The present invention relates to a passive exercise apparatus that assists the user to maintain muscle tone in selected muscle groups and to encourage good seated posture.
Many millions of people have adopted a fitness lifestyle. They routinely participate in various exercise activities, such as weight training and aerobics. These individuals use exercise equipment at fitness clubs, gyms, and at home. In addition to the significant amount of time, membership dues, and energy expended to get into and stay in shape, these individuals are increasingly purchasing exercise devices to use at home and in the office.
Considered one of the most difficult body parts to discipline, the buttocks (viz., gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus muscles) are the focus of tremendous strategic muscle conditioning routines. However, the benefits of such exercise are often negated by the demands of modem living, i.e., sitting for extended periods of time, either at a desk—be it for business or personal demands—, while driving, flying, or commuting via public/commercial transportation where one is subjected to prolonged sitting. In addition, such prolonged seating is not conducive to promoting good seated posture. It is important to stress these two inescapable problems brought on by excessive sitting:
1) undoing much of the benefit obtained by targeting gluteal exercise and 2) potentially compromising one's health.
What is needed is a passive exercise apparatus that is easy to use and that promotes both involuntary and conscious muscular contraction of the buttocks and area muscles, and (as a bonus) assists with achieving good seating posture. The ideal apparatus would be incorporated into the construction of a chair, bench, or other seating fixtures, equipment, or furnishings, and/or would also be portable and suited for use at home, in the office, while traveling, or in any environment in which one is required sit for a prolonged period of time.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a passive exercise apparatus that is discrete and easy to use, and that promotes muscular contraction of the buttocks and area muscles, and good seated posture.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a passive exercise apparatus that may be used to maintain muscular toning in the buttocks region and area muscles, in conjunction with an exercise program.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a passive exercise apparatus that is acceptable for daily use, durable, and easy to clean.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a passive exercise apparatus that is suitable for use on any surface generally considered to be a seating surface.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a passive exercise apparatus that is incorporated into the construction of a chair, bench, or other seating fixtures, equipment, or furnishings.
It is yet an additional object of the present invention to provide a passive exercise apparatus wherein the amount of exercise can be controlled by the user by adjustment to the apparatus.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a passive exercise apparatus that is portable and suited for use at home, in the office, and while travelling, or in any environment in which one is required to sit for a prolonged period of time.
The present invention relates to a passive exercise apparatus for use in an erect, non-recumbent seated position. The apparatus of the present invention provide an unstable seating platform capable of encouraging an omni-directional rocking motion that will result in the involuntary and conscious contraction of muscles involved in maintaining proper posture (viz., the gluteus maximus, gluteus medius gluteus minimus, external oblique muscles, and other muscles in the abdominal, lumbar/sacral, and pelvic regions). The purpose of the apparatus is to provide continuing involuntary and conscious contraction of these muscle groups (a recognized form of EXERSITTING,™ which is the combined execution of concentric and isometric muscle exertion and contractions performed while sitting on the apparatus of the present invention) in order to maintain muscle tone and additionally, to encourage good seated posture.
It is contemplated that the apparatus may be sized to suit a wide variety of body types. The outer surface of the apparatus may be of a durable, flexible material designed for comfort, ease of cleaning, and function. One design option is a fabric covering which is removable, washable, and comfortable. The outer surface may further be textured, either as a continuous feature or as discrete features.
It is further contemplated that the apparatus may be incorporated into the construction of a chair, bench, or other seating fixtures, equipment, or furnishings.
Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the drawings in which:
In a preferred embodiment, shown in
Seating element 10 still further comprises a plurality of inner channels 34 disposed in parallel fashion to lateral support channels 32, such that the first end of inner channels 34 define forward end 12 of seating element 10 and the second end of inner channels 34 are attached to lumbar support channel 30, or they will be seamed together to move in unison. Inner channels 34 provide a comfortable seating surface while acting as individual spring elements that react to the weight of the seated user. It is contemplated that inner channels 34 may be free to move independently of each other by means of attachment to adjacent channels (either lateral support channels 32 or inner channels 34) only along forward end 12 (all inner channels 34 being attached to lumbar support channel 30). It is further contemplated that forward attachment means 36 optionally may be disposed along forward end 12 in parallel to lumbar support channel 30. Forward attachment means 36 may be a separate channel or may be of a solid, yet flexible, material that will not interfere with the proper operation of seating element 10. It is contemplated that, where forward attachment means 36 is provided, inner channels 34 may be attached solely to lumbar support channel 30 and forward attachment means 36, and not to each other along their length.
Seating element 10 is acceptable for daily use, durable, and easy to clean. Seating element 10 additionally may be provided with special features, such as felt pads 42 and rounded corners 44, to prevent damage to seating surfaces by use of seating element 10, and may contain additional features, such as rubber contact feet 46 or a design texture 48, to prevent slipping or sliding of base support element 40 on the seating surface.
The apparatus of the present invention achieves the objects thereof by encouraging omni-directional motion of a seated user in direct response to the user's weight acting on each of the individual components of seating element 10. Because each of the components is capable of at least some independent movement relative to each of the other components, seating element 10 is inherently unstable, causing the user to alternately contract and relax certain muscle groups in order to maintain an erect seated posture. This constant rebalancing by the user results in the desired passive exercise.
It is desired that inner channels 34 be filled with a compressible or resilient material 50, or combination of such materials. Material 50 may include air, gels, and foam of various densities. Alternatively, inner channels 34 may be provided with a combination of these materials, e.g., both air and high-density foam. Where material 50 is a gel, foam, or combination gel/foam, the user cannot modify the gel or foam content in order to change the level of exercise desired, as can be done if material 50 is air.
Where material 50 includes air, there are several possible inflation options. The first such option, shown in
Lower surface 16 may optionally interface with movement means 20 capable of encouraging omni-directional movement of element 10, such that when a human being is seated on upper surface 16 of seating element 10, movement means 20 causes seating element 10 to move such that the user is forced to perform the EXERSITTING™ function of the concentric and isometric muscular contraction of the buttock and area muscles to overcome the forces operating in the direction of the movement and restore the human being to an erect, stable seating position.
As shown in
In a second embodiment, shown in
Base support element 40 may be a one-piece component or multiple-component assembly, in accordance with design requirements such as cost, size limits, and type of intended seating surface. It is further contemplated that base support element 40 may be incorporated into the construction of a chair, bench, or other seating fixtures, equipment, or furnishings.
In this embodiment, base support element 40 provides a rigid, planar surface in contact with movement means 20, such that the desired omni-directional rocking motion results, even when seating element 10 is used when the seating surface is soft (i.e., one that will readily deform when sitting pressure is applied), such as on a soft chair, sofa, or car seat. Without the use of base support element 40 on soft seating surfaces, the micro-movement of the components of seating element 10 is limited, as these components tend to settle into the seating surface rather than experience a resistive force that, in turn, causes the omni-directional rocking motion that results in the desired passive exercise. Moreover, because the surface of base support element 40 that contacts movement means 20 is planar, base support element 40 actually enhances the motion of seating element 10, particularly when movement means 20 has a hemispherical, functional hemispherical, or cylindrical geometry. Accordingly, it is further contemplated that seating element 10 may be used in conjunction with base support element 40 even on a hard surface (i.e., one that will not readily deform when sitting pressure is applied) when a higher level of exercise is desired.
As shown in
Where base support element 40 is attached to seating element 10, it is necessary that means of attachment 90 disposed between base support element 40 and seating element 10 has sufficient elasticity and/or travel as to enable seating element 10 to rock omni-directionally while base support element 40 remains essentially stationary. Further, by making means of attachment 90 releasable, such that seating element 10 may be detached from base support element 40, seating element 10 alone may be used if the seating surface is hard, or if a lesser amount of exercise is desired on a soft surface. Likewise, where base support element 80 is employed, release of means of attachment 90 enables base support element 80 to be used apart from seating element 10.
Where use with base support element 40 is contemplated, seating element 10 has attachment means 31 disposed about the periphery of lateral support elements 32, and, optionally, lumbar support element 30, to securely fasten seating element 10 to base support element 40 during use. Base support element 40 likewise may be provided with corresponding attachment means. Attachment means 31 (and, optionally 41) include Velcro, snaps, straps, clips, slides, fabric or plastic ties, or magnets. Alternatively, base support element 40 may be inserted into a fabric pouch 72 incorporated into an optional fabric covering 70 for seating element 10.
In the third embodiment, shown in
Motion drivers 38 are solid, discrete roller elements that move within the channels when sitting pressure is applied to the upper, outer surface of the channel. The solid motion drivers 38 act to promote additional user movement by providing a resisting pressure to the channel walls. This resisting pressure may promote additional relative movement of inner channels 34 or, by transmission through the cell walls to the user, may promote additional reactive and repositioning movement of the user. Motion drivers 38 may have one of several geometries, including spherical, ellipsoid, cylindrical, or geodesic (with sufficiently rounded corners to ensure comfort and unrestricted movement with applied sitting pressure).
The motion drivers may additionally have surface features to enhance their function, including dimples, grooves, or radial projections, such as knobs, ridges, cones, or other geometries, or a combination thereof, all with sufficiently rounded ends in order to further stimulate driving motion. Motion drivers 38 having varying geometries may be used within one channel, e.g., alternating spherical and cylindrical motion drivers 38 or motion drivers 38 having the same geometry but having different diameters. The extent to which motion drivers 38 promote additional movement may be controlled by the volume of material 50 used to fill the channels in which they are disposed. If material 50 is air, the volume of air may be varied by using an air moving device, such as pump or fan, to fill the inflatable inner and outer channels or by releasing contained air through a relief valve. Material 50 may also be in the form of dense sponge, pre-filled liquid foam, or the user may be instructed to manually add a measure of water.
In a fourth embodiment, shown in
It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details, and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/306,786, filed Jul. 20, 2001.
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