Toroidal seating cushion

A toroidal seat cushion, in the shape of a ring-torus, can include a central aperture, a right leg support cutout, a left leg support cutout, and a rear cutout, which can allow a person sitting in the cushion to experience reduced pressure on the person's coccyx and central buttocks, while having support and guidance to the position of the legs. The features of the cushion may promote a healthy sitting posture, proper spine alignment, and may reduce or prevent pain in the lower back and central buttocks. Also disclosed is a method for configuring a support contour of a cushion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of seat cushions, and more specifically to seat cushions that allows persons having discomfort of the central part of the buttocks and coccyx areas of the body to sit more comfortably.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A seat cushion aims to provide a comfortable seating experience. Seat cushions can either be designed for permanent position in a chair or be designed for portable use in different seating situation, such as for example in different chairs, car seats, and wheelchairs.

Contoured cushions are well known, and there are several well-known variants of cushions designed for reducing pressure to the tailbone, in addition to assisting in the relief of pain and pressure due to hemorrhoids, rectal surgery and episiotomy. However existing cushion designs generally do not provide adequate support for the legs, and when designed with features to reduce pressure to these areas, they almost always include a significant slant, which while promoting reducing pressure in the rear part of the cushion, also can result in a more unstable seating position.

Generally, these past cushion designs may achieve a goal of reducing pressure on either the coccyx or the central buttocks, but may not provide relief for both areas, and due to their inadequate support and unstable seating position, may not promote or ensure an overall healthy seating posture, proper spine alignment and pressure discomfort.

As such, considering the foregoing, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for novel and improved devices and methods for contoured cushions designed for reducing pressure on the coccyx and central part of the buttocks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The foregoing needs are met, to a great extent, by the present invention, wherein in aspects of this invention, enhancements are provided to the existing model of seat cushions.

In an aspect, the toroidal seat cushion can include a central aperture, which can be in the shape of an elongated ellipsoid which allows the seat cushion to relieve pressure and improve stabilization and support to the coccyx and central part of the buttocks.

In a related aspect, a toroidal seat cushion can further include a right leg support cutout, and a left leg support cutout, where both leg support cutouts run parallel to the sides, substantially in the middle between the sides and the centerline of the cushion. The leg support cutouts serve to support, guide, and position the legs of a person seated in the cushion.

In a related aspect, the toroidal seat cushion can further include a rear cutout, which serves to reduce any pressure on the coccyx or central buttock area of a person seated in the cushion.

In related aspects, the leg support cutouts can have various degrees of negative or positive slant, or a slant of substantially zero.

In a related aspect, the toroidal seat cushion can be manufactured with an inner core of high-resilience upholstery foam.

In a related aspect, the seat cushion can further include a cushion cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before describing the invention in detail, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel and non-obvious combination of elements and process steps. So as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will readily be apparent to those skilled in the art, certain conventional elements and steps have been presented with lesser detail, while the drawings and specification describe in greater detail other elements and steps pertinent to understanding the invention.

The following embodiments are not intended to define limits as to the structure or method of the invention, but only to provide exemplary constructions. The embodiments are permissive rather than mandatory and illustrative rather than exhaustive.

In the following, we describe the structure of an embodiment of the toroidal seat cushion with reference toFIG. 1, in such manner that like reference numerals refer to like components throughout; a convention that we shall employ for the remainder of this specification.

In an embodiment, as shown inFIG. 1, a toroidal seat cushion100, which is ring-torus shaped, can comprise:a. a central aperture106, which can be in the shape of an elongated ellipsoid, such that an elongated center axis132of the central aperture106is perpendicular to a front to rear centerline134of the toroidal seat cushion, whereby a person when seated in a standard position can reduce pressure on the person's central buttocks area;b. A rear cutout102, which is positioned on an upper rear part of the toroidal seat cushion100, such that it is configured with a shape, which is left-right reflection symmetrical with respect to the front to rear centerline134, whereby a person when seated in a standard position can reduce pressure on the person's coccyx;c. A right leg support cutout112, which is positioned on an upper front right part of the toroidal seat cushion100, such that the right leg support cutout112is configured to support, guide, and position a right leg of a person seated on the toroidal seat cushion100in a conventional position;d. A left leg support cutout122, which is positioned on an upper front left part of the toroidal seat cushion100, such that the left leg support cutout122is configured with a shape, which is symmetrical with a shape of the right leg support cutout112, with respect to the front to rear centerline134, such that the left leg support cutout122is configured to support, guide, and position a left leg of a person seated on the toroidal seat cushion100in a conventional seating position;whereby the seat cushion100stabilizes a seating position of a user, thereby providing relief from pressure and pain to the tail bone, lower back and central buttocks.

In an embodiment,FIG. 2shows the same view asFIG. 1, and illustrates by superimposition the approximate seating position and support of a person's skeletal structure, shown in dotted lines, when seated in a conventional seating position, illustrating how the central aperture106alleviates pressure to the central buttocks area206of the user and the rear cutout102alleviates pressure to the coccyx area202of the user.

In an embodiment,FIGS. 3 and 4, show respectively a rear and front view of the toroidal seat cushion100.

In an embodiment, surfaces of the right and left leg support cutouts112122can be concave.

In an embodiment, surfaces of the right and left leg support cutouts112122can be shaped as an inner segment of a sphere, which is concave.

In an embodiment, surfaces of the right and left leg support cutouts112122can be shaped as an inner segment of an ellipsoid, which is concave.

In an embodiment, cutout surfaces of the right and left leg support cutouts112122can be shaped as an inner segment of a circular cylinder, whereby surface lines following the elongated direction of the cylinder are straight and all other surface lines are concave.

In an embodiment, such as shown inFIG. 4, surfaces of the right and left leg support cutouts112122can each be shaped as an inner segment of an elliptic cylinder402, such that surface lines404, following the elongated direction of the elliptic cylinder402are straight and all other surface lines are concave, such that the straight surface lines can have an outward angle and a downward inclination angle.

In a related embodiment, surfaces of the right and left leg support cutouts112122can each be shaped as an inner segment of a general cylinder, which includes elliptic, circular, parabolic, and hyperbolic cylinders, and cylinders of other shapes, such that surface lines404, following the elongated direction of the general cylinder402are straight and all other surface lines are concave, such that the straight surface lines can have an outward angle and a downward inclination angle.

In a further related embodiment,FIG. 5illustrates the outward angle of surface lines, as respectively:a. a right outward angle542of a straight surface line404of the right cutout112, relative to the centerline134, or as here shown, a line532parallel to the centerline134; andb. a left outward angle544of a straight surface line504of the right cutout112, relative to the centerline134, or as here shown, a line534parallel to the centerline134.

In a related embodiment, the right and left outward angles542544can each be configured in a range of 1 to 45 degrees.

In an embodiment,FIG. 5, shows a top view of the toroidal seat cushion100, further illustrating by superimposed dotted lines:a. The right side of the cushion502;b. The left side of the cushion510;c. The rear cutout centerline503, which is a lowest point line of the rear cutout102.

In a further related embodiment,FIG. 6illustrates the right or left downward inclination angle662of respectively a right or left surface line404, relative to a horizontal plane of an underside602of the toroidal seat cushion100

In a related embodiment, the right and left downward inclination angles662can each be in a range of 1 to 45 degrees.

In an embodiment, the toroidal seat cushion100can be manufactured with an inner core made of a high-resilience upholstery foam, such as for example an open or closed cell flexible polyurethane foam with a density in a range from 20 to 60 kg/m3, whereby the upholstery foam can provide softness to underlying hard surfaces so that sitting can become more comfortable.

In a related embodiment, the upholstery foam can be sufficiently high-resilience and of sufficient density to not flatten out during use, and always regain its shape after use.

In further related embodiments, the toroidal seat cushion100can be manufactured with an inner core made of other suitable cushioning or upholstery materials, such as gel, memory foam, viscoelastic polyurethane foam, etc.

In a further embodiment, the inner core of the toroidal seat cushion100, can be covered with a cushion cover, which can be made of common cushion cover materials, such as different fabrics, including velour, natural leather, suede, microfiber fabrics, synthetic leather or suede, etc.

In a further related embodiment, the cushion cover can be removable, via well-known methods, such as for example a zip on the front underside of the cover.

In related embodiments, the toroidal seat cushion100can:a. add comfort to a chair, bench, car seat, plane seat, floor, wheelchair, or other seating surface;b. reduce, alleviate, prevent or eliminate back pain by reducing body weight pressure on the coccyx and central buttocks, via the central aperture106and the rear cutout102;c. Promote a healthy sitting posture, proper spine alignment, superior comfort; andd. Reduce, alleviate, prevent or eliminate pressure ulcers

A method of configuring a support contour or shape of a cushion to promote a healthy sitting posture, can comprise:a. Configuring a cushion with a ring-torus shape and a central aperture, such that a user's weight is supported by the upper cushion surface whereas the center is substantially weightless when a person is seated in the cushion, thus reducing pain and pressure to the lower back and central buttocks;b. Defining leg support areas, which can be contoured cutouts to position, guide and support the legs;c. Making a cutout in the rear area of the cushion, which can ensure that there is reduced pressure on the lower back and central buttocks of a person seated in the cushion;

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the detailed specification, and thus, it is intended by the appended claims to cover all such features and advantages of the invention, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Consequently, the various embodiments of the invention described herein are multifold and can be manifested in a large plurality of different cushion designs and shapes.

Many such alternative configurations and shapes are readily apparent, and should be considered to be fully included in this specification and the claims appended hereto. Accordingly, since numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described, and thus, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.