Prone position support apparatus
A prone position support apparatus for use with new or existing mattresses or support surfaces having a rigid frame and a soft upper surface. The soft upper surface has an aperture for receiving a user's face. Contoured arm rests for supporting a user's arms are provided. At least one optional inflatable bladder can be provided to fill void spaces when face-down positioning is not desired.
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STATEMENTS AS TO RIGHTS TO INVENTIONS MADE UNDER FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTNone
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus which permits users to lie down and/or sleep comfortably in a face-down, prone position. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus which can be incorporated into new mattresses, or affixed to existing support surfaces, which allows users to lie down and/or sleep comfortably in a face-down, prone position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many people suffer from neck or back conditions. Such conditions frequently make sleeping on their back or side(s) very painful. In many cases, these individuals can often obtain some measure of relief by lying and/or sleeping in a face-down, prone position. Other individuals may not experience pain but may simply prefer lying or sleeping in a prone position. However, conventional mattresses and other sleeping surfaces make lying down and/or sleeping in such a face-down, prone position uncomfortable and, thus, very difficult.
Specialized tables or platforms have been developed to allow users to lie down in a prone position for massages and/or spinal adjustments. However, these tables and/or platforms are not designed for normal sleeping, and would not be practical as replacements or alternatives for conventional mattresses or other sleep support surfaces.
Thus, there is a need for a mattress or other support surface which can comfortably accommodate a user lying down and/or sleeping in a face-down, prone position. Further, there is a need for an apparatus which can quickly and easily convert existing conventional mattresses, beds and other similar structures to permit comfortable lying down and/or sleeping in a face-down, prone position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention is a mattress having a head-piece that permits a user to sleep in a face-down, prone position. Said head-piece is ideally located near the end of said mattress where a user rests his or her head. The head-piece of the present invention includes a rigid frame having a substantially planar upper surface for supporting a user's head. Said substantially planar upper surface, which is ideally a padded, and has an aperture for receiving a user's face. Said rigid frame includes a central cavity or void space within such frame. An unobstructed airway extends from outside said rigid frame to the aperture in the upper surface of said rigid frame. As a result, a user having his or her face resting on the aperture in the upper surface of said rigid frame can breathe freely with little if any obstruction. Arm rests are provided on both sides of said rigid frame to allow a user's arms to be comfortably supported while in an extended position. Optional inflatable bladders are provided to fill voids existing in and around said rigid frame and arm rests when sleeping in a prone position is not desired.
Although a preferred embodiment is described as a being incorporated within a mattress or other similar product, it is to be observed that the present invention can also be in the form of an apparatus that can be attached, affixed or added on to an existing mattress or other sleep support structure. Moreover, although the present invention is particularly useful for sleeping, it can also be used for applications in which sleep is not a primary objective. For example, the invention of the present invention can be used in connection with couches, medical examination tables and the like.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings,
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Arm rest 25 is positioned along one side of rigid frame 21. Although not shown in
As discussed above, it is to be observed that the present invention can be constructed as an integral component of a mattress or other support member. In such cases, the invention generally comprises a mattress or other support member having a substantially planar upper surface. A continuous channel or passageway extends within said mattress or other support member; one end of said channel opens to an aperture in the upper surface of said mattress or support member, while the other end of said channel opens to an outer surface of said mattress or support member. Said channel provides a continuous passageway for unobstructed breathing when a user is in a face-down, prone position. When desired, such a mattress or other support member can include sloping arm rests along both sides of said upper breathing aperture.
The above disclosed invention has a number of particular features which should preferably be employed in combination, although each is useful separately without departure from the scope of the invention. While the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and described herein, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than herein specifically illustrated or described, and that certain changes in form and arrangement of parts and the specific manner of practicing the invention may be made within the underlying idea or principles of the invention
Claims
1. A prone position support apparatus comprising:
- a. a support member having a substantially planar upper surface;
- b. an aperture in said substantially planar surface;
- c. a continuous channel within said support member, wherein said channel extends from said aperture to an outer surface of said support member;
- d. a first arm rest along one side of said aperture; and
- e. a second arm rest along the opposite side of said aperture from said first arm rest.
2. The prone position support apparatus of claim 1, wherein said support member is a mattress.
3. The prone position support member of claim 1, wherein said first and second arm rests have upper surfaces that slope away from said body support member.
4. The prone position support member of claim 1 wherein said aperture is adapted to receive the face of a user.
5. A prone position mattress comprising:
- a. an aperture in the upper surface of said mattress;
- b. a continuous channel within said mattress, wherein said channel extends from said aperture to an outer surface of said mattress;
- c. a first arm rest along one side of said aperture; and
- d. a second arm rest along the opposite side of said aperture from said first arm rest.
6. The mattress of claim 5, wherein said first and second arm rests have upper surfaces that slope away from said mattress.
7. The mattress of claim 5 wherein said aperture is adapted to receive the face of a user.
8. A prone position support apparatus comprising:
- a. a support member having a substantially planar upper surface;
- b. a rigid frame having a central cavity;
- c. a plate having an aperture disposed on the upper portion of said rigid frame;
- d. a first arm rest along one side of said rigid frame; and
- e. a second arm rest along the opposite side of said rigid frame from said first arm rest.
9. The prone position support apparatus of claim 8, wherein said first and second arm rests have upper surfaces that slope away from said mattress.
10. The prone position support apparatus of claim 9, wherein said aperture is adapted to receive the face of a user.
11. The prone position support apparatus of claim 9, wherein said plate has a padded upper surface.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 23, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 29, 2006
Inventor: David Barczyk (Lafayette, LA)
Application Number: 11/020,996
International Classification: A47C 27/00 (20060101);