Torso arch support for body board users

Abstract

A garment worn by the user encircles his torso and includes a combined abdomen and chest cushion arrangement which supports the torso during a riding or paddling procedure. The pad includes layers of resilient cushion material as part of the garment. The cushion material is arranged in a series of different thickness pads or layers so as to compensate for the wedge-like angle between the surface of the board and the user's chest. In one form, the pads or bladders are arranged in three rows and two columns and are of a different thickness, commencing with the lower part of the user's rib cage and extending to the waist. The length of each of the pads or bladders is of a different dimension so as to accommodate for the decrease in space between the rib cage and the waist with respect to the surface of the board.

1 . A torso support comprising: 
 a support panel;    the support panel being removably secured with a garment worn by a user;    one or more pads with varying thicknesses carried on said support panel;    the support panel is configured to have an upper portion having a thickness that lifts and elevates a torso of a user to reduce upper and lower back exertion during a prone position of the user; and    a lower portion, having a second thickness that is less than the thickness of the upper portion of the support panel.    
   
   
       2 . The torso support defined in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said one or more pads is selected from the group consisting of 
 a. a gel material;  
 b. an inflatable bladder;  
 c. a foam composition;  
 d. a fiber material; and  
 e. resilient material.  
   
   
   
       3 . The torso support defined in  claim 2  wherein: 
 said one or more pads are arranged in a vertical column and a horizontal row.    
   
   
       4 . The torso support defined in  claim 3  wherein: 
 said pads in each of said columns are of different lengths, widths, and thicknesses; and    said pads in each of said rows are identical in length, width, and thickness.    
   
   
       5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . The torso support defined in  claim 1 , wherein said garment is selected from the group consisting of: 
 a. a jacket;    b. a vest;    c. a waist band, and    d. a wet-suit.    
   
   
       7 . (canceled)  
   
   
       8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . (canceled)  
   
   
       10 . (canceled)  
   
   
       11 . (canceled)  
   
   
       12 . The combination defined in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said one or more pads are inflatable.    
   
   
       13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . (canceled)  
   
   
       16 . The torso support defined in  claim 12  wherein: 
 said one or more inflatable pads are arranged in spaced apart relationship and decreasing in size from the rib cage towards the upper abdomen.    
   
   
       17 . A torso support comprising: 
 a support panel;    one or more pads with varying thicknesses carried on the support panel;    the support panel is configured to have an upper portion having a thickness that lifts and elevates a torso of a user to reduce upper and lower back exertion during a prone position of the user;    a lower portion, having a second thickness that is less than the thickness of the upper portion of the support panel; and    means secured to the support panel for wearing on the torso of the user whereby the one or more pads reside adjacent a rib cage of the user.    
   
   
       18 . A torso support comprising: 
 a support panel;    the support panel being removably secured with a garment worn by a user;    one or more pads with varying thicknesses carried on the support panel;    the support panel is configured to have an upper portion having a thickness that lifts and elevates a torso of a user to reduce upper and lower back exertion during a prone position of the user;    a lower portion, having a second thickness that is less than the thickness of the upper portion of the support panel;    the one or more pads are arranged in a vertical column and a horizontal row;    the one or more pads in each of the columns are of different lengths, widths, and thicknesses; and    the one or more pads in each of the rows are identical in length, width, and thickness.    
   
   
       19 . A torso support comprising: 
 a support panel;    one or more pads with varying thicknesses carried on the support panel;    the support panel is configured to have an upper portion having a thickness that lifts and elevates a torso of a user to reduce upper and lower back exertion during a prone position of the user;    a lower portion, having a second thickness that is less than the thickness of the upper portion of the support panel;    the one or more pads are arranged in a vertical column and a horizontal row;    the one or more pads in each of the columns are of different lengths, widths, and thicknesses;    the one or more pads in each of the rows are identical in length, width, and thickness, and    means secured to the support panel for wearing on the torso of the user whereby the one or more pads reside adjacent a rib cage of the user.    
   
   
       20 . The torso support defined in  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the support panel is configured to have an upper portion having a thickness that lifts and elevates a torso of a user to reduce upper and lower back exertion during a prone position of the user while in water.