ENHANCER

Description

[0001] This invention relates to a fitness enhancer for the improvement of respiratory mechanics.

[0002] US 4,506,883, US 945,359. JP-2002-302810, US 2011/0230311 and US 3,411,500 disclose known devices.

[0003] The invention provides a garment comprising a device comprising at least two lengths of inextensible material to be worn around, to at least partially cover, the thorax, two of the lengths of inextensible material being provided as a pair of counter-rotating spirals, thereby increasing the muscular effort of the wearer and improving exercise tolerance, venous return and lymphatic drainage, wherein one of the lengths of inextensible material that provides one of the counter-rotating spirals is contained within one sleeve on the inside of the garment, and the other of the lengths of inextensible material that provides the other of the counter-rotating spirals is contained within one sleeve on the outside of the garment. As a direct piece of exercise equipment this will aid in all forms of training both land and pool based to increase overall performance and endurance when compared to not wearing the device. Examples of suitable inextensible materials are stretched crepe bandages, webasto™ and theraband™. Preferably, the two lengths of material are also flexible.

[0004] The device does not significantly restrict the wearer's freedom of movement in flexion, extension, rotation or side bending.

[0005] The two lengths of inextensible material are provided or arranged as a pair of counter-rotating spirals. This requires the respiratory muscles to increase their function in both inspiration and expiration.

[0006] The inextensible material when applied around the thorax as a spiral in one direction, be it clockwise or anticlockwise, may begin either at the lowest part of the thorax or at the highest practical level i.e. running around the armpit with the second layer running again as a spiral in the opposite direction and ending where the first layer began. Thus each spiral of material may begin at the same axial position on the wearer's thorax as the other spiral of material ends. This encourages the secondary muscles of respiration to function more than normal.

[0007] Each length of material may overlap itself. This will give a smoother transfer of effort over the area of body covered.

[0008] Preferably, the material to be worn around the thorax is at least 15cm wide, so that it will not cut into the body. This also limits the length of material required for the invention to be effective.

[0009] The effect of the invention will give greater resistance to the movement of the rib cage and in doing so will increase the muscular effort of all the thoracic muscles active in respiration and increase the effort on the diaphragm. The effect of this when the invention is removed will be a greater ability to undertake exercise hence improved exercise tolerance.

[0010] There is also a direct benefit derived from its use to help all people improve venous return by enhancing the pumping effect from the diaphragm and by improving lung function which will aid in cases of things like chronic obstructive airways disease.

[0011] This is especially true when the wearer has undertaken exercise whilst wearing the invention and to a lesser extent will still have an effect even if the device has been worn whilst the wearer is at rest during the day.

[0012] With the invention being worn in the way directed an additional effect will be gained because the muscles of secondary respiration will be made to work harder as a result of the sternum being resisted in motion by the inextensible material and the relative constriction effected on the thoracic region. The effect of this is to improve lung function resulting in greater vital capacity from the use of the device.

[0013] Increasing resting physical load/effort leading to increasing tone of all thoracic muscles without placing or producing increased resistance to vascular flow and will give better VO2 max and decreased cardiac effort at rest and will also achieve these under exertion so giving improved performance for sports people.

[0014] As a side effect of this the user would burn up more calories and would therefore experience weight loss if the user does not increase his/her calorie intake.

[0015] By using the invention and the method in which it is applied, there will be a resultant change in the mechanics of the thoracic region, the area bound at the bottom by the diaphragm and at the top by the tissues forming the neck and throat which result in effectively a closed box being comprised of the spine at the rear and the sternum at the front and the area forming the rest of the box being the ribs themselves. The diaphragm which divides the abdomen from the thorax on inspiration attempts to move inferiorly which requires the lower ribs to act in a so called bucket handle fashion to allow this motion to occur and superiorly at the top of the box the boundary is formed by the shoulder girdle and muscles that cover over the coverings of the lungs both right and left and the muscles from the head and neck and attaching to the first rib and sternum. The constricting effect that is the result of the application of the invention resists the motions of the upper ribs which in this region function as a pump handle type effect and thus will work the secondary muscles that attach to the sternum and rib cage. When the invention is removed there will be a resultant effect of relaxation in these muscles even if the wearer now undertakes exercise. This will also have an added benefit of improving the thoracic mechanics giving a greater pump effort by the diaphragm which will improve venous return to the heart and lower the strain on the heart.

[0016] The invention when applied as described above will increase the tidal volume into and out of the lungs. The raised volume of airflow will have the effect of increasing the available amount of oxygen for gaseous exchange at the surface of the lungs in the alveoli and it will also mean that more carbon dioxide can be removed with each breath. With an increased oxygen availability it will also give greater oxygen available to carry to all cells of the body which for muscles will lead to more oxygen and less need for anaerobic exercise so lessening "cramp" effects on exertion, and tissue repair will also be enhanced.

[0017] The combined benefits derived above will mean that both the raised intensity of activity will be possible and, by providing the extra gaseous exchange, this will mean that aerobic stamina will also be enhanced. The invention could thus be said to act as an exercise machine for the lungs and unlike all exercise equipment normally this is only possible to work whilst the individual is physically working. Here though the lungs will also be exercised whilst at rest. This will produce therefore benefits in all areas as stated above whilst the lungs are in theory not being worked above their minimum level of effort.

[0018] The invention from all that has been described above will have the beneficial effect of increasing the energy needs of the wearer even if not exercising but for example sitting down and reading. In doing this there would be set a new base metabolic rate for the wearer. This will have the effect of "burning" more calories to just sit, and even more calories taking gentle exercise like walking on the flat.

[0019] The heart is the muscular pump that pushes the blood around the vascular system of the body. This explains that the heart working is the only means without outside help to keep the body alive. For this reason anything that can help is very useful. This invention works by improving the diaphragmatic pump effect which has two main advantages. The first being to decrease the peripheral resistance in the vascular system so lessening the pressure the heart will be pumping at and this is further enhanced by the priming effect of the pump by the increased venous return to the right side of the heart. The second also by working on the thoracic mechanics the ejection pressure of the right side will also be helped as the lungs will function better as well as being under less strain.

[0020] The above effects having been laid out that the device will help or perform will also have the benefit that having developed the changes in the thoracic muscles it will also result in the wearer having a heightened and sustained ability to be able to carry out exertion after its prolonged usage as part of an exercise programme or just as a result of the effects of wearing it at rest.

[0021] The garment is composed so that the two lengths of extensible material are contained within one sleeve on the inside of the garment and another sleeve on the outside of the garment which together form counter-rotating spirals. To allow the wearer to easily fit and remove the garment, the wearer may be able to tighten and loosen both lengths of material.

[0022] Figure 1 shows a device being worn, which is not according to the invention, but which is useful for understanding the invention. Figure 2 shows a garment according to an embodiment of the invention. Referring to Figure 1, a device 1 comprising two lengths of inextensible material 2, 3 is worn tightly around, to at least partially cover, the thorax thereby increasing the muscular effort of the wearer and improving exercise tolerance.

[0023] An example of a preferred material could be a crepe bandage which is arranged as counter rotating spirals, one beginning at the same axial position as the endpoint of the second spiral. The crepe bandage for example would be pulled tight so that it is no longer extensible and then applied around the thorax as described previously after the wearer has inhaled and then exhaled the first crepe would be thus applied. After inhaling and exhaling fully again the second crepe bandage would be applied in the same way as the first beginning at the endpoint of the first and ending at the beginning point axially of the first to the same degree of tightness thereby restricting the thorax and enhancing the effort of the wearer.

[0024] Referring to Figure 2, a garment 10 comprises the device 1 of two lengths of inextensible material 2, 3 as shown in Figure 1. Each length of material 2, 3 is provided within a respective sleeve 4, 5 on either side of the garment 10. The sleeves are attached to the garment. Each length of material 2, 3 can slide within its respective sleeve 4, 5 allowing the tightness of the lengths of material 2, 3 around the thorax to be adjusted.

[0025] The tightness applied by the two lengths of material 2, 3 to the thorax would be as described above.

Claims

1. A garment (10) comprising a device (1) comprising at least two lengths of inextensible material (2, 3) to be worn tightly around, to at least partially cover, the thorax, characterized in that two of the lengths of inextensible material (2, 3) are provided as a pair of counter-rotating spirals, thereby increasing the muscular effort of the wearer and improving exercise tolerance, venous return and lymphatic drainage,
wherein one of the lengths of inextensible material (2, 3), that provides one of the counter-rotating spirals, is contained within one sleeve (4) on the inside of the garment (10), and the other of the lengths of inextensible material (2, 3), that provides the other of the counter-rotating spirals, is contained within another sleeve (5) on the outside of the garment (10).

2. A garment (10) according to claim 1, wherein, when worn around the thorax, each spiral of material (2, 3) begins at the same axial position on the wearer's thorax as the other spiral of material (2, 3) ends.

3. A garment (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein each length of material (2, 3) overlaps itself.

4. A garment (10) according to any preceding claim, wherein each length of inextensible material (2, 3) is at least 15cm in width.

Ansprüche

1. Kleidungsstück (10), umfassend eine Vorrichtung (1), umfassend mindestens zwei Längen aus nicht dehnbarem Material (2, 3), die eng um den Brustkorb getragen werden sollen, um denselben teilweise zu bedecken, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zwei der Längen aus nicht dehnbarem Material (2, 3) als ein Paar von gegen den Uhrzeigersinn rotierenden Spiralen bereitgestellt sind, wodurch die körperliche Leistung des Trägers erhöht wird und die Belastungstoleranz, der venöse Rückfluss und die Lymphdrainage verbessert werden,
wobei eine der Längen aus nicht dehnbarem Material (2, 3), die eine der gegen den Uhrzeigersinn rotierenden Spiralen bereitstellt, innerhalb einer Hülse (4) an der Innenseite des Kleidungsstücks (10) enthalten ist, und die andere der Längen aus nicht dehnbarem Material (2, 3), die die andere der gegen den Uhrzeigersinn rotierenden Spiralen bereitstellt, innerhalb einer anderen Hülse (5) an der Außenseite des Kleidungsstücks enthalten ist.

2. Kleidungsstück (10) nach Anspruch 1, wobei, wenn es um den Brustkorb getragen wird, jede Spirale aus Material (2, 3) an derselben axialen Position am Brustkorb des Trägers beginnt wie die andere Spirale von Material (2, 3) endet.

3. Kleidungsstück (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei jede Länge aus Material (2, 3) sich selbst überlappt.

4. Kleidungsstück (10) nach einem der vorhergehenden Ansprüche, wobei jede Länge aus nicht dehnbarem Material (2, 3) mindestens 15 cm breit ist.

Revendications

1. Vêtement (10) comprenant un dispositif (1) comprenant au moins deux longueurs de matériau inextensible (2, 3) devant être porté de manière étriquée autour du thorax, pour au moins couvrir partiellement celui-ci, caractérisé en ce que deux des longueurs de matériau inextensible (2, 3) sont fournies en tant que paire de spirales contre-rotatives, augmentant par ce biais 1' effort musculaire du/de la porteur/se et améliorant la tolérance à l'exercice, le retour veineux et le drainage lymphatique,
dans lequel une des longueurs de matériau inextensible (2, 3) qui fournit une des spirales contre-rotatives est contenue dans une manche (4) a l'intérieur du vêtement (10), et l'autre des longueurs de matériau inextensible (2, 3) qui fournit l'autre des spirales contre-rotatives est contenue dans une autre manche (5) a l'extérieur du vêtement (10).

2. Vêtement (10) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel, lorsqu' il est porté autour du thorax, chaque spirale de matériau (2, 3) commence à la même position axiale sur le thorax du/de la porteur/se que l'autre spirale de matériau (2, 3) termine.

3. Vêtement (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel chaque longueur de matériau (2, 3) se chevauche elle-même.

4. Vêtement (10) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel chaque longueur de matériau inextensible (2, 3) fait au moins 15 cm de large.

Drawing