Exercise Apparatus On Pedestal For Patients

Abstract

A heavy base supports a vertically and rotatably adjustable pedestal having an integral upper right angle extension. This extension supports an arm at its free end which carries exercising implements comprising a bicycle-type pedaling device positionable above or below the arm and spring loaded hand grips movable pivotally on eccentric cams. The implement supporting arm extends at right angles from the pedestal extension and is rotatably adjustable around the axis of such extension. The implement supporting arm has length adjustment to suit various requirements for positioning the hand grips relative to a patient. The base has wheeled support to provide portability of the device and is capable of being anchored to the floor for set positioning.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in exercising devices.

It is frequently desirable that persons in hospitals, rest homes, convalescent homes, or other places where he or she is confined have an exercise program. It is usually necessary in such cases to accomplish such exercise while lying or sitting in bed or while sitting in a chair. It is also necessary that a sufficient assortment of exercise be available so as to exercise the principal muscles of the body.

Devices heretofore employed have not satisfied the necessary requirements for providing a plurality of exercises for confined persons. One reason is that they do not have the portability and simplicity required to make them feasible. Another shortcoming of such devices is that they do not employ the necessary adjustments which make them capable of being properly positioned with relation to a patient either in a bed or chair to accomplish desired exercise functions. Still another shortcoming of prior devices is that they do not, at least in an economically feasible structure, provide exercise implements which are capable of providing substantially the full range of excercise functions, desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the invention is therefore to provide exercise apparatus which is designed particularly for hospital patients or other confined persons and which overcomes shortcomings of prior devices.

More particular objects are to provide exercise apparatus of the type described which is compact, portable, and sturdy in its located position adjacent to a patient in a bed, chair, or the like; which has adjustments arranged to make the apparatus usable from either side of a bed or in other locations, as well as to compact it for movement or storage; and which employs exercise implements capable of furnishing substantially all the exercise functions desired for bedridden or confined patients.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable type exercise apparatus for bedridden or confined patients which is substantially simplified in construction and inexpensive to manufacture.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of the device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present exercise apparatus and showing one manner of use in association with a bed in which a patient may be confined, the bed being shown in phantom lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged and foreshortened sectional view taken on the line 4--4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 5--5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged and foreshortened sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With particular reference to the drawings, and first to FIG. 1, the present exercise apparatus includes a base plate 10 integrally connected to a pair of elongated tubular side frame members 12 supported on front wheels 14 and rear wheels 16. The front wheels 14 are steerable and the rear wheels 16, as well as the front wheels 14 if desired, have well known releasable lock means so that the base after being rolled to the desired position can be locked in place relative to the floor. The base plate 10 is of heavy construction, being formed of thick solid metal and the side frame members 12 are of a length and distance apart so that the apparatus will be sturdy and will not tip.

The base 10 supports an upright pedestal 18 formed of two telescoping parts 18a and 18b, also seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The part 18a comprises a spindle secured to the top of base plate 10 by means of a bottom flange 20 which may be bolted to the base plate. As seen in FIG. 2, spindle 18a is tubular and has a top wall 22. With reference also to FIG. 3, the lower end of pedestal part 18b has a vertical slot 28 and ears 30 on opposite sides of the slot which receive a clamp bolt 32 for releasably clamping pedestal part 18b on the spindle 18a. Clamp bolt 32 is threadedly engaged in one of the ears 30 and has a crank handle 34 integral therewith at the end opposite from the threaded end, thus providing a fast and easy clamping and unclamping of the pedestal part 18b on the spindle 18a to provide adjustment as will be described hereinafter.

Pedestal part 18b has a top right angle extension 36 and is vertically adjustable with this extension on the spindle 18a by means of an upright screw rod 38 threadedly engageable in a tapped bore 39 in the top wall 22 of the spindle. Rod 38 passes freely through a bushing 40 secured in the top wall of pedestal extension 36 and has upper and lower collars 42 and 44, respectively, secured thereto on opposite sides of the bushing to provide upper and lower bearing engagement with the pedestal. The lower end of bushing 40 extends below the bottom surface of the upper wall in which the bushing is mounted so that bearing support of the collar 44 will be on the bushing and not on the wall. Upper collar 42 has a crank 46 thereon which, upon loosening clamp screw 32, can be rotated to raise and lower pedestal part 18b on the spindle 18a. Crank 46 is preferably removable from the collar 42 for storage when not in use.

The free end of right angle extension 36 terminates in an end wall 50, FIG. 4, and supports a tubular sleeve segment 52 having a transverse wall 54 intermediate its ends. The outer end of the sleeve segment 52 has a counterbore 56 which receives a flanged end 58 of a hollow end cap 60 removably held in place against the bottom of the counterbore 56 by suitable means, such as by a lock ring 62.

Slidably mounted through an aperture 63 in the end wall of the cap 60 is a push rod 64 having an adjustable pivot connection 66 at an intermediate portion on a lever 68 pivotally connected at one end to ear means 70 on the cap 60. The free end of the push rod 64 has an enlarged, exteriorly splined locking head 72 thereon which is arranged for engagement in respectively splined bores 74 and 76 in end wall 50 of pedestal portion 36 and wall 54 of sleeve segment 52. A spring 78 is disposed on the rod 64 and bears between the head 72 and the inner end surface of the cap 60.

It is apparent that with the locking head 72 in engagement with the splined bores 74 and 76, the sleeve segment 52 cannot turn relative to the pedestal portion 36. To provide rotative adjustment, however, it is merely necessary to manually pull the lever 68 out an amount sufficient to withdraw the head 72 from the splined bore 74. After suitable rotative adjustment of the sleeve segment 52, the lever 68 can be released and the spring 78 will move it inwardly to again provide locking engagement of the locking head 72 in the bore 74.

Pedestal portion 36 has a peripheral groove 80 adjacent to its outer end, and sleeve segment 52 has a setscrew 82, shown in FIG. 1, adapted for engagement with the groove. This setscrew is set at a selective depth such that the inner end thereof is in the plane of the groove but not in engagement with the bottom of the groove whereby suitable adjustable rotation of the sleeve segment can be made when desired and yet the sleeve segment 52 is secured against axial movement.

An implement holding arm 84 is secured integrally to the sleeve segment 52 by a side bracket 85, FIGS. 1, 4 and 6, and extends at right angles relative to the axis of such sleeve segment. This arm is tubular and telescopically receives an arm extension 86 at its free end. Arm 84 has an elongated slot 88, FIG. 6, adjacent to the forward end thereof, and this slot is adapted to receive a clamp screw 90 having threaded engagement in a suitable bore 92 in arm extension 86. Clamp screw 90 passes freely through the slot but has a head portion, such as a wing head, of greater width than the slot so that it is arranged to clamp the two arm portions in a non-telescoping engagement. The clamp screw 90 prevents relative axial rotation of the two arm portions.

Arm extension 86 terminates at its free end in a box-like head 94 having threadedly installed end walls 96 provided with extensions 98. These extensions have internal bores 100 which slidably receive plungers 102. Plungers 102 are bifurcated and the arms thereof extend through spaced slots 104 in the ends of the extensions. Projecting portions of the bifurcated plungers 102 have pivot connections 106 with cam members 108 having integral projecting handle portions 110. The cam members 108 have eccentric pivot connection on the plungers whereby they will move the plungers 102 axially when rotated.

The plungers 102 terminate at their inner ends in heads 112, and connected between the two heads 112 are a plurality of tension springs 114. These springs provide an inward biasing force to the plungers 102. Bearing plates 116 are provided on the ends of extensions 98 to provide a wear surface for the cams 108. The strength of the springs 114 will determine the force required to pivot the handles 110, and of course such force is variable by the use of springs of selected strength.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, bicycle type pedals 120 are provided for operation by the patient's feet. These pedals are rotatably supported on rods 122 having length adjustment in hollow pedal arms 124. The length adjustment is provided by setscrews 126 in the arms 124 engageable with detents 128 in the rods 122. Arms 124 are attached to square or other non-round ends 130 of a shaft 132 journaled in a support housing 134. Shaft 132 has an enlarged drum portion 136 within the housing, and engageable with this drum is a brake shoe 138 also in the housing and movable toward and away from the drum by an adjusting screw 140 threadedly engaged radially in a wall of the housing. By suitable adjustment of the screw 140, the difficulty of rotation of the pedals can be varied.

Housing 134 is secured crosswise on an elongated rod 142, as by welding, and this rod has end eyes 144 adapted for support between split clamp members 146 engageable on arm 84. To insure a non-rotative positioning of the clamp members 146 on the arm 84, setscrews 148, FIG. 7, are threadedly mounted in the clamp members with the inner ends thereof bearing against the arm 84.

FIG. 6 shows the pedal housing 134 mounted on the top side of the arm 84 but it is to be understood that by loosening set screws 148 and clamps 146 if necessary, the rod 142 may be moved around to the underside of the arm so that the pedal housing 134 will hang downwardly. Also, the rod 142 may be adjusted forwardly and rearwardly on the arm 84 if desired.

FIG. 6 shows pedaling structure which may be used in addition to that so far described or if desired in lieu thereof. Such structure uses a rod 150 in combination with a rod 142a which is of the same structure as rod 142. In this arrangement, the rod 142a is connected at its forward end to the bottom of forward clamp 146 and at its rearward end, as by a bolt 152, to one end of rod 150. The other end of rod 150 is secured to the rear clamp 146. A housing 134a with pedals as already described is secured to the lower rod 142a and thus is presented to the patient in a lower plane than the top pedals. It serves well as a pedaling exercise means for a patient sitting in a chair. The top pedaling unit is useful for leg exercise by a patient lying in bed. It may be desired to use only one pedaling unit and to shift it between upper and lower positions as needed, the lower position requiring the insertion of rod 150. Also, the pedaling unit may be installed with the rod 150 on the top if it is desired that the legs of the patient extend up higher while pedaling.

With reference to FIG. 6, an exercise spring 154 having a hand loop 156 at one end may be connected at its other end to an eye bolt 158 on the bottom side of head 94. By means of this structure, and by proper placement of the exercising apparatus, the patient can exercise his arms, shoulders, or many other muscles. As shown in the drawings, eye bolts 158 may be located at several other places on the apparatus, such as on the base 10, the extension 36 of the pedestal, the sleeve segment 52, the head 94, and other places, and as many of the springs 154 may be provided as desired.

In the operation of the present exercise apparatus it can be readily wheeled from one place to another and when in position the wheels 16 are locked so that the unit will be anchored firmly to the floor. In order to suit selected patients and other conditions, such as for example, bed heights, bed widths, location of patient, etc., height adjustment is made between the spindle 18a and the pedestal 18b, rotative adjustment is made between the sleeve segment 52 and the arm 84, longitudinal positioning of the pedaling housing 134 is made on the arm 84 and also at the selected rotative position thereon, and finally the arm extension 86 is telescopically positioned on the arm 84.

As shown in FIG. 1, wherein the apparatus is stationed at one side of a bed, the height and other adjustments are made so that the patient can operate the pedals 120 with his feet and the handles 110 with his hands as he lies in bed. The arm 84 can be swung 180 degrees around the pedestal portion 36 if the device is to be stationed on the opposite side of the bed. Also, the arm 84 can be positioned vertically for storage and ease of movement.

The degree of difficulty of exercise when using the bicycle pedals 120 is preset by the adjusting screw 140 and the difficulty of operating the handles 110 is preset by the use of springs 114 of selected strength. The square ends 130 of shaft 132 on which the pedal arms 124 are mounted allows the pedals to be disposed 180.degree. from each other as usual or if desired they may be positioned side by side for particular exercise requirements. The exercises described comprise only an example of the exercise functions which may be accomplished by the present apparatus. All of the available excercise functions will not be detailed herein. It is to be understood also, that one or more of the exercise springs 154 may be attached to selected eye bolts 158 as desired for operation by the patient.

The present unit thus has features which will make available maximum exercise benefits to patients while hospitalized or otherwise confined and in need of programed exercise. The simplicity of design of the apparatus allows for maximum benefit without undesirable complexity. A physical therapist, attending physician, or other qualified person with a background and awareness of the patient's need for physical exercise, can outline a program of exercise utilizing the present apparatus which can then be administered to the patient by aides, orderlies, or other hospital personnel.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Claims

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. Exercise apparatus for patients comprising a base, a pedestal on said base, a substantially horizontal lateral extension on the upper end of said pedestal having a free end, an arm secured to said lateral extension adjacent to the free end of the latter whereby to be offset laterally from said pedestal, said arm extending at right angles to said lateral extension, and exercising means on said arm for engagement by a patient in a lying or sitting position, said exercising means comprising a head on said arm, laterally projecting handles pivotally connected to said head and having cam ends engaged eccentrically against said head, and spring means in said head urging said cam ends against said head whereby an exercising force is required to pivot the handles relative to the head in the eccentric rotation of said cam ends.

2. The exercising apparatus of claim 1 wherein said exercising means also includes a bicycle-type pedaling device disposed intermediate the ends of said arm.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said arm is secured at one of its ends to said lateral extension and said head is secured to the other end of said arm, said arm being extendable in length for selectively positioning said head relative to a patient.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 including at least one tension spring to accomplish pulling exercising functions, and connecting means at various points on said base, lateral extension and said head for releasable securement of one end of said spring.

5. Exercise apparatus for patients comprising a base, a pedestal on said base, a horizontal lateral extension on the upper end of said pedestal, an arm pivotally mounted at one end on said lateral extension for rotation in a vertical plane around the axis of said lateral extension, means to secure said arm in selected rotative positions on said lateral extension, a bicycle-type pedaling device, and means mounting said pedaling device in operative positions selectively on top of said arm or on the underside of said arm.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, said pedaling device comprising a rotative shaft having a pair of hollow radial pedal arms, and a pair of pedals each mounted on a rod having telescopic length adjustment in one of said pedal arms.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 5 including a pair of laterally projecting handles on the other end of said arm.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 including means pivotally connecting said handles with said arm for swinging movements of the handles on the arm, and means resisting said swinging movements of said handles so as to require an exercising force to swing the handles.

9. The exercise apparatus of claim 7 including a telescopic length adjustment in said arm.

10. Exercise apparatus comprising a base to support the apparatus on a floor, a pedestal on said base, a horizontal lateral extension on the upper end of said pedestal, an arm pivotally mounted at one end on said lateral extension for rotation in a vertical plane around the axis of said lateral extension to place said arm in a selected horizontal or inclined position adaptable to a patient lying or sitting in a bed or sitting in a chair, means for securing said arm in said selected position, a bicycle-type pedaling device mounted on said arm intermediate the ends of the arm, a pair of laterally projecting handles pivotally mounted on the other end of said arm for swinging movements in a plane perpendicular to the arm, and means resisting said swinging movements of said handles so as to require an exercising force to swing the handles.