Conformable back brace with abdominal support

• US 5,433,697 A
• Filed: 12/20/1993
• Issued: 07/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael F. Cox
• Original Assignee: Michael F. Cox
• Inventors: Cox, Michael F.
• Primary Examiner(s): DVORAK, LINDA C
• Application Number:
  US08/170,500
• Time in Patent Office: 575 Days
• Field of Search: 602/5, 602/6-8, 602/19, 128/96.1, 128/112.1, 128/115.1, 2/44, 2/45, 2/92
• US Class Current: 602/19
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/028 Braces for providing support to the lower back, e.g. lumbo sacral supports

Abstract

A brace of supporting both the abdomen and lower back of the user. The brace includes a preformed abdominal support member and a preformed lumbar support member having an ideal lumbar shape with a dome, the support members each joined by two belts. The belts are positioned though slots on each member and are used to select the biasing force need for each user. The device further includes rounded corners with indented edges and surface vents on each support; member for the user'"'"'s comfort during sporting events or strenuous activity.

Claims

1. A brace for supporting a user'"'"'s abdomen and lower back comprising:

abdominal support member for supporting the abdominal region of the user, said member having a first end and a second end, and including a plurality of adjustment slots adjacent to each of said first and second ends;

lumbar support member, having a first end and a second end, and including a plurality of adjustment slots adjacent to each of said first and second ends;

said lumbar support member incorporating a convex hemispherical dome sized for protrusion into the central lumbar region of the user for supporting and aligning the skeletal and muscular structure of the user'"'"'s lower back;

first and second belts attached to said adjustment slots at said first ends and said second ends respectively of said lumbar and said abdominal support members for increasing support pressure of said abdominal support member and said lumbar support member against the abdominal and lumbar regions of the user respectively.

2. The brace according to claim 1, wherein said abdominal and lumbar support members are made of thermal plastic which are preformed in anatomically conforming configurations in standard sizes each sized lumbar support member having a proportionally sized, protruding hemispherical dome, to precisely fit and support the user.

3. The brace according to claim 1 wherein said abdominal and lumbar support members are substantially rectangular and further include rounded tapered edges for preventing unwanted pressure during wear.

4. The brace according to claim 1, wherein said abdominal and lumbar support members include vents for allowing the circulation of air under each respective member.