U.S. patent application number 15/588549 was filed with the patent office on 2017-12-28 for differential air pressure systems.
The applicant listed for this patent is Eric R. KUEHNE, Douglas F. SCHWANDT, Mark A. SHUGHART, Robert T. WHALEN, Sean T. WHALEN. Invention is credited to Eric R. KUEHNE, Douglas F. SCHWANDT, Mark A. SHUGHART, Robert T. WHALEN, Sean T. WHALEN.
Application Number | 20170367916 15/588549 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43085311 |
Filed Date | 2017-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170367916 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KUEHNE; Eric R. ; et
al. |
December 28, 2017 |
DIFFERENTIAL AIR PRESSURE SYSTEMS
Abstract
Described herein are various embodiments of differential air
pressure systems and methods of using such systems. The
differential air pressure system may comprise a chamber configured
to receive a portion of a user's lower body and to create an air
pressure differential upon the user's body. The differential air
pressure system may further comprise a user seal that seal the
pressure chamber to the user's body. The height of the user seal
may be adjusted to accommodate users with various body heights.
Inventors: |
KUEHNE; Eric R.; (Los Gatos,
CA) ; SHUGHART; Mark A.; (Palo Alto, CA) ;
WHALEN; Sean T.; (Mountain View, CA) ; SCHWANDT;
Douglas F.; (Palo Alto, CA) ; WHALEN; Robert T.;
(Los Altos, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
KUEHNE; Eric R.
SHUGHART; Mark A.
WHALEN; Sean T.
SCHWANDT; Douglas F.
WHALEN; Robert T. |
Los Gatos
Palo Alto
Mountain View
Palo Alto
Los Altos |
CA
CA
CA
CA
CA |
US
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
43085311 |
Appl. No.: |
15/588549 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13898246 |
May 20, 2013 |
9642764 |
|
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15588549 |
|
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|
12778747 |
May 12, 2010 |
8464716 |
|
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13898246 |
|
|
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|
61178901 |
May 15, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/18 20130101;
A63B 2220/56 20130101; A63B 21/00181 20130101; A63B 71/0622
20130101; A63B 22/001 20130101; A63B 2230/06 20130101; A63B
2071/0655 20130101; A61H 1/00 20130101; A63B 22/0076 20130101; A63B
22/0605 20130101; A63B 2208/053 20130101; A63B 22/0664 20130101;
A63B 22/0012 20130101; Y10T 137/0396 20150401; A63B 2209/10
20130101; A63B 22/02 20130101; A63B 21/068 20130101; A63B 22/0023
20130101; A63B 2209/08 20130101; A63B 22/0056 20130101; A63B
2230/01 20130101; A63B 2225/093 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61H 1/00 20060101
A61H001/00; A63B 21/068 20060101 A63B021/068; A63B 21/00 20060101
A63B021/00; A63B 22/02 20060101 A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A differential air pressure system, comprising: a positive
pressure chamber having a sealing interface to form a pressure seal
about a portion of a user; a treadmill positioned relative to the
positive pressure chamber wherein a portion of a belt of the
treadmill is in position below the sealing interface which allows a
user coupled to the sealing interface to interact with the
treadmill belt while experiencing an unweighting effect from
operation of the positive pressure chamber; a height adjustment
assembly attached to a portion of the positive pressure chamber
wherein movement of the height adjustment assembly adjusts the
spacing between the sealing interface and the treadmill belt to
accommodate the user; and a control panel for initiating and
adjusting the pressure within the differential air pressure
system.
3. The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further
comprising a treadmill control on the control panel.
4. The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further
comprising at least one transparent panel in a wall of the positive
pressure chamber positioned to view the interaction of the user
with the treadmill belt.
5. The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further
comprising one or more predetermined folds in the positive pressure
chamber, the one or more folds are placed in the positive pressure
chamber to enable a transition of the positive pressure chamber
from an in use configuration to a collapsed configuration as
movement of the height adjustment assembly is moved to reduce the
spacing between the sealing interface and the treadmill belt.
6. The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further
comprising a plurality of preset heights selection locations
configured for engagement with the height adjustment assembly
wherein each one of the present heights is a different preselected
spacing between the user interface and the treadmill belt.
7. The differential air pressure system of claim 6 further
comprising a locking device to fix the height adjustment assembly
relative to the treadmill belt.
8. The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further
comprising a blower positioned adjacent to the treadmill with an
output into the positive pressure chamber wherein the output of the
blower is adjusted to provide an adjustable amount of a
differential air pressure unweighing effect to a user coupled to
the sealing assembly.
9. The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further
comprising a display moveable with the height adjustment
assembly.
10. The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further
comprising a control panel configured for adjusting the operation
of the treadmill or the differential air pressure chamber, the
control panel moveable with the height adjustment assembly.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 13/898,246, filed May 20, 2013, titled
"DIFFERENTIAL AIR PRESSURE SYSTEMS," now U.S. Pat. No. 9,642,764,
which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/778,747
filed May 12, 2010 and titled "DIFFERENTIAL AIR PRESSURE SYSTEMS,"
now U.S. Pat. No. 8,464,716, which claims priority to U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 61/178,901 filed May 15, 2009
and titled "DIFFERENTIAL AIR PRESSURE SYSTEMS," the entirety of
which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
FIELD
[0002] The present invention generally relates to differential air
pressure systems of methods of using such systems.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Methods of counteracting gravitational forces on the human
body have been devised for therapeutic applications as well as
physical training. One way to counteract the effects of gravity is
to suspend a person using a body harness to reduce ground impact
forces. However, harness systems may cause pressure points that may
lead to discomfort and sometimes even induce injuries. Another
approach to counteract the gravity is to submerge a potion of a
user's body into a water-based system and let buoyancy provided by
the water offset gravity. However, the upward supporting force
provided by such water-based systems distributes unevenly on user's
body, varying with the depth of the user's body from the water
surface. Moreover, the viscous drag of the water may substantially
alter the muscle activation patterns of the user.
[0004] Described herein are various embodiments of differential air
pressure systems and methods of using such systems. The
differential air pressure system may comprise a chamber configured
to receive a portion of a user's lower body and to create an air
pressure differential upon the user's body. The differential air
pressure system may further comprise a user seal that seal the
pressure chamber to the user's body. The height of the user seal
may be adjusted to accommodate users with various body heights.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] Described herein are various embodiments of differential air
pressure systems and methods of using such systems. The
differential air pressure system may comprise a chamber configured
to receive a portion of a user's lower body and to create an air
pressure differential upon the user's body. The differential air
pressure system may further comprise a user seal that seal the
pressure chamber to the user's body. The height of the user seal
may be adjusted to accommodate users with various body heights.
[0006] In one example, a differential air pressure system is
provided, comprising a positive pressure chamber with a seal
interface configured to receive a portion of a user's body and form
a seal between the user's body and the chamber, and a height
adjustment assembly attached to the chamber adjacent to the seal
interface, and a control panel attached to the height adjustment
assembly. The positive pressure chamber may comprise at least one
or a plurality of transparent panels, and/or a slip resistant
panel. The slip resistant panel may be adjacent to the seal
interface. The height adjustment assembly may comprise two movable
ends located within two corresponding adjustment posts, wherein
each movable end may comprise at least two rollers. In some further
examples, a first roller may be orthogonally or oppositely oriented
with respect to a second roller, and in other examples, may
comprise three rollers, with a first roller on a first surface, a
second roller located on an opposite surface from the first
surface, and a third roller located on an orthogonal surface from
the first surface or opposite surface. The each movable end may
also comprise at least one movable braking pad, which may or may
not be configured to actuate by tilting the height adjustment
assembly. The height adjustment assembly may comprise a locking
mechanism, which may be horizontally, vertically, rotationally
actuated, pull or push-actuated. The locking mechanism may be a pin
latch locking mechanism configured to lock the position of the user
seal. The height adjustment mechanism may further comprises a
counterbalancing system configured to at least partially offset the
weight of the movable assembly, and in some examples, may be
configured to balance the effective combined weight of the movable
assembly and the positive pressure chamber. The counterbalancing
system may comprise a weight located in at least one adjustment
post. The system may also further comprise a platform attached to
the chamber using a seal mechanism. The seal mechanism may be
configured to increase sealing to the platform with increased
pressure within chamber, and may comprise a foam member.
[0007] In another example, a differential air pressure system is
provided, comprising a pressure chamber, and a vertically
adjustable cantilevered frame having a first movable configuration
and a second locked configuration wherein the second locked
configuration is actuated by the inflation of the pressure
chamber.
[0008] In another example, a method of adjusting a differential air
pressure system is provided, comprising simultaneously raising a
control panel and a pressure chamber using a counterbalanced height
adjustment assembly. The method may further comprise tilting a
cantilevered braking mechanism of the height adjustment assembly to
engage or disengage the braking mechanism. In some examples,
tilting of the cantilevered braking mechanism may be mechanically
performed by inflating or deflating the pressure chamber.
[0009] In still another example, a method for using a differential
air pressure system is provided, comprising increasing the pressure
applied to a limb located in a pressure chamber sealably attached
to a platform, and increasing the sealing of the pressure chamber
and the platform corresponding to increasing the pressure applied
to the limb.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] A better understanding of various features and advantages of
the embodiments described herein may be obtained by reference to
the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative
examples and the accompanying drawings of which:
[0011] FIG. 1 is block diagram schematically illustrating one
example of a differential air pressure system.
[0012] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of one example of a
differential air pressure system; FIG. 2B is a top view of the
system in FIG. 2A; FIG. 2C is a perspective component view of the
system in FIG. 2A.
[0013] FIG. 3A and 3B are schematic illustrations of a middle panel
and a side panel of one example of a pressure chamber,
respectively.
[0014] FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate one embodiment of a pressure
chamber; FIG. 4A is a frontal view of the pressure chamber; FIG. 4B
is the top view of the chamber in FIG. 4A.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a pressure
chamber attached to the base of a differential air pressure
system.
[0016] FIGS. 6A and 6B are schematic anterior and posterior
perspective views, respectively of another embodiment of a pressure
chamber in an expanded state; FIG. 6C is a schematic anterior
perspective view of the pressure chamber in a collapsed state.
[0017] FIG. 7A is a perspective view of one embodiment of an
attachment interface between an pressure chamber and the base of a
differential air pressure system; FIG. 7B is a detailed view of the
attachment interface from FIG. 7A without the pressure chamber;
FIG. 7C is a component view of the base of the differential air
pressure system of FIG. 7A; FIG. 7D is a detailed view of the
bottom edge of the chamber of FIG. 7A.
[0018] FIG. 8A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a height
adjustment mechanism for a differential air pressure system; FIG.
8B is a perspective component view of the embodiment form FIG. 8A
with two side posts removed to illustrate the components inside the
posts; FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the embodiment from FIGS.
8A and 8B in a locked configuration; FIGS. 8D and 8E are the
orthogonal side view and top view of the embodiment in FIG. 8A,
respectively.
[0019] FIG. 9A is a perspective view of one embodiment of a locking
mechanism for a differential air pressure system; FIG. 9B is a
perspective component view of the embodiment from FIG. 9A; FIG. 9C
is a perspective view of the embodiment from FIG. 9A housed in a
movable assembly.
[0020] FIGS. 10A and 10B are schematic illustrations of one
embodiment of a method to attach an inflated chamber to a portion
of a console frame.
[0021] FIG. 11A is a perspective view of another example of a
differential air pressure system; FIG. 11B is a perspective view of
the system in FIG. 11A with its paneling removed.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a posterior elevational view of the height
indicator of the adjustable assembly in FIG. 11A.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a perspective component view of the adjustable
assembly of the system in FIG. 11A.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a schematic perspective view of the rear
retaining rail, posterior chamber panel, and platform of the system
in FIG. 11A.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a schematic illustration of the forces that may
be acting on the adjustment assembly.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0026] While embodiments have been described and presented herein,
these embodiments are provided by way of example only. Variations,
changes and substitutions may be made without departing from the
embodiments. It should be noted that various alternatives to the
exemplary embodiments described herein may be employed in
practicing the embodiments. For all of the embodiments described
herein, the steps of the methods need not to be performed
sequentially.
Differential Air Pressure System
[0027] Differential air pressure (DAP) systems utilize changes in
air pressure to provide positive or negative weight support for
training and rehabilitation systems and programs. Various examples
of DAP systems are described in International Patent Application
Serial No. PCT/US2006/038591, filed on Sep. 28, 2006, titled
"Systems, Methods and Apparatus for Applying Air Pressure on A
Portion of the Body of An Individual," International Patent
Application Serial No. PCT/US2008/011807, filed on Oct. 15, 2008,
entitled "Systems, Methods and Apparatus for Calibrating
Differential Air Pressure Devices" and International Patent
Application Serial No. PCT/US2008/011832, filed on Oct. 15, 2008,
entitled "Systems, Methods and Apparatus for Differential Air
Pressure Devices," all of which are hereby incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
[0028] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates one example of a DAP system
100, comprising a sufficiently airtight chamber 102 which houses an
optional exercise system 112. The chamber 102 includes a user seal
104 configured to receive a user 101 and to provide a sufficient
airtight seal with the user's lower body 106. A pressure control
system 103 is used to generate alter the pressure level (P.sub.2)
inside the chamber 102 relative to the ambient pressure outside the
chamber (P.sub.1). When a user positioned in the DAP system is
sealed to the chamber 102 and the chamber pressure (P.sub.2) is
changed, the differential air pressure (.DELTA.P=P.sub.2-P.sub.1)
between the lower body 106 of the user 101 inside chamber 102 and
the upper body outside the chamber 102 generates a vertical force
acting through the seal 104 and also directly onto the user's lower
body 106. If the chamber pressure P.sub.2 is higher than the
ambient air pressure P.sub.1, there will be an upward vertical
force (F.sub.air) that is proportionate to the product of the air
pressure differential (.DELTA.P) and the cross-sectional area of
the user seal 110. The upward force (F.sub.air) may counteract
gravitational forces, providing a partial body-weight-support that
is proportional to the air pressure differential (.DELTA.P). This
weight support may reduce ground impact forces acting on the
joints, and/or reduce muscular forces needed to maintain posture,
gait, or other neuromuscular activities, for example.
[0029] The chamber 102 may be attached to a platform or base 108
that supports the chamber 102 and the exercise machine 112. The
exercise machine 112 may be at least partially or wholly housed
within the chamber 102. Any of a variety of exercise machines may
be used, e.g., a treadmill, a stepper machine, an elliptical
trainer, a balance board, and the like. Other exercise machines
that may be used also include seated equipment, such as a
stationary bicycle or a rowing machine. Weight support with seated
equipment may be used to facilitate physical therapy or exercise in
non-ambulatory patients, including but not limited to patients with
pressure ulcers or other friable skin conditions located at the
ischial tuberosities or sacral regions, for example. The exercise
system or machine 112, such a treadmill, may have one or more
adjustment mechanisms (e.g. workload, height, inclination, and/or
speed), which may be controlled or adjusted by the DAP system
console, or may controlled separately. Other features, such as a
heart rate sensor, may also be separately managed or integrated
with the DAP console. Those of ordinary skill in the art will
appreciate that the treadmill shown in FIG. 1 is not intended to be
limiting and that other exercise machines can be used without
departing from the concepts herein disclosed.
[0030] The chamber 102 may comprise a flexible chamber or
enclosure, and may be made of any suitable flexible material. The
flexible material may comprise a sufficiently airtight fabric or a
material coated or treated with a material to resist or reduce air
leakage. The material may also comprise slightly permeable or
otherwise porous to permit some airflow, but sufficiently airtight
to allow pressure to be increase inside the chamber. The chamber
102 may have a unibody design, or may comprise multi-panels and/or
or multiple layers. In some variations, the chamber 102 may
comprise one or more flexible portions and one or more semi-rigid
or rigid portions. Rigid portions may be provided to augment the
structural integrity of the chamber 102, and/or to control the
expansion or collapse of the chamber 102. The rigid portions may
have a fixed position, e.g. affixed to a fixed platform or rail, or
may comprise a rigid section, panel, or rod (or other reinforcement
member) surrounded by flexible material which changes position with
inflation or deflation. Examples of such panels or materials are
described in greater detail below. In other examples, the chamber
102 may comprise a frame or other structures comprising one or more
elongate members, disposed either inside and/or outside of a
flexible enclosure, or integrated into the enclosure material(s). A
rigid enclosure or a rigid portion may be made of any suitable
rigid material, e.g., wood, plastic, metal, etc.
[0031] The user seal 104 of the chamber 102 may comprise an
elliptical, circular, polygonal or other shape and may be made from
flexible materials to accommodate various shapes and/or sizes of
waistline of individual user 101. The user seal 104 may be
adjustable to accommodate persons of different body sizes and/or
shapes, or configured for a particular range of sizes or body
forms. Non-limiting examples of the various user seal designs
include the use of zippers, elastic bands, a cinchable member
(e.g., drawstrings or laces), high friction materials, cohesive
materials, magnets, snaps, buttons, VELCRO.TM., and/or adhesives,
and are described in greater detail in PCT Appl. No.
PCT/US2006/038591, PCT/US2008/011807, and PCT/US2008/011832, which
were previously referenced and incorporated by reference. In some
examples, the user seal 104 may comprise a separate pressure
structure or material that may be removably attached to the chamber
102. For example, the user seal may comprise a waistband or belt
with panels or a skirt, or a pair of shorts or pants. One or more
of above listed attaching mechanisms may be used to attach such
separate pressure closure to the user's body in a sufficiently
airtight manner. The seal 104 may be breathable and/or washable. In
some embodiments, the seal 104 may seal up to the user's chest, and
in some variations the seal 104 may extend from the user's waist
region up to the chest.
[0032] The user seal 104 and/or chamber 102 may comprise a
plurality of openings 105. The openings 105 may be used to alter
the temperature and/or humidity in the chamber or the torso region
of the user, and/or may be configured to control the pressure
distribution about the waist or torso of the user 101. For example,
openings positioned in front of the user's torso may prevent
pressure from building up around the user's stomach due to
ballooning of the flexible waist seal under pressure. The openings
may comprise regions of non-airtight fabrics, or by forming larger
openings in the wall of the chamber 102. The openings may have a
fixed configuration (e.g. fixed effective opening size) or a
variable configuration (e.g. adjustable effective opening size or
flow). The openings may comprise a port or support structure, which
may provide reinforcement of the patency and/or integrity of the
opening. The port or support structure may also comprise a valve or
shutter mechanism to provide a variable opening configuration.
These openings may be manually adjustable or automatically
adjustable by a controller. In some variations, the openings with a
variable configuration may be independently controlled.
[0033] As mentioned previously, a pressure control system 103 may
be used to manage the pressure level within the chamber 102.
Various examples of pressure control systems are described in PCT
Appl. No. PCT/US2006/038591, PCT/US2008/011807, and
PCT/US2008/011832, which were previously incorporated by reference.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pressure control system 103 may
comprise one or more pressure sensors 120, a processor 122, and a
pressure source 114. The pressure source 114 may be pump, a blower
or any type of device that may introduce pressurized gas into the
chamber 102. In the particular example in FIG. 1, the pressure
source 114 comprises a compressor or blower system 126, which
further comprises an inlet port 124 for receiving a gas (e.g.,
air), an outlet port 128 to the chamber 102. The compressor or
blower system 126 may comprise a variable pump or fan speed that
may be adjusted to control the airflow or pressure to the chamber
102. In other examples, the pressure control system may be located
within the chamber, such that the inlet port of the system is
located about a wall of the chamber and where the outlet port of
the system is located within the chamber.
[0034] In some variations, the DAP system 100 may further comprise
a chamber venting system 116. The venting system 116 may comprise
an inlet port 130 to receive gas or air from the chamber 102, one
or more pressure regulating valves 132, and an outlet port 134. The
pressure regulating valve 132 and its outlet port 134 may be
located outside the chamber 102, while the inlet port 130 may be
located in a wall of the chamber 102 (or base). In other
variations, the pressure regulating valve and the inlet port may be
located within the chamber while the outlet port is located in a
wall of the chamber or base. The valve 132 may be controlled by the
pressure control system 103 to reduce pressures within the chamber
102, either in combination with the control of the pressure source
114 (e.g. reducing the flow rate of the blower 126) and/or in lieu
of control of the pressure source 114 (e.g. where the pressure
source is an unregulated pressure source). The valve 132 may also
be configured for use as a safety mechanism to vent or
de-pressurize the chamber 102, during an emergency or system
failure, for example. In other variations, a separate safety valve
(not shown) with the pressure regulating valve. The separate safety
may be configured to with a larger opening or higher flow rate than
the pressure regulating valve.
[0035] In some examples, the processor 122 may be configured to
control and/or communicate with the pressure source 114, a chamber
pressure sensor 120, the exercise system 112 and/or a user
interface system (e.g., a user control panel) 118. The
communication between the processor 122 and each of above
referenced components of the control system 103 may be one-way or
two-way. The processor 122 may receive any of a variety of signals
to or from pressure source 114, such as on/off status and
temperature of the pressure source 114, the gas
velocity/temperature at the inlet port 124 and/or the outlet port
128. The processor 122 may also send or receive signals from the
control panel 118, including a desired pressure within the chamber
102, a desired percentage of body weight of the individual to be
offset, an amount of weight to offset the user's body weight,
and/or a pain level. The processor 122 may also receive input from
the pressure sensor 120 corresponding to the pressure level within
the chamber 102. Based on its input from any of above described
sources, the processor 122 may send a drive signal to the pressure
source 114 (or pressure regulating valve 115) to increase or
decrease the airflow to the chamber 102 so as to regulate the
pressure within chamber 102 to the desired level. In some
variations, the desired pressure level may be a pre-set value, and
in other variations may be a value received from the control panel
118 or derived from information received from the user, e.g., via
the control panel 118, or other sensors, including weight sensors,
stride frequency sensors, heart rate sensors, gait analysis
feedback such as from a camera with analysis software, or ground
reaction force sensors, etc. The processor 122 may send signals to
change one or more parameters of the exercise system 112 based on
the pressure reading of the chamber 102 from the pressure sensor
120 and/or user instructions from the control panel 118.
[0036] The control panel 118 may also be used to initiate or
perform one or more calibration procedures. Various examples of
calibration procedures that may be used are described in
International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2006/038591,
filed on Sep. 28, 2006, titled "Systems, Methods and Apparatus for
Applying Air Pressure on A Portion of the Body of An Individual,"
International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2008/011807,
filed on Oct. 15, 2008, entitled "Systems, Methods and Apparatus
for Calibrating Differential Air Pressure Devices" and
International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2008/011832,
which were previously incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Briefly, the pressure control system 103 may apply a series or
range of pressures (or airflow rates) to a user sealed to the DAP
system 100 while measuring the corresponding weight or ground
reaction force of the user. Based upon the paired values, the
pressure control system can generate a calibrated interrelationship
between pressure and the relative weight of a user, as expressed as
a percentage of normal body weight or gravity. In some examples,
the series or range of pressures may be a fixed or predetermined
series or range, e.g. the weight of the user is measured for each
chamber pressure from X mm Hg to Y mm Hg in increments of Z mm Hg.
X may be in the range of about 0 to about 100 or more, sometimes
about 0 to about 50, and other times about 10 to about 30. Y may be
in the range of about 40 to about 150 or more, sometimes about 50
to about 100, and other times about 60 to about 80. Z may be in the
range of about 1 to about 30 or more, sometimes about 5 to about 20
and other times about 10 to about 15. The fixed or predetermined
series or range may be dependent or independent of the user's
weight or mass, and/or other factors such as the user's height or
the elevation above sea level. In one specific example, a user's
baseline weight is measured at atmospheric pressure and then X, Y
and/or Z are determined based upon the measured weight. In still
another example, one or more measurements of the user's static
ground reaction force may be made at one or more non-atmospheric
pressures and then escalated to a value Y determined during the
calibration process. In some examples, the pressure control system
may also include a verification process whereby the chamber
pressure is altered to for a predicted relative body weight and
while measuring or displaying the actual body weight. In some
further examples, during the calibration procedures, if one or more
measured pressure or ground reaction force values falls outside a
safety range or limit, the particular measurement may be
automatically repeated a certain number of times and/or a system
error signal may be generated. The error signal may halt the
calibration procedure, and may provide instructions to through the
control panel 118 to perform certain safety checks before
continuing.
[0037] Another example of a differential air pressure (DAP) system
is illustrated in FIGS. 2A to 2C. This DAP system 300 comprises a
pressure chamber 310 with a user seal 350, an exercise machine
within the chamber 310 (not shown), a frame 320, and a console 330.
The DAP system 300 may also comprise a height adjustment mechanism
334 to alter the height of a user seal 350, and a locking mechanism
333 may also be provided to maintain the adjustment mechanism 334
at a desired position. Features and variations of the DAP system
300 are discussed in greater detail below.
Pressure Chamber
[0038] FIGS. 2A and 2B schematically illustrate the DAP system 300
with the pressure chamber 310 in an expanded state. Although the
chamber 310 is shown with surfaces having generally planar
configurations, in use, at least some if not all of the surfaces
may bulge outward when inflated or pressurized. The chamber 310 may
be configured with a particular shape or contour when pressurized
and/or depressurized or otherwise collapsed. Certain shapes or
contours may be useful to accommodate particular movements or
motions, including motion inside the chamber 310 and/or motion
outside the chamber 310. Certain shapes or contours may also be
useful in controlling the shape of the enclosure in the collapsed
state to minimize loose fabric which would otherwise create a
tripping hazard. In FIG. 2A, for example, the chamber 310 has a
greater length relative to its width. The ratio between the length
and the width of the chamber may be in the range of about 1.5:1 to
about 5:1 or greater, in some examples about 2:1 to about 4:1 and
in other examples in the range of about 2.5:1 to about 3.5:1. An
elongate length may permit the use of a treadmill, and/or
accommodate body movements associated with some training regimens.
For example, an elongate chamber length may provide increased space
for forward leg extensions and/or rearward leg kicks associated
with running and other forms of ambulation. In other variations,
the chamber may have a greater width than length, and the ratios of
length to width may be the opposite of the ranges described above,
or a shape or footprint different from a rectangle, including but
not limited, to a square, circle, ellipse, teardrop, or polygon
footprint, for example. Referring to FIG. 5, the chamber 310 may
also have a variable width, with one or more sections of the
chamber 310 having a different width than other sections of the
chamber 310. For example, the chamber 310 may comprise a reduced
superior central width 360, as compared to the superior anterior
width 362 and/or the superior posterior width of the chamber 310.
Also, the superior anterior width and the superior posterior width
may be similar, while their ratios to the central superior width
are about 5:3. In other examples, the ratio may in the range of
about 1:2 to about 4:1 or higher, in some examples about 1:1 to
about 3:1, and in other examples about 5:4 to about 2:1. The
superior width of anterior, central and/or posterior regions may
also be smaller or a greater than the inferior width 366, 368,370
of the same or different region. The ratio of a superior width to
an inferior width may be in the range of about 1:4 to about 4:1,
sometimes about 1:2 to about 1:2, and other times about 2:3 to
about 1:1. The bag may be contoured to allow for volumetric
efficiency in placing additional components in unused space. For
example, as illustrated in FIG. 11B, a front section 1116 of the
chamber 1118 may be brought downward and outward to allow room for
placement of a blower 1110, valve 1112 and electronics 114 above
the front section 116, for example. The contours and/or seams of
the chamber may be rounded or curved using sufficient radii on
corners to reduce fabric stresses, or may incorporate reinforcement
patches where stresses are high.
[0039] Referring back to the DAP system 300 in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the
superior to inferior widths of the anterior and posterior regions
may be about 2:3, while the ratio in the central region may be
about 2:5. One or more sections of the chamber 310 may comprise any
of a variety of axial cross-sectional shapes, including but not
limited to trapezoidal or triangular cross-sectional shapes. Other
shapes include but are not limited to square, rectangular, oval,
polygonal, circular, and semi-circular shapes (or other portion of
a circle or other shape), and the like. Two or more sections of the
chamber along the same directional axis may have the same or a
different cross-sectional shape. A chamber 310 with a reduced
superior central width (or other region adjacent to the user seal
350) may provide increased space above or outside the chamber 310
to accommodate arm swing during ambulation, permit closer
positioning of safety handrails, and/or or use of ambulation aids
(e.g. walker or cane). In other examples, the superior central
width of the chamber, or other section of the chamber, may be
increased relative to one or more other sections described above,
and in some specific examples, the chamber may be configured to
facilitate resting of the arms or hands on the chamber, or even
direct gripping of the chamber with one or more handles.
[0040] The chamber of a DAP system may have a fixed or variable
height along its length and/or width, as well as a variable
configuration along its superior surface. The vertical height of
the chamber may be expressed as a percent height relative to a peak
height or to a particular structure, such as the user seal. The
peak height of a chamber may be located anywhere from the anterior
region to the posterior region, as well as anywhere from left to
right, and may also comprise more than one peak height and/or
include lesser peaks which are shorter than the peak height but
have downsloping regions in opposite directions from the lesser
peak. The superior surface may comprise one or more sections having
a generally horizontal orientation and/or one or more sections with
an angled orientation that slopes upward or downward from anterior
to posterior, left to right (or vice versa). Some configurations
may also comprise generally vertically oriented sections (or
acutely upsloping or downsloping sections) that may separate two
superior sections of the chamber. As depicted in FIG. 2C, the
chamber 310 may comprise an anterior region with a height that is
about 50% or less than the height of the user seal 350, but in some
variations, the height may be anywhere in the range of about 1% to
about 100% of the peak height, sometimes about 5% to about 80%, and
other times about 20% to about 50%. A reduced height region may
provide additional space within the chamber for internal
structures, such a treadmill, while providing space above the
reduced height region for external structures. The internal and
external structures may have a fixed location or a movable
position.
[0041] The pressure chamber may be assembled or formed by any of a
variety of manufacturing processes, such as shaping and heating
setting the enclosure, or attaching a plurality of panels in a
particular configuration. The chamber 310 illustrated in FIGS. 2A
to 2C comprises two side panels 312 and a middle panel 313, but in
other variations, fewer or greater number of panels may be used to
form the same or a different chamber configuration. For example, a
side panel may be integrally formed with one or more portions of
the middle panel or even the other side panel. As schematically
illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, these panels 312 and 313 may be cut
or manufactured from sheet-like material but are then attached in
non-planar configurations. The middle panel 313 of the chamber 310
may comprise an elongate sheet of material having an anterior edge
371, a posterior edge 373 and two non-linear, centrally narrowed
lateral edges 375, such that the middle panel 313 has a greater
width anteriorly and posteriorly than centrally. The side panels
312 may have an irregular polygonal shape, comprising a generally
linear horizontal inferior edge 372, a generally linear vertical
anterior edge 374, and a generally linear vertical posterior edge
376, while the superior edge comprises an generally horizontal
first superior edge 378, a generally vertical second superior edge
380, a generally upsloping third superior edge 382, a generally
horizontal fourth superior edge 384, and a generally downsloping
fifth superior edge 386. The transition from one edge to the
adjacent may be abrupt or gradual, and may be angled or curved.
Although the side panels 312 and the lateral edges 375 of the
middle panel 313 may be generally symmetrical or mirror images,
while in other variations the side panels and/or the lateral edges
of the middle panel may have asymmetric configurations. The
characterization of some or all the edges of the shape into general
orthogonal orientations (e.g. anterior/posterior/superior/inferior)
is not required may vary depending upon the reference point used.
Thus, in the example above, the second superior edge 380 may also
be characterized as an anterior edge, while edge 378 may be
characterized as either an anterior or superior edge. In other
variations, one or more of the edges of the panel may be generally
curved or non-linear, and may be generally upsloping, downsloping,
vertical, or horizontal, and may comprise multiple segments. The
panels may have a shape the promotes folding such as a stiffer
outer section and more flexible inner section as shown in FIGS. 6A
and 6B, which resembles a butterfly or hourglass shape, but could
also be any of a variety of other suitable shapes with a reduced
central dimension.
[0042] The edges or edge regions of the two side panels 312 may be
attached to the lateral edges 375 (or lateral edge regions) of the
middle panel 313, e.g. the anterior edge 374 of the side panel 312
is attached to first edge 374' of the middle panel 313, etc. The
various edges of the middle panel 313 may be characterized (from
anterior to posterior, or other reference point) as parallel edges
378' and 384', tapered edges 374', 380' and 382' or flared edges
388'. The edge or edge regions may be attached and/or sealed by any
of a variety of mechanisms, including but not limited to stitching,
gluing, heat melding and combinations thereof. The chamber may also
be formed from a single panel which may be folded or configured and
attached to itself (e.g. edge-to-edge, edge-to-surface or
surface-to-surface) to form a portion or all of the chamber. FIGS.
4A and 4B are orthogonal frontal view superior views, respectively
of the chamber 310 in an assembled and expanded state, and
schematically depicting the contours of the chamber 310. FIG. 4A
schematically illustrates the wider base and narrower superior
surface of the chamber 310, which may provide an offset or a gap
401 between side panel 312 of the chamber 310, as depicted in FIG.
4B. In some examples, a superiorly tapered chamber may reduce the
amount of fabric or material used and/or may reduce the degree of
bulge when the chamber is pressurized.
[0043] In some embodiments, the chamber or panels of the chamber
may be configured with pre-determined fold lines or folding regions
that may facilitate folding or deflation of the chamber along to a
pre-determined shape. For example, the chamber may have an
accordion or bellows-like configuration that biases the chamber to
collapse to a pre-determined configuration along folds with an
alternating inward and outward orientation. The pre-determined fold
lines include but are not limited to the interface between flexible
and rigid regions of the chamber, creases along a panel, or panel
regions between generally angled edges of adjacent panels, for
example. In some variations, fold lines may be creases or pleats
provided by heat setting or mechanical compression. In other
variations, fold lines may be made by a scoring or otherwise
providing lines or regions with reduced thicknesses. Fold lines may
also be provided along a thickened region, rigid region, ridge or
other type of protrusion. Other fold lines may be provided by
stitching or adhering strips of the same or different panel
material to the chamber, and in other variations, stitching or
application of curable or hardenable material (e.g. adhesive) alone
may suffice to control folding. In still other variations, fold
lines may be provided by attaching or embedding one or more
elongate members (e.g., a rail or a tread made by NITINOL.TM.)
along the chamber. An elongate member may have any of a variety of
characteristics, and may be linear or non-linear, malleable,
elastic, rigid, semi-rigid or flexible, for example. The chamber or
panels may comprise pre-formed grooves or recesses to facilitate
insertion and/or removal of the elongate members, and in some
variations, may permit reconfiguration chamber for different types
of uses or users. In some embodiments, the fold-lines may comprise
one or more mechanical hinge mechanisms between two panels (e.g.,
living hinges) that are either attached to the surface of the
chamber or inserted into chamber pockets. Each fold line of a
chamber may have the same or a different type of folding mechanism.
Collapse of the chamber in a pre-determined fashion may also be
affected by elastic tension elements or bands attached to the
chamber.
[0044] As illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the middle panel 313 of
the chamber 310 may comprise one or more fold lines 391, 393 and
395 which may help the chamber deflate or collapse into a
pre-determined shape or configuration. In some examples, the
pre-determined shape may facilitate entry and/or separation between
the user and the system by reducing protruding folds or surface
irregularities that may trip or otherwise hinder the user. The fold
line 393 may be configured (e.g. with an internal angle greater
than about 180 degrees by virtue of the side panel shape) to fold
the adjacent external surfaces of the middle panel 313 against each
other. This configuration in turn, may facilitate the nearest fold
lines 391 and 395 to fold so that their adjacent internal surfaces
fold against each other. The pre-determined fold lines 391, 393 and
395 in the anterior region of the chamber may result in a
corresponding flattening of the posterior chamber.
[0045] As illustrated in FIG. 5, the front and back edges 373 and
375 of the middle panel 313 and the inferior edge 372 of the side
panels are attached to the system platform or base 321 rather than
a flexible panel or material, but in other variations, an inferior
panel may be provided. The side panels 312 may be made from the
same or different material as the middle panel 313 of the chamber
310, and in some variations, the side panels may also comprise
different materials. In some variations, the stretch or flexible
properties (or any other material properties) may be anisotropic.
For example, the middle panel 313 of the chamber 310 may be made
from a less stretchable material in order to limit the chamber's
expansion in transverse direction (i.e., along X axis in FIG. 5).
The side panels 312 may be made from a more stretchable material,
which may or may not redistribute the tension acting on the less
stretchable portions of the chamber 310. The side panels 312 may
comprise a relatively more flexible material, which may facilitate
a predetermined folding pattern of the middle panel 313 when
deflated or collapsed. The chamber 310 may be made of any suitable
flexible material, e.g., a fabric (woven or nonwoven), a polymeric
sheet (e.g., polyurethane, polypropylene, polyvinylchloride,
Nylon.RTM., Mylar.RTM., etc.), leather (natural or synthetic), and
the like. The materials may be opaque, translucent or transparent.
In some embodiments, the outer surface of the middle panel 313 may
be coated with anti-slip materials or coatings, and/or may comprise
ridges or other surface texturing to resist slipping when a user
steps onto the deflated chamber 310.
[0046] FIGS. 6A to 6C depict one example of a pressure chamber 610
comprising multiple panels with different material characteristics.
Here, the side panels 612 and the middle panel 613 further comprise
generally airtight transparent windows 630, 632, 634, 636 and 638.
The user seal 650 may also comprise one or transparent or
translucent regions. In some examples, transparent materials may
permit a healthcare provider or other observer to view the movement
of the user (e.g. gait analysis), or to improve the safety of the
system by permitting viewing of the chamber contents, in the
expanded and/or collapsed states. The windows may also permit the
user to view his or her lower limbs, which may promote gait
stability and/or balance. The side windows 630 of the side panels
612 may also comprise non-linear, concave edges 640 and 642
anteriorly and posteriorly. In some examples, the concave edges 640
and 642 may facilitate folding of the side panels 612 along fold
line 647. As shown in FIG. 6C, the outfolding, rather than
infolding, of the side windows 630 may also be facilitated by the
bulging side windows 630 in the pre-collapsed/pressurized state. In
some examples, by promoting the outfolding of the side windows 630
in the collapsed configuration, there may be less chamber material
adjacent to the user seal 650 which a user may trip or step on when
entering the system. This may permit the superior posterior section
644 of the lie in a flatter orientation and to span the area from
the posterior edge 677 of the middle panel 613 to the user seal
650. In some variations, a rod or other elongate element 648 (as
shown in FIG. 6B) may be attached horizontally between the
posterior windows 636 and 638 to facilitate the folding along fold
line 649. The elongate element 548 may be attached to the interior
or exterior surface, and/or partially or completely embedded within
the panel material itself. In some examples, the rod or elongate
element may comprise a significant weight such that upon
depressurization of the chamber, the weight of the rod and its
location along a sloped surface of the chamber may facilitate the
inward folding of the chamber. A non-slip layer 646 of material may
be provided on the superior posterior section 644, which may
promote safe ingress and egress from the chamber 610. A non-slip
layer may also be reinforced or made of substantially stiff
material to assist in contouring of the chamber to aid in folding
and prevent wrinkling where deflated, thereby reducing the trip
hazard. In other examples, the concave or inwardly angled edges may
be located more inferiorly or more superiorly, and may also be
located along other edges of the window (or panel) or multiple
sites may be found along one edge. In still other variations, one
or more edge may comprise a convex or outwardly angled edge, which
may facilitate folding in the opposite direction.
[0047] A DAP system may comprise an attachment mechanism to couple
and/or seal a pressure chamber to the base of the system in a
sufficiently airtight manner to maintain pressurization within the
chamber. One example of an attachment mechanism is illustrated in
FIGS. 7A to 7D. The inferior edges of the side panels 768 and
posterior inferior edge of the middle panel 770 may comprise one or
more sealing structures that engage and seal along a corresponding
recess or groove along the base 700. The sealing structure may
comprise any of a variety of structures or combinations of
structures having a transverse dimension that is greater than the
opening or slot 762 along the recess or groove 760, including but
not limited to inverted T-structures, flanges and the like.
Alternatively, the chamber may also be attached to the base using
welding, adhesives, hook-and-loop fasteners or other suitable
attachment methods known to the ordinary skilled in the art.
[0048] As depicted in FIG. 7D, the sealing structure may comprise a
tubular structure 780 formed by folding and adhering or attaching
the panel 770 back against itself. In other variations, the tubular
structure may be formed by any of a variety of processes, including
but not limited to extrusion and the like. The panel 770 may be
folded inwardly (as depicted in FIG. 7D) or outwardly (as depicted
in the alternate embodiment FIG. 14), or may comprise tabs which
may fold in different directions. The sealing structure may
comprise the same or different material (or reinforcement
structure, if any) as the rest of the panel 770, and may or may not
have a different thickness.
[0049] The tubular structure 780 may be seated in the groove 760
such that the transverse width of the tubular structure 780 resists
pullout from the groove 760. In some examples, a reinforcement
member, such a rod or other elongate member, may be inserted into
the tubular structure 780 to further resist pullout, while in other
variations, the rigidity of the panel material in a tubular
configuration alone may be sufficient. In still other
configurations, the inferior edges of the panel material may be
attached or integrally formed with a flange or other structure to
resist pullout. In other examples, a specific sealing structure is
not required along edge of the panels and instead, the base may
comprise a clamping structure which may provide a friction
interface to retain and seal the panels.
[0050] In the particular embodiment of FIGS. 7A to 7C, the system
base 700 may comprise a deck 710 with inner retaining frame 730 and
an outer retaining frame 750 configured to attach to the sealing
structures of the chamber panels 768 and 770. Specifically, the
inner and outer retaining frame 730 and 750 together form an
elongate recess or groove 760 with a slot 762. The inner and/or
outer retaining frames 730 and 750 may comprise a flange or
transverse projection 731 and 751, respectively, to resist pull
out. In some examples one or both flanges 731 and 751 include a
gasket 732 to augment the sealing characteristics of the frames 730
and 750. The gasket 732 may comprise any of a variety of suitable
materials (e.g., rubber, plastic polymer, etc.). To position the
tubular structure 780 (or other sealing structure of the chamber
panels) within the groove 760, one or more portions of the outer
retaining frame 750 may be removed or at least separated from the
inner retaining frame 730 to permit placement of the tubular
structure 780. The outer retaining frame 750 may then be reattached
or tightened to the inner frame 730. Any of a variety of clamps or
fasteners (e.g. bolts or screws) may be used to attach the frames
730 and 750. In some examples, the inner and outer frame may be
integrally formed, such that the tubular structure 780 may be
inserted into the frame by passing or sliding one end of the
tubular structure 780 into one end of the groove 760 until the
tubular structure 780 is seated. In other examples, the sealing
structure may have a tapered cross-sectional shape that may be
directly inserted into the slot and locks to the groove when fully
inserted. In other examples, the outer retaining frame 750 may
comprise a hinge or other which may be displaced or pulled away to
facilitate access. The hinge may be unbiased in any particular
configuration, or may be spring-loaded to maintain either a closed
or open position, and may further comprise a locking mechanism to
maintain the hinge in the closed position to retain the sealing
structure.
[0051] The deck 710 may have separate deck support 720, but in
other variations the inner retaining frame may be further
configured to support the deck 710. The frame assembly comprising
the inner and outer retaining frame 730 and 750 may further
comprise with frame reinforcement bars 740, which may dampen
vibration or torsion of the frames 730 and 750. In the example
depicted in FIG. 7C, the reinforcement bars 740 are located between
the inner and outer retaining frames 730 and 750, but in other
variations may be located internal to the inner frame and/or
external to the outer frame. In other variations, the reinforcement
bars may be joined to each other using any of a variety of
fasteners or attachment structures, or may be integrally formed
into a single reinforcement structure, such as an extrusion, and
may also be integrally formed with the inner and/or outer retaining
frame. The deck 710 comprise a rectangular configuration or any
other shape, such as a triangle, square, circle, ellipse, polygon
or combination thereof, as can the deck support, inner retaining
frame, reinforcement bar and outer retaining frame. FIG. 14
schematically depicts another example of a DAP system 1100 where
the attachment of the chamber panel 1120 with an extruded, unibody
retaining frame member 1122. The unibody retaining frame member
1122 comprises a groove 1124 configured with a slot 1126 configured
to retain a tubular fold 1128 of the panel 1120. To further augment
the attachment and/or sealing of the panel to the frame member
1122, one or more rods 1130 (or other elongate structures) are
placed within the tubular fold 1128 to resist pullout of the panel
1120 by mechanical interference with the groove 1124 and slot 1126.
A foam member 1132 may also be positioned in the groove 1124. The
foam member 1132 may be open-celled or closed-cell, and may have a
pre-cut shape or may be injected in a flowable form into the groove
1124. The foam member 1132 may or may not adhere to the tubular
fold 1128 and/or the surface of the groove 1124. In variations
where the foam is adhesive, the foam membrane may comprise a
polymer with adhesive properties, or the foam, groove and/or fold
may be coated with an adhesive. The foam properties may vary, and
in some variations, may comprise a compressible, elastic foam which
may push the tubular fold 1128 and/or rod 1130 up against the slot
1126, to further augment the sealing of the panel 1120 and frame
member 1122. The foam may be inserted into the groove 1124 at the
point-of-manufacture or during assembly at the point-of-use. In
some variations, the rod 1130 is inserted after the foam member
1132 and the tubular fold 1128 are positioned in the groove 1124.
The foam member 1132 is compressed as the rod is inserted, thereby
increasing the active sealing of the chamber to the base.
[0052] As further depicted in FIG. 14, the frame member 1122 may
also be configured to support the deck 1134 of the DAP system 1100.
Here, the frame member 1122 comprises an interior ledge
structure1136 to support the deck 1134. As also depicted in FIG.
14, the frame member 1122 may comprise a hollow configuration with
one or more extruded cavities 1138 and 1140, which may reduce the
weight and cost of the frame member. In other examples, the unibody
frame member may have a solid configuration.
[0053] As mentioned previously, in some variations, a rod or other
retention structure may be slid or otherwise placed within the
tubular structure 780. The retention structure may have any of a
variety of axial cross-sectional shapes. In some examples, the
retention structure may have a teardrop shape or other
complementary shape to the groove 760 and opening 762 of the
retaining frames 730 and 750. In still other variations, a curable
material may be injected into the tubular structure and hardened to
resist separation and may also further seal the chamber to the
base. The retention structure may also comprise a flexible cable
that may be cinched or tightened around the inner retaining frame.
When the chamber is deflated, due to both gravity and/or the weight
of the chamber panels and/or the height adjustment mechanism, the
tubular structures may separate from the slot and accelerate air
leakage out of the chamber.
Height Adjustment System
[0054] Referring back to FIG. 2A, to improve and/or maintain the
sealing between the chamber 310 and the user, the user seal 350 may
be supported by seal frame 341. The seal frame 341 may be
configured to attach to the chamber 310 about the user seal 350 (or
directly to the user seal 350) to resist twisting and/or
deformations that may result in air leakage. In the example
depicted in FIG. 2A, the seal frame 341 comprises a loop or closed
structure attaching to the user seal 350 superiorly. In other
examples, the seal frame may comprise an open configuration, or a
closed configuration with a detachable segment. While the seal
frame 341 may be configured with an orientation lying in a
horizontal plane (or at least the lateral 347 and posterior 349
sections of the seal frame 341), in other examples, the seal frame
may be oriented in an angled plane, or have a non-planar
configuration. The seal frame 341 may also be height adjustable,
which may facilitate use of the user seal 350 at a particular body
level or body region, but may also provide a limit or stop
structure to resist vertical displacement of the chamber, including
use of the system by shorter patients. Various examples of height
adjustment mechanisms for the seal frame are described in
International Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US2008/011832,
which was previously incorporated by reference. In FIG. 2A, the
seal frame 341 is attached to a height adjustment bar 352, which in
turn is movably supported by two adjustment side posts 354. In
other variations, the seal frame may directly interface with the
adjustment posts and a height adjustment bar is not used. The
configuration and orientation of the seal frame relative to the
height adjustment bar 352 and/or the adjustment posts 354 may vary.
In the particular example depicted in FIG. 2A, the height
adjustment bar 352 and the height adjustment posts 354 are anterior
to the seal frame. Also, the anterior seal frame struts 356 are
medially oriented with respect to the lateral seal frame struts
358. The medial and anterior attachment between the seal frame 341
and the height adjustment bar 352 may reduce the risk of injury or
gait alteration from hand swinging during running or other
activities. Furthermore, the seal frame 341 may also have an
inferior relationship with respect to the height adjustment bar
352, such that the anterior seal frame struts 356 have a
downsloping orientation from an anterior to posterior direction.
This downsloping orientation may provide some additional space in
the chamber 310 anterior and superior to the user seal 350, which
may reduce interference during some activities, including those
involving a high-stepping gait (e.g. sprinting or certain
high-stepping gait abnormalities). In other variations, however,
the seal frame may generally have the same vertical position or
higher, relative to the height adjustment bar, and may be attached
to the height adjustment bar more laterally or generally flush with
the lateral seal frame struts. FIG. 13, for example, depicts a
variation of the height adjustment assembly 1150 comprising a
height adjustment bar 1152 that is attached to a seal frame 1154
that generally lies in a single plane, the seal frame 1154 is
attached to the height adjustment bar 1152 along the lower portion
of the bat 1152, which permits the use of the height adjustment bar
1152 to support the attachment of the user seal (not shown)
anteriorly. The seal frame 1154 comprises a U-shaped configuration,
but in other examples, the seal frame may be Q-shaped or any other
shape. In this particular variation, the console frame 1156 is
attached to the seal frame 1154 rather than directly to the
adjustment bar 1152, but in other variations, may be attached
directly to the console frame 1156. One or more support structures
1158 may be provided to support the seal or console frames 1154 and
1156. Here, the support structure 1158 are located at an angle
between the seal and console frames 1154 to act to redistribute
forces, but may comprise one or more cutouts 1160 to facilitate
grasping and movement of the adjustment assembly 1150.
[0055] Referring back to FIG. 2A, other structures besides the seal
frame 341 may also be attached to the height adjustment bar 352,
such as the console frame 331, which may facilitate ease-of-access
to the console display and controls with a single height
adjustment. As depicted in FIG. 2A, the adjustment assembly 330
comprising the height adjustment bar 352 and the seal frame 341 may
further comprise a console frame 331, which may be used to attach
the control and visual display of the system 300. This particular
example permits simultaneous adjustment of the seal frame 341 and
the components of the console frame 331, both of which may be
adjusted based upon the height of the user.
[0056] FIGS. 8A to 8E further illustrate the structure of the
height adjustment mechanism of the DAP system in FIG. 2A. The
height adjustment mechanism 800 comprises a pair of generally
parallel, vertically oriented side posts 810, a movable assembly
870 with two roller assemblies 830, each of which is at least
partially housed inside a side post 810. The movable assembly 870
further comprises a frame 880 and a frame support bar 835 attached
to the roller assemblies 830, which movably interface with the two
side posts 810. As illustrated in FIG. 8A, the frame 880 further
comprises a console portion 881, a seal frame portion 882 and an
angled middle portion 883. The angle between the console potion 881
and the seal frame portion 882 may be in the range of about 45
degrees to about 180 degrees, sometimes about 90 degrees to about
135 degrees, and other times about 110 degrees to about 135
degrees. The console portion 881 of the frame 880 may be configured
to receive a console tray 871, which may be used to attach and/or
support a control panel/display (not shown). The angled middle
portion 883 of the frame 880 connects the console portion 881 and
the seal frame portion 882. While the frame 880 may be configured
to permit height adjustments while grasping or manipulating any
portion thereof, in some embodiments, the middle portion 883 of the
frame 880 may be configured as a handle to lift or to lower the
movable assembly 870. The angled middle portion 883 may provided
one or more gripping regions, which may comprise one or more
flanges or ridges, for example, and/or be made of a high traction
material such as rubber or a block copolymer with polystyrene and
polybutadiene regions, e.g., KRATON.RTM. polymers by Kraton
Polymers, LLC (Houston, Tex.). The middle portion 883 of the frame
880 may be attached to the adjustment bar 835 of the movable
assembly 870, which is in turn attached to the two roller
assemblies 830 at both of its ends. In some embodiments, the middle
portion 883 of the frame 880 may be reinforced by additional bars
885, which may increase the area of the contact surface between the
frame 880 and the frame support bar 835 and thereby enhance the
structural integrity of the frame 880.
[0057] The height adjustment mechanism may further comprise a lift
mechanism to at least partially offset the load of the adjustment
assembly so that the console portion of the frame may be moved with
a reduced weight effect. In some variants, the lift mechanism may
provide an offset force that is greater than the load of the
movable assembly, which may bias the movable assembly 870 to a
higher position. The lift mechanism may comprise springs or
pneumatic shock members which apply a vertically upward force on
the assembly. The lifting force may be applied directly to the
assembly, or indirectly using a pulley system.
[0058] In other variations, the system may comprise a
counterbalance system which may reduce the risk of sudden drop from
inadvertent release of the movable assembly. Movable weights may be
provided in the side posts of the system and attached to the
movable assembly using a cable or belt with a pulley. Each
counterweight may weigh about the half of the weight of the movable
assembly, which may reduce the force to the amount required to
overcome inertia and/or frictional resistance in order to lower or
raise the movable assembly. In some embodiments, the total
counterweight may weight slightly less than the movable assembly
such that an unlocked movable assembly will be biased to descend
until it is locked or it reaches the base of the DAP system. In
some variations, the biased descending motion of the movable
assembly may be limited by frictional resistance provided by the
roller assemblies or other type of mechanism used to restrict the
motion of the movable assembly. This design may require a user to
apply a force upon the movable assembly to overcome the mass
difference between the movable assembly and the counterweight in
order to raise the movable assembly. In still other embodiments,
the counterweight may weigh slightly more than the movable
assembly, thereby biasing an unlocked movable assembly to ascend
unless it is locked or the ascending motion of the movable assembly
is restricted by the roller assemblies in this specific embodiment.
In such embodiment, a user may need to apply additional force to
the movable assembly in order to lower its position. In still
further embodiments, a compound pulley assembly may be used for a
counterweight lighter than the movable assembly and/or to
completely offset the weight of the movable assembly.
[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 8D, each side post 810 may comprise a
counterbalance compartment 812 and a roller compartment 814. A
pulley 816 is rotatably mounted at the top of the counterbalance
compartment 812 around an axial pin 891. The pulley belt or cable
892 is trained over the pulley 816 and one end is connected to a
counterweight 890 located in the counterbalance compartment 812.
The counterweight 980 is configured to generally move vertically
(or other direction of the posts) within the counterbalance
compartment 812 of the post 810. The other end of the cable 892 is
mounted on a counterweight cable mount 843 located on the top of
the roller assembly 830.
[0060] As depicted in FIGS. 8A to 8D, the roller assembly 830 may
comprise a base plate 831, an anterior roller 834, a posterior
roller 832 and two side rollers 836 and 838. In this addition to
facilitating the vertical movement of the height adjustment
mechanism, the side rollers 836 and 838 may be configured reduce or
eliminate the degree of roll of the adjustment mechanism, while the
anterior and posterior rollers 832 and 834 may reduce the pitch
and/or yaw, which may reduce the risk of jamming. In some
variations, the rollers may be directly mounted on the frame
support bar 835 and a base plate 831 is not used. The anterior
roller 834 is located on the top portion of the base plate 831,
near the posterior edge 833 of the base board 831. An anterior
roller 834 is located at a bottom portion of the base plate 831 and
near the anterior edge 835 of the base plate 831. A superior side
roller 836 and an inferior side roller 838 are mounted at the top
distal corner and the bottom proximal corner of the base plate 831.
Also mounted on the top distal corner and the bottom proximal
corner of the base board 831 are two pad structures 840 and 841,
which may further align the movement of the roller assembly 830
within the roller compartment 814.
[0061] The rollers of the roller assembly may interface with the
planar surfaces of the roller compartment, but in the embodiment
depicted in FIGS. 8A to 8D, one or more track structures may be
provided within the roller compartment to augment the alignment of
the roller assembly. The track structures may be integrally formed
with the roller compartment surfaces, or may comprise separate
structures. For example, referring to FIGS. 8A to 8D, the roller
compartment 814 of the side post 810 may comprise an anterior track
structure 817 and a posterior track structure 818 in which the
anterior roller 834 and the posterior roller 832 movably reside,
respectively. These or other track structures may reduce the
displacement of the roller assembly 830 in horizontal direction. In
some embodiments, one or more of the rollers may be configured with
increased frictional rotation resistance, which may reduce the risk
of an abrupt descent of the movable assembly. In yet other
variations, the tract compartment 814 may comprise tracts or slots
to receive the side rollers 836 and 838 of the roller assembly 830.
In some embodiments, the inner surfaces of both track compartment
814 and pulley compartment 812 may be coated with one or more
lubricants or low friction materials. Also, in other variations,
rollers are not provided and movement of the height adjustment
mechanism comprises slidable pads coated or covered by low-friction
materials and/or low-abrasion materials. In still other variations,
the rollers and track structures may be replaced with a rack and
pinion configuration.
[0062] In some variations, the movable assembly of the DAP system
primarily exhibits a vertical motion with respect to the side
posts, but in other examples, the movable assembly may comprise a
cantilever system which provides some angular or pivot movement
that may be used to engage and/or disengage one or more structures
of the movable assembly, depending upon the angular position. In
some variations, for example, when the movable assembly is being
pulled upward by a user located within the loop of the seal frame,
the movable assembly may be tilted anteriorly and permits free
rotation of the roller structures to raise the movable assembly.
When the movable assembly is either pushed downward or is in its
base configuration, a relative posterior tilt to the movable
assembly may engage one or more resistance or brake pads onto one
or more rollers, which may slow or otherwise control the rate of
descent. In still other examples, the resistance pads may engage
the surfaces of the roller compartment to resist downward/upward
movement of the movable assembly.
[0063] FIGS. 8A and 8D, for example, depicts pads 840 and 841
mounted about the shafts of the side rollers 836 and 838 in the
superior anterior region and the inferior posterior region of the
plate 831, respectively. The pads 840 and 841 may be configured to
releasably engage the adjacent walls 860 of the posts 810 to resist
or slow the movement of the movable assembly 870. In this
particular example, the pads 840 and 841 are configured to rotate
about the shaft of the side rollers 836 and 838, but in other
examples, the pads may have an independent rotatable shaft.
[0064] Engagement of the pads 840 and 841 occur when the movable
assembly 870 is locked in place with locking pins 852 (which are
described in greater detail below) and when the movable assembly is
tilted forward (counterclockwise in FIG. 8D). The anterior tilting
pushes the pads 840 and 841 against the inner surface of the roller
track 814, thereby slowing or even preventing a sudden drop of the
movable assembly 870. In some variations, the pads and may be
configured to be biased to either the engage or disengaged
position, using gravity, springs mechanisms or other force members.
Pads 840 and 842 may be made from any suitable materials, such as
metal, rubber or plastic.
[0065] In another variation, the cantilever mechanism may be
actuated by the inflation or deflation of the chamber attached to
the height adjustment assembly. Referring to FIG. 15, which
schematically depicts the height adjustment mechanism of 1150 of
the DAP system 1100 in FIG. 11A, when the chamber 1170 is
unpressurized, the counterbalance system 1172 is configured to
balance the weight of the height adjustment assembly 1150 and the
effective weight of the chamber 1170 acting on the height
adjustment assembly 1150 (which may be less than the actual weight
of the chamber 1170). This permits movement ease of movement of the
height adjustment assembly 1150 along with the attached chamber
1170. Further, because the center of mass (Cm) of the height
adjustment assembly 1150 is posterior to the attachment 1174 of the
counterbalance system 1172, the counterbalancing force Fc acts to
rotate the height adjustment assembly 1150 in a clockwise fashion,
thereby exerting a force (Fw) with the wheels 1176 of the height
adjustment assembly 1150 against the walls 1178, 1180 of the
adjustment posts 1182 with force Fw). Thus, the height adjustment
assembly 1150 can be adjusted without having to overcome
gravitational forces and with reduced frictional forces from the
wheels engaged to the walls 1178, 1180 of the posts 1182.
[0066] When chamber 1170 is inflated, the height adjustment
assembly 1152 will begin to lift until its locking pin 1184 engages
the next lock opening (not shown), if not already locked. Once
locked, the inflated chamber will continue to push the seal frame
1154 and rotate it upwards (or counterclockwise in FIG. 15) around
the locking pin 1184. This movement causes the wheels 1176 of the
height adjustment assembly 1152 from the walls 1178, 1180 of the
adjustment posts 1182 while also engaging the loading pads 1186 to
the walls with a pad force (Fp). The pad force Fp may act as a
braking force should the locking pin 1184 inadvertently disengage,
thereby resisting sudden upward movement of the height adjustment
assembly 1152. When system use is completed and the chamber 1170 is
depressurized, the pads 1186 will disengage and the wheels 1176
will re-engage the walls 1178 and 1180 of the posts 1182 to
facilitate the downward displacement of the height adjustment
assembly 1152 to permit the user to exit the system 1100.
[0067] In other examples, the pads may be configured to maintain
the alignment of the movable assembly rather than braking, and may
be coated or covered with low-friction and/or low-abrasion
materials. In other examples, the pads may be mounted on the plate
separate from the side roller shafts, or configured slide or
translate rather than rotate or pivot. In still further examples,
the movement of the adjustment assembly and the actuation and
release of the locking mechanism, described below, may be
motorized. Control of the motorized movement may be performed
through the control panel, or with one or more controls provided on
the adjustment bar, for example.
Locking Mechanism
[0068] A DAP system may also comprise a locking mechanism, which
may be configured to adjust and/or lock the position of the height
adjustment mechanism. In some embodiments, the locking mechanism
further comprises a control interface accessible to the user while
using the system. The control interface may comprise an actuator
(e.g., a button, a lever, a knob or a switch, etc.). In other
embodiments, the control interface may be integrated into the
control panel where the user may control and adjust other
parameters (e.g., pressure level inside the chamber, parameters of
the exercise machine, etc.) of the system.
[0069] Referring back to FIG. 2A, the interface of the locking
mechanism 333 may comprise a movable lever 345 protruding from a
slot 344 located in the adjustment bar 352 of the movable assembly
330. The lever 345 may comprise a locked position which restricts
movement of the movable assembly 330 is locked and an unlocked
position which permits movement. The locking mechanism 333 may also
be configured or otherwise reinforced to also permit movement of
the movable assembly 330 using the lever 345 without requiring
gripping and manipulation of other movable assembly 330 structures.
In some embodiments, a spring or other force mechanism may bias the
latch handle 345 to a locked position in order to prevent
inadvertent unlocking the movable assembly 330. The movement of the
lever 345 is configured to occur horizontally in the embodiment
depicted in FIG. 2A, but in other examples, may be configured to
move horizontally or some other movement (e.g. rotation). In other
variations, other type of locking actuator may be used, such as
knobs, slides or buttons, for example. In some instance, a
horizontal movement may reduce the risk of inadvertent unlocking,
as the motions associated with certain activities, such as
treadmill activities, may not typically involve horizontal
movements that may inadvertently knock the locking mechanism 333
into an unlocked state. In other embodiments, the locking mechanism
may utilize multiple movements different movements (e.g. rotate and
pull, or push and pull) to disengage the locking mechanism, which
may also reduce the risk of inadvertent unlocking. This may be
achieved by adjusting the geometry of the crank linkage mechanism
with respect to its angular movement and its linear translation.
Additionally the chamber may be shaped to bulge into this area and
physically prevent the lever from being unlocked when under
pressure. In some examples, a locking sensor may be added to detect
the unlocking of the lever prior to full disengagement of the pin.
The sensor may have any of a variety of suitable configurations,
including those with electrode contact mechanism, push-button
mechanism, or magnetic mechanisms, for example.
[0070] One example of a locking mechanism that may be used includes
a pin-latch locking mechanism where the rotary motion of a control
latch may drive linear motion of two locking pins, thereby locking
or unlocking the present position of the movable assembly. As
illustrated in FIG. 8B, the base plate 831 of the roller assembly
830 may comprises at least one opening 837, which is designed to
receive an end pin 852 of a pin-latch locking mechanism 850. The
end pin 852 may extend through the opening 837 and engage one of
the side recesses or openings 813 on the side post 810, thereby
locking the roller assembly 830 and the movable assembly 870 to the
post 810. In some examples, the side openings 813 may be protected
by a cover to avoid inadvertent push out and disengagement of the
locking pin 852. The locking pin 852 may also comprise a notch or
groove that forms a mechanical interfit with the openings 813 to
further resist inadvertent disengagement. In some embodiments, a
tubular pin carrier 839 may be mounted around the opening 837 to
guide the end pin 852 and to support the end pin 852 and resist
deformation or bending of the pin. The pin carrier 839 may be made
from any suitable material, e.g., rubber or metal. In some
variations, the distal end of the locking pin 852 may be tapered to
decreased the accuracy of aligning the locking pins 852 to the lock
openings 837.
[0071] As illustrated in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the pin-latch locking
mechanism 900 may comprise a drive crank 902, on which a lever
handle 904 is attached, two pin-latch rods 906 and 908 and two
locking pins 910 and 912, each of which is pivotedly coupled to the
end of each pin-latch rod 906 and 908. Both the drive crank 902 and
the rods 906 and 908 may be pivotedly fastened to a plate 914,
which is mounted on a bottom mount lock 916. There are two
symmetrically disposed slots (only one 918 is shown in FIG. 9B) on
the plate 914, which provide travel space for the rods' linear
motion. In this particular embodiment, when the drive crank 902 is
rotated counterclockwise (the range of movement of the drive crank
902 is limited by the front slot 901 in the front tray 903 of the
movable assembly 905, as illustrated in FIG. 9C), the two pin-latch
rods 906 and 908 are driven to extend outwardly, which in turn push
two locking pins outwardly to engage the side openings (e.g., 813
in FIG. 8A) on the side posts, thereby locking the present position
of the movable assembly 905. When the drive crank 902 rotates
clockwise and moves back to its unlocking position, the rotational
motion of the crank 902 retracts the pin-latch rods 906 and 908
inwardly, thereby disengaging the locking pins 910 and 912 from the
side openings and unlocking the movable assembly 905.
[0072] In some embodiments, the locking mechanism may further
comprise a retaining mechanism, which may be used to bias the drive
crank 902 to its locking position. In some embodiments, a spring
assembly comprising a spring anchor and spring retainer, each of
which is attached to one end of a spring, may be used to bias the
drive crank 902. FIG. 9A illustrates one embodiment of such spring
assembly. As shown in the figure, a spring retaining pin 922 is
pivotedly attached to the drive crank 902. A spring anchor pin 924
may engage the frame support bar 835 of the movable assembly 870
depicted in FIG. 8A, thereby anchoring one end of the spring (not
shown) to a fixed position. The distance between the anchor pin 924
and the retaining pin 922 may be larger when the lever 904 is
placed in its locking position than the distance between the two
pins when the ball 904 is paced in its unlocking position, the
spring is charged with potential energy when the lever 904 is
placed at the right end of the front slot 901, i.e., its locking
position, The charged spring may exert a counterclockwise retaining
force on the drive crank 902, thereby biasing the drive crank 902
to its locking position. In some of these circumstances, in order
to unlock the movable assembly 905, a user may need to apply an
external clockwise rotational force on the drive crank 902 to
overcome the biasing force from the charged spring. Thus,
inadvertent unlocking of the movable assembly may be reduced or
avoided. The biasing force provided by the spring (or other bias
member) may be adjusted by adjusting the position of the anchor pin
924. As illustrated in FIG. 9C, the front tray 903 of the movable
assembly 905 may comprise more than one anchor pin holders 907 and
909. For example, if the anchor pin 924 is placed into the far left
pin holder 909, the retaining spring will be charged to a higher
degree compared to the case where the anchor pin 924 is placed into
the opening 917, thereby exerting a higher retaining force on the
drive crank 902. It is noted that affixing the spring anchor pin to
the console front tray 903 is not necessary. In some embodiments,
the spring anchor pin may be affixed to another structure, the
board 831 of the roller assembly, for example. The relative
location of the spring anchor pin 924 and spring retaining pin 922
(e.g., the anchor pin 924 is disposed to the left of the retaining
pin 922 in this specific embodiment) may vary. For example, if a
crank with different geometric configuration is used, the locking
mechanism may comprise locking and unlocking positions opposite to
those of current embodiment shown in FIGS. 9A to 9C (e.g., a user
may rotate the control crank 902 counterclockwise in order to
unlock instead). In such a case, the spring anchor pin 924 may be
placed to the right of the spring retaining pin 922 in order for
the spring to bias the control crank 902 to its locking position.
One of skill in the art will understand that any of a variety of
linkage mechanisms may be used, such as the locking wheel
mechanisms used for bank vaults and port doors on ships. Also, the
direction of movement of the lever may be configured for any of a
variety of directions and movements, both linear and non-linear,
and vertical and horizontal.
[0073] The pin-latch locking mechanism may comprise numerous
features to facilitate engagement the locking pins to a pair of
side openings. For example, providing two pivotably movable end
locking pins 910 and 912 to the two pin-latch rods 906 and 908 may
reduce the torquability of the pin-latch system, therefore
enhancing the flexibility and steerability of the system. In some
embodiments, the end pins 910 and 912 may be made from a same
material as the pin-latch rods 906 and 908. In other embodiments,
the pivotably end pins 910 and 912 may be made from a more elastic
material than the rods 906 and 908, thereby making them more
steerable. As a result, it may be easier for such end pins to
engage side openings on the side post. In some embodiments, a pin
cover, e.g., the tubular structure 839 in FIG. 7B, may be used to
guide the linear motion of the end pin, which may further
facilitate the engagement of the end pin 910 and 912 to the side
openings. In some embodiments, the end portion 903 and 905 of the
two rods 906 and 908 may comprise an elastic material to further
reduce the torquability of the locking mechanism. In some
situations, a user may try to lock the movable assembly when the
locking pins 910 and 912 fail to engage a pair of side openings.
User's such operation may cause stress and/or stain in the
pin-latch rods 906 and 908. In some embodiments, end portions 903
and 903 may comprise a curved configuration (e.g., "S"-shape) that
may help reduce such stress or strain since it gives room for end
pins 910 and 912 to retract when they fail to engage.
[0074] To facilitate the setting and locking of the movably
assembly at the desired level. the DAP system may provide indicia
on the system to guide or suggest a position based upon the user's
height. In FIG. 12, for example, the height adjustment assembly
1150 of the DAP system 1100 includes a movable indicator pointer or
opening 1190 which overlies the side post 1182. The side post 1182
includes a series of indicia 1192 (e.g. heights in feet/inches or
centimeters) which may be used as a guide for the adjustment of the
movable assembly 1150. The indicia 1192 may be printed on the side
post 1182 or provided as an LCD or LED display along the post 1182.
In other variations, for privacy, the user's height may be entered
into the control panel (not shown) one or more lights from a column
of lights may be selectively activated based upon the user's height
input to indicate the suggested position of the movable assembly
1150. In still other variations, the control panel and/or or the
movable assembly may provide auditory, visual or tactile signals to
the user indicative of correct positioning, or indicative of
instructions to move the assembly up or down, for example.
Attaching the Chamber to the Movable Assembly
[0075] As noted above, the height of the user seal and the movable
assembly may be adjusted simultaneously. One way to implement this
feature is to attach a portion of the chamber of a DAP system to a
portion of movable assembly so that the height of the user seal may
be adjusted by the vertical movement of the movable assembly. Such
designs may simplify the height adjusting operation by allowing the
user to adjust the height of the control panel and the user seal in
a single step. Further, restricting relative motion between the
pressure chamber and the frame may stabilize the user seal against
a user's body, which, in turn may help maintain the seal between
the user and the chamber. The frame 880 may be attached to the
chamber in a variety of ways. As one example, the proximal portion
882 of the frame 880 may be entirely or partially covered with one
or more fabric loops, which may further attach to the chamber
material around the user seal by adhesive or VELCRO.TM. type of
fastener, and/or a zipper for instance. In other embodiments, the
top chamber section may comprise one or more magnets that may
attract the frame 880 if the frame 880 is made from metal.
[0076] FIGS. 10A and 10B schematically illustrate another
attachment mechanism of an inflatable chamber 1006 to a proximal
loop 1002 of a frame 1004. As illustrated in FIG. 10B, a tension
loop 1008 used to attach to a portion of an inflatable chamber 1006
may be placed around an elongate rail 1010, which is contained in
an elongate slotted retention channel 1012 fixedly mounted
underneath a portion of the loop 1002. The rod 1010 may have a
larger diameter than the width of the longitudinal slot so that the
rod may move within the retention channel 1012 but may not be
removed from the slot even if the chamber 1006 is tensioned. The
slotted retention channel 1012 may or may not comprise the same
length as the rail 1010. In some variations, a plurality of tension
loops may be used to attach the chamber to the console frame 1004.
The tension loop may or may not be made from the same material as
the inflatable chamber. The tension loop may be attached to the
chamber by adhesive, VBLCRO.TM. type of fasteners, fastening
buckles, buttons or other types of suitable attachment method. In
some examples, the attachment of chamber to the user frame
facilitates the raising and/or lowering of the chamber with the
movable assembly, but may also maintain the geometry of the chamber
in the region of the user seal, which may reduce the frequency
and/or magnitude of air leaks out of the seal.
[0077] In some variations, the seal frame and the chamber may be
configured so that the seal frame remains inferior to the user
seal, which may provide room for a user's arm swing or other types
of upper body motion. In other variations, the user seal may be
substantially flush with the proximal loop of the console frame
such that the lower body (e.g., legs or hip) of a user will not
collide with the console frame when the user is running or
otherwise moving the user's lower body. In some embodiments, the
protruding structure formed by the user seal above the console
frame loop may comprise a cylindrical configuration, whereas in
other embodiments, such structure may comprise a frustum-conical
configuration if the user seal is formed by a piece of stretchable
flap. The dimension of the proximal loop of the movable assembly
may be larger than the user seal in a chamber (e.g., see FIG. 2B),
while in other embodiments, the proximal loop may be smaller. In
some embodiments, the average distance between the inner surface of
the proximal loop and the outer edge of the user seal may be in the
range of about 0 cm to about 20 cm or more, other times about 2 cm
to about 10 cm, and other times about 1 cm to about 5 cm.
[0078] The frame assembly comprises various structures to support
and/or stabilize other structures of the DAP system. For example,
the frame assembly may comprise a platform or base to attach the
inflation chamber, as well as bars, braces or rails that limit the
shape the inflation chamber. The frame assembly may also used to
stabilize the height adjustment mechanism, using various frame
structures to dampen vibrations or stabilize other stresses
generated by or acting on the DAP system or the user during use. In
the example depicted in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the DAP system 300
comprises a frame assembly 320 with a base 321, side hand-rails
322, a front horizontal bar 323 and front vertical bars 324. Some
portions of the frame assembly 330 may also maintain or limited the
chamber to a predetermined shape. For example, when chamber 310 is
inflated, the expansion of the chamber 310 at the front end of the
system 300 is limited by side bars 325, L-shape bars 326, and the
front bar 327 of the front brace 324. The lateral expansion of the
chamber 310 may be limited by the rear hand-rails 322. The rear
hand-rails 322 may provide support to a user during exercise and/or
in the event of pressure change within the chamber 310, which may
cause the user to lose body balance temporarily. In some
embodiments, a pressure source may be placed upon or mounted to the
two L-shape bars 326. In one example, the pressure source may be a
blower. The pressure source may be placed at other locations as
well. For example, it may be placed on the ground next to the DAPS
to reduce vibration that may be caused by the pressure source.
[0079] The frame assembly 320 may be assembled together by any
suitable methods known to the ordinary skilled in the art.
Non-limiting examples include brackets, bolts, screws, or rivets.
In some embodiments, in addition to or in lieu of the components
described above, the frame assembly 320 may comprise other
components or parts. For examples, additional bars or braces may be
used to stabilize the system 300 while the user is in motion.
[0080] In other examples, one or more other structures may be
attached to the frame assembly to facilitate certain types of
exercise or training. For example, the adjustment mechanism may
further comprise a walker or cane mechanism to simulate, facilitate
or coordinate upper body lifting and planting motions associated
with walker or cane use. In some examples, the walker or cane
mechanism may incorporate sensors which may be synchronized to the
treadmill or other exercise machine used with the DAP system. In
still other examples, one or more panels of the chamber may be
sealably opened to permit access to the enclosed portions of the
body. Also, in further examples, the chamber and/or the frame
assembly, or may include harnesses or straps to provide
non-pneumatic body support.
[0081] As noted above, the expansion of the chamber 310 in the
embodiment depicted in FIGS. 2A to 2C may be limited by several
bars, rails and/or braces of the frame assembly 320 of the DAP
system 300. In this specific embodiment, the two parallel height
adjustment mechanisms 334 may also facilitate shaping the inflated
chamber by limiting its lateral expansion. As illustrated in FIG.
2A, the vertical expansion of an inflated chamber 310 around a user
seal 350 may be limited by a console frame 331 of the movable
assembly 330. When a user is positioned in the inflated chamber 310
while using the system 300, the seal frame 341 of the movable
assembly 330 may be disposed just at or above the user's waistline.
As best illustrated in FIG. 2B, the seal frame 341 of the movable
assembly 330 may be of approximately the same width as the top
section 313 of the chamber 310, but may be slightly wider than the
user seal 350. As a result, when chamber 310 is inflated, the
disposition of the console frame may allow the user seal 350 to
rise but depress bulging chamber material around the seal 350. This
design may prevent or reduce the risk that the bulging chamber
material around the user seal 350 from interfering with the user's
upper body motion and allow the user to swing arms freely and
comfortably. As will be discussed in further detail below, the top
section 313 of the chamber 310 may be attached to the a portion of
console frame 331, thereby allowing the height of user seal 350 to
be adjusted with the height of movable assembly 330.
[0082] In addition to the structures that have been described here,
additional structures may be used to limit the expansion of the
chamber 310 in order to contour the chamber to a specific
configuration. For example, X-shape cross-bars may be added between
the height adjustment mechanism 334 and the rear hand-rails 322 to
flatten the bulging chamber material on the sides of the base. In
some embodiments, the chamber 310 may comprise one or more rigid
portions or other types of integrated supporting structures that
may facilitate maintaining the inflated chamber in a particular
configuration or shape.
[0083] As described previously, the DAP system may further comprise
one or more panels or end caps attached to the frame assembly or
other structures of the system. For example, The DAP system 1100 in
FIG. 11 comprises a side post panel 1102 may be attached to the
side posts 1104 to protect the lock openings of the locking
mechanism (e.g. openings 813 of the post 810 in FIG. 8A) from
inadvertent disengagement from external bumping, or from
inadvertent pinching of clothing or other objects between an
exposed locking opening and an exposed locking pin when the locking
mechanism is engaged. Side frame panels 1106 and anterior panels
1108 may be removable attached to the frame 1110. These panels 1106
and 1108 may protect users from the mechanical and electrical
components of the system 1100 as well as protecting the system
components from damage.
Use of the Embodiment Described Above
[0084] Described herein are various embodiments of a DAP system
equipped with a height adjustment mechanism that allows a user to
adjust the height of the user seal in an effortless and a user
friendly manner. Further, the DAP system also comprises a locking
mechanism configured to be used in conjunction with the height
adjustment mechanism also in a graceful manner. In some
embodiments, a user may be able to complete the adjusting step and
the locking step with a single hand. As in one embodiment, after a
user finishes a session using a DAP system as illustrated in FIG.
3A, the user may first stop the exercise machine and then instruct
the processor to stop pressurizing or maintaining the elevated
pressure level within the pressure chamber. This can be done
through the user interface system (e.g., a control panel). The user
may release the user seal from the user's body and then unlock the
movable assembly by rotating the latch ball to its unlocking
position (e.g., counterclockwise rotation in this specific
embodiment). Because of the use of counterbalancing system in this
embodiment, lowering the movable assembly does not require the user
to apply a large force. As a result, the user may use the hand that
operates the latch ball to press down the console frame in order to
lower the movable assembly. Descending of the movable assembly
presses the top chamber section, therefore deflating the chamber.
As discussed in detail above, the chamber with multiple fold-lines
may deflate in a pre-determined fashion and facilitate the user
stepping out of the chamber with ease. Once the chamber is
completely deflated, the user may step out of the chamber. The
movable assembly that is biased by its gravity may stay on top of
the folded chamber.
[0085] The next user of the DAP system may first step into the
console frame and the opening of the user seal in the top section
of the chamber and place the user seal around the user's waistline.
Then the user may communicate with the DAP system processor through
the user interface system to actuate the inflation of the chamber.
Once the inflation begins, the user may lift the movable assembly
to a position where the user feels that the height of the user seal
is proper. As discussed above, because of the counterbalancing
design in this embodiment, the user may only need to apply a small
force in order to lift the movable assembly. As a result, the user
may complete the lifting and locking of the consoles assembly with
one hand. After the user locks the position of the movable
assembly, the user may start using the exercise machine.
[0086] Although the embodiments herein have been described in
relation to certain examples, various additional embodiments and
alterations to the described examples are contemplated within the
scope of the invention. Thus, no part of the foregoing description
should be interpreted to limit the scope of the invention as set
forth in the following claims. For all of the embodiments described
above, the steps of the methods need not be performed sequentially.
Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited.
except as by the appended claims.
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