Exercise for the muscles of the pelvic floor

• US 6,394,939 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2000
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: UI
• Original Assignee: Daniel S. Stein
• Inventors: Stein, Daniel S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen R.
• Application Number:
  US09/551,471
• Time in Patent Office: 770 Days
• Field of Search: 482/121,122,124,44,49,148 600/38 601/46,23 606/197
• US Class Current: 482/148
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/026 Bars; Tubes; Leaf springs A63B21/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/20 for vaginal muscles or other sphincter-type muscles

Abstract

An exercise device for strengthening the muscles of the pelvis, particularly the collective group of muscles involved in human sexual response, which are also important for controlling the evacuation of the intestines and the bladder. This exercise device focuses on increasing the strength, tone and endurance of these muscles. The device comprises a longitudinally extending member that includes a blunt head portion and a compressible shaft portion. The first end of the shaft portion is juxtaposed with the head portion. The first end of the shaft portion has an outwardly extending retaining slope formed thereon, particularly when the device is received within a pelvic body cavity and the muscles of the pelvic floor are at rest. The retaining slope is engageable with the retaining edge of the adjacent pelvic floor muscle platform of that pelvic body cavity to facilitate intracorporal retention within the pelvic body cavity. The compressible shaft is actively functional in creating resistance to contraction of the pelvic floor muscle platform, thereby causing the work necessary for muscle development. The second end of the shaft portion has an outwardly extending slope formed thereon. When the device is inserted into a pelvic body cavity, this outwardly extending slope is engageable with the body tissue that is adjacent to the orifice into the pelvic body cavity to prevent over insertion of the member.

Claims

1. An exercise device receivable within a pelvic body cavity for exercising muscles of the pelvic floor, comprising:

a longitudinally extending member having a longitudinal axis, a head portion, and a shaft portion;

said head portion having a first and a second end, said first end being blunt, said head portion generally tapering from said second end of said head portion to said first end of said head portion, and said head portion being rigid and not covered with resilient, compressible material;

said shaft portion having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft portion being juxtaposed with said second end of said head portion, said shaft having a rigid portion and a sleeve of resilient, compressible material mounted about at least a portion of said shaft, said shaft portion further comprising an outwardly extending retaining slope formed on said first end of said shaft portion, said retaining slope being engageable with the retaining edge of the adjacent pelvic floor muscle platform when said member is inserted within a pelvic body cavity and the muscles of the pelvic floor are at rest;

said second end of said shaft portion having an outwardly extending slope formed thereon, said slope being engageable with the tissue adjacent to the orifice into the pelvic body cavity when said member is inserted into a pelvic body cavity, preventing over insertion of the member.

2. An exercise device receivable within a pelvic body cavity for exercising muscles of the pelvic floor, comprising:

a longitudinally extending member having a longitudinal axis, a head portion, and a shaft portion;

said head portion having a first and a second end, said first end being blunt, said head portion generally tapering from said second end of said head portion to said first end of said head portion;

said shaft portion having a first end and a second end, said first end of said shaft portion being juxtaposed with said second end of said head portion, said shaft having a rigid portion and a sleeve of resilient, compressible material mounted about at least a portion of said shaft, the thickness of said sleeve being equal to or less than the radius of said shaft in any right cross-sectional plane, said shaft portion further comprising an outwardly extending retaining slope formed on said first end of said shaft portion, said retaining slope being engageable with the retaining edge of the adjacent pelvic floor muscle platform when said member is inserted within a pelvic body cavity and the muscles of the pelvic floor are at rest, said second end of said shaft portion having an outwardly extending slope formed thereon, said slope being engageable with the tissue adjacent to the orifice into the pelvic body cavity when said member is inserted into a pelvic body cavity, preventing over insertion of the member.