US1680963A - Cushion - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 14, 1928. 1,680,963

M. E. WHITE CUSHION Filed Dec. l, 1925 zsheets-sneen 1 Patented Aug. 14, 1928. l

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MUERK E. WHITE, OF HIGH POINT, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OFI ONE-HALF TO GEORGE W. FLEMING, 0F CLINTON, NORTH CAROLINA.

CUSHION.

Application led December This invention relatesv to cushionsl for automobile seats and also for domestic and other uses.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a cushion ofthe pneumatic type which lis so constructed as to regularly distribute or equalize the weight pressure imposed thereon When in use, and also to overcome deficiencies of cushions as found in this type now commonly used.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved cushion having a strong and durable structure and composed of parts made of rubber compound fabric and rubber over which is applied a suitable upholstery covering or enclosure.

j A further object of the invention is to provide a cushion having structural means to prevent distortion thereof when in use and equalize Wear on the cushion and also sustain the weight of an individual with equality and comfort.

With the foregoing and other objects and advantages in view,L the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the several parts which Will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a topplan view of a cushion for use in automobiles and `other vehicles and embodying the features of the invention, the cushion being shown broken away in part and portions thereof illustrated by dotted lines.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the improved cushion shown broken away and partially in section.

Fig. 3 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the cushion.

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section of the same.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on the line 5-5, Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the plane of the line ofsection 6 6, Fig. 7, and illustrating part of the upholstery covering broken away and the body of the cushion partly in horizontal section, and showing a modification thereof for domestic and general use.

Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal vertical section of the cushion shown by F ig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section on the line 8-8` Fig. 7.

The body of theV improved cushion as shown `by Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, comprises 1, 1925. Serial No. 72,501.

atop 5 andbottom 6, spaced apart a suitable distance in accordance with the general proportions and dimensions of the cushion and preferably formed from a composite rubber fabric similar' to that used in making casings of automobile tires, and extending from the opposite end and side edges of thetop 5 is a side and end rubber enclosure orweb 7, the upper edges of this enclosure or web being secured to the end and side edges of thetop 5 by vulcanization as at 8. The enclosure orWeb 7, where it is attached to thetop 5, forms .a flush jointure with the latter, and the'bottom of this web or enclosure is turned under the end and side edge portions of thebottom 6 and secured by vulcanization as at 9. In addition the body has around and secured to the upper extremity of the enclosure or web 7 afabric attaching strip 10, which normally .a

projects over the ends and sides of the body a suitable distance. Thebottom 6 has an upper frame 11 applied thereto, and to this frame 11 is secured a frame 12` both frames being preferably of wood and havingside bars 14 and central, longitudinal andtransverse brace bars 15 and 16. Each of the frames are of the same general structure, and between the frame 11 and thebottom 6 the lower terminal edge of the enclosure orweb 7 is secured, the said terminal being turned in as clearly shown by Fig. 3. Centrally dividing the body is arubber partition 17, which extends from the top surface of thebottom 6 to a cross member 18, secured transversely in thetop 5. Thepartition 17 will yield when the cushion is compressed and extends fully transversely across the body and forms twononcommunieating chambers 19 and 20, each of which has .anair valve 21 opening thereinto. The cross member or strip 18 is secured to the top 5 -by vulcanization 'and the lower edge of thepartition 17 is also secured, preferably by vulcanization, to the center of the top portion of thebottom 6.

Over the body as just described an upholstering covering is applied and consists of a top piece 22, which is secured at itsend and side edges to the normally projecting free portion of thefabric strip 10, and to this strip the remaining portion of the upholstering covering is connected and consists of end andside strips 23 and 24. which have their upper edges turned inwardly and secured to the end and side edges of the piece Q2 and then drawn downwardly and secured between the bottom frame 12 and the upper frame 11, as at 24. then the side and end strips or pieces and 2-1 are drawn downwardly, considerable tension is exerted thereon and this tension results in also drawing down the end and side edges of the top piece 22 and the free projecting edge or portion ot thefabric strip 10, so that a rolled seam is provided around the cushion at the sides and ends thereof. After the lower end and side edges of the side and end pieces orstrips 23 and 21 are inserted between the bottom frame 12 and the upper frame 11, which form the base or supporting structure of the cushion, the said frame 12 is secured to the frame 11 and at the4 same time the lower terminal edges of the end strips or pieces 2?) and Q-L and the lower edge of the enclosure orweb 7 are all further secured b v inserting screws or analogous fastening devices through these several parts. 'lheair valves 21 project outwardly through the end strips or pieces Q3 and are accessible from the exterior ot' the upholsteringcovering for application thereto of an air pump or other means for charging the chambers orcells 19 and Q0 with air under pressure that will operate to sustain the weight of the user of the cushion. and it will be understood that the amount of air introduced will be proportionate to a certain maximum weight pressure but at the same time the cushion top will be permitted to yield sufficiently to accord comfort to the person who may be using the same. By interposing the partition 1T in the cushion as hereinbefore specified. the air in the chambers orcells 19 and 2() will be contined to c miparatively small enclosing areas. and by this means distortion or irregular depression of the cushion when weight pressure is imposed thereon will be obviated. Vhen the cushion is used, the pai-tion 17, being of rubber. will yield without resistance or will not interpose any rigid obstruiL-tion at the transverse center of the cushion. The end and side strips or pieces Q23 and may be composed of one or more sections of an upholstering covering and the color and pattern of the same may be varied indelinitely. It will also be understood that by interposing the rubber enclosure orweb 7 between the top and thebottom 6. which are of stitler or less yielding material. the cushion at the sides and ends will also yield, and the side and end rubber enclosures or webs as well as thepartition 17. being of rubber. will tend. when the cushion is relieved of pressure, to resume their normal positions or restore the cushion to its normal shape. At any time found necessary the air charge of the chambers orcells 19 and 20 may be replenished and the cushion maintained in proper form.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show a modification of the cushion, or a cushion that is adapted for domestic and other uses, and while this modilied form of cushion is shown as being of rectangular contour, it may be of any shape desired and varied in proportions and general dimensions. In this modified structure the body comprises a bottom :'26, which is of the same structure or material as the bottom G heretofore described, but in this form of the cushion thetop 27 and ends andsides 28 and 2t) are formed of rubber, the said ends and sides heilig preferably of continuous formation with thetop 27. Furthermore, thepartition 17 heretofore described is eliminated, but adjacent to the end and side portions of the top, or where the latter is turned over to form the ends and sides around the body, a fabric securing strip 80, in all respects similar to thestrip 10 shown in the irsty form oil the cushion, is attached, the edge portion of the strip 3() being projected beyond the top 27 a sullicient distance to serve as a securing means for thetop piece 31 and end andside piece 32 of the upholstering covering, the end andside strip 32 being continued into or havingr -a bottom piece $53 secured thereto, so that this moditied form of the cushion is fully encased by upholstering material. rflic lower edge of the end andside portions 28 and 29 are sccured against the end and side edge p0rtions of the bottom Q6 by vulcanization as at 3f?. In this form of the cushion, also, a single chamber or air cell 3l is provided, and at one end of the cushion is anair valve 35. adapted to be connected with a pump or other suitable means for charging thecell 34 with air as found necessary. 1t will be seen that this modified form of the cushion provides a very compact and durable seat for general use or service, and distortion thereof will be prevented by the air charge within the chamber orcell 31, but atthe same time the cushion will have a yielding movement suilicient to render the same comfortable as a supporting means.

The t'abric strip 1() as disclosed by Figs. 1 to inclusive, and the corresponding .strip 3() illustrated b v Figs. to 8. inclusive. is an advantageous feature of the present iniprovement in that it serves as a convenient means for applying the upholstering covering over the top and at the sides and ends of the. cushion in its two forms and also operates to maintain the top corta-ing piece 22 in proper stressed condition relatively to the top of the body of the cushion. This strip also provides means for permitting the side and end portions of the upholsteriner to be drawn with sullicient tautness over the eorresponding parts of the body to form a neat finish and a practical attaching ine'ans which will avoid the necessity of puncturing the parts of the body over which the upholster ing covering is applied, in View of the fact that the body, in accordance with the features of the invention, should be preserved in air-tight condition in order to render the same effective as a storage means for air under pressure. Moreover, by providing the securing fabric strips 10 and 30 and drawing them over the upper portions of the body, the upper corner or bent portions of the body are protected by an extra thickness of material produced by the jointure of the upholfstering pieces and overlap of the latter with relation to the said securing strip.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A seat cushion of the class specified, comprising a chambered body to receive air under pressure and having a top and bottom spaced apart and formed of a composite rubber fabric, a rubber web extending from the opposite end and side edges of the top and secured to the latter by vulcanization and forming a flush joint with the said composite top, the rubber Web extending around and secured to the bottom of the body, a fabric strip attached to the end and side portions of the top of the body, and an upholstering covering comprising top and side and end pieces having their edges fastened to said strip, the. end and side portions of the upholstering covering also being extended under the bottom of the body.

2. A seat cushion of the class specified, comprising a chambered body having top, bottom, end and side portions serving as enclosing means for the chamber, the top and bottom of the body being formed of composite rubber fabric and the sides and ends being a rubber strip secured by vulcanization flush with the top of the body and also secured to the bottom of the latter, a fabric securing strip fastened to the end and side edge portions of the top and normally having the outer edge thereof projecting loosely beyond the said latter portions, and an upholstering covering for the body having a top piece attached to said strip and the remaining portion of the covering attached to the edges of the top and the strip to maintain the said covering in proper stressed condition, the strip with the edge portions of the upholstering covering forming a protecting means over the upper edge portions of the body of the cushion.

3. A seat cushion of the class specified, comprising a chambered body for receiving air under pressure, the top and bottom body members being yieldable and composed of composite rubber fabric to equally distribute the weight pressure and avoid distortion, a strip being secured to the top and bottom of the body member and forming the sides and ends of the said body, a fabric securing strip fastened to the top and extending partially over the latter and having its outer edge projecting beyond the ends and sides of the body, and an upholstering covering having a top piece attached to the outer normally free edge of the said strip, the remainingportion of the covering being attached to the end and side edge portions of the said top piece and to the st'rip and tautly drawn over the end and side port-ions of the body.

4. In a cushion of the class specified, a chambered body to receive air under pressure, said body having top and bottom mem bers composed of rubber compound fabric, the side and end portions of the body being formed of rubber and continued from and vulcanized flush with the top of the body and secured under the edge portions of the bottom member of the body, and an upholstering covering having a fastening means at the end and side edge portions of the top and enclosing the said top and side and end portions of the body.

5. In a cushion of the class specified, a body comprising top and bottom members formed of rubber fabric compound and spaced apart, end and side closing webs vulcanized and secured to the top and flush with the latter and also secured against the bottom of the body and formed of rubber, a central yielding imperforate partition extending transversely with, relation to the body and secured to the top and bot-tom members and thereby forming chambers to receive air under compression, an upholstering covering secured over the top member of the body and also over the end and side web portions and attached under the bottom member of the body, air valves extending through the end portions of the web and upholstering and communicating with the chambers, and

`bottom frames secured to the bottommember of the body and enclosing the lower edges of the said web and also the lower edges of the upholstering covering.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

MUERK E. WHITE.

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