Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
FOLDABLE INFLATABLE CUSHION.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to cushions. More specifically,
the present invention is concerned with a foldable inflatable cushion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are many types of cushions some of which are, for
example, usable as mattresses during camping trips or for overnight guests or
to cushion a relatively hard chair. Some of these cushions include two or more
sections that are hingedly connected to each other. For example, a bedding
made out of a fabric is used to manufacture each section and the sections are
sewn to each other. Then, a cushioning material such as, for example, a foam,
is inserted within each of the sections. However, these types of cushions are
relatively difficult to transport in a tight space, such as for example in a
car, as
they are relatively large. In addition, the foams used in these cushions are
typically environmentally unfriendly when disposed of.
[0003] Another type of cushions includes an inflatable air bladder.
While these cushions are relatively easily transported in tight spaces as they
can be deflated, they are typically not foldable and cannot, therefore, be
easily
stored when inflated without requiring that they be deflated. Furthermore,
such
cushions are typically made out a single layer of a material that must be air-
proof. These cushions are therefore relatively uncomfortable and must be used
in conjunction with other beddings to make them comfortable. Furthermore, the
material used to manufacture these cushions is relatively thick, and such
cushions therefore cannot be easily washed in conventional washing machines.
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[0004] Against this background, there exists a need in the industry to
provide novel cushions. An object of the present invention is therefore to
provide improved cushions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In a broad aspect, the invention provides a cushion. The
cushion includes a first section and a second section, the second and first
sections being hingedly attached to each other. The first and second sections
define respectively a first cavity and a second cavity. A first air bladder is
receivable within the first cavity and a second air bladder is receivable
within
the second cavity.
[0006] Advantageously, the proposed cushion is relatively
comfortable while relatively easily folded for storage with the air bladders
inflated and relatively easily transported with the air bladders deflated.
[0007] Additionally, the proposed cushion is relatively easily
manufacturable using known techniques and relatively economical to
manufacture.
[0008] Also, in some embodiments of the invention, the bladder is
removable from the cavity, which allows to relatively easily clean the
proposed
cushion.
[0009] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] In the appended drawings:
[0011] Figure 1, in a perspective view, illustrates a cushion in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the cushion being
shown in an extended configuration;
[0012] Figure 2, in a perspective view, illustrates the cushion shown
in Fig. 1, the cushion being shown in a folded configuration;
[0013] Figure 3, in a perspective view, illustrates the cushion shown
in Figs. 1 and 2, the cushion being shown in a configuration intermediate the
folded and extended configurations;
[0014] Figure 4, in a perspective view with parts removed, illustrates
the cushion shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the cushion being shown in the extended
configuration;
[0015] Figure 5, in a perspective view with parts removed, illustrates
the cushion shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the cushion being shown in the folded
configuration;
[0016] Figure 6, in a perspective view with parts removed, illustrates
the cushion shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the cushion being shown in the
configuration
intermediate the folded and extended configurations;
[0017] Figure 7, in a perspective view, illustrates a cushion in
accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;
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[0018] Figure 8, in a perspective view, illustrates a cushion in
accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] Figure 9, in a perspective view, illustrates a cushion in
accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] Figure 10, in a perspective view with parts removed,
illustrates the cushion shown in Fig. 7; and
[0021] Figure 11, in a perspective view with parts removed,
illustrates the cushion shown in Fig. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0022] Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, there is shown a cushion 10 in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The cushion 10
includes cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16. The cushion
first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 are hingedly attached to each
other.
[0023] The cushion 10 is configurable between a cushion extended
configuration, shown in Fig. 1, and cushion retracted configuration, shown in
Fig. 2. Also, the cushion 10 is configurable in any configuration intermediate
the extended and folded configurations as shown, for example, in Fig. 3.
[0024] In the cushion extended configuration, the cushion first,
second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 extend in a side by side relationship
relatively to each other so as to define a cushion first surface 18 and an
opposed cushion second surface 20. In the cushion retracted configuration,
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the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 are stacked on top
of
each other so as to define a relatively compact configuration. Therefore, the
cushion 10 is usable as a mattress in the extended configuration and
relatively
easily storable in the retracted configuration.
[0025] The cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16
are attached to each other through hinges 22 and 24, as better seen in Fig. 3.
One of the hinges 22 attaches the first and the second cushion sections 12 and
14 to each other. The other hinge 24 attaches the cushions second and third
sections 14 and 16 to each other. To allow to attain a relatively compact
folded
configuration, in some embodiments of the invention, the hinges 22 and 24 are
respectively provided substantially adjacent the cushion first and second
surfaces 18 and 20. Therefore, this configuration of the hinges 22 and 24
allows to fold the cushion 10 in the folded configuration by configuring the
cushion 10 in a substantially Z-shaped configuration.
[0026] As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the cushion 10 defines cavities 26.
More specifically, each of the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14
and 16 takes the form of an hollow shell defining a respective cavity 26.
Also,
as seen in Fig. 1, each of the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14
and 16 defines an access aperture 28 allowing an intended user to access the
cavities 26. It should be noted that although the access apertures 28 are only
shown in Fig. 1, any of the cushions illustrated in the drawings may include
such an access aperture. Alternatively, the cushion 10 does not include an
access aperture.
[0027] In some embodiments of the invention, the access aperture
28 is reversibly openable and closable using fasteners 30. Any suitable
fastener 30 may be used such as, for example, complementary patches of
miniature loop and hook material, among other possibilities.
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[0028] Referring back to Figs. 4-6, each of the cushion first, second
and third sections 12, 14 and 16 receives a respective bladder 32 within their
respective cavities 26. For example, the bladders 32 are inflatable bladders
that include a valve 36 (shown in Fig. 1) allowing to selectively inflate and
deflate the bladders 32. In some embodiments of the invention, the bladders
32 define ribs 34. Such ribs 34 allow the increase the comfort of the cushion
at relatively low costs.
[0029] The cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16
also each include a respective bedding 40. The beddings 40 define the cavities
26 and therefore are located peripherally relatively to the bladder 32.
Typically,
the bedding 40 is made out of fabric. Advantageously, the use fabric to
manufacture the bedding 40 allows to have a relatively comfortable cushion 10
while the use of an air bladder 32 allows to have a cushion 10 that is
relatively
easily storable in relatively small spaces.
[0030] Therefore, the use of a cushions having a first, a second and
third sections 12, 14 and 16 each including an inflatable bladder 32 produces
a
synergistic effect in that the cushion 10 is relatively easily storable
temporarily
in the folded configuration, usable comfortably in the extended configuration
and storable for a longer term with the bladders 32 deflated. Furthermore,
since the bladders 32 are removable through the access apertures 28, the
bedding 40 is relatively easily washed in conventional washers.
[0031] Although the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14
and 16 are substantially parallelepiped-shaped, it is within the scope of the
invention to have cushion first, second and third sections having any other
suitable shape. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention to have
cushions having any suitable numbers of sections and having cushions that
have sections that are not identically shaped.
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[0032] As shown in Figs. 7-11, the cushion 10 may take alternative
shapes. The cushion 10' shown in Figs. 7 and 10 includes two sections 12' and
14', the two sections being hingedly connected to each other. The second
section 14' is substantially larger than the first section 14. Such a cushion
is
typically usable with a deck chair (not shown in the drawings). In other
embodiments of the invention, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11, a cushion 10" is
usable with a conventional chair and therefore includes two sections 12" and
14" that are similarly shaped. Finally, as shown in Fig. 9, in some
embodiments of the invention, a cushion 10"' includes only one section.
[0033] In some embodiments of the invention, attachment ropes 38
are provided in at least one of the sections, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The
attachment ropes 38 allow to secure the cushions 10', 10" and 10"' to a chair
with which they are used.
[0034] Although the present invention has been described
hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified,
without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as
defined
in the appended claim.
