US20120065039A1

US20120065039A1 - Gymnastic equipment

Info

Publication number: US20120065039A1
Application number: US13/229,162
Authority: US
Inventors: Nerio Alessandri; Mario Fedriga; Simone Casagrande
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Technogym SpA
Priority date: 2010-09-10
Filing date: 2011-09-09
Publication date: 2012-03-15
Also published as: ITRA20100028A1; EP2428139A1; IT1406402B1; CN102430227A

Abstract

A gymnastic equipment usable to perform a training exercise in sitting position and comprising at least one flexible member that is delimited by two end portions, associated with a bucket seat provided with a seat and a backrest connected to each other by a respective elbow; a handgrip being carried by the flexible member between the end portions; a load unit being associated to the flexible member to be suitable, in use, to exert resistance against movements of the handgrip relative to the bucket seat; the load unit being arranged between the end portions to connect them one to the other.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gymnastic equipment validly usable for executing muscular exercises. In particular, the present invention relates to a gymnastic equipment, with minimum bulk and contained mass, validly usable for executing muscular exercises in “confined” environments. In more detail, the present invention relates to a gymnastic equipment, with minimum bulk and contained mass, validly usable for executing muscular exercises in “confined” environments associated with cars, planes, office desks, etc.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In everyday life the execution of daily activities less and less requires performing tasks involving an intense muscular effort, and therefore physical fitness shall be pursued with tenacity in the free time performing activities that do not produce economic results. This situation is therefore doubly adverse as the free time shall be used to perform activities that are considered an end in itself and that can be much expensive when performed in a gym. Furthermore, some people must compress the free time due to the long travel to achieve the workplace, and is therefore obliged to spend in a week a lot of hours in the car or to fly very often. In these cases the return can occur in uncomfortable hours to allow working out at a gym, or the physical condition can force to neglect workout even if it is necessary for preventing physical problems.
In particular, the hours spent in a car or in a plane can cause a lot of problems for the muscular and cardiovascular system, that can be summarised as follows:
low tone of postural muscles, so that they cannot perform their stabilising function adequately;
greater peripheral blood stagnation in the venous circle, with a corresponding greater passage of liquids in the interstitial tissues, increased risk of dangerous events of the peripheral circle (thromboembolism, varicose veins, etc.), increased lymphatic stagnation due to the lack of muscle pumping action;
loss of strength in the articular muscles;
decreased cardiovascular functionality.
In view of the above description, the problem of using the time spent in travelling by private or public transport vehicles for executing, for instance, although without limitation, a movement of the upper and lower limbs, at limited costs, as well as using the breaks in the office, is currently unsolved and represents an interesting challenge for the applicant, in order to increase the number of people that work out even if they perform generally defined “sedentary” working activities.
In view of the above description it would be desirable to have available a gymnastic equipment usable to train the main muscles that, in addition to limit and possibly to overcome the typical drawbacks of the prior art illustrated above in a simple and economical manner, defines a new standard for physical training during the free time spent in travelling on public or private vehicles, or in the office.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a training station. In particular, the present invention relates to a training station for executing a plurality of gymnastic exercises for training the lower and the upper limbs. In more detail, the present invention relates to a training station usable for executing a plurality of gymnastic exercises for training the lower limbs and the upper limbs in association with a seat of common use.
The object of the present invention is to provide a training station for executing a plurality of physical exercises so as to solve the above illustrated drawbacks and that is suitable to satisfy a plurality of requirements that to date have still not been addressed and therefore suitable to represent a new and original source of economic interest, capable of modifying the normal scheduling for executing the physical exercise.
According to the present invention, a training station is provided, whose main characteristics will be described in at least one of the appended claims.
The present invention further relates to a gymnastic equipment validly usable for executing muscular exercises. In particular, the present invention relates to a gymnastic equipment, with minimum bulk and contained mass, validly usable for executing muscular exercises in “confined” environments. In more detail, the present invention relates to a gymnastic equipment, with minimum bulk and contained mass, validly usable for executing muscular exercises in “confined” environments associated with cars, planes, office desks, etc.
The object of the present invention is to provide a gymnastic equipment which allows the disadvantages described above to be solved, and which is suitable to satisfy a plurality of requirements that to date have still not been addressed, and therefore suitable to represent a new and original source of economic interest, capable of modifying the current market of the gymnastic equipment usable in “confined” environments.
According to the present invention, a gymnastic equipment is provided, whose main characteristics will be described in at least one of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the gymnastic equipment according to the present invention will be more apparent from the description below, set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of embodiment, in which identical or corresponding parts of the device are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic side elevation view of a second embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic side elevation view of a third embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 illustrates FIG. 3 in a given condition of use;

FIG. 5 presents schematic side elevation and plan views of a car constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of an office armchair constructed according to the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a device usable in a variant of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 8 shows a variant of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In FIG. 1, number 1 indicates a gymnastic equipment 1 usable to perform a gymnastic exercise in sitting position. This equipment comprises at least one flexible member 10, which is delimited by two end portions 12 and can be associated with a frame 20 in a given manner. The frame 20 is associated with a support 22 for sitting, for instance a bucket seat 22, arranged to be associated with, or embodied in, a car and/or a plane and/or an office armchair. It is important to notice that, for sake of simplicity, hereunder it would be make reference only to a bucket seat 22; however this choice of using only the expression “bucket seat” it is not meant to limit the scope of protection of the present invention that can be exploited in association with any kind of support for sitting.
This bucket seat 22 comprises a seat 24 and a backrest 26, connected to each other by means of a respective elbow 28. The backrest 26 is delimited by a respective free first portion 260 arranged at opposite side from the seat 24, which is in turn delimited by a respective free second portion 262 at opposite side from the backrest 26 relative to the elbow 28. The flexible member 10 carries rigidly a handgrip 30 between the two end portions 12. In particular, without however limiting the generality of the present invention, this handgrip 30 can be rigidly coupled with the flexible member 10 in a respective given position, preferably an intermediate position between the two end portions 12, as shown in FIGS. 2-4, or, alternatively, the handgrip 30 can be carried by the flexible member 10 in a freely slidable and selectively rigidly manner. In this second case, the user of the equipment 1, before starting each respective physical exercise, will be enabled to couple in a selectively releasable manner the handgrip 30 with the flexible member 10 at a respective portion which can be defined substantially at will. By way of example, in FIG. 1 is shown this second operating configuration of the handgrip 30, wherein the handgrip 30 is shown both in a respective rest position P and in a possible position of starting the exercise.
The equipment 1 furthermore comprises a load unit 40, which is associated with the flexible member 10 to exert, in use, tensile strength against movements of the handgrip 30 relative to the bucket seat 22 starting from a respective rest position and/or position of starting the exercise. It should be specified that, by producing the flexible member 10 in a material with mechanical feature of elastic nature, it is very easy to interpret this component synthesises the load unit 40 that, in view of the above description, is arranged between the end portions 12 to connect them one to the other.
In particular, with reference to FIG. 1, the load unit 40 comprises a female first member 42 that can be fixed to the frame 20 in a permanent or selectively releasable manner, and a male second member 44 that is associated to an end portion 12 and is provided with a base body 440 rigidly carrying a substantially T-shaped head. The first member 42 comprises a hollow member 420 provided with an elongated slit 422 dimensioned reversely similarly to a transverse section of the head 444 to allow alternatively the passage of the head 444 and, in use, the retention thereof following a rigid rotation of the respective base body 440 relative to the slit 422. In view of the above description, the second body 44 is shaped so that it can be connected to a corresponding first member 42, and therefore connected to the frame 20 in a permanently fixed and selectively releasable manner.
Obviously, the particular shape of the load unit 40 requires that to the bucket seat 22 is associated at least one other first member 42, for example, although without limitation, associated with the elbow 28 in a rigid manner to arrange the flexible member 10 parallel to the backrest 22.
With reference to FIG. 2, the equipment 1 can comprise a shell 70 designed to be rigidly connected with the frame 20 and, in this regard, provided with a substantially rigid shell-shaped member 72, wherein a first coupling portion 74 can be coupled with the backrest 26 in a rigid and selectively releasable manner and is shaped to carry rigidly the load unit 40 and to house the handgrip 30 between two first members 42.
With reference to FIG. 1 again, a female first member 42 can be carried rigidly by the free first portion 260 and/or by the free second portion 262 along a respective flank of the bucket seat 22 and a further female first member 42 can be associated to the elbow 28 in a given manner to put the flexible member 10 between two adjacent first members 42 and to allow, in use, the performance of a gymnastic exercise arranged on the bucket seat 22. In some cases it can be useful to provide for the use of a guiding member 60 laterally associated with the seat 24 to connect the further female first member 42 in a freely slidable and selectively rigid manner, as shown in FIG. 2. This is to arrange the flexible member 10 inclined at will relative to the backrest 22 and, therefore, to facilitate the user on the seat 22 in gripping the handgrip 30.
The use of the gymnastic equipment 1 described above is clearly apparent from the above description and does not require further explanations. However, it should be specified that in the above described embodiment, the resistant force is exerted directly by the flexible member 10 and that the position of the handgrip 30 along the extendable member can be defined during the engineering phase coupling rigidly the handgrip 30 with the extendable member in a given position, or, alternatively, it can be defined in use based upon the user's requirements, for example using a handgrip 30 carried slidable by the extendable member. In particular cases it will be possible to provide the handgrip 30 with a selectively releasable coupling device, designed to allow fine adjustment of the position of the handgrip along the flexible member 10.
According to the embodiment of FIG. 3, the equipment 1 can be embodied by transferring the resistant force to the outside of the flexible member, transforming this member in a simple device for transferring this force. In this case the flexible member 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be replaced with a substantially non-extendable flexible member 10′. Obviously, in this case an external load unit 40′ shall be provided, carried at the back by the bucket seat 22 in FIG. 3 or by a shell similar to the shell-shaped member 72 described with reference to FIG. 2. In particular, according to what illustrated in FIG. 3, the load unit 40′ comprises at least two return members 400, around which the flexible member 10′ is wound. It should be noted that these return members 400 are carried by the frame 20 of the bucket seat 22 so as to be substantially coplanar to each other to maintain the respective end portions 12 of the flexible member 10′ substantially aligned with each other. The load unit 40′ comprises a traction device 46 designed to be carried rigid relative to the frame 20 between the return members 400 in an intermediate position between the end portions 12. It should be noted that in this case the load unit 40′ connects the end portions 12 of the flexible member 10 to each other in a loop, thus obtaining a substantially annular closed circuit 80.
However, if deemed necessary, the equipment 1 can present the load unit 40′ divided into two functional members, each of which associated with a return member 400 and comprising a winding device 402 of the elastic type for the flexible member 10′, maintaining the scheme of FIGS. 1 and 2, as in FIG. 7. Obviously, in this case the flexible member 10′ will present the respective end portions 12 respectively associated with a winding device 402, which shall comprise respective adjusting devices for regulating the winding tension applied to the corresponding end portion 12′.
At this point it should be specified that the nature of the traction device 46 can be indifferently of the electric, mechanical or fluid-dynamic type, or of any other nature, provided what described above.
Also in this embodiment the equipment 1 can present the respective shell 70 shaped to support the return members 400 and the traction device 46 so as to facilitate its permanent association with the frame 20 and the selective release without jeopardizing the use of the bucket seat 22. This is particularly useful when the car, the plane on which the bucket seat 22 is installed, shall be used independently of the functional conditions of the equipment 1, to maximise the economic yield due to the high investments for purchase and management thereof.
In this case again, with reference to FIG. 8 and analogously to what illustrated with reference to FIG. 2, the equipment 1 can comprise at least one guiding member 60′ carried laterally by the frame 20, and in particular by the seat 24 or by the shell 70 rigidly associated with the frame 20, with the aim of inclining the closed circuit 80 at will relative to the frame 20, and, in particular, to the backrest 26. Obviously, in this case to each guiding member 60′ a return member 400 will be associated in a freely slidable manner.
In view of the above description, the present invention also relates to a bucket seat 22 provided with the above described equipment 1.
Lastly, it is apparent that modifications and variants can be made to the gymnastic equipment 1 described and illustrated herein, without however departing from the protective scope of the present invention.
For example, within the scope of protection of the present invention fall also installation of the female first members 42 in the environment around the bucket seat 22, for example the ceiling 101 of a cockpit 102 of a car 100, as illustrated in FIG. 5 or in different positions of an office armchair 200, such as for example in the respective arms 202 or in the base 204, as shown in FIG. 6. In this particular case, the arrangement of each female first member 42 can be any, according to the user's requirements, and it is possible to install at the same time a plurality of these female first members 42 so as to allow a user to choose the more adequate arrangement for his/her needs for the flexible member 10. The female first members 42 can be therefore applied indifferently to the bucket seat 22 or to fixed elements relative to the bucket seat arranged in the environment in which the bucket seat is inserted.
It should be specified that, both with reference to the embodiment of FIG. 5 and to the embodiment of FIG. 6, each user can identify the muscle region to train, and arrange the female first members 42 according to the preferred arrangement, identifying the extension and the spring constant more adequate for his/her needs, therefore using an adequate flexible member 10.

Claims

1. A gymnastic equipment usable to perform a training exercise in sitting position and comprising at least one flexible member that is delimited by two end portions which can be associated to a frame in a given manner; a handgrip carried by said flexible member between said two end portions; a load unit being associated to said flexible member and suitable, in use, to exert resistance against movements of said handgrip relative to said frame; wherein said load unit is arranged between said end portions to connect them to each other.

2. An equipment according to claim 1, wherein said load unit comprises said flexible member and wherein said flexible member is constructed with a material of elastic nature.

3. An equipment according to claim 2, wherein said load unit comprises a female first member that can be fixed to said frame and a male second member that is associated to a said end portion and shaped so that it can be connected to a corresponding said first member to fix it relative to said frame in a permanently fixed and selectively releasable manner.

4. An equipment according to claim 3, wherein said second member presents a base body carrying rigidly a substantially T-shaped head; said first member comprising a hollow member provided with an elongated slit dimensioned reversely similarly to a transverse section of said head to allow alternatively the passage of said head and, in use, the retention thereof following a rigid rotation of the respective base body relative to said slit.

5. An equipment according to claim 4, wherein said frame is associated to a bucket seat comprising a seat and a backrest connected to each other by a respective elbow; said backrest being delimited by a respective free first portion at opposite side from said seat and said seat being delimited by a respective free second portion at opposite side from said backrest relative to said elbow; the said further female first member being designed so as to be associated with said elbow in a rigid manner to arrange said flexible member parallel to said backrest.

6. An equipment according to claim 5, wherein a said female first member is designed to be associated rigidly to said free first portion and/or to said free second portion along a respective flank of said bucket seat and a further said female first member is designed to be associated to said elbow in a given manner to put said flexible member between two said adjacent female first members and to allow, in use, the performance of a gymnastic exercise arranged on said bucket seat.

7. An equipment according to claim 6, characterised by comprising a guiding member which can be coupled to said bucket seat at the side of said seat and suitable to carry said further female first member in a freely slidable and selectively rigid manner to arrange said flexible member inclined at will relative to said backrest.

8. A gymnastic equipment according to claim 1, characterised by comprising shell-wise means designed to be connected rigidly to said frame and shaped so as to support said load unit and to house said handgrip in rest position.

9. An equipment according to claim 1, wherein said flexible member is substantially unextendable and in that said load unit comprises at least two return members of said flexible member that can be coupled to said frame so as to be substantially coplanar to each other to maintain the respective said end portions substantially aligned to each other; said load unit comprising a traction device designed to be carried rigid relative to said frame between said return members in an intermediate position between said end portions to connect them to each other in a loop and to define a substantially annular closed circuit.

10. An equipment according to claim 9, wherein at least one said return member comprises a winding device for said flexible member.

11. An equipment according to claim 9 characterised by comprising at least one guiding member carried laterally by the frame to incline the closed circuit relative to said frame.

12. An equipment according to claim 1, wherein said frame is designed to be installed on a car and/or an aeroplane and/or an office chair.

13. A bucket seat provided with a frame supporting a seat and a backrest connected to each other by a respective elbow; said backrest being delimited by a respective free first portion at opposite side from said seat and said seat being delimited by a respective free second portion at opposite side from said backrest relative to said elbow; a gymnastic equipment being provided to perform a gymnastic exercise in sitting position and comprising at least one flexible member delimited by two end portions; a handgrip being carried by said flexible member between said two end portions; a load unit being associated to said flexible member to be suitable, in use, to exert resistance against movements of said handgrip relative to said frame; wherein said load unit is arranged between said end portions and connects them to each other.

14. A bucket seat according to claim 13, wherein said flexible member is substantially unextendable and in that said load unit comprises at least two return members of said flexible member coupled to said frame so as to be substantially coplanar to each other to maintain the respective said end portions substantially aligned to each other; a traction device being provided to be carried rigid relative to said frame between said return members in an intermediate position between said end portions to connect them to each other in a loop and to define a substantially annular closed circuit.

15. A bucket seat according to claim 13, characterised by comprising at least one guiding member carried laterally by said frame to incline the closed circuit relative to said backrest.

16. A bucket seat according to claim 13, wherein at least one said return member comprises a winding device for said flexible member.

17. A bucket seat according to claim 16, characterised by comprising shell-wise means designed to be connected rigidly to said frame and shaped so as to support said return members and said traction device so as to facilitate the relative permanent association to said frame.

18. A bucket seat according to claims 13, characterised by being designed to be associated with a car and/or an aeroplane and/or an office chair.

19. A transport means characterised by being provided with a bucket seat provided with a frame supporting a seat and a backrest connected to each other by a respective elbow; said backrest being delimited by a respective free first portion at opposite side from said seat and said seat being delimited by a respective free second portion at opposite side from said backrest relative to said elbow; a gymnastic equipment being provided to perform a gymnastic exercise in sitting position and comprising at least one flexible member delimited by two end portions; a handgrip being carried by said flexible member between said two end portions; a load unit being associated to said flexible member to be suitable, in use, to exert resistance against movements of said handgrip relative to said frame; said load unit being arranged between said end portions and connects them to each other; wherein a compartment being provided to present a plurality of female second members designed to stretch said flexible member provided with a handgrip so as to allow the performance of a gymnastic exercise.