Face down tanning and massage pad

A support cushion for face down tanning or massage. The cushion is composed of inflatable plastic or rubber material, or solid foam material, and has an elongated recess for accommodating a person's face. Ventilation apertures extend from each side of the cushion and communicates with the recess to provide a constant fresh air supply.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention generally relates to support cushions, and more 
particularly, to a body support cushion or pad for face down tanning, or a 
massage. 
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
Various support cushions have been developed in the past to meet a variety 
of needs. The related art discloses full body supports with or without 
openings for accommodating the face of a user. However, these supports do 
not provide a proper support for the spinal column and the upper body 
portion when a person is lying in a prone position, thereby possibly 
imparting postural strain and discomfort. Furthermore, these supports are 
not readily portable, because they are generally rather bulky and heavy, 
and require considerable space for storage and transport. 
It is normal for a person to recline in a prone position or face-down 
position when sunbathing or when having one's back and/or neck massaged. 
It is difficult for one to lie in a prone position, however, because of 
the need to maintain normal breathing. Consequently, the head must be 
turned to one side for normal breathing, or the head must be elevated 
somehow to expose the mouth and nose for normal breathing. The effect of 
the former may be to cause a twist in the neck, and in the latter, added 
pressure to the nose and mouth, thereby causing not inconsiderable 
discomfort. 
Representative, related art disclosures will now be discussed in detail. 
U.S. Pat. No. 2,959,794 issued to Souleles on Nov. 15, 1960, discloses a 
mattress for face down sleeping. The mattress has a forward portion with 
an opening for accommodating a person's face, and an aperture for air 
intake. This mattress does not provide a spinal column support, because 
the mattress has an even surface which may cause a postural strain when a 
person is lying in a prone position. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,061 issued to Fuechsel on Aug. 16, 1966, describes a 
couch configured to fit a person's body, and having an opening with straps 
to accommodate a person's face. This couch is not easily moved from one 
place to another. In addition, the device requires leg members and wheels 
to support it in a standing position, so that a person having one's face 
in the opening may breathe without being suffocated. The device does not 
appear to work if it is positioned horizontally. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,747,916 issued to Benson on Jul. 24, 1973, teaches a 
chiropractic table, including a bench-type support, armrests, a recess to 
accommodate a person's face, leg supports, an elevated block and a pad. 
This table does not provide comfortable structure for a person to lie in a 
prone position because of the awkward position to which one has to adjust. 
In addition, the table is not readily portable and thus could be very 
difficult to move around. 
U.S. Pat. No. 3,897,102 issued to Lemaire on Jul. 29, 1975, discloses a 
lounge chair having a frame and flexible material associated with the 
frame, with a hole configured for a person's face, and two openings for 
insertion of the hands therethrough. This chair does not provide much 
convenience and comfort when a person is lying in a prone position, 
because the configuration as well as the flexible material of the device 
may cause a postural strain. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,207,635 issued to Leroy on Jun. 17, 1980, shows a lounger 
having an abdominal support and an opening for accommodating a person's 
face, and other accessories. This lounger does not provide a ventilating 
hole when it is flat on the ground. Additionally, the lounger is bulky to 
the extent that it is not readily portable or easily stored. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,723,329 issued to Vaccaro on Feb. 9, 1988, discloses an air 
mattress having inflated tubes and a recess to fit a person's face in a 
prone position. This mattress does not provide a ventilating passage for 
breathing, nor sufficient head support so as to avoid a twist in the neck 
when a person lies in a prone position. 
U.S. Pat. Nos 4,941,222 and 5,237,713 issued to Prager on Jul. 17, 1990, 
and Aug. 24, 1993, respectively, describe a portable, adjustable lounge 
with an opening to fit a person's face. This lounge material (canvas, 
plastic bands and woven fiber glass) may cause discomfort when one lies 
against the material. In addition, the lounge is not adjustable to an 
appropriate height for the upper body portion so as to reduce postural 
strain. 
U.S. Pat. No. 5,222,779 issued to Johnson on Jun. 29, 1993, illustrates a 
chaise lounge having an aperture to accommodate a person's face. This 
lounge can be uncomfortable in use, both because of the configuration of 
the device as well as the material used. 
European Patent No. 69,079 issued to Borzia on Jan. 5, 1983, teaches a 
cushion made from polyurethane with internal springs. The device does not 
provide an upper body support to reduce spinal column and neck strain. 
Great Britain Patent No. 1,391,506 issued to Grabham on Apr. 23, 1975, 
shows a safety mattress made from resilient foam, and having ventilation 
holes at the head portion. The mattress does not provide a recess to 
accommodate a person's face when the person is rested in prone position, 
nor any elevating structure to reduce postural strains. 
French Patent No. 2,431,271 issued to Fontanesia on Jul. 17, 1978, 
discloses a foam beach mat having a flat surface. This mat would not be 
comfortable for a person resting in a prone position. 
None of the above noted inventions and patents, taken either singly or in 
combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide an upper 
body cushion having a proper support for the spinal column and the neck of 
a person when lying in a prone position. 
It is an object of the present invention to provide an upper body cushion 
that is composed of inflatable plastic material or rubber, or solid foam 
material, e.g., foam rubber, for better comfort. 
Another object of the present invention is to provide an upper body cushion 
with a recess and ventilation apertures which communicate with the recess 
and are positioned on each side of the cushion, to provide a constant flow 
of fresh air to a user lying in a prone position, with the face in the 
recess. 
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an upper body 
cushion which effectively eases ailments of the back and neck when a 
person is lying in a prone position. 
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a cushion for 
increasing relaxation. 
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a cushion having 
a recess to accommodate a person's face so as to reduce strain from a 
person's back. 
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cushion 
configured for convenient usage or storage. 
An object of the present invention is to provide an upper body support 
cushion which is economical to produce. 
The invention is a body support cushion or pad for face down tanning, or a 
massage. The body support cushion is made from any suitable material that 
is firm enough to support a person's body, yet soft enough to be 
comfortable for a person's face. In a preferred embodiment, the body 
support cushion is composed of foam rubber so as to enhance the softness 
of the cushion. The cushion has an elongated recess for accommodating a 
person's face. Ventilation apertures extend from each side of the pad and 
are in fluid communication with the elongated facial recess to provide air 
circulation. The cushion provides a proper postural position when a person 
is lying in a prone position. 
These and other objects of the present invention will become readily 
apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
The present invention is a support cushion of unitary construction for 
face-down tanning or massage. The cushion is fabricated from either 
plastic or rubber material which can be inflated, or from a solid foam 
material, e.g., foam rubber, and has an elongated recess for accommodating 
a person's face. There are ventilation apertures extending from each side 
of the cushion and communicating with the recess to provide a continuous 
air passage for the user. 
The preferred embodiments of the various aspects of the present invention 
will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. By way 
of illustration and not limitation, FIGS. 1 to 5 are presented to show the 
preferred embodiments of the invention. FIG. 1, illustrating a first 
preferred embodiment of the invention, shows a user P lying on a cushion 2 
with the upper body U in a prone position or face F down position for 
sunbathing or massaging. The invention includes ventilation holes 8 
extended from each side of the cushion 2, one of which is clearly seen in 
FIG. 1. 
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the invention showing a cavity 6, dimensioned 
and configured to accommodate the face F. FIG. 3 further illustrates the 
configuration of the invention, which conforms with the contour of the 
user's upper body U and head portions H. FIG. 4 clearly illustrates the 
intercommunication of the cavity 6 with the side ventilation apertures or 
holes 8. 
Referring again to FIG. 1, the cushion or pad 2 extends from about a user's 
ribs and terminates just beyond the user's forehead, so as to provide the 
user an upper body support. The cushion 2 helps to maintain a proper 
postural position when the user P is lying in a prone position or a face 
down position, because it has dimensions configured to conform with the 
upper body U and the head portions H of the user P. 
The cushion 2 has a substantial upwardly inclined top surface 18 beginning 
at a rearward portion 16, then slowly rising to a forward portion 12. The 
inclined top surface 18 provides a steady elevation and comfortable 
support for the user's upper body when the user P is lying in a prone 
position on the cushion 2. Specifically, the forward portion 12 of top 
surface 18 helps to support the head portion H of the user P, while the 
rearward portion 16 supports the upper body portion U. Thus, a proper care 
for the back of the user P is achieved when the user P lies on the 
stomach. 
The cushion 2 is also very useful for people who suffer from spinal 
disorders, because the configuration of the cushion eases ailments of the 
back and the neck. In addition, many people accidentally twist their necks 
when they place their heads on a side while lying on their stomachs for 
sunbathing or massaging, in order to obtain normal breathing. A major 
advantage of this invention is to reduce the possibility of neck injury by 
including a cavity or recess 6 disposed at the forward portion 12 of the 
cushion 2 to accommodate the user's face F, for correct posture and normal 
breathing. The recess 6 is disposed in the forward portion 12 of the 
cushion 2 and is further defined by opposed spaced-apart sections 10, as 
shown in FIG. 2. 
As can be readily seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the recess 6 is dimensioned and 
configured to receive and engage the user's face F. A pair of 
substantially triangular-shaped side walls 20 extend along apposite sides 
of cushion 2. Ventilation apertures 8 extend from each side wall 20 of the 
cushion 2 and interconnect with the recess 6 as shown in FIG. 4. 
Communication between the aperture 8 and the recess 6 provides the user a 
continuous supply of fresh air, so that normal breathing may be 
maintained. An end wall 22 and a bottom wall 24 complete the hollow 
cushion 2. 
The cushion 2 is made of plastic or rubber material, which can be inflated 
and hold pressure. The material is chosen for comfort. The cushion is 
sized so that it is convenient to carry it from place to place. In 
addition, when the cushion 2 is deflated, the user P is able easily to 
store the cushion 2, because the deflated cushion 2 requires only minimum 
storage space. The inflator mechanism (not shown) can be selected from 
various types of inflator mechanism well known to one in the art, such as 
an orally inflatable mechanism. 
A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 5. This 
embodiment is identical in all respects to the first embodiment, except 
that it is made of a solid foam material, for example, foam rubber. The 
cushion 102, likewise, has an upwardly sloped top surface 118, a pair of 
substantially triangular-shaped side walls 120 an end wall 122, and a 
bottom wall 124. The cushion 102 has a face accommodating cavity 106 as 
well as the side ventilation apertures or holes, one of which is 
illustrated at 108. The foam material of this embodiment provides a 
suitable softness and comfort. Also, there is no need of worry that the 
cushion will lose air and deflate, as can be the case with the first 
embodiment. On the other hand, after use, this embodiment cannot be 
reduced to a compact storage size as can the first embodiment when fully 
deflated. However, given the relatively small dimensions of the cushion 
102, storage of the device is not a significant problem 
In operation, the user P lies in a prone position on a towel or any 
comfortable platform for sunbathing or massaging. He or she then properly 
positions himself or herself by placing the cushion 2 or 102 under the 
upper body portion U. The lowest height portion, the rearward portion 16 
or 116, of the cushion 2 or 102 is placed against the ribs of the user's 
body, while the head portion H is rested on top of the forward portion 12 
or 112. Face F is placed in the cavity or recess 6 or 106 for correct 
postural positioning. The user P can maintain normal breathing by inhaling 
through the nose and exhaling through the mouth while face down in the 
recess 6 or 106. The ventilation apertures 8 or 108 on the sides of the 
cushion 2 or 102, and the recess 6 or 106, provide a constant source for 
fresh air circulation for breathing. 
The body support cushion of the present invention provides maximal support 
and comfort for a person lying in the prone position for a prolonged 
period of time. The innovative ventilation system with its bilateral 
ventilation apertures in fluid communication with the elongated facial 
recess provide the user with the necessary circulation of fresh air to 
allow the user to completely relax while in the prone position. The 
contoured configuration of the body support cushion of the present 
invention provides the appropriate parts of the torso and head with the 
correct amount of support and comfort. 
It should be understood by those skilled in the art that various 
modifications and adaptations of the present invention as well as 
alternative embodiments of the present invention may be contemplated. The 
preferred embodiments of the present invention It is to be understood that 
the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, 
but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following 
claims.