WO2022221917A1

WO2022221917A1 - Cushioning pad

Info

Publication number: WO2022221917A1
Application number: PCT/AU2022/050360
Authority: WO
Inventors: Saied Sabeti
Original assignee: Saied Sabeti
Priority date: 2021-04-20
Filing date: 2022-04-20
Publication date: 2022-10-27

Abstract

Cushioning pad (1) has a base (12) and a plurality of air pockets (14). The air pockets (14) are supported by the base (12). Each air pocket (14) comprises one or more segments (20) and an air reservoir (22). The air reservoir (22) is in communication with the one or more segments (20). Each segment (20) is movable independently of each other segment (20) in response to pressure being exerted on the air pocket (14). The cushioning pad (1) provides a relatively more even distribution of support comfort, which may also assist in reducing or avoiding instances of localised pressure aches or sores for a person using the cushioning pad (1).

Description

Title

"CUSHIONING PAD"

[0001] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" and variations such as "comprises", "comprising" and "comprised" are to be understood to imply the presence of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0002] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "include" and variations such as "includes", "including" and "included" are to be understood to imply the presence of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

[0003] Headings and subheadings in this specification are provided for convenience to assist the reader, and they are not to be interpreted so as to narrow or limit the scope of the disclosure in the description, claims, abstract or drawings.

Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a cushioning pad and any article that incorporates such a cushioning pad, such as, for example, a bed, massage table, sofa, chaise lounge style recliner, seat or chair.

[0005] In the context of the present invention, the term "cushioning pad" is to be understood to encompass any pad that provides cushioning to a user and includes, but is not limited to a mattress, seat, seat back, arm rest, back rest, cushion, pillow, and any purpose- specific pad used in medical or other professions or trades.

Background

[0006] Any discussion of background information, any reference to a document and any reference to information that is known or is well known, which is contained in this specification, is provided only for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the background to the present invention, and is not itself an acknowledgement or admission that any of that material forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia or any other country as at the priority date of the application in relation to which this specification has been filed.

[0007] Prolonged lying on a bed or sitting on a seat, for example, can result in pressure aches or sores. Such pressure aches or sores can be particularly serious for people who are bedridden. Pressure sores, in particular, can result in wounds that require medical attention. Whilst less serious, sitting for prolonged periods can have adverse effects resulting in pressure aches which many people find uncomfortable.

[0008] Various solutions have been proposed, including cushioning materials, such as foams, stretch fabrics, air mattresses and water mattresses. Whilst these can be of some benefit in some situations, many people still suffer from pressure aches or sores or simply discomfort from sitting or lying for prolonged periods, and an alternative solution is desirable.

Summary

[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cushioning pad comprising a base, a plurality of air pockets supported by the base, each air pocket comprising one or more segments and an air reservoir, wherein the air reservoir is in communication with the one or more segments.

[0010] In an embodiment, each segment of an air pocket is able to move independently of each other segment of the air pocket in response to pressure being exerted on the air pocket.

[0011] In an embodiment, adjacent air pockets are not attached to one another.

[0012] In an embodiment, the segments of an air pocket are not attached to one another. [0013] In an embodiment, the air pockets are contiguous.

[0014] In an embodiment, each of the segments is provided with an internal space and the air reservoir is in communication with the internal space of each of the segments.

[0015] In an embodiment, each segment comprises a first end and a second end, an end wall provided at the first end, an opening provided at the second end and side walls extending from the end wall to the opening.

[0016] In an embodiment, the base comprises side walls and a bottom wall, and wherein the end wall of each segment is level with the edges of the side walls of the base that are spaced from the bottom wall of the base. [0017] In an embodiment, the side walls of each segment comprise an outermost side wall and each air pocket comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the end wall of each segment is provided at the first end of the air pocket, and wherein the air pocket further comprises an end wall and the end wall of the air pocket is provided at the second end of the air pocket.

[0018] In an embodiment, the outermost walls of adjacent air pockets are contiguous.

[0019] In an embodiment, the reservoir of each air pocket is bounded by the end wall of the air pocket and portions of the outermost side wall, of each outer segment of the air pocket, that extend from the end wall of the air pocket to the height of the second ends of the segments of the air pocket.

[0020] In an embodiment, the air pockets are attached to the base.

[0021] In an embodiment, the air pockets are attached to the base by attaching the end wall of each air pocket to the bottom wall of the base.

[0022] In an embodiment, the cushioning pad further comprises a cover to cover the air pockets and the base.

[0023] In an embodiment, each air pocket is provided with a fitting to allow air to be injected into or withdrawn from the air pocket.

[0024] In an embodiment, the base is provided with ports and the fitting of each air pocket is aligned with one of the ports in the base.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0025] The present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0026] Figure 1 is perspective view of an embodiment of a cushioning pad in accordance with one aspect of the present invention;

[0027] Figure 2 is a cutaway perspective view of the cushioning pad shown in Figure 1, with the cover removed to show the plurality of air pockets supported by the base;

[0028] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the base of the cushioning pad shown in Figure 1;

[0029] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the plurality of air pockets of the cushioning pad shown in Figure 1; [0030] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cushioning pad shown in Figure 1, with the cover removed to show the plurality of air pockets (shown in Figure 4) in position in the base (shown in Figure 3);

[0031] Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the air pockets of the cushioning pad shown in Figure 1;

[0032] Figure 7 is a cutaway perspective view of the air pocket shown in Figure 6; and [0033] Figure 8 is a lower perspective view of the air pocket shown in Figure 5;

Description of Embodiments

[0034] In Figures 1, 2 and 5, there is shown an embodiment of a cushioning pad 1. Figure 1 shows the cushioning pad 1 covered by a cover 10. Figure 2 shows a cutaway view of the cushioning pad 1 to show the internal arrangement and structure and the cover 10 has been omitted. Figure 5 shows the cushioning pad 1 with the cover 10 omitted.

[0035] The cushioning pad 1 comprises a base 12 and a plurality of air pockets, or cells,

14. The air pockets 14 are supported by the base 12. The air pockets 14 are arranged in an array in the base 12. The base 12 is shown separately in Figure 3 and the arrangement of air pockets 14 is shown separately in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows the arrangement of air pockets 14 in the base 12.

[0036] The base 12 has a bottom wall 16 and side walls 18. Adjacent air pockets 14 supported by the base 12 are contiguous. Adjacent air pockets 14 are separate. The air pockets 14 are provided such that adjacent air pockets 14 are not attached to each other.

[0037] The air pockets 14 of the cushioning pad 1 shown in the drawings have a hexagonal profile. Whilst other shaped profiles may be used for the air pockets 14, the hexagonal profiled air pockets 14 provide a desirable level of performance for a cushioning pad of the present invention.

[0038] The description and drawings herein of the embodiment of the cushioning pad of the present invention is with reference to the air pockets having a hexagonal profile. However, it is to be understood that the cushioning pad of the present invention is not limited to having air pockets that have a hexagonal profile and other suitable profiles that would be apparent to a person skilled in the art may alternatively be used for the air pockets. [0039] Each air pocket 14 comprises one or more segments 20 and an air reservoir 22 in communication with the one or more segments 20.

[0040] In the embodiment shown, each air pocket 14 is provided with seven segments 20. Six of these segments are outer segments 20 and one is an inner segment, which has been identified by reference numeral 20a in Figures 6 and 7.

[0041] Each segment 20 has a first end 26 and a second end 28. Each segment 20 is closed at its first end 26 and open at its second end 28. An end wall 30 is provided at the first end 26 of each segment 20. An opening 32 is provided at the second end 28 of each segment 20. Each segment 20 extends longitudinally between its first and second ends 26 and 28. Each segment 20 also comprises side walls 34. The side walls 34 extend from the end wall 30 to the opening 32 of a segment 20. The segments 20 of an air pocket 14 are not attached to one another along their longitudinal length between their first and second ends 26 and 28. This is represented in Figure 6 by gaps between adjacent segments 20 of an air pocket 14.

[0042] An internal space 38 is provided in each segment 20. The internal space 38 of each segment 20 is bounded by the end wall 30 (at the first end 26 of the segment 20) and the side walls 34. The internal space 38 of each segment 20 is enclosed by the end wall 30 and the side walls 34, with the opening 32 provided at the second end 28 of each segment 20. The air reservoir 22 is in communication with the respective internal spaces 38 of the one or more segments 20. The air reservoir 22 is in communication with the respective internal spaces 38 of the one or more segments 20 via the openings 32 at respective second ends 28 of the segments 20.

[0043] Each air pocket 14 further comprises a first end 39 and a second end 41. The end walls 30 of the segments 20 of each air pocket 14 are provided at the first end 39 of each air pocket 14. Each air pocket 14 further comprises an end wall 43. The end wall 43 is provided at the second end 41 of the air pocket 14.

[0044] The outermost side walls 34 of the outer segments 20 are part of the walls of the air pocket 14. The outermost side walls 34 of the outer segments 20 extend from the first end 39 to the second end 41 of each air pocket 14. Thus, conversely, a portion of the walls of the air pocket 14 form the outermost side walls 34 of the outer segments 20. The walls of the air pocket 14 comprise the end walls 30 and side walls 34 of the segments 20 and the end wall 43.

[0045] The end walls 30 of the segments 20 are level with the edges of the side walls 18 (of the base 12) that are spaced from the bottom wall 16 (of the base 12). This is best seen in Figures 2 and 5. This is due to the height of the sidewalls 18 being the same as the length of the air pockets 14 (i.e. the length of an air pocket is the distance between the first and second ends 39 and 41 of the air pocket 14).

[0046] As herein before described, adjacent air pockets 14 supported by the base 12 are contiguous. Accordingly, the outermost walls 34 of adjacent air pockets 14 are contiguous.

[0047] The reservoir 22 of each air pocket 14 is bounded by the end wall 43 and the portions of the outermost side walls 34, of the outer segments 20, that extend from the end wall 43 to the height of the second ends 28 of the segments 20 of the air pocket 14.

[0048] The end wall 43 of each air pocket 14 is provided with a fitting 45, e.g. a valve fitting. The bottom wall 16 of the base 12 is provided with ports 47. The fittings 45 are aligned with respective ports 47. By inserting a suitable device though a port 45 and attaching it to, or engaging it with, the aligned fitting 45, the fitting 45 may be used to inject air into, or remove air from, the air reservoir 22 of the air pocket 14, i.e. the fitting 45 allows a user to inflate or deflate the air pocket 14.

[0049] In assembly of the cushioning pad 1, the air pockets 14 are attached to the base 12. The air pockets 14 are attached to the base 12 by attaching the end walls 43 of the air pockets 14 to the bottom wall 16 of the base 12. The end walls 43 of the air pockets 14 may be attached to the bottom wall 16 of the base 12 using glue. As herein before described, the fittings 45 of the air pockets 14 are aligned with respective ports 47 in the bottom wall 16 of the base 12.

[0050] The air pockets 14 may be made of a resiliently deformable material that is air tight, e.g. a rubber compound, plastics, and/or silicone. The cover 10 may be made of any suitable material and largely depends upon the end use of the cushioning pad 1. For example, for chairs, seats and seat backs, the cover 10 may be fabric, vinyl, leather, etc. The base 12 may be made of a rigid material, e.g. plastics material.

[0051] Air may be injected into, or within drawn from, one or more of the air pockets 14 via the fitting 45. Usually, the pockets 14 re inflated with air to the required pressure at the time of manufacture or assembly of the cushioning pad 1. However, it is also possible for the air pockets 14 to be inflated or deflated by the user. This permits the air pressure in the air pockets 14 to be adjusted by the user to the comfort and preference of the user. It is also possible for different air pockets 14 to have different pressures.

[0052] Each segment 20 of an air pocket 14 s able to move independently of each other segment 20 of the air pocket 14 in response to pressure being exerted on the air pocket 14. [0053] In use of a cushioning pad 1, or article having a cushioning pad 1, the cushioning pad 1 is arranged such that the end walls 30, of the segments 20 of the air pockets 14, face the load that is to be applied to the cushioning pad 1. Typically, the load is the body of a person. In use of a cushioning pad 1, or article having a cushioning pad 1, pressure, or force, is exerted on one or more air pockets 14 when a load is placed on the cushioning pad 1, e.g. when a user lies on, sits on or rests on the cushioning pad 1. Usually, this results in the pressure being exerted on multiple air pockets 14 of the cushioning pad 1. When a load is placed on the cushioning pad 1, air pockets 14 respond independently. This is because the air pockets 14 are independent of each other. Each air pocket 14 is a self-contained unit. In addition, each segment 20 in an air pocket 14 is able to move independently of each other segment 20 of the air pocket 14 (since they are not connected to each other) in response to pressure being exerted on the air pocket 14. Consequently, if one segment 20 of an air pocket 14 is subjected to a greater pressure from the load than another segment 20 in the air pocket 14, the pressure will be redistributed to the other segments 20 in that air pocket 14. This is because all the segments 20 in an air pocket 14 are in communication via the air reservoir 22. This response characteristic to pressure being exerted + an air pocket 14 occurs in all air pockets 14 in the cushioning pad 1 that have pressure exerted on them due to the load placed on the cushioning pad 1. As a result, the cushioning pad 1 provides support to the load in proportion to the pressure exerted on the individual air pockets 14 of the cushioning pad 1. This provides a relatively more even distribution of support to counter the load exerting pressure on the cushioning pad 1. In the case of the load being a person, the cushioning pad 1 provides a relatively more even distribution of support comfort for the person and reduces or avoids instances of localised pressure aches or sores for the person resulting from sitting, resting or lying on the cushioning pad 1.

FEATURES

[0054] Various features and combinations of features disclosed herein are set out in the following paragraphs:

1. Cushioning pad comprising a base, a plurality of air pockets supported by the base, each air pocket comprising one or more segments and an air reservoir, wherein the air reservoir is in communication with the one or more segments. 2. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraph, wherein each segment of an air pocket is movable independently of each other segment of the air pocket in response to pressure being exerted on the air pocket.

3. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein adjacent air pockets are not attached to one another.

4. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the segments of an air pocket are not attached to one another.

5. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the air pockets are contiguous.

6. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein each of the segments is provided with an internal space and the air reservoir is in communication with the internal space of each of the segments.

7. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein each segment comprises a first end and a second end, an end wall provided at the first end, an opening provided at the second end and side walls extending from the end wall to the opening.

8. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the base comprises side walls and a bottom wall, and wherein the end wall of each segment is level with the edges of the side walls of the base that are spaced from the bottom wall of the base.

9. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the side walls of each segment comprise an outermost side wall and each air pocket comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the end wall of each segment is provided at the first end of the air pocket, and wherein the air pocket further comprises an end wall and the end wall of the air pocket is provided at the second end of the air pocket.

10. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the outermost walls of adjacent air pockets are contiguous.

11. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the reservoir of each air pocket is bounded by the end wall of the air pocket and portions of the outermost side wall, of each outer segment of the air pocket, that extend from the end wall of the air pocket to the height of the second ends of the segments of the air pocket. 12. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the air pockets are attached to the base.

13. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the air pockets are attached to the base by attaching the end wall of each air pocket to the bottom wall of the base.

14. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, further comprising a cover to cover the air pockets and the base.

15. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein each air pocket is provided with a fitting to allow air to be injected into or withdrawn from the air pocket.

16. Cushioning pad having one or more of the features included in the preceding paragraphs, wherein the base is provided with ports and the fitting of each air pocket is aligned with one of the ports in the base.

[0055] Whilst one or more preferred embodiments of the present invention have been herein before described, the scope of the present invention is not limited to those specific embodiments, and may be embodied in other ways, as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art.

[0056] The individual features of each aspect or embodiment disclosed herein may each be combined with any or all features of the other embodiments. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined as suitable in one or more embodiments of the disclosure.

[0057] Modifications and variations such as would be apparent to a person skilled in the art are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. Cushioning pad comprising a base, a plurality of air pockets supported by the base, each air pocket comprising one or more segments and an air reservoir, wherein the air reservoir is in communication with the one or more segments.

2. Cushioning pad according to claim 1, wherein each segment of an air pocket is movable independently of each other segment of the air pocket in response to pressure being exerted on the air pocket.

3. Cushioning pad according to claim 1 or 2, wherein adjacent air pockets are not attached to one another.

4. Cushioning pad according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the segments of an air pocket are not attached to one another.

5. Cushioning pad according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air pockets are contiguous.

6. Cushioning pad according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each of the segments is provided with an internal space and the air reservoir is in communication with the internal space of each of the segments.

7. Cushioning pad according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each segment comprises a first end and a second end, an end wall provided at the first end, an opening provided at the second end and side walls extending from the end wall to the opening.

8. Cushioning pad according to claim 7, wherein the base comprises side walls and a bottom wall, and wherein the end wall of each segment is level with the edges of the side walls of the base that are spaced from the bottom wall of the base.

9. Cushioning pad according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the side walls of each segment comprise an outermost side wall and each air pocket comprises a first end and a second end, and wherein the end wall of each segment is provided at the first end of the air pocket, and wherein the air pocket further comprises an end wall and the end wall of the air pocket is provided at the second end of the air pocket.

10. Cushioning pad according to claim 9, wherein the outermost walls of adjacent air pockets are contiguous.

11. Cushioning pad according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the reservoir of each air pocket is bounded by the end wall of the air pocket and portions of the outermost side wall, of each outer segment of the air pocket, that extend from the end wall of the air pocket to the height of the second ends of the segments of the air pocket.

12. Cushioning pad according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the air pockets are attached to the base.

13. Cushioning pad according to claim 12, wherein the air pockets are attached to the base by attaching the end wall of each air pocket to the bottom wall of the base.

14. Cushioning pad according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a cover to cover the air pockets and the base.

15. Cushioning pad according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each air pocket is provided with a fitting to allow air to be injected into or withdrawn from the air pocket.

16. Cushioning pad according to claim 14, wherein the base is provided with ports and the fitting of each air pocket is aligned with one of the ports in the base.