MX2008003120A - Fitness machine having a vibration absorbing support - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fitness machine (1) for training the body, comprising a frame (2) with a vibration element (3), a vibration generator (4) operatively connected to the vibration element (3). The vibration element (3) is supported by vibration absorbing frame supports (9). Adjusting an absorption level of the frame supports (9) enables to set the vibration absorption in such a way that vibrations of the vibration element (3) are damped to a selected degree, as a result of which a training load desired by the user can be obtained.

Description

MACHINE FOR PHYSICAL CONDITIONING THAT HAS A ABSORBING SUPPORT OF VIBRATION DESCRIPTIVE MEMORY The present invention relates to a machine for physical conditioning for training a body comprising a frame with a vibration element, a vibration generator operatively coupled to the vibration element and at least one vibration absorber frame support operatively coupled to the vibration generator. This machine for physical conditioning has been known since the sixties and is often used by people as high level athletes and people recovering from an injury. The known fitness machine of the type mentioned above is on the market, inter alia, under the name of Power Píate®; by Power Píate International, Badhoevedorp, The Netherlands. This known fitness machine is in the form of a vibrating plate placed in a frame placed below, close to the floor, in which case a user can climb on the vibrating plate or can assume other positions, during training. The vibrating plate in this case generates vibrations, which are transmitted mechanically as energy to the body of the user. The mechanical stimulus generated as a result produces a stretching reflex so denominated in the muscles of the body, whose stretch reflex occurs a certain number of times per second depending on the established frequency of the vibrating plate. The result of this is that the muscles are tensed continuously very hard. It has been found that the use of said vibrating plate produces a great effect when used during a short period of training, and there is less tension in the locomotor system than in the case of conventional training methods. The beneficial effects of vibratory stimulation of the body are described, inter alia, in the Journal of Sports Sciences, 1999, 17, p. 177-182. A problem in the case of the above-mentioned known type of fitness machine is that the training load can not be varied to the desired degree, more particularly, the training load can not be adjusted with respect to a user's body mass. In the known fitness machine, the vibrating plate is supported by a flexible support, such as a spring or the like. The vibration of the vibrating plate is damped by the flexible support. A damping amount is determined by the tension in the flexible support. Since the tension of the flexible support is not adjustable, the training load on the body is high, if the mass of the body on the vibrating plate is low. If the body mass is elevated, the training load is low. In this way, a user with low weight, without condition is provided with a heavy training load, while a user who is in condition and has a large body mass is provided with a low training load. It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine for physical conditioning having an adjustable training load. The present invention provides a machine for physical conditioning for training a body, comprising a frame with a vibration element, a vibration generator operatively coupled to the vibration element and at least one vibration absorber frame support which is operatively coupled to the generator of vibration, wherein an absorption level of at least one vibration absorber frame support is adjustable. In one embodiment, the level of absorption, that is, the degree of damping, of the frame support depends on the tension in the vibration absorber frame support. Since the absorption of vibration by the frame support is determined by the tension of the frame support, it is possible to adjust the vibration damper by adjusting the tension of the frame support, as a result of which a training load desired by the user can be obtained. The machine for physical conditioning in accordance with the invention makes it possible to adjust the training load to the requirements of a user. In this way, the training load can be set independently of body mass. This is particularly useful if the machine for physical conditioning is used in, for example, a sports institution where different people with different training loads use one and the same machine for physical conditioning. A frame of a fitness machine according to the invention can be designed in many ways. The frame generally serves to accommodate the vibration element, the vibration generator operatively coupled to the vibration element and the frame support operatively coupled to the vibration generator. A vibration generator of the machine for physical conditioning according to the invention can be designed in many forms, provided that the intended effect, i.e., producing a vibration of the vibration element, can occur. Those skilled in the art will readily understand what is meant by "training load", namely the intensity of the exercise performed on the physical conditioning machine according to the invention. As mentioned above, the muscles of the body placed in the vibration element are tensed by vibrations. The intensity of the exercise, that is, the training load is determined by the number of stretch reflexes (the frequency of the vibration) and intensity of the stretch reflex (the amplitude of the vibration). The training load of the fitness machine according to the invention can in principle be adjustable over a wide range by providing an adjustable frequency and / or an adjustable amplitude of the vibration. In one embodiment, the vibration element preferably comprises a plate that extends substantially horizontally. This allows the user to assume a comfortable position, such as standing, sitting or lying on the plate, during training in the fitness machine according to the invention. The plate of the vibration element can have any desired cross section, for example round or rectangular. In one embodiment of the machine for physical conditioning according to the invention, the frame may comprise a support that the user can hold. The support can comprise a screen where the training data can be displayed. In one embodiment, the machine for physical conditioning further comprises a control system for controlling the absorption of the vibration of the frame support in response to a body mass of the body. When a user is placed on the vibration element, the control system can automatically determine that the absorption level of the frame support is changed and can set the absorption level of the frame support at the desired level. Up to this point, the user only needs to indicate a desired training load. The control system can then control the absorption level of the frame support to provide the desired training load.

A suitable frame support is a bellows filled with gas. The means for adjusting a gas pressure of a gas contained in said bellows is then provided to change the gas pressure of the gas contained in the bellows, thus changing the absorption level of the bellows when changing the tension in the bellows. Suitable means are for example a gas pump, or the like. The gas can be air, for example. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the non-limiting drawings, in which: Figures 1A and 1B show a schematic view of one embodiment of a machine for physical conditioning in accordance with the present invention which illustrates the devices detailed and internal of the machine for physical conditioning; Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of a vibration absorber frame support of the machine for physical conditioning according to Figure 1. The like reference numbers refer to identical parts. Figures 1A and 1B show a machine for physical conditioning for training the body by means of vibrations, whose machine for physical conditioning is generally indicated by the reference number 1. The machine for physical conditioning 1 comprises a frame 2 with an element of vibration 3 coupled thereto and a vibration generator 4 operatively connected to the vibration element 3 or the frame 2 so that the vibration generated by the vibration generator 4 is transmitted mechanically to the vibration element 3. In the embodiment shown, the Vibration element 3 is designed in the form of a plate that extends substantially horizontally. In the embodiment shown, the vibration generator 4 is fixed to the frame 2 or the vibration element 3. A suitable vibration generator 4 can be an eccentric motor, for example. Another suitable type of vibration generator 4 can also be used. One skilled in the art will readily understand that a suitable vibration generator 4 can be placed in a base frame 13 (which is described hereafter) and using a suitable connection to generate a vibration in the vibration element 3. In an embodiment , the vibrations generated by the vibration generator 4 can be controlled with respect to the frequency and / or amplitude to control a training load. The fitness machine 1 further comprises vibration absorbing frame supports 9. The frame supports 9 support the frame 2 and the vibration element 3. The frame supports 9 can absorb vibrations produced by the vibration generator 4 and be transmitted mechanically to the vibration element 3 and the frame 2 to a selected degree of absorption, as a result of which a training load desired by a user can be obtained. In particular, in one embodiment of the frame supports 9, a tension of the frame supports 9 can be adjustable in such a way that a desired amount of vibrations is absorbed during the operation as further explained hereinafter. The fitness machine 1 further comprises a fixed support 6, which is provided with a handle 7, which the user can hold during training. The support 6 is further provided with a screen 8 operatively coupled to a control system 12 where training data can be read, such as training duration, frequencies used, etc. The fitness machine 1 may comprise additional devices (not shown), such as a power supply. The control system 2 may comprise a controller for controlling at least one of the vibration generators 4 and the frame supports 9. The controller may control the vibration generator 4 to generate vibrations having a frequency and / or amplitude corresponding to the user's configuration, for example. The frame supports 9 can be controlled to have an absorption level corresponding to a body mass of a body placed on the vibration element 3, for example as explained in greater detail below with reference to Figure 2. The machine for Physical conditioning 1 can be placed on a floor 11. For example, the vibration absorbing frame supports 9 are placed on the floor 11. In one embodiment, the fitness machine 1 can be provided with a base frame element 13. In Said embodiment, the frame supports 9 can be placed between the base frame 13 and the vibration element 3 or the frame 2. The base frame 13 can support the fixed support 6 as well. On a lower side of the base frame 13 a rubber base 15, for example, can be provided to protect the floor surface where the machine for physical conditioning is placed 1. When the machine for physical conditioning 1 is used a user can climb on in the vibration element 3 and hold the handle 7 in the fixed support 6. In this case, the vibrations generated in the vibration element 3 by the vibration generator 4 are absorbed by the muscular system of the user's body, which gives as It results in the desired stretch reflexes in the body muscles. It should be noted that other body positions, instead of standing, can also be used depending on the muscles to be trained. Figure 2 illustrates one embodiment of a frame support 9 in accordance with the invention. The frame support shown 9 is a bellows filled with gas 10. The gas pressure of the gas contained in the bellows 10 determines the amount of vibration absorption of the frame support 9. The gas pressure can be adjusted using a device 16. device 16 for adjusting the gas pressure inside the bellows 10 can be a pump or the device 16 can comprise a chamber connected to the interior of the bellows 10. The size of said chamber of the device 16 can then be adjustable, thus influencing the gas pressure within the bellows 10 and the chamber of the device 16. One skilled in the art will readily understand that any other suitable device 16 for adjusting the gas pressure in the bellows 10 can also be used. Now with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1 B and 2, the device 16 for adjusting the absorption level of the frame support 9 can be controlled through the control system 12. The screen 8 can comprise an input device for the user. The user can use the user input device to indicate a desired training load. The control system 12 converts the indicated desired training load to a desired absorption level or gas pressure of the frame supports 9. If the device 16 comprises a chamber as described above, thus providing a closed system, the size of the the chamber can be controlled by the control system 12. If an open system is provided, for example using a pump, a pressure sensor 14 can be provided in the bellows 10. The pressure determined by the sensor 14 is then supplied to the control system 12. In response to the received pressure, the control system 12 controls the device 16 until the desired pressure is obtained. In another embodiment, the control system 12 can be configured to control the vibration generator 4 in response to user input indicating a desired training load. The absorption level of the frame supports 9 can be controlled, separately, by the same control system or another system, in response to a body mass of the user. One advantage of said modality is found in the easy-to-use control. The user's input device can provide a simple interface so that the user can select a training load level, which corresponds to the predetermined frequency and amplitude of vibrations to be generated by the vibration generator 4. The selected training load levels are substantially the same for each user, since a difference in the user's body mass is compensated by a level of correspondingly different absorption of frame supports 9. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that the invention can vary in many forms without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (7)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A machine for physical conditioning (1) for training a body comprising a frame (2) with a vibration element (3), a vibration generator (4) operatively coupled to the vibration element (3) and at least one support of vibration absorber frame (9) operatively coupled to the vibration generator (4), an absorption level of at least one vibration absorber frame support (9) being adjustable, and wherein the machine for physical conditioning comprises: control system for controlling the vibration generator (4) in response to a user input indicating a desired training load and a control system (12) for controlling the absorption level of the vibration absorber frame support (9) in response to a body mass of a user placed on the vibration element (3) so that the selected training load levels are substantially equal for each user.

2. The machine for physical conditioning (1) according to claim 1, further characterized in that the control system (12) for controlling the absorption level of the vibration absorber frame support (9) is configured to compensate a difference in the body mass of a user by a correspondingly different absorption level of the frame supports 9.

3. The machine for physical conditioning (1) according to claim 1 or 2, further characterized by the control system (12) to control the absorption level is jammed to control the vibration generator (4).

4. - The machine for physical conditioning (1) according to any of claims 1-3, further characterized in that the absorption level of at least one support vibration absorber frame (9) depends on the tension in the support vibration absorber frame (9), the tension in the support of the vibration absorber frame (9) being adjustable.

5. - The machine for physical conditioning according to claim 4, further characterized in that the vibration absorber frame support (9) comprises a gas-filled bellows (10) and a device (16) for adjusting the gas pressure of the gas contained in said bellows (10).

6. - The machine for physical conditioning according to claim 5, further characterized in that the device (16) for adjusting the gas pressure comprises a gas pump.

7. - The machine for physical conditioning according to claim 5, further characterized in that the gas is air.