Cushioning elements with pressurizable cells
A cushioning element includes pressurizable cells. The pressurizable cells of the cushioning elements are grouped into a plurality of sets, with each set of pressurizable cells being independently pressurizable from every other set of pressurizable cells of the cushioning element. The pressurizable cells may extend across a widths of the cushioning element and be arranged in series along the length of the cushioning element. Such a cushioning element may be part of a cushion, such as a mattress, a mattress topper, or the like. Methods for manufacturing the cushioning elements are also disclosed.
1 . A cushioning element, comprising:
a planar support;
a plurality of pressurizable cells carried and at least partially defined by the planar support, the plurality of pressurizable cells including a first set of adjacent pressurizable cells and a second set of adjacent pressurizable cells extending substantially parallel to the first set of the adjacent pressurizable cells, each of the first set of adjacent pressurizable cells and the second set of adjacent pressurizable cells extending substantially across a width of the planar support, the adjacent pressurizable cells of the first set being independently pressurizable from the adjacent pressurizable cells of the second set via at least one conduit that fluidly connects the adjacent pressurizable cells of the first set and at least one other conduit that fluidly connects the adjacent pressurizable cells of the second set, wherein no pressurizable cell of the first set communicates with any pressurizable cell of the second set.
2 . The cushioning element of claim 1 , wherein each pressurizable cell of the plurality of pressurizable cells includes:
a first bladder on a first surface of the planar support;
a second bladder on a second surface of the planar support; and
an aperture defined through the planar support to establish communication between the first bladder and the second bladder.
3 . The cushioning element of claim 2 , wherein the first bladder of each pressurizable cell is substantially superimposed with the second bladder of the pressurizable cell.
4 . The cushioning element of claim 2 , comprising:
first bladders arranged substantially parallel to each other over the first surface of the planar support;
second bladders arranged substantially parallel to each other over the second surface of the planar support.
5 . The cushioning element of claim 4 , wherein the first bladder are defined from a first sheet of material and the second bladders are defined from a second sheet of material.
6 . The cushioning element of claim 2 , wherein the first bladder and the second bladder comprise a pliable material.
7 . The cushioning element of claim 6 , wherein a rigidity of the planar support exceeds a rigidity of the first bladder and the second bladder.
8 . The cushioning element of claim 2 , wherein the first bladder includes edges sealed against the planar support to define a first chamber.
9 . The cushioning element of claim 8 , wherein the second bladder includes edges sealed against the planar support to define a second chamber in communication with the first chamber by way of the aperture.
10 . The cushioning element of claim 8 , wherein the first bladder has a semi cylindrical shape.
11 . The cushioning element of claim 10 , wherein the second bladder has a semi cylindrical shape, the pressurizable cell defined by the first bladder and the second bladder being cylindrical in shape.
12 . The cushioning element of claim 1 , wherein the first set of adjacent pressurizable cells is adjacent to a first end of the planar support and the second set of adjacent pressurizable cells is adjacent to a second end of the planar support.
13 . The cushioning element of claim 12 , further comprising:
a third set of adjacent pressurizable cells between the first set and the second set.
14 . The cushioning element of claim 13 , wherein the first set, the second set, and the third set are pressurizable independently from one another.