Taylor harness

A harness for the alleviation of back strain has members passing over the shoulders and around the thoraric region with attachments to a pivotable tension equalizing plate whereby the lumbar or lower back region is supported and a balance between the anterior and posterior muscle groups is attained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 When our distant ancestors, whether homo erectus or homo habilis, came out
 of the trees and stood upright, some portions of descendant homo sapiens
 anatomy remained specifically vulnerable to insults associated with an
 erect posture and its necessary variations. A particular portion of
 anatomy vulnerable to the insults caused by stresses of physical exertion
 is the lumbar or lower back region. Leaning over from the erect position
 and lifting from the flexed position results in an unbalance in tone of
 the anterior and posterior muscle groups. The measured distance, between a
 point at the top of the shoulders and a point below the buttocks or
 gluteus, is three to ten inches longer in the bent over or hip-flexed
 position than when the person is standing erect, depending on the height,
 weight and muscular configuration of the particular individual.
 The stress of this extension and the resulting strain on the muscles,
 ligaments and vertebrae of the spine is a cause of much pain and
 disability to many people in all segments of society, from farmers tilling
 the soil to secretaries filing documents, to athletes, librarians, and
 especially to manual laborers.
 Prior efforts in this field include: U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,183, Perrine,
 disclosing an arm support device with a body member and pivotable arm
 supports; U.S. Pat. No. 4,802,667, Altner, a weight lifter's belt for the
 abdomen; U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,261, Smith et al, a lifting belt, comprising
 lumbar and abdominal belts; U.S. Pat. No. 5,158,520, Lemke et al., a
 training device comprising a belt on the subject attached to a weight
 lifting apparatus, U.S. Pat. No. 5,212,380, Steinbrueck, disclosing an
 orthopedic back harness suspended from an elevated support; U.S. Pat. No.
 5,406,942, Loo, disclosing a harness with a belt, a suspender, a
 cross-support and an ischial pocket; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,398,
 Silverman, disclosing a harness for exercises having rigid shoulder yokes
 for holding weights during squat exercises.
 OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
 The object of this invention is the provision of an apparatus designed to
 ease the strain on the thoraco-lumbar-pelvic region of the anatomy and to
 correct the imbalance in muscle tone in this region that occurs because
 greater muscular exertion is required assuming an erect position from
 hip-flexed position than from assuming an erect position to hip-flexed
 position. The harness of my invention has two purposes: (1) to strengthen
 and retone the anterior abdominal, sublumbar, thoracic and pelvic muscle
 groups, (2) to serve as an aid in lifting heavy objects from any
 hip-flexed position to the standing position. These objectives are
 accomplished simultaneously with my invention.
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 The Taylor Harness is an elastic harness having a shoulder harness, a
 tension equalizing plate, elastic back bands, leg straps and thigh bands,
 all interconnected in order to strengthen and support the abdominal and
 anterior sublumbar, thoracic and pelvic muscle groups.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
 The purposes of the Taylor Harness are: (1) to strengthen the abdominal and
 anterior sublumbar thoracic and pelvic muscle groups and (2) to serve as
 an aid in lifting heavy material objects from any hip-flexed position to
 the standing position. Both purposes may be accomplished simultaneously.
 The Taylor Harness consists of six continuous but separating component
 parts. These are (1) padded shoulder harness with Velcro.RTM. snap latch
 buckles, (2) a fulcrum type tension equalizing plate, (3) elastic rubber
 back bands with covers, (4) leg straps having knee and ankle supports with
 Velcro.RTM. or snap latch buckles, (5) thigh leg bands with supports and
 belt, and (6) a crotchless long legged brief shorts with Velcro.RTM. or
 snap latch fasteners.
 The functional application of the component parts of the Taylor Harness are
 used to accomplish the above stated purposes as follows: (1) The leg
 straps cross the shoe soles of the user in front of the heel of the shoe.
 They then extend upward on the medial and lateral aspects of each ankle,
 and up each leg to the gluteal area. At a point adjacent to each ankle
 these straps are stabilized with adjustable ankle straps with pads. At a
 point just above the ankle these leg straps have snaps and/or vertical
 slits in each through which passes another padded strap. This second
 padded strap circles the ankle and is fastened on the upper part of the
 front of the foot at shoe lace level with Velcro.RTM. or snap fasteners.
 This padded strap, as it circles the foot above the ankle prevents the
 vertical straps from developing slack as they pass under the shoe sole in
 front of the heel of the shoe.
 The leg straps extend upward on the medial and lateral aspect of each leg.
 At a point just below and just above the knee of each leg they, have slits
 or snaps in each through which pass padded straps. These padded straps
 encircle the leg above and below the knee and are fastened with
 Velcro.RTM. or snaps on the anterolateral aspect of each leg.
 From the knee the vertical leg straps extend upward to a point just below
 the gluteal bulge. At this point each of the two vertical straps on each
 leg is attached to the ventral portion of the elastic back bands with
 adjustable snap locks, Velcro.RTM., or other fasteners.
 An alternate ventral anchoring system to the leg strap system is the upper
 thigh system. These upper thigh bands consist of two bands four to eight
 inches wide that encircle each thigh two to three inches ventral to the
 crotch. These thigh bands are fastened on the anterolateral aspect of each
 thigh with Velcro.RTM. fasteners. These bands are each supported by two
 narrow belts, which extend upward from the anteromedial and posterolateral
 aspect of each upper thigh band to their attachments to a narrow
 Velcro.RTM. fastened waist belt. This waist belt and four descending belts
 prevent the upper thigh bands from slipping down the thighs. These upper
 thigh bands are used as posterior anchors for the elastic rubber back
 bands when it would not be practical to use the leg strap anchor system.
 A second alternate ventral anchoring system to the leg strap system is the
 crotchless long-legged brief shorts sytem, henceforth ("CLLB"). Shorts are
 made of leather, nylon or any of a number of other materials. The shorts
 cover the waist down to the lower thigh area. They separate into a front
 and rear half along a separating and attachment line from top to bottom on
 both sides from the lateral waist, lateral hip and lateral thigh. They are
 fastened at these same separating lines with Velcro.RTM. or snap latch
 fasteners. These shorts are crotchless from the upper pubic area
 ventrally, posteriorly and then dorsally to a point above the split of the
 buttocks. These shorts serve as a ventral attaching point via Velcro.RTM.
 or snap latch fasteners of the CLLB for some users with certain dress
 limitations and or comfort variations.
 The elastic or rubber back bands are dual and run parallel as they travel
 upward from their attachments to the vertical leg straps, crotchless
 long-legged brief shorts, or upper thigh bands ventral to the gluteal
 bulge. These elastic back bands are covered with soft leather, fabric or
 nylon slide boots that protect the user from friction between skin or
 clothing and the elastic back bands. The slide boots cover the entire
 length of the elastic back bands and are attached to the shoulder harness
 via elastic cuffs at the tension equalizing plate in the upper-posterior
 thoracic area just below the shoulder blades. The slide boots are attached
 ventrally, with elastic cuffs, to the vertical leg straps in the gluteal
 area. The slide boots have a strap attached to each of their medial slides
 in the area of the fourth or fifth lumbar vertebrae. These belly straps
 transverse laterally from their medial attachments to the slide boots,
 encircle the lower abdomen and are attached to each other with Velcro.RTM.
 or snaps in the anterior abdomen. These straps serve to either separate or
 pull together the elastic rubber back bands as they pass over the gluteal,
 lumbar and thoracic areas. When attached, the belly straps pull the
 elastic rubber back bands together for lifting and/or for exercising. With
 the belly straps unfastened, the elastic rubber back bands and their slide
 boots may be slipped off the gluteus and on to the lateral sides of the
 hips. In this lateral hip position the user can sit, bend, and put all
 parts of the Taylor Harness into position for use or make adjustments,
 without there being pressure on the elastic rubber back bands. The elastic
 rubber back bands are attached, ventral to the shoulder blades, in the
 upper posterior thoracic area to the tension equalizing plate.
 The tension equalizing plate functions to equalize the tension on the
 elastic rubber back bands as the user walks, bends, or lifts.
 The tension equalizing plate is an inverted triangular shape snapped
 apparatus with three points of attachment. The tension equalizing plate is
 attached to the shoulder harness at one of its points and to the top of
 each elastic rubber back band at its other two points. The tension
 equalizing plate (TEP) has a heavy friction pad underneath it on which it
 pivots. This pad is to prevent friction between the skin or clothing of
 the user as the TEP pivots as a fulcrum to equalize the tension of the
 elastic rubber back bands as the user walks. The TEP has slotted
 adjustment points at the attachment point of the elastic rubber back
 bands. These slotted adjustment points on the TEP allow for compensation
 in elastic rubber back band tension to be made for users of differing
 heights and strides as they walk.
 The padded shoulder harness forms a "V" configuration on the back of the
 user in the area of the shoulder blades. It is at the ventral portion of
 this "V" configuration that the elastic rubber back bands are attached to
 the shoulder harness via the tension equalizing plate with Velcro.RTM. and
 adjustable snap buckles. The two top straps of the "V" pass over the
 shoulders between the neck and the scapulo-humeral joints upwardly and
 forwardly. They then pass ventrally and posteriorly under the arms over
 the lateral aspect of the rib cage, to the center of the back where they
 cross in the vicinity of the last thoracic vertebra. They pass under the
 elastic rubber back bands at their point of crossing and continue
 anteriorally around the rib cage and are attached in front near the
 ventral sternal area with Velcro.RTM. and or snap buckles.
 The Taylor Harness accomplishes its stated purposes because it takes
 advantage of the fact that the anatomical measured distance between a
 point at the top of the shoulders and a point below the buttocks or
 gluteus is three to ten inches shorter in the standing position than it is
 when bent over or in the hip-flexed position, depending on the height and
 weight of the individual. The application of elastic bands, via a stable
 shoulder harness to a stable point at the bottom of the foot or upper
 thigh, makes it possible to store energy expended in bending the body at
 the sacrofemoral and vertebral joints. This energy thus stored in the
 elastic rubber bands is in turn utilized to assist the posterior thoracic,
 lumbar and pelvic muscles in the lifting process.
 In essence what the Taylor Harness does is shift part of the workload of
 the lifting process from those posterior muscle groups of the shoulders,
 rib cage, spinal column, pelvis, and upper thighs, as we bend from the
 "pelvic extended" position and lift from the "pelvic flexed" position, to
 those anterior muscle groups of the thoracic cage, shoulders, the abdomen,
 the spinal column, pelvic and thigh.
 By wearing the Taylor Harness "part time" the maintenance of a balance of
 muscle tone in all muscle groups mentioned is attained and maintained. A
 balance in muscle tone in the spinal musculature, especially in the lumbar
 area is essential if spinal nerve irration is to be alleviated or
 prevented. With the poor physical condition of most people today, the use
 of the Taylor Harness part time, would retone anterior muscle groups, that
 are seldom used, and as a result would aid in treating and greatly reduce
 the incidence of lumbrosacral disc syndrome.
 These conditions are a result of an imbalance in muscle tone of the
 anterior and posterior muscle groups. This imbalance of muscle tone causes
 the rupture of the posterior side of the annulas fibrosa, a narrowing of
 the intervertebral space, thus the pinching of colateral nerves and spinal
 cord pressure.
 The industrial applications, for workers bending and lifting, would be
 greatly reduced if workers were fitted with and wore the Taylor Harness
 part time on the job. The Taylor Harness would be invaluable in the
 treatment of those individuals already experiencing an episode of lumbar
 disc rupture.
 Although Velcro.RTM. is described here, other fasteners, such as snaps,
 buttons, buckles and the like may also be used. The straps are principally
 nylon or leather, but other materials may be equally substituted. The TEP
 is normally reinforced fiberglass or metal but plastic or other material
 can also be used.
 DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
 In FIGS. 1A and 1B with leg band anchor the shoulder harness 10 is shown
 back 10A and front 10B attached to the TEP 12 at 13 with flexible friction
 pad 14, and elastic back bands 16 with covers. Shoulder harness release
 belt 18 is a continuation at 20 of shoulder harness 10B and crosses the
 lateral rib cage to the posterior thoracic area where it crosses itself
 and proceed anteriorally around the abdominal wall and is fastened at 22.
 The elastic band release belt 24 is attached to back band slip covers at
 26 and buckles at 28. Leg band supports 30 are for use with the thigh
 bands 38, are attached to a leg band support belt 32 at 34, leg band
 support belt buckles at 39, and are attached to thigh bands 36 at
 attachment points 38.
 In FIGS. 2A and 2B with foot anchor shoulder harness 10A and 10B is
 attached to TEP 12 at 13 with friction pad 14, elastic back bands of
 rubber or other elastomer 21 with leather, cloth, or knit covers, having
 elastic cuffs 41. Shoulder harness release belt 18 is a continuation of
 shoulder harness 10A and 10B at 20 held fastened at 22. Elastic band
 release belt 24 is fastened at 28 and attached to elastic back band cover
 19 at 26. Elastic back bands 21 are attached to vertical leg bands 45 at
 44 with fasteners 43. Lower knee straps 46 with fasteners 50 are attached
 to vertical leg straps 45 at 48.
 Upper knee straps 42 are attached to leg bands 45 at 44 and backed at
 fasteners 41. Ankle straps 52 with fasteners 54 are attached to elastic
 leg straps 45 at 56. Leg bands 45 are attached to foot anchor wear plate
 58 at 60.
 FIGS. 3A and 3B depict the upper thigh band system, the crotchless long
 legged brief comprising two bands 61 and 62 which encircle each thigh two
 to three inches ventral to the crotch. These thigh bands are fastened at
 64 to belts 72 and 70 and fastened together at 66. Belts 72 and 70 are
 attached to TEP 12.
 FIG. 4 shows a detail of TEP 12 with shoulder harness 10A attachment point
 13, flexible friction pad 14 and elastic back bands 16 attached at 71.
 FIG. 5 is a cross-section of elastic back bands 16 with cover 19.
 FIG. 6 depicts the foot anchor wear plate 58 fastened to vertical leg
 straps 45 at 60.
 FIG. 7 depicts a cross-section of wear plate 58 with clamp 82 holding the
 two halves together and vertical leg straps 45.