System for muscle development based on eccentric, concentric and isometric contractions of agonistic and antagonistic muscles, reactive to the direction of the force

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor-driven device for concentric, isometric and eccentric muscle development, the triggering direction of which is reactive to the direction of the force of the user. The invention specifically relates to a motor-driven device with two operating directions, with reacts to the force of a user in order to counteract with an adjustable muscle development load in a reversible movement. It consists of a reversible motor-driven support which moves a mobile support ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ) on which a part of the body is supported, and provides a muscle development load; and a stationary support ( 3 )( 33 )( 52 ) on which another part of the body is supported so as to counteract the motor-driven force of the mobile support ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ). A system ( 6 )( 39 )( 58 ) for detecting the direction of the force of the user allows the control of the mechanism such that it can be motor-driven in the reverse direction, or stopped if the force of the user becomes insufficient The device according to the invention particularly targets muscle development based on isometric, concentric and eccentric contractions, that can be adapted to all sports activities. The device according to the invention can take the form of structures allowing vertical, horizontal or rotary types of force, or a combination of said types

1 ) A body-building device, reactive to the direction of an effort, enabling eccentric, concentric and isometric muscles contractions of agonists and antagonists muscles. The device is composed of:
 A motorized mechanism ( 5 ) ( 34 ) ( 53 ) in two opposite directions of operation which provides for each direction a motorized force with adjustable intensity ( 8 ) ( 9 ) to a movable support ( 2 ) ( 30 ) ( 51 ) on which a part of the body of the user is supported and exerts an effort,   A fixed support ( 3 ) ( 33 ) ( 52 ) allowing the user to take a second support to resist in either direction the motorized strength of the mobile support ( 2 ) ( 30 ) ( 51 );   Characterized in that the acquisition by a detection system ( 6 ) ( 39 ) ( 58 ) of the direction of a minimum effort applied by the user on the supports with a preset intensity ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ) and ( 3 )( 33 )( 52 ), starts a reversible motorized mechanism ( 5 )( 34 )( 53 ) that transmits its motive force to the mobile support ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ) in the opposite direction to the detected direction of the user minimum effort and also causes the inversion of the displacement direction when the user reverses the direction of his minimum effort: there is an instant inversion of the direction of the motorized force that occurs on the mobile support ( 2 ) ( 30 ) ( 51 ) and the resulting displacement of the mobile support ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ), which provides during the exercise:   When the intensity of the user's effort is lower than the intensity of the power strength: the direction of the mobile support motorized force ( 2 ) ( 30 ) ( 51 ) remains in the opposite direction to the user's effort and the mobile support displacement ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ) stays in the opposite direction to the user effort,   When the intensity of the user effort is equal to the intensity of the motorized force, the mobile support ( 2 ) ( 30 ) ( 51 ) is stabilized and comes to a standstill while the direction of the motorized force remains in the opposite direction to the user effort,   When the intensity of the user effort is greater than the intensity of the power strength: whereas the direction of the motorized force remains in the opposite direction to the user effort, the displacement of the mobile support ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ) is reversed and follows the same direction as the user effort,   When the intensity of the user effort is lower than the minimum safety effort: the motorized mechanism is shut down ( 5 ) ( 34 ) ( 53 ).   
     
     
         2 ) Device according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the motorized mechanism ( 5 )( 34 )( 53 ) has a reversible transmission ( 4 ) ( 35 ) ( 56 ) in both directions of displacement which allows the motorized force of the mobile support to keep the same direction and intensity set ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ) while:
 the displacement of the mobile support ( 2 ) ( 30 ) ( 51 ) driven by the effort of the user towards the opposite direction from the motorized force transmitted to the mobile support ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ) when the user effort is greater than the motorized motive force,   the immobility of the mobile support ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ) caused by an effort supplied by the user on the mobile support that is equal to the preset intensity ( 89 )( 9 ) of the motorized force transmitted to the mobile support ( 2 )( 30 )( 51 ).   
     
     
         3 ) Device according to  claim 1  characterized in that it comprises a detection system ( 6 ) ( 39 ) ( 58 ) which detects the direction of the effort of the user on his fixed or mobile bearing surface through proximity sensors ( 23 ) and ( 24 ), ( 40 ) and ( 41 ), that detect the compression of springs ( 28 ),( 39 ) or strain gauges ( 56 ) and ( 57 ) that act on the operation safety enabling to start or stop the system only after the detection of the preset intensity of the minimum safety effort supplied by the user to trigger the control of:
 the motorized mechanism shutdown ( 5 )( 34 )( 53 ) as soon as the user releases his effort below the intensity of the minimum effort; 
 the set into motion of the motorized mechanism ( 5 )( 34 )( 53 ) as soon as the user supplies an effort intensity more important than the minimum effort; 
 the direction of the motorized force in the opposite direction to both directions of the minimum effort and the resulting displacement; 
 the direction inversions each time the user reverses the direction of his effort during the exercise. 
 
     
     
         4 ) Device according to  claim 1  characterized in that has a conventional automatic control system ( 25 )( 26 ) characterized in that it comprises:
 A programmable automaton (PLC) or an electronic card: controlling, the rotation's stops and directions of the engine according to the detection of the minimum effort's direction, 
 a speed variator, allowing a escalation in the application of the target force, 
 a display system of user effort's duration, 
 a display system of the user posture during exercise, 
 an adjustment of the intensity of the motorized force and speed of each movement. 
 
     
     
         5 ) Device according to  claim 1  characterized in that it comprises in its horizontal configuration includes:
 Motorized mechanism according to the invention that draws in the forward and backward directions a treadmill ( 1 ), on which the user can be supported ( ) to make forward and backward efforts within the same exercise, 
 a system for detecting the direction of the force ( 6 ), 
 a fixed bearing support formed by a horizontal crosspiece ( 6 ) connected to the frame of the motorized mechanism by two vertical elements ( 7 ) of adjustable height on which the user takes support ( 3 ) with the upper body, 
 A control unit ( 25 ) ( 26 ). 
 
     
     
         6 ) Device according to  claim 1  characterized in that it comprises in its vertical configuration:
 Motorized mechanism according to the invention which draws in a vertical movement a movable support constituted by two slideways ( 31 ) joined by a horizontal crosspiece ( 30 ) sliding in the vertical supports ( 32 ) in the direction up and down, on which the user can perform with the upper body of an ascent and descent effort, 
 A detection system of the direction of the minimum effort ( 39 ), 
 a fixed support for low support ( 33 ) composed of a fixed horizontal support connected to the vertical motorized mechanism where the user leans on with the lower body, 
 a control unit ( 25 ) ( 26 ). 
 
     
     
         7 ) Device according to  claim 1  characterized in that it comprises in its rotary configuration:
 A motorized mechanism according to the invention which rotates around the motor axis a movable support constituted by a lever ( 51 ) on which the user can apply with one of his body part: hands or feet, a rotational effort in one direction or the other, 
 a detection system of the effort direction ( 58 ), 
 a fixed support ( 52 ) connected to the frame of vertical motorized mechanism on which the user is supported to apply the rotational effort, 
 a control unit ( 25 ) ( 26 ). 
 
     
     
         8 ) Device according to  claims 5  and  6  characterized in that it comprises in a complex configuration in reference to  FIGS. 9 and 10 :
 The bodybuilding mechanism horizontally motorized moving a conveyor belt as illustrated on the  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 . 
 A bodybuilding mechanism vertically motorized moving an horizontal strength bar as illustrated on  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5 ,  FIG. 6 ; 
 A combination of both motorized mechanisms control systems, 
 A control unit managed with a conventional automatism which is a juxtaposition of both horizontal and vertical devices' control system. 
 
     
     
         9 ) Device according to  claims 5  and  7  characterized in that it comprises in a complex configuration in reference to  FIG. 11 :
 the motorized device of the invention in its horizontal configuration associated with a motorized mechanism according to the invention in its rotary configuration, fixed on the vertical support of the fixed support in the horizontal configuration, 
 a control unit ( 25 ) ( 26 ).