DEVICE FOR PERFORMING PHYSICAL EXERCISES, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTOR REHABILITATION EXERCISES

Abstract

A device for physical exercise for motor rehabilitation includes a body formed of a casing with at least a part made of a translucent flexible material, the body having an inner chamber and at least one opening, a closing element, housed in the opening, on which at least a pressure sensor, a light source, a control unit and a battery are mounted, in which the pressure sensor is positioned so as to detect the pressure in the inner chamber and in which the control unit is configured to receive the measurement of the pressure value and to control the activation state of the light source according to the parameter.

Claims

1. A device for physical exercise, comprising: a body with a casing that defines an inner chamber designed to be filled with a pressurised gas, said casing comprising at least a part made of a translucent or transparent material and at least a part made of a flexible material, said body having at least an opening, communicating with the inner chamber; a closing element housed in the opening designed to couple with the opening of the casing, said closing element comprising a head portion and a support portion, the support portion extending from the head portion towards the inner chamber; the device further comprising the following components mounted on the support portion; at least one pressure sensor; at least one light source; a control unit, connected to the light source and to the pressure sensor; a battery that powers the above-mentioned components; wherein the pressure sensor is positioned in such a way as to detect the value of the pressure in the inner chamber and wherein the control unit is configured to receive the measurement of said pressure value and to control the activation state of the light source according to said parameter.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said casing is partly or entirely made of a translucent flexible material.

3. The device according to claim 1, comprising a communication module connected to the control unit.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a control map, said control unit being configured to control activation of the light source according to the pressure value detected and the parameters of said control map.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes an initial calibration function in which it is configured to store a threshold pressure value, the control unit being further configured to control, during use of the device, activation of the light source in order to signal, with a given colour or a given sequence of blinks or a given light intensity, the entity of the pressure value detected according to the threshold pressure value stored.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is of programmable type.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit includes a calculation function of the force exerted on the body of the device according to the pressure value detected, said calculation function including a calibration curve stored in the control unit.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein the light is of the RGB or RGBW LED type and wherein the control unit is configured to drive the colour emitted by the light source according to the parameters of the control map or the threshold pressure value.

9. The device according to claim 1, comprising a recharge circuit for the battery that includes at least a coil or loop made of conductive material located in the head portion of the closing element or electric contacts protruding from the outer surface of said head portion.

10. A kit comprising a device for physical exercise according to claim 9 and a support for said device, wherein the support comprises a body designed to receive or house at least part of the body of the device when not in use, said support further comprising a power supply circuit for recharging the battery of the device.

11. A kit comprising a device for physical exercise and a support for the device, the device comprising: a body with a casing that defines an inner chamber designed to be filled with a pressurised gas, said casing comprising at least a part made of a translucent or transparent material and at least a part made of a flexible material, said body having at least an opening, communicating with the inner chamber; a closing element housed in the opening designed to couple with the opening of the casing, said closing element comprising a head portion and a support portion, the support portion extending from the head portion towards the inner chamber; the device further comprising the following components mounted on the support portion: at least one pressure sensor; at least one light source; a control unit, connected to the light source and to the pressure sensor, the control unit being of programmable type; a communication module connected to the control unit a battery that powers the above-mentioned components; a recharge circuit for the battery that includes at least a coil or loop made of conductive material located in the head portion of the closing element or electric contacts protruding from the outer surface of said head portion; wherein the pressure sensor is positioned in such a way as to detect the value of the pressure in the inner chamber and wherein the control unit is configured to receive the measurement of said pressure value and to control the activation state of the light source according to said parameter, and wherein the support comprises a control unit and a communication module of wireless type, said control unit of the support being configured to communicate with the control unit of the device and to program the operating parameters of the control unit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear clearer from the description of a possible embodiment example of a device for physical exercise, as illustrated in the attached figures in which:

[0066] FIG. 1 is a schematic view in lateral section of the device for physical exercise according to the present invention;

[0067] FIG. 2 is a schematic view in lateral section of a detail of FIG. 1;

[0068] FIG. 3 is a schematic view in lateral section of a support and recharge element for the device of FIG. 1;

[0069] FIG. 4 shows a block diagram that illustrates the operation of the device according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0070] With reference to the attached figures, the number 1 indicates overall a kit comprising a device for physical exercise 10 and a support 100 where the device is rested when not in use.

[0071] The device comprises a body 20 formed of a casing 21 made of polyvinyl chloride, or similar materials, translucent or transparent.

[0072] In the example illustrated, the body 20, in the condition of use, namely when the value of the pressure in the inner chamber 22 is within a suitable range, has the form of a sphere. As mentioned above, however, the body 20 can be semi-spherical, oval or any other shape suitable or useful for carrying out physical exercises for fitness or rehabilitation. The casing 21 is preferably provided with a valve 23 to introduce or discharge air, or if necessary another suitable gas, into/from the inner chamber 22.

[0073] In the body 20, and more precisely in the casing 21, a circular opening 24 is obtained in which a closing element is housed indicated overall by 30.

[0074] With reference to FIG. 2, the closing element 30 comprises a head portion 31 and a support portion 32. An area of the support element 32, near to the head portion 31, is designed to couple with an edge of the opening 24 so as to guarantee that the inner chamber 22 is airtight. Said airtight coupling is preferably obtained by means of a shape coupling without the use of sealants, adhesives or similar.

[0075] The support portion 32 develops, from the head portion 31, towards the inside of the chamber 22.

[0076] Said closing element 30 is typically made of a preferably rigid polymer material.

[0077] On said support portion 32 the following components are mounted: at least one pressure sensor 40, at least one light source 50, a communication module 60, a control unit 70, connected to the light source, to the pressure sensor and to the communication module, and a battery 80 that powers the above-mentioned components.

[0078] The light source 50 is preferably positioned in the area of an end 32b of the support 30 so that the light beam emitted is diffused as uniformly as possible inside the chamber. The translucent material of the casing 21 contributes to creating a diffuse effect of the light over the entire surface of the casing.

[0079] Preferably the light source 50 comprises one or more LEDs 51 of RGB or RGBW type so as to generate light of different colours. Typically the light source 50 further comprises a driver circuit 52 of the LEDs 51.

[0080] The communication module 60 preferably operates via Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC or other wireless communication standards.

[0081] According to a preferred variation, in the area of the head portion 31 of the closing element 30 a recharge circuit 90 is mounted comprising a loop or coil, made of copper or equivalent materials, connected to the battery 80.

[0082] In FIG. 3 the support 100 for the device for physical exercise 10 is shown in greater detail, albeit schematically.

[0083] Said support 100 comprises a base 101 with a seat 102 in which the device 10 can be housed. In the example illustrated, the seat 102 forms a hollow in which the body 20 of the device 10 is partially housed.

[0084] The support 100 is equipped with a current drive device 110 that can be connected to an external electric power supply, designed to power the electronic components mounted on board the support.

[0085] In greater detail, the support is provided with a power supply circuit 120 comprising a loop or a coil positioned in the area of the seat 102. When the device 10 is resting on the support 100, the closing element 30 faces towards the seat 102 of the support so that the two loops/coils of the respective power supply 120 and recharge 90 circuits are at an optimal distance, approximately 2-5 mm, such that the magnetic field generated by one interacts with the other.

[0086] The support 100 further comprises a control unit 130 connected to a communication module 140, preferably wireless of the above-mentioned types. Preferably the support further comprises an input/output interface 150 of the control unit 130. Said interface 140 preferably comprises a touch-screen display that allows operating parameters of the device 10 to be set, where the latter is provided with a programmable control unit, and also allows useful information to be displayed such as the battery charge level, the initial pressure P.sub.0 in the inner chamber 22 and also the parameters of the exercise in progress in real time.

[0087] Preferably in the area of the seat 102 of the support 100, a magnet 103 is provided designed to interact with a respective magnet 34 positioned in the head portion 31 of the closing element 30.

[0088] With reference to FIG. 4 a block diagram is shown that illustrates, purely by way of example, the operation of a device for physical exercise according to a possible variation of the invention.

[0089] At start-up of the device, the control unit calculates the initial internal pressure P.sub.0. Preferably, said value is measured by calculating the mean of the pressure values detected by the pressure sensor in a pre-defined time interval after start-up of the device. Preferably, said values are appropriately filtered to reduce the error margin due to the values at the extremes.

[0090] The initial pressure value P.sub.0 is stored in the control unit of the device.

[0091] Once detection of the initial pressure has been completed, the device is ready for setting of the threshold pressure P.sub.x. According to a possible embodiment, the threshold pressure is measured during a cycle or a repetition of an exercise carried out by the user, or following a specific calibration command given by means of the input/output interface. In this phase, the user will apply his/her maximum force or a lesser force according to the type and purpose of the exercise. The maximum pressure value reached is stored by the control unit as threshold value P.sub.x.

[0092] According to said threshold value and the pressure value P measured in a given instant, the control unit is programmed to control the light source. In the example illustrated, the control unit comprises a programmed map (colour map) on the basis of which it can control switch-on of the light source with a given colour according to the percentage of the pressure value P with respect to the threshold value P.sub.x. This map can be fixed, namely preloaded in the control unit, or it can be programmable if the control unit is of programmable type.

[0093] Where the light source is monochrome, said map can comprise different blinking sequences thereof and/or different lighting intensity of the source.

[0094] During performance of the exercise by the user, if the pressure value P detected in a given instant is higher than the threshold value P.sub.x, the control unit can generate a signal through the light source to inform the user accordingly. The signal is in the form of a given colour or blinking of the light source previously known to the user.

[0095] If the pressure value P detected is lower than the threshold value P.sub.x, the control unit commands activation of the light source based on the preloaded or programmed map, in order to provide the user and/or the controller with a qualitative feedback on the pressure/squeezing force applied to the body of the device.

[0096] If scheduled, the control unit can comprise a calculation function to calculate the instantaneous value of the force applied to the body of the device by means of a calibration curve.

[0097] The above is a purely indicative example of a possible embodiment of the device. As mentioned above, the device can comprise further accessory functions such as, for example, providing instructions to the user on the exercise to be carried out, again by use of the light source as a message carrier, or measuring and presenting also other movement parameters of the device.

[0098] The present invention has been described for illustrative non-limiting purposes, according to some preferred embodiments. A person skilled in the art will find numerous other embodiments, all falling within the protective scope of the following claims.