Patent US5121962A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5121962A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cushion for absorbing shock damping vibration and distributing pressure
Assignee: Spenco Medical Corp
•
Filing: 1989-10-13
•
Granted: 1992-06-16
•
Expires: 2009-10-13
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a cushion for absorbing energy to dampen vibration, distribute pressure and absorb shock. The cushion has a deformable polyurethane bladder which defines a chamber adapted to contain a fluid, such as air. A piece of viscoelastic material, such as a highly plasticized PVC gel, may be located inside the bladder so that when air is introduced into the chamber, the cushion is capable of absorbing energy to dampen low amplitude vibration, distribute pressure and absorb high amplitude shock. The cushion has a valve in fluid communication with the chamber for selectively varying the amount of air so that the shock absorbing capability of the cushion may be varied. Various embodiments incorporating the cushion are disclosed, including a removable bicycle saddle pad, a bicycle saddle, a wheelchair seat pad and a cyclist's glove.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederic J. Weber
- 👤 Edmund R. Burke
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 05:19
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62J; B62J1/00; B62J1/18; B62J1/26; A; A41; A41D; A41D19/00; A41D19/015; A41D19/01523; F; F16; F16F; F16F9/00; F16F9/30; A41D2600/00; A41D2600/10; A41D2600/104; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S5/00; Y10S5/909
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
73 words
A removable bicycle saddle pad comprising a cushion for dampening vibration, distributing pressure and absorbing shock, the cushion including a deformable bladder having a chamber adapted to contain fluid, a viscoelastic material disposed within the bladder, and valve means for selectively varying the amount of fluid in the chamber to enable the shock absorbing capability of the cushion to be varied; and attachment means for removably securing the cushion to a bicycle saddle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
73 words
A removable bicycle saddle pad comprising a cushion for dampening vibration, distributing pressure and absorbing shock, the cushion including a deformable bladder having a chamber adapted to contain fluid, a viscoelastic material disposed within the bladder, and valve means for selectively varying the amount of fluid in the chamber to enable the shock absorbing capability of the cushion to be varied; and attachment means for removably securing the cushion to a bicycle saddle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The pad of claim 1 wherein the attachment means comprises a skirt of elastic material extending from the perimeter flange of the cushion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The pad of claim 1, further comprising a cover in sliding contact with the cushion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The pad of claim 3, wherein the cover comprises a mixed cell foam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The removable bicycle saddle pad of claim 1, wherein the viscoelastic material comprises a minor portion of polyvinylchloride resin and a major portion of dialkyl phthalate plasticizer in a weight ratio of plasticizer to resin of from about 7:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
148 words
A removable bicycle saddle pad, comprising: a cushion for dampening vibration, distributing pressure and absorbing shock, the cushion including: (a) a deformable bladder having a chamber adapted to contain air, the deformable bladder formed of a polyurethane film; (b) a viscoelastic material disposed within the chamber, the viscoelastic material including a minor portion of polyvinylchloride resin and a major portion of dialkyl phthalate plasticizer in a weight ratio of plasticizer to resin of form about 7:1 to about 10:1; and (c) valve means for selectively varying the amount of air in the chamber to enable the shock absorbing capability of the cushion to be varied; a cover constructed of a natural rubber, mixed cell foam laminate; and attachment means for removably securing the cushion and the cover to a bicycle saddle, the attachment means including a skirt of elastic material extending from the perimeter edge of the bladder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A removable bicycle saddle pad, comprising: a cushion for dampening vibration, distributing pressure and absorbing shock, the cushion including: (a) a deformable bladder having a chamber adapted to contain air, the deformable bladder formed of a polyurethane film; (b) a viscoelastic material disposed within the chamber, the viscoelastic material including a minor portion of polyvinylchloride resin and a major portion of dialkyl phthalate plasticizer in a weight ratio of plasticizer to resin of form about 7:1 to about 10:1; and (c) valve means for selectively varying the amount of air in the chamber to enable the shock absorbing capability of the cushion to be varied; a cover constructed of a natural rubber, mixed cell foam laminate; and attachment means for removably securing the cushion and the cover to a bicycle saddle, the attachment means including a skirt of elastic material extending from the perimeter edge of the bladder.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
67 words
A cushion for dampening vibration, distributing pressure and absorbing shock comprising: a deformable bladder having a chamber adapted to contain a fluid; and a viscoelastic material disposed within the bladder, wherein the viscoelastic material is a gel comprising a minor portion of polyvinylchloride resin and a major portion of dialkyl phthalate plasticizer in a weight ratio of plasticizer to resin of from about 7:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
A cushion for dampening vibration, distributing pressure and absorbing shock comprising: a deformable bladder having a chamber adapted to contain a fluid; and a viscoelastic material disposed within the bladder, wherein the viscoelastic material is a gel comprising a minor portion of polyvinylchloride resin and a major portion of dialkyl phthalate plasticizer in a weight ratio of plasticizer to resin of from about 7:1 to about 10:1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cushion for dampening vibration, distributing pressure, and absorbing shock comprising: a deformable bladder having a chamber adapted to contain fluid; a viscoelastic material disposed within the bladder; and valve means for selectively varying the amount of fluid within the chamber to enable the shock absorbing capability of the cushion to be modified.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
53 words
A cushion for dampening vibration, distributing pressure, and absorbing shock comprising: a deformable bladder having a chamber adapted to contain fluid; a viscoelastic material disposed within the bladder; and valve means for selectively varying the amount of fluid within the chamber to enable the shock absorbing capability of the cushion to be modified.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1322959A
Cited
US595111A
Cited
US602732A
Cited
US622913A
Cited
US542613A
Cited
DE95352C
Cited
US630266A
Cited
FR586813A
Cited
DE433697C
Cited
CH123440A
Cited
US2173224A
Cited
CH191718A
Cited
US2314046A
Cited
US2343996A
Cited
US2558389A
Cited
CA929287A
Cited
US3856348A
Cited
US4471578A
Cited
FR2367650A1
Cited
DE3001693A1
Cited
US4319781A
Cited
US4429915A
Cited
US4611851A
Cited
US4451083A
Cited
FR2551717A1
Cited
DE3436332A1
Cited
US4756949A
Cited
US4808469A
Cited
US4786104A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-06-16 | 1995-12-16 | 1996-06-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-06-16 | 1999-12-16 | 2000-06-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-06-16 | 2003-12-16 | 2004-06-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |