System for physical mobility activity of a person

Abstract

A system for physical mobility activity of a person includes at least one fixed support member and at least one contact member to be worn by a person in motion. The support member and the contact member include at least one support surface and at least one contact surface, respectively. The support surface and the contact surface constitute the respective components of a hook-and-loop fastening connection including of hooks and loops, wherein the hooks have hook stems and hook openings. The hook openings on the support surface or contact surface in question are at least substantially all situated at the same side of the hook stems in question, when considered in a first direction parallel to the support surface or contact surface in question.

Claims

1. A system for physical mobility activity of a person, the system comprising: a safety device; plural obstacles; and at least one contact member to be worn by the person in motion, wherein the safety device is configured for breaking a fall of the person in motion, wherein the safety device comprises i) an aerial runway provided with a trolley that is freely movable along the aerial runway, and ii) a safety line which at one end has been connected to the trolley and at another end has been provided with a coupling for coupling the person to the safety line, wherein the safety line is part of a belay having a safety drum provided with a brake and around which safety drum the safety line has been wrapped, wherein the belay is connected to the trolley for being moved by the trolley along the aerial runway, wherein the safety drum of the belay is auto-winding; wherein the plural obstacles are formed by fixed support members, wherein the fixed support members have support surfaces and the at least one contact member has at least one contact surface, respectively, wherein the support surfaces and the at least one contact surface constitute the respective components of a hook-and-loop fastening connection comprising hooks and loops, wherein the at least one contact surface constitutes the hooks of the hook-and-loop fastening connection and the support surfaces constitute the loops of the hook-and-loop fastening connection, wherein the hooks have hook stems and hook openings, wherein the hook openings of said at least one contact surface are situated on a same side of the hook stems when considered in a first direction parallel to said at least one contact surface wherein the aerial runway extends over said plural obstacles.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one contact member is an object that can be held by hands and/or fingers, or by feet, of the person.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the object is attachable to a hand or a foot of the person, the object being an article of clothing for the hand or the foot.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the article of clothing is an item of footwear, wherein the at least one contact surface has been provided at a sole side of the item of footwear, and wherein the first direction is front-rear with respect to the at least one contact surface.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said at least one contact surface has been formed either on a sole of a shoe or on a covering.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the article of clothing is a glove, wherein the at least one contact surface has been provided at a palm side of the glove and/or at a palm side of fingers, and wherein the first direction for the hooks of the at least one contact surface is oriented in the person's proximal direction.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the fixed support members are situated at a distance from each other in a direction transverse to the aerial runway.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the fixed support members are situated on both sides of the aerial runway.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the support surfaces are inclined support surfaces.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said inclined support surfaces are at different angles of inclination.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said support surfaces include support surfaces that are spaced apart from each other in the X-direction, Y-direction and/or Z-direction.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said support surfaces that are spaced apart from each other in the X-direction, the Y-direction and/or the Z-direction provide a zig-zag path to the person using the system.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aerial runway has corners and/or bends.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aerial runway has a horizontal course and/or a descending course.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aerial runway has a short ascending intermediate course or ascending end course.

16. The system according to claim 1, wherein the aerial runway has a starting point and an end point, wherein the end point is situated lower than the starting point.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the fixed support members are situated at different heights.

18. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least a majority of the hooks on said at least one contact surface are equi-oriented, when considered in the first direction.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least a majority of the loops of at least one support surface of said support surfaces are equi-oriented.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one contact member having at least one contact surface comprises plural contact members having plural contact surfaces for being worn by the person, said plural contact members comprising a pair of gloves and a pair of shoes, mounting caps, sole mounting plates, or overshoes, each provided with one of said plural contact surfaces.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be elucidated on the basis of a number of exemplary embodiments shown in the attached drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1A shows an example of a system according to the invention, with a detail in FIG. 1B;

(3) FIGS. 2A-C show two sides of a glove to be used in a system according to the invention and detail thereof;

(4) FIGS. 3A-C show two sides of a shoe to be used in a system according to the invention and detail thereof;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of the interconnection of the hook-and-loop fastener components of a system according to the invention;

(6) FIGS. 4A-D show a few examples of supports for a system according to the invention and a detail of FIG. 4A or 4B;

(7) FIG. 5 shows another example of a system according to the invention; and

(8) FIGS. 6A-C show a few examples of systems according to the invention, when considered in projection at a horizontal plane.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(9) The first example of a system according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1A by reference number 1. On a floor 100, that may be indoor or outdoor, a number of obstacles 2 have been positioned, as a track, which obstacles each comprise support members 3. The support members 3 have been provided with support surfaces 4, which have been provided with the loop components of a hook-and-loop fastening connection. The support members 3 may be inclined, vertical, horizontal, concave, convex, etc.

(10) An overhead path or aerial runway 5, in this example formed by a rail 5, is schematically shown. It is shown that the rail 5 may have curved tracks.

(11) A trolley 6 has been arranged so as to be freely movable in direction A (here substantially an X-direction) on the rail 5. The trolley 6, highly schematically shown in FIG. 1B, has rollers 8 for riding over the rails 5, and a frame 7 having plates (one of which is shown) pending down on both sides of the rollers 8, from which plates a belay 10 is suspended via a carabiner 9. The belay 10 in this case is an auto-belay of the brand TrueBlue, in particular type 2, and comprises a drum onto which a safety cord 11 has been wound. The drum has been provided with a brake 25 such that the person P attached to the outer end of the cord 11 by means of for instance a safety harness, is able to allow the cord to unwind in a restrained manner under the influence of their weight. In case of a returning motion of the person P towards the drum, it will retrieve the cord 11 through the action of a spring in the belay 10.

(12) The rail 5 and the obstacles 2 have been positioned relative to each other such that the person P has at least substantially all support surfaces within reach by paying out the cable 11. The paying length of the cable 11, which for safety reasons will be shorter than the vertical distance from drum 10 to the floor 100, also plays a part here. The rail 5 runs overhead over the obstacles 2, wherein in projection at a horizontal plane the one obstacle is situated with its support member on the left-hand side of the projected rail and the other obstacle is situated with its support member on the right-hand side thereof. An obstacle with support member may also be situated straight below the rail.

(13) The person P wears a pair of gloves 12 and a pair of shoes 13, which are the contact members and on which contact surfaces, to be discussed on the basis of FIGS. 2 and 3, have been provided.

(14) In FIGS. 2A-C an example of a suitable glove 12 is shown, showing the palm side in FIG. 2A and the back side in FIG. 2B. The glove 12 has straps 17 for attachment to a hand of a person. The glove 12 has been provided with contact surfaces 14 at the palm side, and namely with contact surfaces 14a on the fingers, contact surfaces 14b on the palm of the hand and with contact surfaces 14c at the location of the forearm, near the wrist.

(15) The glove has been attached to the hand in question of person P by means of a common hook-and-loop fastener. In the detail of FIG. 2C it can be seen that the contact surfaces 14 constitute the hook component of the hook-and-loop fastening connection. The hooks 16 have been attached to band material 15 and have a hook stem 16a and a hook opening 16b. The hook openings 16b are each time situated on one side only, and each time the same side of the hook stems 16a, when considered in a first direction B. The hooks 16 may be equi-oriented within a contact surface 14a, 14b, 14c. The first direction B is oriented in limb direction towards the torso of the person P, that means in proximal direction.

(16) In the FIGS. 3A-C an example of a suitable shoe 13 with a sole 18 is shown. The shoe 13 may be a regular shoe, but in this case a mounting cap 19 has been added, which with a toe 20 has been placed over the shoe toe and by means of straps 22 has been firmly attached to the shoe 13. The mounting cap 19 comprises a sole plate 21 covering the part of the sole 18 at the location of the ball and the toes. The sole plate 21 constitutes a contact member with a contact surface 14d which, see FIG. 3C, constitutes the hook component of a hook-and-loop fastening connection. In this case as well the hooks are oriented such that the hook openings 16b are all situated on the same side of the hook stems 16a, when considered in first direction B, wherein the hook openings preferably are equi-oriented over the surface 14d. The direction B goes from the front of the foot to the rear. Alternatively use can be made of a shoe in which the contact surface with hook component already is an integral part of the sole.

(17) In the FIGS. 4A and 4B two obstacles 2 have been depicted, having support surfaces 4 constituted by the loop component of a hook-and-loop fastening connection, adapted to the hook component of the contact surfaces 14a-d. The loop component is shown in detail in FIG. 4D, having basis 30 and upright loops 31. In one embodiment, the loopholes of the upright loops are randomly orientated. In another embodiment, they are at least substantially equi-oriented, in one embodiment with the openings oriented with a directional component parallel to the slope of the support surface in question. As can be seen in the FIGS. 1A, 4A and 4B the possibilities in terms of location of the support surfaces are large.

(18) During use of the system 1 by the person P, they will start on the floor 100, and for instance run up the concave support member 3. This involves first only the contact surfaces 14d of the shoes 13 contacting the support surfaces 4, wherein proper grip is at all times provided between the hooks 16 and the loops 31 (also see direction C1, FIG. 4), which grip can easily be released by the shoes moving in the ascending direction of the support member 3 (also see direction C2, FIG. 4). This does not slow down the mobility of the person P to an undesirable extent, whereas a considerable degree of security is provided against the shoes moving back along the support surfaces.

(19) When running up the support member 3, the belay 10 runs along, along the rails 5, wherein the drum retrieves the cord 11, so that it remains sufficiently taut at all times.

(20) When the person P comes closer to the top of the obstacle 2 they will be able to get more grip using the gloves 12, which with the contact surfaces 14a-c may form a hook-and-loop fastening connection with the loops 31 on the support surfaces 4, in a way similar to the contact surfaces 14d of the shoe. The person P can therefore move onwards over the obstacle 2, as it were, using hands and feet. Once arrived at the top they can jump to a next obstacle or to the floor 100, the cord 11 being paid out when necessary. Because of these possibilities of running up/climbing and jumping the person P experiences a Spiderman-like sensation. The belay and the oriented hook-and-loop fastening connections will ensure that the person P is able to traverse the track safely. The person P can clamber upwards, jump to the fore, jump to the right, jump to the left and in that way traverse a 3D track.

(21) FIG. 4C shows an alternative, in which the obstacle 2 has been provided with support surfaces 14e and 14f with hook components, wherein the hook openings within the support surface 14e are equi-oriented in the first directions B1 and the hook openings in the support surfaces 14f are equi-oriented in the first directions B2. The loop component will in this case have been provided on the contact surfaces on the shoes and the gloves of the person P.

(22) In FIG. 5 another example of a system 101 according to the invention is depicted. In the system 101 several persons P may be active simultaneously. The system 101 comprises a central body 102, on which a circumferential series of support members 103 has been arranged, having various arrangements of support surfaces 104. At the top of the body 102 a series of permanent and rigid, radial outriggers 140 has been arranged, each outrigger being provided with a rail 105, along which in the directions A a trolley that is not shown, can be freely movable between stops. Each time, a belay 110 for person P has been attached to said trolley. When the person P runs up the support members 103 the belay 110 in question at the trolley runs along over the rail 105.

(23) The support surfaces may be black. They may also have colors, have bright colors, for instance so-called neon colors. In combination with a UV-A light source (black light) a special color effect can then be achieved.

(24) In FIGS. 6A-C a few examples of arrangements of support members 3 provided with support surfaces 4 are shown. The support surfaces 4 have only been shown in FIG. 6A, it will be understood that they will also be present in FIGS. 6B and 6C. The direction of inclination of the support members 3 has been indicated. In FIG. 6A no aerial runway is present, and the person is able to hop from the one support member to the other support member, in random order. In FIG. 6B there is an aerial runway 5, along which the person is able to move onwards in direction A, by means of a trolley, including belay, as discussed above, while jumping from the one support member to the other support member, left of the aerial runway, right of the aerial runway, below the aerial runway. A similar arrangement can be seen in FIG. 6C, the aerial runway 5 having a winding course. The support members may also extend up to several heights, in the Z-direction, and starting at different heights.

(25) The invention is/inventions are not at all limited to the embodiments discussed in the description and shown in the drawings. The above description is included to illustrate the operation of preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit the scope of the invention. Starting from the above explanation many variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be evident to an expert. Variations of the parts described in the description and shown in the drawings are possible. They can be used individually in other embodiments of the invention(s). Parts of the various examples given, can be combined together.