Support frame and related unweighting system

• US 10,265,565 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Inventors: Jue, Clifford T., Marecek, Gregory P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urbiel Goldner, Gary D
• Application Number:
  US14/769,114
• Publication Number:
  US 20160008650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,866 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0237 for the lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/165 Wearable interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5061 Force sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04; orthopaedic devices for correcting deformities of, or supporting, limbs A61F5/0102; exercising apparatus for the feet or toes A63B23/10; stairways or ramps E04F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0063 Shock absorbers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00181 comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0085 using pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/055 extension element type
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4009 to the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 : performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 : performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 : Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/805 : Optical or opto-electronic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/04 : for lower limbs training appliances for special sports A63B69/00; for the purpose of producing mechanical power F03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0064 : Attachments on the trainee preventing falling

Abstract

An unweighting system includes a frame, a pair of front pulleys, a pair of rear pulleys, a first cable, and a second cable. The frame is configured to be attached to or placed at least partially around an exercise device and includes a front portion and a rear portion. The pair of front pulleys is coupled to the front portion. The pair of rear pulleys is coupled to the rear portion. A first cable passes through a first of the pair of front pulleys and through a first of the pair of rear pulleys. A second cable passes through a second of the pair of front pulleys and through a second of the pair of rear pulleys. The first and second cables are configured to couple with a user to unload a portion of the user'"'"'s weight as the user exercises on the exercise device.

Claims

1. An unweighting exercise system, comprising:

a frame configured to be attached to or placed at least partially around an exercise device, the frame including a front portion and a rear portion;

a pair of front pulleys coupled to the front portion;

a pair of rear pulleys coupled to the rear portion;

a first cable passing through a first of the pair of front pulleys and through a first of the pair of rear pulleys;

a second cable passing through a second of the pair of front pulleys and through a second of the pair of rear pulleys, the first and second cables configured to couple with a user positioned between the first cable and the second cable and between the pair of the front pulleys and the pair of the rear pulleys to unload a portion of the user'"'"'s weight as the user exercises on the exercise device;

a first lower load cell connected to an end of the first cable;

a second lower load cell connected to an end of the second cable;

a first upper load cell connected to the first of the pair of front pulleys or the first of the pair of rear pulleys;

a second upper load cell connected to the second of the pair of front pulleys or the second of the pair of rear pulleys; and

a controller in communication with the load cells, wherein the controller is configured to obtain data from the load cells to determine an amount of unloading of the user when the user is coupled to the first and second cables, wherein each pulley of the pair of front pulleys is mounted to a load cell piston to indicate force acting on each pulley.

2. The unweighting system of claim 1, further comprising third and fourth lower load cells connected to ends of the first and second cables opposite to the ends connected to the first and second lower load cells.

3. The unweighting system of claim 1, further comprising third and fourth upper load cells such that each of the pulleys includes an upper load cell connected thereto.

4. The unweighting system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to determine the amount of unloading of the user by determining a difference in readings between the upper load cells and the lower load cells.

5. The unweighting system of claim 1, wherein each pulley of the pair of rear pulleys is mounted to a load cell piston to indicate force acting on each pulley.

6. The unweighting system of claim 1 wherein while the portion of the user'"'"'s weight is unloaded, the first cable and the second cable are configured to be coupled at or near the user'"'"'s waist.

7. The unweighting system of claim 1 wherein a spacing between the pulleys of the pair of front pulleys is wider than a spacing between a location where the first cable is coupled to the user and a location where the second cable is coupled to the user.

8. The unweighting system of claim 1 wherein a spacing between the pulleys of the pair of rear pulleys is wider than a spacing between a location where the first cable is coupled to the user and a location where the second cable is coupled to the user.

9. The unweighting system of claim 1 wherein while the portion of the user'"'"'s weight is unloaded, the first cable and the second cable are configured to be clipped to the user.

10. The unweighting system of claim 1 wherein while the portion of the user'"'"'s weight is unloaded, the first cable and the second cable are configured to be hooked to the user.

11. The unweighting system of claim 1 further comprising a user support configured to be worn by the user wherein the first cable and the second cable are configured to be coupled to the user by the user support.

12. The unweighting system of claim 11 wherein the user support is a pair of shorts.