# US 8,464,716 B2 · Differential air pressure systems

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- Number: US 8,464,716 B2
- Document ID: US8464716B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/778,747
- Filed: 2010-05-12
- Published: 2011-05-26
- Granted: 2013-06-18
- Earliest claimed: 2009-05-15
- Assignees: AlterG, Inc.
- Applicants: Eric Richard Kuehne; Mark Alan Shughart; Sean T. Whalen; Douglas Frank Schwandt; Robert T. Whalen
- Inventors: Eric Richard Kuehne; Mark Alan Shughart; Sean T. Whalen; Douglas Frank Schwandt; Robert T. Whalen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8464716B2

## CPC

- A61H 1/00: Apparatus for passive exercising (A61H5/00 takes precedence); Vibrating apparatus; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A63B 21/00181: {comprising additional means assisting the user to overcome part of the resisting force, i.e. assisted-active exercising}
- A63B 21/068: using user's body weight
- A63B 22/02: with movable endless bands {, e.g. treadmills (other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028)}
- A63B 22/001: {by simultaneously exercising arms and legs, e.g. diagonally in anti-phase (A63B22/0076 takes precedence)}
- A63B 22/0012: {the exercises for arms and legs being functionally independent}
- A63B 22/0023: {the inclination of the main axis of the movement path being adjustable, e.g. the inclination of an endless band}
- A63B 22/0056: {the pivoting movement being in a vertical plane, e.g. steppers with a horizontal axis (platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis A63B22/16)}
- A63B 22/0076: {Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system (seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06)}
- A63B 22/0605: {performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers}
- A63B 22/0664: {performing an elliptic movement}
- A63B 22/18: with elements, {i.e. platforms,} having a circulating, {nutating} or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, {e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical support}(hoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; {eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00})
- A63B 71/0622: {Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user}
- A63B 2071/0655: {Tactile feedback}
- A63B 2208/053: higher pressure
- A63B 2209/08: magnetic
- A63B 2209/10: with adhesive type surfaces, i.e. hook and loop-type fastener
- A63B 2220/56: Pressure
- A63B 2225/093: Height
- A63B 2230/01: User's weight
- A63B 2230/06: heartbeat rate only
- Y10T 137/0396: Involving pressure control
- A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N)
- A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A differential air pressure system, comprising:
a positive pressure chamber with a seal interface configured to receive a portion of a user's body and form a seal between the user's body and the chamber;
a height adjustment assembly attached to the chamber adjacent to the seal interface; and a control panel attached to the height adjustment assembly.

### Claim 2

The system of claim l, wherein said positive pressure chamber comprises at least one transparent panel.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said positive pressure chamber comprises a plurality of transparent panels.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein said positive pressure chamber comprises a slip resistant panel.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The system of claim 4, wherein said slip resistant panel is adjacent to the seal interface.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the height adjustment assembly comprises a horizontally actuated locking mechanism.

### Claim 7 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein said height adjustment assembly comprises two movable ends located within two corresponding adjustment posts.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system of claim 7, wherein each movable end comprises at least two rollers.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, further comprising a first roller that is orthogonally oriented with respect to a second roller.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system of claim 8, wherein each movable end comprises at least one movable braking pad.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein at least one movable braking pad may be actuated by tilting the height adjustment assembly.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system of claim 11, wherein said height adjustment mechanism further comprises a counterbalancing system configured to at least partially offset the weight of said movable assembly.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein said counterbalancing system comprises a weight located at least one adjustment post.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising a platform attached to the chamber using a seal mechanism.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the seal mechanism is configured to increase sealing to the platform with increased pressure within chamber.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the sealable mechanism further comprises a foam member.

### Claim 17 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, further comprising a pin latch locking mechanism configured to lock the present position of said user seal.

### Claim 18

A differential air pressure system, comprising:
a pressure chamber; and
a vertically adjustable cantilevered frame having a first movable configuration and a second locked configuration wherein the second locked configuration is actuated by the pressure chamber.