AU2005202013B2 - Support cushion - Google Patents

Description

1 AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 GLEN RACOVOLIS COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Invention Title. Support Cushion The invention is described in the following statement: 2 Support Cushion Field of the Invention This invention relates to a support cushion, and more particularly relates to a 5 support cushion for use by pregnant women, when resting or lying on one side, or for use by overweight people. Background of the Invention Pregnant women particularly find it difficult to rest or lie down comfortably 10 particularly in the latter stages of the second trimester and the last trimester of the pregnancy. This is due to the abdomen moving the lowermost side under gravity when the pregnant woman is lying on her side or turning onto her side. In other words, rather than being located centrally in line with a central axis of her body, such as along the spine, the weight of the abdomen forces it into a lower position which redistributes the 15 weight unevenly. This leads to health problems and in particular in relation to the back and spine of the pregnant woman. Due to the weight transfer and the uneven distribution of the weight it puts added stress on the back portion and in certain situations causes back ache and muscular ache. The woman can therefore generally not get adequate rest because of such discomfort. A similar problem arises in 20 overweight people who have enlarged abdomens, in that when lying on a side or turning to be on their side, it can lead to back and spinal injuries or aches. The present invention seeks to overcome these disadvantages by providing a cushion that substantially prevents the uneven weight distribution created by the enlarged abdomen and assists the person in having an improved lying posture in order 25 to enable adequate rest to be taken. Summary of the Invention According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a cushion for use by a person comprising: 30 a main portion; and a subsidiary portion joined to the main portion, wherein the main portion and the subsidiary portion are of unequal volume, and a part of the main portion is adapted to be placed between the legs of the person while the person is lying on a side of the person, and 35 wherein the subsidiary portion is adapted to support the abdomen of the person while the person is lying on the side; 411440_1 3 wherein the interior of the cushion comprises layers of material; wherein there are more layers of material shaped to provide filling for both the main and subsidiary portions than there are layers shaped to provide filling for the main portion only so that the main portion has a greater thickness than the subsidiary portion; 5 and wherein the cushion comprises a depression formed at a joining. The cushion is preferably for use by a pregnant woman or alternatively an overweight person having a large abdomen. Preferably a depression is formed at the join between the main and subsidiary 10 portions due to the unequal volumes of each portion to aid in creating a space for the abdomen of the person. The join between the main and subsidiary portions preferably extends from one location of the exterior of the main portion to another location of the exterior of the main location, with the main and subsidiary portions sharing an exterior outline of the 15 cushion between the exterior locations of the main portion. The cushion and the join are preferably curved and the part of the main portion to be placed between the legs of the woman preferably has greater bulk or volume than the remainder of the main portion of the cushion. The interior of the cushion may be formed in layers of material with more 20 layers incorporating or shaped to provide filling for both the main and subsidiary portions than for just the main portion. In this manner, by stacking the layers with the layers of the main and subsidiary portions bonded either side by layers of just the main portions, and a cover fixed over all the layers, the subsidiary portion is formed with less volume than the main portion. 25 Each of the main and subsidiary portions may have fastening means for removing and inserting the cushion material to enable the amount of cushion material and placement of cushion material to vary where the material is not in sheets or layers. This also enables a loose cover for the cushion to be washed regularly. The fastening means may be any one of Velcro®, buttons or zip. 30 The material used to make the bulk of the cushion may be in the form of layers, as previously mentioned, and such layers may be made from suitable material such as foam, sponge or soft material. Where the volume of each of the main and subsidiary portions is to be created from filling material, that is, filling placed directly into the subsidiary portion and into the main portion, such filling material may be made of 35 suitable soft material such as sponge, foam, feathers or polystyrene balls. 411440_1 3a In another aspect the invention provides a cushion for providing support for an abdomen of a person lying on a side of the person, comprising: a main portion having a first minimum height and a generally oblong shape, the 5 main portion having at least a first and a second integral parts containing filling material; and a subsidiary portion having a second height less than the first minimum height and a generally semi-circular shape, the subsidiary portion having a perimeter with a curved portion, the curved portion forming a boundary between the first part of the 10 main portion and the subsidiary portion, wherein: a difference between the first and second height, the shape of the subsidiary portion and a curvature of the boundary are configured and arranged to accommodate and support an abdomen of a person lying on a side of the person; the first part is disposed on a first side of the subsidiary portion and the second 15 part extends beyond the subsidiary portion on a second, opposite side; and a depression is formed along the boundary between the first part of the main portion and the subsidiary portion. In another aspect the invention provides a cushion for use by a person, the cushion comprising: 20 a main portion having an inner, generally concave edge and an outer, generally convex edge, the main portion comprising at least a first part and a second part; and a subsidiary portion, the subsidiary portion having an outer generally curved edge conforming to the inner, generally concave edge of the main portion adjacent the first part, 25 wherein the main portion and the subsidiary portion are adapted and configured to position the subsidiary portion to support an enlarged abdomen of a person straddling the cushion with the second part between legs of the person, wherein the cushion comprises a depression formed by a boundary between the first part of the main portion and the subsidiary portion. 30 Throughout this specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which 35 has been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general 411440_1 3b knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application. Brief Description of the Drawings 5 Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view from above of a cushion according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a reverse perspective view, compared to Figure 1 of the cushion; 10 Figure 3 is a side view of the cushion of Figures I and 2; 411440_1 4 Figure 4 is a view from above showing the lying position of a pregnant woman when using the cushion; and Figure 5 is a plan view showing two different layers of filler material for. 5 Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments With reference to Figures 1 and 2 there is shown perspective views of a cushion that is adapted to be used by a pregnant woman, particularly in the latter stages of the second trimester and in the third trimester of pregnancy. It is to be noted that the following description is equally applicable to overweight people who have enlarged 10 abdomens. The cushion 10 comprises a main portion 15 and a subsidiary portion 20 with the subsidiary portion 20 affixed to the main portion 15 at join 25. The join 25 is generally curved and extends from a first exterior point 30 of the main portion 15 to a second exterior point 35 of the exterior of main portion 15. This means that both of the portions 15 and 20 share a common exterior portion or join 40. 15 When each of the portions 15 and 20 are filled with cushion material such as feathers or foam or sponge it creates a depression around the join 25 such that there is a raised portion extending along the line 45 of main portion 15 and also along the line 50 of the subsidiary portion 20. The depression so formed along the join 25 assists in providing a space for the abdomen of the pregnant woman and generally in profile of 20 the cushion 10 the height of the filler material in portion 20 is less than the height created by the filler material in portion 15. Access for the filler material in each of the portions 15 and 20 may be through suitable fastening means such as buttons or a zip fastener or Velcro®. This assists in rearranging the filler material within each portion, controlling the amount of filler material in each portion and also enables a loose cover 25 to be separately washed repeatedly when needed. A greater bulk of filler material may be located at one end or between a middle portion 55 and end 60, such as in region 65, of the main portion 15. This is a position where the legs of the pregnant woman will straddle when in a lying position. Alternatively each of the portions 15 and 20 may be formed through a series of 30 layers of filling material, such as foam or sponge (see Figure 5). In order to create the subsidiary portion shape a number of such layers may include both the main portion and the subsidiary portion and be bounded on either side by layers just containing the main portion. Thus when all of the layers are compressed and covered and then stitched to create the join 25, the shape of the subsidiary portion and the main portion 35 will be formed. m-\-naifientio nn\.00in00\En22A.nrvran dnr 5 The cushion 10 allows for the pregnant woman to lie comfortably on either side with the portion 65 of main portion 15 tucked between each leg. This is more clearly seen in Figure 4 which shows a plan view with the woman lying on her side and the enlarged abdomen 70 located on subsidiary portion 20. The portion 65 of main portion 5 15 is placed between the woman's legs 75 and 80. In this position the woman can lie comfortably and by virtue of the bulk material in portion 65 between the woman's legs 75 and 80 provides stability in the lying position. To change sides, the person can roll onto their back and utilise the reverse side of the subsidiary portion. This provides an improved posture for the woman in that it maintains the side lying position and also 10 maintains the weight of the abdomen essentially in line with a central axis or for example the spine of the woman in the lying position. Figure 5 is a side view showing the cushion in use with abdomen 70 supported by portion 20. As mentioned previously the cushion filling material may be suitable feathers, down, polystyrene balls as in bean bags, foam or sponge material and can be readjusted 15 in terms of position within the various portions 15 and 20 and the amount in each of those portions. A loose cover, made of suitable material such as cotton, may have the cushion material removed therefrom to enable regular washing of the cover. A speaker and lead may be incorporated into the cushion having an attachment to an audio playing device, such as an MP3 player, radio etc. The speaker may be placed adjacent 20 the subsidiary portion to enable music to be heard by a foetus in situations where a pregnant woman has her abdomen supported by the subsidiary portion. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly 25 described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. m'\nanifientinn- n\-O00\O A\ A -'A~nrvrn dnr,

Claims (14)

1. A cushion for use by a person comprising: a main portion; and 5 a subsidiary portion joined to the main portion, wherein the main portion and the subsidiary portion are of unequal volume, and a part of the main portion is adapted to be placed between the legs of the person while the person is lying on a side of the person, and wherein the subsidiary portion is adapted to support the abdomen of the person 10 while the person is lying on the side; wherein the interior of the cushion comprises layers of material; wherein there are more layers of material shaped to provide filling for both the main and subsidiary portions than there are layers shaped to provide filling for the main portion only so that the main portion has a greater thickness than the subsidiary portion; 15 and wherein the cushion comprises a depression formed at a joining region proximate to a joining of the main portion and the subsidiary portion, the depression serving as at least part of a space for supporting the abdomen of the person. 20

2. A cushion according to claim 1, wherein the joining between the main portion and the subsidiary portion extends from one location of the exterior of the main portion to another location of the exterior of the main portion, and wherein the main portion and the subsidiary portion share an exterior outline of the cushion between the two exterior locations, between which extends the joining. 25

3. A cushion according to claim 2, wherein the cushion and the joining are curved and the part of the main portion to be placed between the legs of the person has greater volume than the remainder of the main portion of the cushion. 30

4. A cushion according to claim 1, further comprising fastening means incorporated into the main portion and the subsidiary portion, the fastening means enabling removing and inserting cushion material so that the amount of cushion material and placement of the cushion material can vary. 411440_1 7

5. A cushion according to claim 1, further comprising means for attachment to an audio playing device to enable audio to be emitted from the speaker means while the cushion is being used by the person. 5

6. A cushion for providing support for an abdomen of a person lying on a side of the person, comprising: a main portion having a first minimum height and a generally oblong shape, the main portion having at least a first and a second integral parts containing filling material; and 10 a subsidiary portion having a second height less than the first minimum height and a generally semi-circular shape, the subsidiary portion having a perimeter with a curved portion, the curved portion forming a boundary between the first part of the main portion and the subsidiary portion, wherein: a difference between the first and second height, the shape of the subsidiary 15 portion and a curvature of the boundary are configured and arranged to accommodate and support an abdomen of a person lying on a side of the person; the first part is disposed on a first side of the subsidiary portion and the second part extends beyond the subsidiary portion on a second, opposite side; and a depression is formed along the boundary between the first part of the main 20 portion and the subsidiary portion.

7. The cushion of claim 6, wherein the second part of the main portion is configured to be placed between legs of the person while the person is lying on a side of the person. 25

8. The cushion of claim 7, wherein the at least a part of the main portion has a third height greater than the first minimum height, and wherein: a height of the at least a part of the main cushion relative to the first minimum height of the main cushion; the shape of the main portion; and a location of 30 the at least part of the main portion relative to the subsidiary portion, are configured for placement of the second part of the main portion between the legs of the person while the person is lying on a side of the person with an abdomen of the person supported by the subsidiary portion. 35

9. A cushion for use by a person, the cushion comprising: 411440 1 8 a main portion having an inner, generally concave edge and an outer, generally convex edge, the main portion comprising at least a first part and a second part; and a subsidiary portion, the subsidiary portion having an outer generally curved edge conforming to the inner, generally concave edge of the main portion adjacent the 5 first part, wherein the main portion and the subsidiary portion are adapted and configured to position the subsidiary portion to support an enlarged abdomen of a person straddling the cushion with the second part between legs of the person, wherein the cushion comprises a depression formed by a boundary between the 10 first part of the main portion and the subsidiary portion.

10. The cushion of claim 9, wherein the main portion has a first end and a second end, the second part being disposed at the second end, the second end being broader than the first end. 15

11. The cushion of claim 10, wherein the main portion has a first thickness and the subsidiary portion has a second thickness, less than the first thickness.

12. The cushion of claim 11, further comprising a covering with a fastener adapted 20 and configured to allow filling material of the subsidiary portion to be added or removed to change the bulk of the filling material in the subsidiary portion.

13. The cushion of claim 11, wherein the second part is adapted and configured to extend from an interior side of the person, between the legs of the person to beyond a 25 posterior side of the person when the person straddles the cushion.

14. A cushion according to any one of claims I to 13, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the figures. 30 4114401