Dual-purpose belt

Claim 1

A dual-purpose orthopedic belt comprising a back pad having first and second layers stitched along parallel lines forming a plurality of elongated pockets in said pad extending transversely of said pad, elongated relatively stiff stays in said pockets for bracing said pad, said stays comprising rigid strips curved conversely between the middle and one end thereof and curved concavely between the middle and the other end thereof to cause said pad to conform to the back of a person at the lumbosacral area, said pockets being open at an upper end thereof to allow said stays to be removed from said pockets, elastic band means affixed to said back pad and extending from opposite marginal sides thereof transversely of said stays so that said band means and said back pad form a belt adapted to be wrapped about the pelvic region of a person with said back pad abutting against the back of the person at his lumbosacral area, said elastic band means being stretchable to conform to the body of the wearer and having opposite free end portions, means affixed to said end portions for securing the same together, elongated removable strap means affixed to said belt and extending transversely therefrom for connection to a pulling device to pull said belt when worn toward the feet of a person to apply pelvic traction, and a separate piece of soft material lining the surface of said pad covering said pockets and openings to face the back of a person and removably affixed to said surface to protect said pad and provide a nonabrasive skin contacting surface, said liner normally closing said pocket openings but being removable from said pad to uncover said openingS and allow said stays to be removed from said pad.