GB2176397A

GB2176397A - Cushion-like pad

Info

Publication number: GB2176397A
Application number: GB08614085A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hans Furtak
Original assignee: Saint Gobain Isover SA France
Current assignee: Saint Gobain Isover SA France
Priority date: 1985-06-15
Filing date: 1986-06-10
Publication date: 1986-12-31
Also published as: FI862534A; SE465919B; GB2176397B; NL8601531A; CH668060A5; FR2583402A1; DK263386A; BE904917A; FR2583402B3; NO162274B; NO862363L; LU86470A1; NO162274C; DE8517516U1; FI862534A0; SE8602637L; SE8602637D0; NO862363D0; DK263386D0; GB8614085D0

Abstract

Cushion-like pad having an elastic core layer enclosed by a casing, characterised in that the elastic core layer consists of mineral fibre felt in panel form while the casing consists of a film which is insensitive to moisture, e.g. a polyethylene film.

Description

SPECIFICATION Cushion-like pad This invention reiates to a cushion-like pad with an elastic core layer enclosed by a casing.

Cushion-like pads as such have long been known, for example flat seat cushions with a core layer consisting of a synthetic elastic foam material enclosed by a casing of a textile material which generally consists of synthetic fibres. Such seat cushions are indeed relatively inexpensive but they have the disadvantage of being combustible and of absorbing moisture like a sponge if, for example, they are exposed to rain when used in the garden.

Furthermore, German Patent Specification No. 1 957 727 has already described a fibre pad consisting of glass fibres which is provided for padded garments. Where the manufacture of such non-woven fibre pads is concerned, the starting point is a pad strip provided with profilings extending regularly over its entire surface, the profilings resulting from passing the strip between rollers having intermeshing teeth. Such a strip is then sprayed with a binder which, once it has set, imparts adequate strength and stability to the strip which has been thus treated. The cost of this relatively expensively-produced fibre pad may be entirely justified in the textiles industry but the cost aspect alone makes it unsuitable as a filling for a cushion-like pad, e.g. as a seat support.

It is on this premise that the invention is based, which sets out to solve the problem of providing a handy cushion-iike pad as a support when sitting or standing and which is inexpensive, light in weight, unaffected by the weather and incombustible within the requirements of Part I of the German Standard DIN 4102.

We therefore provide a cushion-like pad having an elastic core layer enclosed by a casing enclosing the same, characterised in that the elastic core layer consists of mineral fibre felt which in panel form while the casing consists of a film which is insensitive to moisture.

Such a pad which serves, for example, as a seat cushion for stadium bench seats, offers a series of advantages over the state of the art and in fact it is possible to use for it an ordinary mineral fibre felt with a binder content of 5 to 8% by weight, i.e. the binder content can be taken from current production of insulating materials and does not need to be specially manufactured for seat cushions (with the exception of the specific proportion of binder), which would be expensive. A mineral fibre felt which is produced in this way has a heat insulating effect and offers a certain springy elasticity; it is furthermore constant in shape and if it is, for example, 30 mm thick-which is normally adequate for a padded seat - it offers light weight and can be made up without any problem.Suitable mineral fibre felts are produced from bonded glass or rock fibres with a crude density of between 10 and 100 kg/cu.m, a crude density of about 35 kg/ cu.m being particularly suitable for a panel thickness of 30 mm.

As a casing for the core layer of mineral fibres, a polyethylene film for example meets the requirement for a moisture-insensitive cushion casing, preference being given for reasons of environmental protection to a film of readily degradable polyethylene.

In this connection, the term 'film' also includes a two-dimensional structure which consists, for example, of an impregnated paper or the like.

Furthermore, it is quite expedient to construct the casing with a plurality of perforations to make it permeable to air since, when the seat cushion is loaded, the air contained therein should be able to escape rapidly to prevent a possible splitting of the casing if a relatively thin film is used for this. On the other hand, it must be ensured that rain water in particular cannot penetrate the interior of the seat cushion through these perforations. To prevent this, it has been discovered that the film which is used for the casing should be so placed around the core layer that (as a result of the needle punching process used, the perforations are substantially funnelshaped) the tapering portion of each perforation extends towards the outside surface of the casing.

Furthermore, for rational production of the pad according to the innovation, it is possible to proceed so that the elastic core layer is welded into the casing. To this end, it is expedient for the casing to take the form of an endless tube into which the mineral fibre panels which are generally of rectangular construction are introduced, after which the tube has to be cut off at its two ends in the region of the edges of the panels and welded together in a manner similar to the preparation of deep-frozen materials.

If the pad according to the innovation is used as a seat cushion, then this latter may, in addition to being of purely rectangular form, additionally be provided with a fold line about which the entire pad can be angled. This has on the one hand the advantage that the seat cushion can be folded over and stored or carried while occupying less space while on the other hand it offers the advantage that by reason of the angling-over, it is possible at the same time to pad out a back rest which may possibly already exist. In this case, the fold line is assymmetrically located since, as a rule, seating requires a larger area than for the padding of a back rest.

Also, the cushion-like pad is highly suitable as an advertising carrier since by reason of its low price it can be used by a large number of observers, e.g. in football stadia. In this respect, however, steps must be taken to ensure that the advertising statement is only constructed as a visually effective measure, e.g. as a print, which does not noticeably restrict the permeability to air.

Finally, it may also be advantageous to use the panel-shaped pad as a support on which to stand, e.g. in sports stadia, so that standing room can be made more attractive in the winter months, i.e. to counteract cold feet by virtue of the heat insulating property of the support. By virtue of the low price of such a support, it is readily suitable as a disposable item.

Further details and advantages of the innovation are set out hereinafter with reference to examples of embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. lisa perspective view of a seat cushion constructed according to the invention with partially indicated perforations and an example of a printed advertisement: Fig. 2 shows a section taken on the line Il-Il of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a seat cushion having a back part which can be angled over.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a seat cushion 1 comprising an elastic core layer 2 enclosed in a casing 3 which is insensitive to moisture. The elastic core layer 1 consists of a panel of bonded glass fibres and has a crude density of 35 kg/cu.m. In the example, the mineral fibre panel is 30 mm thick and the proportion of conventional binder used is 7% by weight. Particularly in the case of such a quantity of binder, it has become apparent that the mineral fibre panel has an excellent springy elasticity which is of importance for comfort when one is sitting on the cushion, which comfort is furtherenhanced by the heat-insulating property of the mineral fibre pad.

According to the requirements imposed, a crude density of 10 to 100 kg/cu.m and preferably 20 to 50 kg/cu.m would be satisfactory for this purpose.

As the casing 3, a synthetic plastics film of readily degradable polyethylene is used so that attention is given to environmental protection. The casing 3 comprises a plurality of perforations 4 which render it permeable to air. The perforations 4 which are expediently obtained by needle punching the film, are substantially funnel-shaped so that by disposing the tapered portion of each perforation 1 towards the direction of the outer surface of the casing 3, it is guaranteed that no rain can directly, i.e. onlywith difficulty, penetrate the interior of the seat cushion.

On the other hand, however, it is guaranteed that the air can easily escape outwardly from the interior of the seat cushion.

The casing 3 makes an excellent advertising carrier, which may be of great advantage particularly if the seat cushion according to the invention is distributed for use for massed public events such asfootball matches. As shown in Fig. 1 by "X x Z", an advertising statement may occupy half of one side or -- without providing perforations 4 at that location -- it may cover the entire large area. Of course, it is also possible to have an advertising statement on the back of the seat cushion as well, but in this case it must be remembered that the advertising statement can only take the form of a visible means, (e.g. printing) which does not substantially limit the permeability to air.

The casing 3 shown in Fig. 1 consists of a portion of tube which is welded together at its open and oppositely disposed sides 5 and 6.

Finally, Fig. 3 diagrammatically shows a seat cushion 7 comprising a fold line 8 extending parallel to its outer edge, whereby the seat cushion 7 is subdivided into two parts 9 and 10. The part 9 serves as a sitting support while the part 10 can be used to pad a back rest, not shown. To this end the portions 9 and 10 are pivoted relative to one another as indicated by the arrow 11 and the part 10' which is shown by dash-dotted lines.

Claims

1. Cushion-like pad having an elastic core layer enclosed by a casing, characterised in that the elastic core layer consists of mineral fibre felt in panel form while the casing consists of a film which is insensitive to moisture.

2. Cushion-like pad according to claim 1, characterised in that the internal fibre felt comprises bonded mineral fibres and has a crude density of 10 to 100 kg/cu.m.

3. Cushion-like pad according to claim 2, wherein the mineral fibres are glass or rock fibres.

4. Cushion-like pad according to claim 2, wherein said density is 20 to 50 kg/cu.m.

5. Cushion-like pad according to claim 4, wherein said density is 35 kg/cu.m.

6. Cushion-like pad according to any preceding claim, characterised in that a synthetic plastics film is used as the casing.

7. Cushion-like pad according to daim 6, characterised in that the film consists of a readilydegradable polyethylene.

8. Cushion-like pad according to any preceding claim, characterised in that the casing has plurality of perforations so that it is permeable to air.

9. Cushion-like pad according to claim 8, characterised in that the perforations formed are approximately funnel-shaped by means of a needling process, the tapering portion of each perforation extending towards the outer surface of the casing.

10. Cushion-like pad according to claims 8 or 9, characterised in that the casing bears an advertising statement which does not substantially restrict the permeability to air.

11. Cushion-like pad according to any preceding claim characterised in that the core layer is welded into the casing.

12. Cushion-like pad according to any preceding claim characterised in that it comprises, extending parallel with an outer edge, at least one fold line about which the pad can be folded.

13. Cushion-like pad according to claim 12, characterised in that the fold line is assymmetrical ly disposed.