AU600976B2

AU600976B2 - Limb exercising machine

Info

Publication number: AU600976B2
Application number: AU79048/87A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Steven Boros; Laszlo Varga
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-09-29
Filing date: 1987-09-28
Publication date: 1990-08-30
Anticipated expiration: 2007-09-28
Also published as: AU7904887A

Description

4L- Australia Form PATENTS ACT 1952 h

I

12

I

Fi <.4 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FOR OFFICE USE Short Title: Int. CI: Applicatican Number: Lodged: Complete Specification-Lodged: Accepted: Lapsed: Published: Priority: Related Art; This domiuneft contains the amendments made und~r beJwu &t9 anid is correct for printing Name of Applicant: Address of Applicant: Attual InVentor; TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT LASZLO VARGA and STEVEN BOROS of 3/217 Brighton Road, Elwood, 3184, Victoria, Australio and 7/46 Ormonde Esplanade, Elwood, 3184, Victoria, Aus tralia, respectively LASZLO VARGA and STEVEN BOROS Address for Sorvice: CALLINAN AND ASSOCIArESf Patent Attorneys, of 48-50 Bridge Road$ Richmond, State of Victor~ia, Australia.

Complete Specification for the invention entitled "LIMB EXERCISING MACHINE" The following statemeont Is a full description of this Invention, Including the best method of performing It known to me:-' Note, Tho, description Is to be typed In double spacing, poa typeoface, In an area not exceeding 260 rmm In depth ind 10rm In width, en tough White paper of good qutality and It is to be inserted Inside this (orm.

-2- The present invention relates, in general, to a limb exercising machine and relates more particularly, although not exclusively, to a leg exercising machine for stretching leg muscles.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple but effective exercise machine which can controllably stretch the leg or arm muscles.

A further preferred object is to provide an exercising machine which is capable of being easily assembled and disassembled for purposes of storage when not in use, for example.

With these objects in view the present invention provides a limb exercising machine including a pair of movable support members for supporting limbs placed thereon, said movable support members being constrained by guide means to be adapted for movement towards and away from each other, said guide means are in the form of two substantially mirror-image members hingedly or pivotally secured together whereby to allow for folding thereof, each of said substantially mirrcor-image members being associated with a respective movable support member, whereby said movement stretches and exercises said limbs.

Preferably said movable support members have wheels, rollers or the like which are adapted to move along co-operating rails members. If the limbs Sto be exercised are legs it is preferred that handrails be provided on either side of said machine intermediate said support members, whereby to assist the use in maintaining balance during use of the machine. Preferably said guide means includes cushioning means (of any known type) adjacent said hinge connection.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood and readily put I'24I4 into practical effect, a preferred non-limitative embodiment of a limb exercising machine constructed in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- 7 R4A. ,Fig. 1 is a plan view of a limb exercisng machine made in accordance -3with the present invention, shown in the extended position; Fig. 2 is a side view of the limb exercising machine shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side view of the limb exercising machine shown in Fig. 1 shown in the folded position; Fig. 4 is an end view of a movable support of the embodiment of Fig.

1; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of a central portion, the so-called guide means, of the embodiment of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the central portion, the so-called guide means, of the machine as shown in Fig. 5, illustrating the hinged connection for the guide means; and Figs. 7 and 8 are further views of the guide means

I

t 0 44 .44 4., 4 of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

In the drawings there is shown a limb exercising machine, generally designated 10, having guide means 12, 14 coupled together by hinge means 16. Each guide means 12, 14 has a pair of upper rails 18 and a pair of lower rails The rails are preferably formed of hollow tubing. The upper and lower rails 18 and 20 of each pair of guide means 12, 14 are separated from one another by spacers 22 welded thereto.

For user comfort some form of cushioning 24 (again of any known type) is provided adjacent hinge means 16.

To exercise the limbs respective movable support S members 26 are provided which are adapted to run on rails S 18, 20. Each support member 26 includes a base member 28 with depending U-shaped brackets 30, affixed thereto in any ,5 known manner, as for example by welding, those brackets being adapted to have releasably attached thereto, in any known manner, a plurality of wheels, rollers or the like.

S Each wheel 32 is shaped to run on lower rails 20 with upper rail 18 passing through U-shaped brackets 30. Again for user comfort base members 28 include cushioning means (of any known type) 34.

To complete the machine a set of handrails 36 are provided. Handrails 36 consist of a pair of U-shaped handgrips 38 linked by cross-members 40 to form a stable framework. It is preferred that cross-members 40 are near the end of the free ends of the arm members of U-shaped handgrips 38 so that, when the handrails are slipped under I 4.

0* 4 m lower rails 20, the lower rails 20 will be slightly raised from the ground at hinges 16.

To use the machine for stretching leg muscles a person straddles cushioning means 24 and holds onto both handrails 36. Each foot is placed on a respective movable support member 26 and the user extends and contracts his legs, thereby causing the support member 26 to move outwardly and inwardly, along the rails,18, 20. The user can control the length of extension, and also the speed and duration cf the stretching, depending on individual requirements. The smooth action of the movement of support members 26 has been found to provide a gentle stretching without jerkiness, thereby minimizing the chances of unwanted injury as prevalent with prior art machines. When stretching is complete the machine may be folded, as shown in Fig. 3, for easy storage and transport. If required H| handrails 36 may be collapsible to also reduce storage I requirements. Although the preferred embodiment uses upper and lower rails 18, 20 it should be understood that, in a practical sense, only one set of rails is required. Wheels 32 may run on (as described) or inside the rails depending on circumstances, It is believed that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the form, construction 5 i i" and arrangement of the limb exercising machine described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages.

6

Claims

1. A limb exercising machine including a pair of movable support members for supporting limbs placed thereon, said movable support members being constrained by guide means to be adapted for movement towards and away from each other, said guide means are in the form of two substantially mirror- image members hingedly or pivotally secured together whereby to allow for folding thereof, each of said substantially mirror-image members being associated "ith a respective movable support member, whereby said movement stretches and exercises said limbs.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each support member includes at least one wheel or the like movable member associated therewith, the or each said wheel or the like movable member being adapted for movement along a respective co-operating rail member forming respective substantially mirror image members whereby to provide said movement for each said support t member.

3. The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each substantially mirror image member includes cushioning means adjacent the hinged end of said substantially mirror-image member. t

4. The machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each respective co- S operating rail member includes a pair of parallel rails and each movable member includes four wheel for co-operation with said rails.

The machine as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, including "at least one handrail, disposed longitudinally of said machine, whereby to assist :in maintaining balance of the user during use of the machine, -8-

6. A limb exercising machine, substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. DATED this 14th day of May, 1990. LASZLO VARGA and STEVEN BOROS By their Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE $4 t 4 1 1 4 4 444' 4444 4 11 44 1 44 44 14$ 44 4, 14 I 444'' 4 4