WO2004098947A1

WO2004098947A1 - Lower back support cushioning

Info

Publication number: WO2004098947A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2004/000044
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jan Dirkse Pelser
Original assignee: Jan Dirkse Pelser
Priority date: 2003-05-03
Filing date: 2004-04-26
Publication date: 2004-11-18

Abstract

Seating position supporting cushioning in the from of an independent lumbar or lower back support seat positionable cushion (10) presents smoothly formed buttocks receiving hollows (12) extending laterally from an integral ridge formation in the form of a saddle formation (14) flaring into the hollows (12). The saddle formation (14) rises into a leading end apex area (16) and a trailing end apex area (18). The overall width of the cushion (10) narrows laterally in the direction of arrows (28) while it increases rearward in the direction of arrow (32). The overall effect of the cushion design is that the abdomen of a user is extensively supported once using the cushion (10) having the beneficial effect of urging such user to maintain at least the lower spinal column region in a straight line relationship thereby serving a lumbar support function.

Description

(1) TITLE OF THE INVENTION

LOWER BACK SUPPORT CUSHIONING

(2) BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The construction of the conventional vehicle seat often has the effect of causing the user to be seated against proper lower back and thus lumbar support. Although not so limited this is especially the case for the driver of the vehicle owing to the tension of driving. As use of a vehicle is a regular occurrence such improper support in the long run leads to spinal cord problems. While the tendency to sit in a way that can give rise to lumbar or lower back problems is very marked under driving conditions it is naturally not limited thereto but can be found in a variety of other seating conditions such as an ordinary chair or even when sitting in a elevated position that does not have backrest support.

(3) FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to seating position supporting cushioning for promoting the in line maintenance of at least the lower section of the spinal column of a user thus serving a lower back and lumbar support function. While the cushioning, as in the form of a separate cushion or integrated into a seat, is not so limited its finds useful application when of a design . employable in conjunction with vehicular seating and especially conventional vehicle bucket seats.

(4) PRIOR ART DESCRIPTION Lumbar support equipment for use in conjunction with vehicle and other types of seats is well known owing to the extensiveness of spinal column problems associated with improper seating. The prior art dealing with this problem is typically disclosed in the following disclosures.

US appl. 2002/36420 US appl. 2002/87105

US pat 6,499,803

UK pat 2 368 278

PCT appl PCT/FR02/01146

US pat 4,597,386 IT pat 922 544 US pat 5,954,399

The approach disclosed in all the above items of prior art addresses the problem by way of a supplementation of the backrest of a seat.

(5) BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings

Figure 1 shows seating position supporting cushioning, according to one aspect of the invention, in the form of an independent lumbar and lower back support cushion in overhead frontal three dimensional view as viewed from a side, Figure 2 shows the cushion in overhead three dimensional frontal view,

Figure 3 shows the cushion in plan view,

Figure 4 shows the cushion in the direction of arrow A in figure 3,

Figure 5 shows the cushion in the direction of arrow B in figure 3,

Figure 6 shows the cushion in the direction of arrow C in figure 3, Figure 7 shows the cushion in the direction of section line D-D in figure 3,

Figure 8 shows the cushion in the direction of section line F-F in figure 3,

Figure 9 shows the cushion in the direction of section line G-G in figure 3,

Figure 10 shows the cushion as incorporating a backrest portion, in overhead three dimensional frontal view, and Figure 11 diagrammatically shows a seat in the form of a front bucket type vehicular seat, according to another aspect of the invention, incorporating the seating position supporting cushioning, in partly cut away side elevation.

(6) DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to figures 1 to 10 of the drawings seating position supporting cushioning, according to one aspect of the invention, in the form of an independent lumbar and lower back support seat positionable cushion as, amongst others, utilisable in conjunction with a vehicular seat, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10.

The cushion 10 as generally rectangular in plan outline view is of firm substance that only yields marginally when used. The cushion 10 presents smoothly formed buttock receiving hollows 12 extending laterally from an integral ridge formation in the form of a saddle formation 14 flaring into the hollows 12. The saddle formation 14 thus rises at its leading 14.1 end into a leading end apex area 16 and at its trailing end 14.2 into a trailing end apex area 18. The hollows 12 rise and the areas 16 and 18 descend into circumferentially surrounding cushioning areas 20. The integral design features of the cushion 10, as incorporating the shape of each of the hollows 12, the height and longitudinal upper region curvature 22 of the saddle formation 14 (as more clearly shown in figure 9) and its degree of flaring into the hollows 12, are such that the pelvis of a grownup seat user is firmly supported by the cushion 10 while the person's buttocks seats in the hollows 12 once operatively used. In addition the apex area 16 firmly supports the sacrum and the apex area 18 the coccyx of such user. As the sacrum of a person is situated at a somewhat higher elevation than the coccyx, at least when in the seated condition, the apex area 16 is at an appropriate higher elevation than the apex area 18 when the cushion 10 is viewed on a flat support to accommodate this elevational difference once the cushion is in use. As the seating area of a bucket type vehicle seat normally rises in the lateral directions, often incorporating elevated edge region extending panels to firmly hold a user into the seat, the overall width of the cushion 10, as reflected by adjacent arrows 24 (as particularly shown in figures 4 and 5), narrows laterally from its longitudinal centre line 26 in the direction of arrows 28 to accommodate this lateral rising effect. The cushion 10 is designed with an increase in overall width, as reflected by adjacent arrows 30 (as shown in figure 6), from its leading side in the direction of arrow 32. The lateral narrowing of the cushion width would not detrimentally affect the use of the cushion 10 in conjunction with seats that do not rise laterally as the lateral narrowing of the width of the cushion 10 will in such case simply be accommodated by the resilience of the seat. The overall effect of the cushion design is that the abdomen of a user is extensively supported once using the cushion 10 having the effect of urging such user to maintain at least the lower spinal column region in a straight line relationship thereby serving a lumbar support function.

In also referring to figure 10 the cushion 10 can be supplemented by a backrest portion 34 that can be integral with, releasably secured to or even independent of the cushion 10. The portion 34 is formed and dimensioned to contribute to the lumbar support effect of the cushion 10. In referring to figure 11 and in an alternative embodiment the support cushioning 40 is integrally formed with a seat such as a vehicular type seat in the form of the bucket type seat 42 of a car. The cushioning thus rests on the conventional springs 44 of the seat 42. The seat 42 will normally have to be altered to ensure that its seating height is maintained. The integrally formed cushioning 40 has the same characteristics as the cushion 10 discussed above barring those that specifically relate to the fact that the cushion 10 is independently positionable onto the seating area of a conventional seat. The invention thus also relates to the seat 42 as such as fitted with the cushioning.

In again referring to figures 1 , 2 and 4 the cushion 10 can be formed with a hole 46 extending there into from the centre of the leading side. The hole 46 is used for holding a vibrator (not shown) to impart a vibratory effect to the cushion 10 serving as relaxation means for the driver of a vehicle or any other person in a vehicle using the cushion 10. While not shown for the vehicle seat 42, its cushioning can naturally also be formed with a similar aperture.

While the invention is described with reference to vehicular use, it is not, as said above, whatsoever limited thereto but extends to all seating conditions where the use of the seating position supporting cushioning can contribute in providing lumbar or lower back support.

It is an advantage of the invention as specifically described that a lumbar or lower back support is provided by way of support cushioning onto which a user takes place. A proper support on seating has a beneficial effect as regards counteracting lower back problems. In the case of the support cushioning being in the form of an independent unit, the further advantage is found therein that the supporting function is achievable by simply positioning of the cushion onto the seating area of a seat without requiring any further steps such as operative securing.

Claims

(5) CLAIMS

(1 ) Seating position supporting cushioning (10) employable under conditions where a conventional way of seating can cause a person to be seated against proper lower back or lumbar support that is of firm if not at least substantially rigid material; characterised in that cushioning (10) presents adjacent user buttock receiving hollows (12) extending laterally from an integral ridge formation (14) flaring into the hollows (12) that in turn rise into sideward spreading cushioning edge region areas (20) with the relationship between the ridge formation (14) and the hollows (12) being suitably selected to firmly and snugly support at least the pelvis of a seat user in promoting the in line maintenance of at least the lower section of the spinal column of such user thus serving a lower back and lumbar support function once in use.

(2) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in claim 1 in which the ridge formation is in the form of a saddle formation (12) thus rising towards its leading and trailing ends (16, 18) with the rising ends being suitably formed to firmly support the sacrum and coccyx of a seat user of which the intermediate pelvis area is thus supported along the ridge formation once in use.

(3) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in claim 2 in which the leading end rise, as rising into a leading end apex region (16), rises to a larger extent than the trailing end rise, as rising into a trailing end apex region (18), at least when viewed on a horizontal surface, to the extent of accommodating the difference in elevations between the sacrum and coccyx of a user.

(4) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in any one of the preceding claims that presents a hole (46) extending from substantially centrally as regards its leading side into its body for holding vibrating motion imparting equipment. (5) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in any one of the preceding claims that is in the form of an independent lumbar and lower back support cushion.

(6) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in claim 5 that is profiled in outline view to limit the possibility of at least swivellable shifting, at least once in use and as thus positionable onto the seating area of a conventional seat. (7) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in claim 5 or claim 6 of which the overall width of the support cushion narrows sideward (24) from its longitudinal centre (26) line to accommodate a seating design in which the seating area of seat tends to rise laterally from a longitudinal centre line.

(8) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 7 of which the overall width of the support cushion increases (32) in the direction of its trailing side. (9) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 8 that is of generally rectangular shape.

(10) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in any one of the preceding claims that incorporates a backrest portion (34) extending to a lower back and lumbar support contributing extent up the backrest of a seat once the cushion is positioned for use. (11) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in claim 10 in which the backrest portion (34) is releasably secured to its seating portion.

(12) Seating position supporting cushioning as claimed in any one of claims 5 to 11 that is dimensioned and shaped to be used in conjunction with vehicular seats.

(13) Seating position supporting cushioning (10, 40) as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 that integrally forms part of a seat (42) thus fitting against lateral and swivellable displacement onto a lower support portion of such seat, as in the appropriate case adapted to maintain a conventional seating elevation.

(14) A seat (42) that incorporates seating position supporting cushioning (42) that is fitted against lateral and swivellable displacement onto a lower support portion being in the case of vehicular seating the conventional resilient portion (44) of such seat as in the appropriate case adapted to maintain a conventional seating elevation and which cushioning is of firm if not at least substantially rigid material while presenting adjacent user buttock receiving hollows extending laterally from an integral ridge formation flaring into the hollows with the relationship between the ridge formation and the hollows being suitably selected to firmly and snugly support at least the pelvis of a seat user in promoting the in line maintenance of at least the lower section of the spinal column of such user thus serving a lower back and lumbar support function during use of the seat.

(15) A seat as claimed in claim 14 in which the ridge formation of the seating position supporting cushioning is in the form of a saddle formation thus rising towards its leading and trailing ends with the rising ends being suitably formed to firmly and snugly support the sacrum and coccyx of a seat user of which the intermediate pelvis area is thus supported along the ridge once in use. (16) A seat as claimed in claim 15 of which the leading end rise of the ridge formation rises to a larger extent than the tailing end rise to the extent of accommodating the difference in elevations between the sacrum and coccyx of a user.

(17) A seat as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15 that incorporates a backrest portion extending to a lower back and lumbar support contributing extent up the backrest of the seat in supplementing the seating position supporting cushioning.

(18) A seat as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17 that is of conventional vehicular type seat design.