WO2008125802A1

WO2008125802A1 - Body supports

Info

Publication number: WO2008125802A1
Application number: PCT/GB2008/001095
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Martinez
Original assignee: Peter Martinez
Priority date: 2007-04-16
Filing date: 2008-03-31
Publication date: 2008-10-23
Also published as: GB0707330D0; GB2463995A; GB0917859D0; GB2463995B

Abstract

A body support apron includes a sheet (2) of flexible material incorporating spring elements (12, 13) which permit upper and lower portions of the sheet to flex towards an angular position whilst acting to return the said portions towards a generally straight configuration. The spring elements have straight end sections (15, 16) which are interconnected by a resilient coil spring (14), with hooked ends (20 and 21). Each spring element (12, 13) is covered by a layer of padding (17) and is received in a sleeve (7, 8). A waist band (6) is secured to the middle of the sheet, with two sections 6.1 and 6.2 extending from the opposite margins of the sheet adjacent to the spring (14).

Description

BODY SUPPORTS

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to body supports of the kind which are worn on the human body. The invention is particularly concerned with providing support for the spinal column during bending.

BACKGROUND

Many people suffer from back problems of various kinds. Sometimes the problem lies in the spinal column itself, either in the vertebrae that make up the spinal column or the joints between them, but in many cases the problem may be muscular, affecting one or more of the numerous muscles which control movements of the torso. Whatever the underlying cause, people who suffer from such afflictions often find that the discomfort is aggravated by bending.

Known body supports may take the form of a corset which is strapped around the torso, effectively immobilising the spine. Whilst this may be very effective in preventing movements which give rise to pain, they are often uncomfortable to wear and can stop the wearer from carrying out many routine or work-related activities which involve bending of the spinal column. The present invention seeks to provide a new and inventive form of body support which provides effective spinal support whilst being comfortable to wear and at the same time providing the user with greater freedom of movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention proposes a body support which includes a sheet of flexible material incorporating spring elements which permit upper and lower portions of the sheet to flex towards an angular position whilst acting to return the said portions towards a generally straight configuration.

The sheet preferably has opposite side margins and the spring elements extend along said side margins.

The spring elements preferably have end sections which are interconnected by resilient means. The end sections are preferably substantially straight and relatively rigid, and they may be held in a substantially aligned configuration by the resilient means or, preferably, angularly inclined towards a front face of the sheet. The resilient means may comprise coil springs or the like.

In a preferred form of the body support the sheet of flexible material may be worn as an apron. A neck loop may be secured to an upper edge of the sheet. A waist band may be secured to the middle of the sheet, with two sections secured to the opposite margins of the sheet adjacent to the resilient means. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description and the accompanying drawings referred to therein are included by way of non-limiting example in order to illustrate how the invention may be put into practice. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a general front view of a body support in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a general view of the spring elements which are included in the body support, shown in their in-use positions; and

Figure 3 is a general view of a person wearing the body support during forward bending.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring firstly to Fig. 1, the body support is in the form of an apron 1 which includes a generally rectangular sheet 2 of strong but flexible material such as PVC-covered woven polyester fabric. An upper edge of the sheet is provided with a neck loop 3 formed from a strip of strong but flexible material such as a woven polyester cotton mix. Opposite ends of the strip are secured to the sheet 2 at spaced positions, 4 and 5, e.g. by stitching. A waist band 6 is formed from a strip of similar material which is secured across the centre region of the sheet 2, again using stitching or other suitable means of attachment, to divide the sheet into upper and lower portions. Opposite end portions 6.1 and 6.2 of the waist band are left free such that they may be tied together, connected by means of a clasp, or releasably secured together by other suitable means.

The sheet 2 is flanked by sleeves 7 and 8 which extend along opposite side margins of the sheet, each formed, for example, by folding a strip of the sheet back on itself secured by a line of stitching 9. The opposite top and bottom ends 10 and 11 of each sleeve 7, 8, are also closed, again using stitching or other suitable means. The sleeves 7 and 8 contain elongate spring elements, 12 and 13, which are shown in more detail in Fig. 2. The spring elements each comprise a length of spring metal which, at the approximate longitudinal centre, is formed into a coil spring

14 having one or more turns. Substantially straight top and bottom sections 15 and 16 extend on opposite sides of the coil spring 14, which preferably terminate in respective hooked ends, 20 and 21 , extending in the same direction as the coil spring 14 such that the coil spring 14 and the hooked ends 20 and 21 lie substantially on a common plane. At rest, the end sections 15 and 16 may be substantially axially aligned. However, it may be advantageous if the sections 15 and 16 are angularly inclined in the direction of the coil spring, preferably by no more than 10 to

15 degrees. The spring elements 12 and 13 may each be enclosed within a layer of padding 17, e.g. of sponge rubber or fibrous material, and the padded spring elements are, in turn, held within the respective sleeves 7 and 8. When the apron is in a flat configuration as in Fig. 1, the coil springs 14 and the hooked ends 20 and 21 lie in the plane of the apron projecting towards the centre line of the sheet 2. The coil springs 14 are positioned approximately at the level of the waist band 6.

The wearer places his or her head through the neck loop 3 and ties the waist band 6 around their waist so that the top sections 15 of the spring elements lie on opposite sides of the chest while the bottom sections 16 extend down the outside of the hips and thighs. The coil springs 14 and the hooked ends 20 and 21 project towards the front of the wearer, as in Fig. 2. When the wearer is standing in an upright position the spring elements 12 and 13 attain their normal at-rest positions, so that the apron does not significantly affect the normal movements of the wearer. A slight forward inclination of the sections 15 and 16, as described above, allows unimpeded free movement of the wearer when in a substantially upright position. However, as the wearer leans forwards towards the position shown in Fig. 3 the upper and lower sections 15 and 16 move to an angular position (indicated in outline in Fig. 2) causing an increasing torque in the coil springs 14. The springs produce a reactive torque tending to move the top sections 15 back towards alignment with the bottom sections 16, thus applying an upward force on opposite sides of the upper part of the sheet 2 which helps to support the upper portion of the torso. It should be noted that the spring elements do not bear directly against the body, exerting their force via the sheet 2 and, to a lesser extent, via the padding layer 17. The effect is similar to the chest of the wearer being supported in a small hammock which moves with the wearer. The apron significantly reduces stresses in the wearer's back during bending, and in fact, the more the wearer bends the greater the torsion in the coil springs 14 and the greater the amount of support which is provided.

The hooked ends 20 and 21 reduce the risk that the ends of the spring elements 12 and 13 will puncture the padding layer 17 and penetrate through the sleeves 7 and 8, and, together with the coil spring 14, also help to stop the spring elements from turning within the sleeves.

Although one form of spring elements has been described by way of example they could take different forms. The elements will generally have upper and lower sections which are preferably substantially straight and relatively rigid, but they could be connected by other kinds of springs, or equivalent resilient means, e.g. beam springs, leaf springs etc.

Whilst the above description places emphasis on the areas which are believed to be new and addresses specific problems which have been identified, it is intended that the features disclosed herein may be used in any combination which is capable of providing a new and useful advance in the art.

Claims

1. A body support which includes a sheet (2) of flexible material incorporating spring elements (12, 13) which permit upper and lower portions of the sheet to flex towards an angular position whilst acting to return the said portions towards a generally straight configuration.

2. A body support according to Claim 1 in which the sheet (2) has opposite side margins (7, 8) and the spring elements (12, 13) extend along said side margins.

3. A body support according to Claim 2 in which the spring elements (12, 13) have end sections (15, 16) which are interconnected by resilient means (14).

4. A body support according to Claim 3 in which the end sections (15, 16) are substantially straight and relatively rigid.

5. A body support according to Claim 4 in which the end sections (15, 16) are held in an angularly inclined configuration by the resilient means (14).

6. A body support according to Claim 5 in which the end sections (15, 16) are held at a mutual angle of 10 to 15 degrees.

7. A body support according to Claim 4 in which the end sections (15, 16) are each provided with a hooked end (20, 21).

8. A body support according to Claim 7 in which the hooked ends (20, 21) substantially lie on a common plane with the resilient means (14).

9. A body support according to Claim 3 in which the resilient means comprises a coil spring (14).

10. A body support according to Claim 1 in which the sheet (2) of flexible material has a neck loop (3) secured to an upper edge of the sheet.

11. A body support according to Claim 1 in which the sheet (2) of flexible material has a waist band (6) secured to the middle of the sheet, with two sections (6.1 , 6.2) of the waist band extending from opposite side margins (7, 8) of the sheet.