Muscle activation assembly system and method
A muscle activation system including: an inclined platform for a user to stand on; a rigid upper body user support frame attached to the inclined platform for supporting the upper body of the user standing on the inclined platform; a base, coupled to the inclined platform, the coupling allowing relative orientation motion between the base and inclined platform. The platform adapted to undergo a precession like motion around a central point so as to circumferentially move a user's upper body, when supported by the rigid upper body user support frame, substantially through an arc around a central point.
1 . A muscle activation system comprising:
an inclined platform for a user to stand on;
a support stem mounted off-center relative to a central point of the inclined platform and substantially perpendicular to the inclined platform, wherein the support stem is adapted to support the user's upper body in a substantially static upright position relative to the inclined platform;
a rigid upper body user support frame coupled with the support stem and adapted to surround and support the upper body of the user standing on, or supported by, the inclined platform, the rigid upper body user support frame undergoing movement with the inclined platform, wherein the rigid upper body user support frame includes:
a back support adapted to support the torso of the user's upper body in the substantially static upright position during movement of the inclined platform; and
a plurality of upper limb supports adapted to be held by the user to maintain the torso against the back support in the substantially static upright position; and
a base, coupled to the inclined platform via a coupling, said coupling allowing relative orientation motion between the base and the inclined platform, wherein the inclined platform is angled relative to the base during movement of the inclined platform;
the inclined platform adapted to undergo a precession like motion around the central point so as to circumferentially move the user's upper body, when supported by the rigid upper body user support frame, substantially through an arc around the central point with the user's torso being supported by the back support in the substantially upright static position and offset at an angle relative to a vertical axis through the base;
the inclined platform includes a first circumferential rim;
a roller bearing for rolling along the first circumferential rim and the roller bearing being driven around the first circumferential rim in a substantially horizontal plane by a drive motor;
wherein an angle of inclination of the inclined platform is altered by an electric drive raising or lowering a universal joint between the base and the inclined platform.
2 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 1 , further wherein:
the roller bearing acts to guide a portion of the first circumferential rim to which it is engaged in a first substantially horizontal level;
the angle of inclination of the inclined platform thereby being set by the roller bearing acting to guide the portion of the first circumferential rim and the coupling between the base and inclined platform.
3 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 1 wherein, during operation, the inclined platform is substantially supported by said first circumferential rim and said universal joint.
4 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said inclined platform is generally planar and a normal axis to the inclined platform undergoes a rotation around the central point.
5 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said plurality of upper limb supports includes a plurality of hand holds adapted to be held by the user.
6 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said plurality of upper limb supports further includes lower arm holds adapted to structurally support the user's lower arms.
7 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:
an automated platform driving means for driving the inclined platform through its motion.
8 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 7 , wherein said automated platform driving means comprises an electric motor interconnected to a rotational plate having a series of circumferential bearings which engage with the inclined platform to drive the motion of the inclined platform.
9 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the inclined platform does not substantially rotate around the vertical axis during operation.
10 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the user's torso is secured to the back support in the substantially static upright position.
11 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 10 wherein the rigid upper body user support frame is adapted to receive at least one strap for securing the user's torso to the back support.
12 . The muscle activation system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support stem is mounted on an outer edge of the inclined platform.