Lumbar supporting belt

• US 5,413,262 A
• Filed: 05/07/1993
• Issued: 05/09/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sears Brands LLC (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sears Roebuck & Company (Sears Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Dewire, Robert J., Krueger, John D.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUSICK, ERNEST
• Application Number:
  US08/058,396
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• Field of Search: 224/901, 224/904, 224/208, 224/204, 224/206, 224/211, 224/215, 224/216, 224/253, 224/259, 224/209, 2/44, 2/338, 2/321, 2/DIG. 6, 2/312
• US Class Current: 224/675
• CPC Class Codes: A41F 9/002 Free belts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/028 Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/904 Tool holder carried by belt

Abstract

In order to prevent injury to the back, a lumbar supporting belt includes a relatively wide inner belt and a relatively narrow outer belt. The inner belt is adapted to extend about the waist of a person. It has a middle region adapted to be positioned in the lumbar region of the back and has opposing ends adapted to be placed in proximity to one another. The inner belt is formed of a soft, flexible material which can have its opposing ends releasably connected. The outer belt is also adapted to extend about the waist of a person. It overlies the inner belt and has opposing ends corresponding to the opposing ends of the inner belt which are adapted to be placed in proximity to one another. The outer belt is formed of a flexible, non-stretchable material which can have its opposing ends releasably connected. In addition, the lumbar supporting belt may have a tool pouch which is supported in position by at least the outer belt thereof.

Claims

1. A lumbar supporting belt, comprising:

a relatively wide inner belt adapted to extend entirely about the waist of a person, said inner belt having a middle region adapted to be positioned in the lumbar region of the back and having opposing ends adapted to be placed in proximity to one another, said inner belt being formed of a soft, flexible material;

means for releasably connecting said opposing ends of said inner belt to secure said inner belt about the waist of said person after said inner belt has been pulled tight with said middle region in the lumbar region of the back;

a relatively narrow outer belt adapted to extend entirely about the waist of a person, said outer belt overlying said inner belt and having opposing ends corresponding to said opposing ends of said inner belt and adapted to be placed in proximity to one another, said outer belt being formed of a flexible, non-stretchable material;

means for releasably connecting said opposing ends of said outer belt and tightening said outer belt to secure said outer belt tightly about the waist of said person after said inner belt has been stretched and said opposing ends of said inner belt have been connected;

said outer belt being formed to have a sufficient length to extend entirely about said inner belt in relatively moveable relationship; and

releasable support means on said inner belt for cooperation with corresponding releasably support means on a tool pouch when said releasably support means are disposed in generally confronting relationship, wherein the outer belt contributes to maintaining the cooperation of the releasable support means on said inner belt and said tool pouch.

2. The lumbar supporting belt of claim 1 wherein said inner belt has a plurality of loops disposed in spaced relation to receive said outer belt, each of said loops being permanently secured to said inner belt at two spaced points one of which is generally adjacent a top edge and the other of which is generally adjacent a bottom edge of said inner belt, said two spaced points where each of said loops is permanently secured to said inner belt being separated by a distance at least as great as the width of said outer belt.

3. The lumbar supporting belt of claim 1 wherein said inner belt includes a first pair of loops positioned near said opposing ends of said inner belt, said outer belt being of sufficient length that said opposing ends of said outer belt each extend through said first pair of loops by a distance sufficient to accommodate said releasable securing means, said inner belt also including a second pair of loops positioned inwardly of said first pair of loops generally toward said middle region of said inner belt.

4. The lumbar supporting belt of claim 1 including a tool pouch having a loop through which said outer belt extends in relatively movable relationship, said loop of said tool pouch having a front surface facing away from said inner belt and a rear surface facing toward said inner belt and said rear surface having releasable support means thereon, said inner belt having said corresponding releasable support means positioned generally near one of said opposing ends and away from said middle region thereof.

5. A lumbar supporting tool belt, comprising:

a relatively wide inner belt adapted to extend entirely about the waist of a person, said inner belt having a middle region adapted to be positioned in the lumbar region of the back and having opposing ends adapted to be placed in proximity to one another, said inner belt being formed of a soft, flexible material;

a plurality of spaced loops each of which is permanently secured to said inner belt at two spaced points one of which is generally adjacent a top edge and the other of which is generally adjacent a bottom edge of said inner belt;

means for releasably connecting said opposing ends of said inner belt to secure said inner belt about the waist of said person after said inner belt has been pulled tight with said middle region in the lumbar region of the back;

a relatively narrow outer belt adapted to extend entirely about the waist of a person, said outer belt overlying said inner belt and having opposing ends corresponding to said opposing ends of said inner belt and adapted to be placed in proximity to one another, said outer belt being formed of a flexible, non-stretchable material;

said outer belt being formed to have a sufficient length to extend through said loops and entirely about said inner belt in relatively movable relationship with said opposing ends positioned such that each can accommodate said releasable securing means;

means for releasably connecting said opposing ends of said outer belt and tightening said outer belt to secure said outer belt tightly about the waist of said person after said inner belt has been pulled tight and said opposing ends of said inner belt have been connected; and

a tool pouch having a loop through which said outer belt extends in relatively movable relationship to support said tool pouch and a rear surface facing toward the inner belt;

said inner belt and said tool pouch having cooperating releasable support means said releasable support means of said pouch being positioned on said rear surface.

6. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 5 wherein said two spaced points where each of said loops is permanently secured to said inner belt is separated by a distance at least as great as the width of said outer belt.

7. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 5 wherein said plurality of spaced loops permanently secured to said inner belt include at least a pair of said loops positioned near said opposing ends of said inner belt.

8. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 5 wherein said plurality of spaced loops permanently secured to said inner belt include at least a pair of said loops positioned near said middle region of said inner belt.

9. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 5 wherein said loop on said tool pouch is formed to have a front surface facing generally away from said inner belt and the rear surface facing generally toward said inner belt.

10. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 5 wherein said cooperating releasable support means includes a hook and loop fastener system associated with confronting surfaces of said inner belt and said tool pouch.

11. A lumbar supporting tool belt, comprising:

a relatively wide inner belt adapted to extend entirely about the waist of a person, said inner belt having a middle region adapted to be positioned in the lumbar region of the back and having opposing ends adapted to be placed in proximity to one another, said inner belt being formed of a soft, flexible material;

a plurality of spaced loops each permanently secured to said inner belt at a point generally adjacent a top edge thereof and at a point generally adjacent a bottom edge thereof, said two points where each of said loops is permanently secured to said inner belt being separated by a distance equal to or greater than the width of said outer belt;

means for releasably connecting said opposing ends of said inner belt to secure said inner belt about the waist of said person after said inner belt has been stretched with said middle region in the lumbar region of the back;

a relatively narrow outer belt adapted to extend entirely about the waist of a person, said outer belt overlying said inner belt and having opposing ends corresponding to said opposing ends of said inner belt and adapted to be placed in proximity to one another, said outer belt being formed of a flexible, non-stretchable material;

said outer belt being formed to have a sufficient length to extend through said loops and entirely about said inner belt in relatively movable relationship with said opposing ends positioned such that each can accommodate said-releasable securing means

means for releasably connecting said opposing ends of said outer belt and tightening said outer belt to secure said outer belt tightly about the waist of said person after said inner belt has been pulled fight and said opposing ends of said inner belt have been connected; and

a tool pouch having a loop through which said outer belt extends in relatively movable relationship to support said tool pouch, said inner belt and said tool pouch have cooperating releasable support means near one of said opposing ends of said inner belt, said cooperating releasable support means including a hook and loop fastener system on confronting surfaces of said inner belt and said tool pouch.

12. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 11 wherein said plurality of spaced loops permanently secured to said inner belt include at least a pair of said loops positioned near said opposing ends of said inner belt and at least a pair of said loops positioned near said middle region of said inner belt but spaced to opposite sides thereof.

13. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 11 wherein said loop on said tool pouch is formed to have a rear surface facing generally toward said inner belt and said rear surface of said loop has one portion of said fastener system thereon with said confronting surface of said inner belt having the other portion of said fastener system thereon.

14. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 11 wherein said releasable connecting means for said opposing ends of said inner belt comprises a hook and loop fastener system and said releasable connecting means for said opposing ends of said outer belt comprises a quick release male and female connector having integral belt tightening means.

15. A lumbar supporting tool belt, comprising:

a relatively wide inner belt adapted to extend entirely about the waist of a person, said inner belt having a middle region adapted to be positioned in the lumbar region of the back and having opposing ends adapted to be placed in proximity to one another, said inner belt being formed of a soft, flexible material;

a plurality of spaced loops each permanently secured to said inner belt at a point generally adjacent a top edge thereof and at a point generally adjacent a bottom edge thereof, said two points where each of said loops is permanently secured to said inner belt being separated by a distance equal to or greater than the width of said outer belt;

said plurality of spaced loops permanently secured to said inner belt including at least a first pair of said loops positioned generally near said opposing ends of said inner belt and at least a second pair of said loops positioned generally near said middle region of said inner belt but spaced to opposite sides thereof;

means for releasably connecting said opposing ends of said inner belt to secure said inner belt about the waist of said person after said inner belt has been pulled fight with said middle region in the lumbar region of the back;

a relatively narrow outer belt adapted to extend entirely about the waist of a person, said outer belt overlying said inner belt and having opposing ends corresponding to said opposing ends of said inner belt and adapted to be placed in proximity to one another, said outer belt being formed of a flexible, non-stretchable material;

said outer belt being formed to have a sufficient length to extend through said loops and entirely about said inner belt in relatively movable relationship with said opposing ends positioned such that each can accommodate said releasable securing means

means for releasably connecting said opposing ends of said outer belt and tightening said outer belt to secure said outer belt tightly about the waist of said person after said inner belt has been pulled tight and said opposing ends of said inner belt have been connected; and

a tool pouch having a loop through which said outer belt extends in relatively movable relationship to support said tool pouch, said inner belt and said tool pouch have cooperating releasable support means near one of said opposing ends of said inner belt, said cooperating releasable support means including a hook and loop fastener system on confronting surfaces of said inner belt and said tool pouch;

said loop on said tool pouch being formed to have a rear surface facing generally toward said inner belt and said rear surface of said loop having one portion of said fastener system thereon with said confronting surface of said inner belt having the other portion of said fastener system thereon and said loop being of a length corresponding to the spacing between corresponding adjacent loops on said inner belt.

16. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 15 wherein said releasable connecting means for said opposing ends of said inner belt comprises a hook and loop fastener system and said releasable connecting means for said opposing ends of said outer belt comprises a quick release male and female connector having integral belt tightening means.

17. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 15 including front and rear pairs of suspender connecting loops on said top edge of said inner belt.

18. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 17 including a pair of suspenders having loose ends adapted to be connected to said suspender connecting loops.

19. The lumbar supporting tool belt of claim 18 wherein said loose ends of said suspenders and said suspender connecting loops have co-operable releasable connecting means.