U.S. patent application number 15/494880 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-14 for inner and outer thigh exercise machine.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tweebaa. Inc.. Invention is credited to Kevin O. Boland, Cornell Stephen Marscha.
Application Number | 20170354842 15/494880 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 60572196 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170354842 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Boland; Kevin O. ; et
al. |
December 14, 2017 |
Inner and Outer Thigh Exercise Machine
Abstract
An exercise device for the inner and outer thighs is discloses
that includes a first arm and a second arm that extend from a
central rod to allow for pivotal movement about the rod, wherein
the first arm and said second arm further include a first and
second plates and the plates are positioned on the proximal end of
the arms, a resistance element is positioned between the first and
second plates, and the arms further include a leg engagement
elements on the distal ends of the arms, which provide lateral
surfaces on opposite sides that are adapted to be engaged by both
inner and outer sides of a human leg and, the device includes a
movable flange member attached to the rod that is adapted to impose
a variable axial force driving the second plate towards the first
plate and compressing the resistance element, thereby creating a
resistance to the rotation of said arms with respect to one
another.
Inventors: |
Boland; Kevin O.; (Bethesda,
MD) ; Marscha; Cornell Stephen; (Bowie, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tweebaa. Inc. |
Markham |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
60572196 |
Appl. No.: |
15/494880 |
Filed: |
April 24, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62391164 |
Apr 22, 2016 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0023 20130101;
A63B 21/4035 20151001; A63B 21/015 20130101; A63B 21/4034 20151001;
A63B 23/0488 20130101; A63B 21/00069 20130101; A63B 2208/0233
20130101; A63B 21/4047 20151001; A63B 21/4039 20151001; A63B 21/028
20130101; A63B 2209/00 20130101; A63B 23/0482 20130101; A63B
21/4027 20151001 |
International
Class: |
A63B 23/04 20060101
A63B023/04; A63B 21/002 20060101 A63B021/002; A63B 21/02 20060101
A63B021/02; A63B 21/00 20060101 A63B021/00 |
Claims
1. An exercise device comprising, a first arm and second arm
extending from a central rod to allow for pivotal movement about
said rod, said first arm and said second arm further comprising
first and second plates and said first and second plates positioned
on the proximal end of said arms, a resistance element, said
resistance element positioned between said first and said second
plates, said first and second arms further comprise opposite leg
engagement elements on the distal ends of said arms, wherein said
respective leg engagement elements provide lateral surfaces on
opposite sides that are adapted to be engaged by both inner side
and outer sides of a human leg and, a movable flange member
attached to said rod that can impose a variable axial force driving
said second plate toward said first plate and compressing said
resistance element, thereby creating a resistance to the rotation
of said arms with respect to one another.
2. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a central
housing, said central housing containing said first plate and said
second plate and said rod and said housing having an opening on the
radial end wall to allow said first and second arms to extend from
said housing.
3. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a lever,
wherein the rotation of said lever causes said movable flange
member to variably engage and disengage said first and second plate
members and compress said resistance element.
4. The device as recited in claim 1 further comprising handle
elements provided on each said arm, said handles adapted to be
engaged by a user to support the device in an upright position.
5. The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said leg engagement
elements comprise U-shaped channels.
6. The device as recited in claims wherein said resistance element
is comprised of a leather.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of the filing date of
U.S. Application No. 62/391,164.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention disclosed herein relates to exercise equipment
and methods or exercising with an exercise device, and more
particularly, an exercise device that targets the muscles of the
inner and outer thighs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The exercise of the thigh muscles has many advantages that
include increasing fitness, sculpting and shaping the body. Such
exercise may also serve to help relieve both hip and back pain. The
anterior compartment is known as the extensor compartment, the
medial compartment is known as the adductor compartment, and the
posteriorc compartment which is the flexor compartment. The inner
thigh muscles or aductor compartment includes the adductor magnus,
the adductor brevis, the adductor longus, the gracilis and the
pectineus. The gracilis muscle, located in the groin starts at the
external point of the ischiopubic ramus (on the pubic bone) and
extends down to the upper medial (middle) shaft of the tibia, or
shinbone. The gracilis is responsible for hip adduction and assists
knee flexion. Muscles that are responsible for thigh abduction
include the piriformis, the obturator internus, the gemelli and the
quadratus femoris.
[0004] A number of devices have been developed to target the
exercise of the thigh muscles. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,179,756
("the '756 Patent") discloses a firm solid block with side surfaces
that are contoured to fit between a user's inner thighs. The device
disclosed by the '756 Patent is placed between a seated user's
inner thighs just above the knees. By compressing the knees
inwardly against the device, the user's thigh adductor muscles are
activated in isometric contractions. Because the device includes an
elastic strap that extends around the user's legs, the user can
also pull the knees outwardly to thereby activate the piriformis
muscles in isometric contractions.
[0005] A commercially successful device marketed under the
trademark Thigh Master.RTM. is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,399,138
(the "'138 patent"). The Thigh Master.RTM. device uses a helical
spring and two arms spaced apart that are adapted for engagement by
the user's thighs. The spring biased arms, that have proximal and
distal portions, are maintained in a first position and will pivot
about the spring to a second position when so urged by the user.
The arm proximal portions are joined to the spring so that when the
arms are in the first position the proximal portions extend from
the spring in the same general direction and are generally parallel
to each other. When the arms are in the second position the
proximal portions are angled apart from the spring. The exercise
device also includes padding mounted on the distal portions of the
arms for cushioning the user during use of the device.
[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 9,011,301 ("the '301 Patent") discloses a
thigh exercise device that uses a curved track, a pair of
resistance assemblies that use pulleys that mounted on the track
and an O-ring resistance band that is wound around the two pulleys.
A pair of foot pedal assemblies are attached to the curved track,
and respectively having a guide pulley, wherein each of the guide
pulleys are located within the respective O-ring resistance band
and arrange so that the O-ring resistance band is pulled into
tension by the guide pulley during movement of the respective foot
pedal assembly. This device is designed to be used while seated in
a chair.
[0007] U.S. Publication No. 20140309091 ("the '091 Publication") by
Tang, discloses a thigh exercise device that uses a track designed
to receive the user's feet. The device disclosed in the '091
Publication includes a first base member and a second base member
that is pivotally connected in parallel, a first sliding track and
a second sliding track respectively which are connected to a first
base member and second base member which extends in reverse
directions. The device includes a foot plate assembly that is
slidably supported on the sliding track. Two elastic loops are
respectively coupled between the first foot plate assembly and the
base members that enable the user's lateral thigh muscles to be
trained.
[0008] Further portable exercising devices are described in U.S.
Pat. No. 4,483,533 (the '533 Patent) and U.S. Pat. No. 5,026,050
the ('050 Patent). The devices disclosed in the '533 and '050
patents use arms that are attached to a central helical spring are
designed as adduction exercise devices for exercising certain
muscle groups, such as those of the inner thighs by bringing the
limbs together.
[0009] Yet a further device directed to exercise the thigh muscles
is referred to as a "Pilates ring." An exemplary device is
disclosed by Publication No. CN 202554805 by Ure discloses a
Pilates ring that includes a flexible annular body and two
saddle-shaped handles that are fixed onto the body. Each handle is
provided with an arc hand protector that includes a flexible buffer
pad. The flexible buffer pads allow users to comfortably hold the
Pilates ring. The device can be placed between the user's thighs
and compressed to exercise the thigh muscles.
[0010] Another technique for the targeted exercise of the thigh
muscles is the use elastic bands, such as those disclosed in the
patent to Caltaldi, U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,056. Such bands can be
secured to a chair and the user is supported by a seat. The elastic
straps may be used to perform a variety of isotonic and isometric
exercises that include the exercise of the thigh muscles.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0011] It is the object of the invention to provide a convenient
exercise device for the thigh muscles. It is a further object to
provide a thigh muscle exercise device that allows the user to
perform both adduction and abduction exercises. It is a further to
provide an exercise device for the thigh muscles in which the
resistance may be adjusted.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention is directed to exercise method and
apparatus which uses resistance to activate the adductor and
piriformis (hip rotator) muscles in isometric contractions. The
apparatus comprises, generally, two arms on which are provided
elements that designed to engage the user's legs at the knees and
against which resistance is applied by compressing the knees
inwardly or by pulling them apart outwardly. In embodiments, the
resistance of the device can be altered. In a preferred form of the
invention, the device includes two opposite U-shaped. channels that
generally are sized and shaped to fit the contours of a user's
legs. The device includes handles that are used to securely hold
the device in place during the exercise time.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the exercise according
to an embodiment of the invention.
[0014] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the exercise device of
FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 3 is a side view in elevation of the device depicted in
FIG. 1.
[0016] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the device of FIG. 1
with the plate of the housing removed.
[0017] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the housing of FIG. 1 and
components contained therein.
[0018] FIG. 6 depicts a side view in elevation alternative
embodiment of a plate assembly that provides resistance.
[0019] FIG. 7 is a front view in elevation of the assembly depicted
in FIG. 6
[0020] FIG. 8 is a opposite side view in elevation of the assembly
of FIG. 6
[0021] FIG. 9 is a bottom view in elevation of the assembly of FIG.
6.
[0022] FIG. 10 is a perspective front view of the assembly of FIG.
6 contained within a housing with the front side wall of the
housing removed.
[0023] FIG. 11 is a perspective rear view of the assembly of 6
contained within a housing with the rear side wall of the housing
removed.
[0024] FIG. 12 perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 in
engagement with the user's thighs.
DETAILED. DESCRIPTION
[0025] Now referring to FIG. 1, an exercise device 101 according
the invention includes housing 102 from which extend ridged arms
105 and 107 which have distal ends that terminate at leg engagement
elements 116 and 115 respectively. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the
arms are tubular and comprised of a metal such as steel or other
metal alloy. Leg engagement element 116 includes tubular sleeve
member 128 that receives the end of the arm 105 and secures the
end. Leg engagements element 116 has a curved section 120 that is
sized and shaped to engage the top of a user's thighs near a user's
knee and has side sections 125 and 126 that extend downward to
provide a opposite inner surfaces that the user can impose a force
against to urge arm 105 in either a clockwise or counterclockwise
direction around a central retaining rod. In an embodiment, the leg
engagement elements 115 and 116 are provided with a resilient pad
on the inner surface to reduce or mitigate abrasion and discomfort
that may be caused by the lateral engagement of the user's knee
against sections 125 and 126. The arms 107 and 107 are further
provided with handle regions 110 and 112 that are designed to be
grasped by the users when the device is in use. In embodiments,
handle regions 110 and 112 are characterized by a resilient pad
material such as polyethylene foam. In further embodiments, the
handle regions may also include flange sections that have an
increased diameter which serve to impede the user's hands from
sliding in either an upward or downward direction along the
respective arms. In yet further embodiments, the handle may further
include an extension element that extends from the arms through
which the user's fingers and palms are extended to enhance and
assist holding the device in position above the knees during
use.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 2, on rear surface 150 of housing 102
a lever 160 extends from a.
[0027] central axle and can be rotated either counterclockwise or
clockwise to vary the tension on the arms 105 and 107.
[0028] FIG. 3, a side view of the device, shows the proximal end of
arm 107 entering the housing 102 through an opening 155 on the
radial end wall 175 of housing 102. The opening 155 in radial end
wall 175 serves to restrict the rotational motion of the arm to a
predetermined degree.
[0029] FIGS. 4 and 5 depict the components of the device that
create the resistance on the arms. As best seen in FIG. 5, a
threaded rod 505 extends from a threaded seat 509 that is fixed to
the front inner surface 510 of housing 102. The rod includes a
fixed flange element 507 that engages the rear of plate 515 to
prevent axial movement of plate 515 toward the front of the
housing. The rod extends through plate 515 that is attached to the
terminal end of arm 520 and then through annular resistance element
525. Next, rod 505 extends through annular plate 530 that is
attached to the terminal end of arm 522. An engagement element 540,
which includes an extended flange section, is attached to rod 505
for engagement of the surface of plate 530 and which will apply
pressure on the plate as the rod is rotated. Element 540 prevents
the adjustable resistance lever from backing up causing slippage
with the resistance. Rod 505 then extends through central aperture
575 provided in the rear radial sidewall 580 of housing 102 and
engages lever 160 which extends in a radial direction.
[0030] The manner in which the resistance is established in the
first embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.
Lever 160 may be rotated causing threads on the center rod 505 to
engage opposite threads on seat element 509 that is fixed on the
inner surface 510 of the rear side of housing 102. As rod 505 is
rotated in a first direction, the threads engage and cause plate
530 on arm 522 to be drawn towards plate 515 on arm 520. Moving
lever 160 in the opposite direction cases the front plate to travel
away from the rear plate. Annular resistance element 525 is
provided between plate 530 and plate 515. By varying the torque
drat is applied on the lever 160, the resistance between the
respective plates and the annular resistance element may be
altered. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 1 the annular
resistance element is comprise of leather. In alternative
embodiments, the resistance element is comprised of silica
composites, rubber, synthetic rubber, synthetic resins, synthetic
resin infused with metal, and Kevlar.
[0031] An alternative embodiment of the cooperation between plates
that create the resistance is depicted in FIGS. 6-11. FIG. 6, shows
assembly 601 that includes connector bolt 630 that passes through
plate 615, resistance element 610 and second plate 606. As best
seen in FIG. 7, extension member 605 extends from plate 615 and is
adapted to be received in an arm member. Extension member 607 is
connection to top plate 606. FIG. 8, a view from the opposite side
of FIG. 7 that shows the extension member 607 connected with plate
606. The bolt also passes through rectangular member 650 that
limits the rotation of the plates with respect to each other. FIG.
9 depicts the extension members 605 and 607 that extend from the
plate assembly at a downward angle. Referring now to FIG. 10, the
assembly 601 is depicted within housing 900. The assembly is
connector to the housing by tab 905 that is affixed to member 915
that extends from the front sidewall of the housing 900. FIG. 11
depicts the rear of the device with the rear sidewall of the
housing removed. The lever 960 can be rotated on the connector bolt
630 to draw the plates together to create resistance. The level of
resistance is therefore variable and can be controlled by the
user's lever by may be varied by the user. The rectangular member
650 limits rotation of the assembly 601 within the housing.
[0032] Referring now to FIG. 12, the device 101 is depicted as used
in a thigh exercise routine. The user 1221 assumes a seated
position on a suitable support member 1225 and the device is placed
upright on the users legs 1228 and 1229. The user engages the
handles 110 and 112 to stabilize the device while in use. After a
resistance is selected using the lever 160, the user draws his or
her knees together and there by applies pressure to the respective
inner sides of the leg engagement elements. Next the user draws his
or her knees apart, thereby applying force to the outer sides of
the leg engagement elements. The exercise can then be repeated. The
device therefore allows a user to make reciprocating motions,
wherein the knees are drawn together and apart and the device
applies a constant resistance on the legs and thereby exercise both
the inner and outer thigh muscles.
[0033] It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous
characteristics and advantages of the embodiment have been set
forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the
structure and methods of use, the disclosure is illustrative only,
and changes may be made in materials and structure within the
principles of the present disclosure to the full extent indicated
by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended
claims are expressed.
* * * * *