Patent Application
20200147436
The present disclosure relates generally to an exercise device and, more specifically, to an aquatic exercise apparatus suitable for use in an aquatic environment.
In the United States and in many other countries throughout the world, populations are aging at a rapid pace. For example, the percentage of Americans over the age of 65 is expected to reach 20% within the next 15 years. Occurrences of aging-related health issues are therefore likely to continue to increase, likely intensifying an already burgeoning public health crisis. The elderly population is known to experience higher rates most types of health-related ailments and conditions, including, but certainly not limited to, joint and/or musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoarthritis. These types of ailments bring about their own dangers as well as their own unique challenges when developing and implementing treatment protocols. For instance, osteoarthritis, like many other musculoskeletal conditions, is typically associated with symptoms that include weakening of the muscles, diminished motor function, and reductions in overall well-being. Left untreated, these symptoms gradually worsen, typically resulting in diminished independence and quality of life. At least partially responsive to this crisis, in recent years on efforts to develop viable non-pharmaceutical therapies to facilitate traditional treatment protocols for osteoarthritis and other joint and/or musculoskeletal ailments.
Aquatic exercise programs may be one strategy available to effectively ameliorate the symptoms associated with a variety of joint and/or musculoskeletal ailments. The buoyancy experienced while patients are partially submerged reduces gravity's effect on load bearing joints making water-based treatment not only more effective but also more enjoyable for patients. Further, water-based therapies may be effective in reducing patients' pain and fatigue while increasing endurance, muscle tone, balance, and power development. Research indicates that the enjoyment experienced during exercise programs may result in higher adherence, which may be an important advantage of water-based exercise regimens over their land-based counterparts.
Barriers to implementing water-based exercise programs remain, however. For instance, many within the elderly population have difficulty maneuvering even in shallow water environments as many have already experienced muscular degeneration. This can make efforts to remain buoyant tiresome and frustrating, amongst other things. As such, there remains a need to develop systems and methods for facilitating the implementation of aquatic exercise programs that may make these types of treatments more accessible and enjoyable, ultimately making them more effective.
In one aspect, a method of setting up an aquatic exercise apparatus having an aquatic exercise pole and a base includes positioning the aquatic exercise apparatus within a pool such that a first substantially straight section of the aquatic exercise pole is at least 36 inches from each of a plurality of walls of the pool. The method further includes anchoring the aquatic exercise apparatus to a floor of the pool by way of the base, and inserting the first substantially straight section into the base such that the first substantially straight section is vertical and oriented substantially orthogonal to a water surface of the pool defining a horizontal plane, and such that a distance from the water surface to a midpoint of a curved transition section of the aquatic exercise pole is from about 1 inch to about 3 inches.
In another aspect, an aquatic exercise system includes a pool including a floor having a substantially planar section, and a plurality of walls positioned adjacent to the floor, and an aquatic exercise apparatus having a base and an aquatic exercise pole. The aquatic exercise pole has a first substantially straight section, a second substantially straight section, and a curved transition section between the first substantially straight section and the second substantially straight section, the curved transition section being formed of a rigid body material suitable for use in an aquatic environment, and the base being structured to receive the first substantially straight section. The aquatic exercise pole is coupled with the base such that the first substantially straight section is vertical and oriented substantially orthogonal to a horizontal plane, a distance between the first substantially straight section and each of the plurality of walls is at least 36 inches, and a midpoint of the curved transition section is at least 1 inch above a water level of the pool. The curved transition section has a bend angle from about 120 degrees to about 150 degrees, and a bend radius from about 4 inches to about 6 inches.
In still another aspect, an aquatic exercise apparatus includes an aquatic exercise pole having a cylindrical elongate body and a base structured to anchor the aquatic exercise apparatus to a floor of a pool. The base includes a bore for attaching the aquatic exercise pole to the base. The aquatic exercise pole has a first substantially straight section defining a first longitudinal axis, a second substantially straight section defining a second longitudinal axis, and a curved transition section between the first substantially straight section and the second substantially straight section, the curved transition section being formed of a rigid body material suitable for use in an aquatic environment. The first substantially straight section is structured to be received within the bore of the base, and includes a first end surface transverse to the first longitudinal axis. The second substantially straight section includes a second end surface transverse to the second longitudinal axis, and has a length from about 16 inches to about 20 inches from a midpoint of the curved transition section to the second end surface. The curved transition section has an outside diameter of about 1.9 inches and a bend radius from about 4 inches to about 6 inches, and is structured to couple the first substantially straight section with the second substantially straight section such that the first longitudinal axis and the second longitudinal axis intersect to form an angle from about 120 degrees to about 150 degrees.
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Pole 18 may have a cylindrical elongate body (“body”) 38 formed at least partially from a body material that may be relatively rigid and suitable for use in an aquatic environment, such as an alloy of stainless steel. In other embodiments, the body material could include polymeric materials such as carbon fiber or fiberglass, other types or alloys of metallic materials, such as aluminum, or any other suitable material. The body material may be relatively rigid in the sense that use of pole 18 for aquatic exercise or similar activities would not be expected to result in undue plastic deformation of pole 18. For example, the body material may be structured to resist deformation of the geometry of curved section 36 while pole 18 is in use. In some embodiments, different sections might be formed of different body materials that have different relative properties or characteristics. As will be apparent from the discussion herein, it may be desirable in some instances for pole 18 to bend or flex while in use while maintaining the geometry of curved section 36. As such, in an embodiment, curved section 36 may be formed of a first body material that is structured to resist deformation, and sections 32 and 34 may be formed of a second body material structured to allow sections 32 and 34 to be flexible relative to curved section 36.
Body 38 may also be coated by a coating material in some embodiments. For example, pole 18 could be coated with a coating material structured to protect body 38 and/or the body material from corrosion or any other undesirable effects of the aquatic environment. In some embodiments, the coating material could be a resin or other type of relatively hard or rigid material structured to reinforce pole 18 and/or prevent undue deformation of one or more of sections 32, 34, 36. As can be seen in the detailed enlargement shown in
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First section 32 includes an end surface 48 structured to be received by base 16, and defines a longitudinal axis 50 extending from end surface 48 towards curved section 36. Referring now also to
Base 16 may include a bore 54 formed therein, with bore 54 being structured such that pole 18 may be vertical within pool 14, and oriented substantially orthogonal to horizontal plane 28 when attached to base 16. For example, if floor 20 is angled relative to horizontal plane 28, bore 54 may be formed within base 16 at an angle complementary to the angle of floor 20. In this way, pole 18 may be oriented substantially orthogonal to horizontal plane 28 even if floor 20 is not parallel with horizontal plane 28. As can be seen, first section 32 may also include one or more fins 52 on body 38 within first section 32, with bore 54 including one or more recesses 56 that correspond with and are structured to receive fins 52. Fins 52 may include pins, poles, hooks, latches, or any other type of projection, and recesses 56 may include bores, holes, openings, or any other type of similar formation. In some embodiments, pole 18 may include recesses 56, with bore 54 including the corresponding fins 52. Fins 52 and recesses 56 may form a locking mechanism 57 structured to allow base 16 to detachably engage pole 18 so as to prevent pole 18 from becoming dislodged from base 16 while apparatus 12 is in use. In an exemplary embodiment, base 16 may be structured to receive pole 18 such that end surface 48 is seated within bore 54, and pole 18 can be rotated around longitudinal axis 50 to engage locking mechanism 57. In such an embodiment, pole 18 could be disengaged by rotation of pole 18 around longitudinal axis 50 in an opposite direction. In this way, pole 18 can be removed from base 16 when not in use. In other embodiments, locking mechanism 57 could be structured differently. For example, locking mechanism 57 could include a spring latch mechanism structured to engage pole 18 when end surface 48 is seated within bore 54, or could include any other suitable mechanism for locking pole 18 together with base 16. In still other embodiments, pole 18 might be fixably attached to base 16, or base 16 might not include a locking mechanism at all. It is contemplated that most embodiments will include a first transverse surface on pole 18, and a second transverse surface on base 16 positioned in opposition to the first transverse surface. Such transverse surfaces may be on internal and external threads of either of pole 18 or base 16, on or in fin(s) 52 and recess(es) 56, or have still another configuration.
Second section 34 may be similar to first section 32 in many respects. Like first section 32, second section 34 has an end surface 58 and a substantially straight elongate body 38 defining a longitudinal axis 60 extending from end surface 58 within elongate body 38 towards curved section 36. End surface 58 may also be transverse to longitudinal axis 60. In an exemplary embodiment, end surface 58 may be a free end of pole 18 in that end surface 58 is not coupled with or engaged by any other structure. Second section 34 may have a length 78 (as shown in
Curved section 36 couples first section 32 with second section 34 to form a bend 62 in pole 18. In many embodiments, section 32, 34, 36 will be integrally formed and may have substantially similar dimensions and/or material compositions although, as discussed above, embodiments in which curved section 36 is structured differently than section 32 or 34 are also contemplated. As will be discussed herein, it has been discovered that forming bend 62 in pole 18 may provide advantages not present in poles without a bend formed in accordance with the present disclosure. Bend 62 has an outer bend radius 64 from about 4 inches to about 6 inches, although embodiments in which outer bend radius 64 is about 4 inches or less, or about 6 inches or more are also contemplated. Bend 62 further defines a bend angle 66 of about 120 degrees to about 150 degrees, and can be understood as the angle formed at the intersection of longitudinal axis 50 and longitudinal axis 60. Accordingly, second section 34 may be angled relative to horizontal plane 28 at an angle 68 from about 30 degrees to about 60 degrees. Bend 62 further defines bend midpoint (“midpoint”) 70 inside bend 62. In other words, as can be seen in
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Referring now to the drawings generally, a method of setting up apparatus 12 within pool 14 may include positioning apparatus 12 such that first section 32 is a distance 76 from each of walls 22, wherein distance 76 is at least 36 inches. As discussed below, using apparatus 12 during aquatic exercise routines may require a minimum amount clearance such that users can freely maneuver. In some embodiments of system 10, two or more apparatuses 12 may be used in a single pool 14, in which case each pole 18 may be positioned such that each first section 32 is at least about 72 inches from the first section 32 of any neighboring poles 18 such that each apparatus 12 has sufficient clearance for its user to exercise.
Once positioned within pool 14, apparatus 12 can then be anchored to floor 20 by allowing base 16 to come to rest on floor 20, by adding weighted objects and/or materials to base 16, or by installing base 16 within floor 20. Once base 16 has been anchored, pole 18 can be attached to base 16 by inserting first section 32 into bore 54 such that end surface 58 may be seated therein. Pole 18 can be locked into base 16 in embodiments in which apparatus 12 includes locking mechanism 57 by, for instance, rotating pole 18 relative to base 16. Pole 18 may be attached to base 16 such that pole 18 is oriented substantially orthogonal to horizontal plane 28 and distance 74 is from about 31 inches to about 35 inches. It will be appreciated that embodiments in which pole 18 is structured to attach to a different type of base 16 are also contemplated. For example, pole 18 may be structured to attach to a base or analogous structure of existing exercise equipment, such that pole 18 may be used without having to anchor base 16. In some embodiments, the position of apparatus 12 may be adjusted within pool 14 to achieve a suitable distance 74. In other embodiments, apparatus 12 may be configured or positioned to achieve a suitable distance 72 in addition to or in lieu of distance 74. For example, in some embodiments, the water depth of pool 14 may be 43 inches or greater. In some embodiments, setting up apparatus 12 may further include filling pool 14 with water such that pool 14 has a sufficient water depth and/or inserting third section 280 in second base 284.
Once apparatus 12 has been set up in pool 14, a user may be able to use pole 18 to assist in the performance of aquatic exercises. In many aquatic exercises, such as leg swings, flutter kicks, planks, body hangs, and the like, users hold onto pole 18 while moving their lower extremities (e.g., legs). To engage in such maneuvers, users—especially elderly users—typically must have a firm grip on a fixed object. While certain types of aquatic exercise equipment may be useful in facilitating aquatic exercising in some instances, it has been observed that many known strategies cannot provide adequate support, or are difficult to use or store. Apparatus 12, however, can be positioned and repositioned within pool 14, which may assist in accommodating a wider range of users. For instance, many pools, particularly publicly accessible pools, have varying water depths. A location within the pool suitable for use by one user may not be suitable for use by a subsequent user because the water may be too deep or too shallow.
Additionally, pole 18 includes bend 62, which may allow users to more effectively grasp apparatus 12 while exercising. For example, for some exercises, it may be desirable for users to grasp pole 18 above bend 62, which may allow the user to more easily remain buoyant without having to discontinue exercising to reestablish their grip. For other exercises, it may be desirable to grasp below bend 62, while in still other exercises, it may be desirable to place one hand above and one hand below bend 62. Bend 62 may also allow apparatus 12 to be used in conjunction with a wider array of aquatic exercises. For instance, some types of exercise equipment may include only a single gripping surface that is vertically oriented, and which may make it difficult for certain users to do certain exercises, such as body hangs. In some embodiments, portions of pole 18 may additionally be textured as discussed herein to further assist users in maintaining their grip on pole 18 during use.
The present description is for illustrative purposes only, and should not be construed to narrow the breadth of the present disclosure in any way. Thus, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications might be made to the presently disclosed embodiments without departing from the full and fair scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Other aspects, features and advantages will be apparent upon an examination of the attached drawings and appended claims. As used herein, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Also, as used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/554,796 titled “AQUATIC EXERCISE AND STRETCHING APPARATUS,” to Mark V. Saunders, filed Nov. 15, 2017, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
