Untitled record

July 10, 1962 g. _s. _R1DER 3,043,293

EXERCISING TABLE FOR PROVIDING HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT IN A REVERSIBLE ORBITAL PATH OR IN EITHER OF TWO RECIPROCABLE PATHS

WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER

Filed May 2, 1960 ₄ Sheets-Sheet 1

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(j DANVILLE BY

INVENTOR.

3. Hided

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Attooney

July 10, 1962 g. _s. _RIDER 3,043,293

EXERCISING TABLE FOR PROVIDING HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT IN A REVERSIBLE

ORBITAL PATH OR IN EITHER OF TWO RECIPROCABLE PATHS

WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER

Filed May 2, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 2

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July 10, 1962 g. s. rider 3,043,293

EXERCISING TABLE FOR PROVIDING HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT IN A REVERSIBLE

ORBITAL PATH OR IN EITHER OF TWO RECIPROCABLE PATHS

WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER

Sheets-Sheet 3

Filed May 2, 1960

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BY

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ATTOGnev

July 10, 1962 g. s. rider 3,043,293

EXERCISING TABLE FOR PROVIDING HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT IN A REVERSIBLE

ORBITAL PATH OR IN EITHER OF TWO RECIPROCABLE PATHS

WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER

Filed May 2, 1960 4 Sheets-Sheet 4

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ATTOBNey

United States Patent Office

3,043,293

Patented July 10, 1962

3,043,293

EXERCISING TABLE FOR PROVIDING HORIZONTAL MOVEMENT IN A REVERSIBLE ORBITAL PATH' OR IN EITHER OF TWO RECIPROCABLE PATHS WHICH ARE PERPENDICULAR TO EACH OTHER

Granville S. Rider, 9001 Patrick Ave., Pacoima, Calif.

Filed May 2,1960, Ser. No; 26,230

Claims. (CL 128—33)

The present invention relates generally to the field of physical therapy devices, and more particularly to a power-actuated exercising machine particularly adapted for use in exercising the mid-section of a user when he is either sitting thereon, or occupies a reclining position with his mid-section supported on the invention and his legs and upper body portion resting on adjoining fixed supports.

Although numerous power-operated physical therapy devices have been devised and marketed in the past, the majority of these devices have had such operational disadvantages as being capable of reciprocating only longitudinally or laterally, or if of a type that can reciprocate in both directions, it has been necessary for the user to dismount from the device in order to make a manual adjustment thereto to effect a change in the reciprocal action thereof. Due to the limitations thereof relative to re-direction of movement of exercising devices available heretofore, the user has not received the full benefit attainable by use of oscillatiing power-operated exercising devices, and in addition has found them most inconvenient to use due to the necessity of dismounting therefrom to make the required adjustments above mentioned.

The primary object in devising the present invention is to provide a power-operated exercising device that permits the user thereof to select, while in a reclining position, any one of four different exercising movements to which he desires to subject a portion of his body, and to make this selection of movement during operation of the invention.

Another object of the invention is to provide a poweroperated device that is far more convenient to use and operate than equipment previously available, and which will more effectively exercise the body by subjecting the desired portion thereof to a variety of movements.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a therapeutic exercising device that is compact, easily stored when not in use, is of relatively simple mechanical structure, can be fabricated from standard, commercially available materials, sold at a reasonable retail price, and one which requires a minimum of maintenance attention.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred and certain alternate forms thereof, and from the accompanying drawings illustrating the same, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the powerdriven physical therapy and exercising device shown disposed between two fixed body supports, with the midsection of the user resting on the invention;

FIGURES 2(a), (b), (c) and (d) are top plan views of the invention, showing the four directions of movement to which the same may be subjected at will by the user while resting thereon;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the preferred form of the invention, with a portion of the upper bodysupporting member thereof cut away to expose the interiorly disposed driving mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the invention taken on line 4—4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the device taken on line 5—5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged top plane view showing the driving mechanism of the invention in a position to impart a counter clockwise rotary motion to the body-supporting member;

FIGURE 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the invention shown in FIGURE 6 taken on line 7—7 thereof;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of a portion of the invention shown in FIGURE 6 10 taken on line 8—8 thereof;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the driving mechanism of the invention shown in a position to cause longitudinal reciprocating motion of the body-supporting member of the device as illustrated in FIGURE '2(c);

FIGURE 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the driving mechanism taken on line 10—10 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is also a vertical cross-sectional view of the portion of the invention shown in FIGURE 9, taken on line 11—11 thereof;

FIGURE 12 is a schematic diagram of the electrical circuit used in supplying power to the driving mechanism of the invention as well as in the control thereof;

FIGURE 13 is a side elevational view of a first alternate form of the invention; and

FIGURE 14 is a side elevational view of a second alternate form of the invention.

With continued reference to the drawings for the general arrangement of the invention, it will be seen to include a base A, from the edges of which side walls B 30 extend upwardly to a position adjacent a flat, rigid bodysupporting member C on which the mid-section of the user D may rest, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Supporting member C is power-driven by a motor E, and is adapted to be rotated orbitally in either a clock35 wise or counter clockwise direction in a horizontal plane, depending upon the direction of rotation of motor E, when a control mechanism F occupies a first position as shown in FIGURE 6. When motor E drives supporting member C in a counter clockwise direction relative to ⁴⁰ base A, the drive mechanism Y will occupy the position shown in solid line in FIGURE 6. However, if the direction of motor E is reversed and the control mechanism F is still in the first position, the drive mechanism Y will immediately assume the position shown in phantom line ⁰ (FIGURE 6) and clockwise orbital movement relative to base A will be imparted to the supporting member C.

If the control mechanism F is moved to a second position, as shown in FIGURE 9, by means that will be _g0 described hereinafter, while supporting member C orbits ^υ in a counter clockwise direction, this orbital movement is immediately changed over to a longitudinal reciprocal movement, as shown in FIGURE 2(a). If the control mechanism F is moved to the second position (FIGURE ₅ 9) while the body-supporting member C orbits in a clockwise direction, this orbital movement motion is immediately changed to lateral reciprocal movement relative to base A, as shown in FIGURE 2(Z&gt;).

Supporting member C is at all times maintained at an ₆θ elevated position above, and movably parallel relative to ^υ base A, by a number of suspension assemblies H, the structural details of which are best seen in FIGURES 3, 4 and 5. Power from motor E is transmitted to a speed reduction unit K (FIGURE 3) from which a drive shaft J projects upwardly.

⁰ Referring now to the drawings for the detailed structure of the invention, it will be seen that four suspension assemblies H are provided which are located underneath and adjacent the corner portions of the supporting mem70 b^{er as} best seen in FIGURE 3. The supporting, assem^υ blies H are structurally identical, and accordingly only one of these assemblies will be described herein. Each assembly H includes a rigid body 16 in which a down3,043, 3 wardly extending bore 12 is formed that is in vertical alignment with a counter bore 14 of smaller diameter and extends upwardly through the lower portion of body 10. At the intersection thereof, bores 12 and 14 define a circular, downwardly and inwardly tapering body shoulder 16 that rotatably supports a ball 18. A rod 20 is affixed to ball 18 and projects downwardly through counter bore 14. The transverse cross section of rod 20 is substantially less than that of counter bore 14. Two flanges 22 extend outwardly from opposite sides of body 10 and have bores formed therein through which screws 24 project into one of the side walls B to rigidly support body 10 in a fixed position relative thereto.

Rod 20 has a second ball 21 affixed to the lower end thereof, which ball rotatably engages a curved, inwardly extending shoulder 25 defined at the intersection of a vertical bore 26 and counter bore 28 formed in a second rigid body 30, as best seen in FIGURE 5. An elongate rigid bracket 32 extends upwardly from one side of body 30 (FIGURE 4), and the top thereof terminates in a horizontal flange 34. Flange 34 has an opening formed therein through which a screw, rivets, or other fastening means 36 project to engage the body-supporting member C. Bodies 30 and brackets 32 cooperatively serve to maintain supporting member C at an elevated position above second balls 21 as well as base A. Member C is preferably formed from a rigid sheet 38 of metal, or the like, having a flat upholstered body 40 affixed to the upper surface thereof, and on which the user D rests. The suspension assemblies H above described permit either longitudinal, lateral or orbital movement of the supporting member C relative to base A. Rods 20 preferably have threaded ends which engage tapped bores formed in the balls 18 and 21 to permit the suspension assemblies H to be easily put together or taken apart.

Motor E is provided with a conventional base (not shown) that is bolted or otherwise affixed to the upper surface of the base A. The speed reduction unit K is supported in the conventional manner from the motor E with the drive shaft J of the speed reduction unit extending upwardly therefrom and normally disposed relative to base A. A circular cam 42 is eccentrically mounted on the upper end of drive shaft J (FIGURE 8). The sides of cam 42: slidably and rotatably engage the interior surface of a sleeve 44 that is disposed in a cavity 46 formed in the lower portion of a rigid body 48 which forms a part of the drive mechanism Y. The upper surface of cam 42 slidably and rotatably engages a plate 50 of metal, such as brass or the like, that is disposed in cavity 46 and rests against a surface 52 formed in body 48.

A relatively wide arm 54 projects from body 48, which arm has an extension 56 of considerably narrower width extending from the outer extremity thereof. A second arm 57, preferably fabricated from steel plate, is pivotally connected to an outer portion of the first arm 54. This pivotal connection is effected by a screw or rivet 58 that engages vertically aligned bores formed in both arms. Second arm 57, as best seen in FIGURE 6, extends to the left from screw 58 a sufficient distance to support a rigid upwardly extending boss 60 on the end portion thereof.

The length of the second arm 57 to the left of screw 58 is preferably such that when the longitudinal center lines in the first and second arms are in alignment, the longitudinal axes of body 48 and boss 60 are coaxially aligned. Boss 60 has a downwardly extending circular cavity 62 formed therein that pivotally supports an upwardly extending rod 64 which is threaded or otherwise affixed to the supporting member C, as shown in FIGURE 4. A longitudinally extending slot 66 is formed on the end portion of arm 57 to the right of screw 58, the purpose of which will hereinafter be explained in detail.

Body 48 (FIGURE 8) includes a horizontally disposed protuberance 68. A tapped cavity 70 is formed in protuberance 68 that is engaged by a threaded end 72 of a rigid bar 74 which acts as a stop in the manner to be

293 described. Two identical resilient wheels 76 and 76' are rotatably supported on the upper end portions of two vertical shafts 78 and 78' respectively, as may best be seen in FIGURES 3, 4, and 11. The lower ends of shafts 78 and 78' are affixed to the upper surface of base A by conventional means. Shaft 78 is so positioned that wheel 76 is contacted by stop 74 when cam 42 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction. When stop 74 contacts wheel 76 it limits the position of driving mechanism Y to that 10 shown in solid line in FIGURE 6. Conversely, when stop 74 contacts wheel 76' the position of driving mechanism Y is limited to that shown in phantom line in FIGURE 6.

First arm 54 to the left of its junction with extension 15 56 (FIGURES 9 and 10) has a short longitudinally extending recess 80 formed therein. A slot 82 is formed in extension 56 that is in longitudinal alignment with recess 80 and extends to the right of the junction between arm 54 and extension 56. A rigid elongate locking mem20 ber 84 is slidably mounted on the upper surface of extension 56, and extends to the right therebeyond, as shown in FIGURES 8 and 10. A longitudinally extending slot 86 is formed in locking member 84, and a screw 88 extends upwardly from the right-hand extremity of ex25 tension 56 through slot 86. A compressed helical spring 90 encircles screw 88, with the upper end thereof bearing against a screw head 88α and the lower end against a washer 92. Washer 92 at all times tends to maintain the locking member 84 in slidable pressure contact with the 30 upper surface of extension 56.

A detent 94 of greater thickness than locking member 84 projects from the left-hand end thereof (FIGURES 9 and 10) and is, by movement of the locking member, insertable in recess 80. A pin or screw 96 extends down33 wardly from locking member 84 and is of such length as to just engage the slot 82 formed in extension 56 as shown in the drawings, when the locking member is parallel to extension 56.

Two laterally spaced screws 98 project upwardly from ⁴⁰ the right-hand end portion of first arm 54 (FIGURE 4) to which tensioned helical springs 100 are affixed that extend to the right to second screws 102 which project outwardly from opposite sides of locking member 84 (FIGURE 6). Due to the tension of springs 100, they at 45 all times tend to move locking member 84 to the left as shown in FIGURE 9, to cause the detent 94 to engage the recess 66 formed in second arm 57. However, the springs 100 are prevented from so moving locking member 84 so long as it is substantially parallel to exten50 sion 56, for the right-hand portion of locking member 84 is heavied to define a catch 95 that removably engages the: right-hand end 56α of extension 56, as best seen in FIGURE 10.

An engageable member 104 is vertically mounted on 55 the right-hand extremity of locking member 84 as shown. Member 104 is preferably in the form of a screw 106, the threaded portion of which projects upwardly through a vertical bore in locking member 84 and is engaged by a nut 108. One-half of the head 110 of screw 106 is cut 60 away to define a vertically disposed flat face 112 that is in transverse alignment with locking member 84. The purpose of the engageable member 104 will later become apparent.

The control mechanism F includes an elongate rigid 65 plate 114 having two identical longitudinally spaced slots 116 formed therein through which the upper portions of shafts 78 and 78' extend. The resilient wheels 76 and 76' have metal washers 118 and 118' affixed to the upper surfaces thereof, and plate 114 is slidably supported on 70 washers 118 and 118'. Collars 120 and 120' are affixed to the upper extremities of shafts 78 and 78', which collars are of larger diameter than the width of slots 116 and 116', and prevent inadvertent displacement of plate 114 from the shafts.

Shafts 78 and 78' have two oppositely extending, mag3,043,293 ⁵ netically attractable elongate rigid members 122 and 122' connected thereto by cotter pins 124 and 124', or the like. Two identical solenoids 126 and 126' are longitudinally aligned on plate 114 and rigidly affixed to opposite end portions thereof. Solenoids 126 and 126' are so disposed relative to members 122 and 122' that when plate 114 is shifted to a first position as will later be described, member 112 is positioned substantially inside the solenoid 126 with the other member 122' then being substantially out of the solenoid 126' with which it is associated. A rod G', as shown in FIGURE 3, is rigidly connected to plate 114, which plate can be manually shifted to either the first or second position by use of rod G'.

Plate 114 (FIGURE 3) has two transversely projecting end portions 130 and 130'. End portion 13© has an upwardly extending protuberance 132 thereon which may be a screw head or the like. End portion 130 also has an engaging member 134 extending thereabove that likewise may be a screw head, but one-half thereof is removed to define a vertical engaging face 136 which is parallel to face 112 of engageable member 104 when the drive mechanism Y is disposed as shown in FIGURE 6. Extension 130' is likewise provided with a protuberance 132' and an engaging member 134' that has a flat vertical face 136'.

When the motor E is caused to drive cam 42 in a j counter clockwise direction, and the control mechanism F is disposed in the second position shown in FIGURE 9, engagement between engageable member 104 and en, gaging member 134 is effected. Such engagement causes locking member 84 to initially remain stationary while extension 56 moves to the left relative thereto. This relative movement, due to the downward pressure on locking member 84 by spring 90 and washer 92, causes catch 95 to engage the left-hand end 56α of extension 56 as shown in FIGURE 10. Member 84 and extension 56 are then removably locked together in longitudinal alignment, with second arm 57 (FIGURE 9) being free to pivot on screw 58 as first arm 56 is reciprocated by rotation of cam 42. Concurrent reciprocation of first arm 54 and pivoting of second arm 57 relative thereto imparts longitudinal reciprocating motion to body-supporting member C as shown in FIGURE 2(a).

If plate 114 is then shifted relative to extension 56 and locking member 84 to a first position where protuberance 132 is in longitudinal alignment with engageable member 104, the engageable member rides up on the protuberance and tilts the locking member 84 in a counter clockwise direction in a vertical plane relative to extension 56 (FIGURE 10). Catch 95 is thereafter disengaged from end 56α, and the tensioned springs 10© will move locking member 84 and detent 94 to the left sufficiently for the detent to engage recess 66 in second arm 57. Arms 54 and 57 are then removably locked together in longitudinal alignment, and when cam 42 is rotated in a counter clockwise direction, counter clockwise orbital motion is imparted to supporting member C as shown in FIGURE 2(d).

Leaving the control mechanism F in the first position f shown in FIGURE 6 and causing motor E to rotate cam 42 in a clockwise direction, will cause the first arm 54 and extension 56 to pivot to the position shown in phantom , line. The engageable member 110 then rides backwardly and forwardly over protuberance 132' whereby the clockwise rotation of cam 42 imparts clockwise orbital motion to support C as shown in FIGURE 2(c). If control mechanism F is moved to the second position to bring engaging member 136' into longitudinal alignment with engageable member 104, when cam 42 rotates in a clockwise direction, the engaging and engageable members. 132 and 104 respectively immediately engage, and locking member 84 is moved relative to extension 56 to a position where screw 96 engages slot 82, as shown in FiGURE IO. Detent 94 does not then engage slot or recess 66, and second arm 57 is free to pivot on screw relative to first arm 54, whereby body-supporting member C is reciprocated transversely as shown in FIGURE 2(Z&gt;).

To prevent inadvertent twisting rotary movement of supporting member C in a horizontal plane relative to base A and side walls B, two longitudinally aligned stub shafts 140 and 140' are supported by bosses 142 and 142' respectively. Bosses 142 and 142' are affixed to plates 144 and 144' that are attached by screws 146 and 146', or other fastening means, to the upper interior surfaces of two oppositely disposed side walls B.

A rigid, horizontally disposed ring 148 is provided, the interior diameter of which is considerably larger than the cross section of member 64 that extends upwardly therethrough as shown in FIGURE 4. The adjacent ends of two oppositely extending horizontal shafts 150 and 150' are rigidly affixed to ring 148, and the outer end portions of these shafts are journalled in bearings 152 and 152' which are rigidly affixed to the under side of supporting member C. Downwardly extending bifurcated members 154 and 154' are rigidly affixed to shafts 150 and 150' that pivotally and slidably engage stub shafts 148 and 140'.

Two tensioned helical springs 158 and 160 are connected to flanges 34 adjacent the side wall B on which switches G are mounted. The opposite ends of springs 158 and 160 are connected to the side wall B on which switches G are mounted and angularly disposed relative thereto as shown in FIGURE 3. These springs at all times tend to pull supporting member C to the right as shown so that there will be no inadvertent longitudinal movement of supporting member C relative to base A and side walls B.

The diagram of the electrical circuits used with the invention is shown in FIGURE 12, and includes the switches G shown in FIGURES 1 and 3 that can be operated by the user D when in the reclining position illustrated. One of the switches G, referred to specifically in FIGURE 12 by the notation G—1, is of the double-pole, double-throw type and the two blades 164 and 166 thereof are connected by conductors 168 and 170 to the armature (not shown) of motor E. Two contacts 164a and 166α of switch G-l can be engaged by blades 164 and 166 when the blades are in a first position. Contacts 164α and 166α are connected by conductors 172 and 174 to a source of domestic electrical energy. Switch G-l also includes two contacts 164b and 1666 that can be engaged by blades 164 and 166 when in a second position. Contacts 164b and 1666 are connected by conductors 176 .and 178 respectively to conductors 172 and 174 at junction points 172α and 174α thereon. Extensions 172c and 176α of conductors 172 and 176 respectively, are connected to the field (not shown) of motor E.

Another one of the switches G, specifically identified in FIGURE 12 by the notation G-2, is of the singlepole, double-throw type. The blade 175 of switch G-2 is connected by a conductor 178 to junction point 1726 on conductor 172. Blade 175 can be placed in engagement with either a contact 180 or 182. Contact 180 is connected by a conductor 182 to one terminal of solenoid 126, with the other terminal of this solenoid being connected by a conductor 184 to a contact 186 of a single-pole, double-throw switch 188 that includes a blade 190. Blade 190 is connected by a conductor 192 to junction point 1746 on conductor 174. Contact 182 of switch G—2. has a conductor 194 extending therefrom to one terminal of solenoid 126'. The other terminal of solenoid 126' is connected by a conductor 196 to contact 198-of switch 190. Switch 190, as can best be seen in S?^{URE 11} ’ ^{is mounted} on the upper end of a bracket 2C0, the lower portion of which is affixed to shaft 78'. Switch 190 includes a rigid actuating member 202 that is adapted to pivot blade 190 into engagement with either contact 186 or 198.

A longitudinally extending slot 204 is formed .in the end portion 130' that is partially defined by two parallel

8,043,293 movably maintain supporting member C at a desired elevation above strips 220.

The operation of the invention has been described previously herein and need not be repeated.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made in the invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore the invention is not limited by that which is shown in the drawings and described in the specification, but 10 only as defined in the appended claims.