This invention relates to a body part support device, and more particularly to a body part support device whose configuration can be easily adjusted during use and which is portable.

BACKGROUND ART

Many people suffer from back or neck pain and require some form of support to help alleviate the discomfort they endure. Present day lifestyles result in weak or underdeveloped back muscles. Many people sit in uncomfortable or poorly designed seating which accentuates or exacerbates the problem. For example, sitting for long periods in an office or other work place, travelling in automobiles or on aircraft, or even sitting on a chair watching television, can result in an individual suffering discomfort from back pain if, for example, the seating is poorly designed, or if the individual does not practise correct posture positions, or if the individual already has some anatomical deterioration of the spine.

Discomfort from spinal pain can often be avoided or reduced by the use of cushions or other lumbar support means. However, the problem with most support cushions is that they are often of a shape which provides inadequate or improper support of the spine and/or they are of a shape which makes them inconvenient or difficult to carry or to store. Inflatable back, head and neck support cushions are known, but these tend to rely entirely on air pressure or on a soft or expandible substance, such as wool or foam, respectively, for their shape and support. In many cases this means that use and adjustment is inadequate or inconvenient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a body part support device which goes at least some way towards overcoming or at least minimising the prior art problems or limitations outlined above. According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided a body part support device comprising an envelope defining a closed space, a compressible mateπal contained within the envelope and valve means adapted to allow air into the envelope so that the compressed material can expand to enlarge the support device and to allow air out of the envelope so that the material may be compressed and the support device reduced in size.

Preferably, the support device, when not in use, can be folded away and secured in a compact size for convenient storage or transport, but when required for use, can be readily transformed to a useable item of predetermined shape by self inflation, with adjustment thereof being possible according to individual requirements.

The support device may be adapted for support of the lumbar spine, or the cervical spine or the head. Furthermore, the body part support device may be incorporated into a chair or pillow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a body part support device according to one embodiment of the present invention in the ready-for -use mode; Fig. 2 is a plan view of the support device shown in Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the foam insert of the support device shown in Fig. 1 , Fig. 4 is a front view of the foam insert shown in Fig. 1 ;

Fig 5 s a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 s an enlarged view of area VI of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 s a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 s an exploded view of the bleed valve shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 s a plan view of the valve member shown in Fig. 7;

Fig 1 0 s a sectional view taken along lines X-X of Fig. 9;

Fig 1 1 s a bottom view of the valve member shown in Fig. 7;

Fig 1 2 s a plan view of the valve insert shown in Fig. 7;

Fig 1 3 s a sectional view taken along lines XI-XI of Fig. 1 2;

Fig 1 4 s a bottom view of the valve insert shown in Fig. 7;

Fig 1 5 s a plan view of the cover shown in Fig. 7;

Fig 1 6 s a sectional view taken along lines XV-XV of Fig. 1 5;

Fig 1 7 s a bottom view of the cover shown in Fig. 7;

Fig 1 8 s a perspective view of the support device of Fig. 1 in the transportable/storage mode;

Fig 1 9 is a perspective view of a variant of the present invention which incorporates a pump device; Fig 20 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1 9 in storage mode; Fig 21 is a front view of a neck support device according to another embodiment of the invention; Fig 22 is a side elevational view of the neck support device shown in Fig. 21 ; Fig 23 is a rear view of the neck support shown in Figs. 21 and 22, and Fig 24 is a partly broken away perspective view of a seat incorporating a body part support of the invention.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The body part support device or cushion 1 0 shown in Fig. 1 includes an envelope 1 1 defining a closed space between a first or upper sheet portion 1 2 and a second or Iower sheet portion 1 3. The envelope 1 1 contains a compressible resilient open-celled foam mateπal 14 preferably cut or moulded to a pre-determined shape, which shape it assumes when not under compression. When not in use, the envelope 1 1 enclosing the foam material 1 4 is manually compressible to only several millimetres of thickness to the form shown in Fig. 1 8 and then kept compressed by the restraining means described below.

As can be seen in Figs 5 and 6, the envelope is formed from the upper sheet 1 2 and Iower sheet 1 3 which are welded along seam 1 1 a. The upper sheet 1 2 has an inner liner 1 2a and the Iower sheet 1 3 has an inner liner 1 3a. To provide additional support for a user, the body part support device 1 0 is inflatable/deflatable by means of a two-way valve means 1 5. The valve means 1 5 may be adapted to operate over the entire interior closed space, or may be such that a system of inflatable air chambers are provided for selectively adjusting the rigidity of the device for individualised lumbar support.

The valve means 1 5 includes a valve member 1 6 and a release button 1 7 having apertured depressions 1 8 in its outer face 1 9 and an inwardly directed hollow stem 20. A hollow bleed pin 21 has an annular connector portion 22 which engages on a reduced diameter portion 23 of the button stem 20 and is held in place by screw 24 An O-ring 25 around the body 26 of the bleed pin 21 is seated against flange 27.

The vaive member 1 6 is of generally cylindrical form and has a plurality of operating recesses 28 for finger gripping and rotating the valve member 1 6 on its outer face, a central recess 29 for receiving the release button 1 7 and an inwardly directed tubular portion 30 that has a screw thread 31 on its outer face. A tubular portion 30 terminates in a valve seat

32 having an air flow passage 33.

Beneath the valve member 1 6 there is a valve insert 34 having a base 35, outer annular wall 36 and inner annular portion 37 which is threaded on its inner face to engage the thread 31 of the valve 1 6. The leading edge 38 of the annular portion 37 forms an air tight seal with the annular portion 39 depending downwardly from the underface of the valve member 1 6.

The valve insert 34 is welded to the upper sheet portion 1 2 of the pneumatic support device 1 0 in such a way as to prevent air leakage. The open celled foam pad 1 4 is welded between the air-tight upper and Iower sheet portions 1 2 and 1 3. The valve member 1 6 rises and falls on the valve insert by means of the screw threads, allowing passage of air into the support device or cushion 1 0 and sealing of the cushion when inflated The button 1 7 allows operation of the bleed valve 21 and retains it in the sealed position unless manually depressed. The cover or surround 40 is a fixed outer case enclosing the valve details and by means of shoulder 41 which overlies flange 42 limits the travel of the valve 1 6 as shown in outline in Fig. 7 The surround 40 also retains tab 42a with the restraining means 43 described below With reference to Figs. 7 and 2, the restraining device comprises a hinged tab 42a provided with "Velcro" pads 43 adapted to engage "Velcro"

strips 44 on the front skin of the support device 1 0 when rolled up, in order to secure it in a compact configuration.

In use, the restraining device is released by undoing the "Velcro" connection and opening the main valve by unscrewing it, thereby allowing the resiliency of the foam to "pop open" the device and cause it to lie flat and substantially inflated. The main valve is then closed and the device may then be placed between the user's back and appropriate support means, such as a seat back. If required, final adjustments can then be made to the device by depressing the bleed valve to reduce internal pressure. It is a feature of the device that this fine adjustment can be made in situ by use of the bleed valve. Typically, backward pressure by the user squashes the device against the seat back and forces air to be expelled on depression of the bleed valve, or, if the device is then too thin, the user may, whilst continuing to depress the bleed valve, lean forward and allow the resiliency of the compressed foam to partially or wholly re- inflate the device to a thicker configuration. Release of the bleed valve (which may conveniently be operated in_situ by the user's thumb or finger), automatically seals the device at the selected level of inflation.

If required, "Velcro" strips or other suitable means can be provided for attachment of the body part support device to a required position on, say, a seat back when the device is to be used for lumbar support.

The variant 45 of Figs. 1 9 and 20 utilises a one-way valve pumping means 46 and air release valve means 47.

In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, not shown in the drawings, the body part support device can be provided in the form of a strap-on type belt; for example, worn under clothing, or under a coat and strapped to the user's Iower back at about waist height for individualised

lumbar support. The device is then adjusted to help relax muscles and to encourage proper alignment of the Iower back.

When not in use, the valve 1 5 is opened and the device rolled up to compress the foam manually to several millimetres of thickness as shown in Fig. 3. The valve 1 5 is then closed. It may be retained in this position until required for use again, whereupon the fastening tab is released. When unrolled, the resilient open-celled material has an elastic "memory" whereby, provided that the main valve is left open, it assumes its previous non-compressed thickness almost instantaneously. The final shape and degree of hardness is adjusted according to individual requirements by manipulation of the bleed valve.

The support device of the present invention may be produced in various shapes and sizes including configurations suitable for head and neck supports, as well as back supports, foot supports and buttock supports. Each conforms to an overall conceptual design which is universal in its ability to be fitted or used in virtually any situation requiring a spinal or other body part support. The relatively small size and simple design of the device of the present invention is such that it is unobtrusive when in use so as not to effect a disconcerting presence when used in public places or the like.

Because the device of the present invention is portable, easy to use and also to fold away, it finds ready application in almost any environment, such as at home, in the office, or with travellers.

The support device of the present invention is mechanically simple to ensure reliable operation. The outer envelope can be fabricated from suitable flexible sheet plastics material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or from machine washable rubberised nylon, cotton or canvas. The

compressible open-celled material is readily available as resilient or flexible polystyrene or polyurethane foams, or the like.

The body part support device 50 shown in Figs. 21 to 23 is in the form of a neck support device and, apart from its shape and configuration, is similar to the body part support device 10 shown in Fig. 1 .

The body part support device of the present invention may be readily incorporated into a chair or pillow if required.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes, modifications or alterations to the invention as described herein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of the present invention. All such changes, modifications and alterations should therefore be seen as being within the scope of the present invention. For example the body part support device can be incorporated into a seat as shown in Fig. 24.