US6026527A — Gelatinous cushions with buckling columns

Claim 1

Independent Claim 208 words

A yieldable cushioning element that includes a flexible, resilient, gel cushioning media having shape memory and being substantially solid and non-flowable at temperatures below 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the cushioning element comprising: a quantity of gel cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being compressible so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein at least one of said columns is positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axis is positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; and wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 208 words

A yieldable cushioning element that includes a flexible, resilient, gel cushioning media having shape memory and being substantially solid and non-flowable at temperatures below 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the cushioning element comprising: a quantity of gel cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being compressible so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein at least one of said columns is positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axis is positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; and wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 54 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one other of said columns is positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axis is positioned generally non-parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by the cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 30 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said column ends of at least one of said columns is open to said column interior.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 28 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein both of said column ends of at least one of said columns is open to said column interior.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 41 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 4, wherein said column interior is hollow so that air may pass through said column to one of said column ends to ventilate a cushioned object in contact with said one column end.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 26 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said gel cushioning medium is selected from the group consisting of gelatinous elastomers and gelatinous visco-elastomers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 25 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushioning medium generally retains its structure at normal useable temperatures of the cushioning element.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 23 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushioning medium does not escape from a puncture on said cushioning element.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 52 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein a cross section of one of said columns taken orthogonal to said longitudinal axis of said column has a shape selected from the group consisting of triangular, square, rectangular, pentagonal, heptagonal, octagonal, round, oval, and n-sided polygonal where n is an integer.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 63 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushioning element has shape memory so that when a cushioned object is removed from contact with the cushioning element, the cushioning element has a tendency to return to a shape that approximates the shape of the cushioning element before the cushioning element and the cushioned object came into contact with each other.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 49 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein the cushioning element is configured to have a low overall thermal mass and a low rate of thermal transfer, compared to the rate of thermal transfer of solid gel cushioning elements, in order to provide a comfortable cushioning element.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 53 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said columns has a column interior that has a greater measurement orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of that column at a first point on the longitudinal axis of the column than at a second point on said longitudinal axis.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 28 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 12, wherein said column is tapered between the first of said column ends and the second of said column ends.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 12, wherein said column is stepped between the first of said column ends and the second of said column ends.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 40 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein both ends of at least one column are sealed so that said column interior is not in direct fluid or gas communication with a region outside of said column interior.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 15, wherein said column interior contains a quantity of fluid cushioning medium therein.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 88 words

A cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said columns has a firmness protrusion located at one of said column ends, said firmness protrusion being adapted to provide support within said column when said column buckles under a compressive force so that the cushioning element can readily yield in the vicinity of said column under a cushioned object until the cushioned object begins to compress said firmness protrusion, whereupon said firmness protrusion retards further movement of the cushioned object into the cushioning element.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said columns is adapted to buckle by having a portion of its column wall bulge outward away from the column interior.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 34 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said columns is adapted to buckle by having a portion of its column wall bulge inward toward the column interior.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 30 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of said columns is adapted to yield along its longitudinal axis by buckling of its column wall.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 50 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein the cushioning element has a total volume contained within the boundaries of the cushioning element top, bottom and outer periphery and wherein said cushioning element total volume is occupied by not more than about 50% by volume of cushioning medium.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 23 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushioning medium has a Shore A hardness of less than about 15.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 23 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushioning medium has a Shore A hardness of less than about 3.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushioning medium comprises a triblock copolymer and a plasticizer.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 40 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 24, wherein said cushioning medium comprises about one part by weight triblock copolymer and about one to about 25 parts by weight plasticizer, based on the total weight of the cushioning medium.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 44 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 25, wherein said copolymer is selected from the group consisting of polystyrene-poly(ethylene/butylene)-polystyrene, polystyrene-polyethylene-polystyrene, medium includes a blowing agent such as SAFOAM® FP-40, which is added to the non-liquid polystyrene-polypropylene-polystyrene, polystyrene-polybutadiene-polystyrene, polystyrene-polybutylene-polystyrene, polystyrene-polyisoprene-polystyrene, polystyrene-poly(ethylene/propylene)-polystyrene, polystyrene-poly(isoprene+butadiene)-polystyrene and polystyrene-poly(ethylene/butylene+ethylene/propylene)-polystyrene.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 15 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 25, wherein said copolymer is polystyrene-hydrogenated poly(isoprene+butadiene)-polystyrene.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 14 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 25, wherein said copolymer is polystyrene-poly(ethylene/butylene)-polystyrene.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 17 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushioning medium comprises a gelatinous visco-elastomer.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 14 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 29, and further comprising a cover.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 24 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 1, wherein said cushioning medium is a lightweight flowable cushioning material contained within an elastomeric cover.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 178 words

A yieldable cushion comprising: a cushioning element having a top, a bottom, a center and an outer periphery, said cushioning element comprising a quantity of gel cushioning media and a plurality of contiguous, adjacent hollow columns located within said cushioning media, said columns each having a column interior, a column wall, and a longitudinal axis, wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned such that said column axis is generally parallel to a compressive force exerted on said top of said cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact therewith; wherein at least one other of said columns is positioned such that said longitudinal axis of said other column is generally non-parallel to a compressive force exerted on said top of said cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact therewith; wherein said cushion is responsive to the compressive force exerted thereon; and wherein said yieldability of the cushion results from said cushioning media being compressible and from said columns being bucklable, so that the cushion is able to substantially conform to the shape of the cushioned object.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 178 words

A yieldable cushion comprising: a cushioning element having a top, a bottom, a center and an outer periphery, said cushioning element comprising a quantity of gel cushioning media and a plurality of contiguous, adjacent hollow columns located within said cushioning media, said columns each having a column interior, a column wall, and a longitudinal axis, wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned such that said column axis is generally parallel to a compressive force exerted on said top of said cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact therewith; wherein at least one other of said columns is positioned such that said longitudinal axis of said other column is generally non-parallel to a compressive force exerted on said top of said cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact therewith; wherein said cushion is responsive to the compressive force exerted thereon; and wherein said yieldability of the cushion results from said cushioning media being compressible and from said columns being bucklable, so that the cushion is able to substantially conform to the shape of the cushioned object.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 216 words

A yieldable cushioning element that includes a flexible, resilient, gel cushioning media having shape memory and being substantially solid and non-flowable at temperatures below 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the cushioning element comprising: a quantity of cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object; and wherein said cushioning medium exhibits elastomeric properties.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 216 words

A yieldable cushioning element that includes a flexible, resilient, gel cushioning media having shape memory and being substantially solid and non-flowable at temperatures below 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the cushioning element comprising: a quantity of cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object; and wherein said cushioning medium exhibits elastomeric properties.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 216 words

A yieldable cushioning element that includes a flexible, resilient, gel cushioning media having shape memory and being substantially solid and non-flowable at temperatures below 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the cushioning element comprising: a quantity of cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object; and wherein said cushioning medium exhibits visco-elastomeric properties.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 216 words

A yieldable cushioning element that includes a flexible, resilient, gel cushioning media having shape memory and being substantially solid and non-flowable at temperatures below 130 degrees Fahrenheit, the cushioning element comprising: a quantity of cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object; and wherein said cushioning medium exhibits visco-elastomeric properties.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 212 words

A yieldable cushioning element comprising: a quantity of a first cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery and a hollow center, a quantity of a second cushioning medium disposed within said first cushioning medium, said second cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said first cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned within the cushion such that said column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with the cushion; wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object; and wherein said second cushioning medium is a gel cushioning medium.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 212 words

A yieldable cushioning element comprising: a quantity of a first cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery and a hollow center, a quantity of a second cushioning medium disposed within said first cushioning medium, said second cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said first cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned within the cushion such that said column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with the cushion; wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object; and wherein said second cushioning medium is a gel cushioning medium.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 197 words

A yieldable cushioning element comprising: a quantity of gel cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a coating material adhered to said top, said bottom and said outer periphery, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; and wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 197 words

A yieldable cushioning element comprising: a quantity of gel cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a coating material adhered to said top, said bottom and said outer periphery, a plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said columns having a longitudinal axis along its length, each of said columns having a column wall which defines a column interior, and each of said columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; and wherein at least one of said column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 277 words

A yieldable cushioning element comprising: a quantity of gel cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a first plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said first columns having a first longitudinal axis along its length, each of said first columns having a first column wall which defines a first column interior, and each of said first columns having two ends; a second plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said second columns having a second longitudinal axis along its length, each of said second columns having a second column wall which defines a second interior, and each of said second columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said first column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said first columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said first column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; wherein a plurality of said second columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said second column axes are positioned generally parallel to one another and generally non-parallel to said first column axes; and wherein at least one of said first column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 277 words

A yieldable cushioning element comprising: a quantity of gel cushioning medium formed to have a top, a bottom, and an outer periphery, said cushioning medium being deformable so that it will deform under the compressive force of a cushioned object, a first plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said first columns having a first longitudinal axis along its length, each of said first columns having a first column wall which defines a first column interior, and each of said first columns having two ends; a second plurality of hollow columns formed in said cushioning medium, each of said second columns having a second longitudinal axis along its length, each of said second columns having a second column wall which defines a second interior, and each of said second columns having two ends; wherein the cushioning element is adapted to have a cushioned object placed directly or indirectly in contact with said top; wherein each of said first column ends is positioned at two different points of said column axis; wherein a plurality of said first columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said first column axes are positioned generally parallel to the direction of a compressive force exerted on the cushioning element by a cushioned object in contact with said cushioning medium; wherein a plurality of said second columns are positioned within said cushioning medium such that said second column axes are positioned generally parallel to one another and generally non-parallel to said first column axes; and wherein at least one of said first column walls is capable of buckling beneath a protuberance that is located on the cushioned object.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 25 words

A yieldable cushioning element as recited in claim 37, wherein at least one of said first columns intersects at least one of said second columns.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-02-21	2003-08-23	2004-02-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-02-21	2007-08-23	2008-02-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-02-21	2011-08-23	2012-02-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Gelatinous cushions with buckling columns

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