Ergonomic Body Support

Abstract

An ergonomic body support comprises a deformable cushion module and a flexible cover closely encasing the cushion module. The cushion module has an undeformed state and forms an undeformed configuration along with the cover in the undeformed state. The undeformed state comprises a pair of substantially identical V-shaped panels, each defining a vertex having a width W 1 and first and second diverging arms. The arms terminate in first and second ends of equal widths W 2 . The panels are equidistantly spaced a height h and the undeformed configuration is symmetric to a central plane through the vertices and equidistantly spaced between the ends. The undeformed configuration has a generally rectangular profile along the arms. The panels each have a boundary length defined by an outer circumference C 1 , an inner circumference C 2 and the ends.

1 . An ergonomic body support comprising:
 a deformable cushion module having a comfort matrix comprising a plurality of discrete comfort zones and having an undeformed state; and   a flexible cover closely encasing said cushion module;   said cushion module and said flexible cover forming an undeformed configuration in said undeformed state comprising:
 a pair of substantially identical V-shaped panels each defining a vertex having a width W 1  and first and second diverging arms terminating in respective first and second ends of equal widths W 2 , said panels generally tapering between said vertex and said first and second ends such that W 1  is wider than W 2 , said panels being equidistantly spaced a height h and said undeformed configuration being symmetric to a central plane through said vertices and equidistantly spaced between said ends and said undeformed configuration has a generally rectangular profile along said arms, each said panel having a boundary length defined by an outer circumference C 1 , an inner circumference C 2  and said first and second ends. 
   
     
     
         2 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein said comfort zones comprise a plurality of vertically oriented layers having differing densities. 
     
     
         3 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 2 , wherein said comfort zones comprise a first and a second comfort zone Z 1  and Z 2 , respectively. 
     
     
         4 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 3 , wherein said first comfort zone Z 1  has a higher density than said second comfort zone Z 2 . 
     
     
         5 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 3 , wherein said first comfort zone Z 1  has a density selected from a range between approximately 2.0 lbs/ft 3  and approximately 6.0 lbs/ft 3  and said second comfort zone Z 2  has a density that is selected from a range between approximately 4.0 lbs/ft 3  to approximately 5.5 lbs/ft 3 . 
     
     
         6 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 3 , wherein the first comfort zone Z 1  has a height h 1  and the second comfort zone Z 2  has a height h 2 . 
     
     
         7 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 6 , wherein h 1  is selected from a range between approximately 2.5 inches and approximately 4 inches, and h 2  is selected from a range between approximately 1 inch and approximately 3 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 3 , wherein said first comfort zone Z 1  comprises latex foam and said second comfort zone Z 2  comprises viscoelastic polyurethane foam. 
     
     
         9 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein said comfort zones comprise vertically oriented layers having differing levels of firmness. 
     
     
         10 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 9 , wherein said discrete comfort zones comprise a first and a second comfort zone Z 1  and Z 2 , respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 10 , wherein said first comfort zone Z 1  has a firmness that is selected from approximately 12 lbs./50 in 2  to approximately 26 lbs./50 in 2  on the Indentation Force Deflection scale at 25% compression, and said second comfort zone Z 2  has a firmness that is selected from a range between approximately 5 lbs./50 in 2  to approximately 18 lbs./50 in 2  on the Indentation Force Deflection scale at 25% compression. 
     
     
         12 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 9 , wherein the first comfort zone Z 1  has a height h 1  and the second comfort zone Z 2 has a height h 2 . 
     
     
         13 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 12 , wherein h 1  is selected from a range between approximately 2.5 inches and approximately 4 inches, and h 2  is selected from a range between approximately 1 inch and approximately 2 inches. 
     
     
         14 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein C 1  is chosen from a range between approximately 42 inches and approximately 66 inches. 
     
     
         15 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein O 2  is chosen from a range between approximately 32 inches and approximately 56 inches. 
     
     
         16 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein W 1  is selected from a range between approximately 6 inches to approximately 8 inches, and W 2  is selected from a range between approximately 5.5 inches to approximately 7 inches. 
     
     
         17 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein h is selected from a range between approximately 3.5 inches and approximately 6 inches. 
     
     
         18 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein the comfort matrix comprises an integrated structure. 
     
     
         19 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein the comfort matrix comprises a plurality of independent comfort zone structures. 
     
     
         20 . The ergonomic body support of  claim 1 , wherein the body support is insertable into a removable case having generally slightly larger dimensions than the cover.