Wearable posture support devices

Abstract

Wearable posture support devices include an adjustable waist belt having a lumbar support region, a longitudinally elastic back strap having a lower end attached to the lumbar support region of the waist belt, and right and left bilateral tension strap elements each having an upper end attached to an upper end of the elastic back strap and a lower end adapted for attachment to the lumbar support region of the waist belt adjacent the lower end of the back strap. The right and left bilateral tension strap elements are provided with an upper tensioning system for applying an adjustable longitudinally extensible tension force onto the elastic back strap which thereby provides posture support to a user when the device is worn

Description

WEARABLE POSTURE SUPPORT DEVICESCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application is based on and claims priority benefits from U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 63 / 454,750 filed on March 27, 2023, the entire content of which is expressly incorporated hereinto by reference.GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

[0002] The embodiments of the invention disclosed herein were made with support by the Department of the Navy, NAVIR Contracts #N68335-20-C-107 and #N68335-19-C-0423. The government has certain rights in the invention.FIELD

[0003] The embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to devices to support human musculoskeletal structures. In preferred embodiments, the invention relates to wearable devices that can be usefully employed to support human musculoskeletal structures to promote improved posture, especially for personnel maintaining suboptimal postures for long durations, such as military pilots during long duration flight missions.BACKGROUND

[0004] Musculoskeletal pain and discomfort are prevalent issues for pilots and aircrew. In rotary aircraft a combination of poor seat ergonomics and cockpit design have resulted in airframes that actively promote poor posture and induce high rates of pain. Over one-half of helicopter pilots experience musculoskeletal pain, with flight engineers and gunners often suffering at similar rates. The default position assumed by pilots as a result of cockpit layout and seat design is colloquially termed the “helo-hunch” and presents as a misaligned posture in which a pilot’s trunk is curvedforward and slightly rotated. This position is compounded with a heavy anterior equipment load, leading to poor posture and musculoskeletal fatigue and pain.

[0005] Currently, pilots attempt to reduce fatigue and pain with nonwearable lumbar support pillows or with improved seat cushions. Existing solutions were not designed to specifically integrate with flight gear making them unusable during long-duration flights (e.g., flights of 3+ hours duration). Further, many solutions are not fully adjustable without removing safety and flight equipment, making them unusable in the aviation environment. Therefore, a significant need exists for improved musculoskeletal support in long duration flight operations.

[0006] What has been needed therefore is a wearable musculoskeletal posture support device that may be adjusted by the user so as to reduce fatigue and pain, especially for aircrew during prolonged flight operations.SUMMARY

[0007] To address the needs noted previously, the embodiments of a wearable musculoskeletal posture support device have been developed so as to reduce fatigue and pain for aircrew. The devices in accordance with the embodiments disclosed herein will broadly include a biomechanically informed upper postural support system that reduces the kyphotic posture (i.e. , so-called “helo-hunch”) typically observed in pilots during prolonged rotary flight operations. The device is sufficiently flexible to allow for critical flight movements and is specifically adapted to be worn over a standard flight suit and under the pilot’s vest (and other flight gear such as the pilot’s safety harness). The devices disclosed herein employ bilateral adjustable- length tension elements in series with an elastic element to apply a counteracting force to the upper body to improve posture and reduce muscle loading and fatigue.

[0008] The wearable musculoskeletal posture support devices as disclosed herein are especially designed to offload forces in the lower back / spine by utilizing a series arrangement of an elastic element running in parallel with the spine, and bilateral tension elements. The elastic back strap attaches to a lower lumbar support which may optionally include an integrated, inflatable bladder. Each of the bilateral tension elements / straps includes a pair of separate internal tension wire sets (upper and lower) which alter the forces produced by the device. Tension adjustment in the upper wire sets primarily affects the degree of force generated in the back elastic element, which affects the amount of force offloaded from the spine. Tension adjustment in the lower wire sets primarily affects the magnitude of corrective force for scapular alignment.

[0009] Therefore, in addition to its use in posture support for rotary and fixed wing aircrew, the embodiments of the wearable musculoskeletal devices disclosed herein could also be useful for other applications in which adjustment of back tension is required to be accessible, such as during prolonged driving of a car or other vehicle or for use in connection with posture therapy.

[0010] According to certain embodiments of the invention, a wearable posture support device is provided which includes an adjustable waist belt having a lumbar support region, a longitudinally elastic back strap having a lower end attached to the lumbar support region of the waist belt, and right and left bilateral tension strap elements each having an upper end attached to an upper end of the elastic back strap and a lower end adapted for attachment to the lumbar support region of the waist belt adjacent the lower end of the back strap.

[0011] Each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements will be provided with an upper tensioning system for applying an adjustable longitudinally extensible tension force onto the elastic back strap. The upper tensioning system of each of the tension strap elements maytherefore include an upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial positioned on the tension strap to be manually manipulated by a user, and an upper tension wire operably connected to the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial and extending therefrom to the upper end of the tension strap element. Operation of the upper ratcheting tension dial will therefore responsively cause an adjustable longitudinally extensible tension force to be applied to the elastic back strap by the upper tension wire.

[0012] According to some embodiments, the upper tensioning system of each of the tension strap elements may include an upper terminal wire guide positioned near the upper end of the tension strap element, and at least one upper intermediate wire guide positioned between the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial and the upper terminal wire guide. The upper tension wire will therefore be of sufficient length so as to extend from the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial through the at least one upper intermediate wire guide and then looped through the upper terminal wire guide so as to return from the upper terminal wire guide through the at least one intermediate wire guide for operable connection to the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial.

[0013] The right and left bilateral tension strap elements are preferably sized and configured to extend upwardly from the back strap and over a user’s respective shoulder regions, under a respective underarm region of the user and then conformally along the user’s body to allow the lower ends of the tension strap elements to be connected to the lumbar support region of the waist belt adjacent the lower end of the back strap.

[0014] The lumbar support region of the waist belt may include an inflatable bladder. An inflation bulb and a tube fluid-connecting the inflation bulb to the inflatable bladder may therefore be provided so that manual operation of the inflation bulb by the user will cause the inflatable bladder to inflate and thereby provide the user with enhanced support in the user’s lumbar region.

[0015] Each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements may additionally include a respective lower tensioning system. If present, the lower tensioning system of each of the tension strap elements will preferably include a lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial positioned on the tension strap to be manually manipulated by a user and a lower tension wire operably connected to the lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial and extending therefrom to the lower end of the tension strap element. Each of the upper and lower ratcheting tension adjustment dials may be positioned on respective upper forward facing surfaces of the right and left bilateral tension strap, preferably such that the lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial is positioned below the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial.

[0016] These and other aspects of the herein disclosed embodiments will become more clear after careful consideration is given to the following detailed description of a presently preferred exemplary embodiment thereof.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Reference will be made to the accompanying drawing Figures, wherein:

[0018] FIGS. 1A and 1 B are respective front and back assembled views of the wearable posture support device in accordance with an embodiment of this invention;

[0019] FIGS. 2A-2C are respective front, back and side perspective views of a posture support device in accordance with an embodiment of this invention being worn by a user in need of musculoskeletal support;

[0020] FIG. 3 is a disassembled view from below of the wearable posture support device shown in FIGS. 1 A and 1 B, with the bilateral tension elements thereof partly cut away for clarity of presentation and to expose the internal wire tensioning systems thereof; and

[0021] FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views schematically illustrating the posture of a person wearing the posture support device shown in FIGS. 1A and 1 B in the absence of tension being applied by the bilateral tension elements (FIG. 4A) and the improved posture of a person wearing the posture support device following application of tension by the bilateral tension elements (FIG. 4B).DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] An exemplary embodiment of a wearable musculoskeletal posture support device 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 A and 1 B as including an adjustable waist belt 12, an elastic back strap 14 that has a lower end 14a attached to a rear portion of the waist belt 12, and right and left bilateral tension strap elements 16a, 16b.

[0023] The waist belt 12 has a length that is sized and configured to be placed about a user’s waist region such that the opposed ends 12a, 12b thereof overlap. Appropriate two-part attachments (not shown) such as, VELCRO-brand hook and loop attachments may be provided on opposed facing surfaces of the opposed ends 12a, 12b so as to allow the user to adjust the belt 12 to the user’s waist size. The waist belt 12 has a sufficient width dimension to provide support to the user’s lumbar region when worn. Optionally, an inflatable lumbar support bladder 18 may be provided as a component of the waist belt 12 so as to be positionable at the user’s lumbar region when the device 10 is worn. The lumbar support bladder 18 (see FIG. 1 A) may be inflated manually to suit the user’s preferences by means of an inflation bulb 18a which is fluid-connected to the bladder 18 by a tube 18b. As is known, the inflation bulb 18a may be provided with an integrated valve structure 18c to maintain the bladder 18 in an inflated state but which can be manually manipulated to deflate the bladder 18 as may be needed. Any conventional inflation bulb and valve assemblies available commercially (e.g., the inflation bulb and valve assemblies employed inconventional blood pressure cuffs) may be employed satisfactorily in the embodiments disclosed therein.

[0024] As is shown in FIGS. 2A-2C, the back strap 14 is most preferably longitudinally elastic and is of sufficient length so as to be positioned in parallel adjacency to the user’s spinal column such that the upper end of 14b of the back strap 14 terminates at the user’s scapulae region when worn. The back strap 14 thus serves as a counter-moment to balance off-centered forward loading on the user’s back / spine and thereby reduce fatigue by reducing compensatory muscular activation. The back strap 14 is thus of a sufficient width to accomplish such functions and of sufficient length to be longitudinally extensible under a tension force. The back strap 14 is therefore most preferably formed of a longitudinally elastic material or a material that includes one or more longitudinally elastic elements. When longitudinally extended under a tensioning force applied thereto by the right and left bilateral tension strap elements 16a, 16b, therefore, the back strap will elastically exert a force through the tension strap elements 16a, 16b onto the user’s shoulder region.

[0025] Each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements 16a, 16b is of sufficient length such that the upper ends 16a1 , 16b1 thereof are attached to the upper end 14b of the back strap 14 and the lower ends 16a2, 16b2 thereof are attached a rear portion of the waist belt 12 laterally adjacent the lower end 14a of the back strap 14. The right and left bilateral tension strap elements 16a, 16b are therefore sized and configured to extend upwardly from the back strap 14 and over the user’s shoulder regions below the underarm and then conformally along the user’s body to allow the lower ends 16a2, 16b2 connected or adapted to be connected to the lumbar support region of the waist belt 12. The bilateral tension elements 16a, 16b serve to transfer offloading force to the elastic back strap 12 and to apply a circumferential pressure to the top and front of theuser’s shoulders, repositioning the scapulae into a more inferior and medial position.

[0026] The lower ends 16a2, 16b2 may be non-removably or removably attached to the lumbar support region of the waist belt 12. For example the lower ends 16a2, 16b2 may be integrally formed with the waist belt 12 or be stitched or otherwise attached to the waist belt 12.Alternatively, the lower ends 16a2, 16b2 of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements 16a, 16b and the interior portion of the lumbar support region of the waist belt 12 may be provided with cooperating two- part attachment systems, such as VELCRO-brand hook and loop attachments (not shown) so as that the lower ends 16a2, 16b2 may be removably attached to the lumbar support region of the waist belt.

[0027] According to the embodiments disclosed herein, the bilateral tension elements 16a, 16b importantly include upper tensioning systems 20, 22 each having a respective ratcheting tension adjustment dial 20a, 22a positioned on an upper forward facing surface portion of the tension elements 16a, 16b so as to be capable of manual manipulation by the user when the posture support device 10 is worn. As is shown in the cut-away view of FIG. 3, each of the upper tensioning systems 20, 22 is provided with a tension wire 20b, 22b which extends from the respective ratcheting tension adjustment dials 20a, 22a through the intermediate wire guides 20c, 22c and then is looped through the terminal wire guide 20d, 22d positioned near the upper ends 16a1 , 16b1 of the tension elements 16a, 16b, respectively. The tension wires 20b, 22b extend from the terminal wire guides 20d, 22d and return to the ratcheting tension adjustment dials 20a, 22a through the intermediate wire guides 20c, 22c, respectively.

[0028] Rotation of the ratcheting tension adjustment dials 20a, 22a alters the length of the corresponding tension wire 20b, 22b. This altered length modifies tension force exerted on the elastic back strap 12 thereby altering the effective stiffness and controlling the degree to which the backstrap 12 serves as a counter-load to reduce loading on the user’s lower back region.

[0029] Right and left lower tensioning systems 24, 26 may also be provided. Each such tension system 24, 26 will preferably include respective ratcheting dials 24a, 26a positioned on an upper forward facing surface portion of the tension elements 16a, 16b below the ratcheting dials 20a, 22a so as to be capable of manual manipulation by the user when the posture support device 10 is worn. Each of the lower tensioning systems 24, 26 may similarly be provided with a tension wire 24b, 26b which extends from the respective ratcheting tension adjustment dials 24a, 26a through the intermediate wire guides 24c, 26c and then is looped through the terminal wire guide 24d, 26d positioned near the lower ends 16a2, 16b2 of the tension elements 16a, 16b, respectively. The tension wires 24b, 26b extend from the terminal wire guides 24d, 26d and return to the ratcheting tension adjustment dials 24a, 26a through the intermediate wire guides 24c, 26c, respectively. The lower tension systems 24, 26 serve to primarily alter the degree of force generated to realign the scapulae of the user when the posture support device 10 is worn.

[0030] Virtually any dial-operated wire or cable tensioning system may be employed for the upper and lower tension systems 20, 22 and 24, 26, respectively, such as the wire tensioning systems disclosed in WO 2021 / 040229 as well as US Patent Nos. 8,468,657 and 9,138,030 (the entire contents of each being expressly incorporated hereinto by reference). Wire and cable tensioning systems that may be employed in the practice of this invention are commercially available from several sources, for example, the FREELOCK™ wire tensioning system available from Shinkyung Inc. of Busan, Korea or the BOA® fit systems available from BOA Technology Inc. of Denver, Colorado.

[0031] In use, the tension adjustment dials 20a, 22a and if present 24a, 26a, are manually adjusted by the user until the tension in the elasticback strap 14 (arrow A1 in FIG. 4B) places the user in a more ideal posture or when it offloads forward-mounted masses by exerting a downward tension force. Such a posture adjustment before and after the application of tension by means of the tensioning systems 20, 22 and if present 24, 26 of the right and left bilateral tension elements 16a, 16b, respectively is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Once adjusted the tension adjustment dials 20a, 22a, and if present 24a, 26a, positionally lock the tension elements 16a, 16b in place thereby preventing relaxation of the applied tension (e.g., so the posture of the user is maintained as shown in FIG. 4B and does not revert to that shown by FIG. 4A). To release the tension, each of the tension adjustment dials 20a, 22a, and if present 24a, 26a, may be unlocked by pulling the face of the dial away from the dial body which in turn allows the respective tension wires 20b, 22b, and if present 24b, 26b, to lengthen.

[0032] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope thereof.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:1 . A wearable posture support device comprising: an adjustable waist belt having a lumbar support region; a longitudinally elastic back strap having a lower end attached to the lumbar support region of the waist belt; and right and left bilateral tension strap elements each having an upper end attached to an upper end of the elastic back strap and a lower end attached to the lumbar support region of the waist belt adjacent the lower end of the back strap, wherein each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements comprises an upper tensioning system for applying an adjustable longitudinally extensible tension force onto the elastic back strap.

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the upper tensioning system of each of the tension strap elements comprises: an upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial positioned on the tension strap to be manually manipulated by a user; and an upper tension wire operably connected to the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial and extending therefrom to the upper end of the tension strap element, wherein operation of the upper ratcheting tension dial causes an adjustable longitudinally extensible tension force to be applied to the elastic back strap by the upper tension wire.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the upper tensioning system of each of the tension strap elements comprises: an upper terminal wire guide positioned near the upper end of the tension strap element, andat least one upper intermediate wire guide positioned between the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial and the upper terminal wire guide, wherein the upper tension wire is of sufficient length so as to extend from the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial through the at least one upper intermediate wire guide and then looped through the upper terminal wire guide so as to return from the upper terminal wire guide through the at least one intermediate wire guide for operable connection to the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements is sized and configured to extend upwardly from the back strap and over a user’s respective shoulder regions, under a respective underarm region of the user and then conformally along the user’s body to allow the lower ends of the tension strap elements to be connected to the lumbar support region of the waist belt adjacent the lower end of the back strap.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the lumbar support region of the waist belt includes an inflatable bladder.

6. The device according to claim 5, further comprising an inflation bulb and a tube fluid-connecting the inflation bulb to the inflatable bladder, wherein manual operation of the inflation bulb causes the inflatable bladder to inflate.

7. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the longitudinally elastic back strap is of sufficient length to extend from the lumbar support region of the waist belt in parallel adjacency to a spinal column of auser when worn such that the upper end of the back strap terminates at a scapulae region of the user.

8. The device according to claim 2, wherein each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements further comprise a lower tensioning system.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the lower tensioning system of each of the tension strap elements comprises: a lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial positioned on the tension strap to be manually manipulated by a user; and a lower tension wire operably connected to the lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial and extending therefrom to the lower end of the tension strap element.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein each of the upper and lower ratcheting tension adjustment dials are positioned on respective upper forward facing surfaces of the right and left bilateral tension strap.11 . The device according to claim 10, wherein the lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial is positioned below the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial.

12. A wearable posture support device comprising: an adjustable waist belt having a lumbar support region and being of sufficient length so that one terminal end of the waist belt can be overlapped with a second terminal end of the waist belt when worn by a user;a longitudinally elastic back strap having a lower and upper ends, wherein the lower end is attached to the lumbar support region of the waist belt, and wherein the back strap has a sufficient length so that when worn by the user the back strap extends in parallel adjacency to a spinal column of the user with the upper end thereof terminating at a scapulae region of the user; and right and left bilateral tension strap elements each having an upper end attached to an upper end of the elastic back strap and a lower end attached to the lumbar support region of the waist belt adjacent the lower end of the back strap, wherein each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements is sized and configured to extend upwardly from the back strap and over a user’s respective shoulder regions, under a respective underarm region of the user and then conformally along the user’s body to allow the lower ends of the tension strap elements to be connected to the lumbar support region of the waist belt adjacent the lower end of the back strap, and wherein each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements comprises an upper tensioning system for applying an adjustable longitudinally extensible tension force onto the elastic back strap, the upper tensioning system including:(i) an upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial positioned on the tension strap to be manually manipulated by a user; and(ii) an upper tension wire operably connected to the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial and extending therefrom to the upper end of the tension strap element, wherein operation of the upperratcheting tension dial causes an adjustable longitudinally extensible tension force to be applied to the elastic back strap by the upper tension wire.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the upper tensioning system of each of the tension strap elements comprises: an upper terminal wire guide positioned near the upper end of the tension strap element, and at least one upper intermediate wire guide positioned between the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial and the upper terminal wire guide, wherein the upper tension wire is of sufficient length so as to extend from the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial through the at least one upper intermediate wire guide and then looped through the upper terminal wire guide so as to return from the upper terminal wire guide through the at least one intermediate wire guide for operable connection to the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial.

14. The device according to claim 12, wherein the lumbar support region of the waist belt includes an inflatable bladder.

15. The device according to claim 14, further comprising an inflation bulb and a tube fluid-connecting the inflation bulb to the inflatable bladder, wherein manual operation of the inflation bulb causes the inflatable bladder to inflate.

16. The device according to claim 12, wherein each of the right and left bilateral tension strap elements further comprise a lower tensioning system.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein the lower tensioning system of each of the tension strap elements comprises: a lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial positioned on the tension strap to be manually manipulated by a user; and a lower tension wire operably connected to the lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial and extending therefrom to the lower end of the tension strap element.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein each of the upper and lower ratcheting tension adjustment dials are positioned on respective upper forward facing surfaces of the right and left bilateral tension strap.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the lower ratcheting tension adjustment dial is positioned below the upper ratcheting tension adjustment dial.

20. The device according to claim 19, further comprising: an inflatable bladder provided at the lumbar support region of the waist belt; an inflation bulb manually operable by the user; and a tube fluid-connecting the inflation bulb to the inflatable bladder, wherein manual operation of the inflation bulb causes the inflatable bladder to inflate.

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