Abstract:
This invention provides a device which restrains a user from undesirable movement while permitting desirable movement when the user picks up an object from a floor or the ground. This device is a flexible and adjustable back brace which, when worn by a user, restrains the user from excessive bending over at the waist to pick up an object, while permitting the user to pick up such object by bending at the knees so that the user&#39;s back remains straight. The device is adjustable to fit users of different sizes.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a flexible back brace which is capable of restraining a user from bending over at the waist in order to pick up an object.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention provides a device which restrains a user from undesirable movement but permitting desirable movement when the user picks up an object from a floor or the ground. This device is a flexible and adjustable back brace which, when worn by a user, restrains the user from bending over at the waist to pick up an object while permitting the user to pick up such object by bending at the knees so that the user&#39;s back remains straight. The device is adjustable to fit users of different sizes. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0003]    In the drawings:  
         [0004]    [0004]FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the back brace of this invention, shown with shoulder and leg straps unfastened.  
         [0005]    [0005]FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a multiple ply elastic web which forms part of the back brace of this invention.  
         [0006]    [0006]FIG. 3 is an exploded view of a releasable fastener used to secure shoulder straps or leg straps together.  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 4 is an elevational view of the fastener of FIG. 3 in closed or assembled condition.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 5 is an elevational view of a clamp for adjustably securing upper and lower portions of the back brace of this invention together.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 6 is a front view of a user who is wearing a back brace according to this invention.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 7 is a front view of a user who is wearing a back brace according to this invention. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0011]    Referring now to FIG. 1, the device of this invention as a whole is a flexible and adjustable back brace  20 . Back brace  20  comprises an upper portion  22  and a lower portion  24 , which are adjustably secured together.  
         [0012]    The upper portion  22  of device  20  comprises a longitudinally extending and preferably rectangular elastic multiple ply center web (or upper torso web)  30 . Center web  30  has a longitudinal axis or center line  31  and is symmetrical with respect to axis  31 . Center web  30  is formed of a plurality of plies  32  (six are shown) of elastic cloth, as may be seen in FIG. 2. Preferred plies  32  of elastic cloth are woven and have roughened surfaces. The plies  32  are sewn together by transverse stitching  34  at longitudinally spaced locations to form a unitary structure.  
         [0013]    Use of elastic material to form center web  30  permits some longitudinal stretching. The modulus (or stress-strain ratio) of web  30  is determined by the number, width and stiffness of plies  32  which form web  30 . Elastic cloth is preferable to inelastic or dimensionally stable cloth so that the device  20  will have some “give” when a wearer or user tries to bend his or her back. However, the device offers appreciable resistance so that a user can bend his or her back only to a limited extent. This protects the user from back strain and injury.  
         [0014]    A first part  36  of a two-part closure member is sewn to upper torso web  30  at the first or upper end thereof. The purpose of this closure member will become apparent when the second part is described subsequently. The closure member is preferably cloth. The preferred closure member is a hook-and-loop closure member (e.g., “Velcro”), and the first part  36  may be the loops of such closure member.  
         [0015]    A cloth reinforcing member  38 , preferably rectangular, may be sewn to the center web  30  at its second or lower end for reinforcement and to prevent fraying. A cloth belt loop  40  may be sewn to the center web  30  at its lower end to receive a clamp or another connector (to be described later) which serves as a connector between the upper portion  22  and the lower portion  24  of center web  30 .  
         [0016]    A shoulder harness  50 , comprising four adjustable cloth straps  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54 , is sewn to the first or upper end of center web  30 . Each strap is sewn at its first or inner end to the center web  30 . These straps may be of conventional woven cloth belting material (e.g., nylon) having a rough surface. The straps are non-stretchable (i.e., dimensionally stable or inextensible) and are much narrower than center web  30 . Straps  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54  are adjustable in length (to fit users of different sizes). A loop is formed at an outer end of each of the straps  51 ,  52 ,  53  and  54 . Each of these straps is provided with a buckle  56 , which may be conventional, for adjustment or length. Length may be adjusted in a conventional manner.  
         [0017]    Straps  51  and  52 , when fastened together, form a first pair which may encircle a user&#39;s left shoulder. Similarly, straps  53  and  54  may be fastened together to form a second pair which may encircle a user&#39;s right shoulder. A fastener  57  (see FIGS. 3 and 4) is provided for this purpose. Each fastener  57  comprises two complementary members, e.g., a male member  58  and a female member  59 , which may be releasably fastened to each other. Male members  58  may be received in outer end loops of straps  51  and  53 , and female members  59  may be received in outer end loops of straps  52  and  54 .  
         [0018]    Fastener  57  may be a quick release fastener. A preferred fastener is a side lock fastener, which is known in the art and is shown in FIGS.  3  (unfastened) and  4  (fastened). This fastener  57  comprises a three-pronged male member  58  which is adapted to be releasably received in a female member or receptacle  59 . Fastener  57  locks when fastened, as shown in FIG. 4. To release, one presses the two outer prongs of male member  58  inwardly.  
         [0019]    In an alternate embodiment, each of these straps  51 ,  52 ,  53 , and  54  are formed with hook and loop material, such as VELCRO brand hook and loop, on the ends thereof for fastening the straps together. By using hook and loop material, the user is able to adjust the fit of the straps to the user&#39;s upper-body more easily and is able to wear the system  20  with greater comfort. Further, the hook and look-fastening material used for straps  51 - 54  also eliminates the need for fastener  57 .  
         [0020]    Straps  51  and  53  are preferably disposed at right angles to axis  31 . Straps  52  and  54  are preferably disposed at an acute angle, say 30° (which is not critical) to axis  31 .  
         [0021]    A clamp  60  (FIG. 5) adjustably connects upper portion  22  and lower portion  24  back brace  20 . Clamp  60  includes a base member  62  having mounted thereon a pivotally mounted clamping member  64 , which is spring biased toward closed or clamping position.  
         [0022]    The lower portion  24  of back brace  20  comprises a longitudinally extending, non-stretchable strap  70 . Strap  70  is a lower torso strap which permits adjustment of device  20  to fit users of different heights. Strap  70  may be of a woven cloth material (e.g., nylon) having a roughened surface. When the device  20  is in use (see FIGS. 6 and 7), strap  70  hangs vertically below center web  30  in axial alignment therewith. Strap  70  is preferably much narrower than center web  30 .  
         [0023]    Attached (e.g., by sewing) to the lower (or first) end of longitudinally extending strap  70  is a leg harness  80  which comprises four adjustable leg straps  81 ,  82 ,  83  and  84 . Each is provided with a buckle  86  for length adjustment. Straps  81  and  83  extend at right angles to axis  31  of strap  70 , and straps  82  and  84  extend at acute angles (e.g., 30°) to axis  31  of strap  70 . Straps  81  and  83  extend from strap  70  to male fastener members  88 , and straps  82  and  84  extend to female fastener members  89 . Straps  81  and  82  when fastened together may encircle a user&#39;s left leg. Straps  83  and  84  when fastened together may encircle a user&#39;s right leg.  
         [0024]    Leg harness  80 , straps  81 - 84 , buckles  86  and fastener members  88  and  89  may be identical or similar to their counterparts  50 ,  51 - 54 ,  56 ,  58  and  59 , respectively. Additionally, the straps  81 - 84  may be made from, or could have over a portion thereof, hook and loop fasteners, such as VELCRO brand hook and loop material. This type of fastener would again allow adjustment while possibly avoiding the use of avoids the cumbersome buckles that may chafe the skin of, or make the user uncomfortable. Further, the hook and look-fastening material used for straps  81 - 84  also eliminates the need for fastener members  88  and  89 .  
         [0025]    Longitudinal strap (or lower torso strap)  70  extends upwardly from its first or lower end and passes through a transverse opening in base member  62  of clamp  60 . Clamping member  64  of clamp  60  grips strap  70  to keep it from slipping. A user may allow the remaining portion of strip  70  to hang vertically downward if desired. However, the second (or upper) end of strap  70  may be provided with the second part  90  of a closure member, as for example, hooks of a hook-and-loop closure member. This enables a user to fasten the second (or free) end of strap  70  to the upper end of center web  30  in complimentary closure members  36  and  90 , to avoid a rather lengthy dangling free end portion of strap  70 .  
         [0026]    [0026]FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate a device  20  of this invention in use. A user puts of the device  20  so that the center web  30  is just behind the user&#39;s back above the waist and strap  70  hangs downwardly from the center back. The user then fastens the shoulder straps  51 - 54  and the leg straps  81 - 84  tightens these straps to fit, and pulls on the free portion of strap  70  (the portion between clamp  60  and the second end of strap  70 ) until the device  20  fits the user&#39;s height. The clamp  60  cooperates with the rough woven surface of strap  70  to permit a user to tighten (but not to loosen) the device  20 . To loosen device  20 , a user must open clamp  60  by pressing on the clamping member  64  of clamp  60  so as to release the strap  70 .  
         [0027]    When a user has put on the device  20  and properly adjusted it to his or her height and shoulder and thigh dimensions, the user will be restrained from bending the back to any appreciable extent. The elastic center web  30  offers considerable resistance to bending the back, and all straps  51 - 54 ,  70  and  81 - 84  cooperate with the center web to resist back bending since they are dimensionally stable. On the other hand, the user is free to bend at the knees in order to pick up an object. Health experts universally agree that bending the back may be harmful while bending at the knees is preferable.  
         [0028]    The back brace of this invention offers a simple and effective device for preventing back strain while reaching down to pick up objects. This device is especially helpful in preventing injury from lifting heavy objects.  
         [0029]    Dimensions are not critical. However, center web  30  is much wider than straps  51 - 54 ,  70  and  81 - 84  preferred embodiments. In an illustration and preferred embodiment, center web  30  may be 10 inches long and 3 inches wide, and each of the straps  51 - 54 ,  70  and  81 - 84  may be one inch wide.  
         [0030]    A preferred embodiment has been shown and described in detail by way of illustration and not limitation. Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of this invention.