Height-adjustable seal frame structure for DAP exercise system

A floating seal frame structure usable with a differential air pressure (DAP) exercise system and enabling seal frame height adjustment during use thereof, the DAP exercise system comprising an inflatable enclosure having a base secured to a support platform and an opposite top portion defining a user port, the user port configured for a portion of a user's body and a user seal worn by the user to extend therethrough, the user seal configured to securely attach to the enclosure at a user seal interface and, when installed, create an airtight seal with the enclosure when in an inflated condition, wherein during use, air pressure within the inflatable enclosure exerts unweighting force on the user, the floating seal frame structure comprising:

• a seal frame configured for attachment to the top portion about the user port, the seal frame defining a first and a second lift connector at opposite sides thereof;
• a plurality of motorized vertical lifts including a first lift and a second lift each configured for securely connecting with the DAP exercise system at opposite sides thereof and at corresponding longitudinal positions along the DAP exercise system proximate the user port;
• a first carriage connected to the first lift and vertically drivable by the first lift, the first carriage having a first carriage connector configured for securely coupling with the seal frame;
• a second carriage connected to the second lift and vertically drivable by the second lift, the second carriage having a second carriage connector configured for securely coupling with the seal frame;
• a user-releasable coupling configured to maintain a secure connection between the seal frame and at least one of the first carriage connector and the second carriage connector while disposed in a reinforcement arrangement corresponding with DAP exercise system use, the user-releasable coupling configured to disconnect the secure connection upon user release from the reinforcement arrangement;
• a coupling passage defined through at least one of the first lift connector, the first carriage connector, the second lift connector and the second carriage connector, the coupling passage configured for receiving and retaining a portion of the coupling when in the reinforcement arrangement;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect presence of the portion of the coupling extended through the coupling passage in the reinforcement arrangement and withdrawal of the portion of the coupling at least partially from the coupling passage;
• wherein, when installed on the DAP exercise system:
• each vertical lift comprises one of a vertically lockable lift or one of a non-backdrivable motorized lift configured to maintain a height setting for the respective first and second carriage connector and for the seal frame securely connected thereto until each lift is vertically unlocked or driven under electrical power;
• user release of the coupling from the reinforcement arrangement causes disconnection of the secure connection between the user seal and the at least one of the first and second carriage connectors;
• user release of the coupling from the reinforcement arrangement comprises removal of the portion of the coupling at least partially from the passage;
• and
• the sensor is configured to send an immediate alert notification to a control device of the DAP exercise system for performing urgent actions comprising:
• interrupting one or more operations of the DAP exercise system or the exercise device, disconnecting power to the DAP exercise system or the exercise device, and activating an alert notification including a visible or audible alert.

A floating seal frame structure usable with a differential air pressure (DAP) exercise system and enabling seal frame height adjustment during use thereof, the DAP exercise system comprising an inflatable enclosure having a base secured to a support platform and an opposite top portion defining a user port, the user port configured for a portion of a user's body and a user seal worn by the user to extend therethrough, the user seal is configured to securely attach to the inflatable enclosure proximate a user seal interface when the inflatable enclosure is in an inflated condition and, when installed creates a substantially airtight seal with the inflatable enclosure, wherein during use, air pressure within the inflatable enclosure exerts unweighting force on the user, the floating seal frame structure comprising:

• a seal frame configured for attachment to the top portion about the user port, the seal frame defining a first and a second restraint connector at opposite sides thereof;
• a plurality of vertical lifts comprising a first lift and a second lift each configured for securely connecting with the DAP exercise system at opposite sides thereof and at a corresponding longitudinal position along the DAP exercise system proximate the user port, each of the first and second lifts comprising one of a vertically lockable or one of a non-backdrivable powered lift configured to maintain a usage height setting of a corresponding vertically drivable carriage connector attached thereto, each lift configured for driving movement of the corresponding vertically drivable carriage connector to adjust a height of the carriage connector for an exercise session;
• and
• at least two tensile restraints comprising a first restraint corresponding with the first lift and a second restraint corresponding with the second lift, each tensile restraint having a first end attached to a corresponding one of the first and the second restraint connector, a second end attached to a corresponding one of the first lift and the second lift, and a restraint length between the first end and the second end, a distance between the first and the second end of each of the tensile restraint and the second tensile restraint in the inflated condition defining a corresponding one of a first restraint length limit and a second restraint length limit;
• wherein:
• when installed on the DAP exercise system for the exercise session, the seal frame is retained in a floating arrangement urged upward by the inflatable enclosure when inflated and restrained downward at a seal frame height established by the first and second tensile restraints at the first and the second restraint length limits;
• a user seal boundary region is defined by regions of the enclosure top portion framed by the seal frame in the floating arrangement and extending inward from the seal frame to the user seal interface;
• the seal frame height determines a boundary region height and an interface height;
• the plurality of lifts drivingly adjusts the corresponding carriage heights for setting the seal frame height in the floating arrangement via the first and second tensile restraint connections and thereby heights of the user seal boundary region and the interface height;
• from a top view, the seal frame defines a two-dimensional hoop shape about a top view, two-dimensional shape of the user port;
• from a front, cross-sectional view corresponding with a front, cross-sectional view of the DAP exercise system, the seal frame defines a two-dimensional contoured arch shape having a middle region centrally arranged about a middle region of the user seal interface, the middle region elevated an offset height from the opposite first and second restraint connectors;
• and
• the height of the seal frame middle region determining a height of the boundary region and the user seal interface.

A floating seal frame structure usable with a differential air pressure (DAP) exercise system and enabling seal frame height adjustment during use thereof, the DAP exercise system comprising an inflatable enclosure having a base secured to a support platform and an opposite top portion defining a user port, the user port configured for a portion of a user's body and a user seal worn by the user to extend therethrough, the user seal configured to securely attach to the inflatable enclosure at a user seal interface and, when installed, create an airtight seal with the inflatable enclosure when in an inflated condition, wherein during use, air pressure within the inflatable enclosure exerts unweighting force on the user, the floating seal frame structure comprising:

• a seal frame configured for attachment to the top portion about the user port, the seal frame defining a first and a second lift connector at opposite sides thereof;
• a plurality of motorized vertical lifts including a first lift and a second lift each configured for securely connecting with the DAP exercise system at opposite sides thereof and at corresponding longitudinal positions along the DAP exercise system proximate the user port;
• a first carriage connected to the first lift and vertically drivable by the first lift, the first carriage having a first carriage connector configured for securely coupling with the seal frame;
• a second carriage connected to the second lift and vertically drivable by the second lift, the second carriage having a second carriage connector configured for securely coupling with the seal frame;
• a user-releasable coupling configured to maintain a secure connection between the seal frame and at least one of the first carriage connector and the second carriage connector while disposed in a reinforcement arrangement corresponding with DAP exercise system use, the user-releasable coupling configured to disconnect the secure connection upon user release from the reinforcement arrangement;
• a first tensile restraint connecting a first carriage connector with a first seal frame connector;
• a second tensile restraint connecting a second carriage connector with a second seal frame connector;
• a first and a second vertical drive device each operatively connected to the corresponding first and second lift;
• and
• at least one controller operatively connected to the first and second lift controlling vertical drive operations for the first and the second lift within a range of relative heights between the carriages of each lift without racking between the first and second vertical drive devices or racking between a corresponding lead screw assembly of the vertical drive devices, the range of relative heights for lift operations without the racking comprising a vertical offset distance between the carriages of less than 14 inches;
• wherein, when installed on the DAP exercise system:
• each vertical lift comprises one of a vertically lockable lift or one of a non-backdrivable motorized lift configured to maintain a height setting for the respective first and second carriage connector and for the seal frame securely connected thereto until each lift is vertically unlocked or driven under electrical power;
• and
• user release of the coupling from the reinforcement arrangement causes disconnection of the secure connection between the user seal and the at least one of the first and second carriage connectors.