Anatomical closing system for health and wellness
A system for holding a portion of a user's body in a desired configuration includes a pair of tabs, each including a flexible body and a metallic element. The tabs are configured to be attachable to the user's body in spaced relation to each other. The system additionally includes a band having a main body and at least two magnets coupled to the main body. At least one of the at least two magnets is coupled to a respective one of the pair of distal portions of the band, with each magnet being configured to be magnetically attractable to one of the pair of tabs to facilitate magnetic attraction. The main body and the pair of tabs are configured to be mechanically coupled to the pair of tabs when the magnets of the band are magnetically coupled to the pair of tabs.
1 . A system for holding a portion of a user's body in a desired configuration, the system comprising:
a pair of metallic elements each being configured to be attachable to the user's body at respective first and second regions of the user's body; and
a band having a main body and at least two magnets coupled to the main body, the main body having a middle portion, a pair of distal portions on respective sides of the middle portion, and a plurality of teeth integral to the main body and each tooth of the plurality of teeth being located at a respective one of the pair of distal portions to facilitate mechanical coupling with the pair of metallic elements, each tooth of the plurality of teeth extending away from an inner surface of a respective one of the pair of distal portions, at least one of the at least two magnets being coupled to a respective one of the pair of distal portions, each magnet being configured to be magnetically attractable to one of the pair of metallic elements, the band being configured to be coupled to the pair of metallic elements via a combination of a magnetic force and a mechanical force, the magnetic force being between the at least two magnets and the pair of metallic elements and the mechanical force being via engagement between the plurality of teeth and interface portions associated with the pair of metallic elements;
the pair of metallic elements and the band being configured to exert a force on the user's body to restrict separation of the first and second regions when the band is coupled to the pair of metallic elements.
2 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of teeth includes a first set of teeth positioned adjacent a first one of the at least two magnets and a second set of teeth positioned adjacent a second one of the at least two magnets.
3 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein each interface portion includes a mesh material extending over a respective one of the pair of metallic elements and being configured to enable at least partial advancement of certain ones of the plurality of teeth therein.
4 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein each interface portion includes a rubber material extending over a respective one of the pair of metallic elements and being configured to enable flexing in response to engagement with certain ones of the plurality of teeth.
5 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the band includes a pair of recesses formed in respective ones of the pair of distal portions, the at least two magnets include a first pair of magnets in a first one of the pair of recesses and a second pair of magnets in a second one of the pair of recesses.
6 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the pair of metallic elements are integrated into a single tab having a first region, a second region and a slit between the first region and the second region, a first one of the pair of metallic elements positioned in the first region and a second one of the pair of metallic elements positioned in the second region, the single tab having an adhesive to facilitate adhering of the tab to the user.
7 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein each one of the pair of metallic elements being integrated into a respective one of a pair of tabs, each one of the pair of tabs having an adhesive to facilitate adhering of the tab to the user.
8 . The system recited in claim 1 , wherein the pair of distal portions of the band are moveable relative to each other to facilitate size adjustment of the band.
9 . A method of applying a restrictive force to a user adjacent the user's mouth, the method comprising:
adhering a pair of metallic elements on opposite sides of the user's mouth; and
magnetically and mechanically connecting a rigid band to the pair of metallic elements to facilitate application of a force on opposite sides of the user's mouth to restrict opening of the user's mouth, the magnetic connection being between at least two magnets of the rigid band and the pair of metallic elements and the mechanical connection being via engagement between a plurality of teeth of the rigid band and interface portions associated with the pair of metallic elements.
10 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the adhering the pair of metallic elements includes adhering a single tab on the user's skin, the single tab including the pair of metallic elements.
11 . The method as recited in claim 9 , wherein the adhering the pair of metallic elements includes adhering a pair of tabs to the user, each of the pair of tabs including a respective one of the pair of metallic elements.
12 . The method as recited in claim 9 , further comprising the step of adjusting a size of the band by adjusting a distance between a pair of distal portions of the band.
13 . A system for holding a portion of a user's body in a desired configuration, the system comprising:
a pair of tabs, each tab including a flexible body and a metallic element coupled to the flexible body, the flexible body having an adhesive on a surface thereof to facilitate selective attachment of the respective tab to the user's body, the pair of tabs being configured to be attachable to the user's body in spaced relation to each other; and
a band having a main body and at least two magnets coupled to the main body, the main body having a middle portion and a pair of distal portions on respective sides of the middle portion, and a plurality of teeth formed at each distal portion of the pair of distal portions, at least one of the at least two magnets being coupled to a respective one of the pair of distal portions, each magnet being configured to be magnetically attractable to one of the pair of tabs to facilitate magnetic attraction;
the main body and the pair of tabs being configured to be mechanically coupled to each other when the at least two magnets of the band are magnetically coupled to the pair of tabs, the mechanical coupling including engagement between the plurality of teeth and an interface portion of each flexible body to strengthen the connection between the band and the pair of tabs and resist shear forces that are in a direction tangent to an outer surface of a respective one of the pair of tabs.
14 . The system recited in claim 13 , wherein each tooth of the plurality of teeth extends away from an inner surface of a respective one of the pair of distal portions, in a direction away from the at least two magnets.
15 . The system recited in claim 14 , wherein the flexible body includes a mesh material capable of enabling at least partial advancement of certain ones of the plurality of teeth therein.
16 . The system recited in claim 14 , wherein the flexible body includes a rubber material capable of flexing in response to engagement with certain ones of the plurality of teeth.
17 . The system recited in claim 13 , wherein the pair of distal portions of the band are moveable relative to each other to facilitate size adjustment of the band.
18 . The system as recited in claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of teeth is tapered such that a cross-sectional area of the tooth decreases as the tooth extends away from the respective distal portion.