Abstract:
A magnetically resistive exercise device for rehabilitative therapy provides a body with adjustably inclinable planar work surfaces and a curvilinear work surface all formed of magnetically permeable material. A movable exercise piece supportable by or on a user&#39;s hand or foot carries at least one magnet for user generated motion over the work surfaces. Therapeutic rehabilitation is provided by frictional resistance to movement of the exercise piece on work surface. The frictional resistance may be adjustably varied by number and strength of magnets carried in the exercise piece and by surface coverings of differing frictional characteristics on the exercise piece, the work surface or both.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     There are no applications related hereto heretofore filed in this or in any foreign country.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of Invention  
         [0003]     My invention relates generally to therapeutic rehabilitation devices and more specifically to such devices that utilize magnetic force to generate resistance to movement of a patient manipulable magnetic work piece over a magnetically permeable surface for exercise purposes of a human limb.  
         [0004]     2. Background and Description of Prior Art  
         [0005]     Rehabilitation devices for persons with disabilities to be practically useful must be safe, simple of use and sufficiently customizable so as to retain effectiveness while accommodating the particular physiological limitations of a user.  
         [0006]     Physiological rehabilitation for disabled persons is generally patient specific. For persons with severe disabilities, successful physiological rehabilitation frequently requires psychological aid in terms of increasing confidence, emotional well being, and personal sense of satisfaction. An effective rehabilitative device must have potential to provide both physiological and psychological therapy leading to these results.  
         [0007]     A myriad of rehabilitation apparatus is available to aid persons with disabilities but much of this apparatus is characterized by similar drawbacks. Many devices are designed for persons with some mobility. Such devices with suspended weights, springs or tensive mechanisms present potential dangers and often insurmountable obstacles to users with minimal mobility, coordination strength or muscular control. Devices utilizing cables, rails and tracks often cannot be customized sufficiently to provide rehabilitation for particular disabilities such as difficulty in using an abduction device to provide adduction or in reducing operative resistance to allow use by a profoundly disabled user. Such drawbacks are especially frustrating to persons with limited muscular control or dexterity and such frustrations may negate the effectiveness of rehabilitative therapy and thereby negate the effectiveness of the rehabilitation device.  
         [0008]     My invention provides potential for overcoming various of the drawbacks of the prior art. My invention provides a base having a work surface formed by magnetically permeable material and an exercise piece carrying one or more magnets. As the exercise piece is moved on the work surface the attraction of the magnets to the work surface increases friction between the adjacent surfaces of the work surface and exercise piece to provide resistance to motion in all directions along the work surface without the limitations of cables, tracks, weights, rails or tensive devices and without effect from velocity of the motion.  
         [0009]     Varying the number, size and strength of magnets in the exercise piece permits my exercise device to be used for a variety of exercises by persons with differing physiological limitations. My invention further provides a rehabilitative device for disabled persons that is safe for use without assistance, is customizable for therapy designed for particular users, and one that aids in building confidence, self esteem during the psychological rehabilitative process, strength, coordination and dexterity to aid in providing psychological rehabilitation.  
         [0010]     My invention does not reside in any one of these features individually, but rather in the synergistic combination of all of its structures which necessarily give rise to its functions as herein specified and claimed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     My invention generally provides an exercise device with a peripherally defined base having at least one magnetically permeable work surface and an exercise piece carrying at least one magnet and movable on the work surface. The work surface may be a simple planar surface that may be variously orientated relative to the base for particular exercises or may be a continuous curvilinear surface with curvature in two or three dimensions. The magnetically permeable material of the work surface preferably is formed of iron or a ferrous metal composition. The exercise piece has a body, either rigid or flexible, that aids grasping and manipulation by a user. The exercise piece may provide fastening means for maintenance on an appendage of a user without active participation by the user such as a glove, stocking, handle, strap or the like. The exercise piece may carry one or a plurality of magnets of varying sizes, arrays and strengths. The magnets preferably are of the permanent ferro-magnetic type for economy, but may be electromagnets or magnets formed of known rare earth metals.  
         [0012]     In providing such a device it is a principal object to provide a rehabilitation device using magnetic attraction between a magnet carried by an exercise piece and a magnetically permeable work surface to generate frictional resistance to motion of the exercise piece on and over the work surface.  
         [0013]     It is a further object to provide such a device that is customizable to accommodate particular physiological abilities and needs of a user.  
         [0014]     It is a further object to provide such a device that provides magnetically generated continuous and uniform frictional resistance throughout the range of exercise piece motion in any direction along the work surface.  
         [0015]     It is a further object to provide such a device that may be safely used without assistance by a person who is immobile.  
         [0016]     It is a further object to provide such a device that psychologically aids in building confidence, strength, coordination and dexterity while providing psychological rehabilitation.  
         [0017]     It is a still further object to provide such a device that may be positioned on or across a person&#39;s lap for arm and upper torso rehabilitation and therapy and on a floor for foot, leg and lower body rehabilitation and therapy.  
         [0018]     Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following specification and accompanying drawings which form a part hereof. In carrying out the objects of my invention, however, it is to be understood that its features are susceptible of change in design and structural arrangement with only preferred and practical embodiments of the best known modes being illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specified as is required.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF DRAWINGS  
       [0019]     In the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof and wherein like numbers refer to similar parts throughout:  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is an isometric top, front and right side view of the body of my exercise device showing various of its parts, their configuration and relationship.  
         [0021]      FIG. 2  is a partial cutaway isometric view of the exercise device of  FIG. 1 , such as would appear if  FIG. 1  were cut on the line  2 - 2  thereon in the direction indicated by the arrows with the left inclinable work surface element rotated 90° in clockwise direction.  
         [0022]      FIG. 3  is an isometric bottom, rear and right side view of the channel defined by the bottom of the body showing a first preferred embodiment of the exercise piece on the bottom work surface.  
         [0023]      FIG. 4  is an enlarged isometric top, rear and right side view of first preferred embodiment of exercise piece showing plural magnet cavities in the bottom portion in phantom outline.  
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is an isometric bottom, front and right side view of the exercise piece of  FIG. 4  showing the magnet cavities carrying magnets embedded in cavity filler material.  
         [0025]      FIG. 6  is an isometric bottom, front and left side view of a second embodiment of exercise piece having a mitten type configuration and a closable magnet pocket defined therein with the removed magnet shown in phantom outline.  
         [0026]      FIG. 7  is an isometric top, front and left side view of a third embodiment of exercise piece having a sock type configuration and a closable opening in the upper surface.  
         [0027]      FIG. 8  is an isometric top and left side view of a fourth embodiment of exercise piece with a loop extending over the upper grasping surface and plural magnet cavities shown in phantom outline.  
         [0028]      FIG. 9  is an isometric top and left side view of a fifth embodiment of exercise piece having a vertical rod-like handle for grasping and plural magnet cavities shown in phantom outline.  
         [0029]      FIG. 10  is an isometric bottom, rear and right side view of the channel defined by the body with the second embodiment of exercise piece on the bottom work surface.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0030]     As used herein, the term “front”, its derivatives, and grammatical equivalents refer to that side of my exercise device distal from the user when the exercise device is positioned on or across the user&#39;s lap or upper legs. The term “rear”, its derivatives, and grammatical equivalents refer to that side of the exercise device proximal to the user when the exercise device is positioned on or across user&#39;s lap or upper legs. The terms “right” and “left” are as determined from the viewpoint of a user with the exercise device positioned on the user&#39;s lap or upper legs.  
         [0031]     The exercise device generally provides a “U” shaped body  11  having magnetically permeable work surface members  13  and a separated exercise piece  12  movable over the work surfaces  13  by a user to exercise the user&#39;s limbs and related muscles of the torso.  
         [0032]     As shown in  FIG. 1 , body  11  is a peripherally defined “U” shaped member having top  22  with opposing bottom  24  supported at each end by opposed support legs  21  to define curvilinear channel  20  between the legs  21 . The top  22  and bottom  24  of body  11  are interconnected by front panel  27  and rear panel  28  which extend downwardly to form the front and back of support legs  21 . The inner sides  25  of support legs  21  are formed by depending extensions of the opposed end portions of bottom  24  of body  11 . The outer sides  26  of the support legs  21  are formed by elements which extend upwardly to interconnect with top  22  to form the peripherally defined body  11 .  
         [0033]     The upper surface of top  22  of body  11  defines two similar adjacent rectilinear depressions  29 , preferably of square configuration, to carry an inclinable work surface member  13  flush therein. Each inclinable work surface member  13  provides base  51  of rectilinear configuration to fit within depressions  29  of top  22  and has upstanding side elements  51   a  along each side edge that extend upwardly to the upper surface of top element  22  when positioned therein. One side edge  51   a  of the base  51  carries pivoting top element  50  by means of piano hinge  52  extending between one edge of the top element  50  and the upper edge of one upstanding base side element  51   a . The top element  50  is formed of magnetically permeable material and preferably has depending sides  50   a  to fit inwardly adjacent the upstanding side elements  51   a  and upon the upper surface of base  51  when the pivoting top element  50  is in horizontal position. Support arm  53  is pivotally carried on the under surface of pivoting top element  50  to pivot about an axis parallel to the pivotal axis of the pivoting top element  50  and depend to contact ratchet  54  carried by the upper surface of base  51  to adjustably support the top element  50  in various selectable inclined positions relative to the base  51 .  
         [0034]     Each work surface member  13  when of square configuration is adjustably positionable in a depression  29  of similar configuration so that pivoting top  50  may be orientated to incline forwardly, rearwardly or in either lateral direction to provide a maximal potential for customizability. The exposed outer surface of the top element  50  may be covered with some friction modifying material such as Teflon® or fabric (not shown) to provide different frictional contact with exercise piece  12 .  
         [0035]     Bottom  24  of body  11  and its continuations forming inner sides  25  of support legs  21  preferably is also formed of magnetically permeable material to allow body  11  to be turned upside down to provide a second laterally curving exercise surface  24 , 25 . This exercise surface  24 , 25  may also be covered with friction altering material such as a low friction polymer, a fabric or the like (not shown) to provide greater customizability.  
         [0036]     Exercise piece  12  provides a body carrying at least one magnet  30 . In a first preferred embodiment shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the exercise piece  12  is configured as a computer mouse-like structure having upper curvilinear grasping surface  32  and opposed relatively flat bottom surface  33 . At least one magnet cavity  35 , and in the instance illustrated four such cavities  35 , are defined in exercise piece  12  opening to bottom surface  33  and sized to releasably carry magnet  30  therein. As shown in  FIG. 5 , magnets  30  too small to fastenably engage with circumferential walls defining cavity  35  for positional maintenance may be encased in cavity filler  36  sized or otherwise treated for engagement with the walls of cavities  35  for positional maintenance.  
         [0037]     In a second preferred embodiment of exercise piece  12  shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the exercise piece  12  has body  38 , 38   a  peripherally formed by supple material such as fiber fabric, polymeric material or the like to define opening  39 , 39   a  to receive an extremity of a user. Opening  39  may be secured about the user&#39;s extremity by closing means such as laces  40  shown in  FIG. 6  or opening  39   a  may be closed by cooperating hook and loop fasteners  44  as shown in  FIG. 7  carried about the edges of opening  39 . Magnet pocket  41  is defined by body  38 , 38   a  to carry at least one magnet  30  therein as a user moves exercise piece  12  on selected work surface of body  11 . The magnet  30  is positionally maintained in magnet pocket  41  by flap  41   a  releasably closable by fasteners  43 , in the instance illustrated snaps as heretofore known.  
         [0038]     A third embodiment of exercise piece  12  shown in  FIG. 8  provides a disk shaped base  42  defining plural magnet cavities  35  shown in phantom outline opening through bottom surface  33 . The base  42  is formed of rigid or semi-rigid material such as plastic, wood or the like and magnets (not shown) are positionally maintained in cavities  35  by frictional engagement, adhesive, cavity filler or the like.  
         [0039]     Grasping structure  37   a  shown in  FIG. 8  comprises an arcuate band fastened at its ends at diametrically opposed portions of the circumferential side of base  42 . The grasping structure  37   a  is formed of flexible, semi-flexible or rigid material such as woven fabric banding, leather or semi-rigid plastic to aid a user in maintaining a hand or foot on base  42  and beneath the grasping structure  37   a  for use.  
         [0040]     A variant subspecies of the third embodiment of the exercise piece of  FIG. 8  is shown in  FIG. 9 . Here the base  42  remains the same but grasping structure  37   b  is an upstanding cylindrical handle, with or without surface configuration to aid gripping. The grasping structure  37   b  is formed of rigid or semi-rigid material and preferably symmetrically structurally carried in medial portion of the base  42 , though it may be asymmetrically positioned if desired. For safety purposes the grasping structure  37   b  should not be any longer axially than necessary and of sufficient diameter to easily grasp, preferably about six inches long and about one inch in diameter.  
         [0041]     Having described the structure of my magnetically resistive exercise device its use may be understood.  
         [0042]     Body  11  is placed on or over the lap of a seated or semi-supine user such that a desired work surface, either the inclinable work surface members  13  or curvilinear channel  20 , is facing upwardly and accessible to user. If one or both inclinable work surface members  13  are to be used, they are positioned in one or both rectilinear depressions  29  defined in top  22  of body  11  so that the direction of inclination of pivoting top element  50  is orientated to accomplish the particular desired exercise. Pivoting support arm  53  carried on the underside of pivoting top element  50  is positioned so that the non-affixed end  53   a  engages with ratchet  54  to establish and positionally maintain inclination of pivoting top element  50  with the desired angulation relative to body  11 . One or more magnets  30  are positioned in one or more cavities  35  defined in the lower portion of the exercise piece  12  appropriate for the user and desired exercise.  
         [0043]     If the user&#39;s physiological limitations prevent effective grasping of the exercise piece  12  of  FIGS. 1-2 , the exercise pieces of  FIGS. 6-9  may provide greater use potential. For such use magnets as appropriate for the desired exercise are placed in the exercise piece  12  chosen and the user extremity selected for exercise is placed through opening  39  of body  38  with either species of  FIG. 6  or  7  body  38   a  or  38   b  is secured about user extremity by laces  40  or hook and loop fastener  44  adjacent openings  39 .  
         [0044]     For use of exercise piece  12  or body  38  is placed on the selected work surface and is moved by the user over that surface. Attraction of magnets  30  to the magnetically permeable work surface generates additional frictional resistance to motion of the exercise piece  12  relative to the supporting work surface. This resistance may be widely varied to allow substantial customization to match the needs of users as hereinbefore indicated. Either exercise piece  12  of  FIG. 8  or  9  may be similarly prepared and used when the nature of their grasping structures may be more appropriate for a user.  
         [0045]     Having thusly described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent, and