U.S. patent application number 12/006348 was filed with the patent office on 2008-07-10 for adjustable body positioning device.
This patent application is currently assigned to CONTOUR FABRICATORS, INC.. Invention is credited to Michael Howe.
Application Number | 20080163427 12/006348 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39592997 |
Filed Date | 2008-07-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080163427 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Howe; Michael |
July 10, 2008 |
Adjustable body positioning device
Abstract
A resilient body for supporting in elevated condition the knees
of a person lying on a horizontal surface comprises a pair of limbs
joined by a reduced thickness neck which facilitates the rocking of
the limbs between positions in which the limbs extend in opposite
directions from the neck to a selected one of a number of adjusted
positions in which the limbs confront one another and form an
upstanding arch for supporting the person's knees in an elevated
condition.
Inventors: |
Howe; Michael; (Fenton,
MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN MCCULLOCH
5291 COLONY DRIVE NORTH,, STE. 1
SAGINAW
MI
48638
US
|
Assignee: |
CONTOUR FABRICATORS, INC.
|
Family ID: |
39592997 |
Appl. No.: |
12/006348 |
Filed: |
January 2, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60878536 |
Jan 4, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
5/634 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 20/023 20130101;
A47C 20/021 20130101; A47C 20/027 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
5/634 |
International
Class: |
A47C 20/00 20060101
A47C020/00 |
Claims
1. A positioning device comprising a body member formed of
resiliently flexible material and having two limbs joined to one
another by a neck, said neck being thinner than said limbs, thereby
facilitating rocking of said limbs at said neck between extreme
positions in one of which said limbs extend in opposite directions
from said neck and in another of which said limbs confront one
another; and adjustable coupling means releasably coupling said
limbs to one another for restraining relative movement of said
limbs in a direction toward said one position from said another
position.
2. The device according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means
comprises a strap extending from one of said limbs to the other of
said limbs.
3. The device according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means
comprises a cord extending from one of said limbs to the other of
said limbs.
4. The device according to claim 3 wherein each of said limbs has
passages in which said cord is slideably accommodated.
5. The device according to claim 4 including a clasp in which said
cord adjustably is accommodated.
6. The device according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means
comprises a strap accommodated in grooves formed in each of said
limbs.
7. The device according to claim 6 wherein said strap and said
grooves have cooperable releasable fasteners for releasably
securing said strap in a selected one of a number of adjusted
positions.
8. The device according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means
comprises a strap spanning and removably secured to said limbs.
9. The device according to claim 8 wherein said strap is
inelastic.
10. The device according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means
comprises anchor strap means secured to said limbs and a
restraining strap extending between said limbs and joined to said
anchor strap means.
11. The device according to claim 10 wherein said anchor strap
means comprises a pair of retaining straps on opposite sides of
said neck and wherein said retaining strap extends from one of said
restraining straps beneath both of said limbs, said restraining
strap being secured adjacent its opposite ends to both of said
retaining straps.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Provisional application No. 60/878,536, filed Jan. 4,
2007.
[0002] This invention relates to an adjustable positioning device
for enabling a person's arms, legs, back, or head to be supported
and maintained in any one of a selected number of adjusted
positions.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A person who lies on a horizontal surface such as that
provided by a bed, gurney, or other support usually is more
comfortable if his knees, back, and/or head is supported in an
elevated position. Since persons vary in height it is desirable
that whatever support is provided be adjustable so as to be usable
by persons of greatly varying height. It also is desirable that the
person using the support be adjustable by such person without
requiring assistance from another, thereby enabling the user to
adjust the support whenever desired.
[0004] A principal object of the invention is to provide an
adjustable support possessing these desirable characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An adjustable positioning device constructed in accordance
with the invention comprises a body member formed of flexible,
preferably resilient foam material having two limbs joined together
by a neck, the neck being thinner than the limbs thereby
facilitating rocking of the limbs about the neck. Adjustable
coupling means releasably couples the limbs to one another for the
purposes of adjusting the relative positions of the limbs to a
desired position relative to one another and restraining relative
movement of the limbs in a direction away from one another.
[0006] The coupling means preferably is one which can be
manipulated by a person lying on a bed or other supporting surface
so as to enable such person to make adjustments in the relative
positions of the limbs without necessarily requiring assistance
from another person.
[0007] The limbs of the body preferably are adjustable from a first
extreme position in which they extend in prolongation of one
another in opposite directions from the neck to another extreme
position in which the limbs confront and abut one another, thereby
forming a bolster which may be used as a back rest, a head rest, or
to support a person's knees in an elevated position.
[0008] The free ends of the limbs preferably are shaped to
complement the surface on which they are adapted to rest.
THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Presently preferred embodiments of the positioning device
are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of one embodiment of the
device forming an arched support;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an isometric view illustrating the device in one
extreme position of adjustment;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment
illustrating the device in a selected one of a plurality of
adjusted positions;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view on a reduced scale of the
embodiment shown in FIG. 3;
[0014] FIGS. 5 and 6 are elevational views illustrating different
configurations of the free ends of the limbs;
[0015] FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a third embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG.
7;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the embodiment of FIGS.
7-8;
[0018] FIG. 10 is an end elevational view of the third embodiment;
and
[0019] FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, top plan view of an anchoring
strap adapted for use with the third embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] A positioning device constructed in accordance with the
embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a body 1 formed of
flexible, resilient, foam material of the kind conventionally used
in the formation of body positioning cushions and has a reduced
thickness neck or notch 2 at the juncture of two limbs 3 and 4. A
notch 2 provides a hinge about which the limbs 3 and 4 may rock
between two extreme positions in one of which the limbs extend in
prolongation of one anther, as is shown in full lines in FIG. 2,
and in another of which the limbs confront one another and form an
upstanding arch. The limbs are of such stiffness as to provide
stable support for the knees, back, or head of the user.
[0021] The two limbs 3 and 4 are of equal thickness and area and
terminate in free edges 5 and 6, respectively. The limb 3 has a
pair of diverging bores 7 in each of which is a passage-forming
sleeve 8. The limb 4 has a pair of bores 9 which terminate adjacent
a transverse bore 10. In each of the bores 9 and 10 is a
passage-forming sleeve 11. As is best shown in FIG. 2, the sleeve
11 adjacent the free end of the limb 4 extends transversely of the
latter and has a length corresponding substantially to the distance
between the bores 9.
[0022] Extending through each of the passage-forming sleeves is an
inelastic coupling cord 13. The cord makes a complete circuit
through both of the limbs 3 and 4 and has opposite ends 14 and 15
which pass through and extend beyond a reinforcement 16 secured to
the limb 3. The cord ends also extend through a clasp 17 of known
construction which, when it bears against the reinforcement 16, can
resist movement of the cord ends inwardly of the limb 3.
[0023] One extreme position of the limbs 3 and 4 is shown in FIG. 2
wherein both limbs extend in prolongation of one another and in
opposite directions from the neck 2. However, the limbs can be
adjusted relative to one another in such manner as to enable the
limbs to confront one another as is shown in FIG. 1. The limbs also
can be moved toward one another from the positions shown in FIG. 1
so as to occupy a second extreme position wherein the limbs not
only confront, but also abut, one another. The limbs may be
maintained in any selected position between the two extreme
positions by manipulating the free ends 14 and 15 of the coupling
cord and securing them in a selected position by the clasp 17.
[0024] In any position of the body 1 it may be used to cushion and
support some part of a person's body. For example, when the limbs
of the body are in the positions shown in FIG. 1 the body may be
used to support the knees of a person in an elevated position when
such person is lying on a bed or other horizontal surface.
Alternatively, the body may be used as a back rest or head
rest.
[0025] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the body 20 is
formed of material corresponding to that of the body 1 and has two
limbs 21 and 22 extending in opposite directions from a neck 23 of
reduced thickness. The upper or outer surfaces 24 and 25 of the
limbs preferably are substantially planar, whereas the opposite
surfaces 26 and 27 are arcuate. Such arrangement provides a greater
surface area adjacent the free ends of the limbs for contact with a
surface on which the body is placed, thereby rendering the body
more stable than it otherwise would be.
[0026] The outer surface of each of the limbs has a groove 28 for
the accommodation of an inelastic restraining strap 29. Preferably,
the base of each groove is lined with a Velcro-type hook or loop
fastener 30 and that surface of the strap which confronts the base
of the groove has a complementary loop or hook fastener which
cooperates with the fastener secured to the base of the groove to
retain a portion of the restraining strap in a selected position of
adjustment so that the limbs may be maintained in a selected
relationship. Preferably, the free end of each of the limbs also
has a groove 31 which communicates with the groove 28 and through
which extends that portion of the restraining strap 29 which spans
the free ends of the limbs when they are in an arched condition as
is shown in both full and dash lines in FIG. 4.
[0027] If desired, an inelastic coupling strap 32 may be used in
lieu of or with the strap 29 and preferably at opposite sides of
the body, the strap 32 being of such length as to span the two
limbs and having one of the two hook and loop components of a
Velcro fastener. The sides of the limbs have complementary loop and
hook components with the strap 32 so as to maintain the limbs in a
selected position of adjustment relative to one another.
[0028] All of the restraining straps act to restrain relative
movement of the limbs in a direction away from one another, thereby
stabilizing the body in whatever position it occupies when the
limbs do not directly confront or extend in prolongation of one
another.
[0029] In some instances the body 1 or 20 may be intended for use
on a flat surface. In this case the free ends of each limb may be
flat or linear as is shown at 33 in FIG. 5. In other instances, the
body may be intended for use on a body support having an upwardly
concave surface. In this event the free end of each limb should be
rounded, as is shown at 34 in FIG. 6, to complement the surface of
the support.
[0030] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-11, a body 33 formed of
material like that of the bodies 1 and 20 has two limbs 34 and 35
joined by a reduced thickness neck 36. The upper surface of the
body 33 has a pair of spaced, parallel grooves 37, 38 which flank
and parallel a concave central zone 39. The zone 39 has a pair of
spaced apart hook or loop anchor straps 40 and 41 which are secured
in any suitable manner to the body 33.
[0031] The lower surface of each limb 34 and 35 is rounded for the
same purpose referred to earlier.
[0032] A coupling strap 42 having loop and hook fasteners is
provided for use in maintaining the body 33 in an arched position
corresponding to that shown in FIGS. 1, 3, and 4. In use, the limbs
34 and 35 are adjusted toward one another to form an arch. One end
of the strap 42 may be secured to one of the straps 40, 41 and the
remaining part of the strap 42 extended beneath the free end of one
of the limbs and beneath and around the free end of the other limb
so as to overlie and be secured to the other anchor strap 40 or
41.
[0033] Alternatively, the straps 40, 41 may be applied to the sides
of the limbs in a manner corresponding to that shown in FIG. 3 so
as to enable the limbs to be maintained in a selected position of
arch-forming condition. In this construction one or more of the
coupling straps 42 may be used to maintain the limbs in a selected
position of adjustment.
[0034] The disclosed embodiments are representative of presently
preferred forms of the invention, but are intended to be
illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is
defined in the claims.
* * * * *