Machine for power exercise of a user

Abstract

A machine for power exercise of a user includes a rocker movable by the user to perform a work routine and a load connected thereto to oppose the user's work. A control system is provided to monitor of the user's work and compare it with at least one reference value that can be set manually or automatically. The machine also includes a regulating system that is operatively connected to the control system and acts on the load to automatically increase it in the event the detected work is greater than the reference work, and to automatically decrease it in the event the detected work is lower than the reference work.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine for power exercise of a user comprising:
 a rocker movable by a user in order to perform muscular work;   a load connected to the rocker to oppose the muscular work of the user;   a detector which detects at predetermined time intervals at least one first value of at least one parameter corresponding to the muscular work made by the user against the load;   at least one logical control unit operatively connected with the detector to compare the at least one first value detected by the detector with at least one second value of at least one parameter corresponding to a reference work which corresponds to an optimal training for the user; and   a regulator operatively connected with the at least one logical control unit and acting on the load for an automatic and continuous increase of the load in case the work detected by the detector is greater than the reference work during an exercise routine,   wherein the regulator is further designed to automatically and continuously reduce the load in case the work detected by the detector is lower than the reference work during an exercise routine, such that the load is continuously adapted to the muscular work of the user; and   wherein the at least one logical control unit further compares, during the exercise routine, the at least one first value detected by the detector with a couple of second values of the at least one parameter corresponding to a maximum and minimum reference training work for the user, the regulator being designed to automatically increase the load in case the work detected by the detector is equal to or higher than the maximum reference work during the exercise routine and to automatically decrease the load in case the work detected by the detector is equal to or lower than the minimum reference work during the exercise routine.   
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one logical control unit is configured to activate the regulator in case the work detected by the detector is different from the reference work. 
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one logical control unit is configured to calculate a first deviation between the work detected by the detector and the reference work, the regulator being configured to calculate based on the first deviation a second deviation to be added or to be subtracted to the load for the increasing or a reduction thereof, the second deviation being positive in case the first deviation is positive and being negative in case the first deviation is negative. 
     
     
         4 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one logical control unit is further designed to compare the at least one first value detected by the detector with at least one third value of at least one parameter corresponding to a work which is dangerous for the user, a blocker being operatively connected with the at least one logical control unit and acting on the rocker or on the load for the automatic blocking thereof in case the detected work is equal to the dangerous work, so as to allow the user to continuously work in a safe manner. 
     
     
         5 . The machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one logical control unit is designed to compare the at least one first value detected by the detector with a couple of third values of the at least one parameter corresponding to maximum and minimum safely practicable work, the blocker being configured to automatically block the rocker or the load in case the work detected by the detector is equal to or greater than the maximum safety work, the blocker being further designed to automatically block the rocker or the load in case the work detected by the detector is equal to or lower than the minimum safety work. 
     
     
         6 . The machine according to  claim 4 , further comprising a unit that electromagnetically stimulates human muscles, the unit comprising at least one inductor positionable in proximity of at least one muscle of the user, at least one power supply being connected to the inductor to generate at least one electromagnetic field and a generator of pulse current emitting current impulses having a predetermined frequency and duration to the inductor to cause an involuntary contraction and decontraction of the human muscle in proximity of which the inductor is placed. 
     
     
         7 . The machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one logical control unit is operatively connected with the electromagnetic stimulation unit to automatically disconnect the at least one power supply if the work detected by the detector coincides with the dangerous work. 
     
     
         8 . The machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the at least one logical control unit is designed to compare the at least one first value detected by the detector exclusively with the at least one third value corresponding to the work which is dangerous and not with the at least one second value corresponding to the reference work. 
     
     
         9 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the load comprises a motor configured to generate a torque opposed to the work of the user to define the load, the rocker and the motor being mutually connected, the detector being operatively connected to the rocker to detect a movement thereof imparted by the user as a result of the work against the load. 
     
     
         10 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the detector is designed to detect a force by which the user moves the rocker. 
     
     
         11 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one second value of at least one parameter corresponding to a reference training work for the user is automatically set by a computer program interacting with the at least one logical control unit by elaborating data obtained from the user performing the reference work. 
     
     
         12 . A method for adjusting a load in a machine for power exercise of a user comprising:
 providing a rocker movable by a user in order to perform a muscular work;   providing a load connected to the rocker to oppose the muscular work of the user;   providing a detector which detects at predetermined time intervals at least one first value of at least one parameter corresponding to the muscular work made by the user against the load;   providing at least one logical control unit operatively connected with the detector to compare the at least one first value detected by the detector with at least one second value of at least one parameter corresponding to a reference work which is training for the user; and   providing a regulator operatively connected with the at least one logical control unit and acting on the load for an automatic increase of the muscular work in case the muscular work detected by the detector is greater than the reference work,   wherein the regulator is further designed to automatically reduce the load in case the muscular work detected by the detector is lower than the reference work;   further comprising the following steps:   detecting at predetermined time intervals the at least one first value of the at least one parameter corresponding to the muscular work exerted by the user against the load;   comparing the at least one first value with the at least one second value of at least one parameter corresponding to the reference work for the user;   calculating a first deviation between the at least one first value and the at least one second value if the at least one first value is different from the at least one second value;   calculating a second deviation based on the first deviation to be added to or to be subtracted from the load of the machine for the increase or a decrease of the load, the second deviation being positive if the first deviation is positive and being negative if the first deviation is negative;   regulating the load based on the second deviation, wherein the step of regulating the load comprises increasing the load if the second deviation is positive during an exercise routine and decreasing the load if the second deviation is negative during the exercise routine, such that the load is continuously adapted to the muscular work of the user;   comparing the at least one first detected value with at least one third value of at least one parameter corresponding to a dangerous work for the user; and   blocking the load or the rocker of the machine if the at least one first detected value is substantially equal to the at least one third value.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of comparing the at least one first value with the at least one third value is carried out before comparing the at least one first value with the at least one second value. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the step of detecting comprises a step of interacting with the detector of the machine, the step of adjusting the load including a step of interacting with the regulator of the machine. 
     
     
         15 . A software product controllable in a memory of at least one logical control unit of a machine for power exercise of a user, the machine comprising:
 a rocker movable by a user in order to perform muscular work;   a load connected to the rocker to oppose the muscular work of the user;   a detector which detects at predetermined time intervals at least one first value of at least one parameter corresponding to the muscular work made by the user against the load;   at least one logical control unit operatively connected with the detector to compare the at least one first value detected by the detector with at least one second value of at least one parameter corresponding to a reference work which is training for the user; and   a regulator operatively connected with the at least one logical control unit and acting on the load for an automatic increase of the load in case the muscular work detected by the detector is greater than the reference work during an exercise routine,   wherein the regulator is further designed to automatically reduce the load in case the muscular work detected by the detector is lower than the reference work during an exercise routine,   the software product comprising portions of software code stored in a computer medium of instruction and written to carry out the following method:   detecting at predetermined time intervals the at least one first value of the at least one parameter corresponding to the muscular work exerted by the user against the load;   comparing the at least one first value with the at least one second value of at least one parameter corresponding to the reference work for the user;   calculating a first deviation between the at least one first value and the at least one second value if the at least one first value is different from the at least one second value during an exercise routine;   calculating a second deviation based on the first deviation to be added to or to be subtracted from the load of the machine for the increase or a decrease of the load, the second deviation being positive if the first deviation is positive and being negative if the first deviation is negative; regulating the load based the second deviation,   wherein the step of regulating the load comprises the increase of the load if the second deviation is positive and the decrease of the load if the second deviation is negative, such that the load is continuously adapted to the muscular work of the user; and   
       wherein the software product is run by the at least one logical control unit of the machine;
 comparing the at least one first detected value with at least one third value of at least one parameter corresponding to a dangerous work for the user; and 
 
       blocking the load or the rocker of the machine if the at least one first detected value is substantially equal to the at least one third value. 
     
     
         16 . The software product according to  claim 15 , further comprising one or more fixed or removable memory supports interacting with the logical control unit. 
     
     
         17 . The software product according to  claim 15 , further comprising one or more integrated circuits belonging to the logical control unit.