BE1025244B1 - Multi-person sofa with multiple fitness functions - Google Patents

Abstract

A bench whose basic structures serve as well as being the basis of a sitting function as well as serving as the basis of the multiple fitness functions that form part of the invention that was specially developed to be integrated as an urban element in public spaces such as parks, playgrounds , sports centers, school domains or along hiking trails. The sofa consists of a series of support frames, horizontal boards, armrests, a pull-up barrier and an information carrier. Furthermore, a new type of suspension trainer unit and a step and balancing board are introduced.

Description

The Minister of Economy,

Having regard to the Paris Convention of 20 March 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property;

Having regard to the law of 28 March 1984 on the invention patents, article 22, for the patent applications filed before 22 September 2014;

Having regard to Title 1 Invention Patents of Book XI of the Economic Law Code, Article XI.24, for patent applications filed from 22 September 2014;

Having regard to the Royal Decree of 2 December 1986 on applying for, granting and maintaining patent patents, Article 28;

Having regard to the application for an invention patent received by the Intellectual Property Service on the date of 21/09/2017.

Whereas for patent applications that fall within the scope of Title 1, Book XI, of the Economic Law Code (hereinafter "WER"), the patent granted will be limited in accordance with Article XI.19, § 4, second paragraph, of the WER to the patent claims for which the novelty report was drawn up, when the patent application is the subject of a novelty report that mentions a lack of unity of invention as referred to in paragraph 1, and when the applicant does not limit his application and does not submit a divisional application in accordance with the novelty report.

Decision:

Article 1. - There is to

IPITUPCOACH BVBA, Gebroeders Tassetstraat 103, 3018 LEUVEN Belgium;

represented by

BECK Michaël A.T., Technologielaan 9, 3001, HEVERLEE;

a Belgian invention patent with a duration of 20 years granted, subject to payment of the annual fees as referred to in Article XI.48, § 1 of the Economic Law Code, for:

Multi-seater sofa with multiple fitness functions.

INVENTOR (S):

VANHAVERBEKE Kamiel, Wandeldreef 12, 3110, ROTSELAAR;

THYSEN Maarten Jozef, Gebroeders Tassetstraat 103, 3018, LEUVEN;

PRIORITY :

SPLIT:

Split from basic application:

Submission date of the basic application:

Article 2. - This patent is granted without prior investigation into the patentability of the invention, without guarantee of the merit of the invention or of the accuracy of its description and at the risk of the applicant (s).

Brussels, 12/12/2018,

With special authorization:

Multi-person sofa with multiple fitness functions

BE2017 / 0127

There are countless footpaths around the world with benches. A large part of these trails are part of a hiking trail network. These paths have all different lengths and levels of difficulty and are mainly used for walking. The benches along these hiking trails are used for the seating, resting and meeting function they offer.

Walkways also exist in all kinds of different levels. They can usually be found in secluded locations further away from built-up areas.

In addition to hiking and walking trails, there are also trails for circuit training. Circuit training is the combination of endurance training with strength and stabilization training where you walk from one fitness element to the next. Along these paths for circuit training you will find a whole variety of fitness elements, which usually each have different functions. You can usually find these paths in other and usually more remote locations. These paths have a rather large impact on policy budgets because the cost of achieving them is high and because they also require a lot of maintenance.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical inactivity causes an estimated 1 million deaths each year in the European Union alone. 6 out of 10 people over 15 years of age rarely or never do sports. WHO research shows that time shortage is the main reason why people do not exercise. The lack of suitable infrastructure close to the place of residence and the time it takes to reach that infrastructure also appears to be crucial.

It would be desirable to create an urban element that can facilitate all the above functions - sitting, resting, meeting, moving - at the same time. It would be desirable to create such a simple and urban element that (re) upgrades ubiquitous footpaths into challenging circuit training paths, thereby enormously expanding existing sports infrastructure and providing the public with an accessible way to implement the guidelines recommended by WHO. After all, these guidelines recommend a combination of endurance, strength and stabilization training.

The invention referred to herein relates to a bench that combines a decorative function and a sitting, resting and meeting function with a function as an element for performing multiple fitness exercises, specially designed to be placed in spaces for public use, such as a park, a playground, a business park, a sports facility, a school domain or along a hiking trail. Nowadays, public spaces are aimed at giving the public the opportunity to relax, meet and move. The multiple use of such a bench makes it necessary for some well-known fitness elements to be adapted to the environment in which they will be used. The bench thus contains 2 new fitness elements which are hereby also presented as separate inventions, in particular a suspension trainer unit and a step and balancing board, both suitable for permanent outdoor use in an environment which is not only used for fitness purposes, but also for to sit, rest and play.

Sofas are well-known and many different types of sofas serve as an accessible resting place or meeting place in the open air, have been developed in an aesthetically responsible manner and are permanently incorporated into the surrounding public space. Some benches allow the user to perform a specific stretch exercise with the help of a specific component, while others combine the sitting function with a function to exercise the legs in a certain way (KR20120120555 A 20121102).

These benches offer the opportunity to rest and they facilitate the psychological and physical recovery associated with it, while combining that with the ability to perform one specific exercise. Research seems to indicate, however, that there are no multi-person benches that offer the possibility of performing multiple fitness activities at the same time.

Such a device cited above functions would also be desirable because it can make the connection between the walking part of the population on the one hand and the sporting part of the population on the other. Such an urban element also lowers the threshold for those who should exercise more, but are currently unable to do so for various reasons.

In the current specification, a fitness system is to be understood as a collection of fitness elements that can be manufactured, sold and used as a system to offer different fitness activities. In the current specification, the term fitness is used throughout. The term fitness - when it relates to an element, a system, an arrangement, etc. - is to be understood as an element, a system, an arrangement, etc. that provides or enables some form of physical training activity. This can be for example for training stability, balance, strength, explosiveness, endurance, etc ...

Urban elements are known that serve to perform certain exercises, such as fixed bars or a ring set for exercising arm exercises, pedals for leg exercises, and so on. These elements each serve to realize a certain type of exercise, which means that it is necessary to have several different exercise elements at the same place in order to train the entire body.

Outdoor fitness equipment is well known and many different forms are known. Outdoor fitness equipment is often part of a fitness system consisting of several equipment, each of which makes a separate exercise possible. A fitness system could thus consist of an outdoor fitness device that helps to train the upper body and another outdoor fitness device that allows training of the lower body. Such outdoor fitness equipment is usually a combination of a basic structure and a functional fitness element. The basic structure is designed to support the functional fitness element. It is common for a fitness system that the various outdoor fitness equipment that forms part of it also each have a separate basic structure. This basic structure is designed for the specific functional fitness element that must be mounted on it. The result is that a large number of different basic structures must be designed and developed. This increases the cost of each individual outdoor fitness device, leads to complex storage systems for the companies that produce and sell the systems and ensures that more public and green space must be made available to enable full body training. In addition, in most cases, individual outdoor fitness equipment each has a different type of basic structure. The total visual impression that arises when they are placed at a location to form a fitness system together, is often that of a drill park. An inactive person is sometimes confronted with fear of threshold when overseeing such a set of outdoor fitness equipment, which is regrettable since these equipment are primarily developed to precisely stimulate these people to get moving and take action. Very wa? ^{E2017 / 0127} fitness systems of which the outdoor equipment that is part of it offer a range of body movements, are not suitable to serve both low-level users and those who are already trained. In other words, the use of certain parts and the specific weight, length or shape of those elements make a certain outdoor fitness equipment challenging for trained people, but impossible for other, practically non-trained individuals. Other devices may be suitable for previously untrained people, but are not suitable or challenging enough for more trained people. It would be desirable for there to be outdoor fitness machines that are suitable for different people and different levels of difficulty at the same time.

Some fitness systems (DE202006001435 UI 20060601 DW200643) combine different outdoor fitness equipment into one more compact multifunctional exercise structure using one basic structure. As a result, multiple fitness functions can be used simultaneously and independently, a cost reduction occurs and less public and green space is used. Research shows that none of such fitness systems combine multiple fitness functions with a multi-person sitting and resting function, without losing sight of sustainability and safety issues. It would be desirable for a device that combines all these different functions to be introduced into the public space.

The use of a suspension trainer unit is well known. Suspension trainer cords are popular because they allow a wide range of fitness exercises. There are adjustable suspension trainer cords that can be attached to a variety of fixed infrastructure, so that they can be used both indoors and outdoors in different environments. Permanent outdoor use of these suspension trainer cords is not recommended as they are not weatherproof and vandal proof. These flexible cords can also cause safety problems, since there is a danger of hanging. For that reason, there are few permanent suspension trainer cords for outdoor use and all of these appear to be used in specific outdoor fitness environments. Moreover, none of them is combined with a device that also has a sitting function and is therefore also used in an environment that is not exclusively used for fitness purposes. Suspension trainer cords for permanent outdoor use are made foldable for safety reasons (confer suppra). Nor are they adjustable in length or height. They only have 1 opening per cord, making it necessary to have different sets of cords, each with openings at different heights, so that they can be used by people with different body characteristics or to offer different degrees of difficulty. In order to be weather-resistant and vandal-resistant, such permanent suspension trainer cords generally have hard elements. If these were used in other than fitness environments, these hard elements could potentially cause safety problems. It would therefore be desirable to also have a fitness trainer unit that is suitable for permanent outdoor use and that is part of a device that on the one hand offers fitness functions and on the other hand has a sitting function.

The existence of step benches is well known, especially in fitness environments. These freestanding elements are usually divisible into different pieces and consist of a horizontal platform with various other elements below them that serve as legs and height ^adjusters . These step benches offer users the necessary stability and give them the possibility to perform multiple fitness exercises such as squats, lunges, dips and jumps. These free-standing step benches can also be used in the open air, but their transportation usually stands in the way of this. Step benches, however, also exist in the form of permanent elements. In some cases, they are then presented as a separate outdoor fitness element that has a fixed, horizontal platform that is not height-adjustable and mounted directly on a stable surface. Or they are connected to the basic structure of a multifunctional training structure, so that the solid platform can still be adjusted in height. It would be desirable to introduce an element with the above characteristics - a stable horizontal platform that can be used at different heights - that can be connected to the support frame of a device that on the one hand offers fitness functions, but on the other hand has a sitting function.

There is a variety of balancing boards that are mainly used for physiotherapy purposes and to a lesser extent for fitness purposes. These free-standing elements consist of a horizontal platform that is generally round that is fixed on top of a half ball-shaped object. The round part of the ball-shaped element makes contact with the underlying ground surface and thus forces users to find a balance when they stand on the platform or push on it. These unstable elements are often used for exercises that increase the stability of certain body parts. In physiotherapy environments, mini trampolines are also often used for the same purposes. These free-standing balancing boards and mini trampolines can also be used outdoors, but their transport usually stands in the way of this. Balancing boards and mini trampolines also exist as an outdoor fitness element, but then always in the form of a freestanding and single element that is fixed on or in the underlying surface. It would be desirable to introduce an element with the above-mentioned characteristics - a horizontal platform on an unstable basis allowing stabilization exercises - that is connected to the support frame of a device that combines several fitness functions with a sitting function.

Even more, it would be desirable to introduce an element that - up to a certain level - combines the characteristics of a step bench with the characteristics of a balancing board and combines these two fitness functions with a sitting function.

Taken all of the above together, it would therefore be desirable to introduce an urban element that allows combining different fitness elements into one device, thus enabling a complete range of exercise exercises that are suitable for both experienced and non-experienced users, and simultaneously and independently thereof can also serve as durable and weather-resistant seating furniture.

It would further be desirable that this invention can (re) upgrade the existing walking infrastructure that is already present in the vicinity of built-up areas to polyvalent sports infrastructure that is also suitable for circuit training. In this way, the population is offered a low-threshold way to implement the guidelines recommended by the WHO.

A first feature of the invention described herein relates to the fact that it is a fitness system that uses the support frames of a sofa (Fig. 4.1, Fig. 5.1, Fig. 6.2 and Fig. 7.2) as a basic element and adds various functional fitness elements to it ^BE201 7/0127 to create a multiple fitness unit.

A second characteristic of the invention described herein is that by adding such a bench with multiple fitness functions to existing walking paths, the latter can easily and cost-efficiently be upgraded to challenging fitness circuits.

A third feature of the invention described herein relates to the fact that this sofa - which is combined with multiple fitness functions - has the ability to make the connection between the walking part of the population on the one hand and the sporting part of the population on the other. Such an urban element also lowers the threshold for those who should exercise more, but are currently unable to do so for various reasons.

A fourth characteristic of the invention described herein is to provide a system that combines a multi-person sitting function with multiple fitness functions and thereby makes it cheaper in comparison with the manufacture of different individual structures for all these functions individually.

A fifth feature of the invention described herein is to provide a system that combines a multi-person seating function with multiple fitness functions and realizes this in a very compact way, reducing the use of public and green space compared to manufacturing different structures for all of these functions separately.

A sixth feature of the invention described herein is to provide a very low threshold multi-functional exercise structure that manages to activate more inactive rather pre-active people compared to multi-functional exercise structures that cannot offer a comfortable multi-person sitting function. The ability to sit gives the device a much more accessible character for people who are not in the habit of moving a lot and this creates a more accessible public space that brings different people together in one place.

A seventh feature of the invention described herein is the provision of a multifunctional exercise structure - combined with a sitting function - that also has an aesthetic added value for the surrounding public space. It must be pointed out that aesthetic components of urban elements are important, because they simply have to be well integrated into the public space. It seems necessary to provide an aesthetically pleasing configuration, since people walking or observing their children at the edge of a playground and who did not intend to move beforehand can apparently be convinced to become more active when the fitness elements offered are also an aesthetic inviting aspect.

An eighth characteristic of the invention described herein is the provision of a sofa in combination with an all-in-one fitness device, whereby a wide variety of fitness elements can be used and a very wide range of difficulty levels is offered for all these specific elements. The level of difficulty of the various fundamental strength and stability exercises offered - being push and pull exercises, abdominal and back muscle exercises and one-legged and two-legged exercises - is determined by the body characteristics of the users themselves and is not dependent on the specific characteristics of the used ones fitness elements is the case as with other fitness systems that try to offer a complete range of fitness exercises. This achieves a more heterogeneous range of users.

A ninth feature of the invention described herein is the provision of a EE20177 / 027 multifunctional exercise structure that has no moving parts that may cause safety problems, despite the fact that the fitness functions are combined with a multiple sitting function.

A tenth feature of the invention described herein is to provide a multifunctional exercise structure with an easy-to-use suspension trainer unit (Fig. 9) suitable for permanent outdoor use in an environment not only used for fitness purposes, but also for sitting and rest and all this in such a way that no safety, vandalism or sustainability problems could arise.

An eleventh feature of the invention described herein is the provision of a multifunctional exercise structure with a step and balancing board (Fig. 1A and Fig. 8) which - up to a certain level - combines the functions of a step bank with those of a balancing board and thus several offers fitness elements at the same time and makes this all possible in an environment that is not only used for fitness purposes, but also for sitting and resting in such a way that no safety, vandalism or sustainability problems could arise.

It is to be understood that the present invention relates to a system of elements that are the result of a series of other elements that are subsequently manufactured by one or more manufacturers so that they can be assembled as different shapes.

Figure 1 shows the front of the sofa.

Figure 2 shows the rear of the sofa.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the sofa.

Figures 4, 5, 6 and 7 show the different support frames with their connections, extensions and reinforcements.

Figure 8 shows a detail of the step and balancing board.

Figure 9 shows a suspension trainer element.

The bench comprises a number of support frames (Fig. 4.1, Fig. 5.1, Fig. 6.2, Fig. 7.2) in different lengths and shapes. These support frames serve as the basis for the seating section (Fig. 1.12 and 1.13) and the back section of the sofa (Fig. 1.6), which are therefore also connected to each other. Each support frame is connected to a U-shaped base frame (Fig. 4.2, Fig. 5.2, Fig. 6.8, Fig. 7.6). Each u-shaped ground frame has 2 triangular reinforcement ribs with logo (Fig. 4.4 and 4.5, Fig. 5.4 and 5.5, Fig. 6.6 and 6.7, Fig. 7.4 and 7.5). These ground frames must be anchored with an underlying fixed or movable surface that offers sufficient stability.

At the front of the invention (Fig. 1), 3 different training stations can be distinguished.

On the right front of the invention there are 2 support frames (Fig. 7.2), both serving as d-shaped armrests. Due to their structure-reinforcing character, they also provide the whole with an additional rigidity. At the top, the armrests are provided with a vertical handle (Fig. 7.1) and a horizontal board (Fig. 1.10), which allows a comfortable grip and provides support while users can perform all kinds of various fitness exercises. Of course it also facilitates sitting down and standing up.

On the left front side of the invention there are 2 support frames (Fig. 4.1 and Fig. 5.1) which are equipped with a step and balancing board (Fig. 1A, Fig.8). The frontal protrusion of each of the 2 support frames is supported by a step support (Fig. 4.7 and Fig. 5.6) which is each connected to a respective base frame (Fig. 4.1 and Fig. 5.1). Two cylindrical vibrating shock absorbers (Fig. 8.25) are placed on each of these support frames. These provide an ideal balance between firmness and (in) stability and thus make a wide range of different fitness exercises possible. These shock absorbers are connected to each other via a step frame (Fig. 8.14) on which 1 or more horizontal boards are mounted (Fig.

8.7). The support frame on the left front side (Fig. 4.1) is equipped with an L-shaped armrest (Fig. 4.6) that serves as support for sitting down and standing, plays a role in multiple exercises and also the whole in a structural way strengthens.

The entire front side of the invention is provided with a horizontal board (Fig. 1.9) which connects the vertical extensions of the various supporting frames. In this way, this board not only provides additional rigidity for the whole, but also makes it possible to carry out various additional fitness exercises such as push-ups and various torso stability exercises.

An information board (Fig. 1.28) with a front and rear panel is mounted on the middle pair of support frames (Fig. 6.2).

At the rear of the invention (Fig. 2), 3 different training stations can be distinguished.

The right-hand side of the rear of the invention is equipped with 2 suspension trainer elements (Fig. 9) composed of reinforced cord (Fig. 9.1) which is connected to the support frames via frame ribs (Fig. 4.3 and Fig. 5.3). Due to their mounting against the rear of the respective support frames (Fig. 4.1 and Fig. 5.1), these frame ribs also provide additional reinforcement. The cords are connected to the frame ribs via an eye bolt (Fig. 9.3) and an open thimble (Fig. 9.4). There are 4 aluminum clamping sleeves (Fig. 9.2) mounted on each cord (Fig. 9.1). In this way at least 2 drop-shaped openings are created with each cord. Each of the hard clamping sleeves is wrapped with a heat-sensitive heat-shrink tubing to prevent accidents due to a hard impact. A long rubber sheath (Fig. 9.6) that sits around the cords between the 2 upper clamping sleeves prevents the cords from being tied and thus also avoids safety problems related to the danger of being tied up. At each drop-shaped aperture, the cords are provided with a shorter rubber shell (Fig. 9.5) so that a comfortable handle and comfortable foot use is guaranteed since the skin is not scraped or sanded in this way. The teardrop-shaped openings have a minimum diameter of 24 cm to prevent hanging hazards. Moreover, the openings are situated at such a distance from the underlying surface that this danger is virtually non-existent.

In the middle at the rear, the equipment is provided with 2 support frames (Fig. 6.2), both equipped with a pair of armrests (Fig. 6.4). These are each supported with a support rib (Fig. 6.5) connected to the frame rib that reinforces the vertical rear side of the support frames and the respective base frames (Fig. 6.8). At the top, the armrests are equipped with a vertical handle (Fig. 6.1) and a horizontal board (Fig. 2.11) that enable a comfortable grip and also provide support for performing various fitness exercises.

On the left-hand side at the rear, the invention is equipped with a horizontal pull-up barrier (Fig. 2.2). This pull-up barrier has such dimensions that it is possible to carry out various exercises in comfort. The barrier is connected to the horizontal upper ends of 2 support frames (Fig. 7.2). These support frames are each reinforced via a long frame rib (Fig. 7.3). These frame ribs also ensure eei? ^{E2017 /} ° 1227 reinforcement of the respective base frames (Fig. 7.6) with which they are connected.

The dimensions of the components described above differ in function of the target group that is put first. A sofa that is specifically developed for children will therefore have different dimensions than a sofa that is only intended for use by adults.

Claims (11)

Conclusion 1. A bench suitable for outdoor use with a seat surface (Fig. 1.12 and 1.13) and a back surface (Fig. 1.6) suitable for at least 2 people where the seat and back surface are connected by at least 3 support frames that are additionally also connected to at least 3 ground supports, characterized in that these support frames also form the basis and form an integral part of at least 2 fitness equipment attached to it and in which the sofa contains at least 2 arm supports (Fig. 6.4) with vertical handles (Fig. 6.1) and in which the 2 armrests are connected at the rear of 2 of the support frames (Fig. 6.2). Conclusion A sofa according to claim 1 and characterized in that at least 4 support frames function as the basis on which at least 2 fitness equipment is attached. Conclusion A sofa according to claim 1 or 2 and characterized in that at least 6 support frames function as the basis for at least 3 fitness equipment. Conclusion A sofa referring to claims 1 to 3 provided with a horizontal slat (Fig. 1.9) attached to at least 2 support frames and at least 50 cm higher than the top of the back surface of the sofa. Conclusion A sofa referring to claims 1 to 4 provided with at least 2 d-shaped support frames (Fig. 7.2) with vertical handles (Fig. 7.1) acting as armrests and fitness element. Conclusion A sofa referring to claims 1 to 5 provided with a horizontal foot balancing board (Fig. 1.A and Fig. 8) connected to at least 2 support frames (Fig. 4.1 and Fig. 5.1). Conclusion A bench referring to claim 6 wherein at the level of the horizontal step and balancing board (Fig. 1.A and Figs. 8) at least 2 vibration dampers (Fig. 8.25) are fitted that are connected by at least 1 horizontal plank (Fig. 8.7). Claim 8. A sofa referring to claims 1 to 7 provided with at least 2 suspension trainer cords (Fig. 9) which are connected to vertical supports (Fig. 4.3 and Fig. 5.3) which reinforce the support frames, each largely protected by a soft sleeve and provided with at least 2 drip-shaped foot and hand openings. Claim 9. A sofa referring to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that 2 support frames (Fig. 7.2) are connected to each other at their upper extremity by a horizontal tube structure (Fig. 2.2) that can serve as a pull-up barrier. Conclusion A sofa referring to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that an information carrier (Fig. 1.28) is provided on 2 of the support frames (Fig. 6.2), readable both at the front and at the rear. Conclusion A sofa referring to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the support frames are connected by a horizontal slat (Fig. 1.9), parallel to but clearly separated from the upper part of the back support.