US20110296617A1

US20110296617A1 - Self Inflating Seat Cushion with Cover

Info

Publication number: US20110296617A1
Application number: US13/153,445
Authority: US
Inventors: Alfred Gustave Wendler
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-07
Filing date: 2011-06-05
Publication date: 2011-12-08

Abstract

A self inflating seat cushion, comprised of an impermeable outer cover and foam filled, or other similar material, inner core with an attached cover that wraps around the seat cushion when deflated and rolled up, with a valve that allows fluid transmission between the atmosphere and the inner core. Said valve is used to inflate and deflate the cushion. Said cover is secured using devices such as hook and loop fasteners or snaps or other similar devices. This cover acts as a means for storage and transport of the cushion when not in use.

Description

This application claims benefit of provisional app. 61/397,048 filed Jun. 7, 2010.

FIELD OF USE

This invention concerns seat cushions, particularly self inflating portable seat cushions for use at athletic and other types of events.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ART

Self inflating seat cushions made from an airtight cover with a core of open cellular materials and a valve to regulate the movement of air between the core and the atmosphere are known and plentiful.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,266,482, issued to Kamrass, shows a simple self inflating cushion.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,017,642, issued to Rosenberg, also shows another version of a self inflating cushion.
U.S. Pat. No. 2005/0046266 A1, issued to Schiebl, provides for a method of storage of the cushion once rolled up.
While the prior art has recognized the value of using both an inflatable envelope and a foam core in combination to make a self inflating portable seat cushion that can be compacted for storage and transport, the prior art has failed to adequately provide a means for easily packaging the cushion for storage and transportation once compacted. Most attempts at providing some means of securing the cushion once deflated are an afterthought.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The self inflating portable seat cushion of this invention overcomes many of the disadvantages of portable seating through the incorporation of an attached cover integral to the design.
The self inflating seat cushion comprises an air impervious envelope made of substantially non-stretchable flexible material, and comprising top and bottom sheets joined to one another at the perimeter portions thereof.
Positioned within the envelope is a resilient core of open celled material having a planar configuration, with length and width dimensions substantially in excess of its thickness dimensions. A valve for controlling air movement between the core and the atmosphere is mounted to the envelope.
A flap of material identical to the envelope material is attached, or an extension of the envelope itself, along one edge of the envelope, with dimensions equal to one half to two-thirds the perpendicular dimension of the envelope to which the flap is attached, or part of, and identical to the dimension along the edge to which it is attached, or part of. Attached to said flap, and on the body of the envelope itself, is a method for temporarily joining the flap and the envelope body together, such as, but not limited too, hook and loop fasteners or snaps, for the purpose of acting as a cover for the envelope when rolled up.
The core is comprised of a foam type material, or other similar materials, with compression characteristics that allows the cushion to be easily rolled up and compressed for storage, yet has proper self inflating characteristics.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangements of the members set forth in the following description or illustrations. It is also understood that those familiar with the manufacture and or methods of construction of the present invention or its members, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other shapes, methods, and systems for carrying out the purpose of the present invention. It is important that the claims be regarded as including such similar construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of the specification, illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention.

These drawings, together with the general description of the invention given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows the invention from the top perspective.

FIG. 2 shows the invention from the side perspective.

FIG. 3 shows the invention from the bottom perspective.

FIG. 4 illustrates the embodiment of the invention in a partially rolled up form.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention (10) consists of an outer cover (12) of impermeable material, such as PVC or woven fabric with an impervious coating or other similar material, surrounding an inner core (13) comprised of an open celled material having a planar configuration.
The outer cover (12) is substantially of the same size as the inner core material (13).
Hermetic sealing of the seams of the outer cover (12) is achieved through well known means of seam sealing, such as heat sealing or radio frequency welding.
A screw type valve (14), or other similar type of valve, is located on the top face of the cushion (10).
A flap (16), of the same material as the outer cover (12), is attached along one edge of the outer cover (12), or may be an extension of one side of the outer cover (12), which serves as a means for wrapping or covering the invention when it is rolled up (11).
A typical use cycle of cushion (10) may be as follows. The user carries the rolled up cushion (11) to the place of use, unfastens the cover flap (16) by separating the fasteners (18, 20) and opens the valve (14) to inflate the cushion (10).
Once the cushion (10) is sufficiently inflated the valve (14) is closed and the cushion (10) is placed on the seating surface for use.
When use of cushion (10) is no longer desired, the user opens the valve (14) and rolls the cushion (10) up, deflating the cushion (10) by collapsing the core (13). Once the cushion (10) is sufficiently deflated the valve (14) is closed and atmospheric pressure retains the cushion (10) in a compressed state in a cylindrical shape (11). The cover flap (16) is then wrapped around the resulting cylindrically shaped cushion (11) and secured by means of fasteners (18, 20), ensuring ease of portability.
It is of course possible to provide a cushion of other dimensions and of a larger or smaller size for other uses.
Though the invention has been described in terms of a particular embodiment, being the best know mode in carrying our the invention, it is not limited to embodiment alone. Instead the following claims are to be read as encompassing all adaptions and modifications falling within its sphere and scope, as obvious modifications will occur to those skilled in the relevant arts without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A self inflating seat cushion with a cover comprising:

an inner core of a compressible material having an open cellular structure filled with air when uncompressed, compression of the material expelling air from said structure; the inner core having the size and shape of the seat cushion when uncompressed.

an outer cover enclosing the inner core and defining the outer dimensions of the seat cushion, the outer cover being of an air tight material thus hermetically sealing the core from the atmosphere

a valve to selectively open and close communication between the inner core and the atmosphere

an attached cover flap with means for securing it such as hook and loop fasteners, snaps, or other methods.