U.S. utility patent 10966552, the Cushioning Posterior Fulcrum Back Shaper, was granted April 6, 2021 for an apparatus with 2 parts: a back shaper that supports the lumbar curve and a neck shaper that supports the cervical spine during stretches and exercises. Chapter 4 of my book Invent It and Be Your Own Boss uses this patent as its example of the usefulness criterion, and it lists 14 design elements with the job each one does.
Why Usefulness Had to Be Shown Feature by Feature
A patent requires an invention to be novel, non-obvious and useful, and Chapter 4 states that usefulness means a practical application to a real-world problem, not a theoretical concept. For the Back Shaper, that meant writing down what each of the 14 elements does for the user’s form and alignment. The filing history explains why the detail mattered: I filed the provisional application on September 28, 2016 and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) application on September 28, 2017, and the written opinion issued December 26, 2017 found no inventive step over the prior art. I added features and functions, my attorneys filed a PCT continuation-in-part and a U.S. utility application on March 28, 2019, and that application became patent 10966552.
The Back Shaper Body: 4 Elements at the Lower Spine
The semicircular prismatic body is element 1 at the lower back: it supports the arch of the lower back and accommodates different body positions depending on the exercise. The spinal support element, the grooved channel, supports the transverse processes of the vertebrae, the side projections of each vertebra, so the user holds spinal alignment during exercises and stretches; on the matching design-patent rolls, that groove lets the spinous process at the center of the back float instead of pressing on the foam. The sacrum-supporting depression stabilizes and centers the sacrum and aligns the spinal column, and Chapter 4 names sit-ups as the exercise where it matters most. The pelvis-supporting depression stabilizes the outer edges of the hip bones within the pelvic girdle while leaving the sacral bones free to move, and Chapter 4 names pelvic tilt exercises as its main use.
The Pelvic Tilt Mechanism in the Patent Description
Chapter 4 describes 1 mechanism in technical terms. With the pelvis supported on the depression, the 5th lumbar vertebra (L5) shears backward on the 4th (L4) during a pelvic tilt. The force that produces this shear acts from the front of the body and counteracts the directional pull of the rectus abdominis, the long front abdominal muscle. Chapter 4 pairs 2 conditions for this mechanism: the pelvis held stable and the necessary movement still allowed, which is why the depression supports the hip bones while the sacrum stays free.
The Forearm Depressions and the Grooved Channels
The forearm-supporting depressions position the user’s arms so that the lumbar vertebrae sit in the groove at the correct location; the arm position sets the spine position. The grooved channels accommodate the position of the spine and keep the alignment during stretching and exercise, with neck flexion and sit-ups named as the 2 exercises they serve. Chapter 4 lists 3 exercise families the whole design suits: sit-ups, pelvic thrusting and bridge poses.
The Neck Shaper: 4 Elements at the Cervical Spine
The neck shaper supports the cervical bones during exercises that involve the neck, and the patent abstract describes it as an elongated body with 2 interlocking arms, rotatably mounted to the back shaper body. Those 2 arms are adjustable and cushioned, so the neck shaper can be set in different configurations, and Chapter 4 names the neck flexion bridge pose as the exercise where it gives support, guidance and resistance to the neck and its muscles. A stiffening rod adds support for the neck and head so the device carries the weight of the user’s head plus added weight during exercises. A secure connection mechanism joins the neck shaper to the back shaper so the 2 parts cannot detach during an exercise.
The 3 Elements That Apply to Both Parts
3 elements in the Chapter 4 list belong to the device as a whole. Support for moving parts keeps the neck and back stable and aligned through each movement. Muscle engagement is required by the design: Chapter 4 states that the invention requires users to activate their musculature during stretching and exercise. Adjustability lets the device fit users of different body sizes and fitness levels and different exercise variations.
The rolls that go with the Back Shaper carry their own patents: design patents D859668 for the Back Roll Spinal Brace, granted September 10, 2019, and D858779 for the Neck Roll Spinal Brace, granted September 3, 2019. Back Shaper rolls come in 5 diameters and 3 densities at 12 inches long; Neck Shaper rolls come in 5 diameters and 3 densities at 7 inches long.
Stop Signs During Any Spinal Exercise
My Spinal Fitness book names 4 stop signs for spinal exercise: pain, numbness, tingling and dizziness. Each of the 4 is a sign to stop the exercise, get evaluated, and then proceed with a therapeutic exercise program designed by a Spinal Fitness expert. Level 2 of the Spinal Fitness Training and Certification Program, Posture Evaluation and Exercises, teaches trainers to assess posture and to identify exercises to avoid.
Keep Exploring
This article is for educational purposes only.
