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Multi-function swing apparatus for total-body exercise, stretching, yoga, spinal traction, gymnastics, inversion therapy, spinal manipulation and weightless coupling and sky chair

  • US 7,255,666 B2
  • Filed: 09/03/2004
  • Issued: 08/14/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
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First Claim
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1. An extremely versatile multi-function exercise, therapy, inversion, traction, and yoga swing apparatus designed for engaging, supporting, lifting, hanging, stretching, stabilizing, or providing resistance to either all or a portion of the user'"'"'s body or limbs from a multi-handled swing device which can be suspended from a portable structural support frame in order to allow user to perform any of a large multiplicity of exercises, movements, postures or functions ranging from inversion therapy (hanging upside down), spinal mobilizations, and pelvic or cervical traction to gymnastics, yoga exercises, total body stretching or strengthening, partner play, simple relaxation, and physical therapy or musculo-skeletal rehab, and which said apparatus consists of:

  • a). one user engagement member comprising a rectangular shaped nylon fabric sling whose central section or saddle portion hangs freely downward once both upper ends of the sling member are releasably secured via spring hooks to both ends of an overhead pull-up bar which hangs horizontally suspended from the support frame, and which sling member has the option to be used either in an open position whereby user can sit or recline inside of it or in a closed position whereby the fabric is wrapped snugly around an optional cushion folded inside the horizontal saddle portion of the sling member, whereupon user can either sit upon, straddle over it, entwine within it, or lean any specific body part against it for any one of its many uses of supporting, hoisting, lifting, rotating, inverting, or suspending either the user'"'"'s trunk, pelvis, lower limbs or whole body off of floor surface at variable heights, neutralizing the forces of gravity and facilitating the performance of any of the above stated functions, positions, movements or exercises,b). a rectangular shaped removable foam cushion of 3″

    ×

    8″

    ×

    36″

    ×

    dimensions designed for optional insertion into the fabric sling member by means of rolling and wrapping it snugly within the saddle portion of the sling member in order to provide either a localized or generalized cushioning effect to the spine during spinal mobilizations, or to the waist during pelvic traction, or to the inner thighs during inversion or hanging upside down maneuvers,c). one user engagement member comprises an overhead, horizontal, metal trapeze pull-up bar element approximately 18 inches in length by 1 inch diameter round, and whose opposing ends are releaseably secured to the main body of the swing apparatus below it and to the dual extension springs above it by means of selectively positioned safe-lock mechanism spring hooks or carribeners, and which purpose thereby is to allow user'"'"'s hands to grasp onto to perform vertical pull-up exercises, or to hoist body upwards and assist user engagement into the sling saddle, or to allow user'"'"'s toes to hook onto for greater limb extension or security during inversion therapy maneuvers,d). six separate rope-like, fully flexible, and omni-directional user engagement arm members made of nylon fabric with polyurethene foam covered hand-grips attached to and hanging freely from the bottom ends once the top ends of said arm members have been releasably secured via secure spring hooks onto either end of the pull-up bar and springs above it; and

    whereas said six user engagement arm members are comprised of two short overhead arm members whose handle hangs approximately one foot below the level of the pull-up bar, two medium length arm members whose hand-grips hang at approximately the level of the sling saddle or waist height, and two full length fabric arm members having foot stirrups hanging approximately a foot below saddle level; and

    which function of said arm members having fully flexible, omni-directional ranges of motion are to permit user the greatest variety of function and nearly unlimited combinations of movements and exercises on said yoga therapy swing apparatus,e). two adjustable protective foam pads covered with a fabric cover secured with velcrose strips that allow it wrap snugly around the vertically hanging sides of the fabric sling member for the dual purpose of clamping the fabric tightly on either side of the removable cushion within the saddle portion of the sling to prevent it from slipping out, as well as to provide a protective cushioning for either the inner thighs of the user while hanging upside down during inversion therapy or to the axillary regions of the user during thoracic mobilization maneuvers,f). at least two sturdy, closed loop-end extension springs of variable weight loads which are releaseably secured to the trapeze pull-up bar member below and to the swivel hook mechanism which hangs from the apex of the support stand structure above, and which extension springs allow the user to experience a gentle bounce effect and soft end-feel rather than a hard end feel during the various maneuvers, thereby allowing greater comfort, pleasure, relaxation or ease of movement during use of said exercise therapy swing apparatus,g). two flexible means 3 foot long webbing height-adjuster strap members having a plurality of discrete attachment loops secured in sequential linear alignment thereon, and which height-adjuster straps are releaseably secured and suspended from both ends of the trapeze pull-up bar member, thereby allowing either the fabric sling harness member or any two of the six detachable fabric arm members to be lowered or raised to any height between floor level to waist height by means of the safety spring hooks which insert and detach easily from any one of the sequentially spaced loops in order to allow for selective positioning to specific portions of the user'"'"'s body or to allow for an even greater variety of maneuvers, exercises, functions or positions possible on said multi-function swing apparatus,h). one 7′

    11″

    high structural support frame made of 1¼

    inch diameter 16 guage steel tubing designed to fit just under the standard 8′

    high ceiling, and which frame is comprised of a horizontal steel tubing frame base component which angles and curves so as to form a circular or ‘

    U’

    shape as it rests securely on the floor to form the structural support means for the entire apparatus, and which frame base has three 8 inch vertical steel tubing extensions protruding upwards and at right angles from the horizontal base poles; and

    which vertical tubing extensions of said frame base serve to house and support the lower female ends of three vertical upright poles which slide and lock into them, and which vertical poles are triangularly spaced apart for structural stability as they arch and bend upward and inward to conjoin at the 7′

    11″

    high apex of said structure by sliding and locking into the three female ends of the top triplex unit, and which top tri-plex unit is comprised of three steel tubing short arm extensions which angle downward and outward in a triangular fashion to conjoin the top ends of the three upright poles; and

    which all poles and steel tubing of said support frame consist of shorter four foot segments which have swedged joints that slide into one another and pin-lock together quickly and easily via pelvis pins for ease of shipping, assembly and portability,i.) a single ball bearing swivel hook unit welded to the center and underside of the top triplex unit which sits at the apex of the structural support frame assembly, and which purpose of swivel hook means is to allow an even greater variety of movement and fun on the multi-function swing apparatus, namely turning, spinning, rotating, and twisting exercises or stretches.

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