Posture-monitoring headband device

• US 5,158,089 A
• Filed: 07/05/1991
• Issued: 10/27/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Richard Swezey
• Original Assignee: Richard Swezey, Swezey, Robert L.
• Inventors: Swezey, Robert L., Swezey, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tucker, Guy V.
• Application Number:
  US07/726,256
• Time in Patent Office: 480 Days
• Field of Search: 128/781, 128/782, 128/774, 33/512, 33/366, 33/370, 33/371, 33/372, 33/373, 273/183 B, 273/DIG. 17, 340/573, 482/909
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1071 measuring angles, e.g. using goniometers A61B5/1123 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/909 Mechanical indicator

Abstract

A monitoring device for posture improvement training, worn as a headband, provides audible feedback of sensed forward or backward deviation from ideal head inclination in the saggital plane. The monitor unit is captivated on an adjustable central strap running front-to-rear over the curvature of the crown of the head. The unit may be moved along the strap to enable initial leveling adjustment to level the unit while the subject'"'"'s head is maintained in the ideal posture of neutral inclination. A level-sensor, specially mounted in the unit, remains switched in an OFF state as long as the subject'"'"'s head inclination remains correct, however, whenever the head inclines in either direction in the saggital plane beyond a predetermined critical angle, e.g. 4 degrees, the sensor makes contact to an ON state, actuating a sound-emitting transducer powered by an on-board battery, to indicate the departure from correct posture. Then as soon as the head inclination is corrected within the set limits, the sound is discontinued. To filter out responses to sudden transient head movements, a time delay is introduced between the sensor and the sound transducer; a push switch on mounted on the unit permits the length of the time delay to be set to a BEGINNING value, e.g. 0.5 seconds, or an ADVANCED value, e.g. 0.25 seconds. Other features may include a sun visor, a "sight line" for visual leveling and facilities to accept optional weight inserts for adjusting the sensory effect.

Claims

1. A posture-monitoring headband device comprising:

a headband, adjustable in circumference, adapted to be worn by a human subject;

a strap, attached to said headband at a front location and at a rear location, traversing overtop the subject'"'"'s head in an arcuate path located substantially in a saggital body plane;

a housing, having on a bottom side thereof strap attachment means captively engaging said strap in a manner disposing said housing substantially above said strap with freedom to be adjustably positioned along said arcuate path over a range including an operational position in which a predetermined normal disposition of subject'"'"'s head results in a substantially level horizontal position of the housing;

level-sensing means, disposed within said housing, adapted to sense predetermined deviations from said level horizontal position in the subject'"'"'s saggital plane; and

indicating means adapted to indicate said deviations kinesthetically to the subject.

2. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 1 wherein said level-sensing means comprises:

a first level-sensing switch disposed in particular orientation relative to said housing so as to change contact state whenever said housing deviates from said level position, in a first direction in the saggital plane, beyond a first predetermined angle, and

a second level-sensing switch disposed in particular orientation relative to said housing so as to change contact state whenever the position of said housing deviates from said level position, in a second direction in the saggital plane, opposite the first direction, beyond a second predetermined angle.

3. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 2 wherein the first and second predetermined angles are each designated to be within a range between 2 degrees and 7 degrees.

4. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 3 wherein said first level-sensing switch and said second level-sensing switch are implemented as single-pole-single-throw mercury-type switches connected in parallel with each other, and are mounted in an orientation such as to present an open circuit when said housing is located in said level position.

5. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 4 said indicating means comprises an audible sound transducer connected in an electrical circuit along with said two parallel-connected mercury-type switches, a battery and an on-off switch, said circuit being adapted to cause said transducer to emit an audible sound in response to either of said switches making contact.

6. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 5 further comprising time delay means in said circuit adapted to introduce a time delay of predetermined duration between the time of either of said switches making contact and the initiation of audible sound emitted from said transducer.

7. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 6 wherein said time delay means comprises a capacitor connected in parallel with said transducer and a resistor connected in series in a circuit path between said battery and said capacitor.

8. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 6 further comprising time delay selection means, associated in said circuit with said time delay means, adapted to enable the subject to set said time delay to a selected one of at least two predetermined values of time delay duration.

9. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 8 wherein said time delay means comprises:

a capacitor connected in parallel with said transducer;

a first resistor, sized in resistance to provide, in conjunction with said capacitor, a first predetermined time delay;

a second resistor, sized in resistance to provide, in conjunction with said capacitor, a second predetermined time delay; and

a selector switch adapted to enable selection of either one of said first or said second resistor, thusly selecting said first or said second predetermined time delay.

10. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 9 wherein:

the first time delay is made to be approximately 0.5 seconds and a corresponding position of said selector switch is designated BEGINNING, and

the second time delay is made to be approximately 0.25 seconds and a corresponding position of said selector switch is designated ADVANCED.

11. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 1 further comprising a first metallic weighting part removably attached to said housing in a recessed upper peripheral region thereof.

12. The posture-monitoring device as defined in claim 11 further comprising a second metallic weighting part removably attached to said housing in the recessed upper peripheral region thereof.

13. A posture-monitoring headband device comprising:

a headband, adjustable in circumference, adapted to be worn by a human subject;

a strap, attached to said headband at a front location and at a rear location, traversing overtop the subject'"'"'s head in an arcuate path located substantially in a saggital body plane;

a housing, having on a bottom side thereof strap attachment means captively engaging said strap in a manner such as to dispose said housing substantially above said strap with freedom to be adjustably positioned along said arcuate path over a range including an operational position in which a predetermined normal disposition of subject'"'"'s head results in a substantially level horizontal position of said housing;

level sensing means, disposed within said housing, comprising a pair of parallel-connected switches adapted to change from an open state to a closed state whenever subject'"'"'s head becomes inclined beyond a designated angle of deviation in either direction in the saggital plane from said normal disposition;

indicating means, including a battery, cooperating with said level sensing means so as to provide an audible indication in response to said switches changing to a closed state; and

delay means, in an electrical circuit including said level sensing means and said indicating means, adapted to introduce a predetermined time delay between the time of said switches changing to a closed state and the time of initiation of a consequential audible indication.

14. The posture-monitoring headband device as defined in claim 13 further comprising switch and associated circuit means adapted to enable switchable selection of said predetermined time delay from a choice of at least two predetermined values.

15. The posture-monitoring headband device as defined in claim 13 further comprising a supplemental weighting accessory part, having a designated weight, removably attached to an upper peripheral region of said housing.