VERTICAL AUXILIARY APPARATUS FOR BOTH BODY INVERSION AND REHABILITATION
The present invention is to provide a vertical auxiliary apparatus for both body inversion and rehabilitation, which includes a base positioned on the ground and having first and second pivotal connecting portions at positions adjacent to one end thereof, a motor pivotally connected to the first pivotal connecting portion, a telescoping rod having a first end movably connected to the motor, a supporting frame pivotally connected to the second pivotal connecting portion at a position adjacent to a first end thereof and a second end of the telescoping rod at a position adjacent to a second end thereof respectively, and a foot frame fastened to one end of the supporting frame. Thus, when the motor is activated, the second end of the telescoping rod drives the supporting frame to rotate about a fulcrum defined by the second pivotal connecting portion and change the tilt angle relative to the ground.
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The present invention is to provide a body exercise apparatus, more particularly to a vertical auxiliary apparatus for both body inversion and rehabilitation, for enabling a user to stand on a foot frame thereof and, by controlling a driving device thereof, to freely adjust the tilt angle of a supporting frame thereof relative to the ground. With the foot frame supporting part of the user's weight, the user can do rehabilitation exercise and, alternatively, can hook his or her feet to positioning members of the foot frame and adjust the tilt angle of the supporting frame via the driving device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThanks to the rapid development of medical technology, physical injuries caused by severe traumas or diseases are now treatable with sophisticated surgeries, new drugs and/or advanced equipment. However, as the human body only has limited recovery capabilities, the restoration of body functions may require additional therapies and takes place only gradually. The restoration process, generally known as physical rehabilitation, has been an important field of modern medical science.
Generally speaking, one who is recovering from a trauma or disease is relatively weak, and if physical rehabilitation is required, whether the rehabilitative moves are correctly performed is crucial to the person's recovery speed and physical safety. Because of that, medical equipment dedicated to providing assistance in physical rehabilitation has emerged. One common example of such medical equipment is the “rehabilitative tilting bed”. A rehabilitative tilting bed has a bed surface with an adjustable tilt angle. By changing the tilt angle slowly, one who has been bedridden for a long time and who, therefore, is very likely to have uncomfortable reaction to an abrupt postural change to the standing position (e.g., postural hypotension) can be trained to adapt to the upright posture so as to be able to get off the bed walking without feeling nauseous, sweating insensibly or even entering a state of shock. Nevertheless, the rehabilitative tilting beds on the market not only are structurally complex and costly, but also serve the aforesaid function alone. For those who have rehabilitation needs or those who provide medical services, it is definitely not worth it to purchase an apparatus that becomes useless as soon as complete recovery is achieved. Besides, the bulkiness of rehabilitative tilting beds causes great inconvenience in placement and storage. All these add to the difficulties of promoting the use of rehabilitative tilting beds.
After years of research in the related industry, the inventor of the present invention has found that a commercially available physical training apparatus generally known as “inversion table” is somewhat similar in function to rehabilitative tilting beds. Please refer to
The inventor of the present invention has noticed that the effect to be achieved by a rehabilitative tilting bed is very similar to that by an inversion table, which is to turn a plane (i.e., the bed surface or the seat cushion) from a horizontal position to a tilted or vertical position. However. the structural difference between a rehabilitative tilting bed and an inversion table is so huge that the similarity of their effects has never been identified, let alone designing a structure that combines the effects of both. On the other hand, the conventional inversion tables also need improvement in terms of safe and convenience. In particular, the foot frames of the conventional inversion tables typically have a simple configuration that does not allow different users to adjust according to their foot sizes the force with which their feet are retained. Therefore, the issue to be addressed by the present invention is to incorporate the structures of a rehabilitative tilting bed and an inversion table into a single auxiliary apparatus that has an easily adjustable foot frame.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn view of the fact that the conventional rehabilitative tilting beds only serve a single purpose, which discourages medical service providers from purchasing such beds, the inventor of the present invention put years of practical experience into repeated trials and improvements and finally succeeded in developing a vertical auxiliary apparatus for both body inversion and rehabilitation. It is hoped that, by combining a rehabilitative tilting bed and an inversion table into one, the novel structure disclosed herein can provide the general public with a physical training and medical apparatus that has more functions and applications.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a vertical auxiliary apparatus for both body inversion and rehabilitation, wherein the vertical auxiliary apparatus includes a base, a driving device, a supporting frame, a board and a foot frame. The base is configured to be securely positioned on a plane (e.g., on the ground) and is provided with a first pivotal connecting portion and a second pivotal connecting portion, both being adjacent to one end of the base. The driving device includes a motor and a telescoping rod. The motor is pivotally connected to the first pivotal connecting portion. The telescoping rod has a first end movably connected to the motor. When activated, the motor either pushes a second end of the telescoping rod away from the base or pulls the second end of the telescoping rod back toward the base. The supporting frame is pivotally connected to the second pivotal connecting portion at a position adjacent to a first end of the supporting frame and is pivotally connected to the second end of the telescoping rod at a position adjacent to a second end of the supporting frame. Once the motor is activated, the second end of the telescoping rod drives the supporting frame such that the second end of the supporting frame is rotated about a fulcrum defined by the second pivotal connecting portion; consequently, the tilt angle of the supporting frame relative to the plane is changed. The board is fixedly provided on the supporting frame. The foot frame corresponds in configuration to the supporting frame and can be fastened to one of the two ends of the supporting frame. Further, the foot frame is provided with a plurality of positioning members and foot supporting members. A user can stand on the foot supporting members and, by controlling the driving device, freely adjust the tilt angle of the supporting frame (and the board) relative to the plane. With the foot frame supporting part of the user's weight, the user can do rehabilitation exercise as needed. Alternatively, the vertical auxiliary apparatus can be used as an inversion table, in which case the user can hook his or her feet to the positioning members of the foot frame and adjust the tilt angle of the supporting frame via the driving device.
Another object of the present invention is to provide the foregoing vertical auxiliary apparatus, wherein the foot frame is further provided with a pivotal connecting member. A first end of the pivotal connecting member is pivotally connected to the foot frame. The positioning members are respectively and fixedly provided on the foot frame and the pivotal connecting member. When the pivotal connecting member is rotated about a rotation axis defined by its first end, a second end of the pivotal connecting member is moved toward or away from one end of the foot frame, thereby changing the distance between the positioning members. Hence, the user can easily adjust the foot frame and have the positioning members press tightly against his or her feet, so as for the user to perform body inversion.
The structure as well as a preferred mode of use, further objects and advantages of the present invention will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of some illustrative embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
The present invention discloses a vertical auxiliary apparatus for both body inversion and rehabilitation. Referring to
The supporting frame 23 has a first end pivotally connected to the second pivotal connecting portion 212. Also, the supporting frame 23 is pivotally connected to the second end of the telescoping rod 222 at a position adjacent to a second end of the supporting frame 23. Once the motor 221 is activated, the telescoping rod 222 either pushes the supporting frame 23, thereby rotating the second end thereof away from a second end of the base 21 about a fulcrum defined by the second pivotal connecting portion 212, or pulls the supporting frame 23, thereby rotating the second end thereof about the same fulcrum toward the second end of the base 21. In either case, the tilt angle of the supporting frame 23 relative to the plane (or relative to the bottom portion of the base 21) is changed. It should be pointed out that, while both the first pivotal connecting portion 211 and the second pivotal connecting portion 212 in
Referring again to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring again to
In addition, referring to
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, referring again to
Reference is now made to
In the foregoing embodiments, the vertical auxiliary apparatus 2 is switched between the rehabilitation function and the body inversion function by selective installation of the foot frame 27 and the footboard 25. In other preferred embodiments of the present invention, however, the foot frame 27 may double as a footboard and is not limited in configuration to that depicted in
The positioning bar 66 corresponds in configuration to the receiving groove 630 and can be inserted into the receiving groove 630 via the second end of the pivotal connecting member 63 such that a first end of the positioning bar 66 is positioned adjacent to the engaging portions 651. A resilient element 67 is mounted around the positioning bar 66 and has one end pressing against an annular portion 661 of the positioning bar 66 and the other end pressing against an inner wall of the receiving groove 630 that corresponds in position to the second end of the pivotal connecting member 63. The resilient restoring force of the resilient element 67 tends to drive the positioning bar 66 and thereby move the first end thereof toward and into engagement with the engaging portions 651. Hence, when the pivotal connecting member 63 is rotated about a rotation axis defined by its first end, the second end of the pivotal connecting member 63 is moved either toward or away front the first end of the foot frame 6; as a result, the distance between the first positioning members 62 and the second positioning members 64 is changed.
Referring again to
Claims
1. A vertical auxiliary apparatus for both body inversion and rehabilitation, comprising:
- a base to be positioned on a plane, wherein the base is provided with a first pivotal connecting portion and a second pivotal connecting portion;
- a driving device comprising a motor and a telescoping rod, the motor being pivotally connected to the first pivotal connecting portion, the telescoping rod having a first end movably connected to the motor such that the motor, when activated, either pushes a second end of the telescoping rod away from the base or pulls the second end of the telescoping rod toward the base;
- a supporting frame having a first end pivotally connected to the second pivotal connecting portion, the supporting frame further having a second end adjacent to which the second end of the telescoping rod is pivotally connected to the supporting frame, wherein when the motor is activated; the second end of the telescoping rod drives the supporting frame such that the second end of the supporting frame is rotated about a fulcrum defined by the second pivotal connecting portion, thereby changing a tilt angle of the supporting frame relative to the plane;
- a board fixedly provided on the supporting frame; and
- a foot frame having a first end corresponding in configuration to and fastenable to the first end of the supporting frame, the foot frame being provided with a pivotal connecting member and a plurality of positioning members, the pivotal connecting member having a first end pivotally connected to the foot frame, the positioning members being respectively and fixedly provided on the foot frame and the pivotal connecting member, wherein when the pivotal connecting member is rotated about a rotation axis defined by the first end of the pivotal connecting member, a second end of the pivotal connecting member is moved either toward or away from the first end of the foot frame.
2. The vertical auxiliary apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pivotal connecting member has a bottom surface formed with an opening, and the second end of the pivotal connecting member is concavely provided with a receiving groove in communication with the opening; and wherein the foot frame further comprises an engaging element and a positioning bar, the engaging element having a first end engaged with the foot frame and a second end which can pass through the opening and extend into the receiving groove, the engaging element being provided with a plurality of engaging portions adjacent to the second end of the engaging element, the positioning bar corresponding in configuration to the receiving groove such that an end of the positioning bar can extend into the receiving groove through the second end of the pivotal connecting member and be positioned adjacent to the engaging portions, there being a resilient element mounted around the positioning bar, the resilient element having an end pressing against the first end of the positioning bar and an opposite end pressing against an inner wall of the receiving groove, so as for the resilient element to drive the positioning bar toward the engaging portions and bring the first end of the positioning bar into engagement with the engaging portions.
3. The vertical auxiliary apparatus of claim 2, wherein the foot frame is further provided with a plurality of foot supporting members adjacent to a second end of the foot frame, the foot supporting members being parallel to the positioning members.
4. The vertical auxiliary apparatus of claim 3, further comprising a footboard, wherein the footboard has an end corresponding in configuration to the first end of the supporting frame such that the footboard is fastenable to the first end of the supporting frame when the foot frame is not installed on the supporting frame.
5. The vertical auxiliary apparatus of claim 4, further comprising a headrest fastenable to an end of the board.
6. The vertical auxiliary apparatus of claim 5, wherein the base has a top portion provided with two rail elements corresponding in position to two lateral sides of the telescoping rod respectively, the rail elements being parallel to each other and forming a rail groove therebetween, the telescoping rod being rotatable along the rail groove about a fulcrum defined by the first end of the telescoping rod when the supporting frame is driven to rotate by the driving device.
7. The vertical auxiliary apparatus of claim 6, wherein the rail elements are provided therebetween with a positioning element, and when the supporting frame is driven to rotate by the driving device and is thus rendered parallel to the plane, the telescoping rod is pressed against the positioning element to secure the supporting frame in a horizontal position.
8. The vertical auxiliary apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of fixing portions extending outward from two lateral sides of the supporting frame respectively and two handles, each said handle having an end fastenable to a said fixing portion such that the handles and the supporting frame are connectable as a single unit.
9. The vertical auxiliary apparatus of claim 8, further comprising at least two fixing plates and a strap, each said fixing plate having a first end corresponding in configuration to each said fixing portion such that the first end of each said fixing plate is compliantly attachable and fastenable to any said fixing portion, each said fixing plate further having a second end adjacent to which a fixing groove is formed on the each said fixing plate, the strap having two ends each provided with a fastening strip corresponding in configuration to each said fixing groove, the fastening strips being able to pass through desired ones of the fixing grooves respectively no as to connect the strap to desired ones of the fixing plates.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 12, 2012
Publication Date: Jun 13, 2013
Applicant: SOLID FOCUS INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (Yang Mei City)
Inventor: Peter CHANG (Yang Mei City)
Application Number: 13/547,394