US4587960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Passive leg exercise apparatus
Assignee: NEUBAUER Firma GmbH
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Filing: 1983-06-09
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Granted: 1986-05-13
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Expires: 2003-06-09
Abstract
Abstract In an apparatus for passive leg-exercises comprising a pedal bearing which is supported by a floor stand and a pedal crank with pedals driven by a driving motor, the invention provides that above the floor stand, which forms a lower apparatus section, there is an independent upper section which carries handle bars. This upper section is connected with the floor stand by a tube of flat cross sectional configuration and is inclined from the vehicle in the direction towards the user. The knees of the user are maintained relatively apart by smooth walls of the upper section. The user can operate the apparatus from a wheelchair so that it is possible to treat particularly patients suffering from illnesses such as multiple sclerosis or paralysis. The pedals are suspended and therefore allow, even where full control function is lost in the patient's feet, an optimal anatomically correct position at all times while the crank is turning.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodor Schotten
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 22:00
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B22/00; A63B22/06; A63B22/0605; A61; A61H; A61H1/00; A61H1/02; A61H1/0214; A63B2022/0611; A63B2022/0617; A63B2022/0635; A63B2022/0647; A63B71/00; A63B71/0009; A63B2071/0018; A63B21/00; A63B21/005; A63B21/0058; A63B21/012; A63B21/015; A63B22/0694; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/02; A63B2208/0242; A63B2208/0257; A63B2208/0261; A63B2210/00; A63B2210/50; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/21; Y10T74/2164; Y10T74/2168; Y10T74/217; Y10T74/2186
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A passive leg-exercise apparatus comprising: a lower body section comprising: a floor stand, a pedal bearing means supported on said floor stand, a pedal crank rotatably mounted in said pedal bearing means and extending outwardly beyond the ends thereof, a pedal pivotally mounted on each outer end of said pedal crank so that the pivot axis of each pedal is always above the pedal in use, a drive motor supported on said floor, and means to operatively connect said drive motor to said pedal crank to rotatably drive said pedal crank; a tubular support mounted on said floor stand extending upwardly therefrom at an inclined angle; an independent upper body section supported on the upper portion of said tubular support in spaced relationship above said lower body section comprising: smooth side panels extending in spaced substantially vertical planes, a top plate closing the top of said upper body section, manual control means mounted on said top plate operatively connected to said drive motor for controlling the operation thereof, a handlebar projecting through said side panels, handle grips on the outer ends of said handlebar disposed above said pedal bearing means, the horizontal length of said side panels being substantially greater than the spacing between said side panels and said side panels being arranged with respect to said pedals so that in use said upper body section separates the knees of a user when the feet of the user are in said pedals; means to pivotally move said upper body section about a horizontal transverse axis relative to said lower body section; and means to lock said upper body section in position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
271 words
A passive leg-exercise apparatus comprising: a lower body section comprising: a floor stand, a pedal bearing means supported on said floor stand, a pedal crank rotatably mounted in said pedal bearing means and extending outwardly beyond the ends thereof, a pedal pivotally mounted on each outer end of said pedal crank so that the pivot axis of each pedal is always above the pedal in use, a drive motor supported on said floor, and means to operatively connect said drive motor to said pedal crank to rotatably drive said pedal crank; a tubular support mounted on said floor stand extending upwardly therefrom at an inclined angle; an independent upper body section supported on the upper portion of said tubular support in spaced relationship above said lower body section comprising: smooth side panels extending in spaced substantially vertical planes, a top plate closing the top of said upper body section, manual control means mounted on said top plate operatively connected to said drive motor for controlling the operation thereof, a handlebar projecting through said side panels, handle grips on the outer ends of said handlebar disposed above said pedal bearing means, the horizontal length of said side panels being substantially greater than the spacing between said side panels and said side panels being arranged with respect to said pedals so that in use said upper body section separates the knees of a user when the feet of the user are in said pedals; means to pivotally move said upper body section about a horizontal transverse axis relative to said lower body section; and means to lock said upper body section in position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
97 words
Apparatus as claiemd in claim 1 further comprising: a drive housing mounted on said floor stand, and wherein; said drive motor is mounted on said drive housing, said means to pivotally move said upper body section comprises a horizontal pivot bearing mounted on said drive housing, an adjusting lever extending from the lower end of said tubular support pivotally mounted on said pivot bearing for pivotal movement about said horizontal transverse axis, and said means to lock said upper body section comprises a set screw operatively mounted in said drive housing in engagement with said adjusting lever.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said tubular support comprises a lower tube member having a square cross-section and an upper tube member having a larger square cross-section telescopically engaging said lower tube member so that said upper body section is vertically adjustable relative to said lower body section; and a set screw is threadedly engaged in said upper tube member and operatively engages said lower tube member to lock said tube members together in any adjusted position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein: each pedal comprises a footplate having raised peripheral edge portions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein: said pedal crank comprises a crank shaft mounted in said pedal bearing for rotation about a horizontal axis and crank arms non-rotatably mounted on the outer ends of said crank shaft and extending at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation thereof; each footplate has an upwardly extending member; a footplate bearing is provided in the upper portion of said upwardly extending member; and the outer end of each crank arm is rotatably mounted in a respective footplate bearing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
79 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said tubular support comprises a lower tube member having a square cross-section and an upper tube member having a larger square cross-section telescopically engaging said lower tube member so that said upper body section is vertically adjustable relative to said lower body section; and a set screw is threadedly engaged in said upper tube member and operatively engages said lower tube member to lock said tube members together in any adjusted position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said drive motor is operable at variable speed; and said manual control means adjusts the speed of the drive motor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said manual control means comprises a handle grip rotatably mounted on said top plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising: a roller rotatably mounted on said floor stand adjacent to the bottom thereof so that upon tilting of said floor stand said roller contacts the floor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said floor stand is provided on both sides with laterally projecting outrigger struts for contacting the floor to prevent tipping of the apparatus in use.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein: each pedal comprises a footplate having raised peripheral edge portions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
87 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 wherein: said pedal crank comprises a crank shaft mounted in said pedal bearing for rotation about a horizontal axis and crank arms non-rotatably mounted on the outer ends of said crank shaft and extending at substantially right angles to the axis of rotation thereof; each footplate has an upwardly extending member; a footplate bearing is provided in the upper portion of said upwardly extending member; and the outer end of each crank arm is rotatably mounted in a respective footplate bearing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-05-12 | 1989-11-11 | 1990-05-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-05-12 | 1993-11-11 | 1994-05-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-05-12 | 1997-11-11 | 1998-05-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |