Supporting device for a person's back and head area

Abstract

The invention relates to a supporting device for the back and head of a human being. Said device comprises a partial area of a back supporting section at the level of the shoulder blade, a central supporting surface in the region of a vertebral column and open areas which are arranged on the both sides of the central supporting surface in such a way that the shoulder blade regions can be lowered beyond the central supporting area. The invention can be used for furniture for the household or workplace.

1 . A supporting device for a person's back and head area, with a back support section and with a head support section, characterized in that, in a supporting position, a partial area of the back support section has, at the level of shoulder blade areas of the back area, a support surface in a spinal column area and, on both sides of the support surface, open areas which are configured in such a way that the shoulder blade areas can move downward past the support surface. 
   
   
       2 . The supporting device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the head support section and the back support section are separate structural parts which can be fitted to each other for the supporting position, forming the open areas. 
   
   
       3 . The supporting device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the open areas are formed by laterally open recesses of the back support section. 
   
   
       4 . The supporting device as claimed in  claim 3 , characterized in that the recesses can be closed by detachably or movably arranged cover elements. 
   
   
       5 . The supporting device as claimed in  claim 1 , characterized in that the back support section and the head support section are integrated in a rigid support unit. 
   
   
       6 . The supporting device as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the rigid support unit is arranged to be movable between an in particular vertical rest position and an in particular horizontal supporting position. 
   
   
       7 . The supporting device as claimed in  claim 6 , characterized in that the head support section and the back support section are mounted relative to one another so as to be able to be moved between the rest position and the supporting position by guide means. 
   
   
       8 . A home or workplace furniture item or leisure item, characterized in that a supporting device as claimed in  claim 1  is provided. 
   
   
       9 . The home or workplace furniture item or leisure item as claimed in  claim 8 , configured as a set and/or couch. 
   
   
       10 . An add-on unit with a head support section and a spacer part and with at least one connection element for securing the add-on unit to a surface part, the spacer part being configured as a support surface for a spinal column area, and the securing being done such that the surface part as back support section serves for the overall creation of a supporting device as claimed in  claim 1 . 
   
   
       11 . A method of stretching the chest area by using a longitudinally elongate supporting device, said method comprising:
 providing a longitudinally elongate supporting device including a head support section and a back support section, said back support section defining a first support surface disposed at the level of shoulder blade areas of a person, and a second support surface, said first support surface being disposed between said head support section and said second support surface, said first and second support surfaces each having a width dimension defined transversely relative to a longitudinal central axis of said supporting device and said second support surface having a longitudinal dimension defined parallel to the central longitudinal axis of said supporting device, said first support surface defining a pair of areas which open sidewardly outwardly on opposite sides of said back support section for receiving the respective shoulder blade areas of the person, each said area having an innermost edge defined by an outer longitudinal edge of said first support surface and located adjacent the central longitudinal axis, said width dimension of said first support surface being defined transversely between said innermost edges of said areas and being significantly less than said width dimension of said second support surface, said width dimension of said first support surface being sufficiently narrow so that said first support surface supports substantially only a spinal column region of the person to permit the respective shoulder blade areas of the person to move downwardly below said first support surface without meeting any substantial resistance from said supporting device, said longitudinal dimension and said width dimension of said second support surface being of a dimension sufficient for fully supporting the person's thoracic region, said areas each having a maximum width dimension extending transversely between the respective said innermost edge to an outer extent in longitudinal alignment with an outer longitudinal edge of said second support surface, said width dimension of each said area being greater than said width dimension of said first support surface;   lying on said supporting device with the back positioned in direct supportive engagement with said supporting device;   positioning the head on said head support section;   positioning the back on said back support section with the spinal column region on said first support surface of said back support section, the thoracic region on said second support surface of said back support section, and the shoulder blade areas over the respective said areas such that the shoulder blade areas do not meet any substantial resistance from said supporting device when the arms are extended sidewardly and then moved downwardly; and   performing a stretching exercise by extending the arms horizontally sidewardly with the palms facing upward, and then allowing the arms to move downwardly under their inherent weight so as to move the shoulder blade areas downwardly into the respective areas, thereby stretching the chest area.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein said step of providing said supporting device comprises providing said head support section with a width dimension defined transversely relative to the longitudinal central axis of said supporting device, said width dimension of said head support section being greater than said width dimension of said first support surface. 
   
   
       13 . A method of stretching the chest area by using a longitudinally elongate supporting device, said method comprising:
 providing a longitudinally elongate supporting device including a head support section defining a flat head support surface and a back support section, said back support section defining a first flat support surface disposed at the level of shoulder blade areas of a person, and a second flat support surface, said first support surface being disposed between said head support surface and said second support surface, said head support surface and said first and second support surfaces all lying within a common horizontal plane, said first and second support surfaces each having a width dimension defined transversely relative to a longitudinal central axis of said supporting device and said second support surface having a longitudinal dimension defined parallel to the central longitudinal axis of said supporting device, said first support surface defining a pair of areas which open sidewardly outwardly on opposite sides of said back support section for receiving the respective shoulder blade areas of the person, each said area having an innermost edge defined by an outer longitudinal edge of said first support surface and located adjacent the central longitudinal axis, said width dimension of said first support surface being defined transversely between said innermost edges of said areas and being significantly less than said width dimension of said second support surface, said width dimension of said first support surface being sufficiently narrow so that said first support surface supports substantially only a spinal column region of the person and said areas being unobstructed sidewardly outwardly in a direction away from the central axis and being unobstructed downwardly in a direction transverse to the common plane to permit the respective shoulder blade areas and the arms of the person in respective sidewardly outwardly extended positions generally parallel to the common plane to move downwardly below the common plane without meeting any substantial resistance from said supporting device, said width dimension of said second support surface, longitudinally between a location on said second support surface corresponding axially to a hip area of a person and a location on said second support surface immediately axially adjacent the respective said areas in which the shoulder blade areas are positioned, being of a dimension sufficient for fully supporting the width of person's thoracic region while lying on the back, said areas each having a maximum width dimension extending transversely between the respective said innermost edge to an outer extent in longitudinal alignment with an outer longitudinal edge of said second support surface, said width dimension of each said area being greater than said width dimension of said first support surface;   lying on said supporting device with the back positioned in direct supportive engagement with said supporting device;   positioning the head on said flat head support surface of said head support section;   positioning the back on said back support section with the spinal column region on said first flat support surface of said back support section, the thoracic region on said second flat support surface of said back support section, and the shoulder blade areas over the respective said areas; and   thereafter performing a stretching exercise comprising:
 fully extending the arms; 
 thereafter positioning the fully extended arms horizontally sidewardly outwardly generally parallel to the common plane with the palms facing upward; 
 thereafter allowing the arms and the respective shoulder blade areas to move downwardly into the respective said areas and below the common plane under their inherent weight without meeting any substantial resistance from said supporting device and thereby stretching the chest area and improving the posture. 
   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein said step of providing said supporting device comprises providing said head support section with a width dimension defined transversely relative to the longitudinal central axis of said supporting device, said width dimension of said head support section being greater than said width dimension of said first support surface. 
   
   
       15 . A method of stretching the chest area using a longitudinally elongate supporting device defining a longitudinal axis and having a head support section, and a back support section having a thoracic support surface and a narrow-width support surface located axially between the head support section and the thoracic support surface and including a pair of recesses on opposite sides thereof, said method comprising the steps of:
 lying on the supporting device with the back positioned in direct supportive engagement with the supporting device;   positioning the head on the head support section;   positioning the back on the back support section with the spinal column region supported on the narrow-width support surface, the shoulder blade areas positioned over the respective recesses, and the thoracic region supported on the thoracic support surface;   fully extending the arms;   positioning the fully extended arms horizontally sidewardly outwardly with the palms facing upward; and   lowering the arms and the associated shoulder areas downwardly into the respective recesses and below the support surfaces of the back support section, thereby stretching the chest area and improving the posture.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of lowering the arms is performed after said step of positioning the fully extended arms horizontally sidewardly outwardly. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of lowering the arms comprises allowing the arms and the associated shoulder areas to move downwardly under their inherent weight. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of positioning the fully extended arms comprises positioning the fully extended arms horizontally sidewardly outwardly generally parallel to a plane in which the support surfaces of the back support section are disposed. 
   
   
       19 . A method of stretching the chest area using a supporting device, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a longitudinally elongate supporting device defining a longitudinal axis and having a head support section, and a back support section having a thoracic support surface and a narrow-width support surface located axially between the head support section and the thoracic support surface and including a pair of recesses on opposite sides thereof, said method comprising the steps of:   lying on the supporting device with the back positioned in direct supportive engagement with the supporting device;   positioning the head on the head support section;   positioning the back on the back support section with the spinal column region supported on the narrow-width support surface, the shoulder blade areas positioned over the respective recesses, and the thoracic region supported on the thoracic support surface;   fully extending the arms;   positioning the fully extended arms horizontally sidewardly outwardly with the palms facing upward; and   lowering the arms and the associated shoulder areas downwardly into the respective recesses and below the support surfaces of the back support section, thereby stretching the chest area and improving the posture.