Belt apparatus for human pelvis

• US 6,368,296 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 04/09/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Daniel T. Cassidy
• Original Assignee: Daniel T. Cassidy
• Inventors: Eiter, Frank J., Nelson, Sidney P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/662,046
• Time in Patent Office: 571 Days
• Field of Search: 602/5, 602/19, 602/32, 128/846, 128/869, 128/876, 128/96.1, 482/9, 482/130, 482/146
• US Class Current: 602/19
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4009 to the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/14 Platforms for reciprocating rotating motion about a vertical axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/02 posture
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/62 Inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0233 Muscles of the back, e.g. by an extension of the body against a resistance, reverse crunch

Abstract

A pelvic belt is described for firmly gripping a human torso near the pelvic region. The pelvic belt includes three main components: a U-shaped frame with left and right frame legs, a left arm assembly pivotably mounted to the left frame leg, and a right arm assembly pivotably mounted to the right frame leg. Each arm assembly has four main sub-components: an upper arm, a lower arm, a connecting rod connecting the upper and lower arms rigidly together and an adjustment wing for adjusting the dimensions of the interior region of the pelvic belt. The left and right arm assemblies pivot about pivot pins mounting the arm assemblies to the U-shaped frame. This permits a person to enter the interior region of the pelvic belt when the arm assemblies are pivoted open, and then the arm assemblies are pivoted to a closed position. The pelvic belt can be attached to force resisting mechanisms to build strength over time.

Claims

1. A pelvic belt that opens to receive a human'"'"'s torso near the pelvic region and closes to surround the torso, the belt comprising:

(a) a U-shaped frame having a left frame leg and a right frame leg, said frame having an exterior surface that is circular;

(b) a left arm assembly including an upper left arm pivotably mounted to the left frame leg and a lower left arm pivotably mounted to the left frame leg below the upper left arm, and rigidly connected to the upper left arm;

(c) a right arm assembly including an upper right arm pivotably mounted to the right frame leg and a lower right arm pivotably mounted to the right frame leg below the upper right arm, and rigidly connected to the upper right arm;

(d) a left adjustment assembly including an adjustment wing pivotably mounted to the upper left arm about a substantially vertical axis, and a left adjustment rod pivotably mounted near a first end to the left adjustment wing, the rod extending therefrom to insertion of a second end into an aperture in the upper left arm;

(e) a right adjustment assembly including an adjustment wing pivotably mounted to the right arm assembly about a substantially vertical axis, and a right adjustment rod pivotably mounted near a first end to the right adjustment wing, the rod extending therefrom to insertion of a second end into an aperture in the right arm assembly;

(f) a first releasable lock mounted to the frame near the upper left arm, said releasable lock including a first finger that removably extends into an aperture formed near an end of the upper left arm;

(g) a second releasable lock mounted to the frame near the upper right arm, said releasable lock including a second finger that removably extends into an aperture formed near an end of the upper right arm;

(h) a hand-grippable handle mounted to the frame and connected to the first and second fingers, the handle being manually actuatable for withdrawing the fingers from the apertures in the upper arms for releasing the arm assemblies to open; and

(i) an inflatable bladder mounted to an interior surface of the frame.

2. The pelvic belt in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

(a) multiple pulleys rotatably mounted to the circular, exterior surface of the frame;

(b) a platform receptacle having a circular interior surface that receives the circular exterior surface of the U-shaped frame; and

(c) a curved rod mounted to the circular interior surface of the U-shaped platform and interposed between pairs of the pulleys mounted to the exterior surface of the U-shaped frame;

wherein four cables attach to the pelvic belt, a first cable mounts to the left arm assembly, a second cable mounts to the right arm assembly, and a third and fourth cable mounts to the U-shaped frame.