Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C20/00—Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like
  • A47C20/02—Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like of detachable or loose type
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C20/00—Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like
  • A47C20/02—Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like of detachable or loose type
  • A47C20/021—Foot or leg supports
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C20/00—Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like
  • A47C20/02—Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like of detachable or loose type
  • A47C20/023—Arm supports
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
  • A47C20/00—Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like
  • A47C20/02—Head -, foot -, or like rests for beds, sofas or the like of detachable or loose type
  • A47C20/027—Back supports, e.g. for sitting in bed

Definitions

• Asymmetrical body cushion that can be used in ventral 3/4 position
• the invention relates to a piece of body pillow bedding, that is to say, an asymmetrical body cushion comprising a deformable envelope filled with a flexible lining.
• Such a cushion is intended to be interposed between the elongated body of a subject and a horizontal surface such as the top of a mattress or the floor on which the subject is lying.
• these body cushions are intended to allow the subject to rest on the back (supine) and / or on the side (lateral decubitus) in the most comfortable manner and providing support consistent with this position.
• US 4,574,412 A thus describes an L-shaped cushion comprising a support (the transverse portion of the L) for the head and neck of the subject.
• This cushion is usable by the subject resting either in the dorsal position (the transverse part then acting pillow) or three-quarter dorsal position (the longitudinal portion of the L allowing in the latter case to further support the back of the subject) .
• this cushion for rest in the ventral position - quite the contrary, the lateral attachments of the cushion to the mattress would be an inconvenience if the cushion was used by a subject in this position.
• US 2,720,660 A discloses a cushion for supporting the head and neck, with a different placement of the cushion according to the position chosen by the subject: in the dorsal position, the cushion is placed transversely, in the manner of a pillow or a bolster, with additional support for the neck; in the ventral position, the cushion is placed diagonally, with one half of the cushion under the head and the other half under the thorax; finally, in a lateral position, the cushion is placed so as to support the face of the subject. In all the positions envisaged, the cushion serves to support, totally or partially, the head of the subject.
• US 4,731,890 A discloses a cushion for use by a seated mother with her child held in her arms.
• the cushion is in the general shape of L, with one of the branches slipped between the back of the mother and the back of the chair, while the other branch of the L is folded against the mother and serves as a cushion for laying the l 'child.
• CA 2 244 167 A1 describes a body cushion for a pregnant woman in lateral decubitus. One part of the cushion serves as an abdominal support, while another part is clamped between the knees to relieve the body at the hips.
• WO 2007/048236 A1 describes a cushion more specifically adapted to sleep in lateral safety position for a person prone to snoring. This cushion is intended to be used in strict lateral decubitus, and avoids tilting ventral position (and dorsal also), positions considered harmful.
• the cushion also has an end portion for supporting the subject's head.
• US D 453 653 S illustrates an inverted J-shaped cushion, with a rounded portion presumably for supporting and surrounding the subject's head.
• Other cushions, specifically designed for lateral decubitus are for example written in US 6,499,164A, US 5,097,551A, US 4,901,384A, US 6,874,183A or US 7,089,614A.
• Another subject of the invention is another type of body cushion.
• the body cushion or hody pillow of the invention is adapted to a position of ventral decubitus, that is to say in which the thorax (and no longer the side) of the patient bears against the floor or the floor. mattress, position also called "3/4 ventral" or "3/4 anterior".
• the main difficulty in this case is to ensure a good position of the head, in particular by minimizing the stresses at the cervical level, so as to avoid any appearance of pain or development of arthritis at this level.
• US Pat. No. 7,017,213 A proposes a support comprising two elements offset longitudinally and transversely, with a first pillow element on which the head rests, and a second element placed along the body.
• the two elements are each wedge-shaped, but with an opposite inclination, so as to define two different inclined planes, one for the body and the other for the head.
• US 6,047,420 A describes another type of support adapted to a ventral decubitus position, comprising an element capable of supporting the head at the forehead, supplemented by support elements at the level of the lugs.
• the space between the forehead and the neck is held at a distance above the support surface, so that air can circulate around the subject's face.
• these supports which are mainly designed for hospital use, are uncomfortable and not suitable for everyday use, for a sleeper seeking above all comfort in a ventral position 3/4 night.
• the invention proposes a new type of body cushion specifically adapted to a resting or sleeping position in which the body of the subject is turned towards the ground or the mattress.
• the starting point of the invention lies in the recognition that, to ensure support morphologically adapted to this particular position, it is not essential that the cushion supports the head, contrary to what one might suppose.
• One of the essential characteristics of the cushion of the invention is, as will be seen, not to support the head of the subject.
• the cushion of the invention is a piece of bedding of the general type disclosed by US 4,574,412 A aforesaid, that is to say in the form of asymmetric substantially flat body cushion comprising a deformable envelope filled with a flexible lining.
• This cushion is adapted to be interposed between the elongated body of a subject and a surface, such as the face of a mattress or the floor, supporting the body of the subject, and it comprises two adjoining parts connected by one of their respective edges, each of these portions extending continuously within a substantially rectangular or rounded contour.
• a first portion has an extended shape in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the body of the subject, while a second portion extends the lower portion proximal side, the second portion having an elongated shape extending in a transverse direction asymmetrically by compared to the lower part.
• the cushion is adapted to be used the subject being extended on the support surface in 3/4 ventral position, and it is essentially devoid of part able to support the head of the subject.
• the first part is a lower part adapted to support a lower limb, right or left, of the subject, while the second part is a truncular portion able to support the ipsilateral side of the subject's thorax and its ipsilateral upper limb, and the distal edge, in the longitudinal direction, of the truncular portion forms support edge for the upper chest of the subject.
• the cushion of the present invention is essentially characterized by:
• second part is intended to support the subject's thorax and its ipsilateral upper limb: this characteristic justifies the designation "truncular part", the upper edge of this truncular part thus forming the supporting edge for the subject's upper chest (and not the head of the subject);
• first part or “lower part”
• second part the rest of the cushion
• the cushion has no thickness discontinuity at the region of connection between the truncular portion and the lower portion;
• the thickness of the cushion is substantially constant over the entire extent of the lower portion and the truncular portion;
• the ratio between the average thickness of the cushion and the average transverse width of the truncular portion is 1: 3 ⁇ 20%;
• the truncular portion extends transversely essentially on one side only with respect to the lower part; the edge of the truncular portion opposite said side connects without discontinuity to the adjoining edge of the lower part, these edges preferably being rectilinear and aligned;
• the ratio between the mean length of the lower part and the average length of the truncular part is 60:50 ⁇ 20%;
• the lower part connects to the adjacent region of the truncular part forming a width discontinuity in the transverse direction;
• the width of the lower part and / or of the truncular part is substantially constant;
• the ratio between the mean width of the lower part and the average width of the truncular part is 1: 2 ⁇ 20%;
• the width of the cushion may be continuously decreasing in a transverse direction from the truncular portion to the lower portion, and / or the truncular portion has a substantially rounded shape.
• the invention also relates to a method of positioning an elongate subject on a support surface, such as the face of a mattress or the floor, with the interposition of a body cushion as above, where the subject performs the steps of: a) arranging the cushion longitudinally against its body, placing the head beyond the truncular portion; b) slide one half, right or left, of the cushion under his thorax to assume a 3/4 ventral position; c) overlap the lower part by the ipsilateral lower limb and cross the proximal part of the inferior part. by the inner side of the thigh; and d) resting the cheek on the support surface.
• Figure 1 is a plan view of a body cushion according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• Figure 2 illustrates how to place head-to-tail two identical cushions similar to that shown in Figure 1, when these cushions are not used.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cushion of Figure 1, showing the thickness thereof.
• Figure 4 is a variant of the cushion of Figure 1, wherein it is achieved by means of two elements enclosed in a common pillow.
• Figure 5 illustrates another embodiment of the cushion of the invention.
• Figures 6a and 6b illustrate two ways of arranging one another two identical cushions similar to that shown in Figure 5, when these cushions are not used.
• Figures 7 to 9 show, in different views, the manner in which the cushion of Figure 1 is used, with the subject lying in ventral position 3/4.
• Figure 10 shows a possibility of using the cushion of Figure 1 as support in reading position.
• FIG. 1 to 3 there is illustrated an embodiment of a cushion according to the teachings of the invention.
• the body cushion or body pillow 10 is constituted of a single piece, with two adjoining parts 12, 14 separable or not.
• the first part, hereinafter referred to as "the lower part” 12 has an elongated shape, intended for the installation of the lower limb (thigh, knee, leg and / or foot, depending on the flexion of the limb) of the subject.
• the second part hereinafter referred to as "truncular portion" 14, which extends the proximal lower part, is intended for the installation of the trunk as well as the ipsilateral upper limb of the subject (ie the right arm if it is the right leg which rests on the lower part, or the left arm and the left leg in a symmetrical position).
• the truncular portion 14 has a first region 16 in the extension of the lower portion 12, and another region 18 extending the region 16 in the transverse direction, asymmetrically with respect to the lower portion.
• the respective edges 20, 22 of the lower and truncular portions 12 on the side opposite to the region 18 are substantially rectilinear and aligned, that is to say in the transverse direction the truncular portion 14 protrudes laterally.
• this configuration is not limiting, and one could also envisage a configuration in which the truncular portion 14 comprises an overlying region opposite to the region 18, thus giving rise to to the cushion assembly 10 an asymmetric T-shaped general configuration, instead of a generally L-shaped configuration.
• each of the lower 12 and truncular 14 portions are surfaces which extend continuously into the limits of an outline devoid of local concavity, that is to say that this contour, substantially rectangular in the example of Figure 1, defines for the entire cushion n bodily a general shape in L or T asymmetrical, but not U, J or S.
• the cushion is typically made from an envelope defining the illustrated form, filled with a suitable lining.
• the envelope may be of fabric, plastic or leather, or any other material depending on the specific use sought, and function of the practical indication of comfort and / or health.
• the lining is also variable according to the use. It could be foam, water, balls, ..., the material most adapted to the comfort of a European sleeper is the goose down or down, or equivalent lining, for reasons of consistency, thermal regulation, morphological adaptation, volumetric memory after use and lightness.
• the two lower portions 12 and truncular 14 advantageously have, in longitudinal direction, respective lengths Li and Lj in an average ratio of 6: 5, regardless of the total length L of the cushion.
• the width tj of the truncal part 14 is about twice the width l ⁇ of the bottom 12.
• the thickness e (FIG 3) is variable for the different models but, for the same model, it is preferably approximately constant over the entire extent of the body cushion 10 (except of course in the vicinity of the edges).
• the thickness is preferably one third of the width Ij of the truncular portion 14.
• the subject's size, age, weight or condition pregnant woman
• sex possible medical pathology (orthopedic, respiratory or neurological), disability or possible impairment
• the volume of the body cushion of the invention is remarkable for its asymmetry.
• this asymmetry can be used, as shown in Figure 2, by bringing head to tail two identical cushions 10, 10 'so as to match and -s'emboîter in one another the two respective contours 24, 24 'connecting the lower part to the truncular part.
• the cushion of the invention is obtained by combining a first elongated element 32 corresponding to a half-bolster 30 in a common envelope, and an approximately square element 34 corresponding to a 50 x pillow. 50 cm classic.
• the cushion is then constituted by the cover 10 enveloping these two elements 32, 34.
• Various shape variants can also be envisaged, such as that illustrated in FIG. 5 and FIGS. 6a and 6b.
• the cushion 10 has an approximate half-heart shape, with a truncular portion 14 whose outer contour 26 is rounded, and is connected to an outline 24 of the lower portion 12 also rounded, without discontinuity.
• the edges 20, 22 of the two lower portions 12 and truncular 14 are substantially rectilinear and aligned.
• FIG. 6a Two identical elements 10, 10 'can be joined either head-to-tail, to give an elongated bolster-shaped assembly as shown in FIG. 6a, or else by placing their respective straight edge side by side, giving the whole a shape of a heart, such as illustrated in Figure 6b.
• FIGS. 7 to 9 show an elongate subject in a ventral position, with interposition between him and the mattress of a body cushion such as that illustrated in Figure 1.
• the subject 36 is placed laterally against the greatest length of the lower portion 12; it encompasses the truncular portion 14 of its ipsilateral arm 38 (the right arm in Figures 7 to 9) and slides about half of this truncular portion 14 under his chest.
• the ipsilateral lower limb 40 (the right leg in the example of Figures 7 to 9) overlaps the lower portion 12, the inner face of the left thigh 42 intersecting the proximal portion of the lower portion 12.
• Flexion hip is a function of the subject's desire. Its face 44 is placed just above the upper edge 46 of the truncular portion 14 of the cushion, and rests directly on the mattress or other support, the contact being a direct contact on the cheek without interposition of the cushion, which supports the neck but not the head.
• the body cushion of the invention has many advantages, including:
• the cushion allows the subject to continue sleeping face down on the stomach, as long as possible throughout his life;
• a subsidiary advantage of the invention, illustrated in Figure 10, is the possibility of using it as a reading cushion in the semi-sitting position on the bed, the truncular portion 14 being used in the same way as a pillow for the rest of the patient's back, while the lower part 12 serves to rest the arm.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nursing (AREA)
• Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
• Bedding Items (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=39493818

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Families Citing this family (16)

Family Cites Families (16)

• 2007
  • 2007-10-24 FR FR0707442A patent/FR2922737B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2008
  • 2008-10-08 WO PCT/FR2008/001405 patent/WO2009080918A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2008-10-08 US US12/733,305 patent/US20100281617A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2008-10-08 EP EP08864338A patent/EP2227117A2/de not_active Withdrawn

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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