Granted Patent B1

US 12,364,620 · App. 18/805,240 · Granted Jul 22, 2025

Inventor: Wesley B. Williamson (Dunsbourgh, AU)

A61F5/3738A47C16/00A61F5/373A61F5/3761

Abstract

Claims (48)

1. A device for comfortably securing a user's arms while traveling, the device comprising:

one or more sheets of a fabric material which are formed into an article with a rounded pouch shape, comprising a top side, a bottom side, a left elbow pocket, and a right elbow pocket; and

a hollow opening, located on the top side of the article, for inserting the user's arms into the article;

wherein the hollow opening is sized to accommodate one or more dimensions of the user's arms while in a comfortable folded posture; and

wherein, the article is configured to provide a primary configuration and an alternative configuration, wherein in the primary configuration, the article wraps and supports user's arm independent of other body parts while providing a resistant compression force, preventing separation of the user's arms and maintaining the comfortable folded posture

wherein in the alternative configuration, the article wraps around the user's arms and a fixed element within a travel environment, such that a preferred upper-body posture of the user can be supported by the device.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the hollow opening is sized according to a fixed set of dimensions selected according to a plurality of pre-set user sizes.

3. The device of claim 1 , further comprising an adjusting element configured to increase or reduce one or more dimensions of the hollow opening.

4. The adjusting element of claim 3 , wherein the adjusting element comprises a fixing point located on an inner surface of the article which is fastened to an adjustable upper edge located on an inner fold loop of the article.

5. The adjusting element of claim 4 , wherein the fixing point and the adjustable upper edge are connected via a hook and loop fastener.

6. The device of claim 3 , wherein the left elbow pocket and the right elbow pocket are separated fabric elements, and wherein the left and right elbow pockets are connected to one another, at one or more of their ends, by one or more of the following:

an elastic band; or

an adjustable strap.

7. The device of claim 1 , wherein the article further comprises: an elastic band reinforcing and providing compression force on a top edge of the article's hollow opening.

8. The device of claim 1 , wherein an outer surface of the article further comprises one or more decorative elements or printed images.

9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the article further comprises an interior lining material which is comfortable for extended contact with human skin.

10. A system for comfortably securing a user's body during extended travel, the system comprising:

at least one device for securing a user's body position, the device comprising:

one or more sheets of a highly flexible fabric material, where one or more ends of the one or more sheets are secured together with a securing element to form an article with a rounded pouch shape, the article comprising a top side, a bottom side, a left elbow pocket, and a right elbow pocket; and

a hollow opening, located on the top side of the article, for inserting the user's arms into the article;

wherein the hollow opening is sized to accommodate one or more dimensions of the user's arms while in a comfortable folded posture;

wherein, in a primary configuration, the device is sized to surround only the user's arms while providing a resistant compression force, preventing separation of the user's arms and maintaining the comfortable folded posture; and

wherein, in one or more alternate configurations, the device performs one or more alternate functions, comprising:

wrapping the device around the user's arms and a fixed element within a travel environment, such that a preferred upper-body posture of the user can be supported by the device;

wrapping the device around the user's knees, providing a compression force which prevents the user's knees from spreading beyond a set distance; or

wrapping the device around an object within the travel environment and the user's feet, to provide a suspended footrest.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the one or more alternate functions further comprise configurations for performing exercise maneuvers, using the at least one device as a resistive elastic exercise band.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the hollow opening of the at least one device is sized according to a fixed set of dimensions selected according to a plurality of pre-set user sizes.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the securing element further comprises an adjusting element configured to increase or reduce one or more dimensions of the hollow opening.

14. The adjusting element of claim 13 , wherein the adjusting element comprises a fixing point located on an inner surface of the article which is fastened to an adjustable upper edge located on an inner fold loop of the article.

15. The adjusting element of claim 14 , wherein the fixing point and the adjustable upper edge are connected via a hook and loop fastener.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the left elbow pocket and the right elbow pocket of the at least one device are separated fabric elements, and wherein the left and right elbow pockets are connected to one another, at one or more of their ends, by one or more of the following:

an elastic band; or

an adjustable strap.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one device further comprises an elastic band reinforcing and providing compression force on a top edge of the article's hollow opening.

18. The system of claim 10 , wherein an outer surface of the article of the at least one device further comprises one or more decorative elements or printed images.

19. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one device further comprises a lining material on the interior of the article which is comfortable for extended contact with human skin.

20. A system for comfortably securing a user's body during travel on an airplane, the system comprising:

a plurality of devices, wherein each of the devices comprise:

one or more sheets of a highly flexible fabric material, where one or more ends of the one or more sheets are secured together with a securing element to form an article with a rounded pouch shape, the article comprising a top side, a bottom side, a left elbow pocket, and a right elbow pocket; and

a hollow opening, located on the top side of the article, for inserting the user's arms into the article;

wherein the hollow opening is sized to accommodate one or more dimensions of the user's arms while in a comfortable folded posture;

wherein, in a primary configuration, the device is sized to surround only the user's arms to provide a resistant compression force which functionally replaces a traditional armrest, such that the user's arms are prevented from separating and remain in the comfortable folded posture;

wherein, in one or more alternate configurations, the device performs one or more alternate functions, comprising:

wrapping the device around the user's arms and a fixed element within a travel environment, such that a preferred upper-body posture of the user can be supported by the device;

wrapping the device around the user's knees, providing a compression force which prevents the user's knees from spreading beyond a set distance; or

wrapping the device around an object within the travel environment and the user's feet, to provide a suspended footrest; and

wherein the plurality of devices are implemented by the user in the primary configuration or the one or more alternate configurations.

Continuity (1)

References Cited (15)