Exercise devices – Having specific electrical feature – Equipment control
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-01
2001-12-18
Richman, Glenn E. (Department: 3764)
Exercise devices
Having specific electrical feature
Equipment control
C434S055000, C472S027000, C472S044000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331152
ABSTRACT:
This invention is about a device enabling the spatial movement of bodies, especially of persons.
Such devices are known from the leisure and sports domain, as well as the medical domain, e.g. socalled “Rhönbikes” or human gyroscopes.
From the U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,667 a similar device is known. It consists of 3 circular elements, that are set up in one another. Every circular element is hinged along an axis going through the centre of the circular element. The axes of the three circular segments are positioned in an orthogonal way, in such a way that a body, in this case a person, located in the inner circular element can move freely along the 3 rotational axes in a fixed coordinate system. The body of the person is placed in a certain position and strapped, e.g. by the feet and pelvis. In principle, the arms of the person are free. Because of the fact that movements of the device can only be achieved by shift of the centre of gravity of the body, similar to rocking, the person is forced to hold his hands on the fastening or the circular element in order to move and keep moving.
The freedom of movement of the body, respectively the person is very restricted, similar to the movement of rocking, where shifts of the centre of gravity of the body are enabled by stretching and drawing of the legs.
The dimensions of such devices are relatively big due to the fact that movement can only be achieved or caused by the shift of the centre of gravity. Because of this, the construction of these devices is in most cases symmetrical. This, and the need for stability cause the above mentioned large dimensions of these devices. E.g. the circular elements need a diameter of at least 2 meters, which results in a needed space of about 4 m
2
and a spatial volume of about 8 m
3
. The need for space for the establishment and storage of such a device is enormous. Furthermore, the construction efforts and the involved costs, especially because of the use of full circular segments, but also in the case where rectangular or square segments are used, are relatively high.
Apart from that, all devices known until could not are not respectively allow only restricted steering, especially not by the user, i.e. the person in the device. Furthermore, apart from the sense of motion, i.e. this is the equilibrium organ, no other senses are actively stimulated, e.g. by hearing, seeing, feeling, smelling, respectively tasting through the mouth, the ears, the skin respectively the tactile sense or the nose respectively mouth.
The current invention targets the establishment of a device enabling the spatial movement of bodies, especially of persons, allowing the body, especially the person, a freedom of movement as large as possible, allowing or imposing additionally a movement from within or without, allowing an active influencing of the motion by the body, especially the person. The device is of moderate dimensions and can be built cost effectively by simple means.
To reach this target a device enabling the spatial movement of bodies, especially persons is proposed that consists of a contraption enabling a spherical movement, of at least one device capable of holding a body, one steering device and at least one Input device.
By the use of the contraption allowing a spherical movement and the device capable of holding a person as specified in the invention, this invention has created a device, that enables the persons using it a large amount of freedom of movement. The movement in the device can not only be initiated by the shift of gravity of the body in the device, but can also be initiated by the contraption enabling a spherical movement (as specified in the invention) itself.
Evidently, the motion initiated by the contraption allowing a spherical movement can be overlaid by a motion initiated by a shift of gravity of a person using the device. Combined with the device capable of holding a person as specified in the invention the person using the device can move arms, legs and head freely.
Through the use of a steering device as specified in the invention and an input device, the motion of the bodies can be imposed, steered and influenced from the inside as well as from the outside.
The device as specified in the invention has moderate dimensions, allowing easy storage and transport, minimising space. On top of that it can be built cost effectively by using standard means and components.
In an extended advantageous arrangement of the invention, the device also incorporates at least one device enabling a translation. With this extended version as specified in the invention the possibility is created to allow a body, especially a person besides the spherical movement along the 3 rotational axes, an additional translation movement that creates a feeling of acceleration. In principle, by the use of appropriate devices enabling translations, it is possible to create free spatial movement along the 6 degrees of freedom of a body in space, 3 translations, i.e. a shift in the Y-, Y-, Z- direction and 3 rotations, i.e. e.g. a rotation along the X-, Y- and z-axis.
According to another extended version of the invention the contraption enabling a spherical movement incorporates a system of basically segments oriented in an orthogonal way. In principle, various other angles are possible. Segments as specified in the invention are axes, shafts, cranks and similar components, that especially are formed as angles, circles or quadrant segments. Ellipses or hyperbolic segments can also be used. According to a very advantageous proposal of the invention quadrant segments or or angle segments are used. Through the use of segments the contraption enabling a spherical movement is collapsible. This way, the device as specified in the invention can be stored and transported without disassembly. The device can also be brought to living rooms, i.e. it fits through doors without any problem. Furthermore the device as specified in the invention can be used in private place, such as houses. On top of that the resources have been reduced considerably, to about a fourth, compared to to the use of square or rectangular frames.
According to another advantageous extended version of the invention the contraption enabling a spherical movement and the devices enabling a translation, incorporate at least one propulsion. The segments of the contraption enabling a spherical movement and the devices enabling a translation each incorporate at least one propulsion. The propulsion is an electric and/or pneumatic or similar propulsion. This way, the different movements necessary to cause rotation, i.e. shifts and turns can be initiated in a very simple way. Evidently, appropriate gears and similar components can be placed between the appropriate propulsions and segments. Propulsions as specified in the invention are also combinations of propulsion and gears. It is also possible to switch off one propulsion and to create a free run of the according segment as known from existing devices. Because of that, further degrees of freedom, respectively further movement possibilities are made possible, e.g. a jolting along one axis or a similar movement.
According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention the contraption enabling a spherical movement is located at the device enabling a translation. This allows the device to be built in a more compact and stable way and results in an easier construction.
According to another advantageous arrangement of the invention, the device capable of holding a person is locatable at the contraption enabling a spherical movement, by preference to a segment. In a further advantageous arrangement of the invention the device capable of holding a person incorporates a device enabling a person to sit or lie down. This allows a large freedom of movement, that enables all movements by the device as well as by the person, where the person can move his arms, legs and head freely by an advantageous arrangement of the device capable of holding a person. On top of that, the device capable of holding a person allows a comfortable, adjustab
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