GB2518016A

GB2518016A - Travel comfort Aid

Info

Publication number: GB2518016A
Application number: GB1320175.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Raymond Quayle
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-24
Filing date: 2013-11-15
Publication date: 2015-03-11
Also published as: GB201320175D0; GB201313241D0

Abstract

The invention provides a travel comfort aid comprising a mat B that unrolls and is attached to an existing seat, such as in a car or plane, for travellers. The mat is intended to provide a head support, lumbar support and leg support for a person sat in the seat. The mat may include a lumbar support cushion A for the lower back, and a bi-stable sheet C that supports the legs. The lumbar support may also include side supports D. A head support may include a sling (E, figure 2) and a chin strap (G), so as take some of the load of the persons head. The sling may be adjustable (F) in length so as to accommodate different size seats. The mat may be secured to the existing seat back by means of an adjustable clamp (H, figure 3). When not required, the mat and its various cushions and supports may be rolled up and stored in a piece of luggage.

Description

Travel Comfort Aid Incorporating leg, lumbar, and headf neck support.

Background

During travel passengers are required to sit still for extended periods of time. The pressures and forces from awkward positions can result in restricted blood flow. One of the biggest harms to passenger's biological system from prolonged sitting is the build-up of pressure in the blood vessels in the lower legs.

These pressures and forces can lead to pain occurring in the back, neck, and legs, and can occur even if the passenger is travelling in a comfortable car or is a business class user.

They can also occur during any travel, i.e. ground transport such as buses and trains, air travel such as planes, and private travel such as cars.

Although seats are designed to provide a certain level of comfort, they are simple in construction to keep vehicle production costs down and rarely supply enough comfort for all passengers, and are rarely designed with human ergonomics in mind.

There have been 2 schools of thought in recent times to improve the situation. The first has been to re-design the seats themselves, but this is unpractical because it includes the cost required to retro-fit the vehicle with new seating, and usually an increased floor space per seat; resulting in less seats to be sold by the operator.

The second is provide a device such as a travel pillow in order for the traveller to gain additional support from the existing seats, some of these have been successful in being portable and providing comfort to an area of the body; but to date none of them have successfully provided an holistic integrated support for the legs, lower back, and neck! head.

Statement of Invention

The proposed invention will take the take the mechanical strain off the user's neck by supporting the weight of the head, maintain the normal "S line" curve of the spine by providing additional support to the neck, and provide mechanical support to take the load off the legs.

All this will be incorporated into a design that does not have any negative affect on the portability of the invention.

Description

The invention will now be demonstrated by referring to the enclosed drawings.

Figure 1 shows the main components and assembly from the side and then the front views.

They are as follows: A. Padded lumbar support.

B. The leg support.

C. The bi stable structure contained within the leg support.

D. Side support components of lumbar support.

Figure 2 shows the head sling, used to support the head and neck. Its components are as follows: E. Head sling.

F. Height! Distance adjusters (Tn-slides! Toggles).

G. Chin Pad.

Figure 3 shows the adjustment mechanisms for making the device locate correctly on different sized seats. It consists of: H. Thickness adjuster ratchet slide.

I. Thickness adjuster ratchet release buttons.

1. The travel aid itself.

Figure 4 shows the device stowed in a piece of luggage when not in use.

K. Luggage! Holdall.

L. Invention in its rolled up configuration.

Figure 5 is intended to show the 2 options of the roll up properties of the invention.

NI. Traditional bi stable structure in its out stretched position.

N. Traditional bi stable structure in its rolled up configuration.

0. Roller of Roller Blind structure.

P. Roller blind in its outstretched position.

Q. Retaining Peg.

R. Retaining hook.

S. Roller blind in its rolled up position.

The invention's scope of design is provide an upright bed for the user, and is constructed of 3 main components connected by a fabric backing (B) that is the width of the chair. The components are a lumbar support (A), a leg support (C), and a head sling (E).

It is not important whether the lumbar support (A) is constructed from a solid cushion or an inflatable one, but it is important that if it is a solid cushion it compresses to allow the device to roll up for storage (K).

Similarly, if the lumbar support is constructed by means of an inflatable cushion, it will be inflated during use then deflated for transport by means of the user's lungs and a valve such as that used on a lift jacket, or inflatable dingy.

The main function of the lumbar support (A) is to maintain to the S shape of the users spine and by providing additional support to the lower back. It also provides additional support to keep the spine from twisting during rest or transport and sliding of the user by means 2 of side supports (D) in the form of a bucket seat used in motor sports.

The leg support (C) is to lift the user's legs of the ground and is constructed from a bi-stable mechanism. A bi-stable structure is one that is only mechanically stable (rigid) in 2 directions such as a builder's tape measure or a snap bracelet. This allows to device to hold a rolled up position (K) or straight (L) load! leg bearing position.

The bi-stable structure can take 2 forms. Either a single sheet that has been pre-stressed in the same manner as a tape measure that can be stable both when rolled up and open(M, N), or a mechanical device such as a roller blind found fitted to windows(P,S).

The roller blind mechanism option would be rolled up during transport (5), and open during use (P). The means to open the roller blind mechanism option would be for the user to pull the hook down to a retaining peg (Q) located on the side of the leg support (C) and the secure it in place using the retaining hook (R).

In the event that the invention is fitted to a chair back that is longer or shorter in nature then the height of the invention can be modified accordingly using the tn-slide buckle identical to that used on a ruck sack or parachute (F).

In the event that the invention is fitted to a chair back that is wider or thicker or thicker in nature then the width of the top of the invention (]) can be adjusted in order to provide a firm clamp. This is done using a push button release mechanism the same as the fitting on a construction workers hard hat or a cycling helmet. A clamping ratchet (H) is released by pushing in and holding in the two buttons (I) and then sliding the ratchet to the required position and then releasing them.

The invention is stowed for transport by rolling it up (L) and storing in a piece of luggage (K) and carried onto the transport vehicle in compliance with the single piece of carry on luggage requirement of air travel. In the event that the user is not using any carry on luggage it can be transported in a neoprene draw string bag supplied in the initial packaging.

Also supplied with the invention is a head sling (E) that supports the chin and takes the weight of the neck. It is also attached through the tn-slide buckle (F) and adjusted by the user until it provides a comfortable position for their head relative to the chair back. The sling is constructed of a comfortable material such as fleece and also includes a chin pad (C) to make it as comfortable as possible for the user.

Another component for the invention is a strap with a corresponding buckle on both ends and a tn-slide in the centre. This adjustable strap is to be used by larger persons to provide additional support if necessary

Claims

Claims 1. A travel comfort aid will take the take the form of a mat that takes the mechanical strain off the user's neck by supporting the weight of the head, provides additional support to the back by means of a cushion, and provide mechanical support to take the load off the legs; at the same time as rolling up for easy transportation.
2. The travel comfort aid according to claim 1 is intended for use any transport vehicle seat or public seating, such as in departure lounges.
3. The travel comfort aid according to claim 1 can be adjusted in its height and width to fix to different size chairs by means of adjustment straps and or mechanical ratchets.
4. The travel comfort aid according to claim 1 takes the take the mechanical strain off the user's neck by supporting the weight of their head using a padded sling that fits under the users chin and attaches to the chair it is resting on.
5. The travel comfort aid according to claim 1 maintains the normal "S line" curve of the user's spine using a lumbar cushion attached to the said mat at a position that corresponds to the position of the base of the existing chair back.
6. The travel comfort aid according to claim 1 provides mechanical support to take the load off the user's legs by means of a bi-stable structure attached to the bottom of said mat.
7. The travel comfort aid according to claim 1 can be rolled up and stowed in a single piece of luggage in compliance with single hand luggage aviation rules.
8. The bi-stable structure according to claim 6 is mechanically rigid in both the rolled up and unrolled configurations.