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US 6,746,248 B2Granted
Body weight supports and teaching aid
OwnerOwen Eastwoodinventor
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OwnerOwen Eastwoodinventor
Estimating the term…
The invention relates to body supports and teaching aids particular for use during skiing. Skiing to greater or to lesser degrees imposes strains on the muscles of the skier causing fatigue and encouraging a skier to adopt an incorrect stance or posture not conducive to good and correct skiing. The object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective body support and teaching aid that is effective during skiing and does not need to be removed during a temporary cessation of activity but allows substantial freedom of movement of the legs during walking and sitting. This objective is met by a construction comprising a first (upper) member adapted for location against the thigh area of the leg, a second (lower) member adapted for location against the calf area of the leg, a pivotal connection between the first and second members, the second member being connectable to the boot of a user, load bearing means in the form of at least one compression spring located on the support to provide a resistance to pivotal movement between the first and second members, and said load bearing means being deactivatable to permit substantially free pivotal movement between the first and second members.
A body weight support configured for connection to a boot of a user, said body weight support characterised by a first upper member adapted for location against the thigh area of the leg, a second lower member adapted for location against the calf area of the leg, a pivotal connection between the first and second members, the second member being connectable to the boot of the user to form a connection between the second member and the boot, load bearing means formed by at least one compression spring located on the support to provide a resistance to pivotal movement between the first and second members, and deactivating means configured to provide that said load bearing means is deactivatable to permit substantially free pivotal movement between the first and second members, wherein said deactivating means is actuateable to provide that the load bearing means is inactive through a full range of motion and remains inactive while the user walks and sits.
A system of two body weight supports, each configured for connection to a boot of a user, each of said body weight supports being characterized by a first upper member adapted for location against the thigh area of the leg, a second lower member adapted for location against the calf area of the leg, a pivotal connection between the first and second members, the second member being connectable to the boot of the user to form a connection between the second member and the boot, load bearing means in the form of at least one compression spring located on the support to provide a resistance to pivotal movement between the first and second members, and deactivating means configured to provide that said load bearing means is deactivatable to permit substantially free pivotal movement between the first and second members, wherein said deactivating means is actuateable to provide that the load bearing means is inactive through a full range of motion and remains inactive while the user walks and sits.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.