Cyclist Aid for Leg Amputees

1. Field of the Invention.

This invention relates to apparatus to assist leg amputees having only a thigh stump in riding a conventional or exercise bicycle.

2. Prior Art.

One of the major problems facing above knee and below knee leg amputees is exercising the muscles in the remaining part of the leg. This is particularly true wherein only a thigh stump remains. The present practice of the industry is to utilize a weight and pulley assembly that attachs to the thigh stump and which the amputee lifts with his thigh stump. Although such an assembly does provide the exercise necessary for the thigh muscles, it does not provide cardiovascular exercise of any appreciable amount. Another difficulty is the uncomfortableness of prior art exercising devices. Still another difficulty is the disinterest the amputee develops because of the boredom in using the device.

One example of prior art devices for reducing leg spasms utilized for paraplegics and the like is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,402,502 entitled "Exerciser for Disabled Persons" issued to Gilbert E. Peters on Sept. 6, 1983. However, such a device is not designed for use by amputees to exercise thigh muscles.

Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a device which can be attached to a bicycle or stationary exercise bicycle and to the amputee's thigh stump to allow the amputee to operate the bicycle.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device useful in exercising the thigh muscles of a leg amuputee.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device useful in exercising the thigh muscles of a leg amuputee while in the privacy of their home.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the ensuing descriptions of the invention.

Accordingly, an apparatus to be used by a leg amputee having only a thigh stump in riding an exercise bicycle having foot pedals is disclosed comprising a shaft with a means connected at its lower end for attaching to one of the foot pedals and at its upper end having separated support members extending upward, a flexible thigh stump support means pivotly attached to each support member and being of a length sufficient to wrap around the thigh stump, and fastening means attached to the ends of the thigh stump support means to operatively hold the flexible thigh stump support means firmly against the thigh stump.

FIG. 1 is a three-fourths perspective view of the invention attached to the thigh stump of a leg amputee and a stationary exercise bicycle.

FIG. 2 is a three-fourths perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a three-fourths perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the invention having a arcuate, concave support brace on which the thigh stump can rest.

FIG. 4 is a three-fourths perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the means for attaching the shaft to the pedal of the bicycle.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the amputee cyclist aid, denoted generally by the numeral 1, is shown attached at its lower end to a pedal 2 attached to a conventional shaft 2A of stationary bicycle 3 and at its upper end strapped to the thigh stump 4 of the amputee 5.

In one preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2 the cyclist aid comprises shaft 6 having a series of openings 7 extending along its vertical axis. At the lower end 8 of shaft 6 is a conventional rotational assembly 9 that connects shaft 6 to bracket assembly 10 in a manner to allow bracket 10 to rotate about the vertical axis of shaft 6. In a preferred embodiment lower end 8 has ridge sections 8A and 8B extending into the cavity 6A of shaft 6 to form a groove that rotating head 9A affixed to shaft 9B fits in a manner to prevent vertical movement of rotating head 9A. Fitting over shaft 6 is tubular member 11 having a center hollow cavity 12 into which shaft 6 can slide vertically. Tubular member 11 is provided with an opening 13 which can be aligned with one of openings 7 to allow bolt 14 to pass to fix the position of shaft 6 and tubular member 11 relative to one another. By adjusting which aligned openings snap spring lock 14 passes the overall length of cyclist aid 1 can be changed.

In an alternate embodiment shown by dotted lines in FIG. 2 a conventional snap spring lock 14' can be used in place of bolt 14 to fix shaft 6 in position to tubular member 11.

Attached by bolts 15 and 16 to the upper end 17 of member 11 are two separated support members 18 and 19 that extend upward from upper end 17. In a preferred embodiment support members 18 and 19 are sufficiently rigid so as not to bend inward toward one another during the pedalling operation as described below. In an alternate embodiment shown in FIG. 3 member 11 is one piece having separated support members 18' and 19' extending therefrom instead of having support members 18 and 19 bolted thereto as shown. A flexible strap 20 is pivotly attached at the upper ends of each support member 18 and 19 to form a cradle in which the thigh stump can rest. Strap 20 is preferrably wide enough so as not to cut into the thigh stump 4. Suitable material for said strap includes plastic, but is more preferably a fabric that will not cause the thigh stump to perspire during the cycling exercise. In a more preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 3 a rigid stump rest 21 having an arcuate concave surface for the thigh stump 4 to rest is pivotly attached to support members 18 and 19. In this embodiment strap 20 is fixedly attached to stump rest 21 by rivets 28. In either embodiment strap 20 is sufficiently long to wrap about thigh stump 4. In a more preferred embodiment rivet 28 is prevented by padding 20A from contacting stump 4.

VELCRO (hook-and-pile fasteners) strips 22 and 23 are glued or otherwise fixed to the ends of strap 20 so as to be operatively opposed to one another when strap 20 has been wrapped firmly against thigh stump 4 so as to hold strap 20 enclosed about thigh stump 4.

In a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 4 bracket assembly 10 is designed to be quickly attachable to pedal 2. In this preferred embodiment bracket assembly 10 comprises a U-shaped metal bracket formed by upper plate 24 and lower plate 25 held parallel to one another by vertical plate wall 31 a sufficient distance apart to fit about pedal 2 as shown. Lower plate 25 is provided with one or more threaded openings 26 for screws 27 to be screwed upward fixing bracket assembly 10 to pedal 2. Preferably threaded openings are positioned so screws 27 contact the rubber or plastic portions 2A and 2B of pedal 2 rather than axle 2C.

Now in operation the bicycling aid 1 is attached to pedal 2 by screws 27 being screwed upward. The amputee then mounts the stationary bicycle and places the thigh stump 4 on the strap 20 which is then wrapped round the thigh stump 4 and fastened by pressing the VELCRO strips against one another. The amputee then begins pedalling in normal fashion.

There are of course many alternate embodiments of specific features of this invention, such by way of example only would include the use of a buckling assembly to tighten strap 20 about the thigh stump, permanently mounting the bracket assembly 10 to pedal 2 by welding, etc. all of which fall within the scope of this invention, and which are intended to be included within the description of the invention.