AU2009101238A4 - An apparatus for aquatic therapy - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1990 INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION AN APPARATUS FOR AQUATIC THERAPY The following statement is a full description of this invention: 1 AN APPARATUS FOR AQUATIC THERAPY 5 TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to an apparatus for aquatic therapy, primarily for exercising people suffering from injury or reduced mobility. 10 BACKGROUND Aquatic therapy involves having a person exercise while partially, or totally, supported by water. Such therapy is used to assist in the rehabilitation of injured persons and to reduce chronic pain. Exercising in water tends to 15 reduce shock and to increase the speed of recovery. Since the body is fully, or partially, supported by the water it can withstand a higher level of resistance than would be the case on land. One particular type of aquatic therapy is aqua aerobics wherein an exercise 20 routine is performed in a pool of water. Another form of aquatic therapy is to run or walk in the pool while wearing a harness that is tethered to a wall of the pool. However, such an arrangement has a number of associated problems. For example, it does not provide for a steady level in the intensity of the exercise or for ready variation of the amount of buoyancy afforded to the 25 bather. It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for aquatic therapy which addresses one or more problems associated with the prior art discussed above or which is at least a useful alternative to those apparatus for 30 aquatic therapy which have hitherto been known.

2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for aquatic therapy including: 5 a pool; a powered treadmill submerged within the pool; and a lifter assembly arranged to lift a bather from a point outside the pool and lower the bather to a point within the pool. 10 Preferably the apparatus includes a transmission for powering the treadmill which passes through a wall of the pool for connection to a remote motor. The transmission may include one or more of: an electrical isolator to isolate the transmission from the remote motor; 15 a misalignment coupler to accommodate misalignment between a shaft of the transmission and an axle of a roller of the treadmill. Preferably the treadmill may be disconnected from the shaft of the transmission, for removal from the pool, by rotating the shaft in a reverse 20 direction. Preferably the lifter assembly includes: a powered panning member for rotation in a horizontal plane; and a powered lifter arm pivotally connected at one end to the panning 25 member for lifting and lowering the bather. The apparatus may further include a reserve tank in fluid communication with the pool and arranged to vary a water level of the pool. 30 In a preferred embodiment the transmission includes a shaft which passes through a seal formed through the wall of the pool. The lifter arm may include a cradle or the like to support the bather in use.

3 Preferably a free end of the lifter arm terminates in a step or rung to support feet of the bather. Preferably the lifter assembly includes a first actuator for rotating the elevated 5 member in a horizontal plane. Alternatively, a winch or other suitable arrangement might be used. The lifter assembly preferably further includes a second actuator to pivot the lifter arm in a vertical plane. 10 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred features, embodiments and variations of the invention may be discerned from the following Detailed Description which provides sufficient information for those skilled in the art to perform the invention. The Detailed 15 Description is not to be regarded as limiting the scope of the preceding Summary of the Invention in any way. The Detailed Description will make reference to a number of drawings as follows: Figure 1 is side view of an apparatus for aquatic therapy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 20 Figure 2 is a side view of a treadmill of the apparatus for aquatic therapy. Figure 3 is a plan view of the treadmill. Figure 4 is a detail view of a bearing adjuster of the treadmill. Figure 5 is a cross section of a transmission for the treadmill. Figure 6 is a side view of a lifter assembly of the apparatus for aquatic 25 therapy. Figure 7 is top plan view of the lifter assembly. Figure 8 is plan view of the lifter assembly looking downward from level A-A' as indicated in Figure 6. 30 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to Figure 1, there is depicted an apparatus for aquatic therapy according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The assembly includes a pool 1 with insulated walls and a removable insulated cover 6. At 4 the floor of the pool 1 there is formed a recess 3 in which a treadmill 5 is mounted. In order for a person to readily access the pool 1 a lifter assembly 7 is 5 provided which includes a lifter arm 11 that terminates at its lower end in a step 13 for a bather to stand upon. As will be explained, the lifter assembly 7 is arranged to pan and tilt the lifter arm 11 in and out of the pool 1. A reserve tank 9, with insulated walls is coupled to a lower inlet into pool 1 via 10 a pump 11, filter 13, heater 15 and water treatment system. A return line 19 is connected between an upper outlet port of the pool 1 back into the reserve tank 9. The return line terminates in an upper "L" shaped leg 24 that receives a height adjustable standpipe 21 to allow for adjustment of the water level in pool 1. An insulated cover 23 is provided to reduce heat loss from the 15 reserve tank 9. The construction details of the treadmill 5 will now be explained with reference to Figures 2 to 5. Referring now to Figure 2, which is a side view, the treadmill includes two opposed rollers 31A and 31B about which runs a 20 continuous belt 47. The rollers 31A and 31B have shafts 33A and 33B which are mounted between bearing adjusters 35A, 37A and 35B, 37B respectively. Bearing adjusters 35A, 37A and 35B, 37B are respectively fastened at opposing ends of a frame 49. Frame 49 is preferably made of stainless steel, 25 plastic or some other suitably rigid material that is resistant to corrosion. The frame is spaced from the bottom of pool 1 by four legs 51. A top plate 53 is located between the upperside of frame 49 and belt 47. The top plate 53 has four removable plugs 55 that are positioned directly above adjuster bolts 30 45 to allow for easy adjustment in tension to belt 47. Removing the plugs 55 reveals access holes that provide access for a tool to the adjustment bolts 45. The bearing adjusters are all identical and an exemplary one is shown in close up in Figure 4. With reference to Figure 4, the bearing adjuster includes a 5 slotted body 39 in which there is mounted a bearing or bush 41 that supports an end of axle 33. Continuous belt 47 tends to force the axle 31, and hence bush 41, towards an adjuster shoe 43, which is threadedly mounted on one end of an adjuster bolt 45 that is in turn threaded through a hole formed 5 through the slotted body 39. The position of the adjuster shoe 43 in the slotted body 39 can therefore be varied by rotating the adjustment bolt 45 to thereby reposition the axle 33 and so vary the tension in belt 47 as desired. The belt adjusters 35 allow for fine adjustment of the tension in the belt 47 to cause the belt to run straight on the rollers and to avoid slip between the belt 10 and the rollers. In order to rotate belt 47, the shaft 33B of roller 31B is driven by a motor 57 located outside the pool 1 by a transmission that will now be explained with reference to Figure 5. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view through a wall 12 of 15 recess 3 of pool 1 adjacent to axle 33B. It will be observed that a cylindrical housing 65 has been positioned through the wall 12. At opposing ends of the cylindrical housing there are fitted a seal and bearing 57A, 67A and 57B, 67B, respectively. The transmission includes a wall shaft 63 that is positioned along the axis of the cylindrical housing 65 by means of the seals 57A, 57B and 20 bushes 67A and 67B. At an end immediately external to the pool the wall shaft 63 is coupled to an electric isolator 61 of the transmission. The purpose of the electric isolator 61 is to prevent electrolysis and to also provide electric current isolation for the 25 wall shaft 63 from the electric motor 57. A side of the electrical isolator 61 opposite wall shaft 63 is connected to a misalignment coupler 59A of the transmission. The misalignment coupler is in turn coupled to the output shaft of electric motor 57. A stainless steel double universal joint is used for the misalignment coupler. The electric isolator is an insulator in the form of an 30 acetyl plastic cylinder with a thread on either end. Accordingly, operation of the electric motor 57 causes the misalignment coupler 59A to rotate and in turn causes rotation of wall shaft 63 via electric isolator coupler 61.

6 On the internal side of wall 12, the wall shaft 63 is coupled to a second misalignment coupler 59B of the transmission. The misalignment coupler 59B is threadedly connected to the end of the roller shaft 33B. A threaded connection is preferred so that by reversing the direction of motor 57 the roller 5 shaft 31 B is unscrewed from misalignment coupler 59B to facilitate ready removal of the frame, rollers and belt. The construction details of lifter assembly 7 will now be explained with reference to Figures 6 to 8. Figure 6 is a side plan view of the lifter assembly 10 7. The lifter assembly includes a baseplate 69 for attachment to the floor by bolts or other suitable fasteners. A fixed post 71 extends upward from baseplate 69. Atop the fixed post 71 there is located a nylon bush 87. A panning member 91 bears upon the topside of nylon bush 87. The panning member 91 is composed of an elongate beam 105 at one end of which is 15 mounted a crossbar 103. Welded to the underside of elongate beam 91 is an outer tube 83 that is approximately half the length of the fixed post 71 and which is located around the top half of fixed post 71. Between the outer tube 83 and the fixed post 71 are located upper and lower concentric nylon bushes 85 which act to keep the rotatable post 83 spaced from the fixed post 71 while 20 still allowing it to rotate thereabout. A rigid L-shaped arm 77 extends laterally out from fixed post 71 and terminates in a lateral leg 81 (best seen in Figure 8). Between lateral leg 81 and a tab 75, which extends radially from rotatable post 83, a panning 25 actuator 79 is attached. Alternatively an electric motor and suitable gear assembly might be used for panning. Accordingly, by retracting the actuator 79, rotatable post 83 is caused to rotate, i.e. to pan, clockwise about fixed post 71 as indicated in Figure 8, which is a plan view of the assembly looking downward from level A-A' as indicated in Figure 6. 30 Lifter arm 11 is formed of two parallel, inverted "J-shaped" rails 90A and 90B interconnected by a step 13 at their lower end and by an intermediate span 107 toward their upper end. At their opposite ends, the rails 90A and 90B are 7 respectively pivotally connected to lugs 89A and 89B which extend upward from opposing ends of the crossbar 103. A lug 97 extends rearward from a midpoint of the intermediate span 107. A 5 cradle 101, which is concave in cross section to support a bather's back in use, interconnects medial portions of the J-shaped rails 90A and 90B. A lug 93 extends upward at an end of the beam 105 of panning member 91, opposite crossbar 103. A tilt actuator 95 is connected between lug 93 and lug 10 97. By contracting tilt actuator 95 the lifter arm 11 is tilted counter-clockwise, as viewed in Figure 6. In use, panning actuator 79 is initially extended so that rotatable post 83, panning member 91 and lifter 11 are rotated in order that lifter 11 is situated 15 outside of the walls of pool 1. A bather then stands upon step 13 of lifter 11 and pool cover 6 is removed. Tilt actuator 95 is then retracted so that the lifter pivots counter-clockwise (as viewed in Figure 6) about lugs 89A, 89B, thereby lifting step 13 upward until it is clear of the upper edge of the wall of pool 1. As the lifter is pivoted the bather's back is supported by cradle 101. Panning 20 actuator 79 is then operated to pivot outer post 83, and so topframe 91 and lifter 11 about fixed post 71. Doing so pans the tilted lifter over the wall of the pool 1 so that the lifter and bather are positioned above the pool water. Tilt actuator 95 is then extended thereby causing the lifter 11 to pivot clockwise (as viewed in Figure 6) so that it is lowered to a vertical position in the pool as 25 shown in Figure 1. The bather then disembarks at a point within the pool and assumes a standing position on treadmill 5. The water level of pool 1 has previously been adjusted, by means of standing pipe 21 so that its level is at a suitable height 30 for the bather to stand with head out of water in pool 1 and with a desired level of buoyancy due to the height of the water. Furthermore due to the operation of heater 15, water treatment system 13, filter 11 and pump 17, the pool is filled with circulating warm, clean water.

8 Once the bather has assembled upon the treadmill 5, then motor 57 is activated to thereby cause the endless belt 47 to rotate. The electric actuators are worm drives that are connected to a low current 5 control box. Another cable comes from the control box and has a hand piece on it that is held by the bather or an attendant. The hand piece is operated to control the various actuators in use. The bather then walks or runs upon the treadmill whilst supported in the pool 10 water. It will be realised that the intensity of the exercise may be set to a constant predetermined level to suit the bather's needs. Once the bather has finished exercising the motor 57 is powered down so that the belt ceases to run. The bather then stands on step 13 of lifter 11 in preparation to disembark from the pool 11. Tilt actuator 95 is then contracted to cause the lifter 11 to be 15 pivoted above the top of the walls of the pool 1. Panning actuator 79 is then extended to pan the tilted lifter arm over the wall of the pool 1 to a position where the tilt actuator 95 can be extended to lower the lifter arm 11 to a vertical orientation for the bather to disembark. 20 In the event that the treadmill assembly requires servicing then the motor 57 is run in a reverse direction to cause the threaded connection between coupler 59 and treadmill roller shaft 31B (Figure 5) to undo. The treadmill, including frame, rollers, top-plate and belt may then all be lifted out of the pool for servicing. If desired a replacement treadmill may be installed. 25 In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific to structural or methodical features. The term "comprises" and its variations, such as "comprising" and "comprised of' is used throughout in an inclusive sense and not to the exclusion of any 30 additional features. It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to specific features shown or described since the means herein described comprises preferred forms of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the proper scope of the appended claims appropriately interpreted by those skilled in the art.

Claims (5)

1. An apparatus for aquatic therapy including: a pool; a treadmill submerged within the pool; and a lifter assembly arranged to lift a bather from a point outside the pool and lower the bather to a point within the pool.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 including a transmission for powering the treadmill that passes through a wall of the pool for connection to a remote motor.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the transmission includes one or more of: an electrical isolator to isolate the transmission from the remote motor; a misalignment coupler to accommodate misalignment between a shaft of the transmission and an axle of a roller of the treadmill.

4 An apparatus according anyone of the preceding claims, wherein the lifter assembly includes a powered panning member for rotation in a horizontal plane; and a powered lifter arm pivotally connected at one end to the panning member for lifting and lowering the bather.

5. An apparatus substantially as described herein according to Figure 1; or Figures 2 to 5; or Figures 6 to 8.