Back movement monitor and warning device

• US 5,640,971 A
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 06/24/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Leroy Jr. Martin
• Original Assignee: Robert Leroy Jr. Martin
• Inventors: Martin, Robert LeRoy Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tucker, Guy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RASCHE, PATRICK WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/458,273
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 128/782, 128/781, 128/649, 128/774, 128/835, 128/98.1, 128/DIG. 25, 340/573, 340/689, 606/191
• US Class Current: 600/594
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses

Abstract

A device for monitoring the flexion, extension, and rotation of a user'"'"'s torso. An upper and a lower sensing arm extend vertically in opposite directions from a measuring and control box that is held about the midsection by a belt, and both arms are spring biased to hold them against the user'"'"'s back. The torso engaging portions of each of the sensing arms are curved to cup the engaged portion of the anatomy and thus allows for the sensing of torso rotation due to a pair of protrusions integral to the sensing arms and ensconced within the control box. Both arms are telescopically adjustable to allow the device to be fit to differently sized people and the amount of flexion, extension, and rotation that is allowed by the device before a warning tone is sounded is adjustable.

Claims

1. A back movement monitor and warning device for alerting a user to torso flexion, extension and rotation that exceeds preset parameters comprising:

a) a control box housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a front wall and a back wall containing adjustment means to set separate upper and lower torso limits of rotation;

b) means comprising a belt surrounding the midsection of said user holding said control box to attach said control box to the user'"'"'s body;

c) said adjustment means comprising an upper movement sensing arm extending through said top wall of said control box, said upper sensing arm including a first torso engaging portion at an upper end and a pair of upper rotational sensing protrusions at a lower end disposed within said control box;

d) said adjustment means also comprising a lower movement sensing arm extending through said bottom wall of said control box and supported within said control box independently of said upper movement sensing arm, said lower sensing arm including a second torso engaging portion at a lower end and a pair or lower rotational sensing protrusions at an upper end disposed within said control box;

e) adjustable upper rotational contact means disposed such that the user predetermines a limit of upper torso rotational movement independent of lower rotational movement and where, if that upper rotational limit is exceeded, said upper rotational sensing protrusions engage said upper rotational contact means and a rotational warning results;

f) adjustable lower rotational contact means disposed such that the user predetermines a limit of lower torso rotational movement independent of upper rotational movement and where, if that lower rotational limit is exceeded, said lower rotational sensing protrusions engage said lower rotational contact means and a rotational warning results;

g) flexion/extension contact members disposed on both said upper movement sensing arm and said lower movement sensing area;

h) adjustable flexion contact mean disposed such that the user predetermines a limit of torso flexion and where, if that flexion limit is exceeded, said flexion/extension contact members engage said flexion contact means and a flexion warning results; and

i) adjustable extension contact means disposed such that the user predetermines a limit of torso extension and where, if that extension limit is exceeded, said flexion/extension contact member engage said extension contact means and an extension warning results.

2. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flexion/extension contact members are proximate the distal end of both said upper and lower movement sensing arms relative to said upper and lower body engaging portions.

3. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper movement sensing arm includes telescopic adjustment means.

4. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said lower movement sensing arm includes telescopic adjustment means.

5. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable upper rotational contact means comprises two sliders disposed on said top wall of said control box.

6. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said adjustable lower rotational contact means comprises two sliders disposed on said bottom wall of said control box.

7. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said upper movement sensing arm and said lower movement sensing arm both include a biasing means proximate said control box, said biasing means serving to maintain said upper body engaging portion and said lower body engaging portion in substantial contact with the user'"'"'s torso.

8. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said rotational warning is an audible generated tone.

9. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said flexion warning is an audible generated tone.

10. A back movement monitor and warning device as recited in claim 1, wherein said extension warning is an audible generated tone.