Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BAw~ cuUNu OF l~IE TNvJ!~n I LUI!~:
This invention relates to a new and improved seating
pad, and to a seating pad particularly useful with car
seats, and as a mattress. Typically, chairs and seats
5 particularly car seats allow very little room for user
flexibility, even when the seat is made adjustable.
Consequently, in order to render a seat more comfortable,
users have employed various types of pads, pillows, etc.
However, a long term and cramped seating position can lead
10 to back problems, and hence it would be desirable to
provide a seating support which is not only adjustable, but
also will provide both a seating and back support, if
desired .
Numerous types of seating pads and back supports are
described in: U.S. Patents 1,730,771; 1,753,35g; 2,060,298;
2,745,473; 2,812,804; 3,279,849; 4,161,337; 4,666,748;
4,754,511; 4,759,543; 4,798,414; 4,924,541; 4,945,591; and,
British Patents 19,409 (1898); and, 6,100 (1902).
Many of the above patents disclose pads which are too
20 complex to manufacture, and other patents disclose pads
which do not provide stability either for seating or for a
back support. It would be desirable to provide not only
a relatively simple seat and back support pad suitable for
a car seat, but also to provide a support pad which is
25 stable when the user moves while seated.
Also, if a pad adjustment i9 necessary due to a change
by the user, or if a different user requires a new
positioning of the pad, it would be desirable to easily
make this type of adjustment. In addition, such a seat pad
30 could also function as a mattress if it was of sufficient
length .
21~2~3
According to the invention, there is provided a
flexible, adjustable æeat and back support or recliner pad
which may be folded and interlocked to maintain a stable
5 configuration during use. The adjustable pad comprises a
plurality of longitudinal spaced-apart, resilient support
pads separated by hinge regions to form a pad array. When
folded together, the pad array may be stabilized by
interlocking individual support pads into the respective
10 spaces between pads, and this will prevent shif ting of the
pad during use. The pad array can also be utilized in a
flat configuration, and may also function as a mattress,
and for this purpose, the mattress can also be folded at
its head portion to provide a head rest.
The user can thereby adjust the degree of support
needed for a particular situation in which the pad array is
used by adjusting the pad array height or thickness by
folding over the pad array components at the required hinge
20 regions. The folded over pad array is stabilized by
interlocking individual support pads into respective
adjacent spaces between the support pads. The stability of
the folded over pad array is further enhanced during use
since when pressure is applied to the array, this will
25 cause the support pads to interlock even more firmly into
their respective adjacent spaces. Additional stabilization
of the folded over array may be accomplished by using hook
and loops, fasteners, laces, snaps, etc.
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Typically, the pad array may be formed by two
superposed lengths of covering material which are
subdivided by means of stitching, bonding, etc., to form
hinge regions and parallel compartments or spaces which may
5 be f illed with support material to produce a plurality of
support pads which form a pad array.
Alternatively, the pad array may be formed by joining
each individually manufactured support pad to an ad~acent
10 pad at the hinge region by sewing, bonding, hook and loop
tape, tape, etc. This permits replacement of one or more
worn pads by removal of the worn pads from the array and
replacing them. Alternatively, the ~ in;7l~ less worn
pads can simply be reattached to form a smaller support
15 pad, but without the worn components.
An individual support pad in the array may be formed
entirely o~ a foam or cloth material. Alternatively, it
may be formed o~ an outer covering material such as cloth,
20 rubber, leather, or a plastic covering such as vinyl, or an
elastomer material, and filled with a support material such
as solid or pelletized foam, Eiber, cotton, gauze, shredded
cloth, air, water, gel, etc., or it may be partially
filled, or simply unfilled. The support material may also
25 be formed into tubes which can be inserted into each end of
an individual support pad, or it can be inserted into
alternate support pads, etc. Insertion of a fill material
can be accomplished by means of for example, an end flap or
slit formed on one or more of the support pad ends.
21~2403
By making the f ill material removably insertable, the
user can better adjust the degree of height, thickness or
support for a particular use and maintain the self
stabilizing features of the pad array, supra. The pads in
5 the array may be constructed of the same or different
materials .
An individual support pad may be round, oval, square,
rectangular, wedge-shaped, etc., to facilitate insertion
10 and interlocking in the space betweer. support pads, and to
effect stabilization of the support pad array when it is
folded. If desired, each end of the pad array may include
velcro strips , or straps , loops , etc ., which attach to the
seat and back portions o~ a car seat. The support pad may
15 also be folded over on itself and be further stabilized by
attaching the velcro end strips to each other.
If desired, a heating or cooling gel or gel pack may
be used within a pad, or in the space between the pads, and
20 this would also apply to the use of vibrating devices.
IN T~E DRAWINGg:
FIG. 1 is an external, perspective view of the support
pad of this invention as a single layer, f lat
25 configuration;
FIG. 2 is a plan view of FIG. 1; and,
FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and, 6 are external, views in side
3 0 elevation showing the support pad of this invention
installed on a seat in various configurations.
21~2~3
D3SCRIPTION OF TH3 ~ r ~Kr;~ 3MBODIMENT~:
The support pad 10 of this invention i9 shown in FIGS.
l and 2, and comprises an array of individual pads 11
having a- parallel, rounded configuration. In the
5 embodiment shown, the pads are separated by hinge regions
12 thereby forming a plurality of gaps 14 between the pads
11. The hinge region 12 may be formed by one or more
stitch lines 13 across the width of the pad array.
Alternatively, velcro attached to the sides of the
10 individual support pads 11 may form the hinge region while
holding the individual pads together in the pad array.
When individual pads become worn they may be replaced
by removing them along a hinge region 12 for replacement
15 with a new pad, or by reattaching adjacent pads to form a
shorter support pad. If an overlapping covering material
is employed, then the spacing between individual pads and
the hinge region or regions are formed when the pad array
i~ manufactured by subdividing the material to produce the
2 0 support pads .
The gaps or spaces 14 between individual pads 11,
permit the insertion and interlocking of pads into adjacent
gaps to stabilize the support pad and~-;nti~;n its position
25 during use, shown in FIGS. 3 - 6.
FIG. 2 shows velcro end strips 15 and 16 which are
sewn or bonded to the support pad and which attach to a
seat 17 at its bottom 18 or back 19. A8 indicated, supra,
30 if used in a folded over arrangement, the velcro strips at
the ends of the pad array can be j oined together to
stabilize the support pad.
` ~ 2i~24~3
As shown in FIGS . 3 - 6, various aspects of a user ' 8
seating position may be supported by the support pad 10.
For example, in FIG. 3, the support pad is configured to
support the user ' 8 rear thighs, while in FIG . 4, the
5 forward portion of the thighs are supported.
FIG. 5 shows the support pad 10 doubled over to
provide moderate seating elevation for the user as well as
a back support. In addition, to reduce the possibility of
a user being seated in a cramped position in the junction
10 20 between the bottom and back of the seat, the support pad
is configured to provide a smooth transition area 21 at the
j unction .
In FIG. 6, the shape of transition area 22 at junction
20 can be varied, compared to FIG. 5, but also velcro
15 strips 15 and 23 can be used together with interlocking
individual pad elements to provide added support f or the
upper back.
If desired, the support pad may be employed solely as
a back or lumbar support while maintaining the properties,
20 as described, supra. FIG. 6 also shows the support pad
being used in a single thickness to provide elevated
seating for the user, but with less elevation when compared
to FIG 5.
Typically, when used as a seating pad or recliner
25 support, the width will vary from about 12 inches to 4
feet, the length will vary from about 4 inches to 4 feet,
and individual pad elements 11 are about 1/2 - 3 inches in
diameter. When used as a mattress, the length of the
support pad 10 will vary from about 4 - 7 feet, while the
30 width of the support pad and the pad element dimensions
remain the ~am_
21~2~3
The fewest number of inaividual pads in a pad array
which may be used can vary from about 2 - 4; typically, the
number of pads in a ~eating pad array may vary from about
4 - 60; and, in a mattress, the number of pads in an array
5 can vary from about 60 - 150.
The stiffness of hinge regions 12 can be varied,
depending on usage re~uirements and hence, if support pad
10 is used primarily as a back support, a greater stiffness
10 of hinge region 12 may be desirable. But, if the pad 10 is
used mainly as a seating support, and to form a better
curvature at the junction 20, a hinge having greater
f lexibility may prove more useful .
It will be appreciated that hinge regions 12 may
function as joining regions to join individual pad elements
by means of bonding, hook and loops, etc. Added
stabilization of the support pad array can be achieved by
means other than velcro strips, such as with zippers,
20 buttons, laces, interconnecting end flaps, snap fasteners,
and so forth.
In short, the support pad of this invention is a
gimple and inexpensive device which can be oriented to
25 provide a wide variety of configurations that can be
changed to accommodate the needs of di~ferent individuals
and a wide variety of seating structures. Also, worn pads
can be replaced with new pads, or the worn pads can be
easily removed without being replaced.
3~
