User controlled device for decompressing the spine

Claim 1

An apparatus for decompressing the spine of a user positioned in a generally seated posture while permitting leg exercises, comprising: a. a frame disposed to rest on an underlying generally rigid subsurface, and having two parallel spaced apart sides, each side having a base leg, and an elevation leg and a support leg supported by the subsurface, the legs forming a generally triangular side, and the sides being interconnected by cross members; b. each support leg being elevated at an angle of about 20° to about 45° above the horizontal, with the angle being maintained by the respective elevation leg; c. arm rest means with each support leg to provide support to a user's forearm, and grip means projecting upwardly from the support leg adjacent the arm rest means to provide a gripping surface for the user's hand; and d. leg exercising means, attached to the frame and spaced apart from the arm rest means, having two pedals coupled to a resistance element, for providing resistance in opposition to pushing of one or both pedals by the user; wherein a user can elevate himself with respect to the subsurface by pushing with his forearms and hands against the arm rest means, and thereby at least partially decompress his spine while simultaneously exercising one or both legs.

Claim 2

An apparatus for decompressing the spine of a user positioned in a generally seated posture while permitting leg exercises, comprising: a. a frame disposed to rest on an underlying generally rigid subsurface, and having two parallel spaced apart sides, each side having a base leg, and an elevation leg and a support leg supported by the subsurface, the legs forming a generally triangular side, and the sides being interconnected by cross members; b. each support leg being elevated at an angle of about 20° to about 45° above the horizontal, with the angle being maintained by the respective elevation leg; c. arm rest means with each support leg to provide support to a user's forearm, and grip means projecting upwardly from the support leg adjacent the arm rest means to provide a gripping surface for the user's hand; and d. leg exercising means, attached to the frame and spaced apart from the arm rest means, having two pedals coupled to a resistance element, for providing resistance in opposition to pushing of one or both pedals by the user; wherein a user can elevate himself with respect to the subsurface by pushing with his forearms and hands against the arm rest means, and thereby at least partially decompress his spine while simultaneously exercising one or both legs.

Claim 3

An apparatus for decompressing the spine of a user positioned in a generally seated posture while permitting leg exercises, comprising: a. a frame disposed to rest on an underlying generally rigid subsurface, and having two parallel spaced apart sides, each side having a base leg, and an elevation leg and a support leg supported by the subsurface, the legs forming a generally triangular side, and the sides being interconnected by cross members; b. each support leg being elevated at an angle of about 20° to about 45° above the horizontal, with the angle being maintained by the respective elevation leg; c. arm rest means with each support leg to provide support to a user's forearm, each arm rest means comprising: i. grip means, projecting upwardly from the support leg, to provide a gripping surface for a user's hand, and ii. cushion rest means, lying along the support leg above the grip means, to provide a surface supporting the elbows and forearms, wherein the elbows, forearms, wrists and hands wedge into the structure of the grip means and cushion means so that the, user's upper body weight as transferred through his shoulder girdle is at least partially spread throughout the length of his forearms, reducing fatigue of the hands and wrists; and d. leg exercising means, attached to the frame and spaced apart from the arm rest means, having two pedals coupled to a resistance element, for providing resistance in opposition to pushing of one or both pedals by the user; wherein a user can elevate himself with respect to the subsurface by pushing with his forearms and hands against the arm rest means, and thereby at least partially decompress his spine while simultaneously exercising one or both legs.

Claim 4

An apparatus for decompressing the spine of a user positioned in a generally seated posture while permitting leg exercises, comprising: a. a frame disposed to rest on an underlying generally rigid subsurface, and having two parallel spaced apart sides, each side having a base leg, and an elevation leg and a support leg supported by the subsurface, the legs forming a generally triangular side, and the sides being interconnected by cross members; b. each support leg being elevated at an angle of about 20° to about 45° above the horizontal, with the angle being maintained by the respective elevation leg; c. arm rest means with each support leg to provide support to a user's forearm, each arm rest means comprising: i. grip means, projecting upwardly from the support leg, to provide a gripping surface for a user's hand, and ii. cushion rest means, lying along the support leg above the grip means, to provide a surface supporting the elbows and forearms, wherein the elbows, forearms, wrists and hands wedge into the structure of the grip means and cushion means so that the, user's upper body weight as transferred through his shoulder girdle is at least partially spread throughout the length of his forearms, reducing fatigue of the hands and wrists; and d. leg exercising means, attached to the frame and spaced apart from the arm rest means, having two pedals coupled to a resistance element, for providing resistance in opposition to pushing of one or both pedals by the user; wherein a user can elevate himself with respect to the subsurface by pushing with his forearms and hands against the arm rest means, and thereby at least partially decompress his spine while simultaneously exercising one or both legs.

Claim 23

An apparatus for decompressing the spine of a user by supporting at least some of the user's body weight upon the user's shoulder girdle while permitting leg exercises, the apparatus comprising: a. inclined support members which are positioned in spaced parallel relationship at shoulder width to each side of the user who is generally in a seated posture, the incline of the support members being relatively higher under the user's shoulders and inclining downwards towards the user's legs; b. handles, affixed to each inclined support member, each for receiving one of the user's hands; c. two arm rest means, each positioned upon an inclined support member above its handle, for supporting the user's forearm; and d. leg exercising means, attached to the inclined support members and spaced apart from the arm rest means, having two pedals coupled to a resistance element, for providing resistance in opposition to pushing of one or both pedals by the user; the elevation and angle of each inclined support member at the juncture of its handle and its arm rest means being such that a user positioned with both hands grasping the handles and both forearms resting on the arm rest means supports at least some of the user's weight upon the user's shoulder girdle and upper arms to decompress the spine, while simultaneously the user exercises one or both legs.

Claim 24

An apparatus for decompressing the spine of a user by supporting at least some of the user's body weight upon the user's shoulder girdle while permitting leg exercises, the apparatus comprising: a. inclined support members which are positioned in spaced parallel relationship at shoulder width to each side of the user who is generally in a seated posture, the incline of the support members being relatively higher under the user's shoulders and inclining downwards towards the user's legs; b. handles, affixed to each inclined support member, each for receiving one of the user's hands; c. two arm rest means, each positioned upon an inclined support member above its handle, for supporting the user's forearm; and d. leg exercising means, attached to the inclined support members and spaced apart from the arm rest means, having two pedals coupled to a resistance element, for providing resistance in opposition to pushing of one or both pedals by the user; the elevation and angle of each inclined support member at the juncture of its handle and its arm rest means being such that a user positioned with both hands grasping the handles and both forearms resting on the arm rest means supports at least some of the user's weight upon the user's shoulder girdle and upper arms to decompress the spine, while simultaneously the user exercises one or both legs.

Claim 40

A method of decompressing the spine of a human by supporting at least some of the human's body weight upon his shoulder girdle while permitting leg exercises, the method comprising: a. positioning two support members spaced parallel at shoulder width on each side of the human who is generally in a seated posture, each support member being inclined so as to be higher under the human's shoulders and so as to incline downwards towards the human's legs; b. causing each hand of the human to rest upon a handle that is affixed to each inclined support member; c. causing each forearm of the human to rest upon an arm rest positioned upon each inclined support leg above its handle; d. supporting at least some of the human's weight upon his shoulder girdle and upper arms by the resting of his forearms and hands upon each inclined support member and its handle to decompress the spine; e. causing each leg, of the human to rest upon a pedal spaced apart from the arm rests and coupled to a resistance element; f. opposing pushing of one or both pedals by the user.

Claim 41

A method of decompressing the spine of a human by supporting at least some of the human's body weight upon his shoulder girdle while permitting leg exercises, the method comprising: a. positioning two support members spaced parallel at shoulder width on each side of the human who is generally in a seated posture, each support member being inclined so as to be higher under the human's shoulders and so as to incline downwards towards the human's legs; b. causing each hand of the human to rest upon a handle that is affixed to each inclined support member; c. causing each forearm of the human to rest upon an arm rest positioned upon each inclined support leg above its handle; d. supporting at least some of the human's weight upon his shoulder girdle and upper arms by the resting of his forearms and hands upon each inclined support member and its handle to decompress the spine; e. causing each leg, of the human to rest upon a pedal spaced apart from the arm rests and coupled to a resistance element; f. opposing pushing of one or both pedals by the user.