Patent ID: 7314435
Filing Date: 2008-01-01
Classification: A61H,A63B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for training a body part of a person comprising a structure defining a movement path to be traversed in strides of a selected distance by feet of a person while being trained to walk; at least three electrode sensors being positioned along said movement path and spaced a selected distance from a reference point representing a stride to be traversed by the feet of a person while being trained; a conductive member electrode sensor configured to be affixed to a walking surface of a shoe to be worn one on each foot of a person being trained to walk, each of said at least three electrode sensors being responsive to said feet of a person traversing said selected distance and physically contacting one of said at least three electrode sensors with a said conductive member electrode sensor wherein said conductive member electrode sensor is formed of wire mesh affixed to the walking surface of a shoe to be worn on each foot of a person being trained to walk; a body harness configured to be removeably attached to a body, said body harness being connected to a moveable body support member configured to be transported along a plane substantially parallel to the walking path and spaced a predetermined distance from said structure defining a walking path; a body weight control apparatus operatively connected between said body support member and said body harness for programming a predetermined portion of body weight of such person onto the feet while such person is being trained to walk, wherein each foot of a person being trained to walk having a shoe having a conductive member electrode sensor thereon is transported to and brought into physical contact with one of said at least three electrode sensors concurrently making electrical contact between each of said conductive member electrode sensor on each shoe physically contacting its associated one of said at least three electrode sensors to complete and actuate an electrical circuit between each conductive sensor electrode and at least two electrode sensors; and a signal control circuit operatively connected to each of said at least three electrode sensors and being responsive to said conductive member electrode sensor on each shoe of a person being trained to walk actuating each of said at least two electrode sensors for generating a feedback signal which is communicated to such person to verify that the feet of such person being trained has traversed said selected distance.