Exercise devices – Support for entire body of user
Reexamination Certificate
2001-02-07
2004-12-28
Lucchesi, Nicholas D. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Support for entire body of user
C482S907000, C482S908000, C482S140000, C482S024000, C482S145000, C297S423100, C601S056000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06835170
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
“Not Applicable”
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT.
“Not Applicable”
REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX
“Not Applicable”
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Background
1. Field of Endeavor
This invention relates to low back exercise equipment to properly and safely stretch the human low back muscles
BACKGROUND
2. The Problem
Low back muscle related problems such as low back weakness, the low back ‘broken hinge’ effect, and general low back soreness, numbness, and pain are rampant among the human population. Many theories of low back exercises and exercise equipment have been proposed, developed, and implemented but the problem has not decreased, in fact, it has become almost epidemic. Experts estimate that over 80% of the American population will suffer with significant low back related problems sometime during their lifetime. Experts estimate that, on any given morning, over six million Americans can barely get out of bed due to low back muscle pain. Many of the exercise theories and exercise apparatuses may be part of the problem.
Almost all of the existing low back exercises and exercise equipment tend to ignore the fact that the human low back has a natural concave (inward) curve. If this curve becomes exaggerated such as being too concave (often referred to as a swayback condition) or too convex (outward) then low back muscle related soreness, numbness, and/or pain are usually not far behind.
Problems due to the low back curve being too convex are only occasionally encountered. The majority of the suffering populace have the problem of being too concave. This invention addresses the much more frequent problem of low back problems involving the low back curve being too concave.
BACKGROUND
The Problem versus the Proposed Solution
A brief comparison of the current methods and the proposed solution should help to give a better understanding of the different approaches to the problems and to the uniqueness of the solution offered by the invention.
1. Analogy:—A playground see-saw (teeter totter) consists of a long board balanced over a pipe. The center point of the board is attached to the pipe. While being used, a child sitting at each end, the areas of the board in and near the center are subjected to a lot of strain creating a stress force which results in a strained bending of the board. If the force becomes too strong the board may crack or snap at or near the center.
2. In the supine position, the human buttocks extend out under the body and create a see-saw ‘pipe’ effect This happens because the mass of the bones and flesh of the buttocks form an inverted arch which tends to act as a ‘pipe’ or point of support that suspends the upper legs and low back in a ‘see-saw’ manner.
3. Exercise equipment and exercise routines that place the body in a supine position where the person's knees are aimed at an angle that is 90-180 degrees toward the feet create the see-saw effect and increase the upward pressure into the human low back curve. This position partially relaxes the muscles in the low back and may feel good. However, the relief is strictly palliative as the see-saw position caused by the inverted arch of the buttocks may cause an increase in the damaging anterior (towards the front of the body) pressure into the contracted muscle tissues of the low back curve.
Reputable exercise programs warn people against lying on their backs with their legs extended. The supine position is well recognized for its potential to create a detrimental concave pressure into the low back curve, aggravating existing low back problems and possibly causing new low back problems. Exercisers are warned to bend their knees or to place a large pillow under their knees to relieve some of the pressure on the low back curve.
4. Exercises that place the body in a supine position where the person's knees are aimed at an angle that is 0 to 89 degrees toward the head tend to straighten out the low back curve and reduce the anterior force going into the low back curve. However, active low back exercising is virtually ineffective for low back muscle tissue stretching as active exercising requires muscle tension and tends to create muscle resistance to the stretching of the muscle tissues in the low back area. Additionally, with very few exceptions, active stretching cannot be sustained for more than a few minutes or seconds. It is normally especially difficult or uncomfortable for obese people and for pregnant women.
5. The Low Back Stretching Sleeper invention provides an effective method for inactivating the low back curve muscle resistance creating a longitudinal-convex stretching and repetitive gentle exercising of the muscles of the low back.
BACKGROUND
Muscle Tissue Damage
Excess muscle tightness and/or muscle imbalances in the low back area can be very painful.
Following a muscle strain, the muscles tighten up, to attempt to reduce the damaged tissue pressures on the nerves, this defensive mode being a protective function of the muscles. Quickly or gradually, the muscles start to tire and then muscle spasms develop. The muscle spasms may exhibit various levels of discomfort from mild tightness to excruciating pain. These muscle distress symptoms may be temporarily relieved but long term relief will normally not be achieved until proper actions are taken to stretch out the contracted/strained low back muscle(s).
2. The muscles may become painfully inflamed. Inflammation is a healing effort by the body. Patients are sometimes advised, after certain medical procedures, not to use ice or anti-inflammatory substances as the inflammation reaction is a desirable part of the healing process. Occasionally the inflammation gets out of control and the affected area becomes painfully swelled and hot.
Low Back Exercises
There is a bounty of exercise devices to contract, stretch and otherwise work the abdominal muscles, however, there has been no effective exercise apparatus to relax and maximally stretch the muscles of the opposite side of the body, specifically the low back curve. The Low Back Stretching Sleeper provides this capability. The invention takes the business of stretching the low back muscles into a new dimension. It's not enough to stop the muscles from contracting and to be stretched in the normal way—the low back muscles need a way to be inactivated and maximally stretched in a longitudinal-convex direction.
Exercise apparatuses, in general, address the strengthening and flexibility of the muscle structures. The invention addresses the problem of tight low back muscles that are in a swayback-concave state. As many people have discovered, the more they exercise their low backs in the conventional way, the worse the swayback condition becomes. The muscle contractions keep bending the low back more concave.
Relaxed Muscles versus Inactive Muscles
The term relaxed is not specific enough in describing certain body functions. For example, relaxing in a rocking chair while watching a beautiful sunset is a lot different than relaxing while in a coma. In the first case the leg muscles are slowly pumping to achieve a rocking action. In the second case the person's legs are totally inactive.
Longitudinal-convex Stretching of the Low Back Curve Muscles
To achieve the state where there is a longitudinal-convex stretching of their low back muscles the person's body must be in the supine position with their knees bent and facing in a zero to eighty-nine degree angle towards over their head. It also requires their low back muscles be totally relaxed in that low back stretching sleeper position for 15 to 90 seconds or more to allow time for the brain signals to allow the inactivation of the tension or resistance of the low back curve muscles so that said muscles can be maximally stretched.
Muscles
The purpose of skeletal muscles is to contract thereby moving bones such as the bones of the arms. Some researchers claim the muscles also stretch, however, other researchers consider the muscle stretching action as merely relaxation
Amerson L
Lucchesi Nicholas D.
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