Apparatus and method for wheelchair aerobic stationary exercise

• US 7,604,572 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2007
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Christopher Stephen Reece Stanford
• Original Assignee: Christopher Stephen Reece Stanford
• Inventors: Stanford, Christopher Stephen Reece
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsberg; Oren
• Application Number:
  US11/625,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 482 60- 62, 482/904, 482/51, 482/54, 482/57, 482/78, 434/255
• US Class Current: 482/51
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/164 supports for the rear of the bicycle, e.g. for the rear forks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/165 rear wheel hub supports
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2069/168 Force transfer through the rim of the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0018 for wheelchair users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/027 using player's own weight, e.g. on a platform
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/225 with flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4049 Rotational movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0002 involving an exercising of arms for strengthening the upper limbs A63B23/12
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1263 Rotation about an axis passing through both shoulders, e.g. cross-country skiing-type arm movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0009 for handicapped persons
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/904 : Removably attached to wheelchair, home furnishing, or home structure

Abstract

An improved wheelchair trainer with independent flywheel resistance for each wheelchair rear wheel. A lever-operated cam raises the wheelchair rear axle by pushing an inclined block against the axle and forces the rear wheels against wheel engagement means. As one or both rear wheels are turned, each wheel engagement means turns a flywheel in proportion to the speed of the wheel. Force and work may be calculated from the measured rotational speed of the flywheels. A hand-cycle attachment may drive the flywheel resistance.

Claims

1. A trainer for a wheelchair, the wheelchair comprising a frame comprising an axle or adaptor axle, a pair of front wheels, a first rear wheel, and a second rear wheel, the trainer comprising

a trainer frame;

an independent flywheel resistance means comprising

a first flywheel assembly comprising

a first axle supported by the trainer frame,

a first flywheel which provides a first resistance to the rotation of

the first rear wheel, and

a first roller rear wheel engagement means, and

a second flywheel assembly comprising

a second axle supported by the trainer frame,

a second flywheel which provides a first resistance to the rotation of the second rear wheel, and

a second roller rear wheel engagement means;

a vertical lift supported by the trainer frame, such that the vertical lift has a first lowered position where

the first rear wheel is resting on the ground in proximity to the first roller,

the second rear wheel is resting on the ground in proximity to the second roller, and

the front wheels are resting on the ground, and

a second raised position where

the first rear wheel is lifted 1 to 3 inches off the ground to engage the first roller,

the second rear wheel is lifted 1 to 3 inches off the ground to engage the second roller,

the front wheels are resting on the ground, such that the wheelchair has an angle of inclination of less than 5 degrees; and

a wheelchair retention means comprising an angularly adjustable retention plate that is pivotal between a disengaged position that allows entry of the wheelchair on the trainer frame and an engaged position wherein the retention plate directly engages the axle or adaptor axle and forces the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel into contact with the flywheel resistance means at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane.

2. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the flywheel resistance means further comprises

at least one supplemental weight that may be attached to the first flywheel to increase the resistance of the first flywheel.

3. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the flywheel resistance means further comprises

a first flywheel variable resistance means, such that the resistance for the first flywheel may be changed with the variable resistance means.

4. The trainer of claim 1 having a cam lift means and further comprising

a pivotal wheelchair retention means support member, such that the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member pivots from a lowered position to a raised position;

a cam axle;

a cam affixed to a cam axle, such that

the cam rotates in a first direction as the cam axle rotates in the first direction, and the cam rotates in a second direction as the cam axle rotates in the second direction,

the cam contacts the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member so that as the cam rotates in the first direction it pivots the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member to the raised position, and as the cam rotates in the second direction it pivots the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member to the lowered position; and

a lever affixed to the cam axle, so that as the lever is moved in the first direction, the cam axle and the cam rotate in the forward direction, and as the lever is moved in the second direction, the cam axle and the cam rotate in the reverse direction.

5. The trainer of claim 1 having a gear lift means and further comprising

a pivotal wheelchair retention means support member, such that the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member pivots from a lowered position to a raised position;

a gear axle;

an axle gear affixed to a cam axle, such that the axle gear rotates in a forward direction as the gear axle rotates in the forward direction, and the axle gear rotates in a reverse direction as the gear axle rotates in the reverse direction;

a support gear which is turned by the axle gear, and which is connected to the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member such that as the support gear turns in the forward direction, the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member is raised to its raised position, and as the support gear turns in the reverse direction, the pivotal wheelchair retention means support member is lowered to its lowered position; and

a lever affixed to the gear axle, so that as the lever is moved in a forward direction, the gear axle and the axle gear rotate in the forward direction, and as the lever is moved in a reverse direction, the gear axle and the axle gear rotate in the reverse direction.

6. The trainer of claim 1 further comprising a rotational speed sensor for determining the rotational speed of the flywheel resistance means.

7. The trainer of claim 1 wherein the wheelchair retention means engages the rear wheels of the wheelchair at a thrust angle in the range of 10 to 45 degrees.

8. The trainer of claim 1 further comprising a ratchet drive means.

9. A method of providing exercise to a wheelchair occupant, the wheelchair comprising a frame comprising an axle or adaptor axle, a pair of front wheels, a first rear wheel, and a second rear wheel, the method comprising

providing a trainer comprising

a trainer frame;

an independent flywheel resistance means comprising

a first flywheel assembly comprising

a first axle supported by the trainer frame,

a first flywheel which provides a first resistance to the rotation of the first rear wheel, and

a first roller rear wheel engagement means, and

a second flywheel assembly comprising

a second axle supported by the trainer frame,

a second flywheel which provides a first resistance to the rotation of the second rear wheel, and

a second roller rear wheel engagement means,

a cam or gear or hydraulic wheelchair lift supported by the trainer frame, such that the lift includes

a first lowered position where

the first rear wheel is resting on the ground in proximity to the first roller,

the second rear wheel is resting on the ground in proximity to the second roller, and

the front wheels are resting on the ground, and

a second raised position where

the first rear wheel is lifted 1 to 3 inches off the ground to engage the first roller,

the second rear wheel is lifted 1 to 3 inches off the ground to engage the second roller,

the front wheels are resting on the ground, such that the wheelchair has an angle of inclination of less than 5 degrees; and

a wheelchair retention means comprising an angularly adjustable retention plate that is pivotal between a disengaged position that allows entry of the wheelchair on the trainer frame and an engaged position wherein the retention plate directly engages the axle or adaptor axle and forces the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel into contact with the flywheel resistance means;

backing the wheelchair so that the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel are in proximity to the flywheel resistance means;

raising the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to a height of less than three inches with the wheelchair lift without substantially moving the pair of front wheels;

forcing the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel into the flywheel resistance means, at an acute angle with respect to a horizontal plane, with the wheelchair retention means;

rotating at least one of the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel for a desired period of time;

lowering the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel with the wheelchair lift; and

moving the wheelchair away from the trainer.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising

determining rotational speed of flywheel resistance means;

and

calculating the force required to turn the flywheel resistance means at the rotational speed.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising

adjusting a thrust angle to a desired setting within the range of 10 to 45 degrees.

12. The method of claim 9 further comprising

raising the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel with the wheelchair lift to a height in the range of ½

to 3 inches.