U.S. patent application number 11/129726 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-16 for breast/storage cavity 1.
Invention is credited to Catalina Fleites.
Application Number | 20060255648 11/129726 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37418445 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060255648 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fleites; Catalina |
November 16, 2006 |
Breast/storage cavity 1
Abstract
A portable, foldable or stationary lounger or chair is comprised
of a rectangular frame and cover. The frame includes 3 sections, a
section for the upper torso, seat and section for legs. The cover
is composed of a fabric material firm enough to support the weight
of a large person. The section of the lounger or chair that
supports the upper torso or the section for legs, alternatively
provides a horizontal rectangular opening with a recessed fabric
cavity sewn to the seams of said opening. The cavity opening also
has a fabric flap sewn to the upper horizontal edge of the cavity
opening. The adjacent sides of the flap are secured with any
fastener such as Velcro.TM. and the corresponding edges of the
opening of the cavity are also lined with any fastener such as
Velcro.TM.. When the flap is open and the cavity is exposed it
allows for a woman to lie on her stomach with her breasts resting
within the provided cavity. When the flap is closed and secured by
the fastener such as Velcro.TM., it allows for a loose item storage
area and a continuous flat surface to lay on ones back.
Inventors: |
Fleites; Catalina;
(Hollywood, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Catalina Fleites
510 S Park Rd. #1023
Hollywood
FL
33021
US
|
Family ID: |
37418445 |
Appl. No.: |
11/129726 |
Filed: |
May 16, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/31 ;
297/900 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 1/143 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
297/900 ;
297/031 |
International
Class: |
A47C 4/00 20060101
A47C004/00; A47C 4/30 20060101 A47C004/30; A47C 4/44 20060101
A47C004/44 |
Claims
1. A storage compartment integrated into a chair in the section
used to support the upper torso and head, commonly known as the
backrest or footrest, if so desired. The section that supports the
upper torso or lower section that supports the legs, alternatively,
having an opening extending therethrough, the storage compartment
comprising: a main body having a concave interior surface and a
periphery attached to a rear surface of the section that supports
the upper torso or lower section that supports the legs,
alternatively, about the section that supports the upper torso or
lower section that supports the legs, alternatively, opening to
define a storage compartment cavity; and a flap attached to an
upper surface of the section that supports the upper torso or lower
section that supports the legs, alternatively, at least a portion
of the flap incorporating releasable attachment means for enabling
selective covering of the storage compartment cavity to form an
interior storage space.
2. A storage compartment as recited in claim 1, wherein the main
body is particularly sized and shaped to comfortably accommodate a
woman's breasts when the flap is in an opened position.
3. A storage compartment as recited in claim 2, wherein the main
body has an interior surface generally shaped to complement the
corresponding general anatomical shape of a woman's breasts.
4. A storage compartment as recited in claim 1, wherein the main
body and flap are constructed from a flexible fabric.
5. A storage compartment as recited in claim 4, wherein said
flexible fabric further comprises of one of a natural fiber, a
synthetic fiber, and a blended fabric.
6. A storage compartment as recited in claim 4, wherein said
flexible fabric further comprises netting.
7. A storage compartment as recited in claim 4, wherein said
flexible fabric further comprises a resilient fabric.
8. A storage compartment as recited in claim 1, wherein the
periphery of the storage compartment main body is stitched directly
to the section that supports the upper torso or lower section that
supports the legs, alternatively, of said chair.
9. A storage compartment as recited in claim 1, wherein the storage
compartment flap has a portion of its periphery permanently
stitched to the upper surface of the section that supports the
upper torso or lower section that supports the legs, alternatively,
the flap further comprising releasable attachment means disposed
along at least a portion of its periphery for cooperating with
corresponding releasable attachment means disposed on the upper
surface of said section that supports the upper torso or lower
section that supports the legs, alternatively.
10. A storage compartment as recited in claim 9, wherein said
releasable attachment means further comprises one half of a
hook-and-loop fastener system disposed on said flap and the other
half of the hook-and-loop fastener system disposed on the upper
surface of the chair section that supports the upper torso or lower
section that supports the legs, alternatively.
11. A storage compartment as recited in claim 9, wherein said
releasable attachment means further comprise mechanical snaps.
12. A storage compartment as recited in claim 1, wherein said flap
is configured such that said flap lies substantially flush with the
front surface of said section of the lounger that supports the
upper torso or lower section that supports the lower extremities,
alternatively, when the flap is in a closed position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention related to a breast/storage cavity, a
modification to existing loungers. The invention provides a
modification which allows a woman or man to lie face down with
her/his stomach against the lounger with a woman's breast within
the provided cavity. A secondary benefit is a loose item storage
cavity and facial support opening for use by male users of the
lounger who have no need for a breast cavity.
[0003] 2. Description of Prior Art
[0004] Loungers, including those that are portable or foldable, are
known in prior art. More specifically, the modification is a
breast/storage cavity provided in the section of the lounger used
the support the upper torso or the section that is used to place
the lower body or legs, alternatively. This cavity/storage space
allows for a woman or man to lie prone with her/his stomach against
the lounger and woman's breasts resting within the provided
cavity.
[0005] A variety of human body supporting apparatus, including
maternity cots and mattresses have been described which are formed
with recesses, depressions, cavities or openings to accommodate the
abdomen of a pregnant woman with facial openings. The disadvantages
of some of these cots or mattresses are they don't accommodate
solely the breasts and face. It is often difficult for a woman to
lie prone on her stomach due to the discomfort caused by having her
breasts pressed against her upper body by the rigid surface on
which she is resting. The pressure applied to her breasts by a
rigid surface may be particularly uncomfortable for women whose
breasts are extra sensitive, such as women with breast implants,
naturally full breasts, naturally sensitive breasts or
mastectomies.
[0006] The U.S. Pat. No. 4,921,301 issued May 1990 to Haynes
describes a maternity lounger that has an upper panel of elastic
stretching material for expandable support of the abdomen. U.S.
Pat. No. 6,588,034 issued July 2003 Nations reveal a prone
pregnancy lounger allowing a pregnant woman to lie prone providing
an expandable cavity for her abdomen. U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,449
issued March 1995 to Satto discloses a prone pregnancy cushion.
While these inventions fulfill particular objectives, the aforesaid
patents do not describe a cavity allowing a non-pregnant woman to
lie prone with her breasts supported or otherwise comfortably
accommodated within a cavity. U.S. Pat. No. 5,720,061 issued on
February 1998 discloses a female anatomical mattress comprised of
air chambers and a cavity on the mattress to enable woman to lie on
her stomach with her breasts in the cavity.
[0007] There is an unmet need for a breasts/storage cavity
modification to human body supporting apparatus', including
loungers and chairs which helps in reducing the compression on a
woman's breasts, strained on her back, neck strain and affords a
flap to close the opening of the cavity to enable a person to lie
on their back, while offering an efficient storage space and
functional use of the lounger by a man.
[0008] The design of the breast/storage cavity provides a canvas or
synthetic material fabric flap cover secured with a hook-and-loop
type fastener such as that sold under the trade name Velcro.TM. or
any other type of method used to secure the fabric to cover the
cavity which allows for one to lay comfortably on his/her back. The
cavity could also be used to store items of the lounger is being
used by a man who has no need for the breast cavity which departs
substantially from the prior descriptions of the other mentioned
inventions.
[0009] The breast/storage cavity can be incorporated into any
variety of portable, foldable or stationary lounger or chair. The
prior art demonstrates the use of the breast/storage cavity on a
foldable lounger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The present invention, a combination of breast/storage
cavity, a modification to the lounger, substantially alleviates the
inconvenience and discomfort caused by the compression to the
female breasts associated with existing loungers. The said cavity
space allows for storage of loose items such as keys, wallet,
bottles, lotion etc.
[0011] The lounger is comprised of a frame and a fabric cover. The
fabric cover consists of sturdy enough material to support the
weight of a large person. The breasts/storage cavity is a
modification to the portion of the lounger or chair used to support
the upper torso or lower portion of the body, alternatively. This
section provides a horizontal rectangular opening with a recessed
fabric cavity sewn to the seams of said opening. The cavity could
be constructed of elastic stretch fabric, netting, canvass or
synthetic material fabric. The opening also has a fabric flap sewn
to the upper or lower horizontal edge. The adjacent sides of the
flap are secured by any fastener such as Velcro.TM. and the
corresponding edges of the opening of the cavity are also secured
by any fastener such as Velcro.TM.. When the flap is open and the
cavity exposed it allows for a woman to lay on her stomach with her
breasts supported or otherwise accommodated in the cavity. When the
flap is closed and secured by any fastener such as a Velcro.TM.
closure, it allows for a storage area and a continuous flat surface
to lay on ones back. The fabric of the flap would be generally of
the same material of the cover fabric of the lounger that would
support the weight of a large person.
[0012] The primary function of the breast/storage cavity and facial
support opening is to reduce or eliminate breast compression while
lying face down on the surface of a lounger or chair. As a means of
relief women often contort their bodies to try to compensate for
the pressure applied to their breasts resulting in stain of the
spinal cord. Neck strain could also be alleviated by the facial
support opening because it gives a person the ability to maintain
spinal alignment. The present invention provides a useful change to
the existing invention of the lounger by affording relief to the
breasts from the pressure of the body weight and subsequent back
strain and relief from the neck strain from having to twist a
person's head to lie down. The breast storage cavity provides the
comfort to women not previously afforded by the rigid and
nonconforming style of the previous designs of loungers. An added
benefit is the extra storage space afforded by closing the flap
making the invention useful to both women and men.
[0013] It is another objective of the breast/storage cavity is to
provide a new and improved female friendly lounger made of quality
construction.
[0014] An added benefit of the combination breast/storage cavity
when in the flap closed position it allows a storage area for loose
items such as keys, wallets, lotion, bottles etc. for use by
men.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] FIG. 1--is a side view of the invention
[0016] FIG. 2--is a view of the embodiment with the flap open
[0017] FIG. 3--is a side view of the invention with the flap
open
[0018] FIG. 3a--is a sectioned side view of the invention with the
flap tucked inside the storage cavity
[0019] FIG. 4--is a perspective of the invention on a lounger
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The present invention, breast/storage cavity is demonstrated
in FIGS. 1-4. Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 4, there is shown a
lounger. The lounger could be of any number of types of loungers
and for demonstration purposes is illustrated as being a foldable
lounger as such as is frequently utilized for outdoor activities.
The lounger provides a frame of several basic structural elements
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. (1) Frame constructed of any rigid material such
as plastic, aluminum, wood, steel etc. (2) fabric covering of the
frame allowing support of a person laying or sitting on said
lounger, (3) arm rest made of rigid material such as plastic,
aluminum, wood, steel etc. (4) legs to support the frame of the
lounger above the ground, (5) leg support for the arm rests when
engaged in the upright position, (6) hinges allowing the
illustrated lounger to fold and the legs retract.
[0021] The breast/storage cavity consists of a recessed cavity (8)
located in the section of the lounger being used to support the
upper torso or the section that supports to lower extremities
demonstrated in FIG. 1 comprised of a sturdy fabric material
surrounded all 4 sides of the cavity with an equally durable fabric
cover flap (7). The flap (7) is stitched to the upper horizontal
edge of the cavity opening for demonstration purposes but could
also be stitched to the lower horizontal edge, alternatively. The
adjacent 3 sides are lined with any fastener such as Velcro.TM. (9)
surrounding the outer edge of the flap. The corresponding edges of
the opening of the cavity (9a) are also lined with a fastener such
as Velcro.TM. as demonstrated in FIG. 2. The fastener such as
Velcro.TM. allows for opening and closing of the cavity.
[0022] FIG. 3 is a side perspective of the cavity with a view of
the flap (7a) on the open position. FIG. (3a) is a sectioned side
perspective of the cavity with the flap (7a) tucked on allowing a
woman to lie on her stomach with her breasts in the provided
cavity.
[0023] FIG. 4 is a front full view perspective of a foldable
lounger with the breast/storage cavity.
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