“Figure-eight” track, apparatus, method, and game for sensory-motor exercise

• US 7,708,676 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deborah T. Sunbeck
• Original Assignee: Deborah T. Sunbeck
• Inventors: Sunbeck, Deborah T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BAKER, LORI LYNN
• Application Number:
  US11/541,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20070032352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,310 Days
• Field of Search: 482/148, 482/75, 482 1- 8
• US Class Current: 482/148
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0092 for training agility or co-ordination of movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0094 for active rehabilitation, e.g. slow motion devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0018 for wheelchair users
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0694 Visual indication, e.g. Indicia
• 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 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2210/50 Size reducing arrangements for stowing or transport
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2214/00 Training methods
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/09 Adjustable dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0464 Walk exercisers without moving parts with movable endless bands A63B22/02
• 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 4/00 Balance beams
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0057 Means for physically limiting movements of body parts A63B23/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports

Abstract

An apparatus for cognitive and physical training has a figure-eight walking course with both or alternate inner and outer borders. Adjustable rails inside and outside the course assist rehabilitation. Gates in outer rails admit users to the course. Oppositely swinging gates at a center of course between the two loops provide supported direction from one course loop to another. The course may include a knockdown and portable track. Coordinated walking with bodily rotation and turning is promoted by a single off course focus point in a plane through the center separating the two loops. Increased motor, sensory, cognitive and other challenges are added to the walking, turning and lateral rotation. Also disclosed is a sensory-motor game and method of playing the game, which also employs a figure-eight course.

Claims

1. Therapeutic integration walking apparatus comprising a therapeutic walking apparatus for human sensory-motor exercise, the walking apparatus including a walking course having a figure-eight configuration, the walking apparatus walking course having walking course borders forming an inner boundary of the walking course figure-eight configuration, the walking course borders delineating the walking course of the walking apparatus for human sensory-motor exercise, the walking course and the walking course borders providing a guide for walking and therapeutic integration of motor, sensory and cognitive functions to walkers using the walking apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the walking course borders on the inner boundary further comprise one or more curved rails and supports connected to the rails for supporting the rails above the inner boundary of the course.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more curved rails are guiding rails.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more curved rails are weight bearing rails.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the supports are preexisting supports, and the curved rails are attached thereto.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the supports are inner posts positioned inside the course inner boundary and wherein the curved rails extend outward from the posts.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further including a tabletop disposed on the inner support posts.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inner posts and curved rails forming the walking course inner boundary are portable.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the inner posts are vertically adjustable.

10. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more curved rails comprise at least a pair of vertically spaced curved rails.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the supports comprise a plurality of weight bearing supports connected to said at least pair of vertically spaced curved rails.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further including walking course borders forming an outer boundary of at least part of the walking course figure-eight configuration.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the borders forming the outer boundary comprise upper rails supported on outer posts along the outer boundary.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the outer posts are vertically adjustable.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further including a motor connected to the outer posts for vertically adjusting the outer posts.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the upper rails are horizontally adjustable on the outer posts.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further including a motor connected to said upper rails for horizontally adjusting the upper rails on the outer posts.

18. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein at least some of the outer posts and the upper rails along the outer boundary of the walking course are swinging and gates to the walking course.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least some portions of the upper rails are moveable gates admitting persons to the walking course.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein some of the moveable gates are lockable in parallel position, whereby the locked gates may be used as parallel rails.

21. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the inner support posts are vertically adjustable by a hydraulic lift mechanism.

22. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the walking course comprises a platform track.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said platform track is comprised of a plurality of laterally connectable platform track sections, whereby the platform track is knockdown and easily transportable.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, further including movable step training accessories attached to said platform track, said step training accessories selected from the group consisting of stepping spacers, stepping guides, a center floor divider and a balance beam, said step training accessories attached to said platform track by doweled floor fastening means.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the platform track is comprised of an incline track, and the borders are inclined rails which match the incline of the incline track.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the incline track is comprised of stepping inclines.

27. A therapeutic integration walking method comprising providing a therapeutic walking apparatus having a walking course for human sensory-motor exercise, providing a figure-eight configuration of the walking apparatus walking course, providing walking course borders forming an inner boundary of the walking course figure-eight configuration, delineating the walking course of the walking apparatus, using the borders as guides and practicing walking on therapeutic integration of motor, sensory and cognitive functions while walking on a walking track.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the providing walking course borders on the inner boundary further comprise providing one or more curved rails and supports connected to the rails for supporting the rails above the inner boundary of the course.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing one or more curved rails comprises providing guiding rails.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing one or more curved rails comprises providing weight bearing rails.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing supports comprises providing preexisting supports, and providing the curved rails attached thereto.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing supports comprises providing inner posts positioned inside the course inner boundary and extending the curved rails outward from the posts.

33. The method of claim 32, further including the step of providing a tabletop disposed on the inner support posts.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein providing inner posts and curved rails forming the walking course inner boundary comprises inner posts and curved rails that are portable.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the providing inner posts comprises providing inner posts that are vertically adjustable.

36. The method of claim 28, wherein the providing one or more curved rails comprise providing at least a pair of vertically spaced curved rails.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the providing supports comprise providing a plurality of weight bearing supports connected to said at least pair of vertically spaced curved rails.

38. The method of claim 27, further including the step of providing walking course borders forming an outer boundary of at least part of the walking course figure-eight configuration.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the providing borders forming the outer boundary comprise providing upper rails supported on outer posts along the outer boundary.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the providing outer posts comprises providing outer posts that are vertically adjustable.

41. The method of claim 40, further including the step of providing a motor connected to the outer posts for vertically adjusting the outer posts.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the providing upper rails comprises providing upper rails that are horizontally adjustable on the outer posts.

43. The method of claim 42, further including the step of providing a motor connected to said upper rails for horizontally adjusting the upper rails on the outer posts.

44. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of providing a point of focus positioned outside of the walking course.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the providing a point of focus comprises a point of focus that is positioned near a plane perpendicular to the walking course at a midpoint of the walking course.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the providing a walking course comprises providing a walking course made of two annular curves which are joined linearly and wherein the plane passes through the linear joining of the annular curves.

47. The method of claim 44, wherein the providing a point of focus further includes the step of providing visual and audible stimulations.

48. The method of claim 39, further comprising the step of providing at least some of the outer posts and the upper rails along the outer boundary of the walking course that are swinging and gates to the walking course.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising the step of providing at least some portions of the upper rails that are movable gates admitting persons to the walking course.

50. The method of claim 49, further including the step of providing moveable gates that are lockable in parallel position, whereby the locked gates may be used as parallel rails.

51. The method of claim 49, further including the step of providing gates at intersections of the rails along outer boarders of the walking course and providing gates that extend inward allowing persons using the walking course to move to opposite sections of the walking course.

52. The method of claim 35, wherein the providing inner support posts that are vertically adjustable further comprises providing a hydraulic lift mechanism in the inner support posts.

53. The method of claim 38, wherein the providing a walking course comprises providing a platform track.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the providing said platform track is comprised of providing a plurality of laterally connectable platform track sections, whereby the platform track is knockdown and easily transportable.

55. The method of claim 53, further including the step of providing movable step training accessories selected from the group consisting of stepping spacers, stepping guides, a center floor divider and a balance beam, and attaching the training accessories to said platform track by doweled floor fastening means.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the providing a platform track is comprised of providing an incline track, and providing borders that are inclined rails which match the incline of the incline track.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein the providing an incline track is comprised of providing stepping inclines.

58. A physical and cognitive sensory walking training method for use on a figure-eight walking course comprising the steps of:

walking on connected loops of a figure-eight therapeutic integration walking course,

guiding a user using walking course borders while walking on said walking course,

focusing on an off walking course object while walking,

turning and rotating a user'"'"'s body while being guided within walking course borders and while continuously focusing on said off walking course object,

practicing walking and practicing the integration of motor, sensory, and cognitive functions,

using hand rails along one or more borders of said walking course.