US2021801A

US2021801A - Foot and leg exerciser apparatus

Info

Publication number: US2021801A
Application number: US39615A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert P Meyer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-09-07
Filing date: 1935-09-07
Publication date: 1935-11-19
Anticipated expiration: 1952-11-19

Description

Nov. 19, 192.5. A. P. MEYER 2,021,801

FOOT AND LEG EXERCISER APPARATUS Filed Sept. '7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l lrwenfar Attorney Nov 19; 1935. MEYER 2,021,801

FOOT AND LEG EXERCISER APPARATUS Filed Sept. 7, 1935 2 Shets-Sheet 2,

Fig. 4.

lrwen for By {5M Patented Nov. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to a foot and leg exerciser apparatus and has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus of the class referred to for rejuvenating, exercising 5 and re-strengthening the muscles of the feet and legs.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an apparatus for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly efiicient for the purpose intended thereby, readily assembled, quickly repaired when occasion requires, adjustable and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

: With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically described and as are illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional View on line l--|, Figure 5,

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line ll, Figure 5, when one of the platforms of the apparatus is depressed,

Figure 3 is a sectional view on line 3-3, Figure 5,

Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of the apparatus, and

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus.

The apparatus includes a pair of depressible and extendible

rectangular platforms

7, 8 of the desired width and length to the outer side edges 9, It of which are secured upstanding supports II, I? respectively having rounded bottom edges it. The sup-ports are coextensive with the outer side edges of and have their tops flush with the upper faces of the platforms. The supports depend from the platforms and constitute fulcrums therefor. The platforms and supports are preferably constructed from wood. The upper face throughout each platform has secured thereon a covering it of rubber which is of a width to overlap completely the inner side edge of the platform, to extend on the lower face of the latter and also to extend upon the upper portion of the outer side face of a support. The coverings M. are also secured to the supports and to the inner side edges and inner faces of the platforms. The coverings l4 extend from one end to the other of the platforms and constitute tread surfaces for the patient to walk upon. The platforms are maintained, by adjustable means to be referred to, at opposite inclinations with respect to each other, that is to say, each platform extends inwardly at an upward inclination from its associ- 5 ated support. When the platforms are in their normal position the inner side edges thereof will be spaced from each other, such as is shown in Figures 1 and 3.

Associated with the platforms is a series of 10 spaced parallel, upstanding, extendible and depressible coupling structures l5 therefor normally maintaining the

platforms

7, 8 extended, that is to say, in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3. The structures l5 are of like form and 15 the description of one will apply to the other. Each of said structures includes a pair of spaced angle bars l6, l1 formed of horizontal legs I8, I9 respectively and vertical legs 20, 2| respectively depending from one side of the horizontal 20 legs, a vertically disposed compound lever 22 formed with a pair of oppositely inclined upper long arms 23, 24 and a pair of lower oppositely inclined

short arms

25, 26, a pair of oppositely extending endwise aligning, horizontally dis- 25 posed combined extendible and

contractible springs

21, 28, a pairof oppositely inclined

upstanding links

33, 34 and a pair of oppositely outwardly

inclined coupling arms

35, 36. The spring 2'! is formed with a pair of oppositely ex- 30 tending axially arranged end

terminal portions

29, 33. The spring 28 is formed with a pair of oppositely extending axially arranged end terminal portions 3|, 32. The arm 35 has secured to its lower end a pair of spaced laterally extend- 35 ing parallel inner and outer pins 3'5. The arm 36 has secured to its outer end a pair of spaced laterally extended parallel inner and outer pins 38. The vertical legs 2E3, ii of the angle bars I6,

I! are formed centrally thereof with the open- 40 ings 39, 48 respectively. The lower end of the long arms 23, 24 merge into the upper ends of the

short arms

25, 26. The arms 23, 24 have their outer side edges out out to provide clearances 4|, 42 respectively for the coiled parts of 46 41 for a purpose to be referred to.

The horizontal leg I8 of bar I6 is secured to the inner face of platform I and has its ends spaced from the side edges of the latter. The horizontal leg I9 of bar I1 is secured to the inner face of platform 8 and has its ends spaced from the side edges of the latter. The upper ends of the arms 23, 24 are pivotally connected, as at 48, 49 respectively, in proximity to the upper ends of the legs 2|], 2I respectively of the bars I6, I! respectively. The lower ends of the

arms

25, 26 are pivotally connected, as at 50, 5I respectively, to the upper or inner ends of the

links

33, 34 respectively. The lower ends of the

links

33, 34, through the medium of the openings 46 41, are detachably connected to one of the pins 31 and to one of the pins 38 in thelower ends of the

coupling arms

35, 36 respectively. The

links

33, 34 are connected to the

inner pins

31,38. The cutouts 45, 46 provide clearances for the

outer pins

31, 38. The

outer pins

31, 38 coact with the cutouts 45, 46 respectively to provide stops for arresting the depressible movement of the structures I5. The

coupling arms

35, 36 are pivoted at their outer ends, as at 50 5| respectively, to and in proximity to the lower ends of the vertical legs 20, 2I respectively. The end

terminal portions

30, 3| of the

springs

21, 28 respectively are connected through the medium of the openings 43, 44 respectively to the lever 22. The end terminal portions 29, 32 of the

springs

21, 28 respectively are connected to the angle bars I6, I! respectively through the medium of the openings 39, 40 respectively formed in the legs 20, 2I respectively.

The apparatus includes a pair of adjustable spaced parallel combined coupling and angularly adjusting structures 52 for the platforms I, 8. The structures 52 are of like form and each consists of a pair of oppositely disposed plates 53, 54 formed with depending apertured

lugs

55, 56 respectively, a pair of horizontally disposed spaced aligning oppositely extending

arms

51, 58 provided with oppositely threaded sockets 59, 66 opening at the inner ends thereof; a rotatable shaft 6| having spaced oppositely threaded portions 62, 63; a hub 64 encompassing and fixed, as at 65, to the shaft 6I between'the portions 62, 63 and a worm pinion 66 carried by hub 64. The

arms

51, 58 are pivotally connected at their outer ends, as at 61, 68 respectively, to the

lugs

55, 56 respectively of the plates 53, 54 respectively. The plates 53, 54 are fixedly secured to the inner faces of the platforms I, 8 respectively.

There is associated with the structures 52 a common adjusting means therefor. The said means includes a pair of yoke-shaped hangers 69 depending from the shafts 6| and having the hubs 64 arranged between the upper ends there of. Journaled in bearings I in the lower portion of the hangers I9 is an elongated rotatable adjusting shaft II carrying spaced worms I2 which mesh with the worm pinions 66 for rotating the latter on the operating of shaft II. The latter has extended from one end thereof a crank handle I3.

When shaft II is rotated in one direction the shaft 6| will be rotated in a direction to draw the lower portions of the platforms towards each other to increase the angle of inclination of the

platforms

1, 8. When shaft 6I is rotated in the opposite direction the lower portions of the platforms are moved away' from each other to decrease the angle of inclination of the platforms.

The plates 53,54,

lugs

55, 56,

arms

51, 58 and shaft 6| coact to provide a brace for the platforms, as well as a pair of coupling supports upon which the platforms may pivot when they are depressed and extended.

A structure I is located in proximity to the end of the apparatus. A structure 52 is arranged in 5 proximity to each end of the apparatus. The structures 52 are arranged inwardly but in close proximity to those structures I5 located in proximity to the ends of the apparatus. Another structure I5 is disposed at the transverse median of the apparatus and the other structures I5 are arranged in proximity to but inwardly of the structures 52.

A person with weakened muscles of the feet and legs to be treated by the apparatus steps on the platforms, at one end thereof and walks along at a normal pace to the other end. The platforms, during this treatment, will be at an angle of about 22 degrees. As the patient walks along the platforms, the springs allow a rebound of about 1 inches. This rebound is increased as treatments progress, and the angles of the platforms will also be gradually increased from a 22 degree angle to a 45 degree angle. The rebound and angle of the platforms are adjusted by the worm shaft coacting with the structures 52.

What I claim is:

1. In a foot and leg exercising apparatus, a pair of upstanding oppositely inclined spaced extendible and depressible platforms, shiftable supports for, secured to and providing fulcrums for said platforms, spaced parallel adjustable combined coupling, bracing and angularly adjusting structures for and pivotally connected to the inner faces of the platforms, and spaced parallel compressible spring controlled link and lever structures common to and for normally extending the platforms and each pivotally connected at spaced points with the inner face of each platform.

2. In a foot and leg exercising apparatus, a pair of upstanding oppositely inclined spaced extendible and depressible platforms, shiftable supports for, secured to and providing fulcrums for said platforms, spaced parallel adjustable combined coupling, bracing and angularly adjusting structures for and pivotally connected to the inner faces of the platforms, spaced parallel compressible spring controlled link and lever structures common to and for normally extending the platforms and each pivotally connected at spaced 5 points with the inner face of each platform, and

an adjusting means for and common to said adjustable combined coupling, bracing and angularly adjusting structures for said platforms.

3. In a foot and leg exercising apparatus, a pair of upstanding oppositely inclined spaced extendible and depressible platforms, shiftable supports for, secured to and providing fulcrums for said platforms, spaced parallel adjustable combined coupling, bracing and angularly adjusting o0 structures for and pivotally connected to the inner faces of the platforms, spaced parallel compressible spring controlled link and lever structures common to and for normally extending the platforms and each pivotally connected at spaced points with the inner face of each platform, and each of said spring controlled link and lever mechanisms provided with a pair of stops, each for limiting the depressible action of a platform.

4. In a foot and leg exercising apparatus, a pair 70 of upstanding fulcrumed oppositely inclined spaced independently extendible and depressible platforms providing tread surfaces, coupling structures for and pivotally connected to the inner faces of said platforms, said structurers including means for simultaneously angularly adjusting said platforms relative to each other, said platform independently pivoting on said structures, and spaced spring controlled structures pivotally connected to the inner faces of said platforms normally tending to maintain said platforms extended.

5. In a foot and leg exercising apparatus, a pair of upstanding fulcrumed oppositely inclined spaced independently extendible and depressible platforms providing tread surfaces, coupling structures for and pivotally connected to the inner faces of said platforms, said structures including means for simultaneously angularly adjusting said platforms relative to each other, said platforms independently pivoting on said structures, spaced spring controlled structures pivotally connected to the inner faces of said platforms normally tending to maintain said platforms extended, and each of said spring controlled structures having coacting parts to provide a pair of stops, each for limiting the depressible action of a platform. 10

ALBERT P. MEYER.