Patent Application
20180338879
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
This invention relates to improvements in an ankle holder. More particularly, the present gas cushioned ankle holder provides a cushion for an ankle holder used on an inversion table to spread the load on the ankles of a user when a user is on an inversion table in a partially or fully inverted orientation.
Inversion tables have been used for many years by people to reduce back pain and to stretch the spine. Inversion tables are essentially beds, tables or a cloth covered frame. The table is secured to a frame across the narrow mid-section of the table to allow the table to pivot across the mid-section. At one end of the table is a retention mechanism for securing the ankles of the user. One problem with inversion tables is the discomfort from force concentration points that are caused on the ankles when the person in inverted, or at least partially inverted. The design of the ankle/foot restraints must provide cushioning and be able to accommodate a wide variety of different size and shape ankles and feet.
A number of patents and or publications have been made to address these issues. Exemplary examples of patents and or publication that try to address this/these problem(s) are identified and discussed below.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,568,669 issued on Mar. 9, 1971 to Joseph D. Stites is titled Tilting Health Table. This patent discloses a tiltable health table apparatus having a table which is rotatively mounted on a framework, with the table being connected to the framework at a point on the table which will produce an axis of rotation extending across the width of the table. The leg restraint is a pair of cushioned ankle clamps. The ankle clamps are essentially contoured members that are cushioned to spread the loading. While the ankle clamps are cushioned, they can still have concentration points on people who have ankles that are larger or smaller than the contoured members.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,551,937 issued on Sep. 3, 1996 to Chung-Jen Kwo is titled Body Inversion Suspension Exercise Device. This patent discloses an exercise device comprises a frame, a backrest set and a leg pressing rod. The leg pressing rod comprises a height adjusting rod to which two rest pads, one pedal and one operating rod are fastened pivotally. The operating rod is provided at the lower segment thereof with another two rest pads and at the upper segment thereof with a plurality of projections spaced equidistantly. The leg press rods are essentially cushioned cylinders that do not provide any contouring to the ankles.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,306,112 issued on Oct. 23, 2001 to John R. Bird is titled Bladder for Orthopedic Supports. This patent disclosed a therapeutic ankle support brace bladder pad member having a pair opposed surfaces defining an inflated gas support pocket and a second support pocket containing gel material and filler apparatus materials. The orthopedic support is configured to fit within the sides of a leg brace to spread the support forces, it is not configured to fit on the top of the foot and the back of the foot in an inversion table.
What is needed is an ankle holder that uses contoured gas-filled bladders to evenly distribute load on the feet/ankles of a user. The proposed gas-filled cushioned ankle holder for an inversion table in this document provides the solution.
It is an object of the gas cushioned ankle holder for an inversion table to provide a cushion to the ankles with gas-filled bladders. The gas-filled bladder(s) evenly distribute forces to all areas of the ankle that are in contact with the gas bladders. The bladders can have a neutral gas pressure or can be filled with some pressure to provide some initial expansion. The gas-filled bladders could further be covered with a gel pad, removable fabric or have other treatment for comfort or for hygienic purposes.
It is an object of the gas cushioned ankle holder for an inversion table for the gas cushions to have a pre-formed shape that approximates the shape and contour of an ankle/heel/foot. The contour provides an initial shape. While the contour may not approximate all people, the bladder can expand and move around the shape of the person to evenly distribute the forces. Because the cushions are filled with air or gas, a person can move or rotate their ankles slightly when secured to locate a preferred position as the cushions continuously distribute the forces due to the even pressure within the gas-filled bladders.
It is another object of the gas cushioned ankle holder for an inversion table for the gas cushions to be secured to a rigid back plate. The rigid back plate provides a structural support to the bladders to enable the bladders to be mounted to the inversion table. Without the structural support the shape and position of the bladders can become unstable and can move.
It is still another object of the gas cushioned ankle holder for an inversion table for the distance between the gas cushions to be adjustable. The adjustment of the distance between the gas cushions allows a user to place their ankles within the inversion table and customize the clamping forces. The amount of clamping forces allows the gas cushions to spread and wrap around the ankles. The amount of clamping pressure can further be adjusted for comfort or pressure on the user. The clamps are opened to allow the user to exit the inversions table.
Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components.
It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the drawings herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the system and method of the present invention, as represented in the drawings, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention but is merely representative of various embodiments of the invention. The illustrated embodiments of the invention will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout.
The ankle holding mechanism 30 is located on an elongated post 20 that is adjustably secured in the bottom of the table 25. The elongated post 20 is adjustable to locate a balance point that is unique for people having different heights and body mass distribution. In this orientation, a user can enter the inversion table 19, open the ankle holder 30, insert their legs into the ankle holders 30 while they stand on the foot pad 31. A pin cover 22 covers a mechanism that limits the amount of rotation of the inversion table or bed 25.
While the cross tube 34 is secured to the top gas-filled cushions 50 to the opening and closing ratchet mechanism 33, the cross tube 35 is secured 42 to the length adjustment tube 20. The foot rest or support 31 is secured to the end of the length adjustment tube 20 to provide a platform that moves with the inversion table. The closing mechanism 33 is secured on tube 32 that is secured to the length adjustment tube 20 and the foot rest or support 31. The closing mechanism 33 is controlled with a control tube or rod 36 that can be opened and closed by a user to open, close the gas-filled pad groups 40 and 50 to allow a person to be secured in the inversion table in an inverted orientation. The opening and closing moves the pair of top 50 gas-filled cushion(s) relative to a fixed pair of stationary bottom 40 heel cups.
Each gas-filled cushion 40L, 40R, 50L and 50R has a bladder with a front surface or contact surface 44L, 44RA, 54L and 54R that contacts a portion of the ankle of the user of the inversion table. The sides 41L, 41R, 51L and 51R of the gas-filled cushions and the structural frame 56 supports the load of the user when the user is suspended in an inverted orientation. Each of the gas-filled cushions 40L, 40R, 50L and 50R are further secured to an ankle cup cover 42L, 42R, 52L and 52R where the gas-filled cushions are secured with a cross-tube (not shown in this figure).
Each of the ankle cup covers 42L, 42R, 52L and 52R has a hole 43R, 43L, 53R and 53L where the cross pipes 34 and 35 are placed. Each of the gas-filled cushions can independently pivot (slightly) on their respective cross-pipe or tube 34 and 35. The independent pivoting allows for angular alignment of the gas-filled cushions with the inversion table bed.
In another contemplated embodiment the bottom or rear heel 40L and 40R can be formed from a composite elastomeric material without gas bladders to provide a more solid anchor to the retained ankles, while the top heel holder 50L and 50R remain gas-filled to provide a better force distribution to the top of the captured ankles.
In the preferred embodiment, the gas-filled cushion is polyurethane, rubber, silicon or other equivalent material. The user contact area of the gas-filled cushions has a cosmetic skin of fabric or other over coating 18 that is stretched over the gas-filled pads. The fabric cover may further include a gel pack or memory foam to further spread and distribute retention forces. The cover breaths to reduce sweating or bacterial growth and can be replaced or washed as needed. The fabric cover 18 is secured over the gas-filled cushions with a cord or string 58 that is retained in a sleeve in the fabric cover 18. The ends of the cord or string 58 are secured with a plate 48 that prevents the cord from loosening. It is also contemplated that a sacrificial cover can be used that can be discarded or cleaned for each user.
The assembly starts with the gas-filled cushion 51R, 52L. With the ankle cup cover 52 removed from the back of the gas-filled cushion 51R, 52L shows a support tube 55 on a structural support frame 56. The support frame 56 with the support tube 55 is essentially a molded frame with threads or a threaded insert that accepts the fasteners 37. The ankle cup cover 52 has side holes 53 for the cross pipe or tube 34 to pass through the ankle cup cover 52 holes 53 and into the support tube 55 on structural support frame 56. The fasteners 37 pass through the ankle cup cover 52, through the holes in the support tube 55, through the slotted holes 38 in the cross pipe or tube 34 where the fasteners 37 are secured in the structural support frame 56.
The slotted holes 38 in the cross pipe or tube 34 allows the gas-filled cushion 51 to rotate on the cross pipe or tube 34 for alignment of the gas-filled cushion 51 with the ankles of a user. The slotted holes 38 provide limited rotational movement of the gas-filled cushions 51, and each gas-filled cushion can independently move or rotate on the cross pipe or tube 34.
The plurality of individual-gas filled pockets or blocks 46 are shown filled with gas, but can be filled with other gasses, gel or foam that provides retention of the ankles to the gas-filled cushion and then to the frame of the inversion table. The pressure within the pockets 46 is selected to provide both a cushion and structural support. The pockets 46 are molded, bonded 57, sealed, enclosed or otherwise secured to the backing 47. In another contemplated embodiment the cosmetic skin 18 is a “sock” where the gas-filled pockets 46 are inserted into the cosmetic skin 18 sock and the cosmetic skin 18 has an integrated cord or string 58 that pulls around the support shell or structural frame 59 to retain the gas-filled pockets 46 and the cosmetic skin 18 onto the support shell or structural support fame 59.
The gas-filled cushion or pockets 46 can have a neutral internal pressure or can be pre-filled with ambient air, oxygen, argon, noble gas, nitrogen or other gas to have an internal pressure of 1 to 3 ATM. Filling the pockets 46 with a pressure of at least 1 ATM at sea level prevents shrinking of the pockets 46 at lower temperatures or elevations. Each of the gas-filled cushion can be filled with the same pressure or each of the gas-filled cushion can be filled with different pressures based upon a position of the gas-filled cushion in the cushioned ankle holder. For example, gas-filled cushions on the sides of the ankles may be different from the pressure on the top of the ankle holder.
This embodiment allows the ankle holders to be rigidly retained on the moving cross tube or pipe 34, and the moving cross tube or pipe 34 can axially turn within the ratchet mechanism 33 within the confines of the slotted hole 38. The ankle support is secured to the moving cross tube or pipe 34 with fastener 37. This figure also shows a composite support shell 59 that is covered with an ankle cup cover 52. The ankle cup cover provides a cosmetic backing and protects the interior features. Because the ankle cushion is composite, the skin cover, cord and cord retaining plate is not required.
Thus, specific embodiments of a gas cushioned ankle holder for an inversion table have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
Not Applicable.
This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/510,205 filed May 23, 2017 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62510205 | May 2017 | US |
