GB2546759A

GB2546759A - A posture support

Info

Publication number: GB2546759A
Application number: GB1601502.6A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Woods Lawrence; Moore Sinead
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-01-27
Filing date: 2016-01-27
Publication date: 2017-08-02
Also published as: WO2017129797A1; US20190038006A1; GB201601502D0

Abstract

A posture support 1 comprising a wedge-shaped body 3 constructed from a resiliently deformable material and means 7 to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack. Preferably the securing means comprises a pair of complementary fasteners e.g. hook and eye fasteners, one 15 for mounting on the wedge-shaped body and another 13 for releasable mounting on the backpack. Preferably the fasteners for the bag are attached with a set of four clips 9. Preferably the wedge-shaped body is formed of high density memory foam. When the securing means 7 is attached to a rucksack the wedge-shaped body 3 can be attached to it in order to provide lumbar support, and when a user goes to sit down it can be detached and sat on as a cushion in order to encourage good posture (figure 6b).

Description

“A posture support”

Introduction

This invention relates to a posture support. More specifically, the invention relates to a posture support with a number of functionalities.

It is generally accepted that good posture is very important for an individual’s general wellbeing. Poor posture is known to put excess stresses and strains on the individual’s spine and their musculoskeletal system. Over time, poor posture can lead to a plethora of problems including impaired mobility, excessive compression of joints leading to herniated discs, compression on nerves and/or blood vessels as well as impaired digestion, pain and even reduced lung capacity.

There are many causes of poor posture. Often, poor posture is as a result of one’s environment. For example, it is known for many desk workers to suffer from back, neck and shoulder pain caused by long hours spent in a sitting position. Long distance drivers often suffer from similar problems. Poor posture may also be as a result of certain activities. For example, it is known for schoolchildren and others to suffer from back, shoulder and neck pain as a result of carrying heavy backpacks laden down with heavy items.

Over the years, various devices have been provided to improve posture and obviate the effects of poor posture. For example, it is known to provide seat cushions and lumbar supports to improve sitting posture. Furthermore, it is known to provide wearable braces and other devices to correct standing posture. However, there are a number of problems with the known devices. First of all, the known devices tend to address a specific problem and therefore have limited functionality. In order to address multiple postural problems, it is necessary for an individual to purchase a number of these devices. This is inconvenient and expensive to do. Another problem with the existing devices is that many of these devices are relatively expensive and therefore they are not accessible to many sufferers of poor posture. Some posture problems have also yet to be addressed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a posture support that overcomes at least some of the problems and that provides a useful choice for the consumer.

Statements of Invention

According to the invention there is provided a posture support comprising a wedge-shaped body constructed from a resiliently deformable material and means to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack.

By having such a posture support, the posture support when mounted on a backpack will act to shift the weight of the backpack outwardly away from the wearer’s lower spine. As a consequence of this, the burden of carrying the weight will be transferred to the wearer’s core foundational muscles. This will also cause the carrier to straighten and remove pressure from their spine as the wearer will be less inclined to tilt their head into a forward head translation and roll their shoulders anteriorly. Advantageously, the wedge-shaped body can be detached from the backpack. In this way, the wedge-shaped body can be detached from the backpack and used as a seat cushion posture support. When used as a seat cushion posture support, the posture support will promote better seated posture of the user, taking pressure off the spine and transferring much of the load onto the core foundational muscle groups in the lower back region. Accordingly, the posture support addresses a plurality of disparate postural problems including the heretofore largely overlooked problem caused by wearing a heavy backpack. This is achieved with a relatively inexpensive construction of device that is suitable for mass manufacture and distribution.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the wedge-shaped body’s wedge angle is between 7° and 20°. Preferably, the wedge-shaped body’s wedge angle is between 8° and 12°. Ideally, the wedge-shaped body’s wedge angle is between 9° and 11°. A wedge angle of this order will provide a posture support that it relatively unobtrusive yet advantageously will provide a posture support that is comfortable and effective as both a backpack posture support and a sitting posture support.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the means to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack comprises a pair of complementary fasteners, one for mounting on the wedge-shaped body and the other of which is for mounting on the backpack.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the complementary fastener for mounting on the backpack is releasably mounted on the backpack. In this way, the posture support can be transferred from one backpack to another and can be used with a variety of different backpacks if desired.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the complementary fastener mounted on the backpack is provided with a plurality of clips for releasable engagement of the backpack.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which there are four clips for engagement of the backpack. By providing four clips, the complementary fastener mounted on the backpack can be fastened securely to the backpack at or adjacent to each of the four points where the straps of the backpack are connected to the backpack. This will provide a secure and stable foundation on which the wedge-shaped body can be mounted.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the complementary fasteners are of the hook and eye type. For example, Velcro (Registered Trade Mark, ®) is seen as a useful fastener to use. Hook and eye fasteners are seen as particularly suitable as the wedge-shaped body can be securely fastened to the backpack but can also be removed with relative ease in a matter of seconds.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the hook type fasteners are mounted on the wedge-shaped body. By having the hook type fasteners mounted on the wedge-shaped body, the backpack will have the eye fasteners which will not be an irritant to the wearer’s skin if they are in contact with the wearer’s skin in the absence of the wedge-shaped body. In other words, if the wedge-shaped body is not used with the backpack (if for example there is a very light load in the backpack and the wedge-shaped body is deemed unnecessary), the backpack with then eye type fasteners will still be comfortable to wear. Furthermore, other surfaces, such as chairs or other seats may have the eye fasteners applied thereto so that they can receive a wedge-shaped body that has the hook-type fasteners mounted thereon but if they don’t, these other surfaces will not be uncomfortable to sit on.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the means to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack comprises a plurality of clips connected to the wedge-shaped body for engagement of the backpack.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the wedge-shaped body is encased in a fabric cover.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided a posture support in which the resiliently deformable material comprises high-density memory foam.

In one embodiment of the invention there is provided, in combination, a backpack and a posture support.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The invention will now be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a posture support according to the invention;

Figure 2 is an exploded view of the posture support according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a rearview of part of the posture support according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the posture support shown in an alternative configuration;

Figure 5(a) is a diagrammatic representation of a person carrying a backpack;

Figure 5(b) is a diagrammatic representation of a person carrying a backpack using the posture support according to the invention;

Figure 6(a) is a diagrammatic representation of a person sitting down; and

Figure 5(a) is a diagrammatic representation of a person sitting down using the posture support according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 inclusive, there is shown a posture support, indicated generally by the reference numeral 1, comprising a wedge-shaped body 3 constructed from a resiliently deformable material. The posture support 1 further comprises means 5 to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack (not shown). In the present case, the means 5 to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a back-pack comprises a substantially rectangular sheet of fabric 7 with four clips 9, one of which is mounted adjacent to each of the four corners of the sheet of fabric 7 via a strap 11. The clips 9 are operable to engage the backpack adjacent each of the ends of the backpack’s pair of shoulder straps. The sheet of fabric further comprises one part 13 of a pair of complementary fasteners, the other part 15 of the pair of complementary fasteners is mounted on the rear of the wedge-shaped body (as illustrated in Figure 3). In the present embodiment, the complementary fasteners are of the hook and eye type, commonly sold under the brand Velcro ®. The hooks 15 are mounted on the rear of the wedge-shaped body 3 and the eyes 13 are mounted on the sheet of fabric 7.

In use, in order to mount the posture support 1 onto a backpack, the sheet of fabric 7 is first attached to the backpack (not shown) using the four clips 9. Each of the four clips 9 is clamped onto one end of one of the pair of shoulder straps (not shown) of the backpack so that there is one clip 9 connected at each end of each of the shoulder straps. Preferably, the clips 9 are adjustable along the strap 11 to allow adjustment of the clip position to provide a secure fit of the sheet of fabric 7 on the backpack. The sheet of fabric is mounted on the backpack with the complementary fasteners 13 facing outwardly away from the backpack. Once the sheet of fabric 7 is correctly mounted onto the backpack, the wedge-shaped body 3 is connected to the backpack by bringing the complementary fasteners 15 on the wedge-shaped body 3 into engagement with the complementary fasteners 13 on the sheet of fabric 7. In other words, the wedge-shaped body 3 is connected to the sheet of fabric 7 which in turn is connected to the backpack.

Referring to Figure 4, there is shown a perspective view of the posture support 1 shown in an alternative configuration. In this configuration, the posture support 1 is shown separate from the means 5 to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack and rather than upright, the posture support is shown on one of its larger sides. In this configuration, the posture support is ideal for use as a sitting posture support. The person using the posture support simply places the posture support 1 on their chair and the posture support will promote a more desirable seating angle. The wedge angle, Θ, of the wedge-shaped body is of the order of 11°. This is the ideal angle however it is envisaged that angles between 7° and 20°, and more preferably between 8° and 12° will provide suitable support.

Referring to Figures 5(a) and 5(b), there is shown a pair of diagrammatic views of a person 51 wearing a backpack 53, with and without the posture support 1 according to the invention. In Figure 5(a), the person 51 is wearing the backpack 53 without the posture support. Generally speaking, for good standing posture, the ears should be in line with the shoulders, hips, knees and ankles. However, it can be seen in Figure 5(a) that the person’s head 55 is bowed forwards and their shoulders 57 are rounded forwards to counteract the weight of the backpack 53. This posture where the spine is flexed from the load of the bag, pitches the weight of the body forward unto the much weaker joints and muscles thus stressing the spine, intervertebral discs, and the delicate paraspinal muscles instead of stressing the larger and stronger foundational hip and core muscles of the person. Referring now to Figure 5(b), the posture support 1 is mounted on the backpack 53 and is located between the wearer’s back and the backpack. The thin end of the wedge is located towards the upper back of the wearer. It can be seen that in Figure 5(b), the wearer 51 is standing more upright with the head and shoulders rearwardly of the position shown in Figure 5(a). In such a position, the spine is more stable and the loading and movement originates and is transferred to the strong foundational core muscles of the hips, gluteus, hamstrings, quadriceps, and posterior chain instead of the delicate paraspinal muscles, thus taking stress off the spine and intervertebral discs.

Referring to Figures 6(a) and 6(b), there is shown a pair of diagrammatic views of a person 61 sitting, with and without the posture support 1 according to the invention. In Figure 6(a), the person 61 is sitting on a flat surface 62 such as a chair or a bench. It can be seen that their upper leg 63 forms a substantially right angle with both their lower leg 65 and the base of their spine 67 (as illustrated by the dashed lines). In this position, there is a tendency for the person’s shoulders 69 and head 71 to move forwards, putting additional pressure on the spine and the musculoskeletal structure of the person 61. Referring to Figure 6(b), the posture support 1 has been removed from the back by simply tearing the complementary releasable fasteners apart and the posture support has been placed onto the flat surface 61. In doing so, their upper leg 63 now forms a substantially obtuse angle with both their lower leg 65 and the base of their spine 67 (as illustrated by the dashed lines). This angle promotes a more upright posture with the head and shoulders rearward of the position shown in Figure 6(a) and will cause the core foundational muscle groups at the base of the hips, the upper legs and the gluteus muscles to work harder, decreasing the stress on the spine and intervertebral discs.

It can be seen from the foregoing that the posture support according to the invention can be used as both a standing and a sitting posture support. This is highly advantageous and it is believed that the posture support would be particularly effective for students that carry backpacks and sit for long periods throughout the day. When carrying the backpack, the posture support could be mounted onto the backpack and when about to sit, the posture support can be removed from the backpack quickly and placed onto the seat so that it acts as a sitting posture support. Once it is desired to carry the backpack once more, the posture support can be reattached to the backpack. This attachment and detachment is all achieved in a matter of moments. If desired, the seat could be provided with eye type fasteners of the complementary fasteners as a covering or in strategically positioned locations so that the hook type fasteners on the wedge-shaped body could be attached thereto to hold the wedge-shaped body in position.

It will be understood that various modifications could be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings that are deemed within the scope of one or more of the claims. For example, the wedge-shaped body may be provided with a cover or casing that in turn may be removable. The cover could be made of fabric and/or a washable material.

Ideally, the covering material is a 4-way stretch, weft-knit fabric with a waterproof polyurethane transfer coating. The material will provide protection against fungi and bacteria and preferably will be machine washable. In the embodiments described, the clips are mounted onto a separate fabric sheet which in turn is connected to the backpack, however it is envisaged that the clips could be connected directly to the wedge-shaped body and the clips could be used to hold the wedge-shaped body directly to the backpack. Furthermore, in the embodiment described, a fabric sheet is connected onto the backpack and the wedge-shaped body connects onto that fabric sheet using hook and eye type fasteners. However, one part of the hook and eye (or other quick release complementary fastener) could be incorporated directly onto the surface of the backpack and the other part of the hook and eye fastener (or other quick release complementary fastener) could be mounted on the wedge-shaped body. Throughout the specification, reference is made to a hook and eye type complementary fastener however other alternative releasable fasteners could be used if desired. For example, the wedge shaped body could connect to the backpack directly or to the fabric sheet using a zip, buttons, clips or other type of fastener.

In the embodiments described, the sheet of fabric is described as substantially rectangular however it will be understood that it could be trapezoidal, triangular or other shape if desired. Indeed, a trapezoid may be more appropriate for many backpacks as the top of the straps of many backpacks tend to connect to the top of the backpack closer to the centre of the backpack than the bottom of the straps which tend to be connected adjacent the extremities spaced far apart from the centre of the backpack. For backpacks with straps that connect at their top adjacent the centre of the backpack, only three clips (or other clamps) may be needed, one for the top of the backpack to connect to both of the pair of straps and two for the bottom of the backpack to each connect to one of the pair of straps at their lowermost end. It is believed that a variety of different types of clips could be used. What is important is that the clips will not easily release inadvertently. In the drawings, for simplicity, the wedge-shaped foam body is shown having sharp edges however it will be understood that the foam will preferably be a moulded foam with rounded edges.

Preferably, a high-density memory foam is used as the resiliently deformable material from which the wedge-shaped body is constructed. For example, an open-celled modified polyurethane foam could be used as the resiliently deformable material. Throughout this specification, reference has been made to a “high-density” memory foam. One type of foam that is deemed suitable is that sold by the company Dynamic Systems Inc. of Leicester, North Carolina, USA under the registered trade mark SunMate ®. The foam is preferably an open-cell modified polyurethane foam which is designed to provide comfortable orthopaedic support, in combination with effective impact energy absorption. Various densities will be utilised depending on the weight of the individual. The following is an example of the range spectrum of the foams properties that are deemed particularly suitable for use in many situations. The foam will have a density of between 3.0 and 6.0lb/ft3 and an energy absorption quantity that can be varied between 1 ft-lb/in3 to 12 ft-lb/in3 with a 0.05 to 0.2 rebound coefficient. Preferably, the foam will have a tear strength of between 3.93 and 5.43 and a tensile strength of between 28 and 39 i.e. medium and firm SunMate ® foams may be used in the seat cushioning. The tear strength was measured in accordance with ASTM D624 using Die C whereas the tensile strength was measured in accordance with ASTM D412. The foam will have a Young’s Modulus (Psi - pounds per square inch) of between 26.56 and 41.36 and ideally will have a usable temperature range of between 20°F to 130°F. Finally, the covering material is preferably 4-way stretch, weft-knit fabric with a waterproof polyurethane transfer coating. Ideally, the covering will be protected against fungi and bacteria and will be machine washable.

Throughout this specification the terms “comprise, comprises, comprised and comprising” and the terms “include, includes, included and including” are all deemed totally interchangeable and should be afforded the widest possible interpretation.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment hereinbefore described but may be varied in both construction and detail within the scope of the claims.

Claims

Claims: (1) A posture support comprising a wedge-shaped body constructed from a resiliently deformable material and means to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack.
(2) A posture support as claimed in claim 1 in which the wedge-shaped body’s wedge angle is between 7° and 20°.
(3) A posture support as claimed in claim 1 in which the wedge-shaped body’s wedge angle is between 8° and 12°.
(4) A posture support as claimed in claim 1 in which the wedge-shaped body’s wedge angle is between 9° and 11°.
(5) A posture support as claimed in any preceding claim in which the means to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack comprises a pair of complementary fasteners, one for mounting on the wedge-shaped body and the other of which is for mounting on the backpack.
(6) A posture support as claimed in claim 5 in which the complementary fastener for mounting on the backpack is releasably mounted on the backpack.
(7) A posture support as claimed in claim 6 in which the complementary fastener mounted on the backpack is provided with a plurality of clips for releasable engagement of the backpack.
(8) A posture support as claimed in claim 7 in which there are four clips for engagement of the backpack.
(9) A posture support as claimed in claims 5 to 8 in which the complementary fasteners are of the hook and eye type.
(10) A posture support as claimed in claim 9 in which the hook type fasteners are mounted on the wedge-shaped body.
(11) A posture support as claimed in claims 1 to 4 in which the means to releasably secure the wedge-shaped body to a backpack comprises a plurality of clips connected to the wedge-shaped body for engagement of the backpack.
(12) A posture support as claimed in any preceding claim in which the wedge-shaped body is encased in a fabric cover.
(13) A posture support as claimed in any preceding claim in which the resiliently deformable material comprises a high-density memory foam.
(14) A posture support substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
(15) In combination, a backpack and a posture support as claimed in any preceding claim.