ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT PLATFORM

Abstract

An adjustable back support platform for supporting a user's body while the user lies on his back, facing up in a cabinet or towards the bottom of the sink to perform desired tasks comprises an elongated platform member having an attachment ledge attached at one end and a hinged foot member disposed on the other end. The rectangular board shaped elongated platform member has the L shaped attachment ledge permanently attached to one end such the plane of their respective top surfaces are shared. The hinged foot member, attached to the bottom surface of the platform member near the end opposite the end to which the attachment bracket is attached, hinges between a parallel and a perpendicular positions, thereby enabling the adjustable back support to be placed in two distinct orientations against a ledge.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally body support structures and, more particularly, to an adjustable platform for providing support to the back of a user movable between in two distinct orientations.

2 . Description of the Prior Art

The necessity for professionals such as carpenters and plumbers to spend extended periods of time working in under cabinets and/or sinks is well established. Often, such professionals are required to lie on their back, facing up in the cabinet or at the bottom of the sink to perform their required tasks. A problem which still exists, however, is that there are presently few structures that provide an adjustable platform on which the professional can lay and which is comfortable and stable. Thus, there remains a need for an adjustable back support platform which can be positioned adjacent to cabinets and under sinks to support a user's body while lying underneath the structure. It would be helpful if such an adjustable back support platform could be selectively placed in either a ramp orientation or a horizontal orientation by the user. It would be additionally desirable for such an adjustable back support platform to include an attachment structure that enables it to be securely held against the edge of cabinet.

The Applicant's invention described herein provides for a back support platform adapted to be placed against a cabinet edge and span to the ground surface, allowing it to provide a support structure for a user's back. The primary components in Applicant's adjustable back support platform are a platform, attachment ledge and a hinged foot member. When in operation, the adjustable back support platform a user to lie on a flat surface under a cabinet or sink for extended periods. As a result, many of the limitations imposed by prior art structures are removed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An adjustable back support platform for supporting a user's body while the user lies on his back, facing up in a cabinet or towards the bottom of the sink to perform desired tasks. The adjustable back support platform comprises an elongated platform member having an attachment ledge attached at one end and a hinged foot member disposed on the other end. In this regard, the elongated platform member provides a means for supporting a user's body on a flat surface over two surfaces on distinct vertical places and the attachment ledge provides an attachment means for connecting to an elevated surface. The elongated platform member defines in the preferred embodiment a rectangular board, with the L shaped attachment ledge permanently attached to one end thereof such that the its top surface is on the same plane as the top surface of the platform member.

The hinged foot member, attached to the bottom surface of the platform member near the end opposite the end to which the attachment bracket is attached, hinges between a first position defined by the hinged foot member parallel with and positioned against the platform member and a second position defined by the hinged foot member perpendicular with and extending down from the platform member, thereby enabling the adjustable back support to be placed in two distinct orientations against a ledge. In this regard, the hinged foot member provides a foot means for selectively orienting the adjustable back support platform into either a horizontal orientation or a ramp orientation at a given time.

It is an object of this invention to provide an adjustable back support platform which can be positioned adjacent to cabinets and under sinks to support a user's body while lying underneath the structure.

It is another object of this invention to provide an adjustable back support platform selectively positionable in either a ramp orientation or a horizontal orientation by the user.

It is yet another object of this invention to provide an adjustable back support platform that includes an attachment structure that enables it to be securely held against the edge of cabinet.

These and other objects will be apparent to one of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a side elevational view of an adjustable back support platform built in accordance with the present invention in the ramp orientation.

FIG. 1B is a side elevational view of an adjustable back support platform built in accordance with the present invention in the horizontal orientation.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an adjustable back support platform built in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of an adjustable back support platform built in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention in the horizontal orientation.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of an adjustable back support platform built in accordance with the present invention in the horizontal orientation on a ledge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3, an adjustable back support platform 10 is shown as an elongated platform member 11 having an attachment ledge 12 attached at one end and a hinged foot member 13 disposed on the other end. The elongated platform member 11 defines in the preferred embodiment a rectangular board that includes a handle aperture 11a for ease of transport. In alternate embodiments, it is contemplated that the elongated platform member 11 may define a board of other shapes, such as an ellipse.

The attachment ledge 12 defines an L shaped member that is permanently attached to one end of the platform member 11 with a plurality of L brackets 14. The attachment ledge 12 is attached to the platform member 11 such that the its top surface is on the same plane as the top surface of the platform member 11.

Each L bracket 14 is attached to the platform member 11 through an elongated fastener 15 that passes through and engages both the L bracket 14 and the attachment ledge 12. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated fastener 15 defines a screw. Each L bracket 14 is also attached to the bottom of the attachment ledge 12, and in the preferred embodiment, an adhesive is used to affix the L brackets 14 to the attachment ledge 12.

The hinged foot member 13 is attached to the bottom surface of the platform member 11 near the end opposite the end to which the attachment bracket 12 is attached with a hinge 16. The hinge 16 enables the hinged foot member 13 to swing between a first position defined by the hinged foot member 13 parallel to and positioned against the platform member 11, as shown in FIG. 1A, and a second position defined by the hinged foot member 13 perpendicular with and extending down from the platform member 11, as shown in FIG. 1B.

A foot attachment hook and look fastener system is included on the surface of the hinged foot member 13 and the platform member 11. The foot attachment hook and look fastener is defined by a fabric hook and loop fastener having a hook surface disposed 17 on the hinged foot member 13 and a loop surface 17′ disposed on the platform member 11. The foot attachment hook and look fastener allows the hinged foot member 13 to be removably held in place when the hinged foot member is placed in the first position, resisting inadvertent movement from such a position.

Referring now to FIG. 4, as it is contemplated that the adjustable back support platform 10 will be used by placing the attachment ledge 12 against the edge of a cabinet 20 (or counter, or other ledge that is relatively low to the ground), when the hinged foot member 13 in the second position the adjustable back support platform 10 can be placed in its horizontal orientation when positioned in place on the cabinet edge 20. Conversely, it is understood that when the hinged foot member 13 is placed in the first position, adjustable back support platform 10 can be placed in its ramp orientation, defined by it being angularly disposed so as to extend from the edge 20 to the ground surface 30, when positioned in place on the cabinet edge 20.

The instant invention has been shown and described herein in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made therefrom within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

Claims

1. An adjustable back support platform, comprising:

an elongated platform member having a first end and a second end and a top surface and a bottom surface;

an attachment ledge permanently attached to the first end of the platform member such that upper most portion of the attachment ledge does not extend above the top surface of the platform member;

a hinged foot member attached to the bottom surface of the platform member adjacent to the second end thereof, wherein the hinged foot member is moveable between a first position defined by the hinged foot member parallel to and positioned against the platform member, and a second position defined by the hinged foot member perpendicular with and extending down from the platform member.

2. The adjustable back support platform of claim 1, wherein the elongated platform member defines a rectangular board.

3. The adjustable back support platform of claim 1, wherein the elongated platform member includes a handle aperture for receiving a user's hand to allow it to be carried.

4. The adjustable back support platform of claim 1, wherein the attachment ledge is permanently attached to the platform member through at least one of L bracket attached to both the attachment ledge with elongated fasteners and to the platform member with an adhesive.

5. The adjustable back support platform of claim 1, wherein the hinged foot member is attached to the platform member through a hinge bracket.

6. The adjustable back support platform of claim 1, wherein the hinged foot member and platform member include a foot attachment fastener system that enables the hinged foot member to be held in place when the hinged foot member is placed in the first position so as to resist inadvertent movement.

7. The adjustable back support platform of claim 6, wherein the foot attachment fastener system is defined by a fabric hook and loop fastener having a hook surface disposed on the hinged foot member and a loop surface disposed on the platform member.

8. An adjustable back support platform, comprising:

a means for supporting a user's body on a flat surface over two surfaces on distinct vertical planes;

an attachment means for connecting to an elevated surface, wherein the attachment means is connected to a first end of the means for supporting;

a foot means for selectively orienting the adjustable back support platform into either a horizontal orientation or a ramp orientation at a given time.

9. The adjustable back support platform of claim 1, wherein the attachment ledge is sized to extend at least across the entire first end of the platform member.

10. The adjustable back support platform of claim 1, wherein the hinged foot member defines a rectangular prism positioned transverse across the platform member, parallel to at least one of said first end and said second end.

11. The adjustable back support platform of claim 1, wherein said attachment ledge includes a planar ledge portion having a ledge top surface disposed on a single plane with the top surface of the platform member

12. An adjustable back support platform, comprising:

an elongated platform member having a first end and a second end and a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the elongated platform member includes a handle aperture for receiving a user's hand to allow it to be carried;

an attachment ledge permanently attached to the first end of the platform member such that upper most portion of the attachment ledge does not extend above the top surface of the platform member, wherein said attachment ledge includes a planar ledge portion having a ledge top surface disposed on a single plane with the top surface of the platform member and the attachment ledge is sized to extend at least across the entire first end of the platform member;

a hinged foot member defining a rectangular prism and attached to the bottom surface of the platform member, wherein the hinged foot member is moveable between a first position defined by the hinged foot member parallel to and positioned against the platform member, and a second position defined by the hinged foot member perpendicular with and extending down from the platform member; and

said hinged foot member positioned transverse across the platform member, oriented on said bottom surface proximal to said second end and distal to said first end.