Double Pull Body Brace With Separate Cord Guides

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing back braces are difficult to properly position and adjust, especially as the torso changes shape due to movement or long-term nutritional and exercise habits, leading to reduced effectiveness in providing spinal stability and comfort.

Innovation Solution

A one-piece wraparound body panel with separate sinuous tightening cords and guides that allow balanced adjustment of the upper and lower portions, using a hook-and-loop fastener system and cord guides with lobes for mechanical advantage and simplicity, minimizing twisting and unnecessary parts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a traditional back brace tightening system is used, then the brace can be secured around the torso, but it is difficult to properly position and adjust, especially as the torso changes shape

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidadaptability to changing torso shape

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tightening system is divided into separate upper and lower cord systems with independent pull tabs, allowing the wearer to adjust each section independently to accommodate changing torso shapes and maintain proper positioning

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The cord and pulley system provides dynamic adjustability, enabling the brace to adapt to torso shape changes throughout the day through easy manual adjustment of the pull tabs without requiring complex mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the brace is made tight to be fully effective, then spinal support is improved, but it becomes difficult to maintain comfort and proper adjustment as the torso changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveeffectiveness of spinal supportVSAvoidease of adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The wearer can independently adjust the tightness and positioning of the brace themselves using the pull tabs, maintaining both the required tightness for spinal support and comfort as needed without requiring assistance or complex adjustment mechanisms

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If separate tightening of upper and lower portions is implemented, then adaptability to torso changes is improved, but the system becomes complicated with more parts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveseparate tightening capabilityVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The pulley system serves multiple functions: it enables separate tightening of upper and lower sections, provides mechanical advantage for easy adjustment, and maintains a relatively simple overall structure by using the same pulley mechanism in both sections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8142377B2Double pull body brace

Publication Date: 2012.03.27 ASPEN MEDICAL PRODUCTS LLC

AI summary

The double pull body brace comprises a one-piece panel which engages around the torso and overlaps at the front. At the overlap, it is attached to itself by means of a hook-and-loop fastener so that a wide range of adjustment is possible. In the back, spaced cord guides are mounted on said panel. Each cord guide carries a plurality of cord guide lobes. An upper cord is engaged around the upper cord guide lobes, and a lower cord is engaged around the lower cord guide lobes. These cords are separately attached to pull tabs. When donned, the user pulls on the pull tabs to separately adjust upper and lower closure tension of the body brace. When in correct adjustment, the pull tabs are attached in place by hook-and-loop fasteners.