Patent Application
20140329648
This invention relates generally to physical therapy devices and, more particularly, to an apparatus and kit that provides for range of motion therapy directed to the hip and knee joints of a person.
Exercises that strengthen the muscles of the back and abdomen are the best kind of preventative medicine for back problems. Once injured, back problems can persist for months or years and result in significant financial loss, whether that loss is from medical treatment or simply being incapable of working. Often, a person with back pain, such as may be caused by inflammation from an injury, can find relief from cold therapy and gentle range of motion exercises that move a person's hips and knee joints. Cold therapy is known to reduce inflammation. Unfortunately, it may be difficult for a person with a back injury to apply cold therapy where it is needed or to coordinate range of motion exercises.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a therapy band that enables a person to perform simple range of motion exercises while laying on the floor or bed. Further, it would be desirable to have a therapy band that enables a person to easily apply cold therapy to an affected area while performing low-impact range of motion exercises. In addition, it would be desirable to have a therapy band and accessory elements that help a person maintain core stability while performing range of motion exercises.
A range of motion therapy apparatus and kit according to the present invention includes an elongate body member having a flexible construction and generally tubular configuration defining an open space, the body member having an open proximal end and a closed distal end opposite the proximal end. The apparatus and kit includes a tubular receptacle having a closed bottom and a continuous side wall extending upwardly from the closed bottom that, together, define an interior area and an open top. The tubular receptacle includes a diameter smaller than a diameter of the body member such that the tubular receptacle is selectively received in the open space of the body member. A weighted straight bar, a generally C-shaped bar, and a tubular cushion may also be included. All components may be stored in the tubular receptacle.
Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a therapy apparatus and kit to enable a person to perform range of motion exercises in a stable manner.
Another object of this invention is to provide a therapy apparatus and kit, as aforesaid, having an elongate tubular band that may be configured in a loop that may be grasped by a person's hands and feet and used to coordinate range of motion exercises.
Still another object of this invention is to provide a therapy apparatus and kit, as aforesaid, having a tubular receptacle into which cold therapy may be received and then the receptacle inserted into the tubular band for application to a desired body location.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a therapy apparatus and kit, as aforesaid, having a straight bar, a C-shaped bar, and a foam pad that may be positioned inside the therapy band to enhance its use in facilitating range of motion exercises.
A further object of this invention is to provide a therapy apparatus and kit, as aforesaid, that is portable and storable.
A still further object of this invention is to provide a therapy apparatus and kit, as aforesaid, that is easy to use and cost-effective to manufacture.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.
a is a perspective view of a range of motion therapy apparatus and kit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated in use by a person;
b is another perspective view of the therapy apparatus in use by a person as in
a is a side view of the therapy apparatus as in
b is a side view of the therapy apparatus as in
a is a side view of the body member as in
b is a section view taken along line 4b-4b of
a is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from
b is an isolated view on an enlarged scale taken from
a is an exploded view of the tubular receptacle storing all components of the invention; and
b is a perspective view of the tubular receptacle retaining all of the components shown in
A range of motion therapy apparatus and kit according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to
The range of motion therapy apparatus and kit 10 includes a body member 20, also referred to as a “band.” The body member 20 includes a flexible construction as it may be folded or articulated in many ways as will be described in more detail later. Preferably, the body member 20 has an elongate tubular configuration and defines a hollow open interior space. The body member 20 includes an open proximal end 22 that provides access to the interior space and an opposed distal end 24 that is closed. The body member 20 may be constructed of fabric material that has a fixed length although in other embodiments a stretchable material may also work. The open proximal end 22 includes a diameter that is equal to a diameter of the open interior space of the body member 20 such that items received into the body member 20 enter or exit through the open proximal end 22 as will be described in more detail later.
The therapy apparatus and kit 10 includes a tubular receptacle 30 having a closed bottom 32 and a continuous side wall 34 extending upwardly therefrom. The bottom 32 and side wall 34 together define an interior area and an upper edge of the side wall 34 defines an open top 36. A lid 38 may be included, such as one that may be selectively attached in a threaded arrangement. The lid 38, therefore, is movable between an attached configuration preventing access to the interior area and a released configuration allowing access to the interior area. Preferably, the tubular receptacle 30 is constructed of a waterproof material, such as plastic or metal, so as to selectively retain either solids or liquids. However, in one embodiment, the tubular receptacle 30 may be constructed of a cotton fabric or other textile construction.
For instance, the tubular receptacle 30 may retain cold items such as frozen beans, a cold pack 37, cold or warm water, or the actual components of the kit as will be further described later. When filled with cold solids or liquids, the lid 38 may be secured over the open top 36 and the receptacle 30 inserted into the body member 20 through the open proximal end 22 and used to provide comfort to a person's back or other body position having inflammation. In another embodiment, the body member 20 may be constructed such that a cold pack 37, cold beans, or other cold or heat source may be received directly into the interior area of the body member 20 and then positioned for therapy upon a person's body.
A first fastener 40 may be coupled to the open proximal end 22 of the body member 20 and configured to selectively open or close the proximal end 22. Further, a second fastener 42 may be coupled to the closed distal end 24 even though the distal end 24 is constructed in a closed configuration. In use, the first fastener 40 may be releasably coupled to the second fastener 44 so as to selectively hold the body member 20 in a continuous loop for use in a variety of range of motion exercises or to release the body member 20 to move into an elongate linear configuration that may be rolled up into a storage configuration and stored within the interior are of the tubular receptacle 30 (
The range of motion therapy apparatus and kit 10 may also include various elements that may be selectively positioned within the body member 20 to facilitate various forms of therapy or exercise. Specifically, the therapy apparatus 10 may include a first tube 50 having free ends and a tubular configuration. The first tube 50 may have a diameter smaller than a diameter of the interior space of the body member 20 so as to be received therein. The first tube 50 may be a weighted straight bar that may be positioned within a certain segment of the interior space of the body member 20 and used as a hand-hold or foot-hold for a user as will be described later.
In addition, the therapy apparatus and kit 10 may include a second tube 52 having a generally straight section with gently curved ends. Accordingly, the second tube 52 has an overall C-shaped configuration. Again, the second tube 52 includes a diameter that is less than a diameter of the interior space of the body member 20 so as to be selectively received therein. The second tube 52 may be positioned within a selected segment of the body member 20 and used as a handle to be grasped by a user when performing range of motion exercises as will be described more fully later.
Further, the therapy apparatus and kit 10 may include a foam pad 54 having a generally tubular configuration. The foam pad 54 includes a central longitudinal bore having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of either the first tube 50 or the second tube 52 such that either tube may be received therein. In use, the first tube 50 or the second tube 52 may be positioned within the foam pad 54 before being positioned within the body member 20 so as to provide a softer component to be grasped by a user's hands.
In use, all of the components of the invention may be stored together. For instance, the body member 20 may be rolled up and received into the tubular receptacle 30 (
Then, some or all of the components may be used singly or in combination. For instance, if a user is suffering from back pain caused by inflammation, the receptacle 30 may be filled with frozen beans, ice water, or a cold pack, and then the receptacle inserted into the band 20. In one embodiment, a cold pack or the like may be received directly into the body member 20. The length and circuitous nature of the band 20 enables the user to properly position the receptacle 30 at just the right position for the cold and pressure to have the desired effect.
In another example, the first tube 50 (straight bar) and second tube 52 (C-shaped bar) may be inserted into the body member 20 and positioned opposite one another (
It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61795606 | Oct 2012 | US |
