Air cushion

Abstract

An air cushion for absorbing bounces, including at least one air chamber and one air inlet valve, characterized in that the air chamber has a multiplicity of protrusions in the direction of impact.

Claims

1. An air cushion for absorbing bounces from a direction of impact, the air cushion comprising: at least one air chamber that includes an impact-directed surface that is arranged transverse to the direction of impact, the air chamber being formed of material that endures repeated high-energy impact and that is essentially impermeable to air; and a plurality of protrusions arranged in an array, each of the plurality of protrusions protruding from the impact-directed surface of the air chamber toward the direction of impact, wherein there is disposed a top sheet that overlays the protrusions; wherein each of the protrusions is permeable to air at least in a first area of the protrusion and essentially impermeable to air in at least a second area of the protrusion, and wherein each the of the protrusions are detachably coupled to the at least one air chamber by a detachable closing device, and each of the detachable closing devices is permeable to air such that air is permitted to flow from within the air cushion to outside the air cushion at the detachable closing device.

2. An air cushion according to claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions are formed as a column.

3. An air cushion according to claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions are formed as a tube.

4. An air cushion according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are connected with the air chamber.

5. An air cushion according to claim 4, wherein the protrusions are filled with air.

6. An air cushion according to claim 1, wherein the protrusions are formed essentially cylinder-shaped.

7. An air cushion according to claim 6, wherein the protrusions are formed essentially circular cylinder-shaped.

8. An air cushion according to claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions projects in at least a part of an extension in a direction transverse to the direction of impact and thereof beyond the opening in the air cushion, to which the protrusion is adjacent to.

9. An air cushion according to claim 8, wherein the protrusion is connected with the surface of the air chamber.

10. An air cushion according to claim 9, wherein the protrusion is connected with the surface of the air chamber in the area of the end of the protrusion.

11. An air cushion according to claim 1, wherein the at least first area that is permeable to air is formed by a net, a grid, openings, or drill holes.

12. An air cushion according to claim 1, wherein the detachable closing device comprises a velcro fastener, a zipper or a combination thereof.

13. An air cushion for absorbing bounces from a direction of impact, the air cushion comprising: at least one air chamber that includes an impact-directed surface that is arranged transverse to the direction of impact, the air chamber being formed of material that endures repeated high-energy impact and that is essentially impermeable to air; and at least one air inlet valve, wherein the air chamber has a multiplicity of protrusions, each of the multiplicity of protrusions protruding from the impact-directed surface of the air chamber toward the direction of impact, wherein there is disposed a top sheet that overlays the protrusions, and wherein each of the protrusions is detachably attached at the air cushion by a detachable closing device such that air is permitted to flow from within the air cushion to outside the air cushion at the detachable closing device.

14. An air cushion according to claim 13, wherein the detachable closing device comprises a velcro fastener, a zipper or a combination thereof.

15. An air cushion for absorbing bounces from a direction of impact, the air cushion comprising: at least one air chamber having an upper surface, the air chamber being formed of material that endures repeated high-energy impact and that is essentially impermeable to air; a plurality of protrusions arranged in an array, each of the plurality of protrusions protruding from the upper surface of the air chamber, wherein there is disposed a top sheet that overlays the protrusions; wherein each of the protrusions is permeable to air at least in a first area and essentially impermeable to air in at least a second area, and wherein each the of the protrusions are detachably coupled to the at least one air chamber by a detachable closing device, and each of the detachable closing devices is permeable to air such that air is permitted to flow from within the air cushion to outside the air cushion at the detachable closing device.

Description

(1) Further details and advantages of the invention are now illustrated by way of the following figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows an air cushion having a top sheet in an oblique view.

(3) FIG. 2 shows an air cushion having protrusions without a top sheet.

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 4 shows an embodiment example of a protrusion.

(6) FIG. 5 shows an embodiment example of a protrusion.

(7) In FIG. 1 there is shown in an oblique view an air cushion 1 for absorbing bounces. There is made reference to the FIGS. 2 and 3 for illustration of the configuration. The air cushion 1 has a multiplicity of air chambers 2, which are, however, only shown in an external view. An air inlet valve as well as an optional pressure valve for the exit of air are not visible in the embodiment example shown. As illustrated in the FIGS. 2 and 3, the air chambers 2 have a multiplicity of protrusions 3 in the direction of impact. The protrusions 3 are formed column-like or tube-like, respectively, and have at least the form of circular cylinders in some portions. The protrusions are further connected with the air chamber 2 and are themselves filled with air. In the FIGS. 4 and 5 there can be seen that the cylinder-like protrusions 3 protrude essentially vertically from the surface 20 of the air cushion 1. The exact type of connection will be more thoroughly detailed in the FIGS. 4 and 5.

(8) In the FIGS. 2 and 3 there is illustrated that the cylinder-like protrusions 3 do not protrude essentially vertically from the surface 20 of the air cushion 1. The protrusions 3 may be made innately having a bend, or they may be attached to the surface 20 of the air chambers 2e.g., using a band, a rope 21 or the like. In this way, the protrusions 3 are curved downwards or bent. In this way there is realized that a majority of the extension of the protrusion 3 will project beyond the opening 7. Thereby, the protrusion 3 in the area of the end of the protrusion 3 is connected with the surface 20 of the air chamber 2. To this end, the protrusion 3 has a suitable connecting means 22.

(9) In the FIGS. 4 and 5 there are illustrated possible embodiment variants of the protrusions 3. At first, there may be seen that the protrusions 3 are rested on the air chamber 2. To this end, the air chamber 2 has an opening 7, to which the respective protrusion 3 is adjacent. Protrusion 3 and air chamber 2 are essentially composed of the same materials. The protrusions 3 have portions 10, 11 permeable to air in the area of the base 15. This measure will locally reduce air pressure, as a small amount of air may rapidly exit on impact, which will entail smoother landing or a softer impact, respectively. In FIG. 4 there is, for this reason, provided a net 11, which is embodied air-tight. Further, there is provided in FIG. 4 a detachable closing means 10 in the form of a Velcro fastener. In the area of the opening 7 of the air cushion 2, there is provided, for this reason, a frieze band 10. The protrusion 3 has a hook band 10, by means of which the protrusion 3 may be detachably attached at the air cushion 1.

(10) Contrary to the embodiment example of FIG. 4, the example of FIG. 3 does not have a net but rather a zipper. Also herein, there may be additionally provided a net 11.

(11) The examples of the FIGS. 4 and 5 were examined with and without net 11, with and without zipper and with and without net in all variants. There has been shown that the zipper 10 alone as well as the Velcro fastener 10, 10 alone as well as the net 11 alone do have sufficient permeability to air for dampening impact. The combination of detachable closing means 10 plus grid/net/recesses 11 or two detachable closing means 10, respectively, does, however, have the advantage that wear in the protrusions 3 due to cracks is not only less but there is also given the fact that the protrusions 3 may be replaced. This will also lead to advantages in transport.

(12) The embodiment example of FIG. 1 may be produced, e.g., using the example of FIG. 2, by arranging a top sheet 4 on top of the protrusions 3. The top sheet 4 is connected, e.g., using ropes from rubber-elastic material at the base edge of the air cushion 1 of each side with ropes 25. The top sheet 4 furthermore has ventilation openings 28 at the side, through which air may exit. There may also be used, however, the example of FIG. 2 without top sheet 4 as in FIG. 1.

(13) The air chambers 2, the top sheet 4 or also the protrusions 3 may have a plastic film having a fabric manufactured there into. In this way, the walls of the air chamber 2, the top sheet 4 and the protrusions 3 will be essentially air-tight. The surface 20 of the air cushion 1 is preferably between 4 m.sup.2 and 720 m.sup.2, in particular between 8 m.sup.2 and 720 m.sup.2.