The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 14, 1995
John W Wilkinson, Bennington, VT (US);
Richard W Raburn, Simpsonville, SC (US);
Span-America Medical Systems, Inc., Greenville, SC (US);
Abstract
A seating system is designed for self-adjusting pressure relief for use with wheelchairs and other generally confined seating arrangements. One or more support chambers filled with resilient foam and a fluid such as air are arranged on an upper support surface. A self-adjusting reservoir is provided and arranged in fluid communication with the chamber. A constant force spring cooperates with a pivoting plate arrangement and acts on the reservoir so as to balance fluid pressure between the reservoir and the support chamber with a patient received thereon. In some embodiments, three fluid/resilient foam chambers may be provided for independent operation with three respective adjustable reservoirs. In other embodiments, fluid filled chambers may be operatively associated with respective reservoirs and pivoting actuation plates specially adapted to fit below a wheelchair seat without interfering with the wheelchair support structure, or specially adapted to be carried in a pack on the wheelchair seat back. Present arrangements may be modified for use with other seating conditions, such as geriatric chairs and seats for vehicles of all types.