Body support that promotes upright posture

Abstract

A body support ( 10 ) for supporting a user above a support surface ( 12 ) includes a support member ( 16 ) that is formed from a resilient material. The support member ( 16 ) includes a substantially flat first surface ( 18 ) and a substantially flat second surface ( 20 ) that is angled relative to the first surface ( 18 ). One of the first surface ( 18 ) and the second surface ( 20 ) can have a continuously curved perimeter. The first surface ( 18 ) has a first surface area and the second surface ( 20 ) has a second surface area that can be similar to the first surface area. The support member ( 16 ) includes a third surface ( 22 ) having a first region ( 23 ) that is approximately perpendicular to the first surface ( 18 ) and the second surface ( 20 ), and a second region ( 25 ) that is non-perpendicular to both the first surface ( 18 ) and the second surface ( 20 ). The support member ( 16 ) can be substantially symmetrical relative to a latitudinal plane ( 28 ) that is positioned between the first surface ( 18 ) and the second surface ( 20 ). One of the first surface ( 18 ) and the second surface ( 20 ) is substantially circular or elliptical in shape.

1 . A body support for supporting a user above a support surface, the body support comprising:
 a support member that is formed from a resilient material, the support member including (i) a substantially flat first surface that is adapted to be positioned adjacent to the support surface, (ii) a substantially flat second surface that is angled relative to the first surface, the second surface being spaced-apart from the first surface, wherein one of the first surface and the second surface has a continuously curved perimeter.   
   
   
       2 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the support member is formed substantially from a memory foam material. 
   
   
       3 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the first surface has a first surface area and the second surface has a second surface area that is substantially similar to the first surface area. 
   
   
       4 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the support member is substantially symmetrical relative to a latitudinal plane that is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. 
   
   
       5 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the support member has a maximum height and a minimum height, each height being measured in a direction directly between the second surface and the support surface when the first surface is lying flat on the support surface, the minimum height being at least 50 percent of the maximum height. 
   
   
       6 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the support member includes a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface, the third surface having a substantially circular cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       7 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the support member includes a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface, the third surface having a substantially elliptical cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       8 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the support member includes a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface, the third surface having a maximum width and a minimum width, each width being measured in a direction directly between the first surface and the second surface, the minimum width being at least approximately 50 percent of the maximum width. 
   
   
       9 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the support member includes a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface, the third surface having a perimeter having a first region that is approximately perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface, and a second region that is non-perpendicular to both the first surface and the second surface. 
   
   
       10 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein one of the first surface and the second surface is substantially elliptical in shape. 
   
   
       11 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the first surface and the second surface are each circular in shape. 
   
   
       12 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein a cross-section of the support member has an isosceles trapezoidal configuration. 
   
   
       13 . The body support of  claim 1  wherein the first surface is angled by at least approximately 10 percent relative to the second surface. 
   
   
       14 . A body support for supporting a body relative to a support surface, the body support comprising:
 a support member including (i) a substantially flat first surface having a first surface area, (ii) a spaced-apart, substantially flat second surface that is angled relative to the first surface, the second surface having a second surface area that is substantially similar to the first surface area.   
   
   
       15 . The body support of  claim 14  wherein the support member includes a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface, the third surface having a continuously curved perimeter that includes a first region that is approximately perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface, and a second region that is non-perpendicular to both the first surface and the second surface. 
   
   
       16 . The body support of  claim 14  wherein the support member is substantially symmetrical relative to a latitudinal plane that is positioned between the first surface and the second surface. 
   
   
       17 . The body support of  claim 14  wherein the support member has a maximum height and a minimum height, each height being measured in a direction directly between the second surface and the support surface when the first surface is lying flat on the support surface, the minimum height being at least 50 percent of the maximum height. 
   
   
       18 . The body support of  claim 14  wherein one of the first surface and the second surface is substantially elliptical in shape. 
   
   
       19 . The body support of  claim 14  wherein the first surface and the second surface are each circular in shape. 
   
   
       20 . The body support of  claim 14  wherein a cross-section of the support member has an isosceles trapezoidal configuration. 
   
   
       21 . A body support for supporting a body relative to a support surface, the body support comprising:
 a support member including (i) a substantially flat first surface, (ii) a spaced-apart, substantially flat second surface that is angled relative to the first surface, and (iii) a third surface that extends between the first surface and the second surface, the third surface including a first region that is approximately perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface, and a second region that is non-perpendicular to both the first surface and the second surface.   
   
   
       22 . The body support of  claim 21  wherein the third surface has a continuously curved perimeter. 
   
   
       23 . The body support of  claim 21  wherein one of the first surface and the second surface is substantially elliptical in shape. 
   
   
       24 . The body support of  claim 21  wherein the first surface and the second surface are each circular in shape. 
   
   
       25 . The body support of  claim 21  wherein a cross-section of the support member has an isosceles trapezoidal configuration. 
   
   
       26 . The body support of  claim 21  wherein the first surface has a first surface area and the second surface has a second surface area that is substantially similar to the first surface area. 
   
   
       27 . The body support of  claim 21  wherein the support member is substantially symmetrical relative to a latitudinal plane that is positioned between the first surface and the second surface.