Stacked cushions

Abstract

Stacked cushions, cushioning elements thereof, materials and processes for making the same are disclosed.

1 . A stacked cushion comprising: 
 (a) a first cushioning element and a second cushioning element stacked together in sequence to form a stacked cushion,    (b) said first cushioning element including 
 (i) a quantity of first gel cushioning medium formed to have a first cushioning element top, a first cushioning element bottom, and a first outer periphery, said first gel cushioning medium being compressible so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object;  
 (ii) wherein said first gel cushioning media is flexible and resilient, having shape memory and being substantially solid and non-flowable at temperatures below 130 degrees Fahrenheit;  
 (iii) a plurality of first hollow columns formed in said first gel cushioning medium, each of said first hollow columns having a first longitudinal axis along its length, each of said first hollow columns having a first column wall which defines a first hollow column interior, and each of said first hollow columns having two ends;  
 (iv) wherein each of said first column ends is positioned at two different points of said first longitudinal axis;  
 (v) wherein at least one of said first hollow columns of said first cushioning element is positioned within said first gel cushioning medium such that said first longitudinal axis is positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the stacked cushion by a cushioned object in contact with the stacked cushion;  
   (c) wherein the stacked cushion is adapted to have a cushioned object placed in contact with said stacked cushion top; and    (d) wherein at least one of said first column walls of said first cushioning element is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object.    
     
     
         2 . A stacked cushion as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second cushioning elements have different firmness from each other.  
     
     
         3 . A stacked cushion as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said first and said second cushioning elements are made from different materials from each other.  
     
     
         4 . A stacked cushion comprising: 
 (a) a first cushioning element including a quantity of gel formed into a configuration of bucklable columns,    (b) a second cushioning element,    said first and said second cushioning elements being stacked with respect to each other.    
     
     
         5 . A stacked cushion as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said second cushioning element includes a quantity of gel formed into a configuration of bucklable columns.  
     
     
         6 . A stacked cushion as recited in  claim 5  wherein said first and said second cushioning elements have differing firmness with respect to each other.  
     
     
         7 . A two-part cushion comprising: 
 (a) a first cushioning and a second cushioning element in cooperative engagement with each other,    (b) said first cushioning element including a quantity of elastomeric gel that is non-flowable at room temperature formed into a shape that includes buckling columns that can buckle under a compressive force in order to support a cushioned object;    wherein second cushioning element has a different firmness than said first cushioning element.    
     
     
         8 . A cushion as recited in  claim 7  wherein said second cushioning element includes a quantity of gel formed into buckling columns.