Shapeable pad

Abstract

The invention relates to a pad (1) to be placed between a body part (2) and an object (3) that is pressed against the body part (2) while being worn, wherein provision is made for a pad surround (1.1) containing a filling (1.2). The invention also relates to a pad element (4), to an acoustic damping element (1), to a method for shaping a pad (1), to the use of hydrated salt and the crystallization properties thereof to modify the shape of a pad (1), and to a system comprising a pad (1).

Description

[0001] Moldable cushion

[0002] The invention relates to a cushion for placing between a body part and an object which is placed against the body part when worn, wherein a cushion cover with a filling is provided.

[0003] The invention also relates to a cushioning element, a method for molding a cushion, the use of hydrated salt and its crystallization properties for changing the shape of a cushion, and a system comprising a cushion.

[0004] There are already known cushions that are heated to mold or adapt to the shape of a body part against which they are placed. After subsequent cooling, usually during the application, they retain their new shape. These are usually low-density foams.

[0005] Heat pads containing hydrated salt are also known, whereby the heat of the exothermic crystallization process is used to warm the hands.

[0006] The invention is based on the object of designing and arranging a cushion in such a way that improved comfort and improved acoustic properties are ensured.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that the filling is hydrated salt or a supercooled liquid. This ensures that the cushion is soft and adaptable before crystallization and retains its shape after crystallization. In addition, the crystallized hydrated salt or the hardened supercooled liquid has a relatively high density, which is significantly greater than that of foam. This is accompanied by improved sound insulation through improved sound absorption, particularly in lower frequency ranges. According to the invention, this object is also achieved by an acoustic damping element with an outer shell and an acoustically dampening filling, wherein the filling is a hydrated salt or a supercooled liquid.In the case of hydrated salts (salt hydrates, water-containing salts) such as sodium acetate and water, which together form the compound "sodium acetate trihydrate", the salt dissolves only slightly in the water at room temperature. If the temperature is increased, the salt dissolves completely in the water. Upon cooling, the sodium acetate remains "forcedly dissolved" and does not crystallize, as would be the case with a saline solution, for example. However, it crystallizes quickly when crystallization nuclei are created, for example by a sound or pressure pulse. According to the invention, this process of crystallization, starting from the liquid state, is used to mold the cushioning element to a body shape. The shape of the cushioning element can be optimally adapted to the body shape in the liquid state. Due to the crystallization, the cushioning element retains its shape. This is accompanied by an optimal fit of the cushioning element on or around the body.on the corresponding part of the body, such as the shape of the head around the ear.

[0008] The object is also achieved according to the invention by a cushioning element with a first cushioning layer and with at least one second cushioning layer, wherein the first cushioning layer is designed as a cushion as described above and the second cushioning layer comprises a foam or a gel. When using two cushioning layers, the first cushioning layer can be thinner. The object is also achieved according to the invention by a method for molding a cushion as described above, wherein

[0009] - the cushion is held with molten salt or with the supercooled liquid;

[0010] - the pad is applied to the body part and thus the shape of the body part is transferred to the pad;

[0011] - the salt crystallizes and the pad is applied to the body part. The pad remains in place until it hardens, thus fixing the transferred shape to the body part. With molten salt or the supercooled liquid, the pad is soft and supple.

[0012] According to the invention, the object is further achieved by a system consisting of an auricle and a cushion as well as by a system consisting of a headphone and a pair of auricles.

[0013] It can also be advantageous if the hydrated salt has at least partially crystallized or if the supercooled liquid has at least partially hardened. In this state, the shape of the cushion is retained. Furthermore, the crystallized salt exhibits excellent sound-damping properties.

[0014] Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the salt concentration Sk in the hydrated salt satisfies the following condition: 40% <= Sk <= 60% or 45% <= Sk <= 55% or Sk = 50%, with the remaining portion being water. In the crystallized state, sufficient elasticity is thus achieved to ensure optimal sound insulation, acoustic damping, and wearing comfort.

[0015] It can also be advantageous to provide fastening means by which the padding can be attached to the object being carried. The padding can then remain attached to the object.

[0016] In this case, it can advantageously be provided that an opening is provided in the cushion cover through which the filling can come into contact with the ambient air. The opening can be designed to be resealable. A sound or pressure pulse, or similar, can also be used to initiate crystallization.

[0017] In connection with the design and arrangement according to the invention, it may be advantageous if the first padding layer is arranged on the side of the padding element facing the body part. This allows adaptation to the shape of the body part.

[0018] It can also be advantageous if the acoustic damping performance of the first layer of padding is greater or better than that of the second layer. Sound damping, or internal damping, refers to the absorption of airborne sound. Increased internal damping also results in improved sound insulation during the transmission of airborne sound through the padding layer. The sound reflection from the outer surface of the padding layer, which also influences the acoustic performance, depends on the surface properties of the outer surface.

[0019] Further advantages and details of the invention are explained in the claims and in the description and illustrated in the figures.

[0020] Figure 1 a body part with object to be applied and padding;

[0021] Figure 2 a body part with attached object with padding and

[0022] Figure 3 a cushion with an opening.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a body part designed as a head, to which an earpiece 5 of a headset 6 or ear protection with corresponding acoustic damping characteristics is to be placed as object 3. Between object 3 and body part 2, with reference to the right-hand side of the image, a cushion 1 is provided, against which both the body part and, opposite, object 3 can be brought into contact. According to the left half of the image in Figure 1, a cushion element 4 is provided between object 3 and body part 2. Cushion element 4 consists of a first cushion layer 4.1 and a second cushion layer 4.2, with the first cushion layer 4.1 being a cushion 1. Cushion 1 is located on a side 4.3 facing body part 2. In addition, fastening means 1.3, 3.1 are provided, by means of which object 3 and cushion 1 or cushion element 4 can be fastened.

[0024] In contrast to the exploded view of Figure 1, in Figure 2 the object 3 is attached to the body part 2 via the cushion 1. Here, the cushion 1 is molded to the shape of the body part, thus the shape of the body part, in this case the shape of the head in the area around the ear, is transferred to the cushion 1. Holding means or similar devices that hold the object 3, or the respective auricle 5, in this position like a headband, are not shown for the sake of simplicity.

[0025] Before the cushion 1 is placed against the body part 2, the latter is heated so that the filling of hydrated salt becomes soft or liquid due to the dissolving salt. In this way, the cushion 1 can be easily adapted to the shape of the body. The cushion 1, which has been made soft in this way, can cool down without hardening or crystallizing due to the properties of the filling 1.2, in this case a supercooled liquid. In order to adapt to a body part 2, the crystallization process is initiated, e.g. by introducing a crystallization nucleus such as ambient air. The ambient air can be made accessible to the filling 1.2 via an opening 1.4 in the cushion casing 1.1. At this moment the crystallization process starts, which also generates heat. During this process, the cushion 1 is placed against the body part 2, orremains on the body part 2 until the crystallization process is completed and the cushion 1 has reached its final shape and strength.

[0026] This adjustment process takes place regardless of whether it is a single cushion 1 or a cushion element 4 with several cushion layers 4.1 , including the cushion 1 .

[0027] According to Figure 3, the inside 4.3 of the cushion 1 can be seen. Here, a closable opening 1.4 can be seen, through which ambient air can be introduced into the cushion 1 to start the crystallization process. The opening 1.4 is closed and is opened to allow the introduction of ambient air. List of reference symbols Cushion, acoustic damping element Cushion cover, outer cover, cover Filling, acoustically damping filling Fastening means Opening, closable Body part Object Fastening means Cushion element First cushion layer Second cushion layer Side Ear cup Headphones

Claims

AMENDED CLAIMS received by the International Bureau on 14 July 2025 (14.07.2025) Patent claims 1. Sleeve (1.1) with a filling (1.2) which is hydrated salt or a supercooled liquid for placement between a body part (2) and an object (3) which is placed against the body part (2) when worn, characterized in that the sleeve (1.1) is a cushion sleeve (1.1) with the filling (1.2) and is designed as a cushion (1) with a shape transferred from a body part (2).

2. Cushion according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrated salt is at least partially crystallized or that the supercooled liquid is at least partially hardened.

3. Cushion according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the salt concentration Sk in the hydrated salt satisfies the condition: 40% <= Sk <= 60% or 45% <= Sk <= 55% or Sk = 50%, the remaining portion being water.

4. Cushion according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that fastening means (1.3) are provided by means of which the cushion can be fixed to the object (3) to be carried.

5. Cushion according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an opening (1.4) is provided in the cushion cover (1.1) through which the filling (1.2) can come into contact with ambient air. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 6. Cushioning element (4) with a first cushioning layer (4.1) and with at least one second cushioning layer (4.2), wherein the first cushioning layer (4.1) is designed as a cushion (1) according to one of the preceding claims and the second cushioning layer (4.2) comprises a foam or a gel.

7. Cushioning element according to claim 6, characterized in that the first cushioning layer (4.1) is arranged on the side (4.3) of the cushioning element (4) facing the body part (2).

8. Upholstery element according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the acoustic damping behavior of the first upholstery layer (4.1) is greater or better than the acoustic damping behavior of the second upholstery layer (4.2).

9. Acoustic damping element (1) with an outer shell (1.1) and with an acoustically damping filling (1.2), characterized in that the filling (1.2) is a hardened hydrated salt or a hardened supercooled liquid.

10. Method for forming a cushion (1) according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that - the cushion (1) is provided with molten salt or with the supercooled liquid; - the cushion (1) is applied to the body part (2) and thus the shape of the body part (2) is transferred to the cushion (1); - the crystallization of the salt is initiated and the cushion (1) is applied to the body part (2), wherein the cushion (1) remains in the applied state on the body part (2) until it has hardened and thus the transferred shape of the body part (2) is fixed. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19) 11. Use of hydrated salt and its crystallization properties for changing the shape of a cushion (1) or for transferring the shape of a body part (2) to a cushion (1) and for subsequently fixing the cushion (1) with the changed or transferred shape by solidification.

12. System consisting of an auricle (5) and a cushioning element according to one of claims 1 to 8.

13. System comprising a headphone (6) and a pair of ear cups according to claim 12. AMENDED SHEET (ARTICLE 19)

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