Apparel – Body garments – Waists
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-12
2001-11-13
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Body garments
Waists
C002S094000, C482S105000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06314580
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field of Invention
This invention is related to a garment, particularly to a jacket that can be worn at work and during ordinary activities.
2. State of the Art
Proper posture, proper alignment and proper ergonomic body positioning is important to the well being of the human body, especially the neck, shoulders, back of the head, upper and mid-spine.
Poor ergonomic positioning, poor alignment, and poor posture are common while at work or while engaging in other activities, because many are forced to remain in fixed positions for prolonged periods of time without being able to move or adequately stretch, such as while working on a computer.
People who engage in activities or who have occupations which require them to sit, stand, work and engage in activities while in fixed positions for prolonged periods of time without the benefit of being able to move or adequately stretch tend to neglect posture, have poor alignment and lean forward with their neck flexed forward and their shoulders slouched.
People who have poor posture, and poor body positioning with their neck flexed forward and shoulders slouched cause their neck and spine to be pressured with an additional 10 to 12 pounds. It is as if one were to hang a 10 to 12 pound weight from one's chin. With this added pressure, one is forced forward causing pain, pressure, tension, stress and problems in the areas of the neck, shoulder blades and mid and upper spine. Slouching one's neck and shoulders in a forward position also causes tension vascular headaches.
Poor ergonomic positioning, poor alignment, and poor posture cause injury to the neck, shoulders, back of the head, upper and mid-spine manifesting as pain, pressure, tension, stress, and other problems. Excessive wear and tear to the bones, joints, tendons, nerves, muscles, blood vessels, and ligaments resulting from continuous use over extended periods of time, causes Cumulative Trauma Disorders. Cumulative Trauma Disorders can result from poor posture and poor ergonomic body positioning over prolonged periods. Cumulative Trauma Disorders affect the Musculoskeletal system, which consists of the bones, joints, tendons, muscles and nerves. This injury can lead to intense pain and suffering, a loss of productivity in the workplace, increased medical costs and increased absence from the workplace.
When one has proper posture, proper alignment and is in a position of comfort, it reduces and prevents muscle tension, muscle pressure and pain along the muscles, ligaments and tendons of the neck, back of the head, upper back, upper and mid-spine.
When employees work in a more physiologic position without pain they work more comfortably, more effectively without suffering cumulative trauma injury. Proper posture, proper alignment and proper ergonomic body positioning are encouraged by wearing a jacket with weight inserted into weight-bearing pockets whose novelty is in the angle and placement of the weight-bearing pockets. The jacket, known as the Upper Body Support Jacket, will be referred to as jacket. The angled weight-bearing pockets, which are 30 to 50, preferably 45 degrees, from the vertical axis of the spine, force a person's neck, shoulders and spine into a position of comfort and alignment by discouraging poor posture and slouching of the neck and shoulders when forced to remain in fixed nonphysiologic positions for prolonged periods.
The angled placement of the weight-bearing pockets anatomically and physiologically enhances the normal functioning of the muscles; gently forces the weight-bearing pockets to run in the same direction as the long-axis of the muscle fibers; and allows for gentle traction and stretching of the muscle fibers, providing strength and flexibility without causing pressure or injury. Strengthening muscles and increasing flexibility helps prevent injury to the areas of the neck, shoulders, mid and upper spine. By increasing muscle strength a muscle is less likely to be injured.
In general, many experience pain, soreness stiffness or other problems in the neck, shoulders, back of the head, upper and mid-spine while working or engaging in activities such as typing, working on a personal computer, sitting at a desk, conversing on the telephone, working on a machine, or while engaging in seated or standing activities which require them to remain in fixed nonphysiologic body positions for prolonged periods of time without the benefit of adequate stretching or movement. The jacket can be used while working or during normal daily activities, which require fixed prolonged non-physiologic positions. The jacket is not to be used while running. What is needed is an inconspicuous, easy donning, comfortable, non-time consuming jacket to wear which encourages proper posture, proper alignment and proper ergonomic body positioning.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The purpose of this invention is to prevent and treat injuries of the neck, shoulders, back of the head, upper and mid-spine, which manifest as tension, stress, pressure and pain from poor posture, poor ergonomic body positioning and Cumulative Trauma Disorders by encouraging proper posture, proper alignment and proper ergonomic positioning while at work, on a computer or while forced to remain in fixed positions for extended periods of time without the benefit of adequate stretching or movement. This is accomplished by wearing a jacket with weight inserted into weight-bearing pockets whose novelty is in the angle and placement of the weight-bearing pockets.
This invention comprises a jacket body with a front and back having an inner surface and outer surface; a back section connected to two front sections which extend forward from the back section to form the jacket of a size appropriate to be worn by a human; formed with a left body half and a right body half; front sections have a zipper fastener means which interconnects and releases front edges of the two body halves so said jacket can be opened and closed; a short sleeve or cap sleeve to be worn on the upper torso of a user; a pair of first weight-bearing pockets are disposed on the right and left front sections of the inner surface of the jacket; a pair of second weight-bearing pockets disposed on the back section of the inner surface of the jacket; the pair of first and second weight-bearing pockets are placed and positioned at an angle 30 to 50 degrees symmetrically from the vertical axis of the spine, preferably 45 degrees, from the vertical axis of the spine; a single weight is accepted into the pair of first and second weight-bearing pockets; a VELCRO trademark hook and loop fastener means stitched to the inner surface mates with a complimentary VELCRO trademark hook and loop fastener means stitched to and located on the top opening edge of the inner surface of the pair of first and second weight-bearing pockets as a member for opening and closing the pair of first and second weight-bearing pockets and securing the weight therein.
The pair of first and second weight-bearing pockets are placed in different areas of the thoracic region of the spine. This prevents any concentration of weights in one general area, lessening the risk of injury to any one region of the body.
The pair of second weight-bearing pockets are placed on an angle over the third and forth thoracic vertebrae, which is the area of the neck and spine where the upper intercostal, strap and trapezius muscles originate. This forces a gentle traction and stretching of these muscles forcing the spine to maintain proper alignment. By moving the spine into a physiologic position of comfort, it prevents the neck from moving forward in flexion.
The pair of first weight-bearing pockets are positioned at the lower rib cage at the level of the 8
th
or 10
th
ribs starting at the anterior axillary line extending diagonally with the lower ends of the weight-bearing pockets disposed towards the umbilicus. The pair of first weight-bearing pockets counterbalance pair of second weight-bearing pockets placed over the third and forth thoracic vertebrae. The counterbalance p
Greenberg Amie S.
Greenberg Barbara L.
Greenberg Jack L.
Calvert John J.
Patel Tejash
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