US20030036464A1

US20030036464A1 - Machine for exercising kegel muscles

Info

Publication number: US20030036464A1
Application number: US09/928,756
Authority: US
Inventors: Gennady Zavilevich
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-08-14
Filing date: 2001-08-14
Publication date: 2003-02-20

Abstract

An improved device for exercising the PC muscles comprises a pair of squeezable arms that contract and expand in relation to one another. A spring biasing means inside an axle section provides a resistive force element that urges the arms in the expanded position and thus the female can exercise the PC muscles against this force by squeezing the arms together. Each of the arms is symmetrical in shape includes a bulbous tip portion and a narrower shaft portion.

Description

FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of exercising and in particular to an exercising apparatus directed at strengthening those muscles identified as kegel or pubcoccygeal muscles (PC muscles) in the vaginal area. The device comprises a pair of arms that are moved in relation to one another by the user contracting these muscles. Contracting the muscles closes the arms of the device against a resistive force supplied by the a spring biasing means within the device.

More particularly, these muscles are known as pubcoccygeal muslces (PC muscles) and are in part responsible for sexual pleasure as well as sensitivity in women. Kegel exercises and were originally developed by Dr. Arnold Kegel. The “G spot” in the female vagina was also identified in this research as a source of stimulation for the female orgasm. The “G spot” is believed to be at least as important as the clitoris in reaching orgasm and /or providing an independent source for the orgasm that is independent of the clitoris.

While the “G spot” is not the PC muscles per se, it is closely connected to this muscle group. Strong PC muscles are good for several reasons: they can aid in the G spot orgasm by providing a more secure fit for the penis and/or simply enhancing the overall sensitivity of this area of the vagina.

Kegel exercises were designed by Dr. Kegel to strengthen these vaginal muscles in women. Originally, such exercises consisted of the women simply contracting these muscles without any other risistive force, thus they were more or less, a type of isometric exercise. The device described herein provides a source of risistance to the contraction of these muscles and thus works the muscle against a resistive element.

By developing stronger PC muscles, the woman can better control sexual intercourse by providing a stronger and more secure grip upon the penis. Thus sexual pleasure and sensitivity are enhanced for both partners. Strengthening these muscles results in increased vaginal and pelvic blood flow directly increasing sensitivity and rejuvenating the female pleasure sensation. Because of these factors, the ability to achieve orgasm is facilitated by exercising these muscles.

In addition to the increasing of the overall sexual experience, Kegel exercises are thought to be more important as a woman ages. Childbirth and age can cause a weakening of the PC muscles.

The loss of sensitivity and control in this area can take away from the pleasure of intercourse. Many women resort to surgical procedures to increase tightness in the event of a loosening of the PC muscles due to childbirth. Such procedures are costly, invasive and unnecessary. Using natural procedure, namely exercise, the need for surgery to improve sexual ability is thus avoided.

It is believed that more people would use such exercising devices were there to be a more reliable and easier to use device available. A great many females may discover more pleasure and greater health were they able to use a safer and more effective PC muscle exercising device.

It is also believed that the invention will find great use in helping incontinency problems which can sometimes occur after pregnancy due to the stretching of the PC muscles. The invention will also be useful in reducing the stretch of the muscle wall and/or paunch in this same area as the birth process will often stretch these muscles and the muscle wall out.

PRIOR ART

While there are devices such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,865,715 to Wallick that use spring loaded devices to exercise the pubcoccygeal muscles the apparatus described herein provides a safer and more effective exercising device. Such advantages are more particularyly described in the summary section of this application but in general the device is safer for example ;it will not pinch the user when the arms are closed.

Such prior art devices are believed to suffer from numerous drawbacks including springs and arms that might pinch the user. The non symmetric nature of the arms of the prior art patent lead to several disadvantages including a non uniform resistive force (i.e. the pressure felt by the user is not uniform over the entire range of motion); sharp edges of the device may scrape or otherwise cause discomfort if the device is repositioned within the vagina; the shape may also lead to over insertion of the device in the vagina.

The prior art also may cause pinching when the arms are fully closed because the arms will be flush against one another when the arms are fully closed. The layout and position of the springs in the prior art patent also suggest that the resistance felt by the user is not uniform throughout the range of motion.

Improved spring biasing means are safer to use in an invention of this kind and provide a full and effective force throughout the effective range of motion. Improved arms are more naturally formed and ones that are symmetrical with respect to one another. Such arms provide for better exercising means that targets the muscle groups more effectively and aid in the insertion of the device.

The use of abutments in the device prevent the device from pinching. Symmetrical arms results in an easier to clean device. The natural shape of the device (i.e. the device has a slight curvature similar to a banana as seen along the longitudinal axis) also aids in the insertion process)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An improved device for exercising the PC muscles in women comprises a pair of arms that extend from an axle section. The arms are connected to the axle section so that they can contract and expand in relation to one another. A spring biasing means inside the axle section provides a resistive force element that urges the arms in the expanded position and thus the female can exercise the PC muscles against this force by squeezing the arms together.

Each of the arms is symmetrical with respect to the other arm and when squeezed together the arms present a natural shape that is easy to insert into the vagina. The arms present both a bulbous tip and a rather narrower shaft portion that adequately approximates the shap of the male penis and thus ensures a secure fit within the vagina. The construction of the arms and the spring provide for a safe exercising device that has no parts that protrude from the device and will not pinch the user when the arms are contracted. The shape of the arms will provide a secure fit and will automatically indicate to the user how far to insert the device.

It is an object of the invention to design a kegel muscle group exercising device that is safer to use than existing devices and will not pinch the user when in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device that has spring loaded biasing means that are safer to use and will not injure the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device that does not need to have personal adjustments made to the biasing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device that is easier to use than existing devices and can be inserted without discomfort.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device that provides for an evenly distributed resistive force throughout the full range of motion of the exercising device

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device that is of an open design and of non toxic materials that is easy to clean.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device that is of a natural and symmetrical shape that automatically indicates to the user how far to insert the device and will provide an exercise device that gives a more effective workout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device that uses torsion type springs that provide a safer and more effective workout.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device having exercising arms that are designed to prevent a full closure of the arms and thus cannot pinch the user.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kegel muscle group exercising device that is easy to hold and of a compact nature.

Other advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. [0027]
FIG. 1 cross sectional view of overal device with arms closed; [0028]
FIG. 2 cross sectional view showing the arms expanded; [0029]
FIG. 3 cross sectional view of outer arm; [0030]
FIG. 4 perspective view with arms closed; [0031]
FIG. 5 perspective view of inner arm with hollowed out interior; [0032]
FIG. 6-[0033] 7 perspective view of central core;
FIG. 8 side view of central core; [0034]
FIG. 9 top view of central core; [0035]
FIG. 10 perspective view with arms open; [0036]
FIG. 11 spring biasing means.[0037]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The device comprises primarily two symmetrical shaped ;halves (each labeled 1 in FIG. 2) that operate as arms that expand and/or close in response to the movements of the KG muscles. The arms are connected to one another by an axle or central core [0038] 9 (see FIGS. 6-9 and FIG. 1) that permits the arms to move in relationship to one another. When the arms move away from one another they are said to be in the expanded position and when they are closed upon one another they are said to be in the contracted position. The user will exercise the PC muslces by contracting the arms together by contracting the PC muscles against the force of a spring which is located near the hollowed out section 14 in FIG. 1 and 2.
Note that even in the fully contracted position the arms will not close entirely, that is, they will never be flush against one another as such a result could pinch the user. This is as a result of the small extensions or abutments, in connection with the [0039] base portion 2 of each of the arms that prevents the arms 1 from becoming flush with one another when they are closed. See FIG. 1.
There is a [0040] spring mechanism 15 in connection with the core or axle and each of the arms that provides a means for biasing the arms in the expanded direction and thus the arms will remain in an expanded position prior to the force being supplied by the user.
The spring is preferably a helical spring shown in FIG. 11 and is placed around the central core, in close connection with the [0041] inner wall 12 of the central core (see FIG. 7). This will permit the spring to reside in the hollowed out section seen as 14 in FIG. 1 and 2. The main portion of the spring is placed around the central core, while the two ends of the the spring are placed in the hollowed outinside sections of each arm (the end of the spring will rest near no. 22 but inside the arm, see FIGS. 2 and 5). One end of the spring goes into the inside of each arm.
The shapes of the arms are specifically designed to aid in the insertion and the use of the device. The arms of this invention are of a more natural shape and it can be seen in the drawings as the tip or “bulb” [0042] end 6 of the arms are more larger than the “shaft” or middle section 4 of each arm. This aids in the insertion of the device and allows the device to penetrate the vagina with little to no discomfort. Both the bulb and shaft of the device should be sized and shaped to resemble the human penis.
At a point near the base [0043] 9 of each arm (the base is that end that is closest to the axle) there is a thicker shaped portion 2 that prevents an “over insertion” of the device. The thicker portion does not resemble the human penis. Rather it prevents the device from being inserted too far into the vagina. The overall, longitudinal shape of the arms is of a banana shape and is shown by the dotted line “A” in FIG. 1. This line follows the approximate central axis formed by the two arms when they are nearly flush. Again the longitudinal direction of the arms should resemble that of the human penis.
Note that the [0044] small extensions 20 near the thicker portion of each arm will prevent full closure of the device. I.e. neither the bulbous tip, the narrower shaft or the thicker base of each of the arms will contact one another upon the contraction of the device. Thus the arms will not pinch the user since they cannot fully close. The thicker portion is of course, not inside the vagina so it cannot pinch the user.
It will also be noted that the natural shape of the arms keeps the device in place during use and thus the device will not slide or otherwise move around when in use. Prior art devices with a uniform width throughout the length is likely to move out of the vaginal area during use. [0045]
There are a pair of [0046] grooves 25 on the inside of the circular shaped; end of one of the arms. See FIG. 5. These ridges are in connection with a similar shaped ridge 26 (see FIG. 2) in the other arm, so that the arms are in connection with one another. The end of the ridge 26 then acts as abutment when it reaches the end of the groove during the travel of the arms. This will prevent further travel of the arms when they are expanding. In this manner, the arms have a built in stop mechanism that prevents them from expanding too far. The arm shown in FIG. 3 then is the outer arm that is outside the inner arm that is shown in FIG. 5.
It is preferred that the arms and the axle part of the device may be made of pharmaceutical grade plastic or of stainless steel. Other such materials maybe used in keeping with the spirit of the invention which suggests that such materials should be of sterile quality and easy to wash. [0047]
The spring biasing means [0048] 15 is preferably of a torsional type which means that it is helical in construction and urges the arms with outwardly biasing force. The spring biasing means goes around the circular wall 12 of the central core. The outer rim 10 of the central core is used to secure the core inside the hollowed out circular sections 9 of each arm. The rim will be flush against the inside wall of these circular sections.
The [0049] spring 15 is lodged between the inner wall 12 of the central core and the circular wall 9 of the arm. Central core is shown more clearly in FIGS. 7-9 and is designed to fit inside the circular wall at each end of the arms through the action of the rim 10 that is flush against the inside walls.
The circular ends [0050] 9 of the arms are hollow (as is much of the rest of the arms) and the helical shaped spring (or a similar means for providing a force for urging the arms in the open position) is placed around the core or axle so that the spring will partially surround the axle and will be supported by the axle. The spring has two ends that extend somewhat away from the main axis of the spring that is formed by the helix. These ends are each placed inside of the hollow, inside section of each arm so that they cannot injure the user in any way.
So that, when the device is not in use the force of the biasing means will urge the arms in the expanded position away from one another at the maximum distance (see FIG. 2). The user will then exert force through her kegel muscles to urge the arms in toward one another so that they will almost touch. [0051]
The force of the spring and its position within the circular core is preset by the manufacturer and is not designed to be adjusted by the user. The spring and arms are designed for long term use so the preset tension on the spring should last for a long time with normal usage. [0052]
When in use the user's bladder should be empty and the device should be lubricated with a non-oil based lubricant such as ASTROGLYDE (Trademarked named for a non oil based lubricant). The user will take the arms of the device in her hands and squeenze the arms together. The apparatus with the arms together is then inserted approximately three inches into the vagina. The bulb shaped ends of the arms are inserted first. The thicker part of the arms will also indicate to the user how far to insert the device. [0053]
When exercising, the arms are contracted by the user by squeezing her PC muscles together. The arms are held together to a count of “three” and then released. This can be repeated for about 5-7 minutes each day. [0054]
The device should be washed regularly. A soap and water solution may be used as well as isopropyl alcohol and/or hydrogen peroxide should the user feel that is necessary. Use of the steril plastic is the preferred material and will aid in the cleaning process. [0055]
The device should not be used when pregnant women are in the third trimester and for some time after child birth. It should not be used during a vaginal infection or during menses. It should not be used after surgery in the urogenital area. Do not use when intrauterine devices are in place. Consultation with a physician is also recommended when in case of doubt. [0056]
In the preferred embodiment each of the arms is of blow molded plastic so that the inside of each arm is of rather hollow construction. [0057]

Claims

I claim:

1. A kegel muscle exercising device comprising: a pair of arms in connection an axle means that provides for the movement of each arm in relation to one another from a maximum expanded position to a minimal contracted position, each of said arms having an intermediate shaft section and a tip section at one end of each arm, said shaft section of narrower construction than said tip section, each of said arms in connection with an axle means for allowing the expansion and contraction of the arms in relation to one another, a spring biasing means in connection with said axle, said spring biasing means for providing a biasing force upon each arm that urges each said arm into said maximum expanded position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said spring biasing means is a torsional spring being of helical construction and providing a force that urges said arms into an outwardly extended position.