Abstract:
A spinal rest adapted to provide either lumbar or thoracic support or a combination of the two. The spinal rest and support allows for the insertion of thermal packs such that hot or cold may be applied to the user. The thermal packs reside in an indentation within the front surface of the back support. The back rest provides support for proper curvature of the spine in the thoracic and lumbar region, while also able to support a thermal pack.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     This invention relates to a therapeutic spinal rest device.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     Proper support for the back is important to persons with back problems. A back support may be part of a therapeutic program for one with back problems, or in general for persons seeking to avoid future back problems. In addition to proper back support, a preventative or therapeutic program may involve the application of heat or cold to the back.  
         [0005]     Some back supports are fashioned conform completely to a person&#39;s shape in the region to be supported while pinned between that person and the backrest of a seat. An example of such a device is U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,013 to Swezey et. al. With this device, the support is placed in the space between the person&#39;s back and the backrest of a seat, and then inflated to conform the space. A disadvantage of this approach is that sometimes support is desired to be provided in a different fashion. In some instances, it is preferred that the support be more rigid such that the person&#39;s supported area conform to the back support and not vice versa, or at least some combination of both cases.  
         [0006]     U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,013 also discloses the placement of a thermal packet in front of the back support between the back support and the user&#39;s back. A disadvantage of this method is that the different rigidity and/or compressibility of the thermal packet may affect the way in which the user&#39;s back is supported, transferring pressure primarily to the area of the packet and away from other areas of the back support.  
         [0007]     The superficial heating and cooling modalities used in sports medicine setting are classified as infrared modalities. Heating modalities are referred to as thermotherapy. The use of cold is referred to as cryotherapy. Perhaps the most effective use of the infrared modalities is for analgesia, reducing the sensation of pain associated with injury. The infrared modalities primarily stimulate the cutaneous nerve receptors. Within the philosophy of an aggressive program of rehabilitation the reduction of pain as a means of facilitating therapeutic exercise is a common practice.  
         [0008]     What is called for is a spinal rest and support that supports the lumbar, thoracic, or other regions and can also accommodate the insertion of thermal packets for thermal treatment of the user&#39;s back while maintaining more even pressure across the supported area. What is also called for is a spinal rest and support that can be made from a less resilient material, if desired for a particular user, such that the user&#39;s back is supported into a slightly different position than if no back support were present. Such a device is highly beneficial because it allows the spine to rest and also provides support for proper curvature of the spine. With the addition of hot and/or cold packs, the spinal rest will increase muscle relaxation, release tension, and decrease nerve agitation while sitting or while driving a motor vehicle.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0009]     A spinal rest and support adapted to provide either lumbar or thoracic support or a combination of the two for proper curvature of the spine. The back support allows for the insertion of thermal packs such that hot or cold may be applied to the user. The thermal packs reside in an indentation within the front surface of the back support. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is another perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a top view of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a side view of a second embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a top view of a third embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a thermal pack.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a side view of a thermal pack.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a one embodiment of the present invention including a cover.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is cutaway view of one embodiment of the present invention including a cover.  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a thermal pack including a cover.  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  illustrates the three segments of the mobile spinal column.  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a side view of a person sitting.  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  is a side view of a person sitting utilizing one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0026]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a person sitting utilizing one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 18  is a side view of a person sitting utilizing one embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0028]      FIG. 19  is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention utilizing another embodiment of the attachment portion. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0029]     In one embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , spinal rest main body portion  101  has a front surface  102 . An indentation  105  in the front surface  102  of back support main body portion  101  allows for the placement within indentation  105  of a thermal pack. The indentation periphery  106  of indentation  105  lies within the boundaries of the front surface  102  in this embodiment. In other embodiments, indentation  105  may continue to one or more edges of front surface  102 .  
         [0030]     Bottom surface  104  may be flat or curving along one of its planar directions. Although the end of front surface  102  opposite that which intersects with bottom surface  104  meets with back surface  107  in this embodiment, front surface  102  may meet with the back panel at all edges in some embodiments.  
         [0031]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , spinal rest main body portion  101  may be comprised of two layers. Top layer  108  sits over main layer  109  in this embodiment. Top layer  108  may fully contain indentation  105 , allowing for the manufacture of spinal rest main body portion  101  by the joining of two layers. In other embodiments, more layers may be used. Layers may be used to manipulate the stiffness of back support main body portion  101 .  
         [0032]     In one embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , side panel  103  has a contour adapted to provide therapeutic back support. Pad back  107  is adapted to be placed against the back rest of a chair, car seat, or other similar item. Front surface  102  is contoured in the same fashion as side panel  103  in this embodiment. Front surface  102  may have a different profile at different points across its surface in some embodiments.  
         [0033]     Side panel  103  has a profile indicative of a profile which would be used for lumbar support.  
         [0034]      FIG. 14  illustrates the three segments of the mobile spinal column with their normal curvature. Lumbar spine  960  is the bottom most portion of the spinal column. Thoracic spine  961  is the middle portion of the spinal column above the lumbar spine  960 . Cervical spine  962  is the upper portion of the spinal column above the thoracic spine  961 .  
         [0035]     Indentation  105  may be sized to accommodate available thermal packs. Some thermal packs are 8.5 inches by 8.5 inches and approximately 0.75 inches thick. Indentation  105  may be sized to be 9.5 inches by 9.5 inches by 0.75 inches deep in some embodiments. Indentation  105  allows for the placement of a thermal pack into back support main body portion  101  without allowing the shape and rigidity of the thermal pack to dictate the front surface profile of the back support when in use. The compressibility of the thermal pack may be different than the compressibility of the material of the back support. In such cases, the overall compressibility may still be dictated by the back support in some embodiments.  
         [0036]     Spinal rest main body portion  101  may be made from one piece of material or multiple pieces. Spinal rest main body portion  101  may be constructed from urethane foam, polyurethane foam, or other suitable materials. Spinal rest main body portion  101  may be constructed of open cell foam, closed cell foam, or combinations of these and other materials.  
         [0037]     In another embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 3 , spinal rest main body portion  301  has front surface  302  which is convex in one planar direction and concave in another planar direction. Side panel  303  has a contour adapted to the purpose of providing thoracic and lumbar support. Bottom panel  304  is of similar or the same profile contour as top panel  308  in this embodiment. In other embodiments, the bottom panel and the top panel may be of different profile contours. Front surface  302  has an indentation  305 . Indentation  305  is adapted to allow for the placement of a thermal pack. Alternatively, a pad may be placed into indentation  305 . Indentation  305  is surrounded by an indentation periphery  306 .  
         [0038]     Side panel  303  has a profile contoured to provide back support. Back surface  309  is adapted to be placed against a back of a chair, car seat, or other similar item. As seen in  FIG. 5 , back surface  309  in this embodiment. The back surface may be flat or may be contoured in some embodiments.  
         [0039]     In another embodiment of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , spinal rest main body portion  601  is shaped to provide support for proper curvature of the lumbar-thoracic region. Side panel  603  has a profile contour that is representative of the profile across front surface  602  in this embodiment.  
         [0040]     Indentation  605  allows for the placement of a thermal pack, which then fills in indentation  605  and allows for a consistent front surface layer across back support main body portion  601 . Indentation periphery  606  outlines indentation  605 . In some embodiments, the top of the thermal pack may be above or below the front surface  602 . Bottom surface  604  and back surface  607  are flat and planar in this embodiment.  
         [0041]     As seen in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , thermal pack  801  is sized to be fit into the indentations in the back support main body portion indentations. Thermal pack periphery  804  will fit within the indentation periphery when the thermal pack is placed into the main body portion. The thermal pack may consist of thermal gel encased in a container such as a plastic, or may of other suitable design including currently available hot and cold packs. Alternatively, the thermal pack  801  may be substituted with a pad to fill in the main body portion indentation when no thermal effect is desired.  
         [0042]     In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , the spinal rest main body  900  is covered with a main body cover  901 . The main body cover  901  may be made out of cloth or other appropriate material. Main body cover  901  is adapted to substantially conform to the outside surface of back support main body  900 . Main body cover  901  may be slipped over back support main body  900 , or may be adhered in another fashion. Attachment portions  902  are on the outside of main body cover  901  in this embodiment. Attachment portions  902  may be made of Velcro type fasteners or other appropriate means. Attachment portions  902  are in the area of the indentation in the main body in this embodiment.  
         [0043]     In some embodiments of the present invention, as seen in  FIG. 12 , a thermal pack is covered with a thermal pack cover  950 . Thermal pack cover  950  may be made of cloth or other appropriate material. Attachment portions  951  are adapted to removably fasten thermal pack cover  950  to the main body cover  902 . As seen in  FIG. 13 , the covered thermal pack is placed into and removably fastened to the main body cover  901 .  
         [0044]      FIG. 19  illustrates another embodiment of the present invention wherein the covered thermal pack is attached to the main body using an alternate method. The thermal pack cover  950  is shown covering the thermal pack and residing in the indentation of main body. The main body is covered by the main body cover  901 . Attachment strap  952  retains the covered thermal pack into the indentation of the main body. Strap retention portion  953  is attached to the main body cover  901 . Attachment strap  952  attaches to the strap retention portion  953  and in so doing retains the thermal pack in the indentation of the main body. In some embodiments, the attachment strap may go completely around the main body. In some embodiments, the attachment strap may be fastened to the main body cover  901  using a more permanent method such as sewing. In some embodiments, the attachment strap  952  may be made partially or wholly of elastic.  
         [0045]      FIG. 15  illustrates a person  821  sitting in a chair or other seating device  820  sits with a curvature of the spine  822 . Sitting with a void  823  behind the spine  822  makes the spine rounded. This position may stretch the thoracolumbar fascia and the lumbar plexus. This may increase pain and nerve tension.  
         [0046]      FIG. 16  illustrates one use of one embodiment of spinal rest  830  of the present invention. Used in this fashion, spinal rest  830  does not allow for such curvature of the lumbar and thoracic spine as seen in  FIG. 15 . This reduces nerve tension and stretching of the spine and fascia.  
         [0047]      FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate uses of other embodiments of the spinal rest  831 ,  832 . Although the spinal rest is shown here used when a person is in a sitting position, a person may be is other positions, such as lying down, when utilizing this invention.  
         [0048]     In some embodiments of the present invention, the spinal rest is made from polyurethane foam. There are a number of physical properties of flexible polyurethane foam that can be used when selecting foam for different applications. Two of the important properties are density and indentation force deflection (IFD). The density is a measurement of mass per unit volume. Density affects foam durability and support. IFD is a measurement of foam firmness. IFD is measured by indenting a foam sample 25% of its original height. Different combinations of density and IFD may be used depending upon the desired result in different embodiments of the invention. Densities for use in cushioning applications may range from 0.5 to 3.0 pcf. IFD may range from 10-50 pounds.  
         [0049]     As evident from the above description, a wide variety of spinal rests and supports may be configured from the description given herein and additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures from such details may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant&#39;s general inventive concept.