Patent Description:
To improve the softness of the bottom part of a pad, a product called "shock-absorbing buffer pad" is usually used on the bottom part of the pad body or inside the pad body, to support the pad body, increase the softness and improve the comfort. For example, in early times, people sleep on wooden board beds or tatami bed. In order to improve the comfort, a thin sleeping pad (such as a Japanese-style sleeping pad) is laid on the wooden board bed or the tatami bed. However, even though the thin sleeping pad provides better softness than sleeping directly on the wooden board bed or tatami bed, it is still not soft and comfortable enough for the sleeper. Therefore, a spring mattress is developed. The product is made by installing springs inside the mattress to greatly increase the softness and comfort. For the mattress, the "spring" is an object similar to the "shock-absorbing buffer pad".

In early times, during outdoor camping, a waterproof pad is laid on the ground before setting up the tent, so that a sleeping bag can be used inside the tent for sleeping. However, the waterproof pad is too hard for sleeping. Later, a soft pad is used inside the tent for better comfort when sleeping inside the sleeping bag. This soft pad can help reduce the feeling of hardness. Apart from outdoor camping, nowadays more and more people use the car as a sleeping room. They drive to an outdoor environment and sleep right inside the car over night. Some people alter the internal space of the car to adapt to home life. This is becoming more and more trendy. When altering the internal space of a vehicle, generally wooden supporting boards are used as the base layer for sleeping. Then a sleeping pad, or a soft pad, or an air mattress is laid on the wooden board to increase the comfort for sleeping. Along with the increasing popularity of in-car sleeping, a "shock-absorbing buffer pad" is developed. The prior-art shock-absorbing buffer pad is a small object. In actual use, an array of the product is placed on the wooden board base layer, so that the wooden board base layer is covered by multiple shock-absorbing buffer pads. Then, a soft pad is laid above the multiple shock-absorbing buffer pads. Thus, when compressed, the multiple shock-absorbing buffer pads can provide an elastic force, providing better comfort for sleeping. It is a truly good product for outdoor sleeping.

However, the structure of the prior-art shock-absorbing buffer pad can only provide one compression stroke, and therefore can only provide one hardness. In other words, the compression stroke of the prior-art shock-absorbing buffer pad cannot be adjusted to change the hardness. Thus, when a plurality of shock-absorbing buffer pads are distributed, the hardness at a particular area cannot be adjusted to increase comfort. This is the biggest shortcoming of the prior-art shock-absorbing buffer pad.

<CIT> discloses an example of shock isolating support.

In view of the shortcoming that the compression stroke of the prior-art shock-absorbing buffer pad cannot be adjusted to change the hardness, the instant inventor has proceeded in research and development and expects to provide a solution to enable adjustment of the compression stroke to change the hardness of the shock-absorbing buffer pads. The present invention has been finally accomplished after long-term research, design, and development, as well as numerous tests.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shock-absorbing buffer pad with adjustable compression stroke to change the hardness.

To achieve the above-mentioned object, the present inventor has developed a special shock-absorbing buffer pad comprising an external compression body, an internal guide slot, and an inserted adjusting component, wherein the external compression body has a top part, a bottom part, and a compression elastic component, the center of the top part is configured with an inserting hole going downward, the bottom part is correspondingly located beneath the top part, the compression elastic component is connected between the top part and the bottom part, the middle section of the compression elastic component has a part folding inward, when the top part is pressed under an external force, the compression elastic component immediately accumulates an inverse elastic force, the internal guide slot is formed on the top surface of the bottom part of the external compression body, and is located inside the internal space of the external compression body, the internal guide slot has an inserting slot exposing upward, one of the internal walls of the inserting slot is formed with a stopping block, the inserted adjusting component has an inserting cylinder, which can be correspondingly inserted into the inserting hole of the top part, the top surface of the inserting cylinder is positioned around the inserting hole, the bottom part of the inserting cylinder is divided into multiple abutting walls, the multiple abutting walls correspond to the stopping block.

According to the above-mentioned shock-absorbing buffer pad, the top part of the external compression body is hexagonal, the center of the top part around the inserting hole has a hexagonal concave positioning slot, the inserting hole is also hexagonal, the bottom part of the external compression body is a hexagonal plane, with its center configured with a connecting hole, each side of hexagonal bottom part corresponds to each side of the hexagonal top part.

According to the above-mentioned shock-absorbing buffer pad, the top surface of the inserted adjusting component is hexagonal, the top cap can be correspondingly held inside the positioning slot of the top part and be positioned, the outer wall of one side of the positioning slot of the top part is configured with an indicator, the internal edge of each side of the top cap is marked with a number, the inserting slot of the internal guide slot has a hexagonal cross section, one of the internal walls is formed with the stopping block, the stopping block and the indicator located above are aligned in the same straight line.

According to the above-mentioned shock-absorbing buffer pad, the central wall of the top cap of the inserted adjusting component is concave and is transversely configured with a gripping rod for gripping.

According to the above-mentioned shock-absorbing buffer pad, an upper position of the stopping block is formed with a slightly convex positioning block, an upper position outside the abutting wall is configured with a bar-shaped and slightly concave positioning hole, the concave position and depth of the positioning hole correspond to the convex position and height of the positioning block.

According to the above-mentioned shock-absorbing buffer pad, the abutting walls of the inserting cylinder bottom part are divided into first abutting wall, second abutting wall, third abutting wall, fourth abutting wall, fifth abutting wall, and sixth abutting wall, the first abutting wall has the lowest position, and the positions rise sequentially, until the highest position of the sixth abutting wall.

According to the above-mentioned shock-absorbing buffer pad, the bottom part of the inserting cylinder is divided into multiple abutting walls, which respectively corresponds to a number marked on the internal edge of each side of the top cap.

According to the above-mentioned shock-absorbing buffer pad, the abutting walls on the bottom part of the inserting cylinder can be divided into first abutting wall, second abutting wall, third abutting wall, fourth abutting wall, fifth abutting wall, and sixth abutting wall, each abutting wall respectively corresponds to a number marked on the internal edge of each side of the top cap.

For better understanding of the technical means of the invention to realize the above object and its functions and benefits, descriptions are provided in detail below with respect to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, the present invention is a shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM>, made up of an external compression body <NUM>, an internal guide slot <NUM>, and an inserted adjusting component <NUM>, wherein, the external compression body <NUM> has a hexagonal top part <NUM>, a hexagonal bottom part <NUM>, and a compression elastic component <NUM> configured separately and connected to between the edges of the top part <NUM> and bottom part <NUM>. The center of the top part <NUM> has a hexagonal concave positioning slot <NUM>, with its center configured with a hexagonal inserting hole <NUM> going downward. The outer wall of one side of the positioning slot <NUM> is configured with an indicator <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG>). The bottom part <NUM> is located beneath the top part. The bottom part <NUM> is a hexagonal plane with all of its sides corresponding to the sides of the top part <NUM>. The center of the bottom part <NUM> is provided with a connecting hole <NUM>. The compression elastic component <NUM> is configured separately and connected between the edges of the top part <NUM> and bottom part <NUM>. The middle section of the compression elastic component <NUM> has a part designed to fold inward (or tilt inward). When the top part <NUM> is pressed under an external force, the in-ward folding or tilting phenomenon of the compression elastic component <NUM> is increased, so that the overall height of the external compression body <NUM> is reduced, and the compression elastic component <NUM> accumulates an inverse elastic force. When the external force disappears, due to the inverse elastic force of the compression elastic component <NUM>, the external compression body <NUM> immediately recovers to its original height and state.

The internal guide slot <NUM> is formed on the top surface of the bottom part <NUM>, and defined inside the internal space of the external compression body <NUM>. The internal guide slot <NUM> has an inserting slot <NUM> going upward. The cross section of the inserting slot <NUM> is hexagonal. Inside the slot, one of the walls is formed with a stopping block <NUM>. The stopping block <NUM> and the indicator <NUM> located above are aligned in the same straight line. A slightly convex positioning block <NUM> is formed above the stopping block <NUM>.

The top surface of the inserted adjusting component <NUM> is hexagonal and can be held inside the top cap <NUM> located in the positioning slot <NUM>. The internal edges of the six sides of the top cap <NUM> are respectively marked with six numbers, namely "<NUM>", "<NUM>", "<NUM>", "<NUM>", "<NUM>", "<NUM>" (see <FIG>, <FIG>). The central wall of the top cap <NUM> is concave and is configured transversely with a gripping rod <NUM> for gripping. The bottom surface of the top cap <NUM> is formed with an inserting cylinder <NUM> with a hexagonal cross section and which can be inserted into (through) the inserting hole <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, the bottom part of the inserting cylinder <NUM> is surrounded with staged abutting walls. Clockwise, they are respectively named as first abutting wall <NUM>, second abutting wall <NUM>, third abutting wall <NUM>, fourth abutting wall <NUM>, fifth abutting wall <NUM> and sixth abutting wall <NUM>. In particular, the height of the first abutting wall <NUM> is largest (i.e., its location is lowest), then the location rises sequentially, until the smallest height of the sixth abutting wall <NUM> (i.e., its location is highest). The cross section of each abutting wall <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> matches that of the stopping block <NUM>. Then, at an upper position outside each abutting wall <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, a bar-shaped and slightly concave positioning hole <NUM> is provided. The concave position and depth of the positioning hole <NUM> matches the convex position and height of the positioning block <NUM>. It is specifically configured and noted that, the first abutting wall <NUM> goes straight upward and corresponds to the internal peripheral edge of the top cap <NUM> marked with the number "<NUM>", the second abutting wall <NUM> goes straight upward and corresponds to the internal peripheral edge of the top cap <NUM> marked with the number "<NUM>", the third abutting wall <NUM> goes straight upward and corresponds to the internal peripheral edge of the top cap <NUM> marked with the number "<NUM>", the fourth abutting wall <NUM> goes straight upward and corresponds to the internal peripheral edge of the top cap <NUM> marked with the number "<NUM>", the fifth abutting wall <NUM> goes straight upward and corresponds to the internal peripheral edge of the top cap <NUM> marked with the number "<NUM>", the sixth abutting wall <NUM> goes straight upward and corresponds to the internal peripheral edge of the top cap <NUM> marked with the number "<NUM>".

Based on the above structure, when producing the external compression body <NUM> and the internal guide slot <NUM>, it is recommended that they are made as an integral body. The inserted adjusting component <NUM> is formed separately. Then, during assembly, the inserting cylinder <NUM> of the inserted adjusting component <NUM> is inserted from the inserting hole <NUM> on the top part <NUM> into the internal space of the external compression body <NUM>, until the top cap <NUM> of the inserted adjusting component <NUM> is stopped inside the hexagonal concave positioning slot <NUM> and fixed. By now, the unused state of the overall shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> is as shown in <FIG>. As the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> is not pressed by an external force at this time, there is still some space between the staged abutting walls <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, particularly the first abutting wall <NUM> with the largest height (i.e., lowest location), on the bottom part of the inserting cylinder <NUM>, and the stopping block <NUM> of the internal guide slot <NUM>, they are not contacting each other. The overall height record of the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> at this point is set as Hnor, and the height Hnor is the overall maximum height, or normal height, of the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM>.

Then, the various usage states of the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> are depicted in <FIG>. Here, "usage state" means the state when the top part <NUM> is subject to an overall downward force that causes downward compression of the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM>. As described above, the bottom part of the inserting cylinder <NUM> is surrounded by staged abutting walls, which are categorized as first abutting wall <NUM>, second abutting wall <NUM>, third abutting wall <NUM>, fourth abutting wall <NUM>, fifth abutting wall <NUM> and sixth abutting wall <NUM> (see <FIG>, <FIG>). Therefore, when any one of the abutting walls (i.e., <NUM> or <NUM> or <NUM> or <NUM> or <NUM> or <NUM>) is aligned to the stopping block <NUM>, the overall height after compression will have different states. The different usage states are described below with reference to <FIG>:.

The shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> of the present invention is suitable for use in combination with a base layer <NUM> (for example: wooden board). Therefore, as shown in <FIG>, firstly the inserted adjusting component <NUM> is pulled out of the external compression body <NUM>, and then a tool (such as a screw driver) is used to screw in a connecting component <NUM> (such as a screw) from the inserting hole <NUM>, which goes through the inserting slot <NUM> and the connecting hole <NUM> and is locked with the base layer <NUM>, so that the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> is stably fixed on surface of the base layer <NUM>. Alternatively, as shown in <FIG>, an adhesive component <NUM> (such as double-sided adhesive tape) can be applied directly between the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> and the base layer <NUM>, to similarly fix the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> on the surface of the base layer <NUM>.

It is better to bond multiple shock-absorbing buffer pads of the present invention <NUM> with the base layer <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a plurality of shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM> are distributed on a base layer <NUM> (such as a wooden board) with the hexagons adjacent to each other with a small space between each other. Alternatively, the top part <NUM> of the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> does not have to be hexagonal. As shown in <FIG>, the top part <NUM> is formed in a square shape. Thus, as shown in <FIG>, when arranging the plurality of shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM>, the array is more of square shape. Therefore, the shape of the top part <NUM> is not limited, and with the same functioning principle, the shape of the bottom part <NUM> of the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> is also not limited.

The base layer <NUM> is mainly used for laying a sleeping pad for sleeping. Therefore, when using the shock-absorbing buffer pad of the present invention <NUM>, the base layer <NUM> must be covered with the multiple shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM> before laying the sleeping pad, and the parts of the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> corresponding to the head, shoulder, back, waist, hip, thigh, and leg must be adjusted in advance for appropriate pressing degrees. Then, the sleeping pad is laid on the multiple shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM>. Thus, when sleeping on the sleeping pad, the body (and the sleeping pad) will be supported by the multiple shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM>. Because the parts of the shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM> corresponding to different parts of the body are already adjusted for different pressing degrees, the different parts of the body will feel the different supporting and cushioning forces. Then, when the pressure from sleeping is removed, due to the inverse elastic force of the compression elastic components <NUM>, the unpressed shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM> will return to its original height and state.

Generally speaking, the head, shoulder, and back part of the human body are best supported by a hard supporting and cushioning force. Therefore, the inserting cylinders <NUM> of the shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM> corresponding to the head, shoulder, and back part of the human body are adjusted in advance to align the first abutting wall <NUM> or second abutting wall <NUM> of the bottom part to the stopping block <NUM>. Thus, when the human body lies on the sleeping pad, the ranges of the head, shoulder, and back will sink to the position where the first abutting wall <NUM> or second abutting wall <NUM> touches the stopping block <NUM> and be limited. Therefore, the compression stroke is shorter, and relatively the supporting and cushioning force is harder.

For the waist and thigh parts of the human body, a medium supporting and cushioning force is more appropriate. Therefore, the inserting cylinders <NUM> of the shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM> corresponding to the range of the waist and thigh of the human body can be adjusted to let the third abutting wall <NUM> or fourth abutting wall <NUM> of the bottom part be aligned to the stopping block <NUM>. Thus, when the human body lies on the sleeping pad, the area corresponding to the waist and thigh parts will sink until the third abutting wall <NUM> or fourth abutting wall <NUM> touches the stopping block <NUM> and then be limited. This creates a medium compression stroke, and relatively a medium supporting and cushioning force. Similarly, the inserting cylinders <NUM> of the shock-absorbing buffer pads <NUM> corresponding to the hip and leg parts of the human body can be adjusted, to let the fifth abutting wall <NUM> or sixth abutting wall <NUM> of the bottom part be aligned to the stopping block <NUM>. Thus, when the human body lies on the sleeping pad, the area corresponding to the hip and leg will sink until the fifth abutting wall <NUM> or sixth abutting wall <NUM> touches the stopping block <NUM> and then be limited. This creates a long compression stroke, and relatively a soft supporting and cushioning force.

In the above embodiment, the compression elastic component <NUM> is made of a curved material tilting inward. When the top part <NUM> is pressed by an external force, the inward-tilting curve of the compression elastic component <NUM> will be intensified to accumulate an inverse elastic force. Therefore, with the same functioning principle, the compression elastic component <NUM> does not have to be in the design shown in <FIG>, other styles like the compression elastic component <NUM> shown in <FIG>, or the compression elastic component <NUM> shown in <FIG>, or the compression elastic component <NUM> shown in <FIG> can be applied. They can be configured separately and connected between the edges of the top part <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM>. The middle section of the compression elastic component <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> also has a part and shape folding inward. Therefore, when the compression elastic components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are respectively connected between the edges of the top part <NUM> and the bottom part <NUM>, as long as the top part <NUM> is pressed by an external force, the compression elastic components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> will likewise have intensified folding, causing lowered height of the external compression bodies <NUM>, and the compression elastic components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> will accumulate an inverse elastic force. When the external force disappears, the inverse elastic force of the compression elastic components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> will push the external compression bodies <NUM> to recover to its original height and state. Therefore, all compression elastic components similar to the compression elastic components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> with varied designs but same structure and function fall within the patent scope of the present invention.

From the above descriptions, it can be concluded that, the main feature of the present invention is that the structure of the shock-absorbing buffer pad <NUM> is made up of an external compression body, an internal guide slot, and an inserted adjusting component. The external compression body has a top part, a bottom part, and a compression elastic component. The center of the top part is configured with an inserting hole going downward. The bottom part is correspondingly located beneath the top part. The compression elastic component is connected between the top part and the bottom part. The middle section of the compression elastic component has a part that is folded inward. When the top part is pressed by an external force, the compression elastic component will immediately accumulate an inverse elastic force. The internal guide slot is formed on the top surface of the bottom part of the external compression body, and is located inside the internal space of the external compression body. The internal guide slot has an inserting slot going upward. The wall body inside the inserting slot is formed with a stopping block. The inserted adjusting component has an inserting cylinder, which can be correspondingly inserted into the inserting hole of the top part. The top surface of the inserting cylinder is positioned around the inserting hole. The bottom part of the inserting cylinder is divided into multiple abutting walls. The abutting walls correspond to the stopping block.

Claim 1:
A shock-absorbing buffer pad (<NUM>), comprised of an external compression body (<NUM>), an internal guide slot (<NUM>), and an inserted adjusting component (<NUM>), where the external compression body has a top part (<NUM>), a bottom part (<NUM>), and a compression elastic component (<NUM>), the center of the top part is configured with an inserting hole (<NUM>) going downward, the bottom part is correspondingly located beneath the top part, the compression elastic component is connected between the top part and the bottom part, the middle section of the compression elastic component has a part folding inward, when the top part is pressed under an external force, the compression elastic component immediately accumulates an inverse elastic force, the internal guide slot is formed on the top surface of the bottom part of the external compression body, and is located inside the internal space of the external compression body, the internal guide slot has an inserting slot (<NUM>) exposing upward, one of the internal walls of the inserting slot is formed with a stopping block (<NUM>), the inserted adjusting component has an inserting cylinder (<NUM>), which can be correspondingly inserted into the inserting hole of the top part, the top surface of the inserting cylinder is positioned around the inserting hole, the bottom part of the inserting cylinder is divided into multiple abutting walls, the multiple abutting walls correspond to the stopping block.