DEXTERITY CUSHION

Abstract

A dexterity cushion is provided. The dexterity cushion may include a unique shape adapted to enable a wide range of movement of the arms and shoulders while a user lies comfortably on their stomach. The dexterity cushion may be wedge-shaped, substantially defined by two sculpted notches and a base surface, a front surface and a resting surface extending between opposing sidewalls. The resting surface may be inclined relative to the base surface at a predetermined angle of incidence so as to facilitate upper body support. Each sculpted notch may define a notch base adapted for the prostate user to place their elbows and/or a portion of their arms thereon. Each notch may provide adequate space for the upper and lower arm and shoulder movement of a user as the resting surface comfortably supports the upper body and or chest of the user.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/977,976, filed 10 Apr. 2014, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to body support devices and, more particularly, to a dexterity cushion adapted to provide upper body support while facilitating manual dexterity and motor skills for a user lying on their stomach.

Lying on one's stomach when conducting a variety of manual tasks can cause discomfort and stress in the elbows, shoulders, arms, neck, chest and back as well as frustrate one's manual dexterity. Merely providing a planar cushion mat does not address the impaired manual dexterity issues mentioned above. Current supporting devices may provide comfort for parts of the upper body; however, such devices are not adapted to simultaneously enable a broad range of motion for a user's arms and shoulders. As a result, the user's manual dexterity is severely limited when engaging in motor skills with their hands and arms while lying on such devices.

As can be seen, there is a need for a dexterity cushion adapted to provide upper body support while facilitating manual dexterity and motor skills for a user lying on their stomach.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a dexterity cushion for providing upper body support while facilitating manual dexterity and motor skills for a user lying on their stomach includes a wedge-shaped cushion material substantially defined by two opposing sculpted notches and a base surface, a front surface and a resting surface extending between opposing sidewalls, whereby facilitating upper body support while preventing stress in the prostate user's back, neck, chest and arms.

In another aspect of the present invention, a dexterity cushion for providing upper body support while facilitating manual dexterity and motor skills for a user lying on their stomach includes a wedge-shaped cushion material substantially defined by two opposing sculpted notches and a base surface, a front surface and a resting surface extending between opposing sidewalls; and a notch base associated with each sculpted notch formed at an intersection of a corresponding sidewall, the resting surface and the front surface, wherein each sculpted notch is dimensioned and adapted to receive the prostate user's elbow and or arm portions so as to enable a wide range of motion with said elbow and arm portions, wherein the resting surface is inclined relative to the base surface at a predetermined angle of incidence adapted to facilitate upper body support while preventing stress in the prostate user's back, neck, chest and or arms, and wherein a length of the front surface is less than a length of the base surface, whereby facilitating upper body support while preventing stress in the prostate user's back, neck, chest and arms.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, shown in use;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 5-5 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a section view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a dexterity cushion. The dexterity cushion may include a unique shape adapted to enable a wide range of movement of the arms and shoulders while a user lies comfortably on their stomach. The dexterity cushion may be wedge-shaped, substantially defined by two sculpted notches and a base surface, a front surface and a resting surface extending between opposing sidewalls. The resting surface may be inclined relative to the base surface at a predetermined angle of incidence so as to facilitate upper body support. Each sculpted notch may be formed at the intersection of the relevant sidewall, the resting surface and the front surface, and in turn defining a notch base adapted for the prostate user to place their elbows and/or a portion of their arms thereon. Each notch may provide adequate space for the upper and lower arm and shoulder movement of a user as the resting surface comfortably supports the upper body and or chest of the user. A user may position the base surface on a supporting surface with the front surface facing an activity. The user may then lie down on and have their upper body be supported by the dexterity cushion, aligning their shoulders with the two sculpted notches, resting elbows and/or portions of arms on the notch base, yet realizing a wide range of motion with their arms.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 6, the present invention may include the dexterity cushion 10. The dexterity cushion 10 may include a unique wedge-shape adapted to enable a wide range of movement of the arms and shoulders of a user 24 lying prostrate on the dexterity cushion 10, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The dexterity cushion 10 may substantially defined by two opposing sculpted notches 14, 16 and a base surface 22, a front surface 26 and a resting surface 12 extending between opposing sidewalls 28. Each sculpted notch 14, 16 may be dimensioned and adapted to receive elbows and/or portions of arms so as to enable a wide range of motion with said elbows and portions of arms.

The resting surface 12 may be inclined relative to the base surface 22 at a predetermined angle of incidence 30 so as to facilitate upper body support while preventing stress in the user's back, neck, chest and arms. Each sculpted notch 14, 16 may be formed at the intersection of the relevant sidewall 28, the resting surface 12 and the front surface 26, defining a corresponding notch base 18, 20 dimensioned and adapted for the prostate user 24 to place their elbows and-or a portion of their arms thereon.

The front surface 26 may not be planar over its entirety. The base surface 22 may be substantially flat. In certain embodiments, a frictional material 32 may be disposed along a portion of the base surface 22 for frictionally engaging a supporting surface.

The dexterity cushion 10 may be formed from a unitary piece of cushion material that may be either cut from a mass of cushion material or custom molded to the desired shape and size. The cushion material may be soft, resilient plastic foam, such as polyurethane and the like, or other suitable cushion material, so long as the dexterity cushion 10 functions in accordance with the present invention as described herein. In certain embodiments, the dexterity cushion 10 may be a plurality of pieces of cushion material bonded together and then sculpted to shape. Alternatively, formation could result from bonding pre-sculpted pieces of cushion material to form the dexterity cushion 10. In certain embodiment, the dexterity cushion 10 may be fabric anchored together with fabric thread so as to form a cavity of the desired shape and size, and then filling the cavity with padding.

A method of making the present invention may include the following. An individual may begin with a solid mass of cushion material having a base surface 22 and a substantial height (of the opposing sidewalls 28) relative to the base surface 22. The user may then place the solid mass of cushion material on a support surface so that the shortest side is the height, as defined by the front surface 26. The user may define the resting surface 12 by cutting diagonally from the high side of the front surface 26 on a consistent plane through to the opposite base surface 22 edge along a line defined by the predetermined angle of incidence 30. This results in two identical wedge-shaped pieces of cushion material. The individual may position either “wedge” on a support surface, and then sculpt the two highest corners to provide the two sculpted notches 14, 16, leaving a predetermined amount of cushion material for the notch bases 18, 20.

In certain embodiments, an individual may use a plurality of pieces of cushion material bonded together to form a block of cushion material that may have a square base surface 22 and a height that is less than the base surface 22. The user may then place the block of cushion material on a solid surface so that the shortest side is the height, as defined by the front surface 26. Then the individual may follow the method disclosed immediately above.

In an alternative embodiment, an individual may inject liquid cushion material into a pre-built mold to the specifications disclosed above.

In another alternative embodiment, an individual may construct the dexterity cushion 10 through a process of manipulating a three-dimensional printing apparatus to the specification disclosed above, whether through printing a plurality of pieces to be bonded together later, or one continuous piece.

A method of using the present invention may include the following. The dexterity cushion 10 disclosed above may be provided. The user 24 may lay the dexterity cushion 10 base surface 22 on a supporting surface with the front surface 26 facing towards an activity. The user may then lie face down with a portion of their torso on the dexterity cushion 10 resting surface 12, aligning their shoulders with the two sculpted notches 14, 16, and resting elbows and or portions of arms on the corresponding notch bases 18, 20, yet realizing a wide range of motion with their arms as well as substantial manual dexterity.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A dexterity cushion for providing upper body support while facilitating manual dexterity and motor skills for a user lying on their stomach, comprising:

a wedge-shaped cushion material substantially defined by two opposing sculpted notches and a base surface, a front surface and a resting surface extending between opposing sidewalls,

whereby facilitating upper body support while preventing stress in the prostate user's back, neck, chest and arms.

2. The dexterity cushion of claim 1, wherein each sculpted notch is dimensioned and adapted to receive the prostate user's elbow and or arm portions so as to enable a wide range of motion with said elbow and arm portions.

3. The dexterity cushion of claim 1, wherein the resting surface is inclined relative to the base surface at a predetermined angle of incidence.

4. The dexterity cushion of claim 3, wherein the predetermined angle of incidence is adapted to facilitate upper body support while preventing stress in the prostate user's back, neck, chest and or arms.

5. The dexterity cushion of claim 1, further comprising a notch base associated with each sculpted notch formed at an intersection of a corresponding sidewall, the resting surface and the front surface,

whereby each notch base is adapted for the prostate user to place their elbows and or arm portions thereon.

6. The dexterity cushion of claim 1, wherein the base surface is generally flat.

7. The dexterity cushion of claim 1, further comprising a frictional material disposed along a portion of the base surface for frictionally engaging a supporting surface.

8. The dexterity cushion of claim 1, wherein a length of the front surface is less than a length of the base surface.

9. A dexterity cushion for providing upper body support while facilitating manual dexterity and motor skills for a user lying on their stomach, comprising:

a wedge-shaped cushion material substantially defined by two opposing sculpted notches and a base surface, a front surface and a resting surface extending between opposing sidewalls; and

a notch base associated with each sculpted notch formed at an intersection of a corresponding sidewall, the resting surface and the front surface,

wherein each sculpted notch is dimensioned and adapted to receive the prostate user's elbow and or arm portions so as to enable a wide range of motion with said elbow and arm portions,

wherein the resting surface is inclined relative to the base surface at a predetermined angle of incidence adapted to facilitate upper body support while preventing stress in the prostate user's back, neck, chest and or arms, and

wherein a length of the front surface is less than a length of the base surface,

whereby facilitating upper body support while preventing stress in the prostate user's back, neck, chest and arms.

10. The dexterity cushion of claim 9, further comprising a frictional material disposed along a portion of the base surface for frictionally engaging a supporting surface.