Method for supporting and positioning the human anatomy

• US 4,658,807 A
• Filed: 10/25/1982
• Issued: 04/21/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Positioning Systems Limited
• Original Assignee: International Positioning Systems Limited
• Inventors: Swain, Stephen C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CROW, STEPHEN R
• Application Number:
  US06/436,649
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• Field of Search: 128/75, 128/78, 128/89 B, 128/89 R, 128/68, 128/132-135, D24/64, 4/480, 4/572, 5/443, 5/444, 297/452, 297/460, 297/464, 297/284
• US Class Current: 602/19
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 31/126 for chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/405 with double backrests
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/46 with special, e.g. adjustable , lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/01 Orthopaedic devices, e.g. splints, casts or braces
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 5/1091 Cushions, seats or abduction devices

Abstract

A method for fitting to an individual and supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy. A plurality of independently adjustable support modules adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions are clamped to a chassis in order to position the support module in space. The support module can be fitted to the individual'"'"'s anatomy either before or after clamping of the support module to the chassis. Thereafter, the clamped support module is loosened on the chassis to reposition the support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement in at least one plane with respect to the chassis in order to produce desired changes in positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy. Once the position has been attained, the support module is re-clamped to the chassis to maintain the support module in its new spacial position. Each support module has a relatively deformable portion that can be bent to fit the support module to the individual'"'"'s anatomy. Alternatively, the support module can have at least two support portions that are separated by a yieldable and resilient portion.

Claims

1. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support module to conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of the support module;

(3) positioning the fitted support module in space by clamping the support module to a chassis with the spacial positioning of the support module being related to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy when the support module is used to position said anatomy portion; and

, thereafter

(4) loosening the clamped support module on the chassis to reposition the support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce desired changes in positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and reclamping the support module to the chassis to maintain the support module in its new spacial position.

2. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) securing at least one support module to a chassis by clamping the support module to the chassis, said support module being adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions and having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support module to conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of the support module;

(3) positioning the fitted support module in space by loosening and then reclamping the support module to the chassis with the specific positioning of the support module being related to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy when the support module is used to position said anatomy portion; and

, thereafter

(4) loosening the clamped support module on the chassis to reposition the support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce desired changes in position of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and reclamping the support module to the chassis to maintain the support module in its new spacial position.

3. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a plurality of independently positionable support modules each adapted to support a specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support modules each having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support modules to conform to the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of each support module;

(3) independently positioning the fitted support modules in space by clamping the support modules to a chassis with the spacial positioning of the support modules being related to the specific portion of the corresponding individual'"'"'s anatomy when the support module is used to position said anatomy portion; and

, thereafter

(4) loosening the clamped support modules on the chassis to reposition the support modules in space through rotational and/or translational movement in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce desired changes in positioning of the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and reclamping the support modules to the chassis to maintain each support module in its new spacial position.

4. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) securing a plurality of independently positionable support modules to a chassis by clamping the support modules to the chassis, said support modules each being adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions and said support modules each having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support modules to conform to the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of the support module;

(3) independently positioning the fitted support modules in space by loosening and then reclamping the support modules to the chassis with the specific positioning of the support modules being related to the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy when the support module is used to position said anatomy portion; and

, thereafter

(4) loosening the clamped support modules on the chassis to reposition the support modules in space through rotational and/or translational movement in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce desired changes in position of the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and reclamping the support modules to the chassis to maintain each support module in its new spacial position.

5. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support module to conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of the support module;

(3) loosely clamping the fitted support module to a first chassis;

(4) clamping the first chassis with the loosely clamped fitted support module thereon to a second chassis; and

thereafter,

(5) positioning the fitted support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the support module with respect to the chassis in a plane in order to produce the desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and then tightly clamping the support module to the first chassis to maintain the support module in its new spacial position.

6. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support module to conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of the support module;

(3) clamping the fitted support module to a first chassis;

(4) loosely clamping the first chassis with the clamped fitted support module thereon to a second chassis; and

, thereafter

(5) positioning the fitted support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the first chassis in a plane with respect to the second chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and then tightly clamping the first chassis to the second chassis to maintain the support module in its spacial position.

17. The method of claim 6 wherein said support module is fitted to conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable portion of the support module after the support module is clamped to the first chassis.

7. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support module to conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively, shape retainable deformable portion of the support module;

(3) loosely clamping together the fitted support module, a first chassis and a second chassis with said fitted support module being clamped to the first chassis and the first chassis being clamped to the second chassis; and

, thereafter

(4) positioning the support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the support module and first chassis in at least one plane in order to produce desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and then tightly clamping the support module to the first chassis and the first chassis to the second chassis in order to maintain the support module in this spacial position.

8. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support module to conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of the support module;

(3) mounting the fitted support module to a chassis by loosely clamping the fitted support module to the chassis; and

, thereafter

(4) positioning the fitted support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the fitted support module in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and then tightly clamping the fitted support module to the chassis to maintain the fitted support module in this spacial position.

9. A method for fitting to an indivdual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) securing a support module to a chassis by tightly clamping the support module to the chassis, said support module being adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions and having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support module to conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of the support module;

(3) loosening the clamped fitted support module; and

, thereafter

(4) positioning the fitted support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the fitted support module in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and then tightly reclamping the fitted support module to the chassis to maintain the fitted support module in this spacial position.

10. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a plurality of independently positionable support modules each adapted to support a specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support modules each having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support modules to conform to the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of each support module;

(3) mounting the fitted support modules to a chassis by loosely clamping the fitted support modules to the chassis; and

, thereafter

(4) independently positioning the fitted support modules in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the fitted support modules in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and then tightly clamping the fitted support modules to the chassis to maintain each fitted support module in its spacial position.

11. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) securing a plurality of independently positionable support modules to a chassis by tightly clamping the support modules to the chassis, said support modules each being adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions and said support modules each having at least two support portions that are separated by a relatively deformable, shape retainable portion;

(2) fitting the support modules to conform to the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy by bending the relatively deformable, shape retainable portion of the support module;

(3) loosening the clamped fitted support modules; and

, thereafter

(4) independently positioning the fitted support modules in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the fitted support modules in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy, and then tightly clamping the fitted support modules to the chassis to maintain each fitted support module in its spacial position.

12. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a yieldable and resilient portion;

(2) mounting the support module to a chassis by loosely clamping the support module to the chassis; and

, thereafter

(3) independently positioning the support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the support module in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy when said yieldable and resilient portion and said two support portions conform to the specific portion of the individual anatomy in response to pressure therefrom, and then tightly clamping the support module to the chassis to maintain the fitted support module in this spacial position.

13. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a plurality of independently positionable support modules each adapted to support a specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support modules each having at least two support portions that are separated by a yieldable and resilient portion; and

, thereafter

(2) mounting the support modules to a chassis by loosely clamping the support modules to the chassis; and

, thereafter

(3) independently positioning the fitted support modules in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the fitted support modules in at least one plane with respect to said chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the corresponding specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy when said yieldable and resilient portion and said two support portions conform to the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy in response to pressure therefrom, and then tightly clamping the fitted support modules to the chassis to maintain each fitted support module in its spacial position.

14. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a yieldable and resilient portion;

(2) loosely clamping the support module to a first chassis;

(3) clamping the first chassis with the loosely clamped support module thereon to a second chassis; and

thereafter,

(4) positioning the support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the support module in at least one plane with respect to said first chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy when said yieldable and resilient portion and said two support portions conform to the specific portion of the individual anatomy in response to pressure therefrom, and then tightly clamping the support module to the first chassis to maintain the support module in this spacial position.

15. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a yieldable and resilient portion;

(2) clamping the support module to a first chassis;

(3) loosely clamping the first chassis with the clamped support module thereon to a second chassis; and

, thereafter

(4) positioning the fitted support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the first chassis in at least one plane with respect to the second chassis in order to produce the desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy when said yieldable and resilient portion and said two support portions conform to the specific portion of the individual anatomy in response to pressure therefrom, and then tightly clamping the first chassis to the second chassis to maintain the support module in this spacial position.

16. A method for fitting to an individual an apparatus for supporting and positioning the individual'"'"'s anatomy, said method comprising the steps of:

(1) selecting a support module adapted to support a specific portion of an individual'"'"'s anatomy in three dimensions, said support module having at least two support portions that are separated by a yieldable and resilient portion;

(2) loosely clamping together the support module, a first chassis and a second chassis with said support module being clamped to the first chassis and the first chassis being clamped to the second chassis; and

, thereafter

(3) positioning the support module in space through rotational and/or translational movement of the support module and first chassis in at least one plane in order to produce desired positioning of the specific portion of the individual'"'"'s anatomy when said yieldable and resilient portion and said two support portions conform to the specific portion of the individual anatomy in response to pressure therefrom, and then tightly clamping the support module to the first chassis and the first chassis to the second chassis in order to maintain the support module in this spacial position.