Abstract:
A rotational exercise device is disclosed. The rotational exercise device includes an upper platform rotatably coupled to a base. The base is configured to rest on the floor. Elastic members located in the base interact with posts located in the upper platform to provide rotatable resistance between the upper platform and base. The elastic members may be exchanged to provide a desired resistance. The rotatable resistance permits the user to perform controlled exercise movements to assist in the physical therapy of rotational joints.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to the field of exercise equipment, and, in particular, to an adjustable rotational exercise device for increasing an individual&#39;s strength and agility. 
       Background Information 
       [0002]    People want to return to an active healthy lifestyle as quickly as possible after injury. Physical therapy and rehabilitation following injury have become more important and more sophisticated. Injuries to rotational joints are common due to the number of sports and activities that stress hips, shoulders, wrists, and ankles. Devices with an upper surface coupled to a base using ball bearings allow rotational exercise in one plane and can aid in rehabilitation. An early example of such a device is U.S. Pat. No. 3,512,774 to Honer. A second example of a rotational exercise device is U.S. Pat. No. 8,771,157 to Caponigro. Caponigro discloses a rotational exercise device that includes a spring that resists rotation. The spring does not provide a wide range of variability or the ability to change resistance quickly and easily. Thus, what is needed is a rotational exercise device that controls movement in one plane and permits the user to easily alter the rotational resistance either during an exercise or from exercise to exercise. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The invention is a rotational exercise device with a circular base and a circular upper platform coupled together with a bearing surface to permit the upper platform to rotate relative to the base. The base includes elastic bands that cooperate with posts secured to the upper platform and oppose rotation of the upper platform relative to the base. The elastic bands may be easily exchanged with bands that permit increased or decreased resistance as desired by the user. The base and the upper platform are generally of the same diameter, although different diameters may be accommodated. The diameter of the base and of the upper platform may be sized to accommodate a user standing on the upper platform or maybe of smaller size that accommodates the user&#39;s foot or hand. 
         [0004]    The base is configured to rest on a support surface such as the floor. The base includes several recesses to receive elastic bands. In one embodiment, the recesses are located on the compass points of the base. The elastic bands are placed into the recesses such that they form a cross. The elastic bands include a stop that rests against the outer diameter of the base and maintains the elastic band at a fixed length spanning the base while the unit is at rest. Attached to the upper platform are a series of posts. The posts may be secured to the upper platform by any such means as being press fit, threaded, or by any other manner that secures the posts to the upper platform. The posts secured to the upper platform engage the elastic bands of the base when the upper platform is rotatably coupled to the base. As the bands begin to stretch they oppose the rotation of the upper platform relative to the base providing a desired resistance to rotation. 
         [0005]    A bearing surface rotationally couples the base to the upper platform. The surface is sufficient to support the required weight of the user. In some instances, the weight may be a portion of the user&#39;s bodyweight. In other instances the weight may be the user&#39;s full body weight. One of skill in the art would be able to select a bearing surface sufficient to support the required weight. Further it may be desirable to include a shield or seal to protect the bearing surface from the intrusion of dirt, dust, or other contaminants. The bearing surface may be a ball bearing, roller bearing, bushing or any other mechanical device that allows low friction between the base and the upper platform. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the present invention can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the invention shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is view of the base of the invention of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a view of the upper platform of the invention of  FIGS. 1 ; and 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a view of an alternative embodiment of the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is a view of a typical use of the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
       [0013]      100131  The following detailed description is of exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is defined by the claims. Various inventive features are described below that can be used independently of one another or in combination with other features. 
         [0014]    Broadly, with reference to  FIG. 1 , embodiments of the present invention generally provide a rotational exercise device  10  that restricts movement in one plane and provides rotational resistance. The rotational exercise device  10  is comprised of a substantially circular base  20  rotatably coupled to an upper platform  40  via a bearing surface  50 . The base  20  contains recesses  32  that receive elastic bands  34 ,  35 . The recesses  32  are located along the lower base surface  24  at the points of a compass. When in place, the elastic bands  34 ,  35  are substantially perpendicular to each other to form the shape of a cross. A substantially circular upper platform  40  is rotatably coupled to the base  20  by means of a bearing surface  50 . The bearing surface permits the upper platform  40  to rotate with reduced friction relative to the base  20 . The upper platform  40  has a series of posts  46  that interact with the elastic bands  34 ,  35  when the upper platform  40  is coupled to the base  20 . When the upper platform  40  rotates relative to the base  20 , the elastic bands  34 ,  35  oppose rotation of the posts  46  of creating a resistance to rotation of the upper platform  40 . Thus, the user is able to exercise in one plane with controlled resistance created by the elastic bands  34 ,  35 . 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the base  20  and the upper platform  40  are the same diameter. The diameter maybe such that a user can stand on the upper platform  40  with both feet. In such an embodiment, the rotational exercise device  10  is configured to support the user&#39;s entire bodyweight or the user&#39;s body weight plus additional weights. In another embodiment, the rotational exercise device  10  maybe configured to support a user&#39;s hand or foot. In such an embodiment, the diameter of the base  20  and the upper platform  40  maybe reduced, and the rotational exercise device  10  maybe design to support less than the user&#39;s whole body weight. In another embodiment, the base  20  maybe of greater diameter then the upper platform  40 , and in another embodiment the upper platform  40  maybe of a greater diameter then the base  20 . In yet another embodiment, the upper platform  40  may be configured to support a hand by means of a handle. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  shows the base  20  has an upper base surface  22  and a lower base surface  24 . The upper base surface  22  is configured to be connected to the bearing surface  50 . The lower base surface  24  is configured to rest on the ground or a support surface. The lower base surface may also include base pads  21  to support the rotational exercise device  10 . 
         [0017]    Lower base surface  24  has two or more recesses  32 . In one embodiment, there are four recess  32  located at the points of a compass or at 0°, 90°, 180°, and 270° around the lower base surface  24 . The recesses  32  are configured to receive the elastic bands  34 ,  35 . In the above embodiment, when the elastic bands  34  are placed into the recesses  32 , the elastic bands span the base  20  and form the shape of a cross. In another embodiment, four recesses  32  may be located in the lower base surface  24  such that the elastic bands  34 ,  35  are substantially parallel to each other. A further embodiment the may have just two recesses  32  in the lower base surface  24 . In such an embodiment, the exercise device  10  utilizes only one elastic band  34 . It will be understood by one of skill in the art that the base  20  can be configured in a number of different ways accommodate one or more elastic bands  34  to span the base  20 . The elastic bands may be held in place by clips for example or other means of retaining the elastic band  34  to span the base  20 . 
         [0018]    In one embodiment of the invention, the elastic bands  34 ,  35  span base  20  in a pre-tensioned state. In another embodiment, the elastic bands  34 ,  35  are initially in a state of rest. The elastic bands  34  maybe made from any material that may be stretched and then substantially return to its original length. In one embodiment of the elastic band  34 , the material maybe synthetic rubber; however, any elastic material may be used. The elastic band  34  may be hollow or it may be solid. In one embodiment, the elastic bands  34 ,  35  have a stop that interacts with the outer diameter of the base  26  such to resist stretching of the elastic band  34 . As stated above, it is within the scope of this invention that one may use one, two or more elastic bands as desired. Elastic bands of various resistances maybe used to increase the opposition to rotation of the upper platform  40  relative to the base  20 . Additionally instead of the elastic band  34  having a stop at each end, one may simply tie a knot in the elastic band such that the knot rests against the outer diameter of the base  26  to resist movement of the elastic band  34  when it is stretched. The elastic band  34  may also be different colors to provide a color code to the user for how much the elastic band will resist rotation. 
         [0019]    With reference to  FIG. 4 , the upper platform  40  includes a support surface  42  and a lower platform surface  44 . The support surface  42  may be configured to include a higher fiction surface to decrease the chance of the user slipping from the surface. The lower platform surface  44  is configured to be connected to the bearing surface  50 . The upper platform  40  further includes a series of posts  46  fixed to the upper platform. The posts  46  maybe press fit, threaded, or fixed to the upper platform  40  by any well-known means. The posts  46  may be attached perpendicular to the lower platform surface  44  or attached in another plane relative to the lower platform surface  44 . In one embodiment eight posts  40  are fixed to the upper platform  40 . The posts  46  may be constructed of metal or any the material of sufficient strength to remain fixed into the upper platform  40  and not break when interacting with the elastic bands  34 ,  35 . In one embodiment, the posts  46  are configured such that when the base  20  is coupled to the upper platform  40  the posts bestride the elastic bands  34 ,  35 . Thus as the upper platform  40  is rotated relative to the base  20 , the elastic bands  34 ,  35  oppose rotation of the posts  46  creating resistance to rotation between the upper platform  40  in the base  20 . It will be known to one of skill in the art, that the number of posts  46  may depend upon the number of elastic bands  34 ,  35  and the orientation of the elastic bands  34 ,  35 . In a simple embodiment, one elastic band  34  spans the base  20  and one post  46  is fixed to the upper platform  40 . As the upper platform  40  rotates relative to the base  20  the elastic band  34  will oppose rotation of the post  46  creating resistance to rotation. 
         [0020]    A bearing surface  50  is interposed between the base  20  in the upper platform  40 . The bearing surface  50  rotatably couples the base  20  and the platform  40  allowing low friction rotation between the two members. The base  20  and the platform  40  may by fixedly coupled or removably coupled. The bearing surface  50  may be comprised of a number of different mechanical devices such as a lazy susan bearing, ball bearings, roller bearings, bushings, or any other mechanical device that permits low-friction rotation. In one embodiment the bearing surface  50  also permits the upper platform  40  to rotate in one plane. Another embodiment, the base  20  and or the upper platform  40  have surfaces to limit the movement of the upper platform  40  to one rotational plane. Example maybe a flange formed as part of the upper platform  40  that interacts with a surface of the base  20  such that the upper platform  40  does not substantially tip or tilt. In a further embodiment, the bearing surface may be form as part of the base  20  of formed as part of the upper platform  40 . 
         [0021]    In another embodiment, the rotational exercise device  10  maybe configured in the opposite manner where as the posts  46  are located in the base and the elastic members  34 ,  35  are located in the upper platform  40 . The choice of locating the post and the elastic members  34 ,  35  are within the skill of one of in art. In this embodiment the post  46  will oppose rotation of the elastic band  34  thus creating the rotational resistance of the upper platform  40 . 
         [0022]    With reference to  FIG. 5 , although the base  20  in the upper platform  40  have been described above is being circular, these elements may be comprised of different shapes such as an egg shape, oval shape, or other various shapes. In one embodiment, the base  20  is shaped to include an area that is graduated to demonstrate to the user the number of degrees of rotation in either direction the user as rotated the upper platform  40  relative to the lower base  20 . This can assist in the user being able to evaluate the amount of rotational rehabilitation one has achieved. 
         [0023]    The rotational exercise device  10  provides rotational resistance through a closed chain system for improved joint position and activation of the body&#39;s dynamic stabilizers. It can be used to rehabilitate complex total hip arthroplasty patients with a history of recurrence dislocation and subluxations. The exercise device  10  may also provide resistance to neutral positioning or squat lunge and push-up training. Thus, it may be used as both a rehabilitation device and a general strength-training device. 
         [0024]    In the rehabilitation setting the device mentioned may be utilized to both generate and resist rotational movement. In a method of use, a user may stand on the device with one foot, or with each foot on a separate device, and rotate their legs against the resistance generated by the elastic bands providing a novel means of “closed kinetic chain” strengthening of the musculature known as the deep rotators of the hip. A similar technique may be applied to the upper extremities while in a “pushup” position or in quadruped kneeling. Relating to the second technique mentioned, a user might assume the same position as described in the first technique, but this time pre-load tension on the elastic bands. Then, while maintaining a stable foot/hand position throughout the technique, perform a dynamic exercise such as a squat or pushup. This challenges the users ability to activate the appropriate musculature needed to maintain the desired position of the joints affected by the rotational forces placed upon them via the device. In specific reference to the squat, resisting internal rotation of the hip during the exercises provides targeted strengthening required to treat a very common biomechanical fault found in a wide range of orthopedic injuries. 
         [0025]    The exercise device  10  provides further benefit such that the resistance is created through the use of common elastic bands or therabands. These bands can be color-coded to provide a known resistance to the user or their length and thus their resistance maybe adjusted by shortening the length of the band as it expands the base  20  by using a clamp or by simply knotting the band too short. 
         [0026]    It is understood that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.