Training device for training a body part of a user

Abstract

A training device for training a body part of a user is configured to advantageously limit the resonance movement of the flexible coupling member generated by the vibration of the vibrating device. The training device comprises a vibrating device for generating a vibration and a pretensioning device for generating a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part. The pretensioning device comprises a handling member configured to be held by the user, a reeling means for reeling a flexible coupling member, and a tensioning means for driving the reeling means such that the flexible coupling member is tensioned to allow the vibration generated by the vibrating device to be transferred to the handling member. The tensioning means comprises a fluid resistance means configured to provide a variable resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member but to provide substantially no resistance against the reeling of the flexible coupling member.

1 . A training device for training a body part of a user, comprising;
 a vibrating device for generating a vibration; and   a pretensioning device for generating a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part of the user, wherein the pretensioning device is connected to the vibrating device,   wherein the pretensioning device comprises a flexible coupling member, a handling member configured to be held by the user, a reeling means for reeling the flexible coupling member, the flexible coupling member coupling the handling member to the reeling means, and a tensioning means for driving the reeling means such that in use the flexible coupling member is tensioned for transferring the vibration generated by the vibrating device to the handling member, and   wherein the tensioning means comprises a fluid resistance means configured to provide a variable resistance against an unreeling of the flexible coupling member.   
     
     
         2 . The training device according to  claim 1  wherein the fluid resistance means is further configured to provide substantially no resistance against a reeling of the coupling member. 
     
     
         3 . The training device according to  claim 1  wherein the reeling means comprises a reel which is rotatable around a reel axis, the reel axis comprising a longitudinal axis, and wherein the reeling means is configured to rotate the reel in a reel direction for reeling the coupling member and to rotate the reel in an unreel direction for unreeling the coupling member, and wherein the fluid resistance means is connected to the reel axis via freewheel means configured to freely rotate around the reel axis in the reel direction and to engage the reel axis in the unreel direction. 
     
     
         4 . The training device according to  claim 3  wherein the fluid resistance means comprises a fluid casing forming a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber filled with a damper fluid, and a resistance member disposed inside the fluid chamber, wherein the fluid casing is connected to the reel axis via the freewheel means and the resistance member is not rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the reel axis. 
     
     
         5 . The training device according to  claim 4  wherein the fluid resistance means is configured to adjust the resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member by moving the resistance member inside the fluid chamber substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the reel axis. 
     
     
         6 . The training device according to  claim 5  wherein the pretensioning device comprises an adjusting means for moving and holding the resistance member in at least one specific location along the longitudinal axis of the reel axis. 
     
     
         7 . The training device according  claim 1  wherein the variable resistance against the unreeling of the coupling member is dependent on a speed by which the flexible coupling member is unreeled. 
     
     
         8 . The training device according  claim 3  wherein the reel is configured to hold the flexible coupling member in a spiral-like configuration, the spiral-like configuration disposed in a fictive plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the reel axis. 
     
     
         9 . The training device according to  claim 1  wherein the reeling means comprises a reel which is rotatable around a reel axis and the tensioning means further comprises a spring connected to the reel axis. 
     
     
         10 . A training device for training a body part of a user, comprising;
 a vibrating device for generating a vibration; and   a pretensioning device for generating a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part of the user, wherein the pretensioning device is connected to the vibrating device,   wherein the pretensioning device comprises a flexible coupling member, a handling member configured to be held by the user, a reeling means for reeling the flexible coupling member, the flexible coupling member coupling the handling member to the reeling means, and a tensioning means for driving the reeling means such that in use the flexible coupling member is tensioned for transferring the vibration generated by the vibrating device to the handling member, and   wherein the tensioning means comprises a fluid resistance means configured to provide a variable resistance against an unreeling of the flexible coupling member and to provide substantially no resistance against a reeling of the coupling member.   
     
     
         11 . The training device according to  claim 10  wherein the reeling means comprises a reel which is rotatable around a reel axis, the reel axis comprising a longitudinal axis, and wherein the reeling means is configured to rotate the reel in a reel direction for reeling the coupling member and to rotate the reel in an unreel direction for unreeling the coupling member, and wherein the fluid resistance means is connected to the reel axis via freewheel means configured to freely rotate around the reel axis in the reel direction and to engage the reel axis in the unreel direction. 
     
     
         12 . The training device according to  claim 11  wherein the fluid resistance means comprises a fluid casing forming a fluid chamber, the fluid chamber filled with a damper fluid, and a resistance member disposed inside the fluid chamber, wherein the fluid casing is connected to the reel axis via the freewheel means and the resistance member is not rotatable around the longitudinal axis of the reel axis. 
     
     
         13 . The training device according to  claim 12  wherein the fluid resistance means is configured to adjust the resistance against the unreeling of the flexible coupling member by moving the resistance member inside the fluid chamber substantially in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the reel axis. 
     
     
         14 . The training device according to  claim 13  wherein the pretensioning device comprises an adjusting means for moving and holding the resistance member in at least one specific location along the longitudinal axis of the reel axis. 
     
     
         15 . The training device according  claim 10  wherein the variable resistance against the unreeling of the coupling member is dependent on a speed by which the flexible coupling member is unreeled. 
     
     
         16 . The training device according  claim 11  wherein the reel is configured to hold the flexible coupling member in a spiral-like configuration, the spiral-like configuration disposed in a fictive plane extending substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the reel axis. 
     
     
         17 . The training device according to  claim 10  wherein the reeling means comprises a reel which is rotatable around a reel axis and the tensioning means further comprises a spring connected to the reel axis. 
     
     
         18 . A pretensioning device for use with a training device, comprising:
 a flexible coupling member;   a handling member;   a reeling means for reeling the flexible coupling member, the flexible coupling member coupling the handling member and the reeling means; and   a tensioning means for driving the reeling means,   wherein the tensioning means comprises a fluid resistance means configured to provide a variable resistance against an unreeling of the flexible coupling member and to provide substantially no resistance against a reeling of the coupling member.   
     
     
         19 . The pretensioning device according  claim 18  wherein the training device comprises a vibrating device, and wherein the pretensioning device further comprises a connection means for connecting the pretensioning device to the vibrating device such that a vibration generated by the vibrating device is transferred to the pretensioning device. 
     
     
         20 . A method for training a body part of a user, comprising the steps of:
 providing a training device, the training device comprising: a vibrating device for generating a vibration; a pretensioning device for generating a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part of the user, wherein the pretensioning device is connected to the vibrating device, and wherein the pretensioning device comprises a flexible coupling member, a handling member configured to be held by the user, a reeling means for reeling the flexible coupling member, the flexible coupling member coupling the handling member to the reeling means, and a tensioning means for driving the reeling means such that in use the flexible coupling member is tensioned for transferring the vibration generated by the vibrating device to the handling member, and wherein the tensioning means comprises a fluid resistance means configured to provide a variable resistance against an unreeling of the flexible coupling member and to provide substantially no resistance against a reeling of the coupling member;   unreeling the flexible coupling member with variable resistance to create a pre-tension in a muscle of the body part of the user;   causing the vibrating device to generate the vibration; and   reeling the flexible coupling member with substantially no resistance.