Inflatable cervical cushion

Abstract

An inflatable cervical cushion for providing support to the cervical spine and surrounding cervical musculature of the wearer while seated. The present invention is for an inflatable cervical cushion which adjustably reinforces the neck to support the cervical spine in a proper lordotic position, alleviating neck pain caused by improper posture and fatigue. The cushion encircles the wearer's neck and rests on the wearer's shoulders, and contains a compartment with an inflatable cushion centrally located in the back of the cushion. The inflatable cushion is of a rectangular or oval design which is positioned horizontally in the back of the neck such that the thicker center portion of the cushion supports the cervical spine and the thinner end portions support the surrounding musculature. In addition, there is a vertical extension from the top of the cushion which supports the base of the skull, or occiput, thereby supporting the skull at the same time of supporting the cervical spine. Support is provided when the wearer is seated and the cushion creates pressure between the wearer and the back of a chair. The cushion is inflated by manual means such that the firmness and pressure of the cushion is totally adjustable.

1 . A cervical cushion for supporting the cervical spine and surrounding musculature of the wearer's neck in a lordotic position while the wearer is seated, said support comprising;
 an elongated, circumferentially rigid extending cushion having back portion and a pair of opposed cushion ends adapted to be releasably placed about the person's neck;   a compartment centrally located within the back portion of the cushion and positioned to be centrally adjacent the back of the wearer's neck, said compartment being configured to contain an inflatable bladder;   an inflatable bladder having a length, height and thickness dimension provided inside said compartment, said length dimension of said bladder being positioned in a horizontal direction within the compartment;   pump means for adjustably, manually inflating and deflating said bladder;   tubing means for connecting said pump means with said bladder;   wherein said bladder is configured to expand when manually inflated such that said bladder expansion causes compression between the wearer's neck and the back of a chair or seat, causing pressure on the cervical spine and neck of the wearer; and
 wherein said bladder is configured such that more pressure is exerted on the cervical spine than the surrounding musculature. 
   
   
   
       2 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 1 , wherein said inflatable bladder further comprises an upwardly extending section from about the center of a top surface of the inflatable bladder, configured such that, when inflated, the upwardly extending section expands to a degree that the top center of the cervical cushion comes in contact with the occiput, and thus provides support for the skull at the same time the cervical cushion provides support for the cervical spine and surrounding musculature. 
   
   
       3 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal length dimension of the bladder is greater than the height dimension of the bladder. 
   
   
       4 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 1 , further comprising means for providing vibration in the back portion of the cushion. 
   
   
       5 . A cervical cushion apparatus for supporting the cervical spine and surrounding musculature of the wearer's neck in a lordotic position while the wearer is seated, said support comprising;
 an elongated, circumferentially rigid extending cushion adapted to be releasably placed about the person's neck;   a compartment centrally located within the back portion of the cushion and positioned to be centrally adjacent the back of the wearer's neck when the cushion is properly positioned about the person's neck, said compartment being configured to contain an inflatable bladder;   an inflatable bladder having a front side portion and a back side portion, and length, height and thickness dimensions, said length dimension of said bladder being positioned in a horizontal direction within the compartment;   said inflatable bladder further comprising an upwardly extending section from about the center of a top surface of the inflatable bladder, configured such that, when inflated, the upwardly extending section expands to a degree that the top center of the cervical cushion comes in contact with the occiput, and thus provides support for the skull at the same time the cervical cushion provides support for the cervical spine and surrounding musculature;   means for adjustably, manually inflating and deflating said bladder; wherein said bladder is configured to expand when manually inflated such that said bladder expansion causes compression between the wearer's neck and the back of a chair or seat, causing pressure on the cervical spine and neck of the wearer;   
   
   
       6 . The cervical cushion of  claim 5 , wherein said bladder is configured in a shape such that more pressure is exerted on the cervical spine than the surrounding musculature. 
   
   
       7 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 6 , wherein the horizontal length dimension of the bladder is greater than the height dimension of the bladder. 
   
   
       8 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 6 , wherein said inflatable bladder further comprises an upwardly extending section from about the center of a top surface of the inflatable bladder, configured such that, when inflated, the upwardly extending section expands to a degree that the top center of the cervical cushion comes in contact with the occiput, and thus provides support for the skull at the same time the cervical cushion provides support for the cervical spine and surrounding musculature. 
   
   
       9 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 6  wherein said inflatable bladder is comprised of more than one inflatable section, said inflatable sections being partially separated by baffles. 
   
   
       10 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 9 , wherein said baffles are formed by heat-sealing the front side and back side portions of said inflatable bladder. 
   
   
       11 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 10 , wherein said baffles are configured to regulate the flow of air between said sections. 
   
   
       12 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 10 , wherein the inflatable bladder further comprises first, second and third inflatable sections, wherein said second section is located between said first and third sections, and said first and second sections and said second and third sections are separated by said baffles. 
   
   
       13 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second compartment centrally located on a front surface of the back portion of the cushion and positioned to be located adjacent the back of the wearer's neck when the cervical cushion is properly positioned about the wearer's neck. 
   
   
       14 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 13  wherein said second compartment is configured as a pocket to contain an item, said pocket containing an opening on the top or side. 
   
   
       15 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 13  wherein said second compartment is configured as a pocket to contain a cold pack or a heating pack. 
   
   
       16 . The cervical cushion according to  claim 5 , wherein said inflatable bladder further comprises an upwardly extending section from about the center of a top surface of the inflatable bladder, configured such that, when inflated, the upwardly extending section expands to a degree that the top center of the cervical cushion comes in contact with the occiput, and thus provides support for the skull at the same time the cervical cushion provides support for the cervical spine and surrounding musculature. 
   
   
       17 . A method of achieving a proper lordosis of the cervical spine while seated, comprising the steps of;
 fastening a cervical cushion around one's neck, said cervical cushion comprising;
 an elongated, circumferentially extending cushion portion having a pair of opposed cushion ends adapted to be releasably placed about the person's neck; 
 a compartment centrally located within the cushion portion and positioned to be centrally adjacent the back of the wearer's neck when the cervical cushion is properly positioned about the wearer's neck, said compartment being configured to contain an inflatable bladder; 
 an inflatable bladder having a length, width and thickness dimension provided inside said compartment, said length dimension of said bladder being positioned in a horizontal direction within the compartment; 
 pump means for adjustably, manually inflating and deflating said bladder; 
 tubing means for connecting said pump means with said bladder; 
 wherein said bladder is configured to expand when manually inflated such that said bladder expansion causes compression between the back of the wearer's neck and the back of a chair or seat, causing pressure on the cervical spine and neck of the wearer; and wherein said bladder is configured in a shape such that more pressure is exerted on the cervical spine than the surrounding musculature; and 
   manually inflating said bladder by operating the pump means until the expansion of the bladder causes a proper lordotic position to be achieved.