JP2002272563A - Air cushion and chair provided with air cushion - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an air cushion and a chair provided with the air cushion with which a user easily changes his/her posture and is stably supported by the balance of an air pressure after the posture is changed, easily keeps his/her position over a long period of time and is given an improved sitting feeling. SOLUTION: At least two or more air chambers 1 and 2 are arranged side by side in a horizontal direction and the air chambers 1 and 2 are communicated at a narrowed communication part 5. By the constitution, air moves between the air chambers 1 and 2 from the narrowed communication part 5 depending on the change of the sitting position accompanying the change of the posture and the posture is easily changed. After the posture is changed, the air pressure inside the communicated air chambers 1 and 2 is balanced and body weight is stably supported.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an air cushion and a chair provided with the air cushion, and more particularly to a technique for easily changing a posture and improving comfort.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an air cushion in which air is sealed between upper and lower sheets, the inside is a single air chamber or is divided into a plurality of independent air chambers.

[0003]

By the way, when sitting on an air cushion, the air cushion is deformed in accordance with the sitting posture. The inside is a single air chamber or a plurality of independent air chambers. When the seating position is changed by changing the sitting position, the internal pressure cannot be changed correspondingly and it is difficult to change the posture, so the sitting position must be maintained for a long time. There was a problem that it was painful in office work, study, car, train and airplane which had to be done.

[0004] The present invention has been made in view of such a problem, the posture can be easily changed, the air pressure can be balanced and stably supported after the change, and the sitting position can be maintained for a long time. It is an object of the present invention to provide an air cushion and a chair provided with the air cushion which are comfortable and comfortable.

[0005]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least two or more air chambers 1, 2... Are juxtaposed in the left-right direction, and each air chamber 1, 2,. It is characterized by being in communication. According to such a configuration, the air can move between the air chambers 1, 2,... From the communicating portion 5 narrowed in accordance with the change in the sitting position due to the change in the posture, and the posture can be easily changed. However, after the change of the posture, the air pressures in the communicating air chambers 1 and 2 can be balanced and stably supported, and as a result, it becomes easy to continue sitting for a long time, It can improve sitting comfort. Incidentally, the communication portion 5 is sufficiently narrower than the length of the adjacent side of the adjacent air chambers 1 and 2.

In this case, at least two or more air chambers 2, 4...
It is preferable that the air chambers 2, 4,... Communicate with each other through a narrow communication portion 5. Further, as in the invention of claim 3, at least two or more air chambers 1, 2,. At least two or more air chambers 2, 4,... Are juxtaposed in the front-rear direction, and the left and right air chambers 1, 2,. It is also preferable to communicate with each other at the communicating portion 5. Further, as in the invention of claim 4, the air chambers 1, 2,... It is also preferable that the communication is performed by the communication portion 5. Therefore, the air can be moved from the narrowed communication portion 5 and the posture can be easily changed.
2. The air pressure inside is balanced and can be supported stably, and it becomes easy to continue sitting for a long time,
It can improve sitting comfort.

In the fifth aspect of the present invention, at least two or more air chambers 1, 2... Are juxtaposed in the left-right direction, and the air chambers 1, 2,. 1
, And at least two or more air chambers 3, 4,... In the front-rear direction, and each of the air chambers 3, 4,.
b is vertically integrated with each other. According to such a configuration, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the posture in the front-back and left-right directions while increasing the cushioning property.

In the invention of claim 6, the air chamber 1,
An external air chamber 6 whose inside communicates with the outside on the same plane of 2, 3, and 4 is characterized. According to such a configuration, since the external air chamber 6 whose interior communicates with the outside of the air chambers 1, 2, 3, 4 is formed, the air chambers 1, 2, 3, , 4
Can be prevented by the external air chamber 6 even if the shape of the airbag is deformed by the movement of air, and the sitting posture can be stabilized.

In the invention according to claim 7, the communication part 5 is
The upper and lower sheets 7a, 7b are welded to form air chambers 1, 2, 3,.
4 is characterized in that the welding seal portion 8 is not formed in a part of the welding seal portion 8 defining the section 4. According to such a configuration, since the communication portion 5 is formed without performing a welding seal on a part thereof, it is not necessary to cause a sense of discomfort as compared with a case where a valve, a tube, or the like is used for the communication portion 5.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the narrow communication portion 5 is formed in three of four front, rear, left and right directions of the cushion body.
According to such a configuration, the air moves gently in the narrow communication portion 5 formed in three of the four directions of front, rear, left, and right. It does not change in conjunction with it and is hard to get tired.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the narrow communication portion 5 is formed in four directions of front, rear, right and left of the cushion body. According to such a configuration, the air moves quickly in the communication portion 5 formed in four directions of front, rear, left, and right, so that, for example, it is possible to quickly cope with weight shift due to shaking of a train or the like.

The invention according to claim 10 is characterized in that a ventilation opening 9 penetrating vertically is formed. According to such a configuration, ventilation of the air cushion A on the front and back can be performed by the ventilation openings 9 penetrating vertically, and it is possible to prevent the accumulation of moisture in a humid state such as in summer.

In the eleventh aspect, the air chamber 1,
An external air chamber 6 whose inside communicates with the outside on the same surface of 2, 3, and 4 is formed, and the external air chamber 6 is formed continuously around the entire circumference. According to such a configuration, the air chambers 1, 2,.
Even if the shapes 3 and 4 are deformed by the movement of air, the deformation can be prevented by the external air chamber 6 formed in series on the outer periphery of the air chambers 1, 2, 3 and 4, and the sitting posture can be stabilized. Can be changed.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, the width W1 of the front edge 6a of the external air chamber 6 is smaller than the width W of the other edge 6b. According to such a configuration, the front edge 6a of the external air chamber 6, which is smaller than the width W of the other edge 6b, does not impair sitting comfort.

In this case, it is preferable that the cushion is covered with the cover 10 as in the invention of claim 13, and the backrest cushion having the air chamber 13 as in the invention of claim 14. It is preferable to form the lumbar support 12 having the air chamber 14 in the backrest cushion 11 as in the invention of claim 15. Thus, the air chamber 13 of the back cushion 11 is divided into two,
It is also preferable to form the communication part 5 between the division chambers 15 and 15.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a chair B in which the air cushion A according to any one of the first to sixteenth aspects is incorporated in the seat portion 24.

According to such a configuration, the sitting comfort of the chair B is enhanced.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. 1A is a schematic plan view, FIG. 1B is a partially enlarged explanatory view, and FIG. 1C is a schematic sectional view.

The air cushion A is composed of upper and lower sheets 7a, 7a, which are attached to a thin film made of vinyl chloride resin or urethane resin.
b at the welding seal portion 8 to form the air chambers 1, 2,.
3 and 4 are formed, and an external air chamber 6 is formed around the air chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4, for example, leaving a front edge thereof. The air chambers 1, 2, 3, 4 communicate with each other at a communication portion 5 which is sufficiently narrower than the adjacent sides of the adjacent air chambers 1, 2,. The communication part 5 is configured by not forming the welding seal part 8 in a part of the welding seal part 8. The communication part 5 is formed in three directions among four directions of front, rear, left and right of the cushion body. The air chamber 1 and the external air chamber 6 are provided with a valve 16 capable of supplying and exhausting air. The valve 16 is, for example,
It is a well-known device provided with a check valve like an air blowing member of a floating ring, and the check valve can be easily opened.

As described above, two or more air chambers 1, 2,... Are juxtaposed in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, and the air chambers 1, 2,. The air in the air chambers 1, 2,... Arranged side by side in accordance with the change of the sitting position accompanying the change of the posture can be moved from the communication part 5 where the air is narrowed, and the posture can be easily changed. Air chambers 1 and 2
The air pressure in the interior can be balanced and stably supported, and as a result, it becomes easy to continue sitting for a long time, and the sitting comfort can be improved.

Further, since the communication portion 5 is formed by not forming the welding seal portion 8, there is no need to feel uncomfortable as compared with the case where a valve or a tube is used.

FIG. 2 shows another embodiment. However, the basic configuration of the present embodiment is common to the above-described embodiment, and the common parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Hereinafter, the same applies to still other embodiments.

In the present embodiment, the air chambers 1 and 2 are juxtaposed in the left-right direction, and the air chambers 1 and 2 are communicated with each other through a communication pipe 17 constituting the communication section 5. A switching valve 18 is connected to the communication pipe 17. The air chambers 1 and 2 are provided so as to be freely switchable between a state in which they communicate with each other and a state in which the communication is cut off.

In the present embodiment, the switching valve 18 is switched to the communicating state to blow air slightly less than full from the valve 16, and the air between the left and right air chambers 1 and 2 in a sitting state according to the received pressure. The air cushion A circulates along the body, and thereafter, by closing the switching valve 18, the air circulation between the left and right air chambers 1 and 2 is stopped, and the sitting posture can be stabilized. Things. Further, by switching the switching valve 18 to the communicating state, air is communicated between the left and right air chambers 1 and 2 in accordance with the change in the posture, and the posture in the left-right direction can be easily changed. After the change, the air pressures in the communicating air chambers 1 and 2 can be balanced and stably supported. × in the figure
The marks indicate the partially welded portions of the upper and lower sheets 7a and 7b.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, the air chamber 3,
4 is divided into front and rear so that the posture in the front and rear direction can be easily changed. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, an air cushion Aa having the same configuration as that of FIG. 2 and an air cushion Ab having the same configuration of FIG. However, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the posture in the front-back and left-right directions. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the air chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4 are divided into front, rear, left, and right, and the air chambers 1, 3 are communicated with each other through a communication section 5 having a switching valve 18. 2 and 4 are communicated by a communication section 5 having a switching valve 18. In this case, the air chambers 3 and 4 may be communicated with the same configuration. In the present embodiment, by switching the switching valve 18 to the communicating state, it is possible to easily cope with a change in the posture in the front-back and left-right directions. The changed posture can be maintained by closing the switching valve 18.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, in the embodiment in which the outer air chamber 6 is formed around the periphery except for the front edges of the air chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4, the communication section 5 is provided. Even if the shapes of the air chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4 communicated with each other are deformed by the movement of the air, the deformation can be prevented by the external air chamber 6, and the sitting posture is stabilized. In this case, as shown in FIG. 9B, the front edge where the external air chamber 6 does not exist is slightly contracted and tends to be deformed into a substantially trapezoidal shape in a plan view, but as shown in FIG. Is formed over the entire circumference to prevent deformation. In this case, the front edge 6a of the external air chamber 6
Is smaller than the width W of the other edge portion 6b, so that the sitting comfort is not impaired.

FIGS. 8 (a) and 8 (b) show the relationship between the sitting position (buttock a) and the air cushion A. When the player sits in a horizontal state, the left and right balance is obtained as shown in FIG. 8 (a). In the case of tilting, for example, to take something on the side, the air moves from the air chambers 1, 3 where the weight is applied to the adjacent air chambers 2, 4 as shown in FIG. Then, the air chambers 1 and 3 on the side where the weight is applied become thinner, and the adjacent air chambers 2 and 4 become thicker to maintain the posture. In this case, the portion of the external air chamber 6 on the side where the weight is applied is pressed,
The portion of the external air chamber 6 on the opposite side expands to stabilize the posture.

FIG. 11 shows still another embodiment, in which a ventilation opening 9 penetrating vertically is formed in an air cushion A, and the air cushion 9 is formed by the ventilation opening 9 penetrating vertically. The ventilation of the front and back of A can be performed, and the accumulation of moisture in a humid state such as summer can be prevented.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 11, the communication portion 5 is formed in three of the four front, rear, left, and right directions of the cushion body. The air moves gently in the narrowed communication part 5 formed in the above. For example, the sitting posture does not change in conjunction with the sway of a train or the like, and it is hard to be tired. As in the embodiment of FIG. 13, the same operation and effect can be obtained even in the case where the communication portion 5 is formed in three of the four front, rear, left, and right directions by dividing into three in the left and right direction and into two in the front and rear direction. it can.

In the embodiment shown in FIG.
Is formed in the front, rear, left and right directions of the cushion body, so that the air moves quickly in the communicating portion 5 formed in the front, rear, left and right directions.
For example, it is possible to quickly cope with a heavy weight shift such as a train.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the inlets 19, 19 of the air chambers 1, 2, 3, 4 are communicated by a communication pipe 25. Thus, the communication mode of the air chambers 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the present invention can be variously changed.

FIG. 14 shows still another embodiment in which a cover 10 is put on an air cushion A to form a cushion, and a back body cushion 11 having an air chamber 13 is provided with a cover body 20.
The cover 10 and the cover body 20 are detachably connected by, for example, a planar fastener 21, and the back cushion 11 is formed in a series on the air cushion A. A lumbar support 12 having an air chamber 14 is formed on such a back cushion 11, and the back cushion 1
One of the air chambers 13 is divided into two, and the communicating portion 5 is formed between the divided chambers 15, 15. Reference numeral 23 indicates a portion where there is no air. The air cushion A in which the back cushion 11 is formed in a series may be laid on a reclining chair or a chair (not shown) having a massage function. Also, as shown in FIG. 16, by laying a cushion with the cover 10 over the air cushion A on the seat 24 of the chair B,
The sitting comfort of the chair 22 may be enhanced.

Although the air cushion A of the present invention has a rectangular shape in the drawings, it goes without saying that it may have another shape.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, at least two or more air chambers are juxtaposed in the left-right direction, and the air chambers communicate with each other through a narrow communication portion. The air can move between the air chambers from the communicating portion narrowed in accordance with the change, and the posture can be easily changed, and after the posture is changed, the air pressure in the communicating air chamber is reduced. The balance can be stably supported, and as a result, there is an advantage that it is easy to maintain the sitting position for a long time, and the sitting comfort can be improved.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a first air cushion having at least two or more air chambers arranged side by side in the left-right direction, and each of the air chambers is communicated with a communication portion having a narrowed space.
At least two or more air chambers are juxtaposed in the front-rear direction, and the second air cushion, which is formed by communicating each air chamber with a narrow communication portion, is vertically stacked and integrated, so that the cushioning property is improved. In addition, there is an advantage that it is possible to easily cope with a change in the posture in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, since the external air chamber whose inside communicates with the outside on the same surface of the air chamber is formed, in addition to the effects of any of the first to fourth aspects, the air chamber Since the outside air chamber with the inside communicating with the outside is formed, even if the shape of the air chamber communicated with the communication part is deformed by the movement of air, the deformation can be prevented by the external air chamber, and the sitting posture Can be stabilized.

In the seventh aspect of the present invention, the communicating portion is formed by not forming a welding seal portion in a portion of the welding seal portion for dividing the air chamber by welding the upper and lower sheets. In addition to the effects of any of 1 to 6,
Since the communication portion is formed without performing a welding seal on a part thereof, there is an advantage that a feeling of incongruity does not need to be generated as compared with a case where a valve, a tube, or the like is used for the communication portion.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the narrowed communicating portion is formed in three of the four directions of the front, rear, left and right of the cushion body. The air moves slowly in the narrow communication part formed in three of the four directions of front, rear, left and right. For example, the sitting posture does not change in conjunction with the shaking of a train or the like, resulting in fatigue. There is an advantage that it is difficult.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the narrow communication portion is formed in four directions of the front, rear, left and right of the cushion body. The air moves quickly in the communicating portions formed in the four directions, and for example, there is an advantage that it is possible to quickly cope with a weight shift caused by shaking of a train or the like.

According to the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the ventilation opening penetrating vertically is formed, in addition to the effect of any one of the first to ninth aspects, the air opening is formed by the ventilation opening penetrating vertically. There is an advantage that ventilation of the front and back of the cushion can be performed, and the accumulation of moisture in a humid state such as in summer can be prevented.

According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, an external air chamber having an interior communicating with the outside on the same surface of the air chamber is formed, and the external air chamber is formed continuously around the entire circumference. In addition to the effect of any one of the tenth aspects, even if the shape of the air chamber communicated with the communicating portion is going to be deformed by the movement of air, the deformation is prevented by the external air chamber formed continuously on the outer periphery of the air chamber. Therefore, there is an advantage that the sitting posture can be stabilized.

In the twelfth aspect, the width of the front edge of the external air chamber is smaller than the width of the other edge.
In addition to the effect of the eleventh aspect, there is an advantage that sitting comfort is not spoiled at the front edge of the external air chamber which is smaller than the width of the other edge.

According to the seventeenth aspect of the present invention, a chair in which the air cushion described in any one of the first to sixteenth aspects is incorporated into a seat portion is provided. In addition to this, there is an advantage that the sitting comfort of the chair can be enhanced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention, in which (a) is a schematic plan view, (b) is a partially enlarged explanatory view, and (c) is a schematic sectional view.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show another embodiment of the above, wherein FIG. 2A is a schematic plan view, and FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the above.

4A and 4B show still another embodiment of the present invention, wherein FIG. 4A is a schematic perspective view, and FIG. 4B is a schematic plan view.

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the above.

FIG. 6A is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6B is a schematic sectional view.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the above.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation of the above.

9A is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the above, and FIG. 9B is an explanatory view.

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the above.

FIG. 11 is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the above.

FIG. 12 is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the above.

FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of the above.

FIG. 14 is a schematic plan view of another embodiment of the above.

15A is a schematic plan view of still another embodiment of the above, and FIG. 15B is a schematic side view.

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective view of still another embodiment of the above.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Air chamber 2 Air chamber 3 Air chamber 4 Air chamber 5 Communication part 6 External air chamber

Claims (17)

[Claims] 1. An air cushion having at least two or more air chambers juxtaposed in the left-right direction and communicating with each other at a communication portion where each air chamber is narrowed. 2. An air cushion having at least two or more air chambers juxtaposed in the front-rear direction and communicating with each other at a communication portion in which each air chamber is narrowed. 3. At least two or more air chambers are juxtaposed in the left-right direction, at least two air chambers are juxtaposed in the front-rear direction, and the air chambers in the left-right direction communicate with each other through a narrowed communication part.
An air cushion characterized in that the air chambers in the front-rear direction are communicated with each other through a communication portion having a narrow space. 4. An air cushion, which is divided into at least four parts in front, rear, right and left, and adjacent ones of the divided air chambers communicate with each other through a narrow communication part. 5. A first air cushion formed by arranging at least two or more air chambers in the left-right direction and communicating each of the air chambers with a communication portion in which each air chamber is narrowed, and at least two or more air chambers in the front-rear direction. An air cushion characterized in that a plurality of chambers are juxtaposed, and a second air cushion configured to communicate with each other at a communication portion in which each air chamber is narrowed is vertically stacked and integrated. 6. The air cushion according to claim 1, wherein an external air chamber whose inside communicates with the outside on the same surface of the air chamber is formed. 7. The communication portion according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower sheets are welded to each other to form an air chamber, and a part of the welding seal portion does not form a welding seal portion.
7. The air cushion described in any one of items 1 to 6. 8. The air cushion according to claim 3, wherein the narrowed communication portion is formed in three of four front, rear, left and right directions of the cushion body. 9. The air cushion according to claim 3, wherein the narrow communication portion is formed in four directions of front, rear, left and right of the cushion body. 10. The air cushion according to claim 1, wherein a ventilation opening penetrating vertically is formed. 11. The air chamber according to claim 1, wherein an external air chamber is formed outside on the same surface of the air chamber, and the external air chamber is formed continuously around the entire circumference. Cushion air cushion. 12. The air cushion according to claim 11, wherein the width of the front edge of the external air chamber is smaller than the width of the other edge. 13. The air cushion according to claim 1, wherein the air cushion is covered with a cover to form a cushion. 14. The air cushion according to claim 1, wherein a back cushion having an air chamber is formed in a series. 15. The air cushion according to claim 14, wherein the back cushion includes a lumbar support having an air chamber. 16. The air cushion according to claim 15, wherein the air chamber of the backrest cushion is divided into two and a communicating portion is formed between the divided chambers. 17. A chair provided with an air cushion, wherein the air cushion according to claim 1 is incorporated in a seat.