Back support

Claim 2

A back support adapted to be worn about a person's waist comprising: (A) a resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate back pad configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's lower back when said back support is worn, said back pad being filled with a resiliently compressible, flexible filler material and having stitching therethrough which compresses said filler material in different areas to different degrees; said stitching defining first areas of greater stiffness adjacent each side of said back pad and a plurality of second areas of lesser stiffness intermediate said first areas, whereby said back pad has greater thickness and less firmness in said second areas and less thickness and greater firmness in said first areas; (B) a pair of resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate side pads configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's sides when said back support is worn, each of said side pads being secured at one end to a respective end of said back pad; and (C) flexible strap means for releasably operably connecting said side pads together to adjustable fit said back support about the wearer's waist.

Claim 3

The back support of claim 1 wherein said filler material is foam.

Claim 4

The back support of claim 1 wherein said back pad includes a fabric cover about said filler material.

Claim 5

The back support of claim 1 wherein said filler material is substantially homogeneous.

Claim 6

The back support of claim 1 wherein said back pad has an egg crate inner surface facing away from the wearer and a generally smooth outer surface facing the wearer.

Claim 7

The back support of claim 1 additionally including at least one loop disposed on each side pad intermediate the ends thereof for adjusting the bulk of said side pad to fill the portion of the wearer's waist intermediate the rib cage and the hips and thereby provide support thereto when the wearer lies on his/her side on a generally flat surface.

Claim 8

The back support of claim 6 wherein each of said loops is removable from its respective side pad.

Claim 9

The back support of claim 6 wherein each of said loops is slidable along the length of its respective side pad for adjusting the distribution of the bulk thereof.

Claim 10

The back support of claim 6 wherein said loops are elastic.

Claim 11

The back support of claim 1, expressly adapted to be worn about the waist of a wearer who is pregnant or otherwise possessed of a protruding abdomen, wherein said strap means is bifurcated into an upper portion and a lower portion, so that said strap means may be disposed to the top and bottom of the protruding abdomen of the wearer.

Claim 12

The back support of claim 10 wherein said lower portion of said strap means is configured and dimensioned to at least partially support the protruding abdomen, and said upper portion of said strap means is configured and dimensioned to stabilize the position of the protruding abdomen.

Claim 13

The back support of claim 10 additionally including a resiliently elastic cover extending between and connecting said upper and lower portions of said strap means.

Claim 14

The back support of claim 1 wherein said strap means is secured at one end thereof to the other end of one of said side Pads and is removably secured at the other end thereof to the other end of the other one of said side pads for releasably connecting said strap means and said other one side pad adjacent the side of the wearer to adjustably fit said back support about the wearer's waist,

Claim 15

The back support of claim 13 wherein said strap means is removably secured at both ends thereof to the other ends of said side pads and thus detachable from said side pads.

Claim 16

The back support of claim 1 wherein said strap means comprises a pair of strap elements, each said strap element being secured at one end thereof to the other end of a respective one of said side pads and having fastening means at the other end thereof for releasably connecting said strap elements together to adjustably fit said back support about the wearer's waist.

Claim 17

The back support of claim 15 wherein said back support is of unitary one-piece construction.

Claim 18

The back support of claim 1 wherein said strap means is resiliently elastic.

Claim 19

A back support adapted to be worn about a person's waist comprising: (A) a resiliently compressible, flexible, fabric-coated elongate foam back pad configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's lower back when said back support is worn, said back pad including a fabric cover filled with a resiliently compressible, flexible, substantially homogeneous filler material and having stitching therethrough which compresses said filler material in different areas to different degrees, said stitching defining first areas of greater stiffness adjacent each side of said back pad and a plurality of second areas of lesser stiffness intermediate said first areas, whereby said back pad has greater thickness and less firmness in said second areas and less thickness and greater firmness in said first areas.; (B) a pair of resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate foam side pads configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's sides when said back support is worn, each of said side pads being secured at one end to a respective end of said back pad; and (C) at least one elastic ring disposed on each side pad intermediate the ends thereof and slidable along the length thereof for adjusting the bulk of said side pad to fill the portion of the wearer's waist intermediate the rib cage and the hips and thereby provide support thereto when the wearer lies on his/her side on a generally flat surface; and (D) resiliently elastic, flexible strap means for releasably operably connecting said side pads together to adjustably fit said back support about the wearer's waist.

Claim 20

A back support adapted to be worn about a person's waist comprising: (A) a resiliently compressible, flexible, fabric-coated elongate foam back pad configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's lower back when said back support is worn, said back pad including a fabric cover filled with a resiliently compressible, flexible, substantially homogeneous filler material and having stitching therethrough which compresses said filler material in different areas to different degrees, said stitching defining first areas of greater stiffness adjacent each side of said back pad and a plurality of second areas of lesser stiffness intermediate said first areas, whereby said back pad has greater thickness and less firmness in said second areas and less thickness and greater firmness in said first areas.; (B) a pair of resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate foam side pads configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's sides when said back support is worn, each of said side pads being secured at one end to a respective end of said back pad; and (C) at least one elastic ring disposed on each side pad intermediate the ends thereof and slidable along the length thereof for adjusting the bulk of said side pad to fill the portion of the wearer's waist intermediate the rib cage and the hips and thereby provide support thereto when the wearer lies on his/her side on a generally flat surface; and (D) resiliently elastic, flexible strap means for releasably operably connecting said side pads together to adjustably fit said back support about the wearer's waist.

Claim 21

The back support of claim 18, expressly adapted to be worn about the waist of a wearer who is pregnant or otherwise possessed of a protruding abdomen, wherein said strap means is bifurcated into an upper portion and a lower portion, so that said strap means may be disposed to the top and bottom of the protruding abdomen of the wearer; said lower portion of said strap means being configured and dimensioned to at least partially support the protruding abdomen, and said upper portion of said strap means being configured and dimensioned to stabilize the position of the protruding abdomen; and additionally including a resiliently elastic cover extending between and connecting said upper and lower portions of said strap means.

Claim 22

A back support adapted to be worn about a person's waist comprising: (A) a resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate back pad configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's lower back when said back support is worn, said back pad being filled with a resiliently compressible, flexible filler material and having stitching therethrough which compresses said filler material in different areas to different degrees; said back pad having an egg crate inner surface facing away form the wearer and a generally smooth outer surface facing the wearer; (B) a pair of resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate side pads configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's sides when said back support is worn, each of said side pads being secured at one end to a respective end of said back pad; and (C) flexible strap means for releasably operably connecting said side pads together to adjustably fit said back support about the wearer's waist.

Claim 23

A back support adapted to be worn about a person's waist comprising: (A) a resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate back pad configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's lower back when said back support is worn, said back pad being filled with a resiliently compressible, flexible filler material and having stitching therethrough which compresses said filler material in different areas to different degrees; said back pad having an egg crate inner surface facing away form the wearer and a generally smooth outer surface facing the wearer; (B) a pair of resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate side pads configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's sides when said back support is worn, each of said side pads being secured at one end to a respective end of said back pad; and (C) flexible strap means for releasably operably connecting said side pads together to adjustably fit said back support about the wearer's waist.

Claim 24

A back support adapted to be worn about a person's waist comprising: (A) a resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate back pad configured an dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's lower back when said back support is worn, said back pad being filled with a resiliently compressible, flexible filler material and having stitching therethrough which compresses said filler material in different areas to different degrees; (B) a pair of resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate side pads configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's sides when said back support is worn, each of said side pads being secured at one end to a respective end of said back pad; and (C) at least one loop disposed on each side pad intermediate the ends thereof for adjusting the bulk of said side pad to fill the portion of the wearer's waist intermediate the rib cage and the hips and thereby provide support thereto when the wearer lies on his/her side on a generally flat surface; and (D) flexible strap means for releasably operably connecting said side pads together to adjustably fit said back support about the wearer's waist.

Claim 25

A back support adapted to be worn about a person's waist comprising: (A) a resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate back pad configured an dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's lower back when said back support is worn, said back pad being filled with a resiliently compressible, flexible filler material and having stitching therethrough which compresses said filler material in different areas to different degrees; (B) a pair of resiliently compressible, flexible, elongate side pads configured and dimensioned to be positioned against the wearer's sides when said back support is worn, each of said side pads being secured at one end to a respective end of said back pad; and (C) at least one loop disposed on each side pad intermediate the ends thereof for adjusting the bulk of said side pad to fill the portion of the wearer's waist intermediate the rib cage and the hips and thereby provide support thereto when the wearer lies on his/her side on a generally flat surface; and (D) flexible strap means for releasably operably connecting said side pads together to adjustably fit said back support about the wearer's waist.

Claim 26

The back support of claim 21 wherein each of said loops is removable from its respective side pad.

Claim 27

The back support of claim 21 wherein each of said loops is slidable along the length of its respective side pad for adjusting the distribution of the bulk thereof.

Claim 28

The back support of claim 21 wherein said loops are elastic.