Patent Application
20140221169
The present invention relates generally to exercise machines and, more particularly, relates to a stand-up paddleboard exercise assembly that simulates stand-up paddle boarding in open water.
Each year, millions of people throughout the world participate in the activity of stand-up paddleboarding (“SUP”) or stand-up surfing. SUP in open water involves the use of a board, typically a surfboard, and a paddle. A user utilizes the board to ride swells and waves produced in the ocean. When there are no swells or waves, the user stands on the board and paddles to propel himself or herself. This is generally accomplished by having the user place their right hand (if paddling on the right side of the board) on the shaft of the paddle and his or her left hand on the handle of the paddle. This hand placement alternates when paddling on the left side. The user then places the distal end of the paddle about 1-2 feet ahead of the user and about 6 inches submerged in the water. The user then pulls the paddle through the water in a motion similar to a rider punching with his or her top hand. Similar to a user rowing of a boat, the resistance provided by the water against the paddle causes the paddler to flex certain muscles. Most of this resistance is provided in a direction parallel to the board (i.e., the x-component).
As SUP requires the user to stabilize the board, the exercise involves significant benefits to both “core” stability and abdomen muscles and also the cardiovascular system and incorporates many more and/or different muscles than a sit-down rowing movement, including the legs and buttocks. Some users paddle board simply for fun or exercise, while others do it for serious sport competition or for training purposes. As such, simulating this process in an exercise assembly is important for many users. Actually performing SUP in open water is problematic for many users as weather, time constraints and water conditions often prevent the user from partaking in SUP. Moreover, the paddle, board, and other components used in SUP can range from $700-$1500 and often become damaged from use and from being transported. In addition, many users find it difficult and inconvenient to travel to open water to enjoy SUP.
Many known exercise devices are incapable of producing the above-described benefits involved in SUP as they are void of the necessary equipment to replicate the process. Many exercise devices do not have a paddle, or a paddle-like member, that is capable of simulating the paddling process, i.e., placing both hand on the paddle and generating resistance on the sides of the board. As such, users are not able to receive the specific muscular training involved in SUP, nor are they able to effectively train for competitions.
Those known exercise devices simulating “rowing,” or a user being in a sitting position and stroking an oar, or oar-like member, also do not effectively replicate the benefits involved in SUP. These rowing exercise devices require a user to sit down, which many users with disabilities or infirmities find difficult or impossible. Furthermore, the “propelling motion” involved in some rowing involves a back-to-front motion, while SUP involves a front-to-back propelling motion. As such, different muscle groups are involved and many users cannot effectively train for competitive sport.
In addition to the above-described deficiencies, some known exercise devices attempting to simulate SUP do not permit a user to alternate rowing on each side of the board. Said another way, they only capable of recreating the propelling motion on one side of the board. As such, these devices lack a complete assimilation to the SUP process. It also prevents the user from utilizing the muscle groups activated when paddling on the opposite side the board. Any devices that do permit a user to employ alternative paddling positions, i.e., left to right side, require the user to interrupt his or her motion and adjust the exercise device accordingly. This is problematic and inconvenient for many users as they are not able to efficiently simulate the SUP process. Therefore, no known exercise device permits a user to replicate the alternate paddling motions experienced when SUP.
Some known exercise devices attempting to simulate SUP also have the resistance of the cable originating from a point above from where the user is standing. As such, the angle of incidence of the resistance force vector, to the point where the user is standing, does not accurately reflect what is actually occurring in SUP process. This is chiefly because a user places the paddle in the water and performs a backwards sweeping motion. This sweeping motion primarily involves forces parallel to the board. Those above-described devices involve a significant amount of forces perpendicular to the board, i.e., y-component. This generates exercises that do not accurately produce the muscular and cardiovascular benefits generated by SUP. It is also counter-productive to those users who train for sport or competition, as it does not accurately mimic the process of SUP.
Those known exercise devices also fail to simulate the muscular and cardiovascular benefits to the legs, abdomen, and other muscle groups that are involved SUP. As discussed, users actually participating in SUP in open water are required to balance themselves while on the board, also referred to herein as the “balancing effect.” As balancing requires multiple muscle groups in the lower region of the body to continually work to shift weight back and forth, a user is given a more complete and expansive workout. Most, if not all, known exercise devices attempting to incorporate movements similar to SUP do not simulate this balancing effect. Furthermore, these devices do not accomplish this balancing effect safely and efficiently.
Thus, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art systems, designs, and processes as discussed above.
Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.
The invention provides a stand-up paddle boarding exercise assembly that overcomes the previously-described mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and that provides an exercise device mimicking the resistance subjected on user while stand-up paddle boarding in open waters.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a stand-up paddleboard exercise assembly comprising that essentially has a paddle member with a proximal end and a distal end and a support assembly. The support assembly has an upper support surface with a left edge and a right edge, a frame separating the upper support surface from a ground surface, a following arm having a proximal end coupled to the support assembly, a distal end opposite the proximal end, and operable to rotate from a first position where the distal end is closer to the left edge of the upper support surface to a second position where the distal end is closer to the right edge of the upper support surface, with the support assembly further having a resistance-producing assembly physically coupled, through a cable, to the distal end of the paddle member, the cable being slidably coupled to the following arm.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the first and second positions of the following arm placing the distal end of the following arm beyond at least one of the left and right edges of the substantially planar upper support surface.
In accordance with a further feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the first and second positions placing the following arm substantially co-planar with the upper support surface.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the following arm also includes an arm rotation path spanning approximately 90 degrees from each side of an outwardly extending plane defined by the upper support surface.
In accordance with yet another further feature of the present invention, the following arm rotationally pivots with respect to a point substantially collinear with a longitudinal central axis of the upper support surface.
In accordance with a feature of the present invention, the upper support surface or the board-like member is operable to oscillate with respect to the ground surface.
In accordance with an additional feature of the present invention, the spring elements couple the upper support surface to the frame.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the resistance-producing assembly is operable to selectively produce a resistive force on the paddle member when the distal end of the paddle member is moved in a direction away from the resistance-producing assembly.
In accordance with the present invention, a stand-up paddleboard exercise assembly has also been disclosed that includes a paddle member with a proximal end and a distal end and a support assembly with a board-like member coupled to a frame separating the board-like member from a ground surface, the board-like member being operable to have a stable static state and an unstable dynamic state and a left side and a right side. The support assembly also includes a resistance-producing assembly physically coupled, through a cable, to the distal end of the paddle member and a following arm coupled to support assembly, the following arm at least partially guiding the cable from a first position closer to the left side than the right side of the board-like member to a second position that is closer to the right side than the left side of the board-like member.
In accordance with yet another feature of the present invention, the following arm places the cable at an angle of incidence to an upper support surface of the board-like member from approximately zero to twenty-five degrees.
In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention the board-like member includes a substantially planar upper support surface and spring elements coupling the substantially planar upper support surface to the frame.
In accordance with the present invention, a method for simulating stand-up paddle boarding in open water including the steps of providing a stand-up paddle board exercise assembly with a paddle member with a proximal end and a distal end and a support assembly that has (1) an upper support surface and a frame separating the substantially planar upper support surface from a ground surface, the upper support surface with a left side and a right side, (2) a resistance-producing assembly physically coupled, through a cable, to the distal end of the paddle member, and (3) a following arm with a proximal end coupled to the support assembly and a distal end opposite to the proximal end, the following arm being operable to rotate from a first position where the distal end is closer to the left edge of the upper support surface to a second position where the distal end is closer to the right edge of the upper support surface. The method further includes selectively operating the paddle member in a paddling motion substantially adjacent to the left side of the upper support surface, selectively maneuvering the paddle member from the left side of the upper support surface toward the right side of the upper support surface in an uninterrupted motion, and selectively operating the paddle member in a paddling motion substantially adjacent to the right side of the upper support surface.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a stand-up paddleboard exercise assembly, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.
Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting, but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.
Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to elongated direction from the proximal end to the distal end of an object.
The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms
Herein, various embodiments of the present invention are described. In many of the different embodiments, features are similar. Therefore, to avoid redundancy, repetitive description of these similar features may not be made in some circumstances. It shall be understood, however, that description of a first-appearing feature applies to the later described similar feature and each respective description, therefore, is to be incorporated therein without such repetition.
The present invention provides a novel exercising assembly that efficiently and effectively simulates stand-up paddle boarding in open water, or any body of water where a user can stay afloat atop of a board and operate a paddle. Embodiments of the invention provide an exercise assembly that advantageously permits a user to simulate standing on a board-like member and operate a paddle in a paddling motion between both the left and right sides of the board as the user would in the water. Also similar to a user in the water, the present invention permits a user to carry out this operation in an uninterrupted motion. In addition, embodiments of the invention provide a stand-up paddleboard exercise assembly that simulates the balancing motion a user is required to do when staying afloat atop the water.
Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly to
The board-like member 106 has an upper surface 114 that displays characteristics of a board used for stand-up paddle boarding. As such, the term “board-like” is defined as a structure generally having a substantially planar upper surface or having a substantially slender and elongated body. For example, the board-like member 106 of
A paddle member 102 is shown coupled to the following arm 110 with a cable 116. As the exercise assembly 100 simulates SUP, the assembly 100 includes a singular paddle member 102 that is elongated to allow a user to operate and carry out a paddling motion next each side of the board-like member 106. The paddle member 102 has a free end 118 and a distal end 120 where the cable 116 is connected. The distal end 120 of the paddle member 102 is defined as the point on the paddle member 102 where the cable is attached. Although the cable 116 is shown coupled to both the distal end 120 of the paddle member 102 and the following arm 110, the cable 116 may extend, and couple, to other portions of the resistance-producing assembly 112 and/or frame 102. When the assembly 100 is in use, the user stands on top of the board-like member 106 and alternates paddling from the left side of the board to the right side of the board, similar to SUP in open water. The paddle member 102 may be sized for users of different heights, but generally has a handle at the free end 118 and a shaft, separating the free end 118, also referred to as the proximal end, and the distal end 120, where the user places their hand.
Advantageously, the distal end 120 of the paddle member 102 is connected through the cable 116 to the following arm 110 that is operable to rotate in a direction toward and away from both the left and right sides 122, 124 of the board-like member 106. Said in another way, the following arm 110 is also operable to rotate to the left and right edges 126, 128 of the upper surface 114. Left and right are determined in relation to a longitudinal axis line 130, typically the central longitudinal axis line. The following arm 110, which is slidably coupled with the cable 116, permits the user to effectively alternative the propelling motion of paddling on either side of the board-like member 106. In other embodiments of the present invention, the following arm 110 may slide from a position collinear with one or more portions of the right edge 128 to a position collinear with one or more portions of the left edge 126 of the board-like member 106.
With reference now to
In another embodiment, the first and second positions place the following arm 110 substantially co-planar with the upper support surface 114 or board-like member 106.
In other embodiments, the arm rotation path 500 spans approximately 90 degrees from each side of an outwardly extending plane 502 defined by the upper support surface 114. As shown in
Referring briefly back to
In one described embodiment, as the user paddles, the paddle member 102 experiences a resistive force as it moves away from the following arm 110 and the cable 116 is quickly reeled in as the paddle member 102 moves toward the following arm 110. When the user brings the paddle member 102 from, for example, the right side 124 of the board-like member 106 to the left side 122 of the board-like member 106, following arm 110 follows and moves to the left side (i.e. the second position along the arm rotation path 500 (shown in
In another embodiment of the present invention, the flywheel assembly 600 may generate energy from its rotation sufficient power a display 604, such as a video monitor. The monitor can be used to show, for instance, a video of actual paddle boarding, but the invention is, of course, not limited to any specific content displayed on the video monitor. In accordance with one embodiment, the device can be communicatively connected to one or more other similar devices and the monitor can be used to display interactive racing between the devices, which reflect the amount of work being performed on each individual device and measured against the others. Other exemplary uses of power created through the resistance-producing assembly 112 can include powering an audio device, charging electronic devices, such as cellular phones, powering a fan for cooling the user, powering lights, and many others.
In further embodiments, the display 604 may be configured to receive input of the performing athlete's, or user's, weight. The user's weight may be received from one or more sensors coupled with the board-like member 106. The user's weight is then used estimate performance in real-life conditions while SUP. This function, managed through an algorithm, ensures that the unique user specific data output for each display 604, or Ergometer, is specific to the weight of the athlete that is using it. This output data will ensure that the distance covered, speed and other data parameters are relevant to real on-the-water comparative performance measurements.
The On-Board Console, or display 604, can be calibrated to ensure local condition, resistance adjusted, humidity, altitude and local temperature consistency and accuracy of data output and consistency between SUP Ergometers. This function ensures that wherever two or more exercise assemblies, in accordance with the above-described features, are physically located, the correct locally adjusted data will be displayed on the display 604. This local condition data adjustment is imperative when the assembly 100 to assembly 100 racing capability is used.
In one embodiment, the paddle member 102 may be a predefined length, sized for an adult with an average height.
The board-like member 900 is shown in
In one embodiment, the board-like member 900 employs a plurality of spring-type elements 914 coupling the board-like member 900, which includes the upper surface 912, to the frame 108. The spring elements 914 provide a slight amount of instability to the board and simulate actual movement of a surfboard atop a body of water. In other embodiments, the spring elements 914 may be placed in various locations on the frame, and may have various “spring constants,” to control the desired stability/instability of the board-like member 900 or upper surface 912.
Still referring to
In accordance with the above-described exercise assembly, one beneficial feature of the present invention permits the user to effectively and efficiently replicate the paddling process utilized in SUP within a body of water. This may be accomplished by having the following arm 110 placing the cable 116 at an angle of incidence or angle of resistance (represented by the angle theta θ) to an upper support surface 114 of the board-like member 106 that ranges approximately from zero degrees to twenty-five degrees. This may include angle variations of approximately −/+10 degrees. Said another way, the resistance force experienced by the user when replicating the propelling motion, may be parallel to the board-like member 106 (i.e., having a directional force primarily consisting of an x-component) or slightly elevated above the board-like member 106. Opposed to those other known exercise devices that subject a user to resistance forces consisting of substantially equal directional forces in the x and y direction relative to the board-like member 106 when paddling, the present invention allows a user to experience a more true-to-form process of SUP.
This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/US12/59510 filed Oct. 10, 2012, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/545,954, filed Oct. 11, 2011; both applications are relied upon and incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/US2012/059510 | 10/10/2012 | WO | 00 | 10/1/2013 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61545954 | Oct 2011 | US |
