US2612645A - Reclining air cushion - Google Patents

Description

Oct 7, 1952 G. L. BOLAND RECLINING AIR CUSHION Filed Sept. 13, 1949 INVENTOh n Gus L..BoZand ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 7, 1.952

UNITED "STATES PATEurportion r 2,612,645 I I i a RECLINING AIR CUSHION Gus Leslie Boland, Modesto, Calif. V Application September 13, 1949, Serial No. 115,386.12.

, 2 Claims.

This invention is directed to, and it is an object to provide, anovel air cushion for the com fort of a personreclining thereagainst; such air cushion being normally'inflat ed, but adaptedfor deflation and folding into a compact, light-weight bundle for carrying or storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reclining air cushion which is of novel compartmented construction to assure of firmness or stability of the cushion when in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a reclining air cushion which is secured at its lower and front edge to a forwardly projecting, flexible apron adapted to engage under a persons body whereby to prevent displacement of the cushion from beneath the head.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a reclining air cushion designed for ease and economy of manufacture; such design being simple but very practical for the intended purpose.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a reclining air cushion which may be readily inflated by mouth; a flexible, projecting valve stem being included for this purpose. I I

. A further object of the invention is a convenient and reliable reclining air cushion, and one which will be exceedingly effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and'relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the reclining air cushion, partly broken away.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partly broken away, of the cushion.

Referring now more particularly to'the characters of reference on the drawings, the novel, reclining air cushion comprises an air-tight assembly or envelope, indicated generally at I, which envelope is normally inflated.

The envelope I, constructed in detail as hereinafter described, is fabricated from a lightweight but flexible air-tight material, preferably thin plastic sheet such as is now available.

The envelope I is substantially rectangular in plan and is of forwardly tapering, substantially wedge shape, as shown; such envelope comprising a top or front panel 2, a bottom 3, side panels 4, and a back wall 5. These parts are sealed together at adjacent edges in air-tight relationship.

The wedge-shaped envelope I is separated internally into a plurality of longitudinal comto provide partments 6 by means of a plurality of-upstanding, longitudinal, forwardly tapering partition I. The partitions I are secured in sealed or air-tight relation at the edges with the adjacent parts of the envelope such; partitions serving-together with the side panelsto afford stability to the cushion and to maintain its shape when'thesame isinuse. H

Each partition 1 includes an air bleed hole 8 therethrough, whereby to permit of inflation or deflation of the cushion from the valve stem unit hereinafter described; such air bleed holes allowing of equalization of the air pressure in the cushion.

The back wall 5 of the envelope I is rounded outwardly between the upper and lower rear edges of the cushion; this rounding not only imparting a pleasing appearance to the cushion, but also enhancing its stability.

An apron 9 of flexible sheet material, such as the plastic sheet from which the envelope I is fabricated, or of cloth, is secured to, and projects in symmetrical relation forwardly from, the front lower edge II] of said envelope I. The flexible apron 9 is preferably. rectangular in shape and is of suflicient length to lie some distance beneath v a persons body when the head or shoulders are reclining against the air cushion. The apron 9,

with the weight of the persons body imposed thereon, thus prevents the cushion from displacement when in use.

One of the side panels 4 is fitted with a flexible valve stem II having an attachment flange I2 at its inner end, which flange is vulcanized orotherwise secured to said side panel 4, with the valve stem in communication with the adjacent compartment 6. At its outer end the valve stem I I includes a. valve I3 fitted with a screw cap It.

Through the medium of the above described valve stem arrangement, the envelope 1, which comprises the air cushion, may be filled by mouth with air; the air as delivered into the near compartment 6 equalizing in the cushion by flowing into the other compartments through the air bleed holes 8, as previously described.

When it is desired to deflate the cushion the valve 13 is opened and the cushion is then rolled or folded into a compact light-weight bundle which is easy tocarry and store.

When the cushion. is inflated and use it provides a very convenient and comfortable back or head support for a person; the apron 9 assuring that the cushion remain in any selected position of use.

The cushion is very practical and effective for the present and preferred construction of the article of manufacture, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as 'do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by'the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A reclining air cushion comprising an air tight envelope of flexible material and forwardly tapering substantially wedge shape, saidenvelope including a top panel, a bottom panel, side panels, and a back Wall; and a plurality of laterally spaced, upstanding wedge shaped partitions secured-in the envelope and extending iromback to front of the envelope and separating the same internally into a plurality of separate compartments extending from back to front of the envelope, there being restricted air passage means between adjacent compartments. 1

2. A reclining air cushion comprising a normallyinfiated envelope including top and bottom panels of flexible material disposed in relatively sharp diverging relation from a junction with each other at one end, and a flexible apron sheet extending as a continuation of one of the envelope panels from said junction; the length and width of the top panel being such as to accommodatethe head, shoulders, and adjacent portion of the back of a person inclined on the apron.

GUS LESLIE B-OLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 1,156,523 Clements Oct. 12, 1915 1,382,531 Newborn June 21, 1921 2,167,178 7 Kohlstadt j July 25, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country .Date

298,584 Great Britain Sept. 21, 1933

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