Devices and method for increasing running performance

• US 10,639,514 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2018
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BOSU Fitness, LLC
• Original Assignee: BOSU Fitness, LLC
• Inventors: Weck, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US15/998,709
• Publication Number:
  US 20190168056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0633 without electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0004 Exercising devices moving as a whole during exercise bar bells or dumb bells A63B21/072; on wheels A63B22/20
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00065 by increasing or reducing the number of resistance units
• 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 21/00196 using pulsed counterforce, e.g. vibrating resistance means A61H1/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/023 Wound springs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0428 the ends moving relatively by linear reciprocation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0603 Fluid-like particles, e.g. gun shot or sand
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0607 Plastic masses, e.g. elastomers; Masses provided with plastic coverings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/065 worn on user's body
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/072 Dumb-bells, bar-bells or the like , e.g. weight discs having an integral peripheral handle
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4043 Free movement, i.e. the only restriction coming from the resistance A63B21/00043, A63B21/072 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2209/08 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03541 Moving independently from each other A63B22/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/12 for upper limbs or related muscles, e.g. chest, upper back or shoulder muscles bench press exercises A63B21/078; for teaching music G09B15/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/00 Training appliances or apparatus for special sports training of parachutists B64D23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02

Abstract

A running device and method of using the device are disclosed. The device may include a moveable material within an inner chamber of the running device'"'"'s housing. In operation, a running device may be held in each hand and the runner may thrust both hands downward prior to landing and quickly bring the devices to a vertical stop after landing. Bringing the devices to a vertical stop may cause the moveable material to collide with the housing and increase the force exerted by the runner on the ground. A delay component may delay the peak force exerted by the material against the housing so that the translation of that force to the ground coincides with the peak force that the runner would have exerted against the ground in the absence of the devices.

Claims

1. A method of using a first running device and a second running device, the first running device being gripped by or removably affixed to the left hand and the second running device being gripped by or removably affixed to the right hand,

each running device comprising:

a closed inner chamber defined at least in part by an inner top surface and an inner bottom surface facing the inner chamber, the top surface and the bottom surface further defining a longitudinal axis extending from the top surface to the bottom surface,

a moveable material disposed within the inner chamber and configured to provide a gap between the moveable material and the top surface when the moveable material is in contact with the bottom surface and to provide a gap between the moveable material and the bottom surface when the moveable material is in contact with the top surface,

a housing containing the inner chamber and the moveable material, and configured to be gripped by or removably affixed to a hand;

the method comprising;

as the left foot is launching, raising both running devices such that the moveable material in the first running device is pushed against the bottom surface of the inner chamber of the first running device and the moveable material in the second running device is pushed against the bottom surface of the inner chamber of the second running device;

when both feet are off the ground, lowering both running devices, such that the moveable material in the first running device changes from being pushed against the bottom surface to being pushed downward by the top surface of the first running device and the moveable material in the second running device changes from being pushed against the bottom surface to being pushed downward by the top surface of the second running device;

when the right foot is in contact with the ground, decelerating both running devices, such that the moveable material in the first running device collides with the bottom surface of the inner chamber of the first running device when the right foot is in contact with the ground and the moveable material in the second running device collides with the bottom surface of the inner chamber of the second running device when the right foot is in contact with the ground; and

as the right foot is leaving the ground, raising both running devices such that the moveable material in the first running device is pushed against the bottom surface of the inner chamber of the first running device and the moveable material in the second running device is pushed against the bottom surface of the inner chamber of the second running device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the first running device and second running device further comprise a delay component, wherein the delay component delays when a peak force is exerted by the moveable material against the bottom surface of the inner chamber after the running device is decelerated.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the delay component comprises a protrusion extending into the inner chamber and the moveable material comprises a plurality of pellets.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the delay component further comprises a plurality of protrusions extending into the inner chamber and housing is tapered inward adjacent the bottom surface of the inner chamber.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the housing comprises an outer surface having a plurality of indentations.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the delay component comprises a spring between the bottom surface of the inner chamber and the moveable material.

7. The method of claim 2 wherein the delay component comprises a magnet disposed at the bottom surface of the inner chamber and the magnet is arranged to repel the moveable material.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein each running device further comprises a glove and wherein the housing is removably attached to the glove.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein each running device further comprises a removable cap providing access to the inner chamber.

10. A method of using a first running device and a second running device, the first running device being gripped by the left hand and the second running device being gripped by the right hand,

each running device comprising:

a housing having a generally cylindrical outer surface and a generally cylindrical inner side surface,

an inner top surface,

an inner bottom surface,

the housing, inner top surface and inner bottom surface defining an inner chamber,

a protrusion extending from the inner side surface into the inner chamber, and

loose material disposed within the inner chamber,

the method comprising;

before the left foot launches from the ground, accelerating the upwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the loose material in each running device is pushed against the inner bottom surface of the inner chamber,

after the left foot has left the ground and before the right foot makes initial contact, accelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the loose material in each running device is pushed against the inner top surface of each running device,

after the right foot makes initial contact with the ground, decelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the loose material in each running device collides with the inner bottom surface of the inner chamber,

before the right foot launches from the ground and after decelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device, accelerating the upwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the loose material in each running device is pushed against the inner bottom surface of the inner chamber, and

after the right foot has left the ground and before the left foot makes initial contact, accelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the loose material in each running device is pushed against the inner top surface of each running device.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising decelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device immediately after the left foot makes initial contact with the ground and immediately after the right foot makes initial contact with the ground.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the collision of the loose material with the inner bottom surface occurs after each foot makes initial contact with the ground and before the foot exerts maximum force on the ground.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the protrusion and loose material are structured and arranged such that the collision of the loose material with the inner bottom surface increases the maximum force exerted by a foot on the ground.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein the mass of the loose material in the inner chamber is adjustable.

15. A method of using a left running device held in the left hand and right running device held in the right hand,

each running device comprising:

a housing having a generally cylindrical outer surface and generally cylindrical inner side surface,

an inner top surface,

an inner bottom surface,

the housing, inner top surface and inner bottom surface defining an inner chamber,

a plurality of protrusions extending from the inner side surface into the inner chamber, and

pellets disposed within the inner chamber,

the method comprising;

before the left foot launches from the ground, accelerating the upwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the pellets in each running device are pushed against the inner bottom surface of the inner chamber,

after the left foot has left the ground and before the right foot makes initial contact, accelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the pellets in each running device are pushed against the inner top surface of each running device,

after the right foot makes initial contact with the ground, decelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the pellets in each device collide with the inner bottom surface of the inner chamber,

before the right foot launches from the ground and after decelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device, accelerating the upwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the pellets in each running device are pushed against the inner bottom surface of the inner chamber, and

after the right foot has left the ground and before the left foot makes initial contact, accelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device such that the pellets in each running device are pushed against the inner top surface of each running device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the housing has an outer surface and a plurality of indentations.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein each indentation on the outer surface corresponds with a protrusion on the inner side surface.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising decelerating the downwards vertical velocity of each running device immediately after the left foot makes initial contact with the ground and immediately after the right foot makes initial contact with the ground.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the collision of the pellets with the inner bottom surface occurs after each foot makes initial contact with the ground and before the foot exerts maximum force on the ground.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the plurality of protrusions and pellets are structured and arranged such that the collision of the pellets with the inner bottom surface increases the maximum force exerted by a foot on the ground.