KR20150114960A - Shear Cushion with Interconnected Columns of Cushioning Elements - Google Patents

Abstract

According to one embodiment, the buffer 302 includes at least two columns 358, 352 of the axially aligned buffer elements 330, 332, 334, 340, 348, 350, 352, 354, 356, 374), and at least one bonding layer (342, 344) that elastically connects at least two rows together. The bond layer may be oriented in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axial alignment at the intersection of the two or more buffer elements. In one embodiment, the shear reduction may be directionally adjusted to provide different shear relaxation along different directions.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a shear buffer having interconnected columns of buffer elements,

Cross-reference of related application - reference

The present application claims priority benefit benefit to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 758,697 entitled " Shear Force Reduction "filed January 30, 2013, The entire contents of which are specifically incorporated herein by reference.

Technical field

The present invention generally relates to a cushion for providing comfort and support to a seated person, and more particularly to a cushion having interconnected rows of cushioning elements for providing comfort and support to a seated person.

When seated on a cushion, vibration and other forces may cause horizontal use of the occupant of the cushion. This horizontal movement induces a shear force at the interface between the seated person and the seat cushion, and such shearing force is absorbed by the cushioning body and / or the body tissues of the seated person. Such interfacial shear forces can cause the occurrence of pressure ulcers in the case of discomfort, irritability, fatigue, and extremes of the seated person.

The embodiments described herein address at least one of the problems set forth above by providing a shear buffer, wherein such shear buffer comprises a first row of two or more interconnected buffer elements; A second row of two or more additionally interconnected damping elements, the first row being oriented and adjoining substantially parallel to the second row; And a first bonding layer for elastically connecting the first row to the second row, wherein both the first row and the second row extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first bonding layer.

The embodiment described herein solves at least one of the problems described above by additionally providing a method of using a shear buffer to reduce the peak shear force exerted on the seated person of the shear buffer, Tilting a first row of elements and a second row of two or more additionally interconnected damping elements in the direction of a shear force applied to the shear buffer, And the first row is oriented substantially parallel to the second row.

The embodiment described herein solves at least one of the aforementioned problems by additionally providing a shear buffer, the shear buffer comprising a first row of two or more interconnected buffer elements; A second row of two or more additional interconnected damping elements; A third row of two or more additional interconnected damping elements; A fourth column of two or more additionally interconnected damping elements, each of the first column, second column, third column and fourth column being oriented substantially parallel; The first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row at the first interface between each adjacent buffer element of the first row, the second row, the third row and the fourth row A first bonding layer; And the first row, the second row, the third row and the fourth row at a second interface between each adjacent buffer element of the first row, the second row, the third row and the fourth row Wherein the second bonding layer is offset from the first bonding layer and oriented substantially parallel to the first bonding layer, and wherein the first, second, third, and fourth rows are all aligned And a second bonding layer oriented substantially perpendicular to the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer.

Additional embodiments will become apparent from the following description.

The nature and advantages of the technology may be further understood by reference to the drawings described in the remainder of the specification.
Figure 1a is a side elevational view of a seated person sitting on an exemplary shear cushion prior to application of a lateral force.
1B shows a seated person seated on the exemplary shear cushion of Fig. 1A, subjected to a braking lateral force.
Fig. 1C shows a seated person sitting on the exemplary shear cushion of Fig. 1A, subjected to an accelerating lateral force.
Figure 2a is a rear elevational view of a seated person sitting on an exemplary shear buffer prior to application of a lateral force.
Fig. 2B shows a seated person sitting on the exemplary shear cushion of Fig. 2A, subjected to a counterclockwise lateral force.
Fig. 2C shows a seated person sitting on the exemplary shear cushion of Fig. 2A, receiving a right-handed lateral force.
3 is a perspective view of an exemplary shear buffer.
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of an exemplary two-layer shear buffer subjected to a shear force.
5 is a side elevational view of an exemplary four-layer shear buffer subjected to a shear force.
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of an exemplary 6-layer shear buffer subjected to a shear force.
7 is a graph showing the peak shear force over time of an exemplary shear buffer.
8 is a perspective view of an exemplary shear buffer having an offset buffer layer.
Figure 9 is a schematic lateral elevational view of an exemplary shear buffer.
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of an exemplary layered shear buffer subjected to lateral forces.
11 is a top plan view of an exemplary shear buffer 1102 having a directional buffer element and a non-directional buffer element.
Figure 12 is a side elevational view of an exemplary four-layer shear buffer having rows of progressively varying buffer elements.
Figure 13 shows an exemplary operation for using a shear buffer to reduce the peak shear force exerted on the seated person of the shear buffer.

Many buffers have a compressive force (or normal force) generated when the seated person sits on the cushioning body or forms an interface unlike the cushioning body (i. E., Substantially perpendicular to the user interface plane of the cushioning body ≪ / RTI > or less than a change of 1 degree). Often, this compressive force is the result of gravity acting on the seated person. Such a cushion, however, may also be used to provide a shear force between the seated cushion and the cushion (i.e., a force that is substantially horizontal to the user interface plane of the cushioning body), which may occur when a seated seated person slides horizontally across the top of the cushion That is, less than a 5 degree change or less than a 1 degree change). Often, this shear force is the result of the inertial force exerted on the seated person when a change in direction of travel occurs. Such shearing forces can be inconvenient and potentially harmful to the seated person. For example, the motorcyclist saddle may be subject to intensive lateral vibration, which can cause annoyance, particularly when the occupant turns on the motorcycle and when the occupant is shifted or slid sideways relative to the saddle, and And / or inertia. This rubbing of the body tissue against the motorcycle seat can cause irritation and injury. Similarly, other saddles and seats (e.g., vehicle seats, aircraft seats, motorboat seats, riding saddles, bicycle saddles, and wheelchair seats) associated with a moving carrier may not adequately adequately protect the seated person from shear forces There will be. Inadequate protection from shear forces can cause rubbing, bruising, irritability, fatigue, and can contribute to the formation of pressure ulcers of the seated person.

If the upper portion of the buffer elastically moves with the seated person while the lower portion of the buffer is held stationary, the peak shear force is greatly reduced. Accordingly, allowing the upper portion of the cushion to move laterally with the seated person is an effective way of reducing or eliminating the shear between the cushion and the cushion. Thus, it is believed that the laminated opposing voided cushions disclosed herein exhibit both a vertical pressure dispersion (e. G., A pressure distribution oriented substantially perpendicular to the interface between the seated and the cushion) and a decrease in the peak shear force between the seated and the cushion . ≪ / RTI > In one embodiment, the vertical pressure dispersion may be adjusted independently of the peak shear force reduction. In other embodiments, the peak shear force reduction itself may be directionally adjusted to provide different shear reduction or removal along different directions.

1A is a side elevational view of a seated occupant 100 seated on an exemplary shear cushion 102 prior to application of lateral forces or shear forces. It may be any seat or saddle component cushion of the carrier (not shown) where the cushion 102 is moving or movable (but now stopped). Also, while the seated person 100 is shown using the cushioning 102 in the seating position, the techniques disclosed herein may also be applied to cushioning the seated person 100 oriented to another location. For example, the cushion 102 may support a seated person 100 of a combination of lying, lying down or lying / seated positions with an effect similar to that described herein. The cushion 102 may also support the seated person 100 in areas other than the buttocks of the user (e.g., the cushion 102 may support the body, legs, shoulders, head, etc. of the seated person) Lt; / RTI >

The gravity (or normal force) is oriented downward as shown by arrow 104 pushing the seater 100 to the cushion 102, which, as shown by the arrow 106, Strike the seated person (100) again. In FIG. 1A, the lateral load is not shown, and the cushion 102 simply provides support for the seated person 100 in a direction generally perpendicular to the interface surface 108 of the cushion 102.

Fig. 1B shows a seated occupant 100 seated on the exemplary shear cushion 102 of Fig. 1A, subjected to a braking lateral force shown by arrow 110. Fig. 1B assumes that the seated occupant 100 is moved within the carrier. However, in other implementations, a similar effect will occur when the user is accelerated backward when the carrier is stationary. The braking lateral force is created by the inertial force of the mobile occupant 100 resisting braking or decelerating of the carrier and such inertial force is oriented in a direction opposite to the braking lateral force shown by the arrow 110. Further, in various embodiments, the braking lateral force and corresponding inertial force are additionally and independently present in gravity (or normal force) and are the same and opposite in correspondence with the force shown in FIG. 1A.

The shear force shown by the arrow 112 allows the seated person 100 to be held stationary relative to the cushion 102, despite the inertial force acting on the seated person 100. The shear force is defined as the force parallel to the interface surface 108 between the seated person 100 and the cushion 102. Shear stress is the shear force per unit shear area at the interface surface 108 (e. G., The area of the body of a seated person in contact with the cushion 102). Shear movement is any movement that overcomes the frictional forces that induce the seated person 100 to move across the interface surface 108 of the cushion 102. [ Shear cushion 102 is configured to reduce peak shear and peak shear stress and to reduce or eliminate any shear movement between the seated person 100 and the cushion 102.

If a conventional cushion is used, the same and opposite shear forces will be applied immediately to the seated person to resist braking lateral forces. When the sheathed cushion 102 is used, the upper portion of the cushion 102 moves laterally with the seated person 100 so that the shear cushion 102 is moved sideways with the seated person 100 While reducing the opposite shear / shear stress magnitude during travel. If the braking lateral force is relatively short compared to the time the top portion of the bumper 102 is laterally shifted, the peak shear force applied to the occupant 100 by the bumper 102 Remains lower than the peak shear force that can occur in conventional buffers. The peak shear force applied to the seated person 100 by the cushioning body 102 is set to be greater than the peak shearing force applied by the cushioning body 102 if the braking lateral force is relatively long in comparison to the time when the upper end portion of the cushioning body 102 is laterally moved It will be the same as it would occur in a conventional cushioning, but will be more gradual in reaching the peak shear force, which may reduce the fatigue or injury risk of the seated user 100.

Fig. 1c shows the seated occupant 100 seated on the exemplary shear cushion 102 of Fig. 1a, subjected to the accelerated lateral force shown by arrow 114. Fig. 1C assumes that the seated occupant 100 is moved within the carrier. However, in other implementations, a similar effect will occur if the user is accelerated forward when the carrier is stationary. The accelerating lateral force is created by the inertial force of the mobile occupant 100 resisting the acceleration of the carrier and such inertial force is oriented in a direction opposite to the braking lateral force shown by the arrow 114. Further, in various embodiments, the accelerating lateral force and the corresponding inertial force are additionally and independently present in the gravitational force (or vertical force) and are the same and opposite in correspondence with the force shown in FIG. 1A.

The shear force shown by the arrow 116 allows the seated person 100 to be held stationary with respect to the cushion 102, despite the inertial force acting on the seated person 100. If a conventional buffer is used, the same and opposite shear forces will be applied immediately to the seated person 100 to resist accelerating lateral forces. When the sheathed cushion 102 is used, the upper portion of the cushion 102 moves laterally with the seated person 100 so that the shear cushion 102 is moved sideways with the seated person 100 While reducing the opposite shear / shear stress magnitude during travel. If the accelerating lateral force is relatively short compared to the time at which the top portion of the cushioning body 102 is laterally shifted, the peak shear force applied to the occupant 100 by the cushioning 102 Remains lower than the peak shear force that can occur in conventional buffers. The peak shear force applied to the seated person 100 by the cushioning member 102 is set to be greater than the peak shearing force applied by the cushioning member 102 if the accelerating lateral force is relatively long in comparison with the time when the upper end portion of the cushioning member 102 is laterally shifted Will be the same as would occur in a conventional buffer, but will more gradually reach the peak shear force, which may reduce the risk of fatigue or injury of the seated person 100.

Structural details of the buffer 102 will be described below. Also, for brevity, the force shown by the arrows 104, 106, 110, 112, 114, 116 is oriented in the vertical or shear direction, but the force applied to the seated person 100 is the vertical component and the shear component It can be oriented in the direction including all of them. In this case, a similar analysis is made by separating the vertical component and the shear component.

2A is a rear elevation view of a seated 200 seated on an exemplary shear cushion 202 prior to application of a lateral force. It may be any seat or saddle component cushion of the carrier (not shown) where the cushion 202 is moving or movable (but now stopped). Also, while the seated person 200 is shown using the cushioning 202 in the seating position, the techniques disclosed herein may also be applied to buffer the seated person 200 oriented to another location. For example, the cushion 202 may support a sitter 200 of a combination of lying, lying down, and lying / sitting positions with an effect similar to that described herein. In addition, the cushion 202 may provide support for the seated person 200 in areas other than the buttocks of the user.

The gravity (or normal force) is oriented downward as shown by arrow 204 to push the seater 200 into the cushion 202, which, as shown by arrow 206, Pushing the seated person (200) again. In Figure 2a, lateral loads are not shown, and buffer 202 simply provides support in a direction generally perpendicular to interface surface 208 of buffer 202 with respect to seated 200.

FIG. 2B shows a seated seated person on the exemplary shear cushion of FIG. 2A, subjected to a left-handed lateral force shown by arrow 210. Figure 2b assumes that the seated person 200 is moved within the carrier. However, in other implementations, a similar effect will occur when the user is accelerated to the left when the carrier is stationary. The counterclockwise lateral force is generated by the inertial force of the mobile occupant 200 against the rotation of the carrier and such inertial force is oriented in a direction opposite to the lateral force shown by the arrow 210. Further, in various implementations, the left-hand lateral force and the corresponding inertial force are additionally and independently present in gravity (or normal force) and are the same and opposite in correspondence with the force shown in FIG. 2A.

The shear force shown by the arrow 212 allows the seated person 200 to be held stationary relative to the cushion body 202, even though inertial forces act on the seated person 200. [ If a conventional buffer is used, the same and opposite shear forces will be immediately applied to the seated person 200 to resist the counterclockwise lateral force. When the sheathed cushion body 202 is used, the upper portion of the cushion body 202 moves laterally with the seated person 200 so that the shear cushion body 202 is moved sideways with the seated person 200 While reducing the opposite shear / shear stress magnitude during travel. If the leftward lateral force is relatively short compared to the time at which the top portion of the cushion body 202 is laterally shifted, the peak shear force applied to the occupant 200 by the cushion body 202 Remains lower than the peak shear force that can occur in conventional buffers. The peak shear force applied to the seated person 200 by the cushioning body 202 is determined by the following equation, if the leftward lateral force is relatively long in comparison with the time when the upper end portion of the cushioning body 202 is laterally shifted Will be the same as would occur in a conventional buffer, but will be more gradual in reaching the peak shear force, which may reduce the risk of fatigue or injury of the seated person 200.

2C shows the seated person 200 seated on the exemplary shear cushion 202 of FIG. 2A, which is subjected to a right-handed lateral force shown by arrow 214. FIG. Figure 2c assumes that the seated person 200 is moved within the carrier. However, in other implementations, a similar effect will occur if the user is accelerated to the right when the carrier is stationary. The right-handed lateral force is generated by the inertial force of the mobile occupant 200 against the rotation of the carrier, and such inertial force is oriented in a direction opposite to the lateral force shown by the arrow 214. Further, in various embodiments, the right-handed lateral force and the corresponding inertial force are additionally and independently present in gravity (or normal force) and are the same and opposite in correspondence with the force shown in FIG. 2A.

The shear force shown by the arrow 216 allows the seated person 200 to be held stationary relative to the cushion body 202 despite the inertial force acting on the seated person 200. [ If a conventional buffer is used, the same and opposite shear forces will be immediately applied to the seated person 200 to resist the counter-clockwise lateral force. When the sheathed cushion body 202 is used, the upper portion of the cushion body 202 moves laterally with the seated person 200 so that the shear cushion body 202 is moved sideways with the seated person 200 While reducing the opposite shear / shear stress magnitude during travel. The peak shear force applied to the seated person 200 by the cushioning member 202 is set to be smaller than the peak shearing force applied to the seated person 200 by the cushioning member 202 if the counterclockwise lateral force is relatively short in comparison with the time when the upper end portion of the cushioning member 202 is laterally moved Remains lower than the peak shear force that can occur in conventional buffers. The peak shear force applied to the seated person 200 by the cushioning body 202 is set to be greater than the peak shearing force applied to the seat cushion 200 by the cushioning member 202 if the rightward lateral force is relatively long in comparison to the time when the upper end portion of the cushioning body 202 is laterally moved Will be the same as would occur in a conventional buffer, but will be more gradual in reaching the peak shear force, which may reduce the risk of fatigue or injury of the seated person 200.

The structural details of the buffer 202 will be described below. Also, for simplicity, the force shown by the arrows 204, 206, 210, 212, 214, 216 is oriented in the vertical or shear direction, but the force applied to the seated person 200 is the vertical component and the shear component It can be oriented in the direction including all of them. In this case, a similar analysis is made by separating the vertical component and the shear component.

3 is a perspective view of an exemplary shear buffer 302. Although shear buffer 302 includes six buffer layers 318, 320, 322, 324, 326 and 328, in other embodiments (see, for example, More or less buffer layers may be used. Each buffer layer 318, 320, 322, 324, 326, 328 includes a planar array of buffer elements. For example, buffer layer 318 includes buffer elements 330 and 332 oriented in the x-direction and buffer elements 330 and 334 oriented in the y-direction. In other implementations (e.g., see FIGS. 4-6), more or fewer buffer elements may constitute each buffer layer.

And includes a top void cell and a bottom void cell in which each buffer element is joined by two bonding layers. The upper and lower void cells are attached together at the cell interface. For example, a buffer element 340 includes an upper void cell 336 and a lower void cell 338, coupled by a bonding layer 342, 344, and attached together at a cell interface 346. In some embodiments, the pore cells protrude integrally from each of the bond layers. In another embodiment, the pore cells are formed independently and attached to each bonding layer. It is also contemplated that each of the bond layers between adjacent full layer layers may comprise two layers, one of the two layers being associated with an upper buffer layer having pore cells protruding from the upper buffer layer and the other being associated with the lower buffer layer And is associated with a lower buffer layer having protruding void cells. Two layers are attached together to form a bonding layer. For example, two layers may be physically attached to each other, for example, by an adhesive. In another embodiment, the two layers are not physically attached, and the frictional forces prevent the two layers from sliding against each other under shear forces. In another embodiment, each bonding layer positioned between adjacent buffer layers is a single planar layer having pore cells protruding in both directions from the bonding layer.

Each buffer element rests against an elastic cell wall and acts as a spring together with other buffer elements in the shear buffer 302. It is also contemplated that each buffer element in the buffer layer may be aligned with other buffer elements in the other buffer layer of the shear buffer 302 to form a substantially parallel (i. E., Less than 5 degrees of change or less than 1 degree of change Of heat). For example, the buffer element 340 in the buffer layer 318 is aligned in the z-direction with the buffer elements 348, 350, 352, 354, 356 in the buffer layers 320, 322, 324, 326, 328 Thereby forming column 358. Column 358 is centered on axis 360 oriented in the z-direction.

As used herein, the term "vertically adjacent" shall mean adjacent to a given element along an axis in the z-direction. For example, a bonding layer 344 is disposed between vertically adjacent buffering elements 340 and 348. The bonding layer can provide an adhesive interface for bonding vertically adjacent buffer elements together and for connecting each buffer element to one or more buffer elements in rows that are horizontally adjacent (adjacent along an axis in the x-y plane).

In addition to providing an adhesive interface for vertically adjacent buffer elements in the column, the bonding layer also functions to elastically couple a plurality of rows together. For example, bonding layer 344 couples heat 358 to laterally adjacent heat 374. In this manner, the buffer elements are interconnected in a row (z-direction) and also in a row (x-direction and / or y-direction) and to a seat (x-y plane). The connection between the buffer elements in adjacent columns is non-rigid. Accordingly, each row is bent in a similar manner to a cantilever beam, so that a seat occupant capable of absorbing shear forces and contacting the cushioning body, as will be described in more detail below with respect to Figures 4-6, It is possible to reduce the impact of the shear force exerted on the body.

In some embodiments, the bonding layer is a thin flexible sheet of elastic material offset at regular intervals, and the heat (e.g., heat 312) is bent without substantial deformation of the individual buffer elements. In other embodiments, both the individual buffer elements and the bonding layers are elastically biased in response to shear loading of the shear buffer 300. Further, the individual heat of the buffer element may be deflected in response to a load that is substantially perpendicular to the shear buffer 300 (i.e., less than 5 degrees of change or less than 1 degree of change). Although the individual heat of the buffer element can be deflected in this manner, the shear buffer 300 is stabilized by the interaction of the heat of the surrounding buffer elements. Because the bonding layer couples heat of the buffer element non-rigidly together, the bonding layer prevents the individual heat in the buffer body 300 from collapsing under shear and normal forces (collapsing) do.

In one embodiment, the bonding layer has a substantially uniform elasticity in the x-y plane. In other embodiments, the bonding layer is adjusted such that the elasticity along one direction (e.g., the x-direction) may differ from the elasticity along the other direction (e.g., the y-direction). In yet another embodiment, the bond layer may comprise perforations, regions of increased thickness, or other fine features that may affect the elasticity. Such a feature would have the effect of providing a directional elasticity to the bonding layer, such that the bonding layer would have greater elasticity in one direction compared to the other direction. As a result, the occupant of the cushioning body 300 will be able to take advantage of the shear protection with the directionality aimed at the anticipated shearing direction.

The buffering element and bonding layer may be any material including an elastomer, a gel, a stretched textile, and an air cell. In at least one embodiment, when the pore cell (i.e., the air cell) is formed of a cavity of a particular geometric shape, two thermoformed ) Sheet. In another embodiment, the buffer element is a solid element constructed of another force-absorbing material such as foam, rubber,

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the buffer elements includes two opposed regular pore cells, but the buffer element may comprise pore cells of any shape or geometry. In one embodiment, the shape of the damping element that forms the row and / or column is different from the shape of the damping element that forms another row or column of the damping element (see, e.g., Figs. 11 and 12).

(Up to several decimeters in the x-direction, y-direction, and / or z-direction) from the small (less than centimeters in x-, y-, and / or z-direction) Range, < / RTI > In one embodiment, each of the opposing void cells of the buffer element is a cube having dimensions of about 4 mm in the x-direction and y-direction and 4-5 mm in the z-direction. In another embodiment, the cube has dimensions of about 54 mm in the x-direction and y-direction and 82 mm in the z-direction. In a further embodiment, the buffer element dimension may be varied between the aforementioned cube sizes.

The shear buffer 302 includes a fixed surface 362 and an interfacial surface 308 and each surface is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the buffer element row (e.g., axis 360) Or less than a degree of change). The fixed surface 362 may be rigidly attached to a fixed structure (e.g., a seat frame of a carrier) and the interface surface 308 may be rigidly attached to a seated person of the shear buffer 302 (e.g., And the seated person 104, 204 of Fig. 2). The interface surface 308 is positioned at the end of the row opposite the anchor surface 362 and is allowed to move and to respond to force input on the interface surface 308. [ As will be described in greater detail below with respect to Figures 4 to 6, each row is configured to be biased elastically under a shear load.

In at least one embodiment, the vertical and / or adjacent buffer elements are non-rigidly coupled together. Although each of Figures 3-6 shows an x-z cross section, in at least one embodiment, the y-z cross section may be the same or substantially similar. For example, the buffer may be a cubic or rectangular box (see, for example, shear buffer 102, 202 of FIGS. 1A-2C) comprising a layer of laminated buffer elements.

The intrinsic instability in the column (e. G., Column 358) causes some x-y plane deflection of the column under shear force, but the interconnections between the connecting elements produce controlled stability within each buffer layer. Accordingly, a plurality of buffer layers act together to produce a system of controlled stability. In the following embodiments of FIGS. 4-6, the amount by which each row transitions laterally in response to a shear force is inversely proportional to the length of the row. Hence, the higher column (e.g., see FIG. 6) provides a greater shear force reduction than the shorter column (see, for example, FIG. 4). In at least one embodiment, the movement of the thermal and bonding layers in response to the varying shear force is substantially proportional to the compression rate of the shear buffer 402, 502, 602 of Figs. 4-6 along the z- It does not affect.

4 is a side elevational view of an exemplary two-layer shear buffer 402 having received a shear force 412. FIG. Shear buffer 402 comprises two buffer layers 418 and 420, each layer comprising an array of buffer elements that are generally aligned in the y-z plane. For example, buffer layer 418 includes buffer elements 430, 432, 448. And each of the buffer elements is joined by two coupling layers. The upper and lower void cells are attached together at the cell interface. For example, a buffer element 440 includes an upper void cell 436 and a lower void cell 438, coupled by a bond layer 442, 444, and attached together at a cell interface 446.

Each buffer element leans against the elastic element wall and acts as a spring together with other buffer elements in the shear buffer 402. In addition, each buffer element in the buffer layer aligns with other buffer elements in the other buffer layers of the shear buffer 402 to form heat of the buffer element. For example, the buffer element 440 in the buffer layer 420 is aligned in the z-direction with the buffer element 448 in the buffer layer 418 to form the heat 458. Column 458 is located at a center on axis 460 that is oriented in the z-direction when shear buffer 402 is not under shear force 412. [

Shear buffer 402 includes a fixed surface 462 and an interfacial surface 408 and each surface is oriented generally perpendicular to the buffer element thermal axis (e.g., axis 460). The fixed surface 462 may be rigidly attached to a fixed structure (e.g., a seat frame of a carrier) and the interface surface 408 may be rigidly attached to a seated person of the shear buffer 402 (e.g., And the seated person 104, 204 of Fig. 2). Each row is configured to be biased elastically under a shear load, as will be described in greater detail below.

When no shear force 412 is applied, the heat axes 460, 464, 466, 468, 470 are generally aligned and oriented in the z-direction. The surface of the buffer element adjacent to the fastening surface 462 (e.g., buffer element 440) remains fixed while the buffer element is tilted in the direction of shear force 412. [ As shown by the tilted column shafts 460, 464, 466, 468, 470, when adjacent to the interface surface 408 from the stationary surface 462, adjacent damping elements in each row are also tilted and shear forces (412). The orientation of each of the column axes 460, 464, 466, 468, 470 remains substantially the same due to the coupling layer joining together each of the respective adjacent buffer elements in adjacent rows.

Also, since the individual damping elements can be resiliently compressed, the deflection of the row of damping elements is also resilient. Further, the bonding layer can be stretched elastically. As a result, as the column axes 460, 464, 466, 468, 470 are tilted in the direction of shear force 412, the bond layer is stretched elastically (e.g., 442), such stretching is more resilient to deflection of the heat of the buffer element. The two-layer shear buffer 402 may be a four-layer shear buffer 502 (FIG. 5) of FIG. 5 due to a limited number of buffer elements in each column (i.e., two elements per column in shear buffer 402) And 6-layer shear buffer 602 of Figure 6, relative to the shear deflection in the xy plane. This results in a relatively short beam length when the individual heat of the buffer element is characterized as a deflection beam.

5 is a side elevational view of an exemplary four-layer shear buffer 502 that is subjected to a shear force 512. Shear buffer 502 comprises four buffer layers 518, 520, 522, 524, each layer including an array of buffer elements that are generally aligned in the y-z plane. For example, buffer layer 518 includes buffer elements 530, 532, and 548. And each of the buffer elements is joined by two coupling layers. The upper and lower void cells are attached together at the cell interface. For example, a buffer element 540 includes an upper void cell 536 and a lower void cell 538, coupled by a bond layer 542, 544, and attached together at a cell interface 546.

Each buffer element rests against an elastic element wall and acts as a spring together with other buffer elements in the shear buffer 502. In addition, each buffer element in the buffer layer is aligned with other buffer elements in the other buffer layers of the shear buffer 502 to form heat of the buffer element. For example, the buffer element 540 in the buffer layer 524 is aligned in the z-direction with the buffer elements 548, 550, 552 in the buffer layers 518, 520, 522 to form the rows 558. Column 558 is located at a center on axis 560 that is oriented in the z-direction when shear cushion 502 is not under shear force 512.

Shear buffer 502 includes a fixed surface 562 and an interfacial surface 508 and each surface is oriented generally perpendicular to the buffer element thermal axis (e.g., axis 560). The fixed surface 562 may be rigidly attached to a fixed structure (e.g., a seat frame of a carrier) and the interface surface 508 may be rigidly attached to a seated person of the shear buffer 502 (e.g., And the seated person 104, 204 of Fig. 2). Each row is configured to be biased elastically under a shear load, as will be described in greater detail below.

When no shear force 512 is applied, the column axes 560, 564, 566, 568, 570 are generally aligned and oriented in the z-direction. The surface of the buffer element adjacent to the anchor surface 562 (e. G., Buffer element 540) remains fixed while the buffer element is tilted in the direction of the shear force 512. As shown by the tilted column shafts 560, 564, 566, 568, 570, adjacent damping elements in each row are also tilted as they move from the fixed surface 562 toward the interface surface 508, (512). The orientation of each of the column axes 560, 564, 566, 568, 570 remains substantially the same due to the bonding layer connecting each of the respective adjacent buffer elements in adjacent rows together.

Also, since the individual damping elements can be resiliently compressed, the deflection of the row of damping elements is also resilient. Further, the bonding layer can be stretched elastically. As a result, as the thermal axis 560, 564, 566, 568, 570 is tilted in the direction of the shear force 512, the bonding layer is elastically stretched (e.g., 542), such elongation is more resilient to deflection of the heat of the buffer element. Layer shear buffer 502 is relatively stiff for shear deflection in the xy plane as compared to the six-layer shear buffer 602 of Figure 6, and is relatively stiff to the two-layer shear buffer 402 of Figure 4 Relatively compliant. This results in a relatively intermediate beam length when the individual heat of the buffer element is characterized as a deflection beam.

6 is a side elevational view of an exemplary six-layer shear buffer 602 that has received a shear force 612. FIG. Shear buffer 602 includes six buffer layers 618, 620, 622, 624, 626, 628, each layer including an array of buffer elements that are generally aligned in the y-z plane. For example, buffer layer 618 includes buffer elements 630, 632, and 648. And each of the buffer elements is joined by two coupling layers. The upper and lower void cells are attached together at the cell interface. For example, a buffer element 640 includes an upper pore cell 636 and a lower pore cell 638, coupled by a bonding layer 642, 644 and attached together at a cell interface 646.

Each buffer element leans against the elastic element wall and acts as a spring together with other buffer elements in the shear buffer 602. [ In addition, each buffer element in the buffer layer is aligned with other buffer elements in the other buffer layers of the shear buffer 602 to form heat of the buffer element. For example, the buffer element 640 in the buffer layer 628 is aligned in the z-direction with the buffer elements 648, 650, 652, 654, 656 in the buffer layers 618, 620, 622, 624, Heat 658 is formed. Heat 658 is located at a center on axis 660 that is oriented in the z-direction when shear buffer 602 is not under shear force 612.

Shear buffer 602 includes a fixed surface 662 and an interfacial surface 608 and each surface is oriented generally perpendicular to the buffer element thermal axis (e.g., axis 660). The fixed surface 662 may be rigidly attached to a fixed structure (e.g., a seat frame of a carrier) and the interface surface 608 may be rigidly attached to a seated person of the shear buffer 602 And the seated person 104, 204 of Fig. 2). Each row is configured to be biased elastically under a shear load, as will be described in greater detail below.

When there is no application of shear force 612, heat axes 660, 664, 666, 668, 670 are generally aligned and oriented in the z-direction. The surface of the buffering element adjacent to the fastening surface 662 (e.g., buffering element 640) remains fixed while the buffering element is tilted in the direction of shear force 612. As shown by the tilted column shafts 660, 664, 666, 668, 670, adjacent damping elements in each row are also tilted as they move from the fixed surface 662 toward the interface surface 608, (612). The orientation of each of the column axes 660, 664, 666, 668, 670 remains substantially the same due to the coupling layer joining together each of the respective adjacent buffer elements in adjacent rows.

In one embodiment, the column axes 660, 664, 666, 668, 670 substantially act as cantilever beams that primarily provide the desired shear performance of the shear buffer 602. In other embodiments, heat axes 660, 664, 666, 668, 670 are substantially bent under a shear load and bending of heat shafts 660, 664, 666, 668, 670 causes bending of shear cushion 602 It mainly provides the desired shear performance. In yet another embodiment, both the cantilever beam and the bending properties of the heat axes 660, 664, 666, 668, 670 provide the desired shear performance of the shear cushion 602.

Also, since the individual damping elements can be resiliently compressed, the deflection of the row of damping elements is also resilient. Further, the bonding layer can be stretched elastically. As a result, as the thermal axis 660, 664, 666, 668, 670 is tilted in the direction of the shear force 612, the bonding layer is elastically stretched (e.g., 642), such elongation resists elastically in addition to the deflection of the row of buffer elements. Layer shear buffer 602 of Figure 4 due to the greater number of buffer elements in each row (i.e., 6 elements per row in shear buffer 602) 402 and the four-layer shear buffer 502 of FIG. 5, respectively. This results in a relatively long beam length when the individual heat of the buffer element is characterized as a deflection beam.

FIG. 7 is a graph 700 illustrating the peak shear force over time of an exemplary conventional buffer and exemplary shear buffer (not shown). Conventional buffers and shear buffers each have a duration t ₂ (Shown as the shear force curve 702 of the solid line). The reaction force of a conventional buffer along the opposite direction of the shear force is shown by a typical linear response curve 704. The reaction force of the shear buffer along the opposite direction of the shear force is shown by the wave-like stacked and opposed porosity response curve 706.

Typical reaction curve 704 is from ₀ at t ₀ , t ₂ To the same peak reaction force as the shear force F ₁ at t ₁ , which is generated prior to the termination of the shearing force at t ₁ . After the shearing force is terminated at time t _2, a typical response curve 704 decreases rapidly from t ₄ to zero. Because the conventional response curve 704 does not provide a reduced peak reaction force, the corresponding conventional buffer does not substantially mitigate the inconvenience to the user caused by the peak shear force.

The stacked and opposed porosity response curve 706 is plotted from ₀ at t 0 to t ₃ To the peak reaction force (F ₂ ) at the time of the elapse of time. Peak reaction force of the laminate and the pore-response curve 706 opposite the peak reaction force, since a shear force is terminated before it reaches the (F _2), the laminate being opposite to the void response curve 706 (F _2), the shearing force (F ₁₎ Lt; / RTI > After the shear force is terminated at time t ₂ , the laminated and oppositely directed void response curve 706 is gradually reduced again from t ₅ to zero. Because the stacked and opposed porosity response curve 706 provides a reduced peak reaction force, the corresponding shear buffer will be able to substantially mitigate the user's discomfort caused by the peak shear force. A similar effect may occur as the shear force varies over time with components in different directions and durations as long as the duration of the shear force is sufficient so that the shear buffer can be fully deflected.

Also, as opposed to the stacked and opposed porosity response curve 706, the slope of the typical response curve 704 also affects user comfort. The relatively steep increase and decrease slope of the conventional response curve 704 leads to a sudden change in the reaction force, which reduces the comfort of the user. The relatively gentle increase and decrease slope of the stacked and opposed porosity response curve 706 insulates the abrupt change in reaction force from the user, which increases the comfort of the user.

In various embodiments, the disclosed shear cushion provides a linearly or monotonically increasing force-deflection response to shear and / or vertical loading. The linearly or monotonically increasing force-deflection response is a result of either or both of the elongation of the bond layer (s) in the shear buffer and the elastic collapse of the individual buffer elements in the shear buffer.

8 is a perspective view of an exemplary shear buffer 802 having an offset buffer layer. 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, and 876 includes seven fully overlapped layers 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, 876, Includes a planar array of damping elements (e. G., Damping elements 830, 832, 834, 840, 848, 850, 852). Also, each of the buffer layers 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, and 876 is bonded by a bonding layer (e.g., bonding layer 844). For additional details regarding the buffer layer, the buffer element, and the bonding layer, reference can be made to Fig. 3 and the detailed description thereof.

Although the offset shear buffer 802 includes the heat of the buffer element, the individual buffer elements are not vertically adjacent as shown in Figures 3-6. In shear buffer 802, all other buffer elements are aligned in a vertical row. For example, column 858 is centered on axis 860 and is comprised of four damping elements 840, 848, 850, 852. Column 874 is centered on axis 864 and consists of three damping elements 830, 832, 834. An additional row of three or four buffer elements is centered on the axes 866, 868, 870, 878, 880, 882 within the offset shear buffer 802. Offsetting the buffer layer 818, 820, 822, 824, 826, 828, 876 in this manner can increase the rigidity of the buffer 802 in the xy plane, while the non- Direction to maintain the same or similar stiffness along the z-direction and maintain the shear-force reduction characteristics described above, as compared to the z-direction (e.g., buffer 300 of Fig. 3).

In other embodiments, more or fewer quantities of the buffer elements constitute each buffer layer and / or more or less quantities of the buffer layer constitute the shear buffer 802. In addition, in order to increase the number of layers between the buffer elements in the column, the xy plane offset between adjacent buffer layers may be varied (e.g., the heat of the buffer element may change in the third Each buffer element may be configured vertically).

9 is a schematic side elevational view of an exemplary shear buffer 902. FIG. The buffer 900 includes buffer elements (e.g., buffer elements 930, 932, 934, 948, and 950) arranged in rows (x-direction) and rows (x-direction and y-direction). Although each row of the illustrated embodiment has three buffer elements, any number of two or more buffer elements per row may be considered herein.

The buffer elements are vertically and horizontally interconnected by springs (e. G., Springs 942 and 944). More specifically, each cushioning element is connected to a vertically adjacent cushioning element by a thermal spring (e. G., Thermal spring 942). In addition, each buffer element is connected by a row spring (e.g., row spring 944) to a horizontally adjacent buffer element in an adjacent row. An additional row spring is connected to the adjacent buffer element in the y-direction. The column and row springs establish and maintain axial alignment between row and column of buffer elements.

Although both the thermal spring and the row spring are also compressed along the length of the spring (for example, when compressed in the x-direction or the y-direction with respect to the row spring, Direction), it may be any type of resilient material similar to the behavior of a linear spring. For example, the spring may be an elastomer, a rubber, a thermoplastic urethane, a thermoplastic elastomer, a styrenic copolymer, a rubber, DOW Pellethane ™, Lubrizol Estane ™, Dupont ™ Hytrel ™, ATOFINA Pebax ™, Krayton polymer,

Although not shown, the yz cross-section of the cushion 902 may be similar to the xz cross-section shown in Fig. 9 and the spring may be connected to the buffering elements horizontally adjacent in the y-direction as well as in the x- . In another embodiment, the spring will be able to connect the buffer elements in a diagonal direction therebetween. Such diagonal springs may be present instead of or in addition to the x-, y-, and / or z-directional springs.

A thermal spring may be uniquely adjusted to absorb and disperse a z-directional compression force, such as a compression force produced by a seated person, which transfers its load to the cushion 902. [ In one embodiment, the effective springs of the columns are different from each other. For example, the effective spring constant of the heat near the center of the buffer may have an effective spring constant that is less than the heat near the edge of the buffer. Such a configuration may be such that the seated person can seated properly at the center of the cushion 902, instead of being biased to one side where the seated person can fall off or collapse from the corresponding carrier during the course of a sudden turn, . Also, individual cushioning elements (e.g., such cushioning elements in the xy plane at a given z-direction height) within a single layer can be shaped differently from each other and / or made of different materials, The pressure distribution with directionality at the interface with the seated person may be allowed.

In addition, the row springs may be specifically tuned to allow lateral movement (i.e., movement in the x-y plane) of each row of buffer elements. Such lateral movement will substantially reduce or eliminate the shear force generated between the cushioning body 902 and the cushioning of the cushioning body 902. In one embodiment, the effective spring constant of each row of buffer elements differs from the effective spring constant of one or more rows in buffer 902. For example, the thermal springs may be specially tuned for pressure distribution and the row springs may be specially tuned for load-transient or shear (x-y plane) force absorption.

Also, rows of buffer elements in buffer 902 may have different effective spring constants. For example, one or more rows near the bottom end of the cushion (i.e., the farthest row from the seated person) may have an effective spring constant that is less than the row near the top of the cushion 902. This may result in increased instability at the top of buffer 902 and provide greater shear force protection for the seated person. The row spring may also be adjusted to mitigate or prevent collisions between horizontally adjacent damping elements. For example, the row spring 944 may be compressed to a maximum distance to prevent collision between the buffer elements 930 and 950. [

10 is a side elevation view of an exemplary layered shear buffer 1002 that receives a lateral force 1012. FIG. The buffer 1002 includes buffer elements (e.g., buffer elements 1030, 1032, 1034, 1048, 1050) arranged in rows (x-direction) and rows (x-direction and y-direction). Although each row of the illustrated embodiment has three buffer elements, any number of two or more buffer elements per row may be considered herein.

The buffer elements are vertically and horizontally interconnected by springs (e. G., Springs 1042 and 1044). More specifically, each cushioning element is connected to a vertically adjacent cushioning element by a thermal spring (e. G., Thermal spring 1042). Also, each buffer element is connected to a horizontally adjacent buffer element in an adjacent row by a row spring (e.g., a row spring 1044). An additional row spring is connected to the adjacent buffer element in the y-direction. The column and row springs establish and maintain axial alignment between row and column of buffer elements.

At the time of application of the lateral force 1012, the surface of the buffer element (e. G., Buffer element 1034) adjacent to the anchor surface 1062 is held stationary. As it moves away from stationary surface 1062, adjacent buffer elements in each row are displaced in the direction of shear force 1012. Since the spring can be elastically stretched, the displacement of the buffer element as a result of the shear force 1012 will be elastic and may be used to reduce or prevent peak shear forces on the seated body of the cushion 1002. [

11 is a top plan view of an exemplary shear buffer 1102 having a directional buffer element (e.g., buffer element 1130) and a non-directional buffer element (e.g., buffer element 1132). Although only one buffer layer 1118 of the shear buffer 1102 is shown in Fig. 11, the individual buffer elements are arranged in rows (i. E. Extend in the z-direction) - < / RTI > direction on or under the buffer layer 1118. [ In addition, individual buffer elements of the buffer layer 1118 are also arranged in rows (i.e., in the x-direction and y-direction) and interconnected by the bond layer 1142. More specifically, each buffer element is connected by a coupling layer 1142 to a buffer element that is horizontally adjacent (i. E., A buffer element adjacent in the x-y plane). Coupling layer 1142 is built between columns of buffer elements and maintains axial alignment.

A portion of the damping element has a rectangular elongated shape (e.g., damping element 1130) in plan view, which allows significant shear displacement in one direction while limiting shear displacement in the other direction. For example, the heat of the damping element having a similar size and shape including the damping element 1130 will be more easily displaced in the x-direction than the y-direction under the shear force. The heat of the damping element having a similar size and shape including the damping element 1132 will similarly be displaced in the x-direction and the y-direction under the shear force.

Since the non-directional damping element can move in both the x- and y-directions for absorbing the shear force, the damping element comprising the non-directional damping element is equally prevented from shearing in both the x- and y- Or reduced. In contrast, the buffer containing the directional buffer element can be easily moved in the x-direction, but less in the y-direction. Accordingly, the directional damping element will be very effective in absorbing the load transitions along the x-direction and less effective in absorbing the load transients along the y-direction. Accordingly, directional damping elements may be particularly suited for mitigating shear forces along a single direction.

The shape of the buffer element seen in the plan view may be any shape including, but not limited to, a round shape, a triangular shape, a cylindrical shape, a non-traditional shape, Also, the buffer element may be any volume-closed shape, including, but not limited to, a spherical shape, a prismatic shape, a cylindrical shape, a cube shape, a non-shaped shape, The amount of force required to bend the vertical row of buffer elements may be directly related to the shape of the individual buffer elements in that column. Accordingly, variable shear relaxation along various directions can be achieved using different buffer element shapes. As a result, the shear buffer 1102 may be adjusted not only to the vertical load of the shear buffer 1102, but also to the distinct response to the shear forces along various directions.

In another exemplary embodiment, the buffer element may have a rounded shape in plan view and thereby reduce shear in all lateral directions. In another exemplary embodiment, the buffer element may have a triangular shape in plan view and thereby reduce the shear primarily in three lateral directions. Here, the amount of shear reduction achieved along each direction may vary depending on the length of each side of the triangular cushioning element.

12 illustrates a side elevation view of an exemplary four-layer shear buffer 1202 having rows 1258 and 1272 of progressively varying buffer elements (e.g., buffer elements 1230, 1232, 1234 and 1240) to be. Shear buffer 1202 includes four buffer layers 1218, 1220, 1222 and 1224, each layer including an array of buffer elements that are generally aligned in the y-z plane. For example, the buffer layer 1218 includes buffer elements 1230 and 1231. Two bonding layers couple each of the buffer elements. For example, buffering element 1230 is bonded by bonding layers 1242 and 1244.

Each buffer element leans against the elastic element wall and acts as a spring together with other buffer elements in the shear buffer 1202. [ In addition, each buffer element in the buffer layer is aligned with other buffer elements in the other buffer layers of the shear buffer 1202 to form a row (e. G., Columns 1258 and 1274) of buffer elements. For example, the buffer element 1230 in the buffer layer 1218 is aligned in the z-direction with the buffer elements 1232, 1234, 1240 in the buffer layers 1220, 1222, 1224 to form the rows 1274. Column 1274 is centered on axis 1260 that is oriented in the z-direction when shear cushion 1202 is not under shear.

Shear buffer 1202 includes a fixed surface 1262 and an interfacial surface 1208 and each surface is oriented generally perpendicular to the buffer element thermal axis (e.g., axis 1260). The fixed surface 1262 may be rigidly attached to the fixed structure and the interfacial surface 1208 may be secured to the seating surface of the shear buffer 1202 (e.g., seats 104, 204 of FIGS. 1 and 2 (See Fig. 1). Each row is configured to be resiliently deflected under a shear load, as previously described in detail.

The buffer element may be located at the lower end of the shear buffer 1202 (i.e., the smallest buffer element 1240 in the row 1274) from the top of the shear buffer 1202 (i. E., The largest buffer element 1230 in the row 1274) )) Gradually decreases in size. Such an arrangement would allow greater instability of the individual columns of buffer elements, compared to shear buffer 1202 having buffer elements of similar size. The bonding layer controls this instability within the shear buffer 1202 by joining the vertically adjacent buffer elements and the horizontally adjacent buffer elements together.

In another embodiment, the size of the buffer element is incrementally increased from the top of the shear buffer 1202 to the bottom of the shear buffer 1202. Such a configuration would allow for greater stability of the individual rows of buffer elements compared to shear buffer 1202 having buffer elements of similar size.

13 illustrates an exemplary operation 1300 for using a shear buffer to reduce the peak shear force exerted on the seated person of the shear buffer. An interfacing operation 1305 forms the interface between the seated person and the shear buffer. In various embodiments, the seated person is seated, standing up, and / or lying on the shear cushion, thus the seated person forms an interface with the cushion. A first subjecting operation 1307 causes the normal force to be applied to the shear buffer. More specifically, the normal force is a force applied to the shear buffer layer perpendicular to the buffer layer and the bonding layer, and the user interface surface of the shear buffer. The normal force will be able to partially or fully compress one or more buffer elements in the shear buffer. In various implementations, the normal force is the result of gravity applied to the user pushing the user against the shear cushion. In addition, the normal force may be the component force of any force acting on the shear buffer at the user interface surface. In such an embodiment, the force of the other component is a shear force acting on the user interface surface in a direction parallel to the user interface surface.

The applied operation 1310 causes the shear force to be applied to the shear buffer and the seated person. Shear forces may be applied as a result of inertial forces acting on the seated and shear buffer. For example, a change in the direction or speed of the carrier on which the seated person is traveling may cause a shear force. In another example, vibrations of the carrier cause shear forces. The surface of the shear buffer opposite the interface surface with the seated person is attached to the fixed surface within the carrier. As a result, the inertial force produces an opposite shear force at the interface surface between the seated person and the shear cushion, unless the seated person slides against the shear cushion.

Transition operation 1315 transitions the interface surface between the shear buffer and the seated person in the direction of the shear force. The tilting motion 1317 tilts the individual heat of the damping element in the shear buffer to the shear direction. A transition operation 1315 and a tilting operation 1317 may respond to the applied operation 1310 and reduce the peak shear force acting on the seated person.

The reduction / change operation 1320 reduces the shear force or changes the direction, prior to the end of the transition operation 1315 and the tilting operation 1317. [ As long as reduction / varying operation 1320 occurs prior to the end of operations 1315 and 1317, reduction / varying operation 1320 is performed to determine the peak shear force acting on the seated body as shear buffer and seated It can be reduced to a size smaller than the inertial force.

The applied operation 1310, the transitioning operation 1315, the tilting operation 1317 and the decreasing / changing operation 1320 are repeated in a quick succession over time as the shear force is changed over time It is possible to reduce the peak force acting on the seated person. As a result, the transition operation 1315, the tilt operation 1317, and the decrease / change operation 1320 can increase comfort and reduce the possibility of lifting the occupant.

If not explicitly claimed otherwise, or if a particular order is not essential by the claim language, then the above-described operations 1300 may be performed in any order, as desired, and operations may be added or omitted will be.

The foregoing specification provides a complete description of the structure and use of an exemplary embodiment of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention is determined according to the claims appended hereto. In addition, structural features of different embodiments may be combined in other implementations without departing from the claims set forth.

Claims (25)

Shear buffer:
A first row of two or more interconnected buffer elements;
A second row of two or more additionally interconnected damping elements, the first row being oriented and adjoining substantially parallel to the second row; And
A first bonding layer elastically connecting a first row to a second row, wherein both the first row and the second row extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first bonding layer. . The method according to claim 1,
Each of the first and second rows extending from a fixed surface,
A gluing agent interface surface oriented substantially parallel to the first bonding layer and positioned at an end of the first row and second row opposite the immobilization surface wherein the first bonding layer is disposed between the fixed surface and the gluing interface surface, Further comprising an interfacial surface. 3. The method of claim 2,
Wherein the shear force applied to the seated person interface surface transitions the seated person interface surface in the direction of the shear force so that the first and second rows are tilted in the direction of shear force. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the tilted first column and the tilted second column are maintained substantially parallel. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the first bonding layer is elastically stretched to receive the tilts of the first and second rows. The method of claim 3,
Wherein the buffer element is held substantially uncompressed in response to tilting of the first row and the second row. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the buffer element is elastically compressed in response to a normal force applied to the buffer. The method according to claim 1,
Further comprising a third row of two or more additionally interconnected damping elements arranged substantially parallel to the first and second rows, wherein the first coupling layer elastically couples the third row to the first row and the second row Connecting shear buffer. 9. The method of claim 8,
The first row of cushioning elements and the second row of cushioning elements form a first row of cushioning elements extending in a first direction substantially parallel to the first cementing layer and the cushioning elements of the first row and the third row Forming a second row of buffer elements extending in a second direction substantially parallel to the layer. 9. The method of claim 8,
Wherein each of the first column, the second column and the third column has a resistance to tilting along a first direction different from a resistance to tilting along the second direction. The method according to claim 1,
The first bonding layer resiliently connects the first row to the second row at a first interface between adjacent buffer elements in the first row and adjacent buffer elements in the second row,
Further comprising a second coupling layer resiliently connecting the first row to the second row at a second interface between adjacent buffer elements in the first row and at a fourth interface between the two buffer elements in the second row And the second bonding layer is offset from the first bonding layer and oriented substantially parallel to the first bonding layer. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein each of the buffer elements comprises two opposing void cells bonded at the pore cell interface. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein each of the buffer elements has a rectangular shape of elongated shape. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the peak shear reaction force applied to the seated person of the shear buffer is smaller than the peak shear force applied to the shear buffer. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the two or more interconnected buffer elements of the first column are within a layer of a different shear buffer than the two or more interconnected buffer elements of the second column. The method according to claim 1,
Wherein each of the two or more interconnected buffer elements in the first column and the size of each of the two or more interconnected buffer elements in the second column are different. A method of using a shear buffer to reduce the peak shear force applied to a seated person of a shear buffer:
Tilting a first row of two or more interconnected buffer elements and a second row of two or more additionally interconnected buffer elements in a direction of a shear force applied to the shear buffer, And the first row is oriented substantially parallel to the second row. 18. The method of claim 17,
Further comprising the step of shifting the gluey interfacial interface surface of the shear buffer oriented in substantially parallel to the first bonding layer at the end of the first and second rows of distances from the fixed surface in the direction of shear force, And is disposed between the surface and the seating surface. 19. The method of claim 18,
Applying a shear force to the surface of the seated person interface of the shear buffer, wherein shear forces cause transitions of the seated person interface surface along the shear direction and tilting of the first and second rows. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the first bonding layer is elastically stretched to accommodate the tilting of the first row and the second row. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the buffer element remains substantially uncompressed in response to tilting of the first column and the second column. 18. The method of claim 17,
Further comprising compressing one or more interconnected buffer elements of the shear buffer in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first bond layer. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the first and second rows have a resistance to tilting along a first direction that is different from a resistance to tilting along a second direction. 18. The method of claim 17,
Wherein the peak shear reaction force applied to the seated person of the shear buffer is smaller than the peak shear force applied to the shear buffer through the seated person of the shear buffer. Shear buffer:
A first row of two or more interconnected buffer elements;
A second column of two or more additional interconnected buffer elements;
A third row of two or more additional interconnected damping elements;
A fourth column of two or more additionally interconnected damping elements, each of the first column, second column, third column and fourth column being oriented substantially parallel;
The first row, the second row, the third row, and the fourth row at the first interface between each adjacent buffer element of the first row, the second row, the third row and the fourth row A first bonding layer; And
The second row, the third row, and the fourth row at the second interface between each adjacent buffer element of the first column, the second column, the third column, and the fourth column, Wherein the second bonding layer is offset from the first bonding layer and oriented substantially parallel to the first bonding layer, and wherein the first, second, third, 1 bonding layer and a second bonding layer that is oriented substantially perpendicular to the first bonding layer and the second bonding layer.

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