Back to results
US 6,616,456 B1Granted
Apparatus for performing hippotherapy
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsTheresa J. Nalty, Wayne Skloss
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A therapeutic riding device which treats physical and mental impairments of riders by simulating the motion of a horse in three dimensions. A patient sits on a seat (12) which is mechanically driven by a motor (13) and an arrangement of members having cams (33a, 33b). The three-dimensional pattern made by the seat may be controlled so as to mimic an ideal hippotherapy horse.
Claims30
An apparatus for performing hippotherapy, said apparatus comprising:
- a seat configured to support a rider;
- at least one outer cam coupled to said seat and configured to propel said seat in a first set of directions;
- at least one inner cam coupled to said seat and configured to propel said seat in a second set of directions;
- at least one innermost cam coupled to said seat and configured to propel said seat in a third set of directions;
- and
- a motor coupled to said at least one outer cam and said at least one inner cam and said at least one innermost cam to drive said at least one outer cam and said at least one inner cam and said at least one innermost cam.
3 more elements
An apparatus for hippotherapy, comprising:
- a seat configured to support a rider;
- a support frame coupled to said seat, said support frame for housing mechanical components for movement of said seat;
- said mechanical components comprising:
- a first pair of cams coupled to said seat for movement of said seat along a first axis, said first pair of cams being spaced apart by a first distance;
- a second pair of cams coupled to said seat for movement of said seat along a second axis, said second pair of cams being spaced apart by a second distance, said second distance being greater than said first distance;
- a third pair of cams coupled to said seat for movement of said seat along a third axis, said third pair of cams being spaced apart by a third distance, said third distance being greater than said second distance;
- said first, second, and third pairs of cams for moving said seat in three dimensions;
- and
- a motor operatively coupled to provide motive power to said first, second, and third pairs of cams.
6 more elements
A method for performing hippotherapy without use of a horse, comprising:
- providing an apparatus capable of three dimensional movement, said apparatus having a seat configured to support a patient;
- a support frame coupled to said seat, said support frame including mechanical components for movement of said seat;
- said mechanical components comprising a motor, a plurality of cams coupled to said seat to provide said three dimensional movement;
- positioning said patient on said seat;
- and
- applying operating power to said motor to drive said seat in said three dimensional movement, thereby providing said hippotherapy to said patient without use of said horse.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.