ELASTIC SUPPORT DEVICE AND WAIST PROTECTOR INCLUDING THE SAME

Abstract

An elastic support device configured to be disposed on a waist protector is provided, wherein the elastic support device includes: a main body defining a first direction and a second direction which are transverse to each other, the waist protector extending in the first direction, the main body including a plurality of V-shaped elastic members, each of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members including a connection portion and two ribs extending from the connection portion, in the first direction the ribs of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, in the second direction the connection portions of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, the main body being elastically restorable.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an elastic support device and a waist protector including the same.

Description of the Prior Art

A waist protector is a protective gear used to surround the waist of the human body and support the waist. It can be used by athletes or people with waist injuries. Conventional waist protectors typically include a flexible band and a rigid supporting plate. The band secures the waist protector to the body, and the supporting plate is often placed against the front or back waist to supports the waist to prevent bending of the waist. However, due to the differences in body shapes of users, the size and curvature of the conventional waist protector support plate is not suitable for every user's body shape, resulting in poor universality.

The present invention is, therefore, arisen to obviate or at least mitigate the above-mentioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide an elastic support device and a waist protector including the same. The elastic support device can elastically stretch according to various users' waist shapes to fit different users' waist shapes, thereby enhancing the supporting effect.

To achieve the above and other objects, an elastic support device configured to be disposed on a waist protector is provided, wherein the elastic support device includes: a main body defining a first direction and a second direction which are transverse to each other, the waist protector extending in the first direction, the main body including a plurality of V-shaped elastic members, each of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members including a connection portion and two ribs extending from the connection portion, in the first direction the ribs of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, in the second direction the connection portions of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, the main body being elastically restorable.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment(s) in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elastic support device of a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the elastic support device of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a waist protector of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of the waist protector of the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are partial enlarged views of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 8;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views of a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a partial enlarged view of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 to 4 for a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. An elastic support device of the present invention is configured to be disposed on a waist protector 9 and includes a main body 1.

The main body 1 defines a first direction 11 and a second direction 12 which are transverse to each other. The waist protector 9 extends in the first direction 11. The main body 1 includes a plurality of V-shaped elastic members 13. Each of the V-shaped elastic members 13 includes a connection portion 131 and two ribs 132 extending from the connection portion 131. In the first direction 11, the two ribs 132 of neighboring V-shaped elastic members 13 are connected to each other. In the second direction 12, the connection portions 131 of neighboring V-shaped elastic members 13 are connected to each other. Thus, the main body 1 is elastically restorable because of elastic compression.

The waist protector 9 includes two adjustment portions 91. The two adjustment portions 91 are connected to opposing ends of the main body 1 in the first direction 11. The two adjustment portions 91 are movable relative to each other to adjust the size of the waist protector 9. In this way, when the two adjustment portions 91 are brought closer to tighten the waist protector 9 around the user's waist, the main body 1 can be elastically restorable by elastic compression in the first direction 11 to fit the user's waist size and shape, thus effectively achieving a supporting effect.

In this embodiment, each of the two adjustment portions 91 is provided with a plurality of winding guides 92. At least one line 93 (plural lines 93 in this embodiment) is wound along the winding guides 92. By pulling the lines 93, the two adjustment portions 91 can be brought closer to achieve a tightening effect on the waist protector 9.

The waist protector 9 includes two bands 94. Each of the two bands 94 includes the two adjustment portions 91. The two bands 94 are detachably connected to each other, allowing the two bands 94 to be wrapped around the human body.

Preferably, the main body 1 includes two side frames 14 at the opposing ends in the first direction 11. The two side frames 14 are respectively connected to opposing ends of the V-shaped elastic members 13 in the first direction 11. The two side frames 14 are connected to the waist protector 9 and are generally parallel to the second direction 12. In this way, the two side frames 14 can provide support in the second direction 12 to support the user's back.

Further, each of the adjustment portions 91 includes at least one connecting member 95 (a plurality in this embodiment). Each of the connecting members 95 is sleeved on one of the side frames 14 to connect the adjustment portions 91 to the main body 1. In this embodiment, each of the connecting members 95 is a hook-and-loop fastener strap, making it easy to assemble and disassemble. In this embodiment, the main body 1 is connected to the adjustment portions 91 by the connecting members 95, and the adjustment portions 91 are further connected to the two bands 94 (e.g., using hook-and-loop fasteners). In other embodiments, the ends of the main body may be fixed to a connecting member before being connected to the two adjustment portions 91.

Additionally, the angle between the two ribs 132 of each of the V-shaped elastic members 13 is acute. The main body 1 may be formed by 3D printing or injection molding. In the second direction 12, neighboring V-shaped elastic members 13 are connected upside down to form an X-shaped structure 2. Thus, the X-shaped structures 2 can be elastically compressed in the first direction 11, providing structural support in the second direction 12. Preferably, each of the two ribs 132 includes a hollow portion 133 extending in the extending direction of the rib 132, achieving a lightweight effect. Preferably, the main body 1 defines a central line 15, which is centered and extends in the second direction 12. In the first direction 11 the two ribs 132 of parts of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members 13 adjacent to the central line 15 each has a thickness greater than respective thicknesses of the two ribs 132 of the rest of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members 13, thus enhancing the structural strength of the main body 1 near the central line 15.

The present invention also provides a waist protector 9 including the above-described elastic support device, two bands 94, and two adjustment portions 91. The two bands 94 are detachably connected to each other. The two adjustment portions 91 are connected to opposing ends of the main body 1 in the first direction 11 and are further connected to the two bands 94. The two adjustment portions 91 are movable relative to each other to adjust the size of the waist protector 9. Thus, when the waist protector 9 is tightened around the user's waist, the main body 1 can be elastically restorable by elastic compression to fit the user's waist size and shape, effectively achieving a supporting effect.

Please refer to FIGS. 5 to 9, in a second embodiment of the present invention, the main body 1A adjacent to the central line 15 includes a first guide block 16 having a first through hole 161 extending in the first direction. The first through holes 161 are configured for at least one line to penetrate through to achieve the effect of arranging the lines, and additionally, to allow the at least one line to be tightly adjacent to the main body 1A.

The two side frames 14A each include a plurality of winding guides 92A. The winding guides 92A have at least one line wound around them. Each winding guide 92A is a semicircular hollow block, and each winding guide 92A includes a first penetrating hole 921A at both ends in the second direction 12. Each winding guide 92A further includes a second penetrating hole 922A on an outer side extending in the first direction. The two first penetrating holes 921A and the second penetrating hole 922A are in communication with each other and configured for winding the lines.

Preferably, each side frame 14A further includes a second guide block 17. Each second guide block 17 of the side frames 14A is centered in the second direction relative to the winding guides 92A. Each second guide block 17 has a second through hole 171 extending in the first direction. The two second through holes 171 are configured for the lines to penetrate therethrough and extend outwardly to be wound around the bands.

Please refer to FIGS. 10 to 12, in a third embodiment of the present invention, the two side frames 14B of the main body 1B each include a plurality of winding guides 92B. Each winding guide 92B is a circular hollow block and includes a plurality of third penetrating holes 923B of an outer circumferential wall thereof. One side of each winding guide 92B has a recess 924B, a reel 925B is received in the recess 924B, a projection 926B is disposed on a bottom of the recess 924B, and the reel 925B is rotatably sleeved on the projection 926B. Thus, the reel 925B can stably rotate within the recess 924B and is configured for winding the lines. The third penetrating holes 923B are configured for the lines to penetrate therethrough. This structure makes it easier for the lines to be pulled, and the reel 925B can reduce the friction of the lines, making it more convenient and smooth to use.

Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An elastic support device configured to be disposed on a waist protector, the elastic support device including: a main body defining a first direction and a second direction which are transverse to each other, the waist protector extending in the first direction, the main body including a plurality of V-shaped elastic members, each of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members including a connection portion and two ribs extending from the connection portion, in the first direction the ribs of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, in the second direction the connection portions of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, the main body being elastically restorable.

2. The elastic support device of claim 1, wherein the waist protector includes two adjustment portions, the two adjustment portions are connected to opposing ends of the main body in the first direction, and the two adjustment portions are movable relative to each other to adjust a size of the waist protector.

3. The elastic support device of claim 2, wherein each of the two adjustment portions includes a plurality of winding guides, at least one line is wound along the plurality of winding guides, and the waist protector further includes two bands, each of the two bands includes one of the two adjustment portions, and the two bands are detachably connected to each other.

4. The elastic support device of claim 2, wherein in the first direction the main body further includes two side frames at the opposing ends, the two side frames are respectively connected to opposing ends of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members in the first direction, and the two side frames are connected to the waist protector, each of the two adjustment portions further includes at least one connecting member, and each of the at least one connecting member is sleeved on one of the two side frames.

5. The elastic support device of claim 1, wherein an angle between the two ribs of each of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members is acute, and parts of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members are connected in the second direction to form X-shaped structures.

6. The elastic support device of claim 5, wherein each of the two ribs includes a hollow portion extending along an extending direction thereof, the main body defines a central line, the central line is centered and extends in the second direction, in the first direction the two ribs of parts of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members adjacent to the central line each has a thickness greater than respective thicknesses of the two ribs of the rest of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members, and parts of the X-shaped structures adjacent to the central line each include a first guide block having a first through hole extending in the first direction.

7. The elastic support device of claim 4, wherein each of the two side frames includes a plurality of winding guides, at least one line is wound along the plurality of winding guides, each of the plurality of winding guides is a semicircular hollow block, each of the plurality of winding guides includes a first penetrating hole at two ends in the second direction, each of the plurality of winding guides further includes a second penetrating hole on an outer side and extending in the first direction, and the two first penetrating holes and the second penetrating hole are in communication with each other.

8. The elastic support device of claim 7, wherein each of the two side frames further includes a second guide block, and the second guide block of each of the two side frames is centered in the second direction relative to the plurality of winding guides and has a second through hole extending in the first direction.

9. The elastic support device of claim 4, wherein each of the two side frames includes a plurality of winding guides, each of the plurality of winding guides is a circular hollow block and includes a plurality of third penetrating holes on an outer circumferential wall thereof, one side of each of the plurality of winding guides includes a recess, a reel is received in the recess, a projection is disposed on a bottom of the recess, and the reel is rotatably sleeved on the projection.

10. A waist protector including the elastic support device of claim 1, further including: two bands detachably connected to each other; andtwo adjustment portions connected to opposing ends of the main body in the first direction and connected to the two bands, the two adjustment portions being movable relative to each other to adjust a size of the waist protector.