Apparatus and methods for exercising body appendages

• US 6,540,651 B1
• Filed: 04/18/2000
• Issued: 04/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Physician Therapy Supply, L.C.
• Original Assignee: Physician Therapy Supply, L.C.
• Inventors: Mariani, E. Marc, Bourne, Michael H., Aberton, Mark J., Anderson, Cory W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HWANG, VICTOR KENNY
• Application Number:
  US09/551,081
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 482/10, 482/79, 482/44, 482/124, 482/129, 482/139, 482/904, 482/125, 602/36
• US Class Current: 482/124
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/04 attached to static foundation , e.g. a user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/1663 for anchoring between a door and the door frame
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4001 Arrangements for attaching the exercising apparatus to the user's body, e.g. belts, shoes or gloves specially adapted therefor weights worn on the user's body A63B21/065; exoskeletons in general B25J9/0006, for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about A61H3/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4003 to the head; to the neck
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4013 to the ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/904 Removably attached to wheelchair, home furnishing, or home structure

Abstract

An exercise apparatus for exercising a body part is disclosed as including an attachment structure and a resistance member. The attachment structure is adapted for placement on the body part that is to be exercised. The attachment structure includes a plurality of fasteners positioned at different locations on the attachment structure. The resistance member provides resistance for exercising the body part. The resistance member has a first end and a second end. A resistance member fastener is located proximate the first end of the resistance member and is capable of fastening to at least one of the fasteners located on the attachment structure. The resistance member includes an anchor for removably attaching the second end of the resistance member to an anchor point. An apparatus for exercising a body part may also include a plurality of distinct identifications on the attachment structure for the plurality of fasteners.

Claims

1. A portable, lightweight exercise apparatus comprising:

a stocking to be worn on a lower limb;

a plurality of location designators on said stocking arranged in at least two sets of plural location designators, one of said sets comprising an upper set of location designators adapted to be positioned above a wearer'"'"'s ankle and another of said sets comprising a lower set of location designators adapted to be positioned below a wearer'"'"'s ankle;

each of said location designators including a fastener and an identifier in denotive proximity to said fastener, each of the location designators alone or in combination corresponding to a particular lower limb exercise;

an elongated resistance member having a complimentary fastener selectively attachable to said fasteners; and

an anchor releasably secured\ to said resistance member for selective engagement with a static structure.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said anchor is a wedge for engagement between a door and a doorjamb.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising instructions for using the apparatus, the instructions providing detailed information regarding the location designators and the particular lower limb exercises associated therewith.

4. A method of exercise comprising the steps of:

i) providing a stocking to be worn on a lower limb;

said stocking having a plurality of location designators arranged in at least two sets of plural location designators, one of said sets comprising an upper set of location designators and another of said sets comprising a lower set of location designators;

each of said location designators including a fastener and an identifier in denotive proximity to said fastener, each of the location designators alone or in combination corresponding to a particular lower limb exercise;

an elongated resistance member having a complimentary fastener selectively attachable to said fasteners;

an anchor releasably secured to said resistance member for selective engagement with a static structure;

ii) providing instructions having detailed information regarding the location designators and the particular lower limb exercises associated therewith;

iii) placing said stocking over a lower limb so that said upper set of location designators is positioned above the wearer'"'"'s ankle and the lower set of location designators is positioned below the wearer'"'"'s ankle;

iv) attaching said complementary fastener to at least one fastener corresponding with the particular lower limb exercise to be performed;

v) attaching said resistance member to said anchor; and

vi) performing exercise movements corresponding to the particular lower limb exercise in accordance with said instructions for the particular lower limb exercise.