ES2835501T3 - Mobile support for physical exercise - Google Patents

Abstract

Support (1) adapted to accommodate at least one person who performs a physical exercise comprising: - at least one first board (10) and at least one second board (20), on which at least a first surface of support (12, 112) and at least one second support surface (22, 122) respectively, each adapted to accommodate at least one person and also optionally at least one piece of sports equipment such that two people can perform an exercise physical independently; - at least one base (30) supported on a stable bearing surface; said boards (10, 20) being connected to the base (30) so that each supporting surface (12, 22, 112, 122) can tilt or rotate with respect to the base about at least one respective axis (X1, X2), between at least one respective equilibrium position and respective unbalance positions, the bearing surfaces (12, 22, 112, 122) being interconnected with each other so that the inclination or rotation of a bearing surface influences the inclination or rotation of the other support surface, and vice versa, so that said movements of the support surfaces are not predictable for the respective people stationed on them.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Mobile support for physical exercise

[0001] The present invention relates to a mobile support for physical exercise. More in detail, the invention relates to a support provided with at least two supporting surfaces, movable between a balanced position and unbalanced positions, each of which can accommodate a person, sports equipment or both.

[0002] The invention is framed within the sector of sports equipment suitable for stimulating the reaction of the human body to so-called motor interferences, that is, external stimuli that, during the performance of a movement, can generate a variation in the balance of a person.

[0003] Document WO 2015/024040 A1 discloses a support for physical exercise comprising a first support surface and a second support surface, each adapted to accommodate a person, said support surfaces being configured to tilt, rotate around of at least one axis, between a respective equilibrium position and respective unbalanced positions, in which the bearing surfaces are interconnected with each other so that the rotation of one bearing surface influences the rotation of the other bearing surface, and vice versa.

[0004] Usually, the training of the muscles of the body involves the performance of free body exercises or exercises with equipment (mobile equipment or stationary machines).

[0005] During these exercises, the person or the machine rests on a stable support, such as a floor, a fixed platform or the like.

[0006] According to this training method, the person voluntarily contracts his muscles to perform a certain characteristic movement of the exercise he is performing.

[0007] In practice, during the performance of an exercise, any variation in position, acceleration or speed of a part of the body, as well as force exerted by certain muscles, is known or in any case predictable by the person performing the exercise. .

[0008] However, both in the practice of some sports activities and in normal daily actions, our body is often subjected to external, predictable or unpredictable stimuli, which can interfere with a movement that is being carried out or with a state stable equilibrium.

[0009] For example, in a sporting activity, contact with an opponent or an unexpected change of direction can cause an imbalance that the athlete must compensate as quickly as possible.

[0010] In other cases, these interferences can be generated, especially in running, by an incorrect positioning of the foot on the ground, by an athlete's coordination error or by an unexpected variation of the ground under the feet.

[0011] An event of this type can also occur during daily activities, such as walking, climbing stairs or in other more precarious balance conditions.

[0012] Examples of motor interference are also depicted, eg, losing grip and dropping an object and attempting to catch it.

[0013] In general, the greater the speed and the unexpectedness of the interference that occurs, the more difficult it is for the body to react correctly to restore the state of motion, or of undisturbed balance.

In this sense, studies by Shumway-Cook A and Woollacott MH, Nasher LM, Mellroy WE and Maki B, Shumway-Cook A and Horak FB show that this reaction capacity of our body can be developed and increased with a method of training in which motor interference is adequately imparted to the person during physical exercises.

At present, this capacity is stimulated by means of equipment such as proprioceptive platforms and tables or the like.

[0016] Normally, these platforms comprise a rigid board supported by an unstable base, or are provided with support surfaces made of flexible or deformable materials.

[0017] In general, the person can be parked on the platform with one or both extremities, lower or upper.

[0018] The instability of the surface on which the limbs of the person rest causes them to lose their balance and, consequently, activate their muscles to restore said balance.

[0019] With this equipment, the imbalance is therefore determined by a prior, albeit slight, movement of the person.

[0020] Therefore, depending on their proprioceptive capacity, the person may or may not predict, and optionally avoid, said loss of balance.

[0021] In a different way, the object of the present invention is to provide an instrument that allows the person to carry out a physical exercise disturbed by unexpected and unknown motor interference.

In particular, an object of the invention is to provide an instrument capable of generating motor interferences independent of the movements of the person during exercise, or in any case also influenced by external factors that cannot be predicted by the person. person.

[0023] The purpose of this instrument is, therefore, to reproduce the motor interferences to which a person could be subjected in daily life, or an athlete during the performance of a sporting activity.

[0024] Another object of the present invention is to propose a device that is inexpensive and simple to manufacture.

[0025] Another object of the present invention is to produce a versatile device that can be used for professional or amateur training, for various sports disciplines or for rehabilitation.

[0026] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a practical device that can also be used by beginners or inexperienced users.

[0027] These objects are achieved by a support comprising the features of claim 1. The support comprises at least two support surfaces configured to tilt between at least one equilibrium position and unbalanced positions. A person who is going to perform a physical exercise can stand on each support surface. During exercise, the movement of the person can cause a continuous variation of the inclination of the support surface between positions of balance and unbalance, or both. According to the invention, the bearing surfaces are interconnected so that the movement of one of them also influences the movement of the other and vice versa. Therefore, the movement of each support surface depends in part on the movement of the person stationed on it and in part on the movement of the person stationed on the other support surface.

[0028] This interaction between the support surfaces allows movements of the support surfaces to be generated that are unpredictable for the respective people parked on them.

Therefore, these movements are comparable to motor interference capable of simulating unexpected events that normally occur in sports activity or in daily activities.

By subjecting the person to these unexpected disturbances, during the performance of a physical exercise or a specific movement, it is possible to stimulate and train the respective reactions of the muscles of the body.

Therefore, this stimulation is achieved without the aid of motors, actuators or the like, which makes the device particularly simple and inexpensive.

[0032] In the following description, the term interconnection is understood as a physical connection or by means of any other device or means that enables the aforementioned interaction between the mutual movements of the support surfaces to develop.

Therefore, the object of the invention is a support for physical exercise that comprises a first support surface and at least one second support surface, each one adapted to house at least one person and optionally also at least one piece of sports equipment. Said bearing surfaces are tiltable, by rotation, around at least one axis, between at least respective equilibrium and unbalance positions. The support surfaces are also interconnected with each other so that the movement of one support surface influences the movement of the other support surface and vice versa.

[0034] In order for the person to carry out a physical exercise, the support surfaces have a useful surface with an area preferably from 0.5 m2 to 6 m2. Normally, the surfaces can accommodate a person standing or lying down and, optionally, sports equipment.

In one aspect of the invention, the movement of the support surfaces between said equilibrium position and said unbalanced positions is influenced by the movement of the person performing the exercise, by the movement of the sports equipment, or by both .

In another aspect of the invention, the bearing surfaces can rotate about respective axes transverse to each other, or parallel or coincident with each other.

In the latter case, the bearing surfaces are arranged consecutively along a common axis.

[0038] In another aspect of the invention, the support surfaces are joined together by connecting means. Preferably, the connecting means are of the non-rigid type. This makes it possible to establish only a partial mutual influence, or in any case moderate, of the movement of one surface on the other.

Said connection means may comprise one or more of the following means, associated or combined with each other:

- articulated joints;

- hydraulic joints;

- elastic means;

- dampers.

These connection means are preferably removable so that they can be removed or replaced. In this way, it is possible to choose the type of connection means to be used depending on the need to obtain more or less interaction between the movements of the support surfaces.

In another aspect of the invention, the bearing surfaces may be equipped with magnetic means configured to generate mutual attractive or repulsive magnetic forces that interfere with the respective movements of the bearing surfaces.

For simplicity, embodiments with only two support surfaces will be described below. It is understood that the present invention can also be implemented in embodiments with three or more interconnected support surfaces. In these more complex variants, after having made the necessary changes, the same principles used for the support with only two support surfaces apply.

According to the invention, the support comprises at least one first board and at least one second board, on which said first and second support surfaces are respectively obtained. Said boards are connected, directly or indirectly, to at least one base that rests on a stable support surface.

[0044] Preferably, said boards are arranged side by side and at substantially the same height with respect to said stable supporting surface.

According to another variant, the boards can be connected to the base by means of an intermediate support. Preferably, the intermediate support is hinged to the base. The boards in turn are hinged to the intermediate support. The axis of rotation of said intermediate support is preferably transverse to at least one axis of rotation of a deck.

In this variant the interaction between the two support surfaces is also provided by the intermediate support that acts as a rocker. Therefore, the support can be optionally provided with the connection means mentioned above.

In another aspect of the invention the support may comprise braking means adapted to reduce the rotation speed of the boards. Said braking means can be adjustable, for example, to vary the braking intensity, or not adjustable.

In this last embodiment, the support makes it possible to modulate the reaction of the support surface (for example, the speed and acceleration of the rotation) to the movements of the person during the exercise.

In another variant of the invention, the support comprises at least one pair of tables on which the support surfaces are obtained. Said tables are supported by respective bases with an at least partially curved and convex surface placed in the area in contact with the stable bearing surface.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of an example of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a mobile support for physical exercise, as illustrated in the attached figures, in which :

Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the mobile support according to a variant of the invention;

figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the mobile support according to another variant of the invention;

- Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the mobile support according to another variant of the invention.

With reference to figure 1, the number 1 indicates as a whole a mobile support for physical exercise. The mobile support comprises at least a first board 10 and at least a second board 20.

Each board 10, 20 has a top surface 11, 21, which defines a support surface 12, 22.

[0053] In the description that follows, the term support surface refers generically to an area of the board that allows at least one person to be parked on it with one or more parts of the body, in different positions, and move to perform physical exercises.

Therefore, said support surfaces 12, 22 are normally, but not necessarily, flat.

[0055] According to the invention, the support surfaces 12, 22 can also optionally accommodate one or more exercise equipment (not illustrated in the figure), usable to perform physical exercise.

[0056] Said equipment can be sports equipment, fitness or professional training equipment, or rehabilitation equipment.

[0057] This equipment can be stationary and normally bulky and heavy, such as weight lifting machines, multifunction machines, benches, treadmills or mobile equipment such as bars, dumbbells, kettlebells, ropes, elastic bands, straps, etc.

The latter can be placed, removed or replaced directly by the person who wishes to use the platform.

[0059] More generally, the support surfaces 12, 22 are configured to allow one or more people to carry out any type of physical exercise, free-body or with the help of equipment, which involves limited movement of the person on the support surface.

[0060] For this, preferably the support surfaces 12, 22 have a useful surface that allows the exercise to be carried out, with a surface of at least 0.5 m2. However, the surfaces 12, 22 can have a larger useful surface, for example up to 6 m2, suitable to accommodate at least one person and equipment.

The boards 10, 20 are connected to a base 30 configured suitably to be placed on a stable surface, such as a floor.

Said base 30 can be shared, as in the example of figure 1, or, alternatively, each board 10, 20 can be connected to a respective base, mobile with respect to the other.

According to the invention, each bearing surface 12, 22 is configured to be able to tilt, with respect to the ground plane, around at least one respective axis X1, X2.

[0064] More in detail, the support surfaces 12, 22 can rotate between at least one equilibrium position, in which the support surface is substantially parallel to the ground, and unbalanced positions in which the support surface is inclined in one direction.

Depending on the type of exercise to be performed, or the type of equipment used, each support surface 12, 22 can have several degrees of freedom, preferably one to three.

In the example of figure 1, the two boards 10, 20 are placed side by side and are hinged to the base respectively on two axes X1, X2 parallel to each other.

According to the invention, the boards 10, 20 can also be connected to the base in alternative ways, such as with the hinge axes X1, X2 transverse to each other, eg perpendicular, or coincident.

According to another variant, not illustrated, the boards 10, 20 can be attached to the base 30 by means of an articulated joint that allows the support surface to tilt in any direction.

The boards 10, 20 can be connected to the base 30 to give said support surfaces a stable type or unstable type balance.

[0070] For this, for example, the boards 10, 20 and the base 30 can be configured so that the centroid of each plate is positioned below or on the respective axis X1, X2.

The two bearing surfaces 12, 22 according to the invention are interconnected with each other so that a rotation, or inclination, of one of these surfaces interferes with a rotation of the other bearing surface, influencing its balance.

[0072] In practice, the balance or imbalance of a support surface is determined both by the movement of the person who is on it and is performing the exercise, and by the movements of the other associated surface, which in turn they depend on the movements of the other person.

According to the invention, the support can be used by two people who carry out a physical exercise independently.

Therefore, as one person does not know the movements of the other in advance, it is not possible to predict the movement of the support surface of the other person and, consequently, the stress to which the surface will be subjected .

Due to this configuration, the support according to the present invention will allow the generation of a continuous sequence of motor interferences generated by the respective movements of the two people on the support.

[0076] According to a preferred variant of the invention, the support surfaces 12, 22 are connected to each other by means of connection means 40.

[0077] Preferably, said connection means 40 are not rigid, so as to allow the bearing surfaces to rotate about their respective axes, when they are transverse or parallel to each other, or to rotate in an uncoordinated manner when said axes are coincident.

The preferred connection means 40, for connecting the supporting surfaces, are for example articulated or flexible joints 41, hydraulic joints, elastic means 42, such as springs, elastomers or the like, or dampers 43.

Said connection means 40 may comprise one or more of the aforementioned means, optionally combined with each other in a single element.

These connection means 40 can be connected on respective edges of the boards 10, 20 or in the lower zone, so as not to obstruct the movements of the person.

According to the invention, the support can also comprise magnetic means 50, for example permanent magnets or electromagnets.

Therefore, said magnets 50 can generate magnetic forces of attraction or repulsion, with an intensity determined by the relative position (or distance) of the two support surfaces 12, 22.

[0083] Said magnets 50 can be provided in association with the connection means 40, or alternatively to these means.

According to a preferred variant, the support is also provided with braking means, not illustrated in the figure.

[0085] The purpose of the braking means is to reduce the speed of movement of the support surfaces between different unbalanced positions.

[0086] For example, said braking means can be associated with the joints that allow the rotation of the boards 10, 20 with respect to the base 30.

According to a preferred variant, the braking means are adjustable to be able to modulate the speed and acceleration of rotation of the board, in response to a certain load applied to the support surface (which depends on the movement of the person).

Figure 2 shows another variant of the invention in which the boards 10, 20 are connected to the base 30 by means of an intermediate support 60.

The intermediate support 60 is preferably hinged to the base on a Y axis substantially parallel to the stable support surface.

The boards 10, 20 are in turn articulated on the intermediate support. In the variant of figure 2, the boards 10, 20 are both hinged on an axis X substantially transverse to the Y axis. Therefore, said boards 10, 20 have two degrees of freedom of movement.

The intermediate support 60, which acts as a rocker, thus causes the boards 10, 20 to tilt around the X axis.

The interaction between the movements of the support surfaces 12, 22, in this variant, can therefore be implemented only by means of said intermediate support 60 or also with connection means 40 selected from those indicated above and also optionally, or alternatively , by means of the magnetic means 50.

The braking means, if provided, can be applied also, or only, between the base 30 and the intermediate support 60 to reduce the speed of movement of the latter.

[0094] Figure 3 shows another variant of the mobile support 1. Said support comprises at least one first table 110 and at least one second table 120 on the respective upper surfaces 111, 121 of which the first support surface 112 and are defined the second bearing surface 122.

In this variant, the tables 110, 120 are supported by respective unstable bases 113, 123. Preferably, said bases 113, 123 comprise a frame with an at least partially curved and convex surface, placed in the area in contact with the stable support surface.

Said casing can be made of rigid or flexible material.

The aforementioned shape of the bases 113, 123 allows the tables to be tilted in one or more directions. In a preferred variant, the bases have an axial symmetric profile that allows the tables 110, 120 to tilt in any direction.

[0098] Also in this variant the bearing surfaces 112, 122 are preferably joined by connection means 40 selected from those described above or, additionally, they can be provided with magnetic means 50.

[0099] The invention has been described for illustrative and non-limiting purposes in accordance with some preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art can find many other embodiments and variants, all of which are within the scope of protection of the following claims.

Bibliography

[0100]

- Shumway-Cook A & Woollacott MH. Motor control: Theory and Practical Applications (2nd and). Philadelphia. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2001.

- Nasher LM. Sensory, neuromuscular and biomechanical contribution to human balance. In Pw. Duncan And, Balance: Proceedings of the APTA forum. Virginia: American Physical Therapy, 1990.

- Mcllroy WE, Maki B. Age-related changes in compensatory stepping in response to unpredictable perturbations. J of Gerontology, 1996, 51 A: 289-296.

- Shumway-Cook A & Woollacott M. Attentional demands and postural control: the effects of sensory context. J of Gerontology, 2000, 55A: M10-16.

- Shumway-Cook A & Horak FB. Assessing the influence of sensory interaction on balance. Physical Therapy. 1986, 66 (10): 1548-1550.

Claims (13)

1. Support (1) adapted to accommodate at least one person who performs a physical exercise comprising: - at least one first board (10) and at least one second board (20), on which are obtained at least one first support surface (12, 112) and at least one second support surface (22, 122) respectively , each adapted to accommodate at least one person and also optionally at least one piece of sports equipment such that two people can independently perform a physical exercise; - at least one base (30) supported on a stable bearing surface; said boards (10, 20) being connected to the base (30) so that each supporting surface (12, 22, 112, 122) can tilt or rotate with respect to the base about at least one respective axis (X1, X2), between at least one respective equilibrium position and respective unbalance positions, the bearing surfaces (12, 22, 112, 122) being interconnected with each other so that the inclination or rotation of a bearing surface influences the inclination or rotation of the other support surface, and vice versa, so that said movements of the support surfaces are not predictable for the respective people stationed on them. Support (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement of the support surfaces (12, 22, 112, 122) between said equilibrium position and said unbalanced positions is influenced by the movement of the person performing the exercise. Support (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the rotational axes (X1, X2) of the support surfaces (12, 22) are transverse to each other, parallel or coincident with each other. Support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the equilibrium position of the support surfaces (12, 22, 112, 122) is of the stable or unstable type. Support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support surfaces (12, 22, 112, 122) are joined by means of connection means (40), of the non-rigid type, to allow the support surfaces turn. around the respective axis (X1, X2), when these are transversal or parallel to each other, or they rotate in an uncoordinated way when said axes are coincident. Support (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that said connection means (40) are selected from one or more of the following means, associated or combined with each other: - articulated joints (41); - hydraulic joints; - elastic means (42); - shock absorbers (43). Support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support surfaces (12, 22, 112, 122) are provided with magnetic means (50) configured to generate magnetic forces of mutual attraction or repulsion, adapted to interfere with the respective movements of the support surfaces (11, 12, 112, 122). Support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an intermediate support (60) articulated on said base (30) on an axis substantially parallel to the stable support surface, the boards (10, 20) being articulated on the intermediate support (60). Support (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the boards (10, 20) are placed side by side and hinged to the base (30) respectively on two parallel axes (X1, X2), perpendicular or transverse to each other. Support (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the boards (10, 20) are connected to said base (30) by means of an articulated joint that allows the support surface (10, 20) to tilt In any direction. Support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises braking means adapted to reduce the rotation speed of the boards (10, 20), said braking means being adjustable or non-adjustable. Support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boards (10, 20) and the base (30) are configured such that the centroid of each board is positioned under or on the respective axis X1, X2. 13. Support (1) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that said support surfaces (12, 22) have a useful surface, for carrying out an exercise, with an area of 0.5 m2 to 6 m2.