EP2803390A1 - Exercise apparatus for training the muscles of the cervical areas - Google Patents

Abstract

An exercise apparatus (10) having a back support structure (11), a cranial support structure (12), and a connecting structure (13) connecting the back support structure to the cranial support structure and having an adjustable stiffness. The apparatus also comprises a suspension and holding structure (14), which is connected to the back support structure and is arranged to suspend the apparatus at the shoulders of a user and to maintain the back support structure in support against the back of the user; means (40, 43) for measuring the forces exerted by the user on the cranial support structure; and signal transmission means connected to the force measuring means and arranged to transmit the signals delivered by these measuring means.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

The present invention relates to an exercise machine that can be used in particular to develop the muscles of the neck, in particular to develop the musculation of the cervical zones.

STATE OF THE ART

The invention applies in particular to an exercise machine which comprises a back support structure, such as a backrest, a cranial support structure, such as a headrest, and a connecting structure connecting the back support structure to the cranial support structure and having adjustable stiffness.

Such an exercise machine is described in the patent FR2883760 . The apparatus described in this patent comprises a support serving as a backrest and equipped with support fixing plates on a base. This device also includes telescopic arms equipped with gripping handles of the device by the user of the device, these arms and handles being retractable to facilitate the storage of the device.

In this apparatus, the adjustable stiffness binding structure comprises a flexible plate made of a metal alloy or a composite material loaded with carbon fibers, and shaped dihedron.

Means for adjusting the flexural strength of the flexible plate comprise a bolt for fixing the plate on the support serving as a backrest, and a bolt for clamping the plate against this support; the distance separating these bolts determines the flexural strength of the flexible plate.

Known neck muscle exercise apparatus having a backrest connected to a headrest by an adjustable stiffness binding structure does not allow the user of the apparatus - or a third party assisting or controlling the bodybuilding exercises made by the user - to know and master the effort exerted on the headrest by the user.

Indeed, due in particular to the variable nature of the stiffness of the connecting structure, the simple observation - or measurement - of the deformation of this structure does not allow to determine the intensity of this effort.

It is important to know and master this effort especially when the exercise machine is used for rehabilitation.

There is also a need for such an exercise machine that is portable (portable) and that allows the user to perform weight training exercises by wearing this device, including standing, and allowing it to know and master the effort he applies on the headrest.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine usable in particular for developing neck muscles, which is improved and / or which remedies, at least in part, the shortcomings or disadvantages of known neck training devices.

• une structure d'appui dorsal ;
• une structure d'appui crânien ;
• une structure de liaison reliant la structure d'appui dorsal à la structure d'appui crânien et présentant une raideur ajustable ;
• une structure de suspension et de maintien, qui est reliée à la structure d'appui dorsal et est agencée pour suspendre l'appareil aux épaules de l'utilisateur et pour maintenir la structure d'appui dorsal en appui contre le dos de l'utilisateur ;
• des moyens de mesure d'effort qui sont sensibles aux efforts exercés par l'utilisateur sur la structure d'appui crânien ; et
• des moyens de transmission de signaux - ou données - d'effort, qui sont reliés aux moyens de mesure d'effort et sont agencés pour transmettre les signaux - ou données - d'effort délivrés par ces moyens de mesure d'effort, de sorte que ces signaux - ou données - d'effort peuvent être présentés à l'utilisateur ou à un tiers, le cas échéant après traitement de ces signaux - ou données - d'effort.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an exercise apparatus which comprises:

• a back support structure;
• a cranial support structure;
• a connecting structure connecting the back support structure to the cranial support structure and having an adjustable stiffness;
• a suspension and holding structure, which is connected to the back support structure and is arranged to suspend the apparatus at the shoulders of the user and to maintain the back support structure against the back of the user ;
• force measuring means which are sensitive to the forces exerted by the user on the cranial support structure; and
• means for transmitting signals - or data - of effort, which are connected to the force measuring means and are arranged to transmit the signals - or data - of force delivered by these force measuring means, so that these signals - or data - effort can be presented to the user or to a third party, if appropriate after processing these signals - or data - effort.

The force measuring means can be sensitive to the forces transmitted to the connecting structure by the cranial support structure.

For this purpose, these measuring means may comprise a force sensor disposed between the connecting structure and the cranial support structure.

This force - or force - sensor may be a sensor sensitive to the deformation of a force transmission part connecting the connecting structure to the cranial support structure, in particular a gauge sensor (s) of constraint integral with such a force transmission part.

The signal transmission means - or data - effort, can connect the effort measuring means to a signal processing unit - or data - effort. This processing unit may comprise - or be connected to - means for displaying and / or recording data delivered by the force measuring means or by the signal processing / force data unit.

The transmission of signals - or data - of effort can be a wired transmission or a wireless transmission, for example an optical transmission or radio waves.

The exercise machine allows the wearer of the apparatus to take, during the performance of bodybuilding exercises, adequate postures and controllable thanks in particular to the effort measuring means and means of transmission of these effort measurements .

The exercise machine also makes it possible to measure the muscular power in the cervical zone in order to set up a training program, to identify the loss of muscle tone after a surgical act and / or the muscle recovery after exercise sessions, under the supervision of a physiotherapist for example, and / or to justify or analyze the gain brought by these sessions as part of a rehabilitation protocol.

The adjustable stiffness binding structure extends generally along at least one longitudinal axis, and the back support structure extends generally along a dorsal support plane substantially parallel to (these) axis ( s) longitudinal (longitudinal), this (these) axis (s) and this plane extending generally substantially vertically when the device is in use by a user standing.

The exercise apparatus may include hinge means for articulating the cranial abutment structure with respect to the adjustable stiffness binding structure, in particular allowing for articulation - i.e. a rotation - of the cranial support structure relative to the connecting structure along an axis of articulation substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the adjustable stiffness connecting structure and substantially parallel to the back support plane.

This axis of articulation - rotation - generally extends substantially horizontally when the device is in use by a user in a standing position, and transversely (with reference to the user).

These articulation means may have an elastic deformation capacity ensuring the return of the cranial support structure to a rest position when no force is exerted on this structure by the user, favoring movements from before rear of the user's head, and limiting rotational movements of the user's head along said hinge axis.

The cranial support structure generally has a left (non-planar) shape, whose concavity is turned forward (by reference to the user), and may extend along a cranial support plane which is substantially parallel to the back support plane in said rest position.

These articulation means may comprise and / or be essentially constituted by (at least) a hinge - or ball joint - made of an elastomeric material interposed between the structure cranial support and the adjustable stiffness connection structure, in particular a hinge disposed between a force transmission part equipped with a force sensor and integral with the cranial support structure, and this connecting structure.

The exercise apparatus may comprise a light source integral with the cranial support structure, emitting a light beam directed towards the front, substantially perpendicular to the cranial support plane, so as to allow the user carrying the exercise apparatus and observing a light spot resulting from the reflection of the beam by an object arranged in front of the user, and forming a first sight, to visually control the inclination of the cranial support structure along said axis of articulation .

The user of the exercise machine may carry a second light source, which may for example be secured to his head by a headband or a cranial strap (ne), emitting a second light beam directed towards the front, substantially parallel to the line of sight of the user's eyes, so as to allow the user observing a second light spot resulting from the reflection of the second beam by an object arranged in front of the user, and forming a second sight, to control visually the inclination of its head along said hinge axis, ie in an anteroposterior plane.

The adjustable stiffness binding structure may comprise two substantially parallel blades, extending on either side of the medial anteroposterior plane of the apparatus, so that the freedom of movement of the cranial support structure, particularly the freedom of rotation of this structure along an axis (normally vertical) parallel to the longitudinal axis of the connecting structure, is limited.

In this particular case, the apparatus may comprise two hinges respectively integral with the two blades and integral with a junction piece, and a transmission part and measuring force which is integral with the cranial support structure and which connects this junction piece to the cranial support structure.

Furthermore, these two blades can be mutually integral by their respective lower parts, through which the blades are secured to the back support structure by fastening means - such as bolts - to adjust the length of these blades which is rigidly fixed - "recessed" - to the back support structure, and therefore allowing to adjust the length of the upper "cantilever" of these blades, and thus adjust the stiffness of the bonding structure.

The suspension and holding structure may comprise two shoulder straps each equipped with a handle, a chest strap, and a chest strap, which are secured to the back support structure.

The cranial support structure can be integral with a frontal support structure, in particular a strap (or a headband) of frontal support, so as to transmit to the force measuring means exerted efforts by the user on this structure, during movements of the head from the rear to the front, so that these efforts can be measured by the force measuring means and can be controlled by the wearer of the apparatus or by a third party.

This frontal support strap may have a non-skid frontal support face and may comprise a silicone gel for example.

Other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention appear in the following description which refers to the appended figures and illustrates, without any limiting character, preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• The figure 1 schematically illustrates, in perspective view from ¾ before, an exercise apparatus according to one embodiment.
• The figure 2 schematically illustrates, in a rear perspective view, the illustrated exercise apparatus figure 1 .
• The figure 3 is a cross-sectional view through a median anteroposterior plane of the exercise machine shown figures 1 and 2 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Unless otherwise explicitly or implicitly stated, elements or members - structurally or functionally - identical or similar are designated by identical reference numerals in the different figures.

By reference to Figures 1 to 3 the muscle exercise apparatus 10 comprises a back support structure 11, a cranial support structure 12, a connecting structure 13, and a suspension and holding structure 14.

This device is particularly adapted to provide controlled resistance to the forces exerted by a user wearing the device and making movements of the head relative to the trunk, from front to back and / or vice versa.

The exercise apparatus 10, as well as each of the structures 11 to 14, has general symmetry along a median anteroposterior plane which is the plane of the figure 3 .

The back support structure 11 comprises a back support member 16 - or backrest - which extends along a back support plane 17 which is substantially vertical when a user in a standing position carries the device 10 .

The piece 16 is in the form of a thin plate whose contour, in front view or rear, has a curved central portion, an upper portion flared upwardly, and a lower portion flared downwardly.

The upper part of the part 16 is extended by two curved blades 18, 19 forming two portions - or primers - of straps forming part of the suspension structure 14 of the device to the user.

The lower part of the piece 16 is also extended by two curved blades 20, 21 forming two portions - or primers - abdominal strap, which are part of the structure 14 holding the device against the back of the user.

The blades 18 to 21 extend forward of the transverse plane 17 of dorsal support.

The piece 16 and the blades 18 to 21 extending the piece 16 may form a single piece which may be made of composite material, for example resin filled with carbon reinforcing fibers, so as to form a light, rigid structure, and of which the ergonomic shape is simple to manufacture.

The part 16 and the blades 18 to 21 may be coated, on their inner face, with a quilted coating such as the coating 22 of the front face of the illustrated part 16 figure 3 .

The suspension structure 14 further comprises two straps 25, 26, which are respectively fixed to the ends of the blades 18, 19 which they extend to form two shoulder straps whose lower ends (such as the one marked 260 figure 3 ) can be respectively fixed to the blades 20, 21.

Each of these straps 25, 26 may comprise, in its upper part, a handle (not shown)

The handles fitted to these straps can be grasped by the user practicing an exercise so as to be arranged substantially at the level of the clavicles of the user, in a grouped position of the upper body. This makes it possible to intimately connect the device to the user, to concentrate the muscular effort at the level of the cervical vertebrae, and to prevent the user from adopting a bad working posture.

The structure 14 for holding the device against the back of the user comprises a thoracic strap 27 extending substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the shoulder straps, and whose two ends are fixed to the back support structure 11, in particular to the room 16.

The holding structure 14 also comprises a strap 28 abdominal, also extending substantially horizontally, under the thoracic strap, and extending the primer 20, 21 webbing integral with - or integrated with - the back support part 16.

The straps and straps 25 to 28 are for example made of a synthetic textile material and provided with members for adjusting their "useful" length.

The suspension and holding structure 14, which is thus fixed to the back support structure 11, makes it possible to suspend the device at the shoulders of the user and to maintain the back support structure resting against the back of the patient. by tightening (shortening) these straps and straps.

The cranial support structure 12 comprises a cranial support piece 23 - or headrest - which extends along a cranial support plane 29 which is substantially vertical and parallel to the back support plane 17, when a user carries the apparatus 10 without exerting force on the cranial support structure 12.

For this purpose, the cranial support structure 12 is supported by the connecting structure 13 connecting the back support structure to the cranial support structure, and having an adjustable stiffness.

The inner face - or front face - of the part 23 may be covered with a padded coating 24 ( figure 3 ), especially when the part 23 is made of a rigid material such as a composite material comprising carbon reinforcing fibers.

The part 23, the coating 24, and the structure 12 may be in the form of thin cylindrical caps whose concavity is directed towards the front.

The connecting structure 13 comprises two substantially planar and rectilinear blades 30, 31, respectively extending along two substantially parallel axes 32, 33, on either side of the median anteroposterior plane of the apparatus, substantially parallel to the plane 17 back support and cranial support plane 29.

The blades 30, 31 are substantially coplanar and mutually integral by their respective lower parts which form a flat plate 34 through which the blades 30, 31 are secured to the part 16 of the back support structure by bolts 35, 36 ( figure 3 ).

Each bolt comprises a threaded rod 35, one end of which is rigidly fixed - embedded or otherwise anchored or embedded - in the back support member 16, each rod 35 extending through an orifice provided in the plate 34, opening - and protruding - on the back side of this plate.

Each bolt for fixing the blades 30, 31 to the structure 11 further comprises a nut 36 designed to be screwed onto the free end ("open") of one of the threaded rods 35, and to be placed on the face rear of the plate 34, so as to clamp the plate 34 against the rear face of the part 16.

We observe figure 3 the apparatus comprises six rods 35 regularly spaced vertically (along the axes 32, 33), only two of which are equipped with a nut 36 clamping.

The choice (from the six rods) of the two rods 35 on which two nuts 36 are respectively screwed, makes it possible to adjust the length (height) of these blades 30, 31 (and / or of the plate 34 extending the blades 30, 31 ) which is rigidly fixed to the back support structure 11, and makes it possible to vary the length 37 of the upper part, "free" or "cantilevered", blades 30, 31, and to adjust thus the stiffness of the bonding structure, i.e. its flexural deformation capacity with respect to the axes 32, 33 under the effect of a user-exerting force on the cranial support structure.

According to an alternative embodiment not shown, the blades 30, 31 can be joined substantially over their entire length, thus forming a plate 34 extending up to the axis 38 - and where appropriate above the axis 38 - transmission of the forces exerted by the user on the headrest, this headrest to the structure 13 connecting, the axis 38 being substantially horizontal when the device is in use by a user in a standing position .

As illustrated in particular figure 3 , the cranial support structure 12 is suspended at the upper part of the blades 30, 31 and the adjustable stiffness connecting structure 13, via a workpiece 40 of force transmission, and a hinge 39.

The piece 40 of force transmission, which is in the form of jumper or "U", is secured to the rear face of the piece 23, as well as the hinge 39 which is integral with the front face of the blades 30, 31.

The part 40 comprises a sensor (mark 43) of force - or force - responsive to the deformation of the part 40 along the axis of effort 38, i.e. the "pinching" of the piece 40, in particular a strain gauge sensor (s) integral with - or integrated with - a wing of the piece 40, for example integral with the central wing of this piece 40.

This force sensor is thus sensitive to the forces exerted by the user on the cranial support structure 12, and transmitted to the connecting structure 13 by the cranial support structure.

The apparatus 10 further comprises means for transmitting signals - or data - of effort, which are connected to this force measuring sensor 43 for transmitting the signals - or data - of effort delivered by this sensor and for present them to the user or to a third party, if necessary after treatment.

The signal transmission means - or data - effort, may comprise a cable (not shown) connecting the force measurement sensor to a housing (not shown) containing an electronic unit for processing signals - or data - d effort, this unit comprising means for displaying and / or recording data delivered by the force measurement sensor.

The hinge 39 allows an articulation of the cranial support structure 12 with respect to the adjustable stiffness connecting structure 13, in particular a rotation of the cranial support structure 12 with respect to the linkage structure 13 along an axis 41 articulation which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axes 32, 33 of the blades 30, 31 of the structure 13 connecting.

This axis 41 of articulation - of rotation - extends generally substantially horizontally when the apparatus is in use by a user in a standing position, and in a transverse plane parallel to the support planes 17, 29.

The articulation - or patella - 39 has an elastic deformation capacity to recall the cranial support structure 12 to a rest position in which the planes 17, 29 are substantially parallel, when no effort is exerted on this user structure.

The hinge 39, which connects the blades 30, 31 of the connecting structure 13 to the force transmission part 40 equipped with the force sensor, can be made of an elastomeric material.

The apparatus 10 comprises a source 42 of light integral with the cranial support structure 12, emitting a light beam directed towards the front, substantially perpendicularly to the cranial support plane 29, to form a first pattern allowing a visual control of the inclination of the structure 12 along the articulation axis 41.

The user of the exercise apparatus may carry a second light source, which may be secured to his head by a headband around the wearer's head, emitting a second light beam directed forward to form a second sight for visual control of the inclination of its head along the hinge axis 41.

Such a band (or strap) can be connected (e) to the cranial support part 23 and can be arranged (e) to form a front support piece for the user, so as to transmit to the measuring means of effort exerted by the user on this headband, during movements of the head from the back to the front.

According to a variant (not shown), the apparatus 10 may comprise two hinges 39 respectively integral with the two blades 30, 31 and integral with a junction piece joining these joints to the piece 40 transmission and force measurement.

In this particular case, the freedom of movement (in rotation) of the cranial support structure 12, along an axis parallel to the longitudinal axes 32, 33 of the connecting structure, is limited.

Claims (16)

An exercise apparatus (10) comprising a back support structure (11), a cranial support structure (12), and a connecting structure (13) connecting the back support structure to the cranial support structure and having an adjustable stiffness, characterized in that it further comprises: a suspension and holding structure (14), which is connected to the back support structure and is arranged to suspend the apparatus at the shoulders of a user and to maintain the back support structure against the back the user; - force measuring means (40, 43) responsive to the forces exerted by the user on the cranial support structure; and - Signal transmission means - or data - effort, which are connected to the force measuring means and are arranged to transmit the signals - or data - effort delivered by these effort measuring means. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the force measuring means are responsive to the forces transmitted to the structure (13) of connection by the cranial support structure (12), along an axis (38) of force transmission, these measuring means comprising a force sensor (43) disposed between the connecting structure (13) and the cranial support structure (12), in particular a sensor (43) with strain gauge (s) integral with a force transmission part (40) connecting the connecting structure (13) to the cranial support structure (12). Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 in which the signal transmission means - or data - effort connect the force measuring means to a signal processing unit - or data - effort comprising - or being connected to means for displaying and / or recording data delivered by the force measuring means or by the processing unit. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the transmission of the signals - or data - of effort is a wired transmission or a wireless transmission, for example an optical transmission or radio waves. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the adjustable stiffness connecting structure (13) extends along at least one longitudinal axis (32, 33), the back support structure (11) extends along a dorsal support plane (17) substantially parallel to this (these) longitudinal axis (s) (32, 33) (longitudinal), this (these) axis (s) (32, 33) and this plane (17) extending substantially vertically when the apparatus is in use by a user in a standing position. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5 which comprises means (39) for articulating articulation of the cranial support structure (12) relative to the structure (13) of adjustable stiffness connection, in particular permitting articulation - i.e. a rotation - of the cranial support structure relative to the connecting structure along a hinge axis (41) substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (32, 33) of the adjustable stiffness connection structure and substantially parallel to the plane (17) along which extends the back support structure (11). Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the axis (41) of articulation - rotation - extends substantially horizontally when the apparatus is in use by a user in a standing position, and transversely. Apparatus according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the means (39) of articulation have an elastic deformation capacity ensuring the return of the cranial support structure (12) to a rest position when no effort is exerted on this structure by the user. Apparatus according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the hinge means comprise and / or consist essentially of a hinge - or patella - made of a material elastomer, interposed between the cranial support structure (12) and the adjustable stiffness connection structure (13), in particular arranged between a force transmission part (40) equipped with a force sensor (43), and this link structure (13). Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the cranial support structure (12) has a left shape whose concavity is facing forward and which extends along a plane (29) cranial support which is substantially parallel to the plane (17) along which extends the structure (11) back support, in a rest position. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10 which comprises a source (42) of light integral with the cranial support structure (12), arranged to emit a light beam directed towards the front, substantially perpendicular to the plane (29). ) along which the cranial support structure (12) extends, so as to allow the user carrying the apparatus (10) and observing a light spot resulting from the reflection of the beam by an object arranged in front of the user, and forming a test pattern, to visually control the inclination of the cranial support structure along an axis (41) of articulation of the cranial support structure (12). Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the adjustable stiffness connecting structure (13) comprises two substantially parallel blades (30, 31) extending on either side of the median anteroposterior plane (15). of the apparatus (10), so that the freedom of movement of the cranial support structure (12), in particular the freedom of rotation of this structure (12) along an axis parallel to the axis (32, 33 ) longitudinal of the structure (13) of connection, is limited. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 12 which comprises two joints (39) respectively integral with two blades (30, 31) of the structure (13) of connection, and integral with a piece of junction, and a piece (40) for transmission and measurement of effort that connects the junction piece to the structure (12) cranial support. Apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the two blades (30, 31) are mutually integral by their respective lower parts, through which the blades are secured to the back support structure (11) by means (35, 36 ) of fixing - such as bolts - to adjust the length (37) of the upper part "cantilever" of these blades, and thus adjust the stiffness of the connecting structure. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein the suspension and retaining structure (14) comprises two shoulder straps (25, 26) each equipped with a handle, a chest strap (27), and a strap (28). ) ventral, which are integral with the structure (11) back support. Apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15 which comprises a frontal support structure integral with the cranial support structure, in particular a strap or a frontal support band, so as to transmit forces exerted by the user on this structure, during movements of the head from the rear to the front, the effort measuring means.

Images