Body supports

May 12, 1959 a. d. robbins 2,886,031

BODY SUPPORTS

Filed Jan. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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INVENTOR.

May 12, 1959 a. d. robbins 2,886,031

BODY SUPPORTS

Filed Jan. 10, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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United States Patent Office

2,886,031

Patented May 12, 1959

2,886,031

BODY SUPPORTS

Azof D. Robbins, Hempstead, N.Y.

Application January 10, 1956, Serial No; 558,219

Claims. (Cl. 128—78)

This invention relates to body supports and in partic- 15 ular to a support to relieve the spine of part of the compressive load endured by supporting the upper part of the body and any carried load.

There are many cases, particularly in advancing age, where the human spinal column develops inability to 20 support, in addition to the body, the normal loads carried in working or lifting objects of any weight.

When the spinal column is unable to support properly the loads of common work there is frequently pain in the region of the back and, through the nerves radiating 25 from the spine, pain may be felt in other parts of the body. The principal object of this invention is to provide additional support for the spine and prevent damage thereto and, in cases of impairment of the spine, to relieve pain which may be caused thereby and to assist in re- 30 coVery. A further object is to provide a support which will permit free movement of the body.

Other objects of the invention will appear as it is described in further detail in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 35

Figure 1 shows a general view of the device, Figure 2 shows the relationship of the forces developed and the support provided. Figure 3 shows a section at A—A of Figure 1, to illustrate a form of pivot. Figure 4 shows how the device permits the upper part of the ⁴θ body to be turned. Figure 5 shows how the device permits the body to lean forward. Figure 6 shows some details of construction in one form of strut. Figure 7 shows a variation in means for a flexible connection between the struts and the bands Of the device. ⁴⁵

In its preferred form the device comprises, as shown in Figure 1, an upper band or belt 11 which may be of leather or other flexible material. This band is adapted to fit around the body immediately below the arms and has portions 12 formed to a concave surface to accom- ³³modate the arms, a buckle or suitable fastener 13 is provided to permit attachment to the body.

A second band 14 is adapted to be fastened around the waist. This band is also made of flexible material and has two parts 15 adapted to fit the contours of the ³³hips. The band 14 also has a buckle 16 to permit attachment to the body.

The band 11 has attached to rt relatively rigid segments 17. The means of attachment of the segments 17 may be in the form of rivets 18. The segments 17 are curved ⁶⁰to fit the curvature of the body below the arms and said segments extend to a width which is greater than the width of the arms.

The band 14 also has segments 19 attached to a point approximately above the hips and said segments 19 are curved to fit the waist.

The concave parts 12 on band 11 are padded at their inner and upper surfaces with soft pads 21. In the lower band 14, at the concave parts 15 are also pads 22 extending over the inside and lower edge of the band as also shown in Figure 3. The pads 21 and 22 may be of foam rubber or other suitable material.

The bands 11 and 14 are attached to each other by thrust supporting struts 23 and 24. The upper end of the left strut is shown in Figure 1 as attached by a pivot 25 to one of the segments 17. The lower end of the strut 23 is attached to the segment 19 by a pivot 26 as shown in further detail in Figure 3. The pivot 26 is located at a point approximately above the hip joint as may be seen in Figures 2 and 5. The pivot 26 may be removable by unscrewing to permit length adjustment of the strut by selecting one of the several holes in the lower end Of the strut.

It will be seen in Figure 2 that the pivot 25 is positioned well toward the rear of the arm so that when the wearer is in an upright position, the strut 23 is at a considerable angle in relation to the body, with the upper end of said strut toward the back and the lower end of the strut toward the front of the body. The strut 24 is positioned at the opposite side, connected also to the bands by pivots .25 and 26, and said strut 24 is normally parallel to strut 23. having the same angular relation to the body.

The object of the angular position of the struts is to provide better support for the spinal column than would be provided by vertical struts. This is further shown in Figure 2, where the complete device is shown attached to a body 27. The spinal column is indicated by the broken line 28. A weight 29 is assumed to be carried by the arms 30. It is apparent, under these conditions, that to keep the spinal column in an upright position, considerable tension is required in the muscles of the back, in the region indicated at 31. It is evident from Figure 2 that the weight of the upper part of the body, in addition to any weight carried, and the tension in the back muscles, all contribute to a great deal of compressive load on the spinal column including the disks between the vertebrae.

Impairment of the disks between the vertebrae of the spinal column can result in discomfort or pain and such pain is greatly aggravated by carrying loads which can cause further compression of the disks.

The device I have shown provides a supporting structure between the shoulders and the hips, independent of the spine and, by placing the struts at an angle, the effect of a buttress is obtained, reducing the muscular effort necessary to hold the body erect and thereby reducing the compression on the disks.

Figure 4 shows the device with the upper band 11 rotated in the direction of the arrow. The pivoted connections between the rigid segments 17 and 19 and the struts 23 and 24 permit this rotation. The upper band 11 can also be rotated in the opposite direction to the arrow, in which case 23 and 24 will be in reverse of the angular position shown. It may be noted that the band 11. in Figure 4 is displaced somewhat from a horizontal position but this is not found to be objectionable. This flexibility of the device permits free turning of the shoulders in relation to the rest of the body.

Figure 5 shows how the pivoted connections between the segments 17 and 19 and the struts 23 and 24 permit the body to lean forward without undue hindrance. In this condition the importance of the pivot 26 being located near the hip joint is shown. The location of the hip joint is indicated at point 32 and it will be seen that the strut lies in a line between the hip and shoulders which does not change greatly in distance due to leaning forward.

Figure 6 shows a form of strut which may be made in two parts, axially movable in relation to each other. Part 33 comprises a cylinder which may have a threaded end 34. Inside of the cylinder is a spring 35 seated against the end 34. In the other end of the cylinder is a rod 36 which is axially movable in relation to the

2,886,031 cylinder. The rod 36 is formed with shoulders 37 to engage the free end of the spring. The shoulders 37 also form abutments to prevent the rod 36 from being separated from the cylinder by engaging the ring 38 screwed into the end of the cylinder. The cylinder may have a lower end as shown in Figure 1 or may have a threaded stud 39 adapted to fit the tube end 34 and said stud may be formed with a ball end 40, freely movable in a socket 42 attached to one of the segments 19. The stud 39 is formed with a knurled disk 41 to provide means for screwing the stud in or out of part 34, to thereby adjust the length of the strut. A knurled nut 43 is provided on stud 39 to lock the stud after adjustment.

The strut shown with a compression spring therein, as in Figures 1 and 6, may be adjusted so that some support for the body is provided at all times even when the body is in an upright position and not carrying additional load. When the shoulders of the wearer are pulled downward, as in carrying loads or bending forward, the springs can compress, thus avoiding discomfort which may occur with an axially rigid strut if it were long enough to support the body in all positions.

It will be seen that I provide two forms of supporting devices. The rigid strut shown in Figures 2, 4 and 5 may be worn with the length of the struts adapted to reach the armpits but provide little support when the body is in an upright position and carrying no load, but when carrying a load which pulls the shoulders downwards, the struts provide a great deal of support thereby preventing harm to the spinal column.

Figure 7 shows a modified means of attachment between the strut 23 and the segment 17. In this construction the strut 23 is formed with a ball end 44 set in a rubber seat 45. The seat 45 is contained in a housing 46 which may be riveted to segment 17. The parts 44, 45 and 46 may be held together by suitable adhesive or be vulcanized together.

The rubber seat 45 permits angular movement as of a hinge between the strut 23 and the segment 17. The seat 45 also permits a certain amount of compression under load and may be used as a substitute for the spring as shown in Figure 6.

It will be understood that all the pivots may be replaced by flexible hinges, such as described in Figure 7, to meet the requirements of flexibility as herein described.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited, save as defined in the appended claims.