AU2012214097B2

AU2012214097B2 - Back support

Info

Publication number: AU2012214097B2
Application number: AU2012214097A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Christopher Edward GILBERT
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-02-09
Filing date: 2012-02-05
Publication date: 2017-07-20
Anticipated expiration: 2032-02-05
Also published as: NZ613381A; WO2012106754A1

Abstract

A back support for a sitting user comprises a generally convex lumbar support region joined at right angles to a generally convex thoracic support region wherein the generally convex regions have longitudinal slots in the concave regions to receive inserts. The inserts are deformable to achieve variable adjustment for the support required by a specific user and can be bladders filled with wheat germ, gels or gasses and can be heated or cooled prior to insertion in the slots.

Description

PCT/AU2012/000107 WO 2012/106754 1

BACK SUPPORT FIELD OF THE INVENTION 5 This invention relates to devices which support the back while seated and in particular, combined lumbar and thoracic back supports.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 10 After undergoing thoracic surgery or recovering from back injury, a person often requires back support when sitting until the spine and its support system recovers. Even when not recovering from surgery, poor posture while sitting can in fact cause back complaints which then require treatment. 15 Numerous devices have been designed in an attempt to provide lumbar and thoracic support. CA1298190 discloses a portable back support having an insert enveloped by a sleeve forming a cushioned rigid central portion and a flexible flap. 20 US 20070Θ6523 teaches a seat and back cushion with cut outs in the thoracic and coccyx regions which supports the lower thoracic and lumbar spine without exerting direct pressure on these regions. There is also a vertically adjustable interchangeable support of variable thickness which mounts on the rear of the back cushion which causes the back cushion to form a curved shape. 25 US 2008150336 discloses a back support device comprising a lumbar portion, a thoracic portion and a connecting member for aligning the lumbar portion and the thoracic portion simultaneously with a cervical portion housing a surface to support the cervical spine and the connecting member of the thoracic portion to 30 simultaneously sort the body in a reclining position. US 4876755 teaches a three semi-cylindrical cushion device with Velcro strips positioned to allow the cushions to be fastened together to form a cylindrical shape, a *T" shape for PCT/AU2012/000107 WO 2012/106754 2 lumber and thoracic support or a side lying Ή” shape for support of the lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions of the back at the same time. The device is attached to a chair back for support when the person is sitting upright and the 5 individual semi-cylindrical cushions can be detached and placed under the cervical or lumbar regions of the back when the person is reclining. 6B 2275416 discloses a portable back support comprising a pair of lower supports adapted to support the lumbar regions of the back on respective sides 10 of die spine, a pair of upper supports adapted to support the mid-thoracic regions of the back on respective sides of the spine and a central support adapted to support the spine in the lumbar region of the back None of the above devices provide sufficient adjustment to accommodate a wide range of lumbar and thoracic support for a variety of people with different back 15 problems.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a back support which 20 accommodates a wide range of lumbar and thoracic support or at least to provide a useful alternative.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION 25 According to one but not necessarily the only aspect, the invention resides in a back support for a sitting user comprising a generally convex lumbar support region joined at right angles to a generally convex thoracic support region.

Preferably the generally convex regions have internal slots longitudinal to their 30 convexity to receive inserts. PCT/AU2012/000107 WO 2012/106754 3

Preferably the inserts are deformable to achieve variable adjustment for the support required by a specific user. 5 Preferably the inserts are bladders filled with wheat germ, gels or gasses and can be heated or cooled prior to insertion in the slots.

Preferably the lumbar support region is generally saddle shaped being convex in vertical section and concave in horizontal section. 10

Preferably the lumbar support region has wings on each side.

Preferably the outer surface of the support regions has longitudinal ventilation channels. 15

Alternatively the lumbar support region merges continuously into the thoracic support region to form a seat back of generally planar shape except for the saddle lumbar support region and the convex thoracic support region. 20 Preferably the outer surface has vertical ventilation channels.

Preferably the support is restrained on a seat by one or more adjustable straps attached to the support and reaching behind the seat. 25 Preferably the support is held in place on a seat by a front cover which is restrained on the seat by one or more adjustable straps attached to the cover and reaching behind the seat.

Preferably the support is held in place on a seat by a sock which fits over the 30 support and the rear of the seat. PCT/AU2012/000107 WO 2012/106754 4

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of the invention is now described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 5

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a back support Figure 2 is a front elevation of the support of Figure 1 Figure 3 is section AA of Figure 2 Figure 4 is section BB of Figure 2 10 Figure S shows the support of Figure 1 with cover and restraining straps

Figure 6 shows the support of Figure 5 with a car seat sock cover Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative back support Figure 8 is a top plan view of the support of Figure 7 Figure 9 is a bottom plan view of the support of Figure 7 15 Figure 10 is a side elevation of the support of Figure 7

Figure 11 is an elevation midiine cross section of the support of Figure 7 and Figure 12 is a front elevation of the support of Figure 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 20

The back support of Figures 1 and 2 has a convex lumbar support region 1 merging at right angles into a narrower convex thoracic support region 2. Region 1 has lateral wings 3 at each end which also merge into region 2. The outer surface of regions 1 and 2 have a series of longitudinal ventilation 25 channels 4 which allow the passage of air between the support and the person sitting against it.

Figure 3 which is section AA of Figure 2 shows the convex profile of region 1, ventilation channels 4 and rigid base 9. It also shows slot 5 which receives 30 lumbar insert 6 which is deformable to achieve variable adjustment for the specific lumbar support required for a particular user. PCT/AU2012/000107 WO 2012/106754 5

Figure 4 which is section BB of Figure 2 shows the convex profile of region 2, cross section of wings 3 which are supported by extensions 9a of base 9 and / longitudinal ventilation channels 4. It also shows slot 7 which receives thoracic insert 6 which is deformable to achieve variable adjustment for the specific 6 thoracic support required for a particular user. A range of shaped inserts 6 and 8 made from different materials can be used to provide firm or soft support to specific parts of the user’s spine. Materials include timber, rubber and synthetic plastics such as PVC. The slots can also 10 contain bladders filled with wheat germ, gels and gasses such as nitrogen which can be cooled or heated prior to insertion in slots 5 and 7 thus providing cooling or heating of regions of the user’s back. in Figure 5 the back support is provided with front doth cover 10 which has 15 adjustment straps 11 and 12 for securing the support to a chair or car seat at the correct height for the required back support. In Figure 6 the covered back support of Figure 5 is enclosed in a sock 13 for a car seat. Slot 14 allows sock 13 to be drawn over the car seat with the back support strapped in place and slot 15 allows sock 13 to be drawn over the head rest of the car seat resulting 20 in a snug fit

Figures 7 to 12 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the back support of the subject invention which has a more conventional seat back shape but sill embodies similar lumbar and thoracic support. Backing plate 20 is shaped as a 25 standard seat back which receives molded facia 21 which has a convex lumbar support region 22 merging at right angles into a narrower convex thoracic support region 23. Facia 21 also has lateral slot 25 to receive insert 26 and vertical slot 27 to receive insert 28. 30 Figures 8 and 9 show the saddle profile of region 22 which is horizontally concave and vertically convex. Figure 8 also shows the convex profile of region 23 and slot 27 which receives thoracic insert 28 which is deformable to achieve PCT/AU2012/000107 WO 2012/106754 6 variable adjustment for the specific thoracic support required for a particular user.

Figures 10 and 11 show region 22 merging into section 23 and slot 25 which 5 receives lumbar insert 26 which is deformable to achieve variable adjustment for the specific lumbar support required for a particular user. The outer surface of facia 21 has a series of horizontal ventilation channels 24 which allow the passage of air between the support and the person sitting against it 10 As before, a range of shaped inserts 26 and 28 made from different materials can be used to provide firm or soft support to specific parts of the user’s spine. Materials include Umber, rubber and synthetic plastics such as PVC. The slots can also contain bladders filled with wheat germ, gels and gasses such as nitrogen which can be cooled or heated prior to insertion in slots 25 and 27 thus 15 providing coding or heating of regions of the user’s back.

VARIATIONS

It will be realized that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative 20 example of the invention all modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to foil within the broad scope and ambit of the invention as herein set forth. Throughout the description and claims of this specification the word "comprise” and variations of that word such as “comprises” and “comprising” are not intended to exclude other additives 25 components, integers or steps. 30

Claims

1. A portable back support for a sitting user comprising: a generally convex lumbar support region comprising a lateral support wing positioned on either side of the lumbar support region to provide lateral centralising support to each side and provide integral strength to the lumbar support so as to maintain equal shape in the lumbar support region, said lumbar support region merging at right angles to a generally convex thoracic support region; a replaceable thoracic insert inserted in a support slot in said thoracic support region; a replaceable lumbar insert inserted in a support slot in said lumbar support region; and wherein each said insert is independently deformable to provide a plurality of incremental adjustments to provide a range of support required by a user.

2. The support of claim 1 wherein the inserts are formed from various materials of different densities.

3. The support of claim 2 in which the inserts are bladders filled with wheat bead, gels or gasses and can be heated or cooled prior to insertion in the support slots.

4. The support of claim 1 wherein an outer surface of the support regions comprises longitudinal ventilation channels which allow the passage of air between the support and the user sitting against the support.

5. The support of claim 1 in which the lumbar support region is generally saddle shaped being convex in vertical section and concave in horizontal section, and having the integrity to maintain shape each side of a central axis when inserts are inflated or filled.

6. The support of claim 5 in which the lumbar support region merges continuously into the thoracic support region to form a seat back of generally planar shape except for the saddle lumbar support region and the convex thoracic support region.

7. The support of claim 4 in which the outer surface of the support has a plurality of ventilation channels to provide ventilation of the support.

8. The support of claim 1 wherein the support is restrained on a seat by one or more adjustable straps attached to the support and reaching behind the seat.

9. The support of claim 1 which is held in place on a seat by a front cover which is restrained on the seat by one or more adjustable straps attached to the cover and reaching behind the seat.

10. The support of claim 1 which is held in place on a seat by a sock which fits over the support and the rear of the seat.

11. The support of claim 10 wherein the sock fits over a car seat and the support.

12. The support of claim 1 wherein the support slots are deformable when no insert is placed in the slot in order to relieve pressure at the lumbar support region, the thoracic support region or both regions.