CA2062181A1

CA2062181A1 - Vertabrae realignment exercise machine

Info

Publication number: CA2062181A1
Application number: CA002062181A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Michael J. Kaulbach; Phil Sarazen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1992-03-03
Filing date: 1992-03-03
Publication date: 1993-09-04

Abstract

ABSTRACT
An exercise machine for the realignment of the vertebrae in the back whereby the legs move in a scissor, forward and back motion, the arms move in a forward and back motion parallel to that of the legs so as to simulate the action of walking motion on all 4,s. The invention comprised of a device to place, support ones hands so that a portion of the upper body weight can he supported by the shoulders and transferred onto and thru the hands onto this device by placing ones hands on it, one does not have to grip the device.
The device allows the hands to move back and forth relative to the torso. Attached to the device supporting the hands is a frame. A
device or devices to place ones feet is provided so that a persons feet can move in a scissor action without a continual or appreciative movement of the torso forwards or backwards relative to the device or devices to place ones feet. A track will guide the devices to place ones feet and a flexible connecting means such as a rope, or tape connected between the two means on which one places ones feet such that as one foot goes forward the other goes backwards. An embodiment to the invention is where the device to place the hands rests on two pivoting telescopic supports positioned above and connected to two pivot points, one for each pivoting telescopic support, the pivot points placed near the horizontal plane on which the devices to place ones feet are located in such a position so that the shoulders are positioned directly above the line between the two pivots, these pivot points allow the pivoting telescopic supports to move back and forth in opposite direction of the legs. There is a device attached to the pivot point which creates a variable resistance to the motion of the pivoting telescopic supports. In order to allow for an exercise which simulates cross country skiing, the pivoting telescopic support for the hands and pivot point are moved forwards, and the telescopic supports are raised to a position where the opperrator can grasp a device which is in a vertical position. There is a means to raise the device to place the hands configured in a telescopic or stepped manner, and a means to change the distance between the hands when both hands are at the same level and directly across from each other. A different embodiment to the invention shows the exercise machine with two bards which can be placed in a horizontal position placed above, to the outside of, and parallel to the travel of the feet such that the hands can be placed directly on or on a device which slides on the horizontal bars and move in the opposite direction of the feet. There is a means to vary the resistance of the movement of the motion of the hands. There is a flexible connecting means such as a rope, or tape connected between the means on which one places ones hand and the means on which one places ones foot, and a framing system which supports this rope such that as the foot is forced to travels backwards when the hand travels forwards and visa versa. A further embodiment of the invention has an additional mechanism which can be interconnected to the means which supports the hands so as to carry so weight of the head, neck or torso. In order to accommodate individuals with differing lengths of arm and leg movements, an embodiment consisting of an adjustable, slidable, rotational telescopic device is placed between the device for the hand and the device for the foot. Another embodiment comprised of a vertically movable pad attached to the device for the foot allows for more normal walking movements. Another embodiment is comprised of two supports for the hands which are slidable vertical telescopic supports which are themselves mobile and transfer the load placed on them by the operator directly onto the ground. The slidable vertical telescopic supportss are placed in a track which allows them to move on both sides of and out of the path on which the feet travel, the slidable vertical telescopic supports allows the operator to move their hands backwards and forward parallel to the motion of the feet. A further embodiment of the invention has the the slidable vertical telescopic supportd independent of a track, and the devices to support the feet comprised of rollers and themselves independent of a track such that the operator can travel on the street or sidewalk.

Description

PRIOR ART
Patent no. 1,223,905, typifies the cross country exercise machine now sold in most commercial retail stores. This invention is better than most for the realignment oE the vertebrae, cross country skiers have one of the best records in averting chronic back ailments. However this exercise and the machines to simulate this exercise can be improved upon.
The handles the cross country exercise machine are not designed to be an extention of ones arms such that they can allow tor the continual transfer of body weight thru them. This is due to two reasons. The first is because the pivot point for the handles in the cross country machines is too far infront of the operator. As such ollly when the operator is reaching out infront are the poles in line with the thrust of the operator in his or her effort to transfer their body weight to the ground. In addition the gripable means on the simulated ski poles are vertical, this forces those operators who wish to transfer their body weight to do so by holding all their wi~ght thru their grip, this task is even difficult for those without a very strong grip, for an appropriate exercise period can last for 30 minutes and more. As such the normal exercise of cross country skiing still puts some compressive load on the back for all but the very athletic.
The proposed invention allows one to keep one arms straight and to transfer the upper body weight thru the shoulders.
Patent 966,523 has a support for the chest but the handles do not move.
Patent 1,145,647 is the typified walking machine. With this device, even if the handles were lowered sufficiently, there is no mechanism which allows one to move ones hands.

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BACKGROUND
The spinal column~ and the ligaments and muscles which support the vertebrae, have faced the tests of evolution for hundreds of millions of years. An 150 kg antelope which trips on a goffer hole and tumbles on the ground while travelling at 45 km/hr puts an enormous torque on its spine. It is not unreasonable to assume that natural selection would have eliminated any speCies which did not develop a mechanism to maintain and repair this most important 5yS tem.
Whate~er mechanism developed in the evolutionary process is likely to involve the supporting muscles. The forces exerted on the spinal column in the natural environment would tear the vertebrae apart were it not for the muscles active resistance.
It also seems likely that the coordinated movement of muscles are the means of realigning and keeping the necessary synchronized mobility between the vertebrae.
One must ask what movement? Animals can not do any specialized exercises. In all probability locomotion itself is the system which maintains spinal alignment.
The pectoral and pelvic girdles which supports the limbs and which are connected to either end of the vertebrae are in constant rhythmic motion when walking, often a cross patterned motion. The pulling action of the front limbs acts to stretch the vertebrae while working them.
Unfortunately the fact that the human being has evolved to walk erect have many consequences. The forelimbs no longer have the same loads and forces applied to them. The muscle groups in the shoulders and legs, which work in conjUnction with the back, do not work in the way in whioh they originally evolved to function.
The re-alignment mechanism which most probably was functioning well before man learned to walk erect, no longer functions as a natural condition of movement.
As we walk our arms no longer act to stretch our spine, they do not carry any of the load. In fact, as we walk, the downward inertial force of the arms adds to the compressive load on the vertebrae In addition the muscles of the shoulders do not interact with the muscles of the back in the same forceful manner, as when we walked on all fours; there is no load placed on the pectoral girdle.
Our erect posture and the backwards motion of our legs exerts a great force on the lower back.
The present invention has been designed in concordance with the hypothesis which suggests that the loaded coupling of the fore and hind limbs in walking facilitates the proper alignment and synchronized mobility of the vertebrae.

The invention patterns the users locomotion in such a way that the fore and hind limbs are coupled in a loaded cross patterned manner.
This massages and gentles the spine back into place, facilitating synchronized mobility.
Like swimming or cross country skiing, the exercises one can preform on the new machine involves the leg, hip, back, stomach, shoulder and arm muscles in a single exercise. The best exercises for the spinal column must work in a coordinated manner the entire musculature around the spinal column.
Some popular eXercises approximate this cross patterning aCtion and have therapeutic value: cross country skiing and swimming are two.
Some of the therapeutic exercises used by pro~essionals in the field mimic animals walking or running.
However none o~ these exercises allow one to put part o~ ones body weight on ones arms, and in the same motion stretch the spine while avoidlng undue pressUres on the lower back, Stretching the spine has become a key component O~ reh~bilitation therapy. Under this condition the pressure on the nerve is reduced, and the muscles no longer receive pain messages which immobilize them. However in all or most of the rehabilitation techniques used, when the pain message has been taken away from the muscles, it is not replaced by any other message. The present inVention, typical ot the way animals walk, not only take away the pain message from the muscles, but send to those muscles the messages which assist in the syncronized move~ent o$ the spine, Many back in~uries are aggravated, perpetuated and often caused by the imbalance in movement between the right slde and left side of the body. One leg or one arm moves faster or farther, one side takes move weight that the other. the invention uses hand and leg interconnecting means stops and signalling devices, and weigh scales to limit or signal the imbalance o the operator.
Although this new machine is still in the process of testing, from initial observations, it is clear that the exercise machine has several important features:
- it reduces the compressive load placed on the spine when walking, while allowing for cardiovascular exercise.
- the machine allows for a range of ways to gently stretch the spine while exercising.
- the exercise involves a coordinated action of all the muscles and nerves connected to the ~pinal column.
- the exercise loads the pectoral and pelvic girdles, the arms and hind legs are couples in a cross patterning manner.
- the device will be able to assist with the prober balancing and muscle coordination bet~een the left and right side of the body.
We have every reason to believe that this new device will bring substantial advances in rehabilitation technology.

BRIEF DRSCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective drawing which shows an embodiment of the invention which comprises devices for the hands which travel along two horizontal, parallel supports and devices for the feet which travel in a track.
Figure 2 is a perspective drawing which shows an embodiment of the invention which comprises devices for the hands positioned in two telescopic support connected to a device from which they pivot.
Figure 3 ls a perspective drawing which shows an enlarged view of the device ~or the left foot as described in figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective drawing whlch shows an embodiment of the invention which comprises devices for the hands which travel along two horizontal, parallel supports and devices for the feet which are independent of the system which supports the hands.
Figure 5 is a perspective drawing which shows an embodiment of the invention which comprises devices for the hands which travel along two horizontal, parallel supports and a device for the feet which is typical of a tread mill and a means to support the upper body weight.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the invention split down the centre, the drawing shows a telescopic device connected between the device for the hand and device for the foot.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the device for the foot with a~
upwardly movable section.
Figure 8 is a perspective drawing which shows an embodiment of the invention which comprises devlces for the hands positioned in two telescopic support connected to devices whi.ch travel in tracks parallel to the tracks or the foot supports.
Figure 9 is a perspective drawiny which shows an embodiment of the invention whlch comprises slidable vertlcal telescopic supports for the hands which extendsdirectly to the ground, and devices for the feet which are independent of the system which supports the hands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ~RAWINGS
In figure 1 the operator 100 places his right hand on a device to support the rlght hand 2. The device to support the hand 2 has rollers 3 and 5 which allow it to slide on telescopic horizontal bar 6. The left hand of the operator 1 is placed on a similar device for the hand left 20.
Telescopic h~rizontal bar 6 is mated with male telesc~pic bar 17, which in turn i~ connected to male ~ertical telescopic support lO
with pin 19, Shown at the forward section of the device, male verti~al telescopic support lO is mated with female telescopic support ll and held in position with pin 12. By moving pin 12 to hole 13 in female telescopic support 11 one can move telescopic horizc~ntal bar 6 such that is has a slope.
Telescopic horizontal bar 6 and 60 are held at a distance apart from one another, which can be varied by lateral telescopic parts 14, 16 and pin 15. Holes shown adjacent to pin 15 allow the distance between horizontal bars 6 and 60 to be varied.
The right foot of the operator is placed on device for the right foot 21; the left foot is placed on device for the left foot 210.
Device for the right foot 21 slides on guide 22, roller 23 assist with the movement of the device for the right foot forward (to the left in the drawing). Similarly device for the left foot 210 slides on ~uide 220. Tape, rope or the like 250 is connected to device for the left foot at point 260, it goes around frictlon rollers 27 and is attached to device for the right foot 21 at point 26. As device for the right foot 21 is moved forward tape 250 pulls device for the left foot 210 backwards.
Tape 25 and friction rollers 270 work in a similar but opposite fashion. Tape 30 shown by dotted line is attached to device for the right hand 2 at point 31, it then travels over roller 32 thru hole 33, over roller 35 and is attached to device for the right foot 21 at point 36. As device for the right foot 21 moves forward, the device for the right hand 2 is moved backwards. Tape 300 and rollers 320 and 350 operate ln a similar but opposite fashion.
In Figure 2 the operator 100 has the left hand supported by device for the left hand 50, this device is in turn supported by male telescopic support 52 and female telescopic support 51. Female telescopic part moves in pivot socket 77 in housing 727 allowing the device to move back and forth in the same line of movement as the movement of the feet. Tension device 79 applies a resistance to the hack and forth movement of female telescopic device 51. Device for the right hand 500 works in the same fashion allowing both hands to move in a scissor fashion.

Vertical hand section 501 of device for the right hand 500 can be gripped when the male telescopic support 52 is raised into a cross country ski position To further modify this embodiment of the invention into a cross country ski exercise machine, housing 727 can be moved from it~s central connecting point 272 to the forward connecting point 273 The operators le~t foot is placed on device for the left ~oot 60, this device rolls, with rollers 62 on tracks 65 and 66. Device for the right foot 600 operates in a similar fashion in coniunction with tracks 67 and 69.
Althou~3h not shown in figure 1 the tension device 79 shown in figure 2 could be applied to the devices to place/support ones hands 2 and 20.
In Figure 3 roller 62 of device to place the left foot 60 is connected to axil 72. Pad 7~ which attached to the top of the device for the left foot from point 75 holds the axil 72. Lateral extension 76 from pad 73 extends under flange 71 preventing the device for the left foot 60 from lifting upwards.
In figure 4 operator 100 has devices for the feet 40 attached to the feet with bindings 41. Rollers 42 attached to the devices for the feet 40 allow movement of the feet without movement of the torso.
In Figure 5 conveyer-type belt 55 is moved by rollers 56. Operator 100 transfers his weight onto the conveyer-type belt 55 and onto the roller base 57. The conveyer-type belt 55 is rotated by the walking or running action of the operator 100.
Upper body support 95 with pad 96 allows individuals who are physically impaired to have some or all of their upper body weight taken by this device. Male telescopic ad~ustment mechanism 94 female telescopic ad~ustment mechanism 91 and pin 92 allow the Upper body support 95 to be raised and lowered. Pivot point 93 allow the upper body support g5 to be tilted to the needs of the operator 100. Head and neck support 97 is adjusted by pivot point 99. Upper body support 95 and the telescopic adiustment mechanisms 91, 92 and 94 are attached to the horizontal bars 60 and 6 by supports 90 and 91.
In Figure 6 hand connected telescopic section 121 connects to the device to place/support the left hand 20. Foot connected telescopic section 122 connects to the device for the left foot 210. The central rotational telescopic section 123 is attached in a pivotal fashion to a bar 115 at point 11~. Bar 115 is attached between vertical posts 110 and 111. Pin holes 117 and 116 allow bar 115 to be moved up or down. The relative distances between horizontal bar 60 and bar 115, and between bar 115 and track 166 is determined by the relative length of an individuals arms and legs. Those whose arms are abnormally long and legs abnormally short will want to have bar 115 placed closed to track 116 rather that horizontal bar 60.

2~

Stops for hand 711 717 are attached to the horizontal bar 60 which limits or signals the appropriate limit of movement of the hands or the device to place ones hand 20.
Stops for the foot 701 and 707 are attached to the track 166 which guides the device which carr.ies the foot 210, the stops used to limits or signal the appropriate limit of movement of the device to carry ones foot 210.
Weigh scale and beeper system for the foot 770 is attached to the device which carries the foot 210. The weigh scale and beeper system for the foot 771 is used to signal the appropriate imbalance of the weight of the right foot relative to the left foot.
Weigh scale and beeper system for the hand 771 is attached to the device which carries the hand 20. The weigh scale and beeper system for the hand 771 is used to signal the appropriate imbalance of the weight of the right hand relative to the left hand.
A speed and timing device for the hand 777 is attached to the device which carries the hand 20. The speed and timing device for the hand 777 is used to signal the appropriate imbalance in the movement of the right hand relative to the left hand.
A speed and timing device for the foot 799 is attached to the device which carries the foot 210. The speed and timing device for the hand 7g9 is used to signal the appropriate imbalance in the movement of the right foot relative to the left foot, and the movement o$ the $eet relative to the hands.
In Figure 7 tràck section 217, shown somewhat similarly in Fig 1.
as part 210, has attach~d to it piston device 172 whlch is attached pivotally to track section 217 at point 171 and to upwardly movable section 317 to which the foot is attached at polnt 173. Similarly piston device 131 ls attached pivotally to upwardly movable sect~on 317 at point 132. The piston 172 and 131 act to cushion the movement between the track section 217 and the movable section 317.
In Figure 8 male support 523 is attached to movable base 567.
Movable base 567 moves in a track 551 bordered by rails 536 and 537. Flexible connecting means shown by dotted line 566 is attached to the movable base 567 wraps around pulley 503 and continues as flexible connecting means 535 and is connected to the device to place ones right foot 569 at point 534. As the device to place ones right foot 569 moves backward~, the flexible Connecting means 566 pulls the movable ba~e 567 forwards. Pulleys 502, 519 and flexible connecting means 511 interconnect the device to place ones right foot 569 and the device to place ones left foot 513 in the same manner such that as the device to place ones right foot 569 moves backwards the device to place ones le~t foot 513 moves forward.

Slidable vertical telescopic support 549 Eor the left hand is comprised of: female tube 527 slides up and down over male support 523. L-shaped protrusion 520 attached in a horizontal manner to the female tube 527 and then rising in a vertical manner, holds an L-shaped hand support 529 in a semi movahle manner such that the L-shaped hand support 5~9 can rotate around the L-shaped protrusion 520 on a horizontal plane. The lock 525 attached to the female tube 527 allows the female tube 527 to rotate around the male support 523. The combination of the rotational movement of the female tube 527 and the rotational movement of the L-shaped hand support 529 allows the operators right hand to be placed in any position in a large circumference around the female tube 527. Slot 540 in the L-shaped support for the left har.d 542 allows the inner section 546 of the L-support for the left hand 542 to be placed in a vertical fashion on L-shaped protrusion 541. This allows the wrist to be turned 90 degrees from the normal horizontal plane to a vertical plane. Male support 523 is attached to the rear portion of movable base for the right foot 567 so that the L-shaped hand support 529 can be positioned over the front of the mo~able device for the right foot 567. The top o~ ~emale tube 527 is able to lower below the top of male support 555, shown by dotted line, so that there i5 a maximum variation in height between lowest point one can place ones hands and the highest point. For the majority of people with average heights the top of the male support 555 is covered by the female tube 527.
Flexible connecting means 505 is attached to the movable base for the left hand 507 at point 506. Flexible connecting means 505 wraps around pulley 501. In turn the upper expandable pulley 569 is attached to lower pulley 501. Although not shown in the drawing another flexible connecting means wraps around expandable pulley 569 and in turn is attached to the device to place ones le~t foot 513. In a similar fashion flexible connecting means 510 is attached to the device to place ones left foot 507 at point 509. Flexible connecting means 510 then wraps around lower pulley 516. Attached to lower pulley 516 is another expandable pulley 567, which in turn has another unseen flexible connecting means wrapped around it and attached to the device to place ones left foot 513. The expandable pulleys 569 and 567 allow for the variation in the length of leg and arm strokes between different people.
Figure 9 shows a system which allow the operator 100 to travel. It comprises devices fo~ the feet 40 as described in Figure 4 which are mechanically independent to the device which supports the hand.
The devlce to support the hands is comprised of a horizontal upper section 72~ to place one hands, a vertical section 721 for the left hand 720 for the right hand, a lower horizontal section 722 which counter balances the body weight when it is placed on the upper horlzontal section 723. A forarm extention 726 Which has a band 727 which wraps around the forarm. The forarm section is connected to hori~ontal upper section by hinge 725 which allows the forarm extention to pivot in the direction of movement but not lateral to the direction of movement.

Claims

1. An exercise machine for the realignment of the vertebrae in the back whereby the legs move in a scissor, forward and back motion, the arms are in a position to transfer a portion of the upper body weight and move in a forward and back motion parallel to the scissor motion of the legs, so as to simulate the action of walking motion on all 4's, the invention comprised of:
a) devices to support ones hands so that a portion of the upper body weight can be supported by the shoulders and transferred onto and thru the hands onto this device without necessarily having to grip the device, but just by placing ones hands on it, the device allowing the hands to move back and forth relative to the torso and in the direction one walks forward.
b) a device or devices to place ones feet so that a persons feet can move in a scissor action, in the direction one walks forward, without a continual or appreciative movement of the torso forwards or backwards relative to this device or devices.

2. As in claim one wherein there is a frame comprised of two tracks parallel to the direction one moves ones legs, which will guide two devices to place ones feet, each device carries one foot.

3. As in claim one wherein the exercise machine has two bars, which can be placed in a horizontal position, called horizontal bars, which are placed above, to the outside of, and parallel to the travel of the feet such that the hands can be placed on these horizontal bars and move parallel to the direction the feet move.

4. As in claim 3 wherein the horizontal bars each have attached to them a device to support ones hands which can slide back and forth on or in the same directions the horizontal bar.

5. As in claim 4 wherein the device to support ones hands has a tension device to vary the resistance of the movement in either direction or in both directions.

6. As in claim 3 wherein there are: a flexible connecting means between the device to support one hand and the device to place ones foot such as a rope or tape, bearing devices such as pulleys and the like, and a framing system which supports and allows the movement of the rope or tape, such that the foot is forced to travels backwards when the hand travels forwards and visa versa.

7. As in claim 3 wherein the means to raise and lower the horizontal bars and to change the distance between the horizontal bars is configured in a telescopic manner.

8. As in claim 3 wherein there is a slidable telescopic device which rotates on a fixed point between the device to support one hand and the device to place ones feet such as the hand moves backwards the foot moves forward and visa versa.

9. As in claim 8 wherein there in the slidable telescopic device has three telescopic sections, a central rotational telescopic section which rotates on the fixed point, an upper telescopic section which connects to the device to support one hand, and a lower telescopic section which connects to the device to place ones feet.

10. As in claim one wherein the devices to support the hands are connected to two pivoting telescopic supports positioned above and connected to two pivot points, one for each support, the pivot points placed on or close to the horizontal plane on which the devices to place ones feet are located, on a vertical plane the pivot points are located so that the shoulders can be positioned vertically above the horizontal line between the two pivots, these pivot points allow the pivoting telescopic supports to move back and forth parallel to the direction of the movement of the feet.

11. As in claim 10 wherein the supports ones hands are configured such that there is both a horizontal and a gripable vertical section so that the machine can be used for cross country skiing training.

12. As in claim one wherein the exercise machine has a means whereby an additional support mechanism carries the weight of the head, neck and or torso.

13. As in claim one wherein the exercise machine has a device for the feet comprised of a series of rollers or system comprising bearing devices, a conveyer-style belt, motor and a base.

14. As in claim 2 wherein the device which carries the foot is comprised of two sections, a track section which is guided by the track, and another upwardly movable section, which is attached to the track section, and to which the foot is attached, the upwardly movable section allows the foot to move upwards and downwards relative to the track section as the track section moves along the track.

15. As in claim 14 wherein there are piston devices which act to cushion the movement between the track section and the movable section.

16. As in claim 4 and 6 wherein there is a stop, and or signaling device, for the device to support the hand, attached to the horizontal bars, which limits or signals the appropriate limit of movement of the device to support ones hand.

17. As in claim 2 and 6 wherein there is a stop for the foot attached to the track which guides the device to place the foot, the stops used for the purpose of limiting or signaling the appropriate limit of movement of the device to carry ones foot.

18. As in claim one wherein there is a weigh scale and beeper system for the foot and or the hand which is attached to the device which carries the foot and or the device which carries the hand.

19. As in claim 2 wherein there is a speed and timing device for the hand and or the foot which is in a position which can monitor the movement of the hand and the foot or is attached to either: the pulleys, to the device which carries the hand, and or the device which caries the foot, so as to give read-outs on velocity at all points in the movement, and distance travelled.

20. As in claim 2 wherein there are two supports for the hands are slidable vertical telescopic supports which are themselves mobile and transfer the load placed on them by the operator directly onto the ground, the slidable vertical telescopic placed on both sides of and out of the path on which the feet travel, the slidable vertical telescopic supports allows the operator to move their hands backwards and forward parallel to the motion of the feet. The slidable telescopic supports and the devices for the feet are directed in their movement in their movement by a track or frame.

21. As in claim 20 wherein there are two slidable vertical telescopic supports are comprised of: telescopic devices onto which an L-shaped hand support is connected to each slidable vertical telescopic support, the slidable vertical telescopic supports are placed on bothsides of and out of the path on which the feet travel, the bottom of each slidable telescopic vertical support is attached to a movable base which slides in a track parallel to the scissor movement of the feet; the operator places ones hands on the L-shaped hand supports in a manner Which allows him or her to move their hands backwards and forward parallel to the motion of the feet.

22. As in claim 21 wherein there are devices to place ones feet which travel in a track, flexible connecting means between the movable base and the device to place ones feet such as a rope or tape, bearing devices such as pulleys and the like, and a framing system which supports and allows the movement of the rope or tape, such that the foot is forced to travels backwards when the hand travels forwards and visa versa.

23. As in claim 22 wherein the flexible connecting means which is attached to the movable base is attached to an expandable pulley, the expandable pulley is in turn attached to the pulley into which the flexible means from the device to place ones feet is attached, by varying the circumference of the expandable pulley one is able to change the length of the stroke of the hand relative to that of the foot.

24. As in claim 22 wherein the slidable telescopic vertical support is comprised of a lower male support and an outer female tube. The female tube is shorter than the male support a device to place ones hands is attached to the top of the female tube such one can have ones hands lower than the top of the male support when the top of the female tube is lowered below the top of the male support.

25. As in claim 2 wherein there is an L-shaped protrusion attached in a vertical manner to the female tube of the slidable telescopic vertical support, and an L-shaped hand support attached to the L-shaped protrusion in a semi movable manner such that the L-shaped hand support can rotate around the L-shaped protrusion on a horizontal plane, the lock attached to the female tube allows the female tube to rotate, the combination of the rotational movement of the female tube and the rotational movement of the L-shaped hand piece allows the operators hand to be placed in any position in a large circumference around the female tube.

26. As in claim 2 wherein there is a horizontal slot in the end of the L-shaped hand support which allows the L-shaped hand support to be dessassembled from it's normal position on the horizontal planeand this horizontal slot to be rotated 90 degrees and placed in a vertical position on top of the L-shaped protrusion, this enables one to grip the L-shaped hand support in a way which has the hand and fingers wrapped around a vertical column.

27. As in claim 1 wherein there are devices for the feet are mechanically independent to the device which supports the hand, the device for the feet have attached to them some form of wheels or rollers, the device to support the hands is a slidable vertical telescopic support section extending downwards, the body weight when it is placed on this vertical section extending downwards, is transferred thru this section to the ground, the vertical telescopic section has a bearing or roller means attached to its lower section so as to all it to move in an upright position parallel to the ground, these wheels and rollers are not connected and as such consrticted in their movement by any other structure other than the vertical telescopic support .

28. As in claim 27 wherein the device for the feet are comprised similar to roller skates, the device to support the hands is comprised of a horizontal upper section to support one hands which is connected to a vertical section extending downwards and connected to a lower horizontal section which counter balances the body weight when it is placed on the upper horizontal section, extending from and hinged to the horizontal upper section is a forarm support extention which has a band which wraps around the arm above the wrist, the forarm support support extention is connected to horizontal upper section by hinge which allows the forarm extention to pivot in the direction of movement but not lateral to the direction of movement.