Short specification: Apparatus to train the muscles.
DESCRIPTION
The invention in question is applicable to a device for exercising the muscles comprising a frame and a movement device connected to the frame by a limb movable in relation to the frame.
Such a device is known from US 2.760.774.
One disadvantage of such a construction is that during this exercise the contact surface of the foot moves with the plate and therefore doesn't carry out a well defined or exact rotating movement. This results in uncontrolled friction between trie plate and the foot and it is possible for the foot to move with the plate, as well as the foot not carrying out a pure rotating movement. This is a disadvantage, because to ensure a good result, movement of the foot needs to be done in a well defined rotating manner.
The aim of the invention is therefore to supply a device in accordance with the opening paragraph, whereby the chance of making a pure rotating movement whilst carrying out the exercise is dramatically improved. This aim is achieved through this invention, as a result of the movement instrument, by way of an axis instrument being connected to the system, around which the movement instrument can be rotated in relation to the system. As a result of a limb, for example a foot or a hand, being firmly placed on the movement instrument, that limb, together with the movement instrument, can carry out a pure rotating movement around the axis instrument. As the limb can be firmly placed on the movement instrument, there is little chance of it moving with the movement instrument and therefore in relation to the axis instrument. The subsequent result is that the movement of the limb is controlled and predictable when it rotates with the movement instrument.
When exercising is done as the invention originally intended, the movement instrument is provided with an axis instrument which should preferably be connected to the edge of the system. This has the advantage that the exercises can be carried out in a relatively small area and that the axis instrument can be connected to either the side or a corner of the system. For example, the device can then be held closer to the body when a hand is being exercised. It is preferred for the movement instrument to be connected to the edge of the system. This will ensure the device can be used in a smaller area
compared to when it's connected to a central connection, especially when the movement instrument doesn' t have to make a complete circular movement above the system. The reason for this is that a foot or hand needs to be placed on the movement instrument during an exercise and needs to rotate around an axis which is in the extended part of the applicable lower leg or lower arm. A central connection would require a great deal of unnecessary space for the device behind the movement instrument, especially when a complete rotation is not required.
For optimal and preferred operation, the system should take the form of a sector of a circle. As the movement instrument makes a rotating movement during use, the front edge of the movement instrument will make a circular movement. The axis instrument can thereby form the centre of that circle. In order to not make the device unnecessarily big, the shape of the system can be set up in such a way that this is in accordance with the required movement of the movement instrument.
For further optimal and preferred operation, the movement instrument takes the shape of a sector of a circle. The shape of the movement instrument perfectly links into the shape of the system and a space saving is once again realised in relation to more angular shapes .
It is preferred for the angle of the system sector to be larger than that of the sector of the movement instrument. As the movement instrument rotates around the axis instrument, it will show a result on one side, dependent on which limb (left or right) is being trained. Also in the highest setting the system will need to provide adequate support for the gravity which the system is subjected to by using the movement instrument.
The angle taking up the system sector should preferably be less than 180°. It is therefore possible to place the device, or at any rate the system, against a straight wall. This straight wall could be made up from a sofa which the person exercising is sitting on.
The axis instrument should preferably be located near the centre of a circle which the sector of the movement instrument forms part of. However, sufficient space is needed between the axis instrument and the edge behind the space for the limb, as the limb is literally placed
around the centre, but other than that the space needs to be limited wherever possible.
For optimal and preferred operation, the system and movement instrument will both be disc-shaped and a bearing instrument is provided between the system and the movement instrument. A bearing ensures easy rotation and has a very low resistance. The bearing is therefore ultimately suitable to be active between the disc-shaped system and the disc-shaped movement instrument. The disc-shape is necessary to realise flowing movements between the system and the movement instrument.
For further optimal and preferred operation, the device is supplied with a resistance setter for exerting some level of power to the movement instrument. This appears to be in contrast to the contents of the previous paragraph, but just by reducing all resistance in addition to the resistance setter, the resistance of the movement instrument can be very well determined.
The level of resistance exerted by the resistance setter should preferably be adjustable. The adjustability of the level of the resistance setter makes the device suitable for a wide range of applications. One user may wish to increase the resistance level progressively in time, in order to train his muscles harder each time, but it is also possible that the device is used by several people, who each need their own individual settings .
The resistance setter should preferable contain a traction spring. A traction spring, for example an elastic band, is simple to use and can also easily be replaced when the spring wears out or when another level of resistance is required which is outside the adjustable scope of the last spring.
For further optimal and preferred operation, the level of resistance exerted by the resistance setter is dependent on the movement instrument's level of rotation in relation to a position of rest. This has the added advantage that the resistance level will increase as the change from the rest position further increases. This means the exerted power of a particular limb can also be adjusted without the need for resetting the device. Another advantage is that during such operation, the movement instrument will have the tendency to return to the rest
position. This means it is also possible to keep the movement instrument in a certain position, not the rest position, whilst the device continues to exert a level of resistance.
This has the advantage that the movement instrument has a rest position and an ultimate results position, which can be changed over by changing the set up of the resistance setter. This further limits the size of the device, as a movement path runs over the same part of the system from the respective rest positions to the movement instrument.
The invention will be further explained by way of an optimal and preferred operation description. Some matters are detailed in the following figures, where any identical sections are provided with the same reference number and where: Figure 1 is a perspective view of optimal and preferred operation in accordance with the applicable invention; and
Figure 2 is a side view of optimal and preferred operation in accordance with the applicable invention.
Now referring to figures 1 and 2, an exercise device 1 is shown with a lower plate 2 and an upper plate 3. The lower plate 2 and the upper plate 3 are provided with fastenings in the shape of around their axis rotatable wheels 5, 6 or 7, around which an elastic band 8 has been wound. The upper plate 3 is also provided with a roll bearing 9 which rests on the other plate 2 and which can be moved.
The exercise device 1 is shown in a rest position in figures 1 and 2, set up for use with a left foot (not shown) . When the left foot needs to be trained, it needs to be placed on the upper plate 3 with the heel of the foot in position. It is now the intention that whilst the foot exerts pressure on the upper plate 3, this upper plate 3 is moved in the direction of the A arrow around the rotation axis 12. On the one hand this exercise is led by a roll bearing 9 which is located underneath the lower plate 2 and rests on the lower plate 2 with a wheel, which rolls wheel 4 when moving the upper plate 3 over the lower plate 2. The elastic band 8 thereby ensures a resistance level which is in contrast with this movement as the elastic band will be further stretched as it moves towards arrow A. The movement is stopped when the resistance of elastic band 8 has reached an adequate level in order to compensate the power exerted by the foot, or if the upper plate 3 comes into contact
with wheels 5 or 6. The upper plate 3 can now be held in a pressurised state, where the elastic band 8 still exerts resistance in contrast to the direction of arrow A. When the resistance in the foot going towards arrow A wears off, the upper plate 3, through the resistance level of the elastic band 8 will return to its original position as shown in figure 1, until the upper plate comes into contact with wheel 5.
The power which the elastic band 8 exerts onto the upper plate 3 can be adjusted toy one or both anchoring points of the resistance setter in relation to the movement instrument and by moving the system across the active part of the resistance setter and thereby changing the size of the active part of the resistance setter which upholds the level of resistance .
When device 1 needs to be used for exercising a right foot, this is simple enough by changing the set up of the level of resistance in relation to the device. This creates a mirror image of the position in figure 1 and the same exercise can be carried out in mirror image, where the resistance levels all work in the opposite way in relation to the situation described above.
It should be clear that the above only describes one form of exercise possible with the invention, but that several different changes can be applied without averting from the purpose of the invention in question.