Exercise device

Abstract

An exercise device for strengthening the pelvic muscles of a patient including a hollow body member, a stud fastening the body member to an end cap to close the interior of the body member, and a plurality of weights removably mounted to the stud to permit the device to have different weights to provide the necessary exercise for different patients and for varying the weight of the device as the pelvic muscles of the patient strengthen.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A better understanding of the present invention can be achieved upon reference to the drawings provided herewith and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercise device of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the exercise device shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the exercise device shown in FIG. 1 and with a portion shown in cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the exercise device 10 as having a contoured shape to be received into the vagina (not shown) of a patient. The exercise device 10 includes a body 12 and an end cap 14 secured to the body 12. An eye 16 is formed on the cap 14 to accommodate a string 18.

As can best be seen in FIG. 2, the cap 14 is solid but is provided with an internally threaded hole 20 which receives the external threads 22 of a stud 24.

The body 12 is preferably formed of a soft rubber or plastic material and as can best be seen in FIG. 2 has a portion 26 which normally abuts the cap 14 and which closes an interior portion 27 of the body 12. As best seen in FIG. 2, weights 28 are provided to be carried on the stud 24 within the interior portion 27 and to be urged against the portion 26 of the body 12 by a spring 30.

Referring to FIG. 3, the portion 26 of the body 12 is provided with a central opening 32 with slits 34 which permit the stud 24 with the weights 28 and the spring 30 to pass through the opening 32 and into the interior portion 27 of the body 28. The spring 30 is of a length that one end engages the interior of the body 12, and the other engages the outermost weight 28.

The cap 14 is secured to the body 12 by the stud 24. Once the stud 24 with the weights 28 and the spring 30 has been inserted through the opening 32 and into the interior portion 27 of the body 12, the cap 14 is threaded on to the body 12. The stud 24 is provided with a recessed end section 34 dimensioned to capture a portion of the end wall 26 of the body 12 as can best be seen in FIG. 2 to lock the end wall 26 against the cap 14.

The weights 28 can all have the same weight, or they can be of varying weights. In any event, the weight of the device 10 that can be accommodated by a particular patient is determined by starting with a small number of weights 28 on the stud 24. The weight of the device 10 is increased by adding weights 28 to the device 10 until the patient has reached the point that she is no longer able to retain the device 10 within the vagina. The weight of the device 10 is then reduced by removing one of the weights 28. The exercise using the device 10 is then undertaken and the weight of the device 10 is gradually increased as the patient's pelvic muscles strengthen by adding weights 28 to the device 10.

As indicated, the weights 28 can all be of the same weight. This is preferred because fewer different parts are required. However, the weights 28 also could have different weights without departing from the invention.

It should be apparent that a relatively simply constructed and easily usable pelvic muscle exercise device has been provided. The device 10 includes a limited number of different parts, and changing the weight of the device has been substantially simplified over devices of the prior art.

It is also apparent that changes and modifications can be made to the exercise device disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A device for insertion into the vagina of a patient to strengthen the patient's pelvic muscles, said device comprising: a hollow body and an end cap, the body portion having an interior portion;a stud extending into said hollow body and removably attaching said end cap to said hollow body;a plurality of weights including an outermost weight carried by said stud, each weight weighing substantially the same;a spring around a portion of the stud having a length such that one end engages the interior portion of the body and the other end engages the outermost weight; anda central opening with slits in the body which permits the stud with the weights and the spring to pass through the opening and into the interior portion of the body

2-4. (canceled)