Portable support cushion

Abstract

A body support cushion including a first section of the cushion for forming a portion of the surface of the cushion, adapted to shift from a flattened state to a flexed state and a second section of the cushion for forming another portion of the surface of the cushion, adapted to shift from a flattened state to a flexed state. A hinge couples adjoining edges of the first and second sections. A first coupling member on the first section is selectively, releasably coupled to a second coupling member on the second section to create a body support cushion in which the first and second sections are flexed which results in a body support cushion capable of moving from a flattened state to a flexed state. The body support cushion is particularly suitable for supporting a user's lower back when sitting in a chair. It is also suitable for supporting other body parts such as the knee, ankle or even the back when laying down. It can also be used to support a laptop computer or other object on one's legs or lap when sitting.

1 . A body support cushion, comprising: 
 A body contacting section;    A support section;    A hinge connecting the body contacting section and the support section and allowing a range of motion including at least one deployed position and a flattened position; and    Coupling means, for selectively, releasably securing portions of the body contacting section and the support section to each other in a way which causes the body contacting section to be flexed.    
   
   
       2 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  wherein the body contacting section, the support section and the hinge are formed as a single member.  
   
   
       3 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  wherein the hinge is a living hinge.  
   
   
       4 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  wherein the body contacting section, hinge and support section are coplanar when in the flat position.  
   
   
       5 . The body support cushion on  claim 1  wherein the coupling means includes at least one tab on an end of the body contacting section and at least one slot for each tab proximate an end of the support section.  
   
   
       6 . The body support cushion of  claim 5  wherein there are four slots for each tab, allowing a range of adjustment of the flexing of the body contacting section.  
   
   
       7 . The body support cushion of  claim 5  wherein the at least one tab is on an end of the body contacting section opposite from the body contacting section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       8 . The body support cushion of  claim 5  wherein the at least one slot is located proximate the end of the support section opposite from the support section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       9 . The body support cushion of  claim 5  wherein there are two tabs and at least one pair of slots for receiving the tabs and maintaining the body contacting section under a tension which results in the body contacting section being flexed in a convex fashion.  
   
   
       10 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  further including engagement means, coupled to the support section, for engaging with the chair back or other point of contact for support of the body support cushion, so that the body support cushion in its deployed condition stays in place before a user's body part is pressed against the body contacting section.  
   
   
       11 . The body support cushion of  claim 10  wherein the engagement means includes a series of conical projections extending outwardly from the support section.  
   
   
       12 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  wherein the body contacting section, support section, hinge and coupling means are integrally formed of a single sheet of material.  
   
   
       13 . The body support cushion of  claim 12  wherein the hinge is a living hinge.  
   
   
       14 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  further including aeration means incorporated in the body contacting section for allowing the passage of air and heat though the body contacting section.  
   
   
       15 . The body support cushion of  claim 14  wherein the aeration means includes a series of rounded openings.  
   
   
       16 . The body support cushion of  claim 14  wherein the aeration means includes at least one slot in the body contacting session.  
   
   
       17 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  further including flexibility enhancing means in the body contacting section for easing the flexing of the body contacting section relative to the support section when the body support cushion is in the deployed condition.  
   
   
       18 . The body support cushion of  claim 17  wherein the flexibility enhancing means includes at least one slot oriented to make the body contacting section more flexible along a direction substantially parallel to the hinge.  
   
   
       19 . The body support cushion of  claim 18  wherein the flexibility enhancing means includes two slots at an acute angle to the hinge and one slot substantially perpendicular to the hinge.  
   
   
       20 . The body support cushion of  claim 17  wherein the flexibility enhancing means includes a plurality of openings in the body contacting section.  
   
   
       21 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  wherein the body contacting section and the support section are formed separately and connected with a hinge.  
   
   
       22 . The body support cushion of  claim 21  wherein the hinge includes multiple engaging hinge members.  
   
   
       23 . The body support cushion of  claim 21  wherein the hinge includes engaging hinge members formed proximate contacting edges of the body contacting section and the support section.  
   
   
       24 . The body support cushion of  claim 1 , further including a second hinge in the body contacting section.  
   
   
       25 . The body support cushion on  claim 1  wherein the coupling means includes at least one first mating hook or pile connector on an end of the body contacting section and at least one second mating pile or hook connector for each first mating hook or pile connector proximate an end of the support section.  
   
   
       26 . The body support cushion of  claim 25  wherein there are two second mating pile or hook connectors for each first mating hook or pile connector, allowing a range of adjustment of the flexing of the body contacting section.  
   
   
       27 . The body support cushion of  claim 25  wherein the at least one first mating hook or pile connector is on an end of the body contacting section opposite from the body contacting section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       28 . The body support cushion of  claim 25  wherein the at least one second mating pile or hook connector is located proximate the end of the support section opposite from the support section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       29 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  wherein the lower back of a user is supported by the body support cushion when it is placed between the wearer's back and the back of a chair.  
   
   
       30 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  wherein the foot of a user is supported by the body support cushion when it is placed under the wearer's foot.  
   
   
       31 . The body support cushion of  claim 1  wherein the knee or leg or a user is supported when the body support cushion is placed under the user's leg or knee on a chair.  
   
   
       32 . A support cushion, comprising: 
 a supporting section;    a base section;    a hinge connecting the supporting section and the base section and allowing the supporting section and base section a range of motion including at least one deployed position and a flattened position; and    coupling means, for selectively, releasably securing portions of the supporting section and the base section to each other in a way which causes the supporting section to be flexed.    
   
   
       33 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the supporting section, base section and hinge are formed as a single piece.  
   
   
       34 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the hinge is a living hinge.  
   
   
       35 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the supporting section, hinge and base section are coplanar when in the flat position.  
   
   
       36 . The support cushion on  claim 32  wherein the coupling means includes at least one tab on an end of the support section and at least one slot for each tab proximate an end of the base section.  
   
   
       37 . The support cushion of  claim 36  wherein there are four slots for each tab, allowing a range of adjustment of the flexing of the support section.  
   
   
       38 . The support cushion of  claim 36  wherein the at least one tab is on an end of the body contacting section opposite from the body contacting section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       39 . The support cushion of  claim 36  wherein the at least one slot is located proximate the end of the support section opposite from the support section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       40 . The support cushion of  claim 36  wherein there are two tabs and at least one pair of slots for receiving the tabs and maintaining the body contacting section under a tension which results in the support section being flexed in a convex fashion.  
   
   
       41 . The support cushion of  claim 32  further including engagement means, coupled to the support section, for engaging with the chair back or other point of contact for support of the support cushion, so that the body support cushion in its deployed condition stays in place before a user's body part is pressed against the body contacting section.  
   
   
       42 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the engagement means includes a series of conical projections extending outwardly from the support section.  
   
   
       43 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the body contacting section, support section, hinge and coupling means are integrally formed of a single sheet of material.  
   
   
       44 . The support cushion of  claim 43  wherein the hinge is a living hinge.  
   
   
       45 . The support cushion of  claim 32  further including aeration means incorporated in the body contacting section for allowing the passage of air and heat though the body contacting section.  
   
   
       46 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the aeration means includes a series of rounded openings.  
   
   
       47 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the aeration means includes at least one slot in the body contacting session.  
   
   
       48 . The support cushion of  claim 32  further including flexibility enhancing means in the support section for easing the flexing of the support section relative to the base section when the support cushion is in the deployed condition.  
   
   
       49 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the support section and the base section are formed separately and connected with a hinge.  
   
   
       50 . The support cushion of  claim 49  wherein the hinge includes multiple engaging hinge members.  
   
   
       51 . The support cushion of  claim 32 , further including a second hinge in the support section.  
   
   
       52 . The support cushion of  claim 32  wherein the coupling means includes at least one first mating hook or pile connector on an end of the support section and at least one second mating pile or hook connector for each first mating hook or pile connector proximate an end of the base section.  
   
   
       53 . The support cushion of  claim 52  wherein there are two second mating pile or hook connectors for each first mating hook or pile connector, allowing a range of adjustment of the flexing of the support section.  
   
   
       54 . The support cushion of  claim 52  wherein the at least one first mating hook or pile connector is on an end of the support section opposite from the support section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       55 . The support cushion of  claim 52  wherein the at least one second mating pile or hook connector is located proximate the end of the base section opposite from the base section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       56 . A support cushion, for maintaining an object a distance from a surface comprising: 
 a supporting section;    a base section;    a hinge connecting the supporting section and the base section and allowing the supporting section and base section a range of motion including at least one deployed position and a flattened position; and    coupling means, for selectively, releasably securing portions of the supporting section and the base section to each other in a way which causes the supporting section to be flexed in the deployed condition;    whereby the support cushion placed on the surface will maintain an object placed on its supporting section a distance from the surface in its deployed condition.    
   
   
       57 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the supporting section, base section and hinge are formed as a single piece.  
   
   
       58 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the hinge is a living hinge.  
   
   
       59 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the supporting section, hinge and base section are coplanar when in the flat position.  
   
   
       60 . The support cushion on  claim 56  wherein the coupling means includes at least one tab on an end of the support section and at least one slot for each tab proximate an end of the base section.  
   
   
       61 . The support cushion of  claim 60  wherein there are four slots for each tab, allowing a range of adjustment of the flexing of the support section.  
   
   
       62 . The support cushion of  claim 60  wherein the at least one tab is on an end of the support section opposite from the support section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       63 . The support cushion of  claim 60  wherein the at least one slot is located proximate the end of the base section opposite from the base section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       64 . The support cushion of  claim 60  wherein there are two tabs and at least one pair of slots for receiving the tabs and maintaining the support section under a tension which results in the support section being flexed in a convex fashion.  
   
   
       65 . The support cushion of  claim 56  further including engagement means, coupled to the support section, for engaging with the chair back or other point of contact for support of the body support cushion, so that the body support cushion in its deployed condition stays in place before a user's body part is pressed against the body contacting section.  
   
   
       66 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the engagement means includes a series of conical projections extending outwardly from the support section.  
   
   
       67 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the body contacting section, support section, hinge and coupling means are integrally formed of a single sheet of material.  
   
   
       68 . The support cushion of  claim 67  wherein the hinge is a living hinge.  
   
   
       69 . The support cushion of  claim 56  further including aeration means incorporated in the body contacting section for allowing the passage of air and heat though the body contacting section.  
   
   
       70 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the aeration means includes a series of rounded openings.  
   
   
       71 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the aeration means includes at least one slot in the body contacting session.  
   
   
       72 . The support cushion of  claim 56  further including flexibility enhancing means in the support section for easing the flexing of the support section relative to the base section when the support cushion is in the deployed condition.  
   
   
       73 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the support section and the base section are formed separately and connected with a hinge.  
   
   
       74 . The support cushion of  claim 73  wherein the hinge includes multiple engaging hinge members.  
   
   
       75 . The support cushion of  claim 56 , further including a second hinge in the support section.  
   
   
       76 . The support cushion of  claim 56  wherein the coupling means includes at least one first mating hook or pile connector on an end of the support section and at least one second mating pile or hook connector for each first mating hook or pile connector proximate an end of the base section.  
   
   
       77 . The support cushion of  claim 76  wherein there are two second mating pile or hook connectors for each first mating hook or pile connector, allowing a range of adjustment of the flexing of the support section.  
   
   
       78 . The support cushion of  claim 76  wherein the at least one first mating hook or pile connector is on an end of the support section opposite from the support section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       79 . The support cushion of  claim 76  wherein the at least one second mating pile or hook connector is located proximate the end of the base section opposite from the base section's contact with the hinge.  
   
   
       80 . A support cushion, for supporting a laptop computer on a wearer's lap a distance from the lap, comprising: 
 a supporting section;    a base section;    a hinge connecting the supporting section and the base section and allowing the supporting section and base section a range of motion including at least one deployed position and a flattened position; and    coupling means, for selectively, releasably securing portions of the supporting section and the base section to each other in a way which causes the supporting section to be flexed in the deployed condition;    whereby the support cushion placed on the lap will maintain the laptop computer placed on its supporting section a distance from the lap in its deployed condition.    
   
   
       81 . A portable shim, for supporting a portion of an object a distance from a supporting surface, comprising: 
 a supporting section;    a base section;    a hinge connecting the supporting section and the base section and allowing the supporting section and base section a range of motion including at least one deployed position and a flattened position; and    coupling means, for selectively, releasably securing portions of the supporting section and the base section to each other in a way which causes the supporting section to be flexed in the deployed condition;    whereby the support cushion placed on the supporting surface and under a portion of the object will maintain the portion of the object placed on its supporting section a distance from the supporting surface in its deployed condition.    
   
   
       82 . The portable shim of  claim 81  wherein the coupling means includes at least two coupling members which provide a variable distance of the object from the supporting surface when the shim is in its deployed condition.