Plyometric training device

Abstract

Described is a plyometric training device comprising a frame (2) having a supporting portion (3) intended to come into contact with the ground and a base (4) connected to the frame (2) having an upper surface (4a), intended to support a user and to be parallel to the ground, and a lower surface (4b), parallel and opposite to the upper surface (4a); guide means (5) which connect the base (4) to the frame (2) in such a way that it can translate relative to the frame (2) at least from a first height (Q1) to a second height (Q2), greater than the first height (Q1), and vice versa, keeping the position of the upper surface (4a) parallel to itself; contact means (8) of the base (4) define the end of stroke position at the second height (Q2); a pneumatic actuator (9), positioned inside the frame (2) at a central portion of the lower surface (4b) of the base (4), is configured to translate the base (4) at least from the first height (Q1) to the second height (Q2); the actuator (9) is configured to translate the base (4) at least from the first height (Q1) to the second height (Q2) in a maximum time of 200 mmsec.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] PLYOMETRIC TRAINING DEVICE

[0003] Technical field

[0004] This invention relates to a plyometric training device.

[0005] Plyometric training includes lengthening and shortening cycles in which the reversible action of the muscles is performed, so that the muscle undergoes an eccentric contraction and concentric contraction, which can be achieved, for example, by jumping, hopping and / or squatting.

[0006] Background art

[0007] In order to carry out the plyometric training, there are prior art auxiliary items of equipment, such as platforms for hopping, which may have different heights, resistance bands and medicine balls.

[0008] This equipment, however, implies a coordination and capacity for developing the force by the user which cannot be physically reached by all individuals, such as, for example, the elderly or persons undergoing rehabilitation following traumas or injuries, who are excluded from the potential benefits deriving from the plyometric activity.

[0009] Moreover, the physical training or by using equipment of known type does not allow any type of control over the extent of the stimulus and its frequency.

[0010] Known fitness equipment for exercise or rehabilitation of the lower limbs is described and illustrated in patent document IT102021000015314.

[0011] This training is intended for the muscular development of the lower limbs, with advantages linked to cardiac functions and balance.

[0012] The equipment according to patent document IT102021000015314 comprises a platform, designed to support a user, movable vertically in a supporting frame by contact means.

[0013] According to a variant embodiment, the contact means are in the form of pistons with an adjustable load.

[0014] As indicated on page 4 of the description of patent document IT102021000015314, the contact means force the user to modulate the return of the platform, after the pressure exerted to lower the platform and start the athletic / physiotherapy exercise.

[0015] The user is required to impart on the platform a vertical force such as to overcome the force of the contact means, and modulate the raising of the platform in relation to the force imparted by the contact means.

[0016] In other words, from a muscular point of view, a work cycle is established in which there is firstly a concentric contraction, lowering of the platform, and then an eccentric contraction, raising of the platform.

[0017] The method of use of the equipment according to patent document IT102021000015314 does not in any way perform a plyometric training which is characterised by an opposite work cycle, wherein there is firstly an eccentric contraction and then a concentric contraction.

[0018] Moreover, the plyometric training is characterised by a rapid succession of exercises based on fast, intense and powerful movements, firstly of eccentric contraction and then of concentric contraction.

[0019] Aim of the invention

[0020] In this context, the need has been felt of overcoming the drawbacks of prior art plyometric training techniques and of known exercise tools aimed at muscular development by making a plyometric training device having at least the features described in independent claim 1 .

[0021] The device according to this invention allows the reverse plyometric training to be performed through the cycle of elongation / shortening of the muscles of the lower and upper limbs activating a concentric contraction by means of an eccentric pre-stretching by means of a mechanical pulse which determines on the user a stimulus of a preferred extent in a short time, thousandths of a second.

[0022] Advantageously, the plyometric training device according to the invention allows mechanical stimuli to be applied from a stable position without particular disturbances; moreover, it allows the stimulus to be graduated as a function of the individual response capacity, as well as increasing or reducing the frequency of the stimuli. Brief description of the drawings

[0023] The technical features of the invention are clearly described in the claims below and further advantages are more apparent from the non-limiting description which follows of a preferred, non-limiting embodiment of a device for plyometric training as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] - Figure 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of a plyometric training device according to this invention and according to a first configuration;

[0025] - Figure 2 schematically illustrates the plyometric training device of Figure 1 in a second configuration;

[0026] - Figure 3 schematically illustrates a second embodiment of a plyometric training device according to this invention and according to a first configuration;

[0027] - Figure 4 schematically illustrates the plyometric training device of Figure 3 in a second configuration;

[0028] - Figure 5 schematically illustrates the plyometric training device with some parts cut away to better illustrate others;

[0029] - Figure 6 is a block diagram illustrating the operating principle of the plyometric training device according to this invention;

[0030] - Figures 7 and 8 schematically illustrate the movement induced in an individual by the plyometric training device according to this invention.

[0031] Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

[0032] The numeral 1 denotes a plyometric training device according to the invention.

[0033] The device 1 comprises a frame 2 having at least one supporting portion 3 intended to come into contact with the ground and a base 4 movably connected to the frame 2, intended to support a user.

[0034] The frame 2 has a longitudinal dimension that may vary in a range of 700 to 1200 mm, a transversal dimension that may vary in a range of 500 to 700 mm and a height that may vary in a range of 350 to 550 mm. The height of the frame 2 means the height without the travel of the base 4, as described in more detail below.

[0035] Preferably, the frame 2 has a longitudinal dimension equal to 1000 mm, a transversal dimension equal to 600 mm and a height equal to 450 mm.

[0036] According to this embodiment, the frame 2 comprises a plurality of bars 6 connected together to form a structure with the shape of a parallelepiped. Preferably, the bar 6 has a tubular shape, preferably it has a size of 4 cm. The base 4 has an upper surface 4a, intended to support a user and to be parallel to the ground supporting the frame 2, and a lower surface 4b, parallel and opposite to the upper surface 4a.

[0037] Preferably, the base 4 has the shape of a parallelepiped and the upper surface 4a and the lower surface 4b have a rectangular extension.

[0038] Guide means 5 of the base 4 connect the relative movement of the base 4 to the frame 2 in such a way that it can translate relative to the frame 2 at least from a first height “Q1 ” to a second height “Q2”, greater than the first height “Q1 ”, and vice versa, keeping it parallel to itself.

[0039] The height is understood as the distance from the ground supporting the upper surface 4a of the base 4.

[0040] The travel of the base 4 between the first height “Q1 ” and the second height “Q2” is variable within a range of 5 - 15 cm, preferably the travel between the first height “Q1 ” and the second height “Q2” is equal to 9 cm.

[0041] At the first height “Q1 ” the base 4 is positioned in its initial position defining the first configuration of the plyometric training device 1 illustrated in Figure 1 .

[0042] At the second height “Q2” the base 4 is positioned in its final position defining the second configuration of the plyometric training device 1 illustrated in Figure 2.

[0043] The means 5 comprise a plurality of rod-shaped elements 7 each of which is connected to the frame 2.

[0044] In particular, the rod-shaped elements 7 extend outside the frame 2 at least by an amount such as to define the second height “Q2”. The rod-shaped elements 7 are positioned along a vertical direction for guiding the translation of the base 4 relative to the frame 2 from the bottom upwards, and vice versa.

[0045] Preferably, there are four rod-shaped elements 7.

[0046] The rod-shaped elements 7 are positioned relative to each other in such a way that two pairs of rod-shaped elements 7 can be defined, the mutual distance between the elements of the same pair of which is equal to the mutual distance of the elements of the remaining pair of rod-shaped elements 7.

[0047] The distance between one pair and another is greater than the distance between the guide elements 7 of the same pair.

[0048] In other words, the rod-shaped elements 7 are positioned relative to each other as at the corners of an ideal parallelepiped.

[0049] Contact means 8 of the base 4 define the end of stroke position at the second height “Q2” which can be reached by the base 4 following the translation with respect to the frame 2.

[0050] The surface of the plate-shaped bodies at the second height “Q2” comes into contact with the base 4 at its upper surface 4a stopping its translation. The contact means 8 are in the form of plate-shaped bodies each of which is connected to two guide elements 7 of the same pair at the respective ends 7a positioned outside the frame 2.

[0051] The plate-shaped bodies are therefore positioned parallel to each other.

[0052] A pneumatic actuator 9 is positioned inside the frame 2 at a central portion of the base 4.

[0053] The pneumatic actuator 9 is positioned below the lower surface 4b.

[0054] The actuator 9 is configured to translate the base 4 at least from the first height Q1 to the second height Q2 in a maximum time of 200 mmsec.

[0055] For example, for an individual weighing 80 kg, considering the pressure of the gaseous fluid fed to the pneumatic actuator equal to 10 bar, the translation of the base from the first height “Q1 ” to the second height “Q2” occurs in 66 mmsec. The pneumatic actuator 9 is configured to produce a mechanical pulse which is absorbed by the user positioned on the base 4.

[0056] When the action of the pneumatic actuator 9 is complete, the base 4 returns to its initial position, translating from the second height “Q2” to the first height “Q1 ”.

[0057] In other words, the pneumatic actuator 9 actively performs the passage of the plyometric training device 1 from the first configuration to the second configuration.

[0058] The passage from the second configuration to the first configuration is determined by an actuation of the pneumatic actuator 9.

[0059] The actuator 9 comprises a pneumatic cylinder 11 provided with a rod 12 with the piston 18 movable inside the pneumatic cylinder 11 .

[0060] Inside the pneumatic cylinder 11 the piston 18 forms a chamber 27 into which a pressurised gaseous fluid is introduced and expelled.

[0061] The rod 12 is movable along a vertical direction away from and towards the pneumatic cylinder 11 for translating the base 4 from the first height “Q1 ” to the second height “Q2” (that is, from the bottom upwards) and vice versa.

[0062] In particular, in order to perform the movement of the base 4 from the bottom upwards, from the first height “Q1 ” to the second height “Q2”, the pressurised gaseous fluid is introduced into the chamber 27.

[0063] In order to perform the movement of the base 4 from the top downwards, from the first height “Q1 ” to the second height “Q2”, the pressurised gaseous fluid is expelled from the chamber 27.

[0064] In order to be able to adjust the amount of motion, at least one mass 10 is interposed between the pneumatic actuator 9 and the base 4.

[0065] The mass 10 is positioned in the central portion of the lower surface 4b of the base 4.

[0066] Preferably, the mass 10 is in the form of a disc-shaped body.

[0067] The mass 10 is located at the end 12a of the rod 12 located outside the pneumatic cylinder 11 . In other words, the pneumatic actuator 9 is configured to impart a mechanical pulse to the base 4 with an extent such as to render equal the energy imparted to the ground by an individual weighing 80 kg who falls from a height of 1 metre.

[0068] It should be noted that in order to prevent the frame 2 from losing stability during operation of the pneumatic actuator 9, it comprises one or more anchoring points 19 of a respective weight 20, shown schematically in Figure 3 with a parallelepiped block.

[0069] In practice, the device 1 according to this invention allows reverse plyometrics to be performed through the cycle of lengthening / shortening the muscles of the lower and upper limbs by activating a muscular traction by means of a mechanical pulse.

[0070] The mechanical pulse is applied by means of a pneumatic compression actuator 9 which uses the quantity of motion. This pulse moves, from the bottom upwards, the base 4 on which the lower or upper limbs of athletes or individuals who may have physical conditions which are not comparable to a healthy athlete (such as the elderly, athletes or persons undergoing rehabilitation from injuries or musculoskeletal trauma) can be stimulated.

[0071] In order to operate the pneumatic actuator 9, inside the frame 2 there is a pneumatic source 13 in fluid communication with the pneumatic actuator 9 by means of at least one connection conduit 21 and electromechanical valve means 14 for opening and closing a respective stretch of the connection conduit 21 .

[0072] The connection conduit 21 connects the electromechanical valve means 14 with the chamber 27 of the pneumatic actuator 9.

[0073] A control unit 22 is configured to control the actuation of the electromechanical valve means 14 and control the opening and the closing of the connection conduit 21 and, consequently, control the pneumatic actuator 9 by the introduction and expulsion of the pressurised fluid into the chamber 27.

[0074] The pneumatic source 13 is a pressurised tank. It should be noted that the pneumatic source 13 may be reloaded by means of a compressor schematically illustrated in Figure 6 with the box numbered 26.

[0075] The pressure in the tank varies between 4 bar and 12 bar.

[0076] Preferably, the pressure of the pneumatic source 13 is between 8 bar and 10 bar.

[0077] A pressure regulator 15 allows the pressure of the compressed air which supplies the pneumatic actuator 9 to be varied.

[0078] In particular, the pressure regulator 15 is configured to decrease the pressure of the pneumatic source 13 if it exceeds a threshold value.

[0079] For example, the threshold value is 10 bar.

[0080] Advantageously, this allows different levels of energy to be obtained to be imparted to the base 4 in order to allow the use of the device 1 by many people.

[0081] According to a first embodiment, illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the device 1 comprises at least one sensor 17 configured to measure the force transmitted by the user following receipt of the mechanical pulse generated by the pneumatic actuator 9.

[0082] The one or more sensors 17 are located on the upper surface 4a of the base 4.

[0083] In order to isolate the reaction of the pulse on the base 4, it comprises a supporting element 16, on which the user is positioned, movably constrained to the upper surface 4a of the base 4.

[0084] The supporting element 16 is movably constrained to the base 4 by respective guide means 23 in such a way that it can translate relative to the base 4 at least from a third height “Q3” to a fourth height “Q4”, greater than the third height “Q3”, and vice versa, lying parallel to itself.

[0085] The height is understood as the distance from the upper surface 4a of the base 4.

[0086] Preferably the travel of the supporting element 16 between the third height “Q3” and the fourth height “Q4” is a maximum of 3 cm. It should be noted that the travel depends on the weight of the user who positions himself / herself on the supporting element 16.

[0087] The travel for subjects weighing 80 / 90 kg is infinitesimal.

[0088] The passage from the third height “Q3” to the fourth height “Q4” of the supporting element 16 occurs during the passage from the first height “Q1 ” to the second height “Q2” of the base 4.

[0089] Upon completion of the pulse of the pneumatic actuator 9, the supporting element 16 returns to the third height “Q3”.

[0090] The guide means 23 of the supporting element comprise a plurality of rodshaped elements 24 each of which is connected to the base 4.

[0091] In particular, the rod-shaped elements 24 extend externally from the base at least by an amount such as to define the fourth height “Q4”.

[0092] The rod-shaped elements 24 are positioned along a vertical direction for guiding the translation of the supporting element 16 relative to the base 4 from the bottom upwards and vice versa.

[0093] Preferably, there are four rod-shaped elements 24.

[0094] Contact means 25 define the end of stroke of the supporting member 16.

[0095] According to a second embodiment, illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the device 1 comprises the base 4 without sensors 17 and the supporting element 16.

[0096] The absence of the sensors 17 and the supporting element 16 does not adversely affect the correct operation of the device 1 which is able to perform its function for the user.

[0097] The data measured by the sensor 17 is intended to be collected in a memory section and to be transmitted to a processing unit for subsequent processing.

[0098] The detection of the response of the user advantageously makes it possible to assess the functional capacities of the individual linked to the level of stiffness of a given multiarticular complex and to the subjective capacities of reflected response. The movement of an individual who uses the device 1 according to this invention is schematically shown in Figure 7 and Figure 8.

[0099] In order to stimulate the lower limbs (in particular the muscles of the thigh and leg) an individual will position himself / herself on the platform with their legs spread apart to a width similar to that of the shoulders and with knees bent to an angle variable from 90° to about 130°.

[0100] The position of the hands may be held in two modes, either with hands locked at the sides or with the arms free.

[0101] Following a pulse, the platform rises in a range which varies according to the intensity (given by the preset pressure from 4 bar to 12 bar) and the weight of the subject.

[0102] The lifting action of the platform develops at very high speeds, such as to passively bend the hips and lengthen the entire quadriceps muscle: vastus medialis, vastus intermedius and vastus lateralis.

[0103] This action affects both the distal and proximal ends of the main muscles also involving the respective tendons. This action stimulates a reflected contractile response which tends to stabilise the bending of the knee, hips and ankle joints during movement. During this movement the muscles of the posterior chain (glutes and biceps femoris) as well as the tibialis anterior are elongated by stimulating the same reflected contraction action. The sudden elongation activates the autonomous nervous system stimulating the reflected route. Following the repetition of the action it will be possible to obtain an individual response more and more quickly thanks to a neuromuscular adaptation. In addition, the vertical forces imparted by the pulse will stimulate the bone remodelling by activating osteoblasts, thereby stimulating osteogenesis.

[0104] The example shown here represents one of the many modes of stimulating the platform; in fact, by modifying the initial posture of the recipient it is possible to stimulate different muscles and tendons (example: same position but with the front feet in plantar flexion).

[0105] There are numerous advantages achieved by this invention: - stimulation using the device 1 as claimed allows assessment, training, rehabilitation and prevention protocols to be carried out in individuals, young people, adults and the elderly;

[0106] - the pulse generated by the pneumatic actuator 9 can be modulated both in terms of intensity and frequency, allowing the individualisation of the load following an assessment of the individual response capacities;

[0107] - the reverse pulse does not require high levels of coordination since the person using the device remains immobile on the base 4 of the device 1 which rises and through the stimulus of the reflected activity makes it possible to induce adjustments which are useful also for preventing falls in the elderly, all of this eliminating the risks of the ballistic method which requires high levels of coordination, and it is suitable not only for sportspeople or athletes;

[0108] - it is possible to stimulate various articular segments in an isolated manner;

[0109] - the mechanical pulse triggered by the device 1 can stimulate the healing osteogenic processes through the principle of mechanical transduction.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A plyometric training device comprising a frame (2) having a supporting portion (3) intended to come into contact with the ground and a base (4) connected to the frame (2) having an upper surface (4a), intended to support a user and to be parallel to the ground, and a lower surface (4b), parallel and opposite to the upper surface (4a); guide means (5) which connect the base (4) to the frame (2) in such a way that it can translate relative to the frame (2) at least from a first height (Q1 ) to a second height (Q2), greater than the first height (Q1 ), and vice versa, keeping the position of the upper surface (4a) parallel to itself; the range of the base (4) between the first height (Q1 ) and the second height (Q2) is variable from 5 to 15 cm, preferably 9 cm; contact means (8) of the base (4) define the end of stroke position at the second height (Q2); a pneumatic actuator (9), positioned inside the frame (2) at a central portion of the lower surface (4b) of the base (4), is configured to translate the base (4) at least from the first height (Q1 ) to the second height (Q2); a pneumatic source (13), in fluid communication with the pneumatic actuator (9), the gaseous fluid of which has a pressure in a range of between 4 bar and 12 bar, preferably between 8 bar and 10 bar; the actuator (9) is configured to translate the base (4) at least from the first height (Q1 ) to the second height (Q2) in a maximum time of 200 mmsec.

2. The device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises at least one mass (10), interposed between the pneumatic actuator (9) and the base (4), positioned in the central portion of the lower surface (4b) of the base (4).

3. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the pneumatic actuator (9) comprises a pneumatic cylinder (11 ) provided with a rod (12) with the piston (18) movable inside the pneumatic cylinder (11 ); the rod (12) is movable along a vertical direction away from and towards the pneumatic cylinder (11 ) for translating the base (4) fromthe first height (Q1 ) to the second height (Q2) and vice versa.

4. The device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the mass (10) is located at the end (12a) of the rod (12) located outside the pneumatic cylinder (11).

5. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a pressure regulator (15) allowing the pressure of the gaseous fluid to be reduced if it exceeds a threshold value, for example the threshold value is 10 bar.

6. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one connecting conduit (21 ) of the pneumatic source (13) and electromechanical valve means (14) for opening and closing a respective stretch of the connecting conduit (21 ); a control unit (22) is configured for controlling the actuation of the electromechanical valve means (14) for opening and closing the connecting conduit (21 ).7 The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide means (5) comprise a plurality of rod-shaped elements (7) each of which is connected to the frame (2) and projects outside the frame (2) at least by an amount such as to define the second height (Q2); the rod-shaped elements (7) are positioned along a vertical direction for guiding the translation of the base (4) relative to the frame (2) from the bottom upwards, and vice versa.

8. The device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the rod-shaped elements (7) are positioned relative to each other in such a way that two pairs of rod-shaped elements (7) can be defined, the mutual distance between the elements of the same pair of which is equal to the mutual distance of the elements of the remaining pair of rod-shaped elements (7); the distance between one pair and another is greater than the mutual distance between the guide elements (7) of the same pair.

9. The device according to claim 8, characterised in that the contact means (8) are in the form of plate-shaped bodies each of which is connected to two guide elements (7) of the same pair at the respectiveends (7a) positioned outside the frame (2).

10. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the frame (2) comprises a plurality of bars (6) connected together to form a parallelepiped shaped structure.

11. The device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the frame (2) comprises one or more points (19) for anchoring a respective weight (20).

12. The device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises at least one sensor (17) configured for detecting the force transmitted by the user following receipt of the mechanical pulse generated by the pneumatic actuator (9) located on the upper surface (4a) of the base (4); a supporting element (16), on which the user is positioned, movably constrained to the upper surface (4a) of the base (4) by respective guide means (23) in such a way that it can translate relative to the base (4) at least from a third height (Q3) to a fourth height (Q4), greater than the third height (Q3), and vice versa, lying parallel to itself.

13. The device according to the preceding claim, the travel of the supporting element (16) between the third height (Q3) and the fourth height (Q4) is a maximum of 3 cm.

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