Abstract
The present invention relates to coupling elements to couple belts, particularly abdominal belts and tension bands. The coupling elements can particularly be used for belts of braces or orthoses.
Claims
1-9. (canceled)
10. A coupling element for coupling a first belt element to a second belt element, in combination with the first and second belt elements, the coupling element comprising: a first coupling means at a first end of the first belt element; a second coupling means at a first end of the second belt element, wherein the first coupling means has a first grip element and an eyelet element with at least one eyelet, and wherein the second coupling means has a second grip element and a hook element with a hook to hook into the eyelet of the eyelet element, the first grip element and the second grip element have a handle with a grip opening for the holding of the first and/or second grip element, wherein the handle of the first and second grip elements is retractable.
11. The coupling element according to claim 10, wherein the first belt element and the second belt element form an abdominal belt.
12. The coupling element according to claim 10, wherein the first belt element and the second belt element form a tension band.
13. The coupling element according to claim 10, wherein the first belt element and the second belt element form a tension belt.
14. The coupling element according to claim 10, wherein the eyelet element is designed like a ladder, and has a plurality of eyelets, and, as viewed from an associated first grip element, is curved both upward and inward.
15. The coupling element according to claim 10, wherein the handle of the first and/or second grip element is positioned horizontally.
16. The coupling element according to claim 10, wherein the first coupling means is connected to the first belt element by means of a hinge, and/or the second coupling means is connected to the second belt element via a hinge.
17. The coupling element according to claim 10, wherein the first belt element and/or the second belt element are parts of a belt system and/or a tensioning system via pulleys.
18. The coupling element according to claim 10, wherein the first belt element and the second belt element form a belt, in particular an abdominal belt, of a brace or an orthosis.
19. The coupling element of claim 10 in combination with a brace or orthosis.
Description
[0036] The invention is described in greater detail with reference to the following figures, wherein the embodiments shown in the figures should not be construed as limiting the invention.
[0037] In the drawings:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a first coupling means according to the invention, from the front,
[0039] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a second coupling means according to the invention, from the front,
[0040] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of a coupling element according to the invention, with uncoupled coupling means, from the front,
[0041] FIG. 4 shows the coupling element of FIG. 3, with coupled coupling means,
[0042] FIG. 5 shows the first coupling means of FIG. 2, from the back side,
[0043] FIG. 6 shows the coupling element of FIG. 4, from the back side,
[0044] FIG. 7 shows a back support orthosis according to the invention,
[0045] FIG. 8 shows the back support orthosis of FIG. 7 when worn.
[0046] FIG. 1 shows the front side of a preferred embodiment of a first coupling means (10) as a part of a coupling element according to the invention. The coupling means (10) is connected to a first belt element at the end (11e) of the belt element (11) via a hinge (16). The coupling means (10) has a grip element (12) and an eyelet element (13), wherein the grip element (12) is positioned between the eyelet element (13) and the belt element (11). The eyelet element (13) is designed in the form of a ladder, wherein the rungs of the ladder shape form a total of 7 eyelets (131, 132, 133, 134). In addition, the eyelet element (13) is curved both upward and inward as seen from the grip element (12). The grip element (12) has a grip (15) which is designed to be able to retract, and which is connected to the grip element (12) on the lateral ends thereof. A grip opening (15e) is formed as a result, and is wide enough so that a hand can grip the handlein particular, four fingers of one hand can reach into the grip opening. The handle (15) is shown in the flipped-out position, and can be retracted in the downward direction.
[0047] FIG. 2 shows the front side of a preferred embodiment of the second coupling means (20) of a coupling element according to the invention, wherein the coupling means (20) is attached via a hinge (26) to one end (21e) of a second belt element (21). The coupling means (20) has a second grip element (22), wherein a handle (25) which can be retracted in the downward direction is attached on the sides thereof. The handle is shown in the retracted position in which it does not protrude forward, and thus does not create an interference. When the handle (25) is flipped out, it forms a grip opening (25e) for holding the handle (25). A hook element (23) with a hook is situated on the non-visible rear side of the grip element (22).
[0048] FIG. 3 shows the front side of a preferred embodiment of a coupling element according to the invention (100), having the coupling means shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 (10, 20). Accordingly, the first belt element (11) and the second belt element (21) can be seen here as well, each with its ends (11e, 21e) connected via hinges (16, 26) to the respective coupling means (10, 20). The first coupling means (10) has a first grip element (12) and an eyelet element (13) in this case as well. A handle (15) is hingedly connected to the sides of the grip (12). The eyelet element (13) again has a plurality of adjacent eyelets (131, 132, 133, 134). On the back side, the second coupling means (20) comprises the hook element (23) with a hook (not visible here). On the front side, the second handle (25) can be seen in the flipped-out position. In the flipped-out position, the two handles (15, 25) each form a grip opening (15e, 25e), wherein a hand can reach into each of the same.
[0049] The two coupling means (10, 20) of the coupling element (100) are shown here in the uncoupled position. To couple the two coupling means (10, 20) via one of the eyelets (131, 132, 133, 134) and the hook, both of the same are pulled toward each other in the usual manner. As a result, the belt elements (11, 21) become taut, such that a corresponding amount of force is required. With the handle (15, 25) included according to the invention, the grip elements (12, 22) can be easily gripped, such that the coupling means (10, 20) can be moved toward each other even by persons with limited mobility or low strength reserves in spite of the tension of the belt elements (11, 21). This is advantageous both during coupling and decoupling.
[0050] FIG. 4 shows the coupling element (100) of FIG. 3 once more in a front viewthis time in a coupled/closed position. The two belt elements (11, 21) with their ends (11e, 21e), the adjacent hinges (16, 26), and the two coupling means (10, 20) with the corresponding grip elements (12, 22) can be seen here again. The handles (15, 25) are flipped down in this case, such that they do not create interference, and lie flat against the grip elements (12, 22). The hook element (23) (not visible) is hooked by its hook into one of the eyes (132) of the eyelet element (13). If the tensile force of the belt elements (11, 21) should be increased, or the person wearing the coupling element (100) has a smaller girth, the hook can advantageously be hooked into an eyelet (131) positioned closer to the grip element (12). The same applies, if lower tensile force is desired, or if the person has a larger girth, for eyelets which are positioned further from the grip element (12).
[0051] FIG. 5 shows the back side of the second coupling means (20) of FIG. 2, wherein the coupling means (20) is attached on one end (21e) of the second belt element (21) via a hinge (26). The coupling means (20) has a second grip element (22), wherein a handle (25) which can be retracted in the downward direction is attached on the sides thereof. The handle is shown once more in the retracted position. The handle (25) is movably connected via its ends (25b) to lateral elements (22b) of the grip element (22). Such a connection is preferably also included for the first handle of the first coupling means. A hook element (23) with a hook (231) which can be hooked into an eyelet of the first coupling means is situated on the back of the grip element (22).
[0052] FIG. 6 shows the coupling element (100) of FIG. 4 in a rear viewagain in a coupled/closed position. The two belt elements (11, 21), the adjacent hinges (16, 26), and the two coupling means (10, 20) with the corresponding grip elements (12, 22) can be seen here again. The handles (15, 25) are flipped out, such that it is easy to reach into the grip openings (15e, 25e). The hook element (23) is hooked by its hook (231) on the rear side of the grip element (22) in one of the eyelets (132) of the eyelet element (13). Again, the hook (231) can alternatively be hooked into one of the other eyelets (131, 133, 134). The second coupling means (20) is sharply bent via the corresponding hinge (26) with respect to the second belt element (21). This illustrates the advantageous additional mobility resulting from such a hinge connection.
[0053] FIG. 7 shows a back support orthosis (200) according to the invention, which, for the purpose of closing a pulley tensioning system (30, 40, 50, 60) with the two belt elements (11, 21) in the abdominal area, has a coupling element according to the invention with the two coupling means (10, 20), with the grip elements (12, 22), with the eyelet element (13) with eyelets (131), and with the hook element (23) with hooks. Such a back support orthosis is known, for example, from DE 10 2012 009 214 A1, shown particularly in FIG. 2. In addition, the coupling means (10, 20) of the back support orthosis each have a handle (15, 25). These handles (15, 25) make it possible, in an advantageous manner, for the grip elements (12, 22) to be easily gripped as described above, and then for the coupling means (10, 20) to be coupled and uncoupled again in an improved manner, in spite of the tension of the belt elements (11, 21).
[0054] FIG. 8 shows the back support orthosis (200) of FIG. 7 when it is placed on the body of a person. The abdominal belt (70) formed by the belt elements (11, 21) is closed by the coupling means (10, 20) as described above. The handles (15, 25) are flipped down so that they do not create interference. However, they can be flipped out once more to remove the back support orthosis (200). The coupling means (10, 20) are again connected via hinges (16, 26) to the belt elements (11, 21). The hinges can advantageously increase wearing comfort, since the coupling means (10, 20) can therefore bend relative to the belt elements (11, 21) without the belt elements (11, 21) themselves being bent. FIG. 8 makes clear the other described advantages of the individually-shown elements, such as the good fit of the eyelet element (13) which curves upward and inward.
