Beds – Support for users body or part thereof – Liquid or gel containing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-08
2001-04-24
Trettel, Michael F. (Department: 3628)
Beds
Support for users body or part thereof
Liquid or gel containing
C005S909000, C248S118000, C248S918000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06219867
ABSTRACT:
The present invention generally relates to cushions and is more particularly directed to a cushion pad having enhanced conformability. Still more particularly the present invention is directed to a keyboard wrist pad having different zones of lateral movement and conformability.
Many cushions or pads for the support of a user are more suitable if the user does not have to slide along the pad in order to accommodate a change of position of a user's arm, leg or hand. That is, it is preferable that the pad accommodate such movement by lateral movement of the pad surface in contact with the user and or a change in conformability of the pad. This is particularly true in the case of keyboard wrist cushions or pads.
A number of cushions have been developed for use along the front edge of a keyboard, which is operated by a user's fingers or hand, such as in the case of a computer mouse.
Proper support is necessary, particularly in conjunction with repetitive computer keyboard operation, in order to prevent a number of medical problems which have been generally known as “carpal tunnel syndrome”. A great number of cushions have been developed which provide layers of cushioning materials, including gels. Many attempts have been made to enlarge the degree of movement of a supported wrist relative to the surface on which the wrist is supported. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 5,713,544 which utilizes a pad having a layer of stable isomeric block polymer gel, in order to afford supporting a user's wrist and afford significant motion on the top surface of the pad, with the supported wrist relative to a bottom surface of the pad in a horizontal plane.
While greater lateral movement is afforded by a wrist rest assembly as set forth in the hereinabove referenced patent, the use of gels alone is limiting in the amount of lateral movement possible.
The present invention is directed to a cushion which provides wide lateral movement support, in addition to providing amusement for the user due to the internal structure of the cushion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A cushion pad in accordance with the present invention generally includes an elastomer having the physical properties of flexibility and compressibility in the range of flexibilities and compressibilities of stable isomeric block polymer gels. The elastomer includes an exterior surface and a cavity therein along with film means for encapsulating the elastomer. The film means includes the physical properties of flexibilities to enable uninhibited flexure and compression of the elastomer by a user.
Importantly, means, disposed in the elastomer cavity, is provided for enhancing exterior surface movement of the elastomer upon shear force applied thereto by the user and for enhancing conformity of the pad upon compressive force applied thereto by the user.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the means for enhancing exterior surface movement and enhancing conformity of the pad comprises a thixotropic gel disposed in the elastomer cavity. The thixotropic property of the gel enables the gel to become fluid when force is applied and then becomes semisolid again.
The combination of the elastomer and thixotropic gel provides best conformity when the elastomer has a thickness, measured between the exterior surface and the cavity of at least about ½ inch to about 2 inches.
Further, the film means, elastomer and thixotropic gel may be transparent, thus enabling observance of a decorative object suspended within the thixotropic gel.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the means for enhancing exterior surface movement and enhancing conformity of the pad cushion comprises a liquid. In addition, the cushion pad in accordance with the present invention may include a polyurethane film having a thickness of between about 1 mil and about 5 mils. These limitations are important in providing the required physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure and compression of the elastomer by a user as hereinabove noted.
Still more particularly, the elastomer has a thickness measured between the top surface and the cavity of at least about 1 inch. This thickness is important in establishing the resilient properties of the wrist cushion. With the thickness range as hereinabove cited, the wrist cushion retains the elasticity, resilience and compressibility of the elastomer material, despite the liquid filled cavity. Further, this thickness provides a means for enabling self-sealing in order to prevent the liquid from. leaking or reaching the exterior surface.
Accordingly the liquid, or thixotropic, filled cavity enables the wide lateral movement provided by the keyboard wrist cushion in accordance with the present invention.
In one embodiment of the present invention, air pockets disposed in the elastomer cavity provide a means for controlling, in combination with the elastomer, the overall compressibility of the wrist cushion. Because the air pockets are compressible, they can be used to modify the compressibility of the liquid, or thixotropic gel-filled cavity, of course, in combination with the elastomer itself.
Also, in accordance with the present invention, the film, elastomer and liquid, a thixotropic gel, may be transparent and the wrist cushion further comprises decorative objects suspended in the liquid within the cavity. The transparency enables the visual observation of the decorative objects by the user, particularly when used by the user as hereinabove noted.
The decorative objects can be moved within the cavity and liquid, a thixotropic gel, by compression forces applied to the cushion by the user. This movement is enhanced when used in combination with air pockets in the cavity.
Further, in accordance with the present invention, the elastomer includes a plurality of cavities therein, each of which may include a decorative object. In addition, at least one of the elastomeric cavities may be connected with another cavity for enabling movement of the decorative objects within the liquid from one cavity to another by compressive forces applied to the cushion by the user. In addition, multiple cavities enable general control of the resiliency of the cushion.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, a keyboard wrist pad is provided which includes an elastomer having the physical properties of flexibility and compressibility in the range or flexibilities and compressibilities of stable elastomeric block polymer gels, the elastomer has a top surface and means defining a plurality of cavities therein, for controlling lateral top surface movement of different zones of said elastomer upon shear force applied thereto by a user.
Film means are provided for encapsulating said elastomer, said film means having physical properties of flexibility to enable uninhibited flexure and compression of said elastomer by the user.
Importantly, thixotropic or liquid means, disposed in each of the elastomer cavities is provided for enhancing the lateral top surface movement of said elastomer upon shear force applied thereto by the user and for enhancing conformity of the pad upon compressive force applied thereto by the user.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4200561 (1980-04-01), Chang
patent: 4924634 (1990-05-01), Saloff et al.
patent: 5121962 (1992-06-01), Weber et al.
patent: 5445858 (1995-08-01), Nwoko
patent: 5679193 (1997-10-01), Yates
patent: 5713544 (1998-02-01), Wolf et al.
patent: 5756184 (1998-05-01), Yates
patent: 5826841 (1998-10-01), Lavore
patent: 5980143 (1999-11-01), Bayer et al.
patent: 6050964 (2000-04-01), Yates
Hackler Walter A.
Trettel Michael F.
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