Monocolumn unweighting systems

• US 9,914,003 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 03/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AlterG, Inc.
• Inventors: Kuehne, Eric R., Jue, Clifford T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh, Loan H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fischer, Rae
• Application Number:
  US14/769,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20160001118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 3/00 Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04; orthopaedic devices for correcting deformities of, or supporting, limbs A61F5/0102; exercising apparatus for the feet or toes A63B23/10; stairways or ramps E04F11/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00058 Mechanical means for varying the resistance A63B21/06 takes precedence
• 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 21/4009 to the waist
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0046 Details of the support elements or their connection to the exercising apparatus, e.g. adjustment of size or orientation attachments of resisters or weights to the body of the user A63B21/4001; using rollers, wheels, castors or gliding means to be moved over the floor or guide tracks A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0048 with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0076 takes precedence
• 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 23/04 for lower limbs training appliances for special sports A63B69/00; for the purpose of producing mechanical power F03G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0064 Attachments on the trainee preventing falling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0009 for handicapped persons

Abstract

An unweighting system includes a frame having a base and a vertical bar extending therefrom. The base is configured to connect to or at least partially encircle an exercise device. A height adjustable cantilevered arm assembly is coupled to the vertical bar at a fulcrum, and the cantilevered arm assembly is configured to receive and couple to the user. A resilient member is coupled to the cantilevered arm assembly and configured to unload a portion of the user'"'"'s weight while the user is coupled to the cantilevered arm assembly and exercises on the exercise device.

Claims

1. An unweighting system for adjustably unloading a user'"'"'s weight comprising:

a height adjustable fulcrum;

a frame comprising a base and a vertical bar adapted to be coupled to the height adjustable fulcrum;

an arm assembly coupled to the height adjustable fulcrum, wherein the arm assembly is adapted to receive and couple to the user; and

a movable resilient member attached to the height adjustable fulcrum configured to unload a portion of the user'"'"'s weight by compressing the resilient member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the unweighting system further comprises a lead screw and a lead nut.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the unweighting system further comprises a load cell.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the unweighting assembly is configured to vary the resilient member length.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein an amount of force provided by the resilient member is adjusted by changing the height of the arm assembly.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the height adjustable fulcrum is adapted to move vertically along the vertical bar.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the arm assembly is adapted to pivot about the fulcrum.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is adapted to support the arm assembly.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member is located at a distance to the fulcrum sufficient to result in a constant lifting of the user in response to an adjustment to the resilient member.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the resilient member length along a longitudinal axis of the resilient member is adjustable.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein adjustment of the resilient member length along the longitudinal axis of the resilient member varies a lifting force experienced by the user.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising an exercise device.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a motorized actuator adapted to compress the resilient member.