Apparatus and Method for Applying Forces to a Pelvis of a Person

Abstract

An apparatus for applying forces to a pelvis of a person is disclosed. The apparatus includes a garment having at least a pelvic portion for location around the pelvis of a person, and a belt including a fastening member for fastening together two different parts of the belt when the belt surrounds the garment. The apparatus also includes a first attachment mechanism configured to fix a first part of the belt at a first location on the pelvic portion of the garment to prevent the first part of the belt from sliding in any direction from the first location.

1 . An apparatus for applying forces to a pelvis of a person, the apparatus comprising:
 a garment having at least a pelvic portion for location around the pelvis of a person;   a belt comprising a fastening member for fastening together two different parts of the belt when the belt surrounds the garment; and   a first attachment mechanism configured to fix a first part of the belt at a first location on the pelvic portion of the garment to prevent the first part of the belt from sliding in any direction from the first location.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment mechanism is configured to allow the first part of the belt to be released from the garment and reattached to the garment. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a second attachment mechanism configured to fix a second part of the belt at a second location on the garment while the first part is fixed at the first location so that a first portion of the belt extends from the first location to the second location, wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms are configurable to hold the first portion of the belt in tension while the first portion extends over a surface of the garment. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment has a first garment portion for location around legs of a person and a second garment portion for location around a trunk of a person, and the first attachment mechanism is configured to provide attachment of the belt at various positions along a line from the first garment portion to the second garment portion. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising
 a second attachment mechanism configured to fix a second part of the belt at a second location on the garment while the first part is fixed at the first location so that a first portion of the belt extends from the first location to the second location,   wherein the first and second attachment mechanisms are configurable to hold the first portion of the belt in tension while the first portion extends over a surface of the garment, and   wherein the second attachment mechanism is configured to provide attachment of the belt at various positions along a second line from the first garment portion to the second garment portion.   
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 ,
 wherein the apparatus comprises a third attachment mechanism configured to fix a third part of the belt at a third location on the garment while the first part is fixed at a first location and the second part is fixed at a second location, and   the first and third attachment mechanisms are configured to enable a second portion of the belt extending between the first and third locations to be held in tension.   
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the first attachment mechanism is configured to prevent movement of the first part of the belt from the first location when a first tension force is provided in the first portion of the belt and a second different tension force is provided in the second portion of the belt. 
     
     
         8 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the apparatus comprises an attachment mechanism configured to attach the fastening member to the garment.   
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the belt comprises a plurality of straps, each strap configured to extend partly around the garment. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the belt comprises a plurality of straps, each strap configured to extend partly around the garment and at least one of the first and the second attachment mechanisms is configured to provide attachment of at least one of the straps at various angles to the garment. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the belt comprises a pivot mechanism to allow one of the straps at one side of the pivot mechanism to extend at an angle to one of the straps at the other side of the pivot mechanism. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 15  wherein a respective ring is provided on each side the pivot mechanism and the rings are configured to receive a respective one of said straps. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the pivot mechanism forms a part of the fastening member. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the fastening member is one of a plurality of fastening members which are configured to connect two of the straps together. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the garment has two openings, each one of the two openings for allowing the passage of a leg of a person wearing the garment. 
     
     
         20 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for applying forces to a pelvis of a person, the apparatus comprising:
 a garment having at least a pelvic portion for location around the pelvis of a person and two openings, each one of the two openings for allowing the passage of a leg of a person wearing the garment;   a strap configured to extend at least part way around the garment;   a first attachment mechanism for fixing a first part of the strap at a first location on the pelvic portion of the garment to prevent the first part of the strap from sliding in any direction from the first location; and   a second attachment mechanism for fixing a second part of the strap at a second location on the pelvic portion of the garment to prevent the second part of the strap from sliding in any direction from the second location.   
     
     
         24 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . An apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of straps, each strap configured to extend only part way around the garment. 
     
     
         30 . An apparatus according to  claim 29 , wherein at least one of the first and the second attachment mechanisms is configured to provide attachment of at least one of the straps at various angles to the garment. 
     
     
         31 . An apparatus according to  claim 23 , wherein the garment has a first garment portion for location around legs of a person and a second garment portion for location around a trunk of a person, and at least one of the first and second attachment mechanisms is configured to provide attachment of the belt at various positions along a line from the first garment portion to the second garment portion. 
     
     
         32 . A method for applying forces to a pelvis of a person, the method comprising:
 locating a pelvic portion of a garment around the pelvis of a person;   using a fastening member to fasten together two different parts of a belt when the belt surrounds the garment; and   using a first attachment mechanism to fix a first part of the belt at a first location on the pelvic portion of the garment to prevent the first part of the belt from sliding in any direction from the first location.