US3430956A - Foot and leg exerciser - Google Patents

Description

March 4, 1969 A. T. BORGEAS FOOT AND LEG EXERCISER Sheet Filed Aug. 15, 1966 m T N E V m ATTORNEY March '4, A T, BCRGEAs FOOT AND LEG-EXERCISER Sheet Filed Aug. 15, 1966 I N V EN TOR 45 4005? 7.' 5026545 ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,430,956 FOOT AND LEG EXERCISER Alexander T. Borgeas, 129 W. Catalina Drive, Phoenix, Ariz. 85013 Filed Aug. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 572,396 US. Cl. 27283 Int. Cl. A63b 21/02, 21 /12 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention pertains to therapeutic devices and is particularly directed to a leg circulation control device.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a device for automatically inclining the legs from a horizontal to a vertically sloping pitched-up position to aid in controlling the circulation in the legs and feet of a patient.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device which is yieldingly balanced against the pressure of the legs so that with substantially no effort the patient may raise or lower his legs with ease in a periodic manner from a horizontal to an upwardly sloping position to change the effect of gravity on a circulatory pattern in the legs and feet of the patient.

Still another object of this invention is to facilitate the treatment of the foot by controlling the circulation in the legs in a manner under the will of the patient for varying the raising and lowering of the legs of the patient.

Further features and advantages of this invention will appear from a detailed description of the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a left hand side perspective view of a preferred form of the device incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a left hand side elevation of the device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing a modification including a foot and ankle exerciser.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of FIG. .3.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the modification of the device with independent leg control members.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing independent foot and ankle exercising elements.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6.

As an example of one embodiment of this invention there is shown a leg circulation control device comprising a frame indicated generally at 10 consisting of a U-shaped horizontal support element having a lateral member 11 and integral side members 12 and 13. Fixed to the rearward ends of the side members 12 and 13 are the support plate members 14 and 15. Pivotally mounted at 16 on the rear ends of the support plate members 14 and is the tension support 17 comprising the upright standards 18 and the integral horizontal cross member 19 at the top of the upright standards 18. Supporting struts 20 are pivotally mounted at 21 to the side members 12 and 13 and are demountably connected at 22 by "ice suitable fastening means to the upright standards 18 of the tension support 17 so as to collapsi bly secure the frame 10 and tension support rigidly together in operative position.

A leg support platform indicated generally at 23 comprising the side members 24 and the front member 25 and rear member 26 supporting a suitable pliable covering such as the plastic tape 27. The front member 25 0f the leg support platform 23 is hinged by a suitable hinge rod 28 at the front ends of the side members 12 and 13 adjacent the lateral member 11. The rear end 26 of the leg support platform 23 swings up and down within the upright standards 18 and below the cross member 19. Interconnected between the cross member 19 and the rear member 26 is a suitable resilient connecting element such as an elastic member or tension spring 28a and the like so as to normally yieldingly urge or swing the platform 23 in an upward direction in opposition to the pull of gravity and the weight of the patients legs 29 as he sits or lies in front of the device as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Thus the patient may raise and lower his legs or change their relative horizontal position for best circulation conditions and greatest comfort with a very minimum of effort since the elastic element is arranged to substantially neutralize the effect of gravity on the legs for any desired swing position indicated by the arrow 30, the platform 23 literally floating to any desired tilted angle with only very light pressure from the patients legs.

In certain instances it may be desirable to provide additional foot exercises for the patient while using the aforedescribed device. To this end there is provided a foot exerciser element 31 having upright arms 32 and an integral foot engaging rail 33. The lower ends of the upright arms 32 are hinged at 34 on the side members 24 of the leg platform 23 so that tension springs 35 connected between the side members 24 of the leg platform and the upright arm 32 of the foot exerciser element 31 yieldingly swings the foot engaging rail 33 against the bottom 36 of the foot 37 of the patient so that it may be manipulated back and forth as indicated by the arrows 38 and 39, FIG. 4.

In the modifications shown in FIG. 5, 6 and 7, the leg support platform 23 of FIG. 1 is eliminated and two separate platforms 23a and 23b are utilized, one for each leg so that the patient can position each leg separately and independently to desired position. Further, independnt foot exercising elements 31a and 311;, one for each leg support platforms 23a and 23b are provided for independent manipulation of each foot of the patient.

While the apparatus herein disclosed and described constitutes a preferred form of the invention, it is also to be understood that the apparatus is capable of mechanical alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention and that such mechanical arrangement and commercial adaptation as fall within the scope of the appendent claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully set forth and described this invention what is claimed and desired to be obtained by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A leg circulation control device comprising in combination:

(A) a frame arranged to be supported on a horizontal surface,

(B) a leg support platform pivotally mounted at one edge to swing around a horizontal axis on said frame with its outer free end swinging vertically relative to said frame,

(C) and resilient means interconnecting said outer free end of said leg support platform with said frame so as to normally yieldingly swing said platform upwardly relative to said frame, wherein the outer free end of said leg support platform includes a exerciser element movably mounted thereon having a foot engaging member and a resilient element interconnected between said platform and said foot exerciser element to normally yieldingly urge said foot engaging member in a direction toward the pivoted edge of th supporting surface of said leg support platform.

2. The leg circulation control device of claim 1 including an additional leg support platform similar to and mounted alongside said first mentioned leg support platform, and a foot exerciser element similar to said first mentioned foot exerciser element mounted on said additional leg support platform.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1/1967 Matt 27283 10/1967 Smith 272-82 FOREIGN PATENTS 6/1963 France. 6/1966 France.

US. Cl. X.R.

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