Expansion indicator device

• US 5,666,961 A
• Filed: 06/20/1995
• Issued: 09/16/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bill E. Mcfarlin Sr
• Original Assignee: Bill E. Mcfarlin Sr
• Inventors: McFarlin, Bill E. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hindenburg, Max
• Assistant Examiner(s): WINGOOD, PAMELA LYNN
• Application Number:
  US08/492,515
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 482/124, 482/1, 128/721, 128/782, 128/780
• US Class Current: 600/534
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1135 by monitoring thoracic expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4238 stomach
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/74 with powered illuminating means, e.g. lights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/18 for improving respiratory function

Abstract

An expansion indicator device is used around a waist of a user to indicate whether a threshold amount of stomach cavity expansion is achieved as the user breathes and includes a strap, a power source, a feedback indicator and a switch assembly. The strap is fabricated from a stiff yet flexible material and is sized and adapted to be secured around the waist of the user. The feedback indicator is operative between an activation state whereby the power source is connected to the feedback indicator thereby energizing the feedback indicator and a de-activation state whereby the power source is disconnected from the feedback indicator thereby de-energizing the feedback indicator. The switch assembly interconnected to the power source and the feedback indicator and is operatively connected to the strap so that, as the user breathes, the switch assembly is operative to move between a closed condition and an opened condition. When the threshold amount of stomach cavity expansion is reached, the feedback indicator moves to the closed condition and becomes energized to the activation state. When the amount of stomach cavity expansion falls below the threshold amount, the feedback indicator moves to the opened condition and becomes de-energized to the de-activation state.

Claims

1. An expansion indicator device adapted for use around a waist of a user to indicate whether a threshold amount of stomach cavity expansion is achieved as the user breathes, comprising:

(a) a strap fabricated from a stiff yet flexible material, said strap sized and adapted to be secured around the waist of the user;

(b) a power source;

(c) a feedback indicator operative between an activation state whereby said power source is connected to said feedback indicator thereby energizing said feedback indicator and a deactivation state whereby said power source is disconnected from said feedback indicator thereby de-energizing said feedback indicator; and

(d) a switch assembly interconnected to said power source and said feedback indicator and operatively connected to said strap so that, as the user breathes, said switch assembly is operative to move between a closed condition whereby, when the threshold amount of stomach cavity expansion is reached, said feedback indicator becomes energized to the activation state and an open condition whereby, when the amount of stomach cavity expansion falls below the threshold amount, said feedback indicator becomes de-energized to the deactivation state;

said switch assembly including a band of stiffyet flexible material having a pair of band ends disposed opposite one another and a first electrode fastened to said band and electrically connected to one of said power source and said feedback indicator and a strip of elastic material having a pair of strip ends disposed opposite one another and a second electrode fastened to said strip and electrically connected to a remaining one of said power source and said feedback indicator, said band and said strip connected to each other at respective ones of said band ends and strip ends so that, when said switch assembly is in the opened condition, said strip is in a relaxed state and said band is in a bowed state thereby separating said first and second electrodes in a spaced-apart, facially-opposing relationship from one another and, when said switch is in said closed condition, said strip is in a stretched state and said band is in a straightened state thereby causing said first and second electrodes to contact each other.

2. An expansion indicator device according to claim 1 wherein said strap includes a first free end portion and a second free end portion, said first and second free end portions adapted to releasably fasten to one another.

3. An expansion indicator device according to claim 2 wherein said said first free end portion includes one of a hook fastener and a loop fastener and wherein said second free end portion includes a remaining one of said hook fastener and said loop fastener.

4. An expansion indicator device according to claim 1 wherein said stiff yet flexible material is selected from a group consisting of cloth, nylon, leather, imitation leather and plastic.

5. An expansion indicator device according to claim 1 wherein said power source includes a dry cell battery.

6. An expansion indicator device according to claim 5 including a housing defining a cavity therein sized and adapted to retain said dry cell battery.

7. An expansion indicator device according to claim 6 wherein said housing is operative to be releasably connected to said strap.

8. An expansion indicator device according to claim 1 wherein said feedback indicator provides a visual indication.

9. An expansion indicator device according to claim 1 wherein said feedback indicator provides an audible indication.

10. An expansion indicator device according to claim 1 wherein said feedback indicator is selected from a group consisting of a light bulb, an alarm, a buzzer and a beeper.

11. An expansion indicator device adapted for use around an expandable body to indicate whether a threshold amount of body expansion is achieved as the body expands, comprising:

(a) a strap fabricated from a stiff yet flexible material, sized and adapted to be secured around the expandable body;

(b) a power source;

(c) a feedback indicator operative between an activation state whereby said power source is connected to said feedback indicator thereby energizing said feedback indicator and a de-activation state whereby said power source is disconnected from said feedback indicator thereby de-energizing said feedback indicator; and

(d) a switch assembly interconnected to said power source and said feedback indicator and connected to and operative with said strap so that, as the body expands, said switch assembly is operative to move between a closed condition whereby, when the threshold amount of body expansion is reached, said feedback indicator becomes energized to the activation state and an open condition whereby, when the amount of stomach cavity expansion falls below the threshold amount, said feedback indicator becomes de-energized to the deactivation state;

said switch assembly including a band of stiff yet flexible material having a pair of band ends disposed opposite one another and a first electrode fastened to said band and electrically connected to one of said power source and said feedback indicator and a strip of elastic material having a pair of strip ends disposed opposite one another and a second electrode fastened to said strip and electrically connected to a remaining one of said power source and said feedback indicator, said band and said strip connected to each other at respective ones of said band ends and strip ends so that, when said switch assembly is in the opened condition, said strip is in a relaxed state and said band is in a bowed state thereby separating said first and second electrodes in a spaced-apart, facially-opposing relationship from one another and, when said switch is in said closed condition, said strip is in a stretched state and said band is in a straightened state thereby causing said first and second electrodes to contact each other.

12. An expansion indicator device according to claim 11 wherein said power source includes a dry cell battery.

13. An expansion indicator device according to claim 12 including a holder sized and adapted to retain said dry cell battery.

14. An expansion indicator device according to claim 11 wherein said feedback indicator is selected from a group consisting of a light bulb, an alarm, a buzzer and a beeper.