IE20100272U1 - An air cushioned support system - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Air cushion support apparatus for cushion (10) supports the buttocks and thighs of a passenger (A). The cushion (10) has four distinct compartments, a transverse nose cushion (12) and three longitudinal parallel cushions (14, 16 and 18). The transverse nose cushion (12) includes a pressure sensing valve (13) for the upper leg area (B) of the passenger (A) and which senses the pressure points from the passenger's calves and backs of knees.

Description

AN AIR CUSHIONED SUPPORT SYSTEM The present invention relates to an air cushioned support system for use in the support of the human body during transport, at work or in any situation where periods in a sitting or lying posture are necessitated.

Sitting for long periods of time immobile in uncomfortable seats, for example in aircraft and other forms of transport. can prove detrimental to the health of such passengers.

Manufacturers of airline, coach, train, automotive and office seating face a major design problem of catering for the many variations of human bodies who will eventually occupy the seats for long periods of time. The high degree of occlusion to the passenger's critical veins by the seat cushion’s front edge is now regarded as a major factor in increasing the risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) which may even result in the death of passengers. The risk is increased by the broad anthropometric range of the seat cushion design and the tendency to increase the stiffness of the foams in the seats to comply with crash safety regulations. This problem is typically addressed by providing seat cushions made of foam composites, foam with internal springs and moulded foam. All have failed to reduce pressure points in the seat and have not prevented potential health risks like DVT and many of these cushions are extremely uncomfortable.

Good bodyweight distribution for a person sitting on a seat is quite difficult to achieve in cushion design. Most cushions on airline or trains are based on just one concept i.e. foam cushioning of a certain density and hardness to give a certain level of support and comfort.

Furthermore, the use of a slimline lightweight single compartment air cushion with foam core could easily bottom out under the weight of the seated passenger thereby failing to achieve the desired objective. The compressed air balloons out the surface area of the cushion not in contact with the seated passenger or the unloaded areas so that the seated passenger’s tuberosites, the skeletal bones in the centre of the buttocks make contact with the hard surface under the cushion and are therefore not protected in the foamlair environment. Clearly this system does not solve the problem of reducing pressure points and increasing comfort.

Also there is a major requirement specifically for aeroplane design that any solutions should not increase the weight of the plane or even reduce it if it is possible.

The present invention seeks to alleviate the above described disadvantages of the prior art.

The present invention provides an air cushioned support apparatus for the buttocks and thighs of a seated person comprising at least three parallel cushions extending lengthwise along a cushion from the rear of the cushion towards the front and a front cushion mounted transverse to the three parallel lengthwise cushions.

Advantageously, the outer cushions of the at least three lengthwise cushions are sealed and retain the air contained within them.

Preferably, the cushion or cushions intermediate the two outer cushions includes a pressure sensing valve operable to deflate the cushion when receiving the weight of the seated person.

Conveniently, the front cushion is provided with a nose shaped formation for supporting the thighs of the seated person.

Advantageously, the front cushion includes a pressure sensing valve or valves operable to deflate the front cushion when receiving the weight of a seated person's thighs.

The four compartment air cushion of the invention allows for support and comfort where it is needed on the buttocks area of the seated person and gives the best level of pressure distribution across the full cushions surface.

Such an arrangement best provides for the seated person, (a) bodyweight support, (b) comfort from lower pressure points in the body tissue of the buttocks and (c) unrestricted blood flow behind the knees of the seated person.

Advantag_eous|y, the air cushioned support apparatus is adapted to be utilised in seats that may be configured into a lying posture to function as a bed but is not possible to be flat, wherein the front compartment operates as a ramp to prevent the person sliding down lEioo230 to the lower part of the seat, thereby allowing the person to sleep along the full length of the seat.

The invention wilt hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, one embodiment of a seat cushion in accordance with the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a typical business class airline seat incorporating the cushion of the invention and configured for a sitting posture of a passenger; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the airline seat of Figure 1 configured for a lying posture of a passenger; Figure 3A is a rear view of the cushion of the invention with a schematic representation of a passenger seated on the cushion; Figure 3B is a rear view of the cushion without any load on it; Figure 3C is a plan view of the cushion; Figure 4 is a side view of the cushion with a schematic representation of the passenger seated on it; Figure 5 is a side view of the cushion with a schematic representation of the passenger lying on it; and Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a pressure distribution map showing how pressure comfort in the hip area of the passenger seated on the cushion.

Referring to the drawings, the air cushion support apparatus 10, referred to as cushion 10, is fitted into a business class airline seat 20 as shown in Figures 1 and 2. In Figure 1, the seat 20 is configured for a sitting posture by a passenger and in Figure 2, it is configured for a lying posture by a passenger in a bed arrangement 22. lE1oo272' The cushion 10 has four distinct compartments, a transverse nose cushion 12 and three longitudinal parallel cushions 14, 16 and 18. The transverse nose cushion 12 includes a pressure sensing valve 13 for the upper leg area of the passenger and which senses the pressure points from the seated person's calves and backs of knees.

The valve 13 will release air from the cushion so as to reduce pressure which otherwise might cause blood flow restriction on the passenger. It also permits the passenger's feet to reach the ground, even if their legs are short.

Compartments 14 and 18 are located at either side of the cushion and are completely The compartments 14 and 18 are the main load bearing units as they take the main weight off sealed so that no air may be expelled from or enter these compartments. the passenger's thighs and upper body and still feel comfortable at the points of contact with the passenger.

Intermediate the compartments 14 and 18 is middle compartment 16 which is provided The compartment 16 will respond to the pressure points from the passenger's buttocks and will with at least one pressure sensing valve 17 located at the rear of the seat. reduce air pressure by releasing air via the valve 17 until equilibrium is reached between the passenger and the cushion.

As shown in Figure 5, the middle compartment 16 moulds to accept the hip of the lying person and the transverse nose cushion 12 acts as a ramp to offset slippage in angled lie- flat seats.

The unique design of the cushion 10 allows for the development of a very lightweight seat cushion because it uses ultra light weight foam materials which is not normally possible with conventional cushion technology.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

MACLACHLAN 8. DONALDSON, Applicants’ Agents, Merrion Square, DUBLIN 2.