GB2433434A

GB2433434A - Travellers torso rest

Info

Publication number: GB2433434A
Application number: GB0601457A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gordon Blackwood Hamilton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-21
Filing date: 2006-01-24
Publication date: 2007-06-27
Also published as: GB2433435A; GB0526079D0; GB0601457D0; BRPI0620235A2; RU2008124147A; GB0615985D0; MY144686A; RU2418561C2; HK1118681A1; ZA200805128B

Abstract

A collapsible support for seated travellers comprises an inclined rest surface (A,B) that supports substantially all of the weight of the upper torso of a person when leaning forward. The rest surface (A,B) can be flat, contoured or sectional and is specially designed to provide direct support for the upper torso, head and arms. The support device may be freestanding with height adjustable legs (C,D) connected to the floor, the seat or both. Linkages may also allow the support to be coupled to the occupied seat, or the seat in front, or suspended from a ceiling. The material of the support surface may be man-made or natural, and be rigid, pliant or deformable. The rest surface may be adorned with padding or cushions. The support may collapse and be attached to a briefcase. The support could be an integral part of a piece of luggage. The inclined rest surface allows the traveller to adopt a comfortable sleeping position.

Description

I

Traveller's Torso Rest Surface The Invention The invention relates to a device that will allow a passenger travelling, say, on an overnight journey, to sleep comfortably in a seated position by supporting the weight of the upper torso (the largest and heaviest element of the body's parts). This state is achieved for the traveller by resting his/her upper torso forward onto an inclined, stably supported Torso Rest Surface', stretching from the waist to the head and, approximately, of shoulder width.

The key element of the invention is that, by supporting the upper torso, it frees the following body elements: head, arms, lower torso, and thighs from bearing any transmitted weight from adjacent, or other body elements and leaves them to support only their own weight.

What the invention achieves In a seated position the ability of this device to support the upper torso area of the body, the largest and heaviest element of the body's parts, has a number of effects that simulate the ideal or optimum sleeping position; which is lying flat on a bed.

As illustration: The key distinction of the flat on a bed', ideal sleeping position is that: X. Each body element in the horizontal resting position: head; arms; upper torso; lower torso (hips and buttocks); thighs; and lower leg, supports only its own weight.

Benefits ensuing are: a. Minimisation of stresses transmitted through joints and musculature.

b. Minimisation of contact pressure between each body element and its supporting surface (the bed).

Pressure is influenced by weight and the weight here is of the body element alone and is not materially influenced by the weight of adjacent body elements.

Compare this with the discomfort felt by sleeping in a non horizontal position (e.g. seated) where the key distinction of ideal sleeping (X.

above) is missing. The key distinction of non-horizontal sleeping is, therefore, that: Y. Some body elements are required to support each other, wholly or partially.

Problems ensuing are: a. Additional weight stresses are transmitted through joints and musculature.

(e.g. muscles and spine transmit most of the weight of the head and arms to the upper torso and thence from the upper torso to the lower torso and thighs.) b. Additional contact pressure is created between some body elements and their supporting surfaces due to transmitted weight from adjacent body elements.

(e.g. the lower torso (buttocks) and thighs carry the extra weight of the upper torso, head and arms which is translated into increased contact pressure between them and the supporting seat base.) Various contortions can be adopted by the seated traveller to alleviate the stresses and strains: * Leaning the head, upper torso, and arms against the seat back and head rests in various ways.

* Leaning the head, upper torso, and arms against the seat arms.

* Leaning the head, upper torso and arms on one's own thighs and knees.

* Leaning the head and/or shoulders and/or arms on the seat in front or some other support.

All of these methods involve weight transfer between body elements, e.g. upper torso to head; upper torso to arms; upper torso to lower torso, and the associated joint and musculature stresses. Consequently they do not satisfy the key distinction of the ideal sleeping position identified earlier (X.

above): "Each body element. . . supports only its own weight".

None of these methods prevent the upper torso weight, the heaviest individual element of the human body, from bearing down on other body elements: head, arms, lower torso, and thighs and thereby increasing pressure on these body elements and transmitting support stresses through joints and musculature.

The stably supported Torso Rest Surface', however, supports the weight of the upper torso, in a near horizontal resting position, as lying flat in a bed in the ideal sleeping position would do, and thereby eliminates any transmitted joint and musculature stress between the upper torso and the head, the upper torso and the arms, and the upper torso and the lower torso, and also eliminates the upper torso weight supported by these body elements, and therefore the pressure bourn, by the head, arms, lower torso (buttocks) and thighs.

The Torso Rest Surface' supports the weight of the upper torso because: * it is under the upper torso.

* it is stably supported which is to say it will stand on its own support(s) and does not require the users body to counterbalance it.

* the coefficient of static friction, between the torso and the surface, negates any down-slope pressure due to the small incline of the surface.

In short the Torso Rest Surface', by supporting the upper torso, allows the head, arms, lower torso and thighs to support only their own weight. A scenario which comes close to satisfying the key distinction of the ideal sleeping position identified earlier (X. above): "Each body element. . . supports only its own weight".

A defining feature of the Torso Rest Surface' is that for someone in a seated position, the support of the upper torso in a resting position by the Torso Rest Surface' largely eliminates weight transfer stresses between body elements thereby allowing each body element to support only its own weight.

Technical features of the invention The Torso Rest Surface' is stably supported by means of: a) Leg(s) connecting the Torso Rest Surface' to the floor, leg(s) connecting the Torso Rest Surface' to the occupied seat, or a combination of both these (a free-standing Torso Rest Surface').

This leg or these legs will be capable of being folded and stowed in or against the body of the Torso Rest Surface' or being detachable and stowed in or against the body of the Torso Rest Surface'. The leg(s) may be adjustable for length to set the height of the torso rest surface.

b) Linkage(s) between the Torso Rest Surface' and the occupied seat, or the roof, or the seat in front, or a combination of such linkages (a suspended Torso Rest Surface'). The linkage or linkages may be fixed or detachable and if detachable they may be stowed in or against the body of the Torso Rest Surface'.

For example, a fixed linkage might be a hinge to the seat in front allowing the Torso Rest Surface' to fold against it when not in use or a detachable link could be a hook to the seat in front.

The linkages(s) may be adjustable to set the height of the torso rest surface.

c) A combination of legs and linkages as described in a) and b) respectively.

The material of the Torso Rest Surface' may be: a) Man-made or natural.

b) Rigid, pliant or deformable.

For example, it could be constructed using lightweight metal, or injection moulded plastic, or canvas within a metal or plastic frame, or using an inflatable membrane. The Torso Rest Surface' may be adorned with padding or cushions to facilitate comfort or, in a simpler form, left bare to allow the users to provide their own form of cushions.

The design of the Torso Rest Surface' may be: a) One piece and flat, in its simplest form.

b) One piece and contoured, to allow for the sympathetic, ergonomic positioning of the upper torso, head and arms in relation to one another.

c) Sectional. Like the flat or contoured design but comprising more than one piece so that the tilting sections of the surface allow for the sympathetic, ergonomic positioning of the upper torso, head and arms in relation to one another (see drawings for an example of this).

Objectives of invention An object of this invention is to provide the traveller with a stably supported Torso Rest Surface' that substantially supports the weight of his/her upper torso and thereby eliminates or significantly reduces weight transfer from the upper torso to other body elements: head, arms, lower torso and thighs.

Another object of this invention is to provide the traveller with a lightweight, portable, supported Torso Rest Surface' for his/her upper torso, for use with any kind of seat.

Another object is to allow the lightweight, compact nature of the device to be exploited by incorporating the device into other useful artefacts of the traveller e.g. the side of a suitcase could be detached to form the Torso Rest Surface' or the moulded spine of a back-pack could be utilised as the Torso Rest Surface'.

A further objective is to exploit the incorporation of the Torso Rest Surface' into the design of passenger seating so that the Torso Rest Surface' folds/swings out of the occupied seat or the seat in front. In this embodiment of the invention the inclined Torso Rest Surface' would also play a positive role in passenger safety as a body restraint and support in the event of an accident.

Introduction to drawings

One manifestation of such a Traveller's Torso Rest Surface' design is shown in FIGURES 1,2,3, 4, and 5. This manifestation represents a free-standing, sectional, flat surface design, the main section of which supports the upper torso and two, subsidiary, side sections of which, towards the front, fold down to allow the arms to be positioned below the torso for comfort. There are two short folding legs at the rear (which may be adjustable for length) and one telescopic leg at the front.

The FIGURES 1,2 and 3 show the side view of a seat occupied by a passenger using this manifestation of the Traveller's Torso Rest Surface.

Figures 4 and 5 show a plan view, from above, of the same scenario.

FIGURES 1 and 4 -in the interests of clarity and to avoid confusion with the elements of the invention, FIGURES 1 and 4 (plan view of 1) highlights the elements of the seat and the passenger only: I -Seat back.

2-Seat base.

3 -Seat legs.

4-Passenger's head.

-Passenger's upper torso.

6 -Passenger's lower torso (hips, pelvis).

7-Passenger's thighs.

8 -Passenger's calves.

9 -Passenger's feet.

10-Passenger's upper arm.

11 -Passenger's lower arm.

FIGURE 2 -highlights the structural elements of this manifestation of the invention: A -The torso rest surface.

B -The fold down sections (one on each side) of the torso rest surface which positions the arms under the torso for comfort.

C -The front leg (central) supporting the torso rest surface and by means of E (the cross piece for locating the arm positioners) locating the fold down sections B (the fold down arm positioners). This leg folds out of the body A (the torso rest surface) and is telescopic to reach the floor.

D -The rear legs (one on each side) supporting the torso rest surface. These legs fold out of the body A (the torso rest surface) and rest on the seat base.

E -a cross piece, attached to C (the front leg), that swivels from the vertical plane of C to the horizontal plane (forming a cross with C) thereby locating the fold down sections B (the fold down arm positioners) when in use.

FIGURE 3 -highlights the connections between the structural elements of this manifestation of the invention: L -A hinge allowing sections B (the fold down arm positioners) to fold flat against A (the torso rest surface).

M -A hinge allowing C (the front leg) to fold flat against A (the torso rest surface).

N -A hinge allowing D (the rear legs) to fold flat against A (the torso rest surface).

0 -A telescopic joint allowing C (the front leg) to adjust to the best height for supporting A (the torso rest surface) at the optimum incline. The telescopic joint also allows C (the front leg) to shorten sufficiently to allow it to fold flat against A (the torso rest surface).

P -A swivel joint to allow E (the cross piece for locating the arm positioners) to rotate from the vertical to the horizontal when in use.

FIGURE 5, plan view -highlights, from the plan view perspective, some of the structural elements and connections of this manifestation of the invention: A The torso rest surface.

L -Hinges allowing sections B (the fold down arm positioners) to fold flat against A (the torso rest surface).

In this manifestation of the invention the Traveller's Torso Rest Surface takes the form of an inverted, shallow tray approximately 40-45 cm wide, 50-60 cm long and 2-3 cm deep. The top of the inverted tray' is the Torso Rest Surface'. Inside the inverted tray are the fold down elements of the two rear legs (D) and the front, telescopic leg (C) with crosspiece (E). Two integral sections of the tray', one on each side, are hinged and can fold down, at an angle to the main body of the tray' to form arm rests below the level of the upper torso.

In its folded form the tray-like Traveller's Torso Rest Surface could be attached to the side of a suitcase or large briefcase for ease of carriage or be an integral part of a bespoke piece of luggage.

When in use the legs are folded out and support the entire Torso Rest Surface'. The two rear legs rest on your seat on each side of your pelvis and the front leg rests on the floor.

Additional information The above manifestation of the invention, along the lines of Claim 7, was chosen as the drawing because the straight line, sectional nature of the manifestation lent itself to clarity of illustration. For information and to aid visualisation of the design possibilities of the invention an attempt will follow to describe another manifestation. This manifestation would incorporate a moulded, one piece Torso Rest Surface', along the lines of Claim 6. In a relatively simple moulded form this would be like an inverted, triangular, shallow basin (with blunt corners). The base of the triangle would span the hips to allow the short rear legs to deploy, and the point would be towards the head and incorporate the forward extendable leg. The upper torso would be supported by the central body of the inverted basin (perhaps further moulded to fit the chest area better) and the ancillary arm positioner would be along the inverted lip of the basin (enlarged to arm like diameter).

Claims

Claims 1. A device comprising a stably supported', flat or contoured or

sectional Torso Rest Surface' on which to support the weight of the upper torso whilst occupying a seat, thereby removing the transmission, by leverage and gravity, of upper torso weight through the head, arms, lower torso, and thighs, thereby, allowing the head, arms, lower torso, and thighs to support nothing but their own weight.

2. A device as claimed in Claim! where the Torso Rest Surface' is free standing and is stablysupported by leg(s) between the Torso Rest Surface' and the floor and the Torso Rest Surface' and the occupied seat or a combination of both.

3. A device as claimed in Claim I where the Torso Rest Surface' is suspended and is stably supported by linkage(s) between the Torso Rest Surface' and the occupied seat, or the Torso Rest Surface' and the roof, or the Torso Rest Surface' and the seat in front, or a combination of these.

4. A device as claimed in preceding claims where the Torso Rest Surface' is stably supported by any combination of leg(s) (Claim 2) and linkage(s) (Claim 3).

5. A device as claimed in preceding claims where the supports may be adjustable for length to allow the height of the Torso Rest Surface' to be adjusted.

6. A device as claimed in preceding claims where the Torso Rest Surface' is flat and provides upper torso support and ancillary support for head and arms on the same surface plane.

7. A device as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 where the Torso Rest Surface' is contoured to provide ergonomically appropriate shapes and planes primarily for upper torso support but also for the attendant ergonomic positioning of head and arms.

8. A device as claimed in previous claims where the Torso Rest Surface' is comprised of different sections, the main section being for upper torso support and the ancillary, fold out sections for ergonomic positioning of head andlor arms.

9. A device as claimed in preceding claims where the Torso Rest Surface' is adorned with padding or cushions to facilitate comfort.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows: Claims 1. A device comprising a one piece, flat or contoured or sectional Torso Rest Surface' providing stable, direct support for the upper torso, head and arms of the user and which achieves the required stability and direct support by using two or more separate supports, arranged to ensure that the Torso Rest Surface' is not cantilevered in the fore and aft plane.

2. A device as claimed in Claiml where the Torso Rest Surface' is free standing and the stable supports are legs between the Torso Rest Surface' and the floor or the Torso Rest Surface' and the occupied seat or a combination of both.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 where the Torso Rest Surface' is suspended and the stable supports are linkages between the Torso Rest Surface' and the occupied seat, or the Torso Rest Surface' and the roof, or the Torso Rest Surface' and the seat in front, or any combination of these.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 2 and Claim 3 where the Torso Rest Surface' is stably supported by any combination of leg(s) (Claim 2) and linkage(s) (Claim 3).

5. A device as claimed in Claims 2-4 where the leg(s) and/or linkage(s) may be adjustable for length to allow the height of the Torso Rest Surface' to be adjusted.

6. A device as claimed in preceding claims where the Torso Rest Surface' is flat and provides upper torso support and ancillary support for head and arms on the same surface plane.

7. A device as claimed in claims 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 where the Torso Rest Surface' is contoured to provide ergonomically appropriate shapes and planes primarily for upper torso support but also for the attendant ergonomic positioning of head and arms.

8. A device as claimed in previous claims where the Torso Rest Surface' is comprised of different sections, the main section being for upper torso support and the ancillary, fold out sections for ergonomic positioning of head and/or arms.

9. A device as claimed in preceding claims where the Torso Rest Surface' is adorned with padding or cushions to facilitate comfort.