Muscle Stretching and Strengthening Device

The field relates to a stretching device for shoulder muscles and other muscles of a user's torso. The device can be used to strengthen leg and hip muscles from a sitting to standing or standing to sitting position. The device includes a hinged base that can include a mechanism to prevent injury to the user.

Stretching and exercising the muscles, joints, tendons, etc. in the shoulder region and other muscles in the torso may be desirable or necessary for a variety of reasons. For example, stretching exercises are frequently recommended if an injury occurs to evaluate whether surgery is needed. Oftentimes and before a surgery is scheduled, a patient may be ordered to do 8 to 12 weeks of physical therapy to determine if surgery can be avoided. Stretching exercises can also be beneficial before surgery, which is called pre-habilitation. Post-operative exercises are also frequently ordered to help stretch and strengthen muscles after surgery.

There are other reasons why a person can benefit from stretching and strengthening exercises. For example, many people suffer from a condition known as frozen shoulder. Frozen shoulder, or adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by pain and stiffness in the shoulder joint, which gradually limits movement. It typically develops in three stages: freezing, frozen, and thawing, and can take one to three years to improve. Stretching and strengthening exercises can improve the range of motion in the affected shoulder and reduce pain. By way of a second example, many people have difficulty standing from a seated position or sitting from a standing position without assistance or having to use their arms to support their legs. This difficulty may arise and be present due to problems in the person's knees, ankles, or hips. Therefore, these people need to build strength in their leg, abdominal, and hip muscles for example, so they can sit or stand unassisted and use only their legs and associated muscles. Also, certain exercises are critical in surgical recovery or needed to develop functional strength in the hips and legs. Improvement in leg strength allows people to perform sit to stand motions independently; thus, allowing greater independence and mobility.

Current techniques to treat frozen shoulder or other shoulder issues generally involve the use of pulleys and positional exercises. Equipment and exercises, such as squats, can be used to increase strength in a person's leg, abdominal, and hip muscles. However, these types of exercises and equipment often require a spotter to provide support and stability to the person. These approaches can be effective in a clinical setting or a gym with a spotter; however, in a home setting it is difficult to emulate. A patient may not be able to attend in-person therapy in a clinical setting as frequently as may be needed or recommended. Also, the lack of options for home exercise equipment can make it impossible for the patient to do exercises at home outside a clinical setting, which can delay recovery and extend clinical treatment time.

Some current devices that are designed for stretching or strengthening muscles include a handlebar that is attached to a vertical member that is attached to a base with a ball joint. However, there are several disadvantages to the use of a ball joint. Firstly, there is an insufficient amount of tension that is created during use, so when a user leans forward to stretch muscles in their arms or shoulders, the user can actually be injured or pull or strain muscles because the handlebar can undesirably extend too far away from the user's body. Secondly, in this situation, a user may not be able to control the device, and the user either risks injury by maintaining a grip on the handlebar or must let go of the handlebar to avoid injury in which case the vertical member and handlebar will easily fall to the floor. When they hit the floor, the user can get injured from the vertical member and/or the handlebar hitting a part of their body, such as the lower leg or foot, or potentially become injured from the base of the device. Moreover, a user may have difficulty picking the device up off the floor. Thirdly, a ball joint can allow the vertical member to arc from side-to-side in addition to arcing forward and back. As with the lack of tension discussed above, a user can injure muscles, ligaments, etc. by not being able to control the amount of the arc from side-to-side and from front to back. Accordingly, a ball joint can make the device and use of the device dangerous and does not provide a way to safely stretch and strengthen muscles. Other current designs have no way to prevent the handlebar and vertical member from arcing 180° forwards and backwards and/or 180° from side-to-side in relation to the base. Accordingly, these other designs are dangerous for the user as well as ball joints.

Thus, there is a need for a stretching and strengthening device that solves the problems of current designs. The disclosed muscle stretching and strengthening device makes it possible for an individual user to achieve safe and effective improvement in joint range of motion. The device also offers improved balance assistance to users during strengthening exercises, such as squats, safely with a mechanism to prevent a user from becoming injured during use.

It is to be understood that the discussion of any of the embodiments regarding the stretching and strengthening device is intended to apply to all of the apparatus and method embodiments without the need to repeat the various embodiments throughout.

Turning to the figures,shows a muscle stretching and strengthening deviceaccording to certain embodiments. The deviceincludes a handlebar. The handlebaris connected to a first end of a first vertical segmentof a vertical member. A middle portionof the handlebarcan be permanently attached to the first end of the first vertical segment, for example via spot welding or other permanent attachment means. According to any of the embodiments, the handlebardoes not tilt or rotate about a longitudinal axis of the vertical member, which can provide advantages over current designs, such as providing more control during use of the device.

show top views of the handlebaraccording to 2 different embodiments. As can be seen inthe handlebarcan be straight along a line extending from a first end, through the middle portion, to a second end. As can be seen in, the handlebarcan include a straight middle portionand the first endand the second endcan extend from the middle portionat an angle θ. The angles θ are preferably the same. The angle θ can be in a range, for example from 90° to 170°. The handlebarshown according tois oriented in relation to the vertical membersuch that the first endand the second endare angled towards the front of a user during use.

All or a portion of the handlebarcan include padding or a slip-resistant materiallocated around the handlebar. According to any of the embodiments where only a portion of the handlebaris covered with the padding or slip-resistant material, the padding or slip-resistant materialpreferably covers at least a portion of the first endand the second endat the location where a user places their hands to grip the handlebarduring use. According to this embodiment, the padding or slip-resistant materialcan cover at least 3 inches, for example, along a length of the first and second ends/. Having a portion of the first endand the second endcovered with the padding or slip-resistant materialprovides advantages to the user, such as cushioning to the user's hands and increasing the amount of grip a user can maintain during use. The slip-resistant covering for the handlebarcan be made from materials such as rubber, soft plastics, neoprene, urethanes, or foam materials. Instead of a slip-resistant covering, all or a portion of the handlebar—or at least a portion of the first and second ends/—can have the surface modified, for example via sanding, etching, or scoring, to provide improved gripping during use. The thickness of the slip-resistant covering can range from 0.1 to 1.5 inches and can be selected to provide comfort to a user and increased control of the device during use. The handlebarcan include etching, for example in the form of a pattern, in lieu of the slip-resistant covering to prevent a user's hand from slipping during use.

The handlebarcan have a variety of cross-sectional shapes including but not limited to circular, square, or rectangular. The handlebarcan be solid or hollow. The handlebarcan have a total length that is the sum of the lengths of the first end, middle portion, and second endin a range of 8 to 36 inches.

Referring back to, the vertical memberis height adjustable and includes the first vertical segmentand a second vertical segment. The vertical membercan be telescoping, such that the length of the vertical memberis adjustable as depicted by the double-headed arrow in. According to these embodiments, the second vertical segmentis hollow so a second end of the first vertical segmentcan be inserted into a first end of the second vertical segmentand move up and down within the second vertical segment, for example as shown in. The first vertical segmentcan be solid or hollow. This telescoping feature allows the height of the vertical memberas measured from the handlebarto a baseto be adjustable. According to any of the embodiments, the total length of the vertical memberalong a longitudinal axis is in a range from 30 to 70 inches, which equates to the height. Accordingly, the lengths of the first vertical segmentand the second vertical segmentcan be selected such that the total length of the vertical memberis adjustable to fall within this range. It is to be understood that the length of the first vertical segmentcan be the same or different from the length of the second vertical segment.

Any type of locking mechanism can be used to maintain the length of the vertical memberat a desired height after adjustment. By way of a first example and with reference to, the second vertical segmentcan include a plurality of holesthat penetrate from an outside through to an inside of the second vertical segment. The holescan be spaced a desired distance apart from each other, for example a hole every 1 or 2 inches apart. The number of holesand the lengths of the first and second vertical segments/can be selected such that the total length of the vertical memberfalls within the range. According to any of the embodiments, any holeslocated near the first end of the second vertical segment(i.e., the end located closest to the handlebar) are positioned such that a desired length of a the second end of the first vertical segment(i.e., the end located farther away from the handlebar) is located within the second vertical segment. By way of example, if it is desirable that at least 2 inches of the second end of the first vertical segmentis located within the second vertical segmentthen the topmost holemay need to be located 2 inches from the first end of the second vertical segment. This can advantageously provide increased support to the deviceduring use. To temporarily lock the segments/together at a desired length, the first vertical segmentcan include a locking protrusion. The locking protrusionhas dimensions such that it fits within the holes. The locking protrusioncan be depressed by a user in order to move the segments/in relation to each other and then fit within and protrude out of a desired holeof the second vertical segmentto lock the segments/at the desired height. According to any of the embodiments, only one locking protrusionis included on the first vertical segment. By way of a second example and referring back to, a tension screw lockcan be used as the locking mechanism in addition to or in lieu of the plurality of holes and the locking protrusion. A user can unscrew the tension screw lockto allow the first vertical segmentto move within the second vertical segmentuntil the desired height is obtained. Then, the user can tighten the tension screw lockto prevent telescoping movement and temporarily lock the segments/together at the desired height.

The first end of the second vertical segmentof the vertical memberis in telescopic connection with a second end of the first vertical segment. A second end of the second vertical segmentcan be indirectly connected via a connectorto a central location of a base. The connectorcan be any type of connector that indirectly or directly attaches the vertical memberto the baseand allows the vertical memberto arc forwards and backwards in relation to the base and a user. The connector can also be any type of connector that allows the connector to rotate around a longitudinal axis of the vertical memberin relation to the base. By way of example, the connectorcan include a fixed connectionthat is permanently attached to a top sideof the base. The fixed connectioncan be stationary in relation to the top sideof the basesuch that no movement of the fixed connectionoccurs. As can be seen infor example, the connectorcan include a first sideand a second side. The vertical memberis meant to be stored in an upright position. As can be seen in, and a friction springcan be located within the second end of the second vertical segmentand a boltcan be inserted through a hole in the baseand a hole in the bottom of the connectorand screwed into the friction springto secure the vertical memberto the base. The friction springcan be used to hold the vertical memberin an upright vertical position. According to other embodiments and with reference to, the second end of the second vertical segmentcan be directly and moveably connected to the first and second sides/of the connector. As can be seen, attachment holescan be located on opposite sides of the second vertical segmentand each of the first and second sides/can include holes located at the top. A boltcan be passed through the holes of the first and second sides/and the attachment holesof the second vertical segmentand a nutcan be placed on an end of the boltto secure the second vertical segmentto the first and second sides/of the connector.

Referring back tothe first and second sides/of the connectorare rotatable around the base, which in turn allows the vertical memberand the handlebarto be rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the vertical memberin relation to a plane of the base. In this manner, the handlebaris rotatable in relation to a plane of the baseby a user rotating the handlebar, which rotates the connector. Some current designs allow the handlebar itself to rotate about a longitudinal axis of a vertical member. However, this can be dangerous or difficult for a user to control a device during use. One significant advantage to the embodiments described herein, is that because the handlebardoes not directly rotate but the connectordoes (which causes indirect rotation of the handlebar) means that much greater control over the device is achieved due to the rotatable connectorbeing located on the baseand adjacent to a user's feet during use.

As can be seen in, the vertical memberand the handlebarcan be angled towards or away from a user in relation to the baseduring use. That is, the vertical memberand the handlebarcan arc forwards and backwards within the first and second sides/of the connector. A lower portion of the second vertical segmentcan include a boltthat is located atop the top of the first and second sides/. The boltcan be used to attach the vertical memberto the connector.

The connectorcan include one or more range of motion limiters. As can be seen infor example, each of the first and second sides/can include matching holes defining a back range of motion limiter. As shown in, there can be two back range of motion limiters. That is, the first sideof the connectorand the second sideof the connectorcan each have a hole whereby the holes are in alignment and location with each other for receiving a first pin. The first pincan be solid or hollow and has an outer diameter that is less than the diameter of the holes. The first pincan have an outer diameter, for example in a range of 0.1 to 0.5 inches. Thus, the diameter of the holes of the back range of motion limitercan be slightly less than 0.1 to 0.5 inches. In this manner, with the holes in alignment, the first pincan be inserted through each of the holes to create a physical stop of the second vertical segmentof the vertical memberfrom arcing beyond the first pin. A user can insert the first pinthrough the holes of the back range of motion limiterfor example by grasping a knobat a first end of the first pin, and aligning a second end of the first pinthat is the opposite side from the first end through both holes. The first pincan be a clevis pin. The second end of the first pinthat is opposite from the knobcan have a hole that traverses entirely through the second end of the pin, like a clevis pin has. A cotter pin or spring cotter pin(shown in, respectively), for example, can be inserted through this hole to prevent the first pinfrom undesirably slipping out of the holes of the back range of motion limiterduring use. Other ways to secure the first pinwithin the matching holes of the back range of motion limitercan also be used. According to any of the embodiments, the back range of motion limiteris located near a user's heels of the feet when in use. In this manner, it is less likely for the vertical memberand/or handlebarto accidentally fall back towards the user and make contact with the user's body during use.

shows a back range of motion limiteraccording to other embodiments. According to these embodiments, the back range of motion limitercan be permanently or removably attached to the top sideof the base. The back range of motion limitercan include a straight portion that extends up from the top sideof the basethat is in the shape of a semi-circle such that the second vertical segmentcan fit within the straight portion. A top of the back range of motion limitercan include 2 curvature pieces that extend away from the straight portion to receive and secure the second vertical segment. An angled portion, such as a triangular-shaped or other shapes, can extend back and away from the straight portion to provide resistance to the vertical memberduring use. The back range of motion limitercan be made of a semi-rigid or rigid material, such as but not excluding metals, metal alloys, semi-rigid plastics or rubbers, or hard plastics. The back range of motion limitercan have a height that extends up from the baseand can be in a range of 1 to 10 inches.

The first and second sides/of the connectorcan also include a plurality of matching pairs of holes defining front range of motion limiters. The corresponding matching pair of holes of the front range of motion limiterscan range from 1 to 7, for example, and can have a spacing pattern along the first and second sides/, for example as shown in. As used herein, the phrase “matching pair” means the first sideincludes a hole at a specific location and the second sideincludes a corresponding hole that matches the specific location of the hole on the first side. In this manner, the matching pair of holes are spatially aligned with each other to receive a second pin. The second pincan be placed within any of the matching pair of holes of the front range of motion limiters. Preferably, all the matching pair of holes for the back range of motion limiterand the front range of motion limitershave the same diameter; and the first pinand the second pinhave the same outer diameter. In this manner, either pin/can be inserted into any of the matching pair of holes. The embodiments discussed above related to the first pin, the knob, and the cotter or spring cotter pin, as well as the method of inserting the first pinapplies equally to the second pinand front range of motion limiterswithout the need to repeat those embodiments again.

The second end of the second vertical segmentof the vertical memberis positioned between the first pinand the second pinon the inside of the first and second sides/. A distance D is created between the first pinand the second pin, which is also created between the back range of motion limiterand the front range of motion limiters, as shown in. The vertical memberand the handlebararcs forwards and backwards between the back range of motion limiterand the front range of motion limiter. As shown in, the distance D can be increased or decreased depending on where a user inserts the first pininto the back range of motion limitersand inserts the second pininto the front range of motion limiters. By way of example and as shown, there can be 2 matching pair of holes for the back range of motion limiterand 5 matching pair of holes for the front range of motion limiters. Accordingly, a user can insert the second pininto the top left matching pair of holes for the front range of motion limitersand the first pininto the topmost matching pair of holes for the back range of motion limiterwhich creates distance D. A user can also insert the second pininto the bottommost matching pair of holes for the front range of motion limitersand the first pininto the bottom right matching pair of holes for the back range of motion limiterwhich creates distance D. The amount of arc, for example as shown in, during use can be determined based on the distance D. By way of example, if a user desires more arc, then the user can insert the first and second pins/to create distance D, which is the greatest distance shown. If less arc is desired, then the user can insert the first and second pins/to create distance D, which is a shorter distance than Dz. Accordingly, the deviceis adjustable to provide as much arc as desired or needed for a particular user. A greater distance D may be desirable if the user is using the devicein a seated position to perform stretching and strengthening exercises for the shoulders, while a shorter distance D may be desirable if the user is using the devicefor stretching and strengthening exercises for the leg muscles, hip muscles, etc. to transition between a seated position to a standing position and vice versa. Moreover, as a user advances in stretching exercises, the distance D can be increased to provide a greater stretch.

The muscle stretching and strengthening deviceincludes a base. With reference to example, the basehas a top sideand a bottom side. The top sidecan be flat with an upper surface. “Flat” means that a plane of the side is 180° with no curvature. The bottom sidecan also be flat and have a bottom surface. A user can place their feet on the top sideof the baseduring use, for example as shown in. All or a portion of the upper surface of the basecan include a traction control component, preferably located on the base where a user's feet will be placed. As shown in, the upper surface of the top sideof the basecan be partially or wholly covered with a slip resistant material that serves as the traction control component. Sanding, etching, or scoring can also be used instead of the slip resistant material. As shown in, a plurality of anti-slip grooves or channels or raised sections can be used as the traction control component. In this manner, a user can obtain better traction during use and the traction control component inhibits or prevents their feet from slipping off the baseduring use. The bottom sideof the basecan also be wholly or partially covered in a slip-resistant material and/or cushioning. This also can help prevent or inhibit the basefrom slipping out or moving from underneath the user during use.

The basecan have a mostly rectangular or oval shape and include straight edges, curved edges, or combinations thereof. The basehas a perimeter and a length and a depth. The “length” is defined as a line along the plane of the basethat is perpendicular to a line along a user's feet spanning from the heels to toes. The “depth” is defined as a line along the plane of the basethat is parallel to a line along a user's feet spanning from the heels to toes. The depth can be different along the length of the base, for example if there are curved edges like shown in. The length can range from 10 to 36 inches, for example. The depth can range from 4 to 20 inches, for example. According to any of the embodiments, the length of the baseis greater than the depth of the base. The length and depth can be selected such that a user has a large enough surface area to place their feet during use and to maintain control and provide stability during use. By way of example, the length can be selected such that the entire width of a user's feet can be placed directly on the top sideof the basewithout overhanging the outside edges of the base. By way of another example, the depth can be selected such that at least ⅓, ½, or the entire length of a user's feet can be placed directly on the top sideof the base. A larger surface area can allow more of the bottoms of a user's feet to be placed on the base, which can provide more stability and control over the deviceduring use.

The various components of the devicecan be made from rigid materials, including but not limited to polymeric plastics, thermoset plastics, metals or metal alloys, fiberglass, or carbon fiber. As used herein, the term “metal alloy” means a mixture of two or more elements, wherein at least one of the elements is a metal. The other element(s) can be a non-metal or a different metal. An example of a metal and non-metal alloy is steel, comprising the metal element iron and the non-metal element carbon. An example of a metal and metal alloy is bronze, comprising the metallic elements copper and tin. As used herein, the term “metal” and all grammatical variations thereof means any substance that comprises a metal, which includes pure metals and metal alloys.

Examples of plastics include but are not limited to low-density polyethylene (LDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), high-impact polystyrene (HIPS), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), cellulose-acetate-butyrate (Cab), polycarbonate (PC), or polyvinylidene fluoride or polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF). Examples of metals include but are not limited to iron, aluminum, steel, carbon steel, stainless steel, zinc, lead, copper, tin, brass, nickel, and chromium. While all of the components of the device(e.g., the vertical member, handlebar, and base) can be made from the same material (e.g., stainless steel or HDPE), it is also possible to have some of the components made from a different material than the other components. Moreover, one or more of the components can also include a reinforcing layer that is made from a material having a higher ductile or tensile strength compared to the material of the components. Preferably, a given component is made from the same material. For example, the first vertical segmentand the second vertical segmentof the vertical memberare preferably made from the same material.

The handlebarand vertical membercan each be cylindrical in shape having a circular cross-section or other geometric cross-sectional shapes, such as a triangle, square, or rectangle. The first vertical segment, second vertical segmentand handlebarcan have the same or different diameters ranging from 0.25 to 4 inches (0.63 to 10 cm). Additionally, the second vertical segmentcan be hollow, while the first vertical segmentand the handlebarcan be solid. The diameter of the segments/and the handlebarcan be selected based on whether the component is solid or hollow and to provide structural integrity to the deviceduring use. By way of example, for solid components, the diameter may only need to be 0.25 inches to provide structural integrity; while for hollow components, the diameter may need to be 4 inches to provide structural integrity.

The devicecan be used to stretch and/or strengthen a variety of muscles. Methods can include using the deviceto stretch and/or strengthen the variety of muscles. A user can stand on the top sideof the basewhen in a standing position or rest their feet upon on the top sidewhen in a seated position. When the user grips the handlebar, a mechanical gusset is formed to create support and leverage assistance to the user. As the user leans forward, the arc of the handlebarin relation to the baseincreases, which results in tension being created in the vertical member. The tension is translated throughout some or all of the upper arms, shoulders, torso, and legs; and thus, allows the muscles to be stretched and strengthened. With continued use, improved flexibility and strength can occur. Preferably, a user remains in a seated position to stretch the muscles in the arms, back, and shoulders.

The devicecan also be used to strengthen the muscles in the leg, hips, and other areas of the body. According to this aspect, a user can begin in a seated position and place their hands on the handlebarand their feet on the top sideof the base. The user can then bend their upper body slightly forward which increases the arc of the handlebarin relation to the baseand use their legs to stand up. The tension created when the arc is increased also acts as a support mechanism that assists the user, so the user has proper balance and proper body mechanics when standing. The user can then sit back down from the standing position while maintaining a grip on the handlebar, which decreases the arc and brings the handlebarback closer to the user's body. With continued use by sitting and then standing, the user's muscles can be strengthened. The connectoris critical in providing normal biomechanical movement so the user develops functional strength and flexibility. Because a user has more control over the device compared to other current designs, the user can feel more confident and safer without fear of unintentional injury, which allows the user to be more relaxed during use. Because the user is more relaxed, undesirable tension in the user's muscles and joints for example is significantly decreased. This allows for normal biomechanical movement and reduced risk of injury compared to being tense if using other current devices.

Another significant advantage to the deviceis the safety features, which include the back range of motion limiterand the front range of motion limiters. These safety features substantially inhibit or prevent accidental injury to the user when using the device because there is a very low possibility that the vertical memberand/or the handlebaruncontrollably arc too much and make contact with a part of the user's body. Another significant advantage to the deviceis that a user can select and adjust the amount of arc and/or rotation of the vertical memberand handlebarby selecting a desired distance D between the back range of motion limiterand front range of motion limiters. By way of example, a user just beginning to use the devicefor stretching and strengthening exercises can decrease the distance D by selecting which matching pair of holes to place the first and second pins/. With continued use and as the user advances with the exercises, a deeper stretch may be needed. Thus, the user can then increase the distance D so a deeper stretch can be achieved. This versatility allows a user to safely increase the amount of stretching and strengthening of their muscles. Thus, the muscle stretching and strengthening devicehas many advantages over current designs intended for use in the home or other settings outside of a physical therapist's location, a gym, nursing home, or doctor's office.

Therefore, the apparatus, methods, and systems of the present disclosure are well adapted to attain the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those that are inherent therein. The particular embodiments disclosed above are illustrative only, as the present disclosure may be modified and practiced in different but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown, other than as described in the claims below. It is, therefore, evident that the particular illustrative embodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all such variations are considered within the scope and spirit of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the words “comprise,” “have,” “include,” and all grammatical variations thereof are each intended to have an open, non-limiting meaning that does not exclude additional elements or steps. While the apparatus, systems, and methods are described in terms of “comprising,” “containing,” or “including” various components or steps, the apparatus, systems, and methods also can “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps. It should also be understood that, as used herein, “first,” “second,” and “third,” are assigned arbitrarily and are merely intended to differentiate between two or more ends, vertical segments, etc., as the case may be, and does not indicate any sequence. Furthermore, it is to be understood that the mere use of the word “first” does not require that there be any “second,” and the mere use of the word “second” does not require that there be any “third,” etc.

Whenever a numerical range with a lower limit and an upper limit is disclosed, any number and any included range falling within the range is specifically disclosed. In particular, every range of values (of the form, “from about a to about b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a to b,” or, equivalently, “from approximately a-b”) disclosed herein is to be understood to set forth every number and range encompassed within the broader range of values. Also, the terms in the claims have their plain, ordinary meaning unless otherwise explicitly and clearly defined by the patentee. Moreover, the indefinite articles “a” or “an,” as used in the claims, are defined herein to mean one or more than one of the element that it introduces. If there is any conflict in the usages of a word or term in this specification and one or more patent(s) or other documents that may be incorporated herein by reference, the definitions that are consistent with this specification should be adopted.