Patent Publication Number: US-8523743-B1

Title: Stretching machine with dual cable drum

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to exercise and physical rehabilitation machines, specifically to stretching machines and more specifically to user-operated stretching machines. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Rehabilitation of body injuries often requires extensive, long-term treatment. Frequently machines are used that are aimed at specific areas such as the shoulder or knee. These machines can be expensive and the expense can be increased if a machine cannot be adapted for use on a variety of muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints in more than one part of the body, preferably at a variety of angles of operation. In addition, if a therapist or other person other than the patient him/herself is needed to operate the machine, further cost is incurred. Therefore, it would be advantageous if a single patient-operated machine were available that could stretch and otherwise manipulate a variety of areas of the body at different angles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,393,310 to Andrews discloses an anterior shoulder stretching machine that is operated by the patient. A seat is provided for the user close to a foot rest that moves along an angled guide. The footrest is attached at both ends to separate cables. The user pushes on the foot rest which activates a pair of arm rests that rotate back away from the user. This stretches the user&#39;s arms backwards with the length and duration of the stretch controlled by the user&#39;s pressure on the foot rest. However, it does not allow for use at a variety of positions. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,902,515 to Howell, et al. discloses a multifunction exercise machine that includes a bicycle type pedal chain drive, a rotatable seat assembly, and a “hand pedal” type of arm/shoulder exercise device. The latter is attached to the end of an adjustable upright that extends over the seated operator. However, there is no provision for a stretching device to stretch a user&#39;s arms, shoulders or legs and/or shoulders and there is no adjustment of the angle of shoulder stretch. Essentially it only provides a way for the user to “pedal” or rotate both arms and legs. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,607 to Olson shows an exercise machine with an adjustable resistance assembly. Two separate cables extend respectively from a knee extension device and arm pulleys to the resistance assembly. However, it provides no component that would enable arm or shoulder stretches. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,336 to Sabel portrays a stretching machine that utilizes a motor driven winch holding a cable. The opposite end of the cable is secured to a ring with two stretching cables used to perform the stretching exercises. 
     Various horizontal bars are available to perform different exercises. It does not provide a way for the user to operate the winch, making the user dependent on a separate operator. In addition, the user must move to a variety of different locations on the machine to perform exercises at different angles. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,147,266 to Ricard presents a machine that stretches the user&#39;s legs to perform a split. The machine includes a user operated cable drum that holds two separate cables leading to left and right hand stretching racks. The &#39;266 device does not enable the user to stretch shoulders and arms at a variety of angles. 
     Thus, it can be seen there is a need in the field for a singe, multi-functional, user-operated machine that enables the user to stretch different areas of the body, such as legs shoulders and arms at different angles. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention broadly comprises a stretching machine comprising a base formed by a long leg and short leg, with the short leg attached substantially perpendicularly to the long leg; a curved upright extending substantially perpendicularly from the short leg of the base; a carriage adjustably mounted onto the curved upright; a pair of arms extending angularly from the carriage; a pair of carriage pulleys attached at the end of each of the pair of arms; a double reel cable drum assembly adjustably attached to the long leg; a pair of cables, each one of the pair of cables extending from one of the pedal drum reels to one of the pair of carriage pulleys; and, a seat adjustably attached to the base between the double cable reel and the curved upright. 
     In one embodiment, the carriage is adjustably mounted onto the upright by a gear motor and cable that allows the carriage to move to an infinite variety of positions within the range gear motor-cable system, 
     In an alternate embodiment, the carriage is held in place by at least one pin inserted into one or more of a plurality of holes that extend along the length of the curved upright. In this alternate embodiment, the carriage is moved by removing the at least one pin and moving it by hand to a different hole(s). 
     One object of the invention is to provide a stretching machine that may be adapted to enable the user to stretch different parts of the body at different angles. 
     A second object of the invention is to enable a user to operate the stretching machine without assistance. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The nature and mode of the operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing Figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the stretching machine of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1A  is a rear view of a portion of the upright showing the carriage cable confined within channels fixed to the rear side of the upright; 
         FIG. 1B  depicts the best mode of winding the cable around the double cable reel as well as other alternate embodiments of the double cable reel assembly; 
         FIG. 1C  is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the double cable reel assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1D  is a top perspective view of a second alternate embodiment of the double cable reel assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the present invention in which the carriage is held in position by pins inserted into holes in the curved upright; 
         FIG. 3  is a close up side perspective view of the gear motor positioned at or near the end of the upright of the stretching machine of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3A  is a rear view of the stretching machine showing the cable pulley positioned in the perpendicular portion of the upright directing the carriage pulley from the gear motor to the carriage along the upright; 
         FIG. 3B  is a rear view of the carriage held in position on the upright; 
         FIG. 4  is a view of various embodiments of the grips and harnesses (collectively “accessories”) attached to the ends of the cables to apply stretching exercises to various parts of the body; 
         FIG. 5  depicts one embodiment of an adjustable receiver for the back rest for use with the bench; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic side view of the adjustment mechanism for the adjustable back rest of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a front view showing one of the stretching exercises utilizing the hand grips in a crossing stretching exercise; 
         FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of the stretching machine of the present invention being utilized for a neck stretching exercise; 
         FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of the stretching machine utilizing shoulder harnesses with the carriage adjusted to a different position on the upright; 
         FIG. 8   a  shows a second position of the carriage closer to the bench while still using the shoulder harnesses; 
         FIG. 9  is a front perspective view depicting the use of the stretching machine to apply stretching forces to a user&#39;s leg; and, 
         FIG. 10  is a front perspective view showing the use of the bench and carriage pulley to apply stretching forces to a user&#39;s leg. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION 
     At the outset, it should be appreciated that like drawing numbers on different drawing views identify identical structural elements of the invention. It also should be appreciated that figure proportions and angles are not always to scale in order to clearly portray the attributes of the present invention. 
     While the present invention is described with respect to what is presently considered to be the preferred embodiments, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments. The present invention is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. 
     Furthermore, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials and modifications described and as such may, of course, vary. It is also understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, which is limited only by the appended claims. 
     Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although any methods, devices or materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the invention, the preferred methods, devices, and materials are now described. 
     Adverting to the drawings,  FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of one embodiment of stretching machine  10  (“machine  10 ”). Stretching machine  10  includes a t-shaped base  12  (“base  12 ”) having long arm  12   a  and short arm  22  attached substantially perpendicularly to long arm  12   a . By substantially is meant in this context that the attachment of short arm  22  and base  12   a  is perceived by the ordinary user as perpendicular in orientation. At or near the junction of short arm  22  and base  12   a , curved upright  24  (“upright  24 ”) extends substantially perpendicularly from short arm  22  and then curves into arch  24   a  over long arm  12   a  such that distal end  24   b  is almost or substantially parallel to long arm  12   a.    
     Bench  14  is attached to long arm  12   a  by means of bench post  13 . In a preferred embodiment, adjustable support  13   a  is adjustably attached to long arm  12   a  and in conjunction with pivotable leg  15  allows bench  14  to move along some or all of the length of long arm  12   a . Persons of skill in the art will recognize that other supports may be configured that allow bench  14  to be adjustably attached to long arm  12   a . In one embodiment described below, back rest  14   c , not seen in  FIG. 1 , is removably inserted into receiver  70 , also not seen in  FIG. 1 , for use with some exercises. Also seen are bench extensions  14   a  and  14   b  which can be inserted into the support of bench  14  to lengthen it. Double reel cable drum assembly  16  (“assembly  16 ”) is attached, preferably adjustably attached, to long arm  12   a  of base  12  and includes two individual cable reels  16   a . By adjustably attached is meant that one component may be attached to a second component in more than one orientation and/or at more than one attachment point. In one embodiment, each one of a pair of cables  20  is wound around separate reels  16   a  and extend from reels  16   a  to pulleys  36  at the end of each of carriage arms  34 . In a preferred embodiment, each of cables  20  extend around reel pulleys  18  to guide pulleys  21  located at the end of long arm  12   a  opposite from cable drum  16 . In an alternate embodiment, cables  20  are each attached to a pair of cables  20   a  that extend similarly to arms  34  around pulleys  36 . Pedals  17  attached to cable drum  16  are operated by a user U to wind and unwind cables  20  thereby applying or releasing tension in cables  20 . In the embodiment shown, force or strain gauge  80  (“gauge  80 ”) is seen near the junction of long arm  12   a  and short arm  22  under pulleys  21 . One or both of pulleys  21  is functionally attached to gauge  80 . In this case, functionally attached means that gauge  80  contacts or otherwise is connected to at least one of pulleys  21  to measure the force or strain applied by the user to pulleys  21  through cables  20 . Persons of skill in the art will recognize that suitable gauges  80  are available commercially, such as Model Z2H by IMADA, Inc., 3100 Dundee Rd., Suite 707, Northbrook, Ill. 60062. 
       FIG. 1  also depicts one embodiment of the adjustable mounting of carriage  30  onto upright  24  of machine  10 . Lateral guards  38  are attached on to carriage  30  and extend to either side of upright  24 . Lateral guards  38  may be joined by attachment  38   a . Grips  50   a  are attached to the end of cables  20  or  20   a . As described below, grips  50   a  are one of a group of accessories  50  that may come in different shapes or sizes depending on the specific use by the operator. Also seen is pulley attachment  38   b  which can hold a central pulley  36 . 
     In one embodiment, gear motor  40  (“motor  40 ”) is attached to upright  24  at or near end  24   b . Motor  40  is functionally attached to carriage  30  in such away as to enable a user or operator to move carriage  30  along upright  24  and hold it in an infinite number of positions along upright  24 . By functionally attached is meant that the attachment between gear motor  40  and carriage  30  functions to control the movement of carriage  30  along some or all of the length of upright  24  and hold it in a chosen position on upright  24 . In this embodiment, the functional attachment is carriage cable  33  as well as pulley  39  as described below. In this embodiment, carriage cable  33  is an adjustable attachment to upright  24  as the position of carriage  30  can be adjusted up or down on upright  24  using gear motor  40 .  FIG. 1A  is a rear view of a portion of upright  24  showing carriage cable  33  confined with channels  25  which are fixed to the rear side of upright  24 . Belts, chains, or similar devices may be substituted for cable  33 . 
       FIG. 1B  depicts the best mode for cable reels  16   a  in that they are configured to form a narrow channel  16   b  so that cable  20  is wound around cable reel  16   a  on top of itself to form a single stack.  FIG. 1B  also shows an embodiment in which foot pedals  17  are replaced by handgrips  17   a  to rotate reels  16   a  by hand. 
     Also seen in  FIG. 1B  is an embodiment in which cable drum  16  is powered by motor  19 . In a further embodiment, the user may control motor  19  with remote  19   a . Persons of skill in the art will recognize that motor  19  may or may not be used at the user&#39;s option with either foot pedals  17  or rotatable hand grips  17   a.    
       FIG. 1C  is a top perspective view of an alternate embodiment of double cable reel assembly  16 . In the embodiment shown, a ratchet assembly including ratchet gear  16   c  with pawl or ratchet stop  16   e  may be used in conjunction with pedals  17  or handgrips  17   a  (not shown in  FIG. 1C ) to rotate double cable reel assembly  16  to wind or unwind cable  20  to a desired length using the ratchet to hold cable  20  in a desired position. Use of the ratchet provides the advantage of enabling a quick release of cable  20  when it is under tension, as well as the advantage of holding a desired position without a holding force applied to assembly  16  by the user. In a second alternate embodiment seen in  FIG. 1D , solenoid  16   d  acts as a pawl for ratchet gear  16   c . Solenoid  16   d  may be controlled by the user to hold and release ratchet gear  16   c  with a suitable hand-held or remote control device. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the invention in which carriage  30  is adjustably mounted onto upright  24  by inserting at least one pin  41  through one or more of a plurality of holes  42  that extend along all or part of the length of upright  24 . Pin(s)  41  is removed from one hole(s)  42  and carriage  30  is then moved to the desired position. Pin(s)  41  is then inserted through hole(s)  42  to hold carriage  30  in the new position on upright  24 . Also seen are alternate embodiments for bench  14  and accessories  50  in the form of seat  14  and back rest  14   c  and shoulder harnesses  50   b , respectively. It can be seen that utilizing a curved upright  24  provides the advantage of allowing a user to perform stretches at a more graduated range of angles than would be possible with either a straight, i.e. noncurved, upright or an upright with a sharp corner-type change of direction. 
       FIG. 3  is a close up side perspective view of gear motor  40  (“motor  40 ”) at end  24   b  of upright  24 . Motor  40  is functionally attached to carriage  33  through plate  40   a . Motor  40  rotationally drives carriage cable reel  32  which holds carriage cable  33 . Motor  40  rotates reel  32  to wind or unwind carriage cable  33  to move carriage  30  up or down upright  24 . Preferably, cable guide  37  is directly below cable reel  32  to guide carriage cable  33  as it is wound onto or unwound off cable reel  32 . More preferably, cable  33  is wound at least three times around reel  32 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a rear view of machine  10  showing carriage cable pulley  39  (“pulley  39 ”) positioned in the perpendicular portion of upright  24  near the level of bench  14 . In this view, the functional attachment is belt  33   a  which winds from cable reel  32  through the inside of hollow upright  24  around pulley  39  and extends to carriage  30 . In an alternate embodiment, cable  33  or belt  33   a  may extend externally on the opposite side of upright  24  around pulley  39  to carriage  30 . Cable  33  is attached to carriage  30  so that when cable  33  winds onto reel  32  from the top side, carriage  30  is pulled up upright  24  toward end  24   b . When cable  33  winds off cable reel  32  from the top side, carriage  30  is moved down upright  24  toward short arm  22 . Carriage  30  is adjustably attached to upright  24  so that it is laterally stabilized to prevent a sideways fall from upright  24 . It can be seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2  that lateral guards  38  prevent carriage  30  from falling laterally off upright  24  while attachment  38   a  keeps it from falling back away from upright  24 . 
       FIG. 3A  also shows floating bracket  60  which holds pulley  39 . Floating bracket  60  moves up and down on pins  62  extending through slots  64  as tension on carriage belt  33   a  changes during movement of carriage  30 . Tension spring  66  maintains bias on pulley  39  to remove any slackness in belt  33   a  or cable  33 . 
       FIG. 3B  is a rear view of carriage  30  at the point at which it rests on upright  24 . Carriage cable  33  is attached to a rear roller assembly comprising an axle and two rollers  31 . Preferably, cable  33  is confined between channels  25  as seen in  FIG. 1A . Cable  33  extends to pulley  39  seen in  FIG. 3A  and from there to cable reel  32 . Thus, it can be seen that both ends of carriage cable  33  are attached to carriage  30  to control its movement through operation of cable reel  32  to wind cable  33  on clockwise or counterclockwise around cable reel  32 . 
       FIG. 4  is a view of various embodiments of grips and harnesses (collectively “accessories  50 ”) that may be attached to the ends of cables  20  or  20   a  to apply stretching exercises to various parts of the body. Hand grips  50   a , shoulder harnesses  50   b , and neck harness  50   c  are seen on bench  14 . Also seen is rope  52 , which is used in some of the stretching exercises, and back rest  14   c . Persons of skill in the art will recognize that other forms of accessories  50  may be used with machine  10 . 
       FIG. 5  depicts one embodiment of the adjustable receiver  70  for back rest  14   c  in which back rest  14   c  may be adjusted to different angles relative to bench  14 . Sleeve  70  is seen extending through bench opening  14   d  to receive back rest  14   c . Persons of skill in the art will be aware that sleeve  70  may be adjusted in height as needed. As described below, handle  72  is turned to adjust the angle at which back rest  14   c  extends above bench  14 . Also shown are slots  15  which receive bench extension  14   a . As is evident from  FIG. 5 , bench extension  14   a  can be inserted at different levels to allow the user to adjust the level at which his/her hips lay on the bench. This enables the user to perform exercises at different angles allowing the user to perform a more complete workout or rehabilitation session. Similar slots or, alternatively, other forms of attachment may be used to receive extension  14   b  seen in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5A  is a schematic side view of an adjustment mechanism for back rest  14   c.  Sleeve  70  is pivotally connected to bracket  77  by pivot pin  74 . Sleeve  70  is also attached to threaded rod  78  (“rod  78 ”) which is threadably attached to bracket  77  at threaded hole  72   b.  Threaded rod also extends through orifice  72   a  which is defined by bracket  77 . As handle  72  turns, it moves rod  78  back and forth through bracket  77 . This linear motion causes adjustment pin  76  to rotate sleeve  70  on pivot pin  74  to the desired angle as shown by the double arrow. Adjustment pin  76  is attached to rod  78  through jacket  79 . Persons of skill in the art will be aware of several devices that can be used to lock handle  72  into a specific position once the desired angle is reached. 
       FIG. 6  is a front view showing one of the stretching exercises utilizing hand grips  50   a . It can be seen that the user is operating cable foot pedals  17  to pull his arms in an angled crossing upward stretch. Note the position of carriage  30  at the top of arch  24   a  of upright  24 . Bridge  34   a  is seen connecting arms  34 . In the embodiment shown, arms  34  are telescoped such that arm portion  34   b  fits into arm sleeve  34   c  and is locked into position by lock  34   d . Also seen clearly is the configuration of cable drum  16  into double reels  16   a , each reel  16   a  holding a separate cable  20 . 
       FIG. 7  is a side perspective view of stretching machine  10  being utilized for a neck stretching exercise. Neck harness  50   c  is wrapped under the chin of the user U after which user U operates cable drum assembly  16  (not seen in  FIG. 7 ) to pull cables  20  to apply stretching force on the neck. It can be seen that carriage  30  has been lowered down upright  24  to a different position just above bench  14  and is held by the attachment to gear motor  40  through cable  33 . Pulley  36  is shown as moved down from the end of arm  34  closer to bridge  34   a.    
       FIG. 8  is a front perspective view of user U on stretching machine  10  utilizing shoulder harnesses  50   c  with carriage  30  adjusted to a different position on upright  24 . Carriage  30  is held at curve  24   a  of upright  24 . This position of carriage  30  allows the shoulders to be stretched upwards generally toward curve  24   a  while user U is in a sitting position.  FIG. 8   a  shows a second position of carriage  30  closer to bench  14  while still using shoulder harness  50   c . User U is seen using back rest  14   c . In comparing the position of carriage  30  with that of  FIG. 7 , it can be seen that machine  10  can be utilized to apply stretching force at a variety of angles by varying the position of carriage  30  on upright  24 . 
       FIG. 9  is a front perspective view depicting the use of the stretching machine  10  to apply stretching forces to user&#39;s U leg. Carriage  30  has been moved toward end  24   b  of upright  24 . Arm pulley  36  supports rope  52  which is wrapped around one foot of user U. Similar to the previous figures described above, user U directly controls the force applied to his own leg. It will be recognized that other positions will allow user  60  to stretch the leg at different angles. 
       FIG. 10  is a front perspective view of machine  10  in which user U is performing a stretch using central pulley  36  attached to attachment  38   b . It can be seen that bench  14  and carriage  30  can be used for some stretches without using double cable reel  16 . 
     Thus it is seen that the objects of the invention are efficiently obtained, although changes and modifications to the invention should be readily apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art, which changes would not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.