Pneumatic Cushion for Sitting, Leaning or Lying Upon

Abstract

The inventive cushions ( 5 ) for sitting, leaning or lying upon are essentially constructed of a pneumatic structure and of a covering that surrounds the pneumatic structure. The pneumatic structure consists of an enclosure ( 2 ) and webs ( 3 ) resulting in the formation of chambers ( 4 ). The pneumatic structure is pressurized whereby tensioning the covering so that the ribbed surface of the pneumatic structure can no longer be clearly perceived. In other embodiments, the cushions ( 5 ) are equipped with means for individual adaptation. They can also be supplemented with reinforcing and stiffening structures. Cushions ( 5 ) can be deformed or moved relative to one another by means of pneumatic actuators.

1 . A pneumatic cushion ( 5 ), in particular for sitting, lying or leaning upon, constructed of a pneumatic structure consisting of a covering ( 2 ) being air-tight and capable of being pressurized, in which webs ( 3 ) run between the upper side and the lower side, and in which chambers ( 4 ) are formed, characterized in that
 the pneumatic structure is enclosed by a case ( 1 ) in such a manner that the case ( 1 ) is tensioned by the covering ( 2 ), which is pressurized with pressure ρ 1 .   
   
   
       2 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to patent  claim 1 , characterized in that at least part of the webs ( 3 ) of the pneumatic structure is embodied in a double-walled manner so that at least one gap is formed, which deforms when pressurized with a pressure ρ 2 , ρ 2 >ρ 1 , and which shortens the double-walled web ( 3 ). 
   
   
       3 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to one of patent  claims 1  or  2 , characterized in that at least part of the covering ( 2 ) of the pneumatic structure is embodied in double-walled manner so that at least a gap is formed, which deforms when pressurized with a pressure ρ 2 , ρ 2 >ρ 1 , and which shortens the double-walled covering ( 2 ). 
   
   
       4 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to one of patent  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that at least one horizontal web ( 3 ) is present in the pneumatic structure so that at least two layers of chambers ( 4 ) are formed. 
   
   
       5 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ), in particular for sitting, lying or leaning upon, constructed of a pneumatic structure consisting of a covering ( 2 ), in which webs ( 3 ) run between the upper side and the lower side, and in which chambers ( 4 ) are formed, characterized in that
 the pneumatic structure further consists of gas-tight tubes ( 6 ), at least one of which is arranged in each chamber ( 4 ),   the pneumatic structure is enclosed by a case ( 1 ) in such a manner that the case ( 1 ) is tensioned by the tubes ( 6 ), which are pressurized with pressure ρ 1 .   
   
   
       6 . The pneumatic cushion according to patent  claim 5 , characterized in that at least a part of the webs ( 3 ) of the pneumatic structure is embodied in double-walled manner so that a gap is formed, in which a tube ( 6 ) can be arranged, which deforms when pressurized with a pressure ρ 2 , ρ 2 >ρ 1 , and which shortens the double-walled web ( 3 ). 
   
   
       7 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to patent  claim 5  or  6 , characterized in that at least part of the covering ( 2 ) of the pneumatic structure is embodied in double-walled manner so that at least a gap is formed, in which a tube ( 6 ) can be arranged, which deforms when pressurized with a pressure ρ 2 , ρ 2 >ρ 1 , and which shortens the double-walled covering ( 2 ). 
   
   
       8 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to one of patent  claims 5  to  7 , characterized in that at least one horizontal web ( 3 ) is present in the pneumatic structure so that at least two layers of chambers ( 4 ) are formed. 
   
   
       9 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ), in particular for sitting, lying or leaning upon, characterized in that it is constructed of
 a pneumatic structure consisting of a plurality of pockets ( 7 ) arranged next to one another, each of which is connected with the adjacent pockets, and a tube ( 6 ) made of gas-tight material, which is capable of being pressurized and being arranged in each of the pockets ( 7 ),   a case ( 1 ) enclosing the pneumatic structure in such a manner that the case ( 1 ) is tensioned by the tubes ( 6 ), which are pressurized.   
   
   
       10 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to patent  claim 9 , characterized in that the pneumatic structure has at least two layers of pockets ( 7 ) with tubes ( 6 ) and in that the pockets ( 7 ) of the various layers are connected with one another. 
   
   
       11 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to patent  claim 10 , characterized in that the tubes ( 6 ) of the pneumatic structure are arranged in various layers staggered to one another. 
   
   
       12 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ), in particular for sitting, lying or leaning upon, characterized in that it is constructed of
 a pneumatic structure consisting of tubes ( 6 ) being arranged next to one another in at least one layer, which are at least partially connected to one another at their contact points,   a case ( 1 ) enclosing the pneumatic structure in such a manner that the case ( 1 ) is tensioned by the tubes ( 6 ), which are pressurized.   
   
   
       13 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to one of patent  claims 3 ,  6 ,  8 ,  9  or  10 , characterized in that the tubes ( 6 ) or chambers ( 4 ) of the pneumatic structures can be pressurized with various pressures in various layers. 
   
   
       14 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the webs ( 3 ), the pockets ( 7 ) or the tubes ( 6 ) of the pneumatic structures can have bent and closed shapes. 
   
   
       15 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ), in particular for sitting, lying or leaning upon, characterized in that the pneumatic structure is constructed, on the one hand, of one or a plurality of areas, wherein shaping webs ( 3 ) are affixed in the covering ( 2 ) so that chambers ( 4 ) are formed, and, on the other hand, of one or a plurality of areas, wherein webs ( 3 ) are arranged in the covering ( 2 ) in such a manner that tubes ( 6 ) can be arranged in the chambers ( 4 ), which are formed. 
   
   
       16 . The pneumatic cushion ( 5 ) according to one of the preceding patent claims, characterized in that the pneumatic structure is constructed of a combination of at least two different pneumatic structures of the preceding claims. 
   
   
       17 . An actuator for pneumatic cushions according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is pneumatically actuated. 
   
   
       18 . The actuator according to patent  claim 17 , characterized in that a flexible plate ( 32 ) is affixed to a fastener ( 31 ), in that a pouch ( 34 ), which is arranged between the fastener ( 31 ) and the flexible plate ( 32 ), bends the flexible plate ( 32 ) when pressurized and pushes its free end to the side away from the fastener ( 31 ). 
   
   
       19 . The actuator according to patent  claim 17 , characterized in that at least one pneumatic pouch ( 34 ) is arranged between two plates ( 37 ), which are coupled to one another by means of a hinge ( 38 ), said pneumatic pouch ( 34 ) is held in its position by means of a vane ( 39 ) and, when pressurized, presses the plates ( 37 ) open at their free ends. 
   
   
       20 . The actuator according to patent  claim 19 , characterized in that a plurality of pouches ( 34 ) and a plurality of vanes ( 39 ) are arranged between the plates ( 37 ). 
   
   
       21 . The actuator according to patent  claim 17 , characterized in that a flexible base plate ( 41 ) has a plurality of essentially parallel ribs ( 42 ), resulting in the formation of a plurality of grooves, in that a gas-tight tube is arranged in each groove so that the tubes ( 6 ) fill the grooves when pressurized and, in particular, push the grooves against the free ends of the ribs ( 42 ), which results in a bending of the base plate ( 41 ). 
   
   
       22 . The actuator according to patent  claim 21 , characterized in that the ribs ( 41 ) and the tubes ( 6 ) can be present at one or at both sides of the base plate ( 41 ). 
   
   
       23 . A pneumatic chair or seat with cushions ( 5 ) for sitting, lying or leaning upon according to one of patent  claims 1  to  16 , and actuators according to one of patent  claims 17  to  22 , characterized in that
 the pneumatic chair or seat is divided into a plurality of areas, for example into ergonomic and functional areas, and in that at least one cushion ( 5 ), the pneumatic structure of which is optimized for the respective function, is present for each of these areas.   
   
   
       24 . The pneumatic chair or seat according to patent  claim 23 , characterized in that the cushions ( 5 ) are combined to a seat, in particular a bucket seat, for a vehicle and in that a combination of a plurality of cushions ( 5 ) is present, for example in the shape of
 seat cushions ( 45 ),   lordosis cushions ( 46 ),   thigh support ( 47 ),   leg guide cushions ( 48 ),   side supports ( 49 ),   back cushions ( 50 ),   shoulder cushions ( 51 ),   head support ( 52 ),   feet cushions or support,   lower leg cushions or support,   
     whereby the individual cushions can be adaptable and can be equipped with actuators.