FIELD The field of the invention is physical rehabilitation and exercise apparatus.
BACKGROUND Conventional rehabilitation and exercise equipment incorporating elastic tubes and bands fixate the middle elastic portion(s) and the user subsequently holds onto the end portions of the elastic component(s) directly or via an indirect handle or rigid object such as a dowel, or bar etcetera attached to the end. This common configuration limits the available forces of interaction to a dominantly single plane. As with pulley devices the conventional configurations provide unidirectional tension between their single attachment site and access point(s) at the opposite end. Current utilities of elastic resistance provide more diversity of resistance when manipulated through a given range than the user receives with isotonic weights such as dumbbells and plated pulley devices. However, the conventional elastic devices are not pre-loaded (like dumbbells and stack weight pulley machines) to provide any significant initial tension at the beginnings of motions (until slack is taken up there is no appreciable tension in the elastic bands) requiring the user to adjust themselves or adjust the device(s) first. So far there have been many variations on configuring both elastic and inelastic forces to maximize diversity with conditioning and rehabilitation, but to date no one has done so to allow over 150 variations of exercise activity ranging from assistive to resistive in all 3 axes of motion at the same time. Furthermore, a device requiring no adjustment, electrical power, computer software/circuitry, or change at all when providing such diversity.
FIG. 1 shows elastic components attached to a rigid dowel with a single point fixation. The rigid dowel structure shown in FIG. 1 limits multi-directional resistance between hands as well as from dowel to fixation point.
FIG. 2 shows an isokinetic resistance device that controls the speed of motion despite force amplitudes imposed by the user. Similar to FIG. 1, the isokinetic resistance device in FIG. 2 is limited to one plane of motion and often as shown in FIG. 2, computerization and a power source are needed to truly regulate such resistance. There is, in addition, extensive set up and adjustment required to interact with this apparatus. Cost and space occupancy are also significant factors in justifying worth of benefits when conditioning; the isokinetic resistance device in FIG. 2 is rather a better tool for detailed and limited single plane research or measuring.
Other computerized devices are available but the cost and space and accessibility require large expense and trained supervision and operational knowledge of computerized programs to access use. Such devices as depicted in FIGS. 2, 4-9 and 10 show their complexities and lack simple access to perform varied exercise motions.
The exercise device allows more diverse force couples and directions without need of computers, electronics, pulleys, adjustments, high cost, supervision or excess floor space.
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B shows a conventional isotonic exercise where the weight of resistance remains the same, and gravity is solely the plane of resistance (as is the case for all free weight exercises). This device does not provide a changing incremental force in planes outside the direction of gravity.
FIG. 3A-3B shows a very common isotonic exercise where gravity is the plane of resistance and infers how repositioning and adjustment of isotonic force (to make the device heavier or lighter) would be required to access any diversity. Such methods are limited to one plane of direction and specified load at a time.
FIG. 4-9 shows a rigid access dowel to be utilized with any of 8 electronic reel devices from Harvey, U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,361B1. This utilization is unable to provide inter contact varying multidirectional forces as can the configuration as shown in FIG. 28B-28F.
FIG. 10 is a close-up view of the Harvey device showing an electronically dependent computerized feedback system delivered through a reversible motorized reel. The Harvey device is restricted to the delivery of inelastic forces (isometric, isotonic, and isokinetic). FIG. 11 shows the junction piece of permanent design in the Richard J R Caines U.S. Pat. No. 1,112,114A.
FIG. 12 simulates the Caines device from a different perspective to show the limitation of force interaction accessible with use as described by the patent. A straight central fixation is shown in FIG. 12 that is held at the ends of the Caines device in FIG. 11-12 in order to provide a resistive challenge. Regardless of the angle of orientation a user positions themselves to utilize the Caines device in FIG. 11-12, the direction of tension available from said position has to be relatively the same in order to achieve sufficient resistance for exercise. With the Caines device of FIG. 11-12, the further a user takes tension up in one direction the less is available in the other two planes of motion. Therefore, by design the Caines device in FIG. 11-12 is limited to unidirectional tension benefits. The Caines device requires the user to move themselves in different directions perpendicular to the line of tension in order to receive even bi-planar resistance. The Caines device of FIG. 11-12 cannot provide more than one significant direction of resistance when the user is static in their stance. By design the Caines device of FIG. 11-12 is also unable to provide torsional/rotational resistance through handles of the Caines device in FIG. 11-12. A user might as well save the inconvenience of using this device and simply configure an elastic component as demonstrated in FIG. 13.
FIG. 13 shows how a configuration of a single length elastic member fixated in the middle and accessed from the ends delivers the same quality of resistance with the same ability and limitations as the Caines device in FIG. 11-12.
Conventional devices show some examples of multi-planar resistance but again prove to be significantly different from the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33. The Caines device in FIG. 11-12 includes an inelastic rope of determined length with two end handles fixated at the middle of the Caines device in FIG. 11-12 with a permanent junction upon elastic wall mounted bands (FIGS. 12 and 13). The Caines device in FIG. 11-12 is dependent on the permanent junction/adaptor at the center of resting tension. The Caines device in FIG. 11-12 is not intended to be without the handled apparatus and be optionally accessed directly at the union of the adjustable tension bands. Rather the Caines device in FIG. 11-12 specifies the permanence of the junction. Also there is only one elastic side and no quadrilateral diversity available. By design the Caines device in FIG. 11-12 orients its single plane direction of resistance consistently perpendicular to the fixation point and freely swivels if parallel motions are introduced (for example moving left or right while tensing the device will merely maintain a single point force regardless of position in the 180 degrees available).
FIG. 14 shows an isotonic exercise device (Technology Gym® Kinesis®-One) that fixated the ends of an inelastic cable through a pulley mechanism and into a pin adjustable stack of weights; to allow access of resistance in the middle section of the cable through sliding handles in the same zone. When pulled the isotonic exercise device in FIG. 14 provides consistent isotonic resistance as offered by all stacked and plated weights adjusted via pin. Moreover the isotonic exercise device in FIG. 14 is a complex series of pulleys and inelastic materials that are more similar to Harvey's device (minus the computerization and ability to perform isokinetic force) than the current proposal.
FIG. 15A-FIG. 15E show examples of conventional utilization of elastic resistance: pulling from the ends and fixating the middle. Such configuration limits the directional resistance to a dominant single plane. Either with a pole, door, wall mount, or standing on the device in FIG. 15A-FIG. 15E, the usefulness of a fixated middle remains the same. Here there is negligible lateral or rotational resistance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION In one aspect the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 is a quadrilateral wall mounted frame with means to fixate elastic components at the corners thus allowing direct access to elastic preloaded resistance between the fixated ends. The exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 allows a user to perform both pulling and pushing against resistance simultaneously. The exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 fixates the ends of multiple gage elastic components to a rigid wall mounted frame and accessing directly the middle portion(s) for a preloaded form of elastic tension that has two points of fixation rather than one; thus providing immediate elastic tension in any direction(s) as users attempt to manipulate the accessible portion(s) on the exercise device. The exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 does not deliver isokinetic, isotonic or isometric forces, rather a smooth ramping logarithmic elastic resistance proportional to the effort applied against it.
In a further aspect the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 provides interaction of a variety of preloaded elastic components in an organized symmetrical quadrilateral configuration about the perimeter of the mounted frame; subsequently providing over 100 variances in tension that immediately engages elastic resistance in any direction deviating from resting position.
The device shown in FIG. 16-33 provides pre-loaded tri-planar resistance in all combinations of direction (push, pull, lift, lower, twist, pivot, approximate, separate). The device shown in FIG. 16-33 independently or simultaneously provide resistance and/or assistance forces for all standing or sitting (including wheelchair) exercise motion(s). The device shown in FIG. 16-33 provides over 150 variations/combinations of elastic smooth ramping three-dimensional force exercise(s) without need of adjustment, electricity, pins, pulleys, weights, or accessories. More than any other conventional piece of exercise equipment the device shown in FIG. 16-33 has the widest range of interactive forces in the least amount of occupied space, has the relatively lowest complexity, lowest cost of production and sale price; allowing private or public (and ADA) accessibility and affordability. In comparison to conventional exercise apparatus, the device shown in FIG. 16-33 has the unique configuration to provide an unparalleled range of forces that can be utilized for assistance to lighten one's bodyweight with standing exercises as needed for injuries or muscular deficits and/or provide increased resistance well above body weight for elite conditioning of healthy normal muscles without any need of adjustment to the device shown in FIG. 16-33. In comparison to conventional exercise structures. The device shown in FIG. 16-33 has a unique wall mounted configuration that turns conventional common elastic exercises (unidirectional resistance) into multi directional complex full body resistance activities; challenging balance, dexterity, core postural muscle conditioning and fast twitch power muscles simultaneously. The device shown in FIG. 16-33 has a seemingly simple wall mount configuration but provides a unique form of elastic resistance not conventionally claimed or utilized in other apparatus; by fixating the ends and directly accessing the middle portions of the elastic members the device shown in FIG. 16-3 creates a stereo like effect on the users body rather than a single locus unidirectional tension effect. In some implementations, an exercise apparatus comprises four elongated rigid sections comprising: four substantially unbendable members having a first end, a middle and a second end. In a further implementation, the first elongated section, the second elongated section, the third elongated section and the fourth elongated section can have equal (square), or paired equality (rectangular) dimensions. In a further implementation, the exercise device comprises four specialized rigid corner sections whereby the components are collectively fixated into a uniformly rigid quadrilateral frame. Optionally, these specialized corner components have the capacity to be individually mounted to a stable wall surface without the elongated rigid sections. In a further implementation, the corner sections are of similar symmetrical dimensions and form so that the left and right half or top and bottom half of the assembled quadrilateral frame are mirror images of each other. In a further implementation, the corner sections can be modified to house a variety of configurations allowing a fastening method for a variety of conventional market elastic cords or elastic ropes and/or via their respective end fasteners. In a further implementation, the rigid members further comprise any substantially unbendable material (for example metals, woods or plastics). In a further implementation, the substantially unbendable member further comprises: the capability of becoming a firmly fixated wall mount through its rigid corner sections and/or elongated rigid sections (or quadrilateral sides) thus reflecting the stability of the entire wall it is mounted to. In some implementations, an exercise apparatus comprises a rigid wall mounted equilateral frame comprising a plurality of substantially unbendable members, collectively having four corners that are constructed/machined to receive and hold a variety overlapping attachments (including but not limited to hooks, carabineers, straps, knots, loops and holes). In a further implementation, has the capacity to hold a multitude and variety of elastic cords/ropes; wherein the first end of any appropriate elastic cord/rope is fixed via its respective end fastener to one corner component of the wall mounted rigid frame and its other end similarly fixed to the opposite, mirror image location corner component of the same wall mounted rigid frame wherein a multitude of these elastic cords/ropes are partly stretched (preloaded) and fastened only at their ends into the corners of the rigid wall mounted frame; collectively creating a complementary overlapping quadrilateral elastic configuration as dictated by the rigid components. wherein the middle length of the substantially elastic cords/ropes are not fixed to the middle of the substantially unbendable members of the rigid wall mounted frame or any other accessory rigid device (such as a dowel or handle of any fashion). In a further implementation, each of the substantially elastic members can further comprise a variety of different gauges and subsequent tensions, running parallel to each other and the elongated sections of the mounted frame, for each of the four sides of the quadrilateral configuration. In some implementations, an exercise apparatus comprises a quadrilateral wall mounted frame comprising a plurality of inflexible members, and each of its inflexible corner components fixating with the varied preloaded flexible members only by the ends of the flexible members.
The apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 uniquely provides the inverse physics of conventional rehabilitation devices in which flexible members are fixated at the middle and accessed from their ends shown via FIG. 16-33. Thus the apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 prompts the user to directly hold/access with either one or both hands the middle of the elastic component(s). Because the ends are instead fixated in the apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33, the apparatus provides pre-loaded multiple plane resistance from at least two points of reference per elastic member; as well as, optional tension combinations from at least one elastic member per side and up to any similar multi-member access combinations of up to four sides of its quadrilateral configuration. These accessed sides could be either parallel and/or perpendicular to each other (one could combine one or more vertically oriented band(s) with one or more horizontally oriented band(s) creating another unique form of multi-directional resistance(s). Uniquely the apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 has capability to assist/unload forces imposed on weak musculature such as the legs by lessening one's weight through the elastic members. This feature can be isolated or combined with resistive forces to other body parts. the apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 also provides the capability to assist poor balance in standing positions while strengthening and conditioning the limbs, as shown in FIG. 27A-D. The apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 can subsequently rehabilitate vestibular deficits/dysfunctions and poor balance with minimal risk of falling and provide muscle conditioning and endurance conditioning simultaneously. The apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 is cost effective, ADA (American Disability Act) compliant, and unparalleled in its versatility and simplicity. The apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 is unique from any pulley system of isotonic design as depicted in FIG. 1-15. Unlike pulleys, the apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 provides push or pull triplane resistance for any exercise utilizing one or both hands at a time, targeting any combination or order of sagittal, coronal, and transverse planes of movement. By its unique construction, the apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 can allow specific deep layer muscle re-education and provide proper muscle recruitment order re-education post injury. For example the apparatus shown in FIG. 16-33 can inhibit a guarded post-surgical dominating deltoid muscle of the shoulder through reflexive reciprocal inhibition, while at the same time activating the deeper weak and inhibited rotator cuff muscles by way of providing rotational resistance in the same deltoid inhibiting position.
In addition to the aspects and advantages described in this summary, further aspects and advantages will become apparent by reference to drawings and by reading the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional rigid dowel and elastic resistance configuration.
FIG. 2 shows an isokinetic resistance device.
FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B show a conventional isotonic exercise.
FIG. 4-9 shows a rigid access dowel from Harvey.
FIG. 10 shows an electronically dependent computerized device from Harvey.
FIG. 11 shows an image from Richard J R Caines.
FIG. 12 shows a limitation of force from Caines patent.
FIG. 13 shows how the Caines device is the same as conventional utilizations of elastics.
FIG. 14 shows a conventional exercise device from Technology Gym® called Kinesis®-One.
FIG. 15A-FIG. 15E show examples of conventional utilization of elastic resistance.
FIG. 16 shows a frontal view of an exercise device.
FIG. 17A-17D show a corner section from different view points.
FIG. 18A-FIG. 18D show the frame corner assembly configuration from different viewpoints.
FIG. 19 shows a close up of a corner design variation.
FIG. 20 shows an example of a band fixation method for the exercise device of FIG. 16.
FIG. 21A-FIG. 21B shows an assembly variation of a corner piece and two frame sides.
FIG. 22 is a frontal view of side frame pieces fastened into the corner apparatus.
FIG. 23A-FIG. 23C is a close up view of various elastic property materials.
FIG. 24 shows a unique configuration and use of elastic forces of exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33.
FIG. 25A-FIG. 25B shows a preloaded rotational resistance with single arm/hand contact.
FIG. 26A-FIG. 26B shows a depiction of 2 out of 100 plus combinations of pre-loaded tension available.
FIG. 27A-FIG. 27D shows assist or resistance force options of the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33.
FIG. 28A-FIG. 28F shows tri-planar resistance between a double hand grips on the same elastic member(s).
FIG. 29A-FIG. 29E shows tri-planar preloaded resistance ability of the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33.
FIG. 30-33 show Deltoid inhibition coupled with infraspinatus activation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific implementations that may be practiced. The detailed description is divided into two sections. In the first section the apparatus is described. In the second section a conclusion of the detailed description is provided. The exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 includes a multi member device with gage varying bands 1602 in a spaced arrangement that is symmetrical left to right and top to bottom.
FIG. 16 shows a frontal view of an exercise apparatus. In this implementation, there are four sets of seven varied gauges of elastic bands 1602 in sequential order from thick and stiffer at the perimeter to thin and less stiff as going more centrally; preloaded and fixated into corner sections of a wall mounted rigid frame so that the elastic components run parallel to each other and are configured equally on all sides in a chiral fashion.
FIG. 17A-17D show a corner section with different views to highlight the staggered heights of the perpendicular sections. Also of note are the grommets in each opening to provide decreased friction and erosion of interacting forces between elastic components and the rigid frame. FIG. 17A-17D allow cross overlap attachment of the elastic members as shown in FIG. 19.
FIG. 18A-FIG. 18D show corner sections in chiral configuration: mirror images from each other between left and right as well as top and bottom.
FIG. 19 show two sets of multiple bands (7 different guages) attached in crossover fashion in perpendicular orintation. With corners of wall frame mounted, the user has as shown in FIG. 19 all the possible combinations of the seven bands 1602 and preloaded resistance. Depending on the seven tensioned bands 1602, the user has access to smooth resistance force curves (slow and gradual to quick and steep resistance over distance curves) ranging from 0 lbs. to 500 lbs. of force, or more, depending on amplitude of resistance per band and integrity of mounted surface capacity.
FIG. 20 shows one of any sufficient methods of attaching the ends of the elastic members to the corner apparatus of the device frame. In this case a caribeener. Also shown is a gromet in the opening of the frame to reduce frictional wear between clip and mount.
FIG. 21A-FIG. 21B show an assembly variation of a corner piece and two frame sides fixated perpendicular to eachother; indicated to be attached with proper guage and strength carrige bolts or their equivalent.
FIG. 22 shows a frontal view of side frame pieces fastened into the coner apparatus. This in turn is done at all corners of the quadrilateral frame; and the frame subsequently mounted adequately to a sufficient wall via studs/concrete and/or appropriate strength anchors to withstand 500 lbs plus of perterbation.
FIG. 23A-FIG. 23C shows other examples of elastic property materials such as a bungee cord; or spring(s) could be incorporated to mimic the bungee cord (or use elastic tubing as shown bottommost image).
FIG. 24 show the unique configuration and use of elastic forces of exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33. FIG. 24 shows the ability to elastically resist simultaneous forces of pull, push, pivot, and lunge through the user's body and also infers the vertical resistance and rotational resistance available through raising and lowering the arms and twisting the wrists respectively. Simultaneous muscle recruitment from the deepest postural tonic core to more exterior large muscles of dynamic motion to the fine motor control of the wrists.
FIG. 24 illustrates differences in resistive force options via the configuration and utilization, as compared to conventional devices and conventional uses of elastic resistance as shown in FIG. 15A-15E.
FIG. 15A-15E shows the conventional utilization of elastic members by fixating the middle and pulling from the ends and shows how the tension generated with this configuration is unidirectional only. In comparison, FIG. 24 shows the exercise device of two point end fixation and accessing the middle portions of a wall mounted quadrilateral configuration. FIG. 24 allows tri-planar preloaded elastic resistance unlike any conventional exercise or rehabilitation device. The exercise device of FIG. 24 combines tri-planar resistance into all direction combinations from the resting position of the elastic components.
FIG. 25A-FIG. 25B show an additional unique property of the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 in the ability to provide preloaded rotational resistance with single arm /hand contact. Unlike conventional configurations of single point fixation that only have a dominance of pull or push resistance, the exercise device shown in FIG. 25A-FIG. 25B has two point fixation and can provide push/pull, up, down, left, right and bidirectional rotational resistance. FIG. 25A-FIG. 25B are close up views of one of many band gage combinations available.
FIG. 26A-FIG. 26B show examples of easy adjustment resistance by simply choosing to grip with one or two hands along any combination from the four sides of the frame (in FIG. 26A and FIG. 26B example there are 7 choices per side) providing hundreds of preloaded tension variations. These elastic components of various gauges provide immediate access without need of adjustment or reconfiguration in turn providing over 80 variations of initial tension per side and more so if combining different sides.
FIG. 27A-FIG. 27D shows the ability of the exercise device in FIG. 16-FIG. 29E to provide assistive forces of lightening the user (FIG. 27A); or creating increased resistance/load upon the user with squats or lunges (FIG. 27B). Bottom photos FIG. 27C and 27D show the ability of a user to employ full body weight motions against tri-planar resistance and even swing momentum between the vertical sides.
FIG. 27A: Unloading/assistive elastic tensio
FIG. 27B: Loading/resistive elastic tension
FIG. 27C: Full body resistance all planes using right arm
FIG. 27D: Full body resistance all planes using left arm
FIG. 27A-27B shows how the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 has the unique ability to both provide adjustable assistive forces to lessen the demand of functional motions such as lunge, stoop or squat as well as increase the resistance and demands or the very same functional motions without adjustments or modifications to the device. FIG. 27 C and FIG. 27D indicate how one with left or right sided weakness from a stroke for example could use their strong side to hold on to the elastic components and shift weight onto the weak side with varying levels of support (the more bands incorporated by the hold of one side, the less weight into the opposite leg while laterally shifting the body; FIG. 27C)
FIG. 28A-FIG. 28F show another unique quality of the exercise apparatus of FIG. 16-FIG. 33 providing tri-planar resistance between a double hand grip on the same elastic member(s). See FIG. 28B through FIG. 28F. Also available are the resistance options associated with the elastic member attachments onto the corners of the frames in a tri-planar delivery of resistance (up, down, left, right, or push, pull, and twist); See FIG. 28A. Devices that use rigid access handles or dowels to hold, such as in FIG. 1, are unable to provide this Dynamic range of preloaded elastic resistance between contacts and on either sides of the contacts at the same time.
As seen in FIG. 28A-28F, a unique quality is tri-planar resistance between a double hand grip/contact on the same elastic member(s) while at the same time providing such varied resistance to each contact hand individually and represented in FIG. 29A-29E.
Conventional exercise devices utilize elastics in a common manor, fixating the middle and accessing tension/resistance forces through the end points of the elastic members. The resulting force interactions are common in that there is always one significant plane of tension and the other two planes have negligible tension. Even with additional props such as handles or a dowel (FIG. 1) the resistance forces are similarly limited to one plane and there is certainly no inter hand contact varied resistance like the device as seen in FIG. 28A-28F. The device in FIG. 28A-28F utilizes a continuous uninterrupted band for the unique quality of adding more freedom of directional tension with single and especially, two handed grips.
FIG. 29A-FIG. 29E show the unique utility as shown by the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33. The collection of images shows the tri-planar preloaded resistance ability of this configuration; fixating the ends and accessing the middle portions of the elastic components. Resistance from the top most image of straight distraction (FIG. 29A) and South (FIG. 29B), North (FIG. 29C), West (FIG. 29D) and East (FIG. 29E) directions of preloaded elastic tension. With this configuration there is a relatively equal initial force tension curve from the resting point to a stretch in any planes(s) of motion. Single attach point configurations predominantly resist only one direction of force within one plane of motion and if elastic is not pre-loaded.
The exercise device provides balanced multidirectional tension.
The exercise device can provide equal amounts of immediate elastic ramping resistance in any direction(s) away from the resting point and can provide torsional resistance individually and/or between a pair of hands holding the elastic mid sections (FIG. 25A-25B, 28A-28F and 29A-29E). The Caines patent shown in FIG. 11, fails to declare the preloaded elastic tri-planar resistance forces from resting point that the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 application claims.
The exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 provides relatively equal resistance force curves with any motion into any combination of the 3 available planes of tension. In contrast, the Caines device requires the user to first commit to a single plane of resistance interaction (namely a straight line distraction force away from a single fixation point of the Caines device as shown in FIG. 12; the user doesn't have access to balanced resistance from all 3 planes of direction). From a physics perspective, the Caines device (FIG. 11-12) provides no greater diversity of resistance than a straight central fixation of an elastic member that is held at the respective ends in order to be a resistive challenge (FIG. 13).
FIG. 30-33 show Deltoid inhibition coupled with infraspinatus activation. In FIG. 30, the Deltoid muscle is active when arm self-supported. In FIG. 31, the Deltoid muscle is inhibited with device assisted support. In FIG. 32, when the user presses down and grips an elastic member of device, the Deltoid muscles remains inhibited with device assisted support. In FIG. 33, rotation through the shoulder specifically targeting infraspinatus muscle of rotator cuff without the compression of the dominating Deltoid muscle that complicates injury repair, the Deltoid muscle remains inhibited with device assisted support.
CONCLUSION Conventional exercise devices have to a less amount, diversified exercise and rehabilitation into combination motions and have claimed to target multiple muscle layers in the human body. However, all such single point access and/or single point attachment devices limit the ability to specifically target one muscle in a localized region (such as the shoulder glenohumeral joint which has 9 muscles that interact around it). Conventional exercise devices collectively lack the ability to isolate deep muscle form overlying superficial muscle (for example activating the rotator cuff muscles while at the same time inhibiting outer muscles like the deltoid muscle), shown in FIG. 30.
When considering simplicity of access, low material cost, no required adjustments while providing hundreds of multi-directional tri-planar elastic resistance variations, space efficiency, accessibility to meet ADA requirements, ability to provide both assistive and resistive elastic forces, ability to provide variable tri-planar elastic tension between both the user and the device as well as variable tri-planar elastic resistance forces between hand contacts of the user, there is no conventional exercise device comparable to the elastic forces as that of the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33. The exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 requires no pulley system, no computerization or electricity, no handles, no dowels, or pin adjustment for tension variation. The quadrilateral structure of the exercise device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 with four sides of tension producing options creates well over 100 different exercises to perform without adjustment; from classic bicep curls to full body muscle recruitment incorporating resistance in all three dimensional planes as seen in FIG. 17A-17D.
In one aspect, an exercise apparatus includes four elongated rigid sections includes four substantially unbendable members having a first end, a middle and a second end, and a plurality of gage varying bands 1602 in a symmetrical spaced arrangement from left to right and top to bottom. In some implementations, the first elongated section, the second elongated section, the third elongated section and the fourth elongated section have equal (square), or paired equality (rectangular) dimensions. In some implementations, the exercise apparatus includes four specialized rigid corner sections whereby the components 1 are collectively fixated into a uniformly rigid quadrilateral frame. In some implementations, the specialized corner components are individually mounted to a stable wall surface without the elongated rigid sections. In some implementations, the corner sections are of similar symmetrical dimensions and form so that the left and right half or top and bottom half of the assembled quadrilateral frame are mirror images of each other. In some implementations, the corner sections are modified to house a variety of configurations allowing a fastening method for a variety of conventional market elastic cords or elastic ropes and/or via their respective end fasteners. In some implementations, the rigid members further comprise any substantially unbendable material (metals, woods or plastics). In some implementations, the substantially unbendable member includes: a firmly fixated wall mount through its rigid corner sections and/or elongated rigid sections (or quadrilateral sides) thus reflecting the stability of the entire wall to which the exercise apparatus is mounted. In some implementations, the exercise apparatus includes the capacity to hold a multitude and variety of elastic cords/ropes, wherein the first end of any appropriate elastic cord/rope is fixed via its respective end fastener to one corner component of the wall mounted rigid frame and its other end similarly fixed to the opposite, mirror image location corner component of the same wall mounted rigid frame wherein a multitude of these elastic cords/ropes are partly stretched (preloaded) and fastened only at their ends into the corners of the rigid wall mounted frame, collectively creating a complementary overlapping quadrilateral elastic configuration as dictated by the rigid components, Wherein the middle length of the substantially elastic cords/ropes are not fixed to the middle of the substantially unbendable members of the rigid wall mounted frame or any other accessory rigid device (such as a dowel or handle of any fashion). In some implementations, each of the substantially elastic members further comprise a variety of different gauges and subsequent tensions, running parallel to each other and the elongated sections of the mounted frame, for each of the four sides of the quadrilateral configuration.
In other aspects, an exercise apparatus includes a quadrilateral wall mounted frame that includes a plurality of inflexible members, having inflexible corner components fixating with varied preloaded flexible members only at ends of the flexible members.
In further aspects, an exercise apparatus having ends fixated to have pre-loaded multiple plane resistance from at least two points of reference per elastic member, as well as, optional tension combinations from at least one elastic member per side and up to any similar multi-member access combinations of up to four sides of its quadrilateral configuration, the accessed sides are either parallel and/or perpendicular to each other.
The terminology used in this application is meant to include all pivot arms and compression pads and alternate technologies which provide the same functionality as described herein.
In summary the device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33 is a space efficient, cost effective, easy access utility of multiple elastic components uniquely configured to provide a multitude of preloaded resistance in all three axes of motion; simultaneously resisting and/or assisting motion into (and/or out of) the these three planes whenever interacting with the elastic components away from the configured resting position of the device shown in FIG. 16-FIG. 33.
