US 5,052,068 · Granted 1991-10-01
The Inflatable Cushion That Maps Your Rear End
Imagine a seat cushion made of tiny balloons arranged in a pattern that actually fits the shape of your body. Different zones of these inflatable cells work together to cradle your buttocks and thighs in all the right places, so you can sit comfortably for hours without your legs falling asleep.
The plain-English version
What it protects
The claim covers a cushion design made up of inflatable cells of varying heights arranged in two separate zones on a rectangular base. What's protected is the specific layout: long cells forming the outer perimeter and sides, with shorter cells creating a depression in the middle, plus special troughs on either side of a central 'abductor section.' The two zones are internally connected within themselves but deliberately isolated from each other, giving each zone independent inflation control.
Why it matters
This patent addresses a real ergonomic problem: standard flat cushions don't support the human body's actual shape, leading to pressure points and circulation problems during long sitting. By engineering a contoured surface through strategically sized and zoned air cells, the design distributes weight more evenly and reduces the numbness and pain that come from prolonged sitting. The compartmentalization of zones means users can adjust firmness in different body areas independently.
Real-world use
You'd encounter this technology in car seats, office chairs, wheelchairs, or any seating designed for all-day comfort where preventing pressure sores and circulation loss matters.
Original USPTO abstract
A contoured cellular cushion has a base and flexible cells, which are inflatable, projecting upwardly from the base. The base is rectangular and the cells are arranged in front-to-rear and transverse rows upon its. Moreover, the cells are preferably organized into two zones--an outer zone and an inner zone--with the cells of each zone being interconnected amongst themselves, but not with the cells of the other zone. The outer zone includes long cells which lie along the sides of the base in side sections and also in an abductor section between the side sections near the front margin. The shorter cells of the inner zone occupy the remainder of the base and produce a depression between the side sections and behind the abductor section of the outer zone, and troughs on each side of the abductor section. When one sits upon the cushion, the side sections of the outer zone cradle the individual such that the boney protuberances of the buttocks rest on the short cells of the depression, while the thighs extend through the troughs, being spread slightly by the abductor section. The contour formed by the cells of varying length is ideally suited for seating. All of the cells may be in communication in a single zone.
Patent details
- Publication number
- US 5,052,068
- Filing date
- 1991-02-11
- Grant date
- 1991-10-01
- Assignee
- Graebe Robert H
- Inventor(s)
- GRAEBE; ROBERT H.
- CPC class
- A47C7/021
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