WO2008063047A1

WO2008063047A1 - Training device, sliding plate and training method

Info

Publication number: WO2008063047A1
Application number: PCT/NL2006/000581
Authority: WO
Inventors: Augustinus Leonardus Nicolaas Van Der Meer
Original assignee: Power Plate International Ltd.
Priority date: 2006-11-20
Filing date: 2006-11-20
Publication date: 2008-05-29

Abstract

A training device comprises a vibration generator and a sliding plate. The sliding plate has a sliding surface and is operatively coupled to the vibration generator. In use, a friction between the sliding surface and a body part of a user, which body part is positioned on the sliding surface, is relatively low. Thus, the body part, such as a foot or hand, may slide over the plate, while vibrations are transferred to the body part. As a consequence, the user experiences a relatively large training load, as the training load comprises a training load due to the sliding movements and a training load due to stretch reflexes incurred by the vibrations transferred to the body part. The training device according to the present invention may, for example, be advantageously used by (ice) skaters.

Description

Title: Training device, sliding plate and training method

The present invention relates to a training device comprising a vibration generator, a sliding plate for use in the training device and a method for training at least a part of a body.

A known fitness machine put on the market, inter alia, under the name of Power Plate®, by Power Plate International, is in the form of a vibrating plate placed on a frame positioned low down, close to the ground, in the case of which a user can go and stand on the vibrating plate, or can assume other positions, during training. The vibrating plate generates vibrations, which are mechanically transmitted as energy to the user's body. The mechanical stimulus generated as a result produces a so-called stretch reflex in the muscles of the body, which stretch reflex occurs a certain number of times per second depending on the set frequency of the vibrating plate. The result of this is that the muscles are continuously tensed very hard. It has been found that the use of such a vibrating plate produces a great effect on the muscle strength and the bone strength. Beneficial effects of vibrating stimulation of the body are described in, inter alia, Verschueren S, et al . , "Effect of 6-Month Whole Body Vibration Training on Hip Density, Muscle Strength, and Postural Control in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled Pilot

Study", Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 352-359, 2004, and Delecluse C, et al . , "Strength increase after whole-body vibration compared with resistance training", Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise Vol. 35, No. 6, pp 1033-1041, 2004. The above-described fitness machine is in particular suitable for exercising by standing on the fitness machine or taking any other more or less static position. In a static position the muscles of a user are substantially relaxed. A resulting training load is however always substantially the same. Such a training load may not be sufficient for a well-trained user.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a training device comprising a vibration generator, which is suitable for use by well-trained persons, and to provide a corresponding method. The above object is achieved in a training device according to claim 1, a sliding plate according to claim 12 and a method according to claim 13.

The training device according to the present invention comprises a sliding plate operatively coupled to the vibration generator. The sliding plate comprises a sliding surface. A user is to position at least one body part, such as a foot while standing, on the sliding surface, when using the training device. A friction between the body part and the sliding surface is relatively low. Thus, the body part may easily slide over the sliding surface. Being slidably supported on a sliding surface results in an unstable position of the body part of the user. Therefore, the user needs to constantly tense his muscles in order to maintain his posture, e.g. to keep standing, since the body part tends to slide away. The muscle tension functions as a pre-tensioning on top of which the above- mentioned stretch reflex due to the vibrations occurs. Thus, the exercise load is increased by the pre-tension as a result of the instability caused by the low friction between the body part and the supporting sliding surface. Instead of statically exercising, the user is also enabled to exercise dynamically. For example, the user may perform a sports movement by sliding over the sliding plate, while the sliding plate is set to vibrate by the vibration generator. It is known, for example, for an ice skater to practice his movements on a sliding plate. By setting the sliding plate to vibrate, the exercise load is increased and the ice skater may not only practice his movements, but also strengthen the muscles used for performing the movements, while his muscles are tensed due to the performed movements.

In an embodiment, the sliding surface may be a slippery surface in itself providing a low friction. In another embodiment, the training device may further comprise at least one sliding element to be held between the body part of the user and the sliding surface, the sliding element and sliding surface having a small coefficient of friction. Such a sliding element may be a sock or a shoe. The sliding element and the sliding surface are configured such that the sliding element may easily slide over the sliding surface with low friction.

In an embodiment a circumference of the sliding surface is provided with a raised edge. Thus, it may be prevented that the body part of the user supported on the sliding surface slides off the sliding surface. In an embodiment the sliding plate further comprises a non- sliding surface. Thus, for example, one foot may be positioned on the sliding surface and a second foot may be positioned on the non- sliding surface. In an embodiment, the vibration generator is comprised in a vibrator device comprising a vibrator plate such as described above and the sliding plate may be configured to be at least partly positioned on the vibrator plate of the vibrator device.

In an embodiment in which the sliding plate is a separate part of the vibrator device, a user may position the sliding plate aside of the vibrator device. For example, while standing, the user may position a first foot on the sliding plate and the other foot on the vibrator plate. Thus, the first foot is instably supporting the user. Hence, the user may use his other foot and corresponding leg to maintain his posture. Thereto, the user needs to tense the muscles, thereby generating a pre-tension in the muscles. As mentioned above, the pre-tension increases the training load.

In an embodiment the sliding plate may comprise coupling means for coupling the sliding plate to the vibration plate of the fitness machine. Thus, by using the coupling means, it may be prevented that the sliding plate looses contact with the vibrating plate by drifting off or falling off e.g. due to the vibrations. If the sliding plate is to be positioned on the vibrating plate, the coupling means may be arranged at a first side of the sliding plate, while the sliding surface is arranged at an opposite side thereof.

In an embodiment the sliding plate comprises a sliding part and a coupling part for coupling the sliding plate to the vibrator device. The sliding part comprises a plated-shaped element having a sliding surface at at least one side thereof. In such an embodiment the sliding plate may be partly positioned aside of the fitness machine. The coupling part is operatively coupled to the vibrating plate for receiving the vibrations and the sliding part may be on the floor, for example, receiving the vibrations from the coupling part. Thus the sliding surface may be larger than the vibrating plate of the fitness machine. In a particular embodiment, the coupling part comprises a plate-shaped element having a non-sliding surface. Thus, for example, one foot may be positioned on the non-sliding surface on the vibrating plate of the fitness machine, while the other foot is positioned on the sliding surface positioned on a floor beside the fitness machine. In an aspect, the present invention further provides a sliding plate for use with a fitness machine in accordance with one of the above-described embodiments.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a method of positioning a body part on a sliding surface and setting the sliding surface into vibration.

The claims and advantages of the present invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description and considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference symbols designate like parts and in which: Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a training device according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment of a sliding plate according to the present invention; and

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of a training device according to the present invention.

In Fig. 1 a training device 1 is shown. In accordance with the prior art, the training device 1 comprises a vibrator plate 3, a vibrator part 5, a standing support 7, a gripping means 9 and support elements 11. The support elements 11 support the training device 1 on a floor 13, or the like. The vibrator plate 3 is operatively coupled to a vibration generating means or vibration generator comprised in the vibrator part 5. In use, a user may stand on the vibrator plate gripping the gripping means 9. The vibrator plate 3 is set to vibrate. Thus, the vibrations generated by the training device 1 are transferred to the body of the user, in particular to the legs of the user, thereby generating the above-mentioned stretch reflexes in the muscles of the user, resulting in training of the muscles. Of course, the user may take any other position than standing for training any other muscles in any other body part.

In accordance with the present invention, the training device 1 comprises a sliding plate 15. The sliding plate 15 is provided on the vibrator plate 3 and comprises a sliding surface. The sliding plate 15 may be a separate plate or the sliding plate 15 may provided as a part of the vibrator plate 3.

Referring to Fig. 2, in an embodiment, the sliding plate 15 may comprise a first surface 17A and a second surface 17B. For example, the first surface 17A may be a sliding surface and a second surface may be a non-sliding surface, or both surfaces 17A and 17B are sliding surfaces. If both surfaces 17A and 17B are sliding surfaces, a separate non-sliding plate may be provided. The separate non- sliding plate may be positioned over one of the sliding surfaces 17A, 17B, thereby providing an embodiment in which a user may select which one of the first surface 17A and the second surface 17B is a sliding surface. In an embodiment, the sliding plate 15 may comprise a raised edge 19.

In use, a user is to position a body part, for example a foot, while standing, on the sliding surface 17A. Thus, the user is at least partly supported on the sliding surface 17A. The sliding surface 17A provides a relatively low friction and therefore, the foot of the user tends to slide, in particular when the sliding plate 15 is vibrating due to the vibrations generated by the training device 1. Consequently, in order to maintain his position, the user substantially constantly needs to correct any movement of his foot. The muscles in his corresponding leg are tensed. The tension in the muscles functions as a pre-tension, on top of which a stretch reflex in the muscles is induced by the vibrations. Thus, a training load is increased. Instead of only statically exercising by standing on the vibrating sliding plate, the user may perform any exercising movement. Thus, the muscles used for performing the exercising movement are additionally trained by the induced stretch reflex, while a pre-tension is provided due to the exercising movement. Fig. 3 shows a further embodiment of the present invention. The training device 1 comprises all elements as presented in Fig. 1, which are not further elucidated with reference to Fig. 3. The illustrated embodiment of the sliding plate 15 comprises a first part 21, a second 23 and a third part 25. The first part 21 may comprise a sliding surface and/or a non-sliding surface. The second part is a connecting part, connecting the first part 21 and the third part 25. The third part is a coupling part for coupling the sliding plate 15 and the vibrator plate 3 of the training device 1. The connecting part 23 connects the first part 21 and the third part 25 such that vibrations transferred from the vibrator plate to the third part 25 are also transferred to the first part 21. It is noted that the third part 25 may also comprise a sliding surface and/or a non-sliding surface .

The first part 21 is supported on the floor 13, such that the first part 21 may suitably vibrate. Thereto, the first part 21 may comprise a base element and a plate element. The base element is provided for positioning the first part 21 on the floor 13 and the plate element is provided for providing the vibrating surface. The plate element is then supported on the base element such that the plate element may suitably vibrate. The base element may for example comprise vibration-isolating elements, e.g. suitably shaped rubber elements .

The embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 3 provides a large number of user training positions. For example, the first part 21 may provide a larger sliding surface than would be possible on the vibrator plate 3, thereby allowing a user to perform certain movements, such as (ice) skating movements. In another position, the user may position one foot on the first part 21 and a second foot on the third part 25, at least one of the first part 21 and the third part 25 having a sliding surface in accordance with the present invention.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention.

The terms "a" or "an", as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term number, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.

Claims

1. Training device comprising a vibration generator and a sliding plate having a sliding surface and being operatively coupled to the vibration generator, wherein in use a friction between the sliding surface and a body part of a user, which body part is positioned on the sliding surface, is relatively low.

2. Training device according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surface is a slippery surface.

3. Training device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the training device comprises at least one sliding element to be held between the body part of the user and the sliding surface, the sliding element and sliding surface having a small friction coefficient.

4. Training device according to claim 3, wherein the sliding element is a shoe or a sock.

5. Training device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a circumference of the sliding surface is provided with a raised edge.

6. Training device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sliding plate further comprises a non-sliding surface providing a relatively high friction.

7. Training device according to claim 1, wherein the vibration generator is comprised in a vibrator device comprising a vibrator plate and wherein the sliding plate is configured to be at least partly positioned on the vibrator plate of the vibrator device.

8. Training device according to claim 7, wherein the sliding plate comprises coupling means for operatively coupling the sliding plate and the vibrator plate.

9. Training device according to claim 8, wherein the coupling means and the sliding surface are arranged at opposite sides of the sliding plate.

10. Training device according to claim 8, wherein the sliding plate comprises a sliding part and a coupling part for coupling the sliding plate to the vibrator device, the sliding part comprising a plate- shaped element having a sliding surface at at least one side thereof.

11. Training device according to claim 10, wherein the coupling part comprises a plate-shaped element having a non-sliding surface.

12. Sliding plate for use with a training device comprising a vibration generator, the sliding plate having a sliding surface and having means for being operatively coupled to the vibration generator, wherein in use a friction between the sliding surface and a body part of a user, which body part is positioned on the sliding surface, is relatively low.

13. Method for training a body part, the method comprising: positioning the body part on a sliding plate having a sliding surface, wherein in use a friction between the sliding surface and the body part is relatively low; and - setting the sliding plate into vibration.