SUPPORT APPARATUS

• US 20170071357A1
• Filed: 04/12/2016
• Published: 03/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kathleen Zanki, Logan Zanki
• Original Assignee: Kathleen Zanki, Logan Zanki
• Inventors: ZANKI, Logan, ZANKI, Kathleen
• Granted Patent: US 9,782,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/025 Supports specially adapted for pregnant women

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a support for people with distended abdominal areas such as, but not limited to, individuals who are overweight or pregnant. Further, the support apparatus may be used by people suffering from back problems, as the raised area surrounding the opening in the support raises the pelvis and is intended to remove pressure from the lumbar spine and other areas of a person'"'"'s midsection.

Claims

1. A support apparatus comprising:

a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface together forming an inflatable chamber having a rounded first end and a rounded second end;

an abdominal opening extending from the top surface the bottom surface,

wherein the abdominal opening is formed by a second inflatable chamber with the second inflatable chamber being directly attached to the inflatable chamber,

wherein the second inflatable chamber has a height greater than that of the top surface;

wherein the top surface forms a head receiving area and a leg receiving area;

wherein the head receiving area of the top surface is substantially parallel with the bottom surface, and

wherein the leg receiving area of the top surface is graded such that a distance between the top surface and the bottom surface is greatest near the abdominal opening and narrowest near a terminal end of the leg receiving area; and

wherein the support apparatus is configured to lift a pelvis of a user when the user lays in a prone position upon the support apparatus.

2. The support apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a covering configured to cover the top surface of the support apparatus.

3. The support apparatus of claim 2 wherein the covering has an opening configured to be positioned over the abdominal opening.

4. The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein an outer edge of the second inflatable chamber is located about 36 inches from a terminal end of the leg receiving.

5. The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the second inflatable chamber is configured to be inflated such that an upper surface of the second inflatable chamber is about 1 inch to about 4 inches above the top surface of the support apparatus.

6. The support apparatus of claim 2 wherein the covering is coupled to the bottom surface of the support apparatus.

7. The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support apparatus is wider at the abdominal opening than at the head receiving area or the leg receiving area.

8. The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the support apparatus is tapered at the leg receiving area.

9. The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leg receiving area is graded such that from about the abdominal opening to about the terminal end there is about an 8 inch decrease in height over about 36 inches in length.

10. The support apparatus of claim 1 wherein the abdominal opening is about 18 inches in diameter.

11. The support apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of ridges longitudinally disposed on each of the top surface and the bottom surface.

12. A support apparatus comprising:

a top surface, a bottom surface, and at least one side surface forming an inflatable chamber having a rounded first end and a rounded second end;

an abdominal opening extending from the top surface to the bottom surface,

wherein the abdominal opening is formed by a second inflatable chamber with the second inflatable chamber being directly attached to the inflatable chamber, and

wherein the second inflatable chamber has a height greater than that of the top surface;

wherein the top surface forms a head receiving area and a leg receiving area;

wherein the head receiving area and leg receiving area is substantially parallel with the bottom surface; and

wherein each of the top surface and the bottom surface have a plurality of ridges longitudinally disposed thereon; and

wherein the support apparatus is configured to lift a pelvis of a user when the user lays in a prone position upon the support apparatus.

13. The support apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a covering configured to cover the top surface and abdominal opening of the support apparatus.

14. The support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the abdominal opening is located in a center of a length of the support apparatus.

15. The support apparatus of claim 12 wherein an edge of the second inflatable chamber is located about 36 inches from a terminal end of the leg receiving.

16. The support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the second inflatable chamber is configured to be inflated such that an upper surface of the second inflatable chamber is about 1 inch to about 4 inches above the top surface of the support apparatus.

17. The support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the support apparatus is wider at the abdominal opening than at the head receiving area or the leg receiving area.

18. The support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the support apparatus is tapered at the leg receiving area.

19. The support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the leg receiving area is graded such that from the abdominal opening to the terminal end there is about an 8 inch decrease in height over about 36 inches in length.

20. The support apparatus of claim 12 wherein the abdominal opening is about 18 inches in diameter.