Abstract:
A full body stretching assist device includes a base, a central support shaft mounted on the base, left and right arm support stretching sections extending outwards therefrom, and left and right leg support stretching sections. The left and right arm support stretching sections each include a shoulder multi-axis joint and an elbow hinge joint, while the left and right leg support stretching sections each include a hip multi-axis joint and a knee hinge. Powered movement devices such as pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical or other such actuating devices are operatively connected to the left and right arm support stretching sections and the left and right leg support stretching sections for alternatively extending, retracting and pivoting them in response to computer commands from a computing device, thus causing controlled movement to stretch and move arm and leg limbs being supported therein.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENTS 
   This continuation-in-part patent application claims priority based on a provisional patent, specifically on the Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/548,748 filed Feb. 27, 2004 and Non-Provisional patent application Ser. No. 11/066,983 filed Feb. 25, 2005 now abandoned. 

   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
   1. Technical Field 
   The present invention is directed to body stretching assist devices and, more particularly, to a full body, full range of motion stretching assist device which includes an upright center support shaft, left and right arm engagement sections for stretching the arms of the individual, left and right leg engagement sections for stretching the legs of the individual using the invention, and a programable computing device operatively connected to the stretching assist device to control extension, retraction and rotation of the various sections of the stretching device of the present invention thereby assisting the individual in his or her stretching exercises. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   There has been an enormous increase in the interest of Americans in working out to maintain or improve their health, to tone their bodies, and to lose weight and stay in shape. The different types of activities in which persons engage in exercise is virtually unlimited, but whether it is primarily cardiovascular in nature or is intended to build strength or flexibility in the individual, almost all of these exercises have one thing in common, and that is that persons engaging in those exercises generally do not stretch sufficiently to warm up their muscles, tendons, and ligaments to prevent injury from occurring during the exercise. There are many different reasons why persons do not stretch sufficiently prior to exercise, among them that individuals may not be aware of the proper stretches to engage in prior to exercise, or may not take the necessary time to complete a proper stretching regime prior to beginning exercise. In either event, the possibility of injury is greatly increased during the exercise due to the lack of stretching of the appropriate muscles. There is therefore a need for a stretching device which will properly stretch and warm up an individual&#39;s muscles, joints, tendons, and ligaments, and will do so in an efficient and safe manner. 
   Numerous examples of stretching devices have been proposed in the prior art, including such devices as Chung, U.S. Pat. No. 5,913,755, Hsu, U.S. Pat. No. 6,352,495, and Carlstrom, U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,873. These devices and many others found in the prior art all have one thing in common, and that is specifically that they are designed for the stretching of a specific body part, be it the back, arm, leg, or torso. However, Applicant is unaware of any single invention found in the prior art which is designed for the stretching of the entire body of the individual preparing for exercise, and such a device would certainly be superior to those found in the prior art as it is designed to complement a full body workout as opposed to the working out of only certain body parts. There is therefore a need for a full body stretching device which will provide for assisted stretching of various body parts in a controlled and safe atmosphere. 
   Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved full body stretching assist device. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved full body stretching assist device which includes leg and arm support stretching sections which receive the arms and legs therein and assist in the stretching of the arms and legs through powered joints fitted on the arm and leg sections. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved full body stretching assist device which includes a computing device operatively connected to the stretching assist device and programmed to control and drive the stretching process on an individual-by-individual basis by flexing the various elements of the invention. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved full body stretching assist device which may be used by persons both short and tall and large and small, due to the many adjustable elements of the present invention. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved full body stretching assist device which can be used for the stretching of individual body parts, as well as being programmed for the stretching of the full body of the individual using the device. 
   Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved full body stretching assist device which is relatively simple and durable in design and is safe and efficient in use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
   A full body stretching assist device includes a base and an upwardly extending central support shaft mounted on and extending upwards from the base. Left and right arm support stretching sections are mounted on the central support shaft and extend outwards therefrom, each of the left and right arm support stretching sections including an upper arm engagement portion, a lower arm engagement portion, and a hand grip mounted at the outer end of the lower arm engagement portion. Left and right leg support stretching sections are mounted on one of the base and the central support shaft, each of the left and right leg support stretching sections including a thigh engagement portion, a calf engagement portion and a foot engagement portion mounted at the lower end of the calf engagement portion. The left and right arm support stretching sections each include a shoulder multi-axis joint connecting the center support shaft and the upper arm engagement portion, an elbow hinge joint connecting the upper arm engagement portion and the lower arm engagement portion and a wrist multi-axis joint connecting the lower arm engagement portion and the hand grip portion, while the left and right leg support stretching sections each include a hip multi-axis joint connecting one of the central support shaft and the base and the thigh engagement portion, a knee hinge connecting the thigh engagement portion and the calf engagement portion and an ankle hinge/multi-axis joint connecting the calf engagement portion and the foot engagement portion. Powered movement devices such as pneumatic, hydraulic, or other such actuating devices are operatively connected to the left and right arm support stretching sections and the left and right leg support stretching sections for alternatively extending, retracting and pivoting the left and right arm support stretching sections and the left and right leg support stretching sections at the shoulder multi-axis joint, the elbow hinge joint, the wrist multi-axis joint, the hip multi-axis joint, the knee hinge and the ankle hinge/multi-axis joint such that the left and right arm support stretching sections and the left and right leg support stretching sections are movable in various directions to stretch and move arm and leg limbs being supported therein. Finally, a computing device is operative to engage and control the powered movement devices to alternatively extend, retract and pivot the left and right arm support stretching sections and the left and right leg support stretching sections at the shoulder multi-axis joint, the elbow hinge joint, the wrist multi-axis joint, the hip multi-axis joint, the knee hinge and the ankle hinge/multi-axis joint, thus causing controlled movement of the left and right arm support stretching sections and the left and right leg support stretching sections in various directions to stretch and move arm and leg limbs being supported therein. 
   The full body stretching assist device as thus described provides a substantial improvement over the various stretching methods and devices currently available. For example, the stretching program which may be used with the present invention is highly individualized and, thus, the vast majority of persons working out at gyms and the like may use the present invention prior to exercising to decrease the chance for injury and increase their strength and flexibility. Also, the multiple adjustable features of the present invention may be quickly and easily adjusted to accommodate many different body sizes and types, thus permitting a large number of users of the present invention to benefit from use of the full body stretching assist device. Furthermore, the positioning of the joints of the present invention is designed to correspond to the location of the joints of the individual using the present invention, and thus the possibility for injury from use of the present invention is greatly reduced as the motions of the device replicate the motions of the individual using the present invention. Finally, the concentrated and efficient manner by which the present invention stretches the individual using the present invention makes it much more likely that the individual will probably stretch before exercising, which will likely result in a great reduction in the number of injuries incurred by persons working out at gymnasiums and the like. The present invention thus provides a substantial improvement over those devices and methods found in the prior art. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the full body stretching device of the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed perspective view of the full body stretching device of the present invention with pads and padding removed. 
       FIGS. 3   a  and  3   b  are detailed perspective views of the arm section of the present invention in different orientations. 
       FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b  are detailed perspective views of the leg section of the present invention in different orientations. 
       FIG. 5  is a detailed side elevational view of a powered extension device. 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a pneumatic actuating device operative to power the flexing of the limbs of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a programmable servo motor operative to power the flexing of the limbs of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a detailed perspective view of a joint showing how the joint is actuated. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  are, respectively, side elevational and perspective views of a bank of cable actuators and associated servo motors operative to power the flexing of the limbs of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The full body stretching device  10  of the present invention is shown best in  FIGS. 1–4  as including a base platform  12  on which is mounted an upright central support shaft  14  which is vertically movable to raise and lower the elements of the full body stretching device  10  of the present invention as desired for the user of the invention, as shown best in  FIG. 1 . Mounted on and extending upwards from the central support shaft  14  is an upper handle  18  and mounted on the forward portion of central support shaft  14  is a back and shoulder support pad  20  to provide additional support and comfort for the individual using the full body stretching device  10  of the present invention. The central support shaft  14  as shown preferably includes a horizontal offset section  16  which allows the central support shaft  14  to not interfere with the operation of the lower body portion of the present invention, specifically rotation of the lower body portion to enable torso stretching, the specifics of which will be described later in this disclosure. 
   Mounted on an upwardly extending leg support mounting shaft  21  and extending downwards from the top portion of leg support mounting shaft  21  are left and right leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b , which, in the preferred embodiment, would be generally identical to one another, except being reversed to accommodate the left and/or right leg of the individual using the present invention. Therefore, the following description of right leg support stretching section  22   b  should be understood to apply equally to left leg support stretching section  22   a . The right leg support stretching section  22   b  would include a thigh engagement portion  24 , calf engagement portion  26 , and foot engagement portion  28 , with the connection between the central support shaft  14  and thigh engagement portion  24  being a multi-axis joint  30 , the connection between thigh engagement portion  24  and calf engagement portion  26  being a hinge  32  positioned approximately at the location of the knee of the individual, and the connection between calf engagement portion  26  and foot engagement portion  28  being a hinge joint  34  which generally replicates the ankle joint of the individual using the full body stretching device  10  of the present invention. Extension, retraction and rotation of the multi-axis joint  30 , hinge  32 , and hinge  34  will be performed by pneumatic, hydraulic, or other such actuating devices which control the extension, retraction, and range of motion of the various joints and hinges  30 ,  32 , and  34  of the left leg support stretching section  22   b . It is further preferred that the thigh, calf, and foot engagement portions  24 ,  26 , and  28  each include shaped padding to accommodate the leg of the user of the present invention in a comfortable and safe orientation, as shown best in  FIG. 1 . Also, the thigh and calf engagement portions  24  and  26  would preferably include leg length extension shafts  36  and  38  operative to permit the thigh and calf engagement portions  24  and  26  to be lengthened or shortened to accommodate persons having longer or shorter legs, and to allow the user to personally fit the present invention to his or her particular leg length. The leg length extension shafts  36  and  38  may be either manually adjusted or may be mechanically adjusted by an appropriate powered extension device  39  such as a rotating screw or the like. Specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the powered extension device is shown in  FIG. 5  as including a threaded powered screw  300  which is rotated by a stepping motor  302  to extend and retract the leg length extension shafts  36  and  38  for adjustment of the length of the right leg support stretching section  22   b.    
   The leg support mounting shaft  21  and left and right leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b  are preferably mounted on a rotating plate  36  on base  12  which rotates the leg support mounting shaft  21  and left and right leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b  about a vertical axis generally aligned with the spine of the user of the present invention. This allows the torso of the user to be stretched by rotation of the pelvis relative to the upper body, although it should be noted that the upper section of the present invention could be modified to rotate instead of the lower section should such a modification be found to be desirable. 
   Mounted adjacent the upper end of central support shaft  14  is the arm support stretching section  40  which includes as its major elements left and right arm stretching portions  42   a  and  42   b  and a forward pivoting central chest and back engagement portion  44 . As the left and right arm support stretching sections  42   a  and  42   b  are generally identical to one another, the following description of left arm support stretching section  42   a  should be understood to apply equally to right arm support stretching section  42   b . Left arm support stretching section  42   a  would preferably include an upper arm engagement portion  48 , a lower arm engagement portion  50 , and a hand grip  52  mounted at the outer end of the left arm support stretching section  42   a . As was described in connection with the right leg support stretching section  22   b , the joints positioned between the various portions of the left arm support stretching section  42   a  are intended to generally replicate the joints found in the arm of the user of the full body stretching device  10  of the present invention, and would preferably include a multi-axis or hinge joint connection between the upper end of central support shaft  14  and upper arm engagement portion  48  of the left arm support stretching section  42   a , the multi-axis or hinge joint  54  replicating the shoulder joint of the individual, the connection between the upper arm engagement portion  48  and lower arm engagement portion  50  being a hinge connection  56  which replicates the elbow of the user and the connection between the lower arm engagement portion  50  and hand grip portion  52  comprising a hinge joint  58  which replicates the wrist of the individual. Extension, retraction and rotation of the multi-axis/hinge joint  54 , hinge  56 , and hinge joint  58  will be performed by pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical or other such actuating devices which control the extension, retraction, and range of motion of the various joints and hinges  30 ,  32 , and  34  of the left arm support stretching section  42   a . It is further preferred that the upper arm, lower arm, and hand engagement portions  48 ,  50 , and  52  each include shaped padding to accommodate the arm and hand of the user of the present invention in a comfortable and safe orientation. Also, similar to what was described in connection with the leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b , the upper arm and lower arm engagement portions  48  and  50  would preferably include arm length extension shafts  60  and  62  operative to permit the upper arm and lower arm engagement portions  48  and  50  to be lengthened or shortened to accommodate persons having longer or shorter arms, and to allow the user to personally fit the present invention to his or her particular arm length. The arm length extension shafts  60  and  62  may be either manually adjusted or may be mechanically adjusted by an appropriate powered extension device  39  such as a rotating screw or the like. Specifically, in the preferred embodiment, the powered extension device is shown in  FIG. 5  as including a threaded powered screw  300  which is rotated by a stepping motor  302  to extend and retract the arm length extension shafts  60  and  62  for adjustment of the length of the left arm support stretching section  42   a.    
   Moreover, each axis of movement in joints of the left and right leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b  and the left and right arm support stretching sections  42   a  and  42   b  can be achieved with a push/pull mechanical cable mechanism  400  controlled either by a programmable servo motor  402  located under the base  12 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , or by a pneumatic actuating device  406  located under the base  12  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The servo motors  400  will be gear reduced and connected to cable actuators  404 , as shown in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . Each of these actuators will control a specific joint and only one pair of joints will be activated at any one time. When a particular joint is activated, the appropriate cable actuator  404  is activated and the variable torque of the servo motor  400  or the pistoning movement of the pneumatic actuating device  406  will apply an established amount of tension on the cable  408  which extends to the selected joint , shown in  FIG. 8 , thus causing the joint to move and apply pressure on the operator to complete the stretch. This mechanism is used in connection with each of the joints of the present invention. 
   The operation of the full body stretching device  10  of the present invention will be performed as follows. A user of the full body stretching device  10  would move to a position directly in front of the full body stretching device  10  with his or her back positioned against the back and shoulder support pad  20 , then place their arms and legs in the respective left and right leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b  and left and right arm support stretching sections  42   a  and  42   b . The user of the present invention is retained within the full body stretching device  10  via the pads mounted on the left and right leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b  and left and right arm support stretching sections  42   a  and  42   b . Once the individual has inserted his or her limbs into the left and right leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b  and left and right arm support stretching sections  42   a  and  42   b  prior to using the invention, the full body stretching device  10  is ready for operation to assist in the stretching of muscles and flexing of joints of the individual using the device. 
   Immediately prior to entering the full body stretching device  10 , however, the user of the present invention would utilize the data input screen  70  of the computer system  72  which is operatively connected to the full body stretching device  10 . This data input screen  70  is preferably a touch screen which will permit the user of the present invention to quickly and easily input the appropriate data on their individual characteristics to permit the machine to properly assist the individual in the stretching of the individual&#39;s body parts. In the preferred embodiment, the computer system  72  is programmed to operate the hydraulic and/or pneumatic connections of the full body stretching device  10  to extend or retract those connections, thus moving the various elements of the full body stretching device  10  to assist the user in the stretching of his or her body parts. The precise programming characteristics of the computer system  72  are not critical to the present invention, however, as it is the functionality of the computer system  72  which is important to properly drive the various elements of the full body stretching device  10  during the stretching process. 
   Once the user of the present invention has input his or her personal information into the touch screen  70  of computer system  72 , the appropriate stretching program is instituted to drive the full body stretching device  10  to assist the individual with the stretching of his or her various body parts. For example, one such program may include upper body stretching procedures in which the left and right arm support stretching sections  42   a  and  42   b  will work in cooperation with the chest and upper back support section  44  to assist the user in performing various stretching movements which involve the extension, retraction and rotation of the arm support stretching sections  42   a  and  42   b  particularly by manipulation of the upper arm engagement portion relative to the lower arm engagement portion  50  via selected ones of the servo motors  400  and the manipulation of the handgrip portion  52  relative to the lower arm engagement portion  50  as was described previously. Similarly, a lower body stretching program would include manipulation of the individual&#39;s joints and muscles through extension, retraction and rotation of the left and right leg support stretching sections  22   a  and  22   b , particularly focusing on the interconnectivity of the thigh, calf, and foot engagement portions  24 ,  26 , and  28 , and the intermanipulation of those elements. The precise stretching motions and exercises which will be used with the present invention may be modified or changed, depending on the user&#39;s abilities and desires, and therefore an in-depth discussion of those specific stretching motions and exercises will not be undertaken at this time. It should be noted, however, that the full body stretching device  10  of the present invention may be used for virtually any type of stretching exercise, and it is this adaptability which is a critical and useful feature of the present invention. 
   The computer system  72  is operatively connected to the servo motors  400  to command operation of the servo motors  400  to extend and retract the associated cable  404  thereby pivoting the selected joint. Further, the computer system  72  is operatively connected to the stepping motors  302  to command operation of the stepping motors  302  to rotate the threaded powered screw  300  to extend and retract the selected leg length extension shafts  36  and  38  and arm length extension shafts  60  and  62 . The computer system  72  is shown in  FIG. 1  as being mounted in the base  12 , and would preferably be a standard PC based computer system including a processor, hard drive and other standard elements of a computer system. Regarding programming of the computer system  72 , it is well-known how to program operation of motors via a computer system  72 , and it is therefore believed that one skilled in art of programming operation of motors via a computer system  72  will be able to properly program the computer system  72  of the present invention. 
   It is to be understood that numerous modifications, additions, and substitutions may be made to the full body stretching device  10  of the present invention which fall within the intended broad scope of the above description. For example, additional joints may be included in the full body stretching device  10  such as those corresponding to the neck and spine of the individual to provide even more range of motion stretching programs which will further expand the possibilities of use of the present invention. Furthermore, the precise size, shape, and construction materials used in the present invention are not critical so long as the functional features of the full body stretching device  10  of the present invention are maintained. Also, it may be preferable to include a release button  90  positioned on each of the hand grips  52  which will operate to immediately return the full body stretching device  10  to its rest position in case the user is uncomfortable with the stretch being performed. The present invention may also include a back hinge  17  mounted on the central support shaft  14  which permits the upper section of the unit to bend forwards to flex the user&#39;s back for stretching thereof. Finally, although the present invention has been described as being driven by hydraulic, pneumatic or mechanical power, virtually any type of drive mechanism may be used with the present invention so long as the manipulation of joints and muscles by the invention is permitted. 
   There has therefore been shown and described a full body stretching device  10  which accomplishes at least all of its intended objectives.