Patent Application
20130035213
The present invention relates to exercise equipment. More particularly, the invention relates to portable equipment for the exercise of the legs.
Various types of exercise equipment particularly adapted to exercise specific portions of the human body are well-known. Exercise equipment often provides resistance, and the user operates against such resistance to tone and/or build various muscle groups. Such equipment may include weight-resistance devices, as well as stationary bikes and elliptical motion devices that are computer controlled to moderate the resistance applied, and thus the effort required for the user to operate the devices. Other equipment does not rely on resistance, but rather provides a controlled and measured rate of movement that the user is required to maintain. For example, active treadmills require the user to maintain a set speed.
There are a larger number of devices for the exercise and enhanced mobility of the lower legs and feet while an individual remains in a seated position. Such devices are useful for individuals who spend significant portions of their day in a sedentary state. The minimal lower leg muscle movement of deskbound or otherwise sedentary individual can result in decreased muscle tone, reduced circulation, and lower metabolic rate. Further, during airplane travel, limited leg movement over lengthy flights has been shown to increase risk for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Using an exercise device, even while seated, can increasing lower leg and feet mobility to provide increased muscle tone, vascular circulation and metabolic rates, countering the effects of being otherwise sedentary and inactive.
While devices are known for use while seated, they are often too large and bulky. For example, US Pub. No. 2001/0036885A1 to Castellot, Jr. et al. discloses an exerciser for shuffling a user's legs back and forth. However, this purportedly compact device includes two side-by-side tracks, each approximately 30 inches long, and foot pedals that have a travel of more than twice their own length. A device of such dimensions and used in this manner is impractical for the limited space between seat rows on an airplane. In addition, a device of such dimensions when used beneath a desk would potentially inhibit user movement or limit placement of the user's chair relative to the desk such that good ergonomic placement of the user relative to the desk would be difficult to maintain.
Therefore, it is advantageous that the exercise device easily fit within the space beneath a desk and in front of the user's chair. Similarly, for use on an airplane, a very small and low profile in-use size is required. Currently available devices do not meet such size requirement. Furthermore, available devices do not store to a size and shape convenient for travel.
According to the invention, a compact leg exerciser is provided. The leg exerciser includes two portions that are rotatable about a hinge. Each portion includes a track and a foot pedal longitudinally displaceable along the track. The foot pedals are sized to receive a user's foot. The pedals preferably travel on four wheels mounted on axles at the longitudinal ends of the pedals. The pedals include stops located longitudinally inward of each of the four wheels.
Each track includes a base with a periphery defined by lateral sides and longitudinal ends. The ends of the track are preferably lower than the sides, thereby defining a recess for easier foot access onto the pedals. The lateral sides of the track have a longitudinal center, and longitudinally centered thereabout are resilient limiters for contacting against the stops of the pedals to limit travel of the pedals and thereby prevent the pedals from contacting the longitudinal ends of the periphery. The resilient limiters also assist in returning each pedal in an opposing direction once the pedal reaches the limiters. A track cover extends over the wheels and stops of the pedals to capture and retain the pedals relative to the base. The track length preferably does not exceed twice the pedal length, and is more preferably a length approximately equal to one and one-half times the length of the pedal. The track length is preferably no more than 24 inches, and more preferably less than 18 inches in length. The pedals are preferably less than 12 inches in length. These relative dimensions permit sufficient movement of the pedal on the track for the desired leg mobility while preserving a compact shape and size.
The tracks are spaced apart by the hinge. The hinge is defined by respective hinge members extending from a lateral side of each track. The hinge members are coupled together at a fixed pivot axis, allowing the tracks the fold relative to each other in a direction that brings the flanges of the pedals into contact when in a fully closed position. When the tracks are folded about the pivot axis into the closed position, the hinge forms a handle for transporting the leg exerciser.
Referring now to
Turning to
Resilient limiters 40, 42 for limiting travel of the pedal 22 are located on the base centered about the transverse axis AT. Each resilient limiter, e.g., limiter 40, includes a rigid mount 44 stabilized relative to a lower bracket 46 on the base 20, and opposing resilient elements 48, 50 mounted on opposite sides of the mount 44. The rigid mount 44 is more preferably press-fit into or otherwise held between the lower bracket 46 located at the longitudinal center of the base 20 and an upper bracket 77 located at the longitudinal center of the track covers 74, 76, described below, such that the rigid mount is vertically sandwiched between the two brackets 46, 77. The resilient elements 48, 50 may be coil springs, leaf springs, other springs, natural and man-made rubber-like stops, dense foam stops, etc. The resilient limiters 40, 42 limit travel of the pedal 22, as discussed further below, and thereby prevent the pedal from hard-contacting the longitudinal ends 30, 32 of the periphery 24 of the base 20. The resilient limiters 40, 42 preferably also assist in returning the pedal 22 in an opposing direction once the pedal 22 contacts the limiters. The resilient limiters 40, 42 are integral to permitting the leg exerciser to be within the defined relative dimension relative to the pedals, and providing a device that can be no more than 24 inches.
Referring to
Track covers 74, 76 extend over the wheels 51 and the stops 62, 64 of the pedal 22 (and under the flanges 70, 72) to capture and retain the pedal 22 relative to the base 20. The track cover 74, 76 also includes the upper bracket 77 for the limiters, such that the limiters 40, 42 are secured in position, e.g., by clamping, between upper and lower brackets 46, 77. The track covers 74, 76 are preferably secured to the base 20 with screws 78, although other securing means including bonding with adhesives and sonic welding can be used.
According to one preferred aspect of the invention, the length of the base 20 preferably does not exceed twice the length of the pedal 22, and more preferably the length of the base is approximately equal to (i.e., ±15%) one and one-half times the length of the pedal. For example, in accord with such aspect of the invention, the pedal may be 10.65 inches, and the base may be 16 inches. These relative dimensions permit sufficient pedal-to-base movement to provide the user feet movement necessary to achieve the exercise benefits the foot mobility the device affords while preserving a compact shape and size.
Referring back to
In use, the device is configured into the open position and placed on a planar surface. The user positions his feet on the respective left and right pedals and shuffles his feet back and forth such that the pedals are moved in opposite directions on the left and right bases. With respect to left foot, the left pedal is advanced along the left base until the proximal stop on the pedal contacts the proximally directed, centrally positioned resilient limiter, which limits distal travel of the pedal. In addition, the proximally directed resilient limiter urges movement of the left pedal and proximal direction. The user then moves his foot in the proximal direction until the distal stop on the pedal contacts the distally directed, centrally positioned resilient limiter, which limits proximal travel of the pedal. Similarly, the distally directed resilient limited now urges movement of the pedal in the opposite direction. The movement is repeated for each foot such that the user can easily move his feet in a shuffling motion in a limited amount of space to obtain mobility to one's legs while seated and where little space is available for leg movement.
There have been described and illustrated embodiments of a compact leg exerciser. While particular embodiments of the invention have been described, it is not intended that the invention be limited thereto, as it is intended that the invention be as broad in scope as the art will allow and that the specification be read likewise. Thus, while the resilient limiter have been described on the base, and the rigid stops on the pedals, the parts may be reversed, with the pedals provided with the resilient elements, and the base provided with the rigid stop at a central location. Further, while it is preferred that the left and right portions be hingedly coupled together, it is appreciated that for stationary placement, such as substantially permanent placement under a desk, it may be suitable to have a construct in which the left and right portions are in a substantially fixed planar, open configuration. Also, where the term ‘approximately’ has been used in reference with a dimension, the term ‘approximately’ is meant to include ±15 percent of the stated dimension. It will therefore be appreciated by those skilled in the art that yet other modifications could be made to the provided invention without deviating from its spirit and scope as claimed.
