Therapeutic lounge chair and method therefor

Abstract

A therapeutic lounge chair having a head rest portion that is vertically adjustable relative to a lower-body supporting portion and defines a substantially oval-shaped opening dimensioned to receive a human face when a person is lying on the lounge chair in a prone position in order to eliminate the strain on the spine and neck of a person.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A therapeutic lounge chair comprising, in combination: 
 a lower-body supporting portion having a foot end and a head end; and    a head rest portion coupled to said head end of said lower-body supporting portion, said head rest portion defines a substantially oval-shaped opening dimensioned to receive a human face when a person is lying on said lounge chair in a prone position, said head rest portion is vertically adjustable relative to said lower-body supporting portion of said lounge chair.    
     
     
         2 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 1  further comprising a substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow defining a hollow portion in a center area thereof and dimensioned to receive a human face, said substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow is coupled to said head rest portion proximate said substantially oval-shaped opening so that said hollow area of said inflatable pillow and said substantially oval-shaped opening of said head rest are aligned with one another.  
     
     
         3 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 2  wherein said substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow and said head rest portion of said lounge chair form a one-piece assembly.  
     
     
         4 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 2  wherein said inflatable pillow is comprised of rubber.  
     
     
         5 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 2  wherein said inflatable pillow is comprised of vinyl.  
     
     
         6 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 2  wherein said inflatable pillow comprises an air receiving valve dimensioned to receive air from a mouth of a person in order to inflate said inflatable pillow.  
     
     
         7 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 2  wherein said inflatable pillow comprises an air receiving valve dimensioned to receive air from a pressurized air source in order to inflate said inflatable pillow.  
     
     
         8 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 1  further comprising a face rest cover coupled to said head rest portion and dimensioned to cover said substantially oval-shaped opening in order to support a back portion of a head of a person when a person is lying on said lounge chair in a supine position.  
     
     
         9 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 2  further comprising a face rest cover coupled to said head rest portion and dimensioned to cover said substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow in order to support a back portion of a head of a person when a person is lying on said lounge chair in a supine position.  
     
     
         10 . The therapeutic lounge chair of  claim 1  wherein said head rest portion of said lounge chair is vertically adjustable between a range of motion of 95 degrees and 180 degrees relative to said lower-body supporting portion of said lounge chair.  
     
     
         11 . A method for maintaining spinal alignment in a lounge chair while in a prone position, comprising, in combination, the steps of: 
 providing a lower-body supporting portion;    providing a head rest portion, said head rest portion defines a substantially oval-shaped opening dimensioned to receive a human face when a person is lying on said lounge chair in a prone position, said head rest portion is vertically adjustable relative to said lower-body supporting portion of said lounge chair; and    lying in a prone position on said lounge chair with said face proximate said substantially oval-shaped opening of said head rest portion.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow defining a hollow portion in a center area thereof and dimensioned to receive a human face, said substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow is coupled to said head rest portion proximate said substantially oval-shaped opening so that said hollow area of said inflatable pillow and said substantially oval-shaped opening of said head rest are aligned with one another; and  
 lying in a prone position on said lounge chair with said face proximate said inflatable pillow.  
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow and said head rest portion of said lounge chair form a one-piece assembly.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said inflatable material is comprised of rubber.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said inflatable material is comprised of vinyl.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an air receiving valve coupled to said inflatable pillow and dimensioned to receive air from a mouth of a person in order to inflate said inflatable pillow; and  
 blowing into said air receiving valve until said inflatable pillow is inflated.  
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing an air receiving valve coupled to said inflatable pillow and dimensioned to receive air from a pressurized air source in order to inflate said inflatable pillow; and  
 inflating said inflatable pillow by activating a pressurized flow of air from a pressurized air source.  
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a face rest cover coupled to said head rest portion and dimensioned to cover said substantially oval-shaped opening in order to support a back portion of a head of a person when a person is lying on said lounge chair in a supine position; and  
 securing said face rest cover over said substantially oval-shaped opening.  
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the steps of: 
 providing a face rest cover coupled to said head rest portion and dimensioned to cover said substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow in order to support a back portion of a head of a person when a person is lying on said lounge chair in a supine position; and  
 securing said face rest cover over said substantially oval-shaped inflatable pillow.  
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11  wherein said head rest portion of said lounge chair is vertically adjustable between a range of motion of 95 degrees and 180 degrees relative to said lower-body supporting portion of said lounge chair.