ES2208625T3 - DEVICE FOR DECREASING THE RISK OF DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS. - Google Patents

Abstract

An exercise device for the lower member (1) comprising a first (2) and a second (3) panel that are connected together in an articulated manner along a pair of opposite edges (4, 5), and at least a forming panel (8) that is in motion between a first position in which said first and second panels (2, 3) are placed substantially flat with respect to each other, and a second position in which at least one of said First (2) and second (3) panels are firmly supported in a convexly curved configuration, where, in use, the operator places the feet on one of the panels and exercises using the toes and heels to do swing the device back and forth over said other curved panel convexly.

Description

Device to reduce the risk of thrombosis deep venous

The present invention relates to devices to facilitate the exercise of the lower limb, muscle of the calf, ankle, foot, and toes in order to help reduce the risks of deep vein thrombosis, for example, during long flights of commercial airlines.

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a medical problem that is related to lack of exercise certain vital muscles in the legs that help pump the recoil of blood to the body from the feet and limbs lower to the heart, and may be associated with periods of Prolonged stasis or inactivity, for example, as a result of immobility after medical treatment, during long trips by car and also when we travel by plane on one-way flights long, during which passengers normally remain sitting for long periods of time when the muscles of The lower limbs and feet are not working. This can lead to the accumulation of blood in the lower limbs, which, In many cases, it can lead to clot formation blood, and this, in turn, carries the danger that one or more of the clots break and spread through the body to the lungs where it can cause a pulmonary embolism - a condition potentially fatal The lower limb exercise has been shown from a medical point of view to reduce the risk of DVT Therefore, to reduce the risk of DVT to passengers of airlines, it is currently recommended that although on board, you should ensure that passengers regularly exercise their members lower and feet to help improve circulation, whose most obvious way is to walk through the aisles at regular intervals. Do not However, it is generally not desirable to have large numbers of people moving around the plane during a flight, since may lead to additional security risks for passengers, for example, as a result of unexpected turbulence, and also causes alteration for cabin crew who they try to carry out their functions as a result of congestion inevitable in the halls.

Therefore, several devices have been proposed to allow the exercise of the lower limbs and feet that It must be carried out while the user is stationary. Do not However, these known devices usually suffer from inconveniences of volume, weight and manufacturing complexity and functioning. Some of these devices also need to be inflated before use and deflated after use for storage. In addition, these known devices require, with frequency, considerable space for operation and need for specialized knowledge or qualified guidelines for effective operation.

Such a known device is described. in the document US-A-4-4159111 and it comprises a pedal apparatus that includes a base with a pair of pedals mounted articulated on top that are operated by the user through a stepped movement of the feet. Do not However, this device has the disadvantage that it is bulky, and therefore difficult to store as well as use within a limited area, such as in the seating area of passenger of an airplane.

Another device that has a partner is known of pedals mounted articulated on a base with one arm oscillating that extends between them to prevent the pedals move in the opposite directions in a stepped motion. Additionally, the swing arm is detachable and the folding base to allow the device to be folded for storage compact. However, this device is again bulky when in its mounted position, making it difficult to use it in effectively within the limits of an airplane cabin, and it is also very difficult to assemble and fold.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is provide an effective device that allows exercise individual lower limb and feet within an area limited It is also an object to provide a device that require the minimum storage space when it is in your folded state

In accordance with the present invention, it is provided an exercise device that is autonomous and foldable with at least one convex bottom surface and preferably also a convex upper surface. More particularly, the present invention provides a member exercise device bottom comprising a first and second panels that are connected together in an articulated way along a couple of opposite edges, and at least one training panel that is in movement between a first position in which said first and second panels are placed substantially flat with each other, and a second position in which at least one of said first and second panels is firmly supported in a curved configuration of convex shape, where, in use, the operator places the feet on one of the panels and exercise it using the toes and heels to swing the device back and forth in front of said other convex curved panel.

An exercise device of the lower limb according to the invention has the advantage that it provides simple and effective means to exercise the lower limbs and the feet within a limited space, which is lightweight, allowing an oscillating movement to be performed, which has been found that provides effective exercise for the member lower, calf muscle, ankle, and toes to reduce the risk of DVT, and it can be folded flat easily for compact storage and carried in a bag or in the seat pocket. It is also fast and easy to assemble for use and it is economical and simple from the point of view of the manufacturing.

Preferably, the or each training panel It takes the form of an articulated internal configuration trainer which is placed between the upper and lower surfaces, which, in the second position, applies a load to the first and second panels, that deforms at least one of them in a curved configuration of convex shape, whose deformed panel then provides a oscillating surface to execute the design exercise. In In particular, the device advantageously includes a pair of longitudinally spaced training panels that are built as rib members that, in the second position, they fit on the inner surfaces of the first and second panels substantially perpendicular to this, to maintain said panels in spaced relationship. This device has the advantage of that a particularly effective support system is produced for The mounted device. Additionally, the training panels are connected in an articulated manner preferably to one of the first and second panels by means of a suitable articulation system and they are pivotally moving around said joint between said first and second positions. This has the advantage of produce an autonomous device that is particularly compact and to which all necessary parts are permanently attached, thus eliminating the risk of component loss essential.

The connection between the training panels and the main panels can be achieved particularly effective by providing drive tabs formed integrally and associated access openings in the first panel. Each actuation tab has attached to this then one of the training panels and is moving in an articulated way around an articulation line between a first position in the one that fits into its associated opening and the formation panel fixed is placed substantially flat against the surface inside the first panel and a second position in which extends towards the inner surface of the second panel, engaging the training panel fixed on said second panel, and retaining the device in its mounted position. In this way, the openings of access allow training panels to move easily from manually from the first to the second positions and the open ends of the device then facilitate movement back to the folded configuration when the exercise.

In an alternative device, a panel of formation can be fixed articulated to the extreme edges of one or possibly both first and second panels for coupling, in their second positions, at the open ends of the device, whose arrangement is particularly economical and simple of manufacturing

The training panels can be configured with at least one edge that curves convexly, coupling with at least said first or second panel and deforms it in a convexly curved configuration. In the way of preferred embodiment, the training panels may be Elliptically configured, giving rise to the first and second panels adapted in a configuration that curves convexly. This has the advantage that in addition to the coupling surface of the curved ground to allow movement to run oscillating, the coupling surface is also curved, which is has found that it further increases the effectiveness of exercises.

The correct assembly of the device from the folded configuration can be further simplified by the provision of stops on the inner surface of one of the first and second panels that prevent the formation panels from moving articulated beyond the second positions correct.

The device can be built from a variety of different materials, including, but not limited to plastic, cardboard, cardboard or corrugated plastic or the like. It is also advantageous that the material is not sliding or has reduced sliding properties to prevent movement of sliding between the device and the surface of operation and also between the device and the feet of the operator. Alternatively, a reduced finish or non-sliding to the outer surfaces of the first and second panels.

In order that the invention can be understood well, some of its ways of embodiment, given by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a bottom perspective view. of a device according to the invention, in a configuration mounted.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view. of the device of Figure 1, in a mounted configuration that shows the formation panels in imaginary lines.

Figure 3 is a side view of the device of figure 1 in its mounted position.

Figure 4 is an end view of the device of figure 1 in its assembled configuration.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the device of figure 1 in its assembled configuration.

Figure 6 is a side view of the device of Figure 1 in a folded configuration.

Figure 7 is a bottom view of the device of figure 1 in its folded configuration.

Figure 8 is an end view of the device of Figure 1 in a folded configuration.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention in a semi-mounted configuration.

Figure 10 is a top view of the shape of embodiment of figure 9 in a folded configuration.

Figure 11 is a side view of the shape of embodiment of figure 9 in a folded configuration; Y

Figures 12 to 14 are top, side views. and extreme, respectively, of the second embodiment in A mounted configuration.

Referring first to the figure 1, an exercise device for the lower limb is shown 1 comprising a top panel 2, and a bottom panel 3 attached together along the opposite longitudinal edges 4, 5 by joint means 7 which, in the illustrated embodiment, they take the form of flexible material tapes. These tapes can be integrally formed with the upper and / or lower panels or they can be fixed separately to this. In figure 1, the device is illustrated in a mounted position in which couples a pair of forming panels 8 transversely between the upper and lower panels 2, 3 and at the ends opposite of the device to keep panels 2, 3 in relation spaced out As best seen in Figure 2, the panels of Training 8 are of elliptical configuration and take the form of ribs that engage with a curved upper edge 9 against the upper panel 2 and a curved lower edge 10 against the panel lower 3, so that said upper and lower panels 2, 3 are pushed in a convex configuration, allowing joints 7 that panels 2, 3 move apart to form the device in an elliptical cross section as shown in figure 4.

As can be seen more clearly in Figure 3, the training panels 8 are connected, by themselves, so articulated to the bottom panel 3 by means of drive panels articulated 12. In particular, the operating panels 12 are formed integrally with the bottom panel 3, and by means of a folding line 13, each folds between a first position in which they are substantially coplanar with the panel bottom 3, engaging in access openings 14 formed inside, and a second position in which they extend substantially perpendicularly from the bottom panel 3 towards the upper panel 2, having fixed each panel of actuation 12 one of said forming panels 8. Thus, the drive panels are in their first positions folded in the access openings 14 in the lower panel 13, the training panels are placed substantially flat with the panel bottom 3 as shown in figure 7, where top panel 2 it is placed with respect to the bottom panel 3 with the panels of formation 8 placed between them and the device is folded to compact storage

In order to mount the device for the operation, drive panels 12 are pressed manually from the first position to the top panel using the access opening 14, formed in the lower panel 3. This results in its articulation around the fold lines 13 towards their second positions shown in figure 2, during which movement the upper and lower panels 2, 3 are pushed inside of the convex curved configurations, giving rise to the device which assumes an elliptical configuration shown in figures 1 and two.

The retention stops 15 are provided on the inner surface of the top panel that prevents the training panels move beyond their positions perpendicular.

Once mounted like this, the device is placed with the bottom panel 3 on any surface of job. The operator then places the feet on the surface upper curved upper panel 2 and exercises using the toes and heels to swing the device back and forth.

After finishing the exercises, the device is returned to its flat configuration using the operator finger insertion through the ends open the device and moving articulated manually the formation panels 8 outside the retention stops 15 and of new inside the flat coupling with the bottom panel 3.

Of course, it will be understood that although the form of described embodiment includes two training panels that are longitudinally spaced along the device, preferably at positions that match the points in which the operator's feet will be applied to the upper panel 2 to ensure that maximum support is provided for the load that It will be applied by the operator to the top surface during use, it is also possible to use precisely a single trainer individual located in the center of the device in order to keep the device in the necessary configuration for the functioning. The or each training panel can be connected to the upper panel instead of the lower panel. Additionally, in instead of being located separately along the device as in the device illustrated in figures 2 to 8, the panels of training can be fixed, instead, articulated to the extreme edges of the upper and / or lower panels.

In particular, in one embodiment alternative illustrated in figures 9 and 14, device 101 includes four formation panels 108 fixed to each end of the upper panel 102 and lower panel 103 along the lines folded 104. In order to mount the device according to this embodiment for operation, the sides Longitudinal 105, 106 of the device are pressed together, which, due to the flexibility of the upper and lower panels, causes said panels to tilt convexly from each one and therefore the device 101 adopts a configuration elliptical Formation panels 108 carried on each end of the device are then folded along the lines curved folds now convexly 104 in the elliptical mouth in each end of the device to overlap each other, extending each panel through the entire open mouth of the device, where The device will remain in the mounted configuration. The secondary tabs 109, as shown in the figures 10-14, may also be provided for Training panels 108 to contribute to site fixation, although other methods, such as outgoing or placement notches. Due to this fact, in the configuration mounted, the articulation lines that connect the panels of formation to the upper and lower panels 102, 103, will be curved, each panel will adopt, when folded into the device, a concavely curved configuration, making it difficult for can be tied in order to remove them from the ends of the device when folded. For this reason, the portions recessed 110 are provided in the training panels for facilitate its removal from the ends of the device 101. It will understand, of course, that the reduced portions can be replaced by other means to facilitate the withdrawal of panels, such as handles or the like. For example, the drive handles can be provided on the panels of training to facilitate your movement between the first and second positions by the operator.

Of course, it will be understood that the panels of articulated training of the described embodiments previously they can be replaced by panels that are separated from the device and simply inserted into the device and removed from there through the mouth formed at each end by the edges spaced cross sections of the upper and lower panels.

In another embodiment of the invention that not illustrated, the rib formation panels that are extend transversely are replaced by a single panel of formation that is located between the articulated edges of the upper and lower panels that extend longitudinally along the device to couple the upper panels and lower along its longitudinal center lines only, the rigidity of the upper panel material and lower then results in said panels adopting configurations that are convexly curved. Panel training, in this case, can be fixed in an articulated way, of new, by means of a suitable joint, to the upper panel or bottom or can be formed, instead, as a separate component which is inserted through the end of the device into a flat orientation and then rotated through 90 degrees to push out the center lines of the upper panels and lower.

Claims (13)

1. An exercise device for the member bottom (1) comprising a first (2) and a second (3) panel that they are connected together in an articulated way along a couple of opposite edges (4, 5), and at least one formation panel (8) that is in motion between a first position in which said first and second panels (2, 3) are placed substantially flat one with respect to the other, and a second position in which at least one of said first (2) and second (3) panels is supported firmly in a convexly curved configuration, where, in use, the operator places the feet on one of the panels and makes exercises using the toes and heels to do swing the device back and forth over said other Convex curved panel. 2. An exercise device for the member bottom according to claim 1, wherein the or each panel of formation (8) is a rib member that, in said second position, is coupled between said first (2) and second (3) panels substantially perpendicular to these to maintain said panels in spaced relationship. 3. An exercise device for the member bottom according to claim 1 or claim 2, where the or each training panel (8) is connected so articulated to one of said first (2) and second (3) panels for articulated movement between said first position, in which place substantially coplanar with one of said first (2) and second (3) panels, and said second position in which it is projected substantially perpendicular between said first and second panels (2. 3). 4. An exercise device for the member bottom according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said first and second panels (2, 3) includes at least one tongue integrally formed drive (12) that is connected to its associated panel (2, 3) along an articulation line (13), and that can be folded around said articulation line (13) between a first position in which it engages in an opening of Completely configured access (14) formed on its panel associated (2; 3), and a second position in which it extends substantially vertical between said first and second panels (23), a formation panel (8) being fixed to the or to each tongue of drive (12). 5. An exercise device for the member bottom according to claim 3, wherein the or each panel of formation (8) is fixedly articulated to an extreme edge of one of the first (2) and second (3) panels. 6. An exercise device for the member bottom according to claim 5, wherein at least one panel Training (8) is provided at each end of the device (one). 7. An exercise device for the member bottom according to any of the claims precedents, where the or each training panel (8) includes at least a convex curved edge (9, 10), which, in said second position, is coupled against one of said first and second panels (2, 3) to deform said panel (2, 3) in a curved configuration convexly 8. An exercise device for the member bottom according to claim 7, wherein the or each panel training (8) is elliptical in configuration, so that, in said second position, both of said first and second panels (2, 3) are deformed in a curved shape configuration convex 9. An exercise device for the member bottom according to any of the claims precedents, where the stop means (15) are provided on the minus one of said first and second panels (2, 3) to facilitate the placement of or of each training panel (8) in said second position. 10. An exercise device for the member bottom according to any of the claims precedents, where said first and second panels (2, 3) are connected in an articulated manner along said pair of edges opposite (4, 5), in each case, by a tape of flexible material (7). 11. An exercise device for the member lower according to claim 10, wherein the flexibility of said articulation material (7) is greater than flexibility of said first and second panels (2, 3). 12. An exercise device for the member bottom according to any of the claims precedents, including a pair of training panels (8) that they are spaced longitudinally along the device (one). 13. An exercise device for the member bottom according to any of the claims precedents, where when the or each training panel (8) is in its first position, the first and second panels (2, 3) are substantially flat folding with respect to each other for compact storage