CUSHIONED KNEE SEPARATOR AND SYSTEM FOR USE IN A SIDE SLEEPING POSITION

Abstract

A cushioned knee separator for use by a person for placing between the person's legs when sleeping on one's side. The separator comprises an air-tight padding member and a securing member. The padding member comprises an envelope forming an air-tight enclosure, wherein the envelope comprises a pair of opposite surfaces; a membrane attached to the contacting faces and limiting relative movement of the contacting faces; filling material filling the enclosure; and a valve mounted to the envelope for controllably disrupting air tightness within the enclosure. The securing member is for securing the separator to one leg of the person. The separator is therefore adapted to maintain a distance between the person's legs thereby avoiding contacts between the knees when someone is sleeping in a side sleeping position.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from Great Britain patent application GB 1816355.0 filed Oct. 8, 2018, the specification of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

(a) Field

The present invention relates generally to cushioned devices but more particularly to a cushioned knee separator for use when sleeping on one's side.

(b) Related Prior Art

When sleeping on one's side, the knees sometimes rub one against the other so one needs to reposition one's legs which can create other complications as some physical limitations due to injury, illness or other factors can make finding an optimal position for the legs quite difficult. Some people can't get proper sleep unless they sleep on their side, which leaves them with the option of placing a cushion or pillow in between their knees, but such a makeshift solution results in an unsecured cushioning which may shift its position and so create discomfort and impede expected results.

Furthermore, the position most recommended by health professionals for sleeping is on one's side with a means to prevent pressure on the knees. It is of the utmost importance for people having existing health problems, such as arthrosis, problems with their spinal column, problems of inflammation of their sciatic nerve, which is more frequent and more problematic as people get older, to have a well-adapted sleep position.

Another consideration that must be examined is that even though people believe they remain almost immobile during the night, people change their sleeping positions very frequently, about 2 to 4 times per hour summing up to about 16 to 32 times during a normal night.

Sleep problems further foster other problems such as unhappiness and irritability.

The common solution of placing a pillow between the legs at the time of getting into bed has major drawbacks among which the impossibility to keep the pillow in place when changing position without a certain level of awakening, and the non-optimal pressure applied by the pillow about the legs that may lead to less than optimum blood circulation in the legs of the sleeper.

There is therefore a need for improvements in this field.

SUMMARY

It is a main object of the present disclosure to provide a cushioned knee separator for use when sleeping on one's side while addressing the limitations and drawbacks of the prior art devices.

In order to do so, there is provided a knee separator comprised of at least one padding assembly comprising an ergonomically formed pair of padding members held together and a securing member to hold the padding assembly securely in between a user's legs so that knees are separated while maintaining a comfortable relative distance between them so as to comfortably optimize a sideway sleeping position. In an embodiment, the securing member is an adjustable strap. In a further embodiment, the securing member is an extensible member such as an extensible mesh sleeve.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a cushioned knee separator for use by a person for placing between person's legs when sleeping side sleeping position, comprising: an air-tight padding member comprising: an envelope forming an air-tight enclosure comprising a first bladder, a second bladder and a conduit fluidly connecting the first bladder to the second bladder; filling material filling the enclosure; and a valve mounted to the envelope for controllably disrupting air tightness within the enclosure, whereby upon opening the valve the filling material expands to distend the envelope, wherein the cushioned knee separator is adapted to maintain a distance between the person's legs thereby avoiding contacts between the person's knees when the person is sleeping in a side sleeping position.

According to an aspect, the separator further comprises a securing member for securing the cushioned knee separator to one of the person's legs.

According to an aspect, the separator further comprises a cover, wherein the cover is for enclosing the padding member and wherein the securing member is secured to the cover.

According to an aspect, the securing member comprises: a first securing band attached to the cover at a first position for securing the cushioned knee separator to a portion of the leg above the knee, and a second securing band attached to the cover at a second position distant from the first position for securing the cushioned knee separator to a portion of the leg under the knee.

According to an aspect, the first position is about the first bladder and the second position is about the second bladder.

According to an aspect, the first bladder has a first thickness, the second bladder has a second thickness and the conduit has a third thickness, and wherein the third thickness is smaller than the first thickness and the second thickness.

According to an aspect, the envelope further comprises a pair of opposite surfaces, wherein each of the surfaces faces a respective one of the person's legs; and an internal longitudinal membrane enclosed in the enclosure that is attached to the opposite surfaces and that limits relative movement of the opposite surfaces from each other.

According to an aspect, the internal longitudinal membrane comprises a first membrane portion enclosed in the first bladder and a second portion enclosed in the second bladder.

According to an aspect, the envelope comprises a side wall, and wherein the internal longitudinal membrane comprises two extremities with at least one of the extremities being distant from the side wall.

According to an aspect, the side wall has a thickness and the internal longitudinal membrane has a height in a same direction as the thickness of the side wall, wherein the height of the internal longitudinal membrane is smaller than the thickness of the side wall.

According to an aspect, the filling material comprises auto-expanding reticulated foam.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a cushioned knee separator for use by a person for placing between person's legs when sleeping in a side sleeping position, comprising: an air-tight padding member comprising: an envelope forming an air-tight enclosure comprising a first bladder, a second bladder and a conduit fluidly connecting the first bladder to the second bladder, wherein the envelope comprises a pair of opposite surfaces, wherein each of the surfaces faces a respective one of the person's legs; an internal longitudinal membrane enclosed in the enclosure that is attached to the opposite surfaces of the envelope and that is limiting relative movement of the opposite surfaces from each other; and a valve mounted to the envelope for controllably disrupting air tightness within the enclosure, wherein the cushioned knee separator is adapted to maintain a distance between the person's legs thereby avoiding contacts between the person's knees when the person is sleeping in a side sleeping position.

According to an aspect, the separator further comprises filling material filling the enclosure, whereby upon opening the valve the filling material expands to distend the envelope.

According to an aspect, the separator further comprises a securing member for securing the cushioned knee separator to one of the legs of the person.

According to an aspect, the separator further comprises a cover, wherein the cover is for enclosing the padding member and wherein the securing member is secured to the cover.

According to an aspect, the securing member comprises a first securing band attached to the cover at a first position and a second securing band attached to the cover at a second position distant from the first position.

According to an aspect, the first bladder has a first thickness, the second bladder has a second thickness and the conduit has a third thickness, and wherein the third thickness is smaller than the first thickness and the second thickness.

According to an aspect, the internal longitudinal membrane comprises a first membrane portion enclosed in the first bladder and a second portion enclosed in the second bladder.

According to an aspect, the envelope comprises a side wall, and wherein the internal longitudinal membrane comprises two extremities with one of the extremities being distant from the side wall.

According to an embodiment, there is provided a cushioned separator for use by a person, comprising: an air-tight padding member comprising: an envelope forming an air-tight enclosure comprising a first bladder, a second bladder and a conduit fluidly connecting the first bladder to the second bladder; filling material filling the first bladder and the second bladder; and a valve mounted to the envelope for controllably disrupting air tightness within the enclosure; whereby upon opening the valve the filling material expands to distend the envelope.

Features and advantages of the subject matter hereof will become more apparent in light of the following detailed description of selected embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying figures. As will be realized, the subject matter disclosed and claimed is capable of modifications in various respects, all without departing from the scope of the claims. Accordingly, the drawings and the description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive and the full scope of the subject matter is set forth in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a cushioned knee separator with the strap open in accordance with an embodiment;

FIGS. 2A and 2B are respectively top and side views of the cushioned knee separator of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an isometric, partially exploded view of the cushioned knee separator depicted on FIGS. 2A and 2B without presence of a canvas or a fabric cover;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a system comprising two cushioned knee separators (one at the thighs and one at the ankles) shown in a context of use according to an embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a side view of a cushioned knee separator system with an extensible sleeve in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the cushioned knee separator in accordance with another embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a padding member part of the cushioned knee separator of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the padding member depicted on FIG. 7 with the path of the internal separation membranes (aka internal longitudinal membranes) identified;

FIG. 9 is a side cross-section view of the padding member of FIGS. 7 and 8;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of filling materials for the padding member of FIGS. 7 to 9;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the cushioned knee separator of FIG. 6 with the padding member inserted in the cover and during the attachment of the securing member to the cover;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a tool, namely a die, used during assembly of the pieces used to manufacture the padding member of FIGS. 7 to 9;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a cushioned knee separator in accordance with another embodiment; and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the cushioned knee separator of FIG. 13 used as a neck cushion.

It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The realizations will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying figures, in which realizations are illustrated. The foregoing may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated realizations set forth herein.

With respect to the present description, references to items in the singular should be understood to include items in the plural, and vice versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise or clear from the text. Grammatical conjunctions are intended to express any and all disjunctive and conjunctive combinations of conjoined clauses, sentences, words, and the like, unless otherwise stated or clear from the context. Thus, the term “or” should generally be understood to mean “and/or” and so forth.

Recitation of ranges of values and of values herein or on the drawings are not intended to be limiting, referring instead individually to any and all values falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate value within such a range is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. The words “about,” “approximately,” or the like, when accompanying a numerical value, are to be construed as indicating a deviation as would be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art to operate satisfactorily for an intended purpose. Ranges of values and/or numeric values are provided herein as examples only, and do not constitute a limitation on the scope of the described realizations. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (“e.g.,” “such as,” or the like) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the exemplary realizations and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the realizations. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any unclaimed element as essential to the practice of the realizations.

In the following description, it is understood that terms such as “first”, “second”, “top”, “bottom”, “above”, “below”, and the like, are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms.

The terms “top”, “up”, “upper”, “bottom”, “lower”, “down”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, “interior” and “exterior” and the like are intended to be construed in their normal meaning in relation with normal installation of the product. More precisely, the term “longitudinal” refers to an orientation parallel to the longitudinal orientation of a leg when in use. The term “transversal” refers to the perpendicular orientation with respect to the longitudinal. The term “parasagittal” refers to the axis joining the two knees.

In realizations, there are disclosed components of a cushioned knee separator and a knee separator system.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3, according to a first embodiment, there is provided a cushioned knee separator 10, aka separator 10, for use by a person, aka intended user or user, when sleeping on one's side. The separator 10 comprises an ergonomically formed pair of co-joined padding members 12, 12′ forming a padding assembly. The separator 10 comprises a strap 14 that passes between both padding members 12, 12′ and that is designed for strapping around one of the legs 16 (see FIG. 4) of an intended user 18. By being attached to only one leg 16, the user 18 is not hindered from easily getting in and out of bed and walking without having to remove the separator 10 beforehand. The padding members 12, 12′ comprise a concave shape on their external side that can be adapted to easily conform to any part of the leg 16, such as a knee, thigh, or ankle for one padding member 12, with the external side of the second member 12′ being adapted to mate with a corresponding part of the other leg 16.

The separator 10 comprises an adjustable strap 14, preferably using hook and loop complementary fabrics, e.g., Velcro™ fabrics, for length adjustability.

Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 5, the separator 10 comprises an extensible sleeve 20 that can be used to hold the paddings 12, 12′ in place. The extensible sleeve 20 comprises one, or as depicted a plurality of pockets 22a, 22b wherein sets of padding 12, 12′ are inserted. This embodiment provides a solution rendering optional the use of a strap 14. That solution, through the presence of two pockets 22a, 22b, provides leg 16 support both above and below knee level.

Referring back to FIGS. 1 to 3, according to an embodiment, to make it easier to adjust the configuration of the padding members 12, 12′ to different users, the padding members 12, 12′ comprises grooves 26, more specifically longitudinal grooves 26, in which one or more filling members 24 can be inserted so as to make the padding members 12, 12′ width adjustable for proper fitting of the legs 16 with the padding members 12, 12′. Foam material may be used for the padding members and 12, 12′ and the filling members 24.

One or more spacer members 28 can be inserted between the padding members 12, 12′ to adjust thickness of the padding assembly, aka parasagittal distance between the outer side of the padding members 12, 12′.

In an embodiment, the spacer member is an inflatable bladder 32 provided with an inflation system, such as a tube and a valve such as valve 132 (see FIGS. 3, 13 and 14), to enable inflation to an appropriate adjustable thickness by a user or attendant for optimal individual comfort. Air in the bladder 32 also provides relief on the filling material so that it will last longer.

According to an embodiment, the padding members 12, 12′ and the spacer member 28 are held together by way of peripheral joining member such as a zippered canvas or fabric cover 30 joining the padding members 12, 12′ and defining an obstruction covering at least partially the periphery of the joint of the padding members 12, 12′ and at least partially hindering the spacer member 28 from exiting the at least partially enclosed space defined between the padding members 12, 12′.

According to an embodiment, the zipper of the fabric cover 30 travels about 270 degrees around the periphery of the joint of the padding members 12, 12′. Thus, the fabric cover 30 can be open such that the outer side of the padding members 12, 12′ face in the same direction, with the user being able to insert or remove easily the padding members 12, 12′ from the fabric cover 30.

According to other embodiments, other solutions exist to maintain the padding members 12, 12′ and the spacer member 28 combined without covering the outer side of the padding members 12, 12′.

According to another embodiment, the separator 10 comprises a removable edge-fixed cover on the transversal edges only (not depicted) that can be detached from the main portion of the separator 10 and cleaned independently.

According to an embodiment, for additional comfort a memory foam member 34 is part of the fabric cover 30. Once properly installed, materials in the parasagittal orientation between the legs 16 are a first memory foam member 34, a portion of the fabric cover 30 on which is mounted the memory foam member 34, the padding member 12, the spacer member 28, the padding member 12′, a second portion of the fabric cover 30 and a second memory foam member 34. This embodiment of the knee separator 10 helps in maintaining a comfortable relative distance between the knees so as to comfortably optimize a sideways sleeping position.

According to an embodiment (not depicted), the memory foam member 34 is mounted inside the fabric cover 30 contacting the outer side of the spacer member 28.

According to embodiments (not depicted), the padding members 12, 12′ have clearances among one of grooves and tubular apertures in their longitudinal orientation away from the outer side, wherein these clearances ease compression of the padding members 12, 12′ for the padding members 12, 12′ to take preset configurations.

Referring now to FIG. 4, according to an embodiment, a knee separation system comprises an upper-leg separator 10a comprising a first padding assembly adapted for being used at an upper-leg level, aka thigh level or above knee level, of a user's leg 16. The knee separation system further comprises a lower-leg separator 10b comprising a second padding assembly adapted for being used at a lower leg level, aka below knee level or about the ankle level of said leg 16, to further help in maintaining an optimal position of the legs of the user relative to each other.

According to embodiments, the separators 10a, 10b both comprise padding members 12, 12′ that have a generally concave shaped in the transversal orientation on their outer side. The padding members 12, 12′ are thus optimally configured to marry the shape of the leg (knees, thighs or ankles) at the level where it is intended to be used.

According to an embodiment, the concave shape is symmetrical relative to a central plane encompassing tangential and parasagittal axes.

According to an embodiment, the padding members 12, 12′ are identical.

According to embodiments, the outer side of the padding members 12, 12′ are about flat relative to their longitudinal orientation. The padding members 12, 12′ are thus adapted to conform to the tubular shape of the leg 16 in any longitudinal orientation.

According to embodiments, the inner side of the padding members 12, 12′ has a flat shape with the thickness of the padding members 12, 12′ being about equal on both extremities of the padding members 12, 12′ with respect to the longitudinal orientation.

According to embodiments the fabric cover 30 comprises extensible material adaptable for different thickness and shapes of separating members 28, such as a box-shaped spacer member 28 having an extremity thicker than the other (spacer member 28 of that shape not depicted), wherein the thickest extremity is intended to be installed further from the waist of the intended user.

Referring back to FIG. 5, the separators 10a, 10b may each be provided with an inflatable bladder spacer member 32 (see FIG. 3) connected by a tubing section 44 to balance air pressure between the two spacer members 28.

According to an embodiment, the inflatable spacer members 32 can be self-inflatable members, aka self-inflatable bladders, known in the art to gain inflation by aspiration of ambient air when a valve 132 is opened to let a specific volume of air to be aspired until a desired padding volume is obtained and afterwards closed to maintain a desired padding volume. Conversely, manual compression of a bladder 32 while the valve 132 is open will cause internal air to exist and the volume of the bladder 32 to reduce until the valve 132 is closed. When both bladders 32 are fluidly connected through the tube 44, both bladders 32 react simultaneously and symmetrically to inflation or depletion operation, being subjected to equal air pressure. In operation however, while separators 10a, 10b are positioned between the user's legs, inner air volume may transfer from a bladder to the other through tube 24 to adapt the respective volume so as to maintain uniform contact pressure between legs for optimal fit and comfort.

According to an embodiment (not depicted), the set of padding members 12, 12′ is replaced with a single padding member having the shape of the combination of the padding members 12, 12′.

Now referring to FIGS. 6 to 11, an alternative cushioned knee separator 100 comprises an air-tight padding member 112 comprising a first contacting face 114, a second contacting face 116, and a side wall 118. The contacting faces 114 and 116 are the faces that will be contacting, through the cover 180, the legs 16 of the person using the separator 100. The side wall 118 comprises one or more portions which define together the contour of the separator. The contacting faces 114, 116 (aka opposite surfaces) and the side wall 118 are made of air-impervious material, with the junctions of the contacting faces 114, 116 with the side wall 118, and optionally the connections of portions of the side wall 118, being also air-tight, therefore defining an air-tight envelope 122 with the space within the envelope 122 consisting in an enclosure.

Mounted to the side wall 118 is a valve 132 (See FIGS. 3, 13 and 14) that can be opened to disrupt the airtightness of the envelope 122. The valve 132 may consist in a push-pull valve, a releasable cap or a screw/unscrew cap as examples to controllably control the airtightness of the envelope 122. Any of such solutions are well designed for the present separator 100.

The envelope 122 is filled with filling material 150, e.g., auto-expanding low-density fibers 152 (e.g., polyester fiberfill material) and/or auto-expanding low-density foam curds 154 (e.g., open cell foam material), providing a minimum uncompressed volume to the envelope 122. According to another embodiment, the filling material 150 could consist also (or only) of a block of open cell foam (not shown) which is compressible. The shape of the block of open cell foam can be adapted to match the shape of the separator 100. Foam is usually classified as “open cell” when more than half of its cells are open. Common open cell materials include reticulated foam, polyurethane foam, and open cell rubber. Reticulated polyurethane foam is a preferred material for the present application.

By opening the valve 132, the envelope 122 may be let to expand to the minimum uncompressed volume letting air enter into the envelope 122 to mix with the auto-expanding fibers biasing the envelope 122 in an inflated attitude, or may be compressed letting air exit from the envelope 122 and causing filling material to be compressed to cause the envelope 122 to adopt a somehow deflated and depleted attitude. Depleted attitude may be caused to reach a minimum compressed volume, which can be useful to bring separator 100 to maximum compactness for storage purpose for example. Alternatively, envelope 122 may be caused to exceed the minimum uncompressed volume by forcing air into the envelope and even potentially increasing internal pressure above ambient pressure. Afterward, by closing the valve 132, one can control the mix of filling material 150 and air stored in the envelope 122, thus the thickness and firmness of the envelope 122.

The envelope 122 further comprises a membrane 142 attached to the contacting faces 114 and 116. The membrane 142 has a length 144 and a width 146, where the width 146 of the membrane 142 limits the relative distance of the contacting faces 114 and 116 with respect to the points of attachments of the contacting faces 114 and 116 with the membrane 142. Therefore, the width 146 of the membrane 142 limits the thickness of the envelope 122 at the points of attachments. With the width 146 of the membrane 142 being equal or less than the width of the side wall 118, the envelope 122 may take a shape having a floor portion at the points of attachment of the membrane 142 while the envelope 122 is inflated beyond the floor level beside the points of attachment of the membrane 142. Thereby, the contacting faces 116, 118 of envelope 122 and padding member 112 may adopt a central depression to define a generally concave surface configuration.

According to an embodiment, the membrane 142 does not contact the side wall 118 at at least one location, or at least provides an aperture for air circulation between the portions of the enclosure located on the two sides of the membrane 142.

According to an embodiment, the padding member 112 comprises a first bladder 162 adapted to be installed above the knee of the user. The padding member 112 comprises a second bladder 164 adapted to be installed on the leg of the person below the knee. The padding member 112 further comprises a conduit 166 connecting the first bladder 162 and the second bladder 164.

The conduit 166 provides a structural flexible connection between the first bladder 162 and the second bladder 164. Accordingly, the first bladder 162 and the second bladder 164 can be placed at different angles, e.g., between about minus 15 (−15) degrees and forty-five (45) degrees from each other relative to an imaginary longitudinal central axis of the first bladder 162 and of the second bladder 164. The conduit 166 further provides a fluid connection between the first bladder 162 and the second bladder 164. The conduit 166 allows the air stored in the bladders 162 and 164 to travel therebetween in order for the bladders 162 and 164 to adopt thicknesses corresponding to natural distances between the legs 16 of the person.

According to an embodiment, the width of the side wall 118 is decreased about the conduit 166 such that the contacting faces 114, 116 about the conduit 166 are substantially not in contact with the knees of the person.

The membrane 142 comprises a first membrane portion 172 enclosed in the first bladder 162 and a second membrane portion 174 enclosed in the second bladder 164. The conduit 166 is free of any membrane portion; the membrane portions 172 and 174 extending in the bladders 162, 164 before the junction of the bladders 162 and 164 with the conduit 166.

The separator 100 further comprises a cover 180, made of nonskin-irritating and washable fabric such as cotton. The cover 180 comprises a closeable slit 182 through which the padding member 112 may be entered and removed from the cover 180. According to an embodiment, the slit 182 is closeable via a zipper 184. However, a plurality of alternative solutions for releasably closing the slit 182 to prevent the padding member 112 to exit involuntarily the cover 180 are herein contemplated such as buttons, push buttons, hook and loop fabric, etc.

The separator 100 further comprises a securing member 190 attached to the cover 180 for securing the separator 100 to one leg 16 of the person. As contemplated hereinbefore, the securing member 190 comprises a strap or band comprising hook and loop fabric or another type of adjustable fastening material about the extremities, or an extensible portion for the band to adjust to the dimension of the leg 16 of the person.

According to an embodiment, the securing member 190 comprises a first band 192 and a second band 194 (aka respectively a first securing band and a second securing band) mounted to the cover 180 respectively about location housing the first bladder 162 and the location housing the second bladder 164. The first band 192 and the second band 194 are to be attached to the leg 16 of the person above the knee and below the knee in order for the shape of the separator 100 to follow the shape of the leg 16 as the person changes the angle of his (her) legs 16 during the night.

According to embodiments, the securing member 190 may be self-adjusting, for example comprising an extensible portion allowing the length of the band 192/194 to vary between a first length when in normal condition with no tension thereon up to a second length when hands or a leg is pulling on the band 192/194. According to alternative embodiments, the securing member 190 may be adjusted by adjusting a relative position of two parts of the band 192/194 thereby adjusting the length of the loop formed by the band 192/194 when in use. Solutions to maintain the relative position of the two parts may comprise using hook and loop complementary fabrics, e.g., Velcro™ fabrics, or fastening materials such as buttons 196 to selectively mate with series of buttonholes as depicted on FIG. 11. Therefore, the person may adjust the length of the loop before going to sleep, with the length being adjusted to not hinder blood circulation in the leg.

According to an embodiment, the dimensions of the padding member 112 shown on FIG. 8 are approximately as follows: left bladder 162=width 10″×length 10″×thickness 3″; right bladder 164=width 7.5″×length 8″×thickness 3″; and middle conduit 166=width 2″×length 3″×thickness<3″.

Referring additionally to FIG. 12, a method of manufacturing the envelope 122 comprises using a first piece of air-impervious fabric corresponding to the first contacting face 114, a second piece of air-impervious fabric corresponding to the second contacting face 116, piece(s) of fabric for the membrane 142 and thermo-bounding the pieces together to define a sub-assembly. The method further comprises placing the die 199 about the sub-assembly with the pieces of fabric corresponding to the contacting faces 114 and 116 contacting the edges of the die 199.

The method further comprises preparing an air-impervious side piece corresponding to the side wall 118; the side piece being shaped like a closed loop with a valve 132 mounted thereto.

The method further comprises placing the side piece of air-impervious fabric on the inside of the die 199, the valve 132 about the opening 198, with the junctions of the side piece and the sub-assembly contacting the edges of the die 199, either with a thermo-bounding compound in-between or with the pieces of fabric being previously coated with such a thermo-bounding compound.

The method further comprises filling the non-closed envelope 122 with filling material 150.

The method comprises applying pressure and heat to the edge(s) to bound the side piece with the pieces of the sub-assembly corresponding to the contacting faces 114 and 116, to close the envelope 122 for the envelope 122 to therefore define an air-tight enclosure.

The method further comprises assembling the cover 180, closing means for the slit 182 and the securing member 190.

The method finally comprises placing the envelope 122 in the cover 180, thereby resulting in the cushioned knee separator 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, the air-tight padding member 112 may take a variety of shapes, with FIGS. 13 and 14 showing another embodiment of the padding member 112 well adapted both to be used between the knees and placed behind the neck of a person.

According to embodiments (not shown), a sleeve 195 may be used to store the cushioned knee separator 10/100 when not in use. Such a sleeve 195 allows to transport more easily the cushioned knee separator 10/100 and to protect the cushioned knee separator 10/100 from being soiled during idle times.

According to an embodiment, the dimensions of the padding member 112 shown on FIG. 13 are approximately as follows: left bladder=width 7″×length 8″×thickness 3″; right bladder=width 7″×length 10″×thickness 3″; and middle conduit=width 2″×length 3″×thickness<3″.

While preferred embodiments have been described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from this disclosure. Such modifications are considered as possible variants comprised in the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

1. A cushioned knee separator for use by a person for placing between person's legs when sleeping in a side sleeping position, comprising:

an air-tight padding member comprising: an envelope forming an air-tight enclosure comprising a first bladder, a second bladder and a conduit fluidly connecting the first bladder to the second bladder; filling material filling the enclosure; and a valve mounted to the envelope for controllably disrupting air tightness within the enclosure, whereby upon opening the valve the filling material expands to distend the envelope,

wherein the cushioned knee separator is adapted to maintain a distance between the person's legs thereby avoiding contacts between the person's knees when the person is sleeping in a side sleeping position.

2. The separator of claim 1, further comprising a securing member for securing the cushioned knee separator to one of the person's legs.

3. The separator of claim 2, further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is for enclosing the padding member and wherein the securing member is secured to the cover.

4. The separator of claim 3, wherein the securing member comprises:

a first securing band attached to the cover at a first position for securing the cushioned knee separator to a portion of the leg above the knee, and

a second securing band attached to the cover at a second position distant from the first position for securing the cushioned knee separator to a portion of the leg under the knee.

5. The separator of claim 4, wherein the first position is about the first bladder and the second position is about the second bladder.

6. The separator of claim 1, wherein the first bladder has a first thickness, the second bladder has a second thickness and the conduit has a third thickness, and wherein the third thickness is smaller than the first thickness and the second thickness.

7. The separator of claim 1, wherein the envelope further comprises a pair of opposite surfaces, wherein each of the surfaces is adapted to face respective one of the person's legs; and an internal longitudinal membrane enclosed in the enclosure that is attached to the opposite surfaces and that limits relative movement of the opposite surfaces from each other.

8. The separator of claim 7, wherein the internal longitudinal membrane comprises a first membrane portion enclosed in the first bladder and a second portion enclosed in the second bladder.

9. The separator of claim 7, wherein the envelope comprises a side wall, and wherein the internal longitudinal membrane comprises two extremities with at least one of the extremities being distant from the side wall.

10. The separator of claim 9, wherein the side wall has a thickness and the internal longitudinal membrane has a height in a same direction as the thickness of the side wall, wherein the height of the internal longitudinal membrane is smaller than the thickness of the side wall.

11. The separator of claim 1, wherein the filling material comprises auto-expanding reticulated foam.

12. A cushioned knee separator for use by a person for placing between person's legs when sleeping in a side sleeping position, comprising:

an air-tight padding member comprising: an envelope forming an air-tight enclosure comprising a first bladder, a second bladder and a conduit fluidly connecting the first bladder to the second bladder, wherein the envelope comprises a pair of opposite surfaces, wherein each of the surfaces is adapted to face a respective one of the person's legs; an internal longitudinal membrane enclosed in the enclosure that is attached to the opposite surfaces of the envelope and that is limiting relative movement of the opposite surfaces from each other; and a valve mounted to the envelope for controllably disrupting air tightness within the enclosure,

wherein the cushioned knee separator is adapted to maintain a distance between the person's legs thereby avoiding contacts between the person's knees when the person is sleeping in a side sleeping position.

13. The separator of claim 12, further comprising filling material filling the enclosure, whereby upon opening the valve the filling material expands to distend the envelope.

14. The separator of claim 12, further comprising a securing member for securing the cushioned knee separator to one of the legs of the person.

15. The separator of claim 14, further comprising a cover, wherein the cover is for enclosing the padding member and wherein the securing member is secured to the cover.

16. The separator of claim 15, wherein the securing member comprises a first securing band attached to the cover at a first position and a second securing band attached to the cover at a second position distant from the first position.

17. The separator of claim 12, wherein the first bladder has a first thickness, the second bladder has a second thickness and the conduit has a third thickness, and wherein the third thickness is smaller than the first thickness and the second thickness.

18. The separator of claim 12, wherein the internal longitudinal membrane comprises a first membrane portion enclosed in the first bladder and a second portion enclosed in the second bladder.

19. The separator of claim 12, wherein the envelope comprises a side wall, and wherein the internal longitudinal membrane comprises two extremities with one of the extremities being distant from the side wall.

20. A cushioned separator for use by a person, comprising:

an air-tight padding member comprising: an envelope forming an air-tight enclosure comprising a first bladder, a second bladder and a conduit fluidly connecting the first bladder to the second bladder; filling material filling the first bladder and the second bladder; and a valve mounted to the envelope for controllably disrupting air tightness within the enclosure; whereby upon opening the valve the filling material expands to distend the envelope.