ELASTIC SUPPORT DEVICE AND WAIST PROTECTOR INCLUDING THE SAME

An elastic support device configured to be disposed on a waist protector is provided, wherein the elastic support device includes: a main body defining a first direction and a second direction which are transverse to each other, the waist protector extending in the first direction, the main body including a plurality of V-shaped elastic members, each of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members including a connection portion and two ribs extending from the connection portion, in the first direction the ribs of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, in the second direction the connection portions of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, the main body being elastically restorable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an elastic support device and a waist protector including the same.

Description of the Prior Art

A waist protector is a protective gear used to surround the waist of the human body and support the waist. It can be used by athletes or people with waist injuries. Conventional waist protectors typically include a flexible band and a rigid supporting plate. The band secures the waist protector to the body, and the supporting plate is often placed against the front or back waist to supports the waist to prevent bending of the waist. However, due to the differences in body shapes of users, the size and curvature of the conventional waist protector support plate is not suitable for every user's body shape, resulting in poor universality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main object of the present invention is to provide an elastic support device and a waist protector including the same. The elastic support device can elastically stretch according to various users' waist shapes to fit different users' waist shapes, thereby enhancing the supporting effect.

To achieve the above and other objects, an elastic support device configured to be disposed on a waist protector is provided, wherein the elastic support device includes: a main body defining a first direction and a second direction which are transverse to each other, the waist protector extending in the first direction, the main body including a plurality of V-shaped elastic members, each of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members including a connection portion and two ribs extending from the connection portion, in the first direction the ribs of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, in the second direction the connection portions of neighboring two of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members being connected to each other, the main body being elastically restorable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer toFIGS.1to4for a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. An elastic support device of the present invention is configured to be disposed on a waist protector9and includes a main body1.

The main body1defines a first direction11and a second direction12which are transverse to each other. The waist protector9extends in the first direction11. The main body1includes a plurality of V-shaped elastic members13. Each of the V-shaped elastic members13includes a connection portion131and two ribs132extending from the connection portion131. In the first direction11, the two ribs132of neighboring V-shaped elastic members13are connected to each other. In the second direction12, the connection portions131of neighboring V-shaped elastic members13are connected to each other. Thus, the main body1is elastically restorable because of elastic compression.

The waist protector9includes two adjustment portions91. The two adjustment portions91are connected to opposing ends of the main body1in the first direction11. The two adjustment portions91are movable relative to each other to adjust the size of the waist protector9. In this way, when the two adjustment portions91are brought closer to tighten the waist protector9around the user's waist, the main body1can be elastically restorable by elastic compression in the first direction11to fit the user's waist size and shape, thus effectively achieving a supporting effect.

In this embodiment, each of the two adjustment portions91is provided with a plurality of winding guides92. At least one line93(plural lines93in this embodiment) is wound along the winding guides92. By pulling the lines93, the two adjustment portions91can be brought closer to achieve a tightening effect on the waist protector9.

The waist protector9includes two bands94. Each of the two bands94includes the two adjustment portions91. The two bands94are detachably connected to each other, allowing the two bands94to be wrapped around the human body.

Preferably, the main body1includes two side frames14at the opposing ends in the first direction11. The two side frames14are respectively connected to opposing ends of the V-shaped elastic members13in the first direction11. The two side frames14are connected to the waist protector9and are generally parallel to the second direction12. In this way, the two side frames14can provide support in the second direction12to support the user's back.

Further, each of the adjustment portions91includes at least one connecting member95(a plurality in this embodiment). Each of the connecting members95is sleeved on one of the side frames14to connect the adjustment portions91to the main body1. In this embodiment, each of the connecting members95is a hook-and-loop fastener strap, making it easy to assemble and disassemble. In this embodiment, the main body1is connected to the adjustment portions91by the connecting members95, and the adjustment portions91are further connected to the two bands94(e.g., using hook-and-loop fasteners). In other embodiments, the ends of the main body may be fixed to a connecting member before being connected to the two adjustment portions91.

Additionally, the angle between the two ribs132of each of the V-shaped elastic members13is acute. The main body1may be formed by3D printing or injection molding. In the second direction12, neighboring V-shaped elastic members13are connected upside down to form an X-shaped structure2. Thus, the X-shaped structures2can be elastically compressed in the first direction11, providing structural support in the second direction12. Preferably, each of the two ribs132includes a hollow portion133extending in the extending direction of the rib132, achieving a lightweight effect. Preferably, the main body1defines a central line15, which is centered and extends in the second direction12. In the first direction11the two ribs132of parts of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members13adjacent to the central line15each has a thickness greater than respective thicknesses of the two ribs132of the rest of the plurality of V-shaped elastic members13, thus enhancing the structural strength of the main body1near the central line15.

The present invention also provides a waist protector9including the above-described elastic support device, two bands94, and two adjustment portions91. The two bands94are detachably connected to each other. The two adjustment portions91are connected to opposing ends of the main body1in the first direction11and are further connected to the two bands94. The two adjustment portions91are movable relative to each other to adjust the size of the waist protector9. Thus, when the waist protector9is tightened around the user's waist, the main body1can be elastically restorable by elastic compression to fit the user's waist size and shape, effectively achieving a supporting effect.

Please refer toFIGS.5to9, in a second embodiment of the present invention, the main body1A adjacent to the central line15includes a first guide block16having a first through hole161extending in the first direction. The first through holes161are configured for at least one line to penetrate through to achieve the effect of arranging the lines, and additionally, to allow the at least one line to be tightly adjacent to the main body1A.

The two side frames14A each include a plurality of winding guides92A. The winding guides92A have at least one line wound around them. Each winding guide92A is a semicircular hollow block, and each winding guide92A includes a first penetrating hole921A at both ends in the second direction12. Each winding guide92A further includes a second penetrating hole922A on an outer side extending in the first direction. The two first penetrating holes921A and the second penetrating hole922A are in communication with each other and configured for winding the lines.

Preferably, each side frame14A further includes a second guide block17. Each second guide block17of the side frames14A is centered in the second direction relative to the winding guides92A. Each second guide block17has a second through hole171extending in the first direction. The two second through holes171are configured for the lines to penetrate therethrough and extend outwardly to be wound around the bands.

Please refer toFIGS.10to12, in a third embodiment of the present invention, the two side frames14B of the main body1B each include a plurality of winding guides92B. Each winding guide92B is a circular hollow block and includes a plurality of third penetrating holes923B of an outer circumferential wall thereof. One side of each winding guide92B has a recess924B, a reel925B is received in the recess924B, a projection926B is disposed on a bottom of the recess924B, and the reel925B is rotatably sleeved on the projection926B. Thus, the reel925B can stably rotate within the recess924B and is configured for winding the lines. The third penetrating holes923B are configured for the lines to penetrate therethrough. This structure makes it easier for the lines to be pulled, and the reel925B can reduce the friction of the lines, making it more convenient and smooth to use.