Seat cushion

Abstract

A seating cushion includes an upper layer that is secured to a lower layer. The upper layer includes a plurality of interconnected gel pockets and the lower layer includes a plurality of interconnected gas pockets. In one configuration, each layer is formed from two sheets of material that are joined together at a plurality of corners to form the pockets of the layer. The layers are secured together such that a pair of sheets are disposed in the middle portion of the cushion. The upper and lower layers may be joined to a resilient foam base.

1 . A seating cushion comprising: 
 an upper layer and a lower layer; the upper layer being adapted to be disposed physically above the lower layer when the seating cushion is in use;    the upper layer being securely connected to the lower layer;    the upper layer including first and second sheets of material;    the first and second sheets of material of the upper layer being connected together at selected locations to form a plurality of interconnected pockets;    a majority of the interconnected pockets of the upper layer being at least partially filled with a gel;    the lower layer including first and second sheets of material;    the first and second sheets of material of the lower layer being connected together at selected locations to form a plurality of interconnected pockets; and    a majority of the interconnected pockets of the lower layer being at least partially filled with a gas.    
   
   
       2 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the upper layer is welded to the lower layer with a plurality of welds that also at least partially define the pockets of the upper and lower layers.  
   
   
       3 . The cushion of  claim 1 , further comprising a resilient foam body layer disposed below the lower layer such that the lower layer is disposed between the upper layer and the resilient foam body layer.  
   
   
       4 . The cushion of  claim 3 , wherein the lower layer is connected to the body layer with an adhesive.  
   
   
       5 . The cushion of  claim 3 , wherein the body layer is saddle-shaped.  
   
   
       6 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the sheets are formed from a weldable, air-impermeable, flexible material.  
   
   
       7 . The cushion of  claim 6 , wherein a plurality of the sheets are polyurethane sheets having a thickness in the range of 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm.  
   
   
       8 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the pockets of the upper layer are aligned with and disposed over the pockets of the lower layer.  
   
   
       9 . The cushion of  claim 1 , further comprising a valve carried by the lower layer that allows gas to be selectively added and removed from the plurality of interconnected pockets.  
   
   
       10 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the gel is a cured solid gel that does not migrate between pockets after being cured.  
   
   
       11 . The cushion of  claim 10 , wherein the gel includes one of a polyurethane, a silicone, and a mixture including polyurethane and silicone.  
   
   
       12 . A seating cushion comprising: 
 an upper layer of interconnected gel pockets and a lower layer of interconnected gas pockets; the upper layer being adapted to be disposed physically above the lower layer when the seating cushion is in use;    a majority of the gel pockets being at least partially filled with a gel;    a majority of the gas pockets being at least partially filled with a gas;    each layer defining a plurality of sidewalls; each pocket being bounded by at least one sidewall;    a plurality of the sidewalls being disposed between adjacent pockets;    each sidewall disposed between adjacent pockets defining a passageway that fluidly connects the adjacent pockets; and    the upper layer being securely connected to the lower layer.    
   
   
       13 . The cushion of  claim 12 , wherein the upper layer includes first and second sheets of material; 
 the first and second sheets of material of the upper layer being connected together at selected locations to form the plurality of interconnected pockets;    the lower layer including first and second sheets of material; and    the first and second sheets of material of the lower layer being connected together at selected locations to form a plurality of interconnected pockets.    
   
   
       14 . The cushion of  claim 13 , wherein the pockets of the upper layer are aligned with and disposed above the pockets of the lower layer.  
   
   
       15 . The cushion of  claim 14 , further comprising a valve carried by the lower layer that allows gas to be selectively added and removed from the plurality of interconnected pockets.  
   
   
       16 . The cushion of  claim 12 , wherein a majority of the pockets are rectangular and bounded by four sidewalls; each of the sidewalls having a length; the passageway having a width; the width of passageway being less than the length of the sidewall the defines the passageway.  
   
   
       17 . A seating cushion comprising: 
 an upper layer of gel pockets and a lower layer of gas pockets; the upper layer being adapted to be disposed physically above the lower layer when the seating cushion is in use;    a majority of the gel pockets being at least partially filled with a gel;    a majority of the gas pockets being at least partially filled with a gas; and    the upper layer being securely connected to the lower layer.    
   
   
       18 . The cushion of  claim 17 , wherein each layer defines a plurality of corners that define the boundaries of each pocket; each pocket being bounded by at least three corners; and the upper and lower layers being secured together at the corners of the pockets.  
   
   
       19 . The cushion of  claim 17 , wherein the pockets of the upper layer are aligned with and disposed above the pockets of the lower layer.  
   
   
       20 . The cushion of  claim 17 , further comprising a cover and a resilient foam body; the cover having an upper chamber and a lower chamber; the upper and lower layers being disposed in the upper chamber of the cover; and the resilient foam body being disposed in the lower chamber of the cover.