Patent Application
20090023564
The present invention relates to a physical interaction apparatus. In particular although not solely the present invention relates to a physical exercise and/or stretching apparatus.
A multitude of devices for exercising are available to the public. Such devices come in many formats and each are designed to allow a user to exercise a specific group or several groups of muscles. However many such devices do not offer the user the facility to conduct pre-exercise stretching to reduce the likelihood of the incidence of muscle damage during exercise. While a person is able to conduct such stretching without the use of specialized equipment, by for example leaning against a wall to apply pressure to the calf muscles or other leg muscles to stretch such muscle groups, such unaided stretching may not allow the person to provide sufficient pressure to their muscle groups. Unaided stretching may also not allow a person to stretch particular muscle groups as a result of being unable to achieve certain physical positions.
It is also known that in order to effectively stretch some muscle groups, people often pair up to provide assistance in stretching certain muscle groups. The person assisting can aid the person stretching by isolating parts of the body, supporting certain parts of the body or immobilizing certain parts of the body to allow the person stretching to achieve the desired stretching result. However a person who is wishing to stretch certain muscle groups of such a kind may not necessarily have another person available to them to aid in the stretching. Likewise for conducting certain exercises, it may be desirable to immobilize certain parts of the body so as to provide a stationary point of the body against which a force can be applied. Sit ups are one example where it is desirable for the feet of the person to be immobilized. Press ups are another example where both the hands and the feet are immobilized.
Some exercise machines such as exercycles and steppers, can isolate target muscles.
The disadvantage of using machines is that they do not offer much variety as one machine may only be used for one purpose. Another problem is that machines are often designed for the average person, and may be uncomfortable or impossible to use for a very tall or very short person or disabled persons.
Free weights such as dumbbells and barbells, on the other hand, allow the body to assume more ‘natural’ positions, allowing the simulating of real-life movements more accurately. It encourages a person to employ stabilizer muscles properly and to use correct body alignment. Free weights also offer much more variety and can be used in lots of different ways to target different muscle groups.
Free weight exercises are normally suitable for most exercisers, but often beginners need a lot of guidance to ensure they are using proper form and technique. People who do not have the necessary skills may develop serious injuries by training incorrectly.
Our United States patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,055 describes an exercise apparatus that can assist in exercising and stretching that solves some of the above mentioned problems.
However certain sports require specific positioning of hands and/or feet of a body of a person. Stretching or exercising certain muscles in a manner that simulates the actions or positions of certain sports is not readily facilitated by the invention of U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,055. This is because in U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,055 the apparatus provides substantially plainer surfaces for interaction by a user. A user wearing for example gloves, is only able to position the hands of the body on the wall or floor surfaces in a co-plainer relationship to each other. Accordingly U.S. Pat. No. 7,022,055 lacks the versatility to facilitate stretching and/or exercising over a larger range of movement and motions and positions.
Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide physical interaction apparatus for exercising and/or stretching which can be utilised by an individual without assistance of another person or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide stretching apparatus that can be utilised by a person to stretch more muscle groups than by unassisted stretching or to at least provide the public with a useful choice.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide exercising apparatus that aids in overcoming some of the problems as mentioned above or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.
Accordingly in a first aspect of the present invention consists in physical interaction apparatus for the purposes of allowing a person to perform physical training and stretching of the muscles said physical interaction apparatus comprising and/or including;
a wall including;
a. a flat primary wall surface of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system, and
b. at least one peripheral surface of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system that is the same as that of said primary wall surface, said peripheral surface being peripheral to at least part of said primary wall surface and is presented in a direction non-parallel to said primary wall surface,
at least one user interface that includes an outwardly presented surface consisting of the other one of the hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system so as to allow its selective and releasable attachment to said primary wall surface and peripheral surface, to allow a person to engage therewith to receive resistance to a user applied force parallel to the engaged surface of said primary wall surface or peripheral surface, via said user interface.
Preferably said user interface is selected from one or more of;
i. a wearable item selected from one of a) at least one glove and at least one footwear, b) two gloves and c) two footwear, and
ii. a sports implement.
Preferably said sports implement is selected from any one of more of;
i. a ball,
ii. a football,
iii. a bat,
iv. a hockey stick,
v. a racket,
vi. an oar,
vii. a paddle,
viii. a javelin,
ix. a shot-put,
x. a discus,
xi. a human dummy,
xii. climbing holds,
xiii. ski poles,
xiv. climbing ropes,
xv. climbing blocks, and
xvi. weight lifting bar.
Preferably the user interface may include a panel for engagement and wherein a flexible elongate member extends from said panel to which a hand or foot of the person can engage.
Preferably there is also provided a floor which includes a floor surface of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system that is the same as that of the primary wall surface, and with which the user interface can also selectively and releasably engage.
Preferably a floor peripheral surface is provided of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system that is the same as that of said primary wall surface, said floor peripheral surface being peripheral to at least part of said floor surface and is presented in a direction non-parallel to said floor surface and with which the user interface can also selectively and releasably engage.
Preferably the said floor surface is provided adjacent said primary wall surface such that a said person can be upwardly supported by said floor surface and simultaneously interact with the primary wall surface.
Preferably the floor peripheral surface is defined by a rim about the floor surface that projects downwardly from said floor surface.
Preferably said floor peripheral surface includes an undercut zone that extends beneath the floor surface and is exposed to allow engagement by a said user interface.
Preferably said peripheral surface extends from said primary wall surface in a direction away from the direction of the normal of said primary wall surface.
Preferably said peripheral surface is defined by a rim about the upper edge and side edges of the primary wall surface.
Preferably two of said gloves are provided one for each hand of a said person.
Preferably said footwear is a bootie and wherein two of said booties are provided one for each foot of said person.
Preferably said footwear and booties are worn by a user when also interacting with an other of the user interface.
Preferably said wall surface is inclined to the vertical with the normal to said wall surface projecting above the horizontal.
Preferably said primary wall surface and said floor surface abut each other.
Preferably said floor surface is inclined to the horizontal with the normal to said floor surface having a component of direction projecting away from the said wall surface.
Preferably said wall being a wall unit comprising of wall panel with which said one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system is engaged, said wall panel engaged to a support structure to be supported as a unit by a permanent fixed structure.
In a second aspect the present invention consists in physical interaction apparatus for the purposes of allowing a person to perform physical training and stretching of the muscles said physical interaction apparatus comprising and/or including;
a wall including a flat primary wall surface of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system, and
at least one user interface that includes an outwardly presented surface consisting of the other one of the hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system so as to allow its selective and releasable attachment to said primary wall surface to allow a person to engage therewith to receive resistance to a user applied force parallel to the engaged surface of said primary wall surface, via said user interface,
said user interface selected from any one of more of;
i. a ball,
ii. a football,
iii. a bat,
iv. a hockey stick,
v. a racket,
vi. an oar,
vii. a paddle,
viii. a javelin,
ix. a shot-put,
x. a discus,
xi. a human dummy,
xii. climbing holds,
xiii. ski poles,
xiv. climbing ropes,
xv. climbing blocks, and
xvi. weight lifting bar.
Preferably said wall includes at least one peripheral surface of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system that is the same as that of said primary wall surface, said peripheral surface being peripheral to at least part of said primary surface and is presented in a direction non-parallel to said primary wall surface, wherein the other one of the hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system of the user interface, allows its selective and releasable attachment to said primary wall surface and peripheral surface.
Preferably said apparatus further comprises and/or includes a wearable item selected from one of a) at least one glove and at least one footwear, b) two gloves and c) two footwear that may be worn by the user simultaneous to their using the user interface.
Preferably the user interface may include a panel for engagement to said primary wall surface and wherein a flexible elongate member extends from said panel to which a hand or foot of the person can engage.
Preferably there is also provided a floor which includes a floor surface of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system that is the same as that of the primary wall surface, and with which the user interface can also selectively and releasably engage.
Preferably a floor peripheral surface is provided of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system that is the same as that of said primary wall surface, said floor peripheral surface being peripheral to at least part of said floor surface and is presented in a direction non-parallel to said primary wall surface and with which the user interface can also selectively and releasably engage.
Preferably said floor surface is provided adjacent said primary wall surface such that a said person can be upwardly supported by said floor surface and simultaneously interact with the primary wall surface.
Preferably the floor peripheral surface is defined by a rim about the floor surface that projects downwardly from said floor surface.
Preferably said floor peripheral surface includes an undercut zone that extends beneath the floor surface and is exposed to allow engagement by a said user interface.
Preferably said peripheral surface extends from said primary wall surface in a direction away from the direction of the normal of said primary wall surface.
In a third aspect the present invention consists in a sports implement selected from one of;
i. a football,
ii. a ball,
iii. a bat,
iv. a hockey stick,
v. a racket,
vi. an oar,
vii. a paddle,
viii. a javelin,
ix. a shot-put,
x. a discus,
xi. a human dummy,
xii. climbing holds,
xiii. ski poles,
xiv. climbing ropes,
xv. climbing blocks, and
xvi. weight lifting bar,
wherein the improvement comprises the implement including a surface defined by one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system.
Preferably the surface is defined by the hook component.
Preferably the sports implement is to be used in association with a fixed reaction surface of the other of the hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system, and wherein the surface defined said hook component and loop component of said implement is provided to said implement in a location such that said implement can become releasably engaged to said reaction surface and allow a user to hold said implement in a condition that simulates a position of use of the implement in its normal mode of use in sport.
In a fourth aspect the present invention consists in a sports implement to be used in association with a fixed reaction surface of one of the hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system, said sports implement including a surface defined by the other of said hook component and loop component such that said implement can become releasably engaged to said reaction surface and allow a user to hold said implement in a condition that simulates a position of use of the implement in its normal mode of use in sport.
Preferably the sports implement is selected from any one of;
a. a ball,
b. football,
c. a bat,
d. a hockey stick,
e. a racket,
f. an oar,
g. a paddle,
h. a javelin,
i. a shot-put,
j. a discus,
k. a human dummy,
l. climbing holds,
m. ski poles,
n. climbing ropes,
o. climbing blocks, and
p. weight lifting bar.
In a fifth aspect the present invention consists in a method of stretching/exercising a human body utilising at least one fixed reaction surface of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening systems, said method including;
providing at least one sports implement to be used in association with said fixed reacting surface wherein said implement includes a surface defined by the other of said hook component and loop component,
engaging said surface of said implement to said reaction surface whilst said user is holding said implement in a condition that simulates a position of use of the implement in its normal mode of use in sport, and
applying a force by said user to said implement.
Preferably the implement is selected from;
a. a ball,
b. football,
c. a bat,
d. a hockey stick,
e. a racket,
f. an oar,
g. a paddle,
h. a javelin,
i. a shot-put,
j. a discus,
k. a human dummy,
l. climbing holds,
m. ski poles,
n. climbing ropes,
o. climbing blocks, and
p. weight lifting bar.
In a further aspect the present invention consists in physical interaction apparatus for the purposes of allowing a person to perform physical training and stretching of the muscles said physical interaction apparatus comprising and/or including;
a floor including a flat primary floor surface of one of a hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system, and
at least one user interface that includes an outwardly present surface consisting of the other one of the hook component and loop component of a hook and loop fastening system so as to allow its selective and releasable attachment to said primary floor surface to allow a person to engage therewith to receive resistance to user applied force parallel to the engaged surface of said primary floor surface or peripheral surface, via said user interface, said user interface selected from any one or more of;
a. a ball,
b. a football,
c. a bat,
d. a hockey stick,
e. a racket,
f. an oar,
g. a paddle,
h. a javelin,
i. a shot-put,
j. a discus,
k. a human dummy,
l. climbing holds,
m. ski poles,
n. climbing ropes,
o. climbing blocks, and
p. weight lifting bar.
This invention may also be said broadly to consist in the parts, elements and features referred to or indicated in the specification of the application, individually or collectively, and any or all combinations of any two or more of said parts, elements or features, and where specific integers are mentioned herein which have known equivalents in the art to which this invention relates, such known equivalents are deemed to be incorporated herein as if individually set forth.
As used herein the term “and/or” means “and” or “or”, or both.
As used herein “(s)” following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun.
The term “comprising” as used in this specification means “consisting at least in part of”. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpreted in the same manner.
“user interface” is used to describe a device that will act intermediate of the person and a reaction surface.
The invention is now described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which;
The interaction apparatus includes at least one tool and at least one reaction surface structure which is or is fixed or otherwise supported by or to a fixed structure of a building. With the use of body engaged and/or graspable tools, action forces may be applied by a users body to the surface(s) directly and/or the surface(s) via the tool. In the most preferred form the reaction surfaces include both a wall surface 2 and a floor surface 3 positioned adjacent each other so that both can be engaged by a user simultaneously.
The reaction surfaces are covered at least in part and preferably entirely by one component of a hook and loop fastening system. The other component of the hook and loop fastening system is carried by the gloves and booties to which reference will be made hereinafter. The floor surface is planar and preferably also the wall surface is planar, but these may alternatively be of other shapes.
In the most preferred form the reaction surfaces are covered by the loop part of the hook and loop fastening system. The loop part is softer to the touch so that any contact of the skin of a person with the surfaces will not subject the person to any significant abrasion. It is well known that the loop component of a hook and loop fastening system is not as soft to the touch.
In the most preferred form the reaction surfaces are covered entirely by a component of the hook and loop fastening means and the area of coverage is sufficient so that a person can assume many different positions adjacent the surfaces would still remain in contact with the component on the surface.
For example the wall surface may be of a height of approximately 3 m above surrounding ground. This is of a sufficient height to allow the average person to stand adjacent the wall surface 2 and stretch upwardly without stretching beyond the upper boundary 11 of the wall surface 2. Most preferably the height is at least 1.5 m but being higher allows for more positions to be assumed. The width (in direction B) (with reference to
Width expansion of reaction surfaces may occur with addition of more structures.
The width (in direction B) of the reaction surfaces may be sufficient so as to allow for a plurality of users to be standing on/adjacent the surfaces for their simultaneous use thereof.
Preferably the reaction surfaces are retrofitable to an existing structure of a building. For example the reaction surfaces may be part of a structure fabricated of sheets of ply wood to define a unit having a surface or surfaces onto which the loop component of the hook and loop fastening system is affixed (such as by adhesion). The fabricated ply wood structure can then be bolted or otherwise affixed to a fixed wall and/or floor structure of a building. It is important that the reaction surfaces remain securely fixed although it is envisaged that such affixing can be temporary in case the reaction surfaces are to be transportable. Adjacent units may be secured together by fasteners such as bolts or screws. With an extensive coverage area of the loop component of the hook and loop fastening means onto the plywood surfaces, a diverse arrange of positions can be assumed by the user of the system.
With the provision of both a floor and wall surface, a person can receive support to all of the limbs by the reaction surfaces of the present invention.
It is envisaged that only a wall surface 2 may be provided for the purposes of providing a reaction surface of the interaction means of the present invention. Such a wall extends to a sufficient height (e.g. greater than 1.5 m) from the adjacent ground on which a person may stand to allow for a person standing adjacent the wall to assume a diverse range of positions including the engagement of their hands and/or feet onto the wall surface 2. The fixed structure may be a wall or floor of a building.
However the combination of wall and floor surfaces provides for a much more versatile arrangement and greater reaction surfaces.
It is envisaged that the reaction surfaces may come in a collapsible form so that both the wall and floor surfaces are removable from each other to allow for convenient storage and transportation. Indeed each wall and floor surface unit may itself be collapsible into more portions. Each wall unit for example may be broken down into two or more components for the purposes of convenient storage and/or transportation. Likewise the floor surface unit may do the same. It is envisaged that the present invention may be utilised in home situations where the convenience of storage and assembly is an important factor.
The interaction apparatus may include body engaged attire such as outerwear articles to be worn by the user, and/or other tools such as graspable tools which may come in the form of known sports equipment or may come in a customised form.
The user may be wearing at least one glove 26 and preferably also at least one bootie 28. Preferably a user will be wearing two gloves and two booties. A glove is for example shown in
With reference to
Positions by a user of the invention can be assumed by both the hands and the feet so that these touch and become affixed to the wall surface 2 of the device. It may only be the wall surface which is provided as the reaction surface of the present invention. However to increase versatility a floor surface 3 is also provided. In such a case, the user may have their feet or a foot engaged onto the floor surface and the hands or hand engaged onto the wall surface or vice versa or various combinations.
Likewise tools other than the gloves and/or booties may be used for engagement with the wall surface and/or floor surface or both. The wall surface or floor surface or both may be engaged by one or more of the tools separately or simultaneously. Such tools may be sports equipment such as a hockey stick, tennis racket, soccer ball, rugby or American football, a golf club, examples of which are shown in
With reference to for example, the soccer ball 39 of
With reference to FIGS. 11 and 15-23, it can be seen that such tools can become fastened to either the wall or floor surface 2, 3 and a person can then interact with the tool. The surfaces provide a large zone at which such tools can be placed so as to position the tool in a location relative to a person approximate the surface so as to simulate positioning of such tools in use in sport. A person can then interact with their body (for example by grasping the ball or club or racket or kicking or positioning their legs and/or feet against the tool) for the purposes of stretching and/or exercising their body when the body is in a position that may simulate body position when such tools are used in sport. The person may or may not also be wearing the glove(s) or bootie(s) for engagement to wall and/or floor surfaces.
The tools may include a zone such as the zone 40 for engagement with the floor or wall surfaces and may also include a zone such as the zone 41 presented for engagement by any glove or bootie that a person may be wearing. This is an optional feature wherein the glove and the zone 41 are complementary. This can allow for a releasable engagement to be established wherein for example the glove, with the loop component of a hook and loop fastening system, can engage with a zone 41 of a loop component of a hook and loop fastening system. In this manner, the tool can be releasably fastened to a floor or wall surface via the zone 40 and can be releasably engaged by gloves and/or booties via the zone 41. The golf club of
With reference to
With reference to
The hook of the hook and loop fastening system that may be used is a product called CS 1200™ Hook provided by 3M. This product of 3M provides a high shear strength between the two components of the system yet under tension, allows for a convenient removal. Table 1 shows the performance specs of this product as published by 3M on their current website.
The wall surface may alternatively be curved both vertically and horizontally. For example the wall surface may be provided by a vertical pillar.
Another product that may be used to act as the hook component is the 3M™ product DUAL LOCK™. This product is a low profile reclosable fastener that includes mushroom shaped fastener components. The mushroom shaped components can lock with loop components of a complimentary surface. Such a surface may indeed be carpet or other fabric material that presents loops with which the mushroom shaped components can engage. Some information about the nature of the DUAL LOCK™.
As a result, the shear direction holding force between for example the gloves or the booties and the reaction surfaces 2, 3 is extremely high when compared to the tension force. Accordingly it is convenient for a person to pull the tool off the surfaces by a force substantially normal to the surface however a sliding of the gloves and booties relative to the surface is highly resisted. Hence a person utilising the present invention can move about on the surface relatively conveniently without any significant strain being placed on the muscles of the user. However when a shear force is applied by the user, the gloves and/or booties will remain firmly in place. This hence reduces the possibility of injury. Action forces can hence be applied to the reaction surfaces in a shear direction.
To offer greater versatility for the engagement of a tool or tools with the floor surface 3 and/or wall surface 2, one or both of the wall and/or floor surface defining structures, also define peripheral surfaces that include one of the components of a hook and loop fastening system. With reference for example to
In order to encourage the association of a person with the wall surface 2, the wall surface is preferably inclined to the vertical. The incline is such that the Normal (N) of the surface has an upward component of direction. The resultant angle X which the wall surface 2 makes to the vertical is greater than 0° and for example less than 30°. A person standing adjacent the wall surface with their feet at or proximate the wall surface base 10 will need to lean over centre to their general upright direction in order for the body to make contact with the surface 2. This is shown in
Where the present invention also includes a reaction surface which is a floor surface 3, such a surface is preferably sloping to the horizontal as shown in
The floor surface may likewise be provided as part of a structure that may be a unit and for example be fabricated from a ply wood material. When viewed from the side as shown in
Furthermore while in the most preferred form the wall surface 2 and preferably the floor surface 3 are substantially planar, such surfaces need not be entirely planar. Indeed the surfaces may include apertures there through, particularly the wall surface 2 may include apertures to provide further assistance for holding the hand or the feet of a person. The surface may also include up stands which are provided in places tailored to assist in allowing for certain positions to be assumed by a user.
With reference to
As used herein “floor” should not be restricted to only structural floor and “wall” can include other upright supports (whether skeletal or panelled). As used herein “complementary attachment means” and use in conjunction with said means are preferably means to allow attachment to or from said floor or wall surface to enable an exerciser to manipulate the muscles or him or herself via releasable engagement.
