FR3057466A1 - DEVICE FOR REINFORCING RESPIRATORY MUSCLES. - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device 10 for strengthening respiratory muscles, comprising: - a body 11 forming a housing 16, 26; - A removable mouth 12 forming with the body a channel 44 for a user exsuffle air; a microphone 62 disposed in a passageway 31 extending from the housing into the channel for recording data relating to the exsuffered air; and, a Bluetooth ™ antenna for transmitting this data to remote processing means.

Description

057 466

60080 ® FRENCH REPUBLIC

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY © Publication number:

(to be used only for reproduction orders)

©) National registration number

COURBEVOIE © Int Cl ⁸ : A 63 B 23/18 (2017.01)

PATENT INVENTION APPLICATION

A1

©) Date of filing: 18.10.16. © Applicant (s): PHYSIOBLUE — FR. (© Priority: @ Inventor (s): CHENEBIT MATHIEU and BRUNEL MICHAEL. (43? Date of public availability of the request: 20.04.18 Bulletin 18/16. ©) List of documents cited in the report preliminary research: Refer to end of present booklet (© References to other national documents ® Holder (s): PHYSIOBLUE. related: ©) Extension request (s): © Agent (s): CABINET MOUTARD.

Pty DEVICE FOR STRENGTHENING RESPIRATORY MUSCLES.

FR 3 057 466 - A1 _ The invention relates to a device 10 for strengthening respiratory muscles, comprising:

- A body 11 forming a housing 16, 26;

- A removable mouth 12 forming with the body a channel 44 so that a user exudes air therefrom;

- A microphone 62 disposed in a passage 31 extending from the housing to the channel to collect data relating to the exhaled air; and,

- a Bluetooth antenna for transmitting this data to remote processing means.

54 n

The present invention relates to the field of devices suitable for strengthening muscles, in particular for strengthening the respiratory muscles, in particular the transverse abdominal muscles. More particularly, a device according to the invention can be adapted to the implementation of one of the rehabilitation methods developed from the 1970s by the physiotherapist Luc Guillarme.

In document EP 0 519 846, Luc Guillarme describes there his method and a device adapted to its implementation. However, this very basic device does not make it possible to control the proper implementation of the method by an individual who is not accompanied by a professional, for example a physiotherapist.

The document EP 1 377 347 (IDIAG) describes an apparatus for training the respiratory muscles using an inflatable balloon and a set of valves. This device is complex; it is suitable for medical use and not for daily use.

The document EP 2 303 417 (Powerbreathe Holdings) describes a device for training the respiratory muscles also using valves. This device is complex and not very suitable for daily use.

-2The object of the invention is to provide a portable device which allows its user simple and daily use, discreet, for example during transport times between his home, his work or his office.

To achieve its goal, the invention provides a device for strengthening respiratory muscles, characterized in that it comprises;

- a body forming an interior housing;

- A mouth forming with the body a channel for a passage of air blown by the user of the device and provided with an inlet for this air in the channel;

- an outlet for air from the canal; and,

- electronic means arranged in the housing;

these electronic means comprising:

- a sensor for reading data relating to the exhaled air; and,

- means for transmitting this data to remote processing means.

The body advantageously comprises a passage connecting the housing with the channel through a wall of this housing, the sensor extending in the passage from the housing. The sensor is preferably a microphone.

The electronic means are advantageously designed to know at least one datum among: the moment of the exsufflation, the duration of the exsufflation and the rate of the exsufflation.

The transmission means can comprise wireless transmission means, preferably using Bluetooth ™ transmission means, and / or, a socket for a computer cable, preferably a USB type socket.

The electronic means can also comprise a battery and means for charging this battery, these charging means comprising a socket, preferably a USB type socket.

Advantageously, the mouthpiece is removably mounted on the body.

The invention also relates to a system for strengthening respiratory muscles, comprising a device according to the invention having a first mouthpiece removably mounted on the body, and, at least one additional mouthpiece, the inlet of each of the mouthpieces having a cross section. entry different from that of each other mouth.

Preferably, such a system comprises at least two additional mouths:

- A second mouth which has an inlet section of between two-fifths and two-thirds of that of the first mouth, preferably an inlet section substantially equal to two-thirds of the inlet section of the first mouth; and,

- A third mouth which has an inlet section between two fifths and two-thirds of that of said second mouth (56), preferably an inlet section substantially equal to one third of the inlet section of the first mouth.

The system advantageously comprises a computer application intended to be installed on a remote machine, preferably a portable machine, for example a cell phone, in particular of the type known by the anglicism "smartphone", or a digital tablet. The application advantageously includes an algorithm for adapting an exercise program according to a desired objective and exercises already carried out.

The invention also relates to a method of strengthening muscles, in particular a method for strengthening the transverse adnom muscles, using a device or a system according to the invention. Thus, in addition to a rehabilitation function, such a device makes it possible in particular to obtain a flatter stomach, which is aesthetically favorable, to relieve and protect the back and / or relax the user, by a simple and not very restrictive method.

Several embodiments of the invention will be described below, by way of nonlimiting examples, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of three-quarters before a device according to the invention, equipped with a first type of mouth;

- Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the device of Figure 1;

- Figure 3 is a perspective view of a second type of mouthpiece for the device of Figure 1;

- Figure 4 is a perspective view of a third type of mouthpiece for the device of Figure 1; and,

- Figure 5 is an enlarged view, in elevation and in section, of the device of Figure 1, in the vicinity of the mouth.

In the following description, the terms: top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, upper or lower, refer to the position of the device as illustrated in the figures, in particular in Figure 5, the plane of Figure 5 corresponding to a plane P of symmetry, longitudinal and vertical, for the device.

Figure 1 shows a device 10 which can be used to strengthen a user's respiratory muscles. The device 10 is easily portable, its longitudinal dimension, the largest, that is to say its length L10, is sufficiently reduced so that the device 10 can be carried in a pocket of a user's garment. It is thus available to be used from

-5the user has time, as much as needed. In the example illustrated, the length L10 is less than 80 millimeters. The device 10 is substantially symmetrical relative to the plane P; FIG. 5 illustrates a partial section of the device along this plane of symmetry P.

As particularly illustrated in FIG. 2, the device 10 notably comprises a body 11, a mouth 12, a plug 13 and electronic means 14.

The body forms an interior housing 16 of constant sensitive oblong cross section. The housing 16 is designed to accommodate the electronic means 14. The housing 16 is terminated at the front by a transverse wall 15. It is open at a rear end 17 of the body 11, substantially over its entire cross section; thus, the electronic means can be introduced longitudinally into the housing 16, through the rear end 17. The plug 13 is provided to close the rear end 17 and maintain the electronic means in the housing 16. A opening 18 is formed in a ceiling 19 of the body 11; the opening communicates the housing and the exterior of the device.

The body further comprises, at the front of the housing 16, a spout 17, around which the mouth 12 is mounted. The spout extends forward from the transverse wall 15. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the spout 17 comprises an upper wall 21 and a lower wall 22 which join forward to form a vault 23. The wall upper 21 and lower wall 22 are interconnected by side walls 24.

The upper wall 21, the lower wall 22 and the side walls 24 together form a recess 26. The recess 26 communicates with the housing 16 through an opening 27, formed through the transverse wall 15. Thus, the recess 26

-6 constitutes an extension of housing 16 towards the front. The lower wall 22 of the spout 17 and the transverse wall 15 together form a shoulder 28 above a floor 29 of the housing 16. A through passage 31 is formed vertically in the lower wall 22, in the vicinity of the transverse wall

15.

The walls 21, 22, 24 of the niche together form a substantially frustoconical part 32 of the spout 17, the cross section of which narrows as one goes from back to front. The frustoconical part 32 comprises latching means 33 provided for engaging with complementary latching means (not shown in the figures) of the mouth 12 in order to fix the mouth to the body 11. In the example illustrated, the latching means comprise two recesses 33, each formed outside a respective side wall 24, in the vicinity of the transverse wall 15; each hollow is designed to accommodate a complementary projection carried by the mouth 12.

The arch 23 extends forward the frusto-conical part 32. The arch has an upper surface 33 whose cross section is substantially constant, in the shape of an inverted "U". The vault 23 has a lower surface 34, an anterior section of which forms three vaults 36 separated from each other by two ribs 37. The grooves 37 and the vaults 36 disappear as the surface 34 is traversed backwards, so that in the vicinity of the transverse wall 15 the cross section of the surface 34 is substantially smooth.

The mouth 12 has a tube shape of which:

- An upper portion 41 conforms to the external shape of the vault 23 and the upper wall 21 of the spout 17; and,

a lower portion 42 forms, between it and the spout, a channel 44.

A peripheral rear edge 46 of the tube thus formed comes into substantial abutment against an anterior peripheral edge 47 of the transverse wall 14, around the spout 17.

Thus, the mouth 12 comprises a substantially frustoconical rear part 12A, the cross section of which narrows as one goes from back to front. The rear part 12A comprises, in the vicinity of the rear edge 46, the complementary latching means (not shown in the figures) provided for engaging with the latching means 33 of the spout 17 in order to fix the mouthpiece to the body 11. The rear part 12A is extended forward by a front part 12B of substantially constant section. The section of the front part 12B is substantially oblong; its dimensions L48 x H48 and the length L12B of the front part 12B are such that the front part 12B can easily be held between the lips of the user, in a substantially airtight manner.

In the example shown:

- the height H48 of the front part is between 4 and 5 mm;

- the width L48 of the front part is between 14 and 15 mm;

- the length L12B of the front part is between 14 and 16 mm.

The mouth 12 further comprises a front wall 48, closing the tube from the front. The front wall 48 is pierced with an opening serving as an inlet 49 for air in the channel 44. In addition, a notch 51 is formed in the rear edge 46, substantially opposite the passage 31 in an area at the bottom of the transverse wall 15. Thus, the notch 51 forms with the front edge 47 an outlet 52 for the air which is in the channel 44. The section of the air inlet 49 is substantially equal to the section of the air outlet 52,

In the example of FIG. 2, the air inlet 49 is formed by three cylindrical orifices in the front wall 48; the orifices are regularly spaced, arranged transversely side by side and connected transversely to one another. In the example illustrated, the orifices have a diameter D49 of 3.5 millimeters and the distance between the two orifices furthest from one another is 7.5 millimeters. The vaults 36 are provided to form an extension of an interior surface 54 of the pantries, so that the bottom surface 34 of the arch 23 ensures functional continuity of the guidance of the air which enters through the inlet 49, all along from channel 44.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the electronic means 14 comprise:

- a support plate 61;

- a breath sensor 62;

- an on / off button 63;

- a computer socket 64;

- an antenna 65;

- a battery 66; and,

- yet other electronic components, not shown.

The plate 61 serves as a support for all of the components 61-65 of the electronic means 14. It has a main part 71 of substantially rectangular shape, extended by an auxiliary part 72 of reduced width. The main part 71 is disposed substantially horizontally in the housing 16, so that the auxiliary part 72 enters the niche 26.

In the example illustrated, the breath sensor is a microphone 62. The microphone 62 is fixed under the auxiliary part 72, so that it penetrates, from above, into the passage 31. The microphone makes it possible in particular to know a duration and a flow rate of a breath emitted by the user of the device, in channel 44.

The battery 66 is fixed under the main part 71; it is thus arranged between the plate 61 and the floor 29. The other components 63-65 are fixed to the top of the main part 71.

In the example illustrated, the button 63 is arranged so that it fits tightly inside the opening 18.

In the example illustrated, socket 64 is of the USB type. It is arranged in cantilever, at the rear of the plate 61, so that it enters a window 73 formed in the plug 13. Thus, the socket 64 is accessible through the window 73 to connect a cable there. , in order to recharge the battery and / or exchange data with remote computer processing means.

In the example illustrated, the antenna 65 is of the Bluetooth ™ type. It allows the device to wirelessly exchange data with remote computer processing means. Preferably, these exchanges are made in real time, during the use of the device. This data may include data collected by the microphone 62, including when and how long a breath lasted and how intense it was.

The remote means are advantageously portable means, for example a cell phone or a digital tablet.

The mouth 12 is removable. A system according to the invention, as illustrated in the figures, comprises, in addition to the first mouth 12 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a second mouth 56, illustrated in FIG. 3, and, a third mouth 58, illustrated in FIG. 4.

- ίου air inlet 49 of the second mouth 56 is formed of only two cylinders, of sizes and arrangements substantially identical to those of the two cylinders furthest from the air inlet of the first mouth 12. The section of the inlet 49 of the second mouth 56 is therefore substantially equal to two thirds of the section of the inlet 49 of the first mouth 12.

The air inlet 49 of the third mouth 58 is formed of a single cylinder, of sizes and arrangement substantially identical to those of the central cylinder of the air inlet of the first mouth 12. The section of the inlet 49 of the third mouth 58 is therefore substantially equal to a third of the section of the inlet 49 of the first mouth 12.

The mouths 12, 56, 58 serve as means for opposing resistance to the user's exufflation. The different mouths 12, 56, 58 therefore serve to calibrate different resistances. The first mouth 12 offers less resistance than the second mouth 56 which itself offers less resistance than the third mouth 58.

In a method of muscle building according to the invention, the user first uses the first mouthpiece 12. This first mouthpiece can, for example, be used for a first period of two weeks at a frequency of ten minutes of exercise every days. Once a first reinforcement has been obtained, the second mouthpiece 56 is used for a second period, for example two weeks at the same frequency. Then, once additional reinforcement has been obtained, the third mouthpiece is used for a third period, for example two weeks at the same frequency. During each period, the system according to the invention follows the progress of the exercise, in particular using the microphone 62 and remote means. Each period can be increased or reduced depending on whether the

The system determines whether or not the pre-established exercise program has been followed and whether or not the strengthening objective has been achieved. Depending on the progress of the user, the system can propose an adaptation of the exercise program to the user.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments which have just been described but, on the contrary, the invention is defined by the claims which follow.

It will appear to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made to the embodiments described above, in the light of the teaching which has just been disclosed to him.

Thus, the case and the mouthpiece can be in one piece. In this case, means for adjusting the opening of the mouthpiece can be provided. These adjustment means can, for example, be an iris or a slide.

A device according to the invention may also not include a computer socket. Indeed, the battery can include means of recharging by induction and the data exchange can only be provided wirelessly.

Preferably, the electronic means internal to the device comprise means for processing the data, in particular for digitizing it, before transmitting this data thus processed to the remote processing means.

Claims (13)

Claims 1. Device (10) for strengthening respiratory muscles, characterized in that it comprises: - a body (11) forming an interior housing (16,26); - A mouth (12) forming with the body a channel (44) for a passage of air exuded by a user of said device and provided with an inlet (49) for said air in said channel; - an outlet (52) for the channel air; and, - electronic means (14) arranged in said housing (16); said electronic means comprising: - a sensor (62) for reading data relating to the exhaust air; - means (64, 65) for transmitting said data to remote processing means. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the body (11) comprises a passage (31) connecting the housing with the channel (44) through a wall (22) of said housing, the sensor (62) s extending from the housing in said passage. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the sensor is a microphone (62). 4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the electronic means (14) are designed to know at least one data item among: - the time of exuffufflation; - the duration of the exhaustion; - the flow of exhaustion. -135. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the transmission means comprise wireless transmission means, preferably using Bluetooth ™ transmission means (65). 6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the transmission means comprise a socket for a computer cable, preferably a socket (64) of USB type. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electronic means comprise a battery (66) and means for recharging said battery, said charging means comprising a socket, preferably a socket (64) of USB type. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the mouthpiece (12) is removably mounted on the body (11). 9. System for strengthening respiratory muscles, characterized in that it comprises: - a device (10) according to claim 8; and, - at least one additional mouth (56, 58) in addition to the first mouth (12) of said device (10), the inlet (49) of each of said mouths having a different entry section than that of each other mouth. 10. System according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises two additional mouths: - A second mouth (56) which has an inlet section between two-fifths and two-thirds of that of the first mouth (12), preferably an inlet section substantially equal to two-thirds of the section d 'entry of said first mouth (12); and,. 14- a third mouthpiece (58) which has an inlet section between two-fifths and two-thirds of that of said second mouthpiece (56), preferably an inlet section substantially equal to one third of the section of entry of said first mouth (12). 11. System according to one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that it comprises, among the remote processing means, a computer application intended to be installed on a remote machine, preferably a portable machine. 12. The system as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the remote machine is a cell phone, in particular of the type known as "smartphone", or a digital tablet. 15 13. System according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the application comprises an algorithm for adapting a muscular exercise program as a function of a desired objective and of exercises already carried out. 14. Muscle strengthening method, in particular for strengthening the 20 transverse adnom muscles, characterized in that it uses a device according to one of Claims 1 to 8 and / or a system according to one of Claims 9 to 13. Ί / 2 [) 4q 49. fig. 2/2