A pair of levers are pivotally attached to the rigid frame of a backpack apparatus and extend forwardly over the shoulders of a person wearing the backpack and downwardly so that its distal or lower free end is positioned a spaced distance in front of the person's waist at a location conveniently within reach of his arms. A rotatable shoulder pad is provided on each lever near the point of pivotal attachment to the backpack frame to distribute the weight of the backpack over a larger area of the person's shoulders and to reduce the sharpness of the levers bearing on the person's shoulders. Each pad has a curved upper surface and is attached to the lever by a resilient strap such that the pad can rotate or rock to a limited extent independently of the lever. When the backpack is placed with the levers and shoulder pads in proper position on the person's shoulders, he can transfer the weight of the backpack to bear substantially vertically downward on his shoulders by applying a relatively small downwardly directed force on the distal end of the lever with his arms. A flexible strap is also attached to and extends between the distal end of each lever and the lower end of the rigid backpack frame to limit the outward and upward rotation of the lever about its point of pivotal attachment to the backpack frame to relieve the person from having to constantly hold the levers down with his arms and also to maintain the levers in a position to function as a stand to maintain the backpack in substantially upright position when not being worn.
An apparatus including a torso plate to include a plurality of rigid arcuate first and second shoulder straps are mounted and extend from a top edge of the plate to define respective first and second shoulder receiving cavities, with each respective plate terminating in a respective first and second handle. The first and second arcuate plates include first and second abutment flanges projecting therefrom, wherein the abutment flanges are of a predetermined length greater than a predetermined diameter defined by a weight lifting bar to permit positioning of the bar within spaced pairs of flanges in support of the bar during a weight lifting "squat" procedure utilizing "free weight". A modification of the invention includes securable pad members mounted within bottom surfaces of each of the first and second arcuate plates and to further include rods and dispensing handles to enhance and insure grip during use of the organization.
An improved rehabilitation device for treating a hump back and forward drooping shoulders has a base section with a support which can be put on the back of a patient. The support is arranged or configured in a transverse direction to the longitudinal axis of the rehabilitation device. A function unit is provided above the support, including two counter supports that face the support and are offset in relation to one another. The rehabilitation device is provided with a release section by which the two counter supports can be swiveled around the swivel axis formed by the support.
A weight lifting device having a pair of padded arcurate shoulder engaging members. Rod-like members which project outwardly from the shoulder members are provided with hand grips at their ends. Recesses or spaced raised portions are located on the outwardly projecting members to receive and hold the rod of a barbell. Either an integral connecting rod of the device or the rod of a barbell may be used to maintain the outwardly projecting members in their spaced relationship.
The present invention relates to an ergonomically correct harness for transporting loads. The harness comprises a pair of arcuately shaped pieces which fit over the shoulders of a user. Attached to the rear of the arcuately shaped pieces are two rearwardly extending arms. The rearwardly extending arms are connected at a distal end to a load support arm. Mechanisms for allowing a load to be carried by the harness are attached to the load support arm. Attached to the front of the arcuately shaped shoulder pieces are members for adjusting the position of the harness on the user's shoulders. By adjusting the position of the harness via these members, one can lift a load attached to the harness. The harness of the present invention allows a user to lift a load and transport it using his/her chest muscles, arm muscles, and shoulder muscles. It is not necessary for a user to use his/her knees to lift the load. Further, the back of the user can be kept straight as the user transports the load.
A device to be worn by an individual for use in supporting a child or infant to be carried seated on the shoulders of the wearer comprises a backrest for providing rearward and lateral support for the child, a bracing means for engagement against the rear of the torso of the wearer and a lever structure interconnecting said bracing means and said backrest, said structure extending forwardly and upwardly below the arms of the wearer and in front of the shoulders before passing behind the shoulders to the backrest, whereby the structure utilizes the frontal shoulder region of the adult as a fulcrum to transfer a rearward load on the backrest to the said bracing means.
