SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING THE HUMAN BODY, OR A HUMAN BODY SEGMENT, PROVIDED WITH AN IMPROVED CUSHIONING ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A support system for the human body, or a human body segment, is provided. The system comprises a covering lining in which a plurality of pockets is defined in which there are inserted one or more filling elements forming together a cushioning arrangement of the support system. Filling elements with different physical properties, for example different stiffnesses, are inserted in the different pockets of the covering lining. The pockets may be independent of one another and removably connected to one another, so that they can be combined with one another in the way that best adapts to the specific morphology of a single user. The support system can be made, for example, in the form a cushion, a seat, a backrest, a mattress or with any other shape that may be desired.

Claims

1. A support system for supporting the human body or a human body segment, the support system comprising a covering lining, the covering lining comprising a first outer wall and a second outer wall opposite to the first outer wall, wherein the first and second outer walls define therebetween an inner space of the covering lining, wherein the inner space of the covering lining is divided into a plurality of pockets, which are mutually separated, wherein one or more filling elements are inserted inside each of the pockets, and wherein filling elements having different physical properties are received in different pockets of the inner space of the covering lining of the support system.

2. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the pockets are independent of one another and removably connected to one another.

3. The support system according to claim 2, wherein the pockets are provided, along their perimeter or part thereof, with interconnecting means adapted to cooperate with the interconnecting means of the adjacent pockets in order to establish a removable connection between the adjacent pockets.

4. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the covering lining comprises one or more inner intermediate walls, which are arranged between the first outer wall and the second outer wall of the covering lining, wherein, due to the provision of the one or more inner intermediate walls, the pockets have a multilayer structure comprising several layers, and wherein filling elements having different physical properties are received in different layers of each of the pockets of the inner space of the covering lining of the support system.

5. The support system according to claim 4, wherein the multilayer structure of the pockets comprises at least one filling element with higher stiffness, arranged in a layer adjacent to the side of the covering lining which, in use, is the side farthest from the user's body, and at least one filling element with lower stiffness, arranged in a layer adjacent to the side of said covering lining which, in use, is the closest to the user's body.

6. (canceled)

7. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the filling elements comprise small pieces of polymer foams.

8. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the pockets of the inner space of the covering lining are provided with openable closure means.

9. The support system according to claim 1, wherein the covering lining is coupled, at one of the first or second outer walls, to a universal support.

10. The support system according to claim 9, wherein the covering lining is coupled to the universal support by means of hook-and-loop elements.

11. (canceled)

12. The support system according to claim 8, wherein the pockets of the inner space of the covering lining are provided with zippers.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0058] 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:

[0059] FIG. 1 is a top view of the support system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0060] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the support system of FIG. 1;

[0061] FIG. 3 is a representation of the insertion of filling elements of the cushioning arrangement into the covering lining of the support system according to the invention;

[0062] FIG. 4 is another representation of the insertion of filling elements of the cushioning arrangement into the covering lining of the support system according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0063] In the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment of a support system for supporting the human body according to the invention, reference will be made to a support system made in the form of a head cushion.

[0064] 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.

[0065] For example, the support system according to the invention could be made in the form of a seat, in the form of a backrest, in the form of a mattress, in the form of an armchair including a seat and a backrest, or in many other forms, as will be highlighted below.

[0066] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the illustrated embodiment, the support system is in the form of a head cushion 1.

[0067] Said cushion 1 comprises a covering lining 3, for example made of a strong textile material.

[0068] The covering lining 3 comprises a first outer wall 3a and a second outer wall 3b, which walls define therebetween an inner space adapted to receive a cushioning pad.

[0069] According to the invention, within the inner space of the covering lining 3 there are provided a plurality of pockets—in particular four pockets 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2—separated from one another.

[0070] For example, the pockets 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d may be separated from one another by means of stitching or by means of an adhesive, or also by means of welding in the case of hot-melt materials.

[0071] However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, said pockets 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d are independent of and removably connected to one another.

[0072] For this purpose, each pocket 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d is provided, along its perimeter or part thereof, with interconnecting means 15a, 15b, 15c, 15d adapted to cooperate with the interconnecting means of the adjacent pockets in order to establish a removable connection between said pockets.

[0073] In this way, the number, type and relative position of each pocket with respect to the other pockets can be selected each time so that they can adapt optimally to the specific morphology of the single user.

[0074] According to the invention, different filling elements, i.e. filling elements with different physical properties, can be inserted inside each of said pockets. In particular, filling elements with different stiffnesses can be inserted inside each of said pockets.

[0075] In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the Figures, the covering lining 3 comprises, besides the first and second outer walls 3a, 3b, one or more intermediate walls 3c (in the illustrated embodiment, one intermediate wall 3c only).

[0076] The provision of said intermediate wall give each pocket 5a-5d a multilayer structure, wherein each layer can receive a different filling element.

[0077] In particular, a different filling element with different physical properties, for example with different stiffness, can be inserted into each layer of each pocket.

[0078] For example, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, in each layer of each of said pockets 5a-5d there can be provided filling elements 7, 9, which are superimposed on one another to form a cushioning arrangement with a multilayer structure.

[0079] By way of example, said multilayer structure could include at least one filling element with higher stiffness 7, arranged in a layer adjacent to the side of said covering lining 3 which, in use, is the side farthest from the user's body.

[0080] Said multilayer structure could further include at least one filling element with lower stiffness 9, arranged in a layer adjacent to the side of said covering lining 3 which, in use, is the side closest to the user's body.

[0081] Advantageously, according to the invention, filling elements 7,9 with different stiffnesses can be inserted into different pockets 5a-5d and, where the covering lining 3 comprises one or more intermediate inner walls 3c, into different layers of the same pocket.

[0082] In this way, if—according to the specific morphology of the single user and/or according to the specific needs of the single application—more support is required at a certain region, filling elements 7, 9 with higher stiffness can be inserted into the respective pocket; in particular, the filling element 9, which is the closest to the user's body, will be selected with higher stiffness.

[0083] If, instead—again according to the specific morphology of the single user and/or according to the specific needs of the single application—more comfort is required at a certain region, filling elements 7, 9 with lower stiffness can be inserted into the respective pocket; in this case, too, the filling element 9, which is the closest to the user's body will be selected, in particular, with lower stiffness.

[0084] The filling elements 7,9 can be made of any suitable material, such as, for example, plastic and composite materials, foamed materials or also deformable materials (for example, gels).

[0085] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, said filling elements 7, 9 consist of small pieces, having the same size and shape or different sizes and shapes, of polymer foams, which are the same or different from one another.

[0086] The possibility to combine small pieces of polymer foams with different sizes and shapes remarkably increases the degrees of freedom and brings about the realization of a support system with practically countless combinations depending on the application and the user's needs.

[0087] Advantageously, the pockets 5a-5d of the covering lining 3 are provided with openable closure means, such as for example zippers, in order to allow access to said pockets and replacement of the filling elements contained in said pockets.

[0088] As visible in FIGS. 2 and 3, on the side which, in use, is the side farthest from the user's body, the covering lining 3 of the cushion 1 can then be coupled (preferably by means of removable coupling means, such as, for example, male/female hook-and-loop strips) to a universal support 11, which in turn is designed for coupling to the frame of a wheelchair or similar medical support device for mobility or rehabilitation.

[0089] Said universal support can have any shape and be made of any material; in particular, it can be either rigid or flexible.

[0090] It is clear that the embodiment described above has been provided 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.

[0091] It is further clear that several support systems according to the invention can be combined with one another in order to provide a complex support structure, in which each element benefits from the technical advantages of the invention highlighted above.

[0092] Therefore, in the case where the pockets are removably connected with each other, a dual-modularity level is achieved: a support system having a modular structure, consisting of a plurality of separate pockets combinable with one another, and a support system having a modular structure consisting of a plurality of separate support systems combinable with one another.