Support device for supporting a body, in particular a human body

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for supporting a body or part of a body, in particular a human body, said device comprising a support element ( 2 ) including a seat ( 3 ) and a peripheral sidewall ( 4 ), such as to define a housing ( 5 ) having a bottom ( 6 ) and a peripheral side face ( 7 ), and a pneumatic element ( 9 ) comprising a base ( 10 ) and inflatable cells ( 11 ) fitted inside the housing ( 5 ) and extending between the bottom ( 6 ) of the housing and the base ( 10 ) of the pneumatic element ( 9 ). According to the invention, the peripheral sidewall ( 4 ) comprises at least one inner retaining bead ( 8 ) at a distance from the bottom ( 6 ) of the housing ( 5 ), and, when inflated, at least some of the inflatable cells ( 11 a ) adjacent to the retaining bead ( 8 a) can be engaged laterally between the retaining bead ( 8 ) and the bottom ( 6 ) of the housing ( 5 ).

1 . A support device for supporting a body or part of a body, in particular a human body, comprising a support element ( 2 ) made of a deformable material and comprising a seat ( 3 ) and a peripheral side wall ( 4 ) projecting from one side of this seat top surface so as to delimit a recess ( 5 ) having a roof ( 6 ) and a peripheral side face ( 7 ), and a pneumatic element ( 9 ) comprising a base ( 10 ) and a plurality of inflatable cells ( 11 ) projecting from one side of the base and located next to one another in a grid pattern of lines and columns, the inflatable cells ( 11 ) engaging in the recess ( 5 ) and extending between the roof ( 6 ) of said recess and the base ( 10 ) of the pneumatic element ( 9 );
 in which the peripheral side wall ( 4 ) of the support element ( 2 ) comprises at least one inward-projecting retaining bead ( 8 ) located at a distance from the roof ( 6 ) of the recess ( 5 ) such that the peripheral side face ( 7 ) of the recess ( 5 ) has at least one setback portion ( 7   a ), at least some of the inflatable cells ( 11   a ) that are adjacent to said retaining bead ( 8 ) being able, when inflated, to engage laterally between this retaining bead ( 8 ) and the roof ( 6 ) of the recess ( 5 ) and to hold the pneumatic element ( 9 ) along the periphery or the perimeter of this recess.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said retaining bead ( 8 ) comprises local portions respectively extending over part of the length of the peripheral side face ( 7 ) of said recess ( 5 ). 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which said retaining bead ( 8 ) extends over the entire length of the peripheral side face ( 7 ) of said recess ( 5 ). 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the base ( 10 ) of the pneumatic element ( 9 ) has an edge ( 10   a ) extending over an end face ( 4   a ) of the peripheral side wall ( 4 ) of the support element ( 2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , in which the pneumatic element ( 9 ) comprises at least one conduit ( 13 ) connected to at least one inflatable cell and passing through the peripheral side wall ( 4 ) of the support element ( 2 ). 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a lower support plate ( 17 ) made of a deformable material, which covers the base ( 10 ) of the pneumatic element ( 9 ) and the end face ( 4   a ) of the peripheral wall ( 4 ) of the support element ( 2 ). 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising an outer cover ( 18 ).