Athletic Training Device for Functional Strength Training

The present invention relates to an athletic training device and, in particular, to an athletic training device for improving movement capacities. A device with adjustable components provides the platform to explore specific athletic traits like range of motion and muscular strength. The multi-purpose platform provides the coach and athlete a complete training model with an array of training effects.

The terms “functional” and “special”, are used interchangeably in the characterization of movement quality.

In sport and fitness engagements, the character and volume of movements can be used to dictate methods of strength training and recovery protocols. Such load management may improve command opponent based sports. It is advantageous to the athlete to manage and track training variables to develop the capacity to be adjustable in sport. The controlled training approach is designed to combat the combined strains and stresses of sport. Thus, the development of robust movement capacities is desirable to extend the athletic life-cycle. An easily maneuverable training device allows for the continuity and execution of programming without such limitations experienced during travels.

In sport specific terms, the high velocity actions expressed in the throwing motion come into focus. The movement generates a considerable amount of force, thus requiring a considerable amount of lower half and upper half functional strength. In this instance, the strength expression may be categorized as “explosive strength.” If there is an absence in the stability of the lower limbs of the thrower, performance, wellness and health may be compromised in the execution of the task.

To address unique needs of the athlete, a modular training device was designed to assist in a multi-stimulus training regime. An athlete's ability to demonstrate force in sport is limited by the available supply of movement and strength skills. The proposed training device allows for the controlled development of such a function strength supply as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 11,833,389 to Mathew Ross Petrone (hereinafter, “the '389 patent”).

The design of a modular and portable device that improves the athlete's movement and strength skills has three distinct characteristics:

A common practice in sports performance is a movement assessment/screen, which is an available practice with distinctly measurable exercises. An explicit definition of movement quality is used to design informed training programs that address the specific needs of the athlete.

A deeper dive into the components of an informed training protocol details the formula for kinetic energy:

KE=()/2.

With respect to the formula, when the velocity increases, output increases exponentially. Due to the adjustable platform of the present invention, the athlete is provided a means to exploit ground forces in a static, semi-static and dynamic manner for a combined training approach. The positive correlation between static pulling and dynamic jumping for example, is well documented. The same correlations exist in other dynamic tasks involving substantial ground force and torque moments, ie. throwing, swinging and striking motions.

It is therefore implied that the correct combination and sequence of exercises may promote greater potential energy available to the athlete for sport specific applications.

Additionally, with the low friction wheeled base, the chassis is designed for variable tempo training, and variable resistance via attachment sights for bands, pulleys, cables etc.

These features allow for training solutions across the force-velocity AND force-posture curve, whereas the athlete may be exposed to forces both well above and below their own bodyweight, in numerous positions.

The athletic training device of the present invention can be used in a variety of ways pertaining to the development of sound athletic movements, such as running, throwing, swinging, and striking alike. Specifically, any skills that require a measurably imperative stride (magnitude and vector) and rotational efficiency may benefit through proper use of a training device according to the present invention. Likewise, the athletic training device of the present invention can be utilized in a rehabilitation capacity, whereas the user may be monitored by qualified personnel, with the goal of reintroducing movement capacities lost due to injury.

The training device of the present invention improves over prior training devices design by:

1. Orienting the athlete's foot closer to the ground for a positional advantage. Orienting an athlete's foot closer to the ground more closely replicates the location of the athlete's foot during actual athletic movements, such as running, throwing, swinging, and striking alike.

2. Widening the platform's base supports the user's selected exercise for both single leg and torso pivoting.

3. Widening the base of the device provides more control during highly repetitive movements due to larger surface contact with the wheels and the ground.

4. During static (isometric) and semi-static and even isokinetic (constant force across the entire range of a movement) exercise, the athlete can apply more pressure through the entire foot with a wider base of support.

5. Allowing for the device to mount a variable wheel arrangement (diameter, width, material) improves the versatility of the device by allowing it to be used in more environments. Additionally, switching the wheels out would not disrupt the “wheels off, non-gliding” mechanism.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, an athletic training devicecomprises a wheeled frame, and a rotatable platformdisposed on a top of the wheeled frame. The wheeled framecomprises an elongated frame bodyhaving a front endand a rear end, wherein wheelsare fixed to the frame bodyto allow rolling movement of the wheeled frameon a ground surface.

In the illustrated embodiments, the frame bodyis rectangular, having a front endand a rear end, and opposing sides extending in a lengthwise direction from the front endto the rear endto define a rectangular body. The frame bodymay comprise at least a top deck and a pair of side wallsdepending from the opposing side edges of the top deck. The top deck preferably has a generally planar top surface. A pair of front wheelsare disposed proximately to the front end, and a pair of rear wheelsare disposed proximate to the rear end.

The wheelsgenerally define a plane at the locations where they contact the surface on which they roll. Thus, while the illustrated embodiments include four wheels, it should be understood that any number of wheelscould be provided that have a sufficient number of contact locations with the surface on which they roll to stably support the athletic training deviceon that surface. For example, the athletic training devicemay have as few as three wheelsin contact with the surface on which they roll. The device may even have just 2 wheels as long as the wheels run a length that would sufficiently provided a linear glide during exercises. While in the illustrated embodiments the wheels are disposed outside of side wallsof the frame body, it can be understood that wheels may alternatively be disposed inside of the side walls, and configured to extend through openings of the top deck of the frame body.

Each of the wheelsis part of a wheel assemblythat is attached to the frame bodyusing a plurality of fasteners. The wheel assemblymay include, for example, an axle, bearings (not pictured), mounting brackets, and one or more wheels. In the illustrated embodiments, wheel assemblies comprise a pair of wheelsthat are rotatably fixed to opposite ends of an axle. The axleis mounted to or supported by the frame bodyto define a wheeled frame. In alternative embodiments, wheel assemblies may comprise a single wheel and axle mounted in position directly to the frame body.

The wheel assembliesmay include any suitable bearings (e.g., ball bearings, roller bearings, needle bearings, tapered bearings, fluid bearings, magnetic bearings, etc.) facilitate rotation of the wheels. In the illustrated embodiments, a first of wheel assemblyis disposed near a front endof the frame body, and a second wheel assemblyis disposed near the rear endof the frame body.

In the illustrated embodiments, the axlespass through one or more mounting portionsof the frame body. The axlesare preferably mounted to the frame bodyor brackets in a manner such that a rolling movement of the frame bodyalong a surface is confined to straight, linear fore-and-aft movement. The wheelsmay be mounted at locations outside of the rotational circumference of the rotatable platformso the rotatable platformmay rotate freely without interference from a wheelextending above the upper surface of the frame body. Alternatively, the rotatable platformmay be disposed to rotate above the wheelsto similarly rotate without interference.

In illustrated embodiments, the frame bodyis formed as a “C channel” platform, comprising a top deck. A pair side wallsdepend perpendicularly from opposite side edges of the top deck. The top deckhas a generally planar top surface and a bottom surface, and the opposing side wallsmay extend from either. In this embodiment, axlesare supported by to the side walls, with the axleextending between and through the opposing side walls with a pair of wheels supported on the axles. In the illustrated embodiment, the wheels are disposed on the axle ends outside of the frame body(that is, outside of the side walls).

Referring in particular to, the wheels may extend both above and below the frame body, such that in practice the athletic training devicemay be used in a “right side up” or an “upside down” arrangement. That is, the frame is constructed to allow for a “right side up” or “upside down” exercise orientation. This is beneficial due to the ability to scale exercises that targeted different bio mechanical stimulus patterns. The user's foot and or hand can be considered closer or further from the ground, which influences the proprioception and kinesthetic awareness of position changes for the user. For example, in a “right side up” usage, opposing side wallsextend downward from the top deck, while in an “upside down” usage, the opposing side wallsextend upward from the top deck. Hence, in the “right side up” usage, the uppermost surface of the top deck, and therefore the height of the rotating platform, will be higher than in the “upside down” usage, providing flexibility in height for varied exercises, since the user's hands or feet will be closer or further from the ground depending on the configuration. When the hands or feet are oriented closer or further from the ground, the exercise stimulus will inherently be altered to become more or less challenging on the user.

In such embodiments, the rotating platform may be rotatably and removably mounted on the top deck, such that the rotating platform may be mounted on the uppermost surface of the top deckin either the “right side up” or the “upside down” arrangement. A non-skid material or surface texturing may be applied to either surface, or both surfaces, of the planar main body portionas well as the rotating platform, to accommodate exercises performed without the rotating platform.

Referring to, the axlespass through mounting portionsformed in side wallsof the frame body, wherein the mounting portionsare formed as slot openings having at least two retaining positions,. In a first retaining position, the axleof the wheel assemblyis retained at a position such that the frame bodyis supported by the wheel assembly, and in a second retaining position, the axle is disposed at a position such that the frame bodyis not supported by the wheel assemblybut instead rests on the ground surface. Hence, the wheel assemblymay be displaced vertically to that, with the wheel assemblydisposed in the first position, the wheeled framecan roll freely, while with the wheel assemblyin the second position, the wheeled fromis prevented from rolling. The ability to reconfigure the training deviceof the present invention between a freely rolling arrangement and a non rolling arrangement expands the range of exercises that may be performed with the training device.

In addition to the vertical displacement of the wheel assembly, the mounting portionsmay be formed to provide lateral displacement of the wheel assemblyas well. In conjunction with the lateral displacement, an opening in the top deck of the frame body, such as a recessat one or both ends,of the frame body, the lateral displacement of the axleof a wheel assemblymay move the axle into view of the user in one lateral position, and out of view of the user in another lateral position, providing the user a visual indication of the state of the wheel assembly. Coupled with the vertical displacement, the user will recognize whether the wheeled frameis configured to roll, or not to roll.

The athletic training devicehas a capacity to support all of a user's mass in addition to substantially increased force efforts resulting from a bi-pedal or uni-lateral movement expressions in use.

The rotatable platformis configured to support a user's foot, feet and or hands during usage of the athletic training device, and may have a substantially planar upper surface portion for placement of the user's foot, feet or hands. The rotatable platformis mounted to the frame bodyby a pivoting mechanism that is configured to both pivot in the fore and aft direction of the frame bodyand also be rotatable relative to the frame bodyin a plane that is perpendicular to the arc through which the pivoting mechanism is configured to pivot, as depicted below:

The rotatable platformis preferably capable of full and unrestricted rotation while supporting all or a portion of an athlete's weight.

The front and rear wheel assemblies,are preferably mounted to the frame bodyin a fixed manner to prevent turning movement of the athletic training devicewhen rolled fore and aft, confining the athletic training deviceto a liner rolling movement. That is, the front and rear wheel assemblies,are preferably connected to the frame bodyin a manner to restrict a rolling movement of the wheeled frameto a linear forward and rearward rolling movement. In other embodiments, however, the front and rear wheel assemblies,may each, or individually, provide for a degree of tilt or rotation to allow or cause the athletic training deviceto roll fore and aft in a fixed or variable arcuate path, as may be applicable to specialized training exercises.

The rotatable platformis adapted to support a user's foot, feet or hands and accordingly is preferably dimensioned relative to a size or range of sizes to accommodate the user's anthropometrics. For example, the rotatable platformmay be an elongated hexagon, ovoid or other shape having a length of 10-20 inches, and a width of approximately 4-6 inches. Other dimensions are contemplated and may vary according to a footwear or wingspan associated with sporting exercises to be performed with the athletic training device. The rotatable platformmay be provided with a non-skid material applied to a top surface, or the top surface may be formed to have a non-skid property. A top surface of the frame bodymay be provided with graphic indicia, such as a line shape or outline corresponding to the perimeter of the rotating platform printed or formed on the top surface, to provide a visual reference of an amount of rotation of the rotating platform during exercises.

The wheel assembliesare preferably configured and mounted such that to the frame bodysuch that the individual wheelsare located outside of the largest circumference swept by outermost edge of the rotatable platformas it rotates, so the rotatable platformmay rotate freely without interference from a wheelextending above the upper surface of the frame body. Alternatively, the rotatable platformmay simply be disposed to rotate above the height of the wheels, although an arrangement that achieves a lower height of the rotatable platformmay be advantageous.

In addition, the frame bodymay be adapted allow for attachment of one or more elastic bands to add a resistance component to exercises performed with the athletic training device. For example, one or more band attachment pointsmay be provided as a hook or loop extended from or formed within the frame body, or as an aperture or passage through the frame bodyadapted to receive and secure an end or portion of one or more elastic bands. The band attachment pointsare preferably disposed proximate or equal to the plane of the user's foot, which is beneficial for the purpose of orienting the resistance as close to the bio mechanical structure(s) responsible for overcoming said resistance.

The rotating platformis detailed to have an angled feature which is beneficial for the purpose of mounting and dismounting ease for the user, as well as an explicit (measured) degree of separation from one position to another.

Referring to, the athletic training deviceis useful for various athletic training exercises, not limited to those shown in the figures. For example, the athletic training devicemay be used advantageously for exercises focusing on stride training and development. The manner of use is quite diverse. In one example of usage, a user may place their lead foot onto the rotatable platform, while striding from a starting position to an appropriate distance in or corresponding to a swinging or throwing motion (such as swinging a baseball bat, or throwing a ball), and subsequently returning to the starting position. The motion may be performed with or without the use of a complementary equipment such as a club, baseball bat, weight or the like. The rotatable platformaccommodates training in various positions of the user's body, such as with hips parallel or perpendicular to a given target, as well as turning or pivoting of the user's body (foot, leg, hips) through the stride motion. For example, performing an exercise repetition with the athletic training deviceoriented to roll forward and backward relative to the athlete provides a primary constraint or demand upon the hip to stabilize in a flexion/extension pattern, while performing another exercise repetition with the athletic training deviceoriented to roll sideways presents a primary challenge to stabilize laterally, rather through hip adduction and abduction. In this context, “primary challenge” refers to the focus or targeted regions of an exercise-all key stabilizers from head to toe must facilitate a powerful and efficient movement. However, the demand of magnitude upon the lower half mechanics is the segment of the kinetic chain under constraint during such illustrated training.