Apparatus and method for supporting a user

• US 5,679,040 A
• Filed: 07/18/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Valley Women's Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Roger Davis
• Inventors: Bianchi-Holm, Leah M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swinehart, Edwin L.
• Application Number:
  US08/503,822
• Time in Patent Office: 826 Days
• Field of Search: 5/455, 5/465, 5/462, 5/930, 5/706, 5/681, 5/710, 441/129, 441/131, 441/136, 114/345, D 6/604
• US Class Current: 441/129
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/00 Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like book rests or bed tables A47B23/00; bed-rests specially adapted for nursing A61G7/065
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/025 Supports specially adapted for pregnant women
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 27/081 of pneumatic type
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 7/05723 with cut-outs or depressions in order to relieve the pressure on a part of the body mattresses with cavities A47C27/142
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/607 having a platform or floor below the level of the buoyancy means, e.g. suspended basket type
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 35/613 with tubular shaped flotation members

Abstract

An apparatus and method for supporting a pregnant user is disclosed comprising, in combination, a fixed support portion having a fixed configuration for supporting a portion of the user, and a variable support portion coupled to the fixed support portion and having a plurality of configurations for supporting a different abdominal portion of the user with each configuration of the plurality of configurations. The fixed support portion comprises a plurality of inter-connected, inflatable, tubular members. The variable support portion comprises a plurality of independent, concentric, inflatable, annular members attached to an independent, inflatable, cylindrical member. The variable support portion is in proximity to the abdomen of a user lying thereon, and the cylindrical member and the annular members are selectively inflated to conform comfortably to a protruding abdomen of a pregnant user. This support apparatus is especially useful as an air mattress and a floatation raft.

Claims

1. An apparatus for supporting a user comprising, in combination:

fixed support means having a fixed configuration comprising a plurality of tubular member means each having a tubular cavity in communication with an adjacent, tubular cavity for inflating with a fluid for supporting a portion of said user;

variable support means coupled to and coplanar with said fixed support means and having a plurality of configurations for supporting a different abdominal portion of said user with each configuration of said plurality of configurations;

headrest member means comprising a single tubular member orthogonally coupled to said plurality of tubular member means and having an independent, tubular cavity for inflating with said fluid for supporting said user'"'"'s head independent of providing support for other portions of said user and said headrest member being generally coplanar with said fixed support means;

a plurality of inflation means independently coupled to said fixed support means, said headrest member means, and said variable support means for inflating and sealing said fixed support means, said headrest member means, and said variable support means;

said variable support means comprising;

annular member means comprising a plurality of concentric, annular members each having an independent annular cavity and having an outer circumferential portion of said annular member means coupled to said fixed supporn means for selectively inflating with a fluid for supporting a first abdominal portion of said user; and

cylindrical member means comprising a cylindrical member having an independent cylindrical cavity and having an outer circumferential portion coupled to an inner circumferential portion of said annular member means for selectively inflating with said fluid for supporting another abdominal portion of said user located adjacent said first abdominal portion of said user, said plurality of inflation means being in a straight line alignment with each other.