HAROLD O LEVITT
Engineers in Pittsburgh, PA

6289893, Sep 18, 2001

Jul 27, 2000

9/627895

Harold O. Levitt - Pittsburgh PA

A61F 556

128848

The present appliance functions to resist rolling of a sleeping person from a side to a back-reclining position. It thus prevents airway blockage caused by collapsing of soft throat tissues and the back of the tongue due to gravity. The appliance includes a harness having straps encircling the shoulders and chest from a site proximate the mid-thoracic back region of a person, an elongated pouch supported by the harness and extending to opposite lateral sides of the mid-thoracic back region of the person, compressible columns enclosed within said pouch at opposite lateral sides to extend generally vertically and in a general parallel relation spaced apart by a compressible block, each compressible column facing one of the opposite lateral sides of the person, and a ribbed panel overlying the compressible columns and block of sufficient stiffness to maintain gaps between the compressible columns and the person's body until the person attempts to roll from a side-reclining position toward a back-reclining position, in which case one of the gaps closes, allowing compression of one of the columns between the body, the ribbed panel and the bed surface, causing sufficient discomfort to compel the person to return to a side-reclining position.

6926008, Aug 9, 2005

Apr 1, 2004

10/815537

Harold O. Levitt - Pittsburgh PA, US

A61F005/56

128848, 128845, 128869, 602 67, 602 19

The present invention is a unique device for ensuring side sleeping to alleviate snoring. It is more dependable and comfortable than any previous invention for remedying snoring and mild sleep apnea. It lessens airway blockage caused by collapse of the soft throat tissues and the back of the tongue due to gravity by preventing a person from sleeping in the supine position where the worst snoring occurs. The design of the present device is fundamentally different from all prior art invented for this purpose. The present invention comprises an elongated polyurethane foam diaphragm with compressible, preferably polyethylene foam, stop blocks attached to its outer surface at opposite lateral sides, all contained in a fabric main enclosure which is wrapped around a person's body. Cushion sleeves of the same or similar material, containing polyurethane foam pads, are attached to each lateral side of the fabric main enclosure and joined together at the front of the person's body by Velcro or other positive means. An external, detachable friction band of soft stretchable material is attached to the body side of the device to prevent rotation of the person's body within the device.