Weight loss abstract
A special belt is provided for effecting weight loss in the wearer.
A central body has a convex side which is pressed into the abdomen
about three fingers over the navel. The constant pressure both decreases
the appetite and the ability of the stomach to hold large amounts
of food.
Weight loss claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention is a continuation-in-part of an invention
entitled MEANS AND METHOD OF EFFECTING WEIGHT LOSS BY CONTROLLING
THE APPETITE filed May 2, 1983 having Ser. No. 06/490,317, which
is incorporated herein by reference and which has been abandoned.
The current invention comprises improvements and modifications of
the original weight reduction belt.
Weight loss description
What is claimed is:
1. An appetite suppression device which permits extended wear and
is effective in causing weight loss comprising a body having a three-dimensional
protuberance having an inwardly extending convex surface and an
opposing outer surface which has a lesser degree of convexity and
belt means for mounting said protuberance on a human being so as
to exert pressure inwardly against a portion of the abdomen of the
human being, said means being adapted to mount said protuberance
between the navel and the sternum and approximately three fingers
above the navel of the human being.
2. The device of claim 1 wherein said protuberance is covered with
a material capable of absorbing moisture and wherein said belt is
removably attached by a fastening means to one end of said protuberance
and wherein said belt is adjustable to the size of the wearer.
3. The device of claim 1 wherein said outer surface of said body
is smooth.
4. The device of claim 1 wherein said body has more than one inwardly
extending protuberances.
5. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said belt comprises an
elastic band is covered with a continuous cloth sheath.
6. Structure according to claim 3 wherein said cloth sheath is
stretchable.
7. Structure according to claim 4 wherein said belt is infinitely
adjustably tensionable to apply the optimum pressure to the abdomen.
8. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises a
single, at least semi-rigid, band contoured in the horizontal dimension
to protrude into the abdomen, and at least partially contoured in
the vertical dimension in the same sense as in the horizontal.
9. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said three-dimensional
body comprises an inner core member covered with soft foam.
10. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said core member is
hollow and fabricated of plastic.
11. Structure according to claim 10 wherein said inner core member
comprises two mated parts, the first part being gradually curved
to substantially conform to the unaltered contour of the abdomen,
and the second part being distended away from the first part to
protrude into the abdominal area.
12. Structure according to claim 11 wherein at least one of said
two parts has ends defining slots and said means of releasibly compressing
comprises belt engaged in said slots.
13. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said protuberance takes
the form of a plurality of ribs.
14. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said protuberance takes
the form of a plurality of mounds.
15. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body is hollow
and substantially sealed to define a resonant chamber.
16. Structure according to claim 15 wherein said resonant chamber
is subdivided by internal baffles into a plurality of separate compartments.
17. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body has one side
away from the abdomen and a second side for pressing into the abdomen,
and said second side is convex at its central area with a concave
shoulder surrounding the central area.
18. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body is solid.
19. Structure according to claim 18 wherein said solid body is
solid plastic foam.
20. Structure according to claim 19 wherein said solid plastic
foam is backed by a rigid panel.
21. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body is hollow
and at least partially filled with liquid.
22. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body is hollow
and sealed, and at least a portion of said body which compresses
against the abdomen is expansible, and including a tube and valved
squeeze-bulb for pressurizing or depressurizing said body.
23. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body has a surface
which protrudes into the abdomen and which is striated.
24. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body has a surface
which protrudes into the abdomen which is perforated.
25. Structure according to claim 1 wherein said body comprises
a single warped plane band-shaped member with a central protrusion
for protruding into the abdomen.
26. The method of suppressing appetite in human beings for the
purpose of achieving effective weight loss comprising removably
mounting on a human being a device comprising a means including
an inwardly extending protuberance and a belt means for holding
said protuberance in a position between the sternum and the navel
and approximately three fingers above the navel of the wearer where
it can be worn comfortably for extended periods of time and will
effectively suppress the appetite of the wearer and wearing said
device for an extended period of time sufficient for effecting weight
loss.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the lower extremity of said
protuberance is located approximately three fingers above the navel.
28. The method of claim 26 or 27 wherein said device is worn for
at least several hours.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein said device is worn for such
duration and with such frequency as to achieve effective weight
loss.
30. The method of claim 28 wherein said protuberance contains at
least one hollow cavity and including the step of tapping said protuberance
from time to time.
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Description
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The original device described in the above cited patent application
operated on the same principles as do the improvements and modifications
described and claimed herein. The principle upon which all the devices
operate is that of displacing the abdomen inwardly from the front
by means of an object which is cinched fairly tightly around the
body. The object should be located with its lower edge about three
fingers above the navel. When it is in this position, and the appropriate
pressure applied, there is the feeling of having something in one's
stomach which tends to reduce the appetite. Also, by physically
displacing into much of the stomach's volume, less food can be consumed
at any one time. If the pressure is great enough, it may evan become
difficult to swallow if the stomach is partially full.
The initial invention set forth in the parent application was used
experimentally, and was used as a basis for developing a more refined
product. It consisted of a vacuum-formed sheet of plastic having
one distended side which was simply strapped to the body using a
Velcro adjustable strap. It was a little rough around the edges,
although it proved very effective in testing and experimentation.
By testing the original unit plus its improved progeny, the effectiveness
of the technique has been proven beyond a doubt. Several dozen people,
primarily women, have been and are wearing the belt with striking,
and exciting results. Over a period of about seven weeks, it is
not uncommon for a typical patient to lose twenty pounds, and even
more. To date, no side effects have become apparent. As it became
clear that this very simple approach to weight reduction may actually
be revolutionary in the weight reduction business, and dramatically
improve the lives of millions of people suffering from overweight
and obesity, the need for additional patent protection, covering
the improvements of the original model, became apparent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The instant invention utilizes the same basic principles used in
the original model, but has been substantially improved, both in
ease of use, and in comfort to the wearer. The central body is now
covered on both sides with a layer of soft foam for the comfort
of the wearer. The original belt with the Velcro ends has been replaced
with a belt having a tension adjustment buckle, and the the belt
itself is made from an elastic band covered with a sheath of stretchable
cloth. Thus, the belt adjusts as the person sits down, stands up
and otherwise effectively changes his or her girth, and is much
more comfortable. Because the cloth sheath which covers the elastic
belt expands to smoothly cover the enlarged body which presses against
the abdomen, the exterior of the belt now has a smooth, finished
appearance. The units in production have a pink, satin look which
has no prosthetic or medical appearance, but almost looks cosmetic
in nature.
In addition to the elastic belt and the foam padding, with the
improved adjustability, a number of different variations have been
conceived. Different shapes of the central protrusion have been
developed, and it has been found that the hollow nature of the central
body provides a resonating capability which is effective in soothing
the stomach when it is tapped several times by the wearer when he
or she may become hungry. Division of this resonant chamber into
more than one cavity to produce a different resonant effect is disclosed,
together with a solid central body, and a liquid filled central
body.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an elevation view of the belt as seen from the bottom
of the belt of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is the elevation of FIG. 2, but with the belt extended rather
than being buckled;
FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken from the opposite direction
as FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a section taken along 5--5 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along lines 6--6 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along lines 7--7 of FIG. 3;
FIG. 8 illustrates the body portion exploded into its two component
parts;
FIG. 9 illustrates an alternative embodiment using two lobes;
FIG. 10 is a section taken along line 10--10 of FIG. 9;
FIG. 11 illustrates the body portion split into two resonant cavities;
FIG. 12 illustrates a three mounds embodiment of the main body;
FIGS. 14-16 illustrate verious shapes the main body could assume;
FIG. 17 illustrates a modification which has an expandable portion
and a valved bulb pump;
FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16;
FIG. 19 is an embodiment utilizing a surface textured with ovate
ribs;
FIG. 20 illustrates the surface of the body textured with parallel
ribs;
FIG. 21 illustrates a sectional view of a solid foam with an optional
rigid backing body; and,
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of a single warped plane plastic
embodiment;
FIG. 23 is an embodiment illustrating a striation grid on the face
of the body; and
FIG. 24 illustrates a perforated version of the body.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 illustrates the overall appearance of the belt from the
top. The belt itself indicated at 24 is comprised of a continuous
outer sheath 26 which covers elastic band 28 as well as the central
body 30. The cloth sheath is continuous over the joints between
the elastic in the central body as can be seen in FIG. 1, to produce
a very finished appearance in the product.
The body itself, although subject to considerable variation, in
the preferred embodiment comprises a pair of vacuum-formed parts
32 and 34. The first part, part 32, has a slight, smooth contour
as can best be seen in FIG. 5. This is the externally worn part,
and the contour is such that when worn under the clothing, no bulge
is apparent to anyone. In use, the belt presses into the flesh of
the user so that it is substantially flush and not visible from
outside.
The second part 34 defines the bulge which is effective in causing
the weight loss. Both parts are bonded together as best seen in
FIG. 5, and covered with a layer of foam 36. The elastic band 28
passes through a series of slots 38 in both plastic parts. As shown
in FIG. 5, the left end then terminates with the stitched loop 40,
whereas the right side engages square metal D-ring 42, which mounts
the semi-cylindrical hook 44. The hook engages then a second D-ring
46 at the other end of the belt. A short flap of cloth 48 protects
the wearer from the hook buckle point. Along the length of the belt
is a standard buckle adjustment 50 which controls the size of the
belt, and therefore the pressure that is applied to the abdomen.
This permits the buckle to be set semi-permanently to the tension
that is optimal, with the belt being removable at the hook so that
the tension does not require resetting every time the belt is removed.
This construction makes the belt smooth, visually attractive, comfortable
to wear, and unobtrusive. It is both unobtrusive physically and
visually. Once the wearer has been using the belt for a few hours,
he or she no longer notices that it is on. In fact, many patients
get so accustomed to the belt that they feel uncomfortable when
it is off. The belt yields to many patients a warm, comfortable
feeling as though they had just eaten a nice meal. Provided that
the clothing worn by the patient is completely opaque, the belt
is not visible by means of any protuberances or distortions of the
body to anyone. It is soft, comfortable, and attractive. To mount
the belt, first the body is positioned with the lower edge three
fingers above the navel, and engaged by tensioning the belt. Then,
the belt is increasingly tensioned until the wearer experiences
discomfort, at which point the tension is abated until the discomfort
abates. This is the optimal tension.
A number of different embodiments have been illustrated in FIGS.
9-21, showing different approaches to the formation of the body
and similar variations. FIGS. 9-13 illustrate different ways of
providing the body as several different resonant chambers rather
than one. In FIGS. 9, 10, and 12, this is done by sculpting separate
chambers, and in FIGS. 11 and 13, internal baffles define the different
cavities. The resonance is helpful in transmitting an appetite supressing
vibration to the stomach. In another embodiment, any of the hollow
versions of the body could be partially filled with water to stimulate
the stomach with temperature difference and/or the vibrating sloshing
action of the water.
FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate main bodies which have been contoured
by the provision of parallel ridges in FIG. 14 and spaced protrusions
in FIG. 15. FIG. 16 is partially convex along its base area to provide
a more accented point. FIG. 17 illustrates a means of inflating
an inflatable version of the body, similar to the inflatable version
illustrated in the parent application but using a valved squeeze
bulb for pressure rather than a carbon dioxide cartridge. FIG. 18
illustrates how the FIG. 16 embodiment might look if it were star-shaped,
and FIG. 19 illustrates a body contoured with concentric ovate ribs.
FIG. 20 carries the same concept from FIG. 19 into parallel ribs,
similar to FIG. 14. FIG. 21 illustrates a body composed of a solid
mass of material 54 such as medium-density, semi-flexible XYLOFOAM
foam, with a rigid backing 56. The backing is optionsl and could
be omitted provided the foam were strong enough to support the belt.
The embodiment shown in FIG. 22 is a single molded piece of plastic
with slotted ends to engage the belt. This piec is a warped plane
with no curve in the vertical dimension, like a ribbon or belt.
Ordinarily it would be coated with a foam material such as the preferred
embodiment, but of course this would not be necessary to effectuate
the results desired. FIG. 23 illustrates an embodiment having a
striated, texturized surface, which might be useful, for example,
if one wore a silk undergarment under the body which would cause
it to otherwise slip were it not texturized. FIG. 24 illustrtes
a body that is perforated, to allow it to breathe in case the person
had a perspiration problem. In any of the hollow embodiments, the
hollow body could be all or partially filled with water or another
liquid, for purposes of providing mass or heat conductivity, and
in the case of a partially filled body, provide for a certain amount
of sloshing around to stimulate the stomach.
It is intended that the claims in this application cover any modification
of contour or shape of the central body, provided it serves the
one function for which it is designed, to press into the abdomen.
Similarly, the belt arrangement has the primary function of pressing
the central body into the abdomen, and any other means of compressing
the abdomen using an object similar to the main body of the instant
invention is intended to be covered by the appended claims.
It is believed that this invention and that disclosed in the parent
application provide a significant breakthrough in the area of weight
loss, and will assist at least some of the millions of people suffering
not only the detrimental health aspects of being obese, but even
more so the negative self image that obesity creates and the difficulties
that come with it. |