US4733859A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Exercise apparatus
Assignee: BioMechanisms Inc
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Filing: 1986-10-09
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Granted: 1988-03-29
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Expires: 2006-10-09
Abstract
Abstract An exercise machine wherein the muscles which move a part of the body such as the foot or head are exercised by restricting movement of the body part to rotation about each of at least two mutually perpendicular axes and providing independently adjustable resistance means to selectively resist rotational movement of the body part about each axis with a desired degree of resistance which does not vary with the position or speed of movement of the body part.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald W. Kock
- 👤 Charles E. Schuster
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 23:32
CPC Classifications
A; A63; A63B; A63B23/00; A63B23/035; A63B23/04; A63B23/08; A63B23/025; A63B2023/003; A63B21/00; A63B21/012; A63B21/015; A63B2208/00; A63B2208/02; A63B2208/0228; A63B2208/0233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for exercising muscles associated with movement of the head, comprising: (a) movement restricting means for restricting movement of the head to rotation about a first axis, a second axis and a third axis, each of said axes lying mutually perpendicular to one another; (b) first resistance means connected to said movement restricting means for applying an adjustable first torque to the head as it is rotated about said first axis; (c) second resistance means connected to said movement restricting means for applying an adjustable second torque to the head as it is rotated about said second axis, and (d) third resistance means connected to said movement restricting means for applying an adjustable third torque to the head as it rotates about said third axis, said first, second, and third torques being adjustable independently of one another.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
An apparatus for exercising muscles associated with movement of the head, comprising: (a) movement restricting means for restricting movement of the head to rotation about a first axis, a second axis and a third axis, each of said axes lying mutually perpendicular to one another; (b) first resistance means connected to said movement restricting means for applying an adjustable first torque to the head as it is rotated about said first axis; (c) second resistance means connected to said movement restricting means for applying an adjustable second torque to the head as it is rotated about said second axis, and (d) third resistance means connected to said movement restricting means for applying an adjustable third torque to the head as it rotates about said third axis, said first, second, and third torques being adjustable independently of one another.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movement restricting means permits simultaneous rotation of the head about each of said axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said resistance means comprises at least one friction disk.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said resistance means is a rotatable means connected to said movement restricting means through a gear train means operable to increase the apparent resistance to movement of the head.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gear ratio of said gear train means is at least one to two.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for exercising the muscles associated with movement of the foot, said foot having a natural angulation, said apparatus comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a first axle rotatably mounted to said frame for rotation about a first axis; (c) first variable resistance means connected to said first axle for applying a first torque to said first axle as said first axle is rotated; (d) a second axle connected to said first axle for rotation about a second axis, said second axle lying substantially perpendicular to said first axle; (e) second variable resistance means connected to said second axle for applying a second torque to said second axle as said second axle is rotated, said first and said second variable resistance means being independently adjustable; and (f) a footplate connected to an end of said second axle, said footplate being rotatable simultaneously about said first axis and said second axis for transmitting said first torque and said second torque to the foot.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
162 words
An apparatus for exercising the muscles associated with movement of the foot, said foot having a natural angulation, said apparatus comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a first axle rotatably mounted to said frame for rotation about a first axis; (c) first variable resistance means connected to said first axle for applying a first torque to said first axle as said first axle is rotated; (d) a second axle connected to said first axle for rotation about a second axis, said second axle lying substantially perpendicular to said first axle; (e) second variable resistance means connected to said second axle for applying a second torque to said second axle as said second axle is rotated, said first and said second variable resistance means being independently adjustable; and (f) a footplate connected to an end of said second axle, said footplate being rotatable simultaneously about said first axis and said second axis for transmitting said first torque and said second torque to the foot.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising adjusting means for transversely rotating said first axle to align said footplate with said natural angulation of said foot when the foot is seated on said footplate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said adjusting means comprises a toggle lever connected to said frame.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising a seat connected to said frame to prevent said frame from moving when a person seated on said seat moves said footplate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising releasable straps for securing the foot to said footplate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an indicator for providing an indication correlated to the angle of rotation of the foot about at least one of said axes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said indicator comprises a pointer connected to said footplate and a graduated angle scale fixed relative to said axis.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for exercising the muscles associated with movement of the foot, comprising: (a) a yoke; (b) a first axle spanning said yoke and mounted thereto for rotation about a first axis; (c) a first friction disk connected to said first axle for applying a first torque to the first axle as said first axle is rotated; (d) a connector block secured to said first axle for rotation therewith; (e) a second axle journalled within said connector block for rotation about a second axis, said second axis lying perpendicular to said first axis; (f) a second friction disk connected to said second axle for applying a second torque to said second axle as it is rotated, and (g) a footplate adapted to be secured to the foot, said footplate being rotatable simultaneously about said first axis and said second axis for transmitting said first torque and said second torque to the foot.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
152 words
An apparatus for exercising the muscles associated with movement of the foot, comprising: (a) a yoke; (b) a first axle spanning said yoke and mounted thereto for rotation about a first axis; (c) a first friction disk connected to said first axle for applying a first torque to the first axle as said first axle is rotated; (d) a connector block secured to said first axle for rotation therewith; (e) a second axle journalled within said connector block for rotation about a second axis, said second axis lying perpendicular to said first axis; (f) a second friction disk connected to said second axle for applying a second torque to said second axle as it is rotated, and (g) a footplate adapted to be secured to the foot, said footplate being rotatable simultaneously about said first axis and said second axis for transmitting said first torque and said second torque to the foot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising axis adjusting means for adjusting said first axis of rotation to align said footplate with the angulation of the foot when the foot is seated on said footplate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said axis adjusting means comprises a toggle lever connected to said yoke.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a seat connected to said yoke to prevent said yoke from moving when a person seated on said seat moves said footplate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising releasable straps for securing the foot to said footplate.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising an indicator for providing an indication correlated to the angle of rotation of the foot about at least one of said axes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 18 wherein said indicator comprises a pointer connected to said footplate and a graduated angle scale fixed relative to said axis.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for exercising muscles associated with movement of the foot, said foot having a natural angulation, said apparatus comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a first axle rotatably mounted to said frame, said first axle rotatable about a first axis; (c) first rotation resistance means connected to said first axle; (d) a footplate for receiving said foot and being attached to said first axle; (e) a second axle connected to said footplate, said second axle rotatable about a second axis, said second axle being substantially perpendicular to said first axle; (f) second rotation resistance means connected to said second axle, said first and said second rotation resistance means being independently adjustable; and (g) wherein said first axle is moveable along a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, whereby said footplate can be aligned with said natural angulation of said foot.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
140 words
An apparatus for exercising muscles associated with movement of the foot, said foot having a natural angulation, said apparatus comprising: (a) a frame; (b) a first axle rotatably mounted to said frame, said first axle rotatable about a first axis; (c) first rotation resistance means connected to said first axle; (d) a footplate for receiving said foot and being attached to said first axle; (e) a second axle connected to said footplate, said second axle rotatable about a second axis, said second axle being substantially perpendicular to said first axle; (f) second rotation resistance means connected to said second axle, said first and said second rotation resistance means being independently adjustable; and (g) wherein said first axle is moveable along a horizontal plane about a vertical axis, whereby said footplate can be aligned with said natural angulation of said foot.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus recited in claim 20 wherein said first axle is moveable along said horizontal plane from between 0° and 15° in either direction.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus recited in claim 20 further comprising: (h) a seat attached to said frame.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus recited in claim 22 further comprising: (i) an adjustable leg clamp attached to said seat.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus recited in claim 20 wherein said frame comprises a front assembly and a rear assembly, said front and said rear assemblies being adjustably attached to one another.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus recited in claim 20 wherein said first rotation resistance means comprises a friction disk attached to one end of said first axle.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus recited in claim 25 wherein said first rotation resistance means is attached to said one end of said first axle through a gear train.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus recited in claim 20 wherein said first rotation resistance means comprises a friction disk attached to one end of said first axle and a friction disk attached to the other end of said first axle.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus recited in claim 20 further comprising adjustable straps for securing said foot to said footplate.
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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) | 1991-03-29 | 1991-09-28 | 1992-03-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-29 | 1995-09-28 | 1996-03-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-29 | 1999-09-28 | 2000-03-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |