US 11,700,944 B2
Support apparatus
Edmund Scott Davis, Vero Beach, FL (US); Scott Allen Sattizahn, Charlotte, NC (US); and Timothy James Rohm, Gastonia, NC (US)
Assigned to BANYAN LICENSING L.L.C., Vero Beach, FL (US)
Appl. No. 17/286,331
Filed by BANYAN LICENSING L.L.C., Vero Beach, FL (US)
PCT Filed Oct. 16, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/056540
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 16, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/081685, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 23, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/746,449, filed on Oct. 16, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0378404 A1, Dec. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. A47C 7/46 (2006.01); B60N 2/66 (2006.01); A47C 7/02 (2006.01); B60N 2/64 (2006.01); B60N 2/70 (2006.01)
CPC A47C 7/029 (2018.08) [A47C 7/021 (2013.01); A47C 7/024 (2013.01); A47C 7/46 (2013.01); B60N 2/646 (2013.01); B60N 2/663 (2015.04); B60N 2/7005 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A support apparatus for supporting at least a portion of a gluteal region of a user while the user is seated in a seating apparatus comprising a seating surface, a back support surface and a transition region at the intersection of the seating surface and the back support surface, comprising:
a support member comprised of one or more filler materials comprising a first side and a second side, wherein the first side is structured to support at least a portion of the gluteal region of the user, wherein the support member defines first and second lateral sides defining a width therebetween and third and fourth lateral sides defining a length therebetween, wherein the length is greater than the width, wherein the support member further comprises a first support portion positioned on the first surface of the support member structured to support at least a portion of the gluteal region of the user, a second support portion positioned on the first surface of the support member structured to support at least a portion of the gluteal region of the user, and a concave depression structured to relieve pressure of and to support a region proximate a coccyx of the user, wherein the concave depression is positioned in between the first support portion and the second support portion on the first side of the support member and wherein the thickness of the support member between the first side and second side within the concave depression is less than the thickness of the support member between the first side and second side (i) through the first support portion and (ii) through the second support portion; and
a support element extending from the second side of the support member to a terminal end and structured to position the support member at the transition region of the seating apparatus such that the support member extends between the seating surface and the back support surface of the seating apparatus when the terminal end of the support member is positioned in the transition region of the seating apparatus, the support element defining a length and defining a midpoint at location equal to one half the length of the support element, the support element comprising a substantially triangular cross section defined by the terminal end, a first side extending from the second side of the support member to the terminal end, and a second side extending from the second side of the support member to the terminal end, and wherein, at the terminal end, the first side of the support element and the second side of the support element define an angle between 35 degrees and 120 degrees, and wherein the support element extends along the length of the second side of the support member and wherein, between the second side of the support member and the terminal end, the support element defines a solid structure filler material, the support element having a thickness and wherein the thickness of the support element at the midpoint is greater than the thickness of the support element at both the third lateral side of the support member and the fourth lateral side of the support member.