DIFFERENTIAL AIR PRESSURE SYSTEMS
Described herein are various embodiments of differential air pressure systems and methods of using such systems. The differential air pressure system may comprise a chamber configured to receive a portion of a user's lower body and to create an air pressure differential upon the user's body. The differential air pressure system may further comprise a user seal that seal the pressure chamber to the user's body. The height of the user seal may be adjusted to accommodate users with various body heights.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A differential air pressure system, comprising:
a positive pressure chamber having a sealing interface to form a pressure seal about a portion of a user;
a treadmill positioned relative to the positive pressure chamber wherein a portion of a belt of the treadmill is in position below the sealing interface which allows a user coupled to the sealing interface to interact with the treadmill belt while experiencing an unweighting effect from operation of the positive pressure chamber;
a height adjustment assembly attached to a portion of the positive pressure chamber wherein movement of the height adjustment assembly adjusts the spacing between the sealing interface and the treadmill belt to accommodate the user; and
a control panel for initiating and adjusting the pressure within the differential air pressure system.
3 . The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further comprising a treadmill control on the control panel.
4 . The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further comprising at least one transparent panel in a wall of the positive pressure chamber positioned to view the interaction of the user with the treadmill belt.
5 . The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further comprising one or more predetermined folds in the positive pressure chamber, the one or more folds are placed in the positive pressure chamber to enable a transition of the positive pressure chamber from an in use configuration to a collapsed configuration as movement of the height adjustment assembly is moved to reduce the spacing between the sealing interface and the treadmill belt.
6 . The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of preset heights selection locations configured for engagement with the height adjustment assembly wherein each one of the present heights is a different preselected spacing between the user interface and the treadmill belt.
7 . The differential air pressure system of claim 6 further comprising a locking device to fix the height adjustment assembly relative to the treadmill belt.
8 . The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further comprising a blower positioned adjacent to the treadmill with an output into the positive pressure chamber wherein the output of the blower is adjusted to provide an adjustable amount of a differential air pressure unweighing effect to a user coupled to the sealing assembly.
9 . The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further comprising a display moveable with the height adjustment assembly.
10 . The differential air pressure system of claim 2 further comprising a control panel configured for adjusting the operation of the treadmill or the differential air pressure chamber, the control panel moveable with the height adjustment assembly.