Stiffener for dry flotation cushions used in wheelchairs

Claim 2

A stiffener and support structure for improving the seating support provided by dry flotation cushions used on wheelchairs, said stiffener and support structure comprising: (a) a substantially rectangular rigid plate having a frontward section and a rearward section, said plate being adapted for positioning within a fabric covering and beneath a plurality of flotation cells provided on said dry floatation cushions for stiffening and improving seating support of said dry flotation cushions; and (b) said frontward section provided with a void for maintaining a portion of said plurality of flotation cells frontwardly located in a loose and unsupported state.

Claim 3

A stiffener and support structure for improving the seating support provided by dry flotation cushions used on wheelchairs as recited in claim 1, wherein: said substantially rectangular rigid plate is further adapted to fit in approximate registration with side frame members of a wheelchair.

Claim 4

A stiffener and support structure for improving the seating support provided by dry flotation cushions used on wheelchairs as recited in claim 1, wherein: said substantially rectangular rigid plate is manufactured from a clear, molded plastic and is designed to have chamfered corners.

Claim 5

A stiffener and support structure for improving the seating support provided by dry flotation cushions used on wheelchairs as recited in claim 1, wherein: said void provided on said frontward section has a substantially rectangular shape.

Claim 6

A stiffened and rigidly supported dry flotation cushion apparatus for use on wheelchairs, said apparatus comprising: (a) a dry flotation cushion having a fabric cover enclosing a plurality of flotation cells; and (b) a substantialy rectangular rigid plate positioned within said fabric covering, said substantially rectangular rigid plate having a frontward section and a rearward section, said substantially rectangular rigid plate being adapted for positioning within said fabric cover, beneath said plurality of flotation cells for stiffening and improving seating support of said dry flotation cushion, said frontward section being provided with a substantially rectangular shaped void for maintaining a frontwardy located portion of said plurality of flotation cells in a loose and unsupported state to allow formation of a pouch-like storage area between a frontward bottom portion of said dry flotation cushion and a seat portion of said wheelchair and said substantially rectangular rigid plate being adapted to have a width to fit in approximate registration with side frame members of a wheelchair.

Claim 7

A stiffened and rigidly supported dry flotation cushion apparatus for use on wheelchairs, said apparatus comprising: (a) a dry flotation cushion having a fabric cover enclosing a plurality of flotation cells; and (b) a substantialy rectangular rigid plate positioned within said fabric covering, said substantially rectangular rigid plate having a frontward section and a rearward section, said substantially rectangular rigid plate being adapted for positioning within said fabric cover, beneath said plurality of flotation cells for stiffening and improving seating support of said dry flotation cushion, said frontward section being provided with a substantially rectangular shaped void for maintaining a frontwardy located portion of said plurality of flotation cells in a loose and unsupported state to allow formation of a pouch-like storage area between a frontward bottom portion of said dry flotation cushion and a seat portion of said wheelchair and said substantially rectangular rigid plate being adapted to have a width to fit in approximate registration with side frame members of a wheelchair.

Claim 8

A stiffened and rigidly supported dry flotation cushion apparatus for use on wheelchairs as recited in claim 5, wherein: said substantially rectangular rigid plate is manufactured from a clear, molded plastic and is designed to have chamfered corners.

Claim 11

A method for improving support provided by dry flotation cushions used in wheelchairs, as recited in claim 7, wherein said step of providing a stiffener support structure includes: providing a substantially rectangular rigid plate for positioning within said fabric covering, said substantially rectangular rigid plate having a frontward section and a rearward section, said substantially rectagnular rigid plate being adapted for positioning within said fabric cover, beneath said plurality of flotation cells for stiffening and improving seating support of said dry flotation cushion and said substantially rectangular rigid plate being adapted to have a width to fit in approximate registration with side frame members of a wheelchair.

Claim 12

A method for improving support provided by dry flotation cushions used in wheelchairs, as recited in claim 8, wherein said step of providing a stiffener support structure further includes: providing said substantially rectangular rigid plate manufactured from a clear, molded plastic and designed to have chamfered corners.

Claim 13

A method for improving support provided by dry flotation cushions used in wheelchairs, as recited in claim 8, wherein said step of providing a pouch-like storage area includes: providing said frontward section with a substantially rectangular shaped void for maintaining a frontwardly located portion of said plurality of flotation cells in a loose and unsupported state to allow formation of said pouch-like storage area between a frontward bottom portion of said dry flotation cushion and said seat fabric of said wheelchair.