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US 8,944,972 B2Granted
Descent apparatus
AssigneeArchimedes Applied Limited
InventorGeofrrey Neil McConnell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A descent apparatus (1) including a housing (3) with a liquid conduit (4) therethrough and a float (8) constrained within the liquid conduit (4) and capable of slideable movement along a first path between an upper and a lower position. A moveable element (6) is located outside the liquid conduit (4) and is slideably coupled to the housing (3). A mechanical connector (9) physically connects the movable element (6) to the float (8) such that in use, the liquid conduit (4) contains liquid and the position of the float (8) is variable by applying a force to the movable element (6) and wherein the slideable movement of the float (8) along a first path produces a corresponding movement of the moveable element (6) outside the housing (3) along a second path co-axial, or parallel with the first path.
Claims34
A descent apparatus including
- a housing with a liquid conduit therethrough;
- a buoyancy float constrained within the liquid conduit and capable of slidable movement along a first path between an upper and lower position;
- a movable element located outside the liquid conduit and slidably coupled to the housing;
- and
- a non-magnetic mechanical connector, physically connecting the movable element to the buoyancy float,
- such that in use, the liquid conduit contains liquid and the position of the buoyancy float is variable by applying a force to the movable element, and
- wherein the slidable movement of the buoyancy float along the first path produces a corresponding movement of the movable element outside the housing along a second path co-axial, or parallel with the first path, and
- wherein the liquid conduit includes at least one liquid displacement passage permitting passage of liquid displaced from beneath or above the buoyancy float as a result of the buoyancy float's descent or ascent respectively and the liquid displacement passage's total cross-sectional area (transverse to liquid flow during the displacement) is smaller than the buoyancy float's cross-sectional area (transverse to the buoyancy float's movement in the liquid conduit) thereby providing a constriction to liquid flow.
5 more elements
A method of exercise using an exercise apparatus, the apparatus including:
- a housing with a liquid conduit therethrough;
- a buoyancy float constrained within the liquid conduit and capable of slidable movement along a first path between an upper and lower position;
- a movable element located outside the liquid conduit and slidably coupled to the housing;
- and
- a non-magnetic mechanical connector, physically connecting the movable element to the buoyancy float,
- such that in use, the liquid conduit contains liquid and the position of the buoyancy float is variable by applying a force to the movable element, and
- the slidable movement of the buoyancy float along the first path produces a corresponding movement of the movable element outside the housing along a second path co-axial, or parallel with the first path, and
- the liquid conduit includes at least one liquid displacement passage permitting passage of liquid displaced from beneath or above the buoyancy float as a result of the buoyancy float's descent or ascent respectively and the liquid displacement passage's total cross-sectional area (transverse to liquid flow during the displacement) is smaller than the buoyancy float's cross-sectional area (transverse to the buoyancy float's movement in the liquid conduit) thereby providing a constriction to liquid flow, and
- the movable element includes a user-engagement element configured such that a user can apply a force to the user-engagement element to move the movable element along the first path, the method including:
- engaging with the user-engagement element and applying a force to the user-engagement element to cause slidable movement of the movable element outside the housing along the second path and
- wherein the slidable movement of the movable element causes the buoyancy float to move along the first path thereby providing resistance to the applied force.
8 more elements
A method of operating a descent apparatus, the apparatus including
- a housing with a liquid conduit therethrough;
- a buoyancy float constrained within the liquid conduit and capable of slidable movement along a first path between an upper and lower position;
- a movable element located outside the liquid conduit and slidably coupled to the housing;
- and
- a non-magnetic connector, physically connecting the movable element to the buoyancy float,
- such that when in use, the liquid conduit contains liquid and the position of the buoyancy float is variable by applying a force to the movable element, and
- wherein the slidable movement of the buoyancy float along the first path produces a corresponding movement of the movable element outside the housing along a second path co-axial, or parallel with the first path, and wherein the liquid conduit includes at least one liquid displacement passage permitting passage of liquid displaced from beneath or above the buoyancy float as a result of the buoyancy float's descent or ascent respectively and the liquid displacement passage's total cross-sectional area (transverse to liquid flow during the displacement) is smaller than the buoyancy float's cross-sectional area (transverse to the buoyancy float's movement in the liquid conduit) thereby providing a constriction to liquid flow;
- and
- wherein the movable element includes a platform for supporting a person and/or other object during slidable movement;
- the method including moving an object or person onto the platform to cause movement of the buoyancy float along a first path between the upper position and the lower position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.