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US5500965A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Cushion

Assignee: Pegasus Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-09-28
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Granted: 1996-03-26
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Expires: 2013-09-28
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Abstract

Abstract A cushion for the seat of a chair is provided, having at least two groups of cyclically inflatable tubes (4, 6, 8, 10), each group comprising at least one tube. Control means (18) inflates and deflates each group sequentially. The cushion also has a buffer chamber (12, 14) maintained by the control means (18) in communication with the inflated group or groups of cyclically inflatable tubes. The buffer chamber comprises at least one inflatable buffer tube which provides a part of the sitting surface of the chair.

Inventors

  • 👤 Angus P. D. Hannagan
  • 👤 Michael A. McGrath

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 09:19
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61G; A61G7/00; A61G7/05; A61G7/057; A61G7/05769; A61G7/05776; A61G5/00; A61G5/10; A61G5/1043; A61G5/1045; A61G5/1054

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
A cushion for the seat of a chair having at least two groups of cyclically inflatable tubes (4,6,8,10), each group comprising at least one tube, and control means (18) for inflating and deflating said groups sequentially, characterized in that said cushion further has a buffer chamber (12,14) which is maintained by said control means (18) in communication with the inflated group or groups of said cyclically inflatable tubes, said buffer chamber comprising at least one inflatable buffer tube which provides a part of the sitting surface of the chair.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
A cushion for the seat of a chair having at least two groups of cyclically inflatable tubes (4,6,8,10), each group comprising at least one tube, and control means (18) for inflating and deflating said groups sequentially, characterized in that said cushion further has a buffer chamber (12,14) which is maintained by said control means (18) in communication with the inflated group or groups of said cyclically inflatable tubes, said buffer chamber comprising at least one inflatable buffer tube which provides a part of the sitting surface of the chair.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 24 words
A cushion according to claim 1 wherein said buffer chamber comprises two said buffer tubes (12,14) which both provide part of the sitting surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 29 words
A cushion according to claim 2 wherein the buffer chamber comprises two inflatable tubes (12,14) arranged respectively on opposite sides of the first and second groups of tubes (4,6,8,10).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A cushion according to claim 3 wherein said opposite sides are opposite lateral sides of the cushion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 77 words
A cushion according to claim 1 wherein said cyclically inflatable tubes (4,6,8,10) are arranged in side-by-side relationship and oriented in a direction corresponding to the front-to-back direction of the chair seat, the tubes (4,6) of a first said group being a single tube or two or more adjacent tubes and the tubes (8,10) of the or each other said group being at least two spaced apart tubes arranged on opposite sides of said first group of tubes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 39 words
A cushion according to claim 5 wherein there are two said groups of said cyclically inflatable tubes, two inner such tubes (4,6) forming the first group of tubes and two outer tubes (8,10) forming the second group of tubes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A cushion according to claim 1 wherein at least the cyclically inflatable tubes (4,6,8,10) are pre-formed to have a rectangular cross-section when inflated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 38 words
A cushion according to claim 1 wherein said control means (18) effect an inflation sequence of said cyclically inflatable tubes (4,6,8,10) in which for at least one period of time all said cyclically inflatable tubes are simultaneously inflated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 35 words
A cushion according to claim 8 wherein in said inflation sequence, the period during which each said group of cyclically inflatable tubes is inflated is longer than the period during which that group is deflated.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 16 words
A seat for a chair, for example a wheelchair, comprising a cushion according to claim 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 26 words
A seat according to claim 10 having a base (22) supporting at least said cyclically inflatable tubes (4,6,8,10), said base (22) carrying said control means (18).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 44 words
A seat according to claim 11 wherein, of said control means (18), at least a power source, an air pump driven by said power source and a distributor of air to said cyclically inflatable tubes are carried by said base (22) underneath said cushion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 13 words
A chair, for example a wheelchair, having a seat according to claim 10.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-03-26 1999-09-25 2000-03-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-03-26 2003-09-25 2004-03-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-03-26 2007-09-25 2008-03-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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