Apparatus for unloading a user's body weight during a physical activity of said user, particularly for gait training of said user

An apparatus for unloading a user's body weight during a physical activity of the user, comprising:

• a rope;
• a deflection device;
• a drive unit;
• a node;
• a horizontal guide rail;
• a force sensor configured to determine the force on the rope;
• a winch;
• an actuator;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect the length of the rope that is free of the winch and the position of the deflection unit on the horizontal guide rail as indicators of the position of the node and, subsequently, the user,
• wherein the rope extends at one end from the drive unit to the deflection device, and is deflected by the deflection device,
• wherein the rope is coupled at its second end to the node,
• wherein the deflection device is slidably connected to the guide rail and is configured to be displaced by forces induced into the deflection device via the rope,
• wherein the node is configured to be coupled to a user,
• wherein the drive unit is configured to retract and release the rope to adjust the force along the associated rope,
• wherein the rope is connected at its first end to the winch and is configured to be wound around the winch,
• wherein the actuator is configured to exert a torque on the winch which effects the winding of the rope around the winch, and
• wherein the apparatus is configured to unload a portion of the user's body weight and to support the user during physical activity.