GB2434543A

GB2434543A - Support apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2434543A
Application number: GB0601916A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Baxter; Andrew King
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-01-31
Filing date: 2006-01-31
Publication date: 2007-08-01
Also published as: GB0601916D0

Abstract

Apparatus for supporting or applying pressure to part of the human body comprises two cooperating opposed wedges 2,4 which are placed in the gap between the side of a support, eg a chair or bed, and the person. The transverse force B applied by the wedges to the person can be adjusted by sliding one wedge longitudinally relative to the other. Multiple pairs of opposed wedges can be used allowing different parts of the body to be displaced by different distances and subjected to different lateral forces. The wedges may have complementary tongue and groove formations on opposing surfaces to prevent lateral movement when they slide relative to one another (Figures 6-10). Spacers can be inserted between the wedges to allow them to be used with larger gaps (Figures 11-12). The surface of one or both wedges may be adapted for the purpose of pressing into part of a person. The wedges can also be used with a u-shaped channel to hold a limb in position during a surgical procedure (Figures 14,15). The invention allows a disabled or elderly person's posture to be supported without the need for customised furniture.

Description

1 Support apparatus and method

3 Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of support apparatus for supporting parts of 6 the human body, and a method of supporting parts of the human body.

8 Background to the invention

Se.. 9 * * 5..

Many people who are old or who suffer from a disability, disease, injury or muscle S...

: 11 imbalance have difficulties sitting or lying in an appropriate position, or are unable to 12 sit or lie in an appropriate position, without support For example, people who have 13 had certain types of stroke will tend to slump to one side in a chair. Other conditions * .. 14 which can lead to problems sitting or lying correctly without support include scoliosis 15 (lateral curvature of the spine), windswept hips, paralysis, hemiplegia, dystrophy, 16 certain types of head injury and congenital deformities, abnormal muscle tone, 17 muscle contractures or strength imbalances, skeletal deformity and skeletal 18 alignment defects.

It is known to provide customised furniture, such as beds and chairs, which are 21 shaped to conform to an appropriate shape for a person with postural problems.

22 However, there are several disadvantages of conventional customised furniture. For 23 example, this type of customised furniture needs to be specific for a particular person.

1 Accordingly, an aim of some embodiments of the present invention is to provide 2 apparatus for supporting a person which can readily be adjusted for a specific 3 individual. Another aim of some embodiments of the present invention is to provide 4 apparatus which can apply pressure to a part of a person's body.

6 Summary of the invention

8 According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for 9 supporting part of the human body which is at least partially surrounded by a support structure, the apparatus comprising first and second wedge means, each of which 11 comprises first and second surfaces located at an acute angle relative to each other 12 and being configured so that in use the first surface of each wedge means faces 13 towards a corresponding face of the other wedge means, thereby forming a pair of 14 opposing wedge means and the second surface of each wedge means faces outwards from the pair of opposed wedges, towards either the part of the human 16 body or the support structure.

18 In use, the first and second wedge means are located between the support structure 19 and the part of the human body such that the first and second wedge means together form a pair of opposed wedge means. :. 21

22 Preferably, the apparatus is used to support a person laterally. Preferably, the * S* * 23 support structure extends laterally of the part of the human body so that the pair of 24 opposed wedges can be located in use between the part of the human body and a *** S part of the support structure that extends laterally of the part of the human body, so 26 that the pair of opposed wedges can exert a lateral force on the part of the human * * 27 body. *... S. *S * . S

* 29 The overall thickness of the opposed wedge means and the transverse force exerted outwards by the opposed wedge means can be conveniently varied by sliding the first 31 and second wedges past each other. As a result of the mechanical advantage 32 provided by opposed wedges the transverse force exerted outwards by the opposed 33 wedge means is generally greater than the force required to slide the first and second 34 wedge means past each other.

1 Preferably, the normal vectors of the first and second surfaces are coplanar.

2 Preferably, the wedge means have a constant cross-section. More preferably, the 3 wedge means are prisms.

The first and second surface may meet at a point. However, preferably, the first and 6 second surfaces do not meet The first and second surfaces may be joined by a third 7 surface which connects the edges of the first and second surfaces which are closest 8 together. The first and second surfaces may be joined by a fourth surface which 9 connects the edges of the first and second surfaces which are further from each other. Thus, the first and second wedge means may have a quadrilateral cross- 11 section with the first and second surfaces located on opposite sides.

13 Preferably, a or each wedge means has a quadrilateral cross-section with the first 14 and second surfaces located on opposite sides of the wedge means. A or each wedge means may have a right quadrilateral cross-section. A or each wedge may 16 have a truncated triangular cross-section. A or each wedge means may be 17 symmetrical such that the first and second surfaces are interchangable.

19 A or each wedge means may have a right-angled trapezium cross-section. The first and second wedge means may have cross-sections such that when the first surface :. 21 of one wedge is in contact with the first surface of the other wedge, the two together 22 have a rectangular (optionally square) cross section.

: 24 The support structure may be an item of furniture. The support structure may ** S comprise a chair (preferably a chair with side arms or side walls). The support 26 structure may comprise a bed. The furniture (particularly where the furniture is a bed) 27 may further comprise adjustable supports which can be positioned on the furniture :*.**. 28 and, in use, the first and second wedges may be located between one or more said 29 adjustable supports and the part of the human body. The adjustable supports may be blocks which can be attached to a surface of the furniture (for example, using hook 31 and loop fasteners) or may be attached to sliding brackets which can be tightened or 32 locked in place.

34 The support structure may comprise a channel suitable for partially or fully enclosing a part of the body, particularly a limb. The channel may be an elongate pipe or part- 36 pipe, typically of circular, C-shaped or U-shaped cross section. The apparatus may 37 further comprise the support structure. For example, the apparatus may comprise I first and second wedge means and a channel suitable for partially or fully enclosing a 2 part of the body.

4 The second surface of one wedge means or each wedge means may comprise cushioning, for example a foam layer The second surface of one wedge means or 6 each wedge means may comprise memory foam, such as viscoelastic memory foam.

7 The second surface of one wedge means or each wedge means may have a shaped 8 profile to correspond to the shape of a part of the human body. The second surface 9 of one wedge means or each wedge means may have an anti-slip surface.

11 Preferably, wedge means are made of a foam material.

13 Preferably, the first surface of the first wedge means and the first surface of the 14 second wedge means have cooperating tongue and groove formations parallel to the direction of relative movement of the first surfaces of the first and second wedge 16 means in use, to prevent the first and second wedge means slipping sideways 18 The first and second wedge means may have identical cooperating tongue and 19 groove formations For example, the first surfaces of the first and second wedge means may have identical castellated cross-sections. The first and second wedge 21 means may be identical. * S

* ** S 23 Alternatively, the first and second wedge means may comprise different tongue and * :** 24 groove formations. For example, the first wedge means may comprise one or more *** S male members and the second wedge means may comprise one or more 26 corresponding female members. The male members may have a square, * 27 rectangular, semicircular, isosceles trapezoid or other cross-section which can 28 function as a tongue The cross-section of the female members is preferably 29 complementary to the cross-section of the male members.

31 The apparatus may further comprise a spacer which is attachable (preferably 32 demountably) to the first surface of one or either wedge means to space apart the 33 first and second wedge means. The spacer preferably has first and second surfaces 34 on opposite sides of the spacer, configured such that when the first surface of the spacer is in contact with the first surface of a wedge means, the combination of the 36 spacer and the wedge means together forms thicker wedge means. Preferably, the 37 spacer has parallel first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the spacer. The I spacer may comprise a cuboid The spacer may have a parallelogram cross-section 2 through the first and second surfaces.

4 Where the first and second wedge means comprise cooperating tongue and groove formations, the first and second surfaces of the spacer may have corresponding 6 tongue and groove formations such that the first surface of the spacer cooperates 7 with the first surface of the wedge means and the second surface of the spacer 8 comprises the same formations as the first surface of the wedge means. Where the 9 first surface of the wedge means comprises one or more female members, the first surface of the spacer may comprise corresponding male members and the second 11 surface of the spacer may comprise female members substantially the same as those 12 on the first surface of the wedge means. Where the first surface of the wedge means 13 comprises one or more male members, the first surface of the spacer may comprise 14 corresponding female members and the second surface of the spacer may comprise male members substantially the same as those on the second surface of the wedge 16 means.

18 The apparatus may comprise a plurality of spacers.

The apparatus may comprise a plurality of pairs of first and second wedge means. In :. 21 use, the further pair of first and second wedge means may be located above, below 22 or beside the first pair of first and second wedge means where appropriate. S..

: 24 The apparatus may also be usable as a variable height foot rest, limb rest or leg :. 25 raiser. The apparatus may be a variable height foot rest, limb rest or leg raiser.

27 Examples of parts of the human body which may be supported by the method of the 28 present invention include the torso, hips, upper thighs, shoulders, head, neck, or an 29 arm or leg.

31 The embodiments including cooperating tongue and groove formations are more 32 generally applicable and so, in a second aspect of the present invention, there is 33 provided apparatus comprising first and second wedge means, each of which 34 comprises first and second surfaces located at an acute angle relative to each other, wherein the first surface of the first wedge means and the first surface of the second 36 wedge means have cooperating tongue and groove formations parallel to the 37 direction of relative movement of the first surfaces of the first and second wedge 1 means in use, to prevent the first and second wedge means slipping sideways. In 2 use, the overall thickness of the opposed wedge means and the transverse force 3 exerted outwards by the opposed wedge means can be conveniently varied by sliding 4 the first and second wedges past each other.

6 Preferred features of the cooperating tongue and groove formations correspond to 7 those discussed in relation to the first aspect above 9 The apparatus may further comprise a spacer which is attachable (preferably demountably) to the first surface of one or either wedge means to space apart the 11 first and second wedge means, wherein the spacer has a first and second surfaces 12 on opposite sides thereof and the first and second surfaces of the spacer have 13 corresponding tongue and groove formations such that the first surface of the spacer 14 cooperates with the first surface of the wedge means and the second surface of the spacer comprises the same formations as the first surface of the wedge means.

17 Where the first surface of the wedge means comprises one or more female members, 18 the first surface of the spacer may comprise corresponding male members and the 19 second surface of the spacer may comprise female members substantially the same as those on the first surface of the wedge means. Where the first surface of the 21 wedge means comprises one or more male members, the first surface of the spacer 22 may comprise corresponding female members and the second surface of the spacer 23 may comprise male members substantially the same as those on the second surface * : 24 of the wedge means. The apparatus may comprise a plurality of spacers. *** S * 25 S. *

26 According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of . 27 supporting part of the human body comprising the steps of at least partially * :* 28 surrounding the part of the human body within a support structure, applying first and 29 second wedge means between the support structure and the part of the human body such that the first and second wedge means together form opposed wedge means 31 and sliding the first and second wedge means past each other to adjust the overall 32 thickness of the opposed wedge means.

34 The overall thickness of the opposed wedge means and the transverse force exerted outwards by the opposed wedge means can be conveniently varied by sliding the first 36 and second wedges past each other. As a result of the mechanical advantage 37 provided by opposed wedges the transverse force exerted outwards by the opposed 1 wedge means is generally greater than the force required to slide the first and second 2 wedge means past each other.

4 Preferably, the apparatus is used to support a person laterally. Preferably, the support structure extends laterally of the part of the human body so that the pair of 6 opposed wedges can be located in use between the part of the human body and a 7 part of the support structure that extends laterally of the part of the human body, so 8 that the pair of opposed wedges can exert a lateral force on the part of the human 9 body.

11 Preferred features of the first and second wedge means correspond to the features of 12 the first and second wedge means discussed above in relation to the first aspect.

14 Preferably, the method comprises the steps of attaching one or more spacers to the 1 5 first surface of the first or second wedge means to increase the thickness of the 16 wedge means. Preferred features of the one or more said spacers correspond to the 17 features of the spacer discussed above in relation to the first aspect.

19 The support structure may be an item of furniture. The support structure may comprise a chair (preferably a chair with side arms or side walls) The support :. 21 structure may comprise a bed. The furniture (particularly where the furniture is a bed) 22 may further comprise adjustable supports which can be positioned on the furniture 23 and, in use, the first and second wedges may be located between one or more said : 24 adjustable supports and the part of the human body. The adjustable supports may be * 25 blocks which can be attached to a surface of the furniture (for example, using hook 26 and loop fasteners) or may be attached to sliding brackets which can be tightened or *. 27 locked in place S... * * S

* 29 The support structure may comprise a channel suitable for partially or fully enclosing a part of the body, particularly a limb. The channel may be an elongate pipe, typically 31 of circular, C-shaped or U-shaped cross section. The method may comprise the step 32 of inserting a part of a human body, particularly a limb into a channel which partially 33 or fully encloses the part of the body.

The method may comprise the step of applying a further pair of first and second 36 wedge means between the support structure and the part of the human body such 37 that the first and second wedge means together form a pair of opposed wedge means 1 and sliding the first and second wedge means past each other to adjust the force 2 applied to the part of the human body by the pair of opposed wedge means. The 3 further pair of first and second wedge means may be located above, below or beside 4 the first pair of first and second wedge means where appropriate.

6 Examples of parts of the human body which may be supported by the method of the 7 present invention include the torso, hips, upper thighs, shoulders, head, neck, or an 8 armorleg.

Description of the Drawincjs

12 An example embodiment of the present invention will now be illustrated with 1 3 reference to the following Figures in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention; 17 Figure 2 is a cross-section through the apparatus of Figure 1; 19 Figure 3 is front view of apparatus according to the present invention used to provide lateral support to the lower back of a person seated in a chair;

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22 Figure 4 is a front view of apparatus according to the present invention used to 23 provide lateral support to the upper back of a person seated in a chair; : 24 S...

: * 25 Figure 5 is a plan view from above of apparatus according to the present invention 26 used to provide lateral support to the legs of a person lying in a bed; S... * S S...

28 Figure 6 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention 29 including complementary tongue and groove formations; 31 Figure 7 is a cross-section through a rectangular tongue; 33 Figure 8 is a cross-section through an isosceles trapezoid tongue; Figure 9 is a cross-section through a semicircular tongue; 37 Figure 10 is a cross-section through a series of castellated tongues; 2 Figure 11 is a perspective view of a spacer; 4 Figure 12 is a plan view of two wedge means with two spacers therebetween; 6 Figure 13 is a cross-section through wedge means having a memory foam surface 7 layer; 9 Figure 14 is a perspective view of a channel for use in an alternative embodiment of the present invention; and 12 Figure 15 is a plan view of the channel of Figure 14 used to support and apply lateral 13 forces to a person's arm.

Detailed Description of an Examrle Embodiment

17 Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention shown 18 generally as 1 and comprising a first wedge 2 (constituting wedge means) and a 19 second wedge (constituting second wedge means) 4.

21 Each wedge has a first surface 6 which faces towards the other wedge in use and a 22 second surface 8 which faces outwards in use. The first and second surfaces are at 23 an acute angle relative to each other and as the vertical edges of each wedge are 24 parallel, the normal vectors of the first and second surfaces are coplanar. The first S...

* 25 and second surfaces do not meet but are instead joined by a short third surface 10 at 26 the thin end of each wedge and a larger fourth surface 12 at the other edge.

27 Accordingly, each wedge is a quadrilateral prism.

29 Each wedge is made from a foam material such as a cross-linked polyethylene foam, for example the foam sold under the trade name Plastazote. (Plastazote is a trade 31 mark of Zotefoams plc). The wedges can be manufactured by cutting them from 32 blocks of foam made from sheets or slabs of foam which have been laminated 33 together to provide the required thickness. Grooves can then be cut in the blocks of 34 foam using a router fitted with a conventional cutter. Tongues can be formed by gluing a strip of foam which is twice the depth of a groove, into the groove, forming a 36 raised tongue when in place. The wedges could alternatively be made by moulding 37 or extrusion.

2 Figure 2 is a cross-section through the apparatus of Figure 1. When a force is 3 applied along direction A, the wedges will slide relative to each other parallel to the 4 arrows shown, causing the overall thickness of the opposed wedges 2 and 4 to increase and applying a lateral force parallel to direction B. The mechanical 6 advantage inherent in this system means that the maximum lateral force parallel to 7 direction B will, in the absence of other forces, exceed the force applied along 8 direction A. Figure 3 is front view of apparatus according to the present invention used to provide 11 lateral support to the lower back of a person 14 seated in a chair 16. The chair has 12 side arms 18 which partially surround the person's hips and lower back, thereby 13 giving a surface against which the apparatus of Figure 1 can press. In use, a first 14 wedge 2 is placed between the person and the side wall of the chair. The second wedge 4 is then placed between the side wall of the chair and the first wedge so that 16 the first surfaces 6 of the wedges are in contact with each other and the orientation of 17 the first and second wedges is reversed so that the wedges together form a pair of 18 opposed wedges (the wedges can be placed in any order).

One of the wedges can then be pushed backwards, sliding against the other wedge 21 and causing the pair of opposed wedges as a whole to become thicker and a lateral 22 force to be applied, pressing the wedge closest to the person against the person, 23 providing lateral support to their lower back and applying a supportive force. The * : 24 apparatus can be readily used on other parts of the body, such as the upper torso, **** *:. 25 hips, legs, arms, head, neck and shoulders. For example, Figure 4 is a front view of 26 apparatus according to the present invention used to provide lateral support to the 27 upper back of a person seated in a chair and Figure 5 is a plan view from above of 28 apparatus according to the present invention used to provide lateral support to the 29 legs of a person lying in a bed 20.

31 As illustrated in Figure 5, multiple pairs of opposed wedges can be used beside each 32 other (in the case of a bed) or on top of each other (in the case of a chair), allowing 33 different parts of the body to be displaced by different distances and subjected to 34 different lateral forces.

36 The invention therefore allows a person's posture to be supported when they are 37 sitting, reclining or lying in furniture which is not permanently customised for their 1 needs. The invention also allows lateral forces to be applied by adjusting the force 2 with which the wedges are put into place, giving a useful supportive effect. The 3 invention can be used to support a person laterally in a stable position. Usually, the 4 person will be supported centrally in furniture such as a chair or bed.

6 Figure 6 is a perspective view of apparatus according to the present invention 7 including complementary tongue 22 and groove 24 formations on the first surfaces 6 8 of the first and second wedges. The tongue and groove formations are parallel to the 9 direction in which the wedges slide past each other in use and prevent the wedges slipping perpendicular to that direction.

12 One skilled in the art will recognise that the many different tongue and groove 13 formations could be used. For example, Figure 7 is a cross-section through a 14 rectangular tongue; Figure 8 is a crosssection through an isosceles trapezoid tongue; Figure 9 is a cross-section through a semicircular tongue; and Figure 10 is a 16 cross-section through a series of castellated tongues. In each case the groove would 17 be complementary to the shape of the tongue.

19 In the example apparatus shown in Figure 6, the two wedges are different to each other as one has male tongue formations and the other has female groove :. 21 formations. However, with an appropriate choice of tongues and groove, for example 22 the castellated formation shown in Figure 10, the two wedges could be identical to 23 each other. 24

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a spacer 26 which can be interspersed between 26 the first and second wedges in order to allow the wedges to be used when the gap 27 between the part of the body and the support against which the opposed wedges 28 press exceeds an appropriate distance.

The first and second wedges have a first surface 28 including grooves 30 which are 31 complementary to tongues 22 on second wedge 4 and a second opposite surface 32 32 including tongues 34 which are complementary to grooves 24 on first wedge 2. In 33 use, one surface of the spacer is positioned against one wedge such that the 34 complementary formations on the spacer and wedge interlink, whereupon the other wedge is brought into contact with the other surface of the spacer and a force is 36 applied to slide the wedges relative to each other as before. Multiple spacers can be I used in combination and Figure 12 is a plan view of two wedge means with two 2 spacers therebetween.

4 The second surface of one or both wedges may include a surface layer 36 adapted for the purpose of pressing into a part of a person For example, the surface layer 6 may be made of a non-stick material, or a cushioning material or a memory foam.

7 The surface layer 36 could be curved or otherwise shaped appropriately for use with 8 a particular body part Figure 13 is a cross-section through wedge means having a 9 memory foam surface layer 11 Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 14 which is a perspective 12 view of a U-shaped channel 38 suitable for receiving a person's arm or leg. Figure 15 13 is a plan view of the channel of Figure 14 used to support and apply forces to a 14 person's arm 40. In use, the person's arm or leg is placed within the channel and two wedges are positioned in opposing orientations on either side of the limb and slid 16 relative to each other until the limb is held in an appropriate position with appropriate 17 lateral forces applied thereto. This embodiment of the invention may be useful for 18 holding a limb in place during a surgical procedure. I. i. I *S. I *

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Claims

1 Claims 3 1. Apparatus for supporting part of the human body which is

at least partially 4 surrounded by a support structure, the apparatus comprising first and second wedge means, each of which comprises first and second surfaces located at 6 an acute angle relative to each other and being configured so that in use the 7 first surface of each wedge means faces towards a corresponding face of the 8 other wedge means, thereby forming a pair of opposing wedge means and the 9 second surface of each wedge means faces outwards from the pair of opposed wedges, towards either the part of the human body or the support 11 structure.

13 2 Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second surfaces do not 14 meet.

16 3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second wedge means 17 comprise quadrilateral prisms.

19 4. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the support structure is an item of furniture.

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22 5. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the support 23 structure comprises a channel. 24

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the second surface 26 of one wedge means or each wedge means comprises cushioning.

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 28 7. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the second surface 29 of one wedge means or each wedge means has a shaped profile to correspond to the shape of a part of the human body.

32 8. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the second surface 33 of one wedge means or each wedge means has an anti-slip surface.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the wedge means 36 are made of a foam material 1 10. Apparatus as claimed in any one preceding claim, wherein the first surface of 2 the first wedge means and the first surface of the second wedge means have 3 cooperating tongue and groove formations parallel to the direction of relative 4 movement of the first surfaces of the first and second wedge means in use, to prevent the first and second wedge means slipping sideways 7 11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first surfaces of the first and 8 second wedge means comprise different tongue and groove formations.

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims ito 9, further comprising a spacer 11 which is attachable to the first surface of one or either wedge means to space 12 apart the first and second wedge means 14 13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10 or claim ii, further comprising a spacer having first and second surfaces on opposite sides of the spacer, configured 16 such that when the first surface of the spacer is in contact with the first surface 17 of a wedge means, the combination of the spacer and the wedge means 18 together forms thicker wedge means.

14. Apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second surfaces of the :. 21 spacer tongue and groove formations which correspond with the tongue and *::: 22 groove formations of the first surfaces of the wedge means, such that the first SISs - 2 surface of the spacer cooperates with the first surface of the wedge means * : 24 and the second surface of the spacer comprises the same formations as the S.I * 25 first surface of thewedge means. S..

27 15. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 12 to 14, comprising a plurality of 28 spacers.

16. A method of supporting part of the human body comprising the steps of at 31 least partially surrounding the part of the human body within a support 32 structure, applying first and second wedge means between the support 33 structure and the part of the human body such that the first and second wedge 34 means together form opposed wedge means and sliding the first and second wedge means past each other to adjust the overall thickness of the opposed 36 wedge means.

1 17. A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first and second wedge means 2 comprise first and second surfaces located at an acute angle relative to each 3 other and are configured so that in use the first surface of each wedge means 4 faces towards a corresponding face of the other wedge means, thereby forming a pair of opposing wedge means and the second surface of each 6 wedge means faces outwards from the pair of opposed wedges, towards 7 either the part of the human body or the support structure, and wherein the 8 method further comprises the step of adding one or more spacers to the first 9 surface of the first or second wedge means to increase the thickness of the wedge means.

12 18. A method as claimed in claim 16 or claim 17, wherein the support structure is 13 an item of furniture.

19. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein the support 16 structure is a channel and the part of the body is a limb.

18 20. A method as claimed in any one of claims 16 to 19, further comprising the 19 step of applying a further pair of first and second wedge means between the support structure and the part of the human body such that the first and : 21 second wedge means together form a pair of opposed wedge means and * .11 22 sliding the first and second wedge means past each other to adjust the force 23 applied to the part of the human body by the pair of opposed wedge means. :" 24

*:. 25 21. Apparatus substantially as herein disclosed and illustrated with reference to 26 the figures. * a *6SI I. * * a * a