Abstract:
a hip and leg stretching machine composed of a vertical upright member supported by stationary base members on the ground plane. The vertical upright supports a cantilevered vertical-acting acme thread controlled by the user, which forces down or releases up a pivot arm attached to the vertical upright. A support pad is attached to the end of the pivot arm opposite the end in contact with the acme thread. Raising and lowering the pivot arm allows a standing martial artist or other user to stretch in the position and posture of a kick or other technical activity.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Provisional Patent No. 60/566,353, Stretching Machine, was filed on Apr. 29, 2004. This nonprovisional patent application is filed claiming the benefit of the provisional application and is not a request to convert the provisional application to a nonprovisional application. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT  
       [0002]     Not applicable  
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING COMPACT DISK APPENDIX  
       [0003]     Not applicable  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The stretching machine is an exercise machine designed for martial artists and other individuals for improving leg and hip flexibility. Flexibility is important to martial arts kicking techniques. Other stretching machines are designed for stretching in seated or non-activity or non-kicking positions. They offer little flexibility improvement specifically related to martial arts kicking techniques.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The stretching machine allows individual hip and leg stretching in the exact martial arts kicking or other activity posture and position. By standing in the precise kicking position and stretching, martial artists can improve hip and leg flexibility, which in turn, will improve the martial artist&#39;s kick speed and range. The machine allows the user to stretch in a comfortable and correct kicking position, mechanically increase the height of the kick with support from the machine, and stretch/hold in the higher kick position. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING  
       [0006]     Drawings of the stretching machine are as follows:  
         [0007]     Sheet  1 / 8 — FIG. 1 —Overall machine elevation  
         [0008]     Sheet  2 / 8 — FIGS. 2 and 2 A—Upright tube weldment elevations  
         [0009]     Sheet  3 / 8 — FIGS. 3, 3A ,  3 B—Leg support weldment—elevations  
         [0010]     Sheet  4 / 8 — FIGS. 4 and 4 A—Base tube weldment elevations  
         [0011]     Sheet  5 / 8 — FIGS. 5 and 5 A—Extension tube bottom weldment—elevations  
         [0012]     Sheet  6 / 8 — FIGS. 6 and 6 A—Pivot arm weldment—elevations  
         [0013]     Sheet  7 / 8 — FIG. 7 —Base leg weldment  
         [0014]     Sheet  8 / 8 — FIGS. 8 and 9 —Extension and locking handle weldments 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015]     The stretching machine is an adjustable-height vertical upright post with a vertically pivoting horizontal arm. The post is supported by a horizontal T-shaped base. Attached to the pivoting arm is a horizontally pivoting pad for supporting the lower leg and foot in specific kicking positions. The horizontal arm/pad height is adjusted higher and lower by turning an extension handle, which turns a vertical acme thread or worm gear, which in turn, raises and lowers an extension foot resting on the horizontal arm. A downward motion from the extension foot raises the leg/hip support pad end on the opposite side of the pivot.  
         [0016]     Materials: the stretching machine is made of A36 steel with a shop-applied powder paint coat finish. The support pad is vinyl-covered foam attached to a plywood base that is connected to the pivot arm. Parts are welded or bolted. Miscellaneous parts include steel acme thread, acme hex nut, thrust bearing and washers, adhesive feet, vinyl cap, plastic end caps, steel roll pin fastener, flange bushings, steel bolts, plastic crank handle with fastener and washer.  
         [0017]     Following is a description of the manufacturing process, finishing process, and assembly of the stretching machine. Listed in the drawings and organized by welded assembly are the following materials and parts:  
                                       #200105   1 - base leg main weldment       #100105   1 - flat, base leg front: flat ¼″ × 2.0           cold rolled steel 1018       #100110   1 - tube, base leg main: tube 2.00″ × 12 gage, A36 steel       #200110   1 - upright tube weldment       #100120   1 - tube, upright: tube 1.75″ square × 11 gage, A36 steel       #100130   2 - plate, pivot locator plate: plate 6 gage cold rolled           steel 1018       #100141   2 - plate, decal sign: plate 16 gage cold rolled steel       #100145   1 - round, upright handle: round ½″ cold           rolled steel 1018       #100145   1 - tube, extension upper: tube 1.50″ square × 14 gage           cold rolled steel       #100185   2 - tube extension mounting receptacle: tube 1.50″           square × 14 gage cold rolled steel       #100190   1 - flat, extension cap: flat ¼″ × 1.50″           cold rolled steel 1018       #200115   1 - pivot arm weldment       #100135   1 - tube, pivot arm weld: tube 2.00″ × 14 gage, A36 steel       #100140   2 - flat pivot arm: flat ¼″ × 2.0″ cold           rolled steel 1018       #100151   1 - bolt cover: round ¾″ outside diameter tube       #200120   1 - leg support weldment       #100150   1 - flat, leg support: flat 3/16″ × 7.0″           cold rolled steel 1018       #100155   1 - round leg support pivot: round ¾″ cold           rolled steel 1018       #100157   1 - threaded rod: threaded rod ½-13       #200125   1 - extension tube bottom weldment       #100165   1 - tube, extension bottom: tube 1.25″ square × 11 gage,           A36 steel       #100170   1 - ¾-6 acme nut       #100171   1 - flat, extension bottom foot: flat ⅜″ ×           2.00″ cold rolled steel 1018       #200130   1 - base tube weldment       #100115   1 - tube, base: tube 2.00″ × 12 gage, A36 steel       #100117   2 - plate, base support: flat 3/16″ plate,           A36 steel       #200135   1 - extension handle weldment       #100195   1 - extension rod bushing: round tube ½″ outside           diameter × 18 gage wall       #100197   1 - extension handle: Hammer Blow Company       #200140   1 - locking handle weldment       #100200   1 - round, locking stub: round 1.25″ cold rolled steel 1018       #100205   1 - round, locking handle: round ½″ cold rolled steel 1018       #100175   1 - round extension rod: acme thread ¾-6       #100160   1 - wood, leg support platform: plywood ½″       #100107   1 - tube, base leg front: tube 2/0″ square × 12 gage,           A36 steel       #110020   1 - ring grip release pin: ⅜″ × 2.5″       #110021   1 - thrust bearing       #110022   2 - thrust bearing washer       #110023   2 - flange bushing                  
 
 Manufacturing Process: 
 
         [0018]     All tube steel is cut to appropriate lengths. Cold rolled steel plate is cut to appropriate sizes. Special tube # 100135  pivot arm with slotted sides is laser cut. All tubes and plates with holes are drilled or punched. Acme thread is cut to the appropriate length and the top 1.5″ is milled and drilled for handle attachment.  
         [0019]     Weldments (welded assemblies) are fabricated. The machine has 8 weldments as noted in paragraph [0009] and in the drawings. All sharp edges are deburred.  
         [0020]     The wood leg support platform # 100160  is cut to the appropriate size. Upholsters&#39; foam is cut to fit the platform. The foam is covered with black vinyl, which is stapled securely to the bottom side of the platform.  
         [0000]     Finishing:  
         [0021]     Steel parts are sandblasted to remove mill scale. (The acme thread is not sandblasted or painted.) Parts are painted by shop powder-coating process.  
         [0000]     Assembly:  
         [0022]     Base leg weldment # 200105  is attached perpendicular to the base leg front tube, # 100107 . Use 2-½″ diameter×3.5″ long bolts with locking washers, flat washers, lock nuts.  
         [0023]     Attach base tube weldment # 200130  vertically to base leg weldment, # 200105 . Fasten with 2-½″ diameter×⅗″ long bolts with locking washers, flat washers, lock nuts.  
         [0024]     Insert a flange bushing, # 110023  in each pivot locator plate. Tap tight with a rubber hammer.  
         [0025]     Assemble the upright tube weldment (# 200110 ) parts by greasing the acme thread (# 100175 ) . Add 1 thrust washer, 1 thrust bearing, and 1 thrust washer to the top of the acme thread. Insert acme thread inside the extension tube bottom weldment (# 200125 ). Insert the extension tube bottom weldment (# 200125 ) with acme thread (# 100175 ) into the upper extension tube (# 100180 ) from the bottom and thread through acme nut at the top of the upper extension tube (# 100180 ). Place extension handle weldment (# 200135 ) on top of exposed milled top of acme thread (# 100175 ) and secure with 3/16″ diameter×¾″ long steel roll pin. Attach plastic crank handle with fastener and washer (manufactured part) to top of extension handle (# 100197 ) with rubber hammer.  
         [0026]     Insert a ¾″×3.5″ long bolt through the bolt cover (# 100151 ) and through the forked end of the pivot arm weldment (# 200115 ). Secure with locknut. Slide the forked end of pivot arm weldment over the bottom of the upright tube (# 100120 ). Fasten together with ¾″×3.5″ long bolt with lock nut through the flanged bushings at the pivot locator plate (# 100130 ). Bolt cover should rest on the foot of the extension tube bottom weldment (# 200125 ).  
         [0027]     Grease the bottom of the upright tube (# 100120 ) and insert into the base tube weldment (# 200130 ). Secure through matching holes ring grip release pin (# 110020 ). Upright should telescope freely.  
         [0028]     Assemble the pad by centering the leg support weldment (# 200120 ) on the bottom of the wood leg support platform with vinyl pad. Attach with 6 counter sunk brass screws. Make sure the threaded rod (# 100157 ) is nearer the machine upright tube (# 100120 ). Turn the pad over and insert the threaded rod (# 100157 ) from the top into the slotted tube. Secure from below with ¾″ flat washer and locking handle weldment (# 200135 ).  
         [0000]     Process of Using the Machine:  
         [0029]     Stand on either side of the machine. Align center of body with center of upright tube (# 100120 ). Hold the round upright handle (# 100145 ) and place knee/leg/foot on the support pad in kicking position. Stretch and hold. Turn the extension handle (# 100197 ) clockwise until a higher comfortable position is reached. Stretch and hold. Repeat. Switch sides of the machine to stretch opposite leg. Maintain good kicking positioning and posture while stretching.  
         [0030]     Unlike other stretching machines designed for improving flexibility in martial arts kicking, this stretching machine is a standing unit so that the stretch can be performed in kicking position. Machine heights are adjusted by raising/lowering the telescoping upright tube (# 200110 ).