초록 ▼

The invention relates to a body support and comfort device. The device comprises an inflatable bladder having a shape and size to substantially cover at least one support surface of a body support device so as to conform to and provide a comfort and support layer to the body support device. The bod

The invention relates to a body support and comfort device. The device comprises an inflatable bladder having a shape and size to substantially cover at least one support surface of a body support device so as to conform to and provide a comfort and support layer to the body support device. The body support and comfort device also includes at least one comfort layer shaped and arranged to substantially cover a surface of the inflatable bladder that is to interact with a user. According to one embodiment, a self-sealing valve is coupled to a port of the inflatable bladder, and is constructed and arranged to enable all of inflation, deflation, and comfort of the surface comfort device.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A body support and comfort device having a desired contour and profile of a surface that is to interact with a user, the body support and comfort device comprising: an inflatable bladder including a plurality of chambers that are fluidly connected to one another, the pluralit

What is claimed is: 1. A body support and comfort device having a desired contour and profile of a surface that is to interact with a user, the body support and comfort device comprising: an inflatable bladder including a plurality of chambers that are fluidly connected to one another, the plurality of chambers sized and arranged to provide the desired contour and profile; an additional comfort layer shaped and arranged to substantially cover the surface of the inflatable bladder that is to interact with the user; a first chamber and a second chamber of the plurality of chambers defined at least partly by a first shape-defining member; and a second shape-defining member that spans from the first chamber to the second chamber, wherein the first shape-defining member and the second shape-defining member in combination with the inflatable bladder define a recessed area in the desired contour and profile of the surface that is to interact with the user, and wherein the first shape defining member and the second shape-defining member are configured to substantially maintain the desired contour and profile when pressure is applied to the surface by the user. 2. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the inflatable bladder comprises not more than 80% of the total thickness of the body support and comfort device when the device is in a fully inflated, uncompressed state. 3. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a thickness of the additional comfort layer comprises not more than 80% of the total thickness of the body support and comfort device when the device is in a fully inflated, uncompressed state. 4. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a port through which inflation and deflation of the inflatable bladder is accomplished; and a valve coupled to the port of the inflatable bladder that is constructed and arranged to enable all of inflation, deflation, and comfort control of the support and comfort device with the valve. 5. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the valve is a self sealing valve. 6. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the additional comfort layer comprises foam. 7. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the foam is a memory foam. 8. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder is shaped and arranged to be used as a pillow to provide comfort and support to a head of the user. 9. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bladder comprises an inflated thickness of not more than approximately 6 inches. 10. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bladder has an area of approximately 12 inches��16 inches. 11. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the recessed area is configured to support the head of the user. 12. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pillow shape comprises a perimeter area that is larger in cross section than the recessed area, and that is configured to provide support to a neck area of the user. 13. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an attachment that secures the additional comfort layer to the inflatable bladder. 14. The body support and comfort device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device is shaped and sized to be used on top of a mattress to provide comfort and support to the user. 15. The body support and comfort device of claim 14, wherein the bladder has an inflated thickness of not more than approximately 2.5 inches. 16. The body support and comfort device of claim 5, wherein the self-sealing valve is adapted to enable adjustment of a pressure of a fluid within the inflatable bladder by manually pressing a portion of a diaphragm of the self-sealing valve. 17. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a total volume of no more than substantially 2 cubic feet of fluid when fully inflated. 18. The surface body support and comfort device of claim 17, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a total volume of no more than 0.5 cubic feet of fluid when fully inflated. 19. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, wherein the inflatable bladder comprises a plurality of tubes. 20. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, wherein the additional layer comprises a second inflatable bladder. 21. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, wherein the second shape-defining member spans between the first chamber and the second chamber in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the surface. 22. The body support and comfort device of claim 21, wherein the second shape-defining member is a strap. 23. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, further comprising a cover configured to cover the inflatable bladder and the additional comfort layer. 24. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, wherein the first chamber has a first height when inflated, wherein the second chamber has a second height when inflated, and wherein the first height is greater than the second height. 25. The body support and comfort device of claim 24, wherein the inflatable bladder is shaped and arranged to be used as a pillow, wherein the first chamber is included in a perimeter area of the inflatable bladder, and wherein the second chamber is included in the recessed area. 26. The body support and comfort device of claim 25, wherein the desired contour and profile includes a raised perimeter on two sides of the recessed area. 27. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, wherein the second shape-defining member includes a strap. 28. The body support and comfort device of claim 27, wherein the first chamber includes a tubular shape and the second chamber includes a tubular shape. 29. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, further comprising a third shape defining member. 30. The body support and comfort device of claim 29, wherein the third shape-defining member includes a snap coupled to the second shape-defining member. 31. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, wherein the second shape-defining member spans from the first chamber to the second chamber external to each of the first chamber and the second chamber. 32. The body support and comfort device of claim 1, wherein the recessed area is configured to support a head of the user. 33. The body support and comfort device of claim 32, wherein a first perimeter area larger in cross section than the recessed area is located on a first side of the recessed area, and wherein a second perimeter area larger in cross section than the recessed area is located on a second side of the recessed area. 34. A pillow having a desired contour and profile of a surface that is to interact with a user, the pillow comprising: an inflatable bladder including a plurality of chambers that are fluidly connected to one another, the plurality of chambers sized and arranged to provide the desired contour and profile; an additional comfort layer shaped and arranged to substantially cover the surface of the inflatable bladder that is to interact with the user; the plurality of chambers including a first tubular-shaped chamber having a first diameter and a second tubular-shaped chamber having a second diameter defined at least partly by a first shape-defining member; and a second shape-defining member that spans from the first tubular-shaped chamber to the second tubular-shaped chamber, wherein the plurality of chambers and the first and second shape-defining members provide the desired contour and profile of the surface that includes a recessed area, and wherein the second shape-defining member is configured to substantially maintain the desired contour and profile of the surface when pressure is applied to the surface by the user. 35. The pillow of claim 34, wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter. 36. The pillow of claim 35, wherein the second shape-defining member includes a strap. 37. The pillow of claim 36, further comprising a third shape defining member that includes a snap. 38. The pillow of claim 34, wherein the desired contour and profile includes a raised perimeter on two sides of the recessed area, wherein the first tubular-shaped chamber is located in the raised perimeter, and wherein the second tubular-shaped member is located in the recessed area. 39. The pillow of claim 38, wherein the second shape-defining member spans from the first tubular-shaped chamber to the second tubular-shaped chamber external to each of the first and the second tubular-shaped chambers. 40. The pillow of claim 38, wherein the inflatable bladder is configured to allow for fluid to move from the recessed area to the raised perimeter when pressure is applied to the recessed area.