GB2047088A - Backrest - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable inflatable backrest e.g. for use by invalids, sedentary workers, or drivers or other travellers, comprises a collapsible body forming a cushion preferably shaped to afford support to a central area and side regions of a user's back, and a bulb-type or other air pump for inflation together with a control valve, the pump and valve being on a flexible tube for actuation while the backrest is in use enabling selective adjustment to be made by the user without disturbance, e.g. by a driver in the course of a journey.

Description

SPECIFICATION Backrest This invention relates to backrests of a portable cushion type for use by the incapacitated or disabled, sedentary workers, and in particular vehicle drivers or passengers, air pilots and other travellers.

Backache and discomfort, especially in the lumbar regions, is exceedingly common and while various attempts have been made to design vehicle and other seating which reduces this, seating has to be designed to a price and made to suit the "average" driver or other user. Even if seat backrests are made adjustable (which adds considerably to weight and cost) discomfort will still occur with a substantial number of users. Car or lorry drivers on long journeys are very restricted in movement and cannot easily adopt a different seating posture. In some cases seat adjustments (if available) are not easy to make safely during actual driving, and the quite small changes which may make all the difference between acute discomfort and its relief (and which can often only be established by trial and error) cannot be made at all.A wide variety of accessory backrests and cushions of one sort and another are available but in the majority of cases they are not readily adjustable in firmness or position and are bulky and inconvenient to store and carry.

In our co-pending patent application no. 7906619 dated 24th February 1979 and to which reference is made, we described a portable inflatable rest or cushion, particularly for the head or feet, which has proved beneficial to invalids, travellers and others, but we have found that there is a very wide need for a simple and adaptable backrest. The type of cushion described in that application could be employed as a backrest, however, the present invention is concerned specifically with the provision thereof.

According to the invention we provide a portable backrest in the form of a collapsible body formed at least in part of a flexible material which can be selectively inflated to form a cushion for supporting the back or other parts of the body of a seated user, and provided with remote control means for effecting inflation and deflation of the body and for varying the degree of inflation which means can be actuated, preferably with one hand only, with the body in its operative position at the back of the seated user.

Preferably the body is shaped, when inflated, to complement the contours of a user's back, for example to fit around and support the lumbar regions.

One practical example of the inventor is illustrated in the accompanying sketches, and comprises a kidney shaped inflatable body, 1 having rounded wings, 2 at each end of wider cross-section then a mid-region 3. The body is wholly formed from flexible materials as referred to in our said co pending patent application and is provided with remote control means 4 incorporating a two-way control valve and squeese-bulb type air pump (operable one handed) as described therein, at the end of a flexible duct 5 long enough to allow means 4 to rest in a user's lap or be otherwise readily accessible while the backrest is in use.

Typical dimensions are shown in the sketch (figure 2) though other shapes and dimensions may be employed. The winged kidney shape is preferred as giving not only support to the central area or hollow of the back but also a measure of support at the sides of the lumbar region or midriff. A range of sizes may be provided to suit users of different builds and weights.

When not required for use the backrest can be completely deflated and folded for carriage in the pocket or handbag, thus it can easily be employed by air or train travellers. When in use the degree of inflation, i.e. the hardness or softness of the cushion and its effective dimensions and amount of support it gives can be readily varied from nothing up to a maximum value with the user remaining seated enabling the exact adjustment needed to be made and permitting change of posture and attitude from time to time, e.g. a vehicle driver can easily and safely make these adjustments one-handed without having to stop.

1. A portable backrest in the form of a collapsible body formed at least in part of a flexible material which can be selectively inflated to form a cushion for supporting the back or other parts of the body of a seated user, and provided with remote control means for effecting inflation and deflation of the body and for varying the degree of inflation which means can be actuated, preferably with one hand only, with the body in its operative position at the back of the seated user.

2. A backrest as in Claim 1 wherein the remote control means comprises a control valve and an air pump and is connected with the body by a flexible duct.

3. A backrest as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the body is wholly formed from flexible material and is shaped, when inflated, to complement the contours of a user's back.

4. A backrest as in Claim 3 wherein the body is shaped to support the central area or hollow of the user's back as well as the sides of the lumbar region or midriff.

5. A portable backrest substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Backrest This invention relates to backrests of a portable cushion type for use by the incapacitated or disabled, sedentary workers, and in particular vehicle drivers or passengers, air pilots and other travellers. Backache and discomfort, especially in the lumbar regions, is exceedingly common and while various attempts have been made to design vehicle and other seating which reduces this, seating has to be designed to a price and made to suit the "average" driver or other user. Even if seat backrests are made adjustable (which adds considerably to weight and cost) discomfort will still occur with a substantial number of users. Car or lorry drivers on long journeys are very restricted in movement and cannot easily adopt a different seating posture. In some cases seat adjustments (if available) are not easy to make safely during actual driving, and the quite small changes which may make all the difference between acute discomfort and its relief (and which can often only be established by trial and error) cannot be made at all.A wide variety of accessory backrests and cushions of one sort and another are available but in the majority of cases they are not readily adjustable in firmness or position and are bulky and inconvenient to store and carry. In our co-pending patent application no. 7906619 dated 24th February 1979 and to which reference is made, we described a portable inflatable rest or cushion, particularly for the head or feet, which has proved beneficial to invalids, travellers and others, but we have found that there is a very wide need for a simple and adaptable backrest. The type of cushion described in that application could be employed as a backrest, however, the present invention is concerned specifically with the provision thereof. According to the invention we provide a portable backrest in the form of a collapsible body formed at least in part of a flexible material which can be selectively inflated to form a cushion for supporting the back or other parts of the body of a seated user, and provided with remote control means for effecting inflation and deflation of the body and for varying the degree of inflation which means can be actuated, preferably with one hand only, with the body in its operative position at the back of the seated user. Preferably the body is shaped, when inflated, to complement the contours of a user's back, for example to fit around and support the lumbar regions. One practical example of the inventor is illustrated in the accompanying sketches, and comprises a kidney shaped inflatable body, 1 having rounded wings, 2 at each end of wider cross-section then a mid-region 3. The body is wholly formed from flexible materials as referred to in our said co pending patent application and is provided with remote control means 4 incorporating a two-way control valve and squeese-bulb type air pump (operable one handed) as described therein, at the end of a flexible duct 5 long enough to allow means 4 to rest in a user's lap or be otherwise readily accessible while the backrest is in use. Typical dimensions are shown in the sketch (figure 2) though other shapes and dimensions may be employed. The winged kidney shape is preferred as giving not only support to the central area or hollow of the back but also a measure of support at the sides of the lumbar region or midriff. A range of sizes may be provided to suit users of different builds and weights. When not required for use the backrest can be completely deflated and folded for carriage in the pocket or handbag, thus it can easily be employed by air or train travellers. When in use the degree of inflation, i.e. the hardness or softness of the cushion and its effective dimensions and amount of support it gives can be readily varied from nothing up to a maximum value with the user remaining seated enabling the exact adjustment needed to be made and permitting change of posture and attitude from time to time, e.g. a vehicle driver can easily and safely make these adjustments one-handed without having to stop. CLAIMS

1. A portable backrest in the form of a collapsible body formed at least in part of a flexible material which can be selectively inflated to form a cushion for supporting the back or other parts of the body of a seated user, and provided with remote control means for effecting inflation and deflation of the body and for varying the degree of inflation which means can be actuated, preferably with one hand only, with the body in its operative position at the back of the seated user.

2. A backrest as in Claim 1 wherein the remote control means comprises a control valve and an air pump and is connected with the body by a flexible duct.

3. A backrest as in Claim 1 or 2 wherein the body is wholly formed from flexible material and is shaped, when inflated, to complement the contours of a user's back.

4. A backrest as in Claim 3 wherein the body is shaped to support the central area or hollow of the user's back as well as the sides of the lumbar region or midriff.

5. A portable backrest substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.