Posture Vest

• US 20080195010A1
• Filed: 05/09/2006
• Published: 08/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kangxu Mao, Weichun Lai
• Original Assignee: Kangxu Mao
• Inventors: Lai, Weichun, Mao, Kangsong
• Granted Patent: US 7,842,000 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 602/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/026 Back straightening devices with shoulder braces to force back the shoulder to obtain a correct curvature of the spine for clavicle fractures A61F5/05808; restraining devices A61F5/37
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4005 to the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4007 to the chest region, e.g. to the back chest
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4009 to the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises

Abstract

A posture vest for improving body posture has an elastic waist strap; an elastic back strap having a first portion connected to the waist strap; and a pair of length-adjustable elastic shoulder straps connected from a second portion of the back strap to the first portion of the back strap.

Claims

1. A posture vest for improving body posture comprising:

an elastic waist strap;

an elastic back strap having a first portion connected to the waist strap; and

a pair of length-adjustable elastic shoulder straps connected from a second portion of the back strap to the first portion of the back strap.

2. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, wherein each shoulder strap is connected to the first portion of the back strap such that a pulling force on the first portion of the back strap is divided into two orthogonal forces.

3. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, wherein each shoulder strap is connected to the first portion of the back strap such that each shoulder strap is at an angle of about 45°

with respect to the waist strap.

4. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first portion of the back strap comprises a relief hole for dividing a pulling force on the waist strap into two orthogonal forces.

5. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shoulder strap comprises an elastic portion connected to the second portion of the back strap and a length-adjustable non-elastic portion connected to the first portion of the back strap.

6. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waist strap is connected from end to end through Velcro.

7. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the waist strap, back strap and shoulder straps are connected to one another by way of stitch lines.

8. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one heat or cold retaining member.

9. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one massaging member.

10. A posture vest as claimed in claim 9 further comprising:

a timer for the massaging member.

11. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a timer for alerting the wearer to take a rest at predefined intervals.

12. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one pressure sensor for gauging a pressure exerted at a location along the posture vest.

13. A posture vest as claimed in claim 12, wherein the at least one pressure sensor is attached to a strip of material extending from the second portion of the back strap towards the neck of the wearer.

14. A posture vest as claimed in claims claim 12, further comprising:

a control unit for alerting the wearer when the pressure exerted at the location is lower than or above a threshold value.

15. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one electrode member for relieving or curing pain and/or alerting the wearer of poor body posture.

16. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one pocket for containing medicine to be placed in contact with the body of the wearer.

17. A posture vest as claimed in claim 16, wherein the surface of the at least one pocket is perforated, webbed and/or porous.

18. A posture vest as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic waist strap, the elastic back strap and the pair of length-adjustable elastic shoulder straps are made of polyester with spandex fabric.

19. A method for adjusting body posture comprising:

providing an elastic waist strap;

providing an elastic back strap having a first portion connected to the waist strap; and

providing a pair of length-adjustable elastic shoulder straps connected from a second portion of the back strap to the first portion of the back strap.