WO2018096370A1

WO2018096370A1 - Exercise device

Info

Publication number: WO2018096370A1
Application number: PCT/GB2017/053585
Authority: WO
Inventors: Keith Toule
Original assignee: Blackmoor Developments Ltd
Priority date: 2016-11-28
Filing date: 2017-11-28
Publication date: 2018-05-31
Also published as: EP3544696B1; EP3544696A1; GB201620092D0

Abstract

An exercise device comprises a support (1) mounting a pair of hand grips (8) linked together so as to be alternately reciprocable relative to the support, the hand grips being formed of a resiliently deformable material such as an expanded elastomeric material. The device is characterised by sensors for detecting the speed and acceleration of the hand grips, a processor connected to the sensors and programmed to display information relating thereto on a display screen.

Description

EXERCISE DEVICE

Field of the Invention

[0001] This invention relates to an exercise device particularly useful for assisting in recovery from a stroke. Background to the Invention

[0002] People who have suffered from a stroke, neurological trauma or some musculoskeletal conditions may have a consequential loss of joint dexterity or motor function and require regular controlled exercise to obtain an improved outcome. In GB2347873A we disclosed and claimed an exercise device having a support means mounting two foot supports connected together so as to be alternately reciprocable relative to the support means in a single, generally horizontal, plane. In one embodiment, the support means includes an endless drive member passing around a spaced pair of horizontal wheels, the foot supports being carried on respective horizontal bars attached to opposed runs of the endless drive member.

[0003] Each foot thus acts against the other to provide resistance for working of muscles, while using a stronger limb to assist a weaker limb, if necessary.

[0004] While the device was intended for leg exercises, especially for those recovering from knee surgery, it has been found beneficial for arm exercising as well, preferably with the foot rests removed to enable the use to grasp the horizontal bars with their hands.

Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention provides an exercise device comprising a support mounting a pair of hand grips linked together so as to be alternately recipro- cable relative to the support, the hand grips being formed of a resiliently deform- able material, characterised by sensors for detecting the speed and acceleration of the hand grips, a processor connected to the sensors and programmed to display information relating thereto on a display screen.

[0006] Preferably, the resiliently deformable material is an expanded elasto- mer, for example a natural or synthetic rubber, so as to offer progressive resistance to compressive deformation. [0007] The hand grips may be shaped to conform with a user's fingers. The hand grips may be linked by an endless belt running around a spaced pair of pulleys.

[0008] The hand grips may each contain at least one load cell connected to the processor. In this way, the processor can display on the display screen a measure of the squeezing force applied to each grip by the user. This may, for example, be compared with a desired force for the benefit of the exercise required.

[0009] The device is preferably configured to transmit the processed infor- mation wirelessly to a remote monitoring station. This may be done continuously or the device may comprises data storage to save the information for periodic onward transmission to the monitoring station, where it may be reviewed by a medical practitioner.

[0010] It has been found that the combination of alternately extending and retracting the user's arms while squeezing and releasing the grips is especially beneficial in assisting the user to recover mobility and motor function in the arms and hands, for example after a stroke.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] In the drawings, which illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the in- vention:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exercise device; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the device, viewed from the opposite direction to that in Figure 1 .

Detailed Description of the Illustrated Embodiment

[0012] The exercise device comprises a body 1 which is carried by legs 2 and 3 having wide laterally-extending feet 4 and 5 respectively to ensure stability when placed on a surface such as a table top. One leg 2 is longer than the other leg 3 so that the body 1 slopes upwardly away from the user in use when the device is placed on a horizontal surface. This is to ensure that the user's arms are flexed at a comfortable angle for effective exercise, in use. It will be appreciated that the device could be configured with the body horizontal or sloping in the opposite direction, according to the exercises which are to be performed.

[0013] The body 1 has mounted therein an endless flexible drive belt, which may, if desired, be toothed, passing around a horizontal pulley at each end of the body. Horizontal bars 6 extend outwardly laterally of the body 1 through elongate slots 7, the bars 6 mounting hand grips 8 and being attached at their innermost ends to opposite runs of the endless belt so that as one grip 8 is moved away from a user positioned at one end of the body, the other grip 8 is caused to move towards the user.

[0014] The body may contain means for increasing resistance to movement of the belt, for example controlling a friction force applied to a pulley, and/or means for assisting movement, such as a motor driving one of the pulleys. Sensors may be provided to measure speed and acceleration of the belt or one of the pulleys. A processor may be incorporated to process the outputs of the sensors and to control the resistance or assistance applied to the movement of the belt and to provide information to the user via a display screen 9, which is also provided with push-buttons 10 to permit the user to control the device.

[0015] The hand grips 8 are formed of a progressively compressible resilient material such as an expanded elastomer, so that the user can squeeze and release the grips during the exercise cycle. This can be done, for example, by instructions displayed on the screen. The grips may incorporate one or more load cells to output a signal to the processor proportional to the compression applied to the grip so that the processor can output to the screen feedback on the squeez- ing and releasing exercises performed, while also providing the user with guidance on the performance of the exercise. The load cells may, for example, include piezo-electric material generating a voltage according to deformation of the material during the squeezing.

[0016] The hand grips 8 are formed with finger recesses 8a for the comfort of the user and to ensure that the relationship between the squeezing pressure applied and the internal sensors is such as to ensure accurate measurement. [0017] Although the device can be used to assist the user in getting the maximum benefit from exercising by displaying performance indicators on the screen, the measurements relating to speed and acceleration as well as grip can be digitised by the processor and saved in internal memory for periodic onward wireless transmission to a remote monitoring station. This may be achieved by a built in GSM system that transmits data according to a predetermined schedule, or by a wi-fi connection to the internet. Alternatively, the data can be streamed live to the monitoring station via the internet. Information can also be displayed on the screen, although it would be possible for the screen to be omitted from the device, the display screen therefore effectively being remote from the device. As an alternative to a wireless connection the device could be provided with a wired connection, for example to a Local Area Network (LAN) in turn connected to the internet. In this way, a doctor or other medical practitioner can monitor the user's progress remotely.

Claims

1 . An exercise device, comprising a support mounting a pair of hand grips linked together so as to be alternately reciprocable relative to the support, the hand grips being formed of a resiliently deformable material, characterised by sensors for detecting the speed and acceleration of the hand grips, a processor connected to the sensors and programmed to display information relating thereto on a display screen.

2. An exercise device according to Claim 1 , wherein the resiliently deformable material is an expanded elastomer so as to offer progressive resistance to compressive deformation.

3. An exercise device according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the hand grips are shaped to conform with a user's fingers.

4. An exercise device according to Claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the hand grips are linked by an endless belt running around a spaced pair of pulleys.

5. An exercise device according to any preceding claim, wherein the hand grips each contain at least one load cell connected to the processor.

6. An exercise device according to Claim 5, wherein the load cells comprise piezo-electric material generating a voltage according to deformation of the material.

7. An exercise device according to any preceding claim, wherein the device is configured to transmit the processed information wirelessly to a remote monitoring station.

8. An exercise device according to Claim 7, wherein the display screen is located at the remote monitoring station.