Abstract:
A therapeutic posture aid apparatus designed to properly align all three curves of the spine, hold the shoulder girdle in a proper posture position, allow full range of motion of all joints in the back, neck, shoulders and arms, reminding the wearer to move his/her back, neck and shoulders into a proper posture to eliminate/relieve, back pain, stress and muscle fatigue.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates orthopedic type braces, and more particularly, to a posture aid apparatus that can be worn comfortably, all the time, by an individual and will remind the wearer to move his/her back, neck and shoulders into the proper position to eliminate/relieve, back pain stress and muscle fatigue. 
     2. Discussion of the Relevant Art 
     The art abounds with inventions relating to devices for preventing the movement of the clavicle (collar bone) in a splint. One example of these devices is U.S. Pat. No. 3,382,868 issued to Henry K Stiefel on May 14, 1968. 
     Another device for providing a clavicle brace is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,570,619 issued to Paul B. Gamm on Feb. 18, 1986. The device disclosed therein includes adjustable straps and links in order to adjust the tension thereof for the comfort of the wearer thereof. 
     The present invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art devices by providing an orthopedic posture aid that can be worn all the time, and reminds the wearer thereof to correct his/her posture to eliminate back pain and fatigue. 
     Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide simple apparatus, that is non-adjustable, comfortable to wear and permits movement of the back and arms without irritation or pain. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a simple garment that can be readily worn un-detected beneath conventional garments. 
     Another object of the instant invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive apparatus to manufacture that requires simple care by the wearer. 
     Yet another object of the instant invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive apparatus that is sized, when purchased, to the individual that is to wear it. 
     Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent with the following detailed description of the invention. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An apparatus, according to the principles of the present invention, overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a reliable, effective, relatively inexpensive apparatus that will be able to be used by an individual (male or female), when properly sized under, conventional garments. 
     The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from the description to follow. In the description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part hereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, a specific embodiment in which the invention may be practiced. This embodiment will be described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a therapeutic posture aid apparatus, according to the principles of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view, in elevation, taken along the line  2 — 2  of FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view similar to FIG. 1, with the posture aid apparatus being in position on an individual; and 
     FIG. 4 is a front view, with the posture aid apparatus being in position on an individual. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the figures and in particular to FIG. 1, which shows the posture aid apparatus  10  having a hub member  12  and  12 ′ that are centrally disposed between two arm members  14  and  16 . 
     The arm members  14  and  16  are identical and are fabricated from an elongated elastic material  18  and  18 ′ that is covered by a soft felt like material  20  and  20 ′ that freely slides over the elastic material. Each one of the elastic arm members  14  and  16  has its elastic material  18  and  18 ′ provided with larger end portions  22  and  22 ′. 
     A narrow extending tail member  24  is affixed to the lower portion of the hub member  12  and  12 ′ and is cut to size so that the individual  26  that is wearing the posture aid apparatus can reach the tail member  24  and pull it down to position the hub member  12  directly between the shoulder blades. 
     The hub member  12  and  12 ′ forms a sandwich with the end portions  22  of the elastic arm member  18  disposed so that one end thereof is positioned proximate the upper edge  28  parallel to the vertical axis  30  of hub member  12  and  12 ′ and the other end  22  of the elastic arm member is disposed proximate the lower edge  32  parallel to the vertical axis  30  of hub member  12  and  12 ′. The end portions  22 ′ of the other elastic arm member  18 ′ disposed so that one end thereof is positioned proximate the upper edge  28  parallel to the vertical axis  30  of hub member  12  and  12 ′ and the other end  22 ′ of the elastic arm member is disposed proximate the lower edge  32  parallel to the vertical axis  30  of hub member  12  and  12 ′. The tail member  24  is disposed between the ends  22  and  22 ′ of the elastic arm members  18  and  18 ′. 
     In order to insure that the end portions  22  and  22 ′ of the elastic arm members  18  and  18 ′ and one end of the tail member are permanently affixed to the hub members  12  and  12 ′ stitching  34  is placed proximate the edges parallel to the vertical axis  30  and the horizontal axis  36 , in addition to an “X” extending diagonally from one corner to the other of hub member  12  and  12 ′. The size of the posture aid apparatus  10  is chosen to be comfortably worn by the individual so that the arms  14  and  16  do not roll up and the arms of the individual do not tingle. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2 there is shown a cross-section of the hub member taken along the line  2 — 2  of FIG. 1 showing the sandwiching of the tail member  24  and the elastic arm members  18  and  18 ′ between the hub members  12  and  12 ′. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, wherein there is shown a pictorial rear view of the posture aid apparatus  10  positioned on a human  26  with the arms of the human having been fed through the arm members  14  and  16 , respectively. 
     In operation, once the posture aid apparatus  10  has been selected in the proper size for the individual  26 , one arm  38  is fed through the arm member  14  and the other arm  40  is fed through arm member  16  so that the vertical axis  30  of the hub member  12  is disposed upon the spinal column  42  of the individual  26 , as shown in FIG.  3 . If the posture aid apparatus is too high upon the back of the individual  26 , the tail member  24  may be pulled down to lower the hub member  12 , 
     Hereinbefore has been disclosed a posture aid apparatus  10  that aligns all three curves of the spine and holds the shoulder girdle in proper position, allows full range of motion all joints of the back, neck, shoulders and arms, the wearer thereof. The apparatus  10  is fabricated from elastic so that an individual may put it on or remove it without assistance or adjustments and is covered with a soft material to increase comfort and eliminate binding. 
     It will be understood that various changes in the detail, materials, arrangements of parts and operating conditions which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention may be made by those skilled in the art within the principles and scope of the instant invention.