Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rocker as well as a method for using a rocker ac- cording to the invention.

Background of the Invention

In the field of rehabilitation devices particularly for disabled persons or persons needing training for special disorders it is well-known to construct devices which are specifically suitable for one or more purposes relating to the disease of the area of the body which it is desirable to rehabilitate, for example for patients having difficulties controlling their legs or standing on their legs it is customary to arrange them in supports where the legs are strapped to a column such that it will be possible for that person to carry out tasks with the upper body without being detrimentally influenced by the legs.

At the same time, by being arranged in a device helping a person to stand, relief from the traditional wheelchair may also be achieved. This is one example of many where rehab devices are devised to address certain, very specific problems. In general it is desirable to be able to exercise as many groups of muscles as possible in a controlled manner such that the person undergoing the training or treatment will be able to not only benefit from the particular training, but at the same time increase body strength such that future training and movement will be easier. This aspect in combination with the fact that the body will try to obtain a certain balanced position is an important aspect when rehabilitating persons. For this purpose only as few body parts as possible are fixated in order to let the body move and build up muscle structure and at the same time exercise the ability to keep its balance. Object of the invention

Consequently, it is an aim of the present invention to provide a rocker which may be arranged on various other rehabilitation devices in order to provide the extra move- ment of the device. Realising that the body will try to obtain its balance almost regardless of the position in which the body is brought, the rocker will provide an essential and important training to a person in a rehabilitation device arranged on the rocker in that unbalances due to the activity of the person will instinctively be compensated by the person trying to obtain equilibrium/balance and thereby counter the rocking movement created by the rocker. In this manner a high degree of self-training is obtained.

Description of the invention

Therefore, the invention provides a rocker having an upper part and a lower part, where said upper part comprises means for attaching the rocker to a device, and where said lower part has one or more curved members suitable to be positioned on a substantially flat surface. By attaching the rocker to for example a chair or a support device, the chair or support device will become unstable in one direction, i.e. the direction in which the rocker will move back and forth. This will cause the user to compensate for this movement, for example by moving the spine backwards or forwards in order to counter the rocking motion.

As the rocker according to the invention is provided as a two part construction, the upper part will in a further advantageous embodiment be provided as a substantially continuous surface member, wherein said continuous member on an upper surface is provided with one or more devices suitable to releasably engage and hold one or more of the following: a seat, a chair, a support column, a target trainer, a foot rest.

By providing a plurality of fastening means in the upper surface, for example fastening means arranged in patterns and having a design such that products from a specific provider of rehabilitation products may fit onto the same rocker, the rocker as such becomes very versatile and may be used with many different devices due to the construction of the upper part. The upper part having a substantially continuous surface is advantageous in that a user will be provided with a sense of security when stepping onto a substantially continuous surface as opposed to a non-continuous surface. In a still further advantageous embodiment of the invention either the upper part or the lower part is provided with stops, where said stops are arranged such that in use they will point towards the flat surface, where the rocker has a first direction parallel to the rocking direction, and where said stops are arranged in opposite ends of the rocker parallel with the first direction, and where when the rocker is not influenced by any device or user, there is a distance between the lowermost part of the stop and the flat surface. These stops serve to limit the rocking movement in that as the rocker moves forward the stop or stops arranged adjacent to the front side of the rocker will engage the flat surface and thereby halt the rocking movement.

Depending on the size of the stops, i.e. the distance between the flat surface on which the rocker according to the invention is placed and the free end of the stop, i.e. the lowermost end of the stop, the rocking motion may be more or less explicit. Furthermore, by being able to adjust the distance, for example by providing a screw or bolt member in the stop such that the distance may be adjusted simply be screwing or unscrewing of the bolt relative to the stop the rocking motion may be adjusted. It goes without saying that the same mechanism is applied to the stops at the rear edge of the rocker.

In a still further advantageous embodiment the stops are caster wheels, mounted on the upper part. Particularly in embodiments where the upper part of the rocker is more or less permanently fixed to a rehabilitation structure the caster wheels may come in handy in that instead of replacing the entire rocker structure only the curved members of the lower part can be removed such that the caster wheels will be able to engage the floor and thereby roll the rehabilitation device across the flat surface without any rocking motion. For this purpose the invention also in a further advantageous embod- iment foresees that the upper and lower parts are separate members releasably assembled such that the curved members may easily be disengaged from the upper part whereby the rocker motion of the rehabilitation device is dismounted. The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein

Figure 1 illustrates a rocker 1 arranged below a supporting seating facility; Figure 2 illustrates the supported column facility;

Figure 3 illustrates an exploded view of the base being prepared for mounting;

Figure 4 illustrates a side-view of another embodiment of the invention;

Figure 5 illustrates the an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 6 illustrates a front view of the rocker illustrated in figures 4 and 5

Figure 7 illustrates an embodiment as illustrated with reference to figures 4, 5 and 6 provided with a seating facility.

Description of the drawings

In figure 1 is illustrated a rocker 1 arranged below a supporting seating facility 10. The supported seating facility 10 comprises a seat 11 as well as a base 12. The base 12 is provided with caster wheels 13 such that it is possible to push the seating facility 10 across a surface, for example a floor. The supported seating facility 10 is illustrated in figure 2 (without the seat) and without the rocker 1.

Turning back to figure 1 the rocker 1 is arranged releasably fastened to the base 12 such that the caster wheels 13 are elevated above the floor surface whereby the rocker is free to provide rocking motion back and forth for the seating arrangement 10. In figure 3 is illustrated an exploded view of the base 12 being prepared for mounting of the rocker 1 to the base 12. In order to be able to mount the rocker 1 to the base 12 guiding means 2 are attached to the underside of the rocker base 12. The guiding means are arranged such that they may be inserted into the U-shaped profiles 3 provided on the rocker 1 where the U-shaped profiles 3 may simply by means of a pin inserted laterally through the U-shaped profiles 3 and the guidance means 2 be connected in a releasable manner. The two curved members 4, 5 on which the rocker will rock on a floor surface are interconnected by lateral connection members 6, 7 such that a relatively stable rocker is provided. Once the rocker is mounted to the base 12 by means of the guidance means 2 a very firm and stable connection is created such that the entire supported seating facility 10 may be used by users to rock back and forth as described above.

With reference to figures 4-7 another embodiment of the invention will be described.

Figure 4 illustrates a side-view of another embodiment where the base 12' is a substantially continuous member and may be better seen in figure 5. The base 12' is arranged on the curved members 4, 5 in a releasable manner. In this embodiment the curved members 4', 5' are provided with an upstanding flange 21 which upstanding flange 21 is provided with holes 22. The underside of the base 12' is provided with a receding slit such that the upstanding flange 21 may be inserted into the slit. By sliding the flange 21 relative to the base 12' it is possible to adjust the point of gravity of the construction being mounted on the base 12' such that there is a certain mutual balance for the device per se, i.e. without the user. Once the base 12' is slit relative to the curve members 4', 5' a pin (not illustrated) is inserted laterally through one or more holes 22 provided in the upstanding flange and the receiving slit on the underside of the base 12' whereby the rocker 1 is attached to the base 12' in a releasable manner.

As is evident from figure 4 and particularly figure 5 the base 12' is in this embodiment provided with caster wheels 13. The caster wheels 13 are slightly elevated above the floor 100 allowing the curved members 4', 5' to provide rocking movement back and forth until the caster wheels 13 in either end of the base 12' engages the floor 100 and thereby halts the rocking movement. In this manner it is ensured that a user does not overturn the rocker and thereby the device, for example the supported seating facility 10 as depicted with reference to figures 1 and 2.

The base 12' is provided with means 30 for mounting for example a rehab structure such as for example a supported seating facility as depicted with reference to figures 1 and 2. The means 30 may also be in the shape of brackets or arranged in different po- sitions such that the base 12' may be suitable to receive various types of arrangements. Turning shortly to figure 7 a base 12' as illustrated with reference to figures 4, 5 and 6 is illustrated provided with a seating facility 10' slightly different from the seating facility illustrated in figure 1. It is clear that any type of rehab structures such as for example a standing support seat etc. may be mounted on the base for the rocker according to the present invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a front view of the rocker illustrated in figures 4 and 5 where the same reference numbers denote the same features of the invention.