IE20000578A1 - Power training apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A transportable power training apparatus for developing and strengthening body muscles by overcoming spring forces is provided. The apparatus includes at least one rope-like spring element (15,16) having an end fixed to the apparatus and a free end provided with a grip element (17,18) which can be stretched via a guide and deflection roller (4,5). A releasable connection is provided to enable the apparatus to be easily dismantled for transport. The apparatus provides a convenient, portable device for exercising a number of main muscle groups. <Figure 1>

Description

Many power training apparatuses are known which are used to develop and strengthen muscle areas of the human body. The apparatuses are of very different designs. There are large apparatuses which can be set up in a fixed position and which are installed principally in fitness centres and power training areas of sports clubs. However, despite their effectiveness, they also have the disadvantage that their use is restricted to the abovementioned locations. The apparatuses are not transportable and, because of their dimensions, it is only in very rare cases that they can be set up in the home environment.

To remedy this problem, there are also a great many smaller and transportable training apparatuses which can also be used in the home since they require only a small amount of space. As is known, many of these apparatuses work with spring forces which have to be overcome by muscular force when performing training exercises. The versatility of the training is often limited in the case of small apparatuses for home use. Only a few muscle areas can be trained and developed by means of targeted stressing. The simple construction which is generally desired for a transportable apparatus naturally restricts .its versatility.

The invention is based on the above and has the object of making available an apparatus, of the generic type mentioned at the outset, with which training exercises for developing a number of main muscle groups can be performed. These include the biceps, the triceps, the greater pectoral muscle, the leg muscles, the MTCl 2. ΙΕ ο 0 ο 5 7 8 - 2 latissimus dorsi muscle, the abdominal muscles and the shoulder muscles. Despite its versatility, the training exercises using the apparatus are to be improved for each muscle group involved and its technical design is to be straightforward. The training performances should be able to be stored for comparisons, so that it is possible to dispense with battery-operated electronics.

The invention solves this object by means of the features of Patent Claim 1.

A particular simplification from the technical point of view is the use of rubber ropes as spring elements, with their grip elements at the free ends being of ball-shaped design.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is proposed to fix the spring element or spring elements in a housing block and to secure both the housing block and the guide and deflection rollers on a spacer, which holds these parts at an appropriate distance from each other. This distance between the attachment point of the spring elements in the housing block and the guide and deflection rollers can be altered by suitable elements on those parts in order to be able to vary the prestressing of the spring elements.

The guide and deflection rollers are preferably arranged in a carrier fitted adjustably on the spacer.

A releasable connection between the spacer and the housing block and the deflection roller carrier offers the advantage that the apparatus can be dismantled easily into its individual parts and is thus easier to transport, for example in order to take it on holiday, or to be able to change the spacer for one of a different length in order to be able to better adapt the apparatus to beginners and the more advanced.

The fact that the distance between the attachment point of the spring elements and the guide and deflection rollers can be changed also offers the advantage that, upon completion of training exercises, the rope tensioning can be reduced or increased.

In a special embodiment which takes the physiological conditions into account, an apparatus, for example its deflection roller carrier, can be equipped with a magazine for capsules with building concentrates which are suitable for sport and which support the effect of the training exercises and can be removed individually during training. The reverse side of the deflection roller carrier or another part of the apparatus additionally offers the possibility of providing a surface for releasable attachment of a sound carrier, with information directly supporting the training, and for mental response during training. According to our current scientifically based knowledge of the buildingup and development of the muscles, training itself and good supply of the muscle cells with the necessary building substances are inextricably bound. Optimizing the effect of training is inconceivable without the constant presence of building substances in power training.

To permit controlled and thus particularly effective training, the housing block has an indicator instrument for indicating instantaneous force. The indicator instrument is preferably coupled to a drag indicator for fixing the maximum force expenditure in an exercise series. In addition,' the housing block can be equipped with manually adjustable indicator elements, for example control knobs, for fixing force values which were achieved by the main muscle groups.

Further advantageous individual features of the subject of the invention are set out in the claims.

An illustrative embodiment of the invention is shown diagrammatically in the drawing and is explained below with reference to this drawing, in which: Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 is a side view showing more details.

The training apparatus has a central, rod-shaped spacer 1 at whose ends a block-shaped housing 2 and a carrier 3 for deflection rollers 4 and 5 (Figure 2) are secured. Situated within the housing block 2 there is an elongate chamber 6 into which the spacer 1 engages and can be fixed in various positions. The housing block 2 consists essentially of two side walls which are connected to each other by crosspieces 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 which extend from one side wall to the other.

Situated inside the housing block there are fastening pins or bridges 13 and 14 for fixing two rubber ropes 15 and 16. The rubber ropes run through the carrier 3, likewise essentially consisting of two side walls, for the guide and deflection rollers 5. Ball-shaped grips 17 and 18 are arranged at their free ends.

The rubber rope 15 bears with prestressing on a roller 19 for actuating an indicator instrument 20. When the rubber rope 15 is stretched by pulling the grip 17 in the direction of the arrow 21, the roller 19 is entrained, i.e. turned, as a result of frictional engagement, by which means the indicator 20 indicates the instantaneously applied pulling force. A follower pin 22 acts on a drag indicator 23 and carries the latter with it. The drag indicator 23 is rotatable as long as the torsional moment is able to overcome the frictional force of the drag indicator. When the tensile stress is released, the indicator 20 travels back together with the follower pin 22 and frees the drag indicator 23. Because of a lack of restoring IE0 0057 8 - 5 force, the drag indicator 23 cannot follow the return rotation and thereby marks the maximum force expenditure achieved. On the disc 24 there are numbers and scales for reading off the values which have been achieved. The values which can be read off on the indicator instrument can be stored in a simple mechanical manner by manual adjustment of control knobs 30 in conjunction with scale divisions on the housing block 2, without the need for complex electronic devices. One control knob with an associated scale division can be provided for each of the main muscle groups which are to be loaded by means of suitable exercises.

At the end of the housing block remote from the ballshaped grips 17 and 18, it is equipped with a likewise ball-shaped grip 25 which is secured immovably in the housing block. During use, the apparatus can also be held vertically and supported by the grip 25 on a fixed base.

The carrier for the deflection rollers 4 and 5 is provided, on one of its side surfaces, with a magazine 26 which contains nutritional concentrates in the form of capsules in compartments 27. These nutritional concentrates are used to support a sports-oriented diet. That surface of the carrier 3 directed away from the viewer's side can be provided with a surface for receiving information or information carriers.

The apparatus is suitable for performing a wide range of training exercises and is not restricted to stretching exercises'alone .

Claims (15)

CLAIMS:

1. Transportable power training apparatus for developing and strengthening the body muscles by manually overcoming spring forces, characterized by at least one rope-like spring element (15, 16) which at one end is fixed in the apparatus and at the free end is provided with a grip element (17, 18) and can be stretched via a guide and deflection roller (4, 5).

2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the spring element is a rubber rope.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the grip element of the spring element is ballshaped.

4. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that two parallel spring elements are arranged in the apparatus.

5. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the spring element or elements is or are fixed in a housing block (2).

6. Apparatus according to Claim 5, characterized in that the housing block and the guide and deflection rollers are secured on a spacer (1) and are held at an appropriate distance.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, characterized in that the distance between the attachment point of the spring elements in the housing block and the guide and deflection rollers can be changed.

8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing block is provided Ί with a grip and attachment ball (25) for a supporting base.

9. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide and deflection rollers (4, 5) are arranged in a carrier (3) fitted adjustably on the spacer. 10. Apparatus characterized according to one of Claims 1 in that the spacer (1) is rod-shaped. to 9, 11. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to characterized in that the spacer is connected releasably the housing block and the deflection roller carrier (3). 10, to 12. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the housing block is equipped with an indicator instrument (19, 20, 22, 24) for indicating the instantaneous force. 15 13. Apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized in that the rubber rope (15) bears with prestressing on a roller (19) for actuating an indicator instrument (20) by frictional engagement when the rope is stretched by pulling the grip.

10. 14. Apparatus according to Claim 12, characterized in that 20 the indicator instrument is additionally provided with a drag indicator (23) for fixing the maximum force expenditure for an exercise series.

11. 15. Apparatus according to one of Claims 12 to 14, characterized in that the housing block is equipped with 25 manually adjustable indicator elements (30) for fixing force values which were achieved by the main muscle groups. ϊε Ο β 0 a / g

12. 16. Apparatus according to Claim 15, characterized in that control knobs are provided as the indicator elements.

13. 17. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 16, characterized in that it is equipped with a magazine (26, 27) 5 for capsules with building concentrates which are suitable for sport and support the effect of the training exercises, which capsules can be removed individually from the magazine during training.

14. 18. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 17, 10 characterized in that it is provided with a surface for releasable attachment of a sound carrier with information directly supporting training and for mental response during training.

15. 19. Transportable power training apparatus for developing 1 5 and strengthening the body muscles by manually overcoming spring forces, substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.