UPPER TORSO EXERCISE APPARATUS

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of European Application No. 09162336.3 filed Jun. 9, 2009, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all useful purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to exercise apparatuses that increase a user's general physical fitness and mobility, in particular, apparatuses that increase a user's mobility in their upper back and neck. These apparatuses are useful for preventive as well as therapeutic purposes. They may be used in medical environments, for example, in chiropractic or orthopedic practice, a rehabilitation center, etc. They may also be used in a sports or private environment, for example, in a gym or fitness club, etc.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A variety of exercise apparatuses is known. WO 2005/011815 discloses an exercise apparatus, comprised of foot supports and handles. This apparatus is designed to engage the whole body. While this exercise apparatus appears suitable for cardio training and the coordinated movement of arms and legs, it does not appear to allow for stretching or activating the mobility of specific parts of the body. The apparatus also does not seem to have any direct effect on the spine. Moreover, it should be noted that the energy created when using the apparatus is not directed to any part of the body as to have any localized positive effect onto the body.

US Patent Application No. 2008/0312053 A1 discloses a shoulder exercise and stretching apparatus. In this apparatus, the user can secure the forearm to a forearm support and then use an elbow support to keep their arm in a desired position. The apparatus provides a rotation member coupled to the forearm support for rotation of the forearm support through a desired plane. Further, it provides at least one handle, allowing the user's free hand to grasp the handle and move the rotation member. While this type of apparatus certainly provides some support, its use is complex in that it requires the user's free hand to guide her other arm through a defined movement. In addition, this type of apparatus appears only suitable for use by a trained user or under supervision. In an additional aspect, the free arm is held in a position which does not allow the user to exert a lot of force with her free arm.

DE 10211145 A1 discloses a back exercising and stretching apparatus, which is described to have a beneficial effect in particular on the spine. The apparatus holds and supports the lower legs. This support provides guidance and hence the accurate execution of certain exercises is supported. However, from the description, it appears that it is only possible to do a torso exercise, using the torso muscles. The apparatus can further be equipped with head and shoulder supports, however it appears that use of these supports requires a trained user to achieve the benefit of the described exercise. Hence, the apparatus is not very suitable for handicapped or physically unfit people.

DE 29809695 U1 discloses a training apparatus specifically for the extension of the human spine. A similar apparatus is disclosed in DE 29605784 U1. While these apparatuses seem to represent the state of the art in spine extension, they all seem to require a physically fit and/or trained user. The spine extension is affected by using the whole body weight. Hence, either considerable weight or zero weight is exerted on the spine. It does not seem possible to adapt the weight and the force used in the stretching motion independently of a user's body weight. Hence, the apparatus seems to offer little opportunity for soft exercises and exercises with limited force.

The prior art, therefore, lacks an exercise apparatus for the upper torso that overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art.

SUMMARY

To overcome the disadvantages of the prior art, the present invention provides an improved exercise apparatus. The apparatus disclosed herein and the corresponding method allow for the effective exercise of two parts of the body. The apparatus provides for a healthy and dosable stretch movement for the upper torso. This stretch movement can act on the upper torso when it is in a relaxed state.

An exercise apparatus within the scope of the present invention comprises a bench and a dorsal support. The apparatus further comprises a movable upper torso support, characterised in that the apparatus is suitable to support the lower torso of a human user by means of the bench and the dorsal support such that portions of the upper torso of a user can be lifted relative to the lower torso by the movable upper torso support. In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of exercising the upper torso by providing an apparatus which supports the lower torso and which is suitable to guide a force exerted by a user's legs to the upper torso of a user and uses this force to induce a stretching motion of a portion of the upper torso relative to the lower torso of a user.

Additional objectives and advantages of the invention will in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of embodiments of the invention. Moreover, other aspects of the invention will become more readily apparent from the following drawings, detailed description, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of the invention embodied with a hydraulic lifting mechanism.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is close-up view of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a close-up view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The exercise apparatus according to the present invention can have a variety of uses. One such field of use is the medical/therapeutic field. In this field especially, the apparatus is used under medical supervision, e.g. by a doctor, orthopedic, chiropractor, or with assistance, for example of a nurse, physical therapist, fitness instructor and the like. The exercise apparatus, however, is equally suitable for the field of fitness exercise and could for example find its place in a public or private gym or other sports facilities.

Two key elements of the exercise apparatus are the bench and the dorsal support. The bench, as used herein, refers to any support surface useful for the lower torso. Of course, it may take the form of a conventional bench or stool. Typically, it comprises an essentially horizontal support surface. The dorsal support can likewise, as used herein, be any support surface or structure useful to support at least a portion of the lower back of a user. The dorsal support can, for example, take the form of a conventional backrest above the bench. The dorsal support can either extend over the length of the lower body only (hence end at chest level) or alternatively the dorsal support can support the whole back of a user and even extend to neck or head level or above. In some embodiments, which may be suitable for very fit users, the apparatus may also comprise a bench, but no dorsal support. Likewise, in other embodiments, the apparatus may comprise a dorsal support, but no bench. (The user would then largely have to rely on the strength of her/his legs for maintaining a suitable posture.)

The apparatus further comprises a moveable upper torso support. This upper torso support is meant to assist in the lifting of at least a portion of the upper torso of a user. This lifting should be a lifting of a portion of the upper torso relative to a portion of the lower torso of the body. Hence, the lifting will normally induce some form of stretching in the upper torso.

The upper torso support may take a variety of useful forms. For example, the support may give support to the arms, the elbows, the armpits, the chest, the neck or the head of a user. In one execution of the present invention, the upper torso support is motor-operated motor, typically an electrical motor which can either be battery-operated or which might require connection to a power supply (e.g. a socket).

Alternatively, the moveable upper torso support can be muscle-operated. In one option, the operation requires the interference of an assisting person. Alternatively, the upper torso support may be muscle-operated by the user herself/himself. In particular, the leg muscles of the human user may be used to induce the movement of the upper torso support.

In particular where the leg muscles are used to induce the movement, suitable mechanics are required. These mechanics may involve a foot pedal and suitable levers to transmit the force exerted by the legs to the upper torso of a user.

Alternatively, the mechanism can involve a hydraulic cylinder such that the force is essentially transmitted by hydraulic tubes. The mechanism or lifting mechanism would then comprise a first hydraulic cylinder which receives force or energy. This energy is normally created by the user use of the foot pedals. Any conventional hydraulic cylinder and hydraulic parts in general will be suitable. This first cylinder is connected via some hydraulic connectors (normally in the form of tubing) to at least one second hydraulic cylinder. The tubing will normally, of course, comprise hydraulic oil. The second hydraulic cylinder is therefore able to provide force and energy and thereby to do the lifting operation. In one embodiment of the present invention, more than one, for example two hydraulic cylinders can provide a lifting force. For example, a first hydraulic cylinder may be used to operate an upper arm support and a second hydraulic cylinder may be used to operate a head support. The hydraulic connectors may then comprise a switch or a similar mechanism to select the operation of either one cylinder or the other cylinder (or maybe in some cases both cylinders).

In a further aspect, the resistance provided by the first hydraulic cylinder should be selectable. A person with weaker leg muscles should experience a lower resistance than a person with stronger leg muscles.

It should be noted that the provision of a foot pedal has several benefits. In one aspect, as explained, the pedal can be used to operate some mechanical or hydraulic lifting mechanism. In another important aspect, the positioning of the feet on the pedal allows for a secure and anatomically stable positioning of the lower body. The foot pedal cooperates with the dorsal support in offering such a stable positioning of the body. The stable and defined positioning of the lower body is helpful to avoid any injury or damage which could potentially be induced otherwise by the upper torso lifting operation. In a further aspect, of course, the foot pedals enable exercising the legs.

Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus may comprise a belt, similar to a safety belt, to secure the lower body of the user to the bench.

Alternatively or additionally, the apparatus may comprise one or more handles, one or more handle bars and/or one or more stabilization handle bars to help a user enter the apparatus and to find an optimal seating position.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the upper body support can be provided by at least one arm support. Alternatively, the upper body support may be provided or comprise at least two arm supports.

A suitable arm support is a gripping bar. The bar can be oriented along t either side of a user's neck, above the user's shoulders. The vertical and the horizontal position of the bars can be adjustable.

The upper arm support may also take the form of an armpit support bar. Such a bar can be placed in the armpit region and thereby be suitable to lift the armpit and shoulder area upwards. Again, typically two armpit support bars are used.

Additionally or alternatively, the upper arm supports can act on the elbows. For example, the upper arm supports can comprise a cushion on which the respective elbow is placed. Typically one such cushion is used on either side of the body. The arm support can further comprise a gripping bar on either side of the body which can be held by the hands. In one embodiment, the gripping bar will be arranged essentially vertically above the cushion such that the underarms take an essentially vertical position when the gripping bars are held by the hands.

Additionally or alternatively, the upper torso support may comprise a head support. Notably, while the dorsal support may comprise a head support, which is static, the head support comprised by the upper torso support would take part in the movement. A suitable head support comprises a cushion, preferably some form of cushioning of essentially concave shape.

In one aspect of the present invention an apparatus can be provided, which can act either on the head of a user or on the arms (and thereby shoulders and chest) of a user. Such an apparatus can comprise a mechanism to select for the movement of the head support only of the arm supports only. For example, an apparatus can comprise one hydraulic cylinder of the operation of the head support and one hydraulic cylinder for the operation of the arm support. A switch can then be provided in the hydraulic connectors to select for the operation of either one of the other cylinder.

In a further aspect, the present invention comprises a method of exercising the upper body. Such a method for example can be practiced in a sports facility or gym. Likewise, the method can be provided in medical or physiotherapy facilities. Hence, according to the method an apparatus is provided and/or used which supports the lower body. The apparatus to be provided is suitable to guide a force exerted by the user's leg to the upper torso of a user and uses this force to induce a stretching motion of the portion of the upper torso relatively to the lower torso of the user. Hence, in use the user will exert force by his leg and using the apparatus the force is guided to the upper torso of the user. The user therefore uses this force to induce a stretching motion to a portion of his upper torso and stretch the upper torso relative to her/his lower torso.

In one method of exercising the body, the force is guided to the arms of the user.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings. In the description and the drawings, certain features are disclosed and described in combination. It should be noted that these features can also form part of the invention in other combinations. Hence, any disclosed feature is to be considered disclosed also in other technically sensible combinations.

FIG. 1 is helpful for immediately understanding the concept of the apparatus of the present invention and of the associated method. The apparatus 100 comprises a bench 110 and an associated dorsal support 120. When seated on the bench 110, the user can use the foot pedal 310 for the convenient and safe placement of her/his feet. By pushing foot pedal 310, pressure is exerted onto the first hydraulic cylinder 320. This cylinder is connected via connectors 330 to a second hydraulic cylinder 340. Through a simple and appropriate mechanism, the second hydraulic cylinder 340 is connected to upper torso support 200. Hence, the user can use the foot pedal to move upper torso support 200 upwards. The upper torso support 200 is provided in the form of an upper arm support 210 (not shown). The user can hold onto gripping bars 220. Thereby, the upper torso of the user will be moved upwards by the upper arm support 210. The operation of this apparatus 100 will therefore provide some useful exercise for the legs of the user, but will also lead to a medically beneficial effect on the user's upper torso. In particular, the thoracic spine of the user will be mobilized and trained.

FIG. 2 provides a perspective view on a suitable embodiment of the present invention. Again, the user can sit on a bench 110 and use dorsal support 120. Bench 110 and dorsal support 120 more or less take the form a conventional chair. A foot pedal 310 is provided in the form of a large board suitable for the placement of two feet thereon. The foot pedal 310 is linked to first hydraulic cylinder 320 and further supported by suitable and essentially conventional mechanical supports and linkages. First hydraulic cylinder 320 is again connected through suitable connectors to a second hydraulic cylinder 340. The additional hydraulic installations, however, are not visible in this view, as they are internal in the support structure of the apparatus and/or hidden by the dorsal support 120. This lifting mechanism will move upper arm support 210 upwards.

FIG. 3 provides another view of the apparatus of FIG. 2. Details of the upper arm support 210 are readily visible. The upper arm support 210 comprises a first gripping bar 220a and a second gripping bar 220b. These two gripping bars will be lifted upwards together with the upper arm support 210. Hence, holding onto the gripping bars will lead to the mobilization of the thoracic spine. The apparatus further comprises a stabilization handle bar 250, which the user can hold onto, for example when entering the apparatus or when pausing from an exercise. Hence, the upper arm support will be displaced relative to the dorsal support 120, which remains static.

FIG. 4 provides another view of the apparatus of FIG. 2, using the same perspective as FIG. 3. The apparatus is shown with the upper arm support 210 in a lifted position. Here, it is visible that the upper arm support 210 is lifted relatively to the dorsal support 120. The direction of movement is essentially in the plane defined by the dorsal support 120, hence it is almost, but not exactly vertical. The distance of upper arm support 210 relative to dorsal support 120 can be increased by for example 5 cm, 10 cm, 20 cm or more.

Notably, any apparatus according to the present invention can comprise means to adjust the distance by which the upper torso support 200 is moved relative to a given movement of the foot pedal 310. For example, the lower end of the foot pedal may move a first length between its two most extreme positions and the upper torso support may move a second length between its most extreme positions, and the ratio of the first length to the second length can be adjusted to be in the range of 1 to 3 or 1 to 2 or it could also be in the range 1 to 0.25 or 0.75 to 0.5.

FIG. 5 gives a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus shown uses the same bench 110, dorsal support 120 and upper arm support 210 as the previous apparatus. It is also provided with gripping bars in the form of a first gripping bar 220a and a second gripping bar 220b. However, this apparatus further comprises elbow cushions 230. They are provided in the form of a first elbow cushion 230a and a second elbow cushion 230b. As it is immediately apparent from the figure, a user can place their elbows onto the elbow cushions 230 and with essentially vertical underarms grip the gripping bars above the respective elbow cushions 230. This allows the user to take a very defined position of the upper body and thereby a predefined lifting movement can be carried out accurately. The elbow cushions 230 should be adjustable in height and/or their (horizontal) distance to each other.

FIG. 6 shows yet a further embodiment of the present invention in a similar perspective as FIG. 5. In this embodiment, the upper torso support 200 is provided in the form of head support 240. The user can place her/his neck in the head support 240, which has a suitable concave shape. Of course, the exact position of the head support 240 relative to the other portions of the upper torso support 200 and relative to the dorsal support 120 should be adjustable. The apparatus allows for the movement of the cervical spine. The thoracic spine remains in a stable positions while only the cervical spine is moved.

Of course, in other embodiments of the apparatus, the thoracic spine and the cervical spine can be moved together or can be lifted upwards alternatively.

The above description has made clear how the present apparatus and the associated method of using it allow a new way to effectively exercise the body. In particular, it becomes possible to exert a medically beneficial stretch movement which affects the spine.

Whereas particular embodiments of this invention have been described above for purposes of illustration, it will be evident to those skilled in the art that numerous variations of the details of the present invention may be made without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.