US20090054216A1

US20090054216A1 - Tilting inversion exerciser having infrared ray generating device

Info

Publication number: US20090054216A1
Application number: US11/894,459
Authority: US
Inventors: Roger C. Teeter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-21
Filing date: 2007-08-21
Publication date: 2009-02-26

Abstract

A tilting inversion exerciser includes a table pivotally supported on a lower supporting stand for supporting a user, a pad member readily attached to the table with one or more straps, and an infrared device having a pad member for attaching to the table or to the user with an attaching device, such as one or more straps, and an infrared ray generating device for generating an infrared ray to shine the user, such as to warm up the joints or the whole body of the users or for vitalizing the cells of the users and for facilitating the blood circulation of the users, and a vibrating device may further be used for vibrating the joints or the other portion of the users and for further facilitating the blood circulation of the users.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tilting inversion exerciser, and more particularly to a tilting inversion exerciser including an infrared ray generating device for generating infrared ray to the users, particularly to warm up the joints or the whole body of the users or for vitalizing the cells of the users and for further facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical tilting inversion exercisers comprise a pivoting frame or cushion or support plate pivotally coupled to or supported on a foldable stand, and arranged for allowing the support plate to be pivoted or rotated or tilted relative to the stand, and for allowing the users to conduct the tilting or inversion exercises.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,660 to Chen discloses one of the typical tilting inversion exercisers for straightening the spinal column of the user and also comprising a cushion for supporting the users, and a stand for pivotally supporting the cushion.
However, the typical tilting inversion exercisers may only be used for conducting or operating the tilting or inversion exercises only, but may not be used to vibrate the joints or the whole body of the users and also may not be used to facilitate or promote the blood circulation of the users.
The present inventor and applicant had developed another typical tilting inversion exerciser including a massage device for massaging the users. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,448 to Teeter discloses a typical tilting inversion exerciser including one or more cranks rotatably attached to a carrier, and one or more wheels attached to the cranks for engaging with and for massaging the users.
However, the wheels are required to be contacted or engaged with the users such that the wheels may only be used to engaged with and to massage the muscles at the back portion of the users, but may be used to massage the other portions of the users, such as the joints of the users.
In addition, the wheels and the cranks of the typical tilting inversion exerciser is disposed or engaged in the support plate and may not be disengaged from the support plate and also may not be selectively attached onto the support plate of the other typical tilting inversion exerciser. Furthermore, the typical tilting inversion exerciser also may not be used to facilitate or promote the blood circulation of the users.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional tilting inversion exercisers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a tilting inversion exerciser including an infrared ray generating device for generating infrared ray to the users, particularly to warm up the joints or the whole body of the users or for vitalizing the cells of the users and for further facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users.
The other objective of the present invention is to provide a tilting inversion exerciser including a vibrating device for vibrating the joints or the whole body of the users and for facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a tilting inversion exerciser comprising a lower supporting stand, a table pivotally supported on the lower supporting stand for supporting a user, and an infrared assembly including a pad member, an attaching device for attaching the pad member to the table, and an infrared ray generating device for generating an infrared ray to shine or to warm up the user.
The attaching device includes at least one strap attached to the pad member for engaging with the table and for securing the pad member to the table.
The infrared ray generating device includes at least one casing attached to the pad member, and at least one light member received in the casing for generating the infrared ray.
The casing includes a lower casing member and an upper cover coupled together. The casing includes a circuit board disposed in the casing for supporting the light member.
A vibration generating device may further be provided for generating a vibration to vibrate the user. The vibration generating device includes at least one housing attached to the pad member, a motor received in the housing, and an eccentric member attached to the motor for generating the vibration.
The housing includes two housing members coupled together. The motor is coupled to a processing device, and the processing device is coupled to a control device for allowing the motor and the processing device to be operated by the control device.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tilting inversion exerciser in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an infrared ray generating assembly of the tilting inversion exerciser;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating another infrared ray generating assembly of the tilting inversion exerciser;

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view illustrating an infrared ray generating device of the tilting inversion exerciser;

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded view of the infrared ray generating device of the tilting inversion exerciser;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view illustrating a vibrating device of the tilting inversion exerciser; and

FIG. 7 is a partial exploded view of the vibrating device of the tilting inversion exerciser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIG. 1, a tilting inversion exerciser 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a lower supporting stand 10 for pivotally or rotatably supporting a base or table 20 thereon, and for supporting a user 80 on the table 20, the lower supporting stand 10 includes such as two pairs of legs 11 having upper ends pivotally coupled together with an apex coupler 12, so as to form two inverted V-shaped frames 13. The table 20 may be pivotally or rotatably attached to and supported on the apex coupler 12 of the lower supporting stand 10 with a pivot axle 14.
The table 20 includes two opposite side edges 21, and includes one end or upper portion 22 located above the pivot axle 12, and the other end or lower portion 23 located below the pivot axle 12. The table 20 further includes an ankle holder 24 adjustably attached or secured or coupled to the lower portion 23 thereof with an adjustable extension 25, for detachably securing the ankle portions of the user 80 to the table 20, and a foot pedal 26 attached to the ankle holder 24 or the adjustable extension 25, for supporting the user 80 thereon. The above-described structure is typical and will not be described in further details.
The table 20 may be tilted or rotated relative to the lower supporting stand 10 manually by the users themselves, or automatically by a power rotating or driving device (not shown) which may be provided for rotating the table 20 relative to the lower supporting stand 10 and for allowing the table 20 to be rotated relative to the lower supporting stand 10 between a forward tilting position and an upwardly working or inversion or vertical position as shown in FIG. 1, in which the table 20 may be perpendicular to the ground. Similarly, the tilting or rotating or operating of the table 20 relative to the lower supporting stand 10 is typical and will not be described in further details.
The present invention is to provide one or more infrared assemblies 30, 31 for generating infrared rays to warm or heat the joints or the whole body or the suitable or selected positions of the users and for facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, the infrared assemblies 30, 31 each include a mattress or cushioning or planar body or pad member 32 for attaching or engaging onto the table 20 or for engaging onto the user 80, and includes an attaching means having such as one or more straps 33 attached or secured or extended from such as the side portions of the pad member 32 for strapping or engaging around the table 20 and for securing onto the table 20 with hooks or buckles or hook-and-loop devices or fasteners 34, or for strapping or engaging around the hands or the legs or the body of the user 80 and for securing onto the user 80 with hooks or buckles or hook-and-loop devices or fasteners 34.
The pad member 32 may be made of rubber, foamable or plastic materials, or other resilient or synthetic materials, and may include one or more folding or hinge lines 35 (FIG. 3) for allowing the pad member 32 to be folded and engaged onto the users. Accordingly, the pad member 32 of the infrared assemblies 30, 31 may be easily and readily and freely attached onto the table 20 all kinds of the typical tilting inversion exercisers without changing any structure or configuration of the typical tilting inversion exercisers and without additional tools, and may also be easily and readily and freely attached onto the hands or the arms or the legs or the body of the user 80, particularly the joint portions of the user 80. The pad member 32 may also be attached onto the table 20 for supporting the various portions of the user.
The infrared assemblies 30, 31 each include one or more infrared ray generating means or devices 40 disposed or engaged in the pad member 32 and arranged or positioned in any suitable position in the pad member 32, and preferably arranged or positioned in the suitable or selected positions relative to the joints or the vertebra or the portions of the users that are required to be warmed up or heated. The infrared ray generating devices 40 may also be electrically coupled to a control or central processing unit or processing device 50 with electric wires 51, and the processing device 50 may be electrically coupled to a control box 52 with other electric wires 53 (FIG. 1), and the control box 52 may then be electrically coupled to a switch or control device 54 for allowing the infrared ray generating devices 40 and the processing device 50 to be suitably controlled or actuated or operated by the control device 54.
The infrared ray generating devices 40 each include a casing 41 formed by a lower casing member 42 and an upper cover 43 which may be pivotally coupled together or may be detachably coupled together with catches 44 and catch openings 45, or with fasteners 46. The infrared ray generating devices 40 each further include a circuit board 47 disposed or engaged in the casing 41 and secured or fixed in the casing 41 with such as the fasteners 46, and one or more infrared ray generating light members 48 disposed or secured or attached to the circuit board 47 and electrically coupled to the processing device 50 with electric wires 51 for allowing the light members 48 of the infrared ray generating devices 40 to be selectively controlled or actuated or operated by the control device 54 and the processing device 50 to generate infrared rays and to shine or to warm or heat the joints or the whole body or the suitable or selected positions of the users and for facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users.
It is also to be noted that the joints of the users may also be suitably or selectively opened for allowing the articular cartilages and/or the joint capsules to be relaxed when the users and the table 20 are tilted or inverted relative to the lower supporting stand 10. At this moment, it will be the best time that the joints and/or the articular cartilages and/or the joint capsules of the users be selectively relaxed by the infrared rays generated by the light members 48 of the infrared ray generating devices 40. The typical tilting inversion exercisers failed to provide an infrared ray generating means for warming or heating the joints and/or the articular cartilages and/or the joint capsules or the whole body of the users.
The infrared assemblies 30, 31 each may further include one or more vibrating means or devices 60 for vibrating the joints or the whole body of the users and for facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the vibrating means or devices 60 may be disposed or engaged in the pad member 32 and arranged or positioned in any suitable position in the pad member 32, and preferably arranged or positioned in the suitable or selected positions relative to the joints or the portions of the users that are required to be vibrated or shaken or vitalized. The vibrating devices 60 may also be electrically coupled to the processing device 50 with electric wires 51, and the processing device 50 may be electrically coupled to the control box 52 and the control device 54 for allowing the vibrating devices 60 and the processing device 50 to be controlled or actuated or operated by the control box 52 and the control device 54.
As shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 6-7, the vibrating devices 60 each include a housing 61 formed by two housing members 62 which may be pivotally coupled together or may be detachably coupled together with latches 63 and latch openings 64, and each include a chamber 65 formed therein for receiving a motor 66 therein which may be electrically coupled to the processing device 50 with the electric wires 51. The motor 66 include a spindle 67, and a cam or eccentric member 68 attached to the spindle 67 for generating vibrations or shocks to vibrate the joints or the whole body or the suitable or selected positions of the users and for facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users. The pad member 32 may include one or more compartments 36 for receiving the vibrating devices 60 (FIGS. 2, 3).
It is to be noted that the joints of the users may be suitably or selectively opened for allowing the articular cartilages and/or the joint capsules to be relaxed when the users and the table 20 are tilted or inverted relative to the lower supporting stand 10. At this moment, it will be the best time that the joints and/or the articular cartilages and/or the joint capsules of the users be selectively relaxed by the vibrations generated by the cam or eccentric member 68 and the motor 66 of the vibrating devices 60. The typical tilting inversion exercisers failed to provide a vibrating means for vibrating the joints and/or the articular cartilages and/or the joint capsules or the whole body of the users.
In operation, as shown in FIG. 1, the pad members 32 of the infrared assemblies 30, 31 may be easily and readily and freely attached onto the table 20 of all kinds of the typical tilting inversion exercisers with the straps 33 and the hooks or buckles or fasteners 34, and the vibrating devices 60 and/or the infrared ray generating devices 40 may be arranged or positioned in the suitable or selected positions relative to the joints or the portions of the users that are required to be vibrated or shaken or vitalized. The vibrating devices 60 and/or the infrared ray generating devices 40 may then be controlled or actuated or operated with the control device 54 to selectively vibrate and/or warm and/or relax the joints and/or the articular cartilages and/or the joint capsules of the users by the users themselves.
Accordingly, the tilting inversion exerciser includes an infrared ray generating device for generating infrared ray to warm up the joints or the whole body of the users or for vitalizing the cells of the users and for further facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users, and includes a vibrating device for vibrating the joints or the whole body of the users and for facilitating or promoting the blood circulation of the users.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. A tilting inversion exerciser comprising:

a lower supporting stand,

a table pivotally supported on said lower supporting stand for supporting a user, and

an infrared assembly including a pad member, means for attaching said pad member to said table, and means for generating an infrared ray to shine the user.

2. The tilting inversion exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said attaching means includes at least one strap attached to said pad member for engaging with said table and for securing said pad member to said table.

3. The tilting inversion exerciser as claimed in claim 1, wherein said infrared ray generating means includes at least one casing attached to said pad member, and at least one light member received in said at least one casing for generating the infrared ray.

4. The tilting inversion exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one casing includes a lower casing member and an upper cover coupled together.

5. The tilting inversion exerciser as claimed in claim 3, wherein said at least one casing includes a circuit board disposed in said casing for supporting said at least one light member.

6. The tilting inversion exerciser as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for generating a vibration to vibrate the user.

7. The tilting inversion exerciser as claimed in claim 6, wherein said vibration generating means includes at least one housing attached to said pad member, a motor received in said at least one housing, and an eccentric member attached to said motor for generating the vibration.

8. The tilting inversion exerciser as claimed in claim 7, wherein said at least one housing includes two housing members coupled together.

9. The tilting inversion exerciser as claimed in claim 7, wherein said motor is coupled to a processing device, and said processing device is coupled to a control device for allowing said motor and said processing device to be operated by said control device.