Cycle apparatus having therapeutic and utility aspects

摘要

Apparatus having particular but not limited use for exercise purposes by persons handicapped as to use of their lower limbs or having cardio-pulmonary or ancillary physical problems comprises a body support adapted to maintain the trunk of the body supported thereby in a substantially dynamic balance leaving the lower limbs or limb of the body to depend free of load from the trunk of the body, the support being limited to maintaining the trunk of the body in an attitude which is other than vertical. In a preferred mobile embodiment the body support has a wheel base and provides a cycle structure. An improved braking system used with the cycle structure is simply controlled through grips illustrated in connection with a handlebar, a slight forward rotation of which achieves a safe braking action with great ease and little exertion or coordination being required. Another invention embodiment is a hand operated propulsion system ideal for those severely handicapped, including paraplegics, hand grips rotating on a steering bar of a cycle structure being linked to a drive wheel and simple limited back and forth motion of the hands and arms bending sufficient to achieve a highly effective propulsive effect.