ITBO20090156A1 - PANCA GINNICA - Google Patents

Description

Description of Industrial Invention Patent entitled:

"GYM BENCH".

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to a gymnastic bench. More particularly, the present invention relates to one for stretching the back and / or for exercising the upper hemisome using the weight of the body or a fraction thereof as an exercise load.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART.

It is known that performing a correct and constant physical activity can help to maintain muscle tone and weight, and therefore to facilitate the vital functions and actions of each individual.

The sedentary working life, the lack of regular physical activity, as well as advancing age, determine some pathologies of the musculoskeletal structure, some of these very serious and painful.

The cause of problems in the upper hemisome of the osteo-muscular structure, such as back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and others, is almost always constituted by joint instability, misuse or muscle hypotonia. These are often accompanied by an incorrect posture of the individual, for example with a hunched attitude of the shoulders.

In particular, the most frequent causes of back or leg pain, for example, are lumbago and sciatica, triggered by conflicts between vertebrae, discs, nerves. They are usually problems induced by a bad muscular state, or an incorrect use of the osteo-muscular system.

With particular reference to the cervical area, however, there are disorders such as nuchal rigidity, with limitation of the rotation-flexion of the head, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, headache, pain and paraesthesia in the arms. These and others are the symptoms that fall within the vast and complex syndrome generically called "neck pain".

In order to perform physical activity and groped to eliminate these disorders, many people engage in specific sports, or go to gyms.

In this regard, it is noted that in the vast majority of sports the lower part of the musculature is preferably developed, while the upper part is not developed at the same time, so that the aforementioned disorders are not resolved, or are only minimally resolved. Furthermore, most sports are asymmetrical, and should therefore be balanced. For example, running, although very common among amateur sportsmen, can damage the joints and, if carried out recklessly and out of medical control, can lead to the heart rate reaching very high values and therefore not recommended.

As for the gymnastic equipment present in gyms, it is observed that most of them exercise, during the execution of the exercises, pushing, bending, twisting or compression actions on the spine: therefore, if on the one hand they favor strengthening of the muscles affected by physical exercise, on the other hand, risk creating further massive trauma and damage to the vertebrae, discs and nerve emergencies, which eventually add up to those already present and that the user intends to eliminate.

So, in essence, these disorders are widespread among the population, especially that of adulthood, and have not yet found safe and effective remedies.

AIMS OF THE INVENTION.

An object of the present invention is to improve the state of the art.

Another object of the present invention is to present a gymnastic bench which allows to carry out exercises to strengthen the upper hemisome of the muscular structure without generating stress of any kind on the vertebral column.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gymnastic bench which allows, during the execution of the exercises, to determine a distancing of the vertebrae and discs from each other, so as to relieve the pressure that stresses them throughout. the day.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a gymnastic bench which allows to achieve the objects described above in an effective, safe way and with decidedly limited exercise times.

According to an aspect of the invention, an exercise bench according to independent claim 1 is provided.

The dependent claims refer to preferred and advantageous embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become more evident from the description of embodiments of the gymnastic bench according to the invention, illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the gymnastic bench according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation view of the same bench;

Figure 3 is a detailed plan view of the slide of the bench according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a detailed side view of the slide of Figure 3;

figure 5 is a section of the slide of figures 3, 4;

Figure 6 is a front view of the gymnastic bench in a closed configuration;

figure 7 is a side elevation view of the gymnastic bench in a closed configuration;

figure 8 is a detail of the coupling between the slide and the bench;

figure 9 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the bench according to the invention;

Figure 10 is a partially sectioned detail view of the means for selective adjustment of the position of the manual gripping members with respect to the bench support.

FORMS OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE INVENTION.

With particular reference to Figure 1, the number 1 generally indicates an exercise bench according to the invention.

As will become clearer later, this gymnastic bench allows you to carry out exercises of distension and lengthening of the back and / or strengthening of the upper hemisome of the osteo-muscular structure using the weight of the body or a fraction of it as an exercise load.

In particular, the bench allows to carry out exercises of distension and lengthening of the back and / or lifting exercises in traction of the torso along the direction (A) of the spine, as will become clearer later on.

The bench 1 comprises a support, indicated as a whole with 2, made for example of metallic material such as steel, aluminum or the like; this support 2 can however also be made of other materials, having suitable mechanical characteristics. The support has an essentially elongated tubular shape, of any section, and defines a first end 3 and a second end 4.

The bench 1 is equipped with a base 5 and a foot 6 for resting on the floor during the execution of the exercises. The base 5 and the foot 6 are associated with the support 2 at the first end 3 and the second end 4, respectively. More in detail, the base 5 is articulated to the support 2 at a first hinge 7, while the foot 6 is articulated to the same support 2 in correspondence with a second hinge 8, with the advantages that will be clarified hereinafter.

The base 5 has, for example, a substantially discoidal shape, which extends with a vertical support element; for example, the foot 6 has a substantially tubular shape with a transversal development with respect to the support 2. Both the base 5 and the foot 6 are provided with respective anti-slip elements 9, of a per se known type.

The gymnastic bench 1 comprises a shaped slide 10, supporting the user's torso, slidingly coupled to the support 2. The slide 10 is slidingly associated with the support 2 thanks to the presence of a guide 11, fixed to the support 2 itself, which defines a first lower limit switch position 12 and a second upper limit switch position 13.

More in detail, a carriage 14 equipped with wheels 15 in a suitable number, for example two or four, which roll on longitudinal rails provided in the guide 11, is fixed to the slide 10.

In an embodiment of the bench according to the invention, shown in a significant detail thereof in Figure 8, the guide 11 is made with a substantially elliptical tubular section, while the trolley comprises rolling bearings with flared-shaped rollers R, in particular with narrow section in the middle, adapted to couple to the outer surface of the elliptical section guide 11. This embodiment allows to obtain, in particular, an extremely stable coupling between carriage 14 and guide 11, with reduced play, noiseless and with low rolling friction.

The gymnastic bench also includes gripping members, indicated as a whole with 16, for the user's hands, to carry out exercises of distension and lengthening of the back and / or lifting exercises in traction along the direction (A) of the spine, as best it will be clarified below (figure 2). The gripping members 16 are associated with the support 2 at its second end 4, which therefore, in use, is positioned above the second end 3.

The gymnastic bench 1 also comprises selective inclination means, indicated as a whole with 17, for varying the operating load at the user's discretion. The operating load of the gymnastic bench according to the invention, in fact, essentially consists of the weight of the user's body, even if in reality the frictional resistance to the sliding of the slide 10 on the guide 11 also contributes to this load, although these resistances can be minimized with suitable constructive devices. Therefore, by varying the inclination of the support 2 with respect to the horizontal, in particular by an inclination angle a, it is possible to obtain a greater or lesser operating load: evidently, as this angle of inclination a increases, the load of exercise.

Support means are also provided, indicated as a whole with 18, for the user's feet during the execution of the exercise: these support means are made integral with the slide 10.

The gymnastic bench 1 also comprises locking means, globally indicated by 19, of the support 2 in an inactive position, i.e. a position in which the bench 1 itself can be left when not in use: as will be better clarified hereinafter, this inactive position it takes up minimal space and is substantially vertical.

As can be seen in particular in Figures 3, 4, 5, the slide 10 has an upper surface 20, for resting the user's torso, which defines at least one curvature in the transverse direction (Figure 5). This curvature in the transverse direction, in particular a transverse concavity 21 of suitable radius, is adapted to the shape of the torso, so that the latter is stably maintained in a correct position during the execution of the exercise, i.e. that it does not move laterally.

As illustrated in detail in Figure 4, moreover, the upper surface 20 of the slide 10 defines at least one double curvature in the longitudinal direction: in particular, it defines a first longitudinal concavity 22, having a suitable radius and such as to follow the shape of the shoulders of the user, and a second longitudinal concavity 23, which instead follows the shape of the lumbar region of the user.

With particular reference to Figure 3, the slide 10 defines, in plan, a shape comprising a first portion 24 for supporting the user's head, a second portion 25 for supporting the user's shoulders and a third portion 26 for supporting the region lumbar of the user. The second portion 25 and the third portion 26 are of greater width than that of the first portion 24, and are separated by an intermediate portion 27 of lesser width. Such a shape allows the torso to rest on the slide 10 with an extended and enveloping surface: in this way the user perceives the exercise position as comfortable and safe, and can thus perform more prolonged and effective sessions. The gripping members 16 for the user's hands comprise a first longitudinal rod 28, associated at the top in an adjustable manner to the second end 4 of the support 2, and a first transverse bar 29, fixed to the first longitudinal rod 28, able to be gripped by the user at the respective ends, where two ergonomic handles 30 are suitably provided. More in detail, the first longitudinal rod 28 is slidably engaged in an axial channel 31 provided in the support 2.

To vary the distance of the handles 30 with respect to the support 2, selective adjustment means 32 are provided, illustrated in detail in Figure 10, comprising a pin 33, slidably mounted in a transversal housing 34 of the support 2, equipped with a knob 35 for manual operation. . The pin 33 selectively engages in respective holes 36 made in the first rod 28; a helical spring 37 abutting on a collar 38 of the pin 33 keeps the latter in the position engaged in one of the holes 36.

The selective inclination means 17 comprise an upright 39, selectively slidingly associated in a periscopic manner to the foot 6, articulated to the support 2 at the said second hinge 8. In particular, the upright 39 is slidingly engaged in an axial cavity 40 of the foot 6 : to vary the height of the second hinge 8 with respect to the floor, and therefore to vary the angle of inclination O, the selective inclination means 17 comprise a pin 33, associated with the foot 6, which selectively engages in holes provided in the upright 39 , in a completely similar way to what has already been described above in relation to the adjustment of the distance of the handles 30 from the support 2 (Figure 10).

The gymnastic bench 1 further comprises an articulated safety tie rod 41, at the opposite ends, respectively to the support 2 and to the foot 6. In particular the tie rod 41, which prevents the foot 6 from rotating with respect to the support 2 beyond a certain predetermined angular position , consists of two segments 42 articulated together.

The locking means 19 of the support 2 of the bench 1 in the inactive position comprise a clamping member 43, associated with the base 5, which can be selectively engaged manually in a respective seat 44 provided in the first end 3 of the support 2.

More in detail, the base 5 comprises an upper slot 45 which defines two prongs 46 of a fork, in correspondence with which the first hinge 7 is provided for articulating the base 5 itself to the support 2. The clamping member 43 is constituted, for example, by a pin, with respective knob 47 for manual operation, slidably housed in one of the prongs 46 of the base 5. The pin 43, for example associated with a respective contrast spring not shown in the figures, is able to engage selectively in the seat 44, which consists of a lateral hole in the first end 3 of the support 2. In this way, therefore, the user can position the support 2 vertically, that is, in an inactive position of minimum bulk, by lifting the support 2 itself and engaging the pin 43 in the seat 44. Furthermore, to achieve the aforementioned inactive position of minimum bulk, it is necessary to fold the foot 6 substantially abutting it on the support 2, causing the two segments 42 of the safety tie rod 41 can fold over each other under the foot 6 itself.

The support means 18 for the feet comprise a second longitudinal rod 48, fixed below the slide 10, comprising a second transverse bar 49 on the ends of which the user rests his feet during the execution of the exercise. In particular, the ends of the second bar 49 can be provided with bushings 50 for covering in a soft and comfortable material.

In an alternative embodiment, the second longitudinal rod 48 can be associated with the slide 10 in a selectively sliding way, so as to allow the user to adjust the distance of the second bar 49 with respect to the slide 10 to adapt it, for example, to his own height. .

A valuable technical advantage achieved by the gymnastic bench according to the present invention is constituted by the fact that the gripping members 16, and in particular the handles 30, with the bench in the vertical inactive position of figures 6, 7 are adapted to support clothes or garments. In other words, the gymnastic bench closed in an inactive vertical position of minimum bulk can act as a coat hanger. In this way you can avoid storing the bench, when not in use, in areas of the house such as closets or cellars, but it can be left in the room where it is used for exercises, allocating it to another different and useful use. For this purpose, the handles 30 can have conformations suitably designed to perform both the task of ensuring an ergonomic grip for the user's hands and to allow hanging clothes or garments. For example, hook-like appendages protruding from the free end of each handle 30, or even appendages protruding from other areas of the first bar 29, can be provided.

The method of use of the gymnastic bench according to the invention is intuitive.

In the first place, the user makes the necessary adjustments before getting on the bench: in particular, he adjusts the difficulty of the exercise by acting on the selective inclination means 17, and the position of the handles 30 with respect to the support 2 by acting on the selective adjustment means 32.

Once these preliminary adjustments have been made, the user positions himself on the sled 10 making sure that the various regions of the back, such as shoulders, dorsal and lumbar area, adhere carefully to the transverse and longitudinal concavities 21, 22, 23 of the same sled 10, and also placing the feet on the bushings 50, with the legs bent (see figure 2).

At this point the user can begin to carry out the exercise at will: this exercise can consist of both a stretching and distension of the back due to the loss of the body, controlled by the tension of the dorsal and abdominal muscles, and in a lifting in alternating traction along the direction of the spine thanks to the contraction of mainly the same back muscles.

The lengthening and distension of the back have a beneficial effect on the spine as they favor the mutual separation of the vertebrae and discs.

The alternate lifting in traction along the vertebral column favors the development and strengthening of the entire upper hemisome of the muscular structure, without stressing the column itself in any way.

It has thus been seen how the invention achieves the proposed aims, and therefore achieves significant advantages.

The bench allows you to perform symmetrical work, always in the sense of stretching, light, frequent, and constant.

Any stress finds the column straight, and does not load or squeeze the discs.

The abdominal and back muscles are exercised effectively and effortlessly or stretched, so as to favor the maintenance of a correct posture. In other words, the supporting muscle bundles are strengthened and at the same time the vertebrae are moved away from each other, so as to reduce the pressure on the discs or the trauma on the emergencies of the nerves.

The upward traction of the shoulders drags, through the dorsal muscles, all the vertebrae, including the cervical ones, away from the pelvis. This movement stretches the muscles and opens the spine. Working in traction, the vertebrae are distanced, and the discs are subtracted from the continuous pressure. The emergence of the nerves finds the space restored so as not to be compressed. It is a non-invasive, inexpensive, home-based and repeatable therapy.

The increase in elasticity, especially dorsally, helps to fight the very annoying and painful lumbar contractures (witch stroke).

Beneficial effects are also observed in abdominal muscle rehabilitation after pregnancy, and in combating constipation.

The use of the bench according to the present invention favors the achievement and maintenance of a correct posture which, in addition to being more pleasant to look at, ensures that all the joints face each other regularly, work correctly and do not wear out.

The bench object of the invention can be used both at a young age and in the fourth age; used for a few minutes a day, without too intense efforts, it allows to obtain surprising results by training the entire muscular shirt.

In another embodiment of the gymnastic bench according to the invention, shown in Figure 9, the slide 10 is equipped with sensors 51 for detecting the user's position during the execution of the exercise. These sensors 51, consisting for example of mechanical, electromagnetic or other type proximity sensors, are particularly suitable for detecting the correct position of the back resting on the surface of the slide 10, so that the user can check his mode execution of the exercise. The detection of the contact of the back on the upper surface 20 of the sled 10 allows to avoid, in general, that the user performs the exercise incorrectly: for example, this detection allows to prevent the user from arching his back during the exercise. exercise, and therefore to avoid that he suffers muscle or joint damage as a result of incorrect execution of the exercise.

In order to allow the user to know whether he is performing the exercise correctly or not, the sensors 51 are operatively connected to a processing unit 52, mounted on a suitable arm 53 integral with the support 2; in use, the sensors send to the processing unit 52 signals representative of the position of the user's back, that is, in particular of the correct contact of the back on the upper surface 20 of the slide 10. The processing unit is equipped with a screen 54 of display of information relating to the position of the user on the slide 10, in particular of his back, so that the user can be guided and assisted during the execution of the exercise, correcting his posture if this is represented and reported as incorrect.

The present invention has been described according to preferred embodiments, but equivalent variants can be conceived without departing from the scope of protection offered by the claims.

Claims (16)

CLAIMS 1. Gymnastic bench to stretch and lengthen the back and / or to exercise the upper hemisome using the weight of the body or a fraction of it as an exercise load, characterized by the fact that it includes at least one support (2), at least one sled {10 ) shaped support for the user's torso coupled in a sliding manner to said support (2), gripping members (16) for the user's hands to carry out exercises of distension and lengthening of the back and / or lifting exercises in traction substantially along the direction (A) of the vertebral column, means for selective inclination (17) of said support (2) with respect to the ground to vary the operating load at the user's discretion, support means (18) for the feet integral with said slide, and means (19) for locking the support in an inactive position of minimum bulk. Gymnastic bench according to claim 1, wherein said slide (10) has an upper surface (20) defining at least one transverse concavity (21). Exercise bench according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said slide (10) has an upper surface (20) defining at least a first longitudinal concavity (22) and a second longitudinal concavity (23). Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slide (10) comprises a first portion (24) for resting the user's head, a second portion (25) for resting the user's shoulders and a third portion (26) supporting the lumbar region of the user, said second portion (25) and third portion (26) being of greater width than that of said first portion (24) and being separated by an intermediate portion (27) of lower width . Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slide (10) is equipped with sensors (51) for detecting the user's position. Exercise bench according to claim 5, wherein said sensors (51) are operatively connected to a processing unit (52) mounted on said support (2) and equipped with at least one screen (54) for displaying information relating to the position of the user's back on said slide (10), and designed to guide and assist the user during the execution of the exercise. Exercise bench according to claim 6, wherein said sensors (51) are adapted to detect the correct position of the back resting on the upper surface (20) of said slide (10), and to send to said processing unit (52 ) signals representative of the said position of the back. Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said selective inclination means (17) comprise at least one upright (39), articulated to said support (2), selectively associated with periscopic sliding movement to a foot (6) of resting on the ground of said support (2). Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said locking means (19) of said support (2) comprise at least one clamping member (43) associated with a base (5) for resting on the ground of said support ( 2) and articulated to a first end (3) of said support (2), said clamping member (43) being selectively engageable manually in a respective seat (44) provided in said first end (3) of said support Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said gripping members (16) for the user's hands comprise at least a first longitudinal rod (28) associated at the top with said support (2) and comprising at least a first bar ( 29) transversal adapted to be gripped by the user at the respective ends, in correspondence with handles (30), to perform back stretching and stretching exercises and / or lifting exercises in traction along the direction (A) of the vertebral column. Exercise bench according to claim 10, wherein said first longitudinal rod (28) is associated at the top with said support (2) in a selectively sliding way, to adjust the distance of said first bar (29) from said support (5). Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said gripping members (16) are adapted to support clothes or garments with the bench in said substantially vertical inactive position. Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said support means (18) for the feet comprise at least a second longitudinal rod (48) associated below said slide (10) and comprising at least a second transverse bar (49) on whose ends the user rests his feet during the execution of the exercise. Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said slide (10) is associated with a carriage (14) sliding along a guide (11) of said support (2). Exercise bench according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said guide (11) has a substantially elliptical section and said trolley (14) comprises rolling bearings with flared rollers (R) suitable for coupling to the surface of said guide (11) with elliptical section. 16. Gymnastic bench according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one safety tie-rod (41) articulated at the opposite ends, respectively to said support (2) and said foot (6), said safety tie-rod (41) being constituted by two segments (42) articulated to each other so that, with the bench in said substantially vertical inactive position, said segments (42) are folded over one another in a configuration of minimum bulk.