Back to results
US 6,551,219 B1Granted
Cyclic ergometer
OwnerDavid Alan Browninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An exercise or physical therapy apparatus provides both tonic and phasic exercise to selected muscle groups of a user, such as the muscles of the arms or legs. The phasic exercise may be accomplished by a cycle. The tonic exercise is accomplished by subjecting the muscle group to a constant load, such as a user- or therapist-selected portion of the user's body weight, by springs, or by weights. A measurement device measures the degree of displacement of the user's torso, it being an objective of the user to keep the torso stationary.
Claims20
Exercise apparatus, comprising:
- a frame;
- first and second pedals adaptable to receive the feet of a user and articulably connected to the frame, each pedal movable through a range of motion and adaptable to physically exercise a leg of the user;
- a generally flat sled configured for receiving a back and torso of a user and slidably connected to the frame, the sled slidable toward and away from the pedals so that the user must exert force on said user's legs to maintain the sled and the torso in a position away from said pedals while said user is pedaling with said pedals, the force exerted to maintain said sled and said torso away from said pedals creating tonic exercise of said legs of the user, the sled permitting a range of flexion of the legs at the hip joint from a bent position to a fully extended, straight position while the user's feet engage the pedals and while said user's back is engaged to said sled;
- and
- a source of resistance to pedal movement coupled to each of the pedals.
2 more elements
Apparatus for exercising a muscle group of a user, comprising:
- a frame;
- a first system articulably coupled to the frame and engageable by a user's legs for providing phasic muscle activity of the legs;
- and
- a second system articulably coupled to the frame and engageable by the legs for applying a constant supportive load on the legs while the legs engage the first system, the failure of the muscle group to bear the supportive load causing the second system to be displaced relative to the frame, the second system permitting a range of flexion of the legs at the hip joint from a bent position to fully extended, straight position while the user's legs are engaging the first system.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.