Adjustable brace apparatus

• US 8,864,695 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Townsend Industries, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Todd M. Thornton
• Inventors: Thornton, Todd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lewis, Kim M
• Application Number:
  US13/079,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20120253251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,296 Days
• Field of Search: 602/5, 602/19, 2310-312, 128/96.1, 128/98.1, 128/100.1, 128/101.1, 128/97.1, 128/99.1, 128/876
• 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

An adjustable brace apparatus provides, in an exemplary embodiment, a pair of elongate wings configured for wrapping about and substantially conforming to a portion of a body of a user, an adjustment sleeve configured for slidably receiving each of the wings, and a pair of first and second tightening segments removably engagable with each of the wings and slidably engaged and suspended within the adjustment sleeve, thereby enabling the wings to substantially float and selectively overlap atop one another within the adjustment sleeve. In use, the user is able to selectively position, wrap, and engage the wings around the user'"'"'s body portion, and selectively draw the wings closer against the user'"'"'s body portion.

Claims

1. An adjustable brace apparatus comprising:

a pair of elongate first and second wings configured for wrapping about and substantially conforming to a portion of a body of a user;

an adjustment sleeve configured for slidably receiving a first end of each of the first and second wings through opposing ends of the adjustment sleeve, the first ends capable of selectively overlapping atop one another therewithin;

a tightening means slidably engaged and suspended within the adjustment sleeve, the tightening means comprising;

a first tightening segment removably engagable with an outer surface of the first wing;

a second tightening segment removably engagable with an outer surface of the second wing;

an at least one cord operatively connected to the first and second tightening segments; and

a plurality of substantially perpendicular tightening posts mounted within each of the first and second tightening segments, with the at least one cord running around a tightening post on each tightening segment in alternation for providing a mechanical force advantage when pulled by the user, dependent upon the number of tightening posts mounted within each tightening segment, to draw the first and second wings closer against the user'"'"'s body portion; and

an opposing free second end of each of the first and second wings providing a means for removable engagement with one another;

whereby, during use of the apparatus, with the first ends of each of the first and second wings slidably inserted into the opposing ends of the adjustment sleeve and overlapped as necessary so as to substantially approximate a circumference of the user'"'"'s body portion, and with the tightening means removably engaged with the first and second wings, the user is able to selectively position and wrap the first and second wings around the user'"'"'s body portion, engage the free second ends, and selectively pull the at least one cord of the tightening means to create further compression.

2. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 1, wherein the means for removable engagement of the opposing free second ends of the first and second wings comprises hook-and-loop material.

3. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 2, wherein a portion of an inner surface of the first wing, proximal the second end, provides hook material.

4. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 3, wherein substantially an entirety of the outer surface of each of the first and second wings provides loop material.

5. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second tightening segments each provides a plurality of substantially U-shaped cord channels formed by U-shaped walls spaced from the substantially perpendicular tightening posts.

6. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 5, wherein each of the substantially perpendicular tightening posts provides a bearing rotatably engaged therewith and configured for reducing friction between the at least one cord and the tightening post.

7. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tightening means comprises a first cord operatively connected to the first tightening segment and a second cord operatively connected to the second tightening segment, each of the first and second cords running through alternating cord channels and around alternating tightening posts on each tightening segment in alternation.

8. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 7, wherein a free end of each of the first and second cords is integral with a pull ring.

9. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 8, wherein a bottom surface of each of the pull rings is configured for removable engagement with the outer surface of the first and second wings.

10. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second tightening segments provides an integral, relatively flat connector portion, a bottom surface of each connector portion configured for removable engagement with the outer surface of the corresponding first or second wing.

11. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 10, wherein the outer surface of each of the first and second wings provides a plurality of size indicia positioned and configured for assisting the user in consistently positioning each of the first and second tightening segments on the corresponding first and second wings in order to maintain a consistent circumference size.

12. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the adjustment sleeve provides an at least one elongate, relatively flexible, substantially laterally oriented segment track configured for slidably receiving and retaining an at least one track engagement means provided by the first tightening segment and an at least one further track engagement means provided by the second tightening segment.

13. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second tightening segments provides an at least one longitudinal flexing means configured for allowing the tightening means to selectively flex inwardly, toward the user'"'"'s body portion, and substantially conform to the contours of the user'"'"'s body portion during use of the apparatus.

14. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the adjustment sleeve provides a pocket sized and configured for removably receiving a relatively rigid support insert, the support insert configured for providing further structural and ergonomic support to the user'"'"'s body portion during use of the apparatus.

15. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an at least one relatively rigid wing panel selectively positionable on and removably engagable with one of the first and second wings, the at least one wing panel configured for providing further structural and ergonomic support to the user'"'"'s body portion during use of the apparatus.

16. An adjustable back brace apparatus comprising:

a pair of elongate first and second wings configured for wrapping about and substantially conforming to a torso of a user.

an adjustment sleeve configured for slidably receiving a first end of each of the first and second wings through opposing ends of the adjustment sleeve;

a tightening means comprising;

a first tightening segment providing a plurality of spaced apart substantially perpendicular first tightening posts mounted therewithin and an integral, relatively flat first connector portion, a bottom surface of the first connector portion configured for removable engagement with an outer surface of the first wing;

a second tightening segment providing a plurality of spaced apart substantially perpendicular second tightening posts mounted therewithin and an integral, relatively flat second connector portion, a bottom surface of the second connector portion configured for removable engagement with an outer surface of the second wing;

a first cord operatively connected to the first tightening segment and a second cord operatively connected to the second tightening segment, each of the first and second cords running around alternating first and second tightening posts in alternation for providing a mechanical force advantage when pulled by the user, dependent upon the number of tightening posts mounted within each tightening segment, to draw the first and second wings closer against the user'"'"'s torso; and

each of the first and second tightening segments providing an at least one longitudinal flexing means configured for allowing the tightening means to selectively flex and substantially conform to the contours of the user'"'"'s torso during use of the apparatus;

an inner surface of the adjustment sleeve providing an at least one elongate, relatively flexible segment track configured for slidable engagement with a top surface of each of the first and second tightening segments, enabling the first and second tightening segments to substantially float within the adjustment sleeve, thereby further enabling the first and second wings to selectively overlap therewithin;

an opposing free second end of each of the first and second wings providing a means for removable engagement with one another;

whereby, during use of the apparatus, with the adjustment sleeve positioned substantially adjacent a lower back of the user, the first ends of each of the first and second wings slidably inserted into the opposing ends of the adjustment sleeve and overlapped as necessary so as to substantially approximate the circumference of the user'"'"'s torso, and the tightening means removably engaged with the first and second wings, the user is able to selectively position and wrap the first and second wings around the user'"'"'s torso, engage the free second ends substantially adjacent an abdomen of the user, and selectively pull the first and second cords to create further compression.

17. An adjustable brace apparatus comprising:

a pair of elongate first and second wings configured for wrapping about and substantially conforming to a portion of a body of a user;

a tightening means comprising;

a first tightening segment engaged with an outer surface of the first wing and providing a plurality of substantially U-shaped first cord channels, formed by U-shaped walls spaced from a plurality of substantially perpendicular first tightening posts mounted within the first tightening segment;

a second tightening segment engaged with an outer surface of the second wing and providing a plurality of substantially U-shaped second cord channels, formed by U-shaped walls spaced from a plurality of substantially perpendicular second tightening posts mounted within the second tightening segment;

each of the first and second tightening posts providing a bearing rotatably engaged therewith;

an at least one cord operatively running through the first and second cord channels and around the bearings of the first and second tightening posts in alternation, for providing a mechanical force advantage when pulled by the user, dependent upon the number of tightening posts mounted within each tightening segment, to draw the first and second wings closer against the user'"'"'s body portion; and

each of the first and second tightening segments providing an at least one longitudinal flexing means configured for allowing the tightening means to selectively flex and substantially conform to the contours of the user'"'"'s body portion during use of the apparatus; and

an opposing free end of each of the first and second wings providing a means for removable engagement with one another;

whereby, during use of the apparatus, the user is able to selectively position and wrap the first and second wings around the user'"'"'s body portion, engage the free ends, and selectively pull the at least one cord of the tightening means to create further compression.

18. An adjustable brace apparatus comprising:

an at least one elongate wing configured for wrapping about and substantially conforming to a portion of a body of a user; and

a tightening means comprising;

a first tightening segment and an opposing second tightening segment each removably engagable with the at least one wing;

an at least one cord operatively connected to the first and second tightening segments and configured for selectively drawing the at least one wing closer against the user'"'"'s body portion; and

a pull ring secured to a free end of the at least one cord and comprising;

a thin, relatively resilient first portion defining a first ring aperture sized and configured for allowing the user to insert an at least one finger or thumb therethrough;

a thin, relatively rigid second portion integrally secured to a top surface of the first portion and defining a corresponding second ring aperture, the second ring aperture substantially aligned with the first ring aperture and providing a rounded annular inner edge extending a distance through, and substantially obscuring a portion of an inner edge of, the first ring aperture; and

the first and second portions together providing a cord capsule therebetween, configured for capturing and protecting the free end of the cord therewithin, the cord extending through a first cord aperture provided by the cord capsule;

whereby, during use of the apparatus, the user is able to selectively position, wrap, and engage the at least one wing around the user'"'"'s body portion and selectively pull the at least one pull ring of the tightening means to create further compression.

19. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first portion provides a second cord aperture positioned and configured for providing access to the free end of the cord within the cord capsule, whereby, the free end of the cord is able to be inserted through both the first and second cord apertures and knotted so that the free end is unable to be pulled back through the first cord aperture, at which point the cord may then be pulled back through the second cord aperture into the cord capsule, where it is substantially preserved from any potential damage or unintentional disengagement.

20. The adjustable brace apparatus of claim 18, wherein the top surface of the first portion of the pull ring provides loop material, an opposing bottom surface of the first portion provides hook material, and the second ring aperture of the second portion is sized and configured for allowing at least partial access to the loop material on the top surface of the first portion.