Back protector

Abstract

 A protector for the back and spinal column of a wearer comprises a flexible base sheet (10), a plurality of segments (20) attached to the base sheet in a linear array along an axis so as to permit flexing of the sheet (10) along said axis, the respective segments (20) being elongate and arranged to extend transversely of the axis so as to provide protection to a user's back, and an elongate flexible spinal strip (30) which is attached or attachable to the base sheet (10) and/or to the segments (20) so as to overlie the sheet and/or the segments in a region along the axis. The spinal strip (30) may be detachable by having a series of openings (38) releasably engaging a corresponding series of catch members (16) provided on the segments (20).

Description

[0001] This invention concerns a back protector, particularly but not exclusively for use in sport and dangerous activities to protect the back and spinal column of a user from injury. Such a protector may also find use in the field of orthopaedic medicine for therapeutic purposes.

[0002] Segmented spine protection devices have previously been proposed, for example in EP-A- 0436788, GB 2249942, US 5328447 and US 5768717 for use in sport, for example by motorcyclists and horse riders, and for special-purpose protective clothing.

[0003] Segmented back protectors for use in particular by motorcyclists and cyclists, for use in snow sports and for equestrian use are known which comprise an array of transversely extending plates or strips of relatively stiff, yet flexible material mounted on a base sheet which is worn over the back of a user to provide more general protection across substantially the entire back of a user. Such protectors have been supplied by the applicant and others.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved back protector with enhanced protection of the spinal column region.

[0005] A further object is to allow customisation of the back protector for different purposes or different individuals.

[0006] The present invention provides a back protector comprising a flexible base sheet, a plurality of segments attached to the base sheet in a linear array along an axis so as to permit flexing of the sheet along said axis, the respective segments being elongate and arranged to extend transversely of the axis so as to provide protection to a user's back, and an elongate flexible spinal strip which is attached or attachable to the base sheet and/or to the segments so as to overlie the sheet and/or the segments in a region along the axis so as to provide protection to a user's spinal column.

[0007] To enhance its flexibility, the spinal strip is preferably provided at intervals with slits which extend transversely relative to the axis.

[0008] In order to attach the spinal strip to the base sheet or the segments during assembly of the protector, the spinal strip may be provided with a series of axial openings and the base sheet and/or the segments provided with a corresponding series of catch members which are engageable into said axial openings in order to retain the spinal strip in position. However, other manners of attachment are possible. It is important, however, that the catch members should be retained or retainable in the axial openings with clearance to facilitate flexure of the spinal strip independently of the flexure of the remainder of the protector.

[0009] The above-mentioned manner of attachment of the spinal strip can be modified to enable the spinal strip to be repeatedly detached and re-attached as required by the user and, in particular, to be replaced, for example by another spinal strip of similar general structure but different material, or different grade of material, or different combination of materials, including specialist surface layers, such different spinal strips having different properties, for example as regards rigidity, which adapt them for use in different activities of the user, for example equestrian use on the one hand and use in snow sports, such as skiing, on the other hand. The possible replacement of one spinal strip for another also enables the protector to be customised for different individuals and their particular anatomical or protective requirements, for example greater protection being needed if the user is, perhaps, recovering from certain injuries. Replacement of the spinal strip by another spinal strip of different colouring, or bearing different indicia, such as corporate logos is also possible, of course.

[0010] To enable such ease of attachment and detachment of the spinal strip the above-mentioned preferred attachment means may be modified so that the axial openings in the spinal strip are in the form of elongate axial slots, each having an enlarged region and a narrower region, and the catch members of the base sheet and/or the segments include protrusions which can be inserted or withdrawn through the enlarged region of each slot but are retained, upon relative displacement of the spinal strip in an axial direction, in the narrower region of each slot.

[0011] In preferred embodiments of the back protector of the invention the segments define recesses or cut out areas in a central axial region in order to accommodate the fitting of the spinal strip there through.

[0012] Also in preferred embodiments, the segments are formed as separate plates arranged to extend side-by-side. In this respect, the segments may abut adjoining segments at an interface, or they may be spaced a short distance apart with a very small gap between. In other embodiments, the segments may overlap each other to some extent. In yet other embodiments the segments may be permanently connected to each other, not separate, and be defined by openings (slits) or grooves or similar there between to enable a sufficient degree of flexion along the axis. However, such connected segments are less favourable as they are less likely to allow sufficient flexion in a lateral direction as will be required when the back protector is used in sporting activities.

[0013] The invention will be described further, by way of example, by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred practical embodiment of a back protector in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the underside of the same embodiment of back protector as in figures 1 and 2, that is the side which in use this in contact with a wearer's back;

Figure 4 is a reduced scale perspective view similar to figure 1, but exploded to show the parts separated;

Figure 5 is an enlarged scale perspective view of a spinal strip;

Figure 6 it is an enlarged scale perspective view of an individual segment comprising a transverse plate and a honeycomb underlay; and

Figure 7 this an enlarged scale perspective view of respective end plates for attaching ends of the spinal strip to the base sheet.

[0014] With reference to figures 1 to 4 a preferred embodiment of a back protector of the invention comprises a flexible base sheet 10, a plurality of segments, designated generally by reference 20, attached to the base sheet 10 in a linear array along an axis A (figure 2) so as to permit flexing of the base sheet 10 along said axis, and an elongate flexible spinal strip 30 which in use is attached to the segments 20 so as to overlie the segments 20 in a region along the axis A so as to provide protection to a user's spinal column. The back protector is also provided with shoulder straps 41, 42, as shown in figure 3, and a waist belt 44.

[0015] The base sheet 10 is moulded from foamed plastics material, for example polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), rubber, such as styrene butyl rubber (SBR), or indeed any other thermo formable foam plastics material, to include a plurality of apertures 12 and ridges 13 on its surface which, in use, is to contact a wearer's back, as shown in figure 3. These ridges 13 hold the protector off the wearer's back allowing air to flow between the protector and the wearer's back, while the apertures 12 allow for escape of the air. Overall, air circulation is promoted, which enhances comfort. The base sheet 10 also includes a pair of elongate grooves 14, symmetrically spaced each side of the axis A and generally parallel to said axis A, as well as gaps 15 in certain of the ridges 13 to allow the base sheet to flex sufficiently in two directions as the wearer moves.

[0016] In the illustrated example eight segments 20 are mounted to the base sheet 10. The respective segments are elongate and extend transversely of the axis A so as to provide general protection to almost the entire extent of the wearer's back.

[0017] As shown in figure 6, each segment 20 comprises a specially moulded plate 22 of plastics material having an upper wall and shallow side walls fitting over a honeycomb structured underlay 24. Each plate has a central section 21 and respective sides sections 23, 25, the central section being linked to the respective sides sections by respective straps 26. In order to match the shape of a wearer's back the plates 22 are of different sizes, specifically different transverse lengths at different linear positions along the axis A and the honeycomb structure underlay 24 matches the length of the respective overlying plate 22. In the illustrated example, there are three lengths of segment 20, which may be termed large, medium and small. As oriented on a wearer's back, at the top there is a medium sized segment, followed by three large segments which extend beyond the medium segment each side, then there are three medium-size segments and finally at the bottom a small segment which only a has vestigial side sections without any honeycomb underlay. In other embodiments there may be different numbers and different arrangements of the sizes of the segments to correspond to different torso sizes, particularly of men, women and children and the build of different wearers. Thus, a range of such back protectors of different sizes will be provided in practice.

[0018] The segments 20 are mounted to the back sheet 10 by stitching, or by adhesive or by spot welding, whichever method is most suitable to the materials used and to production capabilities.

[0019] The central section 21 of each plate 22 is formed with a central substantially rectangular aperture straddled by an axial strut 28, which, when the segment is mounted to the base sheet 10, extends along the axis A. This strut 28 has an axial upstand 29 and midway along its length catch means in the form of a button 16 having a short stalk and a protruding head 18. The purpose of this button 16 is to enable attachment of the spinal strip 30 in a manner to be described shortly.

[0020] The honeycomb structure underlay 24 has a unique feature of inclined cell walls which allow the hexagonal cells to collapse in on themselves upon impact, absorbing energy and reducing the force and speed of energy transfer to the wearer's body. This makes the force less injurious to the wearer's body.

[0021] As shown in figure 5, the spinal strip 30 is formed in one piece as a generally flat, elongate plate of plastics material. Suitable plastics material for production of the spinal strip may be polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane (PU), polypropylene (PP), rubber, such as thermo plastic rubber (TPR) or styrene butyl rubber (SBR), thermo plastic elastomer (TPE), nylon, or indeed any other injection mouldable plastics material, which has greater flexibility than the material of the segment plates 22 and the honeycomb structure 24. The spinal strip 30 is provided at intervals with slits 32 cut in from opposing side edges. In the illustrated version the length of the strip 30 is such that ten such pairs of slits 32 are provided, so the strip 30 has the appearance of nine equally sized axially arranged sections 34, defined by the respective slits 32, with a half section 36 at each end. Each section 34 of the strip 30 has an elongate axial opening 38. Each axial opening 38 has an enlarged region 37 at each axial end and a narrower region 39 there between. As shown in figure 5, the enlarged region 37 at one end, in this case the upper end in use, is overlaid by an upper part of an overlying slotted plate 47 which is countersunk into a recess in the upper surface of each strip section 34.

[0022] Upon assembly of the back protector for use, the spinal strip 30 is mounted axially across the transverse segments 20, as is evident in figures 1, 2 and 4. In this respect, the lower enlarged regions 37 of each of the axial openings 38 in the spinal strip 30 are placed over the protruding heads 18 of the respective buttons 16 (which constitute the catch members) on each of the correspondingly positioned plates 22 of the segments 20. The protruding heads 18 pass through the enlarged regions 37. The spinal strip 30 is then displaced relative to the segments 20 by being moved axially downwards so that the stalks of the buttons 16 move along to the narrower region 39 of each slot 38. In this way the spinal strip 30 is retained in position over the transverse segments 20. The half sections 36 at the upper and lower ends of the spinal strip 30 can then be secured by upper and lower end caps 45, 46, shown in figures 4 and 7. These end caps each have a first part 45 secured to the base sheet 10 and a second part 46 which slidingly engages there over, with the respective end section 36 retained there between.

[0023] The spinal strip 30 can be removed and replaced by another of different material, different composition, different properties or different colours or carrying different visual indicia by reversing the above procedure and similarly fitting the new strip.

[0024] The way in which the spinal strip 30 is attached by means of individual catch members locating into elongate slots 38 enables independent flexing of the spinal strip 30 and the array of transverse segments 20 and allows for the flexure of the respective parts, which inevitably involves slight relative displacement between overlying parts.

[0025] Connectors 50 are attached at each side of the base sheet 10 for connection of the waist belt 44. To enable adjustment of the position of the waist belt to match the stature and comfort of a wearer, each connector is provided with a row of six studs 54, spaced at 1 cm intervals in the longitudinal direction of the protector. The waist belt 44 is provided with two connector loops 56 which are selectively engageable with any one of these studs 54.

[0026] The shoulder straps 41, 42 are attached to respective sliders 51, 52, which are mounted in curving slots 19 at the upper right and left side of the base sheet 10. The sliders 51, 52 are displaceable along the slots 19 to adjust to the positioning most appropriate for any particular wearer of the back protector.

[0027] The foregoing is illustrative and not limitative of the scope of the invention. Variations in detail of the structure of the back protector of the invention are possible in other embodiments. In particular, the precise manner of interconnection between the spinal strip and the transverse segments may vary, with elongate openings possibly being provided, alternatively, on the segments and catch elements on the strips. In other embodiments, the spinal strip may be connected detachably to other elements provided on the base sheet instead of to elements provided on the transverse segments. Moreover, in other less preferred embodiments the spinal strip may be permanently connected to the base sheet or the transverse segments, i.e. not detachable, yet still mounted in a manner allowing independent flexure.

Claims

1. A back protector comprising a flexible base sheet, a plurality of segments attached to the base sheet in a linear array along an axis so as to permit flexing of the sheet along said axis, the respective segments being elongate and arranged to extend transversely of the axis so as to provide protection to a user's back, and an elongate flexible spinal strip which is attached or attachable to the base sheet and/or to the segments so as to overlie the sheet and/or the segments in a region along the axis so as to provide protection to a user's spinal column.

2. A back protector according to claim 1 wherein the spinal strip is provided at intervals with slits which extend transversely relative to the axis.

3. A back protector according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the spinal strip is provided with a series of axial openings and the base sheet and/or the segments are provided with a corresponding series of catch members which are engaged or engageable into said axial openings in order to retain the spinal strip in position.

4. A back protector according to claim 3 wherein the catch members are retained or retainable in said axial openings with clearance to facilitate flexure of the spinal strip independently of the flexure of the remainder of the protector.

5. A back protector according to claim 4 wherein the axial openings are in the form of respective elongate axial slots.

6. A back protector according to claim 4 or 5 wherein the catch members are in the form of respective pins or buttons or the like.

7. A back protector according to claim 4, 5 or 6 wherein the axial openings each having an enlarged region and a narrower region, and the catch members include protrusions which can be inserted or withdrawn through the enlarged region of each slot but are retained, upon relative displacement of the spinal strip in an axial direction, in the narrower region of each slot.

8. A back protector according to any preceding claim wherein the segments define recesses or cut out areas in a central axial region in order to accommodate the fitting of the spinal strip there through.

9. A back protector according to any preceding claim wherein the segments are formed as separate plates arranged to extend side-by-side.

10. A back protector according to any preceding claim wherein each segment comprises a shell providing an upper surface spaced from the base sheet and a cellular structure disposed between the upper surface and the base sheet, the cellular structure being formed with a plurality of hexagonal walls in the manner of a honeycomb.

11. A back protector according to claim 10 wherein the hexagonal walls are inclined at an angle relative to the upper surface of the shell.

12. A back protector according to any preceding claim including shoulder straps and a waist belt, the waist belt being connectable to the base sheet at any selected one of a plurality of different positions.

13. A back protector according to claim 12 wherein the waist belt and the base sheet are provided with inter connectable/releasable fastener elements, one such element being provided on the waist belt or the base sheet, and plural such elements being provided on the base sheet or the waist belt, respectively, so that the height at which the belt is connected to the base sheet can be adjusted.

14. A back protector according to any preceding claim wherein the spinal strip can be removed and replaced by another such spinal strip of different material, different composition, different properties or different colours or carrying different visual indicia.

15. A back protector substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

Drawing