MXPA97005063A

MXPA97005063A - Collon-inflation blades to contain a mediod fitting that can fl

Info

Publication number: MXPA97005063A
Authority: MX

Abstract

A bladder is disclosed to contain a cushioning means. The bladder includes open compartments which are created by welding or otherwise holding a first wall of the bladder against a second wall of the bladder. The periphery of the bladder walls are welded or otherwise sealed together, so that the bladder will contain a cushioning medium without leakage. The bladder is partially filled with cushioning means, so that it will be able to conform to the shape of a cushioned object and create a desired suspension effect. Otherwise the bladder is permanently attached to a base that is smaller than the bladder in at least one direction, to result in a bladder which has a loose surface and which has numerous undulating folds and ridges on its surface. The base is a substantially non-stretchable fabric or other non-stretched material that can be attached. It is preferred that the cushioning means consist of lightly lubricated microspheres

Description

BLADDER MATTRESS BLADES FOR CONTAINING A FLOWING MIXING MEDIUM Antecedents of the invention Field of the invention This invention relates to the field of cushion bladders which contain a flowable cushioning means. More particularly, this invention relates to a bladder for a cushion, the bladder contains a cushioning medium that can flow and the bladder has spot welds which are sewn to a base which is smaller in surface area than the bladder itself.

DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART There are many types of cushions in the prior art which contain cushioning means that can flow. Such cushions, if designed correctly, have excellent properties of reducing the total pressure and equalizing the pressure through the cushion. This is achieved because the medium that can flow, which is always contained in one or more bladders, flows under the pressure of cushioning to re-form the object to which it is cushioned. This creates a larger total surface area that is cushioned (to reduce the total pressure) and equals the pressure across the surface of the cushioned object (to reduce or eliminate pressure peaks in the prominent portions of the cushioned object).

REF: 25055 In all effective prior art cushions which contain means that can flow, the bladder which contains the media is oversized, so that only a portion of its capacity is filled. This results in a loose bladder surface, which allows the collapsible bladder to move with the media flowing in accordance with the cushioned object. The bladders that do not have a loose surface prevent the media from re-forming freely, thus impairing the cushion's cushioning capacity. The classical means of the prior art for achieving the loose surface is as follows. A flat bladder is created by welding or bonding plastic films together around the edge of the bladder (edge welding) and in certain locations or sites within the flat bladder (spot welds). The bladder is filled to capacity total with a fluid material and the filling hole is sealed. Then the bladder is "squeezed" (this is compacted by creating folds and random wavy on the surface of the bladder) by (1) adhering the portions of the same via hook and eye to a base which is smaller than the partially filled bladder, fully extended; (2) filling the bladder to an open-face cavity which is smaller than the partially filled bladder, fully extended; or (3) a combination of 1 and 2. By restricting the bladder to an area which is smaller than the fully extended size, the surface of L? wrinkles and becomes loose. The problem with (1) is that the hook and eye can be separated too easily, or the side of the hook or eye can loosen its adhesion to the plastic film and thus not be safe. In addition, the hook and eye is expensive to obtain and apply. In addition, the user of the cushion may be confused when reassembling the cushion and mounting it with the wrong hook areas attached to certain eyelet areas, etc., or it may not center the hook areas over the eyelet areas properly, to give as a result a cushion which is watery in appearance or has lost some of its functionality. The problem with (2) mentioned above is that the tray adds to the cost of the cushion. In addition, any cavity sufficiently rigid to contain the bladder under the pressure of cushioning creates the risk of coming into contact with the object that is cushioned and creating pressure peaks. To prevent this contact, the cushioned object, (for example a person) can be located at a precise location and is not free to move or be moved. This reduces the desirability of a cushion, particularly to a person who wants to move on the cushion. further, the cavity adds weight to the cushion. Still further, it is difficult to control the location of the various parts of the bladder in relation to the various parts of the cavity and an apparently watery cushion is created. Another method for obtaining a loose surface is described and claimed in the US patent application Serial No. 08 / 149,224, which is now incorporated by reference in its entirety. In short, this includes the use of an elastomeric bladder which can be filled to approximately 33% of the full with a cushioning medium that can flow, although the bladder could be filled to 10% up to 95% of its volumetric capacity with the means of cushioning that can flow. A flowable cushioning means used with that invention consists of lightly lubricated microspheres. This method of obtaining a loose surface of the bladder has the aforementioned problems related to the hook and eye or in the case of the current design, which puts individual bladders into a complex multi-cell fabric envelope, adds substantial cost due to the sewing of the complex fabric. In any case, the use of many small bladders as opposed to a large bladder adds much to the cost because each bladder must be welded, trimmed, filled and sealed. Another method of the prior art for obtaining a loose surface is described in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,201,780 and 5,255,404, each of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. This method includes a large flat bladder segmented by welds, each segment being filled to partial capacity with a fluid. The bladder folds into a piece of foam that is smaller than the partially filled but fully extended bladder, which results in desirable wrinkles and a loose surface (this is random crease and wavy surface of the bladder) . The problem with this method is that the fluid is restricted to remain in each segment and can not flow freely throughout the cushion, thus limiting the degree of conformation of the cushion to conform to the shape of the cushioned object and the opportunity for the object cushioned to join the cushion. The problem with this method is solved by the invention described in the US patent application Serial No. 08 / 149,224, now, by using cells of various sizes to preform the cushion. The users of the method of the patents 780 and '404 try to compensate for their deficiencies by placing each segment on top of a piece of foam, which allows more deformation than would be allowed without the foam. However, this is labor intensive and does not result in a reliable product because the adhesive or the hook and loop means used to locate each segment could be separated. Another problem with this method is that the foam will break over time, to reduce the effectiveness of the cushion and make the cushion appear more watery. Another method for obtaining a loose surface in fluid-filled cushion bladders is to mold the bladders in three dimensions instead of using flat bladders. For examples of this, reference is made to U.S. Patents 5,163,196, 5,052,068, 4,698,864, 5,111,544, 5,369,828, 4,713,854 and 3,605,145, each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Such molding, vacuum forming or pressure forming; however, it is significantly more expensive than welding flat films as in the other methods described above. Therefore, due to the various deficiencies in the prior art there is a need for a cushion bladder which has any combination of the following characteristics listed below.

Other prior art references of which the reader should be aware include U.S. Patent Nos. 4,485,505, 4,572,174, 4,498,205, 4,483,029, 4,247,963, 4,255,404, 3,893, 198, 3,605,145, 2,814,053, 1, 261,475, 5,163,196, 5,052,068, 4,698,864, 5,111, 544, 5,369,828, 5,190,504, 5,335,907, 4,952,190, 3,748,779, 4,744,564, 3,518,786, 4,256,304, 5,204,154, 5,201,780, 5,147,685, 5,100,712, 5,093,138, 5,079,787, 5,079,786, 5,074,620, 5,058,291, 5,018,790, 5,015,313, 4,953,313, 4,952,439, 4,842,330, 4,761, 843, 4,728,551, 4,726,624, 4,709,431, 4,467,053, 4,660,238, 4,588,229, 4,255,202, 4,243,754, 4,252,910, 4,229,546, 4,144,658, 4,083,127, 4,038,762, 3,986,213, 3,968,530, 3,748,669, 3,552,044, 3,529,368, 3,407,406, 5,103,518, 5,020,176, 5,010,608, 4,945,588, 4,292,701, 4,472,847, 3,462,778, 4,628,557, 2,672,183, 1, 228,783, 5,421, 874, 3,459,179, 4,163,297, 4,737,998, 2,491,557, 2,655,369, 4,713,854, 5,255,404 and 4,959,059 each of which is incorporated med is present by reference in its entirety. This prior art is generally related to the field of cushions, cushion means or seats and may be useful to the reader for understanding the state of the art before the invention was made.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a bladder having characteristics selected from the following: (1) a loose, foldable bladder surface to allow for deformation of the bladder to correspond to the contours of the cushioned object; allow the fluid inside the bladder to re-form itself to those contours; (2) low cost to manufacture the bladder; (3) a bladder constructed from flat materials via welding; (4) Durable connections between the bladder and a base which is smaller than the bladder itself, the smallness of the base compared to the bladder causes the bladder to have a loose surface; (5) a bladder that allows the cushioned object to move or be repositioned on the cushion without risk of contacting a relatively rigid three-dimensional object (such as a hard base), thereby compromising the cushioning function; (6) a bladder that does not require the user of the cushion to make decisions about the location and sequence of connections to the base and therefore eliminates possible confusion of the user with respect to the cushion assembly; (7) a bladder that does not allow the user to apply connections to the decentered base, to result in an inappropriately mounted bladder; (8) a bladder that despite the deformation to the shape of the cushioned object, maintains a relatively clean and clean appearance; (9) a bladder that allows the cushioning medium that can flow contained therein to flow throughout the cushion or all selected portions of the cushion without allowing the cushion to expand or inflate excessively at any location; (10) a bladder that is light in weight; (11) a bladder that does not require the use of foam or other additional deformity (s) under the bladder to allow sufficient subsidence or reconfiguration (although foam may be used in combination with the invention if desired); (12) a bladder that is durable against perforation and wear; (13) a bladder that is flexible and foldable; (14) a bladder that fully contains a desired cushioning means. These and other objects of the invention are carried out by welding a flat bladder around its perimeter, then by spot welding the bladder at select locations therein, usually at regular intervals. An undrawn fabric that is cut to a shape similar to the bladder but smaller in at least one dimension that the partially filled, sealed bladder is used as a base. The bladder is sewn to the base by sewing through the welds at points and around the periphery of the bladder (or at selected points around the periphery). Because the base is smaller than the bladder, the bladder wrinkles and looks loose (that is, the bladder includes numerous desirable random folds and ridges on the surface of the bladder), thereby allowing deformation and allowing the bladder to conform to the shape of a cushioned object . If the spot welds are spaced regularly, the cushion has a clean, cushioned-inflated appearance, similar to the cushioned appearance of some bedding materials and some clothing. This allows the bladder to maintain an attractive appearance even when an object is cushioned. The seam of the points and periphery welds positively locates the bladder in relation to the non-stretched base, to create a durable product that does not lose functionality due to improper reassembly as in the prior art. There is no rigid cavity to create contact risk or prevent movement. The fluid is free to move around the spot welds throughout the cushion or selected portions of the cushion, to allow maximum compliance of the bladder to the shape of the cushioned object. The distance between the spot welds can be adjusted to control the undesirable inflation of the bladder at any given site. The labor cost associated with welding and sewing is low. The bladder is light since it uses fabrics and thin films. A cover can be used which covers or encloses the padded-inflated bladder. In addition to a cover, other cushion components may be used to meet the unique requirements of the particular cushion. These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art in reading the specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1a is a top or plan view of a flat empty bladder created by welding two or more films around its entire periphery or border and at specific sites in its interiors. Figure 1b is a side view of the bladder of figure 1a. Figure 1c is a side view of the bladder of Figure 1b after the cushioning means has been placed in the bladder. Fig. 1d is a side view of the bladder of Fig. 1c, after the bladder has been sewn to a base which is in general of the same shape as the bladder but is smaller than the bladder in at least one dimension. Figure 1e is a perspective view of the bladder of Figure 1d, illustrating the cushion-inflated appearance and the resulting wrinkled or loose surface when mounting a bladder as described. Figure 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the preferred composite mixture of the invention employed in a flexible bladder. Figure 3 shows three spherical objects of the invention in rolling and sliding contact with each other. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view through line 6-6 of Figure 3 of three spherical objects in rolling contact and sliding relative to each other. Figure 5 shows a partial section of a hollow spherical object. Figure 6 shows a cross-section of the preferred bladder material of the invention in use, containing a number of spherical objects which are lightly lubricated with a viscoelastic fluid. Figures 7-10 illustrate three different viscoelastic fluids. Figures 11a, 11b and 11c illustrate the cutting and reformation of a viscoelastic fluid.

Description of the preferred modalities A. Inflated mattress configuration.

With reference to the figures, a preferred welded bladder 101 of the invention is shown. The bladder 101 includes a first bladder layer 102 and a second bladder layer 103 which are assembled as described to create a bladder capable of containing a cushioning means in the preferred configuration. The first layer of the bladder 102 and the second bladder are preferably flat sheets of a flexible bladder material. Each of the first layers 102 of the bladder and the second layer 103 of the bladder have an outer border or periphery 104 and 105. It is preferred to weld the first layer 102 of the bladder and the second layer 103 of the bladder together around their bladders. outer borders or peripheries 104 and 105 to create a bladder capable of containing a cushioning means. That solder alone, however, simply creates a bag or envelope. Next, it is desired to spot weld the first and second layers 102 and 103 together as shown in the figures with representative dot welds 106, 107 and 108. The use of spot welds creates open compartments such as 109. The open compartments will contain some means of cushioning and the open compartments will allow the cushioning medium to flow between each in order to maximize the cushion capacity to conform to the shape of a cushioned object. Next, it is desired to partially fill the bladder with a cushioning means that can flow, as shown in Figure 1c. The flowable cushioning means may be any of the cushioning means indicated below or any flowable cushioning means of the prior art. Once the cushion has been partially filled with the cushioning means, the bladder 101 is sewn to an oase 110. Note that in Figure 1a, some excess fabric 120 is shown beyond the periphery 105 (the periphery has a weld), the excess fabric is useful for sewing or otherwise attaching the bladder to a base 110. It is preferred to sew the bladder to the base around the periphery by using excess fabric 120 and by means of the welds for points. If linear welds or other welds are used instead of the spot welds shown in the figures, then the bladder would be sewn or otherwise bonded to the base by means of such welds. The base 110 is preferably of the same shape or a similar shape as the bladder 101, but is smaller than the bladder in at least one dimension. The preferred base 110 is a non-stretch fabric. After sewing from the bladder to the base, the seam is preferably carried out through the inner welds and through the excess fabric to the outside of the weld of the periphery, a complete cushion as shown in the figures 1d and 1e is the result. This cushion, insofar as it is simple in structure and not expensive to manufacture, produces a cushion that is very effective in distributing the cushioning forces through the surface area of the object to be cushioned. It also allows the mobility of the object that is cushioned and achieves the various other objects of the invention listed above.

It should be noted that the base may be smaller than the bladder in all directions, in only one direction or in any intermediate combination and still obtain the desired loose surface and the resulting cushioning function. Bladders and bases of rectangular, square or other shapes can also be used. For example, in a rectangular cushion, the base could be 1.5 times smaller than the bladder in the longitudinal direction, but have the same width as the bladder. This results in a cushion that has bar-shaped cushions (this is rectangular) instead of square cushions. The preferred bladder shown in the figures has a weld around its periphery, more circular spot welds at several regular internal sites, more half circle welds and a quarter circle around the periphery. The welds by circle, half-circle and quarter-circle points provide sufficient surface area through which to sew the base without risk of sewing through the fluid-filled portion of the bladder. This preferred configuration allows stitching at any of the spot welds. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the bladder is sewn to the base throughout the periphery instead of only half and one quarter of a circle of the spot welds. In that case, when the bladder is cut after welding, some excess fabric would be left outside the weld of the periphery for sewing. Those preferred embodiments work well for square or rectangular cushions. However, the cushion can be of any shape, in which circular, oval, round, octagonal, hexagonal or irregularly shaped rectangle are included and incorporate these characteristics of the invention. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the base 110 is in the same way as the bladder 101, but of reduced size. However, some difference in the shape between the base and the bladder can be used to obtain a special configuration, appearance or functionality. Also, the bladder may extend in any direction beyond the portion of the base to which it is to be sewn. In the preferred bladder, the base is 30% to 40% smaller than the bladder when empty. However, the base could be any reasonably smaller size, such as 5% to 95% smaller. The smaller the base in relation to the bladder, the looser and more wrinkled will be the surface on the bladder (that is, the bladder will have a greater number of folds and random waves on its surface). One objective of the cushions containing a cushioning means that can flow is that the surface of the bladder containing the cushioning means is sufficiently loose to deform to the shape of the cushioned object, but then, as the object is continued sinking (that is, as the bladder conforms to the configuration of the cushioned object) to become stuck to the surface (to cause the object to "suspend" before coming into contact with the base). This goal is achieved when a base smaller in dimension than the bladder is used.

The preferred fluid fill level of the bladder, before sewing to the base is 30% to 40% of the volumetric capacity of the bladder. However, any level of filling less than 100% is proposed to be encompassed in the concept of the invention. The satisfaction of the objective of cushioning in the previous paragraph is obtained by balancing the degree of loose surface on the bladder with the filling level of the bladder, in such a way that many combinations are possible. The seam from the bladder to the base in the preferred embodiment is made at corresponding sites within the base in the same way. For example, a top left corner of the bladder would be sewn to a top left corner of the base. As another example, a spot welding in the center of the bladder would be sewn to the center of the base. However, the exact location of the seam to the base can be varied to a degree to achieve a special configuration, appearance or functionality. The seam is the preferred form of attachment, but any non-removable fastener by means of welding and the base can be used in the invention. Rivets are the second most preferred way of joining and there are many other means. The key is that the union is not separable (at least without destructive means), and is strong enough to withstand the rigors through which the cushion is placed. Welding, staples or other joining means can be used. As a group, such bonds and their equivalents are referred to herein simply as bonds.

The basis of the preferred embodiment is a relatively undrawn flat fabric. The base may have approximately the same shape as, but smaller than the bladder or may be smaller than the bladder in only one dimension, in which case the shape is preferably similar to that of the bladder, but climbing in one direction. Or the base may be smaller than the bladder in more than one dimension. Any two-dimensional or three-dimensional base that is properly configured and can be attached to the bladder (such as by sewing) is suitable for use in the invention. For example, in a wheelchair cushion, a fabric can be sewn around a shaped plastic plate, which provides positioning of the user's legs and hips of the wheelchair. This creates a three-dimensional base. Then the bladder would be sewn to the upper fabric of the three-dimensional base and the objectives of the invention would be obtained while providing the additional functionality of the positioning of the legs and hips. In the preferred embodiment, the flowable cushioning means is capable of traveling through the bladder toclla from the open compartment to the open compartment between the spot welds. However, the cushion may consist of a large bladder which is segmented. Only one of the segments needs to have the characteristics of the invention in order to be considered within the scope of the invention. The bladder / base combination (hereinafter "inflated mattress") may consist of the entire cushion or may be part of a more extensive assembly. For example, a cover can be used on the inflated mattress. As another example, the inflated mattress can be placed proximate to another mechanism of cushioning or object positioning such as lumbar support or leg positioners, all within a cover. Thus, the invention may consist of a sub-assembly or a more complicated device. The objectives of the invention are met in part in the following ways: (1) a loose surface of the bladder is formed by forcing the bladder to assume less than its fully extended shape by sewing it to a base that is smaller that the bladder in at least one dimension. (2) The bladder is inexpensive because it consists of the welding of flat pieces and sewing, both of which are low-cost operations and do not use a complex structure. (3) The connections between the bladder and the base formed by stitching or rivets are durable (that is, stitching and riveting are much more likely to remain in their joint than the rim and eyelet fastening means. that the unions are permanent, there is no possibility of an incorrect reassembly). (4) There is no rigid three-dimensional base as found in the prior art that causes possible contact with the cushioned object and thus the risk of inadequate cushioning is low and the cushioned object can be moved and repositioned on the cushion without compromise. (5) When the cushioned object is removed, the cushion is clean and attractive in appearance. The cushioned-inflated appearance of the invention is attractive even when deformed. Permanent joints between the base and the bladder ensure that the cushion does not become watery, as would happen if the hook and eye fasteners were not properly restrained. Regularly spaced point welds of the preferred embodiment prevent any place of inflation, to additionally prevent an unwashed or watered appearance. (6) In the preferred embodiment, the flowable cushioning means is free to flow throughout the bladder around the spot welds through the open compartments without excessive expansion or inflation, this is prevented by the spot welds. (7) The inflated mattress is light, consisting of films and thin fabrics. (8) Because the cushioning means is free to flow throughout the bladder and because the degree of deformation before the suspension is controllable by means of the spacing of the spot welding and the degree of smallness: relative of the Based on comparison to the bladder, the mattress-inflation can be configured in such a way that the use of foam or other additional deforming agent under the bladder of the fluid is not needed to allow sufficient subsidence or reconfiguration.

B. Inflated mattress construction materials The preferred, flowable, and bladder-containing cushion used in the invention are as described below. The preferred flowable cushioning means consists of a composite mixture. With reference to Figure 2, a preferred embodiment of the preferred composite mixture is shown disposed within a flexible bladder 1. The flexible bladder 1 has walls 2a and 2b of the bladder and serves as a mechanism for containing the composite mixture of the invention in flexible, fluid-tight confinement. The bladder may have a seam 6 where it is sealed. Although the bladder walls 2a and 2b are flexible in the preferred embodiment, filling the bladder 1 to capacity with the composite mixture would greatly reduce or eliminate the possible movement of the bladder walls 2a and 2b and inhibit the effect of the bladder. cushioning of the invention. In the center of the bladder 1 is shown a section showing the composite mixture 3 of the invention. The mixture 3 composed in the preferred embodiment of the invention has numerous spherical objects 4a, 4b and 4c finely coated with a lubricant 5 to allow the movement of the spherical objects 4a, 4b and 4c with respect to each other in all three dimensions by low friction bearing and sliding. The amount of lubricant 5 used in the invention is an amount sufficient to substantially coat the outer surfaces of substantially all of the spherical objects 4a-c, but in a minor amount that would cause the spherical objects 4a-c to be dispersed in the lubricant 5 and less than enough to physically separate the spherical objects 4a-c from each other significantly. Thus, the composite mixture 3 is a quantity of spherical objects 4a-c which have slightly lubricated outer surfaces, such that they move relative to one another in sliding and low friction rolling contact. The compound mixture is not a lubricant! or another liquid which contains spherical objects scattered in it.

The behavior of the spherical objects 4a, 4b and 4c in the composite mixture 3 is similar to that of the oil ball bearings in sliding and rolling contact with each other, to provide little resistance to movement in any direction. This allows the composite mixture 3 to deform in response to a deformation force, which includes any flow or shear movement of the composite mixture required to compensate for such deformation with little strength. Because the composite mixture 3 is composed of slightly lubricated spherical objects (eg discrete solid particles) instead of being composed of a viscous liquid like the fluid of the prior art, the composite mixture does not have a hydrostatic pressure and does not have a tendency to return to its original form after the separation of a deformation force and thus has no memory. Figure 3 shows three spherical objects 4a, 4b and 4c in sliding and rolling contact with each other. The use of perfect or nearly perfect spheres facilitates the most efficient and lowest friction movement of spherical objects against each other, but imperfect shapes or even objects with flat or rough sides can be used. Any of the spherical objects 4a, 4b or 4c can roll and slide easily with respect to the other spherical objects as shown. Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the spherical objects of Figure 3 at 4-4. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 4, the hollow spherical objects 4a, 4b and 4c are used and a lubricant 5 is present on the outer surfaces of the spherical objects to further facilitate their movement with respect to each other. The combination of low friction spherical objects 4a, 4b and 4c with a friction reducing lubricant 5 facilitates very efficient movement of the spherical objects with respect to one another, offers little resistance to movement in any direction and achieves the desired flow and cut characteristics of the invention. The movement can be either of the rolling or sliding of the spherical objects 4a, 4b and 4c with respect to each other. Figure 5 shows a partial section of a spherical object 4a used in a preferred embodiment of the invention. The rigid outer cover 7 of the spherical object and the interior 8 of the spherical object are shown. The spherical object 4a has an interior that can be hollow and the interior can be a vacuum or gaseous interior. In alternative embodiments of the invention, spherical objects 4 which have liquid or solid interiors are used. The preferred embodiment of the invention uses spherical objects 4 with an inert gas atmosphere in its interiors 8. If a low density cover 7 is used, the combination of cover 7 and hollow or gaseous interior 8 results in a spherical object 4 with a very low specific gravity. The spherical objects 4a, 4b and 4c can be completely spherical, oblong, egg-shaped, spherical with a flat point, multi-sided such as octagonal, rugged or otherwise. Nearly perfect spherical shapes with smooth exteriors are preferred, although those mentioned above and others could be used as substitutes and are collectively referred to as "spherical objects". As mentioned above, the spherical objects may be solid or hollow and may have gaseous, liquid or solid interiors, although gaseous interiors are used in the preferred embodiment. The specific gravity of the spherical objects used in the most preferred embodiment of the invention is not more than 0.02. In other embodiments of the invention, heavier or partially hollow interior walls, such as a cross-linked interior or others, may be used to commonly result in a higher specific gravity. The spherical objects used in the preferred embodiment of the 10 invention are microspheres which are commercially available, having walls made of metal, glass, carbon, mineral, quartz and / or plastic and having inert gas atmospheres sealed in their interiors. Microspheres of other materials would be appropriate for use in the invention as well. In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the microspheres are 15 made of an acrylic or phenolic plastic. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the acrylic microspheres are PM 6545 available from PQ Corporation of Pennsylvania. In another more preferred embodiment of the invention, the microspheres may be non-expanded or expanded DE (091-80) * and * phenolic microspheres from Expancel Inc. (Duluth, Georgia). 20 The interiors of the microspheres could be completely hollow (that is, they have an interior vacuum) or they could have gaseous, solid or liquid interiors. Commonly the microspheres have diameters less than 2000 microns. A common range of commercially available microsphere diameters is from about 5 to about 200 microns. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the spherical objects used are plastic wall microspheres with a diameter in the range of about 10 to about 200 microns. These microspheres have a specific gravity of approximately 0.02. Microspheres of other sizes could also be used. For example spherical objects of larger dimensions, such as 0.635 cm (0.25 inches) in diameter, could be employed, although the cushioning surface provided by such spherical objects would be bulky rather than smooth. The microspheres used in the preferred embodiment of the invention are very small, as indicated above and appear as fine powder with the naked eye, there are thousands of such microspheres per cubic centimeter. When it is lightly lubricated, the resulting composite mixture appears homogeneous. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the spherical objects have an elastic characteristic, such that the microspheres can be compressed to less than 20% of their original volume and rebound to approximately 100% of their original volume when the force is removed. compression. These microspheres are also resistant to a pressure of up to approximately 141 Kg / cm2 (2,000 psi) without rupture. These characteristics add to the durability and cushioning effect of the composite mixture using such microspheres.

The lubricant 5 used in the invention can be any lubricant selected from the group consisting of oils, greases, silicone-based lubricants, vegetable-based lubricants, petroleum-based lubricants, mineral-based lubricants, water-based lubricants. , synthetic lubricants, or any other substance that reduces friction. In one embodiment of the invention, the lubricant is a liquid soap or detergent. One such mixture which can be used is a bubble blowing solution known as MR. BUBBLI? S, available from Tootsietoy, a division of Strombecker Corporation of Chicago, Illinois. Another detergent-type lubricant as such used in a preferred embodiment of the composite mixture is coconut dietnoamide, a common ingredient in shampoos. Coconut diethanolamide resists evaporation, is stable, relatively non-toxic, non-flammable, easily soluble in water without staining and does not support microbial growth. Coconut diethanolamide provides a highly desirable level of # V -r 'friction reduction to allow the spherical objects of the composition of the invention to slip and roll easily in contact with each other Many different soap or detergent compositions could be used also, with a preference for the most slippery and suds-forming blends In another embodiment of the invention, SUPREPÜLL WIRE is used AND CABLE PULLING LUBE WITH TEFLON, available from Synco Chemical Corporation of Bohemia, New York. This is a water-based lubricant, non-toxic, odorless and non-flammable. In another embodiment of the invention a lubricant comprising deionized water, propylene glycol, isopropanol, polyethylene oxide and methyl paraben is used. PERMATEX INDUSTRIAL SUPER LUBE MULTI-PURPOSE SYNTHETIC LUBRICANT WITH TEFLON can also be used which is commercially available from Permatex Industrial Corporation of Avon, Connecticut. The lubricant 5 of the invention can also be any lubricating viscoelastic fluid. The use of a viscoelastic fluid as the lubricant is preferred when a maximum life of a cushioning product is desired, due to the tendency of the viscoelastic fluids to resist leakage through the walls of the bladder. As used herein, the term "viscoelastic fluid" is defined to mean that the faster the fluid deforms, the stronger the tendency of the fluid to resist deformation. The viscoelastic fluid of the preferred embodiment is a mixture of molecules which are reversibly interlaced, such that the bonds between the molecules can be broken relatively easily with a mechanical force. As used herein, the term "crosslinked" refers to any type of reversible intermolecular or intramolecular link, which includes, but is not limited to, covalent interactions as well as non-covalent interactions such as ionic, hydrophobic, hydrophilic interactions , Van der Waals and hydrogen bonding. Links formed by reversible cationic or anionic polymerization reactions are also intended to be encompassed within the scope of the term "crosslinked" as used herein.

Crossed links are more easily broken by slow mechanical force. A rapid mechanical force will tend to move a large amount of viscoelastic fluid due to the affinity of the fluid by itself, but a slow mechanical force will tend to cut the interlinked links, resulting in the movement of only a small amount of the fluid. After the criss-cross links are cut with a mechanical force, such as by a person sitting on a seat cushion which includes microspheres and a viscoelastic fluid as a lubricant, the reversibility of the molecular bonds is facilitated if a time is available enough for the free ends of the molecules to establish new bonds with other molecules that will help separate the molecules to which they are originally bound. Thus, the viscoelastic fluid and the composite mixture itself, a reasonably short period of time after experiencing a mechanical force, re-establish the cross-linking of the viscoelastic fluid. Because the viscoelastic fluid (this is the lubricant) is extensively and reversibly bonded, the amount of the viscoelastic fluid within a bladder behaves essentially like a large polymer. Thus, a given amount of the viscoelastic fluid has a very fast flow resistance, but is easily deformable under a continuous force and serves continuously to lubricate the spherical objects when it is included in the composite mixture of the invention. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the viscoelastic fluid has an affinity of its own which resists the forces that would cause the fluid to migrate through the walls of any container containing the composite mixture. This produces a result that solves a difficult problem of the prior art. It was found that although appropriate composite mixtures could be formulated, over time the lubricant of many composite mixtures tended to migrate through the intermolecular spaces of the flexible bladder materials used. However, when a viscoelastic fluid is used, the affinity of the viscoelastic fluid by itself or in other words, its desire to behave as an individual polymer, prevents the viscoelastic fluid from migrating through the bladder materials of the prior art. The result is a composite mixture that can be retained within a thin, flexible bladder for very long periods of time. The viscoelastic fluid may include a single compound or a mixture of compounds. The lubricant can be any viscoelastic fluid with sufficient lubricating capacity to reduce the coefficient of friction between the spherical objects in contact and not prevent the sliding and rolling of the spherical objects together. In a preferred embodiment, the viscoelastic fluid may include a major molecule (such as a monomer or a polymer) and an intermediate molecule (a cross-linking agent). The main molecule may include, but is not limited to, propylene glycol (1,2-? Ropanod? Ol), glycerol, white mineral oil and similar chemicals. In another preferred embodiment, the main molecule has lubricating characteristics before crosslinking. An appropriate crosslinking agent is cationic acrylamide (sold under the trade name "MAGNIFLOC" by Cytec Industries of West Paterson, New Jersey). In the most preferred embodiment of the viscoelastic fluid of the invention, the main molecule is white mineral oil and the intermediate molecule is an elastomeric polymer. The white mineral oil is preferably of USP grade (Pharmacopoeia of the United States of North America) sold under the tradename of SUPERLA White Mineral Oil No. 21 by Amoco Corporation of Chicago, Illinois. The elastomeric polymer may be a random copolymer, an alternating copolymer or a block copolymer. The elastomeric polymer is preferably a triblock copolymer having an A-B-A configuration. "A" preferably has a crystalline character; monoalkylarene, of which polystyrene is an example, are preferred "A" blocks. "B" is preferably elastomeric; Preferred "B" blocks include polyethylene / butylene, hydrogenated polyisoprene, hydrogenated polybutadiene and hydrogenated poly (isoprene + butadiene). Preferred are triblock copolymers such as KRATON G 1651 (Shell Chemical Company, Houston, Texas; or GLS Corp, Cary, Illinois) (poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene)) and SEPTON 8006 (Kuraray Co. Ltd., Isoprene Chemicals Division, Tokyo, Japan) (poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene)). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lubricant may include a condom. The condom must be appropriate for the stabilization of the components of the lubricants. The condom can inhibit microbial growth and / or stabilize the lubricant against oxidation or other chemical degradation. Any effective amount of condom is within the scope of the invention. An example of condoms is a condom called DANTOGARD which is available from Lonza Corporation of Fair Lawn, New Jersey. An appropriate antioxidant is Irganox 1010 (Ciba Geigy Corporation, Hawthorne, New York). In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the amount of preservative is not more than about 1% by weight, based on the total weight of the lubricant. In a preferred embodiment of the viscoelastic fluid, the amount of the parent molecule can range from about 99.99 to about 90% by weight and the amount of the crosslinking agent can range from about 0.01 to about 10% by weight, wherein the percent by weight is based on the total weight of the main molecule (monomer or polymer) and crosslinking agent (intermediate molecule). In a more preferred embodiment of the viscoelastic fluid of the invention, the lubricant is from about 98 to about 99.8% by weight of the main molecule and about 2 to about 0.2% by weight of the crosslinking agent. Another more preferred embodiment utilizes approximately 97% by weight of propylene glycol (the parent molecule), about 2% by weight of crosslinking agent (1a intermediary molecule) and about 1% by weight of preservative. Other more preferred embodiments of the viscoelastic fluid utilize about 98.8 wt% glycerin (the parent molecule), about 0.2 wt% crosslinking agent (the intermediate molecule) and about 1.0 wt% preservative or about 99.3 wt% white mineral oil (the main molecule) and about 0.7% by weight of elastomeric polymer (the intermediate molecule). In the broader range contemplated herein, the main molecule will be in the range of about 75 to about 99.99% by weight and the crosslinking agent will be in the range of about 0.01 to 25% by weight. The lubricant may also include a molecule which functions as a main molecule and a crosslinking agent. Tai lubricant can be a bifunctional reagent with functional groups to receive and form crosslinks. Figures 7-10 illustrate examples of a viscoelastic fluid comprising a major molecule and a crosslinking agent or a bifunctional molecule. The representations of the principal molecule and the crosslinking agent and of the bifunctional molecule are proposed to be illustrative in nature and not to reflect the actual molecular structure. With reference to Figure 7, an example of a cross-linked viscoelastic fluid is shown, in this example, the main molecule 601 contains two crosslinkable groups 601a and 601b. The crosslinking agent 602 also includes two active groups 602a and 602b, which can form reversible crosslinks with the groups 601a and 601b. With reference to Figure 8, a major molecule that includes more than two crosslinkable groups is within the scope of the invention. The main molecule 703 includes three crosslinkable 703a groups, 703b and 703c. Groups 703a, 703b and 703c can form reversible crosslinks with groups 702a and 702b on crosslinking agent 702. Crosslinking agents that contain more functional groups are also within the scope of the invention. With reference to Figure 9, a bifunctional viscoelastic fluid is also within the scope of the invention. For example, molecule 810 may include functional groups 810a and 810b, which are capable of forming reversible cross-links with other functional groups 810b and 810a respectively. With reference to Figure 10, it is also contemplated that a bifunctional molecule could have more than two functional groups. For purposes of illustration, molecule 920 has four functional groups 920a, 920b, 920c and 920d, which are capable of forming reversible cross-links. With reference to Figures 11a-c, an example of the cutting and reforming of the reversible cross links is shown. Figure 11a shows a hypothetical arrangement of the main molecules 1010 and the crosslinking agents 1020. With reference to Figure 11b, when a shear force 1050 is applied, the main molecule 1010a is separated from the crosslinking agent 1020a and towards the crosslinking agent 1020a. crosslinker 1020b. One of the functional groups of the main molecule 1010a forms a cross-link with the cross-linking agent 1020b. With reference to Figure 11c, the cross-link between the main molecule 1010a and 1020a is cut shortly. While this example illustrates the cutting and reformation of cross-links between the principal molecules and the cross-linking agents, the fundamental principles of these illustrations are also applicable to the principal molecules and cross-linking agents that contain different numbers of functional groups of those shown and the bifunctional molecules. If possible, the lubricant used should have a relatively low specific gravity and not be subject to degradation or breakage over time. This helps the invention to achieve its objects to be light, durable and non-variant in operation with temperature. Preferably, the lubricant used will not be subjected to substantial changes in lubricating capacity in the range of ordinary outdoor temperatures (-17 to 49 ° C (0 to 120 ° F)). Many of the preferred lubricants described above exhibit this resistance to a change in lubrication capacity. This avoids a substantial variation in the essential performance characteristics of the composite mixture with changes in temperature. It is possible to extend the lower end of the temperature range in which it is proposed that the invention works by adding an appropriate antifreeze agent to the lubricant. Suitable antifreeze agents may include but are not limited to, propylene glycol and ethylene glycol. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the antifreeze is preferably non-toxic.

An important object of the lubricant is to facilitate the contact of the sliding and low friction rolling microspheres with each other, to allow the flow and cutting of the composite mixture. It is not the purpose of the lubricant to disperse the microspheres in the lubricant and to prevent the microspheres from contacting each other. The amount of lubricant required for such dispersion would make the mixture unduly heavy and increase its heat transfer coefficient and thermal mass due to the reduction of the amount of gases trapped as interiors of the microsphere. Such a large amount of lubricant would also result in a composite mixture with hydrostatic pressure and with a cutting force greater than that desired in the present invention. Accordingly, the amount of lubricant used in the invention is an amount sufficient to substantially coat the outer surfaces of substantially all spherical objects, but in an amount smaller than that which would cause dispersion of the spherical objects in the lubricant and less than the enough to physically separate the spherical objects significantly from each other. The spherical objects would be considered physically separated significantly if the amount of lubricant provided allowed the spherical objects to float or move in the lubricant independently of each other, instead of, like the invention, being in sliding and rolling contact continuously between yes with only - a thin film of lubricant interposed between the spherical objects to facilitate its sliding and rolling contact.

The composite mixture of the invention deforms, flows or cuts under light pressure but ceases to flow, cut or deform when pressure is no longer applied. The prior art cushioning fluids commonly continue their flow after the pressure has been removed, sometimes due to gravand sometimes in an attempt to rebound to their original shape, so they are inferior in performance to the composite mixture. of the present invention. The lubricants which prevent instead of facilitating the sliding and rolling movement of the spherical objects to each other, such as rigid wax, would be undesirable because they would not obtain the objects of the invention. The lubricant only needs to serve to reduce the coefficient of friction of the spherical objects that slide and roll with each other. The invention further includes a flexible bladder containing the composite mixture. The flexible bladder in the invention can be any flexible or collapsible material in a variety of thicknesses. Suitable materials for the flexible bladder may include, but are not limited to, polyurethane, vinyl, other plastics, latex, rubber or rubber, synthetic rubbers, thermoplastic elastomers, EVA or any other thin impervious or impermeable film, flexible. The flexible bladder may have one or more layers of such materials disposed on either side of the composite mixture. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible bladder is airtight to the fluid and thereby resists the escape or evaporation of the lubricant through the walls of the bladder. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the flexible bladder is a laminated fabric comprising a woven fabric laminated to a thin, flexible, impermeable or low permeabilfilm. Such a woven fabric may include a stiff, strong fabric, such as a flexible crosslinked polyamide (such as that sold under the trade name "LYCRA" by Dupont Corporation of Wilmington, Delaware, or PENN-NYLA by Penn-Nyla of Nottingham, England). ). In the best mode, the film is preferably a polyurethane film, such as an ether-based polyurethane film. Ether-based polyurethane films include, but are not limited to, a film of 0.1524 mm and 0.254 mm (6 and 10 mils) (Deerfield Urethane, Inc., a Miles Inc. Company, South Deerfield, Michigan; PS 3110 S and PT 9200 VS). A flexible bladder that includes a laminated fabric can be formed by various known manufacturing methods or by bonding fabric layers. Such methods may include, but are not limited to, lamination of the fabric and the film together using thermal welding, radio frequency welding or ultrasonic welding. With reference to Figure 6, a preferred embodiment of the bladder 501 of the invention is shown containing a number of spherical objects 502 which are lightly lubricated with an amount of viscoelastic fluid 503. The bladder 501 includes a first layer 504 of a Stretchable fabric (such as a flexible crosslinked polyamide) laminated with a film (such as a polyurethane based on polyester or a polyurethane based on polyether). The layer 504 of the film is disposed towards the fluid 503 and the mixture 502 of spherical objects and the fabric mat 504 is disposed towards the outside of the cushion. A bladder formed from a stretchable fabric laminated to a film 501 is preferred because commonly the stretch fabric will cease to stretch before the film is stretched to the point of damaging its structural integrity. This allows the bladder to be flexible and stretched, but does not result in damage to the film during such stretching, even when the bladder is placed under a large amount of tension or pressure. The layers of the flexible bladder can be of any desired thickness. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a layer of the bladder is a film of about 0.0762 mm to about 0.762 mm (0.003 to about 0.030 inches) thick, and in a more preferred embodiment a film layer is less than about 0.508 mm (0.020 inches) thick. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, the film layer is from about 0.0254 mm to 0.1524 mm (0.001 to 0.006 inches) thick to provide sufficient flexibility while remaining fluid-tight. The preferred stretch fabric is a meltable thermoplastic, such that it can be thermally welded to a thermoplastic film if desired. The bladder can be filled with the compound mixture by separating the air from the bladder and injecting the compound mixture, thereby preventing any large air bubbles from being present in the bladder. The bladder should only be partially filled with the compound mixture to allow movement of the mixture and achieve the desired cushioning properties. The volume of the composite mixture in the bladder can be increased to provide a stiffer cushion or can be decreased to provide a more fluid cushion according to the recommendations of the physician or medical therapist for a particular patient. It would be contrary to the objects of the invention to fill the bladder more than 80% full with the composite mixture because the flow and cut characteristics of the composite mixture would be impaired. Also, no large air bubbles should be included in the finished product or the performance of the device will be reduced. In most embodiments of the invention, no more than 80% of the maximum volume of the bladder is filled with the composite mixture, although bladders that are almost empty or completely filled could be devised. On average, bladders are expected to be approximately 30% to 50% full in volume with the composite mixture. In the preferred embodiments of the viscoelastic fluid of the invention, the composite mixture is cut more easily than and equals the pressure better than the cushion gels of the prior art, but weighs only 20% to 50% as such. Several other preferred embodiments of the invention have higher specific gravities, some are up to and above 0.50 and some less than 0.2. Achieving a low cutting force depends on achieving a low coefficient of friction between the spherical objects such as through the use of a highly lubricant lubricant and spherical objects with very smooth exteriors. In practice, almost any lubricant can be used and any type of spherical object can be used, manufactured from almost any material, hollow or otherwise and of almost any size.

The best mode of the invention includes a highly lubricating viscoelastic lubricant which serves to lubricate an amount of plastic micro spheres contained within a multilayer bladder having at least one layer which is a fabric coated film. The particular composite mixture of the present invention contemplates as a best mode a viscoelastic lubricant mixture, comprising approximately 99.3% by weight of USP grade white mineral oil sold under the trade name of SUPERLA White Mineral Oil No. 21 by Amoco Corporation of Chicago , Illinois and either KRATON G 1651 (Shell Chemical Company, Houston, Texas) (poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene)) or SEPTON 8006 (Kuraray Co. Ltd., Isoprene Chemical Division, Tokyo, Japan) (poly ( styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene)). The composite mixture further comprises microscopic spherical acrylic objects (PM 6545 from PQ Corporation of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania), which results in a specific gravity for the composite mixture of about 0.36 to about 0.06 or less. The spherical objects are plastic wall acrylic microspheres in the diameter range of 10-200 microns and have a uniform wall thickness and have a spherical configuration. These microspheres have a specific gravity of approximately 0.02 and an elastic characteristic, - such that the microspheres can be compressed to less than 20% of their original volume and rebound to approximately 100% of their original volume when the compression force is removed . These microspheres are also resistant to a pressure of approximately 140.6 Kg / cm2 (2,000 psi) without rupture. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the preparation of the composite mixture is carried out simply by placing the lubricant and spherical objects in a container and mixing until the spheres are reasonably uniformly coated with lubricant. No special preparation steps are required and the ingredients can be mixed at room temperature. In the most preferred embodiment in which the lubricant the lubricant includes a viscoelastic fluid, the main molecule and the crosslinking agent are premixed. A condom can be included at this time. The mixture is then allowed to crosslink reversibly for about 2 to 3 days. Constant constant agitation during the period of crosslinking or solidification, particularly the first half day, helps to promote complete mixing and to prevent stratification of the mixture. When the bonding is almost complete, the lubricant is highly lubricant. For the purposes of this description, a material is defined as "lubricant" if it tends to reduce the coefficient of friction between the two objects.In this preferred embodiment, essentially complete cudñdd, then lubricant, most of the lubricant can be moved In other words, a person can grab a handful of lubricant, pull quickly and a large portion of lubricant which was not grasped but which is crisscrossed to that which was held will move with the handful held. They are mixed with the lubricant until the microspheres are reasonably uniformly coated.No special preparation steps are required, and the ingredients can be mixed at room temperature.In the best way to manufacture the viscoelastic fluid, the white mineral oil is heated at a temperature of about 179 ° C (355 ° F) or higher and then the elastomeric polymer is added. The process is continued until the elastomeric polymer melts. The mineral oil / polymer mixture can be stirred to suspend the polymer and to promote mixing of the polymer with the oil. In general, heating for about 4 hours is sufficient to form the viscoelastic fluid, although shorter or longer times are also within the scope of the invention. An example of the best way to make the composite mixture is as follows. 208 liters (55 gallons) of mineral oil are heated with stirring until the oil temperature reaches 177 ° C (350 ° F). During the heating process, .13 grams of an antioxidant (for example Irganox 1010, so much that the oil is stirred.) When the oil temperature reaches approximately 177 ° C (350 ° F :), 610 grams (by weight) of crosslinking agent are sprayed. (for example, Kraton G 1651) to the heated oil, making sure that any lumps are dispersed A second aliquot of 610 grams of crosslinking agent is added when the oil temperature reaches approximately 179 ° C (355 ° F). heating is continued until the oil temperature reaches 185 ° C (365 ° F) .The temperature is maintained at 185 ° C (365 ° F) for about 4 hours with continuous agitation.After this, the viscoelastic fluid is drained to a cooling / retention tank After the viscoelastic fluid has cooled, the microspheres are added to the fluid.For example, 3 gallons of the viscoelastic fluid can be added per one kilogram of PM 6545 microspheres to make a mixed compu It has a specific gravity of approximately 0.12. The viscoelastic fluid / microsphere mixture is mixed in a drum for 45 minutes to 1 hour. These examples are only intended to illustrate the best way to make the composite mixture. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description and examples. The particular flexible bladder which is contemplated herein as a better mode includes a laminated LYCRA flexible crosslinked polyamide polyurethane material and a layer of polyurethane film disposed on either side of the composite mixture. Such a flexible bladder can be formed by placing two extra layers of a polyurethane film on the polyurethane side of a piece of laminate. The polyurethane side of a second extra layer of laminate is placed in contact with the polyurethane film. The layers of the laminate material and the extra polyurethane are then welded together by radio frequency welding and the mixture of lubricated spheres is placed between the two layers of extra polyurethane film. Extra layers of film reinforce the weld. The preferred composite mixture used with the invention is a material which has many of the same beneficial physical properties as the fluids used in the cushioning, but absent from the numerous disadvantages of the fluids of the prior art. For example, the composite mixture has a low specific gravity and is light here, has little or no memory, a low cutoff threshold, a low thermal mass coefficient and low heat transfer coefficient, little to no variation in performance over wide ranges of temperature, resistance to degradation over time, the mixture distributes relatively uniform pressure on the contact surface of an object to be padded, and the mixture has a specific gravity low enough to make it useful for use in flotation devices. The composite mixture is not only a fluid as found in the prior art. The lubricant is used to reduce the coefficient of friction of the outer surface of spherical objects (that is, makes them adapt), allows the desired sliding and rolling movement between spherical objects but does not serve as a dispersing liquid for spherical objects. Because lubricants are available that do not break down over time, because the microspheres are available that are chemically inert (eg, glass or acrylic microspheres), and because the preferred lubricant has a higher affinity by itself and does not tend to migrate through the bladders, a composite mixture can be manufactured in such a way that it lasts indefinitely without change in its properties and can be successfully contained within a cushioning object. The preferred composite mixture used with the invention has a lower heat transfer coefficient than the cushioning fluids of the prior art because the majority of the volume consists of microspheres and because the interior of the microspheres used in the preferred embodiment they have gaseous internal atmospheres trapped and the trapped gas acts as an excellent insulator. As a result, the composite mixture of the invention does not feel so cold to the body that it is cushioned like the cushions using fluids of the prior art. A low heat transfer coefficient, such as less than 0.25 btu per hour per foot per degree Fahrenheit is provided in the preferred composite mixture in the mattress-inflation of the invention. A low thermal mass coefficient, less than 0.7 calories per cubic centimeter per degrees Celsius, is also provided in the preferred composite mixture in the mattress-inflation of the invention. A very important advantage of the invention is that it provides a substantially uniform distribution of the pressure across the counted area of the object that is padded. This is because the use of the composite mixture within a partially filled flexible bladder allows the composite mixture to accommodate the protuberances of the object and to flow and fill the depressions of the object. As the composite mixture flows to contact as much area of the object as possible, the pressure across the contact area of the object is substantially equalized. Another important advantage of the preferred composite mixture is that when used as a filling material for the inflated mattresses of the invention, the composite mixture has no memory, no static pressure (this is no gravity flow), it flows rapidly under pressure and cut quickly to reduce surface stresses. It also quickly conforms to the shape of the body part that is cushioned, maximizes the surface area of cushioning and adjusts quickly when the user moves the body part that is cushioned. Additional advantageous features include non-toxicity of the composite mixture, resistance to evaporation in some embodiments and a composite mixture that does not stain. The result is a safe cushion that equals the pressure. The most preferred bladder material of the invention is a laminated polyurethane film and laminated lycra / polyurethane. The multilayer laminate is very hard and the seam through the weld to the base would therefore be very hard. However, single or multiple layers of polyurethane, PVC (vinyl), or any other weldable film can be used in the invention The preferred base can be any relatively non-stretchable fabric, film, plastic sheet or other material to which the bladder can be attached. Nylon cordura is most preferred because it is relatively non-stretchable, relatively inexpensive, easily stitched flexibly and is very durable.

The preferred cushioning medium that can flow is a mixture composed of lubricated microspheres, although other materials that can flow include fluids can be used. The air or other inert gases can also be used as the cushioning medium that can flow, although in some applications they are not preferred due to the instability which occurs during the movement of the cushioned object. When the preferred composite mixture is used, a stable cushion results. C. Method for Making the Inflated Mattress The bladders of the preferred embodiment are manufactured by arranging flat films (or flat cloth / film laminates) on top of each other and by applying pressure in combination with a power source in sites that are going to be soldiers (perimeter welding, spot welding, welding that divides the bladder, etc.). The most preferred source of energy for the most preferred bladder materials consists of radio frequency waves ("radio frequency welding"). The second most preferred source consists of ultrasonic waves ("ultrasonic welding"). The third most preferred consists of heat ("heat seal"). However, any energy source used to join the layers is proposed to be within the scope of this invention. If the preferred mode of bladder is soldered, partially filled with a measured amount of fluid, any air is expelled (unless air is used as the cushioning medium that can flow) and the filling hole It is sealed via the welding processes of the previous paragraph. The base of the preferred embodiment is then marked in a configuration that resembles, on a smaller scale, the welds of the larger bladder which will be sewn. The seam of the welds to the marks is then carried out with adhesion methods well known in the sewing technique. In some cases, the fabric to the outside of the weld of the periphery will be sewn to the base as well. Other notable features of the finished product which contribute to obtaining the objects of the invention include the following: (1) The preferred four-ply laminate of polyurethane and lycra form an extremely durable material in the welding area, from which it would be very difficult to pull the threads used to sew the bladder to its base. (2) Preferred bladder materials are flexible and collapsible. (3) The preferred bladder materials will completely contain the preferred fluid over a long period of time. Cushions can be made with mattress-inflated bladders for any number of applications that include wheelchair seats, wheelchair backs, bicycle seats, car seats, stadium seats, saddles, chairs secretarial, executive chairs, rest chairs, lumbar supports and others. Other applications for mattress-inflated bladders include mattress covers for conventional mattresses, filler material for water-bed mattresses and cushions for hospital beds. While the present invention has been described and illustrated in conjunction with a number of specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the principles of the invention as illustrated, described and claimed in the I presented. The present invention can be implemented in other specific forms without deviating from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described modalities are to be considered in all aspects as illustrative only and not restrictive. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims, instead of by the previous description. All changes which enter the meaning and range of equivalence of the claims will be covered in their scope. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as property.

Claims

Claims 1. A cushioning device characterized in that it comprises: a) a bladder which is flat before filling, the bladder comprises: i) a first film; ii) a second film welded to the first film with a welded edge to form a sealed and welded compartment with spot welds to the first film at selected interior locations of the sealed compartment; and iii) a quantity of cushioning means that can flow, which is contained within and partially fills the sealed compartment; and b) a non-stretchable base which is smaller in size than the bladder in at least one dimension; wherein the selected interior sites are permanently attached to the corresponding interior sites in the smaller base.
2. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a portion of the edge of the bladder is permanently attached to the edge of the base.
3. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of the spot welds at the selected interior sites are circular; the bladder has spot welds along the edge weld; where the spot welds are located on the approximately linear portions of the edge weld are half circles and the spot welds which are located on the corners of the edge weld are quarter-circles.
4. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of the spot welds at the selected interior sites are uniformly spaced inside the sealed compartment.
5. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base is between about 5% and about 95% smaller than the bladder in at least one dimension.
6. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base is between about 30% and about 70% smaller than the bladder in at least one dimension.
7. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the bladder is filled to approximately between 25% and approximately 50% of its capacity.
8. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means is able to flow freely through a portion of the bladder between the spot welds.
9. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first film and the second film are each made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane / polyamide laminates of flexible crosslinking, polyurethane, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, latex, rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomers and EVA.
10. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first film and the second film are made of a flexible cross-linked polyurethane and polyamide laminate.
11. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the base is made of a material selected from the group consisting of cordura nylon fabric, vinyl film and polyurethane film.
12. A cushioning device according to claim 1. characterized in that the union of the bladder to the base comprises weaving through points through a plurality of spot welds.
13. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the union of the bladder to the base comprises the knitting of a portion of the weld from the edge to the base.
14. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the attachment of the bladder to the base comprises the knitting at the base of a portion of the film of the bladder located, with respect to the sealed compartment, distant from the weld of the edge.
15. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the union of the bladder to the base comprises the placement of rivets through the spot welds.
16. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means is selected from the group consisting of inert gas, air, liquids, gels, oils, microspheres coated with lubricant and elastic particles in an adhesion agent thermoplastic
17. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means comprises: (a) a plurality of spherical objects and (b) a quantity of lubricant on the outer surface of substantially all spherical objects, the lubricant comprises a main molecule and an elastomeric polymer, the lubricant is present in an amount smaller than that which would cause the dispersion of the spherical objects in sufficient lubricant, in such a way that the spherical objects would be significantly separated from each other by the lubricant; wherein the spherical objects and the lubricant are mixed together to form the composite mixture; wherein the lubricant is slippery and serves to reduce the coefficient of friction between the spherical objects in contact; wherein the spherical objects within the mixture are movable in sliding and low friction rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions; wherein the composite mixture flows and cuts in response to a deformation pressure exerted thereon, the flow and the cut are carried out by the spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other; and wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow and cut when the deformation pressure is finished.
18. A cushioning device according to claim 17, characterized in that the main molecule of the cushioning medium that can flow is white mineral oil.
19. A cushioning device according to claim 17, characterized in that the elastomeric polymer of the flowable cushioning means is selected from the group consisting of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene-hydrogenated styrene) , poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene hydrogenated) and poly (styrene- (isoprene + hydrogenated styrene-butadiene).
20. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means comprises: a) a plurality of microspheres, and b) a quantity of viscoelastic fluid on the outer surface of substantially all the microspheres, the viscoelastic fluid comprises a main molecule and an elastomeric polymer, the viscoelastic fluid is present in an amount smaller than that which would cause dispersion of the microspheres in the sufficient viscoelastic fluid, such that the microsphere objects would be significantly separated from each other by the viscoelastic fluid; and wherein the microspheres are movable in sliding and low friction rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions.
21. A cushioning device according to claim 20, characterized in that the main molecule of the cushioning medium that can flow is white mineral oil.
22. A cushioning device according to claim 20, characterized in that the elastomeric polymer of the flowable cushioning means is selected from the group consisting of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene-hydrogenated styrene) , hydrogenated poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene) and poly (styrene- (isoprene + butadiene) -hydrogenated styrene).
23. A cushioning device according to claim 1, characterized in that the flowable cushion means comprises: a) a plurality of spherical objects and b) a quantity of viscoelastic fluid on the outer surface of substantially all spherical objects, the viscoelastic fluid is present in an amount smaller than that which would cause the dispersion of the spherical objects in the sufficient viscoelastic fluid in such a way that the spherical objects would be separated from each other by more than one thin film of the viscoelastic fluid and the viscoelastic fluid comprises a main molecule and an elastomeric polymer; wherein the viscoelastic fluid comprises a mixture of molecules which are crosslinked reversibly, such that the bonds are easily cut by a slow mechanical force and in such a way that new bonds can be reestablished between the molecules of the mixture after the cessation of the mechanical force.
24. A cushioning device according to claim 23, characterized in that the main molecule of the cushioning medium that can flow is white mineral oil.
25. A cushioning device according to claim 23, characterized in that the elastomeric polymer of the flowable cushioning means is selected from the group consisting of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene-hydrogenated styrene) , hydrogenated poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene) and poly (styrene- (isoprene + butadiene) -hydrogenated styrene).
26. A cushioning device characterized in that it comprises: a) a flat bladder, the bladder comprising: i) a first laminated polyurethane film and flexible crosslinked polyamide; ii) a second laminated polyurethane film and flexible crosslinked polyamide soda to the first film with an edge weld to form a sealed and welded compartment with spot welds to the first film at selected interior locations of the sealed compartment; and iii) a quantity of flowable cushioning medium which is contained and fills the sealed compartment to approximately between 25 and approximately 50% of its capacity; and b) an undrawn fabric base which is approximately 20% and approximately 70% smaller in size than the bladder in at least one dimension; wherein the flowable cushion means comprises a mixture of hollow microspheres coated with a lubricant; wherein at least a portion of the edge of the flat bladder is sewn to the base; and wherein the selected interior sites are stitched to corresponding interior sites in the base through the spot welds.
27. A cushioning device characterized in that it comprises: a) a flat bladder, the bladder comprises: i) a first film; ii) a second film, wherein the second film is welded to the first film along its edge with an edge weld, to thereby form a sealed compartment, the second film is also welded to the first film throughout of one or more strips passing through the interior of the sealed compartment, to thereby subdivide the sealed compartment into a plurality of sealed compartments and wherein the second film is spot welded to the first film at selected interior locations of at least one of the sealed compartments; and iii) within each of the several sealed compartments, a quantity of flowable cushioning medium, which is contained in and at least partially filled with a plurality of the various sealed compartments; and b) a non-stretchable base which is smaller in size than the bladder in at least one dimension; wherein the selected interior sites are permanently attached to the corresponding interior sites in the base.
28. A cushioning device according to claim 27, characterized in that at least a portion of the edge of the bladder is permanently attached to the edge of the base.
29. A method for manufacturing a cushioning device, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) welding a first film and a second film together at their edges with an edge weld to form a flat bladder; b) welding the first film and the second film together at selected sites inside the bladder with spot welds; c) filling the bladder to at least a portion of its capacity with a cushioning means that can flow; d) permanently joining a plurality of the spot welds to a flexible, non-stretchable fabric base; where the border of the base is smaller than the bladder in at least one dimension; and where the union of the welds by points to the base causes the bladder to wrinkle.
30. A method according to claim 29, characterized in that step d) comprises sewing the welds from points to the base.
31. A method according to claim 29, characterized in that step d) comprises welding the welds from points to the base.
32. A method according to claim 29, characterized in that step d) comprises riveting the welds from points to the base.
33. A method according to claim 29, characterized in that the source of energy used to produce edge welding and spot welding is selected from the group consisting of radio frequency energy, ultrasonic waves and heat.
34. A cushion characterized in that it comprises: a) a first wall of the bladder, the first wall of the bladder has a perimeter and an internal portion, b) a second wall of the bladder, the second wall of the bladder has a perimeter and a portion internal, the perimeter of the second wall of the bladder joins the perimeter of the first wall of the bladder to form a bladder that is capable of containing a cushioning means that can flow, c) a plurality of joints that join the selected sites from the inner portion of the first wall of the bladder to the inner portions of the second bladder wall in order to create open compartments within the bladder, d) a quantity of cushioning medium that can flow located within the bladder , the amount of the cushioning medium that can flow is insufficient to completely fill the internal volumetric capacity of the bladder, and e) a base permanently attached to the second wall of the bladder. a, the base is of a size that is smaller than the size of the bladder and the base is attached to the second wall of the bladder at a plurality of the joints; wherein the cushioning medium that can flow can be made to flow under pressure between the open compartments.
35. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the base and the bladder are of the same general shape; wherein the base has a perimeter and an external portion; and where the perimeter of the base joins the second wall of the bladder.
36. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the bladder has numerous folds and random corrugations on its surface resulting from a first bladder wall.
37. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the cushion is able to conform to the shape of an object placed on the cushion, in such a way that as the object to be cushioned rests on the first wall of the bladder, the The first wall of the bladder forms a hammock in which the cushioned object rests.
38. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the base comprises a substantially non-stretchable fabric.
39. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the flowable cushion means comprises: i) a plurality of spherical objects, and ii) a quantity of lubricant on the outer surface of substantially all spherical objects, lubricant is present in an amount less than that which would cause the dispersion of the spherical objects in sufficient lubricant in such a way that the spherical objects are significantly separated from each other by the lubricant; wherein the spherical objects and the lubricant are mixed together to form the composite mixture; where the lubricant is slippery, serves to reduce the coefficient of friction between the spherical objects in contact and does not prevent the sliding and rolling of the spherical objects together; wherein the spherical objects within the mixture are movable in sliding and low friction rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions; wherein the composite mixture flows and cuts in response to a deformation pressure exerted thereon, the flow and shear carry out are carried out by the spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other; and wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow and cut when the deformation pressure is finished.
40. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the flowable cushion means comprises a quantity of microspheres having a light coating of lubricant on their outer surfaces.
41. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means is a composite mixture comprising: i) a plurality of microspheres and ii) a quantity of viscoelastic fluid on the outer surface of substantially all the microspheres, viscoelastic fluid is present in an amount smaller than that which would cause dispersion of the microspheres in the sufficient viscoelastic fluid such that the microsphere objects would be significantly separated from each other by the viscoelastic fluid; wherein the microspheres are movable in sliding and low friction rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions; wherein the composite mixture flows and cuts in response to a deformation pressure exerted thereon, the flow and the cut are carried out by the spherical objects moving in contact and rolling and sliding with each other; and wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow and cut when the deformation pressure is finished.
42. A cushion according to claim 41, characterized in that the viscoelastic fluid comprises a main molecule and a crosslinking agent.
43. A cushion according to claim 42, characterized in that the main molecule is white mineral oil.
44. A cushion according to claim 42, characterized in that the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene-hydrogenated styrene), poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene) hydrogenated) and poly (styrene- (isoprene + butadiene) -hydrogenated styrene).
45. A cushion according to claim 42, characterized in that the viscoelastic fluid comprises approximately 99.3% by weight of white mineral oil and approximately 0.07% by weight of crosslinking agent of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), the percentages by weight are based on the total weight of the viscoelastic fluid.
46. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means is a composite mixture comprising: spherical objects comprising an outer cover and an internal atmosphere sealed to the inside of the outer cover, the spherical objects are smaller than 2000 microns in diameter, and lubricant comprising a main molecule and a crosslinking agent; where the lubricant is slippery, serves to reduce the coefficient of friction between the spherical objects in contact and does not prevent the sliding and rolling of the spherical objects together; wherein the lubricant is present on the outer surface of essentially all the spherical objects, but in an amount smaller than that which would cause the dispersion of the spherical objects in the lubricant sufficient to physically separate the spherical objects significantly from each other, such so that more than one thin film of lubricant is interposed between the spherical objects and prevents the sliding and rolling contact of the spherical objects with each other; wherein the spherical objects and the lubricating means are mixed together to form the composite mixture; wherein the spherical objects within the mixture are movable in sliding and low friction rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions; wherein the composite mixture exhibits little memory for the form; wherein the spherical objects are made from material selected from the group consisting of plastic, glass, metal, carbon, mineral and quartz; where the lubricant maintains the slipperiness with the changes of temperature; where the composite mixture has a low thermal mass and a low heat transfer coefficient; wherein the composite mixture flows and cuts in response to a deformation pressure exerted thereon, the flow and the cut are carried out by the spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other; wherein the composite mixture has a low cut-off threshold when cut rapidly; and wherein the composite mixture resists separation to its constituent components over time.
47. A cushion according to claim 34, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means is a composite mixture comprising: a) a plurality of spherical objects and b) an amount of viscoelastic fluid on the outer surface of substantially all spherical objects, the viscoelastic fluid is present in a smaller amount than that which would cause the dispersion of the spherical objects in the sufficient viscoelastic fluid in such a way that the spherical objects would be separated from each other by more than a thin film of the viscoelastic fluid and the viscoelastic fluid comprises a main molecule and a gelling agent; wherein the viscoelastic fluid comprises a mixture of molecules which crosslink in a reversible manner, in such a way that the bonds are easily cut by a slow mechanical force and in such a way that new bonds can be re-established between the molecules of the mixture after the cessation of mechanical force.
48. A cushioning device characterized in that it comprises: a) a first wall of the bladder, the first wall of the bladder has a perimeter and an internal portion, b) a second wall of the bladder, the second wall of the bladder has a perimeter and a internal portion, the perimeter of the second bladder wall joins the perimeter of the first bladder wall to form a bladder that is capable of containing a cushioning medium that can flow, c) a plurality of joints that join the sites selected from the inner portion of the first bladder wall to the inner portions of the second bladder wall in order to create open compartments within the bladder; d) a quantity of cushioning medium that can flow located within the bladder wall; bladder, the amount of the cushioning medium that can flow is insufficient to completely fill the internal volumetric capacity of the bladder, the cushioning medium that can flow and lubricated spherical objects, and e) a base permanently attached to the second wall of the bladder, the base is of a size that is less than the size of the bladder in at least one dimension and the base is attached to the second wall of the bladder. bladder in a plurality of joints; wherein the cushioning medium that can flow can flow under pressure between the open compartments.
49. A cushioning device characterized in that it comprises: a) a bladder having: i) a sealing membrane formed to a sealed compartment, the sealed compartment has an upper part and a lower part, the upper part is joined to the lower part in a plurality of sites; and ii) a quantity of cushioning medium which is contained in the sealed compartment, the amount of cushioning means is less than that which would completely fill the compartment; and b) a base attached to the bladder.
50. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the binding sites are joined to the corresponding sites on the base.
51. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that at least a portion of the edge of the bladder is attached to the edge of the base.
52. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that a plurality of the joints are circular; wherein the bladder has junctions along the edge thereof, wherein the junctions which are located on the approximately linear portions of the edge weld are substantially semicircular and the junctions which are located on the corners of the weld edge are central arcs over the corners.
53. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that a plurality of joints are uniformly spaced inside the sealed compartment.
54. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the base is smaller than the bladder in at least one dimension.
55. A cushioning device according to claim 54, characterized in that the base is between 5% and 95% smaller than the bladder in at least one dimension.
56. A cushioning device according to claim 54, characterized in that the base is between 30% and 70% smaller than the bladder in at least one dimension.
57. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the bladder is filled to approximately between 25% and approximately 50% of its capacity.
58. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the cushioning means can be made to flow.
59. A cushioning device according to claim 58, characterized in that the cushioning means is able to flow freely through a portion of the bladder between the joints.
60. A cushioning device according to claim 59, characterized in that the flowable cushion means comprises: a) a plurality of spherical objects and b) a quantity of lubricant on the outer surface of substantially all the spherical objects, the lubricant comprises a The main molecule and an elastomeric polymer, the lubricant is present in an amount smaller than that which would cause the dispersion of the spherical objects in sufficient lubricant in such a way that the spherical objects would be significantly separated from each other by the lubricant; wherein the spherical objects and the lubricant are mixed together to form the composite mixture; where the lubricant is slippery and serve to reduce the coefficient of friction between the spherical objects in contact; wherein the spherical objects within the mixture are movable in sliding and low friction rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions; wherein the composite mixture flows and cuts in response to a deformation pressure exerted thereon, the flow and the cut are carried out by the spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other; and wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow and cut when the deformation pressure is finished.
61. A cushioning device according to claim 60, characterized in that the main molecule of the cushioning medium that can flow is white mineral oil.
62. A cushioning device according to claim 60, characterized in that the elastomeric polymer of the flowable cushioning means is selected from the group consisting of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), hydrogenated poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene-styrene) ), poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene hydrogenated) and poly (styrene- (isoprene + butadiene) -styrene hydrogenated).
63. A cushioning device according to claim 59, characterized in that the flowable cushion means comprises [a) a plurality of microspheres, and b) a quantity of viscoelastic fluid on the outer surface of substantially all the microspheres, the viscoelastic fluid comprises a main molecule and an elastomeric polymer, the viscoelastic fluid is present in an amount smaller than that which would cause dispersion of the microspheres in the sufficient viscoelastic fluid such that the microsphere objects would be significantly separated from each other by the viscoelastic fluid; and wherein the microspheres are movable in sliding and low friction rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions.
64. A cushioning device according to claim 63, characterized in that the main molecule of the cushioning medium that can flow is white mineral oil.
65. A cushioning device according to claim 63, characterized in that the elastomeric polymer of the flowable cushioning means is selected from the group consisting of poly (styrene-ethylene butylene-styrene), poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene-hydrogenated styrene), poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene hydrogenated) and poly (styrene- (isoprene + hydrogenated styrene-butadiene).
66. A cushioning device according to claim 59, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means comprises: a) a plurality of spherical objects and b) a quantity of the viscoelastic fluid on the outer surface of substantially all the spherical objects, the viscoelastic fluid it is present in a smaller amount than that which would cause the dispersion of the spherical objects in the sufficient viscoelastic fluid in such a way that the spherical objects would be separated from each other by more than one thin film of the viscoelastic fluid and the viscoelastic fluid comprises a main molecule and an elastomeric polymer; wherein the viscoelastic fluid comprises a mixture of molecules which crosslink in a reversible manner, so that the bonds are easily cut by a slow mechanical force and in such a way that new bonds can be re-established between the molecules of the mixture after the cessation of mechanical force.
67. A cushioning device according to claim 66, characterized in that the main molecule of the cushioning medium that can flow is white mineral oil.
68. A cushioning device according to claim 66, characterized in that the elastomeric polymer of the flowable cushioning means is selected from the group consisting of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene-hydrogenated styrene) , hydrogenated poly (styrene-butadiene-styrene) and poly (styrene- (isoprene + butadiene) -hydrogenated styrene).
69. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the sealing membrane is made of a material selected from the group consisting of polyurethane / polyamide laminate of flexible crosslinking, polyurethane, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, latex, rubber or rubber, synthetic rubber, thermoplastic elastomers and EVA.
70. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the sealing membrane is made of a flexible cross-linked polyurethane and polyamide laminate.
71. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the base is made of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon cordura fabric, vinyl film and polyurethane film.
72. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the connection of the bladder to the base comprises the knitting of stitches through a plurality of the seals of the sealing membrane.
73. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the union of the bladder to the base comprises sewing a portion of the edge of the bladder to the base.
74. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the junction of the bladder to the base comprises sewing to the base a portion of the sealing membrane located, with respect to the sealed compartment, distant from the edge of the bladder.
75. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the connection of the bladder to the base comprises the placement of rivets through the joints of the sealing membrane.
76. A cushioning device according to claim 49, characterized in that the cushioning means is selected from the group consisting of inert gas, air, liquids, gels, oils, microspheres coated with lubricant and elastic particles in a thermoplastic adhesion agent.
77. A cushion according to claim 59, characterized in that the flowable cushioning means is a composite mixture comprising: i) a plurality of microspheres and ii) a quantity of the viscoelastic fluid on the outer surface of substantially all the microspheres, viscoelastic fluid is present in an amount smaller than that which would cause dispersion of the microspheres in the sufficient viscoelastic fluid such that the microspherical objects would be significantly separated from each other by the viscoelastic fluid; wherein the microspheres are movable in sliding and low friction rolling contact with each other in all three dimensions; wherein the composite mixture flows and cuts in response to a deformation friction exerted thereon, the flow and the cut are carried out by the spherical objects moving in rolling and sliding contact with each other; and wherein the composite mixture ceases to flow and cut when the deformation pressure is finished.
78. A cushion according to claim 77, characterized in that the viscoelastic fluid comprises a main molecule and a crosslinking agent.
79. A cushion according to claim 78, characterized in that the main molecule is white mineral oil.
80. A cushion according to claim 78, characterized in that the crosslinking agent is selected from the group consisting of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), poly (styrene-isoprene-styrene-hydrogenated styrene), poly (styrene-butadiene- hydrogenated styrene) and poly (styrene- (isoprene + butadiene) -hydrogenated styrene).
81. A cushion according to claim 78, characterized in that the viscoelastic fluid comprises about 99.7% by weight of white mineral oil and about 0.007% by weight of crosslinking agent of poly (styrene-ethylene / butylene-styrene), the percentages in Weight are based on the total weight of the viscoelastic fluid.
82. A method for manufacturing a cushioning device, characterized in that it comprises the steps of: f) creating a bladder substantially impervious to the fluid having an upper part, a lower part, a periphery and an interior; g) join the upper part of the bladder to the lower part of the bladder at selected sites inside the bladder; h) filling the bladder to at least a portion of its capacity with a half-cushion that can flow; i) joining a plurality of the junctions of the bladder to a base.