EP3383508B1

EP3383508B1 - A piece of clothing for training and therapy

Info

Publication number: EP3383508B1
Application number: EP16801223.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rasit SUNAL
Original assignee: Aleresol AB
Current assignee: Aleresol AB
Priority date: 2015-12-03
Filing date: 2016-11-24
Publication date: 2020-11-18
Anticipated expiration: 2036-11-24
Also published as: WO2017093121A1; EP3383508A1; SE1551585A1; SE539522C2

Description

Technical Field

The invention relates to the field of training cloth in particular to a piece of clothing, such as a vest, for therapy and physical training of a person.

Background of the Invention

Cloth for training are well known in particular vests comprising weights for simulation of a training with a higher weight than the body weight. In some cases these vests or pieces of clothing fulfil combined functions such as providing additional weight and creating drag when applied in swim training for example.
Many of these known vests are designed for comparably well trained people, who do not have any structural, muscular or other problems within their bodies, since the weight of such weighted vests rests on the person. In the following several types of known vests for training are described.
EP 2823722 A1 illustrates a weighted article of clothing, such as shirt, comprising weights made of a gel. The weights are arranged in clusters and the article of clothing further comprises linking strands linking the weight clusters. The shirt is configured to be used in swimming and increases the resistance when the swimmer is moving in water due to the material of manufacture of the shirt and the weights.
US 4'394'012 A discloses an exercise vest comprising pockets, which are configured to receive weight capsules. The weight of the exercise can be adjusted according to the wearer's strength or the type of exercise that should be conducted, by adding or removing weight capsules from the pockets.
US 2013/190144 A1 disclosed another type of a weighted vest made of neoprene comprising a V-shaped front neoprene panel and a V-shaped back neoprene panel. The weights are distributed in pockets along the legs of each of the panels.
Some disadvantages of the above vests concern patients who recover from severe conditions and/or elderly patients, who do not have the possibility to wear or train with such weighted vests because of the added weight. In addition do such vests not provide a possibility to train so called small muscles, such as for example the abs and back muscles, in particular those close to the lumbar region of the back and those small muscles which stabilize the lumbar region.
An additional disadvantage with weighted vests as described above is the cumbersome transportation of such vests since, even if a vest allows the adjustment of weights as described in US 4'394'012 A, all potential weights need to be available upon training of a person and all those weights need to be transported together with the vest.
Document WO0110253 discloses a piece of clothing having pockets with inserted flexible plates. Said plates are used to train the arms and leg.

Summary of the Invention

In view of the above the inventor of the present invention has discovered that there is an alternative way to train a person and in a particular a patient by avoiding the use of adding weights to a vest.
In view of the above it is an object of the present invention to provide a piece of clothing, which allows to train a person and a patient, respectively, in a sustainable way.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a piece of clothing, which is easy to handle and easy to use.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a piece of clothing, which allows to train a patient at least substantially independent of her or his physical ability.
The above objects are solved by a piece of clothing, as claimed in claim 1.
Disclosed herein is a training and therapy piece of clothing made of a fabric, the piece of clothing comprising two arm openings, a waist opening, a neck opening, at least one pocket arranged with the fabric on a backside of the piece of clothing. The piece of clothing comprises further a tightening mechanism and a drag mechanism. A longitudinal direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spine when the piece of clothing is worn by a person. The drag mechanism comprises at least one elongated flexible plate, which elongated flexible plate is configured to be inserted into the pocket, which pocket is adapted to the shape of the elongated flexible plate and arranged so that the elongated flexible plate extends oblique with respect to the longitudinal direction when it is inserted in the pocket, whereby by the drag mechanism a need of adding weights to the piece of clothing for training is avoided.
The piece of clothing may be a vest.
Alternatively the piece of clothing may be a T-shirt or a long arm T-shirt.
A piece of clothing or a vest as described above has the advantage that a person can train many stabilizing muscles by various exercises, in particular by exercises in which the spine of the person rotates along its longitudinal axis, whereby the hip remains in a locked and steady position. When the person rotates his or her spine along the longitudinal axis thereof, the elongated flexible plate creates a resistance through which resistance the muscles are trained.
The drag mechanism functions in a way in that it allows the wearer to avoid the use of adding weights to the piece of clothing. The actual drag is created by the resistance force needed to deform the elongated flexible plate. The deformation of the elongated flexible plate has its origin in a movement of the patient's torso.
The level of resistance may be adjusted by different types of material of the plates and/or different thicknesses of the plate.
The piece of clothing as described above further allows to train the previously mentioned small stabilizing muscles in an upright manner while a person is standing. Various exercises can be done by while the wearer of the piece of clothing is standing upright.
The longitudinal direction is, at least more or less, parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spine when the vest is worn by a person.
A further advantage of the vest as described is that the vest is easy to transport and very light to wear for the person.
In a further embodiment the elongated flexible plate is made of plastic or fibre-reinforced plastic such as acrylic glass or fibreglass.
This may further reduce the weight of the vest.
It is even conceivable to use other elastic material such as carbon for example.
In a further embodiment the training and therapy vest comprises at least two pockets and at least two elongated flexible plates.
This improves the application range of the vest since the vest may be used so that the person can rotate its spine along the longitudinal axis, as previously described, in both directions, counter-clockwise and clockwise.
The thickness of the elongated flexible plate may be chosen depending on the strength of the person, who is supposed to train with the vest. The piece of clothing or vest may for example be provided with various pairs of flexible plates with different thicknesses so that the resistance provided by the piece of clothing, when worn, can be adjusted.
In still another embodiment the at least two pockets are arranged so that the at least two elongated flexible plates form a V on the backside of the vest when they are inserted in the at least two pockets and whereby the lower tip of the V is pointing towards the waist opening when the at least two elongated flexible plates are inserted in the at least two pockets.
The V is preferably arranged on the backside of the vest so that the lower tip of the V is arranged on the longitudinal direction of the vest and the V is preferably arranged symmetric in view of the longitudinal direction of the vest.
In another embodiment the at least two elongated flexible plates are embodied as one single V-shaped plate.
This may simplify the handling of the plates and the vest and it may additionally reduce the total weight of the vest without compromising the functionality during training and therapy.
Advantageously the lower tip of the V is arranged at or close to the waist opening and the two upper free ends of the V are arranged at or close to either of the two arm openings.
The above further improves the range of resistance from subtle to comparably hard and it improves the range of motion in which the resistance is noticeable. A shorter plate will lead to less resistance in the beginning and the end of the motion.
In a further embodiment the tightening mechanism may comprise a plurality of belts, which are configured to extend around a wearer's torso and/or over a wearer's crotch and/or over a wearer's shoulders and whereby at least some of the belts are configured to be connected on a front side of the vest.
The tighter the vest sits the better is the resistance, created by the plates, noticeable and the effect of the training improved.
Alternatively the tightening mechanism may be embodied in the form of the fabric, which may at least be partially made elastic so that it sits tightly on a torso of a patient when the vest is in use.
Such a vest may be configured to be closed by a zip or a Velcro system. Many so called skin-fitted products or cloth use such elastic fabrics that sit very tightly on the person's body.
In an embodiment the elongated flexible plate(s) may comprise an angled portion at their end(s) directed towards the arm openings when the elongated flexible plate(s) are inserted in the pocket(s), which angled portion is directed towards the vest.
The angled portion may enhance the comfort for the person wearing the vest.
In an embodiment the elongated flexible plate(s) may be quadrilateral with an elongated shape.
Such plates are comparably easy to produce and raw material to produce such plates is widely available.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of an embodiment and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

Fig. 1: schematically illustrates a perspective front side view of the vest according to the invention;
Fig. 2: schematically illustrates a perspective side view of the vest according to figure 1;
Fig. 3: illustrates a perspective view from above of the vest;
Fig. 4: schematically illustrates a back side view of the vest;
Fig. 5: schematically illustrates a back side view of the vest with a plate being inserted into a pocket;
Fig. 6: schematically illustrates a perspective view of the plate; and
Fig. 7: schematically illustrates another perspective view of the plate.

Detailed Description

Herein the terms wearer, person or patient all refer to a subject wearing a vest 1 according to the invention.
Figures 1 to 4 illustrate a vest 1 for therapy and training according to the invention. The vest 1 is made of a fabric 8 and it comprises a tightening mechanism 2, a drag mechanism 4, left- and right arm openings 14a, 14b, a neck opening 16 and a waist opening 18. The left- and right arm openings 14a, 14b, the neck opening 16 and the waist opening 18 are configured to receive the arms, neck and waist of a wearer. The wearer is typically a person who is training or a patient in rehabilitation. The neck opening 16 is formed as a V-neck opening. The arm openings 14a, 14b are formed round or oval. The waist opening 18 is more or less round or oval and the fabric 8 extends longer down on a back side of the vest 1.
Herein the term back side is to be understood as the side of the vest 1 resting on the back of a wearer when the vest 1 is worn. The term front side is to be understood as the side of the vest 1 resting on the chest of the wearer when the vest 1 is worn.
In figure 1 the tightening mechanism 2 is illustrated by four waist or chest belts 6, one crotch belt 6' and two shoulder belts 6" one each shoulder part of the vest 1. The belts 6, 6', 6" are configured to be closed by snap-in devices 15. Other means for closing the belts such as hooks or Velcro may be used. Herein the term Velcro is referring to a hook and loop fastener. The snap-in devices 15 are arranged to be tightened after closing so that the vest 1 sits as tight as possible and comfortable for the wearer.
More or less waist or chest belts 6 may be installed on the vest 1. This may depend on size of the vest and/or size of the patient.
An alternative tightening mechanism 2 (not shown in the figures) may comprise the fabric 8 made of elastic or hard-elastic textile that is configured to adapt to the wearers torso and sit tightly on it. In order to achieve a tight sitting of the vest 1, such a tightening mechanism 2 may be engaged by a zip arranged on the front side of the vest 1, said zip being configure to close vest 1 and thereby to activate the tightening mechanism 2.
The vest 1 may be provided in different sizes tailored for specific torso sizes and lengths. This may be in particular relevant if the tightening mechanism 2 is embodied in the form of the elastic or hard-elastic textile that is configured to adapt to the wearer's torso.
The shoulder belts 6" may be configured to extend along the entire vest 1 and end close to or at the waist opening 18, as illustrated in figure 1. The waist belts 6 may preferably extend around the entire vest 1, as indicated in figures 1 and 2.
Figure 2 further illustrates in a side view the vest 1 with the tightening mechanism 2 and the left- and right arm openings 14a, 14b. In figure 2 it is further good visible how the back side of the vest 1 extends a bit longer than the front side at the waist opening 18.
Referring now to figure 3, which shows a perspective view of the vest 1 from above and of the back side of the vest 1, it is well visible that the waist belts 6 extend around the entire outer surface of the vest 1. In addition the shoulder belts 6" and the snap-in devices 15 of the shoulder belts 6" are also well illustrated in figure 3. The shoulder belts 6" in figure 3 do not extend along the entire back side of the vest 1 this is however conceivable in another embodiment (not shown). Figure 3 is also illustrating the V-neck shape of the neck opening 16. The neck opening 16 may be shaped round or at least approximately round in another embodiment (not shown).
Figure 4 illustrates a back view of the vest 1 with pockets 10 indicated by dashed lines. The pockets 10 are arranged oblique in view of a longitudinal direction D of the vest 1. In other words the pockets 10 are arranged diagonally on the back side of the vest 1. The pockets 10 may be arranged on the inner side, thus the side sitting on the wearer when the vest 1 is worn, or on the outer side.
The longitudinal direction D is defined by a normal direction or a perpendicular through the centre of the neck opening 16 and through the centre of the waist opening 18. The longitudinal direction D may further be defined as being parallel to a vertical direction when the vest is worn by a wearer, who is standing upright.
The pockets 10 may be formed by a seam 16. Any other means that may limit the pockets 10, such as zippers, Velcro, etc. may be used to give the pockets 10 their shape. In each of the pockets 10 an elongated flexible plate 12 is arranged. The elongated flexible plates 12 form a V when they are inserted in the pockets 10. The lower tip of the V is arranged at or at least close to the waist opening 18. The waist belts 6 of the tightening mechanism 2 extend over the pockets 10 and the elongated flexible plates 12. At the lower tip of the V the elongated flexible plates are overlapping one another. The upper free ends of the V formed by the elongated flexible plates 12 are arranged at or at least close to the corresponding left- and right arm openings 14a, 14b.
Turning now to figure 5, which illustrates how the elongated flexible plates 12 can be inserted in the corresponding pocket 10, the lower edge of the pocket 10 may be formed by a zipper 20 for easy insertion and removing of the elongated flexible plate 12. Alternatively to the zipper a Velcro system may be used.
The elongated flexible plates 12 are shaped quadrilateral and slightly conical towards the respective free ends of the V so that they can inserted and removed easily.
Alternatively to the above described V-shape the elongated flexible plates and pockets, respectively, may form an X on the back side of the vest (not shown) or any intermediate shape between an X and V, as long as the elongated flexible plates 12 are arranged oblique to the longitudinal direction D.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate in more detail the shape of the elongated flexible plate 12. The elongated flexible plate 12 has two long sides a, b and two shorter sides f and c. In addition the end portion, which is configured be arranged close to the left- and right arm opening 14a, 14b (not shown in figures 6 and 7) when the elongated flexible plate 12 is inserted in the pocket 10, comprises an angled portion 22 which is bent towards the wearer's shoulders when the vest 1 is worn. The angled portion 22 may be 2 to 15cm long, preferably 5 to 12cm. The angle β with which the angled portion 22 is bent is about 160° to 120°, as measured from the other portion of the elongated flexible plate 12, which is illustrated in figure 6.
The length of the sides a, b, c and f may be chosen to be in the following relationship if the long side a is chosen to be a 100%:

a: 100%
b: about 75%-95%
c: about 20%-50%
f: about 7%-25%

The thickness d, illustrated in figures 6 and 7, of the elongated flexible plate 12 may be chosen depending on the material used for the elongated flexible plates 12.
Typically the elongated flexible plates 12 are made of a plastic or fibre reinforced plastic, such as acrylic glass or glass fibre with an epoxy matrix. Carbon may even be considered as a suitable material.
The vest 1 may come as a kit with a plurality of pairs of elongated flexible plates 12 so that a resistance created by a movement of the wearer wearing the vest 1 and the elongated flexible plates 12, can be adjusted to the physical condition of the wearer.
Alternative shapes of the elongated flexible plates 12 may be considered. As an example the previously described V-shape may be formed by one single flexible plate in order to safe weight. Further other measurements or even shapes as the described ones of the elongated flexible plates 12 may be used or applied.

Claims

A piece of clothing for training and therapy made of a fabric (8), the piece of clothing comprising two arm openings (14a, 14b), a waist opening (18), a neck opening (16), at least one pocket (10) arranged with the fabric (8) on a backside of the piece of clothing, a tightening mechanism (2) and a drag mechanism (4), whereby a longitudinal direction (D) is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the spine when the piece of clothing is worn by a person, characterized in that the drag mechanism (4) comprises at least one elongated flexible plate (12), which elongated flexible plate (12) is configured to be inserted into the pocket (10), which pocket (10) is adapted to the shape of the elongated flexible plate (12) and arranged so that the elongated flexible plate (12) extends oblique with respect to the longitudinal direction (D) when it is inserted in the pocket (10), wherein the drag mechanism (4) creates drag by the resistance force needed to deform the elongated flexible plate (12).
The piece of clothing according to claim 1, wherein the elongated flexible plate (12) is made of plastic or fibre-reinforced plastic such as acrylic glass or fibreglass.
The piece of clothing according to claim 1 or 2, comprising at least two pockets (10) and at least two elongated flexible plates (12).
The piece of clothing according to claim 3, wherein the at least two pockets (10) are arranged so that the at least two elongated flexible plates (12) form a V on the backside of the piece of clothing when they are inserted in the at least two pockets (10) and wherein the lower tip of the V is pointing towards the waist opening (18) when the at least two elongated flexible plates (12) are inserted in the at least two pockets (10).
The piece of clothing according to claim 4, wherein the at least two elongated flexible plates are formed as one single V-shaped plate.
The piece of clothing according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the piece of clothing is a vest (1) and wherein the lower tip of the V is arranged at or close to the waist opening (18) and wherein two upper free ends of the V are arranged at or close to either of the two arm openings (14a,14b).
The piece of clothing according to any of the previous claims, wherein the tightening mechanism (2) comprises a plurality of belts (6, 6',6") which are configured to extend around a wearer's torso and/or over a wearer's crotch and/or over a wearer's shoulders and wherein at least some of the belts (6, 6') are configured to be connected on a front side of the piece of clothing.
The piece of clothing according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the tightening mechanism (2) is embodied in the form of the fabric (8), which is at least partially made elastic so that it sits tightly on a torso of a patient when the piece of clothing is in use.
The piece of clothing according to any of the previous claims, wherein the elongated flexible plate(s) (12) comprise an angled portion (22) at an end which is configured to be arranged close to the left- and right arm opening (14a, 14b), respectively, , which angled portion (22) is directed towards the wearer's should when the piece of clothing is worn.
The piece of clothing according to any of the previous claims, wherein the elongated flexible plate(s) (12) are quadrilateral with an elongated shape.