GB2183494A - Muscle toner - Google Patents

Abstract

A muscle toner comprises the combination of a vibration-generating assembly and an endless belt (15). Vibration may be generated by an electric motor (11) having an eccentric cam (20) directly contacting a channel section member (18) which is pivoted at (16) to the housing of the apparatus. The channel section member is directly connected to a belt guiding plate or channel (13, 14) which presents an external surface on which the endless belt (15) is linked. The electric motor can have a direct drive connection with the vibration member, or an indirect vibrational drive. Alternative vibration-generation can be by means of a solenoid. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Muscle Toner This invention relates to a muscle toner.

Muscle toners have been in use for many years in gymnasia, health farms and clinics, where they are used with a view to improving muscle tone and blood circulation and breaking down fatty tissue.

Muscle toners consist of a vibration generator and a vibration transmitting means which is usually in the form of a flexible belt coupled to the vibration generator.

In a conventional muscle toner, a special electric motor has been provided having two drive shafts projecting from opposed ends of the motor, Either out of balance weights or offset crank pins on these shafts produce vibration as they rotate. A belt, which is made of stout hide, has ball bearing races embedded in its end and is directly coupled to the weighted shaft ends so that the belt vibrates. Thus, the belt is vibrated directly by the motor.

This arrangement has the disadvantage that the belt length is fixed. In order to climb into the belt to put it round the waist or hips for example it should be fairly long. However this puts the user remote from the machine which makes it difficult to brace the body against the vibrating belt for maximum effect. The machine also takes up substantial floor space if the belt is fairly long.

If a shorter belt is used, it becomes difficult for less agile users to get into position.

The heavy, expensive belt construction adds to the cost of installation and maintenance. The special two shaft motor is also expensive.

Increasing interest in fitness has led to the development of muscle toners of less expensive and relatively simpler construction which can be used in places other than gymnasia, for example in the home.

One proposed such design again uses a special two shaft motor with out of balance weights but the motor is indirectly coupled to the belt. Each shaft end is journalied in a frame which picks up vibration from the shaft. The frames have respective couplers in the form of knobs which project from the machine housing. A hook or loop is provided at each end of a flexible webbing belt to couple the belt onto the knobs.

Again, the belt ends take most of the wear, leading to maintenance cost and the special motor is expensive.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a muscle toner which overcomes or reduces some or all ofthese disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a muscle toner comprising, in combination, a vibration generating assembly and a belt, characterised in that the belt is an endless belt adapted to be placed in contact with a surface of the vibration-generating assembly to transmit vibration generated thereby to a user.

The vibration-generating assembly may comprise a housing, a vibration-generator inside the housing, and a vibration member coupled to the vibration generator and extending at least partly outside the housing, whereby it can be contacted by the belt.

The vibration member may be directly coupled to the vibration-generator.

The vibration-generator may comprise a motor having a projecting shaft and an eccentric on said shaft.

The vibration member may comprise a plate, nonrigidly mounted on the housing and may be coupled to the vibration-generator by a coupler including a pair of projections embracing the eccentric.

In one embodiment, the plate and the coupler may be pivotally mounted on the housing.

In another embodiment, the plate may be resiliently mounted on the housing. In this case, it may be constrained for linear vibrational movement in one direction only.

The coupler may include a channel to embrace the eccentric or may be bifurcated to provide said pair of projections.

An alternative vibration-generator comprises an electrical solenoid, capable of oscillating in use.

The vibration member may be coupled to the housing by adjustable friction means.

Four embodiments of the invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a first embodiment of muscle toner.

Figure 2 is a plan sectional view on the line 2:2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of a second embodiment of muscle toner.

Figure 4 is a plan sectional view on the line 4:4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is an elevational view on the arrow 5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view of a third embodiment of muscle toner.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the muscle toner shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view, partly in section of the muscle toner shown in Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of a fourth embodiment of muscle toner incorporating a solenoid.

Figure 10 is a plan view, partly in section of the device shown in Figure 9.

Referring firstly to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, a muscle toner comprises an upright column housing 10 within which is housed a small standard electric motor 11 having a single output shaft 12 projecting from its upper end as shown. The motor may typically have a power in the region of 180 watts.

Avibration member 13 is pivotally mounted on a face of the housing, the vibration member 13 having location flanges 14 at its upper and lower edges so as to provide a guidance channel for a belt, partly shown at 15 in Figure 2. The belt is of a flexible material such as canvas webbing and is in the form of a continuous closed loop.

The vibration member 13 is pivoted at 16 to a bracket 17, fixed to the housing. A channel section arm 18 which is rigidly secured to the vibration member 13, is also pivoted to the pivot pin 16. The channel section member has a pair of edge flanges 19 spaced apart by a distance sufficient to embrace a circular eccentric 20 which is provided on the output shaft 12 of the motor 11.

Operation of the motor rotates the shaft 12 and hence the eccentric 20. Hence, the movement of the eccentric 20 forces the channel section arm 18 into rapid pivotal movement about the pivot pin 16. This movement is directly transmitted to the vibration member 13 which is rigid with the arm 18 and hence is transmitted by contact to the belt 15.

The channel section arm 18 may be lined with a low friction material such as nylon or the eccentric may have a low friction bearing surface of nylon or the like in order to ensure smooth running without play between the parts.

It will be seen that the power of the motor drives the eccentric which directly vibrates the arm 18 and integrally connected vibration member 13 so that little of the power of the motor is lost in noise and vibration. The belt 15 is in the form of an endless loop so that no particular part of the belt becomes excessively worn over a period of use. It will be seen that the vibration member 13 has a large surface area, which makes contact with a corresponding surface area of the belt 15, giving effective transmission of vibration to the belt.

Because of the large area of the vibrating member 13 and its relatively low amplitude of vibration the belt can be slipped round the vibration member 13 between the guide flanges 14 while the motor is running and hence it is not essential to provide on/ off switching meansforthe motor.

Turning to the embodiment of muscle toner shown in Figures 3 to 5 of the drawings, a housing 30 is provided for a standard motor 31 having a single output shaft 32. The shaft again carries an eccentric 33.

In this case, the vibration member comprises a plate 34 having its edges turned inwardly in the form of channels 35. The channels have linear guide slots 36. The vibration member is mounted on steel guide bushes which are constrained in the guide slots 36 so that the plate 34 can vibrate in the direction permitted by these guide slots 36. The plate 34 bears against resilient bearing pads 37 of nylon or similar material.

Aforked or channel section coupler member 38 is rigidly secured to the inner face of the vibration member 34 and embraces the eccentric 33. A low friction guide bush is preferably provided to ensure smooth running and ensure that there is no clearance between the parts. Again, direct coupling is provided between the rotating eccentric 33 driven by the motor 31, and the vibration member 34, via the channel section coupler 38. An endless belt 39 can be fed round the vibration member 34 and is guided for longitudinal movement by a pair of guide rollers 40 mounted on supporting brackets 41 attached to the housing 30. These rollers 40 serve to change the direction of action of the vibration into the desired longitudinal vibration of the belt 39.

In each embodiment described, the motor itself is mounted in generally known manner by vibration damping mounts inside the housing. Such a mount will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 7 below.

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2, the shaft is also enclosed fully within the housing whereas it projects into the enclosing vibration member 34 in the embodiment shown in Figures 3 to 5. However, in each case the shaft and associated eccentric are inaccessible during use of the apparatus which merely presents a iarge area vibration member around which the endless belt can be looped.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate an alternative embodiment in which the coupling between the vibrationgenerator and the vibration member contacting the plate is an indirect coupling. Referring to Figure 6 of the drawings, a standard motor 42 is mounted by generally known means in a housing 43. The projecting shaft 44 of the motor carries an eccentric 45. The shaft 44 is journalled in a bracket 46 which forms the vibration member and which is pivotally mounted at 47, the remote end of the bracket 46 projecting outwardly through the housing at 48 and being secured to the back of a belt receiving guide 49. This is in the form of a channel having flanges 50 to guide the belt as referred to above in connection with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The pivotal mount for the bracket 46 is illustrated in more detail in Figure7 ofthe drawings. The bracket 46 is mounted to a plate 51 of the supporting column of the muscle toner, by means of four upwardly projecting bolts 52 which pass upwardly through the bracket 46. The bolts are provided with lock nuts 53 and are spring loaded by resilient disc springs or Belleville washers 54.

Afriction pad 55 having oversized holes through which the bolts 52 can pass, is interposed between a pressure plate 56 and the bracket 46, the actual pivot 47 of the bracket being secured to the pressure plate 56 in rigid manner so that the bracket is constrained for pivotal movement about the pin 47. However, the pivoting movement is damped by the friction pad 55 and the loading on this pad can be increased or decreased by adjusting the pressure of the pressure pad 56 using the lock nuts 53. Thus, although the bracket 46 picks up considerable vibration from the motor driven eccentric 45, the vibration is damped before it reaches the mounting plate 51.

It may be convenient for the motor 42 to be mounted by rigid fixings 57 to be bracket so that the mounting shown in Figure 7 has the dual function of transmitting vibration to the belt guide 49 and isolating the motor vibration from the housing 43.

In a further embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10 of the drawings, the vibration-generator comprises an electric solenoid 58 having an oscillating core 59 which vibrates when the solenoid is energised, in generally known manner. The solenoid 58 is rigidly mounted on a bracket 66 which again is secured to the rear of a belt guide 60 having flanges 61 around which an endless belt 62 can be looped.

The bracket is pivotally mounted at 63 by a frictional mounting means similar to that shown in Figure 7, which will not be further described. The stand for the vibration generating assembly is in this case a telescoping tubular stand 64 which is adjustable for height.

The stand may also be arranged to pivot at the foot. In this modification (not shown) the outertube may be held captive by a transverse pin in a shoe mounting on the base of the stand. The transverse pin passes through the column and is retained in upright slots in the side walls of the shoe. A further location pin through the column rests in location notches at the top of the shoe. By lifting the column, the location pin can be lifted out of the location notches and the column pivoted about the transverse pin in the upright slots of the shoe, so that the whole apparatus can be lowered onto the base plate. A suitable manually operable lock screw is provided to hold the column in the upright position in use and needs to be released to pivot the column into the stowed condition.

The pre-tensioning means for the friction mount are accessible beneath a housing 65 located at the top of the telescopic column stand 64, all the remaining electrical and mechanical parts being housed within the housing 65 or behind the belt guide plate 60, for safety reasons.

In use, vibration of the solenoid causes rapid oscillating pivotal movement of the bracket 59 about the pivot pin 63, giving longitudinal vibration of the belt guide 60 and hence the belt 62.

In each of the embodiments described, an endless belt is used, simply looped around the apparatus to provide the vibration applying element of the muscle toner.

This enables the machine to be used very readily by persons of all sizes and states of fitness and in relatively confined spaces because the belt can be slipped round the body and then round the vibration member of the muscle toner. This contrasts with the conventional fixed belt type of muscle toner in which the belt length was constant, leading to difficuities in positioning the user.

Adjustment means for the angle of the vibration member may be provided, by arranging for the effective surface to be angled using a simple pivotal adjustment having for example a manually operated wing nut adjustment.

It will be seen that the muscle toners embodying the invention which have been described above are relatively inexpensive both in construction and in maintenance cost. Economy may be achieved by the use of a relatively low powered standard electric motor having a single output shaft in the embodiments of Figures 1 to 8. It is also partly attributable to the use of a relatively light weight and inexpensive continuous loop belt having no special connection means, which is not only inexpensive to manufacture but is likely to have an extended life because it does not suffer localised wear and tear in use. It will also be noted that the belt can be washable, to promote good hygiene.

Different lengths of belt can be provided, or the belt can be adjustable in length for convenience.

Where direct power transmission is used between the motor and the vibration member, this may reduce the external noise and vibration of the machine overall. The eccentric cam can be balanced in this case to prevent the motor from running out of balance with consequent wear.

Claims (15)

1. A muscle toner comprising, in combination, a vibration-generating assembly and a belt, characterised in that the belt is an endless belt adapted to be placed in contact with a surface of the vibration-generating assembly to transmit vibration-generated thereby to a user.

2. A muscle toner according to Claim 1 comprising a housing, a vibration-generator inside the housing, and a vibration member coupled to the vibrationgenerator and extending at least partly outside the housing, whereby it can be contacted by the belt.

3. A muscle toner according to Claim 2 wherein the vibration member is directly coupled to the vibration-generator.

4. A muscle toner according to any preceding claim wherein the vibration-generator comprises a motor having a projecting shaft and an eccentric on said shaft.

5. A muscle toner according to any preceding claim wherein the vibration member comprises a plate, non rigidly mounted on the housing and coupled to the vibration generator by a coupler including a pair of projections embracing the eccentric.

6. A muscle toner according to Claim 5 wherein the plate and the coupler are pivotally mounted on the housing.

7. A muscle toner according to Claim 5 wherein the plate is resiliently mounted on the housing.

8. A muscle toner according to claim 7 wherein the plate is constrained for linear vibrational movement in one direction only.

9. A muscle toner according to any one of Claims 5 to 8 wherein the coupler includes a channel providing said pair of projections to embrace the eccentric.

10. A muscle toner according to any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein the vibration-generator comprises an electrical solenoid, capable of oscillating in use.

11. A muscle toner according to any one of Claims 2 to 10 wherein the vibration member is coupled to the housing by adjustable friction means.

12. A muscle toner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A muscle toner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 3 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

14. A muscle toner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 6 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A muscle toner substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.