Apparatus, system for strength and conditioning training

Abstract

A system for strength and conditioning training includes an exercise rack and a load regulation assembly mounted on the rack, the load regulation assembly moveable relative to the rack, wherein the load regulation assembly is configured to receive and support a weight, and the load regulation assembly is configured to adjust the magnitude and/or direction of an applied load.

1 . A system for strength and conditioning training, comprising:
 an exercise rack,   a load regulation assembly mounted on the rack,   the load regulation assembly is moveable relative to the rack, and;   wherein the load regulation assembly is configured to receive and support a weight, and;   wherein the load regulation assembly is configured to adjust the magnitude and/or direction of an applied load.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising a controller operatively coupled to the load regulation assembly, wherein the controller is configured to control the load regulation assembly to adjust the magnitude and/or direction of the applied load based on a selected exercise type. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the load regulation assembly is configured to adjust the applied load such that a user can perform two or more exercise types, wherein the two or more exercise types are selectable from: isokinetic exercise, isometric exercise and isotonic exercise. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the load regulation assembly is configured to adjust the applied load such that a user can perform one of the following exercises:
 Isotonic deadlift,   Variable resistance deadlift,   Isokinetic deadlift, concentric only,   Isokinetic deadlift, concentric and eccentric,   Isometric deadlift,   Isotonic squat,   Variable resistance squat,   Isokinetic squat, concentric only,   Isokinetic squat, concentric and eccentric,   Isometric squat,   Isotonic bench press,   Variable resistance bench press,   Isokinetic bench press, concentric only,   Isokinetic bench press, concentric and eccentric,   Isometric bench press,   Isotonic horizontal push-pull,   Isokinetic horizontal push-pull, concentric only,   Isokinetic horizontal push-pull, concentric and eccentric,   Fixed trajectory exercise,   Arbitrary trajectory exercise,   Ballistic exercise,   Kick exercise, and;   Bench pull exercise.   
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the load regulation assembly is configured for two translational degrees of freedom such the load regulation assembly is configured to move the weight supported by the load regulation assembly in two translational degrees of freedom and three passive rotational degrees of freedom. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the load regulation assembly comprising:
 at least two motors,   the controller operatively coupled to each motor,   wherein the controller is configured to control each of the motors based on a user selected exercise to move the load regulation assembly to allow the user to perform the selected exercise.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , comprising:
 a plurality of optical sensors disposed on the rack,   each optical sensor arranged in communication with the controller,   each of the optical sensors oriented to sense a motion or position of a user or sense a motion of the weight supported to the load regulation assembly, and;   the controller is configured to detect an unsafe condition and trigger the motors to stop if an unsafe condition is detected.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising:
 one or more sensors located on or embedded within the load regulation assembly and configured to measure training data generated by the user while performing an exercise,   the one or more sensors arranged in communication with the controller, and;   the controller configured to determine one or more athletic performance parameters based on the measured training data from the one or more sensors.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2 , comprising:
 one or more cameras positioned on the rack,   each camera arranged in communication with the controller,   each camera configured to capture one or more images or a video of a user's body while performing the selected exercise,   the controller configured to receive the one or more images or the video, determine one or more angles between a user's body parts while performing the selected exercise and controlling the load regulation assembly to regulate the applied load based on the determined angles.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a mobile device,   the controller configured to communicate with the mobile device,   the mobile device comprising a user interface that is adapted to allow a user to select one or more exercises and set one or more training parameters, the mobile device further configured to transmit the selected exercise and set training parameters to the controller, and;   wherein the mobile device is configured to receive athletic performance parameters and training data from the controller and present the athletic performance parameter and/or training data on the user interface.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , comprising four motors, wherein two motors are adapted to control the vertical movement of the load regulation assembly, and two motors are adapted to control the horizontal motion of the load regulation assembly. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , comprising at least two optical sensors that are configured to monitor the vertical movement of the weight, and; the system comprising at least one optical sensor configured to monitor the horizontal movement of the weight. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the applied load is controlled by the two motors adapted to control the vertical movement of the load regulation assembly, and wherein the greater the force applied the vertical motors the greater the applied load. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising a platform, wherein the rack is positioned on the platform and the platform providing a surface for the user to stand upon and perform an exercise,
 the platform comprising one or more embedded sensors to measure the plantar force exerted by a user, and;   the controller is configured to determine the plantar force in three dimensions exerted by the user based on measurements from the one or more embedded sensors in the platform.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , comprising four cameras mounted on the exercise rack, the cameras being arranged to capture the angles of a user's elbow joints or knee joint angle. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , comprising two cameras located along an upper portion or an upper rail of the exercise rack, and two cameras located along a lower portion or lower rail of the exercise rack, wherein at least one camera is positioned directly above and vertically aligned with another camera and; wherein the cameras are arranged as camera pairs i.e., one lower camera and one upper camera may defining a camera pair. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising two force sensors positioned on each side of the weight, wherein the sensors are mounted on the inside of the weight on both sides. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 8 , comprising two IMUs and an EMG, wherein the two IMUs are mounted on the load regulation assembly, wherein each IMU is mounted adjacent a weight receptacle or the IMUs are mounted on opposing sides of the weight, wherein the weight is a barbell,
 the EMG is mounted on the user,   wherein the IMU and EMG are adapted to wirelessly communicate with the controller and/or an exercise analysis server,   the controller or server are configured to process the received IMU data to determine acceleration of a user's movement and/or determine activation of the user's muscles.   
     
     
         19 . A system for strength and conditioning training of a user, comprising:
 an exercise rack,   a load regulation assembly mounted on the rack,   the load regulation assembly is moveable relative to the rack, and;   wherein the load regulation assembly is configured to receive and support a weight,   wherein the load regulation assembly is configured to adjust the magnitude and/or direction of an applied load,   a controller operatively coupled to the load regulation assembly, wherein the controller is configured to control the load regulation assembly to adjust the magnitude and/or direction of the applied load based on a selected exercise type,   wherein the load regulation assembly is configured for two translational degrees of freedom such the load regulation assembly is configured to move the weight supported by the load regulation assembly in two translational degrees of freedom and three passive rotational degrees of freedom,   wherein the load regulation assembly is configured to adjust the applied load such that a user can perform one or more of the following exercises:
 Isotonic deadlift, 
 Variable resistance deadlift, 
 Isokinetic deadlift, concentric only, 
 Isokinetic deadlift, concentric and eccentric, 
 Isometric deadlift, 
 Isotonic squat, 
 Variable resistance squat, 
 Isokinetic squat, concentric only, 
 Isokinetic squat, concentric and eccentric, 
 Isometric squat, 
 Isotonic bench press, 
 Variable resistance bench press, 
 Isokinetic bench press, concentric only, 
 Isokinetic bench press, concentric and eccentric, 
 Isometric bench press, 
 Isotonic horizontal push-pull, 
 Isokinetic horizontal push-pull, concentric only, 
 Isokinetic horizontal push-pull, concentric and eccentric, 
 Fixed trajectory exercise, 
 Arbitrary trajectory exercise, 
 Ballistic exercise, 
 Kick exercise, and; 
 Bench pull exercise, 
   wherein the load regulation assembly comprising at least two motors, the controller operatively coupled to each motor,   wherein the controller is configured to control each of the motors based on a user selected exercise to move the load regulation assembly to allow the use to perform the selected exercise,   the system further comprising a plurality of optical sensors disposed on the rack, each optical sensor arranged in communication with the controller, each of the optical sensors oriented to sense a motion or position of a user or sense a motion of the weight supported to the load regulation assembly, and; the controller is configured to detect an unsafe condition and trigger the motors to stop if an unsafe condition is detected,   the system comprising one or more sensors located on or embedded within the load regulation assembly and configured to measure training data generated by the user while performing an exercise, the one or more sensors arranged in communication with the controller, and; the controller configured to determine one or more athletic performance parameters based on the measured training data from the one or more sensors,   the system further comprising one or more cameras positioned on the rack, each camera arranged in communication with the controller, each camera configured to capture one or more images or a video of a user's body while performing the selected exercise,   wherein the controller configured to receive the one or more images or the video, determine one or more angles between a user's body parts while performing the selected exercise and controlling the load regulation assembly to regulate the applied load based on the determined angles;   a mobile device,   
       wherein the controller configured to communicate with the mobile device,
 the mobile device comprising a user interface that is adapted to allow a user to select one or more exercises and set one or more training parameters, 
 the mobile device further configured to transmit the selected exercise and set training parameters to the controller, and; 
 wherein the mobile device is configured to receive athletic performance parameters and training data from the controller and present the athletic performance parameter and/or training data on the user interface, and; 
 the system comprising a platform, wherein the rack is positioned on the platform and the platform provides a surface for the user to stand upon and perform an exercise, 
 the platform comprising one or more embedded sensors to measure the plantar force exerted by a user, and; 
 the controller is configured to determine the plantar force in three dimensions exerted by the user based on measurements from the one or more embedded sensors in the platform. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , comprising an exercise analysis server arranged in electronic communication with the controller and configured to receive training data and/or images or video of the user performing an exercise from the controller, and; the exercise analysis server is configured to determine athletic performance parameters based on the received training data and/or based on the received one or images or video of the user performing an exercise.