US2924214A

US2924214A - Exercising machine

Info

Publication number: US2924214A
Application number: US672601A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alphonse J Zak
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1957-07-18
Filing date: 1957-07-18
Publication date: 1960-02-09
Anticipated expiration: 1977-02-09

Description

Feb. 9, 1960 A. J. ZAK 2,924,214

EXERCISING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ALPHONSE J. ZAK

ATTORNEYS Feb. 9, 1960 A. J. ZAK 2,924,214

EXERCISING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I H T M/ 34 o /3 27' 26 4/ ALPHONSE J. ZAK

AT TORNEYS EXERCISING MACHINE Alphonse J. Zak, Milwaukee, Wis.

Application July 18, 1957, Serial No. 672,601

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-25) This invention appertains to a novel exercising machine and more particularly to an exercising machine which can be successfully used by invalids, semi-invalids and others.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a compact and durable machine which can be easily handled and transported, and one in which the operating parts are housed within a convenient carrying case of a special design.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide a machine which will effectively move and exercise the legs of a person with a desirable, gentle walking motion, so that not only will the leg muscles and joints be treated but also adjacent abdominal muscles and the like.

A further object of my invention is the provision of an exercising machine which can be successfully used by bedridden persons, as well as persons capable of sitting up.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and formation of parts, as will be hereinafter more specifically described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my exercising machine with the foot pedals removed and ready for storage or carrying;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing my machine in use by a bedridden person;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing my machine in use by a person sitting in a chair;

Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine, taken on the line 4--4 of Figure 5, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view through my improved machine taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 4, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter M generally indicates my exercising machine and the same embodies a carrying case 10 which houses the various working parts of the machine. This case 10 is fabricated to somewhat simulate the appearance of a suitcase and one wall thereof is provided with a carrying handle 11. The outer surface of the case 10 can be treated in any desired manner to enhance the appearance thereof. As illustrated, the case 10 includes a top wall 12, a bottom wall 13,

end walls

14 and 15 and

side walls

16 and 17. The top wall 12 is connected with adjacent walls in such a manner that the same can be conveniently removed or opened so as to permit access to be had to the interior of the case and the operating mechanism housed thereby. It is to be noted that the end wall 15 includes an inclined portion 18, which extends at an angle to the bot- United States PatenrO tom wall 13 and the remaining portion of the end wall 15. The purpose of this inclined portion 18 will later appear.

Housed within the case 10 is a supporting frame 19 for certain operating parts of the device and this frame includes a pair of spaced parallel polished guide rods 20 and a transversely extending supporting end brace rod 21. The terminals of the brace and supporting rod 21 are rigidly secured to the

side walls

16 and 17. The guide rods 20 are rigidly secured to an end wall 14 and to the brace and supporting rod 21. It is to be noted that the guide rods 200 are arranged in spaced relation to the top and

bottom walls

12 and 13.

Mounted on the guide rods 20 for free movement, are

slide blocks

22 and 23. The slide blocks have firmly attached thereto upwardly extending posts 24 and these posts slidably extendthrough longitudinally extending spaced parallel guide slots 25 in the top wall or cover 12. These posts extend outwardly of the top wall and prevent turning movement of the

slide blocks

22 and 23 on the guide rods 20. The

slide blocks

22 and 23 and the posts 24 are reciprocated back and forth by means, which will now be described. Rotatably mounted within a bearing 26 carried by the brace bar 21, is a driven shaft 27 and this shaft has keyed or otherwise secured thereto a pulley wheel 28. The pulley wheel 28 is driven, by means of a pulley belt 29 from an electric motor 30 of a desired rating. This motor can be rigidly secured to the case. The feed and return Wires for the motor are extended to an outlet box 31 at one side of the case so that the electric motor can be connected by means of a plug'to a source of current. Suitable adjuncts can be provided, such as control switches, voltage regulators and the like. Fastened to the opposite ends of the shaft 27 are oppositely extending crankarms 32 and these crankarms are operatively connected by means of

links

33 and 34, with the

slide blocks

22 and 23. The stroke of the slide blocks can be varied by changing the position of the

links

33 and 34 on their respective cranks and the cranks are provided with spaced openings for this purpose.

Detachably connected to the upper ends of the posts 24 by means of pivot pins 35 are pedals 36. These pedals 36 include a heel plate portion 37 and a leg portion 38. The leg portions 38 of the pedals 36 receive ankle and

leg straps

39 and 40 so that the legs of a patient can be firmly attached to the pedals.

During the transporting of the machine or during storage the pedals 36 can be detached from the post and placed within the case 10.

When the device is being used to exercise a bedridden person the case is laid fiat on the bottom Wall 13 adjacent to the foot end of the bed and the patients legs are placed onto the pedals and strapped thereto. A circuit is now closed through the motor and the patients legs will be moved back and forth with a gentle, steady motion. Due to the arrangement of the crankarms 32 relative to the

slide blocks

22 and 23, the patients legs are alternately moved back and forth.

When the machine is used for patients sitting in a chair or the like, the case 10 is laid on the inclined wall 18, so that the case 'will be disposed at an acute angle to the floor. The case is held in this position by means of legs 41 which are pivoted to the opposite side walls of the case, as at 42. When the case is being transported the legs 41 can be swung on their pivots 42 parallel to the side walls and moved under keeper brackets 43 (see Figures 1 and 2). With the case held in the angular position, as shown in Figure 3, the legs of the patient can be strapped to the pedals 36 and upon closing of the circuit through the motors the legs will be alternately raised and lowered.

Various changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit or the scope of this invention, but what is claimedas new 1 V 1. An'exercising machirieforbedi'idden and other ersons comprisinga carrying case having a pair of spaced parallel slots in one wall thereof, a pair 'of stationary guide rods disposed in said 'case,-slide blocks mounted on the rods for reciprocatory movement 'havin'g po'sts slidably extending through said slots, pedals for th'e' feet of a patient secured for swinging movement to the outer ends of the posts, and means within'th'e case for reciprocating the slideblocks in oppositedire'ctionsand said case having a flat bottom wall, whereby th'e caSe Can be laid flat on a bed or other surface and an'inclined end wall whereby the case can be disposed at an angle to-a horizontal surface, and means car'riedby and movable on the case to a lowered'operative position for cooperating with the inclined 'end wall to support the case atan angle to a horizontal supporting surface. 7

2. An exercising machine comprising a case including a flat bottom wall anda top wall, said top wall having'a pair of spaced parallel longitudinal slots, .a supporting frame within said case including pair of spaced parallel guide rods arranged directly below said slots, slide blocks mounted on the rods for reciprocating movement, 'posts on said slide blocks slidably extending through the slots, foot pedals-for the feet of, a person pivotally connected to the outer ends ,of the posts, and means within said case for reciprocating the slide blocks in opposite directions, and said case having an inclined end wall whereby the case can be positioned at an angle to a horizontal surface, and legs pivotally secured to the opposite sides of the case adapted to be swung down into engagement with a horizontal surface for supporting a case onthe V inclined side caseat an angle to said horizontal surface.

3. An exercising machine as defined in claim 2, and

means for latching the pivoted legs to the opposite sides of the case against accidental movement when said legs are not in use.

4. An exercising machine comprising a case including a flat bottom wall, a to'pwall and side walls, said top wall having a pair of, spaced parallel longitudinal slots, at supporting frame within "said case including a pair of spaced parallel guide rods and a transversely extending supporting end brace rod secured to the guide rods at one end thereof, theopposite ends of said guide rods ing said blocks'upon "rhtation of the shaft, posts on said slide blocks extending throu'ghthe slots, and foot pedals for the-fetof a person pivotally connected to the outer ends of said posts.

, References Cited in the file of this patent warren STATES PATENTS 2,093,830 'Flatley Sept. 21, 1937 F2,397,'426 Mo'shier; Mar. 26, 1946 2,696,206 'Bierlriau; Dec. 7, 1954 2,772,881 Fundom Dec. 4, 1956 2,826,192 Mangas Mar. 11, 1958 will";