EP0888798B1 - Muscle training device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a bodybuilding device or muscle building for use in the weight room as part of a sports practice or in a physiotherapy office as part of, for example, a rehabilitation program functional, allowing in particular the work of the abdominal muscles.

We know many devices intended to allow the strength training of the abdominal muscles of their user, see for example US-A-5098089. However, these devices most often have a boring appearance by the repetitivity of the gesture performed as well as by the lack of diversity of exercises that can be performed.

The present invention therefore aims to overcome these disadvantages by proposing a simple, reliable device, having an appearance playful.

According to its main characteristic, the weight training device abdominal muscles of a patient is characterized in that it comprises a playing element, means for positioning the playing element and means for positioning the lower limbs of the patient and what the game element is consisting of a ball.

According to another characteristic, the positioning means lower limbs have a positioning member feet and / or ankles of the patient.

According to one embodiment, the means for positioning the lower limbs have a positioning member patient's knees.

According to this embodiment, the positioning member of the knee may consist of a transverse wedge intended to be position inside the knee fold and by means of fastening allowing to have the wedge in its position.

According to another characteristic, the positioning means lower limbs include a positioning member of the patient's pelvis.

Furthermore, the means for positioning the playing element are adjustable.

According to an alternative embodiment, the weight training device has a support surface for the patient's back.

According to this variant, the weight training device may include means for tilting the bearing surface.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

Figures 1a to 14 illustrate different embodiments of the body-building device as well as variants of execution.

FIG. 1a illustrates a first embodiment of the device in perspective.

FIG. 1b illustrates this first embodiment positioned on a patient.

FIG. 2 illustrates a variant of the first embodiment in a view similar to Figure 1a.

FIG. 3 represents a second variant of the first mode of realization in perspective.

FIG. 4 represents a third variant of the first mode of realization arranged on a patient.

FIG. 5 illustrates a second embodiment in perspective.

FIG. 6 illustrates a first variant of this second mode of achievement.

Figure 7 illustrates a second variant.

FIG. 8 illustrates a third embodiment in perspective.

FIG. 9 represents a variant of this third mode of realization in perspective.

FIG. 10a illustrates in perspective a fourth mode of realization in back support position.

Figure 10b illustrates in a view similar to Figure 10a, the weight training device in a gluteal support position.

FIG. 11 illustrates an alternative embodiment in perspective.

FIG. 12 illustrates a fifth embodiment in perspective.

FIG. 13 illustrates a sixth embodiment in section cross.

FIG. 14 represents this sixth embodiment in perspective in a different configuration.

According to the invention, the weight training device bearing the reference general (1) is of the type comprising a playing element such as a ball (4) intended to be maintained in an area known as a play area by means positioning (5) of the game element. The weight training device (1) also includes means for positioning the limbs lower (6) intended to allow the positioning of at least one part of the lower limbs (7) of a patient (3) in order to allow his installation in a position in which he can perform his exercises by optimizing the work, for example, of his abdominal muscles.

According to the different embodiments of the device according to the invention, the means for positioning the lower limbs (6) may include different members for positioning specific points of the lower limbs such as, for example, organs ankle or foot retainer (10), positioning members knees (11) or pelvis positioning members (12). Through elsewhere, according to several variants, the weight training device (1) can also include positioning devices for the patient's back (3), such as a back support (13) intended to allow the back support when the patient is in rest position.

Thus, the weight training device (1) according to the invention is intended to allow the work of the muscles, and in particular the muscles abdominals (2), of a patient (3) between a so-called inactive rest position (A) where said abdominal muscles are relaxed and an active position of work (B).

The playing element, such as the ball (4), is positioned using the positioning means (5) so that when the patient (3) is in the active working position, the operator can use it while holding it, pushing, hitting or avoiding it, for example. Therefore, the patient (3) can, combine abdominal exercises with upper bodybuilding while giving a playful aspect to said exercises.

The different embodiments described below are equipped with a ball which constitutes the playing element.

According to a first embodiment and its variants of execution, the weight training device (1) is intended to be disposed directly on the patient (3) passively by being attached to it by means of fixing (8), or actively, the positioning being due to an effort of said patient and therefore does not include no frame or frame intended to be placed against the ground.

According to a first embodiment of the device bodybuilding (1) according to the invention illustrated in Figures 1a and 1b, it comprises a ball (4) mounted on a ball support constituted by a rod (9) by means of connection means (14) such as a spring, by example. According to this embodiment, the rod and / or the means of advantage can have a degree of flexibility in order to be able to allow, on the one hand, the movement of the ball, and on the other hand, its return to the initial position, the flexibility being variable on the length of the rod and possibly adjustable. The rod (9) is fixed to a transverse wedge (15) allowing in particular the positioning of patient's knees (16) on either side of the rod (9) above the shim, said shim thus positioning itself inside the fold formed by the knees to be attached to it. The fixing means consist of two retaining straps (8a, 8b), one for positioning and to immobilize the patient's shins against a side wall (17a, 17b) of the wedge, while the other is intended to do the same with the thighs of this one. Thus, the transverse wedge (15) and the fixing means (8a, 8b) constitute the knee positioning member (11) and therefore the means for positioning the lower limbs (6) of this mode of production. Alternatively, the cross wedge may not have fixing means but be kept in position in knee bending thanks to the action of the patient.

Note that, according to this first embodiment, the wedge advantageously has a prismatic shape, its section in a longitudinal plane forming a trapezoid, said section being of dimension substantially constant transversely. The side walls (17a, 17b) of the wedge form a so-called downward bending angle whose value can be chosen between 25 ° and 140 °. According to a variant not shown, the transverse wedge could comprise in a known manner per se means for adjusting the bending angle, intended to allow continuous adjustment of this angle so as to allow the user (3) to be able to adjust his knee bending position according to his desires. Furthermore, the transverse wedge (15) comprises at least one foam covering arranged against side walls so improve patient comfort during exercise. Of more, the weight training device may include adjustment means in height of the position of the ball such as, for example, a portion of tube (18), extending from the shim inside which can slide the rod (9) and be locked in position by a pin system known as itself, the tube portion, the rod and the pin system constituting the positioning means (5) of the ball (4), said means thus being advantageously adjustable.

According to a first alternative embodiment of this mode of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the fixing means (8a, 8b) constituted by the straps are replaced by two positioning elements (20) in T-shaped which each extend from a side wall (17a, 17b) of the transverse wedge (15), the upper bar of the elements making it possible to hold the shins and thighs respectively against said walls side.

According to a second alternative embodiment of the first mode of embodiment, the means for positioning the lower limbs (6) have the wedge (15) and a thigh strap (8a), but include also a foot positioning member (10) consisting, by example, by a strap (10a) which is fixed to a connecting element such an advantageously bent tube (21) of adjustable length extending under the wedge (15), as shown in Figure 3. It may be noted that the transverse wedge intended to be positioned under the patient's knees could take any form other than prismatic without go beyond the protective field of the invention.

According to a third alternative embodiment of the first mode of embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the means for positioning the members lower (6) have a foot positioning member (10) and a knee positioning member (11), each consisting of a transverse support bar on or under which the patient (3) will position his knees and feet. These positioning members (10, 11) are interconnected by a connecting element such as a tube (21) of length adjustable, the ball holder extending from said tube in order to be able adjust the ball (4) in its playing area.

According to this variant illustrated in Figure 4, the patient's feet pass below the grab bar and knees above it but it could be otherwise so that the legs are caught between the grab bars under the feet and on the knees.

According to a second embodiment, the device for bodybuilding (1) comprises a ball (4) mounted on a rod (9) by via connecting means (14), said rod being mounted adjustable in height on a frame (22) of said device. So the frame (22) of the device comprises a portion of tube (23) extending vertically upwards inside which the rod (9) carrying the ball (4) can slide and be locked in position in a manner known in itself. Said portion of tube (23) is mounted on a longitudinal bar (24) of the frame which carries at one of its ends a member of positioning of the feet (10), as shown in Figure 5.

Note that the longitudinal bar (24) can be made up of two portions of sliding bars and locking means in order to ability to adjust longitudinal distance between said tube portion (23) and the foot positioning member (10). According to an improvement, the device (1) comprises a back positioning member (13) arranged at the other end of the longitudinal bar (24) such as a support backbone advantageously having an anatomical shape. According to what second embodiment, the feet positioning member (10) consists of two holding straps (10a, 10b) arranged on a transverse support wall (25) of the frame (22) located at the end of the longitudinal bar (24).

According to a first variant of this second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6, the device (1) comprises a positioning member feet (10) consisting of straps located on a support wall transverse of a frame (22) as before, however the support ball is no longer constituted by a rod whose position is adjustable in height thanks to its sliding inside a portion of tube and its locking, but is constituted by a bracket (30) and links semi-rigid (31a, 31b). The stem is obtained by a curved bar (30) extending upward (HA) and rearward (AR) from the front end (24a) of the longitudinal bar (24). The ball is held between two semi-rigid links allowing it to be secured, on the one hand, at the end upper (30a) of the stem (30), and on the other hand, at a point in the area median of the longitudinal bar (24) constituting the frame (22). according to this variant, the links can be of adjustable length in order to be able adjust the height of the ball and thus constitute the means of positioning (5) of the ball.

According to a second variant of this second embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the portion of tube (23) intended to carry the rod (9) constituting the ball holder is mounted directly on a base (32) or base comprising the feet positioning members (10a, 10b) and intended to be placed on the ground. Said base has a substantially hemispherical shape and can be ballasted advantageously with sand, for example. It has two lateral openings (33a, 33b) intended to receive the feet of the user as well as two fixing straps (34a, 34b) intended to allow immobilization of feet or ankles inside said side openings, said openings and straps constituting the feet positioning members (10a, 10b).

According to a third embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8 and its variants, the weight training device (1) comprises a positioning of the feet or ankles (10) as well as a positioning of the knees (11) which constitute all of the means positioning of the lower limbs (6). So according to this mode of embodiment, the device (1) is in the form of a frame (40) on which are mounted two sleepers, an anchor retaining sleeper (10) and a knee positioning cross member (11). The cross ankle restraint is positioned slightly raised at the front of said frame, so that the patient can pass his feet the other side of the cross, from below. The positioning unit of the dowel (10) is thus obtained by an abutment surface coming to bear against the upper side of the ankle. The positioning cross member of knees (11) is arranged slightly backwards relative to the ankle restraint cross member and is located at a height that can be advantageously adjustable by means of adjustment of known type in itself so as to be able to adapt to the patient's morphology (3). This cross member thus constitutes the knee positioning member (11) by presenting a bearing surface intended to come to cooperate with the face back of the knee in the fold of it.

Note that, according to this embodiment, the sleepers are cylindrical and can advantageously include a coating relatively soft or padding to improve comfort when the practice of bodybuilding. The ball (4) is mounted on a rod (9) constituting the ball support, said rod being integral either with the knee positioning crosspiece (11), either of the frame by through fixing means.

According to a variant of the third illustrated embodiment Figure 9, the feet positioning member (10) consists of two retaining straps (10a, 10b) positioned on a crossbar front (41) of a frame. Two longitudinal bars (42a, 42b) extend ends of the crossbar (41). They carry at their end a gantry (43) on which the ball (4) is suspended. Said gantry is consisting of two side bars (45a, 45b) and an upper bar (46) advantageously curved on which the ball (4) is fixed or hung from using connecting means (44) such as a flexible link. note that said side bars (45a, 45b) of the gantry (43) could carry a knee support crosspiece (10) arranged transversely and of which the height position could be adjusted in a manner known per se by adjustment means. Note that a similar variant is illustrated advantageously figure 11.

Note that the second and third embodiments and their respective variants are intended to be placed on the ground and can be fitted with anchoring means for anchoring the device (1) on the ground or other in order to avoid inadvertent movements of it.

The anchoring means can, for example, be constituted by two strap portions (50a, 50b) fixed on the front part of the frame or of the frame of the device and provided respectively at their ends with two attachment tabs (51a, 51b) intended, for example, to be slid under a door that closes. It goes without saying that the anchoring means could be made up of many other equivalent systems, without go beyond the protective field of the invention.

According to a fourth embodiment, the ball (4) and its rod (9) are mounted on a frame (60) having two longitudinal bars (61a, 61b); a knee support cross member (11) extending transversely in a horizontal plane above said bars is the knee positioning device. A support surface (62) is arranged to move between a dorsal support position (A1), illustrated figure 10a, where it is located against the ground on the longitudinal bars (61a, 61b) and a gluteal support position (B1) where it is located in the horizontal plane parallel to the ground arranged just above the sleeper knee (11).

When this bearing surface (62) is located in its position buttock support (B1), it constitutes a body for positioning the pelvis (12) which allows the patient (3) to position his pelvis in order to find seated when in active working position (B). Note that the device (1) then comprises actuation means constituted by an intermediate piece (63) connecting the bearing surface (62) to the bars (61a, 61b) using two pivot links (70a, 70b) illustrated schematically so as to be able to position the end of said bearing surface on the knee cross member (11), as shown in the figure 9b. It goes without saying that the device comprises means for locking the support positions of said surface.

Note also that the embodiments comprising a bearing surface (13, 62), intended in particular for back support, can be provided with means for tilting this surface in order to adapt the position of the user during the exercise he performs, said means being able, for example, be constituted by a pivot connection on one side of the surface and a adjustable support foot on the other side.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the device can have electro-therapy elements such as powered electrodes by means of supplying said device. So the patient can combine so-called classic bodybuilding with electrical therapy of the type known per se.

Furthermore, the device may also include an element of complementary game such as an electronic device, for example, of which the functions could be very diverse such as playing the role of metronome or bodybuilding guide, or motion counter, for example. Said electronic device can be fun as, for example example, serve as a random indicator of the movements to be performed and their cadence, for example.

According to a fifth embodiment illustrated in FIG. 12, the device (1) comprises a positioning member for the back and the pelvis consisting of a curved tilting board (70). Said door board holding straps (10a, 10b) for the feet and the playing element (4), and allows, thanks to the patient's movements, to generate a rocking effect of the device (1).

Furthermore, according to a sixth embodiment illustrated in figures 13 and 14, the device (1) comprises a longitudinal wedge (71) which constitutes the knee positioning organ, the patient in front actively maintain said wedge wedged between his knees, the rod (9) carrying the ball (4) being carried by said wedge (71). According to another configuration of this sixth embodiment, said shim can comprise, on the one hand, a fixing member (72) intended to allow its attachment to a mat (73), and on the other hand, a transverse support bar (74) constituting the feet positioning member (10) when the device is in this other configuration. It goes without saying that the wedge (71) can be caught by the user's feet or hands as well which can also be the case for the crossbar (74).

Furthermore, whatever the embodiment chosen, the rod, which carries the ball (4) can advantageously be arranged so as to ability to adjust inclination relative to other elements of the device. The invention also relates to any type of carpet suitable for which will take place the user and note that the device of the invention can be foldable or removable to be stored in a suitcase or similar.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described and represented as examples, but it includes also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus (1) for building up the abdominal muscles (2) of a patient (3), characterised in that it comprises a play element (4), means (5) for positioning the play element (4) and means (6) for positioning the lower limbs of the patient and in that the play element consists of a ball (4).
2. Muscle-building apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means (6) for positioning the lower limbs comprise an element (11) for positioning the patient's feet and/or ankles (10, 10a, 10b).
3. Muscle-building apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means (6) for positioning the lower limbs comprise an element (11) for positioning the patient's knees.
4. Muscle-building apparatus (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the element (11) for positioning the knees consists of a transverse wedge (15) adapted to be positioned in the fold of the knee and fixing means (8, 8a, 8b) enabling the wedge to be placed in its position.
5. Muscle-building apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means (6) for positioning the lower limbs comprise an element (12) for positioning the patient's pelvis.
6. Muscle-building apparatus (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the means (5) for positioning the play element (4) are adjustable.
7. Muscle-building apparatus (1) according to claim 6, characterised in that it comprises a support surface (13, 62) for the patient's back.
8. Muscle-building apparatus (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that it comprises means for inclining the support surface.

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