Supporting device for a person's back and head area

This application is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 10/520 051, filed Dec. 29, 2004, hereby incorporated herein by reference, which was the national stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2003/006244, filed Jun. 13, 2003, which International Application was not published in English.

The invention relates to a supporting device for a person\'s back and head area, with a back support section and with a head support section, and to a home or workplace furniture item or leisure item with such a supporting device.

Such supporting devices are generally known in the form of couches or the like. Such supporting devices can be padded or unpadded. Individuals can take up position on supporting devices of this kind. If a person takes up a position lying on his back on such a supporting device, both the back area and the head area are supported. The back area extends from the coccyx to the neck area. To permit a secure support for the person, the supporting device has a back support section for the back area and a head support section for the head area. The back support section is designed with such a width as to permit a secure position of the person. In particular, the back support section has, at least from the hip area to the shoulder area, a width which corresponds at least to the width of the corresponding areas of the person, so as to allow the person to lie securely on it. Such supporting devices often have an orthopedic design and/or adapt naturally to the person\'s posture.

A person\'s posture is often poor in orthopedic terms. In particular, poor posture at the workplace or in other environments may lead to shortening of the chest muscles, which in turn can lead to a rounded back posture, in particular to a hunched back.

The object of the invention is to make available a supporting device of the type mentioned at the outset which, by simple means, in particular by allowing gymnastic exercises, makes it possible to counteract this shortening of the chest muscles.

This object is achieved by the fact that, in a supporting position, a partial area of the back support section has, at the level of shoulder blade areas of the back area, a support surface in a spinal column area and, on both sides of the support surface, has open areas which are configured in such a way that the shoulder blade areas can move downward past the support surface.

According to the invention, therefore, a person lying on his back on the supporting device can stretch his chest muscles in a simple manner by extending his arms out to the sides and either leaves them, in the outwardly extended position, under their inherent weight or actively moves the arms and thus also the shoulders downward, i.e. toward the rear side of the back support section. Since, at shoulder blade level, the support surface provides only a central, preferably narrow and at least partial support in the spinal column area and since the shoulder blade areas can be moved at least substantially freely downward, i.e. past the support surface toward the rear side, it is possible to stretch the chest muscles. The person preferably lies on the supporting device in a position which is in an angle range of 45° to 90° to the vertical. In the supporting position, an at least approximately horizontal alignment of back section and head support section is particularly preferred. In this way, the inherent weight of the arm and shoulder areas already effects a desired stretching of the chest muscles, without the person necessarily having to actively exert force in order to achieve the aim of stretching the chest muscles. The supporting device thus fulfills a double function in that the provision of the recumbent position ensures a relaxed posture and, in addition, the simple lateral extension and subsequent lowering at least of the upper arms approximately at right angles to the thoracic cage ensures stretching of the chest muscles. If the forearms too, in straight continuation of the upper arms, are extended laterally outward approximately at right angles to the thoracic cage area, the lever effect caused by the inherent weight of the arms is further increased, so that the stretching effect of the chest muscles is also improved. The open areas present on both sides of the central support surface can each be completely open to the outside within the entire support surface formed by the back support section and the head support section. Alternatively, they can also be closed in the lateral outer edge areas if the transverse extent of the open areas is so great that, with the upper arms extended at right angles, at least the elbow areas can move downward through the open areas. However, the open areas are preferably also designed open laterally outward in order to permit the desired mobility of the shoulders and arms even when the total width of the supporting surface is small. From the coccyx or hip area to just below the shoulder blade areas, the back support section is advantageously made at least so wide that it corresponds to the width of a human thoracic cage, so as to permit secure supporting of the person\'s back area at least to just under the shoulder areas. The head support section too is preferably configured so that it ensures a secure supporting of the head.

The solution according to the invention can be applied in different environments. In particular, it can form part of various items of furniture in the home, office or workplace or in the leisure sector. The supporting device can in particular rest on a separate base, for example a frame, or can itself be provided with suitable support, frame or leg elements in order to permit positioning on a base. In a particularly simple embodiment, the supporting device is formed as a rigid support unit by means of a single panel made of shape-stable material, in particular wood or plastic, which is provided with the back support section, including the support surface and the lateral open areas, and with the head support section. In other functional arrangements, such a panel can be integrated within them or coupled to them. Thus, in particular, it is possible to arrange such a panel removably in the area of a room door or in the area of a room wall and, when so required, to remove it from the door or wall and position it on a suitable base. Alternatively, an embodiment is proposed in which such a panel is arranged releasably on an item of home or office furniture. In particular, it is proposed to fit such a panel standing in a pedestal forming part of a light, and in particular provided with at least one luminescent tube situated behind the panel. The panel serving as supporting device thus has an additional function, by serving as a shade or screen for the lighting means.

In one embodiment of the invention, the head support section and the back support section are separate structural parts which can be fitted to one another for the supporting position, forming the open areas. In this way, it is possible to fit the head support section and the back support section to each other to form the desired supporting position for back and head only when required. When not needed for stretching of the chest muscles, the head support section and the back support section can have entirely different functions. Thus, it is possible in particular to use the surface of at least one support section as a table top or as a seating arrangement when the supporting function for a person\'s body is not required.

In one embodiment of the invention, the open areas are formed by laterally open recesses of the back support section. In this case, the back support section in an area below the recesses, seen toward the foot of the body, is advantageously much wider than the central, preferably narrow support surface at the level of the shoulder blade areas, so that a secure support is obtained in the rear rib area of the person\'s body. The recesses advantageously form a division of the back support section from the head support section, so that the connection by means of the support surface is maintained only between the head support section and the back support section at least for the supporting position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the recesses can be closed by detachable or movable cover elements. As soon as the recesses are closed by suitable cover elements, the back support section preferably including the head support section can have a continuous panel shape or continuous surface. In this way, the back support section and/or head support section can be used for completely different functions when they are not fitted together for the supporting position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the back support section and the head support section are integrated in a rigid support unit. The back support section and the head support section are thus part of a common rigid unit. The back support section and the head support section advantageously form a shape-stable panel which, when not needed for chest stretching purposes, can be used in another way, in particular as a table, as a seating arrangement or similar.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the rigid support unit is arranged so as to be movable between an in particular vertical rest position and an in particular horizontal supporting position. In this way, it is possible for the back support unit formed by back support section and head support section to be moved to the desired supporting position only when so required. When not required, the support unit can have another function or can remain without any function in a rest position. In particularly preferred embodiments, the support unit is positioned movably in the area of table arrangements or is alternatively designed as a fold-out backrest of a chair or stool. It is advantageously also possible to integrate the support unit in a concealed manner in a seat or couch and bring it to the supporting position only when needed. Pivot bearings, linear guides and similar are in particular provided for the movable arrangement of the support unit between the rest position and the supporting position.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the head support section and the back support section are mounted with respect to one another so as to be movable between the rest position and the functional position by guide means. The guide means provided can be combined swivel/slide guides, purely linear guides or hinge arrangements, or otherwise configured cam guides.

The supporting device according to the invention can be used particularly advantageously for home furniture items, leisure items or workplace items. It is used particularly advantageously in seats, couches or combined seat/couch units. Such items of furniture can be both stationary and also movable, i.e. can be accommodated in particular in vehicles or even in buildings or rooms.

The invention also relates to an add-on unit which, together with existing items of furniture or other objects which each have a surface part, form a supporting device in the sense of the invention. The add-on unit according to the invention has a head support section and a spacer part serving as a support surface for the spinal column area. The add-on unit is secured by means of at least one connection element to a surface part of the item of furniture or of the object, and the surface part, when the head support section and spacer part are added on, takes over the function of the back support section of the supporting device. The spacer part is designed in such a way that the open areas are obtained on both sides for movement of the shoulder blades. The spacer part is also designed so narrow, as support surface for the spinal column area, that suitable shoulder blade movements are not impeded by the spacer part. By means of this solution, it is possible in particular to attach the add-on unit to existing table, seat and/or couch units and so obtain a supporting device according to the invention.