WO2004062442A1

WO2004062442A1 - Knee cushion

Info

Publication number: WO2004062442A1
Application number: PCT/AU2004/000007
Authority: WO
Inventors: Douglas James
Original assignee: Douglas James
Priority date: 2003-01-10
Filing date: 2004-01-08
Publication date: 2004-07-29

Abstract

A knee cushion is adapted to be sandwiched between a user's knees. The cushion has a central region in which the user's knees can reside to prevent the cushion from being easily dislodged when the user is lying on his or her side. The central region of the cushion is completely surrounded by a peripheral region, and at least part of the peripheral region is raised with respect to the central region such that the central region forms a central-depression completely surrounded by the raised parts of the peripheral region. Another aspect of the invention relates to a different knee cushion which has one or two knee-fitting open channels each adapted to allow a user's knee to fit therein. The knee-fitting channel is limited in dimension such that generally only the portion of the user's leg at the knee resides in the channel.

Description

KNEE CUSHION FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to cushions or pillows that are used to support parts of a user's leg during sleep, and has particular, but not exclusive use, in chiropractic applications. PRIOR ART

Pillows or cushions, which are used to support a user's legs, are known in the prior art. When a user sleeps on his or her side, the use of a pillow or cushion between the user's knees assists in keeping the user's spine in a proper alignment.

Figure 1 illustrates a prior art knee cushion which essentially consists of a slab of rectangular foam that is intended to be sandwiched between a user's legs during sleep. A disadvantage of the cushion in Figure 1 is that it can readily be dislodged from between the user's legs during sleep, even when the user remains asleep on his or her side.

Figure 2 illustrates another prior art foam cushion which is sandwiched between the user's knees. In this prior art example, movement or dislodgment of the cushion or pillow from between the user's legs is minimised, because this prior art cushion is provided with a leg strap that attaches the cushion to one of the user's legs. A disadvantage is that it is uncomfortable to use, and hinders the user from shifting position or rolling over onto his or her back during sleep.

Figures 3 and 4 are example of prior art leg pillows which are provided with leg-fitting channels. In use, the user's leg or portion of the leg fits into one of the . channels, the intention being to maintain the pillow in place between the user's legs. A disadvantage is that, because of the leg-fitting channels, the pillow is actually too close fitting on the leg, which can tend to result in the user feeling hot as the pillow heats up through contact with the user's body heat.

The channel-containing pillows fit snugly and tightly on a user's leg and, as a consequence, can tend to remain attached to the user's leg when the user rolls over in his sleep. For instance, if a user begins sleeping on his side, with the channel-containing pillow between his legs, as illustrated in Figure 4, the user would experience problems when he rolls over onto his back. As seen in Figure 4, the channel-containing pillow would tend to remain sandwiched between the knees, such that a bulky portion of the cushion would be positioned under the user's knees when he rolls over to lie on his back. This discomfort may tend to wake the user from sleep. Therefore, in a first aspect of the prior art, there is a need, therefore, for a pillow that can be sandwiched between the user's legs or knees for the period of time when the user is sleeping on his side, but which can be readily dislodged from between the user's legs when the user rolls onto his back particularly during sleep. In another aspect of the prior art, there is a problem that the prior art leg pillow can conform to too great a length of the user's leg. For instance, in the prior art leg pillows of Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, the known pillows have dimensions that result in extended portions of the leg having to engage the pillow. For instance, not only would the knee engage the pillow, but also considerable portions of the thigh and calf portions of the leg. As mentioned above, this can cause unnecessary overheating of the leg, leading to discomfort. It can sometimes contribute to restriction of blood flow in the leg, particularly when the known leg pillow has a tight fit on or around the leg.

An object of each aspect of the present invention is to overcome or ameliorate one or more of the problems in the prior art associated with that aspect, or to provide an improved alternative. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: a first surface adapted to abut one knee, and a second opposed surface adapted to abut the other knee, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a shape and configuration characterised by a central region completely surrounded by a peripheral region, at least a substantial part of the peripheral region being raised with respect to the central region such that the central region forms a central-depression completely surrounded by the raised parts of the peripheral region, wherein, in use, one of the knees resides in the central-depression when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

Preferably, both the first and second surfaces have said shape and configuration. In one embodiment, all parts of the peripheral region may be raised above the central region.

In another embodiment, the cushion may be substantially circular doughnut-shaped having a through-hole through the central region.

The first and second surfaces may be shaped similarly to concave surfaces of a red-blood platelet without a through-hole through the central region.

The peripheral region may be undulating.

A substantial part of the peripheral region that is raised may include a number of upstanding protrusions.

The peripheral region may include intermediate-depressions located between the raised protrusions, the intermediate-depressions allowing air to circulate to the central region of the cushion when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

The intermediate-depressions may be sized smaller than a typical cross- sectional width of a human leg or knee to avoid the knee or portion of the user's leg fitting into the intermediate-depressions.

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Preferably, the peripheral region, which completely surrounds the central region, avoids and is free of any gap that is of sufficient size that could enable the user's knee or leg to fit therethrough.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: a first surface adapted to abut one knee, and a second opposed surface adapted to abut the other knee, the first and/or the second surface having a central-depression completely surrounded by a rim portion, wherein, in use, the user's knee resides in the central-depression when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees. The rim portion may have none or one or more intermediate-depressions that are sized smaller than a typical cross-sectional width of a human leg or knee to avoid the user' knee or portion of the leg fitting into the intermediate- depressions, any of said intermediate-depressions allowing air to circulate to the central region of the cushion when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

The cushion may have side walls that extend between the rims of the first and second surfaces.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: a first surface adapted to abut one knee, and a second opposed surface adapted the other knee, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a shape and configuration characterised by a central region completely surrounded by a peripheral region to form a cradle, wherein, in use, one of the knees resides in the cradle of the central-depression when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

The cushion may be provided with two cradles, one on either side of the cushion such that the user is able to sandwich the cushion between his knees, each knee residing in one of the cradles.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cushion having a channel adapted to receive a portion of a user's leg therein, the channel provided wherein, in use, a user's knee or part of his leg resides in the channel when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's legs, the Ghannel being provided with one or more sub-channels that are sized smaller than a typical cross-sectional width of a human leg or knee to avoid the knee or portion of the user's leg fitting into the sub-channels, the sub-channels allowing air to circulate to the channel when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees in aforesaid manner. According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: a first side having a knee-fitting open channel adapted to receive one knee therein, wherein the knee-fitting channel has a first dimension that corresponds to the height of a user's knee cap to knee pit such that the user's knee can reside snugly in the knee-fitting channel, and wherein the knee-fitting open channel has a second dimension that is limited to the length of the user's leg that is generally under a person's knee cap.

Preferably, the cushion includes a second side opposing the first side, the second side having a further knee-fitting channel adapted to receive the other knee therein, the further knee-fitting channel also having said first and second dimensions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is also provided a knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including one or two knee-fitting open channels each adapted to allow a user's knee to fit therein, the knee-fitting channel being limited in dimension such that generally only the portion of the user's leg at the knee resides in the channel. DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the invention might be more fully understood, embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an example of a prior art cushion adapted to be sandwiched between a user's knees;

Figure 2 is another example of a prior art cushion that is provided with a leg strap;

Figures 3 and 4 are example of prior art leg pillows which are provided with leg-fitting channels;

Figure 5A is an illustration showing the undesirable alignment of a user's back when sleeping on her side; Figure 5B is an illustration showing the superior alignment of the user's back when sleeping on her side, as a result of an embodiment of a cushion of the present invention being sandwiched between her knees;

Figure 6 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 5B; Figure 7A is a plan view of the embodiment of Figure 5B and 6;

Figure 7B is similar to Figure 7A, except that air flow or ventilation is shown notionally with dotted lines;

Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of Figures 5B to 7B, with a cushion cover shown in part;

Figure 9 shows the embodiment of Figures 5B to 8 being sandwiched between a user's knees;

Figures 10 and 11 show further perspective views of the embodiment of Figures 5B to 9; Figure 12 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Figures 10 and 11;

Figure 13 a modified embodiment of a cushion having a rim that completely surrounds a central-depression;

Figure 14 shows another modified embodiment where the cushion is doughnut-shaped; and Figure 15A and 15B are plan and perspective views, respectively, of an embodiment of another aspect of the present invention having knee-fitting channels.

In the drawings of the embodiments, like features are represented by like numerals merely for the sake of ease of understanding the specification. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In order to provide a reference point for describing embodiments of the invention later on, Figure 5A of the accompanying drawings illustrates the alignment of a user's spine when sleeping on her side without any pillow or cushion between her knees. As can be seen in the diagram, the curvature of the user's spine is not straight.

In contrast to Figure 5A, the diagram in Figure 5B shows the alignment of the same user's spine when an embodiment of a knee cushion 100 is sandwiched between inner sides of the user's two knees. As seen in Figure 5B, the alignment of the user's spine is substantially straighter compared to that of Figure 5A. , The embodiment of the cushion in Figure 5B is shown in greater detail in

Figures 6, 7A, 7B, 8 and 9, with Figures 10 and 11 being photographs of working models of the embodiment. In Figure 9, for instance, the embodiment of the cushion includes a first surface 110 that abuts one knee, and a second opposed surface 111 that abuts the other knee. Those two surfaces can be seen in the various views in Figures 6, 7A, 7B and 8. (For the avoidance of doubt, the two surfaces 110, 111 refer to the two general regions that abut the inner sides of the knees when the cushion is sandwiched therebetween, as in Figure 9, and the surfaces are not limited to the points at which the lines of reference numerals 110, 111 touch the article in Figure 6).

In a minimum configuration, an embodiment of the invention (not shown) has at least one of the surfaces that has a shape and configuration to be described. However, in the embodiment of Figure 6 and others, the embodiments have both the surfaces having the shape and configuration to be described below.

The shape and configuration of the surfaces of the embodiment are characterised by a central region A completely surrounded by a peripheral region B. The regions A, B are shown generally with arrows at the bottom of Figure 6.

In the embodiment of Figures 6 to 8, at least a substantial part of the peripheral region β is raised with respect to the central region A, such that the central region A forms a central-depression completely surrounded by the raised parts of the peripheral region B. The central-depression can be appreciated best in the perspective view of Figure 8, and also in the photographs of Figures 10 and 11. It is in these central-depressions that the user's knees reside when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

Since the cushion is sandwiched in place between the knees by virtue of the knees residing in the central-depressions, there is no need for the cushion to extend to touch the ήon-knee parts of the leg, as is the case in the prior art of Figures 1 to 4. This means that the present embodiment of the cushion is able to be made more compact. In particular, the compactness of the cushion means that it need not touch too much of the non-knee portions of the leg. This minimisation of contact with non-knee leg parts means there is less tendency for those parts to over-heat. Also, the compactness, afforded by the use of the central-depressions, means that the cushion has less tendency to contribute to restricted blood flow in the legs, which would otherwise be the case if the cushion had to substantially extend onto non-knee leg parts.

In the embodiment of Figures 6 to 8, the peripheral region is undulating. A substantial part of the peripheral region, that is raised, includes a number of upstanding protrusions.

Between the upstanding protrusions of the peripheral region are intermediate-depressions 130 located between the raised protrusions.

These intermediate-depressions 130 allow air to circulate to the central region A of the cushion when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees. This is the principle reason for these intermediate-depressions 130, and for this reason the intermediate-depressions are sized smaller than a typical cross-sectional width of a human leg or knee to avoid the knee or portion of the user's leg fitting into the intermediate-depressions. Figure 7B shows a schematic representation of air flow through the intermediate-depressions 130 with arrows. In other words, these intermediate-depressions 130 are to be distinguished from the prior art leg-fitting channels of Figures 3 and 4 which have the different function of acting as a channel for receiving a portion of the user's leg, which are not primarily adapted as a ventilation channel.

Figure 8 shows that in the embodiment the portion of the cushion closest to the two outer surfaces are made from a soft resilient foam, to provide an amount of "give" when the cushion is sandwiched between the knees. The central core of the cushion is made from a firmer foam material. _.

The same embodiment of Figures 6 to 8 will be described from another perspective to emphasise a characteristic of the embodiment. It can be said that ^• the central-depression is completely surrounded by a rim portion, in the sense that there must not be a significant gap in the peripheral region through which part of the leg could fit. This is to avoid overlap with the prior art of Figures 3 and 4. Thus, the rim portion that completely surrounds the central-depression can contain none, or one, or more intermediate-depressions, provided that these depressions are sized smaller than a typical cross-sectional width of a human leg or knee. This is to avoid the user' knee or portion of the leg fitting into the intermediate-depressions, since the role of such intermediate-depressions is to allow air to circulate to the central region of the cushion when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

Since the central region is completely surrounded by a peripheral region, the central regions forms a cradle in which the user's knee can reside when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

As seen in Figure 6, the embodiment of the cushion has side walls that extend between the rims of the first and second surfaces. OTHER EMBODIMENTS

There are other modifications of cushions where the peripheral region, which completely surrounds the central region, is free of any gap that is of sufficient size that could enable the user's knee or leg to fit therethrough. For example in Figure 13, the cushion has all parts of the peripheral region are raised above the central region. This minimum configuration provides a cradle region in which the knees can reside, but it does not provide air ventilation passages. The first and second surfaces are shaped similarly to surfaces of a red-blood platelet without a through-hole through the central region.

In another embodiment in Figure 14, the cushion is substantially circular doughnutshaped having a through-hole through the central region. The central hole of the doughnut-shaped cushion acts as a cradle region, in which the knee can reside when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

In an embodiment of a different aspect of the invention (not illustrated), a cushion is provided which has a leg-receiving channel similar to the prior art in Figures 3 and 4. These channels are sufficiently large to receive a portion of a user's leg. In use, the user's knee or part of his leg resides in the channel when the cushion is ,sandwiched between the user's legs. The unique feature of the embodiment of this further aspect of the invention is that the leg-channel is provided with one or more sub-channels that are sized smaller than a typical cross-sectional width of a human leg or knee to avoid the knee or portion of the user's leg fitting into the sub-channels. The sub-channels allow air to circulate to the channel when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees in aforesaid manner.

In this specification, the phrase "completely surrounds" does not infer that the item which completely surrounds the central-depression has to be a unitary item. To illustrate, the phrase could be used to say that a series of dots completely surrounds the centre point.

KNEE-FITTING CHANNELS

Reference is now made to Figures 15A and 15B which show an exemplary embodiment of another aspect of the present invention.

Figure 15A shows a plan view of the embodiment, while Figure 15B shows a perspective view. This aspect of the invention differs from the other aspects described above, in that it relates to an improvement of the prior art that includes leg-fitting channels, for instance in Figures 3 and 4. In the prior art, a problem was that the known leg pillow conformed to too great a length of the user's leg. For instance, in the prior art leg pillows of Figures 1 , 2, 3 and 4, the known pillows have dimensions that result in extended portions of the leg having to engage the pillow.

To solve this problem, the embodiment in Figures 15A and 15B illustrates a knee cushion that has two sides. Each sides has a knee-fitting open channel 300 adapted to receive a knee in the channel.

The knee-fitting channel 300 has a first dimension A that corresponds to the height of a user's knee cap to knee pit such that the user's knee can reside snugly in the knee-fitting channel 300.

The knee-fitting open channel 300 also has a second dimension B that is limited to the length of the user's leg that is generally under a person's knee cap.

In other words, the word "generally" means that the knee-fitting channel can extend only very slightly to the non-knee part of the user's leg, but only to provide sufficient seating stability for the knee to reside in the channel.

The knee-fitting open channel is adapted to allow a user's knee to fit therein. The knee-fitting channel is limited in dimension such that generally only the portion of the user's leg at the knee resides in the channel. This is to avoid the problem in the prior art where parts of the known cushions extend onto non-knee portions of the leg, leading to over-heating or restricting blood flow, as described above in the prior art preamble. The cushion of this other aspect of the invention may have channels on one or two sides.

Discussion or mention of any piece of prior art in this specification is not to be taken as an admission that the prior art is part of the common general knowledge of the skilled addressee of the specification.

The embodiments have been advanced by way of example only, and modifications are possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: a first surface adapted to abut one knee, and a second opposed surface adapted to abutΦie other knee, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a shape and configuration characterised by a central region completely surrounded by a peripheral region, at least a substantial part of the peripheral region being raised with respect to the central region such that the central region forms a central-depression completely surrounded by the raised parts of the peripheral region, wherein, in use, one of the knees resides in the central-depression when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

2. A cushion of claim 1 wherein both the first and second surfaces have said shape and configuration.

3. A cushion of claim 1 or 2 wherein all parts of the peripheral region are raised above the central region.

4. A cushion of claim 3 wherein the cushion is substantially circular doughnut- shaped having a through-hole through the central region.

5. A cushion of claim 3 wherein the first and second surfaces are shaped similarly to concave surfaces of a red-blood platelet without a through-hole through the central region.

6. A cushion of claim 1 or 2 wherein the peripheral region is undulating.

7. A cushion of claim 1 or 2 wherein the substantial part of the peripheral region that is raised includes a number of upstanding protrusions.

8. A cushion of claim 7 wherein the peripheral region includes intermediate-depressions located between the raised protrusions, the intermediate-depressions allowing air to circulate to the central region of the cushion when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

9. A cushion of claim 8 where the intermediate-depressions are sized smaller, than a typical cross-sectional width of a human leg or knee to avoid the knee or portion of the user's leg fitting into the intermediate-depressions.

10. A cushion of any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the peripheral region, which completely surrounds the central region, avoids and is free of any gap that is of sufficient size that could enable the user's knee or leg to fit therethrough.

11. A cushion of any one of the preceding claims wherein the portions of the cushion closest to the two outer surfaces are made from a soft resilient foam, to provide an amount of "give" when the cushion is sandwiched between the knees while the central core of the cushion is made from a firmer foam material.

12. A knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: a first surface adapted to abut one knee, and a second opposed surface adapted to abut the other knee, the first and/or the second surface having a central-depression completely surrounded by a rim portion, wherein, in use, the user's knee resides in the central-depression when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

13. A knee cushion of claim 12 wherein the rim portion has none or one or more intermediate-depressions that are sized smaller than a typical cross- sectional width of a human leg or knee to avoid the user' knee or portion of the leg fitting into the intermediate-depressions, any of said intermediate-depressions allowing air to circulate to the central region of the cushion when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

14. A knee cushion of any one of the preceding claims wherein the cushion has side walls that extend between the rims of the first and second surfaces.

15. A knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: a first surface adapted to abut one knee, and a second opposed surface adapted the other knee, wherein at least one of the surfaces has a shape and configuration characterised by a central region completely surrounded by a peripheral region to form a cradle, wherein, in use, one of the knees resides in the cradle of the central-depression when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees.

16. A cushion of claim 15 wherein the cushion is provided with two cradles, one on either side of the cushion such that the user is able to sandwich the cushion between his knees, each knee residing in one of the cradles.

17. A cushion having a channel adapted to receive a portion of a user's leg therein, the channel provided wherein, in use, a user's knee or part of his leg resides in the channel when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's legs, the channel being provided with one or more sub-channels that are sized smaller than a typical cross-sectional width of a human leg or knee to avoid the knee or portion of the user's leg fitting into the sub-channels, the sub-channels allowing air to circulate to the channel when the cushion is sandwiched between the user's knees in aforesaid manner.

18. A knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: a first side having a knee-fitting open channel adapted to receive one knee therein, wherein the knee-fitting channel has a first dimension that corresponds to the height of a user's knee cap to knee pit such that the user's knee can reside snugly in the knee-fitting channel, and wherein the knee-fitting open channel has a second dimension that is limited to the length of the user's leg that is generally under a person's knee cap.

19. A knee cushion of claim 18 wherein the cushion includes a second side opposing the first side, the second side having a further knee-fitting channel adapted to receive the other knee therein, the further knee-fitting channel also having said first and second dimensions.

20. A knee cushion adapted to be sandwiched between inner sides of a user's two knees, the cushion including: one or two knee-fitting open channels each adapted to allow a user's knee to fit therein, the knee-fitting channel being limited in dimension such that generally only the portion of the user's leg at the knee resides in the channel.

21. A knee cushion substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to any one of the embodiments in the accompanying drawings of Figures 5A to 14, excluding drawings relating to prior art.

22. A knee cushion substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings of Figures 15A and 15B.