Patent Publication Number: US-8113582-B2

Title: Chair cushion

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to a cushion and, more particularly, to a cushion for a chair. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A conventional cushion  10  for a chair in accordance with the prior art shown in  FIGS. 11 and 12  comprises a cushion body  11  and two fasteners  12  mounted on a rear face of the cushion body  11 . Thus, when the cushion is placed on a seat, the cushion body  11  can support a user&#39;s rear body to provide a comfortable sensation to the user. However, the cushion body  11  can support the user&#39;s waist only and cannot support the user&#39;s back so that the user&#39;s back is suspended in the air. Thus, the user&#39;s back easily feels uncomfortable and is easily deformed during a long-term utilization. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a cushion for a chair, comprising a cushion body having a mediate position provided with a convex waist support portion, an upper end provided with an inclined backrest support portion located above the waist support portion and a lower end provided with a concave resting portion located under the waist support portion. Preferably, the cushion body has a surface provided with a plurality of elongate slots. Preferably, the cushion body is provided with a concave upper buffering space defined between the backrest support portion and the waist support portion of the cushion body and a concave lower buffering space defined between the waist support portion and the resting portion of the cushion body. Preferably, the waist support portion of the cushion body has two opposite sides each provided with an enlarged reinforced face. 
     Another embodiment of the present invention is to provide a cushion for a chair, wherein the backrest support portion and the waist support portion of the cushion body are designed to fit the user&#39;s back and waist ergonomically so that the cushion body can support the user&#39;s back and waist smoothly and exactly. 
     A further embodiment of the present invention is to provide a cushion for a chair, wherein the upper buffering space and the lower buffering space of the cushion body provide a buffering effect to allow deformation of the cushion body so as to regulate the user&#39;s seating posture and to provide a comfortable sensation to the user. 
     A further aspect of the present invention is to provide a cushion for a chair, wherein the elongate slots of the cushion body provide a ventilating effect to the user. 
     An alternative aspect of the present invention is to provide a cushion for a chair, wherein the reinforced face of the waist support portion supports the user&#39;s waist smoothly and exactly so as to provide a comfortable sensation to the user. 
     Additional aspect of the present invention is to provide a cushion for a chair, wherein the cushion body is made of an elastic sheet plate so that the cushion body has a smaller volume and a lighter weight, thereby decreasing the costs of fabrication. 
     In accordance with one exemplary embodiment, a cushion for a chair includes a cushion body ( 20 ) having a mediate position provided with a convex waist support portion ( 21 ). The cushion further includes an upper end provided with an inclined backrest support portion ( 22 ) located above the waist support portion and a lower end provided with a concave resting portion ( 24 ) located under the waist support portion. 
     Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a cushion for a chair in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a side cross-sectional view of the cushion for a chair as shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a schematic operational view of the cushion for a chair as shown in  FIG. 2  in use. 
         FIG. 4  is a schematic operational view of the cushion for a chair as shown in  FIG. 2  in use. 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a cushion for a chair in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a cushion for a chair in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  is a side cross-sectional view of the cushion for a chair as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic operational view of the cushion for a chair as shown in  FIG. 7  in use. 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic operational view of the cushion for a chair as shown in  FIG. 7  in use. 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a cushion for a chair in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a conventional cushion for a chair in accordance with the prior art. 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic side operational view of the conventional cushion for a chair as shown in  FIG. 11  in use. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to the drawings and initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a cushion for a chair in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a cushion body  20  having a mediate position provided with a convex waist support portion  21 , an upper end provided with an inclined backrest support portion  22  located above the waist support portion  21  and a lower end provided with a concave resting portion  24  located under the waist support portion  21 . 
     The cushion body  20  is made of an elastic sheet plate. The cushion body  20  has a surface provided with a plurality of elongate slots  23  which are parallel with each other and extend in a longitudinal direction of the cushion body  20 . The elongate slots  23  of the cushion body  20  are located at the backrest support portion  22  and the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20 . In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the elongate slots  23  on the backrest support portion  22  of the cushion body  20  are separated from the elongate slots  23  on the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20 . 
     The cushion body  20  is provided with a concave upper buffering space  202  defined between the backrest support portion  22  and the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20  and a concave lower buffering space  201  defined between the waist support portion  21  and the resting portion  24  of the cushion body  20 . The upper buffering space  202  and the lower buffering space  201  of the cushion body  20  are located at two opposite faces of the cushion body  20  and are opened toward two opposite directions. 
     The waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20  is a substantially arc-shaped sheet plate. The waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20  is located between the backrest support portion  22  and the resting portion  24  of the cushion body  20  and has two opposite sides each provided with an enlarged reinforced face  211 . The waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20  has a thickness gradually increased from a middle position of the waist support portion  21  toward each of the two opposite sides of the waist support portion  21 . 
     The backrest support portion  22  of the cushion body  20  is a substantially straight flat sheet plate. The backrest support portion  22  of the cushion body  20  is inclined relative to the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20  and extends upward and backward from an upper end of the waist support portion  21  in an inclined manner. 
     The resting portion  24  of the cushion body  20  is a substantially arc-shaped sheet plate. The resting portion  24  of the cushion body  20  has an upper end inclined relative to the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20  and extending downward and backward from a lower end of the waist support portion  21  in an inclined manner. 
     In operation, referring to  FIG. 3  with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the cushion body  20  is mounted on an office seat “A”. In such a manner, when a user is seated on the office chair “A” and rests on the cushion body  20 , the backrest support portion  22  of the cushion body  20  can support the pressure of the user&#39;s back, and the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20  can support the pressure of the user&#39;s waist, so that the cushion body  20  can support the user&#39;s back and waist smoothly and exactly. At this time, the upper buffering space  202  and the lower buffering space  201  of the cushion body  20  provide a buffering effect to allow deformation of the cushion body  20  so as to regulate the user&#39;s seating posture and to provide a comfortable sensation to the user. In addition, the elongate slots  23  of the cushion body  20  provide a ventilating effect to the user. In addition, the reinforced face  211  of the waist support portion  21  supports the user&#39;s waist smoothly and exactly so as to provide a comfortable sensation to the user. 
     Accordingly, the backrest support portion  22  and the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20  are designed to fit the user&#39;s back and waist ergonomically so that the cushion body  20  can support the user&#39;s back and waist smoothly and exactly. In addition, the upper buffering space  202  and the lower buffering space  201  of the cushion body  20  provide a buffering effect to allow deformation of the cushion body  20  so as to regulate the user&#39;s seating posture and to provide a comfortable sensation to the user. Further, the elongate slots  23  of the cushion body  20  provide a ventilating effect to the user. Further, the reinforced face  211  of the waist support portion  21  supports the user&#39;s waist smoothly and exactly so as to provide a comfortable sensation to the user. Further, the cushion body  20  is made of an elastic sheet plate so that the cushion body  20  has a smaller volume and a lighter weight, thereby decreasing the costs of fabrication. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the cushion body  20  is mounted on a car seat “B”. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the elongate slots  23   a  on the backrest support portion  22  of the cushion body  20   a  and the elongate slots  23   a  on the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20   a  are connected so that the elongate slots  23   a  of the cushion body  20   a  extend successively from the backrest support portion  22  of the cushion body  20   a  to the waist support portion  21  of the cushion body  20   a.    
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the cushion  30  further comprises an outer jacket  31  encompassing a periphery of the cushion body  20  so that the cushion body  20  is hidden in the outer jacket  31  completely. The outer jacket  31  is made of a sponge or a foam material and has a curvature and profile matching that of the cushion body  20 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 8 , the cushion  30  is mounted on an office seat “A” as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the cushion  30  is mounted on a car seat “B” as shown in  FIG. 11 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 10 , the cushion  30  further comprises a seat  40  combined with the outer jacket  31 . The seat  40  has a top provided with two mounting holes  42 , and the outer jacket  31  has a bottom provided with two mounting posts  32  mounted in the two mounting holes  42  of the seat  40 . 
     Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is, therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the invention. 
     Having described the invention in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims. 
     When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferred embodiments(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. 
     In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained. 
     As various changes could be made in the above constructions or products without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing[s] shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.