Foldable Prone Support

Abstract

A device is disclosed that provides for relaxation and back stretching. In particular, the device allows the user to assume a position similar to the prone fetal position, often referred to as the “balasana” or “child's pose” in yoga. The device provides additional advantages over traditional ways of assuming the “child's pose” by providing support for the user's body which relieves the stress caused at the point of contact between the floor and the user's feet, knees and ankles. A cavity is disposed for accommodating the user's face, allowing for comfortable breathing. Further, the facial cavity supports the user's head in such a way as to align the spine while stretching. The device of the invention utilizes gravity to enhance the stretch of the user's back and spine over the traditional “child's pose” without placing the user of the device in an unnatural or uncomfortable position. The device folds into an aesthetically pleasing cube for easy storage or for use as a support surface for sitting or as a table.

1 . A substantially wedge-shaped body support device for stretching the back, conformed by two complementary block units comprising:
 i. a first block unit, comprising a first block unit top planar surface, a first block unit bottom planar surface, a first block unit first vertical surface disposed between a base end of the first block unit top planar surface and the first block unit bottom planar surface, and a first block unit second vertical surface situated between the opposing end of the first block unit top planar surface and the first block unit bottom planar surface, wherein the first block unit first vertical surface is of a substantially lower height than the first block unit second vertical surface; and   ii. a second block unit, comprising a second block unit top planar surface, a second block unit bottom planar surface, a second block unit first vertical surface disposed between one end of the second block unit top planar surface and the second block unit bottom planar surface, and a second block unit second vertical surface situated between the opposing upper end of the second block unit top planar surface and the second block unit bottom planar surface, wherein the second block unit first vertical surface is of a substantially lower height than the second block unit second vertical surface,   iii. wherein the first block unit second vertical surface is of substantially the same height as and releasably mates with the second block unit first vertical surface to conform a unitary device comprising the first block unit and the second block unit,   iv. wherein further the first block unit top planar surface and the second block unit top planar surface form a substantially contiguous integral top planar surface of the device,   v. wherein further the first block unit bottom planar surface and the second block unit bottom planar surface form a substantially contiguous integral bottom planar surface of the device,   vi. wherein the first block unit top planar surface comprises a face cavity,   vii. wherein further the second block unit second vertical surface comprises a thigh cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 1 , wherein the second block unit second vertical surface is sized to be shorter than the extended length of the leg and shorter than the length of the thigh of a user of the device. 
     
     
         3 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 2 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of separate pieces. 
     
     
         4 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 3 , wherein the first block unit and the second block unit are linked by means of a hinge system in such a way that when the first block unit and the second block unit are rotated around the hinge such the first block unit top planar surface mates with the complementary second block unit top planar surface to form substantially a cube shape with a flat top surface. 
     
     
         5 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 4 , wherein the first block unit and the second block unit are releasably attached. 
     
     
         6 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 4 , wherein the face cavity further comprises a forehead support surface and a chin support surface. 
     
     
         7 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 6 , wherein the thigh cavity accommodates the user's thighs and knees. 
     
     
         8 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 7 , wherein the first block unit vertical surface and the second block unit vertical surface are substantially vertical between the integral top planar surface of the device and the integral bottom planar surface of the device. 
     
     
         9 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 8 , wherein the top planar surface of the device is substantially planar and sloped downward from the upper end of the second block unit second vertical surface to the base end of the first block unit first vertical surface. 
     
     
         10 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 7 , wherein the device comprises a cover. 
     
     
         11 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 10 , wherein the device is inflatable, comprises a wood or metal frame, is solid, or is substantially hollow in the interior of the device. 
     
     
         12 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 10 , comprising wood, fabric, plastic, vinyl, fiberglass, synthetic foam or natural foam, rubber or cork. 
     
     
         13 . The substantially wedge-shaped device of  claim 12 , comprising ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         14 . A method of stretching the back of a user, comprising:
 a. situating the body of a user prone and face down along a top planar surface of a wedge shaped device, wherein the device comprises:
 i. a first block unit, comprising a first block unit top planar surface, a first block unit bottom planar surface, a first block unit first vertical surface disposed between a base end of the first block unit top planar surface and the first block unit bottom planar surface, and a first block unit second vertical surface situated between the opposing end of the first block unit top planar surface and the first block unit bottom planar surface, wherein the first block unit first vertical surface is of a substantially lower height than the first block unit second vertical surface; and 
 ii. a second block unit, comprising a second block unit top planar surface, a second block unit bottom planar surface, a second block unit first vertical surface disposed between one end of the second block unit top planar surface and the second block unit bottom planar surface, and a second block unit second vertical surface situated between the opposing upper end of the second block unit top planar surface and the second block unit bottom planar surface, wherein the second block unit first vertical surface is of a substantially lower height than the second block unit second vertical surface, 
 iii. wherein the first block unit second vertical surface is of substantially the same height as and releasably mates with the second block unit first vertical surface to conform a unitary device comprising the first block unit and the second block unit, 
 iv. wherein further the first block unit top planar surface and the second block unit top planar surface form a substantially contiguous integral top planar surface of the device, 
 v. wherein further the first block unit bottom planar surface and the second block unit bottom planar surface form a substantially contiguous integral bottom planar surface of the device, 
 vi. wherein the first block unit top planar surface comprises a face cavity, 
 vii. wherein further the second block unit second vertical surface comprises a thigh cavity; 
   b. situating the trunk of the user such that it is substantially supported at the pelvic area at the edge formed between the second block unit top planar surface and the second block unit second vertical surface;   c. disposing the face of the user in the face cavity, wherein the chin of the user is supported by a chin support disposed in the face cavity and the forehead of the user is supported by a forehead support disposed in the face cavity, and the head of the user is pulled toward the first block unit base end by the force of gravity;   d. allowing the legs, knees and buttocks of the user to hang from the pelvic area, pulled by the force of gravity; and   e. substantially maintaining this position to stretch the back and spine of the user.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the second block unit second vertical surface is sized to be shorter than the extended length of the leg and shorter than the length of the thigh of a user of the device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the device comprises a plurality of separate pieces. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first block unit and the second block unit are linked by means of a hinge system in such a way that when the first block unit and the second block unit are rotated around the hinge the first block unit top planar surface mates with the complementary second block unit top planar surface to form substantially a cube shape with a flat top surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the thigh cavity accommodates the user's thighs and knees. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the first and second block units, first and second vertical surfaces are substantially vertical between the integral top planar surface of the device and the integral bottom planar surface of the device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the device comprises ethylene vinyl acetate.