US20130026335A1

US20130026335A1 - Device suitable to rest the back when one is standing in the upright position

Info

Publication number: US20130026335A1
Application number: US13/506,740
Authority: US
Inventors: Emanuele Lopopolo
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-11-16
Filing date: 2012-05-07
Publication date: 2013-01-31
Also published as: EP2512285A1; ITMI20092194A1; WO2011074023A1; IT1399474B1

Abstract

This device allows one to rest the back when standing for a long time in an upright position.

In one of its versions, the device consists of a lumbar/scapular support, fastened to the waist of the user by means of a belt, and of an extendable/reclining pipe linking it to the ground.

At the end of the pipe there is a rubber element allowing stability to the device.

The device is extendable so that a person can carry it without encumbrance, using the extended version when need arises.

The device's portability allows the user not be bound to a single place.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention refers to a portable device suitable to rest the back when one is standing in the upright position; in particolar it refers to a lumbar/scapular support, linked to the ground by means of an extensible/reclining pipe, able to support a person's weight and to adapt to a person's height.

BACKGROUND ART

A problem to be solved is that of the standing erect position, one of the most painful for the spinal column/back.
It is well known the use of small portable foldup chairs to allow people to rest while walking.
Foldup chairs do not allow the spine to rest in a standing position.
In the sitting position the pressure between the spine discs increases of about 40% compared to the standing position.
This invention allows avoiding the above-mentioned problems fulfilling, at the same time, the need to stay in the erect position.
Another aim of this invention is to provide a better “psychological support”, compared to that provided by foldup chairs, as the user does not have to put himself in an unfavourable position (the sitting one) in respect to other people present in the same surrounding (for example, in the street).
Yet another aim is that of frequently resting the back, for example when people are committed to an activity that requires the body to be bent forward and then back to the upward/standing position (i.e.: mechanics, cooks, surgeons, etc.; in this case on can eventually keep the inclination of the pipe steady through a lock).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

This invention is being communicated and characterized in the claims.
In FIG. 2 is being shown a device linked to the first form of representation of this invention. It comprises a lumbar/scapular support (1), fixed to the waist of the user with a belt (2) at the height of the lumbar region and by a extensible/reclining pipe able to link the support to the ground.
At the end of the pipe (that is at the opposite tip of the lumbar/scapular support) there is a support in rubber (4) or in other anti-slip material, allowing the device to be steady on the ground.
In this first shape, the device is in a “shortened” version, so as to allow the user to carry the device with him with the minimum encumbrance.
In this version, the device is in a “passive” phase, as it is not being used.
A device linked to a second form of representation of this invention is shown in FIG. 3.
This form, added to the form of representation shown in FIG. 2, shows the device in the “active”/extended position: the extensible/reclining pipe (3) links the lumbar/scapular support (1) to the ground, the support (4) allows the device to be steady on the ground.
The presence of the lumbar/scapular support (1) allows a standing person (slightly bent) to lean the back to the ground by means of the pipe (3) and thus to rest it and relieve it.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Characteristics and advantages of this invention will be evident from the following detailed description of a practical realization of a shape, illustrated—as an example—by the enclosed but not restrictive drawings whereby:

FIG. 1 represents a state of the art foldup portable chair;

FIG. 2 represents a portable device suitable to rest the spine when one is standing in the upright position; in particular it refers to a lumbar/scapular support, according to a first shape of representation of this invention. In this drawing the device is in a “shortened” version, so as to be carried; the user is walking and carrying the device around.

FIG. 3 represents the lumbar/scapular support linked to the ground by means of an extensible/reclining pipe, according to a second shape of representation of this invention. In this drawing the device is in an active/extended position: the user is leaning on it.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The lumbar/scapular support is linked to the ground by means of an extensible/reclining pipe fixed to the user's waist by means of a belt at the height of the lumbar region.
When the device is being carried it is in the shortened version so as to allow the user to carry it with him with minimum encumbrance; this way the pipe can be eventually oriented horizontally so as to limit to the maximum the visibility.
A the end of the pipe (that is at the opposite extremity of the lumbar/scapular support) there is a rubber support (or other anti-slip materials) allowing the device to be steady on the ground; this support can have different shapes: cup, suction cup, tripod, etc.
In case the quality or the shape of the support/cup at the base of the pipe is not perfectly adaptable to the type of ground, the device can be rested at the crossing between the ground and the base of a wall.
The device can also keep the pipe's inclination by means of a lock.
The ideal shape of execution is for a portable device, but one can also structure the device in a fixed position to help carrying out particolar jobs (i.e. fixing the device to the ground with an adjustable extension/retraction of the device).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The device can be produced in a way suitable to a production process to be repeated an infinite number of times with constant results.
The same can be produced and used in any kind of industry, being functional to an extremely wide range of circumstances, such as, for example:
tourists visiting (towns, museums, exhibitions, events, outings in the countryside), street vendors, policemen, people who want to read or watch television in a standing position, bartenders, sales persons, onlookers, people who cannot find free benches, farmers, mechanics, body repairers, surgeons, musicians, photographers, restorers, dentists, etc.

Claims

1. Device for resting the back when a person stands in the erect position, comprising a support for the back (1) and a retractable/extendible tube (3), where said retractable/extendible tube (3) has a tip connected to the support for the back(1),

characterized by the fact that

said support for the back comprises a belt (2) connected to the support, so as to fix the support to the user

and that said device comprises an anti-slip terminal support of rubber (4) to stabilize the device on the ground, placed at the extremity of the retractable/extendible tube (3) opposite to the support for the back (1) and placed at a direct contact to the ground in an active or in an extended position of the retractable/extendible tube (3).

2. Device according to claim 1, in which said device is portable.

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, where said anti-slip terminal support of rubber (4) is a cap having transversal dimensions restrained in respect to a prevailing developing direction of the retractable/extendible tube (3).

4. Device, according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said support for the back is a stuffed lumbar support.

5. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, suitable for being in a short position or a passive position or a transport position in which the retractable/extensible tube (3) has the smallest overall dimensions.

6. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, suitable for being in an active position or an extended position in which the retractable/extensible tube (3) is extended in order to connect the support (1) to the ground.

7. Device according to claim 6, in which the retractable/extensible tube (3) can be sloped and optionally comprises a stop in order to maintain the slope of the retractable/extensible tube (3).

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, in which the retractable/extensible tube (3) is suitable for forming a triangle/pyramid with the legs of the user in order to relieve the weight on the ground.

9. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, suitable for being maintained stable in an extended position.

10. Device according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said retractable/extensible tube (3) is suitable for being adapted at a variable distance from the ground to adapt to the user's height.