ES1295597U - End-of-travel adjustment and damping mechanism for physical exercise machine carts (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

End-of-travel regulation and cushioning mechanism for physical exercise machine carts, machines in which a horizontal frame (1) participates, generally equipped with legs (2) at its ends, on whose beams guides (6) are established) for horizontal displacement of a cart (3), against the tension of some springs (4), being able to have a foot bar (5), as well as other accessories for carrying out different types of exercises, characterized in that alignments of holes (7) are established in which some stops (8) limiting the travel of the carriage (3) in its collection movement caused by the springs (4) are selectively pluggable, having foreseen that the mechanism includes damping mechanisms (10), in which a casing that is attached to the carriage or to the guides (6) participates, casing in which a rod (12) plays longitudinally movable against the tension of an internal spring, rod that p or its free end ends in an appendage (13) intended to come into contact with the stop (8) in the backward movement of the carriage. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

End-of-travel adjustment and damping mechanism for physical exercise machine carts

TECHNIQUE SECTOR

The present invention refers to a mechanism with a double purpose; allow to regulate the route of the carriage that participates in a physical exercise machine through its end of career, machines commonly called "reformer" (from the English reformer), with the aim of incorporating the technique used in exercises such as Pilates, usually practiced on the floor, to a more intense workout, so that the change in the carriage's path allows for an increase in the number of possible exercises to be performed with the machine.

It is also an object of the invention that the trolley does not suffer large impacts that can be transmitted to the user's body when the latter reaches the end of its travel, by virtue of the inclusion of a damping mechanism.

The invention is applicable both to physical exercise machines with a metallic structure/frame, as well as those made of wood or any other material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Machines for performing physical exercises are known in which a horizontal frame participates with longitudinal guides through which a carriage can move against the tension of some springs, a frame that includes a support bar for feet or hands, as well as optionally a vertical column with a series of accessories to increase the number of exercises possible to perform with the machine.

The trolley is movable through the support of different parts of the body, offering a great versatility of exercises.

However, either due to the size of the user, or the type of exercise to be performed, the end of the carriage's travel is not always adequate, so it would be desirable to have a mechanism that would allow its position to be adjusted along the machine.

Furthermore, when the carriage moves against the tension of some springs, when it reaches the end of its return path (back towards the springs) it hits against an element acting as a stop, which although it may be covered with An elastic material, such as rubber or foam, is not elastic enough to completely absorb the impact that can occur in said displacement, so that a large part of the energy generated in the impact is transmitted to the user's body, with the corresponding risk of injury that this entails.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

The end-of-travel adjustment and damping mechanism for physical exercise machine carts that the invention proposes fully satisfactorily resolves the problem set forth above in the two aspects discussed, allowing the cart's travel to be regulated at will by virtue of the position of the limit switch for it, as well as achieving a much softer damping when the carriage hits the end of the carriage collection stroke by the elastic elements.

To do this, based on the conventional structure of this type of machine described above, the invention focuses on the fact that the longitudinal spars of the frame, whether made of aluminum or wood, include a profile with longitudinal alignment on their inner face. of holes in which an element acting as a stop can be selectively coupled, based on a lug that can be inserted into the selected hole, finished off at its front end in an expansion covered with an elastic material such as rubber, rubber or the like.

For its part, on the sides of the carriage and in correspondence with its lower face, two damping mechanisms will be included, intended to impact on the ends of the previously described carriage.

These damping mechanisms are materialized in a casing that is screwed to the lateral end of the carriage in opposition to the springs, casing in which a longitudinally displaceable rod plays, against the tension of an internal spring, rod capable of emerging and being partially introduced into the bosom of said casing when its free end impacts against the limit switch, against the tension of the aforementioned springs, said free end also having an elastic coating based on rubber or the like that determines a contact surface against the limit switches.

In this way, it is not only possible to regulate the travel of the trolley in its backward movement driven by the corresponding springs against which the physical effort is made, but also the transmission of impacts on the user's body when reaching the end of career of said carriage, by being able to appreciably cushion said impact.

From this structure, an extremely versatile machine is achieved, ideal for performing a large number of Pilates exercises with greater physical intensity, achieving better results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is going to be made below and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of its practical embodiment, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, with an illustrative and non-limiting nature, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a perspective view from below of a machine for physical exercise that includes an end-of-travel adjustment and damping mechanism for its carriage, all carried out in accordance with the object of the present invention.

Figure 2.- Shows an enlarged detail of the assembly of figure 1 at the level of the mechanism.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the outlined figures, it can be seen how the mechanism of the invention is intended to be integrated into a machine for physical exercise in which a rectangular horizontal frame (1) participates, generally equipped with legs (2) at its ends, whose beams include guides (6) for horizontal movement of a trolley (3), against the tension of some springs (4), being able to have a foot bar (5), as well as other accessories that are not the subject of the present invention.

Well then, in accordance with the essence of the invention, the travel of the carriage in its backward movement caused by the springs (4) is limited and regulated by means of stops (8) that in this case are practicable, that is, they can be they can change their position by means of selective insertion in an alignment of holes (7) provided along the guides (6).

In accordance with another of the characteristics of the invention, the carriage does not hit directly against said stops (8), but does so by means of a pair of damping mechanisms (10), in which a casing participates that by means of screws (11 ) is attached to the lateral end (9) of the carriage (3), casing in which a stem (12) plays longitudinally movable against the tension of an internal spring, stem that ends at its free end in an appendage (13 ), preferably covered or made of an elastic material, intended to come into contact with the stop (8) in the backward movement of the carriage caused by the springs (4), so that when impacting against said stop (8) the stem (12) will retract against the spring provided inside the casing of the damping mechanism (10) absorbing a large part of the energy generated in the impact, significantly limiting the efforts transmitted to the user's body, with the beneficial repercussions ion for your health that this entails.

In another embodiment not shown in the figures, the damping elements (10) and the stops (8) exchange their respective positions, in this case the stops (8) located at the lateral ends (9) of the carriage (3) together with the positioning holes (7), while the damping elements (10) are fixed in the guides (6).

In the same way, and to ensure the reduction of the impact, as well as the noise produced by it, the stop (8) can be made of elastic material instead of the appendix (13) or both can be elastic.

The alignment of holes (7) for the stops (8) can be established in correspondence with the guides (6), with the damping mechanisms (10) located on both lateral ends (9) of the carriage (3), or else the alignments of holes (7) established in the lateral ends (9) of the carriage (3), in which case the damping mechanisms (10) would be located in the guides (6).

From this structuring it is possible to offer an extremely versatile physical exercise machine, adaptable both to different sizes of users and to different types of exercises or their intensity depending on the selective arrangement of the stops (8), all of this in a safe way for the health of the user, by avoiding the transmission of strong impacts on his body.

Claims (6)

1a.- End-of-travel adjustment and damping mechanism for physical exercise machine carts, machines in which a horizontal frame (1) participates, generally equipped with legs (2) at its ends, on whose beams guides are established ( 6) for horizontal displacement of a cart (3), against the tension of some springs (4), being able to have a foot bar (5), as well as other accessories for carrying out different types of exercises, characterized by that alignments of holes (7) are established in which some stops (8) limiting the travel of the carriage (3) in its collection movement caused by the springs (4) are selectively pluggable, having foreseen that the mechanism includes damping mechanisms (10), in which a casing participates that is attached to the carriage or to the guides (6), casing in which a rod (12) plays longitudinally displaceable against the tension of an internal spring, rod that At its free end, it ends in an appendage (13) intended to come into contact with the stop (8) in the backward movement of the carriage. 2nd.- End-of-travel adjustment and damping mechanism for physical exercise machine carts, according to claim 1st, characterized in that the appendage (13) is covered or made of an elastic material. 3.- End-of-travel adjustment and damping mechanism for physical exercise machine carts, according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop (8) is made of elastic material. 4.- End-of-travel regulation and damping mechanism for physical exercise machine carts, according to claim 1 , characterized in that both the stop (8) and the appendage (13) are made of elastic material. 5.- End-of-travel regulation and cushioning mechanism for physical exercise machine carts, according to claim 1, characterized in that the alignments of holes (7) for the stops (8) are established in correspondence with the guides (6 ), with the damping mechanisms (10) located on both lateral ends (9) of the carriage (3). 6.- End-of-travel adjustment and damping mechanism for physical exercise machine carts, according to claim 1, characterized in that the alignments of holes (7) for the stops (8) are established at the lateral ends (9) of the carriage (3) and damping mechanisms (10) are located in the guides (6).