Support member and method of using the same

Abstract

A support member may include a body having a first end, a second end, and a base there between. The body further includes a protuberance on the body proximate the first end and a bulbous region proximate the second end. A seating surface is defined between the protuberance and the bulbous region and is configured on an opposing side of the body from the base. A connection feature may be configured in the body to provide rigidity between opposing sides thereof. The first end defines a first face and the first face is configured to abut a structure Likewise, the base is configured to abut a surface on which the structure is placed. Friction members on the first face and the base can increase the resistance to movement between the support member, the structure, and the surface on which the support member and the structure are placed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flexible support member comprising:
 a flexible body having a length defined between a first end and a second end, a width defined between opposing sides, and a height defined between a base and a seating surface;   a connection feature positioned closer to the first end than the second end along the length of the flexible body and configured to connect opposing sides to one another; and   a bulbous region of the flexible body proximate the second end, the bulbous region having a substantially spherical shape with a diameter greater than the width.   
     
     
         2 . The flexible support member of  claim 1 , wherein the connection feature is a bore running entirely through the width of the flexible body. 
     
     
         3 . The flexible support member of  claim 1 , wherein the first end and the base are substantially orthogonal. 
     
     
         4 . The flexible support member of  claim 1 , further comprising a protuberance on the flexible body proximate the first end and the seating surface and extending away from the seating surface. 
     
     
         5 . The flexible support member of  claim 4 , wherein at least a portion of the seating surface is configured between the protuberance and the bulbous region. 
     
     
         6 . The flexible support member of  claim 2 , wherein the bore has an axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the length of the flexible body. 
     
     
         7 . The flexible support member of  claim 2 , wherein the bore has a gradually increasing diameter from a smallest diameter outward to each opposing side. 
     
     
         8 . The flexible support member of  claim 2 , wherein the bore is positioned in the flexible body at substantially midway between the base and the seating surface. 
     
     
         9 . The flexible support member of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more protrusions extending from the base proximate the second end. 
     
     
         10 . The flexible support member of  claim 1 , further comprising friction members on the base or the first end. 
     
     
         11 . The flexible support member of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body is inflatable. 
     
     
         12 . The flexible support member of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible body is a spongy cellular material. 
     
     
         13 . A flexible seating apparatus comprising:
 a flexible body having a first region and a second region, the first region having a substantially elongate shape and the second region having a substantially spherical shape, the first region having a front end, a width defined between opposing sides, and a height defined between a top surface and a bottom surface thereof, the second region bulging from a portion of the first region opposing the front end,   a bore extending entirely through the width of the first region;   wherein the front end and the bottom surface are substantially orthogonal, and   wherein the seating surface is configured on the first region.   
     
     
         14 . The flexible seating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second region has a diameter larger than the width of the first region. 
     
     
         15 . The flexible seating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the bore has an axis oriented substantially orthogonal to the elongate shape of the first region and a gradually increasing diameter from a smallest diameter outward to each of the opposing sides. 
     
     
         16 . The flexible seating apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a protuberance on the flexible body proximate the front end and the seating surface and extending away from the seating surface, and wherein at least a portion of the seating surface is configured between the protuberance and the second region. 
     
     
         17 . The flexible seating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible body is inflatable. 
     
     
         18 . The flexible seating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible body is a spongy cellular material. 
     
     
         19 . A method of supporting a user, the method comprising:
 providing a flexible body having a length defined between a first end and a second end, a width defined between opposing sides, and a height defined between a base and a seating surface, a bore extending entirely through the width of the flexible body, and a bulbous region of the flexible body proximate the second end, the bulbous region having a substantially spherical shape with a diameter greater than the width;   placing the flexible body up against a surface, wherein a portion of the base contacts a ground surface concurrently with a portion of the first end contacting the surface; and   supporting a user on the seating surface of the flexible body, with the user straddling the flexible body.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising inflating the flexible body prior to the placing the flexible body up against a surface.