CA2131736A1 - Back support - Google Patents

Back support

Info

Publication number
CA2131736A1
CA2131736A1 CA002131736A CA2131736A CA2131736A1 CA 2131736 A1 CA2131736 A1 CA 2131736A1 CA 002131736 A CA002131736 A CA 002131736A CA 2131736 A CA2131736 A CA 2131736A CA 2131736 A1 CA2131736 A1 CA 2131736A1
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
shell
support
flexible
curvature
panels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
CA002131736A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David Quennell
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to CA002131736A priority Critical patent/CA2131736A1/en
Priority to PCT/CA1995/000120 priority patent/WO1996007344A1/en
Priority to AU17518/95A priority patent/AU1751895A/en
Publication of CA2131736A1 publication Critical patent/CA2131736A1/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47CCHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C7/00Parts, details, or accessories of chairs or stools
    • A47C7/36Support for the head or the back
    • A47C7/40Support for the head or the back for the back
    • A47C7/46Support for the head or the back for the back with special, e.g. adjustable, lumbar region support profile; "Ackerblom" profile chairs
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61GTRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/10Parts, details or accessories
    • A61G5/1091Cushions, seats or abduction devices
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61GTRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G5/00Chairs or personal conveyances specially adapted for patients or disabled persons, e.g. wheelchairs
    • A61G5/10Parts, details or accessories
    • A61G5/12Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet
    • A61G5/122Rests specially adapted therefor, e.g. for the head or the feet for the back
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61GTRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
    • A61G2210/00Devices for specific treatment or diagnosis
    • A61G2210/10Devices for specific treatment or diagnosis for orthopedics

Abstract

A back support comprising a substantially rigid shell having a back portion and side portion. On the front face of the shell are mounted flexible support panels which include a central panel running down the middle of the back portion and adjustable to conform to the spinal region. Side support panels extend outwardly and forwardly to provide support for the upper, middle, and lower sides. The flexible support panels are manually adjustable by threaded means mounted on the shell.

Description

~:13173~ 1 .
1 BAC~ ~ur~
2 This invention relates to an improved design for a 3 backrest. More particularly, it relates to a design for a 4 backrest which may be employed in conjunction with a wheelchair or the like and is suited for people who require 6 postural support.

7 As society pays more attention to the mobility of 8 people who are physically disabled, there is an increasing g supply of vehicles, such as wheelchairs and motorized chairs, lo etc.

11 However, many of these are of the traditional style 12 which provide only a fabric panel for the seat and backrest, L3 or more modern versions which provide a well upholstered and L4 padded seat designed for comfort and posture.

Although these meet the needs of those people who L6 have difficulty walking, most of these conventional devices do 7 not provide adequate back support for those people who could ~8 sit upright in a chair or wheelchair but require specialized _ 1support because of muscular-skeletal problems such as 2curvature of the spine or degenerative conditions.

3Numerous devices have been developed in response to 4the well known problem commonly known as "low back pain 5syndrome" but most of these are directed to providing support 6for the natural curvature of the lumbar portion of the spine.

7These devices are found in office chairs, automobile seats, 8and portable backrests.

gIt is the purpose of this invention to provide a 10back support for people with more serious disability, capable 11of being adjusted in various ways to provide a variety of 12configurations adaptable to the needs of the individual user.

13It is also the purpose of this invention to provide 14a back support which is capable of being used in conjunction with a vehicle such as a wheelchair.

16These objects and other advantages may be achieved 17by means of a back support of the present invention which 18comprises a substantially rigid shell having a back portion 1 and forwardly angled side portions. The front face of the 2 shell has flexible panels including a central panel extending 3 along the spinal region with a means to adjust curvature which 4 corresponds to the lumbar region of the spine. Flexible side support panels are fastened to the back portion of the shell 6 near the central panel and extend outwardly and forwardly in 7 a curvature which is adjustable by means which extend from the 8 rear of the side portions of the shell. Preferably the side g panels are divided into upper, middle, and lower regions which are individually adjustable relative to each other and the 11 shell by knobs located on the rear of the shell.

i2 The invention may be better understood by a L3 description of one embodiment thereof with reference to the L4 accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a backrest in L 6 accordance with the present invention;

~7 Figure 2 is an elevation view of the front of the 18 backrest in Figure l;

~3~73~

1 Figure 3 is an elevation view of the back of the 2 backrest in Figure 1;

3 Figure 4 is a side elevation of the backrest in 4 Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a plan view of the backrest in Figure 1;

6 Figure 6 is an elevation view of means for attaching 7 the backrest to a wheelchair or the like;

8 Figure 7 is a plan view of the attachment means in g Figure 6.

In the illustrated embodiment the invention 11 comprises a substantially rigid shell 2 having a flat upright 12 rectangular back portion 4 and diagonally extending side 13 portions 6 and 8 respectively on either side of the back 14 portion.

Although the invention is not limited to specific 16 dimensions, the device is in the order of 18 inches L7 horizontally and vertically depending on the size of the 18 person and degree of support that is intended to be provided.

~13~7~6 -1 Mounted on the front, and extending down the middle 2 of the back portion of the shell, is a flexible central panel 3 10 which is fastened to the shell at the top and bottom by 4 fasteners 12 and 14 respectively.

As shown in Figure 1, this central panel has an 6 adjustable outward curvature near the lower end at 16 which 7 corresponds to the lumbar region of the spine. As seen in 8 Figures 4, 5 and 6, an adjusting knob 18 on the back g cooperates with a threaded bolt 20 extending through the shell O to increase or decrease the amount of outward curvature at 16 Ll according to the desired adjustment. By turning the knob 18 .2 the bolt 20 will be caused to press against the unexposed side 3 of the central panel 10 to a greater or lesser degree. Thus, 4 the curvature along the vertical plane perpendicular to the back is adjustable to suit the user.

6 As best seen in Figure 2, a pair of flexible side 7 support panels 22 and 24 are mounted on either side of the 8 central panel 10 by means of a strip 26 and fasteners 28.

~13173~

1 Extending outwardly from the fastening strips 26, 2 the flexible panels 22 are curved forward with a curvature 3 which is flexible and adjustable by means which will be 4 described hereafter.

To provide additional adjustability, the side panels 6 are partially divided into upper portions 22a and 24a, middle 7 portions 22b and 24b, and lower portion 22c and 24c. These 8 conform to (a) the upper back or shoulder, (b) the middle body 9 or sides, and (c) the lower back or pelvic region LO respectively.

Ll The flexible portions 22a, 22b, 22c, 24a, 24b, 24c 2 are all individually adjustable by means of the knobs 30.

3 Each of these is threadably connected to a bolt 32 which 4 extends through the shell and is fastened to the flexible s portion by a fastener 34 so that when the knob 32 is turned 6 the bolt is moved perpendicular to the side panel 6, or 4, 7 depending on which rotation is applied.

8 In the illustrated embodiment a spring 36 is imposed ~31~3~
-1 between the flexible portion and the side panel of the shell 2 tending to bias the flexible portion forwardly and inwardly to 3 a greater degree of curvature. The flexible portion may also 4 be fabricated with a degree of curvature which tends to bias the panels in that direction as well.

6 Therefore, in the illustrated embodiment if the 7 knobs 30 are "released" the panels will tend to curve forward 8 and inwardly by their own preferred configuration, and by the 9 urging of the springs 36. If the knobs are "tightened" they will tend to draw the flexible panels back closer to the shape Ll of the shell and open the curvature to a flatter 2 configuration.

3 It will be noted that each of the flexible portions 4 has a pair of adjustable knobs so that the upper, middle and lower portions on each side may each be individually and 6 differently adjusted according to the posture or requirement 7 of the user.

8 It will of course be understood, although not 1 illustrated, that this support may be made more comfortable 2 for the user by lining it with some form of cushioning such as 3 sponge, rubber, or synthetic foam. It is a matter of design, 4 choice, or user preference whether the cushioning is a single sheet or layer which may be shaped by the backrest because of 6 its inherent flexibility, or whether separate pieces are 7 mounted on different areas of the backrest.

8 It is also conceivable that the cushioning material g may be permanently affixed to the back support by adhesive or formed in place. Alternatively, the cushioning may be 11 releasably attached to the back support by means of fasteners L2 or Velcro (trade mark) strips.

Since it is intended that one purpose of the present 4 invention is for use in conjunction with wheelchairs and the ~5 like, the shell is provided on the side panels 4 and 6 with a L6 series of holes 38 to which may be attached a set of hooks, 7 one of which is illustrated at 40 in the illustrated 8 embodiment designed to fit against the upright handles or 7 ~ 6 9 -1backrest support found on most wheelchairs.

2Figure 6 illustrates in greater detail this 3attaching means wherein the side panel 6 has a hook 40 mounted 4thereon by a fastener 42 through one of the holes 38. The shook engages the shaft 44 of a conventional wheelchair and is 6held in place by a clip 46 which has an upright portion 48 to 7prevent the hook from moving forward and may be held in place 8by a set screw 50.

gThus, by means of the present invention, a back 10support having a substantially rigid shell may be used in 11conjunction with a wheelchair to provide support for people 12who need it. In addition, the back support may be 13individually adjusted on each side for the upper, middle and 14lower part of the back and sides of the user by means of the l5individual adjusting means provided. As shown at 29 in Figure 164, it is considered advisable to provide apertures which may 17be elongated, horizontal slots for the adjusting means to pass 18through the shell and allow for some lateral movement of the 7 ~ 6 1 adjusting means as the shape of the flexible panels changes.

2 By means of the present invention, the side support, 3 or the contour of the central spinal area, may be individually 4 adjusted. This permits the backrest to be changed for different users, or to be readjusted at different times 6 depending on the needs of the user.

7 It will, of course, be understood that numerous 8 modifications and variations of the illustrated embodiment may g be employed without departing from the inventive concept .0 herein.

Claims (4)

1. A back support comprising:

- a substantially rigid shell having a front and rear surface, and having a back portion and forwardly angled side portions on either side of said back portion;

- adjustably curved, flexible, support panels mounted on the front surface of said rigid shell;

- means to adjust the curvature of said flexible support panels.
2. A back support as claimed in claim 1 including a central back support panel mounted vertically along the centre of said back portion and means mounted on said shell to manually adjust the curvature of the lower portion of said central back support panel.
3. A back support as claimed in claim 1 in which said flexible support panels include at least one side support panel, one side of which is mounted to the back portion of said shell near the central back support panel;

- the remainder of said flexible side support extending outwardly and forwardly with an adjustable curvature;

- means mounted on said shell to manually adjust the curvature of said side support panel.
4. A backrest as claimed in claim 3 in which said side support panel is divided into upper, middle, and lower regions, each of which is separately adjustable.
CA002131736A 1994-09-09 1994-09-09 Back support Abandoned CA2131736A1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002131736A CA2131736A1 (en) 1994-09-09 1994-09-09 Back support
PCT/CA1995/000120 WO1996007344A1 (en) 1994-09-09 1995-03-01 Adjustable back support
AU17518/95A AU1751895A (en) 1994-09-09 1995-03-01 Adjustable back support

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA002131736A CA2131736A1 (en) 1994-09-09 1994-09-09 Back support

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA2131736A1 true CA2131736A1 (en) 1996-03-10

Family

ID=4154289

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA002131736A Abandoned CA2131736A1 (en) 1994-09-09 1994-09-09 Back support

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1751895A (en)
CA (1) CA2131736A1 (en)
WO (1) WO1996007344A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6059370A (en) * 1997-09-19 2000-05-09 Sunrise Medical Hhg Inc. Wheelchair seat back pelvic support system
NL1016775C2 (en) * 2000-12-01 2002-06-04 Tripuck Bv Back support device for people with deformed back, comprises deformable support part with locking mechanism
GB0106247D0 (en) * 2001-03-14 2001-05-02 Williams David N L Improvements relating to supports
DK1354538T3 (en) 2002-04-19 2006-09-18 Performance Health Products Lt Backrest for a chair, especially for a wheelchair
FR2896967A1 (en) * 2006-02-07 2007-08-10 Eric Saugere Molded seat shell device for use in e.g. hospital, has backrest deformable along direction of width and rigid along its height, and support devices assembled with self supporting base having sliding element for extension of base
US7896438B2 (en) 2006-09-29 2011-03-01 Sunrise Medical Hhg, Inc. Shapeable wheelchair seatback assembly
NL2006664C2 (en) 2011-04-26 2012-10-29 P R Sella B V BACKREST, METHOD FOR SETTING A BACKREST AND (ROLL) SEAT WITH A BACKREST.
FR3005848B1 (en) 2013-05-23 2021-01-15 Evom MODULAR ARTICULATED DORSAL PROTECTION DEVICE

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1169625B (en) * 1958-06-11 1964-05-06 Alvar Barvaeus Backrest with a shaped surface made of elastically flexible length parts for seating or the like.
GB1367628A (en) * 1971-12-08 1974-09-18 Secr Defence Lumbar support means
US4658807A (en) * 1982-10-25 1987-04-21 International Positioning Systems, Ltd. Method for supporting and positioning the human anatomy
US4793652A (en) * 1987-08-11 1988-12-27 Arbutus Society For Children Orthopaedic seating device
US5035467A (en) * 1988-09-15 1991-07-30 Pin Dot Products Seating system
US4898425A (en) * 1989-06-28 1990-02-06 Mundy Philip C Seat belt kit for wheelchairs
EP0721753B1 (en) * 1991-02-20 2000-01-26 Sunrise Medical HHG Inc. Deformity back system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1751895A (en) 1996-03-27
WO1996007344A1 (en) 1996-03-14

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
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