Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
  • A63B21/40—Interfaces with the user related to strength training; Details thereof
  • A63B21/4027—Specific exercise interfaces
  • A63B21/4029—Benches specifically adapted for exercising

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an exercising implement for performing muscular stretching exercises and respiration or breathing 5 exercises.
• an exercising implement which is specifically designed for meeting the requirements of an even and proper physical activity, said prior implement allowing to perform, even at home, muscular stretching exercises, as well as respiration or breathing exercises, in order to progressively improve the physical condition, resiliency and flexibility of the musculature/articulations or joints of a person, allowing the exercising person to recover proper physical conditions.
• the prior implement comprises a bench including floor resting means and a back and a bottom portion, defining a seating region and a leg supporting region for a user. The back and bottom portion of the bench can turn about a horizontal rotary axis.
• the rotary driving of the back and bottom portion about said rotary axis can be adjusted and locked by suitable locking means which can be controllably switched on and off, in order to change the opening angle of the back with respect to the bottom portion and to also change the slanting of the back and bottom portion with respect to the floor.
• an improved exercising implement allowing to perform a very broad range of gymnic exercises, both of an active type and a passive stretching type would be required.
• the aim of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawbacks, by providing an exercising implement which is very safe in operation.
• a main object of the present invention is to provide such an exercising implement, allowing to perform a very broad range of gymnic exercises, both of an active type and a passive stretching type.
• Another object of the present invention is to provide such an exercising implement which can be made at a low cost .
• an exercising implement for performing muscular stretching and respiration exercises, of the type comprising a bench including coupling rods and floor resting bars, said bench having a back and a bottom portion, defining a seating region and a support for the legs of a user, said back and bottom portion being pivoted, at adjoining sides thereof, to said floor resting bars in order to controllably turn about a horizontal rotary axis, so as to change the opening angle of said back with respect to said bottom portion and change the slanting of the back and bottom portion with respect to said floor, characterized in that said exercising implement comprises moreover safety locking means, which can be controllably actuated and disactuated, for preventing said back and bottom portion from turning about said rotary axis, as well as adjustable means allowing said exercising implement to be operated to perform stretching exercises on the muscles pertaining to the rear muscular chain of said user.
• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the exercising implement according to the invention in one of its possible use conditions
• Figure 2 illustrates, according to a different perspective angular orientation, the exercising implement according to the invention, in one of its possible use conditions
• Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view illustrating the exercising implement according to the invention, in another of its possible use conditions
• Figure 4 is a side perspective view illustrating the back of the exercising implement according to the invention, said back being provided with adjustable means for allowing stretching exercises of the muscles pertaining to the rear muscular chain to be performed;
• Figure 5 is a further side perspective view illustrating a middle portion of the exercising implement according to the invention.
• Figure 6 is a further perspective view illustrating the safety locking means for preventing the bottom portion of the exercising implement according to the invention from turning;
• Figure 7 is a partially cross-sectioned side view illustrating the construction of the safety locking means according to the invention.
• the exercising implement according to the present invention substantially comprises an exercising bench, including floor resting means 2, and a bench back 3, said back 3 defining a resting or bearing surface for a user back.
• a bottom portion 4 defining a seat region as well as a leg supporting supporting region is moreover provided.
• the back 3 and bottom portion 4 can merely comprise panel elements, possibly covered, on the side thereof to be contacted by the user, with a slide padding layer.
• a pair of cushions of half-moon configuration, for aiding a proper bending of the user back at the lumbar and cervical region thereof.
• These cushions will be preferably made of a not-toxic foamed material, and covered by a PVC cover.
• the back 3 and bottom portion 4 are pivoted, at their adjoining sides, to said floor resting means 2, about a horizontal rotary axis 5.
• the subject exercising implement comprises moreover safety locking means 50, for preventing the back 3 and bottom portion 4 from turning about said rotary axis 5.
• Said safety locking means 50 which will be disclosed in a more detailed manner hereinafter, can be controllably actuated or disactuated in order to allow to change, depending on requirements, the opening angle of the back 3, with respect to the bottom portion 4 as well as the slanting of the back 3 and bottom portion 4 with respect to the floor.
• the floor resting means 2 comprise a first pair of bars 28 and 28', parallel to one another, provided for resting on the floor, under the back 3, said bars being coupled, at their outer longitudinal ends, by a cross member 7.
• the floor resting means 2 comprise furthermore a second pair of bars 8 and 8 ' , parallel to one another, provided for bearing on the floor under the bottom portion 4, said latter bars being coupled, at their longitudinal ends, by a related cross-member 9.
• the first pair of bars 28, 28' and second pair of bars 8, 8' are pivoted about the same pivoting or rotary axis 5. Moreover, on the top surface of said bars are provided a plurality of holes 53 for engaging therein the safety locking means 50.
• the bottom portion 4 is supported by a first pair of rods 25 and 25', pivoted to the bars 8 and 8', and a second pair of rods 26 and 26', pivoted to the rods 25 and 25' and including the safety locking means 50 sliding along said bars 8 and 8'.
• the back 3 guides 33 and 33 ' are arranged, and inside said guides a pair of rods 40 and 40', provided with bent end portions are adapted to slide, said rods 40 and 40' being disclosed in a more detailed manner hereinafter.
• the rods 40 and 40' can further turn about their longitudinal turning axis.
• FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the construction of the safety locking means according to .the invention, each of which comprises a box-like body, coupled to its respective coupling rod and sliding on one of said bars 28, 28', 8 and 8 ' .
• the box-like body holds therein a spring 55 provided for rotatively driving, about a pivot pin 57, a peg 54 engaging in one of the holes 53 provided on the surface of the respective bar.
• the peg 54 can be manually disengaged from the hole 53 by means of a lever 52.
• the safety locking means 50 are connected, in pairs, by cross- members 30 and 31 which can be manually operated in order to drive the mentioned lever 52.
• the exercising implement according to the invention operates as follows. Upon having put the bars 28, 28' and 8 , 8 ' on the floor, the back 3 and bottom portion 4 are rotatively driven about the rotary axis 5 for a set rotary angle, thereby providing a desired amplitude opening angle of the back 3 with respect to the bottom portion 4.
• the back 3 and bottom portion 4 are held at their desired or set positions by causing the safety locking means 50, respectively coupled to the rods 26, 26' and the rods 22, 22 ' , to engage in the holes
• the provision of the safety locking means 50 will prevent the back 3 or bottom portion 4 from being lowered, while preventing said elements from falling away with a consequent possibility of seriously injuring the user.
• the user can bring its back against the bench back 3, by seating on the bottom portion 4 and bringing on the top of said portion his/her legs and feet.
• the spine muscles and leg rear muscle will be properly stretched.
• the user can perform a series of gymnic exercises, such as, for example, small front-rear movements of his/her head, in order to increase the tension on the cervical muscles, or bend the feet toward the front side of the legs or the rear side thereof, in order to stretch the rear or front muscles of the legs .
• the user can also perform other types of gymnic exercises, in order to stretch or tension other muscles, in particular by using the rods 40 and 40' which will be gripped on their curved portions operating as handles, and which can be turned about their longitudinal axis in order to provide a suitable gripping for the user.
• the user can extend his/her arms upwardly, while displacing the rods 40 and 40' inside their respective guides 33 and 33 ' .
• This exercise will provide an efficient stretching and elongation of the arms, shoulders and of the overall lumbar and back region, according to an overall working principle operating for stretching the rear muscular chain.
• the exercising implement according to the present invention can moreover comprise an auxiliary read-out panel to be applied to its back in order to allow the user reading matter during the passive stretching, relaxing or depressurizing operations on his/her bottom limbs.
• the user desires to change the opening angle of the back 3 , with respect to the bottom portion 4, i.e. to change the muscular tension amount, then the user must merely slightly raise the back 3 or bottom portion 4 and then raise the respective cross-member 30 or 31, connecting the mentioned safety locking means 50, in order to allow the back 3 or bottom portion 4 to turn again.
• the subject exercising implement can also comprise a flexible material band, so applied as to encompass the implement at the middle portion thereof, upon having folded the implement.
• Said flexible band will comprise snap closing means, and may be used in order to hold the implement in a closed position, or also as a handle in order to easily grip and transport the implement .

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Biophysics (AREA)
• Orthopedic Medicine & Surgery (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Rehabilitation Tools (AREA)
• Acyclic And Carbocyclic Compounds In Medicinal Compositions (AREA)
• Medicines That Contain Protein Lipid Enzymes And Other Medicines (AREA)
• Pharmaceuticals Containing Other Organic And Inorganic Compounds (AREA)
• Massaging Devices (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=11377710

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (7)

Cited By (1)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (4)

• 1997
  • 1997-08-01 IT IT97MI001866A patent/IT1293809B1/it active IP Right Grant
• 1998
  • 1998-07-29 EP EP98937766A patent/EP0999880B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-07-29 DE DE69813824T patent/DE69813824T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-07-29 ES ES98937766T patent/ES2198737T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1998-07-29 AT AT98937766T patent/ATE238084T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1998-07-29 WO PCT/IT1998/000215 patent/WO1999006120A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1998-07-29 AU AU86458/98A patent/AU8645898A/en not_active Abandoned

Patent Citations (4)

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