This invention is directed to the field of stationary bike and in particular to an improvement in stationary bike controls employing variable pulsating resistance.
Stationary bikes allow the rider to obtain the benefits of bicycle riding without the associated dangers. It is well known that bicycle riding provides many benefits to the muscular, neurological, skeletal, and cardio vascular systems of the individual. A great benefit of outdoor bicycle riding is that when environmental conditions are good, bicycling is so enjoyable that the rider is distracted from the physical exertion that provides healthy exercise. It is also well known that outdoor bike riding can be dangerous subjecting the rider to sun, rain, adverse temperatures, road hazards and so forth. For this reason, many manufacturers have strived to make stationary bicycling more enjoyable and reproduce some of the outdoor bicycling benefits without the hazards. For instance, stationary bicycles can now be equipped with computer displays providing scenic reproductions. Further, the stationary bicycle may include resistance that can track the scenic displays providing the rider with the sensation that they are traversing hills. Stationary bikes have further progressed to provide the rider with muscle rehabilitation. The stationary bike has now become a fitness device to train and enhance a user's muscles and cardio-respiratory capacity.
Similarly, an elliptical bike, also referred to as a cross-trainer, is a stationary piece of exercise equipment also used for cardiovascular fitness. An elliptical bike reduces the impact on bones and joints during exercise whereas instead of repeatedly landing on the feet as one might do when running, the feet must place constant pressure on the gliding pedals through an elliptical range. Working out on the elliptical bike is gentler on ankles, knees, and hips resulting in fewer injuries. Models either resemble an upright or reclining bike with large pedals that flow in a circular motion when powered by the legs and feet. Many models also have hand grips that allow for a front-to-back motion targeting more muscle groups than typically employed when riding conventional or stationary bikes. Stationary or elliptical machines are usually recommended for people at all levels of physical fitness are often used during physical therapy because they provide a low or no-impact exercise. Similarly, an upper extremity rotational exerciser, also referred to as an arm-exerciser, is a stationary piece of exercise equipment used to strengthen the arms and for cardiovascular fitness. An upper extremity exerciser reduces the impact on bones and joints that may occur with weight training.
All known current stationary bikes including elliptical bicycles either exert a constant or near constant stress on a muscle. If the pressure is applied throughout a rotation such as the case with elliptical bikes, a constant stress on a rotation or a constant stress exerts a near constant or smooth transition stress on the muscle and nerve being trained. Examples are weights with gravity resistance, exercise bikes with constant or slowly changing stresses, elliptical exercisers, or weight machines. The limitations of these devices are that the stress changes so slowly over time in comparison to the speed of fast twitch muscle fibers or a reflex, that the reflexes spinal cord neurons and fast twitch muscles are not fully engaged. Persons that have spinal cord injuries or brain disease that reduce the cortical stimulation of the lower motor neurons weaken even though the muscles are normal, and the muscle lower motor neuron interface is intact.
Thus, what is lacking in the training and rehabilitation industry is a method and apparatus for enhancing the exercise and rehabilitation aspects of both stationary and elliptical bikes by providing resistance changes that take place over millisecond time frames.
A pulsatile resistive exerciser control system for use on a conventional stationary bike, upper extremity exerciser or elliptical bike. The control system changes the resistance that a muscle feels in the millisecond time frame. Resistance can be increased, decreased or patterned. Movement can be muscle generated or motor generated.
An objective of the invention is to teach the use of resistance changes directed to a stationary bike to cause reflex stimulation of a muscle, and neuroplasticity training of the spinal cord neuron reflex pathway.
Another objective of the invention is to disclose the use of a control system for use on a stationary bike or elliptical bike for providing resistance changes to the pedals that take place over millisecond time frame.
Still another objective of the invention is to disclose an apparatus to provide resistance combined with precise timing to cause resistance at a particular position during pedal rotation to cause specific muscle stimulation and or nerve stimulation.
Still another objective of the invention is to disclose an apparatus to provide resistance combined with precise timing to cause reduction in resistance at a specific position during pedal rotation to cause reduction in muscle stimulation and or nerve stimulation.
Still another objective of the invention is to disclose an apparatus that drives the rotation which provide resistance to an inactive limb combined with precise timing to cause increase resistance at a position during pedal rotation to cause specific muscle resistance.
Still another objective of the invention is to disclose an apparatus that drives the rotation which provide resistance to an inactive limb combined with precise rotational patterned speed and timing to cause increase resistance at a position during pedal rotation to cause increase resistance of specific muscles, joints, tendons and ligaments.
Still another objective of the invention is to disclose an apparatus that drives the rotation which provide resistance to an inactive limb combined with precise timing to cause decrease resistance at a position during pedal rotation to cause reduction of stress on healing joints, tendons and ligaments.
Yet still another objective of the invention is to disclose the use of various methods to provide a sudden change in the resistance of a stationary bike pedal in an amount to recruit the reflex stimulation of a muscle.
Another objective of the invention is to provide a control system that provides precise resistance input during exercise and training to stimulate reflex activity in the spinal cord to improve strength and coordination training.
Yet still another objective of the invention is to disclose the use of a control system to provide training at the muscle stretch receptor, the tendon stretch receptors, the lower motor neurons and the spinal cord ganglion when the brain communication is less than normal.
Yet still another objective of the invention is to disclose the use of a two directional pedal torque sensor system which is used in feedback to the user and the control system.
Other objectives and further advantages and benefits associated with this invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description, examples and claims which follow.
A detailed embodiment of the instant invention is disclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific functional and structural details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representation basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.
Referring now to
The pulsatile resistive exerciser 10 can be set to the parameters of a specific individuals needs as determined by a physician trainer or physical therapist. Once set the person can rotate the pedals 18 with their feet or arms in the normal operational mode. While pedaling, the control system measures minimum output and if sufficient, increases the resistance felt in a constant manner. The control system then adds or subtracts resistance at a specific point or time in the rotation which results in an increased or decreased force felt by the muscle. The force is also detected by the spinal cord reflex neurons which increased the exercise output of that specific muscle by recruiting the reflex stimulation of the muscle. A display module 30 provides preprogrammed function keys 32, a pulse location indicator 34, an rpm monitor 36 and pulse width indicator 38.
The control system provides a method and mechanism to suddenly increase resistance during exercise and training. Change in resistance that stimulates reflex activity in the spinal cord as a method of strength and coordination training. The advantage is that training can occur at the muscle stretch receptor, the tendon stretch receptors, the lower motor neurons and the spinal cord ganglion when the brain communication is less than normal such as in patients with spinal cord injury or Parkinsonism. The other advantage is that training can occur differentially for rehabilitation.
There are several alternative methods to create the sudden changed in resistance during exercise. For instance, magnetic particle resistance clutches, fluid powered resistance, mechanical brake resistance, electro-mechanical, reverse direction electric motor 163 are all considered obvious alternatives to the disclosed control. The apparatus can also be combined with precise timing to be used with muscle stimulation, and or nerve stimulation during training.
The control system 26 is electrically coupled to the motor to cause rotation of said drive wheel at alternating rates wherein said drive pedals are instructed to cause reflex stimulation to the muscles of the individual coupled to said drive pedals, the alternating rates provide a resistance to said drive pedals at a rate that is measured over millisecond time frames. The resistance is preferably variable and in one embodiment the alternating rates are timed to cause braking during pedal rotation to cause muscle stimulation and or nerve stimulation.
The control system 26 is constructed and arrange to instruct resistance declines to reduce stress on an injured muscle during exercise and training to reduce injury; to instruct resistance declines to reduce stress on weak joints during exercise and training to reduce injury; to instruct resistance declines to reduce stress on an injured tendon or ligament during exercise and training to reduce injury and enhance healing; to instruct resistance to alternate from left to right is controlled pedals to reduce reflex habituation; to instruct resistance using timing to induce fast twitch muscles over slow twitch muscles to enhance speed training over strength training; to instruct resistance using timing to induce slow twitch muscles over fast twitch muscles to enhance strength training over speed training; to instruct resistance increases and declines at 10-200 hertz to induce bone growth; to instruct resistance is applied at 0.25 hertz to 10 hertz for muscle strength training; to instruct resistance is applied at 14 hertz to 40 hertz to induce increase perception of foot slippage to reduce fall on slippery surfaces; to instruct resistance is controlled in a set or random pattern to reduce brain habituation or pattern recognition of cyclical motion; to instruct resistance is controlled in a set pattern of increase and decrease resistance to train for a repetitive task that requires movement at a specific frequency; to instruct resistance is controlled in a set pattern to train muscle system that are weakened in jobs that have repetitive task; to instruct resistance is controlled in a set pattern to train for a repetitive task that requires movement at a specific frequency; and to instruct resistance developed by driving the pedals alternately with added resistance and controlled in a set pattern to train for a repetitive task that requires movement at a specific frequency like walking.
Referring to
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The control system 26 can be programmed to:
1) increase and decrease at a specific location, e.g. 45 degrees and 120 degrees on a 360-degree basis;
2) increase level, wattage up and wattage down;
3) base wattage and added wattage;
4) pattern of increase wattage;
5) Rotational speed RPM;
6) Wattage change by rotational speed;
7) Select a specific muscle group;
8) Select a specific pattern from an inventory of patterns
9) Select a specific patient with a preset workout;
10) Amount of workout in time;
11) To collect data and is obvious;
This allows the control system with data collection from a variety of sensors to determine strength of specific muscles by suddenly adding or subtracting effort and determining the rate of slowdown or speedup of the muscle to specific pattern of exhaustion.
Referring to
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The use of the word “a” or “an” when used in conjunction with the term “comprising” in the claims and/or the specification may mean “one,” but it is also consistent with the meaning of “one or more” or “at least one.” The terms “comprise” (and any form of comprise, such as “comprises” and “comprising”), “have” (and any form of have, such as “has” and “having”), “include” (and any form of include, such as “includes” and “including”) and “contain” (and any form of contain, such as “contains” and “containing”) are open-ended linking verbs. As a result, a method or device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more steps or elements, possesses those one or more steps or elements, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more elements. Likewise, a step of a method or an element of a device that “comprises,” “has,” “includes” or “contains” one or more features, possesses those one or more features, but is not limited to possessing only those one or more features. Furthermore, a device or structure that is configured in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims.
In accordance with 37 C.F.R. § 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/608,290, entitled “PULSATILE RESISTIVE EXERCISER”, filed Dec. 20, 2017. The contents of which the above referenced application is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62608290 | Dec 2017 | US |