Horizontal hamstring stretcher

• US 20070037676A1
• Filed: 08/15/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xtrastretch, LLC
• Original Assignee: Christopher Denisco
• Inventors: DeNisco, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,476,182 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/112
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0244 Hip A61H1/0255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0456 Supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4011 to the lower limbs means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4029 Benches specifically adapted for exercising for bench press exercises A63B21/078
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0482 primarily by articulating the hip joints A63B23/0211, A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/907 Stretching

Abstract

An exercise machine includes: a bench for a user to lie upon; an actuator arm comprising a first end connected to the bench and a second end comprising a foot attachment for attaching to a human foot; the actuator arm comprising an actuator for moving the actuator arm such that a user'"'"'s leg is moved into a stretching position; and a user control for causing the actuator to actuate.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a bench for a user to lie upon;

an actuator arm comprising a first end connected to the bench and a second end comprising a foot attachment for attaching to a user'"'"'s foot;

the actuator arm comprising an actuator for moving the actuator arm such that a user'"'"'s leg is moved into a stretching position; and

a user control for causing the actuator to actuate.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the actuator arm comprises a first member further comprising a connection to the bench and a second member comprising the foot attachment and wherein the first and second members are connected to each other by a joint allowing freedom of movement such that the first and second members form a variable angle with respect to each other.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the second member comprises an actuator piston.

4. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the joint comprises a manually adjustable gear for altering the variable angle.

5. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the foot attachment comprises a unshaped foot harness.

6. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the first member is substantially perpendicular to the bench and comprises a manual height adjustor to vary the height of the first member.

7. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a motor for the actuator.

8. The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the second member comprises a pneumatic piston arm.

9. The exercise machine of claim 2, further comprising a manually adjustable bench pad for increasing and decreasing the user'"'"'s distance to the actuator.

10. The exercise machine of claim 9, further comprising a mechanism to vary the length of the second member.

11. The exercise machine of claim 2, further comprising a remote control for the actuator arm.

12. The exercise machine of claim 11, wherein the remote control comprises an electronic gauge for measuring progression of the angle between the first and second members.

13. The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a strap to attach a leg of the user to the bench and to keep the user'"'"'s leg flat on the bench.

14. The exercise machine of claim 13, wherein the strap comprises a hook and loop fastener.