Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates generally to personal treatment apparatus. More particularly, the invention concerns an apparatus that is specially designed to provide comfort to a female patient while lying in a prone position. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Prior Art 
         [0004]    Because the human body has many shapes, contours and protuberances when an individual lies in a prone position, to rest, relax, sleep or receive treatment, localized discomfort, pain and even injury can result. This problem is exasperated for the mature female because, while laying face down the female cannot relax in a natural whole body extending position because the breasts cause a distortion in body position that is both uncomfortable as well as stressful for various muscle groups and tissue. 
         [0005]    The breast tissue is primarily composed of subcutaneous fat and is almost solely supported by suspensory ligaments connecting breast skin to the tissue that rests above the pectoralis major. With traditional prior art flat treatment tables, the female patient, while lying prone will experience uncomfortable and sometimes harmful pressure on all breast tissue including stretching and tearing of the suspensory ligaments and compressing of the fat cells often causing swelling to occur. Women with breast augmentations are faced with fear of possible ruptures and certainly severe discomfort. 
         [0006]    Whether the individual is seeking a massage for relaxation or for therapeutic treatment, the body needs to be maintained in a relaxed position to achieve the highest degree of success. The thrust of the present invention is to provide a novel support apparatus that will achieve this result. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable personal treatment apparatus that is usable by women of all sizes to enable them to enjoy, without harm, the full healthful benefits of proper and necessary massage and therapy. 
         [0007]    Part of the reason that this issue has not been solved is that traditionally mattresses or, for instance, a massage table have been flat, ignoring the issues described above. Tables or mattress materials have tried to address the issue of comfort, pain or injury; however, because of the degree of contour of the human body, changing the material in and of itself is not a lone enough to provide both the intended purpose of the invention as well as the intended attributes during use. 
         [0008]    Other similar inventions have attempted to address some of these issues, but in spite of the long history of these inventions, there remains a need for an automated, adjustable body part and contour comfort system. 
         [0009]    A number of attempts at solving these issues have been disclosed in the following United States Letters Patent:
   U.S. Pat. No. 6,934,988 issued to Wetzler; U.S. Pat. No. 7,127,764 issued to Harding; U.S. Pat. No. 5,009,170 issued to Spehar; U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,475 issued to Steffensmeier; U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,696 issued to Gillotti; U.S. Pat. No. 7,069,609 issued to Zheng; U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,715 issued to Jackman; U.S. Pat. No. 0324,571 issued to Yamaski; U.S. Pat. No. 6,190,338 issued to Arndt; U.S. Pat. No. 6,684,431 issued to Splane, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,076,213 issued to Chase, Jr.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,043 issued to Thompson; U.S. Pat. No. 5,820,573 issued to Ramos; U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,979 issued to Grady; U.S. Pat. No. 4,333,638 issued to Gillotii; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,460 issued to Fried.   
 
         [0011]    The structures disclosed by the forgoing references suffer from one or more of the following disadvantages: no adjustable recessed cup area, requirement that the patient stand during treatment, lack of portability, and limited adjustability. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable personal treatment apparatus for comfortably supporting an individual while lying in a prone position. 
         [0013]    Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable personal treatment apparatus of the aforementioned character that is usable by women of all sizes to enable them to enjoy, without harm, the full healthful benefits of proper and necessary massage and therapy. 
         [0014]    Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable personal treatment apparatus of the type described in the preceding paragraphs that permits the proper pressure to be applied to a female patient during massage, or therapeutic treatment, without causing discomfort and possible damage to breast tissue or breast implants. 
         [0015]    Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable personal treatment apparatus of the class described that is of a simple construction and one that is easy to operate. 
         [0016]    Another object of the invention is to provide an adjustable personal treatment apparatus as described in which the support body that is constructed from a material that is durable and easy to clean and maintain. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  is a generally perspective view of one form of the treatment, or support platform of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  is a generally perspective fragmentary view showing the forward portion of the treatment platform in phantom lines and is showing in solid lines the control subassembly of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1  for controllably positioning the breast support cushion of the apparatus. 
           [0019]      FIG. 3  is a generally perspective view showing in phantom lines the forward portion of an alternate form of treatment platform of the present invention and showing in solid lines the control subassembly for controllably positioning the breast support cushion of the apparatus. 
           [0020]      FIG. 4  is a generally perspective fragmentary view of the control subassembly of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 3 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 5  is a generally perspective fragmentary view of the forward portion of still another form of treatment platform of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 6  is a generally perspective view showing in phantom lines the forward portion of the treatment platform illustrated in  FIG. 5  and showing in solid lines the control subassembly for controllably positioning the breast support cushion of the apparatus. 
           [0023]      FIG. 7  is a generally perspective fragmentary view of the forward portion of yet another form of treatment platform of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIG. 8  is a generally perspective view showing in phantom lines the forward portion of the treatment platform illustrated in  FIG. 7  and showing in solid lines the control subassembly for controllably positioning the breast support cushion of the apparatus. 
           [0025]      FIG. 9  is a generally perspective view of the forward portion of still another form of treatment platform of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 10  is a generally perspective view showing in phantom lines the control subassembly chamber of the treatment platform illustrated in  FIG. 9  and showing in solid lines the control subassembly for controllably positioning the breast support cushion of the apparatus. 
           [0027]      FIG. 11  is a generally perspective view of another form of a more portable treatment platform of the present invention in which the frame of the platform is collapsible. 
           [0028]      FIG. 12  is a generally perspective fragmentary view showing in phantom lines the forward portion of the treatment platform illustrated in  FIG. 11  and showing in solid lines the forward portion of the collapsible supporting frame of the apparatus. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12A  is a generally perspective fragmentary view similar to  FIG. 12  showing in phantom lines the forward portion of the treatment platform illustrated in  FIG. 11  and showing in solid lines the forward portion of the collapsible supporting frame of the apparatus in a partially collapsed configuration. 
           [0030]      FIG. 12B  is a generally perspective fragmentary view similar to  FIG. 12A  showing in phantom lines the forward portion of the treatment platform illustrated in  FIG. 11  and showing in solid lines the forward portion of the collapsible supporting frame of the apparatus in a collapsed configuration. 
           [0031]      FIG. 12C  is a generally perspective view showing the treatment platform illustrated in  FIG. 11  as it appears in a collapsed configuration. 
           [0032]      FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the forward portion of the treatment platform shown in  FIG. 11  partly broken away to show internal construction. 
           [0033]      FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  14 - 14  of  FIG. 13 . 
           [0034]      FIG. 15  is a view taken along lines  15 - 15  of  FIG. 13  partly broken away to show internal construction. 
           [0035]      FIG. 16  is a bottom plan view of the forward portion of the treatment platform shown in  FIG. 11 . 
           [0036]      FIG. 17  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of an alternate form of control assembly of the apparatus shown in  FIG. 1   1 . 
           [0037]      FIG. 18  is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the area designated as “ 18 - 18 ” in  FIG. 17 . 
           [0038]      FIG. 19  is a fragmentary top plan view of the forward portion of yet another embodiment of the support platform of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 20  is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along lines  20 - 20  of  FIG. 19 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0040]    Referring to the drawings and particularly to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one form of the treatment, or support platform of the present invention for supporting an individual in a prone position is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  22 . Platform  22  here comprises a supporting frame  24  that includes an upper frame  24   a  to which a pair of forward, transversely spaced, downwardly extending legs  24   b  is connected and to which a pair of rearward, transversely spaced, downwardly extending legs  24   c  is connected. Connected to and supported by supporting frame  24  is an elongated, resilient body cushion  26  having opposing upper and lower surfaces  26   a  and  26   b.  As best seen in  FIG. 1  of the drawings, upper surface  26   a  of the body, or cushion is provided with a receiving chamber  28  for receiving the breasts of the individual being treated. 
         [0041]    Forming an important aspect of the treatment platform  22  of the present invention is a control assembly  30  for controllably positioning a breast cushion  32  that is disposed within receiving chamber  28 . Control assembly  30  here includes a breast cushion positioning mechanism generally designated by the numeral  34  for moving the breast cushion  32  within receiving chamber  28  from a first elevated position to a second lowered position. As indicated in the drawings, apportion of the breast cushion positioning mechanism  34  is connected to the inner sidewalls  36  and  37  of receiving chamber  28  ( FIG. 2 ) and is disposed below the upper surface  26   a  of the resilient body cushion  26 . 
         [0042]    Breast cushion positioning mechanism  34  here comprises a pair of readily commercially available linear motor assemblies  38  that include elongate tracks or slides  38   a  that, in the manner shown in  FIG. 2 , are interconnected with the side walls  36  and  37  respectively of the cushion receiving chamber  28 . Each of the linear motor assemblies also comprises a combination electric motor and moving carriage  38   b  that is connected to a selected one of the tracks. Breast support cushion  32  is carried by a cushion support plate  40  that is positioned between and interconnected with the carriage  38   b.  When the linear motors are energized through operation of a switch  44  that is mounted on the side of the cushion  26  and interconnected with the motors by a conduit  46 , the breast support cushion can be controllably moved upwardly and downwardly within the chamber  28  manner to provide optimum support to the breasts of the patient. The linear motor assemblies  38  can be obtained from a number of sources, including the Parker Hannifin Corporation of Rohnert Park, Calif. and the Tecnotion, B.V. Company of the Netherlands. 
         [0043]    In using the apparatus of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  of the drawings, the linear motor assemblies  38  are operated in a manner to move the breast support cushion downwardly within chamber  28 . This done, the patient can lay prone on the support cushion  26  with the breasts located within chamber  28 . Through operation of the switch  44 , the breast support cushion  32  can be raised to a position wherein the breasts of the patient are comfortably supported by the cushion  32 . With the patient thusly positioned on the support table, massage or similar therapeutic manipulation of the patient can be accomplished without undue pressure being exerted upon the breasts of the patient. 
         [0044]    Turning next to  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings, an alternate form of the treatment platform of the present invention for supporting an individual in a prone position is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  50 . Platform  50  is similar in many respects to the earlier described platform  22  and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 3 and 4  to identify like components. Platform  50  here comprises a supporting frame  24  that substantially identical in construction and operation to the supporting frame previously described and functions to support an elongated resilient body cushion  52  having opposing upper and lower surfaces  52   a  and  52   b.  As best seen in  FIG. 3  of the drawings, upper surface  52   a  of the cushion  52  is provided with a receiving chamber  54  for receiving the breasts of the individual being treated. 
         [0045]    Forming an important aspect of this latest embodiment of the invention is a control assembly  56  that it is positioned within receiving chamber  54  of cushion  52  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 3 . Control assembly  56  here includes a breast cushion  58  and a breast cushion positioning mechanism generally designated by the numeral  60  for maintaining the breast cushion  58  at an optimum position within receiving chamber  54 . 
         [0046]    As been seen in  FIG. 4  of the drawings, the breast cushion in positioning mechanism  60  here comprises a yieldably deformable, generally elliptically shaped fluid containing bellows  62  and an elongated tube  64  connected to the bellows. In a manner presently to be described, the upper surface of bellows  62  that supports the breast cushion  58  is movable from a first extended position to a second collapsed position. Also forming a part of the control assembly of this latest form of the invention is a plenum chamber  66  of conventional construction to which air tube  64  is interconnected in the manner shown in  FIG. 4 . In the preferred form of the invention, bellows  62  is pressurized with air that is transferred to the plenum chamber  66  via tube  64  when the bellows is collapsed due to a downward pressure being exerted thereon by the breasts of a patient lying prone upon the body support cushion  52 . With this construction, air under pressure within the plenum chamber  66  will resist collapsing of the bellows so that the breast support cushion  58  will be continuously urged into gentle contact with the breasts of the patient thereby comfortably supporting the breasts during the massage or therapeutic manipulation. The construction of the elliptical bellows  62 , the construction of the plenum chamber  66  and the manner of their interconnection by tube  64  is well understood by those skilled in the art. 
         [0047]    Referring now to  FIGS. 5 and 6  of the drawings, still another form of the treatment platform of the present invention for supporting an individual in a prone position is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  70 . Platform  70  is also similar in many respects to the earlier described platform  22  and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 5 and 6  to identify like components. Platform  70  here comprises a supporting frame  24  that is substantially identical in construction and operation to the supporting frame previously described and functions to support an elongated resilient body cushion  72  having opposing upper and lower surfaces  72   a  and  72   b.  As best seen in  FIG. 5  of the drawings, upper surface  72   a  of the cushion  72  is provided with a receiving chamber  74  for receiving the breasts of the individual being treated. 
         [0048]    Forming an important aspect of this latest embodiment of the invention is a control assembly  76  that it is positioned within receiving chamber  74  of cushion  72  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 6 . Control assembly  76  here includes a breast cushion  78  and a breast cushion positioning mechanism generally designated by the numeral  80  for positioning the breast cushion  78  at an optimum position within receiving chamber  74 . 
         [0049]    As been seen in  FIG. 6  of the drawings, the breast cushioning positioning mechanism  80  here comprises a lever operated cam assembly  82  that includes an elongated, transversely extending cam member  84  and an operating lever that is connected to and extends from cam member  84  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 6  of the drawings. The operating lever here includes an elongated shaft  88  to which a hand gripping member  90  is connected. Rotation of the hand gripping member in the manner indicated by the arrow  91  of  FIG. 6  will cause the cam member  84  to act upon the breast support cushion  76  to controllably raise it from a lowered position to the elevated position shown in  FIG. 6 . Through operation of the cam assembly  82 , the breast support cushion  78  can be raised to a position wherein the breasts of the patient are comfortably supported by the cushion. With the patient thusly positioned on the support table, massage or similar therapeutic manipulation of the patient can be accomplished without undue pressure being exerted upon the breasts of the patient. 
         [0050]    Turning next to  FIGS. 7 and 8  of the drawings, yet another form of treatment platform of the present invention for supporting an individual in a prone position is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  94 . Platform  94  is also similar in many respects to the earlier described platform  22  and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 7 and 8  to identify like components. Platform  94  here comprises a supporting frame  24  that is substantially identical in construction and operation to the supporting frame previously described and functions to support an elongated resilient body cushion  96  having opposing upper and lower surfaces  96   a  and  96   b.  As best seen in  FIG. 7  of the drawings, upper surface  96   a  of the cushion  96  is provided with a receiving chamber  98  for receiving the breasts of the individual being treated. 
         [0051]    Forming an important aspect of this latest embodiment of the invention is a control assembly  100  that it is positioned within receiving chamber  98  of cushion  96  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 7 . Control assembly  100  here includes a breast cushion  102  and a breast cushion positioning mechanism generally designated by the numeral  104  for positioning the breast cushion  102  at an optimum position within receiving chamber  98  ( FIG. 8 ). 
         [0052]    As been seen in  FIG. 8  of the drawings, the breast cushioning positioning mechanism  104  here comprises a belt and roller assembly  106  that includes an elongated, yieldably deformable, transversely extending belt  108  and a hand operated roller member  110 . Connected to roller member  110  and extending there from is a hand operated wheel  112 . Rotation of the hand operated wheel  112  will cause the belt  108  to be wound around the roller  110  thereby foreshortening the belt and causing controlled upward movement of the breast support cushion in the direction of the arrow  114  of  FIG. 8 . Through operation of the belt and roller assembly  106 , the breast support cushion  102  can be raised to a position wherein the breasts of the patient are comfortably supported by the cushion. 
         [0053]    Referring now to  FIGS. 9 and 10  of the drawings, still another form of treatment platform of the present invention for supporting an individual in a prone position is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  118 . Platform  118  is also similar in many respects to the earlier described platform  22  and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 9 and 10  to identify like components. Platform  118  here comprises a supporting frame  24  that is substantially identical in construction and operation to the supporting frame previously described and functions to support an elongated resilient body cushion  120  having opposing upper and lower surfaces  120   a  and  120   b.  As best seen in  FIG. 9  of the drawings, upper surface  120   a  of the cushion  120  is provided with a receiving chamber  122  for receiving the breasts of the individual being treated. 
         [0054]    Forming an important aspect of this latest embodiment of the invention is a control assembly  124 , the portion of which is positioned within receiving chamber  122  of cushion  120  in the manner indicated in  FIG. 10 . Control assembly  124  here includes a breast cushion  126  and a breast cushion positioning mechanism generally designated by the numeral  130  for positioning the breast cushion  126  at an optimum position within receiving chamber  122  ( FIG. 10 ). 
         [0055]    As been seen in  FIG. 10  of the drawings, the breast cushioning positioning mechanism  130  here comprises a pair of spaced apart, generally cylindrically shaped inflatable capstans  132  about which a plurality of tensioning straps  134  are wrapped in the manner best seen in  FIG. 10 . With this construction, when the capstans are inflated by means of a small electrical pump  136  that is supported by supporting frame  24  and interconnected with the inflatable capstans by means of lengths of tubing  137 , each of the capstans uniformly expand causing the tensioning straps to controllably foreshorten. As shown in the drawings, breast cushion  126  rests upon the tensioning straps so that it is controllably raised as the tensioning straps are foreshortened by expansion of the inflatable capstans. 
         [0056]    In using this latest form of the invention, energization of the electrical pump  136  will cause the capstans  132  to controllably expand so that the breast support cushion  126  can gradually be raised to a position wherein the breasts of the patient are comfortably supported by the cushion. 
         [0057]    Turning next to  FIGS. 11 through 16  of the drawings, yet another form of treatment platform of the present invention for supporting an individual in a prone position is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  140 . Unlike the previously described platforms, platform  140  is collapsible in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 12C  so that it can be easily transported and stored. Platform  140  here comprises a novel, collapsible supporting frame  142  that functions to support an elongated resilient body cushion  144  having a forward portion  146  and a rearward portion  148 . Forward portion  146  includes opposing upper and lower surfaces  146   a  and  146   b,  while rearward portion  148  includes opposing upper and lower surfaces  148   a  and  148   b.  As best seen in  FIGS. 11 ,  13  and  14  of the drawings, upper surface  146   a  of the forward portion  146  of the cushion is provided with a receiving chamber  150  for receiving the breasts of the individual being treated. Forward portion  146  also includes forwardly extending head support cushion  151  that is movable from the extended position shown in  FIG. 11  into the folded position shown in  FIG. 12C . 
         [0058]    Collapsible supporting frame  142  includes a forward portion  152  that supports the forward portion  146  of the cushion and includes a rearward portion  154  that supports the rearward portion of the cushion. As best seen in  FIGS. 11 ,  12  and  12 A, forward portion  152  of the supporting frame includes a pair of front legs  155 , each of which has an upper portion  155   a  and a lower telescoping portion  155   b.  Forward portion  152  also includes a pair of foldable brace assemblies  157  that are pivotally connected to the forward legs. Each brace assembly includes a pair of forward struts  160  that are pivotally connected to the upper portions of the pair of front legs  152  proximate their central portion. Forward struts  160  are, in turn, pivotally connected to a pair of rearward struts  162  (see also  FIG. 12 ). As illustrated in  FIG. 12A , with this construction the front legs  155  are pivotally movable from the first position shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 12A  into the second, partially collapsed position shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 12A . Turning to  FIG. 12B , it can be seen at that following the removal of the outwardly extending handgrip wheel  164 , the purpose of which will presently be described, the forward portion of the support frame can be collapsed into the substantially planar configuration shown in  FIG. 12B . 
         [0059]    As best seen in  FIG. 11  of the drawings, rearward portion  154  of the supporting frame includes a pair of rear legs  166 , each of which has an upper portion  166   a  and a telescoping lower portion  166   b.  Upper portion  166   a  of each leg is pivotally connected to the supporting frame via connectors  163  in the manner shown in  FIG. 12C . Pivotally connected to the pair of rear legs  166  proximate their central portion is a pair of forwardly extending struts  170  and pivotally connected to the pair of forwardly extending struts  170  is a pair of elongate struts  172  ( FIG. 12C ). 
         [0060]    As illustrated in  FIG. 12C , with the construction described in the preceding paragraphs, the rearward portion  148  of the support cushion can be folded downwardly and into engagement with the forward portion  146  of the support cushion and the head support cushion  151  can be folded downwardly in the manner shown so as to form a compact collapsed unit of the character depicted in  FIG. 12C  that can be easily transported and stored. 
         [0061]    Forming an important aspect of this latest embodiment of the invention is a control assembly  180  that it is positioned within receiving chamber  150  of the forward portion  146  of the support cushion. As best seen in  FIGS. 13 and 14  of the drawings, control assembly  180  here includes a breast cushion  182  and a breast cushion positioning mechanism generally designated by the numeral  184  for positioning the breast cushion  182  at an optimum position within receiving chamber  150  ( FIG. 14 ). 
         [0062]    As illustrated in  FIGS. 14 ,  15  and  16  of the drawings, the breast cushioning positioning mechanism  184  here comprises a conventional scissors lift  186  that raises and lowers the breast cushion  182  by extending and collapsing scissors linkages  188  and  190 . As shown in  FIGS. 13 and 14 , breast cushion  182  is supported for reciprocal vertical movement on a pair of generally parallel scissor linkages  188   a  and  188   b.  Each of the scissor linkages  188  includes vertically-interconnected crossed scissor arms  193  and  195 . Similarly, each of the scissor linkages  190  includes vertically-interconnected crossed scissor arms  197  and  199 . The arms of each scissor arm pair are connected together at respective approximate midpoints for pivotal movement about a common scissor axis. The upper end of each of the arms  193  and  195  is pivotally connected to a load platform  186   a  and the breast cushion  182  is connected to the load platform for vertical movement between a first lowered position and a second upper position. The lower end of arm  197  of the lowermost scissor arm pair of each linkage is pivotally connected to a base member  201  that is carried by platform base  202  in the manner shown in  FIG. 14 . Similarly, the lower end of arm  199  is connected to base member  201  for horizontal reciprocal movement toward and away from the lower end of the pivotally connected arm  197  and perpendicular to the scissor axis. The breast cushion  182  can be controllably raised and lowered by rotation of the previously identified handgrip wheel  164 . As best seen in  FIG. 14 , handgrip wheel  164  is connected to one end of a threaded shaft  204  the other end of which is operably interconnected with the central portion of the scissors lift  186  in the manner illustrated in  FIG. 14 . With this construction, rotation of the handgrip wheel  164  controllably expands and collapses the scissors linkages in a manner well understood by those skilled in the art. Through operation of the scissors lift  186  in the manner thus described, the breast support cushion  182  can be raised to a position wherein the breasts of the patient are comfortably supported by the cushion. 
         [0063]    Turning next to  FIGS. 17 and 18  of the drawings, yet another form of the treatment platform of the present invention for supporting an individual in a prone position is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  210 . Platform  210  is similar in many respects to the earlier described collapsible platform  140  and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 17  and  18  to identify like components. Platform  210  here comprises a supporting frame that is substantially identical in construction and operation to the collapsible supporting frame previously described in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 11 through 16  and functions to support an elongated resilient body cushion  144  having forward and rearward portions  146  and  148  respectively. As before the forward portion  146  of the support cushions is provided with a receiving chamber  150  for receiving the breasts of the individual being treated. 
         [0064]    Forming an important aspect of this latest embodiment of the invention is control assembly  214 , a portion of which is positioned within receiving chamber  150  of the forward portion  146  of the support cushion. Control assembly  214  here includes a breast cushion  216  and a breast cushion positioning mechanism generally designated by the numeral  218  for maintaining the breast cushion  216  at an optimum position within receiving chamber  150 . 
         [0065]    The breast cushion positioning mechanism  218  of this latest form of the invention comprises an inflatable, deflatable housing  220  that is movable from the deflated configuration shown in  FIG. 17  to the inflated configuration shown in  FIG. 18 . Operably interconnected with housing  220  via a length of tubing  222  is a conventional, readily commercially available electric pump  224  that is carried by portion  146  of the supporting cushion and is usable to inflate the housing into the configuration shown in  FIG. 18  and by the phantom lines of  FIG. 17 . 
         [0066]    With this construction, activation of the electric pump will inflate chamber  220  in a manner to continuously urge the breast support cushion  216  into gentle contact with the breasts of the patient thereby comfortably supporting the breasts during the massage or therapeutic manipulation. 
         [0067]    Turning lastly to  FIGS. 19 and 20  of the drawings, still another form of the treatment platform of the present invention for supporting an individual in a prone position is there shown and generally designated by the numeral  230 . Platform  230  is similar in many respects to the earlier described collapsible platform  210  and like numerals are used in  FIGS. 19 and 20  to identify like components. Platform  230  here comprises a supporting frame that is substantially identical in construction and operation to the collapsible supporting frame previously described in connection with the embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 11 through 16  and functions to support an elongated resilient body cushion  234  having a forward portion  234   a.  As before, the forward portion  234  of the support cushions is provided with a receiving chamber  236  for receiving the breasts of the individual being treated. 
         [0068]    As before, an important aspect of this latest embodiment of the invention is a control assembly  214  that is substantially identical in construction and operation to the control assembly described in connection with the embodiment of  FIGS. 17 and 18  of the drawings. As in the earlier described embodiment of the invention, control assembly  214  includes a breast cushion  216  and a breast cushion positioning mechanism generally designated by the numeral  218  for maintaining the breast cushion  216  at an optimum position within receiving chamber  236 . 
         [0069]    As before, the breast cushion positioning mechanism  218  comprises an inflatable, deflatable housing  220  that is movable from the deflated configuration shown by the solid lines in  FIG. 20  to the inflated configuration shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 20 . Operably interconnected with housing  220  via a length of tubing  222  is a conventional, readily commercially available electric pump  224  that is usable to inflate the housing into the configuration shown by the phantom lines in  FIG. 20 . 
         [0070]    A unique feature of the apparatus of this latest form of the invention resides in the fact that the breast cushion positioning mechanism  218  is carried within a generally elliptically shaped carrier  240  that for ease of portability of the apparatus, is readily removable from chamber  236 . In this regard; the upper portion  240   a  of carrier  240  is generally annular in shape and includes a circumferentially extending recess  240   b  that is adapted to receive a circumferentially extending rim  242  that is formed proximate the upper extremity of chamber  236 . With this construction, following disconnection of tubing  222  from chamber  220 , carrier  240 , along with inflatable chamber  220  can readily be removed from chamber  236  for transport or storage. 
         [0071]    When the apparatus of this latest form of the invention is once again erected from its collapsed configuration and the carrier  240  reinserted into chamber  236 , activation of the electric pump will inflate chamber  220  in a manner to continuously urge the breast support cushion  216  into gentle contact with the breasts of the patient thereby comfortably supporting the breasts during the massage or therapeutic manipulation. 
         [0072]    Having now described the invention in detail in accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes and modifications in the individual parts or their relative assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions. Such changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

Technology Category: 1