Modular frame for assisted guided exercises

Abstract

A modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, characterized in that it comprises at least one interchangeable exercise module (1c) attachable to the frame, a traction system (2), a plurality of sensors (3) configured to measure the user's biomechanical parameters, and a visual interface (4).

Description

Modular frame for guided assisted exercises Field of invention This invention relates to a modular frame for assisted guided exercises, or physical training equipment used in physical rehabilitation or functional exercises, especially oriented towards the prevention of repetitive motion injuries, composed of interchangeable or adjustable modules, so as to provide electromechanical assistance to facilitate controlled exercise or training. Prior art Currently, and as a reference to the state of the art, there are known frames adapted to specific exercises that must be performed following a guide lane or pre-established route, an example of this are the mobility and coordination devices placed in urban environments, but they are not modular, nor even reconfigurable and they do not offer assistance in performing the exercise or any greater guidance than a pre-established route identical for all users. There are well-known assisted rehabilitation systems that use straps or robotic arms to perform pre-programmed movements tailored to the user's injury. These systems are highly beneficial in the initial stages of rehabilitation, facilitating the execution of standardized exercises and promoting therapeutic adherence. However, their long-term usefulness is compromised by the repetitive and unchanging nature of the proposed activities, which can lead to user demotivation. Furthermore, their effectiveness in preventing repetitive strain injuries is limited, as they do not require active force generation from the user. Explanation of the invention and advantages In contrast to this state of the art, the present invention refers to a modular frame for guided assisted exercises, comprising a self-supporting modular frame, at least one interchangeable exercise module attachable to the frame, a traction system, a plurality of sensors configured to measure the user's biomechanical parameters, and a visual interface capable of providing immediate feedback to the user. The traction system guides the user's movement, either with or against it, adapting the load and speed of the exercise. This allows for personalized and adaptive execution, preventing repetitive motion injuries. The system optimizes exercise performance and user safety without generating new repetitive strain injuries. The integration of biomechanical sensors and a visual interface provides immediate and precise feedback, facilitating postural correction, progress tracking, and exercise optimization for injury prevention. This modular and technologically advanced configuration makes the frame a versatile tool for rehabilitation, occupational training, and geriatric settings. The modular frame also comprises at least one load-bearing element, at least one removable front panel, and at least one exercise module. The removable front panel can be replaced with an exercise module, allowing for flexible and adaptable system configuration based on the specific needs of the user or the type of training required. The load-bearing element provides the necessary structural rigidity to withstand dynamic loads during exercise, while the removable panel facilitates the quick replacement of functional components, optimizing maintenance, customization, and technological upgrades of the equipment. This modular architecture improves operational efficiency and reduces downtime in geriatric or occupational settings. Preferably, the traction system comprises at least one motor-driven traction element, where the motor may be a servomotor, a magnetic drive system, or any other drive mechanism, allowing for considerable versatility in the system's technical implementation. This configuration supports the integration of advanced drive technologies, such as precision servomotors, contactless magnetic traction systems, or linear actuators, depending on the specific load, speed, and control requirements. The choice of motor type can optimize exercise performance, improve energy efficiency, and reduce maintenance, making it suitable for both rehabilitation and preventative training applications. The modular frame for guided assisted exercises allows the exercise module to be positioned in various ways, enabling its use both standing and seated. This significantly expands its versatility and accessibility for different user profiles. This feature allows the equipment configuration to be adapted to different usage contexts, from functional exercises in an upright position to rehabilitation sessions or low-impact exercises in a seated position. Furthermore, it facilitates the inclusion of users with reduced mobility, those in recovery, or those undergoing treatment of different limbs, ensuring a safe, ergonomic, and effective experience in both postures. Each exercise module of the modular frame is specifically designed for different body areas, including the shoulder, wrist, back, or hip, allowing for precise targeting of muscle and joint work based on therapeutic rehabilitation or preventative training goals. This specialization facilitates the execution of controlled and safe exercises, adapted to the biomechanical characteristics of each body region, optimizing the effectiveness of the applied stimulus. Furthermore, it contributes to segmented and progressive rehabilitation, promoting functional recovery or preventative improvement of affected areas without compromising other anatomical structures of the user. Ideally, the traction element is a cable or belt connected to the motor, configured to efficiently transmit force (when assistance is needed) or resistance (when opposition is required) generated by the traction system to the exercise point. This traction element, whether cable or belt, is flexible, allowing for a controlled and fluid movement path and adapting to different angles and directions without compromising user accuracy or safety. Furthermore, its flexibility facilitates maintenance and replacement, and allows for versatile integration with various exercise modules, adapting to different angles and directions and optimizing the functionality of the modular frame in multiple configurations. Additionally, the visual interface consists of a touchscreen that displays instructions for following the pre-programmed routine and performance data using a color-coded system, allowing for quick and intuitive interpretation of the exercise status by the user. The touchscreen acts as an interactive tool to guide the programmed routine, displaying real-time, color-coded visual indicators (e.g., green for correct execution, yellow for warning, and red for correction needed) that facilitate immediate adjustments to technique or pace. The modular frame is capable of performing at least one emergency stop of the traction system, thus ensuring the user's operational safety in any risk situation or malfunction. The emergency stop is the immediate interruption of the traction system, which comprises at least one motor-driven traction element, and all active components of the frame. This functionality is activated manually by the user, resulting in the emergency shutdown of the motor and the traction element. Its implementation is essential for assisted training exercises, where user protection must be the top priority at all times. Furthermore, each modular frame can be assembled with other modular frames to form a modular network or network of modular frames with different configurations, allowing for functional expansion of the system by connecting multiple modular frame units. This interconnectivity enables the creation of collaborative or multi-zone training environments, where different modules can operate to perform the same type of exercise synchronously in collaborative training environments or to perform different types of exercises independently in multi-zone training environments, depending on the requirements of the routine. Drawings and references To better understand the nature of the invention, the accompanying drawings depict an industrial embodiment which is merely an illustrative example and not intended to be limiting. Figure 1 shows a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the modular frame (1) in which the load-bearing elements (1a) are mounted, easily interchangeable thanks to wing nut connections, along with several exercise modules (1c) with various exercises specific to different body areas and a visual interface (4). It can be seen how the exercise modules (1c) are connected to the traction system (2) consisting of several motors (2b) connected to the exercise modules (1c) by means of traction elements (2a). Figure 2 shows a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the modular frame (1) (different from that shown in Figure 1) in which the supporting elements (1a) are attached to several exercise modules (1c) (see enlargement A showing the connection) and support removable panels (1b) and a visual interface (4), and the drive system (2) consisting of several motors (2b) connected by drive elements (2a) to the exercise modules (1c). Enlargement B shows the connection of the motor elements (2a) to the motor (2b) in which a sensor (3) is located. The following references are indicated in these figures: 1. Modular Frame 1a. Load-bearing element 1b. Removable panel 1c. Exercise Module 2. Traction system 2a. Traction element 2b. Engine 3. Sensor(s) 4. Visual interface Exhibition of a preferred achievement With regard to the drawings and references listed above, the attached drawings illustrate a modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, the modular frame (1) being self-supporting, comprising at least one exercise module (1c) interchangeable and attachable to the frame, a traction system (2) connected to the exercise module (1c), a plurality of sensors (3) configured to measure the user's biomechanical parameters, and a visual interface (4) capable of providing immediate feedback to the user The traction system (2) guides the exercise module (1c) with or against the user's movement, to efficiently transmit force in case of needing assistance with movement or resistance, adapting the load and speed of the exercise and thus allowing a personalized and adaptive execution of the prevention of injuries from repetitive movements. The modular frame (1) further comprises at least one load-bearing element (1a) to which at least one removable panel (1b) and at least one exercise module (1c) are attached. Each removable panel (1b) can be replaced by an exercise module (1c) by placing the exercise module (1c) in the position previously occupied by the removable panel (1b). This allows for a flexible and adaptable configuration of the modular frame (1) according to the specific needs of the user or the type of training required. The load-bearing element (1a) provides the necessary structural rigidity to withstand dynamic loads during exercise and the removable panels (1b) and exercise modules (1c) arranged in the various configurations. The removable panel (1b) facilitates the rapid replacement of functional components, optimizing maintenance, customization, and technological evolution of the equipment.This modular architecture improves operational efficiency and reduces downtime in geriatric or work environments. Preferably, the drive system (2) comprises at least one drive element (2a) powered by a motor (2b), where the motor (2b) can be a servomotor, a magnetic drive system, or any other drive means, allowing for broad versatility in the technical implementation of the drive system (2). This configuration supports the integration of advanced drive technologies, such as precision servomotors, contactless magnetic drive systems, or linear actuators, depending on the specific load, speed, and control requirements and the type of exercise module (1c). The choice of motor type (2b) can optimize exercise performance, improve energy efficiency, and reduce maintenance, making it suitable for both rehabilitation and preventative training applications. The modular frame (1) for guided assisted exercises, thanks to the ability to configure the exercise modules (1c) in different positions, allows for use in both standing and seated positions, significantly expanding its versatility and accessibility for a wide range of users. This feature allows the modular frame (1) to be adapted to different usage contexts, from functional exercises in an upright position to rehabilitation sessions or low-impact exercises in a seated position. Furthermore, it facilitates the inclusion of users with reduced mobility, those in recovery, or those undergoing treatment of different limbs, with the use of exercise modules (1c) adapted for exercising that particular limb, ensuring a safe, ergonomic, and effective experience in both postures. Each exercise module (1c) of the modular frame (1) is specifically designed for exercising different body areas, including the shoulder, wrist, back, or hip. This allows for precise targeting of muscle and joint work based on therapeutic rehabilitation or preventative training goals. This specialization facilitates the execution of controlled and safe exercises, adapted to the biomechanical characteristics of each body region, optimizing the effectiveness of the applied stimulus. Furthermore, since they can be positioned in place of various removable panels (1b) of the modular frame (1), they can be adapted to the requirements of each user. Preferably, the traction element (2a) is a cable or belt connected to the motor (2b), configured to efficiently transmit the force generated by the motor (2b) when assistance to movement is required, or resistance when opposition to movement is required, and to guide the exercise module (1c) to the point of application of the exercise. This flexible element, whether cable or belt, allows for a controlled and fluid movement path, adapting to different angles and directions without compromising the user's precision or safety. Furthermore, its design facilitates maintenance and replacement, and allows for versatile integration with different exercise modules (1c), as its flexibility optimizes the functionality of the modular frame (1) in multiple configurations by adapting to different angles and directions. Preferably, the visual interface (4) consists of a touchscreen, although it can also be replaced by any system or interface that allows data input and display. The visual interface (4) displays instructions for following a routine (using a traffic light system to indicate progress, allowing for quick and intuitive interpretation of the exercise status by the user). The visual interface (4) therefore acts as an interactive tool to guide the routine, displaying real-time, color-coded visual indicators (e.g., green for correct execution, yellow for warning, and red for correction needed) that facilitate immediate adjustments to technique or pace. This functionality enhances user autonomy, reducing the need for guidance from the traction system (2), promotes adherence to the program, and contributes to a safer and more efficient experience. The modular frame is capable of performing an emergency stop of the traction system (2), thus ensuring the user's operational safety in any risk situation or malfunction. This functionality allows for the immediate interruption of the traction system (2) and, therefore, of the traction element (2a) driven by a motor (2b) that comprises it, in conjunction with all the active elements of the frame. This can be performed either manually by the user or another nearby person by pressing a motor stop button (2b). Its implementation is essential in assisted exercises, where user protection must be the priority at all times. Furthermore, each modular frame (1) can be connected to other modular frames to form a modular network, or network of modular frames (1) with different configurations, allowing for functional expansion of the system through the interconnection of multiple modular frame units (1). This connectivity between modular frames (1) enables the creation of collaborative or multi-zone training environments, where different modules can operate to perform the same type of exercise synchronously or to perform different types of exercises independently in multi-zone training environments, according to the requirements of the routine. Variations in materials, shape, size and arrangement of the component elements, described in a non-limiting manner, do not alter the essential nature of this invention, and this is sufficient to proceed with its reproduction by an expert.

Claims

1. A modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, characterized in that it comprises at least one interchangeable exercise module (1c) attachable to the frame, a traction system (2), a plurality of sensors (3) configured to measure the user's biomechanical parameters, and a visual interface (4).

2. A modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, according to claim 1, characterized in that the modular frame (1) comprises at least one supporting element (1a), at least one removable panel (1b), and at least one exercise module (1c).

3. A modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the traction system (2) comprises at least one traction element (2a) driven by a motor (2b). 4.A modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the modular frame (1) allows the exercise module (1c) to be placed in different positions.

5. A modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the traction element (2a) is a cable or belt connected to the motor (2b).

6. A modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the visual interface (4) consists of a touch screen.

7. A modular frame (1) for assisted guided exercises, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the traction system (2) is configured to perform at least one emergency stop upon pressing the motor stop button (2b). 8.Modular frame (1) for guided assisted exercises, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each modular frame (1) is configured to be assembled with other modular frames (1) together forming a modular network of modular frames (1) with different configurations.