GB2208596A

GB2208596A - Back support

Info

Publication number: GB2208596A
Application number: GB8810754A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ruth Kathleen Nevill
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1987-08-14
Filing date: 1988-05-06
Publication date: 1989-04-12
Also published as: GB8810754D0; GB8719245D0

Abstract

A portable back support comprises a flexible member 2 which is adapted for releasably fixing to a seat back 1 and a plurality of pads 4 releasably attachable to the member 2 for supporting the back. The member 2 may be a strip of fabric which can be draped over and fixed to seat back by VELCRO 3 (Registered Trade Mark). VELCRO may also be used for releasably anchoring the pads, which conform to the contours of the lumbar, sacral, and dorsal regions of the back. <IMAGE>

Description

"BACK SUPPORT " This invention relates to a means for giving support to a human back, particularly when the human is seated.

A number of supports are available for use with a seat to provide extra support for a human back.

Typically such supports have a frame attachable to the seat and may also have cushions attachable to the frame for extra support. For example US Patent No. US 4047757, and Application Nos. EP 018423 Al, and GB 8619315.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a back support which may be readily packaged, stored and transported.

According to the present invention there is provided a back support comprising a flexible member adapted to be disposed, in use, on part of a seat back, a pad releasably attachable to the member for supporting a portion of the human back, and means for releasably attaching the pad to the member.

By "flexible" it is meant that the member should be able, for example, to be rolled or folded up so that it can be conveniently packaged, transported and stored.

Preferably the member is a strip of fabric.

The invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a side view of the outline of a human back resting on a seat and supported by a back rest which comprises a strip of fabric and cushions; Fig. 2 is a front view of a seat back with the strip of fabric; and Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c are each plan views of the cushions as shown in Fig. 1; Referring to Fig. 1, a seat is generally designated 1. A strip of fabric 2 lies along the horizontal seat, and front of the seat back; and has a first end draped over the top edge of the seat back. This first end carries a first piece of VELCRO 3 (Registered Trade Mark) which sticks to the fabric on the rear of the seat back.

The fabric strip 2 can still be used with seats which are not made of fibrous fabric compatible with VELCRO 3.

This is because the fabric strip itself is compatible.

Thus, whereas in a vehicle, the seatback is spaced from the head-rest (not shown), the first end of the fabric strip 2 can be wrapped over the head-rest to stock to its itself thereby providing anchorage so that the remainder of the fabric strip 2 can lie along the seat back as before. In fact, in some cases, it is sufficient to merely drape one end of the fabric strip 2 over the seat back as aforedescribed.

Fabric-covered foam rubber cushions 4 carrying strips of VELCRO 5 are releasably attachable to the fabric strip 2 in any position to provide individual support for a human back 6, as shown in Fig. 1.

In practice at least two cushions 4 of different contours will be provided, one (Fig. 3a) being shaped to conform to the lumbar region of the human back and one (Fig. 3b) to the sacral region. A third cushion (Fig.

3c) and fourth cushion (not shown) may be provided which conform to the contours of the cervical and dorsal regions of the back respectively. The cushion (Fig. 3b) supporting the sacral region is triangular and has strips of VELCRO on two of its faces, because it will be positioned at the angle of the seat back and horizontal seat. The other cushions will have strip of VELCRO on one face.

The cushions 4 can be located anywhere on the seat back (via the fabric strip 2) so that optimum comfort for any individual can be achieved.

It will be appreciated that means other than using VELCRO 5 can be used to attach the cushions 4. Thus, for example, a stud (not shown) carried by each cushion 4 could be engagable with a socket on the fabric strip 2.

As can therefore be seen, the fabric strip 2 is merely a convenient member for anchoring the cushions 4 at specific positions on the seat back. Other such members 2 could fulfill this capacity but must of necessity be flexible, in that it can, for example, be rolled-up or folded for convenient packaging and transportation.

Advantages of the present invention are: that the cushions 4 and fabric strip 2 can be made from material complementary to the seat; that the invention is relatively inexpensive to produce and can be easily adapted for use with any surface for supporting the human back; the cushion 4 can be shaped and positioned to provide maximum support for any given individual.

Furthermore the said member 2 is flexible and so that back support can be easily and conveniently packaged and carried about. With some members 2, as with the fabric strip 2, the cushions 4 can be conveniently kept together for storage by wrapping the fabric strip 2 around them.

Claims

1. A portable back support comprising a flexible member such as can be folded, rolled-up or the like, which is adapted to be releasably disposed, in use, on part of a seat back; at least one pad releasably attachable to the member for supporting a portion of the human back; and first attaching means for releasably attaching the pad to said flexible member.

2. A back support as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flexible member is a strip of fabric.

3. A back support as claimed in claims 1 or 2 wherein said flexible member contains at one end a second attaching means for releasably attaching the flexible member to a seat back.

4. A back support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the said first or second fixing means is VELCRO (Registered Trade Mark).

5. A back support as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein three releasably attachable pads are provided, which are adapted to support the lumbar, sacral, and dorsal regions of the back.

6. A back support as claimed in claim 5 wherein said pads are adapted to conform with the contours of said lumbar, sacral and dorsal regions of the back.

7. A back support substantially as described with particular reference to the drawings.