Body position attitude indicator device

• US 4,938,476 A
• Filed: 09/12/1989
• Issued: 07/03/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shawn Gallagher, Timothy R. Brunelle
• Original Assignee: Shawn Gallagher, Timothy R. Brunelle
• Inventors: Brunelle, Timothy R., Gallagher, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cheng, Joe H.
• Application Number:
  US07/406,872
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 128/25 R, 128/68, 128/69, 128/721, 128/781, 128/782, 272/93, 272/DIG. 4, 272/DIG. 5, 340/573, 340/574, 340/668, 340/684, 340/686, 340/68 P, 200/61.45 R, 200/61.67, 200/61.68, 200/61.51
• US Class Current: 482/148
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/909 Mechanical indicator

Abstract

A device, worn on a part of the human body, which alerts the wearer when that body part deviates a set angular amount from true vertical, comprising a housing containing an attitude responsive switch which controls an electrical circuit. When the switch is positioned or rotated beyond a set angle, the circuit is completed and a battery activates a buzzer. The device is adjustable by rotation of the housing such that the amount of allowable deviation can be increased or decreased.

Claims

1. A device worn on a human torso for indicating torso bending at the waist by producing an audible signal, said device comprising in combination:

(A) body attachment means comprising a band to encircle and maintain a cylindrical housing on the side of a human torso, such that the central axis of the cylindrical housing is perpendicular to the vertical axis of the torso;

(B) a plate permanently fastened to said band to receive the cylindrical housing; and

(C) the cylindrical housing rotatably attached to said plate by a centrally positioned rivet allowing rotation of said housing about the central axis of said housing relative to said plate, said housing containing an electrical circuit housing,

power means comprising a battery to supply electrical current to an alert means,

alert means to produce an audible signal,

an activation switch to turn the device off and on, and

an attitude responsive switch to open and close said electrical circuit, directly affixed to said housing, where said attitude responsive switch is positioned in the electrical circuit between said power means and said alert means, said attitude responsive switch allowing said current to reach said alert means to produce said signal only when torso bending at the waist occurs to alter the attitude of said housing, and where said attitude responsive switch is adjustable relative to said torso only by rotating said housing relative to said plate.

2. The device of claim 1, where said attitude responsive switch is a mercury switch.

3. The device of claim 1, where said attitude responsive switch is a pendulum switch.

4. The device of claim 2, where said attitude responsive switch is a ball bearing switch.