GB2070938A

GB2070938A - Spinal support

Info

Publication number: GB2070938A
Application number: GB8037482A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: CARDIOKINETICS Ltd
Current assignee: CARDIOKINETICS Ltd
Priority date: 1980-03-06
Filing date: 1980-11-21
Publication date: 1981-09-16

Abstract

A panel 10 of leather, some 12.5 cm high and 27.5 cm wide, with rounded corners, is fastened to a user's body by means of a leather belt 11 extending through slits 12 adjacent the end of the panel 10 which overlies and supports the upper three lumbar vertebrae and gives relief from back pain. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Spinal support This invention relates to a spinal support.

Spinal supports are worn by certain athletes (such as weight lifters), persons whose jobs place great strain on their backs, and by persons who suffer from back pain. It is often not appreciated that many persons who suffer back pain due to posture or working conditions, particularly drivers, would benefit greatly from wearing a spinal support. Further, spinal supports have heretofore been made (very often custom-made) in the form of large cumbersome structures which are wholly unsuitable for everyday wear by many people.

The present invention is based on the realisation that a very wide support for a large part of the spine is unnecessary, and that a support can be equally effective if it simply overlies and is urged against the three vertebrae most commonly affected in the lumbar and sacral region of the spine at about waist level.

Pursuant hereto, the invention provides a spinal support in the form of a panel of height, equal to or slightly greater than the height of the three main vertebrae, and fastening means whereby the panel can be secured to a user or his clothing in supporting relationship with the three main vertebrae.

The height of the panel may be in the range from 7.5 cms to 17.5 cm preferably 11.5 to 15.0 cm. The panel is preferably of width less than the average human back at waist level and may be from 20.0 cm to 45.00 cm wide.

Thb panel can be of a relatively stiff supporting material such as leather, or a sandwich consisting of inner and outer layers of soft material, e.g. quilted fabric, and a filling of a stiff material such as leather, thick card or metal.

The fastening means may comprise a belt adapted to engage an outer surface of the panel and be secured about a wearer's waist.

Alternatively part-belt portions may extend one from each upright edge of the panel and have fastener parts at or adjacent their free ends. As another possibility, where a user already wears structurally strong clothing, for example a diver, the panel may be adapted to be secured to such clothing in spine-supporting relationship other than by an effective or actual belt around a user's waist.

The panel is preferably rectangular, but it may be oval or of other suitable shape, provided it has appropriate minimum height at its central supporting position.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which the single figure is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the following description is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention.

The illustrated preferred embodiment of spinal support of the invention comprises a panel 10 of leather, about 12.5 cm high and 27.5 cm wide with rounded corners, and fastening means in the form of a leather belt 11 extend- ing through slits 12 disposed one adjacent each end of the panel 10 so that the belt 11 extends over the majority of the length of the outer surface of the panel 10. The belt 11 has a a buckle 13 at one end and a row of spaced holes 14 adjacent its other end for selective engagement by a pin 15 of the buckle 13. In use, the support is worn around the user's body in such a disposition that the panel 10 overlies and supports the upper three lumbar vertebrae and gives relief to a considerable number of sufferers of back pain.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto. For example, the size and shape of the panel 10 can be varied as desired so long as the height thereof is at least equal to the height of the three main vertebrae. The construction of the panel may be different, as also may its manner of attachment to the belt as previously discussed. The panel can be relatively larger when intended for use by larger persons; larger preferred sizes of panel may be, for example, 27 cm by 12 cm, and 22.5 cm by 10 cm. When the fastening means is in the form of a belt as described, the portion thereof which overlie a user's stomach, i.e. the visible portions, can be decorative or fashioned to disguise the fact that a spinal support is being worn. Although the preferred material for the panel is leather, it may be made of other materials, for example a sandwich material comprising outer layers of soft material (e.g. quilted fabric) at each side of a filling of a stiff material such as leather, thick card or metal.

Claims

1. A spinal support in the form of a panel of height, equal to or slightly greater than the height of the three main vertebrae, and fastening means whereby the panel can be secured to a user or his clothing in supporting relationship with the three main vertebrae.

2. A spinal support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the height of the panel lies in the range 7.5 cm to 17.5 cm.

3. A spinal support as claimed in claim 2 wherein the height of the panel lies in the range from 11.5 cms to 15.0 cm.

4. A spinal support as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the panel is of width less than the average human back at waist level.

5. A spinal support as claimed in claim 4 wherein the panel is from 20.0 cm to 45.00 cm wide.

6. A spinal support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the panel is of a relatively stiff supporting material.

7. A spinal support as claimed in claim 6 wherein the panel is of leather.

8. A spinal support as claimed in claim 6 wherein the panel is of a sandwich material comprising outer layers of soft material, e.g.

quilted fabric, at each side of a filling of a stiff material such as leather, thick card or metal.

9. A spinal support as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the fastening means comprises a belt adapted to engage an outer surface of the panel and be secured about a wearer's waist.

10. A spinal support as claimed in claim 9 wherein the belt extends through slits adjacent each end of the panel and extends over the majority of the length of the outer surface of the panel.

11. A spinal support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.