The present invention relates to an apparatus for supporting the back of a person, in particular to an apparatus for providing lumbar support of a person and more particularly to such an apparatus which is mobile and can be carried by a person.

Back pain is probably the most major health issue occurring in people today of all walks of life and occupation. Many people have specifically designed chairs and seats for use in the office or home which provide them with back or lumbar support required to lessen or completely eliminate back pain.

The difficulty for these people occurs when they move away from their specifically designed chair, for example when travelling, sitting in a restaurant, concert, cinema, sports stadium of the like. They have to sit in a chair, seat or bench which is totally unsuitable for their particular backs. Some people are forced to bring lumbar supports with them, but known lumbar supports are particularly cumbersome and not convenient for moving about or travelling.

The object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which alleviates the above disadvantages associated with the prior art.

The present invention provides a back support apparatus comprising a carrier bag having at least two sections, one section being adapted to contain items to be carried and the other sections containing an inflatable air bag and a means for inflating the air bag, the air bag when inflated acting as a back or lumbar support.

The carrier bag may be a laptop bag, a handbag, a sports gear bag, a weekend bag, a haversack or the like.

The inflatable air bag may include a liquid bag or may be a mechanically inflatable bag.

The means for inflating the air bag may be a simple mechanical pump or a battery powered pneumatic pump. Preferably, a rigid support is placed between the two sections of the carrier bag which assists the inflatable air bag to expand in an outwardly direction from the bag.

The primary advantage of the invention is that a person can take the carrier bag with them wherever they go and they can place the bag behind them, when sitting and can activate the inflatable air bag to provide the back or lumbar support they require.

The invention will hereinafter be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show by way of example only, two embodiments of a back support apparatus incorporating a carrier bag and haversack according to the invention. In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevation view of the back support apparatus in the form of a carrier bag of the first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a side view of the carrier bag showing an inflatable airbag of the back support apparatus from the side.

Figure 3 is a front elevation view of the carrier bag; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the back support apparatus in the form of a haversack of the second embodiment.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawings, the back support apparatus 10 includes a carrier bag 12 such as for example a laptop bag, handbag, sports gear bag with the addition of an inflatable airbag 14 such as a liquid-bag/mechanically- inflatable-bag with a pump 16, or a simple pneumatic system positioned in its rear section or back pocket 18. The pocket 18 is stitched closed, becoming a compartment 20 to house the airbag 14. Behind the airbag 14 is a perspex/polycarbonate panel/plate 22 which enables or supports the airbag 14 to only inflate in an outward direction from the bag 12. Air-pump tube 24 exits from the compartment 20 through an orifice 26; is connected to the pump 16 and is housed behind a flap 26 at the side of the bag 12. The flap 26 has a hook and loop tag 28 on it, which attaches to a hook and loop strip 30 on the bag 12. Housing 32 houses the air-pump 16 securely when not in use. One well known version of hook and loop tags and strips is sold under the well known trade mark of VELCRO The airbag 14 is inflated to preferred pressurization and the bag 12 is placed between the person and a seat that they are sitting on. The back support apparatus 10 then acts as a lumbar support.

As the airbag 14 with the rubber pump 16 weighs very little, its addition is unnoticeable for the person carrying the bag, but it enables the bag to have a completely new use which is to provide lumbar support when required.

This mobile lumbar support can prevent back pain in many situations where the person would usually be without lumbar support, and so would be sitting in bad posture, eventually leading to back problems.

The back support apparatus 10 can be used while driving, on public transport - buses, trains, airplanes and sea going vessels. It can be used in entertainment venues - sport venues, theatres, cinemas and auditoriums. And it can be used while studying - at home, school or college. And it can also be used in work situations.

The user who wishes to prevent back pain no longer needs to remember to bring a lumbar support, and no longer has the difficulty of carrying these cumbersome supports with them.

The back support apparatus 10 repurposes the common bag from being a device for carrying things, to becoming a device that carries things and a device that enables the owner to travel or work in perfect posture and results in a bag that prevents and eliminates back pain.

Referring to Figure 4 of the drawings, the second embodiment of back support apparatus 1 10 includes a carrier bag 1 12 in form of a haversack which can be worn on a person’s back. It differs from the first embodiment in that it includes two inflatable airbags 1 14, similar to the inflatable airbag 14 of the first embodiment. One airbag 1 14 located at the lower portion of the haversack 1 12 can be inflated to support a person’s lower back and the second airbag 1 14 located at the upper portion of the haversack 1 12 can be inflated to support a person’s upper back. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein which are given by way of example only and that various modifications and alterations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.