Training and/or rehabilitation device in which a walking or running treadmill is arranged in a water container comprising flowing water

[0001] This application is a national stage of International Application No.: PCT/AT2010/000008, which was filed on Jan. 12, 2010, and which claims priority to Austrian Patent Application No.: GM 31/2009, which was filed in Jan. 20, 2009, and which are both herein incorporated by reference.

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a training and/or rehabilitation device in which a walking or running treadmill is arranged in a water tank with flowing water, the walking or running treadmill being arranged together with a stream generator on a common framework, which unit can be used in a water tank or in open water.

[0004] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0005] In known designs of this type, a walking or running treadmill is used in a pool equipped with a stream system, whereby said pool is used primarily for the treatment of animals (see in particular DE 3911370 C2, DE 102004010188 A1, or DE 10001878 A1).

[0006] In DE 19963583 A1 as well, which discloses an “Aqua-Trainer for humans,” a treadmill is used fixed in a water tank equipped with a stream system or countercurrent swimming unit.

[0007] The aforementioned designs have the disadvantage that the walking or running treadmill can be used for underwater therapy in combination with the water flow only when the water pools are provided with appropriate stream systems.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 4,576,376 shows a treadmill which is placed in a pool and by which a pump can be driven, which draws water out of the pool and returns it into the pool via openings in a riser pipe. The openings in this case are directed against the training person, the water emerging uncontrolled into the pool. The pump is provided to control the running resistance, so that at a high running resistance only a small volume of water is recirculated by the pump.

[0009] According to JP 2001137383, a treadmill is used in a pool, whereby a stream generator directed at the lower legs of the person is provided at the hand-hold for the training person; the construction and mode of action of the stream generator is not explained further.

[0010] The object of the invention is to provide a device of the aforementioned type, which can be used independent of the design of the water tank or also in open water, whereby the flow is to be adjustable individually to the training person.

[0011] Because the walking or running treadmill is provided with a drive and/or braking device known per se, the drive and/or braking device being connected to a central computer by which both the drive and/or braking device and the stream generator can be controlled, the treadmill speed or the resistance, acting against the user by the treadmill, can be adapted to the treatment or the training stage. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to regulate the belt speed or the belt resistance and, on the other, the flow rate of the water emerging from the stream generator, adjusted to one another and according to the specific requirements. To this end, the control variable for the central computer can be the position of the using person on the walking or running treadmill and/or the belt speed. To determine the position of the using person, sensors can be provided on the walking or running treadmill. For an especially simple design, the sensors can be designed as distance or proximity sensors mounted on the stream generator. This makes it superfluous to place sensors directly under the treadmill, which is disadvantageous, inasmuch as the treadmill slides over the sensors when there is a load. Finally, the incline of the walking or running treadmill can be adjusted to set different load patterns for the training person.

[0015] A walking or running treadmill 2 and a stream generator 3 are arranged on a support frame 1. Stream generator 3 in this case is driven by a turbine 4 and is located in a housing 5, in which the water is drawn in via side intake grates 6. The drawn in water is conveyed into the pool via a discharge nozzle or a discharge passage 7, guide plates 8 diverting the water stream being arranged in housing 5. The flow predominating in the pool is indicated by arrows 9.

[0016] Both treadmill 2 and stream generator 3 are connected to a central computer 10, which regulates both treadmill 2 and stream generator 3 as a function of one another or independently of one another. Framework 1 bearing treadmill 2 is supported by adjustable feet 11 at the bottom 21 of the tank. Belt 2 has a deflection roller 12 and a drive and/or braking device 13. Said drive and/or braking device is then used for regulating the device or the load of the person by means of the power of the stream generator. Handgrips are designated with 14 and 15 which a runner 17 can hold for safe movement. Handgrip 14 is located under water line 16, and handgrip 15, in contrast, above the line.

[0017] As an alternative to runner 17, the number 18 indicates a swimmer, who uses the training and/or rehabilitation device of the invention for generating a countercurrent for swimming training. In this case, treadmill 2 is not used.

[0018] A spacer 19 is provided further on support frame 1 to keep the device at an appropriate distance from the pool edge 20.

[0019] The position of runner 17 is typically used to control the device of the invention by the central computer 10, the position measurement being made in a conventional manner, for instance, by a distance or proximity sensor 22, which is mounted on housing 5 of stream generator 3. As an alternative hereto, pressure sensors 23 provided under the treadmill could also be provided, which then determine the position of the runner based on the pressure applied by runner to the treadmill.

[0020] In a likewise not shown manner, the treadmill could also be pivotable around the axis of roller 12, in fact, in such a way that drive and/or braking device 13, causing the front deflection of the belt, is pivotable toward the edge of the tank. In this way, an ascent can be simulated by an inclined plane.

[0021] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.