SPINAL RELAXATION APPARATUS

• US 20090320208A1
• Filed: 09/19/2006
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ronen Mandelzis, Ronen Tuchfeld
• Original Assignee: Ronen Mandelzis, Ronen Tuchfeld
• Inventors: Tuchfeld, Ronen, Mandelzis, Ronen
• Granted Patent: US 8,011,047 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 5/632
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/026 Supports for lying in a prone position A47C20/025 takes precedence

Abstract

A spinal-length mattress including a means for providing buoyancy to a human torso and abdomen thereon; attached to the mattress at one end, a pelvic support portion; and attached to the mattress at an opposite end, a head rotation stabilization portion having an air passage opening allowing a person to breathe freely when resting in a face down position thereon. By supporting the pelvis and stabilizing the head to substantially limit motions of the neck, a central cushion (preferably dominated by a “shape memory foam” filling) allows the spinal column to passively distribute all directional stresses—including those deriving from body mass and from muscle tension. Thus relieved of stress, disks between spinal bones begin to return to their respective naturally compliant symmetrical shapes; thereby generally providing a long term benefit in exchange for a quarter hour or a half hour of regular prone-oriented engagement with the mattress.

Claims

I_We. I/We claim:

1. A Spinal Relaxation Apparatus comprising:

(A) a mattress portion including a means for providing buoyancy to a human torso and abdomen thereon, and the mattress portion has a length substantially equivalent to a respective human spinal column, a width at least equivalent to a width of a respective human chest, and a depth sufficient to contain therein the means for providing buoyancy;

(B) attached to the mattress portion at one end of the length thereof, a pelvic support portion including a means for substantially holding weight of a respective human pelvis thereon; and

(C) attached to the mattress portion at an end opposite to the pelvic support portion, a head rotation stabilization portion including (i) a means for substantially holding weight of a respective human head thereon and (ii) an air passage opening providing means for a person to breathe freely when resting in a face down position thereon.

2. The Spinal Relaxation Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for providing buoyancy is a “

shape-memory foam”

layer.

3. The Spinal Relaxation Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for providing buoyancy is a layer including shape memory materials.

4. The Spinal Relaxation Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the means for providing buoyancy is a fluidized bed having a layer of inert aggregate, a pressurized air entry means for causing the aggregate to emulate buoyancy characteristics by permeating aggregate with air flows, and an air release means for maintaining the air flow permeated aggregate within a predetermined volume.

5. The Spinal Relaxation Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pelvic support portion includes a layer having a substantially rigid inner shelf.

6. The Spinal Relaxation Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mattress portion includes a rigid layer for supporting the means for providing buoyancy.

7. The Spinal Relaxation Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the mattress portion includes a substantially rigid frame for supporting the means for providing buoyancy.

8. The Spinal Relaxation Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the head rotation stabilization portion includes symmetric left and right members wherein said members are interconnected via a forehead rest strap.

9. A Spinal Relaxation Apparatus, substantially as herein before described and illustrated, and characterized by having a spinal-length buoyancy-providing mattress having attached thereto a head rotation stabilization portion on one end and a pelvic support portion on an opposite end.