AU613078B2 - A back support means - Google Patents

Description

Form COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRA"LIA PATENTS ACT 1 952-62 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (ORIGINA 6 1 3s0n 7 8 FOR OFFICE USE: Class Application Number: Lodged: Int. Class QompJete Specification Lodged: Accepted: .00. Published: 0:0 0: .00. Related Art: 6, Naio Aplcat Addressof Applicant: Address fo Applican: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT ANTHONY PAVLOVICH Paxton Street, Willaston, State of South Australia, Commnonwealth of Australia ANTHONY PAVLOVICH Care of R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, State of Sou th Australia, Commonwealth of Australia Complete Specification for the Invention entitled: "WA BACX SUPPORT MEAN1~1 The following statement is a full depoription of this Invention, Including the best method of performing It k~nown to me.

I This invention relates to a back support means and in particular to a means of supporting the back of a person who is continuously bending forward from the waist while working.

Continuous bending from the waist in a forward direction places great stress on the lower and mid-back muscles. If a person continuously assumes this posture during work, then injury to the back will result.

Bending forward in this manner is commonly the work S 0 position adopted by many people, and in particular an example of an occupation that requires such continuous bending from the waist is shearing.

S ,i In many instances, where back problems have Ii occurred, the only cure for such complaints is treatment I .6 combined with rest. However, in the case of piece-rate I work, this would mean no income for the person concerned.

6 I Therefore, the object of this invention is to I provide a back support means that overcomes the 20 abovementioned problems.

|i It is a further object of this invention to provide a back support means that is comfortable and convenient for a person to wear, and that does not interfere with normal work tasks.

In its broadest form, the back support means comprises a shoulder harness having shoulder straps which are locatable over the top of the shoulders; a waist 2 encircling harness having a pair of leg straps which are locatable around the upper leg regions, said waist encircling harness and/or said leg straps being provided with padded supports that engage against the hip and upper leg regions; and a support strap that extend from the shoulder harness to the waist encircling harness, said support strap being locatable substantially along the line of the spinal column.

This invention is an improvement over known back O support means. U.S. Patent 1,371,690 discloses a back brace secured by shoulder straps and loops round the thighs of the wearer. U.S. Patent 1,544,162 discloses a harness with waist and hip encircling straps, which may also be connected to leg encircling straps positioned around the lower leg regions. The body brace of U.S.

Patent 1,722,192 has two back bracing straps connecting a back bracing pad to a girdle engaging the hips and lower abdomen. U.S. Patent 1,812,529 discloses a back reinforcement which is a resilient metal frame, secured 20 by shoulder and leg straps. The body-fitting device e of U.S. Patent 4,608,716 comprises a pants section with reinforcing round its top rim, an upper section for fitting round the upper torso, and two back straps connecting these two sections.

However, in none of the prior art documents is the particular arrangement of leg straps and thigh padding of the present invention disclosed. The present 3 -I VI a~~L Sarrangement is designed to provide maximum comfort for the wearer.

SFurthermore, the back reinforcement of U.S. Patent j 1,812,529 omits the waist encircling harness, thereby providing less support than the present back support means.

It is an important feature of the present invention t that the support strap should substantially follow the line of the spinal column, thus providing support exactly l~J where required. This feature is absent from the devices of U.S. Patents 1,371,690, 1,544,162, 1,722,192 and 4,608,716.

The back support means of the present invention is arranged so that when the person wearing it bends forward, the support strap is placed in tension, and S' is restrained from further extension by the shoulder *harness bearing against the shoulders and the waist encircling harness and leg straps bearing against the hips and upper legs of the person.

,o20. Padding is provided on various body engaging surfaces. In particular, padding is provided in the thigh region. This padding can be attached to either the waist encircling harness or the leg straps, as appropriate. Alternatively, the padding can cover both the waist encircling harness and the leg straps, to provide maximum protection and comfort.

The various body engaging straps are constructed 4 from materials that provide durable service. Connecting straps are provided that hold each of the harnesses in place, and these straps are provided with buckles that enable the harness to be adjusted for a comfortable fit.

The support strap is provided also with adjustability, such that a person may adjust the degree of tension incorporated within the strap so that at the desired work position there is not too great a pressure 4 placed on the shoulders, while at the same time providing *0 the necessary back support.

4 While the invention need not necessarily include S the abovementioned uetails, a preferred embodiment is described hereunder in further detail, but it will be seen that the invention need not be confined or restricted to any one or combination of the further *4 details described.

The preferred embodiment is depicted in Figs. 1 -to 5 of the accompanying drawings. Figs. 1 and 2 are front and back perspective views, respectively, of the back support means on a user. Fig. 3 is a side perspective view of the back support means on a user.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view, showing the user in a stooped position. Fig. 5 is a side view of part of the back support means spread out.

In this embodiment, a back support means comprises a shoulder harness 11 that is designed to engage the upper body, and in particular the shoulders 5 of the person wearing the support means. Also, there is a waist encircling harness 12 having a pair of leg straps 13 that bear against the buttocks and upper leg region. Each of the harness means are provided with interconnection straps such that the back support means remains in position while a person is standing vertically.

The shoulder harness comprises a pair of shoulder a.straps 14 provided with pads 15, and engages the tops of O theshoulders. Tepair ofpadded srp r once *1 by a shoulderz member 16 that extends across the lower *neck portion of the wearer. A pair of front straps 18 extends downwardly from the shoulder straps 14 along the chest portion of the wearer to connect with the waist 0.15 encircling harness 12., A front strap divider 07 connects the shoulder or front straps across the chest of the a. wearer. The front 5trap divide 17 may be fastened maing touch-and-close or a buckle.

a a The waist encircling harness 12 comprises a pair of leg straps 13, again both of which are padded 19.

The leg straps are brought around from behind the person through the crutch and connected to form a loop around the leg, the connection point being on the side portion of the upper leg. A significant feature of the present invention is the positioning of these leg straps.

The leg straps 13 are connected to the waist encircling harness 12 via buttock straps 20, which ma~y be a continuation of the front straps 18 and which extend -6 downwardly from said harness 12, over the buttocks of the wearer. The leg straps 13, themselves, may be a further continuation of the front and buttock straps. This arrangement of leg straps provides for superior user comfort, when compared to many of the prior art devices which have leg straps or harnesses bearing against the crutch region. Each of the leg straps 13 is provided with an extension portion that projects from the upper portion of the strap to support the hip region.

10 The buttock straps 20 are joined across the buttocks and lower back by a back belt 25, and it is to this portion of the waist encircling harness that the support strap 21 is attached, the other end of the support strap being attached to the shoulder member 16. The support strap 21 is positioned such that it extends substantially along the spinal column of the wearer, and the length of this support strap can be adjusted so as to provide the necessary support when the wearer bonds forward.

As the person wearing the back support begins to bend 0 forward, the curvature in the spine results in the support strap being placed under tension. This is because the movement of the shoulder and waist encircling harness is restrained due to location around the shoulders and hips, and the action of bending forward effectively lengthens the distance between the shoulder and waist encircling harness. The extension is not groat, but is enough to place the support strap into 7 tension, thereby effectively restraining the upper torso from bending past a set position.

It is preferable that the support strap 21 be manufactured from a resiliently flexible material. This allows the person to bend to the maximum forward position but upon raising the back the elastic tension within the support strap assists in raising the torso. This also aids in reducing the strain and exertion applied to the back muscles.

1!0 The attachment of the various straps can be arranged such that the length of the straps can be adjusted, thereby facilitating fitting of the back support means to persons of varying size and shape.

*Also, the width and dimension of both the leg and .t5 shoulder straps can be adjusted to evenly distribute the load over the various body portions, such that undue S* stress is not created at these support points.

To fit the back support means of the present I invention, all pressure is released from the support strap 21 by lifting the base of buckle 22 and pulling the support strap through, leaving a long enough free end 23 to grip hold of and to adjust with. The user's arms are placed through the two shoulder straps 14, ensuring that the shoulder member 16 sits high on the neck. The lumbar member 24 is centralised at lower back.

The back belt 25 should be across the lower lumbar area (normal belt line). Then the front belt 26 is buckled 8 i

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up (27) Just below the normal belt line. This front belt should be adjusted to provide support for the hips, ensuring that the lumbar member 24 remains in the central position. The leg straps 13 are buckled up (28), ensuring that the leg straps 13 are adjusted to be firm.

If the leg straps are too tight they could become uncomfortable; if they are too loose, the bottom of the back zupport means will ride up. The leg straps 13 should reinain high on the upper thigh. Tho shoulder 010 straps 14 are then adjusted. The shoulder member 16 should be in the vicinity of whero the neck meeto the shoulders (nape of neck). Next, the front strap divider 17 is done up. The front straps 18 should remain twisted outwards (just below the front strap divider 17).

.15 Adjustments are then made to the two front strnps 13, using adjustment means (29) at the hips. Tho front *straps 18 should be firm enough to ensure that the shoulder member 16 remains at the nape of the neck acros the collar line. This ensures freedom of movement and a more comfortable fit. When positioned correctly, there should be as much distance as possible between the lumbar member 24 and the shoulder member 16, thus, allowing the support strap 21 to work correctly. The support strap 21 is finally adjusted. This strap must follow the line of the spinal column. To increase tension, the user loans forward and pulls the freoe end 23. To release tension, the user leans forward and lifts the bottom of buckle 22.

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*0 .4 4 .4 4 The support strap should not be too tight or the user will be fighting against it. If the support strap is too looser there will be no support. When the user is in an upright position, there should be no tension on the support strap 21. The tension should be adjusted to suit bending requirements.

Once suitably adjusted, the shoulder straps 14 and leg straps 13 can be sewn in position.

An alternative embodiment, designed for female use, has front straps 18 which either cross over, or Come together and are attached to each other in the mid-chest region, rather than being separated by front strap divider 17.

The various straps may be manufactured from webbing or other suitable material. Shoulder member 16 and lumbar member 24 are preferably made of leather.

0, In addition to the use of padded strap means, it is anticipated that portions moulded from plastic -that 0 aire designed to fit exactly the shape of the wearor would 2.0 also be suitable for both the 9houlder and waist encircling harness means. Moulding of these components to more precisely fit the wearer will greatly improve the comfort of wearing the back support means.

A brief consideration of the above description will clearly indicate to a person skilled in the art that the back support means provides a comfortable and convenient means of supporting a back while bending from the waist and at the same time still allows the person enough freedom to perform normal work operations.

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Claims (6)

1. A back support means comprising a shoulder harness having shoulder straps which are locatable over the top of the shoulders; a waist encircling harness having a pair of leg straps which are locatable around the upper leg regions, said waist encircling harness and/or said leg straps being provided with padded supports that engage against the hip and upper leg regions; and a support strap that extends from the shoulder harness to the waist encircling harness, said support strap being locatable substantially along the line of the spinal column. 0 e

2. A back support means according to claim 1, wherein said waist encircling harness is moulded from plastic to fit the shape of the wearer,

3. A back support means according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the leg straps are connected to the waist encircling harness via buttock straps which extend i S S F.o •onA downwardly from said waist encircling harness, said buttock straps being locatable over the buttocks and said leg straps not engaging with the crutch region.

4. A back support means according to a-~i of the preceding claimsf wherein the shoulder straps are padded. A back support means according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the shoulder harness is moulded from plastic.

6. A ba.~k support means according to any one of the preceding claims, wheri.en a pair of front straps extends downwardly from the shoulder straps along the chest portion of the wearer to connect with the waist encircling harness. A back support means according to claim 6, wherein the pair of front straps is connected, across *the chest of the wearer, by a front strap dividing member. B. A back support means according to claim 6, wherein the pair of front straps either crosses over or comes together for attachment over the mid-cheot region of the wearer.

9. A back Support means occording to any one of the preceding claims wherein the support strap is constructed. from a resiliently flexible material. -12- A back support means substantially as described in the specification with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 26th day of August, 1988. ANTHONY PAVLOVICH By his Patent Attorneys, R.K. MADDEPN ASSOCIATES. ev 0 -13-