DE102021002791A1 - Pulley Expander Rope Fitness Equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention is a compact fitness device for training the human body muscles. The fitness device is called pulley expander rope fitness device. It consists of pulleys mounted on a base plate with pulley holders, an elastic expander rope, two handles and holders for the expander rope. Due to its defined course above and below the deflection pulleys, the expander rope forms several loops. The choice of loops when training defines the training load. The special design of the pulley expander rope fitness device allows the user to implement different training loads with the same pulley expander rope fitness device and thus train the different muscle groups simultaneously or individually.

Description

The invention relates to a compact fitness device for training the body muscles. The fitness device consists of a base plate and a structure. The structure includes several pulleys with pulley holders, an elastic expander rope, two handles, the holders for the expander rope and the fastening elements for the assembly components. The idler pulleys are rotatably installed in the idler pulley holders mounted on the base plate.

Description of the state of the art

In such fitness equipment, an expander rope is used to generate the tensile load (training load). It can consist of a single strand or multiple strands assembled in parallel. One end of the bungee cord is mounted on an exercise machine base (base plate). The other end of the bungee cord is free and can be equipped with an element (e.g. a handle or a rope loop) that allows for more comfortable pulling on the bungee cord. The fitness device can have several expander ropes (fixed to the left and right of the base plate). The strain on the body muscles is generated by pulling on the free end of the expander rope. The expander rope is stretched. The user stands on the base plate and thus creates a counterweight. The change or adaptation of the training loads to the different muscles or users can be realized, for example, by exchanging the expander ropes with different tensile strengths. The pulleys used to change the direction of the expander rope.

• - Um die Trainingslast anzupassen, wird häufig mit mehreren Expanderseilen trainiert, die die unterschiedlichen Zugfestigkeiten aufweisen und während des Trainings getauscht werden müssen. Das führt zu einem Umbau kraft- und Zeitaufwand. Oft müssen die Expanderseil mit unterschiedlichen Festigkeiten separat zugekauft werden, was die zusätzlichen Kosten verursachen würde.
• - Durch eine kurze / begrenzte Expanderseillänge ist die Dehnung-Kraftkennlinie des Expanderseiles sehr steil (große Änderung der Seilzugkraft über den Gummiseildehnungsweg während der Ausführung der Trainingsübungen). Es kann die großen Unterschiede bei den Trainingslast während der Ausführung einer Übung verursachen.
• - Oft ist Expanderseillänge nicht verstellbar d.h. die Anzahl der Muskel, die mit dem Fitnessgerät trainiert werden können, ist gering.
• - erhöhter Verschleiß (Ausleiern) der Expanderseile, der durch die volle Ausnutzung der Seilzuglänge entsteht. D.h. das Expanderseil soll öfters ausgetauscht werden.
• - Die zusätzlichen Expanderseile benötigen mehr Stauraum und sollen nach dem Training entweder separat aufbewahrt oder komplett wieder auf das Fitnessgerät montiert werden. Das Fitnessgerät ist in diesem Fall umständlicher zu transportieren.

However, such fitness equipment has significant disadvantages:

• - In order to adjust the training load, training is often carried out with several expander ropes, which have different tensile strengths and have to be exchanged during training. This leads to a conversion effort and time. The expander ropes with different strengths often have to be purchased separately, which would cause additional costs.
• - Due to a short / limited length of the expander rope, the stretching force characteristic of the expander rope is very steep (large change in the rope pull force over the rubber rope stretching path during the execution of the training exercises). It can cause the large differences in training loads during the execution of an exercise.
• - The length of the expander rope is often not adjustable, ie the number of muscles that can be trained with the fitness device is small.
• - Increased wear (wearing out) of the expander cables, which is caused by the full utilization of the cable length. Ie the expander rope should be replaced more often.
• - The additional expander ropes require more storage space and should either be stored separately after training or completely reassembled on the fitness device. In this case, the fitness equipment is more difficult to transport.

• - kompakte Bauweise bei hoher Vielfalt an Trainingsübungen
• - die Möglichkeit, die unterschiedlichen Muskel (Muskelgruppen) einzeln oder mehrere gleichzeitig mit demselben Fitnessgerät zu trainieren
• - konstante und gleichmäßige Belastung der Körpermuskel während der Durchführung jeder Trainingsübung
• - unkomplizierte Bedienung
• - längere Lebensdauer
• - einfache Mobilität (das Fitnessgerät einfach mitzunehmen und zu transportieren)

The object of the invention is to develop a compact fitness device with high flexibility, mobility and efficiency for training the body muscles, which has the following properties compared to the prior art:

• - Compact design with a large variety of training exercises
• - the possibility of training the different muscles (muscle groups) individually or several at the same time with the same fitness machine
• - constant and even load on the muscles of the body during the performance of each training exercise
• - uncomplicated operation
• - longer lifetime
• - easy mobility (easy to take and transport the fitness machine)

This object is achieved according to the invention by the characterizing features of patent claim 1 in conjunction with the preamble of patent claim 1 .

An advantageous embodiment of the subject of the invention provides for the deflection pulleys and holding devices for the expander cable ends to be placed on a compact base plate of the fitness device in such a way that the expander cable, with its course defined by these components, forms several expander cable loops (inner, outer) on the base plate and thus forms its own for body muscle training large usable length can be realized in a small space. The expander rope loops are an important instrument for realizing the various training loads.

The base plate is the base of the subject invention on which the structure is placed. The deflection rollers are positioned and fixed offset to one another in terms of depth, height and width on the base plate. They form a rectangular arrangement. In this case, the deflection rollers can be divided into rows on the base plate. Below and above the deflection pulleys, the expander rope is pulled through and connects the deflection pulleys with each other. The two ends of the expander rope are fixed on the base plate using the holding devices and thus form a closed expander rope deflection pulley system. With the holding devices, it is also possible to adjust the usable expander rope length (expander rope section that lies between the two holding devices and wraps around the deflection pulleys). The expander rope loops are formed with the help of the deflection pulleys and holding devices.

Thus, a very large length of expander rope that can be used for the execution of the training exercises can be accommodated on the compact base plate. The greater the usable length of the expander rope with the same stretching path, the more homogeneous / constant the expander rope pull force (training load) acts on the user. In addition, the expander cable capacity is not fully utilized. This extends its lifespan.

In order to make the use of the pulley expander rope fitness device more convenient, the pulley expander rope fitness device is equipped with two handles for pulling on the expander rope. Each handle is designed in such a way that the inner and outer expander rope loops can be mounted on the handle as desired. When performing the training exercises or setting the various

Expander rope loop configurations, the axial relative movements of the expander rope take place along the handles. The design of the handles allows for these relative movements and thus enables the expander rope to expand unhindered and homogeneously over its entire usable length.

For this subject of the invention, it is advantageous to use an elastic expander rope to generate the training load. The elastic expander rope can preferably consist of a rubber core (natural or synthetic rubber), which is protected with a plastic braid on the outside. Such expander ropes have a very high tensile strength and robustness, with very good elasticity and elongation.

It is of particular advantage to make the base plate from a lightweight material such as plastic, composite or hardwood. The same effect can be achieved with a lightweight construction made of metallic materials. In order to improve the user's secure footing on the base plate, it would be advisable to equip the top of the base plate in the user's foot area with rubber pads.

The holding devices for the bungee cord ends can be designed as a type of clamping mechanism. This has the advantage that the expander cable does not have to be equipped with any additional elements for fixing in the holding devices. In addition, the usable expander rope length would be easier to set.

For reasons of weight and cost, the deflection rollers can be made of plastic or light metal. For smooth rotation of the pulleys, the pulleys can be mounted in the pulley holders. Ball bearings can be used for functional and cost reasons.

The handles can be fitted with some form of rope suspension, e.g. several hooks (preferably two for each bungee cord loop) which allow the bungee cord to be pulled while at the same time allowing the bungee cord to expand and slide in the handle. So that the sliding and expansion of the bungee cord in the handle can run as smoothly as possible, it is advantageous to take appropriate measures to minimize the friction between the rope suspension and the bungee cord. For example, the rollers can be built into the cable suspension. Another solution could be to coat the cable suspension with friction-reducing materials (e.g. Teflon).

So that the expander rope can remain securely in the tracks of the deflection rollers when performing the training exercises, it is advantageous to mount the deflection roller holders in the base plate and to design them to rotate about their vertical central axes. In this case, each deflection roller can rotate about its vertical center axis together with the associated deflection roller holder.

• 1: Verwendung aller Expanderseilschleifen (innere und äußere).
• 2: Verwendung nur der äußeren Expanderseilschleife
• 3: Verwendung nur einer (hier der linken) Seite des Umlenkrollen-Expanderseilfitnessgerätes und seiner äußeren Expanderseilschleife
• 4: Abbildung der Handgriffkonstruktion
• 5: Abbildung der Umlenkrolle und des Umlenkrollenhalters

The other constructive details and the possible uses of the pulley expander rope fitness device are also shown in several figures:

• 1 : Use of all bungee cord loops (inner and outer).
• 2 : Use only the outer bungee cord loop
• 3 : Using only one (here the left) side of the pulley expander rope fitness device and its outer loop of expander rope
• 4 : Illustration of the handle construction
• 5 : Illustration of the idler pulley and idler pulley holder

Note: in the starting position of each training exercise, the user keeps the expander rope pretensioned.

the 1 describes the function, construction and possible applications of the pulley expander rope fitness device with the maximum possible training load.

Explanation: here both expander rope loops, the inner 6 and the outer 4, are used for training. The user 1 stands on the base plate 8 and uses the handles 2 to hold the expander cable 3 strongly pretensioned before the start of the training exercise. The two ends of the expander rope are fixed to the base plate 8 using the two holding devices 9 . The two expander rope loops 6 and 4 are suspended from the handles 2. By moving the handles 2 upwards, the expander cable 3 is stretched. In this case, the pulley expander rope fitness device includes eight pulleys 5 arranged in three rows. Each deflection roller 5 is rotatably installed in the associated deflection roller holder 7 . For a better function, the deflection rollers 5 and deflection roller holder 7 should be provided with the bearings. During the training exercise, the maximum possible training load acts on user 1. The tensile force utilization of the expander cable 3 is high. This setting is well suited for training strong muscles (e.g. leg muscles).

the 2 describes the function, construction and possible applications of the pulley expander rope fitness device with reduced training load.

Explanation: here only the outer expander rope loop 4 on both sides (left and right) is used for training. Because the inner expander rope loop 6 has lost its length due to the pulling on the outer expander rope loop 4 due to the design and the outer one has gained, the pretensioning force of the expander rope 3 has fallen. In such a case, the training load for the user 1 is reduced. The upward movement of the handles 2 is easier. This setting works well for training the arms.

the 3 describes the function, construction and possible uses of the pulley expander rope fitness device with a minimum training load.

Explanation: here only one side of the outer expander rope loop 4 is used for training. In such a case, the user 1 holds the expander cable 3 slightly pretensioned with one hand before beginning the exercise. During the exercise (stretching the arm upwards) the user has a low training load. Such loads are used, for example, to train the shoulder.

the 4 describes the construction of handle 2.

Explanation:

In each handle 2 an expander cable suspension 10 is installed. The bungee cord 3 runs inside the bungee cord hanger (the outer bungee cord loop 4 passes through the outer elements of the bungee cord hanger and the inner bungee cord loop 6 through the inner elements of the bungee cord hanger) and lies tensioned on their contact surfaces in the loaded state.

• 1) Übertragung der radialen Expanderseilkräfte weiter an den Anwender 1
• 2) Mit ihrer Konstruktion lassen sich die Handgriffe 2 bei Bedarf vom Expanderseil 3 demontieren oder in den folgenden Konfigurationen die Expanderseilschleifen drauf anhängen lassen:
  • - nur äußere
  • - äußere und innere
  • - nur innere
• 3) Angehängtes Expanderseil 3 ist in seiner axialen Richtung nicht fixiert und kann durch die Expanderseilaufhängung 10 frei gleiten und sich ausdehnen.

The expander rope suspension 10 has several functions:

• 1) Transmission of the radial expander rope forces to the user 1
• 2) With their design, the handles 2 can be removed from the expander rope 3 if necessary, or the expander rope loops can be attached to them in the following configurations:
  • - only outer
  • - outer and inner
  • - only inner
• 3) Suspended bungee cord 3 is not fixed in its axial direction and is free to slide and expand through the bungee cord hanger 10 .

the 5 shows the deflection roller 5 and the deflection roller holder 7. The deflection roller 5 is installed in the deflection roller holder 7 so that it can rotate axially. The deflection roller holders 7 are rotatably mounted in the base plate.

Reference List

1

user

2

handle

3

expander rope

4

Outer expander rope loop

5

pulley

6

Inner expander rope loop

7

pulley holder

8th

base plate

9

holding device

10

Expander rope suspension

Claims (12)

training device with an arrangement of spaced-apart deflection rollers arranged on a base plate and an expander cable which is guided in loops over the deflection pulleys, with the ends of the expander cable being fixed. training device claim 1 characterized in that the deflection rollers are spaced apart from one another along one longitudinal side of the base plate. Training device according to one of Claims 1 or 2 characterized in that the deflection rollers are arranged spaced apart from one another both along a longitudinal side and in the depth of the base plate. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 3 characterized in that the deflection rollers are arranged parallel to a longitudinal side of the base plate in rows of at least two deflection rollers each. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 4 characterized in that at least some of the deflection rollers are arranged in the corner positions of a square. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 5 characterized in that at least sections of the loops of the expander cable extend approximately parallel to the longitudinal side of the base plate. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 6 characterized in that at least one end, preferably both ends of the expander cable are fixed to the base plate in a detachable and/or adjustable manner in terms of length. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 7 characterized in that a pull handle carries at least a portion of a loop, preferably two loops, which extend transversely to the longitudinal side of the base plate between pulleys. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 8th characterized in that the pull handle is arranged in a section of a loop of the bungee cord in which the bungee cord runs between two rows of deflection rollers. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 9 characterized in that the pull handle is guided through several loops. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 10 characterized in that the deflection rollers are variably mounted in their alignment on the base plate. Training device according to one of Claims 1 until 11 characterized in that the deflection rollers are variably mounted in their position on the base plate.

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