Abstract:
A vibrating plate apparatus including a vibrating plate on which a user desiring muscular toning rests, a vibration motor member connected to the vibrating plate for vibrating the plate at a desired frequency, several air cushions provided under the vibrating plate for dampening vibration, and an air tank in communication with each of the air cushions. The tank establishes the air pressure in at least one of the air cushions at a predetermined value independently from the user&#39;s weight. The motor member includes two motors rotating in opposite directions, each of the two motors including a set of flyweights driven by the two motors and having a center of gravity offset relative to the axis, the two sets having the same mass, being symmetrical to each other and including at least one moveable flyweight that can assume at least one position for varying the vibrating plate&#39;s vibration amplitude.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates the fitness apparatus used in gyms but also concerns apparatus used in physiotherapy, proprioception and postural. This invention concerns particularly a vibrating apparatus for muscular toning. 
       STATE OF THE ART 
       [0002]    Nowadays, in gyms and fitness centres there are apparatus with a vibrating plate thanks to subjacent motors that generates unidirectional and vertical vibrations. As someone stands on the vibrating plate in operation, its body is affected by a small unsteadiness. The brain receives information back and delivers a signal to the muscles in order to cause reflex muscular contractions to proceed to the readjustment. 
         [0003]    The most of vibrating plate apparatus are currently equipped with absorption with springs or with plates made of elastic material. But this kind of absorption doesn&#39;t enable an optimum adjustment adapted with the user weight. In this way, vibrations for a 75 kg person will be too strong for another who weights less than 75 kg and too weak for those with a weight of more than 75 kg. The patent request n o  WO 2005/0001888 describes such an apparatus with the possibility of modifying the thickness of the elastic material. However, on one hand, it is not easy to make this modification for each user and on the other hand, the few possibilities don&#39;t enable to adjust the absorption according to the precise user weight. 
         [0004]    There are today vibrating plate&#39;s apparatus whose absorption is realized by pneumatic suspensions as air cushions. This type of absorption erases the above defaults but has a major disadvantage: the cushions deflate gradually and the temperature has generated the expansion of the content air, which causes a variation of undesirable pressure. 
         [0005]    Moreover, the current vibrating plates apparatus with air cushions are not adapted to the user needs: the using for an important muscular recruitment or for seniors or for young people or for pathologies of the musculoskeletal system is very different. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    That is why the object of the invention is to provide a vibrating plate apparatus with adjustable air cushions absorption as accurate as possible with the weight of any user. 
         [0007]    Another object is to provide a vibrating plate apparatus whose vibration of the vibrating plate can be adapted to any user need. 
         [0008]    The invention subject is a vibrating plate apparatus that comprises a vibrating plate on which the user desiring muscular toning rests, a vibration motor member connected to the vibrating plate for vibrating the latter at a predetermined frequency, a plurality of air cushions provided under the vibrating plate for dampening the vibration effect, and an air tank in communication with each of the air cushions and in which the air pressure is maintained at a predetermined value. The tank establishes the air pressure in at least one the air cushions at a predetermined value independently from the weight of the user. The motor member includes two motors rotating in opposite directions, each of the two motors including a set of flyweights driven by the rotation axis of the motors and having a centre of gravity that is offset relative to the axis, each of the two sets having the same mass and being symmetrical relative to each other and including at least one movable flyweight that can assume at least one position for varying the vibration amplitude of the vibrating plate. 
         [0009]    According to a characteristic of the invention, the apparatus also encloses a computer with a tactile screen and a keyboard in order to enter the functioning programs of the vibrating plate together with the necessary parameters such as the pressure value in the air cushions or the vibration frequency of the vibrating plate. 
         [0010]    Another feature of the invention is a set enclosing a plurality of apparatus which are controlled by a computer under the control of a coach: this enables to start the apparatus all together with a remote control according to a special program and with the accurate parameters such as the pressure value in the air cushions or the vibration frequency of the vibrating plate. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0011]    The objects and characteristics of the invention will be clearly defined in the following description in reference to the following figures in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a vibrating plate apparatus according to the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  shows a section of the two rotative motors enclosing the vibration motor member in a preferential mode of realization according to the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  shows a diagram of the amplitude variation of the vibration applied to the vibrating plate according to the movable flyweight of the motor member in a preferential mode of realization. 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4A ,  4 B &amp;  4 C show respectively the movable flyweight of the motor member position in a preferential mode of realization. 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  shows a diagram of the amplitude variation of the vibration of the motor member in an intermediate position and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a diagram block showing the connection between the air cushions, the compressor, the air tank, the control unit, the automaton and the electro pneumatic converters. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    In reference to  FIG. 1 , a vibrating plate apparatus according to the invention encloses a base  10  supporting a vibrating plate  12  in a horizontal position on which the user stands on. The vibrating plate could have different dimensions but it should be better if it had dimensions of about 1 m length and 60 cm width for a stout build user who wanted to lie on the vibrating plate without any problem. 
         [0019]    The vibration motor member is subjacent to the vibrating plate  12  and is not visible on the diagram. This motor member enables the vibration of the plate in a vertical way according to amplitude between 1 mm to 3 mm. 
         [0020]    The user standing on the vibrating plate keeps the position holding the handles  14  and  16  of a wheel fixed to the base  10 . Between the two handles  14  and  16 , there are a computer enclosing a screen  22  and a keyboard  24  fixed at the top of the jamb  18 . 
         [0021]    This computer enables various functions, particularly to select the using frequencies, the pressure in the air cushions, low or high amplitude, the exercise time, the pause time between each exercise. It also enables to change the frequencies or the amplitudes during the exercises. It may be noted that the pressure in the air cushions is maintained to 1.5 kg/cm 2  whatever the user weight unless the user chooses specific program. 
         [0022]    The vibrating plate  12  is under vibration by a vibration motor member represented in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0023]    The motor member includes two motors rotating in opposite directions, the motor  30  whose support is fixed on the base  10  and the motor  32  whose base  33  is also fixed on the base  10 . Each motor  30  and  32  includes a set of various flyweights  34  for the first motor and  32  for the second one. The centre of gravity of the flyweights set is offset relative to the axis of the motor. The two flyweights sets are symmetrical to each other. 
         [0024]    The vibrating plate  12  is fixed to the frame of each rotative motors  30  and  32  respectively by two screws  38  and  40 . In this way, the vibrating plate  12  is subjected to a vibration which has the frequency of the frequency rotation of the motors  30  and  32 . 
         [0025]    It may be noted that the vibrating plate  12  includes principally a steel plate  42  with a width between 1 cm and 1.5 cm that avoids the distortion: under vibration effects, accelerations at starting can raise up to 10 g (10 times the gravity). The vibrating plate includes preferably an upper coat made in soft rubber material, for example ABS, in order to provide a favourable absorption for the user, and a rigid lower coat  46  made in rubber material but with ribs to increase the rigidity. 
         [0026]    As the motors are in rotation, each set of flyweights induces a centrifugal force by turning. 
         [0027]    In the simplest case showed in  FIG. 2 , the two flyweight sets are in a lateral position, the centrifugal forces executed laterally but in an opposite direction and then cancel each other out. On the other hand, as the flyweight set are at the top or at the back, the centrifugal forces add up and then create an alternative vertical force whose frequency is the rotation frequency of the rotative motors. The vibrating plate goes from a high position to a low position as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Then, its position varies from an amplitude A 1  (for example 1.5 m) to the top to an amplitude A 1  to the back in reference with the pause position. 
         [0028]    In order to vary the vibration amplitude of the vibrating plate for a better adaptation to each user, the preferential mode of realization consists in having at least one flyweight of each flyweight set (the two being always symmetrical) in a movable position and different of the other flyweights of the set as showed in  FIGS. 4A ,  4 B and  4 C. 
         [0029]    In this precise case, each motor includes a flyweight whose position can be modified as the other flyweights of the set are fixed to the motor thanks to cotter pins. 
         [0030]    It may be noted that the flyweights of each set are preferably the same. For example, each set can include two flyweights fixed to the motor and one in a movable position, the flyweights have a mass of 100 g each. 
         [0031]    In a first position showed in  FIG. 4A , the flyweight  48  is in low position; it is situated in superposition of the flyweights also fixed in low position. The motor represented in the figure turns anticlockwise (the other motor turns clockwise); the flyweight  48  is blocked and carried in rotation by the stop  50  interdependent with the motor. In this configuration, the masses of all the flyweights add up and the amplitude to the back or to the top A 2  is more important than the simple case of the flyweight in  FIG. 2  as showed in  FIG. 3 . Such amplitude (for example 2 mm) enables a muscular recruitment and requests more deeply the other elements of the user musculoskeletal system as articulations, tendons and ligaments. 
         [0032]    In a second position showed in  FIG. 4B , the flyweight  48  is in a high position, that is to say at 180° regarding the other flyweights fixed to the motor always in low position. The motor turning clockwise (the other motor turns anticlockwise), the flyweight  48  is locked and carried in rotation by the stop  50  interdependent with the motor. In this configuration, the flyweight mass subtracts from the total mass of the other flyweights and the vibration amplitude A 3  is less important (for example 1 mm) as showed in  FIG. 3  than the simple case in  FIG. 2 . Weaker amplitude is interesting for requesting a muscular recruitment of low intensity to avoid harmful side effects on the other structures of musculoskeletal system. This amplitude can be used by the elderly or very young people or someone who suffers from pathologies of musculoskeletal system. 
         [0033]    In a third position showed in  FIG. 4C , the flyweight is in an intermediate position, at 90°, between the positions of  FIGS. 4A and 4B . This can be done with a magnetic element  52  of the flyweight  48  which is going to stick against an electromagnet  54  activated in this case. Considering the motor turning anticlockwise (the other motor turns clockwise), the vibration amplitude of the vibrating plate is represented in  FIG. 5 . After obtaining a maximum amplitude A 1  to the back by the fixed flyweights in low position, a medium amplitude A 4  but not equal to zero to the back is obtained as the forces due to the flyweights in median position cancel up but as the flyweight  48  is in low position for the two motors. Again, the amplitude A 1  to the top is obtained as the flyweight  48  is in a median position as the fixed flyweights are in high position. Then, a medium amplitude A 4  to the top is reached as the flyweight  48  is in high position. 
         [0034]    In this mode of realization (it can be called “double wave”) in comparison with the modes realizations whose amplitude variation is represented in  FIG. 3  (it can be called “simple wave”), the “jerks” produced as the amplitudes are A 4  to the top or to the back are as much as tiny unsteadiness that cause a muscular recruitment by myotatic reflex. The vibration is no longer unidirectional but has multidirectional components that enable different stimulations of human body. The Skin and proprioceptive receivers are then requested in very different tangential components and request proprioceptive reflexes of different muscular stimulation of vertical vibration. Stabilizing muscles of articulations, different from those which are sensible to a vertical vibration are stimulated to request to touches in shearing of those articulations. The muscular recruitment of a multidirectional vibration is much larger (more recruited muscles in a same exercise with a more important intensity than without any vibration). 
         [0035]    The real absorption is provided by air cushions situated between the vibrating plate and the base; there can be 2, 3, 4 or more. In the preferential mode of realization, the apparatus includes 3 air cushions as described below. 
         [0036]    An air cushion is preferably circular and has a diameter between 5 cm to 10 cm. It is made of elastic material as rubber. It comprises a rigid coat to be used for a support at its lower part and at its upper part, a coat in communication with the interior of the air cushion and to be used for air inlet and air outlet. Air inlet and air outlet can be done thanks to electro pneumatic converters  56 - 1 ,  56 - 2 ,  56 - 3  controlled by an automaton as we see afterwards. 
         [0037]    The absorption implementation which is an important characteristic of the invention is now explained in reference with  FIG. 6 . According to the preferential mode of realization, the vibrating plate apparatus comprises 3 air cushions  55 - 1 ,  55 - 2 ,  55 - 3 . Each air cushion can receive air under pressure and let the air out. 
         [0038]    The air is provided to the air cushion by an air tank  60  of a capacity of many air litters. The air present in the tank  60  is provided by compressor  62 . 
         [0039]    A pre-determined pressure, for example 2 kg/cm 2 , is maintained inside the tank  60 . As soon as the pressure decreases, the compressor starts in order to restore the pressure up to the pre-determined value. This adjustment is easily realized thanks to a regulator of pressure inside the tank acting on the compressor starting. 
         [0040]    The orders of air inlet and air outlet in the air cushions are realized thanks to an analogical automaton  63  which receives order instructions by the order unit  64  connected to the computer  20 . As we saw before, the program implementation is entered in the computer by a tactile screen  22  and a keyboard  24 . The program parameters as the pressure in the air cushions are transmitted to the order unit  64 . Then, the latter orders the starting of the motor member  28  and transmits the signals of the numeric order to the automaton which sends electric signals to the electro pneumatic converters  56 - 1 ,  56 - 2  and  56 - 3 . These electric signals are transformed in pressure signals for regulating the pressure respectively in the air cushions  55 - 1 ,  55 - 2  and  55 - 3 . Supposing the pressure in the air cushions should be established to 1.5 kg/cm 2  whatever the user weight and that the pressure should be only 1.4 kg/cm 2  in the air cushion  55 - 1 , the order unit  64  transmitted an opening signal to the automaton  63 . Some air under pressure at 2 kg/cm 2  present in the air tank  60  goes into the air cushion  55 - 1  up to the pressure in the latter reaches 1.5 kg/cm 2 . 
         [0041]    In case of the pressure in one or various air cushions is too high, the order unit  64  sends an opening signal to the automaton  63 . Supposing the air pressure in the air cushion  55 - 2  should be at 1.6 kg/cm 2  and that this pressure should be decreased to 1.5 kg/cm 2 , some air was drained off to the air cushion  55 - 2  by the electropneumatical converter  56 - 2  up to the pressure in the air cushion had been decreased to 1.5 kg/cm 2 . 
         [0042]    It may be noted the pressure in the air cushions must be increased or decreased by an inverse proportional way: if a 70 kg user uses the apparatus after a 75 kg user, the pressure will have to be decreased in the air cushion. By the contrary, if the following user weights only 60 kg, the pressure will have to be increased in the air cushions. 
         [0043]    Signals of pressure value are transmitted all the time by the electropneumatical converters  56 - 1 ,  56 - 2  and  56 - 3  to the automaton  63  which sends signals to the order unit  64 . This one can decide to transmit if necessary opening signals to one or various electropneumatical converters. 
         [0044]    According to a variation of the mode of realization that has just been described, as the user goes down the vibrating plate, the pressure in the air cushions falls and this fall is detected by the order unit  64 . The order unit sends a signal to the automaton  63  which orders to the electropneumatical converters to open and deflate the air cushions, which makes the vibrating plate go down. 
         [0045]    As another user stands on the vibrating plate in low position, he is detected thanks to the pressure exerted on it; the order unit sends a signal to fill the air cushions up to the wanted pressure. It may be noted that the back to the reference pressure of the vibrating plate as the user stands on the vibrating plate can be done by two ways: either by reequilibration thanks to the automaton which converts the signals of pressure variation in the air cushions (transmitted by the electropneumatical converters) into signals of pressure adjustment or by a seat correction by the automaton which transmits the order signals to the electropneumatical converters to go back to the reference height of the vibrating plate. 
         [0046]    According to the invention, the most current using of the vibrating plate is to produce the same vibration in all the vibrating plate which is subjected to an alternative and vertical movement by keeping horizontal with amplitude between 1 mm and 3 mm. In order to do this, the air cushions are filled by the same way with the same pressure. However, another using consists in increasing and decreasing alternatively the pressure in the air cushions, one is inflated to a pressure of 1.5 kg/cm 2  as the second one to a pressure of 1.2 kg/cm 2  and the third one is only to a pressure of 0.9 kg/cm 2 . The vibrating plate doesn&#39;t keep horizontal but each parts of it go up and down alternatively. 
         [0047]    The modes of realization that have just been described together with other ones are programmed with the computer  20 . It may be noted that the computer  20  enables a hands-free using by the client thanks to a program “client gestion”. The latter enters his name and his code number and the apparatus is functioning during 30 or 45 nm. After this time, if the client wants to carry on his exercises, he has to retape his name and his code number; and then, a new session will be deduced from his package. 
         [0048]    The computer  20  can analyze the muscle capacity of contraction of each user, in order to regulate exactly the vibration force necessary according to the muscular receptivity appropriated for any user (biofeedback). 
         [0049]    In this way, with a frequency of 35 hz, the thigh muscle of a user X will contract very strongly (it is no use increasing the frequency on pain of muscle tetanization), where as the thigh muscle of another user will contract weakly at the same frequency: the reason for increasing the frequency to obtain an optimum work is necessary for him. 
         [0050]    The computer enables to analyze the body masses of each user (bio-impedancemetry): fat, lean and water body mass. This function enables the user to follow the progresses step by step (fat loss and muscle mass gain . . . ). 
         [0051]    Moreover, one of the invention particularities consists in pulling down programs thanks to the computer  20  that enables to obtain random frequencies of vibration of the vibrating plate together with random sequences of pressure values in the air cushions. 
         [0052]    It may be noted that the implementation of the programs order can be done thanks to a remote control device. It may be noted also that it is possible to order various apparatus with one computer under the control of a coach. In this case, various users are going to work simultaneously and enjoy the accurate devices of the coach.