Support device

Claim 3

A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the 40 granules are coated with an adhesive which normally does not prevent the granules flowing past one another when the bag is undeflated, the adhesive being capable of subsequently being activated when the bag is in the conformed shape 45 such as to adhere the granules to one another and thereby produce a permanently rigid structure.

Claim 4

A device as claimed in claim 2 wherein said granular material comprises wood flour coated with said adhesive. 50

Claim 5

A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said adhesive coating comprises powdered acrylic material.

Claim 6

A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said adhesive coating comprises white P.V.A. material. 55

Claim 7

A device according to claim 1 including a non-return valve for maintaining the bag in said deflated condition.

Claim 10

A method according to claim 7 wherein said granules are coated with a heat sensitive adhesive and including the step of heating said device whilst maintained in said deflated condition, such as to activate said adhesive coating and thereby adhere the granules to one another in said conformed shape.

Claim 11

A method according to claim 7 or 8 including the step of exposing said support device to microwave radiation so as to produce said activation of the adhesive coating.

Claim 14

A method according to claim 10 including the step of removing the article from between said devices prior to the step of exposing the devices to said source of radiation.

Claim 15

A machine .for performing the packaging method claimed in claim 10, comprising a chamber to receive said support devices and the article to be packaged, means for evacuating said chamber of air, and means for exposing said chamber to microwave radiation.

Claim 16

A machine as claimed in claim 12, including vibrator means for vibrating the devices when received in the chamber.

Claim 17

A support structure comprising a support frame, and a support device mounted on the support frame, the support device comprising an airtight bag containing a granular material, means for permitting the bag to be maintained in a deflated condition, the bag and the material therein being so arranged that when the bag is undeflated the granular material will flow to assume a shape conforming to that of a body to be supported and that when the bag is subsequently deflated the granular material forms a rigid support in the conformed shape, the granular material being coated with an adhesive material selectively actuable to adhere the granules to one another to form a permanently rigid structure in 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 4 GB 2 069 917 A 4 said conformed shape. frame.

Claim 18

A support structure comprising a support frame, and a support device mounted on the support frame, the support device comprising an airtight bag containing a granular material, means for permitting the bag to be maintained in a deflated condition, the bag and the material therein being so arranged that when the bag is undeflated the granular material will flow to assume a shape conforming to that of a body to be supported and that when the bag is subsequently deflated the granular material forms a rigid support in the conformed shape, the granular material being coated with an adhesive material selectively actuable to adhere the granules to one another to form a permanently rigid structure in 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 105 110 115 120 125 4 GB 2 069 917 A 4 said conformed shape. frame.

Claim 19

A structure according to claim 14 including 5

Claim 20

A structure according to claim 15, defining a plurality of said support devices mounted on said a chair for a physically handicapped person. Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by the Courier Press, Leamington Spa, 1981. Published by the Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A 1AY, from which copies may be obtained.