# US 2016/0258573 A1 · Exercise machine and method for use in a supine position > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2016/0258573 A1 - Document ID: US20160258573A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/640,428 - Filed: 2015-03-06 - Published: 2016-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-06 - Assignees: Department of Veterans Affairs - Applicants: Department of Veterans Affairs - Inventors: Gary Goldish; Andrew Hansen; Eric Nickel; John Ferguson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20160258573A1 ## CPC - F16M 11/42: with arrangement for propelling the support {stands on wheels} - A61H 1/0214: {by rotating cycling movement} - A61H 1/0274: {for the upper limbs} - A63B 21/16: Supports for anchoring force-resisters - A63B 22/0002: {involving an exercising of arms (for strengthening the upper limbs A63B23/12)} - A63B 22/0005: {with particular movement of the arms provided by handles moving otherwise than pivoting about a horizontal axis parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane} - A63B 22/0046: {Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation (attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20)} - A63B 22/0605: {performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers} - A63B 22/0694: {without integral seat, e.g. portable mini ergometers being placed in front of a chair, on a table or on a bed} - A63B 71/0054: {Features for injury prevention on an apparatus, e.g. shock absorbers (mats or the like for absorbing shocks for jumping A63B6/00)} - A63B 71/023: {Supports, e.g. poles} - A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user} - B60B 33/0089: {acting on the floor} - B60B 33/0092: {actuated remotely, e.g. by cable or electrically} - B60B 33/0094: {actuated automatically} - F16M 11/18: with mechanism for moving the apparatus relatively to the stand - F16M 11/24: changeable in height or length of legs, also for transport only, {e.g. by means of tubes screwed into each other}(F16M11/42 takes precedence) - A61H 2201/0142: Beds - A61H 2201/0157: portable - A61H 2201/1215: Rotary drive - A61H 2201/1635: Hand or arm, e.g. handle - A61H 2203/0406: Standing on the feet - A61H 2203/0456: Supine - A63B 21/00061: {Replaceable resistance units of different strengths, e.g. for swapping} - A63B 21/00069: {Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve} - A63B 21/005: using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters - A63B 21/0058: {using motors} - A63B 21/0083: {of the piston-cylinder type (using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087)} - A63B 21/0087: {of the piston-cylinder type (using hydraulic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0083)} - A63B 21/0552: {Elastic ropes or bands} - A63B 21/0628: {for vertical array of weights} - A63B 21/225: {with flywheels} - A63B 22/0007: {by alternatively exercising arms or legs, e.g. with a single set of support elements driven either by the upper or the lower limbs} - A63B 22/0076: {Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system (seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06)} - A63B 23/03525: {Supports for both feet or both hands performing simultaneously the same movement, e.g. single pedal or single handle (A63B21/0724 takes precedence)} - A63B 23/0405: {involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously (A63B23/0476 takes precedence)} - A63B 23/1209: {Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously} - A63B 71/0009: {for handicapped persons} - A63B 2022/0623: {Cranks of adjustable length} - A63B 2071/025: {on rollers or wheels} - A63B 2071/0658: {Position or arrangement of display} - A63B 2208/0204: Standing on the feet - A63B 2208/0233: in 90/90 position, like on a chair - A63B 2208/0252: supine - A63B 2210/04: incorporated in beds, sofas - A63B 2225/09: Adjustable dimensions - A63B 2225/093: Height - F16M: FRAMES, CASINGS OR BEDS OF ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS, NOT SPECIFIC TO ENGINES, MACHINES OR APPARATUS PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE; STANDS; SUPPORTS - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION ## Abstract An exercise machine has a mobile base and an upright support extending upwards from the mobile base. An upper support assembly extends forward from an upper portion of the upright support and an exercise device is suspended from the upper support assembly at a location spaced forward from the upright support. The mobile base has caster wheels and can be positioned from either side of a bed so as to extend partially under a bed with the upright support located on one side of the bed and the exercise device suspended over the bed in a position accessible by a patient lying supine in the bed for performing exercise. An anchoring system resists movement of the base for stability when exercise is performed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An exercise machine for use by an exerciser in a supine position, comprising: a mobile base having a forward end and a rear end, the base having a plurality of ground-engaging wheels and an anchoring system configured to arrest movement of the base in an operative position of the exercise machine; an upright support extending upwards from the mobile base; an upper support assembly extending in a generally forward direction from an upper portion of the upright support; and an exercise device suspended from the upper support assembly at a location spaced from the upright support; the mobile base being configured to extend partially under a bed with the upright support located on one side of the bed and the exercise device suspended over the bed in the operative position in which the exercise device is accessible by a patient in the bed to perform exercise. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the anchoring system is configured to raise the wheels from the ground in the operative position of the exercise machine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the anchoring system comprises a plurality of expandable feet at spaced locations on the mobile base which are movable between a raised, inoperative position during transport of the machine and a lowered, ground-engaging position in which all the caster wheels are raised from the ground when the machine is in an operative position for exercise performance. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The exercise machine of claim 3, further comprising an actuator configured to control actuation of the expandable feet for movement between the inoperative and ground-engaging positions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The exercise machine of claim 4, wherein the actuator comprises a foot pedal on the mobile base. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the anchoring system comprises a locking device associated with each caster wheel and a remote actuator for actuating the locking devices to lock the caster wheels against movement. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the exercise device is selected from the group consisting of an arm ergometer, a rowing exerciser, a press-up exercise device, a pull down exercise device, a bicep curl exercise device, a chest press exercise device, a shoulder press exercise device, a leg extension exercise device, a leg press exercise device, and a leg cycling exercise device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising an adjustment device configured for selective adjustment of the height of the exercise device above the mobile base. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the upper support assembly comprises a four bar pivot linkage and an actuator configured to control the four bar pivot linkage to adjust the height of the exercise device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein the four bar pivot linkage comprises a vertical support from which the exercise device is suspended, at least one upper pivot link having a first pivot connection to the upright support and a second pivot connection to the vertical support, and at least one lower pivot link having a third pivot connection to the upright support below the first pivot connection, and a fourth pivot connection to the vertical support below the second pivot connection. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The exercise machine of claim 10, wherein one of the pivot links has a rear portion extending rearward from the upright support, and a counterweight is mounted on the rear portion for urging the exercise device upwards and away from a patient when the actuator is released. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The exercise machine of claim 9, wherein the actuator comprises a gas spring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a load associated with the exercise device for adjusting exercise resistance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the mobile base comprises an H-shaped frame with a pair of side bars and a cross bar extending between the side bars, and the upright support extends upward from a central portion of the cross support bar. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The exercise machine of claim 14, wherein the cross bar is located closer to the rear end of the mobile base than the forward end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 3) The exercise machine of claim 3, wherein the base has at least two spaced forward caster wheels adjacent the forward end and at least two spaced rear caster wheels adjacent the rear end, and at least two expandable forward feet each located in the vicinity of a respective forward caster wheel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The exercise device of claim 16, further comprising at least two expandable rear feet each located in the vicinity of a respective rear caster wheel. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The exercise machine of claim 1, further comprising a display device mounted on or adjacent the exercise device, the display device being positioned to face a user in a bed when the machine is in the operative position relative to the bed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The exercise machine of claim 18, wherein the display device comprises a tablet computer. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The exercise machine of claim 18, further comprising an articulated arm which mounts the display device on the machine and is configured for positioning of the display device on either side of the exercise device. ### Claim 21 A method of positioning an exercise machine for use by a person in a supine position in a bed, comprising: positioning a mobile base of an exercise machine with at least a forward portion of the base extending under a bed while caster wheels on the base are in a deployed, rollable condition engaging the ground, an upright support extending upwards from mobile base located adjacent a side of the bed, and an upper support assembly from which an exercise device is suspended extending over the bed with the exercise device positioned over a user in the bed; and actuating an anchor system in the mobile base to support the base in a stable position; after a patient in the bed has completed an exercise routine using the exercise device, de-actuating the anchor system to allow movement of the mobile base; and moving the mobile base away from the bed. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The method of claim 21, further comprising raising or lowering the exercise device when the mobile base is in the stable position to place the exercise device at a selected height above a person in the bed for access by the patient to perform exercise, and releasably locking the exercise device at the selected height.