SELF-LOCOMOTION TRAINING SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20150126344A1
• Filed: 11/03/2014
• Published: 05/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael A. Wehrell
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Wehrell
• Inventors: Wehrell, Michael A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,795,819 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 482/128
• 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 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• 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 21/005 using electromagnetic or electric force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0058 using motors
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0088 by moving the surrounding air
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/015 including rotating or oscillating elements rubbing against fixed elements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0552 Elastic ropes or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0618 moving in a horizontal plane without substantial friction, i.e. using inertial forces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4009 to the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4011 to the lower limbs means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B69/0057
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4013 to the ankle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4021 to the wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4045 Reciprocating movement along, in or on a guide weights moving along or in guiding means A63B21/06; for cardio-training A63B22/201
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/047 Walking and pulling or pushing a load for exercising the player ability for rugby or American football A63B69/34
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load

Abstract

Embodiments allow the application of a settable and/or a programmable resistance to a trainee'"'"'s leg Drive Phase and/or Recovery Phase while walking or running over extended or infinite distances. Multiple mechanical or electrical feedback loops or combinations of both to monitor the applied resistance to the Trainee by the tether or tethers and then control the amount of breaking (drag) or propulsion created by the Mobile training module during the acceleration and constant speed training phases to accurately generate, control and transfer resistance through the elastic tethers to the Trainee. Embodiments apply multiple, non-varying loads or programmable loads to multiple body parts of a trainee where applied resistance can be manipulated to both increase or decrease over distance as desired by trainee while the trainee is walking, running or sprinting over any distance.

Claims

1. A physical training system for providing resistance to a trainee during self-locomotion, said system comprising:

a mobile training module;

one or more drive phase loading resistance members anchored at one end to said training module and adapted to be connected to the trainee to thereby effect loading of the trainee during a plurality of drive phases of the act of self-locomotion; and

one or more swing phase loading resistance members anchored at one end to said training module and adapted to be connected to the trainee to thereby effect loading of the trainee during a plurality of swing phases of the act of self-locomotion,

wherein the drive phase and swing phase loading to the trainee during the act of self-locomotion being independent of the distance locomoted by the trainee.

2. The physical training system of claim 1 wherein said mobile training module is adapted to shadow the trainee while the trainee locomotes along a predetermined training path.

3. The physical training system of claim 2 wherein said mobile training module comprises wheels for locomotion along the training path.

4. The physical training system of claim 2 wherein said mobile training module comprises means for locomotion on one or more rails or belts.

5. The physical training system of claim 2 wherein said mobile training module is adapted to be towed by the trainee.

6. The physical training system of claim 1 wherein said one or more drive phase loading resistance members are adapted to be connected to the midsection of the trainee.

7. The physical training system of claim 6 wherein said one or more swing phase loading resistance members are adapted to be connected to a leg of the trainee.

8. The physical training system of claim 1 wherein said one or more swing phase loading resistance members are adapted to be connected to a leg of the trainee.

9. The physical training system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said drive phase or swing phase loading members comprises an elastic cord.

10. The physical training system of claim 9 comprising a pair of swing phase resistance loading members, each member comprising an elastic cord adapted to be attached to a leg of the trainee.

11. The physical training system of claim 1 comprising one or more resistance modules for loading the trainee during a plurality of drive or swing phases during the act of self-locomotion, said resistance module being carried by said mobile training module, said resistance module comprising:

an elastic cord having one end secured by an anchor and a free end adapted to be connected to a selected portion of the trainee; and

a plurality of tracking mechanisms directing said elastic cord from said anchor to said free end.

12. The physical training system of claim 11 comprising a pair of resistance modules carried by said mobile training module for loading the legs of the trainee during a plurality of swing phases during the act of self-locomotion.

13. The physical training system of claim 1 wherein said mobile training module locomotes along a training path at selectable velocity and acceleration.

14. The physical training system of claim 1 comprising a pair of drive belts defining a training path, said mobile training module being coupled to said belts and being adapted to move along the training path at varying and selectable velocities and accelerations.

15. A physical training system for providing resistance to a trainee during the act of self-locomotion, said system comprising:

a mobile training module; and

one or more resistance members anchored at one end to said training module and adapted to be attached to the trainee at the other end,

said mobile training module being spaced from the trainee at a predetermined distance and being adapted to move with the trainee during the act of self-locomotion over a predetermined path, said system providing a selectively constant or varying load to the trainee during a plurality of drive and swing phases while the trainee self-loco motes over the predetermined path, wherein said load is independent of the distance locomoted by the trainee.

16. The physical training system of claim 15 wherein said mobile training module is adapted to shadow the trainee while the trainee locomotes along a predetermined training path.

17. The physical training system of claim 16 wherein said mobile training module comprises wheels for locomotion along the training path.

18. The physical training system of claim 16 wherein said mobile training module comprises means for locomotion on one or more rails or belts.

19. The physical training system of claim 16 wherein said mobile training module is adapted to be towed by the trainee.

20. The physical training system of claim 15 wherein said one or more resistance members are adapted to be connected to the midsection of the trainee.

21. The physical training system of claim 20 wherein said resistance members are adapted to be connected to a leg of the trainee.

22. The physical training system of claim 15 wherein said one or more resistance members are adapted to be connected to a leg of the trainee.

23. The physical training system of claim 15 wherein at least one of said resistance members comprises an elastic cord.

24. The physical training system of claim 15 comprising one or more resistance modules for loading the trainee during the act of self-locomotion, said resistance module being carried by said mobile training module, said resistance module comprising:

an elastic cord having one end secured by an anchor and a free end adapted to be connected to a selected portion of the trainee; and

a plurality of tracking mechanisms directing said elastic cord from said anchor to said free end.

25. The physical training system of claim 24 wherein one or more resistance modules comprise a plurality of elastic cords.

26. The physical training system of claim 24 comprising a pair of resistance modules carried by said mobile training module for loading the trainee during the act of self-locomotion.

27. A physical training system for providing resistance to a trainee during the act of self-locomotion along a training path, said system comprising:

a mobile training module for providing resistance to the trainee as the trainee locomotes along the training path, said mobile training module comprising;

a chassis;

a housing carried by said chassis;

a breaking mechanism for providing resistance to the movement of said mobile training module along the training path; and

a controller for controlling said breaking mechanism, said controller being programmable for selectively controlling the resistance to the movement of said mobile training module to thereby control the velocity and acceleration of said mobile training module,

and

one or more tethers anchored to said mobile training module at one end and adapted to be connected to the trainee at the other end to thereby provide resistance to the trainee as the trainee self-loco motes along the training path.

28. The physical training system of claim 27 further comprising a pair of drive belts defining the training path, said breaking mechanism being coupled to at least one of said drive belts for creating a breaking force opposing the movement of said mobile training module along the training path.

29. The physical training system of claim 27 further comprising one or more rigid rails defining the training path, said breaking mechanism being coupled to at least one of said rails for creating a breaking force opposing the movement of said mobile training module along the training path.

30. The physical training system of claim 29 wherein one or more of said rigid rails is positioned above a training surface.

31. The physical training system of claim 29 wherein one or more of said rigid rails is positioned below a training surface.

32. The physical training system of claim 27 comprising a pair of tethers, each tether being adapted for connection to a leg of the trainee, said pair of tethers each comprising an elastic cord.

33. The physical training system of claim 32 wherein each elastic cord is anchored proximate one end to said mobile training module and routed through a plurality routing mechanisms carried by said mobile training module to a free end being adapted for connection to the trainee.

34. The physical training system of claim 33 wherein the length of each elastic cord is sufficient to provide a relatively constant load to the trainee'"'"'s legs over the length of a stride of the trainee during the act of running.

35. The physical training system of claim 27 further comprising one or more wheels supporting said chassis for facilitating movement of said mobile training module along the training path.

36. A method of training a trainee during the act of self-locomotion, the method comprising:

loading the trainee during the drive phase;

loading the trainee during the swing phase;

wherein the magnitude of the loading is independent of the distance locomoted by the trainee.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the magnitude of the loading is selectively constant or variable over the distance locomoted by the trainee.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the magnitude of the loading is independent of the velocity or acceleration of the trainee.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the act of self-locomotion includes walking, running, backpedaling, hopping, skipping, shuffling, or crawling.

40. The method of claim 36 comprising loading the arms.

41. The method of claim 36 comprising tethering the trainee to a mobile training module which shadows the locomotion of the trainee along a training path.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein loading the drive phase of the trainee comprises tethering the midsection of the trainee to the mobile training module.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein loading the swing phase of the trainee comprises tethering the legs of the trainee to the mobile training module.

44. The method of claim 43 comprising elastically tethering the legs of the trainee to the mobile training module.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein elastically tethering the legs of the trainee to the mobile training module comprises providing one or more swing phase loading modules carried by the mobile training module, each swing phase loading module comprising one or more elastic cords anchored at one end to the mobile training module and connected at the other end to a leg of the trainee.

46. The method of claim 36 comprising tethering the arms of the trainee to the mobile training module.

47. The method of claim 41 wherein loading the swing phase of the trainee comprises tethering the legs of the trainee to the mobile training module.

48. The method of claim 36 comprising measuring the loading of the trainee or the velocity of the trainee the act of self-locomotion and adjusting the load to maintain a selected loading or velocity profile.

49. A method of training a trainee during the act of self-locomotion, the method comprising:

providing a mobile training module;

tethering the trainee to the mobile training module;

providing resistance to a plurality of drive phases of the trainee during self-locomotion with the mobile training module, the magnitude of the resistance being independent of the distance locomoted by the trainee; and

providing substantially constant resistance to a plurality of swing phases of the trainee during self-locomotion with the mobile training module.

50. The method of claim 49 comprising coupling the mobile training module to one or more belts or rails extending along a training path.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the mobile training module comprises a breaking mechanism or motoring mechanism for selectively controlling the velocity and acceleration of the mobile training module.