Abstract:
A fastening device has a female component having a female opening featuring a broader female width at a first depth and a narrower female width at a second depth. The female component also has a female attachment surface with an interior slope rising away from the female opening. The fastening device also has a male component with a male attachment member that at least partially conforms to the interior slope of the female attachment surface. The male attachment member also has a broader male width larger than the narrower female width. The male attachment member also features a narrower male width that is not larger than the narrower female width.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    In surgical environments, operating tables often utilize cushions to increase patient stabilization and comfort. Surgical cushions, however, can be exposed to surgical or bodily liquids. To prevent liquid contamination, surgical cushions are often constructed with materials that are impermeable to liquids and gases to prevent the passage of any liquid into the cushion. This also prevents the release of fluid (such as air) from the cushion which would make the cushion less flexible, less compressible, more rigid, and more uncomfortable. Vents are incorporated into such cushions to allow for air flow into and out of the cushion and are typically places along the sides of the cushion. However, they remain a possible point of liquid contamination into the cushion. 
         [0002]    When cushions are being aligned for attachment to a surgical table, the attachment mechanism may not be visible. Blind attachment may include, for example, a guiding mechanism to assist with positioning the cushion in a desired spot on a surgical table. Conventional blind attachment often utilizes hook-and-loop, such as with VELCRO®, which can be very difficult to clean and sanitize once contaminated. 
         [0003]    What is proposed is an attachment device that allows for blind attachment of two objects, such as a cushion to a surgical table, that is easier to clean and sanitize. Furthermore, if venting of an object, such as a cushion, is required, the attachment device could be located such that the vent is repositioned to location that is less susceptible to contamination. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A fastening device is provided which comprises a female component comprising a female opening comprising a broader female width at a first depth and a narrower female width at a second depth. The female component further comprises a female attachment surface comprising an interior slope rising away from the female opening. A fastening device also comprises a male component comprising a male attachment member that at least partially conforms to the interior slope. The male attachment member further has a broader male width larger than the narrower female width and also has a narrower male width not larger than the narrower female width. 
         [0005]    In variations of the fastening device, after the male attachment member is joined to the female opening, they can rotate relative to each other. In other variations of the fastening device, the female attachment surface further comprises an exterior slope rising towards the female opening, wherein the interior slope and the exterior slope form a plateau or ridge. Other variations of the fastening device can include the female component further comprising a female mounting surface opposite the female attachment surface. The female opening has a differing width at the female mounting surface and the female attachment surface. 
         [0006]    In another embodiment of the fastening device, the female opening is a hole. In a different embodiment of the fastening device, the female opening has a hole. In other variations of the fastening device the female opening has no hole. Some embodiments of the fastening device feature a female opening having a plurality of holes. In a differing variation of the fastening device, the female component or the male component have antimicrobial properties. 
         [0007]    In yet another embodiment of the fastening device, the female opening has a semipermeable membrane. In a different variation of the fastening device, a plurality of female components are affixed to a surface or object and a corresponding number of male components are affixed to another surface or object. Some embodiments of the fastening device further comprise a plurality of female components and a plurality of male components, wherein at least one female component comprises an opening having a semipermeable membrane and another female component comprises an opening without a semipermeable membrane. 
         [0008]    In variations of the fastening device, the female opening and the male attachment member are of a corresponding shape that is an oval or any other shape having at least 3 sides. Another version of the fastening device has the female component or the male component being affixed to a surface or object. The affixing comprises glue, welding, stitching, stapling, nailing, screwing, hook and loop, snaps, melting, riveting, or any combination thereof. In a different variation of the fastening device, the female component or the male component comprises urethane, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, one or more metals, carbon fiber, wood, plastic, or phenolic. 
         [0009]    In another version of the fastening device, the female component or the male component is radiolucent. In variations of the fastening device, the female component or the male component are stain resistant. In another embodiment of the fastening device, the female component or the male component are fire resistant. In yet another embodiment of the fastening device, the female component or the male component have an electrical resistance of &lt;1 Mega-Ohm. Other embodiments of the fastening device feature the female component or the male component having an etched surface. 
         [0010]    Some versions of the fastening device have the female component attached to a surface, forming a fluid passageway out of the surface through the female opening. Another variation of the fastening device further comprises, on the opposite side of the male attachment member, a male mounting surface comprising a hole. Other embodiments of the fastening device comprise the female component coupled to a vented surface, the female opening having a hole positioned over the vented surface and forming a fluid passageway through the female component. Some variations of the fastening device have the male component further comprising a male mounting surface affixed to a surface, opposite to the male attachment member. 
         [0011]    In variations of the fastening device, the female component further comprises a female mounting surface affixed to a surface, opposite the female attachment surface. Some versions of the fastening device have the depth of the female opening exceeding the height of the male attachment member. Some embodiments of the fastening device further comprise the male attachment member coupled to the female opening, wherein the broader male width resides at a depth within the female opening closer to the female attachment surface than the distance from the second depth to the female attachment surface. In yet another version of the fastening device, the female opening overlaps with a hole in the male component, creating a fluid passageway through the male component. 
         [0012]    Another variation of the fastening device comprising a female component for coupling a male attachment member to a female opening, where the male attachment member is for coupling to the female opening. There are also one or more guiding components for guiding the male attachment member into the female opening with a snap-fit to snap the male attachment member into the female opening. There is also a fluid passageway that provides continuous fluid passage through the female opening and the male attachment member. 
         [0013]    A method is provided that comprises aligning a male component with a slope on a female component, applying pressure to couple the male component and the female component, thereby forming a fluid passageway through the female component and the male component. In another embodiment of the method, aligning further comprises snap-fitting the male component into the female component. Another version of the method further comprises affixing the male component to a surface. 
         [0014]    Other versions of the method further comprise affixing the female component to a surface. A variation of the method also comprising coupling the female component to an object, affixing the male component to a surface, applying pressure to the object, and forcing fluid from the object through the fluid passageway. Another embodiment of the method comprises affixing a plurality of female components to an object, affixing a plurality of male components to a surface, and aligning each male component with the slope on a corresponding female component. This embodiment of the method further comprises applying pressure to couple each male component to its corresponding female component and bending the surface wherein the object bends to conform to the bent surface, wherein each male component remains coupled to its corresponding female component. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0015]    For a more complete understanding and appreciation of this application, reference will be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the top of an embodiment of a female component. 
           [0017]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the bottom of the female component depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 1B  is a top view of the female component depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 1C  is a side cross-sectional view of the female component depicted in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is an overhead view of an embodiment of a square female component with a square opening and a back surface having four square holes. 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is an overhead view of an embodiment of a hexagonal female component with a hexagonal opening and a back surface having four hexagonal holes. 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  is an overhead view of an embodiment of a circular female component with a circular opening and a back surface having three circular holes. 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  is an overhead view of an embodiment of a triangular female component with a triangular opening and a back surface having three triangular holes. 
           [0024]      FIG. 6  is an overhead view of an embodiment of a square female component with a square opening and a back surface having two rectangular holes. 
           [0025]      FIG. 7  is an overhead view of an embodiment of a circular female component with a circular opening and a back surface having a circular hole, a square hole, and a triangular hole. 
           [0026]      FIG. 8  is an overhead view of an embodiment of a circular female component with a circular opening and a back surface having one circular hole. 
           [0027]      FIG. 9  is an overhead view of an embodiment of a circular female component with a circular opening and a back surface having no holes. 
           [0028]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the top of an embodiment of a male component. 
           [0029]      FIG. 10A  is a perspective view of the bottom of the male component depicted in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10B  is a top view of the male component depicted in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10C  is a side view of the male component depicted in  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the top of another embodiment of a male component. 
           [0033]      FIG. 11A  is a perspective view of the bottom of the male component depicted in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0034]      FIG. 11B  is a top view of the male component depicted in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0035]      FIG. 11C  is a side view of the male component depicted in  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view depicting coupling of the female component of  FIG. 1  with the male component of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  is an exploded view depicting coupling of the female component of  FIG. 1  with the male component of  FIG. 11 ; 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  is a top view of the coupling of the female component of  FIG. 1  with the male component of  FIG. 10 ; 
           [0039]      FIG. 14A  is a side cross-sectional view of the coupling depicted in  FIG. 14 ; 
           [0040]      FIG. 15  is a perspective view of a cushion being affixed to a surface; and 
           [0041]      FIG. 16  is an exploded view the male component of  FIG. 2  coupled to the female component of  FIG. 1  above a semi-permeable membrane above a hole in a surface along with a coupled male and female component lacking a semi-permeable membrane. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0042]    Surgical cushions, typically comprise materials that do not permit fluids (such as air) to flow in or out. This protects surgical cushions from contamination, such as the absorption of liquids. However, the cushion needs to be compressible, by having air flow in and out of the cushion. Having vents on the cushion sides allows compressibility, but exposes the cushion to liquid contamination. Vents on the bottom of the cushion do not allow sufficient air flow when the cushion is attached to a table by conventional means such as hook-and-loop. Yet hook-and-loop fasteners allow the ability to blind-attach a cushion to a surface with relative ease. 
         [0043]    The embodiments disclosed herein provide solutions that can be used to locate the vent on the underside of the cushion to reduce the risk of liquid contamination while allowing air flow in and out of the cushion. The embodiments described also allow for blind-attachment of cushions to surgical tables while being much easier to clean and decontaminate than hook-and-loop fasteners. 
         [0044]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a female component  10  with a round outer edge  11 . In other embodiments, the female component  10 , having one or more outer edges  11 , can take any shape. The female component  10  can comprise one or more materials, such as urethane, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, one or more metals, carbon fiber, wood, plastic, phenolic, any other suitable material, or any combination thereof. Any female component  10  may or may not comprise the same material(s) as any other female components  10 . The female component  10  in some embodiments may be radiolucent, stain resistant, heat resistant, fire resistant, impact resistant, rust resistant, antimicrobial, electrically conductive (such as &lt;1 mega-Ohm of resistance), electrically resistant, or any combination thereof. 
         [0045]    The female opening  12  depicted is a circle in the center of the female component  10 . A circular female opening  12  allows for simplified blind attachment as it allows for coupling alignment at any orientation. The female opening  12  need not be a circle, and can take any other shape in various embodiments. In other embodiments, the female opening  12  can be located anywhere else in the female component  10 . In the embodiment shown, the female opening  12  is a hole through the entire female component  10 . In some embodiments, such as depicted in  FIG. 1 , the width of the female opening  12  can vary along its depth within the female component  10 . The female opening  12  as shown has at least a broadest width  14  and a narrowest width  16 , with any number of widths being possible. In other embodiments, the female opening  12  (at its mouth or at any depth) can be any shape for describing the size of the opening  12 . The female opening  12  in some embodiments need not maintain any consistent shape, dimensions, or symmetry. 
         [0046]    In this embodiment, the top of the female component  10  is an arched female attachment surface  18 . The female attachment surface  18  as shown has an interior slope  20  and an exterior slope  22  that converge to form a ridge  24 . In this embodiment, the interior slope  20  forms a concave shape around the female opening  12 . The narrowest width  16  in the female opening  12  can take the form of a flange or lip on the female attachment surface  18  (or any other surface), as shown in  FIG. 1 . Other embodiments may lack a flange or lip on the female attachment surface  18 . In some embodiments, there may be no exterior slope  22 . Other embodiments may converge an interior slope  20  and an exterior slope  22  to form a plateau. Different embodiments may lack an exterior slope  22 . The female attachment surface  18  can have any shape (flat, curved, angled, plateaued, inclining, declining, any other shape, or any combination thereof) and/or any property (corrugated, etched, any other texture, adhesive, or any combination thereof). 
         [0047]    As depicted, the side  26  of the female component  10  can be smooth. Other embodiments can have a surface, as with any surface of the female component  10 , which is uneven, corrugated, jagged, irregular, adhesive, non-symmetrical, etc. Some embodiments of the female component  10  may lack a side, such as having other surfaces meet at the side to form an arch. 
         [0048]      FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of the other side of the female component  10 , depicting a flat female mounting surface  28  opposite the female attachment surface  18 . In this embodiment, the female opening  12  passes through the female mounting surface  18  to create a single female mounting surface hole  30  that, in this embodiment is the same width as the broadest width  14 . The female mounting hole  30  allows fluid passage through the female component  10 . In other embodiments, the female mounting surface  28  can be any shape (flat, curved, angled, plateaued, inclining, declining, any other shape, or any combination thereof) and/or have any property (corrugated, etched, any other texture, adhesive, or any combination thereof). Here, the female opening  12  has a wider width  14  along with a narrowest width  16 . In some embodiments, the narrowest width  16  can take the form of a flange or lip on the female mounting surface  28 , the female attachment surface  18 , or both. Other embodiments may have no flange or lip. 
         [0049]    In some embodiments, the female mounting surface  28  is attached to an object such as a surgical cushion. In other embodiments, the female mounting surface  28  can be attached to surgical tables, walls, floors, vehicles, non-surgical cushions or pillows, any other type of object or surface, or nothing at all. The female mounting surface  28  can be attached in any manner, including (but not limited to) glue or other adhesive, welding, stitching, stapling, nailing, screwing, hook and loop, snaps, melting, riveting, any other suitable manner of attachment, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the female attachment surface  18  can be mounted in any manner described above with respect to the female mounting surface  28 . In various embodiments, the female component  10  can be mounted or attached to any number of surfaces or objects, such as airline seats, train seats, boat seats, outdoor furniture, walls, ceilings, floors, pictures, curtains, automobiles, etc. 
         [0050]      FIG. 2  depicts another embodiment of female component  10   a  which is square in shape. In this embodiment, the female mounting surface  28   a  extends out into the female opening  12   a . Here, there are four female mounting surface holes  30   a  within female mounting surface  28   a  which can each allow fluid passage through the female component  10   a . Other embodiments can have any number of female mounting surface holes  30   a  within the female mounting surface  28   a . Each female mounting surface hole  30   a  is smaller than the female opening  12   a . Although each female mounting surface hole  30   a  is depicted as square in this embodiment, each female mounting surface hole  30   a  be any shape in other embodiments, where some or all of the female mounting surface holes  30   a  can have different shapes. In different embodiments, each female mounting surface hole  30   a  can have a different size and need not be symmetrically positioned with respect to each other and/or any axis. In various embodiments, one or more portions of the female mounting surface  28   a  can be detachable, comprise any combination of any of the materials recited for any other component discussed elsewhere, and/or have any properties discussed with respect to the female attachment surface  18   a  and/or the female mounting surface  28   a .  FIGS. 3 through 7  show various other embodiments of the female component ( 10   b  through  10   f ) of varying configurations, with differently shaped outer edges ( 11   b  through  11   f ), differently shaped female openings ( 12   b  through  12   f ), differently shaped female mounting holes ( 30   b  through  30   f ) 
         [0051]      FIG. 8  depicts another embodiment having a single female mounting surface hole  30   g  in the female mounting surface  28   g  to allow fluid passage through the female component  10   g . The female mounting surface hole  30   g  is smaller than the female opening  12   g . Although depicted as circular, the female mounting surface hole  30   g  can take any shape and size, and need not be centered. 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  depicts yet another embodiment. Although there is a female opening  12   h  in the female attachment surface  18   h  leading into the female component  10   h , there is no hole in the female mounting surface  28   h . This prevents the female opening  12   h  from extending all the way through the female component  10   h . Here, the female mounting surface  28   h  comprises the same material as the rest of the female component  10   h , and can be created as one solid piece. Various embodiments can also utilize a female mounting surface  28   h  that is a different solid material, a mesh, a semipermeable membrane, a vent, or any other type of configuration where the female opening  12   h  does not pass entirely through the female component  10   h.    
         [0053]      FIG. 10  depicts an embodiment of a male component  100  shown in perspective view. The male component  100  can comprise one or more materials, such as urethane, vinyl, polyvinyl chloride, one or more metals, carbon fiber, wood, plastic, phenolic, any other suitable material, or any combination thereof. The male component  100  in some embodiments may be radiolucent, stain resistant, heat resistant, fire resistant, impact resistant, rust resistant, antimicrobial, electrically conductive (such as &lt;1 mega-Ohm of resistance), electrically resistant, or any combination thereof. Any male component  100  may or may not comprise the same material(s) as any female component  10  or as any other male component  100 . 
         [0054]    The top of the male component  100  comprises a male attachment member  102 . In this embodiment, the male attachment member  102  has a cross shape formed out of a cylinder, with male attachment sides  104  forming the sides of the cylinder. Described differently, the male attachment member  102  is in the shape of a circle having male attachment member indentations  106  that extend through the male component  100  and project inward towards its center. The male attachment member  102  in other embodiments can take any other shape, and may lack male attachment member indentations  106 . The top surface  108  of the male attachment member  102  can take any shape (flat, curved, angled, plateaued, inclining, declining, any other shape, or any combination thereof) and/or any properties (corrugated, etched, any other texture, adhesive, or any combination thereof). 
         [0055]    In some embodiments, there may be only one continuous male attachment side  104 , which may be (for example) round, oval, or any other shape. In various embodiments, each male attachment side  104  can be straight or take any other type of shape, independent of any other male attachment side  104 . In the embodiment depicted, each male attachment side  104  has a male attachment protrusion  110 . In other embodiments, each male attachment side  104  can have any number of protrusions and/or indentations, or none at all. 
         [0056]      FIG. 10  further depicts a male mounting member  112  extending outwardly from the center of the male component  100  beneath the male attachment member  102  with a width that is greater than the male attachment sides  104  or male attachment protrusions  110 . In other embodiments, the male mounting member  112  may simply be part of the male attachment member  102 . In various embodiments, the male mounting member  112  can have any shape or configuration, which can include holes (not shown) or indentations  106  that need not match each other or be placed symmetrically. 
         [0057]      FIG. 10A  depicts a flat male mounting surface  114  by which the male component  100  can be attached to a surface. In embodiments, the male mounting surface  114  can be any shape (flat, curved, angled, plateaued, inclining, declining, any other shape, or any combination thereof) and/or any property (corrugated, etched, any other texture, adhesive, or any combination thereof). In some embodiments, the male mounting surface  114  is attached to an object such as a surgical table. In other embodiments, the male mounting surface  114  can be attached to walls, floors, vehicles, surgical or regular cushions or pillows, any other type of object or surface, or nothing at all. The male mounting surface  114  can be attached in any manner, including (but not limited to) glue or other adhesive, welding, stitching, stapling, nailing, screwing, hook and loop, snaps, melting, riveting, any other suitable manner of attachment, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, either or both the male mounting surface  114  or the male attachment member  102  can be mounted in any manner described above. In various embodiments, the male component  100  can be mounted or attached to any number of surfaces or objects, such as airline seats, train seats, boat seats, outdoor furniture, etc.  FIGS. 10B and 10C  show top and side views of the male attachment member  100 . 
         [0058]      FIGS. 11 through 11C  depict an alternate embodiment of a male component  100   i . The male mounting member  112   i  has an outer ring  116   i  that forms four male mounting member holes  118   i.    
         [0059]      FIG. 12  depicts an exploded view of the coupling  120  of a male component  100  into a female component  10 , specifically the insertion of the male attachment member  102  into the female opening  12 . In this embodiment, most widths of the interior slope  20  of the female attachment surface  18  exceed the width the male attachment member  102 . The concave shape of the interior slope  20  of the female attachment surface  18  can therefore guide the male attachment sides  104 . For example, a user holding the female component  10  affixed to an object (thus obstructing the view of the user), can guide the female opening  12  onto the male attachment member  102  based on the concave shape of the interior slope  20  of the female attachment surface  18 . The same user could also perform the same guidance by handling a surgical cushion to guide the female opening  12  as it conforms to the male attachment member sides  104 . Similarly, a user holding the male component  10  (or an object to which it is affixed), could guide (by tactile feedback alone) the male attachment member  102  into the female opening  12  by the conformance of the male attachment sides  104  to concave shape of the interior slope  20 . 
         [0060]      FIG. 13  depicts an exploded view of the coupling  120   i  of a male component  100   i  into a female component  10   i , in which the male component  100   i  is similar to that shown in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0061]    In some embodiments, the width of the male attachment protrusion  110  slightly exceeds that of the narrowest width  16  in the female opening  12 . A user, object, or machine using sufficient force can push the male attachment protrusion  110  to a depth that is deeper inside the female opening  12  than the narrowest width  16 . As shown in  FIGS. 14 and 14A , this can result in a coupling (such as a snap-fit) of the male attachment member  102  into the female opening  12 . In some embodiments, a snap-fit can be accompanied by the sound of a snap and/or a sudden penetration which quickly halts. Other embodiments can use any other type of sound and/or tactile feedback may be utilized to indicate coupling. In some embodiments, the snap-fit requires at least some force to remove (or unsnap) the male attachment member  102  from the female opening  12 . In the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 14 and 14A , once coupled together, the male attachment member  102  and the female opening  12  are rotatable with respect to each other about the same central axis. The male attachment protrusion  110  can rotate at a depth within the female opening  12  that is deeper inside than the depth of the narrowest width  16 . In some embodiments, there could be obstructions (not shown) within the female opening to restrict rotation to less than a full revolution. Some embodiments have a substantial correspondence in the shape of the female opening  12  and the male attachment member  102 , although they need not be exactly the same. In such embodiments, the complimentary shape of one female opening  12  and a corresponding male attachment member  102  can be completely different from the shape that corresponds between another female opening  12  and its corresponding male attachment member  102 . This could apply even if the female components  10  (or male components  100 ) are affixed to the same surface and/or object. 
         [0062]      FIG. 14  depicts an overhead view embodiment where a fluid (liquid or gas, for example) passageway  122  can form once a male component  100  is coupled to a female component  10 . In other embodiments, a fluid passageway can be formed a male component  100  having sufficient proximity to a female component  10 , even without coupling. In this embodiment, a surgical cushion has a female component  10  affixed, with the female opening  12  being a hole through the entire female component  10 . A male component  100  is affixed to a surface. Fluid (such as gas or liquid) from the surgical cushion can exit through the female opening  12  and into the fluid passageway  122 . Once in the fluid passageway  122 , the fluid can then exit through the male attachment member indentations  106 . In other embodiments, the fluid can instead exit through male mounting member holes  118 . 
         [0063]      FIG. 14A  depicts a side cross-sectional view of the same embodiment, where fluid can flow bi-directionally through the fluid passageways  122 . This means that fluid can also enter through the male attachment member  102  through the male attachment member indentations  106 , through the female opening  12 , and into an affixed surgical cushion (not shown). In other embodiments, the male component  100  and/or the female component  10  may have a 1-way restriction to prevent or at least partially restrict the flow of fluid into either the male component  100  or the female component  10 . 
         [0064]      FIG. 15  depicts an embodiment with a fluid-proof surgical cushion  124  having four affixed female components  10  which have been coupled to four corresponding male components  100  on a flat portion of a surgical table  126 . In some embodiments, the male component  100  is affixed to an object (or surface) such as a surgical cushion  124  and the female component  10  is affixed to a surface (or object) such as a surgical table  126 . Here, there are two couplings  120  between two female components  10  and two male components  100 . There are also two sets of uncoupled male components  100  and female components  10 , where the coupling can be done (for example) by force applied to the top side of the surgical cushion  124  once there has been blind alignment, which can (but need not) further include the sound and feel of a snap-fit. 
         [0065]    In some embodiments (not shown), each female component on a surgical cushion remains coupled to its corresponding male component on the surgical table, even as the surgical table bends. Due to the coupling, the surgical cushion compresses as it bends to conform with the bending surgical table. Air exits the surgical cushion due to the compression. Similarly, the surgical cushion may compress when weight (such as from a patient) is placed upon it. Conversely, air can enter the cushion (for example) when the surgical table where the bending angle of the surgical table is reduced or when weight previously placed upon the surgical cushion is reduced or eliminated. This could occur, for example, when a patient gets off of (or is removed from) a surgical cushion. In this embodiment, the female components provide the only way for fluid to leave or enter the surgical cushion. In various embodiments, some of the female components (or male components  100 ) that are affixed to the same object or surface may have features that are not present in other female components (or male components) in the group, respectively. For example, one female components affixed to a surgical cushion may have a semi-permeable membrane (not shown) on its backing surface. Another female component affixed to the same surgical cushion may lack such a semi-permeable membrane. In other embodiments, a female component  10  can be affixed to a table and a male component  100  can be affixed to a cushion. 
         [0066]      FIG. 16  depicts an embodiment with depicting a coupling  120  in a standard view affixed to a surgical table pad  124  as well as an exploded view of a coupling  120 . The components in the exploded view include a male component  100  on top of a female component  10  which has a semi-permeable membrane  128  affixed to its bottom. The semi-permeable membrane  128  and the female component  10  can sit above a hole  130  in the surgical table pad  124 , which can allow for air flow. Any other type of membrane or filter can be used (or none at all), and a hole  130  is not required. 
         [0067]    This application has been described with reference to several embodiments. Many modifications and alterations will occur to others upon reading and understanding the preceding specification. It is intended that the application be construed as including all such alterations and modifications in so far as they come within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents of these claims.