Patent Publication Number: US-6656094-B2

Title: Modular component, arm, leg, and body stretching device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to exercise devices for arm, leg, and body stretches. More specifically, the present invention relates to a modular component device which contains a main ratchet component and separate foot and hand components which are removeably attachable to the main ratchet component. Thus, a user may rely upon the same physical mechanism to perform leg and body stretches and arm stretches by interchanging the other modular components. 
     2. Information Disclosure Statement 
     The following patents are representative of the state of the art for leg, arm, and body stretching devices: 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,762,592 describes a leg multi-muscle stretch apparatus for physical therapy that includes a foot carriage mounted to a carriage guide track and permitting the foot carriage to move back and forth along a foot carriage path, for therapeutically stretching a user foot and user leg with reciprocating motion, and a user support structure pivotally connected the carriage track. The apparatus preferably additionally includes user handle grips and two elongate arm members pivotally connected to the carriage guide track, where the handle grips are connected to the elongate arm members. The user support structure preferably includes a platform structure including two parallel and laterally spaced apart beam members and a planar web member extending between and supported by the beam members. The apparatus preferably additionally includes two cable and cable pulley mechanisms, each including a series of cables forming a cable loop extending along the user support structure, along the carriage guide track and along the arm members, and then back to the user support structure, and a series of pulleys rotatably mounted to the user support structure and to the carriage guide track for guiding the cable loop being connected to the foot carriage to reciprocate with the foot carriage. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,868 describes an exercise device including an elongated upright ladder section which has at an upper end a body support section. There is a base adapted to rest on a horizontal surface and support in a stable, vertical orientation the upright section. The body support section includes a seat rest support member oriented substantially horizontally and adapted to be sat upon by a user and a second support member spaced from the seat rest support member and adapted to be gripped by the user with either legs or hands depending on the exercise being performed. A generally flat, planar, back support has its upper end pivotally mounted to the seat rest support member and a lower free end movable between a first position where the back support is generally vertical and a second position where the back support pivots and is at an acute angle with respect to the upright section. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,687,197 describes the present invention that relates to exercise equipment, more particularly to an exercise machine that gives the exerciser a variety of movements based on a single concept (that of the pivot), working the whole body without having to change equipment. The apparatus includes a frame having a seat, a vertically extending rod pivotally coupled to the frame and a handle pivotally coupled to the end of the rod. The dual pivoting connections facilitate an exercise movement similar to the paddling motion used with a kayak. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,154 describes an exercise device that has two side bars each comprising a longitudinal segment extending between front and rear legs. The angle and length of the front and rear legs produces an incline of the longitudinal segment. The angle of incline is variable because the front and rear legs are separately adjustable in length. Slip locks selectively lock each leg at a desired length. Cross bars connected between the side bars by quick release locks. A central longitudinal bar parallel to the side bars extends between a selected two of the cross bars and is connected thereto by quick release locks. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,697 describes a physical exercising device that is provided compromising a padded wedge-shaped base and a string-biased metal exercise bar. The exercise bar is attached near the wedge&#39;s apex and extends lengthwise parallel to the device at a predetermined distance from the wedge. The physical exercising device has its base formed from a lightweight material and additionally may have its body support surfaces covered with a layer of carpet or foam padding. The spring which has its one end attached to the exercise bar has its opposite end secured to the end panel of the wedge-shaped base to provide a biasing force. The ends of the metal bar are inserted through apertures in the end panel and terminate in the interior of the physical exercising device. The exercise bar may be of a unitary piece of tubular metal or a single metal tube with two gripping portions which may or my not be independently operable. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,404 describes a leg stretching exercise device which has two platforms, each adapted to support a foot of an exerciser. Each platform is provided with ball casters which provide support and allow free movement in a mutual plane. The platforms are attached so they may be placed in touching relationship and moved apart a predetermined distance by the exerciser. A rope connects a single point on each platform. The connecting rope defines a loop which passes through eyelets, secured to each platform. An adjustable connection is provided for varying the size of the loop as desired. 
     Notwithstanding the prior art, the present invention is neither taught nor rendered obvious thereby. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a modular component leg, arm, and body-stretching device. It includes a main ratchet component having a handle and at least one ratchet bar functionally connected to and capable of passing through the handle. The handle contains a directional ratchet-up mechanism and a trigger wherein when the trigger is depressed, the ratchet bar(s) advance toward the handle. The handle also has a release mechanism to release the ratchet bar from the ratchet-up mechanism. The ratchet bar has an auxiliary component attachment at one end thereof for attachment, directly or indirectly, if a foot or hand auxiliary component. The foot auxiliary component is for leg and body exercise, and has a rigid base for placement of a foot thereon, having a foot securing mechanism to hold a foot in place. There is also at least one attachment for connection with the ratchet bar. The hand auxiliary component is also attachable to of the ratchet bar, for arm and body exercises, and includes a handle for placement of a hand thereon and having at least one main ratchet component attachment mechanism for attachment to the ratchet bar. There may also be a yoke for connection between the main component and the auxiliary components. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, there is only a main ratchet component with either an auxiliary foot component or an auxiliary hand component, while in other embodiments, both an auxiliary foot component and an auxiliary hand component are included. 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the security means of the foot auxiliary component is a toe attachment means located on a front area of the rigid base. On other embodiments of the present invention modular component leg and body stretching device the securing means of the foot auxiliary component is two separate side attachment means, one being located on a first side of the rigid base and another being located on a second side of the rigid base, and located opposite one another. On preferred present invention embodiments, the toe and the two-side attachment means are all included. 
     On some preferred present invention embodiments, there is a yoke having three separate elongated members, each having a first and a second end and being connected to one another at the first end and having means for attachment to the main ratchet component the first end, and each being unconnected to one another at its second end. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention should be more fully understood when the specification herein is taken in conjunction with the drawings appended hereto wherein: 
     FIG. 1 shows a front view of one preferred embodiment of a main ratchet component of a present invention modular component leg, arm, and body stretching device; 
     FIG. 2 shows a front view of a present invention hand auxiliary component for use in conjunction with a component shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 shows a partially cut partial view of the main ratchet component shown in FIG. 1, but illustrating internal mechanical features; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates an interconnecting yoke which is an optional component utilized in the present invention; 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a top view and a partial, cut rear view of one preferred embodiment of the present invention auxiliary foot component; 
     FIG. 7 shows a side partial view of an alternative embodiment auxiliary foot component of the present invention device; 
     FIG. 8 shows a side partial view of another alternative embodiment auxiliary foot component of the present invention device; and, 
     FIG. 9 shows a alternative preferred embodiment main ratchet component of a present invention device. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a present invention modular component stretching device main ratchet component  1 . This is the functional element of the present invention and figure one shows a single bar preferred embodiment. Thus, main ratchet component  1  includes a housing  3  with a handle  7  and an open area  5  for passing a users fingers through. Thus, handle  7  is grasped with the fingers curled toward the palm area when in use. 
     There is a single one way ratchet bar  15  which passes through housing  3 . Ratchet bar  15  has a protective stop  13  at  1  and  11 . Ratchet bar  15  also has a plurality of one way ratchet notches such as ratchet notches  17 , 19 , and  27 . As its second end  23  is an orifice  25  and attachment ring  27 , comprising an auxiliary component attachment means. This is used to attach foot auxiliary components for led and body stretching exercises as well as hand auxiliary components for arm and body stretching exercises. 
     Ratchet-up mechanism squeeze bar  9  is utilized to advance ratchet bar  15  so as to move second end  23  toward housing  3 . Release button  29  is used to unlock ratchet bar  15  so that second end  23  may be pulled away from housing  3  to reset it for subsequent use. 
     FIG. 2 shows one type of hand auxiliary component  50  used in the present invention device. Component  50  includes a handle member  51  with optional finger grooves  53 ,  55 ,  57  and  59  and grip  61  as shown. On the opposite side is hook  63  for attachment to ring  27  of man ratchet component  1  of FIG.  1 . When main ratchet component  1  and hand auxiliary component  50  are connected to one another, a user may hold handle  7  in one hand and component  50  in the other hand, and while holding the device as such, may move the hands overhead and behind the back with the arm of the hand of handle  7  outstretched. The user may then repeatedly compress the ratchet-up  9  to shorten the distance of second end  23  and housing  3  to effect arm and upper body stretching. Depression of release button  29  will release the tension when the user has completed the stretching exercises. 
     The ring  27  and hook  63  shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 could easily be substituted with any known attachment/detachment mechanism without exceeding the scope of the present invention. Likewise the particular handle design, ratchet-up mechanism and release mechanism could be designed in a different fashion or placed in a different position without exceeding the scope of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 shows greater detail of the working mechanism of main ratchet component  1  shown in FIG. 1, and identical parts are identically numbered. In FIG. 3, ratchet-up bar  9  is shown in this partically cut view to include a lift rod  71  which is securely attached to or integrally formed as a part of ratchet-up bar  9 . 
     Lift rod  71  has a lift protrusion  73  which is adapted to move into ratchet notches of bar  15  and advance ratchet bar  15  a ratchet notch with each compression. Spring  75  maintains ratchet-up bar  9  in its downward position. When ratchet-up bar  9  is pulled upwardly to compress spring  75 , rod  71  and protrusion  73  move upwardly and to the right and will engage a notch such as notch  79  of bar  15  to advance bar  15  one notch, as described. This effects significant stretching when used as described above. Release button  29  moves lock  81  out of place to release tension and permit resetting of bar  15 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a yoke  85 , which is sometimes used in connection with an auxiliary foot component, but may be used with an auxiliary hand component (such as for extra reach) or could even be attached to a wall eyelet for other exercises such as tilted upper arm and body exercises. Yoke  85  includes three separate elongated members  87 ,  89 , and  91 . They are connected to one another at the top end with hook  93  affixed thereto and with hook  95 ,  97 , and  99  at the opposite ends. Elongated members,  87 ,  89 , and  91  may be flexible or rigid, but if rigid, should be hingeable at hook  93 . Further details on yoke  85 &#39;s uses are set forth below. 
     FIGS. 5 and 6 show a top and cut end view, respectively, of an auxiliary foot component  100  of the present invention. Identical parts are identically numbered in FIGS. 5 and 6. Auxiliary foot component  100  includes a rigid base  101  with a front hook  103  and side eyelets  105  and  107 , opposing one another. Hook  103  is fixed and eyelets  105  and  107  are springloaded and adjustable by front or back movement in tracks  109  and  11 , respectively. There is a set of foot straps  113  and  115 , with buckles  121  and  123 , as well as heel strap  117  for attachment to a foot. This foot mechanism is included for attachment of auxiliary foot component  100  to a foot, but any known attachment mechanism could be used without exceeding the scope of the present invention. For example, boots could be affixed to rigid base  101 , instead of the straps. Alternatively, quick release buckles such as are used on skis or even the types of foot securing means found on water skis could be used. 
     Hook  103  may be attached directly to attachment ring  27  of main ratchet component  1  shown in FIG.  1  and by operating main ratchet component  1  to shorten the distance between ratchet bar second end  23  and housing  3 , various leg and body stretching exercises are accomplished, such as hamstring stretches. 
     Alternatively, yoke  85  of FIG. 4 may be used as an interconnecting member between attachment ring  27  of FIG.  1  and hook  103  of FIG.  5 . 
     For other exercises, hooks  95 ,  97 , and  99  of yoke  85  of FIG. 4 may be attached to hook  103  and eyelets  105  and  107  of auxiliary foot component  100 , to create a three-point hitch. For example, this arrangement may be used for spread eagle upper leg and abdominal exercises. 
     In one preferred embodiment of the present invention auxiliary foot component, wheels such as flat wheels or ball bearing wheels would be included in the walls and/or the bottom of the rigid base as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
     Referring specifically to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 shows a partial side view of another embodiment present invention auxiliary foot component  140 . The heal plate, straps and eyelets and hook described in conjunction with FIGS. 5 and 6 above are included in this embodiment, but are not shown in the figure to avoid confusion. Auxiliary foot component  140  includes a handle  143  and a plurality of side wheels around its periphery. In this case, these wheels are ballbearing wheels, but could be flat wheels, or any other type of wheels. Rigid base  41  has ballbearing wheels such as wheels  149 ,  151 , and  153  along its side and similar wheels such as wheel  47  along its back, as well as along its front  145 . These wheels enable a user to lay on his or her back or side and to move the auxiliary foot components with the heals, sides or toes in contact with a floor so as to smoothly roll therealong during exercises. 
     FIG. 8 shows another auxiliary foot component  160 , which is the same as that described for FIG. 7 above except that wheels are also included on the underside or bottom. Thus, rigid base  161  has a handle  163  at its front  165  and wheels such as wheels  167 ,  169 ,  171  and  173  along its periphery. Bottom wheels are also included such as wheels  175 ,  177  and  179 . Besides the uses described above with respect to FIG. 7, this component may be held at handle  163  and rolled around on a floor for arm and body exercises. 
     FIG. 9 shows an alternative embodiment present invention main ratchet component  200 . In this case, it has two sets of ratchet bars instead of one. Housing  201  has a right side  203  and a left side  205 . Each side has its own ratchet bar  213  and  215 , respectively, with separate releases  209  and  211 . Ratchet-up push bar  207  has internal travelers in both left and right directions to simultaneously advance ratchet bars  213  and  215 . While this embodiment involves more parts and is more expensive to construct, it does offer more strength and balance than the preferred embodiment showed in FIGS. 1 and 3. 
     Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein.