Abstract: A back support vest including a lower back supporting section formed of elastic material that encircles the body in the lumbar and lumbosacral region, an upper back supporting section formed of non-elastic material that encircles the body in the thoracolumbar and thoracic region, and shoulder straps that join the front and rear lateral portions of the upper section. The vest also includes a reinforced section that spans the lower and upper sections centering on the dorsolumbar region. The elastic material of the lower section keeps the reinforced section in tension to provide effective support. Additional support is provided by pockets that releasably attach to the rear of the vest and are adapted to hold additional back support devices such as pillows, inflatables and molded spinal orthoses.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective vest having a collar or neck guard intended for use with helmets and, optionally, with shoulder pads or harnesses, of the types worn by players in contact sports. The protective vest has a flexible body with shoulder portions between chest and back panels. Surrounding an opening for receiving a player's neck is an upstanding collar, integrally formed with the body, which has an upper ring-like surface for contacting the bottom edge of the player's helmet. When contacted by the player's helmet, the collar, formed of resilient material, is placed in energy-absorbing compression. Also, the chest and back panels surrounding the collar, also being made of resilient material, are placed in a tension and compression loading, to further aid in absorbing the loading applied to the collar.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a body protector for sportsmen which allows perspiration from the sportsman's skin to be evaporated while the body protector is being worn. The protector takes the form of shoulder pads, a shin pad or a forearm pad. The protectors are molded from resiliently compressible plastics material and provided with a plurality of protrusions on their inner surface(s).

Abstract: A suspension harness/body jacket arrangement adapted for medical applications is disclosed. The harness arrangement suspends all or part of the body weight of a patient with respect to a wheelchair's fixed seat, a bed or the floor. The body jacket is seatless, and fabricated from a mesh or fish net material which elongates and grips the patient more snugly depending upon the tension applied thereto by suspension springs. In the case of incapacitated patients confined to the wheelchair, the arrangement may be used to substantially reduce the pressure applied to the patient's buttocks, thus preventing the development of pressure sores.

Abstract: A walker is disclosed to provide support for a person who would otherwise have great difficulty in moving around in a hospital or home setting. The walker includes a frame having pivotable wheels to enable movement of the frame. Support structure is suspended from the frame for holding the person. The support structure includes a seat on which the person can sit and a torso device for supporting the upper torso of the person.

Abstract: A corset is provided for the alleviation of lumbago which has a non-stretchable section formed at a portion corresponding to the lumbar region in the center of a user's back with elastic core elements respectively connected to left and right side edges of the non-stretchable section, and a gel pad attached detachably to the non-stretchable section to deform and fill a gap between the user's lumbar back surface and the non-stretchable section during use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a protective jacket to prevent injury to the torso of a wearer. The jacket comprises a rear panel and front panels closed by a zip fastener. The front and rear panels are formed of inner and outer sheets of material which are stitched together along seams to form a plurality of pockets. One longitudinal central pocket in the rear panel accommodates a spine protective member laminated from a poycarbonate member and impact absorbing member. Pockets adjacent the central pocket accommodate impact absorbing pads which are separated to define a waist of the jacket. Other pockets accommodate other impact absorbing pads in the rear panel and front panel.

Abstract: An orthopedic prosthesis including a trunk engaging means, an arm engaging means and a lift assist means. The trunk engaging means includes a shoulder engaging means comprised of a strap which passes over the injured shoulder and a support plate attached to each end of the shoulder strap, the support plates being positioned in front of and behind the shoulder to be supported. The trunk engaging means also includes a lateral support strap, one end of the strap being connected to one of the support plates and around the body of the wearer under the arm opposite of the shoulder to be supported where it is connected to the second support plate. The arm engaging means includes a strap passing around the humerus of the arm of the wearer. The lift assist means utilizes two pulley systems, one mounted on the arm engaging means and one on the support plate of the shoulder engaging means.

Abstract: There is disclosed a supplementary clothing article suitable for outdoor use to provide an insulated area between a user and a substrate surface, such as a cold surface. The article is adapted to be worn about a user's torso in a folded condition when not in use, and to be unfolded for use. The article is made up of a plurality of pad members each comprised of a layer of insulating material, namely a mat of heat insulating material provided with an outer covering of a textile material a flexible connection forming a fold area between the adjacent pad members and a pair of spaced-apart flexible strap means, one of the strap means being near the upper end of the upper pad member for encircling a wearer's torso at the waist and the other strap means being near the upper end of the lower pad member for encircling a wearer's torso at the waist when the article is in a folded form, or when the article is in use, to encircle the lower torso in the region of a user's legs.

Abstract: A back brace to provide firm support to the lumbar sacro area of the back, includes an elastic inner wrap that circumferentially stretches around the torso and fastens in the front. The inner wrap carries a back support panel. An elastic outer wrap overlaps the inner wrap with the back support panel between it and the inner wrap. A support pad is carried outside the outer wrap. The support panel carries resilient flexure means that fit in the small of the back when the inner and outer wrap are wrapped around the torso and secured in front. The support pad disburses the supportive force of the support panel about the lumbar sacro area of the back.

Abstract: Disclosed is a protective vest having a collar or neck guard intended for use with helmets and, optionally, with shoulder pads or harnesses, of the types worn by players in contact sports. The protective vest has a flexible body with shoulder portions between chest and back panels. Surrounding an opening for receiving a player's neck is a raised collar, integrally formed with the body, which has an upper ring-like surface for contacting the bottom edge of the player's helmet. When contacted by the player's helmet, the collar, formed of resilient material, is placed in energy-absorbing compression. Also, the chest and back panels surrounding the collar, also being made of resilient material, are placed in a tension and compression loading, to further aid in absorbing the loading applied to the collar.

Abstract: An upper torso garment including an integrally formed back support member adapted to engage the lumbar region of a wearer. A pair of straps extend longitudinally from the ends of the support member and terminate in loops to engage the knees of the wearer when the wearer is seated on the ground or on a backless support such as a bench, or the like. The force of the wearer's knees on the straps pulls the back supporting member against the back of the wearer supporting the back and enabling the wearer to sit upright comfortably for extended periods of time.

Abstract: A protective garment construction (10) for weight lifters comprising a jacket member (13) having a plurality of internal compartments (30) which are dimensioned to receive a plurality of padded members (40) including: a neck pad member (41); an upper back pad member (42); a pair of shoulder pad members (43); and, a pair of upper chest pad members (44); wherein, the padded jacket member (13) prevents a metal bar (100) from bruising the neck and upper torso of a weight lifter during normal weight lifting exercises.

Abstract: A garment for supporting the abdomen of a wearer is disclosed. The garment comprises a panty and two support straps which attach to the center front edge of the panty, over the shoulders, across the lower back in a criss-cross fashion, over the hips and under the abdomen. The garment may also include lateral straps to direct the support straps outward from the neck of the wearer, and a reinforcing strap to add extra support to the adbomen. The garment lifts the abdomen, transferring weight of the abdomen to the shoulders by way of the wearer's back. The garment decreses lordosis and improves posture.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed in which a pair of back straps, a pair of neck straps and a linking web combine to hold a neck cushion in place for protecting the neck of an athlete such as a water skier or the like.

Abstract: The thigh mounted lower back support belt works to keep the human spine straight while bending. This added support for the lower back aids persons engaged in aerobics, golf, lifting, and prolonged sitting. Full flexibility of motion is possible while easing the support load of the lower back. Thigh straps attach to a waist belt which pulls the stomach back while bending.

Abstract: An orthopedic appliance apparatus for treatment of scoliosis has first and second polymer lateral shells, each formed with a curvature so that when connected together they will enclose the central portion of the body of a patient and apply an arcuate bending force to the spine opposite the lateral curvature of the spine. The shells are connected, one side with rivets and the other side with velcro straps which allows the tightening of the brace to fit the patient. Padding is positioned in predetermined positions with the greatest application of force as made against the body. One shell has a plurality of slots formed therein along one edge to allow expansion of the curvature of the shell.

Abstract: A temporarily immobilizing harness is loosely positioned about the chest or other body part and closely spaced handles are squeezed using one or both hands to tighten the harness about the body. The harness is useful, for example, for restraining the chest against expansion during bouts of coughing or sneezing following open heart surgery.

Abstract: A lumbosacral support includes an elastic belt adapted to be worn around a person's waist and includes Velcro fasteners at its ends. The belt carries a double layer foam pad adjacent the middle thereof which is adapted to lie against the wearer's lower back. A vertically extending trough-like groove is cut away from the central portion of the pad. The pad directly overlies the wearer's spine whereby when the wearer presses against a seat back, the pad puts pressure on the supporting lumbosacral musculature on either side of the spine but does not put pressure directly on the spinal column.

Abstract: A one-piece garment device containing safety features to help prevent injuries to miners and other workers. A lifting assistance mechanism is incorporated. Special gloves, shoes and helmets are used in conjunction with the safety device. The garment device is useful for military applications, heavy industrial applications and the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to apparel which can be worn during breakdancing as an aid to the dancer in performing the breakdance movements and for distributing impact and torsional loads encountered by the dancer during the breakdance. The breakdance apparel of the present invention in its simplest form is apparel in which those portions of the apparel which contact the support structure have a relatively low coefficient of friction. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the apparel is provided with resilient regions having an external surface with a relatively low coefficient of friction. In one embodiment the breakdance apparel of the present invention may be in the form of a jacket, jump suit or vest which has been provided with elements having a relatively low coefficient of friction.

Abstract: An improved orthopedic device for protecting and supporting a body portion has been developed. A structural support panel, moldable to the contours of the body portion at elevated temperatures while remaining substantially rigid and resilient at ambient temperature, is supported by a belt-like device which encircles the body portion. The belt-like device consists of a web adapted to encircle the body portion being supported formed of a resilient, stretchable material, a heat barrier which protects the body portion during molding of the structural support panel and a cinch strap for tightening the orthopedic device about the body portion. The heat barrier forms a pocket with the web which permits insertion of the structural support panel into the orthopedic device at elevated temperatures. The invention also includes a process for fitting the device to a body portion which provides maximum comfort for the patient because of its speed and accuracy.

Abstract: A rigid body jacket having an anterior section and a posterior section. The two sections are joined by corset-type lacings with a pair of bilateral panels laced to the posterior section and attached to the anterior panels by snaps. The lacings are terminated in buckles and straps, the straps being faced with Velcro.RTM. type fastener material. Mating Velcro.RTM. material strips are cemented to the anterior section. The two sections are fitted to the patient, and the laces cut and spliced to a desired tightness with the straps attached to the Velcro.RTM. strips. The jacket thereafter may be easily removed and put back on by the patient without assistance.

Abstract: A neck support for use in athletic contact sports such as football, which includes a resilient, yieldable collar having at least one front support extending downwardly from the collar beneath an athlete's chin, and attached to his shoulder harness or pads. The collar intercepts the chin, and the collar and front support together prevent downward movement of the athlete's head past a predetermined position to prevent undesirable hyper-flexure of the cervical vertebrae and damage to the cervical spine, responsive to a blow or blows delivered to the athlete's head.

Abstract: The present harness comprises a pair of shoulder straps secured to a belt. The shoulder straps are crossed in the back similar to a pair of suspenders. However, unlike a pair of suspenders, the shoulder straps are not secured at the point of crossing. The belt portion is adapted to be secured around the wearer's waist.The belt and shoulder straps are fabricated of a flexible material, suitably of plastic, or combinations thereof, or canvas, particularly suited is belting such as web belting. The belt and shoulder straps have a reflective surface on the outer portion thereof to reflect light striking such surface.

Abstract: A body harness device is provided which finds particular application in the act of conjugal relations and which includes a pair of elongated straps each of which has a foot engagable stirrup thereon and terminates at an upper end in a shoulder strap arrangement such that in use the elongated straps are disposed generally lengthwise of the wearer and a force applied longitudinally downwardly on either of the elongated straps is distributed between both shoulders of the wearer while facilitating a desired relation between the marital partners.

Abstract: The protecting device comprises a vertebral column protecting element (2) presenting at its higher end a nape protecting element (3) and at its lower end a belt (1), a tight chamber extending on these three elements and being provided with automatically releasable inflating means (10).The protecting device can be beared as a harness by means of straps (15, 16) or incorporated to a clothing. It allows in case of accident to decrease the risks or the severity of injuries to the vertebral column, to the nape and to the lumbar region.

Abstract: A strap apparatus is adapted for mounting on and use by male and female partners during coitus to stabilize the actions of each.

Abstract: The invention constitutes an orthopedic garment of the torso encircling type for providing lumbosacral support, and the central region of the inner surface of the garment includes a removable orthosis brace whereby the garment may be selectively utilized for lumbosacral or lumbosacral-orthosis purposes. The removable brace is received within a cover including attachment means for releasably mounting the cover and brace to the garment inner surface, and the attachment means defined on the cover and band are vertically disposed along lateral edges of the orthosis cover.

Abstract: A brace for posture training comprises a thoracic band, a pelvic band resting on the base of the sacrum and arched over the hip joints and beneath the front of the hip bone, and resilient struts extending between the bands so as resiliently to oppose undesirable changes in posture.

Abstract: A back belt for use by sailors particularly in racing to provide support when a sailor is inclined out from a side of the ship to counterbalance the inclination of the boat, the belt having portions to extend around crotch, waist, back and over the shoulders of the wearer, a front located hook device and an arrangement for an adjustable back support plate. The belt has a back portion that extends substantially the length of the back of a user and receives a supporting plate therein. The supporting plate is connected at its upper most end by adjustable straps that extend over the shoulders of a user and connect to a hook device in the front of a user. The bottom most portion of the supporting plate connects to an adjustable fork strap that extends under the crotch of a user and connects to a hook device on the front of a user. The supporting plate may be adjustably positioned relative to the back portion.