Posture enhancement device

Abstract

A device for enhancing the posture of a seated person using a personal viewing item can be placed on and supported by at least a portion of the user's lap or some other support surface, such as a table. The posture enhancement device can facilitate or otherwise force the user in positioning his hands at or above the level of the sternum. As a result, the user's head is kept up and in line with his hands and/or the personal viewing item held in the user's hands. As a result, the user's spine is kept in a neutral position, and the seated user achieves a more ergonomically correct posture when using a personal viewing item. A downward angle of the head is avoided, thereby minimizing future long term health issues that can develop from prolonged periods in such an incorrect posture.

1 . A posture enhancement system comprising:
 a posture enhancement device having a body with a base portion including a lap surface, an upper region including an upper end, and a forearm sidewall tapered from about 45 degrees to about 89 degrees relative to the lap surface, the base portion including an upturn lip that extends about at least a portion of the base portion of the posture enhancement device, wherein the upturn lip defines an elbow channel,   whereby a seated user having a sternum, a first arm with a first elbow, a first forearm and a first hand can engage the posture enhancement device so that the first elbow is received in the elbow channel and so that a majority of the first forearm is supported by forearm sidewall such that the first hand of the user is forced into a location that is at or above the sternum of the user.   
   
   
       2 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 1  wherein the posture enhancement device is made of at least one of viscoelastic foam material, memory foam, plastic, rubber, vinyl, leather, canvas, cloth, cotton, latex, styrofoam, polyurethane foam chips, down, bamboo or polyester. 
   
   
       3 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 1  wherein the height of the posture enhancement device is adjustable. 
   
   
       4 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 1  wherein the posture enhancement device has an associated longitudinal axis, wherein the posture enhancement device is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       5 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 1  further including a forearm recess provided in the body, the forearm recess opening to the forearm sidewall of the posture enhancement device, whereby at least a portion of the first forearm can be received in the forearm recess. 
   
   
       6 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 5  wherein at least a portion of the forearm recess is sloped from about 45 to about 90 degrees relative to the lap surface. 
   
   
       7 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 1  wherein the posture enhancement device weighs less than about 2 pounds. 
   
   
       8 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 1  in combination with a personal viewing item, whereby the personal viewing item is held by the first hand of the user which is proximate the upper end of the posture enhancement device such that the personal viewing item is at or above the sternum of the user. 
   
   
       9 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 8  wherein the personal viewing item is one of a book, a newspaper, a magazine, a cell phone, a portable communication device, a portable entertainment device, a portable electronic device, a portable music device, a game, a portable DVD player, a camera or an iPod. 
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the personal viewing item is spaced above the upper end of the posture enhancement device. 
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the personal viewing item is at least partially supported by the upper end of the posture enhancement device. 
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 8  wherein at least a portion of the personal viewing item is received in an item recess is the upper region of the posture enhancement device. 
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the posture enhancement device includes a protrusion extending at least partially across the lap surface and extending away from the lap surface, whereby the protrusion is received between legs of the user. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the posture enhancement device includes a lap recess in the lap surface, whereby the lap recess receives a least a portion of a lap of the seated user. 
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the posture enhancement device includes an interior chamber and an inflation port in fluid communication with the interior chamber, whereby the posture enhancement device is selectively inflatable. 
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the body is generally conical. 
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the upper end of the posture enhancement device is generally hemispherical. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the posture enhancement device includes a body recess, whereby the body recess receives at least a portion of an abdomen of the user. 
   
   
       20 . A posture enhancement system comprising:
 a posture enhancement device having a generally conical body with a base portion including a lap surface, an upper region including a generally hemispherical upper end, and a forearm sidewall tapered from about 45 degrees to about 89 degrees relative to the lap surface, the base portion including an upturn lip that extends about at least a portion of the base portion of the posture enhancement device, wherein the upturn lip defines an elbow channel, wherein the posture enhancement device has an associated longitudinal axis, wherein the posture enhancement device is substantially symmetrical about the longitudinal axis, and wherein the posture enhancement device weighs less than about 2 pounds,   whereby a seated user having a sternum, a first arm with a first elbow, a first forearm and a first hand can engage the posture enhancement device so that the first elbow is received in the elbow channel and so that a majority of the first forearm is supported by forearm sidewall such that the first hand of the user is forced into a location that is at or above the sternum of the user.   
   
   
       21 . The posture enhancement system of  claim 20  wherein the posture enhancement device is made of at least one of viscoelastic foam material, memory foam, plastic, rubber, vinyl, leather, canvas, cloth, cotton, latex, styrofoam, polyurethane foam chips, down, bamboo or polyester. 
   
   
       22 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the posture enhancement device includes a protrusion extending at least partially across the lap surface and extending away from the lap surface, whereby the protrusion is received between legs of the user. 
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the posture enhancement device includes a lap recess in the lap surface, whereby the lap recess receives a least a portion of a lap of the seated user. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the posture enhancement device includes an interior chamber and an inflation port in fluid communication with the interior chamber, whereby the posture enhancement device is selectively inflatable. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 20  wherein the posture enhancement device includes a body recess, whereby the body recess receives at least a portion of an abdomen of the user.