US 11,883,713 B2
DAP system control and related devices and methods
Sean Tremaine Whalen, Mountain View, CA (US); Thomas Jack Waldo Allen, Palo Alto, CA (US); Robert Tremaine Whalen, Los Altos, CA (US); Gunnar Manglus, Uniküla (EE); Kristjan Tiimus, Tabasalu (EE); and Mikk Murumae, Tallinn (EE)
Assigned to Boost Treadmills, LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US)
Filed by Boost Treadmills, LLC, Palo Alto, CA (US); and Robert Tremaine Whalen, Los Altos, CA (US)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/964,851.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/255,001, filed on Oct. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/254,969, filed on Oct. 12, 2021.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/254,972, filed on Oct. 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0115258 A1, Apr. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. A63B 21/00 (2006.01); A63B 22/02 (2006.01); A63B 22/00 (2006.01)
CPC A63B 22/0046 (2013.01) [A63B 21/00181 (2013.01); A63B 22/02 (2013.01); A63B 2208/053 (2013.01); A63B 2225/093 (2013.01); A63B 2225/62 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for controlling a differential air pressure (DAP) system during use by a user, the DAP system comprising:
an inflatable enclosure having a base extending upward when inflated from the base to a top opening defined therein and configured for attachment with a user seal interface;
a platform retaining an exercise device within a cavity defined therein and securing the enclosure base above the exercise device for enabling user access to the exercise device;
a pair of powered vertical lifts secured to opposite lateral sides of the platform at a mid-region proximate the top opening, each having a vertically drivable carriage;
a seal frame connected to each carriage at opposite ends, the seal frame extending about the top opening and attached to the enclosure at an offset distance from the top opening; and
a control system computer operatively connected to the exercise device, an inflation source coupled to the DAP system in an airtight connection, and the pair of powered lifts;
wherein a user seal worn by a user comprises an interface configured for secure, airtight attachment with the top opening during use of the DAP system for unweighting the user and enabling user access to the exercise device;
the method comprising:
calculating a user seal interface height based on an estimated height for the user;
determining, based on the user seal interface height, an attachment carriage height and a usage carriage height different than the user seal interface height;
driving the powered vertical lifts to raise each carriage to an attachment position at the attachment carriage height while the user is positioned in the DAP system through the top opening, the driving comprising raising about the user the seal frame attached to the carriages and thereby raising the top opening attached to the seal frame at the offset distance;
controlling the powered vertical lifts to retain the attachment position during user seal attachment to the top opening;
confirming attachment of the user seal interface to the top opening;
responsive to the confirming attachment, driving the powered vertical lifts to move each carriage to a usage position at the usage carriage height; and
inflating the enclosure comprising operating the pressure source to inflate the enclosure to an unweighting pressure and controlling the lifts to retain the usage position.