Multi-Directional Exercise Platform

Abstract

A multi-directional exercise platform includes a frame, a lateral belt drive assembly, a lateral belt assembly circulation track supported by the frame, and a lateral belt assembly movably secured to the lateral belt assembly circulation track. At least one sensor is configured to obtain direction and velocity data. The lateral belt drive assembly includes a plurality of lateral belt units. The lateral belt drive assembly is configured to cause rotation of the lateral belt assembly around the lateral belt assembly circulation track according to the direction data obtained by the sensor. A processor, memory, and program instructions may be in data communication with the sensor for determining an operator's position and, subsequently, causing movement of the lateral belt drive assembly and lateral belt assembly.

1 . A multi-directional exercise platform, comprising:
 a frame, comprising:
 a plurality of vertical support members; 
 a horizontal support member secured between the vertical support members; and 
 a track stabilizer; 
   a lateral belt drive assembly, comprising:
 at least one motor; 
 a drive roller chain; 
 a drive roller position shaft in communication with the at least one motor; and 
 at least one drive roller unit, each drive roller unit comprising:
 a drive frame; 
 a worm gear assembly; 
 a drive wheel chain drive sprocket; 
 a wheel position bushing; 
 a wheel position drive shaft; 
 a drive position bushing; 
 a drive wheel; 
 a housing for accommodating the drive wheel; and 
 a plurality of gears for operating the drive wheel; 
 wherein the drive roller position shaft is in communication with the worm gear assembly and the wheel position bushing such that operation of the at least one motor causes rotation of the drive roller position shaft which engages the worm gear assembly causing rotation of the wheel position bushing, rotation of the wheel position bushing causing rotation of the housing having the drive wheel; and 
 wherein the drive roller chain is in communication with the drive wheel chain drive sprocket such that operation of the drive roller chain causes the sprocket to rotate, rotation of the sprocket causing the wheel position drive shaft to rotate, rotation of the wheel position drive shaft causing rotation of the drive wheel via the plurality of gears in the housing; 
 
   a lateral belt circulation track secured to the frame via the track stabilizer;   a lateral belt assembly comprising a plurality of lateral belt units, each lateral belt unit comprising:
 a span; 
 belt rollers secured to the lateral ends of the span; 
 a center drive; 
 a belt wound around the span, the belt rollers, and the center drive; 
 a lateral belt link cable clamp; and 
 a track roller for positioning the lateral belt unit onto the track; and 
   at least one sensor for determining direction and velocity of an operator's movement;   wherein the lateral belt drive assembly operates to move the lateral belt assembly around the lateral belt circulation track.   
     
     
         2 . The platform of  claim 1 , further comprising a processor in data communication with the sensors and electronic instructions that, when executed by the processor, performs steps for:
 (a) receiving at least one signal from the sensor;   (b) analyzing the at least one signal to determine the direction of an operator's movement; and   (c) upon identifying the direction of an operator's movement, actuating the motor thereby causing rotation of the drive roller position shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The platform of  claim 2 , wherein the step of actuating the motor causes the drive wheel to rotate from a first position to a second position, wherein the second position is consistent with the direction of the operator's movements. 
     
     
         4 . The platform of  claim 3 , wherein at least one of the first position and the second position of the drive wheel is at an angle less than 90° relative to the lateral belt assembly circulation track. 
     
     
         5 . The platform of  claim 4 , further comprising the steps of:
 (d) analyzing the at least one signal to determine the velocity of the operator's movement; and   (e) upon identifying the velocity of the operator's movement, modifying the speed of the motor to match the velocity of the operator's movement.   
     
     
         6 . The platform of  claim 5 , wherein movement of the operator at an angle relative to the lateral belt assembly circulation track causes movement of:
 1) the lateral belt assembly around the circulation track at a first velocity; and   2) the belt around the belt rollers of the span at a second velocity; and   wherein the first velocity and the second velocity are not equal and are selected to allow the operator to maintain a position in a central area of the platform.   
     
     
         7 . The platform of  claim 6 , wherein the lateral belt assembly circulation track is generally ovular and has grooves for receiving the track roller. 
     
     
         8 . The platform of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of individual lateral belt units are linked together via at least one of a cable, a belt, a chain, and links. 
     
     
         9 . The platform of  claim 8 , further comprising a second motor configured for operation of the drive roller chain. 
     
     
         10 . The platform of  claim 9 , wherein the drive roller chain is wound around the wheel drive sprocket and the wheel drive idler sprocket of each of a plurality of drive roller units. 
     
     
         11 . The platform of  claim 10 , wherein the drive wheel is made of a compressible urethane. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise system, comprising:
 a multidirectional exercise platform, comprising:
 a frame; 
 a lateral belt assembly; 
 a lateral belt circulation track; and 
 a lateral belt drive assembly comprising a plurality of drive wheels; 
 wherein:
 the lateral belt assembly is movably secured to the belt circulation track, the lateral belt circulation track being supported by the frame; and 
 the lateral belt drive assembly is configured to move the lateral belt assembly around the belt circulation track; 
 
   at least one sensor;   a processor in data communication with the at least one sensor; and   electronic instructions that, when executed by the processor, performs steps for:
 (a) receiving data from the at least one sensor; 
 (b) analyzing the data to determine direction and speed of an operator's movement; and 
 (c) upon determining the direction and speed of the operator's movement, actuating a motor configured to alter position of the drive wheels, speed of the motor being selected based on the determined speed of the operator's movement. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the lateral belt assembly comprises a plurality of lateral belt units; each lateral belt unit having a generally rectangular span with a first and second end, a belt roller attached to the first and second ends, a center drive, and a belt; wherein the belt is secured around the belt rollers at the first and second ends and the center drive to allow the belt to travel in either direction along the length of the span when the operator moves in a direction parallel to the lateral belt assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein movement of the operator in a direction perpendicular to the lateral belt assembly causes the lateral belt drive assembly to move the lateral belt assembly around the belt circulation track. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein movement of the operator at an angle relative to the lateral belt assembly causes concurrent movement of the lateral belt assembly around the belt circulation track via the lateral belt drive assembly and the belt along the length of the span via the belt rollers. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the movement of the lateral belt assembly occurs at a first velocity and the movement of the belt along the length of the platform occurs at a second velocity, wherein the first velocity and the second velocity are independent of one another and are configured to maintain the operator at a position near a center of the exercise platform. 
     
     
         17 . A multi-directional exercise platform, comprising:
 a frame;   a lateral belt drive assembly;   a lateral belt assembly circulation track;   a lateral belt assembly; and   at least one sensor configured to obtain direction and velocity data;   wherein:
 the frame supports the lateral belt assembly circulation track; 
 the lateral belt assembly is movably secured to the lateral belt assembly circulation track; and 
 the lateral belt drive assembly is configured to cause rotation of the lateral belt assembly around the lateral belt assembly circulation track. 
   
     
     
         18 . The platform of  claim 17 , wherein the lateral belt drive assembly comprises a plurality of lateral belt drive units, each drive unit comprising a span with a first and second end, each end having a belt roller attached thereto; wherein a belt is wound around the span and the belt rollers such that movement in a transverse direction on the span causes the belt to rotate around the span via the belt rollers. 
     
     
         19 . The platform of  claim 18 , wherein the lateral belt drive assembly comprises a motor in communication with a plurality of drive roller units; each drive roller unit comprising a drive frame, a drive wheel, and a plurality of gears for operating the drive wheel; wherein the position of the drive wheel relative to the lateral belt drive units is determined based on the direction data.