Hip flexor

Abstract

A hip flexor is a resistance training device used for training or rehabilitating the muscles and other body structures of the hip and thigh. The hip flexor comprises a frame with a hip actuator having an actuator arm which rotates about a pivot. One or more springs or other resistance devices provide resistance against a user's motion to train or rehabilitate the user's hip and thigh muscles. The position of the hip actuator and the amount of resistance, the variability of the resistance, or both may be adjusted as desired. During training, a user engages the actuator arm with his or her thigh and actuates the actuator arm against the resistance provided by the one or more springs. Training may be focused on various muscles of the thigh.

1 . A hip flexor comprising:
 a frame comprising a top end, a bottom end, and one or more frame attachments;   a hip actuator, the hip actuator comprising:
 an actuator extension at the top end of the frame, the actuator extension extending downward; 
 an actuator arm comprising one or more actuator attachments thereon; and 
 a pivot attached to the actuator extension and the actuator arm, the pivot configured to allow the actuator arm to swing about an axis; and 
   one or more resistance devices attached to the one or more frame attachments and to the one or more actuator attachments, the one or more resistance devices configured to provide resistance as the actuator arm swings about the axis.   
     
     
         2 . The hip flexor of  claim 1  wherein the one or more resistance devices comprise one or more springs. 
     
     
         3 . The hip flexor of  claim 1  wherein the one or more resistance devices are removably attached to the one or more frame attachments and to the one or more actuator attachments. 
     
     
         4 . The hip flexor of  claim 1  further comprising a pad attached to the actuator arm. 
     
     
         5 . The hip flexor of  claim 1  further comprising a hollow sleeve attached at the top end of the frame configured to accept the actuator extension of the hip actuator, wherein the hip actuator is adjustable within the hollow sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . The hip flexor of  claim 5  further comprising a collar configured to accept a horizontal member of the frame and move along the horizontal member of the frame, to the collar having the hollow sleeve attached thereto. 
     
     
         7 . The hip flexor of  claim 1  wherein the angle at which the one or more resistance devices meets the actuator arm is adjustable. 
     
     
         8 . The hip flexor of  claim 1  wherein the pad is adjustable along the length of the actuator arm. 
     
     
         9 . The hip flexor of  claim 1  further comprising at least one additional hip actuator at the top end of the frame. 
     
     
         10 . A hip flexor comprising:
 a frame comprising a top end, a bottom end, and one or more frame attachments;   an actuator extension at the top end of the frame, the actuator extension extending downward;   an actuator arm attached to the actuator extension by a pivot, the actuator arm comprising one or more actuator attachments; and   one or more resistance devices attached to the one or more frame attachments and the one or more actuator attachments, wherein the one or more resistance devices resist motion of the actuator arm.   
     
     
         11 . The hip flexor of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a hollow sleeve configured to accept the actuator extension therein, the hollow sleeve attached at the top end of the frame and comprising at least one hole to accept a pin; and 
 one or more adjustment holes along the length of the actuator extension, the one or more adjustment holes configured to accept the pin; 
 wherein the actuator extension is secured at a desired position by inserting the pin into the at least one hole of the hollow sleeve and at least one of the one or more adjustment holes of the actuator extension. 
 
     
     
         12 . The hip flexor of  claim 11  further comprising a collar configured to accept a horizontal member of the frame and move along the horizontal member of the frame, the collar having the hollow sleeve attached thereto. 
     
     
         13 . The hip flexor of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a first track attached to the actuator arm; 
 at least one first track attachment on the first track, the first track attachment being adjustable along the first track; 
 a second track attached to the frame; and 
 at least one second track attachment on the second track, the second track attachment being adjustable along the second track; 
 wherein the one or more resistance devices are attached to the actuator arm and the frame by the first track attachment and the second track attachment. 
 
     
     
         14 . The hip flexor of  claim 10  further comprising a pad attached to the actuator arm. 
     
     
         15 . The hip flexor of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a guide configured to accept the actuator arm therein, the guide being movable along the length of the actuator arm and comprising at least one hole to accept a pin; 
 one or more adjustment holes along the length of the actuator arm, the one or more adjustment holes configured to accept the pin; 
 wherein the pad is attached to the guide and secured at a desired position by inserting the pin into the at least one hole of the guide and at least one of the one or more adjustment holes of the actuator arm. 
 
     
     
         16 . A method of hip and thigh training comprising:
 providing a hip actuator, the hip actuator extending downward and comprising an actuator extension and an actuator arm attached by a pivot, wherein one or more resistance devices attached to the actuator arm by one or more actuator attachments and attached to the frame by one or more frame attachments provide resistance to motion of the actuator arm;   allowing a user to engage the actuator arm, the actuator arm being in a first position; and   resisting the motion of the actuator arm as the actuator arm is moved to a second position by a force applied to the actuator arm by the user; and   returning the actuator arm to the first position when the force applied by the user is less than the resistance provided by the one or more resistance devices.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the user engages the actuator arm with an anterior, interior, or exterior portion of a thigh. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising adjusting the resistance provided by the one or more resistance devices by adding, removing, or replacing the one or more resistance devices. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising adjusting the position of the one or more resistance devices. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising adjusting the position of the hip actuator. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 16  wherein the user engages the hip actuator through a pad attached to the actuator arm.