WO1997026050A1

WO1997026050A1 - Hip, thigh and chest workout device

Info

Publication number: WO1997026050A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Henry Patynowski; Zbigniew Patynowsky
Original assignee: Henry Patynowski; Zbigniew Patynowsky
Priority date: 1996-01-15
Filing date: 1997-01-14
Publication date: 1997-07-24
Also published as: AUPN753496A0

Abstract

An exercise device to exercise the hip, thigh and chest muscle groups comprising: one valve (2), a casing (1) having two curved slots (3, 4) and two curved rails (17, 18), a pair of air cylinders (19, 20) pivotally connected to the casing, a pair of leg/ankle rests (5, 6) adapted to engage the human legs, and/or the optional hand grips interchangeable with the leg/ankle rests, a pair of pedestals (9, 10) with guide rolls (7, 8), and a pair of carriage assemblies with carriages (11, 12). Each carriage assembly is connected to one leg/ankle rest which is linked to an air cylinder via the pedestal and is guided in a lateral movement by the curved slot and the curved rail. The resistance offered in movement is adjustable by means of a needle valve pneumatically connected with the air cylinders. The device operates on the principle of Isokinetic Double Positive Resistance.

Description

HIP. THIGH AND CHEST WORKOUT DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to improvements in devices to exercise the inner and outer regions of the thighs and hips through the lateral motion of the legs, and/or to exercise the chest and breast supporting muscles, by the lateral motion of the arms in a seated position.

BACKGROUND ART

There have been many devices to exercise the hip and thigh area of the human body. One type of device is an 'Adductor/Abductor Station' which provides a Double Positive Resistance, a feature in which the opposing muscles are worked concentrically in alteration during a single exercise repetition. The machine also provides an Isokinetic type of exercise, a feature in which a limb travels through a range of motion against a resistance, but in which the resistance is only slightly less than the force being applied, e.g. U.S. Patent No. 4,185,818.

These two features are considered to be the most important for the effective and safe use of the exercise equipment.

Unfortunately these machines are large, heavy, expensive and not suitable for home use being neither portable or easely transportable.

Other types of devices are smaller and cheaper, but are usually spring loaded or require the user to lift or resist against weights. These provide only a Single Positive Resistance, e.g. U.S. Patents No.: 3,174,343 and 4,022,463.

These problems are overcome by the present invention which is particularly suitable for home use, being portable, inexpensive, and most important, provides a Double Positive Resistance and an Isokinetic type of exercise. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention provides an exercise device which comprises: one valve, a casing having curved guides in the form of two curved slots and two curved rails, a pair of air cylinders pivotally connected to the casing and a pair of actuator means.

Each actuator means comprises: a leg/ankle rest which is interchangeable with a hand grip, a pedestal and a carriage assembly. Each carriage assembly is connected to one leg/ankle rest or to the optional hand grip and is linked to an air cylinder through the pedestal which incorporates a guide roller. Each actuator means is guided in a lateral movement by one curved slot and one curved rail. Resistance in movement is adjustable by means of a valve assembly pneumatically connected to the air cylinders.

The most significant feature of this invention are the curved guides. Although the number of curved guides may vary from one single curved guide to any number of curved guides, it is preferred that the device will have two left-hand side curved guides and two right-hand side curved guides. Another essential feature of the device is that the right- hand side cylinder interacts with the left limb of the user and conversely the left-hand side cylinder interacts with the right limb of the user. The two cylinders therefore cross each other at different levels.

The device may be fitted with a seat attached to the said casing, and a pressure gauge also may be added. Alternately the casing may have solid or folding legs. The cylinders may be either pneumatic or hydraulic.

The leg/ankle rests may be shaped to accommodate the ankles and can be detached for easy storage or replaced with the optional hand grips for chest exercise. Each of these parts may be manufactured from any suitable material such as moulded plastic or metal alloys. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAωiNGS

FIG.l shows an isometric view of the exercise device.

FIG.2 a sectional view along line A-A of FIG.l.

FIG.3 a sectional view along line B-B of FIG.2. Pneumatic Circuit and enlarged cross-section of the curved rail.

FIG.4 a left-hand carriage assembly, pedestal, leg/ankle rest and hand grip indicated by the phantom line.

FIG.5 a right-hand carriage assembly, pedestal, leg/ankle rest and hand grip indicated by the phantom line.

FIG.6 is the air cylinder assembly.

FIG.7 is an exercise example.

BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Refering to FIG.l it can be seen that the device comprises a casing 1 with the valve control knob 2 located centrally near the back top edge of the said casing.

On the top surface of casing 1 there are two curved slots 3 and 4 with rounded edges.

Extending vertically through the said slots are a pair of leg/ankle rests 5 and 6 padded with soft rubber foam to engage the legs at the ankle area. These rests are also interchangeable with hand grips and are supported by vertical pedestals shown in FIG.4 and FIG.5.

Inside the curved slots 3 and 4 are two wheels 7 and 8 which are mounted on the pedestals and are also detailed in FIG.4 and FIG.5.

It should be noted that the width of the curved slots 3 and

4 is slightly larger than the diameter of the wheels 7 & 8. FIG.2 is a sectional front view of the casing 1. The leg/ankle rests 5 and 6 and the wheels 7 and 8 are mounted on the pedestals 9 and 10 respectively. The pedestals themselves are mounted on the carriages 11 and 12 respectively, shown in detail in FIG. and FIG.5.

Each carriage has two wheels 13, 14 and 15, 16 designed to travel along the curved rails 17 and 18, which are integral parts of the casing 1 and are shown in detail in FIG.3. The air cylinders 19 and 20 having piston rods 21 and 22 respectively, are mounted to the vertical side walls of casing 1, through pivotal joints 23 and 24 respectively.

FIG.3 is a sectional top view of casing 1.

The end of the piston rod 21 is fixed to the pedestal 10 and the end of the piston rod 22 is fixed to the pedestal 9. Both piston rods 21 and 22 cross each other at centre of the casing 1 but at different levels, (see FIG.2).

The carriages 11 and 12 travel along the curved rails 17 and

18 respectively.

When the exercise device is in use, the leg/ankle rests 5 and 6 in FIG.l, where movement is determined by the curved slots 3 and 4 also in FIG.l, and the carriage assemblies 11 and 12 in FIG.3, move apart and then together in cycles.

The piston rods 21 and 22 (FIG.2 & FIG.3) move reciprocally within their respective air cylinders 19 and 20, displacing the pistons (not shown) at their terminal ends.

The diagram 'Pneumatic Circuit' shown in FIG.3 shows that the cylinders 19 and 20 are connected by flexible hoses 26, 27 and 28, 29 to the valve 25 which is a commercially available 2-way needle valve. The valve 25 enables the user to vary the level of resistance by turning the knob 2 in FIG.l.

Resistance is achieved by alternating the generating overpressure on one side of the pistons and at the same time creating a vacuum on the opposite side of the pistons during exercise. FIG.4 shows the left leg/ankle rest 5 interchangeable with the hand grip indicated by the phantom line, the left tubular pedestal 9 and the left carriage assembly which comprises the carriage 11, the wheels 7,13 and 14, two axels 30,31 and seven circlips 32,33,34,35,36,37 and 38. Included in FIG.4 is the end of piston rod 22. The wheels 7,13 and 14 have an identical exterior shape and circumferential groove for good accommodation with the curved guides previously described. The purpose of the axels and circlips are well known and do not need further comment.

FIG.5 shows the right leg/ankle rest 6 interchangeable with the hand grip indicated by the phantom line, the right tubular pedestal 10 and the right carriage assembly which comprises the carriage 12, the wheels 8,15 and 16, two axels 39,40 and seven circlips 41,42,43,44,45,46 and 47.

Both FIG.4 and FIG.5 are simular except for the position of the piston rods 21 and 22.

The hand grips have formed handles wrapped in soft rubber foam, both the leg/ankle rests and hand grips engage with the tubular pedestals through cylindrical rods indicated by the dashed line in FIG.4 and FIG.5.

FIG.6 shows an example of the assembled air cylinder. The air cylinder features a barrel 48, two cylinder end caps 49 and 50, a piston 51, a piston rod 52 and two hose connectors 53 and 54.

The front end cap 49 comprises a body 55 which includes an inlet/outlet channel 56, a wiper 57, a spacer ring 58, two rod seals 59 and 61, a rod guide ring 60 with two grease grooves and a locking nut 62. The rear end cap 50 comprises a body 63 which includes an inlet/outlet channel 64 and a rear eyelet 65. The piston 51 features a front piston disk 66, two piston seals 67 and 70, a piston guide ring 68 with two grease grooves, a backup ring 69 and a rear piston disk 71. The piston rod 52 is composed of a rod 72, a piston rod eyelet 73, a washer 74, a spring washer 75 and a nut 76. Parts such as the barrel, front and rear cap assemblies and the piston - except seals - can be made of suitable plastic material.

APPL CAB1L1TV

FIG.7 shows one method of exercise which can be performed on the device in it's present form.

The exercise device sits on the floor with the user also sitting on the floor and placing his or her legs in the leg/ankle rests 5 and 6, facing the resistance control knob 2. The exercise is executed by moving the legs laterally in an outward direction away from the control knob 2 then inward towards the same control knob 2, as indicated by the arrows in FIG.7. The movement described above will cause the flow of air back and forth through the hoses and the valve, generating overpressure on one side of the pistons and at the same time creating a vacuum on the other side of the pistons. By opening or closing the valve control knob 2, the air pressure and the vacuum within the system will be varied, resistance felt by the user will vary in accordance to this adjustment.

Various alterations can be made to the above method. The device can also lie on a coffee table and the user can sit and exercise from the comfort of an armchair or sofa, which would be useful for rehabilitation after an accident or injury.

In another form of exercise, the device can be placed on top of a table with the user sitting on a chair with hands placed on the interchangeable hand grips to exercise the chest and breast supporting muscles.

The device can also be use as a training aid for sports like: karate, tennis, skiing or group games, as it strengthens connective tissues surrounding the ankles, knees and hips. The user can proceed as quickly, or as slowly as desired without the risk of injury.

Claims

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. An exercise device for the development of hip, thigh and chest muscle groups, and connective tissues surrounding the ankles, knees, and hips comprising: a casing which incorporates two left-hand side curved guides and two right-hand side curved guides; a pair of actuator means to engage the body parts associated with the muscle groups that are to be exercised, each of the said actuator means being displaceable under the control of the respective curved guides; a pair of air cylinders that are pivotally secured inside the said casing, each air cylinder having a piston rod pivotally connected to the said actuator means, the right-hand side cylinder is connected to the left-hand side actuator means, and the left-hand side cylinder is connected to the right-hand side actuator means, the paths of the said two air cylinders cross each other at different levels; a valve pneumatically connected to the said pair of air cylinders for adjusting the resistance to the flow of air within the said air cylinders.

2. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said casing is a box shaped enclosure having curved guides in the form of a left-hand side curved slot and a right-hand side curved slot.

3. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said casing incorporates curved guides in the form of a left-hand side curved rail and a right-hand side curved rail.

4. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said actuator means comprises: leg/ankle rest, a carriage assembly and a pedestal with a guide roller.

5. An exercise device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said leg/ankle rest is interchangeable with a hand grip.

6. An exercise device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said air cylinder is a double-acting cylinder having a piston which is moveably disposed inside the said cylinder, dividing the said cylinder into a front chamber and a rear chamber.

7. An exercise device as claimed in claims 1 and 6 wherein the said valve is a 2-way needle valve pneumatically connected to the said cylinders controlling air flow from the front chambers and simultaneously through both cylinders to the rear chambers of both cylinders and inversely in cycles during exercise.

8. An exercise device as claimed in claim 4 wherein the said leg/ankle rest has two vertically extending pads wrapped in soft rubber foam and is designed to engage the human leg at the ankle area.

9. An exercise device as claimed in claim 5 wherein the said hand grip is a bar having a formed handle wrapped in soft rubber foam.

10. An exercise device as claimed in claims 2 and 4 wherein the said carriage assembly comprises: a block with two vertical slots, each slot contains a wheel with an axel, the centreline of the wheel axis in the block are perpendicular to the orthogonal projection of the centreline of the said curved slot which guide movement of the said carriage assembly.

11. An exercise device as claimed in claims 4 and 5 wherein the said pedestal is a hollow rod linking the said leg/ankle rest or hand grip to the said carriage assembly and to the said piston rod of the said air cylinder.

12. An exercise device as claimed in claims 8 and 9 wherein the said leg/ankle rest and the said hand grip include a cylindrical rod which alternately engage the said pedestal.