AU782316B2 - Calf exerciser - Google Patents

Description

1' Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT

(ORIGINAL)

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor(s): Address for Service: Invention Title: DAVID PAUL ASHLEY DAVID PAUL ASHLEY SANDERCOCK COWIE 69 ROBINSON STREET DANDENONG VIC 3175 CALF EXERCISER Details of Associated Provisional Application(s): No(s): Australian Provisional Application No. PR2830 Filed: 1 st February, 2001.

The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me: -1- 2002-01-29,A:\371ashley.file.wpd, la- TITLE: CALF EXERCISER FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention concerns apparatus for relieving venous stasis in the legs.

Copyright. All rights reserved.

~.)Sandercock Cowie 2002-01-29,A:\368ashley.compicte.wpd, I -2- BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Elderly people in nursing homes, patients in hospital beds, and sedentary workers obliged to occupy computer stations, all experience reduced activity and may suffer venous stasis.

Confinement of persons to seats on vehicles and aeroplanes predisposes passengers to slow blood flow through the lower legs which may have damaging consequences. One method of reducing susceptibility to stasis is to exercise during ajourney, but movement of passengers around the vehicle during theirjourney may not be prudent or feasible. It 10 would be preferable if the passengers were to remain in the seats but if this is to occur then localised exercise is one answer.

The human calf muscle is dense and powerful and capable of pumping blood back towards the heart if suitably exercised. The muscle groups of the calves may be worked isometrically but such movement needs requisite knowledge and practice and cannot be S: expected from passengers making infrequent journeys. The calf muscle pump is much easier to activate if the calf can work against resistance. The confines of aeroplane seats do not permit the introduction of any other than the simplest of structure to encourage passengers to exercise in situ.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The apparatus aspect of the invention provides apparatus for exercising a seated person's calf muscles without walking comprising surface mounted static means to provide Copyright. All rights reserved.

SSandercock Cowie 2002-01-29,A:\368&hlcy.completc.wpd,2 -3resistance to movement of the feet in response to calf flexing, the means having an inclined face for contact by the feet and means to prevent displacement of the static means away from the seated user.

PREFERRED ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION The apparatus may be made of an easily compressible material, such as plastic foam, preferably an open celled foam such as upholstery foam. The exerciser may be prism shaped with a base and two mutually inclined faces each lying 20-45 o to the horizontal.

The area of the inclined face may be of the same order as the area covered by a pair of adult shoes. It is convenient to incline both faces at the same angle. The exerciser will still exert an equivalent angle if the incline face is instead curved to a suitable radius.

The means to prevent displacement may be teeth which project into the floor covering, for example carpet. Alternatively, the base at least may be coated or covered with a nonslip finish. Some foams have a sufficiently high coefficient of friction to stay in place on floor coverings. When the user is immobilised, for example after surgery, the exerciser may be placed against the bed end or a bolster; or if the patient is restricted in ambulation following surgery, exercise may be used while the patient is seated in a chair.

Sheet material with high coefficient of friction is sold under the trade mark MAGIC

GRIP.

An alternative version dispenses with the non-slip covering and comprises a block of Copyright. All rights reserved.

Sandercock Cowie 2002-01-29A:368ashlcy.complctc.wpd,3 -4open cell foam comprising the block of open cell foam with a density from 0.1-0.4 with a support face for contact by the feet which has an area similar to the area covered by adult shoes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEW OF THE DRAWINGS One embodiment is now described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- 10 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exerciser.

Figure 2 is a close up of a fragment of the non-slip surface of the exerciser.

Figure 3 is a diagram of the users feet in the start position.

Figure 4 is a diagram of the users feet in the flexed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH RESPECT TO THE DRAWINGS o* Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, a prismatic block 2 of polyurethane foam (grade L- 19- 130) with a base 350 x 200mm and 180mm high is covered with a single panel of nonslip polymeric material 4 sold under the trade mark MAGIC GRIP.

A fragment of the surface of the material is shown in close up in Figure 2. The surface comprises undulating rows of ridges and valleys about 2mm high interconnected dendritically. This conformation has a high coefficient of friction for surfaces such as timber, vinyl and carpet. The two triangular ends 6 are closed by PVC sheet. The seams Copyright. All rights reserved.

Sandercock Cowie 2002-01-29,A:\368ashley.complee.wpd,4 are stitched. The block presents a pair of like feet-supporting faces 8.

In use the exerciser is placed 300mm in front of the seated person's feet. The feet 10 are brought together with the heels on the floor and the feet resting on the inclined face 8.

The backs of the knees are lifted away from the chair in which the user is seated. This improves blood flow by simple pressure reduction in the popliteal fossa (area behind the knee). The calves are then flexed against the resistance of the foam so that the toes point and the heel leaves the floor as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The position of the foot on the sloped face is plantargrade (neutral). From this position, pressure is applied through 10 the ball of the foot against the resistance offered by the exerciser. This action effectively moves the foot towards a flexed (toes pointed) position and is most appropriate in Sactivating the 'calf muscle pump' while seated. The exerciser maintains its floor position.

Somewhat firmer foams, usually upholstery foams give good results, namely grade L-24- 160, H-28-80 and H-35-100.

In another version, hook and pile fabrics replace the polymeric sheet.

In another version the base is a moulded lamina with multiple integral teeth of the exposed face.

Throughout this specification:- Copyright. All rights reserved.

SSandercock Cowie 2002-01-29A:\368ashliy.completc.wpd,5 -6the words 'comprising' and 'comprises' mean including, but not limited to, or includes, without limitation; and any reference to a patent specification is not an admission that the contents of that specification are part of the common general knowledge of a person skilled in the art in Australia.

a 9.99 .9 9 9 99 9 99 9 9.

Copyright. All fights reserved.

Sandercock Cowie 20.l2,:3Ss~ycmlt~p, 2D02-01-29,A:\368ashicy.complcte.wpd,6

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus for exercising a seated person's calf muscles comprising a floor mountable block of compressible polymeric foam having an inclined face for contact by the seated person's feet and means on the base of the block to prevent displacement of the block from the user in response to calf flexing by the user.

2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, being a block of triangular cross section with a base and one of the inclined faces lying at 20-45 to the horizontal.

3. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the means on the base to prevent displacement are teeth which in use project into the floor covering. 15 4. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the base at least is coated or covered with a non-slip finish. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the non-slip finish is sheet material with a high coefficient of friction.

6. Apparatus as claimed in Claim I or 2, wherein the means to prevent displacement of the block away from the user is the hook fabric of a hook and pile combination, the pile being the carpet on which the base rests. Copyright. All rights reserved. Sandercock Cowie 2005-05-09,A:\368ashlcycomplete.wpd,7 -8-

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the inclined face has an area similar to the area covered by a pair of adult shoes.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, being a block of semi-cylindrical cross section.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1-8, wherein the foam is an open cell foam with a density from 0.1-0.4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the foam density is 0.15-0.35.

11. Apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Dated this 9 th day of May, 2005. SANDERCOCK COWIE PATENT ATTORNEYS FOR DAVID PAUL ASHLEY Copyright. All rights reserved. SSandercock Cowie 2005.OS09,A:\368ashcy.complkte.wpd,8