Rehabilitation exercise aid

• US 8,827,873 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2010
• Issued: 09/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joel Arnstein
• Original Assignee: Joel Arnstein
• Inventors: Arnstein, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): Donnelly, Jerome W
• Application Number:
  US13/511,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20120232449A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 482/79, 482/80, 602/5, 602/16, 602/23, 602/27, 602/28, 602/32, 602/17, D24/192
• US Class Current: 482/79
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0266 Foot
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/0173 Means for preventing injuries
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0094 for active rehabilitation, e.g. slow motion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4011 to the lower limbs means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/085 by rotational movement of the joint in a plane substantially parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0054 Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00

Abstract

The present invention relates to a rehabilitation exercise aid. The exercise aid includes an actuator for extending from a first body part. An alarm unit can be fastened to a second body part and coupled to the actuator. The alarm unit is configured to generate an alarm when the first body part moves beyond a target relative to the second body part. In one embodiment, the actuator includes an elongate biasing means for biasing the alarm unit toward the first body part.

Claims

1. A rehabilitation exercise aid including:

an actuator for extending from a first body part; and

an alarm unit for fastening to a second body part or object and coupling to the actuator, the alarm unit configured to generate an alarm in response to the first body part moving unaided beyond a target relative to the second body part or object,

wherein the actuator includes an inextensible link and an extensible link.

2. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes an elongate biasing means for biasing the alarm unit toward the first body part.

3. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alarm unit includes a switch having flexion and extension positions or limits where the switch changes state.

4. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 3, wherein the switch includes a pair of rings fixed relative to the second body part or object, and an insulated conductor terminating in a pair of terminals between which the rings are located and for moving relative to the rings.

5. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 4, further including another biasing means so that each terminal is coupled to a respective biasing means.

6. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 4, further including a mode of operation switch coupled to the rings.

7. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mode of operation switch is a three position switch with a flexion mode position which activates a first ring of the other switch, an extension mode position which activates a second ring of the other switch, and an off position in which both of the rings are inactive.

8. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 7, wherein one or more biasing means can allow the other switch to remain in an open state whereby the active rings do not touch corresponding terminals.

9. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alarm unit includes a power supply in the form of a battery.

10. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 9, wherein the alarm unit further includes an alarm coupled in series with the power supply and a switch.

11. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 10, wherein the alarm is an audible alarm, a visual alarm or a vibrating alarm.

12. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alarm unit includes fastening means for fastening rings relative to the second body part or object.

13. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 12, wherein the fastening means includes a pair of straps with hook-and-loop fasteners, the straps able to bound the second body part or object.

14. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuator includes:

fastening means including an anchor strap with a hook-and-loop fasteners and for bounding the first body part;

an inextensible cord extending from the fastening means;

a first adjustor for adjusting the effective length of the cord;

an extensible and resilient band for coupling between the cord and the alarm unit; and

a second adjustor for adjusting the effective length of the band.

15. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 14, wherein the cord and band each include graduation markings to facilitate adjustment of their effective lengths.

16. An exercise aid as claimed in claim 1, further including a counter for counting flexion or extension repetitions.