Patent Application
20160311354
The invention is related to a back support device and system for reducing back pain, more particularly a device and system that may be used with a chair, such as a car seat. The invention is directed generally to reduce pain experienced by the user in the lumbar region of the back while driving or sitting.
The invention relates generally to a back support device and system, more particularly for reducing back pain in the lumbar region while sitting, such as in a car. For example, the invention may be used by a person sitting in a car, such as the driver of the car.
Back pain is a common ailment, suffered by approximately 80 percent of the American population. Whereas there are many sources of back pain, some common causes of back pain, particularly in the lumbar region, is the compression of nerves due to herniated or ruptured discs, and a degenerative disc disease.
There are several known methods for treating these types of back pain, such as medicine, hot/cold packs, injections, exercise and various treatments. When the back pain is chronic, some people opt for treatments such as spinal adjustment, massage, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation wherein mild electrical pulses are sent to the nerves, acupuncture and acupressure.
One common method of treatment includes easing the pressure applied by the upper portion of the body onto the lumbar region. Inversion tables and stretchers are examples of devices available. Inversion tables generally require the user to strap in and secure their feet and/or ankle, lie down on the table and invert it, so that the feet are above the head, thus using the body weight to separate the vertebrae and relieve the pressure therebetween. Stretchers commonly require the user to place the stretcher on the ground and lie on top of it to stretch the vertebrae. Both of these devices generally require the user to be lying down. Generally, they cannot be used while sitting, especially while driving.
Whereas there are back cushions that users may use while sitting, such cushions may also have several drawbacks. For example, the cushion may become heated and uncomfortable for the user, especially on a hot day. The shape of the cushion may not fit the user well because of the user's height, size, etc. The forced arch of the back created by the cushion may be uncomfortable for some users.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide an improved system and device for reducing back pain while sitting, which overcome drawbacks and inadequacies of known devices and systems.
Generally speaking, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a back pain relief system includes a frame that is secured onto the front of a backrest of a chair, a back brace that a user wraps around the user's body, for example the lumbar region of the spine, and a securing mechanism that secures the back brace onto the frame to prevent the back brace from being inadvertently displaced from the frame. The securing mechanism preferably attaches the back brace onto the frame when the user wearing the back brace leans into the frame.
An embodiment of the invention provides a frame having one or more hooks extending from the top of the frame, the hooks being designed to engage the top of the backrest to prevent the frame from being displaced downward. Thus, when the user leans into the backrest, thus engaging the securing mechanism of the back brace and the frame and therefore attaching the back brace to the frame, and settles into the seat, the frame does not shift toward the seat, and the vertebrae in the lumbar region are preferably separated. Such an arrangement may further prevent the user from slouching.
Another embodiment of the invention is directed to a frame having one or more straps which wrap around the backrest to secure the frame onto the backseat and preferably prevent the frame from being displaced from the backrest.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification. Other features and advantages of this invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments of this invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.
For a fuller understanding of the invention, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:
The invention generally is directed to a system and device for placement on the backrest of a seat such as a chair or car seat, more specifically a device that may be secured onto the backrest of a seat and a back brace that attaches to the device. The system may prevent or limit the movement of the user's upper body to prevent or reduce pressure applied on the user's lumbar region while the user remains seated in the seat. By securing the device to a backrest of the seat and attaching a back brace which wraps around the user's torso to the device, the pressure applied on the user's lumbar region may be reduced. Certain embodiments of the invention are described herebelow.
Reference is made to
Panel 100 is preferably relatively flat and lays parallel to the front side 312 of backrest 310. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, panel 100 is relatively rigid and maintains its shape under moderate force. More specifically, device 10 overall is rigid enough to maintain its shape, more preferably vertically, so that when back brace 20 is attached thereto, back brace 20 will not be inadvertently displaced vertically. For example, if the user slouches, system 1 will maintain the user's torso in place with respect to backrest 310 and will not move with the user's movement. In accordance with a preferred embodiment, panel 100 and arms 120, 121 are formed of a rigid material such as a rigid polymer.
The user may attach back brace 20 onto device 10 prior to sitting or while getting into seat 30. Preferably, back brace 20 is positioned on device 10 to stretch the lumbar portion of the user's spine, separating the vertebrae by maintaining the portion of the spine within back brace 20 in place while the lower body settles into the seat. Furthermore, by maintaining the portion of the user's spine within back brace 20 in place, system 1 preferably significantly maintains the vertebrae separated. Additionally, system 1 preferably eliminates or reduces the pressure applied by the user's upper body onto the lumbar region by preventing or reducing the movement of the user's upper body.
An alternative embodiment of the panel may be adjustable vertically, for example, by including a telescoping mechanism. Therefore, depending on the height of the user, the length of panel 100 may be adjusted. An adjustable panel may be preferred for use in a car, home, office, etc. that is shared among users of varying heights, such as family members, friends, etc. Once the length of the panel is adjusted, the panel preferably locks in position, so that the panel remains at the selected height until readjusted.
Whereas panel 100 and device 10 have been described as having a rigid structure, panel 100 and/or arms may alternatively be made of a flexible structure that may bend according to the shape of the backrest 310 without deviating from the scope of the invention. However, panel 100 preferably does not stretch, so that the position of back brace 20 may be maintained.
In the embodiment illustrated, panel 100 includes a frame 110 and an attachment surface 130 on the front side of frame 110, such that when device 10 is positioned on backrest 310, attachment surface 130 is positioned to attach to back brace 20. Preferably, attachment surface 130 is permanently attached onto panel 100 and is not removable, and is secure enough to stay attached when back brace 20 is being removed from device 10. More particularly, in the embodiment shown, attachment surface 130 faces the user's back to attach to the rear of back brace 20. Preferably, back brace 20 is removably attachable to device 10 via a brace attachment portion 26 as illustrated in
As shown in
The illustrated embodiment of the system provides a removably attachable back brace 20. However, it is to be understood that back brace 20 may be permanently attached to panel 100 without deviating from the scope of the invention.
Additionally, whereas frame 110 is illustrated as being a unitary piece having attachment surface 130 proximate its center, it is to be understood that the position of attachment surface 130 may be varied without deviating from the scope of the invention. Furthermore, frame 110 may comprises a plurality of pieces, rather than a unitary piece. Also, whereas in the embodiment illustrated, attachment surface 130 does not extend to the outer edges of panel 100, it is to be understood that attachment surface 130 may extend to either side and/or upward up to arms 120, 121.
Panel 100 is preferably secured in place on backrest 310 by arms 120, 121 and strap 150 which, as illustrated in
Alternatively, an embodiment of device 10 may include a single extension 154 as shown in
Extensions 154, 155 of strap 150 are preferably constructed of a flexible material, such as, by non-limiting example, nylon, polyester or cotton, so that they may wrap around backrest 310 and fit the contours thereof. The middle portion 152 of strap 150 is preferably attached to panel 100, either removably or permanently. Middle portion 152 may be of similar rigidity as panel 100 or of similar flexibility as extensions 154, 155. More preferably, middle portion 152 is permanently attached to panel 100 and has a similar flexibility as extensions 154, 155. Whereas in the embodiments shown, strap 150 is shown proximate the bottom of panel 100, but it may be higher up along panel 100 without deviating from the scope of the invention.
Back brace 20 preferably includes back portion 210 and two side portions 221a, 222 having a securing mechanism 225, 226. A user preferably secures back brace 20 around his waist by placing back portion 210 along his spine at the desired position, wrapping side portions 221, 222 around his torso forward toward his stomach, and securing side portions 221, 222 to each other. Side portions 221, 222 preferably form a tubular form when attached to each other. For example, side portions 221, 222 be secured and tightened by overlapping the ends to adjust to the wearer's torso size.
Alternatively, one or more side portions 221, 222 may extend all the way around the user's abdomen and attach to back portion 210, or wrap around completely and attach to itself, or to other parts of back brace 20. Back brace 20 is preferably made from a non-rigid material to adjust according to the user's torso, and preferably conform thereto. Back brace may be secured onto the user's torso via a hooks-and-loops system, magnets, zippers and buttons, by way of non-limiting example, more preferably via a hooks-and-loops system.
As discussed above, back brace 20 is preferably removably attached to device 10. Preferably, the rear side of back portion 210 includes hooks and attachment surface 130 comprises loops to provide the removable attachment between back brace 20 and device 10.
An illustration of an exemplary use of system 1 is provided in
An embodiment of how system 1 is utilized by a user will be described herein. The user may place back brace 20 around the user's waist, preferably slightly above the waist, wrapping it around and securing it around the waist at the desired position. The user may lower his body into seat 30, and raise his body slightly when reclining into seat 30, then lean into panel 100 of device 10. The rear of back brace 30 thus contacts attachment surface 130 of device 10, forming a secure bond therewith. As mentioned above, back brace 30 may attach to attachment surface 130 via loops and hooks such as Velcro®. This bond preferably allows the user to sink into seat 30 without breaking the bond while back brace 20 holds up the upper portion of the user's body. This preferably results in relieving the pressure on the lumbar region of the back and reducing the pain.
One of the potential benefits of using a loop and hook securing mechanism is that a loop patch attached to a hook patch typically forms a nearly unbreakable bond when pulled in a motion generally parallel to the plane of the patches (in this case the user lowering their body). Conversely the patches may be pulled apart relatively easily, releasing back brace 20 from device 10 when the user pulls forward, which pulls the patches apart in a motion generally perpendicular to the plane of the patches, allowing the user to remove himself from or readjust himself to device 10. However, the user typically must pull forward with sufficient force or to a sufficient distance for back brace 20 to separate from device 10. Thus, back brace 20 preferably does not separate from device 10 just by the user leaning slightly forward, for example, while driving.
Even with back cushions, back braces, and other portable items that may be used in a car, office, etc., none of them limits the user's movement with respect to the backrest and prevents the user from slouching. Slouching may increase the pressure the user's upper body places on the lumbar region. The system 1 in contrast secures the user's torso in place with respect to the backrest 310 of seat 30, thus making it significantly more unlikely that the user will slouch.
Whereas the terms “vertical,” “higher,” “bottom,” etc. are used herein, it is to be understood that such terms are used for illustrative purposes only, and do not imply device 10 must be utilized in an upright position as illustrated. Rather, system 1 may be used at any angle, including vertical and horizontal arrangements. It may be used with arms 120, 121 extending upward away from seat bottom 330 or downward tow. Device may be used horizontally, so that the arms extend horizontally, rather than vertically.
Other alterations may be made without deviating from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the system and method, the use, steps, order of steps, etc. may be varied as a matter of application specific design choice without deviating from the scope of the invention. For example, back brace 20 may be permanently attached to device 10. Additionally, whereas two arms 120, 121 are illustrated, the number of arms may be varied without deviating from the scope of the invention.
Another alternate embodiment of the device does not include a strap to wrap around the backrest. For example, the backrest may include a securing mechanism, such as one or more buttons, apertures, loops, slots, folds, hook-and-loop patches, magnets or pieces of metal, etc. and the device may include one or more corresponding hooks, loops, buttons, apertures, hook-and-loop patches, magnets or pieces of metal, etc. to secure the device onto the backrest. Alternatively, the backrest may include a sleeve or other item having such a securing mechanism to engage the device's securing mechanism. In accordance with another embodiment, the device may be secured to the bottom of the backrest or the seat.
It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall there between.
The application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/151,712, filed on Apr. 23, 2015, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62151712 | Apr 2015 | US |
