3352 results about "Back support" patented technology

A chair includes a control housing, a seat and a back support including an upwardly extending upright portion and a link portion extending forwardly from a lower portion of the upright portion. The link portion is pivotally connected to the control housing about a first pivot axis. The seat is connected to the link portion and is pivotable relative thereto. A linkage is coupled to the seat and is pivotally connected to the control housing at a second pivot axis positioned rearwardly and downwardly from the first pivot axis.

A chair includes a lower back frame, a back construction, including a back support attached to the lower back frame, a cushion assembly attached to the back support and a clip wedgingly engaged between the back support and the cushion assembly. The cushion assembly further includes an inner shell which includes two or more apertures and a hook extending downwardly and outwardly from each aperture. The clip further includes at least one angled ramp and at least one stop. The angled ramp is configured to allow the hook of the inner shell to slide through the angled ramp and the stop is configured to suspend sliding of the hook. Methods of assembling a back construction are also provided.

An exercise device having a body extension mechanism including a press plate mechanism and an articulating seat structure. The press plate mechanism is pivotally connected to a frame forwardly of the articulating seat structure, which is also connected with the frame. The press plate mechanism is operably connected with the articulating seat structure by a transfer link so that when a user actuates the press plate mechanism, the movement of a back support of the articulating seat structure is coordinated with the movement of the press plate mechanism. Resistance for the exercise device is provided by a weight stack that is operably connected with the body extension mechanism through an arrangement of pulleys so that when the user actuates the press plate mechanism a portion of the weight stack is lifted.

A disposable-type hearing aid uses a relatively large single diaphragm or a large single diaphragm subdivided into a plurality of smaller active diaphragm areas obtained using a grate-like back support plate with ridges which contact and divide the diaphragm into the several smaller active diaphragm areas. The diaphragm and a backplate are enclosed in a metal housing and are disposed proximal and parallel to a shell-like hearing aid enclosure having sound inlets. The metal housing is closed at an end opposite the sound inlets by a printed circuit board (PCB) forming an acoustical seal for a back volume of the microphone. The PCB also carries substantially all the electronic components for the hearing aid thereon. The PCB has a ground plane in contact with the housing whereby the PCB also acts as an EMI shield. An electrical connection is formed in various ways between the back support plate and the PCB during assembly of the metal housing and components with the PCB. Mass production of disposable hearing aids with large diaphragms and relatively low noise levels is thus possible using this invention.

A system for medical imaging and a patient support system for medical diagnosis are provided. The system includes a gantry mounted on the base. The gantry has an annular support. A detector head is fixed to the inner surface of the annular support. The annular support rotates along an axis of the inner space, and is prevented from moving in horizontal and vertical direction and moving angularly. The patient support system has a patient bed system having a plurality of configurations. The contact surface of the patient has a couch back support, a thigh support and a leg support. A controller is provided for angular movements of the supports, and for vertical / horizontal movements of the supports.

The invention comprises a laying, semi-vertical, or seated patient positioning, alignment, and / or control method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Patient positioning constraints are used to maintain the patient in a treatment position, including one or more of: a seat support, a back support, a head support, an arm support, a knee support, and a foot support. One or more of the positioning constraints are movable and / or under computer control for rapid positioning and / or immobilization of the patient. The system optionally uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and / or in system verification and validation.

A vehicle seat assembly having a first back support member connectable to a seat bottom, a second back support member pivotally connected above the first back support member, the second back support member being configured to receive a headrest, and a biasing member connected to the second back support member. The second back support member pivots with respect to the first back support member though a defined range. The first biasing member is configured to urge the second back support member towards a forward end of the defined pivot range.

A seat for installation in a vehicle that is adjustable to support an occupant's thighs. The seat includes a generally-horizontal seat frame supporting a seat cushion including a front edge that at least partially extends outwardly beyond the seat frame, a seatback coupled to the seat frame for providing back support to the occupant while seated, and a seat bracket coupled to the seat frame and compatible with a floor bracket supported above a floor of a vehicle cabin for coupling the seat to the vehicle. The seat further includes an adjustable thigh support adjacent to a front portion of the seat cushion. The thigh support includes a spool coupled to the seat frame that can be adjusted relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially wrapped around the spool while the spool is in the retracted position, and the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially unwrapped from around the spool while the spool is in the extended position.

The invention comprises a semi-vertical or seated patient positioning, alignment, and / or control method and apparatus used in conjunction with multi-axis charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Patient positioning constraints are used to maintain the patient in a treatment position, including one or more of: a seat support, a back support, a head support, an arm support, a knee support, and a foot support. One or more of the positioning constraints are movable and / or under computer control for rapid positioning and / or immobilization of the patient. The system optionally uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and / or in system verification and validation.

A seating unit includes a back support with a perimeter frame defining an opening, and a plurality of resilient members spanning the opening. An upholstery cover extends over and covers the resilient members and a front of the perimeter frame. A bow-tie-shaped lumbar device is positioned between the cover and sides of the perimeter frame for vertical adjustment. The lumbar device includes a body with end sections defining a greater dimension than a middle of the body. Upper and lower edges of the end sections are thin and serve to wedgingly slip between the cover and the resilient members in a manner leading the middle over irregular surfaces between the resilient members. A thick area between the upper and lower edges causes a change in lumbar support force and shape as the lumbar device is adjusted. Handles are attached to the body by stretchable fabric.

The invention comprises a semi-vertical patient positioning, alignment, and / or control method and apparatus used in conjunction with charged particle or proton beam radiation therapy of cancerous tumors. Patient positioning constraints are used to maintain the patient in a treatment position, including one or more of: a seat support, a back support, a head support, an arm support, a knee support, and a foot support. One or more of the positioning constraints are movable and / or under computer control for rapid positioning and / or immobilization of the patient. The system optionally uses an X-ray beam that lies in substantially the same path as a proton beam path of a particle beam cancer therapy system. The generated image is usable for: fine tuning body alignment relative to the proton beam path, to control the proton beam path to accurately and precisely target the tumor, and / or in system verification and validation.

Solar panel system and apparatus wherein the panels are configured with liquid superconcentrators having outwardly disposed liquid imaging lenses of wide field of view performing with a sparse array of discrete multifunction photovoltaic cells which are electrically interconnected to provide a panel output. The liquid superconsentrator and associated sparse array of photovoltaic cells are configured in a row and column matrix and are mounted upon a polymeric back support.

A supporting structure for a chair, the supporting structure is a seat, a back support or a headrest. A nylon mesh is fixed on the annular upper surface of an inwardly projecting flange of the frame, and then the plastic-injection-molded engaging layer is integrally formed on the exterior surface of the frame, enabling the mesh to be firmly fixed on the frame. The elasticity of the mesh provides a comfortable and adequate support for the user's buttocks, back and head, providing comfortable seating and preventing muscle soreness. Further, the heat caused by the user's body can be vented off via the apertures of the mesh, so that the user will feel cool when sitting on or leaning against the supporting structure.

Gait training apparatus and method for use thereof for providing leg swing assistance to a patient. The apparatus comprises a support structure and one or more leg orthoses attached to the support structure, each leg orthosis comprising a thigh member attached to the support structure at a hip joint, and a shank member attached to the thigh member at a knee joint. Both members have respective connectors for securing them to the corresponding body parts of the patient. The hip joint and knee joint are each biased by biasing members. The support structure may comprise a frame defining a patient activity region, including a base, a back support, a pair of support handles, and a weight support member mounted above the activity region. A method of using the device comprises selecting parameters for the biasing members using information about the patient.

In order to provide a walking assistance device capable of favorably providing an assisting force for maintaining the upright posture while reducing the sense of pressure when worn by the user, a hip support member (1) of the walking assisting device, which comprises an assisting force generator (hip joint actuator 10) disposed at least on a side of a hip joint to provide an assisting force to a movement of a lower limb, is provided with: a back support (4) equipped with pads (18, 19, 20) for respectively abutting an intermediate portion between right and left erector spinae muscles, lateral outer sides of the spinae muscles and right and left iliac crests; and a belt (5) connected to the back support for tightening a lower part of the rectus abdominis muscle. In this way, a supporting force can be provided to the lumbar vertebrae to steadily keep the upright posture while reducing a resistance to a bending movement of the waist caused by the support member. Further, the drive torque from the assisting force generator can be supported by the whole hip portion and this can contribute to preventing inadvertent move of the support member.

A string arrangement for a detachment type waist-protecting belt to hold the vertebra region of a vertebra related patient is provided. The string arrangement enables a separate fastening of the upper portion and lower portion of the belt to form a saddle like shape that fits the contour of the waist of an individual patient dynamically with or without the extra support of a frame. The waist-protecting belt can also be connected to a back supporting frame, which is comprised of two plastic plates, via two guiding nuts, fixed on the center of the exterior side of the inner-half of the rim of each solid plastic plate, guided through the two narrow and long holes found on the wider portions of the belt, and held in place by two wide head bolts which screw on to the nuts. Then the upper portion and lower portion of the frame is adjusted separately by the movement of the upper and lower portion of the belt.

A new and improved portable ergonomic cushion for relieving pressure on the coccyx (tailbone) and on the ischial tuberosities, for promoting correct positioning of the sacroiliac joint and for supporting the lower back of the user is described. The portable ergonomic cushion includes a narrow ridge back support allowing the cushion to be used with numerous styles of chairs and seats, and a lumbar support cushion that is removably attached to the back support. The portable ergonomic cushion may also make use of inflatable cushions for increasing the flexibility of the sitting cushion by allowing users to adjust the cushions to their desired support by varying the amount the cushions are inflated. The portable ergonomic cushion is also foldable into a compact non-use position for easy transportation and storage, and futher does not require the use of straps for retaining the cushion while in use.

A lumbar support for seat backs, in particular of motor vehicle seats, has a forward-bowed support plate (1). The support plate (1) is height-adjustable, moving upward and downward on guide organs that are fixed with respect to the seat back, and is also variable in its curvature through the use of a motor-driven tension bracket that can be lengthened or shortened. The tension bracket consists of bracket regions (3a and 3b) that act on upper end region (1a) and lower end region (1b) of the support plate (1). The bracket regions have thread regions of opposite handedness pointing toward one another which are externally engaged by a common rotatable sleeve (11) with appropriately designed meshing areas. The drive motor (10) is fixed to a gear case (2) arranged behind the support plate (1). The motor (10) drives gear wheels of a gearbox whose final gear wheel (13a) stands in engagement with the sleeve (11). The sleeve has inside thread regions of opposite handedness.

Aspects of the present invention involve an exercise device configurable to allow a user to perform various exercises. The exercise devices include an adjustable bench assembly connected with a frame supporting adjustable arm and cable-pulley assemblies providing a user interface with a resistance system. In some embodiments of the invention, the adjustable bench assembly includes a bench seat and a pivotal back support supported on an adjustable bench frame. The exercise devices also utilize various configurations of adjustable arm assemblies that are selectively positionable for numerous exercises and to suit a user's particular body size and shape. Other embodiments of the exercise devices include a resistance system with a transmission supporting a plurality of resistance packs. The transmission allows a user to conveniently engage any number of resistance packs to change the resistance level for a particular exercise.

A seat back structure of vehicle seat which is reduced in thickness and yet deformable to provide a deep cushiony touch to a back of passenger. According thereto, an elastic back support element and a back board element are respectively provided in one and another sides of seat back, and a movable connection element is provided so as to allow displacement of the back board element from a home position, while allowing the elastic back support element to be resiliently warped. The back board element is normally biased by a biasing element of the home position. A stopper element is defined in the seat back for preventing movement of the back board element from the home position to the elastic back support element. The back board element per se may be formed by a plurality of plate elements connected movably with one another.

The office gym exercise kit is a portable exercise kit that provides for a number of exercises to be performed by a user, including arm, leg and back exercises. The kit components are capable of attaching about a chair post and a chair back support to provide the exercises for the user. A flexible body is wrapped around the post and under the base of the chair then secured such that the flexible body remains in place around the chair post. A flexible band is wrapped around the chair back support. Both the flexible body and flexible band have retainers attached thereon. Several elastic straps are included in the kit. The elastic straps may be fastened to the flexible body and flexible band by latching onto the retainers. The user then exercises by extending the elastic straps with arms, legs or the like.

PCT No. PCT / EP98 / 01655 Sec. 371 Date May 13, 1999 Sec. 102(e) Date May 13, 1999 PCT Filed Mar. 21, 1998 PCT Pub. No. WO98 / 45138 PCT Pub. Date Oct. 15, 1998A lumbar support for seat backs, in particular of motor vehicle seats, has a forward-bowed support plate (1) that is adjustable in its curvature. The support plate (1is mounted at one horizontal end region (1a) on laterally spaced guide elements that are parallel to one another and fixed with respect to the seat back so that it is vertically movable. The vertical guide elements consist of ribs (2) of a guide plate (3) that is fixed with respect to the seat back. The guide plate (3) has openings (4), which possess vertical guide edges (4a) that are parallel to one another. Through the guide edges (4a) pass, from the front, end-mounted brackets (1b) of the support plate (1). The brackets (1b) have necks (1c) corresponding to the spacing of the guide edges (4a), and widen again on the back of the guide plate (3).

Systems and techniques are disclosed for a planar seating apparatus having a seat support in a first plane, a back support in a second plane and coupled to the seat support, and a plurality of side supports coupled to the back support. The plurality of side supports are adjustable and capable of folding, as is the back support, to provide a compact and easily transportable and storable device.

An acoustic structure of seat back in which speaker units are provided in a padding of the seat back. The padding includes: a frontal backrest surface area which is recessed backwardly of the seat back; and securing holes formed in that frontal backrest surface area. An enclosure of each speaker unit, in which each speaker is securely accommodated, is secured in each of the securing holes. A sound-conductive cushion element is juxtaposed on the foregoing recessed frontal backrest surface area of padding so as to lie on a frontal side of each of the speaker units. The sound-conductive cushion element may be of a network structure to not only provide an improved back support touch, but also achieve an improved conductivity of sounds from the speaker units to a user's back portion. Those padding and sound-conductive cushion element are covered with a trim cover assembly.

A back brace has left, right and back panels that substantially overlap to form a tubular back brace when worn. Leverage multiples tightening force during tightening. After each successive tightening by the lever, retaining bands retain the back brace in position. Pressure spreading layers have a secondary adjustment mechanism comprising a plurality of notches extending inward from upper and lower edges, and at least one hole aligned with each of the plurality of notches. The back panel has a window overlying the sacrum. The orthopedist can observe the engagement of the back brace in this area through the window. A malleable bar is attached to the back panel adjacent the window so that the orthopedist can adjust the malleable bar for proper fit. After the initial fitting, including adjustment of the back panel over the sacrum, the back brace may be readily donned and doffed by the patient.

A seat for installation in a vehicle that is adjustable to support an occupant's thighs. The seat includes a generally-horizontal seat frame supporting a seat cushion including a front edge that at least partially extends outwardly beyond the seat frame, a seatback coupled to the seat frame for providing back support to the occupant while seated, and a seat bracket coupled to the seat frame and compatible with a floor bracket supported above a floor of a vehicle cabin for coupling the seat to the vehicle. The seat further includes an adjustable thigh support adjacent to a front portion of the seat cushion. The thigh support includes a spool coupled to the seat frame that can be adjusted relative to the seat frame between a retracted position and an extended position, wherein the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially wrapped around the spool while the spool is in the retracted position, and the front edge of the seat cushion is at least partially unwrapped from around the spool while the spool is in the extended position.

A carrier for use with both younger and older infants, is capable of placing the legs of younger infants having a smaller build and older infants having a bigger build into a desired M-shaped leg posture. A means for opening and closing the leg space formed in a back support web body of the carrier, adapts the carrier for continued use as the younger infants grow into older infants.