Inflatable body support cushion, particularly to support a woman during pregnancy

• US 4,054,960 A
• Filed: 06/25/1976
• Issued: 10/25/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dorothy E. Pettit, John E. Pettit
• Original Assignee: Dorothy E. Pettit, John E. Pettit
• Inventors: Pettit, Dorothy E., Pettit, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nunberg, Casmir A.
• Application Number:
  US05/699,894
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 5/91, 5/337, 5/338, 5/344, 5/352, 5/357, 5/365, 5/349, 5/350
• US Class Current: 5/631
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 20/025 Supports specially adapted for pregnant women
• CPC Class Codes: A61G 2200/12 Women
• 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

Abstract

A continuously and adjustably inflatable cushion supports the entire body length of a prone, face down, expectant mother, and is shaped to accommodate and conform to the enlarged contours of her body during pregnancy and immediately afterward. An essentially circular opening passes completely through the central portion of the supporting cushion, to surround and partially support the enlarged abdomen of the expectant mother. The depth and softness of this opening is varied during progressive stages of pregnancy through a valve mechanism, to add or release air.

When deflated, the cushion is folded into a compact, lightweight configuration for economical packaging and storage. The inflatable cushion has the additional advantages of light weight and portability in either its collapsed or inflated configurations; continuous range of adjustment to accommodate the shape of a human body; and the cushion is preferably constructed from material which is non-flammable, odor free and easily cleaned.

Additional accommodating openings in the cushion structure accommodate the breasts of the mother both during and after childbirth and a breathing opening is provided for the face down, reclining occupant. Internal reinforcing panels and heat seams in the cushion material are utilized to maintain the shape and increase the weight bearing strength of the cushion structure, and to subdivide the cushion into air tight compartments, which can be individually, adjustably inflated. A separable, inflatable plug is provided to fill the central cushion opening, adapting the cushion to use as a conventional air mattress after pregnancy.

Claims

1. A resting support cushion for a pregnant woman, being fully collapsible, which is selectively inflated to degrees of firmness to directly support her throughout her body, except for the indirect support of her expanded abdomen, her enlarged breasts, and her central face, comprising:

a. a continuous surrounding central web portion positioning three otherwise separated inflatable portions of this resting support of full body length;

b. a head supporting inflatable portion at the commencement of the continuous surrounding central web portion having two interconnected inflatable portions spaced apart along a portion of the center line of this resting support, thereby creating a breathing space for a pregnant woman resting in a face down position;

c. a central body supporting inflatable portion positioned by the continuous surrounding cental web at a reasonably wide transverse spacing from the head supporting inflatable portion, thereby creating a space between them to accommodate the enlarged breasts of a pregnant woman resting in a face down position, and this central body supporting inflatable portion having a circular opening therethrough, thereby creating a space to accommodate the expanded abdomen of a pregnant woman; and

d. a feet and legs supporting inflatable portion positioned by the continuous surrounding central web at a narrow transverse spacing from the central body supporting inflatable portion, thereby completing the overall comfortable resting support of a pregnant woman.