Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B22/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
  • A63B22/02—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with movable endless bands, e.g. treadmills
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
  • A47B—TABLES; DESKS; OFFICE FURNITURE; CABINETS; DRAWERS; GENERAL DETAILS OF FURNITURE
  • A47B2220/00—General furniture construction, e.g. fittings
  • A47B2220/06—Treadmill combined with furniture
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B22/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements
  • A63B22/06—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movement
  • A63B22/0605—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements with support elements performing a rotating cycling movement, i.e. a closed path movement performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B2210/00—Space saving
  • A63B2210/04—Space saving incorporated in beds, sofas
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B2210/00—Space saving
  • A63B2210/06—Space saving incorporated in cabinets

Definitions

• the present invention concerns a furniture module containing fitness equipment, the module having a configuration designed to allow its integration in practically any surroundings and to make the equipment available, preferably already in operating configuration, by simply opening the module.
• Folding equipment does to a large extent successfully solve the problem of space. However, even folding equipment continues to be inconvenient to use. It has to be taken out of its storage position, folded out into the working position and then, when the user has finished, folded back up again and returned to its storage position.
• the object of the present invention is a furniture module according to one or more of the appended claims .
• the invention substantially overcomes the problems described above by means of a furniture module containing fitness equipment according to the claims 1 or 29.
• the module has a regular shape and dimensions such that the module can easily be incorporated into any type of furniture or furnishings.
• the present invention achieves the aim to make the home fitness equipment it contains quickly and easily available when required.
• the purpose of this invention is achieved by incorporating the module perfectly into the surroundings of the room where it is located.
• the module itself can be finished so that it matches or is coordinated with the style and finish of the surrounding furniture units. This means that the module can be easily be positioned in the rooms most suited for this purpose.
• the furniture module according to this invention comprises a container completely enclosing the fitness equipment when it is not in use.
• the fitness equipment is designed to be made available for use in a few seconds, advantageously by simply opening the door of the module. In this way the equipment is always ready for immediate use. In practice, users can also undertake exercises even when they only have a few spare minutes because the time needed to prepare the equipment is practically zero.
• the style of the container is designed to match and fit in with its surroundings and can therefore always remain in full view.
• the container is designed to be installed in an item of furniture such as a cupboard so that it is completely hidden from view when not in use, while simply opening the cupboard door makes the fitness equipment according to this invention ready for immediate use.
• the container could be designed to form an integral part of a shower cubicle unit.
• the cover of the module could be manufactured in the same material and style as the item of furniture in which it is installed and could thus be considered an integral part of that item of furniture.
• Figures Ia and Ib show the furniture module according to the invention in the closed and open configurations
• FIGS. 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b show the furniture module in the closed and open configurations in a bathroom as an integral part of shower cubicles where the shower tray is raised or flush with the floor;
• FIG. 4 shows the furniture module in the open configuration in a bathroom where it is not an integral part of an item of furniture;
• FIGS. 5a and 5b show the furniture module in the closed and open configurations in a bedroom as an integral part of a cupboard;
• FIG. 6 shows the furniture module in the open configuration in a kitchen as an integral part of an item of kitchen furniture
• FIG. 7 to 11 show various other embodiments with the furniture module containing fitness equipment inserted in various items of furniture.
• the furniture module (1) shown in closed configuration in Figure Ia, comprises a container (2) and a cover (3) attached to the container (2) by means of a pair of hinges (4) .
• Figure Ib shows the furniture module (1) in the open configuration with the fitness equipment in its operating configuration.
• the figure clearly shows that the open configuration of the equipment is obtained by simply opening the cover (3) and extracting the other parts that comprise the equipment .
• the container (2) and the cover (3), connected to each other by the hinges (4) act as a support frame for the fitness equipment and in effect become integral parts of the fitness equipment itself.
• the furniture module (1) comprising the container and the cover can be opened to enable access to the inside of the module.
• the inside of the furniture module (1) contains the fitness equipment (11) which is mounted on the container (2) and the cover (3), the container (2) and the cover (3) acting as a support frame for the fitness equipment.
• the fitness equipment consists of a treadmill (5) and the other parts that comprise tht equipment are handlebars (6) and a computer (7) for controlling the exercises performed by the person using the equipment .
• the container as described here is also suitable for housing other equipment .
• Other equipment could be an exercise bench complete with the mechanism for creating the counter force necessary to perform exercises.
• Another embodiment could be that shown in Figure 7 where a module containing a folding exercise cycle is incorporated in a sofa.
• opening the cover places the fitness equipment (11) in partially operating configuration.
• the partially operating configuration is one where the fitness equipment is at least partially extracted from the module and is directly accessible by the user.
• the user To make the fitness equipment (11) fully ready, the user must however perform additional operations such as extracting additional components; in the embodiment shown in Figures Ia and Ib, for example, the user must extract the handlebars. It may also be necessary to fold out the fitness equipment (11) from its compact storage position to an open operating configuration .
• opening the cover places the fitness equipment (11) in its operating configuration ready for immediate use.
• the movement of the cover can be linked to the movement of the of the fitness equipment (11) .
• the movement of the handlebars could be synchronised with that of the cover.
• the action of the handlebars could be spring-loaded so that handlebars would spring out into the operating position when released by opening the cover.
• the handlebars could be fixed and made inside the container (2) so that they would not have to be extracted from the container (2) .
• FIG 2a shows the module (1) mounted inside the shower cubicle (8) so that the fitness exercises are performed partly inside the cubicle.
• the treadmill (5) is partly inside the shower cubicle (8) and runs out through the door of the cubicle (8) .
• the container (2) and the cover (3) must be designed to protect the equipment from water.
• the module (1) is also an integral part of a shower cubicle (8) but this time it is mounted outside the cubicle (8) as shown in Figure 3a. Exercising takes place outside the cubicle with the module installed at the back or to the side of the cubicle, as illustrated in figure 3b which shows the treadmill (5) extending from the back of the shower cubicle (8) .
• This solution is to be preferred to the previous one for technical reasons because in this case the shower water cannot spray onto the cover (3) .
• this solution requires more space which may not always be available. In both cases the fitness equipment is immediately available and does not cause an obstruction of any type.
• the module (1) is shown opened once again in a bathroom but in this case as a stand-alone unit. In this embodiment the module (1) is not incorporated in an item of furniture and is simply fixed to a wall .
• FIG. 5a and 5b show that in this case also the module (1) is easy to install and use without any problems .
• the module (1) is installed in a bedroom and built -into a cupboard (9) .
• Figure 5a shows that the module (1) is finished on the outside with material which is the same as that used for the cupboard (9) and is an integral part of the cupboard.
• Figure 5b shows how the fitness equipment is prepared for use.
• the cover (3) is opened and the treadmill (5) can extend outside for using it conveniently.
• the module (1) is installed in a kitchen and is built into a kitchen cabinet (10) in the same way as any built-in electrical appliance; it could also be built in behind the baseboard located at the base of a kitchen unit, which is a space usually left unused.
• the module (1) is finished on the outside with material which is identical to or matches that used for the cabinet (10) .
• the module (1) is built into the kitchen furniture in the same way as a built-in electrical appliance and may be completely hidden from view when not in use. It can also be installed as a sliding version which can be pulled out horizontally from the hollow base of the kitchen cabinets .
• the equipment is prepared for use, as always, by opening the cover (3) so that the treadmill (5) extends outwards into the exercise position.
• the purpose of the present invention is also to provide a furniture module (1) comprising a container (2) which opens to provide access to the inside of the module (1) .
• the module (1) contains folding fitness equipment (11) which can be brought from a closed position of minimum dimensions to an open, operating position.
• Figures 1Od and 1Oe show an item of folding fitness equipment (11) which in this case is a running treadmill but which could be another type of fitness equipment (11) such as an exercise cycle.
• the fitness equipment (11) is linked to the openable container (2) to form a single unit.
• the container (2) comprises a first and second part (30, 3) where the second part (3) is mobile in relation to the first part (30) and moves between a first configuration where the user has access to the fitness equipment (11) and a second configuration where the fitness equipment (11) cannot be used.
• the fitness equipment (11) is housed inside an internal compartment (12) defined by the container (2) .
• the second part of the container (2) comprises a drawer (20) and the first part (30) of the container (2) comprises a housing (21) for the drawer (20) .
• the drawer (20) is mobile with a translatory motion between the second configuration in which it is inside the housing (21) and the first configuration in which it is at least partially outside the housing (21) .
• the fitness equipment (11) is connected to an internal surface of the drawer (20) .
• An Example of such a constructional solution is shown in Figures 7, 8a, 8b and 9 and in Figures 10a tolOe.
• the drawer (20) comprises rolling means (22) which facilitate translatory movement along a support.
• the rolling means (22) could, for example, consist of small wheels moving along guides or directly on the floor.
• the movement of the second part (3) of the container (2) between the first configuration and the second configuration includes a tipping movement.
• the tipping motion is relative to a horizontal axis.
• the movement of the second part (3) of the container (2) between the first configuration and the second configuration includes a translatory motion in relation to the first part (30) of the container (2) .
• This translatory motion could accompany the tipping movement as shown in the case in Figure 11 or could not accompany the tipping movement as shown in the case in Figures 7, 8a, 8b and 9 and Figures 10a tolOe.
• the second part (3) of the container (2) is connected to the first part (30) of the container (2) by means of at least two return hydraulic pistons (14) , each piston (14) having its two opposing ends rotatably connected one to the second part (3) and one to the first part (30) of the container (2) , respectively.
• Said pistons (14) exert a force which retracts the second part (3) of the container (2) from the first configuration, where the second part is horizontal, to the second configuration where the second part is vertical; furthermore, the pistons also exert an opposing force counteracting the weight of the second part when it moves from the first to the second configuration and thereby prevent the second part from hitting the floor violently.
• the example embodiments in Figures 7, 8a, 8b and 9 and in Figures 10a tolOe show the fitness equipment (11) connected exclusively to the second part (3) of the container (2) or connected exclusively to the first part (30) of the container (2).
• the fitness equipment (11) consists of a treadmill (5) complete with handlebars (6) and a control panel (7) .
• the handlebars (6) are hinged to a pair of uprights which in turn have a hinged connection to the treadmill (5) .
• the fitness equipment (11) can therefore be folded down into the closed position of minimum dimensions before the second part (3) of the container (2) is moved into the second position.
• the fitness equipment (11) consists of a treadmill (5) with handlebars (6) and a control panel (7) where the handlebars (6) are hinged to a pair of uprights which are in turn hinged to the base and where the control panel (7) is mounted on supports also hinged to the handle bars (6) thereby enabling the fitness equipment (11) to be folded into a closed position of minimum dimensions.
• the fitness equipment is mounted on the first part io (30) of the container (2) and on the second part (3) of the container; in this case the first and second parts (30, 3) of the container (2) act as a support frame for the fitness equipment (11) .
• the first part (30) can be advantageously connected
• the fitness equipment (11) comprises a treadmill (5) with handlebars (6) and/or a control panel (7) ; the treadmill (5) is mounted on the second part (3) of the container (2) while the handlebars (6) and/or the
• control panel (7) are mounted on the first part (30) of the container (2) .
• the second part (3) of the container (2) comprises a cover.
• the cover is the cover of the furniture module (1) .
• the subject of the present invention is also a shower cubicle comprising a furniture module (1) of the type described previously.
• the furniture module (1) forms one wall of the shower cubicle where the second part (3)
• the furniture module opens towards the inside of the shower cubicle (8) and, where necessary, extends outwards through an opening in the shower cubicle (8) .
• the furniture module
• 3S (1) comprises one wall of the shower cubicle where in this case the second part (3) opens towards the outside of the shower cubicle (8) .
• the subject of the present invention is a furniture unit (15) which incorporates the furniture module (1) described previously.
• a portion of the furniture unit (15) also forms part of the furniture module (1) .
• a portion of the furniture unit (15) forms the first part (30) of the container (2) .
• the container (2) is made in a style which matches that of the remaining parts of the furniture unit (15) in which it is inserted.
• the movement of the second part (3) of the container (2) from the second to the first configuration moves the fitness equipment (11) into a partially operative configuration.
• the at least partially operative configuration is one where the fitness equipment (11) is at least partly extracted from the furniture module (1) and can be directly accessed by the user.
• the user To make the fitness equipment (11) fully operative, the user must perform additional operations such as extracting other components (such as the handlebars shown in the embodiment in Figures Ia and Ib) or folding out the fitness equipment (11) from its folded position of minimum dimensions to its fully- open operating configuration (as shown in the embodiment in Figures 1Od andlOe) .
• the movement of the second part (3) of the container (2) from the second to the first configuration moves the fitness equipment (11) directly into the operating position.
• the fitness equipment (11) is ready for immediate use.
• the movement of the fitness equipment (11) is linked to the movement of the second part (3) of the container (2) .
• the movement of the handlebars could be contemporaneous to and depend on the movement of the second part (3) of the container ( 2 ) .
• the handlebars could be controlled by elastic means.
• the movement of the second part (3) of the container (2) could be such as to move the handlebars directly into their operating configuration when the restraining action exerted by the second part (3) of the container (2) is removed by opening the container.
• the handlebars could be fixed and made inside the container (2) so that they would not have to be extracted from the container (2) .
• the fact that the movement of the second part (3) of the container (2) positions the fitness equipment (11) in the partially operating configuration or in the operating configuration is a very important feature because it saves a considerable amount of time when preparing the fitness equipment (11) for use .
• the subject of the invention is a sofa comprising the furniture module (1) ; preferably, the furniture module (1) is installed in the section of the sofa under the seat.
• the seat forms the second part (3) of the container (2) and can be tipped between a substantially horizontal position and a substantially vertical position where the fitness equipment (11) is available for use.
• the second part (3) of the container (2) comprises a drawer which can be extracted from under the sofa seat and where the fitness equipment (11) is suitably linked to the inside of the drawer. When the drawer is opened, the fitness equipment (11) is usually in the partially operating configuration.
• the user moves the equipment into the operating configuration; in the example in Figure 7 showing an exercise cycle, the user rotates the cycle on an underlying plate (110) and then raises it through 90°.
• the subject of the present invention is also a table comprising a furniture module (1) according to the present invention; advantageously, the furniture module (1) is installed in the section of the table under the substantially horizontal tabletop used to support other objects.
• the tabletop comprises the second part
• the second part (3) of the container (2) of the furniture module (1) comprises a drawer (20) which can be extracted from under a surface.
• the fitness equipment (11) is suitably linked and connected to the inside of the drawer (20) .
• the subject of the present invention is also a bed incorporating the furniture module (1) according to the present invention; the furniture module (1) is installed in the section of the bed under the surface supporting the mattress.
• a section of the bed comprising the second part
• the second part (3) of the furniture module (1) comprises a drawer which can be extracted from under the bed and where the bed provides a housing for the drawer.
• the fitness equipment (11) is foldable and is suitably linked to the inside of the drawer (see Figure 9 and Figures 10a to 1Oe for an example) .
• the subject of the present invention is also a kitchen cupboard incorporating a furniture module (1) according to the present invention.
• the furniture module (1) is preferably made in the base of the cupboard.
• the second part (3) of the container (2) comprises a drawer (20) which can be extracted from the base.
• the inside of the drawer (20) is suitably linked to the fitness equipment (11) .
• the subject of the present invention is also a bathroom furniture unit comprising a furniture module
• the bathroom furniture unit could, for example, be a bathroom cupboard or a bathtub.
• the furniture module (1) is made in a vertical wall of the bathroom cupboard or the bathtub.
• the second part (3) of the container (2) is mobile and moves between a first configuration where it is horizontal (see Figure 11) to a second configuration where it is vertical.
• the bathroom cupboard could, for example, be located under a washbasin; in this case, while going from the second configuration to the first configuration, the second part (3) of the container (2) is first tipped sideways through 90° and, where necessary, is then moved by translatory motion to be extracted from its location under the washbasin.
• Figure 11 shows the fitness equipment (11) in its configuration of minimum dimensions. To move the fitness equipment
• the subject of the present invention is a cupboard comprising a furniture module (1) according to the present invention.
• the furniture module (1) is linked to a section of a side-hung door, the section being inside the cupboard when the door is closed.
• the furniture module (1) according to the present invention could also be installed in a specially shaped recess made in a raised floor.
• the raised floor defines a hollow space between the tread surface and the support floor underneath.
• the thickness of the furniture module (1) advantageously approximates to the depth of the hollow space.
• the hollow space could be of the type used as a cableway.
• the module (1) is closed and does not project from the floor surface.
• the second part (3) of the container (2) is raised to permit access to the fitness equipment (11) located inside the module.
• the furniture module (1) according to the present invention could be installed in the same way inside a recessed compartment made in a vertical wall.
• the wall could be solid or could be made from plasterboard.
• the section of the furniture module (1) visible when the module is in the second configuration and the fitness equipment (11) is not available for use, has the same finish as the surrounding wall surface. Alternatively, this section could be fitted with a mirror.
• this section lies on the same plane as the wall and is therefore flush with it .
• Figures 8a and 8b show a module designed to be installed in a sofa ( Figure 8a) or under a table ( Figure 8b) respectively, fitted with fitness equipment consisting of a treadmill comprising handlebars (11) hinged to support arms (12) and a control panel mounted on supports (13) which are in turn hinged to the handlebars .
• This enables the structure to be folded down horizontally so that it occupies less space in height .
• the sliding module containing the fitness equipment can be installed in various types of furniture or seating using the spaces and parts underneath these which are often unused also because of the fact that the fitness equipment can be folded down when not in use thus assuming riduced dimensions in height instead of in depth.
• the same module can, for example, be installed under a bed at the headboard end, as shown in Figure 9, or under the bed at a side, as shown in Figures 10a to 1Oe.
• the figures show the various stages of extracting the module and opening the equipment to move it into the operating configuration.
• the embodiment shown in Figure 9 could have two separate modules installed in parallel on the two sides of the bed one opposite the other.
• a module fitted with folding fitness equipment could be installed under an item of tipping furniture such as a bed, a table or a sofa of the type which is fixed to a wall and which is tipped to be opened and moved into the operating position. In these cases the fitness equipment could be housed inside a container which is also tipping.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Cardiology (AREA)
• Vascular Medicine (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Special Chairs (AREA)
• Handcart (AREA)
• Extensible Doors And Revolving Doors (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=38069105

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2005
  • 2005-12-22 IT IT002448A patent/ITMI20052448A1/it unknown
• 2006
  • 2006-12-15 EP EP06831766A patent/EP1962972A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-12-15 WO PCT/IB2006/003698 patent/WO2007072180A2/en active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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