Abstract:
An exercise machine having an elongated base member with first and second ends, a circular padded seat, a spring loaded pedestal having a first end located between the first and second ends of the base member, and a ball and socket located between the circular padded seat and the second end of the spring loaded pedestal to allow the seat to pivot from front to rear and from front to rear. A first telescoping vertical member which is located behind the seat is attached to the first end to the elongated member and a roller having a concave surface is located behind the seat and coupled to the other end of the first telescoping vertical member. A second telescoping vertical member located behind the first telescoping vertical member is attached at one end to the elongated member and at least one harness is coupled to the telescoping part of the second telescoping vertical member.

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 12/878,053 filed Sep. 9, 2010 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a lower back alignment and decompression machine. 
         [0004]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0005]    Exercise machines for relieving back pain is known in the prior art. More specifically, by way of example, U.S. PreGrant Publication No. 2006/0,142,683 to Johnson; et al. discloses parameters of a treatment profile which include a high tension level, a low tension level, a high tension time period, and a low tension time period. Each of the cycles includes an application of a tensile force at a high tension level for a high tension time period and an application of the tensile force at a low tension level for a low tension time period. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,361,128 to Chen discloses an exercising machine having a front frame, a rear frame and a seat assembly where, when a user is in an inverted position, the user&#39;s body is stretched and pressure on the spine can be eliminated. 
         [0007]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,517 to Pandozy discloses an inversion apparatus for performing exercises of suspending the body of a person in an inverted position which includes a stable steel frame, a winch, and a pair of padded anchor rings which connect the feet of the person to a winch operated by a motor or manually. The person may perform multiple exercises in the inverted position. 
         [0008]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,125,389 to Sin discloses a spinal massager capable of performing oscillating or chiropractic operation along the vertebrae of a user who lies on the massager with the feet elevated above the head. 
         [0009]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,052,448 to Teeter discloses a tilting inversion exerciser having a stand, a table rotatably attached to the stand to support a user, and a carrier slidably received in the table. The carrier includes a massage device for massaging the user. 
         [0010]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,960,174 to Fenkel discloses a machine which alternately applies compression and traction to a patient. A frame includes: a platform having an upper body support pad with controllable resistance to forward and backward displacement, rollers supporting the lower back, buttocks and thighs; and a motor-driven foot support which moves forward and backward. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,319,213 to Tomac discloses body support platform that has a foot end and a head end and including a base section and a back support section which is movable relative to the base section along a longitudinal axis that extends between the foot end and the head end of the body support platform and is connected with a vibrator. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,660 to Chen discloses a base supported in an inclined angle where the user&#39;s feet are pulled to straighten the spinal column. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,552 to Carlmark discloses a hang stand for persons with injuries to their backs having an upper bar which is located at a height that when a person grasps the bar with both hands, the person can hang freely. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, there is disclosed an exercise machine having an elongated base member with first and second ends, a circular padded seat, a spring loaded pedestal having a first end located between the first and second ends of the base member, and a ball and socket located between the circular padded seat and the second end of the spring loaded pedestal to allow the seat to pivot from front to rear and from front to rear. A first telescoping vertical member which is located behind the seat is attached to the first end to the elongated member and a roller having a concave surface is located behind the seat and coupled to the other end of the first telescoping vertical member. A second telescoping vertical member located behind the first telescoping vertical member is attached at one end to the elongated member and at least one harness is coupled to the telescoping part of the second telescoping vertical member. 
         [0015]    The more important features of the invention have thus been outlined in order that the more detailed description that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may better be appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter and will form the subject matter of the claims that follow. 
         [0016]    Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0017]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0018]    The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, the preferred feature of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention and that such other structures do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0019]    Other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description, the appended claim, and the accompanying drawings in which similar elements are given similar reference numerals. 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an exercise machine for decompressing and aligning a person&#39;s lower back in accordance with the principles of the invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the exercise machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of an enhanced exercise machine for decompressing and aligning a person&#39;s lower back in accordance with the principles of the invention; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the exercise machine of  FIG. 3 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0024]    The exercise machine here disclosed is for use by people who suffer daily from lower back pain. Some conditions which can be treated include, but is not limited to, bulging or herniated disc, lumbar strains, sciatica degenerative discs, spinal arthritis, post-surgical low back pain, and acute back pain. 
         [0025]    Although there are many machines available that offer unique ways in which to decompress the back, the exercise machine which is here disclosed is a machine that allows one cushioned roller to specifically address the lower lumbar area of the back. More specifically, the person simply sits on a seat that is about twenty inches off the floor and leans back into a roller which can be adjusted to press against the L4/L5 area of the lower back. As the person leans back, the negative pressure of the roller will cause a misaligned disc to be sucked back into place and create more space between the vertebrae so that more blood and oxygen can get into the area. The lower back can be decompressed and aligned with the exercise machine here disclosed as the abdominal muscles are in use as the “lean back” movement is made. The abdominal muscles act as a hinge allowing a relaxed back which means no back muscles pulling against the lean back movement. Instead of a “feel good” exercise machine, this machine aligns and decompresses and improves a persons posture and corrects muscle imbalance. Muscle imbalance is without question a major cause of back pain for many back sufferers and this machine also addresses this area. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a side view and a top view of an exercise machine for decompressing and aligning a person&#39;s lower back in accordance with the principles of the invention. The lower back alignment and decompression exercise machine  10  has a long base member  12  which is located on the floor and is connected at one end to a short vertical member  14 . The base member  12  and the vertical member  14  can be made of rectangular shaped tubing of aluminum having a thickness of about one and one half inches and a width of about six inches, where the length of the base member can be about three feet and the length of the vertical member can be about eighteen inches. 
         [0027]    A padded seat  16  having a length of about twenty four inches and a width of about eighteen inches is attached to two adjustable spring loaded support pedestals  18 ,  20 . The overall height of each pedestal is adjustable to locate the height of the seat to between eighteen inches and twenty six inches where a preferred height of the seat is twenty inches, more or less. In addition, each pedestal has a spring which can be preloaded to require a force of between fifteen and thirty five pounds before it begins to compress where a preferred force is between twenty and thirty pounds. 
         [0028]    Pivotally connected to the short vertical member  14  is a support member  22  which is connected to a U shaped member  24  having two arms which are connected to an axle of a roller  26 . Roller  26  can have a diameter of between four and ten inches where a preferred diameter is about six inches more or less and a length of between four and fourteen inches. The surface of the roller can be a semi rigid or compressible material of rubber, a plastic, foam plastic, etc. Located between the pivotal support member  22  and the long base member  12  is an adjustable pedestal  28  which may be spring loaded. The roller  26  is located slightly away from the rear edge of the seat and the pedestal  28  is adjusted to position the bottom of roller  26  to be substantially level with the top of the seat  16 . Pedestal  28 , which may be spring loaded to require a force of between ten and fifty pounds before it begins to compress where a preferred force of about thirty pounds is preferred. 
         [0029]    In use, a user initially sits erect on the padded seat with both feet flat on the floor with the roller positioned at the very base of the back. The initial position of sitting with the roller at the base of the back is primarily a corrective posture position. Next, the user simply leans back further with his/her buttocks sliding forward on the seat where most of the user&#39;s weight is now being shifted to the roller. As the user leans back, the seat will tilt slightly to provide some support to the user&#39;s buttocks. As the user leans back the roller moves from the lower back upwards toward the middle of the back thus decompressing and aligning the lower back. It is suggested that this procedure be repeated five to ten times. However, the number of times the procedure is repeated is up to the discretion of the user before relief occurs. 
         [0030]    The embodiment of an enhanced exercise machine here disclosed is for use by people who suffer daily from lower back pain. Some conditions which can be treated include, but is not limited to, bulging or herniated disc, lumbar strains, sciatica degenerative discs, spinal arthritis, post-surgical low back pain, and acute back pain. 
         [0031]    Although there are many machines available that offer unique ways in which to decompress the back, the exercise machine which is here disclosed is a machine that allows one concave roller to specifically address the lower lumbar area of the back. More specifically, the person simply sits on a seat that is about twenty inches off the floor and leans back into the concave roller which can be adjusted to press against the lower back. As the person leans back, the roller will help cause a misaligned disc to be positioned back into place and create more space between the vertebrae so that more blood and oxygen can get into the area. The lower back can be decompressed and aligned with the exercise machine here disclosed as the abdominal muscles are in use as the “lean back” movement is made. The abdominal muscles act as a hinge allowing a relaxed back which means no back muscles pulling against the lean back movement. Instead of a “feel good” exercise machine, this machine helps to align, decompress and improve a persons posture and correct muscle imbalance. Muscle imbalance is without question a major cause of back pain for many back sufferers and this machine also addresses this area. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there is shown a side view and a top view of an enhanced exercise machine for decompressing and aligning a person&#39;s lower back in accordance with the principles of the invention. The lower back alignment and decompression exercise machine  30  has a base member  32  which is located on the floor and is connected at one end to a first telescoping vertical member  34  located immediately in front of a second telescoping vertical member  36 . Each telescoping vertical member can be adjusted to a desired height and locked in position with a locking pin which is fitted into one of a plurality of alignment holes. The base member  32  and the first and second vertical members  34 ,  36  can be made of a rectangular shaped tubing of aluminum, fiber glass or carbon fiber having a thickness of about one and one half inches and a width of about six inches, where the length of the base member may be about three feet, the height of the first vertical member may be varied from about eighteen inches to about thirty six inches, more or less, and the height of the second vertical member may be varied from about thirty inches to about fifty six inches, more or less. The second member is adjustable to a user&#39;s height to allow for a sitting decompression maneuver to occur. A harness  38  which has a hook and loop closure member such as strips of Velcro or the like, is attached to the second vertical member to provide support to the user to allow the user&#39;s muscles to stretch and the lower back to decompress. A second harness  40  having a closure member such as strips of Velcro or the like is provided for positioning under the chin and around the back of the head of a user to allow the user to stretch his/her muscles in the neck and decompress the upper spine. The second harness is attached to the second vertical member above the first harness while the user is in a seated position and can be adjusted by the user while he/she is seated to increase or decrease tension. 
         [0033]    A padded swivel seat  42  having a diameter of about twenty four inches more or less is attached with a ball and socket to a telescoping adjustable spring loaded support pedestal  46 . The swivel seat allows the user to move from side to side or front to back which helps to increases his/her stability and strengthens the user&#39;s muscles. The overall height of the telescoping pedestal is adjustable to locate the height of the seat to between eighteen inches and twenty six inches where a preferred height of the seat is twenty inches, more or less. In addition, the pedestal may have a spring which can be adjustably preloaded to require a force of between ten and fifty pounds before it begins to compress where a preferred force is between twenty and thirty pounds. 
         [0034]    Connected to the telescoping first vertical member  34  is a single roller  48  which is provided to allow the user move up and down on the spring loaded seat to roll the roller up and down between the shoulder blades and stretch the muscles in his/her upper and lower back. Roller  48  may have a diameter of between four inches and ten inches, more or less, where a preferred diameter is about six inches, more or less, and a length of between four and fourteen inches. The surface of the roller is concave and can be made of a semi rigid or compressible material of rubber, plastic, foam plastic, etc. The single concave roller  48  allows the outside edges of the roller to penetrate the muscles that run along the side of the user&#39;s spine so as to stimulate and align his/her muscles to allow the spine to decompress. The user&#39;s own body weight determines the pressure that is applied to the roller during this maneuver as the user simply leans back and allows the roller to do all the work. The roller  48  is located slightly away from the rear edge of the seat and the height of the spring loaded pedestal  46  is adjusted to position the bottom of the roller  48  to be substantially level with the top of the seat  42 . Pedestal  28 , which may be spring loaded is adjustable to require a force of between ten and fifty pounds before it begins to compress where a preferred force of between twenty and thirty pounds, more or less is preferred. 
         [0035]    Attached to the front end of the base member  32  is a horizontal member  50  having a centrally located vertically adjustable member  52  with a height of between five inches and fourteen inches, more or less, that rotatably supports a bicycle type of foot peddle  54  where each peddle has a toe strap. The foot peddle is adjustable to the user&#39;s height and allows the user to bike from a seated position while having support from the adjustable roller located behind the seat. 
         [0036]    A bungle cord  56  having a handle for a user to grasp is attached to each end of horizontal member  50 . The bungle cords  56  allow a user to perform a bicep, a curl, exercise to strength his/her biceps. The bungle cords  56  also allow a user to do arm raises where the arms are held straight outward from the seated position and work the muscles of the shoulder. Bunge cords  58 , where each bungle cord has a handgrip, are attached to the second member  36  behind the seat to allow the user to do outward stretches of his/her arms while seated to perform a tricep strengthening maneuver. 
         [0037]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out the fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are entitled.