Arrangements for converting semispherical motion to linnear motion conducive to exercising an appendage of the human body

• US 20120220428A1
• Filed: 11/29/2011
• Published: 08/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan Carlson
• Original Assignee: Alan Carlson
• Inventors: Carlson, Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,636,631 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/8
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• 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 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0421 the ends moving relatively by a pivoting arrangement
• 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 21/156 the position of the pulleys being variable, e.g. for different exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/222 by overcoming gyroscopic forces, e.g. by turning the spin axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4003 to the head; to the neck
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/13 Relative positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/802 Ultra-sound sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/803 Motion sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/20 : with means for remote communication, e.g. internet or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/025 : for the head or the neck

Abstract

A method is provided for exercising a human appendage that includes placing the appendage in contact with a user interface and placing a force on the user interface where the user interface based on a net user force becomes displace from an unbiased position to a biased position, where the user interface when moving from the unbiased position to the biased position moves about a path defined by a semispherical surface having defined by an origin, a radius and an angle of displacement.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

placing a human body appendage in contact with a user interface; and

displacing the user interface from an unbiased position to a biased position in response to a net user force on the user interface, where when the user interface moves from the unbiased position to the biased position it is confined to locations defined by a semisphereical surface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein locations on the semispherical surface are defined by an origin, a radius and an angle of displacement.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising identifying a user and sensing a parameter related to a user'"'"'s input to the user interface and movement associated with the user interface to create user data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein sensor data is created by one of a strain gage, an accelerometer, motion detector, an angular rate sensor, a position sensor, a camera or a user identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the appendage creates an initial pressure point on the user interface during exercise and as the user interface moves about a range of motion defined by the semispherical surface wherein the user interface'"'"'s movement is confined such that the user interface remains in contact with the initial pressure point of the appendage throughout a range of motion of the exercise.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein in response to a user'"'"'s input, the user interface provides a uniform resistance to the movement of the user interface about the range of motion of the user interface.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the appendage is one of the neck, the wrist, the ankle, and the torso

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising adjusting one of a position of the user interface, a body position locator mechanism, a resistance setting, a user interface setting, or a user interface path setting.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a frame;

a first member coupled to the frame,

a second member coupled to the frame and the first member;

a user interface coupled to the first member and the second member wherein the first and second member control the movement of the user interface to a motion defined by a semispherical surface, the semispherical surface having a radius.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the semisherical surface has a positive Gaussian curvature.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein locations on the semispherical surface can be defined by umbilical points.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a third and fourth and fifth member to facilitate the path of travel of the user interface.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a counter balance to bias the location of the user interface to a rest position.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein when the user interface moves from a unbiased position, the first and second members pivot in relationship the frame forcing the user interface to simultaneously rotate and translate remaining substantially tangent to a path defined substantially by an equation for an imaginary semispherical surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein when the user interface moves from an unbiased position in a direction the user interface has an X, a Y and a Z component.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a start adjustment member to adjust a start location of the user interface on the semisphere.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein when the user interface movement is defined by a displacement from a rest position the displacement being a curved path defined by a center and a radius that is substantially equal to a length of one of a human body appendages.

18. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising at least one sensor to monitor activity of a user of the apparatus and transmitting sensor data to a data collection apparatus.

19. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising providing the sensor data to an entity financially responsible for rehabilitation of the user and/or the user'"'"'s appendage.

20. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a movable fairlead assembly to adjust a position

a bias position of the user interface.