AU717293B2

AU717293B2 - Polyurethane bolster - a support cushion

Info

Publication number: AU717293B2
Application number: AU12490/97A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Heather Colyer Ross
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-02-04
Filing date: 1997-02-04
Publication date: 2000-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2017-02-04
Also published as: AU1249097A

Description

AUSTRALIA Regulation 3.2 POLYUIIRETHANE BQLSTER.--- A SJPPORT CUSHION The following statemtis au descriptio this invent idnthe bestthodof perfoming known to me:- THIS INVENTION RELATES TO SUPPORT CUSHIONS. SUPPORT CUSHIONS SARE _USED FOR THE UPPER PARTS OF THE BODY OF A PERSON SEATED UPRIGHT ON .lYfc--ARE J- 1 SE"~ FQ s A--FLAT-SURFACE-WHERE- ADDITIONAL_ COMFORT_ -IS NEEDED ,AND_ THEY_ CAN-TAKE THE PLACE OF MULTIPLE PILLOWS OR CUSHIONS WHICH NEED TO BE CONSTANILY ADJUSTED, AND SOME CAN BE USED OUT OF DOORS OR IN VEHICLES AS WELL AS INBEDS -AND SUPPORT CUSHIONS ARE,- _HOWEVER_, COMPLICATED, _RELATIVELY DIFFICULT TO ERECT, NOT VERY COMFORTABLE, AND GIVING INSUFFICIENT SUPPORT FOR THE I BACK, AND THE ARMS IN PARTICULAR, AND THEY ARE UNATTRACTIVE

AND

0 THIS--PRESENT- -INVENTION- S- FLAT-BASED, FREE-STANDING WITH. SLOPING CONCAVE BACK, SLOPING ARMS, AND DESIGNED TO BE USED AGAINST ANY FIRM VERTICAL SURFACE SUCH AS A BEDHEAD,. CHAIR, SEAT, WALL, OR IN A BOAT OR OTHER-_ VEHICLE. IT MEASURES 50 CMSHIGH,. 62 CMS .WIDE DEPTH AT ARMS: 46 -CMS-, DEPTH AT- -BASE- 22- _CMS DEPTH -AT _TOP- 4 _DRAWING _ATTACHED...

THIS INVENTION IS IDEAL FOR HOSPITAL OR DOMESTIC USE BECAUSE IT IS WASHABLE -AND- _LIQUID-RESISTANT_ AND IT CONFORMS TO THE- BRITISH- SIANDAR6 IN ST-ITUT-ION'-S-SPECIFICATIONS-- EiR COMBUSTIO-N=MOQDIICA

TION,

ACCORDING TO THIS INVENTION, WHICH IS SIMPLE, TLIGT=-WELGHT,---DIJURABLE AND TAKES .THE.- PLACEO.F_-MULTIELE.----------- PILLOWS AND CUSHIONS, THE SUPPORT REMAINS CONSTANT BECAUSE F I .0 _IT S- MADE- O- R-ESILIENT, MOULIEDFLEXI BLE_ POLYUR ETHANE_ FORMED FROM ANY NATURAL OR SYNTHETI C OMPOSITION THAT CAN BE .EOAMED-OR.EQAM_RUBBER -COMPOSITION, THE RESILIENCE MAINTAININg:g THE CUSHION'S SHAPE. AND ALLOWING THE RETURN OF THE UPPER PARTS OF THE j BODY OF A PERSON TO ITS NORMAL REST POSITION AFTER- ANY. DISPLACEMENT CEASES. THE RESILIENT QUALITY ALLOWS THE CUSHION TO BE SUCCESSFULLY STORED FLAT BY FOLDING ITS ARMS INWARD AND SECURING IT WITH TAPE, CORD, 7 OR RUBBER BAND.

THIS INVENTION GIVES TOTAL COMFORT TO .THE UPPER PORTION OF THE BODY OF- PERSON, -PROVIDING -THE PERFECT -SLOPE -FEOR -THE -BACK- WHILE- FITTING AROUND THE BODY; .ALSO GIVING EXCELLENT SUPPORT FOR THE ARMS OF A PERSON. .FROM- THE SHOULDERS DOWNWARD, -FOR_ EXAMPLE,. -WHEN -SOMEONE- IS NURSING A BABY, OR HOLDING A BOOK, OR EATING IN BED, OR IN A BOAT TO CUSHION THE BODY. AGAINST UNCOMFORTABLE SIDES AND RALNGS-NDINANY -VEHICLE -WHERE-THE-MOBILITY- -OE -THE-BODY- NEEDS -TO -REMAIN -INDEPENDANT- .VEHICLE MOTION. THIS INVENTION CAN ALSO BE USED ADVANTAGEOUSLY BY HEART PATIENTS IN SRECOVERY BY CLASPING THE CUSHION TO THE CHEST WITH THE CUSHION ARMS WRAPPED AROUND THE BODY TO RELIEVE PAIN CAUSED WHEN COUGHING OR SNEEZING. t>> S 2 7 'a HEA T H E R ICOjL Y E R ROB S 1 of4 POLYURETHANE BOLSTER A SUPPORT CUSHION

SPECIFICATION

I, Heather Colyer Ross, a British subject, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement:- This invention relates to support cushions.

Support cushions are used for the upper parts of the body of a person seated upright, on a flat surface, where additional comfort is needed; and they can take the place of multiple pillows or cushions which need to be constantly adjusted, and some can be used out of doors or in vehicles as well as in beds and chairs.

Support cushions are, however, either complicated, relatively difficult to erect, not very comfortable, giving insufficient and/or incorrect support for the back, and for the arms in particular, or they are heavy, unattractive, awkward and cumbersome.

.I

o• *55oS9 This present invention is flat-based and free-standing; with a sloping concave inside back; sloping, protruding armrests; and configured to fit the upper portion of the body of an adult person in repose, to provide the correct body-hugging, contact support and comfort for the upper and lower back, and the arms of an adult person, and the vertical outside back of this invention can cushion any hard vertical surface such as a bed headboard, chair, seat, wall, or in a boat or other vehicle. Itmeasures: 50 cms high, 62 ems wide, depth at arms: 46 cms, depth at base: 22 cms, depth at top: 4 cms, and weighs approximately 2 kilos. See drawing attached.

Page 2 of 4 POLYURETHANE BOLSTER A SUPPORT CUSHION SPECIFICATION continued...

This invention, designed for an adult person, is ideal for hospital as well as domestic use because it has a unique washable and liquid-resistant, non-irritant, polyurethane "skin" of flexible lacquer, and it conforms to the British Standards Institution's specifications for combustion-modification, so as to be flame-retardant according to BS 7175 Ignition Sources 1 and 2, i.e. Methods of Test for "The ignitability of bedcovers and pillows by smouldering and flaming ignition sources" and meeting: BS 5240 (Flexible polyurethane foam pillows and bolsters for domestic use) and BS 5223 (Hospital bedding: Part 3: Flexible polyurethane pillows).

According to this invention, which is ergonomically simple, compact, light-weight, and durability-tested according to: Grammer Formteile GmbH Stress Test (Mechanical Resistance No. 009/FOG 8001), and takes the place of multiple pillows *i and cushions, the support remains constant because it is made of resilient, moulded, daflexible polyurethane or formed from any natural or synthetic composition that can be foamed, the resilience maintaining the cushion's shape, allowing the return of the upper parts of the body of a person to its normal rest position after any displacement ceases. The resilient quality allows the cushion to be successfully stored flat by holding its arms inward and securing it with tape, cord, or rubber band.

Page 3 or 4 POLYURETHANE BOLSTER A SUPPORT CUSHION SPECIFICATION continued...

This invention is configured to conform to the "correct-seating" criteria as laid down by Dr. Janet Travell, a world-renowned posture expert, and therefore giving comfort to the upper portion of the body of an adult person, providing the perfect slope for the back to prevent muscle fatigue, i.e. the specific incline of this invention prevents the "drooping-shoulder" position and allows the shoulder blades to drop back slightly behind the centre of the spine; also giving excellent contact-support to fit the upper and lower back, and for the arms ofa person from the shoulders oooo downward the specific angle of the armrests of this invention provide constant contact-support for the entire arms in repose, from shoulder to wrist, or for the upper arms, for example, when someone is holding a baby, or reading a book, or eating in bed, to prevent cramping, stiffness and pain across the back of the neck, caused when armrests are either too low or too high; for example, when someone is holding a baby, or reading a book, or eating in bed, and in a boat, it will cushion the body against uncomfortable sides and railings, or in any vehicle where the mobility of the body needs to remain independent of vehicle motion.

This invention can also be used advantageously as a pillow or leg rest when it is laid flat or when used by heart patients in recovery, by clasping he cushion to the chest with the cushion arms wrapped around the body to relieve pain caused when coughing or sneezing.

Claims

1. An ergonomically-designed, attractive, simple and compact, flat-based, free- standing support cushion, with sloping concave inside back, and sloping, protruding armrests, and the shape and size configured to fit the upper portion of the body of an adult person, to provide the correct body-hugging, contact- support for the upper and lower back, and the arms of an adult person in repose, and the vertical outside back of this invention can be used to provide what is missing in certain resting places, for example: it can cushion any hard vertical surface such as a bedhead, chair, seat, wall, or in a boat or other vehicle, giving complete comfort to the upper portion of the body of a person, and made of durable, light-weight, resilient, moulded, flexible polyurethane or formed from S--any natural or synthetic composition that can be foamed, taking the place of multiple pillows or cushions and their continual adjustment.

2. A support cushion as claimed in Claim 1, and coated with a unique, non-irritant, 4 washable and liquid-resistant polyurethane "skin" of flexible lacquer. a a

3. A support cushion as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, and combustion-modified, so as to be flame-retardant according to the British Standards Institution's specifications: 7175 Ignition Source 1 and BS 7175 Ignition Source 2, i.e. Methods of Test for "The ignitability of bedcovers and pillows by smouldering and flaming ignition sources" and meeting BS 5340: "Specification relating to Page 2 of 3 POLYURETHANE BOLSTER A SUPPORT CUSHION CLAIMS Continuing Claim 3 flexible polyurethane foam pillows and bolsters for domestic use" and BS 5223: Specification for Hospital Bedding: Part 3: Flexible polyurethane pillows.

4. A support cushion as claimed in Claims 1, 2 and 3, and designed to conform to the correct-seating criteria, as laid down by Dr. Janet Travell, a world- renowned posture expert, and therefore providing the best slope for the back, to prevent muscle fatigue, i.e. the specific incline prevents a drooping-shoulder position and allows the shoulder blades to drop back slightly behind the centre o of the spine, and contact support to fit the upper and lower back, and for the arms of an adult person from the shoulders downward, whereby the angle of the a o armrests will prevent cramping, stiffness and pain across the shoulders and the back of the neck, caused when armrests are either too low or too high, in bed, wheelchair, upright chair, boat or other vehicle, outdoors, or on the floor, or against a hard vertical surface, whether watching TV, reading or eating in bed, or holding a baby, where this invention especially provides the required support and comfort for the arms of a person. A support cushion as claimed in Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4, which is made of a light- weight, durability-tested according to: Grammer Stress Test (Mechanical Resistance No.

GN 009/FOG 8001), resilient material that maintains its shape, Page 3 of 3 POLYURETHANE BOLSTER A SUPPORT CUSHION CLAIMS: Continuing Claim the resilience returning the upper parts of the body of a person to its normal rest position after any displacement force ceases, and such resilience allowing the cushion to be successfully stored flat by folding its arms inward and securing with tape, cord, or rubber band.

6. A support cushion as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which can be used advantageously as a leg rest or as a pillow when laid flat, or by heart patients in recovery where the cushion can be clasped to the chest with the cushion arms wrapped around the body to give relief from pain when coughing or sneezing.

7. A support cushion as claimed in claims 1,2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing. S S Heather Colyer Ross Inventor.