Flotation apparatus

Claim 1

A therapeutic body support structure comprising: a base of resiliently yieldable cellular material having a cavity formed in the upper surface thereof, said cavity being contoured in cross section generally to the shape of at least a portion of the human body receivable in the cavity, a bag overlying the upper surface of said base and providing a cover therefor, said bag comprising upper and lower sheets of fluid-impermeable material, said lower sheet having an area sufficient to cover the surface of said cavity and having the periphery thereof bonded to said upper sheet, said upper sheet having an area greater than the upper surface of said base to provide a flaccid cover for said cavity and the remaining upper surface of said base whereby the upper sheet is deformable into said cavity without substantial stretching under the weight of the human body, and a quantity of liquid disposed in said bag in said cavity, said liquid having a volume less than the volume of said bag, said base resisting substantial deformation under the weight of the liquid and the weight of the human body resting on said base whereby the liquid and the upper sheet of said bag are caused to mold about and provide floating support for the portion of the human body in the cavity, said base being resiliently and yieldably deformable when contacted by the human body being placed on or removed from said structure, and said bag preventing loss of said liquid when said base is so deformed.