Pump trainer, exercise machine and methods of use

Abstract

A stationary exercise machine comprising an ergonomic device attached to a trolley slidably connected to an inclinable surface. The trolley connected to one or more resistance mechanisms generally opposing one another or gravity. The ergonomic device comprised of a balance board, seat, carriage, bike, or other apparatus intended to carry a user. A method where the user pumps, moving one's body weight in a rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth motion, to repetitively move the ergonomic device along the inclinable surface while standing, squatting, kneeling, sitting, laying, or otherwise resting, balancing, or riding on the ergonomic device, and where at least one resistance mechanism stores and releases mechanical energy produced by the user's pumping action. The resistance mechanisms can also be connected or disconnected, or user-controlled or automated to facilitate alternative methods of use, such as use as a balance board, rower, reformer, gravity-based exerciser, elastic resistance trainer, or flywheel resistance trainer.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to an action sports training device or exercise machine that mimics the pumping action of many board sports, such as surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and related action sports, such as skiing, skating, and cycling, where an individual participant uses one's body weight to pump and ride a board or other ergonomic device across a surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Action sports can be loosely defined as extreme or alternative sports in which “the participant is subjected to natural or unusual physical demands”. ¹ Herein, the disclosed invention is focused on the training, exercise, or fitness related to a subset of action sports in which an individual participant is required to use a primary piece of equipment, such as a board, skis, skates, scooter, bike, or other non-motorized or motorized device that the participant rides across a surface, such as on land, water, air, or the built environment. The common thread relating this subset of action sports to the disclosed invention is the “pumping action”—an up-and-down, back-and-forth body motion—that a participant uses to maintain momentum, generate speed, or climb an incline such as a wave, hill, ramp, or similar surface generally flowing against the direction of gravity or other natural force without the need for pushing, paddling, pedaling, or otherwise shuffling one's extremities or other equipment to move forward. Common examples of action sports that use one's body weight for pumping, as described here, include most board sports, such as surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and related actions sports, such as skiing, skating, scootering, cycling, or other individual non-motorized or motorized sport that will be familiar to persons having ordinary knowledge of the action sports industry.

Prior art in the action sports training and exercise equipment space are typically focused on balance, cardio, endurance, flexibility, and strength training Examples include balance boards, slacklines, treadmills, stair climbers, ellipticals, stationary bikes, rowing machines, pilates reformers, weight lifting machines, resistance trainers, and related equipment or variations or combinations thereof that will be familiar to persons having ordinary knowledge of the fitness and exercise equipment art. Whereas these and related prior art have merit in their ability to exercise or train an athlete or participant in one or more skills, none are able to replicate the pumping action described here. Even prior art more closely related to the disclosed invention, which combines elements of balance boards, rowers, reformers, and resistance trainers, do not embody the disclosed methods of use, i.e., pumping, as described here. Such prior art of relevance includes the following:

• • U.S. Ser. No. 10/518,125B2 “Translating carriage exercise machines and methods of use”
  • U.S. Ser. No. 10/596,408B2 “Bi-directional resistance exercise machine”
  • U.S. Ser. No. 10/967,219B2 “Exercise device with rocking seat”
  • US20050148434A1 “Springloaded exercise board”
  • US20060287173A1 “Balance and motion exercise training and conditioning device”
  • US20130225375A1 “Exercise methods and apparatus simulating stand-up paddle boarding”
  • US20150202484A1 “Body transformer”
  • US20210146190A1 “Multi-axis adjustable exercise machine”
  • US20210213344A1 “Exercise device”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 4,470,597A “Exerciser with flywheel”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,629A “Surfing simulator”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,152,691A “Snowboard simulator balance apparatus”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,496,239A “Exercise and ski simulating device”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 5,904,636A “Exerciser for surfing”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,168,554B1 “Exercise attachment for cross country ski simulator”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 6,942,487B2 “Skateboard trick master and amusement device”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,094,183B2 “Multi-purpose surfing balancer”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,479,097B2 “Safety balance device”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,566,291B2 “Balance training device and method of use”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,766,801B2 “Method of using an exercise device having an adjustable incline”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 7,775,952B1 “Balance training apparatus, and over and under combination”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 8,128,540B2 “Multipurpose exercise system”
  • U.S. Pat. No. 9,022,909B2 “Adaptive split carriage exercise reformer”

Notably, most common fitness equipment and exercise machines do not have significant barriers to entry. That is, a novice user is typically just as capable at performing the required motions on a standard piece of exercise equipment, such as a treadmill or stationary bike, as an experienced user. As a result, the use of most standard exercise equipment does not typically require substantial practice to master the art, and experienced users may not feel an increased enjoyment with mastery through continued practice or training Arguably, as with many other sports, games, and related activities, the level of enjoyment or fun that an activity embodies may be correlated with the amount of skill or practice required to master the activity because the act of learning a new skill through practice is in and of itself enjoyable or fun. Therefore, fitness equipment or exercise machines that embody a distinct learning curve, where a user must practice the activity to achieve maximum performance or mastery, may provide a participant or athlete a more pleasurable exercise or training experience.

Pumping is one of the most fundamental skills that an action sports athlete or participant should master for maximum performance and enjoyment of the sport. Pumping is not only critical to maintain momentum, generate speed, or traverse uneven surfaces, but it also requires a unique combination of balance, strength, coordination, and agility that can only be learned by doing. Therefore, action sports participants usually learn to pump in situ, in their sport's natural or built environment, e.g., on a wave, mountain, or ramp. For this reason, action sports tend to attract dedicated risk-takers that are willing to learn a sport's fundamentals through practice in often risky and extreme environments; hence, the common nomenclature “extreme sports”. As a less extreme alternative, pump tracks have become relatively popular entry-level arenas where participants of any skill level can learn to pump a skateboard, bike, or other wheeled device around a circuit of banked turns, rollers, berms, and other features. Likewise, artificial wave machines that generate traveling or standing waves can make learning to pump across the surface of a wave or moving stream of water a more consistent activity, such that participants do not need to rely on natural weather events for waves. However, like the natural and built environments vital to most action sports, pump tracks and artificial wave machines are not widely accessible or portable because they require ample physical space to build the arenas and participants must use forward-moving devices to traverse the natural or built topographies.

To date, there exists no stationary training device or exercise machine that mimics or similarly embodies the action of “pumping” in which a participant must use a rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth motion of one's body weight to maintain momentum, generate speed, or climb an incline. Countless attempts to capture the feel of popular board sports, e.g., surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, etc., and related action sports, e.g., skiing, skating, cycling, etc., have been developed, but all fall short of describing this unique repetitive movement or pumping action. Such embodiments of a stationary action sports pumping machine and methods of use are disclosed and claimed herein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In contrast to other stationary training devices and exercise machines, the disclosed invention closely mimics the feel of surfing a wave, riding a ramp, or otherwise pumping a board or other non-motorized or motorized equipment across an inclinable surface. The fundamental feeling of pumping is embodied in one aspect of the invention by combining select mechanical elements of four non-motorized, stationary systems—i.e., balance boards, rowing machines, pilates reformers, and resistance training systems. As a result, the disclosed pumping apparatus can be easily adapted for use as a multi-functional cross-training exercise machine. The unique combination of mechanical elements in the disclosed invention allow it to conveniently operate in at least one and up to seven or more different modes of use as a pump trainer, a balance board, a rower, a reformer, a gravity-based exerciser, an elastic resistance trainer, and a flywheel resistance trainer. As such, the disclosed pump training device can provide a full range of balance, cardio, endurance, flexibility, strength, coordination, and agility exercises in one simple, compact and slim profile.

The disclosed invention provides in one aspect a pump training device comprising:

• • 1. an inclinable beam, with a front end and a rear end,
    • a. the front end attached to a first resistance mechanism and a first structural support,
    • b. the rear end attached to a second resistance mechanism and a second structural support;
  • 2. a trolley slidably connected to the inclinable beam and comprises,
    • a. a first mounting bracket for attaching the first resistance mechanism to transfer forces from the front end of the inclinable beam to the trolley,
    • b. a second mounting bracket for attaching the second resistance mechanism to transfer forces from the rear end of the inclinable beam to the trolley,
    • c. a third mounting bracket for attaching an ergonomic device, such as a board, seat, carriage, platform, stomp pad, footplates, bike, or other apparatus intended to carry the user;
  • 3. an ergonomic device that may be attached to the trolley,
    • a. by a rigid connection,
    • b. by one or more freely rotating and/or translating connections, enabling the device to tilt, pivot, spin, slide, or otherwise rotate and/or translate freely with at least one and up to six degrees of freedom,
    • c. by one or more partially restrained mechanical connections, enabling the device to tilt, pivot, spin, slide, or otherwise rotate and/or translate in a controlled manner, using deformable materials, bladders, springs, dampers, or other suspension mechanisms that resist or partially constrain motion in at least one and up to six degrees of freedom.

The disclosed invention provides in another aspect a method for transferring dynamic forces from a system of at least one mechanical resistance mechanism to a body motion known as “pumping” where:

• • 1. a user pumps, moving one's body weight in a rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth motion, to repetitively move an ergonomic device along an inclinable surface while standing, squatting, kneeling, sitting, laying, or otherwise resting, balancing, or riding on the ergonomic device;
  • 2. at least one resistance mechanism stores and releases mechanical energy produced by the user's pumping action in the form of conserved momentum, elastic or viscoelastic energy, gravity, or other energy transfer or damping mechanism(s).

The disclosed device and methods encompass a variation of resistance training equipment and related exercises or body movements that embody the unique pumping action common among action sports in which an individual uses a non-motorized or motorized piece of equipment to ride or move via pumping across a flat, sloped, curved, or otherwise inclinable or contoured surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pump trainer according to the disclosed invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the pump trainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the pump trainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the pump trainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the pump trainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a rear view of the pump trainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a frontal section view of the pump trainer shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a pump trainer with handle bars included for safety and

balance assistance.

FIG. 9 contains simplified mechanical diagrams of alternative embodiments of the disclosed invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the pump trainer adapted to a method of use in cycling mode.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pump trainer adapted to a method of use in resistance training or balance board mode.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the pump trainer adapted to a method of use in rower mode.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the pump trainer adapted to a method of use in reformer mode.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a pump trainer in a folded orientation for transport and storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1-7, the preferred embodiment of pump training device (viz., pump trainer) 100 consists of ergonomic platform (viz., balance board) 102 with padded grippable surface 104 mounted to trolley 106 by thrust bearing 108 and deformable base 110 to provide a freely spinning yaw yet restrained pitch and roll connection about datum reference 112. Trolley 106 is slidably connected to inclinable beam 114 by roller bearings 115 such that trolley 106 translates with one degree of freedom about datum reference 116 along channel beams 118 supported by vertically telescoping support columns 120 and 122 having laterally telescoping support legs 124 and grippable floor pads 126. The inclination angle of inclinable beam 114 is adjusted by changing the respective heights of telescoping support columns 120 and 122, connected to base plates 128 by locking pins 130, providing structural connections between end plates 132 and 134 and channel beams 118. Protective stomp plates 136 and end pads 138 and 140 are attached to structural support beams 142 and connected between end plates 132 and 134 or to optional side brackets (not shown) along channel beams 118. Quick-connect mounting bracket 144 rigidly attached to trolley 106 is connected to a plurality of elastic tension members 146 on one side and pull cord 148 on the other side, which remain in tension throughout the duration of each pumping cycle (one repetition) and provide opposing tensile forces on trolley 106 which slides along inclinable beam 114 with one translational degree of freedom. Elastic tension members 146 provide tunable elastic resistance by adding or removing bands or springs of varying tensile strength connected between quick-connect mounting bracket 144 and mounting bracket 150 located on end plate 132. Pull cord 148 provides tunable damped resistance when unwound and tunable undamped resistance when rewound within flywheel assembly 152 by adjusting the effective mass properties, damping, or elastic recoil of flywheel assembly 152. Flywheel assembly 152 is attached to support beams 142 generally midway between or nearer to one of endplates 132 and 134, where pull cord 148 is connected between flywheel assembly 152 and quick-connect mounting bracket 144 by way of pulley 156 located on end plate 134.

The damped-undamped resistance produced by flywheel assembly 152 is generated by a one-way clutch and braking system (not shown), located within flywheel assembly 152, that engages when pull cord 148 is unwound and disengages when pull cord 148 is rewound, similar to the one-way mechanisms of many commercially-available rowers, such as those developed by Concept2, Echelon, Hydrow, LifeCore Fitness, NordicTrack, Paradigm Health & Wellness, ProForm, and Total Gym. In contrast, the plurality of elastic tension members 146 are always engaged, similar to the resistance bands or springs of many commercially-available reformers, such as those developed by Align-Pilates, Balanced Body, Casa Pilates, IM=X Pilates & Fitness, Lagree, Merrithew, Stamina, and Total Gym. Therefore, in its simplest form, pump trainer 100 can be thought of as a combination rower-reformer, where the tension mechanisms of each system (i.e., elastic resistance and flywheel resistance) oppose one another to balance forces on trolley 106. When a user stands, kneels, squats, sits, or otherwise rests on balance board 102 without moving, trolley 106 rests in an equilibrium position, generally midway between end plates 132 and 134, that also depends on the user's body weight and the inclination angle of inclinable beam 114.

As such, pump trainer 100 has three independent variables of dynamic control: (i) the undamped elastic resistance of elastic tension members 146, (ii) the damped-undamped flywheel resistance of pull cord 148, and (iii) the inclination angle of inclinable beam 114. These three mechanisms can be adjusted manually (as described above) or by a user interface (not shown) set up to control mechanical and/or electrical circuitry that can be adjusted by the user via wired or wireless connection, or adjusted automatically via programmable software or algorithms, or adjusted dynamically via artificial intelligence to produce real-time variable responses to the user's dynamic pumping actions on pump trainer 100 or to produce real-time variable resistances correlated with an augmented or virtual environment that changes the work-out intensity of pump trainer 100. Following this idea, pump trainer 100 could also be connected to digital video and audio content through a user interface console or screen (not shown) that displays virtual environments correlated with the user's actions—e.g., point-of-view simulations of surfing on a wave, snowboarding on a mountain, or skating on a ramp could be dynamically correlated with specific movements made by the user when riding or otherwise moving on pump trainer 100. This type of immersive human-in-the-loop experience may be popular among fitness enthusiasts, physical therapists, augmented or virtual reality gamers, board sports athletes, and similar audiences that will be familiar to persons having ordinary knowledge of the immersive fitness industry. Several immersive fitness products on the market could be adapted for use with pump trainer 100, such as future augmented or virtual reality experiences using a VR headset, such as those by Apple, HP, HTC, Meta, Microsoft, Nintendo, PlayStation, and Valve, or an immersive fitness platform, such as those by Black Box VR, Holodia, iFIT, Immersive Gym, Les Mills, Peloton, SoulCycle, and Supernatural.

When a user pumps one's body weight in a rhythmic oscillatory fashion while standing, kneeling, squatting, or otherwise riding balance board 102, trolley 106 oscillates in a related rhythmic back-and-forth motion along inclinable beam 114. During each down-stroke, the user pushes one's body weight in a generally downward direction, with gravity, to slide trolley 106 downward toward lower end plate 134, forcing elastic tension members 146 to stretch while pull cord 148 shortens and rewinds into flywheel assembly 152, producing an undamped elastic response to the down-stroke phase of one pumping repetition. Conversely, during each up-stroke, the user lifts one's body weight in a generally upward direction, against gravity, to slide trolley 106 upward toward upper end plate 132, forcing elastic tension members 146 to relax while pull cord 148 lengthens and unwinds from flywheel assembly 152, producing a damped elastic response to the up-stroke phase of one pumping repetition. This unique, undamped-to-damped elastic response of pump trainer 100 results, for example, in a very similar feeling to that of pumping across the face of a wave when surfing, the terrain of a mountain when snowboarding, or the surface of a ramp when skateboarding.

Because the action of pumping may require considerable practice before the user becomes proficient with pump trainer 100, optional safety bar 160, as illustrated in FIG. 8, or similar safety support mechanism can be mounted to base plates 128 for added safety and balance assistance. The inclination angle of inclinable beam 114 can also be adjusted to provide the user more or less pumping assistance from the force of gravity. That is, steeper inclines allow the user to generate greater gravity-assisted forces when pumping. In contrast, an inexperienced user may start with inclinable beam 114 in a fully horizontal position, such that the direction of gravity is perpendicular to the direction of motion of trolley 106; in this case, the inexperienced user would use safety bar 160 to transfer forces from one's hands to one's feet when pumping, with a motion similar to that of swinging on parallel bars in gymnastics. However, an experienced user should be able to ride pump trainer 100 at various desired inclination angles without any manual assistance, allowing the experienced user to perform advanced maneuvers while pumping, taking full advantage of thrust bearing 108 and deformable base 110 that secure balance board 102 to trolley 106. By adjusting the resistance of elastic tension members 146 and/or pull cord 148 that drives flywheel assembly 152, the user can also change the response of pump trainer 100 to different dynamic actions dependent on the user's relative position, speed, and acceleration with respect to a static equilibrium position on inclinable beam 114. For example, different levels of fitness or workout intensity may be required to pump shorter, faster repetitions versus longer, slower repetitions by changing the resistance of elastic tension members 146 or the degree of damping of flywheel assembly 152. With these three levels of machine control, the experienced user can ride pump trainer 100 in one of many positions, such as in an up-and-down motion (where the user's body moves vertically up-and-down parallel to the direction of gravity), a front-to-back motion (where the user's coronal or frontal plane is perpendicular to the direction of motion of trolley 106), or in a side-to-side motion (where the user's sagittal or median plane is perpendicular to the direction of motion of trolley 106), or in any other to-and-fro motion across the entire 360° range of thrust bearing 108. Thrust bearing 108, when used in a restrained or free configuration, also allows for other advanced maneuvers, such as mogul riding (where the user swings balance board 102 side-to-side while pumping back-and-forth, creating a repetitive motion similar to traversing moguls on a snowboard), or snaps (where the user quickly whips then recoils balance board 102 in one direction followed by another, creating a motion similar to cutting back on a wave, carving on a snowboard, or powersliding on a skateboard), or full body spins (where the user and balance board 102 spin together), or shove-its (where the user simultaneously hops off and kicks balance board 102, forcing balance board 102 to spin freely under the user's feet before landing), or other swinging, spinning, rocking, jumping, or otherwise repetitive or non-repetitive maneuvers or combinations thereof. As a complementary mechanism to thrust bearing 108, deformable base 110 provides an added level of restrained motion that allows a user to tilt balance board 102 off axis from thrust bearing 108 such that the user can tilt the inside or trailing edge of balance board 102 down toward the top face of inclinable beam 114, with or without user-induced contact, between balance board 102 and inclinable beam 114, providing the user additional mechanical leverage to reverse directions when transitioning from an up-stroke to down-stroke or vice versa. As such, deformable base 110 has a tunable variable stiffness (e.g., controlled by changing the internal pressure of a fluid filled bladder, or by changing the preloading of a suspension system, elastic or viscoelastic material, or other variable stiffness mechanisms), such that the user can increase or decrease the amount of out-of-plane tilt experienced, producing a similar effect to that of tightening or loosening the trucks of a skateboard, or changing the geometry of a surfboard or snowboard or other board or ancillary mechanisms, such as surfboard fins. Also, the degree of contact or contactless resistance between balance board 102 and inclinable beam 114, created by friction or other resistance or energy transfer mechanism, such as magnetism, when a user forcibly tilts the trailing or leading edge of balance board 102 toward inclinable beam 114, allows the user to slow, stop, push off, or otherwise interact or not interact with inclinable beam 114 on the trailing or leading edges of balance board 102, producing a similar effect to stalling on the coping of a halfpipe when riding a skateboard, or generating spray when cutting-back or carving on a surfboard, snowboard, or similar action sport device. In alternative embodiments, balance board 102 could be more loosely or freely detached from trolley 106, allowing the user to perform aerial tricks with balance board 102, such as those like flip tricks often associated with skateboarding. In such embodiments, balance board 102 could remain physically coupled with deformable base 110 throughout all or some of the full duration of the pumping activity by way of gravity via frictional contact, by magnetic or electrostatic attraction, or by similar forces or combinations thereof.

Notably, the disclosed invention and methods of use (i.e., pumping) are not specifically restricted to the gravity-assisted, undamped-to-damped elastic motion of the preferred embodiment of pump trainer 100 described above. For example, FIG. 9 shows simplified mechanical diagrams of the preferred embodiment 200 and a first class of alternative embodiments 210, 220, 230, 240, and 250, which show the primary elements of flywheel assembly 152, including the flywheel's braking system or damper 201, equivalent mass (inertia and radius) 202, one-way clutch 203, and soft recoil spring 204, and elastic tension members 146 represented as plurality of elastic springs 205, and the user's mass 206 which oscillates back-and-forth via trolley 106 along inclinable beam 114. In the first alternative embodiment 210, the positions of elastic tension members 146 and pull cord 148 may be swapped, such that elastic tension members 146 are connected to lower end plate 134 and pull cord 148 is connected by way of upper end plate 132, such that each up-stroke is undamped and each down-stroke is damped. In the second alternative embodiment 220, trolley 106 is connected to two arrays of elastic tension members in opposing directions, producing a fully undamped elastic response in each up-stroke and down-stroke. In the third alternative embodiment 230, trolley 106 is connected to two pull cords in opposing directions that drive a central flywheel assembly (where a single flywheel may be driven by either pull cord or two flywheels may be driven by each pull cord independently), producing a fully damped elastic response in each up-stroke and down-stroke. In the fourth alternative embodiment 240, trolley 106 is connected to a single set of elastic tension members on one side only, where a function of gravity 207 related to the inclination angle of inclinable beam 114 is the only opposing force. In the fifth alternative embodiment 250, trolley 106 is connected to a single pull cord that drives a central flywheel from one side only, where a function of gravity 207 related to the inclination angle of inclinable beam 114 is the only opposing force. As such, alternative embodiments 210, 240, and 250 could be easily created from embodiment 200 with pump trainer 100 by reversing the inclination angle of inclinable beam 114, by disconnecting pull cord 148 from quick-connect mounting bracket 144, or by disconnecting elastic tension members 146 from quick-connect mounting bracket 144, respectively. In any of the alternative embodiments, inclinable beam 114 could be oriented in a fully vertical position or partially inclined position, while only alternative embodiments 200, 210, 220, and 230 could be oriented in a fully horizontal position.

In a second class of alternative embodiments, one or more automatic clutches, similar on-off devices (e.g., in embodiment 230), motorized drivetrains, or similar non-motorized or motorized mechanisms, could be applied to create spatially and/or temporally varied damping profiles across each pumping repetition, creating more refined pumping experiences that more closely mimic natural symmetries, patterns, or other features, such as the symmetric arc of a halfpipe, the random oscillations of a mountain trail, the flowing water of a wave, or other spatiotemporal characteristics of related natural, built, or virtual environments. In the preferred and alternative embodiments described above and in other related embodiments (e.g., with more or less simplistic or complex mechanical circuitry using the same, similar, or different machinery, mechanisms, materials, or resistance forces) that will be familiar to persons having ordinary knowledge in fitness and exercise equipment art, there must be at least two opposing forces acting on trolley 106, such that the user returns to an equilibrium position, somewhere generally midway between end plates 132 and 134, when at rest. Therefore, when in motion, the user pumps balance board 102 forcing trolley 106 to oscillate back-and-forth about this equilibrium position, creating a repetitive motion that very closely mimics the unique feel and fluidity of surfing, snowboarding, skateboarding, and related board sports.

In a third class of alternative embodiments, additional degrees of freedom about datum reference 116 could be introduced by adding one or more resistance mechanisms or planes of travel. For example, three or more resistance mechanisms anchored at the three or more vertices of a convex polygon could be attached to a trolley that slides, glides, rolls, levitates, or otherwise moves across a generally wider, inclinable surface analogous to inclinable beam 114, but that is flat, arced, bowl-shaped, or otherwise contoured in a way that provides a more immersive feel, allowing for at least two and up to six degrees of freedom, when pumping. In addition, the inclinable surface (real, virtual or perceived) could be enclosed in a booth-like configuration where displays of natural, built, or virtual environments surround the user with viewing angles up to 360°, or with VR headsets, or future augmented reality platforms. With the addition of spatiotemporal damping control and added resistance mechanisms, such future augmented reality platforms could be applied to a many applications beyond fitness and training exercises, including but not limited to aerospace flight simulators, zero-gravity or low-gravity exercise equipment, or related earth-bound and extraterrestrial exercise equipment that may interest government agencies or companies, such as Blue Origin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, Orbital, Sierra Nevada, and SpaceX.

In a fourth class of alternative embodiments, balance board 102 may be removed and replaced with a different ergonomic device, such as a stationary bike, ski/skate-like footplates (not shown), or other ergonomic apparatus intended to carry the user. For example, FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment of a bike pump trainer 300 with stationary bike 302 attached to trolley 106 by deformable base 304 to provide a restrained pitch, roll, and yaw connection about datum reference 306. Similar to pump trainer 100, bike pump trainer 300 allows the user to ride stationary bike 302, while leaning into virtual turns via deformable base 304 and pumping over virtual topographies via trolley 106 driven by opposing resistance mechanisms: elastic tension members 146 and pull cord 148 which drives flywheel assembly 152. This configuration of stationary bike 302 on bike pump trainer 300 may be particularly well suited to the stationary bike industry, where existing commercially-available stationary bikes, similar to those developed by Diamondback, Keiser, Nautilus, NordicTrack, Peloton, Precor, and others, could be adapted to be mounted onto trolley 106 to enhance a user's riding experience, allowing the user to lean and pump the stationary bike while cycling Similar to that previously described for pump trainer 100, a user could ride stationary bike 302 on bike pump trainer 300 while participating in immersive cycling programs, where specific movements on bike pump trainer 300 and pedal strokes on stationary bike 302 could be dynamically correlated with virtual environments displayed on a screen, headset, audiovisual projection, or other augmented reality experience.

In the preferred embodiment of pump trainer 100, basic mechanical elements of balance boards, rowers, reformers, and resistance training systems are combined, making pump trainer 100 uniquely adapted to function as an all-in-one multifunctional cross-training exercise machine. For example, an optional locking mechanism (not shown) can be engaged on trolley 106 to fix its position on inclinable beam 114, such that balance board 102 can be used as a stationary platform for balance training that does not translate across inclinable beam 114. Referring to FIG. 11, removing end pads 138 or 140 allows elastic tension members 146 or pull cord 148 to be disconnected from quick-connect mounting bracket 144 on trolley 106 and instead attached to optional hand/foot grips 402 or 404 for a variety of elastic resistance or flywheel resistance training exercises, where a user stands, kneels, sits, lays, or otherwise rests on stomp plates 136, or balance board 102 in a locked position (or unlocked position when attached to at least one resistance mechanism), while pulling on elastic tension members 146 or pull cord 148 via hand/foot grips 402 or 404, respectively. This type of configuration allows pump trainer 100 to function as stationary resistance trainer 400, where a user can perform a variety of resistance training exercises, such as bicep curls, squats, yoga, or other resistance exercises that will be familiar to persons having ordinary knowledge of the resistance fitness art.

Referring to FIG. 12, pump trainer 100 can be easily converted to stationary rowing machine 500, where elastic tension members 146 are disconnected and balance board 102 is removed and replaced by seat 502 rigidly connected to trolley 106 on foundation 504, while footplates 506 are attached to base plates 128 and lower end plate 134, and handlebar 508 is attached to pull cord 148, which drives flywheel assembly 152 by way of pulley 156 and pulley 510. By adjusting the inclination angle of inclinable beam 114, this type of configuration allows pump trainer 100 to function as stationary rowing machine 500 with a variable incline, where a user sits on seat 502, pushes with one's feet on footplates 506 and pulls with one's hands on handlebar 508 to generate a typical rowing exercise motion that will be familiar to persons having ordinary knowledge of the rowing fitness art. In alternative methods of use, a user lays, sits, kneels, squats, stands, or otherwise rests on seat 502, or preferably on balance board 102, while pulling on handlebar 506 held in a vertical hand-over-hand orientation that simulates the action of paddling an oar on a standup surfboard, kayak or canoe; in this configuration, elastic tension members 146 are reconnected to trolley 106 to provide a degree of resistance against the direction of travel when performing the paddling motion, providing a similar resistance to that felt from fluid drag when paddling on the surface of a body of water.

Referring to FIG. 13, pump trainer 100 can be easily converted to stationary pilates reformer 600, where pull cord 148 is disconnected and balance board 102 is removed and replaced by carriage 602 with headrest 604 and shoulder blocks 606 rigidly connected to trolley 106, while inextensible tension ropes 608 are connected to hand/foot straps 610 on one end and carriage 602 on the other end, by way of pulleys 612, mounted to channel beams 118 near lower end plate 134. By adjusting the inclination angle of inclinable beam 114, this type of configuration allows pump trainer 100 to function as stationary pilates reformer 600, with variable incline for gravity-assisted exercises or flat for traditional exercises, where a user lays, sits, kneels, squats, stands, or otherwise rests on carriage 602 while pulling hand/foot straps 610 to stretch elastic tension members 146, causing carriage 602 to slide along inclinable beam 114 in a similar fashion to typical pilates exercises that will be familiar to persons having ordinary knowledge of the pilates fitness art. Alternatively, optional jump board 614, grips 616, or hand/foot bar, or trampoline, or other ergonomic component can be attached to channel beams 118 near end plates 132 or 134, allowing a user to stretch elastic tension members 146 and slide carriage 602 along inclinable beam 114 by jumping, squatting, or otherwise pushing off the surface of jump board 614 or pulling on grips 616 or moving with respect to other ergonomic components that will be familiar to persons having ordinary knowledge of the pilates fitness art. In alternative methods of use, a user lays prone on carriage 602 or preferably balance board 102, while pulling on hand/foot straps 610 with one's arms moving in an alternating right-left motion to simulate the action of paddling on a surfboard; in this configuration, pull cord 148 is reconnected to trolley 106 to provide a degree of damping against the direction of travel when performing a paddling motion, providing a similar resistance to that felt from fluid drag when swimming or paddling on a surfboard on the surface of a body of water.

Finally, any variety of combinations of the above described embodiments that may be possible for developing unique exercises and body movements that may or may not require the action of pumping are included in the embodied methods of use for pump trainer 100, where elastic tension members 146, pull cord 148, hand/foot grips 402 or 404, footplates 504, handlebar 506, tension ropes 608, hand/foot straps 610, jump board 614, grips 616, or other ergonomic devices are engaged and coupled with or without the use of balance board 102, stationary bike 302, seat 502, carriage 602, or other ergonomic device attached to trolley 106. Referring to FIG. 14, a fully-equipped pump trainer 100 with optional conversion accessories (402-404, 502-506, 602-616) for resistance trainer 400, rowing machine 500, and pilates reformer 600 are neatly folded within or around inclinable beam 114 where optional wheelset 702 provides additional convenience for easy transport and storage where the external profile of folded pump trainer 700 occupies generally no more than a thin flat beam that may slide under one's furniture, stand in one's closet, carry in one's vehicle, or generally fit into typical personal, commercial, or industrial spaces that may be used for storage, transport, manufacturing, assembly, inventory, recycling, or other related product life-cycle phases.

Claims

1. A stationary exercise machine comprising:

a. an inclinable surface,

b. a trolley slidably connected to the inclinable surface,

c. an ergonomic device connected to the trolley that supports a user,

d. at least one resistance mechanism, generally attached between the inclinable surface and the trolley, that counteracts pumping actions or rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth body movements repetitively generated by the user.

2. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the inclinable surface consists of one or more straight or curved beams that constrain motion of the trolley to slide along the length of the beams.

3. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the inclinable surface consists of a flat, convex, concave, or generally curved surface or platform.

4. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein stomp plates, safety bars, and/or similar protective mechanisms are added to provide a user additional balance or support before, after, or during use.

5. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the inclinable surface can be manually or automatically positioned before or during use to be horizontal, vertical, or tilted in one or both directions with respect to ground level.

6. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the trolley is constrained to one, two, or three degrees of translational freedom with respect to the inclinable surface.

7. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the ergonomic device is a balance board that is flexibly attached to the trolley and allowed to tilt, pivot, spin, slide, glide, or otherwise rotate or translate with at least one and up to six degrees of freedom freely or partially restrained with respect to the trolley when a user interacts with the device.

8. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the ergonomic device is a seat or carriage that is rigidly attached to the trolley and constrained to have zero degrees of freedom with respect to the trolley when the user interacts with the device.

9. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the ergonomic device is a stationary bike that is flexibly or rigidly attached to the trolley.

10. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein one or more resistance mechanisms are engaged and generally oppose one another or gravity, and the resistance mechanisms consist of:

a. only elastic tension members, or

b. only pull cords attached to one or more flywheel assemblies,

c. some combination of one or more elastic tension members and pull cords attached to one or more flywheel assemblies.

11. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one resistance mechanism is composed of elastic tension members further comprising one or more bands or springs that store energy in the form of elastic deformation and may use different materials, geometries, hydraulics, pistons, dampers, or other linear or nonlinear, elastic or viscoelastic mechanisms to provide adjustable or variable resistance in tension when pulled and released in two opposing directions.

12. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein at least one resistance mechanism is composed of a flywheel assembly further comprising one or more flywheels that store energy in the form of rotational momentum and may or may not use a clutch and braking system by way of frictional contact, magnets, air, water, or other fluids to provide adjustable or variable resistance to a pull cord wound around a drum wheel that is mechanically connected to a flywheel to transfer energy when pulled in a single direction.

13. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein one or more resistance mechanisms are engaged and generally oppose one another or gravity, and the resistance mechanisms consist of tension members, pull cords, telescoping rods, gears, or other structural linkages attached to motorized spools, reels, winches, actuators, or similar tensioning mechanisms that can be manually or automatically adjusted or controlled by the user, by programmable algorithm, by artificial intelligence, or by other mechanical, electrical, magnetic, wired or wireless means.

14. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the ergonomic device is attached to the trolley by way of one or more tunable resistance mechanisms, such as deformable materials, bladders, springs, dampers, joints, or other suspension mechanisms, that can restrict, partially restrain, or release movement of the ergonomic device within one or more degrees of rotational and/or translational freedom.

15. An exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the ergonomic device is attached to the trolley by way of one or more motorized resistance mechanisms, such as electric motors or actuators, that can be manually or automatically adjusted or controlled by the user, by programmable algorithm, by artificial intelligence, or by other mechanical, electrical, magnetic, wired or wireless means.

16. A method for adapting and operating an exercise machine with an original first resistance mechanism, such as a resistance trainer, gravity-based exerciser, rowing machine, or pilates reformer, wherein the method comprises:

a. adding an additional second resistance mechanism to said exercise machine that opposes forces from the first resistance mechanism or gravity, and

b. operating the newly adapted machine with a pumping action or generally rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth body movement repetitively generated by the user.

17. A method for operating a stationary exercise machine, wherein the method comprises:

a. a pumping action, or a generally rhythmic up-and-down, back-and-forth body movement, that a user generates to repetitively move across an inclinable surface while standing, squatting, kneeling, sitting, laying, or otherwise resting, balancing, or riding the machine,

b. forcing a trolley to slide along an inclinable surface,

c. interacting with one or more ergonomic devices attached to the machine's peripheral or trolley that is slidably connected to the inclinable surface,

d. storing and releasing mechanical energy in at least one resistance mechanism, produced by a user's pumping action, in the form of conserved momentum, elastic or viscoelastic energy, gravity, or other energy transfer or damping mechanisms.

18. A method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein a user's pumping actions are synchronized with changes in an augmented or virtual reality environment that provides the user with authentic riding experiences that closely mimic real-time changes in a natural, built, or virtual environment.

19. A method of using an exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein the trolley is locked into position and cannot slide along the inclinable surface, allowing a user to operate the machine in alternative stationary modes, such as balance board mode, cycling mode, or similar resistance trainer or stationary exerciser modes.

20. A method of using an exercise machine according to claim 1, wherein only one resistance mechanism is engaged and optional hand/foot grips, straps, pulleys, bars, footplates, handlebar, jump board, trampoline, or other ergonomic components are added, allowing a user to operate the machine in alternative dynamic modes, such as rower mode, reformer mode, or similar resistance trainer or gravity-based exerciser modes.