360 degree channel hinged cushion assembly for suspension and alleviation of sitting discomfort and injury

Abstract

A cushion assembly has two cushions that are loosely joined by a connector that proceeds through respective diagonal channels in respective corners of the two cushions. The connector has a length that loosely connects the cushions and, by a combination of this length and the diagonal channels, the cushions can be selectively configured co-planar with each other in a V-shape, with any arbitrary angle therebetween, and in a stacked configuration wherein the cushions are atop each other. The connector and the diagonal channels also allow the cushions to be configured at any selected angle between the V-shape configuration and the stacked configuration.

Claims

1. A cushion assembly for human seating, comprising: a first cushion being generally flat in a first plane and having a first cushion corner with a first cushion channel proceeding lengthwise through said first cushion diagonally in said first plane across said first cushion corner; a second cushion having being generally flat in a first plane and a second cushion corner with a second cushion channel proceeding lengthwise through said second cushion diagonally in said first plane across said second cushion corner; and a connector proceeding through each of said first and second diagonal channels and thereby loosely joining said first and second cushions respectively at said first and second cushion corners, said connector being a continuous flexible ring having a circumference of a length that, in combination with said first and second channels proceeding diagonally across said first and second cushion corners, allows said first and second cushions to be selectively configured into a V-shape wherein said first and second cushions are co-planar and have any selected angle therebetween, and to also be selectively configured with said first and second cushions atop each other in a stack, and to also allow said first and second cushions to be selectively configured between said V-shape configuration and said stack configuration with any angle between said first and second cushions.

2. A cushion assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein said connector is a chain.

3. A cushion assembly as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second cushions is a rectangular pad.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a top view of the cushion assembly according to the invention in two open configurations and in a closed configuration.

(2) FIG. 2 shows top views of two ways that the cushion assembly can be arranged on a chair seat.

(3) FIG. 3 shows how the channel hinge allows the cushions of the assembly to be folded to a compact arrangement for storing.

(4) FIG. 4 shows top, side and perspective views of one cushion of the cushion assembly.

(5) FIG. 5 illustrates the placement of the channel hinge, in an embodiment wherein the channel hinge is formed as a chain.

(6) FIG. 6 shows an enlargement of the circled detail of FIG. 5.

(7) FIG. 7 is a side view of the cushion assembly in use.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows how the cushion assembly can be selectively configured to provide different angles between the wings W1 and W2. The left portion of FIG. 1 shows the wings W1 and W2 in a relatively wide open configuration, whereas the center portion of FIG. 13 shows the wings W1 and W2 in a still open, but more closed configuration, and the right portion of FIG. 1 shows the cushion assembly in a closed position, with the wings W1 and W2 being directly adjacent to each other. The right portion in FIG. 1 may be used, for example, for carrying the V-cushion assembly in a compact form.

(9) FIG. 2 is a top view showing how the cushion assembly can be placed on the seat of a common chair. The cushion assembly can be placed with a V-shape being open toward the back of the chair, as illustrated in the left portion of FIG. 2, or with the V-shape being open toward the front of the chair, as shown in the right portion of FIG. 2. Depending on the preferences and comfort of the user, either orientation may be appropriate.

(10) FIG. 3 shows how the connector allows further folding of the wings W1 and W2 of the cushion assembly, in addition to the above-described adjustability of the angle of the V-shape. As shown in the left illustration in FIG. 3, the wings W1 and W2 can lie completely flat, when in the closed position described above in connection with the right illustration in FIG. 1. As shown in the center illustration in FIG. 3, the wings W1 and W2 can be folded out of the plane shown in the left illustration, into a completely folded configuration as shown in the right illustration in FIG. 3.

(11) FIG. 4 shows top, side and perspective views of one wing member of the cushion assembly. The other wing of the cushion assembly has the same shape. As shown in FIG. 4, each wing is basically a rectangular foam member, which can be covered by any suitable covering.

(12) The channel connector in the cushion assembly according to the invention is shown for one wing in FIG. 5, and it proceeds mirror-symmetrically from the other wing as well. Each wing has a channel that proceeds diagonally through a corner of the wing. FIG. 6 shows the connector in detail, in the embodiment of a chain. Only a portion of the chain is shown in FIG. 5 and in FIG. 6, but the chain will be continuous, as represented by the circle in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3. The diagonal channel in each wing allows the different configurations shown in FIG. 3 to be achieved, so that the cushion assembly can be configured between any of the use configurations shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and can be folded as shown in the right view of FIG. 3, for compact storage of the assembly.

(13) FIG. 7 is a side view illustrating the use of the cushion, designated as a V-lift assembly, by a person seated on a chair.

(14) Although modifications and changes may be suggested by those skilled in the art, it is the intention of the inventors to embody within the patent warranted hereon all changes and modifications as reasonably and properly come within the scope of their contribution to the art.