US-20260123761-A1 - CONTOURED SURFACE SUPPORT CUSHION

US20260123761A1US 20260123761 A1US20260123761 A1US 20260123761A1US-20260123761-A1

Abstract

A support cushion includes a cushion body. The cushion body comprises a first end and a second end. The cushion body defining a vertical axis about which the cushion body curves. The cushion body tapers inward from both a first peripheral edge and a second peripheral edge of the cushion body and defines a depression in the cushion body that extends along a majority of a length of the cushion body between the first end and the second end. The depression is distanced differently from the first periphery than the second periphery.

Inventors

Haley Gibbons

Assignees

THE BOPPY COMPANY, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250606

Claims (20)

1 . A support cushion comprising: a cushion body comprising a fill material and a cover disposed about the fill material, the cushion body having: a first end; a second end; a first peripheral edge; and a second peripheral edge; wherein the cushion body defines a vertical axis about which the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge curve; wherein the second end has a first width in a direction orthogonal to the vertical axis that is smaller than a second width of the first end; and wherein the cushion body tapers inward from both the first peripheral edge and the second peripheral edge to define a depression in the cushion body that extends along a majority of a length of the cushion body between the first end and the second end, wherein the depression is distanced differently from the first periphery than the second periphery.
2 . The support cushion of claim 1 , wherein the depression follows a path extending at least partially between the first end and the second end of the cushion body.
3 . The support cushion of claim 1 , wherein the cushion body includes a tapering mechanism coupled with, or formed on, an inner surface of the cushion body.
4 . The support cushion of claim 3 , wherein the tapering mechanism comprises a material that is coupled with the inner surface of the cushion body such that the material forms an inner wall within the cushion body.
5 . The support cushion of claim 3 , wherein the tapering mechanism comprises one or more darting segments that are sewn into the inner surface of the cushion body.
6 . The support cushion of claim 1 , wherein the cushion body includes sufficient fill material disposed within the cover to provide the cushion body with a prescribed firmness where a force of at least 10 Newtons applied over at least 30 seconds is required to displace a 3-inch diameter hemispheric probe 1 inch into the cushion body.
7 . A support cushion comprising: a cushion body comprising: a first end; and a second end, the cushion body defining a vertical axis about which the cushion body curves; wherein the cushion body tapers inward from both a first peripheral edge and a second peripheral edge of the cushion body and defines a depression in the cushion body that extends along a majority of a length of the cushion body between the first end and the second end, wherein the depression is distanced differently from the first periphery than the second periphery.
8 . The support cushion of claim 7 , wherein the depression is distanced further from the first periphery than the second periphery.
9 . The support cushion of claim 7 , wherein an upper surface and a lower surface of the cushion body taper vertically inward such that the cushion body has a cross-sectional figure eight configuration or an hourglass configuration.
10 . The support cushion of claim 9 , wherein the inward taper of the upper surface and the lower surface provides a gradual transition between a central portion of the cushion body and the first and second ends.
11 . The support cushion of claim 7 , wherein the cushion body includes a tapering mechanism coupled with, or formed on, an inner surface of the cushion body.
12 . The support cushion of claim 11 , wherein the tapering mechanism comprises a material that is coupled with the inner surface of the cushion body such that the material forms an inner wall within the cushion body.
13 . The support cushion of claim 11 , wherein the tapering mechanism comprises one or more darting segments that are sewn into the inner surface of the cushion body.
14 . The support cushion of claim 1 , wherein the cushion body includes sufficient fill material to provide the cushion body with a prescribed firmness where a force of at least 10 Newtons applied over at least 30 seconds is required to displace a 3-inch diameter hemispheric probe 1 inch into the cushion body.
15 . The support cushion of claim 7 , further comprising a cover that is positioned over the cushion body, the cover having an opening that enables the cushion body to be inserted within an interior of the cover and removed therefrom.
16 . The support cushion of claim 7 , wherein the cushion body has a generally arcuate shape.
17 . A method of forming a support cushion, the method comprising: providing a cushion body comprising a first end and a second end, the cushion body defining a vertical axis about which the cushion body curves; coupling or forming a tapering mechanism with an inner surface of the cushion body such that the tapering mechanism extends along a majority of a length of the cushion body between the first end and the second end and is distanced further from a first edge than a second edge of the cushion body; and stuffing the cushion body with cushioning material to form the support cushion.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the tapering mechanism is coupled with the inner surface of the cushion body such that an upper surface and a lower surface of the cushion body taper vertically inward.
19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the cushioning material is stuffed into the cushion body to provide the cushion body with a prescribed firmness where a force of at least 10 Newtons applied over at least 30 seconds is required to displace a 3-inch diameter hemispheric probe 1 inch into the cushion body.
20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the method further comprises positioning a cover over the cushion body, the cover having an opening that enables the cushion body to be inserted within an interior of the cover and removed therefrom.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. Application Serial No. 18/940,584, filed November 7, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. BACKGROUND The embodiments herein relate generally to therapeutic support pillows. Many adults or adolescents participate in activities which make it desirable to support certain objects or body parts. For example, with activities such as reading, typing, breast feeding, bottle feeding, and the like, it is often desirable to support the arms or elbows. As another example, the therapeutic pillows may be used to support certain objects or body parts for gaming, knitting, and other activities. Although some support structures have been proposed for supporting objects or body parts, such as the arms of a chair or certain braces, such structures are often uncomfortable and inconvenient to use. Further, some support structures are not easily portable, thereby limiting their use. In a further drawback, most support structures are designed only for a particular application and do not have multiple uses. BRIEF DESCRIPTION In one aspect, a support cushion includes a cushion body that includes fill material and a cover disposed about the fill material. The cushion body has a first end, a second end, an outer peripheral edge, and an inner peripheral edge. The outer peripheral edge and the inner peripheral edge of the cushion body have a generally arcuate shape between the first end and the second end and the cushion body defines a vertical axis about which the outer peripheral edge and the inner peripheral edge curve. The second end has a width in a direction orthogonal to the vertical axis that is smaller than a width of the first end. The cushion body tapers inward in a direction parallel to the vertical axis to define an arcuate depression in the cushion body that extends along a majority a length of the cushion body between the first end and the second end. In some instances, an upper surface and a lower surface of the cushion body taper vertically inward such that the cushion body has a figure eight configuration. The inward taper of the upper surface and lower surface provides a gradual transition between a central portion of the cushion body and the first and second ends. The cushion body includes tapering means coupled with, or formed on, an inner surface of the cushion body. The tapering means may include a material that is coupled with the inner surface of the cushion body such that the material forms an inner wall within the cushion body. Alternatively, the tapering means may include one or more darting segments that are sewn into the inner surface of the cushion body. The cushion body may include sufficient fill material disposed within the cover to provide the cushion body with a prescribed firmness where a force of at least 10 Newtons applied over at least 30 seconds is required to displace a 3-inch diameter hemispheric probe 1 inch into the cushion body. A decorative cover may be positioned over the cushion body. The decorative cover may have an opening that enables the cushion body to be inserted within an interior of the decorative covering and removed therefrom. The decorative cover may include a belt that is detachably coupleable with opposing sides of the decorative cover. According to another aspect, a support cushion includes a cushion body having a first end and a second end. The cushion body has a generally arcuate shape between the first end and the second end and the cushion body defines a vertical axis about which the cushion body curves. The cushion body tapers inward in a direction parallel to the vertical axis and defines a depression in the cushion body that extends along a majority a length of the cushion body between the first end and the second end. An upper surface and a lower surface of the cushion body may taper vertically inward such that the cushion body has a figure eight configuration. The inward taper of the upper surface and lower surface provides a gradual transition between a central portion of the cushion body and the first and second ends. The cushion body includes tapering means coupled with, or formed on, an inner surface of the cushion body. The tapering means may include a material that is coupled with the inner surface of the cushion body such that the material forms an inner wall within the cushion body. Alternatively, the tapering means may include one or more darting segments that are sewn into the inner surface of the cushion body. The cushion body includes sufficient fill material to provide the cushion body with a prescribed firmness where a force of at least 10 Newtons applied over at least 30 seconds is required to displace a 3-inch diameter hemispheric probe 1 inch into the cushion body. In some instances, the support cushion also includes a decorative cover that is positioned over the cushion body. The decorative cover has an opening that enabl