plate or board with the support (localised) device fitted to its inner surface.

Figure 4 is a 'U' -Shaped spring resilient localised device fitted to the board or plate and covered with filling and an outer case ( side view )

Figure 5 is a resilient localised device comprising a row of springs placed on or fixed to a board or plate showing the foam and outer case. Front view. Figure 6 is a side view of the resilient localised device showing the board or plate and a piece of foam stuck thereto and surrounded by other pieces of foam.

Figure 7 is a side view of the resilient localised device made resilient by the foam on which it is resting or fixed.

Figure 8 is a cushion side view showing the long board or plate and the head-rest surrounded front and back and over the base by the outer cover. Figure 9 is the back view of the cushion showing the board or plate fixed by straps sewn to the back of the outer case together with the head rest.

Figure 10 is the resilient localised device fixed to a board or plate and an extension board fitted into straps fitted to the outer case.

Figure 11 is a side view of the cushion with cover.

Figure 12 shows the support cushion with a removable head-rest cover.

Figure 13 is the Resilient Support Cushion with the folding section formed by an air gap between the bottom half of the cushion and the top half. Head-rest in position. Figure 14 The Resilient Support Cushion in folded position showing hinged back board or plate

Figure 15 show the Resilient Support Cushion front view with its folding area formed by a gap between the top and bottom sections or fillings - the gap being stitched across by two rows of stitching.

With reference to Figure 1 the resilient localised device 2 is resting on the board or plate 1 and kept in place by foam or other filling 10 that overlaps the board and finally covered by an outer case 11. Arrows 3 indicate the direction of movement of the mass when the weight of the user is applied.

With reference to Figure 2 the mass 2 is attached to strips of resilient material and which move baukwards in the direction of the arrows 3 when weight is applied to the mass and slide towards the centre of the board or plate in guides or runners 4 or in slots 7 ( should those be used instead ). Rivets or bolts 14 hold the runners or guides to the face of the board or plate. The opening 15 is where the mass will move inwards towards the centre of the cushion. Runners 4 may instead protrude more from the surface of the board to achieve this extra movement. Extra slots for adjustment of the resilient localised device are shown as 6.

With reference to Figure 3 the flexible plate or board is shown as 8 on which the mass 2 is fitted. The sides bend inwards 9 and the board is covered preferably on two sides by foam 10 and an outer case 11.

With reference to Figure 4 a 'U' - spring 2 is fixed to the board or plate 1 which may be surrounded by foam or covered on the one side only ( as can the other forms of resilient localised device) and covered by an outer case 11.

With reference to Figure 5 the resilient localised device comprises a row of springs 2 fitted to a board or plate 1 and surrounded by filling 10 and an outer case 11.

With reference to Figure 6 a board 1 is surrounded by foam 10 and has a resilient localised device made of foam 2 standing proud of other filling and finally covered by an outer case 11. With reference to Figure 7 a foam base 10 is fitted to a board 1 and located on the foam is a mass 2 that becomes a resilient localised device when pressure 3 is applied. It is covered by another layer of foam 10 in the front and the total assembly covered by an outer case 11

With reference to Figure 8 the board 14 is supplied long enough to support a head-rest 12. The localised mass 2 becomes resilient on the foam 10 when pressure 3 is applied to the front of the outer case.11.

With reference to Figure 9 This is a back-view of the board or plate 14 fitted into straps 13 sewn into the cushion outer case 11 and against which the head- rest 12 is leaning.

With reference to Figure 10. This is the side-view of the board or plate 1 and outer case 11 on to which straps 13 have been sewn for placing a back extension 14 against which a headrest 12 may be supported in its uppermost position.

With reference to Figure 11 This is a side view of the top of the cushion showing the head-rest in a petition selected by the user and trapped in position by placing a cover over the cushion and over the headrest. The extension back board has been removed or lowered further down the back of the cushion and out of sight.

With reference to Figure 12. This is a side view of the headrest 12 that can be changed or easily adjusted by a removable cover 16 fitted to the cushion cover 11 and closed by a zip 22. Bolster containing filling is 12. With reference to Figure 13 shows the cushion in the horizontal position with the folding area 17 comprising or created by an air gap 18 between the top filling 19 and the bottom filling 20 resting on the plate or board 1 which is hinged at 21.

With reference to Figure 14 shows the cushion in the folded position. The folding area 17 created by making the cushion with two pieces of filling 19 and 20 separated by a pocket of air the cover on one ( The outsede broad face when folded) being longer than the cover on the opposite face to prevent stretching of the cover material. The gap 25, allows the head-rest 12 attached to the cover 11, to easily be adjusted downwards.

With reference to Figure 15. This shows the folding gap 17 created by the two rows of stitching 24. Filling at the top end of the cushion 19 and the filling at the bottom end of the cushion 20. The head-rest is shown as 12,

Claims

CLA IMS

1. A Resilient Support Cushion comprising a plate or board and/ or a frame on to which is fitted or against which is resting a localised support device/s protruding proud of the plate or board or either plane of the frame and which is resilient or which becomes resilient when pressed against the board or plate or against rigid strips placed across the frame or against the resilient base placed on the board or plate or placed within or behind the frame the whole construction being covered by an outer case containing filling.

2. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1 in which the plate or board or frame can be made of any material and can be of any length or width in relation to the length or width of the cushion.

3. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1 in which the resilient localised device comprises a convex piece of plastic of the same shape as a tube cut lengthwise to form the shape of an upturned guttering the sides of which move outwards across the surface of the plate or board or frame when weight is apllied to that area of the cushion and which returns to its original configuration when the weight is removed.

4. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in

Claim 1 and 2 in which the resilient support device comprises a pad preferably convex in shape and fitted to or being part of flat strips of material that when pressure is applied to the pad slide into slots or runners fitted to the plate or board or frame or slots cut therein.

5. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 4 in which the plate or board has a hole to form a frame and into which the support pad travels when under pressure from the weight of the user being applied to that part of the cushion

6. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in

Claims 1 and 2 in which the localised resilient support device comprises any number of cάiled springs fitted to or resting on a localised area of the plate or board or on a strip or strips of rigid material placed across a frame and over which foam or filling has been placed.

7. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claims 1 and 2 and 6 in which the localised resilient support device comprises of a row of springs protruding higher than the other springs that may be positioned on the board or plate or on strips placed across the frame to give support to other parts of the back for eaample the longer springs giving support to the small of the back for example.

8. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1 and 2 in which the localised resilient support device comprises a piece or pieces of material for example resilient foam fitted to or resting on the board or plate or on strips of rigid material placed on the frame, and which can be larger and protruding further from the board or plate or frame than other pieces of foam or other filling material surrounding the localised resilient support device, or the localised resilient support device may be a larger pieoe of pre-formed foam shaped to protrude more in the small of the back for example and resting on or fixed to the the board or plate or strips of rigid material placed on the frame and then covered by an outer case

9. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in

Claims 1 and 2 in which the localised resilient support device comprises any number of 'U'- shaped springs resting on their one side against or fixed to the board or plate or to the frame or to strips of material fitted to the frame and covered by an outer case containing filling.

10. A Resilient Support Cushion in "which the board or plate on which the localised resilient suppor device is fitted can comprise a flexible piece of material which bends to suit the weight of the user causing the localised resilient support that preferably will consist of convex piece/s of material that may be resilient to move back under the weight of the user who sits against the cushion.

11. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 2 in which the board or plate or frame is higher than and protruding from the top of the cushion to act as a support for the head of the user or as a support for a head-rest that is either separate from or which is part of the cushion.

12.A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1 2 and 7 in which the localised resilient support device is a resilient or non-resilient mass preferably of convex shape placed on springs resting on or fixed to an area of the board or plate or on strips placed across a frame or placed in one area on a 'bed' of springs or mass of springs to give localised support.

13.A Resilient support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1, 2 and 8 in which the localised support device comprises a solid or resilient mass preferahly convex in shape resting on an area of foam to give localised support and then preferably covered by filling and an outer case.

14.A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1 which may contain at its upper end a head-rest that is adjustable in that it may be trapped in any position by the users head or may be trapped by an additional cover into which the head-rest may be located.

15.A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 in which the board or plate or frame can be placed simply behind the cushion or fixed onto the back-face of the cushion by straps for example or fixed to or resting against the inner face of the cushion after the cushion is made through a slit or appsrture made in the upper face of the cushion or in its baclt-face in which event the localised resilient support device shall be held in position by the foam or other filling material placed over them and they will become effective only when the said board or plate or frame is in position to enable the side or ends of the localised support devices furthest from the back of the user for example to be pressed against it by the weight of the user being apllied to the front face of the cushion thereby creating localised resilient support.

16. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in all the preceding claims in which an extension board or plate or frame is fitted into straps or a pocket in the outer cover to act as a support for the head-rest or head of the user, and which can be moved upwards or downwards in the straps or pocket to suit the requirements of the user.

17. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in

Claim 14 in which the head-rest is covered by a tube-shaped or otherwise-shaped piece of material that is open at one end or both ends to facilitate the changing of the filling. Strips or bands of material can be used

18. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 17 in which the cover of the head-rest can be opened by a zip or studs to enable easy removal of the bolster that contains the filling.

19. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1 in which the cushion cover is stitched across an air gap or gaps created by the positioning of the filling in separate areas within the cover after the filling is placed in the cover - such stitched area to facilitate folding of the cushion.

20. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 19 in which the row or rows of stitching may be made across the cover before the insertion of each piece of filling into the cover that may then be sealed at the opening through which the filling is inserted.

21. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 19 in which the filling is divided and a gap of air is left between the top filling and the filling in the bottom end of the cushion the top end of the cushion being supported by the bottom end of the cushion when the cushion is in the upright position.

22. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in

Claim 21 in which the material on one broad face of the cushion is longer than the material on the opposite broad face of the cushion to reduce stretching of the cover when the cushion is folded.

23. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in

Claim 1 and 19 in which the filling is made shorter than the case to allow the head-rest to fall lower to suit the height of the user.

24. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in Claim 1 in which the board or plate or frame may be made from more than one piece of material joined together by a hinge to facilitate the folding of the cushion for packing or display for example.

25. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in

Claim 1 in which a row or rows of stitching is placed across the cover and into the filling that has been placed inside the cover to form a folding area to help prevent creasing of the cushion when folded.

26. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in all the preceding claims in which the resilient support device is kept in position by attaching it by non-resilient connections for example string or metal strips to two or more opposite sides or corners of the support device at their one end and to a frame surrounding it or partly surrounding it at their other end or to any selected position on the board or plate, the attachments to the board or plate or frame as aforesaid being made in such a way as to enable them to move with the support device away from the user and into the cushion as weight is applied to the outer face of the cushion. In the event of metal strips for example being used these are fixed to the frame or board or plate so that they rotate or move when pressure is applied to the cushion to enable the localised support to move inwards towards the plate or board or into the resilient filling, or in the event of the flexible board or plate or frame being used to enable the pressure on the localised support to move the plate or board inwards and thereby create resilient support.

27. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in all the preceding claims in which a vibrator is incorporated in and form part of the resilient localised device to provide a vibratory action on that part of the body resting on or pressed against the resilient support cushion.

28. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in all the preceding claims in which a heat pad is incorporated.

29. A Resilient Support Cushion as claimed in all the preceding claims in which chemicals in liquid, solid or crystalised form and which generate heat when shaken or moved by the user or the vibratory action are incorporated in or on the cushion.