GB2027585A - Lower torso support - Google Patents

Abstract

A lower torso support for pregnant women adjustable to the girth and shape of the abdomen includes a front panel 2 adjustably connected to the ends 5, 6 of a back belt portion 1. A back support 4 is heat deformable and moldable in situ to the shape of the wearer's back. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Lower torso support appliance This invention relates to an orthopedic appliance, and more particularly to an abdominal support appliance.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable abdominal support appliance which can exercise abdominal muscles, and which optionally may also provide back support to the wearer.

Desirably such an appliance is furnished with a back support which is easily deformable to shape it to the back contours of the prospective wearer.

The back support may be formable under heat and become substantially rigid, in its formed state, upon cooling.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a lower torso support appliance, comprising: a substantially elastic belt section to be worn across a rear body portion of a wearer, and to extend from an upper level in the vicinity of the upper part of the wearer's abdomen to a lower level in the vicinity of the lower part of the abdomen, a completely separable, substantially rigid or inelastic front panel to be elastically biassed by the belt section against the abdomen, which is dimensioned to overlie and bear against at least a major portion of the abdomen of a wearer; and means for connecting the front panel adjustably in overlying relationship to opposing end portions of the belt section, the connecting means being of a contact type having cooperating components on the front panel and belt section, which provide a continuously variable range of adjustment of the fit of the appliance, and which substantially prevent horizontal and vertical relative movement between the front panel and the belt section at their areas of contact, the front panel being substantially symmetrically locatable relative to the belt section, the connecting means affording a continuously variable range of adjustment of the girth of the appliance and of the orientation of the front panel relative to the belt section to accommodate differently sized and shaped abdominal areas and changes thereof.

Optionally, a substantially rigid back support member is provided in the belt member, for instance in a pocket therein. In an alternative arrangement, a pocket is not formed in the rear section of the belt member and instead the substantially rigid member is attached directly to the belt member e.g. by means of stitches or adhesive. The support member is conveniently formed from a sheet of thermoplastic material moldable in situ by application of heat to the shape of the intended wearer's back.

Rigidity of the front panel adequate to provide the necessary support can be attained by means of one or more rigid, shaped stays built into the panel.

The present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of the lower torso support device of the present invention in position on the body of a pregnant woman; Fig. 2 is a rear perspective view of the device of Fig. 1, in use; Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figs. 1 and 2 showing the relative positions of the three major components thereof, with the back support member removed from its pocket; Fig. 4 is a flat view of the device of Figs. 1-3 looking from the outer surface; Fig. 5 illustrates a typical, molded back support panel for use in the present invention Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on lines 6-6 of Fig. 5, the panel being shown in its flat state in solid lines and in its contoured state in phantom lines;; Fig. 7 is a side cross-sectional view on lines 7-7 of Fig. 5, the panel being shown in its flat state in solid lines and in its contoured state in phantom lines; Fig. 8 is a view, from the inside, of the removable abdomen panel; Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the device taken along the line 9-9 of Fig. 4, shown with contoured panel in position in a pocket; Figs. 1 OA and B are enlarged partial cross sectional views of perspective typical moldable members for use as the back support section of the present invention; and Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a modified device not having a back support member.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a lower torso support device, and particularly an abdominal support device for use as a maternity brace is shown on a pregant woman. The appliance generally comprises an elastic belt member 1 which encompasses the rear and side body portions of the wearer, and a front panel 2 which is removably secured at both ends thereof to the elastic belt member 1. As better shown in Fig. 3, in one embodiment of the invention, the belt member 1 has a pocket 3 therein for removably receiving a substantially rigid member 4 of heat deformable material. The front panel is adapted to overlie at least a major portion of the abdominal area of a wearer. The elastic belt member 1 is located on the body of the wearer so that the substantially rigid member 4 is located adjacent the back of the wearer so as to provide support in the vicinity of the lower part of the back.

The front portions of the belt 1 have contacttype fasteners, such as Velcro fasteners 5,6 for securing the front panel 2 to the belt 1. Other fasteners, preferably contact-type, can be used to provide secure but continuously adjustable fastening of the front panel 2 to the belt 1. As best seen in Fig. 8, the front panel 2 has Velcro fastening members 7,8 which removably attached to the Velcro members 5,6 of the belt 1 in an overlying manner. As should be apparent, the Velcro fasteners 7,8 are relatively wide as are the Velcro fasteners 5,6 so that the front panel 2 may be secured to the belt member 1 at a continuously variable plurality of positions and orientations to accommodate for growth of the abdomen of a pregnant woman as pregnancy proceeds, or to accommodate different size and shape abdomens on non-pregnant users of the appliance.This enables the size of the device to be readily expanded, while also providing proper back support and proper abdomen support. Since the front panel 2 is completely separable, the size of the device can be adjusted in a symmetrical manner so that the various support members are always properly oriented relative to the body of the wearer, regardless of the size and shape of the wearer Further, the contact-type fasteners substantially prevent horizontal and vertical relative movement between the belt member 1 and the front panel 2 in the areas of contact. This permits an exercising effect to be applied to the abdominal muscles by the appliance.

The front panel 2 further includes at least one substantially rigid elongated stays 9 for preventing buckling of the front panel 2 and for providing additional support to the wearer. The or each stay 9 may be secured to the front panel by means of stitching, adhesives, or may be located in respective pockets stitched to the removable panel 2 (as in Fig. 8), and extends transversely of the panel i.e. from top to bottom when worn.

The front panel 2 is preferably made of a substantially rigid non-elastic fabric, and is preferably formed so as to have an outwardly curved contour, as shown in Fig. 3. The contour may be readily obtained by fabricating the front panel 2 from, for example, three separate pieces of material 10, 11, 12 stitched together, for example by seams 13. Pockets may be formed by seams 1 3 in which the stays 9 are received. The outward contour of the front panel 2 provides better conformance with the contour of the abdomen, especially of a pregnant woman, and enhances the performance of the appliance.

As best seen in Figs. 4 and 9, the belt 1 preferably has a pocket 3 (see Fig. 9) formed therein for receiving the substantially rigid, heatdeformable sheet member 4. The bottom closed portion of the pocket 3 extends between points A and B as shown in Fig. 4. The open top portion of the pocket 3 extends between points C and D as shown in Fig. 4. The belt 1 is preferably fabricated completely of elastic material, except for the inelastic end portions 14 and 15, which are secured to the elastic main portion, for example by respective seams 1 6 and 17. The pocket 3 may be defined by seams 18 and 19 formed in either a continuous piece of elastic material, or formed when connecting individual pieces of elastic material together, for example as shown in Fig. 4.

The seams connecting individual pieces of elastic material together for the protions of the belt which overlie the pocket are formed in only the respective opposing pieces, so as to form a hollow pocket 3 for receiving the member 4. The belt is, in its flat state, generally slightly "V-shaped", so as to provide a better fit around the waist area of a wearer, and particularly around the waist area of a pregnant woman. An overlay of fabric or elastic may be secured to the belt, for example by stitching, to coverthe seams between the various belt portions. If desired, stays, or the like, could be located in the vicinity of the various seams 1 6-1 9. The pocket 3 may be seamed closed after insertion of member 4 therein.

The above-described device provides less than total immobilization, but yet substantially restricts natural body movements to a degree which still permits the wearer to be ambulatory.

The substantially rigid member 4 which is removably inserted into the pocket 3 is preferably of a plastic heat-deformable material such as, for example, the plastic sheet material alone or covered as disclosed in U.S. Patent No.

3,906,943, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. The insert 4 is heat formed to conform to the body portion of the wearer against which it is to be adjacent as disclosed in said U.S. Patent No. 3,906,943. Other suitable materials can also be used to form the removable member 4. Figs. 6 and 7 show typical examples of how a heat-deformable member 4 is formed to conform to a body portion, such as the back of a wearer.

In Figs. 1 OA and 1 OB, there are shown typical material configurations from which the heatdeformable member 4 may be fabricated. The heat-deformable members 4 are preferably of a plastic heat-deformable material 20 with fabric layers 21,22 on opposite sides thereof as disclosed in said U.S. Patent No. 3,906,943. One of the fabric layers 21,22, which are securely adhered to the plastic layer 20 is preferably of an insulating material to prevent heat from the heated-up insert from being uncomfortably transmitted to the body of the wearer when the insert is being formed to conform to the body contour of the wearer.

As shown in Fig. 1 OB, the plastic material 20 may be provided with a foam layer 23 to replace one of the fabric layers. In use, the foam layer 23 is directed toward the body of the wearer to provide additional cushioning to provide impact absorption characteristics to the device and to generally make the device more comfortable in normal use. The foam layer 23 also acts as the insulating layer when conforming the heated-up member 4 to the body contours of the wearer. A foam-covered plastic member is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 2,800,129.

By virtue of the pocket 3 being generally trapezoidal in shape (as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4), the removable member 4 is securely retained in the belt 1. In order to insert the member 4 in the pocket 3, it it only necessary to stretch the elastic material of the belt so as to spread apart points C and D (Fig. 4) to permit the member 4 to enter into the pocket 3. When the belt is relaxed, the points C and D move again toward each other to positively retain the member 4 in place. As mentioned hereinabove, the member 4 may be made non-removable from belt 1 by seaming the pocket 3 closed after insertion of member 4 therein. The member 4 may be formed to the body by heating and shaping while it is in the pocket 3 of the belt 1.

The member 4 may be secured in the belt 4 by, for example, sewing it in the belt 1. The member 4 may be adhered to a portion of the belt 1, may form an inelastic section of the belt 1, or an inelastic flexible member may form a rear part of the belt 1, as desired. In these constructions, the belt 1 is still considered to be "substantially elastic" as referred to in the claims.

Fig. 11 illustrates a modified elastic belt section 31 which has no pocket for receiving a back support member 4 and which does not include any substantially rigid back support member whatsoever. The part of the rear belt member 31 between ends 32,33 is made from elastic material. End portions 32,33 are inelastic materials having contact-type fasteners 5,6 secured thereon, as in the embodiment of Figs 3 and 4. The elastic rear portion of belt 31 may be made from one piece of elastic, or several pieces stitched together as illustrated in Fig. 11. The embodiment of Fig. 11 is useful in instances where no back support is needed, or where it is not necessary to secure the back support to the elastic belt section.

In use, it has been found that the lower torso support appliances according to the present invention not only provide desirable abdominal support characteristics for weakened abdominal muscles or where abdominal muscles need reinforcement, but also apply a muscle exercising effect which exercises and tones abdominal muscles and provides similar effects as in conventional exercise. These effects may be obtained with or without the substantially rigid back support member 4. With the back support member 4 in place, the muscle exercising and toning effect is improved, and the appliance exhibits further improved effects in that back problems may be alleviated and/or prevented. This is due to the reciprocal effect between back support member 4 and inelastic front panel 2, which are cooperatively coupled together via elastic belt 1 in a secure fashion with the Velcro fasteners.This construction not only provides a better abdominal support but also provides a better back support device, due to the interaction between the various components thereof.

The belt 1 is preferably made of a plurality of elastic panels, such as panels 24--29 29 (Fig. 4) which are sewn together to form the composite elastic belt structure. The generally horizontal seams 30 are preferably loose seams which permit limited relative movement between adjacent panels 24--25, 25-26, etc. The generally vertically oriented seams are preferably tight seams which do not permit such relative movement. While the portion of the belt 1 between seams 16 and 17 is shown as being completely elastic, alterations could be made by interposing sections of inelastic material.

However, such an alterntive construction would be less advantageous than the construction illustrated in the Figures. The precise shape of the heat-deformable member 4 may be varied, as suits the particular requirements.

The term "Velcro" used hereinbefore is a Registered Trade Mark. The preferred contact type fasteners, e.g. as sold under the Mark "Velcro", comprise mateable male and female components, the male components consisting of arrays of hooked projections and the female components consisting of loop piles, the loops of which the male projections enter in use. As shown in Fig. 4, the fastener components 5, 6 of the belt section 1 are confined to the end portions thereof. The end portions could, however, carry only part of the respective components, the remainder of which being secured to the adjacent panels 24--26, for instance.

In use, the appliance provides a new, improved and unexpected result of exercising the abdominal muscles of the wearer so that less discomfort is experienced during the pregnancy and, it is believed, fewer stretch marks will remain on the abdomen of the wearer after birth. The combination of an inelastic front panel which overlies and bears against substantially the complete abdomen of a wearer, and the elastic belt section which extends from the ends of the inelastic front panel and around the back of a wearer, provides an elastic isometric exercising effect which is believed to be very beneficial to the wearer. As the wearer walks, the vibrations imparted to the heavy abdominal area of a pregnant woman will cause flexing of the elastic belt-like member, thereby creating an exercising isometric effect on the muscles of the abdomen. This exercising isometric effect is obtained owing to the appliance extending wholly around the abdominal area and to the elastic panels of the belt which provide the resiliency which will create the isometric effect. Use of the appliance after birth may also be advantageous until the time that the abdomen of the woman recedes to its normal size for, by providing the isometric exercising effect on the abdominal muscles, receding of the abdomen to its normal position may be hastened and the development of permanent stretch marks may be avoided.

Claims (12)

1. A lower torso support appliance, comprising: a substantially elastic belt section to be worn across a rear body portion of a wearer, and to extend from an upper level in the vicinity of the upper part of the wearer's abdomen to a lower level in the vicinity of the lower part of the abdomen, a completely separable, substantially rigid or inelastic front panel to be elastically biassed by the belt section against the abdomen, which is dimensioned to overlie and bear against at least a major portion of the abdomen of a wearer; and means for connecting the front panel adjustably in overlying relationship to opposing end portions of the belt section, the connecting means being of a contact type having cooperating components onthe front panel and belt section, which provide a continuously variable range of adjustment of the fit of the appliance, and which substantially prevent horizontal and vertical relative movement between the front panel and the belt section at their areas of contact, the front panel being substantially symmetrically locatable relative to the belt section, the connecting means affording a continuously variable range of adjustment of the girth of the appliance and of the orientation of the front panel relative to the belt section to accommodate differently sized and shaped abdominal areas and changes thereof.

2. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the belt section has substantially inelastic end portions each carrying at least a portion of one of the components of the connecting means.

3. The appliance according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the connecting means comprises loop pile fasteners formed of interengageable male hook and female loop portions, either the male or the female portions being carried by the end portions of the belt section and either the female or the male portions being carried by said opposing edge portions of the front panel.

4. The appliance according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the separable front panel is contoured generally to the shape of a wearer's abdomen.

5. The appliance according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a substantially rigid sheet member carried by said substantially elastic beltlike section for bearing upon a predetermined portion of the body of the wearer in the vicinity of the lower back.

6. The appliance according to claim 5, wherein the rigid member is located in a substantially central portion of the belt section.

7. The appliance according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the belt section includes means forming a pocket to receive the substantially rigid member.

8. The appliance according to claim 7, wherein the pocket has an opening therein for removably receiving the substantially rigid member.

9. The appliance according to claims 5, 6, 7 or 8, wherein the substantially rigid member conforms to the shape of the intended wearer's back.

1 O. The appliance according to any of claims 5 to 9, wherein the substantially rigid member is heat deformable and moldable, in the heated condition, to conform to the contours of the body of a wearer in the vicinity of the lower back, the member substantially retaining its molded configuration upon cooling.

11. The appliance according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the rigidity of the front panel is provided by at least one substantially rigid stay member extending substantially transversely thereof.

12. Abdominal support appliance substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.