US 6,443,874 B1Granted

Occupational - therapy apparatus for strengthening fingers, hand, wrist, forearm and foot

OwnerMark Bennettinventor

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Abstract

An occupational-therapy/physical-therapy apparatus is disclosed and includes at least one pivotal or rotatable resistance against which the body part being exercised is located. A resistance bar is biased to act against the body part, which bias is adjustable. Operatively associated with the resistance bar is at least one stabilization bar that is used to support a part of the body in close proximity to the body part engaged against the resistance bar, in order to provide the most optimal support to the body part being exercised. Each of the resistance bar and the stabilization bar has a multitude of degrees of freedom of motion, which in the preferred embodiment total six degrees of freedom, so that numerous types of exercises may be performed on numerous different body parts, and so that the most optimal orientation of the body part may be achieved, where both horizontal, vertical and angular orientations of the body parts may be accomplished while the body part is being exercised. The pivotal movement of the resistance bar or lever is infinitely adjustable by an adjustable, angular control mechanism, in order that the apparatus of the invention is most optimally suited and safe for all types of patients, body parts, and exercises. The angular starting point, and therefore the end point, of movement of the pivotal resistance bar is also adjustable.

Claims31

Dependent claims

In an apparatus for exercising and strengthening body part, which apparatus comprises a main frame, a resistance means, said resistance means comprising a resistance bar against which the body part to be exercised and strengthened contacts for rotating said resistance bar, variable biasing means operatively associated with said resistance means for providing a resistance to said resistance bar for performing exercises, first mounting means for mounting said resistance means to said main frame, and second mounting means for mounting, said variable biasing means to said main frame, said resistance bar having a first longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising:

an adjustable stabilization means comprising a stabilization bar, said stabilization bar having a second longitudinal axis and a plurality of degrees of freedom of movement, said adjustable stabilization bar being operatively associated in close proximity with said resistance bar for supporting a portion of a body part near the body part being exercised, the proximity of said adjustable stabilization bar to said resistance bar being variable in order to suit the body part being exercised, the type and condition of the person exercising, and the type of exercise being performed;
and
third mounting means for mounting said stabilization means to said main frame, said third mounting means mounting said stabilization bar for plurality of degrees of freedom of movement;
said third mounting means mounting said stabilization means to said main frame independently of said first mounting means that mounts said resistance means to said main frame;
said resistance bar and said stabilization bar being, therefore, independently and separately maneuverable from each other;
said first and third mounting means positioning said resistance bar and said stabilization bar such that said first and second longitudinal axes are substantially parallel to each other during the performance of exercise.

3 more elements

A device for biasing a lever of a resistance-element device used in an apparatus for exercising and strengthening body parts, comprising:

a first disc means affixed to a lever of a resistance-element device for rotation therewith;
a second disc means operatively associated with said first disc means for both conjoint rotation therewith and for relative rotation therebetween;
means for rotatably mounting said first and second disc means for rotation about a common axis;
each of said first and second disc means having a plurality of openings formed therein along at least one surface face thereof, each of said plurality of openings of said first disc cooperating and capable of alignment with a selected one of said plurality of openings of said second disc means;
biasing means for rotatably biasing said first and second disc means, said third disc means also having plurality of openings formed therein along at least one surface face thereof;
and interconnect means cooperating and extending through said selected openings of said plurality of openings of said first, second and third disc means for locking said first and second disc means together for conjoint rotation, and for allowing relative rotation therebetween when said interconnect means is removed therefrom, whereby the initial setting of a lever of a resistance-element means may be adjustably varied;
said third disc means sandwiched between said first and second disc means, said third disc means being operatively coupled to said biasing means.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.