US20070032356A1

US20070032356A1 - Multifunctional exercise machine

Info

Publication number: US20070032356A1
Application number: US11/490,036
Authority: US
Inventors: Anton Rief
Original assignee: TUNTURI BV
Current assignee: TUNTURI BV
Priority date: 2005-07-21
Filing date: 2006-07-21
Publication date: 2007-02-08
Also published as: DE102005034000B3; EP1745825A1; CN1899648A

Abstract

A multifunctional exercise machine has columns (1, 2) extending in the vertical direction and, for example, a foot part (12, 17) resting on the floor (13) over which there is arranged, at a certain vertical distance from the floor (13), a sitting or lying surface (9) and a backrest (10) extending above the sitting and lying surface (9). The machine has actuating devices (24, 28, 29) to be operated with bodily extremities—foot, hand, arm or the like—which transmits the force exerted by the user via at least one flexible tension means (37)—chain or rope—to one or selectably also to a plurality of rod- or strip-shaped spring elements (31), clamped in at one end and extending in a vertical plane in the space (32) bounded by the column parts (1, 2). The force applied by the user, in each case via the flexible tension means (37), engages the free upper end portion of the spring element (31) concerned and elastically deforming this spring element (31) in the specified vertical plane in the space (32) bounded by the column parts (1, 2).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a multifunctional exercise machine.

PRIOR ART

A machine of the aforesaid kind is already known from, among others, DE 36 88 254 T2. This already known exercise machine exhibits devices that resist the movement of a person using the machine, specifically via a flexible cable on which a person using the machine can pull. There are devices that connect the cable and the resisting devices in order to counteract the tension on the cable by the user. The resistance is generated by one or a plurality of elastic rods, which are mounted in cantilever fashion on a base, one end of the rod concerned being free and the cable being connected to the rod in order to generate the resistance for the tension on the cable by bow-like bending of the rod. Guide devices are mounted on the base at a predetermined position with respect to the fixed end of the rod, so that the tension on the cable causes bending of the rod and the tension is resisted in a predetermined fashion independently of the direction from which the tension is exerted. Here, however, the arrangement has been made such that, on tensile loading, the rods bend laterally out of the machine into the free space of the machine to the left and right of the machine. Aside from the fact that the required space is considerable as a consequence, there is a danger of injury to persons standing nearby. This danger exists especially if one or a plurality of the flexible rods should fracture or the flexible tension element (rope) breaks. In this case both the rope and also the flexible rods concerned could strike into the free space in whip fashion and give rise to serious injuries to persons standing nearby or even to the person exercising. This design is thus objectionable from the safety standpoint.

Problem to be Solved

It is an object of the invention to improve a multifunctional exercise machine of the aforesaid kind in inventive fashion so that the danger of injury to persons is avoided while the space required for setup is small.

Solution

The object is achieved with the features recited in claim 1.

Some Advantages

In the multifunctional exercise machine according to the invention, the rod- or strip-shaped elastic spring elements extending in the vertical direction are arranged in such fashion that they bend in the vertical space bounded by the frame-like column and do not issue outwardly laterally outside the machine. If, nevertheless, a fracture should occur, the frame-like parts of the column themselves serve as interceptive protection. The machine, even during exercise, does not require more space than the machine needs anyway for setup in the unused condition, since the rod- or strip-shaped spring elements can no longer issue outwardly laterally outside the projection of the machine.

Further Inventive Developments

Further inventive developments are described in claims 2 to 20.
Claim 2 describes an especially advantageous embodiment. Here the rod- or strip-shaped spring elements, individually or a plurality at a time, as required, can be coupled via a coupler to the flexible tension element concerned, which engages on the coupler after diversion as appropriate via one or a plurality of diverting rollers.
The coupler can be fashioned hollow and in this way can accommodate, as required, the end portions of one or a plurality of the strip- or rod-shaped flexible spring elements (claim 3).
According to claim 4, the spring elements concerned are restrained by a connecting element, which is to be arranged on the coupler, for example via lateral slots or holes, in order to couple the end of one of the spring elements or a plurality thereof detachably with the coupler.
According to claim 5, the coupler is roughly U-shaped or box-shaped in cross section and accommodates between its walls the end portions of the strip- or rod-shaped flexible spring elements concerned. The connecting element in each case can engage behind the end concerned of the spring element to be coupled, in order in this way to restrain it with the coupler in such fashion that it can be coupled or uncoupled.
The connecting element, as described in claim 6, can be a pin or a screw. The pin-shaped part can be provided with suitable contours, which engage via a keyhole-shaped hole penetrating the walls of the coupler in order, after rotation of the connecting element through a certain angle about its longitudinal axis, to connect the connecting element to the coupler in such fashion that it cannot be lost but can be detached.
According to claim 7, a plurality of the rod- or strip-shaped spring elements are arranged one next to another and/or one behind another. In this way the force range can be varied over a wide range.
Claim 8 describes a preferred embodiment of the invention.
An embodiment according to claim 9, wherein spring elements are arranged in a sort of quiver between column parts, is also especially advantageous.
This quiver is arranged in the floor area of the exercise machine and accommodates the spring elements. In this way, these can also be easily replaced as required by simply inserting them into this quiver. To this end the quiver can have suitable retention openings that securely grasp a longitudinal portion of the spring element concerned.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in claims 10 to 12.
According to claim 13, the exercise machine is collapsible in that column parts above the backrest are collapsibly connected to one another via at least one pivot axis. In this way the exercise machine can be folded up, for example when it is not used or for purposes of transport, so that it occupies only a little space. In this position it can for example be easily stowed or transported.
Claim 14 describes a further advantageous embodiment of the invention.
As claim 15 describes, the spring elements can be made of a suitable plastic exhibiting elastic properties, for example nylon, polyamide, glass fibers, hollow fibers, reinforced with glass fibers as appropriate, or spring steel.
A preferred embodiment is described in claim 16.
Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in claims 17 to 20.
The invention is illustrated in exemplary form, in part schematically, in the Drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 depicts a multifunctional exercise machine according to the invention in perspective representation;
FIG. 2 is a view in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a side view with reference to FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3 but after the uncoupling of the spring elements and in a phase of the folding up of the entire exercise machine;
FIG. 5 is a side view with reference to FIG. 4, the exercise machine, however, being already folded up;
FIG. 6 depicts the folded-up exercise machine seen in FIG. 5, lying on the floor;
FIG. 7 depicts the arrangement of the coupler beam in the unloaded condition;
FIG. 8 depicts the arrangement of the coupler beam in the loaded condition;
FIG. 9 is a magnified detail with the coupler beam having two spring elements clamped in;
FIG. 10 a is a detail view with a coupler beam having two spring elements loaded by tension;
FIG. 10 b is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 10 a, likewise having two spring elements clamped in and loaded by tension, in rear view;
FIG. 11 is a side view with a person exercising with leg curler;
FIG. 12 a is an illustration similar to FIG. 2, the exercising person performing seated side lateral raises;
FIG. 12 b is a side view of an exercise machine corresponding to FIG. 3, the exercising person performing one-arm or two-arm standing arm pulls with low pulley;
FIG. 12 c is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 12 b, the exercising person performing arm pulls in side-facing position;
FIG. 13 a is a side view corresponding to FIG. 2, the exercising person performing or doing seated pullovers;
FIG. 13 b is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 13 a, the exercising person performing one-arm or two-arm standing arm pulls with high pulley;
FIG. 14 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 2, an exercising person performing butterfly exercise;
FIG. 15 a is a side view corresponding to FIG. 3, an exercising person exercising on the latissimus tower;
FIG. 15 b is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 15 a, the exercising person having assumed a seated position rotated 180° relative to FIG. 15 a and using the latissimus tower for downward or lateral pulls behind the shoulders.
A variety of exercises, which do not need to be described in detail in what follows, are known for training various muscles and muscle groups of the human body, such as trapezius, teres major, triceps, latissimus dorsi, sacrospinatus, gluteus maximus, hamstrings, adductors or gastrocnemius. As required, these various muscles or muscle groups can be trained and/or cared for with the multifunctional exercise machine described in what follows. Consequently, the multifunctional exercise machine according to the invention is to be understood not only as a pure muscle-building device but also can be used in convalescence, for example for performing orthopedically necessary or desirable exercises as prescribed by the specialist physician.
The multifunctional exercise machine according to the invention essentially comprises two column parts 1 and 2 connected to each other in scissors fashion via a pivot axis, not individually designated, which column parts in the illustrated embodiment comprise frame parts or pipes 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively, in particular special-section pipes of arbitrary cross section, for example having internally and externally rectangular, square or also polygonal cross section (not illustrated). These pipes 3, 4 and 5, 6 respectively form frame parts, which complete themselves into column parts 1 and 2. Frame parts or pipes 3 to 6 can be made of a suitable material, for example of an aluminum alloy, of a magnesium alloy, of plastics, but also of steel as required.
Frame parts 3 and 4 extend past frame parts 5 and 6 and are provided in unitary fashion with offsets 7 and 8, with which frame parts 3 and 4 overreach frame parts 5 and 6 by some distance in the direction toward a sitting or lying surface 9. Sitting or lying surface 9 is provided with suitable sweat- and abrasion-resistant padding, in particular of a suitable plastic with foam or other padding. Arranged on the side facing toward sitting or lying surface 9 is a backrest 10 covering the intermediate space between pipes 3, 4 in the back area, which backrest can be of the same material and provided with padding similar to that of sitting and lying surface 9. As one sees, backrest 10 is arranged with its lower boundary a certain space or clearance away from the top of sitting and lying surface 9 and, in its area, covers intermediate space 11 formed between the parallel and spaced-apart pipes or frame parts 5 and 6.
Front pipes or frame parts 5 and 6 are unitarily connected to a foot 12, for example by screwing or the like, or, however, also unitarily in material as required. Foot 12 is fashioned bounded by planar surfaces on diametrically opposite sides and rounded off on its lateral edges and serves for setting up the machine on a floor 13. Connected to foot 12 in unitary fashion are stretchers 14 and 15, running parallel to floor 13 and parallel to one another with their longitudinal axes, which stretchers are beams of rectangular or square cross section, which can be fabricated from the same material as foot 12, for example from plastic, from an aluminum alloy, from steel, from cast metal or the like, and which serve for setting up the exercise machine on floor 13 in such fashion that it is stable against overturning. Stretchers 14 and 15 are connected to foot 12 by a horizontal pivot axis, not individually designated, so that they can be folded in, likewise under pipes or frame parts 5 and 6, when column parts 1 and 2 are folded up (FIG. 6). At their end portion opposite foot 12, stretchers 14 and 15 are connected via at least one pivot axis 16 to a foot part 17 of pipes or frame parts 3 and 4 so as to be pivotable in the vertical plane. Pivot axis or pivot axes 16 run parallel to the pivot axis connected to foot 12 for stretchers 14 and 15. As one sees in particular from FIG. 1, stretchers 14 and 15 are provided with upwardly offset end portions 18 and 19, to which pivot axis or pivot axes 16 are assigned. The bottom side of stretchers 14 and 15, facing toward floor 13, desirably run in the same plane as, and with a clearance from, floor 13.
Sitting or lying surface 9 is arranged on a cantilever beam 20 standing away from pipes or frame parts 5 and 6 above foot 12, which cantilever beam comprises at least one special-section pipe and is braced via a brace 21 to pipes 5 and 6 fashioned as main pipes. Moreover, sitting and lying surface 9 is fashioned so as to be adjustable in height and also foldable about a pivot axis 22 (FIG. 4, 5) and adjustable in height. To this end, sitting or lying surface 9 is adjustable and restrainable via a mechanism on the front of pipes 5 and 6 fashioned as main pipes by means of hooks 23 located at various heights. Bracing takes place at the rear on main pipes 5 and 6 at 21. In this way, both leg curler 24 and also sitting and lying surface 9 can be folded in or also removed as appropriate when not in use (FIG. 5, 6). For example, in the folded-in position that can be seen from FIG. 6, the entire multifunctional exercise machine can be bounded by circumscribing dimensions D=400 mm and L=1900 mm. Naturally, these dimensions can be altered from case to case as required.
Leg curler 24 has padded knee and foot braces 25, 26 usually arranged pairwise.
Arranged above backrest 10 pivotably in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis 27 are a pair of handles 28, which are likewise padded at their lower ends and are used for performing butterfly exercises.
Assigned to offsets 7 and 8 is a handlebar 29 fashioned as a latissimus bar. At both end regions, handlebar 8 likewise exhibits padded grips made of a plastic resistant to sweat and moisture, for example of neoprenes or the like. All pads for sitting and lying surface 9, for backrest 10, for leg curler 24 and for handles 28 for the performance of butterfly exercises are also equipped with sweat- and moisture-resistant shells or skins, preferably of plastic.
Arranged with foot part 17 between pipes or frame parts 3 and 4, and indeed within approximately triangular space 32 bounded by column parts 1 and 2, is a quiver 30 in which there are arranged, in the embodiment illustrated, a plurality of, preferably numerous, rod- or strip-shaped spring elements 31, for example six, eight, twelve or the like spring elements. These spring elements 31 in the unbent condition are arranged with their longitudinal axes parallel to one another and stand inclinedly directed at an acute angle to triangular space 32 (FIG. 1), while one of these spring elements 31 is shown prestressed, especially in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. To this end, quiver 30 can be provided with at least one cavity or support opening, preferably, however, with a plurality of centering recesses, not individually designated, which are adapted to the external cross section of the rod- or strip-shaped spring elements so that these can be arranged in an exact alignment relative to one another. Spring elements 31 are inserted into this cavity or recesses of quiver 2 with a certain longitudinal portion. Quiver 30 thus serves as a magazine for a number or a multiplicity of rod- or strip-shaped spring elements 31 to be coupled to a coupler 33, all of which spring elements are made of an elastic material, in the present case of a carbon-fiber-reinforced composite material. Spring elements 31 are in this way to be elastically stressed in bow shape in the fashion of a leaf spring (FIG. 10 a and FIG. 10 b for example) and are placed for example in the position visible in FIG. 1 after the multifunctional exercise machine has been set up.
Coupler 33 exhibits a cavity or coupling opening into which the free end portions of one or a plurality or all of spring elements 31 arranged in quiver 30 can be inserted under prestress and then are available for exercise. In this way the elastic resistance force that the exercising person must overcome can be altered upward or downward in a stepwise but precise way. Depending on the spring characteristic of spring elements 31, a correspondingly gentle, progressive response can be determined in this way. Spring elements 31 can also be replaced as required, so that in case of damage or if spring elements 31 are to be replaced by other spring elements 31 having larger or smaller spring constant, this is easily accomplished.
Coupler 33 exhibits a cavity or a space into which the free ends of spring elements 31 can be arranged. These are blocked in coupling position by a connecting element, for example by a pin 34, which can engage behind the free ends of spring elements 31. To this end, coupler 33 can be provided with a corresponding penetration with the rear end visible from FIG. 1, through which penetration the free ends of spring elements 31 can be inserted and then connected to coupler 33 in inseparable and secure fashion by simply sticking connecting element 34 in. At its lower end, coupler 33 has a suitable abutment 35, which can be fashioned as a clevis, eye or hook, with which a diverting roller 36 or also a plurality of diverting rollers are to be connected as required, via which diverting roller or rollers there is guided a flexible tension means, in the present case a rope 37, which is passed around at least one roller 38 and guided upwardly to the individual operating elements, for example to leg curler 24 or to butterfly grips 28 or, however, to handlebar 29, there likewise via a diverting roller, not illustrated. The various guidance directions of flexible tension means 37 can be inferred for example from FIG. 11 and FIG. 13.
Further, it is to be inferred that in all exercises a bending/tensile motion is always exerted on the rod- or strip-shaped spring elements, spring elements 31 being inwardly deformed solely into roughly triangular interior space 32 between column parts 3 and 4. Spring elements 31 held in reserve are also located in quiver 30 within this space 32 and in each case move only in the vertical direction, that is, not laterally out of this space 32. Spring elements 31 located in quiver 30 and/or column parts 1 and 2 thus also serve as a protective barrier in case of any fracture of spring elements 31. As one notices, the setup space for the entire multifunctional exercise machine need not be enlarged because spring elements 31 do not issue outwardly laterally outside the lines bounding space 32, as is the case for example in the prior art. Spring elements 31 can be of rectangular, square or also tubular or round shape in cross section, depending on what the operating conditions are, what spring constants are desired and what material combinations are used. For example, rod- or strip-shaped spring elements 31 can be shaped like leaf springs, that is, can exhibit a flat rectangular shape in any section taken transversely to their longitudinal axis.
Coupler 33 can also be provided with a slot on its rear and, in a section taken transversely to its longitudinal axis, can bound a box-shaped or square interior space, spring elements 31 being inserted—via the rear slot, which is somewhat larger than the cross-sectional shape of each spring element 31—with their free end portions into this space and then being supported behind the walls of coupler 33, whereupon connecting element 34, for example a pin, is then stuck in laterally behind the so arranged free ends of spring elements 31, which pin thus prevents the escape of the free ends of spring elements 31 from coupler 33.
The opening into which connecting element 34 is stuck can be keyhole-shaped, and connecting element 34 itself can be provided with a one-sided or multi-sided thickening or profiling, so that after connecting element 34 is stuck in, it can be rotated somewhat about its longitudinal axis, so that an unauthorized dropping out or escape of connecting element 34 out of the opening of coupler 33 is not possible.
As one notes from FIG. 1, column parts 1 and 2 subtend an acute angle at their vertex, while the longitudinal axes of offsets 7 and 8 of column parts 3 and 4 subtend with these an obtuse angle (FIG. 3).
In some visible embodiments, stretchers 14 and 15 are fashioned as special-section pipes and simultaneously serve as feet for setting up the entire machine. Foot 12 can be omitted in this case. These devices, however, are also capable of being folded up. The same reference characters have again been employed for parts of like function. Column parts 3, 4 are telescopable and can be restrained in length.
The features described in the Abstract, the Claims and the Specification and those visible from the Drawings can be essential, both singly and also in arbitrary combinations, for implementing the invention.

Claims

1. A multifunctional exercise machine having columns extending in the vertical direction and, for example, a foot part resting on the floor over which there is arranged, at a certain vertical distance from the floor, a sitting or lying surface and a backrest extending above the sitting and lying surface, having actuating devices to be operated with bodily extremities—foot, hand, arm or the like—which transmits the force exerted by the user via at least one flexible tension means—chain or rope—to one or selectably also to a plurality of rod- or strip-shaped spring elements, clamped in at one end and extending in a vertical plane in the space bounded by the column parts, the force applied by the user, in each case via the flexible tension means, engaging on the free upper end portion of the spring element concerned and elastically deforming this spring element in the specified vertical plane in the space bounded by the column parts.

2. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1 wherein a plurality of the rod- or bow-shaped spring elements are arranged in a quiver, which is arranged on the column in the region of the floor, preferably inside the space bounded by the column parts, and accommodates in upright position the plurality or a multiplicity of spring elements, whose end portions can be coupled as required to a coupler, on which the flexible tension means engages.

3. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 2 wherein the coupler exhibits a cavity in which the free ends of the spring elements are to be arranged in such fashion that they can be coupled as required.

4. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 2 wherein assigned to the coupler there is a detachable connecting element, by which the end portions of the spring elements that are to be coupled with the coupler are detachably restrained therewith.

5. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the coupler is fashioned in box shape and, on its side wall facing toward the flexible spring elements, exhibits a preferably slot-shaped penetration through which pass the free end portions of the spring elements to be coupled or uncoupled.

6. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 4 wherein the connecting element is fashioned as a pin, which can be stuck through a preferably keyhole-shaped opening in the side walls of the coupler having corresponding profilings and can be rotated for the purpose of restraint in such fashion that it cannot be lost.

7. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the rod- or strip-shaped spring elements are arranged one next to another and/or one behind another in the, for example, roughly triangular space bounded by the column parts.

8. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the column comprises pipes, spaced apart, which form the column parts, and form a frame, which is so fashioned that, for the purpose of transport or storage, it can be folded up in space-saving fashion about a pivot axis arranged roughly in the region of the vertex of the roughly triangular bounding space.

9. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 2, wherein the quiver exhibits one or a plurality of cavities in which the spring elements are arranged one next to another and/or one behind another—preferably centered—insertably with their end portions, and wherein the quiver is connected in materially or functionally unitary fashion to a foot part of one column part.

10. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein one column part is equipped with an offset extending in the direction toward the sitting or lying surface, which offset also extends above the backrest with a vertical clearance, and wherein there is arranged in this region a diverting roller via which the tension means can be guided, and wherein a handlebar is connected to the end of the tension means.

11. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the column part facing toward the backrest comprises two pipes arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart, to which pipes handles for the performance of butterfly exercises are connected about a pivot axis.

12. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein a leg curler is assigned to the lying surface.

13. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein, besides the column parts, the leg curler is also arranged in such fashion that it can be folded against the column part.

14. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the frame parts or pipes of the column part concerned, facing toward the sitting and lying surface, are unitarily connected to a foot with which the machine rests on the floor, and wherein the foot is connected via stretchers to a further foot, which also exhibits the quiver for the spring elements, and wherein the stretchers are arranged collapsibly, both at the foot and at the foot exhibiting the quiver, about pivot axes running parallel to one another.

15. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the column parts 2) comprise pipes of circular, oval or polygonal cross section and wherein the pipe portions exhibiting the offset are telescopable into outer pipes of the column part concerned and are also so arranged that they can be restrained at the height position in question.

16. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the elastic rod- or strip-shaped spring elements are made of spring steel, or of plastic, or of glass fibers, or of carbon fibers, or of fiber-reinforced carbon fibers.

17. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the sitting and/or lying surface is so arranged as to be collapsible and/or adjustable in height.

18. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 1, wherein the sitting and/or lying surface is adjustable and/or restrainable via a mechanism on the front of the pipes by means of hooks located at various heights.

19. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 18 wherein the sitting and/or lying surface is braced at 21 with its adjusting mechanism behind the pipes fashioned as main pipes.

20. The multifunctional exercise machine of claim 18 wherein the sitting and/or lying surface is intermittently adjustable in height and is also restrainable at the height position desired in each case.