Abstract:
An apparatus for stretching the lower back. A person lie supine on a horizontal padded surface at the end of which are two vertical rigid foot bars. The person wears a waist band around his waist and connects the waist band to left and right elastic members, each of which is connected to a respective foot bar. By pushing his feet against the foot bars, the person pushes the remainder of his body away from the foot bars, thereby stretching the elastic members and imposing a therapeutic force on his lower back.

Description:
BACK STRETCHING MACHINE 
       [0001]    This is a continuation in part of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/235,183, filed Sep. 16, 2011. 
         [0002]    I. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present application relates generally to back stretching machines. 
         [0004]    II. Background of the Invention 
         [0005]    Back stretching machines have been introduced to help a person stretch their back, typically focused on the lower back, to alleviate pain and provide therapy. As understood herein, many such machines suffer from the drawback of imposing a one-size-fits-all stretching regime on users. For example, inclined or vertical boards on which a person hangs to allow gravity to pull the upper body down away from the elevated lower back places the entire weight of the upper body at the stretching point, and moreover can deleteriously cause higher blood pressure in the person&#39;s head. Moreover, a person typically must accept that the stretching force is imposed straight along the spine, when a person&#39;s particular back malady may be better treated by allowing the person to establish the force off-axis from the spine and to vary both the magnitude and direction of the stretching force. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Accordingly, a back stretching apparatus includes a base on which a person can lie. The base includes an upper padded surface on which a person can lie supine when the base is in a therapy orientation in which the base is oriented horizontally relative to the ground, upper padded surface facing up. Left and right rigid foot bars are arranged at a first end of the base and are oriented vertically and extend above the upper padded surface when the base is in the therapy orientation. The left and right foot bars are located along the first end and spaced laterally from each other such that a person lying supine on the upper padded surface of the base can place his left and right feet respectively against the left and right rigid foot bars. 
         [0007]    Elongated left and right elastic members each have respective foot ends attached respectively to the left and right foot bars. The left and right elastic members each define a respective waist end opposite the respective foot end, and each left and right elastic member is materially biased to a short configuration in which the elastic member defines a first length and being stretchable to an elongated configuration in which the elastic member defines a second length longer than the first length. A waist belt is connectable to the left and right elastic members at left and right locations on the waist belt. The waist belt is configured for snug placement around the waist of a person. A person wearing the waist belt around his waist and lying supine on the upper padded surface of the base when the base is in the therapy orientation with the left and right elastic members interconnecting the waist belt and the left and right foot bars can place his left and right feet against the left and right foot bars, respectively and push his feet against the left and right foot bars to urge the elastic members toward the second configuration, thereby placing a force on the person&#39;s lower back. 
         [0008]    In example embodiments a respective foot eyelet is engaged with the foot end of each elastic member and a respective waist eyelet is engaged with the waist end of each elastic member. Left and right belt eyelets are arranged on the waist belt at substantially diametrically opposed portions of the waist belt, and the waist eyelets of the elastic members are engageable with respective belt eyelets of the waist belt using respective left and right belt connectors. 
         [0009]    Also, in some implementations left and right foot eyelets are respectively arranged on the left and right foot bars. The foot eyelets of the elastic members are engageable with respective foot eyelets of the foot bars using respective left and right foot connectors. 
         [0010]    If desired, four legs can support the base above the ground in the therapy orientation. The legs may be foldable between a vertical configuration, in which the legs are perpendicular to the upper padded surface of the base, and a horizontal configuration, in which the legs are folded flat against a bottom of the base. Also, the base may include first and second portions. The first and second portions are co-planar in the therapy orientation, with the first portion being foldable flat against the second portion for compact stowage. Each foot bar may include plural openings spaced vertically from each other along the foot bar. Each of the openings can be engaged with a foot eyelet of the foot bar, such that a person can selectively engage a foot eyelet of each foot bar at a desired opening of the foot bar to thereby establish the elevation of the foot end of the respective elastic member. 
         [0011]    In another aspect, a method includes instructing a person to lie flat on an upper surface of a horizontally-oriented base, with left and right foot bars at one end of the base rising above the upper surface. The method includes instructing the person to don a waist belt positioned around the person&#39;s waist, instructing the person to connect respective first ends of left and right elastic members to respective left and right foot bars above the upper surface of the base, and instructing the person to connect left and right segments of the waist belt to respective second ends of the left and right elastic members. The method further includes instructing the person to push his feet against the foot bars to thereby push his head away from the foot bars to provide a force on the person&#39;s back. 
         [0012]    In another aspect, an apparatus has a flat base on which a person can lie when the base is oriented horizontally. At least one vertical element is located at one end of the base against which a person can push his foot when lying on the base. A waist garment is configured for placement around a person&#39;s waist, and at least one stretchable elastic element interconnects the waist garment with the vertical element. The elastic element is stretched from a materially biased configuration by a person lying on the base and tensioning the stretchable elastic element by pushing against the vertical element to thereby apply force to the person&#39;s back via the waist garment. 
         [0013]    The details of the present invention, both as to its structure and operation, can best be understood in reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts, and in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an example embodiment of the present back stretching machine; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a cross-section taken along the line  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 ; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a side view of one of the elastic bands with S-clips in an exploded relationship with respective eyes. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    Referring initially to  FIG. 1 , a back stretching apparatus  10  includes a base  12  on which a person can lie. The base  12  is generally parallelepiped-shaped and may be made of a suitable preferably rigid material such as Aluminum, Carbon fiber material, or plastic. 
         [0018]    As shown, the base  12  includes a rectangular periphery  14  and in one implementation an upper padded surface  16  is bounded by the periphery  14 . In other embodiments the upper padded surface  16  can extend completely to the edges of the base  12 . Referring briefly to  FIG. 2 , an example upper padded surface  16  can include upper and lower layers  18 ,  20  of foam material covered by a protective vinyl cover  22 , with the lower layer  20  being positioned against a bottom plate  24  of the base  12  and with the vinyl cover being substantially co-planar with the top surface of the periphery  14  of the base  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]    If desired, the base  12  may include left and right portions  12   a,    12   b  that can be connected at a hinge joint  26  and that can be folded away from each other as shown in  FIG. 1  into a therapy orientation in which the base  12  is oriented horizontally relative to the ground, upper padded surface  16  facing up. The portions  12   a,    12   b  can be folded toward each other as indicated by the arrow  28  with the first portion  12   a  being folded flat against the second portion  12   b  for compact stowage. The portions  12   a,    12   b  may be the same size as each other or one portion may be smaller than the other portion. 
         [0020]    To raise the upper padded surface  16  higher above the ground for the convenience of the user than it otherwise would be, four rigid vertical legs  30  can be provided at each corner of the base  12  to support the base  12  above the ground in the therapy orientation. If desired, as illustrated by the arrows  32  the legs can be hinged to the base  12  so that the legs  30  are foldable between the vertical configuration shown, in which the legs  30  are perpendicular to the upper padded surface  16  of the base  12 , and a horizontal configuration, in which the legs  30  are folded flat against the bottom  24  of the base. 
         [0021]      FIG. 1  shows that left and right rigid foot bars  34 ,  36  are arranged at a first end of the base  12  and are and oriented vertically to extend above the upper padded surface  16  when the base  12  is in the therapy orientation. The foot bars  34 ,  36  may also be hingedly joined to the base if desired to fold down against the base for compact stowage, or may be removably joined to the base for the same purpose. In any case, the left and right foot bars  34 ,  36  are located along the first end and spaced laterally from each other (preferably at each left and right edge of the base). A cross-bar  37  may connect the foot bars  34 ,  36  and may be oriented perpendicular to the foot bars  34 ,  36  as shown. The cross-bar  37  can be made integrally with the foot bars  34 ,  36  or it can be made separately and then joined to the foot bars by, e.g., welding. While  FIG. 1  shows that the cross-bar  37  is connected at the top of the foot bars, in other implementations the cross-bar  37  may be connected lower on the foot bars, e.g., at the midpoints of the foot bars. In any case, a person lying supine on the upper padded surface of the base can place his left and right feet respectively against the cross-bar  37  and/or against the left and right rigid foot bars  34 ,  36 . The foot bars  34 ,  36  may be separate structures as shown or may be left and right portions of a single plate-like structure. 
         [0022]    Cross-referencing  FIGS. 1 and 3 , elongated left and right elastic plastic or rubber members  38 ,  40  such as bands each have respective foot ends  38   a,    40   a  attached respectively to the left and right foot bars  34 ,  36 . The left and right elastic members  38 ,  40  each define a respective waist end  38   b,    40   b  opposite the respective foot end  38   a,    40   a,  with each left and right elastic member  38 ,  40  being materially biased to a short configuration in which the elastic member  38 ,  40  defines a first length and being stretchable to an elongated configuration in which the elastic member  38 ,  40  defines a second length longer than the first length. 
         [0023]    As also shown in  FIG. 1 , a waist belt  42  is connectable to the left and right elastic members  38 ,  40  at substantially diametrically opposite locations  44 ,  46  on the waist belt. By “substantially diametrically opposite” is meant between an angular difference of ninety degrees and two hundred seventy degrees, although locations other than substantially diametrically opposite may be used. The waist belt  42  is configured for snug placement around the waist of a person, and may include a detaching mechanism  48  such as a buckle to join and unjoin the ends of the waist belt at the buckle. 
         [0024]    It may now be appreciated that a person wearing the waist belt  42  around his waist and lying supine on the upper padded surface  16  of the base  12  when the base  12  is in the therapy orientation with the left and right elastic members  38 ,  40  interconnecting the waist belt  42  and the left and right foot bars  34 ,  36  can place his left and right feet against the left and right foot bars  34 ,  36 , respectively, and push his feet against the left and right foot bars  34 ,  36  to urge the elastic members  38 ,  40  toward the second (stretched) configuration, thereby placing a force on the person&#39;s lower back. 
         [0025]    In example embodiments, as best illustrated in  FIG. 3  a respective foot eyelet  50  is engaged with the foot end of each elastic member and a respective waist eyelet  52  is engaged with the waist end of each elastic member. The eyelets may be metal posts terminating in closed rings, with the posts being embedded in the elastic member, although other eyelet structure may be used. Also, right and left belt eyelets  54 ,  56  (in the example shown, loops of cord passed through the belt) can be arranged on the waist belt  42 , and the waist eyelets  52  of the elastic members are engageable with respective belt eyelets of the waist belt using respective left and right belt connectors  58 ,  60 . In the non-limiting example shown the belt connectors are S-shaped, it being understood that other connectors such as but not limited carabiner-type clips or other clipping or connecting structure such as detent and cavity connectors may be used, preferably so long as connection and disconnection is rendered simple and easy. 
         [0026]    Also, left and right foot eyelets  62 ,  64  may be arranged on the left and right foot bars  34 ,  36 . The foot eyelets  62 ,  64  may be metal posts terminating in closed rings, with the posts being threaded into a respective opening  66  in the foot bar  34 / 36 . If desired, each foot bar may include plural openings  66  spaced vertically from each other along the foot bar as shown, with each of the openings being engageable with a foot eyelet of the foot bar, such that a person can selectively engage a foot eyelet of each foot bar at a desired opening of the foot bar to thereby establish the elevation of the foot end of the respective elastic member. Or, each opening  66  may be provided with a respective eyelet  66   a  as shown. In any case, the foot eyelets  50  of the elastic members  38 ,  40  are engageable with respective foot eyelets  62 ,  64  of the foot bars  34 ,  36 , in the non-limiting example shown using respective left and right foot connectors  68 ,  70  that, like the other connectors, may be S-shaped connectors or other appropriate connectors. 
         [0027]    To instruct a person how to use the apparatus  10 , a substrate  72  may be provided bearing instructions which instruct a person to lie flat on the upper surface  16  of the horizontally-oriented base  12 , don the waist belt  42  by fastening it around the person&#39;s waist, and connect respective first ends of the left and right elastic members  38 ,  40  to the respective left and right foot bars  34 ,  36  above the upper surface of the base. The instructions may also instruct the person to connect left and right segments (e.g., the loops  54 ,  56 ) of the waist belt  42  to respective second ends of the left and right elastic members  38 ,  40 , and then push his feet against the foot bars to thereby push his head away from the foot bars to provide a force on the person&#39;s back. In some embodiments the instructions may further advise the person to select a vertical location on the foot bars at which to attach the first end of each respective elastic member by means of the spaced openings  66  and eyelets  62 / 66   a.  The person may also be instructed to vary a force applied to the foot bars from leg to leg to thereby move an axis of stretch against the person&#39;s back. 
         [0028]    While the particular BACK STRETCHING MACHINE is herein shown and described in detail, it is to be understood that the subject matter which is encompassed by the present invention is limited only by the claims.