DE102015223205B4 - Therapy vest for people with disabilities - Google Patents

Abstract

Therapy vest 10 for people with disabilities, in particular in the areas of motor skills, the sense of touch and acoustic perception, comprising a front part 12 and a back part 14, each with an inside 16, an outside 18, a shoulder area 20, a chest area 22 and a stomach area 24 , wherein the therapy vest 10 on the outside 18 of the front part 12 has at least one element selected from the group consisting of mechanical, tactile and acoustic elements, and wherein at least one mechanical, tactile or acoustic element is variably arranged on the outside of the front part , characterized in that at least one mechanical, tactile or acoustic element can be removed and attached to the inside 16 of the front part 12 of the therapy vest 10 and can be attached and removed from the outside 18 of the front part 12 of the therapy vest 10.

Description

The invention relates to a therapy vest for people with disabilities, in particular for people with physical disabilities and motor impairments.

Therapy vests are vests that are equipped with functional elements that have a therapeutic effect on a patient. The advantage of therapy vests compared to using the functional elements without a vest is that they are worn close to the body and can develop their effect specifically at the point where therapeutic treatment is required. In addition, the functional elements with a therapeutic effect can be comfortably worn on the body thanks to the integration in a vest, so that the therapy can be carried out easily and conveniently at any location and can thus be integrated into the patient's everyday life without unnecessarily restricting the patient.

A wide variety of forms of therapy vests are already known in the prior art.

In US 6,209,134 B1 describes an apron that can be used when a user wants to play with pets. The apron protects the user from the claws of pets. In addition, the apron has several animal toys that can be attached to the outside of the apron.

In the pamphlets US 9 089 169 B1 , US 2002/0029400 A1 , U.S. 4,710,979 A , US 6 224 450 B1 and US 2004/0149795 A1 further functional clothing items are described.

In CN 2 01 515 691 U a therapy vest with a pain-relieving function is disclosed. In particular, the therapy vest described in this document can be used for people with back pain. For this purpose, anti-inflammatory agents worked into the vest are used, which are known from traditional Chinese medicine.

In EP 1 273 277 A2 a vest-like or jacket-like garment is proposed for the treatment of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis. In this case, cooling elements are provided which are arranged on the inside of the item of clothing and cool corresponding points on the patient's body. The cooling increases the patient's wellbeing.

In DE 10 2006 021 415 A1 Another therapeutic item of clothing is disclosed, the therapeutic function of which is achieved by weights incorporated in the item of clothing, which are arranged on the item of clothing. This achieves a training effect that promotes muscle building for the user of the vest. The proposed vest can be used both for people with illnesses and for athletes.

Furthermore, in US 7,207,953 B1 describes a therapy vest with an integrated massage unit. The massage unit is attached in particular to the inside of the vest and is used to treat the patient's back area. Different massage programs are provided.

In CN 2 02 999 330 U describes a therapy vest with infrared light sources. The infrared light sources are used as heat-generating means in order to warm the relevant areas on the patient's body and to relieve the patient's pain, especially in the back area.

In addition, in CN 2 04 232 327 U revealed another therapy vest for treating various organs after traditional Chinese therapy.

A therapy vest for treating upper body pain is in US 2008/0 237 209 A1 described. This includes electrical heating elements at suitable points that are designed to warm the upper back of the patient. In particular, the neck, shoulder area and upper chest area are warmed.

Another therapy vest comprising a stiff neck area with a support function and an electrostatically chargeable textile material for generating heat is in EP 0 019 822 A1 disclosed. As a result of the movement of the patient and the friction of the electrostatically chargeable textile material, the therapy vest described regularly generates heat and helps to relieve the patient's pain.

In CH 702 660 A2 a therapy vest for the treatment of respiratory diseases is disclosed, which facilitates the coughing up of thick mucus through cyclic oscillation of a pulse generator. Furthermore, an improvement in the blood flow properties is achieved by means of magnetic signal coils.

Is also in U.S. 5,938,627 A describes a therapy vest based on a pulsating massage of the upper back. The massage function is implemented by pneumatic control of an inflatable tube and the therapy vest provides pain relief in the patient's back.

None of the known therapy vests is designed, determined or suitable to be used in the treatment of people with physical disabilities and motor impairments.

In particular, people who have suffered a stroke or suffer from multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, dementia or Parkinson's and who have lost their motor or tactile skills or whose other sensory perception are restricted, require time-consuming and costly therapeutic measures to regain their lost skills. So far, attempts have been made to restore and train these lost skills through physiotherapy and occupational therapy measures. This is associated with an enormous amount of time both for the patient and for the therapist and, moreover, with not inconsiderable costs.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a therapy vest for people with disabilities, in particular in the areas of motor skills, the sense of touch and acoustic perception, which enables efficient treatment or therapy of groups of people with these restrictions. The therapy vest should also help in the treatment of people whose motor skills are limited due to mental disabilities. The therapy vest should be inexpensive to manufacture and also designed to be resistant, so that it is suitable for permanent use, for example in therapy or rehabilitation centers.

To solve this problem, the invention provides a therapy vest for people with disabilities, in particular for people with physical disabilities and motor impairments, which has a front part and a back part each with an inside, an outside, a shoulder area, a chest area and a Comprises the abdominal area, wherein the therapy vest has at least one element on the outside of the front part, which is selected from the group consisting of mechanical, tactile and acoustic elements, wherein at least one mechanical, tactile or acoustic element is variably arranged or can be arranged on the outside of the front part .

The elements of the therapy vest are used to train the user (hereinafter also referred to as "patient"). The elements (hereinafter also referred to as “training elements” or “therapy elements”) serve the user in particular to train his skills, such as his motor and especially fine motor skills, his sense of touch, and his acoustic perception. Furthermore, the training elements should be suitable for promoting the patient's ability to concentrate. You can thus offer the patient training exercises or training units of different types and intensities. Performing the training exercises repeatedly can restore or improve the patient's abilities.

The elements of a mechanical nature (also called “mechanical elements”) each offer a training exercise aimed at restoring or improving a person's motor skills, in particular fine motor skills.

To perform a training session, the patient must perform a mechanical action at a time. In particular, in order to carry out a training exercise, it may be necessary for the patient to guide a first object through an opening in a second object or to otherwise connect it to the second object, e.g. by inserting it, hooking it into place, etc. or vice versa. For efficient training and for efficient treatment of the patient, depending on the degree of his or her handicap, a different degree of difficulty of the training exercise may be required.

The tactile elements (also called “tactile elements”) form a training exercise in which the patient can train his tactile and haptic perception by feeling an object or several objects. The use of tactile elements is thus aimed at restoring or improving tactile perception (or more generally: the sense of touch) of a person. In particular, objects of different types can be used, each of which has different surface structures, so that the patient learns to distinguish the different surfaces from one another by alternately feeling the individual surfaces.

The acoustic elements (also called "acoustic elements") offer the patient a training exercise in which a sound is generated by actuating an element. The use of acoustic elements is therefore aimed at improving or restoring a person's acoustic perception (sense of hearing).

As with a conventional vest, the therapy vest can be made from one piece, from two pieces or from more than two pieces of fabric. The therapy vest is preferably made from three pieces of fabric (a back part, a left front part and a right front part) and the individual pieces are connected to one another, in particular sewn to one another.

The front part of the therapy vest can also include a side area of the vest so that the therapy elements can also be arranged on the side of the therapy vest.

The therapy vest can preferably be sleeveless, which makes it easier to put on and take off the vest, especially for people with physical limitations. It has a sleeve cutout on its left and right side, which can, for example, be circular, elliptical or oval.

During the treatment, the therapy vest can be worn open or closed, whereby it is preferably worn closed, since in this way the elements arranged on the vest are fixed more closely to the body.

The therapy vest can be divided into different areas along its longitudinal axis.

The shoulder area is the upper area of the vest. It can preferably encompass the area from the upper edge of the front part and the back part, which each converge in the upper area of the therapy vest, to a first boundary line which is formed by the connection of the lowest points of the armholes. In a further embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention, the shoulder area can comprise the upper third, quarter, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth of the therapy vest.

The chest / stomach area comprises the area of the therapy vest that is located below the shoulder area. This can in turn be divided into a chest area and a stomach area. The chest area can preferably include the upper half of the chest / stomach area and the stomach area the lower half of the chest / stomach area. In a further embodiment, the chest area can comprise the upper third of the chest / stomach area and the stomach area the lower two thirds of the chest / stomach area. In a special embodiment, the chest area can also include the upper two thirds of the chest / stomach area and the stomach area the lower third of the chest / stomach area.

Analogously to a conventional vest, the inside of the therapy vest denotes the side facing the body of the wearer of the therapy vest and the outside denotes the side facing away from the body of the wearer.

In the therapy vest according to the invention it is provided that at least one mechanical, tactile or acoustic element is variably arranged or can be arranged on the outside of the front part.

In the following, “variable arrangement” (also to be understood as “variable fixation” or “variable attachment”) of the training elements means that the position of the training elements on the vest is variable, i.e. by reversible (or temporary) attachment and detachment of the respective element can be changed or that the training elements can be arranged / attached and removed again at different positions of the therapy vest. In addition, the orientation of the elements can be adjusted variably (in particular horizontally, vertically or diagonally). The variable, i.e. reversible arrangement can in particular be implemented using Velcro elements. For example, it can be provided that an area of the therapy vest has a sheet-like Velcro element with loops and that one or more than one training element has a Velcro element with hooks. Conversely, it is possible that a hook and loop element with barbs is firmly attached to the vest and the hook and loop element is arranged with loops on the therapy element. As a result, the training element can be arranged (i.e. attached or fixed) at any point on the sheet-like Velcro element, removed again as desired and, depending on the progress or requirements of the therapy, attached again at a different point. With the repeated arrangement, the training element can be fixed in a different position on the therapy vest. The training element can have the same orientation (in particular horizontal, vertical or diagonal) or a different orientation than was the case before the training element was removed. This allows the training effect to be varied as desired and adapted to the needs of the patient. Furthermore, in a special embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the entire outer surface of the front part of the therapy vest is provided with a Velcro element so that the training elements can be arranged at any point on the outer surface of the front part. In particular, it can also be provided that the outside of the front part of the therapy vest is made of a material with a loop-shaped surface, such as, for example, terry cloth, velor or a nonwoven fabric. The materials mentioned can then interact (like a Velcro element with loops) with the Velcro element of the training element. In this way it is possible to arrange the training elements variably on the outside of the front part and thus to achieve different training and therapy effects.

As an alternative or in addition to the use of Velcro elements, the variable arrangement can also be achieved by buttoning (using metal or plastic Push buttons) of the training elements on the front part of the therapy vest. In a further alternative to the therapy vest, the training elements can also be connected to other connecting or locking elements, such as snap hooks, magnets, zippers or buckles, either directly with the therapy vest or with a counterpart attached to the therapy vest, such as a ring, an eyelet or a loop can be attached variably and reversibly. In this case, apart from the connection and closure elements attached to the training elements and the therapy vest, no further auxiliary or additional means are required in order to be able to arrange the training elements reversibly and to be able to remove them again.

A particular advantage of the variable arrangement of the training elements of the therapy vest is that this feature allows a single therapy vest to be used to treat different patients with different functional limitations. Depending on the requirements of the therapy vest, the training elements of the therapy vest can be quickly and easily exchanged for other training elements. As a result, in a therapy center, for example, a single therapy vest with variably arrangeable or arranged training elements can be sufficient to provide several patients with a suitable therapy vest. In the case of the use of an imaginary, static therapy vest, i.e. a therapy vest with statically (i.e. permanently or permanently) arranged training elements, this vest could only be used for patients with identical functional impairments. In contrast, in the therapy vest according to the invention, the training elements can be arranged or arranged dynamically and according to the needs of the patient on the outside of the front part of the vest, ie the training elements are not permanently, i.e. permanently, connected, so that their separation from the therapy vest and their attachment to the Therapy vest can be done easily and quickly and without the use of additional aids.

In a preferred embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention it can be provided that the elements are selected from one, two or three of the types described above.

The advantage of choosing from one type of element is that the therapy vest can be designed specifically for the treatment and restoration of a specific physical ability. In this way, a greater number of elements of the same type can be attached to the therapy vest than would be possible if elements of different types were provided. For example, the therapy vest can only have elements of a mechanical nature, so that intensive training of motor and fine motor skills is possible. In a similar way it can be provided that only elements of a tactile type are selected, so that an intensive training of tactile and haptic perception can be guaranteed. Finally, it can also be provided that only acoustic elements are provided. For example, it can be provided that two, three, four, five, six, seven or more than seven, in particular different mechanical elements are provided. It can also be provided that two, three, four, five, six, seven or more than seven, in particular different tactile elements, are provided. Furthermore, it can also be provided that two, three, four, five, six, seven or more than seven, in particular different acoustic elements are attached to the therapy vest.

The advantage of choosing from two types of elements is that different training and therapy effects can be achieved with just a single vest. For example, one of the following options can be provided for selecting the elements: two mechanical elements and one tactile element; a mechanical element and two tactile elements; two mechanical and two tactile elements; two mechanical elements and an acoustic element; a mechanical element and two acoustic elements; two mechanical and two acoustic elements; three mechanical and two tactile elements, two mechanical and three tactile elements; three mechanical and two acoustic; two mechanical and three acoustic elements. If two or more elements of the same function (i.e. mechanical, tactile or acoustic) are arranged on the vest, they can be different.

As a result, a single vest can be used to treat people with different, especially motor impairments. It can also be advantageous for a patient with different limitations, for example with limited motor (especially fine motor) skills and limited tactile perception, if the therapy vest has elements of a mechanical type and elements of a tactile type.

The advantage of choosing from three types of elements is that many different training and therapy effects can be achieved with just one single vest. As a result, the therapy vest is suitable for treating people with different, in particular motor disabilities, as well as people with their different senses of perception are restricted. With a therapy vest with mechanical, tactile and acoustic elements, it is also possible to provide the patient with a varied therapy.

For example, it can be provided that the therapy vest according to the invention has nine mechanical elements, six tactile elements and one acoustic element.

In a preferred embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention, it can be provided that the number of elements arranged in total is two, three, four, five, six, seven or more. The elements can be of different types.

It is usually an advantage if the therapy vest has numerous training elements. In this way, for example, elements can be selected that enable training exercises of different degrees of difficulty. This allows the user of the therapy vest to begin with simpler exercises and, as his skills increase, pursue more difficult exercises. The therapy vest with numerous training elements can also be used for different patients who are restricted to different degrees.

On the other hand, when designing the therapy vest, it should be taken into account that the weight of the vest increases with each additional training element, even if only insignificantly. However, the weight of the therapy vest should not be unnecessarily high in order not to negatively affect the wearing comfort and acceptance of the vest. In a preferred embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention it can therefore be provided that the therapy vest has no more than eight, ten, twelve, 15, 20 or 30 elements.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the element of a mechanical type is a locking element, for example a snap hook, a scissors snap hook, a toggle fastener, a Velcro fastener, a metal hook, a buckle, a fastening clip, a fastening ring, a safety pin, a metal buckle, a Has a button, a push button, a spring hook, a magnetic fastener, a cord stopper and / or a zipper (for example to be opened from top to bottom, from bottom to top or diagonally).

The use of closure elements as a training element is particularly advantageous since the operation of closure elements requires a certain mechanical / motoric skill from the patient, depending on the type of closure element. This gives the patient a task that is solved in a playful way. The operation of locking elements thus trains the motor skills, in particular the fine motor skills of the patient, in an efficient manner. In addition, training with the locking elements promotes the patient's ability to concentrate and dexterity. In a study that was carried out, it was possible to show that the therapy with a therapy vest according to the invention with mechanical training elements can lead in particular to an improvement in the motor skills, and in particular the fine motor skills of the patient.

Another advantage of using closure elements is that they are commercially available in a wide variety of types, so that the optimal elements for a patient or a form of therapy can be selected from a wide range of closure elements with different properties. For example, snap hooks or scissors snap hooks are commercially available which have a hook and a spring-loaded lock. To use a snap hook, this lock must be opened, the hook passed through a loop and the lock closed. While this exercise is effortless to perform for a healthy person, it can be a more difficult exercise for a person with impaired motor skills.

Even with a toggle fastener, the training exercise is to guide an object (in this case a mostly elongated button) through a loop, an eyelet or some other type of opening. Here, too, particular fine motor skills are required of the patient.

When using a push button as a training element, the training exercise is defined in that the patient inserts one component of the push button, which has a head, into the other component of the push button, which has a recess. For a patient with limited fine motor skills, this can also be an exercise of a higher degree of difficulty.

When using a snap buckle or click buckle, the patient must also insert an object (here: a locking pin) into a counterpart. To release the connection, it is usually necessary to unlock the lock either at one point on the pin or at two points by pressing. For this purpose, parts of the pin must be pressed with one or two fingers while the pin is pulled at the same time. This task can be a demanding training task for a patient. The level of training can also vary greatly depending on the material of the buckle and the design of the locking pin and the counterpart. As a rule, buckles are made of plastic or metal.

In a preferred embodiment of the therapy vest it can be provided that several closure elements of the same type are selected, the opening and closing of which are different in difficulty. For example, several snap hooks can be selected, the resiliently mounted closure of which has different spring strengths. It can also be provided that several buckles are selected. For example, two buckles can be provided, of which one buckle can be unlocked on one side with one finger, while the second buckle can be released on both sides with two fingers. It can also be provided that two plastic buckles and one metal buckle are used.

In an advantageous embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention it can be provided that the closure element is arranged horizontally, vertically or diagonally, that is to say at an angle of essentially 90 degrees, 0 degrees or 45 degrees to the longitudinal axis of the vest. Depending on the alignment of the closure element, the sequence of movements when operating the elements can be adapted. If, for example, an elongated Velcro fastener is arranged horizontally, a different training effect is achieved than when the Velcro fastener is arranged vertically. The same applies to a horizontal, vertical or diagonal arrangement of zip fasteners and other fastening elements. The same applies if, for example, the individual components of snap fasteners, buckles or other multi-part closure elements are arranged horizontally, vertically or diagonally.

The closure elements are reversibly connected to the therapy vest. In particular, it can be provided that a closure element is provided with a Velcro strip with hooks and that the therapy vest is accordingly provided with Velcro strips with loops at different points. Velcro strips can be permanently (i.e. permanently) connected to the therapy vest and the closure element, for example sewn. In contrast, the connection between a closure element and the therapy vest is not permanent (i.e. not permanent), but reversible. It is also possible that the reversible connection of a closure element to the therapy vest takes place by means of a further closure element. In this way, fastening elements can be buttoned to the therapy vest or reversibly connected using snap buckles. It can also be provided that a closure element is not connected to the vest directly, but rather via a coupling element. In the simplest case, a coupling element can be a piece of fabric, which preferably has the same material as the training vest. In a preferred embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the coupling elements used are color-coded in such a way that the patient can recognize via the color coding which parts of the closure elements belong to one another. For example, the therapy vest can have three buckles on the outside of the front part, which are arranged horizontally one above the other.

For example, the two components (a male and a female component) of the upper buckle can each be connected to a blue coupling element via a connecting strap, the blue coupling elements being arranged horizontally on the therapy vest, for example at a horizontal distance of 10 cm. Below that, the two components of the middle buckle can each be connected to a red coupling element via a connecting strap, the red coupling elements being arranged horizontally on the therapy vest. Under the middle buckle, the two components of the lower buckle can each be connected to a purple coupling element via a connecting strap, the purple coupling elements being arranged horizontally on the therapy vest. In this way, the patient receives additional assistance in assigning the individual components of the buckles.

Finally, closure elements offer the advantage that they are commercially available at low cost and do not require any special manufacture.

The therapy elements (designed as closure elements in this embodiment) are determined by the desired therapeutic effect and not by their conventional function and arrangement in a conventional vest.

In the therapy vest according to the invention, it can in particular be provided that at least one snap hook, a magnetic button, a snap buckle or a fastening clip can be or is arranged on the therapy vest by means of Velcro, press studs or other fastening elements. It can also be provided that several of the named elements can be or are arranged together on the therapy vest by means of Velcro fasteners, press studs or other fastening elements.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention, it can also be provided that at least one element of a mechanical type is arranged in the chest area, in the stomach area or in the shoulder area of the front part.

The arrangement of the mechanical elements can be advantageous in particular in the lower area, that is to say in the chest area and in the abdominal area, since here the mechanical elements are at a particular height within reach of the patient. As a result, the patient can easily and comfortably grasp and operate the mechanical elements, and the symptoms of fatigue during prolonged therapeutic treatment are reduced. In addition, the patient can see the mechanical elements during a training exercise and thus visually follow the training process. This can make training a lot easier.

It can also be provided that the mechanical elements are arranged in the upper area, that is to say in the shoulder area. This increases the difficulty of the training exercise, since the patient has to exert more effort to reach the training elements arranged further above. In addition, there is no visual control of the training exercise by the patient, so that the patient has to focus more on his motor skills and tactile perception.

For a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the element of a tactile type comprises plush, bobbinet tulle and / or felt. In particular, it can be provided that the therapy vest has two or three tactile elements with different properties that the patient can feel. By sliding with the finger from one tactile element to the next, the patient can feel the differences between the different surfaces and his tactile and haptic perception is stimulated. Above all, particularly soft or particularly rough materials can be used here. For example, a denim, rubber, silk, wool, fur, cashmere, rose plush, fringed plush or fleece can be used. The tactile element can also have knobs or points. The tactile element can in particular be rectangular, strip-shaped, circular or oval.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment it can be provided that the therapy vest has a total of six tactile elements in the shoulder area of the front part, three on the left side and three on the right side. Of the three elements in each case, a first element can preferably have plush, while a second element has bobbinet tulle and a third element has felt. The individual tactile elements can be made rectangular, with a width of about 13 cm and a height of about 7 cm. The three elements can be arranged one above the other, for example. The arrangement of the tactile elements on the left side can preferably differ from the arrangement of the tactile elements on the right side of the vest, so that the patient perceives a different sequence of tactile elements when scanning from top to bottom with his left hand than when scanning with the right hand. In particular, it can be provided that on the right side of the shoulder area (viewed from the patient's point of view) of the three tactile elements, the upper element has plush, the middle element felt and the lower element bobbinet tulle. On the other hand, on the left side of the patient's shoulder area, of the three tactile elements, the upper element has bobbinet tulle, the middle element plush and the lower element felt. In this way, different stimulation of tactile and haptic perception is achieved when scanning with the left and right hand.

In one embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention, it can preferably be provided that at least one element of a tactile type is arranged in the shoulder area, in the chest area or in the stomach area of the front part.

The arrangement of the tactile elements can be advantageous in particular in the upper area, that is to say in the shoulder area, since in this case the tactile elements are essentially located outside the field of vision of the patient. As a result, the patient cannot see the tactile elements during the training exercise, so that he has to focus more on his tactile perception. This can significantly increase the efficiency of the training. Furthermore, it can be provided that the tactile elements are attached to the outside of the back part in the upper area, that is to say in the shoulder area. This prevents the patient from looking at the tactile elements and thus simplifies the training exercise.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the tactile elements are arranged in the lower area, that is to say in the chest area and in the stomach area, so that the tactile elements are within easy reach and in the patient's field of vision. As a result, the patient can easily and comfortably grasp and operate the mechanical elements, so that the symptoms of fatigue are reduced during prolonged therapeutic treatment. In addition, the patient can see the mechanical elements during the training exercise and thus visually follow the training process. This creates a coupling between the visual Perception of the patient and his tactile perception.

In an embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention, it can furthermore preferably be provided that the acoustic-type element has a crunching pillow, a crackling pillow, a crackling cloth, a squeaking ball, a bell, a ratchet and / or a rattle.

A crunch pillow can in particular be a small pillow that is filled with numerous small balls. The balls, which are preferably made of plastic, generate a sound as soon as the crunch is pressed. The patient receives acoustic feedback when the crunch pillow is pressed together and at the same time perceives the deformation of the pillow tactilely. As a result, several sensory perceptions of the patient are stimulated at the same time.

Similar effects occur when a crackling pillow, crackling cloth, or squeaky ball is squeezed.

Simple musical instruments such as a rattle, for example, can also be used as an acoustic element, or effect instruments such as a ratchet. With the two acoustic elements mentioned, a noise is generated by a relatively simple hand movement. It is important here that the movement required to generate the noise is not too demanding, as the motor skills of the patients for whom the therapy vest is designed are usually very limited.

The acoustic elements can be connected directly to the therapy vest. For example, they can be glued, welded or sewn to the vest. It is also possible that the acoustic elements are connected to the therapy vest via additional connecting elements. These connecting elements can in particular be connecting straps, connecting cords or connecting chains. The acoustic elements can for example be glued, welded or sewn to the connecting elements, while in turn the connecting elements can be glued, welded or sewn to the therapy vest, for example. The acoustic elements can either be attached freely to the therapy vest or housed in a vest pocket. The vest pocket can also be lockable, so that the patient must first open the pocket in order to gain access to the acoustic element.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention it can be provided that at least one element of an acoustic type is arranged in the chest area, in the stomach area or in the shoulder area.

The arrangement of the acoustic elements can be advantageous in particular in the lower area, that is to say in the chest area and in the abdominal area, since the mechanical elements are here at a particular height within the patient's reach. As a result, the patient can easily and comfortably grasp and operate the acoustic elements and the symptoms of fatigue during longer therapy are reduced. In addition, the patient can see the acoustic elements during the training exercise and thus visually follow the training process. This can make training a lot easier. In particular, this can be advantageous if a rattle or a ratchet is used, since the patient can visually follow the movement of these acoustic elements directly.

It can also be provided that the acoustic elements are arranged in the upper area of the training vest, that is to say in the shoulder area. This increases the difficulty of the training exercise, since the patient has to exert more effort to reach the training elements arranged further above. In addition, there is no visual control of the training exercise by the patient, so that the patient has to focus more on his motor skills and tactile perception.

In a special embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention it can also be provided that the front part and the back part are at least partially made of polyester, polyamide (aramid), polyurethane, polyacrylic, nylon, cotton, fleece or a combination of the materials mentioned.

The advantage of using plastic materials to manufacture the therapy vest is that it is very hard-wearing and easy to clean.

This is particularly important for the therapy vest, since a therapy vest can be used by numerous patients every day, for example in a therapy center.

The use of cotton or fleece can be particularly advantageous in order to make the patient comfortable to wear. This is particularly important because the patient should also be able to wear the therapy vest over a longer period of time, for example over a period of up to one or more hours, and since the therapy vest does not make the therapy acceptable due to poor comfort should be reduced.

For example, by using plastic materials as the outer material and cotton as the inner material, the therapy vest is easy to clean on the outside, while the inside has skin-friendly properties.

According to the present invention it is provided that the vest has at least one element of a mechanical, tactile or acoustic type which can be detached and attached to the inside of the front part of the vest and attachable and detachable to the outside of the front part of the vest.

As a result, individual training elements of the therapy vest can be exchanged for other training elements as required. This has the advantage that, even after a longer therapy phase, the patient does not get bored with training exercises that are increasingly repeated. As soon as the patient has mastered the training exercises that are provided on the vest, individual training elements can be replaced by new elements that, for example, have a higher degree of difficulty or train other sensory perceptions that were not previously trained.

The training elements can, for example, be removable on the outside of the therapy vest, so that one or more new training elements can be attached instead of the original elements.

In particular, it can be provided that individual training elements or groups of training elements are detachably attached to the inside of the front part of the therapy vest. A grouping of training elements can be applied to a piece of fabric, for example, so that a group of training elements is exchanged directly by replacing the piece of fabric. A piece of fabric with a training element or a group of training elements can also be referred to as a training module. With the training modules detachably attached to the inside of the front part, the patient always has a reservoir of additional training elements with him, so that new training elements can be attached to the outside of the front part at will.

For example, it can be provided that a training module has a lobster clasp, a magnetic clasp, buckles and / or a fastening clip or several of the aforementioned training elements. Furthermore, it can be provided that the said training module can be arranged or arranged variably, temporarily and reversibly on the therapy vest by means of Velcro strips.

The modular design of the therapy vest also has the advantage that the therapy vest can be easily adapted to the needs of different patients. As a result, a single vest can be used to treat multiple patients with different diseases or disabilities and with different types of restrictions.

Another advantage of the modular embodiment of the therapy vest is that the training elements can be removed before cleaning, which can be done in a washing machine, for example. This is particularly advantageous since the training elements can be less durable than the basic material of the vest. In particular, it can be advantageous that the closure elements, the tactile elements and the acoustic elements can be removed before washing. In particular, a rattle, a ratchet, but also metal buckles can be removed before washing.

The individual training modules can, for example, be offered as optional accessories for the therapy vest, so that, depending on the needs of the patient, only the training modules that are actually needed can be purchased.

In a further preferred embodiment of the therapy vest it can also be provided that the removable and attachable element can be attached and removed by at least one zipper, Velcro fastener, snap fastener or magnetic fastener on the inside of the front of the vest and on the outside of the front of the vest.

For example, it can be provided that a training module has a rectangular design, zipper strips being attached to two sides of the training module, preferably to the right and left side of the training module. Accordingly, zipper strips can be provided on the outside of the front part and on the inside of the front part, with which the zipper strips of the training module can be connected. In this way, a training module can be attached easily and conveniently with zippers to the outside of the front part, while additional training modules are arranged on the inside of the front part. Alternatively, a training module can each have two push-button elements with a head part on its left and right side. In addition, snap-fastener elements with recesses can be embedded on the inside of the front part of the therapy vest and on the outside of the front part of the therapy vest, in particular with the same Spacing like the snap fasteners on the training module. In this way, a training module can be easily and quickly removed from the inside of the front part and attached to the outside of the front part (and vice versa).

This makes it possible to exchange the individual training elements or the training modules quickly and easily. The use of magnetic buttons, Velcro fasteners and press studs to connect the training modules to the therapy vest has the additional advantage that these fastening elements enable the training elements or training modules to be removed and attached with one hand.

For example, a training module can have two vertical Velcro strips with loops, while the therapy vest has two vertical Velcro strips with barbs on the outside and / or on the inside of the front part. The distances between the Velcro strips on the training module and on the therapy vest can preferably be essentially identical.

It can also be provided that a training module has two vertical Velcro strips and the front part of the therapy vest has two horizontal Velcro strips that are wider than the distance between the vertical Velcro strips of the training module. In this way, the position of the training module on the front part of the therapy vest can be adjusted as desired by the patient or as a function of the desired type of training.

In a further preferred embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention it can be provided that the therapy vest has no heat-generating means, no vibration-generating means, no cooling elements, no electrical components and / or no accumulators.

By dispensing with technically sophisticated components, the therapy vest can be inexpensive to manufacture. The weight of the therapy vest can also be kept particularly low without the components mentioned above. A light therapy vest is generally better accepted by the patient than a heavy vest that is less comfortable to wear.

Furthermore, it can be provided in the therapy vest according to the invention that no elements of a mechanical, tactile or acoustic type are arranged on the back of the vest.

This embodiment can be particularly advantageous since the training with elements on the back part of the therapy vest would rather represent training exercises of a higher degree of difficulty, which could overwhelm the patient. This is particularly the case when the functional impairment of the patient is particularly severe.

Another advantage of doing without the training elements on the back of the therapy vest is that the patient wearing the therapy vest can sit down without any problems. If the therapy vest were to have locking elements, a rattle or a ratchet on the back, for example, comfortable sitting would not be possible without further ado, since the training elements attached to the back would generate a pressure on the patient's back when he leaned against a backrest, which would be annoying would be felt.

In this way, the elimination of training elements on the back ensures that the therapy vest is more comfortable to wear.

Furthermore, the use of a therapy vest described above for the therapy of people with disabilities, in particular in the areas of motor skills, the sense of touch and acoustic perception, is proposed to solve the problem mentioned at the beginning.

• 1 eine handelsübliche Weste, wie sie aus dem Stand der Technik bekannt ist,
• 2 eine Frontansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Therapieweste mit Trainingselementen auf der Außenseite des Frontteils,
• 3 eine Frontansicht des in 2 dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Therapieweste, wobei einzelne Trainingselemente abgenommen sind,
• 4 eine Frontansicht des in 2 und 3 dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Therapieweste im geöffneten Zustand,
• 5 eine Rückansicht des in den 2 bis 4 dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Therapieweste.

The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and with reference to the drawings. In detail, show:

• 1 a commercially available vest, as it is known from the prior art,
• 2 a front view of an embodiment of a therapy vest according to the invention with training elements on the outside of the front part,
• 3 a front view of the in 2 illustrated embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention, with individual training elements being removed,
• 4th a front view of the in 2 and 3 illustrated embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention in the open state,
• 5 a rear view of the in the 2 until 4th illustrated embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention.

In the 1 a commercially available vest is shown, which is already known from the prior art in numerous embodiments, for example as a sports vest. The vest is usually integrally formed from one piece of fabric or from two or more pieces of fabric sewn together manufactured. Most vests can be closed at the front with buttons or a zipper.

In contrast, the 2 an embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention 10 with a front part 12th and a back part 14th each with an inside 16 and an outside 18th shown, the therapy vest 10 in a shoulder area 20th , a chest area 22nd and an abdominal area 24 is divided. The chest area 22nd and the abdominal area 24 together form the chest / stomach area 22nd , 24 . The individual areas, which can also be referred to as the upper area, middle area and lower area, are separated by two dividing lines 26th , 28 delimited from each other. The top dividing line 26th is defined in this embodiment by the armholes 30th . The two armholes 30th show a total of two lows 32 , through their connection in this embodiment, the upper dividing line 26th is formed. The lower dividing line 28 divides the chest / stomach area in this exemplary embodiment 22nd , 24 into an upper half (chest area 22nd ) and into a lower half (abdominal area 24 ).

The therapy vest 10 points on the outside 18th of the front part 12th numerous training elements, including mechanical, tactile and acoustic elements. The training elements can temporarily be on the outside 18th the therapy vest 10 be arranged or arranged. A variable, reversible and temporary arrangement of the training elements can be done in particular using Velcro fasteners.

The one in the 2 shown therapy vest 10 points in the left chest / stomach area (from the patient's point of view) 22nd , 24 three buckles 34 which are arranged horizontally one above the other. At the top buckle 34 it can be a plastic buckle 36 act with two components (a male and a female component), which is opened by pulling the plastic buckle on two sides 36 a force is applied that pushes the two locking tongues of the male component inward, so that their entanglement in the female component of the plastic buckle 36 is resolved. The plastic buckle 36 is closed again by bringing the two components together so that one component is inserted into the other and the locking tabs of the male component of the plastic buckle 36 hook again with the female component. This requires skill, concentration, strength and coordination from the patient with limited abilities. During the repeated exercise, the motor skills and especially the fine motor skills are trained.

Below the plastic buckle 36 is in the in 2 embodiment shown a metal buckle 38 arranged. During the opening and reclosing of the metal buckle 38 analogous to opening and closing the plastic buckle 36 occurs, the degree of difficulty of opening and closing the metal buckle can increase 38 the degree of difficulty of opening and closing the plastic buckle 36 differentiate. For example, significantly less force may be required to pull the metal buckle 38 to open and close than to open and close the plastic buckle 36 is required.

Furthermore, the therapy vest 10 in this embodiment below the metal buckle 38 another plastic buckle NX 40. The plastic buckle NX 40 has in contrast to the buckles described above 34 only one locking tongue, which has to be pressed to unlock the locking tongue and to open the plastic buckle NX 40.

In the in 2 illustrated embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention 10 are the buckles 34 each by means of connecting straps 42 with rectangular coupling elements 44 connected, which can be made of the same material as the therapy vest 10 . These coupling elements 44 can for example be designed in such a way that the upper two coupling elements 44 are blue, the middle coupling elements 44 are red and the lower coupling elements 44 are executed in purple. This provides the patient with visual assistance as to which components of the buckles are 34 are to be connected to each other. These are namely those components that are connected to coupling elements of the same color 44 are arranged.

Furthermore is below the three buckles 34 a cord stopper 46 arranged. By squeezing the cord stopper 46 becomes the cord stopper 46 unlocked so a rubber band 48 through the opening of the cord stopper 46 can be moved through.

In addition, the therapy vest is on the right-hand side 10 in the chest and stomach area 22nd , 24 a toggle closure 50 and a metal hook 52 arranged. With the toggle closure 50 the training exercise is that an elongated head is passed through a loop. The metal hook 52 comprises a component with two buttons and a component with two grooves, the training exercise in which the patient has to insert the buttons into the grooves. Both locking elements (toggle lock 50 and metal hooks 52 ) provide the patient with training exercises for improvement especially dexterity and motor skills.

Below the metal hook 52 are on the outside 18th of the front part 12th the therapy vest 10 four spring hooks 54 appropriate. There are four spring hooks 54 horizontally, that is, arranged side by side. Another four metal loops are on a piece of fabric, namely the loop carrier 56 appropriate. The loop carrier 56 is via a connecting band 42 with the therapy vest 10 tied together. The patient's task is to solve all four metal loops over the metal hooks 54 so that they are off the metal hooks 54 be worn.

Furthermore, the in 2 shown therapy vest 10 a crunch pillow as an acoustic element 58 . By squeezing the crunch pillow 58 a sound is generated that the patient perceives. The crunch pillow is also deformed 58 when squeezing by the patient, allowing the patient the varying shape of the pillow 58 can perceive and thereby the tactile perception of the patient is stimulated at the same time.

The crunch pillow 58 can be put in a bag after a workout 60 can be accommodated via two snap fasteners 62 is lockable. In this embodiment the two push buttons are 62 designed differently, so that, among other things, a different amount of force has to be applied to the individual buttons 62 to open and close.

Furthermore, the in 2 illustrated embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention 10 in the shoulder area 20th tactile elements 64 on. On the left and on the right side of the vest 10 are three tactile elements each 64 with a substantially rectangular shape and arranged one above the other with different surface properties. The therapy vest is on the right 10 a plush element at the top 66 , in the middle a felt element 68 and a bobbinet tulle element at the bottom 70 arranged. The patient can stimulate his sense of touch and train his tactile perception by successively scanning the different elements.

On the left side of the therapy vest 10 are in this embodiment in the shoulder area 20th also the same tactile elements 64 arranged, but in a different order. At the top on the left is a bobbinet tulle element 70 , in the middle a plush element 66 and a felt element at the bottom 68 arranged. Due to the different arrangement of the tactile elements 64 on the left and on the right side of the therapy vest 20th Different stimulation of the sense of touch can take place if the patient moves his left and right hand along the tactile elements at the same time or one after the other 64 grazes.

In the in 2 The illustrated embodiment are the closure elements and the acoustic element in the chest / stomach area 22nd , 24 , and thus arranged at a comfortable grip height for the patient. The advantage of this arrangement of the closure elements and the acoustic element is that the patient does not tire so quickly during the therapy.

In contrast, in this exemplary embodiment the tactile elements are in the shoulder area 20th arranged. The advantage of this arrangement of the tactile elements 64 lies in that the tactile elements 64 are essentially outside the field of vision of the patient and that, as a result, the patient is not on the tactile elements during the treatment 64 looks. This allows the patient to focus on guessing the different tactile elements 64 automatically to his tactile sensory perception without using the help of his visual perception.

How to continue in 2 shown, form the three buckles 34 on the left side of the therapy vest 10 , together with the connecting straps 42 and the coupling elements 44 , a detachable training module 70 . This removable training module 70 is in this embodiment with two zippers 72 on the therapy vest 10 appropriate. By opening the zippers 72 can be a first training module 70 from the therapy vest 10 removed, for example before the therapy vest 10 should be washed.

In an analogous way, form the therapy vest on the right side 10 the toggle closure 50 and the metal hook 52 , together with the connecting straps 42 and the coupling elements 44 , a second detachable training module 74 . The second training module 74 is in this embodiment by two Velcro fasteners 76 with the front part 12th the therapy vest 10 tied together. This allows the second training module 74 quickly and easily from the therapy vest if necessary 10 can be removed and reattached.

In 3 is that in 2 illustrated embodiment of the therapy vest according to the invention 10 shown, the first training module 70 and the second training module 74 are removed. The therapy vest is on the left 10 the two vertically arranged zipper strips 72 to recognize those with the therapy vest 10 are firmly connected. These are preferably with the front part 12th the therapy vest 10 sewn. On the right side of the therapy vest 10 are two vertical Velcro strips 76 to recognize that also firmly with the therapy vest 10 connected and preferably with the therapy vest 10 are sewn.

In this exemplary embodiment, the other training elements are fixed to the therapy vest 10 connected, either directly or by means of connecting means, such as connecting straps 42 or coupling elements 44 .

In 4th is the in 2 and 3 shown therapy vest 10 shown in the open state. Here you can see that the therapy vest is on the inside 16 of the front part 12th a third training module 78 and a fourth training module 80 having. These are each by means of two zippers 72 with the front part 16 tied together.

The third training module 80 has three training elements that are arranged one above the other. The upper of the three training elements is through a scissor snap hook 82 educated. The scissor snap hook 82 is to be operated on a lever that connects the scissor carabiner 82 opens. When open, the patient has the scissor snap hook 82 in the direction of a loop until the scissor snap hook 82 is hooked into the loop. The patient then has to move the lever, which is resiliently mounted, into the starting position so that the scissors snap hook 82 closes again. To open the connection, the patient has to operate the lever again and the two components (scissor carabiner 82 and loop).

The middle of the training elements is a metal clip 84 . Similar to the scissor snap hook 82 is the metal clip 84 open with a lever. By actuating the lever, a spring-mounted locking tongue is put into an open state. When open, the metal clip 84 and a lock ring are brought together. The lever can then be returned to its original position around the metal clip 84 to close. The connection is released by performing the steps in reverse order.

The lower of the training elements of the third training module 78 is a locking clip 86 . The locking clip 86 can be opened, brought together with a locking ring and then locked. Different from the aforementioned metal clip 84 is the the locking clip 86 not to be opened via a lever, but directly. Since no suspension is provided here, the patient must close the locking clip 86 manually. This can then be opened again, removed from the locking ring and finally closed again.

The fourth training module 80 In this exemplary embodiment, consists of two pieces of denim 81 together that overlap each other and those with four magnetic closures or magnetic buttons 88 can be closed with each other.

Because both training modules have two zippers each 72 on the inside 16 of the front part 12th are attached, they can be easily and conveniently opened by opening the zippers 72 from the inside 16 of the front part 12th the therapy vest 10 removed and on the outside 18th of the front part 12th the therapy vest 10 be attached.

In this embodiment, the third training module 78 and the fourth training module 80 either instead of the first training module 71 be attached, or can be connected to the zipper 90, which also closes the front of the therapy vest 10 serves.

After all, in 5 a rear view of the therapy vest 10 shown. It can be seen here that the therapy vest 10 on the outside 18th of the back 14th an adjustment strap 92 and an adjustment buckle 92 having. Through the adjustment strap 92 and the adjustment buckle 94 can, as with a standard sports vest, the width of the therapy vest 10 can be set. This adjustment option is particularly useful when a training module 71 , 74 , 78 , 80 is used in the place of the zipper 90, since in this case the width of the therapy vest 10 can increase significantly. A narrowing of the therapy vest 10 can then contribute significantly to increased wearing comfort.

In addition to the described arrangement of the training elements on the front part 12th the therapy vest 10 , the training elements can also or exclusively on the side of the therapy vest 10 and / or also or exclusively on the back part 14th be arranged. The above-described mechanisms for attaching / detaching the training elements are used accordingly.

List of reference symbols

10

Therapy vest

12th

Front part

14th

Back part

16

inside

18th

Outside

20th

Shoulder area

22nd

Chest area

24

Abdominal area

26th

upper dividing line

28

lower dividing line

30th

Sleeve opening

32

Low point of the sleeve opening

34

Buckle

36

Plastic buckle

38

Metal buckle

42

Connecting tape

44

Coupling element

46

Cord stopper

48

Elastic band

50

Toggle closure

52

Metal hook

54

Spring hook

56

Loop carrier

58

Crunch pillow

60

bag

62

Push button

64

tactile element

66

Plush element

68

Felt element

70

Bobinet tulle element

71

first training module

72

zipper

74

second training module

76

Velcro fastener

78

third training module

80

fourth training module

81

Denim

82

Scissor snap hook

84

Metal clip

86

Locking clip

88

Magnetic button

92

Adjustment strap

94

Adjustment buckle

Claims (8)

Therapy vest 10 for people with disabilities, in particular in the areas of motor skills, the sense of touch and acoustic perception, comprising a front part 12 and a back part 14, each with an inside 16, an outside 18, a shoulder area 20, a chest area 22 and a stomach area 24 , wherein the therapy vest 10 on the outside 18 of the front part 12 has at least one element selected from the group consisting of mechanical, tactile and acoustic elements, and wherein at least one mechanical, tactile or acoustic element is variably arranged on the outside of the front part , characterized in that at least one mechanical, tactile or acoustic element can be removed and attached to the inside 16 of the front part 12 of the therapy vest 10 and can be attached and removed from the outside 18 of the front part 12 of the therapy vest 10. Therapy vest 10 according to Claim 1 , characterized in that the elements are selected from one, two or three types from the group consisting of mechanical, tactile and acoustic elements. Therapy vest 10 according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the total number of elements arranged on the front part 12 is two, three, four, five, six, seven or more. Therapy vest 10 according to one of the Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the mechanical element has a snap hook, a scissors snap hook 82, a toggle fastener 50, a Velcro fastener 76, a metal hook 52, a snap buckle 34, a snap buckle NX 40, a locking clip 86, a locking ring, a metal buckle 38, a button, a push button 62, a spring hook 54, a magnetic fastener 88, a cord stopper 46 and / or a zipper 72. Therapy vest 10 according to one of the Claims 1 until 4th , characterized in that at least one mechanical element is arranged in the chest area 22, in the stomach area 24 or in the shoulder area 20 of the front part 12. Therapy vest 10 according to one of the Claims 1 until 5 , characterized in that the tactile element comprises plush 66, bobbinet tulle 70 and / or felt 68. Therapy vest 10 according to one of the Claims 1 until 6th , characterized in that at least one tactile element is arranged in the shoulder area 20, in the chest area 22 or in the stomach area 24 of the front part 12. Therapy vest 10 according to one of the Claims 1 until 7th , characterized in that the acoustic element comprises a crunch pillow 58, a crackling pillow, a crackling cloth, a squeak ball, a bell, a ratchet and / or a rattle.

Images