Inflatable versatile support cushion
A support cushion having an inflatable bladder and at least one adjustable strap. The inflatable bladder includes a top portion and at least one side wall portion perpendicularly disposed from the top portion. The adjustable strap or straps have a first end coupled to a bottom portion of the side wall and a second end coupled to the top portion of the inflatable bladder. The adjustable strap can be tightened so that the side wall is compressed. In a preferred embodiment. the side wall portions have at least one horizontal pleat. By adjusting the straps the support cushion can be adjusted to have different heights and angles so that it can be used to meet a variety of different needs of a user.
This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 10/613,880, filed on Jul. 3, 2003, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to support cushions and, more particularly, to an inflatable and fully adjustable foot rest, seat cushion, and lumbar pillow.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONTraditional seats in airplanes, busses, and trains, as well as theaters and stadiums, are generally designed to accommodate a person of average height and to conserve as much floor space as possible. Often times, this leads to a cramped seating area and a seat that is not at the proper height for the seated person. To make matters worse, people generally have no choice but to remain in these seats for long periods of time. Unfortunately, there are a number of health risks associated with being seated for a long duration of time. These health risks are exacerbated by the inability of the seated person to properly stretch.
In order to avoid health problems such as deep vein thrombosis, swollen feet, and back injury, it is important that a person be seated comfortably and properly. For example, a short person's feet should not dangle from the seat, but rather should comfortably reach the floor. Furthermore, a tall person's knees should not be bent above the height of the seat. It is also important that a person receive proper back support when seated for long periods of time.
There are many support cushions available that address a particular one of the above identified problems. However, a person's needs are not always the same in every situation. Sometimes the user may require additional back support, while at other times the user may require a foot rest. The support cushions known in the art are not versatile enough to provide the user with a support cushion that is appropriate for a user's various and changing needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIt is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved support cushions that are adjustable and inflatable.
Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that can be adjusted to various heights and angles
Still another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that can be adjusted so that opposing portions of the cushion can have varying heights and angles.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that can be neatly, easily, and controllably inflated and deflated.
A further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that support and restrain a person's feet.
Still a further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that can be arranged on the floor and lifted without requiring a user to bend over.
Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that vibrate and are heated.
Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved support cushions that are versatile enough to comfortably function as a foot rest, seat cushion, and lumbar pillow.
Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, these and other objects are attained by providing a support cushion having an inflatable bladder and at least one adjustable strap. The inflatable bladder includes a top portion and at least one side wall portion perpendicularly disposed from the top portion. The adjustable strap or straps have a first end coupled to a bottom portion of the side wall and a second end coupled to the top portion of the inflatable bladder. The adjustable strap can be tightened so that the side wall is compressed.
In a preferred embodiment, the side walls have at least one substantially horizontal pleat. The pleat serves as a crease along which the side wall is folded when the side wall is compressed by the adjustable strap. The pleat makes it easier to compress the side wall of the bladder in a controlled and compact manner.
The support cushion preferably has a concave bottom portion coupled to the side walls. The concavity of the bottom portion is curved in the direction of the top portion such that the underside of the support cushion is concave. The concavity of the bladder reduces its volume requiring less air to inflate. This makes it easier to inflate the support cushion. The reduced volume also reduces the time it takes to inflate and deflate the cushion.
The support cushion also, preferably, has a guide strap coupled to the inflatable bladder. The guide strap permits a user to guide the support cushion along the floor without bending down. Additionally, the support cushion can be retrieved from the floor using the guide strap without the user having to bend down.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSA more complete appreciation of the present invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:
Referring now to the drawings in which like reference characters designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring now to
Referring again to
The preferred embodiment of the support cushion also includes a guide strap 70 coupled to the inflatable bladder 20. The guide strap 70 extends from the cushion 10 and is intended to be held in the hand of the user at a distal end. The guide strap 70 is used to pull the cushion 10 in order to adjust its placement on the floor without requiring the user to bend down and move the cushion 10. Furthermore, the guide strap 70 is used to lift the cushion 10 off the floor once the user has finished using the cushion 10.
The bladder 20 is inflated by introducing air between the membranes 22 of the bladder 20 through an air valve 80. The inflatable bladder 20 can be filled by manually blowing air into the valve 80 or by pulling opposing membranes 22a and 22b of the bladder 20 in opposite directions to form a vacuum that sucks air into the bladder 20 through the air valve 80. The air valve 80 is also used to controllably deflate the bladder 20.
The adjustable straps 30 have a first end 31 coupled to the bottom of the side wall portions 50 or to the bottom portion 60 and a second end 32 coupled to the top portion 40 of the inflatable bladder 20. The length of the adjustable straps 30 may be adjusted to make the straps longer or shorter. The length of the straps 30 is adjustable by any means known in the art, e.g. Velcro or a buckle. Each of the adjustable straps 30 can be tightened so that they compress a portion of the side wall portions 50 of the inflatable bladder 20.
The adjustable straps 30 are used to customize and adjust the support cushion 10 to fit the needs of the user. The straps 30 are adjusted to various lengths to adjust the height and inflection of the cushion 10. The adjustability of the support cushion 10 can be improved by increasing the number of adjustable straps 30 used. Furthermore, the placement of the straps 30 determines the type of adjustment that the straps can be used to achieve.
For example, the four adjustable straps 30 shown in the figures are each coupled near a corner of the support cushion 10. All the straps 30 may be shortened to the same length to lower the support cushion 10 to that height, as shown in
By adjusting the straps 30, the support cushion l takes on shapes that are suitable for different utilities and situations. If the user requires a flat foot rest, the straps 30 can all be set to the same length. If the user requires a seat cushion that angles backward, the straps 30 are adjusted accordingly. The versatility provided by the support cushion 10 of the present invention permits the user to require only one cushion for all his or her support needs.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the support cushion also includes a heating element 90 and/or a vibrating element 100. These elements, preferably, are battery operated and are removably attached to the top portion 40 of the inflatable bladder 20. These elements further provide relief and stimulation to the user's feet or back.
The description provided above indicates that a great degree of flexibility exists with the support cushion. Although the support cushion has been described with considerable detail with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, other embodiments are possible. Therefore the spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
Claims
1. A support cushion comprising:
- an inflatable bladder comprising a top portion and at least one side wall portion substantially perpendicularly disposed from said top portion; and
- at least one adjustable strap having a first end coupled to a bottom portion of said at least one side wall portion and a second end coupled to said top portion of said inflatable bladder, wherein said at least one adjustable strap can be tightened so that said at least one side wall portion is compressed.
2. The support cushion according to claim 1, wherein said side wall portion has at least one substantially horizontal pleat such that said at least one side wall portion folds along said pleat when said side wall portion is compressed by said at least one adjustable strap.
3. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a concave bottom portion coupled to said at least one side wall portion, wherein the concavity of said bottom portion is curved in the direction of said top portion.
4. The support cushion of claim 1, wherein said inflatable bladder has four side wall portions.
5. The support cushion of claim 1 having four adjustable straps, wherein two of said four adjustable straps are coupled to one end of said support cushion and the other two of said four adjustable straps are coupled to a second end of said support cushion.
6. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising an air valve.
7. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising at least one foot restraint.
8. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a guide strap coupled to said inflatable bladder.
9. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a heating element.
10. The support cushion of claim 1, further comprising a vibrating element.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 18, 2006
Publication Date: Oct 12, 2006
Inventor: Henryk Jakubowski (Forest Hills, NY)
Application Number: 11/405,731
International Classification: A47C 27/08 (20060101);