SLEEP AID

DISPOSITIF FAVORISANT LE SOMMEIL

English Abstract

Heartburn is a disorder caused by various reasons. In dealing with this
disorder, there are
different methods used such as medicinal therapy, change of diet and lifestyle
and
surgical procedures. In addition to the above mentioned, there are devices to
raise the
upper portion of the body during sleep to prevent upward movement of stomach
contents.
In this invention, a generally wedge shaped apparatus will support the upper
body in a
raised position to start the sleep cycle and will collapse after a period of
time to allow the
user to sleep on generally a flat plain and comfortably in various positions
such as facing
up or sides.

Claims

1
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege
is claimed
are defined as follows:
1- A collapsible apparatus of the type adapted to be inflated by an air source
for
supporting the torso of a user in an inclined angel with the head and
shoulders
towards the higher end, said generally wedge shaped apparatus comprising:
(a) An inflatable generally wedge shaped pad made of air impermeable
material having a bottom in generally a horizontal plain as the base
surface, a top in an inclined angel as the support surface and connected to
said base surface along one edge to form low end of said wedge shaped
pad , a vertical surface opposite to said low end connecting said base and
said support surfaces at the high end of said wedge shaped pad as the back
surface, said Base, support and back surfaces connected and sealed on the
two sides of said pad by generally triangle shaped side surfaces.
(b) Air inlet means preferably positioned on said back surface for providing
fluid communication between the source of air and the interior of said
inflatable pad.
(c) An air supply unit containing an electric air pump connected to a normally
closed flow valve, said flow valve adapted to switch to open state in
synchronicity with said air pump switching to active state, said flow valve
also adapted to switch to open state independent from said air pump.
(d) An air hose connecting said air supply unit to said air inlet of said pad.
(e) A control panel connected to said air supply unit by a cable of suitable
length to control said air supply unit from a convenient location, said
control panel equipped with a switch for activating said air pump to inflate
said pad, said control panel also equipped with a timing device to set time
delay for a desirable length in which the said pad remains inflated, upon
expiration of selected time said flow valve to open independent from said
air pump and remain open for a suitable length of time allowing the
weight of the users torso to deflate said pad while the said air source
remains deactivated, said flow valve returning to closed position at any
time between the end of deflation period and the start of the next use cycle
of said apparatus.
2. An apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said pad is made to a universal
size and
shape to serve users of all heights and weights.
3. An apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said pad is customized for desired
heights and weights.
4. An apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said pad is adjustable to
different
lengths.
5. An apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said pad is adjustable to
different
heights.
6. An apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said air pump is manual.
7. An apparatus defined in claim 1 in which said air pump is battery operated.
8. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which air pressure, fluids, springs
and
mechanical arrangements are used in any combination or independently as means
of propping the user torso in an inclined angel, said air or fluid bags
consist of at

2
least one reservoir capable of communicating with additional reservoirs or out
side air to create different levels of elevation.
9. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said support surface is covered
to
provide a user with a more comfortable surface to rest upon.
10. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which the base surface is extended
beyond
the lower end of said support surface for the lower portion of the user body
to rest
upon thereby preventing said pad from moving.
11. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said support surface is
adapted to
eliminate the need for a pillow.
12. An apparatus defined as in claim 1 in which said control panel is adapted
to be
wireless.
13. An apparatus defined as in claim 1 in which a solenoid can be adapted to
operate
the flow valve independent from the air source arrangement.
14. An apparatus defined as in claim 1 in which the air inlet and air outlet
are
separated and positioned apart so the air release system is independent of the
air
source and flow valve arrangement.
15. An apparatus defined as in claim 1 in which the timer settings are factory
set.

Description

CA 02643375 2009-09-14
Specification
This invention relates to a collapsible device for controlling causes and
symptoms of acid
reflux.
In dealing with acid reflux problem, it is common to have the head side of bed
raised to
create a down ward flow for the stomach contents towards the bottom of the
stomach and
away from the esophagus. In addition, there are wedges made of foam or other
materials
to be used on conventional beds to support the upper back in creating the same
downward
effect for the upper body, however, these methods and devices do not provide a
natural
and comfortable condition for the user during sleep. Raising the head side of
the bed
creates a down ward slope effect, causing the body to slide towards the end of
the bed
during sleep. Conventional wedges create the same condition only in part by
lifting the
upper portion of the body with the same slope effect. In addition, the user is
limited in
options such as sleeping comfortably on his or her sides due to the unnatural
bend a
wedge will create while a person is sleeping on his or her side.
I have found that these disadvantages can be overcome by having a collapsible
device to
keep the torso of a user on a slant for a length of time so the stomach can
process and
empty its contents before the device is switched to collapse mode. With this
method, user
has the option of starting the bedtime on an elevated position and change to a
conventional flat position at a period during bedtime without having to
interrupt sleep or
rest.

CA 02643375 2009-09-14
1
Detailed description of the preferred embodiment
In drawing which illustrates embodiment of the invention, the generally wedge
shaped
collapsible apparatus is shown on bed B in one of the ways it can be arranged
for regular
use.
A sheet of air impermeable material formed and sealed to create generally
wedge shaped
pad A, comprising base surface 12, support surface 14 and back surface 16.
Side panels
18 are connecting and sealing base, support and back surfaces to make pad A
inflatable.
Base surface 12, shown in this drawing, is approximately 24" in length and is
arranged in
generally a horizontal plain as the foundation for connecting all other
surfaces forming
wedge shaped pad A.
Support surface 14 is connected to base surface 12 at edge 20 and extends in
an inclined
angel to reach, shown in this drawing, a height of approximately 7" for
supporting the
torso of a user on a slant with the head and shoulders up.
Back surface 16 extends in generally a vertical plain to connect base surface
12 and
support surface 14 at the opposite end to edge 20.
Side panels 18 are generally triangle shaped extending upwards to connect base
surface
12, support surface 14 and back surface 16 on either sides of pad A.
Air inlet 22 provides fluid communication between the interior of pad A and
air pump 24.
Air inlet 22 is positioned on back surface 16 and proximate one of side panels
18 to
minimize the possibility of bulging under the user's pillow once pad A has
collapsed to
flat position.
Air pump 24 is connected to house hold electrical out let 26 by cord 28 and is
the source
of air supply for pad A. Normally closed valve 38 is linked to air pump 24 for
controlling
fluid communication between air pump 24 and pad A.
Air hose 30 connects air inlet 22 to air pump 24 and is of a desirable length
to provide
means of placing air pump 24 at a distance from pad A so the sounds generated
during
inflation and deflation are reaching the user at reduced levels. In addition,
placing air
pump 24 at a distance from pad A is reducing clutter on bed B.
Control panel 32 having switch 36 and timer 40, is connected to air pump 24 by
cord 34
so the user can operate the apparatus from a convenient place proximal to bed
B.
User will position pad A on a desired rest place shown in this drawing as bed
B and
activate switch 36 to simultaneously start air pump 24 and move valve 38 to
open
position so the air can flow through hose 30 to air inlet 22 and inside pad A.
Once pad A
is inflated to a desired rigidity, user will release switch 36 to
simultaneously deactivate
air pump 24 and release valve 38 so it can return to normally closed position
and stop
back flow of air from pad A towards air pump 24. User will set timer 40 to a
desired
length of time and start the sleep or rest period by lying on pad A. Upon
expiration of the
set time, valve 38 is switched to open position independent from air pump24
and for
sufficient length of time to allow the weight of the user's torso to exhaust
the air out of
pad A. Air pump 24 remains deactivated during deflation period. Once deflation
is
completed, valve 38 returns to its normally closed position in preparation for
the next use
cycle.