Cellular Cushion Structure With Selective Cell Support Against Bottoming Out
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular cushions for wheelchair users often lack stability and comfort due to uniform pressure distribution, leading to tissue breakdown and pressure sores, especially for individuals with deformities or limited muscular strength, as they may bottom out when pressure is decreased, and are costly to manufacture with contoured surfaces.
Innovation Solution
A cellular cushion design featuring a base with multiple hollow cells connected via channels, incorporating support material within specific cells to enhance stability and comfort, allowing variable pressure adjustment and preventing bottoming out, while maintaining a contoured seating surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If cells are made with uniform pressure distribution, then manufacturing is simpler, but stability and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by placing support material selectively within specific cells rather than uniformly across all cells. This creates localized variations in cell properties, allowing certain zones to provide enhanced support while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity. The support material is inserted into at least one cell to provide localized stabilization without requiring complex contoured cell structures.
2Ease of operation
If pressure in cells is decreased to increase comfort, then weight distribution improves, but users may bottom out
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements beforehand cushioning by pre-inserting support material into selected cells during manufacturing. This support material acts as a backup support mechanism that engages before the user can bottom out when cell pressure is decreased for comfort. The support material is positioned in advance to prevent complete cell compression and maintain reliable support.
3Stability of the object's composition
If cells are made with varying heights or contoured surfaces, then stability and support are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the cushion into multiple individual cells that can be manufactured uniformly and then selectively enhanced with support material. Rather than creating a single complex contoured structure, the cushion is segmented into multiple simple cells where support can be locally added. This maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving the stability benefits of varied cell characteristics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by placing support material selectively within specific cells rather than uniformly across all cells. This creates localized variations in cell properties, allowing certain zones to provide enhanced support while maintaining overall manufacturing simplicity. The support material is inserted into at least one cell to provide localized stabilization without requiring complex contoured cell structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cushion provides increased stability and comfort by distributing weight evenly, preventing tissue breakdown and pressure sores, and is cost-effective to manufacture with adjustable immersion depth and ergonomic contouring.
Implementation Method 1
The plurality of cells are coupled together in flow communication via a plurality of channels extending between the cells
Data Source
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AI summary
A cellular cushion includes a base, a plurality of hollow cells, and support material. The base includes at least a first layer and a second layer. The plurality of hollow cells are coupled to, and extend outward from, only one of the first layer and the second layer. Each of the plurality of cells extends from a root defined at only one of the first layer and the second layer outwardly to an outer end. The plurality of cells are coupled together in flow communication via a plurality of channels extending between the cells. The support material is inserted within at least one of the hollow cells. The second layer coupled to the first layer such that the support material is between an inner surface of said at least one of the hollow cells and the second layer.