Abstract:
The described Kneepad gives its wearer the advantage of being able to kneel without putting weight on the knee. This allows someone to kneel who may not otherwise be able to do so due to a knee replacement, or some other reason that disallows application of pressure to the knee. The support mechanism is composed of rugged, load-bearing materials, such as metal or plastics. Straps provide various means of adjustment for a correct fit when attached to the thigh of the wearer above the knee. The Kneepad can be quickly and easily removed and reapplied, and does not interfere with walking. An improvement over prior kneepads that placed the knee in contact with the kneeling surface, this invention does not involve such contact, since the thigh area above the knee takes all of the pressure of kneeling. With this invention many people who have not been able to kneel previously, may be able to do so. One alternate embodiment of the invention allows a wearer to lean on a sensitive elbow. Another embodiment transfers the pressure of sitting from the pelvic-gluteal region to the waist and above for wearers recovering from surgery or injury to the lower spine, colorectal or gluteal areas.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Not Applicable  
         STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
         [0002]    Not Applicable  
         SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM  
         [0003]    Not Applicable  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    The present invention relates to orthopedic equipment in general. More specifically, the present invention enables a wearer to kneel without actually contacting the surface of the knee, so as to prevent injury and to optimize healing. The invention is adaptable for similar protection of other body parts, especially the elbow, and the pelvic and gluteal region.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0005]    The knee is a critical part of the body. In addition to its articulation that enables us to stand, walk and sit, the knee allows us to kneel, unless the knee joint or its surface has become overly sensitized or has been replaced. Certain mechanical and structural problems can make the knee too sore to be knelt upon, or the action of kneeling may harm the joint. For some, kneeling is medically prohibited due to the stress placed upon the knee joint. This may occur in a natural knee, but is most often associated with a knee that has been surgically repaired, or replaced with a mechanical one. Lower leg amputees have special concerns when it comes to getting down on ones knee, since a sensitive leg stub may disallow any contact and be incapable of providing support without injury.  
           [0006]    Even though a person may know better than to kneel, there are times when it is convenient and perhaps even necessary, for example, when a dropped object rolls under a piece of furniture. Though there may be other ways of retrieving the object, the most straightforward solution often involves kneeling. Some tasks are simply much easier to accomplish when one is able to kneel.  
           [0007]    The marketplace offers a variety of knee pads and guards that cushion or shield the knee in the hope of reducing injury. Most of the currently available items have the form of a pad that attaches to the leg by means of a sleeve or by using straps or clips. The pads are made of foam or gel or may be fluid-filled. One example that stands out from the more common devices is a product known as the “Patella-T Orthopedic Fluid-Based Kneepad”, described by Visco, et al in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,029. Although the kneepad covered by that design still touches the knee itself, the device does take special care to cushion the patella (kneecap). Most currently available kneepads are indeed nothing more than a pad; they merely provide a cushion for the knee against impact or load and nothing more. At best, currently available devices simply distribute the load encountered when resting on ones knee over a wider area in an attempt to reduce localized pressure points.  
           [0008]    In addition to pads, the existing art describes various forms of guards and shields. Worden&#39;s U.S. Pat. No. 6,427,239 shows a knee guard that attaches to the lower leg of the user just above the ankle. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,144,592 a knee guard is described by Larson that shields against lateral impact as well as rearward impact from the front even while explicitly allowing the wearer to kneel in direct contact with the ground or other kneeling surface. Larson&#39;s device attaches to the thigh above the protected knee. Though neither of these two devices attach to the knee, both allow the knee to bear the load of the body when in a kneeling position.  
           [0009]    The invention described here has advantages over the prior art in that it completely offloads the knee when used in a kneeling position. It applies no pressure whatsoever to the knee and makes no contact with the knee or the leg below the knee. This invention is so protective that lower leg amputees may use it to kneel. Adaptations of the described invention afford similar protection to those who are not able to lean comfortably on an elbow and to those who cannot assume a sitting posture that would apply pressure to the pelvic or gluteal regions.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0010]    For purposes of explanation, the present invention initially will be referred to as a kneepad since it satisfies the functional requirements of such a device. As a special class of improved pad for the knee, it is such in function only. The described device is not what would commonly be considered a pad, in the sense that a cushion is a pad, though it does provide similar functionality by distributing pressure away from the protected area. Neither is use of the described invention restricted to protection of the kneecap or knee joint and it should be understood from the outset that the present invention may be extended to the protection of other joints as will be described here. In general, the present invention encompasses a family of orthopedic devices and methods for the protection of any joint that moves between extension and flexion in a hinge-like manner, in particular the knee, elbow, and hip joints and the areas surrounding them.  
           [0011]    The function of a kneepad is accomplished by the present invention in that it does not contact or allow any pressure to be exerted on the surface of the knee itself. This device has the unique advantage that it allows its wearer to kneel without making any contact with the knee. It is specifically designed with a means of attachment that encircles the leg above the knee securing the described Kneepad comfortably into place and relieving all of the pressure from the knee. By transferring pressure away from the knee without touching it, the wearer may kneel without applying any load whatsoever to the knee.  
           [0012]    The present invention preferably has a means of attachment that encircles the leg above the knee and another support means that extends downward to a pod component that makes contact with the ground when the user kneels. The pod component swivels on its support so as to allow one to kneel with the upper leg perpendicular to the ground or to bend the knee back while kneeling if the wearer is otherwise allowed to bend the knee that far. This swivel also allows one to stand fully upright and to walk while wearing the Kneepad.  
           [0013]    The main problem with kneepads in the prior art that is overcome in the present invention is that they all apply pressure to the knee when a person is actually kneeling. A person who cannot have pressure on the knee, previously had no way to kneel. This invention addresses that issue. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIGS. 1A-1E show various views of the complete Kneepad of an embodiment of the present invention applied to a leg in various positions, namely, front view kneeling, side view kneeling perpendicularly, side view kneeling in acute position, front view standing, and side view standing.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIGS. 2A-2G are an exploded view showing rigid parts that compose the support mechanism of an embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIGS. 3A-3E show the components of the mechanism used for attachment to the leg in an embodiment of the present invention with details for the assembly of the components.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIGS. 4A-4D are perspective views of the assembled components showing the attachment mechanism that wraps around the upper leg in the preferred embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIGS. 5A-5C are perspective views showing the Kneepad being attached to a leg and operation of the quick release capability in the preferred embodiment.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 6A-6C show alternate embodiments of the invention in use to protect an elbow and a spinal-gluteal region.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIGS. 7A and 7B depict alternative construction methods for the support arms that connect the pod to the cuff. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]    The present invention is a specialized form of kneepad that allows a person to kneel without making any contact with, or applying any pressure to, the knee itself. As will be described, the preferred embodiment of the invention is composed of two major subunits, the first being a support mechanism that also provides protection of the knee, while the second is a cuff for attachment of that support mechanism to a body.  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 1A-1E, one will note the support mechanism  100  that is attached to the thigh  50  of the wearer by cuff  200 . The support mechanism  100  allows the wearer to rest comfortably in a kneeling position as shown in front view FIG. 1A and side view FIG. 1B while maintaining some physical separation  80  between the knee  60  and the inside of the pod  110  as it rests on a floor or other kneeling surface. The separation  80  will typically be adjusted to a range of ½ to 1 inch. In this position, all of the pressure of kneeling is transferred from the pod  110 , through the pod support arms  120  to the cuff  200 ; that pressure being taken by the thigh  50 , completely bypassing the knee  60 . If the wearer leans backward, as in FIG. 1C, the weight may be shifted to the lower leg  70  and to the back of the thigh  50 , but there is still no pressure applied to the knee  60 .  
         [0023]    The pod  110  is pivotably mounted to the support arms  120  at pivot  130 . The freely operating pivot  130  allows the pod  110  to rest lightly against the lower leg  70  when the wearer is standing, as in front view FIG. 1D and side view FIG. 1E. When the wearer kneels, as in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the pivot  130  allows the pod  110  to drop into the position needed to provide support. If the wearer desires to lean backward, and is otherwise able to do so, as in FIG. 1C, the pivot  130  will allow that as well, giving full support as necessary.  
         [0024]    Detailed construction of the support mechanism  100  is shown in FIGS. 2A-2G. This description begins with the pod  110  that makes contact with the kneeling surface. The suggested shape of the pod  110  is shown in FIG. 2C, that being generally oval in the preferred embodiment. This shape provides stability when kneeling upon it and keeps it in place as weight is applied to it. The pod  110  of the preferred embodiment uses a plate made of aluminum. The underside of the pod  110  is covered with a protective contact pad  116  which may be made of hard foam, leather or something similar depending upon the environment in which it will be used. The upper side of pod  110  receives an inner pod cushion  118  which may be made of a foam or gel material. This will cushion the knee in case of severe shock or impact to the pod  110  that would cause the inner pod cushion  118  to come into contact with the knee  60 . Holes  114  are placed in the ears  112  of the pod  110  which are then bent upward to a 90-degree angle to form the completed pod  110  shown in FIG. 2D.  
         [0025]    It is recognized that other materials and manufacturing processes will produce other pods that still meet the requirements for this component. Specific applications and environments may suggest other forms for pod  110 . For example, a contoured pod may be molded from an impact resistant plastic to act as a larger shield to the knee while allowing the user to rock or roll sideways. Some users may prefer that the outer pod contact surface  116  allow them to slide without difficulty across a floor surface whereas other applicants will want a non-skid surface. Other users may require that the outer pod contact surface  116  not scratch or scuff the surface that is knelt upon. Many variations are possible within the scope of the invention as described.  
         [0026]    The function of the support arms  120  is to connect the pod  110  to the cuff  200 . In this role the support arms  120  must be capable of static support of nearly the entire body weight of the user. Additionally, the support arms  120  must allow sufficient margin to avoid collapse due to dynamic loads such as the compression encountered when dropping onto the pod  110  or lateral failure due to bending as might occur if the wearer leaned to the side while resting on the pod  110 . These requirements establish some minimal parameters for the structural materials that compose the support arms  120 .  
         [0027]    Another requirement of the support arms  120  is that, for ease of use, they be adjustable in length to accommodate variations among users. Any adjustment means must not weaken the overall structure of the support arms  120 , that is, the entire assembly must qualify under the same conditions of load-bearing and rigidity.  
         [0028]    In the preferred embodiment, the two pod support arms  120  are each made up of a sandwich of the subcomponents shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. This sandwich includes a shorter arm member  122  and a longer arm member  128 . Between these arm members are a shorter adjustment panel  124  and a mating longer adjustment panel  126 . The arm members  122  and  128  are made of a lightweight metal or high-strength plastic, which may be one that is reinforced with carbon or other fibers. Those possessing basic skills in the engineering of materials will recognize that there are many materials that are suitably stiff and yet resilient enough for use in these subcomponents, and are capable of withstanding the loads to which they will be subjected. It is these sandwiched support arm members  120 , shown fully assembled in FIG. 2E, that will be inserted into sleeves  220  (FIGS. 1B and 1E) in the cuff  200  to transfer the weight of the kneeling user from the pod  110  to the thigh  50  so as to bypass the knee  60 .  
         [0029]    The sandwiched support arm members  120  are designed to allow for fine adjustment over a wide range in their length to accommodate individual users. It is this adjustment, necessitated by variations in the size and shape of knees and thighs, which sets the space  80  to clear the knee  60  from the inside of the pod  110 . The location of the upper end of the support arm members  120  will be determined by contact between the shorter arm members  122  and the top of the inside of sleeves  220  in the cuff  200 . In the preferred embodiment, adjustment panels  124  are cut from the hook side of a hook and loop type of fastener and are attached to the shorter support arm members  122 , while adjustment panels  126  are cut from the loop side of a hook and loop type of fastener and attached to the longer support arm members  128 . The attachment of these adjustment panels ( 124  and  126 ) to their respective support arm members ( 122  and  128 ) may be accomplished by any of various bonding methods or adhesive agents as understood in the art to provide sufficient strength for the specific loads to be encountered. The shorter support arm  122  with its applied adjustment panel  124  is releasably engaged with the longer support arm  128  through its applied adjustment panel  126  with an offset appropriate to adjust the overall length of the resulting sandwiched support arms  120  for the needs of the individual user of the Kneepad. Sufficient overlap area between the adjustment panels ( 124  and  126 ) provides more than enough friction to support the required load. These sandwiched support arms  120  are slid into sleeves  220  of the cuff  200  and can be taken out and adjusted as needed at any time.  
         [0030]    Though a hook and loop coupling system has been described for the preferred embodiment, those familiar with the mechanical arts will recognize other couplers that are in a sense slideably adjustable as well as capable of supporting the necessary vertical load required in this application. One approach, shown in FIG. 7A, provides a series of longitudinally spaced threaded mounting holes  144  in the longer arm member  142 . A setscrew  150 , having a flush-mounting head, is inserted in a beveled through-hole  148  of the shorter arm member  146 . With an appropriate longitudinal offset between arm members  142  and  146  to provide the proper overall length of the support arm  140 , setscrew  150  is tightened into threaded hole  144 . When completely assembled, this support arm  140  replaces the sandwiched version of pod support arms  120  described above (FIG. 2E) while eliminating adjustment panels  124  and  126 . Pivot hole  132  provides the connection to pod  110 .  
         [0031]    Another alternative coupler that may offer a finer adjustment of incremental changes in length is made from a pair of complementary saw-toothed plates as shown in FIG. 7B. The engagement of a set of upward-facing teeth  164  in a longer adjustment plate  162  with a corresponding set of downward-facing indentations  168  in shorter adjustment plate  166  locks the two members in a certain relative position against an applied vertical load. By pulling on the distal end of the longer adjustment plate  166 , the locking means is released and the length can be adjusted as desired. Such a system, especially with aggressively undercut teeth, can provide significant load-bearing capability so as to establish sufficient friction to support necessary body weight in compression. Only a small force orthogonal to the faces of adjustment plates  162  and  166  is required between the two plates to maintain their interlock; sufficient force is supplied by a snug fit of sleeve  220 . This small force can be easily released to allow plates  162  and  166  to slide one against the other when pulled in order to lengthen a support arm  160  that has been so constructed. Again, the assembled support arm  160  with pivot  132  replaces pod support arm  120  of FIG. 2E.  
         [0032]    The pod  110  attaches to the support arms  120  at pivots  130 . Each of these pivots  130  is the result of a rivet  134  placed through hole  114  in an ear  112  of the pod  110 , which is then attached to the longer support arm  128  through hole  132 . It is obvious that a bolt or other fastener may be substituted for the rivet  134 , as long as the two pieces so attached are allowed to move back and forth easily. FIGS. 2F and 2G as well as FIGS. 1C-1E show the need for this swivel. It allows the user to stand, to kneel either with the upper body oriented vertically or leaning back, while wearing this Kneepad.  
         [0033]    Because of the location of the support arms  120  as they hang along the side of the leg and the fact that they have some width, the Kneepad provides some protection against lateral impact. The width of the support arms  120  in the preferred embodiment is about  2 -inches, but may be increased to provide a larger side shield, or reduced to minimize the weight of the device itself. Since the pod  110  folds up in front of the knee  60  when the user is standing, the described Kneepad also provides some protection against frontal impact.  
         [0034]    The construction of the cuff  200 , which is the means of attachment to the thigh  50 , is described in FIGS. 3A-3E, illustrating suggested patterns for the subcomponents. A wide selection of material may be used as long as it is strong enough to hold up under the stresses that will be encountered, and soft, non-elastic and breathable for comfort. The intermediate section  218  that attaches to the two cuff end tabs  202  and  204  needs to be made of a strong elastic material. In use this intermediate section  218  will lie on top of the thigh  50 , above the knee  60 . The belt straps  250  will tighten over this intermediate section  218 , thereby holding the entire cuff  200  securely to the thigh  50 . From FIG. 3A one works toward FIG. 3B by folding the cuff end tabs  202  and  204  in half along their respective midlines  206  and  208  and stitching all around the outside except in the area where stitching  222  will create sleeve  220  for reception of the pod support arms  120  described in reference to FIG. 1E. Reinforcement panels  210  are applied to the cuff end tabs  202  and  204  to act as a stop for the upper end of the sleeves  220 . Cuff end tab  202  is sewn to the left end of the elastic intermediate section  218  and cuff end tab  204  to the right end. For a stronger joint, it may be desirable to capture intermediate section  218  inside the cuff end tabs  202  and  204  prior to folding and stitching them.  
         [0035]    To make the cuff  200  fit more securely as well as for greater comfort, it has pads  224 , shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D, attached to its inside to cover the width of the sleeve  220  and extending a little beyond. These pads  224  are made of a soft material such as foam or gel. In use they act as a buffer over the area next to the thigh  50  against the straight and hard pod support arms  120  which are held in sleeves  220 . Pads  224  also mold to the shape of the leg for an improved fit.  
         [0036]    In FIG. 3B, the left cuff end tab  202  has a piece of the loop side of a hook and loop type of fastener, shown as loop fastener  212 , attached on the outside at the end more distant from the intermediate section  218 . A piece of the hook side of a hook and loop type of fastener, denoted as hook fastener  214 , is attached to the inside of the right cuff end tab  204  at the far end away from intermediate section  218 . These two fasteners  212  and  214  will then connect at the overlap  216  as shown in FIGS. 3C and 3D to form the cuff  200  into a continuous band.  
         [0037]    The user may don the Kneepad with the thigh  50  oriented horizontally, as when in a seated position. In this situation the elastic intermediate section  218  will be laid over the thigh  50  just above the knee  60 , then the hook and loop fastener ( 212  and  214 ) will be connected to close the band around the thigh  50  forming the overlap  216  at the underside of the thigh  50 . The Kneepad is then adjusted through the pod support arms  120  so that the pod  110  will be spaced appropriately distant from the knee  60  when the leg is bent, this separation  80  typically being from ½ to 1 inch. Once the Kneepad is initially in place, it must be tightened to maintain a secure fit when the wearer kneels. There are many designs that can be used to tighten the cuff  200  to avoid slippage. The method chosen for the preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3D and 3E where belts  250  are used to tighten the cuff  200 . The number of belts  250  used will typically be three, as shown in these illustrations, but may vary depending on the height of the cuff  200  required to accommodate the weight and body size of individual users.  
         [0038]    A belt  250  has a shorter belt section  252  and a longer belt section  260 . These may be made of any suitable belting material. In the preferred embodiment, webbing has been selected for this purpose. The shorter belt section  252  is formed by sewing one end of a short piece of webbing  254  so as to capture a rectangular loop  256 . The other end of the shorter belt section  252  will be attached to the right cuff end tab  204  as shown in FIGS. 3D and 4A.  
         [0039]    The longer belt section  260  is made from a long piece of webbing  262  to which is attached a long piece of the loop side  264  of a hook and loop type of fastener and a short piece of the hook side  266  of a hook and loop type of fastener each on the same face of the long piece of webbing  262 . The end of the resultant longer belt section  260  having long piece of the loop side  264  of a hook and loop type of fastener will be attached to the left cuff end tab  202  as shown in FIGS. 3D and 4A with the webbing surface of the longer belt section  260  facing the left cuff end tab  202  and the active surface having the hook and loop fasteners will face away from the left cuff end tab  202 . Multiple such belts  250  as mentioned above will be attached in this manner. To tighten the cuff  200  around the thigh  50  of the user, after the two fasteners  212  and  214  have been connected as described above to form a continuous band, the longer belt section  260  will be pulled through the corresponding rectangular loop  256  as shown in FIG. 4B and then folded back, pulled tight and connected to itself by mating of the opposing hook and loop sections  264  and  266 . FIG. 4C shows the front of the freestanding Kneepad unattached to a person whereas FIG. 4D shows the rear view.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate how to attach the cuff  200  to the thigh  50  above the knee with the pod  110  of the Kneepad lying along the leg properly located below the knee when in a standing position. The elastic intermediate section  218  is first placed on the thigh  50  in front of the leg, then the ends of hook and loop fasteners  214  and  212  are pulled tight and connected behind the thigh  50  to form overlap  216  in FIG. 5C, as was taught in the construction details above with regard to FIGS. 3C and 3D Then the belts  250  are pulled across the elastic intermediate section  218 , the ends of the longer belt sections  260  passed through the corresponding rectangular loops  256  of the shorter belt sections  252 , pulled tight and attached back over themselves as depicted in FIG. 5B. To remove the Kneepad quickly, simply pull the hook fastener  214  away from the loop fastener  212  to release the overlap  216  at the back of the thigh  50  as shown in FIG. 5C. This quick release feature is the reason for this kind of attachment at the rear. This also allows the user to remove the Kneepad by lifting it away from the front without any obstruction at the rear as would be the case with a common sleeve type of construction that must be put on and taken off by slipping over the lower leg and foot. This kind of rear attachment also allows for some degree of adjustment for legs of different girth. After taking the Kneepad off as illustrated in FIG. 5C, the user can loosen the belts  250 , attach the overlap  216  together again, and tighten as needed without needing to take the belts  250  out of the rectangular loops; simply loosening the belts  250  saves time in reinstalling the Kneepad.  
         [0041]    Some users may present an unusually large load to the cuff  200 , either due to body weight or the likelihood that they will bend the knee  60  to an extremely acute angle. This puts great stress on overlap  216  that may cause the hook and loop closure to disconnect. To overcome this unfortunate circumstance, which would allow the user to drop onto the knee  60 , a set of optional reinforcement straps  270  may be installed as shown in FIG. 3C. Reinforcement strap  270  is shorter than, but otherwise constructed similar to, belt  250  shown in FIG. 3E. The short end  272  of reinforcement strap  270  with captive rectangular loop  276  is attached to the outside of cuff  200  opposite pad  224  near left cuff end tab  202 . The long end  274  of reinforcement strap  270  will have a section of the loop portion of a hook and loop fastener and a section of hook portion. Near the end with the loop portion the long end  274  of reinforcement strap  270  is attached to right cuff end tab  204  in a position corresponding to the placement of the short end  272 . When used, the long end of reinforcement strap  274  with its hook portion will be pulled through rectangular loop  276  and back onto itself so as to connect the hook and loop fastener, thereby giving extra strength to the overlap  216 .  
         [0042]    In the preferred embodiment each of the two (or optionally three) described sets of fasteners is implemented as a hook and loop fastener. It is readily recognized that many other closure mechanisms may be used. Alternatives include but are not limited to various combinations of belts, buckles, hooks, latches, laces and the like. The first set of fasteners provides for the closure of cuff  200 , at overlap  216 , into a continuous band encircling the leg. In addition to offering small incremental adjustments to the fit, the described hook and loop application also provides for quick release of the connection, and leaves an open cuff that may be easily lifted away from the thigh. The second set of fasteners is used to tighten the cuff  200  around the thigh  50  once the first set of fasteners has been secured. The construction of this second set of fasteners has fewer requirements and therefore more options are available for materials and format of the fastening system without sacrificing the described features of the preferred embodiment.  
         [0043]    Those familiar with the art of support structures will recognize that the two pod support arms  120  may incorporate some form of shock absorber or spring-loaded suspension element. This could be used to cushion the wearer in case of a fall or any quicker than expected drop onto ones knees.  
         [0044]    While the present invention has been described as a kneepad, those who may not have a knee in the literal sense, such as leg amputees, may use it without modification. The described invention could be applied whether the leg is terminated in a stub at, or below, or near but above, where the knee would be, as long as there is sufficient area at the thigh to support the user&#39;s weight.  
         [0045]    Additionally, the described technique may be applied in a similar manner for protection of other flexible (or missing) joints or the body parts near those joints.  
         [0046]    The technique taught by the present invention may be applied in general to transfer weight from any region of the body that is sensitive to pressure to another adjacent portion of the body that can withstand the load. Any joint that moves between extension and flexion in a hinge-like manner is a ready candidate for such protection. FIG. 6A shows the technique applied to an elbow in flexion and FIG. 6B to an elbow in extension. An application protecting the pelvic and gluteal regions is shown in FIG. 6C. Here the user is offered relief through a torso-mounted device that allows one to be seated without putting pressure on the sitting bones (ischial tuberosities), pelvis, lower spine, gluteus, or other potentially sensitive anatomy in the region as in situations following various forms of surgery or injury.  
         [0047]    Although the preferred embodiment has been described for use by humans, it may also further be adapted for use on other animals.  
         [0048]    Though the present invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art.  
         [0049]    Therefore, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment or its details, and variations can be made within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.