Seat cushion with distributed flotation foam use in aircraft seats
View Patent ↗A seat cushion including a soft foam cushion constructed from open cell foam for comfort, and a plurality of closed cell foam pieces distributed within the open cell foam cushion for flotation and structural support, such as for use as a bottom cushion on an aircraft seat.
1. A seat cushion, comprising:
an open cell foam cushion for passenger comfort; and
a plurality of closed cell foam pieces distributed within the open cell foam cushion for flotation and structural support, the seat cushion including a greater density of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces adjacent the bottom of the cushion than adjacent the top of the cushion.
2. The seat cushion according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of closed cell foam pieces are spaced apart within the open cell foam cushion.
3. The seat cushion according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces ranges in size from about 0.0015 cm 3 to about 20 cm 3 .
4. The seat cushion according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of closed cell foam pieces collectively comprise from about 5 to 50% of the total volume of the seat cushion.
5. The seat cushion according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces has substantially the same shape.
6. The seat cushion according to claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces have different shapes.
7. The seat cushion according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces has a donut shape.
8. The seat cushion according to claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces is shaped like one of a donut, a sphere, a cylinder, a coil, a star shaped mace, a bent tube or a cage sphere.
9. The seat cushion according to claim 1 , wherein the open cell foam cushion is constructed from polyurethane and the plurality of closed cell foam pieces are constructed from polyethylene.
10. An aircraft seat cushion, comprising:
a soft foam cushion for providing comfort for a passenger; and
a plurality of closed cell foam pieces distributed within the soft foam cushion for flotation and structural support;
wherein the aircraft seat cushion has greater compressibility near a top of the cushion than near a bottom of the cushion.
11. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of closed cell foam pieces are spaced apart and substantially evenly distributed within the soft foam cushion.
12. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein the aircraft seat cushion includes a greater density of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces adjacent a bottom of the cushion than it does adjacent a top of the cushion.
13. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces range in size from about 0.0015 cm 3 to about 20 cm 3 .
14. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein the soft foam cushion is constructed from open cell foam.
15. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of closed cell foam pieces collectively comprise from about 5 to 50% of the total volume of the aircraft seat cushion.
16. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces has substantially the same shape.
17. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces has a donut shape.
18. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of closed cell foam pieces is shaped like one of a donut, a sphere, a cylinder, a coil, a star shaped mace, a bent tube or a cage sphere.
19. The aircraft seat cushion according to claim 10 , wherein the soft foam cushion is constructed from polyurethane and the plurality of closed cell foam pieces are constructed from polyethylene.