The present invention is directed to a single pull lumbar support brace.
Lumbar support braces are presently used to treat spine disorders, to heal from current conditions affecting the lumbar area of the spine, or to prevent injuries when conducting physical activities such as heavy lifting.
After a lower back injury is sustained by an individual, a lumbar support brace is used to control pain, reduce the chance of further injuries, allow healing to take place, or to compensate muscle weakness.1 1Available at http://www.umm.edu/programs/spine/health/guides/braces, BRACES, University of Maryland Medical Center, Dec. 2, 2017.
Braces have been around at least as early as 2000 BC,2 and the present invention is a single pull lumbar support brace that allows a user to adjust the tension using a pulley system that can be manipulated by a two-finger ergonomic pull handle. 2Id.
Lumbar supports are described in the following patents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,213,968, 8,663,141, 7,001,348, 9,393,149, 8,956,315, 8,142,377, and D725,786. The above referenced patents are used to provide a lumbar support, yet they do not accomplish the support in the manner of the present invention.
The present invention improves the manner of supporting the lumbar area of the spine by allowing the user to adjust the tension of the lumbar support brace by pulling a single ergonomic pull handle that is attached to cord that is connected to an improved pulley system that defines non-tangling system.
For the foregoing reasons there is a need for a single pull lumbar support brace that will allow a user to adjust the tension created within the lumbar support brace via a pulley system that is tangle proof.
The present invention describes a single pull lumbar support brace that can be adjusted by pulling a pull handle with two fingers. The pull handle is connected to a pulley system that is mounted on the support brace. The pulley system defines a non-tangling tension mechanism.
The present invention comprises of a single pull lumbar support brace that comprises of: a molded plate that has a left, a right, an upper, a lower side, a front, and a rear side, the upper rear side; a left buckle, the left buckle defines a left linear aperture and has three linear gears that are parallel to the left linear aperture, the left buckle is attached to the left rear side of the molded plate so that the left linear aperture is adjacent to the left side of the molded plate; a right buckle, the right buckle defines a right linear aperture and has a first set and a second set of two linear gears that are parallel to the right linear aperture, the right buckle is attached to the right rear side of the molded plate so that the right linear aperture is adjacent to the right side of the molded plate; a rigid linear gear holder, the rigid linear gear holder defines six linear gears that evenly spaced on the rigid linear gear holder, the rigid linear gear holder is attached to the rear side of the molded plate so that it is centered between the left and right buckle and so that the six linear gears run from the upper to the lower side of the molded plate; a cord having two ends, the cord is looped through the gears of the left buckle, the rigid linear gear holder and the right buckle, and the ends of the cord are attached to pull handle; a left belt that has a left, a right, a rear and a front side, the right side of the left belt attaches to the left buckle at the left linear aperture, the left belt defines a linear hook and loop receiver on the rear side of the belt that runs from the left side of the left belt, for at least 6 inches, towards the right side the left belt, and a hook and loop end receiver that covers the left rear side of the left belt; and a right belt that has a left, a right, a rear and a front side, the left side of the right belt attaches to the right buckle at the right linear aperture, the right belt defines a linear hook and loop receiver on the rear side of the right belt that runs from the right side of the right belt, for at least 6 inches, towards the left side the right belt, and a hook and loop end connector that covers the right front side of the right belt.
The present invention is used by placing the single pull lumbar support brace around the lumbar area of a user. Then, connecting the hook and loop connector and receiver of the left and right belt of the brace to establish a first tension. Then pulling the pull handle of the brace with two fingers to establish a second tension along the central horizontal linear axis of the lumbar support brace. The tension is established when the left and right buckles are pulled inward by the cord when the pull handle is pulled outward from the left buckle. Upon obtaining the desired tension, then the pull handle is secured on to either the left or the right belt linear hook and loop receiver.
An object of the present invention is to provide a single pull lumbar support brace that uses pulley system to establish a certain tension.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a single lumbar support brace that uses a pulley system to establish tension that incorporates a tangle proof mechanism in its pulley system.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a single lumbar support brace that has an ergonomic two-finger pull handle.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regards to the following description, appended claims, and drawings where:
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In another embodiment of the present invention, the pull handle 50 is a two-finger ergonomic pull handle, and the pull handle 50 has a hook and loop connector 50A on one side.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention the front sides of the left and right belt define a hook and loop pad receiver (not shown in figures) and the lumbar support brace comprises of a pair of adjustable pads 80 that define a hook and loop connector (not shown in figures). The hook and loop connectors of each adjustable pad 80 attaches to each hook and loop pad receiver.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the rear right belt defines a loop handle 90 that receives the pull handle.
In yet still another embodiment, the support brace comprises of a cover 38 that attaches to the linear rigid gear holder.
An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a single pull lumbar support brace that uses a pulley system to establish a certain tension.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a single lumbar support brace that uses a tangle proof mechanism in its pulley system.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a single lumbar support brace that has an ergonomic two-finger pull handle.
While the inventor's above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope, but rather as an exemplification of several preferred embodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. Accordingly, the scope should be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.