Accessory for inhibiting back injury

Abstract

A protective device is provided for protecting the back of a wearer against injury. The device includes an array of support elements that extend along the wearer's back adjacent his spine and is held in position on his back by attachment means, which can include a neck brace attached to the upper end of array, a chest strap, a waist strap and/or webbing that are spaced apart axially along the array. The support elements are attached to each other in such a way that they can move relative to each other to allow free, but limited bending, extension and contraction of the array, but the connection means between the elements is configured to prevent further movement between them once a predetermined limited movement has taken place, so that the array becomes practically rigid and can bear further loading that may otherwise have been born by the spine.

1 . A protective device comprising:
 an elongate array of support elements configured to extend along the back of a wearer of the device, adjacent the wearer's spine; and   attachment means for removably attaching the array of support elements to the wearer's body in at least two locations that are spaced apart axially along the array;   pivotal connection means for attaching the support elements to each other, wherein the pivotal connection means is configured to allow pivotal movement between adjacent support elements only to a limited, predetermined extent, said pivotal connection means between adjacent support elements including:   pivot formations that interact to allow pivoting movement between the adjacent support elements and   limit formations that interact with predetermined play when the elements are pivoted relative to each other and that abut when the play has been taken up, to inhibit further pivotal movement, along at least one pivot axis,   wherein the limit formations include at least one protuberance extending from one element, which is receivable with said predetermined play in a recess defined in the adjacent element.   
     
     
         2 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the limit formations include two protuberances extending from one element, which are receivable with said predetermined play, in two recesses defined in the adjacent element. 
     
     
         3 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the pivot formations of the adjacent support elements are configured to bear loads longitudinally along the device, while allowing pivotal movement between the adjacent support elements, to said limited, predetermined extent. 
     
     
         4 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means includes at least one elongate flexible element for attaching the device to the waist of the wearer, said elongate flexible element being configured to expand elastically to a predetermined extent and to inhibit further expansion once it has expanded to a limit of said predetermined extent. 
     
     
         5 . The device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the device includes lateral protuberances that are attached to at least one support element in the pelvic region, with the flexible element attachable to said lateral protuberances. 
     
     
         6 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attachment means includes at least one elongate flexible element for attaching the device to the upper body of the wearer, said elongate flexible element being configured to expand elastically to a predetermined extent and to inhibit further expansion once it has expanded to a limit of said predetermined extent. 
     
     
         7 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the operational upper end of the array is configured to be attachable to a neck brace to be worn by the wearer of the device, said neck brace being configured to extend around the wearer's neck and to interact with a helmet worn by the wearer. 
     
     
         8 . The device as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the attachment between the array and the neck brace provides for limited pivotal movement between the upper end of the array and the neck brace. 
     
     
         9 . The device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the device includes a lower protuberance extending from the support element at the operational lower end of the array adjacent the coccyx of the wearer, to a position where the wearer's buttocks would rest on a seat. 
     
     
         10 . The device as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the lower protuberance has a support plate at its end that is remote from the array of support elements.