IT201800009375A1 - Sports equipment for training and climbing practice - Google Patents

Description

Sports equipment for training and climbing practice

DESCRIPTION

The present invention refers to a particular sports equipment, intended for training and climbing practice.

To practice the sport of climbing in places far from natural walls, artificial walls have often been created, typically provided with interchangeable grips in order to vary the difficulty of climbing in some way. The construction of these artificial walls is obviously demanding, both in terms of cost and space occupied; furthermore, it is inevitable that they have a limited vertical extension and are not very flexible: if by replacing the grips it is possible in some way to vary some aspects of the climbing difficulty, it is however true that the slope of the wall cannot be varied.

Therefore, equipment of this type with moving walkways, also known as climbing simulators, was created. These equipments have a limited vertical footprint, as the wall on which the athlete climbs is precisely mobile, like a sort of vertical treadmill, that is, it slides downwards as the athlete climbs. The constraint of extension in height is thus overcome: the athlete can climb as much as he wants, because the available height is potentially infinite. As for the climbing difficulty, there are devices that allow not only the replacement of the holds, but also the variation of the inclination of the moving walk, thus allowing a real adjustability of the climbing difficulty.

These equipment are therefore used in gyms to reproduce the conditions of climbing, in order to allow training and practice of climbing without having to face the inconvenience of reaching the natural places where this sport is naturally practiced. The possibility of reproducing on these equipment all the climbing conditions that can occur in nature allows it to be used even by beginners who intend to approach this sport safely and improve their techniques over time; in fact in nature it is not always possible to have different climbing conditions in the same place, suitable for both expert athletes and those who are still learning.

These equipment are also used on the occasion of fairs and temporary events, to offer interested people a first approach to climbing, in safe conditions and with suitably low difficulties.

A critical aspect of this equipment is the movement of the moving walk.

There are apparatuses, so to speak, active (see for example US 5919117 or WO 98/32496), in which the sliding speed of the moving walk is set by an adjustable motor; it follows that the climbing speed is imposed. Climbing must therefore take place with a substantially constant speed of ascent; if the athlete fails to follow the imposed speed, he will necessarily have to interrupt the exercise, abandoning the equipment.

There are also devices, so to speak, passive, in which the sliding of the moving walk is not imposed but is braked, by means of mechanical or hydraulic systems. The moving speed of the moving walk is therefore not fixed but depends on the athlete's action.

The present invention therefore relates to a sports equipment for training and climbing practice according to claim 1; preferred characteristics are indicated in the dependent claims.

In particular, the sports equipment of the invention comprises: a base structure, which can be rested on the ground; a wall structure, mounted on the base structure in an adjustable manner so as to be able to assume different inclinations with respect to the ground, the wall structure comprising a support frame adjustably carried by the base structure and a moving walkway including a plurality of parallel horizontal slats, side by side and articulated -directly or indirectly- to one another in a succession closed on itself, the moving walkway being supported and guided by the support frame so that the slats are vertically movable; a plurality of removably grip elements mounted in seats formed on the slats; and an adjustable braking system to control the movement of the moving carpet. The braking system then comprises: an electric motor operating as a generator, driven by the movement of the moving walk on the support frame; and an adjustable electrical circuit for dissipating the electrical energy produced by the electric motor.

In this equipment the electric motor is not electrically powered but works exclusively as a generator. Consequently, the braking effect is obtained electrically, but without the need to connect the equipment to any power outlet. This guarantees the possibility of placing the equipment anywhere, even on the occasion of temporary events in places not served by electricity, such as village festivals.

Moreover, the braking action obtained is particularly effective, suitable for the use of this equipment as it is very regular, especially when compared with an equipment with a mechanical friction braking system, where jerks or discontinuity of action cannot be excluded.

Furthermore, the equipment is very compact and relatively light, especially when compared with equipment with a hydraulic braking system.

A further important advantage of this equipment is that it is intrinsically safe: there is no power supply, no fluids under pressure, and therefore the athlete is not subjected to any particular risk, even in the event of a failure. For the same reason, the equipment itself is also less prone to failure.

In a preferred embodiment, the electrical circuit comprises at least one adjustable resistor, inserted in the electrical circuit so as to impose a variable braking torque on the generator.

In another preferred embodiment, the electrical circuit comprises at least one adjustable power transistor, inserted in the electrical circuit so as to impose a variable braking torque on the generator.

In both cases, it is very easy to adjust the braking action precisely. The adjustment of the resistor or transistor can be obtained by a simple command (lever, knob or wheel), mounted externally on the frame, in a position easily reachable by the athlete, so as to allow a variation of the adjustment even during use.

Preferably, each slat, at its right and left ends, is respectively provided with a right guide flap and a left guide flap; all the right guide flaps are bound to a right guide chain, all the left guide flaps are bound to a left guide chain; the right guide chain is guided in the support frame, mounted in meshing with an upper right toothed wheel and a lower right toothed wheel; the left guide chain is guided in the support frame, mounted in meshing with an upper left sprocket and a lower left sprocket; the upper right and upper left toothed wheels are coaxial to each other; the lower right and lower left toothed wheels are coaxial to each other; the upper right sprocket and the upper left sprocket and / or the lower right sprocket and the lower left sprocket are rigidly connected to each other by a shaft.

This architecture guarantees excellent solidity of the equipment, in particular of the moving walk: the slats are connected to each other and moved by two chains, which ensure the stability of the moving walk with their rigidity.

Preferably, the support frame comprises a right roller guide and a left roller guide, in which the right guide edges are in engagement with the right roller guide and the left guide edges are in engagement with the left roller guide. . In this way, there is an additional guide for the individual slats, whose movement is therefore smooth and regular. It follows that in use the athlete is not disturbed by oscillations, vibrations or jolts, even in the case of particularly aggressive use of the equipment.

Preferably, the braking system comprises: a braking drive toothed wheel, coaxial and integral in rotation with one of the upper right, lower right, upper left and lower left toothed wheels; a driven braking sprocket connected to the braking driving sprocket by a braking chain; and a reduction unit associated with the electric motor and kinematically connected to the driven braking toothed wheel. The reduction unit, together with the pair of braking toothed wheels, forms a transmission that allows the motor to reach a rotation speed that is much higher (even 20 times or more) than the rotation speed of the upper and lower toothed wheels they drive. the moving walkway; in this way, even a relatively small motor can exert an adequate braking torque to regulate the movement of the moving walk.

In a preferred embodiment, a motor rotation speed meter and a regulator of the electrical energy dissipated in the electrical circuit, piloted on the basis of the measured speed, are provided. The speed meter, preferably incorporated in the electric motor itself, can be connected to a control unit which also receives a signal from a manual control; on the basis of these two commands, which ultimately correspond to the actual speed and to the set speed, the control unit acts on the adjustable resistor or on the adjustable power transistor, thus creating a feedback control system for the speed of the moving walk. The presence of these elements and in particular of the control unit requires an electric power supply, however of very low power, so that it can be obtained easily with a battery, possibly rechargeable, without therefore requiring a connection to the electrical network.

Preferably, the base structure comprises adjustable feet for resting on the ground, as well as adjustable wheels for resting on the ground. This dual support possibility allows both easy transport (by adjusting the feet and wheels so that the base structure rests on the ground with the wheels only), and stable positioning (by adjusting the feet and wheels so that the base rests on the ground with the feet only).

Preferably, the moving walkway comprises flexible connecting bands between the slats, a flexible connecting band between each pair of consecutive slats. In this way both the continuity of the moving walk and a further constraint between successive slats is ensured. This avoids any risk of crushing the athlete's hands or feet between the slats, since the moving walkway is substantially continuous, formed by a succession of slats alternating with flexible connecting bands. Furthermore, the solidity of the moving walk is also improved.

Further characteristics and advantages of a sports equipment according to the invention will become clearer from the following description of an embodiment thereof, made with reference to the attached drawings. In such drawings:

Figure 1 is an overall perspective view of the sports equipment according to the invention, in a first operating position;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sports equipment of Figure 1, in a second operating position;

Figure 3 is a side view of the sports equipment of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the sports equipment of Figure 1, in a third operating position;

figure 5 is a side view of the sports equipment of figure 4;

Figure 6 is a view of only the wall structure of the sports equipment of Figure 1;

figure 7 is an enlarged scale view of detail B of the wall structure of figure 6;

Figure 8 is a view of the wall structure of Figure 6, taken from a different direction and showing only some of the slats of the moving walkway;

Figure 9 is an enlarged scale view of detail C of the wall structure of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view along the DD plane of the wall structure of Figure 6;

Figure 11 is a plan view of the wall structure of Figure 10;

figure 12 is an enlarged scale view of detail E of the wall structure of figure 10;

Figure 13 is a view of the wall structure of Figure 6; Figure 14 is a sectional view along the FF plane of the wall structure of Figure 13;

Figure 15 is an enlarged scale view of detail G of the wall structure of Figure 13;

- figures 16 and 17 are views of two slats of the wall structure of figure 6;

- figure 18 is a front view of the stick of figure 17;

Figure 19 is a sectional view along the plane HH of the slat of Figure 17;

Figure 20 is a diagram of a first embodiment of the electrical circuit of the equipment of Figure 1;

Figure 21 is a diagram of a second embodiment of the electrical circuit of the equipment of Figure 1.

In the figures, 10 indicates as a whole a sports equipment according to the invention. The sports equipment 10 comprises a base structure 20, formed by two right and left uprights 21a and 21b, provided with feet 22 and with wheels 23 for resting on the ground. Both the feet 22 and the wheels 23 are adjustable so as to be able to vary their height; this allows not only to adapt the support to the ground even in the presence of small irregularities, but also allows to have the support alternatively on the feet 22 (during use) or on the wheels 23 (during transport).

Mounted on the base structure 20 is a wall structure 30, pivoted along a horizontal axis A so that its inclination can be adjusted by the user, and fixed by means of a knob 31. The wall structure 30 comprises a frame of support 32, by means of which the wall structure 30 is fixed to the base structure 20, and a moving walkway 33, mounted on the support frame 32. The moving walkway 33 comprises a plurality of slats 34, horizontal and parallel to each other, placed side by side and articulated to each other so as to form a succession closed on itself, substantially like a belt or chain. The moving walkway 33 is supported and guided in the support frame 32 so that the slats 34 are movable vertically. By acting on the knob 31, it is possible to orient the wall structure 30 with any desired inclination: in figure 1, a vertical inclination is shown (also suitable for transport or storage); Figures 2 and 3 show a less demanding inclination, suitable for example for a beginner; Figures 4 and 5 instead show a negative inclination (also called overhanging or sixth degree), particularly demanding even for an expert athlete.

The slats 34 are all the same and each of them comprises at its ends a right guide flap 35 and a left guide flap 36. All the right guide flaps 35 are hooked to the same right guide chain 37, while all the flaps left guide chains 36 are coupled to a left guide chain 38. The right guide chain 37 is mounted and guided in the support frame 32 by two sprockets, an upper right sprocket 41 and a lower right sprocket 43; similarly, the left guide chain 38 is mounted and guided in the support frame 32 by two toothed wheels, an upper left toothed wheel 42 and a lower left toothed wheel 44. The upper toothed wheels 41 and 42 are coaxial with each other and are keyed integral in rotation on the same upper shaft 45; similarly, the lower toothed wheels 43 and 44 are coaxial to each other and are keyed in rotation on the same lower shaft 46. Both shafts 45 and 46 are rotatably mounted on the support frame 32, by means of bearings 47, one of which is visible in figure 12.

The support frame 32 comprises two roller guides, a right roller guide 51 and a left roller guide 52, mounted next to the right 37 and left 38 guide chains and engaged by the right 35 and left 36 guide flaps. each of the ribs 34.

In this way, each slat 34 is guided in the support frame 33 both by the right and left guide chains 37 and 38, and by the right and left roller guides 51 and 52.

The slats 34 are not articulated directly to each other, but are spaced apart; between each pair of adjacent slats 34 a flexible connecting band 54 is mounted, articulated to the two slats 34. The flexible connecting bands 54 are made of an elastic material, for example rubber or another artificial elastomer, and have a loop section , which enhances its deformability; the slats 34, on the other hand, are made of a rigid and robust material, for example from extruded aluminum sections.

In the slats 34 there are formed seats 55 (for example in the form of longitudinal grooves) in which grip elements 56 are removably fixed; these grip elements 56 - which are conventional in themselves - are variously shaped blocks which reproduce the typical rock conformations encountered in natural climbing routes. For fixing in the seats 55, the grip elements are provided with screws 57 and washers 58, visible in figure 19. These grip elements 56 are chosen and positioned, by the athlete or coach, according to the climbing route that you want to achieve; the two slats shown in figures 16 and 17 provide an example of two possible arrangements, but it is clear that the possibilities are practically infinite.

The sports equipment 10 then comprises an adjustable braking system 60, to control the movement of the moving walkway 33. This braking system 60 comprises a braking drive toothed wheel 61, integral and rotationally keyed on the same upper shaft 45 on which they are keyed the upper toothed wheels 41 and 42 and therefore integral in rotation with both these wheels, and a driven braking toothed wheel 62, rotatably mounted on the support frame 32, in a proximate position and with axis parallel to the braking driving toothed wheel 61. One braking chain 63 connects the braking drive sprocket 61 and the braking driven sprocket 62 to each other.

The braking system 60 further comprises an electric motor 65, operating as a generator, ie not supplied with external electric current. The motor 65 is mounted on the support frame 32 and associated with it is a reduction unit 66, kinematically connected to the driven braking gear wheel 62 by means of a tang 67, as best visible in figures 10 and 12. In this way, when the moving walkway 33 is set in motion by an athlete who climbs on it, the slats 34 rotate (among other things) the upper toothed wheels 41 and 42 and with them the upper shaft 45 and the 61, this then moves the braking chain 63 which in turn rotates the driven braking toothed wheel 62 and then - by means of the reduction unit 66 - the electric motor 65, with consequent production of electrical energy. The reduction unit 66, together with the pair of braking sprockets 61 and 62 and the braking chain 63, forms a transmission which allows the electric motor 65 to reach a much higher rotation speed (even 20 times or more) than at the speed of rotation of the toothed wheels 41-44 which drive the moving walkway 33; thanks to the relatively high speed of rotation, even if the electric motor 65 is relatively small in size, it can exert a sufficiently high braking torque to adequately regulate the movement of the moving walkway 33.

As shown in the diagram of figure 20, the electric motor 65 is inserted in an electric circuit 68, which comprises at least one adjustable resistor 69; in the example illustrated, the electric motor 65 is three-phase and therefore has three outputs, star-connected to three adjustable resistors 69, ie with variable resistance. By varying the resistance value of the resistors 69, the braking torque exerted electrically by the electric circuit 68 on the electric motor 65 is varied: by increasing the resistance, the torque decreases and vice versa by decreasing the resistance the torque increases. Other electric motors could be used instead of the three-phase motor 65, for example a direct current motor; in this case, the electric circuit will be suitable for the electric motor used.

The diagram of Figure 21 shows an alternative electric circuit 168, which comprises an adjustable power transistor 169 powered by the motor 65 through a three-phase rectifier 170 and a fixed resistor 171. By acting on the transistor 169, the braking torque exerted electrically by the electric circuit 168 on the electric motor 65 is varied.

For the control of the adjustable power transistor 169 a control unit 172 is provided, which receives at its input a signal from a speed meter 173 of the electric motor 65, preferably incorporated in the electric motor 65 itself, and a signal from a manual command. 174 (placed for example on the support frame 32, in a position easily reachable by the athlete) with which the athlete sets a preferred speed value for climbing; as a function of these two signals, the control unit 172 drives the transistor 169, so as to increase the resisting torque if an effective speed higher than the set one is detected and vice versa to decrease the resisting torque if a lower speed is detected.

The sports equipment 10 described above allows any athlete - from beginner to expert - a very realistic and satisfying climb, thanks to the adjustment possibilities offered and thanks to the particular braking system 60. The absence of power supply allows easy use practically everywhere, outdoors as well as indoors. The compact size and reasonably low weight allow for easy transport, without the need for disassembly.

Finally, it should be noted that the sports equipment 10 is also suitable for medical-sanitary use, as a motor rehabilitation tool. In this case, the easy portability and easy usability in any place is particularly appreciated, so much so that it can allow temporary use through rental.

Claims (9)

CLAIMS 1. Sports equipment for training and climbing, comprising: - a basic structure (20), resting on the ground, - a wall structure (30), mounted on the base structure (20) in an adjustable way so as to be able to assume different inclinations with respect to the ground, the wall structure (30) comprising a support frame (32) adjustably carried by the supporting structure base (20) and a moving walkway (33) including a plurality of horizontal slats (34) parallel, side by side and articulated - directly or indirectly to each other in a succession closed on itself, the moving walkway (33) being supported and guided by the support frame (32) so that the slats (34) are movable vertically, - a plurality of grip elements (56) removably mounted in seats (55) formed on the slats (34), - an adjustable braking system (60) to control the movement of the moving walk (33), characterized in that the braking system (60) comprises: - an electric motor (65) operating as a generator, driven by the movement of the moving walk (33) on the support frame (32), - an electric circuit (68; 168) adjustable dissipation of the electric energy produced by the electric motor (65). 2. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein the electric circuit (68) comprises at least one adjustable resistor (69), inserted in the electric circuit (68) so as to impose a variable braking torque on the electric motor (65) operating as a generator. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein the electric circuit (168) comprises at least one adjustable power transistor (169), inserted in the electric circuit (168) so as to impose a variable braking torque on the electric motor (65) operating as generator. 4. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - each stick (34), at its right and left ends, is respectively provided with a right guide flap (35) and a left guide flap (36), - all the right guide flaps (35) are bound to a right guide chain (37), all the left guide flaps (36) are bound to a left guide chain (38), - the right guide chain (37) is guided in the support frame (32), mounted in meshing with an upper right sprocket (41) and a lower right sprocket (43), - the left guide chain (38) is guided in the support frame (32), mounted in meshing with an upper left sprocket (42) and a lower left sprocket (44), - the upper right (41) and upper left (42) toothed wheels are coaxial to each other, - the lower right (43) and lower left (44) toothed wheels are coaxial to each other, - the upper right sprocket (41) and the upper left sprocket (42) and / or the lower right sprocket (43) and the lower left sprocket (44) are rigidly connected to each other by a shaft (45, 46 ). 5. Equipment according to claim 4, wherein the support frame comprises a right roller guide (51) and a left roller guide (52), wherein the right guide flaps (35) are in engagement with the guide to right rollers (51) and the left guide flaps (36) are in engagement with the left roller guide (52). Equipment according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the braking system (60) comprises: - a braking drive toothed wheel (61), coaxial and integral in rotation with one of the upper right (41), lower right (43), upper left (42) and lower left (44) toothed wheels, - a driven braking sprocket (62) connected to the braking drive sprocket (61) by a braking chain (63), - a reduction unit (66) associated with the electric motor (65) and kinematically connected to the driven braking gear wheel (62). 7. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a meter (173) of the rotation speed of the motor (65) and a regulator (172) of the electrical energy dissipated in the electrical circuit (65), driven on the basis of the measured speed. 8. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the base structure (20) comprises adjustable feet (22) for resting on the ground, as well as adjustable wheels (23) for resting on the ground. Equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the moving walk (33) comprises flexible connecting bands (54) between the slats (34), a flexible connecting band (54) between each pair of slats (34) consecutive.