WO1997037727A1 - Polyvalent device for muscle training - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is concerning a polyvalent device for muscle training, portable and adjustable, made up of some mobile elements (1) hinged on an axle (2) on which can be turned two rotating supports (3, 4) joined during the training by a lock (9), some springs (5) mounted into the protuberances (c) of the rotating supports (3, 4) and into some fixed supports (6) attached on the mobile elements (1), having some detachable handles (7) and some fastening belts (8), in a first alternative in two mobile elements (1) are two sliding elements (10) the device having two handles (11), in another alternative in four mobile elements (1) are four sliding elements (10) the device having two handles (11) and a cross piece (12), and in another alternative in four mobile elements (1) are four curved sliding elements (14) with a cross piece (12) between two mobile elements (1).

Description

Polyvalent Device for Muscle Training

The invention is refering to a polyvalent device for muscle training, portable and adjustable in point of opposed resistance and dimensions and whose configuration can be adapted for various physical exercises, used to train the important muscle groups of the entire body. There are known mobile and fixed devices for muscle training, working by means of elastic elements (springs, rubber strings), weights, hydrau¬ lic pistons or other systems generating a resisting force. Some portable devices are used by bending while others by extension. The former cate¬ gory includes bending devices with springs used to train the arms' mus- cles, the chest and the back, or bending devices for the forearms. The latter category includes extensors with springs or with elastic strings used especially to fortify the arms, the back, shoulders and chest. There are also specialized devices such as rowing simulators with springs or hydraulic pistons used to train certain muscle groups of the back or the arms. The resistance opposed can be adjusted at some devices increasing or decreasing the number of elastic elements.

The major disadvantages of these devices are their limited versati¬ lity and the small range of opposed resistance and dimension levels. The devices can be used at the maximum potential only to train certain mus- cles, so that for a full training programme it is necessary to use more types of devices, what leads to additional expenses, bigger storage space and transport difficulties. Moreover, the dimensions of portable devices cannot be adapted to various sizes of the persons who use them, as well as to different types of exercises, what diminishes the training effici- ency and comfort. These devices train a little the legs' muscles, the ab¬ dominals and the neck's muscles even if used in combination.

According to the invention, the polyvalent device removes these dis¬ advantages being made up of some mobile elements with orifices and hinged on an axle, some sliding elements that slide into the mobile elements and with handles at their free ends, a rotating support having another rota¬ ting support at the interior and turning on the axle, both rotating sup¬ ports joined during the use of the device by means of a lock, some springs sticked at the ends into some fixed supports on the mobile ele¬ ments and into some protuberances of the rotating supports, some deta- enable handles and some fastening belts, in a first carrying out alter¬ native in two mobile elements,hinged at an extremity of the axle, are two sliding elements with some orifices, the device having two handles. building thus with the axle two "U"-shaped frames, in a second alterna¬ tive in four mobile elements are four sliding elements with some orifi¬ ces, the device having a cross piece between two mobile elements of the same frame and two handles, building thus with the axle two frames with four sides each, and in a third alternative in four mobile elements are four curved sliding elements with orifices. The device having a cross piece and other handles, building with the axle two six-sides frames. The invention has the following advantages:

- Ml the important muscle groups can be trained: neck, shoulders, back, chest, biceps, triceps, forearms, abdomen, rib muscles, bottom's muscles, thighs, legs' aductors and abductors and shanks' muscles;

- The device can be used ergono ically since its length and span can be adjusted depending on the size of the person and on the space;

- The device can be used both by beginners and by trained people; - It allows arms, legs or trunk movements up to maximum amplitude;

- The device weighs a little and can be easily folded, stored and carried;

- It is robust, safe at work and easy to adjust.

Below are given three carrying out examples regarding figures 1-5, which represent:

Fig. 1: general view of the device with two "U"-shaped frames; Fig. 2: general view of the device with two four-sides frames; Fig. 3: view of a frame vith curved sliding elements; Fig. 4: detailed lateral view of the axle with the rotating supports; Fig. 5: upper-view section of the rotating supports and with the mo¬ bile elements opened at 180*.

According to the invention the device is made up of some mobile elements 1 with the orifices a and b, hinged on the axle 2 on which can be turned the rotating support 3 on which can be turned the rotating support 4, some springs 5 sticked with the ends into the fixed supports 6 of the mobile elements 1 and into the protuberances c of the rotating supports 3 and 4, some detachable handles 7 and some fastening belts 8, a lock 9 joining the rotating supports 3 and 4 one to another during the use of the device. In a first carrying out alternative in two mobile elements 1, hinged at an extremity of the axle 2 and having the orifices a and b, are two sliding elements 10 having the orifices b and d, the device having also two handles 11 parallel to the axle 2, building thus with the axle 2 two "U"-shaped frames (fig. 1).

In a second alternative in four mobile elements 1 having the orifices a and b and hinged two by two at the extremities of the axle 2, are four sliding elements 10 with the orifices b and d, the device having also two handles 11 and a cross piece 12 between two mobile elements 1 of the same frame, building with the axle 2 two four-sides frames (fig. 2).

In a third alternative in four mobile elements 1 hinged two by two at the extremities of the axle 2, are four curved sliding elements 13 with the orifices b and d, the device having two shorter handles 14 and a cross piece 12, building with the axle 2 two frames with six sides each (fig. 3).

The mobile elements 1 and the sliding elements 10, respectively 13, are building lateral arms . The length of the lateral arms can be adjus- ted due to the orifices a and d. Through these orifices can be sticked locks (not represented) to fix the length at the chosen value.

On the axle 2 can be turned the rotating support 3 which is cylinder shaped and has some holes on the middle. The rotating support 4 is also cylinder shaped, is shorter than the rotating support 3 and has a hole on its middle. Both rotating supports 3 and 4 have at the extremities the protuberances c with slits where are mounted the springs 5 by their lo¬ wer ends. Into each protuberance c and into each close fixed support 6 can be mounted up to three springs 5 to increase the resistance opposed by the device. The springs are spring leafs or elastic rods having at the extremi¬ ties openings through which can be sticked locks for fixing them in the protuberances c and in the fixed supports 6.

On the inner side of each mobile element 1 are attached the fixed supports 6 with slits (not represented) where can be mounted springs 5 by their upper ends.

The detachable handles 7 can be mounted into the orifices b to ease the grip of the device during certain exercises.

The fastening belts 8 are attached on one handle 11, respectively 14 and have the role to help fastening the device during certain exercises sticking the feet into.

It is possible to use also protective cushions (not represented) cy¬ linder shaped and made of soft materials, so that they can be wrapped onto the handles 11, respectively 14 or onto the lateral arms or onto the axle 2, increasing the adherence to the body or to other propping surfa¬ ces and increasing the comfort. The cushions can be fixed by means of some belts or adhesive straps. The handles 11, respectively 14 can be turned in order to ease the grip on the device during the training.

The cross piece 12 is binding the mobile elements 1 of one frame and can be used to fasten the device sitting on it.

The relative position of the rotating supports 3 and 4 can be modi- fied turning them one relatively to the other, so that the angle between the protuberances c of the rotating support 3 and the protuberances c of the rotating support 4 and implicitly the angle between the springs 5 mounted by the upper ends on fixed supports 6 of opposite frames can be increased or derceased. Once the value is chosen , the angle can be rrain- tained by means of the lock 9 sticking it into the hole of the rotating support 4 and into the corresponding hole of the rotating support 3, joi¬ ning them together.

When bringing near or opening the frames one relatively to another, they turn on the axle 2, so that the angle between them changes. Since the angle between the protuberances c of the rotating support 3 and the protuberances c of the rotating support 4 is constant now, turning the frames makes the fixed supports 6 to move from their initial position and therefore the springs 5 will be bent and will generate thus an elasticity force which will oppose turning the frames, requiring additional effort. Before starting the chosen exercise it will be adjusted the length of the lateral arms sliding the sliding elements 10, respectively 13 and will be settled the value of the angle between the protuberances c depen¬ ding on the exercise and, if necessary, will be mounted the detachable handles 7 and the protective cushions, then the device will be set in the position required for the training.

The device can be used either by simultaneous action on the frames, pulling or pushing contrary the lateral arms of the device or the hand¬ les 11, respectively 14 or fastening one frame by means of the arms, legs or trunk while pushing or pulling the free frame.

Claims

Claims

1. Polyvalent device for muscle training, wherein said it is made up of some mobile elements (1) with some orifices (a,b), hinged on an axle (2), a rotating support (3) which can be turned on the axle (2) and on which can be turned another rotating support (4), both rotating sup- ports (3,4) joined during the use of the device by a lock (9), some springs (5) that can be mounted by their ends into some fixed supports (5) attached on the mobile elements (1) and into some protuberances (c) of the rotating supports (3,4), some detachable handles (7) that can be moun¬ ted into the orifices (b) and some fastening belts (8).

2. Polyvalent device according to claim 1, wherein said in a first carrying out alternative in two mobile elements (1) hinged at an end of the axle (2) are two sliding elements (10) with orifices (b,d) and two handles (11), building thus with the axle (2) two "U"-shaped frames.

3. Polyvalent device according to claim 1, wherein said in another carrying out alternative, in four mobile elements (1) hinged two by two at the extremities of the axle (2) are four sliding elements (10) with orifi¬ ces (b,d), the device having also two handles (11) building two frames with four sides each with the axle (2), one frame having also a cross piece (12).

4. Polyvalent device according to claim 1, whwrein said in another carrying out alternative in four mobile elements (1) hinged two by two at the extremities of the axle (2) are four curved sliding elements (13) with the orifices (b,d) and with two handles (14) building two frames with six sides each vith the axle (2), one frame having also a cross piece (12).