FR3132438A1 - MUSCULATION BENCH - Google Patents

Abstract

TITLE OF THE INVENTION: WEIGHT BENCH The weight or rehabilitation bench comprises slats forming springs, preferably made of composite materials, which are made to work in buckling during the movements of the user. Abstract Figure: Figure 4.

Description

MUSCULATION BENCH Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to a weight bench. It applies, in particular, to weight benches for domestic or nomadic use by individuals.

State of the art

Weight benches can be divided into two main groups.

The first group concerns weight benches with loads (generally metal masses) whose movement is guided on rails. These loads are connected to a cable on which the user pulls. Note that the user can pull the cables in different directions using return pulleys. The user can thus practice movements from bottom to top, from top to bottom, horizontal, oblique, etc. Such a weight bench is illustrated in . These benches are very bulky, especially for use at home, often in a dedicated room and necessarily pleasant for use: garage, laundry room, basement. These benches are also very heavy (at least 60 kg of load and up to more than 100 kg, plus a frame of at least 15 to 30 kg). In addition, they were complicated to deliver and install.

The second group is free-load weight benches, with the user using dumbbells. The movements are more limited in number because you can only do movements from the bottom up, and more limited in intensity, the loads being generally more limited, for example between 20 to 40 kg. These benches are more compact, and in some cases can even be folded. But the weight of dumbbells makes it difficult to deliver and move them. There represents an example of such a weight bench.

For home or nomadic use, these two types of benches therefore present a weight problem which requires leaving the device static in its location, and a problem of bulk, which therefore limits its use for individuals.

Presentation of the invention

The present invention aims to remedy all or part of these drawbacks.

To this end, the present invention aims, according to a first aspect, at a weight bench, which comprises slats forming springs, preferably made of composite materials, which are made to work in buckling.

In these embodiments, a folding bench or seat is provided, combined with a rail to guide the slats forming springs which are applied via a cable (or a strap or a belt) to be able to work in all directions.

For storage, the bench can be folded without tools.

Preferably, the retained framework of the bench is a deformable parallelogram. Preferably, in this bench the buckling slats are housed, for maximum compactness.

Brief description of the figures

Other advantages, aims and particular characteristics of the invention will emerge from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the exercise bench which is the subject of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

is a photograph of a first weight bench of the prior art,

is a photograph of a second weight bench of the prior art,

is a photograph of a first embodiment of the bench which is the subject of the invention, at rest,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , when a first effort greater than a predetermined value is exerted by a user,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , when a second effort greater than a predetermined value is exerted by a user,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , when a third effort greater than a predetermined value is exerted by a user,

is a photograph of a second embodiment of the bench which is the subject of the invention, in folded configuration,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , in an intermediate deployment configuration,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , in a full deployment configuration,

is another photograph of the bench shown in , in a full deployment configuration,

is a photograph of a third embodiment of the bench which is the subject of the invention, in folded configuration,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , in an intermediate deployment configuration,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , in a horizontal full deployment configuration,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , in an intermediate vertical deployment configuration,

is a photograph of the bench illustrated in , in a vertical full deployment configuration,

is a partial photograph of the bench shown in , showing strap passages,

is a partial photograph of a bench showing idler pulleys,

is a partial photograph of the bench shown in , showing strap passages,

is a photograph of a user of the bench illustrated in , carrying out a first type of bodybuilding exercises,

is a photograph of a user of the bench illustrated in , performing a second type of bodybuilding exercises,

is a photograph of a user of the bench illustrated in , performing a third type of bodybuilding exercises,

is a photograph of a user of the bench illustrated in , performing a fourth type of bodybuilding exercises, and

is a photograph of a user of the bench illustrated in , performing a fifth type of bodybuilding exercises.

The present description is given on a non-limiting basis, each characteristic of an embodiment being able to be combined with any other characteristic of any other embodiment in an advantageous manner.

We note, from now on, that the figures are to scale.

In the first embodiment, the loads (masses) are replaced by slats forming springs, preferably made of composite materials, which are made to work in buckling.

The bench which is the subject of the present invention makes it possible to obtain a constant, or almost constant, force during the deformation of the slats. This characteristic makes it possible to replace all counterweight systems to, for example, easily handle large loads. The present invention replaces slats for weights, in any bodybuilding or rehabilitation system.

Unlike the spring (leaf, helical, etc.) used in flexion (taking the form of a longitudinal deformation in the case of helical springs) whose restoring force is proportional to the deformation, the bench which is the subject of the invention uses the phenomenon of buckling of a vertical slat (called a “beam” in mechanics of materials) for which:
- if the force applied in the axis of the slat is less than a predetermined limit value, F _critical there is no deformation (the slat remains straight) and,
- if this applied force is greater than F _critical , there is collapse and the slat deforms by exerting a substantially constant restoring force.

The critical force, F _critical is given by Euler's formula: F _critical = π ² EI/L _k ²

Formula in which:
- E is the Young's modulus of the material,
- I is the quadratic moment of the beam, and
- L _k is the buckling length of the beam.

Note that this critical force varies depending on the connections used (articulations or embedding). For reasons of reducing stresses in the material, the present invention preferentially implements an articulation at at least one end of at least one slat and, preferably, at each end of each slat.

To allow significant deformations, the bench which is the subject of the invention preferentially uses composite materials, in particular unidirectional glass with epoxy resin, which makes it possible to have a specific energy (E/kg) greater than other materials. and therefore to have the maximum stored energy (or maximum stroke) for minimum weight.

Alternatively, we shift the joints to obtain a non-constant force (initial geometry defect: F _critical remains the same, but we have, at the start of the movement, a behavior in F = X. F _critical /Xo);

Alternatively, at least one section of a slat is not constant over its entire length but presents an evolution of its section (in width and/or thickness) along this slat to modify the curve, particularly during large movements. to approximate a constant force.

The first embodiment of the weight bench which is the subject of the invention is illustrated in Figures 3 to 6. This bench was constituted by modification of a weight bench of the prior art, using a guide provided with four bearings for avoid any bracing problem, and by using several removable articulated slats to vary the resistance and simulate the use of different loads (or masses). In , the force exerted by the user on each slat is less than F _critical . In , the force exerted by the user on each slat is approximately equal to F _critical . In , the force exerted by the user on each slat is approximately equal to F _critical . In , the force exerted by the user on each slat is approximately equal to F _critical .

In the second and third embodiments, we add to these lightness characteristics (less than one kg of spring slats is equivalent to more than 60 kg of loads), which make the bench transportable, we compact it to be able to store it, for example, under a bed, in a closet, behind a door.

In these embodiments, a folding bench or seat is provided, combined with a rail to guide the spring slats which are applied via a cable (or a strap or a belt) to be able to work in all directions. For storage, the bench can be folded without tools. To do this, the framework retained for the bench is a deformable parallelogram. Preferably, in this bench the buckling slats are housed for maximum compactness.

For exemple :
- a version of a horizontal bench, first embodiment, is illustrated in Figures 7 to 10,
- a verticalizable version, second embodiment, is illustrated in Figures 11 to 15, the verticalization being done by means of an integrated seat and the installation of accessories allowing other exercises.

Note that the seat has a particular shape to both rest the head and allow the legs to pass through, as shown in Figures 16 and 19 to 23.

We also note that, traditionally, the load is pulled with a cable. However, for these loads of up to 60 kg, a relatively large cable is required and therefore pulleys which are also quite large (+/- 10 cm in diameter), which again limits the folded compactness. Thanks to the implementation of the present invention, these cables can be replaced by straps which make it possible to work with pulleys of a much smaller diameter, as illustrated in Figures 17 and 18.

The bench which is the subject of the invention is intended for use by and for individuals, but also by physiotherapists, in particular installed on a floor and whose load on the ground is limited (weight gain), see also the teaching of bodybuilding now at high school program in France but most often without a dedicated room and medical establishments, particularly for dependent elderly people.

Claims (4)

Weight training or rehabilitation bench, which includes slats forming springs, preferably made of composite materials, which are buckled during the user's movements. Bench according to claim 1, comprising a foldable support surface, combined with a rail for guiding the slats forming springs which are loaded via at least one cable, or strap or belt. Bench according to claim 2, the framework of which is a deformable parallelogram. Bench according to claim 3, in which the spring-forming slats are housed.