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Exercise apparatusRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory Therefor, Utilizing Resilient Force ResistanceExercise apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060084556, Exercise apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention is generally related to exercise equipment, and more particularly, to an exercise apparatus which may be used for general exercise and strength training, as well as the active care and rehabilitation of patients in a therapeutic setting. BACKGROUND [0002] Many fields of health care have embraced the concept of therapeutic exercise and activity as being beneficial to individuals suffering from a wide variety of ailments. [0003] The fields of orthopedic medicine, occupational medicine, chiropractic, and physical therapy as well as many other, routinely recommend various regimens of therapeutic strengthening for the benefit of the patients they serve. Evidence suggests that patients who participate in active care or rehabilitation programs tend to get better results, stay better longer, malinger less, and get back to work sooner than those who do not participate in programs of active care. [0004] The wealth of information regarding the benefits of therapeutic exercise has become embedded-in the base of scientific literature relevant to the practice of various health care disciplines. As a result, therapeutic exercise has become a recognized part of modern health care. In addition, general physical exercise, particularly in the form of resistance or strength training has become widely regarded as a beneficial activity for the general health and well being of the population in general. Proper strength training can and will increase the not only strength, but also range, and quality of motion. [0005] Proper programs of resistance training can help to stabilize weak or injured joints, reduce the presence of local inflammatory exudates, prevent degenerative changes in the joints, increase bone density, improve connective tissue strength, improve posture, and promote general physical and mental health and well-being. [0006] In addition, many types of athletic activity may benefit from specific programs of strength training. Since various activities will require the recruitment and use of differing muscle groups, the development of sport specific training programs has taken on new importance within recent years. [0007] Various types of exercise machines and devices are well known in the art. The present marketplace includes neck systems, back systems, shoulder machines, pulleys, weights, cams and other devices. Products include Nautilus.RTM., Cybex.RTM., and free weights, among others. There are barbells, dumbbells, bands, tubing, multi-neck machines, and multi-hip machines. Many of the systems are reputable and of good quality, and would most certainly be of benefit to the user. Unfortunately, they have certain other qualities in common such as size, bulkiness, and limitations on the number and variety of exercises possible. Further, they can be very expensive and complex to assemble and use. In clinical settings, it may be desirous to not fill up an entire clinic with bulky machines. In the home or general fitness market, a need exists for a resistance training system that is simple to use. It is also desirous that the equipment takes up-a minimum amount of floor space and further that the device be able to exercise all of the major areas of the body without having to change equipment. If the user should be exercising within a clinical or professional setting, it would also be desirous for the patients to have a safe and affordable take home device to use for follow-up and maintenance care after the supervised rehabilitation is complete. It would be even further desirous if the take home device was the same or similar to what the patients had grown accustomed to using in the office. [0008] Consequently, a need exists for simple exercise equipment for general strength training and exercise, particularly in regards to patients participating in programs of active care and rehabilitation. SUMMARY [0009] In response to these and other shortcomings of the prior art, the present exercise apparatus, a therapeutic exercise device that is lightweight and portable, and that has many advantages over traditional weight and pulley systems, is disclosed. Resistance can be varied infinitely and like many cam systems on the market, the resistance will increase linearly as the muscle shortens and becomes more efficient. The exercise apparatus is lightweight, portable, and can be sent home with the patient. It is a simple low-tech device that meets all home and in-office strength training needs. The exercise apparatus allows for health care professionals to rehabilitate cervical, thoracic, and lumbar areas of the spine. It allows for adjustable resistance so as to accommodate those of all levels of ability. The device is durable enough to withstand the demands of professional use and yet affordable enough to produce so that patients can purchase the device for take-home use if prescribed by their doctor. This advantage over many other devices allows patients to rehabilitate with the exercise apparatus in the doctors office or clinic during the early phases of care and then easily transition to home care using the same device. With the exercise apparatus, patients can exercise not only the entire spine but also, every major extremity joint from shoulders, elbows, and wrists to hips, knees and ankles, all in the same area of the clinic. There is no need for patients to rotate from machine to machine to exercise different body parts. The exercise apparatus allows patients to perform all office strength training using only one device. As a result, the rehabilitation department is very small, minimizing investment by health care professionals and requires very little attention from the staff while patients are exercising. [0010] A preferred embodiment of the exercise apparatus comprises five resistance bands secured to an anchor device and two handles with snap hook to secure the handles to the resistance bands. The anchor device is used to secure the exercise apparatus to either a door frame or to some other immovable structure. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the present invention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present invention, and be protected by the accompanying claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] Many aspects of the invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. [0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise apparatus in use as attached to a door frame. [0013] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the various components of the exercise apparatus. [0014] FIG. 3 is an alternative embodiment of the anchor device of the exercise apparatus. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [0015] Various aspects of the exercise apparatus, having been summarized above, reference will now be made in detail to the description of the representative assembly illustrated in the drawings. While the exercise apparatus will be described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed therein. [0016] FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate the exercise apparatus 10, a therapeutic exercise device that is lightweight and portable, and that has many advantages over traditional weight and pulley systems. [0017] FIG. 1 shows exercise apparatus 10 being used by a patient 12. The embodiment shown can be attached to any door frame 14 by merely closing the door with the exercise apparatus 10 adjusted to the desired height corresponding to a particular exercise to be performed. An alternate embodiment, shown in FIG. 3 and discussed below, allows the exercise apparatus to be attached to an attachment ring in a wall or some other immovable structure. [0018] As illustrated in FIG. 1, the home version of the exercise apparatus comprises a means for securing the apparatus to a vertical structure, such as an anchor device 16. The anchor device 16 is used to secure the unit to either a wall in the rehabilitation facility or to a door frame 14 in the users home. The unit shown in FIG. 2 is the home unit with a sewn tab 23 that can be inserted between the door and the door frame 14 while the door is opened. Closing the door then secures the device in place for use in exercising by sandwiching the tab 23 between the door and the door frame. Further, the anchor device 16 may be moved upward or downward to adjust the angle for the exercise. [0019] The exercise apparatus 10 also comprises means for providing variable resistance to exercises such as a resistance band 18. Multiple resistance bands 18 may be used to provide additional resistance to exercises. The resistance band(s) 18 may be secured to the anchor device 16 via a cinching mechanism 24 or any other desirable fastening mechanism. An attachment means such as attachment ring 22 is secured to a resistance band 18 by a clamp 26 or other fastening mechanism. Each end of the resistance bands 18 in this embodiment contains an attachment ring 22 inserted into an elastic tube and is further secured with a clamp 26. Though this embodiment of the exercise apparatus 10 uses elastic tubing for the resistance bands 18, it should be understood that one of skill in the art would recognize that any of a number of other materials could be used as a means for providing resistance to exercises, such as bungee cords, elastic bands, etc. It should further be appreciated by one skilled in the art that the exact nature of the attachment ring or other fastening mechanism might vary if one should desire to use a material other than elastic tubing to comprise the resistance bands 18. Continue reading about Exercise apparatus... Full patent description for Exercise apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exercise apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Exercise apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Variable resistance flexion and extension exercise machine Next Patent Application: Gripping device Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Exercise apparatus patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.35086 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Qualcomm , Schering-Plough , Schlumberger , Seagate , Siemens , Texas Instruments , 174 |
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