Therapeutic exercise device

• US 4,229,001 A
• Filed: 02/23/1979
• Issued: 10/21/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michael P. Roman
• Original Assignee: Michael P. Roman
• Inventors: Roman, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marlo, George J.
• Application Number:
  US06/015,522
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 272/96, 272/97, 272/93, 272/94, 272/127, 272/131, 272/141, 272/142, 272/DIG. 3, 272/DIG. 4, 272/DIG. 5, 272/146, 128/25 R, 128/25 B
• US Class Current: 482/79
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0028 the movement path being non-parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane, e.g. support elements moving at an angle to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/012 using frictional force-resisters electromagnetically-controlled brakes A63B21/0056
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0046 Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/203 in a horizontal plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03508 For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0417 with guided foot supports moving parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane by translation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0482 primarily by articulating the hip joints A63B23/0211, A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/085 by rotational movement of the joint in a plane substantially parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane

Abstract

A patient'"'"'s lower leg and foot are received by a "boot" which is movable to guide and control the performance of various exercising functions. The sole of the boot is pivoted relative to the leg-receiving portions for soleus pumping exercises, and the entire boot is supported for vertical and horizontal pivoting movement on a longitudinally guided carriage which permits both longitudinal and transverse horizontal boot movement for knee bending and hip exercises.

Claims

1. Therapeutic exercising apparatus comprising,

elongated guide means,

a carriage assembly engaged with and guided by said elongated guide means,

a boot assembly supported on said carriage assembly, said boot assembly including a leg receiving member for engaging the lower leg of a patient and a sole member for engaging the sole of a patient'"'"'s foot, said sole member being movable relative to said leg receiving member about a substantially horizontal pivot axis, said boot assembly being movable in a substantially horizontal linear path and in a substantially horizontal arcuate path.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 including pivot means which enables the boot assembly to swing horizontally about a substantially vertical axis.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the boot assembly is movable from a first position where it is oriented longitudinally of the guide means for knee flexion and extension exercises, to a second position where it is oriented transversely of the guide means for hip abduction and adduction exercises.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said boot assembly is connected to said carriage assembly for movement about a horizontal pivot axis to permit knee flexion and extension exercises during movement of the carriage.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 including lock means for preventing said boot assembly from moving relative to said carriage assembly about said horizontal pivot axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the boot assembly is movable from a first position where it is oriented longitudinally of the guide means for knee flexion and extension exercises, to a second position where it is oriented transversely of the guide means for hip abduction and adduction exercises.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said boot assembly is connected to said carriage assembly for movement about a horizontal pivot axis to permit knee flexion and extension exercises during movement of the carriage.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 including lock means for preventing said boot assembly from moving relative to said carriage assembly about said horizontal pivot axis.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the boot assembly is movable from a first position where it is oriented longitudinally of the guide means for knee flexion and extension exercises, to a second position where it is oriented transversely of the guide means for hip abduction and adduction exercises.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said apparatus includes means for limiting the range of movement of the carriage assembly along the guide means.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 including disengageable lock means for preventing pivotal movement of said sole member relative to said leg-receiving member.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 including counter means for counting and displaying the movements of said sole member relative to said leg-receiving member.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for exerting a resistance force on the carriage to resist but not prevent movement of the carriage assembly along the guide means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the means for exerting a resistance force includes a drag member supported on the carriage, a spring for biasing the drag member to an extended position, and means for adjusting the force exerted on the drag member by the spring.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the carriage assembly includes a lower carriage portion engaged with the elongated guide means and movable therealong, and an upper carriage portion movable in a direction which is transverse to the elongated guide means, means connecting the lower carriage portion to the upper carriage portion, said boot assembly being connected to and supported by said upper carriage portion.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the means connecting the upper carriage portion to the lower carriage portion includes an intermediate carriage portion which is pivotally connected to the lower carriage portion for movement about a substantially vertical pivot axis.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 including means for exerting a resistance force on the sole member to resist but not prevent movement of the sole member relative to said legreceiving member.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the means for exerting a resistance force is a spring which biases the sole member to a position which is oriented at about 90°

to said leg-receiving member.

19. Therapeutic exercising apparatus comprising,

elongated guide means,

a carriage assembly engaged with and guided by said elongated guide means,

a boot assembly supported on said carriage assembly, said boot assembly including a leg receiving member for engaging the lower leg of a patient and a sole member for engaging the sole of a patient'"'"'s foot, pivot means which enables the boot assembly to swing horizontally about a substantially vertical axis, said boot assembly being movable in a substantially horizontal linear path and in a substantially horizontal arcuate path.

20. Therapeutic exercising apparatus comprising,

elongated guide means,

a carriage assembly engaged with and guided by said elongated guide means,

a boot assembly supported on said carriage assembly, said boot assembly including a leg receiving member for engaging the lower leg of a patient and a sole member for engaging the sole of a patient'"'"'s foot, pivot means which enables the boot assembly to tilt about a substantially horizontal axis, said boot assembly being movable in a substantially horizontal linear path and in a substantially horizontal arcuate path.