ATHLETIC TRAINING DEVICE FOR RUNNERS

Abstract: An athletic training device for runners includes an endless track (2) which has a transverse inclination and is rotatable around the central axis (7) of the track.

Description: "Athletic training device for runners" The present invention relates to an athletic training device for runners. In conventional training on a track, it is common practice for the athletes to run under an increased load by wearing weights or by dragging a resisting load sliding on the ground by means of a rope. An alternative practice is that of running along an upward slope. All the above mentioned systems alter the athlete's position during the run, do not apply the load uniformly to the body and give rise to defects in the running technique. In particular, running with weights, due to the concentration of the load in specific points of the body, unbalances the athlete during running and also causes localized injuries; running along an upward slope alters the running position as a function the variation of the slope and gives rise to defects in the running technique; running while dragging resisting loads alters the running position, concentrates the loads on specific points of the body and gives rise to defects in the running technique. The object of the present invention is that of providing an athletic training device for runners which enables the athlete to run under an increased load without wearing weights, without varying the running position, without concentrating loads in specific points of the body and without giving rise to defects in the running technique. A further object of the invention is that of providing a device of the above indicated type which has a relatively reduced size, so that it can be used indoor, for example in a gymnasium, and which has a simple and unexpensive structure. Yet a further object of the invention is that of providing a device having all the above indicated features enabling both the running speed and the additional load acting onto the athlete to be independently adjusted as desired. In order to achieve this object, the invention provides an athletic training device for runners, characterized by the combination of the following features: said device includes an endless track, said endless track is rotatably mounted on a supporting structure around a vertical axis extending through the center of the endless track, said endless track is inclined transversely so as to have a circular inner edge and a circular outer edge arranged at a higher level with respect to the circular inner edge, said device further includes means for driving rotation of said endless track around said central vertical axis with respect to said supporting structure, whereby the athlete, while running, is subjected to an additional load, acting substantially along the simmetry axis of the athlete, perpendicularly to the track, which is due to the force resulting from the sum of the weight force and the centrifugal force applied to the athlete. As a result of said features, the user of the device according to the invention, when running along said endless track, undergoes not only his weight force, but also the centrifugal force due to the circular movement. The resulting force given by the sum of these two forces provides an increase of load which, under normal training speeds, may pass by over 40% the athlete's weight, as tests conducted by the applicant have shown. When running, the symmetry axis of the athlete must always be perpendicular to the track, in order to avoid that one leg is overloaded with respect to the other leg; therefore, the athlete must run at a speed which depends by the inclination of the track and the radius at which the athlete is running. However, due to the possibility of rotation of the track, the athlete may run under proper conditions at various speeds and always along the same radius, the speed of rotation of the track (in any of the two opposite directions, depending upon whether the speed of the athlete with respect to the track must by decreased or increased) being adjusted accordingly. According to a further preferred feature, the device also comprises means for varying the lateral inclination of the track. Due to this further feature, the athlete is able to obtain a variation of the additional load to which he is subjected for a given running speed. Therefore, due to the above mentioned features, the device according to the invention, although having a relatively simple and unexpensive structure, enables runners to train in a reduced space, and hence also indoor, under an increased load, while eliminating the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional methods which have been used heretofore. The additional load acting on the athlete and the running speed may be varied independently and as desired. Studies and tests conducted by the applicant have further shown that the device according to the invention can also be used as a multifunctional athletic training device for carrying out a number of physical exercises, such as lateral running or exercises for coordination of motion. Furthermore, the device according to the invention has also revealed to be useful and appreciated as a play instrument for children. Naturally, in the present description and in the following claims, when reference is made to the possibility of the endless track to rotate with respect to its supporting structure, equivalent solutions are to be understood as included within the invention in which the track is formed by a plurality of sections which do not rotate around said vertical axis, each of these sections having an endless conveyor movable along a tangential direction with respect to the central axis of the track, so as to simulate the effect of a rotation of the track around said axis. In a preferred embodiment, the track comprises a first fixed supporting structure, a second supporting structure which is rotatably mounted on said first supporting structure around said vertical axis and a plurality of track sectors, each sector being pivotally mounted in proximity of one of its ends to said second supporting structure and being further connected in proximity of the opposite end to an actuator carried by said second supporting structure for varying the position of said end along the vertical direction. This actuator may be formed for example by a screw-and-nut mechanism, the various mechanisms associated with the various sectors of the track being controlled by a single motor and gear reducing unit through a chain and gear transmission. The device according to the invention may be further improved in order to satisfy further needs. The athletes often use to train at high altitudes in summer and in hot regions in winter, where climatic conditions (temperature, humidity, pressure, oxygen content) are present which are useful to improve the athletic performance. According to a further preferred feature. the device according to the invention is provided with a sealed transparent cover enclosing the track and provided with a door which is also sealed. This cover is associated with an air-conditioning unit including an air intake unit and an oxygen supplying unit, adapted to simulate any desired climatic condition. In a further embodiment of the invention, the device further comprises a rotatable resisting vertical shaft arranged at the center of the track and provided with a horizontal rod arranged at an adjustable height, which can be dragged by the athlete during training by means of one or more ropes connected to a belt or a vest. Alternatively, the athlete may place himself at the rear of the horizontal rod and may push the rod during training. It is to be noted that a training device including a stationary endless track with a transverse inclination has already been disclosed by the same applicant in Italian patent No. 1.237.075. However in this known device, no means for rotating the track are provided. As a result, by this known device, if the athlete wishes to train at high speed under a low or medium additional load, he is compelled to run along a circular path having a relatively high radius (e.g. 4-6 m) . This implies the construction of a very bulky device with a relatively complicated and expensive structure, which cannot be easily used indoor. With the present invention, a track of reduced dimension is provided, while enabling the athlete to run at any speed under any additional load. Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the annexed drawings, given purely by way of non limiting example, in which: figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention, figure 2 is a partial plan view of the fixed supporting structure of the device according to the invention, figure 3 is a partial plan view of the rotatable supporting structure of the device according to the invention, figure 4 is a perspective view at an enlarged scale of a detail of the structure of figure 2, figure 5 is a perspective view at an enlarged scale of a detail of the structure of figure 3, figure 6 is a partial perspective view, at an enlarged scale, which shows the device for adjusting the inclination of one track sector, and figures 7, 8 show a side elevational view and a plan view of a further embodiment of the device according to the invention. With reference to figure 1, the device according to the invention, generally designated by reference numeral 1, comprises an endless track 2 having an inner circular edge 3 and an outer circular edge 4 arranged at a higher level with respect to that of edge 3, so as to give to track 2 an inclination along the transverse direction. Track 2, which in the illustrated example is formed by a plurality of track sectors 5, is carried by a supporting structure 6, shown in plan view in figure 3, which is rotatably mounted around the central vertical axis 7 of the track on a fixed supporting structure 8 which is shown in plan view in figure 2. With reference to this figure, the fixed supporting structure 8 comprises a plurality of radial ribs 9 on which there is fixed a circular rail 10 (see also figure 6) which is to be engaged by wheels 11 of the rotatable supporting structure 6 (figures 3, 6). The fixed supporting structure 8 has at its center a cylindrical support 12 (see also figure 4) from which radial ribs 13 project, which are connected to radial ribs 9 by screwed plates 14. To support 12 there is fixed a plate 15 (figure 4) on which on its turn a motor and gear reducing unit 16 is fixed, which includes an electric motor 17 and a reducing gear unit 18 whose output shaft carries a sprocket 19 having a vertical axis. With reference to figures 3, 5, the supporting structure 6 is rotatably mounted on a vertical shaft 20 projecting from the central support 12 of structure 8 (see figure 4) with the interposition of a bearing 21. The structure 6 includes a rigid structure 22 which is used as a support for a horizontal platform 23 arranged inside the annular track, and also as a support of the mechanism for adjusting the inclination of the track which will be illustrated hereinafter with reference to figure 6. Structure 22 comprises a central portion, which is shown at an enlarged scale in figure 5, comprising a central support 24 which is rotatably mounted through a bearing 21 on shaft 20 of fixed structure 8, which is also connected by a plurality of radial beams 25 to a polygonal frame 26 from which radial beam portions 27 project terminating with front flanges 28. These flanges are coupled and screwed to corresponding front flanges 29 of radial extending beams 30, each of which carries at its outer end a freely rotatable wheel 11 which is to engage rail 10 in the way shown in detail in figure 6. Beams 30 are further connected to each other by transverse beams 31 whose ends are screwed to flanges 32 projecting laterally from beams 30 (figure 6). The structure is further strengthened by a number of further secondary radial beams 33 connected by flanges to transverse beams 31, as well as, at their radially inner ends, to radial flanges 34 projecting from frame 26 (figure 5). The central support 24 carries a toothed wheel 35 which meshes with the actuating sprocket 19 driven by the motor and reducing gear unit 16. With reference to figure 6, each track sector 5 is pivotally mounted in proximity of its radially outer end around an axis 36 on a circumferential beam 37, coupled at its ends by flanges 37a to beams of the same type in order to form a single ring which is rigidly connected by C-shaped plates 38 (one of which is visible in figure 6) to radial beams 30 of the rotatable structure 6. In proximity of its radially inner end, each track sector 5 is connected with the interposition of shock-absorbing elements 39, for example made of rubber, to a further circumferential beam 40. Beam 40 is connected by end flanges 41 to similar beams so as to form a second ring, arranged at a lower level with respect to the ring formed by beams 37, so as to give to the track a transverse inclination. As already indicated at the beginning of the present description, the position in height of the ring formed by beams 40 is adjustable. To this end, the beam 40 which is associated with each track sector 5 is connected by plates 41 to a nut 42 which is engaged on a screw 43. Screw 43 is rotatably supported around a vertical axis by the end wings of the C-shaped plate 38, and is driven in rotation by a motor and reducing gear unit 44 (shown only diagrammatically in figure 6) by a chain and gear transmission 45, which enables motor 44 to simultaneously control the inclination of all the track sectors 5. The various sectors are connected to each other by connecting elements (not shown) which enable the sectors to be arranged in the same plane. In use, the athlete runs along the track so that the force resulting from the sum of the weight and the centrifugal force subjects him to a load extending along the symmetry axis of the athlete, higher than the mere weight. By varying the inclination of the track and/or the speed of rotation of the track (in any direction) it is possible to obtain a variation of the additional load acting on the athlete at any desired value of the running speed. The track according to the invention enables a natural, fluent and coordinated run to be performed, even at relevant additional loads, in the order of 40-50% of the athlete's weight. The athlete is thus able to run under an additional load without wearing weights and keeping the same position, with respect to the track, of the run without weights. The device according to the invention is able to stress particularly the legs of the athlete without stressing his spine. The rotation of the track is obtained by activating the motor and reducing gear unit 16 which rotates the whole rotatable structure 6 around the vertical axis 7 with respect to the fixed supporting structure 8. This movement is guided by the engagement of wheels 11 on the circumferential rail 10. The transverse inclination of the track may be adjusted by acting on the motor and reducing gear unit 44, in the way which has been described above. With reference to figures 7, 8, the device according the invention may be enclosed under a transparent cover, for example of synthetic material, 46, formed by a plurality of sectors 47 of synthetic material connected by screws (not shown) to a frame of metal profiles or in any other known way. The cover 46 is sealed and is provided with a door 48 which is also sealed, to enable the user to get into and out of the cover. The space inside the cover is associated with an air conditioning unit 49 arranged for example at the top of the cover, with an air intake unit and an oxygen supplying unit, by which it is possible to provide any desired climatic condition (temperature, humidity, pressure, oxygen content) inside the cover. Furthermore, independently from the use of cover 46, the fixed structure 8 may rotatably support a vertical central shaft 50 associated to a brake device, for example of the friction-type, which tends to oppose the rotation of shaft 50. The latter is provided with one or two horizontal rods 51, at adjustable height, which may be pushed or pulled by the athlete by ropes connected to a belt or a vest so as to increase the stress during the run. According to a further feature, the device according to the invention comprises an electronic panel for setting the device operation parameters, such as the running speed and the value of the additional load acting on the athlete, and for automatically adjusting accordingly the speed of rotation and/or the inclination of the track. Also, the device may comprise audio and/or visual signalling means, for signalling to the athlete, at each lap of the track, the time at which he must pass by a given point in order to keep the running speed which has been set. Naturally, while the principle of the invention remains the same, the details of construction and the embodiments may widely vary with respect to what has been described and illustrated purely by way of example, without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the various track sectors could be formed by endless belt conveyors movable along a tangential direction, so as to enable a variation of the running speed. An arrangement of this type is considered to be equivalent to the adoption of a rotatable track as described in the foregoing description and it is therefore to be understood as comprised within the scope of the present invention and particularly within the definition provided by the annexed claims.

Claims: £LΔIM£ 1. Athletic training device for runners, characterized by the combination of the following features: said device (1) comprises an endless track (2), said endless track (2) is rotatably mounted on a supporting structure (8) around a vertical axis (7) extending through the center of the endless track (2), said endless track (2) is inclined transversely so as to have an inner circular edge (3) and an outer circular edge (4) arranged at a higher level with respect to the inner circular edge (3), said device further comprises means (16) for driving rotation of the endless track (2) around said central vertical axis (7) with respect to the supporting structure (8), whereby the athlete, while running, is subjected to an additional load, acting substantially along the simmetry axis of the athlete, perpendicularly to the track, which is due to the force resulting from the sum of the weight force and the centrifugal force applied to the athlete. 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device further comprises means (42-45) for varying the lateral inclination of said endless track (2). 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that said device further comprises a first fixed supporting structure (8), a second supporting structure (6) which is rotatably mounted on said first supporting structure (8) around said vertical axis (7), and a plurality of track sectors (5), each of which is pivotally mounted in proximity of one of its ends to said second supporting structure (6) and is further connected in proximity of the opposite end to an actuator (42-44) carried by said second supporting structure (6), for varying the position of said end along the vertical direction. 4. Device according to claim 3, characterized in that said actuator is formed by a screw-and-nut mechanism (43, 42), the various mechanisms (43, 42) which are associated with the track sectors (5) being controlled by a single motor and reducing gear unit (44) by a chain and gear transmission (45). 5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device further comprises a transparent sealed cover (46) enclosing said track (2) and provided with a door (48) which is also sealed, said cover (46) being provided with an air-conditioning unit (49) including an air intake unit and an oxygen supplying unit, adapted to simulate any desired climatic condition inside the cover (46). 6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said device further comprises a resisting rotatable vertical shaft (50) arranged at the center of the track (2) and provided with a horizontal rod (51) arranged at an adjustable height, which can be pushed or pulled by the athlete during training. 7. Device according to Claim 1, characterized in that said device comprises an electronic panel for setting the device operation parameters, such as the running speed and the value of the additional load acting on the athlete and for automatically adjusting accordingly the speed of rotation and/or the inclination of the track. 8. Device according to Claim 7, characterized in that said device comprises audio and/or visual signalling means, for signalling to the athlete, at each lap of the track, the time at which he must pass by a given point in order to keep the running speed which has been set.

Inventors: SCUDERI GIUSEPPE, SCUDERI, GIUSEPPE
Applicants: SCUDERI GIUSEPPE, SCUDERI, GIUSEPPE
Application year: 1995
Main classification: A63B22
IPC codes: A63B22, A63B69