Exercise devices – For head or neck – Face
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-22
2001-01-30
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
For head or neck
Face
C482S010000, C482S120000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179747
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND—FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a one piece exercise configuration for toning the muscles of the face and neck regions.
BACKGROUND—DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
In recent years, there have been a number of innovations in exercising equipment to enable people to utilize various body muscles in a capacity in which they would otherwise not be exercised. However, very little has been done in this area in order to permit people to exercise facial and neck muscles.
It has been recognized for many years that the facial and neck muscles like those of the rest of the human body, can improve in tonicity by exercise practiced over a long period of time and on a consistent basis. It has also been recognized that exercising jaw muscles and other facial muscles will have a tendency to decrease fat beneath the skin of the human being. Consequently, facial muscles exercising has a tendency to actually improve the appearance of an individual's face and neck by decreasing fat in these areas. Even more so, it has been found that the muscles which are strained by movement of the jaw when properly exercised, will decrease wrinkles around the eyes, due to the fact that it will cause a conditioning of the skin in the area around the eyes.
Various devices have been devised to strengthen or improve face and neck muscles through exercise. Generally, these comprise means of compression. The following U.S. patents show various devices for exercising specific facial, neck and chin muscles: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,507,617; 3,571,930; 4,195,833; 4,650,182; 4,666,148; and 5,366,139.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,650,182, to Ross, is designed particularly for the exercise of the jaw, specifically designed to exercise the muscles of mastication and their auxiliaries. A headband is connected to a chin strap by flexible strips. One moves or opens his/her jaw against the elastic resistance force of the elastic resistance coupling members, thus strengthening the muscles of mastication and auxiliaries. The primary purpose of this device is to supplement therapeutic modality for relief of temporamandibular joint and/or myo-facial pain symptoms. The disadvantages of this device are: (1) Its use is intended for the medical profession and not the general public. (2) It does not tone the forehead because the upper head band is a flexible strip which does not provide resistance against the movement of the forehead muscles. (3) When closing the mouth the muscles of mastication are not being toned because this device does not provide any resistance coming from beneath the mandible. (4) The device is not made to tone the muscles of the neck. (5) Its parts are not contiguous, therefore, the user must connect the parts together each time the device is used.
The inventor has personally used for more than a year a device sold under the trademark Facial-Flex exerciser. This device is purported to provide the effects of a face lift without surgery. With this device, two U-shaped portions are wedged in the corners of the mouth, then the user forms an “O” by pressing and releasing the mouth. The mouth is moved such that the interconnecting rods expand and contract linearly. Disadvantages of the Facial-Flex exerciser are: (1) It is difficult to keep the accumulation of saliva from coming out of the mouth when using the device. (2) The Facial-Flex exerciser is designed to target the chin, cheeks, and neck muscles, it does not target the masseter and the temporal muscles. These two muscles are very important when toning facial muscles because they are the only muscles in the face which greatly influence surface form. (3) This device tones the targeted muscles only when the mouth is pressed together, there is no toning when the mouth is released, therefore, the antagonistic muscles to the chin, cheeks and neck are not being toned. (4) This device does not tone the forehead. (5) This device utilizes metal rods which may present a safety problem while driving or engaging in athletic activity and an accident occurs. (6) The use of this device does not provide any support for retaining the shape of the lips, and therefore, deep wrinkles extending perpendicularly from the lips, which are often called “whistle-marks” may form with extended use of this device.
The inventor has also used the Chin Gym exerciser U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,556, to Shaffer, this is an isometric chin, neck and jaw exerciser it targets the masseter, mylohyoid, and platysma muscles. The Chin Gym exerciser is a C-shaped structure having two free ends. One free end is adapted to fit within the mouth of the user, and the second free end fits under the chin. Weights are added to the structure to cause the second free end to press upward against the lower jaw and chin muscles, while at the same time exerting a resistance against the upper jaw muscles. The Chin Gym exerciser workout is a gradual progression. The user begins slowly and gradual increase the workout time. Once the user is able to hold the Chin Gym exerciser in the mouth, without removing it for 15 minutes, additional weights can be added. The workouts should have little to no movement. Disadvantages of the Chin Gym exerciser are: (1) Saliva accumulation in the mouth. (2) It depends on an isometric response, which is a force against an unmovable source. Therefore, other than reading a book or watching TV while in a setting position the Chin Gym exerciser does not allow a person to engage in other activities. (3) It does not tone the forehead. (4) It may damage bridge-work or dentures, and teeth that have been weakened by periodontal disease.
Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the present invention are:
(1) to provide an exercise device that does not go into the mouth, thereby eliminating stress on the teeth and saliva accumulation;
(2) to provide an exercise device which can be used by people with periodontal disease,bridge-work, and dentures;
(3) to provide an exercise device which can be used when doing other activities such as driving, walking, house cleaning, etc.;
(4) to provide an exercise device that targets and tones the forehead;
(5) to provide a one piece exercise device that tones the masseter, temporal, and other major facial muscle groups simultaneously.
The present invention is more effective, efficient, and comprehensive because it is designed to exercise and tone more muscle groups.
Other Objects and Advantages are
(6) to provide a facial and neck device which will create concentric upward and eccentric downward resistive force against the lower jaw, against which the jaw can be exercised in a number of directions;
(7) to provide a facial and neck device in which there is concentric and eccentric variable resistive force applied against the opening and closing of the jaw;
(8) to provide an exercise device which is safe to use when conditioning and toning the muscles of the face and neck;
(9) to provide a exercise device having an easily manipulatable adjusting mechanism for adjusting the tension in the device;
(10) to provide ease in placing and removing the exercise device;
(11) to provide a facial exerciser that can be kept in sanitary condition;
(12) to provide an adjustable head band, chin cup, and neck band which is adjustable in all dimensions;
(13) to provide adjustable head band, neck band, and chin cup with a minimum of fitting time;
(14) to provide a device which will be capable of adjustment to fit any shaped face, chin, and neck, which is capable of simple and convenient adjustment to permit its use without assistance;
(15) to provide a head band, chin cup, and neck band which can be shaped or molded to the specific contour to which it is to be applied so that its use will not prove inconvenient or uncomfortable;
(16) to provide an adjustable light weight head band, and neck band for mounting: resistance bands, velcro backing, fastening means, grooves, notches, and other attachment for exercising, the face and neck muscles;
(17) to provide an exercise device of this nature which is easy to assemble, one which possesses an exceedingly simple con
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