Patent Publication Number: US-2017361154-A1

Title: Rehabilitation and Mobility Improvement Apparatus and Method of Use

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This nonprovisional utility patent application is a continuation of and claims the benefit under 35 USC §120 to co-pending U.S. application Ser. No. 15/345,931 filed Nov. 8, 2016 and scheduled to issue as U.S. Pat. No. 9,750,974 on Sep. 5, 2017, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to rehabilitation devices, and more especially to device that provide for increased mobility in persons having injuries or illnesses that have otherwise caused decreased mobility in an extremity of such persons. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many people having an injury or illness suffer from decreased mobility or range of motion in for instance an arm or a leg. Such reduction in mobility can result in atrophy of remaining viable good muscle tissue. Often, such persons, if they had a means of exercising their remaining good muscles, could increase their strength and mobility but for a means to engage in such exercise. For instance, if a person could move their arm in a planar (flat) motion when subject to little or reduced resistance, such person could benefit from such exercise. However, because most surfaces where the person would otherwise move their arm are not adapted to providing for reduced resistance, such person is not readily able to avail himself to such beneficial exercise. Various devices such as traction devices or crutches or the like are known and are used in rehabilitation in for persons having an injury or illness that has caused reduction of mobility in such persons. However, such devices are often highly specialized to a particular rehabilitation task and/or are relatively complex and/or expensive, and are not adapted to providing for the reduced resistance motion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is a rehabilitation and mobility improvement apparatus (RMIA) and method of use for use in providing increased mobility in persons having reduced strength and mobility due to for instance injury or illness. The apparatus preferably defines a generally flat disc shaped member—somewhat analogous to an air hockey mallet (see Appx A). The apparatus preferably includes a handle, a strap for secure the apparatus to a user&#39;s hand (or other body part such as an arm or foot) and a friction reduce device such as a plurality of roller devices mounted to the lower surface of the disc member. The apparatus is adapted so as to allow a person who could not readily slide or move their arm or other mobility reduced appendage (MRA) to slide or move their MRA, such as across a flat surface such as a table top or a floor, so as to provide exercise for such MRA, and so as to increase strength and mobility in such MRA. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       In order that the advantages of the invention will be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a trimetric view of a first embodiment of the invention with the apparatus in an upright position; 
         FIG. 2  is a trimetric view of a first embodiment of the invention with the apparatus in an upside-down position and showing a lower surface of the apparatus; 
         FIG. 3  is a trimetric view of a second embodiment of the invention with the apparatus in a rotated position so as to show a lower surface of the apparatus; 
         FIG. 4  is a trimetric view of a first embodiment of the invention with the apparatus in an upright position, and with the apparatus shown strapped onto and grasped by a user&#39;s hand; 
         FIG. 5  is a trimetric view of a first embodiment of the invention with the apparatus in an upright position, and with the apparatus shown strapped onto a user&#39;s arm, and; 
         FIG. 6  is a trimetric view of a second embodiment of the invention with the apparatus in an upright position, and with a user&#39;s foot positioned in a cradle of the apparatus and with the apparatus shown strapped onto a user&#39;s shoed foot. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment. 
     Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are included to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, and so forth. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of the invention. 
     In order to facilitate the understanding of the present invention in reviewing the drawings accompanying the specification, a feature list is provided below. It is noted that like features are like numbered throughout all of the figures. 
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 FEATURE TABLE 
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 # 
                 Feature 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
            
               
                 10 
                 RMIA 
               
               
                 20 
                 Base 
               
               
                 22 
                 Rim 
               
               
                 24 
                 Strap retention slot 
               
               
                 26 
                 Handle retention hole 
               
               
                 28 
                 Bottom surface 
               
               
                 30 
                 Handle 
               
               
                 32 
                 Post 
               
               
                 34 
                 Knob 
               
               
                 40 
                 Roller device 
               
               
                 42 
                 Housing 
               
               
                 44 
                 Ball 
               
               
                 50 
                 Strap device 
               
               
                 52 
                 VELCRO strap 
               
               
                 54 
                 Buckle 
               
               
                 60 
                 RMIA 
               
               
                 70 
                 Base 
               
               
                 72 
                 Rim 
               
               
                 74 
                 Bottom surface 
               
               
                 80 
                 Roller device 
               
               
                 82 
                 Housing 
               
               
                 84 
                 Ball 
               
               
                 90 
                 Spring 
               
               
                 100 
                 Support Column 
               
               
                 110 
                 Spring block 
               
               
                 120 
                 Dampener 
               
               
                 130 
                 Cradle 
               
               
                 132 
                 Mounting pad 
               
               
                 134 
                 Rim 
               
               
                 136 
                 Strap retention slot 
               
               
                 140 
                 Strap device 
               
               
                 142 
                 VELCRO strap 
               
               
                 144 
                 Buckle (not shown) 
               
               
                 150 
                 Hand (user) 
               
               
                 152 
                 Arm (user) 
               
               
                 154 
                 Foot (user—not shown) 
               
               
                 156 
                 Shoe (user) 
               
               
                 158 
                 Pant leg (user) 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     Referring now to the drawings, the invention is a rehabilitation and mobility improvement apparatus (RMIA)  10  and method of use for use in providing increased mobility in persons having reduced strength and mobility due to for instance injury or illness, comprising a base  20 , a handle  30 , a plurality of roller devices  40 , and a strap device  50 . 
     Base  20  further defines a generally flat disc shaped base having a rim  22 , a plurality of strap retention slots  24 , a preferably threaded handle retention hole  26 , and a bottom surface  28 . Base  20  is preferably constructed of a plastic material and may be injection molded, machined, or constructed of another manufacturing method such as an additive manufacturing method (e.g. stereolithography, 3D printing, etc.). 
     Handle  30  further defines a generally cylindrical metal threaded post  32  connected to a preferably plastic spherical shaped knob  34 . 
     Roller device  40  preferably defines generally low profile roller device comprising a preferably metal housing  42  rotatingly retaining a rollable ball  44 . It is noted that roller device  40  preferably defines a COTS (Commercially available Off The Shelf) item and can be purchased from ToolOrbit and other suppliers—see for instance see Appx B. It is further noted that rather than an encased ball type roller device, roller device  40  may alternatively comprise a wheel caster or other type of roller device. 
     Strap device  50  further defines a conventional strap device comprising a VELCRO strap  52  connected to a preferably plastic buckle  54 . 
     RMIA  10  is assembled such that post  32  of handle  30  is treaded into handle retention hole  26  of base  20 , housings  42  of the plurality of roller devices  40  are rollably fastened to bottom surface  28  of base  20 , and VELCRO strap  52  of strap device  50  is threaded through strap retention slots  24  of base  20  and removably attached to itself. It is noted that rather than roller devices  40  being attached to bottom surface  28 , bottom surface  28  is alternately adapted such that bottom surface  28  has a substantially low coefficient of friction and more preferably, the friction encountered between bottom surface  28  and an interface surface (e.g. a table top or floor) is substantially less than the friction that would otherwise be encountered between a user&#39;s hand or arm and an interface surface (e.g. a table top or floor). For instance, bottom surface  28  is alternately coated with a TEFLON coating. 
     In practice, RMIA  10  is mounted to a user&#39;s hand such as by the user grasping knob  34  and by strap device  50  being secured around the user&#39;s hand. The user may then place RMIA  10  on an interface surface such as a table top and move RMIA  10  about the table top with minimal resistance. In this fashion, a user is able to exercise his arm in a way that the user may not otherwise have been able to do due to decreased strength and/or decreased range of motion due to an illness or injury. A particularly useful application of RMIA  10  is to have a user mount RMIA  10  to his hand as described above and rest RMIA  10  on a table top. Another person then rolls a ball towards the user&#39;s hand and the user attempts to lightly strike the ball with RMIA  10 . When using RMIA  10  in such fashion, rim  22  protects the user&#39;s hand from the ball otherwise striking the user&#39;s fingers. This type of exercise is excellent for not only improving hand-eye coordination, but for increasing strength and mobility by moving along a variety of different strike paths on the table top. 
     Alternatively in practice, handle  30  is removed from RMIA  10 , and RMIA  10  (without handle  30 ) is mounted to a user&#39;s arm by placing base  20  into contact with the user&#39;s arm and securing strap device  50  around the user&#39;s arm. The user may then place RMIA  10  on an interface surface such as a table top and move RMIA  10  about the table top with minimal resistance. In this fashion, a user is able to exercise his arm in a way that the user may not otherwise have been able to do due to decreased strength and/or decreased range of motion due to an illness or injury. 
     Referring now to the drawings, the invention is a rehabilitation and mobility improvement apparatus (RMIA)  60  and method of use for use in providing increased mobility in persons having reduced strength and mobility due to for instance injury or illness, comprising a base  70 , a plurality of roller devices  80 , a plurality of springs  90 , a support column  100 , a spring block  110 , a dampener  120 , a cradle  130 , and a strap device  140 . 
     Base  70  further defines a generally flat disc shaped base having a rim  72  and a bottom surface  74 . Base  70  is preferably constructed of a plastic material and may be injection molded, machined, or constructed of another manufacturing method such as an additive manufacturing method (e.g. stereolithography, 3D printing, etc.). 
     Roller device  80  preferably defines generally low profile roller device comprising a preferably metal housing  82  rotatingly retaining a rollable ball  84 . It is noted that roller device  80  preferably defines a COTS (Commercially available Off The Shelf) item and can be purchased from ToolOrbit and other suppliers—see for instance see Appx B. It is further noted that rather than an encased ball type roller device, roller device  80  may alternatively comprise a wheel caster or other type of roller device. 
     Spring  90  further defines a generally cylindrical metal coil spring. Support column  100  defines a generally cylindrical metal support column. Spring block  110  defines a generally cubic shaped plastic spring block. Dampener  120  defines a pliable and preferably rubber dampener that can both react to and dampenly support a load and allow for multi-axis movement. 
     Cradle  130  further defines a generally elongated cradle adapted to receive a foot or shoe and having a mounting pad  132 , a rim  134 , and a plurality of strap retention slots  136 . Cradle  130  is preferably constructed of a plastic material and may be injection molded, machined, or constructed of another manufacturing method such as an additive manufacturing method (e.g. stereolithography, 3D printing, etc.). 
     Strap device  140  further defines a conventional strap device comprising a VELCRO strap  142  connected to a preferably plastic buckle  144  (not shown). 
     RMIA  60  is assembled such that housings  82  of the plurality of roller devices  80  are rollably fastened to bottom surface  74  of base  70 , spring block  110  is moveably and actuatingly connected to base  70  by mounting springs  90  and support column  100  therebetween such that spring block  110  may move toward and away from base  70  along the longitudinal axis of support column  100  by flexing (compressing and stretching) springs  90 , dampener  120  is compressibly and flexibly mounted to spring block  110  and to mounting pad  132  of cradle  130 , and VELCRO strap  142  of strap device  140  is threaded through strap retention slots  136  of cradle  130  and removably attached to itself. It is noted that rather than roller devices  80  being attached to bottom surface  74 , bottom surface  74  is alternately adapted such that bottom surface  74  has a substantially low coefficient of friction and more preferably, the friction encountered between bottom surface  74  and an interface surface (e.g. a table top or floor) is substantially less than the friction that would otherwise be encountered between a user&#39;s foot or shoe and an interface surface (e.g. a table top or floor). For instance, bottom surface  74  is alternately coated with a TEFLON coating. 
     In practice, RMIA  60  is mounted to a user&#39;s foot or shoe (with the user&#39;s foot shoed or contained therein) such as by the user placing the user&#39;s foot in cradle  130  and by strap device  140  being secured around the user&#39;s foot. The user may then place RMIA  60  on an interface surface such as a floor and move RMIA  60  about the floor with minimal resistance. In this fashion, a user is able to exercise his leg in a way that the user may not otherwise have been able to do due to decreased strength and/or decreased range of motion due to an illness or injury. It shall be noted that when moving RMIA  60  about the floor such as in a swinging arc motion, the alternating compression and expansion of springs  90  allows RMIA  60  to compensate for the alternatingly increased and decreased proximity of cradle  130  to the floor while constantly keeping roller devices  80  of base  70  in contact with the floor. It is also noted that off-axis motion or motion of RMIA  60  on the floor with roller devices  80  of base  70  in substantial constant contact with the floor may be made while the user&#39;s leg is at an angle (other than normal or perpendicular) to the floor. This type of exercise is excellent for not only improving foot-eye coordination, but for increasing strength and mobility by moving along a variety of different paths on the floor. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.