WO2024059797A2

WO2024059797A2 - Support garment with feedback and incentive system

Info

Publication number: WO2024059797A2
Application number: PCT/US2023/074309
Authority: WO
Inventors: Suzan Szollar
Original assignee: Suzan Szollar
Priority date: 2022-09-16
Filing date: 2023-09-15
Publication date: 2024-03-21
Also published as: WO2024059797A3

Abstract

Presented are a posture support garment device, features, methods for making or operating such garment device, and systems and methods for incentivizing use and giving users feedback and control. A soft, stretchy, close-fitting posture support garment device that pulls shoulders into healthy body alignment from the shoulder joints, while allowing full range of movement; designed to be worn taut against the skin under clothes, with adjustable tension and support. The posture support garment device can be augmented with elements and infused with material properties that sense, collect, analyze and respond to the user's body, and further, can connect with a system that: gives credit or stake - an instrument that can hold value and be traded - for system participation and device use; collects and analyzes user signals and gives feedback; and gives users control of personal data.

Description

Support Garment with Feedback and Incentive System

FIELD

The present invention relates to a support garment, and more particular, to a support garment that can be used with a system that incentivizes users to wear a product such as the support garment, give users feedback, and participate in the system.

BACKGROUND

Poor posture has been linked, through studies, with physical and mental stress. Numbness and tingling in hands, arms and shoulders, stress on ligaments and joints are some of the physical strains associated with poor posture. An estimated $635 billion dollars per year is spent in the U.S. alone on medical bills and lost productivity from back pain, and 264M lost workdays per year. Back and neck pain are in the top five causes of disability⁷. Sitting for long periods of time has been associated with poor health, starting with bus drivers in the 1840s² to present day estimates that on average office workers spend ten plus hours daily in front of computer³. Multiple recent studies determined that on average, users spend four or more hours a day looking down at their phone from either a sitting or standing position, which strains the neck and cervical spine. Sitting or standing in a slouched or slumped position, shoulders rounded forward, puts bones and joints out of alignment, creating abnormal wear of joints and putting stress on ligaments holding joints together. This leads to short and long term back and neck pain, muscle strain, overuse disorders, and reduces lung capacity^4,5'⁶, which can lead to fatigue, stress, and respiratory problems. Disorders resulting from prolonged subjection of the body in these positions include Gameboy Back, Tech Neck, Text Neck, and more. Good posture relieves anatomical stress that otherwise leads to pain and loss of productivity, and improves lung capacity and flow, reducing physical and mental stress.

Prior posture improvement solutions include everything from physically restraining devices and proprioceptive garments worn on the body; furniture such as ergonomic chairs and standing desks; to software solutions and wearable electronics with sensors tracking body position.

Restraining devices such as braces to improve posture that resemble backpack straps, examples include US8308670B2, US8556840B2, US8905956B2, US9456919B2, US9504280B2, US9572705B2, US9931236B2, US10406014B2, and US20140221893A1 , with a plurality of straps extending over the collarbone, joined to a piece centered along the spine, and additional components to secure the device to the body such as a waist belt, are typically made of multiple pieces of rigid materials and have been linked to muscle atrophy and weakness over time, having long term negative health consequences. These devices are either worn over clothes, which limits when and where they can be worn, or if worn under clothing, are bulky and rub against the skin because of the lack of elasticity and softness, causing abrasion and injury to the skin.

Stretchy devices worn over clothes are easily displaced with modest movement such as arm extension, or vigorous movement such as exercise, limiting range of usability and effectiveness. For example US8808212B1 describes a shoulder support device that is an elastic continuous ring band that can be tightened by twisting at the center and worn over the shoulders. While the design pulls the shoulders back, there is little to keep it in place for a range of motion. The twist creates bulk in the center of the back. Devices that have a protrusion in the center of the back, along the spine, to fix the restraint in place, make it uncomfortable to lean back.

Wearing a device over clothes requires that the user wear clothes that accommodate the aid, which limits how often the aid is worn, and the types of clothes the user can wear. It also limits wearing the device to social or professional situations where the user is comfortable wearing a device visible to others, such as coworkers.

Therapeutic undergarments, such as bras or bra-like undergarments intended to provide somatic or proprioceptive correction, examples include US10721975B2, US8047893B2, US20210186125A1 , rely on straps that extend over clavicle bones originally intended to support the breasts. The position of these straps over the collarbone hinders their effectiveness to regulate healthy posture alignment, and where tension is required, they rely on attachment to the back of the band that runs around the under-breast torso region. This band must be worn tight for the back portion of the strap not to be pulled up by the force of the shoulders.

Similarly, garments that resemble shirts, designed with straps or bands that extend over the collarbone that are either attached or incorporated into the material, examples include US20050197607A1 /US7871388B2/US9168167 B2, US9009863B2, US9226845B2, US20150040286A1 /US9883703 B2, manifest similar limitations. These shirt-like garments are often tight fitting, to stay in place and perform their function. Such tight garment structures lead to discomfort, especially for women, who have a broad range in breast size. The shirts, often proffering compression in tandem with posture improvement, are difficult to put on and remove from the body. Fabrics with the necessary stretch properties contain synthetic fibers that, in combination with the tight-fit, can cause the wearer to overheat. The straps or bands typically attach to a type of panel in the center of the back along the spine, necessitating a counterforce to keep the shirt from migrating up toward the pull of the straps. This counterforce is achieved either by applying a grippy substance or a belt wrapped around the waist. The integrated straps or bands, and/or the amount compression are not adjustable, making it difficult to fit properly and comfortably. Unless a belt is in place, the forward roll force of the shoulders pulls the shirt up rather than the shirt pulling the shoulders back. Other versions offering proprioceptive orthopedic support present straps or bands across the chest US8887315B2/US9445932B2, US20150157068A1/US9226534B2 which can also be uncomfortable and unflattering for a woman's physique. And yet another form of shirt or undershirt relies on proprioception or other cues, examples include US20090062704A1/US10849779B2, US10213331 B1 , to remind the wearer to pull the shoulders back, without tension or force.

Healthy posture alignment is achieved when the shoulder joints move back and down. Existing posture support devices and garments seek to pull the shoulder back, or cue the brain to pull the shoulders back, with straps or bands that run along the collarbone midway between the shoulder joint and the neck, which does not put the upper body into alignment.

Other known methods and systems include electronic training devices with integrated sensors to remind users to sit up straight, examples include US9406211 B2, US10071 197B2, US20190183388A1 , US20210106279A1 . These small devices are stuck to the skin along the spine or elsewhere on the body and provide no physical posture support. They function to monitor the user's position using sensors, and alert users if they are not in an upright position. They typically protrude from the skin, making it difficult to wear discretely. They are known to signal the user incorrectly in certain situations, for example leaning over to empty a dishwasher or pick something up, limiting the activities that can be done while wearing the device.

There are also software-based interventions that interrupt workflow to remind the user to correct their posture. These approaches interfere with productivity and are often ignored or disabled.

Known posture support garment devices rely on straps over the collar bone; and/or are made of a plurality of elements, including semi-rigid and/or inelastic elements; and/or must be worn over clothes; and/or resemble compression shirts covering most of the upper body; and/or restrict movement; and/or don't stay in-place. Furthermore, they are not connected to a system and method for incentivizing use of a device in exchange for credit that gives a user a stake in a system the user is participating in, and do not give users full control over their personal data.

Accordingly, the present device, systems and methods are directed to solving these problems.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present device, methods and systems comprise: soft, stretchy, closefitting posture support garment device that pulls shoulders into healthy body alignment from the shoulder joints, while allowing full range of movement; designed to be worn taut against the skin under clothes, with adjustable tension and support. Said garment device can be augmented with elements and infused with material properties that sense and collect information from the user's body, communicate with a remote system, respond to the user's needs, and further can connect with a centralized or decentralized system that: gives credit or stake - an instrument that can hold value and be traded - for system participation and device use to motivate users, for example to improve long term health; collects and analyzes user signals and gives sensory feedback for example to regulate a state of well-being; and gives users control of personal data. Aspects of this disclosure are directed to methods for manufacturing any of the disclosed embodiments of the design and methods for operating any of the disclosed systems. In the preferred embodiment, the posture support garment device comprises: a seamless continuous piece of tensile material, such as, but not limited to, four-way stretch fabric, shaped to follow the contours of the areas of the body it covers, centered across the dorsal area between the thoracic and sternoxiphoid plane, coming forward under the left and right axilla and extending up and over the shoulder joints and acromial area in a sleeve-like configuration covering most of the deltoid muscle, crossing diagonally across the scapular region, running under the axilla on the opposite from the shoulder joint, continuing forward and joining the two ends under the mammary area, closable by means of known fastener systems, such as, but not limited to, hook and loop. The sleeve-like configuration is achieved by joining two areas of the material together either by means of sewn seams, or bonding materials, or by method of manufacture such as, but not limited to, circular knitting machines. The sleeve-like configuration functions to help keep the garment device correctly positioned on the body. The length of said sleeve is variable, from capped sleeves to long sleeves extending to or beyond the wrist. The fastener system gives the wearer the ability to adjust the degree of tension and support. The garment device provides a smooth, tight appearance that can be worn unseen under clothing, and stays in place for a range of motion and physical activity.

In an alternate configuration of said posture support garment device, the two ends that continue forward under each axilla after crossing diagonally across the scapular and dorsal areas, are turned up and secured to the areas of said device that cover each deltoid area, by means of known fastener systems, such as, but not limited to, hook and loop.

In another aspect of said posture support garment device, there is disclosed a method of making said device optimizing for nesting and minimizing fabric waste. This method comprising: at least two pieces of tensile material, joined at the center of the dorsal area, either side mirroring the other. The mirrored sides are joined by means of sewn seams or bonding materials, or other methods.

In certain embodiments, areas of said device such as the portions extending over the shoulder joints, portions crossing diagonally across the scapular region, portions continuing forward and joining under the mammary area, are reinforced to provide stronger functional support, wherein the reinforcement can be achieved by either adhesion of at least one layer of material to the inside, skin facing side of the outer layer, or by methods of manufacture, such as but not limited to knitting machines that can vary the density and type of yarn and type of knit used for different regions of a garment.

In certain embodiments, the garment device includes a substance with reversible, repeatable adhesion properties, herein referred to as a grippy property, applied to the skin touching side of the garment device, for example in the areas of the shoulder joints, across the dorsal area between the thoracic and sternoxiphoid plane, and elsewhere, to help keep said garment device in place. Non-limiting examples of grippy substances include silicone, polypropylene mesh, polyurethane heat-bonding adhesives, heat- activated thermoplastic adhesive films, heat-activated adhesives and seam tapes based on Polyamide, Polyester, Polyolefin and Polyurethane chemistries, other thermoplastic films and technopolymers. These substances can be combined with structural strategies that improve grip, for example but not limited to, microsuckers, nanosuckers, meniscus- controlled microtips, and more.

In certain embodiments, the garment device includes structural support to prevent the sleeve-like portions from bunching under the axilla area, which can cause discomfort and constriction. Said structural support can be achieved with embedded materials or added components in one or more positions surrounding the shoulder and axilla area. For example, in the current embodiment, there is at least one such added component attached to the outside facing side of the garment device on each side, extending from the end of the sleeve along the triceps muscle, crossing the latissimus dorsi under the axilla, coming forward and angled slightly down, ending below and next to the pectoralis major muscle, in the vicinity of the top of the serratus anterior muscles. Said added component comprising at least one piece of flexible boning encased in a thin, flexible substance that runs at least the length of the boning and is at least twice as wide. Nonlimiting examples of flexible boning include metal coil, synthetic whalebone, and plastic boning. Examples of flexible substances include silicone, heat activated polypropylene mesh, heat-activated thermoplastic adhesive films, and more. The position, properties, composition, and shape of said encased boning component functions to provide the necessary structural support and comfort for prolonged wear of the garment device.

In certain embodiments, the posture garment device includes at least one sensor and corresponding components and electronics for optional onboard processing, communication with other onboard components or offboard edge devices, wireless transmission, and a power source if needed. Non-limiting example manifestations of said sensor and corresponding components and electronics include: two-sided flexible printed circuit boards; encasement in semi-rigid or rigid very small form factors; printed directly onto the garment device material; woven or knit into the garment device material; a property of the yarn used to create the garment; and more. Said sensor and corresponding components are sealed in sweat and waterproof encasing that does not inhibit the functionality of the sensor(s). Said sensors and corresponding components can be permanently coupled, or infused into the posture garment device, or removable, for example by way of a discrete pocket on the skin facing side of the garment device into which a flexible printed circuit board encased in protective padding can be inserted and removed. Sensors are placed on the garment device corresponding to their function and the wearer's comfort. Non-limiting examples of sensor monitoring functions include: measuring temperature, heartrate, position, location, movement, skin contact and pressure, sun exposure, sleep, muscle activity, sweat chemistry, bacteria presence, moisture, garment device material stretch and wear-and-tear, and more. The sensor(s) and corresponding components are part of the garment device system that can sense, store, and conjecture the wearer's state, or discover patterns, by applying artificial intelligence and known machine learning algorithms (for example, is the wearer hot from exercise or a fever), and respond to the wearer based on the synthesized analyzed data set. The analysis can be expanded across the wearer population to draw longitudinal insights and provide personalized wearer feedback.

In an aspect, an embodiment of a system is presented for incentivizing use of a product, device or service, or more generally participation in the system comprising: at least one sensor as a means to detect usage, and corresponding necessary functional elements to collect, transmit, analyze and receive data and instructions locally or from a remote engine, such as: data storage, processor, communication capability with other components or devices, wireless transmission, a power source; a process of extrapolating and computing product or device use from sensor data whereby the date-and-time, frequency, intensity and/or duration of usage can be determined along with other factors ascertained to be relevant to usage; a system for establishing a unit of value for usage whereby the user understands what value to expect for sharing data and participating in the system; a process of converting product or device use value to a form of credit/stake that has storable/spendable/sellable value in the system; and flexibility to expand the system to motivate other behaviors, or to include other products and devices.

In an aspect of the posture support garment device system, employing the aforementioned incentive system, there is disclosed a capability to measure usage by tracking wear-time of said device. The term wear-time as used herein indicates the dates- and-times, frequency, duration, cumulative amount of time, or other quantifiable increments capable of being attributed to a product or device such as the posture support garment device being worn by a wearer. This system comprising at least one sensor monitoring input periodically or continuously, for example, but not limited to, checking for heartrate, or skin temperature, or conductivity (such as using the conductivity of the human body to complete a capacitive or resistive circuit that acts like a switch) every fifteen minutes. Sensor data may be collected and stored locally onboard the electronics on the posture support garment and transmitted wirelessly to or through an edge device, such as a mobile phone, periodically, for example, but not limited to, daily transfers to conserve power.

In another aspect of the posture support garment device system, there is disclosed a capability to analyze collected individual wear-time data in service to incent continued wear, for the wearer to gain long term benefits of healthy posture. This capability comprising: giving the wearer credit based on the individual's wear-time, as a non-limiting example, number of cumulative hours worn, or number of heartbeats counted while the wearer is wearing the garment device. Wearer credit can comprise: a form of capital that can be accrued and spent within said system, for example but not limited to, to purchase new garment devices or enable new functionality; a form of franchise that can, as a nonlimiting example, entitle the wearer to vote on product or company decisions; a form of tokens that can function like currency within said system, with the possibility to encode and execute extended capability coupled to specialized tokens, for example, but not limited to, contractual conditions that can represent a financial instrument such as a security (for example, but not limited to, stock, bonds, options), or a unique identifier establishing ownership of a digital asset such that the conditions of use by another party of that asset, such as royalties, are encoded into the specialized, unique token. In another aspect of the posture support garment device system, there is disclosed a capability to analyze collected individual and aggregate wear-time data to ascertain the effectiveness and value of said device for the individual and the wearer population in aggregate over time. This capability comprising synthesizing collected wear-time data with data collected from other inputs, for example other sensors monitoring the wearer's health, and/or wearer provided data, and applying artificial intelligence and known machine learning algorithms such as time series analysis to the synthesized data set.

In another aspect of the posture support garment device system, there is disclosed a capability to analyze collected individual and aggregate wear-time data to ascertain the condition and durability of said device over time. This capability comprising: synthesizing collected wear-time data with data collected from other inputs, for example other sensors monitoring posture support garment stretch across different portions of said device, and/or direct observation and measurement of changes to the wearer's device, and applying artificial intelligence and known machine learning algorithms such as time series analysis to the synthesized data set.

In certain embodiments, the posture garment device includes at least one haptic or actuator apparatus, and corresponding components and electronics for optional onboard processing, communication with other onboard components or offboard edge devices, wireless transmission, and a power source if needed. Haptics and actuators include tactile, vibro-tactile, thermal, pressure and other sensory feedback mechanisms. Non-limiting example manifestations of said haptic apparatus and corresponding components and electronics include: two-sided flexible printed circuit boards; encasement in semi-rigid or rigid very small form factors; printed directly onto the garment device material; woven or knit into the garment device material; a property of the yarn used to create the garment; and more. Said haptic apparatus and corresponding components are sealed in sweat and waterproof encasing that does not inhibit the functionality of the sensor(s). Said haptic apparatus and corresponding components can be permanently coupled, or infused into the posture garment device, or removable, for example, but not limited to, by way of a discrete pocket on the skin facing side of the garment device into which a flexible printed circuit board encased in protective padding can be inserted and removed. Haptics are placed on the garment device corresponding to their function and the wearer's comfort. Haptics and actuators can be used to create a responsive, personalized experience for the wearer, and be connected to a social element whereby the wearer can receive sensory input from others. Non-limiting examples of personalized haptic and actuator functions include: responsive temperature regulation such as heat to warm up or cool wearer based on body temperature, hot-cold therapy to reduce soreness; contract or relax posture garment device to increase or decrease posture support, and more. Non-limiting examples of the social element of haptics and actuators include: wearer receives a touch, a squeeze, from another person; wearers feels the heartbeat of another person, and more.

In an aspect, an embodiment of a system is presented for collecting a user signal via sensors and feeding it back to the user via haptics to boost, dampen, or maintain a particular state, a feedback loop mechanism that acts as an amplifier or dampener to regulate a state of well-being by helping the user tune voluntary actions with the user's autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary actions. Non-limiting examples include: detecting a user is anxious based on extrapolation from heartrate and other sensor readings, and generating vibrations through haptic devices and actuators to help assist the wearer to regulate breathing; detecting a user is running for exercise from heartrate and other sensor readings, and generating taps to help the runner match foot strike to heartrate to boost blood flow to brain.

In certain embodiments, the posture garment device comprising: yarn engineered to perform sensory, haptic and computational functions such as those described in previous embodiments. Yarn technology is constantly evolving, non-limiting examples include: yarns that can trap or release heat based on sensing temperature and programming; conductive yarns; soft pneumatic actuator yarns; programable digital fibers, and more.

In another aspect of the posture support garment device system, there is disclosed a capability to improve functionality of the system. This capability comprising: the ability to update software for the posture support garment device system, whether onboard or hosted on an edge device or remote system. Furthermore, wearers can build functionality, and make it available to others through a system that connects wearers and provides a developer platform.

In another aspect of the posture support garment device system, there is disclosed a capability to provide power to the system. This capability comprising: the ability to draw power from a local or remote source and minimize power consumption through manual or automated analytics based programming. The power source may be onboard, for example a removable and/or rechargeable battery, or may be powered by a remote host energy source, for example: a mobile phone; a watch; an accessory such as, but not limited to, jewelry designed to transmit power. The power may be drawn through wired or wireless connections, for example RFID readers or antennas can transmit power to passive RFID sensors. To minimize the energy requirement, as well as the amount of electromagnetic radiation, the posture support garment device can be manually or automatically programmed to turn on and off with a start-stop system, that stops when idle and automatically restarts based on a cue or a pull from another device.

In an aspect, an embodiment of a system is presented for incentivizing product or service usage and participation in the product's or service's centralized or decentralized governance and economic network, a system for users of a product or service, for example wearers of the posture support garment device, to control their data, and thereby establish trust that the system consuming their data is operating on their behalf. This system comprising: permissions controlled by a user/wearer, and optionally a decentralized, distributed database, similar in structure and function to a blockchain. This system of data collection puts control in the user's/wearer's hands, provides transparency, and enables the creation of incentives for the best outcomes for the user/wearer. Furthermore, users/wearers can participate in citizen science - collective data from real people in the real world analyzed over time - shared with permission and conditions/ rules set by users/wearers, for example to gauge effectiveness of the garment. A user/wearer can earn a form of credit, as described earlier, for buying and using a product, for example, but not limited to, wearing the posture support garment, sharing data, and other types of participation. The credit is fungible, as a non-limiting example, it can be exchanged to vote on product features, for shares of the product or service's parent company, to enable functions, and more. Incentives for users, makers, and investors can be structured to drive the desired outcomes, such as creating or increasing user value from the product or system.

In another aspect of the posture support garment device system, there is disclosed a capability for the wearer to interface with the garment device and/or the data system described earlier. The capability includes, but is not limited to, the ability of the wearer to grant and revoke permissions, access data, interact with other members of the system. Digital communication with the wearer can occur through multiple interfaces, for example, but not limited to: chat (live or chatbot); messaging; a native app; progressive web app; or another type interface.

It may of course be understood that, while the present device, system and methods may be described in connection with wearable garment devices generally and the posture support garment device specifically, those in this art may recognize that such a description represents one or more examples and is thus non-limiting. Thus, the structural and/or functional features of the present device, system and methods may, for example, also be usefully employed in other applications, include other wearable or usable devices, incentivize other behaviors, or create other ownership and data control models.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present device, system and methods are set forth in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, which are a part of this disclosure, and which illustrate, by way of example, principles of this invention. In these accompanying drawings, like reference numerals depict like elements. Any examples described or suggested herein may be combined with any other examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a front view of the posture support garment device according to a first embodiment of the design with a fastener at the front center of the chest across the inframammary region;

FIG. 1B is a front view of the posture support garment device of FIG. 1A shown being worn by wearer;

FIG. 2A is a rear view of the posture support garment device of FIG. 1 A;

FIG. 2B is a rear view of the posture support garment device of FIG. 1A shown being worn by wearer;

FIG. 3A is a side view of the posture support garment device of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3B is a side front view of the posture support garment device of FIG. 1A shown being worn by wearer;

FIG. 3C is a side back view of the posture support garment device of FIG. 1A shown being worn by wearer;

FIG. 4 is a front view of a posture support garment device of FIG. 1A in an alternate configuration of use;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a flat view of the outside, exterior facing side of the posture support garment device;

FIG. 5C is a flat partial view of the outside, exterior facing side of the posture support garment device in isolation;

FIG. 5D is a fl at view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device; FIG. 6A is a fl at, partial view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device in isolation;

FIG. 6B is a flat, partial view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device with optional hemmed edge;

FIG. 6C is a fl at, partial view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device with optional hemmed edge along the sleeves' ends;

FIG. 7 is a flat, partial view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device in isolation, with grippy coating applied to the partial inner layer;

FIG. 8A is a flat, partial view of the exterior, outside facing side of the posture support garment device with a structural support element cover;

FIG. 8B is a cross section showing the structural support cover of FIG. 8A on top of a structural support element;

FIG. 8C is a flat view of the structural support cover with adhesive film in isolation;

FIG. 9A is a view of an underarm boning piece;

FIG. 9B is a top view of an underarm boning piece embedded in boning encasement;

FIG. 9C is a top view of two underarm boning pieces embedded in boning encasement;

FIG. 9D is a cross section of a structural support element;

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the posture support garment device of FIG. 1A, with sleeve-like portions folded up such that the sleeve seams are visible;

FIG. 11 is a partial schematic illustration corresponding to components representative of sensing, actuating, computing and transmitting functions for use in an embodiment of the posture support garment device of FIG. 1 A for use in a system to collect data and effect tactile stimulus;

FIG. 12 shows an embodiment of a system for incentivizing use of a product such as the posture support garment;

FIG. 13 shows an embodiment of a decentralized governance system for incentivizing product or service usage and participation in a product's economic system, such as the posture support garment device system; FIG. 14 illustrates a method for a user to interact with an incentive system to exchange user data/contribution for credit/stake;

FIG. 15 illustrates a method for collecting a user signal via sensors and feeding it back to the user via haptics/actuators to regulate physiological state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

The description, which follows, and the embodiments described therein are provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples of particular embodiments of principles and aspects of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation and not of limitation, of those principles of the invention. In the description that follows, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. In the following description, the terms "left and "right' are used with reference to a wearer of the posture support garment as described and shown herein. Accordingly, the term "left" relates to elements that would be positioned towards or on the left side of the wearer's body if the wearer were wearing the said garment, while the term "right" relates to elements that would be positioned towards or on the right side of the wearer's body, if the wearer were wearing said garment. For purposes of the present detailed description, the word "credit" shall mean a form of storable/spendable/sellable value in the system and the word "stake" represents a form of share or asset in the system being described.

Referring to FIG 1 A, there is illustrated a front view of the preferred embodiment of the posture support garment device 101 , comprising: a seamless continuous piece of tensile material, such as, but not limited to, four-way stretch fabric, shaped to follow the contours of the areas of the body it covers. Said garment device is horizontally centered across the dorsal area 102, between the thoracic and sternoxiphoid plane, coming forward under the left and right axilla 103 and extending up and over the shoulder joints 104 and acromial area in a sleeve-like configuration 105 covering most of the deltoid muscle, crossing diagonally across the scapular region 106, running under the axilla on the opposite from the shoulder joint, continuing forward 108 and joining the left and right ends 109 and 110 under the mammary area, in the inframammary region, closable by means of known fastener systems, such as, but not limited to, hook and loop. The fasteners 109 and 110 may be bonded, sewn, bonded and sewn, or secured by other reliable means to the garment device 101 . Referring to FIG 1 B, there is a posture support garment device with reference numeral 101 shown being worn by wearer 111. The garment device 101 comprising: soft, stretchy material providing a smooth, tight appearance such that it can be worn unseen under clothing, staying in place for full range of motion and physical activity, with adjustable tension and support, and can easily be taken off by the wearer. Many existing posture support devices seek to pull the shoulder back, or cue the brain to pull the shoulders back via proprioception, with straps or bands that run along the collarbone midway between the shoulder joint and the neck, an area of minimal movement with respect to the rest of the body. The garment device 101 pulls back the shoulders starting at the shoulder joint 104, making body alignment possible, and opens up the chest and diaphragm to encourage deep breathing.

The garment device 101 may be manufactured in a conventional manner using yarns knit to form the garment, for example, with circular knitting machines. The garment device 101 may also be cut from knit fabric, and sewn or bonded, for example with heat-bonding machines. Fabrics with four-way stretch properties, such as, LYCRA®, nylon, rayon, polyester, spandex, and other elastane blends, or new blended materials or biomaterials such as Sorona® may be used. New manufacturing techniques may also be used as they are developed and meet criteria for producing the garment device 101 with the required stretch, weight, texture, breathability and other functional criteria. The material should stretch in at least four directions, both along and against the grain of the fabric. If the material is custom knit, the amount of stretch can be varied depending on the functional area of the garment, for example more stretch and lighter knitting along the anterior of the sleeve to give full range of arm motion, and less stretch and denser knitting to support pulling the weight of the shoulders back at the shoulder joint. Too much stretch can compromise support, too little stretch becomes rigid and uncomfortable. In the present preferred embodiment, the stretch along the direction of the length of the posture garment device, the direction that pulls the shoulder back, ranges from 60% to 100% of the material, such that the material can stretch no less than 60% from its original relaxed position, except in areas where stretch is prevented by other aspects of the device, such as the fastener system. Referring to FIG 2A, there is illustrated a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the posture support garment device 101 . The straps cross diagonally across the scapular region, pulling the shoulder joints back and slightly down. Other devices, configured as shirts with integrated straps rely on a tight fit over the entire body to stay in place, or use the addition of rigid belts across the waist to keep the straps from migrating. These configurations can result in discomfort and overheating if fit too tight or become ineffective if too loose. For shirt-like devices, the amount of tension is fixed by the size of the shirt and is not adjustable, or relies on the attachment of straps to the shirt which can be cumbersome, bulky and unbecoming to wear either visibly or protruding under another piece of clothing. Devices with straps extending from the shoulders to the waist pull the shoulders down at an unnatural angle. Devices with straps converging along the spine rely on hard or soft panels placed vertically along the spine to provide the tension necessary to pull the shoulders back. Hard panels become uncomfortable when pressed against the spine, for example when leaning back in a chair, soft panels rely primarily on the tightness of the shirt to prevent migration. Any of these configurations may limit range of movement in addition to being uncomfortable to wear. In contrast, the garment device 101 uses the contours of the upper body to create the tension force to pull the shoulders back and down at a gentle, natural angle, while allowing full range of motion without slipping out of place. The wearer can easily adjust the amount of posture support by tightening or loosening the two ends of the device that meet and fasten at the center of the chest under the mammary area. Said device is streamlined to minimally cover the body, enveloping only the areas that are essential to providing comfortable posture support.

The sleeve-like configuration 105 is achieved by joining two areas of the material together by means of stitching, or bonding materials, or by method of manufacture such as, but not limited to, circular knitting machines. If the seam 1002 is sewn or bonded, instead of a sleeve that is knit seamless in one piece, then said seam 1002 runs along the back of the arm, along the long head of triceps brachii, unlike traditional sleeve seams which run under the arm in the area of the brachii arteries and surrounding nerves. The sleeve-like configuration 105 functions to help keep the garment device correctly positioned on the body. The length of said sleeve can vary, from capped sleeves to mid-length to long sleeves extending to or beyond the wrist. A sleeveless configuration is also possible, but is more likely to slip out of place with arm movement. Referring to FIG 2B, there is a rear view of the posture support garment device with reference numeral 101 shown being worn by wearer 111. The alignment tab 1003 can be used by the wearer to adjust the position of the portion of the garment device that runs horizontally across the dorsal area 102 to where it is most comfortable between the thoracic and sternoxiphoid plane, which, depending on the wearer's physique and comfort, may be visible, as in FIG 2B, or hidden behind the portions of the garment that cross the dorsal area as in FIG 2A.

Referring to FIG 3A, there is a side view of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 , which shows the underside of the sleeve with the underarm structural support cover 801 reinforced with seams 802. The function, composition, and method of securing the structural support cover 801 with seams 802 is detailed in FIGs 8A, 8B and 8C. The function, composition, and method of manufacturing the structural support element 903 which sits under the structural support cover 801 , between the structural support cover 801 and the garment device 101 , is detailed in FIGs 9A, 9B, 9C and 9D. The placement of the structural support element 903 and structural support cover 801 is detailed in FIGs 8A and 10.

Referring to FIG 3B, there is a side front view of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 shown being worn by wearer 111. The front portion path of the boning and encasement apparatus, overlayed by the structural support cover 801 can be seen on the human body, coming forward and angled slightly down, ending below and next to the pectoralis major muscle, in the vicinity of the top of the serratus anterior muscles.

Referring to FIG 3C, there is a side back view of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 shown being worn by wearer 111. In FIG 3B and 3C there is shown the portion of the garment device 101 that comes forward from the dorsal area under the axilla 103 and extends up and over the shoulder joint 104, overlapped by the portion of the garment device 101 that runs under the axilla and continues forward 108 under the mammary area toward the front center of the body. Referring to FIG 4, there is a front view of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 , in an alternate configuration of use, wherein the securing ends 108 of said garment device 101 are pulled up the front toward the deltopectoral triangle and fastened vertically to the portion of said garment device 101 that covers the pectoralis major muscle on the left and right side of the wearer. In this configuration both ends of the garment device 101 have inside facing, like fasteners, for example loop fasteners 110, which are secured to outside facing fasteners, for example hoop fasteners, secured to the outside facing section of the posture garment device 101 covering the pectoralis major muscle region. The fasteners may be bonded, sewn, bonded and sewn, or secured by other reliable means to the garment device 101 .

Referring to FIGS 5A and 5B, there is a flat view of the outside, exterior facing side of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 , wherein the method of manufacture is to cut the pattern from knit fabric and sew or bond the necessary seams and support layers. In FIG 5A, the garment device 101 comprising a continuous piece of tensile material, such as, but not limited to, four-way stretch fabric. In FIG 5B, the garment device 101 comprising two pieces of tensile material that are mirror reflections each other, sewn, bonded or joined by other known methods at the center of the section of the garment device that runs across the dorsal area.

Referring to FIG 5C, there is a flat partial view of the outside, exterior facing side of the posture support garment device with reference number 101. FIG 5C is an example of the two mirrored halves joined by stitching 1001 . This method of making the garment device 101 by joining mirrored halves may optimize nesting, a method of laying out cutting patterns to minimize raw material waste, without compromising the function of the garment device 101 .

FIGS 5A, 5B and 5C show the placement of the underarm structural support cover 801 before it is secured to the garment device 101 . The placement, function, composition, and method of securing the structural support cover 801 with seams 802 is detailed in FIGs 8A, 8B and 8C.

Referring to FIG 5D, there is a flat view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 , wherein the method of manufacture is to cut the pattern from knit fabric and sew or bond the necessary seams and support layers 501 and 505. In FIG 5D, the garment device 101 comprising two pieces of tensile material that are mirror reflections each other, sewn, bonded or joined by other known methods at the center of the section of the garment device that runs across the dorsal area 102. In this method of manufacture, there is a partial layer 505 that is made of the same material as the outside, exterior side of the support garment device 101 . This partial layer 505 covers the section of the garment device that runs across the dorsal area 102. Furthermore, there is a partial layer 501 that is made of the same material as the outside, exterior side of the support garment device 101 . This partial layer 501 follows the contour of the garment device that extends along the edge of the garment device that covers the shoulder joint. The purpose of the partial layers 501 and 505 is to provide reinforcement strength to the garment device and reduce the amount of stretch in the material to the degree that it functions effectively without becoming uncomfortable to wear. A narrow section 502 that begins where the horizontal center dorsal panel 505 ends, runs under the axilla, continues forward, up over a portion of the pectoralis major muscles, widens at the shoulder joint 503 (this shoulder joint region on the inside of the garment device 101 corresponds to region 104 shown on the outside facing side of the garment device 101 in FIG 1 A), and continues diagonally across the scapular region, as can be seen in FIG 1A portion 106, strengthening the tension force along its trajectory to position the shoulders into alignment, continuing to the ends of the garment device that function to secure the garment on the wearer. In this method of manufacture, the partial layers 501 and 505 are bonded to the inside, skin facing side of the garment device 101 .

Methods for bonding materials together include RF and ultrasonic welding, pin bonding, heat bonding using adhesive films, and more. In the present embodiment, heat bonding with thin film adhesives retains the material stretch properties necessary for posture support. Referring to FIG 5E, there is a flat view of the adhesive film layers 551 and 555 that may be used between the outer posture support garment device 101 and the inner support layers 501 and 505 respectively, as well as adhesive film layers 561 and 562 to bond garment edges 601 and 602 respectively in FIG 6B and 6C, hemmed for a cleaner, more durable device. Non-limiting examples of heat-activated adhesive substances include Polyurethane, Polyamide, Polyester, Polyolefin and Polyurethane chemistries, and other heat-activated thermoplastics.

Referring to FIG 6A, there is a flat, partial view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 , wherein the method of manufacture is to bond the support layers 501 and 505 to the outer layer of the garment device 101 with thin film adhesive. Adhesive film section 551 is placed between the inner support layer 501 and the portion of the garment device 101 with corresponding contours; adhesive film section 555 is placed between the inner support layer 505 and the portion of the garment device 101 with corresponding contours. The layers can be bonded using heat bonding machinery.

Referring to FIG 6B, there is a flat, partial view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 with optional hemmed edge 601 , which runs along the edge of garment device 101 that is opposite to the edge that covers the shoulder joint 501 , as can also be partially seen in FIG 1 A.

Referring to FIG 6C, there is a flat, partial view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 with optional hemmed edge 602, which runs along the edge of the sleeve of garment device 101 .

In certain embodiments, the garment device includes a substance with grippy properties, applied to the skin touching side of the garment device 101 to help keep said garment device in place. Referring to FIG 7, there is a flat, partial view of the inside, skin facing side of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 with grippy coating 701 applied to the partial inner layer 501 starting at the shoulder joint; grippy coating 702 applied to the inside, skin facing side of the garment device 101 along the portion of the sleeve 105 that covers the deltoid muscle; and grippy coating 703 applied along the partial inner layer 505 that is horizontally centered across the dorsal area. Non-limiting examples of grippy substances include silicone, polypropylene mesh, polyurethane heatbonding adhesives, heat-activated thermoplastic adhesive films, heat-activated adhesives based on Polyamide, Polyester, Polyolefin and Polyurethane chemistries, other thermoplastic films and technopolymers. Referring to FIG 8A, there is a flat, partial view of the exterior, outside facing side of the posture support garment device with reference number 101 , which shows the placement of the structural support element 903 by way of the structural support cover 801 reinforced with seams 802. Said structural support cover 801 may be constructed of the same material as the garment device 101 , or any material with similar stretch properties. Said structural support cover 801 may be bonded, sewn, bonded and sewn, or secured by other reliable means to the garment device 101 . The shape and size of the structural support cover 801 is such that it covers and extends past the structural support element 903 as needed to secure the structural support element 903 and shield the wearer from discomfort that could be caused by direct contact of the structural support element 903 with the wearer's skin. For example, in the present embodiment, the structural support cover 801 extends over the edge of the garment device 101 at the section of the sleeve that covers the triceps muscle, and the edge of the garment device 101 that crosses over a portion of the pectoralis major muscles. Referring to FIG 8B, there is a cross section which shows the structural support cover 801 on top of the structural support element 903, secured with an optional layer of adhesive film 803, wrapping around the edge of the garment device 101 . Referring to FIG 8C, there is a flat view of the structural support cover 801 with adhesive film 803 with corresponding contours. The ends of the structural support cover 801 and adhesive film 803 are angled to fold over the edges of the garment device 101 such that the portion of the structural support cover 801 that folds under aligns with the portion that sits on the exterior, outside facing side of the garment device 101 .

Referring to FIG 9A, there is a view of an example of the underarm boning piece 902. Referring to FIG 9B, there is a top view of an example of the underarm boning piece 902 embedded in boning encasement 901 . Referring to FIG 9C, there is a top view of an example of two underarm boning pieces 902 running parallel to each other, embedded in boning encasement 901 , creating structural support element versions 903A and 903B. In the current embodiment, there is at least one such added structural support element 903 attached to the outside facing side of the garment device on each sleeve, preventing the sleeve-like portions from bunching under the axilla area, which can cause discomfort and constriction. The structural support element 903 comprising at least one flexible boning piece 902 encased in a thin, flexible substance that runs at least the length of the boning and is at least twice as wide. The purpose of the boning encasement 901 is to distribute and diffuse the pressure from the boning piece(s) 902, so that the wearer barely feels its presence. Underarm skin, in the axilla area, is extremely thin and one of the most sensitive areas of the body. There are also a plethora of nerves and lymph nodes in this region of the body. The composition of the structural support element 903 such that it is flexible enough to bend and turn with arm movement, but sturdy enough to prevent bunching is critical to preventing pain from developing at the wearer's underarms, and long-term wearability of the garment device 101 . Non-limiting examples of materials with flexible properties that can be used for the underarm boning piece 902 include metal coil, synthetic whalebone, and plastic boning. Other materials may be used in lieu of boning, for example steel string or synthetic materials with similar properties woven into a mesh. Examples of flexible encasement substances that can be used for the boning encasement 901 include silicone, heat activated polypropylene mesh, heat-activated thermoplastic adhesive films, and more. Structural support can be added topically, as in the present embodiment, or embedded into the garment device 101 , for example knit or woven directly into the fabric of the garment device 101 . The shape of the structural support does not need to be a rectangular strip, it can take any form as long as it fulfills the functional purpose of preventing underarm bunching comfortably.

Referring to FIG 9D, there is a cross section which shows the structural support element 903, such that in this variation the boning encasement 901 is thicker on one side of the flexible boning piece 902 than on the other side. The thicker side of the structural support element 903 is joined to the exterior, outside facing side of the garment device 101 such that it is skin facing, to reduce the pressure from the boning piece 902 under the wearer's arm. The thinner outside facing side of the boning encasement 901 reduces the overall thickness of the structural support element 903 so that there is no unnecessary bulk across the wearer's underarm.

Referring to FIG 10, there is illustrated a rear view of the preferred embodiment of the posture support garment device 101 , with sleeve-like portions 105 folded up such that the sleeve seams 1002 are visible. The sleeve-like portions 105 can be joined at the seams by sewn stitches or bonding tape, or other methods. Unlike traditional shirt sleeves' seams, which typically run along the underarm in the area of the brachii arteries and surrounding nerves, the seams 1002 are in the dorsal portion of the garment device 101 , starting in proximity of the teres major muscle, running along the long head triceps brachii muscle until reaching the end of the sleeve-like portions 105. The sleeve-like portions 105 are form fitting, reinforced by the structural support element 903 which sits under the structural support cover 801 , between the structural support cover 801 and the garment device 101 . There is at least one structural support element 903 on each sleeve-like portion 105, extending from the end of the sleeve along the portion of the triceps muscle that runs along the underarm, crossing the latissimus dorsi under the axilla, coming forward and angled slightly down, ending below and next to the pectoralis major muscle, in the vicinity of the top of the serratus anterior muscles. This placement of the structural support element 903 minimizes pressure along the sensitive areas of the underarm and allows for the most flexibility, while preventing the sleeve-like portion 105 from bunching under the arm. Additional similar support elements can be added throughout the garment device 101 , for example surrounding the shoulder area. The purpose of the sleeve-like portions 105 is to keep the garment device 101 in place, even during vigorous arm movement by the wearer. If the garment is cut and sewn or bonded, gussets may be added to regions of the sleeve to relieve tightness or constriction when the arm is lifted. If the garment is knit to form, the equivalent relief may be achieved by using knitting yams with greater stretch properties in regions of tightness, or by knitting additional rows of stitches into the tight regions.

Referring to FIG 11 , there is illustrated an embodiment of the posture support garment device 101 equipped with a sensor 1101 , microcontroller 1102 with onboard processor and memory, a wireless interface 1103 and energy storage 1105 such as a rechargeable battery. Sensors of all types relevant to monitoring the wearer and/or the garment device are collectively represented by 1101 . Non-limiting examples of sensor monitoring functions include: measuring temperature, heartrate, position, location, movement, speed, skin contact and pressure, sun exposure, sleep, muscle activity, sweat chemistry, bacteria presence, moisture, garment device material stretch and wear-and-tear, and more. Although in this illustration the microcontroller 1102 includes the processor and memory, and excludes the wireless interface 1103, many implementations are feasible, non-limiting examples including memory resident with a sensor, a sensor resident in a microcontroller, a wireless interface resident in a microcontroller, and more. Depending on the type of wireless communication, for example if an NFC device is present, a radio antenna may be part of the configuration. When resident energy storage 1105 is necessary, a power supply such as at least one thin-film lithium phosphorous oxynitride battery or lithium-ion battery with plug-in or cable-free (induction or resonance) rechargeable capabilities may be used, or new methods of energy storage that can be packaged in a small, flexible form factor. The components mentioned above may be integrated into, or onto the surface of the garment device 101 , or embedded into the thread or yarn itself, or integrated into a flexible, moisture resistant medium, for example but not limited to, a flexible printed circuit board encased in a thin silicone substrate, that can be removed from a pocket-like element on the garment before the garment is washed. If a pocket-like element is used, it may be bonded to the inside facing side of the garment device 101 , with jetted or slit-like opening. The position of components on the garment, and relative to each other, is determined by considering the function of one or more components, form-factor and comfort of the wearer. As a non-limiting example, to illustrate one possible use case, the garment device 101 is shown equipped with haptic transducers 1104 in the region of the shoulder joints. The system collecting and analyzing sensor data from a wearer may extrapolate from heartrate and other sensor readings that the wearer is running for exercise, or the wearer may manually enter an activity such as running or request a service for running, via the wearer's edge device, such as a mobile device, in response, the microcontroller 1102 receives a set of instructions from the mobile device, sent to the microcontroller through the wireless interface 1103, to track the wearer's heartrate via sensor 1101 and emit a signal to the haptic transducers 1104 to generate a cue, a small vibrating pulse in time with the wearer's heartbeat. The wearer can use this cue to synchronize foot strike with heartbeat, which has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, increasing energy and improving brain performance. The system for collecting a user signal via sensors and feeding it back to the user for example via haptics to boost, dampen, or maintain a particular state, a feedback loop mechanism that acts as an amplifier or dampener to regulate a state of well-being by helping the user tune voluntary actions with the user's autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary actions, can be expanded to other actions, and generalized to include many products and devices. FIG 15 illustrates a corresponding method for collecting a user signal via sensors and feeding it back to the user via haptics/actuators to help regulate a user's physiological state.

Referring to FIG 12, there is illustrated an embodiment of a system for incentivizing use of the posture support garment device using wear-time data collected from the wearer's garment device. The product may be a posture support garment device 1305 as shown, but this is a non-limiting example embodiment of other products that can be used for the same purpose of the incentive system. Sensors and other functional components for data storage, onboard processing, communication with other onboard components or offboard edge devices, wireless transmission, and energy storage as illustrated in FIG 11 on a garment device 1305 collect data that can be correlated to the wearer wearing the garment device 1305. As a non-limiting example of an event flow across this system, a skin temperature sensor collects temperature readings at fifteen minute intervals throughout the day and stores the data until a prescribed threshold is reached, for example a certain number of hours have passed, at which point the sensors and other functional components on the garment device 1305 transmit the collected data to an edge device 1306 such as a mobile phone over a wireless technology such as Bluetooth or RF (radio frequency) or mesh network. This routine may be executed in real-time, continuously, systematically, sporadically, and/or at regular intervals. The edge device 1306 may perform some computation natively, for example calculate hours worn by comparing temperature readings, and present the result to the wearer through a user interface rendered on the edge device 1306. The edge device 1306 passes the calculated wear-time and/or the raw temperature data received from the garment device 1305 to an incentive system interface 1310 over a network, such as the internet. The incentive system interface 1310 sends a request to an exchange engine 1311 along with the wear-time data, to convert the wear-time data to a form of credit to be issued back to the wearer. Credit may be issued directly as stake in the system, or as an intermediate medium of value to be converted. The exchange engine 1311 may consult a commerce engine 1314 with the exchange request. The commerce engine 1314 pulls the wearer's wear-time record from a business database 1317, checks for the applicable rules with a rules engine 1312, applies the rules to convert wear-time to credit (or directly to stake), updates the business database 1317 with the wear-time data and the credit/stake issued, returns the earned amount of credit/stake to the exchange engine 1311 , which releases the credit/stake through the incentive interface 1310 back to the wearer's edge device 1306. In an alternate configuration of this incentive system, a wearer is awarded an amount of credit/stake at a point in time after a garment device 1305 is initialized and associated with the wearer's identity, for example when a wearer creates an account within the incentive system and couples the garment device 1305 to her/his account. To maintain and/or increase the amount of credit/stake, the wearer wears the garment device 1305. If the garment device 1305 is not worn a predefined amount within a preset period of time, an amount of credit/stake is deducted at a predetermined rate. Credit retained by the wearer may be issued as, or converted to, a form of currency which the wearer can spend, for example but not limited to: to vote on product or company decisions, to unlock more functionality in the posture support garment device, to purchase a new garment support device, convert to shares of the parent company of the garment device, and more. The value of the credit/stake as a form of currency can fluctuate depending on supply, demand and other factors within the system. A wearer may accrue credit/stake by other forms of participation in the system. While this embodiment illustrates an incentive system to encourage the wearer to wear the posture support garment device 1305, the disclosure is not limited to the garment device. The system for incentivizing use of a product or device in exchange for credit that gives a user a stake in a system the user is participating in can be expanded to motivate other behaviors and generalized to include many products, devices and forms of participation. Credit can comprise: a form of financial capital that can be accrued and spent within said system; a form of franchise that can, as a non-limiting example, entitle a user to vote on product or company decisions; a form of tokens that can function like currency within said system, with the possibility to encode and execute extended capability coupled to specialized tokens, for example, but not limited to, contractual conditions that can represent a financial instrument such as a security (for example stock, bonds, options), or a unique identifier establishing ownership of a digital asset such that the conditions of use by another party of that asset, such as royalties, are encoded into the specialized, unique token. The underlying network architecture for this system and method of incentivizing behavior by issuing credit that is a form of stake in a system is flexible and can be implemented on Web 2.0 or Web 3.0 services, where Web 3.0 extends network services to edge computing, decentralized data and peer-to-peer networks and artificial intelligence.

Referring to FIG 13, there is illustrated an embodiment of a decentralized system for incentivizing product or service usage and participation in the product's ecosystem comprising: a member of a user system 1301 comprising a garment device 1305A communicating with an edge device 1306A such as a mobile phone, wherein such edge device can communicate with other edge device members 1306B..N of the user system, as well as interact with members of a shared public services network 1303 such as an exchange engine 1311 and a rules engine 1312 through front end services 1302 that provide the interface for communication. The product may be posture support garment device 1305A...N as shown, but this is a non-limiting example embodiment of other products that can be used for the same purpose of the incentive system. An edge device can be configured as a light node 1306A, 1306B, or a full node 1306C that retains a complete copy of a shared system of record 1307A. A public, shared system of record 1307A, 1307B, 1307C...N architecture ensures that members of the user system 1301 retain control of their own digital assets, instead of a centralized database controlled by a single entity. A secure shared system of record 1307A, 1307B, 1307C...N can be implemented as a form of blockchain technology, or built on top of an existing blockchain, such as but not limited to, Ethereum. In one example of a service rendered by this system, data collected across the sensors of a wearer of garment device 1305C is transmitted to the edge device 1306C through known wireless communication protocols as described in FIG 12. The edge device 1306C records the sensor data and any executable code, for example pre-conditions set by the wearer on usage of the sensor data, to the shared system of record 1307A...N as an asset belonging to the wearer associated with garment device 1305C and sends a message through an incentive interface 1310 to an exchange engine 1311 to request credit/stake in exchange for access to the sensor data. The exchange engine 1311 consults with backend systems 1304 and a rules engine 1312 depending on how the data may be used across the backend system 1304, and proposes a credit/stake amount and sensor data usage terms to the edge device 1306C through the incentive interface. There can be negotiation back and forth between the wearer system 1301 and the backend system 1304, for example the rate of exchange and rules of usage for the data. If the edge device 1306C accepts the proposed credit/stake amount and terms of sensor data usage (which can be accepted automatically if the proposed amount and usage terms are within the parameters of the pre-conditions set by the wearer, or manually by the wearer through the edge device 1306C), access to the data in the shared system of record 1307A..N with the agreed upon rules for usage is granted and executed, and the data along with executable code associated with the transaction can be copied from the shared system of record per the terms of the grant into backend system 1304 business 1317 and analytics databases 1318. Non-limiting example applications using sensor data include: wear-time data may be extrapolated from skin temperature, or presence of heartbeat, combined with other sensor readings. Wear-time attribution may be time based, or based on other quantifiable increments, for example number of heartbeats. In addition to awarding or deducting credit/stake depending on wear-time as described in FIG 12, wear-time combined with other data can be used by an analytics engine 1316 and analytics database 1318 to ascertain the condition and durability of the posture garment device 1305C over time, which could inform future posture support garment device 1305A..N development. Skin temperature data can be passed to the analytics engine 1316 and analytics database 1318 to analyze individual and aggregate temperature over time, and synthesized with a broader data set to conjecture the wearer's state or discover patterns, by applying artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms. The result of the analysis can generate a response instruction or recommendation, or an insight that is passed back to the edge device 1306C, for example if the wearer is cold, an instruction could be to warm the wearer to a preferred skin temperature by activating heat elements in the yarn of the posture garment device 1305C. While these examples reference skin temperature, there are many possible composite metrics and observations that can be derived from a combination of measures from sensors and other inputs.

In another example of a service rendered by this system, the credit/stake or currency balance of the wearer of garment device 1305B can be spent through the marketplace interface 1309 to enable new functionality in the garment device 1305B, or to vote on new features to prioritize a feature for development, to purchase a new garment device, and more. If the wearer of garment device 1305B chooses to enable new functionality, for example the ability to use the vibration actuators in the garment device 1305B to regulate breathing, the wearer initiates the request through the edge device 1306B paired with the garment device 1305B, by accessing the marketplace interface 1309, which communicates with the exchange engine 1311. The exchange engine 1311 works with the necessary backend systems 1304 and rules engine 1312 to package the pieces needed for enablement (which may include permissions, an enablement code, and or software executable to be installed), pass the package back through the marketplace to the edge device 1306B and record the transaction details in the backend system's databases such as the business data database 1317. The transaction details are also recorded in the shared system of record 1307A...N.

In yet another example of a service rendered by this system, a participant in the user system 1301 can add items to the marketplace, a digital asset such as a design to be printed on a garment device, by making a request through the marketplace interface 1309 to generate a unique and non-interchangeable unit of data (also known as a non-fungible token) associated with the design, to be stored on the shared system of record 1307A...N. The terms of use for the design can be encoded into the non-interchangeable unit (token) such that the owner of the design receives a predefined amount credit/stake or currency whenever the design is used by another participant in the user system 1301 . Similarly, a participant in the user system 1301 may contribute code that enables new functionality in a garment device by creating software using developer APIs 1308 and publishing the code through the marketing interface 1309 coupled to a non- interchangeable unit (a unique token) establishing ownership of the asset such that other participants in the user system 1301 can purchase rights to use.

In yet another example of a service rendered by this system, the software and systems used to operationalize and run the internals of the business executed by the business engine 1315 can also connect to a rules engine 1312 on the shared public service network 1303 for governance automation.

The underlying network architecture for this decentralized governance system and method for incentivizing product or service usage and participation in the product's economic system is flexible and can be implemented on Web 2.0 or Web 3.0 services, where Web 3.0 extends network services to edge computing, decentralized data and peer-to-peer networks and artificial intelligence.

With reference now to the flow chart of FIG 14, a method for a user to interact with an incentive system to exchange user data/contribution for credit/stake is illustrated. A user initiates 1401 a relationship with the system by turning on a product, for example a posture garment device, establishing a wireless connection between the product and an edge device such as a mobile phone or computer, and accessing an interface on the edge device, non-limiting examples include a native app, a web app, or a chat/messaging interface, through which the user is onboarded, agreements are presented, a user identity and account is established, and usage/contribution tracking is enabled. When the user uses 1402 a product, for example wears a posture support garment, usage data is collected 1404 and sent wirelessly to a repository in the user's control. The data collection onboard the product by sensors and can be sent real-time or stored onboard the device and sent intermittently to the user's repository. The user may also contribute to the system for example, but not limited to, by sharing product experiences, or making referrals, through an interface that enables the system to detect 1405 the contribution. The system evaluates 1406 the user data or contribution and user's terms of use, assesses the value, and makes an offer 1407 to the user. The evaluation may occur in real-time, or when certain thresholds are met, or at other frequencies. The value assessment may be based on one or multiple factors combined, non-limiting examples include preset values, or precedent based valuation, market based, significance of data or contribution, amount of data offered, and more. The offer is presented to the user via the same user interface through which the user initiated a connection with the system. If the user accepts 1408 the offer, the agreement is settled and the exchange 1409 is made, the user's data or contribution is ingested and stored by the system, and the user's account is credited or the stake amount is transferred to the user's account. The user can automate accepting system offers so that no action is required by the user, for example but not limited to, by creating thresholds of acceptable offers, or simply accepting any offer the system makes, or set other conditions for acceptance automation. If the user wants more than the offer amount, the user can either make a counteroffer or ask the system to make another (higher) offer 1407. This negotiation can continue until the user accepts, or the system accepts the user's counteroffer, or if no agreement is made, either the user or the system can exit 1410 the negotiation such that no exchange is made. The user retains his/her data and can re-enter negotiation at a later time, or the system can initiate a request for the data with an offer later in time.

With reference now to the flow chart of FIG 15, a method for collecting a user signal via sensors and feeding it back to the user for example via haptics to boost, dampen, or maintain a particular state is illustrated. Sensors of all types relevant to monitoring the wearer and/or the garment device are collectively represented by 1501A..N. Sensor 1501A..N are monitored 1502 and if a change in state in one or more sensors is detected 1503, analysis including machine learning and triangulation is done across the sensor data set to determine the most likely underlying cause of the new state 1504, and depending on parameters set by the user and the sensory feedback mechanisms of the product being used, a decision is made 1505 as to whether a response should be activated, modified, or de-activated. As a non-limiting example, a user is wearing a posture support garment device equipped with haptic transducers and cooling fibers. If the user selected an option to boost running benefits in his/her settings, when extrapolation from heartrate and other sensor readings determine with a high range of certainty that the wearer is running for exercise, instructions are sent to listen for heartbeat signals from the corresponding sensor and synchronize vibrations the user feels through the posture support garment device with the user's heartbeat 1507 A. The user can use this cue to synchronize foot strike with heartbeat, which has been shown to increase blood flow to the brain, increasing energy and improving brain performance. As an alternate example, if analysis of sensor data indicates the user has become anxious, the haptic transducers may be activated to pulse or tap at a rate that helps the user slow his/her breathing and heartrate 1507B. A user may experience multiple overlapping conditions, and there may be one or more response activated, modulated or de-activated 1506 to help the user tune his/her state. A user may at any time intervene manually 1508 to activate, modulate or de-activate a feedback mechanism 1506. A feedback loop mechanism that acts as an amplifier or dampener to regulate a state of well-being by helping the user tune voluntary actions with the user's autonomic nervous system, which controls involuntary actions, can be expanded to other actions, and generalized to include many products and devices.

While the invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the words that have been used are words of description and not of limitation. As is understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art, a variety of modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claims, which should be given their fullest, fair scope.

Claims

TITLE: Support Garment with Feedback and Incentive System

1 . A posture support garment device comprising: a back band portion designed to run horizontally across a wearer's back between the thoracic and sternoxiphoid plane; a first portion joined to the back band portion on the left and right side of the wearer coming forward under the left and right axilla region of the wearer and extending up and over the left and right shoulder joints and respective acromial regions; a second portion joined to the left and right portion covering the shoulder joint and acromial region crossing diagonally down across the scapular region; a third portion joined to the scapular region portion on the left and right side, running under the axilla/underarm on the opposite side from the shoulder, continuing forward on the left and right axilla/underarm side of the wearer; and a fourth portion joined to the left and right axilla/underarm side portion continuing forward such that the ends traverse under the mammary region from opposite sides of the wearer's body and meet and fasten to each other.

2. The posture support garment device of claim 1 , wherein a portion encircling the left and right shoulder joints and respective axilla/underarms are joined with a portion designed to extend around the arm in the region of the deltoid, biceps and triceps muscles in a sleeve member that can vary in length and shape.

3. The posture support garment device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the posture support garment device is made of material capable of stretching.

4. The posture support garment device of claim 2, wherein the problem of material bunching in the underarm region is solved by at least one flexible structural support element joined to or embedded into the posture support garment device in the region of the sleeve member. The posture support garment device of claim 1 , wherein the problem of displacement, typically caused by movement, is solved by the application of reversible, repeatable adhesion to skin on the inside facing side of the posture support garment in at least one region. The posture support garment device of claim 1 , further comprising a monitoring system for responding to a wearer's physiological state: at least one sensor and functional elements for data storage, onboard processing, communication with other onboard components or offboard edge devices, wireless transmission, a power source; joined to the posture support garment device at a location corresponding to the sensor's function, monitoring and collecting wearer data continuously or at prescribed time intervals; and an edge device with at least an onboard processor and wireless transmission capability to receive data from at least one sensor or microcontroller on the garment device, compute portions of the analytics assigned to edge computation, transmit data and requests to a remote computational engine and data storage, receive data and instructions from the remote computational engine and data storage, transmit data and instructions to the posture support garment device; with the ability of the distributed computational engines to conjecture the wearer's state, or discover patterns, by applying artificial intelligence and known machine learning algorithms based on a synthesized data set. Analysis can be expanded in aggregate across a wearer population to draw longitudinal insights and provide personalized wearer feedback. The posture support garment device of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one haptic device and or actuator and necessary functional elements for data storage, onboard processing, communication with other onboard components or offboard edge devices, wireless transmission, a power source; joined to the posture support garment device at a location corresponding to the haptic device function joined or embedded in the posture support garment device, which can be used to create a responsive, personalized experience for a wearer; and an ability to connect to a social element whereby a wearer can wirelessly receive sensory input from others.

8. The posture support garment device of claim 1 , further comprising: connects to a system in which a wearer controls his/her data; controls who has access to the wearer's data; and controls the conditions governing access and usage of the wearer's data.

9. A system for incentivizing a use of a product or device or more generally participation in the system comprising: at least one sensor as a means to detect usage; components to collect, transmit, receive and analyze data and instructions locally or from a remote engine comprising: data storage, processor, communication capability with other components or devices, wireless transmission, a power source; capable of extrapolating and computing product or device use from sensor data whereby the date-and-time, frequency, intensity and or duration of usage can be determined along with other factors ascertained to be relevant to usage; capable of establishing a unit of value for usage or participation whereby a user understands what value to expect in exchange for sharing data and participating in the system; capable of exchanging the unit of value for product or device use or participation data in a form of credit that has spendable or sellable value in the system; and flexibility to expand the system to motivate other behaviors, and to include other products, devices and contributions to the system;

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the use is the amount of time a product or device is worn (wear-time).

11 .The system of claim 9, wherein credit is a form of currency used to store value that is spendable within the system.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein credit is stake, a form of share or asset, an instrument that can hold value and can be traded between parties.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the system is decentralized, an interconnected system where no single entity is the sole authority or retains sole control.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the product relates to a posture support garment device comprising: a back band portion designed to run horizontally across a wearer's back between the thoracic and sternoxiphoid plane; a first portion joined to the back band portion on the left and right side of the wearer coming forward under the left and right axilla region of the wearer and extending up and over the left and right shoulder joints and respective acromial regions; a second portion joined to the left and right portion covering the shoulder joint and acromial region crossing diagonally down across the scapular region; a third portion joined to the scapular region portion on the left and right side, running under the axilla/underarm on the opposite side from the shoulder, continuing forward on the left and right axilla/underarm side of the wearer; and a fourth portion joined to the left and right axilla/underarm side portion continuing forward such that the ends traverse under the mammary region from opposite sides of the wearer's body and meet and fasten to each other.

15. A feedback system comprising: at least one sensor to capture a user signal; at least one haptic or sensory element to give the user sensory feedback; components to analyze sensor data locally to extrapolate user's state, or collect and transmit sensor data to a remote system to extrapolate user's state and receive instructions; capable of executing instructions locally or from a remote engine to actuate at least one haptic element to help the user tune voluntary actions with elements of the user's autonomic nervous system to boost, dampen, or maintain a particular physiological state; The system of claim 15, wherein the system relates to at least one sensor capturing heartbeat and returning the rhythm of the heartbeat to the user through a haptic or sensory element such that the user can coordinate physical movement with heartrate. The system of claim 15, wherein the system relates to a posture support garment device comprising: a back band portion designed to run horizontally across a wearer's back between the thoracic and sternoxiphoid plane; a first portion joined to the back band portion on the left and right side of the wearer coming forward under the left and right axilla region of the wearer and extending up and over the left and right shoulder joints and respective acromial regions; a second portion joined to the left and right portion covering the shoulder joint and acromial region crossing diagonally down across the scapular region; a third portion joined to the scapular region portion on the left and right side, running under the axilla/underarm on the opposite side from the shoulder, continuing forward on the left and right axilla/underarm side of the wearer; and a fourth portion joined to the left and right axilla/underarm side portion continuing forward such that the ends traverse under the mammary region from opposite sides of the wearer's body and meet and fasten to each other. A method of incentivizing a user to use a device, the method comprising: a user wearing a device having onboard sensors tracking and collecting usage data of the device; establishing a connection with the incentive system through an interface on a computing device across which data and instructions can be transferred; at certain intervals agreed upon by the user through the interface, collecting sensor data and sharing it with the incentive system; at certain intervals the user's device transmitting data to the incentive system through the interface about an action recognized by the incentive system to have value; evaluating sensor and other received data and applicable terms of use, assessing value and presenting the user an offer in the form of credit or stake understood by the user to have value within the system; settling the exchange agreement if the user accepts the offer either manually or through automation; copying and storing the agreed upon data set and terms into the system; transferring the agreed amount of the offer to the user's account. The method of claim 18, wherein the method of incentivizing a user to use a device relates to a posture support garment device comprising: at least one sensor as a means to detect usage; components to collect, transmit, receive and analyze data and instructions locally or from a remote engine comprising: data storage, processor, communication capability with other components or devices, wireless transmission, a power source; capable of extrapolating and computing product or device use from sensor data whereby the date-and-time, frequency, intensity and, or duration of usage can be determined along with other factors ascertained to be relevant to usage; capable of establishing a unit of value for usage or participation whereby a user understands what value to expect in exchange for sharing data and participating in the system; capable of exchanging the unit of value for product or device use or participation data in a form of credit that has spendable/sellable value in the system; a back band portion designed to run horizontally across a wearer's back between the thoracic and sternoxiphoid plane; a first portion joined to the back band portion on the left and right side of the wearer coming forward under the left and right axilla region of the wearer and extending up and over the left and right shoulder joints and respective acromial regions; a second portion joined to the left and right portion covering the shoulder joint and acromial region crossing diagonally down across the scapular region; a third portion joined to the scapular region portion on the left and right side, running under the axilla/underarm on the opposite side from the shoulder, continuing forward on the left and right axilla/underarm side of the wearer; and a fourth portion joined to the left and right axilla/underarm side portion continuing forward such that the ends traverse under the mammary region from opposite sides of the wearer's body and meet and fasten to each other.