Seating system

Claim 2

In a seating system having a base member with an upper surface and a pad positioned on said upper surface to receive and support a user's buttocks including the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx, the improvement wherein said pad includes at least three separate and distinct pouches containing a fluid having a viscosity of at least one and means for positioning a first of said three pouches under one of the user's ischial tuberosities, a second of said three pouches under the other of the user's ischial tuberosities, and a third of said three pouches under the user's coccyx, each pouch including means for sealing the fluid within each pouch to prevent fluid communication with the fluid in the other two pouches wherein each pouch has at least portions thereof respectively positioned immediately adjacent a portion of each of the other two pouches.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the sealing means of at least one pouch and the sealing means of another pouch include a common sealing seam.

Claim 4

The seating system of claim 1 wherein the respective sealing means of said first and third pouches include a common sealing seam.

Claim 5

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the sealing means of each adjacent pouch portion include a common sealing seam between the respective adjacent portions.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the first and second pouches are substantially the same size.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the seating system receives and supports the user's buttocks including each half side of the user's buttocks and said first pouch is dimensioned substantially the same size as one of the half sides of the user's buttocks.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said second pouch is dimensioned substantially the same size as the other half side of the user's buttocks.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the third pouch is smaller than each of the respective first and second pouches.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the first and second pouches are filled with substantially the same volume of fluid.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the volume of fluid in the third pouch is less than the volume in each of the respective first and second pouches.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 1 wherein the shape of the third pouch is substantially triangular.

Claim 13

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said first and second pouches have portions straddling said third pouch on each side thereof.

Claim 14

The improvement of claim 1 wherein said fluid is a highly viscous liquid.

Claim 15

The seating system of claim 3 wherein the upper surface of said base member extends outwardly on each side of a central plane passing through said upper surface and said pad is positioned on said upper surface with said first and third pouches having the common sealing seam therebetween extending outwardly of the central plane.

Claim 16

The seating system of claim 14 wherein said common sealing seam extends outwardly of said central plane at substantially 60 degrees.

Claim 17

The seating system of claim 15 wherein the respective sealing means of said second and third pouches include a common sealing seam and said positioning means positions said three pouches on the upper surface of said base member with the common sealing seams of said first and third pouches and of said second and third pouches extending outwardly of said central plane on opposite sides thereof.

Claim 18

The seating system of claim 16 wherein said common sealing seam between said second and third pouches extends outwardly of said central plane at substantially 60 degrees.

Claim 19

The seating system of claim 16 wherein the respective sealing means of said first and second pouches includes a common sealing seam and said positioning means positions said three pouches on the upper surface of said base member with the common sealing seam of said first and second pouches lying substantially in said central plane.

Claim 20

The seating system of claim 3 wherein the respective sealing means of said second and third pouches include a common sealing seam.

Claim 21

A seating system for supporting a user's buttocks including the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx, said seating system including means for respectively supporting each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx on one of at least three separate and distinct pouches, each pouch containing a fluid having a viscosity of at least one and further having sealing means for containing the fluid within each pouch to isolate and prevent fluid communication with the fluid in the other two pouches, said seating system further including a base member with an upper surface and means for positioning said pouches on said upper surface of said base member, said upper surface of the base member having three areas dimensioned to substantially correspond to the areas of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx and said positioning means positions a first of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to one of the user's ischial tuberosities, a second of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the other of the user's ischial tuberosities, and a third of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the user's coccyx whereby each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx is respectively supported on one of the three separate and distinct pouches wherein the respective sealing means of said first and third pouches include a common sealing seam, the respective sealing means of said second and third pouches include a common sealing seam, and the respective sealing means of said first and second pouches include a common sealing seam.

Claim 22

A seating system for supporting a user's buttocks including the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx, said seating system including means for respectively supporting each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx on one of at least three separate and distinct pouches, each pouch containing a fluid having a viscosity of at least one and further having sealing means for containing the fluid within each pouch to isolate and prevent fluid communication with the fluid in the other two pouches, said seating system further including a base member with an upper surface and means for positioning said pouches on said upper surface of said base member, said upper surface of the base member having three areas dimensioned to substantially correspond to the areas of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx and said positioning means positions a first of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to one of the user's ischial tuberosities, a second of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the other of the user's ischial tuberosities, and a third of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the user's coccyx whereby each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx is respectively supported on one of the three separate and distinct pouches wherein the respective sealing means of said first and third pouches include a common sealing seam, the respective sealing means of said second and third pouches include a common sealing seam, and the respective sealing means of said first and second pouches include a common sealing seam.

Claim 23

The seating system of claim 20 wherein each of said first and second pouches respectively extends substantially in the range of three to five inches outwardly of said central plane.

Claim 24

The seating system of claim 20 wherein each of said first and second pouches respectively extends substantially in the range of five to seven inches along an axis extending in said central plane.

Claim 25

The seating system of claim 20 wherein said positioning means positions said third pouch to substantially straddle said central plane with portions of said third pouch extending outwardly of said central plane on each side thereof.

Claim 26

The seating system of claim 23 wherein said third pouch extends substantially two inches outwardly of said central plane on each side thereof.

Claim 27

The seating system of claim 20 wherein said first and second pouches are substantially mirror images of each other.

Claim 28

The seating system of claim 20 wherein said first and second pouches have portions straddling said third pouch on each side thereof.

Claim 29

The seating system of claim 27 wherein the seating system supports the user's buttocks including each half side of the user's buttocks and said first pouch is dimensioned substantially the same size as one of the half sides of the user's buttocks.

Claim 30

The seating system of claim 27 wherein said second pouch is dimensioned substantially the same size as the other half side of the user's buttocks.

Claim 31

The seating system of claim 20 wherein the shape of the third pouch is substantially triangular.

Claim 32

The seating system of claim 20 wherein said fluid is a highly viscous liquid.

Claim 33

The seating system of claim 20 wherein said upper surface of said base member is contoured.

Claim 34

A seating system for supporting a user's buttocks including the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx, said seating system including means for respectively supporting each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx on one of at least three separate and distinct pouches, each pouch containing a fluid having a viscosity of at least one and further having sealing means for containing the fluid within each pouch to isolate and prevent fluid communication with the fluid in the other two pouches, said seating system further including a base member with an upper surface and means for positioning said pouches on said upper surface of said base member, said upper surface of the base member having three areas dimensioned to substantially correspond to the areas of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx and said positioning means positions a first of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to one of the user's ischial tuberosities, a second of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the other of the user's ischial tuberosities, and a third of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the user's coccyx whereby each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx is respectively supported on one of the three separate and distinct pouches, said upper surface of said base member extending outwardly on each side of a central plane passing through said upper surface and said positioning means positions said first and second pouches on said upper surface to extent outwardly of said central plane on opposite sides thereof, said seating system further including at least two additional pouches containing fluid and means for positioning one of said additional pouches outwardly of said first pouch relative to said central plane and means for positioning the second of said additional pouches outwardly of said second pouch relative to said central plane.

Claim 35

A seating system for supporting a user's buttocks including the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx, said seating system including means for respectively supporting each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx on one of at least three separate and distinct pouches, each pouch containing a fluid having a viscosity of at least one and further having sealing means for containing the fluid within each pouch to isolate and prevent fluid communication with the fluid in the other two pouches, said seating system further including a base member with an upper surface and means for positioning said pouches on said upper surface of said base member, said upper surface of the base member having three areas dimensioned to substantially correspond to the areas of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx and said positioning means positions a first of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to one of the user's ischial tuberosities, a second of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the other of the user's ischial tuberosities, and a third of said three pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the user's coccyx whereby each of the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx is respectively supported on one of the three separate and distinct pouches, said upper surface of said base member extending outwardly on each side of a central plane passing through said upper surface and said positioning means positions said first and second pouches on said upper surface to extent outwardly of said central plane on opposite sides thereof, said seating system further including at least two additional pouches containing fluid and means for positioning one of said additional pouches outwardly of said first pouch relative to said central plane and means for positioning the second of said additional pouches outwardly of said second pouch relative to said central plane.

Claim 36

The seating system of claim 32 wherein said one additional pouch extends along an axis extending in said central plane for a distance substantially greater than said first pouch extends along said axis.

Claim 37

The seating system of claim 33 wherein said second additional pouch extends along said axis extending in said central plane for a distance substantially greater than said second pouch extends along said axis.

Claim 38

The seating system of claim 32 wherein said first pouch and said one additional pouch share a common sealing seam.

Claim 39

The seating system of claim 35 wherein said second pouch and said second additional pouch share a common sealing seam.

Claim 40

The seating system of claim 32 wherein the upper surface of said base member has two additional areas substantially corresponding to the areas of the user's left femur including trochanter and the user's right femur including trochanter and said seating system further means for positioning one of said additional pouches substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the user's left femur including trochanter and said second additional pouch substantially over the area of the upper surface corresponding to the user's right femur including trochanter.

Claim 41

The seating system of claim 32 wherein said fluid is a highly viscous liquid.

Claim 42

The seating system of claim 32 wherein said upper surface of said base member is contoured.

Claim 43

In a seating system having a base member with an upper surface and a pad positioned on said upper surface to receive and support a user's buttocks including the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx, the improvement wherein said pad includes at least three separate and distinct pouches containing a fluid having a viscosity of at least one and means for positioning a first of said three pouches under one of the user's ischial tuberosities, a second of said three pouches under the other of the user's ischial tuberosities, and a third of said three pouches under the user's coccyx, each pouch including means for sealing the fluid within each pouch to prevent fluid communication with the fluid in the other two pouches wherein each sealing means includes a sealing seam and said sealing seam for each pouch has at least a common portion with the sealing seam of each of the other two pouches.

Claim 44

In a seating system having a base member with an upper surface and a pad positioned on said upper surface to receive and support a user's buttocks including the user's ischial tuberosities and coccyx, the improvement wherein said pad includes at least three separate and distinct pouches containing a fluid having a viscosity of at least one and means for positioning a first of said three pouches under one of the user's ischial tuberosities, a second of said three pouches under the other of the user's ischial tuberosities, and a third of said three pouches under the user's coccyx, each pouch including means for sealing the fluid within each pouch to prevent fluid communication with the fluid in the other two pouches wherein each sealing means includes a sealing seam and said sealing seam for each pouch has at least a common portion with the sealing seam of each of the other two pouches.

Claim 45

The improvement of claim 40 wherein said fluid is a highly viscous liquid.