Heat diffusing cushion or mattress

Abstract

A cushion including a base and an array of individual upstanding, interconnected air cells arranged in of transverse and longitudinal rows on the base. The air cells are spaced apart and define ambient airflow paths between the cells. Each cell has a top and a perimeter wall that tapers inwardly from the base to the top. The dimension of the cell at the base is greater that the dimension of the top of the cell so that when the cell is compressed, the cell collapses inwardly and the periphery of the compressed cell does not protrude beyond the area of the base so as to impinge upon the ambient airflow paths between the cells. When the cell is depressed or collapsed by the weight of the seated user, ambient air still can circulate among the cells to dissipate heat generated by the seated user.

1 . A cushion comprising: 
 a base; and    an array of individual upstanding, interconnected air cells arranged in of transverse and longitudinal rows on the base, the cells being spaced apart to define ambient air flow paths between the cells, each cell having a top surface and a perimeter wall that tapers inwardly from the base to the top surface, wherein a peripheral dimension of the cell at the base is greater than a peripheral dimension of the top surface of the cell so that when the cell is compressed, the cell collapses inwardly resulting in a compressed cell wherein the cell does not impinge upon the ambient air flow paths between the cells so as to allow ambient air can to circulate among the cells to dissipate heat generated by a seated user.    
   
   
       2 . The cushion of  claim 1  wherein the cell has a substantially conical configuration.  
   
   
       3 . The cushion of  claim 1  further comprising an array of cells along at least one side of the cushion base, said array of cells comprising at least one bolster along the at least one side of the cushion base.  
   
   
       4 . The cushion of  claim 3  wherein each cell comprising the array of cells along the at least one side of the cushion base have a perimeter dimension around the cell at the base which is greater than a perimeter dimension around a top surface of the cell so that when the cell is compressed, the cell collapses inwardly resulting in a compressed cell wherein the cell does not impinge upon ambient air flow paths.  
   
   
       5 . The cushion of  claim 1  wherein the arrays of cells are formed from a plastic material.  
   
   
       6 . The cushion of  claim 1  wherein the arrays of cells are formed from a neoprene material.  
   
   
       7 . A cushion comprising: 
 a base; and    an array of individual upstanding, interconnected air cells arranged in of transverse and longitudinal rows on the base, the cells being spaced apart to define ambient air flow paths between the cells, each cell having a substantially conical configuration including a top surface and a perimeter wall that tapers inwardly from the base to the top surface, wherein a circumference of the cell at the base is greater than a circumference of the top surface of the cell so that when the cell is compressed, the cell collapses inwardly resulting in a compressed cell wherein the cell does not impinge upon the ambient air flow paths between the cells so as to allow ambient air can to circulate among the cells to dissipate heat generated by a seated user.    
   
   
       8 . The cushion of  claim 7  further comprising an array of cells along at least one side of the cushion base, said array of cells comprising at least one bolster along the at least one side of the cushion base.  
   
   
       9 . The cushion of  claim 8  wherein each cell comprising the array of cells along the at least one side of the cushion base is a substantially elongated cell having perimeter dimension around the cell at the base which is greater than a perimeter dimension around a top surface of the cell so that when the cell is compressed, the cell collapses inwardly resulting in a compressed cell wherein the cell does not impinge upon ambient air flow paths.  
   
   
       10 . A cushion comprising: 
 a base; and    a first array of individual upstanding, interconnected air cells arranged in of transverse and longitudinal rows on the base, the cells being spaced apart to define ambient air flow paths between the cells, each cell having a top surface and a perimeter wall that tapers inwardly from the base to the top surface; and    a second array of cells along at least one side of the cushion base, said array of cells comprising at least one bolster along the at least one side of the cushion base,    wherein a peripheral dimension of the cells at the base is greater than a peripheral dimension of the top surface of the cells so that when a cell is compressed, the cell collapses inwardly resulting in a compressed cell wherein the cell does not impinge upon the ambient air flow paths between the cells so as to allow ambient air can to circulate among the cells to dissipate heat generated by a seated user.    
   
   
       11 . The cushion of  claim 10  wherein the cells comprising the first array of cells have a substantially conical configuration.  
   
   
       12 . The cushion of  claim 10  wherein the cells comprising the arrays of cells are formed from a plastic material.  
   
   
       13 . A heat dissipating cushion comprising: 
 a base; and    an array of individual upstanding, interconnected air cells arranged in of transverse and longitudinal rows on the base;    a plurality of ambient airflow paths between the cells,    wherein each cell has a top surface and a perimeter wall that tapers inwardly from the base to the top surface, wherein a peripheral dimension of the cell at the base is greater than a peripheral dimension of the top surface of the cell so that when the cell is compressed, the cell collapses inwardly resulting in a compressed cell wherein the cell does not impinge upon any of the plurality of ambient air flow paths between the cells so as to allow ambient air can to circulate among the cells to dissipate heat generated by a seated user.