Cushions including buckling columns with a plurality of buckling points

Abstract

A cushion includes interconnected walls that define an array of buckling columns. Each buckling column of the array of buckling columns includes a plurality of buckling points at different elevations along a height of the buckling column. The buckling points buckle under different loads. Methods of designing cushions with a plurality of buckling points are also disclosed.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A cushion, comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of buckling columns, each wall of the plurality of interconnected walls having a height and including a base buckling point extending laterally across the wall at a lower elevation along the height of the wall and a top buckling point extending laterally across the wall at a higher elevation along the height of the wall to enable each buckling column of the array of buckling columns to buckle at at least two elevations.   
     
     
         2 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the base buckling point is located at an intermediate elevation within a base of the wall and the top buckling point is located at an intermediate elevation within a top of the wall. 
     
     
         3 . The cushion of  claim 2 , wherein the base of the wall has a base thickness and the top of wall has a top thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The cushion of  claim 3 , wherein the base thickness is greater than the top thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein the base buckling point has a base buckling threshold and the top buckling point has a top buckling threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The cushion of  claim 5 , wherein the base buckling threshold is greater than the top buckling threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The cushion of  claim 1 , wherein each wall of the plurality of interconnected walls further includes a middle buckling point extending laterally across the wall to enable each buckling column to buckle at a third elevation. 
     
     
         8 . The cushion of  claim 7 , wherein the base buckling point is located at an intermediate elevation within a base of the wall, the middle buckling point is located at an intermediate elevation within a middle of the wall, and the to buckling point is located at an intermediate elevation within a top of the wall. 
     
     
         9 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the base of the wall has a base thickness, the middle of the wall has a middle thickness, and the top of the wall has a top thickness. 
     
     
         10 . The cushion of  claim 9 , wherein the base thickness is greater than the middle thickness and the middle thickness is greater than the top thickness. 
     
     
         11 . The cushion of  claim 8 , wherein the base buckling point has a base buckling threshold, the middle buckling point has a middle buckling threshold, and the top buckling point has a top buckling threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The cushion of  claim 11 , wherein the top buckling threshold is less than the middle buckling threshold and the middle buckling threshold is less than the base buckling threshold. 
     
     
         13 . A cushion, comprising:
 a plurality of interconnected walls defining an array of buckling columns, each wall of the plurality of interconnected walls having a height and including a base with a base thickness at a lower portion of the height of the wall and a top with a top thickness at a higher portion of the height of the wall, each buckling column including an interior surface defining a void extending along a height of the buckling column.   
     
     
         14 . The cushion of  claim 13 , wherein each wall of the plurality of walls further includes a ledge between the base and the top. 
     
     
         15 . The cushion of  claim 14 , wherein the ledge is part of the interior surface of the void of the at least one buckling column. 
     
     
         16 . The cushion of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the base thickness and the top thickness is substantially uniform. 
     
     
         17 . The cushion of  claim 16 , wherein the base thickness and the top thickness are both substantially uniform. 
     
     
         18 . The cushion of  claim 13 , wherein each wall of the plurality of interconnected walls further includes a middle with a middle thickness at an intermediate portion of the height of the wall. 
     
     
         19 . The cushion of  claim 18 , wherein each wall of the plurality of interconnected walls further includes a base ledge between the base and the middle and a top ledge between the middle and the top. 
     
     
         20 . The cushion of  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the base thickness, the middle thickness, and the top thickness is substantially uniform. 
     
     
         21 . The cushion of  claim 20 , wherein at least two of the base thickness, the middle thickness, and the top thickness are substantially uniform. 
     
     
         22 . The cushion of  claim 21 , wherein the base thickness, the middle thickness, and the top thickness are all substantially uniform. 
     
     
         23 . The cushion of  claim 13 , wherein the base thickness and the top thickness enable each buckling column of the plurality of buckling columns to buckle at a plurality of elevations. 
     
     
         24 . A method for designing a cushion, comprising:
 determining a thickness of the cushion and a height of interconnected walls and buckling columns of the cushion;   determining a number of buckling points to be provided along the height of each buckling column of the buckling columns of the cushion; and   determining a threshold load required to cause each buckling point of the plurality of buckling points to buckle.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein determining the number of buckling points comprises determining a number of lateral regions of each wall of the plurality of interconnected walls, from a base of the wall to a top of the wall. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein determining the number of lateral regions comprises determining a height and a thickness of each lateral region of the plurality of lateral regions.