Cushions

Abstract

An apparatus for covering some or all of a wearer's body, including interface means which in use are adjacent the wearer's body, the interface means including a first region of material having a first compliance and a second region of material having a second compliance, the first compliance being greater than the second compliance, wherein both of the regions are adjacent respective parts of the wearer's body. The use of two different regions of material having respectively different compliances enables the interface means to be designed so as to provide a better seal between the remainder of the apparatus and the relevant part of the wearer's body which the apparatus covers.

1 . An apparatus for covering some or all of a wearer's body, comprising: 
 interface means which in use are adjacent the wearer's body, the interface means including a first region of material having a first compliance and a second region of material having a second compliance, the first compliance being greater than the second compliance, both of the regions being adjacent respective parts of the wearer's body; and    the apparatus has an area defining a perimeter designed or shaped to fit around the relevant parts of the wearer's body and the interface means is attached to and covers the whole perimeter,    wherein the second region of material of the interface means does not cover the whole perimeter but only a part of it.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the part of the wearer's body on which the apparatus is worn is the head, the face region, the eye region, the ear region or the cranial region.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein it is arranged so that in use the first region is adjacent sensitive areas of the wearer's body and the second region located adjacent less sensitive areas.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus has an area, designed or shaped to fit the relevant part of the wearer's body and the interface means is attached to this area so that the interface means contacts the relevant part of the wearer's body in use.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the interface means covers the whole area and the second region of the interface means does not cover the whole area but only a part of it.  
     
     
         6 . (canceled)  
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first region wholly or partly encloses the second region.  
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein either or both of the regions is covered with a suitable protective material.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is an ear cup to be worn over the ear of a wearer, and arranged such that in use the first region lies adjacent the temple of the wearer and the second region lies adjacent the top of the ear of the wearer.  
     
     
         10 . A method of constructing apparatus for covering all or a part of a wearer's body, the apparatus including: 
 interface means which in use are adjacent the wearer's body, the method including providing a first region of material of a first compliance and the second region of material of a second compliance, the first compliance being greater than the second compliance, wherein both regions are adjacent respective parts of the wearer's body and the apparatus has an area defining a perimeter designed or shaped to fit around the relevant parts of the wearer's body and the interface means is attached to and covers the whole perimeter, wherein the second region of material of the interface means does not cover the whole perimeter but only a part of it.    
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , in which the first region of material of the interface means does not cover the whole perimeter but only a part of it.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein the second region of material of the interface means at said part of the periphery, extends from said part of the periphery to an upper surface of the interface means, and from one side of the interface means to another side thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , in which the interface means includes further regions of material having respectively different compliances.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second region of material of the interface means at said part of the periphery, extends from said part of the periphery to an upper surface of the interface means, and from one side of the interface means to another side thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , in which the interface means includes further regions of material having respectively different compliances.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the first region wholly or partly encloses the second region.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus is an ear cup to be worn over the ear of a wearer, and arranged such that in use the first region lies adjacent the temple of the wearer and the second region lies adjacent the top of the ear of the wearer.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the apparatus has designed or shaped to fit the relevant part of the wearer's body and the interface means is attached to this area so that the interface means contacts the relevant part of the wearer's body in use.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the first region wholly or partly encloses the second region.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein either or both of the regions is covered with a suitable protective material.  
     
     
         21 . An apparatus for covering some or all of a wearer's body, comprising: 
 a first region of material having a first compliance and a second region of material having a second compliance, both the first and second regions being adjacent the wearer's body, the first compliance being greater than the second compliance, wherein both of the regions are adjacent respective parts of the wearer's body and the apparatus has an area defining a perimeter designed or shaped to fit around the relevant parts of the wearer's body, the second region is attached to and covers the whole perimeter wherein the second region of material does not cover the whole perimeter but only a part of it.    
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for covering some or all of a wearer's body, including: 
 interface means which in use are adjacent the wearer's body;    the interface means including a first cushion region of material having a first compliance and a second cushion region of material having a second compliance;    the first compliance being greater than the second compliance,    wherein both of the cushion regions are adjacent respective parts of the wearer's body and the apparatus has an area defining a perimeter designed or shaped to fit around the relevant parts of the wearer's body and the interface means is attached to and covers the whole perimeter wherein the second cushion region of material of the interface means does not cover the whole perimeter but only a part of it.    
     
     
         23 . A method of constructing apparatus for covering all or a part of the wearer's body, the apparatus including: 
 interface means which in use are adjacent the wearer's body;    the method including providing a first cushion region of material of a first compliance and the second cushion region of material of a second compliance, the first compliance being greater than the second compliance wherein both cushion regions are adjacent respective parts of the wearer's body in use,    wherein the apparatus has an area defining a perimeter designed or shaped to fit around the relevant parts of the wearer's body and the interface means is attached to and covers the whole perimeter wherein the second cushion region of material of the interface means does not cover the whole perimeter but only a part of it.