Wearable Device to Reduce Pain and Promote Healing of Lower Back Problems

Abstract

A device that decompresses the lower spine while the wearer is seated or standing. The device includes two belt-shaped straps. The first strap circles the upper torso just below the breast line. The second strap circles the waist at or slightly above the normal belt line riding on the hip. In embodiments of the invention, the lower strap can be a normal belt. The straps can be equipped with pockets that are aligned along the upper edge of the upper strap and the lower edge of the lower strap designed to receive and hold flat splints. Typically, two rigid flat splints extend vertically between the straps centered laterally on the left and right sides of the torso. When the device is worn, it decompresses the lower spine when the person stands or sits.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A device that relieves lower back pain comprising:
 an upper flexible strap having a left side and a right side constructed to encircle a user's upper torso;   a lower flexible strap also having a left side and a right side constructed to encircle the user's belt-line;   a first rigid splint extending approximately vertically between the left side of the upper flexible strap and the left side of the lower flexible strap, the first rigid splint being centered laterally on a user's left side when the device is worn;   a second rigid splint extending approximately vertically between the right side of the upper flexible strap and the right side of the lower flexible strap, the second rigid splint being centered laterally on the user's right side when the device is worn;   the first rigid splint having an upper and lower end, the upper end of the first rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the left side of the upper flexible strap; the lower end of the first rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the left side of the lower flexible strap;   the second rigid splint also having an upper and lower end, the upper end of the second rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the right side of the upper flexible strap; the lower end of the second rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the right side of the lower flexible strap.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the first and second rigid splints are between 8 inches and 13 inches long. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the first and second rigid splints are supplied in lengths of 9 inches, 10.75 inches and 12 inches. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower flexible straps are neoprene. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the splints are hard plastic. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein each splint has a through-hole in at least one of its ends. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein one end of each splint is forked. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the upper and lower flexible straps are approximately 45 inches in length with hook material on a first end on a first side and hook material on a second end on a second side with loop material on both sides between regions of hook material. 
     
     
         9 . A device that relieves lower back pain comprising:
 an upper flexible strap having a left side and a right side constructed to encircle a user's upper torso;   a first rigid splint having a forked lower end extending between the left side of the upper flexible strap and a wearer's belt, the first rigid splint being centered laterally on a user's left side when the device is worn;   a second rigid splint also having a forked end extending between the right side of the upper flexible strap and the wearer's belt, the second rigid splint being centered laterally on the user's right side when the device is worn;   the first rigid splint having an upper and lower end, the upper end of the first rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the left side of the upper flexible strap; the lower end of the first rigid splint being received and held by being forked around a left side of the wearer's belt;   the second rigid splint also having an upper and lower end, the upper end of the second rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the right side of the upper flexible strap; the lower end of the second rigid splint being received and held by being forked around a right side of the wearer's belt.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the first and second rigid splints are between 8 inches and 13 inches long. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10  wherein the first and second rigid splints are supplied in lengths of 9 inches, 10.75 inches and 12 inches. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the upper flexible strap is neoprene. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the splints are hard plastic. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 9  wherein each splint has a through-hole in at least one of its ends. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 9  wherein the upper flexible strap is approximately 45 inches in length with hook material on a first end on a first side and hook material on a second end on a second side with loop material on both sides between regions of hook material. 
     
     
         16 . A method for relieving a user's lower back pain comprising:
 wearing an upper flexible strap having a left side and a right side constructed to encircle the user's upper torso;   wearing a lower flexible strap also having a left side and a right side constructed to encircle the user's belt-line;   wearing a first rigid splint extending between the left side of the upper flexible strap and the left side of the lower flexible strap, the first rigid splint being centered laterally on the user's left side;   wearing a second rigid splint extending between the right side of the upper flexible strap and the right side of the lower flexible strap, the second rigid splint being centered laterally on the user's right side;
 wherein the first rigid splint has an upper and lower end, the upper end of the first rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the left side of the upper flexible strap; the lower end of the first rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the left side of the lower flexible strap; 
 and wherein the second rigid splint also has an upper and lower end, the upper end of the second rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the right side of the upper flexible strap; the lower end of the second rigid splint being received and held by a pocket on the right side of the lower flexible strap. 
   
     
     
         17 . A device that relieves lower back pain comprising:
 an upper flexible strap having a left side and a right side constructed to encircle a user's upper torso;   a lower flexible strap also having a left side and a right side constructed to encircle a user's belt-line;   a first rigid splint extending between the left side of the upper flexible strap and the left side of the lower flexible strap, the first rigid splint being centered laterally on the user's right side when the device is worn;   a second rigid splint extending between the right side of the upper flexible strap and the right side of the lower flexible strap, the second rigid splint being centered laterally on the user's right side when the device is worn.   
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the first and second rigid splints are between 8 inches and 13 inches long. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the first and second rigid splints are supplied in lengths of 9 inches, 10.75 inches and 12 inches. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the upper flexible strap is neoprene.