Exercise devices – Stretching
Patent
1997-08-27
1999-06-22
Apley, Richard J.
Exercise devices
Stretching
482142, 482131, 601 34, A63B 2100, A61H 102
Patent
active
059137592
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to apparatus for stretching the front thigh muscles.
Leg muscle stretching apparatus are known from U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,834,694, 5,122,106 for instance. These apparatus function to stretch the rear thigh muscles among other things. U.S. Pat. No. 5,460,596 also illustrates the present standpoint of techniques with regard to leg muscle stretching apparatus.
With certain types of exercises that involve the leg muscles, particularly the front thigh muscles (cycling, skiing) and also when sitting still for long periods of time, these muscles are temporarily shortened. This shortening of the front thigh muscles will often result in the upper body of the person concerned adopting a forward leaning position with the associated risk of said person being afflicted with back pains. In all events, it is desirable to enable a person to stretch these muscles subsequent to an exercise session or after having been in a sitting position for a long period of time, so that the person concerned is able to stand upright with no difficulty and in a natural manner without the upper part of the body leaning forwards, so as to avoid the risk of back pains, etc.
Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide a stretching apparatus with which the thigh muscles on the front side of one thigh can be stretched.
The inventive apparatus includes a back-supporting bench and a foot support which lies in a region above one end of the bench. The foot support is placed in a position such that when the user places the foot of one leg against the foot support, the user's lumbar region and hip will lie against the flat bench. The apparatus also includes a pivotal arm which is pivotally mounted on the bench and which extends generally outwardly of and away from one short end of the bench and carries a support which is intended to lie against the front side of the other thigh of the user. The apparatus also includes a drive unit which is connected to the pivotal arm so as to enable it to be swung downwards. The drive unit may conveniently be adapted to enable the pivotal arm to perform a slow pivotal movement, wherein pivotal movement of the arm may also be limited with respect to force or torque, so as to safeguard against injury of the user when using the apparatus. The drive unit preferably coacts with a motor control means which enables the user to control the pivotal movement of the arm with respect to the angle through which the arm is swung and with respect the speed at which the arm moves, etc., with the aid of one hand. Because the user's foot rests on the foot support such that the lumbar region and hip of the user will lie against the generally flat back support bench, stretching of the thigh muscles will not result in unfavourable bending or curving of the lumbar region.
The pivotal arm may conveniently carry a support pad positioned so as to lie against the front side of the lower part of the user's other leg. When the distance from the pivot point of the pivotal arm to the pivotal arm support lying against the front side of the thigh is smaller than the distance from the pivot point to the support pad lying against the front side of the lower leg, there is afforded an advantage whereby the leg will be bent at the knee joint as the leg is swung backwards. This means that the front thigh muscles will be stretched both in the hip region and in the knee region.
The inventive apparatus will preferably be symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal plane, so as to enable the user to readily shift respective legs from the overlying foot support to the pivotal arm that lies beneath said support. Naturally, the two pivotal arms may be connected to a common parallel pivotal movement.
The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to an exemplifying embodiment thereof and also with reference to the accompanying drawing.
FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of an inventive apparatus with a user resting thereon.
FIG. 2 is a schematic horizontal view shown from above the apparatus according to FIG. 1
REFERENCES:
patent: 3117782 (1964-01-01), Johnston
patent: 3834694 (1974-09-01), Pridgen
patent: 4830363 (1989-05-01), Kennedy
patent: 5094444 (1992-03-01), Winkelvoss
patent: 5122106 (1992-06-01), Atwood
patent: 5277681 (1994-01-01), Holt
patent: 5333604 (1994-08-01), Green
patent: 5376060 (1994-12-01), Murray
patent: 5421801 (1995-06-01), Davies, III
patent: 5460596 (1995-10-01), Brady
patent: 5584756 (1996-12-01), Grapengiser
patent: 5647823 (1997-07-01), Spence
Apley Richard J.
Fasth Rolf
LaMarca William
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