Abstract:
Embodiments described herein provide a cushion with active seating capacity, the cushion having a sitting portion and a rigid material to maintain the sitting portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Active seating is an improvement upon traditional seating. In the latter, an individual “sits down”, sometimes leaning against a backrest, sometimes not; such seating is detrimental not only to the spine and the back generally, but to the whole body as a result of sustained mechanical stress on muscle and tissue. Active seating is based on the seemingly paradoxical principle that a sitter should always be moving. The type of movement encouraged by active seating permits one to remain sitting while alternating weight from the left to the right, from the thighs to the buttocks, as well as in diagonal coordinates, thereby preventing the creation of sustained mechanical stress points. This encouragement can be accomplished by providing stimuli, such as the feeling of being off-balanced, whereupon the sitter will feel inclined to “rebalance”, an action that requires subtle, but constant movement and good posture. Not only do these movements prevent the mechanical stress points, but they also strengthen the muscles, particularly in the core and back areas, and permit better circulation in the legs. While these extra movements may initially require conscious focus by the sitter, they gradually become instinctive. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    The present invention is a cushion with active seating capacity. While the sitting portion is substantially elastic, it permits some deformation through the act of sitting; however, this deformation will not render the cushion flat, nor will it negate the active seating nature of the cushion. This is accomplished by a less flexible center, which remains structurally resilient to deformation. The sitting portion is attached or otherwise adapted to a rigid surface, either directly or through an intermediary material. This rigid surface helps maintain the placement of the cushion, and prevents the bottom of the cushion from buckling. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  is a perspective top view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is a top view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is side view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0008]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional side view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0009]      FIG. 7  is a perspective bottom view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0010]      FIG. 8  is a perspective top view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0011]      FIG. 9  is a top view of an exemplary cushion. 
           [0012]      FIG. 10  is a perspective bottom view of an exemplary cushion. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    In one embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 3-6 , the cushion  30  comprises a primary surface  10  and a base  20 . The primary surface is meant to be more or less directly sat upon and is therefore yielding in nature, admitting some deformation to conform in part to the shape of the sitter&#39;s bottom. It is also foreseeable that the primary surface may support other parts of a person&#39;s body, such as their feet, calves, thighs, lower back, upper back, stomach, chest, neck, and/or head, and other embodiments may be shaped with those parts in mind. 
         [0014]    The primary surface may be made of any elastic and substantially non-porous material, such as rubber, latex, polychloroprene, silicon, polyurethane, vinyl, or a nylon fabric. Additionally, the primary surface may be coated with a gel to decrease porosity below the natural level of the material. The primary surface may be manufactured using any suitable process, such as spin casting, rotocasting, etc. Spin casting operates by blasting semi-fluid material into the interior of a non-adhesive or decay-prone mold. When the semi-fluid material dries, solidifies, or cools, it takes the shape of the mold, and the mold is removed. The mold may be constructed to match the desired shape of the primary surface when it is ready for use, and so, the default shape of the primary surface is no different than its desired shape. The advantage is that if the primary surface is deflated, it will suck in air until the internal pressure matches atmospheric pressure, and consequently, less active inflation is necessary—only enough to increase the internal pressure above atmospheric pressure sufficiently to support the increased weight contributed by the sitter. Another advantage is that the primary surface can tolerate a low level of puncturing, since the rate at which air leaves a shape is proportional to the difference between the atmospheric pressure and the internal pressure. 
         [0015]    The base  20  is meant to secure in part the shape integrity of the primary surface  10 . The base may be made of any material that substantially resists deformation, such as wood or hard plastic. In one embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 4 , the base  20  and primary surface  10  may be attached at their peripheries and at their centers, that is, the primary surface periphery  40  may be attached to the base periphery  50  and the primary surface center  6  may be attached to the base center  70 , using any suitable means of attachment. The attachment means is preferably a sealant or any adhesive material that substantially prevents the flow of air or liquid through the space where the base and primary surface are attached. Alternatively, the periphery of the primary surface may be melted or molded to the periphery of the base. Examples of sealants include silicone, polyurethane, and fissures. 
         [0016]    In one embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 3 , the general shape of the primary surface  10  as seen from a side view is that of a complex curve, that curve having convex ends  80  and a concave center  90  between those two ends. This shape is substantially maintained on a plane three hundred and sixty degrees around that center, so that the shape as a whole may resemble a half sphere with a dip at what would otherwise be its most continuous area. This is a result of the primary surface center  60  being attached to the center  70  of the base  20 , as seen in  FIG. 4 . Consequently, when a user sits or in any way leans a body part upon the primary surface  10 , a force will press back against the user from the area around the concave center  90 , but the concave center  90  will not, since no contact or little contact is made with the user. 
         [0017]    The lack of contact or limited contact between the sitter and the concave center  90  also provides a more comfortable seating arrangement as compared to other active sitting arrangements, such as a gym ball/medicine ball; in the latter, the pressure exerted by the seat creates an oppressive sensation in a person&#39;s groin region, especially for sitters with hemorrhoids and other conditions. 
         [0018]    While the primary surface  10  is elastic, at least when compared to the base  20 , the concave center  90  at the center is somewhat less elastic due to the anchoring of the primary surface center  60  to the base center  70 . Therefore, when a user&#39;s weight is applied to one side of the primary surface, such as the convex ends  80 , the concave center  90  will not collapse, but will instead maintain the basic structure of the cushion. Since the user will not stabilize into the concave center  90 , the user will be kept off balance until he or she intentionally rebalances using his or her muscles, distributing his or her weight to one and the other convex ends  80  of the primary surface  10  until the two convex ends are more or less balanced. In this way, the purpose of active seating is accomplished. 
         [0019]    The space  100  between the base  20  and the primary surface  10  may contain a low density material such as virtually any gas or liquid. Alternatively, the space may contain higher density material such as viscous liquids or beads. It is also practical for the space to contain combinations of material. It is advantageous to use air due to its abundance and suitable qualities, but other materials may be useful for increasing the resistance to deformation of the primary surface shape. Also, air contains water vapor, which, in the event of temperature changes, may lead to the degradation of the material integrity of the cushion as well as its decompression. 
         [0020]    In one embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 5 , the primary surface  10  comprises a flush region  110 . The flush region is attached to the primary surface periphery  40  and primary surface center  60 , and sits flush against the top face of the base  20 . In this embodiment, the base and/or the adapting region (to be discussed below), can be fixedly attached to a secondary surface by means of nails, screws, etc, and the primary surface can be attached afterward to the base, thereby eliminating the risk of puncturing the primary surface. 
         [0021]    In one embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 3 , when viewed from the side of the cushion, the base periphery  50  is visible . In another embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 7  the primary surface comprises a lip  120 , and the base periphery  50  is attached to the lip  120 . In this embodiment, the base periphery  50  is concealed by the lip  120  when viewed from the side, as seen in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0022]    In another embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 8 , the cushion comprises a base, a primary surface  10 , and an indent region  13 . In this embodiment, the primary surface  10  has an inner periphery  140  resulting from a hole in the center. The indent region  130  comprises center  60  as well as an outer periphery  150 . The center  60 , which is the result of a downward slope of the indent region  130  from the outer periphery  150 , is fixed to the center of the base  70 . The outer periphery  150  of the indent region  130  is attached to the inner periphery  140  of the primary surface  10 . The attachment means may be any of those mentioned above. The base can be either exposed to the eye from a side view, as in  FIG. 8 , or concealed by a lip, as in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0023]    In one or more embodiments, as seen in  FIGS. 2, 5, 7, and 8 , the cushion comprises an inlet  160 . This inlet may be equipped with an inflation means, such as a push/pull cap. Inflating the cushion may be done with the mouth, or a manual or electric inflater, such as a hand pump. In another embodiment, the cushion may be made in such a way that inflation only occurs once, during the manufacturing process, and no further inflation is necessary. In this embodiment, the inlet may be permanently sealed after inflation. In  FIG. 5 , the inlet comprises a hole in the base  20 , providing access to the above described inflation means, which is situated on the flush region of the primary surface. In  FIG. 8 , the inlet is situated on the primary surface. 
         [0024]    In one embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 9 , the cushion  30  can be placed upon a chair or other piece of furniture. In one embodiment, as seen in  FIG. 10 , the base  20  comprises an adapting region  170 . The purpose of the adapting region is to secure the cushion to a secondary surface, such as a stool, chair, couch, or any other piece of furniture meant for sitting. The adapting region may also be suitable to secure the cushion to areas traditionally not meant for sitting, such as the ground, or even a large rock. 
         [0025]    In another embodiment, the surface of the adapting region can be textured or made of a high friction material, so that the adapting surface will not easily slide against the secondary surface, thereby further securing the adapting region to the secondary surface in a predetermined position. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, the adapting region may be made of firm material, and shaped to sit substantially flush upon a pre-selected secondary surface. In this embodiment, the adapting region may be made of the same material as the base, and may even be integrated into the base as a single piece. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, the adapting region may be made of elastic material, such that it conforms to one or more different secondary surfaces. The degree of elasticity should be the result of balancing the ability to securely attach the cushion to a diversity of surfaces, and ensuring that the attachment to a given surface is a strong one. If the adapting region is too elastic, then when a user sits upon the cushion, deformation will occur in the adapting region instead of the primary surface, and not only will the advantages of the primary surface be negated, but the adapting region will not secure the cushion to the secondary surface. Therefore, the adapting region should be less elastic than the primary surface. Deformation in the primary surface is also the result of the material density in the space between the base and the primary surface, and this should be taken into account to determine the best elasticity of the adapting region. 
         [0028]    In one embodiment, the adapting region is shaped to fit a class of secondary surfaces, such as chairs with armrests. In this embodiment, the adapting region is partially formed to sit substantially flush against a class of secondary surfaces, rather than a particular secondary surface, and thereby it affords a compromise between a secure attachment and an attachment to a diversity of secondary surfaces. 
         [0029]    In one embodiment, the base is attached to a leg structure. The leg structure may comprise one or more legs, and may also comprise one or more connections among those legs. The purpose of the leg structure is to support a seat and the weight of a person who sits upon that seat. Also, the leg structure must be made so that the seat is elevated a minimum distance from the ground. In some embodiments, the leg structure height may be modifiable.