US20100031437A1

US20100031437A1 - Cushioning device for use in a water container

Info

Publication number: US20100031437A1
Application number: US12/537,233
Authority: US
Inventors: Noella Giroux; Francois Giroux
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-07
Filing date: 2009-08-06
Publication date: 2010-02-11
Also published as: CA2674832A1

Abstract

A Cushioning device for use in a water container has an enclosable envelope including a zipper member for opening and closing a portion of the envelope. Padding material is attached to the inner surface of the envelope; and a plurality of pebble members placed within the envelope, such that the cushioning device is adapted to be placed within and sink to the bottom of a water container, and is adapted to be used as a cushion for a person to sit thereupon.

Description

This application claims priority based on provisional application 61087005 filed Aug. 7, 2008

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cushioning devices but more particularly to a riser cushion that stays at the bottom of a tub or spa.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There exists a number of booster or riser cushions that are designed for use in bathtubs or spas and other such water container devices in which a human needs to be comfortable sitting or lounging.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are:
To provide for a cushioning device that is very heavy so that the water jets of a spa won't displace it as it remains at the bottom of the tub. At the same time, the cushioning device is sufficiently padded to be comfortable for a person sitting on it.
To attain these ends, the present invention generally comprises an enclosable envelope including a zipper member for opening and closing a portion of the envelope. Padding material is attached to the inner surface of the envelope; and a plurality of pebble members placed within the envelope, such that the cushioning device is adapted to be placed within and sink to the bottom of a water container, and is adapted to be used as a cushion for a person to sit thereupon.
Preferably, the envelope and the padding are formed from a material that is water resilient, mold resistant, and will not rot.
Moreover, the envelope are also formed from a material that is porous, and thereby adapted to allow air to pass therethrough such that the cushioning device is capable of sinking to the bottom of a water container.
Besides rocks, the pebble members are formed from a material chosen from a list including ceramic, plastic, polyvinyl, cement, steel, aluminum, and wood.
For the sake of the user's comfort, the amount of the pebble members is chosen to thereby conform with a chosen degree of movement of the pebble members within the envelope, and thereby provide a chosen degree of comfort for a person sitting thereupon.
Used in combination, with a water container, the cushioning device is comprised of an enclosable envelope including a zipper member for opening and closing a portion of the envelope Padding material attached to the inner surface of the envelope A plurality of pebble members placed within the envelope; and a water container including water, such that the cushioning device is placed within and sinks to the bottom of the water container, and is adapted to be used as a cushion for a person to sit thereupon. This combination offers all of the features described hereinabove.
The water container can be a bathtub or a spa including water jets.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 Side view of the invention in context of use.

FIG. 2 Top view of the invention.

FIG. 3 Side cutaway view of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A cushioning device (10) consists in an enclosable envelope (12) for opening and closing a portion of the envelope (12). The envelope (12) is openable by way of a zipper (16) so that a user can fill it with pebble members (18) so as to weigh it. Padding material (14) attached to the inner surface of the envelope (12).
The material for the envelope (12) can be any of a variety of suitable material that can be put in hot water for prolonged periods of time and will not rot or mildew. The material should also preferably be porous and thereby adapted to allow air to pass through, although it would be possible that the zipper (16) could do that. Air escape is important if one wants the cushioning device (10) to sink. Of course, the material used for the padding material (14) should also exhibit the same properties as the material used for the envelope (12).
When sitting on the cushioning device (10), a user, to some extent, will displace the pebbles (18) so that the cushioning device (10) provides a better body contour. Also, the sheer mass makes the cushioning device (10) sufficiently heavy that it is not displaced by water jets from a spa type tub.
As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A cushioning device comprising an enclosable envelope including a zipper member for opening and closing a portion of said envelope; padding material attached to the inner surface of said envelope; and a plurality of pebble members placed within said envelope, such that said cushioning device is adapted to be placed within and sink to the bottom of a water container, and is adapted to be used as a cushion for a person to sit thereupon.

2. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein said envelope is formed from a material that is water resilient, mold resistant, and will not rot.

3. The cushioning device of claim 2, wherein said envelope is formed from a material that is porous, and thereby adapted to allow air to pass therethrough such that the cushioning device is capable of sinking to the bottom of a water container.

4. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein said padding material is formed from a material that is water resilient, mold resistant, and will not rot.

5. The cushioning device of claim 4, wherein said padding material is attached to the entire inner surface area of said envelope.

6. The cushioning device of claim 5, wherein said padding material is formed from a material that is porous, and thereby adapted to allow air to pass therethrough such that the cushioning device is capable of sinking to the bottom of a water container.

7. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein said pebble members are formed from a material chosen from a list including ceramic, plastic, polyvinyl, cement, steel, aluminum, and wood.

8. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein said pebble members are formed from rocks.

9. The cushioning device of claim 1, wherein an amount of said pebble members is chosen to thereby conform with a chosen degree of movement of said pebble members within said envelope, and thereby provide a chosen degree of comfort for a person sitting thereupon.

10. A combination of a cushioning device and a water container, the combination comprising an enclosable envelope including a zipper member for opening and closing a portion of said envelope; padding material attached to the inner surface of said envelope; a plurality of pebble members placed within said envelope; and a water container including water, such that said cushioning device is placed within and sinks to the bottom of said water container, and is adapted to be used as a cushion for a person to sit thereupon.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein said envelope is formed from a material that is water resilient, mold resistant, and will not rot; and wherein said envelope is formed from a material that is porous, and thereby adapted to allow air to pass therethrough such that the cushioning device is capable of sinking to the bottom of a water container.

12. The combination of claim 10, wherein said padding material is formed from a material that is water resilient, mold resistant, and will not rot; wherein said padding material is attached to the entire inner surface area of said envelope; and wherein said padding material is formed from a material that is porous, and thereby adapted to allow air to pass therethrough such that the cushioning device is capable of sinking to the bottom of a water container.

13. The combination of claim 10, wherein said pebble members are formed from a material chosen from a list including ceramic, plastic, polyvinyl, cement, steel, aluminum, and wood; and wherein said pebble members are formed from rocks; and wherein an amount of said pebble members is chosen to thereby conform with a chosen degree of movement of said pebble members within said envelope, and thereby provide a chosen degree of comfort for a person sitting thereupon.

14. The combination of claim 10, wherein said water container is formed as a bathtub.

15. The combination of claim 10, wherein said water container is formed as a spa including water jets.