U.S. patent application number 15/002360 was filed with the patent office on 2017-06-08 for height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags.
The applicant listed for this patent is Mei-Li Cheng. Invention is credited to Mei-Li Cheng.
Application Number | 20170156505 15/002360 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 58799972 |
Filed Date | 2017-06-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170156505 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cheng; Mei-Li |
June 8, 2017 |
HEIGHT ADJUSTING STRUCTURE WITH DIRECTLY COMMUNICATING AIRBAGS
Abstract
A height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags
includes at least two airbags, where the airbags each receive and
retain therein an elastic body. One of the airbags includes an air
control unit connected thereto for controlling air filling and
discharge of the airbags. The airbags are provided, in surfaces
thereof that opposes each other, with corresponding passage holes
and joint sections formed around circumferences of the passage
holes. The joint sections are jointed so that the airbags are
directly connected with no additional medium between the airbags
and allowing the airbags to share the same air control unit to
achieve flowability of air between the airbags, whereby advantages
of efficient air filling and discharge of the airbags, being easy
to manufacture, and reducing manufacture costs can be achieved.
Inventors: |
Cheng; Mei-Li; (Taipei City,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Cheng; Mei-Li |
Taipei City |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
58799972 |
Appl. No.: |
15/002360 |
Filed: |
January 20, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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14382761 |
Nov 25, 2014 |
|
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15002360 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 4/54 20130101; A47C
7/142 20180801; A47C 27/10 20130101; A47G 9/1027 20130101; A47C
27/083 20130101; A47C 27/088 20130101; A47C 7/467 20130101; A47G
9/1081 20130101; A47C 7/029 20180801; A47C 7/14 20130101; A47C
7/383 20130101; A47C 7/18 20130101; A47C 7/021 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A47C 27/08 20060101
A47C027/08; A47G 9/10 20060101 A47G009/10; A47C 27/18 20060101
A47C027/18; A47C 7/46 20060101 A47C007/46; A47C 4/54 20060101
A47C004/54; A47C 7/14 20060101 A47C007/14; A47C 7/02 20060101
A47C007/02; A47C 27/10 20060101 A47C027/10; A47C 7/18 20060101
A47C007/18 |
Claims
1. A height adjusting structure with directly communicating
airbags, characterized by comprising at least two airbags, the
airbags each having an interior in which an elastic body is
received, wherein one of airbags comprises an air control unit
mounted thereto for controlling air filling and discharge of the
airbags, the airbags comprising passage holes respectively formed
in surfaces of the airbags that oppose each other and joint
sections respectively formed around circumferences of the passage
holes, the joint sections being jointed to each other, the airbags
being directly connected to each other, the height adjusting
structure with directly communicating airbags being received and
retained in a mat.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a division of the co-pending patent application Ser.
No. 14/382,761, filed Nov. 25, 2014.
(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention generally relates to an height
adjusting structure, and more particularly to a height adjusting
structure with directly communicating airbags that comprises
airbags arranged to allow air contained therein to flow
therebetween so as to achieve advantages of fast filling and
discharge of air, easy manufacture, and reduction of manufacture
costs.
(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0003] Modern people are generally physically inactive and do have
take sufficient exercise in various situations, such as working in
offices, using computers, playing video gains, watching television,
and other occasions, when people often forget to stand up and take
some exercise to stretch and move their bodies so that they have
stayed in a constant posture, such as sitting, lying, or resting,
for a long period of time. Although people realize they need to
stand up and moves their bodies after having been sit, lain, or
rested for a long period of time to prompt blood circulation and
consume calorie, due to often being so devoted themselves to work
and games or simply because of bad personal habits, most of the
people do not stand up and move constantly. As a consequence, an
increase of body weight and relaxation and crash-down of hips may
result. Further, sitting, lying, and resting for a long period of
time may often result in improper and incorrect posture, which
cause modern diseases, such as backaches.
[0004] Products, such as pillows and mates, or patented techniques,
which provide functions of supporting and shaping, are available
for people to rest thereon with specific portions. Some of these
products provide a function of adjustment of height and softness.
However, those products of pillows or mats or patented techniques
are generally very complicated in structure and do not allow for
simultaneous adjustment of height, softness, and shapability,
making them imperfect in respect of human engineering. Thus, the
present inventor has provided various products of height adjustable
devices and mats including the height adjustable devices that
overcome the drawbacks of the conventional products of pillows and
mats and the know patented techniques and has also manufactured and
commercialized products of mats of these kinds.
[0005] The height adjustable devices and products thereof that have
been provided by the present inventor are structured by comprising
multiple airbags that receive and contain therein internally
arranged elastic bodies, wherein height adjustment can be achieved
by air filled into and/or discharged from the airbags to allow, in
a condition where a user rests thereon, a surface thereof to
completely comply with the portion of the user in contact therewith
for various postures that the user may take. However, the following
drawbacks exist and the structure and functionality thereof are not
perfect:
[0006] (1) Airbags, which are used in multiplicity, are each
controlled by an external air control unit for air filling and
discharge, so that when the number of the airbags used is
increased, the number of the air control units used is also
increased. Since airtightness is a vital factor of the airbags, the
manufacture will be difficult and the manufacture cost is high.
[0007] (2) The airbags are connected with hoses extending
therebetween as a communication medium for air flowability
therebetween. This makes the manufacture difficult and also
increases the manufacture cost.
[0008] (3) Since the airbags require the additionally included
hoses as a communication medium for connection and air flowabilith
therebetween, the flow paths of air flows are extended and the
efficiency of air filling and discharge of the airbags is lowered,
leading to inconvenience of an operation for height adjustment.
[0009] Based on the concept of constant improvement and innovation
of products and for the purposes of making mats more widely
applicable, allowing for easy use by users, the present invention
aims to provide a height adjusting structure with directly
communicating airbags, of which details will be given below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a height
adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags that allows
for efficient filling and discharge of air.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags that
achieves the advantages of easy manufacture and reduction of
manufacture costs.
[0012] To achieve the above objects, the present invention provides
a solution as follows:
[0013] A height adjusting structure with directly communicating
airbags comprises at least two airbags. The airbags each have an
interior in which an elastic body is received, wherein one of
airbags comprises an air control unit mounted thereto for
controlling air filling and discharge of the airbags. The airbags
comprise passage holes respectively formed in surfaces thereof that
oppose each other and joint sections respectively formed around
circumferences of the passage holes. The joint sections are jointed
to each other so that the airbags are directly connected to each
other.
[0014] The elastic body comprises a foamed material.
[0015] The elastic body comprises foamed sponge.
[0016] The height adjusting structure with directly communicating
airbags is received and retained in a mat.
[0017] The height adjusting structure with directly communicating
airbags is received and retained in a neck cushion.
[0018] The height adjusting structure with directly communicating
airbags is received and retained in a pillow.
[0019] The height adjusting structure with directly communicating
airbags is received and retained in an envelope.
[0020] The height adjusting structure with directly communicating
airbags is received and retained in a rest cushion.
[0021] With the above arrangement, the height adjusting structure
with directly communicating airbags is such that by means of direct
connection between airbags, air contained in the airbags is allowed
to flow therebetween directly so that the airbags can be
efficiently filled with air or allowing for efficient discharge of
air therefrom, helping improve the convenience and ease of
conducting a height adjustment operation. Further, with the airbags
being directly connected to each other, the present invention
requires no additional medium (such as air hose) to realize the
connection and the airbags need only one air control unit shared
therebetween to achieve air filling and discharge, so that
advantages of being easy to manufacture and reducing manufacture
costs can be achieved.
[0022] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0023] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in
a height-reduced condition.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the present invention in
a height-raised condition.
[0027] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a second preferred embodiment
of the present invention.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of
the present invention in a height-reduced condition.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of
the present invention in a height-raised condition.
[0030] FIGS. 7-10 are schematic views illustrating different
arrangements of airbags that are received in mats according to the
present invention.
[0031] FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a third preferred embodiment
of the present invention arranged in a mat.
[0032] FIG. 12 is a top plan view of FIG. 11.
[0033] FIGS. 13 and 14 are schematic view illustrating a use of the
mat of the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.
[0034] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of a fourth preferred embodiment
of the present invention arranged in a neck cushion.
[0035] FIG. 16 is a top plan view of the neck cushion of FIG.
15.
[0036] FIG. 17 is a schematic view illustrating a use of the neck
cushion of FIG. 15.
[0037] FIG. 18 is a schematic view illustrating a user of the neck
cushion of FIG. 15 as a prone-lying pillow.
[0038] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of a fifth preferred
embodiment of the present invention arranged in a pillow.
[0039] FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a use of the
pillow of FIG. 19.
[0040] FIG. 21 is a perspective view of a sixth preferred
embodiment of the present invention arranged in an envelope.
[0041] FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a user of the
envelope of FIG. 21.
[0042] FIG. 23 is perspective view of a seventh preferred
embodiment of the present invention arranged in a rest cushion.
[0043] FIG. 24 is a schematic view illustrating a user of the rest
cushion of FIG. 23.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0044] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only,
and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the present invention provides a
height adjusting structure with directly communicating airbags 1,
of which a preferred embodiment comprises a plurality of airbags
10, 20 and an air control unit 30 that controls air filling and
discharge of the airbags 10, 20 in order to allow the airbags 10,
20 to conduct adjustments in respect of height, softness, and
shapability. A detailed description will be given below:
[0046] The airbags 10, 20 are structured to be of suitable
deformability and each receives and retains therein an elastic body
11, 21. The elastic bodies 11, 21 can be made of any elastic
materials, such as foamed materials, including foam sponges, foamed
plastics, and foamed rubbers, and a foam sponge is taken as an
example in the instant embodiment. The airbag 20 is stacked on the
air pocket 10 and the airbags 10, 20 are made in communication with
each other.
[0047] The air control unit 30 is mounted to the airbag 10 and
comprises a hose and a valve. The valve may be opened when
compressed and may be closed when the compression is removed so
that a user may use the air control unit 30 to control the supply
of external air into the airbags 10, 20 for inflation thereof (see
FIG. 3) or to release the air when the airbags 10, 20 are
compressed (see FIG. 2). Further, the elastic bodies 11, 21 help
expansion and/or contraction so as to help adjust the height,
softness, and shapability of the airbags 10, 20. After the
adjustment of the height, softness, and shapability of the airbags
10, 20, the interiors thereof may be kept in a predetermined
pressure condition.
[0048] An essence of the present invention is that the airbags 10,
20 are respectively provided, in surfaces thereof that oppose each
other (where overlapping and bonding are applied), with
corresponding passage holes 12, 22 and joint sections 13, 23 around
circumferences of the passage holes 12, 22 and the joint section
13, 23 are jointed, where the operation applied for the jointing
may be thermal fusion and pressing joint or adhesive bonding, so
that the airbags 10, 20 are directly connected together with air
contained in the airbags 10, 20 to directly flow therebetween.
[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, to use the present invention, with the
air control unit 30 being compressed and opened, when the airbags
10, 20 and the elastic bodies 11, 21 are compressed by an external
force (such as being pressed down by a hand or a head of a user) to
contract, a portion of the air contained in the airbag 20 and the
elastic body 21 flows through the passage holes 22, 12 into the
airbag 10 and then flow through the airbag 10 and discharge through
air control unit 30. If, under this condition, the air control unit
30 is closed, not to allow air to enter, then the interiors of the
airbags 10, 20 are kept in a predetermined condition of pressure,
where a negative pressure persists to induce suction that makes the
airbags 10, 20 attached to surfaces of the elastic bodies 11, 21,
so that the overall height of the airbags 10, 20 is in a reduced
condition.
[0050] Referring to FIG. 3, to use the present invention, with the
air control unit 30 being compressed and opened, external air is
allowed to flow through the air control unit 30 into the airbags
10, 20 and due to the penetration of air, the elastic body 11, 21
may get self-expanded to thereby expand the airbags 10, 20, whereby
the overall height of the airbags 10, 20 is in a raised
condition.
[0051] It is noted here that, as observed from FIGS. 2 and 3, by
means of direct connection between the airbags 10, 20, the present
invention allows for direct communication of air contained in the
airbags 10, 20 for flowing therebetween so that the airbags 10, 20
can be efficiently filled with air or allowing for efficient
discharge of air therefrom, helping improve the convenience and
ease of conducting a height adjustment operation. Further, with the
airbags 10, 20 being directly connected to each other, the present
invention requires no additional medium (such as air hose) to
realize the connection and the airbags 10, 20 need only one air
control unit 30 shared therebetween to achieve air filling and
discharge, so that advantages of being easy to manufacture and
reducing manufacture costs can be achieved.
[0052] Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a second embodiment of the
present invention is shown, where, if desired, an additional air
pocket 40 that receive and container therein an elastic body 41 can
be further stacked on the airbag 20. The airbags 20, 40 are
respectively provided in surfaces thereof that oppose each other,
with corresponding passage holes 24, 42 and joint sections 25, 43
around circumferences of the passage holes 24, 42 and the joint
section 13, 23 are jointed so that the airbags 40, 20 are directly
connected together with air contained in the airbags 40, 20, 10 to
directly flow therebetween through direct communication.
[0053] It is noted here that the second embodiment illustrates one
additional air pocket stacked on the airbag 20 as an illustrative
example; however, it is apparent that, if desired, there may be
more than one additional airbags stacked on the airbag 20, or
additionally or alternatively, more than one additional air pocket
(not shown) is arranged to be stacked under the airbag 10, both
arrangements allowing air to directly flow among the plurality of
airbags.
[0054] Referring to FIGS. 7-10, the height adjusting structure with
directly communicating airbags 1 according to the present invention
may be arranged in a mat 50, so that, besides receiving a specific
portion of the body of a user to rest thereon, the mat 50 also
allows for adjustments of height, softness, and shapability
thereof. The airbags illustrated in each of these drawings can be
made in various sizes and shapes according to needs, or the airbags
can be added in a flexible manner and arranged in any desired
fashion and combination.
[0055] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, a third preferred embodiment
of the present invention comprises a plurality of air pocket height
adjusting structures 1a, 1b, 1c. The air pocket height adjusting
structures 1a, 1b, 1c can be arranged in a mat 60. The mat 60
comprises a top section 61 that receives a user to sit thereon and
provides desired aesthetic decoration and a bottom section 62
arranged at a lower side.
[0056] The air pocket height adjusting structures 1a, 1b, 1c
illustrated in the drawings are arranged in a U-shape to conform to
the configuration of the mat 60, wherein the air pocket height
adjusting structure 1c comprises airbags 10c, 20c that are stacked
vertically and are in communication with each other and the airbags
10c is connected by a connection hose 30c to an air control unit
30b of the air pocket height adjusting structure 1b so that the air
pocket height adjusting structure 1c requires no air control unit
and is controlled by the air control unit 30b for air filling and
discharge.
[0057] Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the mat 60 can be used to
receive a user sit thereon so as to support and shape the hips of
the user to maintain a good siting posture of the user. The mat 60,
which comprises the air pocket height adjusting structures 1a, 1b,
1c, also allows for adjustments of height, softness, and
shapability.
[0058] Referring to FIGS. 15 and 16, a fourth preferred embodiment
of the present invention also comprises a plurality of air pocket
height adjusting structures 1a, 1b, 1c that is arranged to form a
U-shape and is received and retained in a U-shaped neck cushion 70,
wherein the air pocket height adjusting structure 1a may comprise
an additional airbag 40a stacked on the stacked airbags 10a, 20a to
meet the requirement for a desired configuration of the neck
cushion 70.
[0059] Referring to FIG. 17, the neck cushion 70 can be fit over
the neck of a user to provide support and protection to the head
when the user is sleeping. The neck cushion 70, which comprises the
air pocket height adjusting structures 1a, 1b, 1c, allows for
adjustments of height, softness, and shapability.
[0060] Referring to FIG. 18, the neck cushion 70 is also
positionable on a desktop to allow the head of a user to place
thereon for lying prone so as to serve as a prone-lying pillow. The
neck cushion 70 may thus space the head of the user from the hands
so that the head does not compress the hands during the prone
lying. The neck cushion 70, which comprises the air pocket height
adjusting structures 1a, 1b, 1c, allows for adjustments of height,
softness, and shapability.
[0061] Referring to FIGS. 19 and 20, a fifth preferred embodiment
of the present invention provides a height adjusting structure with
directly communicating airbags 1, which is usable in such a way
that two such structures are received and embedded in a pillow 80
to support, in a compliant manner, the head, the neck, and the
shoulders of the user when the user is sleeping. The pillow 80,
which comprises the height adjusting structure with directly
communicating airbags 1, allows for adjustments of height,
softness, and shapability.
[0062] Referring to FIGS. 21 and 22, a sixth preferred embodiment
of the present invention provides a height adjusting structure with
directly communicating airbags 1, which is usable in such a way
that two such structures are received and embedded in an envelope
91 and the envelope 91 comprises a strap 92 for attaching to a
regular pillow 90 so as to support, in a compliant manner, the
head, the neck, and the shoulders of the user when the user is
sleeping. The envelope 91, which comprises the height adjusting
structure with directly communicating airbags 1, allows for
adjustments of height, softness, and shapability.
[0063] Referring to FIGS. 23 and 24, a seventh preferred embodiment
of the present invention provides a height adjusting structure with
directly communicating airbags 1, which is usable in such a way
that two such structures are received and embedded in a rest
cushion 93 to provide support to the back of a user when the user
takes a sitting posture so as to keep a good sitting posture for
the user. The rest cushion 93, which comprises the height adjusting
structure with directly communicating airbags 1, allows for
adjustments of height, softness, and shapability.
[0064] It will be understood that each of the elements described
above, or two or more together may also find a useful application
in other types of methods differing from the type described
above.
[0065] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
* * * * *