Walker wedge

Abstract

A cushion for use with a variety of types of seats, for example, automotive seats, to adjust the sacrum thereby pivoting the pelvis to assist in maintaining the spine in equilibrium. The cushion is preferably separate from the seat and has central and end support areas that have a density or compressibility that is greater than that of the interconnecting portions. The central area is also provided with one of a plurality of inserts that individually have varying compressibility so that the compressibility of the central area is variable by changing between the inserts.

1 . A portable sacral support positioned along an area where a seat back and a seat bottom meet, comprising: 
 a main body having a center and directly adjacent side portions,    the main body having a first compression value located at the center thereof that is focused upon the sacrum and lesser compression areas in the adjacent side portions so that with the sacrum located at the area of the main body having the greatest compression value the portions directly adjacent the sacrum are located at the lesser compression areas.    
     
     
         2 . The sacral support of  claim 1  wherein the main body is formed from a molded material.  
     
     
         3 . The sacral support of  claim 2  wherein said main body is an integral one piece structure.  
     
     
         4 . The sacral support of  claim 1  wherein the compressive support at the center is variable between a plurality of compression values.  
     
     
         5 . The sacral support of  claim 4  wherein the variable support is provided by one of a plurality of inserts, each having a different level of compressibility, that can fit into a recess provided in the main body.  
     
     
         6 . The sacral support of  claim 1  further including an end portion at each of two opposed ends located outwardly from the adjacent side portions, each end portion having a level of compressibility greater than that in the adjacent side portions.  
     
     
         7 . The sacral support of  claim 1  wherein the center further includes a rearwardly protruding lower portion.  
     
     
         8 . The sacral support of  claim 1  wherein said main body includes a curved front surface.  
     
     
         9 . The sacral support as in  claim 2  wherein said molded material comprises a durable foam.  
     
     
         10 . The sacral support of  claim 9  wherein the foam is a self-skinning foam.  
     
     
         11 . A portable sacrum support for supporting the sacrum of a user seated in a seat with said support positioned in front of the back of seat and behind the user sacrum, said support comprising: a main body having front and rear surfaces, a bottom, a center having a first compression value, a side portion directly adjacent each side of the center of the main body, and an end portion located outwardly from each of the adjacent side portions, the main body having areas of a second compressive value forming a release area in each of the two directly adjacent side portions, wherein the first level of compression is harder than the second compression value so that less force is applied to muscles and articular structures adjacent the sacrum and each end portion has a third compression value that is greater than the second compression value.  
     
     
         12 . A portable sacrum support as in  claim 11  wherein the first level of compression is adjustable by using one of a plurality of different density inserts that can be place in a recess provided in the main body.  
     
     
         13 . The portable sacrum support as in  claim 11  wherein the center of the main body applies concentrated pressure on the sacrum while the articular structures adjacent each side of the sacrum release into and nest in the adjacent side portions.  
     
     
         14 . A portable sacral support for use along the area where a seat bottom and seat back meet, comprising: a main body having, 
 a center, end portions at opposing ends of the main body and intermediate portions between the center and each end portion, said main body having first and second compression areas, said first compression area having a first compression value in the center to provide controlled force against a support user's sacrum, said second compression area located in the intermediate portion between each side of the center and respective end portions, said second compression area having a compression value less than said first compression value.    
     
     
         15 . A portable sacrum support as in  claim 14 , further including a third compression area located within each end portion and having a compression value greater than the second compression value.  
     
     
         16 . A portable sacral support for use where a seat back and a seat bottom meet, comprising: 
 an elongated, low profile main body with a height about half that of the width, the main body having a central portion, an end portion at each of two opposing ends of the main body and an intermediate portion located between each end portion and the central portion;    the central portion having a first compression value that will apply force onto the sacrum of a seated user with each intermediate portion having a second compression value less than first compression value thereby permitting tissue and body structures adjacent the sacrum to nest rearwardly into the intermediate portions as the sacrum is supported.    
     
     
         17 . A portable sacral support for use where a seat back and a seat bottom meet, comprising: 
 an elongated, low profile main body, the main body having a central portion, an end portion at each of two opposing ends of the main body and an intermediate portion located between each end portion and the central portion;    the central portion having a first and greatest compression value that will apply force onto the sacrum with each intermediate portion having a compression value less than that used in the central portion.    
     
     
         18 . A portable sacral support positioned along an area where a seat back and a seat bottom meet, comprising: 
 an elongated, low profile main body, the main body having a central portion, an end portion at each of two opposing ends of the main body and an intermediate portion located between each end portion and the central portion;    the central portion having a first compression value that will apply force of less than about 10 psi onto the sacrum, each intermediate portion having a compression value less than that used in the central position.    
     
     
         19 . The portable sacral support s in  claim 18  wherein the pressure applied onto the sacrum is less than about 4 psi.  
     
     
         20 . A portable sacral support positioned along an area where a seat back and a seat bottom meet, comprising: 
 an elongated main body having a center area, an end portion at each of two opposing ends of the main body and an intermediate portion located between each end portion and the center area;    the center area being formed with a first thickness and each intermediate portion being formed with a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is greater than the second thickness in each intermediate portion, the center area being arranged to affect the sacrum of a seated user.    
     
     
         21 . A sacral support comprising: 
 a wedge shaped device having a center support and two side portions integrally formed with the center support, wherein the sacral support is sized to position the center support to support the sacrum of a human user and to permit each of the two side portions to support the adjacent articular structures and tissues on each side of the sacrum and to permit such adjacent articular structures and tissues to relax rearwardly when positioned on a seat behind the human user; and wherein the center support is constructed and adapted to offer greater support to a user's sacrum than the two side portions offer as support for the tissues and articular structures adjacent the sacrum.    
     
     
         22 . A portable sacral support for use where a seat back and a seat bottom meet, comprising: 
 an elongated, low profile main body with a height about half that of the width, the main body having a central portion, an end portion at each of two opposing ends of the main body and an intermediate portion located between each end portion and the central portion;    the central portion having a first level of yieldability that will apply force onto the sacrum of a seated user with each intermediate portion having a second level of yieldability that is greater than the first level of yieldability thereby permitting tissue and body structures adjacent the sacrum to nest rearwardly into the intermediate portions as the sacrum is supported by the central portion.    
     
     
         23 . The portable sacral support as in  claim 22  wherein the intermediate portion is thinner than the central portion and exhibits more yieldability.  
     
     
         24 . The portable sacral support as in  claim 21  wherein the support is molded from material different densities so that varying amounts of yieldability is incorporated directly into the molded support.  
     
     
         25 . The portable sacral support as in  claim 21  further including an exterior covering provided on the main body.  
     
     
         26 . A portable sacral support positioned along an area where a seat back and a seat bottom meet, comprising: 
 a main body having a center and directly adjacent side portions,    the main body having a first compression value located at the center thereof that is focused upon the sacrum and lesser compression areas in the adjacent side portions so that with the sacrum located at the area of the main body having the greatest compression value the portions directly adjacent the sacrum are located at the lesser compression areas.