US20160106223A1

US20160106223A1 - Repose apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20160106223A1
Application number: US14/612,562
Authority: US
Inventors: Jennifer Mirinda Lee
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-10-16
Filing date: 2015-02-03
Publication date: 2016-04-21

Abstract

Systems and apparatus to receive a person in repose is in the present application. The apparatus to receive a person in repose includes a base portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, and two side surfaces. Also, a first relief area and a second relief area each within a sub-portion of the top surface and extending from a side surface to toward a longitudinal axis are included. The first relief area and the second relief area each corresponds to a volume including an adjustable relief apparatus that is separately adjustable from the top surface not within the relief area to provide adjustable relief relative to the top surface that is not within the relief area.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 62/064,671, entitled “Prego Bed,” filed Oct. 16, 2014. The disclosure of the foregoing application is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

This specification relates to repose apparatus, for example, beds and couches.
Repose apparatus are used to support one or more people in repose, for example, a bed, couch, chair, among other types of apparatus and furniture. While these repose apparatus may support and be comfortable to a general population at large, certain individuals, for example, pregnant women, may find those repose apparatus to be uncomfortable and unsupportive. During pregnancy, for example, when in repose on their side, women may require different support and repose structure (including surface height) for their abdomen than the rest of their body. Consequentially, pregnant women may seek a repose apparatus that allows them to have different, adjustable support and structure for their abdomen.

SUMMARY

In general, one innovative aspect of the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in an apparatus that includes receiving a person in repose, including a base portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposing first and second side surfaces, and defining a longitudinal axis that separates the first side surface from the second side surface. Also, included is a first relief area within a sub-portion of the top surface and extending from the first side surface to toward the longitudinal axis, the first relief area corresponding to a volume including a first adjustable relief apparatus that is separately adjustable from the top surface not within the first relief area to provide adjustable relief relative to the top surface that is not within the first relief area. Further, included is a second relief area within a sub-portion of the top surface and extending from the second side surface to toward the longitudinal axis, the second relief area corresponding to a volume including a second adjustable relief apparatus that is separately adjustable from the top surface not within the first relief area to provide adjustable relief relative to the top surface that is not within the second relief area.
The details of one or more embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, aspects, and advantages of the subject matter will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an overview diagram of one implementation of a repose apparatus.

FIG. 1B is an overview diagram of another implementation of a repose apparatus.

FIG. 1C is an overview diagram of another implementation of a repose apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one implementation of the repose apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of one implementation of the repose apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of another implementation of the repose apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of another implementation of the repose apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view of another implementation of the repose apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of one implementation of the repose apparatus of FIG. 1A.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another implementation of a repose apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another implementation of a repose apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of another implementation of a repose apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1A is a layout diagram of one implementation of a repose apparatus 100. Repose apparatus 100 includes a base portion 110 that includes a top surface 120, a bottom surface 130, and at least two side surfaces 140 and 150, in the illustrated implementation. Repose apparatus 100 includes at least one relief area, and the illustrated implementation includes relief areas 144 and 154. In the illustrated implementation, relief area 144 is a sub-portion of top surface 120 and extends from side surface 140 toward a longitudinal axis 111 across the length of the repose apparatus 100. Likewise, relief area 154 is a sub-portion of top surface 120 and extends from side surface 150 toward the longitudinal axis. Although two relief areas are shown, in some implementations, only one relief area may be included.
Repose apparatus 100 may be placed upon another repose device, for example, a mattress, or in some implementations, repose apparatus 100 may be a full mattress (e.g., a twin, queen, or king size mattress) or partial mattress (e.g., half of a queen or king size mattress) with the components described herein. Also, repose apparatus 100 can be configured to be a full mattress with one or more relief areas (as described below), thereby providing, for example, a “His-and-Hers” mattress (see FIG. 1C).
Relief areas 144 and 154, in the illustrated implementation, are of a semi-oval shape, but relief areas 144 and 154 may be configured in any shape including a circle, semi-circle, square, rectangle, among others. Each relief area includes an adjustable relief apparatus that is separately adjustable from the top surface 120 of the base that not within the first relief area so as to provide adjustable relief relative to the top surface 120. Various types of relief apparatus are described below. Thus, by adjusting the relief apparatus in each relief area, the relief areas 144 and 154 may be of a height equal to or different from the height of the top surface 120.
The top surfaces of the relief areas 144 and 154 may be flat, or may be configured to slop downward in the direction from the longitudinal axis 111 to the edges 140 and 150. As described in greater detail below, relief top surfaces 145 and 155 may thus be flat or parallel with top surface, or, alternatively, may be angled or curved such that the depth at one point on the surface of the relief areas 144 and 154 is different from the depth in another area of the relief areas 144 and 154.
In some implementations, a depth within the relief areas 144 and 154 in which a relief apparatus is located may be approximately three-nine inches less than the depth between the top surface 120 and 130. Also, in some implementations the shape, location, and/or height of relief areas 144 and 154 may be different from one another.
In the illustrated implementation of FIG. 1, relief areas 144 and 154 include flaps 149 and 159. Flaps 149 and 159 extend from the top surface 120 toward side surfaces 140 and 150 over the relief areas 145 and 155. Flaps 149 and 159 may be made of a bed sheet, other types of cotton, and/or other types of material. The flaps may cover a portion of the relieve area, or cover the relief area entirely.
FIG. 1B is an overview diagram of another implementation of a repose apparatus 100′. In the repose apparatus 100′, the relief areas 144′ and 154′ are of a semi-circular shaped.
In FIG. 1C, the repose apparatus 100″ is a full mattress (e.g., a twin, queen, or king size mattress) that is configured for the individual using the relief areas 144 and 154 to repose on one half (or a portion less than the entire top surface 120 and 120″) of the relief apparatus 100″, specifically top surface 120 in the current description. Top surface 120″ is configured without any relief areas. In other implementations, the relief areas 144 and 154 may be on the other side of the base portion 110 (or both sides of the base portion 110), and further in other implementations, only one relief area may be included.
Other configurations and relief area geometries may also be used.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of one implementation of the repose apparatus 100. Each relief area 144 and 154 corresponds to a value in which a corresponding relief apparatus is located. In the implementation of FIG. 2, the relief apparatus for the area 144 includes insert elements 246 a, 246 b, and 246 c, and the relief apparatus for the relief area 154 includes insert elements 256 a, 256 b, and 256 c. Although three insert elements are shown, in other implementations more or fewer insert elements may be used. Additionally, in the illustrated implementation of FIG. 2, if all three insert elements (e.g., 246 a, 246 b, and 246 c) are stacked and inserted into relief area 144, the height at the top of insert element 246 c is the same as that of top surface 120, i.e., the two respective surfaces are flush.
The insert elements may be made of the same material as that of the base 120, e.g., memory foam, or some other support material. In some implementations, the softness and/or material used in a relief area (e.g., insert elements) may be different than the softness and/or material used on the top surface 120 or other areas of the base portion 110.
The insert elements may be stacked on top of one another so as to provide relief for a body portion, e.g., relief for the abdomen during pregnancy. The number of insert elements that are stacked can thus raise or lower the height of the top surface of each relief area 144 and 154, thereby providing more or less relief for a portion of a body.
The height of each relief element may vary. For example, in some implementations, each insert element may be two inches in height or other heights. In some implementations, the height of each insert element is the same, but in some implementations the height of each insert element varies. Insert elements may be placed on top of one another, and in some implementations, fasteners connect one insert element to another insert element. For example, hook and loop fasteners, ties, string, buttons, adhesives, among others may be used to fasten one insert element to another insert element, and/or the bottom most insert element to the relief top surface 145 and 155, or to side walls of the volumes.
The width of each insert element may be the same or different from one another, and in some implementations, the width of the insert elements is substantially similar to the width of relief areas 144 and 154; however, such a configuration is not required, and insert elements may have a width greater than or less than that of the width of relief areas 144 and 154.
FIGS. 3A and 3B show cross-sectional views of implementations of repose apparatus 100 with relief areas 144 and 154 including a change in height across the width of relief areas 144 and 154 (relief bottom surfaces 145 and 155). As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the height of relief bottom surface 145 is at a greater height at the innermost relief area 341 than at outermost relief area 342. The height of relief bottom surface 145 reduces as progressing from the innermost relief area 341 to the outermost relief area 342. Also, in some implementations, the height of relief bottom surface 145 may decrease from the innermost relief area 341 to the outermost relief area 342 at a particular degree slope (e.g., 45 degrees). However, as shown in FIG. 3A, the decrease in slope may include a convex and/or concave slope.
In alternate implementations, the height of the relief bottom surface 145 may increase between the innermost relief area 341 to the outermost relief area 342. Corresponding inserts are constructed to provide increasing support extending from the longitudinal axis to the edges of the base 120.
Insert elements 346 a, 346 b, and 346 c are included as the relief apparatus within relief area 144, and insert elements 356 a, 356 b, and 356 c are included as the relief apparatus with relief area 154. The number of insert elements may vary, as described with reference to FIG. 2 above. In the illustration of FIG. 3A, insert elements 346 a, 346 b, 346 c, 356 a, 356 b, and 356 c are substantially the same height and are configured to substantially conform to the relief top surface 145 or 155 or to another insert element. Other configurations may also be used.
Insert elements 346 a, 346 b, and 346 c may be connected or fastened to one another in relief area 144. As illustrated in FIG. 3A, the length of each of insert elements 346 a, 346 b, and 346 c is progressively less than the insert element below that insert element in the stacking of the insert elements. Such a configuration causes the height of the top surface of the relief area 144 near the innermost relief area 341 to be remain at least parallel, or even, with the top surface 120. However, such a configuration is not required and the insert elements may be the same or different lengths from one another. Insert elements 356 a, 356 b, and 356 c may be configures similarly for relief area 154. An individual may thus adjust the number of insert elements into relief areas 144 and 154 until a desired support is achieved.
FIG. 3B shows implementations 300 b, which includes insert elements 346 a′, 346 b′, and 346 c′ within relief area 144, and insert elements 356 a′, 356 b′, and 356 c′ within relief area 154. In the implementation in FIG. 3B, the top insert surfaces 347 a′, 347 b′, 347 c′, 357 a′, 357 b′ and 357 c′ of insert elements 346 a′, 346 b′, 346 c′, 356 a′, 356 b′ and 356 c′, respectively, are parallel with top surface 120. Innermost insert surfaces 348 a′, 348 b′, 348 c′, 358 a′, 358 b′ and 358 c′ substantially conform to the location of the relief top surface 145 or 155 that the respective innermost insert surface contacts. Also, the bottom insert surfaces 349 a′ and 359 a′ substantially conform to the location of the relief top surface 145 or 155 that the respective bottom insert surface contacts, and bottom insert surfaces 349 b′, 349 c′, 359 b′, and 359 c′ are substantially parallel with top surface 120. However, such a configuration is not required, and in other implementations insert elements may be interchangeable.
A difference between insert elements in implementations of FIG. 3a and FIG. 3B is that when inserting one or more insert elements in the implementation of FIG. 3A, the height of the relief area (e.g., 144 or 154) between the innermost relief area and the outermost relief area (e.g., between element 341 and 342) changes. However, in the implementation, of FIG. 3B, upon inserting one or more insert element into a relief area, the height of the substantially entire relief area is flat or parallel to top surface 120.
FIGS. 4A and 4B show cross-sectional views of implementations of repose apparatus 100 with relief areas 144 and 154 including a change in height across the width of relief areas 144 and 154 (relief bottom surfaces 145 and 155). In the implementations of FIGS. 4A and 4B, the relief top surfaces 145 and 155 are angled at a linear slope where the height of the relief top surfaces decreases between the innermost relief areas 441 and 451 and the outermost relief areas 442 and 452, respectively.
As seen in FIG. 4A, insert element 446 is of a triangular cross-section defining an apex 447 and a base 448. When insert element 446 is inserted into relief area 144, the apex 447 is positioned toward the longitudinal axis and the base is positioned alongside the surface 140. In some implementations, more than one insert element and other shapes may be provided. Also, in implementation 400, insert element 456 is of a triangular cross-section defining an apex 457 and a base 458. When insert element 456 is inserted into the volume corresponding to the relief area 154, the apex 457 is positioned toward the longitudinal axis and the base is positioned alongside the surface 150. Moreover, in implementation 400, upon inserting elements 446 and 456 being inserted, top insert surfaces 449 and 459, respectively, are parallel with top surface 120 and are of the same height as top surface 120.
As seen in FIG. 4B, in implementation 400′, insert elements 446′ and 456′ include a triangular cross-section and are similar to insert elements 446 and 456. Insert elements 446′ and 456′ include apexes 447′ and 457′ and bases 448′ and 458′, respectively, and when insert elements 446′ and 456′ are inserted into the volume corresponding to relief areas 144 and 154, respectively, the apexes 447′ and 457′ are positioned toward the longitudinal axis and the bases 448′ and 458′ are positioned along the side surfaces 140 and 150, respectively. However, top insert surfaces 449′ and 459′ of insert elements 446′ and 459′, respectively, are sloped and upon inserting insert element 446′ and 456′, the top insert surfaces 449′ and 459′ extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis decrease relative to the top surface 120 in proportion to a distance from the longitudinal axis. Top insert surfaces 449′ and 459′ are linearly sloped, but such a configuration is not required and other angles, slope shapes, and configurations may be used. The implementation in FIG. 4B provides more of an angled relief for a user than the implementation in FIG. 4A.
FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view along the line B-B′, including relief area 144. Side surface 140 is shown along with top surface 120 and bottom surface 130. Relief area 144 may be configured to include different shapes, as previously described. For example, as shown in FIGS. 2, 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, different shapes and angles may be defined from the longitudinal axis 111 to the side surfaces 140 and 150 (e.g., concave slope, angled slope). Additionally, different shapes may result across the width, or otherwise in the parallel direction of the longitudinal axis 111, of relief surfaces 144 and 154. For example, a surface contour 472 may be included in some embodiments, wherein the depth at one point on the surface 472 of the relief areas 144 and 154 along the line B-B′ is different from the depth in other areas of the relief areas 144 and 154 along the line B-B′ according to a curvature. Coupled with a similar contour along the line A-A′, the volume of the relief area is substantially bowl-shaped.
Alternatively, in the surface contour 474, a box-like shape results when each of the walls of the relief area are substantially perpendicular to the surface 120. In yet another implementation, side walls 476 and 472 may be perpendicular to the surface 120, and the bottom surface of the relief area may slope downward from in the direction from the longitudinal axis to the outer edge of the relief area, i.e., along the line A-A′ of FIG. 1A. The downward slope may be straight or curved. Accordingly, a variety of volumetric shapes may be created by selecting the corresponding surface geometries of the volume. Once a corresponding surface geometry is selected, insertions elements for inclusion into the volume are shaped accordingly, such as described with respect to FIGS. 3A-3C.
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another implementation of a repose apparatus 500. Repose apparatus 500 includes the base portion 110 structure as that shown in FIG. 2; however, such a configuration is not required and the structure as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, among others may also be used. Repose apparatus 500 includes inserts 546 and 556 that may be inserted into relief areas 144 and 154, respectively. Inserts 546 and 556 may substantially conform to the shape of relief areas 144 and 154. In some implementations, inserts 546 and 556, when inserted, may be substantially the same height with top surface 120, but in other implementations, such a configuration is not required. Also, in some implementations, inserts 546 and 556 may be substantially parallel with top surface 120, but such a configuration is not required. Inserts 546 and 556 may be of the same softness as top surface 120, but in other implementations, they are of different softness. Further in some implementations, inserts 546 and 556 are a pillow that may be provided in one or more relief area 144 and 154.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of another implementation of a repose apparatus 600. Repose apparatus 600 includes the base portion 110 structure as that shown in FIG. 2; however, such a configuration is not required and the structure as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B, among others may also be used. Repose apparatus 600 includes inflatable elements 646 and 656 that may be inserted or otherwise provided into the volumes corresponding to the relief areas 144 and 154, respectively. Each inflatable element 646 and 656 includes valves 647 and 657, respectively. The amount of air or other substance used to inflate and/or deflate inflatable elements 646 and 656 is controlled through valves 647 and 657, respectively. Valves 647 and 657 may be manually (e.g., user controlling or user applying a pump or other mechanism) or electronically controlled. In some implementations, if the valves 647 and 657 are electronically controlled, the valves 647 and 657 are configured to be controlled by a control system that monitors the pressure in each inflatable element 646 and 656, respectively, and adjust the volume of inflatable substance (e.g., air) used to inflate the inflatable elements 646 and 656 in order to keep the volume within a certain range or above or below a certain volume. Also, in the current implementation, each inflatable element 646 and 656 is of a volume when fully inflated to provide support that substantially matches support provided by the top surface 120 that is not within the relief area so that the response apparatus provides consistent support across the entire top surface.
Further, when each inflatable element 646 and 656 are not fully inflated, the inflatable elements 646 and 656 provide a corresponding volume that provides less support than provided by the top surface 120. However, in some implementations, the support provided by each inflatable element 646 and 656 may be different from one another and/or may provide greater support than top surface 120.
In some implementations, when valves 647 and 647 are electronically controlled, a controller 660 is be included. Connections 648 and/or 658 may be included to connect valves 647 and 657 to controller 660. However, in other implementations, there may be a wireless connection provided between valves 647 and 657 and controller 660. For example, the communication may occur via a cellular network, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, other LAN or WAN network communication, RF communication, among others. Further, valves 647 and 657 may include sensors, controllers, and/or transceivers to determine and communicate information to controller 660, as well as control the function of the valves via commands from controller 660. However, in other implementations, controller 660 may be configured to obtain information from the valves 647 and 657 and control the valves directly, and also be operatively associated with a pumping apparatus to inflate and deflate the inflatable elements 646 and 656. The locations of valves 647 and 657 may be located on any portion of the inflatable elements 646 and 656, or valves 647 and 657 may be located at any location of the repose apparatus 600 that enables the inflatable substance to inflate or be removed from inflatable elements 646 and 656.
Controller 660 may be an independent device or may be provided on another device or as software enabled to be implemented on a multitude of devices. Controller 660 may be downloadable as a program or application on an electronic device (e.g., mobile device, tablet, laptop, smart phone), or controller 660 may be a separate device configured to communicate with such a program or application (the communication may be enabled as previously described). For example, controller 660 may be configured to be downloaded and controlled on a mobile phone.
FIG. 7 is a diagram of repose apparatus 700. Repose apparatus 700 includes a base portion 710, a top surface 720, and side surfaces 740 and 750. Repose apparatus 700 may include relief areas 145 and 155, as described above. Base portion 710 of repose apparatus 700 may comprise an inflatable element that includes a valve 712, which may be configured similar to valves 647 and 657. The locations of valve 712 may be located on any portion of the base portion 710, or valves 647 and 657 may be located at any location of the repose apparatus 700 that enables the inflatable substance to reach or be removed from the base portion 710.
Each inflatable element 646 and 656 is shown with a corresponding valve 647 and 657. Alternatively, a tubular connection may be made between inflatable elements 646 and 656 and only one value (either 647 or 657) may be used.
The amount of air or other substance used to inflate and/or deflate base portion 710 is controlled through the valve 712, and the valve may be manually (e.g., user controlling or user applying a pump or other mechanism) or electronically controlled. In some implementations, base portion 710 may be made of a rubber material. If the valve is electronically controlled (e.g., controller 660), the valve is configured to be controlled by a control system that monitors the pressure in the base portion 710, and adjust the volume of inflatable substance (e.g., air) used to inflate the base portion 710 in order to keep the volume within a certain range or above or below a certain volume. Also, in some implementations, the base portion 710 is of a volume when fully inflated to provide support that substantially matches support provided by inflatable elements 646 and 656 so that the response apparatus 700 provides consistent support across the entire top surface 720. However, in other implementations the volume within the base portion 710 and support provided within the inflatable elements 646 and 656 may be different from one another.
Further, in some implementations, one valve (712, 647, 657, or another valve) may be configured to control the amount of inflatable substance provided within base portion 710, inflatable element 646, and/or inflatable element 656. Additionally, valve 712 may be configured to be controlled by controller 660 or another controller. Moreover, base portion 710 may substitute for or be substituted for base portion 110 throughout the entire disclosure.
The inflatable elements described in the various implementations above be configured in a variety of different shapes, such as describe with reference to the various volumes in FIG. 4C.
While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any inventions or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular implementations of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.
Thus, particular implementations of the subject matter have been described. Other implementations are within the scope of the following claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. In addition, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A apparatus to receive a person in repose, comprising:

a base portion including a top surface, a bottom surface, and opposing first and second side surfaces, and defining a longitudinal axis that separates the first side surface from the second side surface;

a first relief area within a sub-portion of the top surface and extending from the first side surface to toward the longitudinal axis, the first relief area corresponding to a volume including a first adjustable relief apparatus that is separately adjustable from the top surface not within the first relief area to provide adjustable relief relative to the top surface that is not within the first relief area; and

a second relief area within a sub-portion of the top surface and extending from the second side surface to toward the longitudinal axis, the second relief area corresponding to a volume including a second adjustable relief apparatus that is separately adjustable from the top surface not within the first relief area to provide adjustable relief relative to the top surface that is not within the second relief area.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each first and second relief apparatus respectively comprise a set of stackable insert elements, each insert element being of a height that is less than a height of the base portion such that when the set of stackable insert elements are stacked in the volume corresponding to relief area, a top surface of the relief area is of a same height as the top surface of the base portion, and when a proper subset of the stackable insert elements are stacked in the volume corresponding to the relief area, the top surface of the relief area is less than the height of the top surface of the base portion.

3. The bed apparatus of claim 2, wherein the at least one insert element is fastened to at least one side wall of the volume of a relief area.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the base portion includes at least one flap that extends from the top face over at least one of the first relief area or the second relief area.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first relief area and the second relief area are each substantially semi-oval in shape.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each first and second relief apparatus respectively comprise an inflatable element, each inflatable element being of a first volume when fully inflated to provide support that substantially matches support provided by the top surface not within the relief area, and when not fully inflated provides a corresponding volume that provides less support than provided by the top surface not within the relief area.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each first and second relief apparatus respectively comprise a set of insert elements, each insert element being of a triangular cross section defining an apex and a base, wherein the apex is positioned toward the longitudinal axis and the base is positioned along a respective side surface when the relief element is inserted into the relief area.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the insert elements include a first insert element having a triangular cross sectional area such that when the first insert element is inserted into a relief area a top surface of the first insert element is of a same height as the top surface of the base portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the insert elements include a second insert element having a triangular cross sectional area such that when the first insert element is inserted into a relief area a top surface of the first insert element extending outwardly from the longitudinal axis decreases relative to the top surface of the base portion in proportion to a distance from the longitudinal axis.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface of the base portion of the apparatus is configured to be placed on a bed.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a relief top surface extending from an innermost relief area to an outermost relief area of each of the first relief area and second relief area decreases in height and is concavely sloped from the innermost relief area to the outermost relief area.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein each first and second relief apparatus respectively comprise a set of stackable insert elements, each insert element being of a height that is less than a height of the base portion such that when the set of stackable insert elements are stacked in the relief area a top surface of the relief area is of a same height as the top surface of the base portion, and when a proper subset of the stackable insert elements are stacked in the relief area the top surface of the relief area is less than the height of the top surface of the base portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each of the stackable insert elements substantially conform to slope of at least one of the relief top surface and the insert element to be stacked upon.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein each stackable insert element substantially conforms to the slope of the portion of the relief top surface the stackable insert element is configured to contact.