U.S. patent application number 11/559710 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-27 for air conditioning cushion for wheelchair.
This patent application is currently assigned to AireRx Healthcare, LLC. Invention is credited to Richard Keith Ford, Dan McVicker, Ballard Hillyer Pritchett, Allen R. Siekman.
Application Number | 20070294831 11/559710 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38846470 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070294831 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Siekman; Allen R. ; et
al. |
December 27, 2007 |
Air Conditioning Cushion for Wheelchair
Abstract
A seat cushion for use in a wheel chair includes a foam pad
contoured to the anatomy of a user positioned thereon and has an
indentation in the middle thereof, which receives and drains
incontinence fluid from the user. The foam pad encloses an air
channel between the indentation and at least one side of the foam
pad. A fan housed inside the pad pushes air through the air
channel, into the indentation and onto the user. Alternatively, the
seat cushion may house an air conditioner to circulate cooled air
to the skin of the user.
Inventors: |
Siekman; Allen R.; (Ben
Lomand, CA) ; Pritchett; Ballard Hillyer; (Englewood,
CO) ; McVicker; Dan; (Nashville, TN) ; Ford;
Richard Keith; (Goodlettsville, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WADDEY & PATTERSON, P.C.
1600 DIVISION STREET, SUITE 500
NASHVILLE
TN
37203
US
|
Assignee: |
AireRx Healthcare, LLC
Nashville
TN
|
Family ID: |
38846470 |
Appl. No.: |
11/559710 |
Filed: |
November 14, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60816834 |
Jun 27, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/653 ;
5/652.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61G 5/1043 20130101;
A61G 2210/70 20130101; A61G 5/1045 20161101; A61G 7/05784
20161101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/653 ;
5/652.2 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/00 20060101
A47C027/00 |
Claims
1. A seat cushion comprising: a foam pad comprising a top upon
which a user may sit, an opposed bottom, and a plurality of sides
extending between the top and bottom; an indentation in the top of
the foam pad and having a substantially concave surface for
receiving incontinence fluid and circulating air; and an insert
fitting in the indentation for supporting the user while the user
sits on the seat cushion and allowing incontinence fluid to flow to
the concave surface of the indentation.
2. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the insert comprises a
permeable mesh.
3. The seat cushion of claim 2, wherein the permeable mesh
comprises: a first hide; a second hide; and a multiplicity of
fibers between the first hide and the second hide, so that the
fibers resiliently compress between the first hide and second hide
when the user sits on the seat cushion.
4. The seat cushion of claim 1, wherein the foam pad further
comprises: a support protrusion defined in the foam pad, located on
the concave surface of the indentation, for supporting the
insert.
5. The seat cushion of claim 4, wherein the insert further
comprises an outer layer supported by the support protrusion; and
an inner layer attached to the outer layer, fitting between the
outer layer and the concave surface of the indentation, and
disposed about the support protrusion, for maintaining air
circulation and reception of incontinence fluid in the
indentation.
6. The seat cushion of claim 5, wherein the insert further
comprises a permeable mesh.
7. (canceled)
8. The seat cushion of claim 1, further comprising: an air channel
defined in the foam pad, having a first end communicated with the
indentation, and a second end communicated with at least one of the
plurality of sides.
9. The seat cushion of claim 8, further comprising: a cavity
defined in the foam pad, intersecting the air channel.
10. (canceled)
11. The seat cushion of claim 9, further comprising: a chamber
subassembly located in the cavity, the chamber subassembly
comprising a shell having a plurality of apertures aligned with the
air channel.
12. The seat cushion of claim 11, wherein the chamber subassembly
further comprises: a fan attached to the shell, for forcing air
through the apertures.
13. The seat cushion of claim 11 further comprising: an air barrier
attached to the insert where the air channel communicates with the
indentation, for disbursing the air that comes through the air
channel.
14. The seat cushion of claim 11, further comprising: an air
cooling unit comprising an outlet operationally connected to the
chamber subassembly, for providing cooled air to the chamber
subassembly.
15. The seat cushion of claim 1 further comprising: a cover fitting
over at least a portion of the foam pad, the cover comprising a
permeable mesh, for protecting the foam pad and allowing air and
fluid to enter and exit the indentation.
16. The seat cushion of claim 15, wherein the permeable mesh
comprises: a first hide; a second hide; and a multiplicity of
fibers located between the first hide and the second hide, so that
the fibers resiliently bias the first hide and second hide apart
for enhancing ventilation.
17. The seat cushion of claim 1 further comprising an air
conditioner operatively attached to the foam pad to circulate
conditioned air about at least a portion of the user who sits on
the seat cushion.
18. An apparatus for ventilating a seat cushion, the apparatus
comprising a shell having a plurality of apertures; and a fan
operatively positioned inside the shell for forcing air through the
apertures and throughout at least a portion of the seat
cushion.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising an air cooling
unit comprising an air outlet operationally connected to the shell
for cooling the air the fan forces throughout at least a portion of
the seat cushion.
20. A seat cushion for use with a wheelchair comprising: a foam pad
having a top contoured to the anatomy of a user when the user is
sitting on the foam pad, an opposed bottom, and a plurality of
sides connecting the top and the bottom; and an air circulating
device integrated into at least a portion of the foam pad to
circulate air to at least a portion of a user, when the user sits
on the foam pad; and an indentation comprising a surface defined in
the foam pad for receiving incontinence fluids from the user and
receiving air from the air circulating device.
21. (canceled)
22. The seat cushion of claim 20 further comprising: an insert
fitting in the indentation for supporting the user while allowing
incontinence fluid to flow to the indentation.
23. (canceled)
24. The seat cushion of claim 22, wherein the insert further
comprises: a mesh outer layer; and a mesh inner layer attached to
the mesh outer layer and fitting between the mesh outer layer and
the surface of the indentation, the mesh inner layer being disposed
about the support protrusion, for maintaining air circulation and
reception of incontinence fluid in the indentation.
25. The seat cushion of claim 24 further comprising: an air channel
defined in the foam pad, having a first end in communication with
the indentation and a second end in communication with at least one
of the plurality of sides.
26. The seat cushion of claim 25 further comprising: an air barrier
attached to the mesh outer layer of the insert where the air
channel communicates with the indentation, for disbursing the air
received through the air channel; and a cavity defined in the foam
pad, having a mouth opening into the foam pad and formed such that
air channel is in communication with the cavity, wherein the air
circulating device is located in the cavity.
27. (canceled)
28. (canceled)
29. The seat cushion of claim 20, wherein the air circulating
device comprises a fan.
30. The seat cushion of claim 20, wherein the air circulating
device comprises an air conditioner.
31. The seat cushion of claim 20 further comprising: a permeable
mesh cover fitting over at least a portion of the foam pad.
32. (canceled)
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is based on U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 60/816,834, filed Jun. 27, 2006, and claims
priority based on the earlier filed provisional patent application,
the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a seat cushion; more specifically,
a seat cushion that may be used in a wheelchair to drain
incontinence fluid and deliver conditioned air to the skin of the
user.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,248 teaches a cooled seat cushion having
a bottom and a back. Both the bottom and the back have a series of
air passageways forming a plenum. This plenum is fed air from a
Peltier unit which is attached to a DC power source, preferably a
cigarette lighter in a car. The air passageways of the plenum are
constructed of wound metallic coils; the passageways crisscross
throughout the interior of both the seat bottom and back. The
Peltier unit feeds the plenum air at the seat cushion's bottom,
between the user's legs, or at the juncture between the bottom and
the back, where it traverses the seat cushion and exits at the top
of the seat back. The chilled air, in traversing the plenum, cools
the seat cushion.
[0006] Seat constructions having a recessed region allowing
incontinence fluids from a user to drain off are common to the
field. Additionally, augmenting user comfort with an additional
cushion in a chair is also common in the field.
[0007] However, the above described systems suffer from the
drawbacks of an inability to combine functions of cooling and
handling incontinence material, and utilization of an insufficient
and weak cooling system; thus there is a need for a seat cushion
that can convectively cool the skin of a user, receive and remove
the byproducts of incontinence, and provide additional, comfortable
support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention is directed to a seat cushion that
delivers air to a user and removes moisture. In one embodiment of
the invention, an indentation is formed into the center of the top
of a foam pad and an air channel is formed through the foam pad,
communicating between one of the sides of the foam pad and the
indentation. In the air channel a cavity is formed and a chamber
subassembly is inserted therein. This chamber subassembly has
apertures on two of the sides and serves to maintain the viability
of the channel after a user compresses the foam pad. Air naturally
circulates through the air channel, through the chamber assembly,
and into the indentation, which is filled with a permeable mesh.
This permeable mesh insert allows the air to flow freely, while
maintaining a comfortable level of support for the user, with the
added benefit of allowing incontinence liquid to flow out through
the insert drain through the indentation.
[0009] In another embodiment, the same configuration is used,
except that the chamber subassembly includes an air circulating
device, such as a fan, which forces room-temperature air into the
indentation. In a third embodiment, an air conditioner or air
cooling unit is integrated into the foam pad, in conjunction with
the fan, with both preferably mounted inside the foam pad so that
the air channel receives air conditioned by the air conditioner and
distributes it into the indentation.
[0010] It is an object of this invention to augment the comfort and
support of one sitting, especially one sitting for prolonged period
in a wheelchair.
[0011] It is further an object of this invention to drain
incontinence fluid released from a body of a user to avoid
unsanitary and moist conditions on the skin of the user and to
mitigate the risks of consequent skin breakdown.
[0012] It is another object of this invention to deliver
conditioned air to the skin of the user to cool and dry the skin of
the user to reduce the formation of skin ulcers and pressure
sores.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a seat cushion embodiment
constructed in accordance with the present invention and including
a chamber subassembly.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a foam pad shown in FIG.
1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along line 3-3 of
FIG. 2.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a side view of the permeable mesh, with the arrows
representing the direction of the flow of air.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an elevated perspective view of the chamber
subassembly shown in FIG. 1, with the arrows representing the
direction of the flow of air.
[0018] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the bottom of the chamber
subassembly with the mounting plate removed.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the seat cushion in a
wheelchair application.
[0020] FIG. 8 is an exploded isometric view of the seat cushion
embodiment that includes an integrated air conditioner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0021] With reference to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a seat cushion
comprising a foam pad 10 formed with a metal mold; however, other
molds or methods of construction could be used to achieve the shape
and function of this foam pad 10. The foam pad 10 is constructed of
foam that gently compresses to comfortably support the user and is
coated with a material that is substantially impervious to liquid.
The foam pad 10 further has a top 12, which is contoured to the
anatomy of a user when the user is sitting on the seat cushion, a
bottom 14, a side 16, a back side 18, a front side 20, and a side
22.
[0022] Formed into the top 12 of the foam pad 10 is an indentation
24, which, in the preferred embodiment, has a roughly concave
surface 26. However, alternatively shaped surfaces that comfortably
support the user, which receive and drain incontinence fluids, will
suffice. The indentation 24 is sloped away from the front side 20
and towards the back side 18, such that fluids received into the
indentation flow on the concave surface 26 towards the back side
18, evacuating the fluids from the skin of the user. Formed in the
middle of the indentation 24, protruding up from the concave
surface 26, is a support protrusion 28.
[0023] An insert 30 having an outer layer 32, inner layer 34, and
an air barrier 36, fills the indentation 24. The inner layer 34 has
an opening 35 in the middle roughly the size of the support
protrusion 28. The inner layer 34 fits snugly around the support
protrusion 28 and against the concave surface 26 of the indentation
24 such that the support protrusion 28 keeps the inner layer 34 in
place. This arrangement ensures that the area around the support
protrusion remains a viable region through which fluid may permeate
towards the back side 18.
[0024] The outer layer 32, which rests along the top of the support
protrusion 28 and the inner layer 34, is dimensioned roughly the
same as the indentation 24. The outer layer 32 makes a top for the
indentation 24. To maintain the ability of the indentation 24 to
receive incontinence fluid and circulate air, the outer layer 32
and the inner layer 34 of the insert are comprised of permeable
mesh 38, illustrated in FIG. 4. The permeable mesh 38 has a first
hide 40, a second hide 42, and a multiplicity of resilient fibers
44 in between that bias the first hide 40 and the second hide 42
apart. When in use, the fibers resiliently compress. Thus, when the
permeable mesh 38 is compressed, the fibers 44 flex and provide a
force to oppose the compression. There is space between the fibers
44 so that even when the fibers 44 are compressed, the space
between them remains vacant, allowing air and fluid to permeate
through in all directions. These fibers 44 also add stiffness to
the insert 30.
[0025] Constructing the insert 30 with the permeable mesh 38
ensures that the insert 30 provides support for the user in the
indentation 24, but does not become a sponge that holds the
incontinence fluid and blocks air circulation. Instead, the
permeable mesh 38 of the insert 30 allows the incontinence fluids
to flow between the fibers 44 along the concave surface 26, towards
back side 18, while not significantly impeding air circulation in
the indentation 24.
[0026] FIG. 3 exposes the interior of the foam pad 10 in a
cross-section view, along line 3-3 from FIG. 2. As shown in FIG. 3,
an air channel 46 is formed into the foam pad 10. The air channel
46 has entrance holes 46A formed into the front side 20 of the foam
pad 10 and an exit 46B formed into the concave surface 26 of the
indentation 24. Intersecting the air channel 46 is a cavity 48. The
cavity 48 is formed into the bottom 14 of the foam pad 10; however,
in alternative embodiments, the cavity 48 may be formed in one of
the sides 16, 18, 20, or 22.
[0027] A chamber subassembly 50, as shown in FIG. 1, fits snugly
inside the cavity 48. The chamber subassembly 50, as shown in FIG.
5, has a preferably substantially rectangular base 51, though
alternative shapes are contemplated. The chamber subassembly 50
also includes a shell 52 preferably made of a sturdy but slightly
flexible material such as certain plastics, thermoplastic olefins,
or other composite materials, and a mounting plate 53 that fits on
the rectangular base 51. The mounting plate 53 attaches to the
bottom 12 of the foam pad 10, shown in FIG. 1, holding the chamber
subassembly 50 in place in the cavity 48 (the cavity 48 is shown in
FIG. 3). The shell 52 is shaped to have a bulge 54, and there are
apertures in the shell 52 on both sides of the bulge 54. These are
the intake apertures 56 and the outlet apertures 57. The sturdiness
of the plastic shell 52 ensures that neither the cavity 48 nor the
air channel 46 collapse when a user sits on the foam pad 10, while
the shape of the shell 52 allows the top 12 of the foam pad 10 to
remain shaped to the anatomy of the user when the user is seated on
the seat cushion.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, in one embodiment a fan 58 is mounted
inside the shell 52 and powered by a battery pack 59 so that the
fan 58 pulls air through the intake apertures 56 and pushes it out
the outlet apertures 57. Other embodiments may not require the
addition of the fan 58, relying on natural convection of air
through the shell 52, or an external method of pushing air through
the chamber subassembly 50.
[0029] The intake apertures 56 and outlet apertures 57 on the shell
52 of the chamber subassembly 50 are aligned with the air channel
46 and secured in place with the mounting plate 53. The chamber
subassembly 50 is inserted into the bottom 14 of the foam pad 10 as
shown in FIG. 1. The air, once pushed through the outlet apertures
56, travels to the exit of the air channel 46B. The stream of air
then, instead of flowing as a condensed stream into the user,
collides with the air barrier 36, thus disbursing the air in the
indentation 24, throughout the insert 30.
[0030] The majority of wheelchair use is done in-doors, where the
air temperature and humidity are controlled by the building's air
conditioning unit. The chamber subassembly 50, when installed into
the cavity 48 as depicted in FIG. 1, delivers this conditioned
ambient air to the skin of the user. Thus the relatively low
humidity and low temperature ambient air is delivered to the
indentation 24 to ventilate the skin of the user, convecting heat
away and evaporating moisture. This promotes cool dry skin
conditions adverse to the formation of skin ulcers.
[0031] Further, an air conditioner 60 may be used in addition to,
or instead of, the chamber subassembly 50 as shown in FIG. 8. The
air conditioner 60 is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,240,742, the
details of which are incorporated herein by reference. The air
conditioner 60 employs a method of evaporating and condensing a
fluid to chill, with the option to heat, a fin arrangement (not
shown) across which air is forced which is located in the path to
the skin of the user; however, unlike other air chillers, this air
conditioner 60 is small enough to be mounted inside the foam pad
10. Further, the air conditioner 60 functions utilizing evaporative
cooling between sealed low pressure chambers, combined with
absorptive air pressure reduction technology, and thus does not
require a bulky or heavy battery. It merely requires enough battery
power to control the operation of a valve.
[0032] In the preferred embodiment, the air conditioner 60 fits
snugly in the cavity 48. Thus the air conditioner 60 chills or, if
desirable, heats air, which then flows to the indentation 24 where
it collides with the air barrier 36, which disburses it throughout
the insert 30. At night, or when the seat cushion is not in use,
the air conditioner 60 may be removed to recharge its evaporative
cooling system (not shown).
[0033] As shown in FIG. 1, a cover 64 envelops or fits over at
least a portion of the foam pad 10 and preferably covers all of the
foam pad 10. The cover 64 is partially constructed of the permeable
mesh 38, illustrated in FIG. 4. When the user sits on the cushion,
the permeable mesh 38 of the cover 64 compresses, but remains air
and liquid permeable because the multiplicity of resilient fibers
44 between the first hide 40 and the second hide 42 flex and exert
reactionary force. Further, these fibers 44 add a pressure
redistribution function to the cover 64, increasing the support
provided to the user. In one embodiment, the permeable mesh 38
comprises a side 65 of the cover 64, which fits over the back side
18 of the foam pad 10, for allowing air to ventilate the
indentation 24. In other embodiments, the permeable mesh 38 could
also comprise a portion 67 of the cover 64 over the front side 20
of the foam pad 10, to allow increased flow of air to the chamber
subassembly 50 or the air conditioner 60; the permeable mesh 38
could also comprise the cover 64 in its entirety. Areas of the
cover 64 not comprised of the permeable mesh 38 are preferably made
of a breathable fabric suitable for comfortably supporting a
user.
[0034] Thus, the cover 64 allows air to circulate into the air
channel 46 into the chamber subassembly 50, and/or air conditioner
60, depending on the embodiment, and throughout the indentation 24.
Further, even when compressed by a user, the permeable mesh 38 of
the cover 64 remains liquid permeable, allowing incontinence fluid
flowing from out of the indentation 24 to traverse the cover and be
evacuated from the seat cushion.
[0035] Illustrated in FIG. 7, the preferred application of this
seat cushion is in a wheelchair, to increase the health and welfare
of a prolonged, continuous user.
[0036] Thus it is seen that the apparatus of the present invention
readily achieves the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as
those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the
invention have been illustrated and described for purposes of the
present disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and
construction of parts and steps may be made by those skilled in the
art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of
the present invention as defined by the appended claims. Although
there have been described particular embodiments of the present
invention of a new and useful ventilated seat cushion, it is not
intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the
scope of this invention except as set forth in the appended
claims.
* * * * *