Pump trainer, exercise machine and methods of use

Abstract

A stationary exercise machine comprising an ergonomic device attached to a trolley slidably connected to an inclinable surface. The trolley connected to one or more resistance mechanisms generally opposing one another or gravity. The ergonomic device comprised of a balance board, seat, carriage, bike, or other apparatus intended to carry a user. A method where the user pumps, moving one's body weight in a rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth motion, to repetitively move the ergonomic device along the inclinable surface while standing, squatting, kneeling, sitting, laying, or otherwise resting, balancing, or riding on the ergonomic device, and where at least one resistance mechanism stores and releases mechanical energy produced by the user's pumping action. The resistance mechanisms can also be connected or disconnected, or user-controlled or automated to facilitate alternative methods of use, such as use as a balance board, rower, reformer, gravity-based exerciser, elastic resistance trainer, or flywheel resistance trainer.

1 . A stationary exercise machine comprising:
 a. an inclinable surface,   b. a trolley slidably connected to the inclinable surface,   c. an ergonomic device connected to the trolley that supports a user,   d. at least one resistance mechanism, generally attached between the inclinable surface and the trolley, that counteracts pumping actions or rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth body movements repetitively generated by the user.   
     
     
         2 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the inclinable surface consists of one or more straight or curved beams that constrain motion of the trolley to slide along the length of the beams. 
     
     
         3 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the inclinable surface consists of a flat, convex, concave, or generally curved surface or platform. 
     
     
         4 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein stomp plates, safety bars, and/or similar protective mechanisms are added to provide a user additional balance or support before, after, or during use. 
     
     
         5 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the inclinable surface can be manually or automatically positioned before or during use to be horizontal, vertical, or tilted in one or both directions with respect to ground level. 
     
     
         6 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the trolley is constrained to one, two, or three degrees of translational freedom with respect to the inclinable surface. 
     
     
         7 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic device is a balance board that is flexibly attached to the trolley and allowed to tilt, pivot, spin, slide, glide, or otherwise rotate or translate with at least one and up to six degrees of freedom freely or partially restrained with respect to the trolley when a user interacts with the device. 
     
     
         8 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic device is a seat or carriage that is rigidly attached to the trolley and constrained to have zero degrees of freedom with respect to the trolley when the user interacts with the device. 
     
     
         9 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic device is a stationary bike that is flexibly or rigidly attached to the trolley. 
     
     
         10 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more resistance mechanisms are engaged and generally oppose one another or gravity, and the resistance mechanisms consist of:
 a. only elastic tension members, or   b. only pull cords attached to one or more flywheel assemblies,   c. some combination of one or more elastic tension members and pull cords attached to one or more flywheel assemblies.   
     
     
         11 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one resistance mechanism is composed of elastic tension members further comprising one or more bands or springs that store energy in the form of elastic deformation and may use different materials, geometries, hydraulics, pistons, dampers, or other linear or nonlinear, elastic or viscoelastic mechanisms to provide adjustable or variable resistance in tension when pulled and released in two opposing directions. 
     
     
         12 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one resistance mechanism is composed of a flywheel assembly further comprising one or more flywheels that store energy in the form of rotational momentum and may or may not use a clutch and braking system by way of frictional contact, magnets, air, water, or other fluids to provide adjustable or variable resistance to a pull cord wound around a drum wheel that is mechanically connected to a flywheel to transfer energy when pulled in a single direction. 
     
     
         13 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more resistance mechanisms are engaged and generally oppose one another or gravity, and the resistance mechanisms consist of tension members, pull cords, telescoping rods, gears, or other structural linkages attached to motorized spools, reels, winches, actuators, or similar tensioning mechanisms that can be manually or automatically adjusted or controlled by the user, by programmable algorithm, by artificial intelligence, or by other mechanical, electrical, magnetic, wired or wireless means. 
     
     
         14 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic device is attached to the trolley by way of one or more tunable resistance mechanisms, such as deformable materials, bladders, springs, dampers, joints, or other suspension mechanisms, that can restrict, partially restrain, or release movement of the ergonomic device within one or more degrees of rotational and/or translational freedom. 
     
     
         15 . An exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the ergonomic device is attached to the trolley by way of one or more motorized resistance mechanisms, such as electric motors or actuators, that can be manually or automatically adjusted or controlled by the user, by programmable algorithm, by artificial intelligence, or by other mechanical, electrical, magnetic, wired or wireless means. 
     
     
         16 . A method for adapting and operating an exercise machine with an original first resistance mechanism, such as a resistance trainer, gravity-based exerciser, rowing machine, or pilates reformer, wherein the method comprises:
 a. adding an additional second resistance mechanism to said exercise machine that opposes forces from the first resistance mechanism or gravity, and   b. operating the newly adapted machine with a pumping action or generally rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth body movement repetitively generated by the user.   
     
     
         17 . A method for operating a stationary exercise machine, wherein the method comprises:
 a. a pumping action, or a generally rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth body movement, that a user generates to repetitively move across an inclinable surface while standing, squatting, kneeling, sitting, laying, or otherwise resting, balancing, or riding the machine,   b. forcing a trolley to slide along an inclinable surface,   c. interacting with one or more ergonomic devices attached to the machine's peripheral or trolley that is slidably connected to the inclinable surface,   d. storing and releasing mechanical energy in at least one resistance mechanism, produced by a user's pumping action, in the form of conserved momentum, elastic or viscoelastic energy, gravity, or other energy transfer or damping mechanisms.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 16  or  17 , wherein a user's pumping actions are synchronized with changes in an augmented or virtual reality environment that provides the user with authentic riding experiences that closely mimic real-time changes in a natural, built, or virtual environment. 
     
     
         19 . A method of using an exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the trolley is locked into position and cannot slide along the inclinable surface, allowing a user to operate the machine in alternative stationary modes, such as balance board mode, cycling mode, or similar resistance trainer or stationary exerciser modes. 
     
     
         20 . A method of using an exercise machine according to  claim 1 , wherein only one resistance mechanism is engaged and optional hand/foot grips, straps, pulleys, bars, footplates, handlebar, jump board, trampoline, or other ergonomic components are added, allowing a user to operate the machine in alternative dynamic modes, such as rower mode, reformer mode, or similar resistance trainer or gravity-based exerciser modes.