Patent US5500965A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5500965A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cushion
Assignee: Pegasus Ltd
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Filing: 1993-09-28
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Granted: 1996-03-26
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Expires: 2013-09-28
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 09:31
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.
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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 |