Patent Publication Number: US-7220234-B2

Title: Exerciser device for lower legs

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/436,404, filed on Dec. 26, 2002, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     During airline travel, passengers may be required to sit in a seat for extended periods of time, particularly on long-haul flights. Due to the limited space available, passengers are often restricted unable to move their legs, such that blood circulation in the lower legs may be quite low. This may result in blood clots in the legs, leading to deep vein thrombosis (DVT). 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     One aspect of the present invention is an exercise device for exercising the lower legs of airline passengers. The device includes a support structure, and a foot platform that is movably mounted to the support structure. A motor is interconnected with the foot platform by a crank arrangement to provide powered reciprocation of the foot platform. The exercise device has a low profile, enabling the exercise device to fit under an airline seat. Elastic straps or other suitable restraints are provided on the moving foot platform to hold a passenger&#39;s feet in place. The ankle motion resulting from the reciprocation of the foot support stretches and/or relaxes the lower leg muscles to alleviate blood stasis of the lower leg. 
     These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a partially fragmentary side view of an exercise device according to one aspect of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the exercise device of  FIG. 1  taken along the line II—II;  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “right,” “left,” “rear,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, it is to be understood that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     The reference numeral  1  ( FIG. 1 ) generally designates an exercise device for exercising the lower legs  2  of a seated airline passenger. The exercise device  1  includes a support structure  3 , and an electric motor  4  secured to the support structure  3 . A foot support member  5  is movably mounted to the support structure  3 , and the foot support member  5  is operably connected to the motor  4 , such that the foot support member  5  reciprocates as indicated by arrow “A” about pivot axis  6  formed by bearing  7  upon actuation of the electric motor  4 . 
     The support structure  3  may include a base  9  configured to support the exercise device  1  on the floor surface  10  of an airline or the like. Alternately, the support structure  3  may include a bracket  11  to secure the exercise device  1  to a structure  12  of a seat  13 . It will be readily understood that the exercise device  1  may also be utilized for purposes other than airline travel, such as extended travel in a bus or other vehicle. Still further, the exercise device  1  may be utilized in a wide variety of situations wherein an individual is unable to move his or her legs for an extended length of time. 
     With further reference to  FIG. 2 , support structure  3  includes a bracket  15  securing the electric motor  4  to a plate  16 . A first gear  17  drives a larger second gear  18 . Second gear  18  is rotatably mounted to the plate  16  via bearings  28  for rotation about a vertical axis  32 . Second gear  18  is connected to a link  19  via a ball joint  20  at a pivot point  21  that is spaced-apart from the axis of rotation  22  of second gear  18 . Support structure  3  further includes a support member  23  extending from plate  16 . Foot support member  5  includes a lower extension  24 , and link  19  is connected to a lower end  25  of extension  24  at pivot  26  formed by a ball joint  27 . A releasable connector such as a pin  29  or the like can be utilized to secure the foot support member  5  in a generally upright, use position designated “B” in  FIG. 1 . The pin  29  can be released relative to the extension  24  to permit rotation of the foot support member  5  to a storage position “C”. When the foot support member  5  is in the storage position C, the exercise device  1  can be stored underneath a seat  13 . 
     Support platform  5  preferably includes straps  30  to releasably retain a user&#39;s foot  31  to the foot support member  5 . In a preferred embodiment, the straps  30  are elastic straps. Also, a single elastic strap  30  may be provided for each foot to facilitate quick and easy securing and releasing of the user&#39;s feet. However, other suitable straps having buckles or the like could also be utilized. 
     In use, the passenger places his or her feet on the foot support member  5 , and secures them with straps  30 . The electric motor  4  is then actuated, causing the foot support platform to reciprocate about the pivot axis  6 . The reciprocation of foot support member  5  is due to the action of the crank formed by the link  19  and second gear  18 , as well as the extension  24  of foot support member  5  that extends below the axis  6 . The orientation of the second gear  18  in a generally horizontal plane permits a low profile design, thereby permitting storage of the exercise device  1  under the seat  13  while still providing the necessary gear reduction. The rotational speed of electric motor  4  may be adjusted to provide the desired frequency of reciprocation of foot support member  5 . Also, the position of pivot  21  relative to axis  22  may be adjusted to provide for more or less travel of foot support member  5 . Still further, the pin  29  may engage a selected one of a plurality of openings (not shown) arranged in an arc about pivot  6  in foot support member  5  to vary the angle of foot support member  5  if required for a particular application. 
     Use of the exercise device  1  during long-haul airline flights, vehicle trips, or the like provides exercise for the lower leg muscles, providing prophylaxis by mechanical means. The foot support member flexes both ankles simultaneously, stretching calf and anterior tibial muscles alternately. This exercise prevents blood stasis of the lower leg by using the calf and tibial muscles (the so-called peripheral venous pump). It will be readily appreciated that the exercise device  1  of the present invention may be used in a wide variety of situations wherein a person is seated or otherwise not mobile for extended periods of time. 
     In the foregoing description, it will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art that modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the concepts disclosed herein. Such modifications are to be considered as included in the following claims, unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.