GB2267652A

GB2267652A - Floatable exercise apparatus.

Info

Publication number: GB2267652A
Application number: GB9212454A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Reginald Whatley
Original assignee: University of Southampton
Current assignee: University of Southampton
Priority date: 1992-06-11
Filing date: 1992-06-11
Publication date: 1993-12-15
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-11
Also published as: GB2267652B; GB9212454D0

Abstract

The apparatus, e.g for injury rehabilitation, includes a float (11) which is shaped like a letter "C" and which supports an underslung seat (12). The apparatus (10) is adequately buoyant to support a person sifting on the seat (12) partially submerged under water. A mechanism (26, 27, 28, 29) connects a pair of actuator handles (30) and a pair of pivotable paddles (19, 20). Each paddle (19, 20) includes a foot rest (33). A user of the apparatus (10) operating the paddles by means of depressing the foot rest (33) simultaneously exercises his arms while he is holding on to the handles (30). The apparatus can be configured to exercise predominantly the lower body (i.e. the legs) or, alternatively, the upper body. The apparatus can be adapted to stack with further such apparatuses. <IMAGE>

Description

A FLOATABLE EXERCISE APPARATUS This invention relates to a floatable exercise apparatus. Numerous such devices have in the past been devised. However, none of the known, floatable exercise apparatuses permits the exercising of one part of the body together with the enforced, simultaneous exercising of another part of the body.

According to the invention, there is provided a floatable exercise apparatus comprising: a float adapted to support at least one of the limbs of a user of the apparatus on or in a liquid; a first paddle or blade adapted, in use of the apparatus, to engage said liquid, said first paddle or blade being mounted for reciprocatory motion relative to said float means; first and second actuators for causing motion of said first paddle or blade; and means interconnecting said first and second actuators whereby movement of one of the actuators causes movement of the other actuator.

If the respective first and second actuators are gripped or engaged by different parts of the body, the movement of one part of the body necessarily causes movement of the other part. Such an arrangement is particularly advantageous in exercising a part of the body which has been injured. The use of a float to support at least part of the body reduces stresses on the body which may be caused, e.g., by the self-supporting of an injured part thereof.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a further paddle or blade adapted, in use of the apparatus, to engage the liquid, the further paddle or blade being mounted for reciprocatory motion relative to said float; third and fourth actuators for causing motion of the further paddle or blade; and means interconnecting the third and fourth actuators whereby movement of one of the third and fourth actuators causes movement of the other of the third and fourth actuators. Thus, two distinct parts of the body may be exercised using a single apparatus.

Preferably, the motion of the further paddle or blade is independent of the motion of the first paddle or blade. Thus, the distinct parts of the body referred to above need not be exercised in synchronism. This is advantageous when, for example, one side of the body has suffered an iniury.

Conveniently, the first and third actuators are adapted to be operated by hand and the second and fourth actuators are adapted to be operated by foot. Use of this arrangement advantageously permits, for example, the exercising of an injured foot or leg with assistance from a healthy hand or arm.

Preferably, the first and second actuators are disposed for respective operation by the right hand and right foot of a user of the apparatus, and the third and fourth actuators are disposed for respective operation by the left hand and left foot of the user.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the components are arranged so that a movement of the blades or paddles in one direction by means of, e.g., a foot can be reversed by means of a movement of the hand.

When the motion of the further paddle or blade is independent of the motion of the first paddle or blade, the exercising of the left and right hand sides of the body can be accomplished using a rhythmical action which does not place strain on any part of the body and yet which may take account of differing strengths between limbs on the left and right hand sides of the body.

Conveniently, the float is adapted to support the entire weight of a user of the apparatus. This feature is particularly advantageous when the apparatus is to be used by users who are not used to exercise, since they do not have to support their own body weight. Additionally, this feature permits the exercise apparatus to be used in a variety of locations, swimming pools, rivers, lakes, the sea, etc. For the avoidance of doubt, the apparatus may be used in a variety of liquids, although it is expected that it will most commonly be used in liquids such as swimming pool water, sea water and river water which are not toxic to humans and which are of approximately the same density as water. Nevertheless, use of the apparatus of the invention, in e.g., foams, salt solutions and other liquids is contemplated.

Preferably, the apparatus includes a seat supporting a user of the apparatus. This feature permits the user to adopt a good posture for exercise, with his trunk upright and his legs approximately at 900 thereto, without straining his lower back.

Conveniently, the apparatus is adapted to support a user thereof partially submerged in a liquid. An advantage of this arrangement is that, in addition to resistance caused by engagement of the or each blade or paddle with the liquid, the engagement of the limbs of the user with the liquid gives rise to resistance, thereby increasing the exercise workload.

Preferably, the first actuator is constituted by a rod pivotably secured to the float, the first paddle or blade is pivotably secured to the float at a point spaced from the pivoting of the rod, the second actuator is constituted by a plate member secured to the first paddle or float, and the means interconnecting the first and second actuators includes a link pivotably secured at one end to the rod at a point spaced from the pivoting thereof and at the other end to the paddle or blade at a point spaced from the pivoting thereof. This mechanism is advantageously neat and compact, and permits ready operation of the device such that, for example, the foot may be used to move the blade or paddle in one direction of the reciprocatory motion and the hand may be used to return the blade or paddle to its initial position.

Preferably, the third actuator is constituted by a rod pivotably secured to the float, the further paddle or blade is pivotably secured to the float at a point spaced from the pivoting of said rod, the fourth actuator is constituted by a plate member secured to the further paddle or float and the means interconnecting the third and fourth actuators includes a link pivotably secured at one end to said rod at a point spaced from the pivoting thereof, and at the other end to the further paddle or blade at a point spaced from the pivoting thereof.

This feature confers similar advantages on the version of the invention having two sets of actuators and blades or paddles.

Conveniently, the resistance to motion of the first blade or paddle and/or the further blade or paddle (if present) is adjustable. This allows the work rate of the user of the apparatus to be adjusted. This is particularly useful during rehabilitation of injured parts of the body.

Conveniently, when the apparatus includes the third and fourth actuators and the further paddle or blade, the apparatus may include energy storage and dissipation means connected to the or one of the blades or paddles adapted to store energy during part of the motion of the blade(s) or paddle(s) and adapted to release said energy during a further part of the motion of said blade(s) or paddle(s) to assist said further part of the motion.

Optionally, the float and the or each blade or paddle are adapted to permit movement of the apparatus, in use thereof, through a liquid on or in which the apparatus floats. This advantageously permits the apparatus to be used additionally as a leisure apparatus if desired. When this feature is present in conjunction with the feature of independence of the motion of the two paddles or blades, the apparatus may be steered by selective actuation of the paddles or blades.

Conveniently, the float may be so shaped and the components thereof so disposed that the exercise apparatus stacks on or nests within a further such exercise apparatus. This permits a number of exercise apparatuses to be stored neatly and conveniently.

There now follows a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, with reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a floatable exercise apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; Figure 3 is an elevation of the apparatus of Figures 1 and 2 viewed from the front end; Figure 4 is an elevation view of the apparatus of Figures 1 to 3 viewed from the rear end; and Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the mechanism connecting and supporting the actuators.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an exercise apparatus indicated generally by the numeral 10. The apparatus comprises a float 11 made up of a pair of buoyant pontoon portions Ila, llb which are joined at the forward end of the apparatus so that the shape of the float when viewed in plan resembles a letter C" or "U".

Suspended beneath the pontoon portions lla, lib and the forward portion of the float 11 is a seat 12 for a user of the exercise apparatus. The sides of seat 12 extend upwardly as wall portions 13a and 13b to provide for suspension of seat 12 beneath the pontoon portions lla, llb. The wall portions 13a, 13b are secured at their upper ends to the lower sides of the corresponding portions lia, llb.

The back rest portion 14 of seat 12 also extends upwardly to meet the forward portion of float 11, thereby assisting in the suspension of seat 12 beneath float 11. The wall portions 13a, 13b and the back rest portion 14 form a discontinuous wall partially enclosing the region around the forward end of seat 12. Apertures 16 are formed in the otherwise continuous wall which would be formed by the wall portions 13a, 13b and the back rest portion 14, partly because manufacture of the apparatus is thereby facilitated and partly to allow the free passage of water about the seat in use of the apparatus (to be described below).

The forwardmost portion of back rest 14 is shaped as a prow extending between the forward end of seat 12 and the forwardmost part of float 11.

Thus, in the embodiment shown, a user of the apparatus sits facing rearwardly as described below.

In the embodiment shown, the float 11 is manufactured from a glass fibre reinforced plastic covered foam material. Other, suitably buoyant materials may be used. The seat 12, wall portions 13a, 13b, back rest portion 14 and prow 17 may be manufactured from similar materials, depending on the overall buoyancy of the apparatus required.

The wall portions 13a, 13b only extend rearwardly approximately halfway along the pontoon portions lla, llb, in line with the rearmost edge of seat 12. Cut-away wall portions extend from the seat towards the rear of the apparatus. A pair of runners 18 extend rearwardly of the rearmost portion of seat 12 below the cut-away wall portions. Approximately at the rearmost end of the apparatus, each runner 18 is craned upwardly to meet the lowermost edge of a respective pontoon portion lib. The runners 18 may conveniently be manufactured of a lightweight, non corroding material such as anodised aluminium. Other materials may possibly be used.

It will be apparent from Figure 1 that the float 11 and seat 12 constitute a buoyancy aid for a user of the apparatus sitting in seat 12.

Depending on the buoyancy of the float 11, the weight of the user and the weight of the less buoyant components such as runner 18, the apparatus can be arranged to support a user sitting in seat 12 partially submerged in water.

Ideally, the components are chosen so that the user is submerged up to chest height.

As a result of the presence of apertures 16 and the open rear end of the apparatus, the user would be surrounded by water, and his four limbs would be moveable against the resistance provided by the water surrounding him.

A pair of paddles 19, 20 are suspended respectively under pontoons llb and lla adjacent the rearward end of the apparatus 10. Each paddle is pointed towards the forward end of the apparatus and hollow towards the rearward end.

Each paddle is pivotably suspended from above by means of a pin joint 22 which secures it to the underside of the pontoon portion llb or lla. The paddles 19, 20 are pivotable forwardly and rearwardly. On forward pivoting, the paddles 19, 20 move comparatively freely through the water; however, on rearward pivoting the paddles scoop into the water in which the apparatus 10 is floating and thereby provide resistance to movement of the paddles 19, 20 rearwardly. If the apparatus 10 is not tethered or otherwise fixed in the water, rearward pivoting of the paddles 19 will result in forward motion of the apparatus 10. For this reason, the prow portion of float 11 may be pointed as shown to assist the forward movement of the apparatus.

A lug 23 is formed on the forwardmost edge of each paddle 19, 20. The lug has an aperture which receives the pin of a further pin joint 24. Pin joint 24 provides the pivotable securing to the respective paddles 19, 20 of links 26, 27 which extend forwardly of the paddles 19, 20 respectively along either side of the apparatus 10. At its forwardmost end, each link 26, 27 is pivotably connected to the lowermost end of a respective actuator rod 28, 29.

The rods 28, 29 extend generally upwardly within the apparatus adjacent the inner surfaces of the respective wall portions 13, 13b on either side of the apparatus 10. The cut-away portion of each respective side wall 13a, 13b encloses the corresponding actuator rod 28, 29.

Each actuator rod is pivotably secured to its corresponding wall portion 13b, 13a adjacent the lower end of the rod 28, 29. At its upper end, each actuator rod 28, 29 carries an inwardly directed handle 30. It will be apparent that rotation of actuator rod 28 about the pivot 31 causes generally horizontal movement of link 26 and pivoting of paddle 19. If the handle 20 of rod 28 is initially in a forwardmost position, pivoting of handle 30 of rod 28 towards the rearward position causes forward pivoting of paddle 19. A similar operation takes place on pivoting of actuator rod 29, the motion being transmitted via link 27 to cause pivoting of paddle 20.

Each of the paddles has an inwardly extending, lowermost portion 32 to which is attached a forwardly facing foot rest, 33. Thus, each foot rest 33 is disposed "inboard" of the respective paddle 19, 20 to which it is attached.

Reference to Figure 2 shows the use of the apparatus. The apparatus 10 is floated in a liquid such as water, the surface of which is represented by line 34. A user 35 of the apparatus climbs or is lowered into the seat 12.

He rests his feet on the respective left and right foot rests 33. He grasps the left and right handles respectively with his left and right hands. By depressing his foot onto one of the foot rests, the associated paddle 19 or 20 is pivoted rearwardly, and simultaneously the handle 30 on the same side of the apparatus 10 pivots forwardly. This action of the paddle causes a propulsive force, which drives the apparatus 10 forwardly if it is not tethered. The user 35 may return the paddle just depressed to its forwardmost position by pivoting rearwardly the handle 30 on the same side as the paddle to be returned.

It will be appreciated that, as configured in the drawings, the majority of the propulsive effort is provided by the legs of the user 35, and the effort applied by hand is used to return the paddles 19, 20 to their forwardmost positions. Since in the embodiments shown the actions of the paddles and their associated links and rods are independent, it is possible to exercise the left and right hand sides of the body independently of one another. Moreover, when the apparatus is not tethered, this feature allows the apparatus to be steered. This is particularly beneficial if the apparatus is to be used as a leisure apparatus, instead of an exercise apparatus or in addition to its functions as an exercise apparatus.

The apparatus can be configured so that the exercise provided is predominantly to the upper body. This may be achieved either by reversing the paddles 19, 20 so that they scoop water on their forward strokes (thereby causing the majority of the propulsive effort to be provided via the actuator rods 28, 29, the links 26, 27 and the pin joints 24); alternatively, the apparatus can be configured so that the user 35 faces forwardly, but with the same relative configuration of the paddles 19, 20 as is shown in the drawings figures. This would also have the effect of causing the majority of the work to be done by the upper body rather than the legs.

The operation of the two paddles need not be synchronized during use of the apparatus as shown. Indeed, the possibility of an asynchronous split between the left and right hand sides of the body may be of positive benefit during some forms of exercise, for example when it is required to treat leg or arm injuries.

In production versions of the apparatus, an adjustable seat may be provided to accommodate users 35 of differing sizes.

Whilst the float 11 is described as being made from GRP covered fibre, it will be appreciated that numerous other materials could be used. For example, a production version of the apparatus could be made from a moulded casing having therein a blown plastics material; alternatively a chopped strand fibre material could be used. Such materials can be made in bright colours, making the apparatus safer to use and more distinctive.

The float 11 as shown is adapted to nest within a further such apparatus 10, thereby providing for the neat stacking of a plurality of such apparatuses.

The apparatus may be provided with energy storage and dissipation means (e.g. springs) to assist part of the movement of the paddles or blades. For instance, springs can be provided to assist the return stroke of each paddle.

In such a form the apparatus may be of benefit to people suffering from paralysis of the hand or arm.

In its simple form, the apparatus need not support the entire weight of the user 35. For example, a single float may be provided connected to a paddle or blade which may be actuated in one direction by, for example, the straightening movement of an arm and the return motion can be provided, for example, by the squeezing motion of the hand attached to that arm. Such apparatus may be of benefit to people having localised disabilities, who need muscle-specific exercise to return their limbs to full functioning.

Claims

1. A floatable exercise apparatus comprising: a float adapted to support at least one of the limbs of a user of the apparatus on or in a liquid; a first paddle or blade adapted, in use of the apparatus, to engage said liquid, said first paddle or blade being mounted for reciprocatory motion relative to said float means; first and second actuators for causing motion of said first paddle or blade; and means interconnecting said first and second actuators whereby movement of one of the actuators causes movement of the other actuator.

2. A floatable exercise apparatus according to Claim 1 including a further paddle or blade adapted, in use of the apparatus, to engage said liquid, said further paddle or blade being mounted for reciprocatory motion relative to said float; third and fourth actuators for causing motion of the further paddle or blade; and means interconnecting said third and fourth actuators whereby movement of one of the third and fourth actuators causes movement of the other of the third and fourth actuators.

3. A floatable exercise apparatus according to Claim 2 wherein motion of the further paddle or blade is independent of the motion of the first paddle or blade.

4. A floatable exercise apparatus according to Claim 3 wherein the first and second actuators are adapted to be operated by hand and the second and fourth actuators by foot.

5. A floatable exercise apparatus according to Claim 4 wherein the first and second actuators are disposed for respective operation by the right hand and right foot of a user of the apparatus, and the third and fourth actuators are disposed for respective operation by the left hand and left foot of the user.

6. A floatable exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the floats adapted to support the entire weight of a user of the apparatus.

7. A floatable exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim including a seat for supporting a user of the apparatus.

8. A floatable exercise apparatus according to Claim 6 or Claim 7 adapted to support a user of the apparatus partially submerged in a liquid.

9. A floatable exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the first actuator is constituted by a rod pivotably secured to the float, the first paddle or blade is pivotably secured to the float at a point spaced from the pivoting of the rod, the second actuator is constituted by a plate member secured to the first paddle or float, and the means interconnecting the first and second actuators includes a link pivotably secured at one end to the rod at a point spaced from the pivoting thereof and at the other end to the paddle or blade at a point spaced from the pivoting thereof.

10. A floatable apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 9 wherein the third actuator is constituted by a rod pivotably secured to the float, the further paddle or blade is pivotably secured to the float at a point spaced from the pivoting of the rod, the fourth actuator is constituted by a plate member secured to the third paddle or float and the means interconnecting the third and fourth actuators includes a link pivotably secured at one end to the rod at a point spaced from the pivoting thereof and at the other end to the paddle or blade at a point spaced from the pivoting thereof.

11. A floatable exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the resistance to motion of the first blade or paddle and/or the further blade or paddle is adjustable.

12. A floatable exercise apparatus according to any of Claims 2 to 11 including energy storage and dissipation means connected to the or one or more of the blades or paddles and adapted to store energy during part of the motion of the blade(s) or paddle(s) and adapted to release said energy during a further part of the motion of said blade(s) or paddle(s) to assist said further part of the motion.

13. A floatable exercise apparatus according to any of Claims 6 to 12 wherein the float and the or each blade or paddle are adapted to permit movement of the apparatus, on use thereof, through a liquid on or in which the apparatus floats.

15. A floatable exercise apparatus according to any preceding claim wherein the float is so shaped and the components thereof are disposed that the exercise apparatus stacks on or nests within a further such exercise apparatus.

16. A floatable exercise apparatus generally as herein described, with reference to or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.