Field of the invention

The invention relates to techniques and equipments for restoring and/or improving human physiological capabilities, to develop coordination of movement, for posture correction, and to raise the level of human functional reserves, by training various groups of muscles during the creation of the effect of weightlessness. The complex according to the present invention may be used in sporting, therapeutic and training centres and in medical institutions.

Prior art

There is a known rehabilitation training complex containing a seat for the user, with mechanisms to support the upper and lower limbs in sitting or lying position, a bearing structure and two pedal mechanisms for arms and legs which are connected to the bearing structure in a manner enabling them to change their position in space (see RU Patent No. 2306129 for full details; it is to be noted that in Fig. l and Fig.2 the user is not shown on the seat with telescopic frame 1).

There is a known device for training the muscles of the feet and legs, containing an inclined base on which the user is placed, and a rack with arc-shaped guides having crossbars fitted between them. The user, in a lying position, steps on these crossbars, simulating walking in the vertical plane (see US Patent No. 3,891,207 for full details.

A problem with the above known devices is that they are of limited use for a varied development of the muscles of all parts of the user' s body, including the locomotor system as a whole.

The apparatus closest to the one applied for herein is a comprehensive muscle- training complex containing rests for the forearms, rests for the shins and rests for the feet, each of which has a corresponding means of creating a power load, and a corresponding guide for a sliding element which can be moved along the guide by the means used to create a power load, and at least one support; each of the means used to create a power load is in the form of a flexible tie, one end of which is able to be fixed on the support, while the other can be joined to the sliding element of the corresponding guide, and each guide is closed, and able to pass round the corresponding part of the user' s body (see RU Patent No. 2302274 for full details).

The use of this device makes it possible to expand the possibilities of acting on different groups of muscles and parts of the user' s locomotor apparatus; however, it does not provide a way of simulating walking even less running similarly to e.g. practising training methods on treadmill on the ground; additionally, it does not simulate weightlessness conditions and training in weightlessness conditions.

Summary of the invention

The technical object of the present invention consists in the expansion of the functional and user possibilities of a training complex; in particular, it is desirable the provision of the effect of weightlessness and/or of the simulation of walking and/or running by the user similarly to e.g. practising training methods on treadmill on the ground; additionally, it is desirable to provide the possibilities for its use in medical practice as a load-applying device for conducting experiments in terrestrial conditions to determine the influence on the human organism of factors of weightlessness and hypokinesis, and for ergonomic tests of training devices such as treadmills.

The technical object of the present invention is achieved by a training complex having the technical features set out in the appended claims which are an integral part of the present description.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the training complex contains a bearing structure, a device on which the user is placed, primarily in a lying position, including rests connected by flexible ties to the bearing structure, and a load-applying device; furthermore, the bearing structure, which is mounted on a base and fixed to the ceiling of the room by fixing screws, is made of two racks in the form of a prefabricated metal structure, the upper surfaces of which are connected by girders to traverses with guides for the movement of carriages; one of the racks carries a device forming a treadmill, and a mechanism to turn the treadmill round the horizontal axis to provide imitation of a training regime "running up-hill", the cables of the mechanism have one end fixed to the carriage; to carry the user, the device also has a rest suspended by three cables from the carriages to support the upper part of the body in the horizontal plane, with two adjustable cushions to support and alter the position of the head and shoulders relative to the rest, and a mattress to hold the lumbar region in position; and a means of suspension for the lower limbs, to reduce the force of gravity acting on the legs with the body in a horizontal position, including knee pads and heel supports, suspended by flexible cables via a system of pulleys from the bearing structure, the tension in which is regulated by displacing the fixing points of a tensioning roller. The base of the stand consists of four parts, and has a soft covering. The present invention together with its advantages will be better understood from the following description to be considered in conjunction with the annexed drawings; these refer to a particular embodiment of the present invention and therefore, should not be construed in a limitative way.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of the training complex according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a particular of the training complex depicting the user.

Detailed description of the invention

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show an embodiment of the training complex according to the present invention, containing a bearing structure and device for placing the user, mainly in a lying position, including rests connected by flexible ties to the bearing structure, and a load-applying device.

The bearing structure, mounted on a base 1 and fixed by fixing screws 2 to the ceiling of the room, is composed of two racks 3, 4, the upper surfaces of which are connected by girders 6 to (upper) traverses 5, having guides 7 on which a carriage 8 can move. One rack carries a device 9, forming a treadmill having a mechanism to turn the treading surface round a horizontal axis to provide simulation of the "running up-hill" training regime, the cables 10 of the mechanism are connected at one end to the carriages 8.

The device on which the user is placed includes a rest 11 connected to the carriages 8 by three cables 10, to support the upper part of the body in the horizontal plane, with two adjustable cushions 12 to support and change the position of the head and shoulders, and a mattress 13 to hold the lumbar region. To reduce the force of gravity acting on the legs with the body in the horizontal position, the means of suspension for the lower limbs includes knee pads 14 and heel supports 15, suspended by flexible ties 16 via a pulley system 17 from the bearing structure, the tension of which is regulating by displacement of the fixing point of the tensioning roller 18. The base 1 has a soft covering 19.

The complex is designed so that the bearing structure and the base can be assembled, dismantled, transported and installed.

To assemble the complex, the base is assembled first by fixing all its four parts to each other with self-locking bolts. The base carries racks 3 and 4. Between the racks there are inserts, fixed by self-locking bolts. The girders 6 are mounted on the upper surface of the racks, and the traverses 5 with the carriages are fitted on top of them. The rack 3 carries a device 9 forming a treadmill with a mechanism for altering its angle; the rest 11 is hung to the cables by means of snap (or latch) hooks. The soft covering 19 is laid on the base.

User is constantly under the control of the servicing personnel during the preparation of the user to the training and during the training. When getting on the rest and getting off it, the user holds onto the rest suspension cables, and the servicing personnel protects the rest against horizontal vibrations. When the user is on the rest, the servicing personnel put the knee pads and heel supports on the user, and also tighten the pack cords of the means of suspension of the lower limbs, after which the user' s training takes place at set time intervals and rhythm in accordance with the programme. On completion of the training, the servicing personnel, slackening the pack cords of the means of suspension, gradually lower the user' s legs onto the base covering, after which the knee pads and heel supports are removed from him.

Use of the training complex makes it possible to create the effect of weightlessness and to simulate the user walking and even running on a vertical treadmill as in practising training methods on the ground. It can also be used in medical practice as a load-applying device in conducting experiments in terrestrial conditions to determine the influence on the human organism of weightlessness and hypokinesis, and for the ergonomic testing of training devices of the treadmill type, to reveal the physical capabilities of a human being under the effect of weightlessness factors, to improve his physiological capabilities in health care practice by use of the appropriate training programmes in the course of the rehabilitation of patients, and to improve coordination of movements.

Finally it is to be noted that the construction of the rest for the user, the connection of the rest for the user, the construction of the means for supporting the lower limbs of the user, the connection of the means for supporting the lower limbs of the user, and the vertical treadmill are five independent inventive aspects of the present invention and may be used alone or in combination. As it is clear from the preceding description and the following claims, there are many advantageous technical features relating to these aspects.