Standard bending profile jacket

• US 4,108,164 A
• Filed: 10/01/1976
• Issued: 08/22/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Henry W. Hall Sr
• Original Assignee: Henry W. Hall Sr
• Inventors: Hall, Henry W. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michell, Robert W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jaworski, Francis J.
• Application Number:
  US05/728,632
• Time in Patent Office: 690 Days
• Field of Search: 128/2 N, 128/2 S, 3/1.1, 340/279, 33/174 D, 33/174 L, 338/86, 338/94, 338/44, 338/151
• US Class Current: 600/594
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1126 using a particular sensing technique
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6805 Vests

Abstract

A jacket which functions as a measurement tool for providing information regarding the flexural conduct of the wearer. The jacket has a plurality of self-contained electrical measurement devices mounted thereon, each of which is designed to measure the angle of tilt of a particular portion of the spine in an act of leaning. In a preferred embodiment, the jacket has three clinometer frames which project through slots formed in the rear of the jacket so as to be positioned adjacent the sacrum, lumbar and thoracic portions of the spine. Mounted in each clinometer is an electrical measurement device which responds to changes in its axial angle to vary its electrical output signal proportionately. In a preferred embodiment, the electrical measurement device comprises a gravity-actuated potentiometer which utilizes a movable mercury contact as an angle sensing means. Each clinometer is individually powered and has its output response fed to a gauge which may be easily visually observed by the wearer. In lieu of gauge readings, the response of the potentiometers may be fed to a pen recorder to provide a permanent record of he dynamics of the entire flexural process.

Claims

1. Apparatus for measuring the flexural conduct of the human spine, which comprises:

a plurality of gravity responsive potentiometer means each adapted for positioning adjacent a different portion of the spine of the user and each responsive to a change in its angular orientation for providing an electrical signal having a magnitude in proportion to the angular inclination of said portion of the spine; and

a plurality of means for respectively mounting each of said plurality of potentiometer means adjacent said different portions of the spine each comprising a bearing plate adapted to be positioned adjacent said portion of the spine, side support means extending from said bearing plate for supporting said potentiometer means, and means for urging said bearing plate against said portion of the spine;

wherein said urging means comprises an elongated pressure beam connected to said side support means, and elastic band means connected to the respective ends of said pressure beam; and

means for supporting each of said plurality of means for respectively mounting each of said plurality of potentiometer means.

2. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising jacket means worn by the user and including means for guiding said elastic band means, and aperture means on the back portion thereof through which said bearing plates extend.

3. The apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising belt means having at least one rear strap means connected to one of said plurality of potentiometer means, said jacket means including means for guiding said strap means, said belt means including means for selective attachment and removal thereof about the waist of the user.

4. The apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein each of said potentiometer means comprises fixed resistance means and fixed conductance means and movable contact means for establishing an electrical path disposed therebetween.

5. The apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said movable contact means is responsive to gravity to thereby change its point of contact between said fixed resistance means and said fixed conductance means as the angular position of said potentiometer means is changed.

6. The apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said fixed resistance means and fixed conductance means respectively, comprise first and second ring-shaped conductors disposed in a spaced substantially parallel relationship.

7. The apparatus as set forth in claim 6, further comprising means for housing said first and second ring-shaped conductors in a substantially sealed fashion.

8. The apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said first ring-shaped conductor comprises a substantially C-shaped main resistance ring having a positive and a negative electrode connected respectively to the ends thereof.

9. The apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said second ring-shaped conductor comprises a substantially circularly shaped pick-up conductance ring having a variance electrode connected thereto.

10. The apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising a source of electrical potential connected between said positive and negative electrodes.

11. The apparatus as set forth in claim 10, further comprising means connected to said variance electrode for indicating the magnitude of said electrical signal.

12. The apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein said movable contact means comprises an electrically conductive fluid.

13. The apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said electrically conductive fluid comprises mercury.

14. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said supporting means includes belt means selectively positionable about the user and including strap means traversing the back of the user.

15. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said strap means is comprised of an elastic material.

16. The apparatus as set forth in claim 14, wherein said strap means comprises a pair of elastic straps which respectively traverse the lumbar and sacrum portions of the spine, a pair of said potentiometer means being connected to said pair of elastic straps at said lumbar and sacrum portions of the spine, respectively.

17. The apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said supporting means further comprises a third elastic strap which traverses the thoracic portion of the spine, a third potentiometer means being connected thereto.

18. The apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said supporting means further comprises a jacket wearable by the user and having a plurality of cutouts on the back thereof through which said plurality of potentiometer means are respectively positionable.

19. The apparatus as set forth in claim 18, wherein said jacket includes means for supporting said elastic straps.

20. The apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of potentiometer means includes movable contact means responsive to gravity for varying its associated electrical signal as the angular position of its associated potentiometer means is.

21. The apparatus as set forth in claim 20, further comprising means for providing electrical energy, means for indicating the magnitude of each of said electrical signals, and means interconnecting each of said plurality of potentiometer means with said electrical energy providing means and said indicating means.

22. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said indicating means include means for mounting same about the wrist of the user.

23. The apparatus as set forth in claim 21, wherein said movable contact means comprises an electrically conductive fluid.

24. The apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein said electrically conductive fluid comprises mercury.

25. Apparatus for measuring the flexural conduct of the human spine, which comprises:

potentiometer means adapted for positioning adjacent a portion of the spine of the user and responsive to a change in its angular orientation for providing an electrical signal having a magnitude in proportion to the angular inclination of said portion of the spine; and

means for mounting said potentiometer means adjacent said portion of the spine comprising a bearing plate adapted to be positioned adjacent said portion of the spine, side support means extending from said bearing plate for supporting said potentiometer means, and means for urging said bearing plate against said portion of the spine;

wherein said urging means comprises an elongated pressure beam connected to said side support means, and elastic band means connected to the respective ends of said pressure beam; and

means for supporting said means for mounting said potentiometer means, wherein said supporting means comprises belt means selectively positionable about the user and having said elastic band means connected thereto and adapted to traverse the back of the user.

26. The apparatus as set forth in claim 25, wherein said supporting means further comprises jacket means having means for guiding said belt means.