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Therapeutic or exercise apparatusTherapeutic or exercise apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20090042697, Therapeutic or exercise apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to therapeutic or exercise devices and in particular to rehabilitation devices for assisting a user to maintain or improve range of motion, particularly following injury or surgery and for low impact exercise. BACKGROUND ARTExercise machines in general, are well-known. There are a large number of different machines for exercising different muscles of the body. Devices to exercise the abdominal muscles in particular are also known. One such known device is constructed such that the exerciser lies on the floor in a supine position, with their head and shoulders supported by a padded member. The padded member is attached to two ground bearing members which are circular in shape and are adapted to provide a rocking motion. The exerciser holds the two ground bearing members and utilising their abdominal muscles, rocks their head and shoulders forward and backward within the machine. These types of machines often place stress on the users lower back and may also stress the user's neck. They are also known to only exercise the upper abdominal muscles and not the lower abdominal muscles. Usually they are constructed to be folded so that they may be stored in a convenient place. Often the large structural elements must be disassembled or folded. These folding structural elements within the overall device may collapse during vigorous exercise. There is also no means for adjustment in the intensity of the exercise, as it relies only on assisting the natural motion of sitting up. Also known are the more advanced combination machines. These are designed to provide a cycling element whilst also exercising the abdominal muscles. The user often sits on a cycle-like machine with pedals and grasps a handlebar type assembly. As the pedals are rotated, the handlebar's are moved towards the user's body and away from the user's body by the user. The seat also moves in an up and down motion, and this combined with the back and forth motion of the handlebars exercises the abdominal muscles. These more advanced machines also often have folding structural elements to facilitate easy storage of the machine. Also, due to their complexity, they are more expensive to construct. They are load bearing in nature, requiring the user to place their full body weight on the machine, and as such need to be much stronger than the machines used whilst lying on the floor. This requires heavier construction which also impacts on cost and ease of use. The machines may become heavy and cumbersome and even though they fold, can still be difficult to move. Another method of exercise that is well known employs a large ball, sometimes called a Fit Ball, that is placed between a user's back and a vertical surface, such as a wall. The user assumes a squat position and pushes against the ball with his legs and back. The exercise requires the individual to apply sufficient pressure to prevent the ball from dropping through the application of pressure, while using their legs to move the ball for receipt of the exercise effect. Should the ball fall or otherwise loss contact, the individual could injure themself if their physical aliment was of a type that would not allow for sudden movements. In another embodiment, a larger ball may be used on the floor or the like horizontal surface. As the ball rolls about the surface, the user maintains contact by flexing muscles and the skeleton. In this embodiment, the individual may sit on the ball wherein muscle exercise maintains the individual in an upright position providing spine movement and associated flex movement. The ability for an individual to maintain a position on the ball depends on their balance since the curvature of the ball requires balance at the base and apex of where the individual is situated. If an individual employs the ball to work the back, movement of the ball is necessary. However, excess movement may cause the individual to fall of the ball defeating any beneficial effects. Another apparatus is a simulated ski or skate slide. This apparatus includes a slide mat and a pair of slide “booties”. The mat is an easy-glide polyethylene surface for a smooth, consistent lateral motion workout. The slide surface length is adjustable to approximately 2.5 m by 55 cm wide, for all fitness levels and training goals—cardiovascular, sprint and endurance training. The slide mat rolls up for storage or transporting. The booties are limited as they can only be used on a user's feet. Other prior art devices include the following: 1) Ab Dolly Plus illustrated in FIG. 1
Available through ShapeupShop to train multiple muscle groups at the same time by performing front to back, side-to-side or rotational movements with the Ab Dolly Plus. Purchase price $149.95 (US) includes video
Total body training device
Functional core training through multiple planes of motion
Targets abdominals, shoulders, chest, back and lower back
Two ergonomic handle positions and multidirectional ball bearing wheels allow for smooth comfortable movement
Constructed of high-density polymers
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