Spinal column support attachments for a weight lifter's bench

Accessory spinal support pads for reclined or slightly inclined weight lifting on weight lifting benches are provided in a cervical support pad and a lumbar support pad, with each pad having a central spinal protecting and stabilizing groove. The two support pads are removably attachable to a weight bench in combination or as single units. The cervical support pad has crescent shaped edges adjacent the lifter's shoulders and arms. The crescent shaped edges provide clearance for the user's shoulders and arms to allow movement by the weight lifter's arms without interference from the support pad while the remainder of the pad fully supports and stabilizes the spine in the neck area. Both support pads are affixed with belting to allow stationary yet adjustable attachment of the pads to virtually any weight bench.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
This invention relates to support pads useful on weight lifter's benches to 
prevent compression and abnormal curvature of the spine during weight 
lifting. The present invention is particularly directed towards attachable 
padding shaped to provide support for the cervical and lumbar spinal areas 
of the weight lifter during weight lifting exercise. 
2. Description of the Prior Art 
In the course of lifting weights from a reclining position, the lifter 
tends to straighten his or her neck and lumbar area of the spine due to 
the force of the weights. The normal human spinal column is maintained 
roughly in a double S-curve which functions like a coil or spring to 
decrease and distribute forces through the spine. Long term weight lifting 
can alter the normal curvature of the spine and can create undue stress on 
supporting spinal musculature. Unequal stress of the muscles supporting 
the spine, as well as direct pressure applied to individual vertebrae, can 
create misalignment of one or more of vertebrae. There are twenty-four 
individual vertebrae, together with two other fused structures, which 
comprise the human spinal column. All of these vertebrae have bony 
prominences, known as spinous processes, projecting outward from the back 
which can be felt, and often seen, as hard knobs along the exterior of the 
spine. These individual vertebrae are connected and supported by various 
cartilages, muscles and ligaments which allow flexibility for bending and 
twisting of the torso. Each individual vertebra is separated by an 
intervertebral disc which functions as a cushion and a spacer, helping to 
prevent compression of the peripheral spinal nerves branching off from the 
spinal cord housed within the spinal column. Displacement of one or more 
of the individual vertebrae from its normal position, or altering the 
curvature of an area of the spine, can create pressure against associated 
spinal nerves, most often resulting in pain. Since the spinous processes 
of many vertebrae project prominently from the human back during various 
stages of weight lifting, the soft tissue covering the back over the 
spinous processes can easily become irritated from direct pressure exerted 
from the bench or pad. When too much pressure is exerted against the 
spinous processes the involved vertebrae can also become misaligned. 
Therefore, direct pressure applied against the spine and deviation from 
the normal spinal curvature is to be avoided during weight lifting to 
prevent pain and possibly injury. 
Modifications have therefore been made in the past to provide weight 
lifting benches which include lumbar and cervical supports. The majority 
of these supports however, are incorporated as integral units of a 
specialized bench and cannot be removed or adjusted. Many of these 
modified benches and pads are not structured to alleviate pressure applied 
directly onto the spine. 
Early recognition of the need to prevent a reduction of spinal curvature 
loss when the human body is reclined and under physical stress is seen in 
U.S. Pat. No. 1,904,039, dated Apr. 18, 1933, issued to E. A. Bruder. 
Bruder's invention is not directed towards weight lifting but concerns the 
prevention of unnecessary strain upon normal spinal curvature during 
regular, reclined exercising, such as sit-ups or leg lifts. Bruder's 
device does not contain structuring for preventing direct pressure on the 
spinous processes of the back bone, nor is it adapted for secure 
attachment to a stationary surface, such as a bench, to avoid displacement 
during exercise. 
The patent issued to W. A. Pearl, U.S. Pat. No. 4,621,809, dated Nov. 11, 
1986, teaches a weight lifting bench having an upper surface configured 
with portions anatomically contoured for supporting and restraining the 
reclined lifter from lateral and longitudinal shifting. The integral 
contoured portions of Pearl's bench are not adapted for use as releasable 
attachment onto a conventional weight lifting bench, nor does he attempt 
to protect the spinous processes of the vertebrae from direct pressure. 
K. W. Oman was granted a U.S. Pat. No. 4,474,370, dated Oct. 2, 1984, for a 
similar device of a therapeutic weight lifter's bench having cervical and 
lumbar support cushions. Although the lumbar support cushion is 
adjustable, neither the cervical or lumbar cushions are adapted for use on 
other weight lifting benches. The Oman device also fails to provide 
structuring for preventing pressure directly on the spinous processes. 
A U.S. patent was granted on a modified headrest pillow to Wilmore et al, 
patent number 4,710,991, dated Dec. 8, 1987. Although Wilmore's preferred 
embodiment teaches a headrest which is primarily designed for supporting 
of the head of a patient when in a prone position for receiving medical 
treatment of some sort, an accessory cervical pillow is also taught for 
supporting the neck area when the patient is in a supine position, such as 
when sitting in a dentist's chair. The cervical pillow however, is filled 
with a gelatinous substance which allows the surface of the pillow to be 
molded into conforming to the shape of the user's neck. Although Wilmore's 
pillow may provide comfortable support, it is not structured to maintain 
the cervical vertebrae within a given curvature when under moderate or 
high compression. Wilmore's pillow therefore appears to be too easily 
deformed and therefore incapable of providing sufficient structural 
support in such circumstances as weight lifting. The pillow, although 
removably affixed, is not adapted for use with existing weight lifting 
benches without modification of the bench itself, specifically adhesion of 
a mating hook and loop fastener. If it were concluded Wilmore's pillow 
were rigid enough to provide sufficient curvature support for the cervical 
vertebrae, then excess pressure would then be exerted on the spinous 
processes of the vertebrae, since there are no structures, other than the 
current high deformity of the pillow itself, for protecting the spinous 
processes from excess pressure. 
B. H. Richardson was granted U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,099, dated Oct. 28, 1980, 
for a device for aligning the spine. Richardson teaches a pad which is 
positioned under the back of the reclining user for as a medical 
application or treatment. The pad contains two parallel ridges which are 
positioned on either side of the spine in use. This device is designed to 
realign misaligned vertebra and is not structured for use during exercise 
or weight lifting. It appears the Richardson device would be too rigid for 
comfortable use during weight lifting. He also has not provided 
structuring to allow secure attachment to a weight lifting bench. 
The spinal supports shown in the foregoing devices show recognition of the 
need for a practical padding to protect the human back during weight 
lifting. However, none of the past art devices make provisions to 
eliminate pressure exerted directly on the spine during various sequences 
of weight lifting procedures. None have removable lumbar and cervical 
support pads adapted for removable attachment to existing conventional 
weight lifting benches without prior modification of their pad or the 
bench. The vast majority of conventional weight lifting benches currently 
in use today are narrow padded benches which are not structured for secure 
attachment of accessory articles such as padding. Since there are already 
many thousands of these conventional weight lifting benches now in use in 
private clubs and homes, it would be less costly to provide support pads 
which are readily releasably attachable to these existing benches. 
Modifications of the bench and or pad would therefore be eliminated with 
removable accessory padding, and the cost would be greatly reduced in 
purchasing the pads alone, compared to the purchase of a modified bench 
with integral support pads. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
In practicing my invention, I provide padded supports which reduce the 
danger of the individual weight lifter losing back curvature during weight 
lifting from a reclined position, and also, I provide structuring to 
relieve the pressure exerted directly on the spinous processes in the 
lumbar and cervical region of the spine. 
To accomplish back curvature protection and insure comfortable back and 
neck support for the individual lifting weights from a reclined or 
slightly inclined position, the immediate invention provides two support 
pads attachable to a conventional weight lifter's bench. In structuring 
the pads, consideration has been taken into account for providing each pad 
with contouring compatible with the shape of the area of the human anatomy 
to be supported, specifically the cervical and lumbar area of the spine. 
The cervical support pad is roughly triangular in shape having a flat 
bottom surface and a rounded top surface containing a transverse central 
recess or groove which divides the top surface into two domed-shaped pad 
surfaces. One edge of this cervical support pad, on both sides of the 
recess or groove is a crescent shaped curve which is positioned adjacent 
the person's shoulders in use, with the transverse recess aligned parallel 
with the spine. The thickest portion of the cervical support pad is 
positioned directly under the neck of the user, with crescent shaped edges 
positioned under the shoulders, gradually converging to a rounded point at 
one end of the transverse recess. This provides support for the cervical 
vertebrae as well as a portion of the upper thoracic vertebrae as well. 
The double crescent shaped edge of the pad allow the person exercising 
with weights to move his arms freely without the edges of the cervical 
support pad rubbing on his shoulders or restricting upward movement of his 
or her arms. The ends of the cervical support narrow into elongated straps 
for attachment to the weight bench. 
The lumbar support pad is primarily rectangular in shape but is structured 
similar to the cervical support pad with a double domed shaped top surface 
separated by a transverse recess. The lumbar support pad is slightly 
thicker and wider than the cervical pad with the transverse recess being 
more pronounced. The ends of lumbar support pad also narrow into 
attachment straps. The lumbar support pad is positioned under the lower 
back or lumbar spinal area of the user in use with the transverse recess 
aligned parallel with the spine. 
The contour of the surface of both pads is structured to conform to the 
normal curvature of the respective spinal areas of an adult human when the 
user is reclining, and although both support pads are sufficiently 
resilient for comfort, they are primarily structured to be semi-rigid to 
maintain a specific degree of curvature when compressed. The transverse 
central recesses of both pads are adapted to relieve the pressure normally 
placed on the spinous processes of the vertebrae when the human body is 
reclined supine. The central recess becomes especially useful as the spine 
is compressed against the pad, where a protective hollow is formed for the 
spine by the recess, thus eliminating direct pressure. The central recess 
also serves to prevent lateral displacement of the spine during exercise. 
The ends of the attachment straps of both support pads are affixed with 
some form of coupling means, such as hook and loop fasteners or 
buckle-type connectors, for attachment of the straps under the weight 
lifting bench. By providing releasable attachment means the pads can be 
individually adjusted for the height of each user. The securement of the 
support pads also provides the user with a measure of stability on the 
bench, reducing lateral and longitudinal sliding. The gradual sloping 
sides of the transverse recess tends to create a cradle-like effect which 
also helps to prevent lateral shifting of the weight lifter. 
Each pad is structured with an outer covering of moisture impervious 
material which prevents absorption of perspiration into the pad. The 
covering houses an internal layer of semi-rigid padding which is minimally 
compressible to maintain sufficient spinal curvature support, yet still 
resilient enough for comfort. 
Therefore, it is a primary object of the invention to provide support 
padding for use on a weight lifter's bench, which maintains and stabilizes 
correct spinal curvature and protects against spinal compression. 
Another object of my invention is to provide the above in a cervical spine 
support pad and a separate lumbar spine support pad with both pads 
structured to relieve direct pressure against the spine of a human lifting 
weights. 
Another object of my invention is to provide the above in a cervical spine 
support pad and a lumbar spine support pad with both pads being adjustably 
and removably attachable to a weight lifter's bench. 
A further object of my invention is to provide the above in a cervical 
support pad and a lumbar support pad which are attachable to virtually any 
existing weight lifter's bench without having to make modification or 
alteration of that bench. 
Other objects and the many advantages of this invention will become clear 
and understood by reading descriptions of the numbered parts in the 
remaining specifications and comparing them with like numbered parts 
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Referring now to the drawings where both embodiments of the invention are 
illustrated. FIG. 1 shows a top plan view of cervical support pad 10. 
Cervical support pad 10 is roughly triangular in shape and structured with 
a flat bottom surface 12, shown in FIG. 3, a oppositely disposed rounded 
top surface 14, two narrow side edges 15, and two ends 19. One side edge 
15 is generally straight with the oppositely disposed edge 15 being angled 
outward forming a point or apex 13, thereby creating a generally 
triangular cervical support pad 10. Top surface 14 contains a central 
groove running from the center of the straight side edge 15 to apex 13 of 
the opposite angled edge 15. This central groove is referred to as spinal 
recess 16. Spinal recess 16 divides top surface 14 into two padded rounded 
domes 18, best shown in FIG. 2. The exterior angled edges 15 adjacent apex 
13 are formed with crescent shaped notches known as shoulder recesses 20, 
best shown in FIG. 1. The particular function of shoulder recesses 20 will 
be further explained later on in the specification. Both the straight and 
angled edges 15 of cervical support pad 10 converge towards one another 
forming narrow ends 19, shown in FIG. 1 and 3. Narrow ends 19 extend 
outward longitudinally, forming two belts or straps 22 which are 
positioned perpendicular to spinal recess 16. The distal ends of each 
strap 22 are affixed with an attachable structure, shown here in FIGS. 1, 
2 and 3 as hook and loop fasteners 24. 
FIG. 4, 5 and 6 illustrates various views of lumbar support pad 26. Lumbar 
support pad 26 is substantially rectangular in shape and consists of flat 
a bottom surface 12, an oppositely disposed rounded top surface 14 similar 
to that of cervical support pad 10, two narrow parallel side edges 15, and 
two oppositely disposed ends 19. The top surface 14 of lumbar support pad 
26 also contains a central transverse groove, spinal recess 16, which 
divides top surface 14 into two generally rounded domes 18. Spinal recess 
16 of lumbar support pad 26 runs from one side edge 15 to the opposite 
side edge 15. The outer ends 19 of lumbar support pad 26 narrow into 
elongated belts or straps 22. FIG. 4 and 5 illustrate lumbar support pad 
26 affixed with buckle type fasteners 27 to merely illustrate an 
alternative attachment structure other than hook and loop fasteners 24, 
which are shown affixed to lumbar support pad 26 in FIG. 6. 
As material choices are not critical to operational factors, the materials 
of manufacture of both pads 10 and 26 are given merely as suggestions. 
Both pads 10 and 26 are structured of an outer covering 28 consisting of 
flat bottom surface 12 affixed on the peripheral edges 15 to top surface 
14. Straps 22 also consist of outer covering 28. Outer covering 28 is 
comprised of a moisture impervious, resilient, durable material, such as 
plastic or leather. Outer covering 28 creates an interior housing for at 
least one layer of semi-rigid padding 30, shown in FIG. 7, preferably a 
moderate to high density closed celled foam plastic. Although the 
resilient yet semi-rigid padding 30 is slightly compressible for comfort, 
it is structured to be fairly rigid to maintain proper spinal support. 
Other materials may be used in the manufacture of pads 10 and 26, 
including a canvas covering with cotton padding. 
In use, both pads 10 and 26 are positioned onto the upper surface of weight 
bench 32 with top surfaces 14 positioned upward, and straps 22 placed over 
the sides of bench 32, as shown in FIG. 8. Cervical support pad 10 must be 
positioned toward the head of bench 32 with shoulder recesses 20 
positioned adjacent lumbar support pad 26. Shoulder recesses 20 are 
particular to the functional use of cervical support pad 10 and are 
positioned, when in use, adjacent the shoulders of user 34. 
Experimentation has disclosed that when user 34 lifts weights 40, his or 
her shoulders tend to rub the straight edges of other neck support pads. 
To prevent either frictional irritation or discomfort to the shoulders of 
user 34, cervical support pad 10 has provided shoulder clearance in the 
form of shoulder recesses 20, formed along the shoulder side edges 15 of 
both rounded domes 18. Apex 13 of cervical support pad 10 extends downward 
with spinal recess 16, past the area of neck 36, for the additional 
support of the upper section of the thoracic vertebrae and upper shoulder 
area. This provides much more comfortable support than a pad restrained to 
neck 36 only. To correctly position both pads 10 and 26, user 34 lies 
supine on the surface of bench 32 and positions cervical support pad 10 
under neck 36 and lumbar support pad 26 under lumbar spinal area 38. User 
34 then attaches each support pad 10 and 26 by means of hook and loop 
fasteners 24, or other attachment means. 
When user 34 is in the process of lifting weights 40, as shown in FIG. 9, 
the normal curvature of cervical vertebrae 42 and lumbar vertebrae 44 may 
be altered but will still remain within an acceptable curvature range, 
being maintained by the abutment of the rounded top surface 14 of cervical 
support pad 10 and lumbar support pad 26 on both sides of the spine. User 
34 often tends to twist or displace the torso laterally during certain 
types of weight lifting which can cause strain on the spinal muscles. The 
gradual concave surface of spinal recess 16, with the rounded domes 18 
forming side embankments, helps to laterally retain the back of user 34, 
thus maintaining a relatively stable position during weight lifting. The 
central, lower most depression of spinal recess 16, that which is 
positioned adjacent the spine in use, also serves to prevent lateral 
displacement of cervical vertebrae 42 and lumbar vertebrae 44 by forming a 
protective groove to help maintain or relieve pressure on the spine. 
Cervical vertebrae 42, shown from a top view in FIG. 10, can be protected 
from excess compression within spinal recess 16 when the back of user 34 
is pressed into pad 10. FIG. 11 illustrates lumbar support pad 26 in use, 
viewed from the top or head end of user 34, with lumbar spinal area 38 
sectioned, represented by dotted outline, to show the placement of lumbar 
vertebra 44 in relation to spinal recess 16. In this view, padded bench 32 
is depicted in cross-section. Straps 22 of lumbar support pad 26 are 
illustrated in this view being shorter and affixed with hook and loop 
fasteners 24 directly to the bottom edges of bench 32 to elongated hook 
and loop strips 46. Elongated hook and loop strips 46 are affixed to the 
bottom lengthwise edges of bench 32. Although not shown, elongated hook 
and loop strips 46 can also be affixed to the side edges of bench 32. 
Although illustrated as attachable to weight bench 32, both support pads 10 
and 26 can be attached to a vertical support structure such as a chair or 
medical examination table. This versatility is provided through positional 
adjustment of the wraparound attachment belting. 
Even though this invention has been described in detail, it is considered 
obvious that those skilled in the art could conceivably modify my 
invention and obtain similar results, therefore, I reserve the right to 
modify the invention in any manner consistent with the intended scope of 
the appended claims and modifications made by others which fall within the 
claim scope, I will consider as my invention.