EP2991738B1 - Muscle biasing device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to the field of muscle solicitation devices and more particularly to personal muscle solicitation devices that can be installed and used in the context of a sporting or medical practice at home or in spaces not reserved solely for sports practice. .

We know weight exercise machines that are commonly installed in gyms. In the context of a domestic practice, a disadvantage of these machines is their size. The document DE8701025 describes a device comprising a straight bar adjustable in height and fixed by screwing on the ground. The upper end of this bar is associated with a bend itself connected to a horizontal bar, said horizontal bar being attached to a wall. A biasing member is associated with the horizontal bar to allow exercise practice.

We know of the document US5997448 a muscular biasing device to be installed by compression between a floor and a ceiling. This device comprises a vertical telescopic upright provided with an upper support plate intended to bear against the ceiling. This device further comprises elastic bands exerting, under the effect of a pull of a user, a restoring force opposing the pulling force of the user.

An idea underlying the invention is to provide a muscular exercise practice device for use in a home practice and that is simple and fast installation. An object of the invention is also to provide a muscular biasing device which, once installed, has a good operating safety and in particular a risk of impromptu uninstallation low.

• Un bâti destiné à être coincé entre la surface de sol et la structure supérieure du local, le bâti comportant une barre de structure
• formant un arc de cercle, la barre de structure formant l'arc de cercle depuis la première extrémité de la barre de structure jusqu'à 'à la deuxième extrémité de la barre de structure, la barre de structure étant destinée à être positionnée verticalement entre la surface de sol et la structure supérieure du local, un élément supérieur destiné à coopérer avec la structure supérieure du local, l'élément supérieur étant attaché à une première extrémité de la barre de structure, un élément inférieur destiné à coopérer avec la surface de sol, l'élément inférieur étant attaché à une deuxième extrémité de la barre de structure,
• Un élément de rappel attaché au bâti et un élément de sollicitation, ledit élément de sollicitation étant couplé à l'élément de rappel, ledit élément de sollicitation étant apte à être tiré par un utilisateur en direction de l'intérieur de l'arc de cercle de la barre de structure et l'élément de rappel étant apte à exercer sur l'élément de sollicitation une force de rappel s'opposant à la force de traction de l'utilisateur.

La barre de structure est télescopique, la barre de structure ayant dans une position rétractée une longueur inférieure à la longueur de la barre de structure en position déployée. Il est aussi prévu un organe de blocage de déploiement de la barre de structure apte à bloquer sélectivement la barre de structure dans une position, de préférence une pluralité de positions, entre la position rétractée de la barre de structure et la position déployée de la barre de structure pour régler la longueur de la barre de structure.For this, the invention provides a muscular biasing device for cooperating with a floor surface and an upper structure of a room, the device comprising

• A frame intended to be wedged between the floor surface and the upper structure of the room, the frame comprising a structure bar
• forming an arc of a circle, the structure bar forming the arc from the first end of the structure bar to 'at the second end of the structure bar, the structure bar being intended to be positioned vertically between the floor surface and the upper structure of the room, an upper member intended to cooperate with the upper structure of the room, the upper member being attached to a first end of the structure bar, a lower member intended to cooperate with the surface the lower element being attached to a second end of the structural bar,
• A biasing member attached to the frame and a biasing member, said biasing member being coupled to the biasing member, said biasing member being adapted to be pulled by a user towards the interior of the arc. of the structural bar and the return element being able to exert on the biasing element a restoring force opposing the pulling force of the user.

The structural bar is telescopic, the structure bar having in a retracted position a length less than the length of the structural bar in the deployed position. There is also provided a structural rod deployment blocking member adapted to selectively lock the structural bar in a position, preferably a plurality of positions, between the retracted position of the structural bar and the deployed position of the bar. of structure to adjust the length of the structure bar.

Such a device allows rapid installation for example in a doorway of the home of a user, the latter having that move the device at the door frame and make coincide the upper element of the frame with a transverse upper amount of the door frame and orient the arc of the bar so as to move the structure bar away from the door frame, that is to say so that the center of the door frame the arc and the arc are located on either side of the door frame.

In use, the traction force of the user on the biasing element is transmitted to the frame whose arcuate bars work in flexion, thus tending to transform the user's effort into a resultant compression of the frame on the door jamb. Advantageously, the device is all the better fixed in the door jamb that the user exerts a significant pull on the biasing element.

According to embodiments, such a muscular biasing device may include one or more of the following additional features.

In a preferred embodiment, the locking member is able to continuously adjust the length of the structural bar between two extreme values. The locking member can take a large number of different shapes, for example in the form of a locking latch cooperating with orifices located in the bar at predefined regular positions in order to block the telescopic parts relative to each other. the other in different positions, or by the presence of a locking screw passing through an opening of a telescopic portion forming a thread of the structural bar and blocking the other part by clamping In a preferred embodiment , the structure bar has a first portion and a second portion, the second portion of the structural bar being slidably mounted in the first portion of the structural bar, and wherein the locking member is adapted to exert on the second part of the structure bar a blocking force of which a first component develops in a direction tangent to a sliding direction of the second party e of the structure bar in the first part of the structure bar and a second component of which develops perpendicularly to the first component so as firstly to exert on the second part of the structure bar a force tending to extend the structure bar and, secondly, block the relative movement between the first part of the structure bar and the second part of the structure bar. In various embodiments, the locking member may take the form of a cam, a pressure lock, or a positive or negative control electrical system, such a member being secured to the fixed portion of the telescopic structure cooperating in support of the mobile part so as to immobilize it by adhesion against the fixed part.

This embodiment makes it possible to adjust the height of the frame and thus to adapt the device to different floor surfaces and rooms such as door frames of different heights, windows, floors and ceilings or the like. Moreover, this embodiment makes it possible to position the device prestressing during its installation, thus ensuring a better stability in use. In addition, this embodiment allows significant space saving, the user storing the device in the retracted position when it does not use it.

In an alternative embodiment, a carriage is movably mounted along the structural bar, the return element comprising an elastic member whose one end is attached to the carriage and a second end is attached to the biasing element.

In this variant, the carriage cleverly adjusts the height of the point of attachment of the biasing element, thus allowing a user to change the direction of traction, and therefore the movements, that he will be able to perform with the device.

In another embodiment, the device comprises a carriage mounted movably along the structural bar, the return element comprises a flexible connecting element whose one end is anchored to the lower element of the frame and a second end is connected to the biasing element and wherein the carriage comprises a return element adapted to cooperate with the flexible connecting element so as to return the restoring force between a first direction joining the lower element of the frame to the a return member and a second direction joining the return member to the biasing member. The connecting member may take a plurality of shapes such as a strap, a rope, a cable, an elastic or the like.

In this embodiment, the biasing element may have a point of attachment on the frame. The presence of the carriage associated with the return element makes it possible to modify the direction of the effort that the user provides while maintaining an anchoring of the return element on the lower element of the frame.

In one embodiment, the return element comprises an electric motor adapted to generate the return force, the flexible connecting element being coupled to a motor shaft.

In one embodiment, the device comprises an electric cable winder housed in the lower element of the frame for winding a power cable of the electric motor.

In one embodiment, the frame comprises two identical and parallel structural bars, the lower element of the frame connecting the lower end of the two structural bars and the upper element of the frame connecting the upper end of the two structural bars. to form a frame.

Such a frame composed of two bars of identical structures interconnected by the lower element and the upper element of the frame provides a safer installation and better stability of the device in use.

In one embodiment, the upper element of the frame and the lower element of the frame each comprise a pad of flexible material intended to enter. in contact respectively with the upper structure of the room and the floor surface of the room. Such a buffer is in the form of any material capable of limiting the damage that may be suffered by the upper structure of the room or the floor surface when the frame exerts a compressive stress, either during the prestressing of the device or by deformation of the structure bars in use.

In one embodiment, the lower element of the frame comprises a base having a flat seating surface intended to cooperate with the floor surface. Such a base provides better stability to the device. Furthermore, such a base facilitates the storage of the device, the latter can be maintained in position in ad hoc space by resting on the base.

In one embodiment, the upper element of the frame comprises a first tab and a second tab jointly forming an angle, the first tab and the second tab being oriented in two directions, the respective components in the plane containing the arc of a circle. and the center of the circular arc are secant, said angle being intended to cooperate with the upper structure of the room. This embodiment is particularly adapted to the installation of the device in upper structures of premises such as personal housing door frames, such angle conforming to the shape of the upper transverse amounts of most doors of this type of premises and in particular being able to form a stable support against a corner of the upper amount, such a device also to marry the shape of a beam or any other element of horizontal structure disposed in height in this type of premises.

In one embodiment, the lower element of the frame has wheels allowing its easy movement and simple installation.

In one embodiment, the upper element of the frame comprises a first spacer connecting the first legs of the two structural bars and extending perpendicularly to the two structural bars and a second spacer connecting the second legs of the two structural bars and s extending perpendicular to the two structural bars.

These spacers ensure better cooperation between the upper element of the frame and the upper structure of the room. In one embodiment, the spacers form two bearing surfaces intended to cooperate with said upper structure of the premises.

• Les figures 1 et 2 sont des vues en perspectives schématiques d'un dispositif de sollicitation musculaire dans une position rétractée ;
• La figure 3 est une vue en perspective schématique d'un mode de réalisation d'un dispositif de sollicitation musculaire dans une position déployée installé dans un encadrement de porte ;
• La figure 4 représente une variante de réalisation du dispositif en utilisation ;
• Les figures 5 et 6 décrivent un mode de fonctionnement d'élément de rappel sous la forme d'un moteur électrique utilisé dans le dispositif de la figure 1.
• Les figures 7, 8 et 9 décrivent un organe de blocage de barre de structure en position du dispositif tel qu'en figure 1 respectivement dans une position non bloquée, une position intermédiaire et une position de blocage.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, features and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the following description of several preferred embodiments of the invention, given solely for illustrative and not limiting with reference to the accompanying drawings.

• The Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a muscular biasing device in a retracted position;
• The figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a muscular biasing device in a deployed position installed in a door frame;
• The figure 4 represents an alternative embodiment of the device in use;
• The Figures 5 and 6 describe a return element operating mode in the form of an electric motor used in the device of the figure 1 .
• The Figures 7, 8 and 9 describe a structure bar locking member in position of the device as figure 1 respectively in an unlocked position, an intermediate position and a locking position.

1. 1. Dispositif de sollicitation musculaire
2. 2. Bâti
3. 3. Elément supérieur du bâti
4. 4. Elément inférieur du bâti
5. 5. Barre de structure du bâti
   1. A. Première barre de structure
   2. B. Deuxième barre de structure
6. 6. Première partie d'une barre de structure 5
7. 7. Deuxième partie d'une barre de structure 5
8. 8. Extrémité supérieure de la barre de structure 5
9. 9. Extrémité inférieure de la barre de structure 5
10. 10. Organe de blocage en position de la barre 5
11. 11. Elément de rappel
12. 12. Force de rappel
13. 13. Elément de sollicitation
14. 14. Elément de liaison
15. 15. Force de traction
16. 16. Chariot
17. 17. Première direction de la force renvoyée
18. 18. Deuxième direction de la force renvoyée
19. 19. Socle du bâti 2
20. 20. Face inférieure du socle 19
21. 21. Première patte de l'extrémité supérieure
    1. A. Première patte dans le prolongement d'une première barre de structure 5A
    2. B. Première patte dans le prolongement d'une deuxième barre de structure 5B
22. 22. Deuxième patte de l'extrémité supérieure
    1. A. Deuxième patte dans le prolongement d'une première barre de structure 5A
    2. B. Deuxième patte dans le prolongement d'une deuxième barre de structure 5B
23. 23. Première entretoise reliant les premières pattes 21A et 21B
24. 24. Deuxième entretoise reliant les deuxièmes pattes 22A et 22B
25. 25. Tampon
26. 26. Encadrement de porte
27. 27. Utilisateur
28. 28. Montant latéraux de l'encadrement 26
29. 29. Structure supérieure d'un local/Montant supérieur transversal de l'encadrement 26
30. 30. Surface de sol
31. 31. Hauteur séparant la surface de sol 30 du montant transversal supérieur 29
32. 32. Face inférieure du montant transversal 29
33. 33. Angle formé par la face 32 et la face 34
34. 34. Face latérale du montant transversal 29
35. 35. Roues du dispositif 1
36. 36. Arbre du moteur 11
37. 37. Poulie
38. 38. Codeur de position
39. 39. Carte électronique
40. 40. Connexion entre la carte 39 et le moteur 11
41. 41. Microprocesseur
42. 42. Premier organe de dérivation
43. 43. Connexion entrante dans l'organe 42
44. 44. Deuxième organe de dérivation
45. 45. Connexion entrante dans l'organe 44
46. 46. Connexion entre l'organe 44 et module de calcul 47
47. 47. Module de calcul
48. 48. Connexion d'information de vitesse
49. 49. Connexion d'information de position
50. 50. Connexion de commande du moteur 11
51. 51. Came
52. 52. Socle de la came 51
53. 53. Tige de la came
54. 54. Direction de coulissement de la deuxième partie 7 dans la première partie 6
55. 55. Force de blocage
    1. A. Composante de la force de blocage 55 tangentielle à la direction de coulissement 54
    2. B. Composante de la force de blocage 55 perpendiculaire à la composante 55A
56. 56. Face de la deuxième partie 7 de la barre de structure 5 plaquée contre la face de la première partie 6
57. 57. Face de la première partie 6 de la barre de structure 5 coopérant avec la face de la deuxième partie 7
58. 58. Surface arrondie de la came 51

A list of references used in the rest of the description is given below:

1. 1. Muscle solicitation device
2. 2. Built
3. 3. Upper part of the frame
4. 4. Lower part of the frame
5. 5. Structure bar of the frame
   1. A. First structure bar
   2. B. Second structure bar
6. 6. First part of a structure bar 5
7. 7. Second part of a structure bar 5
8. 8. Upper end of the structure bar 5
9. 9. Lower end of the structure bar 5
10. 10. Blocking member in position of the bar 5
11. 11. Reminder element
12. 12. Recall Force
13. 13. Solicitation element
14. 14. Link element
15. 15. Traction force
16. 16. Trolley
17. 17. First direction of the returned force
18. 18. Second direction of the returned force
19. 19. Base of the frame 2
20. 20. Bottom side of pedestal 19
21. 21. First leg of the upper end
    1. A. First leg in the extension of a first structure bar 5A
    2. B. First leg in the extension of a second structure bar 5B
22. 22. Second leg of the upper end
    1. A. Second leg in the extension of a first structure bar 5A
    2. B. Second leg in the extension of a second structure bar 5B
23. 23. First spacer connecting the first legs 21A and 21B
24. 24. Second spacer connecting the second legs 22A and 22B
25. 25. Buffer
26. 26. Door frame
27. 27. User
28. 28. Lateral amounts of the frame 26
29. 29. Upper structure of a room / Upper transverse amount of the frame 26
30. 30. Floor area
31. 31. Height separating the floor surface 30 from the upper transverse pillar 29
32. 32. Bottom side of the cross member 29
33. 33. Angle formed by face 32 and face 34
34. 34. Side face of the cross member 29
35. 35. Wheels of the device 1
36. 36. Motor shaft 11
37. 37. Pulley
38. 38. Position encoder
39. 39. Electronic card
40. 40. Connection between the card 39 and the motor 11
41. 41. Microprocessor
42. 42. First diversion body
43. 43. Incoming connection in the organ 42
44. 44. Second branch body
45. 45. Incoming connection in the body 44
46. 46. Connection between the element 44 and the calculation module 47
47. 47. Calculation module
48. 48. Speed information connection
49. 49. Connection of position information
50. 50. Motor control connection 11
51. 51. Cam
52. 52. Cradle of the cam 51
53. 53. Cam rod
54. 54. Sliding direction of the second part 7 in the first part 6
55. 55. Blocking force
    1. A. Blocking force component 55 tangential to sliding direction 54
    2. B. Blocking force component 55 perpendicular to component 55A
56. 56. Face of the second part 7 of the structure bar 5 pressed against the face of the first part 6
57. 57. Face of the first part 6 of the structure bar 5 cooperating with the face of the second part 7
58. 58. Rounded surface of the cam 51

The Figures 1 and 2 are schematic perspective views of a muscular biasing device in a retracted position.

The muscular solicitation device 1 presented in the Figures 1 and 2 comprises a frame 2. The frame 2 comprises an upper member 3 and a lower member 4. The upper member 3 is intended to cooperate with an upper structure of a room and the lower member is intended to cooperate with a floor surface said premises. The upper element 3 and the lower element 4 are connected by two identical structural bars 5. The two structure bars 5 form an arc having the same radius of curvature and located in parallel planes. A first end 8 of the structure bars 5 is attached to the upper member 3 and a second end 9 of the structure bars 5 is attached to the lower member 4.

These structural bars 5 are advantageously retractable for example in the form of a first hollow structural bar portion 6 into which is inserted a second structural bar portion 7 of shape complementary to the hollow section of the first portion of the bar The second part of the structural bar 7 is slidably mounted in the first part of the structural bar 6. Variations of telescopic systems can be envisaged, for example in the form of a first structural bar part. 6 having a guide rail cooperating with a guide element of the second part of the structural bar 7.

The structure bars 5 advantageously comprise a locking member 10 capable of locking in position the first part of the structural bar 6 and the second part of the structural bar 7. When the locking member 10 holds in relative position the first part 6 and the second part 7 of the structure bar, the structure bar 5 then has a fixed length.

Such a locking member 10 may be of any type such as a latch in the form of a removable rod cooperating with holes provided at regular spacing on the first part of the structural bar 6 and on the second part of the structural bar 7 , the latch being inserted simultaneously into two orifices respectively of the first part of the structure bar 6 and the second part of the structure bar 7. Such insertion of the latch simultaneously in the two orifices of the two parts 6 and 7 of the structure bar blocks the translation of said two parts together.

Such a locking member may also be in the form of a clamping screw cooperating with an orifice of the first part of the structure bar 6 forming a screw thread complementary to the locking member. The locking member 10 is intended to exert a bearing on the second part 7 of the structural bar 7 through the orifice of the first part of the structure bar 6, said support blocking the translation of the second part of the the structure bar 7 in the first part of the structure bar 6. A locking member in the form of screws advantageously allows adjustment of the structural bar in any position between two extreme lengths. A preferred embodiment of a locking member is shown with regard to Figures 7 to 9 . In one embodiment, the height of the device can vary between 1800 mm and 2800 mm. The width of the device is preferably between 650 mm and 800 mm. The thickness of the device is preferably less than or equal to 200 mm.

The frame 2 comprises an electric motor 11 attached to the frame 2 on the lower element 3 of the frame. Such an electric motor 11 is able to exert a restoring force 12 on a biasing element 13. The electric motor 11 is described below with regard to the Figures 5 and 6 . Such a motor 11 is associated with a connecting element 14. The connecting element is flexible and can be a strap, a cable, a cord or any other means for connecting the motor 11 to the biasing element 13 and can undergo directional changes. The motor 11 is ideally installed on the lower element 3 of the frame 2, the weight of the engine 11 thus contributing to the stability of the frame 2. In addition, in the context of an electric motor 11, a power supply cable winding is installed on the frame, a winding device of the type used on the vacuum cleaners being provided. Such an engine is for example supplied with 220V and 16A maximum.

The biasing element 13 is for example a handle having a gripping member such that a user can exert a tensile force on the biasing element, said pulling force opposing the return force 12. L the biasing element could also be a two-handed, joined or spaced-grip. In addition, it is advantageously provided that the biasing element is removable and interchangeable, thus offering the user the possibility of select different types of solicitation elements according to the exercises they wish to practice.

A carriage 16 is slidably mounted on the structural bars 5, the structure bars 5 advantageously serving as a guide rail for said carriage 16. This carriage 16 can be locked in position along the structural bars 5 by any means such as example by means similar to those used to block the sliding of the two parts 6 and 7 of the structure bars 5. The carriage 16 comprises a return element such as a pulley or any other element able to cooperate with the return element in order to return the restoring force between a first direction 17 joining the lower element 3 of the frame and the return element and a second direction 18 joining the return element and the biasing element.

The lower element 3 of the frame 2 comprises a base 19 forming a flat bottom surface 20. A rubbery adhesive material may cover this flat bottom surface 20.

The upper element 3 comprises at each structural bar 5 a first tab 21 and a second tab 22. The first tab 21 and the second tab 22 are located in the extension of each structural bar 5. The first tab 21 and the second tab 22 located at each structural bar preferably develop in the plane containing the arc of circle and the center of said arc formed by said structure bar 5. In a particular embodiment, the first tab 21 forms with the second leg 22 a right angle, such a right angle being complementary to a large number of upper structures of premises such as door frames.

A first spacer 23 is fixed together with the first tab 21A located on the upper element 3 at a first structural bar 5A and the first tab 21 B located on the upper element 3 at a second bar of structure 5B. A second spacer 24 is secured together with the second tab 22A located on the upper member 3 at the first structural bar 5A and the second tab 22B located on the upper member 3 at the second structural bar 5B . The first spacer 23 and the second spacer 24 are preferably developed in planes perpendicular to the planes containing the arc of the first structural bar 5A and the arc of the second structural bar 5B.

Damping elements 25 are located on the lower element 4 of the frame 2 and on the upper element 3 of the frame 2. These damping elements 25 are of any type that can be adapted to the shape of the upper element 3 and the lower element 4. For example, the buffer 25 of the upper element 3 in the figure 1 takes the form of two synthetic foam flanges respectively surrounding the first spacer 23 and the second spacer 24, the first spacer 23 and the second spacer 24 being each a cylindrical bar. The buffer 25 of the lower element 4 is in the form of a soft damping layer, for example made of rubbery material.

The lower portion 4 of the frame comprises wheels 35 for moving and placing the device 1 in a simplified manner. In this embodiment, the first spacer 23 surrounded by a first buffer 25A and / or the second spacer 24 surrounded by a second buffer 25B advantageously constitute transport handles of the device, a user can easily move the device in the manner a trolley. An independent handle of the pads 25 may also be installed on the upper element 3 of the device.

The figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the embodiment of the muscular biasing device of the figure 1 in a deployed position installed in a door frame.

The device 1 for muscular stressing as represented in figure 1 is intended to be installed in a door frame 26 such as a door jamb 26, room, or other, a personal home of a user 27. Such a door jamb 26 comprises two lateral uprights 28 vertical and an upper transverse amount 29 perpendicular to the lateral uprights 28 and connecting them to form the door frame 26. This door frame 2 is located on a floor surface 30.

In use of a device 1 such as figure 1 , the first structural bar 5A and the second structural bar 5B are deployed and locked in the deployed position by the locking member 10. The first structure bar 5A and the second structure bar 5B are installed vertically. The plane containing the arc formed by a structural bar 5 is perpendicular to a plane in which the door frame 26 is located and parallel to the vertical lateral uprights 28 of the door frame 26. Advantageously, the deployment of Structural bars 5 are such that their length is greater than a height 31 between a lower face 32 of the upper transverse post 29 and the floor surface 30. This length of the structural bars 5 is such that the device 1 can be installed in prestressing in the floor surface 30 and the upper transverse post 29 thus ensuring a good fixation of the device in the door frame 26.

The lower face 20 of the base 19 is placed on the floor surface 30.The buffer 25 in the form of an adhesive rubber layer, installed on the lower face 20 ensures good adhesion to the device by cooperating with the floor surface 30. The device 1 thus installed is not likely to slide on the floor surface 30. Moreover, the presence of the motor 11 on the lower element 4 of the frame 2 also ensures good stability to the device.

The angle formed by the first lugs 21 and the second lugs 22 is complementary to an angle 33 formed by a lateral face 34 of the upper transverse strut 29 and the lower face 32 of said upper transverse strut 29. This complementarity between on the one hand the angle formed by the first legs 21 and the second legs 22 and, secondly, the angle formed by the side face 34 and the lower face 32 of the upper transverse post 29 ensures a good fixation of the device 1 in the door frame 26 the buffers of the first spacer 2

The presence of the buffers 25 on the first spacer 23 and the second spacer 24, as well as on the lower face 20 of the base 19, prevents any deterioration respectively of the upper transverse post 29 and the floor surface 30 during installation and the use of the device 1.

On the figure 3 , the carriage 16 is set at an intermediate height by the user 27 but said carriage 16 could be located higher or lower along the structural bars 5.

In use, the user exerts a pull on the biasing element 13 which then exerts on the frame 2 a force of stress. This force of stress is reflected on the structural bars 5 which then work in flexion and tend to exert a compressive force on the upper transverse post 29 on the one hand and on the other hand on the floor surface 30. compression force increases the adhesion between the biasing device and the upper transverse strut 29 on the one hand and, on the other hand, the adhesion between the biasing device and the ground surface 30. The increase in this adhesion ensures a much better fixing of the device in use, neither the upper element 3 nor the lower element 4 of the frame not likely to separate from the upper transverse amount 29 and the floor surface respectively.

Moreover, the presence of the first spacer 23 resting on the lateral face 34 of the upper transverse strut prevents the upper element 3 of the frame from passing through the door frame 26.

The structural bars 5 have a certain elastic stiffness in flexion. This stiffness makes it possible to position the compression structure bars between the upper transverse strut 29 on the one hand and the ground surface 30 on the other hand. The stiffness of the structural bars is, for example, of the order of 30 kN / m 100kN / m. In addition, the structure bars have an arc along their entire length, this arc having for example a radius of curvature of the order of 1 to 2.7m. Furthermore, the concavity of the angle formed between the first legs 21 and the second legs 22 is oriented on the same side as the concavity formed by the arc of the bars, that is to say towards the location of the user.

The Figures 5 and 6 describe a return element operating mode in the form of an electric motor used in the device of the figure 1 .

An engine 11 such as figure 1 is intended to cooperate with a connecting element 14. The motor 11 can rotate a shaft 36 and exert a torque on the shaft 36. A pulley 36 is tightly mounted on the shaft 36. The connecting element 14 is here a cable 14 is fixed at its first end in the groove of the pulley 37. This cable 14 can be wound in the groove around the pulley 37. At the second end of the cable 14 is fixed the biasing member 13 by through which a user can influence the device with his muscular strength when practicing muscle exercises.

The motor 11 comprises a position encoder 38 which measures the position of the motor shaft 36. The position is transmitted to an electronic card 39 in the form of a position signal. This electronic card 39 is adapted to receive this position signal and uses the position signal to generate a control signal. With this control signal, the electronic card 39 controls the torque generated by the motor 11 to control the force exerted by the motor 11, which is transmitted at the level of the biasing element 13 via the pulley 37 and the cable 14. For this, the electronic card 39 transmits the control signal to the motor 11 via the connection 40. This control signal is received by a power supply unit integrated into the motor 11 which, from this control signal, supplies a certain current to the motor 11. The current supplied by the power supply member thus induces a torque on the mobile part 36 and therefore by means of the pulley 37 and the cable 14 a force on the biasing element 13. The force exerted by the motor 11 is substantially proportional to the current supplied by the power supply member to the motor 11.

When a user manipulates the biasing element 13 during an exercise it opposes the force of the motor 11 with the aid of its muscular strength. For example, during a practicable exercise with this device, a user pulls the biasing element from a position close to the frame 2 to a position remote from the frame 2 with his hands. During this traction, the user must overcome the force directed towards the frame exerted by the motor 11 on the biasing element. When the biasing element arrives in the remote position, the user performs the reverse movement and returns the biasing element 13 towards the frame 2 while still being constrained by the same force subjected in the same direction by the motor 11. The exercise device thus simulates a mass to be alternately lifted and rested by the user

During this exercise, the position signal is continuously transmitted to the electronic card 39 which calculates and transmits to the motor continuously the corresponding control signal. Thus, the device controls the force generated by the motor 11 throughout the exercise.

With reference to the figure 6 , the engine control means will now be described more precisely.

The electronic card 39 here comprises a microprocessor 41. A position encoder 38 measures the position of the motor shaft 36, this position is encoded into a position signal which is transmitted via the connection 40 to the microprocessor 41. Thus, in a This measurement can be emitted every 30 ms and preferably every 10 ms. In this microprocessor 41, the position signal is transmitted to a branch member 42 via the connection 43. The branch member derives the position signal thereby generating a speed signal which is transmitted to a second branch member 44 via the connection 45. The second branch member derives the speed signal thereby generating an acceleration signal. The acceleration signal is transmitted via the connection 46 to a calculation module 47. Furthermore, the position signal and the speed signal are respectively transmitted to the program via the connections 48 and 49. The calculation module 47 calculates the signal control to be supplied to the motor and transmitted to the motor via the connection 50.

More specifically, the control signal is calculated from the acceleration so that the force exerted by the motor 11 on the biasing element 13 comprises the load and a predetermined artificial inertia.

For this, the calculation module 47 takes into account the cumulative torque exerted by the motor 11 and the inertia of the rotating parts of the device connected to this motor which are the shaft 36, the pulley 37, the cable 14 and the element of solicitation 13.

Indeed, when a user manipulates the solicitation element 13: $${\mathrm{m}}_{\mathrm{r}}\times \mathrm{\gamma }={\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{m}}+{\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{s}}$$

Where F _s is the force exerted by the user on the biasing element 13, F _m is the force exerted by the motor 11 on the biasing element 13 and controlled by the calculation module 47, m _r is the inertia of the moving parts brought back on the biasing element 13 and the mass of the biasing element 13 and y is the acceleration of the biasing element 13.

Equation (1) corresponds to the fundamental principle of the dynamics applied to a system in translation. However, those skilled in the art will understand that torques exerted on a rotating system can be similarly modeled.

The force exerted by the motor F _m is composed of two components induced by the control signal: a fixed component F _ch representing the load and a component proportional to the acceleration F _i which represents the artificial inertia. So : $${\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{m}}={\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{ch}}+{\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{i}}$$

Or the force F _i is defined according to a coefficient of proportionality k: $${\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{i}}=-\mathrm{k}\times \mathrm{\gamma }$$

The coefficient k is a parameter that is programmed in the calculation module 47.

Equation (1) can be rewritten: $$\left({\mathrm{m}}_{\mathrm{r}}+\mathrm{k}\right)\times \mathrm{\gamma }={\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{ch}}+{\mathrm{F}}_{\mathrm{s}}$$

In this way, if the coefficient of proportionality k used to produce the control signal is negative, the device simulates a lower inertia than the actual inertia of the device, that is to say the inertia of the rotating parts of the device. If the coefficient of proportionality k is positive, the device simulates greater inertia than the actual inertia of the device.

The user, through a not shown user interface can change the values of the fixed component F _ch and the proportionality factor k and thus determine the type of effort with which it wishes to practice. Thus, it is possible to independently vary the load of inertia. A wide range of types of muscle exercises can be offered to the user.

The user interface is connected to the calculation module 47 and is able to receive data on the position, speed, acceleration or information calculated from these data, for example, the effort provided or the power expended. These data and information are calculated by the calculation module 47 from the acceleration, speed and position signals transmitted to the calculation module 47 respectively by the connections 46, 48 and 49. With these data and this information, the user interface may sensually solicit the user by displaying this information. The user can in this way follow the level of his effort during his physical exercises. However, these solicitations can be of different natures, solicitations are for example possible. Furthermore, the user interface comprises control members allowing the user to vary the values of the fixed component F _ch and the proportionality factor k. These control elements are for example buttons on the user interface corresponding to fixed component pairs F _ch and proportionality factor k predetermined. These couples define several types of exercises. A storage device, for example a memory in the calculation module 47, stores this information and data. Thanks to this storage, the user can follow the evolution of his performances over time.

avec l'inertie du réducteur J_red et l'inertie réelle du moteur J_mot. Ainsi, si le rapport de réduction r est important, l'inertie réelle du système est fortement augmentée.
Ainsi, l'utilisation d'un facteur proportionnel k négatif permet dans cette variante de compenser tout ou partie de l'inertie induite par ce réducteur et de permettre l'utilisation d'un petit moteur associé à un réducteur de fort rapport de réduction, sans pénaliser ou affecter le ressenti de l'utilisateur.In a variant of the device, the motor shaft 36 is connected to a speed reducer having a reduction ratio r. The presence of such a gearbox makes it possible to generate relatively large forces while reducing the size of the motor, in order to miniaturize the device. Pulley 37 is attached to an output shaft of the reducer. In this variant, the presence of a gearbox greatly increases the real inertia of the moving parts of the motor 11 reduced to the biasing element 13. The real inertia of the device is also increased by the reduced inertia of the rotating parts of the gearbox. . The inertia of the motor and the gearbox brought back to the output of the gearbox J _tot can be written: $${\mathrm{J}}_{\mathrm{early}}={\mathrm{J}}_{\mathrm{red}}+{\mathrm{r}}^{\mathrm{2}}{\mathrm{J}}_{\mathrm{word}}$$

with the inertia of reducer J _red and the real inertia of motor J _word . Thus, if the reduction ratio r is large, the real inertia of the system is greatly increased.
Thus, the use of a proportional factor k negative allows in this variant to compensate all or part of the inertia induced by the gear and allow the use of a small motor associated with a reducer high reduction ratio, without penalizing or affecting the feeling of the user.

The Figures 7, 8 and 9 describe a blocking device in the position of a structure bar of the device as figure 1 respectively in an unlocked position, an intermediate position and a locking position.

In the embodiment shown on the Figures 7 to 9 the first part 6 of the structural bar 5 is hollow and the second part 7 of the structural bar 5 is of complementary shape to the hollow section of the first part 6 of the structural bar 5. The second part 7 of the Structure bar 5 is slidably mounted in the first portion 6 of the structure bar 5. The locking member 10 takes the form of a cam 51 or a pressure lock (eg grasshopper), manually controlled. This cam 51 is rotatably mounted on a base 52 of the first portion 6 of the structural bar 5. The cam 51 has an irregular rounded cam surface 58, two consecutive sections of this round having distinct radii of curvature. In the unlocked position of the cam 51 as shown in FIG. figure 7 a rod 53 of the cam 51 is substantially perpendicular to a sliding direction 54 of the second portion 7 of the structural bar 5 in the first portion 6 of the bar structure 5. In this non-locked position, the cam 51 exerts no stress on the second part 7 of the structure bar 5 and the second part 7 of the structure bar 5 can slide freely in the first part 6 of the bar of structure 5.

During the installation of the device, the user slides the second part 7 of the structure bar 5 in the first part 6 of the structure bar 5 so that the upper element 3 of the frame 2 is put into position. contact with the upper structure of the room. Once this contact is assured, the user makes the cam 51 rotate by exerting a bearing on the rod 53. During the rotation of the cam 51, the cam 51 exerts on the second part 7 of the structural bar 5 a blocking force 55 as shown in FIG. figure 8 . A component 55A of this locking force is exerted in the sliding direction 54, tending to slide the second part 7 of the structure bar 5 in the first part 6 of the structure bar 5. When the upper element 3 of the frame 2 is already in contact with the upper structure of the room, this component 55A of the blocking force 55 immobilizes the frame 2 by putting it in prestressing between the upper structure of the room and the floor surface. A component 55B of the locking force, perpendicular to the component 55A, plates a face 56 of the second part 7 of the structural bar 5 firmly against a face 57 of the first part 6 of the structural bar 5, thereby immobilizing by adhesion between them the two telescopic parts 6 and 7 of the structure bar 5.

In another embodiment, the blocking of the structure in the deployed position can be done by a positive or negative control electric system for exerting a pressure of the second part on the first part ensuring the locking of the system in the deployed position or retracted by adhesion.

The figure 4 represents an alternative embodiment of the device. Elements similar or identical to the previous embodiment have the same reference number increased by 100.

In this variant, the return element is in the form of a spring 111 or an extensible elastic strap 111, a first end of which is anchored to the frame 102, for example on the lower element 103 of the frame 102, and a second end of which is attached to the biasing member 113.

In this variant, the frame has only one structural bar 105. The return element 111 is an elastic element whose anchorage point on the frame 102 is located on the carriage 116. The carriage 116 does not include As a deflection element, the displacement of the carriage 116 on which the elastic return element 111 is anchored makes it possible to modify the direction of the restoring force.

Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims. The use of the verb "to include", "to understand" or "to include" and its conjugated forms does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps other than those set out in a claim. The use of the indefinite article "a" or "an" for an element or a step does not exclude, unless otherwise stated, the presence of a plurality of such elements or steps.

In the claims, any reference sign in parentheses can not be interpreted as a limitation of the claim.

Claims (14)

1. A muscle contraction device intended to cooperate with a floor surface (30) and an upper structure (29) of a room, the device including

   - a frame (2) intended to be wedged between the floor surface and the upper structure of the room, the frame including a structure bar (5) forming a circular arc, the structure bar being intended to be positioned vertically between the floor surface and the upper structure of the room, an upper element (3) intended to cooperate with the upper structure of the room, the upper element being attached to a first end (8) of the structure bar, a lower element (4) intended to cooperate with the floor surface, the lower element being attached to a second end (9) of the structure bar,

   - a feedback element (11) attached to the frame and a loading element (13), said loading element being coupled to the feedback element, said loading element being adapted to be pulled by a user (27) toward the inside of the circular arc of the structure bar and the feedback element being adapted to exert on the loading element a feedback force (12) that opposes the pulling force (15) of the user,

   and wherein

   - the structure bar (5) forms the circular arc from the first end of the structure bar to the second end of the structure bar,

   - the structure bar is telescopic, the structure bar having in a retracted position a length less than the length of the structure bar in the deployed position, a locking member (10) for blocking deployment of the structure bar being adapted to selectively block the structure bar in a position, preferably a plurality of positions, between the retracted position of the structure bar and the deployed position of the structure bar to adjust the length of the structure bar.
2. The device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the locking member is adapted to adjust the length of the structure bar continuously between two extreme values.
3. The device as claimed in either of one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the structure bar includes a first part (6) and a second part (7), the second part (7) of the structure bar being mounted to slide in the first part (6) of the structure bar, and wherein the locking member (10) is adapted to exert on the second part (6) of the structure bar a locking force (55) of which a first component (55A) is in a direction tangential to a direction (54) of sliding of the second part (7) of the structure bar in the first part (6) of the structure bar and of which a second component (55B) is perpendicular to the first component (55A) so as on the one hand to exert on the second part of the structure bar a force tending to extend the structure bar and on the other hand to block the relative movement between the first part of the structure bar and the second part of the structure bar.
4. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, including a carriage (16) mounted to be mobile along the structure bar, the feedback element including an elastic member a first end of which is attached to the carriage and a second end of which is attached to the loading element.
5. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, including a carriage (16) mounted to be mobile along the structure bar, wherein the feedback element includes a flexible connecting element (14) of which a first end is anchored to the lower element of the frame and a second end is connected to the loading element and wherein the carriage includes a direction-changing element adapted to cooperate with the flexible connecting element so as to change the direction of the feedback force between a first direction (17) joining the lower element of the frame to the direction-changing element and a second direction (18) joining the direction-changing element to the loading element.
6. The device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the feedback element includes an electric motor adapted to generate the feedback force, the flexible connecting element being coupled to a shaft (36) of the motor.
7. The device as claimed in claim 6, including an electric cable winder housed in the lower element of the frame to wind up a power supply cable of the electric motor.
8. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the frame includes two identical and parallel structure bars (5A, 5B), the lower element of the frame connecting the lower end of the two structure bars and the upper element of the frame connecting the upper end of the two structure bars so as to form a frame structure.
9. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the upper element of the frame and the lower element of the frame each include a flexible material bumper (25) intended to come into contact with the upper structure of the room and the floor surface of the room, respectively.
10. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the lower element of the frame includes a base (19) having a plane seating surface (20) intended to cooperate with the floor surface.
11. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the upper element of the frame includes a first lug (21) and a second lug (22) conjointly forming a corner, the first lug and the second lug being oriented in two directions the respective components of which in the plane containing the circular arc and the centre of the circular arc are secant, said corner being intended to cooperate with the upper structure of the room.
12. The device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the lower element of the frame includes wheels (35).
13. The device as claimed in claim 8 combined with claim 11, wherein the upper element of the frame includes a first spacer (23) perpendicular to the two structure bars and connecting the first lugs of the two structure bars and a second spacer (24) perpendicular to the two structure bars and connecting the second lugs of the two structure bars.
14. The device as claimed in claim 10 combined with claim 11, wherein the second lug (22) is parallel to the plane seating surface (20).

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