GB2260896A

GB2260896A - Back support aid

Info

Publication number: GB2260896A
Application number: GB9123033A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Clive John Hussey; Clive Haddon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-10-29
Filing date: 1991-10-29
Publication date: 1993-05-05
Also published as: GB9123033D0

Abstract

A back support aid 1 for use by a seated person comprises a channel-section frame 2 to fit over the upper end of a seat back and two laterally spaced support arms 11 extending forwardly from respective side wings 8 of the frame 2 to support a seated person from the armpits to prevent, reduce or alleviate backache. The arms 11 are adjustable to vary the lateral spacing and height above the seat cushion for adapting the aid 1 to suit users of different size and can pivot from an operative support position to an inoperative upright position (Figure 3) for side access to and from the seat, for example when the aid 1 is fitted in a vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

BACK SUPPORT AID This invention relates to a back support aid for use by a person when seated to prevent, reduce, or alleviate backache.

Backache can often arise when sitting on a seat for an extended period of time. For example, when driving a long distance or when travelling long distances by coach, train or aeroplane. In these circumstances, the weight of a seated person tends to compress the vertebra of the spine causing backache which can be increased by incorrect posture.

The present invention has been made from a consideration of these problems.

According to the present invention, we provide a back support aid for use by a person wnen seated to prevent, reduce or alleviate backache comprising two laterally spaced support members arranged in use to extend forwardly from a seat back and spaced above a seat cushion for location in the armpits of a person seated between the support members on the seat cushion.

The support members of the invented back support aid take the weight of the seated person thereby reducing compression of the vertebra of the spine and maintaining the correct posture of the seated person. In this way, backache is prevented, reduced or alleviated, particularly when seated for a long period of time.

Preferably, the support members are adjustable to vary the lateral spacing and/or to vary the spacing above the seat cushion. In this way the back support aid can be adapted for accommodating persons of different sizes seated on the seat cushion.

Advantageously, the spacing of the support members above the seat cushion is chosen so that the person is just seated on the seat cushion. In this way, the back of the seated person is maintained slightly in traction and compression of the vertebra of the spine is avoided. This is found to be particularly beneficial in preventing, reducing or alleviating backache.

Preferably, the support members are biassed to an inoperative raised position extending generally parallel to the seat back and are moved to an operative lowered position extending generally normal to the seat back in use by the person seated on the seat cushion.

In this way, the support members are automatically returned to the inoperative position when not located in the armpits of the person seated on the seat cushion. As a result, side access to and from the seat is facilitated which has particular benefit for application of the invented back support aid to seats in cars, buses, coaches, lorries, trains, aeroplanes and the like.

Automatic return to the inoperative position is also important from safety considerations in reducing the risk of injury in an accident and facilitating access to and removal of an injured person from the seat.

Conveniently, each support member comprises a rigid arm hinged at one end adjacent to the seat back for pivotal movement between the operative and inoperative positions.

Each arm is preferably padded for comfort and safety and may be covered in any suitable material, for example, fabric, leather, plastics.

The covering, where provided, may match that of the seat.

The back support aid may be an integral part of the seat back, for example the support members may be connected to a frame of the seat back.

More preferably, however, the back support aid is detachable from the seat back and includes a support frame for securing releasably to the seat back.

Advantageously the support frame is of channel-section for locating over the seat back so that the upper end of the seat back is positioned within the channel-section between front and rear walls of the support frame.

Preferably, the support frame is provided with one or more releasable fastenings, for example straps, by means of which it is secured to the seat back.

Conveniently, the front and rear walls are connected by a top wall provided with an elongate slot for accommodating the legs of a headrest mounted on the upper end of the seat back.

Other features, benefits and advantages of the invented back support aid will be understood from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a back support aid according to the invention; FIGURE 2 is a front view of the back support aid shown in Figure 1; and FIGURE 3 is a side view of the back support aid shown in Figure 1.

The back support aid 1 shown in the accompanying drawings is for use by a person when seated on a seat (not shown) to prevent, reduce or alleviate backache. The back support aid 1 has particular application for seats in cars, coaches, buses, trains, aeroplanes and the like where a person may be required to remain seated for an extended period of time.

It will be understood, however, that the invented back support aid is not limited to such application and may be used with a seat back in a wide range of different seats. As used herein the term seat includes all types and forms of seat having a seat cushion and a seat back and is deemed to include sofas and the like furniture for seating more than one person.

The back support aid 1 includes a support frame 2 of channel-section having front and rear walls 3 and 4 respectively connected by a top wall 5. The front and rear walls 3 and 4 are relatively divergent in a direction away from the top wall 5. The support frame 2 is made of metal but other materials having the necessary strength and rigidity may be used, for example plastics such as polyester with optional reinforcement.

The top wall 5 is formed with an elongate slot 6 parallel to the walls 3,4 and the front wall 3 is formed with a rectangular cut-out 7 extending from the lower or bottom edge and bounded on each side by a respective wing or flap 8.

Each wing 8 is formed with a plurality of vertically spaced holes 9 and a transverse slit 10 adjacent to the lower or bottom edge. In this embodiment, each wing 8 has five holes 9 uniformly spaced apart and aligned with the holes 9 of the other wing 8. It will be understood that the number of holes 9 may be changed with any desired vertical spacing although it is preferred for each wing 8 to have the same number and arrangement of aligned holes 9.

The back support aid 1 further includes a respective support arm 11 mounted on each wing 8 of the front wall 3 of the support frame 2.

Each arm 11 comprises a hollow cylindrical tube releasably secured to the outer face 3a of the associated wing 8 by a threaded bolt 12 inserted from the inner face 3b of the wing 8 through a selected one of the five vertically spaced holes 9 to engage a pivot block (not shown) positioned within the end of the arm 11. The tube is made of the same metal or plastics material as the support frame 2.

Each arm 11 is biassed by a respective spring 13 positioned within the end of the arm 11 to an inoperative raised position shown in broken lines in Figure 3 extending alongside and substantially parallel to the front wall 3 of the support frame 2. In this position, the shank of the bolt 12 is located in a short axial slot 14 provided at the end of the arm 11.

In use of the back support aid 1, the support frame 2 is mounted on the seat back by locating the upper end of the seat back within the channelsection between the front and rear walls 3 and 4.

Where provided, a headrest 15 may be mounted on the upper end of the seat back in the normal manner by passage of attachment legs 15a through the opening formed by the slot 6 in the top wall 5.

The support frame 2 is secured and held in position on the upper end of the seat back by two pairs of releasable straps 16,17. A first pair of straps 16 connecting the front and rear walls 3 and 4 at opposed ends of the support frame 2 extend around the sides of the seat back to prevent sideways movement of the support frame 2 on the seat back. A second pair of straps 17 extend downwards from the rear wall 4 at opposed ends of the support frame 2 and are secured either to the seat frame or passed under the bottom edge of the seat back and secured to the front wall 3 by passage through the slits 10 at the lower ends of the wings 8 to prevent the support frame 2 tilting or rocking about the upper end of the seat back.

The support arms 11 are movable against the biassing of the springs 13 to an operative lowered position shown in full liners in Figure 3 extending substantially normal to the front wall 3 by a person seated on the seat cushion between the support arms 11.

In the operative position, the support arms 11 are spaced above the seat cushion and project forwardly from the seat back for location in the armpits of the person seated on the seat cushion.

The spacing (height) of the support arms 11 above the seat cushion is adjustable by means of the vertically spaced holes 9 and the support arms 11 are mounted so that, in the operative position, the seated person just contacts the seat cushion.

As a result, whilst suspended by the support arms 11, the back of the seated person is maintained in traction avoiding compression of the vertebra of the spine and thereby preventing, relieving or alleviating backache.

Additionally, the posture of the seated person is improved by use of the back support aid 1 to support the seated person in an upright position avoiding backache caused by incorrect posture.

The support arms 11 may be padded and covered by any suitable material (not shown) for additional comfort. For example, foam rubber with a fabric, plastic or leather covering may be used.

The covering may be selected to match the material covering the seat.

The rectangular cut-out 7 in the front wall 3 of the support frame 2 between the support arms 11 allows the back of the seated person to rest against the seat back which is normally padded and/or shaped to support the back of the seated person for increased comfort. In a modification (not shown), the cut-out 7 may be omitted and the front wall 3 padded and covered by any suitable material similar to the support arms 11.

Additionally, the front wall 3 between the support arms 11 may be shaped to support the back of the seated person.

The spring loading of the support arms 11 ensures that the arms 11 automatically return to the inoperative upright position when not in use thereby facilitating side access to and from the seat. Additionally, in the event of the seated person being dislodged from the support arms 11, for example in an accident, the arms 11 are automatically raised so as to reduce the risk of the seated person being injured thereby and to facilitate removal of the seated person by rescue services.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment above-described. Thus, the support arms may be adjustable to vary the lateral spacing therebetween, for example the vertically spaced holes may be replaced by transverse slots.

The free ends of the support arms may be adapted to restrain forward movement of a seated person, for example in the event of an accident.

The support frame may be of any suitable size and shape for detachable mounting on the seat back. The securing straps may be replaced by any other suitable means for releasably securing the support frame on the seat back.

The back support aid may be separate from the seat for detachable mounting thereon or incorporated into the seat as an integral part during manufacture. For example the support arms could be mounted on the frame of the seat back with suitable adjustments for altering the height and/or spacing of the arms.

Claims

Claims:

1. A back support aid for use by a person when seated to prevent, reduce or alleviate backache comprises two laterally spaced support members arranged in use to extend forwardly from a seat back and spaced above a seat cushion for location in the armpits of a person seated between the support members on the seat cushion.

2. A back support aid according to Claim 1 wherein the support members are adjustable to vary the lateral spacing and/or to vary the spacing above the seat cushion.

3. A back support aid according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the spacing of the support members above the seat cushion is chosen so that the person is just seated on the seat cushion.

4. A back support aid according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the support members are biassed to an inoperative raised position extending generally parallel to the seat back and are moved to an operative lowered position extending generally normal to the seat back in use by the person seated on the seat cushion.

5. A back support aid according to Claim 4 wherein each support member comprises a rigid arm hinged at one end adjacent to the seat back for pivotal movement between the operative and inoperative positions.

6. A back support aid according to Claim 5 wherein each arm is adapted to restrain forward movement of a seated person.

7. A back support aid according to Claim 5 or Claim 6 wherein each arm is padded.

8. A back support aid according to any one of the preceding Claims adapted for securing releasably to the seat back.

9. A back support aid according to any one of the preceding Claims including a support frame of channel-section for locating over the seat back so that the upper end of the seat back is positioned within the channel-section between front and rear walls of the support frame.

10. A back support aid according to Claim 9 wherein the front and rear walls are relatively divergent in a direction extending away from the upper end of the seat back.

11. A back support aid according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the front wall is cut-away between the support members for exposing the seat back.

12. A back support aid according to Claim 9 or Claim 10 wherein the front wall is shaped to support the back of the seated person between the support members.

13. A back support aid according to any one of Claims 9 to 12 wherein the front wall is padded.

14. A back support aid according to any one of Claims 9 to 13 wherein the support frame is adapted for mounting a headrest on the upper end of the seat back.

15. A back support aid according to Claim 14 wherein the front and rear walls are connected by a top wall having a slot enabling the headrest to be mounted on the upper end of the seat back.

16. A back support aid according to any one of Claims 9 to 15 wherein the support frame is provided with one or more releasable fastenings by means of which it is secured to the seat back.

17. A seat provided with a back support aid according to any one of the preceding Claims.

18. A vehicle having at least one seat according to Claim 17.

19. A seat comprising a seat cushion, a seat back and two support members arranged in use to extend forwardly of the seat back, the support members being laterally spaced apart and spaced above the seat cushion for providing armpit support to a person seated therebetween on the seat cushion to prevent, reduce or alleviate backache.

20. A method of preventing, reducing or alleviating backache comprising the steps of providing a seat back with two laterally spaced support members extending forwardly of the seat back above a seat cushion, and supporting from the armpits a person seated on the seat cushion by means of the support members.

21. A back support aid for use by a person when seated to prevent, reduce or alleviate backache substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A method of preventing, reducing or alleviating backache in a person when seated substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.