Sprint trainer aid

Abstract

Disclosed is a sprinter training aid which pulls the sprinter forward in an over speed condition, for the purpose of exercise the muscles which pull the leg forward when running, such the hip flexor muscles. Two devices can be used, one pulling the sprinter forward and one pulling the sprinter backward at the start of a run. The backward pulling at the start of the run exercises the sprinter's muscles which are used when going from a stationary position, to a full speed sprint. The device which pulls the sprinter forward would take over when the rearward pulling device shut off, and pull the sprinter to an over speed condition. Include in the device is a cable and cable winder, and a motor, computer, and a wireless connection to a data compilation computer.

Description

PRIORITY / CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 311,593, filed Mar. 8, 2010, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61316145, filed Mar. 22, 2010, disclosures of which are incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept relates to a device to be used for increasing the speed of a sprinter, and more particularly to a sprinter training aid which pulls the sprinter forward in order to strengthen his running muscles by use of over speed.BACKGROUND[0003]Running requires the muscles of the leg to lift the leg up and then pull the leg down. The speed and rate of the leg going up must match the speed of the leg going down. Following the premise that a chain is as strong as its weakest link, the runner's rate of turnover (strides per second) is limited by whichever muscle group is the weakest or slowest (the muscle group that lifts the leg or the muscle group th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021]This invention relates to a device for helping a sprinter develop muscles for running faster and to help the sprinter train in order to run faster. The device of the invention helps the runner run faster by addressing all three modes of improvement listed above, by pulling the runner forward with a cable attached to the sprinter. Training is accomplished by pulling the runner forward at a carefully controlled rate, which is based upon either the unassisted speed of the runner to which a percentage of over speed is applied, or a setting a line pressure to be maintained on the cable attached to the sprinter. With this acceptable range of comfortable over speed applied, the runner does not enter the over speed zone of the run cycle, which would be experienced in downhill running and which would cause a runner to shift to a braking and downhill style of running.

[0024]The device has an auto release link. This can be a friction, magnetic, or other type of release which releases under a predetermined amount of force. The auto-release would release the runner from the motor if the runner fell down, for instance, or if the runner was not prepared to start at the beginning of the race. Typical line pressures to achieve over speed running would not typically pull a runner over, and could be in the range of 8-15 pounds. This amount of force could be easily resisted by a standing or running sprinter.

[0026]The resistance motor will typically activate at the same time as the assistance motor, coordinated by wireless communication. At that time the resistance motor will have the higher (reverse) pulling force value thereby providing more resistance than assistance. The resistance motor will gradually reduce its resistance to zero, thus allowing the assistance (forward) motor full control and transitioning from resistance to assistance within the same run. The sprinter will experience higher power requirements (reduced speed) at the beginning of the run and higher speed requirements from the transition on to the assistance dominated part of the run.

[0027]Both units working together at the same time can thus overload the entire spectrum of a sprint. The overload that is experienced while training with the machine allows the sprinter to transition from power to speed much faster when that load is removed. This overloads the complete cycle of a sprint, and is like weight lifting for sprinters.

Problems solved by technology

However running downhill has been shown to not be the optimal way to increase speed.

When running downhill, the runner is assisted by gravity, which tends to continue to accelerate the runner to his / her terminal speed, a condition in which relaxation is not possible.

Running downhill or with the assistance of a bungee cord, for example, removes this normal load and is counterproductive to acceleration training

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