Combined treadmill and seat assembly for physically impaired users and associated method

• US 7,892,150 B1
• Filed: 10/07/2009
• Issued: 02/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gamida for Life B.V.
• Original Assignee: Gamida for Life B.V.
• Inventors: Colley, George L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAM M
• Application Number:
  US12/574,874
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 482/51, 482/54, 482/111, 482/112, 482/114, 482/115, 482/121, 482/122, 482/126, 482/129, 434/247, 434/255, 601/5, 601/23, 601/35
• US Class Current: 482/54
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0235 driven by a motor
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0009 for handicapped persons

Abstract

A combined treadmill and seat assembly includes a portable treadmill, and a portable seat assembly detachably connected to the treadmill such that the seat assembly is selectively disposed between first and second positions while connected to the treadmill. The seat assembly includes first and second seats oriented at oppositely facing axial directions so that the first seat extends towards the treadmill while the second seat extends away from the treadmill. Advantageously, the treadmill platform is registered along a first plane when the seat assembly is positioned at the first position and, the treadmill platform is registered along a second plane when the seat assembly is positioned at the second position. Notably, the first and second planes are horizontally oriented and coplanar such that the treadmill platform remains equidistantly spaced from a ground surface when the seat assembly is situated at the first and second positions respectively.

Claims

1. A combined treadmill and seat assembly for assisting a physically impaired user to independently exercise without help from a care giver, said combined treadmill and seat assembly comprising:

a treadmill having a platform and a longitudinal axis that extends from front to back of said treadmill; and

a seat assembly, adapted to support a seated user, being adjustably to said treadmill such that said seat assembly is selectively disposed between first and second positions in connection to said treadmill;

wherein said seat assembly includes first and second seats oriented at oppositely facing axial directions so that said first seat extends towards said treadmill while said second seat extends away from said treadmill;

wherein said treadmill platform is disposed along a first plane when said seat assembly is positioned at said first position that is coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the treadmill; and

;

wherein said treadmill platform is disposed along a second plane when said seat assembly is positioned at said second position that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the treadmill.

2. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

a vertically oriented first anchor shaft;

a horizontally oriented second anchor shaft spaced subjacent to said first anchor shaft;

a T-shaped bracket statically mated to said second anchor shaft;

a swivel-coupling connected to said first anchor shaft and said T-shaped bracket such that said first anchor shaft is freely rotated 360 degrees while said second anchor shaft remains statically disposed therebeneath; and

a latch bolt adjustably connected to said swivel-coupling for prohibiting said first anchor shaft from rotating.

3. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 2, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

an L-shaped support plate statically coupled directly to a top surface of a proximal end of said second anchor shaft; and

a rectilinear stabilizing bar statically attached directly to a top surface of said L-shaped support plate;

wherein said rectilinear stabilizing bar is engaged to a bottom surface of said treadmill and spaced below said platform for prohibiting said treadmill and said seat assembly from prematurely shifting apart during operating conditions.

4. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

a plurality of coextensively shaped auxiliary support rods directly attached to a bottom surface of said second anchor shaft and being disposed orthogonal thereto respectively; and

a plurality of wheels mated to opposed ends of said auxiliary support rods.

5. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 2, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

a pair of coextensively shaped rectilinear guide rails directly mated to said T-shaped bracket and extending radially outward therefrom, a distal end of said treadmill being directly rested on said guide rails when said seat assembly is disposed at said first position, said treadmill remaining spaced from said guide rails when said seat assembly is disposed at said second position.

6. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 3, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

adjustable leg and arm presses mated directly to said second anchor shaft and distally spaced from said treadmill respectively;

a pulley-actuated overhead harness connected to an L-shaped top end of said first anchor shaft;

an anchor bracket statically mated to said first anchor shaft;

an upper body support section adjustably connected to a first side of said anchor bracket; and

a back support rest mated to a second side of said anchor bracket;

wherein said upper body support section is vertically aligned above said first seat;

wherein said back support rest is vertically aligned above said second seat.

7. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 1, wherein said treadmill further comprises:

an upper support stand mated to a proximal end of said platform;

a display monitor connected to said upper support stand; and

a plurality of wheels coupled to a proximal end of said upper support stand.

8. A combined treadmill and seat assembly for assisting a physically impaired user to independently exercise without help from a care giver, said combined treadmill and seat assembly comprising:

a portable treadmill having a platform and a longitudinal axis that extends from front to back of said treadmill; and

a portable seat assembly, adapted to support a seated user, being adjustably to said treadmill such that said seat assembly is selectively disposed between first and second positions in connection to said treadmill;

wherein said seat assembly includes first and second seats oriented at oppositely facing axial directions so that said first seat extends towards said treadmill while said second seat extends away from said treadmill;

wherein said treadmill platform is disposed along a first plane when said seat assembly is positioned at said first position that is coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the treadmill; and

;

wherein said treadmill platform is disposed along a second plane when said seat assembly is positioned at said second position that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the treadmill.

9. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

a vertically oriented first anchor shaft;

a horizontally oriented second anchor shaft spaced subjacent to said first anchor shaft;

a T-shaped bracket statically mated to said second anchor shaft;

a swivel-coupling connected to said first anchor shaft and said T-shaped bracket such that said first anchor shaft is freely rotated 360 degrees while said second anchor shaft remains statically disposed therebeneath; and

a latch bolt adjustably connected to said swivel-coupling for prohibiting said first anchor shaft from rotating.

10. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 9, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

an L-shaped support plate statically coupled directly to a top surface of a proximal end of said second anchor shaft; and

a rectilinear stabilizing bar statically attached directly to a top surface of said L-shaped support plate;

wherein said rectilinear stabilizing bar is engaged to a bottom surface of said treadmill and spaced below said platform for prohibiting said treadmill and said seat assembly from prematurely shifting apart during operating conditions.

11. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

a plurality of coextensively shaped auxiliary support rods directly attached to a bottom surface of said second anchor shaft and being disposed orthogonal thereto respectively; and

a plurality of wheels mated to opposed ends of said auxiliary support rods.

12. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 9, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

a pair of coextensively shaped rectilinear guide rails directly mated to said T-shaped bracket and extending radially outward therefrom, a distal end of said treadmill being directly rested on said guide rails when said seat assembly is disposed at said first position, said treadmill remaining spaced from said guide rails when said seat assembly is disposed at said second position.

13. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 10, wherein said seat assembly further comprises:

adjustable leg and arm presses mated directly to said second anchor shaft and distally spaced from said treadmill respectively;

a pulley-actuated overhead harness connected to an L-shaped top end of said first anchor shaft;

an anchor bracket statically mated to said first anchor shaft;

an upper body support section adjustably connected to a first side of said anchor bracket; and

a back support rest mated to a second side of said anchor bracket;

wherein said upper body support section is vertically aligned above said first seat;

wherein said back support rest is vertically aligned above said second seat.

14. The combined treadmill and seat assembly of claim 8, wherein said treadmill further comprises:

an upper support stand mated to a proximal end of said platform;

a display monitor connected to said upper support stand; and

a plurality of wheels coupled to a proximal end of said upper support stand.

15. A method for utilizing a combined treadmill and seat assembly for assisting a physically impaired user to independently exercise without help from a care giver, said method comprising the chronological steps of:

providing a portable treadmill having a platform and a axis that extends from front to back of said treadmill;

providing and adjustably connecting a portable seat assembly, having first and second seats adapted to support a seated user, a pulley actuated harness assembly, a leg press and an arm press, to said treadmill by selectively disposing said seat assembly between first and second positions;

wherein the first and second seats are disposed oppositely facing axial directions so that said first seat extends towards said treadmill while said second seat extends away from said treadmill;

moving said treadmill platform along a first plane by positioning said seat assembly at said first position that is coaxial to the longitudinal axis of the treadmill;

moving said treadmill platform along a second plane by positioning said seat assembly at said second position that is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the treadmill; and

engaging the first seat to exercise a user'"'"'s legs on the treadmill and user'"'"'s arms with the pulley assembly or engaging the second seat to exercise a user'"'"'s arms and legs with the arm press and leg press respectively.