POSTURAL AWARENESS APPARATUS

• US 20090177121A1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lee Brandon, Thomas Jackson
• Original Assignee: Lee Brandon, Thomas Jackson
• Inventors: Brandon, Lee, Jackson, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 10,383,548 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/587
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0252 Load cells
• 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 5/6892 Mats
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00196 using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4037 Exercise mats for personal use, with or without hand-grips or foot-grips, e.g. for Yoga or supine floor exercises mats for absorbing shocks A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises

Abstract

A postural awareness apparatus includes a pad, a signal producing system, and an activator that activates the signal producing system when a compressive force applied to the apparatus exceed a predetermined compressive force. The activator includes a switch having an upper portion, a compressible element having defined therein an opening, the compressible element at least partially surrounding the upper portion of the switch, and a cap adapted to secure the compressible element in a position at least partially surrounding the upper portion of the switch.

Claims

1. A postural awareness apparatus comprising

a) a pad,

b) a signal producing system, and

c) an activator that activates said signal producing system when a compressive force applied to said apparatus exceeds a predetermined compressive force, the activator comprising

(i) a switch having an upper portion,

(ii) a compressible element having defined therein an opening, said compressible element at least partially surrounding said upper portion of said switch, and

(iii) a cap adapted to secure said compressible element in a position at least partially surrounding said upper portion of said switch.

2. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a low back assembly which may be releasably affixed to said pad.

4. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 2 wherein said low back assembly comprises

(i) a base having defined therein at least one opening within which said switch is disposed, and (ii) a cushion having defined therein at least one opening aligned with said opening in said base.

5. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 4 wherein said base comprises a raised portion in which said opening is defined, and wherein said switch is disposed within said opening and extends at least partially through said base.

6. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 5 wherein said cap comprises an upper element and a plurality of arms, said arms each having a distal end comprising a locking element.

7. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 6 wherein said switch and said compressible element have longitudinal axes, said longitudinal axes being substantially collinear.

8. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 7 wherein said compressible element is disposed between said base and said upper element of said cap, wherein each of said arms of said cap extends through an opening defined in said base, and wherein said locking elements of said cap prevent unintentional disengagement of said cap from said base while permitting motion of said cap relative to said base substantially in the direction of said longitudinal axes of said switch and said compressible element thereby permitting said upper element of said cap to activate said switch when a compressive force in excess of said predetermined value is applied to said upper element.

9. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 1 wherein said compressible element is selected from the group consisting of a spring and a disk comprised of a compressible substance.

10. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 1 comprising a plurality of activators, wherein said pad has a longitudinal axis and wherein a portion of said plurality of activators are located at opposed locations on either side of said longitudinal axis.

12. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 10 wherein said signal producing system comprises a plurality of vibrator units, a portion of said plurality of vibrator units being affixed to said pad at opposed locations on either side of said longitudinal axis.

14. A postural awareness apparatus according to claim 1, adapted to contact a portion of the lower back of a human user, the apparatus further comprising

d) a base having defined therein at least one opening,

e) a cushion having defined therein at least one opening aligned with said opening in said base, and

(i) a switch having an upper portion, said switch being disposed within said opening defined in said base,

(ii) a compressible element having defined therein an opening, said compressible element at least partially surrounding said upper portion of said switch, and

(iii) a cap adapted to secure said compressible element in a position at least partially surrounding said upper portion of said switch.

24. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 12 further comprising a control unit, the control unit comprising i) an activator that selectively activates at least one vibrator unit, and ii) a display element that provides a visual indication when at least one vibrator unit is activated, said display element optionally providing a visual indication of the magnitude of the compressive force applied to said activator.

28. An assembly of equipment for use in an exercise routine, the assembly comprising a) the postural awareness apparatus of claim 1 and b) a plurality of compressible elements having different stiffnesses.

30. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 5 further comprising a bushing disposed within said opening, said bushing having defined therethrough a threaded opening, wherein said switch comprises a thread that engages said threaded opening.

35. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 10, further comprising an activator located substantially on the longitudinal axis at a position corresponding to a user'"'"'s lower sacrum.

36. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one activator is responsive to a compressive force having a value within a selected range.

38. A method of strengthening the abdomen and lower back of a human comprising the steps of:

contacting the back of a person to be strengthened to a postural awareness apparatus according to claim 1;

aligning said apparatus such that the lumbar region of the person to be strengthened aligns with an activator of said apparatus;

compressing the lumbar region of the person to be strengthened whereby said activator activates said signal producing system; and

compressing and relaxing the abdomen of the person to be strengthened while maintaining compression of the lumbar region of said person, whereby said signal producing system remains activated throughout said abdominal compression and contraction.

39. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 14 wherein

said switch and said compressible element have longitudinal axes, said longitudinal axes being substantially collinear;

said compressible element is disposed between said base and said upper element of said cap;

said cap comprises an upper element and a plurality of arms, said arms each having a distal end comprising a locking element, and wherein each of said arms of said cap extends through an opening defined in said base, and wherein said locking elements of said cap prevent unintentional disengagement of said cap from said base while permitting motion of said cap relative to said base substantially in the direction of said longitudinal axes of said switch and said compressible element thereby permitting said upper element of said cap to activate said switch when a compressive force in excess of said predetermined value is applied to said upper element.

40. The postural awareness apparatus of claim 14 further comprising a control unit, the control unit comprising i) an activator that selectively activates at least one vibrator unit, and ii) a display element that provides a visual indication when at least one vibrator unit is activated, said display element optionally providing a visual indication of the magnitude of the compressive force applied to said activator.

3. (canceled)

11. (canceled)

13. (canceled)

15-23. -23. (canceled)

25-27. -27. (canceled)

29. (canceled)

31-34. -34. (canceled)

37. A postural awareness apparatus comprising a) a pad, b) a signal producing system, and c) a weight detector that activates said signal producing system when a compressive force applied to said apparatus exceeds a predetermined compressive force.