Method and tool for exercising muscles

• US 8,162,802 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2006
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hans E. Berg
• Original Assignee: YoYo Technology AB
• Inventors: Berg, Ernst Hans Erik
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): JALALZADEH ABYANE, SHILA
• Application Number:
  US11/887,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20090156362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,217 Days
• Field of Search: 482/1, 482/2, 482/8, 482 72- 73, 482/110
• US Class Current: 482/2
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0051 using eddy currents induced in moved elements, e.g. by permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0052 induced by electromagnets A63B21/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0084 by moving the surrounding water A63B31/00, A63B35/00 take precedence
• 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 21/0616 with an adjustable moment A63B21/0617 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/227 changing the rotational direction alternately
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0204 Standing on the feet
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0228 Sitting on the buttocks
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/16 Angular positions
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/54 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0494 primarily by articulating the knee joints A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for exercising muscles with the aid of an exercise apparatus and, where appropriate, for measuring exercise conditions, where the person exercising loads the relevant muscles by increasing or decreasing the rotational energy (E(kin)), kinetic energy, of at least one rotatably mounted flywheel, by means of a traction element which is wound up and designed for acting on the flywheel, the flywheel being braked in a controlled manner by means of a brake element. The invention also relates to an exercise apparatus for exercising muscles.

Claims

1. A method of exercising muscles, wherein the method comprising the steps of:

using an exercise apparatus comprising;

at least one rotatably mounted flywheel, a traction element, and a brake element, increasing or decreasing the rotational energy of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel using said traction element which is wound up and designated for acting on the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel in a first pull-out training phase followed by a winding-up training phase;

wherein during the winding-up training phase the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel continues to rotate in a same direction of rotation as imparted during the first pullout training phase;

changing the rotational direction of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel during a second pull-out training phase subsequent to the first pull-out training phase, wherein the direction of rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel in the first pull-out training phase is opposite of the direction of rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel in the second pull-out training phase;

braking the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel in a controlled manner by said brake element, wherein for endurance training, said brake element engages the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by continuously dissipating energy by applying a braking force to the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel at least in the winding-up training phase and wherein for strength training, said brake element disengages the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel at least in the winding-up training phase; and

measuring exercise conditions.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein braking includes increasing the braking effect as the speed of rotation increases.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein braking includes controlling the brake element by a control arrangement.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising detecting a concentric phase and an eccentric phase by the control arrangement comprising sensor elements.

5. The method according to claim 3 wherein controlling includes controlling as a function dependent on the speed of rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein braking includes friction braking.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein braking includes fluid braking.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein braking includes induction braking.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein braking includes electrical braking.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the speed of movement and the exerted force during muscle contraction or muscle lengthening and the action of the brake element are influenced by changing the moment of inertia of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising recording exercise conditions.

12. An exercise apparatus for exercising muscles of a person and measuring exercise conditions, comprising:

at least one rotatably mounted flywheel;

a wound-up traction element operably connected to the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel; and

a brake element operably connected to the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel for braking the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel in a controlled manner,

wherein the at least rotatably mounted flywheel loads the relevant muscles of a person exercising by increasing or decreasing the rotational energy of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel with the wound-up traction element,

wherein the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel is acted upon during a first pull-out training phase followed by a winding-up training phase, wherein during the winding-up training phase, the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel continues to rotate in a same direction of rotation as imparted during the first pull-out training phase and the flywheel changes rotational direction in a second pull-out training phase subsequent to the first pull-out training phase, wherein the direction of rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel in the first pull-out training phase is opposite of the direction of rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel in the second pull-out training phase; and

wherein for endurance training, the brake element engages the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by continuously dissipating energy by applying a braking force to the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel at least in the winding-up training phase and wherein for strength training, the brake element disengages the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel at least in the winding-up training phase.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the traction element is wound up around an axle, which axle is coupled to the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element can be uncoupled in order to permit an engageable and disengageable braking action.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element is designed to act progressively, the braking effect increasing as the speed of rotation increases.

16. The apparatus according to claim 12, comprising a control arrangement for controlling the braking action of the brake element.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control arrangement comprises sensor elements designed to detect a concentric phase and an eccentric phase.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, the sensor elements comprises a first sensor designed to detect a change in rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel, and a second sensor designed to detect when a run-out phase changes over to a run-in phase.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the control arrangement comprises a control element designed to control the brake element by means of a function which is dependent on the speed of rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel.

20. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element is designed to brake the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by means of friction.

21. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element comprises a brake part designed to brake the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by direct contact with the periphery of the flywheel, where the brake part is formed by at least one of a brake band, a brake shoe, and a brake block.

22. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element comprises a brake part designed to brake the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by direct contact with at least one of the wheel'"'"'s sides, where the brake part is formed, by at least one of a brake shoe and brake block.

23. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element is designed to brake the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by frictional resistance with a fluid.

24. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element comprises blades arranged at the periphery of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel, said blades being designed such that, upon rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel, they brake the latter by frictional resistance with a fluid.

25. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element is to brake the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by means of induction.

26. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element comprises at least one permanent magnet, the at least one permanent magnet being arranged on the flywheel such that the magnetic field brakes the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel.

27. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element comprises an electromagnet comprising at least one coil coupled to a current source, the coils being arranged on the flywheel such that the generated magnetic field brakes the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel during rotation.

28. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element is designed to brake the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by means of electricity.

29. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the brake element comprises an electric motor or a generator designed to brake the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel by means of a generated resistance.

30. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel comprises a first flywheel and a second flywheel, the brake element being designed to act directly on one of the flywheels.

31. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel can be replaced in order to change its moment of inertia for influencing the speed of movement and exerted force during muscle contraction and muscle lengthening, and the action of the brake element.

32. The apparatus according to claim 12, comprising measuring elements are provided in connection with said traction element, the measuring elements being designed to measure and record the traction force, the rotation speed, and a run-in speed.

33. The apparatus according to claim 32, wherein the measuring elements comprise an electric motor/generator designed to brake the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel, for measuring and recording the rotation speed.

34. The apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the electric motor/generator is designed to generate power for operating the measuring equipment and a display.

35. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein, for exercising in a weightless environment, said at least one rotatably mounted flywheel is arranged on a seat or bench part designed to support the person exercising, said part being releasably anchored by spring devices.

36. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the seat or bench part comprises a slide which is displaceable along said part and on which the person exercising is intended to lie or sit.

37. The apparatus according to claim 35, comprising a carriage, displaceable along the part, is designed to be acted on by means of the legs of the person exercising and to influence said rotational energy (E(kin)) of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel.

38. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel is arranged under the plane on which the person exercising is sitting or lying.

39. The apparatus according to claim 35, wherein the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel is designed to be acted on, by the person exercising, via an articulated lever arm which is connected to the traction element and is designed to be acted on between the articulated suspension and the connection to the traction element.

40. The apparatus according to claim 39, characterized in that, for influencing the relationship between exerted force and the speed of muscle contraction or muscle lengthening, the position of the centre of rotation of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel relative to the lever arm is intended to be varied.

41. The apparatus according to claim 12, comprising a safety system comprising devices to control the movement of the of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel to protect users and/or flywheel.

42. The apparatus according to claim 41 wherein the safety system comprises an emergency brake designed in such a way that, in the event of an uncontrolled run-in of the traction element, it is acted upon by the handle of the traction element, or by a device connected to the handle, in such a way that the emergency brake brakes the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel.

43. The apparatus according to claim 42, wherein the safety system comprises a disengaging element designed to disengage the flywheel from the axle at a predetermined torque of said at least one rotatably mounted flywheel.

44. The apparatus according to claim 43, wherein the disengaging element comprises an exchangeable breakpin coupled between the hub of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel and the axle and designed to be shorn off at a predetermined torque.

45. The apparatus according to claim 41, wherein the safety system comprises a resettable slipping clutch which is designed such that, at a predetermined torque of the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel, the at least one rotatably mounted flywheel is disengaged from the axle in such a way that it slips against the latter.