Pelvic belt

Abstract

A pelvic belt (1) comprising an elastic base strap (2), two inelastic tightening straps (3, 4), a tensioning cord (7) and at least one lock member (6) of the tensioning cord arranged in a central portion (27) of the base strap on its external side (24), and an attachment member (5) formed as a touch fastener, such as a hook-and-loop strap.

Description

[0001] Pelvic belt

[0002] Subject of invention

[0003] The subject of the present invention is a pelvic belt.

[0004] Prior art

[0005] The human pelvis is the part of the torso that connects the upper body to the lower body. A constituent part of the pelvis is also the pelvic skeleton, whose primary function is to bear the weight of the upper body, transfer that weight from the axial skeleton, such as the backbone, to the lower body such as the lower extremities. The pelvic skeleton consists of the sacrum, two iliac, two pubic and two ischium bones. For a person to move and walk, the pelvic skeleton must move and change shape. The movement of the pelvic skeleton is supported by the sacroiliac joint which connects the sacrum to the two iliac bones. As the body moves, the sacrum and the two iliac bones move relative to each other, changing the shape of the pelvic skeleton and pelvis. This helps the human to control internal and external pressures and to generate a force to move and breathe efficiently.

[0006] Due to a modern lifestyle, where people often do not move enough, the muscles of the pelvic area may shrink or become fatigued due to overloading, acting asymmetrically on the pelvic bones. If the muscles are exercised in an unfavourable position for a prolonged or repetitive period of time, the body's centre of gravity may shift forward. As a result, the pelvic bones, especially the two iliac bones, are also shifted anteriorly. The body's centre of gravity shifts forward, the relative shifts of the pelvic skeleton are greatly reduced, and the person begins to look for compensatory positions to generate force on the lower extremities. This results in a changed orientation of the entire pelvic skeleton, and thus of the pelvis. The pelvis shifts forward, which is also known as anterior pelvic tilt. As the pelvic bones orient anteriorly, the iliac bones rotate outwards, increasing the distance between the anterior superior iliac spines. The posterior part of the iliac bones presses into the sacrum, causing compression of the sacroiliac joint and thus restricted movement. The stretching of the iliac bones may also cause the hip impingement syndrome, abdominal / sports hernia, symphysis pubis dysfunction and other abnormalities. This may result in lower back pain, pelvic pain and pain in the anterior body part.

[0007] To relieve pain, various rehabilitation or pelvic belts are often used, which are placed around the body at the hips or just above the hip bones, below the level of the anterior superior iliac spines. Such a pelvic belt is made of an inelastic inner strap externally provided with a hook-and-loop strap (Velcro strap) for a detachable attachment of one belt end to the other. In the centre of the inner belt, an elastic external belt is fastened externally. The user places the pelvic belt at the hips and fastens the inner belt at the front of the body with a Velcro strap. The user places a respective end of the external elastic belt around the hips from behind towards the front part of the body by stretching the external elastic belt with a predetermined preload force and attaches it by means of a Velcro strap arranged on a respective end of the external elastic belt to the external side of the interior belt in the front part. The pulling force of the elastic belt, which is substantially the preload force, acts in the direction towards the back, rear part of the body. The elastic external belt herewith acts on the pelvic bones, particularly on the iliac bones, additionally rotating them outwards. Due to the pulling force, the pelvic belt acts as a compression device and partly restricts the user's movement. The restricted movement reduces the load on the sacroiliac joint, which results in a reduced pain in the back part of the body. Such a pelvic belt does not act on the anterior superior iliac spines in terms of their getting closer together, quite the opposite, it prevents the anterior superior iliac spines from getting closer together. While such a rehabilitation belt relieves pain and reduces symptoms, it does not eliminate the underlying problem, i.e. returning the iliac bones back to their original baseline position. US2003 / 0149390 Al (Diane Lee) discloses a rehabilitation pelvic compression belt comprised of a base inelastic belt to be positioned around the body in the hip area. The base inelastic belt externally comprises a hook-and-loop strap (Velcro strap), with which the user attaches the belt in the hip area. On the base inelastic belt, which preferably comprises a hook-and-loop strap along its entire length, there are, in the portion which coincides with the hip area when positioned in place, two short elastic tightening members removably attached which, when applied to the body, are stretched by the user with a predefined preload force and attached to the base nonelastic belt with the free ends in the direction towards the front or rear parts of the body. The advantage of the belt described is that the location of attachment of a respective elastic tensioning member may be varied and both members can be attached to a base inelastic belt at the front or rear parts of the body. At the same time, this is also a disadvantage, as the user may shift the position of the attachment of the elastic tensioning members, thus changing the direction of force on the pelvic bones, which may not always be correct. The tensioning members are elastic, which means that the preload force with which the user elastically deforms the elastic tensioning member acts in the direction towards the rear part of the body when the elastic tensioning members are attached to each other on the front part of the body. As a result, the pelvic bones, in particular the iliac bones, spread and exert pressure on the sacroiliac joint. The force with which the user stretches a respective elastic member may be different on different occasions and depends on the user’s sensation, so a professional must instruct the user on the use of the pelvic compression belt before its use. In addition, the elastic members may additionally get deformed and spread when the user is moving, so the force acting on the pelvic bones may change.

[0008] Technical problem

[0009] The technical problem is to provide a pelvic belt that will eliminate the identified irregularities of the hitherto known pelvic belts, and will particularly have such a configuration that the force with which the belt will act on the pelvic bones, particularly the iliac bones, will not act in the direction of spreading the iliac bones.

[0010] Solution to the technical problem

[0011] The relative expressions like front, rear, internal, external etc. are defined herein from the perspective of the pelvic belt user when the belt is placed on the user’s body.

[0012] The pelvic belt comprises an elastic base strap, two inelastic tightening straps, a tensioning cord and at least one lock member of the tensioning cord, an attachment member formed as a touch fastener, such as a hook-and-loop strap.

[0013] The elastic base strap comprises an elastic carrier strap provided on its external side along the entire surface by an external strap of a tear resistant woven or non-woven fabric. The external strap is fixed to the elastic carrier strap, which prevents its longitudinal and transversal movements and at the same time prevents the carrier strap from getting torn due to the attachment of other straps to the carrier strap by sewing.

[0014] The external side of the base strap is provided with two inelastic tightening straps, the length of which is shorter than the length of the base strap, preferably shorter than half the length of the base strap. Each tightening strap is arranged on one half of the base strap, each tightening strap being fixed to the base strap at least at the fastening site which is distant from a respective free end of the base strap by at most one quarter of the length of the base strap. The length of a respective tightening strap is shorter than the length of the base strap, preferably shorter than half the length of the base strap. Each tightening strap has a first portion fixed to the base strap and facing a free end of the base strap, and a second portion facing the central portion of the base strap and freely abutting on it, the free second portions of a respective tightening strap being spaced apart and not getting in contact at all. The base strap comprises an elastic carrier strap and an external strap fixed to the external side of the elastic carrier strap. The external strap is made of a tear resistant woven or non-woven fabric. The carrier strap is made of an elastic vapour-permeable material, such as polyurethane. A respective tightening strap is made of an inelastic material, such as a textile strap or a belt. As a result, the base strap is elastic in its central portion.

[0015] The tightening strap may have a short configuration, wherein such a tightening strap has substantially only a free second portion, one end of which is fixed at the fastening site, and the other end is free. The tightening straps may be formed one in a short and the other in a long configuration, wherein the base strap may be shortened.

[0016] The attachment member is configured as a touch fastener, such as a hook-and-loop strap, one portion of which is fixed to the external side of the base strap in the area of one free end of the base strap, and the other portion of which is fixed in the area of the second free end of the base strap.

[0017] In the central portion of the base strap on its external side there is arranged at least one lock member for tensioning and locking the tensioning cord. If two lock members are arranged in the central portion of the base strap, each lock member tightens the tensioning cords of one tightening strap.

[0018] The lock member may also be formed as a spring lock member having a cord lock, through which a tensioning cord is inserted.

[0019] Such fastening of a respective tightening strap ensures that, when the pelvic belt is positioned in place, the fastening points are located in the area behind the anterior superior iliac spines. This generates a pulling force acting forward and acting in the same direction on the iliac bones as well, bending them to their original position. This means that the anterior superior iliac spines move together with the iliac bones, when the iliac bones rotate inwards. The altered position of the iliac bones reduces the anterior tilt of the pelvis, releases the compression on the sacroiliac joint, resulting in a reduced or even completely eliminated pain in the user's lumbar region.

[0020] The user may apply the pelvic belt of the invention without any professional assistance since the correct positioning of the pelvic belt is uncomplicated. The user places the pelvic belt in the hip area by positioning the base strap with the fastening points, i.e. the spots in which the tightening straps are attached to the base belt, in the region of their anterior superior spines of a respective iliac bone, the base strap is then closed on the back side by way of a touch fastener, such as a Velcro strap. Then the tightening belts are tightened by means of the lock member; the tightening may be identical as in the previous identical placement of the base strap or can be increased in a controlled manner and is not dependent only on the instantaneous sensation of the user. As the tightening straps are inelastic, the pulling force remains unchanged during the application.

[0021] The technical problem is solved by a pelvic belt of the invention, which will be described in more detail below by way of an embodiment and drawings representing in

[0022] Fig. 1 pelvic belt with one lock member, shown in projection Fig. 2 pelvic belt with two lock members, shown in projection.

[0023] A pelvic belt 1 comprises

[0024] - an elastic base strap 2,

[0025] - two inelastic tightening straps 3, 4,

[0026] - a tensioning cord 7 and at least one lock member 6 of the tensioning cord arranged in a central portion 27 of the base strap on its external side 24,

[0027] - attachment member 5. The base strap 2 comprises an elastic carrier strap 21 provided on its external side 23, i.e. the side facing away from the user’s body, along the entire surface by an external strap 22 of a tear resistant woven or non-woven fabric. The external strap 22 is fixed to the carrier strap 21, so its longitudinal and transversal movements are prevented. The carrier strap 21 is made of an elastic vapour-permeable material, such as polyurethane, and has certain friction to prevent the pelvic belt 1 from slipping when positioned directly to the user’s skin. In case of insufficient material permeability, the base strap 2 may be provided with ventilation pores. The external strap 22 makes the carrier strap 21 tear resistant. The base strap 2 has free ends 25, 26 which come together at the back side of the user’s body when the pelvic belt 1 is applied. The base strap 2 has a length which is at least identical to or larger than the user’s body circumference at the hips.

[0028] On the external side 24 of the external strap, which is at the same time also the external side of the base strap 2, i.e. the side facing away from the user’s body when the pelvic belt 1 is applied, there are two inelastic tightening straps 3, 4. The length of a respective tightening strap 3, 4 is shorter than the length of the base strap 2, preferably shorter than half the length of the base strap 2. Each tightening strap 3, 4 is arranged on one half of the base strap 2, each tightening strap 3, 4 being fixed to the base strap 2 at least at the fastening site which is distant from a respective free end 25, 26 of the base strap by at most one quarter of the length of the base strap 2. A respective tightening strap 3, 4 is attached to the base strap 2 such that its first portion 31, 41 facing the free end 25, 26 of the base strap is fixed to the base strap 2, while its second portion 32, 42 facing the central portion of the base strap is free and abuts onto the base strap 2. The tightening strap 3, 4 may also have a short configuration, wherein such a tightening strap has substantially only a free second portion 32, 42, one end of which is fixed at the fastening site, while the other end is free. If the tightening strap 3, 4 has a long configuration, as described above, the base strap 2 may have a shortened configuration, such that a portion of the tightening strap 3, 4 projects beyond the end 26 of the base strap. In a preferred embodiment, the tightening straps 3, 4 are configured one in a short and the other in a long configuration with a shortened base strap 2. The free second portions 32, 42 of a respective tightening strap are oriented towards the central portion 27 of the base strap, the free second portions 32, 42 being spaced from each other and never come in contact.

[0029] A respective tightening strap 3, 4 is made of an inelastic material, such as a textile strap or a belt.

[0030] For attachment purposes of the pelvic belt 1, the base strap 2 comprises an attachment member 5 formed as a touch fastener, such as a hook-and-loop strap (Velcro strap), a first portion 51 of which is fixed to the external side 24 of the base strap in the area of the first free end 25 of the base strap, and the second portion 52 of which is fixed in the area of the second free end 26 of the base strap. If the base strap 2 is shortened, the second portion 52 of the fastening strap is arranged on the tightening strap 3.

[0031] In the area where the tightening straps 3, 4 and / or the strap-shaped touch fastener 5 are fastened, the base strap 2 is inelastic and inextensible, while the remaining central portion 27 of the base strap is elastic.

[0032] In the centre of the base strap 2, on its external side 24, there is arranged a lock member 6 of the tensioning cord 7, which is in the embodiment configured as a device for setting the length of, winding and locking the tensioning cord 7. The lock member

[0033] 6 has a winding wheel, with which the user shortens or lengthens the tensioning cord

[0034] 7 which is led through loops 33, 43 on a respective tightening strap 3, 4. By rotating the lock wheel in a certain direction, the tensioning cord 7 between both second portions 32, 42 of the tightening strap is shortened, while it is lengthened by rotating the lock wheel in the other direction. Shortening of the tensioning cord 7 generates a pulling force in a respective tensioning strap 3, 4 which acts towards the front of the body and tensions a respective tightening strap 3, 4. As the tensioning straps 3, 4 are attached on the base strap 2 in the area which is, when the pelvic belt is placed on the body, behind the anterior superior iliac spines or directly adjacent to them, the pulling force also acts on the iliac bones, pulling a respective iliac bone towards the interior towards the front part of the body. As the iliac bone is rotated inwards, this results in a reduced anterior orientation of the pelvic bones, particularly the iliac bones, which reduces the pressure in the sacroiliac joint.

[0035] The central portion 27 of the base strap may also be provided with two lock members

[0036] 6, 6’, each individual lock member 6, 6’ being intended to tighten the tensioning cord

[0037] 7, 7’ of one tightening strap 3, 4. In this way, two pulling forces of different magnitudes may be generated, each force acting on one tightening strap 3, 4.

[0038] For aesthetic reasons, the central portion 27 of the base strap where the lock member 6 is attached may be provided with a cover element of textile or plastic material.

[0039] The lock member 6 may also be formed in a more simplified manner as a spring lock member having a cord lock, through which a tensioning cord is inserted, which the user tensions to tighten the tightening strap 3, 4 and locks it at an adequate tightening position by means of a cord lock.

[0040] The user places the pelvic belt 1 in the hip area and fastens it at the back side by means of the attachment member 5. As the base strap 2 is elastic in its central portion, it may stretch, the maximum stretch being defined by the length of the tensioning cord 7 in the unstretched, released state. When the pelvic belt 1 is placed on the body, the user tensions the tensioning cord 7 by using the lock member 6, which generates a pulling force in the tightening strap 3, 4. The pulling force magnitude is determined by the number of revolutions of the tensioning wheel of the lock member 6. In this way, the user always tightens the pelvic belt 1 with the same force and independently on their sensations.

Claims

Claims1. A pelvic belt ( 1 ) comprises- an elastic base strap (2),- two inelastic tightening straps (3, 4),- a tensioning cord (7) and at least one lock member (6) of the tensioning cord arranged in a central portion (27) of the base strap on its external side (24),- an attachment member (5).

2. Pelvic belt according to claim 1, characterized in that a respective inelastic tightening strap (3, 4) is arranged on one half of the base strap (2) on its external side (24), each tightening strap (3, 4) being fixed to the base strap (2) at least at the fastening site which is distant from a respective free end (25, 26) of the base strap by at most one quarter of the length of the base strap (2).

3. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the length of a respective tightening strap (3, 4) is shorter than the length of the base strap (2), preferably shorter than half the length of the base strap (2).

4. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a respective tightening strap (3, 4) has a first portion (31, 41) which is fixed to the base strap (2) and facing a free end (25, 26) of the base strap, and a second portion (32, 42) facing the central portion (27) of the base strap and freely abutting on it, the free second portions (32, 42) of a respective tightening strap (3, 4) being spaced apart and not getting in contact at all.

5. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base strap (2) has an elastic central portion (27).

6. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tightening strap (3, 4) has a short configuration, wherein such a tightening strap (3, 4) has substantially only a free second portion (32, 42), one end of which is fixed at the fastening site, while the other end is free.

7. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the tightening straps (3, 4) are configured one in a short and the other in a long configuration.

8. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a respective tightening strap (3, 4) is made of an inelastic material, such as a textile strap or a belt.

9. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base strap (2) comprises an elastic carrier strap (21) and an external strap (22) fixed to the external side (23) of the elastic carrier strap.

10. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the external strap (22) is made of a tear resistant woven or non-woven fabric.

11. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrier strap (21) is made of an elastic vapour-permeable material, such as polyurethane.

12. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment member (5) is a touch fastener, such as a hook-and-loop strap, a first portion (51) of which is fixed to the external side (24) of the base strap in the area of the first free end (25) of the base strap, and the second portion (52) of which is fixed in the area of the second free end (26) of the base strap.

13. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lock member (6) is configured as a spring lock member having a cord lock, through which a tensioning cord is inserted.

14. The pelvic belt according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the central portion (27) of the base strap is provided with two lock members (6, 6’), each individual lock member (6, 6’) tightening the tensioning cord (7, 7’) of one tightening strap (3, 4).

Images