# US 11,432,653 B1 · System, apparatus, and method for supporting a user's body > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,432,653 B1 - Document ID: US11432653B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/692,729 - Filed: 2022-03-11 - Granted: 2022-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-11 - Applicants: Eric Gormeley; Thomas Travers - Inventors: Eric Gormeley; Thomas Travers - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11432653B1 ## CPC - A47C 7/383: {Detachable or loose head- or neck-supports, e.g. horse-shoe shaped} - B60N 2/885: provided with side-rests - A47C: CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus has a housing forming a housing cavity, an inflatable assembly attached to the housing, and a member attached to the inflatable assembly. When the inflatable assembly is deflated, the inflatable assembly is configured to be disposed in the housing cavity with the housing cavity covered by the member. When the inflatable assembly is inflated, the inflatable assembly extends away from the housing, the inflated inflatable assembly disposed between the housing and the member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a housing forming a housing cavity; an inflatable assembly attached to the housing; and a member attached to the inflatable assembly; wherein when the inflatable assembly is deflated, the inflatable assembly is configured to be disposed in the housing cavity with the housing cavity covered by the member; and wherein when the inflatable assembly is inflated, the inflatable assembly extends away from the housing, the inflated inflatable assembly disposed between the housing and the member and completely separating the housing from the member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inflatable assembly is formed from a first material and the housing is formed from a second material having a greater stiffness than the first material. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the member is formed from the first material. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the member is formed from the second material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the inflatable assembly is inflated, the inflatable assembly extends away from the housing at an angle from a vertical axis of the apparatus, the vertical axis being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the angle is between 25 degrees and 35 degrees. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the inflatable assembly is inflated, the member is spaced from the housing based on the inflatable assembly extending away from the housing, a longitudinal axis of the member being disposed at an angle relative to a longitudinal axis of the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the angle is between 28 degrees and 32 degrees. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a first end portion of the inflatable assembly is attached to the housing and a second end portion of the inflatable assembly is attached to the member, the first end portion being disposed at an opposite side of the inflatable assembly as the second end portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inflatable assembly is attached to the housing by being attached to a surface of the housing cavity. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the inflatable assembly is inflated, an inflated base member of the inflatable assembly is disposed in the housing cavity and a plurality of inflated strut members that fluidly communicate with the base member extend away from the housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing is annular-shaped and the housing cavity extends annularly along an annular length of the housing. ### Claim 13 A method, comprising: providing an apparatus including a housing forming a housing cavity, an assembly attached to the housing, and a member attached to the assembly; disposing the assembly in the housing cavity within the housing and covering the assembly disposed in the housing cavity with the member when the assembly is deflated; and extending the assembly, which is disposed between the housing and the member, and the member away from the housing by inflating the assembly, the member being completely detached from the housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising covering the assembly disposed in the housing cavity with the member by removably attaching the member to the housing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising inflating the member, which fluidly communicates with the assembly, by inflating the assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising a user inserting the user's arms through a plurality of arm apertures of the assembly when the assembly is inflated and the user is wearing the housing around the user's neck as a neck pillow. ### Claim 17 An apparatus, comprising: a neck pillow forming a housing cavity; an inflatable assembly attached to the neck pillow; and a member attached to the inflatable assembly; wherein when the inflatable assembly is deflated, the inflatable assembly is configured to be disposed in the housing cavity with the housing cavity covered by the member; wherein when the inflatable assembly is inflated, the inflatable assembly extends away from the neck pillow, the inflated inflatable assembly disposed between the neck pillow and the member; wherein the inflatable assembly is formed from a first material and the neck pillow is formed from a second material having a greater stiffness than the first material; and wherein the member is completely detached from the housing when the inflatable assembly is inflated. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein when the inflatable assembly is inflated, the inflatable assembly extends away from the neck pillow at an angle of between 25 degrees and 35 degrees from a vertical axis of the apparatus, the vertical axis being perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the neck pillow. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the member is a solid member formed from the second material. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the member is an attached hollow member formed from the first material and attached to the inflatable assembly that is formed from a plurality of hollow members, the attached hollow member and the plurality of hollow members forming cavities that fluidly communicate with each other.