Bedsore preventing cushion and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

Provided are a bedsore preventing cushion 1 and a method of manufacturing the same. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 includes: a base unit 10; an upper plate member 20 disposed on an upper surface of the base unit 10 and forming a plurality of air cells UT protruded on the upper surface of the base unit 10; and a first filling material 41 filled in a space unit 30 which is an inner space of the air cell UT, the first filling material 41 including an elastic gel unit including a plurality of through-holes spaced apart from one another by partition walls and having elasticity and ductility.

Description

[TECHNICAL FIELD]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a bedsore preventing cushion and a method of manufacturing the same, and more specifically, to an air pad type bedsore preventing cushion capable of maintaining a pressure dispersion effect even when an air pocket is damaged by filling the air pocket using a filling material (or a first filling material) including an elastic gel unit in an air chamber within the air pocket, so that thereby preventing skin damage caused by a rapid increase in pressure on a skin contact surface.[BACKGROUND]

[0002] Generally, a bedsore refers to a skin injury caused by shearing force or frictional force and an increase in pressure on a contact surface after the prolonged contact with a bottom surface of a protruding bone part, in other words, a protruding part such as head, shoulders, elbow and hip, of a patient sitting or lying for a long time.

[0003] Conventionally, as an air pad type cushion including a plurality of air pockets, manufacturing is being made for an air pad type bedsore preventing cushion capable of preventing a bedsore by dispersing pressure by making inside air between air chambers in a plurality of air pockets flow by a pressure applied to a contact surface of a cushion and human skin during weight bearing.

[0004] In the case of the conventional air pad type bedsore preventing cushion, when an air pocket is damaged, the air inside the air pocket is discharged outside through a damaged portion, and thus a pressure dispersion function is destroyed and a bedsore preventing function is declined.

[0005] In addition, in order to address this issue, a filling material such as urethane foam is filled in an air chamber inside an air pocket. However, the air flow is interrupted by the urethane foam, and thus the air dispersion efficiency in accordance with a pressure change is declined. When a user sits for a long period of time, the pressure of the damaged part is rather increased, thereby disrupting blood flow. In addition, the urethane foam becomes hardened with temperature or time, and thus the speed of restoring the shape may be slow, thereby declining bedsore preventing efficiency.

[0006] Accordingly, there is a need to develop a bedsore preventing cushion and a method of manufacturing the same that do not decline the function of preventing bedsores by minimizing the decline in air dispersion efficiency even when an air pocket is damaged.[SUMMARY]

[0007] The present disclosure has been devised to obviate the above limitation. An aspect of the present disclosure is directed to providing an air pad type bedsore preventing cushion that allows easy pressure dispersion and air flow using a filling material (or a first filling material) even when an air pocket is damaged by filling the air pocket using the filling material (or the first filling material) including an elastic gel unit in an air chamber within the air pocket, so that bedsore preventing efficiency is excellent even when the air pocket is damaged.

[0008] The aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other aspects not mentioned herein will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

[0009] A bedsore preventing cushion according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a base unit; an upper plate member disposed on an upper surface of the base unit and forming a plurality of air cells protruded on the upper surface of the base unit; and a first filling material filled in a space unit which is an inner space of the air cell, the first filling material including an elastic gel unit including a plurality of through-holes spaced apart from one another by partition walls and having elasticity and ductility.

[0010] In some embodiments, the elastic gel unit may include: an upper layer formed with a plurality of first through-holes penetrated along a height direction, the plurality of first through-holes being spaced apart from one another by a first partition wall and being formed continuously; a lower layer disposed at a lower portion of the upper layer, formed with a plurality of second through-holes penetrated along the height direction, the plurality of second through-holes being spaced apart from one another by a second partition wall and being formed continuously; and a central rib formed to connect the partition walls facing each other at at least one point among the first through-hole, the second through-hole, and a connecting portion where the first through-hole and the second through-hole are in communication.

[0011] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of first through-holes and each of the plurality of second through-holes may be in one-to-one correspondence and communicate each other in the height direction. The center of the first through-hole and the center of the second through-hole may coincide, and the center of the first partition wall and the center of the second partition wall may coincide with each other. The maximum thickness of the first partition wall connected to each other may be formed thinner than the minimum thickness of the second partition wall.

[0012] In some embodiments, the height direction of the space unit and penetration directions of the first through-hole and the second through-hole may be parallel.

[0013] In some embodiments, a height of the first filling material may be 30% to 100% relative to a height of the space unit.

[0014] In some embodiments, there may be further included a second filling material which is disposed at an upper portion of the first filling material within the space unit and is a different type from the first filling material.

[0015] In some embodiments, the plurality of air cells are disposed apart from one another in a plane. The upper plate member includes: a plurality of air cell units which are spaced apart from the upper surface of the base unit and form each of the plurality of air cells; and a bonding unit connecting the plurality of air cell units to one another. The space unit may be a separation space between the base unit and the air cell unit.

[0016] In some embodiments, the first filling material may be disposed between the base unit and the air cell unit, and the second filling material may be disposed between the first filling material and the air cell unit.

[0017] In some embodiments, the second filling material may include a porous foam member.

[0018] The present disclosure has been devised to obviate the above limitation. By disposing the first filling material including the elastic gel unit whose elastic force and dispersion force are excellent in an air chamber within an air pocket, the pressure dispersion as well as the air flow are facilitated by the second filling while maintaining the pressure dispersing function by the first filling material. Accordingly, even when the air pocket is damaged, the decrease in the pressure dispersing efficiency of the bedsore preventing cushion can be minimized.

[0019] The benefits of the present disclosure are not limited to those mentioned above, and other benefits not mentioned may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.[BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS]

[0020] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a bedsore preventing cushion according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bedsore preventing cushion according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of one air pocket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one example of a first filling material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing one example of the first filling material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the first filling material taken along line A-A' of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another example of the first filling material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a bedsore preventing cushion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of one air pocket included in the bedsore preventing cushion according to FIG. 8. [DETAILED DESCRIPTION]

[0021] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the same will be apparent from the embodiments that will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted, however, that the technical ideas of the present disclosure are not limited to the following embodiments, and may be implemented in various different forms. Rather the embodiments are provided so that the technical ideas of the present disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the present disclosure to those skilled in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains. It is to be noted that the technical ideas of the present disclosure are defined only by the claims.

[0022] In adding reference numerals for elements in each drawing, it should be noted that like reference numerals designate like elements wherever possible even though elements are shown in other drawings. Furthermore, in describing the present disclosure, a detailed description of the related known functions and constructions will be omitted if it is deemed to make the gist of the present disclosure vague.

[0023] Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains. It will be understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein. Terms used in the specification are used to describe embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. In the specification, the terms in singular form may include plural forms unless otherwise specified.

[0024] In addition, in the description of the components of the embodiment of the present disclosure, the terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), and (b) may be used. These terms are merely used to distinguish the components from other components, and do not delimit an essence, an order or a sequence of the corresponding components. When it is described that a component is "connected", "coupled", or "jointed" to another component, the description may include not only being directly connected, coupled or joined to the other component but also being "connected" "coupled" or "joined" by another component between the component and the other component.

[0025] The terms "comprises" and / or "comprising" used herein do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other components, steps, operations, and / or elements, in addition to the mentioned components, steps, operations, and / or elements.

[0026] Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0027] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional side view of a bedsore preventing cushion according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is a plan view of a bedsore preventing cushion according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of one air pocket according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, a bedsore preventing cushion 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may have a plurality of protruding air cells UT arranged and connected in a communicating structure.

[0029] In some embodiments, the air cells UT may be arranged in a matrix shape spaced apart from one another at prescribed intervals along a first direction X and a second direction Y on a plane. However, without being limited thereto, the air cells UT may be arranged randomly or alternately arranged with respect to one another along rows and columns.

[0030] In an embodiment, the bedsore preventing cushion 1 includes: a base unit 10; an upper plate member 20 disposed on an upper surface of the base unit 10 and forming a plurality of air cells UT spaced apart from one another on a plane; a space unit 30 which is an inner space of the air cells UT defined as a separation space between the base unit 10 and the upper plate member 20; and a first filling material 41 disposed in the space unit 30.

[0031] The bedsore preventing cushion 1 may be used as pillows, rugs, etc., and may also be used in a form covered with an outer covering such as a fabric material. In FIG. 2, the plane shape of the bedsore preventing cushion 1 is illustrated as being rectangle; however, the plane shape of the bedsore preventing cushion 1 is not limited thereto.

[0032] The base unit 10 defines the entire plane shape of the bedsore preventing cushion 1. The base unit 10 is made of a soft material or an elastic material, and thus may be stretched or bent within a certain range. In this connection, the material of the base unit 10 may be the same material as the upper plate member 20 disposed at an upper portion of the base unit 10.

[0033] It is not limited thereto, but the base unit 10 may include at least one of thermoplastic polyurethane, natural rubber, or synthetic rubber.

[0034] The upper plate member 20 may be disposed on an upper surface of the base unit 10. The upper plate member 20 may include an air cell unit 21 and a bonding unit 22.

[0035] The air cell unit 21 may be spaced apart from the base unit 10 so as to form a plurality of air cells UT protruded on an upper surface of the base unit 10. As the upper surface of the base unit 10 and the air cell unit 21 are spaced apart, the space unit 30 may be formed inside the air cell UT. The air cell unit 21 is made of a soft material or an elastic material. When the air cell unit 21 is pressed by external force, its shape changes into a distorted or bent form. When the external force is removed, the air cell unit 21 returns to its original shape. As described below, the shape of the air cell unit 21 may be easily restored by the first filling material 41 disposed at a lower portion of the air cell unit 21.

[0036] The bonding unit 21 may perform functions of connecting the plurality of air cell units 21 spaced apart from one another to one another and mutually bonding the upper plate member 20 and the base unit 10. As described above, the upper plate member 20 may include at least one material among the exemplary materials of the base unit 10.

[0037] The space unit 30 which is an inner space of the plurality of air cells UT spaced apart from one another along X and Y directions on a plane may be connected to communicate by a communicating flow path 50. As the space unit 30 inside the plurality of air cells UT is mutually communicated by the communicating flow path 50, when external force due to the weight of a seated person is applied, the air filled in the space unit 30 within the air cell UT may be dispersed to the surroundings as the air flows to another adjacently disposed air cell UT.

[0038] In an embodiment, the first filling material 41 may be inserted or filled within the space unit 30. In some other embodiments, the filling material inserted or filled within the space unit 30 may further include the first filling material 41 as well as a second filling material 42 (see FIGS. 8 and 9) which is a different type of a filling material from the first filling material 41.

[0039] The first filling material 41 may include at least one elastic gel unit having elasticity and ductility and having a plurality of through-holes and partition walls.

[0040] Referring to FIG. 3, the height h1 of the first filling material 41 disposed within the space unit 30 may be 30% to 100% or 35% to 90% relative to the height h2 of the space unit 30. When the height h1 of the first filling material 41 is 30% or less relative to the height h2 of the space unit 30, the pressure dispersion effect may decline.

[0041] In some embodiments, the planar area of the first filling material 41 may be 80% to 110%, or 85% to 100% of the planar area of the space unit 30. When the planar area of the first filling material 41 is 80% or less relative to the planar area of the space unit 30, the pressure dispersion effect may decline.

[0042] Hereinafter, the structure of the first filling material 41 will be described in detail.

[0043] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing one example of a first filling material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a plan view showing one example of the first filling material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the first filling material taken along line A-A' of FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing another example of the first filling material according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0044] Referring to FIGS. 4 to 6, as described above, the first filling material 41 may include at least one elastic gel unit having a plurality of through-holes 4111, 4121 and partition walls 4112, 4122. The elastic gel unit has a structure in which a plurality of through-holes extending along a height direction Z are arranged and spaced apart from one another by partition walls. When a pressure is applied to at least some partition walls, the elastic gel unit has a structure in which a pressure is dispersed by surrounding partition walls, so that the pressure is dispersed efficiently. In addition, a through-hole is formed therein, so that the movement of air is easy, thereby preventing a shock more stably.

[0045] In some embodiments, the elastic gel unit may include three or more through-holes. As illustrated in FIG. 5 or 7, there may be included seven or eight through-holes. However, the number of through-holes included in one elastic gel unit is not limited thereto. The number of through-holes included in the elastic gel unit may be appropriately adjusted according to the pressure applied and the dispersion efficiency.

[0046] In some embodiments, the first filling material 41 or the elastic gel unit includes an upper layer 411, a lower layer 412, and a central rib 413.

[0047] The upper layer 411 may be formed with the plurality of first through-holes 4111 penetrated along a height direction or a Z direction, and may include the plurality of first through-holes 4111 continuously formed while being spaced apart from one another in an X direction or a Y direction perpendicular to the Z direction by the first partition wall 4112. The upper layer 411 may be formed with an opening penetrated along the Z direction by the first through-hole 4111 and having an open upper portion, and a hollow therein through which outside air may be introduced.

[0048] The lower layer 412 may be disposed at a lower portion of the upper layer 411 and may extend downward from the upper layer 411. The lower layer 412 may be formed with the plurality of second through-holes 4121 penetrated along a Z direction, and may include the plurality of second through-holes 4121 continuously formed while being spaced apart from one another in an X direction or a Y direction perpendicular to the Z direction by the second partition wall 4122. The lower layer 412 may be formed with an opening penetrated along the Z direction by the second through-hole 4121 and having an open lower portion, and a hollow therein.

[0049] In some embodiments, each of the plurality of first through-holes and each of the plurality of second through-holes may be in one-to-one correspondence and communicate each other in a height direction.

[0050] In some embodiments, a cross-sectional shape of the plurality of first through-holes 4111 (a planar shape or a cross-sectional shape) and a cross-sectional shape of the plurality of second through-holes 4121 (a planar shape or a cross-sectional shape) may be a polygon or circle. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, a cross-sectional shape of the plurality of first through-holes 4111 (a planar shape or a cross-sectional shape) and a cross-sectional shape of the plurality of second through-holes 4121 (a planar shape or a cross-sectional shape) may be a hexagon, and may be a quadrangle, a triangle, or a circle, without being limited thereto. It is not limited thereto, but the cross-sectional shapes of the plurality of first through-holes 4111 and the plurality of second through-holes 4121 according to an embodiment may be hexagons, and the first filling material 41 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may adopt a honeycomb structure.

[0051] A cross-sectional shape of the first through-hole 4111 and a cross-sectional shape of the second through-hole 4121 may have a shape similar to each other. The center of the first through-hole 4111 and the center of the second through-hole 4121 may coincide, and the center of the first partition wall 4112 and the center of the second partition wall 4122 may coincide with each other.

[0052] The hollow formed inside the first through-hole 4111 communicates with the hollow formed inside the second through-hole 4121. Hence, the air introduced through the opening of the first through-hole 4111 may be discharged through the opening of the second through-hole 4121, or vice versa, the air introduced through the opening of the second through-hole 4121 may be discharged through the opening of the first through-hole 4111.

[0053] The upper layer 411 and the lower layer 412 may be bonded integrally.

[0054] The thickness t2 of the second partition wall 4122 included in the lower layer 412 may be formed thicker than the thickness t1 of the first partition wall 4112 included in the upper layer 411 and connected to the second partition wall 4122 in correspondence with each other. As used herein, the thickness t1 of the first partition wall 4112 and the thickness t2 of the second partition wall 4122 may refer to a width in an X or Y direction.

[0055] As the thickness t1 of the first partition wall 4112 surrounding the first through-hole 4111 corresponding to each other is formed thinner than the thickness t2 of the second partition wall 4122 surrounding the second through-hole 4121, the size of the first through-hole 4111 may be larger than the size of the second through-hole 4121 in communication with the first through-hole 4111.

[0056] The thickness of the first partition wall 4112 may be in a range of 0.3 mm to 3 mm, and the thickness t2 of the second partition wall 4122 may be thicker than the thickness of the first partition wall 4112. In addition, the diameter of the first through-hole 4111 may be in a range of 5 mm to 50 mm, without being limited thereto.

[0057] The central rib 413 may be formed to connect the partition walls facing each other at at least one point among the first through-hole 4111, the second through-hole 4121, and a connecting portion where the first through-hole 4111 and the second through-hole 4121 are in communication. Specifically, both ends of the central rib 413 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are formed to be connected to the partition walls facing each other. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 5 or 7, when a cross-sectional shape of the through-hole is a regular hexagon, the central rib 413 is formed to connect three pairs of partition walls facing each other.

[0058] However, the shape of the central rib 413 is limited to that illustrated in FIG. 5 or 7, and the central rib 413 may be implemented in various shapes such as a straight or crisscross according to a cross-sectional shape of the through-hole.

[0059] The central rib 413 connects the partition walls horizontally, and thus supports the first partition wall 4112 and the second partition wall 4122 horizontally, thereby preventing a great deformation of the upper layer 411 and the lower layer 412 due to the weight of a seated person.

[0060] In some embodiments, the upper layer 411, the lower layer 412, and the central rib 413 may be configured of a copolymer of polystyrene polymer and polypropylene. The polystyrene polymer may be SEBS (styrene-(ethylene / butylene)-styrene block copolymer) or SEEPS (polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene-ethylene / propylene)-block polystyrene). In some embodiments, the upper layer 411, the lower layer 412, and the central rib 413 may be formed of a ductile rubber material selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, silicone rubber, acrylic rubber, hydrogenated Nitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), epichlorohydrin rubber, chlorosulfonated polyethylene rubber, chlorinated polyethylene rubber, and butyl acrylate-ethyl acrylate-acrylonitrile rubber; a jelly-like material, or a soft resin. In addition, the upper layer 411, the lower layer 412, and the central rib 413 may be formed of a variety of known natural material or synthetic material having elasticity and ductility.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 6, the upper layer 411 and the lower layer 412 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be divided based on the central rib 413. Specifically, based on the central rib 413, the upper layer 411 may be disposed at an upper portion and the lower layer 412 may be disposed at a lower portion.

[0062] In this connection, the thickness t1 of the first partition wall 4112 of the upper layer 411 may be formed to be constant (the same) along the height direction Z, the thickness t2 of the second partition wall 4122 of the lower layer 412 may also be formed to be constant (the same) along the height direction Z, and the width of the first through-hole 4111 may be formed to be wider than the width of the second through-hole 4121. Accordingly, when a load is applied to the first filling material 41, the first partition wall 4112 is properly deformed by the weight of a seated person to disperse the weight, and the second partition wall 4122 having a relatively thick cross-sectional width may firmly support the weight of the seated person.

[0063] The structures of the first partition wall 112 and the second partition wall 122 may also be implemented in another aspect. For example, the thickness t1 of the first partition wall 4112 and the thickness t2 of the second partition wall 4122 may be formed to become thin along the height direction Z. In addition, the thickness t1 of the first partition wall 4112 may be formed to become thin along the height direction Z, and the thickness t2 of the second partition wall 4122 may be formed to become thick along the height direction Z.

[0064] It is not limited thereto, but the space unit 30 may have a cylindrical shape at a lower portion and a hemispherical shape at an upper portion, and the lower portion of the space unit 30 may have a volume with a width of 3.8 cm in an X direction, a width of 3.8 cm in a Y direction, and a height of 6 cm.

[0065] In this connection, the height h1 of the first filling material 41 may be 5.5 cm, the height h12 of the lower layer 412 may be 2.0 cm, the width D1 of the elastic gel unit in an X direction may be 3.84 cm, and the width D2 thereof in a Y direction may be 3.84 cm. In this connection, the pressure dispersion efficiency may be at a maximum, without being limited thereto.

[0066] Although it is not illustrated in the drawing, the bedsore preventing cushion 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include an air injection unit for injecting the air into the space unit 30 and an air control valve for injecting the air.

[0067] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, the first filling material 41 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be filled such that the direction in which the plurality of through-holes 4111 penetrate within the space unit 30 is parallel to the Z direction or the height direction. Accordingly, the load applied from an upper portion of the air cell unit 21 may be uniformly dispersed by the first filling material 41 filled in the space unit 30. In addition, also even when the air cell unit 21 of the upper plate member 20 is damaged, in case the space unit 30 is empty space, the first filling material 41 performs the function of dispersing the load, thereby minimizing the decline in air dispersion efficiency.

[0068] In some embodiments, the number of the elastic gel units filled in the space unit 30 may be one or more. Preferably, the number of the elastic gel units filled in the space unit 30 may be three or more. When the number of the elastic gel units is three or more, the pressure dispersion effect may be improved. However, the number of the elastic gel units is described based on the case where the number of through-holes formed in one elastic gel unit is seven or eight, and the number of the elastic gel units may be adjusted differently depending on the number of through-holes formed in the elastic gel unit.

[0069] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a bedsore preventing cushion according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional side view of one air pocket included in the bedsore preventing cushion according to FIG. 8.

[0070] Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, only the difference from the bedsore preventing cushion 1 according to FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the bedsore preventing cushion 1 according to another embodiment may further include the second filling material 42. Specifically, the bedsore preventing cushion 1 may further include the second filling material 42 that is disposed on the space unit 30 and is disposed at an upper portion of the first filling material 41 and is different from the first filling material 41.

[0072] In the case where the second filling material 42 is further included, the first filling material 41 is disposed at a lower portion of the second filling material 42 and further performs the function of assisting in dispersing the pressure of the second filling material 42 and stably maintaining the second filling material 42.

[0073] The second filling material 42 may be disposed at an upper portion of the first filling material 41 within the space unit 30. In other words, the second filling material 42 may be disposed between the first filling material 41 and the air cell unit 21. The second filling material 42 may be a member inserted and received within the space unit 30 for maintaining or restoring the shape of the upper portion of the air cell UT or the air cell unit 21.

[0074] The second filling material 42 may include a porous foam member that allows air to be received and pass through. The second filling material 42 may have a size and shape corresponding to the upper portion of the space unit 30 within the air cell UT. The second filling material 42 is processed into a size and shape corresponding to each upper portion of the space unit 30 through a process of cutting the porous foam member, and may have a structure corresponding to an array of air holes.

[0075] The second filling material 42 may more stably support downward loads that act differently on each of the plurality of air cells UT. In addition, the shape restoration of each of the air cells UT may also be accomplished more quickly and stably. The second filling material 42 may be configured of, but is not limited to, polyurethane or memory foam. For example, the second filling material 42 may be made of a material that may maintain or restore its shape by exerting elastic force in response to pressure applied by the sitting of a user, and that allows air to pass through, without being limited thereto.

[0076] A method of manufacturing the bedsore preventing cushion 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include: preparing a material of the upper plate member 20; molding the material of the upper plate member 20; molding an elastic gel unit configuring the first filling material 41; filling the elastic gel unit in the space unit 30; bonding a base unit and the upper plate member; and installing an air control valve.

[0077] The bedsore preventing cushion 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is made to have a smooth ventilation structure with the first filling material 41, allowing air to flow smoothly inside, thereby effectively emitting sweat that may occur when sitting and evenly dispersing the load caused by the weight of a seated person to provide a comfortable sitting sensation.

[0078] In addition, the bedsore preventing cushion 1 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is configured so that the first filling material 41 is disposed at a lower portion of the second filling material 42, the second filling material 42 assists in dispersing the load due to the weight of a seated person more evenly, and the shape of the air cell unit 21 may be maintained even when the air cell unit 21 is damaged because the air flows smoothly inside.

[0079] The bedsore preventing cushion 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may more efficiently disperse pressure and move air by supplementing the disadvantage that air may be discharged to the outside and cause air flow inside when the air cell unit 21 is damaged when only the second filling material 42 is filled in the space unit 30. In addition, the lifetime use of the bedsore preventing cushion 1 the may be prolonged by adopting the first filling material that is not hardened by temperature or time differently from the second filling material that is hardened over time or by temperature.

[0080] In addition, by filling the first filling material 41 including the elastic gel unit in the space unit 30, the load applied from an upper portion of the air cell unit 21 may be uniformly dispersed by the first filling material 41 filled in the space unit 30. In addition, also even when the air cell unit 21 of the upper plate member 20 is damaged, in case the space unit 30 is empty space, the first filling material 41 performs the function of dispersing the load, thereby minimizing the decline in air dispersion efficiency.

[0081] Hereinbefore, although all of the components configuring the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described as being combined together or as operating in concert with each other, the technical spirit of the present disclosure is not necessarily limited to these embodiments. In other words, one or more components may be selected from the entire components to be combined together and be implemented in a combined form within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0082] In addition, hereinbefore, although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described with reference to appended drawings, it should be understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains that the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without changing the technical principles or essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, the embodiments described above should be regarded as being illustrative rather than restrictive in every aspect. The scope of protection of the present disclosure should be determined on the basis of the descriptions in the appended claims, and all technical ideas within the scope of equivalents thereof should be construed as being included in the scope of right of the technical ideas defined in the present disclosure. Description of Reference Numerals1:bedsore preventing cushion10:base unit20:upper plate member30:space unit41:first filling material42:second filling material50:communicating flow pathUT:air cell

Claims

1. A bedsore preventing cushion 1, comprising: a base unit 10; an upper plate member 20 disposed on an upper surface of the base unit 10 and forming a plurality of air cells UT protruded on the upper surface of the base unit 10; and a first filling material 41 filled in a space unit 30 which is an inner space of the air cell UT, the first filling material 41 comprising an elastic gel unit comprising a plurality of through-holes spaced apart from one another by partition walls and having elasticity and ductility.

2. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 of claim 1, wherein the elastic gel unit comprises: an upper layer formed with a plurality of first through-holes penetrated along a height direction, the plurality of first through-holes being spaced apart from one another by a first partition wall and being formed continuously; a lower layer disposed at a lower portion of the upper layer, formed with a plurality of second through-holes penetrated along the height direction, the plurality of second through-holes being spaced apart from one another by a second partition wall and being formed continuously; and a central rib formed to connect the partition walls facing each other at at least one point among the first through-hole, the second through-hole, and a connecting portion where the first through-hole and the second through-hole are in communication.

3. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 of claim 2, wherein: each of the plurality of first through-holes and each of the plurality of second through-holes are in one-to-one correspondence and communicate each other in the height direction; the center of the first through-hole and the center of the second through-hole coincide, and the center of the first partition wall and the center of the second partition wall coincide with each other; and the maximum thickness of the first partition wall connected to each other is formed thinner than the minimum thickness of the second partition wall.

4. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 of claim 2, wherein the height direction of the space unit 30 and penetration directions of the first through-hole and the second through-hole are parallel.

5. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 of claim 2, wherein a height of the first filling material 41 is 30% to 100% relative to a height of the space unit 30.

6. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 of claim 1, further comprising a second filling material 42 which is disposed at an upper portion of the first filling material 41 within the space unit 30 and is a different type from the first filling material 41.

7. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 of claim 6, wherein: the plurality of air cells UT are disposed apart from one another in a plane; the upper plate member 20 comprises: a plurality of air cell units which are spaced apart from the upper surface of the base unit 10 and form each of the plurality of air cells UT; and a bonding unit connecting the plurality of air cell units to one another; and the space unit 30 is a separation space between the base unit 10 and the air cell unit.

8. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 of claim 7, wherein: the first filling material 41 is disposed between the base unit 10 and the air cell unit; and the second filling material 42 is disposed between the first filling material 41 and the air cell unit.

9. The bedsore preventing cushion 1 of claim 6, wherein the second filling material 42 comprises a porous foam member.

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