Horizontal Lumbar Stretching Machine and Method

Abstract

A machine and method for horizontally stretching and exercising the human body, specifically the human frame or torso. The machine comprised a bed, table, or platform having three main sections: an upper stationary section upon which user's upper body is physically attached, an actuated lower section which receives the user's lower body, and a slack section, including an upright projection, disposed at the end of the lower section of the bed, table, or platform. A strap or similar device is connected between a pelvic harness worn by the user and the upright projection of the slack section. While lying atop the upper and lower sections of the machine, the user self-actuates movement of the lower and slack sections of the machine away from (or towards) the upper body, thereby causing the strap to pull upon (or loosen from) the user's trunk or midsection. Because the user's upper body is physically attached to the stationary upper section of the machine, the user's trunk is effectively stretched and exercised by outward movement of the strap to the extent desired by the user.

1 . An exercise machine ( 10 ) for stretching a human body comprising,
 a table ( 12 ) arranged and designed to support a user in a supine position, said table having an upper stationary section ( 14 ) which receives a user's upper body and a moveable lower section ( 16 ,  18 ) which receives a user's lower body, said moveable lower section arranged and designed to move longitudinally away from said upper stationary section,   a mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said upper stationary section of said table,   a restraining device ( 32 ) arranged and designed to be worn about a user's midsection,   an upright projection ( 20 ) disposed at an end ( 18 ) of said table adjacent to said moveable lower section, said upright projection extending above said table and having a device ( 38 ) toward a distal end thereof for connecting a strap thereto, and   a strap ( 36 ) having one end connected to said device of said upright projection and another end connected to said restraining device,   whereby when said moveable lower section of said table is moved longitudinally away from said upper stationary section of said table, said upright projection is moved away from said upper stationary section and said strap connected to said upright projection is drawn taut between said restraining device and said upright projection while said user is supported by said table in a supine position and said restraining device is worn about said user's midsection.   
   
   
       2 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein,
 said mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said upper stationary section of said table is a jacket ( 30 ) having an attachment device arranged and designed to cooperatively fasten to said upper stationary section of said table, said attachment device comprising a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       3 . The machine of  claim 2  wherein,
 said moveable lower section is moved longitudinally away from said upper stationary section by an actuator ( 22 ) that is arranged and designed to be controlled by a user of said machine.   
   
   
       4 . The machine of  claim 3  wherein,
 said device of said upright projection for connecting a strap thereto is arranged and designed to permit connection of said strap at one of multiple locations along said upright projection toward said distal end.   
   
   
       5 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein,
 said moveable lower section is moved longitudinally away from said upper stationary section by an actuator ( 22 ).   
   
   
       6 . The machine of  claim 5  wherein,
 said actuator is arranged and designed to be controlled by a user of said machine.   
   
   
       7 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein,
 said mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said upper stationary section of said table relies upon a user's body weight.   
   
   
       8 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein,
 said device of said upright projection for connecting a strap thereto is arranged and designed to permit connection of said strap at one of multiple locations along said upright projection toward said distal end.   
   
   
       9 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein,
 said moveable lower section is moved longitudinally away from said upper stationary section by a manually-operated wheel crank ( 40 ).   
   
   
       10 . An exercise machine ( 10 ) for stretching a human body comprising,
 a table ( 12 ) arranged and designed to support a user in a supine position, said table having an upper stationary section ( 14 ) which receives a user's upper body and a moveable lower section ( 16 ,  18 ) which receives a user's lower body, said moveable lower section arranged and designed to move longitudinally away from said upper stationary section,   a mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said stationary section of said table, and   an upright projection ( 21 ) disposed at an end ( 18 ) of said table adjacent to said moveable lower section, said upright projection having a device ( 43 ) arranged and designed to secure a user's lower extremities thereto,   whereby when said moveable lower section of said table is moved longitudinally away from said upper stationary section of said table, said upright projection is moved away from said upper stationary section thereby slightly moving said user's lower extremities away from said user's upper body while said user's upper body is supported by said table in a supine position and said user's lower extremities are secured to said upright projection.   
   
   
       11 . The machine of  claim 10  wherein,
 said moveable lower section is moved longitudinally away from said upper stationary section by an actuator ( 22 ).   
   
   
       12 . The machine of  claim 11  wherein,
 said actuator is arranged and designed to be controlled by a user of said machine.   
   
   
       13 . The machine of  claim 12  wherein,
 said mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said upper stationary section of said table is a jacket ( 30 ) having an attachment device arranged and designed to cooperatively fasten to said upper stationary section of said table, said attachment device comprising a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       14 . The machine of  claim 10  wherein,
 said mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said upper stationary section of said table relies upon a user's body weight   
   
   
       15 . The machine of  claim 10  wherein,
 said device ( 43 ) to secure a user's lower extremities to said upright projection comprises two opposing horizontal bars ( 42 ,  44 ) connected to said upright projection, said two opposing horizontal bars being disposed perpendicularly about a user's legs when said user is supported by said table in a supine position.   
   
   
       16 . The machine of  claim 10  wherein,
 said mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said upper stationary section of said table is a jacket ( 30 ) having an attachment device arranged and designed to cooperatively fasten to said upper stationary section of said table, said attachment device comprising a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       17 . An exercise method for stretching a human body comprising the steps of:
 positioning a user on a table ( 12 ) arranged and designed to support said user in a supine position, said table having an upper stationary section ( 14 ) which receives a user's upper body and a moveable lower section ( 16 ,  18 ) which receives a user's lower body, said moveable lower section arranged and designed to move longitudinally away from said upper stationary section,   employing a mechanism to prevent said user's upper body from longitudinally moving about said upper stationary section of said table,   disposing a restraining device ( 32 ) about said user's midsection,   attaching one end of a strap ( 36 ) having two ends to said restraining device and another end of said strap to an upright projection ( 20 ) disposed at an end ( 18 ) of said table adjacent to said moveable lower section, and extending thereabove, said upright projection having a device ( 38 ) disposed toward a distal end thereof for attaching said strap thereto,   moving said upright projection away from said upper stationary section by moving said moveable lower section of said table longitudinally away from said upper stationary section of said table, and   drawing taut said strap attached between said restraining device and said upright projection such that that said user's midsection is slightly moved away from said user's upper body.   
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein,
 said step of moving said upright projection away from said upper stationary section by moving said moveable lower section of said table longitudinally away from said upper stationary section is enabled by an actuator ( 22 ) controlled by said user.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein,
 said mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said upper stationary section of said table is a jacket ( 30 ) having an attachment device arranged and designed to cooperatively fasten to said upper stationary section of said table, said attachment device comprising a hook and loop fastener.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 17  wherein,
 said mechanism for preventing longitudinal movement of said user's upper body about said upper stationary section of said table is a jacket ( 30 ) having an attachment device arranged and designed to cooperatively fasten to said upper stationary section of said table, said attachment device comprising a hook and loop fastener.