TORSO SUPPORT DEVICE

Abstract

A torso support device for use in performing under-sink tasks includes a pair of panels that is rigid. The panels are mutually hingedly coupled. The panels are configured to selectively position in an extended configuration and a folded configuration. A first coupler is coupled to a bottom face proximate to a first end of the pair of panels. The first coupler is configured to selectively couple to a lower support of a sink cabinet. The panels extend angularly and substantially coplanarly from the sink cabinet. The panels are configured to support a user who is positioned supinely upon the panels. The user is positioned to perform tasks within the sink cabinet. A handle is coupled to the first end of the pair of panels. The handle is configured to be grasped in a hand of the user to lift and position the panels.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM.

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

(2) Description of Related Art including Information Disclosed under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to support devices and more particularly pertains to a new support device for use in performing under-sink tasks.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a pair of panels that is rigid. The panels are mutually hingedly coupled. The panels are configured to selectively position in an extended configuration and a folded configuration. A first coupler is coupled to a bottom face proximate to a first end of the pair of panels. The first coupler is configured to selectively couple to a lower support of a sink cabinet. The panels extend angularly and substantially coplanarly from the sink cabinet to a surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed. The panels are configured to support a user who is positioned supinely upon the panels. The user is positioned to perform tasks within the sink cabinet. A handle is coupled to the first end of the pair of panels. The handle is configured to be grasped in a hand of the user to lift and position the panels.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an isometric perspective view of a torso support device according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is an in-use view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 5 thereof, a new support device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 5, the torso support device 10 generally comprises a pair of panels 12 that is rigid. The panels 12 are mutually hingedly coupled. The panels 12 are configured to selectively position in an extended configuration and a folded configuration. In the extended configuration, the panels 12 are substantially coplanarly positioned. In the folded configuration, the panels 12 are adjacently positioned. In one embodiment, the panels 12 are substantially rectangularly shaped. In another embodiment, the pair of panels 12 comprises a first plate 14 and a second plate 16. The first plate 14 is hingedly coupled to the second plate 16. The first plate 14 is dimensionally longer than the second plate 16.

A plurality of hinges 18 is coupled to and extends between the first plate 14 and the second plate 16. The hinges 18 are configured to selectively position the first plate 14 and the second plate 16 in the extended configuration, wherein the first plate 14 and the second plate 16 are substantially coplanarly positioned. The hinges 18 also are configured to selectively position the first plate 14 and the second plate 16 in the folded configuration, wherein the first plate 14 and the second plate 16 are adjacently positioned. In one embodiment, the hinges 18 are positioned on a bottom face 20 of the pair of panels 12. In another embodiment, the plurality of hinges 18 comprises a piano hinge 44.

A first coupler 22 is coupled to the bottom face 20 proximate to a first end 42 of the pair of panels 12. The first coupler 22 is configured to selectively couple to a lower support of a sink cabinet so that the panels 12 extend angularly and substantially coplanarly from the sink cabinet to a surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed. The panels 12 are configured to support a user who is positioned supinely upon the panels 12. The user is positioned to perform tasks within the sink cabinet. In one embodiment, the first coupler 22 comprises a first angle bracket 24. The first angle bracket 24 is L-shaped. In another embodiment, the first angle bracket 24 is centrally positioned on the first end 42 the first panel.

A pair of cutouts 26 extends into the pair of panels 12 from the first end 42. The pair of cutouts 26 defines an extension 28. In one embodiment, the cutouts 26 are rectangularly shaped so that the extension 28 is rectangularly shaped.

A second coupler 30 is coupled to the bottom face 20 of the pair of panels 12 adjacent to the extension 28. The second coupler 30 is configured to selectively couple to the lower support of the sink cabinet. The extension 28 is positioned in the sink cabinet and the panels 12 extend angularly from the sink cabinet to the surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed. The panels 12 are configured to support the user who is positioned supinely upon the panels 12. The user is positioned to perform the tasks within the sink cabinet. In one embodiment, the second coupler 30 comprises a second angle bracket 32. The second angle bracket 32 is L-shaped. In another embodiment, the second angle bracket 32 extends substantially between opposing sides 34 of the pair of panels 12.

A handle 36 is coupled to the first end 42 of the pair of panels 12. The handle 36 is configured to be grasped in a hand of the user to lift and position the panels 12. In one embodiment, the handle 36 comprises a strap 38 that has opposing ends 40. Each opposing end 40 is coupled to the first end 42. The strap 38 is configured to insert the hand of the user between the strap 38 and the first end 42 to grasp the strap 38 to lift and position the panels 12.

A plurality of lights 46 is coupled to the extension 28. Each light 46 comprises a battery 48 positioned in a housing 50. A bulb 52 is coupled to the housing 50. The bulb 52 is selectively operationally couplable to the battery 48. The lights are configured to selectively illuminate an area proximate to the extension 28. In one embodiment, the plurality of lights 28 comprises two lights 28 positioned singly proximate to opposing edges 54 of the extension 28. In another embodiment, each bulb 52 comprises at least one light emitting diode 56.

In use, the hinges 18 are configured to selectively position the first plate 14 and the second plate 16 in the extended configuration. The first plate 14 and the second plate 16 are substantially coplanarly positioned. The first angle bracket 24 is configured to selectively couple to the lower support of the sink cabinet so that the panels 12 extend angularly and substantially coplanarly from the sink cabinet to the surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed. The second angle bracket 32 also is configured to selectively couple to the lower support so that the extension 28 is positioned in the sink cabinet. The panels 12 extend angularly from the sink cabinet to the surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed. The panels 12 are configured to support the user is positioned supinely upon the panels 12. The user is positioned to perform the tasks within the sink cabinet. The lights are configured to selectively illuminate the area proximate to the extension 28. The hinges 18 also are configured to selectively position the first plate 14 and the second plate 16 in the folded configuration. The first plate 14 and the second plate 16 are adjacently positioned. The strap 38 is configured to insert the hand of the user to grasp the strap 38 to lift and position the panels 12.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

Claims

1. A torso support device comprising:

a pair of panels, said panels being rigid, said panels being mutually hingedly coupled such that said panels are configured for selectively positioning in an extended configuration, wherein said panels are substantially coplanarly positioned, and a folded configuration, wherein said panels are adjacently positioned;

a first coupler coupled to a bottom face proximate to a first end of said pair of panels, said first coupler being configured for selectively coupling to a lower support of a sink cabinet;

a handle coupled to said first end of said pair of panels; and

wherein said first coupler is positioned on said first plate such that said first coupler is configured for selectively coupling to the lower support such that said panels extend angularly and substantially coplanarly from the sink cabinet to a surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed, wherein said panels are configured for supporting a user positioned supinely upon said panels such that the user is positioned for performing tasks within the sink cabinet, wherein said handle is positioned on said panels such that said handle is configured for grasping in a hand of the user for lifting and positioning said panels.

2. The device of claim 1, further including said panels being substantially rectangularly shaped.

3. The device of claim 1, further including said pair of panels comprising a first plate and a second plate, said first plate being hingedly coupled to said second plate, said first plate being dimensionally longer than said second plate.

4. The device of claim 3, further including a plurality of hinges coupled to and extending between said first plate and said second plate, wherein said hinges are positioned on said first plate and said second plate such that said hinges are configured for selectively positioning said first plate and said second plate in the extended configuration, wherein said first plate and said second plate are substantially coplanarly positioned, and the folded configuration, wherein said first plate and said second plate are adjacently positioned.

5. The device of claim 4, further including said hinges being positioned on said bottom face of said pair of panels.

6. The device of claim 4, further including said plurality of hinges comprising a piano hinge.

7. The device of claim 1, further including said first coupler comprising a first angle bracket, said first angle bracket being L-shaped.

8. The device of claim 7, further including said first angle bracket being centrally positioned on said first end said first panel.

9. The device of claim 1, further including a pair of cutouts extending into said pair of panels from said first end defining an extension.

10. The device of claim 9, further including said cutouts being rectangularly shaped such that said extension is rectangularly shaped.

11. The device of claim 9, further including a second coupler coupled to said bottom face said pair of panels adjacent to said extension, said second coupler being configured for selectively coupling to the lower support of the sink cabinet, wherein said second coupler is positioned on said panels such that said second coupler is configured for selectively coupling to the lower support such that said extension is positioned in the sink cabinet and wherein said panels extend angularly from the sink cabinet to the surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed, wherein said panels are configured for supporting the user positioned supinely upon said panels such that the user is positioned for performing the tasks within the sink cabinet.

12. The device of claim 11, further including said second coupler comprising a second angle bracket, said second angle bracket being L-shaped.

13. The device of claim 12, further including said second angle bracket extending substantially between opposing sides of said pair of panels.

14. The device of claim 1, further including said handle comprising a strap having opposing ends, each said opposing end being coupled to said first end, wherein said strap is positioned on said panels such that said strap is configured for inserting the hand of the user between said strap and said first end for grasping said strap for lifting and positioning said panels.

15. The device of claim 9, further including a plurality of lights coupled to said extension, each said light comprising a battery positioned in a housing and a bulb coupled to said housing, said bulb being selectively operationally couplable to said battery such that said lights are configured for selectively illuminating an area proximate to said extension.

16. The device of claim 15, further including said plurality of lights comprising two said lights positioned singly proximate to opposing edges of said extension.

17. The device of claim 15, further including each said bulb comprises at least one light emitting diode.

18. A torso support device comprising:

a pair of panels, said panels being rigid, said panels being mutually hingedly coupled such that said panels are configured for selectively positioning in an extended configuration, wherein said panels are substantially coplanarly positioned, and a folded configuration, wherein said panels are adjacently positioned, said panels being substantially rectangularly shaped, said pair of panels comprising a first plate and a second plate, said first plate being hingedly coupled to said second plate, said first plate being dimensionally longer than said second plate;

a plurality of hinges coupled to and extending between said first plate and said second plate, wherein said hinges are positioned on said first plate and said second plate such that said hinges are configured for selectively positioning said first plate and said second plate in the extended configuration, wherein said first plate and said second plate are substantially coplanarly positioned, and the folded configuration, wherein said first plate and said second plate are adjacently positioned, said hinges being positioned on a bottom face of said pair of panels, said plurality of hinges comprising a piano hinge;

a first coupler coupled to said bottom face proximate to a first end of said pair of panels, said first coupler being configured for selectively coupling to a lower support of a sink cabinet, wherein said first coupler is positioned on said first plate such that said first coupler is configured for selectively coupling to the lower support such that said panels extend angularly and substantially coplanarly from the sink cabinet to a surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed, wherein said panels are configured for supporting a user positioned supinely upon said panels such that the user is positioned for performing tasks within the sink cabinet, said first coupler comprising a first angle bracket, said first angle bracket being L-shaped, said first angle bracket being centrally positioned on said first end said first panel;

a pair of cutouts extending into said pair of panels from said first end defining an extension, said cutouts being rectangularly shaped such that said extension is rectangularly shaped;

a second coupler coupled to said bottom face of said pair of panels adjacent to said extension, said second coupler being configured for selectively coupling to the lower support of the sink cabinet, wherein said second coupler is positioned on said panels such that said second coupler is configured for selectively coupling to the lower support such that said extension is positioned in the sink cabinet and wherein said panels extend angularly from the sink cabinet to the surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed, wherein said panels are configured for supporting the user positioned supinely upon said panels such that the user is positioned for performing the tasks within the sink cabinet, said second coupler comprising a second angle bracket, said second angle bracket being L-shaped, said second angle bracket extending substantially between opposing sides of said pair of panels;

a handle coupled to said first end of said pair of panels, wherein said handle is positioned on said panels such that said handle is configured for grasping in a hand of the user for lifting and positioning said panels, said handle comprising a strap having opposing ends, each said opposing end being coupled to said first end, wherein said strap is positioned on said panels such that said strap is configured for inserting the hand of the user between said strap and said first end for grasping said strap for lifting and positioning said panels;

a plurality of lights coupled to said extension, each said light comprising a battery positioned in a housing and a bulb coupled to said housing, said bulb being selectively operationally couplable to said battery such that said lights are configured for selectively illuminating an area proximate to said extension, said plurality of lights comprising two said lights positioned singly proximate to opposing edges of said extension, each said bulb comprises at least one light emitting diode; and

wherein said piano hinge is positioned on said first plate and said second plate such that said piano hinge is configured for selectively positioning said first plate and said second plate in the extended configuration, wherein said first plate and said second plate are substantially coplanarly positioned, and the folded configuration, wherein said first plate and said second plate are adjacently positioned, wherein said first angle bracket is positioned on said first plate such that said first angle bracket is configured for selectively coupling to the lower support such that said panels extend angularly and substantially coplanarly from the sink cabinet to the surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed, wherein said second angle bracket is positioned on said panels such that said second angle bracket is configured for selectively coupling to the lower support such that said extension is positioned in the sink cabinet, wherein said panels extend angularly from the sink cabinet to the surface upon which the sink cabinet is placed, wherein said panels are configured for supporting the user positioned supinely upon said panels such that the user is positioned for performing the tasks within the sink cabinet, wherein said lights are configured for selectively illuminating the area proximate to said extension, wherein said strap is positioned on said panels such that said strap is configured for inserting the hand of the user between said strap and said first end for grasping said strap for lifting and positioning said panels.