Abstract:
An application for a back brace for supporting both the abdomen and lower back of the user includes an abdominal support member and a lumbar support member having a convex dome facing inwardly towards the lumbar region of a wearer; the support members joined by two belts. The belts are positioned though a slot on each side of a member and are used to adjust the biasing force between the members. The device further includes sleeves over a central region of the members providing additional comfort.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This nonprovisional patent application claims priority to provisional application Ser. No. 61/014,032, titled “Back Belt,” filed Dec. 15, 2007. The entire contents of all the above applications are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a brace for providing immobilization of the human back and more particularly to a brace for providing a back profile and simultaneous abdominal and lumbar support. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Spinal and lower back muscular pain is a common problem in many individuals. This type of pain, particularly among older or overweight individuals, can easily be aggravated during any type of body trauma such as heavy lifting or strenuous physical activity. 
     Prescription drugs must often be used to alleviate lower back pain which may not always be effective. Day to day activity requires movement of the back which can lead to further muscular aggravation, only to reach the point where all but the most potent pain relief medication is needed to have any effect. 
     In order to help alleviate lower back pain, prevent injury or aid in recovery, it is necessary to utilize a device which can provide support to the lower back to prevent muscular strain. In the past, many types of apparatus have been provided which help with this problem. These devices range from wrap-type supports to individual solid support fixtures placed longitudinally along the back to restrain movement. Many of these devices are either very heavy, too hot to wear, burdensome by unduly restricting movement or do not provide the proper support and alignment to be useful. 
     Recent research has determined that the most effective lumbar support occurs when the abdominal area of the user is supported as well. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,572,167 and 4,508,110 show support devices which wrap around the user&#39;s body but do not provide adequate abdominal and lumbar support due to the flexibility of the material used in construction and the methods of attachment. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,173,973, 4,541,419 and 3,871,367 teach devices which are awkward to wear and are incapable of simultaneous abdominal and lumbar support. Applicant&#39;s prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,074,292 issued December, 1991 shows a back brace that can be form fitted to the individual. Although the device performs its intended function, the present invention is an improvement that substantially uses an ideal lumbar configuration for improved muscle support. U.S. Pat. No. 5,433,697 teaches a conformable back belt with a lumbar support, but it has performance issues. 
     Thus, it is apparent from these types of prior art devices that it was necessary to provide a device which would provide simultaneous lumbar and abdominal support and alignment which is light, comfortable, and easily adjustable. The device should also lend itself to be worn not only while sedentary but during strenuous physical activity such as golf, tennis or other sports, or in the work place while one sits for long periods or any physical work is required. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a back brace for supporting both the abdomen and lower back of the user including an abdominal support member and a lumbar support member. The lumbar support member has a convex dome facing inwardly towards the lumbar region of a wearer and the support members are joined by two belts. The belts are positioned though a side slot on each or each member. The side slots are used to adjust the biasing force between the members. The device further includes sleeves over a central region of the members providing additional comfort. 
     The lumbar support member includes a dome located on the back support member interfacing in the lower lumbar region of a wearer. The brace can easily be worn beneath or outside a wearer&#39;s clothing. 
     The support members preferably include rounded edges which are tapered for a comfortable fit along with a belt slots positioned one at each end of each support member. These slots are used to engage left and right fastening belts. Each belt includes hook and loop adjustable fasteners. Each belt is then positioned through a slot on each member. This enables both the abdominal and lumbar support members to be engaged separately to hold and shape both of the members firmly against the wearer by pulling on the belt ends and fastening them with the hook and loop material. Additionally, in some embodiments, a plurality of holes is placed about each support surface to allow body heat to escape. 
     In accordance with these and other objects which will become apparent hereinafter, the instant invention will now be described with particular reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The invention can be best understood by those having ordinary skill in the art by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a front perspective view of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a back perspective view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a front elevational view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a right-side elevational view of the lumbar member of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention with sleeves. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a front elevational view of the present invention with sleeves. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a top plan view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an exploded view of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a perspective view of the present invention in use. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Throughout the following detailed description, the same reference numerals refer to the same elements in all figures. 
     As used throughout, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a belt” can include two or more such belts unless the context indicates otherwise. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 1-4 , the back brace  10  includes an abdominal support member  30  and a lumbar support member  20 . The abdominal support member  30  and lumbar support member  20  are generally outwardly convex in shape to conform to the peripheral torso shape of a human being in front and back body areas. The lumbar support member  20  includes a convex dome area  22  which is substantially at the center of the lumbar support member  20  and protrudes into the lower central lumbar back of the wearer to provide pressure to the human back contour. The lumbar support member  20  extends longitudinally across the surface of the lower back. The dome  22  protrudes convexly in the direction of the wearer, towards the lumbar region of the wearer&#39;s back. 
     This lumbar region of the lower back is often the most troublesome since it is difficult to support this area because of its shape. An advantage to the instant invention is the type of material and the specific dome shape used to adapt both the abdominal support member  30  and the lumbar support member  20  to a variety of users. In the preferred embodiment, the abdominal support member  30  and lumbar support member  20  are manufactured of a thermoplastic. However, as one skilled in the art can appreciate, the abdominal support member  30  and the lumbar support member  20  may be manufactured from any substantially rigid material. 
     The abdominal support member  30  includes a left vertical slot  31  at one end and a right vertical slot  33  at a second end. Likewise, the lumbar support member  20  includes a left vertical slot  23  at one end and a right vertical slot  21  at a second end. Each slot is wide and high enough to accommodate the left fastening belt  40  and right fastening belt  42 . The fastening belts  40 / 42  bias the support members snugly against the user. 
     In the preferred embodiment, the fastening belts  40 / 42  have hook material  44  (see  FIG. 8 ) and loop material  46  (see  FIG. 8 ). The left fastening belt  40  passes through the left vertical slot  31  of the abdominal support member  30  then passes through the left vertical slot  23  of the lumbar support member  20 . The ends of the left fastening belt  40  have hook material  44  on an inside surface and the left fastening belt  40  has loop material  46  on the remainder of the inside surface. The hook material  44  removably fastens to the loop material  46 , allowing a wide range of adjustments. Likewise, the right fastening belt  42  passes through the right vertical slot  33  of the abdominal support member  30  then passes through the right vertical slot  21  of the lumbar support member  20 . The ends of the right fastening belt  42  have hook material  44  on an inside surface and the right fastening belt  42  has loop material  46  on the remainder of the inside surface. The hook material  44  removably fastens to the loop material  46 , allowing a wide range of adjustments on this side. It is anticipated that the hook and loop material  44 / 46  is reversed in some embodiments. 
     The left fastening belt  40  and right fastening belt  42  are preferably made of a light weight, heavy duty nylon which aids in making the device lightweight and comfortable to wear. Any material with sufficient tensile strength is anticipated. 
     The central area of the abdominal support member  30  and lumbar support member  20  are substantially rectangular in shape and include rounded corners which are tapered. This provides greater comfort to the user when the back belt  10  is securely fastened around the torso, applying as much biasing force as needed using the left and/or right fastening belts  40 / 42 . Without these tapered end corners, the brace would quickly become uncomfortable due to excessive force applied at these pressure points. Being square, the top edge  36  and the bottom edge  34  of the center section of the abdominal support member  30  are substantially straight. Likewise, the top edge  26  and the bottom edge  28  of the center section of the lumbar support member  20  are also substantially straight. This provides for a proper surface for attaching the removable lumbar sleeve  39  and the removable abdominal sleeve  29  as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     The abdominal support member top central edge  37  is the portion of the top edge  36  of the abdominal support member  30  that is substantially straight. The abdominal support member bottom central edge  39  is the portion of the bottom edge  34  of the abdominal support member  30  that is substantially straight. The lumbar support member top central edge  27  is the portion of the top edge  26  of the lumbar support member  20  that is substantially straight. The lumbar support member bottom central edge  29  is the portion of the bottom edge  28  of the lumbar support member  20  that is substantially straight. 
     For ease of description, the following abdominal support member  30  distances are defined:
         a first vertical distance between the top of the left slot  31  of the abdominal support member  30  and the top central edge  37  of the abdominal support member  30 ,   a second vertical distance between the top central edge  37  of the abdominal support member  30  and the top of the right slot  33  of the abdominal support member  30 ,   a third vertical distance between the bottom of the left slot  31  of the abdominal support member  30  and the bottom central edge  39  of the abdominal support member  30 , and   a fourth vertical distance between the bottom of the right slot  33  of the abdominal support member  30  and the bottom central edge  39  of the abdominal support member  30 .       

     For ease of description, the following distances along the lumbar support member  30  are defined:
         a fifth vertical distance between the top of the left slot  23  of the lumbar support member  20  and the top central edge  27  of the lumbar support member  20 .   a sixth vertical distance between the top central edge  27  of the lumbar support member  20  and the top of the right slot  21  of the lumbar support member  20 ,   a seventh vertical distance between the bottom of the left slot  23  of the lumbar support member  20  and the bottom central edge  29  of the lumbar support member  20 , and   an eighth vertical distance between the bottom of the right slot  21  of the lumbar support member  20  and the bottom central edge  29  of the lumbar support member  20 .       

     The abdominal support member  30  includes a plurality of vents  32  and the lumbar support member  20  includes a plurality of vents  24 . Both abdominal support vents  32  and lumbar support vents  24  prevent an excess buildup of body heat under each member  20 / 30  and allow air to circulate under each respective member  20 / 30 , especially during exercise or strenuous activity. 
     Additionally, in one embodiment as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the support members  20 / 30  include covering sleeves  29 / 39  with a breathable substance, such as GORTEX®, or the like. In some embodiments, the support members  20 / 30  include covering sleeves  29 / 39  made of a material such as NEOPRENE®. In some embodiments, the covering sleeves  29 / 39  are thick enough as to provide padding. The first sleeve  39  covers the abdominal support member  30  (front and back surfaces) between the top edge  36  and the bottom edge  34  of the center section. Likewise, a second sleeve  29  covers the lumbar support member  20  between the top edge  26  and the bottom edge  28  of the center section. 
     When looking at the lumbar support member  20  from the top as shown in  FIG. 7 , the overall shape is somewhat circular or oval resembling the overall cross-sectional shape of the human body at the abdomen. However, the central portion of the lumbar support member  20  includes a centrally positioned convex dome  22  that protrudes into the back lumbar area of the lower lumbar region of the user. When worn, the convex dome  22  applies pressure on the lower lumbar area of the back. 
       FIG. 8  shows an exploded view of the back belt  10  showing the relationship of the abdominal support member  30 , the lumbar support member  20 , the left fastening belt  40  and the right fastening belt  42 . In this view, it is shown that the surface of the fastening belts  40 / 42  facing away from the wearer have hook  44  and loop material  46  covering enough of the outwardly facing surface of the fastening belts  40 / 42  as to provide a strong, yet removable connection when the ends of the fastening belts  40 / 42  with the hook material  44  are looped back on the outward facing surface of the fastening belts  40 / 42  having the loop material  46 . In the preferred embodiment, loop material  46  is present in the majority length of the outside surface of the fastening belts  40 / 42  to provide a wide range of adjustability. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the hook material  44  is swapped with the loop material  46 . Additionally, it is anticipated that the hook material  44  and the loop material  46  may cover less than 100% of the width of the outer surfaces of the fastening belts  40 / 42  as required for proper adhesion. 
       FIG. 9  shows the back belt  10  being worn by a user  50 . The abdominal support member  30  is shown with the sleeve  39 . Also visible are the fastening belts  40 / 42 . The lumbar support member  20  is not visible in this view. 
     In addition to the structural portions of the support members as described herein, in some embodiments, the back belt includes a pouch for storage of personal items and/or a holder for a personal audio device, a personal communication device, cell phone or the like. In yet another embodiment, the rear support member includes a pouch (not shown) for storing a hot or cold pack for hot or cold therapy. 
     Equivalent elements can be substituted for the ones set forth above such that they perform in substantially the same manner in substantially the same way for achieving substantially the same result. 
     It is believed that the system and method of the present invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood by the foregoing description. It is also believed that it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the components thereof without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention or without sacrificing all of its material advantages. The form herein before described being merely exemplary and explanatory embodiment thereof. It is the intention of the following claims to encompass and include such changes.