Portable device for unloading lower back while sitting

Abstract

A portable harness that wraps around the rib cage and thoracic spine is disclosed. Unlike other harnesses, the present invention has an extension allowing it to be suspended above the user's ribcage to apply an upward pull. This suspension strap provides a distracting/unloading force on the lower back by holding the upper torso in place while the weight of a patient's lower body creates traction on the lumbar spine. The harness can be used with any chair back, including office chairs, or vehicle seats. This allows people with lower back pain to sit more comfortably while sitting in a regular chair, driving a car, or flying in a plane. This will decrease low back pain since sitting for long periods will no longer compress the lumbar spine, it will actually be therapeutic by allowing a person to sit in an unloaded position.

1 . A harness for unweighting a user's spine while in a seated position, comprising:
 a. a support, having a first end, and a second end, adapted to surround said user's rib cage, said support comprising a mechanism to attach said first end and said second end around said user; and   b. a suspension strap extending upwardly from two locations on said support, adapted to form a closed loop.   
     
     
         2 . A system for unweighting a user's spine while in a seated position, comprising:
 a. A support, having a first end, and a second end, adapted to surround said user's rib cage, said support comprising a mechanism to attach said first end and said second end around said user;   b. A suspension strap extending upwardly from two locations on said support, adapted to form a closed loop; and   c. A seatback, having a region of concavity over which said loop is positioned, wherein said user's back rests against said seatback in an unweighted position.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said region of concavity comprises a detachable headrest. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said region of concavity comprises an integrated headrest. 
     
     
         5 . A method for unweighting a user's spine while in a seated position, comprising:
 a. Providing a seat for said user, said seat having a seatback;   b. Surrounding said user's rib cage with a harness; and   c. Suspending said harness from a position on said seatback above said user's rib cage.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said position comprises the head rest of said seat. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein said seat comprises a seat back, further comprising installing a chair support device on said seat back, wherein said chair support device comprises one or more loops configured to rest on top of said seat back, a lateral strap configured to encircle said seat back, and a mechanism to receive said harness. 
     
     
         8 . A system for unweighting a user's spine while in a seated position, comprising:
 a. a support, having a first end, and a second end, adapted to surround said user's rib cage, said support comprising a mechanism to attach said first end and said second end around said user;   b. a suspension strap extending upwardly from two locations on said support, adapted to form a closed loop; and   c. a chair support device, having one or more loops configured to rest on top of a chair back, a lateral strap configured to encircle said chair back, and a mechanism to receive said suspension strap, thereby allowing said user's back to be in an unweighted position.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said mechanism comprises loops through which said suspension strap passes.