Exercise Apparatus for Starting Motion

Abstract

Disclosed is a unique concept of a physical training apparatus which applies resistance to a trainee during athletic movements from a set position in the natural environment of the sporting activity to aid in enhancing speed and acceleration. The said physical training apparatus is designed to be used in conjunction with a starting apparatus to allow the trainee to execute resistive movements with identical technique to a sporting activity. The versatility of design of the disclosed invention allows the trainee to better translate the benefits of a resistive exercise into a sporting activity by incorporating the use of common athletic elements. Further benefits stem for the reduction of time and movement between a resistive exercise and an unrestrained athletic routine due to the ability of the disclosed invention to be utilized within the environment of the sporting activity.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION[0001]This invention and method relate, but are not limited to, the athletic exercising and conditioning field which focuses on strength and speed for high intensity movements from a still or set position used in the natural training or competitive environment of the sport or activity.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Competitive activities based on the speed at which someone can perform an explosive and sudden movement have been present since the beginning of sports and the desire to increase such speed has been around just as long. The two largest contributors to increasing speed and acceleration for an explosive and sudden movement from a still or set position relate to muscle strength and technique. Muscle strength is developed by applying additional resistance to a particular movement so that the specific muscle group is stressed beyond what is achievable by comparable movements without resistance. The additional strain applied to a muscle group trains that spe...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013]This embodiment relates to the discovery of a unique rigid structure which supports, but is not limited to, three unique types of resistance devices / systems that assists in the improvement of explosive and sudden movements from a still or set position for a wide variety of athletic movements. The disclosed invention understands the need to pair an athletic movement to a resistance based exercise and allow the trainee to do so by operating the disclosed invention in the natural environment of his or her sport while using common athletic elements which are used during competitions and practice. By applying resistance to a specific movement in the natural environment of a sport, the trainee is able to better translate the benefits of a resistive exercise into an athletic movement because of the identical environment, features used, and technique, as well as reduced time and movement between a resistive exercise and the execution of an athletic movement.

[0015]The first device is a resistive device which applies a predetermined amount of resistance over a predetermined distance prior to releasing the trainee into an unrestrained state. The advantage of releasing the trainee is to further build the connection between the resistive exercise and specific athletic movement by the allowing the trainee to complete a full athletic routine in the environment of the sport.

[0016]The second device, herein referenced as ‘short movement resistance system,’ applies a predetermined amount of resistance over a predetermined distance prior to restricting the trainee from departing from the starting apparatus. The advantage of the short movement resistance system is that a high level of resistance can be applied to the initial ‘twitch’ of an explosive movement which relates to how quickly the trainee can engage his or her body to provide thrust. An additional advantage of the short movement resistance system is that the trainee can execute more initial twitch movements compared to the time it takes to do a fully executed starting motion, which involves returning to the starting location and resetting in the starting stance. The trainee will also have the advantage of performing a resistive exercise with minimal time and movement prior to a fully executed athletic routine. After the completion of the resistive exercise, the trainee simply disconnects himself or herself and is able to perform a fully and unrestrained athletic movement.

[0017]The third device is a resistive device which restricts departure from a starting apparatus until a predetermine force is generated by the trainee, in which case, the trainee can depart unrestrained. The advantage of this device is that the trainee will be required to apply large forces during the initial movements of a routine opposed to gradually increasing his or her speed. Additionally, allowing the trainee to continue his or her routine, unrestrained, further promotes the unity of a resistive exercise and a specific athletic movement from a still or set position.

[0018]A further advantage of each resistance device / system is that the trainee will naturally alter his or her body position to attempt to overcome the excess resistance. As the trainee uses any of the aforementioned resistance devices, he or she will find the most powerful body position and movement to which can overcome the resistance, which translates identically into the fastest and most powerful body position and movement when the harness is no longer attached. Additionally, a force gauge can be integrated into any of the aforementioned resistance devices / systems to discretely measure the forces generated by the trainee to more accurately determine the optimal stance and / or motion for a specific starting routine.

[0020]Each resistance device will be securely connected to a rigid fixture. Said rigid fixture contains various connection points for a resistive device as to allow the vector angle of resistance to be customizable to the trainee's body type, stance, sport, and desired direction of travel. The resistive device can be easily moved from one connection point to the next as well as interchanging from one type of resistive device to the next. The rigid structure is designed to utilize features of the surrounding athletic environment to provide a secure base for any resistive device in a wide range of athletic venues. The rigid structure may be specifically designed for a certain athletic environment or a versatile design may be used as long as the rigid structure acts as a secure connecting element for a resistive device.

Problems solved by technology

Often when a muscle group is being stress during a resistive exercise, the technical portion of speed enhancement cannot be addressed due to the isolation of exercising a singular muscle group.

Furthermore, when a sudden burst of energy requires sport specific equipment and ample space to properly perform the movement, a traditional resistance-based exercise cannot adequately capture all of the integrated movements due to the location of the apparatus, the means by which it is fastened to the trainee, or the design of use.

Although many localized movements have been replicated for a resistive exercise, a trainee is unable to perform a specific athletic routine without the use of common elements that are used in his or her specific sport.

Previous physical training apparatus do not address the importance of using familiar starting structures and other athletic apparatus and elements that are used during traditional competitions for resistive exercises.

The limitation of all trainees to a single apparatus prevents trainees from using sport specific apparatus and structures that are paramount to the execution of an explosive and sudden movement in regards to a specific athletic event.

Previous inventions also fail to address the importance of time between a resistive exercise and the execution of a specific athletic movement.

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