EP2633890A1

EP2633890A1 - Walk training device

Info

Publication number: EP2633890A1
Application number: EP13156478.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hjálmar Thorvaldsson; Haraldur Thorkelsson; Thjodbjorg Gudjonsdottir; Kristjan Armannsson
Original assignee: Throunarfelagid Stika
Current assignee: Throunarfelagid Stika
Priority date: 2012-02-29
Filing date: 2013-02-22
Publication date: 2013-09-04
Anticipated expiration: 2033-02-22
Also published as: EP2633890B1

Abstract

A walk trainer device (210) is provided that includes a pair of sliders (256) each movable in a forward direction while the foot of a user is engaged with the slider (256). At the end of a forward stroke of the slider (256), the user's foot remains in engagement with the slider (256) but the slider (256) now is moved in a rearward direction. Each slider (256) is configured with a cam profile that has a specific geometric shape and is compatibly configured to cooperate with a cam follower (258) that is pivotally connected to a base platform (250). This permits the travel path of the sliders (256) to be different than merely the reverse path of the opposite forward or rearward stroke.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Walking is difficult and, in some instances, impossible, for children afflicted with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities. An unfortunate consequence of this is that a child dealing with such a disability must forego the great benefits that accrue from walking such, for example, the beneficial promotion of bone development and nervous system development, and the strengthening and toning of muscles. Accordingly, there is a need for a device that could provide the benefits of walking to children afflicted with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities and thereby greatly improve the quality of life for these children as they grow up. Additionally, there is a need for a device that could provide the benefits of walking to persons afflicted with other disabilities that compromise their walking capability as well as persons recovering from an accident or other event that may have reduced their normal walking capability. Devices have been proposed that are intended to simulate a walking motion. US Patent Number 5352169 to Eschenbach discloses an exercise apparatus that simulates walking and running. According to US Patent Number 5352169 to Eschenbach , other exercise devices have been proposed that provide particular motions while a user's feet engage a pedal platform. US Patent Number 5352169 to Eschenbach notes that parallel motion pedal constraint is shown in US Patent Number 4,643,419 to Hyde where pulleys of the same size are coupled with a belt or chain to maintain a pedal platform horizontal or parallel to a base through a rotatable cycle of motion. According to US Patent Number 5352169 to Eschenbach , while parallel platforms help stabilize the balance of the user, the heel of the user's foot raises from the platform during operation when the knee is bent in the upper positions of pedal platform movement. The ankle ligaments and particularly the Achilles tendon are subjected to excessive stress when the heel is raised forcing all weight on that leg to be supported by the ball of the foot. US Patent Number 5352169 to Eschenbach discloses an apparatus that includes a non-parallel elongate pedal position control which, according to US Patent Number 5352169 to Eschenbach , affords the benefits of a safer stand-up exercise apparatus having low ankle/Achilles tendon stress compared to parallel platform control.
The apparatus disclosed in US Patent Number 5352169 to Eschenbach is intended to provide variable intensity exercise through a leg operated, cyclic motion mode of exercise in which an elongate pedal supporting each foot is guided through successive positions during the motion cycle while load resistance acts upon a crank mechanism. The apparatus includes a separate elongate pedal for each foot, each partially supported by a rotary crank which normally completes one full revolution during a cycle and is phased approximately one hundred and eighty degrees relative to the crank for the other elongate pedal through a bearing journal attached to the framework. The elongate pedals are not free to rotate but are supported at the other end in one embodiment by a roller element which is attached to the elongate pedal and in contact with a track attached to the frame to form a four-bar linkage known in the literature as a slider-crank mechanism where the elongate pedal is the coupler link. The frame is made collapsible with the use of telescoping tubing being an integral part of the track supporting the roller element.
While devices have been proposed for the purpose of simulating a walking motion, there is still a need for a device that can simulate a more authentic walking motion including, in particular, a device that can simulate a walking motion for each leg of a user that brings about a different level of exertion, a different range of muscle movement and involvement, and/or a different balancing effort when the leg moves forward as opposed to when the leg moves rearwardly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a device that can simulate a more authentic walking motion than has heretofore been available from known walk simulating devices. According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a device that can simulate a walking motion for each leg of a user that brings about a different level of exertion, a different range of muscle movement and involvement, and/or a different balancing effort when the leg moves forward as opposed to when the leg moves rearwardly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

With reference to Figures 1A - D, Figures 2 - 8, and Figure 15, the repetitive loop device of the present invention is shown as being configured as a walk trainer device merely to provide an example of one version of the repetitive loop device that can be configured in accordance with the present invention. Additionally, although the following description of the walk trainer device contemplates that a user deploys the walk trainer device on a horizontal surface and engages the device with the user's feet, it is to be understood that other versions of the repetitive loop device of the present invention can be deployed on a surface that is not horizontal - say, for example, a vertical surface - and can be engaged by the user's hands instead of the user's feet. As seen in Figures 1A - D, each of which is a side elevational view of the repetitive loop device of the present invention shown at a respective instant position during its operation, a repetitive loop device 110 is comprised of a base 112. The base 112 has a lateral axis and a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the lateral axis. The repetitive loop device 110 has a pair of user interface elements - namely, a first user interface element 114A and a second user interface element 114B. The repetitive loop device 110 has two pairs of displacing components - a first pair of displacing components 116A, 116B associated with the first user interface element 114A and a second pair of displacing components 116C, 116D associated with the second user interface element 114B. The repetitive loop device of the present invention also comprises a user interface element and a displacing component, whereupon the repetitive loop device of the present invention in total comprises the basic elements of a base, a user interface element, and a displacing component.
While the repetitive loop device of the present invention in total comprises the basic elements of a base, a user interface element, and a displacing component, it is to be understood that the number of user interface elements can range between a single user interface element to a pair of user interface elements (such as the first user interface element 114A and the second user interface element 114B described herein) to a number of user interface elements that exceeds two user interface elements. Also, it is to be understood that the number of displacing components can range between a single displacing component to a pair of displacing components to a number of user interface elements that exceeds two displacing components (such as the first pair of displacing components 116A, 116B and the second pair of displacing components 116C, 116D described herein). The base 112 has a return extent 118 extending longitudinally.
As seen in Figure 2, which is a perspective view of the repetitive loop device 110 shown in shown in Figures 1A - D, the user interface element 114A has a lateral axis LAT, a longitudinal axis LON perpendicular to the lateral axis LAT, and a width axis WID perpendicular to the lateral axis LAT and the longitudinal axis LON. The user interface element 114A has a user engagement plate 120 for engagement by a user (not shown). As seen in Figure 3, which is a perspective view of the repetitive loop device 110 shown in Figures 1A - D and showing a schematic illustration of the movement vectors of selected portions of the repetitive loop device, the user interface element 114A is movable along in a forward stroke path FSP that has a forward longitudinal component and is movable along a rearward stroke path RWP that has a rearward longitudinal component opposite to the forward longitudinal component of the forward stroke path FSP, the forward stroke path FSP and the rearward stroke path RWP being longitudinally co-extensive with one another along an overlap segment OVL as viewed relative to the longitudinal axis LON. As seen in Figure 2, merely for the sake of illustration, the user engagement plate 120 is shown has being a rectangle. The user engagement plate 120 delimits a reference plane REF-PL of the user interface element 114A extending along the width axis WID and the longitudinal axis LON.
As seen in Figure 4, which is a perspective view of the repetitive loop device 110 shown in Figures 1A - D and showing a front portion of the base 112 and the user interface elements 114A and 114B and as seen in Figure 5, which is a bottom perspective view of the user interface element 114A, it can be seen that the user interface element 114A has a pair of laterally extending slot travellers 126A, 126B that are longitudinally spaced from each other and each of which extends laterally in the lateral direction away from the user engagement plate 120. The slot travellers 126A, 126B are constrained to travel longitudinally in a slot of the base 112, wherein the bottom surface of the slot is a planar elongate surface and the slot delimits the return extent 118 of the base 112, as can be seen as well in Figure 6, which is a side elevational view of the user interface element 114A in its operating position with the slot travelers 126A, 126B thereof received in the slot of the base 112 delimiting the return extent 118 and Figure 7, which is a top perspective view of a beam structure of the base 112 that forms the return extent 118 of the base and. Each of the pair of laterally extending slot travellers 126A, 126B of the user interface element 114A also has a bottom surface that is a planar elongate surface and the bottom surface of the pair of laterally extending slot travellers 126A, 126B of the user interface element 114A is configured to slide relatively along the bottom surface of the slot of the base 112 during a movement of the user interface element 114A along the rearward stroke path RWP. Thus, it can be seen that the return extent 118 of the base 112 supports the user interface element 114A for relative sliding movement therealong with the user interface element 114A sliding on a zero slope path during this movement (i.e., a path with no change in the lateral spacing between the user engagement plate 120 and the reference plane REF-PL of the user interface element 114A).
As seen in Figure 8, which is a top elevational view of the repetitive loop device 110 shown in Figures 1A - D, the pair of user interface elements 114A, 114B are received in the respective pair of beam structures of the base 112 and these beam structures are fixedly mounted to a rectangular brace frame 128. A drive motor 130 is fixedly mounted to the rectangular brace frame 128 at a longitudinal spacing from the front end of the beam structures and is operable to rotate a driven pulley sheave. An idler pulley sheave 132 is rotatably mounted the rectangular brace frame 128 at a longitudinal spacing from the back end of the beam structures. A continuous loop cable 134 is trained around the driven pulley sheave of the drive motor 130 and the idler pulley sheave 132 and has longitudinal extents each of which extends through a respective one of the user interface elements 114A, 114B and is fixedly secured thereto. The drive motor 130 has a programmable drive controller that controls the drive motor to rotate the driven pulley sheave at predetermined rotational speeds and predetermined rotational directions to thereby effect longitudinal movements of the longitudinal extents of the continuous loop cable 134, whereupon the user interface elements 114A, 114B are reciprocably driven along the forward stroke path FSP and the rearward stroke path RWP. With reference again to Figures 1A - D, the user interface element 114A has a profile surface 122 laterally spaced from the user engagement plate 120 in a respective lateral direction, the profile surface 122 including a maximum offset location 124 which is laterally spaced from the reference plane REF-PL of the user interface element 114A at a lateral spacing MOL greater than the lateral spacing of any other location on the profile surface 122 from the reference plane REF-PL. The user interface element 114A includes a downrange location 126 which is longitudinally spaced from the maximum offset location 124 and laterally spaced from the reference plane REF-PL of the user interface element 114A at a downrange lateral spacing DLS that is different than the lateral spacing MOL of the maximum offset location 124 of the profile surface 122 from the reference plane REF-PL of the user interface element 114A.
With continuing reference to Figures 1A - D, the displacing component 116A moves into a forward stroke contact position in which the displacing component 116A comes into contact with the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A during movement of the user interface element 114A along the forward stroke path FSP in a manner such that the displacing component 116A contacts the downrange location 126 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A (when the downrange location 126 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A is longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component 116A) and the displacing component 116A subsequently contacts the maximum offset location 124 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A (when the maximum offset location 124 is longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component 116A). The displacing component 116A, when in contact with the downrange location 126 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A, supports the user interface element 114A such that both the downrange location 126 and the maximum offset location 124 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A are at respective lateral spacings from the return extent 118 of the base 112.
The displacing component 116A is also positionable in a rearward stroke position and this occurs in association with a movement of the user interface element 114A along the rearward stroke path RWP. The displacing component 116A, when positioned in the rearward stroke position during a movement of the user interface element 114A along the rearward stroke path RWP, does not laterally space the maximum offset location 124 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A away from the return extent 118 of the base 112 at the respective moment at which the downrange location 126 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A is longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component 116A. This can be seen in Figure 15, which is a perspective view of the repetitive loop device 110 showing the downrange location 126 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component 116A during the movement of the user interface element 114A along the rearward stroke path RWP. The maximum offset location 124 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A is not spaced away from the return extent 118 of the base 112 by the displacing component 116A at the respective moment at which the downrange location 126 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A is longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component 116A. Instead, as exemplarily shown, the maximum offset location 124 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A is in contact with, and supported by, the return extent 118 of the base 112 at a location PBL along the return extent 118 of the base 112 at the respective moment at which the downrange location 126 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A is longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component 116A. It can be understood that, for the reason that the displacing component 116A does not exert a lateral force on the user interface element 114A that would space the maximum offset location 124 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A away from the return extent 118 of the base 112, the maximum offset location 124 of the profile surface 122 of the user interface element 114A is in contact with, and supported by, the return extent 118 of the base 112 at the location PBL. The displacing component 116A is positionable in its forward stroke contact position in association with a movement of the user interface element 114A along its forward stroke path FSP and is positionable in its rearward stroke position in association with a movement of the user interface element 114A along its rearward stroke path RWP during each loop of the user interface element 114A through a respective forward stroke and a respective rearward stroke.
Having now described an embodiment of the walk trainer device of the present invention, reference is now had to Figure 9 in connection with a variation of the one embodiment of the walk trainer device described with respect to Figures 1A - D. As seen in Figure 9, which is a perspective view of a variation of the one embodiment of the walk trainer device of the present invention, a walk trainer device 210 includes two main components, a base platform 250 with two built in parallel tracks 252 and a support frame 254. A pair of sliders 256 are each supported for reversible sliding movement along a respective one of the parallel tracks 251. The support frame 254 in configured for aiding a user in standing vertically while the user's feet are supported on the pair of sliders 256 while the sliders move through a number of training loops. The base platform 250 is configured to be relatively wider than the stance of the user to thereby provide stability in supporting the user while the base platform 250 is supported on, for example, a floor. If, for example, the user is a child, then the base platform 250 is preferably relatively wider than the stance of the child (i.e., measured perpendicularly left and right relative to the front and back of the child). The base platform 250 includes floor contact members that contact a floor and support the entire walk trainer device 210 in a stable manner on the floor to increase the child's feeling of security.
Each one of the child's feet is supported on a respective one of the pair of sliders 256 and the sliders are motor driven to move horizontally back and forth in the two built in parallel tracks 252 of the base platform 250. To simulate a "normal" walking curve, the drive motor (not shown) drives each slider 256 through a motion loop in which the slider 256 is gradually pushed up in a forward motion direction and returned to its start position in a backward motion direction with the slider 256 moving along a level travel path during this backward motion direction. As seen in Figure 10, which is an exploded perspective view of a front portion of the base platform 250 of the repetitive loop device 210 shown in Figure 9, the guiding of each slider 256 during its respective motion loop is assisted by a cam profile at the base of the slider that operates in a cooperating manner with a respective one of a pair of cam followers 258 that is pivotally connected to the bottom of the respective one of the pair of tracks 252 at the general location of the middle area of the track, as viewed lengthwise. The pair of sliders 256 can be configured with a specific cam profile for each child depending on the child's motor ability. As seen in Figure 10, each cam follower 258 is pivotally mounted to the base platform 250 via a pivot post 260 and each pivot post 260 extends through a coil spring 262 that has one end secured to the base platform 250 and an opposite end secured to the respective cam follower 258. The coil spring 262 continuously urges the cam follower 258 into its forward stroke position in which a contact head 264 of the cam follower 258 is located in readiness to contact the cam profile of the respective slider 256 as the slider 256 is moved by the motive power of the drive motor through a forward stroke. As the cam profile of the respective slider 256 moves forward, the cam follower 258 engages the cam profile and gradually pushes the cam profile upwards until a rise/fall switchover location on the cam profile passes over the cam follower 258. Thereafter, the cam profile of the respective slider 256 slides downwardly along the cam follower 258 and/or moves relatively along the cam follower in a horizontal manner. In the backward motion direction, the cam profile pushes the cam follower 258 in a direction that opposes the biasing action of the coil spring 262 until the cam profile passes over the cam follower 258, whereupon the coil spring 262 then urges the cam follower 258 to return the cam follower to its forward stroke position, thus placing making the cam follower 258 in readiness to contact the cam profile of the respective slider 256 during the forward stroke of a new cycle of the motion loop.
The support frame 254 of the walk trainer device 210 includes a four-legged horizontal beam component fixedly secured to the base platform 250 and a vertical post assembly 264 extending vertically from the horizontal beam component. The vertical post assembly 264 includes a mid-torso enclosure 266 for receiving and stabilizing a mid-torso portion of a child, an upper torso enclosure 268 for receiving and stabilizing an upper torso portion of the child, and a head support element 270 for receiving the head of the child. Each of the sliders 256 is provided with a boot element 272 for securing the child's foot to the slider. The horizontal beam component comprises four support legs that are fixedly secured to the platform base 250 and a horizontal beam 274.
Reference is had to Figure 11, which is a schematic side elevational view of the right side of the base 112 (as viewed from the front) and showing the respective pair of displacing components 116 that contact and guide the cam profile of the user interface element 114B and showing (in dash - block lines) the respective pair of displacing components 116 that contact and guide the cam profile of the user interface element 114A (shown in dash - circle lines). Figure 11 shows a portion of the repetitive loop device 110 at a period of time during which the respective pair of displacing components 116 that contact and guide the cam profile of the user interface element 114B are in their forward stroke position in contact with the cam profile of the user interface element 114B as the user interface element 114B is moved in a forward stroke and showing the respective pair of displacing components 116 that contact and guide the cam profile of the user interface element 114A (shown in dash - circle lines) in their rearward stroke position out of laterally displacing contact with the user interface element 114A. The user interface element 114A is in sliding contact with the return extent 118 of the base 112. Figure 12 is a schematic side elevational view of the right side of the base 112 (as viewed from the front) and showing one of the displacing components 116 that contacts and guides the cam profile of the user interface element 114B of the repetitive loop device 110 at the same period of time referred to in Figure 11. Figure 13 is a schematic side elevational view of the right side of the base 112 (as viewed from the front) and showing one of the displacing components 116 (in dash - block lines) that contacts and guides the cam profile of the user interface element 114A (shown in dash - circle lines) of the repetitive loop device 110 at the same period of time referred to in Figure 11.
Although the walk trainer device has been described with respect to configurations thereof particularly suitable for disabled children, including, in particular, children afflicted with cerebral palsy and similar disabilities, it is also contemplated that the walk trainer of the present invention can alternatively be configured for deployment as an exercise apparatus for use by persons having partial or full ability to themselves act as the motive power that drives the various components of the walk trainer device through the motion loops in lieu of such motive power being entirely provided by a drive motor. In such circumstances, the drive motor can be selectively disabled or can be omitted entirely and the walking motion of the user's legs can be the source of the motive power to move the user interface element or the sliders. Thus, the walk trainer device can be used by persons afflicted with less severe disabilities with limited self-walking skills such as, for example, persons recovering from an accident, and persons with non-impaired walking skills desiring to exercise. It can thus be understood that the walk trainer device is configurable as a training machine on which a user would stand upright on his or her own power (i.e., a self standing person) or would be assisted to stand upright. Each one of the user's feet is supported on a movable "slider" and the pair of "sliders" are arranged to move on parallel walking paths. The pair of "sliders" is supported on a base platform that itself may have appropriate support feet that contact a floor surface and support the entire walk trainer device in a stable manner on the floor.
As seen in Figure 14, which is a side elevational view of an alternative configuration of the walk trainer device of the present invention, a walk trainer device 310 is provided a structure that allows a user to exercise the arms and upper torso at the same time as the user's legs and lower torso involved with the motion loop movement of the sliders. The walk trainer device 310 includes two main components, a base platform 360 with two built in parallel tracks, a pair of sliders 362 supported for reciprocating movement in the parallel tracks, a support frame 364, and an upright tray assembly 366 having a rigid leg 368 with a lower end fixedly secured to the base platform 360 and an upper end supporting a horizontal tray 370 that extends over a forward portion of the travel path of the sliders 362. The horizontal tray 370 is at a height generally corresponding to the average height of the mid-torso area of a user for the purpose of providing a mounting structure for a pair of stride poles 372. The pair of stride poles 372 each have a lower end pivotally mounted via a pivot 374 to a respective one of the sliders 362 and has a suitable profiled hand grip at its upper hand configured for a user to grasp the stride pole. Each stride pole 372 is pivotally secured to the horizontal tray 370 via a tray pivot 376. The stride poles 372 pivot relative to the horizontal tray 370 as the arms of the user swing. The walk trainer device can also be provided with accessories such as, for example, a pair of spaced apart parallel hand rails that extend at an appropriate height so that the user can grip the hand rails for support and for assistance in entering onto the pair of "sliders" and exiting the pair of "sliders." As well, accessories well known in connection with exercise devices can be provided such as a display panel for displaying elapsed walking distance, the pace or speed of walking, and other desirable activity statistics.
Thus, it can be understood that the present invention provides, in one aspect therof, a walk trainer device whereupon each of the "sliders" moves in a forward direction by virtue of a user applying a forward movement of the respective foot while the foot remains engaged with the "slider." At the end of a forward stroke of the "slider", the user's foot remains in engagement with the "slider" but the "slider" now is moved in a reverse direction via the user's leg movements and/or with the assistance of a stroke power mechanism that can be optionally provided with the walk trainer device. Each "slider" is configured with a cam profile that has a specific geometric shape and is compatibly configured to cooperate with a cam follower that is pivotally connected to the base box. Thus, each "slider" can be provided with a cam profile along the bottom surface of the "slider" and each one of the pair of cam follower can be pivotally connected to the base box at the general location of the middle area of the base box, as viewed lengthwise. It is therefore possible to provide each "slider" with a cam profile that causes the forward or leading edge of the "slider" to rise as the user continues the forward stroke - i.e. a simulation of a walking stroke of a person walking up a hill. When the end of the natural stroke length of the user is reached, another portion of the cam profile of the "slider" thereafter moves along the cam follower on the base box and this portion of the cam profile causes the "slider" to move in horizontal, non-sloping path as the "slider" moves in the reverse direction. The user repeats the forward and reverse movements, whereupon each "slider" simulates the experience of an uphill forward walking stroke and a flat reverse walking stroke (the reverse walking stroke simulates that portion of a natural walking gait during which the respective foot remains at rest while the other foot is performing a forward walking stroke).
Although this invention has been disclosed and described in its preferred forms with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art. Additionally, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred forms is only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of operation and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

A walk trainer device having a base, the walk trainer device characterized in that:
the base has a lateral axis and a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the lateral axis, the base having a return extent extending longitudinally;

the walk trainer device has a user interface element for engagement by the feet of a user, the user interface element having a lateral axis, a longitudinal axis perpendicular to the lateral axis, and a width axis perpendicular to the lateral axis and the longitudinal axis, the user interface element having a user engagement plate for engagement by a user, the user interface element being movable along a forward stroke path that has a forward longitudinal component and being movable along a rearward stroke path that has a rearward longitudinal component opposite to the forward longitudinal component of the forward stroke path, the forward stroke path and the rearward stroke path being longitudinally co-extensive with one another along an overlap segment, the user interface element being supported by the return extent of the base as the user interface element moves along the rearward stroke path, and the user interface element having a reference plane delimited by the width axis and the longitudinal axis,

the user interface element has a profile surface laterally spaced from the user engagement plate in a respective lateral direction, the profile surface including a maximum offset location which is laterally spaced from the reference plane of the user interface element at a lateral spacing greater than the lateral spacing of any other location on the profile surface from the reference plane and including a downrange location which is longitudinally spaced from the maximum offset location and laterally spaced from the reference plane of the user interface element at a downrange lateral spacing that is different than the lateral spacing of the maximum offset location of the profile surface from the reference plane of the user interface element; and

the walk trainer device has a displacing component, the displacing component being positionable in a forward stroke contact position in which the displacing component comes into contact with the profile surface of the user interface element during movement of the user interface element along the forward stroke path in a manner such that the displacing component contacts the downrange location of the profile surface of the user interface element when the downrange location of the profile surface of the user interface element is longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component and subsequently contacts the maximum offset location of the profile surface of the user interface element when the maximum offset location is longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component, and the displacing component, when in contact with the downrange location of the profile surface of the user interface element, supporting the user interface element such that both the downrange location and the maximum offset location of the profile surface of the user interface element are at respective lateral spacings from the return extent of the base and the displacing component being positionable in a rearward stroke position in which the displacing component does not laterally space the maximum offset location of the profile surface of the user interface element away from the return extent of the base when the downrange location of the profile surface of the user interface element is longitudinally co-incident with the displacing component during the movement of the user interface element along the rearward stroke path, whereupon the maximum offset location of the profile surface of the user interface element moves along the return extent of the base during the movement of the user interface element along the rearward stroke path and the user interface element is repetitively movable through a cycle of loops with a movement of the user interface element along its forward stroke path and with a movement of the user interface element along its rearward stroke path during each loop.
The walk trainer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the profile surface of the user interface element has at least one non-constant slope portion.
The walk trainer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the profile surface of the user interface element includes a constant slope portion.
The walk trainer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacing component is a pivoting cam follower.
The walk trainer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the user interface element is configured to receive the feet of a user and the repetitive loop device is a walk trainer device.
The walk trainer device according to claim 1, characterized in that the walk trainer device includes a pair of user interface elements.