The present disclosure relates generally to systems, methods, and apparatus for providing a user ergonomic support.
In many occupations, employees are required to repeatedly squat and lift heavy loads. For example, warehouse staff, construction workers, pipefitters, freight workers, and professional movers can spend hours a day alternating between squatting and standing positions. Weightlifters perform a similar action—repeated squatting while lifting heavy weights. Unless the employees of such occupations and weightlifters maintain proper form while squatting and lifting, they risk severe injury to their backs, including muscle and ligament strains, and herniated discs.
Traditional safety and weightlifting back belts can help reduce the risk of back injuries by increasing intra-abdominal pressures, reminding lifters to maintain proper form, and restricting range of motion. However, back belts may also give lifters a false sense of security leading them to lift more weight than they would without the back belts. Further, back belts only target the back, while squatting engages the lifter's hips, leg muscles, and knees.
Accordingly, a need in the art exists.
Implementations of the present invention solve one or more problems in the art with systems, methods, and apparatus configured to provide ergonomic support. More specifically, in at least one implementation of the present invention, a support device comprises a first band secured to a second band in a cross pattern. A proximal end of the first band and a proximal end of the second band can also be configured to fasten around a waist of a user. Further, a distal end of the first band can be configured to fasten around a first leg of the user, and a distal end of the second band can be configured to fasten around a second leg of the user.
Additionally, in at least one implementation, a support device includes a waist band configured to fasten around a waist of a user. The support device can also comprise a proximal end of a first lower band and a proximal end of a second lower band that are secured to the waist band. The first lower band and the second lower band can be also secured together in a cross pattern. Also, a distal end of the first lower band can be configured to fasten around a first leg of the user, and a distal end of the second lower band can be configured to fasten around a second leg of the user. The support device can further include a proximal end of a first upper band and a proximal end of a second upper band that are secured to the waist band. The first upper band and the second lower band can be secured together in a cross pattern. A distal end of the first upper band can be configured to fasten around a first arm of the user and a distal end of the second upper band can be configured to fasten around a second arm of the user.
Further, in at least one implementation, a support device comprises a first band secured to a second band in a cross pattern. A proximal end of the first band and a proximal end of the second band can also be configured to fasten around a waist of a user. Further, a distal end of the first band can be configured to fasten around a first arm of the user, and a distal end of the second band can be configured to fasten around a second arm of the user.
Additional features and advantages of exemplary implementations of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter.
In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:
Implementations of the present invention solve one or more problems in the art with systems, methods, and apparatus configured to provide ergonomic support. More specifically, in at least one implementation of the present invention, a support device comprises a first band secured to a second band in a cross pattern. A proximal end of the first band and a proximal end of the second band can also be configured to fasten around a waist of a user. Further, a distal end of the first band can be configured to fasten around a first leg of the user, and a distal end of the second band can be configured to fasten around a second leg of the user.
In at least one implementation of the present invention, the support device can prevent improper and dangerous misalignment of the back, hips and knees while squatting. The support device can aid in the user's ergonomically correct positioning while performing ordinary lifting motions. Like traditional lifting belts, the waist band of the support device can enhance intra-abdominal pressure in the user, which can move stress away from the user's spine. Compression of the waist can also encourage the user to keep their chest up.
The support band, unlike traditional lifting belts, can include bands that wrap around the user's knees. As the user squats, the crossed bands can stretch across the back of the user causing the knees to be pulled slightly out, thus preventing them from caving inward. The bands wrapped around the knees of the user can prevent injury or provide needed support for those who have suffered knee injuries in the past.
Turning now to the figures,
The proximal end of the first band 105a and the proximal end of the second band 110a are configured to wrap around the user's waist and be secured together. In at least one implementation, the proximal end of the first band 105a and the proximal end of the second band 110a are secured at a front position around the user's waist. The proximal end of the first band 105a and the proximal end of the second band 110a may be secured using any fastener, including a hook, a snap, a hook and loop fastener, etc. For example,
As shown in
The distal end of the first band 105b is configured to wrap around a first knee of the user, and the distal end of the second band 110b is configured to wrap around a second knee of the user. The distal end of the first band 105b and the distal end of the second band 110b may be secured around the first and the second knee, respectively, using any fastener, including a hook, a snap, a hook and loop fastener, etc. For example,
As shown in
The proximal end of the first band 315a and the proximal end of the second band 320a are configured to wrap around the user's waist and be secured together. In at least one implementation, the proximal end of the first band 315a and the proximal end of the second band 320a are secured at a front position around the user's waist. The proximal end of the first band 315a and the proximal end of the second band 320a may be secured using any fastener, including a hook, a snap, a hook and loop fastener, etc. For example, a proximal hook and loop fastener 355 is shown in
As shown in
As shown in
At elbow straps 335, the first and second bands 315 and 320 may be reinforced by chest straps 340 that extend from the anterior side of the chest band 305 to the posterior side of the elbow straps 335. The elbow straps 335 may include elbow strap loops 345 to secure the first and second bands 315 and 320.
As shown in
As shown in
In
At elbow straps 335, the first and second upper bands 415 and 420 may be reinforced by chest straps 340 that extend from the anterior side of the chest band 305 to the posterior side of the elbow straps 335. The elbow straps 335 may include elbow strap loops 345 to secure the first and second bands 415 and 420.
As shown in
The alternative support device 400 can include a first lower band 430 and a second lower band 435, which each include a proximal end 430a and 435a, respectively, and a distal end 430b and 435b, respectively.
The proximal ends of the first and second upper bands 415a and 420a and the proximal ends of the first and second lower bands 430a and 435a may be adjustably secured to the waistband so the user may further adjust the fit of the alternative support device 400.
In at least one implementation of the present invention, the support device 100 or the alternative support devices 300 and 400 are composed of a durable spandex, polyester, or nylon compression material, or a combination thereof.
One skilled in the art will appreciate that
In at least one implementation of the present invention, the support device 100, or the alternative support device 300 or 400 is worn on a body robot. The support device 100, or the alternative support device 300 or 400 may increase the strength and lifting ability of the body robot as well as protect it from potential damage during lifting.
Additional features may also be included to the support device 100 or alternative support devices 300 or 400. For example, a durable latex or polymer coating can be added to the distal ends of the first and second bands 105b and 110b or the distal ends of the first and second lower bands 430a and 435a to serve as knee pads for manual laborers or gardeners. In at least one implementation, the support device 100 or alternative support devices 300 or 400 include reflective fabric. The addition of reflective fabric may further increase the safety of manual laborers wearing the support device 100 or alternative support device 300 or 400, especially is low-light conditions.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/555,826, filed Aug. 29, 2019, entitled “Ergonomic Support Device” which claims priority to Provisional Patent Application No. 62/724,394, filed on Aug. 29, 2018, entitled “Supportive Athletic Wear to Encourage Proper Form,” both of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety herein.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
807908 | Bradstreet | Dec 1905 | A |
5075902 | McReynolds et al. | Dec 1991 | A |
5201074 | Dicker | Apr 1993 | A |
5357637 | Moore | Oct 1994 | A |
5465428 | Earl | Nov 1995 | A |
5490826 | Rose | Feb 1996 | A |
5737773 | Dicker et al. | Apr 1998 | A |
5745917 | Dicker et al. | May 1998 | A |
5842959 | Wilkinson | Dec 1998 | A |
6129691 | Ruppert | Oct 2000 | A |
6684410 | Robinett et al. | Feb 2004 | B2 |
6837834 | Basting | Jan 2005 | B2 |
7476185 | Drennan | Jan 2009 | B2 |
8910317 | Decker | Dec 2014 | B2 |
9009863 | Decker | Apr 2015 | B2 |
9192806 | Mial | Nov 2015 | B2 |
9629405 | Cornish | Apr 2017 | B2 |
10842204 | Stricker | Nov 2020 | B2 |
20050197607 | Brown | Sep 2005 | A1 |
20120329617 | Tal et al. | Dec 2012 | A1 |
20150196789 | Whitt | Jul 2015 | A1 |
20180333604 | Thompson | Nov 2018 | A1 |
20190239579 | Stricker | Aug 2019 | A1 |
20190262161 | Massimiani | Aug 2019 | A1 |
20200069502 | Johnson | Mar 2020 | A1 |
Entry |
---|
Examiner Interview Summary Record (PTOL-413) received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/555,826, mailed on Jun. 16, 2022, 1 pages. |
Final Office Action received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/555,826, mailed on Apr. 11, 2022, 20 pages. |
Non-Final Office Action received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/555,826, mailed on Sep. 28, 2021, 17 pages. |
Notice of Allowance received for U.S. Appl. No. 16/555,826, mailed on Jun. 16, 2022, 8 pages. |
StandStrong Flex. Stand Strong Company [online]. Stand Strong Co., 2018 [retrieved Aug. 29, 2019]. Retrieved from Internet: <URL: https://www.standstrongcompany.com/product-page/standstrong-flex>. |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
20220370280 A1 | Nov 2022 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62724394 | Aug 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 16555826 | Aug 2019 | US |
Child | 17881849 | US |