Extremity therapy apparatus

• US 7,935,026 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2008
• Issued: 05/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tyrone G. Mcsorley
• Original Assignee: Tyrone G. Mcsorley
• Inventors: McSorley, Tyrone G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYANE, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US12/323,377
• Publication Number:
  US 20100130330A1
• Time in Patent Office: 889 Days
• Field of Search: 482/44, 482 47- 49, 482/110, 601/40
• US Class Current: 482/48
• 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 23/16 for hands or fingers for teaching typing G09B13/00

Abstract

Extremity therapy apparatus configured to maintain an extremity in a suitable geometry for performing extremity therapy. The extremity therapy apparatus includes two or more arcuate members which are radially repositionable about a common vertical axis with a support member and/or base member. Each arcuate member is configured to maintain a radial element in a suitable geometry with the extremity for performing the extremity therapy by providing a bias force or movement inhibition in opposition to movement of at least a joint associated with the extremity undergoing the extremity therapy.

Claims

1. An extremity therapy apparatus comprising:

a base member;

a column member coupled perpendicularly to about one end of the base member;

the column member configured to axially maintain a longitudinal member in a parallel spaced relationship with the base member;

the longitudinal member configured to maintain at least three arcuate members in a common vertical axis with the base member;

each of the at least three arcuate members being radially repositionable about the common vertical axis and configured to maintain two or more radial elements in a suitable geometry with an extremity for performing the extremity therapy,

wherein the two or more radial elements are configured to simultaneously couple the extremity with at least two or more separate arcuate members in an angular alignment which specifically targets movement of a particular joint, muscle, bone or tendon of the extremity.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a support member configured to maintain the extremity in the suitable geometry for performing extremity therapy when the extremity is rested directly upon a surface of the support member.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the base member is configured to repositionably maintain the support member.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least two or more radial elements which when simultaneously coupled with the at least two or more separate arcuate members and with the extremity is configured to provide a bias force in opposition to movement of a joint, muscle, bone or tendon associated with the extremity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one radial element which when coupled with an arcuate member and with the extremity is configured to block movement of the targeted joint, muscle, bone or tendon associated with the extremity.

6. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 1 wherein the angular alignment is approximately at a perpendicular angle to the targeted joint, muscle, bone or tendon of the extremity.

7. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 2 wherein the support member is configured as one of an ovoid shaped platform, a planar shaped platform and an incurvate shaped platform.

8. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 2 wherein the support member comprises a platform configured to support the extremity at angles relative to a horizontal plane.

9. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a pivoting joint coupled to the support member for repositionably maintaining the extremity at the suitable geometry for performing the extremity therapy.

10. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 2 wherein the support member is configured as an object that is grasped or held by one or more extremities.

11. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 10 wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of an athletic object, a musical object and a hand tool object.

12. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 7 wherein the support member includes a plurality of apertures in which at least a portion of the apertures are configured to receive a grip member.

13. An extremity therapy apparatus comprising:

a base member configured to repositionably maintain a multi-axis adjustable support assembly;

the multi-axis adjustable support assembly being directly engaged with the base member including a replaceable support element coupled to a multi-axis joint;

a column member coupled perpendicularly to the base member;

the column member configured to axially maintain a longitudinal member in a parallel spaced relationship with the base member;

the longitudinal member configured to maintain at least three arcuate members in a common vertical axis with the base member;

each of the at least three arcuate members being radially repositionable about the common vertical axis and configured to maintain two or more radial elements in a suitable geometry with an extremity for performing the extremity therapy;

wherein the two or more radial elements are configured to simultaneously couple the extremity with at least two separate arcuate members in an angular alignment which specifically targets movement of a particular joint, muscle, bone or tendon of the extremity.

14. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 13 wherein the replaceable support element is replaceable by one of a planar shaped platform, an ovoid shaped platform and an incurvate shaped platform.

15. The extremity apparatus of claim 13 wherein the two or more radial elements which when simultaneously coupled with at least the two separate arcuate members and with the extremity is configured to provide a bias force in opposition to movement of a joint, muscle, bone or tendon associated with the extremity.

16. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 13 wherein the replaceable support element is replaceable by an object that is grasped or held by one or more extremities.

17. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 16 wherein the object is selected from the group consisting of an athletic object, a musical object and a hand tool object.

18. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 13 further comprising at least two connectors for directly connecting the two or more radial elements with at least the two separate arcuate members.

19. An extremity therapy apparatus comprising:

a base member configured to repositionably maintain a multi-axis adjustable support assembly;

the multi-axis adjustable support assembly being directly engaged with the base member including a replaceable support element coupled to a multi-axis joint;

a column member coupled perpendicularly to the base member;

the column member configured to axially maintain a longitudinal member in a parallel spaced relationship with the base member;

the longitudinal member configured to maintain at least three arcuate members in a common vertical axis with the base member;

each of the at least three arcuate members being radially repositionable about the common vertical axis and configured to maintain two or more radial elements in a suitable geometry with an extremity for performing the extremity therapy;

wherein the two or more radial elements are configured to simultaneously couple a single digit of the extremity with at least two separate arcuate members in an angular alignment which specifically targets movement of a particular joint, muscle, bone or tendon of the single digit.

20. The extremity therapy apparatus of claim 19 wherein the longitudinal member is further configured to concentrically maintain the arcuate members in a common plane with the column member which reduces the cross section of the extremity therapy apparatus for storage.