GB2191103A - Rowing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

A rowing machine comprises a frame (15) which includes a track along which a seat (17) can slide. A pair of footrests (11) are carried by the frame (15) adjacent one end thereof and manually pivotable levers (14) are mounted on the frame (15) for movement against the action of a resistance (13) by a person sitting on the seat (17) and carrying out a rowing exercise. Leg formations (30) are provided so that the frame (15) can be supported in a position in which the track is steeply inclined upwardly from the end at which the footrests (11) are located, as in Figure 4. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Rowing machines Field ofthe invention The invention relates to physical exercising apparatus adapted for performing rowing exercise. Socalled "rowing machines" or "rowers" are highlyeffective general purpose exercisers, providing aerobic exercise to build cardiovascular and respiratory fitness, whilst also giving strength training to all the major muscle groups.

It is a general object of the invention to increase the utility of a rowing machine by providing means for converting itforuse in performing an additional range of exercises particularly intended to strengthen the specific leg muscles most heavily used, and the knee joints which are most vulnerable to injury, in the sport of Alpine (downhill) skiing. The benefits will also applyto some extenttoAlpine-touring and cross-country skiing and in other sporting activities.

Description ofthepriorart Skiing is a seasonal and physically demanding sporting activity which requires a reasonable standard of cardiovascular and respiratoryfitness, muscle strength, endurance, flexibility and coordination if it is to be carried out with the minimum risk of injury and the maximum of enjoyment. One seven-year survey of accident victims showed that only 5% of them were people who had actively pre pared fortheirskiislg, as against 20% who had only exercised sporadically, and 75% who had done no kind of preparation of all (The Complete Skiing Handbook, Heller and Godlington ISBN 0-906348-30-7). All the major muscle groups are used in sking, with especial demands being placed on the quadriceps leg muscles, the assisting muscle groups, and the knee joints.Modern ski boots support the feet and ankles with the legs in the required slightly flexed and bentkneed posture, bestableto absorb undulations in the terrain whilst also making thevarious vertical and lateral movements required by skiing technique. The quadriceps group of muscles atthefront ofthethigh comprise the vastus lateralis, rectus femoris, vastus intermedius and vastus medialis muscles. Whilstthe ankle joints are partly supported and protected by the ski boots, the knee joints arevulnerableto damage and greatly benefit by exercise which strengthens their ligaments and capsules.Deep knee bends used to be one exercise recommended for this purpose, but th is exercise is now rejected by expert opinion as dangeroustothe knees, and shallowknee bends are advocated instead.

It is an object ofthe invention to provide a rowing machine capable of being used to perform exercises not hitherto available on a normal rowing machine and which are specifically directed at the leg muscles which take the greatest load in skiing, to exercise them in a mannerwhich resembles to flexing movement in skiing, so that they and the correct assisting muscles are strengthened throughout the range of movement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a rowing machine which can be used to strengthen the ligaments and capsules ofthe kneejoints in a safe mannerto make them more able to resist injury.

It is a yetfurther object ofthe invention to provide in one compact and convenient-to-use item of exercise apparatus the means to carry out a complete and balanced regime of pre-ski training exercise.

A complete and balanced regime of pre-ski tranining exercise will encompass the improvement of cardiovascular and respiratory fitness by means of socalled "aerobic" exercise, the improvement in strength and endurance of all the major muscle groups with especial emphasis on the quadriceps muscles and the muscles that assist them in skiing, will strengthen the capsules of the knees by improving the performance ofthese muscles, enabling them to work more efficiently and with minimum risk of injury.

To achieve aerobic exercise the apparatus must be worked to produce a raised pulse rate to a "target" level,there being standard acceptedformulaeforthe correct level which depends on age and fitness. A commonly used formula is to deduct a person's age from 220, this giving the person's maximum pulse rate, and then use a "target" pulse rate between the range of 70 percent of maximum for an unfit person, to 85 per cent fora really fit person. To achieve beneficial effects, the exercise and raised pulse rate must be maintained for at least 15 minutes at least3times a week. A rowing machine used normally in the horizontal position is an ideal aerobic exerciser.

Muscle strength is increased by the "overload" principle. A muscle becomes stronger when it is worked harderthan it is accustomed to and then allowed to rest. As it rests it resets itself at a slightly higher level of performance, thus enabling a progressively more difficult work load to be carried out.

This is called the adaption principle. As a rowing machine works all the major muscle groups, and conventionally has resistance means capable of adjusting thework load, a rower is ideal for generally strengthening the bodyforskiing sports as all body muscles are used in skiing.

The action of rowing on a rowing machine moves muscles through their entire range of movement against resistance. This is known as "isotonic" exercise and this is efficient in developing muscle strength, and importantly, is very beneficial in promoting the flexibility which is so necessary to skiing.

Summary ofthe invention In accordance with the invention, there is provided a rowing machine comprising a frame which includes a track along which a seat is slidable, with afootrest carried by the frame adjacent one end thereof so that the user of the machine can sit on the seat and place his feet on the footrest, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and arranged for pivotal movement by the user against the action of a resistance, and ground-engaging support means on theframefor supporting the frame in a position in which the track is steeply inclined upwardly from the end thereof at which thefootsupport means is located at an angle of at least 25" to the horizontal.

Avariety of interrelated effects on the nature and quality of the exercises that can be carried out are achieved by use ofthe steeply inclined rowing exerciser. Of primary importance is the factthatthe user adopts a posture on the inclined apparatus which issimilarto that used in skiing. Both skiing and rowing on the exerciser are dynamic activities, with constant movement of all body parts and therefore posture, but horizontal rowing presents a relationship oftorso to lower bodythat is principally a normal relationship (the user leans forward at the beginning of the stroke and backwards at completion of stroke) whereas with the steep incline the torso is substantially more in line with the lower legs, in ac cordance with the steepness of the incline.Typically the relationship of the seat to footrest on a rower is such thatthe users' posterior is substantially higher than the heel position inthefootrestwhen the rower is horizontal, and therefore the inclination of the actual posture ofthe user is greater with the steeply inclined than the angle at which the frame ofthe rower is inclined to the horizontal. The importance of this element of posture to the invention is that, not only are the quadriceps muscles given extra loading by virtue oftheir having to perform their extensor function pushing the body weight up the incline in addition to the resistance imparted by the resistance means, butthey are being exercised in a posture similarto that of skiing so that the correct assisting muscles are brought into play.

By virtue of performing rowing exercise through the full range of strokes on the incline, the resistance can be varied to provide isotonic exercises with a wider variation of leg extensor loading than can be applied in horizontal rowing exercises, because the resistance provided by movement of the levers is additional to that ofthe user's own weight onthe incline.

The steep incline also allows "knee-bend" exercise to be performed safely because only part of the body weight is loaded on to the knees, and the user performs the exercise while partly supported by the sliding seat and the pivoted levers to enable the exercise to be carried out in a controlled manner. The steep incline rowing exercise and the knee bend exercise which load the quadriceps muscles in turn stress and strengthen the attached medial and collateral ligamentsthat brace the knees.

The apparatus ofthe present invention is thus adapted to make use of my unexpected discovery that a range of beneficial exercises which closely simulate the forces, stresses, posture and lower body movement fundamental to downhill skiing can be performed if a lever type rowing exerciser is used in a position steeply inclined from the horizontal so that the user can carry out "rowing" exercises on the steep incline while grasping the levers which simulate ski poles.

Although the preferred range for the inclination of the track is 30 to 50 degrees, it will be understood that slightly higher and lower angles are possible. I have found that at angles below 25 degreesthe benefit of skiing exercises rapidly decreases, while at angles above 60 degrees the apparatus begins to become unmanageabie and requires additional means for securing the userto the seat.

Preferably the ground-engaging support means is adjustable to vary the inclination of the track from the horizontal to a maximum figure inthe range 25to70 degrees.

Preferably the ground-engaging support means is arranged to extend, at least at its ground-engaging position, beyond the end oftheframe remote from the footrests. Preferably the ground-engaging support means comprises a pair of legs having groundengaging ends which are widely spaced apart laterally ofthe machineto enhance its stability. Means may be provided on the frame of the rower adjacent the footrests to provide additional supportto the rower in a steeply inclined position such thatthe machine is safelysupported againstaccidentalfor- ward tipping.

The machine may be a so-called "twin arm" rower comprising a pair of pivoted levers arranged one on either side of the track for the slidable seat and each lever being provided with a handle, since single arm rowers tend to have restricted seat movement on account of the need to accommodate the single lever and resistance means, on the centre line of the rower.

Briefdescription ofthe drawings Figure lisa perspective view of a rowing machine in accordance with the present invention; Figure2 is a side view of the rowing machine of Figure 1 in a normal horizontal position of operation; Figure 3 is a side view of the rowing machine of Figure 1 in a steeply inclined position.

Figure 4 is a side view ofthe rowing machine of Figure 1 in a position in which it is inclined art a moderate angle; Figure is a scrap cross-sectional side view of a detail ofthe rowing machine of Figure 1; Figure 6 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of rowing machine incorporating the present invention; Figures 7to 12 are respective side views ofthe rowing machine of Figure 6 in six different operating positions; Figure 13 is a scrap side view of part of the rowing machine of Figure 6; Figure 14 is a scrap plan view of part ofthe rowing machine of Figure 6, and Figure 15is a section through a part of the rowing machine of Figure 6 and taken on the line X-X of Figure 13.

Description of the preferred embodiments In the drawings and referring moreparticularlyto Figures 1 to 5thereof, a rowing machine comprises a body in the form of a rectangular section frame 15 which may for example be an aluminium extrusion and which provides a track along which a seat 17 can slide. At one end the frame 15 carries a cross member 27 which forms a ground engaging support forthe machine and on which are carried a pairof footrests 11 and the ends of a pairofhydrauliccylin- ders 13. Thefootrests are pivotally mounted on the cross member 27 because the comfortable angle of the feet of the user tends to alter when the rowing machine is used in the steeply inclined position described more fully below.At a more or less central position the frame 15 carries a second cross member 28 on which a pair of levers 14 are pivotally mounted, the levers being provided attheirfree ends with handles 12. Piston rods 29 of the hydraulic cylinders 13 are connected to the levers 14 by means of adjustable clamps 16 to provide resistance to movement of the levers 14in useofthe rowing machine.

The rowing machine can be used in a conventional fashion by a userwho sits on the seat 17 with hisfeet supported on the footrests 11 and exercises by grasping the handles 12to move the levers 14 againstthe resistance provided by the hydraulic cylinders 13 while simultaneously sliding the seat 17 to and fro along the track.

Atthe rear end ofthe bodythe spine 15 carries a third cross member 19the ends 21 ofwhichform further ground engaging supports for stabilising the machine during conventional rowing exercises. The cross member 19also carries leg formations 30for enabling the rowing machineto be altered from its normal horizontal position of Figure 2 and intothe inclined positions illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 ofthe drawings. The leg formations 30 comprise a pair of legs 24 each of which is formed at one end with a hinge portion 26 which snugly embraces thetubular cross member 19 whereby the legs 24 can be pivoted between the positions shown in Figures 2,3 and 4.

The legs 24 are curved outwardly and terminate in widely spaced ground engaging supports 25. The legs 24 are joined intermediate their ends by cross members 22 and 23 respectively to form a single support unit.

As is shown in Figure 5 ofthe drawings, the leg formations 30 can be latched in the positions shown in Figures 2,3 and 4ofthe drawings by means of spring-loaded detents 31 mounted on the hinges 26 and arranged to engage in corresponding apertures 32,33 and 34 respectively in the cross member 19.

Each detent 31 comprises a latch bolt 35 slidable in a housing 38 and urged by a spring 37 within the housing into the latched position shown in Figure 5 so thatthe bolt35 engages one ofthe apertures inthe cross member 19; in the illustrated case, the aperture 33. The bolt can be withdrawn by means of a knob 36 to re-position the detent 31.

A user can thus use the rower both in a conventional slightly inclined position of Figure 4 or in the steeply inclined position of Figure 3 in which the leg muscles are heavily loaded to provide an exercise specifically intended for ski training.

Itwill be appreciated that the means for incli ni ng the rowing machinecouldtakeotherformsandmay, for example, include braces for supporting the legs 24 when the rowing machine is inclined from the horizontal. Also it is a simple matter to increase the angle of inclination, if desired, beyond that shown in Figure 3, either by lengthening the legs 24 and/or by altering the angle of the legs with respect to the frame 15, e.g. by adjusting the latching positions of the detents 31.

The rowing machine of Figures6to 15 is generally similarto that described above, but in this case the leg support unit for supporting the frame of the rowing machine in an inclined position is hinged on the frame ofthe machine at or nearthe centre ofthe frame, instead of being pivoted on the end of the frame remote from the footrests.

Thus the rowing machine comprises a body in the form of a frame 15 which at its opposite ends carries ground-engaging cross members 27 and 19 respectively and which is formed at or near its centre with a third ground-engaging cross member 28. The three cross members 19, 27 and 28 carry groundengaging rubber pads on their undersides, as illustrated at 50 in Figure 13. The cross members 27 and 28 are interconnected neartheirends bytubular members 45to impart additional rigidity to the structure.In conventional fashion, a pair of levers 14 are pivoted at 48 on the cross member 28 and carry handles 12 attheirfree ends, resistance to movement of the levers being provided by means of hydraulic cylinders 13 which are mounted on the cross member 27 and the piston rods 29 of which are adjustably attached to the levers 14 by means of clamps 16.

Afurthercross member 46 is mounted on the frame 15 adjacent the cross member 27 but spaced inwardly from the end of the machine and carries a pair of footrests 11 which are pivoted on the cross member 46so that the angle of each footrestwill conform automatically with the natural angle of the user's feet during use of the machine in its different exercising positions as described below. As is con ventional,the footrests 11 are formed at their lower ends with upturned flanges which support the user's heels and with straps 49 for securing the user's feet to the footrests.

The frame 15also carries a pair of pedestals 44 which support a track member43 on which a seat 17 is slidably mounted.

On the ends of the cross member 28 are fixed brackets 41 for mounting leg formations 30 by means of which the rowing machine can be inclined into the various different positions illustrated in Figures 7 to 12 of the drawings. The bracket 41 comprises a pair of quadrants 42 secured as bywelding to the opposite ends ofthe cross member 28, each quadrantsupporting a hinge-pin 51 onwhichtherespective leg 24' of the leg formation 30 is mounted.

The lower extremities of the legs 24' are interconnected by a ground-engaging cross member 40. Each quadrant 42 comprises an arcuate series ofthreaded apertures 52 which can be aligned selectively with corresponding apertures 53 near the ends ofthe legs 24' whereby the legs can be secured to the quadrants 42 and thus to the frame ofthe rowing machine by means of correspondingly threaded pins 54formed at one endwith hand wheels 55. In this mannerthe legs can be releasably secured in any of the various positions shown in Fi g u res 7 to 12 of the d rawi n gs.

Thus, in Figure7ofthedrawings,therowing machine is illustrated in its normal horizontal position. In Figure 8 ofthe drawings, the rowing machine is shown inclined at 10 degrees with respect to the horizontal; in Figure 9 the rowing machine is at 20 degrees to the horizontal; in Figure 10the rowing machine is at 30 degrees to the horizontal; in Figure 11 the rowing machine is inclined at40 degrees to the horizontal and, in Figure 12, the rowing machine is inclined at 50 degrees to the horizontal. It will be noticed that in Figure 12 an additional ground support 47 on the cross member 27 of the rowing machine engages the ground to provide furthersup- portforthe rowing machine when steeply inclined.

In orderto provide an effective ski-training exercise, it is necessary to incline the rower by at least 25 degrees from the horizontal, and many users will find the 30 degrees position of Figure 10 ideal. However, more severe exercise forthe legs for advanced users can be accomplished in the steeper positions of Figures 11 and 12. It is thoughtthatthe maximum angle of inclination of the rowerforeffective exercise will be around 70 degrees.

Figure 15 ofthe drawings shows a packing orspacing piece 56 which may be of nylon and which is used to preventthetubular legs 24' from collapsing when the threaded pins 54 are tightened. It will be noticed thatthe packing piece 56 is formed with an annular flange 57 at one end which, in use, is sandwiched between the leg 24' and the quadrant42 andwhich forms a washer. It will also be noted that the threaded apertures 52 in the quadrants 42 may take the form ofthreaded fasteners 58 secured to the rearsurfaces ofthe quadrant members. Thus the threaded fasteners may be nuts secured by welding to the quadrants 42, or other captive fasteners.

Claims (10)

1. A rowing machine comprising a frame which includes a track along which a seat is slidable, with a footrest carried bythe frame adjacent one end thereof so that the user ofthe machine can sit on the seat and place his feet on the footrest, a lever pivotally mounted on the frame and arranged for pivotal movement by the user against the action of a resistance, and ground-engaging support means on the frame for supporting the frame in a position in which the track is steeply inclined upwardly from the end thereof at which the footrest is located at an angle of at least 25 degrees to the horizontal.

2. A rowing machine according to Claim 1,in which the inclination ofthe track is adjustable from the horizontal to a maximum figure in the range of from 25 to 70 degrees to the horizontal.

3. A rowing machine according to either of the preceding Claims, wherein the ground-engaging support means includes a partwhich extends horizontally beyond the end ofthe track remote from the footrestwhenthetrackisin its steeply inclined condition.

4. A rowing machine according to any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the ground-engaging support means comprises legs pivotally mounted on the frame.

5. A rowing machine according to Claim 4, wherein selectively operable locking means are provided for locking the legs in a plurality of selected angular positions against pivotal movement relative to the frame.

6. A rowing machine according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, wherein the legs are pivotally connected to the frame substantially midway along the length of the frame.

7. A rowing machine according to Claim 5, wherein the locking means for restraining the legs against pivotal movement relative to the frame comprises a plate-like member attached to the frame and a pin which enters an aperture in the plate-like member and an aperture in the associated leg to prevent pivotal movement of the leg relativetothe frame.

8. A rowing machine according to any one ofthe preceding Claims, comprising a pair of pivoted levers arranged one on eitherside of the track, each lever having a handle which can be grasped manually by the user ofthe machine, and resistance means acting between each lever and the frame to provide resistance to movement ofthe handles and levers.

9. A rowing machine substantially as here inbeforedescribedwith referenceto and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings.

10. A rowing machine substantially as here it before described with reference to and as shown in Figures 6 to 15 ofthe accompanying drawings.