Inflatable wheelchair cushion and methods of manufacturing and use

Claim 2

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, comprising: (a) a generally flat, horizontal base member; (b) a plurality of fluid-fillable cells rising from said base member, top surfaces of said cells, when said cells are filled with fluid to one or more desired pressures, defining a seating surface having a shape generally approximating that of an inverted catenary; and (c) means to introduce pressurized fluid to said cells or groups of said cells.

Claim 3

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 1, wherein said base member comprises: (a) a lower sheet; and (b) an upper sheet, with said fluid-fillable cells formed therein, attached to said lower sheet.

Claim 4

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 2, wherein said lower and upper sheets are attached together by RF welding.

Claim 5

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 2, wherein: materials of said lower and upper sheets are selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, RF weldable polypropylene, polyurethane/vinyl blend, and other "soft handed," high compliance materials.

Claim 6

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 2, wherein: said lower layer is about 0.040-inch thick and said upper layer is preferably about 0.020-0.040-inch thick after forming.

Claim 7

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 1, wherein: said cushion weighs about two to three pounds.

Claim 8

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 1 wherein: when said cells are filled with air at about 24 inches of water pressure, said cushion can support full weight of a 200-pound person.

Claim 9

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 1, wherein: top surfaces of selected ones of said cells are below said generally flat surface so as to form a contour to support selected body portions of a patient seated on said wheelchair.

Claim 10

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 1, wherein: selected ones of said cells are grouped into at least two zones with each zone individually pressurized with fluid.

Claim 11

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 9, wherein: (a) said cells along rear and two side edges of said cushion are grouped into a first zone to be maintained at a relatively high pressure to prevent outward pronating of legs of a patient seated on said wheelchair; (b) said cells in a front center region of said cushion are grouped into a second zone to be maintained at a relatively high pressure to prevent inward pronating of legs of a patient seated on said wheelchair; (c) said cells in a right rear region of said cushion inside of said first zone are grouped into a third zone and said cells in a left rear region of said cushion inside of said first zone are grouped into a fourth zone, said third and fourth zones to support the buttocks of a patient; and (d) said cells in a right front region of said cushion inside of said first zone are grouped into a fifth zone and said cells in a left front region of said cushion inside of said first zone are grouped into a sixth zone, said fifth and sixth zones to support the thighs of a patient.

Claim 12

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 9, wherein: (a) said cells in a front center region of said cushion are grouped into a first zone to be maintained at a relatively high pressure to prevent inward pronating of legs of a patient seated on said wheelchair; (b) said cells in a right rear region of said cushion are grouped into a second zone and said cells in a left rear region of said cushion are grouped into a third zone, said second and third zones to support the buttocks of a patient; and (c) said cells in a right front region of said cushion are grouped into a fourth zone and said cells in a left front region of said cushion are grouped into a fifth zone, said fourth and fifth zones to support the thighs of a patient.

Claim 13

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 9, wherein: (a) said cells in a right rear region of said cushion are grouped into a first zone and said cells in a left rear region of said cushion are grouped into a second zone, said first second zones to support the buttocks of a patient; and (b) said cells in a right front region of said cushion are grouped into a third zone and said cells in a left front region of said cushion are grouped into a fourth zone, said third and fourth zones to support the thighs of a patient.

Claim 14

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 9, wherein: (a) said cells in a right rear region of said cushion are grouped into a first zone and said cells in a left rear region of said cushion are grouped into a second zone, said first second zones to support the buttocks of a patient; and (c) said cells in a front region of said cushion are grouped into a third zone to support the thighs of a patient.

Claim 15

An inflatable wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 9, wherein: said cells in a right region of said cushion are grouped into a first zone and said cells in a left region of said cushion are grouped into a second zone, said first and second zones to support the buttocks and legs of a patient.

Claim 18

A method, as defined in claim 15, further comprising: vacuum forming said plurality of fluid-fillable cells in said upper sheet.

Claim 19

A method, as defined in claim 15, further comprising: attaching said lower and upper sheets together by RF welding.

Claim 20

A method, as defined in claim 17, wherein: forming and RF welding of said upper and lower sheets is accomplished on planar surfaces.

Claim 21

A method, as defined in claim 15, further comprising: selecting materials of said lower and upper sheets from the group consisting of polyurethane, RF weldable polypropylene, polyurethane/vinyl blend, and other "soft handed," high compliance materials.

Claim 22

A wheelchair and wheelchair cushion, comprising: (a) a wheelchair for supporting a person thereon; (b) a wheelchair cushion cooperating with said wheelchair to provide comfortable seating for said person, said wheelchair cushion including: (i) a base member having a shape generally approximating that of a catenary; (ii) a plurality of fluid-filled cells rising from said base member, top surfaces of said cells defining a generally horizontal seating surface.

Claim 23

A wheelchair and wheelchair cushion, comprising: (a) a wheelchair for supporting a person thereon; (b) a wheelchair cushion cooperating with said wheelchair to provide comfortable seating for said person, said wheelchair cushion including: (i) a base member having a shape generally approximating that of a catenary; (ii) a plurality of fluid-filled cells rising from said base member, top surfaces of said cells defining a generally horizontal seating surface.

Claim 24

A wheelchair and wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 20, wherein: said wheelchair cushion is placed on a sling-type seat member of said wheelchair.

Claim 25

A wheelchair and wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 20, wherein: said wheelchair cushion serves as a seat member of said wheelchair and is attached to frame members thereof.

Claim 26

A wheelchair and wheelchair cushion, as defined in claim 22, wherein: said cushion has sufficient flexibility to permit folding of a wheelchair to which said cushion is attached while said cushion is so attached.