Exercise devices – Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof – Treadmill for foot travel
Patent
1998-09-17
2000-09-26
Richman, Glenn E.
Exercise devices
Involving user translation or physical simulation thereof
Treadmill for foot travel
198456, A63B 2202
Patent
active
061236470
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to improvements in conveyor type devices designed to keep objects which can move under their own force in substantially the same place relative to their environment.
Devices for carrying out this operation in a single dimension are well known. For example, exercise treadmills are designed to travel in the opposite direction to the person thereon, maintaining the same speed as the person is attempting to move. This keeps the person in substantially the same position. Most of these devices employ manual input to the device using a keypad for controlling the speed, which means that the user is constantly struggling to keep his speed the same as the treadmill, rather than the treadmill keeping up with the user. However, treadmills have been designed which monitor the user's position and correct the speed of the treadmill so that the user automatically stays in substantially the same place. A treadmill of this type is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,314,391.
Single dimensional treadmills have the further disadvantage that the person is confined to move in one direction and that any accidental diversion from this direction can easily cause injury.
In the virtual reality field, users wear a headset to provide a visually realistic three dimensional image of a computer generated environment. The head can be moved, and sensors allow the computer to change the view appropriately. This, in principle, could give very realistic simulations of vehicles in which the user would not normally move from his seat. If it were desired to make scenarios in which the person would want to move around more realistic, means would have to be supplied to allow the person to move around freely without hitting walls in the real environment of which the user is unaware. The problem is heightened by virtue of the fact that the user is wearing a headset.
Virtual reality machines are available which allow the user to stand up, but these confine the user to stand on a platform enclosed by barriers. Any movement of the user is controlled by a joystick, which is unrealistic and hardly the intended "virtual reality".
Treadmills with visuo-acoustic feedback are also known, for example from U.S. Pat. No. 5,385,519. A person on a treadmill wears a mask which, for example, simulates running on a road. However, running, or even walking on a treadmill without being able to see the belt is clearly very dangerous, as it is likely that a user would drift off the side of the belt.
It is clear that what is needed is a surface which reacts to movement in any direction to keep the user in a set area. To date there has been no disclosure of any concepts which would allow a user to move freely in a virtual world.
In light of the disadvantages of the above concepts, an object of the present invention is to provide an omni-directional treadmill, arranged to move both forward and backward and also sideways, endlessly in both directions or combinations of the two.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an omni-directional treadmill with a continuous flat firm surface with no gaps.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an omni-directional treadmill the size of which is not substantially larger than the usable surface of the treadmill.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an omni-directional treadmill which is of a large enough surface area to allow slow acceleration of the user without the user reaching the edge of the surface, thus not excessively accelerating the user's feet, and minimally unbalancing the user.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an omni-directional treadmill responsive to the motion of a user so as to keep the user within a defined area regardless of where the user moves.
According to an embodiment of the invention at present preferred there is provided apparatus arranged to simulate a boundless surface comprising indefinitely in substantially the opposite direction to the motion of the object whereby to keep said object within a defined area, regardles
REFERENCES:
patent: 5238099 (1993-08-01), Schroeder et al.
LandOfFree
Motion apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Motion apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Motion apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2095701