U.S. patent number 3,761,082 [Application Number 05/312,253] was granted by the patent office on 1973-09-25 for harness assembly for exerciser and walker devices.
Invention is credited to Curtis Wallace Barthel, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,761,082 |
Barthel, Jr. |
September 25, 1973 |
HARNESS ASSEMBLY FOR EXERCISER AND WALKER DEVICES
Abstract
A harness assembly is provided for use with an exerciser and
walker apparatus which is mounted on mounting means and
accommodates the torso of the user disposed therein, the harness
assembly including a chest strap for engagement above the upper
extremity of a torso, a waist strap for engagement about the waist
of the torso, head and shoulder restraint means, a plurality of
suspension straps interconnecting the chest strap, waist strap and
head and shoulder restraint means, the suspension straps including
connecting means for extending the harness and the lower ends of
the suspension straps connected to the waist strap, and a pair of
leg straps interconnecting the rear and front portions
respectively, of the waist strap, thereby to secure the waist about
the lower extremity of the torso.
Inventors: |
Barthel, Jr.; Curtis Wallace
(Oak Park, IL) |
Family
ID: |
26789983 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/312,253 |
Filed: |
December 5, 1972 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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95234 |
Dec 4, 1970 |
3721436 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/69; 182/3;
244/151R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61H
3/04 (20130101); A61H 3/008 (20130101); A61H
2201/1616 (20130101); A61H 2201/1621 (20130101); A61H
2201/0192 (20130101); A61H 2201/163 (20130101); A61H
2201/1607 (20130101); A61H 2201/1652 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61H
3/00 (20060101); A61H 3/04 (20060101); A61h
003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;272/70,70.3,70.4,60,57R
;128/25R,25B ;244/151R,151A ;182/3 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Oechsle; Anton O.
Assistant Examiner: Kramer; Arnold W.
Parent Case Text
This application is a division of parent application, Ser. No.
95,234, filed on Dec. 4, 1970, and now Pat. No. 3,721,436, in the
name of Curtis Wallace Barthel Jr. and entitled EXERCISER AND
WALKER APPARATUS.
Claims
I claim:
1. A harness assembly to support a human body in touching
relationship with respect to a lower support surface comprising a
chest strap for engagement about the upper extremity of a torso, a
waist strap for engagement about the waist of the torso, head and
shoulder restraint means, a plurality of front and rear suspension
straps interconnecting said chest strap said waist strap and said
head and shoulder restraint means, said front suspension straps
interconnecting said chest and waist straps, and said rear
suspension straps interconnecting said head and shoulder restraint
means with said waist strap such that said front and rear
suspension straps cooperate to mutually interconnect said chest and
waist straps with said head and shoulder restraint means, the upper
ends of said suspension straps including connecting means for
suspending the harness and the lower ends of said suspension straps
being connected to said waist strap, and a pair of leg straps
interconnecting the rear and front portions respectively of said
waist strap thereby securing said waist strap about the lower
extremity of the torso.
2. The harness assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of
said chest straps, waist straps, suspension straps and leg straps
are adjustable to accommodate variously shaped torsos.
3. The harness assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein the lower
ends of said suspension straps are disengagably connected to said
waist strap and the opposed ends of each of said leg straps are
disengageably connected to the rear and front portions respectively
of said waist strap thereby to facilitate the insertion and removal
of the harness assembly from the torso.
4. The harness assembly as set forth in claim 1, which further
includes a resilient pad removably fastened about the torso and
interposed between the torso and said chest strap and said waist
strap thereby to prevent the respective straps from applying direct
pressure against the torso.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a novel exerciser and walker
apparatus for aiding and permitting multidirectional movement of
the user thereof, and which is particularly suited for use in
connection with individuals stricken with such diseases as cerebral
palsy, multiple sclerosis, and the like, as well as geriatric
patients, and others requiring mechanical aid to permit
ambulation.
The invention is particularly directed to an overall combination
including an overhead support and guide means, such as a track or
cable assembly, a moveable support means which is provided for
movement along the track or guide means and which ultimately
supports the user therefrom thereby to enable the user to ambulate
in the area generally bounded by the track or guide means. The
moveable support means ultimately support a harness assembly, which
is completely adjustable circumferentially and vertically in order
to accommodate the various shapes of the human torso, while at the
same time providing firm support for the torso disposed therein. A
principle feature of the invention is the provision of tension
means, especially means such as tension springs, interposed between
the moveable support means and the harness assembly which functions
to counterbalance the weight of the user of the device, whereby the
user thereof is suspended from the track or guide means in touching
relationship with respect to the ground support surface. The
invention is further related to and directed to a novel harness
assembly for use in combination with a tensioned counterbalancing
means having mounting means carried therefrom to support a human
body in touching relationship with a lower support surface such as
the ground.
In the past, therapists have experienced several problems in
connection with rendering therapy to individuals with such diseases
as cerebral palsy, or multiple sclerosis, or geriatric patients,
wherein the individuals are not capable of unsupported ambulatory
movement. In many cases, the individuals stricken with such
diseases have little or no muscular control over their limbs in
order to sustain themselves in any walking movement. Various types
of therapeutic devices have been designed in the past in order to
aid the patient in learning to walk or to otherwise gain control
over their involuntary muscular reactions. Devices of this type are
generally shown in several U. S. Pats. including U. S. Pat. No.
2,719,568 issued to N. E. Webb on Oct. 4, 1955, which shows a cage
structure having a harness assembly suspended therefrom, the cage
assembly being supported on casters whereby the patient is
suspended from the harness assembly and grasps the side bars of the
cage which is therefore moveably responsive to the movements of the
patient. However, such devices present a danger in that if the
patient should have uncontrollable muscle spasms or should be
incapable of supporting himself by grasping the cage, the patient
could conceivably injure himself by colliding with some portion of
the cage assembly. In addition, devices such as those disclosed in
the aforementioned patent require that the patient, more or less,
aid in their own support by physically grasping the side bars of
the cage assembly. Other similar devices of the type disclosed in
the aforementioned patent are shown in U. S. Pat. No. 1,661,807
issued to M. Bergh on Dec. 21, 1926; the walker assembly for
invalids disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 2,625,202 issued to L.
Richardson et al on Jan. 13, 1953, which shows still another form
of a cage or frame assembly on casters in which a patient is
supported; a walker mechanism for invalids as shown in U. S. Pat.
No. 2,327,671 issued to J. A. Rupprecht on Aug. 24, 1943, which
again shows a cage or frame assembly supported on casters and
including a hip truss for supporting the patient therefrom. Another
similar device is disclosed in U. S. Pat. No. 3,252,704 issued to
C. L. Wilson on May 24, 1966, which again shows a frame assembly
having a harness assembly supported therefrom, and which requires
that the patient ambulate within the cage assembly in order to gain
movement. Another such device which shows a track supported walker
is shown in U. S. Pat. No. 3,204,954 issued to T. D. Scannell on
Sept. 7, 1965, which generally discloses an overhead track and
supported by a pair of four legs and a dolly assembly disposed for
lateral movement within the track and supporting therefrom a cage
assembly wherein the patient may be suspended and which enables the
patient to move in two directions, back and forth, along the
restricted path encompassed by the overhead track member.
Hence, while the art has made several attempts to develop a device
which will aid the patient in increasing the patient's muscular
control over his limbs and to gain confidence and ambulatory
movement, the devices noted above have presented many problems. One
problem is that none of the devices proposed to date can provide a
patient with multi-directional movement. For example, the devices
which generally utilize cages or frames supported on casters, while
appearing to provide a patient with multi-directional movement,
nevertheless, because the patient must support himself within the
cage assembly, and because such devices are cumbersome, such
devices have not proved to be very successful. This is especially
true where the patient is a child suffering from a disease such as
cerebral palsy which necessarily means that the child patient would
have very little control over his muscular movements, and
therefore, the danger of an involuntary collision between the
patient and the frame or cage assembly is not only possible but
quite probable. Another problem imposed by the devices developed to
date is that such devices cannot be conveniently used in a hospital
or other similar facility where several patients are being given
therapeutic treatment. For example, it would be quite cumbersome,
and dangerous as well, if two or more patients were allowed to
utilize a cage or frame assembly supported on casters in the same
room. The danger of collision between a patient and a frame or cage
assembly would be greatly enhanced and therefore, it would not be
likely that more than one such device would be used at a time.
The present invention obviates the above as well as many other
problems by providing an exerciser and walker apparatus which
permits multi-directional movement by the patient utilizing the
same.
It is therefore one of the important objects of this invention to
provide an exerciser and walker apparatus for aiding and permitting
multi-directional movement of the user thereof which includes guide
means for guiding the movement of the apparatus, moveable support
means carried by the guide means to provide movement along the
length of the guide means, mounting means supported and spaced from
the moveable support means for supporting the user therefrom, a
harness assembly mounted on the mounting means for accommodating
the torso of the user disposed therein, and tension means
interposed between the moveable support means and the mounting
means for counterbalancing the weight of the user carried by the
harness assembly, whereby a user positioned within the harness
assembly is supported in touching relationship with respect to the
ground support surface and is permitted to ambulate in the area
generally encompassed by the guide means.
Another object of this invention is to provide an exerciser and
walker apparatus of the type set forth above, wherein the guide
means comprises an I-beam track and the moveable support means
comprises a moveable dolly assembly stratling the base of the
I-beam and disposed in rolling engagement therein, the dolly
assembly supporting the harness assembly therefrom whereby the user
disposed in the harness assembly is permitted multi-directional
movement in the area generally encompassed by the I-beam track.
Still another object of this invention is to provide an exerciser
and walker apparatus of the type set forth which eliminates the
need for cumbersome mechanical cages or frames disposed about and
around the user thereof thereby to eliminate the danger of injury
to the user through collision with the cage or frame.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an exerciser
and walker apparatus of the type set forth above wherein the guide
means consists of a pair of track members mounted on sidewall
support surfaces, such as indoor walls, the track members disposed
in horizontal alignment with respect to one another and each of the
track members having moveable means carried thereby, such moveable
means being disposed thereon for movement along the length of the
track member, a support member having the opposed ends mounted on
corresponding ones of the moveable means whereby the support member
is moveably responsive to the movement of the moveable means,
moveable support means carried by the support member, the moveable
support means being moveable along the length of the support
member, a harness assembly being supported by the moveable support
means, and tension means interposed between the harness assembly
and the moveable support means whereby the user thereof is capable
of multi-directional movement throughout 360.degree. in any given
area encompassed by the pair of track members.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a harness
assembly for use in combination with tensioned counterbalancing
means having mounting means carried therefrom to support a human
body in touching relationship with a lower support surface, the
harness assembly including an adjustable chest strap for engagement
about the upper extremity of the torso, an adjustable waist strap
for engagement about the waist of the torso, head and shoulder
restraint means, a plurality of suspension straps interconnecting
the chest strap, the waist strap, and the head and shoulder
restraint means, the upper ends of the suspension straps including
connecting means for suspending the harness assembly and the lower
ends of the suspension straps connected to the waist strap, and a
pair of leg straps interconnecting the rear and front portions
respectively of the waist strap thereby securing the waist strap
about the lower extremity of the torso.
In connection with the foregoing object, it is still another object
of this invention to provide a harness assembly of the type set
forth wherein all of the straps are completely adjustable in order
to accommodate any shape and size human torso.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide an
exerciser and walker apparatus of the type set forth hereinabove
wherein the height of the harness assembly in relation to the
ground support surface is completely adjustable in order to
accommodate the varying heights of individuals utilizing the
apparatus.
Further features of the invention pertain to the particular
arrangement of the parts whereby the above-outlined and additional
operating features thereof are obtained.
The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation,
together with further objects and advantages thereof will best be
understood by reference to the following specification taken in
connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational plan view showing the harness assembly
suspended from an overhead support, indicating a patient disposed
therein in phantom;
FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a track
and dolly assembly;
FIG. 3 is a side party cross-sectional view showing the embodiment
of a track and dolly assembly for supporting a harness assembly
therefrom of the type illustrated in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a front elevational view showing an I-beam track
structure which is mounted from an overhead support surface and
includes a dolly assembly provided for rolling movement along the
base of the I-beam track;
FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view showing the details of the novel
harness assembly;
FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another form of a track and pulley
assembly in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a track assembly similar to the track
illustrated in FIG. 4, but including curve sections particularly
suited for indoor use;
FIG. 8 illustrates still another embodiment of a track assembly
which is particularly adapted for mounting on opposed sidewall
support surfaces and which enables the patient to have complete
360.degree. multi-directional movement;
FIG. 9 illustrates still another embodiment of the present
invention wherein the harness assembly, as shown in FIG. 5 of the
drawings, may be utilized in connection with a cage or frame
assembly.
Referring now specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is
shown an exerciser and walker apparatus generally referred to by
the numeral 10 which is shown to be supported from an overhead
support structure 11 in which is mounted a hook 12 for suspending
the apparatus 10 for purposes of illustration. The exerciser and
walker apparatus 10 is suspended by means of a first length of
chain 13 which engages the hook 12 at its upper end and the tension
means 15 at its lower end. The first length of chain 13 is
adjustable thereby to either raise or lower the exerciser-walker
apparatus 10. A second length of chain 16 extends from the lower
portion of the tension means 15 and is connected thereto at its
upper end, and extends downwardly therefrom. Once again, the second
length of chain 16 is adjustable in order to vary the positioning
of the remainder of the apparatus 10 with respect to the ground
support surface. The lower end of the second length of chain 16 is
connected to a hanger bar 18, which generally consists of an upper
support bar 19 and a lower support bar 20. The upper support bar
includes an inverted U-shaped section 21 whereat the lower end of
the second length of chain 16 is connected. The chains 13 and 16
are connected to their respective elements as indicated above by
means of safety hooks 17, if desired, whereby the chains 13 and 16
are disengagably connected with the elements as indicated. The
outer ends of the hanger bar 18 are up-turned to form hook ends 22
for supporting the remainder of the apparatus. The remainder of the
apparatus comprises a harness assembly generally referred to by the
numeral 25 which is suspended from the hanger bar 18 at the
up-turned hook ends 22 by means of suspension straps 75 and 85 as
will be more fully described hereinafter. The support straps 75 and
85 are suspended from the hook ends 22 by means of snap hooks 77,
87 which are disengagably connected to the hook ends 22. The
details of the harness assembly 25 are more particularly shown in
FIG. 5 of the drawings, and will now be described.
The harness assembly 25 consists of a chest strap 26, which is
formed of a heavy fabric material and is adjustable
circumferentially by means of a buckle 27 through which a portion
of the strap 26 is overlapped. The strap 26 is fastened about the
upper extremity of the torso by means of snap fasteners 28,
although other fastening means may similarly be utilized. The strap
26 is also provided with a series of four hook receivers 29, 30,
31, 32 which are permanently affixed to the strap 26. Hook
receivers 29 and 30 are carried by the chest strap 26 adjacent one
end thereof, while hook receivers 31 and 32 are carried adjacent
the opposed end of the strap 26, and are disposed so that in use,
the hook receivers 29, 30, 31 and 32 are disposed along the front
of the torso, hook receivers 29 and 31 being carried along the
upper edge of the strap 26, and hook receivers 30 and 32 being
carried along the lower edge thereof. As shown in FIG. 5, the strap
26 is formed in three sections 33, 34, and 35 which are held
together by means of two connectors 36 and 37. This construction
renders the strap 26 more conformable to the circumferential
positioning about the torso. The central section 34 of the chest
strap 26 is formed of an elastic material thereby to render the
chest strap 26 more adjustable and conformable to the torso of the
user.
Disposed below the chest strap 26 is a waist strap 40 which is
similarly formed of a heavy fabric material. Once again, as shown
in FIG. 5, the waist strap 40 is formed in three sections 41, 42
and 43 which are held together by two connectors 44 and 45 to
render the strap more easily conformable to circumferential
positioning about the waist portion of the torso. The strap 40
similarly is circumferentially adjustable by means of a pair of
buckles 46 carried by the second section 42 of the strap 40 through
which a portion of the strap 40 is overlapped, and the strap 40 is
fastened about the waist portion by snap fasteners 47 positioned to
engage one another in the known manner. The waist strap 40 carries
a series of eight hook receivers 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55,
whereby in use, and as worn by the user, hook receivers 48, 54 are
disposed along the upper front portion of the strap 40, hook
receivers 49, 55 being disposed along the lower front portion of
the strap 40, hook receivers 51, 52 being disposed along the upper
rear portion of the strap 40, and hook receivers 51, 53 being
disposed along the lower rear portion of the strap 40.
The harness assembly 25 also includes a head and shoulder restraint
60 which, in use, is positioned substantially between the hanger
bar 18 and the chest strap 26. The restraint 60 consists of a
single thickness of heavy fabric and functions to help support the
head and shoulders of the patient when positioned in the harness
25. The lateral edges 61, 62 of the restraint 60 are each folded
over upon themselves for a short distance and secured to the
restraint, such as by sewing, to form a pair of channels 63, 64 for
a purpose to be described more clearly hereinafter. A pair of
grommets 65 are provided adjacent the upper edge of the restraint
60 through which attachment cords or hooks (not shown) may be
inserted and connected to the lower support bar 20 of the hanger
bar 18 to provide additional support for the harness assembly
25.
The harness assembly also includes a pair of leg straps 70, each
strap 70 formed, once again, of a heavy fabric material. Each strap
70 is provided with a buckle 71 through which a portion of the
strap 70 is overlapped to allow the straps 70 to be adjustable.
Each end of each of the straps 70 is provided with a snap hook 72
for a purpose to be more fully described hereinafter.
The harness assembly 25 is completed with a series of four
suspension straps 75 which function to support and suspend the
harness assembly 25 from the hanger bar 18. Each of the straps 75,
80, 85 and 90 is provided with adjustment buckles 76, 81, 86 and
91, respectively, through which a portion of the straps are
overlapped in order to render each of the straps adjustable
depending upon the size of the user thereof. Each of the straps 75,
80, 85, 90 is provided with a snap hook 77, 82, 87 and 92
respectively at each end thereof, and in addition, the two outer
straps 75, 85 (as viewed in FIG. 5) are each provided with a third
snap hook 78 and 88 respectively, disposed adjacent to the lower
snap hooks thereof.
To assemble the harness assembly 25, the lower ends of the two
inner suspension straps 80 and 90 are each passed through the
corresponding channels 63 and 64 respectively of the head restraint
60, after which the lower snap hooks 82 and 92 are connected to
hook receivers 50 and 52 respectively. The lower ends of each of
the two outer straps 75 and 85 are passed through hook receivers
29, 30 and 31, 32 respectively, and connected to hook receivers 48
and 54 respectively. The third snap hooks 78 and 88 are each then
connected to hook receivers 29 and 31 respectively. The leg straps
70 each have upper snap hooks 72 connected to hook receivers 51 and
53 respectively, and the lower snap hooks 72 connected to hook
receivers 49 and 55 respectively.
Hence, when the patient is inserted in the harness assembly 25, the
chest strap 26 is snapped about the upper extremity of his torso by
interconnecting snap fasters 28 and the waist strap 40 is snapped
about the lower extremity of his torso by interconnecting snap
fasteners 47. The third snap hooks 78 and 88 of the outer
suspension straps 75 and 85 are connected to hook receivers 29 and
31 respectively, while the lower snap hooks 77 and 87 are passed
through hook receivers 29, 30 and 31, 32 respectively and connected
to hook receivers 48 and 54 respectively, thereby supporting the
front of the harness assembly 25 on the patient. The lower ends of
the two inner straps 80 and 90 are passed through the channels 63
and 64 respectively of head restraint 60 and connected to hook
receivers 50 and 52 respectively to support the rear of the harness
assembly 25 on the patient. The leg straps 70 have the upper snap
hooks 72 connected to hook receivers 51 and 53 respectively, the
lower ends of the leg straps 70 then being passed between the legs
of the patient and having the lower snap hooks 72 connected to hook
receivers 49 and 55 respectively to support and position the front
and rear portions of the waist strap 40 in place on the patient.
The upper snap hooks 77, 82, 87 and 92 are each connected to and
suspended from the hook ends 22 of hanger bar 18 to support and
suspend the harness assembly 25 from an overhead support.
As shown in FIG. 1, prior to positioning the patient within the
harness assembly, a cushioning pad 23 is provided which is worn
about the patient's torso in order to prevent the various straps of
the harness assembly 25 from cutting into the patient's body. The
pad 23 is fastened about the patient's torso by means of a suitable
connector 24, which may be in the form of a buckle, or snap
fastener, or other suitable fastening means.
The tension means 15 is also particularly illustrated in FIG. 5 and
is shown to include an upper support plate 95 having an opening 96
disposed adjacent the upper edge thereof, and a series of three
spring receiving openings 97 disposed adjacent the lower edge
thereof, a lower support plate 98 having an opening 99 disposed
adjacent the lower edge thereof, and a series of three spring
receiving openings 100 disposed adjacent the upper edge thereof,
and a series of three tension springs 101 having hooked ends 102 at
both ends of each of the springs 101. The upper hooked ends 102 are
received in and carried by spring receiving opening 97 and the
lower hooked ends 102 are received in and carried by spring
receiving openings 100. The tension means 15 is connected to the
assembly by inserting a safety hook 17 through the upper opening 96
and through one link in chain 13, and by another safety hook 17
which is passed through the lower opening 99 and either through the
U-shaped section 21 of hanger bar 18 (as shown in FIG. 5), or
through one link of another length of chain 16 (as shown in FIG
1).
Of course, depending upon the weight of the patient positioned in
the harness assembly 25 and the resulting weight to be
counter-balanced as a result, more or fewer springs 101 may be
utilized. Similarly, tension springs 101 of various tension grades
may be employed merely by removing and replacing springs as
indicated above. In this manner, as a patient improves his muscular
strength and coordination, springs having a lesser tension grade
may be used to thereby counterbalance less of the patient's weight
requiring the patient to support and carry more of his own weight
as he uses this apparatus.
The complete apparatus envisions the use of a guide means having
disposed thereon moveable support means from which is supported the
tension means 15 and the harness assembly 25. Referring now to
FIGS. 2, 3 and 8 of the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of
a guide means and moveable support member which is particularly
useful in connection with the present invention. In FIG. 2, there
is shown a box channel 105 which is in the form of an inverted
U-shaped structure having lateral flanges 106 extending inwardly
toward the center thereof from the lower edges of the channel 105,
thereby to form an open slot 107 between the inner edges of the
respective flanges 106. The box channel 105 may be affixed to any
suitable surface 108 such as by means of a clamp 109 affixed to the
surface 108 by means of a bolt 110. A dolly assembly 111 is
disposed within the box channel 105 and generally consists of a
pair of wheels 112 mounted on a common axle 113 with a support
plate 114 similarly mounted on the axle 113 and extending
downwardly therefrom through the slot 107. The lateral flanges 106
are of sufficient width in order to provide a track for the wheels
112 to ride upon. If desired, a box channel 105 of the type
described may be used individually with a dolly assembly 111 from
which would be supported a length of chain (13 of FIG. 1) which in
turn would support and carry the tension means 15 and the harness
assembly 25, as illustrated in FIG. 3. However, a preferred
embodiment of this invention is more clearly shown in FIG. 8 of the
drawings wherein there is shown a pair of box channels 105 of
similar construction and mounted to a pair of side support surfaces
(not shown) such as for example, opposed walls in an interior room.
A support rod 115 is shown to have the opposed ends thereof mounted
on respective ones of the dolly assemblies 111 carried in each of
the box channels 105, the opposed ends of the support rod 115 being
mounted on and carried by the support plate 114 of opposed dolly
assemblies 111. A pulley assembly, generally indicated by the
numeral 116, is disposed upon the support rod 115, the pulley
assembly generally consisting of a U-shaped clamp 117 carrying a
pulley wheel 118 above the support rod 115, the pulley wheel 118
being disposed for rolling movement along the support rod 115. A
suspension plate 119 is provided adjacen the lower end of the
U-shaped clamp 117 from which is suspended the remainder of the
apparatus. It will be seen therefore that when a patient is
inserted in a harness assembly 25 and suspended from the suspension
plate 119 of the pulley assembly 116, the patient is capable of
360.degree. multi-directional movement throughout a complete room
since the support rod 115 is moveably responsive to the movement of
the dolly assemblies 111 in each of the box channels 105 and the
pulley assembly may be moved along the length of the support rod
115. If a sufficiently large room is provided, such as for example,
a clinic or therapuetic institution, several dolly assemblies and
corresponding support rods could be supported by a pair of box
channels 105 mounted along the side walls of the room. In addition,
if the dimensions of the room are sufficiently large, additional
pulley assemblies 116 could be mounted on each of the support rods
115 in order to enable the institution or clinic to render
therapuetic treatment to several patients at the same time.
With reference to FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings, there is
illustrated still another preferred embodiment of the present
invention which, once again, enables a patient to have
multi-directional movement when supported by a harness assembly 25
in the manner indicated hereinabove. With reference to FIG. 4,
there is shown an I-beam, generally referred to by the numeral 120,
and which consists of an upper horizontal plate 121, a lower
horizontal plate 122, and interconnecting vertical plate 123
interconnecting the upper horizontal plate 121 with the lower
horizontal plate 122. The I-beam 120 may be supported from an
overhead surface, such as a ceiling structure, by means of a clamp
assembly 124 bolted to the ceiling by bolts 125. The clamp assembly
124 consists of a central rib 126 having an opening (not shown)
disposed therethrough and a pair of oppositely extending arms 127
having inwardly turned edges 128 thereby to provide a space between
the inwardly turned edge 128 and the under portion of the arm 127.
The arms 127 are designed to engage the opposed edges of the upper
horizontal plate 121 of the I-beam 120 and bolted in place on the
rib 126 by means of a bolt and nut assembly 129. As many clamp
assemblies 124 may be utilized as will sufficiently support the
I-beam 120 from an overhead support structure.
The lower horizontal plate 122 of the I-beam 120 carries a dolly
assembly generally referred to by the numeral 130. The dolly
assembly 130 generally consists of a pair of side plates 131 and
132, each of which has a wheel assembly 133 mounted thereon
adjacent the upper edge thereof, each wheel being mounted thereon
for rotational movement. A mounting bar 134 is carried adjacent the
lower edges of the plates 131 and 132, the bar 134 being disposed
through openings (not shown) provided in each of the plates 131 and
132 and held in place by means of nuts 135 threadedly secured
thereon. A groove 136 is provided in the mounting rod 134, the
groove 136 being centrally disposed therein. Hence, the lower
horizontal plate 122 of the I-beam 120 provides a convenient track
upon which the wheels 133 of the dolly assembly 130 ride upon. Once
a patient has been inserted in the harness assembly 25, the upper
length of chain may be connected to the mounting rod 134 by
inserting a safety hook in the groove 136 thereof. In this manner,
the hook is prevented from moving laterally thereby insuring that
the patient is supported in the central portion of the mounting rod
134.
FIG. 7 is intended to illustrate that the I-beam track 120 may be
provided in terms of a straight section 140 and a curved section
141, the respective section being provided either separately and
joined together by a suitable clamp structure, or the I-beam track
120 may be formed as an integral piece having both curved and
straight section. The advantages of providing the I-beam track 120
in both straight sections 140 and curved sections 141 is that this
particular embodiment may be adaptable for use in homes by
installing the appropriate straight sections 140 and curved
sections 141 whereby the patient would be able to ambulate from
room to room without requiring any additional apparatus, or having
to use any apparatus which would hinder movement through doorways
and the like.
FIG. 6 of the drawings illustrates still another emdobiment of the
guide means which may be utilized in connection with the present
invention. In FIG. 6, there is shown a pair of stationery support
posts 150 suitably mounted in a ground support surface. A cable 151
is stretched across the opposed stationery support posts 150 and is
kept in tensioned position by means of tension clamps 152 provided
on each of the support posts 150. A pulley assembly 155 is mounted
upon and carried by the cable 151, the pulley assembly generally
consisting of an inverted U-shaped clamp 156, which carries a
pulley wheel (not shown) disposed for rolling movement along the
cable 151. The lower edge of the U-shaped clamp 156 carries a hook
157 from which the harness assembly 25 is supported. The embodiment
as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings is particularly suitable for
outdoor use and it will be appreciated that by having the support
posts 150 disposed a substantial distance from one another, and
having the cables stretched and tensioned therebetween, the patient
is provided with multi-directional movement in the outdoors.
In FIG. 9 of the drawings, there is illustrated still another
embodiment of the present invention which is intended to show the
usefullness of the harness assembly in connection with a cage
assembly where desireable. Hence, there is shown a cage assembly
generally referred to by the numeral 160 which is formed of a
tubular metallic material, such as tubular steel or tubular
aluminum. The cage assembly is mounted and supported on a series of
four casters 161, which thereby render the cage 160 moveably
responsive to the movement of the patient disposed and supported
therein. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, it will be noted that
each of the four corner legs 162 have a caster support leg 163
telescopically disposed therein. Suitable stops may be provided
whereby the relative height of the cage assembly 160 from the
ground support surface may be adjusted to accommodate patients of
varying heights by adjusting the caster support legs 163 to the
height desired and tripping the stops to hold the legs 163 in
place. The cage 160 is provided with a support hook 164 mounted in
the central portion of the roof assembly 165. Each of the sides of
the cage assembly 160 includes a lateral support bar 166, one of
the lateral support bars carrying a master pulley assembly 167
mounted upon a pulley mount 168. The roof assembly 165 of the cage
160 is provided with a second pulley assembly 169, which is
disposed in vertical alignment with the master pulley assembly 167.
The master pulley assembly 167 is of course provided with a cable
170 which in use extends upwardly and around the second pulley 169
and is supported and carried by the support hook 164 in the central
portion of the cage assembly 160. In this manner, the positioning
of the patient within the cage assembly 160 is adjustable by means
of the master pulley assembly 167. Hence, in this embodiment, both
the cage assembly 160 is adjustable by means of the caster support
legs 163 and the height relationship of the patient with respect to
the ground support surface adjustable by means of the master pulley
assembly 167.
In the practice of the present invention, a patient is positioned
within the harness assembly 25 in the manner indicated hereinabove.
After the various straps of the harness assembly 25 have been
appropriately adjusted in order to comfortably accommodate the
patient, the harness assembly 25 is mounted on and supported by the
hanger bar 18. The hanger bar 18 is in turn mounted on and carried
by the tension means, which as previously descrbed, may be varied
according to the size and weight of the patient. The tension means
15 is in turn connected to and supported by the particular moveable
support member which is provided. For example, with reference to
FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings, the tension means 15 would have a
length of chain 13 connected to the upper end thereof, and the
upper length of the chain length 13 is mounted upon the support
plate 114 of the dolly assembly 111. Since the dolly assembly 111
is disposed for rolling movement in the box channel 105, as the
patient moves his legs, he will move in an area generally
encompassed by the box channel 105. Similar ambulatory movement is
provided by using the I-beam track and dolly assembly as shown in
FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings, wherein the length of chain 13 which
carries the tension means 15 would have its upper end mounted in
the groove 136 of the mounting rod 134. As the patient moves his
legs, the movement of his body causes the dolly assembly 130 to
move along the lower horizontal plate 122 of the I-beam track 120.
Similarly, as discussed with reference to FIG. 9 of the drawings,
once the patient has been adequately secured to the cable 170
carried by the cage assembly 160, and the caster support legs 163
and master pulley assembly 167 has been appropriately adjusted to
accommodate the patient, the movement by the patient along the
ground support surface will cause the cage assembly 160 to move in
response to his movements by way of the casters 161.
Hence, there has been provided by virtue of this invention, a novel
exerciser and walker apparatus for aiding and permitting
multi-directional movement of the user thereof which generally
consists of a guide means, a moveable support means disposed for
movement along the guide means, a harness assembly for supporting
the user therein, and tension means for counterbalancing the load
carried by the harness assembly with respect to the ground support
surface. There has further been provided as a subcombination
herein, a novel harness assembly which is substantially completely
adjustable in order to accommodate the various shapes and sizes of
different patients or users thereof.
While there has been described what is at present considered to be
the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood
that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended
to cover in the appended claims all such modifications as fall
within the true spirit and scope of the invention.
* * * * *