Abstract:
A posture device that is worn on the body of a wearer includes a tilt sensor that is initially calibrated to a set value. A microprocessor monitors the tilt angle during wearing of the device and, if the tilt angle deviates from the set value over a predetermined time period, then a vibrator is actuated to remind the wearer to maintain good posture.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/854,233, filed Oct. 25, 2006. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a device designed to train its wearer to assume a good posture at all times. 
         [0003]    Good posture is important, but unfortunately many people do not maintain a proper, upright stance while standing, which is conducive to good health and appearance. Overweight people often find it difficult to maintain proper posture. Persons injured will tend to favor a position that may not be the best for proper healing or therapy. Senior citizens tire more quickly and may tend to slouch, which is injurious to vertebrae of the back. Proper posture, even while sitting at a desk, is important. Proper posture can conserve energy and make a worker more productive as well as maintaining an alert appearance. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    One feature of this invention resides in an electromechanical posture-maintaining device that will offer a subtle reminder to the wearer when good posture is not being maintained. The posture device is harmless to the wearer and is worn on the body under normal outerwear and out of sight. The device includes a housing that is preferably positioned at the lower back area and held in place by a belt strapped around the waist, but it is not limited to this area, because it could be worn at the waist, or at upper back or chest areas of the wearer. 
         [0005]    The housing contains a tilt sensor for sensing the tilt of the housing, a vibrator for producing vibrations, a microprocessor for controlling the operation of the tilt sensor and the vibrator, a battery pack for supplying electrical power, and a pair of adjustable controls. An on/off power switch positioned on the housing connects and disconnects the battery pack to the electrical components. One of the controls is a vibrator potentiometer for manually adjusting the amplitude of vibrations produced by the vibrator. Another of the controls is a tilt potentiometer for manually adjusting the sensitivity of tilt produced by the tilt sensor. The tilt sensor is sensitive to one-tenth of a degree of tilt angle. 
         [0006]    Once initially positioned on the wearer, the on/off switch is depressed, and the wearer is instructed to hold a desired posture during a calibration mode. The microprocessor is programmed to use the tilt angle measured during this calibration mode as a set or reference point. Any deviation from this set point thereafter causes the microprocessor to generate an output control signal to the vibrator and causes vibrations to be produced. Alternatively, an alarm or buzzing sounds could be generated when the wearer assumes a stance or slouching posture that is incorrect. The vibrations or other alarm remind the wearer to resume his correct posture. 
         [0007]    In order to prevent the vibrator from actuating purely from the simple act of taking a deep breath, or sneezing, or minor slouching, or deviation from the set point, the microprocessor measures the tilt angle from the tilt sensor over a predetermined time period and determines an average and a frequency of the angle change. The output control signal is generated only when the tilt angle exceeds a predetermined threshold over the predetermined time period. 
         [0008]    Should the wearer, for any reason, want to temporarily disable the vibrator, the wearer simply moves the on/off switch to the off position and the device will not actuate. This would be necessary to avoid wearer embarrassment when in meetings or other situations. 
         [0009]    Another feature of this invention resides in a method of maintaining a proper body posture for a user, comprising the steps of sensing tilt of a body of the user; setting a reference value of the tilt indicative of the proper body posture during a calibration mode; generating a control signal when the sensed tilt differs from the reference value during an operational mode; and producing an alert when the control signal is generated to advise the user that the proper body posture has not been maintained and should be resumed. Thus, use of the instant invention will benefit the wearer by subtly reminding him or her when good posture is violated. Soon good posture will become a habit to the wearer, and the good health and appearance benefits will accrue to its owner. 
         [0010]    The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a rear perspective diagrammatic view of a posture device worn by a wearer in accordance with this invention; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of a housing of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is an electrical schematic of components within the housing of  FIG. 2 ; and 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top perspective view of the housing of  FIG. 2  exposed to reveal its components. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    The posture device and method of this invention will now be described by referring to  FIGS. 1-4  of the drawings. The posture device is generally designated by reference numeral  10 . 
         [0016]    The posture device  10  is harmless to the wearer and is worn on the body under normal outerwear and out of sight. The device  10  includes a housing  12  that is preferably positioned at the lower back area, as shown in  FIG. 1 , and held in place by a belt  14  strapped around the waist, but it is not limited to this area, because it could be worn at the waist, or at upper back or chest areas of the wearer. The housing  12  is formed with holes  30  through which the belt  12  is passed. 
         [0017]    The housing  12  contains a tilt sensor  16  for sensing the tilt of the housing  12 , a vibrator  18  for producing vibrations, a microprocessor  20  for controlling the operation of the tilt sensor  16  and the vibrator  18 , a battery pack  22  for supplying electrical power, and a pair of adjustable controls  24 ,  26 . An on/off power switch  28  positioned on the housing  12  connects and disconnects the battery pack  22  to the electrical components. One of the controls is a vibrator potentiometer  24  for manually adjusting the amplitude of vibrations produced by the vibrator  18 . Another of the controls is a tilt potentiometer  26  for manually adjusting the sensitivity of tilt produced by the tilt sensor  16 . The tilt sensor  16  is sensitive to one-tenth of a degree of tilt angle. 
         [0018]    Once initially positioned on the wearer, the on/off switch  28  is depressed, and the wearer is instructed to hold a desired posture during a calibration mode. The microprocessor  20  is programmed to use the tilt angle measured during this calibration mode as a set or reference point. Any deviation from this set point thereafter causes the microprocessor  20  to generate an output control signal to the vibrator  18  and causes vibrations to be produced. Alternatively, an alarm or buzzing sounds could be generated when the wearer assumes a stance or slouching posture that is incorrect. The vibrations or other alarm remind the wearer to resume his or her correct posture. 
         [0019]    In order to prevent the vibrator  18  from actuating purely from the simple act of taking a deep breath, or sneezing, or minor slouching, or deviation from the set point, the microprocessor  20  measures the tilt angle from the tilt sensor  16  over a predetermined time period and determines an average and a frequency of the angle change. The output control signal is generated only when the tilt angle exceeds a predetermined threshold over the predetermined time period. 
         [0020]    Should the wearer, for any reason, want to temporarily disable the vibrator, the wearer simply moves the on/off switch  28  to the off position and the device  10  will not actuate. This would be necessary to avoid wearer embarrassment when in meetings or other situations. 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the housing is not strapped with the belt  14  around the wearer&#39;s waist. Instead, a clip is provided on the housing, and the device is clipped on the wearer&#39;s clothing, either outerwear or underwear, for example on the waistband of a pair of pants or a skirt, or a belt used to hold up a pair of pants, or a sports bra. The clip itself could be removed, and the device simply slipped into a wearer&#39;s front shirt or blouse pocket. 
         [0022]    In still another embodiment, a separate housing is not needed. Instead, the components described above can be mounted within the housing of an existing electronic device, such as a portable telephone, a pager, a music player, a video player, or a personal digital assistant, which devices typically have, or can readily be equipped with, a clip that is clipped onto the wearer&#39;s clothing. 
         [0023]    Thus, use of the instant invention will benefit the wearer by subtly reminding him or her when good posture is violated. Soon good posture will become a habit to the wearer, and the good health and appearance benefits will accrue to its owner. 
         [0024]    It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, also may find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
         [0025]    While the invention has been illustrated and described as an arrangement for and method of maintaining proper posture, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims. 
         [0027]    What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims: