EP0256072A1

EP0256072A1 - Musculation apparatus, particularly for re-educational purposes.

Info

Publication number: EP0256072A1
Application number: EP87901060A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Serge Leymonie
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1986-02-11
Filing date: 1987-02-06
Publication date: 1988-02-24
Anticipated expiration: 2007-02-06
Also published as: FR2594036B1; WO1987004633A1; EP0256072B1; FR2594036A1

Abstract

Appareil de musculation, notamment à usage de rééducation, comportant un support fixe pour au moins un organe élastique extensible (14), réuni à l'extrémité d'un élément de traction (18) de longueur déterminée et réglable. L'invention se caractérise en ce que ledit élément (18) est guidé par une première poulie (19) orientable dans l'espace, dont le point d'ancrage est invariable vis-à-vis du support fixe (2-8), puis par une seconde poulie (22) dont la position est modifiable sur ledit support ou sur tout autre support, de telle sorte que la variation de la position de la seconde poulie par rapport à la première permette un réglage de la direction de l'effort exercé par l'utilisateur ou la fourniture d'une résistance à un autre matériel placé indifféremment par rapport à la planche.Strength training apparatus, in particular for rehabilitation use, comprising a fixed support for at least one elastic stretch member (14), joined at the end of a traction element (18) of determined and adjustable length. The invention is characterized in that said element (18) is guided by a first pulley (19) orientable in space, the anchoring point of which is invariable with respect to the fixed support (2-8), then by a second pulley (22) whose position can be modified on said support or on any other support, so that the variation of the position of the second pulley relative to the first allows adjustment of the direction of the force exercised by the user or the provision of resistance to other material placed indifferently with respect to the board.

Description

Body-building apparatus, in particular for rehabilitation use.

The present invention relates to a bodybuilding apparatus, more particularly adapted to the functional re-education of a person having an accidental handicap or to the pleasure of a user simply wishing to develop his musculature. Numerous embodiments of devices of this kind are already known which allow the implementation of training programs for training patients or athletes, by allowing the repetition of movements of amplitude, orientation and determined intensity, in order to provoke the development, even the reconstitution of one or more particular muscles. Thus, systems are known which generally use adjustable weights which the user repeatedly lifts, pulls or moves against springs, counterweights or other balancing and balancing elements, the effectiveness of which can also be adjusted as desired.

However, these known devices are usually expensive and require significant maintenance. As a result, they cannot generally be acquired by individuals for their personal use only and are normally reserved for equipping specialized rooms or medical offices. This results in a first drawback for those who would like to make use of such a device in a more usual manner, in particular at home and at times, for example at sunrise or at bedtime, when the rooms in question are not necessarily available. Furthermore, these specialized and bulky devices do not allow very diverse movements aimed at exercising different muscles of the body, which is another drawback since it is then essential to have a complete set of separate devices to successively build muscle for different parts of the body such as the back or torso, arms, legs, neck etc ...

The present invention relates to a bodybuilding apparatus which overcomes these drawbacks by allowing, by means of a particularly simple and inexpensive assembly to manufacture, the realization of multiple movements for the reconstruction, exercise or development of the most diverse body. It also aims to provide a device which is capable of being used by individuals at home, as well as in specialized rooms and in particular in physiotherapy or functional rehabilitation medical offices.

To this end, the device under consideration, comprising a fixed support for at least one elastic extendable member, joined at the end of a traction element of determined length, possibly adjustable, is characterized in that said element is guided by a first orientable pulley whose position is invariable with respect to the fixed support, then by a second pulley whose position can be modified on said support or on any other support, so that the variation of the position of the second pulley by compared to the first allows an adjustment of the direction do. the force exerted by the user or the use of another machine to which resistance is thus provided.

According to a particular characteristic of the apparatus according to the invention, the end of the traction element opposite to that joined to the elastic member is secured to an actuating handle, provided with a stop device 5 positioning adjustable along the length of said element, so that by abutment of said handle on the second pulley, the initial tension of the elastic member is adjusted.

A stop device with adjustable positioning according to the traction can also be installed at the end of this element joined to the elastic member so that the length thereof can be adjusted by one or the other of its ends.

Advantageously, the first and second pulleys each comprise a sheave in the groove of which the traction element passes, the sheave being mounted rotating about a transverse axis carried by a yoke with a U-profile whose bottom is extended, at the opposite of the sheave, by a rod terminated by a means of connection with an anchoring point, the yoke being able to freely rotate around its rod so that the tensile force exerted on the handle can be oriented at will in a any plan.

Thanks to these provisions, the bodybuilding machine produced is arranged in such a way that the user can, before any force exerted on the traction element by means of the handle fixed on it, adjust the initial tension of the elastic body. In addition, thanks to the design of these pulleys, which can freely orient themselves around the rod carrying their yoke, the direction of the force exerted can be determined at the choice of the latter according to the orientation of the movement to be carried out and the nature of the muscle to develop or rehabilitate.

In a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the device according to the invention, the fixed support comprises an elongated board, the second pulley being carried by the board in an adjustable position and immobilized thereon by a cooperating blocking means with holes arranged in the board and distributed along its longitudinal dimension. In this embodiment, hooks are provided in the vicinity of one of the ends of the board, for hooking the elastic member while the other end of said board supports the first pulley. According to another characteristic also, the elastic member is constituted by a set of extenders whose ends are joined on the one hand to the hooks provided at one of the ends of the board and on the other hand together with the element of pulling by a carabiner with normally blocked opening device.

Furthermore and according to an advantageous arrangement, the board comprises on each of its lateral faces at least one elastic member and a traction element in order to allow simultaneous work, in synchronism or not, of two members of the user, In another embodiment of the device, the board carrying the second pulley is separated from the fixed support on which remain the elastic member and the first pulley receiving the traction element, said board being arranged in any position vis-à-vis screw of said support.

Advantageously and whatever the embodiment adopted, the board supporting the second pulley is produced in two foldable parts, one against the other in order to limit its size when it is not used.

Other characteristics of a weight training device established in accordance with the invention will become more apparent from the following description of several exemplary embodiments, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention, according to a preferred embodiment of the latter.

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate on a larger scale various details involved in the production of the apparatus according to FIG. 1,

- Figure 5 is a side view of an alternative embodiment.

- Figure 6 is a perspective view of another mode of sheave reading of the device in question.

The apparatus shown in Figure 1, designated as a whole under the reference 1 mainly comprises in this first variant an elongated board 2, produced in two equal parts, respectively 2a and 2b, and joined to each other by a side hinge 3 and a locking latch 4 allowing these two parts to be placed in the extension of one another to double the total length of the assembly once unfolded while facilitating the storage of the folded board, thus limiting its size. The board 2 also comprises a series of holes or housings 5 distributed in file along the length of the board, these housings being successively spaced from one to the other by a determined distance. A measurement scale 6 is usefully drawn on the board opposite the line of housings 5.

In the example shown, the board 2 is intended to be placed on edge in a vertical position against a support wall 7. For this purpose, it is associated with two end supports 8, a section in the shape of a T and a fixing plate 9 making it possible to immobilize these supports against the wall 7 by means of screws 10. The central part 11 of each of the supports 8 has a groove 11 in which the ends of the board 2 are respectively fitted once the latter unfolded, thus immobilizing the latter vertical to the wall 7.

Hooks 12 are arranged on each of the lateral sides of the upper support 8, four in number in the example shown, for hooking on each of these an eyelet 13 provided at the end of an elastic member 14 of the stent type, such organs being in themselves well known and widely available commercially. In the embodiment shown, the device also includes four expanders of the previous type, étan understood that the number of these organs used could be different depending on the tensile force to be exerted with the device. In particular, it goes without saying that one or more of these expanders could be easily put out of service, by removing the corresponding eyelet 13 from the hook 12 where it normally engages. At their ends opposite to the hooks 12, the stents 14 comprise other eyelets 15, joined together in a carabiner 16, in particular of the mountaineering carabiner type, with safety closure and quick opening. Thus and as shown in the detail view of FIG. 2, this carabiner 16 notably includes a latch 17, making it possible, in the open position, to engage one or more of the eyelets 15 at will and then to lock the assembly so that these eyelets remain securely held, without risk of non-controlled relaxation.

The carabiner 16 is also joined, opposite the eyelets 15, at the end of a traction element 18, constituted here by a rope or the like, having a mechanical resistance appropriate to the force exerted by this element on the extenders 14, this rope being guided on the support constituted by the board 2 by means of a first pulley 19, of which FIG. 3 illustrates, on a larger scale, the detail of the embodiment.

This pulley comprises in particular a sheave 19a, provided with a groove 19b, in which the rope 18 passes, this sheave 19a being carried by a yoke 20 on a transverse axis 20a around which the sheave rotates freely. The yoke 20 has a U-shaped profile with a bottom 20b traversed by a support rod 21, comprising a head 21a and a threaded end portion 21b on which is mounted a locking nut 21c, in particular making it possible to fix the pulley 19 on the lower support 8 of the device. Of course, other fixing means could be provided here and in particular shape the end of the rod 21 in a suitable hook to cooperate with an anchoring hoop, the pulley 19 being able in one case as in the other to pivot around the rod 21 in order to orient itself in any direction possibly imposed by the tensile force exerted on the rope 18.

The rope 18, after returning to the first pulley 19, is brought to a second pulley 22, similar to the first and comprising in particular a support yoke 23 extended by a rod 24. Preferably, the latter is fixed at a point suitable anchor on a transverse extension 25 arranged on a plate 26, intended to be positioned against one of the faces corresponding to the board 2, while being immobilized thereon by means of nuts 27 cooperating with screws (not shown ) engaged in holes 5 arranged opposite in the plate 2.

The user can thus adjust at will the position of the plate 26 on the board 2 forming a support and, for the same length of rope 18, exert a greater or lesser initial force on the expanders 14. Advantageously, these are determined so that their elongation corresponds to an exactly measured effort which, in particular, is generally close to 35 gr per cm. Preferably also, the plate 26 includes a reference (not shown in the drawings) which, by reference to the graduations of the rule 6 drawn on the board 2, makes it possible to determine the initial effort of extension thus obtained. Note that the above assembly using a plate and locking nuts for the positioning of the second pulley 22, could be carried out in a different and in particular simpler manner, by directly engaging the rod carried by the yoke of the pulley in one of the holes in the board or on another support. The rope 18, after passing over the sheave of the second pulley 22, is then extended to connect to an actuating handle 28, the embodiment of which also in FIG. 4 shows on a larger scale. This handle has thus, preferably a crossbar 29, the ends of which are secured to a stirrup 30, the branches of the latter being connected in an axial sleeve 31. The latter has two holes, respectively 32 and 33, in which the end of the rope 18 can be engaged by forming a loop, so as to lock on the sleeve when a tensile force is exerted on the handle 28. The initial position of the latter on the rope 18 can thus be adjusted, by sliding its end in the holes 32 and 33 in one direction or the other. It should be noted that there too, it could be envisaged to carry out the fixing of the rope 18 on the handle 28 in any other way without departing from the scope of the invention.

In all cases, in fact, the handle 28 must allow the user, whose arm has been shown diagrammatically at 34 in FIG. 1, to exert a force transmitted by the cord 18 to the extenders 14, this force being all the more important that the number of these expanders in service is itself higher and that the plate 26 carrying the second pulley 22 has determined on these expanders a greater initial traction force.

As also shown in Figure I; we see that the device is normally designed to include two sets identical to that which has just been described, arranged respectively on one and the other of the vertical faces of the board 2 forming a support, the traction elements or ropes 18 and 35 used in one and the other of these assemblies being respectively joined to two handles 28 and 36, which thus allow the user to make two members work simultaneously, notably his two arms. Note that, due to the possibility of orienting the yokes of the pulleys in any direction, the device allows the pulling movements carried out by means of the handles to be carried out either up or down, laterally, or whichever other combination desired.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment directly inspired by that illustrated in FIG. 1 where, consequently, the same reference numbers have been used to designate the, s mimes organs. In this case, the board 2 is no longer immobilized against a supporting wall but more simply against a fixed support structure, playing the same role, for example against a door 37 of which it is, in a similar manner, made integral . To this end, the supports 8 receiving the ends of the board 2 are respectively provided with angles 38 and 39, suitably shaped to fit on the upper and lower parts of the leaf of the door 37, the immobilization of this angle being produced by locking screws 40. The angles 38 and 39 have a sufficiently small thickness so that they do not hinder the movement of the door in its frame or frame 41, the door 37 thus equipped makes it possible to maintain the edge banding , to constitute the fixed support of the device, without requiring any drilling, the device being able, moreover, at the end of use, to be easily disassembled,

Figure 6 illustrates another alternative embodiment. In this, the expanders 14 and the rope 18 forming the traction element, joined together with a vertical board which, as in the previous example, would be applied against the support wall 7. In this variant, in fact, or the he apparatus is more particularly acîpptc has the exercise or the rehabilitation of the lower limbs of a patient, the fixed support is distinc from the board itself which here is arranged on the ground, in a perpendicular direction, or other. The board 42 is supported by a frame 43, placed under a work or massage table 44. The board 42, placed on edge on this frame, comprises, as before, holes 45, a marking graduation 46 and a plate 47 of support of the second pulley 48, the traction element 13 guided by the latter after return by the first pulley 19 ending in a collar or bracelet 49 able to be mounted around the ankle 50 of the patient, seated or lying on the table 44. In this variant, the apparatus more particularly makes it possible to work the mucles of the lower limbs using exactly the same principles as those envisaged in the preceding variants, in particular with regard to the intensity and the orientation of the efforts required to cause traction of the expanders. Note also that the transformation of the device to pass from the embodiment according to Figure 1 to that of Figure 6 requires only a 90 ° pivoting of the board which, initially held in the supports 8, comes in the second case adapt to frame 43 without other modifications to the device.

As already follows from the above, it therefore goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the only examples more specially described and represented above, on the contrary it embraces all variants. In particular, the mobile pulley of the device regulating the intensity of the force exerted could cooperate with the board in other arrangements, depending on the relative position and orientation of the various components of the device, as well as the place where the user intervenes. In particular, and as also shown in FIG. 6, holes can be made on the vertical uprights of the table 44 (where appropriate on the frame which delimits its upper part) similar to those provided in the board 42, and allowing these uprights to cooperate with a cross member 51 (shown in dashed lines in the figure), this cross member can thus be fixed at variable height on the table and serve as a support for the second pulley of the device.

Alternatively also, the table used in the previous example could be replaced by a cage structure made of. vertical uprights and horizontal crosspieces connecting these uprights, these being further adapted to cooperate as above with one or more horizontal battens, the positioning of which can thus be adjustable in height on these lying elements By providing regularly spaced holes in the uprights , the crosspieces and the cleats, you can hang the second pulley in the cage at any location according to the needs of the rehabilitation to be carried out. Similarly, it is easy to mount in such a cage structure several pulleys for the implementation of different types of movement carried out simultaneously or not.

Claims

1. Bodybuilding apparatus, in particular for rehabilitation use, comprising a fixed support for the hands of an elastic elastic member, joined at the end of a traction element of determined length, possibly adjustable, characterized in that said element is guided by a first pulley orientable in any direction, the anchoring of which is invariable with respect to the fixed support, then by a second pulley orientable in any direction, the position of which can be modified on said support and which can cooperate with other separate supports from the first. The whole allowing adjustment of the direction of the force exerted by the user in connection or not with a separate support and in that the end of the traction element 18 opposite to that joined to the elastic member 14 is secured to an actuating handle (28-36) provided with a stop device (31-32-33) with adjustable positioning according to the length of said element, so that:

- by abutment of said handle on the second pulley (22) is adjusted the initial tension of the elastic member,

- The length of the traction element is adapted to the different positions of the second pulley. Similarly, such a device for adjusting the length of the traction element can also be installed at the end of the tractive element cooperating with the elastic member for the same purposes.

2. weight training device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second pulleys (19-22) each comprise a sheave (19a) in the groove (19b) from which the traction element (18) passes, the sheave being mounted rotating about a transverse axis (20a) carried by a yoke (? 0) with a U-profile whose bottom (20b) is extended, opposite the sheave, by a rod (21) terminated by means connection (21b-21c) with an anchor point, the yoke can freely rotate around its rod so that the tensile force exerted on the handle can be oriented 3 will in any plane.

3. weight training device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the fixed support comprises a board (2) elongated, the second pulley (22) being carried by the board in an adjustable position and immobilized on that -this by a locking means (26-27) cooperating with holes (5) formed in the board and distributed along its longitudinal dimension. Similarly, the anchor point can be placed on a rail and slides to the chosen position where it will be blocked.

4. weight training device according to claim 3, characterized in that hooks (13) are provided in the vicinity of one of the ends of the board (2) for the attachment of the elastic member (14) while the 'other end of said board (2) supports the first pulley (19).

5. weight training device according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic member (14) is constituted by a set of extenders whose ends are joined on the one hand to the hooks (13) provided at one of the ends of the board (2) and on the other hand together with the traction element (18) pat a carabiner (16) with opening device (17) normally blocked.

6. weight training device according to one of claimsml to 5, characterized in that the board (2) comprises on each of its lateral faces at least one elastic member (14) and a traction element (18) in order to allow a simultaneous work, in synchronism or not, of two members of the user.

7. weight training device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the board (2) carrying the second pulley

(48) is separated from the fixed support on which remain the elastic member (14) and the first pulley (19) receiving the traction element (18), said said board being arranged in any position with respect to said support.

8. Bodybuilding apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the board (2) supporting the second pulley (22-48) is made in two parts, foldable against each other in order to limit its size when not in use.

9. weight training device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the second pulley is carried by a cage consisting of vertical uprights joined by horizontal crosspieces and comprising at least one horizontal cleat disposed between two uprights, the position of the second pulley (22) being produced at any predetermined point of the cage.