GB2451851A

GB2451851A - Physical training apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2451851A
Application number: GB0715850A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert Alexander Willox
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-08-15
Filing date: 2007-08-15
Publication date: 2009-02-18
Also published as: GB0715850D0

Abstract

A physical training apparatus comprises a physical training surface 35 having an adjustable shape wherein the physical training surface is formed by a plurality of vertical columns 20. The vertical columns 20 can be lowered or raised so that the upper surface 35 and the side walls 40 define a desired shape of training surface when they project above the plane of horizontal frame 30. Arrows 50 indicate the general direction that a user will travel to navigate the training surface.

Description

Training Apparatus [0011 The present invention relates to a physical training apparatus. In particular, the present invention relates to a physical training apparatus which is adjustable to provide different shaped surfaces for physical training.

[002] Many competitive sports including football, tennis, basketball and boxing require a participant to exercise agility skills. This means having the ability to undertake rapid changes of directional movement often while moving at high speed. This might be required in response to an opponent's or team mate's actions which are often unpredictable.

Proficient agility couples mental alertness and response time with physical fitness and nimble movement.

[0031 Training methods have been developed to assist sports participants in developing their agility skills. Such methods may also be valuable in the development of motor skills in children or for individuals recovering from physical trauma. These methods may involve running, walking or climbing over a highly-varied surface, which may include different sized and shaped obstacles.

[004] An important aspect in training to develop agility skills is that an individual is confronted with the unexpected when navigating a certain surface. In this way, the individual can be trained to respond to different physical environments as and when they are encountered, as there is no prior conception of what is to be navigated.

[0051 Known training methods include the use of training courses which have obstacles such as hurdles, fences, ladders and nets. The obstacles will normally be fixed to the ground or to another object. The problem with these types of training courses is that once the individual has completed the course, they can become familiar with the layout. Thus, an important aspect of agility training (ie, the element of confronting the unexpected) may no longer be apparent. In these circumstances, it can be difficult and/or time-consuming to re-position the obstacles to provide an alternative training course with a different layout.

[006] Also, many of the known apparatus for agility training are restricted to exercising one or two muscle groups through repetitive movement such as running, stepping, lifting, stretching, etc. These apparatus require little mental or intellectual involvement by the user.

[007] Accordingly, means for ameliorating these problems has been sought.

1008] According to the invention, there is provided a physical training apparatus comprising: a physical training surface having an adjustable shape wherein the physical training surface is formed by a plurality of vertical columns; and a means for raising and lowering one or more of the vertical columns to adjust the shape of the physical training surface.

[0091 Further according to the invention, there is provided a physical training system comprising the physical training apparatus according to the invention and a programmable computer system, wherein the programmable computer system is adapted to enable the adjustment of the physical training surface to a pre-determined shape.

[010] The invention is now illustrated with reference to (although not limited to) the following Figures of the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 shows side-on schematic views of a physical training apparatus according to the invention. For clarity, only a single longitudinal row of vertical columns is shown in the physical training apparatus.

Figure 2 shows the physical training apparatus of Figure 1(A) twO-dimensionally indicating a training surface (represented as a bold line for clarity).

Figure 3 shows a schematic overhead view of the physical training apparatus of Figure 1(A) with all of the vertical columns shown.

Figure 4 shows a side-on schematic view of the physical training apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. For clarity, only a part of the single row of the vertical columns shown in Figures 1 and 2 is shown.

Figure 5 shows a side-on schematic view of the physical training apparatus shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 with an alternative raising and lowering means for the vertical columns than shown in Figure 4. For clarity, only a part of the single row of the vertical columns shown in Figures 1 and 2 is shown.

Figure 6 shows a second embodiment of the physical training apparatus according to the invention which has alternatively-shaped vertical columns.

Figure 7 shows a cut-away side view of a hollow vertical column with an internally-positioned light for use in the invention.

Figure 8 shows a cut-away side view of a vertical column having a gripping handle located in a cavity for use in the invention.

Figure 9 shows a diagram of a programmable computer system for use with the physical training apparatus of the invention.

Figure 10 shows a schematic overhead view of the physical training apparatus of Figure 1 with all of the vertical columns shown and also including a support grid for the vertical columns.

[0111 Figure 1 shows a training apparatus 1 resting on a horizontal ground surface 5. Training apparatus 1 has a base 10 and a training surface 15 (shown in Figure 2) formed by vertical columns 20. There are twenty vertical columns 20 shown in Figure 1.

[0121 Base 10 has legs 25 and horizontal frame 30 which is supported by legs 25 on ground surface 5. Each vertical column 20 has an upper surface 35 and a side wall 40. Opposing ramps 45A and 45B connect horizontal frame 30 of base 10 to horizontal ground surface 5. Means for raising and lowering a vertical column 20 (not shown in Figures 1 to 3 or 6 to 10) is shown in Figures 4 and 5.

[013] Vertical columns 20 can be lowered or raised relative to base 10 so that upper surfaces 35 and side walls 40 define training surface 15 when they project above the plane of horizontal frame 30. Arrows 50 indicate the general direction that a user will travel to navigate the training surface 15. Horizontal frame 30 has an aperture 60 (shown in Figures 3 and 10) through which vertical columns 20 project.

[014] The raising or lowering of vertical columns 20 in the direction of arrows 55 between a first position (refer Figure 1(B)) and a second position (refer Figure 1(C)) results in physical training apparatus 1 having a differently-shaped physical training surface 15. This is because the height (in metres) of the upper surface 35 of the raised or lowered vertical column 20 relative to horizontal frame 30 (taken as 0.0 metres) is changed. This is indicated in the legend of Figure 1 with each vertical column 20 shaded where upper surface 35 is 0.4, 0.8, 1.2, 1.6, 2.0 or 2.4 metres above horizontal frame 30.

[015] As shown in Figure 3, training apparatus 1 has a total of two hundred vertical columns 20 which project through the aperture 60 of horizontal frame 30 of base 10. Twenty rows of ten vertical columns 20 are positioned perpendicular to the direction of arrow 50. The shading of the upper surfaces 35 of vertical columns 20 in Figures 2 to 6 and 10 indicates the same height scale as shown in the legend of Figure 1. In Figures 3 and 10 opposing ramps 45A and 45B are shown positioned at the ends of training apparatus 1 connected to horizontal frame 30 of base 10.

[016] Figure 4 shows physical training apparatus 1 with a raising and lowering means 65 for a vertical column 20. Raising and lowering means 65 has a cylinder 70 and a piston 75. Cylinder 70 rests on ground surface 5. Piston 75 is connected to lower surface 80 of vertical column 20.

Connected to raising and lowering means 65 by electrical wire 85 is control unit 90 for operating raising and lowering means 65 so that a controller (not shown) can raise or lower each vertical column 20 in physical training apparatus 1. Control unit 90 can be adapted to raise or lower a single vertical column 20 or else raise or lower more than one vertical column 20 simultaneously. Control unit 90 can be a hand-held unit or be part of a computer-operated system (refer Figure 9), such that the controlier (not shown) is a human being and/or a computer program.

[017] Figure 5 shows a partial view of a physical training apparatus 1 with a raising and lowering means 65 for vertical columns 20. Raising and lowering means 65 has a cylinder 71 and a telescopic shaft 76 extendable from within cylinder 71. Telescopic shaft 76 has three connected hollow telescopic segments 77. Telescopic shaft 76 is connected to lower surface 80 of vertical columns 20. Control unit 90 (not shown) operates raising and lowering means 65 in the same manner as described for Figure 4.

[0181 Figure 5 shows varied levels of the raised/lowered positions of vertical columns 20 and the corresponding extension of telescopic shaft 76 from cylinder 71. A benefit of a raising and lowering means 65 comprising telescopic shaft 76 is that the depth of physical training apparatus 1 underneath frame 30 (not shown) can be reduced compared to the physical training apparatus 1 shown in Figure 4 with raising and lowering means 65 having piston 75. This is because piston 75 is a set length, whereas telescopic shaft 76 can shorten when a vertical column is being lowered and so requires less housing space underneath frame 30.

L0191 Each vertical column 20 is an elongate member having a substantially square-shaped horizontal cross-section with the edges defining upper surface 35 and side wall 40 being rounded. Alternatively, the vertical column may be any suitable elongate shape with another polygonal cross-section (eg, rectangular, hexagonal or octagonal) or a circular cross-section. The upper surface 35 of a vertical column 20 is substantially flat. Alternatively, the upper surface 35 may be a concave or convex shape.

[0201 A vertical column 20 can be any suitable size, but will typically have a surface area for the upper surface 35 in the range of 0. 5 to 2.0 m2, and a height (ie, distance from upper surface 35 to lower surface 80) in the range of 2.0 to 4.0 m. The vertical column 20 will preferably be hollow. The physical training apparatus 1 may also have vertical columns which are different combinations of shapes and/or sizes.

[021] The number of vertical columns 20 in the physical training apparatus 1 may vary dependent on the user's requirements, but will preferably be in the range of 20 to 400, and more preferably 50 to 200.

There may be gaps present between the side walls 40 of adjacent vertical columns 20, but preferably these gaps are only wide enough to permit the raising and lowering of the vertical columns 20.

[022] Figure 6 shows physical training apparatus 1 with vertical columns having a plate 100 with an upper surface 35. Plate 100 is connected to a narrow vertical support 105 on its underneath surface. Vertical columns of Figure 6 can be raised and lowered in the same manner as described with reference to the other Figures.

[023] Vertical columns 20 are made from a resilient material and should be rigid enough to withstand the repeated force of adults running, climbing and jumping from vertical column 20 to vertical column 20.

Preferred materials for the vertical column 20 are a plastics, rubber or metallic material. The plastics material may be a transparent or opaque material such as Perspex.

Figure 7 shows vertical column 20 with a hollow space 110 which has an internally positioned light 115 mounted on brackets 120. The side wall 40 of vertical column 20 is transparent or opaque and permits light to travel from hollow space 110 through side wall 40 to be externally visible to a user (not shown). Light 115 is connected to an electrical circuit (not shown) which connects to control unit 90 (not shown) allowing a controller (not shown) to switch light 115 on or off.

[024] In physical training apparatus 1 having vertical columns 20 of the type described for Figure 7, vertical columns 20 at different locations of physical training apparatus 1 can be illuminated to provide an illuminated course for a user to follow. Alternatively, a light 115 may be positioned on upper surface 35 (not shown) of vertical column 20.

[025] As an alternative to or in addition to light 115, vertical column 20 may be equipped with electronic equipment such as sensors, cameras, audio speakers, recording devices and measuring devices which can be used to monitor the use of physical training apparatus 1 or to instruct a user when physical training apparatus 1 is in use.

[026] The vertical column 20 may have a polyurethane sleeve as an outer casing.

[027] Preferably, the upper surface 35 of the vertical column 20 is provided with a non-slip padded surface to provide grip and cushioning.

In particular, the non-slip padded surface may have a roughened texture comprising ribs, bumps or other projections.

[028] The side waIl 40 may also be provided with a non-slip padded surface, but preferably will be smooth and free of projections to allow for the lowering and raising of the vertical columns 20. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 8, the side waIl 40 of vertical column 20 may have a cavity 125 with a gripping handle 130 located therein. Gripping handle 130 can be used as a hand grip which a user (not shown) can grab when they are required to climb over a vertical column. In this manner, physical training apparatus 1 can be adapted to a shape that requires climbing as well as running and jumping, eg, when the height of the upper surfaces 35 of adjacent vertical columns 20 is too great for the user to scale without a climbing motion. Alternatively, a bar grip may be used instead of gripping handle 130.

[029] Normally, vertical column 20 will remain static in use. However, the physical training apparatus 1 can be adapted so that a vertical column (or vertical columns 20) is/are being raised or lowered while the physical training apparatus 1 is in use. Additionally, only a portion of the vertical columns 20 may be connected to the means for lowering and raising 65.

[030] The raising and lowering means 65 for vertical columns 20 can be any suitable means for height adjustment by way of raising and lowering vertical columns 20 in an incremental manner. The raising and lowering means 65 may be a hydraulic system or a linear actuator system. A hydraulic system or a linear actuator system and a control unit 90 for a hydraulic system or linear actuator system suitable for use in the present invention would be readily known to a person skilled in the art.

Typically, the raising and lowering means 65 will be automated and electrically operated. Alternatively, the raising and lowering means 65 may have an arrangement of mechanical levers or jacks which may be manually operated to adjust the shape of training surface 15.

[031] As schematically represented in Figure 9, the raising and lowering means 65 (not shown) may be connected to a programmable computer system 135 having control unit 90, data storage and retrieval unit 140 and a computer terminal 145 connected to each other by electrical connection 146. Electrical wire 85 connects programmable computer system 135 to physical training apparatus 1.

[032] Programmable computer system 135 is adapted to control the raising and lowering means 65 upon activation by a controller (not shown). In this embodiment, the control unit 90 is integral to the programmable computer system 135 although it may be a separate component which is part of physical training apparatus 1.

[033] The programmable computer system 135 can store data relating to multiple different heights for the upper surfaces 35 (not shown) of the vertical columns 20 (not shown) in physical training apparatus 1.

Dependent upon the number of vertical columns 20 and the height increments for raising and lowering vertical columns 20, a vast number of different training surface 15 (nOt shown) shapes can be stored in the data storage and retrieval unit 140 and activated by the controller from computer terminal 145 when required. In particular, customised training surfaces 15 to suit the individual needs of a particular user can be pre-programmed and stored on the data storage and retrieval unit 140.

[034] The base 10 will typically made from a rigid material such as a metal.

[0351 As shown in Figures 3 and 10, aperture 60 of horizontal frame 30 surrounds vertical columns 20 to provide support and help prevent lateral movement or tilting of the vertical columns 20 which might occur under the weight of a user. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 10, the aperture of the horizontal frame 30 has a support grid 150 fixed to horizontal frame 30 in a substantially co-planar manner with openings 155 provided for each vertical column 20 to be vertically projected. The support grid provides additional support for each vertical column 20 and also to help minimise lateral movement of the vertical column 20 when in use.

Support grid 155 may extend below frame 30 in the direction of ground surface 5 (not shown) to act as a hollow protective housing and support means for vertical columns 20.

[0361 Base 10 is positioned on ground surface 5 with ramps 45A and 45B providing access to the training surface 15 for the user. As an alternative means for providing access, steps or a ladder may be used. Alternatively, the physical training apparatus 1 can be installed in a pit so that horizontal frame 30 is essentially co-planar with a ground surface surrounding the pit.

[037] A flexible plastics or rubber sheet or a net can be positioned on training surface 15 to provide a uniform shape to the physical training apparatus 1. The flexible plastics or rubber sheet may also act as a boundary guide for training surface 15 or as a safety means to protect a user from falls and collisions while using physical training apparatus 1.

[038] The physical training apparatus 1 can be permanently installed at a particular location, or can be transferred to another location either after disassembly or in a fully assembled state.

[039] With reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 10, when using physical training apparatus 1 the user (not shown) starts from a location 95 in the vicinity of where ramp 45A meets ground surface 5. The user runs up ramp 45A in the direction of arrow 50. The user then runs (in the direction of arrow 50) on to physical training apparatus 1 across the training surface 15 defined by the upper surfaces 35 and side walls 40 of vertical columns 20 until he reaches ramp 45B. As the user sequentially encounters each of vertical columns 20, he is forced to adjust his motion either side-ways, upwards or downwards to account for the different sizes (relative heights) and shapes of the training surface 15.

[0401 From Figures 3 and 10, it can be seen that the user may have to select a running course over the training surface 15 which best suits his physical ability. In some instances, it will be extremely difficult (or even physically impossible) for a user to successfully navigate a particular course over the training surface 15. The user will then have to select the course which permits him to reach the opposing ramp 45B in the most convenient manner. While the use of physical training apparatus 1 described according to the Figures relates to movement over a longitudinal direction of physical training apparatus 1 (ie, from ramp 45A to ramp 45B), it should be understood that a user may choose to navigate physical training apparatus I across any direction of training surface 15 from any starting position a djacent physical training apparatus 1 they wish.

[041] When the user is trying to get across physical training apparatus 1 as quickly as possible, rapid decision-making concerning course selection is important. This helps develop the user's agility skills as he needs to identify how he will position his feet and select which vertical columns 20 he will contact.

[0421 Physical training apparatus 1 can also be used when the user is not concerned with the speed. In these circumstances, the varying sizes and shapes provided over the training surface 15 can provide beneficial physical training exercise for the less mobile user.

[043] To adjust physical training apparatus 1 to provide a different shaped training surface 15, a controller (not shown) activates the raising and lowering means 65. Individual vertical columns 20 can be raised or lowered by a desired amount and to suit the needs of a user (refer Figures 1(B) and 1(C)). When a user has become familiar with a particularly configured training surface 15, the controller (not shown) can raise or lower some or all of the vertical columns 20 to provide a training surface which is different in shape and which provides a fresh challenge to the user.

[044] The physical training apparatus 1 can be used as a training aid for athletes and sports persons to test and improve three-dimensional agility, spatial awareness, complex decision-making and general fitness. It may also be used as an adventure playground for children providing a labyrinth and obstacle course.

[045] As physical training apparatus 1 can adopt a large variety of varied and adjustable training surfaces 15, it can provide a versatile physical training environment to suit the specific needs of a user's physical training and recreation requirements.

[0461 Furthermore, as training surface 15 can be configured to a pre-determined shape, there is scope for the user or controller to select a course over physical training apparatus I to challenge the individual physical ability of the user.

[047] Additionally, physical training apparatus 1 can be configured to provide shaped training surfaces 15 at incrementally increasing levels of difficulty for a user. The user is then able to compete against physical training apparatus 1 (eg, in a time trial) until all the training surfaces 15 provided are overcome or until the user can no longer navigate the increasing levels of difficulty provided for training surface 15.

[0481 Physical training apparatus 1 enables the testing and examination of a user's mental abilities through planning and strategy (which can be pre-determined or intuitive) by requiring them to negotiate and overcome fixed objects and/or moving obstacles over physical training surface 15.

Claims

Claims: 1. A physical training apparatus comprising: a physical training surface having an adjustable shape wherein the physical training surface is formed by a plurality of vertical columns; and a means for raising and lowering one or more of the vertical columns to adjust the shape of the physical training surface.
2. The physical training apparatus according to claim 1, comprising 20 to 400 vertical columns.
3. The physical training apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, comprising 50 to 200 vertical columns.
4. The physical training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the vertical columns have a height of 1.0 to 4.0 metres.
5. The physical training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the vertical columns have a cross-sectional shape which is circular or polygonal.
6. The physical training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the means for raising and/or lowering a vertical column comprises a hydraulic system or a linear actuator system.
7. The physical training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the means for raising and/or lowering a vertical column comprises a telescopic shaft system.
8. A physical training system comprising the physical training apparatus according to any of the preceding claims and a programmable computer system, wherein the programmable computer system is adapted to enable the adjustment of the physical training surface to a pre- determined shape.
9. A physical training apparatus substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings of Figures 1 to
10.