EP0200822B1 - Articles de rembourrage - Google Patents

Articles de rembourrage Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0200822B1
EP0200822B1 EP19850302540 EP85302540A EP0200822B1 EP 0200822 B1 EP0200822 B1 EP 0200822B1 EP 19850302540 EP19850302540 EP 19850302540 EP 85302540 A EP85302540 A EP 85302540A EP 0200822 B1 EP0200822 B1 EP 0200822B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
enclosures
lubricant
article according
envelope
gas
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
EP19850302540
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0200822A1 (fr
Inventor
Janet Parker
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from GB838331666A external-priority patent/GB8331666D0/en
Priority to GB08429384A priority Critical patent/GB2150431B/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to DE8585302540T priority patent/DE3577085D1/de
Priority to EP19850302540 priority patent/EP0200822B1/fr
Priority to AT85302540T priority patent/ATE51852T1/de
Publication of EP0200822A1 publication Critical patent/EP0200822A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0200822B1 publication Critical patent/EP0200822B1/fr
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/12—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas with fibrous inlays, e.g. made of wool, of cotton

Definitions

  • This invention relates to cushioning articles.
  • cushioning has been made of springs, foam rubbers, polyurethane foam, rubber straps, horse-hair, artificial fibres, wadding, felt, air inflated bags, silicone fluid/rubber filled bags etc. or combinations of these. There are also waterbeds. Cushions are available, made from plastics containers filled with a high viscosity liquid/gel, which may contain mineral cenospheres, or foamed polystyrene beads, but these cushions are heavy, not always low in flammability, and relatively expensive.
  • light-weight cushioning article can be made from flexible gas-filled plastics or mineral enclosures, or mixtures of both in an envelope. Being flexible, the enclosures distort under load to transmit load across the article.
  • the present invention is defined in claim 1. It provides a cushioning article comprising a totally sealed gas-impermeable flexible envelope containing
  • the cushioning so produced will follow the body contours of a user but will also be resilient due to the distortion of the individual enclosures, thus distributing pressure evenly and providing greater comfort.
  • the gas-filled enclosures may contain a non-flammable gas such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide or helium. Alternatively, they may contain air.
  • the gas-filled enclosures may be made of film foils or coatings of any one or more of the following:-
  • the gas-filled enclosures may consist wholly of any one of the aforementioned materials.
  • the gas-filled enclosures may comprise a laminate of two or more of the materials or a coating of one on another.
  • the diameter of the gas-filled enclosures is preferably between 5 microns and 50 mm.
  • the enclosures may be spherical, but can be other shapes, e.g. ellipsoidal. It has been found that a mixture of various sizes of gas-filled enclosures will minimise the mass of lubricant needed, and save weight in the cushion. For example, if spherical enclosures of 30 mm diameter are used, they will only occupy about 50% of the total envelope volume, and proportions of smaller-diameter spherical enclosures can be incorporated in the spaces, thus reducing the volume of lubricant needed (see Furnas, Ind. Eng. Chem. 1931, 23(9J, (1052-8).
  • the lubricant in which the gas-filled enclosures are dispersed must have a low coefficient of friction and must flow.
  • the lubricant may be a liquid, e.g. water, aqueous salt solution, polyhydric alcohols, natural or synthetic mineral or silicone oils or greases, the liquid optionally being thickened to give a pseudoplastic gel.
  • the lubricant can be a finely-divided solid (e.g. natural silicates of plate-like structure such as talc), graphite, molybdenum disulphide or derivatives of long-chain organic materials having a plate-like structure (e.g. stearic acid and calcium stearate), soft waxes, fluorinated polymers (e.g. polytetrafluoroethylene) or mixtures of these materials.
  • a finely-divided solid e.g. natural silicates of plate-like structure such as talc
  • graphite e.g. stearic acid and calcium stearate
  • the rheology of the liquid lubricant may be altered by using thickeners or thixotropic agents known to those skilled in the art, e.g. clays, gaseous-produced silicas, cellulose ethers, alkalisoluble acrylics, gelatine, alginates, polyacrylamide, finely divided 'fillers', glass cenospheres or mineral cenospheres.
  • thickeners or thixotropic agents known to those skilled in the art, e.g. clays, gaseous-produced silicas, cellulose ethers, alkalisoluble acrylics, gelatine, alginates, polyacrylamide, finely divided 'fillers', glass cenospheres or mineral cenospheres.
  • a preferred lubricant for use in this invention is a 20% by weight aqueous sodium chloride solution, thickened by means of clays, gaseous-produced silicas or cellulose ethers. At -20°C a 25% by weight saline solution is still fluid, but a 20% by weight saline solution forms a slush at this temperature. Any lower proportion of salt in the solution produces a solid at this temperature. We have found that this lubricant gives good low- temperature properties, low flammability, low order of toxicity and low cost.
  • the impermeable covering constituting the enyelope may be made of any one or more of the materials mentioned hereinbefore. It is preferred that the envelope should be rubber-like/flexible, without being so brittle as to be noisy in use.
  • the envelope may be sealed by means of radiofrequency, heat-sealing or thermoforming in the configuration most suitable for the intended use of the cushioning article and/or to reduce volume and weight.
  • the envelope can, in appropriate cases, be formed by rotational casting or blow-moulding.
  • the impermeable covering may be reinforced e.g. by woven or non-woven fabrics of artificial, or natural materials, or of glass.
  • Suitable laminates/coatings for the envelope include the following:
  • the outermost covering of the envlope may be of any standard upholstery fabric or sheepskin, or leather or leathercloth and may be wholly or partly lined with materials such as polyester wadding or polyurethane foam.
  • the outermost covering may be made to conform to the appropriate British Standrd for flammability.
  • wheelchair cushions orthopaedic seating, invalid car seats, pressure support products such as rings, heel and elbow pads, hospital mattresses, aircraft seats, helicopter seats, seats for buses, cars, fork-lift trucks, lorries and vans, for agricultural vehicles and heavy plant, in domestic and office furniture, kneeling pads, and in shock absorbing pads for equipment.
  • Air-filled enclosures of 30 mm diameter were dispersed in a gel made to the following formulation:-
  • a suitable bactericide/fungicide was incorporated.
  • the air-filled enclosures and gel were contained in a cover fabricated from a polyurethane/poly- vinylidene chloride/polyurethane laminate. The whole was encased in an outer cover comprising polyester wadding and a flame-retardant fabric.
  • Air-filled enclosures of 25 mm diameter were dispersed in a gel made to the following formation:-
  • This gel is also strongly pseudoplastic.
  • the air-filled enclosures and gel were contained in a cover fabricated from polyvinylidene chloride/polyester/polyethylene laminate. The whole was encased in an outer cover comprising polyester wadding and a flame-retardant fabric.
  • Air-filled plastics enclosures of 30 mm diameter were dispersed in powdered graphite, and contained in a cover fabricated from a polyurethane film. The whole was encased in an outer cover comprising polyester wadding and a flame retardant fabric.

Landscapes

  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Claims (9)

1. Article de rembourrage comprenant un volume fermé défini par une enveloppe flexible dans laquelle il y a un certain nombre d'enceintes individuellement relativement mobiles, remplies de gaz, délimitées par des parois flexibles respectives permanentes; les enceintes étant élastiquement compressibles pour transférer la charge à travers l'article, caractérisé en ce qu'il y a un lubrifiant dans le volume entre les enceintes pour aider ainsi à la redistribution des enceintes par mouvement relatif dans l'enveloppe en réponse à une charge et l'enveloppe est totalement scellée et imperméable au lubrifiant.
2. Article de rembourrage selon la revendication 1 où les parois flexibles permanentes de l'enceinte sont une feuille en film ou un revêtement.
3. Article de rembourrage selon la revendication 2 où la feuille en film ou revêtement est choisi parmi un ou plusieurs des matériaux qui suivant:
polypropylène, polyuréthane, chlorure de poly- vinylidène, chlorure de polyvinyle plastifié, caoutchouc butyle, polyester, polyamide, aluminium, caoutchouc chloré ou polymères fluorés.
4. Article selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes dans lequel le lubrifiant est un gel pseudo-plastique.
5. Article selon la revendication 4 où la viscosité du gel est comprise entre 920 et 1560 poises à la vitesse 10, et 114 et 360 poises à la vitesse 100, le tout mesuré sur un viscosimètre Brookfield modèle RFV à broche 7 à 20°C.
6. Article selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes où le lubrifiant est de l'eau contenant un ou plusieurs agents épaississants ou agents thixotropes et du chlorure de sodium.
7. Article selon la revendication 6 où le lubrifiant est une solution à 20% en poids de chlorure de sodium contenant une ou plusieurs argiles, silices produisant des gaz ou éthers de cellulose.
8. Article selon la revendication 1 où le lubrifiant est une matière solide en poudre.
9. Article selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes où chaque enceinte remplie de gaz est distincte et renferme un volume distinct et non divisé de gaz.
EP19850302540 1983-11-28 1985-04-11 Articles de rembourrage Expired EP0200822B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (4)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08429384A GB2150431B (en) 1983-11-28 1984-11-21 Cushioning articles
DE8585302540T DE3577085D1 (de) 1985-04-11 1985-04-11 Polsterungsartikel.
EP19850302540 EP0200822B1 (fr) 1983-11-28 1985-04-11 Articles de rembourrage
AT85302540T ATE51852T1 (de) 1985-04-11 1985-04-11 Polsterungsartikel.

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB838331666A GB8331666D0 (en) 1983-11-28 1983-11-28 Cushioning materials
GB848417432A GB8417432D0 (en) 1983-11-28 1984-07-09 Cushioning materials
EP19850302540 EP0200822B1 (fr) 1983-11-28 1985-04-11 Articles de rembourrage

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0200822A1 EP0200822A1 (fr) 1986-11-12
EP0200822B1 true EP0200822B1 (fr) 1990-04-11

Family

ID=27228032

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP19850302540 Expired EP0200822B1 (fr) 1983-11-28 1985-04-11 Articles de rembourrage

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0200822B1 (fr)
GB (1) GB2150431B (fr)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2150431B (en) * 1983-11-28 1987-04-23 Janet Parker Cushioning articles
GB8713953D0 (en) * 1987-06-15 1987-07-22 Mentor Medical Developments Lt Cushion mattress/like support
US5421874A (en) 1993-06-22 1995-06-06 Genesis Composites, L.C. Composite microsphere and lubricant mixture
US5881409A (en) 1993-06-22 1999-03-16 Teksource, Ll Puff-quilted bladders for containing flowable cushioning medium
NL9500509A (nl) * 1995-03-14 1996-10-01 Vicair B V Ondersteuningsinrichting zoals bijvoorbeeld een kussen.
US5749111A (en) 1996-02-14 1998-05-12 Teksource, Lc Gelatinous cushions with buckling columns
WO1997045038A1 (fr) * 1996-05-28 1997-12-04 Deka Products Limited Partnership Systeme de siege a pression constante
ES2172941T3 (es) 1997-10-31 2002-10-01 Kraton Polymers Res Bv Composicion de espuma que contiene aceite, elastomero termoplastico y particulas expandibles.
GB2342857A (en) * 1998-10-20 2000-04-26 James Arthur Hill Viscous fluid filled seat cushion
US8075981B2 (en) 2007-08-23 2011-12-13 Edizone, Llc Alternating pattern gel cushioning elements and related methods
US8434748B1 (en) 2007-10-03 2013-05-07 Edizone, Llc Cushions comprising gel springs
US8424137B1 (en) 2007-11-27 2013-04-23 Edizone, Llc Ribbed gel
US8932692B2 (en) 2008-10-03 2015-01-13 Edizone, Llc Cushions comprising deformable members and related methods
WO2010135542A2 (fr) 2009-05-21 2010-11-25 Edizone, Llc Coussins comprenant des structures centrales et procédés associés

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1095311A (fr) * 1900-01-01
US3407406A (en) * 1965-06-14 1968-10-29 Rosemount Eng Co Ltd Conformable pad and material for use therein
GB1170449A (en) * 1966-06-28 1969-11-12 Mini Of Technology Cushions and like Supporting Devices
AT337352B (de) * 1973-04-14 1977-06-27 Schaefer Philipp Fullmaterial fur polster, stutzen od.dgl., mit einem solchen fullmaterial gefullter polster und verfahren zur herstellung desselben
SE426545B (sv) * 1981-03-30 1983-01-31 Jan Dranges Kroppsstodjande anordning i form av mobel eller liknande och forfarande for framstellning av densamma
GB2150431B (en) * 1983-11-28 1987-04-23 Janet Parker Cushioning articles

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0200822A1 (fr) 1986-11-12
GB8429384D0 (en) 1985-01-03
GB2150431A (en) 1985-07-03
GB2150431B (en) 1987-04-23

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