Resistance therapy
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An exercise device, comprising:
- first and second flexible bladder portions each having a stiffness and being in fluid connection with each other; and
at least one of said first and second bladder portions contains an electro-rheological fluid therein;
said first or second bladder portions being configured to overly a muscle when the muscle is in a substantially relaxed state and apply a lower pressure against the muscle when the muscle is substantially relaxed; and
said first or second bladder portions being configured to be compressed when the muscle is flexed and apply a higher pressure against the muscle when the muscle is flexed.
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Abstract
The present invention provides a system and method of exercise utilizing fluid containing bladders. The bladders may be in communication with each other so that compression of one bladder causes the fluid to be transferred to a neighboring bladder. The system may be used to exercise complementary muscle groups. Additionally, the system may be adjustable to provide different workout levels or so that the device can be used to exercise a variety of muscle groups.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An exercise device, comprising:
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first and second flexible bladder portions each having a stiffness and being in fluid connection with each other; and at least one of said first and second bladder portions contains an electro-rheological fluid therein; said first or second bladder portions being configured to overly a muscle when the muscle is in a substantially relaxed state and apply a lower pressure against the muscle when the muscle is substantially relaxed; and said first or second bladder portions being configured to be compressed when the muscle is flexed and apply a higher pressure against the muscle when the muscle is flexed.
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2. An exercise device, comprising:
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first and second flexible bladders each having a modulus of elasticity; said first and second bladders configured to contain a fluid and pass the fluid between said first and second bladders; means for changing the modulus of elasticity of the first bladder relative to the second bladder; said first bladder configured to overlie a first muscle when the first muscle is in a substantially relaxed state and to apply a lower pressure against the first muscle when the first muscle is substantially relaxed; and said second bladder configured to overlie a second muscle different than the first muscle; wherein said first bladder is compressed when the first muscle is flexed to apply a higher pressure against the first muscle when the muscle is flexed, the pressure of said first bladder determined at least in part by said second bladder. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An exercise device comprising:
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a flexible first bladder having a first modulus of elasticity, said first bladder configured to overlie a muscle when the muscle is in a substantially relaxed state and applying a lower pressure against the muscle when the muscle is substantially relaxed; said first bladder configured to contain a fluid; a second bladder having a second modulus of elasticity, said second bladder operative to overlie an antagonist muscle of the muscle being overlain by said first bladder; and means for changing the modulus of elasticity of said second bladder; said first bladder being compressed when the muscle is flexed and applying a higher pressure against the muscle when the muscle is flexed, wherein the fluid is movable between said first and second bladders. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification