US2630115A - Exerciser for subnormal muscles - Google Patents

Description

March 3, .1953 w. BIERMAN EXERCISER FOR SUBNORMAL MUSCLES Filed Nov. 3. 1951 2 SHEETS SHEET l z g; J

HTTOPN Y March 3, 1953 w. BIERMAN EXERCISER FOR SUBNORMAL MUSCLE-S 2 SHEETS SHEET 2 Filed NOV. 3, 1951 //V VE N 70/? [MIL L/AM BhfIFM/W BY I A T TO/PNE Y Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES P'lh GFFEQE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to exercisers for subnormal muscles of the body extremities, i. e. for the feet, legs, hands and arms. More particu larly, the invention relates to an attachment for such an exerciser.

Some persons whose body extremities are paralyzed do not have sufficient control of the other muscles of the body to hold the body extremities in proper position in the exerciser. Also, even if sufficient control for this purpose is present, it is a great strain to hold a limb in one position while a part of it is being exercised for a long period of time.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an ttachment for-an exerciser for paralyzed muscles for the body extremities which attach ment will support a limb the muscles of which are to be exercised.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the character described which is readily adjustable for different positions and/or sizes of limbs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the character described which is easily detachably attachable to an exerciser.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the character de scribed which is simple to adjust, and light, portable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an attachment of the character described which can be employed by a atient himself without constant assistance and upervision from doctors and technicians, whereby not only will the patient be psychologically aided but his treatment will be less financially burdensome.

Other objects of the invention in part will be obvious and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the various possible embodiments of invention,

Fig. l is a side view of an attachment embodying the present invention, the same being shown attached to the functional end of an exerciser;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the exerciser and attachment shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially long the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 i an enlarged sectional view taken sub stantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a'fragmentary rear view of the attachment, showing a securing detail; and

Fig. 6 is a, top view of a detail of the attachment.

To aid in comprehension of the present invention, a general description of an exerciser E with which it is to be used follows: the exerciser includes a platform for a limb extremity, the plat form being mounted in such a way as to be capable of oscillation about two axes which are at right angles to one another, and of which one is horizontal. The mounting for the platform is such that separate pivoting means are employed for said two axes, whereby the positions of said axes can be definitely fixed. The platform is oscillated by power. Said exerciser is shown, described and claimed in co-pending application Serial No. 177,196 for Exercisers for Sub-normal Muscles, filed August 2, 1950.

More specifically, the exerciser E comprises a board Ill which is hinged to a base H at the end of the base remote from the functional end or the exerciser (the hinge and remote ends of the board and base are not shown). An elongated platform [4 of suitable dimensions and shape for a limb extremity is provided at the functional end of the exerciser, the same including a vertically adjustable heel rest 15. Said platform is mounted on a bridge 16, the mounting permitting pivotal movement about the longitudinal axis of the platform. The bridge is mounted on the base, this mounting permitting rocking of the bridge about a horizontal axi A perpendicular to the first-named axis.

The reference numeral 18 denotes an attachment constructed in accordance with the instant invention. Said attachment includes an elongated support 2|] for a limb and a means to secure the support to the exerciser. The support is upwardly concave about its longitudinal axis so a to fit the limb and may be provided with a foam rubber cushion 22 on the top surface thereof.

Two parallel spaced legs 24 extend downwardly from the support, said legs being disposed on each side of the longitudinal axis. A non-circular, e. g. quare, rod 26 has vertically offset journal 28 at one end thereof, said journal being rotatable between the legs 24 on a shaft supported by said legs. The shaft is horizontal and parallel to the horizontal axis of rotation A of the platform.

The rod 26, and thus the support held thereon, is detachably secured as follows to the functional end of the exerciser, i. e. the end at which a foot, for example, is attached to the exerciser: a bearing to is disposedon the rod, the bearing having a non-circular opening matching the cross-section of the rod. The bearing is slidable between the ends of the rod, the journal 28 acting as a stop at one end and a headed bolt 32 a 15 serving as a stop at the other end. A set screw S t, having a large knurled operating head, screws into the side of the bearing and is adapted to enter into the opening so that the block may be locked in any position between the ends of the rod.

Two diverging arms 38 integral with the bearing extend rearwardly and upwardly therefrom. Each arm has a reach 49 at its remote end, said reaches being parallel to each other and to the rod. For ease of adjustment, the attachment of the reaches to the exerciser is near or at the horizontal axis of rotation of the platform. Each reach 4|] is mounted on a different protruding end 42 of the bridge [6 of the exerciser. To enable such mounting to be eifected, each end 42 is formed with a threaded opening coincident with the horizontal axis of rotation of the bridge thus inhibiting movement of the attachment when the bridge rocks. Each reach carries a block 4d secured permanently to the reach and supporting a horizontal journal 46 above the reach. The journals are mutually coincident. Headed plugs 48 .rotatably fit said journals, and each plug has a slender threaded stud G spaced from the head a distance slightly greater than the width of a journal 46. The plugs are fitted into the journals, and the studs 5d are screwed into the bridge ends thereby holding the arms rotatably to the exerciser for oscillation about an axis coincident with the horizontal axisof rotation of the platform.

The rod and arms in eifect jointly constitute a radius arm of variable length which swings about the axis of rotation of the platform and holds the support.

In. the form of the invention herein shown a body extremity passes the securing means for the support in order to reach the platform. The diverging arms form with the rod a Y-shaped structure permitting such passage. The arms are of equal length so that the support will be disposed in line with the platform, i. e. directly in front thereof.

The attachment also includes means to support the arms and rod and thus the support in any selected angular position. Said lastnamed means also constitutes additional means to detachably attach the rod to the exerciser and comprises a shoe 52 having a channel 5% formed therein matching the cross-sectional configuration of the rod. A headed set screw 56 fits a tapped opening 58 in the bottom of the shoe 52, said opening communicating with the channel.

The set screw permits securing of the shoe at any point along the rod. Above the channel a thin elongated retainer plate 60 is mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis on the shoe. The plate is of such length and the point of attachment for it is so located that it can swing down over the channel and prevent separation of the rod and shoe.

Below the channel, two spaced projections 62 extend parallel to each other. A shaft (54 preferably of circular cross-section is pivoted at one end between said projections by a horizontal bolt 55 extending through registered openings in the projections and shaft. The other end of the shaft is received telescopically in the circular bore of a hollow pipe 66, the latter desirably having a length somewhat greater than that of the shaft. A headed set screw 68 fitting into a tapped opening it in the end of the pipe from which the shaft extends serves to fix the shaft at any selected depth of insertion int t P p t Means, for example an inturned flange on the near end of the pipe and a pin on the remote end of the shaft, is provided to prevent the shaft from completely leaving the pipe.

To detachably attach the pipe to the base of the exerciser at the operative end thereof, means is disposed at the end of the pipe remote from the support. Said means includes a C-clamp 12 secured by a bolt 14 to the remote end 76 of the pipe. The last-mentioned connection is made to parallel projections 78 extending from one side of the clamp similarly to the attachment of the shaft to the shoe. Thus the pipe can swing around a horizontal axis at the c-clamp. The latter is designed to engage any thin edge such, for example, as the upturned edge 19 of the near end of the base of the exerciser. screw 80 fits a tapped opening in the C-clamp, and said set screw serves to detachably secure the clamp in place on any suitable member.

lhe supporting means thus constitutes an extensible link having a clamp pivoted at one end and a sliding bearing pivoted on the other end, the supporting means being thus adapted to maintain the securing means in any position in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation A of the platform.

The present construction permits maximum adjustability of the support, a feature which is highly desirable with paralyzed limbs that must be held in exactly the correct position so that the right muscles are exercised properly.

In the preferred form of the invention means is provided to hold a limb on the support. Said means comprises pairs of spaced, downwardly facing hooks 82 on'each side of the support 2 on the undersurface thereof. The hooks serve as anchors for bandages holding the limb to the support.

Against the outer surface of each tab 24 a thin element 88 is placed, each element having an opening registered with that of its tab, the shaft which turns in the journal 28 also serving to secure said elements 88 in place. Two downwardly facing spaced hooks 90 are provided on each element, these hooks likewise serving as anchors for bandages holding a limb to the support. The elements and hooks are freely rotatable.

To use the attachment, the reaches are se cured to the exerciser, the shoe is connected to the rod, and the C-clamp is attached to the exerciser. The support is shifted to approximately its proper position for the type of limb and exercise desired, and the various set screws tightened temporarily. The limb, the muscles of which are tobe exercised, is bandaged to the support. The attachment now is adjusted to the exact position desired. For the adjustments, the support'can rock about the journal 28, the bearing can move along the rod, and the diverging arms can rock about the plugs 48. To adjust the supporting means in order to retain the support in the exact position to which it has been set, the shoe can be moved along the rod, the shaft can be moved within the pipe, and both ends of the pipe-shaft unit can pivot. Thus maximum adjustability can be simply obtained.

It thus will be seen that there is provided a device which achieves all the objects of the invention and is well adapted to meet the condi tions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set A headed set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein described, or shown in the accompanying drawings, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described the invention, there is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent:

1. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatable about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including two parts, means connecting said parts to one another for relative translatory movement, means securing the support to one of said parts, means selectively preventing movement of said parts with respect to each other, and means detachably and rotatably attaching the other part to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the axis of rotation. of the platform; and means supporting the mounting means, said supporting means including a shoe sii'iable on a part of the mounting means, means selectively preventing movement of the shoe on said part, a shaft pivotally secured to the shoe, an element in conjunction with which the shaft is slidable, means selectively preventing movement of the shaft with respect to said element, and a clamp rotatably secured to the element, the axis of rotation of the clamp and shaft being parallel to that of the platform, said clamp constituting means to attach the supporting means to a stationary object.

2. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatable about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including two parts, means connecting said parts to one another for relative translatory movement, means securing the support to one of said parts, means selectively preventing movement of said parts with respect to each other, and means detachably and rotatably attaching the other part to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform; and means supporting the mounting means, said supporting means including a shaft pivotally secured to a part of the mounting means, an element in conjunction with which the shaft is slidable, means selectively preventing movement of the shaft with respect to said element, and a clamp rotatably secured to the element, the axis of rotation of the clamp and shaft being parallel to that of the platform, said clamp constituting means to attach the supporting means to a stationary object.

3. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatable about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including two parts, means connecting said parts to one another for relative translatory movement, means securing the support to one of said parts, means selectively preventing movement of said parts with respect to each other, and means detachably and rotatably attaching the other part to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform; and means supporting the mounting means, said supporting means including a shoe slidable on a part of the mounting means, means selectively preventing movement of the shoe on said part, a shaft pivotally secured to the shoe, and a clamp rotatably secured to the shaft, the axis of rotation of the clamp and shaft being parallel to that of the platform, said clamp constituting means to attach the supporting means to a stationary object.

4.. An attachment for an exerciser for subnor mal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatable about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front or", and in line with the platform of exerciser, said mounting means constituting a Y-shaped element, said element having two diverging arms attached to a leg, means attaching the tips of the arms rotatably to the exerciser, and means adjustably connecting the support to the leg; and means adjustably supportin the Y-shaped element from a stationary object in any selected position.

5. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatable about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said sup port in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means constituting a Y-shaped element, said element having two diverging arms attached to a leg, the arms and the leg being so mutually disposed as to define an angle hav ing an apex pointing downwardly, means attaching the tips of the arms rotatably to the exerciser, and means adjustably connecting the support to the leg; and means adju-stably supporting the Y-shaped element from a stationary object in any selected position.

6. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatable about a horizontal axis: said attachment com prising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including two parts, means connecting said parts to one another for relative translatory movement, means securing the support to one of said parts, means selectively pre venting movement of said parts with respect to each other, means detachably and rotatably attaching the other part to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the of rotation of the platform, and means adjustably connecting the support to one of said parts of the mounting means, and means adjustably supporting the mounting means from a stationary object in any selected position.

7. An attachment for an exerciser for subnorrnal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotata-ble about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including two parts, one part constituting a red, the other-part constituting a pair of diverging arms secured to a blocl ,-said block having an opening therein slidably receiving the rod whereby said parts are connected for relative translatory movement, mean-s securing the support to the rod, means selectively preventing movement of said 'parts with respect to each other, and means detachably and rotatably attaching the ends of the arms remote from the block to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform; and means supporting the mounting means, said supporting means including a shoe slidable on a part of the mounting means, means selectively preventing movement of the shoe on said part, a shaft pivotally secured to the shoe, an element in conjunction with which the shaft is slidable, means selectively preventing movement of the shaft with respect to said element, and a clamp rotatably secured to the element, the axis of rotation of the clamp and shaft being parallel to that of the platform, said clamp constituting means to attach the supporting means to a stationary oblect.

-8. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotata- 1 le about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including two parts, means connecting said parts to one another for relative translatory movement, means securing the support to one of said parts, means selectively preventing movement of said parts with respect to each other, and means detachably and rotatably attaching the other part to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform; and means supporting the mounting means, said. supporting means including a shoe slidable on a part of the mounting means, means selectively preventing movement of the shoe on said part, a shaft pivotally secured to the shoe, a pipe in which the shaft is slidable, means selectively preventing movement of the shaft with respect to said pipe, and a clamp rotatably secured to the pipe, the axis of rotation of the clamp and shaft being parallel to that of the platform, said clamp constituting means to attach the supporting means to a stationary obiect.

9. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatar' ble about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including two parts, one part constituting a rod, the other part constituting a pair of diverging arms secured to a block, said block having an opening therein slidably receiving the rod whereby said parts are connected for relative translatory movement, means securing the support to the rod, means selectively preventing movement of said parts with respect to each other, and means detachably and rotatably attaching the ends of the arms remote from the block to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform; and means supporting the mounting means. said supporting means including a shoe slidable on a part of the mounting means,

means selectively preventing movement of the shoe on said part, a shaft pivotally secured to the shoe, a pipe in which the shaft is slidable. means selectively preventin movement of the shaft with respect to said pipe, and a clamp rotatably secured to the pipe, the axis of rotation of the clamp and shaft being parallel to that of the platform, said clamp constituting means to attach the supporting means to a stationary object.

10. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatable about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising a limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including two parts, means connecting said parts to one another for relative translatory movement, means securing the support to one of said parts, means selectively preventing movement of said parts with respect to each other, and means detachably and rotatably attachihg the other part to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform; and means supporting the mounting means, said supporting means including a shoe slidable on a part of the mounting means, means selectively preventing movement of the shoe on said part, a shaft pivotally secured to the shoe, an element in conjunction with which the shaft is slidable, means selectively preventing movement of the shaft with respect to said element, and a C-clamp rotatably secured to the element, the axis of rotation of the C-clarnp and shaft being parallel to that of the platform, said C-clarnp constituting means to attach the sup porting means to a stationary object.

11. An attachment for an exerciser for subnormal muscles, said exerciser having a platform for limb extremities, said platform being rotatable about a horizontal axis: said attachment comprising an elongated longitudinally and upwardly concave limb support; means to mount said support in spaced relationship to, in front of, and in line with the platform of the exerciser, said mounting means including tWo parts, means connecting said parts to one another for relative translatory movement, means securing the support to one of said parts, means selectively preventing movement of said parts with respect to each other, and means detachably and rotatably attaching the other part to the exerciser, the axis of rotation of said last-named means being adjacent and parallel to the axis of rotation of the platform; and means supporting the mounting means, said supporting means including a shoe slidable on a part of the mounting means, means selectively preventing movement of the shoe on said part, a shaft pivot-ally secured to the shoe, an element in conjunction with which the shaft is slidable, means selectively preventing movement of the shaft with respect to said element, and a clamp rotatably secured to the element, the axis of rotation of the clamp and shaft being parallel to that of the platform, said clamp constituting means to attach the supporting means to a stationary object.

IVILLIAM BZERMAN.

No references cited.

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