Apparatus and method for muscle movement training

• US 9,700,751 B2
• Filed: 05/12/2016
• Issued: 07/11/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Core Restore LLC
• Original Assignee: Core Restore LLC
• Inventors: Verdi, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Crow, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): ATKINSON, GARRETT K
• Application Number:
  US15/153,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20160256725A1
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 482 51, 482 74, 482 78, 482114, 482120-124, 482127, 482129, 482134, 482142, 482143
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 17/04 separable
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/065 Visualisation of specific exercise parameters
• 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 21/0023 for isometric exercising, i.e. substantial force variation without substantial muscle motion
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/025 Spiral springs with turns lying substantially in plane surfaces
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0442 Anchored at one end only, the other end being manipulated by the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/045 having torsion or bending or flexion element
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/153 wound-up and unwound during exercise, e.g. from a reel
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/16 Supports for anchoring force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4003 to the head; to the neck
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4005 to the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4007 to the chest region, e.g. to the back chest
• 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 21/4015 to the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4017 to the upper limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4019 to the hand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/02 with reinforcing fibres, e.g. carbon, polyamide fibres
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/10 with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/51 Force

Abstract

Apparatuses and methods for motion and muscle training are disclosed. An apparatus includes a first retractor device, a second retractor device and a body gear unit for engaging a human. The body gear unit is attached to the first retractor device and the second retractor device. The first retractor device and the second retractor device each provide a constant non-variable load and constant resistance in opposite directions. A method includes attaching a body gear unit to a body, attaching first and second retractor devices to the body gear unit, and performing at least one movement using the body gear unit. The at least one movement is performed in a direction that is opposite to a direction of resistance of the first retractor device. A direction of resistance of the second retractor device is opposite to the direction of resistance of the first retractor device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first retractor device, wherein the first retractor device comprises;

a first torsion spring having a first central axis;

a first cable that comprises an extendable and retractable first cord;

a first tapered drum that is attached to the first cable, wherein the first tapered drum comprises a conical shape, wherein the first cable is wound in a spiral around the first tapered drum, wherein the first retractor device provides a first constant non-variable load and a first constant resistance via the first cable in a first direction; and

a first adjustment knob that is coaxial to the first central axis of the first torsion spring, wherein the first adjustment knob is for pre-tensioning the first torsion spring;

a second retractor device, wherein the second retractor device comprises;

a second torsion spring having a second central axis;

a second cable that comprises an extendable and retractable second cord;

a second tapered drum that is attached to the second cable, wherein the second tapered drum comprises a conical shape, wherein the second cable is wound in a spiral around the second tapered drum, wherein the second retractor device provides a second constant non-variable load and a second constant resistance via the second cable in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, wherein the first constant non-variable load is the same as the second constant non-variable load, and wherein the first constant resistance is the same as the second constant resistance; and

a second adjustment knob that is coaxial to the second central axis of the second torsion spring, wherein the second adjustment knob is for pre-tensioning the second torsion spring; and

a body gear unit for engaging a human, comprising a plurality of hooks to attach the first retractor device and the second retractor device to provide the first constant non-variable load and the first constant resistance via the first cable in the first direction and the second constant non-variable load and the second constant resistance via the second cable in the second direction that is opposite to the first direction throughout a range of motion of a movement, wherein the movement includes an eccentric contraction and a corresponding concentric contraction in a single arrangement.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an anchoring unit; and

a plurality of anchor points for attaching each of the first retractor device and the second retractor device to the anchoring unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the anchoring unit comprises at least one moveable member for attaching the plurality of anchor points to the anchoring unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of anchor points are moveable about the anchoring unit to position each of the first retractor device and the second retractor device to provide desired directions of resistance.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the first retractor device and the second retractor device is adjustable via the first adjustment knob and the second adjustment knob, respectively, to provide a range of non-variable loads and a range of constant resistances.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the range of non-variable loads comprises:

adjustable increments of less than or equal to one half pound, or adjustable increments of less than or equal to one pound.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first retractor device and the second retractor device are tuned to provide a same resistance and a same constant non-variable load.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first retractor device and the second retractor device are arranged to provide resistances to movement in a single plane of motion.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a third retractor device; and

a fourth retractor device.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first retractor device and the second retractor device are arranged to provide resistances to movement in a first plane of motion and the third retractor device and the fourth retractor device are arranged to provide resistances to movement in a second plane of motion or in the first plane of motion.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third retractor device and the fourth retractor device provide resistances in opposite directions.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the third retractor device and the fourth retractor device are attached to the body gear unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions along an axis of movement of the at least one body gear unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions about an axis of movement of the at least one body gear unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movement includes both flexion movement and extension movement in the single arrangement.

16. A method, comprising:

attaching a body gear unit to a body;

attaching a first retractor device to a first hook of the body gear unit, wherein the first retractor device comprises a first torsion spring having a first central axis, a first tapered drum that is attached to a first cable, the first cable comprising an extendable and retractable first cord, wherein the first tapered drum comprises a conical shape, wherein the first cable is wound in a spiral around the first tapered drum, wherein the first retractor device provides a first constant non-variable load and a first constant resistance via the first cable in a first direction, and a first adjustment knob that is coaxial to the first central axis of the first torsion spring, wherein the first adjustment knob is for pre-tensioning the first torsion spring;

attaching a second retractor device to a second hook of the body gear unit, wherein the second retractor device comprises a second torsion spring having a second central axis, a second tapered drum that is attached to a second cable, the second cable comprising an extendable and retractable second cord, wherein the second tapered drum comprises a conical shape, wherein the second cable is wound in a spiral around the second tapered drum, wherein the second retractor device provides a second constant non-variable load and a second constant resistance via the second cable in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction, and a second adjustment knob that is coaxial to the second central axis of the second torsion spring, wherein the second adjustment knob is for pre-tensioning the second torsion spring, wherein the first constant non-variable load is the same as the second constant non-variable load, wherein the first constant resistance is the same as the second constant resistance, wherein the first retractor device is attached to the first hook of the body gear unit and the second retractor device is attached to the second hook of the body gear unit to provide the first constant non-variable load and the first constant resistance via the first cable in the first direction and the second constant non-variable load and the second constant resistance via the second cable in the second direction that is opposite to the first direction throughout a range of motion of a movement, wherein the movement includes an eccentric contraction and a corresponding concentric contraction in a single arrangement; and

performing the movement using the body gear unit.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions along an axis of movement of the at least one body gear unit.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first direction and the second direction are opposite directions about an axis of movement of the at least one body gear unit.