COMFORT SUPPORT SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support system for individuals lying on one side of the body, providing back and spinal support. The support system includes a support member having a removable and repositionable protruding member which may be positioned on the support member at a varying location which provides support to a desired portion of the spine and back. The support system may optionally have a cover, which may also incorporate a sleeve adapted to receive comfort items such as heating pads or packs, hot water bottles, ice packs, massagers and the like.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a support system providing spinal support to an individual lying on one side of the body. More particularly, the present invention provides a support system allowing a pregnant woman to comfortably lie on her side while sleeping, with the upper and lower portions of her back suitably supported.

BACKGROUND

Many individuals lie on one side of the body to rest or sleep. Children, adults, men, non-pregnant women and pregnant women prefer to sleep on one side of their body, but find it difficult to do so because of the lack of spinal support in this position. Pregnant women prefer this position, but again find it difficult due to the added weight of the developing fetus. Although many people enjoy or prefer to lie on one side of the body, the lack of spinal support creates widespread discomfort.

Generally, pillows are readily available to consumers to support the cervical portions of the spine in pillows for use in association with the head and neck. Several attempts have been made in the prior art to relieve the discomfort of lying on one side of the body. U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,419 discloses a Material Positioning Support System. This disclosure relates to a support system of a wedge shape support and a head support. This invention supports an individual lying on one side, although it does not provide any support to the curvature of the spine. U.S. Pat. No. 6,292,964 discloses an Inclined Support Pillow having a wedge with cushions for lower back support and neck support. This invention provides support to an individual lying on the back, but not on the side.

The present invention and disclosure overcome the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a support system for individuals lying on one side of the body, providing spinal support. More particularly, the present invention relates to a support system for an individual lying on one side of the body providing additional support to an area of the spine.

Even more particularly, the present invention provides a support member having a removable and repositionable protruding member which may be positioned on the support member at a selected location which provides support to a desired portion of the spine or back portion.

Additionally, the support system may be adapted to provide support to an individual lying on either the right or left side of the body. Furthermore, the size and shape of the support member and the protruding member may be varied to provide support to individuals of different shapes and sizes.

The support system of the present invention may optionally have a covering. The support member may have a covering separate and distinct from a covering for the protruding member. In an embodiment, the entire support system including the support member and the protruding member may have one covering.

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and the accompanying drawings, wherein the embodiments of the disclosure are described and shown, and in part will become apparent upon examination of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above mentioned and other features of this disclosure and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the disclosure will be best understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the disclosure taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a an embodiment of a support system for an individual lying down on one side in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a support member of a support system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of another support member of the support system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a protruding member of the support system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a protruding member of a support system;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the protruding member of a support system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the protruding member of the support system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a view of a cover for the protruding member;

FIG. 9 is a view of a cover for the support member; and

FIG. 10 is a view of a cover for the support system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

While the present disclosure will be described fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a particular embodiment or embodiments are shown, it is to be understood at the outset that persons skilled in the art may modify the disclosure herein described while still achieving the desired result. Accordingly, the description that follows is to be understood as a broad informative disclosure directed to persons skilled in the appropriate art and not as limitations on the present disclosure.

The present invention generally relates to a support system 10 (FIG. 1) for individuals lying down on one side of the body. FIG. 1 is a view of the support system 10 having a support member 12 and a protruding member 13. In an embodiment, the support member 12 forms a wedge like shape, having a body defining a first plane 17 and a second plane 18 meeting at angle 14. Angle 14 may be up to, but not greater than 90 degrees. The supporting face 15 is opposite to angle 14 and generally in contact with the surface on which an individual is lying down on, such as a bed, a floor and the like. The support member 12 may be of different shapes and sizes to accommodate differing shapes and sizes of individuals. FIG. 3 shows an example of a support member in the form of an ungular shape, having a body 50 bounded by two intersecting planes 52, 54 , where plane 52 comprises a part cylindrical surface of less than 360 degrees. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of three dimensional forms may be used to shape the support member 12, 50, providing at least one off-vertical plane for supporting an individual lying on one side of the body.

FIG. 2 is a view of an embodiment of the support member 12 of FIG. 1, having a wedge like form and having at least one first attachment site 16, providing a location for repositionably attaching the protruding member 13 to the support member 12. The attachment of the protruding member 13 and the support member 12 may be of a variety of attachment means. Attachment means between the support member 12 having first attachment site 16, and the protruding member 13 wherein the bottom 20 of the protruding member 13 includes at least one second attachment site 19, may involve, but are not limited to snaps, hook-eye, hook and loop fasteners as is representative of Velcro®fasteners, zippers, buttons, ties, clips or any other means for fastening known in the art and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the at least one first attachment site 16 is a hook and loop fastener.

The location of attachment of the protruding member 13 on plane 17 of the support member 12 may be varied. The location of the at least one first attachment site 16 on the support member 12 may be in a plurality of locations on the support member 12 to allow for the protruding member 13 to be placed at a variety of locations suitable to an individual's body and also to provide the adaptation to support an individual to lie down on either the right or left side.

By way of example and not limitation, in an embodiment, the first plane 17 of the support member 12 has a length of about 3 inches to about 60 inches in width, the second plane 18 is about 3 inches to about 60 inches in width, the first plane 17 and the second plane 18 meeting at angle 14 no greater than 90 degrees. The length of the support member 12 is about 3 inches for infants to about 100 inches for adults. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the dimensions of the support member may be as small or as large as necessary based on the sizes and shapes of a variety of individuals.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment of a protruding member 13 having an arc like shape 56. The shape of the protruding member may be varied, as those skilled in the art will recognize. Examples of the possible shapes of the protruding member 13 include but are not limited to shapes being arcuate, oblong, polygonal, pyramid, pointed, spherical, Quonset®-shaped, catenoid, ellipsoid, paraboloid, cylindrical, cone-like, tear drop, with variations and combinations thereof.

The size of the protruding member 13 may also vary to suit the size of a user from infant to adult. In addition, the depth of the protrusion may vary to suit the variation of spinal curvatures found in the consumer population. FIG. 5 shows a view of an arc like protrusion 56 having lesser depth than the similar shaped protrusion shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows an embodiment of the protruding member 13 having a tear drop like shape 58, including an arc for spinal support of an individual. Variations of sizes and shapes of this embodiment may also be made, as those skilled in the art will recognize.

FIG. 7 shows the bottom surface 20 of the protruding member 13 having at least one second attachment site 19 for attaching the protruding member 13 to a variety of locations on surface 17 via first attachment site 16 on the support member 12. In an embodiment, the protruding member 13 is removable and repositionable.

By way of example and not limitation, in an embodiment the protruding member has a width of about 3 inches to about 60 inches, a length of about 3 inches to about 50 inches and depth of about up to 10 inches.

The present invention may optionally include a cover 40 for the support system 10 as show in FIG. 10. Alternatively, the support member 12 and the protruding member 13 may be covered separately as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. The covers 30, 35 and 40 shown in FIGS. 8-10 may be used to protect the support system 10 from dust and debris, and may also have a decorative quality. The covers may be made of any material suitable in the art. By way of example and not limitation, the material for the cover may be fabric, leather, vinyl, silk, cotton, wool, woven fabric, plastic, rubber, with variations and combinations thereof.

Cover 30 (FIG. 8) may optionally include closure member 32 to enclose the protruding member 13. Illustrations of closure members are presented by way of example and not limitation, and may include a flap, elastic, snaps, hook-eye, hook and loop fasteners as in representative of Velcro®, zippers, buttons, ties, clips or any other means for fastening known in the art and combinations thereof.

Cover 35 (FIG. 9) may optionally include closure member 37 to enclose the support member 12. Examples of closure members are presented by way of example and not limitation and may include a flap, elastic, snaps, hook-eye, hook and loop fasteners as in representative of Velcro®, zippers, buttons, ties, clips or any other means for fastening known in the art and combinations thereof.

Cover 40 (FIG. 10) may optionally include closure means 32 to enclose the support system 10. Examples of closure members are presented by way of example and not limitation and may include a flap, elastic, snaps, hook-eye, hook and loop fasteners as in representative of Velcro®, zippers, buttons, ties, clips or any other means for fastening known in the art and combinations thereof.

In FIG. 8, cover 30 is used to cover and protect the protruding member 13. In FIG. 9, cover 35 is used to cover and protect support member 12. If cover 30 and cover 35 are used in an embodiment, there will be an attachment between cover 30 and cover 35 to assemble the support system 10. Attachment between cover 30 and cover 35 may be by attachment means such as snaps, hook-eye, hook and loop fasteners as in representative of Velcro®, zippers, buttons, ties, clips or any other means for fastening known in the art and combinations thereof. Attachment means are presented by way of example and not limitation.

Covers 30, 35 and 40 (FIGS. 8-10) may optionally include a sleeve 34 (FIG. 8) adapted to receive items to increase the comfort of a user. Examples of these items may include, but are not limited to hot packs, hot water packs, hot water bottles, heating pads, ice packs, massage devices, additional protrusions and combinations thereof.

The support system 10 may be made of a variety of materials. By way of example and not limitation, the support system 10 may be made of materials such as foam, medium grade foam, fabric, cotton, plastics, vinyl, leather, down, acrylic, rubber and the like. Variations and combination of such examples may also be used.

In use, the support system 10 is assembled by adjoining protruding member 13 to a particular location on support member 12 suitable to the needs of an individual. The individual will assume a recumbent position, preferably on one side of the body, and will orient the support system 10 in a manner which allows the protruding member 13 to provide support to the individual's back portion in a particular location in need of support. The protruding member 13 may be repositioned on the support member 12 to allow the individual to have support in a different location of the back portion, or to provide support needed if lying down on the other side of the body.

Various features of the disclosure have been shown and described in connection with the illustrated embodiment, however, it is understood that these arrangements merely illustrate, and that the disclosure is to be given its fullest interpretation.

Claims

1. A support system for supporting the back portion of a user's body comprising:

a support member; and

a protruding member;

the support member being attached to the protruding member, and the protruding member is adapted to support the spine of a user lying on one side of the body.

2. The support system of claim 1, wherein the protruding member is removably attached to the support member.

3. The support system of claim 1, further comprising a first attachment site on the support member, a corresponding second attachment site on the protruding member, the protruding member removably attached to the support member by adjoining the first and second attachment sites.

4. The support system of claim 2, wherein the protruding member is repositionably attached to the support member.

5. The support system of claim 1, wherein the support member comprises a wedge like shape.

6. The support system of claim 1, further comprising a cover.

7. The support system of claim 6, wherein the cover further comprises a sleeve adapted to receive items.

8. The support system of claim 7, wherein the sleeve is adapted to receive items selected from the group consisting of hot packs, hot water packs, hot water bottles, cold packs, heating pads, massage devices, protrusions and combinations thereof.

9. The support system of claim 6, wherein the cover further comprises a closure member selected from the group consisting of a flap, elastic, snaps, hook-eye, hook and loop fasteners as in representative of Velcro®, zippers, buttons, ties, clips and combinations thereof.

10. The support system of claim 1, wherein the support member is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of foam, medium grade foam, fabric, cotton, plastics, vinyl, leather, down, acrylic, rubber and combinations thereof.

11. The support system of claim 3, wherein the first attachment site and the second attachment site made of fasteners selected from the group consisting of snaps, hook-eye, hook and loop fasteners as in representative of Velcro®, zippers, buttons, ties, clips and combinations thereof.

12. The support system of claim 1, wherein the protruding member is of a shape selected from the group consisting of arcuate, oblong, polygonal, pyramid, pointed, spherical, Quonset®-shaped, catenoid, ellipsoid, paraboloid, cylindrical, cone like, tear drop and combinations thereof.

13. A support system for supporting the back portion of a user's body comprising:

a support member having a first attachment site;

a protruding member having a second attachment site for attaching the protruding member to the support member;

a removable cover adapted to removably enclose the at least one of the support system, the support member and the protruding member;

the support member being attached to the protruding member and the protruding member is adapted to support the spine of an individual lying on one side of the body.

14. The support system of claim 13, wherein the support member comprises a wedge like shape.

15. The support system of claim 13, wherein the cover further comprises a sleeve adapted to receive an item.

16. The support system of claim 13, wherein the protruding member is removable relative to the support member.

17. The support system of claim 13, wherein the protruding member is repositionable relative to the support member.

18. The support system of claim 13, wherein the support member is comprised of material selected from the group consisting of foam, medium grade foam, fabric, cotton, plastics, vinyl, leather, down, acrylic, rubber and combinations thereof.

19. The support system of claim 13, wherein the first attachment site and the second attachment site are made of fasteners selected from the group consisting of snaps, hook-eye, hook and loop fasteners as in representative of Velcro®, zippers, buttons, ties, clips and combinations thereof.

20. The support system of claim 13, wherein the protruding member is of a shape selected from the group consisting of arcuate, oblong, polygonal, pyramid, pointed, spherical, Quonset®-shaped, catenoid, ellipsoid, paraboloid, cylindrical, cone like, tear drop and combinations thereof.

21. The support system of claim 13, wherein the cover is made of material selected from the group consisting of fabric, leather, vinyl, silk, cotton, wool, woven fabric, plastic, rubber, with variations and combinations thereof.

22. A support system for supporting the back portion of a user's body comprising:

a wedge-like shaped support member having a first attachment site;

a removable and repositionable protruding member having a second attachment site for removably attaching the protruding member to the support member; and

a cover further comprising a sleeve;

the protruding member adapted to support the back portion of an individual lying down on one side of the body when the protruding member is attached to the support member.