Apparatus, in particular for balance training, having at least one moveable platform

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9630053-B2
Application number	US-201314438915-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 22, 2013
Priority date	Nov 14, 2012
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus, in particular for balance training and/or fine motor training, includes at least one moveable platform, which is in at least two dimensions oscillatingly moveable, and at least one damping unit for a damping of movements of the moveable platform. The damping unit comprises a central connecting element, which extends at least partially along a zero axis of a rest position of the platform, for the connection of the platform and the damping unit and for a transfer of an at least two-dimensional movement of the platform.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus, in particular for balance training and/or fine motor training, comprising:
at least one moveable platform, which is in at least two dimensions oscillatingly moveable, and
at least one damping unit for a damping of movements of the moveable platform, the damping unit comprises a central connecting element that extends from the moveable platform to the damping unit,
wherein the damping unit comprises at least one motion conversion unit, which converts a rotary component of the at least two-dimensional movement of the moveable platform into a rotary movement of the central connecting element about its axis,
wherein the motion conversion unit comprises a sleeve or a bore with a rounded opening, and
an adjustment unit that is provided for an adjustment of a damping degree and that comprises a control unit provided to adjust the damping degree in dependence on measurement values of at least one sensor for measuring a deflection of the moveable platform,
wherein the damping degree of the damping unit is adjusted via an adjustment of a pre-bias force of a spring element by an actuator, as, due to (i) an increased pre-bias force, a greater counterforce is exerted counter to a deflection of the central connecting element by the moveable platform and, due to (ii) a change in a force onto the central connecting element, a change in a friction force with a surface of the sleeve or the bore is achieved.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the central connecting element is at least partially implemented as a rope element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the damping unit comprises at least one spring element.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3 , comprising a sleeve element for a connection of the central connecting element and the spring element, which sleeve element allows a rotation of the central connecting element about its axis.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment unit comprises an electric actuator.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the damping unit comprises a directly adjustable damper element.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the directly adjustable damper element is implemented as an electro-rheological damper and/or as a magneto-rheological damper.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is provided for carrying out a training program, by a slow reduction of the damping degree of the damping unit, which is superimposed by a quick raising of the damping degree due to an increase of a deflection amplitude of the moveable platform.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the central connecting element is provided for a damping of the movement of the moveable platform by external friction.

10. A method of utilizing an apparatus according to claim 1 , comprising utilizing the apparatus for balance training and/or fine motor training and/or for therapy.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising utilizing the apparatus under reduced gravity conditions.

12. A method of utilizing an apparatus according to claim 1 , together with a gaming console.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising utilizing the apparatus and gaming console under reduced gravity conditions.

14. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising superimposing a slow reduction of the damping degree of the damping unit due to an increase of a deflection amplitude of the platform by a quick raising of the damping degree.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the adjustment unit comprises an electric actuator that adjusts a pre-bias force of a spring element.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a camera, via which the control unit receives the movement of the moveable platform, on the basis of a detection of markings at an underside of the moveable platform.

Assignees

• Airbus Ds Gmbh

Inventors

• Kolvenbach Hendrik René
• Kübler Ulrich
• Kern Peter

Classifications

• A63B22/18 Primary

  with elements, {i.e. platforms,} having a circulating, {nutating} or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, {e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical support}(hoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; {eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00}) · CPC title

• A63B22/14

  Platforms for reciprocating rotating motion about a vertical axis {, e.g. axis through the middle of the platform} · CPC title

• A63F13/24

  Constructional details thereof, e.g. game controllers with detachable joystick handles · CPC title

• A63B21/4049

  Rotational movement · CPC title

• A63B21/00845

  using electrorheological or magnetorheological fluids · CPC title