GB2089217A

GB2089217A - Harness for eliminating tensions in the neck muscles

Info

Publication number: GB2089217A
Application number: GB8136991A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: SOIRON FERDINAND VON; SOIRON GERTRUD VON
Current assignee: SOIRON FERDINAND VON; SOIRON GERTRUD VON
Priority date: 1980-12-12
Filing date: 1981-12-08
Publication date: 1982-06-23
Also published as: DE3133912A1; FR2495930A1; FR2495930B3; SE8107426L; AU7839281A

Abstract

In orthopaedics, in order to treat bone-fractures in the shoulder region, use is made of harnesses with shoulder straps whose ends are connected together. In order to eliminate tensions in the muscular system of the neck of the human body, the harness (1) consists of a body belt (2) and of shoulder straps (3,4) to be connected to the body belt and having convex pressure members (5), for example pads, the pressure members (5) being adjustable along the shoulder straps. With such a harness there is exerted a massaging effect which stimulates the muscles in the shoulder area and the reflexive consequence of which is a relaxation of the tension in the muscular system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A harness for eliminating tension in the neck muscles of the human body The invention relates to a harness for eliminating tensions in the neck muscles of the human body, said harness having shoulder straps the ends of which are connected together.

The use is known in orthopaedics of harnesses for immobilising and freeing from load the broken bone sections, in order to heal collar-bone and/or shoul der-bladefractures. A harness of this type has shoulder straps passed around the shoulders, and in which a strip-shaped support extends over almost all of the strap passing over the shoulder. This is a collar-bone strap, and represents a method of protection against involuntary movement of the broken bone ends, which are to be pulled apart until they grow back together in the correct position. The straps passed over the shoulder are attached fast together at the rear base portion, and the neck and shoulders are totally immobilised by the non-elastic harness, which supports this part of the body.

Frequently, the healthy human body is exposed, for example through faulty posture, to muscular stresses causing considerable pain and often impair- ing the movement of the limbs. This includes tension in the neck and shoulder muscles, which can, for example, arise from a one-sided posture abnormally and asymmetrically stressing the muscles. Such neck muscle tension may for example be encountered in persons who adopt an incorrect, e.g.

inclined sitting posture at work, and who carry out one-sided work with the hands and arms, possibly without much movement being involved.

The aim of the invention is to provide a harness for use on the human body means of which tension in the neck muscles is eliminated, said harness acting reliably, being simple to manipulate and being easy to put on and take off. The harness of the type aformentioned is characterised according to the invention in that it consists of a body belt and of shoulder straps which are connectable to the body belt and which have adjustably-attached convex pressure members, such as pads.

A neck or shoulder harness of this type rapidly and simply enables the release of distortions or tensions in the neck or shoulder mucles and conversion of the latter into the normal relaxed condition. The elastic body belt is the retainer member for the shoulder straps, so that belt and straps form a self-contained harness system with which an effective pressure is exerted on the tensed neck muscles orthe like without restricting the wearer's freedom of movement. The convex pressure members bearing upon the neck muscles can exert their optimum effect for the relaxation of the muscles. A comparatively moderate and gentle influencing of the muscles is moreover achieved by the convex pressure members without immobilising the respective part of the body.The continual pressure of the pads stimulates the respective nerve fibres, movement giving rise to various points of contact in the area of the pressure member. In that way there is exerted at the selected point a muscle-stimulating massage effect rapidly inducing relaxation of the muscles and the reflexive consequence of which is a loosening of the tension in the muscular system in a short space of time. The harness according to the invention at the same time assists the body, through the punctiform bearing pressure on the neck muscles or the like, to a normal posture causing the relaxation of the tension, the adjacent areas, such as the cervical vertebra area, also being included in the therapeutic effect. The harness assemblage according to the invention requires only a relatively short period of use to relax the tense neck and shoulder areas and normalise them.In addition, the harness is easy to put on and take off without external help, and its pressure effect is simple and quick to adjust.

For women, the harness assemblage of body belt and shoulder straps can at the same time be designed as a brassiere. The pressure members may be located, preferably detachably, on shoulder straps or support parts of the brassiere-harness assemblage. This has the advantage with a brassiere that the pressure pads are put on the support parts of a brassiere when tension in the neck muscles occurs, without the need for an additional strap system. The support parts of the brassiere offer sufficient pull for the pressing of the pressure members on the muscular system to be relaxed. The pressure members may of course also be attached at the shoulder straps of the harness assemblage.

The convex pressure members may be located on a flexible carrier plate. These may be rendered attachable to and detachable from the shoulder or support straps and the like by providing the reverse side of the carrier plate with fastenings enabling it to be directly attached to or detached from the strap.

These fastenings may be resilient tongues, a selfadhesive layer with protective foil, or a hook-pile strip or the like. The pressure member and the fastenings may, moreover, be formed in one piece.

The convex pressure members are advantageously spherical segments, or even elongate elastic members, and bring about a neurogenic influence favourable to the relaxation of the tension in the muscular system. The pressure members, when a longitudinally flexible carrier plate, or on a corresponding part when formed in one piece, may have at the narrow sides slots for the through-passage of the shoulder strap extending along the reverse side of the carrier plate. Thus the pressure pads can be displaced along the shoulder straps or carrier parts, so that they can be placed in the correct position to act upon the correct point on the muscular system, depending on the wearer's stature. The elastic carrier plate follows the run of the strap or carrier part.

The shoulder straps may be provided at their ends with easily-reieasable fastening members such as clips, buttons, hooks, or eyes, and the like. In conformity therewith, the body belt may have therearound a series of button-holes, hooks or eyes, or the like. These easily-releasable fastening members render possible an individual adjustment of the harness for the best possible siting of the convex pressure members and thus wearing of the harness without any restraints, while the utilisation of the action on the tensed muscular system is intensive and efficient. Length adjustment of the body belt and of the shoulder straps makes the harness system according to the invention universally adaptable.

The shoulder or support straps may run substantially parallel to one another, or be crossed over one another at the front and/or the back and be attached to the body belt. Any requirement can be satisfied with this individual manner of applying the harness.

The shoulder straps may also be arranged with their rear ends on a shared bottom part, a swivelling connection being provided between shoulder straps and bottom part, so that constraints against the guidance of the shoulder straps are avoided.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows, in perspective and diagrammatically, a preferred embodiment of the harness according to the invention for eliminating tension in the muscular system of the neck; Figure2 is a longitudinal section along the line Il-Il in Figure 1; Figures 3 and 4 show diagrammatically different manners of application of the shoulder strap parts to a wearer's back; Figure 5shows diagrammatically another manner of applying the shoulder strap parts with their rear ends to the body belt; Figure 6 shows on a large scale the connection of the rear portions of the shoulder straps to the body belt; Figure 7shows, in perspective and diagrammatically, a further embodiment of the construction of the harness according to the invention;; Figure 8 and 9 show, in rear elevation and side elevation, respectively, one type of attachable pressure member attachable on a strap or support part; Figures 10 and 11 show, in rear elevation and plan view, respectively, another type of attachable pressure member attachable on a shoulder strap or support part of the harness.

Figure 12 shows diagrammatically the formation of the harness system conjointly with a brassiere, with pressure members mounted on the support parts.

The harness 1 of Figures 1 to 6 for eliminating tension in the muscular system of the neck or the shoulder of a human body includes a body belt 2 and shoulder straps 3 and 4 to be connected to the body belt 2 and each bearing convex pressure members The body belt and the shoulder straps are formed to be elastic in the direction of their lengths, and may consist of a flexible rubber material, for example of a belt having rubber strips and the like incorporated in the longitudinal direction. The body belt 2 may be of a relatively large width which is greater than that of the shoulder straps 3 and 4. It may also be kept narrow, particularly when the harness is used along with a brassiere. The body belt 2 is formed to be exceptionally adjustable in girth.In the example shown there are provided buckle-like elements 7 and 8, the catch part 7 whereof being easily put into one on the loops of the row of loops by pushing same in the cross direction, and as easily withdrawn therefrom. Any other type of fastener may be selected, for example an adhesive fastener or a row of buttons or the like.

The convex pressure members 5 may be in the form of spherical segments, or be elongate, and be on a carrier plate 9 which has buckle-like end portions, there being at the edges of the narrow sides two slots 10 through which the shoulder strap is passed to extend along the back side of the carrier plate 9. In this way the convex pressure members can be displaced with the carrier plate on the shoulder strap and may, as occasion demands, be adjusted upwards or downwards.

The shoulder straps 3, 4 are formed to be adjustable inlength at the front ends in the usual way, that is by passing them around a looped component 11, the passed-around end being secured bya buckle 12.

The securing of the ends of the shoulder straps 3 and 4 is advantageously effected by means of gripping fasteners 13, so that there is total freedom of action in selecting the position for securing the ends of the shoulder straps on the body belt 2. These ends may also be secured on the body belt 2 by buttons, hooks, eyes and the like, the body belt being provided all around with appropriate appertaining fastening parts, for example a row of button-holes or the like.

Because of this freedom of choice in the type of fastening, the shoulder straps 3 and 4 may be directed in any appropriate manner. Figure 3 shows that the shoulder straps 3 and 4 are directed nearly parallel to each other. In the example in Figure 4, the shoulder straps 3 and 4 are crossed over one another; this may also be effected at the front of the body. The carrier plates 9 with the convex pressure members may be moved on the shoulder straps 3 and 4 as desired and independently of one another according to the pressure-exerting position to be employed. The shoulder straps 3 and 4 may be brought under an adjustable tension through the body belt 2 to be put firmly around the trunk owing to which tension the convex pressure members being able to exert their pressure influence on the tensed muscular system atthe proper position.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6, the rear ends of shoulder straps 3 and 4 are connected with a shared bottom part 15, which may be attached to the body belt 2 in a conventional way by a gripping fastener 13. The shoulder straps 3, 4 are preferably arranged articulated to the bottom part 15, for example by means of a press fastener or other swivel connection. This enables the shoulder straps 3 and 4 to be led about the shoulders with a greater or lesser degree of spread. The bottom part 15 may also be adjustable in length at the part 15a.

Figure 7 shows another development of the harness for eliminating tension in the muscular system of the neck. In this case the shoulder straps 3 and 4 take a loop-shaped course. They start from rearwardly-disposed bottom part 18 and lead back again to the bottom part 18, being passed through slots 19 in the bottom part and then passed forwards around the trunk and in doing so at the same time forming the body belt 2. The parts of the shoulder straps 3 and 4, which are led below the shoulders of the body, advantageously consist of removable strap sections 20, which may be easily detached separately by means of the buckle-like components 21. The strap sections 20 may consist of inelastic strips on to which covers of washable material may be pushed.

These parts may also be formed on the whole of a material washable throughout, for example of a strip of course cloth made of twisted fabric. The strap sections 20 reposing in the armpits may thus be easily cleaned at any time. They can also be replaced easily and quickly. An adjustable adhesive fastener 22 is provided for interconnection of the free ends of the body belt 2. A slip-on runner is denoted 23.

Moreover, with a harness like this, the shoulder straps may be drawn tight, so that the convex pressure members 5 are able to exert the required pressure on the tensed muscular system.

Figures 8 to 12 show pressure members which can be attached to the strap or support parts of the harness and can again be removed simply from these parts. The pressure member 25 is provided with a carrier plate 26, on the underside of which tongues 27 and 28 are provided in paired arrangements, said tongues standing out resiliently to a small extent from the plane of the carrier plate 26.

The shoulder strap 3 or 4 is drawn or inserted through the clearances 29 between the carrier plate and the tongues. The pressure members 25,26 are held atthe desired position on the strap 3 by the resilient counter pressure of the tongues 27,28. The pressure member 25 has a nearly elliptical shape in plan.

In the embodiment of Figures 10 and 11, there are provided on a carrier plate 26 resilient tongues 31 and 32 which extend with their free ends oppositely directed to one another. These resilient tongues grip into respective recesses 33 and 34 at the same time and press through their resilient action against the pressure member 25. The shoulder of support strap 3 is inserted at the upper resilient tongue from one side, and at the other resilient tongue from the other side, whereby the pressure member 25 is kept aligned relative to the strap 3.

The pressure member 25 may be formed as a shaped part in one piece with the attachment means, for example the carrier plates 9 and 26 and the appertaining tongues, in order in this way to afford the possibility of sliding same onto the shoulder strap or of fastening same to the latter; the elastic materials for the pressure member and the attachment means may be the same or different.

Figure 12 shows a harness 35 which at the same time has the construction and form of a brassiere.

The pressure pads 37 may be provided with attach ment means enabling them to be attached to the support members 36 of the brassiere. In that way there is no need to use a separate harness for the pressure members. The support members are advantageously crossed over at the back as in Figure 4, whereby the pressure pads can bear better upon the tensed neck elements between the shoulder blades.

Claims

1. A harness for eliminating tensions in the muscular system of the neck of a human body, said harness comprising a body belt and shoulder straps to be connected with the body belt and which have thereon convex pressure members such as pads.

2. A harness according to Claim 1, in which the convex pressure members are adjustable on the shoulder straps or support straps.

3. A harness according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the convex pressure members are attachable to and removable from the shoulder straps or support straps.

4. A harness according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the convex pressure members are mounted on a flexible carrier plate which has at the edges of its narrow sides slots for the passage of the shoulder straps which extend along the back side of said carrier plate.

5. A harness according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the convex pressure members are provided on the back side of same or of a carrier plate carrying same with fastening means enabling them to be attached directly to the shoulder straps or support straps.

6. A harness according to Claim 5, in which the fastening means comprise resilient tongues.

7. A harness according to Claim 5, in which the fastening means comprise a self-adhesive layer with a protective foil.

8. A harness according to Claim 5, in which the fastening means comprise a hook-pile strip.

9. A harness according to any one of the preceding claims in which the pressure members and fastening means are formed in one piece as a shaped part.

10. A harness according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the harness is at the same time in the form of a brassiere.

11. A harness according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the body belt and shoulder straps or support straps are in the form of straps which are elastic in the direction of their longtidinal axes.

12. A harness according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the shoulder straps or support straps are provided at their ends with easily-releasable fastening members, such as clasps, buttons, hooks and eyes.

13. A harness according to any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the body belt, shoulder straps and support straps are adjustable in the directions of their lengths.

14. A harness according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the shoulder straps are articulated at their rear ends to a shared bottom part.

15. A harness according to Claim 14, in which said shared bottom part is adjustable in length.

16. A harness according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the shoulder straps are in the form of loops and have removable shoulder sections, and the looped shoulder straps are inserted through slots in a bottom part and extend in opposite directions and forwardly to form the body belt.

17. A harness according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, in which the removable shoulder sections consist of inelastic straps inserted within covers of washable material.

18. A harness according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 and 16, in which the belts are of washable material such as coarse cloth or twisted fabric.

19. A harness for eliminating tensions in the muscular system of the neck of a human body, substantially as hereinbefore described with referpence to Figures 1 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.

20. A harness for eliminating tensions in the muscular system of the neck of a human body, substantially as hereinbefore described with referpence to Figure 7 of the accompanying drawings of claim 19.

21. A harness for eliminating tensions in the muscular system of the neck of a human body, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings of claim 19.