GB2048694A - User-rotatable exercising device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for gymnastics play and sport comprises a circular or oval tubular ring having a support 13 affixed to the centre to rest on the ground so that the user can rotate the ring by displacement of the weight of his body and the outer periphery of the ring rolls in a path around the point of contact of the support with the ground. The ring has on its periphery at least two hand grips 11, 12 with associated diametrically opposite foot supporting rests, and the support 13 may be adjustable in length or resilient in an axial direction. A rubber hemisphere 10 may cover the end of the support. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for gymnastics etc, play and sport The invention relates to apparatus for gymnastics, play and sport consisting of a circular or oval ring supported at the centre of rotation on a support resting in the ground so that the user sets the ring in rotation by displacement of the weight of the ring and the outer periphery of the ring travels in a path around the pivoting point of the support on the ground.

An apparatus as mentioned above is known, for example, from US-PS 3862768 described a disc on the central axis of which a support is fixed which rests on the ground. The user of this apparatus stands upright on the surface of the disc which can be set in rotation by displacement of his body weight in order to cause the outer periphery of the disc to roll on a path aboutthe privoting pointofthe support on the ground. The drawback of this arrangement however is that the gymnast cannot hold on firmly and thus during the movement is very easily thrown off and injured. Furthermore only an insuffi cienttraining of the muscular system of the body is possible because the user only displaces his body weight and otherwise carries out no movement.

From Swiss Patent No.448838 a further apparatus for gymnastics, play and sport is known which corresponds substantially with US No 3862768 where the user however cannot firmly hold onto an extended hand grip fixed centrally on the apparatus, which also has the drawback that because of the high centre of gravity of the body of the standing person there is a very great danger of injury and the training effect on the body is inadequate. Substantially the same apparata with the same disadvantages are also known from German Gebrauchsmuster 7109479 and German Gebrauchsmuster 7834971.

The present invention has as its object to develop an apparatus for gymnastics, play and sport of the abovementioned type in which the danger of injury to the user during the excercise on apparatus is substantially reduced and the training effect of the mus cularsystem of the body is substantially reinforced.

According to the invention an apparatus for gymnastics, play and sport consists of a circular or oval ring having a support affixed to the centre to rest on the ground so that the user rotates the ring by displacement of the weight of his body and the outer periphers of the ring rolls in a path around the point of contact of the support with the ground, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a circular or oval, tubular ring having on its periphery at least two hand grips with associated foot supporting rests on diametrically lying opposite sides of the ring.

Atubular ring is formed of a circular or oval formation on the periphery of which are disposed at least two hand grips so that in use the user uses the apparatus in a stooped posture because on the one hand he is supported on the ring with his feet on the feet supporting member lying opposite the hand grips which are held in his hands. The centre of gravity of the users body is displaced with respect to the centre of gravity of the apparatus substantially further in the direction of the ground so that the danger of injury and throwing off is practically alluminated.Due to the half stooped posture of the user a greatly increased training effect is obtained because upon displacement of the body weight the user stretche-s the muscular system of the body very strongly since, for example, he is supported by one hand grip more than the other and because of his half stooped posture - the whole muscular system of the body is successfully stressed.

The ring is tubular with the direction of the centre of rotation of the ring recessed. In another embodiment the ring however may also be formed as a funnel-shaped disc which extends conically in the direction to the centre point of rotation.

It is however preferred for the ring to be formed tubular with corresponding recesses sothatthe ring is very easily transported and has only a small weight. A plurality of struts may be arranged on the inner periphery of the ring the struts being connected pointing radially inwards to this support. The supports therefore act as spokes for the ring and run in side view conically downwards in the direction of the centrally disposed support.

For varying the training effect and for adapting to different degrees of difficulty it is preferred for the support to be longitudinally adjustable. The centre of gravity of the body of the user in respect of the ground can then be varied so that varied training requirements can be carried out. If the support is adjusted lengthwise a large wobble and oscillation amplitude of the apparatus results. If on the other hand the support is kept short in length then a relatively small wobble movement with small amplitude is provided.

For the longitudinal adjustability of the support several embodiments are possible.

A first embodiment provides for the support to be adjustable in its length in that it is provided as a screwed spindle with an outer screw thread on which is adjustably mounted a nut onto which the struts of the ring are fixed. The upper side of the support can then be extended as a hand wheel so that during the use of the apparatus is very easy to operate by the gymnast. Another embodiment provides for the side of the support contacting ground through a rubber ball, to be connected to a screwed bolt which is screwed into an inner screw thread on the support. By rotation of the rubber semi-sphere with the bolt fixed thereon in a simple manner the length can be simply adjusted.

A further embodiment provides for the support to be formed resiliently in an axial direction. Thus a spring movement in the axial direction can be superimposed in the wobble and rotary movement produced by th gymnast so that the training effect is still further improved.

In order to facilitate transport the apparatus is provided to consist of individual sector-like elements which in a first embodiment are capable of being assembled and in a second embodiment are pivotably mounted on one another via hinges so that the ring can be folded for transport.

The subject-matterofthe present invention follows not only from the subject matter of the indi vidual patent claims but also from the combination of the individual claims with one another.

The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing several methods of construction, which illustrate further features and advantages of the invention: Fig. 1 shows a side view (in the direction of the arrow I in Fig. 2) of a gymnastic apparatus with a gymnastic indicated in broken lines, Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus in the direction ofthe arrow II in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows an axial longitudinal section through a variation of the support of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;; Fig. 4 shows a side view of a play apparatus for children, Fig. 5 shows a plan view of the apparatus according to Fig. 2 in two further embodiments in which Fig. 5a shows the assembling of the ring and Fig. 5b shows the mounting of a ball in the tubular ring, Fig. 6 shows another embodiment in similar two Fig.

3 which illustrates the longitudinal adjustability of the support, Fig. 7 shows a further embodiment similar two Figs.

3 and 5 having resilient support in the axial direction.

The gymnastic apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has a ring 1 formed from a circular steel tube (the diameter for adults, for example, 1 .3m) on the inner edge of which are welded evenly spaced tubular struts 2,3,4. These struts are inclined downwards in respect to the direction of the axis 5 and their ends 6, 7,8 are bent downwardly parallel to the direction of the axis 5 and welded to one another. At the ends 6-8 of the struts 24 a disc 9 is welded which carries a rubber hemisphere 10. Two hand grips 11 and 12 extending upwards are rigidly connected to the upper edge of the ring 1.

The struts 24 form with their ends 6-8 bent in the direction of the axis 5 and the hemisphere 10 a sup port 13 for the ring which is inclined to the ground 14. The gymnast grips-as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1 the hand grips 11,12 and is supported with his feet on the upper side of the inner edge of the ring 1 - opposite the hand grips 11, 12. For this foot rests or step displacement of his centre of gravity the gymnast displaces the ring 1 in a wobble movement by which the ring rolls on a circular path around the supporting point of the hemisphere 10 on the ground 14. It has been shown that the whole muscu lar system of the gymnast is uniformly stressed and there is no danger of injury.The muscle stressing, as experience has shown, depends on the angle of inclination of the plane of the ring with a decreasing angle of inclination. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the angle of inclination is comparatively small and the muscle stress is therefore great. By correspondingly increasing the length of the ends 6-8 of the struts 24 a larger angle of inclination can may be selected.

The support may also be adjustable in its length, so that, for example it may be extensible or longitud inally movably mounted on a point held at a distance from the ring so that the angle of inclination may be adjusted as desired. Such an embodiment is shown in Fig. 3. The support is formed by a screw threaded spindle 16 extending in the direction of the axis 5 of the ring 1 on the nut 17 of which the ends of the three struts 1 - 4 are mounted.

The lower end of the screwed spindle 17 carries the disc 9 with the rubber hemisphere 10, the upper end being provided with a rotary grip 18 so that the screwed spindle 16 can be adjusted by hand.

With a modification (not shown) of the support a screwed sleeve carrying the rubber hemisphere 10 is screwed from below onto a screwed spindle rigidly connected to the struts 2 - 4 so that the length of the support can be adjusted by rotating the sleeve. The sleeve is anchored in the required position by means of a lock-nut.

Fig. 4 shows the apparatus may also be formed as a play apparatus for children. In the example a toy horse 19 is fixed by means of spokes to the inner edge of the ring 1, the spokes extending in the plane of the ring are not visible in the drawing. The child, as indicated in broken lines, sitting on the saddle 21 holding the grips 20 on the neck of the horse and supports itself by its feet on the spokes can (like the gymnast in Fig. 1) by displacement of its centre of gravity setthe ring 1 with the toy horse 19 in a wobbling motion.

Instead of the toy horse 19 other toy figures can be fixed to the ring. For example, a bicycle saddle and a handle-bar may be connected rigidly to the ring 1 or the struts 24 so that the apparatus can be constructed not only for children but also for adults. Cor respondingly the hand grips 11, 12 in the embodiment according to Figs. 1 and 2 may be arranged adjustable in height.

The ring may also be of oval constructed so that contrary to the circular ring 1 it rotates irregularly about its axis which with the use as a children's toy horse orthe like increases the playing attraction. The support may furthermore also be displaced slightly eccentrically to the axis of the ring and in fact in the direction of the grips 11, 12.

The ring then turns back automatically into the stable position of equilibrium in which the grips 11, 12 as in Fig. 1 - lie at the top which facilitates the use of the apparatus.

In another embodiment, not shown, instead of a ring 1 a disc likewise support inclined to the ground is provided the peripheral edge ofwhich rolls on the ground.

In a further embodiment, not shown, the apparatus consists of a funnel-shaped body the peripheral edge of which bounding the funnel opening rolls on the ground about the supporting point ofthe tip ofthe funnel.

Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the apparatus compared to Fig. 2 in which in Fig. 5a is shown the ring 1 can be split for example, at dividing lines 25 into three sector-like parts in which the struts 2,3,4 are formed capable of being puttogether corresponding as shown in Fig. 5a. The assembly is carried out, for example, by the ring 1 being provided with a central continuous axial bore 24 which engages in this axial bores 24. Such a soc ket connection is provided at each dividing line 25.

Furthermore it is possible to provide instead of such a socket connection also a flap connection, but hinges therefor belong to the prior art and are not claimed within the scope of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a longitudinally adjustable support 26 in which the rubber hemisphere 10 contacting the ground is provided with a screw threaded stem 28 which is adjustable in the apparatus in the direction of the arrow 27 so that the screw threaded stem 28 screws into an associated inner screw thread 29 on the support 26. The struts 2,3, 4 are then fixed either on the tubular part of the support 26, or they may be fixed also on a nut 17 so that further adjustability in the direction ofthe arrow 27 is provided.

Fig. 7 shows a further construction of a support which is formed resiliently in an axial direction (direction of the arrow 27), in which the rubber hemisphere 10 is connected to a bolt 31 which engages in a bore 32 of the tubular support 30. Inside the tube of the support 30 a stop is provided on which one end of a helical spring 33 engages other end of which is fixed to the front side of the bolt 31.

Thus the rubber hemisphere 10 with the bolt 31 is formed resilient in respect of the remaining part of the apparatus. The struts 2, 3, 4 may again be fixed to the nut 17 which itself is provided with a screw thread located and adjustable on an associated outer screw thread of thetubular support 30.

Fig. sub shows that the ring 1 may also be formed as atransparent ring in which is mounted a freely movable ball 34 which rotates in the directions of the arrow 35 during the use of the apparatus, so that the user can still increase his training effect because the rotation of the ball 34 stimulates him to further use of the apparatus. In addition a revolution counter may be coupled to the rotating ball. Furthermore it is possible to arrange on the spokes 2, 3,4 or on the outer periphery ofthe ring a motion counter 36 (Fig.

5) which records and indicates to the gymnast the movement carried out by him.

In Fig. 1 the foot supporting position 37,38 only show that the gymnast is supported with the soles of his feet on the inner periphery of the ring 1. Foot plates or feet rests may be provided opposite the hand grips 11, 12 so that the apparatus may be used like a sports wheel.

Claims (10)

1. An apparatus for gymnastics, play and sport consists of a circular or oval ring having a support affixed to the centre to rest on the ground so that the user rotates the ring by displacement of the weight of his body and the outer periphery of the ring rolls in a path around the point of contact of the support with the ground, characterised in that the apparatus comprises a circular or oval, tubular ring having on its periphery at least two hand grips with associated foot supporting rests on diametrically lying opposite sides of the ring.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1, character ised in that a plurality of struts are affixed to the inner periphery of the ring connected to inwardly directed supports.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the support is longitudinally adjustable in length.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, character ised in that the length of the adjustable support is varied by a screwed spindle having an outer screw thread engaged by a nut (17) to which the struts are affixed.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the side of the support contacting the ground is covered by a rubber hemisphere.

6. An apparatus according to claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the support is resilient in an axial direction.

7. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the ring consists of individual sector shaped segments fastened together or folded together.

8. An apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the ring consists of a hollow transparent tube in the inner bore of which is arranged at least one ball freely movable in an axial direction.

9. An apparatus according to one ofthe claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a movement counter is mounted on one of the stuts the strut or on the ring.

10. Apparatus for gymnastics play or sport substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.