Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02731717 2011-02-15
TITLE :CUSHION WITH A SUPPORT PILLOW
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a cushion with a support pillow, and more
particularly to a massage cushion with a support pillow capable of heating and
cooling a desired area of body of a user.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Various types of devices are available for treating strains and
injuries by
application of ice packs or hot water bottles. It is normally desirable to
maintain
the application of the heat or cold for a substantial period of time, such as
one,
two or three hours. It is therefore desirable to utilize some means to fix in
position
the heat or cold pack at its applied position. One type of device combines hot
or
cold treatment with an elastic bandage so that a therapeutic effect of the hot
or
cold treatment can be applied in a manner that allows the user to move about
freely. Typically, such device includes flexible enclosures inserted in a
bandage
similar to the elastic bandage known as an "Ace" bandage, which can be
wrapped around extremities such as the wrist, arm, hand, etc. The flexible
enclosure usually has a liquid anti-freeze solution for absorbing a
considerable
amount of heat or cold, which is retained for a period of time. After cooling
or
heating, the device is then wrapped around the extremity, such as elbow,
ankle,
knee, etc. to treat the injured area.
[0003] Also known in the art are contoured pillows for providing comfort when
sleeping, sitting, or resting in a chair or bed. Pillows.having such shapes
provide
support for use in high back chairs, passenger seats, beds, or any location
where
a person may comfortably rest. The pillows, while providing the comfort for
resting in a high back chair or bed, are not suitable for combination with a
heating
or cooling pack for the treatment of strains and injuries.
[00041 It would be desirable to provide a therapeutic apparatus including a
cushion with a support pillow which provides support, as well as a heating and
a
cooling of a desired area of a body of a user.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] In concordance and agreement with the present invention, a therapeutic
apparatus including a cushion with a support pillow which provides support, as
well as a heating and a cooling of a desired area of a body of a user, has
surprisingly been discovered.
[0006] In one embodiment, a therapeutic apparatus comprises: a cushion shaped
to support at least a portion of a body of a user; and a pillow releaseably
secured to
the cushion, the pillow including a thermal material disposed therein, wherein
the
thermal material is capable of providing at least one of heat and cold to at
least a
portion of the body of the user.
[0007] In another embodiment, a therapeutic apparatus comprises: a massage
cushion shaped to support at least a portion of a body of a user, and a pillow
releaseably secured to the cushion, the pillow including a thermal material
housed
within a compartment of the pillow, wherein the thermal material is capable of
providing at least one of heat and cold to at least a portion of the body of
the user,
and wherein the entire pillow is heatable by a heating device and coolable by
a
cooling device.
[0008] In another embodiment, the therapeutic apparatus comprises: a massage
cushion shaped to support at least a portion of a body of a user; and a pillow
releaseably secured to the cushion, the pillow including a thermal material
housed
within a container, the container disposed within a compartment of the pillow,
wherein the thermal material is capable of providing at least one of heat and
cold to
at least a portion of the body of the user, and wherein the container is
heatable by a
heating device and coolable by a cooling device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The above, as well as other advantages of the present invention will
become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following
detailed
description of a preferred embodiment when considered in the light of the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a therapeutic apparatus including
a
cushion and a support pillow according to an embodiment of the invention,
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showing the support pillow releaseably secured to an outer surface of the
cushion;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a therapeutic apparatus including
a
cushion and a support pillow according to another embodiment of the invention,
showing the support pillow removeably received in a pocket formed on the
cushion;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear elevational view of the support pillow
illustrated
in FIGS. 1, wherein a portion of the support pillow is cutaway to show a
thermal
material disposed therein; and
10[0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged rear elevational view of a support pillow
according to
another embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and
illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and
drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention,
and
are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner.
[0015] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate a therapeutic apparatus 10 for imparting a massage
effect, heat, or cold to desired region of a body of a user according to the
present
invention. The therapeutic apparatus 10 includes a cushion 12 and a support
pillow
14. It is understood that each of the cushion 12 and the support pillow 14 can
be
used alone or in combination, if desired. Although the cushion 12 illustrated
and
described is a seat back massage cushion, the invention contemplates that any
cushion can be utilized within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
The
cushion 12 includes at least one region sized and shaped to comfortably
support
the body of the user such as a head support region, an upper torso support
region,
and a lower torso and pelvic support region, for example. It is understood,
however,
that the cushion 12 can be any size and shape as desired. The user may
manipulate the cushion 12 to conform to any suitable structure or piece of
furniture
as desired such as a chair, a couch, or a chaise longue, for example. The
cushion
12 may be releaseably secured to the structure or piece of furniture by any
means
as desired such as by a strap or band, for example. A handle 16 may be
provided
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on the cushion 12 to facilitate a transportation and a positioning of the
cushion 12.
In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the cushion 12 is covered with a material
18
which cooperates with the support pillow 14 to releaseably secure the support
pillow 14 thereto and maintain a position of the support pillow 14 during use
of the
therapeutic apparatus 10. Alternatively, the cushion 12, as shown in FIG. 2,
may
include at least one pocket 20 formed thereon for receiving the support pillow
14
therein to releaseably secure the support pillow 14 thereto and maintain a
position
of the support pillow 14 during use of the therapeutic apparatus 10. It is
understood,
however, that the cushion 12 can be covered with any material or have any
number
of pockets 20, as desired.
[0016] The cushion 12 may include at least one massage unit (not shown)
disposed
therein to impart a massage effect upon the body of the user if desired. The
massage unit can impart any massage effect as desired such as a pulse massage
effect, an all motors massage effect, a wave massage effect, a vibratory
massage
effect, a rotary massage effect, a percussion massage effect, and the like,
for
example. It is understood that the massage unit can have any number of massage
effects, intensity levels, and speeds as desired. A controller (not shown) may
be
provided to communicate control signals for various operations of the massage
unit
such as a decrease in an intensity level of the massage effect, an increase in
the
intensity level of the massage effect button, and an activation and
deactivation of
the massage unit, for example. It is further understood that the cushion 12
may be
programmable, and that the controller may be used for selecting various pre-
determined massage programs.
[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 3-4, the support pillow 14 of the therapeutic
apparatus 10 is shown. Although the support pillow 14 illustrated is a lumbar
support pillow, the invention contemplates that any support pillow can be
utilized
within the spirit and scope of the present invention. It is also understood
that the
support pillow 14 can be any size and shape as desired. The support pillow 14
includes a thermal material 22 disposed within a compartment defined by an
outer
structure 24. The term "thermal material" used herein is a heat producing
material
and a cold producing material such as a gel, rice, field corn, or any other
material
that can be heated by a heating device (e.g. a microwave) and cooled by a
cooling
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device (e.g. a refrigerator or a freezer). In the embodiment shown in FIG, 3,
the
thermal material 22 is housed within the compartment of the support pillow 14.
Accordingly, the entire support pillow 14 can be heated by the heating device
and
cooled by the cooling device. It is understood that the outer structure 24 can
be
produced from a material which causes the compartment of the support pillow 14
to
be fluid-tight such as a rubber or plastic material, for example, or an inner
surface of
the outer structure 24 can include a surface treatment or a layer formed
thereon
which causes the compartment of the support pillow 14 to be fluid-tight.
[0018] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4, the thermal material 22 is housed
within a
separate container 26. The container 26 is disposed within the compartment of
the
outer structure 24. Accordingly, the entire support pillow 14 including the
container
26, or the container 26 alone, can be heated by the heating device and cooled
by
the cooling device. It is understood that the container 26 andlor the outer
structure
24 can be produced from a material which causes the container 26 and/or the
compartment of the support pillow 14 to be fluid-tight such as a rubber or
plastic
material, for example, or an inner surface of the container 26 and/or an inner
surface of the outer structure 24 can include a surface treatment or a layer
formed
thereon which causes the container 26 and/or the compartment of the support
pillow 14 to be fluid-tight. It is further understood that the outer structure
24 can be
formed from any other suitable material such as a flexible, breathable woven
material, for example.
[0019] As illustrated, a closing mechanism 28 is provided to permit access to
the
compartment of the outer structure 24 and a removal of the container 26
therefrom.
It is understood that the closing mechanism 28 can be any closing mechanism as
desired such as a zipper, a snap, a hook and loop fastener, hooks and eyes,
and
the like, for example. The outer structure 24 may also include at least one
attachment element 30 such as hook tape, loop tape, a clasp, and the like, for
example, which cooperates with the cushion 12 to releaseably secure the
support
pillow 14 to the cushion 12 and maintain the position of the support pillow 14
during
use of the therapeutic apparatus 10.
[0020] In use, the user transports the therapeutic apparatus 10 by the handle
16
of the cushion 12 and positions the therapeutic apparatus 10 in a preferred
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seating arrangement. The support pillow 14 is then releaseably secured using
the attachment element 30 or disposed within the pocket 20 of the cushion 12
at
a desired location on the cushion 12 such as in a lumbar region, for example.
If
the user seeks to apply heat or cold to a desired area of the body, the entire
support pillow 14 including the thermal material 22 may be placed either in
the
heating device or the cooling device to reach a desired temperature. Once the
desired temperature is reached, the entire support pillow 14 is then placed
onto
the cushion 12 or in the desired pocket 20 of the cushion 12 to provide a
heating
or a cooling to the desired area of the body of the user.
10[0021] Alternatively, the support pillow 14 may be provided with the
container 26
for housing the thermal material 22. The container 26, including the thermal
material 22, may be heated or cooled to the desired temperature and placed
within the support pillow 14. The entire support pillow 14 is then placed onto
the
cushion 12 or in the desired pocket 20 of the cushion 12 to provide a heating
or a
cooling to the desired area of the body of the user.
[0022] In accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, the present
invention has been described in what is considered to represent its preferred
embodiment. However, it should be noted that the invention can be practiced
otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described without departing
from its
spirit or scope.
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