Patent Document

This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/900,538, filed on Nov. 6, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an system that improves a user&#39;s sitting posture. In particular, the system improves posture of a user while sitting at a desk. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     As more people use computers in the workplace, proper posture when sitting is increasingly becoming a personal and economic issue. Billions of dollars are lost each year by companies through lost productivity and health care costs due to cases of back pain caused by prolonged sitting behind computers and at factory work stations. Back pain is a leading contributor to losses in workplace productivity in the United States. According to one 2006 study, back pain was reported by 42.6% of workers surveyed, and “back pain in workers 40 to 65 years of age costs employers an estimated $7.4 billion/year.” The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that a total of 186.7 million work days were lost in 2004 due to back pain. Such pain plays a major role in increasing health costs and reducing the quality of people&#39;s lives. It would appear, that as individuals spend more time in front of computers, the incidence of such back problems has increased. A 2008 article published in the  Journal of the American Medical Association  estimates that healthcare expenditures related to spine problems in the United States totaled $89.5 billion in 2005, a 65% increase from expenditures in 1997. 
     The Mayo Clinic points to improper posture as one of the major causes of back pain in the workplace, and recommends proper posture while sitting as a step to prevent back pain and injury at work. Proper posture involves keeping both feet on the ground and knees level with hips. The lower back should be properly supported, and sitters should be upright and relaxed, neither slumping over nor arching their backs. While ergonomically designed chairs can help sitting posture, and individuals can work to train themselves to sit properly, most people tend to become lapse and have difficulty maintaining good habits. 
     One of the most common posture problems, called kyphosis, is a direct result of spending too much time in front of a computer, experts say. The shoulders hunch forward, the pectoral muscles in the chest tighten, the neck and head extend toward the computer screen, and the spine is no longer vertically aligned. Many deskbound office workers have started standing and walking in this position, too, says Andrea Cheville, a rehabilitation physician at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. To counteract kyphosis, it is important to stretch the pectoral muscles and strengthen the trapezius muscles in the upper back, which hold the shoulder blades back, Dr. Cheville said. Remembering to keep the ears and head over the shoulders, and not jutting forward, is also important. 
     Posture is “probably the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to health and wellness,” says Allston Stubbs, an orthopedic surgeon at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, in Winston-Salem, N.C., who treats patients with back or joint pain. “We see the spine and overall skeletal structure being critical to a patient&#39;s functionality and their satisfaction with their life and health care.” Billions of dollars are being spent by government, companies and individuals on functional health problems that are all too frequently a result of simple poor posture at work. And tens of millions of people are forced to suffer pain in their everyday lives, pain that might have been avoided with proper working posture. Yet the prior attempts at helping resolve this problem have fallen short. There are many “ergonomic” chairs that help support a user&#39;s back, but these are premised on older ways of working, such as sitting back in a chair and speaking on the phone. In fact, in the digital age workers are leaning forward to view a screen, and back support is not really helpful, since when leaning forward a worker&#39;s back is not in contact with the chair. 
     As mentioned above, typical prior art for ergonomic workstations is in the form of a chair. This type of prior art chair has a back support that follows the contour of the natural curvature of the spine but the user is required to sit with his back against the back support for the entire spine to be supported. However, when a user is sitting and working at a desk, the user often leans forward towards the desk, slouches and not utilizes the back support of the chair for support. By leaning forward or slouching, users risk straining the piriformis muscle and sciatic nerve, the two main causes of pain in the lower back and buttocks. Sciatica and “piriformis syndrome,” neuromuscular disorders that cause pain, tingling and numbing in the buttocks that extend down the leg, are the main causes for ergonomic-related worker absenteeism. According to the Mayo Clinic, slouching exaggerates a back&#39;s natural curves, which can lead to muscle fatigue and injury. Leaning forward, particularly under stress for long periods of time, strains muscles. 
     Other prior art that attempts to provide posture support when a user leans forward also takes the form of a chair. Instead of a back support, a front support is provided at the front of the chair. See U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,619,747, 4,832,407, and 3,754,787. In order for such chair to provide proper support, the user must straddle the chair and sit with his chest against the front support. The requirement to straddle such prior art chair is inconvenient for some users and may be difficult for users with mobility issues, as well as challenging for female users, who make up a large percentage of the computer-working population. 
     One major disadvantage of the prior art chairs is that they are typically configured to be “one size fit all.” While certain adjustments can be made to customize prior art chairs (e.g. tilt of a chair seat, reclining angle of a chair back support, seat height adjustment, etc.), it typically has a limited range of adjustments. 
     Therefore, there is a need for an improved portable posture support system that addresses the work-posture problem for all users from the front, not the back, while a user is at a desk that is convenient to use and convenient for the user to ensure proper posture while seated. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a posture support system that makes use of a desk for stabilization, and is not a chair. 
     The posture support system of the present invention comprises a base portion, a vertical arm portion extending from the base portion, a horizontal arm portion extending from the vertical arm portion, and a support portion extending from the horizontal arm portion. The interaction among the vertical arm portion, horizontal arm portion and support portion are fully adjustable to accommodate all different users. 
     The posture support system of the present invention comprises a rectangular base the size of a computer keyboard to which is attached an adjustable vertical arm. Attached to the vertical arm is a horizontal arm with a cushion support. 
     The posture support system of the present invention is placed on a flat surface, such as a desk. The base portion is removably positioned on the flat surface, as far or close to the edge of the flat surface according to the needs of the user. The base portion may have a lip that extends downward over the edge of a desk, which serves to prevent movement of the base portion and optionally allows the base portion to be fixedly attached to the desk by any fastening means. The vertical arm portion is preferably slightly curved towards the user and adjustable to different heights according to the user&#39;s height. The horizontal arm portion includes a pivotable joint that allows the support portion (cushion) to be adjusted and positioned at different height and angle for the user&#39;s comfort when the user&#39;s upper chest rests against the support portion. The design of the system provides resistance and spinal support for a user who tends to lean forward or slouch while seated at a desk. The system can be temporarily or permanently mounted to a flat surface, such as a desk. 
     The posture support system of the present invention is designed to provide resistance for a user who leans toward his workstation and to physically support a user in maintaining a seated position that adheres to ergonomic standards. The posture support system of the present invention is designed to induce proper seated posture from a biomechanical perspective, which, according to a consensus of medical experts, includes: (1) aligning ears over the shoulders; (2) shoulder over hips; and (3) thighs and arms perpendicular to the body. Failing to hold such posture, it is necessary for the user&#39;s back muscles to “hold up” the torso, and this constant muscular strain leads to back pain and pressure over time that degrades the spinal disks. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the present invention have been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and are shown in the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention in a refracted position. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the present invention in an extended position. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of  FIG. 1  with a keyboard in position. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of  FIG. 2  with a keyboard in position. 
         FIG. 5  is a top view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a front view of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a close-up view of the vertical arm portion in a semi-extended position. 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of vertical arm portion of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates the present invention when in use. 
         FIG. 10  is a side view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention with the vertical arm portion shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 12  is an enlarged view of the horizontal arm and support portions of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 13  is the support portion of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 14  is the compression portion of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 15  is an alternate embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 17  is an enlarged view of the horizontal arm and compression portions of  FIG. 15 . 
         FIG. 18  is a cross-sectional view of  FIG. 17  taken at line  18 - 18 . 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view the horizontal arm and compression portions of  FIG. 17  taken at line  19 - 19 . 
         FIG. 20  is a perspective view of the horizontal arm compression portions of  FIG. 17 . 
         FIG. 21  is a cross-sectional view of the vertical arm portion of  FIGS. 11 and 15 . 
         FIG. 22  is a cross-sectional simplified view of an alternate vertical arm portion. 
         FIG. 23  is another view of the vertical arm portion of  FIG. 22 . 
         FIG. 24  is an opposite view of  FIG. 23 . 
         FIG. 25  is an enlarged view of the spring feature of the inner section of the vertical arm portion as shown in  FIGS. 22 and 23 . 
         FIG. 26  is an alternate vertical arm portion. 
         FIG. 27  is an alternate embodiment of the cushion of the support portion. 
         FIG. 28  is an opposite view of  FIG. 27 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference to the drawings, wherein the same reference number indicates the same element throughout, there is shown in  FIGS. 1 to 7 , a posture support system  10  of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 1 , posture support system  10  comprises a base portion  100 , a vertical arm portion  200 , a horizontal arm portion  300 , and a support portion  400 . 
     The base portion  100  comprises a rectangular shape board  102 . Although board  102  is shown to be rectangular shape, board  102  can have other shapes such as oval, circle, or other geometric or non-geometric shapes. Preferably board  102  has a plurality of removable adhesive tapes  104  (such as 3M® Scotch® Restickable tabs for mounting) attached to the bottom of the board  102  such that the board can be removably secured on a flat surface. Board  102  can also be removably secured to the flat surface with Velcro® or similar hook and loop materials; suction devices, clamping devices, etc. Alternatively, board  102  may have a plurality of openings  106  for receiving fasteners that secure the board  102  onto the flat surface. 
     Extending adjacent from one edge of the board  102  is the vertical arm portion  200 . The elongated vertical arm portion  200  has a curved configuration that curves away from the board  102  as its height increases. Vertical arm portion  200  comprises a lower section  202  and an upper section  204 . The lower section  202  is fixedly connected to the board  102 . The upper section  204  has a center slot opening  206  along its axis. A bolt  208  is attached to the lower section  202  with the bolt&#39;s threaded shaft  210  extending through slot  206  to slidably engage upper section  204 . A nut  212  is attached to the threaded shaft  210  to allow the upper section  204  to be secured to the lower section  202  at a desired position to increase or decrease the height of the vertical arm portion  200 . A guide protrusion  214  extends from the lower section  202  in the same direction as the threaded shaft  210  that engages the slot  206  to guide the axial movement of the upper section  204  along the lower section  202 .  FIGS. 1, 3, 5 and 6  show the vertical arm portion  200  at a retracted position.  FIGS. 2 and 4  show the vertical arm portion  200  at an extended position, with increased height and reach away from the board  102 .  FIG. 7  shows the vertical arm portion  200  at a semi-extended position. In an alternative embodiment, a tightening lever that engages the upper section  204  and the lower section  202  allows movement of the upper section  204  with respect to the lower section  202  to increase or decrease the height when the lever is in a released position. Indented gearing elements are provide within the upper section  204  that engages the lower section  202  to allow controlled movement. Once the desired height is found, the lever may be tightened to lock into position the upper section  204  with respect to the lower section  202 . 
     Extending from the upper section  204  of the vertical arm portion  200  is the horizontal arm portion  300 . Horizontal arm portion  300  comprises a first link  302  and a second link  304  that are pivotably connected to each other. The first link  302  is connected to the upper section  204  of the vertical arm portion  200 . The second link  304  is connected to first link  302  via a threaded shaft  306  having butterfly nuts  308  at both ends. The shaft  306  and butterfly nuts  308  allow the second link  304  to be pivotable at different angle and height with respect to first link  302 . 
     Support portion  400  is connected to the second link  304  of the horizontal arm portion  300 . Support portion  400  comprises an elongated cushion  402  having a central pole  404  extending therefore, forming a T-shape. Central pole  404  is rotatably connected to the distal end of the second link  304  of the horizontal arm portion  300  such that cushion  402  maybe positioned in vertical alignment (as shown in the figures) or in a horizontal alignment (not shown). Support portion  400  may be removably connected (such as a push pull connector) to horizontal arm portion  300  to improve portability of the posture support system  10 . 
       FIGS. 8 and 10  show an alternate embodiment of the vertical arm portion  250 . Similar to the vertical arm portion  200 , the vertical arm portion  250  has a curved configuration that curves away from the board  102  as its height increases. Vertical arm portion  250  comprises a lower section  252  and an upper section  254 . The lower section  252  is fixedly connected to the board  102 . The upper section  254  has a center slot opening  256 . A bolt  258  is attached to the lower section  252  with the bolt&#39;s threaded shaft (not shown) extending through slot  256  to slidably engage upper section  254 . A nut  259  is attached to the threaded shaft to allow the upper section  254  to be secured to the lower section  252  at a desired position to increase or decrease the height of the vertical arm portion  250 . A plurality of guide extensions  264  extends from the upper section  254  towards and abuts the edges of the lower section  252  to guide the movement of the upper section  254  along the lower section  252 . 
       FIG. 9  shows the posture support system  10  being used by a user. The board  102  is placed adjacent an edge of a flat surface such as a table. A keyboard  20  being used by the user is placed on the board  102 . The height and angle of the vertical arm portion  200 , the horizontal arm portion  300  and the support portion  400  are adjusted to the comfort of the user, with the cushion  402  positioned in either a horizontal or vertical alignment at the level of the user&#39;s upper chest area. When the user sits at the table with his chest in contact with the cushion  402 , the user&#39;s spine is properly aligned to its natural curvature. The user leans against the posture support system  10 , due to the curvature of the vertical arm portion  200 , it flexes slightly to provide a more flexible and comfortable support for the user. The board  102  may be placed further away from instead of adjacent to the edge of the table if it is more comfortable to the user. 
       FIGS. 11 to 14  show a posture support system  20  of the present invention, which comprises a base portion  120 , a vertical arm portion  220 , a horizontal arm portion  320 , and a support portion  420 . Base portion  120  is similar to base portion  100  of  FIG. 1 , comprises a rectangular shape board  122 , except that two spaced apart tabs  124  are provided on an edge that abuts the edge of a flat surface. Tabs  124  are intended to abut an edge of the flat surface to align the board  122  against the edge of the flat surface and to prevent movement of the board  122  from the edge of the flat surface. Each tab  124  optionally has an opening  126  for receiving fasteners that secure the board  122  to the flat surface. 
     Extending adjacent from one edge of the board  122  is the vertical arm portion  220 . The elongated vertical arm portion  220  is similarly positioned and curved as the vertical arm portion  120  of  FIG. 1 . Vertical arm portion  220  comprises an outer section  222  and an inner section  224 . The outer section  222  is fixedly connected to the board  122 . The outer section  222  has an inner channel that receives inner section  224  and allows inner section  224  to be slide in and out with respect to the outer section  222  to increase or decrease the height of the vertical arm portion  220 . 
     Pivotably connected to the distal end of the inner section  224  of the vertical arm portion  220  is the horizontal arm portion  320 . The horizontal arm portion  320  comprises a first link  322  having one end connected to the distal end of the inner section  224  and the opposite end rotatably and pivotably connected to the support portion  420  via a ball joint or other similar connection. Support portion  420  is similar to support portion  400  of  FIG. 1  and comprises an elongated cushion  422 , but without a central pole  404 . The side of the support portion  420  facing the horizontal arm portion  320  is an elongated groove  426 . The first link  322  of the horizontal arm portion  320  and the support portion  420  forms a T-shape. 
     The posture support system  20  further comprises a compression portion  500 . The compression portion  500  comprises a generally oval shape ring  502  that can be compressed under pressure, with the first link  322  positioned to pass through the minor axis of the oval ring  502 . Ring  502  engages the elongated groove  426  to hold the support portion  420  in a relatively stable position. Due to the oval shape and compressibility of ring  502 , it advantageously allows supported pivotal movement of the support portion  420  to increase a user&#39;s comfort when the user leans against the cushion  422 . 
       FIGS. 15 to 20  show a posture support system  30  of the present invention, which comprises a base portion  140 , a vertical arm portion  240 , a horizontal arm portion  340 , a support portion  440  and a compression portion  520 . Base portion  140  is similar to base portion  120  of  FIG. 11 , comprises a rectangular shape board  142 , except that a lip  144  is provided along an edge that abuts the edge of a flat surface. Lip  144  is intended to abut an edge of the flat surface to align the board  142  against the edge of the flat surface and to prevent movement of the board  142  from the edge of the flat surface. The lip  144  optionally has one or more opening  146  for receiving fastener(s) that secure the board  142  to the flat surface. 
     Extending adjacent from one edge of the board  142  is the vertical arm portion  240 , which is similar to vertical arm portion  220  of  FIG. 11 . Pivotably connected to the distal end of the vertical arm portion  240  is the horizontal arm portion  340 . The horizontal arm portion  340  comprises a first link  342  having a tubular body  344  with a spring-loaded insert  346  therein extending from the distal end. At the distal end of the first link  342  is pin  348 . 
     Support portion  440  is similar to support portion  420  of  FIG. 11  and comprises an elongated cushion  442  and having an elongated groove  446 . Along the groove  446  is a plurality sets of positioning elements  448   a ,  448   b  and  448   c . Pin  348  of the first link  342  is pivotably attached to elongated groove  446 . 
     Compression portion  520  is similar to compression portion  500  of  FIG. 11  and comprises a generally oval shape ring  522  that can be compressed under pressure, with the first link  342  positioned to pass through the minor axis of the oval ring  522 . Ring  522  engages the positioning elements  448   a  and  448   c  along with a plurality of protrusions  524  that engages the set of positioning elements  448   b  to hold the support portion  440  in a relatively stable position. Due to the oval shape and compressibility of ring  522 , it advantageously allows supported pivotal movement of the support portion  420  to increase a user&#39;s comfort when the user leans against the cushion  442 . Posture support system  30  further allows supported axial movement along the minor axis of the ring  522  due to the spring-loaded insert  346 , which allows the ring  522  to compress against pressure applied to the cushion  442 . 
       FIG. 21  shows an embodiment of the vertical arm portion  220  or  240  of  FIG. 11 or 15 . The inner channel  226  of the outer section  222  has a plurality of spaced apart detents  228 . The inner section  224  has a protrusion (not shown) that corresponds to and engages the detent  228  such that the inner section  224  can be slide-click in and out with respect to the outer section  222  to increase or decrease the height of the vertical arm portion  220 . 
       FIGS. 22 to 25  show another embodiment of vertical arm portion  220  or  240  of  FIG. 11 or 15 . Similar to the vertical arm portion  220  shown in  FIG. 21 , the inner channel  246  of the outer section  242  has a plurality of spaced apart detents  248 . The inner section  244  has a protrusion  241  that corresponds to and engages the detent  248  and is attached to a V-shape spring  243  such that the inner section  244  can be slide-click in and out with respect to the outer section  242  to increase or decrease the height of the vertical arm portion  240 . The V-shape spring  243  aids in maintaining the positioning of the inner section  244  with respect to the outer section  242  to prevent accidental disengagement of the protrusion  241  from detent  248 . 
       FIG. 26  shows another embodiment of vertical arm portion  270  comprises a lower section  272  and an upper section  274 . The lower section  272  has a recess  276  that corresponds and slidably receives the upper section  274 . Upper section  274  can be slid along recess  276  to increase or decrease the height of the vertical arm portion  270 . 
       FIGS. 27 and 28  show an alternate cushion  462  for the support portion  400 ,  420  or  440 . Instead of an elongated cushion, cushion  462  is a ball or round shape preferably made of a foam material. It may also be made of rubber, silicone, etc. 
     The features of the invention illustrated and described herein is the preferred embodiment. Therefore, it is understood that the specification is intended to cover unforeseeable embodiments with insubstantial differences that are within the spirit of the specification.

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