U.S. patent application number 09/880686 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-14 for exercise harness for use with unweighting apparatus.
Invention is credited to Cook, Gerry.
Application Number | 20020032103 09/880686 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 26905692 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020032103 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Cook, Gerry |
March 14, 2002 |
Exercise harness for use with unweighting apparatus
Abstract
An exercise harness connected to an unweighting system with
shoulder straps. The exercise harness having a waist belt suspended
by the shoulder straps which belt may be secured to a user. The
exercise harness further having left and right leg bands connected
to the waist strap with a left front strap and a right front strap,
respectively. A strap is provided forming a sliding "W" connection
between the waist belt and the two leg bands to allow for freedom
of leg movement when walking, running or jogging. The exercise
harness is also provided with a gait modification strap having one
end secured to the waist belt and the other end secured to one of
the leg bands after wrapping the gait strap partially around a leg
of the user.
Inventors: |
Cook, Gerry; (Sandpoint,
ID) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard C. Conover
Suite 404
104 East Main Street
P.O. Box 1329
Bozeman
MT
59771-1329
US
|
Family ID: |
26905692 |
Appl. No.: |
09/880686 |
Filed: |
June 12, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60210971 |
Jun 12, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/23 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4009 20151001;
A63B 21/4011 20151001; A61H 3/008 20130101; A61H 2201/1642
20130101; A63B 22/0235 20130101; A63B 69/0064 20130101; A61H
2201/1621 20130101; A61H 2201/1652 20130101; A63B 21/00181
20130101; A61H 2201/163 20130101; A63B 2022/0094 20130101; A63B
71/0009 20130101; A63B 2209/10 20130101; A61H 2201/1616
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/23 |
International
Class: |
A63B 026/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. An exercise harness for use with an unweighting system
comprising: a pair of shoulder straps connected to the unweighting
system; a waist belt having a buckle for releasably securing ends
of the waist belt together; the shoulder straps secured to the
waist belt; a left leg band and a right leg band; a left front
strap for connecting the left leg band to the waist belt; a right
front strap for connecting the right leg band to the waist belt; a
sliding strap having one end buckled to the waist belt above the
left leg band, the free end threaded through a "D"-ring secured to
the left leg band, then through a "D"-ring secured to the waist
belt at a medial position between the ends of the waist belt, then
through a "D"-ring secured to the right leg band and then through a
buckle secured to the waist belt above the right leg band.
2. The exercise harness according to claim 1 further including a
chest strap extending between the two shoulder straps adjacent the
chest of a user.
3. The exercise harness according to claim 1 further including a
pair of "D"-rings for connecting the shoulder straps to the
unweighting system.
4. The exercise harness according to claim 1 further including
means for securing the "D"-rings on the shoulder strap at a
preselected position on the shoulder straps.
5. The exercise harness according to claim 1 further including a
gait strap having one end secured to the waist belt and the other
end secured to one of the leg bands after wrapping the gait strap
partially around a leg of the user.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to an exercise harness for use by an
individual when using an unweighting system. The invention has
particular application when used in conjunction with a treadmill
where a user is either walking or jogging or running on the
treadmill at the same time being supported by an unweighting
system.
[0002] The use of a body harness with unweighting systems is known.
See U.S. Pat. No. 2,719,568 to Webb; U.S. Pat. No. 3,780,663 to
Pettit; U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,175 to Shamp; and U.S. Pat. No.
5,662,560 to Svendsen et al. All of these patents show a waist belt
for securing the harness to a user's body. It has been found that
when leg bands secured to the waist belt are used, that the user is
better stabilized and that the waist belt will not ride up on the
user's waist as much when the user is exercising. U.S. Pat. No.
3,780,663 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,410,175 show leg bands connected to a
waist belt for this additional stability.
[0003] A problem with these known harnesses incorporating a waist
belt and leg bands is that the user has difficulty walking, jogging
or running when using these harnesses connected to an unweighting
system. The straps connecting the leg bands to the waist belt do
not accommodate the different lengths between the waist belt and
the leg bands when one leg is moved forward of the other.
[0004] A need exists for an exercise harness which can be used
during therapy in conjunction with a treadmill and an unweighting
system to allow a user to either walk, jog or run on the treadmill
while being partially suspended by an unweighting system.
[0005] Another problem with existing exercise harnesses is that
there are none available which can be used in therapy to correct
gait problems which a patient may have. For example, a patient may
have a gait with external rotation or internal rotation. Further,
the patient may be bow-legged and have a varus gait, or the person
may be knock-kneed and have a valgus gait. What is needed is an
exercise harness which can be used to correct these gait problems
during therapy sessions.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0006] An exercise harness for use with an unweighting system
having a pair of shoulder straps connecting the exercise harness to
the unweighting system. The exercise harness having a waist belt
suspended by the shoulder straps. The belt is provided with a
buckle for releasably securing the ends of the belt together. The
exercise harness further includes a left leg band and a right leg
band with the leg bands being connected to the waist strap with a
left front strap and a right front strap, respectively. A sliding
strap is provided having one end buckled to the waist belt above a
left leg band, and the free end threaded through a "D"-ring secured
to the left leg band and through a "D"-ring secured to the waist
belt at a medial position between the ends of the waist belt, and
then through a "D"-ring secured to the right leg band and through a
buckle secured to the waist belt above the right leg band.
[0007] The present exercise harness is also provided with a gait
modification strap having one end secured to the waist belt and the
other end secured to one of the leg bands after wrapping the gait
strap partially around a leg of the user. The gait strap being used
for correcting gait problems of a user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] In order that the invention may be clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, a preferred embodiment of the
invention will now be described, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an exercise harness
according to the present invention installed on a user;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of the exercise harness
shown in FIG. 1 installed on a user;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the exercise harness
according to the present invention before installation on a
user;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a detail view of a Velcro connector used with the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a detail view showing the Velcro connector shown
in FIG. 4, installed on a shoulder strap;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a top view of a gait strap used with the present
invention; and
[0015] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the gait strap shown in FIG.
6.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] An exercise harness according to the present invention is
shown in FIGS. 1-3. The exercise harness 10 includes a waist belt
12 and a pair of leg bands 14 and 16, as shown in FIG. 3. In a
preferred embodiment, the waist belt 12 has its outer surface faced
with a Velcro "loop" material (not shown). Further, in a preferred
embodiment, the leg bands 14 and 16 each have an outer surface
faced with a Velcro "loop" material (not shown) and an inner
surface faced with a Velcro "hook" material (not shown).
[0017] The waist belt 12 includes a female buckle 18 and a male
buckle 20 for connecting the waist belt 12 around a user's waist.
The female buckle 18 is connected to belt 12 with a belt extension
19 sewn to belt 12, as shown in FIG. 3. Similarly, male buckle 20
is connected to belt 12 with a belt extension 21 sewn to belt
12.
[0018] A pair of front strap buckles 22 and 24 are sewn to waist
belt 12 with straps 26 and 28, respectively. A pair of sliding
strap buckles 30 and 32 are sewn to waist belt 12 with straps 24
and 26. A pair of D-rings 32 and 36 are sewn to waist belt 12 with
reinforcing straps 38 and 40. The reinforcing strap 38 is threaded
through D-ring 34 and has each of its ends sewn to belt 12.
Similarly, reinforcing strap 40 is threaded through D-ring 32 and
has each of its ends sewn to waist belt 12. A D-ring 42 is sewn to
waist belt 12 with strap 44.
[0019] A D-ring 46 is sewn to leg strap 14 with strap 48. A D-ring
50 is sewn to leg strap 16 with strap 52.
[0020] A left front retaining strap 54 has one end sewn to leg
strap 14, as shown in FIG. 3. The free end of strap 54 is threaded
through buckle 22 sewn to belt 12. A right front retaining strap 56
is sewn to leg strap 16 and has its free end threaded through
buckle 24 also sewn to belt 12. A sliding strap 58 has one end
threaded through buckle 30. The strap is then threaded through
D-ring 46, attached to the leg strap 14, and then up through D-ring
42, attached to waist belt 12, down through D-ring 50, attached to
leg strap 16, and then upwardly through buckle 32 attached to waist
belt 12.
[0021] A left shoulder strap 60 has one end sewn to waist belt 12
adjacent to buckle 22, as shown in FIG. 3, and has its other free
end sewn to belt 12 adjacent to D-ring 42. A right shoulder strap
62 has one end sewn to belt 12 adjacent to buckle 20, and has its
other end sewn to belt 12 adjacent to D-ring 42, as shown in FIG.
3. The left shoulder strap 60 has a D-ring 64 sewn to a strap 60
with a strap 66. A chest strap 68 has one end sewn to left shoulder
strap 60. In a preferred embodiment, chest strap 68 has one side
faced with Velcro "loop" material (not shown) and the other faced
with Velcro "hook" material (not shown).
[0022] A D-ring 70 is sewn to right shoulder strap 62 with strap
72, and a chest strap 74 has one end sewn to right shoulder strap
62. In a preferred embodiment, chest strap 74 has one side faced
with Velcro "loop" material (not shown) and has the other side
faced with Velcro "hook" material (not shown).
[0023] A pair of D-rings 76 and 78 are provided for securing the
exercise harness 10 to the unweighting apparatus. Shoulder strap 60
is threaded through D-ring 76 and shoulder strap 62 is threaded
through D-ring 78.
[0024] A Velcro connector 80 is used to secure D-rings 76 and 78 in
a selected position, as shown in FIG. 3. In a preferred embodiment,
the strap 80 has a "hook" Velcro material on one face of the strap,
as shown in FIG. 4. The shoulder straps 60 and 62 have a "loop"
Velcro material on the inner surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 5.
When the D-rings 76 and 78 are located in their proper position,
Velcro straps 80 are secured to the Velcro surface of straps 60 and
62, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5. FIG. 5 shows the strap 80 with the
right shoulder strap 62. Similarly, the strap 80 holds the D-ring
of the left shoulder strap 60 in place.
[0025] The exercise harness described above is used by first
attaching the D-rings 68 and 64 to an unweighting apparatus. The
user then places the waist belt 12 around his waist, and snaps the
buckles 18 and 20 together. Next, the chest strap 68 is drawn
across the user's chest and threaded through the D-ring 70, and
then looped back on itself and secured with a Velcro connection
after being drawn snug. Next, the chest strap 74 is drawn across
the user's chest and threaded through the D-ring 64, and again
looped back on itself and connected with a Velcro connection after
being drawn snug. Next, belt extensions 19 and 21 are then drawn
snug to tighten the waist belt 12 against the user's waist. Next,
the straps 54, 56 and 58 connecting the waist belt with the leg
bands are loosened. The leg band 14 is then wrapped around the
user's left leg above the knee, and the ends connected together
with a Velcro connection. The leg band 16 is then wrapped around
the user's right leg above the knee and the ends connected together
with a Velcro connection. Next, the sliding strap 58 is drawn
through either buckle 30 or buckle 32 to be snug against the user's
buttocks, but not drawn too tight.
[0026] When the straps have all been connected as described above,
the exercise harness 10 has now been fitted to the user. The user
can now walk, jog or run on a treadmill with the unweighting
apparatus reducing the weight of the person using the harness. The
sliding strap 58 has the left leg loop between buckle 30 and D-ring
42 shortened as the right leg is being drawn forward, and the loop
on the right leg between the D-ring 42 and the buckle 32 is caused
to be larger, thus accommodating the walking, jogging, running
movement of the user. Similarly, when the left leg moves forward,
the loop between buckle 30 and D-ring 42 is made larger, and the
loop between D-ring 42 and buckle 32 is made smaller.
[0027] The exercise harness 10 described above can also be used to
correct for gait problems which a user may have. In correcting
these problems, a gait strap 82 and a second gait strap 84 are
used.
[0028] Gait straps 82 and 84 are of similar construction with only
gait strap 82 shown in detail in FIGS. 6 and 7. The gait strap 82
has one side faced with Velcro "loop" material 86, but has an end
portion faced with Velcro "hook" material 88, as shown in FIG. 6.
The reverse side of gait strap 82 is shown in FIG. 7. On this face,
Velcro "hook" material 90 is sewn to strap 82, as shown.
[0029] The gait straps 82 and 84 are used differently for different
types of gait modifications. For example, when a leg, such as the
left leg is being corrected for external rotation, the gait strap
84 has one end Velcro fastened to the waist belt 12 on the right
side of the user. The gait strap 84 is then drawn through the legs
of the user and then downwardly in front of the leg to the left leg
band 14, and is secured thereto by a Velcro connection after the
gait strap is drawn snug. When the right leg is being corrected for
external rotation, the gait strap 82 is used in a similar manner
with the leg strap 84 being wrapped around the right leg.
[0030] When internal rotation of the right leg is being corrected,
for example, the gait strap 82 is Velcro connected to waist band 12
on the left hand side of the user's waist, and then wrapped across
the right buttock around the leg on the outside of the leg, and
attached to the leg band 16 with a Velcro connection after being
drawn snug. When the left leg has internal rotation, the gait strap
84 is used in a similar manner.
[0031] When a varus gait is being corrected, the gait strap 82 is
looped through D-ring 34 and looped back on itself and connected
thereto with a Velcro connection. The gait strap 82 is then drawn
down between the legs of the user and wrapped around the front
portion of the leg and connected to the right leg band 16 after
being drawn snug. Similarly, the gait strap 84 is threaded through
the D-ring 36, and looped back on itself and connected together
with Velcro. The gait strap 84 is then drawn down between the legs
of the user and around the left leg in front of the leg and
connected with Velcro to the leg band 14 after being drawn
snug.
[0032] When a valgus gait is to be corrected, the strap 82 is again
threaded through D-ring 34 and looped back on itself and connected
thereto with Velcro. The gait strap 82 is then drawn across the
right buttock and around the outside of the leg and then down to
the leg band 16 to which it is connected with Velcro after being
drawn snug. Similarly, the gait strap 84 is threaded through D-ring
36 and attached to itself with Velcro, and then is drawn down
across the left buttock and then around the outside of the leg, and
then Velcro connected to the left leg band 14 after being drawn
snug.
[0033] In using gait straps 82 and 84 with harness 10, a user
suffering a gait problem can undergo therapy by walking on a
treadmill while at the same time being partially suspended by
unweighting apparatus.
[0034] While the fundamental novel features of the invention have
been shown and described, it should be understood that various
substitutions, modifications and variations may be made by those
skilled in the art without departing from the spirit or scope of
the invention. Accordingly, all such modifications or variations
are included in the scope of the invention as defined by the
following claims:
* * * * *