ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT DEVICE |
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申请号 | US14802647 | 申请日 | 2015-07-17 | 公开(公告)号 | US20160015547A1 | 公开(公告)日 | 2016-01-21 |
申请人 | Victor Toso; | 发明人 | Victor Toso; | ||||
摘要 | Back support devices for use in supporting a lower back region of an individual in a seated position are disclosed. The back support device can include a flexible, double-ended back support member adapted to provide lumbar support to the user's lower back, and a number of elastic knee straps extending from the ends of the back support member each forming a loop that can be attached to the user's knee when in a seated position. The back support device can be equipped with adjustment mechanisms for adjusting the length of the elastic knee straps and/or the length of the back support member. The back support member may further define an interior pouch that can be configured to receive a thermal pack, vibration element and/or other therapeutic device, and which can be used to store the back support device when not in use. | ||||||
权利要求 | What is claimed is: |
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说明书全文 | This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/202,863, filed Sep. 2, 2008, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/968,954 filed Aug. 30, 2007. The present invention relates generally to back support devices. More specifically, the present invention pertains to adjustable back support devices for supporting a lower back region of an individual in a seated position. Many activities require participants to be seated in an upright position for an extended length of time without rigid back support. Examples of recreational activities which require an individual to be seated upright for extended periods of time include canoeing, fishing, hunting, boating, horseback riding, and motorcycling. Other activities such as working at a computer may also require an individual to be seated in an upright position for extended periods of time. Many people find sitting with little or no back support to be very uncomfortable, in some cases distracting from their participation in these activities. Such discomfort may also cause the individual to reduce the amount of time they spend engaged in those activities. For example, on a long motorcycle journey, frequent stops may be required because of discomfort to the lower back. The frequency and severity of discomfort may be increased or exacerbated due to improper posture and/or a weak back structure. A number of different back support devices have been developed which provide support to a user's lower back. The ability to easily adjust these devices to provide a desired fit or to accommodate for variations in body size is often limited, however, preventing the user from comfortably wearing the device for extended periods of time. In some designs, for example, the back support device may not permit the user to adjust the size of the device in order to give the user a more relaxed fit and/or to improve body posture. In such case, the inability to adjust the device may limit its use. A need therefore exists for back support devices that can be easily adjusted to accommodate for the user's preferences as well as specific body size. The present invention relates to devices for supporting a lower back region of an individual in a seated position. A back support device in accordance with an illustrative embodiment can include a flexible, double-ended back support member adapted to provide lumbar support to the user's lower back, and a number of elastic knee straps extending from the ends of the back support member that form several loops that can be attached to the user's knees when the user is in a seated position. The back support member can be constructed from a flexible material that supports the user's lower back when worn. In some embodiments, for example, the flexible material can include elastic webbing formed integrally with or as a separate component from the material forming the elastic knee straps. The elastic webbing can have a strength sufficient to provide back support to the user without the use of additional padding or cushions, although such additional support can be provided, if desired. In some embodiments, the back support member can be made from multiple layers of elastic webbing to increase the amount of back support provided to the user's back. An adjustment mechanism can be used to adjust the length of the elastic knee straps, allowing the user to vary the size of the loops to provide a more relaxed fit and/or to improve body posture. In one such embodiment, for example, the adjustment mechanism can include a fabric hook and loop type fastener coupled to the ends of the back support member and to the ends of the elastic knee straps. A fastener mechanism can also be provided in some embodiments to permit the user to secure the elastic knee straps together at a location between the first and second ends thereof. When used, the fastener mechanism helps to support the user's knees together while also preventing the loops from inadvertently detaching during use. A back support adjustment mechanism can be provided in some embodiments to permit the user to adjust the length of the back support member. The back support adjustment mechanism can include, for example, a fabric hook-type fastener attached to a portion of the back support member, which can be configured to mate with several fabric receptor flaps coupled to the ends of the back support member. In use, the length of the back support member can be adjusted by releasing the fabric receptor flaps and then repositioning the flaps relative to the fabric hook to either decrease or increase the length of the back support member, as desired. The back support member may further define an interior pouch that permits the back support device to be folded upon itself and collapsed for storage when not in use. A number of carrying handles can be provided within the interior pouch to facilitate carrying the back support device once stored within the interior pouch. In some embodiments, the interior pouch may be further configured to receive a therapeutic device such as a thermal pack or vibration element. The interior pouch can be formed from an unsewn interior portion of the back support member, creating an opening through which the therapeutic device can be inserted into the back support member. Another back support device for supporting a user's lower back may include a back support member. A first knee strap may extend from the back support member. A second knee strap may extend from the back support member and be positioned opposite the first knee strap. A first foot strap may extend from the first knee strap. The first foot strap may include a first foot loop. A second foot strap may extend from the second knee strap. The second foot strap may include a second foot loop. The following description should be read with reference to the drawings, in which like elements in different drawings are numbered in like fashion. The drawings, which are not necessarily to scale, depict selected embodiments and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Although examples of construction, dimensions, and materials are illustrated for the various elements, those skilled in the art will recognize that many of the examples provided have suitable alternatives that may be utilized. Referring now to The length and/or width dimensions of the back support member 12 may vary depending on the size of the user, the amount of back support desired, as well as other factors. An example length of the back support member 12 can be from about 10 inches to about 16 inches, and more specifically about 12 inches to about 14 inches. An example width of the back support member 12 can be from about 2 inches to 8 inches, and more specifically about 4 inches to 6 inches. Other length and/or width dimensions are possible, however. In addition, while the illustrative back support member 12 depicted in The back support member 12 can be fabricated from a flexible material adapted to support the user's lower back when worn. An example of a flexible material can include elastic webbing such as that commonly used in the construction of back support devices. Other materials such as canvass may also be utilized. In some embodiments, the back support member 12 may be cushioned or padded, although versions where no additional cushioning or padding is provided are also contemplated. The material forming the back support member 12 can be folded upon itself one or more times and then sewn together along the ends 14,16 and sides 18,20, forming a multi-layered structure. In those embodiments where elastic webbing is used, for example, the webbing material can be folded upon itself one or more times and then sewn together along the ends 14,16 and/or sides 18,20 to form a multi-layered structure that increases the amount of back support provided to the user's back. The back support device 10 may further include a number of elastic knee straps 24,26 extending from each end 14,16 of the back support member 12. A first (i.e. left) elastic knee strap 24 extending from the first end 14 end of the back support member 12, for example, can include a first end 28 located adjacent to an upper left portion of the back support member 12, and a second end 30 located adjacent to a lower left portion of the back support member 12. A second (i.e. right) elastic knee strap 26 extending from the second end 16 of the back support member 12, in turn, can include a first end 32 located adjacent to an upper right portion of the back support member 12, and second end 34 located adjacent to a lower right portion of the back support member 12. The first and second elastic knee straps 24,26 can each have an elongated shape having a length of about 25 to 35 inches, and more specifically, about 30 inches, although other lengths are possible. The first and second elastic knee straps 24,26 may be formed integrally as a continuous piece with the material forming the back support member 12, or can each comprise separate members that are attached to the ends 14,16 of the support member 12 by sewing, adhesion, or other suitable attachment means. For example, the first and second elastic knee straps 24,26 may be formed integrally with the elastic webbing or other such material used to construct the back support member 12. In use, and as discussed further with respect to Each of the elastic knee straps 24,26 can be connected together at a location approximately midway along their length via a fastener. In some embodiments, and as shown in Each end 50,52 of the upper and lower elastic straps 46,48 can include an adjustment mechanism 58,60 that can be utilized to adjust the length of the elastic knee straps 24,26. As can be seen in further detail in To vary the amount of back support provided by the device 10, or to adjust the device 10 to fit different sized users, the length of the elastic knee straps 24,26 can be adjusted using the adjustment mechanisms 58,60. To adjust the length of the right knee strap 26, for example, the user can remove one or both of the fabric hooks on the ends 52,56 of the upper and lower elastic straps 46,48 and then reposition the hooks on the fabric receptors 62,64 to either increase or decrease the length of the elastic knee strap 26, as desired. Adjustment of the left elastic knee strap 24 can be accomplished in similar fashion via the adjustment mechanisms coupled to the ends of the elastic knee strap 24. In the illustrative embodiment, the back support device 70 further includes a back support adjustment mechanism 86 that can be used to adjust the length of the back support member 72. As can be further seen in The back support device 210 may worn by a user 66 to provide the desired level of support as illustrated in The back support device 210 may include a number of additional structural features including any of those described above in relation to other back support devices. For example, any of straps 218a, 218b, 220a, 220b may be adjustable and may include buckles, hook and loop fasteners, other adjustment mechanisms, etc. Other straps and/or portions of the back support device 210 may similarly include features that allow the back support device 210 to be adjusted to fit essentially any user. Additionally, the back support member 212 may include a pouch (not shown), similar to interior pouch 124, that may be utilized to fold the back support device 210 in a compact form. In some embodiments, the accessory member 319 may include the logo or name of a sporting team. This may include professional sporting teams, college teams, local teams, individual players or athletes, etc. Alternatively, accessory member 319 may bear the logo, text, and/or an image that is tailored to a particular sport, leisure, or outdoor activity (e.g., hunting, fishing, tenting, canoeing, hiking, etc.). Because fasteners 317a, 317b may allow for the accessory member 319 to be removed from the back support member 312, a user may apply one accessory member 319 when attending or otherwise contemplating a particular event or team (e.g., an accessory member 319 bearing a MINNESOTA VIKINGS logo while at a MINNESOTA VIKINGS game) and then replace it with a different accessory member 319 when attending or otherwise contemplating another event (e.g., an accessory member 319 bearing a MINNESOTA TWINS logo while at a MINNESOTA TWINS game). Of course, a wide variety of accessory members 319 are contemplated that may vary as widely as the interests of the user. While several different features are described herein with respect to specific embodiments depicted in the drawings, it is contemplated that the back support device can include any number of different combinations of features. For example, the back support device can include both an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the elastic knee straps and a back support adjustment mechanism for adjusting the length of the back support member. Having thus described the several embodiments of the present invention, those of skill in the art will readily appreciate that other embodiments may be made and used which fall within the scope of the claims attached hereto. Numerous advantages of the invention covered by this document have been set forth in the foregoing description. It will be understood that this disclosure is, in many respects, only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention. |