Apparatus for restoring the balance of the human body

• US 6,558,304 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alain Bardon, Gianfranco Tudico, Louis-Paul Guitay
• Original Assignee: Alain Bardon, Gianfranco Tudico, Louis-Paul Guitay
• Inventors: Tudico, Gianfranco, Guitay, Louis-Paul, Bardon, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): Lucchesi, Nicholas D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US09/529,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 482/13, 482/69, 482/143-147, 602/32
• US Class Current: 482/147
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0033 Lower limbs performing together the same movement, e.g. on a single support element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00178 for active exercising, the apparatus being also usable for passive exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0228 Sitting on the buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 26/003 for improving balance or equilibrium balance beams A63B4/00; apparatus for rope dancing A63B7/08; balancing drums, balancing boards or the like A63B22/16

Abstract

The invention concerns an apparatus for restoring the balance of the human body, consisting essentially of a platform (2) for supporting the subject to be treated and capable of being actuated with an oscillating movement. The invention is characterized in that said platform is power-driven and receives its oscillating movement about a central support axis (6), movement associated with a rotational reciprocating movement, the amplitude and the speed of both the oscillation and the rotation being adjustable and capable of being varied while the apparatus is being used.

Claims

1. Apparatus for restoring the balance of the human body, comprising a platform (2) intended to support a subject to be treated and which is adapted for oscillatory movement, said platform being operatively connected to a motor, said motor being adapted to cause said oscillatory movement of said platform about a central support axis (6), said oscillatory movement being combined with a reciprocating rotational movement, an amplitude and a speed of the oscillation and the rotation being adjustable and variable during use, and comprising means for holding the subject on the platform either in a standing position or in a crouched or a seated position.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for keeping the subject in a seated position consist of a seat mounted directly on the mobile platform, this seat having no backrest and comprising a stool on which the patient can be positioned either normally, with his legs square in front of him or with his legs to each side, as if he were sitting on a saddle.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that the rests are lateral rests adjustable for height.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that a reciprocating horizontal sliding movement is imparted to the lateral rests.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises rests arranged facing or above the subject.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises means for allowing traction to be exerted along the axis of the body.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that the means for allowing traction to be exerted along the axis of the body consist of an element (4) made up of a chin strap fixed to the end of a cable subjected to a tractile force.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for keeping the subject in a seated position consist of a seat mounted directly on the mobile platform, this seat having no backrest and being in the form of a seat of the “

stool”

type on which the patient can be positioned either normally, with his legs square in front of him or with his legs to each side, as if he were sitting on a saddle.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that the seat can be orientated by 90°

on each side in a horizontal plane and inclined up and down on a vertical axis.

10. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises means for allowing traction to be exerted along the axis of the body.

11. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises means for allowing traction to be exerted along the axis of the body.

12. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises means for allowing traction to be exerted along the axis of the body.

13. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises means for allowing traction to be exerted along the axis of the body.