Cushion and Method for Manufacturing the Same

Abstract

A cushion unit includes shell having a first cushion retaining portion and a second cushion retaining portion that are demarcated by a hinge-seam including a fastener portion. The fastener portion is secured to an inboard surface of the shell. According to an embodiment, the cushion unit includes a cushion member affixed to an inboard surface of the shell. According to an embodiment, the fastener portion is secured directly to an outboard surface of the cushion member and secured indirectly to an inboard an inboard surface of the shell. According to an embodiment, the fastener portion is secured directly to an inboard an inboard surface of the shell. A method for manufacturing a cushion unit is disclosed. A method for providing a cushion unit is also disclosed.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A cushion unit, comprising:
 a shell having a first cushion retaining portion and a second cushion retaining portion that are demarcated by   a hinge-seam body that is affixed to the shell;   a first cushion member that is non-removably affixed to an inboard surface of the shell and at least partially disposed in at least one of the first and second cushion retaining portions; and   a fastener portion included with the hinge-seam body, wherein the hinge seam body is affixed to the shell such that it directly contacts an outboard surface of the first cushion member, and   indirectly to an inboard surface of the shell.   
     
     
         27 . The cushion unit according to  claim 26 , wherein the hinge seam body is affixed indirectly to the inboard surface of the shell by a stitched threading, wherein the indirect affixing of the hinge seam body to the inboard surface of the shell by the stitched threading permits the first cushion retaining portion to be in communication with the second cushion retaining portion and permits the first cushion member to be disposed in both of the first and second cushion retaining portions by extending the first cushion member within the shell proximate the indirect affixing of the hinge seam body to the inboard surface of the shell. 
     
     
         28 . The cushion unit according to  claim 26 , wherein the fastener portion includes
 a fastener support material that supports one or more fasteners, wherein the one or more fasteners includes a first fastener and a second fastener, wherein the first fastener is disposed proximate a first opening formed by the fastener support material, wherein the second fastener is disposed proximate a second opening formed by the fastener support material, wherein the first opening permits access to the first cushion retaining portion of the shell, wherein the second opening permits access to the second cushion retaining portion of the shell, wherein the first fastener provides   means for selectively permitting/denying access to the first cushion retaining portion of the shell by way of the first opening, wherein the second fastener provides   means for selectively permitting/denying access to the second cushion retaining portion of the shell by way of the second opening.   
     
     
         29 . The cushion unit according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first and second fasteners includes
 a zipper.   
     
     
         30 . The cushion unit according to  claim 28 , wherein at least one of the first and second fasteners includes
 a plurality of one or more hooks and loops.   
     
     
         31 . The cushion unit according to  claim 26 , wherein the fastener portion provides selective access to at least one of the first and second cushion retaining portions of the shell. 
     
     
         32 . A cushion unit, comprising:
 a shell having a first cushion retaining portion and a second cushion retaining portion that are demarcated by   a hinge-seam body that is affixed to the shell;   one or more first cushion member units that is/are non-removably affixed to an inboard surface of the shell and disposed   proximate the hinge-seam body and   in at least one of the first and second cushion retaining portions; and   a fastener portion-included with the hinge seam body, wherein the hinge seam body is affixed   directly to an inboard surface of the shell.   
     
     
         33 . The cushion unit according to  claim 32 , wherein the hinge seam body is affixed directly to the inboard surface of the shell by a stitched threading, wherein the direct affixing of the hinge seam body to the inboard surface of the shell isolates the first cushion retaining portion from the second cushion retaining portion, wherein a first unit of the first cushion member is disposed within the first cushion retaining portion, wherein a second unit of the first cushion member is disposed within the second cushion retaining portion, wherein the first and second units of the first cushion member are discrete units that are not joined to one another. 
     
     
         34 . The cushion unit according to  claim 32 , wherein the fastener portion includes
 a fastener support material that supports one or more fasteners, wherein the one or more fasteners includes a first fastener and a second fastener, wherein the first fastener is disposed proximate a first opening formed by the fastener support material, wherein the second fastener is disposed proximate a second opening formed by the fastener support material, wherein the first opening permits access to the first cushion retaining portion of the shell, wherein the second opening permits access to the second cushion retaining portion of the shell, wherein the first fastener provides   means for selectively permitting/denying access to the first cushion retaining portion of the shell by way of the first opening, wherein the second fastener provides   means for selectively permitting/denying access to the second cushion retaining portion of the shell by way of the second opening.   
     
     
         35 . The cushion unit according to  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the first and second fasteners includes
 a zipper.   
     
     
         36 . The cushion unit according to  claim 34 , wherein at least one of the first and second fasteners includes
 a plurality of one or more hooks and loops.   
     
     
         37 . The cushion unit according to  claim 32 , wherein the fastener portion provides selective access to at least one of the first and second cushion retaining portions of the shell. 
     
     
         38 . A fastener portion, comprising:
 fastener support material;   a first fastener connected to the fastener support material; and   a second fastener connected to the fastener support material.   
     
     
         39 . The fastener portion according to  claim 38 , wherein the fastener support material includes fabric. 
     
     
         40 . The fastener portion according to  claim 38 , wherein the fastener support material includes plastic. 
     
     
         41 . The fastener portion according to  claim 38 , wherein an open orientation of the first fastener forms a first opening in the support material, wherein an open orientation of the second fastener forms a second opening in the support material. 
     
     
         42 . An apparatus, comprising:
 support material including a first side and a second side, a first opening extending through the support material from the first side to the second side, and a second opening extending through the support material from the first side to the second side;   a first zipper connected to the support material, wherein the first zipper is disposed along the first opening; and   a second zipper connected to the support material, wherein the second zipper is disposed along the second opening.   
     
     
         43 . The apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein the support material includes fabric. 
     
     
         44 . The apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein the support material includes plastic. 
     
     
         45 . The apparatus according to  claim 42 , wherein an arrangement of the first zipper in a closed orientation denies access to the first opening, wherein an arrangement of the first zipper in an open orientation permits access to the first opening, wherein an arrangement of the second zipper in a closed orientation denies access to the second opening, wherein an arrangement of the first zipper in an open orientation permits access to the first opening 
     
     
         46 . An apparatus, comprising:
 support material including
 a first opening extending through the support material, wherein the first opening is formed by a first edge surface of the support material and a second edge surface of the support material, and 
 a second opening extending through the support material, wherein the second opening is formed by a third edge surface of the support material and a fourth edge surface of the support material; 
   a first zipper connected to the support material, wherein the first zipper is disposed along the first opening, wherein the first zipper includes
 a first coil, 
 a second coil, and 
 a first tab movably-disposed upon the first coil and the second coil for selectively dis/connecting the first coil and the second coil, 
   
       wherein the first coil is connected to the first edge surface of the support material, wherein the second coil is connected to the second edge surface of the support material; and
 a second zipper connected to the support material, wherein the second zipper is disposed along the second opening, wherein the second zipper includes
 a third coil, 
 a fourth coil, and 
 a second tab movably-disposed upon the third coil and the fourth coil for selectively dis/connecting the third coil and the fourth coil, 
 
 
       wherein the third coil is connected to the third edge surface of the support material, wherein the fourth coil is connected to the fourth edge surface of the support material. 
     
     
         47 . The apparatus according to  claim 46 , wherein the support material includes fabric. 
     
     
         48 . The apparatus according to  claim 46 , wherein the support material includes plastic. 
     
     
         49 . The apparatus according to  claim 46 , wherein connection of the first coil to the second coil denies access to the first opening, wherein disconnection of the first coil to the second coil permits access to the first opening, wherein connection of the third coil to the fourth coil denies access to the second opening, wherein disconnection of the third coil to the fourth coil permits access to the first opening