# US 8,769,712 B2 · Gravity-loading body suit

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- Number: US 8,769,712 B2
- Document ID: US8769712B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/072,053
- Filed: 2011-03-25
- Published: 2011-09-29
- Granted: 2014-07-08
- Earliest claimed: 2010-03-25
- Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Applicants: James Murray Andrew Waldie; Dava J. Newman
- Inventors: James Murray Andrew Waldie; Dava J. Newman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8769712B2

## CPC

- A41D 13/0015: {Sports garments other than provided for in groups A41D13/0007 - A41D13/088}
- A41D 31/185: {using layered materials}
- B64G 6/00: Space suits
- A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES
- B64G: COSMONAUTICS; VEHICLES OR EQUIPMENT THEREFOR

## Abstract

An elastic skin suit simulates gravitational loading. By selecting material(s) of appropriate dimensions and appropriate module of elasticity, and optionally integrating inelastic portions to maintain a desired surface distribution, the suit can be adapted to impose a loading regime that simulates the loading of terrestrial gravity in a more continuous, shoulder-to-ankle manner than current loading suits.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A garment comprising:
a yoke shaped to rest securely about a pair of shoulders of a user;
a pair of stirrups shaped to receive a pair of feet of the user; and
a suit having a top coupled to the yoke and a bottom coupled to the pair of stirrups, the suit shaped and sized to conform to a body of the user with sufficient skin pressure to prevent slippage from a desired distribution on the user, and the suit including one or more panels of an elastic fabric having a substantially different modulus of elasticity for each of a warp and a weft, the elastic fabric oriented within the suit to provide a progressively increasing vertical loading from the top of the suit to the bottom of the suit when worn by the user whereby the vertical loading provides a loading regime that simulates terrestrial gravity when worn by the user in a reduced gravity environment, wherein the warp has a higher modulus of elasticity than the weft, and wherein the weft is oriented substantially circumferentially around a wearer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the loading regime is substantially equivalent to a loading for the body of the user when standing in a one G environment.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 further comprising one or more inelastic strips attached at predetermined locations along a length of the suit, the one or more inelastic strips securing the elastic fabric in the desired distribution about the body when the suit is worn by the user.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the yoke includes a reinforced collar.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the yoke provides an initial gradation plane that begins a variable loading regime of the suit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the yoke is formed of an inelastic material.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the yoke includes a non-stretch fabric.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the yoke is formed of an elastic material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the pair of stirrups are attached to a pair of shoes.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The garment of claim 9 wherein each one of the pair of shoes includes a rigid plate attached to one of the pair of stirrups.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the pair of stirrups includes a non-stretch fabric.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the pair of stirrups are formed of the elastic material.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein the pair of stirrups are adjustable in length.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 wherein each one of the pair of stirrups includes a mechanical coupling for attachment to one or more of a shoe, a vibration therapy device, and an exercise device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The garment of claim 1 further comprising one or more fasteners on a bottom portion of the suit to removably and replaceably attach the bottom portion of the suit to a footing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The garment of claim 15 wherein the footing includes one or more of a pair of feet, a pair of shoes, and an exercise device.