Abstract:
An elongate structure has a body support surface inclined with respect to a generally horizontal foundation surface and contoured to provide comfortable support for a sunbather in positions intermediate prone and supine for tanning side portions of the body. A hollow cavity formed in the structure provides a convenient storage and transport compartment and an integral handle facilitates portability.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a body support for suntanning generally and, more particularly, to a cushioned and contoured support for facilitating the acquisition of an even suntan on all sides of the body. 
     2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
     Sunbathing is a means to acquire a robust healthy appearance, to socialize and to enhance production of vitamin D. To those seriously searching for the &#34;perfect tan&#34; as well as casual dabblers in the past-time, an annoying and persistent problem has been the difficulty in finding an even moderately comfortable position to expose side surfaces of the body, arms and legs to direct sun&#39;s rays. Alternatives heretofore have ranged from accepting wildly uneven two-tone tans featuring attractively bronzed or pigmented backs and fronts delineated by substantially paler stripes of sun-deprived side skin, to spending tedious hours in unattractive and uncomfortable contortions devoted to forcing the body&#39;s naturally horizontal surfaces into a sun-absorbing vertical alignment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a platform for supporting a sunbather&#39;s body in positions that orient side surfaces toward incoming ultraviolet radiation. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a lightweight portable structure to comfortably support a sunbather in a position between prone and supine. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a support platform ergonomically contoured to provide comfortable uniform support from the head to the lower trunk of a sunbather reclining in a posture intermediate prone and supine. 
     It is yet another object to provide a suntanning body support structure having a compartment for transporting and storing small items. 
     The aforesaid objects can be achieved individually and in combination and it is not intended that the invention be construed as requiring that two or more of said objects be combined. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a wedge shaped structure has a flat base, a back and an angled support surface contoured to conform generally to the portion of the human body between the head and lower torso. A carrying handle and a storage compartment with a removable access panel are formed in the structure. 
     The above and still further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon considering the following detailed description of specific embodiments thereof, particularly when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals in the various figures are used to designate like components. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front view in perspective of the suntanning body support according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a rear view in perspective of the body support of FIG. 1 with the rear access panel in place. 
     FIG. 3 is a front view in plan of a body support according to the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a back view in plan of the body support of FIG. 3 and the removed access panel. 
     FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the body support of FIG. 3 with a storage compartment shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 6 is an elevation view of the support surface of the body support of FIG. 3 taken through lines 6--6 in FIG. 5. 
     FIG. 7 is an elevation view taken through lines 7--7 in FIG. 5 with a sunbather shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 8 is a perspective detail view of an access bevel for removing the access panel. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-8, a body support for suntanning 10 according to the present invention is an elongate structure, for instance wedge-shaped as illustrated, formed to provide a comfortable back and side rest for a sunbather assuming a position orienting his or her body to tan side portions and constructed to be portable, easily handled and conveniently configured with an enclosable compartment for storing and transporting small items. 
     The flat bottom, or base, 12 rests on a generally horizontal foundation 14, typically the sand of a beach or the grass or pavement surrounding a pool, but including the platforms or carpeted floors of tanning salons, the decks of ships or boats, or any suitably flat surface. The back 16 of support 10 is flat and forms a perpendicular abutment with the back edge 18 of base 12. Ends 20 and 22 are parallel generally isosceles right triangles, perpendicular to both base 12 and back 16, similar but not necessarily congruent in shape. 
     A non-planar support surface 24 extends between the ends, base and back completing the generally wedge-shaped body support and forming approximately 45° angles with the base and back. The specific contour of support surface 24 is ergonomically designed to provide comfortable support to the back and sides of a sunbather 26 assuming a posture between the prone and supine positions, particularly the sides of the body and limbs, to allow better orientation with respect to the sun of these typically difficult to tan body portions. 
     As best illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 6, support surface 24 includes first and second expanded sections, or portions, 32 and 34, respectively, enlarged in both width and depth with respect to three more constricted or narrowed sections or portions 36, 38 and 40. As shown in FIG. 7, the first narrowed portion 36, adjacent end 20 supports the sunbather&#39;s head. Adjacent expanded portion 32 cradles the small of the neck and the rather long gentle swail of the second narrowed portion 38 is proportioned to correspond to the shape of the back. The second expanded portion 34 rises to support the small of the back or waist and the surface then recedes to the third narrowed portion 40 conforming to and supporting the lower body or buttocks of the sunbather. 
     The exact dimensions of this contoured support surface can vary with body type and size but a representative set of dimensions found to provide comfortable support for a wide range of users is shown in Table 1. Longitudinal distances are measured from head support end 30 along the structure elongate axis to the maximum or minimum width of each sequentially adjacent support section as designated by lettered arrows shown in FIG. 6, and the contour of support surface 24 at each position is defined by the length of the legs 42 of the isosceles triangular cross-sections, as shown in FIG. 5. 
     
         ______________________________________           LONGITUDINAL CROSS-SECTIONAL           DISTANCE     WIDTHPORTION         (inches)     (inches)______________________________________A:       Head       0.0        9.1B:       Neck       4.2        10.7C:       Back       11.8       7.7D:       Small of Back               23.0       9.8    or WaistE:       Lower Body 29.0       8.7    or Buttocks______________________________________ 
    
     In addition to varying the depth and separation of the contours of support surface 24, the triangular ends need not have equal length arms, thus the slant or angle assumed by the surface can be varied to values greater or less than 45°, generally between about 30° and 60°, to suit conditions and personal comfort. Moreover, the cross-section of the body support for suntanning need not be specifically triangular, rather any sufficiently strong yet lightweight structure having at least one surface inclined with respect to the foundation and contoured to provide uniform body support would fall within the scope of this invention. 
     A first slot 44 formed in the back surface 16 and a second slot 45 formed in the bottom or base 12 are proportioned to form carrying handles by which the suntanning body support can be easily grasped for transporting. A hollow compartment 46 is also formed within the structure with access provided by a removable panel 48 cut into the back surface 16. The compartment sides have insets 50 to position and support panel 48 and access indentations 52 beveled into the back surface adjacent the ends of panel 48 to facilitate placement and removal of the panel. Compartment 46 is sized to provide storage for such items as suntan lotion, towels, reading material, beverage containers and dark glasses that are frequently used during tanning sessions. 
     In one preferred embodiment the body support for suntanning of the present invention is formed of 3/4&#34; thick polystyrene foam, or the like, for instance ARCEL™, a copolymer of expanded polystyrene and expanded polyethylene, manufactured by the ARCO Chemical Company. Such a material selection enhances the utility of the storage compartment as an insulated beverage cooler. Alternatively, any sufficiently strong lightweight material, preferably water and sun resistant, can be used as can a solid body with a preformed interior compartment rather than walls. Dependent upon the circumstances and the preferences of the sunbather, the support can be made of rigid, flexible or cushioned material to maximize individual comfort, or may conveniently have cushioning material 49 applied over the rigid contoured support surface, as shown in FIG. 7. 
     In use, a sunbather loads his or her desired sunbathing accoutrements into compartment 46, secures access panel 48 into insets 50, grasps the body support by a handle 44 or 45, and transports the support to the selected sun session site. The various required notions are removed for handy access and the support is aligned with the elongate axis generally perpendicular to the path of the sun and with the angled support side directed roughly toward the source of radiation. The sunbather then assumes a comfortable posture intermediate prone and supine with a first side of his or her head, neck, back, small of the back or waist and lower torso or buttocks resting against the corresponding portions of the support and the opposite sides exposed to the direct tanning rays. Periodic reversals of the radiated side ultimately produce the desired even tan, equally distributed over all the desired body surfaces. 
     Having described preferred embodiments of a new and improved body support for suntanning according to the present invention, it is believed that other modifications, variations and changes will be suggested to persons skilled in the art in view of the teachings contained herein and that all such variations, modifications and changes fall within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.