Stretching device

• US 9,295,877 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2011
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stuart John Andrews
• Original Assignee: Stuart John Andrews
• Inventors: Andrews, Stuart John
• Primary Examiner(s): RICHMAN, GLENN E
• Application Number:
  US13/812,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20130123069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 482 1- 9, 482900-902, 434/247
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00072 by changing the length of a lever
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00181 comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0087 of the piston-cylinder type using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/158 Hydraulic transmissions hydraulic force resistors A63B21/008
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/22 Resisting devices with rotary bodies A63B21/0608 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4035 for operation by hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/04 for lower limbs training appliances for special sports A63B69/00; for the purpose of producing mechanical power F03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1254 Rotation about an axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the body, e.g. butterfly-type exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills

Abstract

A user-actuated stretching device (10) activates an alarm and/or a controller (48) in response to a stretch velocity condition or stretch load condition being detected. Exemplary stretch velocity conditions may be a detected drop in stretch velocity and/or a detected excessive stretch velocity. The alarm may be visual, audible or tactile. The controller preferably takes the form of a solenoid (48) which can lock a hydraulic damper (46) in response to a stretching velocity condition being detected. The device optimizes stretching and reduces the risk of over-stretching and injury.

Claims

1. A user-powered self-stretching device comprising:

a seat, a pair of pivoting swing arms, and a foot bar,

a stretch-velocity detector that detects a stretch-velocity produced by the user during a stretch, and

an alarm which is operative in response to a predetermined stretch-velocity condition being detected by the stretch-velocity detector,

wherein the user sits on the seat and produces a force on the foot bar that will cause movement of the pair of pivoting swing arms to thereby stretch the upper body of the user.

2. A stretching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stretch-velocity detector comprises a stretch-position detector and a sampling clock.

3. A stretching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined stretch-velocity condition is a detected stretch-velocity dropping by a predetermined amount relative to a previously detected stretch-velocity.

4. A stretching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined stretch-velocity condition is a detected stretch-velocity exceeding a predetermined maximum stretch-velocity.

5. A stretching device of claim 1 wherein:

the stretch-velocity detector detects a first stretch-velocity produced by the user during a first phase of a stretch, and

the alarm is operative in response to a predetermined second stretch-velocity condition being detected by the stretch-velocity detector during a subsequent phase of the stretch, wherein the second stretch-velocity condition is calculated from the first stretch-velocity detected during the early phase of the stretch.

6. A user-powered self-stretching device comprising:

a seat, a pair of pivoting swing arms, and a foot bar,

a stretch-load detector that detects a stretch-load produced by the user during a stretch, and

an alarm which is operative in response to a predetermined stretch-load condition being detected by the stretch-load detector

wherein the user sits on the seat and produces a force on the foot bar that will cause movement of the pair of pivoting swing arms to thereby stretch the upper body of the user.

7. A stretching device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the stretch-load detector comprises a load cell and a sampling clock.

8. A stretching device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the predetermined stretch-load condition is a detected stretch-load increasing by a predetermined amount relative to a previously detected stretch-load.