US 8,939,872 B2Granted

Leg exercise apparatus and method of conducting physical therapy using same

OwnerTodd E. Spragueinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Loading patent…

Abstract

A leg exercise apparatus having a supporting frame, a leg disposition assembly and a connecting panel. The supporting frame is pivotably connected to the leg disposition assembly, and an upper portion of the connecting panel is pivotably connected to the leg disposition assembly on its backside. A positioning bar passes through a lower portion of the connecting panel and is disposed in positioning grooves located on both arms of the supporting frame to secure the connecting panel. An end opening is located at an end of the supporting frame and connects to two tunnel grooves at both arms so the positioning bar can be pushed out through the tunnel grooves and end opening, which leads the leg disposition assembly to collapse into the supporting frame to form a compact and portable leg exercise apparatus.

Claims11

Dependent claims

A leg exercise apparatus comprising:

a supporting frame having a receiving space defined by a base, an end portion plate, and first and second substantially parallel arms that extend from opposite sides of the end portion plate, wherein at least a first positioning groove is formed in an inner surface of the first arm and at least a second positioning groove is formed in an inner surface of the second arm;
a leg disposition assembly pivotably mounted to the supporting frame, wherein the leg disposition assembly has a foot platform and a heel rest;
a connecting panel pivotably mounted to the leg disposition assembly at one end and having a positioning bar extending from another end, and
first and second tunnel grooves formed in an inner surface of the first and second arms adjacent the end portion plate and into which opposing ends of the positioning bar are configured to extend, the tunnel grooves opening into a gap formed between the end portion plate and the base that defines an end opening through which the positioning bar protrudingly extends to form a hand-grippable handle when the leg disposition assembly collapses into the receiving space;
wherein the positioning bar's opposing ends are configured to be disposed in the first and second positioning grooves to secure the connecting panel to the supporting frame and fix an angle of the foot platform relative to the supporting frame;
wherein a plurality of slots are formed on both sides of the foot platform, and a pair of hooks are located at the backside of the heel rest to engage with the slots to determine the heel rest's position on the foot platform.

3 more elements

A method of a physical therapist conducting physical therapy with a patient in a wheelchair, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a leg exercise apparatus comprising:
(i) a supporting frame having a receiving space defined by a base, an end portion plate, and first and second substantially parallel arms that extend from opposite sides of the end portion plate, wherein at least a first positioning groove is formed in an inner surface of the first arm and at least a second positioning groove is formed in an inner surface of the second arm;
(ii) a leg disposition assembly that is pivotably connected to the supporting frame and has a foot platform and a heel rest at a front surface thereof;
(iii) a connecting panel pivotably connected to the leg disposition assembly at one end and having a positioning bar extending from another end, and
(iv) first and second tunnel grooves formed in the inner surfaces of the first and second arms, respectively, adjacent the end portion plate, the tunnel grooves opening into a gap formed between the end portion plate and the base that defines an end opening;
(b) placing the leg exercise apparatus on a floor and the end portion plate thereof against a stable surface;
(c) disposing opposing ends of the positioning bar in the first and second positioning grooves to secure the connecting panel to the supporting frame and fix an angle of the foot platform relative to the supporting frame;
(d) the physical therapist exerting a force on the wheelchair while the patient sits in the wheelchair with the patient's feet placed on the foot platform of the leg disposition assembly, the force tending to push the wheelchair toward the wall surface and bend the patient's legs;
(e) the patient exerting a counterforce against the force using leg muscles tending to straighten the legs;
(f) repeating steps (d) and (e);
(g) sliding the opposing ends of the positioning bar through the tunnel grooves to collapse the leg disposition assembly into the receiving space and protrudingly extend the positioning bar through the end opening to form a hand-grippable handle;
and
(h) grasping the hand-grippable handle.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/277,370Filed 20 Oct 2011 · continuation in part
Priority: 26 Jan 2011
Published: US 2012/0190511 A126 Jul 2012
Granted: 27 Jan 2015
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

A63B 21/00047
Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without…:…
A63B 23/03525
For both arms together or both legs together; Aspects related to the co-ordination between right and left side limbs of a user: supports for both…
A63B 23/0405
For lower limbs: involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously
A63B 2208/0204
Posture: standing on the feet