EP0054080B1 - Muscle exercising device - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Muscle training apparatus comprising a cross-shaped stand (1) with two horizontal arms (4, 5) and at which stand (1) a spring containing a bow-shaped handle (39) is arranged at each horizontal arm (4, 5), characterised in that at least one spring chamber (20) is arranged at each horizontal arm and at each vertical arm (2, 3, 4, 5) and a flat spiral spring of predominantly linear characteristic is contained in each spring chamber (20), and that each spiral spring is connected with a release mechanism and a pulling cable (37) and edge-free guiding means (40) are associated with each spring chamber (20) for the related pulling cable (37).

Description

The invention relates to a muscle training device from a cross-shaped frame with two horizontal arms, in which a spring with a bow handle is arranged on each horizontal arm.

A known muscle training device for training the upper body and arm muscles consists of a horizontal frame, on the crossbar of which two rollers containing guides are arranged, over which a cable runs, which carries a bow handle at one end and at the other end with a resistance-forming weight is connected (US-A 3115339). The device is operated with both arms when standing, whereby the weights are raised to different heights using the cable.

Gym equipment for performing gymnastic exercises are also known. A known device of this type, which is operated when lying down, contains a cable that runs over a roller guide arranged at the head end of a bed and ends in bow handles, into which the user grips with one foot each (US-A1240809). The user performs stretching and flexing movements with the legs in opposite phases, and the resistance is formed by the other leg of the user.

In another known gymnastics device (US-A2397054) of this type, which is operated in the ajar position, two cross-running cables are provided, which are connected to a footrest via a helical spring and extend to bow handles via a roller guide. The user grips the bow handles with his hands and works against the resistance created by the spring-loaded footrests.

A known gymnastics device (US-A 1 390 095) of the type mentioned contains a cross-shaped frame with two horizontal arms, which start from an adjustable cross head and each carry slidable brackets with a coil spring and a handle. The handles are connected to an electrical voltage source.

DE-A2304048 discloses a training device in which a drive spring contained in a housing and adjustable to selected preloads can be unwound by means of a tension band against the force of the drive spring. This in particular enables stretching training between the user's limbs; the device can also be attached to fixed counter bearings such as door handles.

A known gymnastics device (CH-A 263 306) constructed in the manner of an expander contains two chambers in a housing, in each of which a rotatable shaft is mounted. Each shaft is under the action of a spiral spring and is provided with a drum on which a cable pull with a handle is wound. Each cable pull is guided between two parallel rollers at the outlet of the housing. The housing is attached to a wall.

A known coil spring arrangement (Desoutter Bros. Ltd., Hendon, London NW9, model No. 4-D) contains a spring housing which receives a coil spring in a spring chamber which can be closed by a cover. The spring chamber has a tensioning element acting on the central axis of the spiral spring for setting a variable preload of the spiral spring and a cable pull which can be unwound from the drum against a force which can be rotated relative to the central axis.

The previously known devices are either only intended for the training of certain muscle areas through limited types of movement exercises or serve predominantly as gymnastic working devices which, through their operation, are intended to cause the user to lose weight. In general, however, muscle training requires specific sequences of movement exercises that are tailored to the muscles to be influenced. According to the prior art, these sequences of movement exercises have to be carried out on different devices. This means that different devices have to be purchased for different movement exercises, which results in an undesirably large outlay and also an undesirably large amount of space. This also has the disadvantage that it is not always possible to carry out the necessary sequence of movement exercises without interruption when changing between the different devices. Such interruptions in muscle activity, however, call into question the success of the movement exercises, since the muscles in question are to be maintained in the favorable blood circulation state caused by their actuation throughout the entire sequence of the program of the coordinated movement exercises.

Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide a muscle training device of the type mentioned at the outset, which allows the largest possible variety of movement exercises on this one device and thereby an uninterrupted sequence of entire programs of movement exercises.

According to the invention this object is achieved in that at least one spring chamber is arranged on each horizontal and each vertical arm and in each spring chamber a spiral spring with a predominantly linear characteristic is contained, and in that each spiral spring is connected to a relaxation mechanism and a cable pull and each spring chamber has an edge-free one Guide for the associated cable is assigned.

Such a device enables a large number of movement exercises in a confined space, if only for the fact that the cable pulls to be operated run to both sides and up and down, so that the movement exercises are performed even with different postures can be led. In addition, the device can be easily expanded by providing a seat or a couch so that the movement exercises can also be carried out with different body positions. A particular advantage is also achieved by the springs, which form the resistors instead of weights in the device according to the invention. This advantage is based on the fact that the springs ensure that the tension and relaxation movements of the muscles each take place against a uniformly changing counterforce, while when using weights the relaxation movement generally only results in a slackening of the muscle tensed for lifting and one back movement determined by the fall of the weight. The uniformity of the tension and relaxation movement is promoted by the fact that the springs have a predominantly linear characteristic, so that the spring elongation is always changed by the same amount regardless of the respective tension state of the spring by certain forces.

It is also advantageous if the guide for the cable has a frame which is separate from the spring chamber and the frame is connected to a carrier which can be displaced along the horizontally extending arm. In this way it is easy to reproducibly set different starting positions for movement exercises on the horizontally extending arms without the need to adjust the spring chamber.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the figures and is explained in detail below with reference to the reference numerals.

• Fig. 1 eine Gesamtansicht des erfindungsgemässen Muskeltrainingsgerätes;
• Fig. 2 eine Seitenansicht des Muskeltrainingsgerätes nach Fig. 1;
• Fig. 3 einen Längsschnitt durch eine Federkammer und eine davon getrennte Führung für den Seilzug bei dem Muskeltrainingsgerät nach Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 einen Querschnitt durch die Federkammer und die Führung nach Fig. 3;
• Fig. 5 einen Querschnitt durch einen Träger für eine Führung nach Fig. 3.

Show it:

• 1 shows an overall view of the muscle training device according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 shows a side view of the muscle training device according to FIG. 1;
• 3 shows a longitudinal section through a spring chamber and a separate guide for the cable in the muscle training device according to FIG. 1;
• 4 shows a cross section through the spring chamber and the guide according to FIG. 3;
• 5 shows a cross section through a carrier for a guide according to FIG. 3rd

According to the overall view in FIG. 1, the muscle training device consists of a frame 1 with four arms 2, 3, 4, 5 of approximately 1 m in length that run perpendicular to one another in one plane. The arms 2 and 3 go vertically and the arms 4 and 5 horizontally from a first connecting part 6, which is diamond-shaped in the exemplary embodiment shown, but can have any other suitable shape. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the arms 2, 3, 4, 5 consist of square tubes made of steel, which are welded to the first connecting part 6 made of sheet steel. The arms 2, 3, 4, 5 and the first connecting part 6 can also consist of any other suitably stable material, whereby they are connected to one another in the most appropriate manner.

The arms 2 and 3 are provided at the ends with a second or third connecting part 7 or 8 which (see FIG. 2) protrude parallel to one another from the arms 2 and 3 in the same directions. The connecting part 7 consists of a profile part made of sheet steel which tapers towards the free end and is welded to the arm 2. However, it can also consist of any other suitably stable material with any other shape that can be used for this application. The same applies to the third connecting member 8, which in the exemplary embodiment shown likewise consists of a square tube made of steel with cross members and is welded to the arm 3. From the free end of the third connecting member 8, a base plate 9 of semicircular shape protrudes, which tapers towards its edge. On this footplate 9, the user can support himself with his feet in an advantageous manner for certain movement exercises.

The arm 3 also carries, directly below the first connecting member 6, a backrest 10, on which a user of the device can be supported, who is on a seat bridging the third connecting member 8 or a correspondingly positioned couch. The armrest part 10 consists of a cushion element 11 of rectangular basic shape on the side facing the user. It is attached to a carrier 12 which projects from the arm 3 parallel to the third connecting part 8 and over which a hollow holding element 13 extends telescopically, which projects from the side of the cushion element 11 facing away from the padded side. The cushion element 11 is fastened to the carrier 12 by a locking screw 14. The locking screw 14 extends through a threaded bore in the holding element 13 into a threaded bore on the circumference of the carrier 12, which can be provided with a guide groove in order to facilitate the reinsertion of the locking screw 14. After loosening the locking screw 14, the armrest part 10 can be pivoted about the axis of the carrier 12. The backrest part 10 also has a support element 15 running parallel to the holding element 13, which rests on the surface of the arm 3 facing the backrest part 10 with an elastic support 16. However, the armrest part 10 can also have a different shape and can be pivotably attached to the arm 3 by other known means.

Below the armrest part 10 a rod 17 is arranged on the arm 3, which runs parallel to the horizontal arms 4 and 5 and is provided at both ends with handles, not shown. On this rod 17, the user of the Support the muscle training device when performing certain movement exercises.

The arms 2, 3, 4, 5 carry, on the side facing the user, spring chambers 20 which are essentially of the same design and are described in detail below. On the vertically extending arm 2, two spring chambers 20 directed towards the center are arranged vertically next to one another and fastened to the opposite side surfaces of the free end of the second connecting member 7 by welding or the like. On the vertically extending arm 3, two forwardly directed spring chambers 20 are arranged horizontally next to one another and fastened by welding or the like to the opposite free ends of the cross members of the third connecting member 8. On the horizontally extending arms 4 and 5 there is in each case a spring chamber 20 directed towards the center in a plane parallel to the plane of the frame 1 and fastened to the respective arm 4 or 5 by welding or the like.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show sectional views of the spring chamber 20 in their arrangement on the arm 5. The spring chamber 20 is fastened to the arm 5 with one broad side and closed by a cover 21 on the opposite broad side. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the cover 21 occupies only part of the broad side; on the inside, the cover 21 carries clamping angles 22 on one narrow side and clamping tongues (not shown) on the other narrow side, which engage under a part which is permanently connected to the spring chamber 20. The cover 21 also has an opening for a holding pin 23 protruding from the opposite broad side of the spring chamber 20, on the free end of which a handle 24 is screwed on. The spring chamber 20 can also be closed by a differently held cover, if necessary also by a hinged cover. In addition to the holding pin 23, two supports 24 ′ arranged at a distance from one another protrude from the same broad side into the interior of the spring chamber 20, which are formed by welded-on angles in the exemplary embodiment shown.

The spring chamber 20 accommodates a spring housing 25, which contains a spiral spring (not shown) and, at one end, engages with the eye 26 over the holding pin 23. The spring housing 25 is supported on the supports 24 'and thus lies with one side just below the cover 21. A central axis 27 passes through the spring housing 25 and is arranged at the end facing the cover 21 for engagement with a tensioning member 28, which by a Breakthrough in the cover 21 protrudes outwards and carries a handwheel 29. The handwheel 29 and the cover 21 can optionally carry markings by means of which the rotational position of the handwheel 29 can be determined. On the other side of the spring housing 25, the central axis 27 is held by a retaining spring 30, which is wound around a part of the central axis 27 protruding from the spring housing 25 and one end of which is anchored in a holder 31, while the other end forms a trigger member 32 . The space 24 'in the spring chamber 20 determines the space for receiving these parts of the spring housing 25. A trigger element 33 aligned with the trigger member 32 extends through a narrow side of the spring chamber 20 and, in the exemplary embodiment shown, is a rod 36 which is provided with an operating button 34 at the outer end and is guided in a straight guide 35. From the end of the spring housing 25 facing away from the eye 26, a cable 37 runs through a passage 38 of the spring chamber 20, which carries a bow handle 39 at its free end.

The spring housing 25 contains a coil spring; the coil spring arrangement including the design and mounting of the central axis 27 is commercially available (Desoutter Bros. Ltd., Hendon, London NW 9; model No. 4-D) and is therefore not described in detail. To better explain the function of the coil spring arrangement, however, it should be mentioned that the central axis 27 can be rotated relative to the spring housing 25 and that one end of the coil spring is anchored to the central axis 27 and the other end to the inner circumference of a drum which is rotatably mounted on the central axis 27 is and on the outer circumference of the cable 37 is wound. The spiral spring can therefore be tensioned by unwinding the cable 37 when the drum rotates relative to the central axis 27, but also by rotating the central axis 27 by means of the handwheel 29 relative to the drum. By turning the central axis 27, the coil spring is biased relative to the drum, so that the unwinding of the cable pull from the drum requires a greater force. In any case, however, the coil spring can be relaxed by attacking the trigger element 33 on the trigger member 32; the central axis 27 is free from the action of the retaining spring 30, so that the central axis can rotate under the action of the coil spring until it relaxes relative to the drum.

The cable 37 emerging from the bushing 38 of the spring chamber 20 passes through a guide 40 which is separate from the spring chamber 20 and which is also shown in detail in FIG. The guide 40 is contained in a carrier 41 of generally rectangular cross-section, which is open on two opposite sides and is divided by a partition 42 '. As a result, two adjacent chambers are formed, one of which is provided with a lining 42 which is slidable on the material of the arm 5 and with a locking screw 43 with a handle 44. If the material of the carrier 41 slides well on the material of the arm 5, the lining 42 can also be dispensed with; in such a case, the locking screw 43 should be made of a material that does not damage the arm 5 when tightened. The other chamber contains the actual guide 40 from one in the chamber firmly inserted frame 45, which receives the guide elements and is open to the passage 38 in the spring chamber 20 and to the bow handle 39 of the cable 37 running through the guide 40. The guide elements are formed by two parallel guide rollers 46 facing the bushing 38, which are arranged horizontally and one below the other and between which the cable 37 is guided, and a guide roller 47 which partially overlaps them and runs perpendicular thereto, on the circumference of which the cable 37 is guided is. The guide roller 47 is located on the side of the frame 45 facing away from the spring chamber 20. Each guide roller 46, 47 is rotatably mounted on the frame 45. This can be accomplished in several ways; In the exemplary embodiment shown, only indicated pins 48 serve for this purpose, which are inserted into the frame 45 and attached to the bearings (not shown) in the end faces of the guide rollers 46, 47. As can best be seen from FIG. 4, the walls of the frame 45, in which the guide roller 47 is mounted, are provided with cutouts 49 which extend in depth to a part of the circumference of the guide rollers 46, and the guide roller 47 is arranged so that its periphery protrudes outward beyond the frame 45. The design of the guide 40 results in an almost friction-free and thus resistance-free guidance of the cable 37 so that the force of the coil spring has to be overcome to move it. Furthermore, the arrangement of the guide rollers 46, 47 allows the cable 37 to be moved in addition to a movement parallel to the arm 5 in three mutually perpendicular directions, namely with respect to the arm 5 upwards, downwards and forwards without that there would be some edge contact when moving in these directions or their combination. Instead of the guide rollers shown or their storage, other guide elements can also be used, provided that the same guide properties are achieved.

By adjusting the support 41 on the arm 5, the bow handles 39 can be brought into any suitable starting position, with the cable 37 being free of tension in any selected starting position or being loaded with a certain preload.

Such a setting of different starting positions can be implemented in a corresponding manner in the case of the vertically extending arms 2, 3, but is generally not required there. For this reason, the guide 40 or the frame 45 in these arms is formed in one piece with the spring chambers 20, the frame 45 directly adjoining the narrow side of the spring chamber 20 provided with the bushing 38. In the remaining details, the guides 40 are of identical design and are therefore not shown and described in detail. Here, too, the guides 40 enable the cable pulls 37 to move in parallel to the arms 2, 3 in parallel and in at least three directions perpendicular to one another and their combinations, namely with respect to the arms 2 and 3 to the right and left and to the front and below or forwards and upwards. Another rod 17, also provided with handles, is attached to the arm 2 on the side of the spring chambers 20 facing the user.

The frame 1 is fastened to a wall with fastening means. The fastenings 50 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, which start from the ends of the arms 4 and 5 and in a corresponding manner from the arms 2 and 3, can serve as such fastening means.

The device described above enables a targeted training of selected muscles through a sequence of certain movement exercises. These movement exercises are carried out against the force of springs and therefore in both directions against a resistance which can be varied in the same way in both directions of movement, the design and arrangement of the springs with differently adjustable preloads enabling extensive, easily controllable adjustment of the force required for movement training. The arrangement and number of spring chambers allows uninterrupted execution of entire sequences of movement exercises in different postures and body positions, since the frame 1 can be easily combined with a separate seat or a corresponding couch. Such movement exercises generally do not serve to cause the user to lose weight through physical work, but to tighten muscles and their tissues that have become slack due to disuse or illness. The exercises on the muscle training device therefore primarily serve to improve the posture and thus also the body shape of the user, they can also be therapeutically valuable in relieving tension in muscles or restoring their ability to work.

Claims (12)

1. Muscle training apparatus comprising a cross-shaped stand (1) with two horizontal arms (4,5) and at which stand (1) a spring containing a bow-shaped handle (39) is arranged at each horizontal arm (4, 5), characterised in that at least one spring chamber (20) is arranged at each horizontal arm and at each vertical arm (2,3,4,5) and a flat spiral spring of predominantly linear characteristic is contained in each spring chamber (20), and that each spiral spring is connected with a release mechanism and a pulling cable (37) and edge-free guiding means (40) are associated with each spring chamber (20) for the related pulling cable (37).

2. Muscle training apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that mounting means are provided at the ends of the horizontal arm (4, 5).

3. Muscle training apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that two spring chambers (20) are arranged at related ends of the vertical arms (2, 3) and adjacent each other on both sides of the related vertical arm (2, 3).

4. Muscle training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the arms (2, 3, 4, 5) are interconnected at the center of the stand (1) by means of a first connecting member (6) and that the vertically extending arms (2, 3) respectively comprise second and third connecting members (7, 8) which project from the ends of the vertically extending arms (2, 3) in the same direction and at the end faces of which the spring chambers (20) are arranged.

5. Muscle training apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that the third connecting member (8) comprises a base plate (9) which semi-circularly projects from the end face of the third connecting member (8) and which tapers towards its edge.

6. Muscle training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the vertically extending arms (2, 3) of the stand (1) comprise rods (17) extending parallel to the horizontally extending arms (4, 5) and on both sides of the vertically extending arms (2, 3), and that a first rod (17) is arranged below the first connecting member (6) and a second rod (17) is arranged at the spring chambers (20) of the arm (2) extending vertically upwardly from the first connecting member (6).

7. Muscle training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the arm (3) extending vertically downwardly from the first connecting member (6) is provided closely below the first connecting member (6) with a rest member (10) containing a pad element (11) and a holding element (13) which protrudes from the rear side of the pad element (11 )and which is releasably arranged at a carrier (12) for pivotation about the carrier axis, said carrier (12) protruding from the arm (3) parallel to the third connecting member (8).

8. Muscle training apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that each spring chamber (20), for receiving a spring housing containing the spiral spring, is closeable on one side by means of a cover, that each spring chamber (20) comprises a tensioning member (28) acting upon the central core (27) of the spiral for adjusting a variable bias of the spiral spring, that the pulling cable (37) is unwindable against the force of the spiral spring from a drum which is rotatable relative to the central core (27) of the spiral spring, that the tensioning member (28) forms an extension of the central core (27) which extension traverses the cover (21) and includes a handwheel (29), and that the release mechanism comprises a release member (32) releasing the central core (27) and thereby the spiral spring, and a release element (33) acting upon said release member (32) and protruding from the spring chamber (20).

9 . Muscle training apparatus according to claim 8, characterised in that the edge-free guiding means (40) comprise two parallel, rotatably mounted first rolls (46) and at least one second roll (47) mounted rotatably and normally to the two first rolls (46), said pulling cable being passed between the rolls (46, 47), that the guiding means (40) comprise a frame (45) which is open towards the associated spring chamber (20) and towards the opposite side and in which the first rolls (46) are mounted, that the second roll (47) protrudes beyond the frame (45), and that the frame (45) comprises cut-outs (49) which protrude beyond the second roll (47) and beyond part of the first rolls (46).

10. Muscle training apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the guiding means (40) comprise a frame (45) which is integrally formed with the spring chamber (20).

11. Muscle training apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, characterised in that the guiding means (40) comprise a frame (45) which is separate from the spring chamber (20) and that the frame (45) is connected to a carrier (41) which is displaceable along one of the horizontally extending arms (4,5).

12. Muscle training apparatus according to claim 11, characterised in that the carrier (41) forms a housing which has two chambers and which is open on two opposite sides, the frame (45) being inserted into one of the chambers and the other chamber being slideable on and lockable to the horizontally extending arm (4,5).

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