U.S. patent number 3,680,917 [Application Number 05/038,096] was granted by the patent office on 1972-08-01 for inflatable back and head floor rest.
Invention is credited to Carl Robert Harris.
United States Patent |
3,680,917 |
Harris |
August 1, 1972 |
INFLATABLE BACK AND HEAD FLOOR REST
Abstract
A wedge shaped, inflatable cushion is provided having its body
portion divided into ribbed sections defined by transverse ribs.
The cushion body portion is quilted transversely to form the ribs
and ribbed sections, the sections thus being in communication with
each other so that pressure due to weight of a heavy portion of the
body on one section urges forward, with the rib as a pivot point,
the head and other sections which support lighter portions of the
body, to hold the head in a virtually upright position.
Inventors: |
Harris; Carl Robert
(Louisville, KY) |
Family
ID: |
21898072 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/038,096 |
Filed: |
May 18, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
297/452.41;
D24/183; 5/633; 297/DIG.3; 5/655.3 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C
4/54 (20130101); A47C 16/005 (20130101); A47C
27/081 (20130101); Y10S 297/03 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47C
4/00 (20060101); A47C 4/54 (20060101); A47C
27/08 (20060101); A47C 9/00 (20060101); A47C
9/10 (20060101); A47c 027/08 (); A47c 027/18 ();
A47c 007/02 () |
Field of
Search: |
;5/327,348,339,341
;297/452,458 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Nunberg; Casmir A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An air cushion adapted to support the back, neck and head of a
person reclining thereagainst, comprising opposite symmetrical side
members, each substantially shaped like a scalene triangle, but
with the long side of the triangle bowed inwardly, and front, back
and bottom panel sections integral with each other, extending
between the side members and joined to the edges of the side
members in airtight seams to form a wedge shaped inflatable body
portion, the front panel section being the section along the long
side of the substantially triangularly shaped sides, said body
portion being in the form of a series of ribbed sections including
a headrest section and bodyrest sections defined by ribs extending
transversely across front, back and bottom panels between the
sides, the body portion being quilted transversely to form the ribs
and ribbed sections, the ribbed sections being in communication
with each other such that pressure due to weight of a heavy portion
of the body on one section urges forward, with the rib as a pivot
point, the head and other sections which support lighter portions
of the body, to hold the head in a virtually upright position while
supporting lighter portions of the body in a supine position.
2. The cushion of claim 1, so quilted as to be divided into four
ribbed sections.
3. The cushion of claim 1 wherein the front, back, and bottom
panels are fabricated from a single piece of material with the two
side panels being attached thereto in airtight seams.
4. The cushion of claim 3 made of a rubberized material having heat
sealed seams.
Description
This invention relates to a fully inflatable back and head rest
support for persons, children, who prefer to watch television from
a position on the floor. The cushion of this invention will be
constructed out of a rubber or plastic inflatable material and it
is designed to adjust to the physical contour of the user to give
the necessary support for floor television viewing. The user of the
cushion will lie on his back with the lower portion or sections of
the cushion in the area of the lower back. The pressure of the back
and shoulders on these sections forces other sections of the
cushion to adjust to the contour of the back and shoulders. This
forces additional air into the head support section to hold the
head in a more comfortable viewing position. The cushion will be
inflated and deflated by a valve.
This invention can perhaps be better understood by reference to the
accompanying drawing. In the drawing
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cushion of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a back perspective view of the cushion.
FIG. 3 is a schematic side view showing the cushion in use.
In FIG. 1 the cushion 2 of the invention is shown with its sides 4,
front 6, back 8 and bottom 10 in a fully inflated, upright
position. It can be seen that cushion 2 has substantially
triangular sides 4. Each side is actually shaped like a scalene
triangle with its long side 12 bowed inwardly. Sections 14, 16, 18
and 20 are the back and head rests, the drawing showing a ribbed,
front panel designed to adjust to the physical contour of the
person occupying the cushion. As can be seen from the drawing, the
cushion is quilted to form sections 14, 16, 18 and 20. In other
words, opposite front and bottom, and also front and back panels
are joined together in quilted fashion transversely between sides
4. The uppermost ribbed section, denoted by the numeral 20, will be
slightly larger than back ribbed section 16. Headrest section 20
will expand (due to the pressure applied by the weight of the back
and shoulders) to form a firm comfortable support for the head
since the ribbed sections are in communication with each other. All
seams will be heat pressure sealed to withstand the desired air
pressure, as dictated by modern methods. Hence the front, back and
bottom panels 6, 8 and 10 are integral with each other, and they
are joined to side members 4 in air-tight seams. Dimensions of body
and head sections 6, 8 and 10 will vary due to age group
differentials. In other one standard size will not give the support
necessary for all children watching television from a position on
the floor.
FIG. 2 shows back panel 8, and indicates a valve, for simple
inflation and deflation watching the cushion. This valve 22 can be
an attached insertable plug to hold the desired air pressure and
simple enough to remove for deflation and storage.
FIG. 3 depicts the cushion of the invention fully inflated, and
occupied. The pressure of the lower back and shoulders against
sections 14, 16 and 18 will force additional air into the uppermost
ribbed section 20. This additional air protrudes headrest section
20 to support the head in a more comfortable position.
This invention is thus concerned with an inflatable cushion adapted
to support the back and head. This device is designed to give
comfortable back and head support for persons, especially children,
who prefer to watch television while lying on the floor. This
support can be constructed of a durable rubberized or plastic
product and will be inflated by a valve. The back use, head
sections are quilted so that they adjust individually with ribs as
pivot points to the weight and physical contour of the person
occupying the device. The pressure from the weight of the back and
shoulders causes the head section to expand to hold the head in a
more vertical upright position. In fact the section under the least
pressure above or below the point of greatest weight will expand or
adjust in direct relation to the pressure applied. The approximate
dimensions of the cushion are as follows: bottom 10, 16 inches
long; back 8, 12 inches high; and width, 9 inches. These dimensions
will not hold for all of the many age groups using the cushion of
the invention. However, several sizes can be made. The cushion can
be inflated by a child for use and then deflated and stored in
minimum space.
The cushion of this invention is designed for the purpose of
eliminating fatigue and undesirable positions, from a health
standpoint, assumed by children watching television while on the
floor. The cushion will be of a substantially triangular shape in
relation to a person lying on his back, his head and back being
raised to approximately a 45.degree. angle.
* * * * *