US1555122A - Back brace - Google Patents

Description

sew-29,1525. 1,555,122.

I R. E. KELLY BACK BEACH Filed Sent. 19220 2 Sheets-Shae}. 2

iiivsu'ron ATTORNEY i v I I .1. 5 D

I $GI'ZELZEZQ, WI NESISI/ZZMW g I I X BY I v 5 Florida, have invented new or support which may and means for adjusting the Patented Sept. 29, 1925.

ROBERT EMMETT KELLY, OF MIAMI, FLORIDA.

' BACK BRAGE.

Application filed September 17, 1924. Serial No. 738,319.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT E. KELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miami, in the county of Dade and State of and useful Improvements in Back Braces, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to back braces, and is a continuation in part of application No. 653,529, filed July 24, 1923, and also embodies certain improvements in the structure disclosed therein.

An object is to provide a device which may be readily applied in position to brace or support the body of a workman while in a stooping position, such as is assumed by cotton pickers or in similar work, where it is necessary to use the hands at or near the surface of the ground.

Another object is to provide a back brace be attached to and carried by the trousers or overalls of the wearer, and having means for engagement with the body of the wearer when he bends over, so that the entire weight of the upper part oft-he body is transferred to the knees and legs, and the muscles of the back are relieved of the strain, and the arms are left free to perform the required work.

Still another object is to provide means for holding the brace or support in a comfortable position when the wearer is erect, device so that it may be wornand used with comfort by persons of difierent sizes, or with the bodyengaging member in engagement with different portions of the upper body of the wearer.

Withthese and other objects as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features of construction, combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, hereinafter to be fully described and claimed;

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be obtained from a consideration of the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification; it being understood that while the drawing shows a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to strict conformity with the showing thereof, but may be changed or modified so long as such changes and modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invenillustrating tion, as specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing, wherein similar characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improved device in position on the body of the wearer with the latter in an erect position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof showing the device in applied position with the wearer in a stooping position;

FigureS is an enlarged perspective view of the complete device;

Figure 4. is a horizontal sectional view the manner in which the device is attached to the leg of the wearers gar ment;

Figure 5 is a side elevation of one of the supporting members, a portion being shown in section to disclose details of construction;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary View illustrating the clamp and its attachment to the supporting member;

Figure 7 is a side elevation thereof; and

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of a portion of the device, illustrating the adjustable connection between the telescoping portions of the supporting members.

In carrying out the invention, a pair of leg engaging bands are employed, each being formed alike and having identical means for clamping a portion of the trousers or overall legs, said bands being in the form of semi-circular plates fitting the front portions of the legs, and each having a. central, longitudinally adjustable post attached at their outer or upper ends to a body engaging plate. In the drawing the same reference numerals have been applied to each half of the device.

The leg bands 1 are formed of thin tempered, spring steel, preferably about two and one half inches wide and bent into semicircular form to fit the front part of the leg just above the knee, the ends of the band 1 being turned outwardly in a radial direction and parallel to each other to formiears 2, as shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6 of the drawing.

Clamps 3, each consisting of a pair of thin rectangular metallic plates 4 and 5, which are spaced apart and pivotally secured together intermediate their ends by hinge rod 6 passing through the apertured bent up extensions 7 on the plates, are fixedly secured to: eachiend of the bands 1v by rivets 8, passing through one end of plate 5 and reference passes through .hang dow 26 .1S provided,

eyes 28 on the respective des abl .t bind or other suitable-soft material to -cover all. sharp,edges and thus protect the body.

the ear 2, as best shown in Figure 6. In order-that the inner end of plate 4 may be caused to hold a portion of the trousers leg 8 tightly against the inner surface of the ear 2, the bolt S) having a winged head 10 to permit its easy manipulation, pas s through the threaded aperture in the raised boss 11 and plates, with its inner end positioned to engage plate a and force the inner end of the-latter toward ear 2 and plate 5. At the front of each band :1 ant at the center thereof, there is secured, as by rivets 12, an attaching plate 13 of a tubular post ll which, when the bands 1 areattached to the legs of the wearer in a standing position, extend forwardly and upwardlv at an angle to the horizontal plane of the bands.

Telescoping into the tubular posts :l-t are smaller tubes 15, which normally extend beyond the outer open ends thereof, and are provided throughout the major portions of their lengthswith aseries of alincd perforations .16, any one of which is adapted to receive the locking pin 17 of the leaf spring 18, which pin also traverses the aperture l9zformed-in the wall of the tubular post 14. The .spring 18 has one of its ends fixedly secured to the post 14 and tendsto hold the pin 17 in-its innermost position.

By drawing the .freecndof the spring away from the post let, the pin 1'7 may be introduced into any one otthe apertures :16 to lengthen or shorten the effective length of,the .post,,as will be,readily understood.

The outer ends otthe tubes 15 are closed, enlarged and apertured as at 20, to receive the curved body-engaging plates 21 which extend an equal distance at each side of the tubes. The adjacent ends of the plates 21 (as positioned onthebody) are apertured asat 22, andthe plates are yieldingly secured together by an elasticstrap 23which the apertures and has its .free ends adjustably secured together by a buckle 24- or equivalentmeans.

This construction overcomes the tendency vof the; two brace members 25 to twist around the legs andlean outward to either side.

The brace also tends tolean forward and when the wearer assumes an erect position. To overcome;this, the strap which is adapted to have itscentral portion secured to the wearers back in any convenient manner, as by passing through between the two shoulder straps when overalls are worn, and has snap hooks 27 atits ends for engagement with members. the practice of this invention, it is ,the plates 21 with cloth angle from each band, a engaging plate on the outer end of each hold said bands,

,leng tud n y From the foregoing it will beseen that a simple, cheaply manufactured ;-and strong and durable device of this character has been provided, which may be quickly and easily attached to or detached from engage ment with the trousers or overalls, and which may be readily adjusted to different sized persons to engage the breast when stooping, and which serves to support the entire weight of the upper portion of the body, thus relieving the muscles and prm riding greater ease and comfort to the user.

lVhat is claimed is 1. In a back brace a leg band, means thereon for engaging the garment ofthe wearer at the leg, a rigid post extending from the band, and a body-engaging plate at outer end of the post.

2. In a back brace, a leg band, meanstor clamping the trousers of the wearer, at each end of said band, a post extending-from the .leg band at an angle thereto, ,a transverse gagement with the garmentbotthe wearer at the leg,

lyaround the front of the leg above the and being adapted tofitpartialknee,

a rigid post arising at an angle from each and, and a body engaging means at the outer end of each post.

4. A back brace comprising a ,pair of semi-circular metallic leg ba-nds, each-band having at each end clamping means for engagement withthegarment ofthe wearer at theleg, and being adaptedto fitpartially around the front ofthe leg above the knee, a rigid extensible post arising at .an

transverse bodv post, and resilient means connectingadjaa cent ends of said plates.

5. A back brace comprising ,a pair of semi-circular bands, means on the bands. for engaging the garment of the wearer to the bands in operative position on the legs, rigid posts arising at'an angle from a transverse body engaging plate on theouter end of each .post," and means detachably connectedwith said posts and engageable with the back of the wearer to hold theposts adjacent the body when the wearer is in erectposition.

6. A back brace comprising a pair of longitudinally extensible supporting mem bers resiliently connected together ,at one ,end, each member comprising a semi-circular leg engaging band, an extensible post,

7. A back and a curvedbodyeengagmg plate.

a eomprl mg a p i of ex ns summin r me bers resiliently connected together at one end, each member comprising 'a semi-circular leg engaging band, an extensible post, a curved body engaging plate, and means for maintaining said plate in adjusted positions with respect to said leg bands I 8. In a device of the class described, a semi-circular leg engaging band having ra dially extending ears on each of its ends, a clamp secured to each ear and comprising a pair of plates spaced apart and pivotally secured together intermediate their ends, and means having threaded engagement with one of said plates and engageable with the other plate to force an edge of the latter into clamping engagement with said ear. 9. In a device of the class described, a supporting member comprising a leg engaging band, means on each end of the band for engaging the garment of the wearer, a rigid tubular post arising at an angle from the band, a smaller tubular post telescoping within said rigid post, means secured to the rigid post and engageable with the smaller post to maintain the latter in adjusted position, and means on the smaller post engaging the body of the wearer.

10. A body brace comprising a pair of semi-circular metallic leg bands, each band having at each end means for engagement with the trousers or overalls of the wearer and being adapted to fit partially around the front of the leg above the knee, said means comprising clamps secured to and extending outwardly from the ends of the leg bands and open on their opposed inner sides for the entrance of a fold of the trousers or overalls, said clamps including pivoted plates, thumb screws for engaging the plates to clamp said folds, a post rising from each leg band, and means on the posts to engage the body of the wearer.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aifixed my signature.

ROBERT EMMETT KELLY.

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