Patent Application
20250024901
This non-provisional application claims benefit of Taiwan Patent Application No. 112126597 filed on Jul. 17, 2023. The contents thereof are incorporated by reference herein.
This invention relates to protectors, in particular, to a protector for human body that may reduce sports injuries.
During daily activities or exercise, sports injuries often caused by poor posture, insufficient muscle strength, excessive load, or unexpected accidents. Therefore, to cope with sudden, continuous, or highly intensive movements, it is necessary to wear protective gear to protect the joints, muscles, or tissues to prevent injuries. It is particularly important for the elderly or those with a history of injuries or illnesses to use protective gear. However, if the protective gear is only a general elastic bandage, its effectiveness of relieving muscle pressure and reducing skeletal burden are limited, and it cannot effectively prevent sports injuries.
Regarding the aforementioned issues, in existing technology, Taiwan Patent Publication No. M638433 provides a knee brace with a multi-layer structure. Although the brace can distribute the pressure borne by the body, its bending performance is compromised, and it cannot follow the body movements to move smoothly due to the complete stacking structure of each layer. Additionally, the transmission of vibrations on the brace is limited in effectiveness and area, so it requires installing the vibration devices at multiple positions to evenly vibrate the wearer's body parts and share the load. In summary, there is a need for protective gear that may enhance the body's flexibility and may evenly distribute the load across various positions of the wearer's body.
The problem addressed by the present disclosure is to provide a protector that does not impede the user's ability to stretch their limbs and can alleviate the burden on the joints or muscles, thereby preventing the occurrence of sports injuries.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a protector, having fish scale structures for protecting a human body from vibrations, includes: a sheet body; a fixing element, wherein one end of the fixing element is configured on the sheet body and the other of the fixing element is selectively connected to the sheet body to create an accommodating space between the fixing element and the sheet body for accommodating a part of a human body; and a plurality of scales, wherein the scales are arranged on one side of the sheet body, which is in contact with the accommodating space, in sequence from one end of the sheet body to the other end of the sheet body and spaced apart from each other, allowing the scales to selectively contact with the part of the human body, one end of the scale is positioned on the sheet body and is selectively bent relative to the sheet body to overlap with a portion of the adjacent scale.
Preferably, a V-shaped space is configured between each of the scales and the sheet body, and an opening direction of each V-shaped space is the same, when the two adjacent scales are parallel to each other, the V-shaped spaces intersect with each other, and an intersecting volume accounts for at least 15% of a total volume of the V-shaped space.
Preferably, the part of the human body includes: an arch of a foot, an ankle, a knee, a wrist, an elbow, a waist, a groin, a head, a back, a chest, a calf, a thigh, an arm, or a neck.
Preferably, the protector further includes: a vibrator, detachably configured on the sheet body to selectively vibrate the scales; a temperature controller, configured in an inside of the sheet body to selectively increase or decrease a temperature of the part of the human body; a protecting layer, positioned on the side of the sheet body in contact with the accommodating space, wherein an inner space is configured between the protecting layer and the sheet body to accommodate the scales; and a penetrating hole, penetrating through the sheet body and the scales respectively to connect two corresponding sides of the sheet body and the scales, allowing the part of the human body to selectively penetrate to the other side of the sheet body from the accommodating space.
Preferably, the protector further includes: a vibrator, configured on the sheet body to selectively vibrate the scales with a vibration intensity; a processor, configured on the sheet body, spaced apart from and connecting to the vibrator, wherein the processor includes: a timer, configured to preset a time period and to send a starting signal to the vibrator after the time period ends to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales; a bending sensor, wherein the bending sensor is configured to detect a bending amplitude of the scale, when the bending amplitude exceeds a predetermined curvature, the bending sensor sends the starting signal to the vibrator to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales, the greater the difference between the bending amplitude and the predetermined curvature, the stronger the vibration intensity; an obstacle detector, wherein the obstacle detector is configured to measure a relative distance between a user and obstacles, when the relative distance is less than a predetermined length, the obstacle detector sends the starting signal to the vibrator to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales, the greater a difference between the relative distance and the predetermined length, the stronger the vibration intensity; a tilt sensor, wherein the tilt sensor is configured to detect a position of a center of gravity of the user, when the position is lower than a predetermined height, the tilt sensor sends the starting signal to the vibrator to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales, the greater a difference between the position and the predetermined height, the stronger the vibration intensity; a body temperature sensor, wherein the body temperature sensor is configured to measure a body temperature of the user, when the body temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, the body temperature sensor sends the starting signal to the vibrator to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales, the greater a difference between the body temperature and the predetermined temperature, the stronger the vibration intensity.
In another embodiment of the present disclosure provides a protector, including: a sleeve body having two openings on two ends, wherein the sleeve body has an accommodating space to accommodate a part of a human body; and a plurality of scales, wherein the scales are arranged on one side of the sleeve body, which in contact with the accommodating space, from one end of the sleeve body to the other end of the sleeve body in sequence and spaced apart from each other, one end of the scale is positioned on the sleeve body, allowing the scale to selectively bend relative to the sleeve body to overlap with a portion of the adjacent scale.
Preferably, a V-shaped space is configured between each of the scales and the sleeve body, and an opening direction of each V-shaped space is the same, when the two adjacent scales are parallel to each other, the V-shaped spaces intersect with each other, and an intersecting volume accounts for at least 15% of a total volume of the V-shaped space.
Preferably, the part of the human body includes: an arch of a foot, an ankle, a knee, a wrist, an elbow, a waist, a groin, a head, a back, a chest, a calf, a thigh, an arm, or a neck.
Preferably, the protector further includes: a vibrator, detachably configured on the sleeve body to selectively vibrate the scales; a temperature controller, configured in an inside of the sleeve body to selectively increase or decrease a temperature of the part of the human body; a protecting layer, positioned on the side of the sleeve body in contact with the accommodating space, wherein an inner space is configured between the protecting layer and the sleeve body to accommodate the scales; and a penetrating hole, penetrating through the sleeve body and the scales respectively to connect two corresponding sides of the sleeve body and the scales, allowing the part of the human body to selectively penetrate to the other side of the sleeve body from the accommodating space.
Preferably, the protector further includes: a vibrator, configured on the sleeve body to selectively vibrate the scales with a vibration intensity; a processor, configured on the sleeve body, spaced apart from and connecting to the vibrator, wherein the processor includes: a timer, configured to preset a time period and to send a starting signal to the vibrator after the time period ends to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales; a bending sensor, wherein the bending sensor is configured to detect a bending amplitude of the scale, when the bending amplitude exceeds a predetermined curvature, the bending sensor sends the starting signal to the vibrator to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales, the greater the difference between the bending amplitude and the predetermined curvature, the stronger the vibration intensity; an obstacle detector, wherein the obstacle detector is configured to measure a relative distance between a user and obstacles, when the relative distance is less than a predetermined length, the obstacle detector sends the starting signal to the vibrator to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales, the greater a difference between the relative distance and the predetermined length, the stronger the vibration intensity; a tilt sensor, wherein the tilt sensor is configured to detect a position of a center of gravity of the user, when the position is lower than a predetermined height, the tilt sensor sends the starting signal to the vibrator to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales, the greater a difference between the position and the predetermined height, the stronger the vibration intensity; and a body temperature sensor, wherein the body temperature sensor is configure to measure a body temperature of the user, when the body temperature is lower than a predetermined temperature, the body temperature sensor sends the starting signal to the vibrator to activate the vibrator to vibrate the scales, the greater a difference between the body temperature and the predetermined temperature, the stronger the vibration intensity.
The efficacy of the present disclosure lies as follow. The installation process of the protector of the present disclosure is simple and quick, and the scales can be directly installed on the corresponding human body parts that require to be protected. Additionally, the scales are arranged in an overlapping and stacking manner that may significantly enhance the resonance effect between the scales. This effectively counteracts the forces exerted on the wearing parts of the human body, alleviates the pressure on muscles, joints, or bones, and thereby preventing conditions such as ligament sprains, fractures, or excessive cartilage wear. Furthermore, since the scales are stacked and wrapped around the human body part along the extending direction, when the vibrator transmits energy to any position on the scales, the resulting vibration rapidly propagates to various positions throughout the entire structure of the scales, such that the resonant effect may be achieved. Therefore, the users can install the vibrator at any position on the protector to effectively massage and relieve stress while maintaining comfort during physical activity. Moreover, as the human body limbs bend, the scales move relative to each other and store elastic potential energy. When the bent part of the body seeks to return to its original position, the scales release the stored energy and partially bear the load, which may significantly reduce the burden on the body during movement and may prevent sports injuries. Additionally, the continuous stacking of the scales act as multiple bending joints on the skeleton, they can follow the movements or bends of the human body without impeding the human body's mobility.
In order to make the aforementioned and/or other purposes, benefits, and features of the present disclosure clearer and more understandable, the following detailed description is provided, using preferred embodiments as examples.
The following descriptions describe the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
Please refer to
In yet another preferable embodiment, to allow free movement and bend of the human body parts when wearing the protector 1, as shown in
Preferably, in order to stabilize and maintain the relative positions of each scale 5 to allow the scales 5 to bend along with the protector 1 to store a sufficient amount of elastic potential energy, to strike a better balance between supporting capability and flexibility of the protector 1, to control the overall thickness of the protector 1 to not to affect the breathability and comfort, or to enhance the effectiveness of relieving pressure on limbs, as shown in
In one preferable embodiment, to enhance the effectiveness of relieving limb pressure by providing massage to the human body parts or inducing resonance between scales 5, as shown in
In one preferable embodiment, the protector 1 of the present disclosure provides sufficient shock absorption capacity when the human body is engaged in sports or stretching, thereby reducing the pressure on the joints or muscles. Hence, it is suitable for daily use, and the users can choose whether to activate the vibrator 7 or control the vibration intensity of the vibrator 7 according to their own physical strength. However, to allow the users to immediately activate the vibration with the corresponding intensity when suddenly subjected to intense physical exertion, such as to evade or to land awkwardly, and to alleviate muscle fatigue or reduce pain, as shown in
In one preferable embodiment, to ensure that the scales 5 remain lightweight while maintaining a certain structural strength and elasticity, the thickness of the scale 5 ranges from 1 to 5 mm, preferably below 2 mm. In one preferable embodiment, to provide a moderate coefficient of friction, allowing natural extension or contraction of the limbs, the scales 5 may be made from polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fiberglass, carbon fiber, epoxy resin, polycarbonate (PC), polyamide resin, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyimide (PI), triacetate cellulose (TAC), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyamide (PA), or ultra-thin flexible metal sheets, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.
In one preferable embodiment, the protector 1 further include the vibrator 7 in order to, such as, make the scales resonate to provide better pressure relief effect, load bearing ability, or the support to the human body parts, and the vibrator 7 may also remind the users when, such as, they have exercised excessively or need to take medication, and to provide a vibration corresponding to the degree of bending of the limbs to prevent sports injuries of the users due to poor posture, stretching or bending, and to alert the users to potential collisions with obstacles and notify caregivers, or family members to assist if the user has fallen, as well as to monitor the ambient temperature and vibrate the limbs along with the scales to prevent the users from getting too cold or experiencing hypothermia. The vibrator 7 is configured on the sheet body 2 to selectively vibrate the scales 5 with a vibration intensity. The protector 1 further include a processor 12 configured on the sheet body 2 and spaced apart from and connecting to the vibrator 7. The processor 12 includes a timer 13, a bending sensor 14, an obstacle detector 15, a tilt sensor 16 and a body temperature sensor 17. The timer 13 is configured to preset a time period and to send the starting signal to the vibrator 7 after the time period ends to activate the vibrator 7 to vibrate the scales 5. The bending sensor 14 is configured to detect a bending amplitude of the scale 5. When the bending amplitude exceeds the predetermined curvature, the bending sensor 14 sends the starting signal to the vibrator 7 to activate the vibrator 7 to vibrate the scales 5. The greater the difference between the bending amplitude and the predetermined curvature, the stronger the vibration intensity. The obstacle detector 15 is configured to measure a relative distance between the user and obstacles. When the relative distance is less than the predetermined length, the obstacle detector 15 sends the starting signal to the vibrator 7 to activate the vibrator 7 to vibrate the scales 5. The greater the difference between the relative distance and the predetermined length, the stronger the vibration intensity. The tilt sensor 16 is configured to detect the position of the center of gravity of the user. When the position of the center of gravity is lower than the predetermined height, the tilt sensor 16 sends the starting signal to the vibrator 7 to activate the vibrator 7 to vibrate the scales 5. The greater the difference between the position and the predetermined height, the stronger the vibration intensity. The body temperature sensor 16 is configured to measure the body temperature of the user. When the body temperature is lower than the predetermined temperature, the body temperature sensor 16 sends the starting signal to the vibrator 7 to activate the vibrator 7 to vibrate the scales 5. The greater the difference between the body temperature and the predetermined temperature, the stronger the vibration intensity.
The following description describes the application scenario of the present disclosure. In one scenario, the protector 1 serves as a knee protector enveloping the knee. Given that the knee bears several times the body weight during activities, such as walking, running, or kneeling, improper posture or repetitive wear on knee cartilage, may lead to knee degeneration and symptoms of arthritis. This may result in knee pain, swelling, stiffness, or even deformity, and may significantly impact daily life routines for individuals. Therefore, it is practical to reduce the pressure and potential damage caused by the body weight or high-intensity exercise on the knees to slow down knee degeneration. The present disclosure utilizes the design with multiple overlapping scales 5. When the pressure from the body weight is applied to the knee, these scales 5 provide support to the body, thereby alleviating the load that the knee normally bear. Furthermore, as the knee transits from a bending position back to a straight position, the stored elastic potential energy within the scales 5 is released, which may further reduce the muscular effort required for limb to support and alleviate the pressure exerted by muscles on the bones. Similarly, when the protector 1 of the present disclosure is used to cover other joints, limbs, trunk, or neck, it can effectively unload and relieve muscles, bones, or tissue burdens, enabling the human body parts to maintain health over a longer period and reducing the risk of sports injuries.
The following descriptions describe the second embodiment of the present disclosure.
Please refer to
In another preferable embodiment, as shown in
The following descriptions describe the third embodiment of the present disclosure.
The present disclosure provides yet another protector 1 having fish scale structures for protecting a human body from vibrations. Please refer to
In one preferable embodiment, for increasing the flexibility of the human body parts, the area covered by the first scale on the sheet body 2 is denoted as A, the area covered by the second scale is denoted as B, and the area covered by the third scale is denoted as C, with A=C>B. Specifically, the middle portion corresponds to the joint position. To reduce resistance generated by the scales 5 during joint movements, area B represents less than 50% of the area of the side of the sheet body 2, which is in contact with the accommodating space 4. It is understood that to avoid inefficient transmission of vibrations, area B is greater than 20% of the area of the side of the sheet body 2, which is in contact with the accommodating space 4. Furthermore, the front and rear portions correspond to the trunk or limb positions of the body. To optimize the shock absorption effect, area A or area C represents at least 70%, preferably ranging from 80% to 95%, of the area of the side of the sheet body 2, which is in contact with the accommodating space 4, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In one preferable embodiment, the shapes of the first, second and third scales can be selected from the following shapes, such as rectangle, diamond, trapezoid, arc, sphere, and ellipse, with ellipse being preferred, but the preset disclosure is not limited thereto. In another preferable embodiment, to enhance breathability and lightweight design, the first, second, and third scales are equipped with breathing holes. It is understood that to maintain the structural integrity of the scales 5, the center of the breathing hole intersects with the axis of the first, second, or third scale, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. In yet another preferable embodiment, the shapes and sizes of the first, second, and third scales can be the same or different.
A first V-shaped space is configured between the first scale and the sheet body 2, a second V-shaped space configured between the second scale and the sheet body 2, and a third V-shaped space is configured between the third scale and the sheet body 2. The openings of the first, second, and third V-shaped spaces all face in the same direction, which is along with the extending direction. In one preferable embodiment, the adjacent first V-shaped spaces intersect with each other, and the volume of the intersection accounts for at least 15% of the total volume of the first V-shaped space. Similarly, the adjacent second V-shaped spaces intersect with each other, with the volume of the intersection accounting for at least 15% of the total volume of the second V-shaped space. Similarly, the adjacent third V-shaped spaces intersect with each other, with the volume of the intersection accounting for at least 15% of the total volume of the third V-shaped space. Apart from this, in terms of other implementation details, such as the placement, thickness, material, or additional devices of the scales 5, are generally similar to those of the first embodiment, and therefore will not be elaborated further here.
The efficacy of the present disclosure lies as follow. The installation is simple and quick, and the scales 5 can be directly installed on the corresponding human body parts that require to be protected. Additionally, the scales 5 are arranged in an overlapping and stacking manner that may significantly enhance the resonance effect between the scales. This effectively counteracts the forces exerted on the wearing parts of the human body, alleviates the pressure on muscles, joints, or bones, and thereby preventing conditions such as ligament sprains, fractures, or excessive cartilage wear. Furthermore, since the scales 5 are stacked and wrapped around the human body part along the extending direction, when the vibrator 7 transmits energy to any position on the scales 5, the resulting vibration rapidly propagates to various positions throughout the entire structure of the scales 5, such that the resonant effect may be achieved. Therefore, the users can install the vibrator 7 at any position on the protector 1 to effectively massage and relieve stress while maintaining comfort during physical activity. Moreover, as the human body limbs bend, the scales 5 move relative to each other and store elastic potential energy. When the bent part of the body seeks to return to its original position, the scales 5 release the stored energy and partially bear the load, which may significantly reduce the burden on the body during movement and may prevent sports injuries. Additionally, the continuous stacking of the scales 5 act as multiple bending joints on the skeleton, they may follow the movements or bends of the human body without impeding its mobility.
The above description represents only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should not be limited to these embodiments. Therefore, any simple equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent claims and the content of the invention disclosure are still within the scope of the present invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 112126597 | Jul 2023 | TW | national |
