U.S. patent application number 10/909912 was filed with the patent office on 2006-02-02 for pressure equalizing mesh.
Invention is credited to Eric Chan.
Application Number | 20060022506 10/909912 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35731303 |
Filed Date | 2006-02-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060022506 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chan; Eric |
February 2, 2006 |
Pressure equalizing mesh
Abstract
A pressure equalizing mesh has a plurality of connectors each
resiliently connected to at least one other connector, or a
plurality of displaceable cells and a plurality of resilient cell
connectors, each of the cells being attached to at least one other
cell by at least one of the cell connectors. The mesh distributes
an applied force over an area of the mesh that increases as the
applied force increases.
Inventors: |
Chan; Eric; (New York,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
William E. Pelton;Cooper & Dunham LLP
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036
US
|
Family ID: |
35731303 |
Appl. No.: |
10/909912 |
Filed: |
August 2, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/452.63 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/282 20130101;
A47C 31/116 20130101; A47C 27/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/452.63 |
International
Class: |
A47C 7/02 20060101
A47C007/02 |
Claims
1. A mesh for reacting to an applied force, said mesh comprising a
plurality of displaceable cells and a plurality of cell connectors
resiliently connecting said cells, each of said cells being
connected to least one other cell by at least one of said
connectors, said mesh equalizing said applied force over an area of
said mesh that increases as said applied force increases.
2. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cells and said
plurality of cell connectors are arranged so that when pressure is
applied to one or more cells, the one or more pressured cells may
become displaced.
3. The mesh of claim 2, wherein said plurality of cells and said
plurality of cell connectors are arranged so that cells adjacent to
the one or more pressured cells do not become displaced to the
extent that the one or more pressured cells become displaced.
4. The mesh of claim 1, wherein two or more cell connectors of the
plurality of cell connectors offer different degrees of elastic
resistance.
5. The mesh of claim 4, wherein said different degrees of elastic
resistance provide one or more regions of said mesh with varying
support characteristics to enhance comfort.
6. The mesh of claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of
cells are shaped as a cylinder.
7. The mesh of claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of
cells are shaped as a parallelepiped.
8. The mesh of claim 1, wherein one or more of said plurality of
cells are shaped as a prism.
9. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cells and said
plurality of cell connectors are formed as a single integrated
unit.
10. The mesh of claim 9, wherein said plurality of cells and said
plurality of cell connectors are formed by injection molding,
compression molding, or rolling.
11. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cells and said
plurality of cell connectors form a planar matrix.
12. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said plurality of cells and said
plurality of cell connectors form a contoured matrix.
13. The mesh of claim 12, wherein said contoured matrix is
ergonomically contoured.
14. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said mesh is formed as a chair
seat.
15. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said mesh is formed as a chair
back.
16. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said mesh is air-permeable.
17. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said mesh is weather
resistant.
18. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said mesh is incorporated into a
seat or back of a means for supporting a human body in a seated
position.
19. The mesh of claim 18, wherein said means is selected from the
group consisting of a chair, a wheelchair, a couch and a bench.
20. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said mesh is formed as a bed
surface.
21. The mesh of claim 1, wherein said mesh is formed as a shoe
sole.
22. A mesh for reacting to an applied force, said mesh comprising a
plurality of connectors, each of said connectors being resiliently
connected to least one other connector, said mesh distributing said
applied force over an area of said mesh that increases as said
applied force increases.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO A "SEQUENCE LISTING," A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] 1. Field of the Invention
[0005] The present invention relates to a pressure equalizing and
pressure distributing mesh that may be used in chairs, beds, shoes
and other manufactured goods.
[0006] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0007] Occupational safety is an issue of growing concern. With
modern workers working longer hours than ever before, increased
emphasis has been placed on maintaining a safe and healthy working
environment. It is becoming increasingly clear that long periods of
time spent in uncomfortable office chairs can have a profound
impact on the health and well-being of employees.
[0008] Furniture related health risks exist beyond the office. Time
spent on uncomfortable and improperly supportive home and public
furniture can also impact the health and wellbeing of people.
Examples of furniture related health risks include circulatory
ailments, poor posture, pain in the back, shoulders, head, neck,
and legs. With ailments such as back pain affecting large numbers
of employees, more comfortable furniture, such as a more
comfortable office chair, can have a substantial impact on both the
quality of life and the productivity of employees.
[0009] One important aspect of comfortable furniture is its ability
to adequately distribute weight. Adequate distribution of weight
may decrease muscle fatigue and reduce instances of injury and
furniture related health risks.
[0010] Proper distribution of weight is important to reduce not
only instances of workplace injury, but also the frequency and
severity of pressure sores suffered by patients such as paraplegics
who may be wheelchair bound.
[0011] Many techniques exist for the distribution of weight. One
approach is the seat and back cushion. Seat cushions filled with
compressible material, for example foam and/or springs, may serve
to distribute weight. But seat and back cushions have multiple
disadvantages. For example, cushions may be prone to puncture or
otherwise nondurable. Additionally, when used for public seating as
in public transit, seat and back cushions are susceptible to
vandalism and present health risks including the communication of
lice and/or bedbugs and the spread of mold. Cushioned seats may be
poorly suited for outside use and may be costly to manufacture,
especially where springs are used. Such disadvantages may be
particularly acute where the cushion is made of an absorptive
material such as a foam material. Seat and back cushions may also
trap excess body heat between the cushions and a person's body.
This problem may be particularly acute where the cushion is made of
a thermal insulator such as a foam material or where the seat and
back cushion does not allow for adequate ventilation of air.
Additionally, many seat and back cushions have a tendency to
degrade under ultra-violet light and sunlight.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In accordance with some embodiments of the invention, a
pressure equalizing and pressure distributing mesh has a plurality
of displaceable cells and a plurality of resilient connectors
engaging the displaceable surfaces and which may be bendable and/or
stretchable under pressure applied to the displaceable surfaces.
Each of the surfaces is connected to at least one other surface by
at least one of the connectors. In one embodiment the displaceable
surfaces may constitute individual but interconnected buttons,
seats or cushions. For another embodiment of the invention, the
plurality of connectors are resiliently connected to one another
and the displaceable surfaces of the mesh may be formed as part of
the connectors themselves. The mesh distributes an applied force
over an area of the mesh that increases as the applied force
increases.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] A better appreciation of the present invention and its
attendant advantages will be readily obtained by reference to the
following detailed description when considered in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair seat or back made
from a pressure equalizing and pressure distributing mesh according
to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIGS. 2A-2G are top views of several arrangements of cells
according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0016] FIGS. 3A-3D are respectively side, top, side, and top views
showing how cells may be connected by cell connectors according to
embodiments of the present invention;
[0017] FIGS. 4A-4C are side views showing examples of some of the
shapes that cell connectors may take according to embodiments of
the present invention;
[0018] FIGS. 5A-5H are alternately bottom and top views showing
examples of possible arrangements of cells and cell connectors that
may form planar matrices according to embodiments of the present
invention;
[0019] FIGS. 5I-5O are top views showing examples of possible
arrangements of cells and cell connectors that may form planar
matrices according to embodiments of the present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 6A-6C are side schematic views showing how pressure of
a concentrated force may be distributed by localized displacement
of cells within a mesh according to embodiments of the present
invention;
[0021] FIGS. 7A-7B are top perspective views showing the
functionality of a layered mesh according to an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0022] FIGS. 8A-8F are schematic perspective views showing,
respectively, a chair, a wheelchair, a couch, a bench, a bed, and a
shoe sole incorporating a mesh constructed in accordance with
embodiments of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] In describing the preferred embodiments of the present
invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is
employed for clarity. However, the present invention is not
intended to be limited to that terminology, and it is to be
understood that each specified element includes all technical
equivalents.
[0024] The present invention includes a pressure equalizing and
pressure distributing mesh that can be used in the manufacture of
goods such as chairs, wheelchairs, couches, benches, beds, and shoe
soles to provide a comfortable and safe support surface that is
inexpensive to manufacture, durable, sanitary, resistant to
vandalism, and allows for the free circulation of air (air
permeable).
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a chair seat 11 made from a
mesh according to an embodiment of the present invention. The chair
seat 11 may be used in any chair, for example an office chair, a
train chair, or a wheelchair.
[0026] The chair seat 11 may include a chair seat frame 13 and a
chair seat surface 12 that may be formed from a mesh according to
embodiments of the present invention. The chair seat 11, including
the frame 13 and the surface 12, may be made of a synthetic
material, for example plastic, and may be fabricated as a unit by
plastic injection molding or a comparable fabrication technique.
Alternatively, the frame 13 and the surface 12 may be formed
separately and subsequently attached.
[0027] The mesh, according to an embodiment of the present
invention, comprises a set of buttons, cells, or pressure receiving
seats or cushions resiliently attached to one another by
connectors. The cell connectors stretch, bend or straighten out
when under pressure but return substantially to their original form
when pressure is removed. The cells and cell connectors may be
fabricated as a unit or may be formed separately and subsequently
connected. The cells may be formed in a wide variety of shapes: for
example, each cell may be a cylinder (disk), a parallelepiped, or a
prism. Each cell may be connected to one or more adjacent cells by
one or more cell connectors in two dimensions, thereby forming a
planar matrix. Alternatively, the resilient connectors may connect
directly to one another without the presence of cells.
[0028] The mesh composition of embodiments of the present invention
allows for the circulation and free-flow of air through the mesh.
This promotes a more comfortable feel by allowing for the
evaporation of perspiration of a person making use of the pressure
distributing mesh. This feature is especially helpful when the mesh
is used as a furniture surface or a sole of a shoe.
[0029] The surface 12 is connected to the frame 13 and is suspended
so that the mesh of embodiments of the present invention provides
support without bottoming-out in the manner of, say, a mattress or
a bed. Bottoming-out is a phenomenon that affects particular
support systems such as spring-support mattresses. A spring-support
mattress resting on a hard support will bottom out when enough
pressure is applied to fully compress one or more springs. In
accordance with the invention, where the mesh does not press
against a hard surface, it continues to stretch and distribute the
pressure as the pressure increases.
[0030] FIGS. 2A-2G are top schematic views showing various
arrangements of cells according to embodiments of the present
invention. FIG. 2A shows an arrangement of disk shaped cells. FIG.
2B shows another arrangement of disk shaped cells resulting in a
greater cell density than the arrangement of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C shows
an arrangement of polygon-prism shaped cells. FIG. 2D shows another
arrangement of polygon-prism shaped cells resulting in a greater
cell density than the arrangement of FIG. 2C. FIG. 2E shows an
arrangement of triangular prism shaped cells.
[0031] All cells within the mesh need not be of the same shape or
size. For example, there may be two or more differently shaped
cells such as the arrangement shown in FIG. 2F of polygon-prism
shaped cells and rectangular parallelepiped shaped cells. FIG. 2G
shows an arrangement of oblong-prism shaped cells.
[0032] The cell connectors used to attach the cells to their
adjacent cells provide elastic resistance when one or more cells
become displaced in response to applied pressure. There may be any
number of cell connectors used to attach one cell within the mesh
to adjacent cells. For example, each cell mesh may be attached to
four adjacent cells by four cell connectors. The cell connectors
may take a number of shapes, including disk shape or rectangular
prism shape. Each cell connector may connect two or more cells
together.
[0033] Cell connectors may be made of the same material as that
used to make the cells. For example, the cell connectors may be
plastic. This may be helpful when cells and cell connectors are
manufactured as a single unit, as by injection molding, compression
molding, or rolling. The cell connectors may be formed below the
cells, for example, in a plane parallel to the plane of the cells.
FIG. 3A is a side view showing how cell connectors 32 may connect
cells 31 to their adjacent cells where the cell connectors 32 are
below the cells 31. FIG. 3B is a top view of the cells 31 and cell
connectors 32 shown in FIG. 3A. Alternatively, the cell connectors
34 may be formed between the cells 33 and in the same plane as the
cells 33, as shown in side view in FIG. 3C. FIG. 3D is a top view
of the cells 33 and cell connectors 34 shown in FIG. 3C.
[0034] FIGS. 4A-4C are side views of some additional examples of
shapes that the cell connectors may take. FIG. 4A shows a u-shaped
or inverted arch-shaped cell connector 42 connecting cells 41. FIG.
4B shows a sinusoidal-shaped cell connector 44 connecting cells 43.
FIG. 4C shows a v-shaped cell connector 46 connecting cells 45. The
size, shape and material of the cell connector used may be selected
so as to adjust the support and/or comfort characteristics of the
mesh. Additionally, certain sizes and/or shapes may make the mesh
easier or less expensive to manufacture. For example a flat
disk-shaped cell connector may be easier to manufacture than a
sinusoidal shaped cell connector.
[0035] While FIGS. 3A-3D and FIGS. 4A-4C show only a single line of
cells and cell connectors, it should be understood that cells and
cell connectors may be similarly attached in multiple rows and
columns to form the planar matrix discussed above and pictured in
FIG. 1 and FIGS. 2A-2G.
[0036] FIGS. 5A-5O show some examples of possible arrangements of
cells and cell connectors that may form planar matrices. FIG. 5A is
a bottom-up view of cells 51 formed as disks, each of which is
interconnected (except at the periphery of the matrix) to four
adjacent cells 51 by four cell connectors 52 attached to the
bottoms of the cells 51. Here the cell connecters 52 are also
formed as disks. FIG. 5B shows a top-down view of the same
arrangement as shown in FIG. 5A.
[0037] FIGS. 5C and 5D are respectively bottom and top views of
another arrangement of cells 53 and cell connectors 54 forming a
planar matrix. Here each cell 53 is interconnected (except at the
periphery of the matrix) with six similar cells 53 by oval-prism
cell connectors 54.
[0038] FIGS. 5E and 5F are respectively bottom and top views of
another arrangement of cells 55 and cell connectors 56 forming a
planar matrix. Here each cell 55 is shaped as an oblong prism and
interconnected (except at the periphery of the matrix) with four
similar cells 55 by disk shaped cell connectors 56.
[0039] FIGS. 5G and 5H are respectively bottom and top views of
another arrangement of cells 57 and cell connectors 58 forming a
planar matrix. Here each cell 57 is shaped as a triangular prism
and interconnected with (except at the periphery of the matrix)
three similar cells 57 by oval-prism cell connectors 58.
[0040] Multiple other possible arrangements of cells and cell
connectors may be used. FIG. 5I is a top view of another
arrangement of cells 59, 510 and cell connectors 511 forming a
planar matrix. Some cells 59 are shaped as hexagon-prisms and other
cells 510 are square-parallelepiped shaped. In this example, the
hexagon-prism shaped cells 59 are connected only to the
square-parallelepiped cells 5 10 and the square-parallelepiped
cells 510 are connected only to the hexagon-prism shaped cells 59.
Each cell 59 or 510 is interconnected (except at the periphery of
the matrix) with four adjacent cells 510 or 59 by
rectangle-parallelepiped cell connectors 511.
[0041] FIG. 5J is a top view of another arrangement of cells 512
and cell connectors 513 forming a planar matrix. Here each cell 512
is shaped as a hexagon-prism and interconnected (except at the
periphery of the matrix) with six similar cells 512 by
rectangle-parallelepiped cell connectors 513.
[0042] FIG. 5K is a top view of another arrangement of cells 514
and cell connectors 515 forming a planar matrix. Here each cell 514
is shaped as a disk and interconnected (except at the periphery of
the matrix) with four adjacent cells 514 by disk-shaped cell
connectors 515. The cells 514 are not all of the same size. Cells
are sized progressively larger as they are located farther from a
central vertical axis 516 of the arrangement. This variation of
cell 514 sizes may be used to change the elasticity and/or other
characteristics of the mesh.
[0043] In addition to varying cell size, the thickness of cell
connectors may also be changed. By varying these and/or other mesh
characteristics, the degree of elastic resistance offered by the
various cell connectors can be adjusted. Varying the degree of
elastic resistance between particular cells can be used to create
regions of the mesh having varying support characteristics. These
regions can be used to enhance the comfort of certain applications
of the mesh. For example, when used as a sole for a shoe, the
elastic resistance used in supporting a heel of a foot may differ
from that used to support an arch of a foot.
[0044] FIG. 5L is a top view of another arrangement of cells 517
and cell connectors 518 forming a planar matrix. Here each cell is
shaped as a disk and interconnected (except at the periphery of the
matrix) with four adjacent cells 517 by disk-shaped cell connectors
518.
[0045] FIG. 5M is a top view of another arrangement of cells 519
and cell connectors 520 forming a planar matrix. Here each cell 519
is shaped as a hexagon-prism. Cell connectors 520 need not connect
a cell 519 to all of the cells 519 adjacent to that cell. Here,
each cell 519 is connected (except at the periphery of the matrix)
to two adjacent cells 519 by rectangle-parallelepiped cell
connectors 520 even though each cell 519 has four adjacent cells
519.
[0046] FIG. 5N is a top view of another arrangement of cells 521
and cell connectors 522 forming a planar matrix. Here each cell 521
is shaped as a hexagon-prism. Cell connectors 522 may connect more
than two cells 521 together. Here each cell 521 is connected
(except at the periphery of the matrix) to four adjacent cells 521
by x-shaped rectangle-parallelepiped cell connectors 522. Each cell
connector 522 connects four adjacent cells 521.
[0047] FIG. 5O is a top view of another arrangement of cells 523
and cell connectors 524 forming a planar matrix. Here each cell 523
is shaped as a hexagon-prism and interconnected (except at the
periphery of the matrix) with four similar cells 524 by
rectangle-parallelepiped cell connectors 523.
[0048] FIGS. 6A-6B show how pressure of a concentrated force may be
distributed by a localized displacement of cells in accordance with
the present invention. FIG. 6A is a side view of several cells 61
and cell connectors 62. FIG. 6B is a side view of the several cells
61 and cell connectors 62 shown in FIG. 6A with pressure being
applied to the center cell 61.
[0049] As pressure is applied to one or more cells 61, the cell
connectors 62 provide elastic resistance. The cell 61 is displaced
downwards as pressure is applied. The elastic resistance provided
by the cell connectors 62 provides an upwards counterforce to the
applied pressure. The farther the pressured cell 61 is displaced,
the more counterforce is provided by the cell connectors 62. This
counterforce provides support to the object pressing down on the
cell 61.
[0050] FIG. 6C shows how pressure may be distributed in accordance
with the present invention. FIG. 6C is a side view of a row of
cells 63. Pressure is applied to the row 63 at two points as
indicated by the two arrows 64, 65. As pressure is applied to
particular cells 66, 67, those particular cells 66, 67 displace.
While cells in the immediate vicinity of the displaced cells 66, 67
may also displace, their displacement will be less than that of the
pressured cells. This allows for the mesh to conform to the contour
objects that are placed on the mesh, for example a seated person,
while at the same time allowing for the distribution of the applied
force to the adjacent cells thereby reducing the reactive force at
any one point. As the applied pressure increases, the pressure is
distributed among a greater number of cells. In this way, the mesh
distributes the applied pressure over an area of the mesh that
increases as the applied pressure increases.
[0051] As described above, each cell of the mesh may be connected
to multiple other cells by resilient cell connectors. The cells may
be inelastic or the cells may be resilient. When an object such as
a seated person is placed on the mesh, pressure is applied to one
or more cells in varying degrees. Each pressured cell will displace
to a degree that depends on the degree of pressure being applied to
that particular cell. The degree of pressure being applied to each
particular cell will generally depend on the shape and weight
distribution of the object placed on the mesh. Each displaced cell
will provide counterforce proportional to the degree of
displacement.
[0052] As the object placed on the mesh is moved the shape and
weight distribution of the object will change. As this occurs, the
degree of pressure being applied to various cells may change. Cells
relieved of pressure will tend to return to their initial positions
and cells where pressure is increased will tend to displace. This
allows the mesh to flex to accommodate the movement of the
object.
[0053] The elasticity of the cell connectors may be selectively
designed by varying the material and/or density of the material
used to fabricate the cell connectors, by changing the length
and/or shape of the cell connectors, or by changing the thickness
of the cell connectors. The mesh may be designed so that cell
connectors in particular areas of the mesh offer greater elasticity
than cell connectors in other areas of the mesh. This will allow
for a more ergonomic design of the mesh when incorporated into
products.
[0054] Embodiments of the present invention need not be planar. For
example, the mesh may be contoured to more naturally accommodate a
seated person. Principles of ergonomics may be used in the
contouring of the mesh.
[0055] Another mesh according to an embodiment of the present
invention utilizes cell connectors that connect cells to adjacent
cells above and/or below the cells thereby creating a layered or
three-dimensional mesh. This layered three-dimensional mesh may be
able to further reduce the degree of displacement of cells adjacent
and/or near pressured cells by providing support from three
dimensions of cells and cell connectors.
[0056] The benefits of the present invention may be achieved with
two or three layers or more. Multiple layers may be formed
separately and later connected, for example, by using glue.
Alternatively, multiple layers may be formed already attached.
[0057] FIGS. 7A-7B are perspective views of a layered mesh
according to the present invention. FIG. 7A shows the layered mesh.
This mesh may be formed of a first layer made of a first layer of
cells 71 and a second layer made of a second layer of cells 72.
Each cell may be connected to adjacent cells in three dimensions by
cell connectors 73.
[0058] FIG. 7B shows the layered mesh of FIG. 7A when pressure is
applied to a cell 71, as represented by an arrow 74. Here, there
may be a higher number of cell connectors 73 and displacement of
those cells 71, 72 adjacent to the pressured cell 71 may be further
minimized because adjacent cells gain additional stability from
attached layers of cells 72.
[0059] FIGS. 8A-8F are perspective views showing, respectively, a
chair, a wheelchair, a couch, a bench, a bed, and a shoe sole
incorporating a mesh according to embodiments of the present
invention. FIG. 8A is a perspective view showing a chair according
to an embodiment of the present invention where both the seat 81
and back 82 are formed from the mesh. Other embodiments of the
present invention include a chair where only the seat 81 is formed
from the mesh and a chair where only the back 82 is formed from the
mesh. FIG. 8B is a perspective view showing a wheelchair according
to an embodiment of the present invention where both the seat 83
and back 84 are formed from the mesh. Other embodiments of the
present invention include a wheelchair where only the seat 83 is
formed from the mesh and a wheelchair where only the back 84 is
formed from the mesh. FIG. 8C is a perspective view showing a couch
according to an embodiment of the present invention where the seat
85, back 86, and arms 87 are formed from the mesh. Other
embodiments of the present invention include a couch where one or
two of the seat 85, back 86, and arms 87 are formed from the mesh.
FIG. 8D is a perspective view showing a bench where both the seat
88 and back 89 are formed from the mesh. Other embodiments of the
present invention include a bench where only the seat 88 is formed
from the mesh and a bench where only the back 89 is formed from the
mesh. FIG. 8E is a perspective view showing a bed according to the
present invention where the mattress 810 is formed from the mesh. A
shoe sole may be formed from the mesh. The shoe sole may be either
an inner shoe sole (insole) or an outer shoe sole (outsole) (not
pictured). FIG. 8F is a top view showing an inner shoe sole
(insole) 811 according to an embodiment of the present invention
where the insole 811 is formed from the mesh. A frame 812 of the
mesh insole 811 may be supported by an elevating ridge 812 that
allows the insole 811 to displace without bottoming-out.
[0060] The embodiments of the invention described above are
illustrative, and many variations can be introduced on these
embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention or
from the scope of the appended claims. For example, elements and/or
features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with
each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of
this invention and the appended claims. Also, the drawing scales
are not to be considered as depicting the relative sizes of the
mesh cells and the articles of manufacture in which the present
novel mesh is incorporated.
* * * * *