Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Background and Summary of the Invention
This invention relates to an improved apparatus and
method for aiding the conditioning or teacning or proper
;:~ posture or an erect body position of an individual person,
. 5 and for aiding transferring of muscle control prevalent in
~` a cross-crawl movement to the erect biped or standing
~ position of an individual. The invention helps the individual
change his or her braced S-curved spinal configuration to a
generally erect and aligned spinal column having the
lO characteristic or an off-center segmented column. The :
present invention is useful in giving the individual reference
focuses for relating the head and neck, all of the spine, and
the shoulder and pelvic girdles properly in relation to one
another and to a centerline through an erect or standing
body. As will appear hereinafter, this centerline is
generally defined by a vertical gravity line through an
; erect body extending through the ankle, knee, hip, and elbow
3~
joints ~ the shoulder, and t~le head and n~ck ~ th~ Eirst
cervical v~rtebrae and at the posterior portion of the jaw.
~n erect s~inal column places the various body parts and
organs in a mutually beneficial relationship in the ~arth's
gravity, resultin~ in a more healthful condition of -the person's
body in a position of balance and equllihrium with its
environment. ConditionincJ of the erect spinal column may
occur in conjunction with aiding t~ansferring muscl2 control
of a cross-crawl movement on hands and knees into the
movements of an erect individual with the properly aligned
spinal column, for additional beneficial r~sults.
In general, posture conditioning or teaching
appaxatus is known in the art. For example, United States
Patent 2,270,069 to Martin, i~sued January 13, 1942,
lS describes c~rtain apparatus in relation to which the present
invention is an improvement. Apparently, the only purpos~
of the Martin apparatus is aiding conditioning of the shoulder
girdle to the thorax of the individual. It does not
recognize the importance of correctly aligning the whole
length of the spinal column in an erect body position, and
does not disclose the aiding of transferring muscle control
prevalent in a cross-crawl movement to the erect body
position. Thus the Martin appara-tus does not disclose means
for aidinq conditioning of the total length of the back or
spinal colllmn and specifically, there i9 no disclosure o~
means for aiding conditioning of the positions of the pelvic
girdle, the head, neck and spine through a centerline or
gravity line of an erect indiviclual.
A cross-crawl movement of a child on hands and knees
has long been recognized as instilling coordination, graceful
movement and muscle control through its practice. Simulation
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of cross-crawl mo~Jements by adults also results in similar
benefici~l effects, b~t the inventor herein is not aware of
any attempts to trarlsfer this advantageous muscle control
- 5 to th~ mov~ments o~ adults in the standing or biped position.
It is -therefore, a general object of the invention
to provide an improved apparatus and me-thod for aiding
conditîoning of muscles contxolling the head and neck, the
.~ shoulder girdle and the pelvic girdle in relation to one
another, in relation to th~ back and spine, and in relation
to a gravity line through the body to obtain proper posture
as a result of an erect and aligned spinal column.
It ls another general object of this invention to
aid transferring of the muscle coordination and control
prevalent in a cross-crawl movement on hands and kne~s into
the movement of an erect or standing individual with proper
posture and a properly aligned spinal column.
It is another object of this invention to provide
an apparatus and method for aiding conditioning of the
head and neck in relation to the thorax or the back or
spinal column of an individual.
It is another object of t.his invention to provide an
apparatus and method for aiding and condition.in~ of the pel~ic
girdle in relation to an erect spinal column and in relation to
a centerline through the thorax and the body.
A fur~her object of this inven~ion is to provide
improyements in apparatus for use in aiding conditioning of
proper posture.
The inventive concepts involved i.n the apparatus may
b9 generally summarized as comprising elbow support means for
supporting an individual 1 6 bent elbows, shoulder engaginy
means for engaging the individual.'s shou:Lder fronts at a
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di~tanc~ ou~.ward from the elbow suppo~ means, and handg~ip
means for gripping by the individual's hands a~ a position
; below the elbow support means. Back referencing means for
engaging the individual's back below the shoulders may also
S be provided. The handgrip means and the back referencing
means aid in conditioning the pelvic girdle position and
the head, the neck, and all of the back or spinal column
in relation to the shoulder girdle and pelvic girdle and the
various parts of the spine itself for the purpose of changing the
spinal column from an S-shaped cuxve braced mechanic configura-
tion to a configuration of an off--center segmented and erect
column. The inventive concepts lnvolved in the method may
be summarized as providing one or more of the previously
-~ described elements of apparatus for use in accomplishin~
body exercises to obtain an erect and aligned off-centered
segmented spinal column. The body exercises comprise moving
the head and neck by flexing the rectus capitus anterior
muscles to generally move the head up and ~acX from the
shoulder girdle, moving the back and spinal column backward
at the shoulder girdle by flexing the serratus magnus muscle~,
and moving the anterior superior iliac spines of the pelvic
girdle back toward a centerline or yravity line by flexing
the internal obliques and psoas muscles while gripping the
handgrip means and pulling down on the handgri.p means. For
aiding transferriny muscle control prevalent in a cross-crawl
movement, the method may include s-teps of placing one foot
transversely forward with respect to the other foot, supporting
the majority of the weight on the backward foot, and accomp~
lishing one or more of the foregoing method ~teps to
obtain an erect and aligned spinal column.
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Detail~ of the present invent:lon ma~ be under~tood
rom the followir.g appended claim~, da~ription of the
pre~err~d emhodLment o~ the invention, and the brief
description of the drawings.
Brie~ Descrlption of the Drawin~s
Fi~ure 1 is a perspective view of 2 preferred embodi-
ment o~ apparatus according to ~he present invention.
Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus
of Figure 1.
F.igure 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3
of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4
of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a partial view of Figure 4 illustrating
the operation of certain apparatus therein.
Fi~ure 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6
of Figure 2.
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7
of Figure 2.
Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8~8
of Figure 5.
Figure 9 i5 a schematic illustration of certain
elements of a human ~keleton illustrated in a position with
a centerline running through certain of those elements to
define the proper posture to be obtained in accordance wi~h
the pre~ent invention, and al50 illustrating the configuration
of an of-center segmented and aliyned spinal column.
Figure 10 i5 a schematic illustration of certain
muscles and portions of the skeleton of a human body which
are used duriny exercises to obtain proper po~ture and an erect
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and aligned spi.nal column accc~.~dincJ to the present inventicJn.
F.igurec 11, 1.2 and 13 are diagra.mmatic illustr~tion~
of the use o~ the apparatus shown in Figures 1 through 8 and
diagrammatic illustrations of the method according to th~
present invention.
Description of a Pre~.err Embodiment
Apparatus 20 for aiding conditioning of proper
: posture of an erect spinal col.umn and for aiding txanserringof muscle control prevalen-t in a cross-crawl movement to a
standing or erect indi~idual is shown in Figures 1 through 8.
An explanation of the mechanics of an erect spinal column,
the desired posture of the human body relative to a
centerline or ~ravity line through certain body parts, and the
key muscles used in moviny the body par~ to obtain the proper
lS posture will secondly be described in conjunction with Figures
9 and 10. Lastly, the use of the apparatus 20 and the
description oE the method of the present invention will be
discussed in conjunction with Figures 11 to 13.
The apparatus 20 gene.rally comprises a r ctangular
frame member 21 of substantial contruction to support the
vanDus elements of apparatus 20 d~scribed herein. Means 22
for attaching the frame member 21 and as a resul~, the other
elements of app~ratus 20 to an upright surface such as a
wall are provided in the form of brackets 22. Vertically
extending slide men~ers 24 are securely attached at each
laterally opposite side of frame member 21. A mirror 25 i~
positioned by hrackets 26 to the frame member 21 inte.rmediate
the vertically extending slide members 24, and the mirror
extends vertically approximately the length of the fxame
member 21. When the apparatus 20 i5 attached on a wall at the ;
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corn~r it m~y be ~Ised in ~onjunction with mi.rror 25 to
ob~ain front and side view~l of the individual usiny the
appara~us.
An adjustable carri~ge member 27 is adjustably
retained in a vertical mannex in each slide membe.r 24. As
can be be-tter understood from Fîgure 3, the adjustabl~ carriage
member 27 includes outward projecting extensions 30 having
holes 31 therein for supporting a laterally extending pivot
rod 32 therebetween. Pivot rod 32 is held in positlon by
nuts 33 attached at its ends external of the extenslQns 30.
Pivot rod 32 maintains a position outwardly spaced from the
outer surface 34 of the carriage member 27 to allow various
other elements of the apparatus to pivot thereabout, as
are next described.
One elbow cup member 35 is attached to each pivot
rod 32 of each carriage member 27. An upward portion 36 of
each elbow cup member 35 is formed in a C-shaped cross section
~ ure 3) with ~wo outwardly extending projections 37 having
holes 38 formed th~rein for receiving pivot rod 32. The
elbow cup members 35 may be laterally adjust~d along the
length of pivot rod 32 since the holes 38 are slightly larger
in diameter than the diameter of rod 32.
~ shoulder positioning arm member 40 is hinged ~o
the pi~ot rod 32 of each carriage member 27 at a base portion
41 having a hole 42 formed therein for receiving th~ pivot rod
32 (Figures 3 and 7~. Each shoulder positioning arm 40
compromises an extension 43 connected to the base portion 41
and a shoulder pad 44 connected to the extension 43. Each
shoulde~ positioning arm ~0 assumes the ~ame lateral position
along pivot rod 32 as the elbow cup members 33 due to
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maintenance of bas~ portion 41 intermediate the outward
~: projections 37 o~ the elbow cup mernber 35. ~s .is shown
best in Fiyures 3 and 7, a spring clip 45 i5 ~ttached
- to the carria~e member 27 by a screw 46, and the spring clip
: 5 includ~s a spring retention socke~ means 47 Eor applying
lateral restraining force on the ex~ensions 43 when the
shoulder positioning arm is in a v~rtical position
shown in Figures 1 and 2, and for allowing each arm 40
to hinge outward and downward when the shoulder positioning
arm member 40 is in use.
One handgrip member 50 is attached to the ~ottom of
each elbow cup member 35, as is shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6.
It is desirable that each handgrip member 50 assume an angle
with the vertical or upright wall like surface of approximately
10 degrees away therefrom (Figure 6~ to facilitate grasping it
and for reasons to be apparent from the subsequent description
of the method and operation of the present invention.
A back reference bar member 52 is pivotally attached
by pins 53 between the two carriage members 27 carried by the
vertical slide members 2.4 on each side of frame member 21,
as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 4. Reference bar 52 includes
two end portions 54, two intermediate outward extending pro-
jections 55 and a center laterally extending portion 56.
The ends 54 of reference bar 52 are maintained at a fixed
distance below the elbow cups 35 due to the direct connection
of the ends 54 to the carriage member 27. The pivotal
connection between ~he ends 54 of back reference bar 52
and the carriage membe.r 27 at pin~ 53 is provided to allow
adjustment of each carriage member 27 to accommodate individ-
uals having each shoulder of a sli~htly ~ifferent height, as
will be apparent from the subse~uent description.
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- The carxiage members 27 thus are each on~ form of
mean~ ~or operatively c~nnectincJ the elbow cup mer~ers 35l
the sh~ulder positioning members 40, the handgrip member~ 50
and the hack reference bar 52 -to the upright surface, as a
result o~ the connection of the slide memhers 24 to the
frame membex 21 which is, in turn, att.ached by means 22
to the upright wall-like surface.
Adjustment means for retaining the carriage
member~ 27 at elec~ed vertical posi.tions along the slide
10, membexs 24 will now be described in conjunction with Figures
3, 4, 5 and 8. Each slide member 24 generally has a C-shaped
cross section with a vertical opening 60 facing outward of
the f.rame member 21 de~ined by laterally inward facing edge
portions 63. The carriage me~ber 27 has an inward projecting
boss member 61 to which are attached lateral wing members 6~.
Wing~ 62 project laterally behind the edges 63 of each slide
member 24 to prevent the carriage member 27 from moving
outward of the slide member 24. A pin mem~er 64 extends
through the carriage member 27 and center of boss 61, and
an end 65 thereof projects slightly through holes 66 in
a center back wall portion 67 of the slide member 24. In
Figures 5 and 8, the slide member back wall portion 67
comprises a plurality of regularly verti~ally spaced outwardly
protruding ribs 70 separated by valleys 71, thereby providing
a corrugated or S-shaped cross section. The holes 66 are
formed in the lateral cente.r of each valley 71 for receiving
the end 65 of pin 64.
In the position of use shown in Figure 4, the carriage
member 27 is retained in its vertical position by the protruding
end 65 of pin 64 in hole 66 of the back wall portion 67
of the slide member 24. The wings 62 on boss 61 (Figure 3)
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pravent the vext.ically upward end of the carriage member 27
~rom moYing outward of the slide member 24. When it is
de~ired to ad~u~t the relative height position of one or both
Qf the adjustable carriage members, the lower portion of the
carriage member is ~otated clockwise as shown in Figure 5.
The win~s 62 o~ bo~s 61 contacting edges 63 causes a point
o~ ratation ~or the carriage memb~r allowing the protruding
end 65 oX pin 64 to be removecl from hole 66. Once ~in end
65 is fre~ o the hole 66 the carriage member may be moved
along the slide me~er until a desired vertical position is
obtained, at which point the carriage member i~ ro-tated counter-
clockwise (Pigure 5) causing pin end 65 to project into one
hole 66 in the back wall portion 67 of the slide member 24
retaining the carri.age m~mber at the desired height. Thus
the slide member 24 i~ one form of means for supporting ths
carriage member 27 at a plurality of ver~ical positions.
The objective of the apparatus 20 of the present
invention is to instill in the subconsc.ious mind of an
individual certain points of focus for properly relating
the head an~ neck, the shoulder girdle, and the pelvic
girdle ~o a centerline 7S or a gravity line through the
thorax re~ion of the body and -through the body a5 a whole to
thereby o~tain the proper posture through an aligned and
erect spinal col~m. Proper posture and an erect spinal
column are shown in Figure 10, and are defined relative to
the centerline 75 extending through the body. This cen~.erline
75 is the gravity line which passes approximately through
the ~ollowing points of the human skeleton: the
posterior borde.r o~ the ramus of mandible, shown a~ 76
which i~ approximately the same position a~ the anterior
--10--
:
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portion oE the A-tlas or first cervi.cal vertebrae; the
acromion process of scapula and head of humerous, at 77;
the olecranon process of ulna, at 78; ~he anterivr superior
iliac spines, shown at 79, the h~ad of femur and acetabulum,
shown at 80; the middle point between the base of femur and
the top of tibia, shown at 81, and the lateral malleous and
medial, shown at 8~. In the erect and proper posture
posit.ion shown in Figure 10, the spinal column ~3 is in an
erect and aligned posit.ion not having the typical S-shaped
curve. The base of the spinal col~nn is off-center behind ~he
centerline 75 or gravity line and slopes forward to where the
top of the spine is on the centerline with the results being
that the various internal organs and body parts are placed in a
mutually beneficial relationship in the gravity field, there-
by resulting in more healthful functioning of the body
organs and parts.
To obtain an erect off-center segmented spinal column,
three groups of key muscles must be conditloned to hold th~
spinal column erect without th~ typical S-shaped curvature.
These key groups of muscles are shown in Figure 11. The
rectus capitus anterior group of muscles shown at 85 are
deep inner muscles spanning from the first cervical vertebrae
or atlas to the hack base of the skull or occiput in front of
foramen magnum, and are used to flex the head on the neck~ The
serratus magnus group of muscles, shown at 8fi, span ~rom the verte-
bral border of the scapula or shoulder blades to the ribs and ar~
us~d in projecting the head backwards and upwards over the thorax
and in providing a fulcrum of support from which the ~houlders
move and rest upon. The .internal obliques, shown at 87, and
the psoas, shown at 88, are muscles which extend respectively
from the lower ribs to the iliac crest and from the lumbar
33~
vertebrae to the lessor trochan~er o~ ~he femur of the leg.
The internal obliqu~s and psoas a:re used to rotate th~
~nterior superior ili~c ~pines of the pelvic axea backward
about ~he acetabular or hip join~s. By flexiny the
rectus capitus anterior muscles 85 the head and neck ~ill
be moved, and the head will move generally up and back from
the shoulder girdle and the posterior bord~r of the ramu~
o~ the mandible a~ 76 will generally be position d at the
gravity line 75. By flexing the serratus magnus muscle~
86, the spinal column at the shoulder girdle will generally
move backward, to center the shoulder girdle at the
centerlin~ 75 with the acromion process of scapula and
head of humerous at 77 and olecranon process of elbows at
78 on the centerline. By flexing the internal oblique and
psoas muscles, the anterior superior iliac spine at 79 of the
pelvic girdle will move back to the gravity line 75. Th2
r~9ult o~ such movement and conditioning is the proper body
posture a~ illustrated in Figure 10. The use and operation of
the apparatus 20 of the present invention for condltioning
these muscles to assume proper po~ture t~rough an erect splnal
col~mn, as well a~ the method of the present invention, will
now be described in conjunction with Figures 11, 12 and 13.
To be~in use of the apparatus 20 the carriage men~2rs
27 are ad~u~ted in the vertical slide members 24 according
~S to the height and ~idth o the individual ' s shoulder~ 0 The
shoulder positioniny arms 40 are disengaged from the spring
clips 45 and roated into their outward extending u8e
positions shown in Figure 13. The carriage members are
adjuste~ in the vertical slide men~ers until the shOulder
pads 44 contact the individual's should~.r fronts. The arms 40
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~re x~tated upward and retained in position by the sp.ring
clip after the initial acljustment, since thi~ adjustment .is
the proper position ~or all subse~uently describeri conditioning
exercise~.
T~e first exercise shown in Figure 11 i5 for the
purpose of aidin~ conditioning of the muscles and points
of ~ocus or the head, neck, and shoulder girdle relative to
the thorax of the individual or relative to the gravity line
through the individual with proper posture. The firs-t exercise
1~ is also u~eful in providing a reference focus similar to that
in crawling, although now with the arms having the elb~ws in
the elbow cup men~ers as a reference from which to move instead
of having hands on a crawling surface. The arms are extended
from the shoulders and folded at the elbows with each hand
touching the el~ow of the opposite arm, and the elbows are
placed in the elbow cup me~ers 35. In this position the
head is flexed on the neck and the posterior bord~r of the
ramus of the mandible is moved to the centerline. The head,
nec~ and spinal column is moved backward away from the
elbows in the elbow cup members, in a mallner similar to that
accomplished while crawling when the head and neck i5 moved
a~ay from thehands on the crawling surface. The serratus
magnus muscle is the primary muscle in this exerci.se and the
shoulder blades or scapula spread ar apart and widen as this
movement is accomplished. The waistline area or the anterior
superior iliac spin~ of the pelvic girdle are moved backward
toward the c~nterline after the head, neck and spinal column
have been moved as described. In this position the serratus
magnu~ mu~cles are worked throuyh their full range of motion
to ins~ill in the s~>con~c.ious r~nd the re~erence and focus
for the proper alignment of ~:he spina1 column while the
head, neck and pelvic yirdle are m~intained in their deslred
pOSitiOl~S .
S The second exercise shown in Figure 12 i~ for aiding
conditioning of a focus reference for the neck, head, shoulder
girdle and pelvic girdle relative to the thorax of the
individual and to a gravity line through the individual
with proper posture. The second exercise is also useful for
aiding conditioning of the proper alignment of all portions
of the spine itself i71 an erect configuration. In this
position the individual's back at a position appro~imately
below the base of the scapula is placed against the reference
bar 52 which is in a proper position due to the initial adjust-
ment of the carriage me~bers 27. Here the head is flexed on
the neck and moved backward and upward away from the shoulder
girdle. The back of the head or the external occipital
prot~erance is moved vertically above the reference bar 52.
The elbows move in front of the reference bar and the pelvic
girdle or anterior superior iliac spines are rotated back-
ward vertically below the reference bar. These movements
assist in relating the various portions of the spinal column
to itself in the erect configuration of an off-center ~egmented
column. In the second exercise the hPad and neck experiences
2S full balanced movement and assume~ a conditioned position over
the centerline through the individual and ~he en~ire ~plne i8
generally ~traightened and al.igned in relation to itself~
The third exercise shown in Figure 13 is for aiding
conditioning of ~he point of reference for the pelvic
girdle relative to the thorax and centerline through the
individual, as well as combining the reference point~ of ~ocus
for the head neck and ~houlder girdle to the centerlin0.
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1~2~
The shoulder posit:ion.irlg arms 40 ale rotclted down~ard and
out~ard aIId the individual'~ ~houlder fronts are placed
again~t the shoulder paid m~mber~. rrhe individ.ual grasps
the handgrip~ 50, flexes the head on the nec}c and mo~res
S the head to its upward and backward position, moves the
3pinal column away rom th~ shoulder girdle by moving head
and neck away from the shoulder fronts against the pads on
the shoulder cond.itioning arms 40, and moves the pelvic girdle
backward in the desired manner while pulling downward on the
handgrips 50. The downward pulling movement on the handgrips
assists the ind.ividual in moving the anterior supe~ior iliac
spines back to the centerline, and exercises the internal
obliques ~d psoas muscles. The aIlgle of the handgrips 50
with respect to the vertical causes the downward pulling move-
ment by the hand to conform to a line extending through the
handgrips directed toward the pelvic qirdle at the anterior
superior iliac spine. This angle of force further aids the
flexing of the internal oblique and psoas muscles through a
full range of movement to cause the anterior superior iliac
spine to assume a coI~ditioned position over the centerli.ne
through the body. The handgrips bring the in-ternal oblique
and p~oas muscles into conscious and then unconsciou~ or
habitual use, and coordiante these muscles with the other key
muscles in movement. The handgrip members are es~ential ~or
developing muscles coordination and control such a~ that preva--
lent in the cross-crawl movement, as will next b~ ~e~cri.bed
in conjunction with Figures 11, 12 and 13.
Aiding of the transferring of the muscle control
prevalent in a cross-crawl. movement to the erect bi~ed or
standing poAition is obtained in conjunction with ~he pr~viou~ly
15-
~,
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described three exercises by placiny one foot transversely
forward with respect to the other foot and supporting the
majority of the body weiyht on the backward foot. Each
exercise ~nd position is repeated with the alternate foot
S in front. In the exercise described in conjunction with
Figure ll, the elbow of the arm on the side of the body
opposit~the forward foot serves prmarily as a re~erence
for moving the back and spinal column away from the elbows,
and in this manner the cross-crawl coordination and control
of body movements is instilled into the conditioniny of
proper posture. In the exercise described in conjunction
~ith Figure 12, the backward foot serves as a secondary
reference in conjunc~ion with a primary reference from the
reference bar 52 for alignming the spinal column. In the exer-
cise described in conjunction wi-th Figure 13, only one handgrip
at a time is gripped with the hand of the arm on the side of
the bcdy oppos:ite the forward foot to most accurately simulate
a cross-crawl movement. The cross-crawl movement is recognized
for instillincJ a peaceful and proper coordination in con-trol
of body movement. In the crawling position the spinal column
is normally aligned and the head, neck and chest, abdomen
and lower back are supported by the key muscle groups
described hexein, especially the serratus magnus muscle.
Thus, additional conditioning of cros~-crawl coordination
and control may be achieved as well as proper postureO
From the foregoing description it is apparent
that the elbow oup member 35 is one form of means adapt2d or
supporting the ~ent elbows of a standing or erect perSon wlth
the arms extended forward and each hand ~ouching th~ elbow
of the opposite arm. The shoulder positioniny member 40 .is
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,
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on~ form of means adapted fur engaying the shoulder fronts of
the pexson a pre~etermined di~tance out~ard frorn the elbv~7
cup memhers. The handgrip ~mber 50 is one form of means
adapted for gripping by the hand of the person below the
elbo~ ~up member with the shouldex fronts abuttin~ memhex 40
and with the upper arm extending generally downward from the
shoulder and ~he lower arm extending generally forward from
-~he elbow. The back re~erence bar 52 is one form of means
adapted for engaging the person's-back at a posikion in the
shoulder girdle be.low the elbow cup member and below the
level of the person's shoulders.
The method and apparatus of the present invention
ha~ been described in conjunc~ion with a preferred embodiment
so as to enable an understanding of the invention. It should
be understood that the in~entive subject matter of the invention
is intended to be limited only insofar as the prior art
requires.
