US20100205749A1

US20100205749A1 - Flexible air cushion unit and assembly structure

Info

Publication number: US20100205749A1
Application number: US12/379,319
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-02-19
Filing date: 2009-02-19
Publication date: 2010-08-19

Abstract

The present invention provides an air cushion unit that can be assembled into any shape and dimension, and more particularly to an innovative one which is prefabricated with interconnected air rings, air pipes and air chambers along with close-packed air columns and air nozzles, allowing to adjust flexibly the pressure value. So, it can be widely applied to meet different sitting or lying demands under various stress states.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an air cushion unit, and more particularly to an innovative one which is prefabricated with interconnected air chambers, close-packed air columns and nozzles, allowing to adjust flexibly the pressure value for meeting the customer demands.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
People often place pads or cushions on the chairs or beds for comfortable sitting or lying.
Such pads or cushions are generally made of foamed materials such as cotton cloth or sponge, or sealed liquid materials. However, the following shortcomings are observed during actual applications:
Firstly, any cushion presents a given flexibility no matter it is made of whichever materials, so it is impossible to change the flexibility for most comfortable sitting or lying at one's own discretion or preference.
Secondly, any cushion is designed for specific requirements, namely, the flexibility may be pursued with compromise of air permeability, or air permeability may be pursued with compromise of comfort.
Thirdly, some cushions may lose original comfortable function due to gradual hardening of soft materials.
Fourthly, the cushions made of any material will be subject to the distortion or deformation of the stress surface, making it difficult to achieve optimum sitting or lying comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, to overcome the aforementioned problems of the prior art, the inventor has provided the present invention of practicability. The major objective of the present invention is to assemble an air cushion unit composed of air pipe, air ring and air chamber along with close-packed air columns; moreover, with the support of interconnected independent air chambers, the air cushions permit to generate consistent stress state, thus achieving optimum sitting or lying equilibrium and comfort.
Another objective of the present invention is to design interconnected independent air chambers of air cushion units along with air nozzles, enabling the users to set flexibly the stress value for meeting their own sifting or lying requirements.
Another objective of the present invention is to design independent air chambers for realizing excellent air permeability on the surface.
Another objective of the present invention is to arrange the tapered mouths at both sides of air columns, so that air cushion units could be compactly assembled via screws.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts an assembly view of air cushion unit of the present invention.

FIG. 2 depicts a linking view of air cushion unit of the present invention.

FIG. 3 depicts an assembled sectional view of air cushion unit and air column of the present invention.

FIG. 4 depicts an application view of bigger air cushion that's composed of air cushion units of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The features and the advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood upon a thoughtful deliberation of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to FIG. 1, an assembly view of air cushion units of the present invention and FIG. 2, a linking view of air cushion units of the present invention, every air cushion unit 10 comprises air rings 20 at the center, interconnected crosswise air pipes 30 and air chambers 40 at both sides of air pipes; moreover, an air cushion unit 10 is composed of one or several sets of air rings 20, air pipes 30 and air chambers; then, air cushion units 10 are linked by an air column 50 into a bigger air cushion device.
Air cushion units 10, 11 are linked by air column 50. Referring to sectional view in FIG. 3, the air column 50 comprises a main body 51, at both ends of which two tapered mouths 52, 53 are formed for inserting into air pipes 31, 32; and a prefabricated air hole 54 is connected with two air pipes 31, 32; after completion of insertion, the screws 55, 56 at both sides are used for securely linking two air pipes 31, 32 with air column 50.
Based on the design of tapered mouths 52, 53 at both sides of air column 50, when screws 55, 56 get into contact with air pipes 31, 32, the flexible air pipes 31, 32 are gradually compacted along the oblique surface of tapered mouths 52, 53, so that the tapered mouths 52, 53, air pipes 31, 32 and screws 55, 56 are tightly assembled.
Referring to FIG. 4, a schematic view of a bigger air cushion formed by many air cushion units 10, 11, 12, 13; the air cushion units 10, 11, 12, 13 are assembled into a bigger air cushion by inserting separately air columns 501, 502, 503 between corresponding air pipes 301, 302, or between air pipes 303, 304, or between air pipes 305, 306.
The aforementioned air cushion is combined with an air nozzle 60 at a proper location, such that air cushion composed of several air cushion units 10,11 can be regulated for air filling or releasing with a consistent air pressure.
To this end, based on the design of the present invention that air cushion units are composed of interconnected independent air chambers, air pipes and air rings, along with specifically arranged air columns and air nozzles, the following advantages of sitting or lying can be realized:
Firstly, irrespective of the shapes or dimensions of air cushions, air pipes and air chambers are interconnected with air. Thus, when a proper air pressure is given, the entire air cushion surface is subject to a balanced stress s t ate for supporting the human body with optimized comfort.
Secondly, the air cushion of the present invention allows to adjust flexibly and properly the air pressure according to different user demands.
Thirdly, the adjustable air pressure of the air cushion eliminates the loss of comfort generated by hardening of materials.
Fourthly, the air chambers of air cushion are independent components, so a good permeable channel is shaped on the air cushion, enabling to realize optimum permeability and feel ventilative.
Fifthly, as the air columns are closely connected, air cushion units can be assembled flexibly into the air cushion of the present invention for a broad range of applications.
To sum up, the present invention provides an air cushion device with excellent performance and industrial benefits that can be used for a broad range of applications, so the patent application is claimed.

Claims

1. A flexible air cushion unit and assembly structure, comprising:

a plurality of air rings, which are located at the center of air chamber and air pipe, and separately interconnected with them;

a plurality of air pipes, which are arranged around air ring in a crosswise form;

a plurality of air chambers, separately located at both sides of every air pipe for charging air;

air cushion unit, which is formed by interconnection of prefabricated air rings, air pipes and air chambers;

wherein the air cushion units are linked by an air column into a bigger air cushion device;

wherein the air column is composed of a main body and screws at both sides, air holes are centrally preset, and tapered mouths at both ends are separately inserted into air pipes, and then fastened by the screws;

wherein said air columns are connected with optional air pipes of nearby air cushion unit;

wherein the tapered mouths of air columns and the screws are arranged at one side or two sides;

wherein said air cushions of different sizes are formed by air cushion units of different quantities;

wherein said air cushions of different shapes are formed by air cushion units of different quantities;

wherein the quantity of air rings, air pipes and air chambers for every air cushion unit can be increased or reduced.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. (canceled)

5. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)