Inflating and deflating cellular support cushion and methods of use thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to inflating and deflating cellular support cushions and methods of use thereof for providing comfort and protecting against the development of pressure sores and bedsores for persons who are bed ridden or use a wheelchair for long periods of time. The present invention is particularly adaptable as a support cushion in the form of a mattress, mattress cover, seat cushion, or seat cushion cover. The present invention can be combined with any mattress or seat, including wheelchair seat, to provide inflating and deflating cellular support cushions.

1 . A cushion comprising: 
 a) a plurality of flexible and hollow cells capable of being repeatedly filled and depleted with a fluid, wherein said plurality of flexible and hollow cells comprise a first, a second, a third, and a fourth distinct interfitting groups capable of interfitting with each other which when interfitted, comprise repeating sections of four separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells to form a uniform surface wherein each of said repeating sections comprises one of said flexible and hollow cells from each of said first, said second, said third, and said fourth interfitting groups to form said uniform surface so that cells that are being depleted are next to or contiguous only with cells that are not being depleted;    b) one or more manifolds capable of directing said fluid to and from said plurality of flexible and hollow cells; and    c) one or more pumping means connected to said one or more manifolds for filling and depleting said plurality of flexible and hollow cells with said fluid.    
   
   
       2 . (canceled)  
   
   
       3 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein each of said interfitting groups of said spatially separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells are connected to a separate manifold for directing said fluid to and from said interfitting group.  
   
   
       4 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface of each of said plurality of flexible and hollow cells is substantially in a shape of a dome.  
   
   
       5 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the height of said flexible and hollow cells of said four distinct interfitting groups are configured to be tallest for the bottom positioned interfitting group to shortest for the top positioned interfitting group.  
   
   
       6 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more pumping means is capable of filling and depleting groups of cells at certain programmed intervals.  
   
   
       7 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more pumping means is capable of filling and depleting each of said interfitting groups said spatially separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells at different programmed intervals.  
   
   
       8 . A cushion comprising: 
 a) a cushioning means for support comprising a plurality of flexible and hollow cells capable of being repeatedly filled and depleted with a fluid; wherein said plurality of flexible and hollow cells comprise a first, a second a third, and a fourth distinct interfitting groups capable of interfitting with each other, which when interfitted, comprise repeating sections of four separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells to form a uniform surface, wherein each of said repeating sections comprises one of said flexible and hollow cells from each of said first said second, said third and said fourth interfitting groups to form said uniform surface so that cells that are being depleted are not next to or contiguous with other cells that are being depleted;    b) means for directing said fluid to and from said plurality of flexible and hollow cells; and    c) one or more pumping means connected to said one or more manifolds for filling and depleting said plurality of flexible and hollow cells with said fluid.    
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein each of said interfitting groups of said spatially separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells are connected to a separate means for directing said fluid to and from said interfitting group.  
   
   
       11 . The Cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the top surface of each of said plurality of flexible and hollow cells is substantially in a shape of a dome.  
   
   
       12 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the height of said flexible and hollow cells of said four distinct interfitting groups are configured to be tallest for the bottom positioned interfitting group to shortest for the top positioned interfitting group.  
   
   
       13 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein said pumping means is capable of filling and depleting groups of cells at certain programmed intervals.  
   
   
       14 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein said pumping means is capable of filling and depleting each of said interfitting groups said spatially separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells at different programmed intervals.  
   
   
       15 . A method of providing cushioning support comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a plurality of flexible and hollow cells capable of being repeatedly filled and depleted with a fluid, wherein said plurality of flexible and hollow cells comprise a first, a second, a third, and a fourth distinct interfitting groups capable of interfitting with each other, which when interfitted, comprise repeating sections of four separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells to form a uniform surface wherein each of said repeating sections comprises one of said flexible and hollow cells from each of said first, said second, said third, and said fourth interfitting groups to form said uniform surface so that cells that are being depleted are next to or contiguous only with cells that are not being depleted;    b) providing one or more manifolds capable of directing said fluid to and from said plurality of flexible and hollow cells; and    c) providing one or more pumping means connected to said one or more manifolds for filling and depleting said plurality of flexible and hollow cells with said fluid;    d) depleting said fluid from a fraction of said plurality of flexible and hollow cells for a period of time;    e) filling with said fluid said depleted fraction of said plurality of flexible and hollow cells after said period of time;    whereby, each time a different fraction of said plurality of said flexible and hollow cells are depleted for a period of time and filled again until all of said different fractions of said plurality of flexible and hollow cells are depleted and filled again, and said depleting and said filling steps begin again.    
   
   
       16 . (canceled)  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein each of said interfitting groups of said spatially separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells are connected to a separate manifold for directing said fluid to and from said interfitting group.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the top surface of each of said plurality of flexible and hollow cells is substantially in a shape of a dome.  
   
   
       19 . The cushion of  claim 15  wherein the height of said flexible and hollow cells of said four distinct interfitting groups are configured to be tallest for the bottom positioned interfitting group to shortest for the top positioned interfitting group.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more pumping means is capable of filling and depleting groups of cells at certain programmed intervals.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said one or more pumping means is capable of filling and depleting each of said interfitting groups said spatially separate and non-contiguous flexible and hollow cells at different programmed intervals.