DESCRIPTION

Field of the Inventions

The present inventions relate to personalized or gymnasium physiotherapy devices for exercising the tendons, ligaments and other tissues around the knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, hip, shoulder, especially for those afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis. In particular, the inventions relate to facilitating in-plane back and forth exercising as the joint rotates without exerting along-the-limb cartilage destroying loads into the joint. Background of the Inventions

As age advances, the first and most obvious weaknesses in the human body are associated with the joints. These are mainly the knee, ankle, elbow, wrist, pelvic and shoulder joints. When in use, the said joints experience relative motion accompanied by friction between the adjacent limbs which have soft cartilaginous tissues at the ends. Though synovial fluid surrounds the cartilages for purposes of reducing friction, its rate of production is not enough in elderly people. The rate of regeneration of the worn out cartilage tissue is also very low in people afflicted by rheumatoid arthritis. In life, the two groups of people experience: joint pains; immobility and lack of independence; joint deformities; interruptions of activities of daily living; increased medical insurance costs; high costs associated with visits to physiotherapy clinics; reduced life expectancy. Apart from treatment using anti-rheumatoid drugs, management of joint afflictions by physiotherapy is also used. Other rheumatoid arthritis management techniques are water exercises, cold and hot applications, compression gloves, massage. Physiotherapy is the most effective of all the rheumatoid arthritis management techniques. However, physical therapists are usually very busy and patients do wait for weeks to be attended to, during which time a patient may even develop other life threatening complications.

It is known that problems affecting the joints can be mitigated or greatly reduced by regular exercising. Exercising allows more regenerative nutrients carrying blood to flow to the joint and helps in repair and healing of damaged tissue. The movement and flexibility of joints is a crucial factor in allowing such body exercises. Weak joints limit these exercises and therefore prevent normal development and maintenance of tissues, tendons and ligaments. The knee joint can be exercised by walking up the stairs or squatting, like it happens in high rise offices or toilets. This requires the joint to take the full weight of the body and may further damage the joint. Weight lifting in the gymnasium is another method of exercising the knee joint. The load due to the weights is transmitted axially along the adjacent limbs of the joint and may therefore cause damage to the soft cartilage tissue of the joint. Prior art gymnasium or physiotherapy equipment exist whereby the user lies on the back and pushes out a load using the bottom of the feet. This equipment only exercises the tissues associated with the pushing out, leaving out the tissues associated with the pulling. Additionally, load is transmitted axially along the adjacent limbs of the joint and may therefore cause damage to the soft cartilage tissue of the joint. Other prior art gymnasium or physiotherapy equipment exist whereby the user sits down and pushes a load by swinging out the legs. This equipment only exercises the tissues associated with the pushing out, leaving out the tissues associated with the pulling. This may cause imbalances in tissue development. It is an objective of the present inventions to provide physiotherapy or gymnasium equipment that exercises the knee joint tendons and ligaments without the load being transmitted axially along the two adjacent limbs. It is another objective of the present inventions to provide a mechanism within the said equipment that allows tandem exercising of both the push and pull associated tissues of the knee joint. The elbow joint can be exercised by doing press-ups or weight lifting. The load due to press-ups and the external weights lifted is transmitted axially along the adjacent limbs of the joint and may therefore cause damage to the soft cartilage tissue of the joint. Prior art gymnasium or physiotherapy equipment exist whereby the user may stand or sit and lift loads on each arm. This equipment only exercises the tissues associated with the pulling, leaving out the tissues associated with the pushing, and therefore resulting in imbalances in tissue development. It is an objective of the present inventions to provide physiotherapy or gymnasium equipment that exercises the elbow joint tendons and ligaments without the load being transmitted axially along the two adjacent limbs. It is another objective of the present inventions to provide a mechanism within the said equipment that allows tandem exercising of both the push and pull associated tissues of the elbow joint.

In nature, there are not many exercises for the wrist joint alone but press-ups and weight lifting do help. However, prior art gymnasium or physiotherapy equipment exist whereby the user may stand or sit and fit the equipment around the wrist. Exercising is effected by the user pushing the equipment in one direction and relaxing in the other direction. This equipment only exercises the tissues associated with the pushing, leaving out the tissues associated with the pulling. It is an objective of the present inventions to provide physiotherapy or gymnasium equipment that exercises the wrist joint tendons and ligaments having incorporated in it a mechanism that allows tandem exercising of both the push and pull associated tissues of the wrist joint.

The springing motion when walking or running is one of the natural ways of exercising the ankle joint. While walking is safe, running exerts impact loads into the socket of the ankle and tends to damage the soft cartilage tissue. The loads associated with weight lifting and other prior art equipment for exercising the legs also exert loads into the socket of the ankle and tends to damage the soft cartilage tissue. It is an objective of the present inventions to provide physiotherapy or gymnasium equipment that exercises the ankle joint tendons and ligaments without the load being transmitted into the ankle joint socket. It is another objective of the present inventions to provide a mechanism within the said equipment that allows tandem exercising of both the push and pull associated tissues of the ankle joint.

Walking and running are natural ways of exercising the pelvic joint. While walking is safe, running exerts impact loads into the socket of the pelvic joint and tends to damage the soft cartilage tissue. The loads associated with weight lifting and other prior art equipment for exercising the legs also exert loads into the socket of the pelvic joint and tends to damage the soft cartilage tissue. It is an objective of the present inventions to provide physiotherapy or gymnasium equipment that exercises the pelvic joint tendons and ligaments without the load being transmitted into the pelvic joint socket. It is another objective of the present inventions to provide a mechanism within the said equipment that allows tandem exercising of both the push and pull associated tissues of the pelvic joint.

Brisk walking involves to and fro movement of arms and is a natural way of exercising the shoulder joint. Weight lifting and press-ups are other methods. Expansion springs of prior art are also used in gymnasia. The said press-ups and weights lifted exert loads into the socket of the shoulder joint and tend to damage the soft cartilage tissue. It is an objective of the present inventions to provide physiotherapy or gymnasium equipment that exercises the shoulder joint tendons and ligaments without the load being transmitted into the shoulder joint socket. This prior art equipment and natural exercises only exercise the tissues associated with the pushing, leaving out the tissues associated with the pulling. It is another objective of the present inventions to provide a mechanism within the said equipment that allows tandem exercising of both the push and pull associated tissues of the shoulder joint.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONS

An objective of the inventions is to provide gymnasium or physiotherapy devices with adjustable loading for exercising, toning and developing the muscles, tendons, ligaments and connecting tissues around the elbow, wrist, knee and ankle joints. The said device is to have in-plane rotary motion only that ensures that loads are not applied in a direction axial to the two adjacent limbs around a joint in order to avoid damage to the soft joint cartilaginous tissues. It is another objective of the present inventions to provide a mechanism within the said device that allows for exercising one set of tissues as the joint is folded and another set of tissues as the joint is unfolded in order to result in balanced tissue development.

A further objective of the present inventions is to provide a gymnasium or physiotherapy device with adjustable loading for exercising, toning and developing the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joint connecting tissues around the thigh-pelvic bone joint. The said device is to have in-plane rotary motion only that ensures that loads are not applied into or out of the joint socket, in order to avoid damage to the soft joint cartilaginous tissues. It is another objective of the present inventions to provide a mechanism within the said device that allows for exercising one set of tissues as the joint is folded and another set of tissues as the joint is unfolded in order to result in balanced tissue development.

A further objective of the present inventions is to provide a gymnasium or physiotherapy device with adjustable loading for exercising, toning and developing the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joint connecting tissues around the shoulder joint. The said device is to have in-plane rotary motion only that ensures that loads are not applied into or out of the joint socket, in order to avoid damage to the soft joint cartilaginous tissues. It is another objective of the present inventions to provide a mechanism within the said device that allows for exercising one set of tissues as the joint is folded and another set of tissues as the joint is unfolded in order to result in balanced tissue development.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having described the inventions in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein: FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the physiotherapy joint muscle toner 1 assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2A-2C are the front, rear and side views respectively of the assembled upper and lower limb housings 2,3 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the swing joint 7 with the swing joint pin 25 assembled according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the tubular fabric body strap 4 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the same.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the upper limb housing tie strip 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lower limb housing tie strip 6 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of the self-reverting spring assembly 8 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the thigh-pelvic bone joint physiotherapy device 39 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A-9C are the front, side and rear views respectively of the hip housing 38 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the shoulder joint physiotherapy device 42 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 11A-11C are the front, plan and rear views respectively of the chest housing 41 according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONS

The present inventions will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some examples of the embodiments of the inventions are shown. These inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed or limited to the embodiments set forth herein, rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Plastic, rubber, fabric, aluminium, steel, or other suitable and applicable materials to be used in these inventions and their methods of production will be known to one of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of the physiotherapy joint muscle toner 1 assembly in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented. FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate the front, rear and side views respectively of the assembled upper and lower limb housings 2,3 that form the physiotherapy joint muscle toner 1. In the preferred embodiment of these inventions, the joint muscle toner 1 comprises an upper tubular limb housing 2, a lower tubular limb housing 3, a tubular fabric body strap 4, upper limb housing tie strips 5 and lower limb housing tie strips 6. The corresponding sets of the upper limb housing tie strips 5 and lower limb housing tie strips 6 are connected at the swing joints 7. A clear display of the arrangement of a swing joint is shown in FIG. 3. Across each swing joint 7 is mounted a self-reverting spring assembly 8 that provides resisting forces when the limb housings 2,3 are rotated about the swing joint 7. When in use, the upper tubular limb housing 2 is fitted to the upper limb of a body joint, the lower tubular limb housing 3 is fitted to the lower limb of a body joint, while the tubular fabric body strap 4 is tightened to the upper limb to prevent the toner 1 assembly from sliding up or down the limbs. The tubular fabric body strap is shown in FIGS. 4A- 4B. The tubular shape, size, length, thickness, of the limb housings 2,3 may be chosen to fit the limbs and allow free movement during the folding and unfolding physiotherapy motions of the joint. The ends 9 and inside surfaces 10 of the limb housings 2,3 should be adequately smooth and rounded not to cause damage to the skin. The limb housings 2,3 may be of seamless or multi-sector construction. However, in the preferred embodiment, each of the limb housings is of such a form that it can be swung open into two halves in order to fit the limbs conveniently. For this purpose, there is provided along rear meridional edges, a plurality of hinge lines 11 fitted with a plurality of hinges 12. The hinges 12 may be of the ordinary type and so aligned as not to cause distortion of the limb housing when opening while their location and mounting should not cause injury to the skin. When in closed position, the limb housings 2,3 may be tightened by use of a plurality of ordinary latches 13 that run across the front adjustment slit 14. The top circumferential edge 15 of the upper limb housing 2 has a mechanism which firmly fits it to the lower circumferential edge of the tubular fabric body strap 4. In the preferred embodiment, this said mechanism is a protrusion 16 that fits firmly into a recess 17 on the lower circumferential edge of the tubular fabric body strap 4.

Connected to the lower end of the upper limb housing 2 and on diametrically opposed sides, are the upper limb housing tie strips 5. Connected to the upper end of the lower limb housing 3 and on diametrically opposed sides, are the lower limb housing tie strips 6. FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate perspective views of the upper limb housing tie strip 5 and the lower limb housing tie strip 6 respectively, in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented. In a preferred embodiment, each tie strip 5 is connected to the upper limb housing 2 through a plurality of bolts 18 while each tie strip 6 is connected to the lower limb housing 3 through a plurality of bolts similar to 18. The lateral distance 19 between the limb housings 2,3 may be adjusted by use of a plurality of bolt holes 20 on each limb housing provided to accommodate different limb sizes and users. However, other well known means of attachment may be used to replace the bolts 18 and bolt holes 20. The tie strips 5,6 may be so designed with adequate strength as to withstand the forces and small enough not to interfere with the movement of the physiotherapy joint muscle toner 1.

The lower limb housing 3 is constructed in a manner similar to the upper limb housing 2. The only difference is that the lower limb housing does not have the afore-mentioned protrusion fitting mechanism 16. However, in another possible embodiment, the lower end of the lower limb housing 3 has a protrusion (not shown but similar to 16) for fitting a tubular fabric body strap (similar to 4) for fitting onto the lower limb and therefore enhancing overall body grip as earlier described for the upper limb housing 2.

The upper and lower limb housings 2,3, with the corresponding tie strips 5,6 attached as earlier disclosed, are coupled together through the swing joints 7. The swing joint 7 is essentially the meeting point of the free ends of the tie strips 5,6 connected to the upper and lower limb housings 2,3. In the preferred embodiment, these two ends 21,22 are lacerated and formed into a plurality of interlocking right hand and left hand hook shapes 23,24 through which a joint pin 25 passes through. The upper and lower limb housings 2,3 are therefore able to swing about this swing joint 7 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 2C. The axes of the said swing joints should preferably be collinear and perpendicular to the plane of rotation to avoid damage to the assembly and the limbs. The diameter and length of the joint pin 25 may be chosen to allow its easy retrieval, replacement or disengagement from the tie strips hooked ends 23,24. The shear strength and wear properties of the said joint pin may be so chosen to withstand the forces in the joint.

The physiotherapy utility of the joint muscle toner 1 disclosed in these inventions is provided by the pair of self -reverting spring assemblies 8 (only one assembly is shown in FIG. 7 ) consisting of fold-resistant springs 26 and unfold-resistant springs 27, mounted across the swing joints 7. The springs 26,27 are compressed by a disc or spherical ball 28 mounted on a swivel rod 29 that is centered and free to rotate about the lower limb housing tie strip 6. The fold-resistant spring end is fitted with a flexible springy strip 30. The self-reverting spring assembly 8 is mounted on the upper face of the upper limb housing tie strip 5. It may be mounted by screwing, welding or may even be in-built into the said tie strip

As the joint is folded during physiotherapy exercise, the disc 28 compresses the fold- resistant spring 26 and therefore offers the resisting force that the joint needs to overcome. Near the end of the joint folding stroke, a guide or groove 31 directs the disc towards the unfolding channel 32 as the flexible springy strip opens up to its unconstrained width. As the stroke completes, the spring back action of the spring 26 and the push-over effect of the flexible springy strip 30 further assists the disc to completely change over from the folding channel 33 to the unfolding channel 32 and ready for the joint unfolding stroke. The spring 26 is now released and attains its free length. The unfolding stroke may then begin as the disc 28 now compresses the unfold-resistant spring 27. At the end of the unfolding stroke, a guide or groove 34 directs the disc 28 towards the folding channel 33 and eventually the spring back action of the unfold- resistant spring 27 together with the push-over effect of the flexible springy strip 35 pushes the disc over to the folding channel 33. This completes the physiotherapy joint folding-unfolding cycle. A similar self-reverting spring assembly (not shown) is mounted across the tie strips 5,6 on the diametrically opposed side of the limb housings 2,3 and works in a manner similar to what has been described. The number and relative stiffness of the springs 26,27, including the diameter and number of coils, may be chosen or periodically changed as necessary to result in the best combination of forces required for folding and unfolding of the limb joints. The length of the swivel rod 29 may be matched with the length of the folding and unfolding channels 33,32 which may be adequately grooved to retain the disc 28 within the said channels. In a preferred embodiment, the springs 26,27 are of the ordinary compression coil type that offer resistance when the ends are compressed in the opposite directions. In a preferred embodiment of the tubular fabric body strap 4 shown in FIGS. 4A-4B, those skilled in the art may choose ordinary canvas fabric or other dermatologically suitable material. In the preferred embodiment, the tubular fabric strap 4 may be so designed to have a recess 17 that fits firmly in the protrusion 16 at the top circumferential edge of the upper limb housing 2 and therefore prevent the limb housing from sliding along the limb. The front side has an adjustment slit 36 both for strap 37 tightening mechanism and comfort of the user. The physiotherapy joint muscle toner 1 described and disclosed so far is suitable for exercising the knee, ankle, elbow and wrist body joints.

In one modification of these inventions, that makes it suitable for exercising the hip joint, the upper limb housing 2 is replaced by a hip housing 38 which is coupled to two lower limb housings 301, a tubular fabric body strap 401 and tie strips 501,601 across which are mounted self-reverting spring assemblies (similar to 8 as previously described) to form the thigh-pelvic bone joint physiotherapy device 39 disclosed in these inventions. FIG. 8 illustrates a front perspective view of the assembled thigh-pelvic bone joint physiotherapy device 39 in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented. FIGS. 9A-9C illustrate the front, side and rear views respectively of the hip housing 38. The size and shape of the hip housing 38 may be chosen from anthropometric data to fit a range of buttock and hip sizes. Different size categories may also be constructed.

The hip housing 38 has the shape of a pair of normal clothing shorts, complete with two short trunks 40 that form the roots of the thigh. In the preferred embodiment, the hip housing 38 is made up of a plurality of segments in a way that it can be opened up for convenient fitting onto the hips of the user. For this purpose, on the rear side are a plurality of hinge lines 1101 each fitted with a plurality of hinges 1201. On the front side are a plurality of front adjustment slits 1401 which are tightened up using a plurality of ordinary latches 1301. The top circumferential edge 1501 of the hip housing 38 is connected to the tubular fabric body strap 401 through a protrusion 1601 which fits firmly in a recess (not shown but similar to 17) in the said fabric body strap 401. The tubular fabric body strap 401 may be of fabric or canvas and has a front adjustment slit 3601 that is tightened using a plurality of ordinary latches 3701. The said body strap 401 prevents the equipment 39 from sliding up or down the body trunk when in use. On the lower side of each short trunk 40 is attached the lower limb housing 301 complete with tie strips 501,601 and self-reverting spring assemblies as previously described for the joint muscle toner 1. The description, method of working, adjustments and assembly of the lower limb housings 301, tie strips 501,601 complete with bolts, bolt holes 2001, swing joints, joint pins, self-reverting spring assemblies, are similar to what has been described for the joint muscle toner device 1. Folding and unfolding of the thighs provides the physiotherapy effect of this thigh-pelvic bone joint physiotherapy device 39.

The sets of tightening latches 1301 should be strong enough to resist forces when the equipment is in use. The hinge lines 1101 and orientation of the hinges 1201 should allow proper fitting when the tightening latches 1301 have been adjusted. The short trunks 40 should be short enough to allow complete swinging of the thighs and provide space for attachments to the tie strips 501,601.

In another embodiment of this modification, the thighs may be swung open and closed to exercise the side and inner thigh muscles. For this purpose, provision of bolt holes may be made for the tie strips 501 to be fitted on the front and rear sides of the short trucks 40.

The swing joint axes should be collinear and perpendicular to the plane of rotation to avoid damage to the assembly and the limbs. The tie strips 501,601 are similar to the tie strips 5,6 and may be so designed as to withstand the forces and small enough not to interfere with the movement of the thigh-pelvic bone joint parts. The tubular fabric body strap 401 is similar to the tubular fabric body strap 4 and is only different in size. In this case it has to fit the body waist band while in the previous case it fits a limb such as lower thigh or lower leg. To cater for limited working space between the thighs, the tie strips 501,601 on the side of the inner thighs may be removed in a varied embodiment of this modification of the present inventions.

In a second modification of these inventions, that makes it suitable for exercising the shoulder joint, the upper limb housing 2 is replaced by a chest housing 41 which is coupled to two lower limb housings 302, a tubular fabric body strap 402 and tie strips 502,602 across which are mounted self-reverting spring assemblies (similar to 8) to form the shoulder joint physiotherapy device 42 disclosed in these inventions. FIG. 10 illustrates a front perspective view of the assembled shoulder joint physiotherapy device 42 in which an embodiment of the present invention is implemented. The size and shape of the chest housing 41 may be chosen from anthropometric data to fit a range of chest sizes. Different size categories may also be constructed. FIGS. 11A-11C illustrate the front, plan and rear views respectively, of the chest housing 41.

The chest housing 41 has the shape of a normal human chest, complete with two short trunks 43 that form the roots of the upper arm. The trunks 43 may have bolt hole provisions to mount the tie strips 502 in either a vertical or horizontal orientation depending on the chosen physiotherapy exercise. In the preferred embodiment, the chest housing 41 is made up of a plurality of segments in a way that it can be opened up for convenient fitting onto the chest of the user. For this purpose, on the rear side are a plurality of hinge lines 1102 each fitted with a plurality of hinges 1202. On the front side are a plurality of front adjustment slits 1402 which are tightened up using a plurality of ordinary latches 1302. The lower circumferential edge 1502 of the chest housing 41 is connected to a tubular fabric body strap 402 (similar to 4) through a protrusion 1602 which fits firmly in a recess (similar to 17) in the said fabric body strap 402. The tubular fabric body strap 402 may be of fabric or canvas and has a front adjustment slit 3602 that is tightened using a plurality of ordinary latches 3702. The said body strap 402 prevents the equipment 42 from sliding up or down the body trunk when in use.

On the outer side of each short trunk 43 is attached the lower limb housing 302 complete with tie strips 502,602 self-reverting spring assemblies (similar to 8) as previously described for the joint muscle toner 1. The description, method of working, adjustments and assembly of the lower limb housings 302, tie strips 502,602 complete with bolts, bolt holes 2002, swing joints, joint pins, self-reverting spring assemblies, are similar to what has been described for the joint muscle toner device 1. The up-down and front-back movement of the arms provide the physiotherapy effect of this shoulder joint physiotherapy device 42.

The sets of tightening latches 1302 should be strong enough to resist forces when the equipment is in use. The hinge lines 1102 and orientation of the hinges 1202 should allow proper fitting when the tightening latches 1302 have been adjusted. The short trunks 43 should be short enough to allow complete swinging of the arms and provide space for attachments to the tie strips 502,602.

The swing joint axes should be collinear and perpendicular to the plane of rotation to avoid damage to the assembly and the limbs. The tie strips 502,602 may be so designed as to withstand the forces and small enough not to interfere with the movement of the shoulder joint parts. The tubular fabric body strap 402 is similar to the tubular fabric body strap 4 and is only different in size. In this case it has to fit the body waist band. To cater for limited working space around the arm pit, the tie strips 502,602 on the side of the arm pit when the device is in the up-down usage, may be removed in an additional embodiment of this modification to the present inventions.

SCOPE OF THE INVENTIONS

Although the inventions have been explained in relation to the preferred embodiments, as mentioned in the preceding sections, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present inventions. It is therefore contemplated that the appended claims will cover such modification and variations that fall within the true scope of the inventions. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects as only illustrative and not restrictive. PAGE LEFT INTENTIONALLY BLANK