U.S. patent application number 13/038886 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-30 for seating pad assembly for use with transportation seat.
This patent application is currently assigned to NIGHTGEAR LLC. Invention is credited to Richard M. Leeds.
Application Number | 20110156459 13/038886 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38715970 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110156459 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Leeds; Richard M. |
June 30, 2011 |
SEATING PAD ASSEMBLY FOR USE WITH TRANSPORTATION SEAT
Abstract
A seating pad assembly is provided for use by travelers to
increase the comfort for a seat on a public transportation vehicle
or at a public transit terminal. A system and method for ordering
the seating pad assembly for a transportation seat includes at
least one terminal configured for entering an identifier indicative
of a type of transportation seat purchased, e.g., a class of
service; a server configured for receiving the identifier,
determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the
identifier, and generating an order to acquire the determined
seating pad assembly; and a communications network for coupling the
at least one terminal and the server. The terminal may be
configured in the form of a computer, a kiosk or a mobile terminal.
The system will allow a purchaser of a transportation seat to
either purchase or rent the seating pad assembly.
Inventors: |
Leeds; Richard M.; (New
York, NY) |
Assignee: |
NIGHTGEAR LLC
New York
NY
|
Family ID: |
38715970 |
Appl. No.: |
13/038886 |
Filed: |
March 2, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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11728788 |
Mar 27, 2007 |
7917403 |
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13038886 |
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11602058 |
Nov 20, 2006 |
7461894 |
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11728788 |
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60738618 |
Nov 21, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
297/229 ;
224/576 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/021 20130101;
C08L 2201/12 20130101; Y02T 50/40 20130101; B64D 11/06 20130101;
G06Q 30/0635 20130101; A47C 31/11 20130101; G06Q 30/0601 20130101;
G06Q 30/0226 20130101; A47C 31/126 20130101; B64D 11/0647 20141201;
A47C 27/14 20130101; A47C 7/425 20130101; Y02T 50/46 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/229 ;
224/576 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/14 20060101
A47C027/14; A45F 3/14 20060101 A45F003/14 |
Claims
1. A seating pad assembly for use with a transportation seat that
has a hip/thigh support and a back support connected to the
hip/thigh support with at least one gap being defined therebetween,
the seating pad assembly comprising: a viscoelastic foam cushion
having a bottom surface for disposition on the seat, a top surface
opposite the bottom surface for supporting a traveler, a width
substantially conforming to a width defined by the seat and a
length at least equal to a length of the hip/thigh support and a
portion of the back support measured in directions substantially
perpendicular to the connection between the hip/thigh support and
the back support, the viscoelastic foam cushion having a density
and a hardness selected to permit portions of the viscoelastic foam
adjacent the bottom surface to flow into and conform to the gap
between the hip/thigh support and the back support to define a
convex lower conformal area nesting with the gap, the viscoelastic
foam cushion of the pad further having firmness, resiliency and
thickness characteristics so that a concave upper conformal area
caused by weight of the traveler is spaced sufficiently above the
seat to support the traveler across the gap and above the hip/thigh
support and the back support; and a cover assembly substantially
surrounding the viscoelastic foam cushion and being sufficiently
stretchable or loose to permit substantially unimpeded deformation
of the viscoelastic foam cushion into the gap of the seat.
2. The seating pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the viscoelastic
foam cushion has a thickness of at least 1 inch.
3. The seating pad assembly of claim 2, wherein the viscoelastic
foam cushion has a density of approximately 5 pounds per cubic
foot.
4. The seating pad assembly of claim 2, wherein the viscoelastic
foam cushion has a hardness of about 10 N.
5. The seating pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover assembly
comprises an inner screen layer substantially permanently disposed
in surrounding relationship to the viscoelastic foam cushion.
6. The seating pad assembly of claim 5, wherein the cover assembly
further comprises an inner cover removably disposed in surrounding
relationship to the viscoelastic foam cushion and the inner screen
layer.
7. The seating pad assembly of claim 6, wherein the cover assembly
further comprises an outer cover removably disposed in surrounding
relationship to the inner cover.
8. The seating pad assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover assembly
comprises an inner cover removably disposed in surrounding
relationship to the viscoelastic foam cushion.
9. The seating pad assembly of claim 8, further comprising an outer
cover removably disposed in surrounding relationship to the inner
cover.
10. The seating pad assembly claim 1, further comprising a carrying
bag dimensioned for receiving the viscoelastic foam cushion and the
cover assembly in a rolled condition.
11. The seating pad assembly of claim 1, having a width of between
approximately 16-20 inches, a length between approximately 42-60
inches and a thickness of at least approximately 1 inch.
12. The seating pad assembly of claim 1, further comprising at
least one strap secured to the cover assembly and being configured
for securing the viscoelastic foam cushion in a rolled condition.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application. Ser. No.
11/728,788, filed Mar. 27, 2007 which is a continuation-in-part of
application Ser. No. 11/602,058, filed Nov. 20, 2006, now U.S. Pat.
No. 7,461,894 which in turn claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Appl. No. 60/738,618 filed Nov. 21, 2005.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a seating pad assembly to make a
transportation seat more comfortable.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Travel on public transportation, such as planes, trains and
buses, is rarely comfortable and can be extremely uncomfortable on
long trips. The length of time after which a seat will be
considered comfortable varies widely based on the characteristics
of the seat and sensitivity of the traveler. Many travelers become
extremely uncomfortable after an hour or two on a transportation
seat, especially since seats intended for shorter trips generally
do not recline or recline only a small amount. On the other hand,
intercontinental flights can last in excess of twelve hours and are
common for many business people. Most business travelers have
little time for recovery at either end of a business trip, and are
expected to be alert and functioning for a business meeting shortly
after their arrival. Vacation travelers suffer from the same
inconveniences as business travelers and are likely to require a
considerable recovery time before being able to enjoy the vacation.
Uncomfortable travel is not limited to airlines. In particular,
trips on a train or bus can take longer than an intercontinental
airline trip. Travel related discomfort also is not limited to the
time spent on the vehicle. More particularly, travelers often spend
hours in very uncomfortable seats at an airline, train or bus
terminal while they are waiting for a transfer or a delayed
departure. Seats at a terminal often are less comfortable than
seats on a plane, train or bus. For example, terminal seats often
have a large gap between the hip/thigh support and the back support
and may be formed from a hard rigid plastic.
[0006] Most long distance travelers take steps to minimize the
discomfort and inconveniences of travel. For example, some long
distance travelers adapt a regimen of sleeping, eating and drinking
for several days prior to a trip in an effort to make the travel
more comfortable. Long distance travelers also may adopt specific
regimens during the flight in an effort to minimize discomfort. For
example, many travelers utilize sleep-inducing medication either
shortly before the start of a trip or partway into the trip.
Airline personnel frequently distribute pillows, blankets, slippers
and eye shades a short time into the flight.
[0007] The seats on planes and surface vehicles intended for long
distance travel recline to enhance comfort. Most airlines and
trains provide different levels of seating that are offered at
different costs. Business class seats generally are wider than
coach seats and generally recline more. First class seats may be
wider still, and some first class seats recline to a full
horizontal position. However, all reclining seats necessary include
several movable components that enable the seat to be adjusted
between a fully erect condition and at least a partly reclined
condition. FIGS. 1 through 3 show a typical prior art airline seat
similar to those used in business class or first class sections of
a airplane. The prior art seat is identified generally by the
numeral 100 in FIGS. 1 through 3 and includes a hip/thigh support
102 disposed between arm rests 104. The hip/thigh support 102 of
the prior art seat 100 has a width "w" of between about 18 inches
and 27 inches, depending on the airline and the class of service
(i.e. coach, business or first class). A back support 106 is hinged
to the hip/thigh support 102 and can move between a substantially
erect condition, as shown in FIG. 1, and a partly reclined
position, as shown in FIG. 2. A fully reclined position, as shown
in FIG. 3, is provided for first class seats on some airlines. The
typical prior art seat 100 has a length "l" of between about 70
inches and 76 inches. A gap 108 necessarily is provided between
these two hinged supports 102 and 106 to accommodate the relative
movement. The seat 100 also may have a foot rest 110 that is hinged
relative to the hip/thigh support 102, and a similar gap 112 exists
between the hip/thigh support 102 and the foot rest 110.
Furthermore, other cracks, creases and seams 114, 116, 118 and 120
exist at other locations on the hip/thigh support 102 and the back
support 106. Still other structurally uneven areas (e.g. frame
members and other structural supports) exist beneath the cover of
the seat 100, and contribute to passenger discomfort even though
they are not visible. The gaps 108 and 112 and other cracks,
creases and seams 114-120 may be barely noticeable on a short trip.
However, the gaps 108, 112 and other cracks, creases and seams
114-120 that are wider than about 1 cm and/or deeper than about 1
cm become very bothersome on long trips. In this regard, the gaps
108, 112 and other significant surface discontinuities 114-120
define pinch points into which bodily tissue will be squeezed due
to the weight of the body. Pressure on the body at these pinch
points may be higher, thereby impeding blood flow and creating
discomfort at and near the surface of the skin. Long distance
travelers frequently move and shift their bodily weight to reduce
discomfort. However, such movement creates pulling and friction as
the bodily tissue is extracted from the pinch points and as new
areas of bodily tissue are urged into the pinch points.
Furthermore, all vehicles vibrate during movement, and the
vibration contributes significantly to discomfort generated at the
pinch points even when the passenger does not attempt to move
voluntarily.
[0008] The seat covers on most public transportation seats are
designed to be durable and easily cleaned. These requirements often
compete with the passenger's desire for comfort. A fabric that will
last long and clean easily often is not comfortable for an extended
period of time. Many public transportation seats are designed to
provide a pronounced and somewhat rigid lumber support to align
with the lower back and a bulging head support near the top end of
the back rest. These features often add to comfort when the
passenger is sitting in an erect position. However, these same
features contribute to discomfort when the passenger reclines the
seat for sleep.
[0009] Virtually all public transportation seats include arm rests
and some include forwardly projecting privacy wing on opposite
sides of the back rest. The arm rest and wings are intended to
prevent intrusion by an adjacent passenger. These fairly rigid and
highly function components can lead to discomfort when the seat is
reclined so that the passenger can sleep.
[0010] The prior art include many types of formed pillows that are
intended to support certain areas of the body. For example,
U-shaped pillows are used to support the back of the neck. Other
uniquely configured pillows are intended to support the feet, the
rear side of the knees or areas between the knees.
[0011] Generally rectangular mats are used in many Asian cultures
for sleeping or for performing Yoga. These mats tend to be formed
from thin relatively inelastic materials that are not suitable for
body cushioning. Mats of this type generally have length and width
dimensions corresponding approximately to the length and width
dimensions of a bed. The mats typically are sufficiently flexible
to be folded or rolled for storage between uses.
[0012] Viscoelastic materials and memory foam are terms used to
define a variety of open cell flexible polyurethane foams, and have
been used for mattresses, mattress toppers and pillows for years.
More particularly, the lower surface of the viscoelastic foam will
be placed on a generally flat horizontal supporting surface, such
as a box spring or mattress. The upper surface of the viscoelastic
foam will mold closely to the contour of an object or body placed
thereon. The viscoelastic foam then will return slowly to an
undeformed shape when the object or body is removed or
repositioned. In contrast, conventional foamed rubber will compress
quickly in response to an applied load and will return quickly upon
removal of the load. Furthermore, the compressed conventional
foamed rubber will not conform to the shape of the applied load and
will not distribute forces of the applied load. Viscoelastics have
not been used in public transportation seating, presumably in view
of cost considerations and yield characteristics that are not
conducive to requirements for a public transportation seat in the
normally erect orientation.
[0013] In view of the above, it is object of the subject invention
to provide improvements to the comfort for public transit seating,
particularly seating intended for long distance travel.
[0014] It is a further object of the subject invention to provide a
public transportation seating improvement well suited for use and
carrying by a traveler.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The invention relates to a seating pad assembly for use with
a public transportation seat and to the combination of a seating
pad assembly and a public transportation seat. The invention also
relates to a method for enhancing the comfort of a public
transportation seat. The public transportation seat preferably is
an airline seat, but may also be a seat employed on trains, buses
and other land vehicles. The seat includes a generally horizontal
hip and thigh support and a seat back pivotally mounted to the hip
and thigh support. The seat may further include a foot rest. The
seat back and/or the foot rest preferably are mounted for pivoting
relative to the hip and thigh support. Accordingly, seams, cracks,
creases, gaps or spaces exist between the foot rest and the
hip/thigh support and between the back rest and the hip/thigh
support. Some of these gaps exceed 1 cm in width and/or depth. The
seat may further include arm rests spaced from one another by
approximately the width of the seat. The spacing between the arm
rests, and hence the width of the seat, may vary in accordance with
the mode of transportation and the class of service. The seat may
further include safety belts for securing the passenger in the
seat.
[0016] The seating pad assembly may be generally rectangular and
preferably has a width corresponding approximately to the width of
the seat. The width of the seating pad assembly preferably is
selected in accordance with the class of travel. For example, a
seating pad assembly for economy travel preferably is about sixteen
inches wide, while a seating pad assembly for business or first
class travel preferably is about twenty inches wide. The seating
pad assembly also preferably has a length approximately equal to
the sum of the length of the hip/thigh support and the length of
the back support, particularly for coach class travel.
Specifically, the seating pad assembly for economy class travel
preferably is at least about 42 inches long and preferably about 47
inches long. Additionally, the seating pad assembly may include a
foot rest extension with a length approximately equal to the length
of the foot rest on the public transit seat and particularly for
business or first class airline seats. Specifically, the seating
pad assembly for business or first class travel preferably is about
60 inches long and preferably about 72 inches long. Additionally,
the seating pad assembly preferably has a thickness of between
1.0-2.0 inch, and most preferably about 1.00 inch.
[0017] The seating pad assembly comprises a substantially
rectangular cushion that preferably consists of viscoelastic
material. The viscoelastic cushion preferably has width, length and
thickness dimensions corresponding to the overall width, length and
thickness dimensions for the assembly, as set forth above.
Additionally, the viscoelastic cushion preferably has a density and
hardness or firmness to support a traveler comfortably across all
locations on the seat, including across the seams, gaps and other
pinch points between adjacent movable parts of the seat, including
those that are at least 1 cm across and at least 1 cm deep. In this
regard, the density, firmness, resiliency and thickness of the
viscoelastic cushion are selected so that lower areas of the
viscoelastic cushion will flow into and conform to the gaps and
other pinch points, thereby creating a substantially smooth surface
for supporting the traveler. Furthermore, these density, firmness,
resiliency and thickness characteristics of the viscoelastic
cushion are selected to ensure that the weight of the traveler will
be distributed and supported by upper parts of the viscoelastic
cushion without a bottoming out that would occur if the
viscoelastic cushion was deformed maximally. Thus, the viscoelastic
cushion isolates the traveler from the bothersome pinch points.
Furthermore, the viscoelastic material is extremely effective at
absorbing the vibrations that are inherent in vehicular travel, and
hence isolates the traveler from those vibrations. As noted above,
vibrations contribute to discomfort, particularly near the pinch
points formed in the seat.
[0018] The seating pad assembly further includes a cover assembly
mounted over the viscoelastic cushion. At least a portion of the
cover assembly preferably is removable for laundering or
replacement. The cover assembly preferably is stretchable or
sufficiently loose to deform easily into gaps or other pinch points
defined in the seat. Thus, the cover assembly will not restrict or
limit the ability of the viscoelastic material to flow or otherwise
conform to the shapes of the seat and the traveler, and the
nonrestrictive cover assembly will move easily with the
viscoelastic material as the viscoelastic material changes its
shape. The cover assembly preferably includes an inner screen layer
preferably formed from a synthetic material, such as nylon that
contributes to the protection and support of the viscoelastic
cushion. The inner screen layer need not be removable. The cover
assembly also preferably includes an inner protective cover that
may be fluid resistant, stain resistant, antimicrobial and/or
moisture wicking. The inner protective cover prevents permanent
damage to the viscoelastic pad. Preferably, the inner cover has a
zipper or other closure means to permit the inner cover to be
removed from the viscoelastic pad for laundering or replacement.
The cover assembly also includes an outer cover that preferably is
formed from a material that is fluid resistant, stain resistant
antimicrobial and moisture wicking. Additionally, the outer cover
is formed from a material, such as cotton or a brushed synthetic
fabric that will be comfortable to the passenger. In some
instances, the cover may be imprinted or embroidered with indicia
to identify an airline or other public transit provider or to
identify the owner or source of the seating pad assembly. The outer
cover also has a zipper or other closure means to permit the outer
cover to be removed for laundering or replacement. The closure for
the outer cover may be offset from the closure for the inner cover.
The outer cover also may include a strap for releasably securing
the seating pad assembly in a rolled condition for easy storage and
carrying through an airport or other transit terminal. The strap
also can be used to hold the seating pad assembly on a seat.
[0019] The seating pad assembly may include means for releasable
attachment to the public transportation seat. For example, a
snapped attachment can be provided for releasable engagement with
snaps provided on the top of the seat back. In other situations,
the seating pad assembly may be provided with notches or apertures
for receiving a seat belt.
[0020] The seating pad assembly may further include or may be used
with a carrying bag. The carrying bag has a selectively closable
end. The selectively closable end may have a flap, a draw string or
the like. The carrying bag may further include a strap or a loop to
carry the bag over the shoulder or to facilitate mounting and
transportation of the bag and seating pad assembly on a rolling
piece of luggage or to a backpack.
[0021] The seating pad assembly can be transported to an airport,
train station or the like by a passenger. The passenger need merely
remove the seating pad assembly from the bag and position the
seating pad assembly on the seat before the person sits down. Thus,
the seating pad assembly is not one of the pieces of carry-on
luggage that must be stored in an overhead compartment. The
passenger then can assume a normal sitting posture to hold the pad
in place. Controls on the seat can be utilized to move the seat
into a reclined condition at an appropriate time during the trip,
if desired and if such controls are available. The seating pad
assembly will extend continuously across seams and/or creases
between the movable parts of the seat and will conform to the
shapes of both the seat and the passenger to maximize comfort. The
cover assembly will not restrict the flowing deformation of the
viscoelastic material, and hence the cover will not affect the
conformal characteristics of both the upper and lower areas of the
viscoelastic material. Additionally, the seating pad assembly can
be dimensioned to provide lateral support between the passenger and
arm rests.
[0022] A method for ordering a seating pad assembly for a
transportation seat is provided. The method includes receiving an
identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat purchased;
determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the
type of transportation seat purchased; generating an order to
acquire the determined seating pad assembly; and fulfilling the
generated order to complete acquisition of the seating pad
assembly. The identifier may be a class of service, e.g., coach,
business class or first class of an airline seat. The method
further includes receiving a second identifier indicative of a
transportation seat provider and selecting a cover assembly for the
seating pad assembly bearing an indicia of the transportation seat
provider.
[0023] The seating pad assembly can either be purchased or rented
for a predetermined purchase amount. In certain embodiments,
frequent fliers miles may be used for the predetermined purchased
amount.
[0024] A system for ordering a seating pad assembly for a
transportation seat includes at least one terminal configured for
entering an identifier indicative of a type of transportation seat
purchased; a server configured for receiving the identifier,
determining dimensions of the seating pad assembly based on the
identifier, and generating an order to acquire the determined
seating pad assembly; and a communications network for coupling the
at least one terminal and the server. The at least one terminal may
be configured as a computer, a kiosk or a mobile terminal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0025] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art seat in an erect
condition.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the prior art seat in a
partly reclined condition.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the prior art seat in a
fully reclined condition.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in
FIG. 3.
[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partly in section, of a
seating pad assembly in accordance with the invention.
[0030] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an end portion of the
seating pad assembly with the outer cover removed.
[0031] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a side portion of the
seating pad assembly showing the zipper closure for the outer
cover.
[0032] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a corner of the seating pad
assembly and showing one of the closure straps in an extended
condition.
[0033] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a corner of the seating
pad assembly and showing the extended closure strap.
[0034] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly in
a partly rolled condition.
[0035] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly in
a fully rolled condition for storage.
[0036] FIG. 12 is a front elevational view of a carrying bag for
use with the rolled seating pad assembly of FIG. 11.
[0037] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the rolled seating pad
assembly stored in the carrying bag of FIG. 12.
[0038] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a person carrying the
rolled seating pad assembly stored in the carrying bag.
[0039] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the rolled seating pad
assembly stored in the carrying bag and secured on a piece of
rolling luggage.
[0040] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly of
FIGS. 5-11 positioned on the fully erect airline seat of FIG.
1.
[0041] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly of
FIGS. 5-11 positioned on the partly reclined airline seat of FIG.
2.
[0042] FIG. 18 is a perspective view of the seating pad assembly of
FIGS. 5-11 positioned on the fully relined airline seat of FIG.
3.
[0043] FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 19-19 in
FIG. 18.
[0044] FIG. 20 is an exemplary system for ordering a seating pad
assembly in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0045] A seating pad assembly in accordance with the subject
invention is identified generally by the numeral 10 in FIGS. 5
through 12. The seating pad assembly includes 10 an inner
viscoelastic foam cushion 12 formed from and consisting essentially
of a viscoelastic material, such as those that are available from
several commercial sources, including TEMPUR-PEDIC. The seating pad
assembly 10 is generally rectangular and has a length L and a width
W as shown in FIG. 4. The length and width dimensions L and W will
vary in accordance with the class of service for which the seating
pad assembly 10 is being marketed. In particular, first class
airline seats often are wider than business class and some seats
include footrests that extend longitudinally as the seat is
reclined. In a preferred embodiment, the seating pad assembly 10
has a width W of approximately 16 inches for economy class seats
and approximately 20 inches for business or first class seats.
These widths enable the seating pad assembly 10 to occupy a major
portion of the width "w" of the targeted seat. However, other
seating pad assemblies 10 may be slightly narrower or slightly
wider. The length L of the seating pad assembly 10 also will vary
in accordance with the class of travel service for which the
seating pad assembly 10 is purchased and marketed. In a preferred
embodiment, the seating pad assembly 10 has a length L of
approximately 42 inches for economy class seats, a length L of
approximately 47 inches for business class seats and a length L of
approximately 60 inches to 72 inches for first class seats.
However, seating pad assemblies 10 with a length L as small as
about 40 inches will achieve many of the benefits described herein,
particularly for short trips where the seat does not recline and
with respect to the most objectionable gap 108 between the
hip/thigh support 102 and the back support 106 of the prior art
seat 100.
[0046] The viscoelastic inner cushion 12 of the seating pad
assembly 10 has a thickness "T" as shown in FIG. 5. The thickness
"T" preferably is in the range of 1.0-1.5 inch, and most preferably
is approximately 1.0 inch to facilitate storage and carrying.
However, the ability of the inner cushion 12 to be transported
easily and to provide the necessary comfort for long distance
travel also depends on the density of the viscoelastic foam. A
viscoelastic foam with a density of 3 lbs/cubic foot to 8 lbs/per
cubic foot and a thickness T of 1.0-1.5 inch has been found to
provide comfortable support across the gaps 108 and other surface
discontinuities of the prior art airline seat while still being
easily transportable. However, a viscoelastic inner cushion 12 with
a density of 5 lbs/cubic foot and a thickness T of 1.0 inch has
been found to provide very good levels of comfort and very
desirable storage and carrying characteristics, as explained
herein. The viscoelastic inner cushion 12 also should have a
firmness that permits the viscoelastic inner cushion 12 to conform
to the shape of the seat 100 and to the passenger without bottoming
out. Thus, the viscoelastic cushion 12 will redistribute the weight
and surface pressure of the passenger.
[0047] The seating pad assembly 10 further includes a cover
assembly 14 that substantially completely encloses the viscoelastic
cushion 12. In this regard, the viscoelastic foam material of the
cushion 12 is not comfortable for direct long term contact by the
traveler. Additionally, the viscoelastic foam of the cushion 12 is
not well suited for soil or stain resistance and could become
unsightly after several uses. Furthermore, viscoelastic foam
cushions are not aesthetically attractive, even when clean. The
cover assembly 14, on the other hand, can be made from relatively
inexpensive materials that are comfortable for direct long term
contact by the traveler.
[0048] The cover assembly 14 includes an inner screen layer 15 that
completely surrounds the viscoelastic cushion 12. The inner screen
layer 15 preferably is a thin gauge mesh formed from synthetic
fibers, such as nylon, that will protect the viscoelastic cushion
12 when other parts of the cover assembly 14 are removed for
cleaning, maintenance or replacement. Additionally, the inner
screen layer 15 is stretchable and/or sufficiently loose to permit
substantially unrestricted deformation and/or flow of the
viscoelastic cushion 12 into the pinch points on the seat 100.
[0049] The cover assembly 14 further includes an inner cover 16
removably mounted over the inner screen layer 15 and the
viscoelastic cushion 12. The inner cover 16 is formed from a fluid
resistant, stain resistant material with moisture wicking and
antimicrobial characteristics such as a stretchable knitted fabric
made from a blend of cotton and synthetic fabric. Additionally, the
inner cover 16 includes an inner closure 16z, such as a zipper,
that extends across one end edge and adjacent side edges of the
inner cover 16. The inner closure 16z enables the inner cover 16 to
be separated from the viscoelastic cushion 12 for cleaning,
maintenance or replacement.
[0050] The cover assembly 14 further includes an outer cover 18
that is removably mounted over the inner cover 16. The outer cover
18 is formed from a fluid resistant, stain resistant material with
moisture wicking and antimicrobial characteristics. For example,
the outer cover 14 can be formed from a stretchable woven cotton
fabric (300-1000 thread count) or a brush knit fabric that is soft
to the touch and comfortable even after a long term of contact.
More particularly, the outer cover 14 can be formed from materials
that are commonly used on bed sheets. Furthermore, the outer cover
14 can be made aesthetically attractive and can be printed with
indicia to identify the owner of the cushion or to promote a
particular trademark. For example, the indicia can be the name of
an airline that sells the pad assembly 10 to frequent travelers.
Alternatively, the indicia can be the trademark of the employer of
the traveler.
[0051] The outer cover 18 includes an outer closure 18z, such as a
zipper, that extends along a major part of one side edge of the
outer cover 18. The outer closure 18z enables the outer cover 18 to
be separated from the viscoelastic cushion 12 and the inner closure
16 for cleaning, maintenance or replacement.
[0052] Two straps 20 are secured to portions of the outer cover 17
adjacent one longitudinal end and extend longitudinally beyond the
outer cover 18, as shown most clearly in FIGS. 8-10. Portions of
each strap 20 sewn or otherwise secured to the outer cover 18 have
an array of Velcro loops 22 facing away from the outer cover 18. A
mating array of Velcro hooks 24 are provided on the opposite side
of each strap 20 at the end of the strap 20 remote from the outer
cover 18. The straps 20 enable the seating pad assembly 10 to be
secured in the rolled configuration of FIG. 11.
[0053] The seating pad assembly 10 also can be used with a carrying
bag 30, as shown in FIGS. 12-15. The carrying bag 30 has a closed
bottom end 32 and an open top end 34. A draw string 36 is
incorporated into a hem adjacent the open top end 34. The carrying
bag 30 also includes a carrying strap 38. In the collapsed
condition shown in FIG. 12, the carrying bag 30 is a generally flat
rectangle. However, the carrying bag 30 can be opened to receive
the seating pad assembly 10 that has been rolled into the coil
shown in FIG. 11. This combination of the seating pad assembly 10
and the carrying bag 30 is illustrated in FIG. 13. The carrying
strap 38 can be suspended from the shoulder of the traveler while
traveling between flights or destinations, as shown in FIG. 14.
Alternatively, the carrying strap 38 can be looped over the handle
of a roll-on piece of luggage, as shown in FIG. 15 or can be
attached to a backpack. A pocket can be provided in the carrying
bag 30 to carry travel documents, identification cards or the
like.
[0054] The seating pad assembly 10 is used by opening the draw
string 28 near the top 26 of the carrying bag 22 and removing the
rolled seating pad assembly 10 from the carrying bag 22. The straps
20 then are opened and the seating pad assembly 10 is unrolled from
the FIG. 10 condition to the FIG. 4 condition. The open seating pad
assembly 10 then is placed on the seat 100 substantially as shown
in FIG. 15-17 before the traveler sits down. Thus, the seating pad
assembly 10 is not part of the carry on luggage that must be
stowed, and effectively becomes a temporary part of the seat 100.
One longitudinal end the seating pad assembly 10 is positioned near
the top of the seat back support 106. The remainder of the seating
pad assembly 10 extends from the top of the back support 106 across
the gap 108 between the hip/thigh support 102 and the back support
106 and towards or to the leg rest 110. The extent of the seating
pad assembly 10 to or towards the leg rest 110 will depend upon the
overall length L of the pad assembly 10 relative to the length "l"
of the seat 100. In preferred embodiments, the seating pad assembly
10 will be sufficiently long to extend completely to the end of the
leg rest 110 farthest from the hip/thigh support 102. Some seats
100 have a footrest 114 that telescopes or otherwise extends
longitudinally away from the hip/thigh support 102 as the seat 100
is moved into the fully reclined condition. In this situation, one
longitudinal end portion of the seating pad assembly 10 may be
tucked between the remainder of the seating pad assembly 10 and the
leg rest 110 to define a flap 34, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16.
However, the flap 34 can be unfolded as the seat 100 moves into the
fully reclined condition shown most clearly in FIG. 17 so that the
flap 34 can be disposed on the footrest 114.
[0055] As noted above, the width W of the seating pad assembly 10
preferably is in the range of 16-20 inches, and hence will fit
conveniently between the armrests 104 of the seat 100 without
creating potentially objectionable bulges or bumps.
[0056] The seating pad assembly 10 extends continuously across the
objectionable gap 108 between the hip/thigh support 102 and the
back support 106. The viscoelastic cushion 12 responds to both
ambient temperature (60-75 F) and body temperature for conforming
to the shape of the passenger for providing three dimensional
support for the passenger when the seat is erect, partially
reclined and fully reclined. The thickness T of the viscoelastic
cushion 12 and the density and firmness of the viscoelastic foam of
the cushion 12 enable the traveler to be supported comfortably
across rigid structures in the seat 100, as well as across the gap
108 between the hip/thigh support 102 and the back support 106.
Thus, the conformal nature of the viscoelastic cushion 12 avoids
the objectionable sensations caused by the gap 108 when a traveler
is sitting erect or attempting to relax in the reclined condition
of the seat 100, as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. Furthermore, the
viscoelastic foam of the cushion 12 is extremely effective at
absorbing travel-related vibrations and associated micromovements
of the seat 100 and the passenger. These vibration-related
micromovements contribute significantly to passenger discomfort and
are dampened very effectively by the viscoelastic cushion 12.
[0057] The ability of the seating pad assembly 10 to achieve these
objectives is dependent partly upon the thickness T and the
characteristics of the viscoelastic cushion 12. As explained above,
the preferred cushion 12 is formed from a viscoelastic foam with a
density in the range of 50-120 kg/m.sup.3, with a preferred density
of about 85 kg/m.sup.3. Additionally, the preferred viscoelastic
material has a hardness or firmness of about 10N. Viscoelastic
materials with these specifications and with a thickness T of about
1 inch have proven to provide high levels of comfort with little or
no sensory evidence of the gap 108, hard structural supports of the
seat 100 or the vibrations of the vehicle regardless of whether the
seat 100 is erect, reclined or partly reclined. In this regard, the
density, firmness, resiliency and thickness of the viscoelastic
cushion 12 enable lower surface 12L of the viscoelastic cushion 12
to flow into and conform to the gap 108 and other pinch points, as
shown in FIG. 19, thereby creating a convex lower conformal area
12LC and a substantially smooth uniform upper surface 12U for
facing the traveler. The cover assembly is sufficiently stretchable
and/or loose to permit the viscoelastic material 12 to flow or
conform substantially unimpeded into the potential pinch points and
around hard points. Furthermore, the density, hardness, firmness,
resiliency and thickness characteristics of the viscoelastic
cushion 12 ensure that weight of the traveler will create a concave
upper conformal area 12UC that will be spaced above the lower
surface 12L, above the supports 102, 106 and above the pinch point
defined by the gap 108. Additionally, the weight of the traveler
will be distributed and supported by upper parts of the
viscoelastic cushion 12 without a bottoming out that would occur if
the viscoelastic cushion 12 had a thickness, density, hardness
and/or resiliency to be deformed maximally. Thus, deformation of
the top and bottom surfaces of the viscoelastic cushion 12 assures
optimum support and weight distribution and isolates the traveler
from the bothersome pinch points and hard points. Accordingly, the
traveler can changed positions without disengaging tissue that
would otherwise have been squeezed into the gaps and other pinch
points. Still further, the three dimensional support of the
traveler achieved by the viscoelastic cushion 12 helps to dampen
travel-related vibrations. Viscoelastic materials with different
density and hardness characteristics can be employed, but may
require different thicknesses.
[0058] The seating pad assembly 10 may be sold at retail stores
(kiosks at transportation centers, kiosks at shopping centers,
specialty gift stores, major retailers, etc), through catalogs
(e.g. in-flight catalogs), via television (shopping networks,
infomercials, etc) or via the Internet. The Internet transactions
can be through a supplier's own website, other unaffiliated retail
web destinations, mobile web destinations, interactive outdoor
sales via Bluetooth/Wi-Fi or touch screen installations in public
spaces. Additionally, the seating pad assembly 10 may be sold,
rented or otherwise offered to passengers in association with the
offering of transportation services. For example, the seating pad
assembly 10 can be offered to passengers as part of the check-in or
seat selection process. Additionally the seating pad assembly 10
can be offered and/or delivered to passengers after the passengers
have passed through security clearance points at an airport, in
much the same way that goods are offered at duty free shops.
Alternatively, the seating pad assembly 10 can be rented for
delivery to the passenger shortly prior to departure and for
pick-up from the passenger shortly after disembarking. The cover
assembly 14 may be removed and cleaned after each such rental.
[0059] The above-identified sale or rental procedures offered at an
airport or other transportation terminal provide several very
significant advantages and efficiencies. For example, the ability
to pick up a purchased or rented seating pad assembly 10 after
arriving at the transportation facility and preferably after
passing through security significantly reduces the amount of
personal property that must be carried by the passenger enroute to
the transportation facility. The ability to take possession of the
seating pad assembly 10 after having passed through security
simplifies and shortens the security procedure, thereby leading to
a more efficient flow of passengers through security. Additionally,
the seating pad assembly 10 need not be considered part of the
luggage that can be carried onto a plane because the seating pad
assembly 10 need not be stowed in an overhead compartment or
beneath a seat, and merely is positioned between the passenger and
the existing seat on an airplane, train or other vehicle. The
ability to take possession of the seating pad assembly 10 prior to
boarding the plane has other advantages as well. Specifically, the
seating pad assembly can be used by the passenger at the airport
during the delays that frequently are encountered at airports.
Thus, the seating pad assembly 10 can be used to increase the
comfort of inherently uncomfortable seats in a transportation
terminal. The seating pad assembly also can be used on local
transportation prior to reaching a final point of disembarking
(e.g. an airport shuttle). The ability to return a seating pad
assembly 10 at the end of a trip reduces the amount of baggage that
the passenger will have to carry when leaving the airport or other
transportation facility.
[0060] In certain instances, the passenger may chose to own rights
to a seating pad assembly 10 but to possess the seating pad
assembly 10 only while traveling or waiting to travel. For example,
a person may provide proof of ownership of a seating pad assembly
10 prior to, during or after the check-in process at the
transportation facility. An appropriately dimensioned seating pad
assembly 10 then will be made available to the passenger for use
during travel. The passenger may be charged an annual maintenance
fee or a maintenance fee per trip to cover cost associated with
periodic cleaning of the seating pad assembly 10. These charges may
be collected by the airline or a separate business at the
transportation terminal.
[0061] Still further, the offering of the seating pad assembly can
be tied to frequent flier programs. Thus, the seating pad assembly
10 can be offered to passengers with a specified level of frequent
flier status (e.g. gold, platinum, etc.). Similarly, the seating
pad assembly 10 can be purchased or rented with frequent flier
points or miles, and the purchase or rental of the seating pad
assembly 10 can be used to trigger certain frequent flier benefits,
such as points or related products or services.
[0062] Referring to FIG. 20, a system 200 for ordering a seating
pad assembly to be used for a transportation seat is illustrated.
The system 200 includes a terminal, e.g., a user computer 202, a
kiosk 204 or a mobile terminal 206, for accessing a server 208 over
a communications network 210, e.g., the Internet. The kiosk 204 can
be a dedicated kiosk provided for a purchase or rental of the
seating pad assemblies. Alternatively, the kiosk 204 can be an
automatic check-in terminal adapted to permit a passenger to
request a seating pad assembly as part of the check-in process. The
request for the seating pad assembly that is carried out as part of
the check-in process may generate a charge on the credit card that
is use for the check-in process, a charge against frequent flyer
miles for the account associated with the passenger and the airline
or a free optional service for passengers with certain ticket
categories (e.g. first class or business class). Other optional
terminals can include telephones, cellular telephones or PDI's. The
terminal 202, 204, 206 and server 208 will communicate using any
conventional architecture, for example a client/server architecture
where the terminal will execute a client application, e.g., a web
browser, to access an application executing on the server 208. The
terminal will access the server 208 to enable a user to order,
e.g., purchase or rent, a seating pad assembly of the present
invention as will be described below. The server 208 will determine
the dimensions, e.g., a width, length, and/or thickness, of the
seating pad assembly based on the type of transportation seat
purchased, e.g., coach, business or first class. The server 208
will generate an order for the user to acquire the seating pad
assembly. The terminal will include a communication module 212 for
communicating to the remote server 208.
[0063] It is to be understood that the present invention may be
implemented in various forms of hardware, software, firmware,
special purpose processors, or a combination thereof. In one
embodiment, the present invention may be implemented in software as
an application program tangibly embodied on a program storage
device. The application program may be uploaded to, and executed
by, a machine comprising any suitable architecture such as a
personal computer, a workstation or server 208. Preferably, the
machine is implemented on a computer platform having hardware such
as one or more central processing units (CPU), a random access
memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM) and input/output (I/O)
interface(s) such as a keyboard, cursor control device (e.g., a
mouse or joystick) and display device. A system bus couples the
various components and may be any of several types of bus
structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a
peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus
architectures. The computer platform also includes an operating
system and micro instruction code. The various processes and
functions described herein may either be part of the micro
instruction code or part of the application program (or a
combination thereof) which is executed via the operating
system.
[0064] In addition, various other peripheral devices may be
connected to the computer platform of the machine by various
interfaces and bus structures, such a parallel port, serial port or
universal serial bus (USB). One such peripheral device may include
a communications device, e.g., a modem, satellite relay, wireless
connection, etc., for enabling communications from the server 208
to the various terminals 202, 204, 206. Other peripheral devices
may include additional storage devices or a printer 214 for
printing generated work orders bearing instructions to deliver the
seating pad assembly to an intended recipient.
[0065] It is to be further understood that, because some of the
constituent system components and method steps depicted in the
accompanying figures may be implemented in software, the actual
connections between the system components (or the process steps)
may differ depending upon the manner in which the present invention
is programmed. Given the teachings of the present disclosure
provided herein, one of ordinary skill in the related art will be
able to contemplate these and similar implementations or
configurations of the present invention.
[0066] The terminals 202, 204, 206 and/or server 208 may operate in
a networked environment using logical connections to one or more
remote computers. The remote computer may be a personal computer, a
server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common
network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements
described above relative to the machine. It is to be appreciated
that the network 210 may be a local area network (LAN), wide area
network (WAN), the Internet or any known network that couples a
plurality of computers to enable various modes of communication via
network messages. The terminal may communicate to the server 208
and network 210 via any known communication link 216, for example,
dial-up, hardwired, cable, DSL, satellite, cellular, PCS, wireless
transmission (e.g., 802.11a/b/g, etc.), etc. Furthermore, the
devices will communicate using the various known protocols such as
Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP), File
Transfer Protocol (FTP), Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP), etc.
During a purchasing transaction, the computing devices may employ
Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPs), Secure Sockets Layer
(SSL) Protocol, Secure Electronic Transaction (SEC) Protocol,
etc.
[0067] In one embodiment, a traveler or purchaser of a
transportation seat desiring to acquire a seating pad assembly of
the present invention will access server 208 via any available
client, e.g., terminal 202, kiosk 204, mobile terminal 206, etc.
The purchaser will input into the client an identifier indicative
of a type of transportation seat purchased. This identifier may be
a class of service of the seat purchase for example coach, business
or first class of an airline seat purchased. The identifier will be
received by the server 208 and the server 208 will determine the
proper seating pad assembly based on the type of transportation
seat purchased by interacting with database 218. Preferably, the
proper seating pad assembly will include dimensions (including a
width, length, and thickness) to ensure a proper fit of the seating
pad assembly to the type of seat purchased as described above. The
server will then generate an order to acquire the determined
seating pad assembly. In certain embodiments, the order will
include an option to purchase the seating pad assembly or to simply
rent the seating pad assembly for the particular route purchased.
Next, the server will fulfill the generated order to complete
acquisition of the seating pad assembly. The purchaser may complete
the transaction by providing the appropriate debit card or credit
card information. Alternatively, the purchaser may complete the
transaction by providing a frequent flier account number and a
predetermined number of frequent flier miles will be debited from
the purchaser's account.
[0068] In one embodiment, once the transaction is completed, the
server 208 will generate a work order and print out the work order
at an appropriate terminal of the facility where the purchaser will
begin their trip. For example, where the transportation seat
purchased is an airline seat, the work order will be printed out at
the terminal where the purchaser is departing from. The seating pad
assembly will be prepared and delivered to the purchaser at the
terminal, for example, the seating pad assembly is delivered to the
purchaser of the transportation seat after the purchaser has passed
through security at the airport. If the purchaser has purchased the
seating pad assembly, the purchaser will retain the seating pad
assembly after the purchaser has reached their destination.
Otherwise, if the seating pad assembly was rented, the seating pad
assembly will be reclaimed from the purchaser at a point of
disembarkation.
[0069] In another embodiment, the server 208 will receive a second
identifier indicative of a transportation seat provider, e.g., an
airline carrier, from the purchaser. Based on the transportation
seat provider, the server 208 will further select a cover assembly
for the seating pad assembly bearing an indicia of the
transportation seat provider. The determined seating pad assembly
and corresponding cover assembly will be printed on the work order
and the seating pad assembly will be assembled before delivering to
the purchaser.
[0070] It is to be appreciated that the first identifier for the
type of seat purchased and the second identifier of the
transportation seat provider may be entered in one session while
communicating to the server. For example, where the terminal is a
kiosk, the purchaser of a transportation ticket may scan the ticket
at the kiosk and the kiosk will subsequently transmit the first and
second identifier to the server for processing.
[0071] In another embodiment, a purchaser of a transportation
ticket may purchase the seating pad assembly while purchasing the
initial ticket for the seat. For example, a purchaser may purchase
a ticket from a terminal by accessing a server 220 of the
transportation seat provider via a conventional web site. While
conducting the transaction for purchasing the ticket, the server
220 of the transportation provider may provide a link to the server
208 to enable the purchaser to acquire the seating pad assembly.
Alternatively, the server 208 may communicate with server 208 and
perform the transaction for the purchaser without additional charge
to the purchaser based on a preferred status of the purchaser,
e.g., a frequent flier, club member, etc.
[0072] While the invention has been described with respect to a
preferred embodiment, it is apparent that various changes can made
without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims. In this regard, different length, width and
thickness dimension can be provided in accordance with the
preferences of the traveler and the dimensions of the seat.
[0073] A rectangular seating pad assembly 10 offers several cost
efficiencies and carrying efficiencies. However, nonrectangular
pads can be provided. For example, notches can be provided at areas
where seat belts extend from the seat. Additionally, areas that
will be adjacent the knees and lower legs can be narrower than
areas adjacent the hips or shoulders.
[0074] Still further, the extreme lower portion of the seating pad
assembly 10 can be configured to articulate more easily. Thus, a
well defined hinge line may be defined substantially adjacent the
flap 34 near the bottom end of the seating pad assembly 10. The
flap 34 can be formed by an entirely separate piece of viscoelastic
foam material that may be inserted into an entirely separate pocket
of the outer cover 18 of the cover assembly 14.
[0075] Straps 20 with a VELCRO attachment were illustrated in the
preferred embodiment. However, other forms of straps can be
provided for holding the pad assembly 10 in a rolled condition. For
example, straps configured to be tied in a knot may be provided or
straps with a simple buckle can be provided.
[0076] The pad assembly 10 may further be provided with structure
for releasably affixing the pad assembly 10 to upper portions of
the back support 106 of the seat 100. These attachments features
can be straps, snaps or the like.
[0077] These variations and others will be apparent to persons
skilled in this art after having read this disclosure.
* * * * *