EMS STIMULATION CURRENT TRANSMISSION ELEMENT AND EMS GARMENT EQUIPPED WITH THE EMS STIMULATION CURRENT TRANSMISSION ELEMENT

Abstract

An EMS stimulation current transmission element for an EMS garment includes a planar current transmission region of an EMS electrode for transmitting EMS stimuli to the living body, which contains a number of two-dimensionally arranged linear current conductor strand sections and is connected, via a further number of linear current conductor strand sections, to a connection point that is in particular spaced apart from the current transmission region, at which connection point the EMS stimulation current transmission element can be connected to an EMS stimulation current production unit, in order to load the current transmission region with an EMS stimulation current shaped by the EMS stimulus current production unit from a current drawn from a current source to form a pulse sequence and/or to form an alternating current. The current transmission region has a single linear current conductor strand section. An EMS garment has an EMS stimulation current transmission element.

Claims

1. An EMS stimulation current transmission element for an EMS garment with at least a planar current transmission region of an EMS electrode for transmitting EMS stimuli to the living body, which contains a number of two-dimensionally arranged linear current conductor strand sections and is connected, via a further number of linear current conductor strand sections, to a connection point that is spaced apart from the current transmission region, at which connection point the EMS stimulation current transmission element can be connected to an EMS stimulation production unit in order to load the current transmission region with an EMS stimulation current shaped by the EMS stimulation current production unit from a current drawn from a current source to form a pulse sequence and/or to form an alternating current, wherein: the current transmission region comprises a single linear current conductor strand section, which is laid in a two-dimensional manner without meshes, and together with the current conductor strand section leading to the connection point is formed by a single linear current conductor strand, or the current transmission region comprises a plurality of linear current conductor strand sections laid in a two-dimensional manner and in parallel and without meshes and which are each formed by a single linear current conductor strand with one of the current conductor strand sections leading to the connection point, or the current transmission region comprises a plurality of linear current conductor strand sections laid in a two-dimensional manner and in parallel and without meshes which are all spliced with the single linear current conductor strand section which leads to the connection point.

2. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 1, wherein the current conductor strand sections, preferably the single current conductor strand, is and/or are arranged on a carrier element formed advantageously as a textile flat fabric.

3. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 2, wherein the current conductor strand sections, preferably the single current conductor strand, at least in the region of the current transmission section, is sewn or embroidered onto the carrier element.

4. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 3, wherein the carrier element is not electrically conductive.

5. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 3, wherein at least one of the current conductor strand sections at least in sections is laid following a zigzag track or in a meandering manner, preferably is attached to the carrier element.

6. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 3, wherein each current conductor strand is formed by a composite of single fibers, wherein each current conductor strand consists of a single yarn, doubled yarn, twist, cord or rope which comprises single conductors made out of metal or with metal coating or consists of such single conductors or of a metal strand the single conductors of which are formed by twisted or plied metal wires or metal fibers or comprises such metal wires or metal fibers.

7. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 6, wherein each current conductor strand comprises single conductors formed as a filament or as a staple fiber, or consists of such single conductors, in particular comprises single fibers formed as monofilaments or preferably multifilaments made out of metal or out of metal-coated plastics, or consists of such single fibers.

8. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 7, wherein the current transmission region comprises a plurality of current conductor strand sections laid in parallel next to each other, attached to the carrier element and each following a zigzag track or in a meandering manner.

9. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 8, wherein the current conductor strand sections laid in parallel next to each in the current transmission region in an electrical serial connection successively form in total a zigzag track section of the single current conductor strand.

10. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 4, wherein the current conductor strand section(s) extending between the connection point and the current transmission region are laid between the carrier element and a preferably textile top layer, wherein the top layer preferably is not electrically conductive.

11. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 10, wherein the top layer comprises an opening exposing the current transmission region, wherein the carrier element and the top layer are sewn with each other along the edge of the opening, and wherein the current conductor strand sections, preferably the single current conductor strand, extend(s) on the edge of the current transmission region between the carrier element and the top layer.

12. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 3, wherein the EMS stimulation current transmission element comprises an even plurality of line branches of which each one comprises a current transmission region and its connecting current conductor strand section(s) wherein each of the line branches is formed by a single current conductor strand laid in a two-dimensional manner in the current transmission region or by a current conductor strand spliced open, or by a plurality of current conductor strands laid in parallel in the current transmission region, wherein two of the line branches each are allocated to each other and equipped with current transmission regions corresponding to each other in order to form an electric circuit leading through a muscle section of the living body.

13. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 12, wherein the EMS stimulation current transmission element comprises another even plurality of additional line branches which lead in each case from a connection point for connection to the EMS stimulation production unit to an electrode connection point spaced apart for connection to an external EMS electrode, and which do not contain an EMS electrode themselves.

14. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 13, wherein the line branches, and if applicable, the additional line branches end on a common connection point, preferably in a common connector.

15. The EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 14, wherein the line branches and, if applicable, the additional line branches extend in a region located between the common connection point and the current transmission regions in parallel and adjacent to each other, and then fan out like a cable harness into the single current transmission sections.

16. An EMS garment comprising at least an EMS stimulation current transmission element according to claim 2.

17. The EMS garment according to claim 16, wherein the current conductor strand sections, preferably the single current conductor strand, at least in the region of the current transmission section, is sewn or embroidered onto the carrier element.

18. The EMS garment according to claim 17, wherein the current transmission region comprises a plurality of current conductor strand sections laid in parallel next to each other, attached to the carrier element and each following a zigzag track or in a meandering manner.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0053] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an EMS training device with an EMS stimulation current transmission element configured as an EMS garment according to a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0055] FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an EMS stimulation current transmission element according another exemplary embodiment of the invention configured for use as an EMS garment;

[0056] FIG. 3 shows detail III in FIG. 2;

[0057] FIG. 4 shows detail IV in FIG. 2; and

[0058] FIG. 5 shows detail V in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0059] In FIG. 1, a stimulation current transmission element 20 configured as short trousers is shown which is equipped with four EMS electrodes 21 each grouped in two pairs, wherein each pair of electrodes is allocated to a thigh, and wherein each EMS electrode 21 via a current conductor strand section 25 is connected with a spaced apart connection point located in a connector 26. From the connector 26, a common signal cable 24 leads to an EMS stimulation production unit 23 built into a desk-shaped control unit. The EMS stimulation production unit 23 shapes EMS stimuli from a main current according to a desired excitation scheme and loads alternately the two EMS electrodes 25 of each pair of electrodes with it.

[0060] The EMS electrodes 21, the current conductor strand sections 25 and the connector 26 are placed on a textile carrier element 22. The current conductor strand sections 25 from the connector 26 to the EMS electrodes 21 and the EMS electrodes 21 themselves include a current conductor strand made from special steel yarn, which in turn includes some, for example, six, multifilament strands, and which in the region, covered by the allocated EMS electrodes 21, the current transmission region 21, is separated into its single multifilament strands, and laid flat there. The special steel yarn is embroidered onto the textile carrier element 22, and in the region of the current conductor strand sections 25 forming the connection lines 25 covered towards the inside, hence towards the body, with an electrically insulating top layer (not shown).

[0061] The carrier element 22, the EMS electrodes 21, the supply lines 25 and the connector 26 form an EMS stimulation current transmission element 20 which is already shaped as an EMS garment 20, namely short trousers.

[0062] The EMS stimulation current transmission element could of course also be shaped as an entirely different EMS garment, for example, as a vest or as a full body suit. A set of several EMS garments, for example, trousers, vests, bracelets, or lower leg bands could also be provided. The EMS stimulation current transmission element could of course also have an entirely different shape, for example, as an insert to be sewn into an EMS garment, as this is the case in the embodiment of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0063] The EMS stimulation current transmission element 30 shown in FIG. 2 is designed as an insert to be sewn or glued into an EMS garment shaped as a vest, and for this purpose includes a carrier element 32 cut out from an unsewn circular knitted fabric along linear current conductor strands 1 to 16. The current conductor strands 1 to 16 have been embroidered onto the carrier element 32 in the shape shown prior to the cutting.

[0064] The current conductor strands 1 to 10 each lead from a common connection point 17 in a region in which they are each laid in a two-dimensional manner. These regions in which one of the current conductor strands 1 to 10 each is laid in a two-dimensional manner, in the state of the EMS stimulation current transmission element 30 sewn into the EMS garment, each serve as a current transmission region of an EMS electrode of the EMS garment. Thus, the line branches 1 to 10 which each contain an EMS electrode and the supply line from the connection point up to the EMS electrode are formed each by a single linear current conductor strand 1 to 10 preferably formed by a special steel multifilament yarn.

[0065] Two EMS electrodes each are allocated to each other wherein their current transmission regions correspond to each other in size, for example, the current transmission regions in the line branches 9 and 10. The two current transmission regions allocated to each other are located accordingly in two of the line branches 1 to 10, which are allocated to each other, for example, in the line branches 9 and 10, and form during the EMS training an electric circuit through the muscle section in the body to be trained, in the case of the line branches 9 and 10, for example, the rear trunk muscle sections.

[0066] Additional line branches 11 to 16, which are likewise formed by a single linear current conductor strand, namely from yarn, also start on the common connection point 17 and lead to free ends remote from it, where additional EMS electrodes for the extremities can be connected, for example, at 15 and 16 a pair of EMS electrodes for the one biceps, at 13 and 14 a pair of EMS electrodes for the other biceps. The cabling of the additional external EMS electrodes with the EMS stimulation production unit can then likewise occur via a connector to be attached on the common connection point 17.

[0067] The common connection point 17 is shown in FIG. 3 in detail. One recognizes the ends of the current conductor strands 1 to 16 which can, for example, be connected with a connector by a splicing procedure. Whereas the current conductor strands 1, 6, 7, 15 and 16 immediately extend on separate sections of the carrier element 32 there, which are only connected in the region of the common connection point 17 with the remainder of the carrier element 32, the other current conductor strands 2 to 5 and 8 to 14 extend at first in a common region and then fan out like a cable harness into single branches.

[0068] The current conductor strands 1 to 16 in their entire pattern (except for short supply lines on the common connection point 17) are embroidered onto the carrier element 32 in a meandering manner or in a zigzag track, as can particularly be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 where the embroidering seams are each designated with reference numeral 18.

[0069] It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the exemplary embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.