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US 11,529,251 B2Granted
Brace having elastic and inelastic portions
AssigneeFiji Manufacturing, LLC
InventorsGeoffrey Garth, Steven Burke
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Braces having elastic portions that can be made effectively inelastic, based on a level of comfort or support desired by a user, via an inelastic tightening mechanism are disclosed. Some contemplated braces have lumbar supports that are at made at least in part of an elastic material, and inelastic tightening systems that extend across the elastic material and can decrease the effective elasticity of the elastic material to provide greater support.
Claims17
A brace that provides support to a lower spine of a wearer, comprising:
- a lumbar support positioned between left and right lateral supports, wherein the lumbar support has a longitudinally elastic portion that stretches to conform to the wearer's body when the brace is wrapped around a torso of the wearer;
- and
- a tightening system comprising a first cord that extends over a length of an outer surface of the elastic portion of the lumbar support, between a left cord guide positioned on a medial portion of the left lateral support, and a right cord guide positioned on a medial portion of the right lateral support, such that pulling on the first cord is configured to reduce an effective elasticity of the elastic portion of the lumbar support, thereby reducing bunching of the elastic portion underling the tightening the brace about the torso of the wearer.
A brace that provides support to a body of a wearer, comprising:
- a central support having a longitudinally elastic portion that is sufficiently elastic to stretch to conform to the wearer's body when the brace is wrapped around the body of the wearer;
- first and second lateral supports coupled to the central support, such that the central support is disposed between the first and second lateral supports;
- wherein the first lateral support is made at least in part from a first inelastic material;
- and
- a tightening system including at least a first cord that threads through at least a first cord guide positioned on a medial portion of the lateral support, and extends over a length of an outer surface of the elastic portion of the central support, wherein pulling on the first cord is configured to (a) pull together the first and second cord guides, and (b) reduce an effective longitudinal elasticity of the longitudinally elastic portion across the length.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.