Abstract:
The present invention provides seating apparatuses that may reduce an effect of an ailment such as sciatica, joint illness, degenerative disc condition, hip bursitis, tendinitis, or sacral/coccyx pain. A seating apparatus includes a back portion and a seating portion, each portion having at least one encased bladder that is inflated by a pumping component in a timed sequence. The bladders may be differently shaped, asymmetrically situated with respect to a center axis, and spatially overlapping. The bladders are inflated and deflated in accordance with a predetermined time sequence and are independently controlled. The seating apparatus may contain a set of encased bladders that may be configured for different aliments. A user selects a treatment for one of the ailments through a remote control unit. Consequently, a subset of bladders is configured so that the selected subset of bladders is inflated and deflated.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to the field of a seating apparatus with an encased bladder system. In particular, the seating apparatus may reduce an effect of an ailment for a user by inflating and deflating the encased bladders. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Individuals are exposed to increasingly static (e.g., sedentary) activities, in working, commuting and recreational environments. For example, workers are often tied to a computer during a major portion of a workday, typing at a keyboard and watching a computer display. Also, people are traveling throughout the world, cramped many hours in an airplane seat, or commuting to work, often sitting for hours in bumper-to-bumper traffic. The sedentary nature of these activities often causes constant static pressures on different parts of a person&#39;s body, depending on the type of sedentary activity and the seating accommodations. Consequently, an individual may suffer from different maladies such as sciatica and degenerative disc diseases. 
   In addition to the increased sedentary nature of working and recreational environments, people are living longer. Living in one&#39;s 80&#39;s or 90&#39;s is no longer the exception but the norm. With the extension of one&#39;s lifespan, one often suffers from arthritic and vertebral conditions. Such conditions may exacerbate maladies resulting from sedentary activities. 
   Consequently, there is a need to treat different ailments associated with static environments. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention provides seating apparatuses that may reduce an effect of an ailment such as sciatica or joint pain. 
   With one aspect of the invention, a seating apparatus includes a back portion and a seating portion, each portion having at least one encased bladder that is inflated by a pumping component in a timed sequence. The bladders may be asymmetrically situated with respect to a center axis. Bladders may be spatially overlapping and may remain inflated during the same time interval. 
   With another aspect of the invention, encased bladders are inflated and deflated in accordance with a predetermined time sequence and may be independently controlled. Bladders may remain inflated during the same time interval and may be deflated concurrently. A cycle of the predetermined time sequence may be repeated so that treatment is applied for a desired period of time. 
   With another aspect of the invention, bladders may have different shapes and sizes in accordance with the intended treatment. Furthermore, bladders may be tapered. 
   With another aspect of the invention, a remote control unit communicates with a pumping component in order to inflate and deflate encased bladders in a seating apparatus. 
   With another aspect of the invention, a seating apparatus may contain a set of encased bladders that may be configured for different ailments. A user may indicate a treatment for one of the ailments through a remote control unit so that a subset of bladders is configured. The selected subset of bladders is consequently inflated and deflated. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing summary of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which are included by way of example, and not by way of limitation with regard to the claimed invention. 
       FIGS. 1A-1C  show an apparatus for treatment of sciatica in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a sequencing for inflating bladders in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  shows a timing diagram for inflating and deflating bladders in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 4  shows an architecture for an apparatus that reduces an effect of an ailment; 
       FIGS. 5A-5B  show an apparatus for treating sacral/coccyx pain in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 6A-6C  show an apparatus for treating hip bursitis or tendonitis in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 7A-7C  show an apparatus for treating a degenerative disc or joint disease in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIGS. 8A-8B  show a bladder having a wedge shape in accordance with an embodiment of the invention; and 
       FIG. 9  shows a flow diagram for controlling an apparatus in treating an ailment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1A-1C  show a seating apparatus for treatment of sciatica in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  FIG. 1A  shows front view  100   a  of the seating apparatus that includes back portion  101   a  and seat portion  103   a . As shown in  FIG. 1A , seat portion  103   a  has a seat plate, which prevents encased bladders (not shown but shown as bladders  109  and  111  in  FIGS. 1B and 1C ) from bulging away from a user. Thus, the encased bladders bulge only in the direction of the user. Back portion  101   a  also includes a back plate that similarly prevents bulging of encased bladders  105   a  and  107   a  in a direction away from the user. (Please note that the same entity may be shown in different views. Correspondingly, the same entity is labeled with the same number having different letter subscripts in the different views.) 
   As shown in  FIG. 1A , back portion  101   a  contains bladder  105   a  and bladder  107   a  that are asymmetrically situated with respect to a center axis of back portion  101   a . Bladders  105   a  and  107   b  are typically inflated and deflated in a desired sequence to relieve pressure on the user&#39;s body sciatic nerve due to a static body posture when the user is seated for prolonged periods of time. 
     FIG. 1B  shows side view  100   b  of the seating apparatus. Back portion  101   b , seat portion  103   b , bladder  105   b , and bladder  107   b  correspond to back portion  101   a , seat portion  103   a , bladder  105   a , and bladder  107   a , respectively, as shown in front view  100   a . In addition,  100   b  shows bladder  109   b  and bladder  111   b  that are encased in seat portion  103   b.    
     FIG. 1C  shows top view  100   c  of the seating apparatus. Back portion  101   c , seat portion  103   c , bladder  109   c , and bladder  111   c  correspond to back portion  101   a / 101   b ,  103   a / 103   b , bladder  109   b , and bladder  111   b , respectively. Bladders  105  and  107  (not shown) are encased in back portion  101   c.    
   A seating apparatus, e.g., the seating apparatus shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C  operate with independent bladders that may be controlled electronically or manually to inflate and deflate the bladders sequentially. Each bladder may be uniquely shaped in order to inflate into various shapes, e.g., oval, rectangular, and wedge shapes as viewed from a side profile. A seating apparatus may be manufactured in various sizes and shapes to fit different vehicle seats and to accommodate different body sizes. A seating apparatus may be further integrated into a design of chair, car, train, or airplane seats or may be operated as a portable device and placed in a variety of chair designs used for car, train, airplane, home, and office environments. 
   A seating apparatus may be powered by a range of electrical systems, e.g., 12 volts (corresponding to an automobile electrical system, 110/120 volts (corresponding to North American electrical systems), and 220/240 volts (corresponding to European, Australian, and New Zealand electrical systems) according to the required application. In particular, a seating apparatus having one or more pumps and valves may be powered by an electrical system to inflate and deflate the encased bladders. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, inflation and deflation of the encased bladders (e.g., bladders  105 - 111 ) are designed to relieve pressure on the sciatic nerve resulting from static body posture when the user is seated for prolonged periods of time. The motion created by the pelvic region by systematic inflation and deflation of the encased bladders typically reduces the constant static pressure on the user&#39;s sciatic nerve. Consequently, leg pain, leg aches, and leg numbness may be reduced, minimized, or even eliminated. While the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C  is directed to the treatment of sciatica, other embodiments may be directed to other ailment types as will be exemplified in  FIGS. 5A-5B ,  6 A- 6 C, and  7 A- 7 C. 
   A seating apparatus may be operated by wired or wireless remote control. As will be discussed, the remote control may provide automatic sequencing to inflate and deflate the encased bladders. Each bladder fully or partially inflates in a predetermined sequence for a preprogrammed time. At times, only an individual bladder may be inflated. At other times, two or more bladders may be inflated. Alternatively, the encased bladders may be inflated and deflated manually to control each bladder independently. 
     FIG. 2  shows a time sequence for inflating bladders  105 ,  107 ,  109 , and  111  (as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C ) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Inflation  201 ,  203 ,  205 , and  207  correspond to inflating bladders  105 ,  107 ,  109 , and  111 , respectively. In an embodiment, one pump inflates one bladder at a selected time interval. While the vertical direction represents time, the time is not scaled but is relative in showing the sequencing of inflating the bladders. As shown in  FIG. 2 , bladder  105 , bladder  107 , bladder  109 , and bladder  111  are inflated in that order. Some of bladders  105 ,  107 ,  109 , and  111  may remain inflated during overlapping time intervals. 
     FIG. 3  shows timing diagram  300  for inflating and deflating bladders in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Waveforms  101 ,  103 ,  105 , and  107  correspond to time sequences for inflating/deflating bladders  105 ,  107 ,  109 ,  111 , respectively. (While not explicitly shown in  FIG. 3 , bladders  105 ,  107 ,  109 , and  111  may be inflated to different pressures in order to appropriately affect different points of the user&#39;s body.) Bladder  105  inflates to a required level of inflation during time duration  301   a  (approximately 10 seconds) and maintains inflation during time duration  301   b  (approximately 5 minutes). Bladder  105  then deflates during time duration  301   c  (approximately 8 seconds). (In timing diagram  300 , the inflation and deflation time durations are not drawn according to scale and have been enlarged for illustrative purposes.) Bladder  107  inflates at the end of  301   c  to a required level of inflation during time duration  303   a  (approximately 10 seconds) and maintains inflation during time duration  303   b  (approximately 8 minutes), and then deflates during time duration  303   c  (approximately 8 seconds). Bladder  109  inflates at the 5 th  minute of  303   b &#39;s phase to a required level of inflation during time duration  305   a  (approximately 10 seconds), maintains inflation during time duration  305   b  (approximately 3 minutes), and then deflates during time duration  305   c  (approximately 8 seconds), which is essentially simultaneous with  303   c . Bladder  111  inflates to a required level of inflation during time duration  307   a  (approximately 10 seconds), maintains inflation during time duration  307   b  (approximately 5 minutes), and then deflates during time duration  307   c  (approximately 8 seconds). The above sequencing completes one complete cycle. The cycle may be repeated or the treatment may be terminated. 
     FIG. 4  shows an architecture for an apparatus  400  that reduces an effect of an ailment. Apparatus  400  may support the treatment of sciatica, as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C , or may support other types of aliments, e.g., sacral/coccyx pain (as shown in  FIGS. 5A-5B ), hip bursitis/tendinitis (as shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C ), and degenerative disc/joint disease (as shown in  FIGS. 7A-7C ). Moreover, embodiments of the invention may support the treatment of a plurality of ailment types by combining the bladders that are direct to different ailment types. For example, bladders  105 ,  107 ,  109 ,  111  (as discussed with  FIGS. 1A-1C ),  501  and  503  (as will be discussed with  FIGS. 5A-5B ),  601  and  603  (as shown in  FIGS. 6A-6C ), and  701 ,  703 , and  705  (as shown in  FIG. 7A-7C ) may be encased in a seating apparatus. In order to treat a particular ailment, a subset of bladders is activated to treat the selected aliment type. 
   Apparatus  400  includes control component  401 , pumping component  403 , and cushion component  405 . Cushion component  405  typically includes a back portion, seat portion, and associated encased bladders (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 1A-1C ). The encased bladders are inflated by a pump contained in pumping component  403  through tubes  409 ,  411 ,  413 , and  415 . The pump directs compressed air to the appropriate bladder through a valve combination (not shown). Additionally, the valve combination also supports air release capability to deflate the appropriate bladder. 
   In an embodiment of the invention, control component  401  communicates with pumping component  403  over of communications channel  407  (e.g., a wired channel or a wireless channel) to configure a subset of bladders in response to a selection of the ailment type e.g., sciatica or a joint disease) by the user. In order to facilitate entry by the user, control component  401  may support a portable control panel having a portable keyboard through which the user selects an ailment that cushion component  505  will provide treatment to the user. Additionally, the user may indicate a time interval during which treatment is provided. Consequently, a treatment cycle (e.g., the cycle shown in  FIG. 3 ) may be repeated for a time interval. 
     FIGS. 5A-5B  shows an apparatus for treating sacral/coccyx pain in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus includes seat portion (seat pan)  500  and back portion (back rest)  550 . Bladder  501  is encased in back portion  500 , and bladder  503  is encased in back portion  550 . As previously discussed, bladders may be uniquely shaped in order to inflate into various shapes. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 5A , bladder  501  inflates into a U-shaped bladder (as viewed from above), while bladder  503  inflates into a rectangular-shaped bladder (as viewed frontally). 
     FIGS. 6A-6C  shows an apparatus for treating hip bursitis or tendinitis in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus includes seat portion  600   a ,  600   b  and back portion  651 . Bladder  601   a ,  601   b  is encased in seat portion  600   a ,  600   b , and bladder  603  is encased in back portion  651 . Bladder  601   b  has a top view shape as shown in  FIG. 6B . Furthermore,  FIG. 6A  illustrates that bladder  601   b  has a tapered shape when viewed from the side of the seat portion. 
     FIGS. 7A-7C  show an apparatus for treating degenerative disc/joint disease in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus includes seat portion (seat pan)  700   a ,  700   b  and back portion (back rest)  750 . As shown in  FIG. 7A , seat portion  700   a  includes bladders  701   a  and  703   a , each bladder having a wedge shape as shown as  701   b ,  703   b  in side view  700   b . As shown in  FIG. 7C , bladder  705 , which is rectangular-shaped, is encased in back portion  750 . 
     FIGS. 8A-8B  further show a bladder  801   a ,  801   b  having a wedge shape in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Bladder  801   a ,  801   b  is encased in back portion  800   a ,  800   b . As shown in  FIGS. 6A and 7B , a bladder having a wedge shape may also be encased in a seat portion. 
     FIG. 9  shows flow diagram  900  for controlling an apparatus (e.g., apparatus  400 ) in treating an ailment in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. A user may select an aliment type (e.g., hip bursitis) through control component  401  in step  901 . Consequently, a corresponding subset of bladders is selected for sequenced inflation in step  903 . In the embodiment, the bladders are inflated and deflated in accordance with a predetermined timing diagram (e.g., timing diagram  300 ) in step  905 . Other embodiments may support a user to manually inflate and deflate the bladders. In step  907 , the inflation and deflation of the bladders may be repeatedly cycled until instructed to end the treatment. 
   As can be appreciated by one skilled in the art, a computer system with an associated computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling the computer system can be utilized to implement the exemplary embodiments that are disclosed herein. The computer system may include at least one computer such as a microprocessor, digital signal processor, and associated peripheral electronic circuitry. 
   Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims.