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US 4,542,900 AGranted
Exercise or therapy device or apparatus
AssigneeVersatile Equipment Co., Inc.
InventorDavid B. Ray
Life of this patent
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AssigneeVersatile Equipment Co., Inc.
InventorDavid B. Ray
Estimating the term…
An exercise or therapy device provides for the foot to be fixed and the knee to be biased to a flexed position such that the quadriceps muscles straighten the leg or extend the knee against resistance. Preferably the user is seated with his foot or feet fixed against a foot support, and the posterior of the knee is engaged by a movable member which biases the knee in a flexing direction with a selectable force. The seat preferably is movable back and forth to accommodate the flexing and extending of the knee. The femur is not fixed as in many machines where the knee is fixed and the foot moves. The device is particularly suited for strengthening of the quadriceps, but is useful in connection with many different types of knee therapy or knee strengthening. The device is also effective for strengthening the hip flexors and extensors and the hamstrings. A basic concept of the device involves its simulation of natural sports activity involving running, in which the foot is planted and the knee moves to accommodate the activity. Various adjustments are provided on the device to accommodate different users. Preferred versions of the device are assembled in a unitary frame.
Exercise apparatus comprising fixed means for bearing against the anterior part of the lower leg or ankle or foot of a user, movable means for bearing against the posterior part of the leg in the area of the knee joint of a user and movable relative to said fixed means, means positioning said fixed means and said movable means such that a seated user sitting adjacent said movable means on the side thereof relatively away from said fixed means can pass a leg over said movable means and beneath said fixed means, and means yieldably biasing said movable means toward a normal position in which a user with a lower leg portion bearing against said fixed means will have his knee flexed about said movable means, such that extending of the knee and straightening of the leg necessitates moving said movable means from said normal position against the force of said yieldable biasing means.
An exercise device comprising a support surface for the torso of a user, relatively stationary foot support means disposed frontwardly of said support surface for engagement by a lower leg portion or foot of the user to at least limit the lower leg portion or foot against upward movement, relatively movable knee engaging means located between said foot support means and said torso support surface for bearing against the posterior surface of the knee area of the leg of the user, means mounting said knee engaging means for movement relative to said foot support means between a normal raised position in which the leg of the user is flexed about the knee engaging means and a lower position in which the leg of the user is relatively straightened and the knee is relatively extended, and force means yieldably biasing said knee engaging means to its raised position.
Exercise apparatus comprising hip positioning means for positioning the hips of a user, lower leg positioning means for positioning the lower part of a leg of a user, means restraining said hip positioning means and said lower leg positioning means against substantial movement laterally of an imaginary line connecting them, and knee engaging means movable relative to said hip and lower leg positioning means for engaging the posterior portion of the knee of a user and yieldably biasing the knee laterally away from said imaginary line in a direction to flex the leg of the user and require the user to overcome said bias in order to extend the leg and knee.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.