IL112296A - Limb-supporting device - Google Patents

Description

■Q'N ηηιηπ ΐϊππ A LIMB-SUPPORTING DEVICE The present invention relates to a limb support device, intended for use under the upper leg of a person sleeping or resting on his side.

The invention provides means to achieve an anatomically correct sleeping posture, such posture being of particular importance in preventing or alleviating the onset of back pain.

Although people spend about a quarter of their lives resting or sleeping in bed, a comfortable and healthy sleeping position is not easily obtained. Babies sleep comfortably on their backs or stomachs, but most adults prefer to sleep on their sides, despite the fact that this posture entails either some twisting of the spine and the hip joint if the legs are not superposed or parallel, and, if the legs are superposed, the upper leg additionally tends to restrict blood circulation in the lower leg.

Doctors recommend that during sleep the spinal cord should be straight, when viewed from the back of the sleeping person. Such a recommendation has long been exploited by manufacturers of mattresses, who vie with each other in advertising that the users of their products will achieve such a posture. However, much depends not only on the mattress, but also on the bed. Too hard a bed causes the spine to form a shallow S-shape; too soft a bed causes the spine to form a shallow U-shape. Correct support allows the spine to remain straight, as viewed from the back.

Special consideration is often needed for those recovering from injury, elderly people, pregnant women, burn victims, and particularly those people who suffer from back pain. 2 112,296/2 A further consideration concerns movement during sleep. Such movement inevitably takes place, and plays a significant role in ensuring that all body limbs are rested and that good blood circulation is maintained even during those hours of reduced cardiac activity. However, a person during sleep is not aware of his natural movements in the bed, and therefore moves from what might be a correct sleeping position to an incorrect, harmful one.

U.S. Patent 5,103,518 describes and claims a device for use between a mattress and a bed-ridden person, for the prevention of bed sores. The device comprises an alternating pressure pad, defined by two separate sets of interdigitated, transverse, inflatable body support chambers which are alternately inflated and deflated. Pads for the leg and foot section are included, but the device is too cumbersome for use by those who are not confined to bed for long periods.

Knee pads are known for protecting the knees from injury and/or to strengthen the knee joint in instances of knee problems. However, even if one were to try to rotate such a known knee pad in order to achieve the effect, taught for the first time by the present invention, of separating the legs while a person rests on his side, such knee pads and knee joint protectors do not have the thickness required to achieve a correct spinal posture.

Bearing in mind the above-described state of the art, the present invention provides a cushioned, limb-supporting device for use under the upper leg of a person at rest on a side opposite said limb, said device comprising a compressible, substantially flat, cushioned pad having an uncompressed thickness of at least 4 cm and having a dimension along an axis thereof of at least 11 cm, said device being provided with means for attachment of said 3 112,296/2 cushioned pad only under said upper leg adjacent to the inner side of the knee area thereof, while enabling free movement of said leg.

It will be realized that the device of the present invention, once positioned, does not interfere with the natural movement of the body in sleep, whether the person turns on his back, his side, or his stomach.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cushioned, limb-supporting device wherein the means for attachment comprises a pair of spaced- apart straps.

While a pad having an uncompressed thickness of at least 4 cm can be effectively used in the present invention, preferably, a thicker pad, having an uncompressed thickness of at least 7 cm, is provided for use by older children or small adults; average size or large adults are better served by a pad having an uncompressed thickness of between 8-15 cm. The shape of the pad may be rectangular, circular or oval.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, said cushion is rectangular in shape, having a width of at least 11 cm and a length of at least 3 cm, and especially preferred is a cushion having a width of at least 13 cm and a length of at least 15 cm.

In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a set of two cushioned, limb- supporting devices including a first device as described above and a second, similar device arranged for use in combination with the first device, said second device comprising a second pillow with attachment means configured to support the ankle area of the user.

The invention will now be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments with reference to the following illustrative figures so that it may be more fully understood.

With specific reference now to the figures in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a perspective, partially fragmented view of a preferred embodiment of the limb-supporting device of the present invention, shown in use; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment which extends to the ankle area; Fig. 3 is a front view of an open device of the invention, provided with attachment straps, and Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment in use, comprising a set of two cushioned, limb-supporting devices.

Referring now to the drawings, there is seen in Fig. 1 a cushioned, limb-supporting device 10 for elevating the upper leg 12 of a person at rest on a side opposite said upper leg. The device 10 comprises a compressible, cushioned pad 14 having an uncompressed thickness of at least 4 cm and having a dimension along an axis thereof of at least 11 cm. The device shown in Fig. 1 is in fact of rectangular shape, having a width of 16 cm and a length of 20 cm.

Pad 14 is filled with a light-weight, resilient material such as acrylic fiber, sponge, latex, feathers, or polyester or cotton batting, or can even be filled with air or silicone to achieve the desired effect.

Device 10 is provided with means 16 for attachment to a person's leg, adjacent to the inner side of the knee area 18. In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment means comprise a pair of spaced-apart straps 16, as shown in greater detail with reference to Fig. 3.

Each strap 16 is provided with a pair of matching velcro-type fastening strips 34, 36. One strip 34 on each of the straps 16 has sufficient length to allow adjustment of the diameter of the closed strap to suit the leg size of the user, thereby allowing free blood flow through the leg to which the device is attached.

With reference to Fig. 2, there is illustrated a cushioned, limb-supporting device 24 which extends from adjacent the knee area 18 to adjacent the ankle area 26 of the user. Device 24 provides even support along the length of the upper leg 12. By distributing the weight, pressure on the blood vessels is reduced and the blood in the user's legs is able to flow unobstructed. Device 24 is held on the user's leg by means of three straps 16 attached to a face of the device.

Fig. 3 illustrates device 10 in the open position.

Fig. 4 depicts a first device 10 in combination with a second, similar but smaller, device 40, which is configured to support the ankle area 26 of the user. In combination, the two devices act to support the entire lower portion of upper leg 12. However, the user retains the option of using each device separately, as desired.

It will be evident to those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the details of the foregoing illustrated embodiments and that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims (8)

7 112,296/2 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A cushioned, limb-supporting device for use under the upper leg of a person at rest on a side opposite said limb, said device comprising a compressible, substantially flat, cushioned pad having an uncompressed thickness of at least 4 cm and having a dimension along an axis thereof of at least 11 cm, said device being provided with means for attachment of said cushioned pad only under said upper leg adjacent to the inner side of the knee area thereof, while enabling free movement of said leg.

2. A cushioned, limb-supporting device according to claim 1 , which extends from adjacent the knee area to adjacent the ankle area of the user.

3. A cushioned, limb-supporting device according to claim 1 , wherein said pad has an uncompressed thickness of at least 7 cm.

4. A cushioned, limb-supporting device according to claim 1 , wherein said pad has an uncompressed thickness of between 8-15 cm.

5. A cushioned, limb-supporting device according to claim 1 , wherein said means for attachment comprises a pair of spaced-apart straps.

6. A cushioned, limb-supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said straps are provided with velcro-type fastening strips.

7. A cushioned, limb-supporting device according to claim 5, wherein said cushion is rectangular, having a width of at least 11 cm and a length of at least 13 cm.

8. A set of two cushioned, limb-supporting devices including a first device as claimed in claim 1 and a second, similar device arranged for use in combination with the first device, said second device comprising a second pillow with attachment means configured to support the ankle area of the user. for the Applicant: WOLFF, BREGMA!? AND GOLLER