Posture improving device

Abstract

Garments that provide a stimulant to maintain desirable proper posture and poise of a person wearing the garments. The garment, which can take the form of a shirt or blouse, provides a stimulant to elevate the wearer's thoracic cavity and retract the wearer's scapulas to support a more up-right posture through the combination of a stretch fabric and a control band. The body of the garment is typically made from stretch-type fabric that is adapted to fit snugly to the body shape of the wearer. The stretch-type fabric can include a reduced level of elasticity along the front of the garment to promote a lifting of the thoracic cavity. The control band typically comprises and elastic material and can be positioned on the rear of the garment proximal to the wearer's scapulas to produce a slight retraction of the wearer's upper arms.

1 . A posture improving garment, comprising:
 a front panel attached to a rear panel, the front panel for wear over at least a portion of a person's anterior torso, the rear panel for wear over at least a portion of the person's posterior torso, the front and rear panels both comprising at least a portion of elastic material and joined to form a continuous garment having a neck opening and two sleeve openings, the front panel comprising an area having a reduced level of stretching than that of the remainder of the front panel; and   a control band disposed on the rear panel of the garment, the control band comprising an elastic material having a reduced level of stretching than that of the rear panel and extending laterally across the rear panel so that when the garment is installed on the person, the control band is proximal to the person's scapulas,   whereby, when the garment is installed on the person, a combination of the elastic material of the front and rear panels and the control band provides a stimulant to the person to maintain proper posture.   
   
   
       2 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein the control band is disposed on the rear panel such that when the posture improving garment is installed on the person, the control band is positioned along the superior-medial area of each scapula of the person. 
   
   
       3 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein the area of the front panel having a reduced level of stretching is positioned proximal to the mid-sternal area of the person and extends to the front of the shoulders of the person when installed on the person. 
   
   
       4 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein the difference in levels of stretching between the area of the front panel having a reduced level of stretching and the remainder of the front panel promotes a superior tilt of the thoracic cavity of the person when the garment is installed on the person. 
   
   
       5 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein the difference in levels of stretching between the area of the front panel having a reduced level of stretching and the remainder of the front panel promotes a lifting of the thoracic cavity of the person when the garment is installed on the person. 
   
   
       6 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein a combination of the elastic material of the rear panel and the control band produces a retraction of the upper arms of the person when the garment is installed on the person. 
   
   
       7 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein a combination of the elastic material of the rear panel and the control band produces an external rotation of the upper arms of the person when the garment is installed on the person. 
   
   
       8 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein the control band is encased in a cloth attached to the rear panel. 
   
   
       9 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein the control band is stitched taut to the rear panel. 
   
   
       10 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein the control band is positioned on the rear panel such that when the person wears the posture improving garment, the control band extends across the scapulas of the person from approximately one inch from one shoulder seam of the posture improving garment to approximately one inch from a second shoulder seam of the posture improving garment. 
   
   
       11 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , wherein the control band is interwoven into fabric of the rear panel by weaving an elastic threading into the rear panel. 
   
   
       12 . The posture improving garment of  claim 11 , wherein the elastic threading comprises a different material than that of the rear panel and the material of the elastic threading has a reduced level of stretch than that of the rear panel. 
   
   
       13 . The posture improving garment of  claim 1 , whereby the combination of the elastic material of the front and rear panels and the control band provides a subconscious stimulant to the person to maintain proper posture when the person is in a position of proper posture and provides a conscious stimulant in the form of a pressure to the upper back region of the person when the person is in a position of improper posture. 
   
   
       14 . A posture improving garment, comprising:
 a front panel attached to a rear panel, the front panel for wear over at least a portion of a person's anterior torso, the rear panel for wear over at least a portion of the person's posterior torso, the front and rear panels both comprising at least a portion of fabric having an elastic characteristic and joined to form a continuous garment, the front panel comprising an area having a reduced level of elasticity than that of the remainder of the front panel; and   a control band stitched taut to the rear panel of the garment, the control band comprising an elastic material having a reduced level of elasticity than that of the rear panel and extending laterally across the rear panel and positioned on the rear panel to be proximal to the person's scapulas,   whereby, when the garment is installed on the person, a combination of the elastic material of the front and rear panels and the control band provides a stimulant to the person to maintain proper posture and a difference in elasticity between the area of the front panel having a reduced level of elasticity and the remainder of the front panel promotes a superior tilt of the thoracic cavity of the person.   
   
   
       15 . A posture improving garment, comprising:
 a front panel attached to a rear panel, the front panel for wear over at least a portion of a person's anterior torso, the rear panel for wear over at least a portion of the person's posterior torso, the front and rear panels both comprising at least a portion of fabric having an elastic characteristic and joined to form a continuous garment, the front panel comprising an area having a reduced level of elasticity than that of the remainder of the front panel; and   a control band disposed on the rear panel of the garment, the control band comprising an elastic material having a reduced level of elasticity than that of the rear panel and extending laterally across the rear panel, the control band interwoven into the fabric of the rear panel and positioned on the rear panel to be proximal to the person's scapulas,   whereby, when the garment is installed on the person, a combination of the elastic material of the front and rear panels and the control band provides a stimulant to the person to maintain proper posture and a difference in levels of elasticity between the area of the front panel having a reduced level of elasticity and the remainder of the front panel promotes a lifting of the thoracic cavity of the person.