POSTURE ENHANCING PURSE AND METHOD

Abstract

A purse, a method of making thereof, and a method using a purse for enhancing posture. The purse has at least one compartment for receiving items to be carried therein. A cushion is disposed alongside the compartment and has an outer face contoured to rest against a person's lower back for enhancing the person's posture when the purse is positioned between the person's back and a back of a chair in which the person is seated.

Description

The present invention relates generally to purses such as typically carried by a woman, but may also be carried by a man, for the carrying of items such as the person's personal effects.

A purse is a container which has a compartment or multiple compartments for receiving personal or other items to be carried by the person holding the purse. As used herein and in the claims, a compartment is defined as structure defining a space within a purse or other container in which personal effects or other items are placed for carrying by a person.

When seated in chairs or the like, people have often inserted pillows or other cushions between their backs and the backs of the chairs for their comfort and for maintaining posture and alignment. Firm yoga blocks have been used by people practicing yoga. People commonly use stadium seats at outdoor sporting events for providing more comfortable seating. A stadium seat comprises a cushion which is placed on the seat and a cushion for fitting between the person's back and the back of the seat, and the two cushions are attached to be foldable for carrying. Maintaining proper posture, alignment, and seated comfort is considered desirable to prevent musculoskeletal issues and discomfort, especially during extended periods of sitting. Many people suffer with shoulder, neck, and back pain due to poor posture and alignment.

Neck, back, and shoulder pain are common issues, with estimates suggesting that around 80% of people will experience back pain at some point in their lives. Back pain is a leading cause of missed work days and disability worldwide. These pains tend to be more common as people age, and women are more likely than men to experience them. About 20% of people who experience acute back pain will go on to develop chronic pain, which can significantly affect their quality of life. These pains can result from a variety of factors, including poor posture, muscle strain, injuries, sedentary lifestyle, and underlying medical conditions. Back pain is one of the most common reasons for doctor visits and a leading cause of opioid prescriptions. Neck, back, and shoulder pain contribute to significant healthcare costs and economic burden due to medical treatments and lost productivity.

Poor posture, such as looking down at screens for extended periods (text neck), can strain the muscles and ligaments of the neck, leading to discomfort and pain. Proper posture, with the head aligned over the shoulders, reduces stress on the neck muscles and helps to prevent pain.

Good posture supports the natural curves of the spine, distributing weight evenly and reducing pressure on the spinal discs. Slouching or improper alignment can strain the muscles and ligaments of the back, potentially leading to pain and discomfort. Proper posture helps maintain proper alignment of the shoulder joints, reducing the risks of impingement and rotator cuff issues. Slumped shoulders can lead to muscle imbalances and shoulder pain over time. By practicing good posture, one can promote alignment of the spine and joints, equal distribution of body weight, balanced muscle engagement, improved circulation, and reduced stress on ligaments and muscles. To maintain good posture, one can keep his or her head aligned with the spine, sit with the back straight and supported, avoid prolonged periods of slouching or looking down, and use ergonomic furniture and equipment. Developing proper posture habits takes time and effort, but it can go a long way in preventing and managing neck, back, and shoulder pain.

While it is therefore very important for people to maintain good posture and alignment, many people neglect to do anything about it. It would thus be desirable to make it easier and more convenient for people to maintain good posture and alignment. It is therefore an object of the present invention to promote good posture, alignment, and seated comfort in a manner which is easy and convenient for people.

In accordance with the present invention, in order to promote good posture, alignment, and seated comfort in a manner which is easy and convenient for people, a purse is provided which has a firm cushion or block disposed alongside its compartment or compartments in which items are carried and wherein the cushion's outer face is shaped or contoured to suitably rest against a person's back for enhancing the person's posture when the purse is positioned between the person's back and a back of a chair in which the person is seated.

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment(s) thereof when read in conjunction with the appended drawings wherein the same reference numerals denote the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a generally schematic perspective view of a purse which embodies the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a generally schematic view thereof taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial detail schematic view of a purse in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the purse shown in a position between a person's back and the back of a chair in which the person is seated.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the purse being optionally hung from the back of a chair in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a generally schematic side view of a purse in accordance with an alternative view of the present invention, illustrated engaging the seat and back of a chair for seating by a person.

FIG. 7 is a generally schematic rear view of the purse of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a generally schematic view of the purse of FIG. 1, illustrated received in a larger purse.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, there is shown generally at 10 a purse which includes a compartment 12 in which personal effects or other items or articles are carried by a person. While a single compartment 12 is illustrated, it should be understood that the compartment may be divided into a number of compartments, which may be secure, as is customary for purses, for organized stowage of personal belongings and maintaining the practicality of a traditional purse, whether used while standing or seated. The compartment 12 or compartments may be made of any suitable number and shape of walls and, for example, is illustrated to be made of walls 22, 23, 24, and 25 and thus is defined by these walls of which it is made and which give it shape. An opening to the compartment 12 through upper wall 22 is illustrated schematically at 14. A strap which acts as a handle is illustrated schematically at 16. It should be understood that the opening 14 and the handle 16 may be of any suitable size and shape and location and make-up, and the purse 10 may not have a handle at all. The purse 10 may be formed, in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, of suitable high-quality materials and designed to be as stylish and fashionable as desired to ensure the purse's versatility for various occasions, whether when seated or standing. It should be understood that, the purse being illustrated schematically, it may have any other suitable shape, design, and number and shape of walls, and all such suitable embodiments are understood to come within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

In accordance with the present invention, in order to promote good posture, alignment, and seated comfort in a manner which is easy and convenient for people using it, the purse 10 is provided with a firm but comfortable cushion or block 20 disposed alongside and suitably attached to the compartment 12. In one embodiment, the cushion 20 comprises a bag or flexible enclosure 48 which is shown to include an outer or back face or wall 28, an inner face or wall 46, and a lower face or wall 52 (but a cushion may be rounded in a manner so that a lower wall is not defined). These walls 28, 46, and 52 are composed of cloth, leather, fabric, canvas, or other suitable flexible material which is suitably filled in the bag 48 to provide firmness. The inner wall 46 is suitably attached to the compartment wall 24 such as, for example, by sewing or adhesively adhering or as otherwise suitable for the materials of which the walls 24 and 46 are composed, in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains. The walls 24 and 46 may be detachably attached, as discussed hereinafter with respect to FIG. 3. Received within the bag 48 is a suitably firm cushiony material, illustrated at 38, such as, for example, cotton, feathers, rubbery material, or pressurized air. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the firm cushion 20 is composed of a firm dense material such as, for example, cork or bamboo or hard foam rubber, which has some give to provide some comfort when placed against a person's back. Such a cushion 20 may or may not be received in bag 48, and, if not received in bag 48, it may be attached to the compartment 12 by other suitable means such as, for example, adhesive material.

Referring to FIG. 4, the outer wall 28 of the cushion 20 is provided for contacting a seated person's back 32 when the purse 10 is positioned between the person's back 32 and the back 34 of a chair 36. This wall 28 is shaped or contoured, in accordance with medical, chiropractic, physical therapy, or other principles commonly known to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, to match the natural curvature of the back for providing a snug fit. While the cushion 20 may commonly be provided for the lower back, it should be understood that it may alternatively be provided for the middle or upper back such as just beneath the shoulders or wherever a person needs support. Such shaping or contouring is provided to encourage the user 30 to maintain an upright posture while seated. Thus, the purse 10 is provided to rest securely and comfortably against the back 32 of the person 30 for enhancing the person's posture when the purse 10 is positioned between the person's back 32 and the back 34 of the chair or seat in which the person 30 is seated, while softening the feel of the person's back 32 against the purse 10. The cushion 20 is provided to promote proper posture and alignment and seated comfort and make the user aware of his or her posture so that proper posture can become more habit-forming. When the cushion 20 is in use, the person's back rests against it's contoured back face or wall 28. As used herein and in the claims, a cushion is defined as a block which has firmness to retain its shape when positioned between a person's back and the back of a chair in which the person is seated, and such a cushion may or may not be received in a flexible bag or casing or container.

Ordinary purses are typically composed of rigid or semi-rigid materials such as leather, fabric, canvas, and plastic. In accordance with the present invention, the inner face 24 as well as the opposite wall 23 and the upper and lower walls 22 and 25 respectively of the compartment 12 are composed of plastic or other suitably rigid material (different such walls may if desired be made of different materials) which is selected, in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, to be strong enough to suitably protect the purse compartment 12 and items in the compartment 12 from getting crushed from the pressure of the person's back 32 pressing or resting or leaning against the purse 10.

It should be understood that posture-enhancing benefits may be achieved merely by placement of the purse 10 between the person's back 32 and the back 34 of a chair 36 in which the person 30 is seated, whether or not the cushion wall 28 is contoured to match the lower back of a person, since the person 30 will have to sit up straighter, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein the cushion 20 is detachably attached to the compartment 12 by, for example, a zipper 54 detachably attaching wall 46 of the cushion 20 to the wall 24 of the compartment 12 or by other suitable means so that the cushion 20 can be conveniently removed when the purse is not being used for seated posture purposes.

Referring to FIG. 5, there is illustrated another alternative embodiment of the present invention wherein at least one but preferably two or more hooks or clips, illustrated at 56, are suitably attached (preferably suitably detachably attached) to the purse 10 to engage the upper edge of the chair back 34 to effect suitably hanging the purse 10 from the back 34 of the chair in which the user is sitting. The hooks or clips 56 may be, for example, straps. It should be understood that such hooks 56 are optional.

The purse 10 may accordingly be characterized as an ergonomic posture-enhancing purse shaped for providing a stylish and practical solution for proper posture, alignment, pain relief, and seated comfort, and to reduce strain on the user's shoulders, neck, and back while seated and in proper alignment. The purse is provided to enhance overall well-being and comfort, providing a fashionable and practical accessory to carry items such as a phone, wallet, lipstick, etc. while providing ergonomic benefits for daily use while seated.

The back panel 28 may be provided with suitable supportive padding to enhance user comfort and prevent discomfort during extended use, while the user is seated.

It is common for a person to not know where to put a purse in a restaurant or public place, with the person often awkwardly putting it on the back of a chair or on the floor. The present invention allows for the purse 10 to be conveniently placed behind one's back while seated in a public place where it is secured and hygienic.

The purse may be provided with a suitable battery pack for heat, cooling, or massages, or the like.

The purse may be provided with an inflatable or blow-up pouch for individual support comfort.

The purse may be made as a form with different color and style covers to be interchangeable over the form and may also be provided to have interchangeable style handles.

The purse may be made as a clutch style, cross body, shoulder bag, messenger bag, hand bag, backpack style bag, or any other suitable type bag and may be made in different sizes.

The purse may be made in different sizes (such as small, medium, large, and extra large) to fit different body types.

The purse may be made with memory foam or yoga block material, gel, bean bags, padding or any other suitable material.

The purse may have a zipper, button flap, hinge with closure, Velcro material, closure for pocket for personal items or any other suitable closure or without a closure.

The cushion may have a bottom base that is a separate piece that pulls down and is adjustable to support the height of the cushion.

The purse may be provided with rotating or stationary balls for baggage and pressure point comfort.

In summary, purse 10, for ergonomically enhanced posture, is provided to have the following advantages over conventional purses.

• • 1. Posture improvement: By fitting snugly behind the user's back and encouraging alignment with the spine, the purse is provided to promote proper posture and reduce the risk of musculoskeletal issues during seated activities.
  • 2. Seated comfort: The shape and supportive padding are provided to contribute to seated comfort and alignment of the lumbar spine, neck, and shoulders to reduce strain and discomfort during sitting, and the resulting training of the body to have proper posture is provided to strengthen muscles and align the body.
  • 3. Stylish practicality: The purse may be provided to combine ergonomic design with fashion-forward aesthetics so that it may be a stylish accessory while providing practical stowage of personal effects and comfort.
  • 4. Enhanced well-being: The ergonomic benefits of the purse may extend to both standing and seated activities, to contribute to improved overall well-being and comfort.
  • 5. Security for the user's purse and valuables because the purse may be placed securely behind the user's back while seated.
  • 6. Placing the purse behind the back is considered to be more hygienic than placing the purse on the floor near the chair.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, there is illustrated a purse 60 in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The purse 60 includes a pair of pads 62 and 64 to be received respectively on the seat 66 and against the back 68 of a chair 70 for providing comfort to a person sitting thereon. The pads 62 and 64 may be cushions or may have more of a softness. Similarly as for cushion 20, the cushion 64, when having suitable firmness, has a face 63 which faces the back of a person when seated with the cushion 64 between the person's back and the back of the chair in which the person is seated may be suitably contoured, in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, for enhancing posture of the person. The cushions 62 and 64 are illustrated hingedly attached at 72, such as, for example, by sewing, so that they may be folded together, as illustrated at 74 and seen in FIG. 7, for ease of carrying. A strap, illustrated at 76, is illustrated attached to cushion 62 for attaching the cushions 62 and 64 together once they have been folded together. The strap 76 may be alternatively attached to the other cushion 64, and suitable means other than a strap may be used for attaching the cushions together. Cushion 64 is illustrated to have a suitable handle 78, it being understood that both cushions may have such a handle, that the other cushion 62 may have the handle, or that the cushions may not even have handles. Cushions 62 and 64 may be composed similarly as cushion 20 or as stadium seats are typically composed. The purse 60 is illustrated to have compartment 80 for carrying articles, and compartment 80 may be composed similarly as compartment 12.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is illustrated purse 10 received in a compartment 92 of a larger purse 90, wherein the compartment 92 is suitably formed, in accordance with principles commonly known to those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains, for receiving the purse 10. The purse 90 is illustrated to have a second compartment 94 for carrying personal effects.

It should be understood that, while the present invention has been described in detail herein, the invention can be embodied otherwise without departing from the principles thereof, and such other embodiments are meant to come within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A purse comprising at least one compartment for receiving items to be carried therein and a cushion disposed alongside and attached to said compartment and having an outer face for resting against a person's back for enhancing the person's posture when the purse is positioned between the person's back and a back of a chair in which the person is seated.

2. A purse according to claim 1 wherein said outer face is contoured to match the natural curvature of the lower back of a person.

3. A purse according to claim 1 wherein said cushion is detachably attached to said compartment.

4. A purse according to claim 1 wherein the purse further comprises at least one hook for hanging the purse from the back of a chair.

5. A purse according to claim 1 wherein said compartment is composed of a material which provides strength to prevent said compartment from being crushed by the person bearing against the purse.

6. A purse according to claim 1 further comprising an other cushion hingedly attached to said a cushion for sitting on by the person.

7. A method of enhancing posture of a seated person, the method comprising positioning a purse, which has at least one compartment for items to be carried and a cushion disposed alongside and attached to the compartment, between a back of the person and a back of a chair in which the person is seated so that the cushion engages the person's back.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the cushion has an outer face for engaging the lower back of the person, and wherein the outer face is contoured to match the natural curvature of the lower back of a person.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein the cushion is detachably attachable to the compartment, the method further comprising attaching the cushion to the compartment.

10. A method according to claim 7 further comprising hanging the purse from the back of the chair.

11. A method according to claim 7 wherein the compartment is composed of a material which provides strength to the compartment to prevent the compartment from being crushed by a person bearing against the purse.

12. A method according to claim 7 wherein the purse has an other cushion for sitting on by the person, wherein the other cushion is hingedly attached to the cushion which is attached to the compartment.

13. A method of making a purse comprising forming a compartment for carrying items, forming a cushion to have a face attached to the compartment and an other face for engaging a back of a person when the purse is positioned between the back of the person and a back of a chair in which the person is seated.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising contouring the other face to match the natural curvature of the lower back of a person.

15. A method according to claim 13 further comprising forming the purse so that the cushion is detachably attachable to the compartment.

16. A method according to claim 13 further comprising attaching at least one hook to the purse for hanging the purse from the back of the chair.

17. A purse according to claim 13 further comprising forming the compartment of material which provides strength to the compartment to prevent the compartment from being crushed by the person bearing against the purse.

18. A purse according to claim 13 further comprising hingedly attaching an other cushion to the cushion attached to the compartment.