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Moving seat chair for exercise and rehabilitationMoving seat chair for exercise and rehabilitation description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060284463, Moving seat chair for exercise and rehabilitation. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
This application claims benefit of our Provisional Patent Filing, Application #60/691,410, filed Jun. 17, 2005 [0001] The present invention relates to a chair that moves in an arc relative to a base, which is particularly suited for physical therapy use by patients who have had hip, knee, ankle joint, or leg surgery. It is also useful as a strengthening or conditioning device, and for athletes' use to remain limber and warmed up. The user's legs create motion by the feet pushing against a fixed object, where the center of motion of the seat is nominally fixed at a point above the seat, with the user's body moving generally in a plane. Extendable/repositionable tubes form an adjustable frame to accommodate different size users. An adjustable position footrest provides a structure for the feet to push off of. Resistance to motion may be varied using added mass, a damper, or a spring. The invention is called the Kneeflexer.TM.. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH [0002] No federal funds were used in the development of this invention FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The present invention relates to exercise and rehabilitation equipment, and active sitting chairs. BACKGROUND [0004] The initial challenges that knee injury patients encounter involve regaining flexion and extension of the knee and reduction of swelling. A widely used approach is for the patient to lie on his/her back with their leg strapped into a knee continuous passive motion machine, such as those provided by Artromot.RTM.-E (Flexmate K500 Knee CPM, Artromot.RTM. K4 and Artromot.RTM. K3) and Optiflex (Optiflex.sup.3 knee) which guides the knee through flexion and extension. Lying on one's back is good early in the rehabilitation process, because it elevates the knee to reduce swelling. Also, the passive motion allows users to regain motion with minimal effort. However, soon after surgery patients are mobile and motion of the knee improves venous circulation; an upright posture machine is desirable for an active patient. This invention eliminates the need for lying on one's back and being strapped to a continuous passive motion machine by providing a device which will guide the user in practicing flexion and extension technique, yet enable a user to sit upright and extend and flex the knee with minimal assistance. In addition, due to the center of rotation in relation to the user, more natural flexion and extension of the knee is achieved. Finally, the user's body motion is restricted to generally one plane, thus eliminating risks associated with side-to-side motion of the body relative to the foot. [0005] There are many "active sitting" devices ranging from simple inflated balls to chairs mounted on top of coil springs that allow a user to plant their feet on the floor and then move their buttocks in various motions. Such devices are intended to strengthen a person's core muscles. They are not, however, appropriate for rehabilitation because the body is too weak to maintain itself on these nominally unstable devices. [0006] Another important area of applicability is keeping athletes limber or warmed up, particularly between events, when they would otherwise be sitting idle waiting for their turn to perform. [0007] The apparatus created by following the criteria set forth is named Kneeflexer. This apparatus consists of three primary components-a base, a curved motion mechanism, and a seat. A stool, ramp, or other structure can also be used in conjunction with the feet. A user sits in the seat while the feet are supported by the floor or a structure in front of the base and seat. The motion of the seat is guided in an arc by the curved motion mechanism whose motion is about an essentially fixed point above the plane of the seat. The Kneeflexer provides guided motion so the user cannot lose control and get hurt. This device, due to its structure, also allows the user to use it as a piece of active furniture. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION [0008] An object of the present invention, accordingly, is to guide the user in practicing flexion and extension of the leg joints while sitting upright. [0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a curved motion path for a seat where the center of rotation is above the plane of the seat and is essentially a fixed point. [0010] A further object is to position the user's leg so that the knee(s) can flex and extend through a guided range of motion. [0011] A further object is to support the weight of the user so that no unwanted load is added to the knee. [0012] A further object is the ability to restrict motion to generally one plane so that the user properly moves the knee. [0013] A further object is to use adjustable structures so that the equipment can be adjusted to accommodate different size users. [0014] A further object is that weight can be added to the equipment to increase resistance to motion. [0015] A further object is that spring(s) can be added to the equipment to increase resistance to motion. [0016] A further object is that a dashpot (for example, damper, shock absorber) can be added to the equipment to increase resistance to motion. [0017] A still further object is to provide range of motion stops to limit the travel arc of the seat. SUMMARY [0018] The Kneeflexer consists of three primary components-a base, a curved motion mechanism, and a seat. A footrest, which may be attached to the base, can also be placed under the feet to change the type of motion the joint experiences. The curved motion mechanism radius of curvature is generally about one meter so its center of rotation is generally at a point near the head of a typical user, although different radii of curvature rails could be used for different size chairs. Thus when moving, the user's head does not appreciably translate, and they can more easily stay focused on a computer monitor, for example, while using the device. A user sits in the seat while the feet are supported by the floor or a ramp or platform or other structure in front of the base and seat. The Kneeflexer also allows the user to use it as a piece of active furniture for use by healthy people who want to exercise by moving while sitting, or by athletes who want to remain limber and warmed up between events. Continue reading about Moving seat chair for exercise and rehabilitation... Full patent description for Moving seat chair for exercise and rehabilitation Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Moving seat chair for exercise and rehabilitation 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 Moving seat chair for exercise and rehabilitation or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Medical chair Next Patent Application: Vehicle seat with auto-fold leg Industry Class: Chairs and seats ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Moving seat chair for exercise and rehabilitation patent info. 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