WO1996007344A1

WO1996007344A1 - Adjustable back support

Info

Publication number: WO1996007344A1
Application number: PCT/CA1995/000120
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Quennell
Original assignee: David Quennell
Priority date: 1994-09-09
Filing date: 1995-03-01
Publication date: 1996-03-14
Also published as: CA2131736A1; AU1751895A

Abstract

A back support comprising a substantially rigid shell having a back portion and side portion. On the front face of the shell are mounted flexible support panels which include a central panel running down the middle of the back portion and adjustable to conform to the spinal region. Side support panels extend outwardly and forwardly to provide support for the upper, middle, and lower sides. The flexible support panels are manually adjustable by threaded means mounted on the shell.

Description

ADJUSTABLE BACK SUPPORT

This invention relates to an improved design for a

backrest. More particularly, it relates to a design for a

backrest which may be employed in conjunction with a

wheelchair or the like and is suited for people who require

postural support.

As society pays more attention to the mobility of

people who are physically disabled, there is an increasing

supply of vehicles, such as wheelchairs and motorized chairs,

etc.

However, many of these are of the traditional style

which provide only a fabric panel for the seat and backrest,

or more modern versions which provide a well upholstered and

padded seat designed for comfort and posture.

Although these meet the needs of those people who

have difficulty walking, most of these conventional devices do

not provide adequate back support for those people who could

sit upright in a chair or wheelchair but require specialized support because of muscular-skeletal problems such as

curvature of the spine or degenerative conditions.

Numerous devices have been developed in response to

the well known problem commonly known as "low back pain

syndrome" but most of these are directed to providing support

for the natural curvature of the lumbar portion of the spine.

These devices are found in office chairs, automobile seats,

and portable backrests.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a

back support for people with more serious disability, capable

of being adjusted in various ways to provide a variety of

configurations adaptable to the needs of the individual user.

It is also the purpose of this invention to provide

a back support which is capable of being used in conjunction

with a vehicle such as a wheelchair.

These objects and other advantages may be achieved

by means of a back support of the present invention which

comprises a substantially rigid shell having a back portion and forwardly angled side portions. The front face of the

shell has flexible panels including a central panel extending

along the spinal region with a means to adjust curvature which

corresponds to the lumbar region of the spine. Flexible side

support panels are fastened to the back portion of the shell

near the central panel and extend outwardly and forwardly in

a curvature which is adjustable by means which extend from the

rear of the side portions of the shell. Preferably the side

panels are divided into upper, middle, and lower regions which

are individually adjustable relative to each other and the

shell by knobs located on the rear of the shell.

The invention may be better understood by a

description of one embodiment thereof with reference to the

accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a backrest in

accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevation view of the front of the

backrest in Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation view of the back of the

backrest in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the backrest in

Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the backrest in Figure

Figure 6 is an elevation view of means for attachi

the backrest to a wheelchair or the like;

Figure 7 is a plan view of the attachment means

Figure 6.

In the illustrated embodiment the inventi

comprises a substantially rigid shell 2 having a flat uprig

rectangular back portion 4 and diagonally extending si

portions 6 and 8 respectively on either side of the ba

portion.

Although the invention is not limited to specif

dimensions, the device is in the order of 18 inch

horizontally and vertically depending on the size of t

person and degree of support that is intended to be provide Mounted on the front, and extending down the middle

of the back portion of the shell, is a flexible central panel

10 which is fastened to the shell at the top and bottom by

fasteners 12 and 14 respectively.

As shown in Figure 1, this central panel has an

adjustable outward curvature near the lower end at 16 which

corresponds to the lumbar region of the spine. As seen in

Figures 4, 5 and 6, an adjusting knob 18 on the back

cooperates with a threaded bolt 20 extending through the shell

to increase or decrease the amount of outward curvature at 16

according to the desired adjustment. By turning the knob 18

the bolt 20 will be caused to press against the unexposed side

of the central panel 10 to a greater or lesser degree. Thus,

the curvature along the vertical plane perpendicular to the

back is adjustable to suit the user.

As best seen in Figure 2, a pair of flexible side

support panels 22 and 24 are mounted on either side of the

central panel 10 by means of a strip 26 and fasteners 28. Extending outwardly from the fastening strips 26,

the flexible panels 22 are curved forward with a curvatur

which is flexible and adjustable by means which will b

described hereafter.

To provide additional adjustability, the side panel

are partially divided into upper portions 22a and 24a, middl

portions 22b and 24b, and lower portion 22c and 24c. Thes

conform to (a) the upper back or shoulder, (b) the middle bod

or sides, and (c) the lower back or pelvic regio

respectively.

The flexible portions 22a, 22b, 22c, 24a, 24b, 24c

are all individually adjustable by means of the knobs 30.

Each of these is threadably connected to a bolt 32 which

extends through the shell and is fastened to the flexible

portion by a fastener 34 so that when the knob 32 is turned

the bolt is moved perpendicular to the side panel 6, or 4,

depending on which rotation is applied.

In the illustrated embodiment a spring 36 is imposed between the flexible portion and the side panel of the shell

tending to bias the flexible portion forwardly and inwardly to

a greater degree of curvature. The flexible portion may also

be fabricated with a degree of curvature which tends to bias

the panels in that direction as well.

Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment if the

knobs 30 are "released" the panels will tend to curve forward

and inwardly by their own preferred configuration, and by the

urging of the springs 36. If the knobs are "tightened" they

will tend to draw the flexible panels back closer to the shape

of the shell and open the curvature to a flatter

configuration.

It will be noted that each of the flexible portions

has a pair of adjustable knobs so that the upper, middle and

lower portions on each side may each be individually and

differently adjusted according to the posture or requirement

of the user.

It will of course be understood, although not

7

^• <STITUTE SHEET (RULE 26) illustrated, that this support may be made more comfortabl

for the user by lining it with some form of cushioning such a

sponge, rubber, or synthetic foam. It is a matter of design

choice, or user preference whether the cushioning is a singl

sheet or layer which may be shaped by the backrest because o

its inherent flexibility, or whether separate pieces ar

mounted on different areas of the backrest.

It is also conceivable that the cushioning materia

may be permanently affixed to the back support by adhesive o

formed in place. Alternatively, the cushioning may b

releasably attached to the back support by means of fastener

or Velcro (trade mark) strips.

Since it is intended that one purpose of the presen

invention is for use in conjunction with wheelchairs and th

like, the shell is provided on the side panels 4 and 6 with

series of holes 38 to which may be attached a set of hooks

one of which is illustrated at 40 in the illustrate

embodiment designed to fit against the upright handles o backrest support found on most wheelchairs.

Figure 6 illustrates in greater detail this

attaching means wherein the side panel 6 has a hook 40 mounted

thereon by a fastener 42 through one of the holes 38. The

hook engages the shaft 44 of a conventional wheelchair and is

held in place by a clip 46 which has an upright portion 48 to

prevent the hook from moving forward and may be held in place

by a set screw 50.

Thus, by means of the present invention, a back

support having a substantially rigid shell may be used in

conjunction with a wheelchair to provide support for people

who need it. In addition, the back support may be

individually adjusted on each side for the upper, middle and

lower part of the back and sides of the user by means of the

individual adjusting means provided. As shown at 29 in Figure

4, it is considered advisable to provide apertures which may

be elongated, horizontal slots for the adjusting means to pass

through the shell and allow for some lateral movement of the adjusting means as the shape of the flexible panels changes.

By means of the present invention, the side support,

or the contour of the central spinal area, may be individually

adjusted. This permits the backrest to be changed for

different users, or to be readjusted at different times

depending on the needs of the user.

It will, of course, be understood that numerous

modifications and variations of the illustrated embodiment may

be employed without departing from the inventive concept

herein.

Claims

CLAIMS:The embodiments of the invention in which anexclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined asfollows:

1. A back support comprising:

a substantially rigid shell having a front and rear

surface, and having a back portion and forwardly angled side

portions on either side of said back portion;

- adjustably curved, flexible, support panels mounted on

the front surface of said rigid shell;

- means to adjust the curvature of said flexible support

panels.

2. A back support as claimed in claim 1 including a

central back support panel mounted vertically along the centre

of said back portion and means mounted on said shell to

manually adjust the curvature of the lower portion of said

central back support panel.

3. A back support as claimed in claim 1 in which said

flexible support panels include at least one side support

panel, one side of which is mounted to the back portion of

said shell near the central back support panel;

- the remainder of said flexible side support extending

outwardly and forwardly with an adjustable curvature;

- means mounted on said shell to manually adjust the

curvature of said side support panel.

4. A backrest as claimed in claim 3 in which said side

support panel is divided into upper, middle, and lower

regions, each of which is separately adjustable.

12

SUBSHfUTE SHEET (RULE 26)