WO1982000100A1

WO1982000100A1 - Exercise device

Info

Publication number: WO1982000100A1
Application number: PCT/GB1981/000115
Authority: WO
Inventors: H Calvert
Original assignee: H Calvert
Priority date: 1980-07-03
Filing date: 1981-06-29
Publication date: 1982-01-21
Also published as: GB2089223A; IT8122746A0; GB2089223B; BE889513A; IT1137596B; EP0055265A1

Abstract

An exercising device comprising first and second members (3, 14) which can be moved in relation to each other from an at rest position against the action of resilient arms (1, 2, 11, 12) to provide an exercising movement, and including means, e.g. spacers (20, 28), for adjusting, at the at rest position, the distance between the members (3, 14) without adjusting the pressure required to move the first and second members against the action of the resilient arms.

Description

EXERCISE DEVICE -1-

This invention relates to an exercise device which can be used, for example, in the field of physiotherapy.

The increasing demands for physiotherapy treatment in hospitals is creating difficulties and increasing the physical organizational strain on the physiotherapist. At the present time the number of patients requiring post oper¬ ative treatment is escalating which further increases the demands on the physiotherapist therefore exercising and muscle building of an extensive nature is reαuired. It has become apparent that a simple device of some kind is re¬ quired which can effectively achieve the actual desired results at present achieved by organisation of complex structures and at the same time be accurately monitored enough to provide controlled exercising. The device must be capable of being used by a patient after an operation or illness, experiencing a loss or reduction of muscular movement or control, requiring set pressure exercises or¬ ganized under the supervision of a professional operative. It is known to use a system of levers and pulleys as an exercising device but these systems require a great deal of space and are often impossible to use by a patient confined to bed. Dynamic tension devices are relatively uncontrolled and not designed for the specific medical market and they are also relatively restrictive in their application.

The present invention therefore is intended to pro¬ vide an exercising device which can be used for controlled muscle exercising of the majority of presently exercised muscles in one, self-contained unit. According to the present invention an exercise device comprising first and second members which can be moved in relation to each other from an at rest position against the action of resilient means to provide an exercising movement including means for adjusting at the at rest position the distance between the bars without adjusting the pressure re¬ quired to move the first and second members against the action of the resilient means. Thus, the members can be adjlisted apart to meet the varying needs of different parts of the anatomy of a patient.

Preferably means arc also provided for adjusting the pressure required to move the first and sec and members against the action of the resilient means independently of their distance apart at the at rest position.

The resilient means can include first and second arms which are located an an angle to each other in the at rest position and to which each of the members is connected, and means are provided for adjusting the angle between the arms to adjust the distance between the members in the at rest position.

In one preferred construction the resilient means in¬ cludes a first arm in the form of a cantilevered leaf spring the operative length of which can be adjusted by the pressure adjustment means and on which the first member is carried.

The resilient means can also include a second arm formed by a cantilevered leaf spring the operative length of which can also be adjusted by the pressure adjustment means. In the arrangements in which one or both arms are for¬ med as leaf springs the ends of the arms remote from the first and second members can be interconnected and the dis¬ tance adjusting means are provided by an adjustable spacer extending between the arms and provided with means for adjus- ting its operative length.

Again with this kind of arrangement in which one or both arms are formed as leaf springs the ends of the arms remote from the first and second members can be interconnec- ted and the pressure adjustment means may comprise a spacer the location of which between the arms can be varied.

Thus, a single spacer can be provided the operative length of which can be varied and also its location between the arms.

With this arrangement therefore the principles of lever and fulcrum are applied, the canti-levered end of the leaf spring imparting movement to the other end of the leaf spring beyond the fulcrum provided by the spacer. The mec-

hanical advantage applied to the end of the spring adjacent the interconnection can also be varied by this adjustment of the fulcrum.

Thus the various adjustments can be used to take into account the patient's weight and the pressure required.

If desired the first and second arms can be intercon¬ nected together by a pivot but they could of course also be interconnected by a connecting spring for example a hairpin spring. in another construction in which one or both of the arms are leaf springs they can be adaped for connection to a support element, said support element having means for loca¬ ting the arms at alternative different relative angles to adjust the distance between the first and second members. Preferably means are included for varying the position of the bars on their arms which will again effect the mecha¬ nical advantage, and the length of the first and second mem¬ ber is preferably adjustable.

In a convenient costruction a spaced apart pair of first arms are provided between which the first member ex¬ tends and a spaced apart pair of second arms are also provi¬ ded between which the second member extends.

With these constructions the whole assembly therefore resembles a space frame which is easy to handle and which is inert when placed on a supporting surface and does not tend to tip over.

If desired means for securing the device to a suppor¬ ting surface can be provided and the first and/or second members can be padded to receive the part of the user's anatomy to be exercised.

The invention can be performed in many ways and some embodiments will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is an isometric side view of a device according to the invention

Figure 2 is a plan view of an alternative construction. Figure 3 is a diagrammatic isometric view of an alternative construction. As sho n in Figure 1 the device comprises a spaced apart pair of first arms in the form of leaf springs indica- ted by reference numerals 1 and 2. A first member 3 extends between the leaf springs 1 and 2 and comprises an inner square section bar 4 which can slide within an outer -section 5. Holes 6 are provided in the outer section 5 which corres¬ pond with holes (not shown) in the member 4 to enable a sprung locating pin 7 to be inserted into them so that the overall length of the member 3 can be adjusted. A slot 8 is provided in the bar 4 and a slot 9 in the section 5 to receive the outer ends of the springs 1 and 2. The member 3 is clamped to the springs by screws, not shown, which can be operated by knobs 10 provided on the outer ends of the bar 4 and section 5. Thus the position of the member 3 on the springs 1 and 2 can be adjusted along their length.

The first springs 1 and 2 are interconnected to a second pair of arms in the form of leaf springs 11 and 12 means of pivots 13. A second member 14 again comprises an inner bar 15 and outer section 16 the relative positions of which can be adjusted in a similar manner to the member 3. The ends of the second leaf springs 11 and 12 pass through slots 17 and 18 in the member 14 and the member can again be clamped on the leaf springs by the operation of knobs 19.

The first leaf spring 1 and second,leaf spring 11 are held apart by an adjustment spacer 20 which comprises two spaced apart members 21, 22 each of which is provided with a slot 23. A screw extends through a T-bar washer 25 to a screw threaded T-bar washer (not shown) carried in the slot 23 on the member 21. The inner surface of the leaf spring 1 rests against the screw 24 between the members 21 and 22. A second screw 26 extends between the members on the outer surface of the leaf spring 11, this surface resting against the screw 26 and a hand clamping nut 27 is provided on the end of the screw 26 to enable the spacer to be clamped between the members 21 and 22. Similarly when the screw 24 is tightened it will clamp the leaf spring 1 between the mem¬ bers 21 and 22. A spacer of similar construction indicated by referenc numeral 28 is provided between the leaf springs 2 and 12.

The surfaces of the leaf springs 1, 11, 2 and 12 are provided with graduation marks as indicated by reference nu¬ meral 29 and further graduation marks 30 are marked on the outer surfaces of the members 21 and 22.

A suitable padding, for example, in the form of a polypropylene filled cushion is provided on the members 3 and 14, the padding on the member 3 being omitted to- enable the adjustment means to be seen. The leaf springs 1, 11; 2.and 12 can be made from a nickel-chrome-molybdenum steel to enable them to be suitably resilient and the whole assembly is suitably finished to enable it to be made sterile is required.

It will be appreciated that the members 3 and 14 can be moved towards each other against the resistance of the leaf springs to provide an exercising movement. Thus, if it was required to exercise a patient's leg the device could be placed beneath the leg and leg movement used to move the mem¬ bers towards each other. The pressure required can be appro- ximately adjusted by positioning the spacers 20 and 28 and by adjusting the length of the operative part of the leaf springs by moving the members 3 and 14.

The adjustment of the bars 3 and 14 enables the device to be made wider to accommodate appropriate body elements. if desired appropriate clips or clamps can be provided so that the device can be fastened to a supporting surface such as a wall.

It will be appreciated that the screws 24 and 26 act as fulcrums for the leaf springs and that resistance is not only applied by the cantilever end of the spring but is also transmitted by the inner portion of the spring extending be¬ tween the pivots 13 and the fulcrums provided by the bolts 24 or 26 .

The device described above has a universal application as it can be used from either side and could, for example, be used between two limbs, for example between a patient's arms.

The leaf springs 11 and 12 could be replaced by a solid construction so that only the leaf springs 1 and 2 were operative to provide the resilient pressure. Again, the spaced apart pairs of leaf springs could be replaced by a single construction, for example, one which merely compri¬ sed leaf springs 1 and 11 with appropriate adjustment, the members 3 and 14 being connected at mid points to the leaf springs.

If it is desired to use the device with a pulling motion, that is to move the arms provided by the leaf springs apart it is necessary to provide further bolts extending across the spacer above and below the leaf springs . Thus. in an alternative construction (not shown) the bolts 24 and 26 are replaced by location members which have a slot exten- ding across them and through which the appropriate leaf spring is threaded. The ends of the locators extend through the slots 23. and are screw threaded to take locking nuts. With this arrangement therefore the spacing apart of the leaf springs is achieved in a similar manner and the posi- tion of the spacers along the leaf springs can also be adjusted.

In another alternative construction, as shown in Figure 2 the spacers are provided with a ladder construction having two side members 40, 41 between which extend rungs 42. In use the leaf springs are passed through appropriate gaps between the rungs 42 and clamps, not shown, are provided on the spacer or on the springs themselves to fix the longi¬ tudinal position of the spacer on the springs. This spacer will therefore work in a similar manner to that described abo e.

In another alternative construction (not shown) the first and second arms provided, for example, by the leaf

springs 1 and 11 or 2 and 12 could be joined together by a coil spring so as to produce what is. in effect, a hairpin spring, suitable control of the pressure and the distance apart of the members 3 and 14 again being provided. It will be appreciated that the two arms when provi¬ ded as leaf springs or when only one is provided as a leaf spring provide the resilient^* means which act on the members 3 and 14. When the device is not in use it is in an at rest position, for example, as shown in Figure 1 and in this position it is possible to adjust the distance between the members, by adjusting the spacers but without adjusting the pressure required to move the members against the action of the resilient means. In the construction shown it is addi¬ tionally possible to also adjust the pressure independently of the distance apart.

In Figure 3 another construction is shown in which similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts. In this construction the leaf springs are of circula section and are carried by supporting elements in the form of circular blocks 43 and 44. Each block is provided with a series of openings 45 and the springs can be pushed into these openings at different angles to adjust the distance between the first and second members 3 and 14. Once again, it will be appreciated that one of each pair of springs could be in the form of a solid bar and again, the bar could be integral with the appropriate member 43 or 44 the adjustment merely being provided on the springs 1 and 2. The means of adjusting the pressure required to operate the device can be by sliding the members 3 and 14 along the arms 1,2, 11 and 12 locking them in position by means of locking screws 46.

The invention is not restricted to use in physiotherap in hospital, it could be used at home or as a muscle builder by athletes.

Claims

CLAIMS -8-

1. An exercising device comprising first and second mem¬ bers which can be moved in relation to each other from an at rest position against the action of resilient means to pro¬ vide an exercising movement, including means for adjusting at the at rest position the distance between the members without adjusting the pressure required to move the first and second members against the action of the resilient means.

2. An exercising device as claimed in claim 1 in which means are provided for adjusting the pressure required to move the first and second members against the action of the resilient means independently of their distance apart at the at rest position.

3. An exercising device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 in which the resilient means includes first and second arms which are located at an angle to each other in the at rest position and to which each of the members is connected, and means for adjusting the angle between the arms to adjust the distance between the members in the at rest position.

4. An exercising device as claims in claims 1, 2 or 3 in which the resilient means includes a first arm in the form of a cantilevered leaf spring the operative length of which can be adjusted by^' the pressure adjustment means and on which the first member is carried.

5. An exercising device as claimed in claim 4 in which the resilient means also includes a second arm formed by a cantilevered leaf spring the operative length of which can also be adjusted by the pressure adjustment means.

6. An exercising device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5 in which one or both of the arms are formed as leaf springs, the ends of the arms remote from the first and second members are interconnected and the distance adjusting means are pro-

vided by an adjustable spacer extending between the arms and provided with means for adjusting its operative length.

7. An exercising device as claimed in claims 3, 4, 5 and 6 in which one or both arms are formed as leaf springs the ends of the arms remote from the first and second members are interconnected and the pressure adjusting means comprises a spacer the location of which between the arms can be varied.

8. An exercising device as claimed in claim 7 when depen¬ dent on claim 6 in which a single spacer is provided the operative length of which can be varied and also its location between the arms .

9. An exercising device as claimed in any one of preced¬ ing claims 3, 4 or 5 in which the first and second arms are connected together by means of a pivot.

10. An exercising device as claimed in any one of preced- ing claims 4 or 5 in which one or both of the arms are formed as a leaf spring adapted for connection to a support element, said support element having means for locating the arms at alternative different relative angles to adjust the distance between the first and second members.

11. An exercising device as claimed in claim 10 in which the support element has a number of openings at different angles within which the arws can be engaged.

12. An exercising device as claimed in any one of preced¬ ing claims 3 to 11 including means for adjusting the position of the member or members on their arms.

13. An exercising device as claimed in any one of the pre- ceding claims in which the resilient means include a hairpin type spring.

14. An exercising device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims including means for adjusting the length of the first and second members.

15. An exercising device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 14 in which a spaced apart pair of first arms are pro¬ vided between which the first member extends and a spaced apart pair of second arms are also provided between which the second member extends.

16. An exercising device as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims including means for securing the device to a supporting surface.

17. An exercising device as claimed in any one of the pre¬ ceding claims in which the first and/or second members are padded.

18. An exercising device substantially as described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

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