Patent Application
20210345841
The present disclosure relates to systems and methods to provide assistance and comfort to a nauseous individual while nauseous or while dispensing nauseous waste due to nausea.
Patients of chronic illnesses and episodic ailments may be rendered to incessant vomiting. As such patients may find themselves limited to the use of household buckets that offer no support, bags that may leak, or exposure to low hygiene bathrooms to dispense fluid.
The device may provide comfort and assistance to a nauseous individual while nauseous or while dispensing nauseous waste. The device may comprise a body and a headrest. The body may include a base surface, an intermediate support surface, and a top surface. The intermediate support surface may be spaced apart from the base surface a first distance. The top support surface may be spaced apart from the base surface a second distance. The intermediate support surface may be configured to support a first body portion of the nauseous individual. The top support surface may define an aperture. The aperture may be configured to support a nausea receptacle. The headrest may extend from the body. The headrest may be partially disposed over the aperture.
In another embodiment, a nausea assistance device for assisting a nauseous individual is disclosed. The device includes a body including a first body portion, a second body portion detachable from the first body portion, a base surface, a first support surface spaced apart from the base surface by a first distance and a second support surface spaced part from the base surface a second distance. The first support surface defines an aperture configured to support a nausea receptacle. The nausea assistance device further includes a first headrest extending from the body and at least partially disposed over the aperture.
In yet another embodiment, a nausea assistance device for assisting a nauseous individual is disclosed. The nausea assistance device includes a body including a base surface, a first support surface spaced apart from the base surface by a first distance and a second support surface spaced apart from the base surface a second distance. The first distance is less than the second distance. The first support surface is configured to support a first body portion of the nauseous individual. The second support surface defines an aperture configured to support a nausea receptacle. The nausea assistance device further includes a first headrest extending from the body and at least partially disposed over the aperture.
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
The term “about” or “substantially” may be used herein to describe disclosed or claimed embodiments. The term “about” or “substantially” may modify a value disclosed or claimed in the present disclosure. In such instances, “about” or “substantially” may signify that the value it modifies is within ±0%, 0.1%, 0.5%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5% or 10% of the value.
Disclosed herein are nausea assistance devices. In one or more embodiments, the nausea assistance device may comprise a body and a headrest. When combined, the body and headrest may be sized to fit within a nauseous individual's lap. Additionally, the combination may be sized to be used within the environment of the individual's bed. As such, the nausea assistance device may be composed of relatively low mass, suitable to be placed on a nauseous individual's lap. For example, the nausea assistance device may have any of the following weighs or in a range of any two of the following weights: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 pounds. Embodiments of the nausea assistance device as such are configured to be used in bed, chair, or other nauseous material removal devices, such as a toilet, etc.
The body may comprise first and second body portion. The first body portion may define a base. The second body portion may define a midsection. The base may comprise a base surface and a first support surface. The first support surface may be an intermediate surface. The second body portion may define a midsection. The midsection may define a second support surface. The second support surface may be a top surface. In some embodiments, the midsection may generally have a smaller perimeter length than the base. Embodiments as such may allow the nauseous individual to wrap their arms around the midsection while simultaneously resting their arms upon the base. In other embodiments, the base and midsection may have generally the same perimeter length. The base may define a first height, and the midsection may define a second height. The base and midsection may be integrally connected. Alternatively, the base and midsection may be removably attached.
Alternative to the body configuration comprising a first and second body portion, the body may be comprised from a single body portion. The single body portion may be sized to have a height, width, and length to for a tray. The tray may comprise a base surface, an intermediate surface, and a top surface.
The base may define a base surface. In embodiments using a single body portion such as a tray, the tray may define a base surface. The base surface may be generally planar. As such, the base surface may be configured to allow the nausea assistance device to sit level on an adjacent planar surface. For example, and adjacent planar surface may be a table. The base surface may define a curved surface. The curved surface may define a legrest. The curved surface may be configured to follow the contour of a body portion of the nauseous individual. For example, the curve may be a contour the nauseous individual's leg. The peak of the curve may generally be the size of a person's lap. As such, the base surface may be configured to allow the nausea assistance device to comfortably sit on a surface below and adjacent to a user's lap. The leg rest may further comprise cushioning configured to increase the comfort of the nauseous individual. In some embodiments, the base surface may define a plurality of curved surfaces. As such, the curved surfaces may serve as legrests for a pair of legs of the nauseous individual.
The base surface may further comprise a plurality of support legs. The support legs may be attached to and extend from the base surface. In some embodiments, the support legs may be removably secured to the base surface. The support legs may be spaced apart generally along the base surface. For example, in embodiments wherein the base surface generally defines a rectangle, the support legs may be generally disposed in the corners of the rectangle. The support legs may be height adjustable. For example, the legs may be composed of a first generally cylindrical member disposed in a second generally cylindrical member, and a locking mechanism, where in the first cylindrical member is slidably connected to the second cylindrical member and capable of locking between a first position and a second position. The support legs may be sized to have a length extending from the base surface greater than the thickness of a leg of the nauseous individual.
The base may define an intermediate surface. In embodiments using a single body portion such as a tray, the tray may define an intermediate surface. The intermediate surface may be generally opposite and spaced apart the base surface.
The intermediate surface may define one or more curved surfaces. One of the curved surfaces may be configured to follow the contour of a body portion of the nauseous individual. One of the curved surfaces may define an armrest. In alternate embodiments, the intermediate surface may comprise cushioning to define an armrest. In further embodiments, the armrest may be removably attachable to the intermediate surface. For example, the armrest cushions may snap to the intermediate surface. The armrest may be generally located along the perimeter of the intermediate surface. Further, the intermediate surface may define a plurality of armrests. In such embodiments, the armrest may be configured to support a pair of arms of a nauseous individual.
The intermediate surface may further comprise a holding portion. The holding portion may function as a control grip. The nauseous individual may use the grip to secure the device when the nausea assistance device is placed in their lap. The grip may be a standing grip, extending from and generally normal to the intermediate surface. The standing grip may be integrally connected to the intermediate surface. Alternatively, the standing grip may be removably attached to the intermediate surface. Alternatively, the grip may be a slotted grip within the intermediate surface. A user may place their fingers within the slotted grip to secure the device. Further, the intermediate surface may define additional slots within the surface that the nauseous individual may be sized to temporarily store items. For example, the intermediate surface may comprise a slot sized to contain a cellular phone.
The base may further define a base aperture. The base aperture may define a through hole. As such, waste may travel from a first end of the base aperture to a second end of the base aperture via the base aperture. In embodiments as such, the intermediate surface may define the first end of the base aperture, and the base surface may define the second end of the base aperture. Alternatively, the base aperture may define a blind hole. The base aperture may be generally disposed in the center of the interface surface. In embodiments wherein the base aperture is a blind hole, the base may contain additional venting apertures in fluid communication with the base aperture. This configuration may assist with the removal of a receptacle placed within the base aperture. Further, the venting apertures may assist temperature regulation of a receptacle.
The midsection may comprise a top surface. In embodiments using a single body portion such as a tray, the tray may comprise a top surface. The midsection may also comprise a bottom surface. The top surface may be generally opposite and spaced apart from the bottom surface. In embodiments in which the midsection is disposed upon the base, the top surface may be generally opposite and spaced apart from the base surface. Similarly, in embodiments in which the midsection comprises a bottom surface, the bottom surface may be spaced apart from the base surface.
The midsection may define a midsection aperture. In embodiments using a single body portion such as a tray, the tray may define a midsection aperture. The midsection aperture may define a through hole. As such, waste may travel from a first end of the midsection aperture to a second end of the midsection aperture via the midsection aperture. In embodiments as such, the top surface may define the first end of the midsection aperture, and the bottom surface may define the second end of the midsection aperture. In embodiments where the base and the midsection are integrally attached, or in embodiments where the midsection section is removably attached, the base aperture and the midsection aperture may be in fluid communication, such that the base and midsection apertures may define a body aperture. The body aperture may define a through hole. As such, waste may travel from a first end of the body aperture to a second end of the body aperture. The top surface may define the first end of the body aperture, and the base surface may define the second end of the body aperture.
The device may comprise a headrest. The headrest may comprise a support leg and a rest portion. In some embodiments, the headrest may comprise a plurality of support legs. The headrest may be disposed on the midsection. In particular, the support leg may be disposed on the top surface defined by the midsection. The rest portion may be partially disposed above the midsection aperture.
The headrest may be adjustable. In some embodiments, the headrest may be adjustable between a first angle relative to the receiving surface and a second angle relative to the receiving surface. Subsequently, the angle of the support leg of the headrest may be adjustable relative to the receptacle, correlating to angularly adjusting the headrest. Adjusting the angle may improve the comfort of a user's neck when using the device. In some embodiments, the first angle may be generally 180 degrees relative to the second angle. This allows the headrest to completely flip between positions. This configuration may aid in storage and packaging of the device. In some embodiments, the headrest may be adjustable between a first height relative to the receiving surface, and a second height relative to the receiving surface. Subsequently, the height of the support section of the headrest may be height adjustable relative to the receptacle, correlating to the height adjusting of the headrest. Adjusting the height of the headrest may provide similar benefits to adjusting the angle of the headrest, namely, user comfort, storage, and packaging. Further, the headrest orientation may be adjustable between a first rotation angle and a second rotation angle. As such, the nauseous individual may adjust the headrest to fit their approach while using the device.
The headrest may comprise a rest portion. The rest portion may define a curved surface. The curved surface of the rest portion may be configured as a forehead rest in which the user may place their forehead while keeping their mouth positioned above the receptacle. The curvature may be configured to contour the forehead of the nauseous individual. In other embodiments, the headrest may comprise a face rest support. In such embodiments, the face rest support may allow a user to place their face in the face rest support, yet still allow the user's mouth to be positioned above the receptacle. The face rest support may aid in even distribution of resting force through a user's face in comparison to only the user's forehead. The facerest may be disposed on one of the headrest and the receiving surface. The nausea assistance device may further comprise a side-headrest support. The side-headrest support may be configured to allow a user to rest the side of their head upon the side-headrest support, yet still allow the user's mouth to be positioned above the receptacle. The type of support disposed on one of the receiving surface and the headrest may be interchangeable. For example, a first headrest may be removably attached to one of a forehead support, a side head support, and a face rest support. Alternatively, the first headrest may be configured to removably attach to a plurality of support structures, wherein the plurality of support structures may vary between at least a forehead support, a side head support, and a face rest support.
The headrest may comprise a rest portion. Alternatively, the midsection may comprise a rest portion. In particular, the rest portion may be disposed on the top surface. The rest portion may define a curved rest surface. The curved rest surface may be configured to contour a body portion of the individual. For example, the rest curved surface may be configured to contour to one of the forehead, face, side-head, and chin of the nauseous individual. Alternatively, the rest portion may define a cushioned surface. The cushioned surface may be configured to comfortably support one of the forehead, face, side-head and chin of the nauseous individual.
In embodiments in which the rest portion is configured as a forehead rest, the rest portion may be disposed above the midsection aperture biased towards the front of the device, such that while the nauseous individual's forehead is in the rest, their mouth may be disposed substantially center above the midsection aperture. In embodiments in which the rest portion is configured as a chin rest, the rest portion may be disposed above the midsection aperture biased to the rear of the device, such that while the nauseous individual's chin is in the rest, their mouth may be disposed substantially center above the midsection aperture. In embodiments in which the rest portion is configured as a side-head rest, the rest portion may be disposed above the midsection aperture biased towards one the sides of the device, such that while the side-head of the nauseous individual is in the rest, their mouth may be disposed substantially centered above the midsection aperture. In embodiments in which the rest portion is configured as a face rest, the rest portion may comprise multiple surfaces to contact a nauseous individual's head.
The face rest may aid in distribution of resting force. For example, the face rest may be configured to support the chin and forehead of the nauseous individual. In another example, the face rest may be configured to support the forehead and side-head of the individual. The face rest may define a rest surface further defining a rest aperture, such that the perimeter of the rest aperture rest surface may support the face of the nauseous individual, and the rest aperture may be disposed above the midsection aperture, allowing that when the nauseous individual's face is in the rest, their mouth may be disposed within the rest aperture, and substantially center above the midsection aperture.
The device may comprise a receptacle. The receptacle may be sized to partially fit within the both the base and midsection apertures. The receptacle may be frustoconical in shape. Alternatively, the receptacle may be frustopryamidal. The receptacle may be composed of a variety of non-stick materials. For example, the receptacle may be composed of stainless steel. Alternatively, the receptacle may be composed of polytetrafluoroethylene.
In some embodiments, the receptacle may be composed of a bag. The bag may be sized to fit within the partially fit within the apertures. Further, the bag may comprise a bag rim, the bag rim being sized to fit around the at least the top aperture. Upon removal, the bag may be sealable to prevent fluid leakage.
While exemplary embodiments are described above, it is not intended that these embodiments describe all possible forms of the invention. Rather, the words used in the specification are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, the features of various implementing embodiments may be combined to form further embodiments of the invention.
