Abstract:
A back pain reliever has a linear alignment support with at least two bi-pad supports mounted thereon. The linear alignment support runs along the spine of a person with least two bi-pad supports mounted thereon, so each of the two pads of the bi-pad support are on opposite sides of the spine of a person.

Description:
[0001]    This invention relates to a back pain relieving device, and more particularly to a back pain relieving device for use on either a vehicle seat or any other seat having a back support, or by a person in a supine position.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Back pain is a common complaint for a large number of people. In order to minimize back pain, various devices are known to have been developed. Such devices provide some relief. However, it is difficult to obtain a device that provides an adequate and a safe relief from back pain for a person, while that person is driving a vehicle.  
           [0003]    Some of the devices for relief of back pain, while the person suffering from the back pain is a rider in or a driver for a vehicle, are too hard and become dangerous in case of an accident. Other devices are not flexible and interfere with the positioning and driving of, or riding in, a vehicle. Thus, it is desired to avoid these difficulties and provide access either to back comfort or reduced back pain, while at the same time minimizing interference with any use of a vehicle.  
           [0004]    Also, it is difficult to remove and reinstall a back support device from the vehicle to the house or back. It is also difficult to use the same back support device for the vehicle or the house. It is desired to have a back pain relieving device that accomplishes use or permits the use thereof in both a vehicle or a house.  
           [0005]    Furthermore, among the back pain relieving devices of the prior art, it is common for the device to cause a skin injury. It is difficult to provide the device, which can provide the necessary massage, while at the same time, avoids the damage to the skin. The device must be hard enough to provide the pain relief, while at the same time, avoiding damage to the skin.  
           [0006]    Thus, a solution for the goal of pain relief can result in skin injury. A solution for the goal of avoiding skin injury reduces pain relief. It is very desirable to maximize the advantages of both situations. No device currently exists to meet those goals.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Among the many objectives of this invention is the provision of a back pain relieving device providing both ease of removal and ease of storage.  
           [0008]    Another objective of this invention is to provide a movable back pain relieving device.  
           [0009]    Yet another objective of this invention is to provide a back pain relieving device, which is easily mounted on a vehicle seat.  
           [0010]    Still another objective of this invention is to provide a back pain relieving device, which is easily mounted on a chair.  
           [0011]    Additionally, an objective of this invention is to provide a back pain relieving device, which has minimal skin damage for the user.  
           [0012]    Also, an objective of this invention is to provide a back pain relieving device, which is easily portable.  
           [0013]    A further objective of this invention is to provide a back pain relieving device, which is usable in a supine position.  
           [0014]    These and other objectives of the invention (which other objectives become clear by consideration of the specification, claims and drawings as a whole) are met by providing a back pain relieving device, the back pain relieving device including a linear alignment support having at least two double pad supports mounted thereon. The linear alignment support runs along the spine of a person with least two double pad supports mounted thereon, so each of the two pads of the double pad support is on opposite sides of the spine of a person. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS  
       [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1 depicts a side view of back pain relieving device  100  in use on a vehicle seat  110 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2 depicts a partially exploded, perspective view of the back pain relieving device  100  of this invention.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 3 depicts a top plan view of the back pain relieving device  100  of this invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 4 depicts a side cross-sectioned view of knobbed double pad  120  for back pain relieving device  100  of this invention.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5 depicts a front perspective view of the back pain relieving device  100  of this invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 depicts an exploded perspective view of the button strap back pain relieving device  200  of this invention.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 depicts a rear perspective view of unitary back pain relieving device  250  of this invention.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 8 depicts a perspective view of the back pain relieving device  100  of this invention in stored position  260 .  
         [0023]    Throughout the figures of the drawings where the same part appears in more than one figure, the same number is applied thereto. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0024]    This particular invention relates to a back pain relieving device. The back pain relieving device has a center strap or linear alignment support. To the center strap are secured a number of implements or double pads. Each implement has a connection device permitting it to be fastened to the center strap. Preferably, the connection device is centrally located on the implement.  
         [0025]    Likewise, on the linear alignment device are pad supports adapted to receive the double pads. A variety of pad supports may be used in this matter.  
         [0026]    On either side of the strap, protruding from the connection device on the implements are relatively comfortable enlargements, which combine to form the double pad. These double pads are preferably of a flexible material with a durometer, or hardness, similar to that of skin. While it not desired to be bound by any particular theory, the shape of the double pads combined with the size, positioning, and durometer; the back pain relieving device accomplishes the desired comfort or pain relief for an average person&#39;s back. It believed that the back pain relieving will be effective for most, but not all, people.  
         [0027]    In this fashion, these double pads permit the back to be comfortable and provide for comfort while riding in a vehicle, or sitting in a chair at home or anywhere. With these devices increasing in size as they move up the back or down the back, great comfort is obtained. Also, the back pain relieving device or device is provided in the back of the person using the device is rendered more comfortably whether sitting in a vehicle or sitting in a chair.  
         [0028]    In a preferred form, on the linear alignment support, the double pads are similar in shape, but different in size. The double pads have a graduated size from the top of linear alignment support, with the largest double pad being at or near the top thereof, and the smallest double pad being at or near the bottom thereof.  
         [0029]    Also, in a preferred form, on the linear alignment support, one to eight double pads are used. More preferably, on the linear alignment support, two to six double pads are used. Most preferably, on the linear alignment support, three to five double pads are used.  
         [0030]    All or none or mixtures of the double pads may have knobs on the top of the pads, as applied to the linear alignment strap. A mixture is preferred, because such a variation in the double pads empirically appears to provide better relief.  
         [0031]    Each double pad preferably has two convex sections and a connecting device, each convex section being on opposing sides of the connecting device. These double pads are preferably of a convex flexible material with a durometer, or hardness, similar to that of skin.  
         [0032]    The convex flexible pads on either side of the connecting device may have any type of perimeter at the convex edge. Such perimeter may be circular, rectangular, square or polygonal as desired. Preferably, the shape of the perimeter is substantially rectangular with rounded corners.  
         [0033]    Referring now to FIG. 1, the back pain relieving device  100  of this invention is depicted as positioned on headrest  108  of vehicle seat  110 , by means of mounting line  142 . The back  112  of person  114  is assisted by back pain relieving device  100 . A series of double pads  120  contact opposing sides  116  of the spine  118 , thereby providing comfort to person  114 .  
         [0034]    Adding FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5; to consideration, a series of double pads  120  are connected to the alignment ladder  140 . Alignment ladder  140  receives and supports as many of double pad  120  as desired. Alignment ladder  140  has a mounting line  142  attached at the top  144  thereof.  
         [0035]    Each double pad  120  has a flat central portion  122  with a first convex pad  124  and a second convex pad  126  on either side thereof. For each double pad  120 , first convex pad  124  and second convex pad  126  are substantially mirror images of each other. The first convex pad  124  and the second convex pad  126  are generally hemispherical in shape.  
         [0036]    If desired, the first convex pad  124  and the second convex pad  126  may have a raised knob surface in that a plurality of raised knobs  130  may be on the outer portion  132  thereof. The raised knobs  130  are preferably set up in a generally square pattern  134 . That choice depends on personal preference.  
         [0037]    A smooth surface  136  may also be used alone if desired. Combinations of raised knobs  130  and smooth surface  136  may also be used, and generally preferred to either raised knobs  130  and smooth surface  136  alone.  
         [0038]    On each alignment ladder  140 , the series of double pads  120  have different perimeters  150  for the first convex pad  124  and the second-convex pad  126 . Preferably, diameters or perimeters  150  for double pads  120  increase as double pads  120  move up the alignment ladder  140 .  
         [0039]    As a preferred mounting device for securing double pads  120  to alignment ladder  140 , the substantially flat central portion  122  has a raised button  138  thereon oppositely disposed from outer portion  132 . Raised button  138  fits through ladder aperture  146  in alignment ladder  140  in a male to female relationship. With the alignment ladder  140  having series of ladder apertures  146 , any number of double pads  120  may be secured to alignment ladder  140 , as long as there is a ladder aperture  146 , therefor.  
         [0040]    Clearly, raised button  138  fitting through ladder aperture  146  in alignment ladder  140  permits double pad  120  to be releasably attached to the alignment ladder  140 . Each double pad  120  may have a change in position, as well as providing for increased or decreased numbers of double pads  120 , on alignment ladder  140 .  
         [0041]    Alignment ladder  140  is preferably an elongated flat strip of flexible material. Ladder apertures  146  are preferably centrally located therein between the strap sides  148  thereof, and equally spaced along the length  152  thereof.  
         [0042]    While the particular male to female relationship of the double pads  120  to alignment ladder  140  is preferred for ease of manufacture, it is clearly reversible, as shown in FIG. 6. Alignment ladder  140  of FIG. 5 is replaced with button strap  210  used in button strap back pain relieving device  200 . Button strap  210  has a series of strap buttons  212  thereon. Double pad  120  has raised button  138  being replaced with pad aperture  214 . The pad aperture  214  may receive a strap button  212 , and provide a structure of back pain relieving device  100  similar that of FIG. 2.  
         [0043]    In FIG. 7, unitary back pain relieving device  250  has central strap  252  with molded pads  254  thereon. Molded pads  254  are permanently attached to central strap  252 , because they are part of the molding process. Preferably the molded pads  254  are similar in size and shape to double pads  120  of FIG. 2. However, molded pads  254 , while similar in shape to double pad  120  of FIG. 2, the positioning is fixed and not adjustable relative to central strap  252 .  
         [0044]    The back pain relieving device  100  of FIG. 2 is believed to be more flexible and more useful, and thus more preferred than unitary back pain relieving device  250 . For example, double pads  120  are more easily repositioned on alignment ladder  140 .  
         [0045]    With FIG. 8, the stored position  260  of pain relieving device  100  with double pads  120  on alignment ladder  140 . Due to the flexibility of alignment ladder  140  and, to a lesser extent, the flexibility of double pads  120 , pain relieving device may be rolled up into stored position  260 . In stored position  260 , pain relieving  100  may be placed, for example, in a glove compartment of a vehicle (not shown) until use thereof is desired. Similar storage features are available for button strap back pain relieving device  200  or unitary back pain relieving device  250  as desired.  
         [0046]    This application—taken as a whole with the specification, claims, abstract, and drawings—provides sufficient information for a person having ordinary skill in the art to practice the invention disclosed and claimed herein. Any measures necessary to practice this invention are well within the skill of a person having ordinary skill in this art after that person has made a careful study of this disclosure.  
         [0047]    Because of this disclosure and solely because of this disclosure, modification of this method and apparatus can become clear to a person having ordinary skill in this particular art. Such modifications are clearly covered by this disclosure.