Patent Publication Number: US-2006001206-A1

Title: Elastic deformable cushion

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to an elastic deformable cushion, and more particularly to an elastic deformable cushion that is integrally formed by soft elastoplastic knee and hard elastoplastic knee piece, through this structure, the damper performance and elastic recovery function of the elastic deformable cushion is improved.  
      2. Description of the Prior Arts  
      Shock-absorbing structure is widely used, such as on the machine, the shoes and the article for daily use. TW Patent No. 91,218,489 discloses a conventional shock-absorbing structure (as shown in  FIG. 1 ), which includes elastoplastic spiral member  10  and elastoplastic spiral strip  11 . The elastoplastic spiral member  10  and the elastoplastic spiral strip  11  are installed in the sole of a sneaker. The connecting portion of the elastoplastic spiral member  10  and that of the elastoplastic spiral strip  11  can be integrally connected together. The elastoplastic spiral member  10  is formed in the shape of a spiral spring. The elastoplastic spiral strip  11  is formed with multi layers of arc-curved portions  12  corresponding to the elastoplastic spiral member  10 , and each layer of the arc-curved portions  12  are helically connected to each other. The elastoplastic spiral strip  11  is fixed in the elastoplastic spiral member  10 . However, this conventional elastic cushion still has some disadvantages as follows:  
      First, the elastoplastic spiral member  10  and the elastoplastic spiral strip  11  must be combined together and produced in a helical manner, however, the production cost of the helical manner is pretty high.  
      Second, the shape of the elastoplastic spiral member  10  and the elastoplastic spiral strip  11  has been confined to the helical cylinder, thereby, the applicability of the conventional elastic cushion is limited.  
      The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary object of the present invention is to provide an elastic deformable cushion, an elastoplastic knee of which is provided at the thrust surface with curved portion so as to improve the compressive rigidity. On the vertical thrust surface of the elastoplastic knee piece is provided with multi layers of arc-curved portion for improving the buffering effect.  
      The secondary object of the present invention is to provide an elastic deformable cushion, wherein the elastoplastic knee and the elastoplastic knee piece are unnecessarily formed in the shape of a helical structure. In this case, the elastic deformable cushion in accordance with the present invention can be easily produced, the corresponding production cost will be reduced.  
      The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiments in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a structural perspective view of a conventional elastic deformable cushion;  
       FIG. 2  is a horizontal cross sectional view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a vertical cross sectional view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is an operational cross sectional view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, which shows the elastic deformable cushion is being compressed by a force;  
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is an operational cross sectional view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a perspective cross sectional view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 8  is an operational cross sectional view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, which shows the elastic deformable cushion is being compressed by a force;  
       FIG. 9  is a side view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 10  is a side view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 11  is a perspective cross sectional view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 12  is a side view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 13  is an operational view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
       FIG. 14  is a partial amplified view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 15  is an operational view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the elastoplastic knee piece is formed with holes;  
       FIG. 16  is another partial amplified view of an elastic deformable cushion in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2-4 , an elastic deformable cushion A is shown and generally including an elastoplastic knee  20  and an elastoplastic knee-piece  30 , both of which are to be disposed on a thrust surface of a shock-absorb object (such as: sole and the buffering equipment). The elastic deformable cushion is made by plastic ejection molding (or reimplantation), in this case, the plastic connecting portion of the elastoplastic knee  20  and that of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  will be integrally and firmly connected to each other.  
      The elastoplastic knee  20  is strip-shaped and made of soft elastoplastic material. The elastoplastic knee  20  is multi-layer constructed, and the respective layers of the elastoplastic knee  20  are alternatively arranged. The elastoplastic knee  20  is provided with plural curved portions  21  which are U-shaped corresponding to the thrust surface. Each of the plural curved portions  21  is provided with an outward protruded supporting portion  23 . The respective layers of the elastoplastic knee  20  are separated from one another by a buffering distance  22 .  
      The elastoplastic knee-piece  30  is a thin piece made of hard elastoplastic material, which is formed with plural layers of arc-curved portions  31  that correspond to the respective layers of the elastoplastic knee  20 . The respective arc-curved portions  31  are continuously formed, a top surface  32  and a bottom surface  33  of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  are formed as a thrust surface corresponding to the thrust direction. The elastoplastic knee-piece  30  is integrally connected to a side of the elastoplastic knee  20  (including the curved portions  21  and the supporting portions  23 ). The connecting portion of the arc-curved portions  31  are integrally formed with the surface of the elastoplastic knee  20 , and the arc-curved portions  31  are formed in the buffering distance  22  between the respective layers of the elastoplastic knee  20 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 5 , when the elastic deformable cushion A is compressed by an even pressure force P from the top surface, the top surface  32  of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  synchronously bears the pressure force P, then the pressure force P is transmitted to the first layer of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  and the top layer of the elastoplastic knee  20 . The deformation capability of the top elastoplastic knee  20  and the buffering distance  22  can provide adequate deforming space (the first load-carrying compressive space) for the respective arc-curved portions  31  of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30 . The rest layers, after the first layer, of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  and that of elastoplastic knee  20  will repeat the operation as the first layer of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  and the first elastoplastic knee  20  do, so as to produce adequate deforming space (more than two load-carrying compressive spaces). Thus, the respective load-carrying compressive spaces can disperse and absorb the pressure force P.  
      On the other hand, the plural curved portions  21  can be used to improve the compressive rigidity of the elastoplastic knee  20 , and the curved portions  21  on the thrust surface and the supporting portions  23  are used to maintain the predetermined shape of the elastic deformable cushion A (to prevent the permanent deformation of the elastic deformable cushion A). At this moment, not only the raw material of the elastoplastic knee  20  and the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  can produce recovering elastic force, but also the curved portions  21  and the supporting portions  23  of the elastoplastic knee  20  can generate an inward pulling force. Moreover, the plural arc-curved portions  31  of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  will produce a recovering force to counter the external thrust. Thereby, the present invention can produce multiple recovering forces to counter the deformation, through this way, the pressure force P is effectively absorbed. In addition, the elastoplastic knee  20  and the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  can be various shapes, therefore, the elastic cushion in accordance with the present invention has a wide applicability.  
      It will be noted that the elastoplastic knee  20  and the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  can produce a resistant force corresponding to an uneven pressure force P exerted on any side of the elastic deformable cushion (for example: the pressure force P is exerted on the right side, then a resistant force will be synchronously generated on the left side). Thereby, when the elastic deformable cushion is subject to a deflecting pressure force P, other portions of the elastic deformable cushion A in accordance with the present invention can synchronously produce a recovering force to balance the deflecting pressure force P. On the other hand, when an uneven pressure force is exerted on the elastic deformable cushion, the elastoplastic knee  20  and the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  will be synchronously subject to a deflecting pressure force. At this moment, the buffering distance  22  at a side of the elastoplastic knee  20  will be shortened after being compressed, while the buffering distance at another side will be lengthened. However, the arc-curved portions  31  of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  also will be shortened and lengthened along with the deformation of the buffering distance  22 . In this case, not only the elastoplastic knee  20  and the elastoplastic knee-pieces  30  at the compression side of the elastic deformable cushion will be synchronously subject to the deflecting press force P, but also the arc-curved portions  31  of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  at another side of the elastic deformable cushion will assist the elastoplastic knee  20  produce a supporting force to counter the deformation. The curved portions  21  and the supporting portions  23  of the elastoplastic knee  20  can disperse the pressure force over a larger area of the elastic deformable cushion A. Through this way, not only the hard elastoplastic knee-piece  30  can effectively balance the pressure force P and protect the soft elastoplastic knee  20 , but also the supporting portions  23 , the arc-curved portions  31  and the curved portions  21  are able to produce a balance effect by dispersing the deflecting pressure force. Such that the abruption and dislocation of the hard elastoplastic knee-piece  30  can be effective prevented. A first preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 6 , in which, the elastic deformable cushion in accordance with the present invention is placed into the heel of a sneaker  40  for shock-absorbing purpose.  
      It is to be noted that the top surface  32  and the bottom surface  33  of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  can be formed on the top layer and the lowest layer of the elastoplastic knee  20 . Furthermore, the elastoplastic knee and the top and the bottom surfaces of the elastoplastic knee-piece can be formed with curved surface corresponding to the to-be-loaded object.  
      A second preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIG. 7 , in which, the supporting portions  23  of the elastoplastic knee  20  can be omitted, or some layers of the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  can be made of soft material so as to be combined with the corresponding layers of the elastoplastic knee  20 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 8 , which shows a third embodiment in accordance with the present invention, wherein the curvature and the angle of the curved portions  21  of the elastoplastic knee  20  can be set according to the user&#39;s needs. For example, the curved portions  21  can be U-shaped, semi-circular-shaped or elliptical-shaped.  
      The thrust surface corresponding to the elastoplastic knee  20  is not limited to horizontal surface, it also can be wave-shaped thrust surface (as shown in  FIG. 9 ), inclined thrust surface (as shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 ) or slope-shaped thrust surface (as shown in  FIG. 12 ). Not only the curved portions  21  has a force-bearing function, but also the curve-shaped base body of the elastoplastic knee  20  can produce a strong supporting force and can effectively disperse the pressure force P.  
      Referring to  FIG. 13 , the elastic cushion also can be placed in front portion of the sole of the sneaker  40 . As shown in  FIG. 14 , the elastoplastic knee  20  and the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  can be crosswise arranged.  
      Referring to  FIG. 15 , the elastoplastic knee  20  and the elastoplastic knee-piece  30  in accordance with the present invention can be formed with holes  41  or grooves, so as not only to reduce the weight but also to adjust the damper effect of the elastic cushion.  
      As shown in  FIG. 16 , the plural elastoplastic knee  20  can be interlaced with each other, so as to improve the structural strength of the elastic cushion.  
      While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.