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Training equipmentRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, User Manipulated Force Resisting Apparatus, Component Thereof, Or Accessory ThereforTraining equipment description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060135323, Training equipment. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to training equipment to improve the rotation of the back. [0002] The spine is made up of 24 vertebrae, and between every vertebra, there are several joints making movement between every vertebra possible. Movement should be evenly distributed between the joints, but quite often, the movement is more in one joint than in the adjacent joint. This may cause an unbalanced distribution of the mobility of the vertebrae, causing pain and unease. In order to achieve maximum rotation and mobility of the back, all joints should have maximum mobility. [0003] Most humans in the western world today have a lifestyle that is not stimulating the body to maintain and/or increase its flexibility. This may result in a stiff body, and a lot of associated problems. At worst, a stiff body can cause difficulty in daily life, such as turning in bed, and cleaning oneself. Persons that have developed Parkinson and/or Bekhterev's disease will have reduced mobility of the joints due to the illness, and thus, they have an extra need to work on /maintain rotation and mobility. [0004] In golf, one also needs maximum rotation, especially in the back and in the hips to achieve the best golf swing and thereby, the best drive. A lot of golf players struggle with back injuries, because among other things, they rarely warm up, and the golf swing demanding maximum rotation of the whole spine. [0005] Physiotherapists treat patients who have limited rotation of the spine. In order to improve the rotation and/or reduce pain, they perform a press onto the muscles and joints contributing to the rotation-movement. At present, there is no training equipment being developed to improve rotation of the spine, and neither is there any training equipment available to prevent injury and/or strengthen muscles and joints which are not injured. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The object of the present invention, is to provide training equipment to stimulate the spine and the surrounding musculature in order to optimize the rotation. [0007] The invention is directed to equipment which can improve the rotation of the spine. [0008] Training equipment, according to the present invention, comprises a bar being bent so that the ends are in the same plane. In approximately the middle of the curve made by the bend or bends of the bar, there is coupled a pressure-element. In most cases, where the bend or bends are centred on the bar, the pressure-element will be located in the middle of the bar. Further, those parts of the bar including the bend or bends and the pressure-element, should be mirrored through a plane across the bar, along the center line of the curve. The ends of the bar should, preferably, be divergent or parallel, but in the case where the bar is bent evenly in a curve, the ends might also be convergent. [0009] In use, the pressure-element is held against the vertebral column so that one end of the bar will stretch forward under each arm of the person using the equipment (the user). The user grabs the bar close to each end with each hand, and stabilizes the pressure element towards the spine in this way. When the person turns to the right, he should simultaneously pull the end of the bar being held by the left hand, so that the pressure element "rotates the spine" towards right. In this way, the spine will rotate beyond what the users are capable of on their own. The user must, however, not pull so hard that the pressure-element is displaced in relation to the spine. In the same way, the user must pull the end of the equipment being held in the right hand when he rotates to the left. [0010] By "pressure-element" meant is any element which can provide pressure to the spine, when the equipment is being used. In order to achieve the intended function, that is, to contribute to rotation, the element must have a certain size both transverse (width) and longitudinal (height) relative to the spine. That is, along the bar and perpendicular to a cross sectional plane of the bent bar. It is also an advantage if the pressure-element has a certain thickness, and/or is mounted to the bar in such a way that the required distance from the surface of the pressure element to the bar is achieved. For comfort and to avoid pain, the element should further be made of, or at the least coated with, a pressure resisting elastic material. [0011] The pressure-element is preferably oblong with a slight concave surface. The element may advantageously be made of a stiff, but yet elastic material, in order to provide a relatively firm pressure on the spine, but at the same time being elastic so that it can be placed very close to the back, ensuring that it is comfortable. An example of such material are different types of silicone. [0012] The pressure-element has a height, h, being chosen to embrace the right number of vertebrae, and to provide optimal pressure to the spine. If the height h of the pressure-element is too great, it will embrace to many vertebrae, and the pressure provided on each vertebra will be too small. Problems can also arise when the pressure-element is placed close to the back, because the back is not straight. If the height, h, of the pressure-element is too small, one might experience it being uncomfortable, because the pressure is too concentrated, even if the effect of improving the rotation is achieved. The pressure-element also has a width b, and in the same way as the height, it must be compromised. If the pressure-element is too slim, it will not comfortably embrace the vertebrae, and the pressure is too concentrated. The width of the pressure-element will only be limited by practical reasons, and might, in principle, be as wide as the user's back. It has been found that the pressure-element should be between 4-12 cm high, with an optimal height of 6 cm, and between 12-25 cm wide, with an optimal width of 13 cm to be used by most persons. The element also has a thickness, t, and in the same way as the height and the width, it must be compromised. It must be thick enough to provide pressure to the spine without being destroyed, but at the same time, the distance between the bar and the surface of the element should not be so large that involuntary tilting of the pressure-element may occur when the training equipment is being used. By "involuntary tilting", it is meant that the contact surface of the pressure-element is not in full contact against the spine, but tilts upwards and downwards during use, without the user being able to control it. The coupling between the pressure-element and the bar will also influence the distance between the surface of the pressure element and the bar. It has been found that the distance between the bar and the surface of the pressure element should not exceed 20 cm, and preferably is about 10 cm. The element itself should have a thickness of between 2 and 17 cm, preferably 5 cm. [0013] It is an advantage that the equipment as a whole is symmetrical through a plane across the bar, through the pressure-element and right in the middle of the ends. With an embodiment which is not symmetrical, the user can only stretch one side of the back at a time. When it is desirable to stretch the other side, him or her must let go of the equipment, at least with one hand, then turn it up-side-down, and place it against the back again. Only then is the user ready to stretch the muscles/joints on the other side of the back. The user will thus not be able to turn alternately between left and right, which would be possible with symmetrical equipment. [0014] It is also an advantage that the equipment is symmetrical along the plane through the center of the bar, meaning that the upper and lower parts of the equipment are mirrored. In such a case, the user can just pick up the equipment and use it, without finding right/left or up/down. [0015] In another preferred embodiment, the equipment is made to be collapsible. This may be done in may ways, which would be obvious to a person skilled in the art. In a specially preferred embodiment, the bar is bent in two places with similar or identical angles in the same plane, so that the bar is symmetrical about the center line I-I. It is a further advantage if the ends are divergent instead of parallel, as this will ease the use of the equipment. The parts of the bar, from the bend to the end, and between the bends, may be telescopic. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] The invention will in the following be described by means of an embodiment shown in the enclosed figures, in which: [0017] FIG. 1 shows the training equipment unfolded, before use; [0018] FIG. 2 shows a cross section of the pressure-element according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1; [0019] FIG. 3 shows a specific embodiment of the training equipment of FIG. 1, folded; and [0020] FIG. 4 shows the training equipment placed on a spine, and the influenced vertebrae and joints. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Continue reading about Training equipment... Full patent description for Training equipment Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Training equipment 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 Training equipment or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Strength training treadmill Next Patent Application: Apparatus and method for facilitating the safe lifting of free weights Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Training equipment patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.13973 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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