Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Utilizing weight resistance
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-25
2001-08-28
Donnelly, Jerome W. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Utilizing weight resistance
C482S110000, C482S092000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06280364
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of exercising, and more particularly, with an exercise device for weight training for the purpose of developing lower body muscles and tendons and general body conditioning.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is common in athletes to work out with weights as a means of developing the levels of strength needed in competitions. In lifting rigid weights, however, due to gravity, the velocity is generally inversely proportional with the load, that is the higher the load the lower the velocity and vice-versa. For this reason the value of lifting rigid weights as a means of muscle conditioning is less useful for certain athletic activities for which a fast, explosive type muscular power is required. On the other hand, simulating in training both the high load and the high velocity typical for competitions is desired. In this respect, for propulsion-type athletic activities like jumping and sprint running it would be advantageous if a direct relationship between the load and the velocity could be achieved so that higher speed levels characteristic for competitions could be attained when training with weights.
Based on various criteria, the literature describes different types of muscular contractions associated with the development of strength: isotonic, isometric, isokinetic, with variable resistance, plyometric etc. Insufficiently differentiated are the muscular contractions associated with decelerating and accelerating body movements, although their succession is common in running and jumping as well as in other activities.
For the purpose of this invention, the muscular activity associated with an acceleration movement is described as an “expometric” contraction, and that associated with a deceleration movement is described as an “expotonic” contraction.
For the purpose of the specification and claims the term “expotonic” refers to the muscular contractions that occur in decelerated movements and the initiation of new movements (cycles) such as flexing a member before an impulsion. An example could be the support phase in sprint running when the body inertia acts as a compounding factor in tensioning the flexing leg's muscles and tendons. In “expotonic” type muscular contractions the kinetic energy is transformed in potential energy and stored in the participating muscles and tendons.
The term “expometric” refers to muscular contractions associated with the fast release of a flexed member when a portion of the potential energy is transformed back into kinetic energy. This type of muscular activity is present in the impulsion phase of sprint running, characterized by the accelerated extension of the supporting leg. The impulsion is enhanced by the powerful eccentric work by arms and the oscillating leg, which further accelerate the motion of the entire body, facilitating the take-off.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
We found that certain disadvantages in weight lifting may be overcome by using essentially flexible bars or other flexible spring bodies, capable of oscillating and, thus, of being actively bent into a succession of tensioned arcs having spring energy. The arc tension will depend on the load, the spring characteristics of the body (length, section, stiffness coefficient etc.) and the person's active movements. If weights are added to the free ends of the bar, they will also influence the tension and the oscillations of the spring body as well as the momentum of its free ends.
We have determined that working out with weights for producing enhanced “expotonic” and “expometric” muscular contractions could be achieved by using an exercise device provided with a flexible bar that can oscillate downwardly and upwardly, in phase with the person's movements, such that the bar's oscillations increase the downward pressure on the person and accelerate the person's upward motion.
More specifically, the present invention relates to a method of using an exercise device for working out with weights, operable by a person for the purpose of exercising the lower body muscles and general body conditioning, wherein the exercise device consists primarily of an essentially flexible bar or other elongated flexible spring body secured in its central segment, preferably on the shoulders or the back of the person, such that the spring body can oscillate freely in opposite directions in a mode synchronized with the person's movements.
The spring force created upon the bar being bent downwards into a tensioned arc causes the free ends to swing upwards, varying the load pressure on the person and creating a synergic force that could be used to enhance and accelerate the person's lifting motion and to turn it into a propulsion-type motion.
The ability of the spring body to oscillate makes it possible for the forces stored in the tensioned arced bar to change direction with each new oscillation, such that after a downward oriented momentum of the free ends, used to maximize both the potential energy of the spring body and the tension of the participating muscles, an upward oriented momentum could be attained, synergic with the person's weight-lifting motion.
The upward oriented momentum may cause the free ends to continue their upward swing above the straight linear position of the spring body, creating a new tensioned arc, bent upwards, and the new spring energy could cause the spring body's middle point to swing upwards, lifting rather than being lifted by the person, thus further accelerating the person's upward motion.
We found that by combining the force exerted by the person to lift a weight (the external force) with the force of a tensioned arc (the inner force), in certain conditions a direct rather than inverse relationship between the load and the velocity of the movement could be achieved, such that even at higher loads, higher level of velocity, typical for competitions, could be attained. The use of spring bars allows for an impulsion-type motion, common in lifting rigid barbells, to turn into a fast, accelerated, propulsion-type lift-off motion.
The property of being flexible also makes it possible to measure the bar's strain, allowing for load and speed planning and instant measurement.
Various types of motions (long jump, high jump, sprint running, endurance running, etc.) will require different amplitudes, curves, speeds and frequencies of the spring bar oscillations. These can be achieved by using materials of various compositions and elasticity characteristics (steels, alloys and other flexible metals in monofilament or multifilament bars, bundles, cables or coil springs, plastics, PVC, fiberglass, carbon, rubber, bamboo, laminated wood, etc.) as well as combinations of lengths, sections, weights, structures, shapes and forms.
The present method of strength development is applicable in those athletic activities where an explosive power typical for enhanced expotonic and expometric muscular contractions is required: sprint running, jumping, shotput and throwings, gymnastics, basketball, volleyball, baseball, football, hockey, etc.
Both expometric and expotonic contractions also have large applicability in home fitness, school physical education and muscle rehabilitation.
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Strength & Power in Sports, Blackwell Scientific Publicat. 1992.*
Muscle & Fitness Magazine (Photos From 1966-1968), pp 96, 117, Jul. 1997.*
Body Builder Discount Outlet Catalogue, p. 31, 1994.
Collisson Alina Michelle
Collisson Charles Kwesi
Deac Joanna
Deac Titus
Donnelly Jerome W.
Swabey Ogilvy Renault
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