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  Method and device to enable and assist the elderly and females to exercise their leg musclesUSPTO Application #: 20080039298Title: Method and device to enable and assist the elderly and females to exercise their leg muscles Abstract: A method for using the leg press is comprised of standing with one leg on the ground (the stationary leg), and repeatedly operating the movable step up and down with the other leg (the exercising leg). The exercising leg is exercised until it is tired or has reached its quota, and the legs are switched to exercise the previously stationary leg while the previously exercising leg is rested.
This leg press exercise machine is comprised of a single movable foot-plate arranged to move up and down a vertical path for exercising one leg at a time. It is designed to be used in the standing position. A controlled weight resistance mechanism is connected to the movable foot-plate for providing adjustable resistance to movement. At least one hand rail is positioned to aid entry to and exit from the machine and to stabilize the user while exercising. A lumbar pad (or backrest) is positioned to provide counter stability while exercising. A selector lever arm is used to select a maximum range of movement of the foot-plate. This selector lever arm can also be used to help leverage-up the leg to a position from which it is about to start exercising. The foot-plate is dynamic on its horizontal axis to reduce stress on the exercising foot. (end of abstract)
Agent: Uzi Ezra Havosha & Partners - Tel Aviv, om Inventor: Zeev Steinmetz USPTO Applicaton #: 20080039298 - Class: 482101 (USPTO) The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080039298. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001]This invention is in the field of exercise resistance machines for improvement of general health, especially strengthening leg muscles, like the quadriceps and gluteus and the knee area, providing the physiotherapeutic effects to strengthen, build and rebuild muscle and bone mass, and prevents muscle and bone mass deterioration. This patent relates to and caters for the special needs of the elderly and females, and those convalescing from injury or surgery. BACKGROUND of the INVENTION [0002]The use of machines for exercising the body is well known in the art. For many decades it has been considered beneficial for a person's health to exercise regularly. The benefits are many and probably some that we are not yet aware. A few of the better known benefits are to the functioning of the heart, the blood vessels, the blood cells, the muscles, the bone structure, the functioning of the brain, the levels of cholesterol and blood sugars, and the general feeling of well-being. There was a time when it was felt to be not so beneficial for the elderly to exercise but now it is considered also very beneficial. Obviously, the degree of stress on the body and length of time of such exercise varies from person to person depending on age, general health and any specific disabilities endured. [0003]One of the factors that make it difficult for the elderly is their lack of agility. They often have pain when moving their various limbs. This discourages them from starting to exercise even though when they have exercised, usually they feel better than beforehand. If they avoid exercising then they do not enjoy the many side benefits of exercising and a vicious cycle is sometimes created whereby their health deteriorates generally. Most prior art exercise machines do not take into account the special needs of the elderly and therefore help to create this barrier. The machines are often cumbersome, sometimes complicated to operate, without easily understandable instructions, without handles to aid entering and exiting and without taking into account the sometimes frail and painful limbs of the elderly. They are basically designed for the young and middle aged. [0004]The elderly either currently suffer from ailments that are best assisted by controlled exercise or are likely to suffer from such ailments if they do not exercise, for example, heart disease, weight control, walking stability, osteoporosis, lower back pains. [0005]Daily activities, that a younger person performs automatically without realizing how many muscles and joints are involved, can be a major cause of pain and other discomforts throughout the day for the elderly and disabled. [0006]Examples of such daily activities are bending to tie shoes, getting in and out of the car or bath, walking up stairs or a hill, pushing a shopping cart, carrying groceries and simply stretching to reach items. These are but a few of the hundreds of activities that an elderly person has to do daily and without regular exercising and muscle strengthening these everyday activities become more difficult as the person ages. [0007]Women are more prone than men to a bone disease called osteoporosis, usually from the age of menopause and older. One of the major recommended preventative measures for osteoporosis is regular exercising of the weight bearing kind in order to increase the bone mass. Furthermore, females more than males, require special features in exercise machines to cater for their more delicate body structures. [0008]Therefore, it would be preferable for the elderly, those convalescing and females, to use exercise machines that are purpose built and user friendly for their specific needs. [0009]The apparatus of this invention is specifically and professionally designed for the special needs of this group of users. The innovation of this invention includes and/or takes into account amongst others, the following factors: [0010]the user's general lack of agility and possibility of various pains when moving into position to start exercising, during the exercising and when exiting, [0011]to give as much as possible clutter free access and a minimum of overhead apparatus to ease entry/exit and to avoid accidental injury to the user or a helper of the user, [0012]to have a dynamic foot-plate to reduce stress on the user's foot and Achilles' tendon. [0013]adjustable range of motion, [0014]the need for a comfortable seat and/or back-rest to give the user a feeling of comfort and stability, [0015]the need for smaller gradations of weights so that resistance and muscle stress can be more gradually increased, [0016]the proper placing of handles and bars to aid entering and leaving the machines and stabilizing handles to optionally hold while exercising, [0017]notices and instructions written in clear language and large print,and many other features for the benefit of the infirm as are herein described in greater detail. [0018]Prior art has addressed some aspects of the needs of older people. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,302 issued to Miller reveals a moveable exercise machine that can be brought to a chair ridden person to exercise. The novelty is more in the portability features than the use of the machine itself. US Patent Application No. 20040220019 issued to Maser reveal a special feature for older people namely that in a pedal machine both pedals can start at their lowest level instead of one up and one down. The Japanese Patent No. 2004016577 issued to Shigeo et al. reveals an exercise machine where the user can exercise in a recumbent position but the range of movements of the arms and legs is limited with no possibility of increasing or decreasing the stress to the arms or legs. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,652,419 issued to Rota showing how beneficial the rebounding type of exercise is for all aged users especially the elderly. [0019]The uniqueness of this invention is the combination of all its various features into one device as are herein described. After years of research the innovators of this invention have found solutions to the above mentioned problems generally and to the specific problems and needs of the elderly and infirm. The result is incorporated in the apparatus of this invention as hereinafter described. The result is a user friendly machine that the infirm will want to use because it answers their special needs. It will help them overcome that so important initial step of starting to exercise. [0020]The commercial potential for such machines is great. Firstly the purchaser could be an end user of the exercise machine of this invention or an exercise club that also wishes to cater for the elderly, infirm or those recuperating from injury. Such exercise clubs will be able to attract more members and from a wider range of population. Exercise clubs for women only, will be able to offer machines user friendly for females. Old-age homes are likely purchasers of these machines, to improve the overall health of their members, to usefully occupy their time and to attract new members by showing quality facilities. Hotels often have exercise rooms and will want to provide quality facilities for their elderly customers. Hospitals or homes for rehabilitation after medical operations or accidents are another likely customer for such machines. Most of the features designed for older people will also assist people recouping from illness or operations. They will recover faster, reduce the number of visits to the physiotherapist and be happy that they are helping themselves to become independent and return to their normal routine. [0021]The manufacturers of this invention will be catering for a market that is expanding rapidly both by the greater percentage of people living to older ages and the increasing awareness amongst all sectors of the population that regular exercising is a key to improved health. Health funds have already recognized how many millions of dollars they save each year when their members maintain a better standard of health. As a result these health funds often subsidize for their members, the membership fees of exercise clubs. All these factors will contribute to the commercial success of this invention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0022]It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview, or framework, for understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of the invention and, together with the description serve to explain the principles and operations of the invention. [0023]An object of this invention is to provide a machine to exercise and thereby strengthen the leg muscles as well as maintain bone mass of the elderly, the infirm and females. [0024]This muscle strengthening and bone mass maintenance will in turn help to improve balance, increase knee stability, increase thigh and shin strength, increase pelvic suspension and reduce incidence of falls. [0025]Another object of the invention is to increase muscle strength in the pelvic area. [0026]Another object of the invention is to strengthen the muscles called quadriceps and gluteus. [0027]Another object of the invention is to strengthen the hamstrings. [0028]Another object of the invention is to have a dynamic foot-press pad to reduce pressure on the foot and on the Achilles' tendon while exercising. [0029]Another object of the invention is to enable one leg at a time to exercise independently of each other. This helps those who need to exercise but must not put too much strain on the heart or where it is beneficial to exercise one leg at a time. Continue reading... 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