Cushion body

Abstract

A cushion body extends in a first direction, in a second direction and in third direction that is orthogonal to the first direction and the second direction. Protrusions are arranged in the first direction and in the second direction. A first slit extends in the first direction adjacent to a protrusion group, and additionally extends into the cushion body in the third direction. A second slit extends in the second direction adjacent to the protrusion group, and additionally extends into the cushion body in the third direction.

1 . A cushion body comprising:
 long sides extending along a first direction;   short sides extending along a second direction intersecting the first direction;   a front surface facing vertically upward;   a back surface facing vertically downward;   a plurality of protrusions arranged in a grid pattern on the front surface and which are aligned along each of the first direction and the second direction;   first front side slits, each extending in the first direction between two adjacent protrusions aligned along the second direction;   second front side slits, each extending in the second direction between two adjacent protrusions aligned along the first direction; and   a plurality of protrusion groups, each protrusion group including a plurality of the protrusions surrounded by two of the first front side slits arranged in the second direction and two of the second front side slits arranged in the first direction,   wherein a depth of the second front side slits is less than or equal to a depth of the first front side slits.   
     
     
         2 . The cushion body according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of layers including a lower layer that forms the back surface,   wherein the lower layer is made of a harder material than layers of the cushion body other than the lower layer.   
     
     
         3 . The cushion body according to  claim 2 , wherein the lower layer is made of a lighter material than the layers of the cushion body other than the lower layer. 
     
     
         4 . The cushion body according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of layers that include an upper layer including a top portion of each of the protrusions,   wherein the upper layer is made of a material with higher elasticity than layers of the cushion body other than the upper layer.   
     
     
         5 . The cushion body according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a number of the protrusions aligned along the first direction in the protrusion group and a number of the protrusions aligned along the second direction in the protrusion group is 3 or more. 
     
     
         6 . A cushion body comprising:
 a lower layer extending in a first direction, in a second direction and in a third direction that is orthogonal to both the first direction and the second direction;   protrusions arranged in the first direction and in the second direction over the lower layer, and extending away from the lower layer in the third direction;   a first slit extending in the first direction adjacent to a group of the protrusions forming a protrusion group, and additionally extending into the cushion body in the third direction; and   a second slit extending in the second direction adjacent to the protrusion group, and additionally extending into the cushion body in the third direction,   wherein adjacent protrusions within the protrusion group are separated by a recess that has a depth in the third direction that is shallower than a depth of the first slit and a depth of the second slit, in the third direction.   
     
     
         7 . The cushion body according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a plurality of first slits including the first slit, that extend in the first direction; and   a plurality of second slits including the second slit, that extend in the second direction which is substantially orthogonal to the first direction,   wherein the plurality of protrusions are separated into protrusion groups, including the protrusion group, by the first slits in the second direction and by the second slits in the first direction, and   wherein the cushion body is longer in the first direction than in the second direction.   
     
     
         8 . The cushion body according to  claim 6 , wherein the depth of the first slit is greater than the depth of the second slit. 
     
     
         9 . The cushion body according to  claim 6 ,
 wherein the cushion body includes a front surface formed by the protrusions, and a back surface formed by the lower layer and located opposite the front surface,   wherein the first slit includes a linear portion that extends from the front surface toward the back surface in the third direction, and an expanded portion positioned between the linear portion and the back surface, and   wherein the expanded portion is wider than the linear portion, in the second direction.   
     
     
         10 . The cushion body according to  claim 9 , wherein the second slit includes a linear portion that extends from the front surface toward the back surface in the third direction, and an expanded portion positioned between the linear portion and the back surface, and
 wherein the expanded portion is wider than the linear portion, in the first direction.   
     
     
         11 . The cushion body according to  claim 10 ,
 wherein the expanded portion of the first slit has a substantially circular shape in a cross-section of the cushion body taken in the second direction, and   wherein the expanded portion of the second slit has a substantially circular shape in a cross-section of the cushion body taken in the first direction.   
     
     
         12 . The cushion body according to  claim 9 , further comprising a third slit extending from the back surface in the third direction toward the front surface, and further extending in the second direction. 
     
     
         13 . The cushion body according to  claim 12 ,
 wherein the third slit is offset from the second slit in the first direction,   wherein the third slit includes a linear portion that extends from the back surface toward the front surface in the third direction, and an expanded portion positioned between the linear portion and the front surface, and   wherein the expanded portion of the third slit has a substantially circular shape in a cross-section of the cushion body taken in the first direction such that the expanded portion is wider than the linear portion in the first direction.   
     
     
         14 . The cushion body according to  claim 6 , wherein the protrusion group includes at least three protrusions that are aligned in either the first direction or the second direction. 
     
     
         15 . The cushion body according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 an upper layer located opposite the lower layer in the third direction, wherein the upper layer includes at least a portion of the protrusions; and   an intermediate layer located between the upper layer and the lower layer.   
     
     
         16 . The cushion body according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein top portions of the protrusions form the upper layer, and   wherein bottom portions of the protrusions form at least a part of the intermediate layer.   
     
     
         17 . The cushion body according to  claim 15 , wherein the upper layer is made of a material having greater elasticity, a greater rebound resilience, and that is softer than the intermediate layer and the lower layer. 
     
     
         18 . The cushion body according to  claim 15 , wherein the lower layer is made of a material that is harder and lighter than the upper layer and the intermediate layer. 
     
     
         19 . The cushion body according to  claim 15 ,
 wherein the intermediate layer includes a first intermediate layer, and a second intermediate layer that is located between the first intermediate layer and the lower layer,   wherein the first slit extends in the third direction to a lower end that is located in the second intermediate layer, and   wherein the second slit extends in the third direction to a lower end that is located in the first intermediate layer.   
     
     
         20 . The cushion body according to  claim 19 ,
 wherein the upper layer and the first intermediate layer form a front surface,   wherein the lower layer forms a back surface opposite the front surface, and   wherein the cushion body further comprises a third slit extending from the back surface in the third direction to an upper end that is located in the second intermediate layer.