Back support system and method for improving the same

Abstract

There is provided a chair with an improved back support system and method for adjusting and arranging the same. The back support device having a rigid member with a continuously curved projection part along three dimensional curve direction to enable correction of a user's posture or spinal orientation via a plurality of fixed or positionable undulating curved supports, or a monolithic rigid support body. The proposed system and method improves user fatigue, relieves pressures to internal organs, and minimizes unintended body movement causing undesirable muscle tensions.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A back support system, comprising
 a rigid monolithic support member;   said rigid support member having a substantially planar back surface and defining a support base surface arranged substantially perpendicular thereto and a top surface also arranged substantially perpendicular thereto and spaced from said support base surface by a distance divided into a first zone A, and a second zone B;   in an upright arrangement in an external gravity field with said support base surface at a bottom location, said rigid support member having a height greater than a width defined along opposing sides of said upright length;   a first continuous arc surface alpha defined distal from said substantially planar back surface and extending from support base surface to said top surface in a convex curve relative to said substantially planar back surface;   a second continuous arc surface beta defined extending from opposing sides of edges denoting said width defined along said upright length in a convex curve relative to said substantially planar back surface;   said alpha and beta arc surfaces interacting to foam a continuously changing three-dimensional arc extending from said support base surface to said top surface and from opposing sides of said width defined along said upright length;   an apex plane surface defined as extending from said substantially planar back surface to said alpha   and beta arc surfaces and defining a separation between said first zone A and said second zone B;   said apex plane surface defined at a location spaced from said base support surface by 20% of the distance to said top surface and having a maximum apex distance along a length of both alpha and beta arc surfaces;   an apex of said convex curve relative to said base support surface being a distance X that is less than said maximum apex distance of said apex plane, by a ratio that is X-1, wherein X-1 is 0.90>X-1>0.85; and   an apex of the convex of said convex curve about said top surface being a distance Y that is less than said maximum apex distance of said apex plane, by a ratio that is Y-1, wherein Y-1 is 0.60>Y-1>0.50, and whereby said rigid monolithic support structure provides a continuously curved rigid support to a back of an external user.   
     
     
         17 . A back support system, according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said ratio X-1 is preferably 0.87; and   said ratio Y-1 is preferably 0.53.   
     
     
         18 . A back support system, according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 said continuous curve beta is at least a compound curve containing the sum of two radi defined at any reference position along said substantially planar back surface and extending perpendicularly therefrom, from said support base surface through said apex plane surface to said top surface;   a line extending tangentially to each said curve formed by said radi and joining thereto forming said continuous curve beta along any said reference position;   the ratio R-base of a minimum radi to a maximum radi of each respective defined curve at said support base surface being 0.65>R-apex>0.60, and preferably 0.63;   the ratio R-apex of a minimum radi to a maximum radi of each respective defined curve at said apex plane surface being 0.75>R-apex>0.70, and preferably 0.73; and   the ratio R-top of a minimum radi to a maximum radi of each respective defined curve at said top surface being 0.25>R-top>0.15, and preferably 0.19.   
     
     
         19 . A back support system, according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 said ratio X-1 is preferably 0.87; and   said ratio Y-1 is preferably 0.53.   
     
     
         20 . A back support system, according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 the ratio R-base is preferably about 0.63;   the ratio R-apex is preferably about 0.73; and   the ratio R-top is preferably about 0.19, wherein said back support system enables a reduction in the compressive force exerted on a back of said external user employing said back support system.   
     
     
         21 . A back support system, according to  claim 18 , further comprising:
 an additional zone portion identified as a third zone C and extending from said defined top surface along said substantially planar back surface to a defined additional third top surface;   said additional zone portion containing a third continuous arc surface alpha-1 defined distal from said substantially planar back surface and extending from defined top surface to said third top surface in a convex curve relative to said substantially planar back surface;   an arc of said continuous arc surface alpha-1 being different than said arc of said continuous arc alpha;   a fourth continuous arc surface beta-1 defined extending from opposing sides of edges denoting said width defined along said upright length in a convex curve relative to said substantially planar back surface between said defined top surface and said third top surface;   an arc of said continuous arc surface beta-1 being different than said arc of said continuous arc beta;   said alpha-1 and said beta-1 arc surfaces interacting to form a continuously changing three-dimensional arc extending from said top surface to said additional third top surface and from opposing sides of said width defined along said upright length;   said third top surface extending from said substantially planar back surface to said alpha-1 and said beta-1 arc surfaces and defining an apex of said third top surface curve;   said third top surface defined at a location spaced from said top surface a distance that is 80% of the distance between said support base surface and said top surface, whereby said third zone C substantially extends the upright dimension of said back support member; and   an apex of said convex curve relative to said third top surface being a distance Z that is less than said maximum apex distance of said apex plane, by a ratio that is Z-1, wherein Z-1 is 0.40>Z-1>0.30.   
     
     
         22 . A back support system, according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 said ratio Z-1 is preferably about 0.35.   
     
     
         23 . A back support system, according to  claim 19 , further comprising:
 an retaining member containing a holding region;   said back support member releasably retained in said holding region;   an adjustable securing means for enabling a securement of said elastic retaining member containing said back support member to a desired location during a use.   
     
     
         24 . A back support system, according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said desired location is one of a user back support wrap, a back-pack, and a chair support member.   
     
     
         25 . A back support system, according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said retaining member includes an elastomeric region;   said elastomeric region enables a use of said back support member as a user-back support wrap; wherein during said use of said retaining member as said support wrap, a compressive urging force is exerted inwardly on said user from said rigid monolithic support member.   
     
     
         26 . A back support system, according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said retaining member is a back-pack;   said adjustable securing means including a pair of user-shoulder straps extending from said back-pack enabling use by an external user; and   said adjustable securing means additionally including a partitioning means for internally retaining said support member bounded by said back-pack and adjustably securing said support member therein.   
     
     
         27 . A back support system, according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said retaining member is a strap system for securing said support member relative to one of an external chair and an external seat, thereby enabling use of said back support system as a back-support during a user-sitting-activity.   
     
     
         28 . A back support system, comprising:
 a plurality of undulating support members;   each said individual undulating support member including a back reference plane and an undulating surface extending relative thereto from a first side to a second side;   a midpoint region to each said undulating support member being spaced from said back reference plane a distance greater then non-midpoint regions between said first and said second side;   means for vertically positioning said plurality of undulating support members relative to each other along a vertical reference direction; and   means for individually securing each said undulating support member in a position independently from respective other undulating support members; whereby said back support system allows individualized positioning and securing of respective said undulating support members along both a first lateral direction away from said vertical reference direction and a second vertical direction thereby allowing improved positioning of a plurality of undulating support members.   
     
     
         29 . A chair, comprising:
 a back support system, further comprising:   a plurality of undulating support members;   each said individual undulating support member including a back reference plane and an undulating surface extending relative thereto from a first side to a second side;   a midpoint region to each said undulating support member being spaced from said back reference plane a distance greater then non-midpoint regions between said first and said second side;   means for vertically positioning said plurality of undulating support members relative to each other along a vertical reference direction; and   means for individually securing each said undulating support member in a position independently from respective other undulating support members; whereby said back support system allows individualized positioning and securing of respective said undulating support members along both a first lateral direction away from said vertical reference direction and a second vertical direction thereby allowing improved positioning of a plurality of undulating support members.   
     
     
         30 . A method for arranging a back support system relative to a back of a user, comprising the steps of:
 providing a first support structure having a user support member and an upright reference direction member;   providing a plurality of undulating support members;   each said individual undulating support member including a back reference plane and an undulating surface extending relative thereto from a first side to a second side;   a midpoint region to each said undulating support member being spaced from said back reference plane a distance greater then non-midpoint regions between said first and said second side;   providing means for vertically positioning said plurality of undulating support members relative to each other along a vertical reference direction; and   providing means for individually urging and securing each said undulating support member in a position independently from respective other undulating support members; whereby said back support system allows individualized positioning and securing of respective said undulating support members along both a first lateral direction away from said vertical reference direction and a second vertical direction thereby allowing improved positioning of a plurality of undulating support members.