BODY SUPPORT

Abstract

The invention relates to a body support (12) for users with a handheld media in which a person (26) and user of the body support (12) maintains a proper posture of the body to avoid damage that may arise due to strain on the lumbar (10) of the body and spine 36. Herein, it is intended to support the front part of a user's body by resting the body's front on the body support (12) on a formed curvature (14). The body support (12) curvature has a curve shape that allows the user's lumbar to arch (30) in its well-intended neutral position in a user with a correct posture.

Claims

1. A body support for a user intended for use where the user is resting on the stomach, whereby a person and user of the body support maintains a better posture of the body to avoid damage that may occur due to the strain on the body's lumbar, spine and neck, wherein the body support is at least one of a body support in itself and a piece of furniture with the body support mounted; and the body support comprises a resting surface adapted to support the front of the body of the user through resting the front of the body on said resting surface, the body support having a structure permitting the lumbar to arch in its well-intended neutral position on a user with a good posture when the user is lying on said resting surface, the body support having rest support on which a person's elbows can rest, wherein the rest supports permit the forearms and hands to move freely so that at least one of a hand held media and a hand rest for a person's head, wherein the inclination can be adjusted outwardly of the hip position on the body support on the body support curvature for optimal fit, and; wherein said rest supports are shaped in relation to the resting surface that the lumbar of the user arches in its neutral position when the front of the body is supported on the resting surface and when the elbows have been placed in the rest.

2. The body support according to claim 1, wherein the body support is provided with legs and/or a frame to form a piece of furniture.

3. The body support according to claim 1, wherein the body support is inflatable.

4. The body support according to claim 1, wherein the body support is provided with electronics for measurement of usage time and/or biological parameters.

5. The body support according to claim 1, wherein the rest support is adjustable in height and/or laterally.

6. The body support according to claim 1, wherein the rest support (16, 20) is mounted detachably on the body support (12).

7. The body support according to claim 1, wherein the body support is provided with a holder for handheld media.

8. The body support according to claim 1, wherein the rest support is adapted to be adjusted for different lengths of the user's upper arms.

9. The body support according to claim 8, wherein the rest support can be raised by means of plates of the same material or other suitable material and attached, for example, to conventional Velcro straps, pushbuttons or other fasteners.

10. The body support according to claim 1, wherein the resting surface is straight while the body support is formed of an elastic material, wherein when a person resting the lumbar on the body support arches in its neutral position and wherein the curve is formed when the resilient material gives way to the weight of the person.

11. The Body support according to claim 1, wherein the elbow support has stage less adjustability.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] Henceforth, embodiments and exemplifications of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0057] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the spine and lumbar of people in ascending age;

[0058] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of the body support with a rest support in accordance with the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of the body support with another rest support than in FIG. 2, in accordance with the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the body support as a piece of furniture in accordance with the present invention;

[0061] FIG. 5 illustrates how a person uses the body support to handle a touchpad in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0062] FIG. 6 illustrates how a person uses the body support to, for example, watch TV in one embodiment of the present invention;

[0063] FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c schematically illustrates an incorrect curvature of the body support in FIGS. 7a and 7b and a good curvature of the body support in FIG. 7c in accordance with the present invention; and

[0064] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates how the elbow support is adjusted stage less in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0065] The present invention aims at providing a body support where a user is resting on the stomach with support for elbows in such a manner that the forearms and hands can be moved freely and that the user's body is in a curvature, which causes minimal strain on the body. It has been found that a user resting on the body support of the invention with the arms supported by the armrests as it is intended to be utilized tends to keep the neck slightly backward, which does not cause any harmful strain. The body supports design in accordance with the present invention allows the user to rest with a minimal strain on the back as well as providing the user to play games, watching TV/touchpad without the risk of sustaining neck pain. The body support is preferably placed on a surface such as a floor, bed, sofa or other suitable surfaces.

[0066] The present invention also solves a fundamental problem of not having to interrupt activities in order to exercise and technically the person in question does not have to stop and/or exercise when it concerns the conditions right/wrong placement of the lumbar. A form of rationalization.

[0067] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the spine and lumbar of people in ascending age. The lumbar spine is made up of five lumbar vertebrae L1-L5, where L5 is closest to the cross bone, which in turn is above the tailbone. It is of utmost importance that a human skull does not expose the lumbar spinal cord to excessive strain for a long time, the more the skull/head is angled forward, the higher the weight/force the neck and backbone are exposed to.

[0068] Measurements have shown that the neck is exposed to a weight corresponding to 4.55-5.45 Kg when it is angled 0 degrees relative to the vertical, 12.27 Kg at 15 degrees angle forward relative to the vertical, 18.18 Kg at 30 degrees angle forward, 22.27 kg at 45 degree angle forward and 27.27 kg at 60 degree angle forward when a person stands straight up.

[0069] FIG. 1 illustrates four people schematically with backbones in increasing age from left to right, where the lumbar 10 and the rest of the spinal column is bending more and more with rising age. The person to the left has a correct/better/good posture along the lumbars neutral position. Thus, it is such a neutral or ergonomically correct posture that is achieved by means of a body support according to the present invention. The persons in FIG. 1 are adults and not children, but it is emphasized that the child's ergonomics work in a manner similar to that of adults. In other words, the invention is applicable on both adult and non-adult users, in a completely analogous manner. With the increasing use of mobile phones, touchpads and even television viewing, people tend to keep their heads in a forward-looking position when using modern computerized devices, as well as standing or sitting when they push/click on the devices and obtaining unwanted strain on the neck and spine, which over time provides the spine to deform according to the illustration in FIG. 1. Children do not yet have fully developed spines, and they can then suffer from pain due to deformations of the neck and spine, which can quickly lead to a public health problem.

[0070] In order to exemplify the present invention in a coherent manner, the term computerized device in the description text is used herein to include mobile phones, smart phones, touchpads/tablets, laptops, televisions and similar. The body support is not limited to being used solely for computerized devices, but can be used in principle for anything that the user wishes to perform for an extended period of time without any problems such as watching TV, reading a newspaper, reading a book, drawing, playing soccer games, hanging out, using laptop etc. In the present invention, these are referred to as handheld media. In addition, the user can support the head while, for example, viewing TV and for conversations.

[0071] The present invention intends to provide a body support 12, as illustrated in FIG. 2 in a possible embodiment. The body support 12 is made of a type of suitable material that is friendly to rest on such as, for example, an inflatable material with fabric coverings or made of plastic or other suitable material. Furthermore, it can be made of a solid-like material such as a memory foam, such as Tempur, or other common material for the manufacturing of furniture with ergonomic support. The support can of course also be made of a combination of several such materials, such as a hard/rigid core clad in a thick, thin or varying layer of memory foam. The surface coating can also vary, and for example, consist of textile materials.

[0072] The body support 12 has a curvature 14, which provides the lumbar to arch in its neutral curvature of a standing person with a good/correct/better lumbar curvature in the lumbar vertebras L1-L5. Furthermore, the body support 12 has a rest/loadbearing support 16 for a person's elbows, wherein the forearms and hands are free to move in order to be able to click on a computerized device or rest the head on the hands when, for example, viewing television without the head of the person leaning forward. The rest support 16, properly used with the elbows resting on said elbow support as explained above, makes it natural for the person to hold his head at an angled position which is straight or slightly reversed relative to the general direction of the spine, which is an ergonomically advantageous position, without any hassles or notable effort. Worth noting is that this position allows the person to stay in this way for a long time without any inconvenience. The person/child rests with the body's front on the body support. In FIG. 2, the body support 12 has one and the same rest support 16 for both elbows.

[0073] The lumbar curvature 14 provides a person to easily arch and comfortably rest and get good support for playing, viewing television and reading in the correct position against the surface 18 of the curvature 14 when the elbows are correctly placed in the rest support.

[0074] Furthermore, in one embodiment, it is provided that the curvature is formed when the body support 12 has an elastic wedge-shaped curvature 14 of an elastic material, whereby when a person rests on the body support, the lumbar 10 of the person arches in its neutral position, and wherein the curvature is formed when the elastic material gives way to the weight of a person.

[0075] In order to adjust the rest 16, 20 for different lengths of upper arms, the rest support can be raised with plates of the same material or other suitable material and attached to, for example, Velcro straps, pushbuttons or other fasteners, which are on the market (not shown). Otherwise, any stage less setting of the rest support can be a possible embodiment. The stage less setting is shown in an embodiment more closely below with reference to FIG. 8.

[0076] The body support 12 can be marketed in different sizes and then labeled with XS, S, M, L, XL and so on or through other sizes.

[0077] In one embodiment of the body support, a person may, for example, starting from the position of the hip on the body support 12 adjust the inclination of the body support curvature 14 for optimal fit. In this case, the body support 12 may be provided with at least one knob/lever which functions like the mechanism of the backrest of the seats in a car. The mechanism is then built into the body support. In one embodiment, a plate is incorporated into the body support 12 where the abdomen is positioned which bends downward or upward depending on which direction the knob/lever is actuated to accommodate an optimum posture of the arch. For example, the bending of the plate occurs downward when the lever is released in stages and upwards when the plate is tensioned. In this regard, the body support can be adapted to different body configurations.

[0078] In FIG. 3, the body support 12 has been provided with two rest supports 20, one for each elbow. In one embodiment, the rest support 20 may be arranged to be removable from the body support 12 (not shown) and may also be raised and lowered and/or rotated. The same applies to the individual rest support 16 according to FIG. 2. Moreover, a holder (not shown) for a computerized device may be provided on the body support 12. The holder may also be used or designed for reading newspapers, journals, etc.

[0079] In a more advanced form, the body support 12 can be equipped with electronics for example timing how long a person has used the support 12 or with biological sensors for measuring, for example, pulse and other known sensors for measuring other biological parameters.

[0080] Furthermore in one embodiment of the present invention, the body support may be connected to a Virtual reality (VR) device or used to watch or play with the VR device.

[0081] In addition, the body support 12 may be provided with an electrical inflation and draining device as known for air mattresses or ergonomic car seats that can be adapted to a particular person. In this example, it is preferred that the inflatable portion when in the fully inflated position does not occupy more than a maximum of 50%, more preferably maximum 25%, of the total volume of the body support so that a main or underlying structure entails the general shape of the resting surface and the inflation/drainage only causes a minor adjustment of the curvature of said cavity. This results in a stable construction that is still adjustable. In an alternative embodiment of the inflatable part, it can be emptied or filled manually with an air mattress pump via a valve. In this regard, the body support can be adapted to different body configurations.

[0082] Further, in order to enhance convenience for the user, a leg support (not shown) for legs and feet may be provided on the body support 12. This may in one embodiment be foldable to be joined to the body support 12 when moved and for packaging purposes. The body support 12 may also be used as a furniture 22 shown in an embodiment of FIG. 4, wherein the support 12 is provided with legs 24. The furniture 22 may also consist of the body support 12 and a frame/stand (not shown), which the support 12 can be placed into. The Body support can also be produced in a version that is adapted to be placed in an existing couch. Also, in one embodiment, the support 12 can easily be separated from the frame of the furniture through being detachable, such as with buttons or Velcro straps, arranged in a stand.

[0083] The stand itself can be detachable for folding or a stand with simple folding functions for easier transport and/or packaging.

[0084] Furthermore, the body support itself may be shaped to be adjusted, in terms of the length and width of the body, to approximately correspond to a conventional bed foundation.

[0085] It is preferable that the body support is greater than or equal to 0.5 m long, wider or equal to 0.3 m and higher or equal to 0.3 m in accordance with measurements suitable for a user's body.

[0086] In FIG. 5 it is illustrated how a person 26 uses the body support 12 to handle a touchpad 28 in one embodiment of the present invention. The person 16 can lift the touchpad 28 or other handheld media against the face with his hands and elbows to tilt his head slightly to obtain a field of view and a posture with a more elevated view of the touchpad 28 as described above.

[0087] FIG. 6 illustrates how a person 26 uses the body support 12 to, for example, watch TV in one embodiment of the present invention with an arch 30 which allows a good posture of the neck, spine and lumbar 10 as described above.

[0088] FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c schematically illustrates an incorrect curvature of the body support in FIGS. 7a and 7b as well as a good curvature of the body support in FIG. 7c in accordance with the present invention. In FIG. 7a, the body supports 12 curvature 32 is unevenly formed mostly upwardly towards the body of the person, which causes the spine 38 to receive an undesirable and harmful curvature.

[0089] Likewise in FIG. 7b, an unwanted and harmful curvature of the spine 38 is obtained as the curvature 34 of the body support 12 leans strongly downwards.

[0090] FIG. 7c illustrates a curvature 36 of the body support 12 in accordance with the present invention, which causes the spine 38 to achieve a good and healthy curvature with a good arch 30. In addition, the broken lines marking in FIG. 7c indicates that the person 26 drops down into the elastic curvature 36 of the body support 12 to get a good arch 30.

[0091] FIG. 8 schematically illustrates how the elbow support 30 is adjustable in a stage less manner in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The stage less embodiment has the reference number 40. It can also be provided on all forms of elbow support according to the present invention. The elbow support 40 with the telescopic support 42 may also be provided on the body support 12 without any other elbow support 20 provided.

[0092] Thus, in one embodiment of the present invention, the elbow support 40 is arranged on a telescopically adjustable support 42 where the telescopic support is attached to the elbow support with a lockable ball device 46, 48 which provide the elbow support 40 to be adjusted upwardly, downwardly and laterally. The telescopic support may be attached to the body support 12, for example, via a joint 44 inserted into the body support. The ball device may be lockable via friction between the ball 46 and the receptor hole 48, or by other known means.

[0093] In addition, it is possible to use other displaceable devices present on the market than purely telescopic 42 and also existing joints, which are not comprised of ball devices 46, 48. For example, a tube may be provided in an existing elbow support that can be pulled and pushed into the elbow support, with the elbow support provided and lockable in stage less steps or in fixed positions, for example with a clamp/sprint around the tube/through the tube that locks and abuts the existing elbow supports surface.