DE29617030U1 - Training device - Google Patents

Description

Dipl. Phys.

Patent Attorney - European t*atent »Attorney ··*
Schillerstr. 5, 85567 Grafing b. Munich

Applicant: Silvester Neidhardt File: SN-I

Hanns-Christof Schwankner
29 September 1996

Training device

The invention relates to a training device for training the leg muscles.

A conventional device for training the leg muscles is the so-called leg press or leg machine, which has a stable seat for a person training, opposite which a pusher element is arranged, which is pushed away from the seat with the legs. By pushing away, a weight is usually lifted by the pusher element, whereby the weight force is transferred to the legs. A leg machine of this type is suitable for building muscle and is used for maximum strength training as the first training measure to improve explosive strength. Explosive strength is the ability to achieve a high force impulse in the shortest possible time due to the high contraction speed of the muscles. With a high training weight and long-lasting training, maximum strength training can have a negative effect on speed and thus on explosive strength. This is attributed to the slow movements. In addition, such "strength machines", such as the leg machine, have the disadvantage that they are expensive due to the enormous technical effort involved.

In order to train the leg muscles specifically for explosive strength and explosive endurance, running and jumping exercises have been performed. Explosive strength endurance refers to the speed

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Resistance to fatigue-related deceleration at maximum contraction speed, especially during cyclic movements.

With stretch jumps, where you jump up from the ground with both legs and cushion the weight when landing with your legs, you train your explosive strength and explosive strength endurance. The focus of training can be on the jump upwards or on cushioning when landing, by performing the stretch jump over a step up or over a step down. When jumping upwards, the concentric movement of the muscles is trained, i.e. the contraction of the muscles is encouraged, whereas cushioning trains the eccentric movement of the muscles. The eccentric movement is usually not trained sufficiently for many sports, such as tennis or skiing, in order to be able to adequately absorb and compensate for the loads on the legs.

The intensity of the training, especially the strength component, can only be varied in the case of stretch jumps by the number of jumps and a weight that is placed on the shoulders of the person being trained in the form of dumbbells or hung around the person in the form of a sand jacket. Adding weight has significant disadvantages. When landing, the load on the knees is significantly increased by the downward impulse of the weight. In addition, the weight rests on the back of the person being trained, which can lead to injuries and signs of wear and tear due to the high load on the back and lumbar region.

The invention is based on the object of creating a device so that the explosive strength and explosive strength endurance of the leg muscles can be specifically trained at a high training intensity, whereby unnecessary strain on the back and knees is avoided and the device is also simply constructed.

The object is achieved by a device having the features of claim 1.

With the training device according to the invention, the leg muscles can be trained extremely intensively, especially with stretch jumps. When stretching upwards during a stretch jump, the legs are stretched against the effect of the body's own weight and the effect of the band. The force stimulus from the stretched band is maintained throughout the jump. When landing, the legs are stretched again slightly against the elastic force of the band in order to be able to cushion the landing. When cushioning, the leg muscles have to absorb both the impulse of the body weight and the tension energy of the band, so that this represents an extremely intensive exercise for the eccentric movement of the leg muscles without putting any strain on the back.

In a particularly advantageously designed training device, the band is attached approximately in the middle of the belt so that when the training device is put on, it grips the belt in the area of the back, with the loop for the foot being double-layered in the area attached to the band so that the inner layer is free of load and at the same time is adjustable in length so that the foot can be easily and permanently fixed. This arrangement and design of the training device according to the invention is very simple, with the rear attachment of the band to the belt and the loops reliably preventing the band from rubbing on the outside of the leg, since the band is only in contact with the outside of the leg in a very short area in the area of the lower leg due to the rear attachment, and due to the clear fixation by the loops, there is hardly any relative movement between the outside of the leg and the band.

Preferably, the band is made of latex, because it has been surprisingly shown that once the band has reached a certain stretch, further stretching with a constant stretching force

A single latex band can therefore be used for legs of different lengths, whereby the same stretching force must be overcome regardless of the leg length. In most cases, there is no need to adjust the length of the band.

Advantageous embodiments are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is described in more detail by way of example with reference to the drawings. The drawings show, in simplified form:

Fig. la to Ii the use of the device according to the invention in individual schematically illustrated stages of the stretch jump;

Fig. 2a is a side view of a training device according to the invention applied to a body;

Fig. 2b is a perspective view of the training device shown in Fig. 2a;

Fig. 3a is a side view of another on a body

training device according to the invention;
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Fig. 3b is a plan view of the belt of the training device shown in Fig. 3a;

Fig. 3c is an exploded perspective view of the training device shown in Fig. 3a;

Fig. 4a is a side view of another training device according to the invention applied to a body;

Fig. 4b is a perspective view of the training device shown in Fig. 4a.

The training device according to the invention comprises a belt 1, which is strapped around the waist. An elastic band 2 is attached to the belt 1, whereby preferably two elastic bands 2 are attached to the belt 1. Each band 2 has a loop 3 into which the person being trained can slip a foot, so that tension is created between the hip and foot when the legs are stretched out.

When stretching upwards during a jump (Fig. Ia-Ic), the legs are stretched against the effect of the body's own weight and the effect of the band. The force stimulus from the stretched band is maintained throughout the jump (Fig. Ie-Ig), which is shown somewhat exaggerated in Fig. If. When landing, the legs are stretched again slightly against the elastic force of band 2 (Fig. Ig-Ih), in order to be able to cushion the landing (Fig. Ih-Ii). When cushioning, the leg muscles must absorb both the impulse of the body weight and the tension energy of band 2, so that this represents an extremely intensive exercise for the eccentric movement of the leg muscles.

The constant stimulation of the muscles due to the permanent resistance of the band promotes explosive strength endurance during stretch jumps with the device according to the invention, as the legs are constantly under tension. In addition, the rapid jumping movements during stretch jumps with the training device according to the invention prevent the contraction speed from decreasing despite an increase in maximum strength or explosive strength endurance.

When doing stretch jumps with the training device according to the invention, the knees and back are not subjected to any greater strain than with normal stretch jumps without weight, although a much greater training effect is achieved. In fact, the knees are even relieved, since with the training device according to the invention the height of the stretch jumps is lower than with stretch jumps without a device and thus the impact

energy is lower.

The length of the band 2 of the training device according to the invention is preferably so long that when the training device is put on in the bend, the band 2 is not under tension when the knee angle 4, i.e. the angle between the lower leg and the thigh, is greater than or equal to 90 degrees. This is because at an angle of less than 90 degrees, the load is concentrated on the miniski, and if the angle is equal to 90 degrees, the load is concentrated on the kneecap. These are sensitive areas of the knee that should not be subjected to excessive load.

With the training device according to the invention, extremely intensive leg training can be carried out, which places neither excessive strain on the knees nor on the back.

An essential aspect of the training device according to the invention is the ability to control the intensity of the training, in particular the strength component of the jumping power, for example by exchanging bands 2 with different elasticities. This allows the training to be specifically tailored to the physical condition of the individual training person.

Figures 2a to 4b show preferred embodiments of the training device according to the invention.

The belt 1 is made of a wide foam band (PE foam with a thickness of 10 mm, e.g. quality L 1680) which is covered by a plastic fabric, e.g. a nylon fabric with PU or acrylic coating. Such a plastic fabric is water-repellent and resistant to the sweat produced during the exercises. The belt 1 has a width of about 6 cm at its ends and a width of about 13 cm in the central area Ib. Such a wide belt 1, which gradually widens towards the central area Ib, distributes the forces that occur evenly in the hip area, so that even stronger forces can be comfortably absorbed.

A firm strap 6 (Fig. 3b) is sewn onto the outer surface of the belt. The strap 6 is made of a firm plastic fabric (e.g. polyester fabric) with a width of 2.5 cm, for example. The ends 6a of the strap 6 are extended beyond the ends la of the belt 1 and can be connected to a known plastic buckle 7a, so that the belt 1 is tightly tightened around the hips.

Two straps 2 are attached to the central area 1b of the belt 1 on the back with their upper ends 2a. The locations of the attachment of the straps 2 are preferably chosen so that they are located approximately in the middle above a straight extension of the back of the thighs and the pelvic bones protruding outwards at the sides. The loops 3 are attached to the lower ends 2b of the straps 2. The loop 3 is made of a strong plastic fabric (e.g. polyester fabric) with a width of 5 cm, for example. In the area attached to the strap 2, the loop 3 is double-layered with an outer layer 7 and an inner layer 8. The outer layer 7 is a section of the surrounding plastic fabric and is connected to the strap 2 so that the inner layer 8 is free of load. The inner layer 8 is adjustable in length so that a foot can be easily and permanently fixed. It consists, for example, of a Velcro fastener. By fastening the straps 2 to the belt 1 at the back and providing the loop 3, the strap 2 is guided from the hip area to the foot around the outside of the leg, whereby the strap 2 only comes into contact with the leg in the area of the lower leg (this is not apparent from the simplified schematic drawings). When the leg is bent and stretched, chafing is reliably prevented, since there is hardly any relative movement between the strap 2 and the outside of the leg, since the lower end 2b of the strap 2 is clearly fixed by the loop 3 according to the invention.

Since the foot is firmly fixed in the loop 3 and the band 2 is guided outwards around the leg, a slight pronation

of the foot, so that twisting of the ankle joint is safely avoided.

The band 2 is preferably made of latex, because it has surprisingly been shown that once the band has reached a certain stretch, it will continue to stretch with a constant stretching force. A single band 2 made of latex can thus be used for legs of different lengths, whereby the same stretching force must be overcome regardless of the leg length. In most cases, it is therefore not necessary to adjust the length of the band 2. Such latex bands are sold, for example, under the trade name Theraband, whereby a strand of several Therabands forms a band 2 for the training device according to the invention. These Therabands are preferably covered with a synthetic stretch fabric.

The band 2 can also be made from a latex tube that has a relatively thick latex layer. A band 2 made from such a latex tube has no sheath.

To anchor the strap 2, a holding loop 10 is guided around the belt 1. The holding loop 10 is made of a solid strap, e.g. a woven strap, and is sewn to the belt 1.

In a first embodiment (Fig. 2a, 2b) two holding loops 10 are provided, to each of which a band 2 is permanently attached with its upper end 2a. The lower end 2b of the band 2 is firmly connected in a corresponding manner to the loop 3 or its outer layer 7. It is of course also possible to provide the connection points between the band 2 and the holding loop 10 or the loop 3 with detachable means, such as snap buckles.

A second embodiment of the invention {Fig. 3a, 3b, 3c) has two holding loops 10 arranged parallel and close to each other for holding a band 2, to which

a plug-in element 11a is attached to a buckle 11. The corresponding mating plug-in elements 11b are attached to the ends 2a, 2b of the band 2, so that a band 2 is attached to the belt 1 with its two ends 2a, 2b forming a loop. The band 2 is guided around the outer layer 7 of the loop 3, so that the loop 3 is hooked onto the band 2. This arrangement has the advantage that a detachable connection is created between the band 2 and the belt 1 and the loop 3, whereby no additional fastening means such as buckles are necessary in the area of the foot loop 3.

A further embodiment of the invention has additional bands 12 which are attached to the end areas 1a of the belt 2 by means of holding loops 13 and are used for training the arms. When the training device is in place, the bands 12 are located on the front of the body so that they are easily accessible.

If the latex tube is used as band 2, a ball is inserted into the hollow strap to attach it to the retaining strap 10, to a buckle 11 or to the loop 3, which expands the tube so that a tight loop made of a plastic fabric can be placed around the tube, which is permanently attached to the band 2 through the expanded area. The corresponding parts can be sewn onto the tight loop.

Claims (16)

&iacgr;&ogr; Claims 1. Training device for training the leg muscles,
marked by, a belt (1) to be attached to the hip of a training person, an elastic band (2) attached to the belt (1), and a loop (3) provided on the band (2) which can be pulled over the foot of the person being trained. 2. Training device according to claim 1,
characterized, that two elastic bands (2) each with a loop (3) are attached to the belt (1). 0 3. Training device according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized, that the elastic band (2) or the elastic bands (2) are attached to the belt (1) approximately in the middle area (Ib), so that when the training device is put on, they grip the belt (1) in the side area of the back of the person being trained. 4. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized, that the belt (1) is made of a wide foam band which is covered by a plastic fabric. 5. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized, that the belt (1) is narrower at its ends (la) than in the central area (Ib), whereby at its ends it has a width of 8 cm, for example, and in the central area it has a width of 11
width of 13 cm. 6. Training device according to claim 5, characterized in that the elastic band (2) or the elastic bands (2) are attached to the belt (1) with a detachable device. 7. Training device according to claim 6, characterized in that the loop or loops (3) are attached to the band (2) by a detachable device. 8. Training device according to claim &bgr; and/or 7, characterized in that that the detachable devices are snap buckles (11). 9. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that that the loop (3) is provided with a device for fixing to the foot. 10. Training device according to claim 9, characterized in that the loop (3) is double-layered in its area attached to the band (2) with an outer layer (7) and an inner layer (8), so that the inner layer (8), which is adjustable in length, is load-free. 11. Training device according to claim 10, characterized in
that the inner layer (8) is a Velcro fastener. 12. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that that the band (2) is made of latex. 13. Training device according to claim 12, characterized in
that the band (2) is made of a latex tube. 14. Training device according to claim 12, characterized in that the band (2) is composed of several latex bands which are together covered by a stretch fabric. 15. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that that the length of the band(s) (2) is such that when the training device is put on in a squat there is no tension. 16. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that that the strap(s) (2) are attached at both ends to the belt (1) so that they form a loop, wherein the loop(s) (3) are hooked onto the loop.