US2552039A - Seat cushion - Google Patents

Description

H. A. FLOGAUS May 8, 1951 SEAT CUSHION 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 6, 1945 INVENTOR floyazzs ATTORN EY ii i 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. A. FLOGAUS SEAT CUSHION May 8, 1951 Filed Dec. 6, 1945 M ATTORN EY I NVT R Houggrd Zagaus H. A. FLOGAUs SEAT CUSHION 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed 1945 w-am d latented May 8, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE SEAT CUSHION Howard A. Flogaus, Wallingford, Pa., assignor to ACE-Brill Motors Company, New York, N. Y., a

corporation of Delaware 2 Claims. 1 This invention relates to seat cushions, particularly cushions adapted for use in vehicles. During recent years several attempts have been made to make seats more comfortable, particularly where these seats are used in vehicles-travelconsidered as high pressure areas since the entire weight of the body is supported at these two points. Ordinary flat cushions will help in distributing the weight and partially relieve the muscles of their necessity of acting as shock absorbers. However, in order to properly relieve these muscles and more evenly distribute the bodys weight it is necessary to shape the cushion to the average human anatomy. It is an object, therefore, of the present invention to provide a cushion shaped to fit the average human anatomy and evenly distribute the bodys weight.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a body conforming cushion supported upon a body conforming member which in turn is resiliently mounted to relieve road shocks.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a body conforming seat cushion containing air chambers which will assist in transferring and equalizing the unit pressures on the cushion.

A yet further object of the invention is the provision of a body conforming cushion having weight equalizing properties yet without excessive springiness.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art from a study of the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a section taken substantially through the longitudinal center of the cushion and on line l- -'l of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 of Fig. 4 showing the cushion unit y;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the improved cushion;

Fig. 4 is a plan View of the improved cushion with part broken away to disclose the air cell arrangement;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 but showing in addition contours at various other sections;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 but showing a modification thereof;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 6 but showing a still further modification and being taken on line 'l'i of Fig. 8;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the cushion of Fig. '7, and

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially on lines 99 of Figs. 7 and 8.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the cushion is supported upon a pan member 2 adapted to fit within and have its side flanges 4 fastened to wood or other framing members 6. These wood or other framing members permit ready attachment of the upholstery portion 8 and this may be of fabric, leather or any other desired material. Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, it will be seen that the cushion is formed of rubber or other resilient material molded so that the upper surface will conform to the average human anatomy. As clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the longitudinal sections through the cushion disclose that the to the rear edge I6. This curvature is not constant throughout the width of the cushion; however, since as clearly disclosed in Fig. 5 the cushion is built with a compound transverse ciu'vature, that is, from one side edge I8 the top surface curves downwardly and inwardly to a low point 29 thence upwardly to an intermediate point 22, thence downwardly to a second low point 24 and again upwardly to the opposite side edge 25. The degree of transverse curvature is not constant, varying between the leading and'rear edge of the cushion as shown by outlines labeled A, B, C, D and E. In other words, the high point l2 of the cushion will be curved as shown by line A Fig. 5 in order to accommodate and distribute the weight to the upper leg muscles. At the plane B the top surface will still be curved transversely to again accommodate the leg muscles, but the curvature to accommodate the leg muscles gradually disappears until at the low point 14, as shown in section Fig. 5, there is no longer need for accommodation of the leg muscles. From the section outline of Fig. 5 the curve rises to the contour at line D and thence to the straight line E which discloses the contour at the back or high point I5, thus permitting the cushion to readily fit into the seat back upholstery. It will thus be seen the seat cushion top surface has a compound transverse curvature and also a longitudinal curvature in order that it may more readily conform to the average human anatomy and permit more even distribution of weight between the body muscles in contactwith the cushion.

In order to assist in the distribution and equalization of weight the bottom surface of the ,to that just described.

cushion is molded with a plurality of intersecting longitudinal and: transverse semi-circular passage'sZB and 28 respectively. Certain of these passages at their points of intersection merge into the ends of tubular cavities 30 which are located toward the forward edge of the cushion where the normal pressure from the bodymuscles would be relatively light. As constructed the cushion of molded resilient material will be cemented or otherwise secured to the pan,2' thus trapping air in the cavities 30 and passages 26 and 28, yet allowing free transfer ofair toall parts of the cushion. The'body weight imposed upon the top surface of the cushion willacause the air in the passages and tubular cavities or cells -to;be compressed, thus urging all parts of the .w-ill;be noted that the cells are omitted .in the H area between the back of the cushion and approximately: plane C of Fig. 4. It will be understood, of course, that the top surface of the cushion will be covered by the upholsterymaterial 8 which is preferablycemented or otherwise secured to the ,bodyconforming top surface thereof.

in the modification shown inFig. 6 theseat bottom pan and frame, as well as the general outline of the supporting cushion 40, are identical In this form, however, the top surface of the intermediate or supporting cushion 40 is cemented or otherwise secured to the bottomsurface of a body conforming member 42 made of either aluminum, magnesium or some light plastic material. On top of this rigid body conforming member is mounted a flat sheet of cushion rubber or other material 44. This top cushion is molded with a plurality of semi-circular .passages .45 which assist in giving springiness to the top member, which is cemented or otherwise secured to the top surface of the body conforming member 42.

In theform shown-in Figs. 7, Band 9 the body conforming rigid member instead'of being supported upon a rubber or other element, such as 40 in. Fig. 6, is supported on pan 2 by aplurality of helical springs 56 fastened at their lower end to pan 2 and at their upper end to body conform- H ing rigid member 42. This body conforming rigid member is covered by resilient member 44 as in Fig. 6, which is cemented or otherwise se- 9, the persons weight will be distributed more or less evenly ,over the entire top surface but withoutpermitting excessive springiness which is so objectionable in vehicles subjected to vibratory shock caused by road inequalities.

What is claimed is:

l. A cushion structure comprising a frame, a pan member having a substantially fiat base portion and having side flanges secured to said frame, a resilient rubber cushion secured to said base portion, said cushion having intersecting air channels formed .in the lower surface thereof and vertically extending cavities communicating therewith, said channels and cavities being sealed against said pan by said securing means to trap air therewithin, the top. surface of said cushion being curved longitudinally from the zone of the L-front edge downwardly and then upwardly to the rear edge, and transversely from the side edges downwardly and then upwardly to a high *pointintermediate the side edges and then downpan member having a substantially fiat base portion and having side flanges secured to said frame,.a resilient rubber cushion secured to said base portion, said cushion having intersecting air channels formed in the lower surface thereof and vertically extending cavities communicating therewith, said channels and cavities being sealed against said pan by-said securing means to trap air therewithin, the top surface ofsaid cushion being curved longitudinally from the zone .of the front edge downwardly and then upwardly to the rear edge, and transversely from the side edges downwardly and then upwardly to a highpoint intermediate the sideedges and then downwardly and upwardly to the opposite side edge, said cavities being confined to said areas of said cushion near said front zone adjacent the leg muscles of the occupant, the areas of minimum depth and at the back of the cushion containing no cavities whereby the cushion supports more weight at these points which are substantially adjacent the projections of a normally, seated ischium of the occupant, a body conforming member secured and conformed to said top cushion, said body conforming member having the springy charac teristic of a thin sheet of aluminum, magnesium or plastic, a fiat sheet of additional resilient rubber secured to and cemented upon said body conforming member and likewise conforming to the top surface thereof, said additional sheethaving HOWARD A. FLOGAUS.

REFERENCES CITED The following referencesare of record in the file of this patent;

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,188,453 Johnson et al June 27, 1916 1,455,234 Thompson May 15, 1923 1,525,869 Lakeman Feb. 10, 1925 1,567,696 Angell Dec. 19, 1925 1,725,479 Rissmann Aug. 20, 1929 1,843,893 Becher -1 Feb, 2, 1932 1,865,313 Gourley et al June-28, 1932 2,025,712 Bickett Deon-31, 1935 2,179,148 Gerlofson Nov. 7, 1939 2,184,396 .Mudge .Dec. 26, 1939 2,232,646 Stone et a1 Feb. 18, 1941 2,244,956 Miller et al June .10, 1941 2,300,379 Faulhaber Oct-27, 1942 2,314,046 Kalter .Mar. 16, 1943 2,319,690 Karpen May 18, 1943

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