CA2618847A1

CA2618847A1 - Foldable inflatable cushion

Info

Publication number: CA2618847A1
Application number: CA002618847A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Evangelos Vitoratos
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-03-23
Filing date: 2008-01-04
Publication date: 2008-09-23

Abstract

A cushion. The cushion includes a first section and a second section, the second and first sections being hingedly attached to each other.
The first and second sections define respectively a first cavity and a second cavity. A first air bladder is receivable within the first cavity and a second air bladder is receivable within the second cavity.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

FOLDABLE INFLATABLE CUSHION.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to cushions. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with a foldable inflatable cushion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are many types of cushions some of which are, for example, usable as mattresses during camping trips or for overnight guests or to cushion a relatively hard chair. Some of these cushions include two or more sections that are hingedly connected to each other. For example, a bedding made out of a fabric is used to manufacture each section and the sections are sewn to each other. Then, a cushioning material such as, for example, a foam, is inserted within each of the sections. However, these types of cushions are relatively difficult to transport in a tight space, such as for example in a car, as they are relatively large. In addition, the foams used in these cushions are typically environmentally unfriendly when disposed of.

[0003] Another type of cushions includes an inflatable air bladder.
While these cushions are relatively easily transported in tight spaces as they can be deflated, they are typically not foldable and cannot, therefore, be easily stored when inflated without requiring that they be deflated. Furthermore, such cushions are typically made out a single layer of a material that must be air-proof. These cushions are therefore relatively uncomfortable and must be used in conjunction with other beddings to make them comfortable. Furthermore, the material used to manufacture these cushions is relatively thick, and such cushions therefore cannot be easily washed in conventional washing machines.

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[0004] Against this background, there exists a need in the industry to provide novel cushions. An object of the present invention is therefore to provide improved cushions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In a broad aspect, the invention provides a cushion. The cushion includes a first section and a second section, the second and first sections being hingedly attached to each other. The first and second sections define respectively a first cavity and a second cavity. A first air bladder is receivable within the first cavity and a second air bladder is receivable within the second cavity.

[0006] Advantageously, the proposed cushion is relatively comfortable while relatively easily folded for storage with the air bladders inflated and relatively easily transported with the air bladders deflated.

[0007] Additionally, the proposed cushion is relatively easily manufacturable using known techniques and relatively economical to manufacture.

[0008] Also, in some embodiments of the invention, the bladder is removable from the cavity, which allows to relatively easily clean the proposed cushion.

[0009] Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] In the appended drawings:

[0011] Figure 1, in a perspective view, illustrates a cushion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the cushion being shown in an extended configuration;

[0012] Figure 2, in a perspective view, illustrates the cushion shown in Fig. 1, the cushion being shown in a folded configuration;

[0013] Figure 3, in a perspective view, illustrates the cushion shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the cushion being shown in a configuration intermediate the folded and extended configurations;

[0014] Figure 4, in a perspective view with parts removed, illustrates the cushion shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the cushion being shown in the extended configuration;

[0015] Figure 5, in a perspective view with parts removed, illustrates the cushion shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the cushion being shown in the folded configuration;

[0016] Figure 6, in a perspective view with parts removed, illustrates the cushion shown in Figs. 1 to 5, the cushion being shown in the configuration intermediate the folded and extended configurations;

[0017] Figure 7, in a perspective view, illustrates a cushion in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

[0018] Figure 8, in a perspective view, illustrates a cushion in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 9, in a perspective view, illustrates a cushion in accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention;

[0020] Figure 10, in a perspective view with parts removed, illustrates the cushion shown in Fig. 7; and [0021] Figure 11, in a perspective view with parts removed, illustrates the cushion shown in Fig. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Referring to Figs. 1 to 3, there is shown a cushion 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The cushion 10 includes cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16. The cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 are hingedly attached to each other.

[0023] The cushion 10 is configurable between a cushion extended configuration, shown in Fig. 1, and cushion retracted configuration, shown in Fig. 2. Also, the cushion 10 is configurable in any configuration intermediate the extended and folded configurations as shown, for example, in Fig. 3.

[0024] In the cushion extended configuration, the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 extend in a side by side relationship relatively to each other so as to define a cushion first surface 18 and an opposed cushion second surface 20. In the cushion retracted configuration, the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 are stacked on top of each other so as to define a relatively compact configuration. Therefore, the cushion 10 is usable as a mattress in the extended configuration and relatively easily storable in the retracted configuration.

[0025] The cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 are attached to each other through hinges 22 and 24, as better seen in Fig. 3.
One of the hinges 22 attaches the first and the second cushion sections 12 and 14 to each other. The other hinge 24 attaches the cushions second and third sections 14 and 16 to each other. To allow to attain a relatively compact folded configuration, in some embodiments of the invention, the hinges 22 and 24 are respectively provided substantially adjacent the cushion first and second surfaces 18 and 20. Therefore, this configuration of the hinges 22 and 24 allows to fold the cushion 10 in the folded configuration by configuring the cushion 10 in a substantially Z-shaped configuration.

[0026] As shown in Figs. 4 to 6, the cushion 10 defines cavities 26.
More specifically, each of the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 takes the form of an hollow shell defining a respective cavity 26.
Also, as seen in Fig. 1, each of the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 defines an access aperture 28 allowing an intended user to access the cavities 26. It should be noted that although the access apertures 28 are only shown in Fig. 1, any of the cushions illustrated in the drawings may include such an access aperture. Alternatively, the cushion 10 does not include an access aperture.

[0027] In some embodiments of the invention, the access aperture 28 is reversibly openable and closable using fasteners 30. Any suitable fastener 30 may be used such as, for example, complementary patches of miniature loop and hook material, among other possibilities.

[0028] Referring back to Figs. 4-6, each of the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 receives a respective bladder 32 within their respective cavities 26. For example, the bladders 32 are inflatable bladders that include a valve 36 (shown in Fig. 1) allowing to selectively inflate and deflate the bladders 32. In some embodiments of the invention, the bladders 32 define ribs 34. Such ribs 34 allow the increase the comfort of the cushion at relatively low costs.

[0029] The cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 also each include a respective bedding 40. The beddings 40 define the cavities 26 and therefore are located peripherally relatively to the bladder 32.
Typically, the bedding 40 is made out of fabric. Advantageously, the use fabric to manufacture the bedding 40 allows to have a relatively comfortable cushion 10 while the use of an air bladder 32 allows to have a cushion 10 that is relatively easily storable in relatively small spaces.

[0030] Therefore, the use of a cushions having a first, a second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 each including an inflatable bladder 32 produces a synergistic effect in that the cushion 10 is relatively easily storable temporarily in the folded configuration, usable comfortably in the extended configuration and storable for a longer term with the bladders 32 deflated. Furthermore, since the bladders 32 are removable through the access apertures 28, the bedding 40 is relatively easily washed in conventional washers.

[0031] Although the cushion first, second and third sections 12, 14 and 16 are substantially parallelepiped-shaped, it is within the scope of the invention to have cushion first, second and third sections having any other suitable shape. In addition, it is within the scope of the invention to have cushions having any suitable numbers of sections and having cushions that have sections that are not identically shaped.

[0032] As shown in Figs. 7-11, the cushion 10 may take alternative shapes. The cushion 10' shown in Figs. 7 and 10 includes two sections 12' and 14', the two sections being hingedly connected to each other. The second section 14' is substantially larger than the first section 14. Such a cushion is typically usable with a deck chair (not shown in the drawings). In other embodiments of the invention, as shown in Figs. 8 and 11, a cushion 10" is usable with a conventional chair and therefore includes two sections 12" and 14" that are similarly shaped. Finally, as shown in Fig. 9, in some embodiments of the invention, a cushion 10"' includes only one section.

[0033] In some embodiments of the invention, attachment ropes 38 are provided in at least one of the sections, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The attachment ropes 38 allow to secure the cushions 10', 10" and 10"' to a chair with which they are used.

[0034] Although the present invention has been described hereinabove by way of preferred embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended claim.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A cushion, said cushion comprising:
- a first section and a second section, the second and first sections being hingedly attached to each other, said first and second sections defining respectively a first cavity and a second cavity;
- a first air bladder receivable within said first cavity; and - a second air bladder receivable within said second cavity.