EP2939718A1

EP2939718A1 - Device to prevent injuries

Info

Publication number: EP2939718A1
Application number: EP14180047.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Piotr Gluchowski; Piotr Rybczynski; Krzysztof Mazinski
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-04-29
Filing date: 2014-08-06
Publication date: 2015-11-04
Also published as: US20150306485A1; PL408062A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device to prevent injuries during weight training with free weights, comprising at least one weight hoisting unit (4, 5, 6, 9, 10) controllable by means of at least one pedal (7, 8). Preferably, the device comprises an adjustable seat (2) with an adjustable backrest (3) placed between the two symmetrically disposed weight hoisting units (4, 5, 6, 9, 10).

Description

The present invention relates to a device to prevent injuries used during weight training with free weights (dumbbells, barbells), in gyms and sports - rehabilitation centres. The essence of this invention is the use of external energy for passing the weight to the exercising person.
Different devices and instruments used for weight training are known.
Invention PL 323170 (A1 ) is known, which relates to the strength training devices used at the gyms or rehabilitation centres. The device has a base, consisting of horizontal beams, combined with a diagonal beam and at least two supports, package weights being arranged parallel to the beam on top a frame. A knot for fixing the drive mechanism is located in a diagonal beam. Package weights together with a frame are protected with a cover, preferably fixed to a frame. The design of strength training devices can be used at different workout stations and at different configurations driving mechanisms.
Strength training devices which consist of weight stacks, run using a drive of rope and pulley systems are known.
Devices are also known comprising a base with attached seat with adjustable backrest and instruments in the form of various kinds of set of racks and benches with racks designed for training with barbells, benches and free-standing benches for exercising with dumbbells, abdominal exercises etc., which make it easy to perform strength training with free weights.
It should be noted that, to achieve rapid progress in the development of strength and muscle mass, free weights workout is necessary. What is important for the strength exercise to be performed correctly is that the exercising person must find the optimal weight guiding path, which will give him the natural rotation of the joints, the maximum muscle tension and stretch and the corresponding development of stabilizing muscles. Weight guiding path depends on the anatomy of each exercising person and it will be proper only when using free weights, since the machines are forcing a certain movement on the exercising persons.
In order to do strength exercise with free weights (barbells, dumbbells) they are placed on a rack, which is positioned in close proximity to the seat of the exercising person. To begin the exercise, the exercising person must first reach the free weight, grab it appropriately, pull it towards himself and lift, and then properly lay the body on the seat. The exercising person may ask other people for assistance. Such assistance takes places especially in the case of beginners, and in the case of exercising with a sufficiently large load or a sufficiently large number of repetitions. In order to interrupt or finish the exercise, the exercising person has to throw back or put a free weight back on the rack or ask somebody for assistance.
To use the already known devices properly, the exercising person must exercise extreme caution and have the appropriate knowledge and experience, as incorrect reach, grip, shrug and lift and throwing back of free weight, and body position during the start and end of exercise can cause injury or even threaten the life of the exercising person. It is possible to ask other persons for assistance, however, the assisting person, passing the weight, may drop it, as the drip used in this free weight is not convenient. Moreover, the assisting persons may pass the weight to the exercising person unevenly, resulting in the loss of his balance and, consequently, lead to injury.
Moreover, due to the dangerous position, adopted when passing the weight, the assisting person is exposed to a back injury. Putting the weight away after finishing the exercises is difficult and therefore a free weight after finishing the exercise is thrown on the floor, which creates additional risks for the health of the exercising person and other bystanders.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a device to prevent injuries, which eliminates any inconvenience, allowing for safe and convenient passing of the weight, secure assistance during exercise and comfortable reception of the weight after their completion.
This device protects the exercising person against muscle or tendon sprains or strains and against injuries, especially against shoulder joint injuries while exercising with free weights.
The device may primarily serve athletes in all sports, during recovery, wanting to return to old form as soon as possible without the risk of injury. It should be noted that in most sports, strength training is used, and free weights workout best develops strength and muscle mass and dynamics and strength.
The invention relates to a device to prevent injuries during weight training with free weights comprising at least one weight hoisting unit controllable by means of at least one pedal. Preferably, at least one weight hoisting unit and/or at least one control pedal is mounted on a base.
Preferably, a device comprises a seat, preferably adjustable. Preferably, the seat comprises a backrest, preferably adjustable.
Preferably, the seat is placed between two symmetrically disposed weight hoisting units. Preferably, it is mounted on the base.
Preferably, at least one weight hoisting unit comprises a linear weight hoisting actuator, a guide mounted on the hinges and a weight holder.
Preferably, at least one weight hoisting unit comprises a tilt actuator.
Preferably, hoisting actuator and/or tilt actuator is an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic or electromagnetic actuator.
Preferably, the device comprises an electrical box, preferably with a "on/off" button and/or "stop" button.

A preferred embodiment of the invention

The invention will now be further illustrated in the preferred embodiment, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a device to prevent injuries and
Fig. 2 shows a view of the device in a front view.

In a preferred embodiment, the devices comprises a base 1 on which an adjustable seat 2 with adjustable backrest 3 is arranged. Two weight hoisting units, consisting of hoisting actuator 4, guides 5 and weight holder 6 mounted on hinges 9, tilted with the actuators 10, are arranged on both sides of the seat. They hoist, guide and through tilting approach the exercising person and stabilize the weight. The exercising person control the movement of the unit by means of control pedals 7 and 8, which allow the control of both electrically powered hoisting units. Pedals 7 and 8 in metal casing have electrical contacts mounted, and pressing them actuates the function "up" - after pressing pedal 7 and "down" - after pressing pedal 8.
After pressing pedal 7 "up", weights are hoisted to full height, with hoisting actuators 4. In the next step weight hoisting units 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 mounted on hinges 9 tilted with the tilt actuators 10 inwardly towards the exercising person. After lifting the weights from the weight holder 6 and pressing the pedal 8 "down", weight hoisting units 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 are titled with the actuators 9 outwardly from the exercising person. After reaching the extreme outer position, hoisting actuators 4 are actuated and the units are lowered in the lower position. Releasing the pressure on the pedal or pressing both pedals immediately stops all machine movements. Additionally, there is a "stop" button 13 on the electrical box 11, which after being pressed immobilizes the device.
Weight hoisting units 4, 5, 6, 9, are linear electric actuators: hoisting actuators 4 and tilt actuators 10. Hoisting actuators 4 and tilt actuators 10 are helical gears driven by electric motors, their movement being initiated by the driver by means of the pedal 7 and 8. Tilt actuators 10 are smaller than hoisting actuators 4, due to lower demand for speed and strength. Tilt actuators 10 and hoisting actuators 4 are served by the same driver, synchronizing their joint action.
Before exercising, the exercising person alone or with the help of a second person puts the weights on the weight holders 6 being in a lower position. After taking a seated position and adjusting the position of the seat 2 and backrest 3, using the control pedals 7 and 8. Adopts a weight position comfortable to start exercising. At the time of exercising, weight hoisting units 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 can be tilted and lowered, or remain slightly raised after tilting for belay. Having finished exercising, the exercising person puts or thrown back the weights on raised or lowered weight holders 6 that are secured with appropriate impactcushioning material.
In another embodiment the exercising person controls the movement of the unit by means of control pedals 7 and 8, which allow the control of both hydraulically powered hoisting units.
The solution based on pneumatic drives involves the use of the hoisting units of pneumatic actuators, to which air is supplied from the electrical compressor located at the base of the device. The air can also be supplied from the external installation, if available. Unit movements are initiated through the driver, using pedals 7 and 8. The actuators tilting the hoisting units operate on the same principle, but they are much smaller due to lower demand for speed and strength. The actuators are operated by the same drive synchronizing their actions with the actuators driving the weight hoisting units 4, 5, 6, 9, 10.
Device to prevent injuries, as at the beginning, can be used at the gyms and sports - rehabilitation centres for safe and comfortable training with free weights - barbells and dumbbells. The device according to the invention may not only serve athletes practising strength athletics, but also practising track and field, basketball, volleyball, rugby, American football and so on. The device will help athletes quickly gain the intended physical fitness without compromising on health and athletes - convalescents, who succumbed to injuries and want to regain its fitness without the risk of further injury.

Claims

A device to prevent injuries during weight training with free weights, characterized in that it comprises at least one weight hoisting unit (4, 5, 6, 9, 10) controllable by means of at least one pedal (7, 8).
The device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one weight hoisting unit (4, 5, 6, 9, 10) and/or at least one control pedal (7, 8) is mounted on a base (1).
The device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that comprises a seat (2), preferably adjustable.
The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the seat (2) comprises a backrest (3), preferably adjustable.
The device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the seat (2) is placed between the two symmetrically disposed weight hoisting units (4, 5, 6, 9, 10).
The device according to any of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the seat (2) is mounted on a base (1).
The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one weight hoisting unit (4, 5, 6, 9, 10) comprises a linear weight hoisting actuator (4), a guide (5) mounted on the hinges (9), and a weight holder (6).
The device according to claim 7 characterized in that the hoisting actuator (4) is an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic or electromagnetic actuator.
The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one weight hoisting unit (4, 5, 6, 9, 10) comprises a tilt actuator (10).
The device according to claim 9 characterized in that the tilt actuator is an electric or hydraulic or pneumatic or electromagnetic actuator.
The device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an electrical box (11), preferably with an "on/off" (12) and/or "stop" button (13).