US RE34,883 E · Simplified orthopaedic back support

Abstract

The back support is constructed from a back brace of elastic material which carries a gel pad and an air bladder. The brace supports the pad against lower back of the user in firm engagement. The air bladder is juxtaposed and generally co-extensive with the pattern containing the gel-like material. The air bladder has three individually inflatable chambers, including left, right, and overall areas, so that the user may adjust the pressure exerted on the pad and hence the support of the lower back. The gel pad may also contain an adjustable heating element to electrically heat the gel-like material. The main [portion] body member of the back brace has two wide belt portions which extend forewardly and upwardly from the main lower back support area, and which are secured together by overlapping Velcro members at the lower stomach area; and the centerlines of these two wide belt portions may make an angle of about 30 degrees to 60 degrees with one-another. The air bladder assembly includes straps secured thereto which extend from the bladders per se through slits in the wide belts of the main [portion] body member of the back support and which straps are secured to the outer surfaces of the wide belts.

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Claims21

Dependent claims

A simplified inflatable back support assembly comprising:

a main body member formed of elasticized material for extending continuously at least around both sides and the back of a patient;
said body member having an enlarged central area formed of said elasticized material for covering the lower back;
said body member having first and second arm means formed of said material for holding said back support assembly around the mid-section of the patient;
an inflatable assembly including a central inflatable bladder substantially co-extensive in configuration with said enlarged central area of elasticized material;
said inflatable assembly including at least two straps or thin arms directly secured to said bladder and extending outwardly along said first and second arm means and being substantially thinner than said arm means;
said first and second arm means being provided with transverse slits adjacent said central area to permit the passage of said straps therethrough, with the bladder on the inside of the enlarged central area of the main body member and said straps starting inside said main body member where said straps are secured to said bladder, and then extending along the outside of said main body member after passing through said slits;
means for adjustably securing the outer ends of said first and second arm means together to provide an initial coarse fit of said back support assembly onto said patient;
means for adjustably securing said straps to the outer surfaces of said arm means to provide a vernier fit of said back support assembly onto said patient;
and
means for selectively applying air to said bladder assembly to provide a final therapeutic and comfort fit to said back support assembly.

7 more elements

A simplified inflatable back support assembly comprising:

a main body member formed of two-way stretch material for extending continuously at least around both sides and the back of a patient;
said body member having an enlarged central area formed of said material for covering the lower back;
said body member having first and second arm means formed of said material for holding said back support assembly around the mid-section of a patient;
an inflatable assembly including a central bladder substantially co-extensive in configuration with said enlarged central area formed of two-way stretch material;
said inflatable assembly including at least two straps or thin arms extending outwardly along said first and second arm means and being substantially thinner than said arm means;
said first and second arms being provided with transverse slits adjacent said central area to permit the passage of said straps therethrough, with the bladder on the inside of the enlarged central area of the main body member and said straps starting inside said main body member where said straps are secured to said bladder, and then extending along the outside of said main body member after passing through said slits;
means for adjustably securing the outer ends of said first and second arms together to provide an initial coarse fit of said back support assembly onto said patient;
means for adjustably securing said straps to the outer surfaces of said arms to provide a vernier fit of said back support assembly onto said patient;
means for selectively applying air to said bladder assembly to provide a final therapeutic and comfort fit to said back support assembly;
and
a thermal therapy pad mounted to the front of said inflatable assembly, to provide thermal therapy to the lower back of a user.

8 more elements

A simplified back support assembly comprising:

a main body member formed of flexible material for extending continuously at least around both sides and the back of a patient;
said body member having an enlarged central area formed of said flexible material for covering the lower back;
said body member having first and second arm means formed of said material for holding said back support assembly around the mid-section of the patient;
a pressure application assembly including means for applying pressure to the back of the patient substantially co-extensive in configuration with said enlarged central area;
said pressure application assembly including at least two straps or thin arms secured to said pressure applying means and extending outwardly along said first and second arm means and being substantially thinner than said arm means;
said first and second arm means being provided with transverse slits adjacent said central area to permit the passage of said straps therethrough, with the pressure applying means on the inside of the enlarged central area of the main body member and said straps starting inside said main body member where said straps are secured to said pressure applying means, and then extending along the outside of said main body member after passing through said slits;
means for adjustably securing the outer ends of said first and second arm means together to provide an initial course fit of said back support assembly onto said patient;
and
means for adjustably securing said straps to the outer surfaces of said arms to provide a vernier fit of said back support assembly onto said patient.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description5,006 words

Summary1,309 words

#The present invention relates generally to back supports, and more particularly, to a novel back support having a gel pad and an inflatable bladder to press the gel pad against the lower back of the user.

#Back supports having air inflatable bladders are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,622,957 (Curlee), discloses a therapeutic corset having an elongated support surface formed from material which is bendable when subjected to forces encountered thereby. A flexible cover is disposed on the support surface and secured thereto along its edges to form an envelope. The envelope has a plurality of cells, such that when the envelope is inflated, it assumes a predetermined curvature such as a crescent. When the corset is secured around a user, the envelope is held adjacent the sacrum lumbar and thoracic region of the body. Since the corset is formed from a relatively inelastic belting material, inflation of the envelope will exert a force against the above-mentioned body region. The envelope as described above has a plurality of vertical ribs which form the series of intercommunicating inflatable cells. The vertical ribs cause the envelope to shrink thereby insuring the tabular ribs of always conform to the anatomy during a full range of movement. For example, see U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,587 (Curlee) which discloses one such envelope and U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,588 (Curlee) which discloses a vertical stack of interconnected envelopes.

#A disadvantage and limitation of the above device is that the inflatable envelope is secured adjacent the body by relatively inelastic belting material. Such belting material if improperly secured about the torso may shift in position, negating the therapeutic effects of the corset, and also causing discomfort to the wearer.

Brief description of the drawings17 figures

#FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an intended use of a back support constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

#FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partially in phantom, of the back support shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

#FIG. 4 is an exploded elevational view of the back support of FIGS. 1 and 2;

Detailed description3,381 words

#Referring now to FIGS. 1-12, there is shown a back support 10 construction according to the principles of the present invention. Back support 10 includes a thermal therapy pad 12 having a gel-like material 14 contained therein as best seen in FIG. 5 and FIG. 7, an air bladder 16, best seen in FIGS. 8-9, co-extensive with and juxtaposed to the thermal therapy pad 12, means 18 for supporting &:he pad 12 in firm engagement against the lower back 20 of a user 22, and means 24 for inflating the air bladder 16 to press the pad 12 against the lower back 20. The pad 12 of the gel-like material 14 is generally constructed from two sheets of vinyl which are sealed along their peripheral edges. The gel material 14 may be any conventional orthopaedic gel, such as Elasto Gel commercially available from Technologies Inc. of Kansas City, Mo. For a comfort to the user, the gel pad may be jacketed by a soft cloth (not shown).

#The air bladder 16 includes a plurality of chambers 26 as best seen in FIG. 8 and FIG. 10. Each of the chambers 26 are individually inflatable, as set forth in greater detail hereinbelow, by the inflating means 24.

#Inflating means 24 includes a plurality of one-way valves 28 and an air pump 30 as best seen in FIG. 3 and FIG. 6. Each of the one-way valves 28 has an outlet 32 operatively communicating with the respective one of the chambers 26 of the air bladder 16 and an inlet 34. The air pump 30 is adapted for coupling to the inlet 34 of a user selected one of the one-way air valves 28. The air pump 30 may be a conventional squeeze ball.

Simplified orthopaedic back support

Life of this patent

Simplified orthopaedic back support

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

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Drawings

Claims21

Description5,006 words

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Classification0 codes

Life of this patent

Description5,006 words