Exercise Machine for Back Rehabilitation

• US 20090105050A1
• Filed: 10/17/2007
• Published: 04/23/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Elvin A. Mayo
• Original Assignee: Elvin A. Mayo
• Inventors: Mayo, Elvin A.
• Application Number:
  US11/874,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20090105050A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/70
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0038 One foot moving independently from the other, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00061 Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00192 using resistance provided by magnetic means A63B21/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0602 Fluids, e.g. water
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0603 Fluid-like particles, e.g. gun shot or sand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0618 moving in a horizontal plane without substantial friction, i.e. using inertial forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0214 Kneeling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0219 on hands and knees
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0233 Muscles of the back, e.g. by an extension of the body against a resistance, reverse crunch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0064 Attachments on the trainee preventing falling

Abstract

An exercise machine and method of using same in which two upper-limb supports and two lower-limb supports reciprocate along two parallel tracks. The tracks may be attached by a collapsible frame. The limb supports move independently of one another. Resistance may be set for each limb support independent of one another, by means of receiving a weight in each limb support. A user can perform a crawling exercise on the machine moving upper right and lower left limbs in the same direction and moving upper left and lower right limbs in a same direction opposite from the other two limbs. A chest support may be arranged to span the tracks and support the user'"'"'s upper body weight.

Claims

1. An exercise machine comprising:

a frame;

a first track attached to said frame;

a second track attached to said frame;

a first upper-limb support configured to engage said first track;

a first lower-limb support configured to engage said first track;

a second upper-limb support configured to engage said second track; and

a second lower-limb support configured to engage said second track;

wherein said limb supports traverse said tracks, such that the motion of each limb support is mechanically independent of the motion of any other limb support.

2. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the frame is collapsible.

3. The exercise machine of claim 2 wherein the frame comprises two intersecting bars pivotable about an intersection between the two bars.

4. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second upper-limb supports includes at least one wheel mounted in its respective track to permit reciprocating motion along said track, and a chamber for accepting a weight to vary the resistance of said upper-limb support.

5. The exercise machine of claim 1 further comprising a chest support spanning from the first track to the second track.

6. An exercise machine comprising:

a first upper-limb support;

a first lower-limb support;

a second upper-limb support;

a second lower-limb support;

a first resistance-setting mechanism attached to said first upper-limb support for setting the resistance level of said first upper-limb support;

a second resistance-setting mechanism attached to said second upper-limb support for setting the resistance level of said second upper-limb support;

a third resistance-setting mechanism attached to said first lower-limb support for setting the resistance level of said first lower-limb support;

a fourth resistance-setting mechanism attached to said second lower-limb support for setting the resistance level of said second lower-limb support;

a first track adapted to constrain the movement of said first upper-limb support and said first lower-limb support; and

a second track adapted to constrain the movement of said second upper-limb support and said second lower-limb support;

wherein said resistance-setting mechanisms set their respective resistance levels independently of each other;

wherein said limb supports traverse said tracks.

7. The exercise machine of claim 6 wherein the first resistance-setting mechanism comprises a chamber for accommodating a removable weight.

8. The exercise machine of claim 6 further comprising a collapsible frame attached between the first track and the second track, wherein the collapsible frame comprises two intersecting bars having at least one end movably attached to one of the first and second tracks, permitting reciprocal movement of the end along its attached track.

10. The exercise machine of claim 6 further comprising a chest support spanning from the first track to the second track.

9. (canceled)

11. An exercise machine comprising:

a collapsible frame, wherein the collapsible frame comprises two intersecting bars having at least one end movably attached to one of the first and second tracks, permitting reciprocal movement of the end along its attached track, and said frame being adjustable to at least one open position for use and to a closed position for storage;

a first track attached to said frame;

a second track attached to said frame;

a first upper-limb support configured to engage said first track;

a first lower-limb support configured to engage said first track;

a second upper-limb support configured to engage said second track; and

a second lower-limb support configured to engage said second track;

wherein said limb supports traverse said tracks.

13. The exercise machine of claim 11 wherein each of the first and second upper-limb supports includes at least one wheel mounted in its respective track to permit reciprocating motion along said track.

14. The exercise machine of claim 11 further comprising a chamber in each of the upper-limb supports and lower-limb supports for accepting a weight to vary the resistance of its support.

15. The exercise machine of claim 11 further comprising a chest support spanning from the first track to the second track.

12. (canceled)

16. An exercise machine comprising:

a collapsible frame, said frame being adjustable to at least one open position for use and to a closed position for storage;

a first track attached to said frame;

a second track attached to said frame;

a first upper-limb support, having wheels mounted in said first track to permit reciprocating motion along said track, and a chamber for accepting a weight to vary the resistance of said first upper-limb support;

a first lower-limb support, having wheels mounted in said first track to permit reciprocating motion along said track, and a chamber for accepting a weight to vary the resistance of said first lower-limb support;

a second upper-limb support, having wheels mounted in said second track to permit reciprocating motion along said track, and a chamber for accepting a weight to vary the resistance of said second upper-limb support;

a second lower-limb support, having wheels mounted in said second track to permit reciprocating motion along said track, and a chamber for accepting a weight to vary the resistance of said second lower-limb support.

17. The exercise machine of claim 16 wherein the collapsible frame comprises two intersecting bars.

18. The exercise machine of claim 16 further comprising a chest support spanning from the first track to the second track.

19. A method of exercising comprising the steps of:

providing four mechanically independent limb supports in a plurality of parallel tracks;

supporting a user'"'"'s limbs on said limb supports; and

moving the user'"'"'s limbs back and forth in the limb supports along tracks in a crawling pattern, such that the user'"'"'s upper-right and lower-left limbs travel in the same direction as each other, the user'"'"'s upper-left and lower-right limbs travel in the same direction as each other, and said two pairs of limbs travel in the opposite direction from each other.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising supporting the user'"'"'s chest on a chest support while the user moves limbs back and forth.