Passive spinal support system
OwnerThomas E. Pillsbury, Pablo J. Sztein +1inventors
InventorsThomas E. Pillsbury, Pablo J. Sztein, Curt S. Kothera
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to support systems for body-worn equipment, and more particularly, to passive support systems for equipment and/or other body-worn items including vests, backpacks, safety and protective gear, and other military and non-military gear. The invention passively off-loads body-worn item loads to reduce back fatigue, and also during a seated shock event for enhanced protection of the wearer.
Claims19
A passive spinal support system to off-load body-worn gear weight of a seated occupant comprising:
- an articulating structural column fixed at one end to a seat and extending to a free end configured to follow movement of an occupant seated in said seat, said articulating structural column being comprised of at least two discrete structural elements movably-connected together to permit at least one degree of freedom of movement within a constrained range of movement to the free end of said articulating structural column;
- a resistive load device that is fixed to said seat, said resistive load device containing at least one passive energy storage element;
- a tendon that extends a length from a first end to a second end, said first end being mechanically coupled to said resistive load device and said second end being mechanically coupled to an anchor such that said length enables said second end of articulating structural column to restoratively follow movement of a seated occupant;
- and
- at least one gear adapter extending from a first end that attaches to said articulating structural column to a second end that releasably attaches to body-worn gear of a seated occupant.
A passive spinal support system for an occupant of a vehicle seat, comprising:
- a support base attached to said vehicle seat;
- an articulating structural column pivotally attached at one end to said support base and extending to a distal end, said articulating structural column further comprising a plurality of discrete structural elements connected together end-to-end at a joint having at least one degree of freedom such that said articulating structural column is configured to track movement of the occupant seated in said vehicle seat;
- at least one resistive load device attached to said support base;
- at least one tendon extending from said resistive load device, journalled through the distal end of said articulating structural column and anchored;
- a coupling at the distal end of said articulating structural column configured for securement to said seated occupant;
- whereby the distal end of said articulating structural column restoratively follows movement of said seated occupant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.