US3661422A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-adjustment for body support cushion
Assignee: PTC Aerospace Inc
•
Filing: 1970-07-20
•
Granted: 1972-05-09
•
Expires: 1990-07-20
Abstract
Abstract In combination with a body support cushion unit where open-cell foam is used in an air-tight envelope and a manually controllable valving means in a passageway to the envelope is utilized so as to regulate flow of ambient air pressure into and out of the foam, there is additionally provided a special valving device as a part of the valving means for the unit which includes a separate movable blocking member seatable over a separate small bleed-in orifice. Thus, when there is no weight on the cushion unit and no back pressure on the member over the bleed-in orifice the latter can permit a slow metered flow of air into the opencell foam as long as it is under a vacuum condition, while, conversely, any pressure on the foam will cause a back pressure condition and a seating of the movable blocking member over the bleed-in orifice.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph Sember
- 👤 Eugene R Mcgregor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 01:23
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47C; A47C7/00; A47C7/36; A47C7/40; A47C7/407; A47C7/46; A47C7/467; B; B60; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/70; B60N2/7005; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/877; Y10T137/87829; Y10T137/87837; Y10T137/87861
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In a weight responsive support cushion unit that is adapted for supporting a particular portion of the human body, where open-cell foam cushion material is maintained in an air-tight envelope, an ambient air passageway means is provided to said envelope and a manually controllable valving means is connective with the passageway to regulate flow of ambient air pressure into and out of said envelope, the improvement in the valving means for the unit, which comprises in combination, a body member with an air-inlet-outlet means to the interior thereof, a manually movable plug member, movement means connective to the latter to permit air flow into and out from said body through said inletoutlet means, a separate small area bleed-in orifice to the interior of said valve body, and a separate displaceable orifice covering means for the interior face of said bleed-in orifice, whereby a vacuum condition in said envelope provides for an inward ambient air flow through the bleed-in orifice and said passageway and, conversely, a weight pressure on said envelope provides a back pressure and seating of said covering means over said orifice.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a weight responsive support cushion unit that is adapted for supporting a particular portion of the human body, where open-cell foam cushion material is maintained in an air-tight envelope, an ambient air passageway means is provided to said envelope and a manually controllable valving means is connective with the passageway to regulate flow of ambient air pressure into and out of said envelope, the improvement in the valving means for the unit, which comprises in combination, a body member with an air-inlet-outlet means to the interior thereof, a manually movable plug member, movement means connective to the latter to permit air flow into and out from said body through said inletoutlet means, a separate small area bleed-in orifice to the interior of said valve body, and a separate displaceable orifice covering means for the interior face of said bleed-in orifice, whereby a vacuum condition in said envelope provides for an inward ambient air flow through the bleed-in orifice and said passageway and, conversely, a weight pressure on said envelope provides a back pressure and seating of said covering means over said orifice.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The weight responsive support cushion unit of claim 1 further characterized in that the displaceable orifice covering means comprises a spring biased plug member capable of being displaced from the interior of the bleed-in orifice at such times as there is a vacuum condition with respect to ambient air around the valving means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
57 words
The weight responsive support cushion unit of claim 1 further characterized in that said separate displaceable orifice covering means is a flexible diaphragm member capable of being flexibly pushed against the interior of the bleed-in orifice to seal the latter and alternatively lift therefrom under vacuum conditions whereby to permit a bleed-in of air to the unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The weight responsive support cushion unit of claim 1 further characterized in that the bleed-in orifice comprises a plurality of small openings in a spaced clustered arrangement, whereby said covering means can provide the sealing or opening of the bleed-in orifice openings.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-09 | 1975-11-08 | 1976-05-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-09 | 1979-11-08 | 1980-05-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-09 | 1983-11-08 | 1984-05-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |