US20110094037A1

US20110094037A1 - Seat cushion

Info

Publication number: US20110094037A1
Application number: US12/837,500
Authority: US
Inventors: Fu-Chieng Chen
Original assignee: Formosa Sounding Corp
Current assignee: Formosa Sounding Corp
Priority date: 2009-10-23
Filing date: 2010-07-16
Publication date: 2011-04-28
Also published as: TWM377911U; JP3163090U

Abstract

A seat cushion includes a base board, buffering material, filling material and an enclosure portion. The base board is a hard board and has an upper surface. A convex portion is formed on the front part near the central part of the upper surface. A concave portion is formed on either side of the convex portion. The layer of the buffering material and the layer of the filling material may be arranged in various configurations on the base board. As a user sits on the cushion of the present invention, his thighs are on the concave portions and his bottom is on the rear portion of the base board. In addition, the buffering material can effectively buffer the sudden downward force exerted by our body while we sit down on the cushion.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention generally relates to a seat cushion. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved seat cushion with a base board that mimics the shapes of our thighs and bottom and in which a buffering material is used for buffering the sudden downward force exerted by our body as we sit down on the cushion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, the seat cushion is formed by foam enclosed by an enclosure portion. Therefore, the cushion can buffer the downward force exerted by our body as we sit down on the cushion.
However, the seat cushion of the prior art has the following drawbacks:
1. Because such foam has a flat surface, the cushion can not make us sit correctly on it and hence backache may occur after a long period of use.
2. If foam is too hard, it has a limited buffering effect and a user can be injured when he abruptly sits down on the cushion. In addition, discomfort usually occurs after the user sits on the cushion for a period of time.
3. If foam is too soft, the user's hip will easily sink into it. Though it has a good buffering effect, the user's range of motion may be limited by the cushion.
4. Foam becomes less flexible after a long period of use. Therefore, the cushion of the prior art can not provide enough support and discomfort would occur (a user's hip may sink deeply into the cushion as he sits down on the foam cushion).
From the above, we can see that the cushion of the prior art has many disadvantages and needs to be improved.
To eliminate the disadvantages in the prior art, the inventor has put a lot of effort into the subject and has successfully come up with the improved seat cushion of the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved seat cushion with a base board that mimics the shape of our bottom and thighs in sitting position to enable us to sit correctly on the cushion. Hence the pressure on the pelvis is reduced.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved seat cushion in which a buffering material is used to effectively buffer the sudden downward force exerted by our body as we sit down on the cushion. Therefore, injuries to our body may be avoided and we can feel quite comfortable when we sit on the cushion.
To reach the object, the improved seat cushion of the present invention is disclosed. The improved seat cushion of the present invention comprises a base board, buffering material, filling material and an enclosure portion. The base board is a hard board and has an upper surface. A convex portion is formed on the front part near the central part of the upper surface. A concave portion is formed on either side of the convex portion. An upwardly extending portion is formed in the rear part of the base board. Therefore, the base board mimics the shapes of our hip and thighs in sitting. The buffering material and filling material are provided on the base board. The layer of the buffering material and the layer of the filling material may be arranged in various configurations (side-by-side configuration, overlapping configuration, etc.). Last, the base board provided with the buffering material and filling material is enclosed in the enclosure portion. As a user sits on the cushion of the present invention, his thighs are on the concave portions and his bottom is on the rear portion of the base board. Therefore, the user may sit correctly on the cushion. In addition, the buffering material and filling material can effectively buffer the sudden downward force exerted by our body as we sit down on the cushion. Therefore, bodily injuries to our body may be avoided. Moreover, we can feel quite comfortable when we sit on the cushion due to the support provided by the buffering material, filling material and base board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are two perspective views showing the third embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are two perspective views showing the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6B are two perspective views showing the fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are two views showing the improved seat cushion of the present invention in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Please see FIGS. 1 and 2, which illustrate the first embodiment of the present invention. The improved seat cushion of the present invention comprises a base board 1, buffering material 2, filling material 3 and an enclosure portion 4.
The base board 1 is a hard board and has an upper surface 11. A convex portion 12 is formed in front of the central part of the upper surface 11. A concave portion 13 is formed on either side of the convex portion 12. An upwardly extending portion 14 is formed in the rear part of the base board 1. Therefore, the base board 1 mimics the shapes of the hip and thighs in sitting. The base board 1 is made of wood, plastic or metal.
The buffering material 2 covers the convex portion 12 and the two concave portions 13. The buffering material 2 has a high degree of flexibility and a high level of buffering effect. The buffering material 2 may have the form of a net or a solid entity as according to the actual need. Also, the buffering material 2 is made of silica gel, soft rubber, soft synthetic thermoplastic elastomer gel (or latex), PU elastomer or other flexible material.
The filling material 3 covers the areas that are not provided with the buffering material 2 on the upper surface of the base board 1. The filling material 3 is made synthetic of foam, artificial fibers or natural fibers.
The enclosure portion 4 can enclose the base board 1 provided with the buffering material 2 and filling material 3. The enclosure portion 4 is made of woven fabric or knitted fabric.
Please see FIG. 3, which illustrates the second embodiment of the present invention. The differences between the first embodiment and the second embodiment are that, in the latter, the buffering material 2 is provided on the concave portions 13 and the convex portion 12 is not provided with the buffering material 2 and filling material 3.
Please see FIGS. 4A and 4B, which illustrate the third embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the first embodiment and the third embodiment is that, in the latter, the filling material 3 and buffering material 2 are provided on the entire area (as illustrated in FIG. 4A) or certain areas (as illustrated in FIG. 4B) of the upper surface 11 of the base board 1.
Please see FIGS. 5A and 5B, which illustrate the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the fourth embodiment is that, in the latter, an additional layer of the filling material 3 is provided on top of the buffering material 2. In the fourth embodiment, these three layers are provided on the entire area (as illustrated in FIG. 5A) or certain areas (as illustrated in FIG. 5B) of the upper surface 11 of the base board 1.
Please see FIGS. 6A and 6B, which illustrate the fifth embodiment of the present invention. The difference between the third embodiment and the fifth embodiment is that, in the latter, only the buffering material 2 is used and the buffering material 2 may cover the entire area (as illustrated in FIG. 6A) or certain areas (as illustrated in FIG. 6B) of the upper surface 11 of the base board 1.
In any of the five embodiments described before, glue may be used to join the buffering material 2 and filling material 3 with the base board 1.
The enclosure portion 4 may have the form of two thin sheets. In manufacturing, the peripheries of the two sheets of the enclosure portion 4 are processed by high frequency waves or ultrasonic waves so that the enclosure portion 4 may enclose the buffering material 2, filling material 3 and hard board 1.
Alternatively, the enclosure portion 4 may have the form of an envelope. The enclosure portion 4 has at least an opening to enclose the buffering material 2, filling material 3 and hard board 1. A sealing device may be disposed by or along the opening and may seal the opening. The sealing device may be a zipper, a zipper-like design, buttons or other device.
The enclosure portion 4 is made of leather, synthetic leather or woven fabric.
Please see FIGS. 7A and 7B, which illustrate the improved seat cushion of the present invention in use. First, a user 6 places the improved seat cushion of the present invention on the sitting portion 51 of a chair 5. As he sits on the improved seat cushion, his thigh bones 61 rest on the concave portions 13 and his hip 62 rests on the rear portion of the base board 1 and is pressed against by the upwardly extending portion 14 so that he can sit correctly on the improved seat cushion. As the user 6 sits down on the improved seat cushion, the sudden downward force and his body weight may be buffered by the buffering material 2 and the filling material 3 and the buffering material 2 would become deformed so as to absorb the sudden downward force exerted by his hip and to avoid injuries to the user's sitting bones.
In comparison to the prior art, the improved seat cushion of the present invention has the following advantages:
1. In the improved seat cushion of the present invention, the base board mimics the shapes of our hip and thighs to enable us to sit correctly on the cushion.
2. The buffering material may effectively buffer the sudden downward force exerted by our body while we sit down on the cushion. Therefore, injuries to our body may be avoided and we can feel quite comfortable when we sit on the cushion.
Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be understood that these embodiments are to be regarded in an illustrative manner rather than a restrictive manner, and all variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught still fall within the scope of the present invention.
From the above, we can see that the improved seat cushion of the present invention meets the relevant patent requirements. It is hoped that the patent application will be approved.

Claims

1. A seat cushion, comprising:

a base board, having an upper surface, wherein a convex portion is formed on the front part near the central part of the upper surface and a concave part is formed on either side of the convex portion;

a buffering material, which is provided on the upper surface of the base board; and

an enclosure portion, which may enclose the base board provided with the buffering material.

2. The seat cushion as in claim 1, wherein the base board is made of wood, plastic or metal.

3. The seat cushion as in claim 1, wherein an upwardly extending portion is formed in the rear part of the base board.

4. The seat cushion as in claim 1, wherein the buffering material is made of silica gel, soft rubber, soft synthetic thermoplastic elastomer gel or latex or PU elastomer.

5. The seat cushion as in claim 1, wherein the buffering material is provided on the entire area or certain areas of the upper surface of the base board.

6. A seat cushion, comprising:

a base board, having an upper surface, wherein a convex portion is formed on the front part near the central part of the upper surface and a concave part is formed on either side of the convex portion, and wherein a buffering material and a filling material are provided on the upper surface of the base board; and

an enclosure portion, which may enclose the base board provided with the buffering material and the filling material.

7. The seat cushion as in claim 6, wherein the base board is made of wood, plastic or metal.

8. The seat cushion as in claim 6, wherein an upwardly extending portion is formed in the rear part of the base board.

9. The seat cushion as in claim 6, wherein the buffering material is provided on the convex portion and the two concave portions and the filling material is provided on the areas not covered by the buffering material.

10. The seat cushion as in claim 6, wherein the buffering material is provided only on the two concave portions and the filling material is provided on the areas not covered by the buffering material and is not provided on the convex portion.

11. The seat cushion as in claim 6, wherein, in manufacturing, a layer of the filling material is first put on the upper surface of the base board and then a layer of the buffering material is put on top of the layer of the filling material.

12. The seat cushion as in claim 6, wherein, in manufacturing, a layer of the filling material is first put on the upper surface of the base board and then a layer of the buffering material is put on top of the layer of the filling material and another layer of the filling material is put on top of the layer of the buffering material.