US1726939A - Pneumatic cushion - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1929. A. ANDERSON 1,726,939

PNEUMATIC cusxuon Filed March 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l 49 g6 17 45 59 19 45 gg memo? Urvl'dflafldenson P 1929. A. E. ANDERSON 1,726,939

PNEUMATIC CUSHION Filed March 14, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Zia/072257 Grwld Quote 719072,

Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARVID E. ANDERSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO NEW YORK RUBBER CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PNEUMATIC CUSHION.

Application filed March 14, 1927. Serial No. 175,077.

This invention relates to pneumatic cushions and particularly to cushions known as Wedge cushions, and used particularly as back rest cushions in automoblies and other 6 places. One object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic cushion of wedge shaped cross section. Another object is to provide a pneumatic cushion structure which will cause the cushion to assume the desired wedge shape as an incident to inflation thereof. Still another object is to provide a cushion structure in which the front and back portions comprise plain sheets of material united face to face in such a way that the cushion will as sume said wedge shape as an incident to infiation thereof.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a pneumatic cushion of the class described which will be'strong and durable so as to be capable of supporting a relatively heavy load; to provide such a cushion which may be used as a seat cushion; and in general, to provide an improved pneumatic cushion of the class described.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which I have illustrated a selected embodiment of my improved cushion and its construction and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan showing the appearance of the cushion when deflated.

Fig. 2 is also a plan showing the appearance of the cushion when inflated.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2, an

Figs. 5 and 6 are sections on the lines 55 and 6-6 respectively of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, my improved cushion comprises front and back sheets 10 and 11 respectively, of rubberized fabric united together along a marginal zone and along intermediate zones to form a sealed envelope or chamber divided into a plurality of chamber portionsv of various sizes and shapes. 7 The sheets 10 and 11 (as shown in Fig. 6) of rubberized fabric, comprise inner rubber portions 12 and 13 respectively, and outer fabric portions 14 and 15 respectively. The fabric portions are eifective to protect the rubber sheets or portions from excessive wear and puncturing.

In the present embodiment of my invention I prefer to unite the sheets 10 and 11 together (as shown in Fig. 6) in relatively narrow zones by means of vulcanizing under pressure. By this means, a large portion of the rubber will be forced outwardly towards the cdges of the united zone and reinforcing beads mdlcated at 1616, integral with the rubber sheets, will be formed. It will also be understood that a considerable amount of the rubber will be forced into the interstices of the fabric in the said zones. By thus joining the front and back sheets, a very strong bond is formed therebetween and the chambers defined by the various united zones are very strongly reinforced by' the beads 16 so as to wlthstand a relatively high pressure without danger of separating the sheets at their joints.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I prefer to unite the sheets 10 and 11 along a relatively narrow marginal zone 17 which extends entirely around the outer edges or peripheries of the sheets so as to form a pocket or chamber,

adapted to be inflated. In addition to the peripheral or marginal zone of union, I join the sheets in relatively narrow intermediate zones 1818 extending from the top edge 19 of the cushion downwardly towards the bottom edge 20 and terminating in a pear-shaped button-head 21 adjacent the said lower edge. The button-heads 2121 are preferably pearshaped or rounded so as to avoid sharp cornersin the joint between the front and back portions of the cushion whereby the joint is somewhat stronger and there is less danger of producing an imperfect joint whereby the I joined sheets might possibly be easily separated. The zones 1818 are preferably disposed at an inclination to the adjacent side edges 22 and 23 so as to form chamber portions 24 and 25 of varying width. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the chambers 24 and 25 are relatively wide at their top portions and narrow at their bottom portions.

I further find it desirable to sub-divide th chamber portion intermediate the chamber portions 24. and 25. For this purpose I unite the front and back sheets in the manner described in a relatively narrow zone 26 terminating in button-heads 27-27 at its opposite ends adjacent the said zones 18-18. The lower portion of the said intermediate chamber portion is further sub-divided by means of a zone of union 28 extendin cross-wise as at 29 and downwardly at its sides as at 30 and- By uniting the front and back sheets which form my improved cushion in the manner above described, it will be seen that I rovide a large chamber sub-divided into a p urality of inter-communicating chamber portions or compartments of various sizes and some of which chamber portions vary in their cross sectional dimensions from top to bottom. In the present embodiment, the chamber portions adjacent the bottom edge 20 of the cushion are relatively small and as they approach the upper edge 19, their respective sizes increase progressively. It will further be noted that all of the chamber portions are inter-connected by passageways provided between the ends of the various intermediate zones of union and adjacent zones.

For the purpose of inflating the cushion, I prefer to provide a valve 33 which as shown best in Fig. 5 preferably comprises a valve mechanism 34 having a shank 35 provided with enlarged heads 36 and 37. A rubber sleeve 38 is slipped over the shank 35 so that the heads 36 and 37 will be effective to retain the sleeve thereover and in which position the sleeve may be cemented or otherwise secured by suitable means. The shank 35 with the rubber sleeve 38 disposed thereover, is positioned between the front and back . sheets 10 and 11 of the cushion so that the portion of small diameter of the shank 35 will be disposed in the marginal zone 17 in which the sheets are united. When the zone 17 is vulcanized, the sleeve 38 will also be vulcanized to the'inner rubber portions of the cushion and the valve mechanism thereby firmly held in place. The valve mechanism 34 may be of any suitable type having a check valve or other provision for preventing the escape of air from the chamber, and in the present instance I prefer to provide the rubber sleeve 38 with an inwardly extending portion 39 which may be conveniently squeezed between the fingers to prevent escape of air from the cushionwhen the valve mechanism 34 is being manipulated. By this construction it will be apparent that the cushion may easily be inflated by blowing thereinto, and pinching the extension 39 betweenthe fingers to permit the taking of a new breath preparatory to further blowing. It will of course, be understood that I may provide independent chamber portions connected together to form a unitary cushion structure, suitable means being provided for inflation of each of the chambers. For protectingthe valve mechanism I extend the sheets 10 and 11 outwardly to form flaps 40 and 41 as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

In Figs. 2, 3 and 4, I have shown my improved cushion as it appears when inflated. It will be observed that the cushion is substantially wedge shaped in cross section, being considerably thicker from front to back adj acent its upper edge 19, than it is adjacent its lower edge 20. The cushion assumes this shape in cross section due to the fact that the front and back sheets are joined so as to produce chamber portions which are smaller at their lower ends or adjacent the lower edge 20, and larger at their upper ends or adjacent the upper edge 19. It will further be noted that the chamber portions 42, 43 and 44, intermediate the side edge chamber portions 24 and 25 are progressively larger as they approach the upper edge 19, and this arrange ment causes the portion of the cushion intermediate the chambers 24 and 25 to assume the said wedge shape. The front and back sheets are maintained in spaced relation by inflation of the cushion" and the described arrangement of joined zones is effective to control the spacing of the sheets, since the smaller portions of the sheets which form the smaller chamber or compartment portions cannot be distended by inflation as great an amount as the larger portions which form the larger chamber portions.

The arrangement of chamber divisions or portions illustrated in the present embodiment which includes chamber portions extending lengthwise and crosswise of the cushion and transversely to each other, is particularly desirable, since it tends to prevent folding or buckling of the cushion except along desirable lines. It will be understood as by an inspection of Fig. 2, that the cushion will not readily bend along a horizontal line such as defined by the zone 26, since the side chamber portions 24 and 25 would oppose such bending. The cushion may however, be bent a certain amount along vertically extending lines defined by the zones 1818 and thereby be caused to more closely fit the back of a person using the cushion for back rest purposes. I 1

I prefer to notch the upper edge 19 of the cushion as indicated at 4545 and the lower edge of the cushion as indicated at 46-46 so as to permit the cushion to assume such shape as is incidental to inflation thereof. By an inspection of Fig. 2 it will be noted that the cushion more or less squares itself, as the notches 45 and 46 are closed up. The upper edge portion of the cushion also buckles slightly, as indicated at 47, but such buckling is not of such a great extent as to be objectionable and to require the provision of additional notches or other means for the purpose of eliminating the same.

I prefer to provide somewhat enlarged 12o corner marginal portions as indicated at 48 and to provide suitable eyelets in these corner portions as indicated at 49 to facilitate fastening the cushion in any desired position on the back of an automobile seat or other place. 7

I am aware that many modifications in the arrangement of joined zones or chambers or chamber portions may be made, as well as in the form and construction of the cushion, 1

vention, the scope of which s ould be determined by reference to the following claims, which should be construed as broadly as possible, consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a pneumatic cushion of the class de- 'scribed, the combination of front and back members united together around their outer edges so as to form a sealed envelope adapted to be inflated, whereltfi intermediate portions of said members w be spaced apart and will enclose a chamber, said members also being united along relatively narrow intermediate zones so as to divide said chamberinto a plurality of compartments respectively disposed crosswise and lengthwise of the cushion, said compartments bein of relatively small size along one edge 0 the cushion and of relativelylar e size along the opposite edge, whereby t e cushion will be caused to assume a wedge-like shape in cross section when inflated, and the crosswise and lengthwise arrangement of said compartmentbeing efiective to prevent undesira 1e bending of the cushion.

2. In a pneumatic cushion of the class described, the combination of normall flat front and back members united aroun their outer edges so as to form a sealed envelope, said envelope bein adapted to be inflated so as to form a cham er therein, said members also being intermediately united in relatively narrow zones extending lengthwise thereof adjacent opposite side edges of the cushion and so as to form lengthwise extending comthereof, the

partments of greater width at the top edge of the cushion than at the bottom edge thereof, the portions of said members intermediate said lengthwise zones being also united so as to orm compartments extending crosswise of t e cushion and of greater capacity along said top edge than at said bottom edge, said compartment arrangement being effective to cause the cushion to assume a wedge-like shape in cross section, and also to prevent undesirable bending of the cushion.

3. In a pneumatic cushion ofthe class described, the combination of normally flat front and back members united around their outer edges so as to form a sealed envelope, said envelope bein adapted to be inflated so as to form a cham er therein, said-members also being intermediately united in relatively narrow zones extending lengthwise thereof adjacent opposite side ed es of the cushion and so as to form lengthwise extending compartments ofgreater width at the top edge of the cushion than at the bottom edge ortions of said members intermediate sai lengthwise zones being also united so as to form compartments extend ing crosswise of the cushion and of greater capacity alon said top edge than at said bottom edge, sai compartment arrangement being effective to cause the cushion to assume a wedge-like shape in cross section, and also to prevent undesirable bending of the cushion, and valve means for facllitating inflation of said envelope.

ARVID E. ANDERSON.

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