Device for lower limb stretching exercises

Abstract

The invention relates to a device designed to assist with performing lower limb stretching exercises, utilising leg supports, movement mechanisms based on linear actuators, adjustable supports, manual controls and a control system that enables the operation of the electronic components. In addition, the lower limb stretching device according to the invention comprises a footrest that can slide along a linear guide using a wheel mechanism at the lower part of the footrests, and also includes a lifting mechanism on the footrest to increase the degree of stretching.

Description

[0001] DEVICE FOR LOWER EXTREMITY STRETCHING TRAINING

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention shows a device for performing lower limb stretching exercises, by implementing leg supports, movement mechanisms from linear actuators, adaptable supports, manual controls and a control system that allows the actuation of the electronic elements.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Physical activity offers countless benefits; however, it's essential to take care of your muscles before and after exercise, as neglecting this can lead to injuries. Stretching isn't just important for active individuals; it's beneficial for everyone, as it can help relieve muscle tension and prevent injuries.

[0006] Stretching keeps muscles flexible and healthy, and this flexibility is necessary to maintain a range of motion in the joints. Without it, muscles shorten and tighten. Then, when the muscles are used, they cannot fully extend. This puts you at risk for joint pain, strains, and muscle damage. Regular stretching keeps muscles long, lean, and flexible, meaning that exertion won't put too much strain on the muscle. Leg stretches aren't just focused on restoring the muscles of the lower body. These muscles are also linked to tension and pain in other areas, such as the glutes and lower back.

[0007] Stretching your legs after a workout, even if it focused on your upper body, is always highly recommended. These stretches help your muscles recover and oxygenate. After training, you can even take advantage of the opportunity to do flexibility exercises, provided your muscles aren't overly strained. If you're doing leg stretches as part of a flexibility session, it's best to warm up your lower body first and then gradually perform the stretches, without forcing them, as your muscles adapt.

[0008] There are machines or devices for stretching the lower limbs, such as portable or home-use machines. These machines have compact sizes and designs, generally metal frames with cushions on the seats and backrests for better ergonomics. They help develop flexibility and balance and are useful for stretching the inner thigh and groin. There are also professional leg stretching machines, which are more robust and allow you to add resistance to the exercise, thus improving flexibility and strengthening the muscles involved. Currently, devices for stretching the lower limbs are being developed that are electrically powered by mechanisms and electric motors and incorporate a system for measuring rotations and torque.Other devices feature mechanisms actuated by a control. Such as the device disclosed in application WO 2024 / 010532 A1, which shows a lower limb stretching device that solves the technical problems of knee stretching, hip stretching, or simultaneous knee and hip stretching, by means of a support structure, a seat, and mechanisms that allow the actuation of knee and hip stretching by means of a sensor system and a user interface.

[0009] Another device is that presented in application MX2011012509 A, which is for treating and / or therapeutically training the lower limbs of a person, has controllable movement devices connected to a stationary frame and comprising retention means for each of the limbs, and can be moved independently of each other along walking paths, wherein the movement devices each comprise a stabilizer that can rotate to various height levels, articulated on a first carriage of a linear axis.

[0010] As can be seen, none of the aforementioned devices feature a device for lower limb stretching training, which allows the opening of a person's limbs by using a pair of leg supports for the user that also have buttons for controlling the stretching mechanisms.

[0011] As well as foot supports, which can be slid along a linear guide using a wheel mechanism at the bottom of the foot supports, additionally including a lifting mechanism which increases the user's stretching level.

[0012] OBJECT OF THE INVENTION.

[0013] The present invention aims to provide a device for lower limb stretching training, through the implementation of leg supports that serve as support for the user and foot supports which slide along a linear guide that include a lifting mechanism, which increases the level of stretching, movement mechanisms from linear actuators, adaptable supports, manual controls and a control system that allows the actuation of the electronic elements.

[0014] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0015] The characteristic details of this novel device for lower limb stretching training are clearly shown in the following description and accompanying figures, as well as an illustration thereof, using the same reference symbols to indicate the parts shown. However, these figures are shown by way of example and should not be considered limiting to the present invention. Figure 1 shows a front perspective view of the device for lower limb stretching training.

[0016] Figure 2 shows a rear-inferior perspective view of the lower limb stretching training device, with the cover.

[0017] Figure 3 shows a top perspective view of the device for lower limb stretching training.

[0018] Figure 4 shows a detailed top perspective view of the device for lower limb stretching training.

[0019] Figure 5 shows a detailed perspective view of the side perforations of the device for lower limb stretching training.

[0020] Figure 6 shows a detailed perspective view of the rails of the device for lower limb stretching training.

[0021] Figure 7 shows a bottom perspective view of the lower limb stretching training device, without the cover.

[0022] Figure 8 shows a detailed perspective view of the air chamber and linear actuator of the device for lower limb stretching training.

[0023] Figures 9 and 10 show detailed perspective views of the extendable leg support, air chamber, and linear actuator of the device for lower limb stretching training.

[0024] Figures 11 to 13 show detailed perspective views of the foot support of the lower limb stretching training device.

[0025] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] For a better understanding of the present invention, the parts that make up the device for lower limb stretching training that is the subject of the present invention are listed below:

[0027] I. Main structure

[0028] 2. Hand supports

[0029] 3. Rails

[0030] 4. Rectangular perforations

[0031] 5. Fasteners

[0032] 6. Extendable leg supports

[0033] 7. Leg pads

[0034] 8. Foot support

[0035] 9. Power cable connector

[0036] 10. Top buttons

[0037] II. Front Buttons

[0038] 12. Position guides

[0039] 13. Circular cavities

[0040] 14. Linear Guides

[0041] 15. Control Module

[0042] 16. Linear actuators

[0043] 17. Air chamber

[0044] 18. Rectangular piece

[0045] 19. Flexible duct 20. Rectangular projections

[0046] 21. Lower base

[0047] 22. Wheel support

[0048] 23. Wheels

[0049] 24. Rectangular projections

[0050] 25. Telescopic line actuator

[0051] 26. Upper base

[0052] 27. Circular lid

[0053] 28. Cover

[0054] 29. Rounded semicircular projections

[0055] 30. Circular projection

[0056] With reference to the figures, the lower limb stretching training device of the present invention, which is made up of a hollow rectangular main structure (1) as a main base, which on its front face in its middle part, shows a pair of upwardly curved cylindrical projections as hand supports (2) which have the function of serving as supports for the users allowing them to hold on with their hands during training, which at their upper ends comprise fasteners (5) that have a rounded rectangular section, each of the fasteners (5) on its front face has a front button (11) and on its upper face an upper button (10), said buttons allow the actuation of linear actuators (16) as well as the actuation of telescopic linear actuators (25),allowing control of the training level for lower limb stretching. The main structure (1) may have a cover (28) on its underside, allowing access to its interior. Two rails (3), which are preferably rectangular cavities, are arranged at the ends of the upper face of the main structure (1); rectangular cavities are located on the side walls of the rails (3) as linear guides (14), as shown in Figure 6. Foot supports (8) are mounted on the rails (3) and on the linear guides (14); with reference to Figures 11 to 13, these foot supports (8) are made up of two sections, an upper base (26) and a lower base (21). The upper base (26) is characterized by showing an "L" shaped structure,where at the end of the front section there is a pair of rounded semicircular projections (29) of soft and comfortable material for the user's foot placement. The lower base (21) has a flat rectangular shape, and a telescopic linear actuator (25) is located in the center of the upper face of said lower base (21). The actuator's end is joined to the lower face of the upper base (26), allowing the upper base (26) to be raised to increase the height of the foot support (8), thus facilitating stretching exercises. A pair of wheel supports (22), in the form of rectangular projections located in the center of the lower face of the lower base (21), comprise a plurality of axles between them for mounting a plurality of wheels (23).which rotate freely by means of the axes. On the external side faces of the wheel supports (22) there is a rectangular projection (24) arranged horizontally, which fits into the linear guides (14) of the rails (3), allowing together with the wheels (23) the lateral movement of the foot support (8) along the entire length of the rails (3), facilitating the stretching exercise. As can be seen in figures 3 to 5, there is a pair of rectangular perforations (4), located on the upper face of the main structure (1) in the central part separately and more towards the center from where the rails (3) are located; Such rectangular perforations (4), in their longer dimensions, comprise position guides (12) in the form of rectangular cavities, which on one of their inner faces, preferably the one closest to the rectangular perforation (4),They comprise a plurality of rounded circular cavities (13) shaped like a hemisphere; this configuration allows the movement of extendable leg supports (6).

[0057] The pair of extendable leg supports (6), which are spring-like and have a hollow tubular section, serve as leg supports for the users. They are mounted above the rectangular perforations (4) and the position guides (12). These extendable leg supports (6) have the ability to expand and contract through the entry of air inside them. At the upper ends of the extendable leg supports (6) are leg pads (7) in the form of a semi-spherical protrusion. At the lower end of the extendable leg supports (6), as shown in Figures 9 and 10, there is a circular cap (27) with a circular perforation in its center, which closes the hollow spring of the extendable leg supports (6).On the sides of the circular perforation there are a pair of positioning protrusions (20), in the form of rectangular protrusions, which are parallel to each other, these protrusions (20) on their lateral faces which are positioned towards the center of the extendable leg supports (6) contain a rounded circular protrusion (30), which are configured to fit into the circular cavities (13) of the positioning guides (12) thus allowing the position of the extendable leg supports (6) to be adjusted in order to adapt them to the size and opening of different users.

[0058] Attached to the circular perforation of the circular cover (27) of the extendable leg supports (6) is a flexible duct (19), which passes through the main structure (1) through the rectangular perforation (4). The flexible duct (19) is assembled at its opposite end from where the circular cover (27) is located with an air chamber (17), which is a hollow rectangular piece lacking one of its small faces and has a circular perforation on its upper face to join the flexible duct (19). This air chamber (17) is housed inside the main structure (1), one below each rectangular perforation (4).Located to one side of the air chamber (17) is a linear actuator (16) which at its final end of the rod has a rectangular piece (18) which fits hermetically and precisely into the open face of the air chamber (17), sealing it, so that by means of the linear actuator (16) and the movement of the rectangular piece (18) the air contained in the air chamber (17) is compressed and moved towards the hollow spring of the extendable leg supports (6) by means of the flexible duct (19), causing it to expand or compress depending on the movement of the linear actuator (16).

[0059] In the center of the main structure (1), as illustrated in Figure 7, there is a control module (15) which controls all the electronic elements and consists of a microcontroller and a power supply system that connects to a power cable connector (9) located on the back of the main structure (1), which allows power to be supplied to all the electronic and electrical elements of the device. The buttons (10, 11), the linear actuators (16), and the telescopic linear actuators (25) are connected by wiring concealed within the main structure (1) to the control module (15), allowing the activation and powering of all the electronic and electrical elements.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A device for lower limb stretching training, characterized in that it comprises: a hollow rectangular main structure (1) as a main base, which on its front face in its middle part has a pair of upwardly curved cylindrical projections as hand supports (2), which have fasteners (5) at their upper ends, which on their front face have a front button (11) and on their upper face a top button (10); two rails (3) are arranged at the ends of the upper face of the main structure (1), which have linear guides (14) on their side walls; a foot support (8) is mounted on the rails (3) and the linear guides (14), with one foot support (8) on each rail (3); The foot supports (8) are made up of two sections, an upper base (26) and a lower base (21);A telescopic linear actuator (25) is placed in the center of the upper face of the lower base (21), the end of the telescopic linear actuator (25) is attached to the lower face of the upper base (26); a pair of wheel supports (22) in the form of rectangular projections are located in the center of the lower face of each lower base (21), said wheel supports (22) contain a plurality of axles between them for installing a plurality of wheels (23); on the outer side faces of the wheel supports (22) there is a rectangular projection (24) arranged horizontally, which fits into the linear guides (14) of the rails (3); a pair of rectangular perforations ( 4 ) located on the upper face of the main structure ( 1 ) which on their longer sides have position guides ( 12 ) in the form of rectangular cavities on one of their faces; internal, said position guides (12) comprise a plurality of circular cavities (13); a pair of spring-like extendable leg supports (6), which have a hollow tubular section, and are mounted above the rectangular perforations (4) and the position guides (12); at the end ends of the extendable leg supports (6) there are leg pads (7); at the lower end of each extendable leg support (6) there is a circular cap (27) with a circular perforation in its center, which closes the hollow spring of the extendable leg supports (6);On the sides of the circular perforation of the circular cover (27) there is a pair of positioning protrusions (20) in the form of rectangular protrusions, which are opposite each other in a parallel manner, these protrusions (20) on their lateral faces which are positioned towards the center of the extendable leg supports (6) contain a rounded circular protrusion (30), which fit into the circular cavities (13) of the positioning guides (12); A flexible duct (19) is attached to the circular perforation of the circular cap (27) and passes through the main structure (1) via the rectangular perforation (4). This flexible duct (19) is assembled at its opposite end from where the circular cap (27) is located with an air chamber (17), which is a hollow rectangular piece lacking one of its small faces, and which has a circular perforation on its upper face to join the flexible duct (19);A linear actuator (16) is located on one side of each air chamber (17) which at its final end of the rod has a rectangular piece (18) which fits hermetically into the open face of the air chamber (17); and, a control module (15) located in the center of the interior of the main structure (1) which; It controls all electronic elements by means of a microcontroller and a power supply unit connected to a power cable connector (9) located on the rear face of the main structure (1).

2. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the fasteners (5) having a rounded rectangular section.

3. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the front (11) and top (10) buttons allow the actuation of the linear actuators (16) as well as the actuation of the telescopic linear actuators (25).

4. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the rails (3) and the linear guides (14) are rectangular cavities.

5. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: a foot support (8) is mounted on each rail (3).

6. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the upper base (26) is characterized by having an "L" shaped structure, where at the end of the front section it contains a pair of rounded semicircular projections (29).

7. The combat training apparatus according to claim 6, further characterized in that: the rounded semicircular projections (29) are made of material soft and comfortable for the user's feet.

8. The combat training apparatus according to claim 6, further characterized in that: the lower base (21) has a flat rectangular shape of the same size as the upper base (26).

9. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the telescopic linear actuator (25) allows the upper base (26) to be lifted to increase the height of the foot support (8).

10. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the rectangular perforations (4) are located in the central part separately and further to the center from where the rails (3) are located.

11. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the position guides (12) are on the inner faces close to the rectangular perforation (4).

12. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the circular cavities (13) are rounded in the shape of a hemisphere.

13. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the extendable leg supports (6) have the ability to expand and contract from the air intake inside the spring.

14. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the leg pads (7) are in the form of a semi-spherical projection.

15. The combat training apparatus according to claim 4, further characterized in that: the rectangular projections (24) fitted to the linear guides (14) together with the wheels (23) allow the lateral movement of the foot support (8) along the rails (3) facilitating the stretching exercise.

16. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the position guides (12) where the rounded circular projections fit allow the position of the extendable leg supports (6) to be adjusted in order to adapt to the size and opening of different users.

17. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the air chambers (17) are housed inside the main structure (1), with one below each rectangular perforation (4).

18. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the rectangular piece (18) which fits hermetically to the open face of the air chamber (17) and by means of the linear actuator (16) compresses the air contained in the air chamber (17) displacing it towards the hollow spring of the extendable leg supports (6) causing them to expand or compress depending on the movement of the linear actuator ( 16 ).

19. The combat training apparatus according to claim 1, further characterized in that: the buttons (10, 11), the linear actuators (16) and the telescopic linear actuators (25) are connected by wiring concealed in the main structure (1) to the control module (15) allowing the activation and powering of all electronic and electrical elements.

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