Reconfigurable attachment for rehabilitation equipment

• US 20060030465A1
• Filed: 08/05/2004
• Published: 02/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment Co. (US Physical Therapy Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Baltimore Therapeutic Equipment Co. (US Physical Therapy Incorporated)
• Inventors: Johnson, Kenneth Bruce, Mongeau, Adam David, Perret, Joseph Francis Jr.
• Application Number:
  US10/911,571
• Publication Number:
  US 20060030465A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/139
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 15/00 Clubs for gymnastics or the like , e.g. for swinging exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/151 Using flexible elements for reciprocating movements, e.g. ropes or chains
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/06 Handles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/08 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 60/10 with means for indicating correct holding positions A63B60/12 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus includes a handle member that has a grip portion and a coupling portion. In one embodiment, the grip portion is removably coupled to the coupling portion. The coupling portion is configured to be slidably coupled to a tension member such that the tension member may slide with respect to the coupling portion from a first portion of the coupling portion to a second portion of the coupling portion. In one embodiment, the travel distance of the tension member from the first portion of the coupling portion to the second portion of the coupling portion is greater than 2 inches (5 cm). In another embodiment, the grip portion includes a vertex location. A first axis is defined by the handle member and extends from the vertex location to the first portion of the coupling portion. A second axis is defined by the handle member and extends from the vertex location to the second portion of the coupling portion. In one embodiment, the angle defined by the first axis and the second axis is greater than 5°.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a handle member having a grip portion and a coupling portion, the coupling portion configured to be slidably coupled to a tension member from a first portion of the coupling portion to a second portion of the coupling portion, the grip portion includes a vertex location,

the handle member defining a first axis extending from the vertex location of the grip portion to the first portion of the coupling portion, the handle member defining a second axis extending from the vertex location of the grip portion to the second portion of the coupling portion, the first axis and the second axis defining an angle formed about the vertex location, the angle being greater than 5 degrees.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion includes a curved portion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip portion is removably coupleable to the coupling portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip portion is in the form of a baseball bat handle.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip portion is in the form of a tennis racquet handle.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip portion is in the form of a golf club handle.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the grip portion is a first grip portion, the handle member includes a second grip portion, the first grip portion is removably coupleable to the coupling portion, the second grip portion is removably coupleable to the coupling portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion includes an end portion, the grip portion includes a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the end portion of the coupling portion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coupling portion includes an end portion, the grip portion includes a cavity configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the end portion of the coupling portion, the grip portion is configured to rotate about the at least a portion of the end portion of the coupling portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tension member includes a cable and a force-generating mechanism, the cable having a first end portion coupled to the coupling portion of the handle member and a second end portion coupled to the force-generating mechanism.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tension member includes a cable and a force-generating mechanism, the cable having a first end portion coupled to the coupling portion of the handle member and a second end portion coupled to the force-generating mechanism, the force-generating mechanism is a brake controlled rotation shaft.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tension member includes a cable and a force-generating mechanism, the cable having a first end portion coupled to the coupling portion of the handle member and a second end portion coupled to the force-generating mechanism, the force-generating mechanism is a weight suspended above a support surface.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tension member includes a cable and a force-generating mechanism, the cable having a first end portion coupled to the coupling portion of the handle member and a second end portion coupled to the force-generating mechanism, the force-generating mechanism is a flexible member configured to be bent from a first position to a second position.

14. An apparatus, comprising:

a handle member having a grip portion and a coupling portion, the coupling portion configured to be slidably coupled to a tension member from a first portion of the coupling portion to a second portion of the coupling portion, the travel distance between the first portion of the coupling portion and the second portion of the coupling portion being at least 5 centimeters.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the coupling portion includes a curved portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the grip portion is removably coupleable to the coupling portion.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the grip portion is a first grip portion, the handle member includes a second grip portion, the first grip portion is removably coupleable to the coupling portion, the second grip portion is removably coupleable to the coupling portion.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the coupling portion includes an end portion, the grip portion includes a cavity configured to receive at least a portion of the end portion of the coupling portion.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the coupling portion includes an end portion, the grip portion includes a cavity configured to slidably receive at least a portion of the end portion of the coupling portion, the grip portion is configured to rotate about the at least a portion of the end portion of the coupling portion.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the travel distance is at least 10 centimeters.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein at least a portion of the coupling portion is flexible.

22. An apparatus, comprising:

a handle member including a grip portion and a coupling portion, the grip portion extending along an axis, the coupling portion configured to be coupled to a tension member that applies a force to the handle member along an axis,

the handle member being configured to rotate about an axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, the first position is different than the second position, the axis of rotation is substantially orthogonal to the axis of force, the axis of rotation is substantially orthogonal to the grip portion axis, the axis of force substantially intersects an intersection zone associated with the handle member when the handle member is in its first position, the axis of force substantially intersects the intersection zone when the handle member is in its second position.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the handle member is disposed within the intersection zone.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the grip portion of the handle member is disposed within the intersection zone.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the axis of rotation is disposed within the intersection zone.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the axis of rotation is disposed within the intersection zone, the axis of force substantially intersects the axis of rotation when the handle member is in its first position, the axis of force substantially intersects the axis of rotation when the handle member is in its second position.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein at least a portion of the coupling portion is flexible.

28. An apparatus, comprising:

a handle member including a grip portion and a coupling portion, the grip portion extending along an axis, the coupling portion configured to be coupled to a tension member that applies a force to the handle member along an axis,

the handle member being configured to rotate about an axis of rotation between a first position, a second position and a third position, the first position is different than the second position and the third position, the second position is different than the third position, the axis of rotation is substantially orthogonal to the axis of force, the axis of rotation is substantially orthogonal to the grip axis, the force applied to the handle member produces an amount of torque on a location on the handle member when the handle member is in its first position, the force applied to the handle member produces substantially the amount of torque on the location on the handle member when the handle member is in its second position, the force applied to the handle member produces substantially the amount of torque on the location on the handle member when the handle member is in its third position.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the handle member and configured to detect the angle between the force axis and the grip axis;

a track; and

a pulley movably coupled to the track,

the tension member includes a cable and a force-generating mechanism, the cable having a first end portion, a second end portion opposite the first end portion, and a medial portion disposed between the first end portion and the second end portion, the first end portion coupled to the handle member, the second end portion coupled to the force-generating mechanism, the medial portion configured to interact with the pulley, the pulley configured to be disposed at a first location on the track when the sensor detects a first angle between the force axis and the grip axis, the pulley configured to move to a second location on the track in response to the sensor detecting a second angle between the force axis and the grip axis.