U.S. patent number RE34,883 [Application Number 07/935,040] was granted by the patent office on 1995-03-21 for simplified orthopaedic back support.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Royce Medical Company. Invention is credited to Tracy E. Grim.
United States Patent |
RE34,883 |
Grim |
March 21, 1995 |
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.]. .Iadd.body member
.Iaddend.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.]. .Iadd.body member .Iaddend.of
the back support and which straps are secured to the outer surfaces
of the wide belts.
Inventors: |
Grim; Tracy E. (Broken Arrow,
OK) |
Assignee: |
Royce Medical Company
(Camarillo, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
26976382 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/935,040 |
Filed: |
August 25, 1992 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
308687 |
Feb 8, 1989 |
4993409 |
|
|
Reissue of: |
464360 |
Jan 11, 1990 |
05062414 |
Nov 5, 1991 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
602/13; 602/14;
602/19 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
5/028 (20130101); A61F 7/007 (20130101); A61F
2007/0001 (20130101); Y10S 128/20 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
5/02 (20060101); A61F 005/00 (); A61F 005/37 () |
Field of
Search: |
;602/13,14,19 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Bahr; Jennifer
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Poms, Smith, Lande & Rose
Parent Case Text
This application for letters patent is a Continuation-In-Part,
application Ser. No. 07/308,687, filed Feb. 8, 1989, now U.S. Pat.
No. 4,993,409.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. 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.
2. A back support assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said air
bladder has a plurality of chambers, including at least one
left-hand chamber and one right-hand chamber, each of said chambers
being individually inflatable by said inflating means.
3. A back support assembly as defined in claim 1 further comprising
a thermal therapy pad, and means for mounting it on said assembly
for applying thermal therapy to the user's back.
4. A back support as set forth in claim 3 further comprising:
means for heating said thermal therapy pad.
5. A back support assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said arm
means extend upwardly and outwardly from said enlarged central
area, and wherein the extended centerlines of said arm means make
an outwardly directed angle of between 30 degrees and sixty degrees
with respect to one-another.
6. A back support assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein
substantially the only arrangements for holding said assembly
together are said slots with the straps extending through the
slits, and additional securing material, including mating pads or
hook type material and loop type material.
7. A back support assembly comprising:
a main body member having a central enlarged area for covering most
of the lower back;
a composite air bladder mounted co-extensive with and juxtaposed to
said central area of said main body member;
said composite air bladder including a left-hand, separately
inflatable bladder means for applying pressure to the left-hand
side of the lower back;
said composite air bladder further including a right-hand
separately inflatable bladder means for applying pressure to the
right-hand side of the lower back;
means for inflating said left-hand or said right-hand bladder means
to a greater extent than the other bladder means to apply
differential pressure to the two sides of the lower back; and
a main inflatable bladder means forming part of said composite
inflatable bladder, and being located behind and extending over
both the left and right-hand bladder means, thereby constituting
means for applying increased pressure to both said left and
right-hand bladder inn their application of pressure to the
patient's back.
8. A back support assembly as defined in claim 7 further comprising
a thermal therapy pad, and means for mounting it on said assembly
for applying thermal therapy to the user'back.
9. The back support as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:
means for heating said thermal therapy pad.
10. 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.
11. A back support assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said arm
means extend upwardly and outwardly from said enlarged central
area, and wherein the extended centerlines of said arm means make
an outwardly directed angle of 30 degrees and sixty degrees with
respect to one-another.
12. A back support assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein
substantially the only arrangements for holding said assembly
together are said slits with the straps extending through the slits
additional securing material, including mating pads of hook type
material and loop type material.
13. A back support assembly as defined in claim 10 wherein said
inflatable assembly includes separately inflatable left-hand and
right-hand bladders.
14. A back support assembly as defined in claim 13 wherein said
inflatable assembly further includes an overall separately
inflatable bladder extending over said left and right-hand
bladder.
15. A simplified inflatable back support assembly comprising:
a main body member formed of flexible elastic 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 elastic 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 bladder substantially
co-extensive in configuration with said enlarged central area;
said inflatable assembly including at least two straps or thin arms
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 too 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; and
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.
16. A simplified back support assembly comprising:
a main body member formed of flexible and resilient 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 resilient 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
resilient 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 .[.bladder.]. .Iadd.pressure applying
means.Iaddend., and then extending along the outside of said main
body member after passing through such slits;
means for adjustably securing to 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.
17. 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.].
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 bladder assembly including a central bladder substantially
co-extensive in configuration with said enlarged central area of
elasticized material, said bladder including means for confining
gas therein;
said bladder 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
.Iadd.said .Iaddend.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 .[.too.]. .Iadd.to .Iaddend.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
said bladder assembly providing a supplemental therapeutic and
comfort fit to said back support assembly. .Iadd.
18. 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. .Iaddend. .Iadd.
19. A back support assembly as defined in claim 18 wherein said arm
means extend upwardly and outwardly form said enlarged central
area, and wherein the extended centerlines of said arm means make
an outwardly directed angle of between 30 degrees and sixty degrees
with respect to one another. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. A back support
assembly as defined in claim 18 further comprising a thermal
therapy pad, and means for mounting it on said assembly for
providing thermal therapy to the lower back of a user. .Iaddend.
.Iadd.21. A simplified inflatable 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 bladder assembly including a central bladder substantially
co-extensive in configuration with said enlarged central area of
flexible material, said bladder including means for confining gas
therein;
said bladder 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 arms being provided with transverse slits
adjacent said central area to permit the passage of said strap
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 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 surface of
said arms to provide a vernier fit of said back support assembly
onto said patient; and
said bladder assembly providing a supplemental therapeutic and
comfort fit to said back support assembly. .Iaddend.
Description
Field of the Invention
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.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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.
In the treatment of spinal disorder, it is also desirable to use
hot or cold therapy in conjunction with the support provided by a
back brace. The devices described above in reference to the Curlee
patents do not disclose such therapy.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to overcome
one or more of the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art
above enumerated. It is another object of the present invention to
provide a back brace adaptable for hot or cold therapy and
adjustable by air inflation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a back support
includes a first pad having a gel-like substance contained therein
and an air bladder co-extensive with, and juxtaposed to, the gel
pad. The back support further includes means for supporting the gel
pad in firm engagement against the lower back of a user and means
for inflating the air bladder to press the pad against the lower
back. The gel pad may further be removed for heating or cooling and
reinserted prior to use for hot or cold therapy.
In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the air
bladder has three chambers so that the user may adjust the pressure
applied on the back according to the contours of the user's back.
In preferred embodiments of the invention, two inner air bladders
are provided, one on either side of the spine of the user, and a
third, larger area, inflatable bladder is located behind the other
two bladders to support and supply directed pressure to the gel pad
and/or directly to the patient's back.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the back support
further includes an electrical heating elements or wires disposed
within the gel pad. External power either from a battery pack or
from a wall outlet may supply current to the heating element. In
the case of wall power current being used, a variable transformer
allows the user to adjust the current in the heating element to
adjust temperature.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, it has been
determined that it is preferable for the broad belt members,
extending forwardly from a lower back pad, extend upwardly over the
hips, and engage one another across the lower stomach area. The
resultant geometry of the orthopaedic support includes the fact
that the projected centerlines of the two broad belt members make
an angle of about 30 degrees to sixty degrees with respect to one
another. It is also noted that patients complaining of lower back
problems often have protruding stomach areas. The engagement of the
broad straps across the lower stomach area has the further
advantageous factor of providing a corset-like upward pressure on
this lower stomach area.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the
inflatable bladder assembly has integrally associated straps which
extend outwardly in alignment with, and exterior to, the main broad
resilient belt members. In order for the inflatable bladders to be
close to the patient, or to the thermal therapy pad, and for the
straps for the inflatable bladder assembly to be on the outside of
the main broad straps of the brace, these straps extend through
slots through the main resilient brace construction on both sides
of the main support area.
The brace may then be initially mounted on the patient and secured
by large VELCRO pads or the like, and the inflatable bladder straps
may then be pulled firm, and secured to the main broad brace belt
members, also by VELCRO tabs or the like. The three inflatable
bladders may then be inflated to apply the desired pressure to the
lower back area.
VELCRO is a trademark, and the products sold under the VELCRO
trademark are mating fabric pads, with one of the pads having its
surface provided with a fine array of closely spaced outwardly
protruding hooks, and the other of the mating pads being outwardly
extending loops or other material with which the hooks may
engage.
It is noted in passing that the multiple inflatable bladder
assembly has a right-hand section, a left-hand section, and an
overall section, which are separately inflatable. In some cases
where lower back alignment correction is needed, this may be
accomplished by providing more inflation to the left bladder and
less to the right, or vice-versa.
In one embodiment, the features outlined above are implemented by a
unit which has wide belts Q made of elasticized material, and
pockets for selectively holding the thermal therapy pad and the
inflatable bladder.
In a simplified embodiment, added in the Continuation-In-Part
application, only three layers and three major parts are used: (1)
the .[.main support.]. .Iadd.body member .Iaddend.portion of the
assembly, which is formed of two-way stretch material such as that
found in a wet suit, with a central layer about 1/8 inch thick of
foam rubber such as neoprene and two outer cloth, preferably nylon
layers. Secondly, (2) the multiple bladder assembly is formed of
cloth coated with plastic such as urethane to provide limited
resiliency and an airtight construction, and is located on the main
.[.support.]. .Iadd.body member .Iaddend.by slits through the belt
portions of the main support, which precisely match the width of
the straps extending outwardly from the bladder assembly. The
bladder assembly straps are firmly secured to the main
.[.support.]. .Iadd.body member .Iaddend.prior to inflation. The
third and optional portion of the simplified assembly is (3) the
thermal therapy pad which may be simply affixed to the inner
surface of the bladder assembly by mating Velcro elements. To
readily permit the use of the simplified construction without the
thermal therapy pad, the stiffer type of VELCRO material (the
hooks) are mounted on the thermal therapy pad, and the softer loop
type material is mounted on the bladder assembly, so no discomfort
is encountered by direct engagement of the back of the patient by
the inner surface of the air bladder assembly.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a
study of the following description of an exemplary preferred
embodiment when read in conjunction with the attached drawings and
appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG.
4;
FIG. 6 is a enlarged perspective view of a portion of the back
support involving inflation of the air bladders;
FIG. 7 is cross-sectional view taken along line 7--7 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 is an elevational view of the air bladder used in the back
support of FIGS. 1 and 2;
FIG. 9 is an elevational view of the opposite side of the air
bladder shown in FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 10--10 of FIG.
8;
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 11--11 of FIG.
3;
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 12--12 of FIG.
9;
FIG. 13 is an exploded view of another simplified embodiment of a
back support using both thermal therapy devices and multiple
inflatable bladders;
FIG. 14 shows the outside of the back support of FIG. 13;
FIGS 15 and 16 are inside and outside views, respectively, of the
multiple inflatable bladder assembly, separate from the remainder
of the assembly;
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional vie:; taken along line 17--17 of FIG.
15;
FIG. 18 is a schematic showing of the construction of the bladder,
as indicated at circle 18 in FIG. 17, indicating the inner woven
material, coated with plastic material to provide an airtight seal
for the surface; and
FIG. 19 is a cross-sectional view; taken along line 19 of FIG. 14
to indicate the construction of the .[.basic.]. .Iadd.main body
.Iaddend.member of the embodiment of FIGS. 13-19.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT
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.
The back support 10, in a further embodiment of the present
invention may also include means 36 for heating the gel-like
material 14 as best seen in FIGS. 4-5. In an exemplary embodiment
of the present invention, heating means 36 may include a resistive
type electrical heating element 38 disposed within the pad 12 and
surrounded by the gel-like material 14, and means 40 for conducting
external electric power to the heating element 38. As best seen in
FIG. 4, conducting means 40 may, in one embodiment of the present
invention, include a source 42 of DC voltage electrically coupled
to the heating element 38 through a rheostat 44 and a switch 46.
The DC voltage source 42, rheostat 44, the switch 46 and the
heating element 38 are all serially coupled in a single current
loop. In an alternative exemplary embodiment of the present
invention, conducting means 40 may include a variable transformer
48 having a primary 50 and a secondary 52. The primary coil 50 is
adapted for coupling to a source of AC power 54, such as a
conventional wall outlet. The secondary coil 52 is electrically
coupled to the heating element 38 through the series coupled switch
46. The variable transformer 48 is adjustable by the user 22 to
regulate the current through the heating element 38 to regulate the
heating of the gel-like material 14, similarly to the rheostat 44
described hereinabove. Switch 46 may be a conventional push button
type secured by a structural support 49. A flap of material 49 may
totally enclose the switch 46 but still allow activation thereof,
as best seen in FIG. 11.
The supporting means 18 is a brace 58 constructed of an elastic
fabric and generally dimensioned to fit around the lower torso of
the user 22 to support the pad 12 adjacent the lower back 20 as
hereinabove described. The brace 58 includes an inner surface 60,
an outer surface 62, a first section 64, a second section 66 and a
third section 68 intermediate the first section 64 and the second
section 66. The brace 58 further includes means 70 for releasably
attaching the first section 64 to the second section 66 when the
brace 58 is stretched around the torso thereby supporting the pad
12 in firm engagement against the lower back 22. For example,
attaching means 70 may be a fastener available under the VELCRO
trademark.
The third section 68 is dimensioned to be positioned adjacent the
lower back 20 of the user 22 and has a first pocket 72 adjacent the
inner surface 60 and a second pocket 74 intermediate the first
pocket 72 and the outer surface 62. The pad 12 is removably
received by the first pocket 72. The air bladder 16 is removably
received by the second pocket 74.
As best seen in FIG. 7, the third section 68 of brace 58 includes a
first sheet 66 and a second sheet of elastic fabric in a facing
relationship and being of sufficient thickness and strength to
provide support when stretched adjacent the lower back 20. Each of
the first sheet 76 and the second sheet 78 respectively have a
lower edge 80, 81 an upper edge 82, 83 and a pair of lateral edges
84, 85, 86, 87. The first sheet 76 and the second sheet 78 are
joined.
.[.together.]. .Iadd.Together .Iaddend.at the respective lower
edges 80, 81 and at selected points 88 along the lateral edges
84-87. The upper edge 82, 83 forms an opening 90 of the second
pocket 74.
The third section 68 further includes a third sheet 92 of air
permeable material such as a mesh type fabric in a facing
relationship to the second sheet 78 and has a lower edge 94, an
upper edge 96 and lateral edges 98, 100. The second sheet 78 and
the third sheet 92 are joined together at the lower edge 81, 94 and
at their respective lateral edges 85, 87, 98, 100. The upper edge
83, 96 of each of the second sheets 78 and third sheet 92 form an
opening 102 of the first pocket 72. To keep the pad 12 within the
first pocket 72, a VELCRO fastener 104 maybe provided to keep the
opening 102 closed.
With particular reference to FIGS. 9-11, the air bladder 16 also
includes means 106 for securing the bladder 16 within the second
pocket 74. The securing means 106 includes a plurality of elongated
straps 108 having a first end 110 and a second end 112. The first
end 110 is affixed to the bladder 16. The straps 108 extend
outwardly from the second pocket 74 between the selected points 88
along the lateral edges 84-87 of the first sheet 76 and second
sheet 78. The second end 112 of t he straps 108 releasably attached
to an adjacent one of the first section 64 and the second section
66 of the brace 58. More particularly, the straps 108 are attached
to the outer surface 62 of the brace 58. The straps 108 are
constructed of elastic material, similar to the brace 10. After the
brace 10 has been tightened about the user 22, the straps 108
provide for further adjustment of the pressure exerted on the lower
back 20.
The bladder 16 further has a first lateral Q edge 114 and a second
lateral edge 116. The first end 110 of a first pair of the straps
108 are affixed to the first lateral edge 114 and the first end 110
of a second pair of the straps 108 are affixed to the second
lateral edge 116.
As described hereinabove, the bladder 16 includes a plurality of
chambers 26. More particularly, the chambers 26 include a first
chamber 119 and a second chamber 120. The first chamber extends
substantially between the first lateral edge 114 and a vertical
midpoint 122 bisecting the bladder 16. The second chamber 120
extends substantially between the second lateral edge 116 and the
midpoint 122. Chambers 26 may further include a third chamber 124
extending between the first lateral edge 114 and the second lateral
edge 116 of the bladder 26 and between an upper edge 125 and a
lower edge 127 or the bladder 26.
In one embodiment of the present invention, bladder 26 may include
a first wall 126, a second wall 128 and a third wall 129 in a
facing relationship to each other. The first wall 126 is sealed to
the third wall 129 at selected locations to form the first and
second chambers 119, 120. The second wall 128 and the third wall
130 are sealed together to form the third chamber 124. In one
embodiment of the present invention, the first wall 126, the second
wall 128 and third wall 129 may be constructed from vinyl.
The first and second chambers 119, 120 occupy one side of the
bladder 26 and the third chamber 124 is on the other side. The
first and second chambers 119, 120 are also approximately
two-thirds to three-fourths the height of the third chamber 124.
The third chamber 124 has points 131 wherein the second wall 128
and the third wall 129 are sealed to each other to form
intercommunicating cells 133. When inflated, the cells cause the
bladder to assume an arcuate shape to conform to the lower back 20
and to exert a uniform force upon the gel pad 12, thereby pressing
the gel pad 12 against the lower back 20. The first and second
bladders 119, 120 are individually inflatable to adjust the
pressure, somewhat laterally, against the lower back.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the inflating means 24
may include a valve assembly 130 which is carried by one of the
first section 64 and second section 66, as best seen in FIG. 6. The
valve assembly includes the one-way valves 28 hereinabove
described. Valve assembly further includes the plurality of
pressure relief valves 132. Each of the pressure relief valves 132.
Each of the pressure relief valves 132 is associated with an outlet
32 of a respective one of the one-way valves 28. The pressure
relief valves are user activated to release pressure of respective
one of the chambers 26. To operatively connect the outlet 32 to the
respective one of the chambers 26, a tube 134 may be fitted over
the outlet 32 and coupled to a fitting 136 mounted through either
the first walls 126 or second wall 128 of the bladder 26 to
communicate with the respective one of the first chamber 118,
second chamber 120 or third chamber 124. A support structure 138
may be attached to the outer surface 62 of the first 64 to carry
the valve assembly 130 and parts of tubes 134.
FIGS. 13 through 19 relate to a simplified form of back brace or
support. FIG. 13 is an exploded view taken from the inside of the
back support, and showing the main .[.support.]. .Iadd.body
.Iaddend.member 202 of the assembly, the air bladder assembly 204,
and the thermal therapy pad 206. Also shown in FIGS. 13 and 14
separate from the main assembly, is a small flexible hand pump 208
which may be kept assembled with the back support or separate
therefrom, and which may be used to selectively control the air
applied to each of the three air bladders. The big circular VELCRO
pac 203 makes engagement with VELCRO strip 225 to hold the support
assembly symmetrically around the body of the patient.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the outside of the support, the
other side from that shown in FIG. 13. Particularly to be noted in
FIGS. 13 and 14 are the slits 210 and 212 at each side of the wide
main portion 214 of the main .[.support member 212.]. .Iadd.body
member 202 .Iaddend.where it merges into the two wide belt-like
members 216 and 218 which extend upwardly and outwardly from the
area 214. After the .[.arms.]. .Iadd.straps .Iaddend.219 and 221
forming part of the air bladder assembly 204 are pulled .Iadd.from
the inside portion of the main body member 202 .Iaddend.through the
slits 212 and 210, respectively, they are tensioned and secured by
VELCRO pads 223 to VELCRO strips 225 extending along belt members
216 and 218.
Also shown in FIG. 13 are VELCRO strips 222, the thermal therapy or
gel pad 206, and the mating VELCRO pads 224 on the inner surface of
the air bladder assembly 204. As is well known, VELCRO is a
trademarked product and is made up of a mating pair of fabrics, one
of which includes a series of relatively stiff hooks and the other
includes loops, and can be implemented by many known fabrics which
are relatively soft in nature. In the present case, where the back
support may be employed without the thermal therapy pad 206, it is
preferably the pads 222 which are the stiffer hooks be mounted on
the gel or thermal therapy pad 206, with the pads 224 on the
bladder assembly being of the softer loop material, so as not to be
uncomfortable upon direct engagement with the patient.
To avoid undue bending or buckling or the back support, three thin
flexible stays 232 are provided, mounted either permanently or
removable in sewn-in sleeves on the outer surface of .Iadd.main
body .Iaddend.member 202.
The air bladder assembly 204 may be formed integrally with the
straps 219 and 221 to provide an assembly which is of high
strength, and also has the desirable attributes of inflatability
and considerable resilience. One material which meets these needs
is a nylon fabric, lightly but continuously coated with urethane at
about 3 or 4 ounces of urethane per square yard of fabric material.
However, greater or lesser amounts of various plastics may be used
and any of a number of open or closed weave fabrics may be
employed.
Proceeding to a consideration of additional figures of the
drawings, FIGS. 15 through 18 all relate to the air bladder
assembly, with the VELCRO material 224 shown in FIG. 13 having been
removed form the showings of FIGS. 15-18 for clarity of depiction
of the remaining structure.
In this regard, FIG. 15 shows the inner surface of the air bladder
assembly 204 with the integral securing strap member 219 which also
includes the air channels and valve assembly 232, (covered by a
VELCRO pad in FIG. 15), and the second strap member 221 with its
large VELCRO pad 223 for securing to mating VELCRO strip 225, as
shown to the right in FIG. 14. Strap 219 has a similar circular
VELCRO pad at reference numeral 234 in FIG. 15, for securing to the
mating broad VELCRO strip 225 on the other arm 218 of the .[.basic
support.]. .Iadd.main body member .Iaddend.202.
The air bladder assembly has three separately inflatable bladders,
which may be inflated by pumping air by the pump 208 to a selected
one of the three inputs 242, 244, and 246. On the inner surface of
the bladder assembly, as shown in FIG. 15, there is a left-hand
bladder 348 bounded by the central plastic bonding line 250 and the
upper and lower plastic heat-sealed bonding lines 252 and 254, and
being coupled at its right-hand end to an air channel in strap 219,
leading in turn to the central check inlet valve 244. A similar
right-hand, inner inflatable bladder 256 is inflated form inlet 246
via channel 258 extending to the left-hand end of bladder 256.
FIG. 16 shows the other side of the assembly, and the overall
bladder 264 which extends for virtually the entire area of the main
portion of bladder assembly 204, and is inflatable via the
lowermost channel 266 included in strap 219.
FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 17 of FIG. 15,
and cuts through the left-hand bladder 248, the overall, back-up
bladder 264, and the channel 258 for inflating the right-hand
bladder 256. From FIG. 17, it may be seen that the bladder assembly
is formed of three layers 272, 274 and 276 of airtight material of
fairly high strength, heat-sealed together as shown in FIGS. 15,
16, and 17.
FIG. 18 is a diagrammatic showing of an enlarged cross-section of
the sheet material, such as sheet 276, used in the formation of the
air bladder assembly. As mentioned above, there is a core of open
or closed weave material, and it has a thin coating 280 of plastic
material, such as urethane applied to it to make it airtight. With
the plastic layer being so thin, the outer surface of the composite
sheet material follows the contours of the underlying cloth, but is
now airtight and of significantly increased mechanical strength.
The total thickness of the material is only one - one hundredth of
an inch thick or less.
FIG. 19 represents the cross-section of a much thicker composite
material, that of the main .[.base or support.]. .Iadd.body
.Iaddend.member 202 of FIGS. 13 and 14, and FIG. 19 is taken along
line 19 of FIG. 14. The composite layer 292, as shown in FIG. 19 is
about one-eighth inch thick, and includes a central core of foam
rubber 294 to which are bonded layers 296 and 298 of finely woven
cloth, such as nylon. The resultant composite material is known and
is used for making "wet suits" for winter surfboarding activities,
or the like. The material is flexible and resilient, and it will
stretch about 20 percent with moderate forces of 5 to 20 pounds per
inch.
For completeness, other dimensions and angles of interest relating
to the illustrative embodiments, will be given. In this regard, it
is again noted that the main area for the application of thermal
therapy and pressure is the lower back, and the two main belt-like
members extend upwardly and forwardly around the waist joining at
the lower stomach area. It is interesting to note that, when the
back supports are lying flat on a surface, and when the centerlines
of the belt members are extended, the outwardly directed angles
between these centerlines is about 30 degrees for one embodiment,
and about 45 to 55 degrees for the other embodiment. More
specifically, with reference to FIG. 14, if the centerlines of the
two arms of the belt member are extended so that the centerlines
cross each other, there are two equal outwardly directed angles,
and equal upwardly and downwardly directed angled. One specific set
of dimensions for a medium size back support as shown in FIGS.
13-19 will now be given. First, the overall size of the symmetrical
unit is about 36 inches, the width of each of the belts is about 5
-1/2 or 6 inches and the size of the main back support area is
about 10.times.15 inches.
Concerning another aspect of the embodiments, it may be noted that
the pump 30 and the inlet 28 valving arrangements 24, as shown in
FIG. 3, may be implemented by the flat pump 208 and inlet valve
assembly 232, as shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. The flat pump 208 may be
formed of two circular airtight members of the type of material
described in FIG. 18, sealed around their edges, mechanically
biased to the expanded state, and coupled to a standard size
plastic tube 209. The flat pump 208 may be provided with a VELCRO
pad 211 for securing it to the assembly. The inlet and valve
assembly 232 may include check valves and relief valves for each of
the multiple bladders. If desired, the pump 208 may be permanently
coupled to the inlet and valve assembly 232 may be provided with
internal control for directing air to the desired bladder. or
alternatively, the pump may be manually shifted to the desired
inlet channel.
There has been described above an exemplary preferred embodiment of
a novel back brace. It should be apparent that those skilled in the
art may now make numerous usage of and departures from the
above-described exemplary embodiment without departing from the
inventive concepts described herein. Thus, by way of example but
not of limitation, instead of the fully elasticized materials as
disclosed hereinabove, the main body .Iadd.member .Iaddend.of the
back support may be formed of a flexible material with relatively
little of no substantial stretch; in fact, the angled configuration
of the brace permits practical use of this type of back support
using such materials. Accordingly, the present invention is to be
defined solely by the scope of the following claims.
* * * * *