WO1994013363A1

WO1994013363A1 - Body strengthening apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1994013363A1
Application number: PCT/CZ1993/000028
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vojtech Druska; Ján PATRYLÁK
Original assignee: PYRTA, Jirí
Priority date: 1992-12-08
Filing date: 1993-12-03
Publication date: 1994-06-23
Also published as: SK359792A3; CZ359792A3; CZ279480B6; AU5559294A; DE9320581U1

Abstract

The body strengthening apparatus for exercising persons, taking use of a weight load. Apparatus is equipped with a swinging arm (22) being complete with a slideway (25) on which is traversable supported an auxiliary weight piece (30) connected kinematically to the main weight block (17), the swinging arm (22) being installed in a revolving manner on the solid frame (1) and connected to an arm inclination device (12).

Description

BODY STRENGTHENING APPARATUS

Technical Field

This invention applies to a body strengthening apparatus and gives a solution to the problem of continuously reducing and/or increasing the counter load at any moment of the strengthening training course without the need for the training to be interrupted.

This presents an improvement factor for those strengthening apparatuses that take use of a weight block for producing the counter load required.

Background art

The hitherto known body strengthening apparatuses contain a movable member, as for example a sliding block or handle, onto which member the force produced by the training sportsman is transferred either directly or indirectly through various tackles. This member then moves either along a linear or curved path, the force produced by the training sportsman being encountered by the force developed by the weight which can be fitted either direct to the movable member or connected to it indirectly through a kinematic linkage, as e.g. through a chain.

The conventional arrangement of such body strengthening apparatuses features for example a horizontally movable pulling block provided with a rest plate for the feet of the training sportsman, and vertically movable weight pieces fixed to a chain connected to the pulling block and running over two chain wheels. The said types of the body strengthening apparatuses allow for the training weight load to be changed only step by step by adding and removing additional weight pieces to a main one, which can be done only upon interrupting the training procedure.

This, however, presents a disadvantage as once the sportsman, having finished a certain number of exercises, arrives due to his fatigue at a dead point where he is no longer capable of performing even a single following exercise without the help of an assistant person or without reduction of the counter weight load it is necessary to interrupt the training course, which undesirably affects the sportsman both physically and psychically.

Summary of the Invention

The said disadvantages are well removed by this invention which is a body strengthening apparatus consisting of a solid frame in which a movable member is installed. Onto this movable member the force produced by the training sportsman is transferred. The movable member is in connection to a main counter weight block which exerts the load acting against the force of the training sportsman. The body strengthening apparatus is in principle equipped with a swinging arm complete with a slideway being complete with an auxiliary weight piece sliding in the said slideway, the auxiliary weight piece standing in a kinematic connection to the main weight block. The swinging arm is fitted in a revolving manner on the solid frame, being connected to an arm inclination device.

It stands to advantage if the auxiliary weight piece of the swinging arm is connected to an infinite chain running over a guide chain wheel arranged on the free end of the swinging arm and over an auxiliary chain wheel fixed to the main shaft which carries the main chain wheel meshing in the main chain of the main weight block, the swinging arm being fitted on the main wheel, its swinging movement being supported by bearings.

The principle of this invention lies also in the fact that the swinging arm is by pulling means, as for example a belt, connected to the inclination device incorporating a wind-up reel to which the belt is fixed.

Also to advantage is if the arm inclination device is complete with a gearbox whose output shaft carries a unidirectional coupling holding a wind-up reel. The input shaft of the gearbox carries a brake disk and a centrifugal brake, the brake disk being engaged with a spring-cushioned brake element connected by means of a rope to a controller. A wind-up spring is arranged in between the wind-up reel and the casing.

Also to advantage is if the arm inclination device incorporates a variable-speed reversing electric motor connected to the wind-up reel and the electrically controlled brake of the wind-up reel.

The principle of this invention includes also the fact that the arm inclination device consists of a linear hydraulic motor, one end of which is connected to the swinging arm, the other end being coupled to the solid frame.

It is to advantage that the described arrangement can be used for any muscle classification group, both for single-purpose and universal apparatuses, the only condition being that the body strengthening apparatuses in question take use of a counter weight block sliding either on a vertical or inclined path to produce the load force. The point of connection and kinematic linkage of the swinging arm can be selected by the design of the body strengthening apparatus not only anywhere between the movable member and the sliding counter weight block but also at the end of this basic kinematic linkage.

The technical solution according to this invention, in the simplest design without any motor drive, allows for a selected load to be continuously reduced practically by the whole mass of the auxiliary weight piece, this load reduction being performed by the training sportsman himself without the need for him to interrupt the training course not even for a moment. If a motor drive of the swinging arm is used the load can be both reduced and increased during the training course.

List of Drawings

A typical installation of the body strengthening apparatus based on this invention is shown in the attached drawings. Shown in Fig.l is a side view of the apparatus. Fig.2 shows a close-up of the pulling block and its linear slideway as seen from below. Fig.3 shows a schematic view of the main shaft and of the swinging arm corresponding in fact to the plane section A-A of Fig.l. Shown in Fig.4 is a schematic cross-section of the arm inclination device, while Fig.6 shows the arrangement of the controller built in the handle situated at the seat.

Deskription of an Example of the Invention

The body strengthening apparatus consists of solid frame (1) whose horizontal baseplate carries linear slideway (2) of pulling block (3). The pulling block (3) includes rest plate (4) for the feet of the training sportsman. The pulling block (3) is installed on the linear slideway (2) by the use of linear ball bearings (5). The movement of the pulling block (3) on the linear slideway (2) is limited by stop dog (6) provided with hole (7) through which the pulling means, in this case main chain (8), passes. The horizontal baseplate of the solid frame (1) extends up to the vertical section of the solid frame (1) whose lower part includes seat (9). Pin (10) located on the top of the vertical section of the solid frame (1) carries reversible chain wheel (11). Installed in box (32) fitted on the end of the vertical section of the solid frame (1) is arm inclination device (12) with wind-up reel (13).

Fitted under the seat (9) , on platform (14) , is main shaft

(15) carrying main chain wheel (16). The main shaft is arranged at a level allowing for the horizontal tangent to the lower section of the pitch circle of the main chain wheel

(16) to be directed into the hole (7) in the stop dog (6). The main chain (8) fixed on the pulling block (3) and passing through the hole (7) in the stop dog (6) runs in horizontal direction to the chain wheel (16) and then upwards to the reversible chain wheel (11).

The downward section of the main chain (8) after the reversible chain wheel (11) is terminated with main counter weight block (17) to which additional weight pieces (18) can be placed.

Both ends of the main shaft (15) project from the two fixed blocks (19). The one end of the main shaft (15) carries the main chain wheel (16) girded with the main chain (8). The other end of the main shaft (15) carries two-arm block (23) of the swinging arm (22) installed in a revolving manner by the use of two bearings (21). Fitted in between the two bearings

(21) housed in the arms of the two-arm block (23) on the main shaft (15) is auxiliary chain wheel (24). The swinging arm

(22) includes, apart from the two-arm block (23), slideway section (25), being for example in the form of a bar or rod whose end carries fork piece (27) with pin (26) installed in parallel with the main shaft (15). Fitted on the pin (26) between the two arms of the fork piece (27) is guide chain wheel (28), using bearings (52) to facilitate rotation of the wheel. The swinging arm slideway section (25) accommodates auxiliary weight piece (30) which can slide along by action of linear ball bearing (29). The transfer of the auxiliary sliding weight piece (30) along the slideway section is effected by means of infinite chain (31) fitted on the auxiliary sliding weight piece (30) and running over the auxiliary chain wheel (24) as well as guide chain wheel (28). The free end of the swinging arm (22) is by belt (33) and/or rope connected to the wind-up reel (13) with ratchet (38) and wind-up spring (40). The wind-up reel (13), onto which the belt (33) fixed at the end of the swinging arm (22) is wound up, is installed on the output shaft (39) of the gearbox (34) by means of a unidirectional coupling, as for example by the ratchet (38) which, with the output shaft (39) of the gearbox (34) at standstill, allows for winding the belt (33) up, not allowing, however, under the given conditions for the belt to be wound off.

Fitted in between the box (32) and the wind-up reel (13) is helical wind-up spring (40) so arranged that it powers the wind-up reel (13) in the direction of the winding belt (33). The force of the spring, however, is not sufficient for overcoming the force effect of the mass of the swinging arm (22) including auxiliary weight piece (30) so that the spring alone is not capable of drawing up the swinging arm (22) into the initial upper position.

The input shaft (41) of the gearbox (34) carries brake disk (35) and centrifugal brake (36). The brake disk (35) is braked by brake element (37) having a form of a lever laid in a swinging manner on pin (42) and forced to engagement with the brake disk (35) by the spring (43) accommodated in the inside of the box (32). For the withdrawal of the brake element (37) from the engagement with the brake disk (35) against the force developed by the spring (43), rope (44) is employed which is fixed to the brake element (37) and runs through hole (46) in the box (32) and through rope guide tube (45) to the vicinity of the seat (9), i.e. into one of the handles (47) where it passes through hole (48) in the foot to terminate on drawing bar (49) which passes through the hollow handle (47), the other end of the drawing bar forming a controller (50) of the swinging arm (22).

The body strengthening apparatus according to this invention works as follows :

Prior to starting his training course the sportsman adjusts by hand the swinging arm (22) into the initial upper position in which the swinging,arm (22) includes an angle of about 70 degrees. This means that the swinging arm (22) is thus deflected by approximately 20 degrees from the vertical. The sportsman then places a relevant number of additional weight pieces (18) to the main weight block (17) according to his capability and aim of the training. The sportsman should be aware of the fact that he will be heaving, apart from the main weight block (17) and the additional weight pieces (18), also the auxiliary weight piece (30) fitted on the swinging arm (22), as the said auxiliary weight piece (30) is by means of the infinite chain (31), auxiliary chain wheel (24) and main shaft (15) with the main chain wheel (16) and main chain (8) coupled by a kinematic linkage with the main weight block (17) as well as with the additional weight pieces (18), if any. Having taken place on the seat (9) the sportsman in the given case starts exercising muscles of his legs by pushing off the pulling block (3) against which he is leaning with his soles on the rest plate (4) . If there comes a moment during the training course where the sportsman is so tired that he is no longer capable of pushing off the fully loaded pulling block (3) he presses the controller (50) in the handle (47). This actuates the rope (44) to loosen the brake disk (35) which has been braked by the brake element (37). Thus also the wind-up reel (13) coupled with the brake disk (15) via gearbox (34) gets loose. The centrifugal brake (36) prevents the loosened wind-up reel (13) from rotating at an excessive speed, thus ensuring for the belt (33) to be wound off the wind-up reel (13) at a relatively low speed rate. Thus also the control of slow lowering of the swinging arm (22) is provided, this having consequently the effect that a respectively smaller force is required to be produced by the sportsman for pushing off the pulling block (3) due to the reduction of the angle of lifting the auxiliary weight piece (30). The lowering of the swinging arm (22) terminates at the horizontal position where the swinging arm (22) rests on the stop block (51). When in this position the mass of the auxiliary weight piece (30) does not manifest itself, not considering passive resistances and inertia, as the said auxiliary weight piece (30) moves only in the horizontal plane during the training course.

It is to advantage if the ratio of the mass of the pulling block (3) and auxiliary weight piece (30) to the minimum mass of the main weight block (17) is 2 : 1, the ratio of diameter of the pitch circle of the main chain wheel (16) to that of the pitch circle of the auxiliary chain wheel (24) being 1.4 : 1.

The above described design allows only for a reduction of the weight load during a training course. The described simple mechanical design of the arm inclination device (12) can be replaced by a more sophisticated system, as for example by one including a variable-speed reversible electric motor with a wind-up reel (13) for winding up the belt (33) braked for example with an electromagnetic brake, or including a hydraulic or linear motor etc. Such more sophisticated designs of the arm inclination devices allow then not only for reduction but also for enlargement of the weight load during a training course. Industrial Applicability

The body strengthening apparatus based on this invention can be made subject of industrial production. It will readily find application both for active and recreational sportsmen.

Claims

Patent Claims

1. The body strengthening apparatus containing a solid frame which accommodates a movable element onto which the force of the training sportsman is transferred, this movable element being directly or by pulling means and/or gear connected by a kinematic linkage to a main weight block which produces a counter force against the force developed by the training sportsman, characterised in that the body strengthening apparatus is equipped a swinging arm (22) being complete with a slideway (25) on which is traversable supported an auxiliary weight piece (30) connected kinematically to the main weight block (17), the swinging arm (22) being installed in a revolving manner on the solid frame (1) and connected to an arm inclination device (12).,

2. The body strengthening apparatus according to Claim 1, characterised in that features the auxiliary weight piece (30) of the swinging arm (22) being coupled with an infinite chain (31) running both through a guide chain wheel (28) arranged on the free end of the swinging arm (22), and through an auxiliary chain wheel (24) fixed on a main shaft (15) which carries also a main chain wheel (16) meshing in a main chain (8) of the main weight block (17), the swinging arm (22) being by the use of bearings (21) installed in a swinging manner on the main shaft (15) .

3. The body strengthening apparatus according to Claims 1 and

2, characterised in that features the swinging arm (22) being connected by pulling means, as a belt (33), to the arm inclination device (12) provided with a wind-up reel (13) to which the pulling belt (33) is fixed.

4. The body strengthening apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that features the arm inclination device (12) containing a gearbox (34) whose output shaft (39) carries the wind-up reel (13) installed by means of a unidirectional coupling, and whose input shaft (41) carries a brake disk (35) and a centrifugal brake (36), the brake disk being engaged with a cushioned brake element (37) coupled by a rope (44) with a controller (50) while a wind-up spring (40) is fitted in between the wind-up reel (13) and box (32).

5. The body strengthening apparatus according to Claim 3, characterised in that features the arm inclination device (12) containing a variable-speed reversing electric motor coupled with the wind-up reel (13) and the electrically controlled brake of the wind-up reel (13).

6. The body strengthening apparatus according to Claims 1 and 2, characterised in that features the arm inclination device (12) consisting of a linear motor, one end of which being in connection with the swinging arm (22) and the other being connected to the solid frame (1).