Patent Publication Number: US-2015080778-A1

Title: Back posture straightening device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an elastic exercise device or back posture training or exercising or straightening device, and more particularly to a back posture training or exercising or straightening device including an elastic rope or wire or cable supported with a retainer bridge to form an eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration for engaging with or onto the back or shoulder portion of the user and for training or exercising or straightening the shoulder portion and/or the back portion of the user. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Various kinds of typical elastic exercise devices have been developed and provided for conducting or operating various exercise operations and comprise an elastic rope or wire or cable for being operated to exercise various portions or various muscle groups of the user. 
     For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,706 to Reda, U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,191 to Remme, U.S. Pat. No. 4,733,862 to Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,756,527 to Ledbetter, U.S. Pat. No. 4,909,505 to Tee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,318,494 to Santighian, U.S. Pat. No. 5,746,687 to Vial et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,885,196 to Gvoich, U.S. Pat. No. 6,203,476 to Wang et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,648,804 to Chen, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,866,617 to Chen disclose several of the typical elastic exercise devices each also comprising an elastic rope or wire or cable for being operated to exercise various portions or various muscle groups of the user. 
     However, the typical elastic exercise devices may only be pulled or operated or actuated to train or exercise the upper or lower muscle groups, but may not be used to train or exercise or straighten the shoulder portion and/or the back portion of the user. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,874 to Sleichter, III et al. disclose another typical elastic exercise device also comprising an elastic rope or wire or cable supported with a retainer ring or sleeve for forming an endless loop or for forming an eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration and for being operated to exercise various portions or various muscle groups of the user, and for training or exercising the upper or lower muscle groups of the user. 
     However, the typical elastic exercise devices may only be used or pulled or operated or actuated to train or exercise the upper or lower muscle groups, but may not be used to train or exercise or straighten the shoulder portion and/or the back portion of the user. 
     The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional elastic exercise devices. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a back posture straightening device including an elastic rope or wire or cable supported with a retainer bridge for forming an endless loop or for forming an eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration and for training or exercising or straightening the shoulder portion and/or the back portion of the user. 
     The other objective of the present invention is to provide a back posture straightening device including an elastic rope or wire or cable having two ends adjustably connected together with a coupler for applying an adjustable or changeable resilience or resilient force onto the user, and for allowing the back posture straightening device to be suitably and selectively engaged onto or with the shoulder portions of the users of different sizes or dimensions or standards. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a back posture straightening device comprising an elastic cable including a first end portion and a second end portion secured together to form an endless loop, and including an intermediate portion separated into a first segment and a second segment, and a retainer bridge engaged with the elastic cable and engaged between the first and the second segments of the elastic cable for separating the first and the second segments of the elastic cable from each other and for forming an eight (8)-shaped structure for the back posture straightening device and for engaging onto shoulder portions of a user, the retainer bridge includes a base element and an adjustable element engaged with the first and the second segments of the elastic cable respectively, and the base element and the adjustable element being adjustable relative to each other for adjusting a distance between the first and the second segments of the elastic cable. 
     The retainer bridge includes a holder member provided on the adjustable element for engaging with the first segment of the elastic cable. The holder member is preferably perpendicular to the adjustable element. The holder member includes at least one loop for slidably receiving and engaging with the first segment of the elastic cable. 
     The retainer bridge includes an anchoring member provided on the base element for engaging with the second segment of the elastic cable. The anchoring member includes a plate and a bulge extended from the plate for forming and defining a curved channel in the anchoring member and for slidably receiving and engaging with the second segment of the elastic cable. 
     The anchoring member includes a cover attached to the plate for engaging with the plate and the bulge and for anchoring the second segment of the elastic cable to the anchoring member of the base element. 
     The adjustable element includes at least one orifice formed therein, and the base element includes at least one projection extended therefrom for selectively engaging with the orifice of the adjustable element. 
     A coupler may further be provided and secured to the first end portion of the elastic cable, and the second end portion of the elastic cable is adjustable relative to the coupler. The coupler includes at least one lock ring provided thereon for selectively engaging with the second end portion of the elastic cable. The coupler includes a loop provided thereon for selectively engaging with the second end portion of the elastic cable. 
     A cushioning member may further be provided and attached to the intermediate portion of the elastic cable for softly and comfortably engaging with the user. The cushioning member includes at least one loop for selectively engaging with the intermediate portion of the elastic cable. 
     Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a rear plan schematic view illustrating the operation of a back posture straightening device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a partial front perspective view illustrating the operation of the back posture straightening device; 
         FIG. 3  is a partial exploded view of the back posture straightening device; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the back posture straightening device; 
         FIG. 5  is a front plan schematic view of the back posture straightening device; and 
         FIG. 6  is another front plan schematic view similar to  FIG. 5 , illustrating the operation of the back posture straightening device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings, and initially to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a back posture straightening device in accordance with the present invention comprises an elastic rope or wire or cable  10  having two ends  11 ,  12  to be coupled or connected together with a coupler  2  for forming an endless loop and having a middle or intermediate portion  13  coupled or connected together with a retainer bridge  3  for forming an eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration and for engaging with or onto the shoulder portions  80  of a user  8  ( FIGS. 1 ,  2 ), and for training or exercising or straightening the shoulder or back portion  81  of the user  8 . 
     For example, as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , the coupler  2  includes a longitudinal pad or cushioning member  20  made of soft or spongy or resilient materials for softly and comfortably engaging with or onto the shoulder portion  80  of the user  8 , the one or first end portion  11  of the elastic cable  10  is solidly and stably attached or mounted or secured or engaged with the one or first end portion  21  of the cushioning member  20  with molding or hot-pressing procedures, adhesives, screws or bolts or catches or latches or fasteners or the like (not illustrated), and the cushioning member  20  includes a ring or hook or loop  22  attached or mounted or secured or provided on the other or second end portion  23  of the cushioning member  20  for threading or slidably receiving or engaging with or mounting or securing or attaching the other or second end portion  12  of the elastic cable  10 . 
     The cushioning member  20  further includes one or more (such as two) catch or latch or lock members or rings  24 ,  25  attached or mounted or secured or provided on the middle or intermediate portion  26  of the cushioning member  20  for engaging with or mounting or anchoring or retaining or positioning or attaching or securing or latching or locking the other or second end portion  12  of the elastic cable  10  to the cushioning member  20  and thus for forming an endless loop or structure or configuration for the elastic cable  10 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the other or second end portion  12  of the elastic cable  10  is engageable with the loop  22  at the other or second end portion  23  of the cushioning member  20  and/or engaged through the lock rings  24 ,  25 , and may further be folded and engaged through one of the lock rings  24  for being solidly and stably secured or locked to the other or second end portion  23  of the cushioning member  20 . 
     Another longitudinal pad or cushioning member  27  is also made of soft or spongy or resilient materials for softly and comfortably engaging with or onto the shoulder portion  80  of the user  8  and includes one or more (such as two) rings or hooks or loops  28 ,  29  attached or mounted or secured or provided thereon for slidably receiving or threading or engaging with the middle or intermediate portion  13  of the elastic cable  10  and for attaching or mounting or securing or retaining the cushioning member  27  to the middle or intermediate portion  13  of the elastic cable  10 . The middle or intermediate portion  13  of the elastic cable  10  may be spaced or separated by the cushioning members  20 ,  27  into two portions or segments  14 ,  15 , such as an upper or first portion or segment  14  and a lower or second portion or segment  15 . 
     The retainer bridge  3  is threaded or engaged with or onto the middle or intermediate portion  13  of the elastic cable  10  and disposed or located between the cushioning members  20 ,  27  and/or between the segments  14 ,  15  of the elastic cable  10  for forming an eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration for the back posture straightening device and thus for allowing the back posture straightening device to be attached or mounted or secured or engaged with or onto the shoulder portion  80  and/or the back portion  81  of the user  8 . The retainer bridge  3  includes a central support or stay member  30  having a lower base element  31  and an upper adjustable or movable element  32  adjustably attached or mounted or secured together or engaged with each other for extending or spacing or retaining or supporting or disengaging or separating the segments  14 ,  15  of the elastic cable  10  from each other for thus forming the eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration for the back posture straightening device. 
     For example, the lower base element  31  of the stay member  30  includes one or more (such as three) pegs or keys or tongues or projections  33  extended therefrom, and the upper adjustable or movable element  32  of the stay member  30  includes one or more (such as six) cavities or holes or orifices  34  formed therein for selectively receiving or engaging with the projections  33  of the lower base element  31  of the stay member  30  and for allowing the base element  31  and the adjustable element  32  of the stay member  30  to be moved or adjusted relative to each other. The stay member  30  includes a carrier or holder member  35  formed or provided on the adjustable element  32  and substantially perpendicular to the adjustable element  32  and having one or more (such as two) rings or hooks or loops  36  attached or mounted or secured or provided on the holder member  35  for slidably receiving or threading or engaging with the upper or first portion or segment  14  of the middle or intermediate portion  13  of the elastic cable  10 . 
     The stay member  30  further includes a carrier or retainer or anchoring member  37  formed or provided on the base element  31  and having a panel or board or plate  38  and a projection or protrusion or swelling or bulge  39  extended from the plate  38  for forming or defining a curved passage or pathway or groove or slot or channel  40  in the anchoring member  37  and/or between the plate  38  and the bulge  39  and for slidably receiving or threading or engaging with the lower or second portion or segment  15  of the middle or intermediate portion  13  of the elastic cable  10 , and further includes a cover  41  attached or mounted or secured to the plate  38  for engaging with the plate  38  and/or the bulge  39  and for solidly and stably anchoring or retaining or positioning the second segment  15  of the middle or intermediate portion  13  of the elastic cable  10  to the anchoring member  37  of the base element  31 . A panel  42  includes a shape identical to or corresponding to that of the base element  31  and/or the plate  38  of the stay member  30  and attached or mounted or secured to the base element  31  and/or the plate  38  for reinforcing the same. 
     In operation, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the back posture straightening device includes an eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration for selectively engaging with or onto the shoulder portions  80  of the user  8 , and for training or exercising or straightening the shoulder portion  80  and/or the back portion  81  of the user  8 . As shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the adjustable element  32  of the stay member  30  is movable or adjustable relative to the base element  31  for adjusting the distance between the segments  14 ,  15  of the middle or intermediate portion  13  of the elastic cable  10 , and in order to adjust the resilience or spring biasing force of the elastic cable  10  to the user  8 , and/or for allowing the back posture straightening device to be suitably and selectively engaged onto or with the shoulder portions  80  and/or the back portion  81  of the users  8  of different sizes or dimensions or standards. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2 and 6 , the other or second end portion  12  of the elastic cable  10  is further movable or adjustable relative to the cushioning member  20  of the coupler  2 , particularly relative to the lock rings  24 ,  25  of the cushioning member  20  for adjusting the length of the endless loop of the elastic cable  10  or the eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration of the back posture straightening device and thus for allowing the back posture straightening device to be suitably and selectively engaged onto or with the shoulder portions  80  and/or the back portion  81  of the users  8  of different sizes or dimensions or standards. 
     Accordingly, the back posture straightening device in accordance with the present invention includes an elastic rope or wire or cable having two end portions coupled together for forming an endless loop and having a middle or intermediate portion supported with a retainer bridge for forming an eight (8)-shaped structure or configuration and for training or exercising or straightening the back portion of the user, the ends of the elastic rope or wire or cable are adjustably connected together with a coupler for applying an adjustable or changeable resilience or resilient force onto the user. 
     Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.