GB2262051A - Exercise device - Google Patents

Abstract

An exercise device for handicapped people comprises a generally upright post 10 rotatably mounted on a support structure 12 adapted to rest on the floor. The post has an upper cross-bar 14 having handles 50 at its ends and a lower cross-bar 13 having footrests 41 at its ends. The device is intended to be used by a person sitting in a chair and allows the user to exercise their arms and/or legs. The height of the post, and the height of the lower cross-bar, may be adjustable. The distance between the handles, and between the footrests, may also be adjustable, as may be the angles of the handles and/or footrests. The support structure may be an H frame, or may alternatively be a pair of strips 30 of adjustable length and/or angle, with retaining means 32 at their ends for engaging with the front feet of the user's chair. <IMAGE>

Description

EE:xercise Device The present invention relates to exercise devices.

Exercise devices are now well known. Many such devices are intended for use by generally fit people who want to maintain thernselves in good physical shape. Others are intended more specifically for physiotherapeutic use by people who are in poor health, eg sufferers from arthritis or strokes.

Those intended for use by generally fit people are on the whole unlikely to be of value for the latter purposes, because those in poor health may not have the strength or be capable of the range of movements required for such devices, and such devices may not be designed to pr orilote the exercises end movements which are most useful for physiotherapy. On the other hand, those devices designed and intended primarily for the latter purposes are generally costly, as the market for such purposes is limited.

The general object of the present invention is to provide an exercise device which is intended primarily for use by people in poor health, the device having considerable generality in the range of conditions for which it is useful, end being also simple and therefore relatively cheap.

Accordingly the present invention provides an exercise device comprising a generally upright post rotatably mounted on a support structure adapted to rest on the floor, the post having at least one cross-bar having at its ends means for engaging with the hands or feet of the user. Preferahly the device has two cross-bars, en upper cross-bar having handles at its ends and a lower cross-bar having footrests at its ends.

The height of the post, and the height of the lower cross-bar, may be adjustable. The distance between the handles, and between the footrests, may also be adjustable, as may be the angles of the handles and/or footrests. The support structure may be an H frame, or may alternatively be a pair of strips of adjustable length and/or angle, with retaining means at their ends for engaging with the front feet of the user's chair.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of two exercise devices embodying the invention, given by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic perspective views of the two devices.

Fig. 1 shows the first device, which comprises a generally upright post 10 mounted by means of a mounting 11 on a support structure 12 and having a lower cross-bar 13 and an upper cross-bar 14.

More specifically, the post comprises two tubular sections 20 and 21, with the upper section 21 slidable vertically in the lower section 20. A locking element 22 can be used to lock the two sections together. The height of the device can thus be adjusted and then locked in.

The post 20 is mounted in a mounting 11 which permits the post to rotate about its own (vertical) axis. In addition, the mounting- 11 has attached to it the support structure 12, which consists of two flat strips 30 each of which passes through the lower part of the mounting 11. Each of the strips 30 may have its end formed with an enlargement with a raised rim round its rear edge, forming a cup 32.

The strips 30 are slidable through the mounting 11, and can be locked in position by means of locking means such as stub bolts (not shown) acting in conjunction with holes 31 in the mounting strips. The mounting 11 may also be constructed to allow the angle between the two strips 30 to be adjusted.

In use, the strips are adjusted so that their end cups have the front feet of the user's chair placed in them. This keeps the device fixed in position, with the rims of the cups preventing the device from being pushed away from the user.

(Alternatively, the position of the cups on the strips may be adjustable.) The lower cross-bar 13 consists of a pair of bars 40 attached to the lower half 22 of the post 20, and with a pair of footrests 41 at their outer ends.

The bars 40 may be attached to a collar (not shown) on the post member 22, to allow vertical adjustment and locking. Similarly, the footrests 41 may be mounted (by mounting means not shown) for adjustment in angle and/or distance from the post.

The upper cross-bar 14 consists of 8 pair of bars 50 attached to the top of the upper half 21 of the post 20, and with a pair of handles 51 at their outer ends. Vertical adjustment and locking is provided by the telescopic construction of the post 10 as already described. The handles 51 may be mounted (by mounting means not shown) for adjustment in angle and/or distence from the post, like the footrests 41.

If desired, the mounting 11 may be designed to permit the angle of the post 10 to be adjusted slightly off the true vertical, so that the user can tilt the post slightly towards or away from hirn or her self for maximum comfort.

The device is used by someone seated in a chair, the front feet of the chair being pleced in the cups 32 to maintain the device in position. The user places their feet in the footrests 41 and grips the handles 51 with their hands.

The user then swings or oscillates the post, using their hands and arms and/or their legs and feet.

The angle of oscillation is not predetermined, so the user can choose the angle to suit their abilities. Further, the user can use their hands and arms to drive the device, thereby passively exercising their legs, or they can use their legs and feet to drive the device, thereby passively exercising their arms.

The mounting 11 may allow the post 10 to rotate freely, or it may have a resistance built in to provide resistance to its rotation. Such resistance may be provided, for example, by spring means and/or friction means (not shown).

Means for adjusting the force of such resistance may also be provided.

The form of the hand grips can of course be varied. For example, 9 pair of handlebars like those on a bicycle can be used. If desired, the hand grips can be made rotatable and incorporate suitable resistance means.

It is elso possible to provide a power drive to drive the device to assist the user's efforts.

Fig. 2 shows a second form of the device, referenced to match Fig. 1. The main differences are that the Fig. 2 device has footrests 41' which are pivoted on the lower crossbar 40', and the support structure 12' is a simple H frame consisting of a cross-bar 35 and two side bars 36. This support structure has non-slip feet 37 to minimize the possibility of sliding on the floor.

The various major elements of the device are preferably bolted or otherwise fixed together in such a manner that they can be disassernbled for convenience of packing.

Claims (11)

Claims

1 An exercise device comprising a generally upright post rotatably mounted on a support structure adapted to rest on the floor, the post having at least one cross-bar having at its ends means for engaging with the hands or feet of the user.

2 An exercise device according to claim 1 having two cross-bars, an upper cross-bar having handles at its ends and a lower cross-bar having footrests at its ends.

3 A device according to either previous claim wherein the height of the post is adjustable.

4 A device according to any previous claim wherein the height of the lower cross-bar is adjustable.

5 A device according to any previous claim wherein the distance between the handles is adjustable.

6 A device according to any previous claim wherein the distance between the footrests is adjustable.

7 A device according to any previous claim wherein the angle of the handles is adjustable.

8 A device according to any previous clsirn wherein the angle of the footrests is adjustable.

9 A device according to any previous claim wherein the support structure is an H frame.

10 A device according to any previous claim wherein the support structure Ei pair of strips of adjustable length and/or angle, with retaining means at their ends for engaging with the front feet of the user's chair.

11 Any novel and inventive feature or combinstion of features specifically disclosed herein within the mesning of Article 4H of the International Convention (Paris Convention).