Exercise chair methods and apparatus
OwnerStephen P. Ihli, Mark A. Krullinventors
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Abstract
A back stretching exercise apparatus includes a base configured to occupy a stable upright position on top of an underlying floor surface, an upper body support configured to support a person's back, and a lower body support configured to support at least the lower halves of a person's legs. Each support is operatively connected to the base to accommodate a person occupying a back relaxing position with his lower legs resting on the lower body support, his back pressing against a portion of the upper body support facing generally toward the lower body support, and his hips lowered into a gap between the upper body support and the lower body support to establish a generally V-shape between his upper legs and his torso and to place his lower lumbar region in gentle traction.
Claims22
An exercise apparatus for use by a person, comprising:
- a frame configured to occupy a stable upright position relative to an underlying floor surface, wherein the frame defines a front end and a rear end;
- a backrest configured to underlie and support the person's back, wherein the backrest is movably mounted on the frame for movement through a range of orientations, including 30 degrees from vertical;
- and
- a leg rest configured to underlie and support the person's legs, wherein the leg rest is operatively connected to the frame for movement between a first position, defining a first distance between the rear end of the frame and a rearwardmost portion of the leg rest, and a second position, defining a second distance between the rear end of the frame and the rearwardmost portion of the leg rest, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance, and the leg rest is disposed forward of the backrest and cooperates with the backrest to define a variable length gap between the leg rest and the backrest, and the gap increases in length in response to movement of the backrest toward a more vertical orientation, and the gap decreases in length in response to movement of the backrest toward a more horizontal orientation, and the gap increases in length in response to movement of the leg rest toward the second position, and the gap decreases in length in response to movement of the leg rest toward the first position, wherein a person's buttocks spans the gap without any underlying support.
A back stretching chair, comprising:
- a base configured to occupy a stable upright position relative to an underlying floor surface;
- a backrest movably mounted on the frame for movement through a range of orientations, including 30 degrees from vertical, wherein the backrest has an upper portion configured and arranged to engage and support a person's middle back and upper back, and a lower portion configured and arranged to engage and support a person's lower back, wherein the lower portion includes an inflatable, approximately hemispherical dome;
- and
- a lower body support configured to engage and support a person's legs, wherein the lower body support is disposed in front of the backrest and cooperates with the backrest to accommodate a person occupying an upright seated position with his legs resting on the lower body support at an elevation above his hips, his upper back and middle back supported in a predominantly vertical orientation by the upper portion of the backrest, his lower back pressing against the inflated dome, and his buttocks occupying a gap between the upper body support and the lower body support.
An exercise apparatus for use by a person, comprising:
- a frame configured to occupy a stable upright position relative to an underlying floor surface;
- a backrest operatively mounted on the frame for pivoting about a pivot axis through a range of orientations from a predominantly vertical orientation to a predominantly horizontal orientation, wherein the backrest includes a cushioned back support configured and arranged to underlie and support the person's upper back and head, and an inflated dome traversed by the pivot axis and configured and arranged to underlie and support the person's lower back;
- and
- a leg rest configured to underlie and support the person's legs, wherein the leg rest defines a cushioned leg supporting surface that measures at least twelve inches fore to aft and at least eighteen inches left to right, and the leg rest is operatively mounted on the frame forward of the backrest to define a variable length gap between the leg rest and the backrest, and the gap increases in length in response to movement of the backrest toward a more vertical orientation, and the gap decreases in length in response to movement of the backrest toward a more horizontal orientation, wherein the leg rest and the backrest cooperate to support the person in a seated position with the person's buttocks spanning the gap without any underlying support.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.