Back brace having pull cord for size adjustment

• US 7,727,172 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kao Chen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Kao Chen Enterprise Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Chih-Chuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown; Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US12/034,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20090118655A1
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 602/5, 602/19, 233/6, 233/7, 231/9, 233/8, 246/7
• 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 back brace includes a first brace member having a first connector, and a second brace member having a second connector and a coupler at two opposite sides thereof. The coupler is detachably connectable to the first connector. A first adjustment holder is affixed to one end of the first brace member and holds therein a first rod member. A second adjustment holder is affixed to one end of the second brace member and holds therein a second rod member. Two pull cords are inserted through the first adjustment holder and the second adjustment holder and run alternately back and forth over the first rod member and the second rod member to adjustably and abuttably hold the first and second brace members side by side. Two fastening members are fastened to distal ends of the pull cords and detachably connectable to the first and second connectors.

Claims

1. A back brace comprising:

a first brace member including a first belt body made of a flexible material, and a first connector mounted on one side of said first belt body;

a second brace member including a second belt body made of a flexible material, a second connector mounted on a first side of said second belt body, and a coupler mounted on a second side of said second belt body opposite to first side of said second belt body and detachably connectable to said first connector of said first brace member;

a first adjustment holder including a first holder body mounted on said first belt body and provided at an inside thereof with a plurality of first protrusions spacedly arranged, and a first rod member supported on said first protrusions and defining with said first protrusions a plurality of first insertion holes, said first holder body having a plurality of openings in communication with said first insertion holes;

a second adjustment holder including a second holder body mounted on said second belt body and provided at an inside thereof with a plurality of second protrusions spacedly arranged, and a second rod member supported on said second protrusions and defining with said second protrusions a plurality of second insertion holes, said second holder body having a plurality of openings in communication with said second insertion holes;

at least one pull cord inserted through said first adjustment holder and said second adjustment holder and alternately running through said first insertion holes and said second insertion holes in a zigzag manner around said first rod member and said second rod member, said pull cord having two opposite ends respectively extending out of said first holder body and said second holder body; and

two fastening members respectively affixed to the two opposite ends of said pull cord and detachably connectable to said first connector and said second connector.

2. The back brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first brace member further comprises a first hard support plate fixedly mounted on one side of said first belt body adjacent to one end of said first belt body for supporting the user'"'"'s back;

said second brace member further comprises a second hard support plate fixedly mounted on one side of said second belt body adjacent to one end of said second belt body for supporting the user'"'"'s back.

3. The back brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first connector is a tape of loop member of a hook and loop fastener extending along a major axis of said first belt body;

said second connector is a tape of loop member of a hook and loop fastener extending along a major axis of said second belt body;

said coupler is a tape of hook member of a hook and loop fastener;

said fastening members each are a tape of hook member of a hook and loop fastener.

4. The back brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first holder body comprises a first bottom shell and a first top cover shell, said first bottom shell being affixed to said first belt body and provided with said first protrusions, said first cover shell being covered on said first bottom shell to hold said first rod member on said first protrusions between said first bottom shell and said first top cover shell, said first cover shell defining the openings of said first holder body;

said second holder body comprises a second bottom shell and a second top cover shell, said second bottom shell being affixed to said second belt body and provided with said second protrusions, said second cover shell being covered on said second bottom shell to hold said second rod member on said second protrusions between said second bottom shell and said second top cover shell, said second cover shell defining the openings of said second holder body.