cushion

Abstract

This cushion provides a material that doesn't give the user the uncomfortable feeling of having a hard object inside, and also prevents water from accumulating inside. [Solution] The cover member 2 is made of a mesh-like sheet material 5 which has greater frictional resistance than fibrous fabric, in the portion that constitutes the lower surface of the cushion 1 when the cushion is in use. The cushion material 3 is made of a three-dimensional mesh-like fiber structure 8 having rubber elasticity and a covering portion 7. The covering portion 7 is a foamed plastic or plastic sponge that covers the three-dimensional mesh-like fiber structure 8, except for the surface portion 8A of the three-dimensional mesh-like fiber structure that faces the mesh-like sheet material 5 when the three-dimensional mesh-like fiber structure 8 is housed inside the cover member 2.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cushion in which water hardly remains inside.

Background Art

[0002] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-113798 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-119761 (Patent Document 2) disclose a cushion in which a cushion material is housed inside a cover member at least a part of which comes into contact with a person during use and is formed of a woven fabric. The cushion material is composed of a three-dimensional network fiber structure and a covering portion that covers only the upper surface of the three-dimensional network fiber structure with a foamed plastic or a plastic sponge.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is harder than foamed plastic or plastic sponge. Therefore, when only the top surface of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is covered with a covering made of foamed plastic or plastic sponge, as in conventional methods, the presence of the corners and sides of the top surface of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is easily perceived by the user through the cover material. Therefore, especially if the user is wearing only thin clothing such as a leotard or swimsuit, they may feel a strong sense of discomfort from the hard object inside the cushion. Furthermore, conventional cushions do not take into account that the user's body may be wet and water flowing from the user's body may seep into the inside of the cushion. Therefore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 do not describe what measures should be taken to prevent water from remaining inside the cushion for corrosion and mold prevention.

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a cushion that does not give the user the discomfort of having a hard object inside the cushioning material, and that does not easily retain water inside. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] This invention relates to a cushion in which a cushioning material is housed within a cover member, the portion of which at least the part that comes into contact with a person during use is made of a fibrous fabric (woven or knitted). In this invention, the portion of the cover member that forms the lower surface of the cushion when the cushion is in use is made of a mesh-like sheet material that has greater frictional resistance than the fibrous fabric. The cushion is composed of a three-dimensional mesh-like fiber structure having rubber elasticity and a covering portion. The covering portion is a foamed plastic (foam, foam) or plastic sponge that covers the three-dimensional mesh-like fiber structure, except for the surface portion of the three-dimensional mesh-like fiber structure that faces the mesh-like sheet material when the three-dimensional mesh-like fiber structure is housed within the cover member.

[0007] According to this invention, when the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is housed within the cover member, a soft covering portion is located between the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure and its corners, excluding the surface portion of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure facing the mesh sheet material, and also covers the sides of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure that are continuous with the corners. As a result, the user can use the cushion without being aware of the presence of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure. Furthermore, water that enters the cushion from above is discharged to the outside of the cover member through the mesh sheet material of the cover member located on the underside of the cushion. Therefore, even if most of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is covered by the covering portion, it is possible to prevent water from remaining inside the cushion.

[0008] In a three-dimensional mesh fiber structure, if the contour shape is hexahedral, and the surface portion of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure facing the mesh sheet material constitutes one face of the hexahedron, it is preferable that the remaining five surface portions of the hexahedron of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure are joined to the covering portion. In this way, the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure and the covering portion become integrated, so even if the cushion is handled roughly, the covering portion will move, preventing the mesh sheet material from being blocked by the covering portion.

[0009] The water absorption of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is preferably such that it does not absorb water that has penetrated through the mesh sheet material up to the covering. In this case, even if water penetrates from outside the cover member through the mesh sheet material, the water will not be absorbed up to the covering via the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure, thereby preventing water from remaining inside the cushion.

[0010] A waterproof film may be placed between the textile fabric and the covering. This prevents water from actively penetrating from the textile fabric side. Preferably, the waterproof film is bonded to the textile fabric. This prevents water from penetrating the covering due to displacement of the waterproof film.

[0011] The textile fabric preferably possesses water-repellent, stain-resistant, and mold-resistant properties. If the textile fabric has these properties, there will be no major problems even if the cushion is used in a place where it may get wet. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0012] [Figure 1] (A) is a perspective view from the front of the cushion used as the seat of a chair placed poolside, with the present invention in an upright position, and (B) is a perspective view from the back of the cushion in Figure 1(A) with the cushion in an upright position. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view of the cushion from the underside, with the zipper opened and some of the cushioning material exposed. [Figure 3] (A) is a perspective view of the cushioning material, and (B) is a cross-sectional view of line BB in Figure 3(A). [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0013] A cushion 1, an example of an embodiment of the present invention, will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Figure 1(A) is a perspective view from the front of the cushion 1, which is used as the seat of a chair placed poolside, in an upright position. Figure 1(B) is a perspective view from the back of the cushion in Figure 1(A), in an upright position. Figure 2 is a perspective view from the back of the cushion with the fastener opened and the cushion material 3 partially exposed. Furthermore, Figure 3(A) is a perspective view of the cushion material 3, and Figure 3(B) is a cross-sectional view along line BB of Figure 3(A). In these figures, the cushion 1 is composed of a cover member 2 and a cushion material 3 housed inside the cover member 2.

[0014] The cover member 2 is constructed with a fibrous fabric (woven or knitted) at least on the parts that come into contact with a person during use (main surface 2A and sides 2B-2E), and the part that becomes the back surface 2F during use is constructed with a mesh-like sheet material 5. The fibrous fabric used in this embodiment is treated with water-repellent, stain-resistant, and mold-resistant finishes, and the water-repellent, stain-resistant, and mold-resistant effects are maintained even after 100 washes and drying cycles. With such properties, the cushion will not be significantly affected even if it is used in a place where it may get wet. In addition, a waterproof film is bonded to the back surface of the fibrous fabric used in this embodiment to prevent water penetration. In this embodiment, a fastener 4 (not shown) is provided on the side surface 2B of the cover member 2, and the cover member 2 is also provided with a string 2G for attachment when attaching it to a chair. As shown in Figure 2, the cushion material 3 is inserted into the inside of the cover member 2 with the fastener 4 open.

[0015] The mesh-like sheet material 5 used on the back surface 2F of the cover member 2 has greater frictional resistance than the fibrous fabric, and this frictional resistance restricts the movement of the cushion 1 to some extent. In addition, the mesh-like sheet material 5 has enough water permeability to allow water that enters the inside of the cover member 2 to be naturally discharged to the outside by gravity.

[0016] As shown in Figure 3, the cushioning material 3 consists of a covering portion 7 and a three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 having rubber elasticity. The covering portion 7 is softer than the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8. The covering portion 7 is a foamed plastic (foam) or plastic sponge that covers the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8, except for the surface portion 8A of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 that faces the mesh sheet material 5 when the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 is housed in the cover member 2. In this embodiment, the covering portion 7 is made of a water-permeable polyurethane foam, which is a type of foamed plastic. Polyurethane foam is obtained by mixing a polyol composition containing a polyol compound, water as a foaming agent, a catalyst, and a foam stabilizer with a polyisocyanate component and reacting them by a conventional method. The covering portion 7 used in this embodiment is made up of a large flat plate portion 7A and narrow strip portions 7B to 7E that are joined to the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 via an adhesive layer 9.

[0017] The three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 is formed from random loops of continuous filaments of a thermoplastic elastic resin. It is preferable to use thermoplastic elastomers such as polyester elastomers, polyamide elastomers, polyurethane elastomers, and polyolefin elastomers as the thermoplastic elastic resin constituting the continuous filaments of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8.

[0018] The three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 has a hexahedral contour shape, and the surface portion 8A of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 facing the mesh sheet material 5 constitutes one face of the hexahedron. The remaining five surface portions of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 and the covering portion 7 are joined by an adhesive layer 9. When the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 8 and the covering portion 7 are integrated by the adhesive layer 9, even if the cushion is handled roughly, the covering portion 7 will move, preventing the mesh sheet material 5 from being blocked by the covering portion 7.

[0019] The water absorption property of the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8 used in this embodiment is such that it does not have the property of sucking up the water that has penetrated through the mesh sheet material 5 to the covering portion 7. Therefore, even if water penetrates from the outside of the cover member 2 through the mesh sheet material 5, the water will not be sucked up to the covering portion 7 via the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8, and this can also prevent water from remaining inside the cushion.

[0020] According to this embodiment, with the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8 housed in the cover member 2, except for the surface portion of the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8 facing the mesh sheet material 5, a covering portion 7 that is softer than the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8 is located between the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8 and the corners of the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8, and also covers the side surfaces of the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8 that are continuous with these corners. As a result, the user can use the cushion without being aware of the presence of the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8. Also, the water that enters from above the cover member 2 into the interior is discharged to the outside of the cover member 2 through the mesh sheet material 5 of the cover member 2 located on the lower surface side of the cushion. Therefore, even if most of the three-dimensional network fiber structure 8 is covered by the covering portion, it is possible to prevent water from remaining inside the cushion.

[0021] In the above embodiment, the covering portion 7 is formed of polyurethane foam, but the covering portion 7 may also be formed of a plastic sponge, that is, a sponge. The foam or sponge used for the covering portion 7 may be of either an open-cell type or a closed-cell type having water permeability.

[0022] The cushion of the above embodiment was a cushion used for the seat surface of a chair, but of course, the present invention can also be applied to a cushion used for the backrest of a chair.

Industrial Applicability

[0023] According to this invention, when the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is housed within the cover member, a soft covering portion is located between the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure and its corners, excluding the surface portion of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure facing the mesh sheet material. This covering portion also covers the sides of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure that are continuous with the corners. As a result, the user can use the cushion without being aware of the presence of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure. Furthermore, water that enters the cushion from above is discharged to the outside of the cover member through the mesh sheet material of the cover member located on the underside of the cushion. Therefore, even if most of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is covered by the covering portion, it is possible to prevent water from remaining inside the cushion. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0024] 1 cushion 2 Cover member 3. Cushioning material 4 Fasteners 5. Mesh-like sheet material 7 Covering part 8. Three-dimensional mesh fiber structure 9 Adhesive layer

Claims

1. A cushion in which cushioning material is housed within a cover member, the part of which at least comes into contact with a person during use is made of textile fabric, The cover member is configured such that the portion forming the lower surface of the cushion when the cushion is in use is made of a mesh-like sheet material that has greater frictional resistance than the fiber fabric. The cushion is characterized in that it comprises a three-dimensional mesh fiber structure having rubber elasticity, and a covering portion made of foamed plastic or plastic sponge that covers the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure, excluding the surface portion of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure that faces the mesh sheet material when the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is housed within the cover member.

2. The three-dimensional mesh fiber structure has a hexahedral contour shape, and the surface portion of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure facing the mesh sheet material constitutes one face of the hexahedral shape. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the five surface portions constituting the remaining five faces of the hexahedron shape of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure are joined to the covering portion.

3. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein the water absorption of the three-dimensional mesh fiber structure is such that water that penetrates through the mesh sheet material is not absorbed up to the covering portion.

4. The cushion according to claim 1, wherein a waterproof film is disposed between the fiber fabric and the covering portion.

5. The cushion according to claim 3, wherein the waterproof film is bonded to the fiber fabric.

6. The cushion according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the aforementioned fiber fabric is water-repellent, stain-resistant, and mold-resistant.

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