Therapeutic cushion

Abstract

A therapeutic cushion comprising a one-piece, elongated, molded firm body, the forwardmost portions of said body in side elevation, including convexly contoured surfaces adapted for head-engaging support. Intermediate portions of said body in side elevation defining an upwardly projecting apex adapted for engaging support of the cervical vertebrae C-3 to C-6, the rearwardmost portions of said body in side elation being convexly contoured and downwardly shaped and adapted to support thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal regions, said body defining a concave gap in side elevation between said intermediate and said rearwardmost portions and whereby the geometry of said body gently stretches the spine of a user laying horizontally thereupon.

Claims

1. A therapeutic cushion comprising: (a) a one-piece elongated, molded firm body fabricated from a polyurethane foam; (b) said polyurethane foam has the following properties as measured by ASTM D3574-05: Density=1.90 to 2.00 lbs. per cubic feet; IFD 25%=50 to 60; IFD 65%=105 to 126; Tensile PSI=1; Elongation %=113; Tear PLI=1.11; CS 90%=3.5; HACS %=4.5; Fatigue Loss % 37.7; said foam passes CAL 117-2013; (c) forwardmost portions of said body as viewed in side elevation, including convexly contoured surfaces adapted for head-engaging support; (d) intermediate portions of said body as viewed in side elevation, defining an upwardly projecting apex adapted for engaging support of the cervical vertebrae C-3 to C-6; (e) rearwardmost portions of said body as viewed in side elevation being convexly contoured and downwardly shaped and adapted to support thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spinal regions; (f) said body defining a concave gap, as viewed in side elevation, between said intermediate and said rearwardmost portions; and (g) whereby the geometry of said body gently stretches the spine of a user laying horizontally thereupon.

2. A therapeutic cushion fabricated from a dense polyurethane foam, said therapeutic cushion including (a) an elongated body portion having a flat base and a contoured upper surface adapted to engage a human body along spaced regions thereof; (b) said upper surface defining a head-engaging cavity at a forwardmost portion; (c) said upper surface defining an apex projecting upwardly therefrom and adapted to engage and support cervical portions of the spine of a user between vertebrae C-3 to C-6; (d) rearwardmost portions of said upper surface adapted to engage and support the 6th to 10th thoracic vertebrae; (e) said upper surface defining a concave portion between said rearwardmost and intermediate portions; (f) said polyurethane foam has the following properties as measured by ASTM D3574-05: Density=1.90 to 2.00 lbs. per cubic feet; IFD 25%=50 to 60; IFD 65%=105 to 126; Tensile PSI=1; Elongation %=113; Tear PLI=1.11; CS 90%=3.5; HACS %=4.5; Fatigue Loss % 37.7; said foam passes CAL 117-2013; and (g) whereby the upper surfaces cause flexion of the spine of a user laying horizontally thereupon when the user's spine engages and is supported thereby.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, with dimensions, of an exemplary therapeutic cushion embodying the principles of the invention;

(2) FIG. 2 is a first end view of the new therapeutic cushion of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 is an opposite end view of the new therapeutic cushion;

(4) FIG. 4 is a to plan view of the new therapeutic cushion of FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 5 is a side view of the new therapeutic cushion with a skeletal cross-section illustrating the engagement of the vertebrae with the upper surface;

(6) FIG. 6 is a side view of a prospective user before lying down on the new therapeutic cushion;

(7) FIG. 7 is a view of a user lying down with his back fully engaged with the new therapeutic cushion; and

(8) FIG. 8 is a side view of the user of FIGS. 6 and 7 after lying on the new therapeutic cushion for a short period of time.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(9) Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the new therapeutic cushion includes a head-engaging portion 30, an upwardly projecting apex portion 31 for engaging the back and the neck between cervical vertebrae C-3 to C-6 (vertebrae C-1 to C-6 are specifically numbered in FIG. 5); a valley 32 between the apex 31 and lower spine-engaging (thoracic, lumbar, sacral) portion 33. The new therapeutic cushion is fabricated from a medium density foam of the type well known in the cushioning art. An exemplary material for the therapeutic cushion body is polyurethane foam having the following properties:

(10) TABLE-US-00001 Density 1.90 to 2.00 IFD 25% 50 to 60 IFD 65% 105 to 126 Tensile PSI 14 Elongation % 113 Tear PLI 1.11 CS 90% 3.5 HACS % 4.5 Fatigue Loss % 37.7 *CAL 117-2013 *Pass Physical testing was done in accordance with ASTM D 3574-05. *This certifies that this foam passes CAL 117-2013.
The illustrated dimensions are exemplary for average sized individuals; it should be understood that these dimensions may be scaled upwardly or downwardly to accommodate much larger or smaller users.

(11) In use, the user simply relaxes onto the new therapeutic cushion as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 for very short time intervals, which provide a gentle flexion to the entire spine while cradling the head. This flexion allows the spine to gradually realign by curving in the opposite direction to the effects of gravity. The user is instantly exposed to existing postural deficits, while being simultaneously led to a path of recreating the physical stature of the body in a new, simple, and easily sustainable way.

(12) The new and improved therapeutic cushion provides temporary supported flexion or stretch of the seven cervical vertebrae, the twelve thoracic vertebrae, and the five lumbar vertebrae. Depending on the length of the user's spine, a portion of the sacrum (five fused lower vertebrae) may also be supported. The remaining lowest vertebrae section, the coccyx, is typically not supported by the cushion.

(13) The new therapeutic cushion is molded or formed as a unitary dense foam shape having two distinct sections: the head cradle section and the torso support section. If desired, the unitary foam shape may be enveloped with a form-fitting cover fabricated from a soft, light-weight, washable fabric (not illustrated) or overcoated with a protective film (not illustrated).

(14) The apex 31 of the head cradle section serves as a self-informing pivot point for the back of the neck at the base of the skull. This, in turn, dictates the manner in which the lower two main sections of the spine (thoracic and lumbar) will conform to the cushion as the user lays down upon it horizontally. Designed to be contour-fitted for the three upper sections of the spine, the apex initiates proper placement by gently receiving and supporting all seven cervical vertebrae, typically pivoting between C-3 and C-6. This permits the cervical spine to relax completely while initiating proper alignment for the lower sections of the spine.

(15) While the head is supported so as to descend away from the neck and relax into the cradle, the torso is simultaneously supported so as to settle in the opposite direction away from the head and neck. This allows the spine to experience an impulse of a two directional passive traction, soothing the spine into a deeper relaxation than when merely lying flat and unsupported.

(16) All twelve thoracic vertebrae and all five lumbar vertebrae experience a general quality of similarly supported flexion from the gently curved torso section 33 of the cushion. While potential users have different overall spinal lengths as well as differently sized vertebrae, the fundamental support region of this section typically ranges from the 6.sup.th to the 10.sup.th thoracic vertebrae, while the lumbar vertebrae benefit from being generally supported along their entire length.

(17) It should be understood, of course, that the specific form of the invention herein illustrated and described is intended to be representative only, as certain changes may be made therein without departing from the clear teachings of the disclosure.