Support device

• US 7,048,703 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 05/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oakworks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oakworks, Inc.
• Inventors: Riach, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Quang D.
• Application Number:
  US10/324,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20030139695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 601/148, 601/149, 601/150, 601/151, 602/6, 602/13, 602/26, 602/60, 602 61- 63, 128/DIG.20, 128/845, 128/846, 128/847, 128/856, 565/2, 565/4, 565/53, 571/0, 571/3
• US Class Current: 602/13
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/012 inflatable

Abstract

A support device for providing enhanced support to users. In one embodiment, the support device includes a first bladder and a second bladder. Valves may be attached to the bladders to allow inflation and/or deflation of the bladders. In yet another embodiment, the support device is further provided with a pump attached to the bleed valve. In one embodiment, the support device is provided with bladders having a kidney bean shape and the support device has a butterfly shape. In another embodiment, the support device may be implemented with four wing portions configured to define four recesses, each of the recesses being positioned between two adjacent wing portions so that the support device has a shape of a butterfly. In this regard, the support device may include an air bladder, or be made of foam.

Claims

1. A support device comprising:

a first bladder having a kidney bean shape with a wing portion at each distal end thereof, a recessed region between the wing portions, and a bladder opening adapted to allow inflation and deflation of said first bladder; and

a second bladder having a kidney bean shape with a wing portion at each distal end thereof, a recessed region between the wing portions, and a bladder opening adapted to allow inflation and deflation of said second bladder, said second bladder being connected to said first bladder by a sealing divider to further define side recessed regions between wing portions of said first bladder and wing portions of said second bladder so that said support device has a four leaf clover shape.

2. The support device of claim 1, further comprising a protective cover that encapsulates said first bladder and said second bladder.

3. The support device of claim 2, wherein said protective cover includes at least one opening to allow access to at least one of said first bladder and said second bladder.

4. The support device of claim 3, wherein said at least one opening is closable via at least one of a zipper, hook and loop fastener, buttons, and snaps.

5. The support device of claim 2, wherein said protective cover is made of at least one of vinyl, leather, fabric, and rubber.

6. The support device of claim 1, further comprising a valve attached to each bladder opening, each valve being adapted to control at least one of inflation and deflation, so that said at least one of inflation and deflation for each bladder is attained independent of the other bladder.

7. The support device of claim 1, further comprising a hose attached to said bladder opening of said first bladder, and a bleed valve attached to said hose, said bleed valve being operable to control at least one of inflation and deflation of said first bladder.

8. The support device of claim 7, further comprising a pump attached to said bleed valve.

9. The support device of claim 8, wherein said pump is a bulbous manual pump.

10. The support device of claim 9, wherein said pump includes an integral one way valve.

11. The support device of claim 1, wherein said first bladder and said second bladder is made of at least one of vinyl, polypropylene, and rubber.

12. The support device of claim 1, further comprising a first pump connected to said bladder opening of said first bladder to allow inflation of said first bladder independent of said second bladder;

and

a second pump connected to said bladder opening of said second bladder to allow inflation of said second bladder so that inflation of said first bladder and said second bladder are independently inflatable.

13. A support device comprising:

a first bladder having a kidney bean shape with a wing portion at each distal end thereof, a recessed region between the wing portions, and a bladder opening adapted to allow inflation and deflation of said first bladder; and

a second bladder having a kidney bean shape with a wing portion at each distal end thereof, a recessed region between the wing portions, and a bladder opening adapted to allow inflation and deflation of said second bladder;

wherein said first and second bladders are independently inflatable, and substantially define an outer peripheral shape of said support device with side recessed regions between the wing portions of said first bladder and the wing portions of said second bladder.

14. The support device of claim 13, wherein said first bladder and said second bladder are connected together by a sealing divider in a manner that said support device has a four-leaf clover shape.

15. The support device of claim 13, further comprising a protective cover adapted to encapsulate said first bladder and said second bladder therein, said protective cover having a four-leaf clover shape.

16. The support device of claim 13, further comprising hoses attached to said bladder openings, and bleed valves attached to said hoses, said bleed valves being operable to control inflation and deflation of said first bladder and said second bladder.

17. The support device of claim 16, further comprising pumps attached to said bleed valves.

18. The support device of claim 17, wherein said pump is a bulbous manual pump having an integral one way valve.