U.S. patent application number 11/188264 was filed with the patent office on 2007-01-25 for athletic velocity training device.
Invention is credited to David Nugent.
Application Number | 20070021270 11/188264 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37679803 |
Filed Date | 2007-01-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070021270 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Nugent; David |
January 25, 2007 |
Athletic velocity training device
Abstract
An exercise apparatus having a frame with an adjustable weight
bearing ratchet and pulley system with laser timer and display is
disclosed. A force controlled laser timing device mounted to the
frame which measures via time movement within a given space. An
OLYMPIC barbell is located within the center of the device being
attached to the ratchet and pulley system for the purpose of
controlling gravitational resistance. A user-controlled strap is
wound about the barbell so that the force implemented by the user
will not allow the adjustable weights or barbell to become lose and
dangerous. Movement of the barbell by the user is measured and
recorded for weight and time.
Inventors: |
Nugent; David; (Sacramento,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
THEODORE J. BIELEN JR.
1390 WILLOW PASS ROAD
SUITE 1020
CONCORD
CA
94520
US
|
Family ID: |
37679803 |
Appl. No.: |
11/188264 |
Filed: |
July 22, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/8 ;
482/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0783 20151001;
A63B 2220/51 20130101; A63B 21/075 20130101; A63B 21/0724
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/008 ;
482/093 |
International
Class: |
A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00; A63B 21/06 20060101 A63B021/06 |
Claims
1-7. (canceled)
8. A training device utilizing a barbell with a set of weights
forming a barbell unit, including: a. a frame member b. a pulley
and ratchet mechanism mounted to said frame member and; c. a strap
extending from the pulley and ratchet mechanism, said strap being
secured to the barbell unit; wherein said frame member, pulley and
ratchet mechanism, and strap permits the user of the barbell to
throw the barbell during lifing exercises.
9. The device of claim 8 which further comprises a data measuring
device that determines the time duration of a lift.
10. The device of claim 9 in which further comprises a display
exhibiting the duration time of a lift.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application relies on a previously filed provisional
application
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING
[0003] Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The current device relates generally to muscle exercise
apparatus and, more specifically, to exercise apparatus capable of
providing both cardiovascular and timed strength training.
[0005] Human muscle is made up of fast contracting fibers and slow
contracting fibers. The fast contracting fibers are recruited only
infrequently--generally for rapid power movements or high intensity
isometric contractions. The slow contracting fibers, on the other
hand, are recruited for repetitive low-intensity activity, such as
long distance running or cycling. The neuro-muscular organization
characteristic of the most rapid or "ballistic" types of muscle
activities is believed to differ from that which characterizes slow
muscle activity.
[0006] Researchers believe that human voluntary muscle strength is
determined not only by the quantity (i.e., muscle cross-sectional
area) and quality (muscle fiber type) of the muscle mass involved,
but also by neural factors governing the extent to which the muscle
fibers making up the muscle can be activated. According to one
theory, the neural adaptation of muscle to high velocity training
is associated with an accentuation of the manner in which fast
twitch motor units are preferentially activated. In other words,
fast muscles (those with a relatively high proportion of fast
twitch motor units) may preferentially be activated over slow
muscles in the execution of high velocity movements. This theory
further posits that slow muscles (i.e., those with a relatively low
proportion of fast-twitch motor units) are preferentially activated
in the course of executing slower movements.
[0007] The proper exploitation of this model of human muscle
physiology in a strength training machine requires an apparatus
capable of accommodating high velocity movements across a full
range of machine supplied resistance levels, from high to low, as
well as lower velocity movements across a similarly full range of
resistance levels.
[0008] Still other variables are relevant in considering
cardiovascular response--the other side of the fitness equation.
Cardiovascular output is responsive in great measure to the demands
placed on the musculature of the human body. While such
physiological parameters as heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac
output rise in response to increases in the quantity of muscle mass
activated, the response is not linear. Still other variations have
been observed to occur depending on the type of exercise involved.
For example, it has been observed during the course of repetitious
exercises involving concentric and eccentric motions that higher
blood pressures occur during the eccentric portion of the exercise
than in the concentric portion. While cardiac output is
significantly lower during the concentric as compared to the
eccentric portion of an exercise repetition, the heart's rate of
beating is the same during the eccentric and concentric portions;
the difference in cardiac output results from the smaller stroke
volume during the concentric phase of the exercise. These and other
findings strongly suggest that exercise equipment should
preferentially be able to accommodate a wide array of workout
regimens.
[0009] Many different types of fitness equipment have been
developed to assist the individual in enhancing his muscle
strength, and still other machines have been developed to enhance
the individual's cardiovascular fitness. Treadmills, climbers,
rowing machines, and stationary bikes are a few examples of
apparatus that focus on enhancing cardiovascular fitness. Weight
systems, hydraulic and air resistance devices, and electronic
resistance devices are but a few of the types of apparatus that
focus on the strength side of fitness. The general state of the
technology is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,465,592 to Perrine; U.S.
Pat. No. 5,011,142 to Eckler; U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,562 to
Flavell/and U.S. Pat. No. 5,180,351 to Ehrenfried, the contents of
each of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0010] These types of exercise machines are quite expensive,
difficult to use or adjust, and offer the user only limited success
in enhancing either cardiovascular fitness or muscle strength.
Typical among the deficiencies present in such machines is their
tendency to focus on a small range of physical fitness
considerations to the exclusion of others, and often while
utilizing expensive components. Where they are of simple
construction and lower expense (e.g., a weight stack) they are
often cumbersome to use, e.g., when changing loads. Where load
changing has been made more automatic; the machines are often
prohibitively expensive.
[0011] There remains a need for an exercise apparatus that
addresses both muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness concerns
by accommodating a wide array of exercise regimens. There remains a
need for a machine that can afford the user the option of varying
the speed of his workout independently of the level of machine
supplied resistance he wishes to work against, and that does so in
an ergonomically suitable manner.
2. Description of the Prior Art
[0012] It has long been known that particular levels of light
attribute to health and psychological benefits. Although both
ocular as well as non-ocular techniques have been employed in an
attempt to achieve various such effects, ocular treatment appears
to be most efficacious. Not only are the eyes highly specialized
organs specifically adapted for sensing light, but a sizable
portion of the brain is exclusively devoted to processing data
generated by the retinas. Moreover, neurologists and anatomists
have relatively recently demonstrated the existence of nerve
pathways extending from the retinas that are separate and apart
from the pathways linked to the sight center of the brain.
[0013] An example of an organ whose regulatory function is
responsive to light sensed by the eyes is the pineal gland which
secretes the hormone melatonin. The hormone is released during
periods of darkness while production is abruptly halted when the
eyes perceive bright light. Melatonin is distributed throughout the
body via the blood and cerebrospinal fluid and can affect the
function of organs by which it is metabolized to thereby influence
sleep cycles, feeding cycles, reproduction cycles and other
biological rhythms. It has therefore been suggested that
phototherapy may effectively be employed to correct a melatonin
imbalance which may have resulted from, for example, shift work,
jet lag or life in the Polar Regions, and thereby remedy the
accompanying symptoms.
[0014] In these respects, the dimmable light therapy device
according to the present invention substantially departs from the
conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing
provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of
effecting automatic closing of a sliding screen door.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The current device is composed of five major components;
[0016] 1. Modified OLYMPIC weight bar [0017] 2. A laser timer
[0018] 3. A laser display [0019] 4. A SCANDISK [0020] 5. Winch and
cable system
[0021] Built around a laser-timed bar with a digital read out
display ( 1/1000 of a second) and a cage that allows the bar to be
launched (wench and cable catch the bar after ballistic movements
so that athlete does not have to reduce bar speed at the end of
lifts.) The result is accurate measurement of bar speed for most
conventional lifts including: squat, dead lift, bench press,
military press, lunges, power cleans and snatches. Example; athlete
loads bar to equal body weight and lowers bar to chest for bench
press movement. Bar is exploded past the usual top of the lift and
laser time is shown on meter read out. Athlete can complete the
lift for several reps with best time and aggregate time being kept.
Time is stored onto a SCANDISK for later loading into a PC so that
speed improvement can be monitored. Athletes can train for speed
and power through all movements never decelerating the bar which
retards neurological speed development.
[0022] The current device is designed to allow athletes to safely
perform speed and ballistic movements that result in increased
power production. The Velocity training device allows the ballistic
movements to traditional lifts such as: [0023] a. squats [0024] b.
bench press [0025] c. military press. [0026] d. dead lifts [0027]
e. snatches
[0028] The unique design of the current device allows these lifts
to be accomplished without decelerating the bar at the completion
of the repetition performed. Deceleration of a moving bar at the
end of any lift trains the athlete to decelerate and not accelerate
or explode into a power movement. If the athlete explodes without
the current device the bar and weight load becomes a dangerous
projectile. The unique design of my invention allows explosion
without deceleration or danger.
[0029] The current invention allows the above mentioned lifts to be
performed for measurable speed which completely changes the way
athletes train. No longer is the amount of weight the true measure,
with my invention the speed of completion becomes the measure. The
laser timer on the device performs this new way to measure
performance.
[0030] The current device allows the above mentioned lifts to be
performed safely with it's unique ratchet spotting device which
allows an athlete to perform regular reps of a lift to stimulate
neurological excitement and to follow that work with a ballistic,
explosive throw of the loaded bar for maximum power training. This
is unique in that the safety mechanism does not inhibit the normal
free bar movements while allowing the instant follow up with
ballistic movements all done safely.
[0031] The velocity training device allows the above mentioned
lifts to be measured and the speed of these lifts is stored on the
unique storage device on the velocity training device. This allows
an athlete to have a print out of workouts so that past speed and
explosiveness can be competed against for future gains.
[0032] The velocity training device is the only machine of its kind
for training explosively, ballistic, and safely using traditional
free bar weighted exercises. This is unique and important because
the movements are not inhibited by the machine apparatus itself.
The machine does not reproduce weight movements like the bench
press or squat forcing those movements into the track or groove of
the machine which may not fit every athlete's unique body type. The
velocity training device is truly free weight performed in the
traditional form allowing the completion the lift to be
ballistic.
[0033] The unique design of the velocity training device
incorporates many existing devices to produce an entirely new
training experience for athletes. The weight cage, SCANDISK
(computer storage), laser timer, seat belt type ratchet, OLYMPIC
weight bar and plates, standard power and lifting movements are all
existing devices and techniques that are combined into a completely
new, completely revolutionary way to train athletes for peak
explosiveness. The workout safely produced by the velocity training
device, the measurability of the workout laser timed and computer
stored cannot be accomplished in any other way without the velocity
training device making the velocity training device unique and
patentable.
[0034] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more
important features of the invention in order that the detailed
description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in
order that the present contribution to the art may be better
appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that
will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject
matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0035] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment
of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the
invention is not limited in its application to the details of
construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in
the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The
invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced
and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that
the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose
of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0036] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the
conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be
utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods
and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present
invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded
as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not
depart from the spirit and. scope of the present invention.
[0037] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable
the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and
especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art
who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to
determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence
of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is
neither intended to define the invention of the application, which
is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to
the scope of the invention in any way.
[0038] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a new athletic velocity training device apparatus and
method which has many of the advantages of the closures mentioned
heretofore and many novel features that result in a athletic
velocity training device which is not anticipated, rendered
obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art tool
guides, either alone or in any combination thereof.
[0039] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
new athletic velocity training device which may be easily and
efficiently manufactured and marketed.
[0040] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
new athletic velocity training device which is of a durable and
reliable construction.
[0041] An even further object of the present invention is to
provide a new athletic velocity training device which is
susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both
materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of
low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such
athletic velocity training device economically available to the
buying public.
[0042] Still yet another object of the present invention is to
provide a new athletic velocity training device which provides in
the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages
thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages
normally associated therewith.
[0043] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a
new dimmable light therapy device athletic velocity training device
which includes a chassis, light producing unit, transparent light
cover, dimming switch and a power cable assembly.
[0044] These together with other objects of the invention, along
with the various features of novelty which characterize the
invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed
to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better
understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the
specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to
the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are
illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] These and other features of the invention will be more fully
appreciated from the following detailed descriptions, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like parts are
given like reference numerals and wherein:
[0046] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective side view of a structural
frame with a top mounted adjustable weight which is in a stable or
neutral position while offering a perspective side view of the
laser timer and LED display unit
[0047] FIG. 2 1 is a schematic perspective front view of a
structural frame and adjustable ratchet and pulley system with a
top mounted adjustable weight which is in a stable or neutral
position while offering a perspective front view of the laser timer
and LED display unit and side view of the data collection unit.
[0048] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of sample results of
Jimmy Smith after using the current device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0049] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate embodiments of an exercise apparatus
constructed according to the principles of the invention.
[0050] FIG. 3 illustrates sample results from a user of the current
device.
[0051] As illustrated, in FIGS. 1-2, the structural frame 1, of the
device supports the ratchet and pulley system 2, which maintains
and stabilizes the weights 3, through the safety strap 7, before,
during and after the athlete has made the timed lift. The athlete's
lift is measured and timed with the laser unit and displays 5 and 6
and stored on the data collection SCANDISK system 4.
* * * * *