WO2008004014A1

WO2008004014A1 - Rehabilitation and exercise equipment for purposes of strengthening, shaping and muscle streching

Info

Publication number: WO2008004014A1
Application number: PCT/HU2007/000060
Authority: WO
Inventors: Balázs EMÖKEY; Péter SZÜCS
Original assignee: Emoekey Balazs; Szuecs Peter
Priority date: 2006-07-05
Filing date: 2007-07-04
Publication date: 2008-01-10
Also published as: HU0600559D0; HUP0600559A2

Abstract

The subject of the announcement is an exercise- and rehabilitation equipment designed for conditioning, body shaping and muscle stretching purposes that consists of at least one control unit, at least one manageable drive unit providing resistance/tension necessary for workout and at least one main exercise unit. The equipment is characterized by the fact that, within its range of motion, tension required for workout exercises can be regulated, based on resisting-force curves, on the control unit manually and/or by computer software.

Description

P A T E N T D E S C R I P T I O N

Rehabilitation and exercise equipment for purposes of strengthening, shaping and muscle stretching

The subject of the announcement is an exercise- and rehabilitation equipment designed for conditioning, body shaping and muscle stretching purposes that consists of at least one adjustment unit, at least one manageable drive unit providing resistance/tension necessary for workout and at least one main exercise unit. The equipment is characterized by the fact that, within its range of motion, the tension required for workout exercises can be regulated on the adjustment unit manually and/or by computer software.

Use of the machine can be beneficial for athletes, at-home or health club exercising, as well as for medical purposes as a rehabilitation device.

As opposed to exercise machines currently on the market, the equipment allows for the adjustment of resistance while in motion, which makes it possible to devise resistance characteristics appropriate for any given exercise or rehabilitation plan, catering to all types of somatic distinctiveness. Another significant difference from already available exercise equipment is that no weights are used for strength training, which, besides being a comfort factor, allows for the manufacture of less bulky and lighter machines.

Its medical role could be significant in the field of rehabilitation. The possibility of adjusting resistance -according to the nature of injury and other features of an illness- while exercising offers, on one hand, an alternative for traditional rehabilitation tools and, on the other, makes possible the development of new health restoration techniques.

Thanks to its control electronics and/or onboard computer, this exercise machine is fitted with a network interface allowing users to link multiple devices together. This interface also allows the machine to be connected to computer terminals, which, with the appropriate background application, can provide further functionalities and offers the possibility of network usage. Equipment-relevant data and, depending on the application running, a range of other individual program modules or other information can be transmitted over the Internet or via another channel. Timely, expert-devised or even individually tailored exercise plans can be downloaded and personal, statistical data relevant to training sessions can be forwarded.

Muscle strengthening equipment is available in a range of varieties for those seeking to use them. Machines used in health clubs usually employ weight plates or disks to provide athletes with the resistance required for different levels of workout. In the case of stack machines, a set of massive rectangular weight plates are used that are pierced by a vertical bar which has holes drilled in it to accept a pin. Each of the plates has a channel on its underside or a hole through the middle that aligns with one of the holes. When the pin is inserted through the channel into the hole, all of the plates above the pin rest upon it, and are lifted when the bar rises. Weight disks are usually applied with free weights training. In this case, weight disks are slid onto dumbbells or barbells. The disadvantage of free weights training is the increased level of injury risk.

Setting the desired weight with stack machines is relatively easy by moving the pin to the desired plate. This procedure requires more effort with weight disks, especially when several athletes use the same equipment, each of them with a different amount of weights.

A common feature of both stack- and weight disk machines found in health clubs is the constant level of tension that cannot be adjusted in the course of the movement. Another shared characteristic of these pieces of equipment is their relatively heavy weight due to the sum of weight plates or disks used to provide the required tension. This, in practice, means excess weight proportional to the amount of weights, depending on the area of use.

Typically for strengthening equipment designed for home use are the different spring- powered resistance machines. They provide the resisting force required for the workout effort in the form of an elastic spring (in the case of rowing machines and expanders), with a permanent magnet (stationery bikes) or with shock absorvers. Patent No. 222357 describes a solution utilizing a hydraulic shock absorver.

The creation of the equipment constituting the subject of this announcement was initiated in order to improve the numerous shortcomings -all of which need to be improved upon- of current machines.

When examining the movement of muscles during weight training, it can be said that, depending on the exercise, in the different body positions that represent the contraction phases of muscle groups, i.e. in the different phases of motion, forces acting on the muscles are not constant; and that it is a common quality of all muscles that they possess different power levels in each stage within their motion range. These two effects together result in uneven and not properly controllable muscle efforts from the exercising athlete.

Body height, the length of limbs and other proportions of the body determine the range of motion for an individual in a given exercise; whereas the peculiarities of body parts (makeup of joints, etc), the athlete's physical condition and the motion type establish the optimal resisting force in each stage of the motion range for all exercises.

The task presented by the invention is the development and creation of a workout machine suitable for strengthening and rehabilitation purposes alike. The aim is to devise an equipment that

- Eliminates the drawbacks of non-consistent workloads and uneven forces acting on muscles;

- Provides opportunities for real-time adjustment of resistance during workout;

- Makes strengthening without weights possible;

- Allows for safer and more controllable exercising;

Further enhances the effectiveness of workouts with its simple resistance control;

With its networking services makes exercising a more comfortable and efficient experience.

Taking into account the situation, methods and market conditions of strength training we can conclude that no product is available that would meet all the above criteria.

The most general solution for the envisioned task will be described below.

The user enters data representing the desired extent and characteristics of resistance via either of the input platforms (USB key, touch screen, control dial, buttons, online connection, etc) to the adjustment unit (computer and/or other circuitry), which run a quick comparison of the data entered with those received from sensors deployed -as parts of the adjustment unit- on the main workout device. The adjustment unit is responsible for processing and transforming data into a signal that reaches the machine's output peripherals as an output signal. This signal regulates the drive unit that uniquely connects to the main workout units.

The invented equipment is introduced in illustrations, where:

Figure 1 provides a schematic depiction of parts and their connections,

Figure 2 shows a schematic depiction for the most generic realization of the workout machine,

On Figure 3, parts and connections for a possible realization are shown in front-, top- and side views, Figure 4 is a front section view of a possible realization for the motion transformer unit.

Figure 5 is a side section view of a possible realization for the motion transformer unit.

Figure 6 depicts the possible network connections for components.

Figures 7 and 8 demonstrate forces acting on muscles while in motion, as well as the muscles' strength levels in different sections of the entire motion range.

Five different input platforms are available for entering user data. In our example, a touch screen is utilized. This screen -being part of the adjustment unit- is hooked up to the data processing unit, to which the sensors are also connected. The processing unit, in our solution, is linked to the driving-gears that are directly connected to the motion transformer device. The driving-gears and the motion transformer device together form a manageable drive unit. This manageable drive unit is connected to the main exercise unit, on which sensors belonging to the adjustment unit are placed.

The main exercise unit of our example is a converted version of the prevalent and widely used pulley-style cable machine, used mostly to strengthen the muscles of the back. The main difference from conventional machines is that it comes without the compartment reserved for weight plates. Moreover, it only constitutes a part of a complex apparatus and does not stand on its own.

Via the touch screen, the user adjusts the resisting force for the desired weight to be used (this is 50 kilograms in our example). Here it is also possible to modify the default linear characteristics, by which the resisting force can be changed from being even and steady to constant change during pull-up and release, according to pre-defined or individually set force curves. In the case of linear characteristics, the equipment maintains a constant resisting force much like a regular, weight-operated cable machine. Upon the modification of characteristics (in our example the resisting force is gradually lowered by 50% throughout the last 20% segment of the motion range), the user starts using the machine. From this point onward, the drive unit -in accordance with the voltage level determined by data received from the sensors, thus corresponding to the desired resisting force- operates at a rev count administered by the data processing unit. Regulation of the rev count is carried out by an interface circuitry located in between the data processing and the drive units. Sensors installed along sections of steel wire rope that connect the main exercise unit to the motion transformer units provide real-time information on actual force levels acting on the user, on the basis of which the data processing element of the adjustment unit can modify the rev count, if necessary. As seen on Figures 3 and 4, the drive unit propels the first axle of the motion transformer element via a pulley. The axle rotates an inner vane placed on its other end, which puts the fluid stored in the compartment in motion. The fluid begins to flow towards- and exert forces on the external vane and the second axle. The desired resisting force is exerted by pulling the main unit's handle at the end of the steel wire rope that is coiled onto a reel affixed to the second axle.

In our example the sensors placed in between the wire sections transmit information to the data processing unit on the extent of resistance that acts on the user. This processing unit judges the direction and degree of shift within the full motion range, using data received from the sensors located on the banded disks. Data is picked up about the order of light and dark bands formed on these disks, as well as about their alternation frequency, and transmitted by the sensors via an interface circuitry.

Data on speed and acceleration may be required due to further corrections (such as inertia) and to services available for the user (such as advices for proper pacing). According to the resistance-characteristics of our example, at the 80% mark of the motion range the rev count for the drive unit starts to decrease to the extent that, by the end of the motion range, it results in a 50% resistance drop for the user. Thus, the user keeps pulling with a force equal to 50kgs until he reaches 80% of the motion range, where the resisting force starts to lessen until it becomes the equivalent of 25kgs at the end of the motion range. The decreasing resistance in this section of the motion range helps the user to avoid injuries that can be caused by overstraining the shoulder.

In the event that the user identifies him- or herself prior to exercising on a specific peripheral (with an ID-card, USB-key, touch-screen, etc), the machine can distribute personalized statistical data on the workout to computers installed to support the workout program. It can also request data (see Figure 6.) to be displayed for the user and processed by equipment (for instance, personalized workout plans with proper characteristics). Without identification, only public data can be transferred.

The machine constituting the subject of the announcement differs from other, currently marketed strength training equipment in the way it provides resistance necessary for muscle workout and in its related beneficial possibilities. With our solution, movements concentrated on any muscle group (in strength training, body building, passive resistance, muscle stretching and rehab programs) can be performed in the full motion range of the pertaining body part and in unison with the purpose of the workout based on settings of the adjustment unit and on computer-determined resistance curves. Therefore, it becomes possible to set different resistance levels in between the end points of motion ranges for body parts, according to predefined curves. This method of optimizing the resistance curve can be advantageous in both rehab- and athletic strength training programmes.

Devising different resistance characteristics and the option for individual settings based on rehab- and athletic specialists can offer a wide range of possibilities to those seeking to use the machine. Curves representing weight trainings and other arbitrary resistances can be set easily; the software can be customized. The machine allows for individual settings as well, the application software offers many options to choose from. Pre-programmed curves can be selected and modified freely, thus controlling the resistance throughout the entire motion range.

Muscles, joints are vulnerable to varying extents at the different stages of the motion range. By means of constant strain monitoring and with setting proper levels of resistance workout sessions can be made safer: healthy muscles can be trained even with injured body parts by decreasing resistance in the given motion ranges of the related body part.

The programmed adjustment of resistance makes unsupervised workouts safer.

In the case of acute fatigue of the body part being exercised, or in any other emergency, the freely mountable stop button immediately brings strain levels to a minimum in order to avoid a muscle injury with severe consequences.

Since the setting of resistance —due to the elimination of weights- is performed by an adjustment device (touch screen, buttons), workout sessions become more convenient and rest time between repetitions is better utilized.

Usage possibilities are further enhanced by the equipment's networkability feature via a simple network interface with other machines or computers. These possibilities are the following:

- recording and transmitting quantifiable results and performance data;

- processing information received from computers via appropriate software and network interfaces, setting training programs based on this information (downloadable workout plans, etc);

- processing workouts based on the recording of relevant statistical data and queries on archived data (displayed either as text or in graphs); analyzing the effectiveness of workout plans by means of comparison, demonstrating development tendencies; - coordinating remote (Figure 6.) machines (equipment located in the same room or in a different city can be equally linked), therefore making the accessibility and availability of workout information independent of the location

Comparing the weight of the equipment constituting the subject of the announcement with other machines of its category, we can ascertain that it can be utilized on floorspaces of lower load capacity due to its lesser weight load. Therefore, the equipment can be safely used at home for fully-fledged, even professional, strength training and/or body building purposes.

Exercise- and rehabilitation equipment designed for conditioning, body shaping and muscle stretching purposes (1)

1. adjustment unit (2)

2. manageable drive unit (3)

3. main exercise unit (4)

4. input devices (5)

5. sensors (6)

6. data processing unit (7)

7. drive unit (8)

8. motion transformer unit (9)

9. pulley (10)

10. first axle (11)

11. inner vane (12)

12. external vane (13)

13. container (14)

14. liquid (15)

15. second axle (16)

16. wire rope reel (17)

17. steel wire rope (18)

18. support brackets (19)

19. banded disks (20)

20. computer terminal (21)

21. network connections (22)

22. health club network (23)

23. torque (24)

24. touch screen (25)

25. handle (26)

Claims

1. The subject of the announcement is an exercise- and rehabilitation equipment designed for conditioning, body shaping and muscle stretching purposes that consists of at least one adjustment unit, at least one manageable drive unit providing resistance/tension necessary for workout and at least one main exercise unit. The equipment is characterized by the fact that, within its range of motion, tension required for workout exercises can be regulated on the adjustment unit manually and/or by computer software.

2. An apparatus based on Requirement 1 , distinguished by the fact that the adjustment unit is composed of circuitries.

3. An apparatus based on Requirement 1, distinguished by the fact that the adjustment unit is a computer.

4. An apparatus based on Requirement 1, distinguished by the fact that the adjustment unit is composed of circuitries and a computer.

5. An apparatus based on Requirements 1 to 4, distinguished by the fact that settings of the adjustment unit act upon the user via the manageable drive unit.

6. An apparatus based on Requirements 1 to 5, distinguished by the fact that it has a control unit instead of an adjustment unit.

7. An apparatus based on Requirements 1 to 6, distinguished by the fact that it is connected to computers via a network interface.

8. An apparatus based on Requirements 1 to 6, distinguished by the fact that it is connected to similar equipment via a network interface.

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