Abstract:
A device for training and/or analyzing a user&#39;s musculoskeletal system includes a stepping plate mounted on a base plate and periodically or aperiodically moveble by a driving mechanism encompassing a drive shaft on which a cam is disposed. On the bottom side of the stepping plate is a roll that rolls off an external surface of the cam. The stepping plate is connected to the base plate by vertical guides stationarily disposed on the,base plate such that the mounted stepping plate follows a lifting movement caused by the driving mechanism. The cam has a first eccentric zone truncated such that the distance traveled by the roll rolling off the surface of the zone increases along the axial extension of the cam. A vertical adjusting mechanism allows the lift of the stepping plate to be modified by changing the position between the roll and the cam that cooperates therewith.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a device for training and/or analyzing the musculoskeletal system of a user, wherein the device comprises a stepping plate which is mounted on a base plate and can be made to periodically and/or aperiodically move by means of a driving mechanism, wherein the driving mechanism comprises at least one drive shaft on which at least one cam is disposed, and wherein at least one roll arranged to roll on an outer surface of the at least one cam is disposed on the bottom surface of the stepping plate. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    Such devices have been widely known and are used for training a user&#39;s musculoskeletal system, or for analyzing it in order to detect any abnormal motion processes. WO 2007/024103 describes a device comprising two stepping plates that can be made to periodically move by means of a driving mechanism. This is effected using a shaft which is driven by a driving mechanism and which comprises two cams each of which coacts with a roll mounted on the stepping plates, orthogonally to the cams. It is a disadvantage of the known device that the amplitude of the periodical movements cannot be varied. 
         [0005]    Another disadvantage of the known device is seen in the fact that the projecting stepping plate on which force is applied performs a tilting movement in addition to a vertical movement. This provides the disadvantage to stress the user&#39;s joints. Especially, designs of that kind cannot be used for horses or other hoofed animals because they would heavily stress the joints of the horses as horses are not in a position to balance out the tilting movement produced by the stepping plate. 
         [0006]    EP 0 929 284 describes a device where a periodical sinusoidal movement is applied to the soles of a user&#39;s feet alternatingly on the one and the other side. To this end, the device comprises a rocker which is supported on the base plate via a pivot axis. The bottom of the rocker is engaged by lifting devices that can be driven by a common speed-controlled electric motor via respective V-belt drives. Each of the lifting devices comprises a drive shaft which is stationarily supported on the bottom plate and which carries a driving pinion. Connecting rods have one of their ends eccentrically supported on the drive shaft while their other ends act on the bottom of the rocker. It is possible with the aid of such a drive mechanism to make the rocker perform an oscillating lifting and lowering movement about its pivot axis and to adjust the oscillating frequency at option, within a predefinable range, via a control unit. 
         [0007]    Such a device is absolutely convenient for training or for analyzing the musculoskeletal system of a user of low weight, for example of a man standing on the rocker. However, when a heavier user, for example a sport horse or a racing camel, is to be trained and/or its musculoskeletal system is to be analyzed, the described mechanical structure of the driving mechanism usually is not sufficient to achieve the required operating safety, or else the components of the driving mechanism must be made so sturdy that a device of that kind, adapted for example to horses, will become extremely bulky. 
         [0008]    While when used for men it is absolutely possible to operate the described device from the very beginning at the desired oscillating frequency, this is not possible in the case of horses or other animals, especially flight animals, as horses that are made to stand on such a device, operating at a more than negligible frequency, tend to show flight reactions because they are not accustomed to such a moving ground. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    It is the object of the present invention to improve a device of the before-mentioned kind so that is will be easily possible to handle the loads occurring when the device is used by heavy users, while offering the possibility to vary the amplitude of the stepping plate. 
         [0010]    That object is achieved by the invention in that the stepping plate of the device is connected to the base plate by means of vertical guides that are stationarily disposed on the base plate so that the stepping plate, supported in this way, can follow a vertical movement caused by the driving mechanism, that at least one cam has a first eccentric zone of truncated design so that the distance traveled by the roll, rolling on the surface of the said zone, increases along the axial extension of the cam, and that the device comprises a vertical adjusting mechanism which allows the lift of the stepping plate to be modified by changing the position between at least one roll and the cam that cooperates with it. 
         [0011]    The features according to the invention advantageously provide a device that is particularly well suited, due to its mechanical structure, for training and/or for analyzing the musculoskeletal system of a heavy user. The at least one drive shaft, provided on at least one cam, and the roll that cooperates with the cam present a structure that is sufficiently robust to stand even higher loads. The device according to the invention comprises a vertical adjusting mechanism by means of which the amplitude of the vertical movement of the stepping plate, produced by the cams, can be varied. By providing that at least one cam with a first eccentric zone of truncated design so that the distance traveled by the roll rolling on the surface of that zone increases along the axial extension of the cam, in combination with the possibility to displace the cam relative to the rolls, the invention now provides an easy way of adjusting the vertical movement. 
         [0012]    According to an advantageous further development of the invention, the cam comprises a non-eccentric zone. It is the advantage of that feature that the invention thereby allows, at the beginning of the process of training and/or of analyzing of the musculoskeletal system of the user, when the driving mechanism is already operating, to run the system in an operating mode where no vertical movement of the stepping plate occurs. A feature of that kind is especially advantageous in a starting phase of the training and/or the treatment for acquainting the user to the device of the invention. 
         [0013]    Another advantageous development of the invention provides that the rising zone of the cam is followed by an eccentric final zone. That feature provides the advantage that the rolls will roll along the outer surface of the cam with particular stability in that final zone where the maximum lift can be produced by the device so that the device will operate smoothly even under maximum amplitude conditions. 
         [0014]    Another advantageous further development of the invention provides that the device comprises two drive shafts, each with at least two cams, and that at least four rolls, each cooperating with at least one cam, are arranged on the bottom surface of the stepping plate. Such a design provides the advantage that in that case the vertical movement produced by the driving mechanism can be applied to all the four corner areas of the stepping plate so that a uniform up and down movement of the stepping plate can be achieved. A configuration of that kind provides the further advantage that no undesirable tilting movements of the stepping plate can occur, which is an advantage especially for horses as these have difficulty in compensating sudden tilting movements of the ground on which they are standing. 
         [0015]    According to another advantageous further development of the invention the device comprises three drive shafts with at least two cams each and at least six rolls disposed on the bottom of the stepping plate. Such an embodiment provides the advantage of being especially stable. 
         [0016]    Another advantageous further development of the invention provides that the adjusting device for the vertical movement comprises a linear adjusting unit and that the position of at least one cam can be varied relative to the cooperating roll by the linear adjusting unit. A feature of that kind provides the advantage that the vertical movement of the stepping plate can be varied with particular ease. 
         [0017]    Another advantageous further development of the invention provides that the drive shafts of the driving mechanism are arranged on an intermediate plate disposed between the base plate and the stepping plate and that the position of the intermediate plate relative to the stepping plate and, thus, of the cams relative to the rolls arranged on the bottom surface of the stepping plate can be varied by linear displacement. An embodiment of that kind not only provides the advantage that the vertical movement can be adjusted in an easy way even for heavy users. Additionally, the described embodiment has the effect to allow the amplitude of the vertical movement of the mechanism to be easily and continuously varied by displacing the intermediate plate—during operation—between an initial value with a relatively small amplitude and a greater amplitude, and vice versa. 
         [0018]    According to another advantageous further development of the invention the drive shafts can be driven synchronously, the cams preferably being arranged on the drive shafts in such a way that no phase shift exists between the different cams. A feature of that kind provides the advantage of an especially stable and uniform up and down movement of the stepping plate. 
         [0019]    According to another further development of the invention the cams are arranged on the drive shafts in such a way that a phase shift exists between at least one cam of one drive shaft and at least one cam of another drive shaft, especially that a phase shift of 180° exists between that cam which acts upon a first corner area and another cam that acts upon a second corner area diametrically opposite to the first corner area. An embodiment of that kind is of particular advantage when the device according to the invention is used as a “piaffe machine” because this allows a horse to be easily trained to perform the steps and movements a horse has to go for a piaffe. 
         [0020]    According to another advantageous further development of the invention at least two and, preferably, four of the before-mentioned devices can be combined to a machine for training and/or analyzing the musculoskeletal system of a user. In the case of a four-legged user it is possible in this case to assign to each leg a separate device that operates independently from the other devices. That feature allows each extremity of the user to be treated individually while training and/or analyzing his/its motion system. Especially, that embodiment is also suited for use as a “piaffe machine” as in this case the horse can be taught the before-mentioned stepping sequence in a simple way. 
         [0021]    Further advantageous developments of the invention are the subject-matter of the sub-claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    Further details and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the embodiment of the invention that will be discussed hereafter with reference to the drawings. In the drawings: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a front view of one exemplary embodiment of the device; 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  shows a top view of that exemplary embodiment, with the stepping plate of the embodiment illustrated as a transparent part; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  shows a first side view of that exemplary embodiment; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  shows a second side view of that exemplary embodiment; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  shows a top view of a second exemplary embodiment; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  shows a side view of a second exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of a machine composed of four devices of the described kind. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    The device illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 4  and indicated generally by reference numeral  1  comprises a base plate  2  on which four—in the illustrated embodiment—vertical guides  3   a - 3   d  are disposed in stationary arrangement. The guides carry a stepping plate  4  on which the user of the device  1  whose musculoskeletal system is to be trained and/or analyzed will come to stand. In the presently described embodiment it will be assumed for the sake of simplicity that four legs of a horse are standing on the stepping plate  4 . However, this does not limit the universality of the explanations that follow. Of course the described device  1  can be used also for other animals or for two-legged organisms. The number of vertical guides  3   a - 3   d  is selected in each case to guarantee a safe support for the stepping plate  4 , and especially to prevent any undesirably tilting effect in operation of the device  1 , even when used by heavy users. 
         [0031]    Between the base plate  2  and the stepping plate  4  there is arranged an intermediate plate  6  that can be displaced along a guide  5  and that carries a driving mechanism indicated generally by  10  through which a vertical movement of the stepping plate, guided by the vertical guides  3   a - 3   d,  can be generated in the way described hereafter. The driving mechanism  10  comprises for this purpose a corresponding number of drive shafts  11   a - 11   c  on which are arranged a corresponding number of cams  12   a - 12   c.  In the illustrated embodiment three drive shafts  11   a - 11   c,  each comprising three cams  12   a - 12   c,  will be deemed to exist. However, it will be obvious to the man of the art that the selected numbers are of an exemplary nature only: In principle, it is sufficient to provide a single drive shaft—for example the drive shaft  11   b —with a single cam—for example the cam  12   b —as such an embodiment already would be sufficient to produce a vertical movement of the stepping plate  4 . If necessary, lateral guides would have to be provided for the stepping plate  4  in the case of such an embodiment. The described solution of three drive shafts  11   a - 11   c,  each with three cams  12   a - 12   c,  provides the advantage that the vertical movement produced by the driving mechanism  10  will be transmitted in this case to the corner zones and to the center zone of the stepping plate  4  so that a stable up and down movement of the stepping plate  4  will be ensured. 
         [0032]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , a roll  13   a - 13   c  is arranged above each cam  12   a - 12   c  of the drive shaft  11   a - 11   c,  and is connected to the bottom surface  4 ′ of the stepping plate  4  by a corresponding holder  14 . The axes  14   a - 14   c  of the rolls  13   a - 13   c  are provided in collinear arrangement relative to the respective drive shaft  11   a - 11   c  so that the running surfaces  13   a ′- 13   c ′ of the rolls  13   a - 13   c  are permitted to roll on the surfaces  12   a ′- 12   c ′ of the cams  12   a - 12   c.    
         [0033]    As can be seen best in  FIG. 2 , the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c,  being seated in bearing elements  18 , are driven by a motor  20 ; in the illustrated embodiment a drive spindle  21  of the motor  20  is connected via a toothed belt  22   a  to a toothed gear  23   a  of the first drive shaft  11   a.  The latter carries a second gear  23   a ′ which is connected via a toothed belt  22   b  to a first gear  23   b.  A second gear  23   b ′ of the second drive shaft  11   b  is connected to a gear  23   c ′ of the third drive shaft  11   c  via a further toothed belt  22   c.  The described embodiment causes all the three drive shafts  11   a - 11   c  to be driven in synchronism. In combination with the in-phase orientation of the cams  12   a - 12   c  of the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c,  as illustrated in the Figures, this leads to a stable up and down movement of the stepping plate  4 , without any tilting movement of the latter. 
         [0034]    As can be seen best in  FIGS. 3 and 4 , the cams  12   a - 12   c  have a non-eccentric zone  14 , followed by an eccentric zone  15  and another eccentric zone  16 . Now, when a roll  13   a - 13   c  rolls on that zone  14  of the cam  12   a - 12   c  it runs along a path concentric to the drive shaft  11   a - 11   c.  With the consequence that a vertical stroke will not be produced, not even during rotation of the drive shaft  11   a - 11   c,  and that the stepping plate  4  will not perform an up and down movement even with the driving mechanism  10  in operation. Such a design of the initial zone  14  of the cam  12   a - 12   c  is of advantage especially when the device  1  is used for flight animals because this provides the possibility to acquaint the animals to the device  1  in that starting phase of the training and/or the analyzing operation. 
         [0035]    The zone  14  is followed by the central zone  15  in which the distance traveled by the roll  13   a - 13   c  during one revolution of the drive axis  11   a - 11   c  increases steadily in the axial direction of the cam  12   a - 12   c.  This means that the vertical movement produced by the cam  12   a - 12   c  is clearly greater at the end of the central zone  14  than in its forward zone facing the first zone  14 . By displacing the intermediate plate  6  correspondingly—as will be described hereafter—it is now possible to vary the vertical movement transmitted by the driving mechanism  10  to the stepping plate  4 . 
         [0036]    The central zone  15  is then followed by the zone  16  which, although being again of eccentric design, does not lead to any further increase of the amplitude of the vertical movement. Providing that zone  16  to produce the maximum amplitude has the advantageous effect to cause the rolls  13   a - 13   c  to roll on the outer surfaces  16 ′ of the cams  12   a - 12   c  by a large contact surface so that smooth operation of the device  1  will be achieved even when the device  1  produces the greatest amplitude possible, which is a particular advantage especially for animals that tend to show flight reactions. 
         [0037]    Now, in order to provide the possibility to displace the intermediate plate  6  along the guide  5 , for varying the vertical movement of the stepping plate  4 , the device  1  is provided with a vertical adjusting mechanism through which the vertical movement of the stepping plate  4  can be varied by varying the position between the rolls  13   a - 13   c  and the cams  12   a - 12   c  cooperating with them. This is effected, in the described embodiment, by a linear adjusting mechanism  30  (see  FIG. 2 ) by means of which the intermediate plate  6  and, accordingly, the cams  12   a - 12   c  arranged on it can be displaced relative to the stepping plate  4  and, accordingly, to the rolls  13   a - 13   c  disposed on its bottom surface  4 ′. The linear adjusting mechanism  30  of the device  1  comprises a motor  31 , preferably arranged on the base plate  2 , whose drive spindle  32  is connected via a toothed gear  33  to a gear  34  of a spindle drive  35  which latter is arranged on the intermediate plate  6 . Rotation of the gear  34  produces a linear displacement of the drive  35  so that the intermediate plate  6  can be moved between the minimum position illustrated in  FIG. 3 , in which the vertical movement of the stepping plate  4  produced by the driving mechanism  10  is at its minimum, to the maximum position illustrated in  FIG. 4  in which a maximum vertical movement of the stepping plate  4  is produced. 
         [0038]    The operation of the device  1  now is as follows: 
         [0039]    In order to ensure that a horse or another user standing on the stepping plate  4  will not be exposed, from the very beginning, to a stepping plate  4  moving at a great vertical amplitude it is preferred that at the beginning of a training or analyzing process the intermediate plate  6  is arranged in the position illustrated in  FIG. 3  in which no vertical amplitude is produced by the rolling movement of the rolls  13   a - 13   c  on the surfaces  14 ′ of the zones  14  of the cams  12   a - 12   c —as results from the position of the rolls  13   a - 13   c  relative to the cams  12   a - 12   c.  For continuously increasing the vertical movement of the stepping plate  4 , the intermediate plate  6  now is moved to the left in  FIG. 3  by a corresponding driving motion of the linear adjusting mechanism  30  with the effect that the vertical amplitude of the stepping plate  4 , produced by the cams  12   a - 12   c,  is increased. In this way, it is possible with advantage to continuously adjust the vertical movement during operation of the device  1  by simply displacing the intermediate plate  6 . 
         [0040]    In order to achieve the maximum vertical movement, the intermediate plate  6  is moved by the linear adjusting mechanism  30  fully to the left until it finally reaches its final position illustrated in  FIG. 4  where the maximum of the vertical movement of the stepping plate  4  is reached. In order to guarantee the largest possible contact in that maximum position of the device  1 , between the running surfaces of the rolls  13   a - 13   c  and the surfaces  16 ′ of the cams  12   a - 12   c  which now carry the rolls, the cams  12   a - 12   c  have a surface that extends in parallel to the drive axis in that zone  16 . 
         [0041]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2  it can be seen that the motor  20  is arranged on the intermediate plate  6 . This provides the advantage that the relative position between the motor  20  and the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c  remains unchanged during displacement of the intermediate plate  6  so that power transmission between the motor  20  and the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c  can be effected via the toothed belt  22   a,  as has been described above. It is of course not absolutely necessary to have the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c  driven in the way described before. Instead, there is also the possibility to provide a separate motor for each of the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c.    
         [0042]    As can be seen in the Figures and as described for the present embodiment all cams  12   a - 12   c  of the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c  have the same phase position. With the result that a uniform up and down movement of the stepping plate  4  over its full range is achieved. 
         [0043]    Preferably, the device  1  further comprises restoring springs  19  that act to facilitate a restoring movement of the stepping plate  4 . The restoring springs  19  pass through recesses  19 ′ of the intermediate plate  6  thereby connecting the base plate  2  with the stepping plate  4 . Oblong holes  3 ′ in the intermediate plate  6  ensure that the vertical guides  3   a - 3   d,  which support the stepping plate  4  on the base plate  2  for vertical movement, will not obstruct the vertical displacement of the intermediate plate  6 . 
         [0044]      FIGS. 5 and 6  now show a second embodiment of the device  1  where elements that correspond one to the other are indicated by the same reference numerals and will not be described here once more in detail. The main difference between the first and the second embodiments consists in that a phase angle exists between the different cams  12   a - 12   c  of the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c.  This leads to a tilting movement of the stepping plate  4  in addition to the vertical movement. 
         [0045]    If, for example, the first cam  12   a  of the first drive shaft  11   a  and the third cam  12   c  of the third drive shaft  11   c,  and the first cam  12   a  of the third drive shaft  11   c  and the third cam  12   c  of the first drive shaft  11   a  show a phase shift of 180°—which is the case in FIGS.  5  and  6 —then this has the effect that the stepping plate  4 —viewed in the orientation of FIG.  5 —performs the smallest vertical movement at the left-hand front at the time illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 6  and at the same time the greatest vertical movement at the left-hand back while the vertical movement at the right-hand front and the right-hand back is at its maximum or minimum. As can be seen in  FIG. 6 , the cam  12   a  of the drive shaft  11   c  at that time occupies the position in which it produces the greatest vertical movement. The cam  12   c  of the drive shaft  11   c,  which shows a phase shift of 180°, occupies a position in which it produces the minimum vertical movement and the central cam  12   b  between the two cams  12   a,    12   c,  which has a phase shift of 90° with respect to each of the two cams  12   a,    12   c,  produces a medium vertical movement. At the same time, the cam  12   c  of the drive shaft  11   a  is in a position in which it produces the minimum vertical movement, and the cam  12   a  of the drive shaft  11   a  produces the maximum vertical movement. Accordingly, the cams  12   a - 12   c  of the two drive shafts  11   a  and  11   c  are phase shifted by 180° one relative to the other. After half a rotation of the cams  12   a - 12   c  the vertical amplitude therefore is at its maximum at the left-hand front and at its minimum at the left-hand back. The movement of the stepping plate  4  therefore corresponds to the motion process of a horse running a piaffe. Accordingly, the device  1  also is advantageously suited to teach a horse, or any other animal, to run a given sequence of steps. 
         [0046]    In order to permit the stepping plate  4  to follow the vertical movement of the driving mechanism  10 , it is provided—as can be seen best in FIG.  5 —that the connection between the vertical guides  3   a - 3   d  and the bottom surface  4 ′ of the stepping plate  4  is configured as a hinge joint  39 . 
         [0047]    As is obvious from the above description the central cam  12   b  of the cam shaft  12   a,    12   c  is not necessarily required for producing the movement of the stepping plate  4  that has been described above. The use of three cams  12   a - 12   c  on each drive shaft  11   a - 11   c  provides the advantage of an additional support for the stepping plate  4  in its central area. 
         [0048]    It is the simplest solution for a device of that design to use only two drive shafts  11   a,    11   c  with two or three cams  12   a - 12   c  each. When a further drive shaft, here the drive shaft  11   b  with its cams  12   a - 12   c,  is to be used for reasons of improved stability of the central area of the stepping plate  4 , it may be necessary to adapt the vertical movement of those cams  12   a,    12   c.  In that case it is provided that the drive shaft  11   b ′ can be displaced relative to the intermediate plate  6  and, thus, to the other two drive shafts  11   a,    11   c  by a mechanism not shown in the drawing. Such a possibility to displace the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c  may be optionally provided for the two other drive shafts as well. 
         [0049]      FIG. 7  now shows a machine  1 ′, composed of four devices  1 , i.e. comprising a plurality of devices  1  of the kind described above. Such a machine  1 ′ is especially well suited for use for four-legged users because in that case each device  1  of the machine  1 ′ can be adapted individually to the user&#39;s leg that is to be trained and/or analyzed. One application of the described machine  1 ′ may then again consist in teaching a horse the sequence of steps the horse has to run for a piaffe. In that case it is provided that the device  1   a  acting on the left-hand foreleg and the device  1   c  acting on the right-hand hind leg move in phase so that the two devices  1   a  and  1   c  produce their minimum or maximum amplitude, respectively, at the same moment. The device  1   b  acting on the left-hand hind leg and the device  1   d  acting on the right-hand foreleg then operate with a phase shift of 180°. 
         [0050]    From the above description it is clearly obvious to the man of the art that the intermediate plate  6  has the sole function to permit the vertical movement of the stepping plate  4  to be adjusted during the training/treatment process. When that advantageous effect is not desired or not necessary then it is a matter of course to the man of the art that he can do without an intermediate plate  6  which can be displaced relative to the stepping plate  4 , and that instead he can arrange a driving mechanism  10  on the base plate  2 . However, there is also the possibility to maintain the intermediate plate  6  but to make it non-displaceable. 
         [0051]    It has been assumed for the purpose of the description of the devices  1  that the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c  are driven by a motor  20 . However, it is of course also possible to provide a separate motor for each of the drive shafts  11   a - 11   c.    
         [0052]    In summary, it can be said that the described device  1  provides a particularly easy way of performing a training, including a training to perform a special motion process, and/or a recovery treatment, as well as an analysis of the musculoskeletal system of a user, the device  1  being especially well suited, due to its mechanical structure, for heavy users such as horses, camels, etc.