INTEGRATED BACK SUPPORT AND KNEE PROTECTION APRON
An integrated back support and knee protection apron configurable for individual users and multiple applications is described. The integrated knee support and knee protection apron combines external support of the lumbar spine giving some measure of protection against back injury from bending, stooping, and lifting with a knee protector system which allows for use of interchangeable knee pads to suit any variety of applications. These features are all contained within a single, unitary garment which is adjustable to fit users of varying sizes by way of separate adjustment systems for the back support elements and the knee protector elements of the device. Additional elements of the device include interchangeable knee pads, interchangeable thigh pads, and a three-tiered adjustment system for a back support belt component of the device.
Technical Field
This invention relates to an integrated back support and knee protection apron. Particularly, the invention relates to a wearable combined lower-back support and knee protection apron for use in a variety of commercial and non-commercial construction, repair/servicing, and private non-commercial settings.
State of the Art
Many commercial and non-commercial activities require both bending/stooping and kneeling. Some examples include laying tile and other flooring, roofing, landscaping and gardening, and the like. Wearable devices are available and widely used to support the lower back during such activities. Similarly, wearable knee-pads are also widely available. Use of these devices in combination, however, requires management of a pad for each knee and a back-support—at least three separate items. Although some unitary protective clothing is available, such as coveralls, such clothing does not incorporate back support or additional knee protection. Further, the requirements for various applications are different. For example, working on a finished surface, such as finished tile or a hardwood floor, requires soft-faced knee pads so as to not scuff or mar the finished surface whereas work done on unfinished concrete or outdoors on rock or gravel would quickly destroy a soft-faced pad and requires a hard-surfaced knee pad.
Accordingly, a single unitary wearble device is needed to provide a single, unitary wearable device which provides support for the lower back, knee protection interchangeable to suit a particular application, and that is fully adjustable.
SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTSAn integrated discloses an integrated back support and knee protection apron. The apron combines knee pads and a rigid support for the lower back in a garment-like device which is adjustable for various leg and torso lengths and has interchangeable features which may be changed to conform with requirements of multiple applications.
Disclosed is an integrated back support and knee protection apron comprising a unitary garment, further comprising an outer surface; an inner surface; a back support belt; and a first adjustment means; and a knee protector coupled to the unitary garment.
In some embodiments, the first adjustment means further comprises a rear support strap coupled to the unitary garment; a waist coupling means coupled to the unitary garment; and a side support strap coupled to the unitary garment, wherein under a condition of the protection apron worn with the waist coupling means and the side support strap closed, the side support strap at least partially covers the waist coupling means.
In some embodiments, the protection apron further comprises a second adjustment means coupled to the unitary garment. In some embodiments, the second adjustment means comprises a thigh attachment coupled to the unitary garment. In some embodiments, the second adjustment means comprises a leg attachment coupled to the unitary garment. In some embodiments, the second adjustment means comprises a thigh attachment and a leg attachment coupled to the unitary garment. In some embodiments the back support belt further comprises an elastomeric fabric.
In some embodiments, the protection apron further comprises a thigh pad reversibly coupled to the outer surface. In some embodiments, the protection apron further comprises a knee pad reversibly coupled to the outer surface. In some embodiments, the first adjustment means comprises a hook-and-loop attachment means. In some embodiments, the knee protector further comprises a knee protector pocket coupled to the unitary garment; and a knee pad removably coupled to the knee protector pocket. In some embodiments, the knee pad further comprises a cutout. In some embodiments, the knee protector is coupled to the outer surface of the unitary garment.
Disclosed is an integrated back support and knee protection apron comprising a unitary garment comprising a knee protector pocket ; a back support belt; a first adjustment means comprising a rear support strap coupled to the unitary garment, a waist coupling means coupled to the unitary garment, and a side support strap coupled to the unitary garment, wherein under a condition of the protection apron worn with the waist coupling means coupled at a first attachment point and the side support strap coupled at a second attachment point, the side support strap at least partially7 covers the waist coupling means; a knee protector, wherein the knee protector pocket receives the knee protector; and a second adjustment means coupled to the unitary garment wherein the second adjustment means positions the knee protector over the knees of a user.
In some embodiments, the knee protector pocket is coupled to the outer surface. In some embodiments, the knee protector pocket is coupled to the inner surface.
In some embodiments, the protection apron further comprises a thigh pad. In some embodiments, the protection apron further comprises a knee patch. IN some embodiments, the protection apron further comprises a thigh pad and a knee patch.
Disclosed is a method of forming an integrated back support and knee protection apron comprising the steps of cutting a unitary fabric; attaching an adjustment means to the unitary fabric; and coupling a knee protector attachment means to the unitary fabric.
The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Embodiments of this invention disclose an integrated back support and knee protection apron. The protection apron provides a wearer with a single means of simultaneously supporting the lower back to protect from strain and injury, and protecting the knees during activities such as kneeling or crawling. Protection is provided in unitary garment with an integrated, adjustable low-back support system and knee protection. The knee protection is interchangeable, according to the type of knee protection needed for the particular application wherein the protection apron is being used. The protection apron is fully adjustable such that the back support elements of the protection apron properly fit the user to provide firm support of the lower back during user activities such as stooping and lifting.
Additionally, methods of forming an integrated back support and knee protection apron are disclosed. Finally, various alternative methods of use are disclosed. The drawing figures are used to illustrate a representative embodiment of the apron itself, a method of formation, and a method of use, and in no way are intended to limit the disclosed invention to the embodiments shown in the figures. They are described fully herein below.
As shown in
When firmly secured by first adjustment means 116, back support belt 112 supports the lumbar/lower back region of user 106 and may reduce the risk of lumbar/lower back injury of use 106 during activities such as bending, stooping, or lifting. First adjustment means 116 is any means by which the coupled back support belt 112 is adjusted. In the example embodiment shown in
In some embodiments, first adjustment means 116 additionally comprises a rear support strap 126 coupled to unitary garment 105; a waist coupling means 125 and/or a side support strap 127 coupled to unitary garment 105, wherein side support strap 127 reversibly couples to back support belt 112 at second attachment point 141 and overlies first attachment point 140 in a condition wherein integrated back support and knee protection apron 100 is worn with waist coupling means 125 and side support strap 127 are in closed positions. As shown in
As also shown in
In some embodiments, knee protector 130 is contained by a knee protector pocket 131 coupled to unitary garment 105. As shown in
In some embodiments, knee protector 130 reversibly couples directly to unitary garment 105. Any suitable and commercially available coupling means known in the art is used, some examples of such coupling means including but not limited to fasteners such as Velcro™ hook-and-loop, snaps, hooks, and the like. In some embodiments, knee protector 130 is reversibly couples to outer surface 10 of unitary garment 105. In some embodiments, knee protector 130 is reversibly coupled to inner surface 111 of unitary garment 105.
In some embodiments wherein knee protector 130, with or without knee protector pocket 131, couples at inner surface 111 of unitary garment 105, integrated back support and knee protection apron 100 further comprises a knee patch 133. Knee patch 133, in some embodiments, reversibly couples to outer surface 110 of unitary garment 105, utilizing a suitable and commercially available coupling means known in the art is used, some examples of such coupling means including but not limited to fasteners such as hook-and-loop, snaps, hooks, and the like. Knee patch 133 is reversibly coupled to unitary garment 105 and thus interchangeable, and is formed from a material that is compatible with the application wherein integrated back support and knee protection apron is used. For example, if user 106 is working indoors repairing a soft or polished surface, such as hardwood flooring or stone flooring, know patch 133 may be formed from a relatively non-abrasive natural or synthetic cloth fabric, such as cotton or a microfiber. Conversely, if user 106 is working on bare concrete, or outdoors on rock, earth, or soil, knee patch 133 may be formed from a more durable natural or synthetic material, such as leather, heavy canvas cloth, or hardened plastic. The aforementioned listed materials forming knee patch 133 are by example only and not meant to be limiting.
First, user 106 lifts protection apron 100 to user's waist area and couples two rear support straps 126 to one-another behind user user 106's lower back.
In some embodiments, such as the embodiments shown in
In the example embodiment shown in
First adjustment means 116 functions to reversibly couple back support belt 112 together at first attachment point 140, thereby allowing user 106 to adjust a variable length of back support belt. In this manner, user 106 chooses how much lower back support to generate from back support belt 112 by adjusting the exact position where waist coupling means 125 couples at first attachment point 140. By tightening or loosening tension of back support belt 112 at first attachment point 140, user 106 finely adjusts the degree of lower back support provided by back support belt 112. In some embodiments, waist coupling means is corresponding cloth patches of hook-and-loop fasteners coupled to outer surface 110 of back support belt 112 and the corresponding inner surface on the opposite arm of back support belt 112, as shown in
Cutting step 210 comprises cutting a unitary fabric. A unitary fabric is cut with a conventional cutting means particular to and suitable for the material composition of the unitary fabric, and forms the unitary fabric into a shape for an integrated back support and knee protection apron. Cutting step 210 is also, in some embodiments, particular to the size of a user of an integrated back support and knee protection apron.
Attaching step 220 comprises attaching an adjustment means to a unitary fabric. Attaching step 220, in some embodiments, is performed in a manner particular to and appropriate for the material composition of the unitary garment and individual elements of the adjustment means. Some non-limiting examples of attaching the adjustment means include stitching, gluing, annealing, clamping, or fastening utilizing a commercially available fastener. In some embodiments wherein the unitary garment and the elements of the adjusting means are cloth fabric, stitching is used. It is anticipated that many possible means and combination of means known and used in the art will be employed in attaching step 220.
Coupling step 230 comprises coupling a knee protector attachment means to a unitary garment. Similar to attaching step 220, coupling step 230, in some embodiments, is performed in a manner particular to and appropriate for the material composition of the unitary garment and elements of the knee protector attachment means.
This invention overcomes the aforementioned and other difficulties encountered with using prior art, like providing a single, unitary wearable device which provides support for the lower back and knee protection interchangeable to suit a particular application, which is fully adjustable to fit a particular individual user.
Exceptional results can be obtained with the integrated back support and knee protection apron and method of formation as described in this disclosure, including the various example described embodiments of the invention. The integrated back support and knee protection apron is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use. The integrated back support and knee protection apron provides protection against low-back strain and other injuries, pre-patellar bursitis and other knee injuries related to crawling, while protecting the user's underlying clothing and skin. Thus, the various embodiments of the integrated back support and knee protection apron and disclosed method of formation have immediate commercial and non-commercial applicability.
The embodiments and examples set forth herein were presented in order to best explain the present invention and its practical application and to thereby enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. However, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the foregoing description and examples have been presented for the purposes of illustration and example only. The description as set forth is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the teachings above.
Claims
1. An integrated protection apron comprising:
- a unitary garment, wherein the unitary garment comprises further comprising an outer surface; an inner surface; a back support belt; and a first adjustment means; and
- a knee protector coupled to the unitary garment.
2. The protection apron of claim 1, wherein the first adjustment means further comprises:
- a rear support strap coupled to the unitary garment;
- a waist coupling means coupled to the unitary garment; and
- a side support strap coupled to the unitary garment, wherein the waist coupling means and the side support strap in a closed position at least partially covers the waist coupling means under a condition of the protection apron worn with the waist coupling means and the side support strap closed, the side support strap at least partially covers the waist coupling means.
3. The protection apron of claim 1, further comprising a second adjustment means coupled to the unitary garment.
4. The protection apron of claim 3, wherein the second adjustment means comprises a thigh attachment coupled to the unitary garment.
5. The protection apron of claim 3, wherein the second adjustment means comprises a leg attachment coupled to the unitary garment.
6. The protection apron of claim 3, wherein the second adjustment means comprises a thigh attachment and a leg attachment coupled to the unitary garment.
7. The protection apron of claim 1, wherein the back support belt further comprises an elastomeric fabric.
8. The protection apron of claim 1, further comprising a thigh pad reversibly coupled to the outer surface.
9. The protection apron of claim 1, further comprising a knee pad reversibly coupled to the outer surface.
10. The protection apron of claim 1, wherein the first adjustment means comprises a hook-and-loop attachment means.
11. The protection apron of claim 1, wherein the knee protector further comprises a knee protector pocket coupled to the unitary garment; and a knee pad removably coupled to the knee protector pocket.
12. The protection apron of claim 11, wherein the knee pad further comprises a cutout.
13. The knee protector of claim 11, wherein the knee protector is coupled to the outer surface of the unitary garment.
14. An integrated back support and knee protection apron comprising:
- a unitary garment comprising a knee protector pocket; a back support belt; a first adjustment means comprising a rear support strap coupled to the unitary garment; a waist coupling means coupled to the unitary garment; and a side support strap coupled to the unitary garment, wherein under a condition of the protection apron worn with the waist coupling means coupled at a first attachment point and the side support strap coupled at a second attachment point, the side support strap at least partially covers the waist coupling means;
- a knee protector, wherein the knee protector pocket receives the knee protector; and
- a second adjustment means coupled to the unitary garment wherein the second adjustment means positions the knee protector over the knees of a user.
15. The protection apron of claim 11, wherein the knee protector pocket is coupled to the outer surface.
16. The protection apron of claim 11, wherein the knee protector pocket is coupled to the inner surface.
17. The protection apron of claim 11, further comprising a thigh pad.
18. The protection apron of claim 11, further comprising a knee patch.
19. The protection apron of claim 11, further comprising a thigh pad and a knee patch.
20. A method of forming an integrated back support and knee protection apron comprising the steps of:
- cutting a unitary fabric;
- attaching an adjustment means to the unitary fabric; and
- coupling a knee protector attachment means to the unitary fabric.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 25, 2015
Publication Date: Mar 30, 2017
Inventor: JOSE RUIZ (PHOENIX, AZ)
Application Number: 14/865,272