US2005972A

US2005972A - Back support

Info

Publication number: US2005972A
Application number: US695585A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gallop Sidney Herbert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1932-11-22
Filing date: 1933-10-28
Publication date: 1935-06-25
Anticipated expiration: 1952-06-25
Also published as: GB398679A; DE622527C

Description

S. H. GALLOP June 25, 1935.

BACK SUPPORT Filed Oct.28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 25, 1935. s. H. GALLOP 2,005,972

BACK SUPPORT Filed Oct. 28, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 5/0A/E/ 6469;142/

z/Maw ATTORNEYS Patented June 25, 1935 PATENT OFFICE BACK SUPPORT Sidney Herbert Gallop, Cumbcrless, Ember Lane,

Esher, England Application October 28, 1933, Serial No. 695,585 In Great Britain November 22, 1932 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a back support or device to aid sitting in bed, on the floor, or on the ground or on any other similar supporting surface and which is especially applicable for use at picnics, on the beach, and in bed.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into practice, I have appended hereto two sheets of drawings illustrating the same, wherein:--

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of device constructed in accordance with this invention,

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same device in use, j

Figure 3 is a. perspective view of a modified form of device according to this invention,

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the same,

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a further modified form of device according to this invention,

Figure 6 shows a waterproof strip applied to a device according to this invention,

Figure 7 shows a further slightly modified device according to this invention.

Figure 8 shows the same device in'cross section and folded.

The device shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 of the drawings comprises a substantially L shaped or bent lever member of open or frame-like form and having two limbs at an angle to one another rather greater than ninety degrees.

device is made from a single length of steel tube bent at right angles at four places i, i, 3 and 4 and having its ends permanently joined together. In this way a frame is formed which has two parallel spaced ends or cross bars marked respectively 5 and 6 and two parallel spaced side members marked respectively I and E. The side members are each bent at 9 to a substantially L shaped form, the angle included between the arms of each side member (and consequently between the limbs) being an obtuse one. The bends 9 are not sharp and may be of, say, five or six inches or more in radius, and these curves are in planes transverse to the planes containing the bends l, 2, 3 and 4.

The normal position for the device is somewhat as indicated in Figure 2 of the drawings with the curved parts 9 of the side members of the device tresting on the supporting surface (bed, floor, ground or the like) on which the device is being used, the said curved parts forming a fulcrum or rockers for the device.

Opposite ends of the

side members

7 and 8 may be cranked at l0 and H as shown so asto bring the cross members 5 and 6 respectively behind and below the planes containing the upstanding and substantially horizontal limbs of the device.

At a suitable distance from the cross bar 5 the device is provided with a back engaging strip {2 whilst at a distance from the cross bar :3 the device is similarly provided with a thigh or leg engaging strip 23. The strips l2 and is may be, and preferably are, formed of sheet metal, but the strips may be made of fabric, cane or other suitable material. The strips may be secured to the side members i and 8 in any suitable manner, for example if the strips are of metal then they may be spot welded to the frame. Alternatively the strips may be adjustably mounted on the frame.

By cranking the side members at In and I l, as previously explained, the cross members 5 and 6 lie behind and below the strips i2 and i3 respectively and so the latter engage directly the back and undersides of the thighs or, legs of a user of the device. The cross bars 5 and B whilst strengthening the device need not contact with the user of the latter.

The device illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings comprises two separately formed side members M and I5 similar to the side members i and 8 and formed from metal tubes, the ends of these tubes being closed by caps 16. The side members H5 and iii are secured together in spaced relationship by two cross strips, 2. back supporting strip I? and a thigh engaging strip I8, each of which is formed from a strip of sheet metal having a beaded or wired edge for reinforcement purposes and slightly curved longitudinally, the ends of the strips or the corners only of the latter being welded to the side members l4 and i5. In this construction the strips I! and I8 form the sole connections between the side members l4 and I5.

The device illustrated in Figure 5 is similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 except that the strips I2 and it of'the latter construction are replaced by fabric or upholstered strips l9 having a vertical metal bar it sewn into each end, such strips being disposed between the side members l and 8 and connected thereto by tensioning screws 2i passing through the side members and screwing into the bars 28. Preferably the heads of the screws. M are countersunk into the side members I and 8. The stretching screws at one end of the strips may be omitted and replaced by hooks or other suitable anchorage means,

Conveniently the arms of the side members are equal in'length so that the device is symmetrical about a given point whereby the device is reversible end for end and can be used either way round, 1. e. with either end projecting upwardly.

A person using a device such as is shown in Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings sits through it and on the supporting surface upon which the device rests somewhat as shown in Figure 2, and the weight of the said person is not in this case taken by the device but by the said supporting surface. The user of the device leans with his back against the strip I2, I! or ill, and the backward force so set up is transmitted through the side members I and 8 or I l and i5, which act as rigid transmission members, to the strip l3, it or one similar to the strip l9, and the force is counteracted by the downward force exerted by the users thighsor legs on the strip with which they engage, so that the device remains in a state of equilibrium and its user can sit comfortably, being adequately supported by the device.

At the same time the weight thrown on the buttocks resting on the ground or other supporting surface is very appreciably reduced by reason of the balanced support afforded by the said cross members. Also the strain normally taken by the abdominal muscles when a person is in a sitting position is considerably reduced when using a device according to this invention.

By simply sliding the device forwardly or rearwardly a user thereof can adjust the fulcrum of the device relative to his body and so modify the tilt of the device and his position to a more reclining or to a more erect one as desired.

In Figure 6 is illustrated an example of a protection sheet comprising a strip 22 of waterproof flexible material having an inverted pocket 23 at one end into which one end of the back supporting device may be inserted so that the strip 22 depends between the side members of the device whereby a person using the latter can sit on the waterproof strip and be protected from damp ground or whereby a users clothes can be protected from soiling. Press stud or other suitable fastening means may be provided for securing the waterproof strip to the device and the strip may be adapted to roll up and means may be provided to secure it in the rolled up position.

Even though a person sat on said protection strip shown in Figure 6 he would still be sitting on the supporting surface on which the back supporting device is resting and not on the device itself.

When not in use to aid sitting, the device may be inverted and employed as a cage to maintain bed clothes raised away from an injured limb, for example an injured leg or foot.

Figures 7 and 8 show a further slightly modified device comprising side members each formed in two

parts

28, 29 hinged together at 3!) so as to be foldable, these side members being connected together by metal rods or tubes 3i and 32 on which are pivotally mounted resilient back and thigh or leg rests 33 and 34 respectively which automatically assume the most suitable position when the device is in use. This device is intended for a person to sit through it. A wooden or other suitable shield 35 slidden between the

parts

29, 29 in grooves in the inner side thereof and which shield is provided with a hand hole to enable the device readily to be carried when folded as shown in Figure 8. The shield is primarily intended to be withdrawn and laid on the ground and to be sat on through the device when the latter is in use. If not laid on the ground as a protective device the shield can be used for a tray or portable table. The device is provided with a fulcrum or rocker part 36 between the ends of its side members somewhat as in the devices described with reference to Figures 1 to 6 whereby the benefits of these constructions are obtained. Foldable chains or stays 31 are preferably provided in this construction to take some of the strain off the hinges Bil.

It is, of course, not absolutely essential to make the side members of L shape but this is a simple form which is preferably adopted.

It will be realized that a device according to this invention is very simple, relatively inexpensive, and has a great many applications. For instance it can be used on the beach, on the river bank for instance whilst angling, on the floor of a sitting or other room, on the bed, and so forth. Furthermore the device is compact and can, especially when foldable, be stored in small space and can be taken about in motor cars without inconvenience and can be carried by hand from place to place without inconvenience. Also the device gives a low sitting position and enables a user to occupy the position giving him a maximum comfort and support by virtue of the state of equilibrium that can be obtained by the user suitably disposing the fulcrum of the device relative to his body.

What I claim is:-

1. A device for aiding sitting in bed, on the ground or floor, or on a like supporting surface, and adapted to be sat through, comprising an L shaped open frame, the upstanding part of which is foldable on to the forwardly extending part thereof, such forwardly and upwardly extending parts of the said frame each having at its outer end a strip like cross member pivotally mounted in the frame, and the frame being completely open when in use between the said cross members, and the side members of the frame having between their ends curved parts adapted to act as fulcrums for the frame and to rest on the said supporting surface. I

2. A device for aiding sitting in bed, on the ground or floor, or on a like supporting surface, and adapted to be sat through, comprising an L shaped open frame, the upstanding part of which is foldable on to the forwardly extending part thereof, such forwardly and upwardly extending parts of the said frame each having at its outer end a strip like cross member pivotally mounted in the frame, and the forwardly extending portions of the said members of the frame having grooves in which is slidably and removably mounted a protection screen adapted to be removed from the frame and laid upon the said supporting surface when the device is in use.

3. A legless device to aid in sitting in bed, on the floor or ground or like supporting surface, such device comprising a frame consisting of two spaced side members of approximately L-shape, the upwardly extending pair and the forwardly extending pair of legs of said L members being respectively connected together and being provided with transverse cross members forming respectively a thigh or leg engaging member and a back rest member, the back rest and thigh engaging members being spaced substantially away from the point of connection of said legs of said L members and said side memers at the point of connection between the upwardly and forwardly extending legs, each being provided with a curved rocker portion of substantial radius as compared to the length of the legs of the L members, whereby the device may be rolled over the supporting surface with an increase of the lever arm of the first-mentioned cross member and a decrease in lever arm of the second-mentioned cross member when the back rest member is moved rearwardly and the reverse when the back rest member is moved forwardly, and said frame being completely open between said cross bars and said side members so that a person can sit through the bottom and back portions of the device directly onto the supporting surface on which the device rests.

4. The construction of claim 3 in which the pair of upwardly extending legs and the pair of forwardly extending legs of the L shaped members are connected to each other by a butt hinged connection provided adjacent the curved rocker portions, said pairs of upwardly and forwardly extending legs respectively, being only unfold able to a limited degree.