Patent Publication Number: US-9427372-B1

Title: Shoulder rotating apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The disclosure relates to rehabilitation devices and more particularly pertains to a new rehabilitation device for assisting a user in regaining strength and range of motion in the user&#39;s shoulder after shoulder injuries or surgery. 
     SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
     An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a base and a support plate. A support assembly couples the support plate to the base. A track extends into a bottom of the support plate. A ball is positionable within the track. A strap is coupled to the ball and is configured for securing to a hand of a user such that movement of the ball within the track facilitates movement of the shoulder and upper arm of the user when the user&#39;s hand is positioned within the strap. 
     There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
     The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a top front side perspective view of a shoulder rotating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure. 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of a support plate of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 4 . 
         FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  shows a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure similar to  FIG. 6  except that  FIG. 7  shows an interior of the ball positioned within one of the tracks. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to  FIGS. 1 through 7  thereof, a new rehabilitation device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral  10  will be described. 
     As best illustrated in  FIGS. 1 through 7 , the shoulder rotating apparatus  10  generally comprises a base  12 . A top surface  14  of the base  12  is planar and may be triangular, rectangular, or any other suitable shape. A support plate  16  has a top  18 , a bottom  20  and a perimeter wall  22  coupled to and extending between the top  18  and the bottom  20 . The support plate  16  may be annular. 
     A support assembly  24  couples the support plate  16  to the base  12 . The support assembly  24  comprises a post  26  and a support arm  28  being coupled to the post  26 . The post  26  extends upwardly from the top surface  14  of the base  12 . The post  26  may be positioned proximate a back end  30  of the base  12 . The post  26  may have a lower member  32  and an upper member  34  wherein a lower end  36  of the upper member  34  is slidably insertable into an upper end  38  of the lower member  32  such that a height of the post  26  is selectively adjustable. The support assembly  24  may also comprise a first fixing pin  40  being passed through aligned holes  42  in the upper  34  and lower  32  members whereby the upper  34  and lower  32  members are secured together. The support arm  28  may have a first member  44  and a second member  46  wherein a first end  48  of the second member  46  is slidably insertable into a second end  50  of the first member  44  such that a second end  52  of the second member  46  is positioned at a selectable length relative to the post  26 . The first member  44  is coupled to a top end  54  of the upper member  34 . The second end  52  of the second member  46  may be positioned above the base  12  when the support arm  28  is fully extended. In this manner, the user may rest his head and/or upper back on the top surface  14  of the base  12 . Each of the first  44  and second  46  members may be L-shaped. The second end  52  of the second member  46  is coupled to the top  18  of the support plate  16 . A second fixing pin  56  may be passed through aligned apertures  58  in the first  44  and second  46  members whereby the first  44  and second  46  members are secured together. 
     A plurality of tracks  60  extend into the bottom  20  of the support plate  16 . Although five tracks  60  are shown in the Figures, fewer tracks  60  may be used. The tracks  60  may be arranged into concentric circles. Each of the tracks  60  has a main portion  62  and a neck  64 . Each of the necks  64  couples an associated one of the main portions  62  to the bottom  20  of the support plate  16 . A ball  66  is positionable within a selectable one of the tracks  60 . The ball  66  has a size and shape such that the ball  66  is retained within a selectable one of the main portions  62 . The ball  66  is configured to support up to twenty pounds of weight. A connector  68  is coupled to the ball  66 . A top end  70  of the connector  68  is positioned within the ball  66 . A lower end  72  of the connector  68  extends outwardly of one of the tracks  60  through an associated one of the necks  64 . An upper portion  74  of the connector  68  is rotatable relative to the ball  66 . A plurality of arcuate radial slots  76  each extend between adjacently positioned pairs of the tracks  70 . The slots  76  are configured to permit movement of the ball  66  between the associated adjacently positioned pairs of the tracks  60 . A door  78  extends between the tracks  60 . 
     A hub  80  is coupled to a center of the support plate  16 . A lower portion  82  of the hub  80  extends outwardly of the bottom  20  of the support plate  16 . An arm assembly  84  is coupled to the hub  80 . The arm assembly  84  comprises a crank arm  86  and a plurality of projections  88  coupled to and extending outwardly from the crank arm  86 . The crank arm  86  extends across the tracks  60 . The crank arm  86  has a first end  90  pivotally coupled to the hub  80 . Each of the projections  88  is selectively positionable to provide access to the slots  76 . A slit  92  is positioned in the bottom  20  of the support plate  16 . A knob  94  is provided. The knob  94  extends outwardly of the slit  92  such that the knob  94  is graspable by the user. The knob  94  is coupled to the arm assembly  84 . The knob  94  is mechanically coupled to the arm assembly  84  wherein manipulation of the knob  94  pivots the crank arm  86  about the hub  80 . 
     A strap  96  is coupled to the ball  66 . The strap  96  is configured for securing to a hand of a user such that movement of the ball  66  within the tracks  60  facilitates movement of the shoulder and upper arm of the user when the user&#39;s hand is positioned within the strap  96 . The strap  96  has a first end edge  98  and a second end edge  100 . A fastener  102  is coupled to the strap  96 . The fastener  102  comprises a first mating member  104  positioned proximate the first end edge  98  and a second mating member  106  positioned proximate the second end edge  100 . The first mating member  104  is couplable to the second mating member  106 . The strap  96  forms a closed loop when the first  104  and second  106  mating members are coupled together. The fastener  102  may comprise a hook and loop fastener, snaps, or the like. A clasp  108  is coupled to the lower end  72  of the connector  68 . The clasp  108  couples the ball  66  to the strap  96 . The clasp  108  may comprise a loop  110  and a release gate  112 . The release gate  112  is pivotally coupled to the loop  110  wherein manipulation of the release gate  112  opens and closes the release gate  112  to permit attachment of the clasp  108  to the ball  66 . 
     The apparatus  10  may have a height between 90.0 centimeters and 125.0 centimeters; and each of a length and a width between 55.0 centimeters and 65.0 centimeters. 
     In use, as stated above and shown in the Figures, the user lies down in a supine position and secures his hand to the strap  96 . The user should be positioned such that the head and upper back of the user rests on the top surface  14  of the base  12 . The user then rotates his arm around the tracks  60  to facilitate rehabilitation of the user&#39;s shoulder. As the user regains flexibility in his joints, the height of the support assembly  24  is gradually increased. The knob  94  is also manipulated as the rehabilitation progresses wherein manipulation of the knob  94  moves the ball  66  to an outwardly positioned track  60 . In this manner, the apparatus  10  helps a user to regain strength and range of motion in the user&#39;s shoulder joints after surgery or injury. 
     With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure. 
     Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.