SYSTEM FOR PASSIVE STRETCHING

• US 20100210977A1
• Filed: 02/12/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seign LLC
• Original Assignee: Seign LLC
• Inventors: Casha, Lawrence M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,313,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/5
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0237 for the lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0244 Hip A61H1/0255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0103 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/1269 Passive exercise driven by movement of healthy limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5071 Pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2203/0456 Supine

Abstract

A system for assisting in the performance of passive stretches includes a stretching device and a control mechanism. The stretching device includes an inflatable component. The control mechanism enables a user to control the degree of inflation of the inflatable component. The stretching device may optionally include one or more user contact surfaces attached to an outer layer or formed within an outer layer. The system may also include a support for supporting the stretching device at a particular height. The support may compressively hold the stretching device at the particular height when the inflatable component is inflated.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a stretching device, the stretching device comprising;

an inflatable component affixed to a moveable platform, wherein the inflatable component is configured to apply force against a limb of a user placed thereon;

a support supporting the stretching device, the stretching device being adjustably coupled to the support in such a way that the stretching device can be positionally adjusted along the support and fixed in a desired location; and

a first control mechanism enabling a user to control the degree of inflation of the inflatable component.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable component comprises an inflatable inner core and an inflatable outer layer.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second control mechanism enabling the user to control the degree of inflation of the inflatable component.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one user contact surface, wherein the user contact surface is positionally adjustable.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one user contact surface is removably attached to the stretching device.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the at least one user contact surface is formed from a solid foam.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the moveable platform further comprises a pressure plate mounted thereon in such a way that pressure applied to the inflatable component impacts and is measurable by the pressure plate.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the pressure plate comprises a plurality of sensors that are configured to measure a force applied to the pressure plate.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more mechanical fasteners configured to position or bind a limb of a user relative to the stretching device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a floor component coupled to the support, the floor component stabilizing the support when the system is in use.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is portable.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the system is water-proof and submergible.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a biofeedback component including one or more user modules coupled to the user and one or more stretching device modules coupled to the stretching device, wherein the biofeedback component provides contemporaneous biological information to the user.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the one or more stretching device modules include a pressure sensor coupled to the stretching device to measure force applied to a body part in contact with the stretching device.

15. A method of using a device to assist in stretching a limb, the method comprising:

positioning an inflatable stretching device along a supportive frame in such a way as to be located in a desired position for implementation of a passive stretch of a limb of a user;

placing the limb of the user against the stretching device; and

activating inflation of the inflatable stretching device in such a way that a passive stretch of the limb is achieved.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising measuring a pressure placed against the inflatable stretching device.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising controlling an amount of inflation of the inflatable stretching device based at least in part on a measurement of pressure placed against the inflatable stretching device by the limb of the user.

18. A system, comprising:

a stretching device, the stretching device comprising;

an inflatable component mounted on a movable platform;

a first control mechanism enabling a user to control the degree of inflation of the inflatable component; and

a biofeedback component configured to provide contemporaneous biological information to the user.

19. The system of claim 18, further comprising a pressure plate disposed on the movable platform in such a way as to sense force that is applied to the inflatable component.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the biofeedback component includes one or more user modules and one or more device modules.