Body support device

Abstract

A body support assembly ( 1 ) capable of providing a fitting feeling to a user according to the user's body shape by holding the shape thereof matching the user's body shape. The body support assembly ( 1 ) comprises a supporting member ( 4 ) including a plurality of granulated materials ( 2 ) coated with a moisture-curable resin, and a stretchable cloth ( 3 ) covering the supporting member ( 4 ). The body support assembly ( 1 ) is used such that the cloth ( 3 ) is allowed to come in contact with the portion of the user's body so as to allow the granulated materials ( 2 ) to move relative to one another, and thus the supporting member ( 4 ) is deformed in a shape matching the portion of the user's body. Then, the moisture-curable resin is cured. The relative movements of the granulated materials ( 2 ) in the supporting member ( 4 ) are controlled by a frame ( 5 ) embracing an outer peripheral edge of the supporting member ( 4 ).

1 . A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable by press and covering said supporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: 
 said body support assembly further comprises a control means for controlling relative movements of said granulated materials, said control means defining a contour of said body support assembly; and    said control means comprises a frame embracing an outer peripheral edge of said supporting member.    
     
     
         2 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         3 . A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable by press and covering said supporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: 
 said body support assembly further comprises a control means for controlling relative movements of said granulated materials, said control means defining a contour of said body support assembly;    said moisture permeable member comprises a molded container having flexibility and moisture permeability; and    said control means is arranged so as to cover said supporting member from one side thereof with said molded container and seal off an open side of said molded container.    
     
     
         4 . A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable by press and covering said supporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: 
 said body support assembly further comprises a control means for controlling relative movements of said granulated materials, said control means defining a contour of said body support assembly;    said moisture permeable member comprises molded containers each having flexibility and moisture permeability; and    said control means is arranged so as to cover a whole circumference of said supporting member with said molded containers.    
     
     
         5 . A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable by press and covering said supporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: 
 said body support assembly further comprises a control means for controlling relative movements of said granulated materials, said control means defining a contour of said body support assembly;    said moisture permeable member comprises a hardening layer of said granulated materials coated with said moisture-curable resin, said granulated materials being hardened in a predetermined shape as a whole; and    said control means has said hardening layer.    
     
     
         6 . A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member being deformable by press and covering said supporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: 
 said body support assembly further comprises a control means for controlling relative movements of said granulated materials, said control means defining a contour of said body support assembly;    said moisture permeable member comprises moisture permeable flexible sheet members; and    said control means is arranged so as to cover both sides of said supporting member with said sheet members, said sheet members being seamed in grids so as to divide said supporting member into a plurality of sections.    
     
     
         7 . The body support assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said body support assembly further comprises a volume variable means for said supporting member, said volume variable means defining a contour of said supporting member.  
     
     
         8 . A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable by press and covering said supporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: 
 said body support assembly further comprises a volume variable means in said supporting member, said volume variable means defining a contour of said body support assembly;    said volume variable means changes a volume of said supporting member by allowing: 
 at least one side of said supporting member to be covered with a molded container having a predetermined shape;  
 said molded container to be formed with a plurality of open-able sections;  
 an open side of said molded container to be covered with a deformable-by-press moisture permeable member;  
 said moisture permeable member to come in contact with a portion of a user's body in order to deform the supporting member and increase a pressure from said granulated materials inside said supporting member so that said plurality of open-able sections are opened, while said granulated materials are discharged from said opened open-able sections.  
   
     
     
         9 . A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member deformable by press and covering said supporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: 
 said body support assembly further comprises a volume variable means in said supporting member, said volume variable means defining a contour of said body support assembly; and    said volume variable means is provided inside said supporting member and serves as a buffering member absorbing a change of volume of said supporting member.    
     
     
         10 . The body support assembly according to  claim 9 , wherein said buffering member comprises a foamed member.  
     
     
         11 . A body support assembly comprising: a supporting member including a plurality of granulated materials coated with a moisture-curable resin; and a moisture permeable member being deformable by press and covering said supporting member, said body support assembly being used by allowing: said moisture permeable member to contact a portion of a user's body so as to move said granulated materials relative to one another; said supporting member to deform in a shape according to the portion of the user's body; and said moisture-curable resin to cure, wherein: 
 said body support assembly further comprises a control means for controlling relative movements of said granulated materials, said control means defining a contour of said body support assembly; and    said supporting member is arranged to include a foamed member so as to change a volume thereof.    
     
     
         12 . The body support assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said supporting member is provided on a backrest of a seat, said supporting member comprising a waist supporting member and a shoulder supporting member; and    said supporting member is formed such that thickness thereof decreases toward said shoulder supporting member.    
     
     
         13 . The body support assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said supporting member comprises: 
 a backrest corresponding member placed on a backrest of a seat; and    a bottom corresponding member placed on a bottom of said seat.    
     
     
         14 . (Canceled)  
     
     
         15 . The body support assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said supporting member is placed on a backrest of a seat; and    holding members are formed on right and left ends of said supporting member.    
     
     
         16 . The body support assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said supporting member is placed on a bottom of a seat; and    holding members are formed on right and left ends of said supporting member.