MXPA99010597A - Air cushion - Google Patents

Abstract

A three-dimensional air cushion (1) having a sealed outer peripheral edge of a geometric shape. The projected area of the hollow interior (10) sealed by the outer peripheral edge is smaller than the upper surface area of the air cushion. Air chambers (10) are provided in an upper surface and a lower surface of the cushion, giving excellent buffering function. Two opposite sides of the cushion have a level higher than an intermediate portion to force an object in protect, or a shock source, to move to the center, with the shock energy converted into side support energy, thus obtaining great stability.

Description

AIR CUSHION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a three-dimensional cushion with a better structure for shock absorption and great stability.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The common sports apparel such as sneakers, protective pads, helmets, etc. It has traditionally used sponge, foam rubber or polymeric compositions as impact absorbing materials. Gradually the inflated air cushions have taken the place of these traditional materials, using gas or liquid contained in air cushions for the absorption of blows. An air cushion is commonly made of two sheets placed one above the other and hermetically sealed at external peripheral edges to form a hollow interior inflated with a gas or liquid. Another type of air cushion is made by means of an injection molding process to produce a three-dimensional air cushion with a hollow interior and subsequently inflating air chambers that are provided therein with a gas or a liquid. A cushion like the one shown in Figure 1 is made of two sheets placed one above the other and fused together to have a flat upper surface. When a blow is imparted on its surface, it is received on a point of the cushion and then gradually dispersed towards the other surfaces. This type of cushion absorbs only a small impact and therefore required for energy dispersion is comparatively large. In addition, its center of gravity is elevated so that the instability produced by the blow is increased accordingly. As can be understood from the principles of stabilization of physics, a cushion with a flat surface can hardly support a high external force. Such a cushion can only have a shock-absorbing function for an object that the cushion is protecting. A hollow three-dimensional cushion like the one shown in Figure 2, made by means of an injection molding process, can have a super-curved surface to enter. in contact with an object protected by it, but the cushion does not have a structure of memorization of the form and has to depend on an outer layer added on its surface to form its curved upper surface The full curved surface of the cushion is almost below the bottom surface of the protected object, that is, a shock surface so that when an impact or pressure is added to the surface of the cushion by the object, the impact or pressure can not be dispersed to two sides, by virtue of which the cushion is provided with side walls that are not higher than the height of the cushion. Therefore, a shock energy that receives only is temporarily converted into a lateral force, limited in absorption and stabilizing impact, which is not an ideal structure for a cushion Objectives of Sa Invention The main purpose of the invention is to offer an air cushion with a better structure for shock absorption and stability. A three-dimensional air cushion, in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in Figure 3 and is intended to have the following advantages. 1 Comparatively higher sides, two or three of which are provided with air chambers that extend from a central portion until the air cushion and a protecting object can come in contact with a curved surface so that the dispersion of an impact receiving surface can be increased to reduce the energy of impact movement, and to maximize an area susceptible to compression and, consequently, obtain the greatest impact absorption effect. 2. It can sufficiently convert the shock energy applied on an intermediate upper surface into an external lateral support energy. 3. When the impact or pressure disappears, the lateral support energy can be completely returned to the point of impact, forming an energy of bounce that produces an excellent rebound effect. The effect of regulation function and shock absorption of the air cushion, in accordance with the present invention, has been checked by SATRA FOOTWEAR TECHNOLOGY CENTER, in England, and proved to be by far the best structural design for practical use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS This invention will be better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of a side of a conventional air cushion, with a flat upper surface as in this invention. Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of a side of a conventional air cushion, with an upper surface curved downward, as in the present invention. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of a side of a conventional air cushion of the present invention. Figure 4 is a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 4a is an alternative embodiment of the first preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line? -I in Figure 4a. Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in Figure 5. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of a second preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of a third preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 10 is a perspective view of a fourth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Figure 10. Figure 12 is a perspective view of a fifth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line V-V in Figure 12. Figure 14 is a cross-sectional view of a sixth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view of a seventh preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of several air cushions of the invention, used in a practical way in a shoe. Figure 17 is a perspective view of an eighth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 18 is a perspective view of a ninth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention. Figure 19 is a perspective view of a tenth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention.

Detailed Description of Invention A three-dimensional air cushion of the present invention may be formed as a heel air cushion as shown in Figure 4, an air cushion of the bottom of the foot as shown in Figure 10 or a cushion of air from the sole of a shoe as shown in Figure 12, without limit in its shape and susceptible to being able to adapt to shoes, insoles, helmets, etc.

A first preferred embodiment of a three-dimensional air cushion of the present invention, as shown in Figures 4, 4a, 5 and 6, includes one or more independent air chambers 10 or air chambers communicated with passages 11. Each chamber of air 10 can extend to two opposite sides of the cushion body 1, forming an internal top surface of three dimensions and a flat bottom curved surface that does not protrude into the air chambers 10. The sealed peripheral edge of the cushion body 1 can be of a geometric shape. The hollow interior surrounded by the sealed peripheral edge has a projected surface area smaller than the upper surface of the body of the cushion 1. The body of the cushion 1 is of a curved shape and occupies a space of three dimensions, adaptable to have a cavity inwards or to have swollen curved cushions. A second preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, includes a cushion body 1, one or more air chambers as in the first preferred embodiment, with one or more elongated and concave slots 12 provided on a lower surface in order to form a depressed surface, of three dimensions, and the upper surface is formed smooth and flat with a curvature. A third embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 9, is formed in almost the same manner as in the second preferred embodiment, except that there is one or more elongated slots 12 formed both in the upper surface as in the lower surface. A fourth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, includes a cushion body 1, formed to support the lower part of a foot, having elongated slots 12 in a superposed surface. on a lower surface, as shown in Figure 8, or both on the top surface and on the bottom surface, as shown in Figure 9. Under this air cushion the bottom of the foot will be fixed to an intermediate portion of a shoe, the two opposite sides are curved upward at a predetermined angle, different from the inwardly curved or expanded three-dimensional air cushion described above. The special feature of this air cushion is that the interior surface area is smaller than the outer surface area, and each elongated slot 12 of each air chamber 10 has two ends with a projection line extending almost vertically to the projected lift surface of the groove. A fifth preferred embodiment of the air cushion of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, includes an air cushion for use in a region of the toes of the bottom of a foot. A sixth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 14, includes an outer layer 2 of a material different from the body of the cushion 1 added on the body of the cushion 1 of the first preferred embodiment, but also adaptable to other air cushions. A seventh preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention, as illustrated in Figure 15, includes an outer layer 2 of a material other than the cushion body 1 added on the cushion body of the third preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. Figure 9. The air chambers 10 provided in a cushion body 1 of the various embodiments can be filled with a gas, or a liquid, since the air cushion 1 itself is a sealed hollow body. In addition, a one-way air valve and a pump device can be fixed with the air cushion body 1 to fill its interior with a required pressure with a gas or a liquid. An eighth, ninth and tenth preferred embodiment of an air cushion of the present invention, as illustrated in Figures 17-19, includes a fluid inlet 15, including a valve 13 (as shown in Figure 17) or two valves 13 (as shown in Figure 18) located on opposite sides of a pump device 14. Figure 16 shows the three air cushions illustrated in Figures 4, 10 and 12, adapted to be used in a shoe. The air cushions can be used with or without an added outer layer, with a wide variety of details.

In addition, recessed slots in an upper surface and / or in a lower surface can be made independent or connected to each other. Referring to Figure 3, the air chambers 10 of the air cushion 1 extend to two opposite sides curved upwards, having a curved surface that comes into contact with an object protected by it, increasing the dispersion surface that supports the impact , to produce a minimum displacement of the impact energy and comparatively larger compression susceptible dimensions to produce an effect of maximum shock absorption. When the air cushion 1 receives a downward shock, the impact pressure will disperse to the two higher sides so that the two opposite higher sides receive higher pressure to produce a clamping effect against the object or source of the air cushion. impact. Then the object, for example, a foot, will be moved towards the center of the air cushion. In other words, the air cushion can automatically embrace the object or source of the impact towards its center and, consequently, obtain the greatest stability. If the impact disappears, the pressure dispersed to both sides will move back to the location of the impact, forming a rebound force and, thus, giving the air cushion an excellent impact absorption function. While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications may be made thereto and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (45)

1. Novelty of Da Invention 1. A three-dimensional air cushion, which comprises: At least one air chamber having a sealed peripheral edge, said at least one air chamber including a base portion and two opposite lateral sides and located at opposite sides of the base portion to form a concave structure, the base portion and the two lateral sides being formed between an upper surface layer and a lower surface layer, said two opposite lateral sides projecting above a plane occupied by said base portion for forming raised side walls of the air cushion and forming a "U" configuration with the base portion for distributing the impact forces delivered to said side walls.
2. 2. A three-dimensional air cushion, comprising: At least one air chamber having a sealed peripheral edge, said at least one air chamber including a base portion and two opposite lateral sides, substantially vertical and located on sides opposite the base portion to form a concave structure, the base portion and the two lateral sides being formed between an upper surface layer and a lower surface layer, said two opposite lateral sides projecting above a plane occupied by said base portion for forming raised side walls of the air cushion and forming a "U" configuration with the base portion for distributing the impact forces delivered to said side walls, and an interior surface area of said air cushion defined by said upper surface layer being smaller than an outer surface area of said defined air cushion a by said lower surface layer.
3. 3. A three-dimensional air cushion, comprising: At least two air chambers communicating with each other, said at least two air chambers including a base portion and two opposite lateral sides, substantially vertical and located on opposite sides of the base portion to form a concave structure, the base portion and the two lateral sides being formed between an upper surface layer and a lower surface layer, said two opposite lateral sides projecting above a plane occupied by said base portion to form raised side walls of the air cushion and forming a "U" configuration with the base portion to distribute the impact forces delivered to said side walls, and at least one depression extending from at least any of said top surface layers or said lower surface layer and separating said air chambers.
4. 4. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 1, wherein said at least one air chamber is sealed.
5. 5. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 2, wherein said at least one air chamber is sealed. 8.
6. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least two air chambers are sealed.
7. 7. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in claim 1, wherein said air chamber has a one-way valve for communicating with open air.
8. 8. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air chamber has a one-way valve for communicating with open air.
9. 9. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 3, wherein said air chambers have a one-way valve for communicating with open air.
10. 10. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the top surface layer is provided with at least one recessed and elongated slot and the bottom surface layer is flat and smooth.
11. 11. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the top surface layer is provided with at least one recessed and elongated slot and the bottom surface layer is flat and smooth.
12. 12. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 3, wherein the at least one depression is at least one recessed and elongated slot in the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer is flat and smooth.
13. 13. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the bottom surface layer is provided with at least one recessed and elongated slot, and the top surface layer is flat and smooth.
14. 14. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the bottom surface layer is provided with at least one recessed and elongated slot, and the top surface layer is flat and smooth.
15. 15. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 3, wherein the at least one depression is at least one recessed and elongated slot in the lower surface layer, and the upper surface layer is flat and smooth.
16. 16. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer are provided with at least one elongated and recessed slot.
17. 17. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 2, wherein the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer are provided with at least one elongated and recessed slot.
18. 18. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 3, wherein the upper surface layer and the lower surface layer are provided with at least one elongated and recessed slot.
19. 19. The three-dimensional air cushion as claimed in claim 16, wherein said recessed and elongated slots provided in said upper surface layer and lower surface layer are connected to one another.
20. 20. The three-dimensional air cushion as claimed in claim 17, wherein said recessed and elongated slots provided in said upper surface layer and lower surface layer are connected to one another.
21. 21. The three-dimensional air cushion as claimed in claim 18, wherein said recessed and elongated slots that are provided in said upper surface layer and lower surface layer are connected to each other.
22. 22. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 1, wherein said air cushion is a component in one of a shoe, sneaker, a protective pad and a helmet, to provide a shock absorber and an impact absorption effect.
23. 23. The three-dimensional air cushion as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air cushion is a component in one of a shoe, sneaker, a protective pad and a helmet, to provide a shock absorber and an effect of absorption of impacts.
24. 24. The three-dimensional air cushion as claimed in claim 3, wherein said air cushion is a component in one of a shoe, sneaker, a protective pad and a helmet, to provide a cushion and an effect of absorption of impacts.
25. 25. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in claim 1, further including an inlet for filling fluid.
26. 26. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in claim 2, further including an inlet for filling fluid.
27. 27. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in claim 3, further including an inlet for filling fluid.
28. 28. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 25, further including a valve device.
29. 29. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 26, further including a valve device.
30. 30. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 27, further including a valve device. 3 .
31. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in claim 25, further including a pump device.
32. 32. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 26, also including a pump device.
33. 33. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 27, also including a pump device.
34. 34. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 25, wherein said air chamber is filled with a liquid fluid.
35. 35. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 26, wherein said air chamber is filled with a liquid fluid. 38.
36. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in claim 27, wherein said air chambers are filled with a liquid fluid.
37. 37. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 25, wherein said air chamber is filled with a semi-liquid fluid.
38. 38. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 26, wherein said air chamber is filled with a semi-liquid fluid.
39. 39. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 27, wherein said air chambers are filled with a semi-liquid fluid.
40. 40. The three-dimensional air cushion as claimed in claim 25, wherein said air chamber is filled with foam material.
41. 41. The three-dimensional air cushion as claimed in claim 26, wherein said air chamber is filled with foam material.
42. 42. The three-dimensional air cushion as claimed in claim 27, wherein said air chambers are filled with foam material.
43. 43. The air cushion, three-dimensional, as claimed in the claim 25, wherein said air chamber is filled with a gas other than air.
44. 44. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 26, wherein said air chamber is filled with a gas other than air.
45. 45. The three-dimensional air cushion, as claimed in the claim 27, wherein said air chambers are filled with a gas other than air.