Patent Application
20200237599
The present invention relates to automated devices used for physical therapy, more particularly to a motorized system of exercising a user's legs at variable cycles. More particularly, the system utilizes a series of wheels connected by a belt and attached to a series of elongated components which are connected to a motor to automatically facilitate the movement of a user's legs.
Many individuals who have suffered injuries require physical therapy to aid their recovery. Devices have been invented that simulate activities such as simple movements, walking, and the like. An automated physical therapy system providing a range of motion exercises for the legs of a user utilizing a motorized system may be capable of providing a user with leg movement to facilitate circulation and strengthening. A series of elongated components operatively connected to and moved by a motorized wheel may allow for the movement of the user's legs and may be adjusted to provide variable cycles to meet the individual rehabilitation needs of the user.
It is an objective of the present invention to provide a motorized physical therapy system that allows for automated physical therapy of a user's legs, as specified in the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. Embodiments of the present invention can be freely combined with each other if they are not mutually exclusive.
The present invention provides users with increased mobility and enhanced circulation in the legs of the user by actuating movement of the various joints and muscles of the legs. The system may be useful for individuals recovering from an injury, individuals who are overweight, or Individuals with diabetes. The system may also be used for exercises to provide leg extension and Improve leg strength.
The present invention may feature a motorized physical therapy system comprising a motorized wheel operatively attached by a belt to a plurality of other wheels. The plurality of wheels may rotate and move a plurality of elongated components, and some of these elongated components may support portions of a user's legs (calves, knees, etc). Moving these elongated components may move the user's legs in such a way that provides leg extension, aids leg circulation, and strengthens the muscles of the legs. In some embodiments, the motorized physical therapy system may exercise one leg of the user. In other embodiments, the motorized physical therapy system may exercise both legs of the user with similar movements. In still other embodiments, the motorized physical therapy system may exercise both legs of the user with different movements.
Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.
The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the system may further comprise a fourth elongated component (160) having a fourth proximal end (161) and a fourth distal end (162). The fourth proximal end (161) of the fourth elongated component (160) may fixedly attach to the third wheel (113), wherein the rotation of the third wheel (113) spins the fourth elongated component (160) about the third wheel (113). The system may further comprise a fifth elongated component (170) having a fifth proximal end (171) and a fifth distal end (172). In some embodiments, the fifth elongated component (170) may further comprise a second extension component (370). The fifth proximal end (171) of the fifth elongated component (170) may pivotably attach to a joint (180) between a sixth elongated component (190) having a sixth proximal end (191) and a sixth distal end (192) and the third elongated component (140). The sixth elongated component (190) may support an upper leg portion of a user and may connect to the third elongated component (140), creating the joint (180). Movement of the fifth elongated component (170) may cause vertical movement of the third elongated component (140) and the sixth elongated component (190) by pivoting the joint (180). The sixth distal end (192) of the sixth elongated component (190) may pivotably attach to the fixed surface (200). In some embodiments, the system (100) exercises a first leg of the user.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In some embodiments, the motorized physical therapy system of the present invention is contained in a shell, such that the shell exposes components that are meant to interact with a user and conceals components that do not directly interact with the user. The motorized physical therapy system of the present invention may be 8 feet in length, 4 feet in width, and 4 feet in height. An elongated component may be 6 Inches to 24 inches in length. In some embodiments, the motorized physical therapy system of the present invention may be large enough to support a fully-grown adult. In some embodiments, components of the motorized physical therapy system may be adjustable to fit a plurality of body types and sizes.
Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of”, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” is met.
The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.
This application is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/734,809 filed Jan. 6, 2020, which is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/217,037 filed Jul. 22, 2016, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,561,562, which is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/045,328 filed Oct. 3, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/915,869 filed Jun. 12, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/088,149 filed Apr. 15, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,485,994, which is a non-provisional and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/325,170 filed Apr. 16, 2010, the specification(s) of which is/are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/217,037 filed Jul. 22, 2016 is also a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/915,869 filed Jun. 12, 2013, which is a continuation-in-part and claims benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/088,149 filed Apr. 15, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,485,994, which is a non-provisional and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/325,170 filed Apr. 16, 2010, the specification(s) of which is/are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61325170 | Apr 2010 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16734809 | Jan 2020 | US |
| Child | 16847464 | US | |
| Parent | 15217037 | Jul 2016 | US |
| Child | 16734809 | US | |
| Parent | 14045328 | Oct 2013 | US |
| Child | 15217037 | US | |
| Parent | 13915869 | Jun 2013 | US |
| Child | 14045328 | US | |
| Parent | 13915869 | Jun 2013 | US |
| Child | 14045328 | US | |
| Parent | 13088149 | Apr 2011 | US |
| Child | 13915869 | US |
