FR3049871A1 - BALNEOTHERAPY INSTALLATION EQUIPPED WITH AN APPARATUS FOR ELLIPTICAL OR PENDULAR EXERCISE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a balneotherapy installation comprising a pond body delimiting an interior volume and a drive apparatus (11) placed in said interior volume. According to the invention, - said apparatus comprises a stationary frame during use of said apparatus and two foot supports (15), - said apparatus being configured such that said foot supports (15) are coupled to move reciprocally along a path back and forth, said foot supports (15) having a phase difference of 180 °, or of the order of 180 °, to reproduce the reciprocating movement of the legs.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an installation for the practice of physical exercises in the aquatic environment, in particular exercises for simulating walking, jogging and / or running.

Technological background

Although the benefits of regular physical activity are broadly established, many people can not, for a variety of reasons, such as time constraints or adverse weather conditions, engage in sports, walking, jogging, running. or swimming.

To meet these constraints, various training devices have been developed to practice indoor exercises. Nevertheless, most of these devices such as exercise bikes do not allow a complete training since only a limited number of muscles are solicited on a range of movements remaining quite limited.

More recently, training devices that better simulate the movements of the human body during a stride, such as pendulum exercise devices, have been proposed.

Although giving satisfactory results, they still have some disadvantages.

First, these devices do not yet allow to work a large number of different muscles over an extended range of movements to ensure a balanced physical development.

Then, they can cause constraints on certain parts of the user's body, such as joints.

Moreover, their use can be boring in the long run.

There is therefore a constant need for a training device for obtaining an optimal level of exercise while being pleasant, even playful, to use.

Moreover, it is known that sports and gymnastics activities in the water are sources of considerable well-being for the user while allowing the user to perform a complete muscular and cardiological training.

It is still known that the practice of physical activities in water is beneficial for rehabilitation and thinning. Nevertheless, the possibilities for water activities offered in baths are rather limited to date, and are essentially aquatic-type systems.

These typically include a basin containing a seat and a pedal and nozzles to emit jets of water. After having entered the basin, the user sits to pedal with his legs immersed and massaged by the jets of water emitted by the nozzles.

There is therefore a pressing need for a balneotherapy installation whose original design allows the practice of varied and new exercises, including exercises to simulate walking, jogging and / or running.

However, it is imperative that the user can practice these physical activities in a comfortable position, adapted to its morphology to obtain sufficient muscle relaxation while operating a true active drainage on the body.

Object of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and to respond to these constraints by proposing a balneotherapy installation, simple in its design and its operating mode, reliable and economical, allowing the practice of exercises to simulate the most natural way, including walking, jogging and / or running.

Another object of the present invention is such an installation allowing the user to be able to practice physical activity in a comfortable position.

Yet another object of the present invention is such an installation making it possible to vary the effort required from the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, the invention relates to a balneotherapy installation comprising a pond body delimiting an interior volume and a driving apparatus placed in said interior volume.

According to the invention, - said apparatus comprises a stationary frame during use of said apparatus and two foot supports, - said apparatus being configured such that said foot supports are coupled to move reciprocally along a path back and forth, said foot supports having a phase difference of 180 ° or of the order of 180 ° to reproduce the reciprocating movement of the legs.

These two foot supports are of course placed so as to receive for the first, the left foot of the user, and for the second, the right foot thereof. The amplitude of displacement (horizontal and / or vertical) of a foot support is advantageously determined by the amount of force applied by the user to the corresponding foot support. The term "amplitude" here means the magnitude or the extent of displacement made from a given position, for example from a starting position or an equilibrium position.

The path back and forth can have different shapes. The shape of this path may, for example, depend on the drive assembly or links of the training device. For purely illustrative purposes, the shape of this path may be an elliptical path, an orbital or oblong path.

This training apparatus may be an elliptical trainer, also sometimes called an elliptical exerciser, or a pendulum exercise device.

Preferably, this apparatus comprises means for adjusting the amplitude of movement of the foot supports, and therefore movements. Thus, it is advantageously possible to have longer strides to the user to further work his cardiovascular capacity or his muscles.

Alternatively, this training device can still include a pedal. As a purely illustrative example, the foot supports define a pair of pedals capable of rotating under the action of an applied rotational force, a pair of pivoting arms having handles at their upper ends, the pivoting arms being connected to said pedals so that a reciprocating movement of the upper ends of the pivoting arms causes rotation of said foot supports, or pedals. The crankset can be fitted with sealed ball bearings for underwater use.

For example, the crankset is placed at a first end of the apparatus while the pivoting arms are pivotally mounted on either side of a support structure placed at the other end of the apparatus.

Thus, and advantageously, the training apparatus may be a stepper or an elliptical trainer.

Advantageously, the frame of this training device comprises a fulcrum on the edge of the basin and a fulcrum at the bottom of the basin.

Preferably, at least a portion of this apparatus is configured to be immersed in the fluid to be contained in the basin such as water. For example, some of the constituent elements of said at least a portion are sealed and / or resistant to the fluid to be contained in said basin. For purely illustrative purposes, this fluid comprising chlorine, these elements will preferably be resistant to attack by chlorine. Advantageously, at least said foot supports are immersed during use of said apparatus.

This pond body can be equipped with a waterproof door access to the interior volume.

In various particular embodiments of this balneotherapy installation, each having its particular advantages and capable of many possible technical combinations: said training apparatus comprises a first and a second pivoting arm pivotally mounted on a vertical support structure, or substantially vertical each of said first and second arms supporting a respective foot support, and a drive assembly disposed on the vertical, or substantially vertical, support structure and coupled to said pivoting arms to move them reciprocally along a path back and forth.

The basin being placed on a horizontal flat surface, this vertical or substantially vertical support structure has a longitudinal axis arranged vertically, or inclined, with respect to this horizontal surface.

Advantageously, the pendulum kinematics of the pivoting arms, or levers, is synchronized by the pendulum movement of a steering wheel placed at the front of the frame and linked to these pivoting arms by rods.

Preferably, each of said first and second pivoting arms comprises a handle.

This handle is advantageously placed at the upper end of the corresponding pivoting arm by being intended to be placed out of the fluid contained in the pelvis body so that the user can easily maneuver the corresponding pivoting arm.

Preferably, at least one of said handles is movable between an extended position in which said handle allows to maneuver the corresponding pivoting arm and a storage position, also called erasure, releasing, or releasing, access to said interior volume. said installation comprises a seat preferably mounted adjustably on said pond body.

Preferably, said frame comprises a fixed frame part and a movable frame part comprising said foot supports, said movable frame part being movable in translation relative to said fixed part to adjust the positioning of said foot supports with respect to said seated.

With this arrangement, it is thus possible to easily adjust the positioning of the foot supports according to the morphology of the user. Advantageously, the movable frame portion comprises said vertical or substantially vertical support structure.

Preferably, said pel body including a bottom wall, said movable frame portion has at least one wheel for moving said movable frame portion on said bottom wall or said movable frame portion is movable along a guide rail secured to said bottom wall.

Of course, the apparatus and / or the pond body comprises at least one locking / unlocking means for locking / unlocking in position said movable frame part with respect to said fixed frame part. said apparatus comprises an adjusting device for adjusting the excursion, or stride, of the foot supports so as to vary the path.

It is thus possible to adjust the difficulty of exercise of the apparatus. said pond body comprises one or more nozzles each intended to emit a jet of water.

The inner wall or walls of the pond body delimiting said interior volume comprise one or more nozzles intended to each emit a jet of water.

The pond body may further comprise a movable arm between an active position and an inactive position, also called erasure position, said arm being equipped with one or more nozzles.

Preferably, said nozzles are placed or are adjustable so that the user is standing on the apparatus with his feet positioned on said foot supports, the legs of the user are at least partially immersed during use said apparatus and receive at least one of said jets of water for the purpose of massaging them. said pond body is a tub, a bathtub or a spa.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the present invention will emerge from the description which follows, made for an explanatory and in no way limiting purpose, with reference to the appended drawings, in which: FIG. perspective view of a balneotherapy installation according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, this installation being equipped with a pendulum exercise device; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the pendulum exercise apparatus of the balneotherapy installation of FIG. 1; 3 is a diagrammatic and side view of the pendulum exercise apparatus of the balneotherapy installation of FIG. 1; - Figure 4 is a front view of the pendulum exercise machine of the balneotherapy installation of FIG. 1;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

First, we note that the figures are not scaled.

FIGS. 1 to 4 show a balneotherapy installation 10 according to a particular embodiment of the present invention, this installation being equipped with a pendulum exercise apparatus 11 for simulating, in particular, walking, jogging and / or running. .

This balneotherapy installation 10 comprises an enclosure 12, or bath, including a main body equipped with a tight access door 13 in the interior volume of the enclosure 12.

This enclosure 12 is here made of plastic. This interior volume delimited by the main body of the installation 10 is intended to receive water supplied by a hot and cold water supply (not shown).

This main body also comprises a bottom wall provided with a plug (not shown) to ensure the evacuation of water to be contained in the main body and in which will be partially immersed the user.

This installation 10 also comprises means for producing water jets including nozzles (not shown) connected to a water supply circuit comprising a water pump (not shown). These jets are preferably oriented toward the center of the enclosure 12. The installation 10 further comprises a seat (not shown) to allow the user to sit in the chamber 12 after having introduced into its volume inside. The pendular apparatus 11 is here at least partly made of stainless steel, which has advantageously received an electrolytic treatment against corrosion and the chemicals used in the pond body. The pendular training device 11 comprises a stationary frame during use of the apparatus, this frame comprising in its upper part a support plate 14 for connecting this frame to the enclosure 12 and to bear thereon. This support plate 14 being secured to the enclosure 12, it is fixed. The frame also includes a movable portion for adjusting the positioning of foot supports carried by this movable portion relative to the seat.

This moving part here comprises a substantially vertical support structure 16 on which are pivotally mounted a first 17 and a second arm 18. Each of these pivoting arms 17, 18 carries a corresponding foot support.

This movable portion also includes a drive assembly 19 mounted on the substantially vertical support structure 16 and coupled to the pivoting arms 17, 18 to reciprocally move the foot supports along a path which is in a state of motion. and forth. These foot supports then have a phase difference of 180 ° to reproduce the natural reciprocating movement of the legs.

This drive assembly comprises a coupling disc 24 located at the front of the pendular apparatus 11, this disc connecting the two pivoting arms 17, 18 by means of a connecting rod 25 for each of the arms. Thus the traction on a pivoting arm 17, 18 causes the reverse movement of the other.

Each of these first and second arms 17, 18 pivoting comprises a handle 20 at its upper end to allow the user to hold them during his physical activity.

Each handle 20 is articulated on its pivoting arm 17, 18 corresponding by means of a hinge 21, which allows the storage of each handle 20 to free space in the interior volume for the user to move in the enclosure 12.

In order to allow the relative displacement of the movable part of the frame with respect to its fixed part, the lower end of the substantially vertical support structure 16 comprises a pair of wheels 22 allowing the translational movement of the movable part of the frame on the bottom wall.

This installation also comprises a central programming unit 23 provided with a display screen and a microprocessor around which reading memories are installed. This microprocessor makes it possible to vary the training conditions, its difficulty and the training time. It is also likely to be modified or adapted depending in particular on the user of the installation 12.

Claims (10)

1. A balneotherapy installation comprising a pond body delimiting an interior volume and a driving apparatus (11) placed in said interior volume, characterized in that - said apparatus comprises a stationary frame during the use of said apparatus and two supports ( 15), said apparatus being configured such that said foot supports (15) are coupled to move reciprocally along a back-and-forth path, said foot supports (15) having a phase difference of 180 ° or of the order of 180 ° to reproduce the reciprocating movement of the legs. 2. Installation according to claim 1, characterized in that said apparatus (11) for driving comprises a first and a second pivoting arm pivotally mounted on a structure (16) of vertical support, or substantially vertical, each of said first and second arms supporting a respective foot support (15), and a drive assembly disposed on the vertical, or substantially vertical, support structure (16) and coupled to said pivoting arms (17, 18) to reciprocally move therethrough a path back and forth. 3. Installation according to claim 2, characterized in that each of said first and second pivoting arm (17, 18) comprises a handle (20). 4. Installation according to claim 3, characterized in that at least one of said handles (20) is movable between an extended position in which said handle allows to maneuver the corresponding pivoting arm (17, 18) and a storage position, also called erasing, releasing an access to said interior volume. 5. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it comprises a seat. 6. Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that said frame comprises a fixed frame part and a movable frame part comprising said foot supports (15), said movable frame part being movable in translation relative to said fixed part. to adjust the positioning of said foot supports (15) relative to said seat. 7. Installation according to claim 6, characterized in that said basin body comprising a bottom wall, said movable frame portion comprises at least one wheel (22) for moving said movable frame part on said bottom wall or said movable frame portion is movable along a guide rail integral with said bottom wall. 8. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that said apparatus comprises an adjusting device for adjusting the excursion or stride of the supports (15) foot so as to vary the path. 9. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that said pond body comprises one or more nozzles for each to emit a jet of water. 10. Installation according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said pond body is a bath or a spa.