Patent Publication Number: US-2010125031-A1

Title: Training device for training a body part of a user

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of International (PCT) Application No. PCT/NL2008/000280, filed on Dec. 17, 2008, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a training device for training a body part of a user, and more particularly to a vibrating device for generating a vibration and an associated pretensioning device for generating a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part. 
     In training devices known in the prior art, vibrating training devices may include tensioning devices. Such tension devices generally comprise a reeling means, a flexible coupling member operably connected to the reeling means and a handling member connected to the flexible coupling member. In use, a user grasps and pulls the handling member, thereby pulling the flexible coupling member from the reeling means and creating a tension. 
     Prior art tensioning devices typically comprise a spring biased to drive the reeling means. The spring is biased such that a retractive reeling force is exerted on the flexible coupling member towards the reeling means. Due to this, the reeling means, in use, constantly exerts a retractive reeling force on the flexible coupling member. Thus, a resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member is provided, and the flexible coupling member thereby is tensioned such that the vibration generated by the vibrating device is transferred to the handling member attached to the flexible coupling. 
     In other words, when a user pulls the handling member to unreel the flexible coupling member, the spring provides, via the reeling means, a resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member. Due to this resistance, the flexible coupling member is tensioned so that the vibration generated by the vibrating device is transferred via the flexible coupling member to the handling member. Thus, the spring driven reeling means constantly provides a retractive reeling force for reeling the coupling member. 
     This means that when the handling member is kept in such a position that the flexible coupling member is unreeled over a specific length, the flexible coupling member remains tensioned for transferring the vibrations from the vibrating device to the handling device. The spring further ensures that the reeling means will reel the unreeled flexible coupling member. 
     As discussed above, the spring driven reeling means constantly exerts a retractive reeling force on the flexible coupling member. The flexible coupling member is tensioned as long as the user exerts an opposite user force on the flexible coupling member. The reeling force is the resistance which the user experiences when he or she unreels the flexible coupling member. 
     For certain exercises, a high resistance against the unreeling of flexible coupling member is desirable. In the known prior training device this leads to a large reeling force, which has several undesirable disadvantages. 
     For example, a large reeling force may create a situation that causes the user, for one reason or another, to unintentionally release the handling member of an unreeled flexible coupling member. Due to the large reeling force, the flexible coupling member will be rapidly reeled by the reeling means. This may cause an uncontrolled sweeping movement of the flexible coupling member and the attached handling member. Such an uncontrolled movement of the flexible coupling member and the handling member is undesirable. 
     Additionally, some specific exercises require a large resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member and a smaller force pulling on the handling member of an unreeled flexible coupling member. A specific type of such exercises is when the user exerts a large effort to move the trained body part into a specific position (wherein the flexible coupling member is unreeled) and a smaller effort to hold the body part in that position (wherein the flexible coupling member remains unreeled over a specific length). 
     An example of such an exercise is the one wherein the user holds the handling member in a hand and moves his or her hand upwards to a position above the head of the user, after which the hand is kept in that position. The magnitude of the reeling force is equal to the magnitude of the above mentioned force pulling on the handling member of an unreeled flexible coupling member. Since the reeling force in prior art training devices is equal to the resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member, these specific exercises can not be performed with prior art training devices. 
     A further disadvantage of prior art training device is that the resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member is the same for different speeds by which the flexible coupling member is unreeled. In other words, in prior art training devices, the resistance is independent of the speed by which the flexible coupling member is unreeled. 
     Thus, what is needed is an improved training device for training a body part of a user that overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art training devices as discussed above. Desirably, such an improved training device comprises a vibrating device for generating a vibration and a pretensioning device for generating a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part. More desirably, the pretensioning device is connected to the vibrating device and comprises a handling member configured to be held by the user, and a reeling means for reeling a flexible coupling member, which flexible coupling member couples the handling member to the reeling means. 
     More desirably still, the pretensioning device further comprises a tensioning means for driving the reeling means such that, in use, the flexible coupling member is tensioned for transferring the vibration generated by the vibrating device to the handling member. Most desirably, the tensioning means comprises a fluid resistance means configured to provide a variable resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member but to provide substantially no resistance against the reeling of the flexible coupling member. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The training device for training a body part of a user of the present invention is configured to advantageously provide a variable resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member but to provide substantially no resistance against the reeling of the flexible coupling member. 
     In a disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the training device comprises a vibrating device for generating a vibration and a pretensioning device for generating a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part. In a disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the pretensioning device is connected to the vibrating device and comprises a handling member configured to be held by the user, and a reeling means for reeling a flexible coupling member, the flexible coupling member coupling the handling member to the reeling means. 
     In a disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the pretensioning device further comprises a tensioning means for driving the reeling means such that, in use, the flexible coupling member is tensioned to allow the vibration generated by the vibrating device to be advantageously transferred to the handling member. The tensioning means comprises a fluid resistance means configured to provide a variable resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member but to provide substantially no resistance against the reeling of the flexible coupling member. 
     In a disclosed embodiment of the training device according the principles of the present invention, the reeling means comprises a reel which is rotatable around a reel axis, the reeling means configured to rotate the reel in a reel direction for reeling the flexible coupling member and to rotate the reel in an unreel direction for unreeling the flexible coupling member. The fluid resistance means is connected to the reel axis via freewheel means configured to freely rotate around the reel axis in the reel direction and to engage the reel axis in the unreel direction. 
     Further, in a disclosed embodiment of the training device according to the principles of the present invention, the fluid resistance means comprises a fluid casing forming a fluid chamber filled with a damper fluid and a resistance member disposed inside the fluid chamber. In the disclosed embodiment, the fluid casing is connected to the reel axis via the freewheel means and the resistance member is configured such that said resistance member is not rotatable around the longitudinal axis. 
     In a disclosed embodiment of the training device according to the principles of the present invention, the fluid resistance means is configured to adjust the resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member by moving the resistance member inside the fluid chamber and substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis. To that end, in a disclosed embodiment of the present invention the pretensioning device comprises adjusting means for moving and holding the resistance member in a number of specific locations along the longitudinal axis. 
     In the disclosed embodiment of the training device according the principles of the present invention, the fluid resistance means is configured such that the magnitude of the resistance of the fluid resistance means against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member is dependent of the speed by which the flexible coupling member is unreeled. 
     Finally, in a disclosed embodiment of the present invention, the reel is configured to hold the flexible coupling member in a spiral-like configuration, which spiral-like configuration is located in a fictive plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Additionally, the tensioning means comprises a spring connected to the reel axis in the disclosed embodiment. 
     These and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, in conjunction with the appended claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective schematic view of a disclosed embodiment of the training device according the principles of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional schematic view, along line II-II, of the pretensioning device shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional schematic view, along line III-III, of the pretensioning device shown in  FIG. 1 ; and, 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded cross-sectional perspective view of the pretensioning device shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described and disclosed a present embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
     It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification, namely, “Detailed Description of the Invention,” relates to a requirement of the United States Patent Office, and does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit the subject matter disclosed herein. 
       FIG. 1  shows a training device  1  for training a body part of a user according to the principles of the present invention. The training device generally comprises a vibrating device  2  and a pretensioning device  3  for generating a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part. The pretensioning device  3  is connected to the vibrating device  2 . The pretensioning device  3  may be connected to the vibrating device  2  using any appropriate means as is known in the art, including by clamping, bolting, screwing and other means, and pretensioning device  3  may be removably connected to vibrating device  2  or non-removably connected to vibrating device  2 . 
     The pretensioning device  3  in the disclosed embodiment comprises a handling member  4  configured to be held by the user  32  and a reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ) for reeling a flexible coupling member  5 . The flexible coupling member  5  couples the handling member  4  to the reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ). 
     The pretensioning device  3  further comprises in the disclosed embodiment a tensioning means ( 7  of  FIG. 2 ) for driving the reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ) such that, in use, the flexible coupling member  5  is tensioned for transferring a vibration generated by the vibrating device  2  to the handling member  4  and, ultimately, to the user  32 . The tensioning means  7  comprises in the disclosed embodiment a fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ) configured to provide a resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member  5 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the vibrating device  2  comprises a vibrating plate  30  configured to vibrate as indicated by the arrow  31 , as is known in the art. In this manner, the direction of the vibration of the vibrating plate  30  is substantially vertical. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that the vibration plate  30  may vibrate in any direction suitable for obtaining the wished training effect without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     As further shown in  FIG. 1 , the user  32  of the training device stands on the vibrating plate  30 . As appreciated by those skilled in the art, the vibrating device  2  may have instead of the vibrating plate  30  any other type of vibrating member. The pretensioning device  3  is connected to the vibrating device  2  such that vibrations generated by the vibrating device  2  are transferred to the pretensioning device  3 . 
     In use, the tensioning means ( 7  of  FIG. 2 ) constantly drives the reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ) for reeling the flexible coupling member  5 . Due to this, the reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ), in use, constantly exerts a retractive reeling force F r  on the flexible coupling member  5 . This creates three advantageous effects: first, a resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member  5  is provided; second, the flexible coupling member  5  is tensioned such that the vibration generated by the vibrating device  2  is transferred to the handling member  4 ; and, third, an unreeled flexible coupling member  5  is reeled by the reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ). 
     The fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ) also provides a resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member  5 . Such resistance is the fluid resistance force F fr  which the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ) exerts on the flexible coupling member  5  during the unreeling thereof. The fluid resistance force F fr  is in addition to the reeling force F r  of the reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ) driven by the tensioning means ( 7  of  FIG. 2 ). 
     This is shown in  FIG. 1 , as the user  32  exerts a user force F u  on the flexible coupling member  5  via the handling member  4 . The user force F u  is in the opposite direction of the reeling force F r  which is constantly exerted on the flexible coupling member  5  by the reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ). When the user force F u  is smaller than or equal to the reeling force F r , the pretensioning device  3  exerts a force equal to the reeling force F r  on the flexible coupling member  5 . 
     As those skilled in the art will appreciate, when the user force F u  equals the reeling force F r  the flexible coupling member  5  will be in a static position which means that the flexible coupling member  5  will not be unreeled or reeled. When the user force F u  is smaller than the reeling force F r , the flexible coupling member  5  will be reeled. And, when the user force F u  is larger than the reeling force F r , the flexible coupling member  5  will be unreeled. In such situation the pretensioning device  3  exerts a force equal to the sum of the reeling force and the fluid resistance force (F r +F fr ) on the flexible coupling member  5 . 
     With the use of the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ) a high resistance (F r +F fr ) against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member  5  is achieved, in combination with a smaller reeling force (F r ) of reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ) for reeling the flexible coupling member  5 . Such high resistance advantageously reduces the chance that the flexible coupling member  5  and the handling member  4  connected thereto are so strongly reeled by the reeling means ( 6  of  FIG. 2 ) such that they make an uncontrolled sweeping movement. 
     Furthermore, due to this combination of resistance, the training device  1  of the present invention is advantageously suitable for exercises which require a large resistance (F r +F fr ) against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member  5  and a smaller force (F r ) pulling on the handling member  4  of an unreeled flexible coupling member  5 . 
     In the disclosed embodiment, the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ) is configured such that the magnitude of the resistance of the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ) against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member  5  is dependent on the speed by which the flexible coupling member  5  is unreeled. 
     That is, unreeling the flexible coupling member  5  with a higher speed leads to a higher resistance of the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ). Unreeling the flexible coupling member  5  with a lower speed leads to a lower resistance of the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ). It thus follows that the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ) is configured such that an increase of the speed by which the flexible coupling member  5  is unreeled leads to an increase of the resistance of the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ), and a decrease of the speed by which the flexible coupling member  5  is unreeled leads to a decrease of the resistance of the fluid resistance means ( 8  of  FIG. 2 ) against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member  5 . 
     Due to this, the training device  2  of the disclosed embodiment of the present invention is advantageously suitable for exercises wherein the user  32  experiences a larger resistance when he or she rapidly unreels the flexible coupling member  5  and a smaller resistance when he or she slowly unreels the flexible coupling member  5 . In this manner, rapid (more “aggressive-like”) movements by which the flexible coupling member  5  is unreeled requires a larger effort than slower (less “aggressive-like”) movements. This advantageously provides an additional dimension to the performed exercises. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the reeling means  6  comprises a reel  10  which is rotatable around a reel axis  11 . The reeling means  6  is configured to rotate the reel  10  in a reel direction  12  for reeling the flexible coupling member  5  and to rotate the reel  10  in an unreel direction  13  for unreeling the flexible coupling member  5 . 
     As also shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the fluid resistance means  8  is connected to the reel axis  11  via freewheel means  14  configured to freely rotate around the reel axis  11  in the reel direction  12  and to engage the reel axis  11  in the unreel direction  13 . This also ensures that, in use, the flexible coupling member  5  is not unreeled by the vibrations generated by the vibrating device  2 . Thus, the fluid resistance means  8  is configured to substantially provide no resistance against the reeling of the flexible coupling member  5 . 
     As further shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the reel axis  11  comprises a longitudinal axis  27 , and the tensioning means  7  comprises a spiral spring  28  connected to the reel axis  11 . As also shown in  FIG. 2 , the fluid resistance means  8  in the disclosed embodiment comprises a fluid casing  16  forming a fluid chamber  15  filled with a damper fluid  17 . A resistance member  18  is disposed inside the fluid chamber  15 . The fluid casing  16  is connected to the reel axis  11  via the freewheel means  14 . 
     The resistance member  18  is configured such that it is not rotatable around the longitudinal axis  27 . To that end, in the disclosed embodiment, the pretensioning device  3  device further comprises a pretensioning casing  29  and the resistance member  18  is connected to the pretensioning casing  29  such that the resistance member  18  is not rotatable around said longitudinal axis  27 . 
     In some embodiments of the present invention, the resistance member  18  may be connected to the vibrating device  2  such that the resistance member  18  is not rotatable around the longitudinal axis  27 . By configuring the fluid resistance means  8  such that the fluid casing  16  is rotatable and the resistance member  18  is not rotatable, a higher inertia resistance is created. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the resistance member  18  in the disclosed embodiment comprises first protrusions  41  extending towards an inside wall  43  of the fluid casing  16 . The inside wall  43  comprises second protrusions  42  extending towards the first protrusions  41 . The fluid casing  16  is rotatable around the longitudinal axis  27  such that the second protrusions  42  do not collide with the first protrusions  41 . This means that the second protrusions  42  are movable between the first protrusions  41 . The degree of overlap of the first protrusions  41  and the second protrusions  42  determines the degree of resistance provided by the fluid resistance means  8 . 
     The fluid resistance means  8  is configured to adjust the resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member by moving the resistance member  18  inside the fluid chamber  15  and substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis  27 . The direction of movement of the resistance member  18  is indicated by arrow  44 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the pretensioning device  3  in the disclosed embodiment further comprises adjusting means  19  for moving and holding the resistance member  18  in a number of specific locations along the longitudinal axis  27 . Each of the specific positions creates a different degree of overlap between the first protrusions  41  and the second protrusions  42 . 
     To that end, the resistance member  18  comprises a lever  45  pivotable about a pivot point  46  and connected to the resistance member  18 . The pivot movement of the lever  45  is indicated by arrow  47 . In this disclosed embodiment, the adjusting means  19  is configured to move and hold the resistance member  18  in three specific locations along said longitudinal axis  27 , although those skilled in the art will appreciate that the adjusting means  19  may be configured to move and hold the resistance member  18  in between two and five specific locations along the longitudinal axis  27 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , in the disclosed embodiment, the reel  10  is configured to hold the flexible coupling member  5  in a spiral-like configuration, which spiral-like configuration is located in a fictive plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis  27  of the reel axis  11 . The reel  10  comprises a reel opening  23  at the circumference of the reel  10 , and the width W of the reel opening  23  is such that the windings of the flexible coupling member  5  are placed on top of each other. 
     The pretensioning device  3  further comprises in the disclosed embodiment connection means for connecting said pretensioning device  3  to the vibrating device  2  such that vibrations generated by the vibrating device  2  are transferred to the pretensioning device  3 . The connection means may include combinations of clips and clamps  34  to removably attach the pretensioning device  3  to the vibrating device  2 , or may include any other appropriate connection means as is known in the art, including bolting, screwing and other means. To that end, pretensioning device  3  may be removably connected to vibrating device  2  or non-removably connected to vibrating device  2 . 
     All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure. 
     In the present disclosure, the words “a” or “an” are to be taken to include both the singular and the plural. Conversely, any reference to plural items shall, where appropriate, include the singular. 
     From the foregoing it will be observed that numerous modifications and variations can be effectuated without departing from the true spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the present invention. 
     It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific embodiments illustrated is intended or should be inferred. The disclosure is intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.