Leg exercise apparatus and method
AssigneeAdvanced Therapeutics, Inc.
InventorsRandall Larson, Gloria A. Larson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for exercising muscles of the leg comprising a frame, a padded sling for engaging the back of the knee, a load and a cable running from the load to the sling over one or more pulleys hung from the frame so that the load loading is applied perpendicularly to the back of the knee as it is straightened. A foot rest aligned with the sling assures that the foot remains planted throughout the movement of the leg except for flexing at the ankle. At least one of the pulleys is adjustable so that legs of different length can be accommodated. The type of load includes weights, an hydraulic cylinder, extension or compression springs and isokinetic mechanisms.
Claims16
An apparatus for exercising muscles of a user's leg, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- means for engaging the posterior aspect of the knee of said leg, said engaging means carried by said frame, said engaging means is a sling, said sling adapted to be positioned against the posterior aspect of said knee;
- means for resisting but not preventing movement of said engaging means by muscles of said leg, said resisting means carried by said frame and in operative connection with said engaging means,
- said resisting means having a first position and a second position, said resisting means being in said first position when said leg is bent at the knee and in said second position when said leg is straightened,
- said resisting means applying no resistance when in said first position and applying resistance when in said second position, so that resistance is applied when straightening said leg;
- and
- a foot rest pivotally attached to said frame and spaced apart from said engaging means.
An apparatus for exercising muscles of a user's leg, said apparatus comprising:
- a frame;
- a pad carried by said frame and dimensioned for engaging the posterior aspect of said user's knee, said pad includes a sling, said sling adapted to be positioned against the posterior aspect of said knee;
- a load carried by said frame;
- a pivotable foot rest carried by said frame, said foot rest in spaced relation to said load;
- and
- means for connecting said load to said pad so that said pad has a first position and a second position, said leg bent at the knee when said pad is in said first position and said leg straightened when said pad is in said second position,
- said connecting means applying said load when said pad is moved from said first position to said second position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.