VARIABLE LOADING IN RESISTANCE TRAINING

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/652,269 filed May 28, 2024, pending, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

SUMMARY

The disclosure describes a system for variable loading strength training. The system includes a loading arm assembly, a top bracket assembly, a trolley assembly, a dual pulley assembly, a dual pulley housing and a dual pulley assembly bracket. The loading arm assembly is configured for removable mounting to a first post of a rig. The top bracket assembly is configured for removable mounting to the rig first post distanced from the loading arm assembly. The trolley assembly is configured for translation along the rig first post superior to the top bracket assembly. The dual pulley trolley assembly configured for mounting to the second post of the rig distanced from the top pulley assembly. The dual pulley assembly bracket is configured for coupling the dual pulley housing to the dual pulley trolley assembly.

The disclosure also describes a system for variable loading strength training. The system includes a loading arm assembly that can be mounted and removed from a first post of a rig. The system also includes a top bracket assembly that can be removably mounted to the same first post above the loading arm assembly.

Further, the disclosure describes a cable management trolley that includes first and second trolley assembly plates configured to sandwich a post of a rig. Suspended between the plates, there are at least one trolley pulley and at least one length management pulley. The trolley also includes at least one length management winch. Additionally, multiple rollers suspended between the plates are configured roll along two exterior surfaces of the rig's post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, example constructions are shown in the drawings. However, the disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an example variable loading system.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the example variable loading system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates an oblique view of the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1 & 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates a side view of an example loading arm assembly suitable for use in association with the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of an example top bracket assembly suitable for use in association with the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3 and/or the loading arm assembly of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of an example floating top pulley assembly suitable for use in association with the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of an example trolley assembly suitable for use in association with the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of an example top pulley assembly suitable for use in association with the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of an example dual pulley trolley suitable for use in association with the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of an example dual pulley housing suitable for use in association with the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3 and/or the dual pulley trolley of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 illustrates a side view of an example dual pulley assembly bracket for use in association with the example variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3 and/or the dual pulley trolley of FIG. 11 and/or the dual pulley housing of FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 illustrates a dual trolley assembly suitable for use in association with the variable loading system of FIGS. 1-3.

FIG. 13 illustrates side view of components of disclosed variable loading systems in a one-to-one configuration.

FIG. 14 illustrates side view of components of disclosed variable loading systems in a three-to-one configuration.

FIG. 15 illustrates a plot of loading arm angle vs. user experienced load for an example variable loading system in the three arrangements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the disclosure and manners by which they can be implemented. Although the best mode of carrying out the present disclosure has been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible.

It should be noted that the terms “first”, “second”, and the like, herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Further, the terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

Prior systems have static loading, applying the same resistance through cables. Resistance is only dependent on how much weight is loaded on the system and is consistent throughout use. A number of current systems use cables to redirect tension from lifting weight plates vertically resulting in constant tension in the same directional vector for the entire time of usage.

The disclosure describes a system for variable loading for resistance training which may offer the additional benefits of accentuated eccentric loading or dynamic, eccentric-accentuated loading, an improvement over the classic static loading.

Use of the terms approximately, substantially or about in conjunction with a number or range, is intended to encompass numbers or ranges that are within perhaps 3-5% of the number or range specified. Use of the terms approximately, substantially or about in conjunction with terms of orientation such as normal, perpendicular, orthogonal, parallel, collinear, vertical or horizontal is intended to encompass angles within perhaps 3-5% of those implied by the term or sufficiently close to the angle implied that an ordinary observer would not notice a difference. Further, directions such as proximal, distal, lateral, medial, lateral, inferior and superior are used to distinguish elements from one another and are relative. As such, surfaces, edges or ends referred to as inferior may be found to be below surfaces, edges or ends referred to as superior without limiting disclosed embodiments.

Embodiments of the disclosure substantially eliminate, or at least partially address, problems in the prior art, enabling variable loading strength training. Users may input a constant force and while the system output a resistive force that varies in relationship to time and the mounted angle of the loading arm. Varied tension throughout the course of usage results in improved user experience by focusing on the a range of motion in which the user's targeted muscles are closer to maximum flexion. Users are provided an experience unique to this system which may be more efficient in stimulating muscle growth.

Disclosed embodiments include loading arm geometry and a configuration of pulley assemblies selected such that, during cable retraction, the user experiences a greater resistive force than during cable advancement, thereby providing accentuated-eccentric loading.

Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the disclosure will be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments construed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.

It will be appreciated that described features are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings, particularly by their reference numbers, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a variable loading system 1000 in a possible useful configuration. A system 1000 for variable loading includes a lever or loading arm assembly 1100 configured to be removably mounted onto a first post of a rig 2000. System 1000 may also include a top bracket assembly 1200 that can be removably mounted to the same first post above the loading arm assembly. Additionally, a trolley assembly 1300 is configured to move along the first post above top bracket assembly 1200. System 1000 also features a dual pulley trolley 1600 that mounts to a second post of rig 2000, located below top pulley assembly 1500. Furthermore, system 1000 includes a dual pulley housing 1700 and a dual pulley assembly bracket 1800 that couples dual pulley housing 1700 to a dual pulley trolley 1600.

FIGS. 1-3 are merely examples, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific designation for the locations and configuration of pulley trolleys and assemblies is provided as an example and is not to be construed as limiting to specific numbers, types, or arrangements of the system. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the disclosure. The pulley assemblies may be arranged in selected configurations to provide mechanical-advantage ratios of one-to-one, two-to-one and three-to-one.

Referring to FIG. 4, loading arm assembly 1100 further includes a lever or loading arm 1110 operating on the principles of a second class lever, first and second mounting plates 1120 (with second being visible in FIGS. 1 & 2) configured to sandwich the first post of a rig 2000 and a loading arm 1110, and first and second loading plates 1140 which suspend a loading pulley 1146.

Each mounting plate 1120 includes first and second edges arranged approximately perpendicular to third and fourth edges. First and second peg holes 1122a, 1122b, aligned along one edge allow mounting plates 1120 to be coupled to rig 2000 and a pivot pin hole 1123 pivotably couples loading arm mounting plates 1120 to the loading arm.

Loading arm 1110 includes a shoulder portion 1111 with a given length and a lever portion 1112 that is substantially longer and may extend approximately perpendicularly to the shoulder portion. Shoulder portion 1111 includes a pivot pin hole 1113 to receive a pivot pin for pivotably coupling loading arm 1110 to rig 2000 via mounting plates 1120. Lever portion 1112 includes a fastener hole 1114 for coupling first and second loading plates 1140 (both being visible in FIGS. 1 & 2) to the lever portion and a loading horn 1115 that extends perpendicularly to the length of shoulder portion 1111, configured to fit through a loading horn hole loading plates 1140.

Loading plates 1140 include first and second edges extending approximately perpendicular with third and fourth edges. A fastener hole 1141 is provided for alignment with fastener hole 1114 allowing loading plates 1140, to sandwich lever portion 1112 of loading arm 1110 and be coupled thereto using a suitable fastener. Similarly, a pivot pin hole 1143 provided in loading plates 1140 enables mounting of a loading pulley 1146 thereto for coupling loading arm lever portion 1112 to the rest of system 1000 through one or more cables.

A loading horn hole 1144 aligned with pivot pin hole 1143 is configured to fit around and/or grip loading horn 1115 of loading arm 1110. Multiplier anchor point 1145 near one corner enables configuring cables to adjust a load experienced by a user.

A pivot stop or standoff 1160 mounted to lever portion 1112 enables supporting loading arm 1110 in a position elevated above a floor or other support surface.

Shoulder portion 1111 of loading arm 1110 of assembly 1100 may further include at least one chamfered or rounded edge configured to avoid interference with mounting frames or rigs during pivoting of the loading arm. In an example, the chamfered or rounded edge is the edge furthest from the distal end of lever portion 1112 or the first edge of mounting plates 1120.

FIG. 4 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It is to be understood that the relative sizes of the shoulder and lever portions 1111 and 1112 of loading arm 1110 are depicted as examples and are not to be construed as limiting to specific arrangements of the loading arm. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the disclosure.

A top bracket assembly 1200 may be provided for cooperation with loading arm assembly 1100. Referring to FIG. 5, top bracket assembly 1200 includes first and second top bracket plates 1210 (both being visible in FIGS. 1 & 2) configured to sandwich, grip or partially surround a post of rig 2000. First and second edges of top bracket plates 1210 extend approximately perpendicular with third and fourth edges. Two peg holes 1212a, 1212b, are aligned approximately in parallel with the first edge and are configured to accept a pin to removably affixed top bracket plates 1210 to rig 2000 post. Two axle holes 1213a, 1213b are aligned at an angle to the first edge and are configured to accept an axle for translator pulley 1215 and multiplier pulley 1214, respectively. A cable anchor point 1216 enables anchoring a cable endpoint for a two-to-one loading experience.

FIG. 5 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific designation for a number of pulleys, pegs, or cable anchor points is as an example and is not to be construed as limiting to specific arrangements of top bracket assembly 1200. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 7, a cable management trolley 1300 includes first and second trolley assembly plates 1310 (both being visible in FIGS. 1 & 2) configured to sandwich a post of rig 2000. Trolley assembly plates 1310 include first and second edges extending approximately perpendicular with third and fourth edges. A first pair of axle holes 1312a, 1312b aligned approximately in parallel with the first edge and a second pair of axle holes 1313a, 1313b spaced from first pair 1312a, 1312b and also aligned approximately in parallel with the first edge are configured to receive axles of a number of rollers. Two cable anchor points 1316a, 1316b are also provided enabling general and one-to-one coupling, respectively. Two individual axle holes 1314 and 1315, located near corners of trolley assembly plates 1310 are configured to receive axles of a number of pulleys.

Suspended between plates 1310 are at least one trolley pulley 1330 configured to harness and/or redirect a cable for translating trolley assembly 1300 along a post of a rig and at least one length management pulley 1340 configured to harness and/or redirect a cable to a length management winch 1350. Length management winch 1350, which may be bolted to a tensioner plate 1380 fixed between second edges of trolley assembly plates 1310 is a conventional, hand-operated winch used exclusively to take up cable slack and adjust the star position of the trolley. Rollers 1360 are configured to roll along exterior surfaces of a post of rig 2000 facilitating translation of cable management trolley 1300 therealong.

Cable management trolley 1300 also includes at least one loading horn 1370 enabling a user to place one or more weights onto the cable management trolley.

FIG. 7 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific designation for the number of axle holes and anchor points is provided as an example and is not to be construed as limiting to specific numbers, types, or arrangements of pulleys. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 6, system 1000 may also include a floating top pulley assembly 1400 including first and second floating top pulley assembly plates 1410 (with second being visible in FIGS. 1 & 2) configured to sandwich a rail or upper crossmember of rig 2000. Top bracket plates 1410 include first and second edges extending approximately perpendicular to third and fourth edges. A first pair of axle holes 1412a and 1412b are aligned approximately in parallel with fourth edge. A first individual axle hole 1413 is provided adjacent to the corner at the intersection of the second and third edges. A floating top pulley 1415 guides the trolley-to-user cable from a top pulley assembly and a pair of lower pulleys 1416 route the cable through openings in a crossmember.

FIG. 6 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific designation for the number of axle holes, rollers, and pulleys is provided as an example and is not to be construed as limiting to specific numbers, types, or arrangements. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 8, system 1000 may also include a top pulley assembly 1500 including first and second top pulley assembly plates 1510 (with second being visible in FIGS. 1 & 2) configured to sandwich a post and/or rail or upper crossmember of rig 2000. Top pulley assembly plates 1510 include first and second edges extending approximately perpendicular to third and fourth edges. A fifth edge 1511e may extend at an oblique angle to each of the first, second, third, and fourth edges. An individual axle hole 1512 is aligned near the corner intersection of the second and third edges. First and second peg holes 1513a, 1513b are aligned with the third edge. At least one top pulley 1530 is suspended between first and second top pulley assembly plates 1510 and configured to manage and/or redirect a cable from a floating top pulley assembly to a dual pulley trolley.

FIG. 8 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific designation for the number of axle holes, rollers, and pulleys is provided as an example and is not to be construed as limiting to specific numbers, types, or arrangements. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 9, dual pulley trolley assembly 1600 includes first and second trolley assembly plates 1610 (with second being visible in FIGS. 1 & 2) configured to sandwich a second post of rig 2000. Between plates 1610, a plurality of rollers 1630 may be suspended, in a configuration to roll along exterior surfaces of the second post of rig 2000.

Each of the first and second dual pulley trolley assembly plates 1610 includes first and second edges, arranged approximately perpendicular to third and fourth edges. Two pairs of axle holes 1612a and 1612b, 1613a and 1613b are aligned approximately in parallel with the first edge. Two peg holes 1614a, 1614b, are aligned approximately parallel to the same first edge. Opposite the first edge, a second edge includes several bracket notches 1615 configured to receive brackets of a dual pulley assembly bracket for indexing amount a number of pulley ratio positions. In an example, four individual bracket notches are provided for three different positions. Adjacent to the second edge are a number of anchor points 1616 interspersed among notches 1615 and configured for anchoring of cable ends thereto.

FIG. 9 is merely an example, which should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific designation for the number of axle holes, rollers, peg holes, bracket notches, and anchor points is provided as an example and is not to be construed as limiting to specific numbers, types, or arrangements. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the disclosure.

Dual pulley housing 1700, illustrated in FIG. 10, may include first and second housing plates 1710 (with second being visible in FIGS. 1 & 2). Suspended between plates 1710 are two pulleys 1730, 1740, and a hinge tube 1750 coupled so that its longitudinal axis is approximately parallel with the length-width planes of housing plates 1710.

Dual pulley housing plates 1710 include first and second edges extending approximately perpendicular with the third and fourth edges. Housing plates 1710 include two axle holes 17110a, 1711b, and features a tab 1717 extending from the first edge.

Dual pulley assembly bracket 1800, illustrated by way of example in FIG. 11, may include first and second bracket plates 1810 and 1820 configured to fit into the adjacent bracket notches 1615 of the first and second dual pulley trolley assembly plates 1610. Dual pulley first and second bracket plates 1810 and 1820 are configured to sandwich a hinge tube of dual pulley housing 1700 along its length.

A possible configuration of dual pulley trolley 1600, dual pulley housing 1700, and dual pulley assembly bracket 1800 is illustrated in FIG. 12 by way of example and should not unduly limit the scope of the claims herein. It is to be understood that the specific configuration is as an example and is not to be construed as limiting to specific of dual pulley trolley 1600, dual pulley housing 1700, and dual pulley assembly bracket 1800. A person skilled in the art will recognize many variations, alternatives, and modifications of embodiments of the disclosure.

While the top bracket plates, bottom bracket plates and loading plates may take any of a variety of shapes suitable for enabling disclosed systems, in an example, each has first, second, third and fourth edges meeting at approximately right angles. The variety of axle and peg holes discussed herein may take any of a variety of dimensions suitable for receiving or otherwise accommodating pegs and axles, respectively. In an example, the peg holes have a diameter of 1.125 in. and the axle holes have a diameter of 0.4375 in. While the disclosed plates may take any of a variety of dimensions suitable for mounting and/or coupling other components, in an example, the plates are formed with a 0.25″ thickness. While the disclosed plates may be formed from any of a variety of durable, rigid materials, in an example, the plates are formed from a metal such as steel.

Disclosed accentuated eccentric loading systems and or dynamic, eccentric-accentuated loading systems may be assembled in accordance with any of a variety of methods.

Resistance may be mounted to, provided to or otherwise applied to the loading horn of the loading arm such as, for example, by sliding one or more weight plates onto the loading horn.

A user may then pull the ends of the tension member or members to lift the load by pivoting the loading arm. Depending on auxiliary pulleys provided between the first pulley and the user, the user may be able to pull or otherwise apply force to the ends of the tension member along any of a variety of trajectories in order to lift the load. Any of a number of additional tools can be coupled to ends of the tension member or members to facilitate lifting of the load by the user with any of a number of muscle groups.

In an example pressing exercise, with the user gripping a cable stirrup handle attached to a tension member, as the athlete begins to press the grip away from their body, the resistance offered to the user is greatest. The further the stirrup from the user's body, the less resistance offered.

The system may also be configured to offer increasing resistance at the first end of the tension member as the distal end of the loading arm moves towards horizontal, decreasing resistance at the first end of the tension member as the second end of the loading arm moves away from horizontal, increasing resistance at the first end of the tension member as the second end of the loading arm moves away from vertical, decreasing resistance at the first end of the tension member as the second end of the loading arm moves towards vertical, increasing resistance at the first end of the tension member as an angle between the loading arm and horizontal decreases, decreasing resistance at the first end of the tension member as an angle between the loading arm and horizontal increases, decreasing resistance at the first end of the tension member as an angle between the loading arm and vertical decreases and increasing resistance at the first end of the tension member as an angle between the loading arm and vertical increases.

The anchor point of the tension member 3000 and its contact with disclosed pulleys can be varied among different arrangements of system 1000 to adjust the relationship between the resistance effectively offered to a user at a first of tension member system and the load applied at the loading arm. FIG. 13 illustrates a side view of an example accentuated eccentric loading system 1000 mounted to a rig 2000 in a first, one-to-one arrangement in which the user experiences a first load over a first range of motion. FIG. 14 illustrates a side view of an example accentuated eccentric loading system 1000 mounted to a rig 2000 in a second, three-to-one arrangement in which the user experiences a third of the first load over three times the range of motion of the FIG. 13 arrangement. Meanwhile FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a side view of an example accentuated eccentric loading system in a third arrangement in which a user experiences half the first load over twice the range of motion of the FIG. 13 arrangement.

Disclosed embodiments include loading arm geometry and a configuration of pulley assemblies selected such that, during cable retraction, the user experiences a greater resistive force than during cable advancement, thereby providing accentuated-eccentric loading.

For example, at a loading arm angle of approximately 7.35 degrees concentric resistance peaks with the resistance progressively decreasing as the loading arm moves away from that position. FIG. 15 illustrates a plot of loading arm angle vs. user experienced load or resistance (as % of concentric peak) for an example variable loading system in the three arrangements. Solid lines reflect an angle vs. resistance profile for a one-to-one pulley ratio. Dashed lines reflect an angle vs. resistance profile for a two-to-one pulley ratio. Dotted lines reflect an angle vs. resistance profile for a three-to-one pulley ratio.

While in some cases depicted as having first and second sides or side subsystems, disclosed systems may be provided and/or used in a unilateral arrangement.

The actions described above are only illustrative and other alternatives can also be provided where one or more actions are added, one or more actions are removed, or one or more actions are provided in a different sequence without departing from the scope of the claims herein.

Embodiments of the disclosure are susceptible to being used for various purposes, including, though not limited to, variable strength overload by which a user's strength may be overloaded. Embodiments of the disclosure are also suitable for use for variable athlete overload, accentuated eccentric loading and/or accentuated eccentric resistance. In other arrangements, the system may offer accentuated concentric loading. Disclosed loading arm assembly plates, trolley assembly plates, tensioner plate, floating top pulley plates, dual-pulley trolley plates and dual-pulley assembly bracket plates and loading arm dual-pulley plates together provide for a structural-support framework for disclosed systems.

Modifications to embodiments of the disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “consisting of”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim disclosed features are intended to be construed in a non-exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural.