US20200128893A1

US20200128893A1 - Posture reminder garment

Info

Publication number: US20200128893A1
Application number: US16/661,153
Authority: US
Inventors: Emma Pihl
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-10-29
Filing date: 2019-10-23
Publication date: 2020-04-30
Also published as: SE543423C2; SE1830310A1

Abstract

A garment for men and women comprising two sleeves (1.2, 3.3) having a tight fit when a user is wearing the garment, a back piece (1.1, 2.3), arranged to be attached to both sleeves (1.2, 3.3) at respective back seems (1.4, 4.1, 4.4) and a front piece (2.1, 3.4). The garment comprises an inner back piece (2.2, 3.5, 4.2) being attached to both sleeves (1.2, 3.3) at the respective back seams (1.4, 4.1, 4.4). The inner back piece (2.2, 3.5, 4.2) has a length between the back seams (1.4, 4.1, 4.4) of at least 1 cm shorter than a length of the back piece (1.1, 2.3), a width between 8 cm to 20 cm and an elasticity so that the fabric can expand by a maximum of 20% of its original length so that the position of the shoulder is guided to stimulate the user to hold the shoulder blades together.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

A garment for improving the posture of its user.

BACKGROUND

In the market today there are a couple of players who make garments for better posture. Some of the players are: Up Coture, Alignmed, Intelliskin, Alignmed, Percko, My posture and Adrenaleze, among others.
One problem with the existing products on the market (Alignmed, Intelliskin, Percko, UpCouture) is that they are very tight in their design. To get full effect, they need to be like a second skin to the person who is wearing the garment. Such a t-shirt is both problematic to wear and to take off and the user may feel uncomfortable in a body conscious apparel. Also, the number of sizes required to achieve such fit is a problem production wise. It is also very important that the customer chose the correct size.
Another problem with existing technology is also that the apparel includes tape, adjustable buckles, silicone seams, neuro bands or rubber folds. Buckles may make it uncomfortable, seams and bands may irritate the skin, also neuro bands does not give the user the instant effect of what the apparel is doing so it will be less experience based. Some vests and garments are also to stiff and non-stretchy that it supports the posture and does the work instead of the user's muscles.
Intelliskin's, Anodyne's, and Alignmed's apparel are based on the same patent with neuro bands that are pressing on certain trigger points on the muscles that will increase the muscle tonus in that muscle which will lead to a straight back and improved posture. The technology is based on the garment fits without an air gap between the user and the fabric for the bands to have effect. The bands are to press onto certain pressure points on the body which affects the user and over time affect the user's posture.
Also, smart apparel is another segment where the garment has the technology and function to track the users posture.
There's a need to counterweight what our modern lifestyle does to our bodies and behaviors we're all trapped in that slowly harms and injures our bodies.
1. JP2011072323(A)—POSTURE CORRECTOR AND CLOTHES
2. JP2006320640(A)—CLOTH FOR CORRECTING POSTURE
3. US2010050313(A1)—Posture improving device
4. WO2016128710(A1)—POSTURE SUPPORT GARMENT

SUMMARY

It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly overcome the above problems, and to provide an improved garment for improving the posture of its user.
The disclosure provides a garment for improving the posture of its user. The garment comprises two sleeves having a tight fit when a user is wearing the garment, a back piece, arranged to be attached to both sleeves at respective back seems, a front piece, arranged to be attached to both sleeves and to the back piece, and an inner back piece. The inner back piece is attached to both sleeves at the respective back seams and has a length between the back seams of at least 1 cm shorter than a length between the back seams of the back piece, and a width between 8 cm to 20 cm and an elasticity so that the fabric can expand by a maximum of 20% of its original length so that the position of the shoulder is guided to stimulate the user to hold the shoulder blades together.
Our sedentary lifestyle with a lot of time in front of screens and computers affects our posture and back health. Long hours of slouching is affecting breathing negatively as well as long-term spinal health, but also self-confidence and stress levels. Most people can stretch, straighten up and move regally, but forget in everyday life. This posture reminder garment has a technical function of being comfortable when you are upright but straining, pulling and reminding the user when slouching. When the user is in a correct position, the garment is comfortable and feels like any garment without the solution. The technique is based on biofeedback for the body. That means you're rewarded to do the ‘right’ thing and ‘punished’ with slight discomfort when you do the ‘wrong’ thing. The garment brings the shoulder blades together and the garment is comfortable when you're upright and it strains, pulls and pushes when you're slouching. In this way, the user exercises the correct posture by being reminded to sit, walk and stand correctly. The garment guides the user by affecting the position of the shoulders and it is unique in its kind in that it is not based on being tight in it's fitting design. It also does not need compression material to get the requested effect. Instead an inside back piece is shorter than a regular back piece so it gently advices the user to hold the shoulder blades together and opens up the chest. An upright torso is possible with a tension in the core muscles which is key to posture and in that way the whole body will be more aligned. With that, you get help from the garment to be inspired to ‘correct’ behavioral change to successfully work up the muscles for a correct posture. Continuous use is key to the result for the user's posture
The above garment has a function to make the user naturally straighten up by. When shoulder blades are held together, a tension in core muscles is needed and an upright body position is achieved. The fact that the garment is not based on being tight makes it more user-friendly and flexible for the user and makes the customer group for the potentially product much larger. The function of the intended garment will then have a large potential user base for both children and adults, undergarments, upper body garments and training garments and that the product is suitable for all body types. The fact that the garment does not need to be tight makes the variation for the garment's and fabrics choices endless for integrating the patent.
The inner back piece is central to the function. It holds the sleeves together and attach them firmly together. The inner back piece is shorter than the back's outer fabric, i.e. the back piece. The inner back piece is at least 10 mm shorter than the outer back piece of the garment. The inner back piece is attached to the sleeves at the back seam and is loose towards the back piece of the back of the garment. In this back piece/inner back piece connection with the sleeves the main part of the garment's function is achieved. The inner back piece holds such a measurement that it fits naturally over the thoracic upper back when the user is upright and keep shoulder blades together.
No tight fit is needed of the garment's body, it is also achieved that the size range for the number of products can be reduced to 4 sizes for women and 4 sizes for men in difference to compression clothing which often gather up to 8 sizes per style. You also do not have buckles, locks, adjustments that risk making the garment uncomfortable and strange looking. From the outside, the garment could visually pass for any other garment. In effect it has an instant feel of doing a difference to your posture.
The inner back piece width is at least 8 cm and at most 20 cm in height. The fabric may include spandex, elastane or other textile component that makes the fabric somewhat elastic. The fabric is stretchable both latitude pulled and longitude pulled for the user's freedom of movement as well as ensuring the function. In other words the elasticity in the inner back piece is in both the lengths wise and width wise direction of the fabric. If the materials are ‘too’ stretchy, which is measured by the fact that the fabric should not expand to more than 20% of its original length when you pull it, the garment loses its function.
Ergonomically, the function is intended to give the user an instruction on the natural, correct position of the shaft for upright posture. The feature guides the user to extend the chest and hold the shoulder blades together. When the position of the shoulder is correct, the body is automatically adjusted to have a tension in the trunk, a natural S-curve in the back and head balancing on top of the collar pillar. The use of the garment will over time reduce a C-curved spine and a forward-hanging head and strain on the neck. The technology is based on biofeedback which means it provides improved comfort to do straighten as soon as the shoulders fall forward. With the garment, the resistance in the inner back piece strains so the risk of injury, pain, and damage to the body over time is minimized.
The garment is not based on the fact that it is tight in its design around the bust, stomach and back, which many other garments are based on.
According to some aspects, the sleeves comprises at least two sewn darts. Darts can be used to improve the fit of a clothing. Darts are folds (tucks coming to a point) and sewn into fabric to take in ease and provide shape to a garment. Fabric may be thought of as flat, and a dart has the effect of removing a wedge shaped piece and pulling the edges of that wedge together to create a shallow cone.
According to some aspects, the sewn darts are arranged on the part of the sleeves associated with the front piece and the sewn darts are sewn in a material such that the elasticity of the sleeve decreases to capture the shoulder when the inner back piece stretches.
According to some aspects, the sewn darts are arranged on the side of the sleeves associated with the back piece and the inner back piece.

OVERALL DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS/FIGURES

Invention will now be presented more detailed with reference to attached drawings/figures.

FIG. 1 shows an example of a garment in the perspective from the garments back side.

FIG. 2 shows an example of the garment from the front side.

FIG. 3 shows an example of the garment from above with insight through the opening for the head/neck.

FIG. 4 shows an example garment from the inside out with an inner back piece and a back piece.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure relates to an upper body apparel that is invented to gently guide the user by biofeedback to an upright posture. The garment itself leads the user to hold shoulder blades together and shoulders rolled backwards which encourage the user to hold tension in core muscles and keep the upper body upright. It is a garment for men and women which includes tight fit sleeves that are attached together with a shorter inner back piece than the outer back piece. The inner back piece has a length at least 1 cm shorter between the brackets at the sleeves than the outer back piece of the garment, a width between 8 cm and 20 cm and an elasticity so that the fabric can expand by a maximum of 20% of its original length which allows the fabric to stretch a bit but not fully stretch when the shoulders fall forward and the back curves so that the position of the shoulder is guided so it stimulates the user with biofeedback to have the shoulder blades together and the chest extended. FIG. 1 shows an example of a garment in the perspective from the garments back side. FIG. 2 shows an example of the garment from the front side. FIG. 3 shows an example of the garment from above with insight through the opening for the head/neck. FIG. 4 shows an example garment from the inside out with an inner back piece and a back piece. The disclosure provides a garment for improving the posture of its user. The garment comprises two sleeves 1.2, 3.3 having a tight fit when a user is wearing the garment, a back piece 1.1, 2.3, arranged to be attached to both sleeves 1.2, 3.3 at respective back seems 1.4, 4.1, 4.4, a front piece 2.1, 3.4, arranged to be attached to both sleeves and to the back piece, and an inner back piece 2.2, 3.5, 4.2. The inner back piece 2.2, 3.5, 4.2 is attached to both sleeves 1.2, 3.3 at the respective back seams 1.4, 4.1, 4.4 and has a length between the back seams 1.4, 4.1, 4.4 of at least 1 cm shorter than a length between the back seams 1.4, 4.1, 4.4 of the back piece 1.1, 2.3, and a width between 8 cm to 20 cm and an elasticity so that the fabric can expand by a maximum of 20% of its original length so that the position of the shoulder is guided to stimulate the user to hold the shoulder blades together. It should be noted that the inner back piece may have a length between the back seams of at least 2 or 3 cm shorter than a length between the back seams of the back piece.
An example garment is shown in FIG. 1 from behind. The seam 1.4 on the right and left shaft attaches to the at least 1 cm shorter inner back piece that fasten on the inside of the garment. The seam 1.4 on the left and the right side is the only attachment point for the inner back piece, which means the inner back piece is not attached to the garment in a horizontal seam. The sleeves 1.2 of the illustrated example garment are made with at least 2 darts 1.3 for good fit in the arm and for shortening the movement space for the user's shoulder in the garment's shaft for best fit and best effect when user slouches. The purpose of the tight sleeve fit around the shoulder and the threads, textile taping, silicon gluing or similar in the darts holds the shoulder in position and capture it when it rolls forward.
An example garment is shown from the front in FIG. 2. The garment has a fit of the front piece 2.1 that does not depend on the garment's function. Through the neck opening, the horizontally loose inner back piece 2.2 is visible, which attaches vertically with the seam 1.4 on the back and inside of the garment. The back piece 2.3 is more than 1 cm longer horizontally than the inner back piece 2.2 on the inside to guide the user to hold together the shoulder blades and extending the upper body. In the illustrated example, the sleeves have darts 2.4 on the front of the shafts of the sleeves for a good fit and reduced resistance.
An example garment is shown from above in FIG. 3. The front piece 3.4 of the garment is a single layer of fabric while the back of the garment has one back piece 3.1 and one inner back piece 3.5 of fabric over the shoulder blades in height of the chest. It is also a one fabric layered back piece 3.1 for covering the inner back piece 3.5.
FIG. 4 shows an example garment inside out and as seen from the back. The main parts of the garment, i.e. the parts of a regular garment, 4.5 is, for example, made of a material with less elasticity than the inner back piece. Any material could be chosen on the outer material of the back piece and front piece; the purpose of the garment can decide the material choice 4.2. The inner back piece 4.2 is shorter horizontally than the outer garment. The back piece has a vertical height of 8-20 cm and may have a slightly tapered shape towards the center point 4.3 as can be seen in the figure. The inner back piece attaches to the garment in the seam 4.1 and 4.4 in the shoulder sleeve. An air gap between the back piece and the inner back piece 4.2 gives the garment its function while the user is still fully movable wearing the garment. The only reduction of movability for the user will be in the shoulder position in that it prevents the user from slouching forward with the shoulders. The garment will hold back the shoulder and make it more comfortable to have the shoulder aligned and shoulder blades together than rolled forward which is a central part to the function.
FIG. 2 shows an example garment from the front. The fit from the bust downwards is of a normal natural fit with an air gap between the user's body and the fabric in the garment.
Over the shoulder on the right and left side, the sleeve's cut is visible, i.e., the cut for the fit of the shoulder goes closer towards the neck instead of straight over the shoulder. The darts also lie on the front of the shoulder to remove excess fabric masses and improve the fit and technical standard of the garment.
FIG. 1 shows an example garment from outside from behind. Also here the fit in the back of the garment has an air gap between the garment and the user. On the back, in the illustrated example, are a couple of darts 1.3 that help with the fit and increase the resistance in the fabric.
When the user bends his back and shoulders fall forward (slouch) so that the fabric is stretched over the back panel, it is the fabric of the inner back piece under the back piece with a width of at least 8 cm extending over both shoulder blades.
FIG. 3 shows an example garment from above where the shoulders are viewed from above and look into the neckline ring. The back piece 3.1 is loose and the inner back piece 3.5 is stretched, which indicates that the inner back piece 3.5 is shorter. The inner back piece 3.5 may also be of a thicker material than the back piece 3.1, for example in double material. The inner back piece 3.5 of the garment, for example, has the greatest resistance in the elasticity of the length that sits between the shoulders. The greater elasticity can be reached with elastic stripes, a power net/mesh or a fabric with likewise qualities.
FIG. 4 shows an example garment from the back and inside out. Here, one can see the back of the seam over the shoulder and the darts around the shoulder. Above all, it is possible to see an example length, shape and how the inner back piece 4.2 is attached to the shoulder on the right and left sides with the help of an overlock stitch 4.1, 4.4 on the inside of the garment. Here, too, it can be discerned that the inner back piece is slightly shorter than the outer back piece. The inner back piece also has a shape that follows the sleeve shape so that the inner back piece pulls evenly across the sleeve from the upper to the lower attachment point on both the right and left sleeves.
It should be noted that the figures illustrate the garment as being a T-shirt but the garment may just as well be a long sleeved shirt or sweater. The garment may also be a dress on tunic.
The sleeves 1.2, 3.3 may comprise, for example, at least two sewn darts 1.3, 2.4. Darts can be used to improve the fit of a clothing. Darts are folds (tucks coming to a point) and sewn into fabric to take in ease and provide shape to a garment. Fabric may be thought of as flat, and a dart has the effect of removing a wedge shaped piece and pulling the edges of that wedge together to create a shallow cone.
The sewn darts 1.3, 2.4 are, for example, arranged on the part of the sleeves 3.3 associated with the front piece 2.1, 3.4 and the sewn darts 1.3, 2.4 are sewn in a material such that the elasticity of the sleeve decreases to capture the shoulder when the inner back piece stretches.
The sewn darts 1.3, 2.4 are, for example, arranged on the side of the sleeves 1.2, 3.3 associated with the back piece 1.1, 2.3 and the inner back piece 2.3, 3.5, 4.2.
The shoulder sleeves has a tight fit around the shoulder and may have at least 2 darts around the shaft, which makes the fabric sit relatively tight around the shoulder. The sleeves may also be made of a stretchy material so that they can be made in a tight fit. The darts may be made with thread with more resistance than the fabric or taping, silicon print or similar that has the function of making certain points more resistant and less elastic. The stitches, silicon print or textile taping or similar does make the sleeve more resistant than the stretchiness of the fabric. The position of the darts may be used to improve the fit and the function of the garment. The sleeves are attached together with a back piece of fabric, and the shoulders also sit with an inner back piece which is shorter than the back piece. The inner back piece may be double layered. The inner back piece has the intended dimension that is the distance between the position of the shoulders when the user have the shoulders rolled back and the shoulder blades are held together. An example is a woman in size S which has a width between shoulder points of 60-65 cm when slouching and 45-55 cm when upright and the shoulder blades are as tight as possible together. If the inner panel is too short compared to the outer panel, the structure on the back may wrinkle.
The inner back piece has a width that is between 8 and 20 cm to create an even pull over the inner back piece. The inner back piece attaches to the inside of the sleeves directly into the back of the shoulder section on both the right and left sides of the shoulder. The inner back piece is at least 1 cm shorter than the back piece, depending on size. For example, the inner back piece may be 5 cm shorter than the back piece. Too short a back piece risks making the garment lumpy and awkward from the back. The front of the garment may have a generous fit as the fit of the garment in the front piece does not affect the function of the garment.
The stretchiness in the shoulders may be reduced with darts and a resistible material so the sleeve capture the shoulder when the back panel stretches when user slouch. The shaft of the sleeve is sewn so the sleeve is tight around the shoulder and the sleeve may be made of a material with good combination of resistance and elasticity so that the garment becomes fully mobile for the user but capture the shoulder when it rolls/tilts forward.
The sleeves may be a so called raglan sleeve or other cut sleeve. The sleeve may have at least two darts around the shoulder to improve the tightness around the shoulder. The seams around the sleeve can advantageously be made with overlock seams, textile taping technique or similar has the purpose to make the garment as smooth as possible without the seam allowance that irritates. Also, the overlook seams, textile taping technique or similar have the function to reduce the fabrics resistance of the garments on these certain points where the seams are placed around the shoulders. The seams around the sleeves assist in capturing the shoulder in fit but also to guide the user to keep the shoulder blades together.
The textile fabric used in the garment may consists of at least two different elastic resistances/compositions. The front and back pieces of the garment may be made of a thin/any fabric and may have less elasticity and a looser fit than the sleeves and the inner back piece. The arm sleeves and inner back piece may have a resistance with greater elastic resistance and are sewn tighter in the fit. The inner back piece may be made of double layer of fabric and/or strengthen with a power mesh, elastic stripes, strengthen seams or silicon print to improve the fabric's stiffness.

REFERENCE LIST

1.1 Back piece
1.2 Sleeves
1.3 Darts
1.4 Back seam for attaching back piece and inner back piece
2.1 Front piece
2.3 Inner back piece
2.3 Back piece
2.4 Darts
3.1 Back piece
3.2 Opening for the neck
3.3 Sleeves
3.4 Front piece
3.5 Inner back piece
4.1 Back seam for attaching back piece and inner back piece
4.2 Inner back piece
4.3 Tapered shape
4.4 Back seam for attaching back piece and inner back piece
4.5 Garment besides inner back piece

Claims

1. A garment for improving the posture of its user, comprising:

two sleeves (1.2, 3.3) having a tight fit when a user is wearing the garment,

a back piece (1.1, 2.3), arranged to be attached to both sleeves (1.2, 3.3) at respective back seems (1.4, 4.1, 4.4),

a front piece (2.1, 3.4), arranged to be attached to both sleeves and to the back piece, and

an inner back piece (2.2, 3.5, 4.2),

wherein the inner back piece (2.2, 3.5, 4.2) is attached to both sleeves (1.2, 3.3) at the respective back seams (1.4, 4.1, 4.4) and has a length between the back seams (1.4, 4.1, 4.4) of at least 1 cm shorter than a length between the back seams (1.4, 4.1, 4.4) of the back piece (1.1, 2.3), and a width between 8 cm to 20 cm and an elasticity, so that the fabric can expand by a maximum of 20% of its original length so that the position of the shoulder is guided to stimulate the user to hold the shoulder blades together.

2. The garment according to claim 1, wherein the sleeves (1.2, 3.3) comprises at least two sewn darts (1.3, 2.4).

3. The garment of claim 2, wherein the sewn darts (1.3, 2.4) are arranged on the part of the sleeves (3.3) associated with the front piece (2.1, 3.4) and the sewn darts (1.3, 2.4) are sewn in a material such that the elasticity of the sleeve decreases to capture the shoulder when the inner back piece stretches.

4. The garment according to claim 2, wherein the sewn darts (1.3, 2.4) are arranged on the side of the sleeves (1.2, 3.3) associated with the back piece (1.1, 2.3) and the inner back piece (2.3, 3.5, 4.2).

5. The garment according to claim 3, wherein the sewn darts (1.3, 2.4) are arranged on the side of the sleeves (1.2, 3.3) associated with the back piece (1.1, 2.3) and the inner back piece (2.3, 3.5, 4.2).