Exercise devices – User manipulated force resisting apparatus – component... – Having common force transmitting support frame for user and...
Reexamination Certificate
2001-07-20
2003-12-23
Richmon, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
User manipulated force resisting apparatus, component...
Having common force transmitting support frame for user and...
Reexamination Certificate
active
06666801
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a method and apparatus for isolating a joint of an athlete from other joints in the body and training the isolated joint using sports specific, supra-maximal techniques designed to achieve both maximum acceleration and a minimum stretch-shortening cycle.
By increasing intensity and duration, performance of an athlete will improve up to a point. Continued training above and beyond an optimal level will produce a subsequent decline in performance due to mental and physical breakdown. This phenomenon is known as the overtraining syndrome. Therefore, if an athlete is following state of the art training philosophy and methods and is training at the threshold of overtraining, performance can only improve if the training program is improved.
For runners a training program includes both resistance training, most commonly accomplished by lifting weights, and running exercises. Resistance training involves generalized strengthening of the muscles of the lower extremity, trunk, and upper extremity. This includes exercises such as squats and leg extensions, sit-ups, bench press and biceps curls, etc. Running exercises include repeated laps of the event that is being trained for, interval training, running hills, etc.
Improvement in performance occurs with a gradual increase in intensity and duration of training. Continued training above and beyond an optimal level, however, will produce a subsequent decline in performance due to mental and physical breakdown. This phenomenon is known as the overtraining syndrome. Therefore, if an athlete is following state of the art training philosophy and methods and is training at the threshold of overtraining, performance can only improve if the training program is improved.
A training program may consist of sport specific and/or cross training exercises. Sport specific training refers to exercising in a way that mimics the motions and muscle functions, which occur during participation of a particular sport. Although cross training may improve initial performance, it is well accepted that once an athlete has reached a high level of training only sport specific methods will get him to the next level. For runners the most specific exercise that can be done is performing running exercises. However running by itself does not develop the higher degrees of power in the leg muscles necessary to progress to the next level of fitness. A sport specific training program to develop leg power for runners, thus is needed in order to progress in performance level.
Biomechanical analysis has shown that the most important muscles causing forward progress of the body in running are the hip flexors and hip extensors. Numerous hip strengthening devices have been developed. These hip training devices may be separated into those that are:
1
) stationery apparatuses, where the athlete stands or lies in one place and moves the hip against a resistance mechanism, ie. cable-pulley mechanism with associated weightstack and
2
) mobile, where weight is attached to the lower extremity, thereby allowing resistance training of those muscles while the athlete is actually performing a sporting activity such as running.
Since about 1970 a multitude of exercise machines have been developed with a wide variety of resistance mechanisms, including isotonic, isokinetic, pneumatic, hydraulic resistance and elastic resistance mechanisms. These machines typically are adapted to train one aspect of performance, such as acceleration or stretch-shortening. The prior art, however, fails to teach a device with adequate joint isolation adapted to train for stretch-shortening, acceleration, or both.
Acceleration training, for example, is best developed by a hydraulic resistance mechanism (pneumatic resistance being similar but less preferred due to a bounce effect at the start of a “lift”). Pneumatic devices that include a separate device for each individual joint are available from Keiser Corp. The Keiser pneumatic devices include a pump, which gives them the capability for both concentric and eccentric training.
Some hydraulic resistance exercise devices allow for both concentric and eccentric training. Most, however, give purely passive resistance, which allows for only concentric training. Some hydraulic apparatuses have been developed for cardiovascular conditioning, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,180,353 and 5,527,251.
Various weight loaded training apparatuses are available, but generally lack adequate stabilization of the surrounding body parts. The neck muscles can be trained on devices as describe in U.S. Pat. No. 4,066,259. U.S. Pat. No. 5,3366,138 discloses-stabilization and isolation of the neck using a 2-point fixation system.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,725,055; 4,725,0566 and 4,836,536 disclose trunk-strengthening devices for exercising abdominal flexors and/or back extensors. These devices lack adequate stabilization and isolation of the abdominal muscles. The point of fixation below the abdomen for that patent is the thigh, which means that the hip flexors are trained along with the abdominal muscles.
Shoulder exercise devices include linear and rotating type mechanisms. Linear mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,195,834; D302,713 and 5,931,767. Rotating devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,569,519; 4,757,992; D321,387; 5,180,354; and 5,803,882. Elbow exercisers includes flexion (biceps) and extension (triceps) strengthening devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,256,125; 5,897,467; and 5,350,345. None of these patents disclose an adequate three-point fixation system.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,247,098 and 5,273,508 disclose hip strengthening devices. Some hip exercise devices derive stability by placing the athlete in a recumbent position (lateral, prone or supine, depending on the manufacturer), as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,200,279; 4,247,098; and 5,273,508. These devices, however, do not train the athlete in an upright manner, which would simulate a more functional and more sport specific position for the majority of athletic events. Moreover, these devices lack a fixation system adequate for isolating the desired muscles.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,247,098 discloses only a two-point fixation system to secure the athlete. The stretch-shortening cycle cannot be trained because there is no eccentric component in this resistance device. Although some acceleration can be trained by virtue of a hydraulic resistance device, there is no adjustable resistance mechanism as the hydraulic device here is simply a “shock-absorber” apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,508 specifically includes use of the lower back and abdominal muscles-during training of the hip, and hence, does not isolate the desired muscles. U.S. Pat. No. 4,200,279 discloses no hip flexor training capabilities. U.S. Pat. No. 5,273,508 discloses some hip flexor strengthening capabilities, but it does not allow for single-leg training, nor does it isolate the hip muscle. Finally, these devices do not train the lower hamstring muscles, which are also important for hip extension.
Various upright hip exercising machines have been developed, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,600,189; 4,621,807; 4,711,448; 4,732,379; 5,067,708; 5,308,304; 5,354,252; 5,468,202. The main limitations of these devices are that they do not adequately stabilize the trunk of the athlete to permit isolation of the target muscles. The device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,732,379 discloses an isokinetic resistance hip exercising/testing device with a trunk pad. However, stabilization is limited to an inadequate two-point fixation system. The other patents disclose isotonic exercisers using a weight stack, and hence cannot adequately provide acceleration training. Another problem with these devices is limited vertical adjustment capabilities, which is important to properly center the hip joint during exercising for sports specific training. While the device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,708 has multiple vertical adjustments at the actuator, this device provides no trunk stability. Finally, the
Acinonyx Company
Faegre & Benson LLP
Richmon Glenn E.
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