Hyperextension back brace

Abstract

A hypertension brace of cruciform shape having four pads, including sternal, pubic and two side pads, in which each of the four arms is longitudinally adjustable so as to facilitate fitting the patient. Further, at least the sternum pad is flexibly mounted to enable easy comformability to the sternum area of the individual patient.

I claim: 
     
       1. A .[.hypertension.]. .Iadd.hyperextension .Iaddend.brace including a rigid main cruciform structure adapted to overlie the anterior thoracic area of the human body and having upper and lower vertically .[.alined.]. .Iadd.aligned .Iaddend.vertical arms and right and left .[.horizontal alined.]. .Iadd.horizontally aligned .Iaddend.horizontal arms, sternum and pubic pads disposed respectively at the free ends of the upper and lower arms and right and left side pads disposed respectively at the free ends of the right and left arms, a back pad for contact with the back of the body and right and left means for attaching the back pad to the right and left pads, characterized in that each arm is of two-piece construction comprising a fixed part forming a rigid part of the cruciform structure and a movable part longitudinally adjustable relative to its fixed part, the pads being affixed respectively to the movable parts, and a plurality of means is provided for securing the movable parts in individually selected positions. 
     
     
       2. The brace defined in claim 1, further characterized in that at least the sternum pad is attached to its respective movable arm part by flexible means enabling the sternum pad to flex about a plurality of axes so as to render it capable of more readily conforming to the sternum area with which it is associated. 
     
     
       3. The brace defined in claim 1, further characterized in that each of the right and left means securing the back pad to the right and left side pads is an elongated pliant element attached to the respective right and left pad, reeved through slot means in the back pad and returned to the respective right or left pad, each element having a finger loop at its free end for facilitating the tensioning of the element, and each element being adjustably attachable to its respective right or left side pad for accommodating different body dimensions. 
     
     
       4. The brace defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the sternum pad is of generally arcuate shape as seen from the front, having a concave upper edge portion, a convex lower edge portion, and side edge portions joining the aforesaid portions. 
     
     
       5. The brace defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the movable arm part for the sternum pad is offset from the free end of its associated fixed arm part in the direction toward the body with which the brace is used. 
     
     
       6. The brace defined in claim 1, further characterized in that each movable arm part is carried on its respective fixed part by elongated slot means, one part of each arm having a plurality of tapped bores therein spaced apart lengthwise of the respective slot, and a plurality of sets of screw means are threaded into the associated bores for securing selected adjusted positions of the movable arm parts. 
     
     
       7. The brace of claim 6, further characterized in that each plurality of bores comprises three bores and each set of screw means comprises a pair of screws, the screws being selectively usable in any pair of bores in the associate arm part so as to vary the range of adjustability. 
     
     
       8. The brace of claim 1, further characterized in that the back pad is provided at each lateral side portion with a slot, each right and left securing means is a strap affixed to the associated side pad passed through the associated back pad slot and returned to the respective side pad, each latter pad having thereon an outwardly projecting stud, and each strap having therein a plurality of apertures spaced lengthwise of the strap for selective connection to the associated stud so that the straps are adjustable to conform to different body dimension. 
     
     
       9. The brace in claim 8, further characterized in that each strap is provided at its free end with a finger loop to facilitate tensioning of the strap. 
     
     
       10. The brace defined in claim 1, further characterized in that the movable arm parts are metallic, the respective pads are of plastic material and are bonded to the associated movable arm parts. .Iadd. 11. A hyperextension brace including a main cruciform structure adapted to overlie the anterior thoracic area of the human body having   a rigid vertical arm secured to a rigid horizontal arm,   upper and lower arms selectively movable and securable throughout a given range to upper and lower ends of said vertical arm,   right and left arms selectively movable and securable throughout a given range to the right and left ends of said horizontal arm,   a sternum pad attached to the free end of said upper movable arm,   a pubic pad attached to the free end of said lower movable arm,   a right side pad attached to the free end of said right movable arm,   a left side pad attached to the free end of said left movable arm, said right and left side pads adapted to be positioned at the front of the sides of the body,     a back pad for contact with the back of the body,   right and left means for attaching the back pad to the right and left side pads,   a plurality of means for securing the movable parts in individually selected positions whereby said brace can be adjusted to fit all standard adult sizes. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 12. The device of claim 11, wherein at least the sternum pad is flexible about a plurality of axes with respect to said upper movable arm so as to render it capable of more readily conforming to the sternum area with which it is associated. .Iaddend..Iadd. 13. The device of claim 11, wherein the sternum pad is of a generally arcuate shape as seen from the front, having a concave upper edge portion, a convex lower edge portion, and side edge portions joining the aforesaid portions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein the pubic pad is of a shape and size identical to the sternum pad permitting a single die to punch both pads during the manufacture thereof. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. The device of claim 11 wherein each movable arm is carried on its respective fixed arm by elongated slot means, one part of each arm having a plurality of tapped bores therein spaced apart lengthwise of the respective slot, and a plurality of screw means are threaded into the associated bores for securing selected adjusted portions of said movable arms. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 16. A hyperextension brace including   a main cruciform structure adapted to overlie the anterior thoracic area of the human body having   a rigid vertical arm secured to a rigid horizontal arm,   movable upper and lower arms selectively secured to upper and lower ends of said vertical arm,   movable right and left arms selectively secured to right and left ends of said horizontal arm, whereby said rigid and movable arms are arranged such that the structure is limited to a thickness of two arms. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A hyperextension brace including a rigid main cruciform structure adapted to overlie the anterior thoracic area of the human body and having upper and lower vertically aligned vertical arms and right and left horizontally aligned horizontal arms, sternum and pubic pads disposed respectively at the free ends of the upper and lower arms and right and left side pads disposed respectively at the free ends of the right and left arms, a back pad for contact with the back of the body and right and left means for attaching the back pad to the right and left pads, characterized in that each arm is of two-piece construction comprising a fixed part forming a rigid part of the cruciform structure and a movable part longitudinally adjustable relative to its fixed part, the pads being affixed respectively to the movable parts, and a slot, bore and screw means are provided for securing the movable parts in individually selected positions. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. The device of claim 4 wherein the pubic pad is of a shape and size identical to the sternum pad permitting a single die to punch both pads during the manufacture thereof. .Iaddend.