Lumbar belt including a lumbar relief strap
Patent Information
- Application Number
- FR2023010643
- Authority / Receiving Office
- FR · FR
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-05
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-31
- Estimated Expiration
- 2043-10-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing lumbar belts with additional straps are bulky, weigh heavily on the belt, and reduce breathability, compromising comfort while providing lumbar support.
The lumbar belt features an additional strap fixed to the dorsal plastron in a lower and upper fixing zone, spaced apart to reduce coverage over the dorsal plastron, thereby minimizing size and weight while maintaining lumbar discharge effectiveness.
This design enhances breathability and comfort by reducing the additional strap's bulk and weight, while maintaining the necessary lumbar discharge points, ensuring effective support and relief for the user.
Smart Images
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Abstract
Description
Title of the invention: Lumbar belt comprising a lumbar relief strap
[0001] The present invention relates to a lumbar belt of the type comprising a main body extending in a main direction between two body ends attachable to each other in a reversible manner to surround the abdomen of a user, said main body comprising an internal face, intended to be applied against the body of the user, and an external face, opposite the internal face, said lumbar belt comprising a dorsal breastplate provided substantially in the center of the lumbar belt in the main direction, said lumbar belt further comprising an additional strap extending between two strap ends attachable to each other and / or to the body ends in a reversible manner opposite the body ends.
[0002] Such a lumbar belt is arranged to provide support and elastic reinforcement on the lumbar area of a user in order to relieve pain in the lower spine of this user. The dorsal plastron, positioned thanks to the main body opposite the spine of the user, provides in particular the support necessary for postural recall.
[0003] It is known to provide an additional strap fixed to the main body to extend above and around the main body around the abdomen of the user in order to reinforce the lumbar relief provided by the lumbar belt. Such an additional strap is generally permanently fixed to the rear of the belt, opposite the dorsal breastplate, and extends to two ends removably attachable to the front of the belt, one on the other and / or on the body of the lumbar belt.
[0004] More particularly, the additional strap is fixed, for example by sewing, over the entire height of the main body and has a constant height substantially equal to that of the main body. Thus, the additional strap is particularly bulky and weighs down the lumbar belt. In addition, it reduces the “breathability” of the lumbar belt, particularly at the level of the dorsal breastplate.
[0005] One of the aims of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a lumbar belt comprising an additional strap providing additional lumbar relief and whose bulk on the main body is reduced.
[0006] To this end, the invention relates to a lumbar belt of the aforementioned type, in which said additional strap is furthermore permanently fixed on the external face of the dorsal breastplate in a lower fixing zone and in an upper fixing zone, said lower fixing zone and said upper fixing zone being spaced apart. from each other in a direction of elevation of the dorsal plastron substantially perpendicular to the main direction. By providing an attachment of the additional strap on the dorsal plastron only in a lower attachment zone and in an upper attachment zone, these zones being spaced from each other, the additional strap does not cover the dorsal plastron over its entire height, which reduces its bulk and weight. In addition, the breathability of the lumbar belt is increased, in particular in the areas not covered by the additional strap at the level of the dorsal plastron, which improves the comfort of the lumbar belt.The attachment of the additional strap in the lower and upper areas does not come at the expense of the lumbar relief provided by the additional strap, the additional strap allowing the generation of the three necessary relief points, namely two points in the back at the level of the attachment areas and one point at the front at the level of the removable attachment of the ends of the additional strap.
[0007] The lumbar belt according to the invention may further comprise one or more of the following characteristics, considered alone or in any technically conceivable combination: - the additional strap comprises two sections of strap each extending from the lower and upper attachment zones to one of the strap ends, each section of strap being permanently attached to the dorsal breastplate at a dorsal end opposite the strap end; - the dorsal ends of the strap sections are spaced apart from each other in the main direction; - the distance between the dorsal ends of the strap sections is approximately between 40 mm and 60 mm depending on the main direction; - the dorsal plastron comprises at least two stays spaced apart from each other in the main direction on either side of a central zone of the dorsal plastron, each stay extending in the elevation direction between a lower end and an upper end, the dorsal end of each section of strap being fixed to the lower end and to the upper end of one of said stays; - the external face of the central area of the dorsal breastplate is clear and not covered by the additional strap; - each strap section comprises a lower branch and an upper branch extending between the dorsal end and the strap end, the lower branch and the upper branch being fixed to each other or being integral with the strap end, the lower branch being fixed in the lower fixing zone of the dorsal breastplate and the upper branch being fixed in the upper fixing zone of the dorsal breastplate at the end dorsal; - the lower branch and the upper branch at the dorsal end are approximately between 50 mm and 100 mm depending on the direction of elevation; - the additional strap is sewn or welded to the lower attachment area and the upper attachment area of the back plate.
[0008] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of non-limiting example, and made with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
[0009] [Fig-1] - [Fig.l] is a schematic perspective representation of a belt lumbar according to the invention seen from the front,
[0010] [Fig.2] - [Fig.2] is a schematic representation of the external face of the body main part of the lumbar belt of [Fig.l], the additional strap being removed,
[0011] [Fig.3] - [Fig.3] is a schematic representation of a part of the external face of the lumbar belt of [Fig.l], showing the attachment areas of the additional strap, and
[0012] [Fig.4] - [Fig.4] is a schematic side view of the lumbar belt worn by a user showing the lumbar relief points generated by the additional strap.
[0013] With reference to Figs. 1 to 3, there is described a lumbar belt 1 comprising a main body 2 and an additional strap 4.
[0014] The main body 2 is more particularly shown in [Fig. 2] and extends in a main direction D between two body ends 6. The main body 2 defines an inner face 8, intended to be applied against or turned towards the body of a user when the lumbar belt 1 is worn, and an outer face 10, opposite the inner face and turned towards the outside when the lumbar belt 1 is worn. The two body ends 6 are reversibly attachable to each other to close the lumbar belt around the abdomen of the user. For this purpose, the body ends 6 comprise, for example, complementary and reversible fastening elements extending at least on the inner face 8 of one of the body ends 6 and on the outer face 10 of the other body end 6. Such complementary fastening elements are, for example, of the self-gripping type, such as loops cooperating with hooks, or the like.
[0015] The lumbar belt 1 comprises, between the two ends of the body 6, a dorsal breastplate 12 arranged to be positioned opposite the spinal column of a user wearing the lumbar belt 1. For this purpose, the dorsal breastplate 12 is placed substantially in the center of the main body along the main direction D between the two ends of the body 6, that is to say substantially equidistant from the two ends of the body 6.
[0016] More particularly, according to the embodiment shown in the figures, the body 2 comprises two sections of textile sheet 14 extending on either side of the dorsal plastron 12 in the main direction D and each forming one of the ends of the body 6. Each section of textile sheet 14 is permanently fixed, for example by sewing or welding, to the dorsal plastron 12, the sections of textile sheet 14 and the dorsal plastron 12 forming the body 2 of the lumbar belt 1, as shown in [Fig.2].
[0017] Each section of textile sheet 14 comprises for example at least one strip of textile material 16 extending between an edge 18 of the back plate 12 and one of the strap ends 6. The strip of textile material 16 is for example extensible or elastic so that the tightening of the body 2 around the abdomen of a user is adjustable by stretching the sections of textile sheet 14 before fixing the body ends 6 to each other. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, each section of textile sheet 14 comprises two strips of textile material 16 adjacent to each other at the edge 18 of the back plate 12 in an elevation direction E substantially perpendicular to the main direction D and overlapping each other progressively going towards the corresponding strap end 6 in the main direction D, as more particularly visible in [Fig. 2],
[0018] The dorsal breastplate 12 is for example formed by a substantially rigid plate shaped to have the desired shape so that the dorsal breastplate 12 can fulfill its lumbar support function. Thus, the dorsal plastron 12 is for example shaped to comprise at least two ribs 20 extending in the elevation direction E between a lower end 22 and an upper end 24. The ribs 20 are spaced apart from each other in the main direction D and are, for example, connected to each other by a bridge of material extending between the two ribs 20. The area of the dorsal plastron 12 extending between the two ribs 20 forms a central area 26 of the dorsal plastron 12. The edges of the ribs 20 opposite the bridge 26 form for example the edges 18 of the plastron 12 to which the sections of textile sheet 14 are fixed. According to the embodiment shown in [Fig.2], the dorsal plastron 12 further comprises extensions 28 extending projecting from the edges of the whales 20 in the main direction D and forming complementary lumbar support elements extending substantially in the elevation direction E. Such extensions 28 extend for example on the internal face 8 or on the external face 10 of the sections of textile sheet 14.
[0019] It is understood that such an embodiment of dorsal plastron 12 is given only by way of example and that the dorsal plastron 12 may have another shape, for example by comprising additional ribs or by being made in several parts fixed to each other by means of sections of textile sheet, as shown in [Fig.l]. Also as a variant, the dorsal plastron 12 is removably fixed to the main body 2, for example on the internal face 8 of the main body. In this case, the part of the body 2 extending over the dorsal plastron 12 is considered to be part of the dorsal plastron 12.
[0020] In a known manner, the whales 20 of the dorsal breastplate 12 are for example plastically deformable so that their shape in the direction of elevation adapts to the morphology of the user of the lumbar belt 1.
[0021] According to one embodiment, the dorsal breastplate 12 is made of two pieces intended to extend on either side of the spinal column when the lumbar belt is worn. These two pieces are for example fixed to each other by a flexible material, such as a textile material or other. In this case, each piece of the dorsal breastplate 12 comprises for example at least one whalebone 20.
[0022] The additional strap 4 is fixed to the external face 10 of the back plate 12 so as to extend above the main body 2 and the back plate 12 and to cover a portion of the main body 2 when the lumbar belt 1 is worn by a user. As will be described in more detail later, the additional strap 4 extends in the main direction D between two strap ends 30 and is permanently fixed to the external face 10 of the main body 2 opposite the back plate 12. Apart from this fixing, the additional strap 4 is free relative to the main body 2 when the additional strap 4 is not secured to the main body 2 by means of its strap ends 30.Indeed, the strap ends 30 are reversibly attachable to each other and / or to the body ends 6 of the main body 2 opposite the body ends 6 to reversibly fix the additional strap 4 on the main body and around the user's body, as shown in [Fig.l]. For this purpose, the strap ends 30 comprise complementary and reversible fixing elements extending on the internal face and / or on the external face of the strap ends 30, these fixing elements being compatible with those provided on the body ends 6 in order to allow the strap ends 30 to be fixed to each other or to the body ends 6.According to one embodiment and as known per se, the strap ends 30 each comprise, for example, a gripping element, for example in the form of a pocket, allowing a user to adjust the fixing position of said strap ends 30 on each other and / or on the body ends 6. The additional strap 4 is for example made of the same material as that of the main body 2.
[0023] As indicated previously, the additional strap 4 is permanently attached to the dorsal breastplate 12. By “permanently attached”, it is meant that the attachment of the additional strap 4 is not reversible, that is to say that, to detach the additional strap 4 of the dorsal breastplate 12, it would be necessary to destroy the attachment between these two elements.
[0024] More particularly, the additional strap 4 is fixed to the external face 10 of the dorsal breastplate 12 in a lower fixing zone 32 on the one hand and in an upper fixing zone 34 on the other hand. The lower fixing zone 32 and the upper fixing zone 34 are distinct from each other and spaced apart from each other in the elevation direction E. In other words, the lower 32 and upper 34 fixing zones are formed by distinct zones of the external face 10 of the main body 2 spaced apart from each other in the elevation direction E and not overlapping, even partially. Thus, between the lower attachment zone 32 and the upper attachment zone 34, the dorsal breastplate 12 comprises a “bare” zone, i.e. not covered by the additional strap 4 and the external face 10 of which is exposed to the outside of the lumbar belt 1.Thus, at the level of the dorsal plastron 12, the additional strap 4 does not extend over the entire height of the main body 2, measured along the elevation direction E, but only over the lower attachment zone 32 and the upper attachment zone 34. This makes it possible to reduce the quantity of material of the additional strap and thus to lighten the lumbar belt 1 and improve its comfort. In addition, the breathability of the lumbar belt 1 is improved, in particular at the level of the bare area of the main body 2 between the lower 32 and upper 34 attachment zones. It should be noted that this improvement in the comfort of the lumbar belt 1 is not at the expense of the lumbar relief offered by the additional strap 4. Indeed, as represented by the arrows in [Fig.4], the additional strap 4 generates the three points, or areas, of relief necessary to provide this lumbar relief, namely a point at the level of the attachment of the strap ends 30 on the front of the lumbar belt, a point at the level of the lower attachment area 32 and a point at the level of the upper attachment area 34 at the rear of the lumbar belt 1.
[0025] According to an embodiment not shown, the additional strap 4 is made in a single piece comprising an opening, having for example a diamond, ovoid or elliptical shape between the strap ends 30 in the main direction D. The zones of the additional strap 4 extending below and above the opening in the elevation direction E are then respectively fixed, for example by sewing, to the lower fixing zone 32 and to the upper fixing zone 34, for example on the external face of the dorsal plastron 12 when the main body 2 comprises two sections of textile sheet 14 extending on either side of the dorsal plastron 12, as described previously. The largest dimension of the opening in the elevation direction is for example substantially between 50 mm and 100 mm, this dimension depending in particular on the height of the dorsal plastron 12.So, for a dorsal plastron 12 with a height of 21 cm, the largest . dimension of the opening in the elevation direction E is for example substantially equal to 60 mm and, for a dorsal plastron 12 with a height of 26 cm, this dimension is for example substantially equal to 90 mm. The largest dimension of the opening in the main direction D corresponds for example to the distance between the two ribs 20, that is to say that it corresponds to the width of the central zone 26 measured in the main direction D. This dimension is for example substantially between 40 mm and 60 mm, for example substantially equal to 50 mm.
[0026] According to the embodiment shown in [Fig. 3], the additional strap 4 comprises two strap sections 38 each extending between a dorsal end 40, fixed to the lower fixing zone 32 and to the upper fixing zone 34, and one of the strap ends 30. More particularly, each strap section 38 comprises a lower branch 42 whose dorsal end 40 is fixed to the lower fixing zone 32 and an upper branch 44 whose dorsal end 40 is fixed to the upper fixing zone 34. These lower 42 and upper 44 branches converge towards each other in the main direction D going towards the strap end 30 and are fixed to each other or are made of material at the strap end 30. In other words, each strap section 38 has a V shape whose tip is formed by the strap end 30.
[0027] According to this embodiment, the dorsal ends 40 of the two strap sections 38 are spaced apart from each other in the main direction D so that the additional strap 4 does not completely cover the lower attachment zone 32 and the upper attachment zone 34, as shown in [Fig. 3]. More particularly, for each strap section 38, the dorsal end 40 of the lower branch 42 is for example fixed at the lower end 22 of a whalebone 20, in a zone adjacent to the whalebone 20, and the dorsal end 40 of the upper branch 44 is fixed at the upper end 24 of the same whalebone 20, in a zone adjacent to the whalebone 20 aligned with the zone in which the dorsal end 40 of the lower branch 42 is fixed in the elevation direction E.Thus, according to this embodiment, the entire external face 10 of the central zone 26 of the dorsal breastplate 12 is clear and not covered by the additional strap, as shown in [Fig. 3]. This embodiment is therefore particularly advantageous in terms of lightening the additional strap and breathability of the dorsal breastplate 12 while preserving the lumbar relief generated by this additional strap 4.
[0028] According to this embodiment, the distance d between the lower branch 42 and the upper branch 44 at the dorsal end 40 is substantially between 50 mm and 100 mm depending on the elevation direction. This distance d corresponds to the clear space separating the lower attachment zone 32 and the upper attachment zone 34. This dimension d depends in particular on the height of the dorsal plastron 12. Thus, for a dorsal breastplate 12 with a height of 21 cm, the distance d is for example substantially equal to 60 mm and, for a dorsal breastplate 12 with a height of 26 cm, the distance d is for example substantially equal to 90 mm. At the dorsal end 40, the distance from the lower edge of the lower branch 42 to the upper edge of the upper branch 44, that is to say the distance corresponding to the total height of each strap section 38 measured in the elevation direction E at the dorsal end 40, is substantially between 200 mm and 250 mm. More particularly, for a dorsal breastplate 12 with a height of 21 cm, the distance d is for example substantially equal to 200 mm and, for a dorsal breastplate 12 with a height of 26 cm, the distance d is for example substantially equal to 250 mm.The distance 1 separating the dorsal ends 40 of the two strap sections 38, measured along the main direction D, is for example substantially between 40 mm and 60 mm, for example substantially equal to 50 mm.
[0029] Each section of strap 38 is for example sewn or welded to the back plate so as to ensure the permanent attachment of the additional strap 4 to the main body 2.
[0030] The lumbar belt 1 described above is thus particularly comfortable to wear for a user while generating the desired lumbar relief for the user.
Claims
Demands
1. Lumbar belt (1) comprising a main body (2) extending along a principal direction D between two body ends (6) reversibly attachable to each other to encircle the abdomen of a user, said main body (2) comprising an inner face (8), intended to be applied against the user's body, and an outer face (10), opposite the inner face (8), said lumbar belt comprising a back support (12) provided substantially in the center of the lumbar belt along the principal direction D, said lumbar belt further comprising an additional strap (4) extending between two strap ends (30) reversibly attachable to each other and / or to the body ends (6) opposite the body ends (6),characterized in that said additional strap (4) is further permanently fixed to the outer face (10) of the dorsal breastplate (12) in a lower attachment zone (32) and in an upper attachment zone (34), said lower attachment zone (32) and said upper attachment zone (34) being spaced apart along an elevation direction (E) of the dorsal breastplate (12) substantially perpendicular to the principal direction (D), the dorsal breastplate (12) comprising at least two stays (20) spaced apart along the principal direction (D) on either side of a central zone (26) of the dorsal breastplate (12), and connected to each other by a bridge of material extending between the two stays (20), the zone of the dorsal breastplate (12) extending between the two stays (20) forming the central zone (26) of the dorsal breastplate (12), each stay (20) extending along the direction of elevation (E) between a lower end (22) and an upper end (24),the dorsal end (40) of each strap section (38) being fixed to the lower end (22) and the upper end (24) of one of said whalebone stays (20).
2. A lumbar belt according to claim 1, wherein the additional strap (4) comprises two strap sections (38) extending from the lower (32) and upper (34) attachment areas to one of the strap ends (6), each strap section (38) being permanently fixed to the dorsal breastplate (12) at a dorsal end (40) opposite the strap end (30).
3. Lumbar belt according to claim 2, wherein the dorsal ends (40) of the webbing sections (38) are separated from each other along the principal direction (D).
4. Lumbar belt according to claim 3, wherein the distance (1) between the dorsal ends (40) of the webbing sections (38) is substantially between 40 mm and 60 mm along the principal direction (D).
5. Lumbar belt according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the outer face (10) of the central area (26) of the dorsal breastplate (12) is clear and not covered by the additional strap (4).
6. Lumbar belt according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein each strap section (38) comprises a lower arm (42) and an upper arm (44) extending between the dorsal end (40) and the strap end (30), the lower arm (42) and the upper arm (44) being fixed to each other or having come from the material at the strap end (30), the lower arm (42) being fixed in the lower attachment area (32) of the dorsal plate (12) and the upper arm (44) being fixed in the upper attachment area (34) of the dorsal plate (12) at the dorsal end (40).
7. Lumbar belt according to claim 6, wherein the distance (d) between the lower branch (42) and the upper branch (44) at the dorsal end (40) is substantially between 50 mm and 100 mm depending on the direction of elevation (E).
8. Lumbar belt according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the additional strap (4) is sewn or welded to the lower attachment area (32) and the upper attachment area (34) of the back plate (12).