STRUCTURE AND METHOD FOR THE TRAINING OF A PERSON'S MOTOR SKILLS

Abstract

A structure for the training of motor skills of a person. The structure comprises a plurality of uniquely marked stations and/or equipments to be selectively recognizable and usable by the users and grouped and arranged in succession to each other according to a loop circuit scheme.

Description

The present invention relates to a structure for the training of a person's motor skills, particularly a circuit training structure wholly based on the stimulation and on the training of the motor skills.

These days, the life of most people takes on a sedentary nature, since one is often in a situation where many hours of the day are spent sitting, for example at a desk or in the car, so it becomes fundamental to succeed in dedicating at least a small portion of one's time to physical exercise, it now being proven that the lack of physical exercise may increase the incidence of cardiovascular diseases.

In this respect, it is worth noting that in addition to outdoor activities, which cannot always be carried out due to adverse weather conditions or the distance of one's home from suitable spaces where such activities can be carried out, the habit is very common of becoming a member of a gym where one can go to carry out physical exercise or a specific training program.

Generally, after a first meeting with an instructor, the gym user receives a training sheet indicating the exercises to be carried out on the various days, with an indication of numbers, sequences and repetitions for each type of exercise, with the recommendation to return to the instructor after a few weeks (generally from four to six) for an overall assessment aiming to identify any modifications to be made to the training sheet arranged.

It is apparent how, in the long period of time that passes between one assessment and the next by the instructor, the individual user of the gym is left somewhat alone and especially, how the training program assigned to the user does not consider the user's improving or worsening variations of the fitness state or of the fact that the user misses one or more sessions due to commitments or to not feeling well.

A first possibility of obviating these problems is the one of being followed for the whole duration of the training by an instructor, the so-called personal trainer, which however involves the burden of necessarily agreeing on the date and time of the training with the instructor identified, in addition to having to sustain the hourly cost of the instructor. Moreover, the number of instructors available clearly is not infinite and certainly is far less than the number of members of a gym, which results in the difficulty in finding a free instructor every time one is needed.

A different solution is the one of participating in a group lesson in which an instructor manages several participants while having them carry out a common program. In this case, there are still the problems of having to carry out the training at predetermined hours and days and especially, not being able to carry out any training personalised by type and intensity based on one's specific needs and physical condition, rather having to adapt to a generic common training program arranged by the instructor for all the participants in the training group. So the individual user at most is allowed to vary the intensity of the training with respect to the other participants in the group, however without the possibility of carrying out specific exercises that would only be necessary for him.

In addition to what is said above, it is worth considering the case of users, professional or semi-professional athletes, who although they train every day for the specific sports discipline practised, require strengthening or toning up specific parts of their musculature in which there are deficiencies or problems from the viewpoint of their athletic preparation for the specific sports discipline practised. In this case, the possibility of finding an instructor capable of having such users carry out the specific training work they require is even more problematic.

In consideration of that disclosed above, it is apparent how these days the need is highly felt to allow various users of a gym to stimulate and train the motor skills of each of them in a differentiated manner based on the specific needs dictated by the fitness and the goals to be pursued, in a guided and controlled manner for each specific training session carried out. The program intended for each user also is to consider, and accordingly be varied and reviewed, as a function of the specific individual training performance achieved by the user during the last training session(s).

In consideration of the fact that often gyms are attended early in the morning or in the evening, that is to say before or after the normal work day, there is also the need for each user to be able to train according to the specific training program specifically arranged for him, while observing the sequence of the exercises, particularly with regards to observing the work times and recovery times provided by the training sheet.

In this respect, it is apparent how the observance of the training program may be difficult to implement not due to the will of the user but for the fact that, due to the crowding of the gym, the areas where one is to train or the machines/equipments to be used for a specific exercise are occupied by others at that time, which may result in having to modify the training program followed in terms of wait timing and/or in the sequence in which the exercises are carried out.

So in consideration of the fact that the resources in terms of spaces and equipments of a gym cannot be considered infinite, no matter how well-equipped and structured it is, a further, highly-felt need is the one of being able to allow each user to train while observing the exercise times and sequences without being in the condition of having to wait for and/or momentarily interrupt or worse, upset, the training.

The need therefore is the one of ensuring each user a so-called “free line” for the whole time provided for the training, that is to say, ensuring each user finds the specific gym area, equipment and/or machine free at the right moment.

Among other things, this allows the user to carry out his effective training program within the time provided—generally one hour—thus minimizing the time within one's day to dedicate to the gym.

According to a further aspect, it is worth noting that the resources of each gym, intended as space available and also equipments and machines installed, are not infinite and that the need of the gym manager is the one of succeeding to fill the gym to the greatest extent possible, obviously without it bothering or providing disservices for the users of the gym itself.

One need to be met is the one of creating a structure for the training of the motor skills of people which, although it is filled in terms of number of users in the training step, may ensure each user is able to train according to a specific personalised training program, therefore in observance of training methods and times studied for and aimed at the specific person and the objectives that such person wants to achieve.

The prior document US 2015/066170 discloses a structure for allowing the training of people in a gym with a circuit so that such person can train in a separate environment from the other people. However, as is apparent from the prior document, in particular from FIG. 16, each user is obligated to follow the training path between the entrance and the exit in a sequential manner and especially without any possibility of passing from a first station to a second non-contiguous station without necessarily having to transit through all the intermediate stations comprised between said first station and second station. In other words, the structure taught by US 2015/066170 provides for each person to be required to transit in sequence through all the training stations, without being able to carry out selective accesses according to a different order. Obviously, this is a limit to the possibility of ensuring differentiated and independent training for the individual users.

The problem at the basis of the present invention is the one of devising a structure for the training of a person's motor skills that has structural and functional characteristics such as to meet the aforesaid needs without encountering the drawbacks referred to.

According to a further aspect, the problem at the basis of the present invention is the one of devising a method for the training of a person's motor skills capable of meeting the aforesaid needs without encountering the drawbacks referred to.

In particular, the technical problem at the basis of the present invention is the one of succeeding to fill the capacities of a structure for the training of a person's motor skills while allowing the differentiated simultaneous training of various persons to be performed while ensuring each person has available a so-called “free line”, that is to say by allowing each person to find the machine or equipment free at the necessary time and for the time required according to the provisions of the specific training sheet arranged for that specific person.

Such problem is solved by a structure for the training of a person's motor skills according to claim 1.

According to a further aspect, such problem is solved by the method for the training of a person's motor skills according to claim 15.

Further characteristics and advantages of the structure and of the method for the training of a person's motor skills according to the present invention will appear from the following description of certain preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of the layout of the structure for the training of a person's motor skills according to the invention;

FIGS. 2 to 5 depict four respective plan views of the layout of FIG. 1, each figure only replicating the components of the layout of the structure for the training of a person's motor skills relative to a specific activity to be carried out;

FIG. 6 depicts a view of the layout of FIG. 1 with the different areas A, B, C and D depicted with different dotted lines;

FIG. 7 depicts a plan view of the layout of the structure for the training of a person's motor skills according to the invention according to an embodiment thereof particularly suited for small environments;

FIG. 8 depicts a plan view of the layout of FIG. 7 with the different areas A, B, C and D depicted with different dotted lines;

FIG. 9 depicts a plan view of the layout of FIG. 7 accommodated within the volume of a tennis court, five-a-side football field and the like, and

FIGS. 10 and 11 depict two perspective views of respective details of the layout of FIG. 7 or 9, accommodated in a tensile structure.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, a structure according to the invention for the training of a person's motor skills is indicated as a whole with 1.

In particular, the structure 1 according to the invention comprises a plurality of stations and/or equipments to allow several users to train simultaneously.

In particular, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6, the layout of the structure 1 is divided into areas A, B, C, D so as to provide for:

• • a first area A with a plurality of stations and/or equipments A₁ . . . A_n to allow multiple users to simultaneously carry out general warm up, cool down and joint mobility activities;
  • a second area B with a plurality of stations and/or equipments B₁ . . . B_n to allow multiple users to simultaneously develop/train the coordination skills such as balance, rhythm and/or ability to react;
  • a third area C with a plurality of stations and/or equipments C₁ . . . C_n to allow multiple users to simultaneously train the conditional skills, such as strength, resistance and/or speed, and
  • a fourth area D with a plurality of stations and/or equipments D₁ . . . D_n to allow multiple users to carry out muscle stretching activities.

The aforesaid stations and/or equipments of each area A, B, C, D are grouped and separate from the stations and/or equipments of the other areas A, B, C, D.

The aforesaid stations and/or equipments of each area A, B, C, D are uniquely identified and marked to be selectively recognizable and usable by the users.

In the layout of the structure 1, the aforesaid areas A, B, C, D are arranged in succession to each other to realize together a circuit that a user can walk through passing, in this order, from the first area A, to the second area B, to the third area C and lastly to the fourth area D to allow an appropriate user flow in the structure, thus avoiding that such users may interfere with one another during the respective training session.

Preferably, the first area A, the second area B, the third area C and the fourth area D define a loop circuit, in the example illustrated a loop circuit with oval shape, in which the first area A and the fourth area D are distal to each other and substantially separated from each other by the interposition of the second area B and of the third area C.

According to the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 6, said first area A, second area B, third area C and fourth area D are arranged in succession, in the sequential order indicated in clockwise direction along said loop circuit, it also being capable of being provided in an anti-clockwise direction.

According to the embodiment illustrated (cfr FIGS. 1 and 6), the aforesaid structure 1 has a substantially rectangular shape in which the long sides of the rectangle have a length substantially equal to twice the short sides of the rectangle.

According to a preferred embodiment, the first area A, the second area B, the third area C and the fourth area D substantially are inscribed, within an oval A₁. Preferably, the oval A₁ is an oval with two lanes, each lane having a width of at least 90-100 cm, which surrounds said areas A, B, C, D.

The oval A₁ advantageously may be used for running and/or for general warm up, cool down and joint mobility activities in addition to the stations and/or equipments A₂ . . . A_n of the first area A.

Preferably, the aforesaid stations and/or equipments A₂ . . . A_n of the first area A comprise:

• • running tracks A₁
  • bikes with adjustable resistance A₂;
  • elliptical stationary bicycles with adjustable resistance and/or
  • stations A₃ (jump and mobility areas) intended for rope skipping and/or joint mobility with or without the use of small tools such as sticks and rubber bands.

Preferably, the aforesaid stations and/or equipments B₁ . . . B_n of the second area B comprise:

• • balance beams B₁,
  • fixed large steps B₂, stations for static balance;
  • stations B₃ equipped with proprioceptive platforms, bosu balls, mini-springboards or suspended balls, and/or
  • stations B₄ for the training of the reactive abilities.

Preferably, the aforesaid stations and/or equipments C₁ . . . C_n of the third area C comprise one or more of the following elements:

• • multifunctional tracks area C₁ provided with straights having a length between 14 and 19 m, preferably with three or four lanes with a width of approximately 1 m;
  • pull up area C₂ with a large suspended metallic structure, preferably about 230 cm from the ground and preferably having quadrangular, preferably of 50×50 cm, and/or rectangular, preferably of 100×50 cm, frames;
  • condition bands area C₃ for exercises with elastic bands;
  • body-weight area C₄ where weighted barbells, kettlebells (round weights with handles), horizontal benches, sandbags, dumbbells, bosu balls, ballast balls are available;
  • incremental steps (infrastructure with variable-height steps), preferably comprising series of 20 cm steps and series of 40 cm large steps;
  • jump boxes area C₆;
  • treadmill area C₇ for resistance training;
  • kranking area C₈ for training the resistance, strength and speed of the upper limbs;
  • med ball area C₉ to perform ballast ball throwing exercises;
  • cubes area C₁₀;
  • punching bags C₁₁;
  • half parallel bars C₁₂;
  • pole and rope area C₁₃;
  • TRX® (suspension training area) area C₁₄ with a ring station.

The stations and/or equipments D₁ . . . D_n of the fourth area D comprise a cool-down area and/or may comprise elastic springboards. Preferably, within the layout of the structure 1, the aforesaid multifunctional tracks area C₁ with straights substantially is positioned in the centre of the aforesaid oval A₁ so as to extend longitudinally along the central diagonal of the oval A₁ itself.

Preferably, the aforesaid third area C occupies from 30 to 60% of the area of the structure 1, more preferably from 35 to 50% of the area of the structure 1.

Preferably, the aforesaid stations and/or equipments D₁ . . . D_n of the fourth area D comprise one or more of the following elements:

• • elastic springboards D₁;
  • stations D₂ where stretching exercises can be performed, preferably equipped with Pancafit®, mattresses, headboards and/or fit balls.

In addition to what is described above, the structure 1 according to the invention for the training of a person's motor skills preferably comprises:

• • a central control unit (not illustrated) provided with processing means, memories, remote data exchange means for transmission and reception;
  • local electronic control means (not illustrated) integrated in one or more of said stations and/or equipments of said first area A, of said second area B, of said third area C and/or of said fourth area D, said local electronic control means being in data communication with said central control unit to receive and transmit data in relation to the free/occupied state or to the type of operation/training in progress/carried out;
  • remote presence locator means (not illustrated) connected to said central control unit and distributed in said structure to be associated with one or more of said stations and/or equipments of said first area A, of said second area B, of said third area C and/or of said fourth area D;
  • unique identification electronic means (not illustrated), intended to be worn by each user to be remotely uniquely identified by said central control unit, comprising:
    • means for detecting the user's physiological parameters, preferably the heartbeat;
    • means for storing the user's parameters detected during training;
    • means for remote data exchange, in transmission and reception, with said central control unit;
    • means for remotely activating said presence locator means placed in the vicinity;
    • means for displaying or providing the user with information transmitted by said central control unit during training, preferably in the form of lights, sounds, writings and/or vibrations. Preferably, the structure 1 according to the invention also comprises one or more portable electronic devices (not illustrated) capable of receiving data from said central control unit about the data and the programs of the training sessions of one or more users that are in progress in the structure.

According to a preferred embodiment, the aforesaid unique identification electronic means and/or said one or more portable electronic devices may comprise a smartphone or other substantially equivalent electronic equipment, such as for example a tablet.

In particular, each smartphone, or functionally equivalent equipment, is capable of interfacing, by means of specific application, with the aforesaid central control unit to receive a specific training program, thus not only providing the user with the start time of the training, but also the specific stations or equipments to occupy and use in sequence for the specific training program provided for that user, and also providing the exercises to be carried out with the timing of the work and rest times for each station reached.

Advantageously, the aforesaid smartphone belongs to the individual user so that in addition to storing the data of the training sessions carried out and providing information on the training program followed, the smartphone may be used before going to the gym to check the actual availability of a “free line” for a predetermined time, or within a predetermined time window proposed by the central unit, for example of fifteen or thirty minutes, starting from an initial time set by the user.

With specific reference to FIGS. 7 to 11, a structure according to the invention for the training of a person's motor skills according to a variant thereof is indicated as a whole with 1. The parts of the structure 1 of FIGS. 7 to 11 that are structurally and/or functionally equivalent to the parts of the structure 1 described further above are marked with the same reference numbers and are not further described below.

With reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 11, it is worth noting how the structure was specifically studied to be installed in small areas, for example smaller than 900 m², preferably for areas not having a surface greater than 700 m² such as a tennis court or five-a-side football field.

In particular, FIG. 9 illustrates the implementation of the layout of FIG. 7 in an area of 18×36 metres, corresponding approximately to the volume of a tennis court.

Also the layout of the structure 1 according to the embodiment of FIGS. 7a to 11 is divided into areas A, B, C, D which, according to what is described above, provide:

• • a first area A with a plurality of stations and/or equipments A₁ . . . A_n to allow multiple users to simultaneously carry out general warm up, cool down and joint mobility activities;
  • a second area B with a plurality of stations and/or equipments B₁ . . . B_n to allow multiple users to simultaneously develop/train the coordination skills such as balance, rhythm and/or ability to react;
  • a third area C with a plurality of stations and/or equipments C₁ . . . C_n to allow multiple users to simultaneously train the conditional skills, such as strength, resistance and/or speed, and
  • a fourth area D with a plurality of stations and/or equipments D₁ . . . D_n to allow multiple users to carry out muscle stretching activities and the like.

With the exception of what is described below in relation to the specific stations, the considerations already made with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 are valid for the aforesaid areas A, B, C, D and for the relative stations.

The stations and/or equipments A₁ . . . A_n of the first area A comprise:

• • running track area A₁;
  • bikes area A₂;
  • jump & mobility area A₃.

The stations and/or equipments B₁ . . . B_n of the second area B comprise:

• • balance beam area B₁;
  • static balance area B₂;
  • rhythm & balance area B₃, and
  • reactive training area B₄.The stations and/or equipments C₁ . . . C_n of the third area C comprise:
  • multifunctional tracks area C₁;
  • pull-up area C₂;
  • condition bands area C₃;
  • jump box area C₄;
  • incremental steps area C₅;
  • performance training area C₆;
  • kranking area C₇;
  • slam balls area C₈;
  • punching bags area C₉;
  • free body area C₁₀;
  • cubes area C₁₁;
  • half parallel bars area C₁₂;
  • pole & rope area C₁₃;
  • rings area C₁₄, and
  • suspension training area C₁₅.The stations and/or equipments D₁ . . . D_n of the fourth area D comprise a cool-down area and/or elastic springboards or stations where stretching exercises can be performed, preferably equipped with Pancafit®, mattresses, headboards and/or fit balls.

When the layout of the structure 1 according to the invention is made so as not to have a plan volume greater than 700 m², this allows it to be implemented within existing structures such as a tennis court or five-a-side football field, thus taking advantage of the possibility of creating an gym equipped for the training of a person's motor skills by taking advantage of existing tensile structure, for example one of the so-called “balloons” inside of which there is a tennis court or five-a-side football field, thus allowing a limited area intended for tennis or five-a-side to be reconverted into an area for the training of a person's motor skills.

In particular, it is worth noting how FIGS. 10 and 11 show perspective views of two details of the layout of the structure for the training of the motor skills of FIG. 6 in a tensile structure.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the method for the training of a person's motor skills comprises the steps of:

• • arranging the structure 1 for the training of the motor skills according to what is described above;
  • arranging in said central control unit a library with timing and methods of exercises that can be performed in each of said stations and/or equipments of said first area A, of said second area B, of said third area C and/or of said fourth area D;
  • arranging in said central control unit a library of programs for the stimulation and/or the training of the motor skills of people having different characteristics, age and/or fitness state;
  • arranging in said central control unit a library with the physical characteristics indicative of the fitness state of each user of the gym structure, said library containing, for each user, the objectives to be achieved with training and the historical data of the training sessions already carried out and the age and/or physical characteristics of each user;
  • arranging for each user a specific personalised training program with type of exercises to perform, sequence of exercises, exercise times and recovery time between exercises of the same series and between different series;
  • providing each user prior to the training session with one of said unique identification electronic means;
  • identifying each user in the process of starting a training session;
  • planning the training session of each user in the process of starting a training session at said structure as a function of the specific personalised training program to be executed and of the training programs already planned and in progress for other users at the different stations and/or equipments of each area A, B, C, D of the structure and
  • by means of said unique identification electronic means providing each user during training in said structure and for the entire duration of the training session with information planned by said central control unit with regard to the specific station and/or equipment of each area A, B, C, D to be occupied/used, with information about the exercises to be performed, the manner and the timing, so as to ensure that each user carries out the personalised training program based on his own needs finding the free availability for the time required during training of the specific stations and/or equipments of said area A, B, C, D of the structure required to carry out his own training program.

Preferably, the method according to the invention comprises the step of collecting information regarding the physiological parameters of each user of the structure during training through said unique identification electronic means.

Preferably, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of:

• • acquiring in said central control unit said information regarding the physiological parameters of each user acquired during the specific training program carried out or at the end of the training and
  • reprocessing the specific personalised training program of each user of the structure also based on said information regarding the physiological parameters of the user acquired during the last training session.

Preferably, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of:

• • acquiring in said central control unit said information regarding the physiological parameters of each user acquired during the specific training program carried out and
  • reprocessing in said central control unit the part of the planned personalised training program in progress still to be carried out by each user also based on said information regarding the physiological parameters of the user acquired during the training session in progress.

Preferably, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of:

• • detecting by means of said presence locator means information regarding the state of use/occupation of said stations and/or equipments of each area A, B, C, D of the structure by the users and
  • transferring and reprocessing in said central control unit the information detected by means of said locator means and regarding the state of use/occupation of said stations and/or equipments of each area A, B, C, D, so as to have in said central control unit an instant knowledge of the state of occupation/use of each area A, B, C, D of the structure by the users.

Preferably, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of:

• • questioning each user in the process of starting a training session about the time available for training in the session about to begin,
  • based on the available time communicated by the specific user, planning the training session of said user in the process of starting and
  • by means of said unique identification electronic means, providing, from said central control unit, said user in the process of starting a training session with information regarding the specific station and/or equipment of each area A, B, C, D to be occupied/used with information about the exercises to be performed, the manner and the timing for carrying out the exercise.

Preferably, the method according to the invention comprises the steps of:

• • arranging one or more portable electronic devices (not illustrated) capable of receiving data from said central control unit about the data and the programs of the training sessions of one or more users that are in progress in the structure and
  • sending in real time to said one or more control electronic devices the data and the programs of the training sessions of one or more users that are in progress in the structure.

The structure and the method described above allow a training system with a circuit entirely based on the stimulation and the training of the motor skills.

In particular, the structure according to the invention is an innovative and technologically integrated environment capable of optimizing the execution times and simultaneously ensuring multiple users training with a personalised circuit, without overlapping.

Each user of the structure 1 is therefore allowed to carry out each individual training session in a manner completely consistent with one's goal and therefore, as a function of one's specific training program, by carrying out the exercises in the sequence and according to the timing required by the individual program, always using the most appropriate equipment, of which the availability is ensured in the timing provided by the training plan regardless of the number of users present in the structure 1, obviously in observance of the maximum number of presences acceptable for the specific structure.

The maximum number of users is determined precisely so as to ensure the complete availability of the equipments and by the unique exercise program assigned to each user with reference to the resources available in the structure 1 and due to one or more of the following aspects:

• • the layout of the structure 1 is based on a circuit logic, so as to allow the appropriate user flow and the appropriate sequence in carrying out the whole training program, from leaving the changing room to returning to it;
  • all the stations and/or equipments are clearly marked and positioned in the gym with great attention paid to complete consistency with the training flow;
  • the library of exercises is conceived to allow each user to carry out his ideal training consistently with his level of physical preparation for the whole circuit and in a predetermined time;
  • the individual and autonomous electronic tools connected to the central control unit, distributed both to the users of the structure and in the crucial points of the training circuit, and/or
  • the central control unit comprises the central information system which arranges the training programs, monitors their execution and makes available to users and instructors of the structure information for assessing both immediately and later the execution quality of the training session.

The aforesaid second area B accommodates the equipments necessary for stimulating the coordination skills of the balance, in all its forms, and of the ability to react. Within the structure it is possible to specifically stimulate also the coordination capacity of the rhythm, through the use of the horizontal ladder, weighted ropes or more simply through free body exercises.

As described above, each individual station and/or equipment is uniquely identified and positioned in a location that is consistent with the training flow. Moreover, each different station and/or equipment is uniquely identified should the structure have couples of the same station and/or equipment. The unique identification allows each user to know his specific station and/or equipment made available to him to carry out the exercise, for example according to what is communicated to him by the central control unit through the aforesaid unique identification electronic means with which each user is provided during training.

The equipments with electronic control operation is integrated, that is to say it exchanges information, with the central control unit of the structure so that it is activated and deactivated when provided by the exercise program of the individual user. Moreover, at the end of the exercise, the analysis data of the execution manners are transmitted wirelessly to the central control unit to be analysed and, possibly, also to the portable electronic devices of the instructors.

The exercises present in the library of the central control unit, and more in general the different training methods, were designed and studied and optimized consistently with the stations and/or equipments available in the various areas of the structure 1.

With regards to the electronic tools with which the structure is equipped, the individual users are provided with the aforesaid unique identification electronic means, which from a practical viewpoint materialise in a device equipped with memory, detectors and local intelligence and with communication ability with other devices, and they may take on the shape of a smartwatch (mobile wrist device) or a smart band.

The unique identification electronic means allow achieving the results so that each user may appropriately take advantage of the structure according to the invention in “free line” manner, that is to say always finding the station and/or equipment free at the right time for the time necessary for the individual user.

The aforesaid unique identification electronic means therefore allow:

• • checking the access credentials to the structure;
  • displaying the exercise program of the session for the specific user;
  • communicating the execution and rest times of each exercise, both in vibration and in countdown or other visual and/or acoustic manner;
  • detecting the heart rate of the user and periodically transmitting it to the central control unit for appropriate analysis and identification of crisis situations experienced by the specific user during the training session, and
  • by means of communications with tablets located in the gym, requesting the central control unit to provide data and visual content relative to the execution manners of the exercise in progress.

The instructors may be provided with the aforesaid portable electronic devices, for example tablets or other similar dedicated elements, through which they can monitor, in real time, all the training sessions in progress in each of the areas in the gym and the circuit components based also on their physical succession.

The aforesaid portable electronic devices allow:

• • viewing, in real time, the state of occupation of each station and/or equipment and identifying all anomalies within the course of the individual programs;
  • receiving immediate communication for each heart rate value of the users during training in progress that is below or above a predetermined warning threshold, thus allowing the instructor to intervene when there is an anomalous situation.

The aim of the central control unit and the relative information system of the structure is to manage, in a completely integrated manner, all the processes of the structure, for example the following macro-processes of the structure:

• • periodic profiling of the users;
  • periodic performance tests of the users;
  • monitoring of the expected state of filling/congestion of the structure and possible critical elements;
  • checking the access credentials to the structure;
  • generating training programs in guaranteed “free line” manner;
  • remotely checking the equipments with digital control;
  • providing, on request, formative content on the exercises to be carried out;
  • acquiring and analysing data of the session and redistributing summary data to instructors and/or users with possible warnings for exceeding predetermined thresholds;
  • exercise library and training plans;
  • remotely checking the equipments with digital control;
  • communications with the unique identification electronic means of each user, and
  • distributing, on request, formative content.

As can be noted from that described, the structure and the method for the training of the motor skills according to the present invention allow meeting the aforesaid needs and at the same time obviating the drawbacks referred to in the introductory section of the present description with reference to the known technique, thus ensuring multiple users to be able to train in the structure in a personalized manner as a function of the respective requirements and needs and in observance of the time that the individual user may dedicate to training in a specific day.

A further advantage of the structure and of the method for the training of the motor skills according to the present invention is the possibility for each user to always find the station and/or the equipment he needs free, at the right time and for the time required, that is to say the so-called “free line” within the structure, without each user interfering with other users in the structure.

In particular, the structure for the training of a person's motor skills allows performing the differentiated simultaneous training of various persons while ensuring each person a respective “free line”, that is to say allowing each person to find the machine or equipment free at the necessary time and for the time required according to the provisions of the specific training sheet arranged for that person.

Obviously, in order to meet contingent and specific needs, those skilled in the art may make several modifications and variants to the structure and the method for the training of the motor skills according to the present invention described above, all however contained within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A structure for the training of motor skills of a person, the structure comprising a plurality of stations and/or equipments to allow several users to train simultaneously, wherein the layout of said structure is divided into areas so as to provide for:a first area with a plurality of stations and/or equipments to allow multiple users to simultaneously carry out general warm up, cool down and joint mobility activities;a second area with a plurality of stations and/or equipments to allow multiple users to simultaneously develop/train coordination skills such as balance, rhythm and/or ability to react;a third area with a plurality of stations and/or equipments to allow multiple users to simultaneously train conditional skills, such as strength, resistance and/or speed anda fourth area with a plurality of stations and/or equipments to allow multiple users to carry out muscle stretching activities,said stations and/or equipments of each area are grouped and separate from the stations and/or equipments of the other areas;said stations and/or equipments of each area are uniquely identified and marked to be selectively recognizable and usable by the users;in a layout of said structure, said areas are arranged in succession to each other to realize together a circuit that a user can walk through passing, in this order, from said first area, to said second area, to said third area and lastly to said fourth area to allow an appropriate user flow.

2. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said first area, said second area, said third area and said fourth area define a loop circuit, and said first area and said fourth area are distal to each other and substantially separated from each other by interposition of said second area and of said third area.

3. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the layout of said structure has a substantially rectangular shape wherein, long sides of the rectangle have a length substantially equal to twice a length, of short sides of the rectangle.

4. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said first area, said second area, said third area and said fourth area are inscribed within an oval, preferably with two lanes each having a width of at least 35.43 inches (90 cm), that surrounds said areas, and said oval intended to be used for running and/or for general warm up, cool down and joint mobility activities in addition to the stations and/or equipments of said first area.

5. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said stations and/or equipments of said first area comprise bikes with adjustable resistance, elliptical stationary bicycles with adjustable resistance and/or stations intended for rope skipping and joint mobility with or without the use of small tools such as sticks and rubber bands.

6. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said stations and/or equipments of said second area comprise: balance beams, stations for static balance training “Balance free style”, stations equipped with proprioceptive platforms, bosu balls, mini-springboards or suspended balls, and/or stations for the training of the reactive abilities.

7. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said stations and/or equipments of said third area comprise one or more of the following elements: multifunctional tracks area provided with straights having a length between 14 m and 19 m, preferably with three or four lanes with a width of approximately 1 m;pull up area with a large suspended metallic structure, preferably about 90.55 inches (230 cm) from the ground, having quadrangular, preferably of 19.69×19.69 inches (50×50 cm), and/or rectangular, preferably of 39.7×19.69 inches (100×50 cm), frames;condition bands area for exercises with elastic bands;body-weight area where weighted barbells, kettlebells, sandbags, dumbbells, bosu balls, ballast balls are available;incremental steps, preferably comprising series of 7.87 inches (20 cm) steps and series of 15.75 inches (40 cm) large steps;jump boxes area;treadmill area for resistance training;kranking area for training the strength, resistance and speed of the upper limbs;med ball area to perform ballast ball throwing exercises;cubes area;punching bags;half parallel bars;pole and rope area;suspension training area with a ring station.

8. The structure according to the claim 4, wherein said multifunctional tracks area with straights is placed substantially at the center of said oval extending longitudinally along the central diagonal of said oval.

9. The structure according to claim 1, wherein said stations and/or equipments of said fourth area comprise one or more of the following elements: elastic springboards;stations where stretching exercises can be performed, preferably equipped with Pancafit®, mattresses, headboards and/or fit balls.

10. The structure according to claim 1, comprising: a central control unit provided with processing means, memories, remote data exchange means for transmission and reception;local electronic control means integrated in one or more of said stations and/or equipments of said first area, of said second area, of said third area and/or of said fourth area, said local electronic control means being in data communication with said central control unit to receive and transmit data in relation to the state (free/occupied) or to the type of operation/training in progress/carried out;remote presence locator means connected to said central control unit and distributed in said structure to be associated with one or more of said stations and/or equipments of said first area, of said second area, of said third area and/or of said fourth area;unique identification electronic means, intended to be worn by each user to be remotely uniquely identified by said central control unit, comprising: means for detecting the user's physiological parameters, preferably the heartbeat;means for storing the user's parameters detected during training;means for remote data exchange, in transmission and reception, with said central control unit;means for remotely activating said presence locator means placed in the vicinity;means for displaying or providing the user with information transmitted by said central control unit during training, preferably in the form of lights, sounds, writings and/or vibrations.

11. The structure according to claim 10, comprising one or more portable electronic devices capable of receiving data from said central control unit about the data and the programs of the training sessions of one or more users that are in progress in the structure.

12. The structure according to claim 1, wherein each one of said area and each one of said stations and/or equipments are selectively usable by a user, in an independent and not necessarily sequential manner.

13. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the layout of said structure covers an area smaller than 700 m2, preferably an area of about 18×36 meters, of a tennis court or five-a-side football field.

14. The structure according to claim 1, wherein the layout of said structure is positioned in a tensile structure.

15. A method for training of motor skills of a person, the method comprising the steps of: arranging a structure for the training of a person's motor skills according to claim 1;arranging in said central control unit a library with timing and methods of exercises that can be performed in each of said stations and/or equipments of said first area, of said second area, of said third area and/or of said fourth area,arranging in said central control unit a library of programs for the stimulation and/or the training of the motor skills of people having different characteristics, age and/or fitness state;arranging in said central control unit a library with the physical characteristics indicative of the fitness state of each user of the gym structure, said library containing, for each user, the objectives to be achieved with training and the historical data of the training sessions already carried out and the age and/or physical characteristics of each user;arranging for each user a specific personalized training program with type of exercises to perform, sequence of exercises, exercise times and recovery time between exercises of the same series and between different series;providing each user, prior to the training session, with one of said unique identification electronic means;identifying each user in the process of starting a training session;planning the training session of each user in the process of starting a training session at said structure as a function of the specific personalised training program to be executed and of the training programs already planned and in progress for other users at the different stations and/or equipments of each area of the structure, andby means of said unique identification electronic means providing each user during training in said structure and for the entire duration of the training session with information planned by said central control unit with regard to the specific station and/or equipment of each area to be occupied/used, with information about the exercises to be performed, a manner and a timing, so as to ensure that each user carries out the personalized training program based on their own needs finding the free availability for a time required during training of the specific stations and/or equipments of said area of the structure required to carry out their own training program.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising the step of collecting information regarding the physiological parameters of each user of the structure during training through said unique identification electronic means.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising the steps of: acquiring in said central control unit said information regarding the physiological parameters of each user acquired during the specific training program carried out or at the end of the training, andreprocessing the specific personalized training program of each user also based on said information regarding the physiological parameters of the user acquired during the last training session.

18. The method according to claim 15, comprising the steps of: acquiring in said central control unit said information regarding the physiological parameters of each user acquired during the specific training program carried out, andreprocessing in said central control unit a part of the planned personalised training program in progress still to be performed by each user also based on said information regarding the physiological parameters of the user acquired during the training session in progress.

19. The method according to claim 15, comprising the steps of: detecting by means of said presence locator means information regarding the state of use/occupation of said stations and/or equipments of each area of the structure by the users, andtransferring and reprocessing in said central control unit the information detected by means of said locator means and regarding the state of use/occupation of said stations and/or equipments of each area, so as to have in said central control unit an instant knowledge of the state of occupation/use of each area of the structure by the users.

20. The method according to claim 15, comprising the steps of: questioning each user in a process of starting a training session about a time available for training in the session about to begin,based on the available time of the specific user, planning the training session of said user in the process of starting, andby means of said unique identification electronic means, from said central control unit providing said user in the progress of starting a training session with information regarding the specific station and/or equipment of each area to be occupied/used with information about the exercises to be performed, the manner and the timing.

21. The method according to claim 15, comprising the steps of: arranging one or more portable electronic devices capable of receiving data from said central control unit about the data and the programs of the training sessions of one or more users that are in progress in the structure, andsending, in real time to said one or more control electronic devices, the data and the programs of the training sessions of one or more users that are in progress in the structure.

22. The method according to claim 15, comprising the step of assuring each user to access each one of said area and each one of said stations and/or equipments in a selective, independent and not necessarily sequential manner.