Abstract:
A rotator cuff therapy device assists a user in accomplishing orbital motion of the user&#39;s arm to provide a therapeutic effect that strengthens and rehabilitates the arms, shoulders, and related joints and tissues. The device may be adjustable so that an unevenly-weighted rotatable portion can be moved along a desired path with varying speed and effort according to a pre-selected friction setting, and while being held in different positions relative to the user&#39;s body. This allows the device to be used by people with varying degrees of dexterity, strength, or injury, while targeting different tissues for therapy.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application, Ser. No. 61/557,674, filed Nov. 9, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to physical therapy devices for exercising and treating the arms, shoulders, and related joints and tissues. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Orbital or circular motion of a person&#39;s arm has been found to provide therapeutic effects for the shoulder joint, rotator cuff, and associated muscles and connective tissues. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a rotator cuff therapy device that is grasped in a user&#39;s hand and moved by the user in a circular or orbital motion, typically with the arm outstretched from the body. The device includes a pendulum or weighted portion that traverses a circular path along the device, about a rotational axis, when the user moves the device at a predetermined rate (frequency) and displacement. However, because different users have different levels of strength, coordination, degrees of injury, and susceptibility to further injury, and since those traits would be expected to change for a given user throughout a therapy program, the device is adjustable so that the pendulum or weighted portion can be moved along the desired path with varying speed and effort applied by the user. 
     For example, the device can be adjusted for use by those with relatively low arm strength so that the weighted portion of the device will move along its circular path with minimal effort and speed, and can further be adjusted for use by those with greater arm strength so that the weighted portion of the device will move along its circular path only with increased effort by the user. Optionally, the weighted portion may be spaced further from the axis of rotation so that the weighted portion will tend to move more slowly for a given level of effort, while tracing a larger orbital or generally circular path. 
     In one form of the present invention, a therapy device includes a base member, a rotatable member, and a friction member all coupled together. The base member is grasped by a user, and may have a gripping portion or handle provided for that purpose. The rotatable member is rotatably coupled to the base member and has an uneven weight distribution so that its momentum can be used to rotate it via orbital motion of the base member. A friction member is coupled to either or both of the base member and the rotatable member, and is configured to resist rotation of the rotatable member relative to the base member. The rotatable member is configured to be rotatably driven via orbital movement of the base member, which movement may be inhibited or slowed by the friction member. 
     According to one aspect, either or both of the rotatable member and the base member are generally disk-shaped. Where the rotatable member is generally disk-shaped, it optionally may include a radial projection providing the uneven weight distribution. The radial projection may be configured to receive one or more additional weights. 
     According to another aspect, the friction member is adjustable to permit different levels of resistance to rotation of the rotatable member, relative to the base member. Optionally, the friction adjustment member is adjustable to a limited or discrete number of friction settings, to provide two or more predetermined levels of frictional resistance to rotation of the rotatable member. 
     According to still another aspect, the rotatable member includes a plurality of indicia along a rear surface of the rotatable member, and the friction adjustment member includes an indicator that aligns with the indicia to provide a visual indication of a selected one of the indicia corresponding to one of the limited number of friction settings. Optionally, the indicator is an opening defined by the friction adjustment member, and acts as a viewing window to indicate the indicia corresponding to the selected friction setting. 
     According to a further aspect, one of the rotatable member and the friction adjustment member includes a recessed surface defined between a pair of end walls. The other of the rotatable member and the friction adjustment member includes a projection that is positioned between the end walls and is circumferentially movable between the end walls to limit the rotation of the friction adjustment member relative to the rotatable member. 
     According to a still further aspect, the friction adjustment member includes a generally helical ramped front surface that engages a rear surface of the rotatable member. The rear surface of the rotatable member may include a generally helical ramped rear surface that is engaged by the generally helical ramped front surface of the friction adjustment member. The helical ramped surfaces engage and interact so that rotation of the friction adjustment member in one direction relative to the rotatable member causes the rotatable member to compress against the base member, and so that rotation of the friction adjustment member in the opposite direction causes the rotatable member to release compression against the base member. 
     Optionally, a bushing is positioned between the base disk and the rotatable disk, so that the bushing can be compressed between the base disk and the rotatable disk when the friction adjustment member is rotated relative to the rotatable disk, to thereby increase the frictional resistance to relative rotation between the bushing and at least one of the base disk and the rotatable disk. 
     Thus, the present invention provides a rotator cuff therapy device that is configured to aid a user in accomplishing a therapeutic orbital motion of either arm in order to strengthen and rehabilitate the arms, shoulders, and related joints and tissues. The device may be adjustable so that a pendulum or weighted portion can be moved along a desired path with varying speed and effort applied by the user. This allows the device to be used by people with varying degrees of dexterity, strength, or injury, and the device may be adjusted to increase the effort required by the user as the joint(s) and muscles are progressively strengthened. 
     These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a rotator cuff therapy device in accordance with the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the rotator cuff therapy device of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front elevation of the front surface of the friction adjustment disk shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 3A  is a side sectional view taken along section line IIIA-IIIA of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front elevation of the rear surface of the rotatable disk of the rotator cuff therapy device of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 4A  is a side sectional view taken along section line IVA-IVA of  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a rotator cuff therapy device  10  includes a base disk  12  to which a handle  14  and an unevenly-weighted rotatable disk  16  are attached ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ). Disk  16  is rotatably coupled to the base disk  12  by a shaft or bolt  17  that passes through a flange  18  on base disk  12 , and that continues through a bushing or ball bearing  20  mounted in an opening  21  formed in the center of the rotatable disk  16 , such as shown in  FIG. 2 . A flat bushing  22  is disposed between the rotatable disk  16  and the base disk  12  to facilitate smooth rotation and to provide frictional engagement between the rotatable disk  16  and base disk  12 . A tension or friction-adjustment disk  24  is mounted to the rotatable disk  16 , opposite the base disk  12 , and is rotatably adjustable to change the degree of frictional resistance to rotation of the rotatable disk  16  relative to the base disk  12 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 3 , friction adjustment disk  24  includes a plurality of through-holes  26  (seven holes are shown) that are spaced radially from the center of disk  24  and spaced circumferentially from one another. Through-holes  26  act as detents (also referred to herein as “detent holes”) and are selectively engaged by a projection or raised portion  28  formed in the front surface of rotatable disk  16  ( FIG. 4 ), as will be described below. Optionally, it will be appreciated that dimples or recesses or blind holes may be used in place of detent-holes  26 , without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Another through-hole in friction adjustment disk  24  forms a viewing window  30  that is spaced circumferentially from the detent-holes  26 , and aligns with indicia  32  ( FIG. 4 ) that are provided on the rotatable disk  16 . Thus, viewing window  30  acts as an indicator by providing the user with a view of one of the indicia  32  corresponding to a given level of friction or resistance to rotation, as will be described below in more detail. It will be appreciated that the terms “front” and “rear” (and similar) are used herein to provide a frame of reference to facilitate an understanding of the device, but such terms are not intended to be limiting in any way. 
     Friction adjustment disk  24  includes a reduced-thickness region  34  ( FIGS. 3 and 3A ) that is defined between a pair of radially-aligned end walls  34   a ,  34   b . Reduced-thickness region  34  receives a projection in the form of a radially-aligned ridge  40  that extends from a rear face  38  of rotatable disk  16  ( FIG. 4 ), so that the rotation of the friction adjustment disk  24  relative to the rotatable disk  16  is limited by ridge  40  contacting end walls  34   a ,  34   b  when therapy device  10  is assembled. In the illustrated embodiment, end walls  34   a ,  34   b  are circumferentially spaced apart by about 100°, so that friction adjustment disk  24  can rotate less than about 100° relative to rotatable disk. The actual limit of rotation by friction adjustment disk  24  relative to rotatable disk  16  may be calculated by subtracting the thickness of ridge  40  (which may correspond to about 10° as shown in  FIG. 4 , for example) from the circumferential spacing of end walls  34   a ,  34   b  (which is about 100° in the illustrated embodiment). Thus, in the illustrated embodiment, friction adjustment disk  24  can rotate about 90° relative to rotatable disk  16 , and the first and last detent-holes  26  are correspondingly spaced apart by about 90°, so that each detent hole  26  corresponds to about 15° of rotation of friction adjustment disk  24 . 
     Rotatable disk  16  includes a rear face  38  ( FIG. 4 ) with indicia  32  in the form of sequential numbers spaced at 15° intervals corresponding to the spacing of detent holes  26 , in the illustrated embodiment. One of the indicia  32  is typically viewable through the viewing window  30  in the friction adjustment disk  24  when therapy device  10  is assembled in the manner shown in  FIG. 1 . A raised projection or bump  28  extends or projects at least slightly from rear face  38  so that the projection  28  engages one of the detent-holes  26  in friction adjustment disk  24  when the device is assembled, with ridge  40  positioned somewhere between end walls  34   a ,  34   b  in the reduced-thickness region  34 . Viewing window  30  aligns with one of the indicia  32  when projection  28  is seated in one of the detent holes  26 . This provides an indexing or detent function, whereby the projection  28  is received in one of the seven detent holes  26  corresponding to the indicia number  32  that is viewable through viewing window  30 . 
     Friction adjustment disk  24  further includes a circumferentially or partial-helically ramped portion or region  36  ( FIGS. 3 and 3A ) in which the thickness of the friction adjustment disk  24  changes around the disk&#39;s circumference, as in a portion of a spiral-shaped ramp. Similarly, and with reference to  FIGS. 4 and 4A , rear face  38  includes a partial-helically ramped surface  42  (i.e. rotatable disk  16  varies in thickness circumferentially around inner portion  42 , as in a semi-helical manner). This allows ramped surface  42  of rotatable disk  16  to engage the helically ramped surface  36  of friction adjustment disk  24 , so that friction adjustment disk  24  may be urged into tighter or looser engagement with rotatable disk  16  as the surfaces  36 ,  42  engage one another to varying degrees depending on their rotational position relative to one another. 
     As friction adjustment disk  24  is rotated into tighter engagement with rotatable disk  16  via the interaction of ramped surfaces  36 ,  42 , the flat bushing  22  is squeezed more tightly between rotatable disk  16  and base disk  12 . In the illustrated embodiment, friction adjustment disk  24  is rotated counter-clockwise relative to rotatable disk  16  when viewed from behind (i.e., opposite from the front views of  FIGS. 1-3 ) to provide increasing compression and friction, and is rotated in the opposite direction to provide reduced compression and friction. This interaction of ramped surfaces  36 ,  42  increases the frictional resistance to rotation of rotatable disk  16  relative to base disk  12 . 
     During use of therapy device  10  in which the device is moved orbitally and rotatable disk  16  spins relative to base disk  12 , friction adjustment disk  24  remains in a fixed position relative to rotatable disk  16  due to engagement of projection  28  with one of detent holes  26 , so that friction adjustment disk  24  and rotatable disk  16  turn or rotate together relative to base disk  12  during such use. Thus, when the rotator cuff therapy device  10  is assembled, the friction adjustment disk  24  can be manually grasped by one hand of the user, while rotatable disk  16  is grasped in the other, and the friction adjustment disk  24  rotated relative to rotatable disk  16  to set the desired friction between the rotatable disk  16  and base disk  12 . 
     Although the embodiment that is shown and described herein provides seven predetermined rotational positions of friction adjustment disk  24 , with corresponding indicia that provide a clear indication of the current “friction setting,” it will be appreciated that a greater or fewer number of detents may be provide, or none at all, while still permitting the user to adjust the friction setting in substantially the same manner described above. It is further envisioned that, optionally, the friction between the rotatable disk and the base disk may be changed via tightening of a threaded bolt or the like (such as bolt  17  having a nut or other fastener that tightens against the rear face of the rotatable disk), to press the rotatable disk more tightly against the base disk and increase the relative friction between the two, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a radial projection or “weight tab”  44  extends outwardly from the otherwise generally circular outer perimeter of the rotatable disk  16 , and creates an uneven weight distribution of the rotatable disk  16  ( FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 ). Additional weights  46  ( FIG. 2 ) can be attached to the weight tab  44 , if desired, such as to increase the effort required to cause the rotatable disk to rotate, or to reduce the speed of arm movement needed to rotate the rotatable disk  16 . In addition, handle  14  is coupled to base disk  12  via mechanical fasteners  48 , which may be threaded fasteners or studs, for example, which are received and secured in bores  50  that are formed or established in handle  14 , such as shown in  FIG. 2 . Optionally, the handle may be attached to the base disk by an adhesive or an ultrasonic weld, or may be integrally or unitarily formed with the base disk. It is further envisioned that the therapy device could be readily adapted for use in exercising the leg and related joints and tissues by providing a strap or other attachment device that allows the therapy device to be attached to a user&#39;s foot, for example, and without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
     In use, the rotator cuff therapy device is grasped by handle  14 , in the hand of a user&#39;s outstretched arm, and moved in a rapid orbital motion to cause the rotatable disk  16  to rotate or spin relative to the handle  14  and base disk  12  in either of two rotational directions, as indicated by curved arrows in  FIG. 1 . The user&#39;s arm may be moved to different positions relative to the user&#39;s body either prior to the orbital motion, or during the orbital motion. At reduced friction settings, the rotatable disk  16  more readily spins relative to the handle  14  and base disk  12 , and thus requires less effort and muscle control to operate. At increased friction settings, the rotatable disk  16  will generally not spin without increased effort and muscle control to move it more quickly and/or through an orbital path having a larger diameter. Thus, the type and degree of therapy may be controlled by adjusting the friction of the rotatable disk  16  by setting the friction adjustment disk  24  at a desired position, and by changing the rate of orbital motion and the user&#39;s arm position. 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a rotator cuff therapy device that is adjustable so that a user may operate or use the device in a manner that requires different levels of arm strength, speed, and coordination. The device can be set at a minimum effort level for persons having low arm strength, for example, or for users who are just learning how to operate the device to provide therapeutic effect. The effort level can be increased as desired so that increasing levels of arm strength and speed are required to operate the device in a manner that still causes the rotatable disk to spin about its rotational axis, such as to provide greater therapy for those who are building strength and progressing along a therapy program. 
     Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments can be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.