Complete body passive exercise machine

• US 5,343,856 A
• Filed: 11/18/1992
• Issued: 09/06/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfred E. Proctor
• Original Assignee: Alfred E. Proctor
• Inventors: Proctor, Alfred E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARK, JEANNE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US07/977,666
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 128/25 R, 128/26, 128/25 B, 482/57, 482/60, 482/62, 482/79, 482/80, 482/147
• US Class Current: 601/35
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0214 by rotating cycling movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0018 for wheelchair users

Abstract

The present device discloses a complete body passive exercise machine. A motor drives a crank shaft which rotates two foot plates about a given point. These foot plates are attached to limited slide joint assemblies which cause the foot plates to flex forwardly and rearwardly while they are being moved in a circle thereby exercising the legs and ankles. The crankshaft is also operatively attached to arm levers which are held onto by the user. The arm levers work such that the one of the user'"'"'s arms is fully extended while the other is close to the user'"'"'s body thereby working the arms as well as pivoting the torso.

Claims

1. A device for providing simultaneous passive exercise of the feet and ankles, arms, legs, and torso of a user, comprising:

a. a frame;

b. means attached to said frame for moving the feet and the legs of the user in a substantially circular pattern along a vertical plane comprising a first foot plate and a second foot plate for receiving one of said feet, plates having an upper side and a lower side, said underside of each of said foot plates slidably and pivotally attached to a cam arm;

c. means attached to said frame for flexing of the feet and the ankles of the user through an adjustable vertical range of motion comprising limited slide joints pivotally attached to said frame, each of said limited slide joints having an adjustment rod attached to a guide shaft by two brackets which are releasibly and adjustibly attached along adjustment rod, each of said limited slide joint having a spring receiving said guide shaft, each of said limited slide joint attached to one of said foot plates; and

d. means attached to said frame for moving the arms of the user forwardly and rearwardly.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for moving the feet and legs of the user in a substantially circular pattern along a vertical plane and said means for moving the arms of the user forwardly and rearwardly are operatively connected such that the right foot and the right arm of the user are in forward positions when the left arm and the left foot of the user are in rearward positions closest to the user.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for moving the feet and the legs of the user in a substantially circular pattern along a vertical plane comprises said cam arm pivotally connected to a rotating crankshaft.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said means for flexing of the feet and the ankles of the user comprises limited slide joints are attached to an upper shaft assembly.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said limited slide joint assembly further comprises:

a. a yoke attached to each of said foot pads and slidably engaging said guide shaft; and

said springs surrounding said guide shaft and flexibly suspending said yoke along said guide shaft.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said means for moving the arms of the user forwardly and rearwardly comprises:

a. means for rotating a crank shaft attached to said frame;

b. right and left arms pivotally attached to said crank shaft;

c. right and left arm levers attached to said fight and left arms such that rotation of said crank shaft causes said right and left arm levers to move forwardly and rearwardly.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said crank shaft and said arms are operatively connected such that when said right arm lever is at its most forward position, said left arm lever is at its most rearward position.

8. The device of claim 7 further comprising means for supporting the legs of the user and maintaining the legs of the user in an upright position.

9. A device for exercising the feet, arms, legs, hips and torso of a user comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a rotating crank shaft attached to said frame;

c. right and left foot plates, each of said foot plates having an upper side and a lower side, said underside of each of said foot plates slidably and pivotally attached to a cam arm, each of said cam arms attached to said crank shaft whereby rotation of said shaft causes movement of the feet and legs of the user in a generally circular pattern along a vertical plane;

d. means attached to said foot plates for moving said plates in a generally up and down motion in response to said generally circular movement of the feet and the legs of the user, said up and down motion of said plates causing flexing of the feet and ankles of the user comprising limited slide joints pivotally attached to said frame, each of said limited slide joints having an adjustment rod attached to a guide shaft by two brackets which are releasibly and adjustibly attached along adjustment rod, each of said limited slide joint having a spring receiving said guide shaft, each of said limited slide joint attached to one of said foot plates;

e. left and right arm levers operatively connected to said crank shaft whereby rotation of said crank shaft causes opposing forward and rearward movements of the arms of the user when grasping said levers; and

f. means joining said means for moving said plates and said frame for limiting the flexing of the ankles of the user.