EP1194191A1

EP1194191A1 - Training device to improve an athlete's speed and endurance performances

Info

Publication number: EP1194191A1
Application number: EP01936543A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Pierre-Edouard Sainsily
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-05-16
Filing date: 2001-05-16
Publication date: 2002-04-10
Also published as: CA2379531A1; WO2001087430A1; FR2809020A1; FR2809020B1; AU6242601A

Abstract

The invention concerns a training device for improving an athlete's speed and endurance performances, comprising a mobile body (2, 2') driven in motion by a motor (16, 16') along a race track (10, 10'), and designed to simulate a competitor, and a central control unit (40) designed to control the movement of said moving body (2, 2') along the track (10, 10') in accordance with a predefined training programme. The invention is characterised in that the mobile body (2, 2') is mounted on rails (8, 8') parallel to the race track (10).

Description

DRIVE DEVICE FOR IMPROVING THE SPEED AND ENDURANCE PERFORMANCE OF AN ATHLETE.

The present invention relates to a training device for improving the speed and endurance performance of an athlete.

It applies in particular, but not exclusively, to the training of an athlete in all sports disciplines based on a speed race, such as running, cycling or swimming. It can also apply to horse training.

One known method for improving the performance of a speed runner is to have him preceded by another runner called a hare who prints a high rhythm during part of the race. The improvement of the athlete's performance depends on the pace imposed by the hare and on the latter's ability to maintain this pace over a long period of time. This technique does not allow a high level runner to optimize his performance and regular efforts during the race. In addition, this technique does not make it possible to precisely measure the pace of a runner throughout a race, nor to detect the runner's faults with a view to adapting his training as a function of these faults.

The present invention aims to eliminate these drawbacks. This objective is achieved by providing a training device to improve the speed and endurance performance of an athlete, this device comprising a mobile body driven in movement by a motor along a running trajectory, and intended to simulate a competitor of the athlete, and a central control unit intended to manage the movement of said mobile body along the trajectory according to a predefined training program, characterized in that the mobile body is mounted mobile on rails parallel to the course of the race.

Advantageously, the mobile body is mounted mobile on the rails by means of a carriage mechanically connected to the mobile body by at minus one arm.

Preferably, the motor includes an electronic speed variator controlled remotely by the central control unit.

The motor can be of the electric, linear or rotary DC type with premagnetization circuit to allow strong acceleration of the moving body at start-up.

According to a first variant of the invention, the motor is secured to the movable body.

In this case, the motor is advantageously supplied with electric current by the rails.

According to a second variant of the invention, the motor is fixed and drives the mobile body via a cable.

According to a feature of the invention, the movable body comprises at least one camera intended to film the runner during the race. In this case, it can also include means for recording the images taken by the camera and the speed and acceleration profile of the runner during the race, and means for analyzing the images and the speed and acceleration profile. to determine biomechanical data relating to the runner and a training program adapted to the performance of the runner.

Advantageously, the departure of the movable body is triggered by a press button placed under the runner's foot before the start.

According to another feature of the invention, it comprises means for controlling the position of the movable body to the position of the runner, during an evaluation race.

According to yet another feature of the invention, it further comprises a heart rate sensor connected to the runner and communicating with the unit control center.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, taken by way of nonlimiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a plan view of a track equipped with two preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a more detailed perspective view of the first embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 shows an even more detailed profile view of the device shown in Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a detailed profile view of the second embodiment of the invention;

Figure 1 shows a running track commonly found in stadiums. Such a track includes a closed track 10 'with two parallel rectilinear portions connected by two curved portions of the same radius. One of the two rectilinear portions is extended at its two ends by rectilinear portions to form a rectilinear running track 10. The running track 10 is generally used for speed races over distances less than or equal to 110 m, while that the 10 'track is used for endurance races over longer distances.

According to the invention, at least one, and preferably the two tracks 10, 10 'are each equipped with a device 1, the according to the invention comprising a movable body 2, 2' moving on two parallel rails 8, 8 'connected by crosspieces

9, 9 'arranged along the track.

The track 10 is equipped with a first preferred variant 1 of the device according to the invention. In this variant, the movable body is driven along the straight rails 8 by a fixed motor 16 fixed to one end of the rails and connected to the movable body by a cable in a closed loop, stretched between two pulleys fixed at the two ends of the rails 8.

Furthermore, the track 10 'is equipped with a second preferred variant of the device according to the invention in which the two parallel rails 8', also connected by crosspieces 9 'define a closed trajectory arranged inside the track 10 ', so that the movable body 2' moves along track 10 '. In this variant, the motor for driving the movable body 2 ′ is integral with the latter.

In Figures 2 and 3 showing in more detail the movable body 2 mounted on the rails 8, it appears that the movable body has an aerodynamic shape, for example tabular elliptical section of light material, arranged so that its longitudinal axis either vertical. The mobile body is mounted mobile on the rails 8 by means of a carriage 3 connected to the mobile body by arms 21, 22, 23 arranged so as to provide a rigid mechanical connection between the mobile body 2 and the carriage 3.

The two rails 8 have a square section and are arranged with respect to each other in a diamond shape so as to have their faces oriented at 45 ° with respect to a plane parallel to the rails, and to each have an upper edge, an edge lower and two side edges, namely an outer side edge and an inner side edge disposed opposite the inner side edge of the other rail. They also each have two upper faces, respectively outer and inner, and two lower faces, respectively outer and inner, the inner faces being located opposite the inner faces of the other rail.

FIGS. 2 and 3 also show that the rails 8 are mounted at a distance from the ground by means of posts 11 fixed to certain crosspieces 9.

The carriage 3 itself has an upper wall and side walls having a V-shaped section to match the outer faces of the rails 8. The side walls of the carriage support wheels 33, 34 which are arranged so as to roll on the faces outside of the two rails, on either side of the outer side edges. The carriage 3 thus comprises eight wheels 33, 34, namely four upper wheels 33 and four lower wheels 34. Of this way, once engaged on the rails 8, the carriage is maintained and guided both laterally and vertically.

The carriage 3 also includes three transverse ribs 31, 32 extending over the upper wall and the side walls of the carriage. The ribs 31 are formed respectively at the front and at the rear of the carriage (relative to the direction of movement of the carriage on the rails) and are connected to the arms 21, 23. The rib 32 is formed in the middle of the carriage and is connected to arm 22.

Provision may be made to reinforce the rigidity of the connection between the carriage 3 and the movable body 2 by two cables 24 stretched respectively between the attachment points of the arms 21, 23 on the carriage 3 and the attachment points of the arms 23 on the movable body 2.

FIGS. 2 and 3 also show the cable 17 for driving the charopt 3, which is guided along the rails 8 by pulleys 13, 14 mounted on the posts 11 by means of a respective arm 12.

To be able to follow an athlete from the start of the race, and in particular to start a race with an acceleration comparable to that of a high level athlete, the motor 16 is preferably linear, or rotary DC, equipped with a circuit of premagnetising. It also includes an electronic speed variator. Advantageously, it can be controlled remotely and for this purpose comprises a transmitter / receiver for communicating with a central control unit 40 located at a distance from the running track 10 (see FIG. 1).

The transceiver allows communication over a distance of about 200 to 300 m with the central control unit 40. The latter has a corresponding antenna 42 and a microcomputer 41 intended to control the electronic speed variator according to a program preset workout. The microcomputer 41 also makes it possible to process and store physiological data, such as for example the heartbeats, collected in real time by sensors carried by the runner. A computer program allowing the trainer to create a race profile in real time and to transmit this profile to the electric motor 16 is stored in the memory of the microcomputer 41.

Thus, the trainer can use the microcomputer 41 to start starting, stopping, accelerating or slowing down the moving body 2 at any time during the training. The start can also be triggered automatically by the runner at the start. To this end, provision can be made to equip the starting block 5 of the athlete with a press button 6 which is arranged so as to be kept pressed by the runner's foot before the start. The mobile body 2 is launched as soon as the runner leaves the starting block 5.

The mobile body 2 is advantageously equipped with cameras 38, 39, for example micro-cameras which are remote controlled by the central unit 40, and fixed on the mobile body 2 so as to be able to film the runner during the race, preferably respectively at the level of the runner's feet and at the level of his hips. The images collected are transmitted in real time to the central control unit 40 and are stored in the memory of the microcomputer 41 for later analysis. To facilitate the analysis of these images, provision may be made to have light-reflecting elements on the runner on the side of the runner's shoes and hips facing the mobile body 2.

The movable body 2 can also be equipped with a display screen on which the runner can visualize, at the end of a race, information concerning his performance during the race, such as for example speed, acceleration and time .

According to the embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the movable body 2 'is equipped with a drive motor 16' on board the carriage 3 '.

The carriage 3 'which is connected to the movable body 2' by arms 21 ', 22', also has an upper wall and side walls having a V-shaped cross section so as to match the outer faces of the rails 8 'connected by sleepers 9 'and mounted at a distance from the ground on posts 11'. The motor 16 'drives a pinion 37' connected to the motor shaft and having a tread with a V-shaped cross section so as to be applied to the upper walls of one of the two rails 8 '. The 3 'cart also includes upper 33 'and lower 34' wheels mounted in the side walls of the carriage so as to roll on the outer faces of the rail 8 'which is not in contact with the wheel 37'. The carriage 3 'thus comprises four wheels, namely two upper wheels 33' and two lower wheels 34 'rolling on the same rail 8 ".

The motor 16 ′ is supplied with direct current preferably by the rails 8 ′, connected respectively to the positive and negative terminals of a source of direct voltage, for example of 24 or 48 Volts. To this end, the carriage 3 'has on its underside electrically conductive pads resting on the rails 8'.

It is also possible to provide the mobile body with a loudspeaker to allow a trainer located near the central control unit 40 to speak to the runner.

The device 1 or 1 has two operating modes, namely a runner evaluation mode and a training mode. In evaluation mode, the position of the mobile body (2, 2 ′) is controlled during the race to the position of the runner, so that the mobile body is always kept at the level of the runner. The speed of the moving body (2, 2 ') is therefore adapted to that of the runner.

For this purpose, it is possible, for example, to use the images transmitted by the cameras, and in particular the camera 39, 39 ′ which is located at the level of the runner's hips, to regulate the speed of the mobile body so that the runner is always centered on the images provided by the camera 39, 39 '.

During an evaluation run, the microcomputer 41 records the images supplied by the cameras 38, 39, as well as the profile of the speeds and accelerations applied to the moving body 2, 2 ', which corresponds substantially to the profile of the runner. This stored information can then be analyzed to determine a training program suited to the runner's performance. Such an analysis also makes it possible to note biomechanical data relating to the runner, such as the support position of the runner's feet on the ground, the time that each foot remains on the ground, the frequency and the width of the strides and the different angles of flexion. knees and hip.

For this purpose, the microcomputer can be equipped with image analysis software making it possible to extract this information.

In training mode, a training program adapted to the needs of the runner is chosen on the microcomputer 41. This program includes acceleration phases and deceleration phases programmed according to the nature of the training desired by the athlete. These phases can be modified in real time by the trainer and transmitted via the central control unit 40 to the motor 16, 16 'which drives the movable body 2, 2'. The motor speed can also be changed by a remote control which sends signals to the electronic speed controller 15, 15 '.

Thus, by adapting to the speed of the mobile body 2, 2 ', the runner can modulate his efforts throughout the race to optimize his performance.

Of course, the device 1, l 'which has just been described can be adapted to other sports such as swimming, cycling or horse riding, without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the appended claims.

In the case of swimming, for example, the rails 8 of the device according to the invention can be installed on an edge of the pool, so that the movable body 2 moves along the pool lengthwise. .

Claims

1. Training device for improving the speed and endurance performance of an athlete, comprising a movable body (2, 2 ') driven in movement by a motor (16, 16') along a trajectory of race (10, 10 '), and intended to simulate a competitor of the athlete, and a central control unit (40) intended to manage the movement of said mobile body (2, 2') along the trajectory (10, 10 ') according to a predefined training program, characterized in that the movable body (2, 2') is movably mounted on rails (8, 8 ') parallel to the trajectory (10) of the race.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable body (2, 2 ') is movably mounted on the rails (8, 8') by means of a carriage (3, 3 ') mechanically connected to the movable body (2 ') by at least one arm (21, 22, 23, 22', 23 ').

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the motor (16, 16 ') comprises an electronic speed variator (15, 15') controlled remotely by the central control unit (40).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the motor (16, 16 ') is of the direct current electric type with premagnetization circuit to allow a strong acceleration of the movable body at start-up.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the motor (16 ') is integral with the movable body (2').

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that said motor (16 ') is supplied with electric current by the rails (8 -

7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said motor (16) is of the linear motor type.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said motor (16) is fixed and drives the movable body (2) via a cable (17).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the movable body (2, 2 ') comprises at least one camera (38, 39, 38', 39 ') intended to film the runner during the race .

10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it comprises means for recording the images taken by the camera (38, 38, 38 ', 39') and the profile of speeds and accelerations of the runner during the race , and means for analyzing the images and the speed and acceleration profile to determine biomechanical data relating to the runner and a training program adapted to the performance of the runner.

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the departure of the movable body (2, 2 ') is triggered by a press button (6) disposed under the runner's foot before the start.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it comprises means for controlling the position of the movable body (2, 2 ') to the position of the runner, during an evaluation race.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it further comprises a heart rate sensor connected to the runner and communicating with the central control unit (40).