CA2187827A1

CA2187827A1 - Adjustable lumbar support

Info

Publication number: CA2187827A1
Application number: CA002187827A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Riyaz Adat; Tim Poupore
Original assignee: Bosaro Biotech Inc
Current assignee: Bosaro Biotech Inc
Priority date: 1995-10-16
Filing date: 1996-10-15
Publication date: 1997-04-17
Also published as: DE19642765A1; GB9621482D0; FR2739766B1; GB2306313A; AU6819896A; JPH09164159A; FR2739766A1

Abstract

An adjustable lumbar support for supporting the lumbar region of a human back comprising an elliptically shaped flexible panel that exhibits resistance as flex is applied and adjustment means connected to the flexible panel for adjustment of curvature of said flexible panel to accommodate varying degrees of lower back support.

Description

ADJUSTABLE LUMBAR SUPPORT

Field of the Invention The present invention relates in general to lumbar supports for the human back, and more particularly, to an adjustable lumbar support having an adjustment for the anatomy of the lumbar spine, to fit the needs of different types of patients.

Background of the Invention Many people suffer back pain by not being able to m~int~in a proper lumbar lordosis (curve) while being seated. Frequently, this portion of the backaffects other areas of the back by causing pain. However, for many, the pain is located in the lumbar region of the back. In some situations, the pain can be alleviated by the placement of a backrest or support between the person's back and some other object such as the back of a chair or a bed when the person is sitting or laying down. Due to differences in anatomy, some people need more or less support than others.
The size and position of the backrest are important so that undue ples~u,e is not placed on the kidneys or other critical areas. Adjustability of size, thickness, ~iUl ~ Ul`e, and position of the backrest or cushion can be critical to providing the 2 0 right amount of proper support.
Support for more than one person by using the same lumbar cushioning should be avoided. The size of the lumbar region, height or position of the lumbar region when a person sits down, the depth of the lumbar curve and the shape of the curve at the top and bottom is different from person to person. A curvature that is 2 5 mid range for one individual may be end-range flexation or extension for another.
In addition, body size and contour, physical ~len ~n-l~ of the activity or task performed and the presence of a lumbar pathology may neces~ le additional adjustments of the support.
The particular size and shape of the support required depends on the chair 3 o in which a person is seated as the amount of support required in a soft cushioned chair is not necessarily the same as required in a firm chair. Sitting and typing, sitting and driving, sitting up straight in an office chair and other sitting activities all have a profound effect on the amount of pres~ule exerted on the lumbar disc 2 1 878~7 and the amount of flex of the lumbar curve, as the degree to which the lumbar region curves at different points will vary. For back pain sufferers, an unsùpported or hll~loperly supported back can cause excruci~ting pain.
Backrests or supports are well-known in the art (see U.S. Patent Nos.

4,597,386; 4,471,993; S,335,965; 5,101,811; 4,718,724 and 3,296,634 and German Patentschrift Nr. 181203). Some backrests or supports provide mech~nicm~ for thestabilization and support of the entire back, resulting in devices which are much larger than necessary when support is only required in the lumbar region of the back. As a result, not only are such devices bulky and heavy to carry, they intrude 1 o on the portion of the back that does not require support and are not conveniently portable as a person moves from place to place. Lumbar rolls have commonly been employed in the lumbar region, but suffer from a common problem with many supports in that they cross the entire back, intruding on the kidney and other vital organs in the region causing pain and other problems. A further problem with many portable supports is that if they are moved from chair to chair, with each chair providing a different level of support, the overall level of support provided by a non-adjustable device is not sufficient or con~i~tent As mentioned above, not only does the level of support required vary from chair to chair, it varies fromactivity to activity and person to person. A non-adjustable device cannot treat 2 o these varying needs.
Moreover, many backrests or :~UppOllS are limited in the form of adjustment provided. With most devices, the degree of adjustment is limited to the positioning of the device relative to the person's back, with no adjustment possible with respect to the shape of the person's back. Foam pads and back rolls fall into this 2 5 category.
Another category of lumbar support which allows for some degree of adjustment is inflatable pads. However such inflatable pads suffer from deficiencies in that they cannot be adjusted for the correct degree of curvature and they flatten as ples~ule is applied with the result that they do not provide support at 3 o each point in the lumbar region. This problem is particularly noticeable at the upper and lower regions of the lumbar curve where different curvatures of support may be required. Inflatable pads also suffer from the problem of flattening and 2 1 8~827 deflation over a period of time, which is ~letrim~nt~l to the level of support - provided.
A further problem with many support devices is that such devices are not conci~tently firm, and do not m~int~in their shape as they are used. Foam and inflatable pads are prone to this problem. Finally, fixed devices are not easilytransferable from person to person, as each person requires adjustment for a different degree of support as noted above.
The closest prior art of which the applicant is aware as of the filing of this application, is U.S. Patent 4,597,386 (Goldstein). This patent teaches a plurality of vertically arranged slots for receiving adjllstm~-nt straps. However, these slots and straps are not used to provide any curvature adjustment for varying the degree of human back support. Tncte~fl, the slots and straps of Goldstein are provided to allow the support to be attached and conform to the back of a chair. Cu~ e is adjusted in Goldstein by selecting and positioning one or more foam inserts, as discussed above in connection with the other well known prior art.

Summary of the Invention According to the present invention, a lumbar support is provided which offers independent adjustment of size, position, curvature and degree of bend at2 o both the upper and lower points of curvature, provide differing levels of support which can be adjusted to fit different person's requirements. Also, the reduced size of the lumbar support according to the present invention allows support to be provided and adjusted to the region of the back that requires the support by easy placement of the lumbar support at the required region. The shape and size of the 2 5 lumbar support of the present invention is such that its application does not aggravate other areas of the body, such as the kidneys. Nor does the lumbar support of the present invention provide support to areas where it is not needed.
The lumbar support of the present invention can be placed at the specific lumbarregion of each person's back, which can vary from person to person. Furthermore,3 o the reduced size and weight allow the lumbar support of the present invention to be lightweight, portable, easily moved and carried from place to place for each application. The inventive lumbar support can be adjusted to work in conjunction 2 1 87~27 with other objects of support such as different chairbacks of varying levels of firmness, with the support being adjustable relative to the chairback to provide a con.ci~tent level of back support. The lumbar support of the present invention can also be adjusted for different radius of curvature to match the degree of curve of the back. The bend itseIf can be adjusted at both the upper and lower regions ofthe curve to tune the support to the specific needs of each individual person. With multiple adjll~tm~ntc available, the lumbar support of the present invention can be used by more than one person and adjusted to meet the specific needs of each person and their task.
The lumbar support of the present invention colllahls a stiff panel which exhibits resistance as plC~UlC iS applied to m~int~in its contour and firmness so that a con.ci~tent shape and level of support may be obtained.
In one embodiment of the invention, the invention can be described as an adjustable lumbar support for supporting the lumbar region of a human back comprising: an elliptically shaped flexible panel that exhibits re-ci~t~nce as flex is applied; and an adjustment means connected to said flexible panel for adjustment of cul~ ule of said flexible panel to accommodate varying degrees of lower back support.

2 o Brief Description of the Drawin~s A detailed description of the preferred embodiment is provided herein below, with reference to the following drawings, in which:
Figure l is a perspective view of the backrest according to the present invention utilized by a person for lumbar support while seated at a chair;
2 5 Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the support according to the present invention;
Figures 3a and 3b are cross-sectional views showing curvature adjustment of the lumbar support according to the present invention;
Figure 4 is a rear perspective view of the support according to the present 3 o invention;
Figure 5 shows a first alternative embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of the 21878~7 mventlon.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment Turning first to Figure 1, the lumbar support 10 of the present invention is shown positioned between a chairback and the lumbar region of a person's back.
The depth and curvature of the lumbar support can be adjusted and the support can be positioned as required relative to the specific region of the person's back which requires support. The small size and weight of the lumbar support 10 make it easily portable and transportable from one chair to another and usable in various l o sitting positions, including a car seat.
Turning to Figure 2, the lumbar support 10 of the present invention is shown comprising a generally elliptical portion and an adj~ctTnent strap 20. Thelumbar support is covered with foam and a suitable cover to cushion the human back, as ~ cucsed in greater detail below.
Turning to the r~ g Figures 3a, 3b and 4, the details of the construction of the preferred embodiment are illustrated. A panel 32, preferably of flexible plastic, forms the central portion of the lumbar support to which all of the other parts are attached. The panel 32 contains a plurality of slots 34 through which adjustment strap 20 is threaded. The breadth and radius of ~;U~ lu~e of the 2 o lumbar support is varied by threading adjustment strap 20 through different combinations of adjustment slots 34. The radius of ~;ul~lule and depth of support is varied by increasing or decreasing tension on adjustment strap 20, with tension m~int~ined by strap buckle 36. As tension on adjuctment strap 20 is increased, the panel 32 bends, ch~nging its radius of ~;ul~lule, as illustrated by the difference 2 5 between Figures 3a and 3b. By threading adjustment strap 20 through different combinations of upper and lower slots 34, the degree of bend at each of the upper and lower portions of the support can be changed as tension is increased or decreased on adjustment skap 20. Adjustment strap 20 is fixed to panel 32 by an appropl;ate f~tPning device such as bolt 38, washer 39 and nut 37, or alternatively 3 o by a rivet and washer (not shown). As shown in Figures 1, 2, 3a, 3b and 4, the lumbar support 10 is covered by a foam portion 40 and surfaced by a suitable fabric 30 to provide a soft cushion for receiving the human back. The fabric 30 envelops the foam portion 40, is attached to the panel 32 via elasticized portion 33 and is detachable and may be removed from the panel 32 to gain access to the slots 34 for rethreading the strap 20.
A first alternative embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in Figure 5. This alternative embodiment is similar in many respects to the embodiment shown in Figures 1-4. Where the features are identical, no additionaldescription is provided herein. However, the following differences are to be noted between the two embodiments.
The plurality of slots 34 of the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-4 has 1 o been reduced to a single pair of slots 50 through which adjustment strap 20 is threaded. While both radius of curvature and depth of support is varied the sameas with the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1-4, i.e. by increasing and decreasing tension on adjustment strap 20, there is no separate adjustment available tailored specifically for the upper and lower portions of the lumbar curve. In the alternate embodiment of the present invention, the degree of bend for support for the upper and lower portions of the lumbar curve is determincd by the placement of slots 50 relative to the edge of panel 32. The closer that each of slots 50 has been placed relative to the edge of panel 32, the greater the possibIe bend that is available at the upper and lower parts of the support. The curvature, shape and bend at the 2 0 upper and lower portions of the support of the alternate embodiment is adjusted solely by increasing or decreasing tension on adjustment strap 20.
The further alternative embodiment shown in Figure 6 is similar to the embodiment of Figure 5 in that only a single pair of slots is provided, and in that the curvature, shape and bend at the upper and lower portions of the support in 2 5 Figure 6 is also adjusted solely by increasing or decreasing tension or adjustment strap 20. However, in the embodiment of Figure 6, the slots 52 are raised from the plane of panel 32 by virtue of being implemented in a pair of loop plates 54, one of which is shown in position while the other is shown removed from panel 32.
As can be seen, panel 32 is provided with a pair of apertures 56 into which the 3 o loop plates 54 are cormected via a snap-fit engagement. By raising the slots 52 above the plane of panel 32, the strap 20 may be threaded therethrough somewhat more easily than in the embodiments of Figures 1-5. Also, in the embodiment of 2 1 87~27 Figure 6, a separate trim ring 56 is provided for securing the fabric cover 30 and foam pad 40 to the panel 32, rather than elasticizing the circumference of the fabric cover as in the embodiments of Figures 1-5.
Further alt~ tive embodiments and modifications of the invention are 5 possible without departing from the sphere and scope as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. An adjustable lumbar support comprising:
(a) an elliptically shaped flexible panel that exhibits resistance as flex is applied; and (b) adjustment means connected to said flexible panel for adjustment of curvature of said flexible panel to accommodate varying degrees of lower back support, said adjustment means comprising an adjustment strap and tension maintenance means for maintaining tension in said strap whereby curvature and tension is increased in response to pulling on said adjustment strap and curvature and tension is decreased in response to releasing said adjustment strap.

2. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 1, wherein said panel contains a plurality of adjustment openings.

3. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 2, wherein said adjustment openings further comprise a plurality of vertically arranged slots.

4. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 3, wherein said adjustment strap is looped through a selected pair of said vertically arranged slots.

5. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 1, wherein said tension maintenance means comprises a buckle for maintaining tension on said adjustment strap.

6. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 2, wherein said adjustment strap is looped through a selected pair of said vertically arranged slot.

7. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 2 wherein said adjustment openings further comprise a pair of vertically arranged adjustment slots disposed respectively in a pair of loop plates, said loop plates being connectable to said flexible panel and said slots being arranged so as to be raised from the plane of said panel.

8. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 1 further comprising a foam pad enveloped by a fabric cover and means for attaching said fabric cover and foam pad to said panel.

9. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 8 wherein said means for attaching said fabric cover and foam pad to said panel comprises an elasticized portion around the edge thereof.

10. The adjustable lumbar support of Claim 8 wherein said means for attaching said fabric cover and foam pad to said panel comprises a trim ring for clamping said fabric cover and foam pad to an edge of said panel.