THERAPEUTIC-EXERCISE PILLOW AND METHODS OF USE

• US 20120165167A1
• Filed: 12/24/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/24/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martina E. Hauptmann
• Original Assignee: Martina E. Hauptmann
• Inventors: Hauptmann, Martina E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,632,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/123
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/16 Supports for anchoring force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4037 Exercise mats for personal use, with or without hand-grips or foot-grips, e.g. for Yoga or supine floor exercises mats for absorbing shocks A63B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0257 prone
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0266 on the side
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A therapeutic-exercise pillow is disclosed that facilitates exercises to be performed for general health and fitness, particularly in embodiments that incorporate resistance bands for the user'"'"'s arms and legs, in order to strengthen and tone the body of side lay, supine, and prone positions. In many embodiments, the overall shape of the therapeutic-exercise pillow resembles a teardrop that is flattened on one side (the side that is intended to rest on the floor), and has strategic internal foam/padding layering and placement to help support the lower abdominal regions of persons with physiological and/or medial limitations that otherwise preclude exercising such regions. In some embodiments, a plurality of adjustable exercise-resistance members for arms and/or legs are removably attached to the therapeutic-exercise pillow.

Claims

1. A therapeutic-exercise pillow, comprising:

a first region comprising a rounded, convex upper surface,

wherein the apex of said first region represents the vertically highest point on said therapeutic-exercise pillow;

a second region coupled to said first region and having an upper surface sloping down from said first region toward the ground,

wherein the lateral profile of said coupled first and second regions is substantially shaped like a skewed tear drop resting on its side; and

an inner volume, including said first and second regions, comprising a plurality of strategically shaped support foam placements adapted to support a user'"'"'s torso during therapeutic exercises,

wherein said plurality of support foam placements includes at least a first foam placement, a second foam placement, and a third foam placement,

wherein said first foam placement is substantially made from a material of equal to or higher density than that of said second foam placement and said third foam placement,

wherein said first foam placement has a higher Indention Load Deflection rating than that of said second foam placement and said third foam placement,

wherein said second foam placement is substantially made from a material of equal to or higher density than that of said third foam placement,

wherein said second foam placement has a higher Indention Load Deflection rating than that of said third foam placement,

wherein said first foam placement is disposed below said second foam placement and said third foam placement, and

wherein said second foam placement is disposed between said first foam placement and said third foam placement.

2. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 1, wherein said density of each of said first, second, and third foam placements is substantially 1.8 lbm/ft³.

3. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 2, wherein said Indention Load Deflection rating for said first foam placement is substantially 65, said Indention Load Deflection rating for said second foam placement is substantially 35, and said Indention Load Deflection rating for said third foam placement is substantially 25.

4. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 1, wherein the outer surfaces of said therapeutic-exercise pillow are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of marine-grade vinyl, stretch vinyl, leather, and cloth.

5. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 1, further comprising an access means to said inner volume,

wherein said access means is disposed to span from one lateral side of said therapeutic-exercise pillow, across the front of said first region, and to the other lateral side of said therapeutic-exercise pillow, and

wherein said access means is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of mechanical snaps, hook-and-loop strips, and a zipper.

6. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 1, further comprising a thin layer of foam padding disposed adjacent to the interior side of said outer surfaces, said thin layer being at a thickness within the range of ⅛

inches to ½

inches.

7. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 1, further comprising an attachment means on each lateral side of said therapeutic-exercise pillow for removably attaching resistant-exercise members,

wherein each said attachment means for attaching resistant-exercise members is selected from the group consisting of a “

D”

ring, a “

hook”

patch of a hook-and-loop fastener, a “

loop”

part of a hook-and-loop fastener, a “

male”

member of a mechanical snap, a “

female”

member of a mechanical snap, a tension lock, a slip-lock, and a buckle.

8. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 7, further comprising a pair of resistant arm-exercise members,

wherein each resistant arm-exercise member is comprised of an elongated flexible material,

wherein each resistant arm-exercise member is removably attached to said attachment means, and

wherein each resistant arm-exercise member has a gripping means adapted to allow a user to substantially secure said user'"'"'s hand and/or wrist in order to facilitate resistance exercises using said user'"'"'s corresponding arm.

9. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 8, wherein said gripping means includes an adjustment means to allow a user to customizably adapt the associated said resistant arm-exercise member to a user'"'"'s arm length and comfort level.

10. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 8, wherein said pair of resistant arm-exercise members are elastic.

11. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 7, further comprising a pair of resistant leg-exercise members,

wherein each resistant leg-exercise member is comprised of an elongated flexible material,

wherein each resistant arm-exercise member is removably attached to said attachment means, and

wherein each resistant leg-exercise member has a gripping means adapted to allow a user to substantially secure said user'"'"'s foot and/or ankle in order to facilitate resistance exercises using said user'"'"'s corresponding leg.

12. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 11, wherein said gripping means includes an adjustment means to allow a user to customizably adapt the associated said resistant leg-exercise member to a user'"'"'s leg length and comfort level.

13. The therapeutic-exercise pillow of claim 11, wherein said pair of resistant leg-exercise members are elastic.

17. A method of using a therapeutic-exercise pillow according to claim 1, comprising the steps of:

positioning the user'"'"'s torso over said therapeutic-exercise pillow,

wherein said user'"'"'s upper chest is initially located above, and in contact with, said first region of said therapeutic-exercise pillow,

wherein said user'"'"'s abdomen is initially positioned above, and in contact with, said second region of said therapeutic-exercise pillow, and

wherein said user is in forward flexion over said therapeutic-exercise pillow;

using spinal extensors to lift said user'"'"'s spine toward a neutral position; and

establishing said user'"'"'s final position of spinal extension to neutral.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said therapeutic-exercise pillow further comprises the limitations of claim 8, the method further comprising the steps of:

engaging each of said user'"'"'s arms with the side-associated resistant arm-exercise member; and

substantially simultaneously with the step of using spinal extensors, using arm-challenge exercises with said resistant arm-exercise members,

wherein said user'"'"'s triceps are subjected to extension.

19. A method of using a therapeutic-exercise pillow according to claim 11, comprising the steps of:

positioning the user'"'"'s torso over said therapeutic-exercise pillow,

wherein a first side of said user'"'"'s upper chest is initially located above, and in contact with, said first region of said therapeutic-exercise pillow,

wherein a first side of said user'"'"'s abdomen is initially positioned above, and in contact with, said second region of said therapeutic-exercise pillow;

engaging said user'"'"'s leg, opposite to that side of said user which is in contact with said therapeutic-exercise pillow, with at least one of said resistant leg-exercise members; and

using leg-challenge exercises with said at least one resistant leg-exercise members.

20. A method of using a therapeutic-exercise pillow according to claim 11, comprising the steps of:

positioning the user'"'"'s head and back over said therapeutic-exercise pillow,

wherein the user'"'"'s head and upper back is located above, and in contact with, said first region of said therapeutic-exercise pillow,

the user'"'"'s lower back is located above, and in contact with, said second region of the therapeutic-exercise pillow, and

whereby the user is in a substantially reclined position with respect to said therapeutic-exercise pillow;

engaging each of the user'"'"'s legs with said side-associated resistant leg-exercise member; and

performing user-leg-press resistance exercises from the reclined position using said resistant leg-exercise member engaged with the at least one user leg.

14. A method of making a therapeutic-exercise pillow, comprising the steps of:

providing a first region comprising a rounded, convex upper surface,

wherein the apex of said first region represents the vertically highest point on said therapeutic-exercise pillow;

providing a second region coupled to said first region and having an upper surface sloping down from said first region toward the ground,

wherein the lateral profile of said coupled first and second regions is substantially shaped like a skewed tear drop resting on its side; and

providing an inner volume, including said first and second regions, comprising a plurality of strategically shaped support foam placements adapted to support a user'"'"'s torso during therapeutic exercises,

wherein said plurality of support foam placements includes at least a first foam placement, a second foam placement, and a third foam placement,

wherein said first foam placement is substantially made from a material of equal to or higher density than that of said second foam placement and said third foam placement,

wherein said first foam placement has a higher Indention Load Deflection rating than that of said second foam placement and said third foam placement,

wherein said second foam placement is substantially made from a material of equal to or higher density than that of said third foam placement,

wherein said second foam placement has a higher Indention Load Deflection rating than that of said third foam placement,

wherein said first foam placement is disposed below said second foam placement and said third foam placement, and

wherein said second foam placement is disposed between said first foam placement and said third foam placement.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said density of each of said first, second, and third foam placements is substantially 1.8 lbm/ft³.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said Indention Load Deflection rating for said first foam placement is substantially 65, said Indention Load Deflection rating for said second foam placement is substantially 35, and said Indention Load Deflection rating for said third foam placement is substantially 25.