ITUB20154086A1 - Load regulation system for exercise machines - Google Patents

Description

System for regulating a load for exercise machines and tensioning and recalling device for said regulating system.

The present invention relates to a load adjustment system for exercise machines.

The present invention also relates to a tensioning and return device for said adjustment system.

More in detail, the invention relates to a system of the above type, designed and manufactured in particular for regulating the weight of the load group or weight stack of an exercise machine for performing exercises.

In the following the description will be directed to gymnastic machines for strength training of the type comprising a resistance unit of the gravitational type, but it is very clear that the same should not be considered limited to this specific use.

As is well known, there are exercise machines to perform exercises in gyms, sports centers or medical rehabilitation centers, based on the lifting of a load group.

Said machines, also known as strength training machines, essentially comprise a frame and an actuation unit, installed on the frame, on which a user can act to perform the exercises.

Said machines also comprise a loading unit, having an adjustable load, connected by means of suitable connecting members to said actuation unit, and means for regulating the load itself. Said load is normally constituted by a plurality of weights or bricks, generally arranged stacked one on top of the other, movable vertically. On the other hand, said adjustment means comprise a load support member, known as a "cross", having a first weight or "brick" attached to an elongated member, arranged vertically, parallel to the movement of the load, also known as a "float", provided with a plurality of holes.

The stacked weights or bricks are also perforated, and said float is inserted through said holes.

The adjustment means also comprise a pin which can be inserted through a further hole on the bricks, so as to engage with one of said holes in the plunger. In this way, a weight is adjusted for the execution of the exercise given by the sum of the bricks arranged above the pin. In this way, the user performs the exercise with the load suitably adjusted.

To prevent the pin from getting lost, it is generally connected to the machine, in particular to the crosspiece, by means of a lanyard.

However, the lanyard remains slack when the weight closest to the lanyard attachment point is selected. This means that the lanyard can get caught between the weights or get stuck, with the risk of breaking.

SCVA 17798 Therefore, to limit this problem, the use of elastic spiral cords is known, which allow you to vary your length, thus remaining less slack,

However, over time these cords tend, due to use, to lose their elasticity, so that they too are loose and worn.

In light of the above, it is therefore an object of the present invention to propose a system for regulating a load for gymnastic machines capable of overcoming the limits of the systems according to the known art.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an adjustment system which is less subject to wear during the use of the exercise machine.

Therefore, a specific object of the present invention is a system for adjusting a mobile load according to a vertical direction for exercise machines equipped with a frame, said system comprising a support member for said mobile load, provided with a plurality of adjustment holes, said load mobile being constituted by a plurality of weights arranged stacked and selectively selectable, a selector member intended to be inserted in one of said adjustment holes of said support member, so as to select a group of said weights, adjusting said mobile load, and a cord having one end fixed to said selector member, said system being characterized in that it comprises retention means for said cord, for keeping said cord under tension when said selector member is inserted in a hole of said plurality of adjustment holes, and for recalling said selector member when it is disconnected from said plurality of adjustment holes.

Further according to the invention, said tensioning means comprise a retirement device having a guide, connectable to said frame of said exercise machine, and a counterweight movable slidably along said guide, to which said cord is fixed.

Preferably according to the invention, said guide is a cable, arranged substantially parallel to said vertical direction, having its ends fixed to said frame, said counterweight having a through hole through which said cable is inserted. Still according to the invention, said device comprises at least one return element of said cord, such as a ring or the like.

Furthermore, according to the invention, said at least one transmission element is fixed to said support member by means of a bracket or the like.

Preferably according to the invention, said at least one transmission element is arranged so that said cord is inclined, when it is in tension, with respect to said guide, so as to form a "V" with said guide.

Still according to the invention, said tensioning means comprise a spring winder for said cord.

Further according to the invention, said support member comprises an elongated element arranged and movable parallel to said vertical direction, said plurality of adjustment holes being formed on said elongated element, a first weight of said plurality of weights being integral with said elongated element , and each of said weights having a first through hole, through which said elongated element can be inserted, and a second through hole, substantially perpendicular to said first through hole, arranged so that, when said weights are stacked and said elongated element is inserted in said first through holes, each second through hole of each of said weights is arranged in correspondence with a respective adjustment hole of said elongated element.

Preferably according to the invention, said system comprises a lever movably coupled to said movable load, and said cord is kept under tension by means of said tensioning means and by means of said lever.

A further object of the present invention is a tensioning and return device for a system for adjusting a mobile load of an exercise machine, comprising a selector member capable of adjusting said mobile load, a cord having one end fixed to said selector member, a guide arranged substantially vertically, and a counterweight movable slidably along said guide, to which said cord is fixed.

Further according to the invention, said device comprises at least one return element of said cord, such as a ring or the like.

Preferably according to the invention, said at least one transmission element is arranged so that said cord is inclined, when it is in tension, with respect to said guide, so as to form a "V" with said guide.

Still according to the invention, said counterweight has a through hole and said guide consists of a cable inserted in said through hole.

Further according to the invention, said device comprises a bracket or the like for fixing said return element to said exercise machine.

Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims.

The present invention will now be described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows an overall view of an exercise machine equipped with a system for adjusting a load for exercise machines according to the present invention;

Figure 2 shows a perspective front view of a first embodiment of the adjustment system, object of the present invention;

Figure 3 shows a perspective front view of some elements of the adjustment system according to Figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a perspective front view of a second embodiment of the adjustment system, object of the present invention.

In the various figures similar parts will be indicated with the same numerical references.

Figure 1 shows an exercise machine, indicated as a whole with the numerical reference 1, provided with the system for regulating a load for exercise machines object of the present invention.

The exercise machine 1 essentially comprises a frame 2, an actuation unit 3, installed on said frame 2, a loading unit 4 and a load adjustment system 5.

The actuation unit 3 is equipped, in the case in question, with a seat 31 and groups of levers 32, for the execution of the exercises by a user.

The load assembly 4, arranged on said frame 2, comprises a movable and adjustable load 41, connected by means of suitable connecting members 42 to said levers 32 of said actuation assembly 3,

The movable load 41 comprises a plurality of weights or bricks 41 ', stacked on top of each other, vertically movable in a vertical direction A.

Said adjustment system 5 comprises a support member 6 of the movable load 41, known as a "cross", having a first weight or brick 41'a of said movable load 41 and an elongated member 61, arranged vertically, parallel to the movement of the load mobile 41 (i.e. to said vertical direction A), also known as "float", provided with a plurality of adjacent holes 6a, 61b, ..., 6In obtained on the lateral surface.

Said plurality of stacked weights 41 'each have a first through hole 41'n, so that said float 61 can be inserted through said through holes 41'n.

Said adjustment system 5 also comprises a selector member or pin 7, which can be inserted in a second through hole 42''n obtained on said weights or bricks 41 ', so as to engage with one of the holes 61a, 61b, ..., 6In of said float 61, corresponding to said second hole 42''n of a brick 41 '. In this way, an overall weight for the execution of the exercise is adjusted, given by the sum of the weights 41 'stacked on top of the one in which said pin 7 is inserted. The user can therefore perform the exercise with the mobile load 41 suitably adjusted.

Normally the bricks 41 'all have the same weight, with the exception of the first brick 41'a which has a weight equal to half of each of said bricks 41'.

For example, if the 41 'bricks each weigh 5 kg, the first 41' brick will have a weight of 2.5 kg.

Said pin 7 is connected to said support member 6 of the load 41 by means of a cord 8, which has a first end fixed to said pin 7 and a second end fixed to tensioning means described below.

With reference to figures 2 and 3, it can be observed that said adjustment system 5 comprises tensioning means for the cord 8, to prevent the cord 8 itself from intertwining with parts of the exercise machine 1. In particular, in the present embodiment, said tensioning means comprise a device 9 for tensioning said cord 8, adapted to keep it under tension when the pin 7 is inserted in one of the adjustment holes 61a, 61b, ..., 6In, and to recall it when it is disconnected.

Said tensioning device 9 comprises a guide or cable 91, which is arranged substantially parallel to said vertical direction A, having a first and a second ends, both fixed to said frame 2 of said exercise machine 1.

Said tensioning device 9 also comprises a counterweight 92, having a through hole 92 ', through which said cable 91 passes. Said counterweight 92 can slide on said cable 91 and movable in the vertical direction A.

The second end of said cord 8 is fixed to said counterweight 92.

Referring in particular to figure 2, it can be observed that said tensioning device 9 also comprises a return element 10 of said cord 8, which in the present embodiment is a ring, which is fixed to said support member 6, in particular to said first brick 41'a, by means of a bracket 11 or the like.

Said cord 8, therefore, is fixed to said pin 7 by means of a first end and to said counterweight 92 by means of the second end, passing through said transmission ring 10.

When said pin 7 is inserted into a hole of said plurality of adjustment holes 61a, 61b, 61n, said cord 8 preferably remains inclined with respect to said guide 91, so as to form a "V" with it.

Figure 4 shows a second embodiment of said adjustment system 5, in which a lever 12 is provided, also called "rider", removably coupled to said first weight or brick 41'a, so as to exclude or include it in the mobile load 41.

Said lever 12 is used by the user to exclude or to insert said brick 41'a in the adjustment of the mobile load 41 for the execution of an exercise.

In this way, the user can adjust a load both according to intervals equal to the weight of the single brick 41 ', and according to intervals equal to half the weight of the single brick 41'.

In this second embodiment of said adjustment system 5 said cord 8 is also returned by said lever 12. In particular, cord 8, fixed at a first end to said pin 7 and at said second end to said counterweight 92, is returned both with said transmission ring 10 and with said lever 12.

In a possible further embodiment of said adjustment system 5, not shown in the figures, said tensioning means comprise a spring winder of said cord 8, so as to recall it when it is disconnected from one of the adjustment holes 61a, 61b, 61n,

The operation of the adjustment system 5 described above takes place as follows.

When a user intends to perform exercises on said exercise machine 1, he sits on said seat 31 and adjusts the mobile load 41 necessary for the execution of the exercise. To this end, it inserts said pin 7 into an adjustment hole 61a, 61b, ..., 6In, so as to select a group of bricks 41 'corresponding to the weight necessary for carrying out the exercise.

The counterweight 92, pulled by the cord 8, slides vertically upwards in the vertical direction A along said cable 91. The cord 8 is kept under tension. Furthermore, since said cord 8 passes through said transmission ring 10, it is generally subject to limited wear.

After adjusting the mobile load 41, the user performs the exercise by acting on said actuation unit 3, in particular on said groups of levers 32.

Consequently, said mobile load 41 selected moves vertically in the vertical direction A by means of said connecting members 42. During the exercises, the cord always remains under tension and never slack.

When the user has finished exercising, he removes said pin 7 from the adjustment hole in which it was previously inserted, consequently said counterweight slides downwards along said cable 91, by gravity, so as to recall said pin 7, by means of said cord 8, towards said return ring 10.

In this way, said cord 8 remains under tension when the user selects the load necessary to perform the exercise, by inserting said pin 7 in one of said adjustment holes 61a, 61b, ..., 61n. When the user disconnects said pin 7 from the adjustment hole 61a, 61b, ..., 61n, the pin 7 itself is recalled towards said return ring 10 by means of said cord 8.

As is evident from the above description, the adjustment system 5 allows to keep the cord 8, to which said pin 7 is connected, always under tension when it is inserted or disconnected in / from one of the adjustment holes 61a, 61b, .. ., 61n. In this way it is possible to prevent said cord 8 from twisting around said mobile load 41.

An advantage of the present invention is that the parts of said tensioning and return device are subject to little wear.

The present invention has been described for illustrative, but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that variations and / or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without thereby departing from the relative scope of protection, such as defined by the attached claims.

Claims (14)

CLAIMS 1. System (5) for adjusting a load {41) movable according to a vertical direction (A) for exercise machines (1) provided with a frame (2), said system (5) comprising a support member (6) of said mobile load (41), provided with a plurality of adjustment holes (61a, 61b, 61n), said mobile load (41) being constituted by a plurality of weights (41 ') arranged stacked and selectively selectable, a selector member (7) intended to be inserted into one of said adjustment holes (61a, 61b, ..., 61n) of said support member (6), so as to select a group of said weights (41 ') / adjusting said mobile load {41), e a cord (8) having one end fixed to said selector member (7), said system (5) being characterized in that it comprises tensioning means (9) for said cord (8), to keep said cord (8) under tension when said selector member (7) is inserted in a hole of said plurality of holes adjustment (61a, 61b, ..., 61n), and for recalling said selector member (7) when it is disconnected from said plurality of adjustment holes (61a, 61b, ..., 61n). 2. System (5) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said tensioning means comprise a tensioning device (9) having a guide (91), connectable to said frame (2) of said exercise machine (1), and a counterweight (92) movable slidably along said guide (91), to which said cord (8) is fixed. System (5) according to the previous claim, characterized in that said guide is a cable (91), arranged substantially parallel to said vertical direction (A), having its ends fixed to said frame (2), said counterweight (92 ) presenting a through hole (92 ') through which said cable (91) is inserted. System (5) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that said device (9) comprises at least one return element (10) of said cord (8), such as a ring or the like. 5. System (5) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one transmission element (10) is fixed to said support member (6) by means of a bracket (11) or the like. 6. System (5) according to any one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said at least one transmission element (10) is arranged so that said cord (8) is inclined, when it is in tension, with respect to said guide (91), so as to form a "V" with said guide (91). System (5) according to claim 1, characterized in that said tensioning means comprise a spring winder for said cord (8). System (5) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said support member (6) comprises an elongated element {61) arranged and movable parallel to said vertical direction (A), said plurality of adjustment holes (61a, 61b, 61n) being formed on said elongated element (61 ), a first weight (41'a) of said plurality of weights (41 ') being integral with said elongated element (61), and by the fact that each of said weights (41') has a first through hole (42'n ), through which said elongated element (61) can be inserted, and a second through hole (42 "n), substantially perpendicular to said first through hole (42'n), arranged so that, when said weights are stacked and said elongated element (61) is inserted in said first through holes (42'n), each second through hole (42 "n) of each of said weights (41 ') is arranged in correspondence with a respective adjustment hole (61a, 61b , ..., 61n) of said elongated element (61). System (5) according to any one of the preceding claims characterized by the fact of comprising a lever (12) movably coupled to said mobile load (41), and by the fact that said cord (8) is kept under tension by means of said tensioning means and by means of said lever (12). 10. Tensioning and return device (9) for a system (5) for adjusting a mobile load (41) of an exercise machine (1), characterized in that it comprises a selector member (7) capable of regulating said mobile load (41), a cord (8) having one end fixed to said selector member (7), a guide (91) arranged substantially vertically, and a counterweight (92) movable slidably along said guide (91), to which said cord (8) is fixed. Device (9) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one return element (10) of said cord (8), such as a ring or the like. Device (9) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said at least one transmission element (10) is arranged so that said cord (8) is inclined, when it is in tension, with respect to said guide (91), so as to form a "V" with said guide (91). Device (9) according to any one of claims 10 - 12, characterized in that said counterweight (92) has a through hole (92 ') and said guide is constituted by a cable (91) inserted in said through hole (92 '). Device (9) according to any one of claims 11 - 13, characterized in that it comprises a bracket (11) or the like for fixing said transmission element (10) to said exercise machine (1).