US20080315644A1

US20080315644A1 - Accessory car seat cushion

Info

Publication number: US20080315644A1
Application number: US12/079,218
Authority: US
Inventors: Betty Jane Briscoe
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-06-21
Filing date: 2008-03-21
Publication date: 2008-12-25

Abstract

A portable back support cushion (10) having two securing tie strings (22), and (20). The upper cushion portion (12) has a convex cervical support (24) that adequately supports neck structures. The middle cushion portion (18) has a flat surface with a longitudinal elevated thoracic support (14) that adequately supports mid-section dorsal structures. The lower cushion portion (26) has a flat surface with a longitudinal elevated lumbar support (16) that adequately supports lower dorsal structures.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/936,487, filed 2007 Jun. 21 by the present inventor.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not Applicable

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to back support cushions, specifically to such cushions, which are used during sitting positions.
2. Prior Art
Consumers purchase back support cushions to provide back structures with a surface contact. This area of contact disables specific back structures from further moving from a current location.
Indeed, several designs of back support cushions were invented. However, these former designs only offer partial back support. U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,495 to Oldfield (1985) shows a partial back support, which lacks a firm contact surface to support the entire spinal column. Spinal bones usually are about two inches wide and most have spinous processes. This cushion shows a very slight elevation for cervical support and this definitely does not fill the gap of space between the neck and adjacent cushion. A proper neck cushion support is approximately 6 inches in width by 4 inches in length. Also, the thoracic support area of this cushion does not protrude outward enough to fill this space. Usually, the thoracic support cushion elevation should be approximately 3 inches wide by 3 inches in length. Moreover, this cushion makes no contact with lumbar vertebrae, due to its flat structure.
Thus a later back support cushion has a slightly elevated spinal support cushion strand—in example U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,235 to Johnson (1994). This neck support region also lacks enough cushions to adequately provide the neck with a firm contact surface. The side view of the thoracic support region is obviously not contoured to the normal curvature of the spinal column. This concave shape for thoracic support is absurd and is designed to the shape of severe scoliosis spinal curvature. There is an inflatable bladder placed within the lumbar support region and this additional concave cushion expansion now creates an s-shaped design. The normal spinal curvature is not an s-shaped design and this cushion does not make contact with all back structures.
Indeed, heretofore-back support cushions can cause a user a number of further complications. If one uses the back support cushions heretofore vertebrae will misalign, due to lack of spinal support. If one uses either cushion repeatedly, a user will develop an abnormal spinal curve. Excessive use of these cushions increase a user's chance of developing pinched nerves. A user's over-stretched intervertebral muscles tend to become the adapted new lengthy muscle band lengths.
3. Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, besides the advanced structural aspects and optimum dorsal support of the back support cushion described in my above patent, several structural aspects and dorsal support of the present invention:

- (a) to provide a back support cushion whose structure consist of a longitudinal elevated middle spinal support;
- (b) to provide a back support cushion whose structural aspects are shaped to the normal curvature of the spinal column;
- (c) to provide a back support cushion which supports all dorsal structures;
- (d) to provide a back support cushion which will help decrease vertebrae misalignment;
- (e) to provide a back support cushion which decreases intervertebral muscles from becoming adapted over stretched muscle band lengths;
- (f) to provide a back support cushion whose structure will maintain a normal spinal curvature;
- (g) to provide a back support cushion whose tie strings easily secure to a car seat, etc.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the present invention a back support cushion comprises a convex neck support and a further extended flat back cushion surface with a longitudinal elevated spinal support cushion.

DRAWINGS Figures

FIG. 1 shows a perspective left-side view thereof, the right side being a mirror image, of a back support cushion constructed in accordance with the invention.

DRAWINGS

Reference Numerals

- 10 back support cushion
- 22 top tie string
- 20 middle tie string
- 12 upper portion of back cushion
- 18 middle portion of back cushion
- 26 lower portion of back cushion
- 24 convex cervical supports
- 14 raised convex thoracic support
- 16 raised convex lumbar support
- 28 flat dorsal side

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1

FIG. 1 is a perspective left side view of a back support cushion 10 constructed in accordance with the invention. An upper portion 12 of the cushion has a convex cervical support 24, embodied within the cushion. A middle portion 18 of the cushion has a raised convex thoracic support 14. A lower portion 26 of the cushion has a raised convex lumbar support 16. An upper flat dorsal side 28 of the cushion has a tie string 22, mounted to the top section. The middle flat dorsal side of the cushion has tie strings 20, laterally center mounted to the dorsal section.

Operation—FIG. 1

In operation one uses the cushion as a back support while in a seated position. Thus, when the cushion is placed behind a user while seated several benefits are obtained:

- (a) Convex cervical support 24 provides firm surface resistance for neck structures.
- (b) The raised convex thoracic support 14 and convex lumbar support 16 adequately conform to normal spinal curvature thereby, reducing excessive movement of vertebrae.
- (c) Tie strings 22, and 20 enable the cushion to be tightly secured to another object thereby, restricting excessive movement.

Claims

1. A back support cushion comprising a contour equivalent to the normal spinal curvature.

2. The cushion of claim 1 wherein said contour has a raised longitudinal elongated convex shape said equivalent to normal spinal curvature.

3. The cushion of claim 2 wherein said raised longitudinal elongated convex shape extends about the length from thoracic to coccyx range.

4. The cushion of claim 1 wherein said contour has another protruding convex shape about the length and width to support normal neck curvature.