DE102016111511B4 - Freely moveable strength training device that can be subjected to tension to strengthen the body muscles - Google Patents

Abstract

A freely movable strength training device that can be subjected to tension to strengthen the muscles of the body is provided with a housing and with at least one spring element arranged in the housing, which can be acted upon by muscle power, with at least two tension elements that can be actuated by a user and with all tension elements being attached to the spring element that the spring element is designed as a multi-part spring element and that the aforementioned strength training device has a symmetrical spring characteristic in addition to an uncomplicated and safe training handle.

Description

The invention relates to a freely movable strength training device that can be subjected to tension to strengthen the muscles of the body, with a housing and with at least one spring element arranged in the housing, which can be acted upon by muscle power, wherein it has at least two tension elements that can be actuated by a user and all tension elements are fastened to the spring element are, wherein the spring element is designed as a multi-part spring element.

Strength training devices are used for the physical fitness of their users. The spring element can be acted on by using forces from different muscle groups in order to stress them and thereby train them. In addition to immobile strength training devices, e.g. in fitness studios, freely movable, i.e. mobile, strength training devices are also known.

In the DE 197 11 835 C2 a mobile strength training device was described according to the aforementioned type. This strength training device has pull loops, one of which acts on a spring element and the other is attached to the housing. This enables strength training. However, the problem arises that a tension bar, which is guided against a movable spring box that imparts the desired resistance and which also carries the movable pull loop, assumes too great an angle when the person exercising is exerted too much, so that the spring box takes the slightest path resistance and unintentionally springs back into the zero position in the middle of the training session.

From the DE 20 2007 013 860 U1 a strength training device is known in which all tension elements are guided to the spring element, so that the forces from the tension elements are introduced directly onto the spring element. An arrangement of the tension elements is possible in such a way that there is a linear opposite introduction of forces into the spring element, so that it is held securely between the tension elements and without the occurrence of transverse forces. The spring travel is advantageously divided by the direct striking of at least two tension elements on the spring element. A simple handling of the strength training device is also advantageously ensured.

A one-piece spring element was used in the strength training device known from the aforementioned document. With the advent of new production methods and automatic production machines, such a one-piece spring can only be produced at great expense with exactly symmetrical spring forces. Manufacturing machines regularly hold the steel wire intended for the spring element at a free end, all windings, straight sections and radii are then run out one after the other in one pass to the other free end in the one-piece spring. The spring forces at one end of the stressed wire then often have a different spring characteristic than at the other end of the wire. There is no longer any symmetry in the spring forces.

In the DE 37 29 008 A1 are tension element provided according to the preamble of patent claim 1, namely handles. These handles are related to rim elements that are formed in multiple parts. This device is an expander device that has a corresponding spatial extent. Therefore handles are provided, these are arranged at the ends of the device. It can therefore be spoken of as a device that has ends. the U.S. 6,926,747 B2 shows another space-filling expander-like device.

The invention is based on the object of demonstrating a strength training device of the type mentioned at the outset which, in addition to an uncomplicated handle that is safe for training, has a symmetrical spring characteristic.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that the housing is formed from plate elements aligned parallel to one another and that the U-ends of the parts of the spring element bent into a U run parallel to one another and are arranged in a viewing window of the housing.

In the strength training device according to the invention, the known one-piece design of the spring element is dispensed with. It is designed in several parts, preferably in three parts. The individual parts of the spring element are manufactured separately, and as a result have shorter overall lengths and fewer radii and bends, so that each individual part of the spring element can be manufactured with a repeatable spring characteristic.

The individual parts can be produced in a simple manner and with the same resistance values in production machines. The strength training device can advantageously display any disordered contraction behavior of the human muscles and help to avoid them.

For successful handling of the strength training device according to the invention, the invention provides that the U-ends of the parts of the spring element bent into a U run parallel to one another and are arranged in a viewing window of the housing. Wear in the viewing windows the free ends of the spring elements are fitted with ball shafts, from which the balls can always be seen in the viewing window, but whose shafts are only visible if they are to pass under a round viewing window below the covering plate or remain there by using muscle power. The entire deflection of the spring ends with ball sockets can be seen by the user on both sides of the device, i.e. also when checking the forms of movement in a mirror or by a trainer standing in front of the exerciser, and can be evaluated for the training. The distance markings on the free spring ends, which can be read on the housing in the area of the viewing window, provide information on whether the tensile force is decreasing, is being maintained evenly or is being understrained. The trainee can interpret this as too high, correct or too little resistance himself or have it interpreted by a trainer and correct it if necessary after the next further training. The now more sensitive and precise display using a three-part spring and resistance technique also shows that the muscle and counter-muscle are loaded with absolutely the same resistance in order to avoid one-sided body training. The indicator balls then show the absolutely same distance from the starting point of their movement during the training. The balls also indicate a trembling maintenance of the resistance as unconcentrated training and unmask forms of movement in which a previous so-called swinging (as often with dumbbells) is carried out in order to falsely make the exercise movement easier to carry out.

According to a first development of the invention, with regard to the construction of the spring element, it is provided that two parts of the spring element are designed as rods each bent into a U, on each of which a tension element is fastened. Even with the multiple parts of the spring element is from the DE 20 2007 013 860 known basic structure guaranteed. The third part of the spring element is preferably designed as a stop element that engages over the free ends of the U. This stop element limits the deflection possibilities of the other two spring elements by introducing forces via the tension elements and at the same time prevents the shafts on the indicator balls from sliding off the spring ends.

According to a further development of the invention, it is provided that the housing is formed from plate elements aligned parallel to one another. The housing thus has a simple design, with edges being able to have borders. There may be two plates spaced apart from each other. An installation space is then formed between the two plates, in which space the spring element can be arranged. The pulling elements can be inserted laterally into this open housing and brought into a holding connection with the spring element. According to this further development, the strength training device shows an open design in sandwich construction, which also completely dispenses with the use of plastic parts, in order to also make it possible to disinfect the interior of the device in the autoclave in the clinical rehabilitation area. With a device that is passed on to the next sick person, it is possible to carry out advanced training in the sick bed, which serves to speed up recovery, without having to fear that the device might become contaminated due to previous use by someone else. Because such internal and external disinfection is also mandatory in the field of manned space travel, the suitability of the invention for physical training against the muscle and bone substance depleting gravity alienation of astronauts is shown by the low weight and the versatile training.

The spring element can be a multi-part rod construction element, the parts of which are inserted in a few turns between the two plate elements. The spring element parts are then fixed in sections between the plate elements, other sections of the spring element parts remain movable to absorb or release forces.

For further structural design of the strength training device according to the invention, a further development of the invention provides that the sections running parallel to one another emanate from deflection points arranged in a line for the parts of the spring element and that a sliding piece defining the distance between them is pushed onto the sections. The tension elements are fastened to the two mutually parallel sections. With the introduction of forces, the parallel sections can then be lifted out of their parallelism and pulled away from one another. If the force decreases, the sections spring back into the parallel position.

The deflecting areas of the sections can extend from the free ends in the viewing window to the intended deflection points. In this case, the sections can be deflected with a relatively small force. The sliding piece provided according to the invention limits the length of the deflectable areas of the sections. This is because the sliding piece fixes the distance between the sections in the region of the arrangement of the sliding piece. So if this is away from the deflection points for the spring element in Rich direction of the free ends of the spring elements, the area of the sections that can still be deflected by the application of force becomes smaller. The leverage is reduced and for the deflection of the sections from their parallel position, a greater force has to be applied via the tension elements. Thus, an increase in the forces to be applied for a specific design can be achieved by the sliding piece. Inside the housing, there are only two movable built-in parts, the spring element and the sliding piece, which increases the robustness of the strength training device. The open design of the housing enables continuous cleaning by simply placing it in a dishwasher and cleaning it, both in normal domestic use and when traveling or after use on the beach with dirt from beach sand, sun oil, seawater, etc. Due to its compact design, any form of movement and power development of the isokinetic as well as the isometric type between two hands or two feet is possible with strength training equipment that is subjected to constant tension. This applies to short movements in the range of up to 70 cm and/or forms of movement of up to 2.30 meters, which, for example, can be performed with hands raised high above the head and accompanied by constant resistance from the device close to the feet and In this way, many other muscles and muscle groups can be included in the training.

Abutment sections for parts of the spring element can be provided on the sliding piece. The parts of the spring element can rest against these contact sections in particular when a force is exerted on the parts of the spring element. The system then has the effect that the sliding piece is secured against sliding on the parts of the spring element. In a simple design, such a contact section is an angled portion arranged on the sliding piece. So that the sliding piece does not slip on the spring element, it is provided with two wings bent at right angles in the middle of its length, which block the spring system in a non-slip manner during bending processes. Since these bends are only attached to one long side of the adjustment piece, they also offer the option of being installed horizontally rotated by 180°. This measure means that the lever effects of the spring technology are softer over the entire length of the adjustment scale and allow adapted resistance specifications on the training device for women, children (from 14) or for older users.

The adjustable resistance scale is available for pure fitness exercises in the range from 0.5 to 40 kg. Athletic strength training with sporty contour changes on the body are possible in the adjustable range between 40 and 90 kg. Even higher resistance values can be achieved by replacing the built-in spring. The production, the sandwich construction and the shaping of the components are selected and designed in such a way that they are not burdened with the costs of expensive molds and tools. They are mostly made by laser cutting. This makes it possible to offer high-quality, solid material on the market and to give a 20-year durability guarantee without having to take into account the considerable costs for molds and tools and their wear-and-tear replacements. The laser cutting technology also allows immediate changes to the design at any time without any costs, waiting or changeover times.

The pulling elements are guided out of the housing at the side. Guide elements are preferably provided for this purpose, which are each designed as a roller, for example.

A double pull loop on each side of the device preferably includes a hand strap and a foot strap, so that the same loops do not have to be used for the hands and feet, but also for guiding the device through wrists and ankles. The hand straps are also smaller in circumference in order to keep the hands as close as possible to the device for exercises with crossed wrists and thus not to waste part of the movement distance in this type of exercise.

Each pull loop can be formed from a one-piece strap which is laid one on top of the other in sections and on which a seam for forming the loops is introduced. This enables the loops to be manufactured efficiently.

• 1: eine Draufsicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Krafttrainingsgerätes zur Stärkung der Körpermuskulatur,
• 2: eine Seitenansicht des Federelementes des Krafttrainingsgerätes gemäß 1, und
• 3 eine perspektivische Ansicht für ein auf das Federelement nach 2 aufzubringendes Verschiebestück.

An embodiment from which further inventive features result is shown in the drawing. Show it:

• 1 : a top view of a strength training device according to the invention for strengthening the body muscles,
• 2 : according to a side view of the spring element of the strength training device 1 , and
• 3 a perspective view for a on the spring element 2 sliding piece to be applied.

The strength training device 1 has a housing 1 . The housing 1 is formed from two plate elements 2 aligned parallel to one another. Between the two plate elements 2 roller body 3 are inserted, the roller body 3 tra Lowing pins 4 also connect both plate elements 2.

A multi-part spring element 5 is inserted between the plate elements 2 . This spring element 5 is also in 2 shown, it is bent like a clamp with its parts 6, 6a, 6b of spring steel. The diameter of the spring steel is, for example, 4 mm, the spring preferably has spring class C and is made of hardened stainless steel.

The spring element 5 with the roller bodies 3 is fixed in the housing 1 . Internal sections 6 of the U-shaped parts 6, 6a of the spring element 5 run parallel to one another, starting from roller bodies 3 arranged in a line. The free ends 7 of these sections 6 are arranged in a viewing window 8 of the housing 1 . Spherical attachments, each with a shank 15, are applied to the free ends 7 for better visibility.

The pull elements are designed as pull loops 9 . Such a pull loop 9 has two loop sections, namely a hand loop and a foot loop. The pull loops are attached to the spring parts 6, 6a of the spring element 5. Guide elements 11 also serve to guide the pull loops 9 in the housing 1.

Inside the housing 1, the parts 6, 6a of the spring element 5 are also assigned a sliding piece 12. This displacement piece 12 can be displaced parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing 1 on the parts 6, 6a. It thus shortens the length of the sections of the spring element 5 that can be deflected with the pull loops 9, since these sections 6 are fixed in the area between the roller bodies 3 arranged in a line and the sliding piece 12 in such a way that they cannot be changed in relation to one another.

The sliding piece 12 is in 3 shown. It accommodates the various parts 6, 6a of the spring element 5 and consists of a one-piece wall spring made of spring steel. The material thickness is 0.8 m, for example, and the width is 15 mm. 3 shows that the sliding piece 12 bends 14 are present. These bends 14 are also in 1 shown, they serve as contact elements for the parts 6, 6a of the spring element 5.

The multiple parts of the spring element 5 is in 2 shown. The parts 6, 6a are each U-shaped, the part 6b has a bracket shape. This part 6b overlaps the free ends of the other two spring parts.

The plate elements 2 of the housing 1 can be cut out with a laser, for example, so they can be manufactured very precisely. Stainless steel can again be selected as the material, so that a high-quality impression is created.

With its technical equipment, the invention not only makes it possible to set suitable training resistances. It also makes it possible to find the maximum strength of a muscle at any time, to display 70% of it as the optimal training resistance via the spring technique and to make its maintenance during the exercise movements controllable. For this purpose, the invention has two round viewing windows 13, which also signal the use of 70% of the maximum force in the simplest way for muscles and counter-muscles with the shafts of the indicator balls 15 held still there during exercise movements.

So you don't train with the maximum strength. However, their technical discovery serves to be able to automatically read a 70% value from the device, with which a highly optimal muscle hypertrophy training can then take place. Such a device is not previously known, even on large, stationary training machines. Such training machines often only allow an approximate estimate of 70% of the maximum strength with time-consuming tests from the larger resistance levels of plug-in weights.

Claims (14)

Freely movable strength training device that can be subjected to tension to strengthen the muscles of the body, with a housing and with at least one spring element arranged in the housing, which can be acted upon by muscle power, wherein it has at least two tension elements that can be actuated by a user and all tension elements are fastened to the spring element (5). , wherein the spring element (5) is designed as a multi-part spring element (5), characterized in that the housing (1) is formed from plate elements (2) aligned parallel to one another and that the U-ends (7) of the U-shaped (6, 6a) parts of the spring element (5) run parallel to one another and are arranged in a viewing window (8) of the housing (1). strength training machine claim 1 , characterized in that the spring element (5) is designed in three parts. strength training machine claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that two parts (6, 6a) of the spring element (5) are designed as rods each bent into a U, on each of which a tension element (9) is fastened. strength training machine claim 3 , characterized in that a third part (6b) of the Spring element (5) is designed as a stop element that overlaps the free ends of the U. strength training machine claim 2 , characterized in that the spring element (5) is inserted between two plate elements (2). Strength training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that distance markings for the deflection of the U-ends (7) of the parts (6, 6a) of the spring element (5) are applied to the housing (1) in the area of the viewing window (8). Strength training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mutually parallel parts (6, 6a) start from deflection points arranged in a line for the parts (6, 6a) of the spring element (5) and that the parts (6, 6a ) a sliding piece (12) defining the distance between them is pushed on. strength training machine claim 7 , characterized in that the sliding piece (12) has contact sections for the parts (6, 6a) of the spring element (5). strength training machine claim 8 , characterized in that each contact section is designed as a bend (14) arranged on the sliding piece. Strength training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that guide elements (11) for the pulling elements are arranged in the housing (1). strength training machine claim 10 , characterized in that each guide element (11) is designed as a roller. Strength training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pulling element is designed as at least a double pulling loop (9). strength training machine claim 12 characterized in that each pull loop (9) has a loop for manual operation and a loop for foot operation. Strength training device according to one of Claims 12 and 13 , characterized in that each pull loop (9) is formed from a one-piece strap which is superimposed in layers in sections and to which a seam is attached for forming the loops.

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