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(11) | EP 3 162 348 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
| published in accordance with Art. 153(4) EPC |
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| (54) | APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING SHOULDER AND ELBOW JOINTS |
| (57) The invention relates to an apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, said
apparatus moving the arms, mainly, of people who suffer from ailments affecting the
same, in such a way that moving the arms causes the reactivation of the blood circulation
and thereby an improvement of the ailments, such that the apparatus comprises a box-like
inner space housing a geared motor, the rotor of which is connected to a shaft projecting
from the inner space, which is secured to a rotating plate with which a free rotating
body, to be supported/gripped by the arm of the user, is associated in an eccentric
position. In this way, when pressure is applied by the forearm or the free rotating
body is gripped, the user transmits a soft movement to the body, moving the joints
of the shoulder and the elbow, with the aim of reactivating the blood circulation
and reducing or eliminating the ailments affecting said joints. |
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The following invention, as expressed in the title of the present specification, relates to an apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, the aim of which is for people with some sort of ailment, or with a limited ability to move their upper limbs, or with a disability, to be able to have a means which allows them to exercise their shoulder and elbow joints with a soft and completely effortless movement.
FIELD OF APPLICATION
[0002] The present specification describes an apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, which is especially applicable for all people suffering from osteoarthritis, rheumatism or muscular pain, among other problems.
[0003] Likewise, the apparatus object of the invention is applicable for people with diminished physical ability in their upper limbs, as it allows the apparatus itself to transmit a soft movement to their arms.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] It is well known that a great number of people suffer from joint pain in their arms as the consequence of different conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism, muscular pain and others, for which medication and/or massages are used to reduce and eliminate them, and where such massages must be performed by professional masseurs.
[0005] In these cases, if the physical conditions of the person suffering from said conditions so permit, it is very advisable to carry out exercises with the arms that will likewise make it possible to activate the blood circulation and thereby allow the pain to decrease considerably.
[0006] Moreover, there are also a great number of people who, in addition to suffering from the indicated conditions, have difficulties carrying out certain physical exercises by themselves, such that in order to move their upper limbs they need the help of others who, even if they are not professionals, will be the ones to exercise the person's arms so as to improve their physical abilities.
[0007] In short, the idea is for the movement of the arms to activate blood circulation, so that the various conditions the person suffers from are reduced or eased.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present specification describes an apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, said apparatus moving the arms, mainly, of people with problems or ailments in their upper limbs, and the movement of which involves the reactivation of the blood circulation and thereby an improvement of the ailments, such that the apparatus comprises a box-like inner space housing a geared motor, the rotor of which is connected to a shaft projecting from the inner space, which is secured to a rotating plate with which a free rotating body, to be supported/gripped by the arm of the user, is associated in an eccentric position.
[0009] The shaft joined to the rotor of the geared motor projects on the face opposite the base of the inner space, such that the rotor of the geared motor can rotate in both directions.
[0010] The rotating plate has, on its inner face, according to its assembly, a small perimeter projection, to which, on the inside, a projection of the outer surface of the face opposite the base of the inner space attaches, so that the rotating plate can be insulated from the transmission of movement.
[0011] The free rotating body that supports the user's forearm, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, is defined by a concave-curved part similar in shape to a roof tile.
[0012] The free rotating body that supports the user's forearm, in a first variant practical embodiment of the invention, is defined by a part in the shape of a knob for the user to grip.
[0013] The free rotating body that supports the user's forearm, in a second variant practical embodiment of the invention, is defined by a part by way of a grip.
[0014] To complete the description provided below, and for the purpose of helping to make the characteristics of the invention more readily understandable, the present specification is accompanied by a set of figures which by way of illustration and not limitation represent the most characteristic details of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015]
Figure 1. Shows a plan view of the apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein one may observe how it has a support body for positioning the forearm which support body is eccentrically fixed to a rotating plate so that it makes a soft circular movement.
Figure 2. Shows a view along a longitudinal cross section of the apparatus of the preceding figure, rotated 270°, through the shaft joining the rotating plate and the support body, for the purpose of observing the forearm support body along its turn axis, and wherein one may observe how the forearm support body is fixed, in an eccentric position, to the rotating plate.
Figure 3. Shows a view along a transverse cross section of the apparatus of figure 1, through the shaft joining the rotating plate and the forearm support body, fixed, in an eccentric position, to the rotating plate.
Figure 4. Shows a view in accordance with figure 2, according to a variant practical embodiment, wherein the forearm support body is substituted with a grip handle.
Figure 5. Shows a view in accordance with figure 2, according to a variant practical embodiment, wherein the forearm support body is substituted with a grip.
Figure 6. Shows a side elevation view of a chair on whose armrests has been adapted an apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, so that it may be used comfortably, and likewise making it possible to incorporate a dynamic footrest to move the lower limbs.
Figure 7. Shows a front view of the chair of the preceding figure, wherein it may be seen how the user can exercise both of their arms and both of their legs simultaneously.
Figure 8. Shows a plan view of the chair of figure 6.
DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] In light of the figures commented on above, and following the numbering therein, it can be observed how the apparatus 1 comprises a box-like inner space 2 housing a geared motor 3, the rotor 4 of which is connected to a first shaft 5 projecting from the inner space 2 on the side opposite that of its base 9, said first shaft 5 being secured to a rotating plate 6 with which a free rotating body 7, to be supported/gripped by the arm of the user, is associated in an eccentric position.
[0017] In one practical embodiment of the invention, the first shaft 5 is associated with a first hub 8 supported on the structure of the inner space 2, such that said first shaft 5 is moved by the geared motor 3 that is fixed to the base 9 of the inner space 2.
[0018] Between the geared motor 3 and its attachment to the base 9 of the inner space 2, several rubber plugs 10 have been arranged to avoid or reduce any noise and vibration that may be generated between the geared motor 3 and apparatus 1 as a whole.
[0019] In this way, in the structure of the inner space 2 the first hub 8 is placed, which supports and guides the first shaft 5 to which movement is transmitted from the rotor 4 of the geared motor 3, such that said first hub 8 may be integral to the structure of the inner space 2 in order to make it more rigid.
[0020] Thus, the rotor 4 of the geared motor 3 is fixed to the first shaft 5 by means of a coupling therebetween made up of an adapter 11 to transmit the rotation movement from the rotor 4 of the geared motor 3.
[0021] In accordance with this structuring, the rotation movement is transmitted to the rotating plate 6 which is registered and joined to a perimeter projection 12 of the first shaft 5 by means of screws 13.
[0022] Moreover, a second hub 14 has been adapted to the rotating plate 6 in an eccentric position, to the first shaft 5, which transmits movement to it, such that on said second hub 14 the second shaft 15 has been assembled by means of a lock washer and a rubber gasket, in a conventional manner, while the second shaft 15 is fixed by its other end and by a screw 16 to the free rotating body 7, which supports the forearm of the arm to be massaged.
[0023] On the outer surface of the face opposite the base 9 of the inner space 2 it has a circular projection 17, which gets associated with a small perimeter projection 18 of the bottom face of the rotating plate 6, in order to keep dirt from reaching the first shaft 5.
[0024] In accordance with a first variant practical embodiment of the invention, the free rotating body 7, which has a general concave-curved shape, may be substituted with a part 19 in the shape of a knob for the user to grip, such that the rotating movement will be transmitted to the arm by pulling on the user's gripping hand, as the rotating plate 6 that pulls along the free rotating body 7 rotates.
[0025] Likewise, in a second variant practical embodiment of the invention, the free rotating body 7, which has a general concave-curved shape, may be substituted with a grip 20 on which the user may place their hand, such that the rotating movement will be transmitted to the arm by pulling on the user's gripping hand, as the rotating plate 6 that pulls along the free rotating body 7 rotates.
[0026] In short, the purpose of the object of the invention is to help the blood return from the arms through the shoulders to the heart; in other words, the purpose is to improve the circulation of the blood supply, to thereby relieve the pain caused by various arm conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism or muscle pain.
[0027] Thus, the apparatus may be used alternatively in one arm or the other as desired, for which purpose it shall be situated at the proper height for the arm-pulling means to be arranged or gripped.
[0028] In light of the various figures, we may observe how figures 1 and 2 of the drawings represent the free rotating body 7, to be supported/gripped by the arm of the user, which has a concave-curved form, similar in shape to a roof tile, where the forearm of the arm of the user to be massaged is placed, as it is pulled in its circular movement back and forth and right to left, causing a soft rotation of the elbow and shoulder joints, thereby reactivating the circulation of the blood from the hands, forearms and arms through the shoulder to the heart.
[0029] In figure 3 the drawings show a view rotated 90° from that of figure 2, wherein one may observe the concave-curved shape of the free rotating body 7 where the user will place their forearm.
[0030] Figure 4 shows a view of a first variant practical embodiment in which the free rotating body is defined by a part 19 in the shape of a knob for the user to grip with their hand.
[0031] Likewise, figure 5 shows a view of a second variant practical embodiment in which the free rotating body is defined by a grip 20 in the shape of a ring for the user to grip with their hand, or simply to introduce their hand inside of and have it be pulled along when the apparatus is activated.
[0032] In short, we can say that when using the apparatus 1 the user will place the forearm of the arm to be massaged in the free rotating body 7, such that when it is actuated the rotor 4 of the geared motor 3 will transmit movement to a first shaft 5 that is integral to the rotating shaft 6 to which the free rotating body 7 has been assembled eccentrically, making said body move and providing the user's arm with a back-and-forth and side-to-side movement, causing the soft rotation of the elbow and shoulder joints, which rotation can be carried out in both directions for the purpose of providing movement throughout the joints of the user's shoulders and elbow, working the entire musculature associated with said joints.
[0033] Likewise, the free rotating body 7 may be replaced by a part 19 or a grip 20 that, when gripped by the user, will produce the same effect.
[0034] Figures 6 to 8 show a practical embodiment in which an apparatus 1 to exercise the shoulder and elbow joints has been coupled to a chair 21 or the like, such that the user may comfortably sit and place their forearms on the free rotating body 7, and where as they move the arms will follow a soft circular movement that exercises the shoulder and elbow joints.
[0035] Moreover, the chair 21 or the like may likewise have a dynamic footrest 22 coupled thereto, such that when the feet are placed on it the lower limbs will also be exercised, enabling blood circulation to be reactivated throughout the body.
[0036] In short, in this way the armrests may be removed from one chair 21, mounting in their place two apparatuses 1 to exercise the joints of the upper limbs, such that, simultaneously, both of the user's arms may be exercised while they are comfortably seated, reactivating their blood circulation and helping the blood return to the heart from the hands, passing through the forearms, elbows, upper arms and shoulders via the veins.
[0037] Likewise, as has been indicated, the chair 21 or the like may also incorporate a motorized footrest 22 that has the practical advantage of, when moving the feet and legs effortlessly, simultaneously moving the articulations of the lower extremities, with the ankles, knees and hips, reactivating blood circulation from the feet, passing through the legs and the thighs via the veins to the heart.
[0038] In this way, the reactivation of blood circulation produced by the effects of both apparatuses on the user makes the heart receive a greater amount of blood flow passing through the joints of the upper and lower limbs, which has an effect on the general state of health, improving ailments affecting the joints of the user's upper and lower limbs.
1. An apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, said apparatus moving the arms,
mainly, of people with problems, the movement of which involves the reactivation of
the blood circulation and thereby an improvement of the ailments, characterized in that the apparatus (1) comprises:
- a box-like inner space (2);
- a geared motor (3) housed in the box-like inner space (2);
- a first shaft (5), integral to the rotor (4), able to rotate in both directions, of the geared motor (3) projecting from the inner space (2);
- a rotating plate (6) joined to the first shaft (5), and;
- a free rotating body (7) mounted in an eccentric position to the rotating plate (6), to be supported/gripped by the arm of the user.
2. The apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first axis (5) joined to the rotor (4) of the geared motor (3) projects on the
face opposite the base (9) of the inner space (2).
3. The apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotating plate (6) has, on its inner face, according to its assembly, a small
perimeter projection (18), to which, on the inside, a circular projection (17) of
the outer surface of the face opposite the base (9) of the inner space (2) attaches.
4. The apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, according to claim 1, characterized in that the free rotating body (7) that supports the user's forearm is defined by a concave-curved
part similar in shape to a roof tile.
5. The apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, according to claim 1, characterized in that the free rotating body (7) that supports the user's forearm is defined by a part
(19) in the shape of a knob for the user to grip.
6. The apparatus for exercising shoulder and elbow joints, according to claim 1, characterized in that the free rotating body (7) is defined by a ring-shaped part (20) by way of a grip.