Abstract:
A method for bonding together premolded skins of elastomeric material including the steps of providing at least a first and second premolded elastomeric skin. Providing a mold with first and second mold parts and positioning the first premolded elastomeric skin in the first part of the mold. The method also includes positioning fill material atop the first premolded elastomeric skin in the first part of the mold, then applying a layer of elastomer at points of connection of the first elastomeric skin to the second elastomeric skin. The method also includes pressing the first and second mold parts into connection, thereby binding the elastomeric skins. A mounting member is positioned on at least one premolded skin of elastomeric material. The method also includes the step of providing a reinforcement member positioned around the mounting member formed in at least one premolded skin of elastomeric material.

Description:
This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/755,783 filed Nov. 26, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,817,392. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to cushions and, in particular, to a method of manufacturing molded cushions having skins bonded together to form a watertight seal. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In recent years there has been new regulation of materials and processes which emit ozone and oxygen depleting substances. Previously a liquid resistant outer coating or integral skin could be made on flexible urethane foam cushions through the use of a low boiling point liquid such as CFC-11 (freon). Many such materials have been determined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as being damaging to the atmosphere. The integral skin produced with these materials provided a protection to the foam core of the cushion so that the cushions could be utilized in harsh environments. At the same time as a skin was produced in the molding process it was possible to introduce mechanical devices and integrally molded shapes which facilitated the mounting of the cushion on various structures. What is desired therefore, is to adapt a process to use materials which are not deemed to be hazardous to the environment and which can perform the functions of protecting the cushion from water, chemicals, dirt, etc., while at the same time providing a non-invasive means of attaching the cushions to a supporting structure. 
     In order to attach skins of elastomeric material together, the prior art has used the foam fill material inside the two sheets as a seal and has molded two skins together before the elastomeric material has cured. This has proven to be unsatisfactory because without the elastomeric skins being premolded or pre-shaped, and with the elastomeric material uncured, there is movement of the fill material behind the skins which is unacceptable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,499,065 to Haskinson et al. discloses a method of making laminated articles whereby a bond is secured between thermoplastic sheets using a powdered resin. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,736,022 to Radke discloses a molded seat cushion with a cast skin and an insert receiving recess. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,591 to Sarno teaches a bathtub therapeutic pad that uses a multiplicity of resilient pad elements encased in a waterproof covering. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,378,396 to Urai, et al. discloses production of a seat cushion with a surface covering. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,116,557 to Debaes et al. discloses a method of making objects having an elastomeric outer wall and a synthetic foam core, wherein elastomer is sprayed onto the surface of a mold cavity and before the elastomeric material cures, synthetic foam is injected such that the synthetic foam serves to seal two elastomeric layers. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,409,323 to Greene discloses a fastener system for attaching cushions to chairs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,417 to Kim discloses a knockdown chair for children that assembles and disassembles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,899 to Michaels et al. discloses a seat cushion with upper and lower elastomeric elements that are sealed at the edges. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to overcome problems inherent in the prior art, there has been devised by the present invention, a means of using premolded skins of elastomeric materials bonded at the seams to effect a watertight seal between two skins to form the outer cover for a cushion. In addition, portions of the elastomeric skins are reinforced to support a structural attachment means that does not penetrate the skin and which would cause a loss of integrity to the skin. This is accomplished in a first embodiment by adding a thin layer of two-part urethane elastomer at the point of connection of the elastomeric skins, so that there is an elastomeric and watertight seal between the cover and the polymeric or cushion material. 
     There is also provided by the present invention, a mounting means for a cushion or the like that is formed in a second embodiment with a layer of two-part urethane elastomer formed between the outer elastomeric skin and a receiving indentation in the back surface of the cushion, whereby the two-part urethane elastomer reinforces and adds integrity to the receiving indentation. The receiving indentation is formed in the back of the cushion and is adapted to fit standard button arrangements or the like on the outer surface of a receiving surface. In a third embodiment, an O-ring is placed around the receiving indentation to reinforce the receiving indentation and provide a semi-rigid mounting means to hold the cushion in place and to provide easy attachment of a cushion to a hot tub or the like. The cushion is shown attached to a hot tub for illustrative purposes, but it is to be understood that the attachment can be to any receiving surface. In a fourth embodiment, the two-part urethane elastomer is formed between the outer elastomeric skin and the receiving indentation in the back of the cushion and the O-ring is also used to reinforce the receiving indentation and to provide a semi-rigid mounting means to hold the cushion in place. 
     There is, therefore, provided by the present assembly and attachment for a cushion, a watertight sealing, bonding, and reinforcing means. 
     It is, therefore, an object and advantage of the present invention to provide a non-pollutant in manufacture, watertight seal between layers of elastomeric material. 
     It is another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a non-pollutant in manufacture, watertight mounting means for mounting a cushion or the like to a hot tub or spa. 
     It is yet another object and advantage of the present invention to provide a watertight mounting means that is reinforced and forms a semi-rigid mounting means for mounting a cushion or the like to a hot tub or spa. 
     It is still yet another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an elastomeric assembly and attachment that is relatively simple and inexpensive in its manufacture. 
     It is still yet another object and advantage of the present invention to provide an elastomeric assembly and attachment that maintains stable fill material behind the elastomeric skin. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing aspects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will become better understood by reference to the following detailed description, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the present invention in a first embodiment as it is used to seam or seal two elastomeric skins together; 
     FIG. 2 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention taken through the center of a mounting indentation, showing the mounting means for mounting a cushion or the like and showing the two-part urethane elastomer between two outer elastomeric layers and between one outer elastomeric layer and the indentation in the inner polymeric filling; 
     FIG. 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention taken through the center of a mounting indentation, showing the mounting means for mounting a cushion or the like and showing an O-ring positioned around the indentation; 
     FIG. 4 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention taken through the center of a mounting indentation, showing mounting means for mounting a cushion or the like using the two-part urethane elastomer between an outer elastomeric layer and the indentation in the inner polymeric filling and showing the O-ring positioned around the indentation; 
     FIG. 5 is an environmental view of the present invention showing a cushion mounted on a hot tub using the assembly and attachment of the mounting means of the present invention; and 
     FIG. 6 is an environmental view of the present invention showing the assembly and attachment of a cushion as it is used on a bicycle seat. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In general, the present assembly and attachment of cushions provides a means of using premolded skins of elastomeric materials and bonding them at the seams to effect a watertight seal. In addition, in the various embodiments, means are provided for reinforcing portions of the elastomeric skins to support a structural attachment of the cushion formed by the elastomeric skins, such that the skins are not penetrated thereby causing a loss of integrity. 
     Referring now to the drawings in general, and in particular to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown an exploded isometric view of the present invention in a first embodiment as it is used to seal two elastomeric skins together. It can be seen in FIG. 1 that the present elastomeric assembly and attachment bonds together a first premolded elastomeric skin  10  to a second premolded elastomeric skin  12  such that there is a watertight sealed edge between the two skins  10  and  12  so that water or other liquid cannot penetrate the polymeric cushion filling  14  as seen in FIG. 2, inside. A container or dispenser  15  is used to position a two-part urethane elastomer  16  at the outside edge  18  of the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10 , a polymeric filling  14 , as seen in FIG. 2, is formed atop the first elastomeric skin  10  and the outside edge  20  of the inner surface  21  of the second elastomeric skin  12  is attached by conventional means to the outside edge  18  of the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10 . In this way, the two-part urethane elastomer  16  forms a sealed edge  22  or seam between the two elastomeric skins  10  and  12 . 
     FIG. 2 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention taken through the center of the mounting indentation, showing the mounting means  24  for mounting a cushion  26 , or the like, of the second embodiment and showing the two-part urethane elastomer  16  between the two elastomeric layers  10  and  12  and the indentation  28  in the inner polymeric filling  14  of the cushion  26 . In conventional hot tub technology, there is often provided an arrangement of button-like protuberances  30  as shown in FIG. 4 situated to receive a receiving indentation or hole  32  on the cushion  26  so that the cushion  26  becomes removably attached to the hot tub  34  as shown also in FIG.  5 . It is to be understood that the button like protuberances  30  and the hot tub  34  are used by way of example only and that the receiving indentation  32  could also be used to hold a similarly shaped suction cup, or the receiving indentation  32  could be adapted to hold another kind of attaching arrangement. The hot tub  34  also is used by way of example and the attachment can be to any receiving surface. 
     A problem has arisen in the prior art with many recently attempted receiving arrangements on the cushions, in that an attachment is added to the outer surface of a vinyl covered cushion which reduces the integrity of the water resistance of the vinyl covering. In the present invention, this problem is eliminated in that the mounting means  24  in the form of an indentation  28  is formed without piercing the outer protective elastomeric covering  10  and  12  of the cushion  26 . 
     In manufacture of the second embodiment, a first elastomeric layer  10  is positioned over a mating protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, to form an indentation  28  in the inner polymeric filling  14  of the cushion  26  and a corresponding receiving indentation  32  on the outer surface  38  of the first elastomeric layer  10 . The two-part urethane elastomer  16  is applied to the outside edge  18  of the inter surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10  and over the protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, under the inside surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10  that forms the receiving indentation  32  on the outer surface  38  of the first elastomeric skin  10 . Polymeric material  14  is then poured onto the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10  thereby also forming the indentation  28  in the polymeric filling  14  where the protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, is situated. The inner surface  21  of the second elastomeric skin  12  is then placed on top of the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10 , and the two elastomeric skins  10  and  12  are then pressed together for a suitable period of time until the two elastomeric skins  10  and  12  are attached. The finished product then is a polymeric filled elastomeric covered cushion  26  with a sealed edge  22  between the two elastomeric skins  10  and  12 . An integral indentation  28 , formed in the inner polymeric filling  14  of the cushion  26 , that is reinforced and made liquid resistant by the two-part urethane elastomer  16 , has also been formed in the back  40  of the cushion  26  for mounting the cushion  26  to a hot tub  34 , as seen in FIG.  5 . Numerous receiving indentations  32  in numerous locations can thus be formed on the back  40  of the cushion  26  to conform to conventional hot tub button protuberance  30  arrangements as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. 
     FIG. 3 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the present invention taken through the center of a mounting indentation, showing the mounting means  42  for mounting a cushion  26  or the like, of the third embodiment and showing an O-ring  44  positioned around the indentation  28 . In the third embodiment as shown in FIG. 3, the manufacture is similar to that described with reference to the second embodiment of FIG.  2 . However, instead of the two-part urethane elastomer  16 , as seen in FIG. 2, being applied to the protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, under the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10 , an O-ring  44  is placed over the protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, such that it falls to the bottom  46  of the protuberance  36  against the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10 . The O-ring  44  serves to reinforce the receiving indentation  32  in the outer surface  38  of the first elastomeric skin  10  that is formed by the protuberance  36  under the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10 . The reinforcement provided by the O-ring  44  also serves to provide a semi-rigid mounting means  42  in the third embodiment, for more easily mounting the cushion  26  to a hot tub  34 , as seen in FIG.  5 . 
     FIG. 4 is a lateral cross-sectional view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention taken through the center of a mounting indentation, showing the mounting means  48  of the fourth embodiment, for mounting a cushion  26  or the like using the two-part urethane elastomer  16  between the first elastomeric layer  10  and the indentation  28  in the inner polymeric filling  14  and showing the O-ring  44  positioned around the indentation  28 . The fourth embodiment as shown in FIG. 4, represents a combination of the second embodiment as shown in FIG.  2  and the third embodiment as shown in FIG.  3 . Therefore, in manufacture, the first elastomeric skin  10  is placed with its outer surface  38  over the protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the first elastomeric layer  10  thereby has a receiving indentation  32  placed on the outer surface  38  of the first elastomeric skin  10 . 
     Two-part urethane elastomer  16  is applied to the outside edge  18  of the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10  and over the protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, under the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10 . In the fourth embodiment, therefore, there is provided a watertight seal and reinforcement around the indentation  28  that is formed on the back  40  of the cushion  26  as described with reference to the second embodiment. The O-ring  44  is also placed over the protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, under the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10 . Polymeric material  14  is then poured onto the inner surface  21  of the first elastomeric skin  10 . The outside edge  20  of the inner surface  21  of the second elastomeric skin  12  is then placed on top of the outside edge  18  of the inner surface  19  of the first elastomeric skin  10  and the two elastomeric skins  10  and  12  are pressed together to form a watertight sealed edge  22 . The fourth embodiment, therefore, also includes the positioning of the O-ring  44  around the bottom  46  of the protuberance  36 , as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2. As described with reference to the third embodiment, the O-ring  44  provides further reinforcement and integrity for the receiving indentation  28  so that it does not pull out of the back  40  of the cushion  26  and so that a semi-rigid mounting means  48  is provided to make attachment of the cushion  26  to a corresponding position on a hot tub  34  or spa easy to accomplish as seen in FIG.  5 . The fourth embodiment, thereby includes an elastomeric sealed edge  22  between the two elastomeric skins  10  and  12 , at least one receiving indentation  32  in the back  40  of the cushion  26  that is sealed and reinforced with two-part urethane elastomer  16  and further reinforced with an O-ring  44  to form a semi-rigid mounting means  48 . 
     FIG. 5 is an environmental view of the present invention showing a cushion  26  mounted on a hot tub  34  using the present elastomeric assembly and attachment with two-part urethane elastomer serving to seal the edges  18  and  20  of the two elastomeric skins  10  and  12  in a water resistant manner and using the mounting means  24 ,  42  or  48  as described with reference to any of the second, third or fourth embodiments and shown in FIGS. 2,  3  or  4 , respectively. It is to be understood therefore, that any combination as described in the second, third or fourth embodiments will attach the cushion  26  to the hot tub or spa in a manner that will provide a water resistant cover for the cushion  26  and an easy attachment of the cushion  26  to the hot tub or spa  34 . 
     FIG. 6 is an environmental view of the present invention showing the present elastomeric assembly and attachment as it is used on a bicycle seat  50 . The seat  50  in FIG. 6 has two elastomeric skins  10  and  12  which are attached together as described with reference to FIG.  1  and the first embodiment. In the seat  50  as shown in FIG. 6, with the two-part urethane elastomer  16  used at the outside edges  18  and  20  of the two elastomeric skins  10  and  12 , as seen in FIGS. 2,  3  and  4 , a sturdy and tear resistant seat  50  has been provided by a non-polluting manufacture. FIG. 6 is shown only by way of example, and it is to be understood that the present elastomeric assembly and attachment and the use of the mounting means  24 ,  42  or  48  of the first, second, or third embodiments is not to be limited by application and is adaptable for use in numerous applications. 
     A method of providing a water resistant elastomeric assembly and attachment is also disclosed whereby two premolded elastomeric skins are bonded together at the seams with a two-part urethane elastomer to form a watertight seal and to provide a cover over a cushion or the like. In addition, portions of the elastomeric skins are reinforced with a two-part urethane elastomer and/or an O-ring to form a structural attachment means that does not penetrate the elastomeric skins to cause a loss of integrity. 
     While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.