Support for bearing and positionally adjusting electrodes of portable belt devices for passive gymnastics

• US 5,443,494 A
• Filed: 12/20/1993
• Issued: 08/22/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vupiesse Italia S.R.L.
• Original Assignee: Vupiesse Italia S.A.S Di Valentini E Paolizzi E C
• Inventors: Valentini, Marco, Paolizzi, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): Cohen, Lee S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GREEN, BRIAN
• Application Number:
  US08/170,406
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 607/148, 607/149, 607/115, 128/639, 128/644
• US Class Current: 607/149
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/22 Electromedical belts , e.g. neck chains, armbands
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/321 Electromedical belts

Abstract

In the invention, at least one electrode is placed in contact with a user'"'"'s skin such that it transmits electric impulses produced by a current generator to the skin. The support comprises a projecting support element, supporting two electrodes rotatably connected to the belt device such as to rotate with respect to the belt device, so that the electrodes can be positioned longitudinally or transversally to the device, correspondingly to the development direction of a muscle to be stimulated.

Claims

1. A device for bearing and positionally adjusting electrodes of a portable belt for passive gymnastics, wherein the electrodes transmit electric pulses to a person wearing the belt, the device comprising a belt at least an arcuate shaped support element having opposing end portions, each end portion supporting an electrode, an intermediate portion of said arcuate shaped support element rotatably coupled to an inner surface of the belt, a concavity of the arcuate shaped support element turned inward from the inner surface of the belt so as to be toward the person wearing the belt so that the electrodes project towards the person wearing the belt, wherein the arcuate shaped support element maintains the electrodes in contact with the person wearing the belt.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising an electrode support element supporting one of the electrode, said electrode support element slidably disposed on the arcuate shaped support element, wherein the electrode supported by the slidable electrode support element is positionable in relation to said arcuate shaped support element and the belt.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising a striker disposed on at least one of the end portions of said arcuate shaped support element, wherein said striker limits the positioning of the electrode supported by the slidable electrode element in relation to said arcuate shaped support element.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a guide disposed along a longitudinal dimension on the inner surface of the belt, and a sliding element slidably engaged to said guide, wherein said sliding element is slidable, in the longitudinal dimension, in relation to the belt, said arcuate shaped support element being rotatably coupled to said sliding element, wherein said arcuate shaped support element is rotatable in relation to the belt, and slidably positionable in relation to the belt.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a hinge disposed on said sliding element, and a pivot disposed on said arcuate shaped support element, said pivot of said arcuate shaped support element being elastically snap-couplable to said hinge on said sliding element, wherein said arcuate shaped support element is removable from the belt.

6. The device of claim 4, further comprising a shaped hole extending through said sliding element, said guide extending through said shaped hole in said sliding element.

7. The device of claim 4, further comprising an internal cavity disposed in said sliding element.

8. The device element of claim 1, wherein the arcuate shaped support element is formed of a deformable plastic material.