VIBRATION APPARATUS FOR USE ON THERAPY AND EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, AND A METHOD FOR PROVIDING CONTROLLABLE VIBRATION TO SUCH EQUIPMENT

• US 20100063426A1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Redcord AS
• Original Assignee: Redcord AS
• Inventors: Planke, Tore
• Application Number:
  US12/522,059
• Publication Number:
  US 20100063426A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/46
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0292 for the spinal column A61H1/0218 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0296 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/5005 for controlling frequency distribution, modulation or interference of a driving signal
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0263 using rotating unbalanced masses
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2213/00 Exercising combined with therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 7/00 Freely-suspended gymnastic apparatus

Abstract

A vibration apparatus for use on therapy and exercise equipment of the type that has one adjustable, hanging rope or a pair of adjustable, hanging ropes to which is attached a grip portion, sling or other support member for an equipment user, the vibration apparatus being designed to be attached to the rope or to extend between the ropes and controllably set the rope or ropes in vibration. The vibration apparatus is freely, but fixably mountable at any level along the hanging length of the rope or ropes by means of rope gripping members on the apparatus or at respective ends of the apparatus, and the vibration apparatus has an actuator, for example, in the form of at least one electrically controllable motor that cooperates with at least one weight that is eccentrically supported in relation to the rotational axis of the motor.

Claims

1. A vibration apparatus for use on therapy and exercise equipment of the type that has a pair of adjustable hanging ropes to which is attached a grip portion, sling or other support member for an equipment user, the vibration apparatus being designed to extend between the ropes and controllably set the ropes in vibration, characterised in

that the vibration apparatus is freely, but fixably mountable at any level along the hanging length of the ropes by means of rope gripping members at respective ends of the apparatus;

and

that the vibration apparatus has at least one electrically controllable actuator that cooperates with at least one movable weight.

3. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that the actuator comprises an electric motor;

and

that the movable weight is a relative to the rotary shaft of the motor, eccentrically supported weight.

4. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in that said weight is differently shaped or has different weight.

5. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that the vibration apparatus has a means for controlling at least one of the following parameters:

the operating frequency of the actuator(s);

duration of vibration;

selection of actuator that is to operate together with associated weight; and

selection of actuators with associated weights that are to operate simultaneously.

6. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that the vibration apparatus has at least one vibration frequency in the range 10-120 Hz.

7. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that at least two actuators with associated weights are arranged to operate simultaneously, so that the vibration apparatus is given a composite vibration frequency pattern with related vibratory force pattern.

8. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that it is configured with an elongate rigid housing, and that said at least one actuator, configured with an electric motor and eccentrically supported weight, is positioned internally in a central area of the housing.

9. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 8, characterised in

that the rotary shaft of the motor, when the apparatus is attached to the pair of ropes, has its axis parallel to the inclination of the ropes close to their connection to the apparatus.

10. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 8, characterised in

that the rotary shaft of the motor, when the apparatus is attached to the pair of ropes, has its axis transverse to the housing and 90 degrees in relation to the inclination of the ropes close to their connection to the apparatus.

11. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 8, characterised in

that the rotary shaft of the motor has its axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing.

12. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that the rope gripping members each consist of at least three locking pins which the rope is partly passed around in a rope-locking pattern.

13. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that the rope gripping members each consist of at least one spring-loaded rope gripping clamp or rope lock.

14. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that the actuator is configured with electric motor and eccentrically supported weight;

and

that the distance of the weight from the rotary shaft of the motor is adjustable.

15. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, characterised in

that the actuator is configured with electric motor and eccentrically supported weight;

and

that the weight of the weight is adjustable.

16. A vibration apparatus as disclosed in claim 1, when subsidiary to claim 1 or 2, characterised in

that the actuator is configured with at least one electromagnet that is arranged to cause movement of a weight between respective extreme positions thereof.

2. A vibration apparatus for use on therapy or exercise equipment of the type that has one adjustable hanging rope to which is attached a grip portion, sling or other support member for an equipment user, the vibration apparatus being designed to be attachable to the rope and controllably set the rope in vibration, characterised in

that the vibration apparatus is freely, but fixably mountable at any level along the hanging length of the rope by means of rope gripping members on the apparatus;

and

that the vibration apparatus has at least two electrically controllable actuators each of which cooperates with at least one movable weight.

17. A method for providing controllable vibration to therapy and exercise equipment of the type that has one adjustable, hanging rope or a pair of adjustable, hanging ropes to which is attached a grip portion, sling or other support member, characterised in that the vibration is selectively applicable at a desired point along the hanging length of the rope or ropes by means of at least one electrically controllable actuator.

18. A method as disclosed in claim 17, characterised in

that the vibration is determined by at least one of the following parameters:

the operating frequency of the actuator(s);

duration of vibration;

selection of actuator that is to operate together with associated movable weight; and

selection of actuators with associated movable weight that are to operate simultaneously.

19. A method as disclosed in claim 17, characterised in

that the vibration comprises at least one vibration frequency in the range 10-120 Hz.

20. A method as disclosed in claim 17, characterised in

that there is provided a composite vibration frequency pattern with related vibratory force pattern by using at least two simultaneously operating actuators with associated movable weight.

21. A method as disclosed in claim 17, characterised in

that the vibration is directed transverse to said rope or pair of ropes.

22. A method as disclosed in claim 17, characterised in

that the vibration is directed transverse to said rope or pair of ropes.

23. A method as disclosed in claim 17, characterised in

that the actuator or actuators form a part of a vibration apparatus that is attachable to the rope or pair of ropes when the rope is passed partly around at least three locking pins in a rope-locking pattern.

24. A method as disclosed in claim 17, characterised in

that the actuator or actuators form a part of a vibration apparatus that is attachable to the rope or pair of ropes in that the rope is brought into engagement with at least one spring-loaded rope gripping clamp or rope lock on the apparatus.

25. A method as disclosed in claim 17, characterised in

that as actuator there is used an electric motor and eccentrically supported weight;

and

that the vibration strength/vibration energy is a function of at least one of;

the adjustable centre of gravity distance of the weight from the rotational axis of the motor;

the weight of the weight;

the progressive adjustability of the weight of the weight;

the adjustable rotational speed/rotational frequency of the weight; and

the distance of the vibration apparatus from said grip portion, sling or other support member.