DE29720263U1 - Leg trainers, especially for use by the elderly and disabled - Google Patents

Description

PLAY-TEAM Play Equipment Sales GmbH I '**. .

"Leg Trainer" ·!····*

- 1 Description

The invention relates to a leg trainer, in particular for use by elderly and disabled people. 5

A leg trainer is a training device that is used to strengthen the leg muscles. Such training devices are available in a wide variety of versions, and are primarily designed for use in fitness/health studios or at home. Such training devices usually have an adjustable counterweight that can be set in motion by the leg muscles during training, thereby specifically increasing the athletic performance of the leg muscles.

The big disadvantage is that such well-known training devices are not suitable for use by older and disabled people. It may be impossible or difficult for older and disabled people to assume the training position prescribed on such well-known training devices. For example, a person with a disability in the arm area cannot hold on or support themselves sufficiently if a standing position is prescribed as the training position. In addition, older and disabled people often find the prescribed training position uncomfortable. In addition, such well-known training devices are designed for a load range that would overload the leg muscles of older and disabled people, so that there is a high risk of injury.

PLAY-TEAM Play Equipment Sales GmbH
"Leg trainer"

However, training the leg muscles is also particularly important for older and disabled people. Targeted strengthening of the leg muscles means that many movements and activities that are essential for everyday life, such as standing up, sitting down, climbing stairs or walking, can be carried out more easily and, above all, more safely. On the other hand, leg training can train body awareness, which decreases with increasing age, by consciously directing attention to the phases of tension and relaxation during the movement. The repeated perception of alternation between muscle tension and muscle relaxation leads to an improvement in body awareness, which enables the ability to acquire or regain the ability to feel one's own muscles in order to be able to counteract muscle tension in good time.

Based on the aforementioned aspects, the invention has set itself the task of providing a leg trainer that is suitable for use by elderly and disabled people.

For this purpose, the invention proposes a leg trainer in which at least one rope- or band-shaped elastic member pre-tensioned between posts is arranged in the longitudinal direction in front of a chair- or bench-like seating device, whereby the person exercising assumes a comfortable sitting position on the chair- or bench-like seating device in order to stretch the at least one rope- or band-shaped elastic member 0 directly over the legs.

In the leg trainer according to the invention, the person exercising sits on a chair or bench-like seat,

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH I ***. .jj . *..j .*

"Leg trainer" *···«· ··· ··· ···

This means that the training position is a normal sitting position in everyday life. This offers the great advantage for older and disabled people that they can usually comfortably assume their training position without any further help. Their bodies are also provided with comfortable and secure support, as the chair or bench-like seating device has a seat and backrest. The pleasant sitting position makes it possible to train their legs particularly comfortably, which makes it considerably easier to counteract the fear of contact that older and disabled people have in order to motivate them to do leg training.

Another great advantage is that when stretching at least one rope or band-shaped elastic element over the legs, at least four different exercises are possible, each of which requires different leg muscle groups. Firstly, the elastic element can be stretched over the bottom of the foot in the sense of pushing it away from the body, which trains the extensor muscles of the legs.

Secondly, the elasticity can be stretched over the top of the foot in the sense of pulling it towards the body if the flexor muscles of the legs are to be trained. Thirdly, the elasticity can be stretched over the heel or the calf in the sense of pressing it downwards, and fourthly over the top of the foot or the shin in the sense of pressing it upwards, whereby the extensor and flexor muscles of the legs are also trained. By combining the above exercises, an almost unlimited number of different exercises can be achieved, so that all leg muscles and even some core muscles can be specifically trained.

ft

»

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH I ***. . . "Leg trainer" ······ ···

The use of at least one rope or band-shaped elastic element pre-tensioned between the posts is particularly advantageous because the resistance force to be overcome during leg training can be easily varied by pre-tensioning several elastic elements parallel to one another between the posts in order to increase the resistance force in accordance with the number of elastic elements, or by lengthening or shortening the at least one elastic element in order to increase or decrease the resistance force in accordance with the length of the at least one elastic element. By varying the resistance force to be overcome during leg training, the training intensity can be increased, which enables leg training that is motivating through variety and demanding in the long term.

In order to securely fasten the at least one elastic element to the post for pre-tensioning so that the at least one elastic element cannot come loose and injure the person exercising, eyelets can be provided on the post, for example, into which the at least one elastic element is fastened using snap hooks. Likewise, other known securing mechanisms can be provided for fastening the at least one elastic element to the post.

In order to be able to adjust the resistance force to be overcome during leg training in a particularly convenient way, it can be provided that the distance between the 0 posts, which hold at least one rope or band-shaped elastic element, is adjustable. This is because the resistance force is increased or reduced according to the principle of lengthening or shortening.

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH I *"» . ! I . *..&iacgr; .*

"Leg trainer" ··· ··· ··· »·· ·· ·

of at least one elastic element. It is important that the adjustment device for adjusting the distance between the posts can be operated comfortably from a sitting position, for example via a rod or a cable. The adjustment device allows the resistance to be adjusted very precisely to the training level of the person training and can be systematically increased as the training level improves. So that the person training can remember the last set load intensity either for recovery or to set a higher resistance level for the next training session, the resistance set via the adjustment device can be read on a scale.

It is particularly advantageous if the chair or bench-like seating device is arranged at an adjustable distance from the at least one rope or band-shaped elastic element. This is because the adjustability of the distance between the at least one rope or band-shaped elastic element and the seating device makes it possible to adapt the leg trainer to the body proportions of the person exercising relatively precisely, resulting in high training efficiency. If the extensor muscles of the legs are to be trained, the distance is set in such a way that the bottom of the foot rests on the elastic element, with the upper and lower legs of the legs ideally forming a right angle. If the flexor muscles of the legs are to be trained, the distance is set in such a way that the top of the foot rests on the elastic element, with the legs ideally only slightly bent at the knee joint.

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH I "*, . "Leg trainer" ······*

According to a preferred embodiment, a tubular support is provided which accommodates the posts between which the at least one elastic member is pre-tensioned and the seat device. The tubular support can then be attached to a floor surface in order to give the leg trainer a firm and secure stand. Preferably, the tubular support is attached to the floor surface by means of a detachable connection. This means that the leg trainer, if it is set up outdoors, for example, can be easily removed during periods of bad weather in order to store it in a protected place. In this context, it is also important that the leg trainer is characterized by very good transportability due to the tubular support.

The support can be connected in one piece with the posts, between which the at least one elastic member is pre-tensioned, and/or the seat device. If the seat device consists, for example, of a tubular frame that accommodates a seat and back surface individually or a seat shell forming the seat and back surface, the tubular frame can be designed as a fixed component of the tubular support, which results in a cost-effective design, since connecting means between the seat device and the support are saved.

Likewise, the posts between which the at least one elastic member is prestressed can be designed as a fixed component of the tubular support.

In order to adjust the distance between the seat device and the at least one elastic member, the carrier has an adjustment mechanism. Due to the tubular shape of the carrier, such an adjustment mechanism can preferably be manufactured by the carrier consisting of two parts,

- .. . t »»t« ft ·■* »t*r

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH I *"*· · &idigr; · · *··· ·*

"Bemtramer" ··· ··■· ··· ··· ···

wherein one part accommodates the posts between which the at least one elastic member is pre-tensioned and the other part accommodates the seat device, and the two parts are connected to one another by the one and the other part being designed as tubes that can slide into one another at the connection point. In this way, the adjustment of the distance between the at least one elastic member and the seat device is easily possible by pushing the two parts together or apart. In order to lock the two parts against one another after the distance has been adjusted, for example, congruent cross-bores can be provided on the tubes that can slide into one another, through which bolts can be inserted so that the tubes can no longer slide into one another, the bolts being secured against falling out by a spring and/or screw. Alternatively, for particularly convenient adjustment of the distance between the seating device and the at least one elastic member, an adjustment mechanism is preferable which can be conveniently operated from the sitting position via a rod or a cable pull.

Alternatively, the posts between which the at least one elastic member is pre-tensioned and/or the seat device can be attached to a floor surface, whereby the support can be dispensed with. In this case, an existing garden or park bench can be used as the seat device, in front of which the at least one elastic member is arranged. In order to adjust the distance between the at least one elastic member and the seat device, it can be provided, for example, that the posts which accommodate the at least one elastic member are arranged so that they can be moved and locked on rails which are embedded in the floor surface or fastened to the floor surface. In this way,

I ···· t · ti

"PLAY-TEAM Play Equipment Sales GmbH

"Leg trainer" ··· ··· ··· ··· ··

This type of leg trainer can be provided at a particularly low cost and is particularly suitable for outdoor use.

In order to allow the leg trainer to be adjusted even more precisely to the body proportions of the person exercising, which is desirable when used by elderly and disabled people not only to increase training efficiency but above all for ergonomic reasons, it can be provided that at least one elastic element and/or the seat device can be adjusted in height. In addition to adjusting the distance between the at least one elastic element and the seat device, this results in a further adjustment parameter, namely the distance between the at least one elastic element and the seat surface of the seat device.

However, the leg trainer can also be used advantageously as an arm trainer, which serves to strengthen the arm muscles, which also includes the associated shoulder, chest, neck and back muscles. To do this, the elasticity element is adjusted in height so that the person exercising can grasp the elasticity element with their hands in order to stretch it over the arms.

The ergonomic properties of the leg trainer are further improved if the inclination of the seat and/or the backrest of the seat can be adjusted. This additional setting parameter even makes it possible to use the leg trainer in a lying position in special cases. This is important, however, because for older and disabled people the lying position is often the only way to train their legs.

- 4 It** « · «f tf«t

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH : **·. . "Leg trainer" »*····

If the seat has a handle-like backrest on at least one side, there is also a holding option. This can make it easier for older and disabled people to assume a sitting position, as they can support themselves on the backrest(s). It can be advantageous if a backrest is only attached to one side of the seat, so that the older and disabled person can easily assume their position in the seat from the other side of the seat, which has no backrest, which can be the case, for example, when transferring from a wheelchair. In contrast, backrests attached to both sides of the seat are advantageous in order to be able to support the body with the arms on both sides if it is desired to do more intensive leg training.

In order to meet both of the above-mentioned requirements - being able to sit comfortably on the one hand and providing support for more intensive leg training on the other - the backrest(s) can be removable or foldable. For example, the backrest(s) can be removable using a plug-in mechanism, similar to the principle of telescoping tubes, or can be folded down using a folding mechanism so that they do not get in the way when sitting.

Furthermore, it can be provided to record a value dependent on the stretching of the at least one elastic element in order to visualize this for the person exercising. The value dependent on the stretching of the at least one elastic element can, for example, be the distance by which the at least one elastic element is stretched, which is then

&Rgr;&Idigr;,&Agr;&Udigr;-&Tgr;&Egr;&Agr;&Mgr; Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH Z "*. «

"Leg trainer" .&Idigr;...."

- 10 -

is converted into a quantity that is familiar to the person exercising, such as force, and is displayed on a display instrument, such as a dynamometer. Here too, it is important that the display instrument can be read comfortably by the person exercising from a sitting position. If the extension of at least one elastic element is recorded mechanically, then, for example, a spring arrangement can be used, via which the at least one elastic element is attached to the post, so that the spring travel proportional to the actuating force can be transmitted to the display instrument by means of a cable pull, so that this can be arranged in a convenient way for reading. However, the recording and display can also be carried out electrically/electronically in a known manner, whereby the transmission to the display instrument can even take place without contact.

An ideal supply of oxygen to stimulate metabolic processes is particularly available when doing leg training outdoors or in the great outdoors. In order to be able to use the leg trainer outdoors, it is important that at least one elastic element, the seat and the support are made of corrosion-free materials. Materials for the seat and the support can be stainless steel or aluminum alloys, which are also characterized by their low weight, while water and temperature-resistant rubber materials are preferred for the at least one elastic element. Due to the use of such materials, the leg trainer is weather-resistant, so that it is characterized by a very high level of value retention.

In addition to improving physical health through leg training, it is particularly important for older and disabled people to improve their mental well-being.

PLAY-TEAM Play Equipment Sales GmbH
" Leg trainer"

tt

- 11 -

and to increase self-esteem through social contacts. The invention therefore also relates to a leg training system in which several leg trainers of the type described so far are arranged parallel or in a circle next to one another or opposite one another. This makes leg training in a group possible. A simple design of a leg training system with leg trainers arranged parallel next to one another already exists when several people can sit next to one another on the seat (bench) and at least one elastic member is arranged in front of the seat according to the number of people sitting next to one another, whereby either the at least one elastic member and the seat can be accommodated on a tubular support or the at least one elastic member and/or the seat can be attached to a floor surface. A leg training system with leg trainers arranged opposite one another can be designed in a similar way, although at least two separate seat devices are required. In order to further promote the sense of togetherness in the group, a leg training system can be designed to have at least one elastic element that is stretched jointly by two or more people training. Furthermore, a leg training system can be designed to have the distance between the at least one elastic element and the seat device fixed in the sense of being non-adjustable for each or almost every leg trainer, but each or almost every leg trainer has a different distance between the at least one elastic element and the seat device. This would make it unnecessary to adjust the distance before using the leg trainer, since the people training

» ttl« · « t« *ttf

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH I *"'. « I 1 . "·.! .*

"Leg trainer" ··· ··· ··· ··· ···

- 12 -

People would usually find a leg trainer that adequately fits their body proportions.

An embodiment of the leg trainer according to the invention is explained in more detail below using the single drawing.

The drawing shows a leg trainer that has an elastic element 1 that provides a counterforce to the actuation force applied by the leg muscles and, depending on the exercise, also to the actuation force applied by parts of the trunk muscles. The elastic element 1 is attached between two posts 3, 4, whereby the distance between the posts 3, 4 and the length of the elastic element 1 are selected so that the elastic element 1 is pre-tensioned between the posts 3, 4. The counterforce to be overcome by the actuation force applied is thus largely determined by the pre-tensioning force of the elastic element 1, whereby the pre-tensioning force is determined by the number of elastic elements 1 arranged parallel to one another between the posts 3, 4 or the length of the elastic element 1 attached between the posts 3, 4. In the embodiment outlined in the drawing, a band-shaped elastic element 1 is preferably used, but of course several elastic elements 1 can also be used instead, for which rope-shaped elastic elements would then be preferred, and not only for reasons of space.

In order for the person exercising to assume a comfortable sitting position in order to stretch the elastic member 1 over the legs, a seat device 5 is provided which is arranged in the longitudinal direction, or ideally parallel to the elastic member 1. The seat device 5 is designed like a chair or bench, i.e. it has a seat surface 8 and a

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH *; ·**. . *; Z , »,,J .* "Leg trainer" .!··..* .!. *!. ·.* !

Back surface 9 to allow the person exercising to sit comfortably on the one hand, and to offer their body a comfortable and secure support on the other.

The posts 3, 4 holding the elastic member 1 and the seating device 5 are accommodated on a tubular support 6, and the posts 3, 4 can also be connected in one piece to the tubular support 6. The tubular support 6 also serves as a frame 12 for the seating device 5. The frame 12 accommodates the seat surface 8 and the back surface 9, which here are each made of beam-shaped profiles made of a weather-resistant plastic, wood or metal.

The posts 3, 4 are stiffened along the direction of action of the actuating force applied when the elastic member 1 is stretched by connecting the posts 3, 4 to the support 6. In order to stiffen the posts 3, 4 transversely to the direction of action of the actuating force, the posts 3, 4 are connected along the direction of action of the actuating force, i.e. parallel to the elastic member 1, via a bracket-like strut 2.

The tubular support 6 has an adjustment mechanism 7 (not shown in detail) to adjust the distance between the seat device 5 and the elastic member 1, so that the person exercising assumes a comfortable sitting position in order to be able to stretch the elastic member 1 comfortably over the legs. The adjustment mechanism 7 is created in principle by the tubular support 6 comprising two parts, one part of which accommodates the posts 3, 4 holding the elastic member 1 and the other part of the seat device 5. In order to connect the two parts together,

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH *; "··. . II . ',,J .· "Leg trainer" .1. ...* .!. .!· ,·* &idiagr;

- 14 -

the two parts are designed as tubes that slide into one another at the connection point. This means that the distance between the elastic member 1 and the seat device 5 can be easily adjusted relative to one another by pushing the two parts together or apart. So that the two parts can be locked against one another after the distance has been adjusted, the tubes that slide into one another have congruent cross holes through which bolts can be inserted or screwed so that the tubes can no longer slide into one another, whereby the bolts are spring-supported and secured against loosening due to vibrations that occur when the leg trainer is used.

If an even more precise adjustment of the leg trainer to the body proportions of the person exercising is desired, the distance between the elastic member 1 and the seat surface 8 of the seat device 5 can also be adjustable. This can also be achieved by means of an adjustment device that functions according to the previously explained 0 principle of the telescoping tubes, in that either the posts 3, 4 holding the elastic member 1 and/or the seat device 5 are adjustable in height.

The leg trainer sketched in the drawing is expanded by a further seat device 5a, which is arranged opposite the seat device 5, to form a leg training system in which an elastic member 1, which is preferably in the form of a band, is stretched by a person exercising alone or by several people exercising together as a group. The seat device 5a is also accommodated on a tubular support 6a, with the tubular support 6a also serving as a

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH "Leg Trainer"

•t *·*«

- 15 -

Frame 12a for the seat device 5a. The tubular support 6a also has an adjustment mechanism 7a (not shown in detail) to adjust the distance between the seat device 5a and the elastic member 1. The connection of the two supports 6, 6a that accommodate the seat devices 5, 5a is made via the posts 3, 4, so that the elastic member and the seat devices 5, 5a are arranged parallel to one another. It is understood that alternatively the seat devices 5, 5a can be accommodated by a common support - in the sense that the supports 6, 6a are connected in one piece - to which/by which the posts 3 are then attached/accommodated.

Finally, the following should be noted. Even if the leg trainer is primarily intended for use by older and disabled people, this should of course not exclude its use by younger people. Younger people can also be disabled, for example as a result of an accident or illness, at least temporarily, so that they are confronted with the same problems as older and disabled people and are urgently dependent on the use of a leg trainer according to the invention, for example as part of a rehabilitation measure.

Claims (14)

PLAY-TEAM Spielgeräte Vertriebs GmbH J "··» . ; J . %.J .· "Leg trainer" .J, ...* .!, »J. ,.* I - 16 -Protection claims 1. Leg trainer, in particular for use by elderly and disabled people, characterized in that at least one rope or band-shaped elastic member (1) pre-tensioned between posts (3, 4) is arranged in the longitudinal direction in front of a chair or bench-like seating device (5, 5a), wherein the person exercising assumes a comfortable sitting position on the chair or bench-like seating device (5, 5a) in order to stretch the at least one rope or band-shaped elastic member (1) directly over the legs. 2. Leg trainer according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance between the posts (3, 4) which accommodate the at least one rope- or band-shaped elastic member (1) is adjustable. 3. Leg trainer according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chair- or bench-like seating device (5, 5a) is arranged at an adjustable distance from the at least one rope- or band-shaped elastic member (1). 4. Leg trainer according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized characterized in that a tubular support (6, 6a) is provided which accommodates the posts (3, 4), between which the at least one elastic member (1) is prestressed, and the seat device (5, 5a). 0 5. Leg trainer according to claim 4, characterized in that the carrier (6, 6a) is connected in one piece to the posts (3, 4), between which the at least one elastic member (1) is prestressed, and/or to the seat device (5, 5a). PLAY-TBAM Play Equipment Sales GmbH * *·" • * · * · *·* "Leg trainer" .2. ..»* ·&idiagr;· *?« ,»* - 17 - 6. Leg trainer according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the carrier (6, 6a) has an adjustment mechanism (7, 7a) in order to adjust the distance of the seat device (5, 5a) from the at least one elastic member (1). 7. Leg trainer according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the posts (3, 4), between which the at least one elastic member (1) is pre-tensioned, and/or the seat device (5, 5a) are fastened to a floor surface. 8. Leg trainer according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the at least one elastic member (1) and/or the seat device (5, 5a) are adjustable in height. 9. Leg trainer according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the seat surface (8) and/or the back surface (9) of the seat device (5, 5a) are adjustable in inclination. 10. Leg trainer according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the seat device (5, 5a) has a handle-like backrest (10) on at least one side. 11. Leg trainer according to claim 10, characterized in that the backrest (10) is removable or foldable. 12. Leg trainer according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that it is provided to detect a value dependent on the stretching of the at least one elastic element (1) in order to visualize this to the person exercising. PLAY-TEAM Play Equipment Sales GmbH "Leg trainer" ·!» ···' .*· ·*· »·* * - 18 - 13. Leg trainer according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least the at least one elastic member (1), the seat device (5, 5a) and the carrier (6, 6a) are made of corrosion-free materials. 14. Leg training system, characterized in that several leg trainers according to one of claims 1 to 13 are arranged parallel or in a circle next to one another or opposite one another.