US20200268161A1

US20200268161A1 - Highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion

Info

Publication number: US20200268161A1
Application number: US16/286,604
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Tien Mai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2019-02-27
Filing date: 2019-02-27
Publication date: 2020-08-27

Abstract

A highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion has: a lower sheet being a sheet like structure; an upper sheet adhered on an upper side of the lower sheet; the upper sheet including a polarity of air inflation cells each of which have a hollow central space; each air inflation cell being an approximate rectangular bottom; a polarity of channels; two adjacent air inflation cells being connected by a respective one of the channels for communicating the air inflation cells connected thereto so that air in the air inflation cells flows from one to another; and wherein a cross section area of the channel is inversely changed with (or inversely proportional to) a pressure applied on an upper side of the channel. A cross section of the channel becomes smaller and smaller from an inner side toward an outer side of the air inflation cushion.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to air inflation cushions, and in particular to a highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art air inflation cushion includes a polarity of air inflation cells. The deformation of the air inflation cells has the effect of supporting the persons lying thereon. When the person lying there on moves, for example, the person turns his (or her) body continuously, then the pressure applied on the air inflation cells changes continuously. The air inflation cells deform to react the change of the pressures.
However, the prior art air inflation cells deform quickly so that the whole distribution of the air inflation cells cannot wholly match the pose of the person lying thereon. As a result, the contact area between the air inflation cushion and thus only a part of the body of the person contacts the air inflation cushion. For a long time, the person lying on the bed will feel fatigue and tired due to the distortion of the muscles. Furthermore the blood circle becomes bad and sleep is deteriorated so as to affect the health of the body.
Therefore, the inventor of the present invention desires to develop a novel design which can improve the defects in the prior art. When the person lying on the air inflation cushion turns his or her body quickly, oscillation and the deformation of the person's body is proper, not too quick or too slow so that the contact area of the air inflation cushion with the person is optimum. Therefore, the defects in the prior art can be improved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To improve above mentioned defects in the prior art, the present invention provides a highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion, wherein a polarity of channels are used to communicate the air inflation cells, and the interior cross section of the channel is approximate reversely changed with the weight of the person lying thereon. Therefore, when the pressure applied to the air inflation cushion 1 is changed, the deformation of the air inflation cushion 1 is slow so that the oscillation and deformation are properly, not too large and not too small. Therefore, by the design of the present invention, the person lying on the air inflation cushion 1 has a greatest contact area with the air inflation cushion 1. Moreover, the air inflation cells can expand completely and adhere to the person's body tightly so that the person lying theron retains in a steady state. Therefore, the person lying thereon feels comfortable and easy. The present invention is suitable for the beds used for general persons, sick persons, and handicapped persons, etc. Moreover, black rubber or silicon is suitable material, because if some dirty objects are adhered thereon, it can still retain a beautiful outlook. A rectangular upper side of the air inflation cell causes the person lying thereon to feel comfortable.
To achieve above object, the present invention provides a highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion, comprising: a lower sheet being a sheet like structure; an upper sheet adhered on an upper side of the lower sheet; the upper sheet including a polarity of air inflation cells each of which have a hollow central space; each air inflation cell being an approximate rectangular bottom; a polarity of channels; two adjacent air inflation cells being connected by a respective one of the channels for communicating the air inflation cells connected thereto so that air in the air inflation cells flows from one to another; and wherein a cross section area of the channel is inversely changed with (or inversely proportional to) a pressure applied on an upper side of the channel.
By adjusting an interior cross section of the channel, a gap between two opposite lateral sides of the air inflation cell and a height of the air inflation cell, when a weight of a person lying on the air inflation cushion is between 50 to 100 kilograms, the reduction of the height of each air inflation cell is about 1 inch.
When a pressure applied by the person lying on the cushion is 80 kilogram/0.8 square meters ±10%, an interior cross section of the channel is 12 mm2±15%.
A cross section of the channel becomes smaller and smaller from an inner side of an air inflation cell near an inner side of the air inflation cushion toward another air inflation cell near an outer side of the air inflation cushion. Preferably, a rate of reduction of the cross section of the air inflation cell is linear.
Material of the lower sheet, the upper sheet and the channels is selected from silicon and rubber, such as rubber No. 419C.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an assembled schematic view about the element in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded schematic view about the element in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partial schematic view about the assembly of the element in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic cross section view about the channel in the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an assembled schematic view about the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross section view about a reduced sized channel in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross section view about the reduced sized channel in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross section view about the reduced sized channel in the second embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order that those skilled in the art can further understand the present invention, a description will be provided in the following in details. However, these descriptions and the appended drawings are only used to cause those skilled in the art to understand the objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, but not to be used to confine the scope and spirit of the present invention defined in the appended claims.
With reference to FIGS. 1 to 8, the structure of the present invention is illustrated. The present invention relates to a highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion 1. The present invention includes the following elements.
A lower sheet 10 is a sheet like structure (referring to FIG. 20.)
An upper sheet 20 is adhered on an upper side of the lower sheet 10 (referring to FIG. 1). The upper sheet 20 includes a polarity of air inflation cells 21. Each air inflation cell 21 is an approximate rectangular bottom (other forms are permissible, such as the air inflation cell 21 has a ball shape or has cambered edges, however, all these forms are within the scope of the present invention). An upper side of each air inflation cell 21 has an approximate rectangular plane.
A gas nozzle 211 is installed to one of the air inflation cells 21 and is at two adjacent sides of the air inflation cell 21 for inflating air to the air inflation cells 21. The air tap 211 is a tube like structure which is inclined to the surface of the upper sheet 20.
A polarity of channels 212 are included. Two adjacent air inflation cells 21 are connected by a channel 212, as illustrated in FIG. 3. The channel 212 serve to communicate the air inflation cells 21 connected so that air in the air inflation cells 21 flows from one to another.
Preferably, materials of the upper sheet 20, lower sheet 10 and channels 212 are silicon or rubber, such as rubber 419C.
When the lower sheet 10 is combined to the upper sheet 20. The channels 212 are formed as air flow paths. In the condition of air inflation, each air inflation cell 21 is expanded completely. When the air inflation cells 21 are compressed, the volume of the air inflation cell 21 will reduce so as to suffer the pressure transiently and completely.
In the present invention, the cross section of the channel 212 is based on the pressure capable of applying thereon. In the normal condition, the pressure is applied by a person lie thereon. The pressure becomes larger and larger with the weight of the person lying thereon. When the weight of the person lying thereon is light, the pressure becomes smaller. When the cross sections of the channels 212 are inversely changed (or inversely proportional to) with the pressure applied on the air inflation cells 21. The cross section of the channel 212 becomes smaller, when the pressure applied thereon becomes larger.
The object of the present invention is aimed that when the person lying thereon moves so that the pressure applied to the air inflation cushion 1 changes. The air inflation cell 21 with larger pressure will drive air to the air inflation cell 21 with smaller pressure so that the air inflation cells 21 have uniform pressure distribution.
When the person lying on the cushion turns his (or her) body continuously, the pressures applied to the air inflation cells 21 change continuously so that air flows between different air inflation cells 21.
When the air flows quickly, the deformations of the air inflation cells 21 become large, this state will cause the person lying thereon fatigues so as not to have the affect of releasing fatigue. On the contrary, when the air in the air inflation cells 21 flows too slowly, the air inflation cushion 1 cannot deform with the shape of the person lying thereon. Therefore, it is necessary to control the air flow rate in a finite range so that the air flow speed is proper.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, a preferred design of the channel 212 is provided, as illustrated in FIG. 4. When the person lying thereon has a weight of 80 kilogram (at this moment, the pressure applied by the person lying on the cushion is about 80 kilogram/0.8 square meters ±10%). The interior cross section of the channel 212 is 12 mm2±15%. Preferably, the interior cross section 215 of the channel 212 has a rectangular shape with an area of 8 mm×1.5 mm±15%, see FIG. 4. Based on above assumption, the interior cross section 215 of the channel 212 is approximate reversely changed with (reversely proportional to) the weight of the person lying thereon. That is, the heavier the person lying thereon , the smaller the interior cross section 215 of the channel 212, and vice versa. This is because the heavier the person lying thereon, the larger the pressure applying on the air inflation cushion 1 so that the flow speed of the air in the air inflation cushion 1 becomes larger and thus the interior cross section 215 of the channel 212 must be reduced so as to retain the whole air inflation cushion 1 in a stable state without larger oscillation on the surface of the air inflation cushion 1.
In this embodiment, the channel 212 has a n shape and the interior cross section 215 thereof is a rectangular shape of 8 mm×1.5 mm. By adjusting the interior cross section 215 of the channel 212, a gap between two opposite lateral sides of the air inflation cell 21 and a height of the air inflation cell 21, when the weight of the person lying on the air inflation cushion 1 is between 50 to 100 kilograms, the reduction of the height of each air inflation cell 21 is about 1 inch. Even in a specific pressure for each air inflation cell 21, the compression of the air inflation cell 21 is smaller than 1 inch for getting a largest supporting effect.
The second embodiment of the present invention will be described herein a preferred design of the channel 212 is shown in FIGS. 5 to 8. In FIGS. 7 and 8, the arrow A is a direction from an air inflation cell at an inner side of the air inflation cushion to an highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion at an outer side of the air inflation cushion 1 and the arrow B is a direction from an air inflation cell at an outer side of the air inflation cushion to an air inflation cell 21 at an inner side of the air inflation cushion 1. The channel 212 is between an inner air inflation cell 21 and an outer air inflation cell 21. The cross section of the channel 212 becomes smaller and smaller from an inner side near the inner air inflation cell 21 toward an outer side near an outer air inflation cell 21. The inner air inflation cell 21 is near an inner side of the air inflation cushion 1 and the outer air inflation cell 21 is near an edge of the air inflation cushion 1. Preferably, the rate of reduction of the cross section of the air inflation cell 21 is linear. The function of this design is aimed at when the inner air inflation cell 21 is pressed greatly, the air therewithin may flow toward the outer air inflation cell 21 rapidly, but when the pressure is released, the air flows to the inner air inflation cell 21 slowly.
With reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. This embodiment has an identical design as that described in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. However, in this embodiment, it shown that the channel 212 described in FIGS. 7 and 8 is only suitable for the outermost two circles of the air inflation cells 21, as illustrated in FIG. 6. Moreover, a widest side of the channel 212 has a width of 5 mm and a narrowest side of the channel 212 has a width of 1 mm. Preferably, an opening of the narrow side of the channel 212 toward the inner air inflation cell 21 are extended with two extension sheets 216 (referring to FIGS. 7 and 8).
Advantages of the present invention are that: a polarity of channels 212 are used to communicate the air inflation cells 21, and the interior cross section 215 of the channel 212 is approximate reversely changed with the weight of the person lying thereon. Therefore, when the pressure applied to the air inflation cushion 1 is changed, the deformation of the air inflation cushion 1 is slow so that the oscillation and deformation are properly, not too large and not too small. Therefore, by the design of the present invention, the person lying on the air inflation cushion 1 has a greatest contact area with the air inflation cushion 1. Moreover, the air inflation cells can expand completely and adhere to the person's body tightly so that the person lying theron retains in a steady state. Therefore, the person lying thereon feels comfortable and easy. The present invention is suitable for the beds used for general persons, sick persons, and handicapped persons, etc. Moreover, black rubber or silicon is suitable material, because if some dirty objects are adhered thereon, it can still retain a beautiful outlook. A rectangular upper side of the air inflation cell causes the person lying thereon to feel comfortable.
The present invention is thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion, comprising:

a lower sheet being a sheet like structure;

an upper sheet adhered on an upper side of the lower sheet; the upper sheet including a polarity of air inflation cells each of which have a hollow central space; and

a polarity of channels; two adjacent air inflation cells being connected by a respective one of the channels for communicating the air inflation cells connected thereto so that air in the air inflation cells flows from one to another; and

wherein a cross section area of the channel is inversely changed with a pressure applied on an upper side of the channel.

2. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cross section area of the channel is inversely proportional to the pressure applied on the upper side of the channel.

3. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein by adjusting an interior cross section of the channel, a gap between two opposite lateral sides of the air inflation cell and a height of the air inflation cell, when a weight of a person lying on the air inflation cushion is between 50 to 100 kilograms, the reduction of the height of each air inflation cell is about 1 inch.

4. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein when a pressure applied by the person lying on the cushion is 80 kilogram/0.8 square meters ±10%, an interior cross section of the channel is 12 mm2±15%.

5. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 4, wherein the interior cross section of the channel has a rectangular shape with an area of 8 mm×1.5 mm±15%.

6. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 5, wherein the channel has a n shape with a width between two lateral sides of 8.6 mm±15% and a height of the channel is 2.1 mm±15%.

7. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein a cross section of the channel becomes smaller and smaller from an inner side of an air inflation cell near an inner side of the air inflation cushion toward another air inflation cell near an outer side of the air inflation cushion.

8. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 7, wherein a rate of reduction of the cross section of the air inflation cell is linear.

9. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 7, wherein the channel is only suitable for the outermost two circles of the air inflation cells, that is, the another air inflation cell is at an outermost side of the air inflation cushion.

10. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 6, wherein a widest side of the channel has a width of 5 mm and a narrowest side of the channel has a width of 1 mm.

11. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 7, wherein an opening of the narrow side of the channel toward the inner air inflation cell are extended with two extension sheets.

12. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein material of the lower sheet, the upper sheet and the channels is selected from silicon and rubber.

13. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rubber is a rubber No. 419C.

14. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the air inflation cell has an approximate rectangular shape and an upper side of each air inflation cell has an approximate rectangular plane.

15. The highly stable and slowly adjusted air inflation cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein an air nozzle is installed to one of the air inflation cells and is at two adjacent sides of the air inflation cell for inflating air to the air inflation cells.