Appeal No. 98-2352
Application 08/245,870
pelvic girdle area of a user to block substantial forward movement of
the user and to eliminate loading of the user’s hamstring muscles and
gluteus maximus muscles; and means for blocking the pelvic girdle)
and a lower portion (means mounted to the frame in a disposition for
engagement by the front portions of the user’s above and adjacent the
knees of the user to facilitate stabilization of the user’s legs). Also
connected to the frame 10 is an adjustable seat 44 (means mounted to
the frame for maintaining the user’s knees in a flexed condition for
directing the user’s hamstring muscles to a relaxed condition; means
mounted to the frame for supporting the user in a kneeling position to
direct the user’s hamstring and gluteus maximus muscles to a relaxed
condition with the support means oriented generally perpendicular to
the means for blocking the pelvic girdle; and kneeling platform for
supporting a user in a kneeling position mounted to the frame adjacent
to means to block forward movement of the user’s legs).
A lever assembly 70 (lever means pivotally mounted to the frame for
movement about a pivot axis and disposed for engagement by the
upper back of a user in a kneeling position for backward and forward
user-induced movement) is pivotally connected to the frame 10. The
lever assembly 70 also includes a member 84 (hand engageable means
mounted to the lever means for pivoting with the lever means about
the pivot axis) which connects to a strap 90 for coupling to weights 52
(resistance means operatively connected to the lever means)
providing resistance to back and forth movement of the lever assembly
70. The lever assembly 70 pivots about pivots 76 (pivot axis) located
above the seat 44 and spaced a distance from the backrest 53 (pivot
axis adjacent the lumbar region of the user).
The apparatus of Rockwell inherently possesses properties which
anticipate or render obvious the claimed invention. A person may
support him/herself on his knees by kneeling on the seat 44 with the
front portions of his/her legs above and adjacent the knees engaging a
lower portion of the backrest 53, the front of his/her pelvic girdle region
engaging the upper portion of the backrest 53, his/her upper back
engaging the roller 82, and his/her hands engaging the member 84.
While an element in a claim expressed as a means for performing a
specified function must be construed as covering the corresponding
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