SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING A HUMAN BODY OR A HUMAN BODY SEGMENT

Abstract

A system for supporting the human body or a human body segment is provided. The system comprises a base element having a substantially flat shape, and one or more pluralities of shaped modular elements. The base element is flexible, so that it can be brought from an operating, extended configuration to a non-operating, folded configuration. The support system comprises one or more stiffening elements, which are designed in such a way that, on the one hand, they provide the correct stiffness to the backrest when in the operating configuration, and, on the other hand, they do not prevent the possibility of folding the backrest when in the non-operating configuration. The support system can, for example, be made in the form of a seat, a backrest, a mattress, or the like.

Claims

1. A support system for supporting a human body or a human body segment, the support system comprising a base element, having a substantially flat shape, and a plurality of shaped modular elements, wherein the base element is provided with coupling means and the modular elements are provided with corresponding coupling means, the coupling means of the base element and the coupling means of the modular elements cooperating for coupling the modular elements to the base element, wherein the base element is flexible, whereby the base element can be brought from an operating, extended configuration to a non-operating, folded configuration, and vice versa, wherein the supporting system further comprises one or more stiffening elements, whereby the support system is able to support the human body or the human body segment in the operating configuration thanks to the stiffening elements, and wherein the stiffening elements are brought from the operating configuration to the non-operating configuration together with the flexible base element.

2. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the base element is made in the form of a flexible base plate, having a flat shape with two opposite faces, and wherein the coupling means of the base element are provided on one of the opposite faces.

3. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the support system further comprises a covering lining made of flexible material, wherein the covering lining has a plurality of walls and wherein the base element is formed by one of the walls of the covering lining.

4. The support system according to claim 3, wherein the inner face of the wall of the covering lining forming the base element is provided with the coupling means of the base element.

5. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more stiffening elements are made as flexible elements.

6. The support system according to claim 5, wherein the one or more stiffening elements are made as tensionable straps, having an adjustable length, whereby the tensionable straps are tensioned by reducing their length and are released by increasing their length.

7. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the one or more stiffening elements are applied to the support system in a removable manner.

8. The support system according to claim 7, wherein the stiffening elements comprise a thin rigid sheet applied to the base element in a removable manner.

9. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the coupling means of the base element and the coupling means of the modular elements achieve a removable coupling between the modular elements and the base element.

10. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the support system further comprises a padding, which is superimposed on the modular elements.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0047] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the annexed drawings, in which:

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a support system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in first or operating configuration;

[0049] FIG. 2 shows the support system of FIG. 1, broken down into its modular elements;

[0050] FIG. 3 shows the support system of FIG. 1, illustrated in a second or non-operating configuration;

[0051] FIG. 4 shows the stiffening elements of the support system of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0052] In the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment of a support system for supporting a human body according to the invention, reference will be made to a support system made in the form of a backrest, in particular a backrest for a wheelchair for the disabled.

[0053] However, this embodiment should not be interpreted in a limiting sense and the support system according to the invention could be realized in many different ways, each one capable of supporting one or more body segments of the user.

[0054] For example, the support system according to the invention could be made in the form of a seat, in the form of a mattress, in the form of an armchair including a seat and a backrest, or in many other forms.

[0055] In addition, the support system may not necessarily be intended for people who are ill or disabled.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 1, in the illustrated embodiment, the support system has the form of a backrest 1, which is shown in its operating position or extended position in this Figure.

[0057] The structure of the backrest 1 can be better understood from FIG. 2.

[0058] Said backrest 1 comprises a base element 3 having a substantially flat shape.

[0059] In particular, in the illustrated embodiment, said base element is made in the form of a substantially flat base plate 3.

[0060] Said backrest 1 further comprises a plurality of shaped modular elements 5.

[0061] Said modular elements 5 can be made of a plastic or composite material, are pre-formed and can be adapted by cutting, material removal or other similar working processes.

[0062] Alternatively, said modular elements 5 could be made by using multi-pocket elements, in which each pocket can be filled with materials having different properties, which makes it possible to obtain a system with different stiffnesses.

[0063] The base element 3 has a surface (top surface) provided with coupling means 7 for coupling to said modular elements 5.

[0064] Correspondingly, each of the modular elements 5 is provided, over a surface thereof (bottom surface), with coupling means 9 for coupling to the base element 3.

[0065] In particular, the coupling means 9 of the modular elements 5 are selected so as to cooperate with the coupling means 7 of the base element 3 so as to achieve a coupling between said base element and said modular elements.

[0066] More specifically, the coupling means 7, 9 are selected so as to achieve a coupling between the base element and the modular elements that allows these modular elements to be applied to this base element in adjustable positions and removed from it if repositioning is necessary.

[0067] Said coupling means 7, 9 can, for example, be made up of coupling systems with binder locking systems and/or male and/or female hook-and-loop straps.

[0068] The realization of the backrest 1 by coupling the modular elements 5 to the base element 3 allows, by fixing said modular elements 5 independently from one another in the desired position, to obtain each time the configuration most suitable for the specific morphology of the individual user.

[0069] It will be evident to the person skilled in the art that the modular elements 5 can suitably be designed with different sizes, shapes, dimensions and functions in order to increase the versatility of the backrest 1.

[0070] The backrest 1 is further provided with a padding 11, adapted to be superimposed on the modular elements 5 and, thus, to be sandwiched, in use, between the modular support structure consisting of the base element 3 and the modular elements 5 and the user's back (or, more generally, the segment of the user's body).

[0071] Advantageously, the padding 11, too, could have a modular structure, and include a plurality of padded cushions, with the same or different shape and thickness, suitably combined according to the load to be borne by the padding and the stresses to which the padding is during use.

[0072] The padding 11 or the padded cushions forming the padding can be made by using different types and combinations of high-performance polymer foams, cross-linked foams to promote ventilation, visco-elastic slow rebound memory foams and similar materials.

[0073] Alternatively, said padding 11 or the padded cushions forming said padding can be made by using multi-pocket elements, in which each pocket can be filled with materials having different properties, which makes it possible to obtain a system with different stiffnesses.

[0074] The backrest 1 further comprises a covering lining 13 inside which the base element 3, the base elements 5 and the padding 11 are received.

[0075] Said covering lining 13 is provided with a zipper 15 or similar closing system that allows access to the elements inside it, for example if it is necessary to correct the positioning of the modular elements 5 with respect to the basic element 3

[0076] According to the invention, the base element 3 of the backrest 1 is flexible, so that it can be brought from the operating, extended configuration shown in FIG. 1 to a non-operating, folded configuration shown in FIG. 3, and vice versa.

[0077] Advantageously, as can be seen from FIG. 3, thanks to the presence of the flexible base element 3, the overall dimensions of the backrest 1 can be significantly reduced when not in use.

[0078] Above all, if said backrest 1 is applied to the folding load-bearing frame of a wheelchair for the disabled or a similar medical device for mobility or rehabilitation, it can be folded and extended together with said load-bearing frame, thus eliminating the need to remove it and put it back in position every time.

[0079] As will be evident to the person skilled in the art, this measure eliminates the risk that the backrest 1 is positioned incorrectly and not according to the user's specific morphology.

[0080] It should be noted that in an alternative embodiment of the invention, the base element 3—rather than being a specially designed base plate—could consist of a wall of the lining 13, in particular of the wall 13a of said lining which—in use—is further away from the user's body.

[0081] In this alternative embodiment, the inner face of the wall 13a of the liner 13 will be suitably provided with coupling means to cooperate with the coupling means 9 of the modular elements 5.

[0082] While the presence of a flexible base element ensures the above mentioned advantages, it is also necessary to ensure that the backrest 1 provides the user with the correct support when in use.

[0083] For this purpose, the backrest 1 is preferably provided with one or more stiffening elements, which are designed in such a way that, on the one hand, they provide the correct stiffness to the backrest 1 when in the operating configuration, and, on the other hand, they do not prevent the possibility of folding the backrest 1 when in the non-operating configuration.

[0084] In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the backrest according to the invention comprises one or more stiffening elements, which are also flexible, so as not to hinder folding of the backrest.

[0085] In particular, in the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated herein, the backrest according to the invention comprises a plurality of tensionable straps 17, visible in FIG. 4.

[0086] As shown in FIG. 4, said tensionable straps 17 can be applied to the face of the backrest 1 which, in use, is opposite to the face oriented towards the user's back.

[0087] The straps 17 comprise a central portion 17a which is applied to the backrest 1 and opposite annular end portions 17b, 17c adapted to be fixed to respective uprights of the load-bearing frame.

[0088] The straps 17 have an adjustable length, so that they can be tensioned by reducing their length and they can be released by increasing their length.

[0089] In this way, they can be tensioned when the backrest is in use, so as to ensure the correct stiffness of said backrest, and can be loosened when the backrest is not in use, so as to allow folding thereof.

[0090] Accordingly, the straps 17 can be permanently applied to the backrest 1.

[0091] In any case, they could also be coupled to said backrest is a removable manner, for example by using male and female hook-and-loop strips or similar coupling means.

[0092] In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the backrest according to the invention can include a stiffening element, which is removable, so that it can be removed when the basic element has to be brought from the extended position to the folded position.

[0093] Said stiffening element can, for example, be made as a thin rigid sheet applied to the base element 3 on the face opposite to the padding 11.

[0094] Thanks to the zipper 15, the lining 13 can be opened and the rigid sheet can be pulled out when the backrest 1 is to be folded.

[0095] It is evident from the above description that the support system according to the invention allows to achieve the objects set forth above, being capable of being brought from an operating, extended configuration to a folded, non-operating configuration, and this without jeopardizing the comfort and correct support for the user in its operating configuration.

[0096] It is also evident that the embodiment described above has been given merely by way of example and that numerous modifications and variations are possible without leaving the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.