mat

Abstract

Provided is a mat (1) that can promote breathing in a supine position. A mat 1 supports at least the region of a supine person 50 corresponding to the pelvis PV, the mat comprising a pair of iliac support parts 11 for supporting the regions of the supine person 50 corresponding to the pair of iliac bones LM, and a sacrum support part 12 for supporting the region of the supine person 50 corresponding to the sacrum S of the supine person 50. Each of the iliac support parts 11 has an iliac-lower-part-supporting part 11a for supporting the region of the supine person 50 corresponding to a portion of the iliac bone LM that is below the sacroiliac joint J1, and an iliac-upper-part-corresponding part 11b that corresponds to a portion of the iliac bone LM of the supine person 50 that is above the sacroiliac joint J1. The body pressure from the sacrum support part 12 and the body pressure from the iliac-upper-part-corresponding part 11b are configured to be lower than the body pressure from the iliac-lower-part-supporting part 11a.

Description

mat

[0001] The present invention relates to a mat, and more particularly to a mat that allows for promotion of breathing when lying on one's back.

[0002] As a result of extensive research focusing on pelvic movement to promote breathing when lying on one's back, the inventor discovered that promoting a nodding movement (forward rotation) (see arrow S1) in which the sacrum S, located between a pair of iliac bones LM in the pelvis PV, tilts forward at the sacroiliac joint JI, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, leads to the invention of the mat disclosed in Patent Document 1.

[0003] The mat disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of ilium support parts that support the areas corresponding to the pair of iliac bones of a person lying on their back, and a sacrum support part that supports the area corresponding to the sacrum of a person lying on their back, and the vertical height of the sacrum support parts is set to a lower vertical height than the vertical height of the ilium support parts, which reduces body pressure on the sacrum and allows for smoother nodding movements of the sacrum compared to a uniformly flat mat.

[0004] However, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, when the sacrum S makes a nodding movement (forward rotation) (see arrow S1), a pair of iliac bones LM (a pair of hip bones HB) makes a rearward tilting, rising movement (backward rotation) (see arrow LM1). Therefore, it has been found that simply reducing the body pressure on the sacrum S, as with the mat disclosed in Patent Document 1, only limits the nodding movement of the sacrum S and is not very effective, and there is room for improvement.

[0005] Patent No. 6971516

[0006] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a mat that makes it possible to promote breathing when lying on one's back.

[0007] The mat of the present invention is a mat that supports at least the area corresponding to the pelvis of a person lying on their back, and is equipped with a pair of ilium support portions that support the areas corresponding to the person's pair of iliac bones, and a sacrum support portion that supports the area corresponding to the person's sacrum, and the ilium support portions have a lower ilium support portion that supports the area corresponding to the part of the person's ilium below the sacroiliac joint, and an upper ilium corresponding portion that corresponds to the part of the person's ilium above the sacroiliac joint, and is configured so that body pressure from the sacrum support portions and body pressure from the upper ilium corresponding portions is lower than body pressure from the lower ilium support portions.

[0008] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a mat according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view of a pelvic support portion of the mat of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a plan view showing the correspondence between the pelvic support portion of the mat of Fig. 1 and the pelvis; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the correspondence between the pelvic support portion of the mat of Fig. 1 and the pelvis; Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing the nodding movement of the sacrum in the pelvis; Fig. 7 is a side view showing the nodding movement of the sacrum in the pelvis;

[0009] Hereinafter, a mat according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0010] (Overview of Mattress 1) The mat 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 is used by placing it on a futon or a mattress for a bed, or as a mattress for a futon or a bed. The mat 1 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape from a resilient material such as urethane. A person 50 can lie on the mat 1 in the same manner as a futon or a mattress for a bed. The mat 1 may be used while covered with a cover (not shown). In this case, it is preferable that the cover be made of a fabric with excellent flexibility in order for the mat 1 to perform the functions described below.

[0011] In this specification and drawings, to indicate directions on the mat 1, a depth direction X (head side X1, leg side X2) corresponding to the up-down direction in which the body of the person 50 lying on their back extends, a width direction Y (right side Y1, left side Y2) corresponding to the left-right direction of the body of the person 50 lying on their back, and a vertical up-down direction Z (upper side Z1, lower side Z2) corresponding to the front-to-back direction (belly side, back side) of the body of the person 50 lying on their back are defined.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the mat 1 comprises a flat rectangular parallelepiped base portion 2 and three portions protruding upward Z1 from an upper surface 2a of the base portion 2, namely a back support portion 3, a pelvis support portion 4, and a leg support portion 5. The back support portion 3 supports the back of a person 50 lying on their back. The pelvis support portion 4 is located on the leg side X2 of the back support portion 3, and supports a region corresponding to the pelvis PV (see Figures 3 and 4) of the person 50 lying on their back. The leg support portion 5 is located on the leg side X2 of the pelvis support portion 4, and supports the thighs of the person 50 lying on their back.

[0013] A head placement area 6 is formed on the mat 1 on the head side X1 of the back support section 3, where the head of the person 50 lying on their back is placed. In the head placement area 6, the upper surface 2a of the base section 2 is exposed. A pillow P for supporting the head of the person 50 lying on their back is placed in the head placement area 6. On the leg side X2 of the mat 1 on the leg support section 5, a knee, lower leg and foot placement area 7 is formed, where the portion of the person 50 lying on their back from the knees to the toes is placed. In the knee, lower leg and foot placement area 7, the upper surface 2a of the base section 2 is exposed.

[0014] (Explanation of the Pelvis PV) The pelvis PV supported by the pelvic support unit 4 will now be described. As shown in Figures 3 to 4, 5A, and 5B, the pelvis PV is an overall skeleton having a truncated cone shape that tapers downward. The pelvis PV is composed of four bones: the sacrum S, the coccyx CC, and a pair of ilium HB. The sacrum S is a triangular bone that tapers downward and forms the posterior wall of the pelvis PV. The coccyx CC is the lowest bone of the spine SC and is attached to the lower end of the sacrum S. The pair of ilium HB is a pair of flat bones that form the anterior wall and left and right walls of the pelvis PV. The ilium HB is composed of the ilium LM, the pubis PB, and the ischium SN. The ilium LM forms the upper part of the ilium HB. The pubis PB forms the anterior and inferior part of the ilium HB. The ischium SN forms the posterior and inferior part of the ilium HB. The pelvis PV has a pair of pubic bones PB joined together along the midline of the body at the front to form the pubic symphysis PBa. At the back of the pelvis PV, a pair of iliac bones LM join with the sacrum S located between them to form a pair of sacroiliac joints J1. The pair of sacroiliac joints J1 are formed when a pair of auricular surfaces LMa located at the posterior-inferior parts of the upper parts (iliac wings) of the pair of iliac bones LM join with a pair of auricular surfaces Sa located on the left and right sides of the sacrum S.

[0015] (Explanation of Pelvis Support Section 4) In order to support the region corresponding to the pelvis PV of the person 50 lying on his / her back, the pelvis support section 4 of this embodiment is configured as follows.

[0016] As shown in Figures 1 to 4, the pelvic support portion 4 includes a pair of ilium support portions 11 spaced apart from each other in the width direction Y, a sacrum support portion 12 positioned between the pair of ilium support portions 11, and a pair of ischium support portions 13 positioned on the leg side X2 of the pair of ilium support portions 11.

[0017] The pair of iliac support portions 11 are located below Z2 the areas corresponding to the pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back, and individually support those areas from below Z2.

[0018] The sacral support portion 12 is disposed between the pair of ilium support portions 11, and is positioned below Z2 the area corresponding to the sacrum S of the person 50 lying on their back, supporting that area from below Z2.

[0019] The distance between the pair of iliac lumbar bones LM increases from the rear (back side) to the front (ventral side), and the width of the sacrum S also increases from the rear (back side) to the front (ventral side). The sacrum S fits between the upper and rear parts of the pair of iliac lumbar bones LM, so the upper and rear parts of the pair of iliac lumbar bones LM overlap the rear of the left and right ends of the sacrum S. The coccyx CC is attached to the lower end of the sacrum S. The sacrum support part 12 considers the upper and rear parts of the pair of iliac lumbar bones LM and the coccyx CC to be part of the sacrum S, and is located below Z2 the area corresponding to the sacrum S, supporting that area from below Z2.

[0020] The pair of ischial support parts 13 are positioned on the leg side X2 of the pair of iliac support parts 11, and are located below Z2 the area (buttocks) corresponding to the pair of ischial bones SN of the person 50 lying on their back, and support that area from below Z2.

[0021] The ilium support portion 11 has a lower ilium support portion 11a that supports a portion of the ilium LM corresponding to a portion below the sacroiliac joint JI (auricular surface LMa), and an upper ilium corresponding portion 11b that corresponds to a portion of the ilium LM above the sacroiliac joint J1 (auricular surface LMa), and the vertical height of the sacrum support portion 12 and the vertical height of the upper ilium corresponding portion 11b are set to be lower than the height of the lower ilium support portion 11a. This configuration makes it possible for the body pressure applied from the sacrum support portion 12 to a portion corresponding to the sacrum S of a person 50 lying on their back, and the body pressure applied from the upper ilium corresponding portion 11b to a portion of the ilium LM of a person 50 lying on their back above the sacroiliac joint J1 to be lower than the body pressure applied from the lower ilium support portion 11a to a portion of the ilium LM of a person 50 lying on their back that is below the sacroiliac joint JI.

[0022] The lower ilium support portion 11a is located below Z2 the portion of the pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back that corresponds to the portion below the sacroiliac joint JI, and supports that portion from below Z2.

[0023] The upper ilium corresponding portion 11b is located below Z2 the area corresponding to the portion of the pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back that is above the sacroiliac joint JI, and supports that area from below Z2.

[0024] The ischial support parts 13 are set to have a vertical height that is lower than the vertical height of the lower ilium support parts 11 a. The sacral support parts 12 are configured so that the body pressure applied therefrom to the area corresponding to the sacrum S of the person 50 lying on their back is lower than the body pressure applied from the pair of ischial support parts 13 to the area corresponding to the pair of ischial bones SN of the person 50 lying on their back.

[0025] The pelvic support part 4 is formed at the same vertical height as the back support part 3 and the leg support part 5, except for its five parts, namely, the upper ilium corresponding parts 11b of each of the pair of ilium support parts 11, the sacrum support part 12, and the pair of ischium support parts 13. As a result, each of the lower ilium support parts 11a of each of the pair of ilium support parts 11 in the pelvic support part 4 is formed at the same vertical height as the back support part 3 and the leg support part 5. The five parts of the pelvic support part 4, namely, each of the upper ilium corresponding parts 11b of each of the pair of ilium support parts 11, the sacrum support part 12, and the pair of ischium support parts 13, are formed by recesses of the same depth provided in the pelvic support part 4. As a result, each of the upper ilium corresponding parts 11b of each of the pair of ilium support parts 11, the sacrum support part 12, and the pair of ischium support parts 13 are formed at the same vertical height, but at a lower vertical height than each of the lower ilium support parts 11a of the pair of ilium support parts 11. As a result, the vertical height of the sacral support portion 12 and the vertical height of the upper ilium corresponding portion 11b are set to a vertical height lower than the vertical height of the lower ilium support portion 11a, so that the body pressure from the sacral support portion 12 and the body pressure from the upper ilium support corresponding portion 11b is lower than the body pressure from the lower ilium support portion 11a, and the vertical height of the ischium support portion 13 is set to a vertical height lower than the vertical height of the lower ilium support portion 11a, so that the body pressure from the ischium support portion 13 is lower than the body pressure from the lower ilium support portion 11a.

[0026] The upper surface 2a of the base portion 2 is exposed at the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b of each of the pair of iliac support portions 11, the sacrum support portion 12, and the pair of ischium support portions 13. The vertical heights of the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b of each of the pair of iliac support portions 11, the vertical height of the sacrum support portion 12, and the vertical height of the pair of ischium support portions 13 are set to the same vertical height at which the upper surfaces 2a of the base portion 2 are exposed, but they may be set to a different vertical height, or the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b, the sacrum support portions 12, and the ischium support portions 13 may be set to different vertical heights.

[0027] The sacrum support portion 12 is composed of a hole 12a of the same shape as the sacrum support portion 12, which is provided in a portion of the base portion 2 corresponding to the sacrum support portion 12, and a sacrum support member 12b which is made of a resilient material such as urethane that has weaker elasticity (softer) than the material of the mat 1 other than the sacrum support portion 12 and which fits into the hole 12a. As a result, the sacrum support portion 12 is configured so that the body pressure applied from there to the portion corresponding to the sacrum S of the person 50 lying on their back is lower than the body pressure applied from the pair of ischium support portions 13 to the portions corresponding to the pair of ischial bones SN of the person 50 lying on their back.

[0028] The sacral support portion 12 may be configured so that its vertical height is set lower than that of the pair of ischial support portions 13, so that the body pressure from the sacral support portion 12 is lower than the body pressure from the pair of ischial support portions 13.

[0029] In the pelvic support part 4, the triangular recessed part that narrows on the leg side X2 provided in the center of the pelvic support part 4 and the triangular part that narrows on the leg side X2 of the base part 2 located directly below this part Z2, i.e., the sacrum support part 12b, are located below Z2 the part corresponding to the sacrum S of the person 50 lying on their back, form the sacrum support part 12, and support the part corresponding to the sacrum S of the person 50 lying on their back from below Z2.

[0030] In the pelvic support portion 4, a pair of rectangular convex portions located on the widthwise outer sides Y1, Y2 of the triangular recess that narrows toward the leg side X2 in the sacrum support portion 12 and a pair of rectangular portions of the base portion 2 located directly below these portions Z2 are located below Z2 the portion of the pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back that corresponds to the portion below the sacroiliac joints JI, and form the respective lower ilium support portions 11a of the pair of ilium support portions 11, which support the portion of the pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back from below Z2.

[0031] In the pelvic support portion 4, a pair of rectangular concave portions located on the head side X1 of the rectangular convex portions of each lower ilium support portion 11a of the pair of ilium support portions 11 and a pair of rectangular portions of the base portion 2 located directly below these portions Z2 are located below Z2 of the portion corresponding to the portion above the sacroiliac joint JI of the pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back, and form the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b of each of the pair of ilium support portions 11, supporting the portion corresponding to the portion above the sacroiliac joint JI of the pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back from below Z2.

[0032] In the pelvic support portion 4, the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b of the pair of ilium support portions 11 are connected together and integrated at a point X1 on the cranial side of the sacrum support portion 12.

[0033] In the pelvic support portion 4, a pair of rectangular recessed portions located on the leg side X2 of the rectangular protrusions of each of the lower iliac support portions 11a of the pair of iliac support portions 11 and a pair of rectangular portions of the base portion 2 located directly below these portions Z2 are located below Z2 the area (buttocks) corresponding to the pair of ischial bones SN of the person 50 lying on their back, forming a pair of ischial bone support portions 13 and supporting the area corresponding to the pair of ischial bones SN of the person 50 lying on their back from below Z2.

[0034] In the pelvis support portion 4, the pair of ischial support portions 13 are connected together and integrated at a position closer to the legs X2 than the sacrum support portion 12.

[0035] In the pelvic support part 4, the sacrum support part 12 is formed with the end part on the leg side X2 of the sacrum support part 12 protruding into a pair of ischium support parts 13 which are connected in series and integrated on the leg side X2 from the sacrum support part 12.

[0036] In the pelvic support portion 4, the body pressure applied to the corresponding parts of the person 50 lying on their back from its seven parts, namely, the lower ilium support parts 11a of each of the pair of ilium support parts 11, the upper ilium corresponding parts 11b of each of the pair of ilium support parts 11, the sacrum support part 12, and the pair of ischium support parts 13, is set by the respective vertical heights, but may alternatively be set by the elasticity of the respective forming materials. For example, the five portions of the pelvic support portion 4, namely, the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b of the pair of ilium support portions 11, the sacrum support portion 12, and the pair of ischium support portions 13, are formed by recesses provided in the pelvic support portion 4, but the portions corresponding to these recesses can be formed with an elastic material such as urethane that is weaker (softer) in elasticity than the other materials forming the mat 1 to eliminate (fill in) these recesses, thereby configuring the body pressure from the sacrum support portion 12 and the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b to be lower than the body pressure from the lower ilium support portions 11a, and also configuring the body pressure from the ischium support portions 13 to be lower than the body pressure from the lower ilium support portions 11a. In this case, by using an elastic material such as urethane that is weaker (softer) in elasticity than the material forming the pair of ischium support portions 13 as the material for forming the sacrum support portion 12, the body pressure from the sacrum support portion 12 can be configured to be lower than the body pressure from the ischium support portions 13. This allows the hole 12a and the sacral support 12b to be omitted.

[0037] (Relationship between Exhalation and Nodding Movement of Sacrum S) The sacrum S is closely correlated with breathing, moving with breathing; stopping this movement of the sacrum S results in poor breathing. When a person 50 lying on their back exhales (during exhalation), the upper body is curled forward, and as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, the sacrum S tilts forward at the sacroiliac joint JI in a nodding movement (forward rotation) (see arrow S1), which in turn causes the pair of iliac bones LM (pair of hip bones HB) to tilt backward in a rising movement (posterior rotation) (see arrow LM1). Furthermore, when a person 50 lying on their back inhales (inhalation), the upper body arches backward, and therefore, although not shown, the sacrum S tilts backward at the sacroiliac joint JI in a rising motion (posterior rotation), which causes the pair of iliac bones LM (pair of hip bones HB) to tilt forward in a nodding motion (anterior rotation). If the pair of iliac support parts 11 are uniformly flat, the rising motion of the pair of iliac bones LM is inhibited by the pair of uniformly flat iliac support parts 11, and as a result, the nodding motion of the sacrum S is limited.

[0038] (Features of this embodiment) (1) The inventor has discovered that in order to promote breathing when lying on one's back, encouraging a nodding movement (anterior rotation) (see arrow S1) in which the sacrum S, located between a pair of iliac bones LM of the pelvis PV, tilts forward at the sacroiliac joint JI, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, leads to promoted breathing. He has invented a mat that includes a pair of iliac support parts that support the areas corresponding to the pair of iliac bones of a person lying on their back, and a sacral support part that supports the areas corresponding to the sacrum of a person lying on their back, and in which the vertical height of the sacral support parts is set to a lower vertical height than the vertical height of the iliac support parts. However, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, when the sacrum S makes a nodding movement (forward rotation) (see arrow S1), a pair of iliac bones LM (a pair of hip bones HB) tilts backward, causing a rising movement (backward rotation) (see arrow LM1). Therefore, it was found that conventional mats that only reduce the body pressure on the sacrum S only limit the nodding movement of the sacrum S and are not very effective, which led to the invention of the mat 1 with the above configuration.

[0039] In other words, the mat 1 of this embodiment is a mat that supports at least the area corresponding to the pelvis PV of a person 50 lying on their back, and is equipped with a pair of ilium support portions 11 that support the areas corresponding to a pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back, and a sacrum support portion 12 that supports the area corresponding to the sacrum S of the person 50 lying on their back, and the ilium support portion 11 has a lower ilium support portion 11a that supports the area corresponding to the part of the ilium LM of the person 50 lying on their back below the sacroiliac joint J1, and an upper ilium corresponding portion 11b that corresponds to the part of the ilium LM of the person 50 lying on their back above the sacroiliac joint J1, and is configured so that the body pressure from the sacrum support portion 12 and the body pressure from the upper ilium corresponding portion 11b is lower than the body pressure from the lower ilium support portion 11a.

[0040] With this configuration, the body pressure from the sacrum support portion 12 and the body pressure from the upper ilium corresponding portion 11b are lower than the body pressure from the lower ilium support portion 11a, reducing the body pressure on the sacrum S and also reducing the body pressure on the part of the ilium LM above the sacroiliac joint J1.As a result, when the sacrum S makes a nodding movement, the upper ilium corresponding portion 11b sinks more easily than the lower ilium support portion 11a, making it easier for the pair of iliac bones LM to rise up.This makes it possible to promote the nodding movement of the sacrum S more effectively than with conventional mats, and as a result, it is possible to promote the breathing of a person 50 lying on their back more effectively than with conventional mats.

[0041] (2) The mat 1 of this embodiment is provided with a pair of ischial support portions 13 that support the areas corresponding to the pair of ischial bones SN of a person 50 lying on their back, and is configured so that the body pressure from the sacral support portion 12 is lower than the body pressure from the ischial support portion 13.

[0042] With this configuration, the body pressure on the sacrum S can be reduced and the nodding movement of the sacrum S can be promoted.

[0043] As described above, the mat 1 of this embodiment can promote breathing when lying on one's back.

[0044] In the present invention, the pair of ilium support portions 11 need only support at least the portions of the pair of iliac bones LM of the person 50 lying on their back below the sacroiliac joints JI, and do not necessarily need to support the portions above the sacroiliac joints JI. The body pressure from the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b may be set to 0 (zero) or a value close to 0 (zero) and lower than the body pressure from the lower ilium support portions 11a. In this case, the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b may be set to a vertical height that is spaced apart from or lightly contacts the pair of ilium portions above the sacroiliac joints JI of the person 50 lying on their back, or the portions of the mat 1 that correspond to the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b may be formed from an elastic material such as urethane, which has a weaker elasticity (softer). This allows the body pressure from the upper ilium corresponding portions 11b to be set to 0 (zero) or a value close to 0 (zero).

[0045] 1 Mat 4 Pelvic support part 11 Ilium support part 11a Lower ilium support part 11b Upper ilium corresponding part 12 Sacrum support part 13 Ischium support part 50 Person lying on back PV Pelvis LM Ilium S Sacrum SN Ischium

Claims

1. A mat that supports at least a region corresponding to the pelvis of a person lying on his back, comprising a pair of ilium support parts that support regions corresponding to a pair of iliums of the person, and a sacrum support part that supports a region corresponding to the person's sacrum, wherein the ilium support parts have a lower ilium support part that supports a region corresponding to a portion of the person's ilium below the sacroiliac joint, and an upper ilium corresponding part that corresponds to a portion of the person's ilium above the sacroiliac joint, and is configured so that body pressure from the sacrum support parts and body pressure from the upper ilium corresponding parts are lower than body pressure from the lower ilium support parts.

2. The mat described in claim 1, further comprising a pair of ischial support parts for supporting the areas corresponding to the person's pair of ischial bones, and configured so that the body pressure from the sacrum support parts is lower than the body pressure from the ischial support parts.

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