GB2275416A

GB2275416A - Portable back support apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2275416A
Application number: GB9303996A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ernest Yee Ho
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1993-02-26
Filing date: 1993-02-26
Publication date: 1994-08-31
Anticipated expiration: 2013-02-26
Also published as: GB2275416B; GB9303996D0

Abstract

Portable back support apparatus 2 adapted to be placed between the backrest of a chair and the back of a person for supporting the mid to lower regions of the back, comprises a pair of lower supports 8 adapted to support the lumbar regions of the back on respective sides of the spine; a pair of upper supports 6 adapted to support the mid-thoracic regions of the back on respective sides of the spine; and a central support 10 adapted to support the spine in the lumbar region of the back. <IMAGE>

Description

PORTABLE BACK SUPPORT APPARATUS This invention relates to a portable back support apparatus and, in particular, a portable back support apparatus adapted to be placed between the backrest of a chair and the back of a person.

It has been known to place a portable back support apparatus between the backrest of a chair and the back of a person to help retain an ergonomically correct posture during sitting.

This is especially important for people hating to sit for a relatively long period of time, e.g. during work, long distance flights or journeys by cars. It is known that the area between the thoracic region and the lumbar region and that between the lumbar region and the sacral region experience most of the stress when sitting for long durations. While there are a number of different constructions of back support apparatus, most such apparatus cater only for the lumbar region of the back and not for the mid region of the back. In the known back support apparatus, there is also no independent support for the spine in the lumbar region of the back.

It is also known that at different times or for different people, the degree of support required by the back may differ. Most of the existing apparatus make use of materials whose firmness cannot be adjusted in use, hence such differing needs cannot be catered for. There are, however, known back support apparatus which are inflatable and thus whose firmness can be adjusted, but all such apparatus only include a single air chamber which means that the firmness of the entire back support apparatus will be substantially uniform. Such apparatus cannot therefore cope with the situation wherein different parts of the back require different degrees of support.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a portable back support apparatus wherein the aforesaid shortcomings are obviated.

According to the present invention, there is provided a portable back support apparatus adapted to be placed between the backrest of a chair and the back of a person for supporting the mid to lower regions of the back, the apparatus comprising (a) a pair of lower supports adapted to support the lumbar regions of the back on respective sides of the spine; (b) a pair of upper supports adapted to support the wid-thoracic regions of the back on respective sides of the spine; and (c) a central support adapted to support the spine in the lumbar region of the back.

Conveniently, the firmness of the central support may be adjustable, e.ç. by bing infatahlo and the lowor supports and the upper supports may be made of foam.

Alternatively, the lower supports, the upper supports and the central support may all be inflatable. In this case, the apparatus may further include three pneumatically separate parts to allow for independent adjustment of the degree of inflation of, respectively, the upper supports, the lower supports and the central support as desired.

The invention will now be more particularly described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a top view of a portable back support apparatus in accordance with'the present invention: Fig. 2 is a side view of the portable back support apparatus, and Fig. 3 shows a portable back support placed against the backrest of a chair.

Figures 1 and 2 show a portable back support apparatus according to the present invention generally designated as 2. The apparatus 2 may be made of plastics with flock finish to provide more comfort in use. The apparatus 2, having a back panel 4, comprises a pair of upper supports 6, a pair of lower supports 8 and a central support 10.

The apparatus 2 is inflatable and includes three pneumatically separate parts, namely one for the pair of upper supports 6, one for the pair of lower supports 8, and one for the central support 10. At the back of the apparatus 2 there are three valves through which air may be allowed to go into or come out of each of the three pneumatically separate parts. While the valve associated with the central support 10 is not shown, the valves associated respectively with the pair of upper supports 6 and the pair of lower supports 8 are shown in Fig. 2 and designated as 12. The degree of inflation, and hence firmness, of each of these parts can therefore be adjusted independently by adjusting the amount of air allowed to stay in the respective parts. Alternatively, the pair of upper supports 6 and the pair of lower supports 8 may be made of foam.

Figure 3 shows how the apparatus 2 is placed against the backrest of a chair 14 when ready for use. The apparatus 2 may have a strap 16 for securing the apparatus 2 in place on the chair 14.

In use, the pair of upper supports 6 support the mid-thoracic regions of the back on respective sides of the spine, the pair of lower supports 8 support the lumbar regions of the back on respective sides of the spine and the central support 10 supports the spine in the lumbar region of the back.

Anatomically the spine at the thoracic region has a kyphotic curve whereas the spine at the lumbar region has a lordotic curve. The pair of upper supports 6 tnerefore assume the shape of a rectangular prism generally so as to support a posterior protruding (kyphotic) curve and the central support 10 assumes a generally cylindrical shape so as to support an anterior protruding (lordotic) curve. The shape of the central support also enhances the localization of the support to the spine. The pair of lower supports 8 assume a curved surface to envelope the lateral aspect of the lower torso region.

It should be noted that the above only describes one possible embodiment of the invention and various modifications may be made to the described embodimentwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Portable back support apparatus adapted to be placed between the backrest of a chair and the back of a person for supporting the mid to lower regions of the back, the apparatus comprising: (a) a pair of lower supports adapted to support the lumbar regions of the back on respective sides of the spine; (b) a pair of upper supports adapted to support the mid-thoracic regions of the back on respective sides of the spine; and (c) a central support adapted to support the spine in the lumbar region of the back.

2. Portable back support apparatus according to Claim 1 wherein the firmness of the central support is adjustable.

3. Portable back support apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein the central support is inflatable.

4. Portable back support apparatus according to any of the preceding claims wherein the lower supports and the upper supports are made of foam.

5. Portable back support apparatus according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the respective firmness of the lower supports and the upper supports are adjustable.

6. Portable back support apparatus according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 5 wherein the lower supports, the upper supports and the central support are inflatable.

7. Portable back support apparatus according to Claim 6 further including three pneumatically separate parts to allow for independent adjustement of the degree of inflation of, respectively, the upper supports, the lower supports and the central support as desired.

8. Portable back support apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.