Differential air pressure systems

• US 9,642,764 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuehne, Eric R., Shughart, Mark A., Whalen, Sean T., Schwandt, Douglas F., Whalen, Robert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUGLAS, STEVEN O
• Application Number:
  US13/898,246
• Publication Number:
  US 20130324893A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,450 Days
• Field of Search: 601 5- 11, 601 23, 601 25, 601 35, 12820212, 12820526, 482 54, 600 19
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/00 Apparatus for passive exercising A61H5/00 takes precedence; Vibrating apparatus driving means for vibrating A61H23/00; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• 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 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/001 by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0012 the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0023 the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0056 the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/053 higher pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/093 Height
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/01 User's weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 : Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 : Involving pressure control

Abstract

Described herein are various embodiments of differential air pressure systems and methods of using such systems. The differential air pressure system may comprise a chamber configured to receive a portion of a user'"'"'s lower body and to create an air pressure differential upon the user'"'"'s body. The differential air pressure system may further comprise a user seal that seal the pressure chamber to the user'"'"'s body. The height of the user seal may be adjusted to accommodate users with various body heights.

Claims

1. A differential air pressure system comprising:

an inflatable chamber comprising a flexible user seal adapted to releasably seal about a portion of a user'"'"'s body when the user is positioned inside the chamber;

a frame assembly having a base, wherein the inflatable chamber is attached to the base; and

a movable assembly comprising a seal frame attached to the chamber, a height adjustment bar attached to the seal frame, the height adjustment bar supported by a pair of adjustable posts wherein the movable assembly is configured to provide a vertical position adjustment of the height of the user seal by vertically moving the seal frame.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the inflatable chamber comprises an expanded orientation, a collapsed orientation, and a predetermined folding pattern transitioning the chamber from the expanded orientation to the collapsed orientation.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the predetermined folding pattern comprises a plurality of fold lines on the chamber, wherein the plurality of fold lines bias the chamber to fold into the collapsed orientation with alternating inward and outward folds.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the chamber comprises an embedded rod to facilitate inward folding of the chamber to the collapsed orientation.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the chamber comprises a layer of non-slip material on a portion of the chamber wherein the non-slip material is on a top surface of the chamber when the chamber is in a collapsed orientation.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein when the chamber is in the collapsed orientation the top surface comprises a substantially flat surface for reducing a trip hazard to the user as the user steps onto the top surface and enters the user seal.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the chamber comprises two side panels coupled to a middle panel and the user seal is attached to the middle panel.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the of the side panels comprises a transparent window.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the transparent window comprises a fold line for outfolding the transparent window when the chamber is transitioned to a collapsed state.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seal between the base and the chamber.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the frame assembly comprises a pair of vertically oriented side posts and each side post partially houses a roller assembly.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the seal frame comprises a closed loop surrounding the user seal and the user seal is attached to the seal frame.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the closed loop is below the roller assembly.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the movable assembly further comprises a locking mechanism to engage with the frame assembly and fix the vertical position of the user seal.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the user seal comprises a first seal component and a second seal component adapted to releasably couple and form a substantially airtight seal while the user seal is being worn by the user positioned inside the chamber.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein one of the first seal component or second seal component is adapted and configured to be worn by the user.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising an exercise device positioned inside the chamber in relation to the user seal to permit use of the exercise device by a user while wearing the first seal component or the second seal component.

15. A differential air pressure system comprising:

a pressurizable chamber comprising a user seal adapted to releasably seal about a portion of a user'"'"'s body when the user is positioned inside the chamber;

a frame assembly having a base, wherein the chamber is sealed to the base; and

a seal frame comprising a loop structure proximal to the user seal, wherein a first portion of the loop structure adjacent to the user seal is positioned in a generally horizontal alignment with the user seal and a second portion of the loop structure is inclined relative to the first portion further comprising a height adjustment bar coupled to the second portion, the height adjustment bar configured to slide vertically along the frame assembly to adjust the height of the seal frame.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein a portion of the seal frame constrains an area of the chamber adjacent to the user seal during pressurization of the chamber.

20. A differential pressure system comprising:

an inflatable chamber having a deflated state and a predetermined expanded state; and

a frame assembly adjacent the chamber, the frame assembly comprising bars to limit the expansion of a front portion of the chamber and rails to limit a lateral expansion of a portion of the chamber when the chamber is inflated to the predetermined expanded state; and

a user seal at a top portion of the inflatable chamber, wherein the shape of the top portion in the predetermined expanded state is maintained by a seal frame adjacent to the user seal.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the seal frame comprises at least one structure configured to depress the top portion when the chamber is inflated.

22. The system of claim 20, further comprising a height adjustment assembly for adjusting the height of the seal frame.

23. The system of claim 20, wherein the user seal comprises a first seal component and a second seal component adapted to releasably couple and form a flexible waist seal around the user while a portion of the user'"'"'s body is inside the chamber.

24. The system of claim 20, further comprising an exercise device positioned inside the chamber.