WO2008102381A1

WO2008102381A1 - Machine for exercising the pectoral muscles

Info

Publication number: WO2008102381A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000107
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgio Parise
Original assignee: Cammax S.A.
Priority date: 2007-02-19
Filing date: 2007-02-19
Publication date: 2008-08-28

Abstract

A machine for exercising the pectoral muscles includes a weight pack (1) suitable to be lifted by the user through a cable (3) that passes around a plurality of pulleys (4) until it connects to a pair of wheels (5) pivoted to the machine frame and rotated each by a relevant arm (6) under which there is arranged a constant radius guiding cam (7) suitable to guide the arm (6) from a start position to an end position following a spiral path along the surface of a sphere centered in the center of rotation of the arm (6). In this way, it is possible to achieve a real muscular 'isolation' without overloading the joints, whereby the pectoral muscles can be exercised to the maximum of their potential since the intervention of the synergistic muscles is reduced to a minimum.

Description

"MACHINE FOR EXERCISING THE PECTORAL MUSCLES"

The present invention relates to machines for physical exercise, and in particular to a machine for exercising the pectoral muscles. It is known that conventional machines for exercising the pectoral muscles provide coplanar, linear or rotatory movements of the user's arms, who must push or pull a machine member connected through a cable to a weight pack. However, this type of exercise has several drawbacks in that it forces also other muscles to work, such as deltoids and/or triceps, and may cause excessive stress on the joints resulting in possible overload problems .

Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a machine which overcomes said drawbacks. This object is achieved by means of a machine as defined in claim 1, that allows to perform an exercise with an ideal movement that follows a spiral path along a spherical surface. Other advantageous features of the present machine are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The main advantage of the present machine is that of achieving a real muscular "isolation" without overloading the joints, whereby the pectoral muscles can be exercised to the maximum of their potential with a minimal intervention of the synergistic muscles, and there is no risk of overload on the joints since the effort is exerted through a "natural" movement. As a consequence, the exercise provides the greatest effectiveness for the pectoral muscles and a greater joint integrity is achieved.

A second important advantage of said machine, in its preferred embodiment, is that of allowing any user to perform the exercise thanks to an "easy start" system that the user can employ whenever the load and/or movement amplitude are excessive for him/her.

Another significant advantage of said machine, in its preferred embodiment, is that of allowing the user to exert a little push against the resistance of a spring, upon completion of the arms approach phase, so as to completely extend his/her arms and thus achieve the maximum contraction of the pectoral muscles.

These and other advantages and characteristics of the machine according to the present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof, with reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

Fig.l is a front perspective view showing the machine in the rest position, i.e. with the weight pack resting on its base;

Fig.2 is a side view of the machine of Fig.l;

Fig.3 is a top plan view of the machine of Fig.l;

Fig.4 is a front view of the machine of Fig.l;

Fig.5 is a simplified enlarged view of a first detail of said machine; and Fig.6 is a simplified enlarged view of a second detail of said machine.

With reference to figures 1 to 4, there is seen that a machine according to the present invention conventionally includes a weight pack 1 vertically slidable along a pair of columns 2. The lifting of weight pack 1 is performed by the user through a cable 3, that passes around a plurality of idle pulleys 4 and a lift pulley 4', integral with weight pack 1. The ends of cable 3 are secured to a pair of elongated horizontal wheels 5 pivoted on the machine frame, each wheel 5 being rotated by a relevant arm 6 pushed by the user.

The fundamental novel aspect of the machine according to the present invention is the presence under each arm 6 of a guiding cam 7 having a constant radius, i.e. obtained from a sphere, that guides arm 6 from the start position to the end position along a spiral path. Arm 6 is divided into an upper arm 6a and a lower arm 6b connected by a hinge 6c, preferably of the hub and fork type.

Each horizontal wheel 5 is keyed onto a vertical pivot 5 a housed in a sleeve

5b of the machine frame, and the lower arm 6b of the relevant arm 6 is connected at the bottom end of said pivot 5 a through a bottom fork 6d. The above-mentioned spiral movement is preferably facilitated by a support roller 8, secured under the lower arm 6b so as to support the movement of arm 6 along cam 7. More specifically, the sphere that defines the path is centered in the center of rotation of arm 6, where fork 6d is connected to pivot 5a of wheel 5. Should not this be the case, roller 8 would tend to drag laterally during the descent, making difficult to perform the exercise and damaging the mechanical components. The presence of the central hinge 6c is useful to allow users of any size to use the machine, regardless of their height, and for correctly performing the exercise. In fact, in the start position the user's arms are extended and a little higher than his/her shoulders, whereas in the end position the arms are forward with the hands at chest height. Similarly, the bottom fork 6d allows arm 6 to rotate downward while roller 8 supports it in its descent along the guiding cam 7.

A handle 9 is arranged at the top of each arm 6 and is made up of an external ring 9a and an internal ring 9b, that rotates with respect to the external ring 9a thanks to spheres, preferably of nylon, arranged therebetween. The external ring 9a can in turn rotate around the longitudinal axis of the upper arm 6a, on which it is mounted through a rotatable support 9c. A grip crossbar 9d is secured in the diametral direction across the internal ring 9b, so that the user can grip the handle in the start position with the palm of his/her hand facing upward and reach the end position with the palm of his/her hand facing downward. The exercise is obviously completed by a return phase, in which the user performs a reverse movement with respect to the above-described movement.

The machine seat has a double adjustment capacity, allowing to adjust both the height of the seat base 10 and back 11 with respect to the frame, and the height of back 11 with respect to the seat base 10. A second novel aspect of the present machine is the "easy start" system, which is not indispensable for the operation of the machine yet helps the user in starting the exercise. In fact, in the start position arms 6, and therefore handles 9, are at a position much to the rear to allow even users with "looser" muscles to perform a movement as ample as possible. However, for less "loosened" users and/or when high loads are used, the start is very difficult. The "easy start" system allows the user sitting on the machine to move handles 9 closer by simply pushing with his/her feet on a central lever 12, so as to move arms 6 forward to a more comfortable position to start the exercise.

More specifically, lever 12 is pivoted on the machine frame through a horizontal pivot 13 arranged approximately under the seat, and extends backwards to a position behind the start position of arms 6. A transverse bar 14 is secured at - A -

the rear end of lever 12 and is connected, through end joints, to the bottom ends of a pair of substantially L- shaped vertical posts 15. A push roller 16 is mounted at the top end of each post 15 and rests against the rear side of the corresponding arm 6. In this way, when the user pushes down with his/her feet at the front end of lever 12 causing the transverse bar 14 to rise, said rising results in a forward push of the push rollers 16 that move handles 9 closer to the user.

Referring now also to figures 5 and 6, there is illustrated a further novel aspect of the preferred embodiment of the present machine, that essentially consists in the presence of a torsion spring 17 arranged between the upper arm 6a and the lower arm 6b of each arm 6, preferably at hinge 6c. Said torsion spring 17 has the double function of preventing the upper arm 6a from falling down, both inwards and outwards, and of allowing the user to exert a little push upon completion of the arms approach phase, as mentioned in the introduction of the present specification. More specifically, spring 17 has a top end 17a integral with the upper arm

6a, whereas the bottom end 17b is integral with a vertical plate 18, arranged between spring 17 and hinge 6c, that is free to rotate around the same axis of rotation of said hinge 6c. The top end 18a of plate 18 is pivoted to a rigid rod 19 extending downwards until it connects to the frame sleeve 5b that houses pivot 5 a of wheel 5.

This rod 19 acts as a stop against the inward fall of the upper arm 6a, thus preventing handle 9 from possibly hitting the user who is sitting down on the seat. The upper arm 6a can rotate outwards a little so that even very tall users can extend their arms in the start position. However, the outward fall of the upper arm 6a, which would be dangerous for the people that might stand close to the machine, is prevented by a disk 18b, secured at the bottom end of the rotatable plate 18, that abuts against a stop 20 secured on the lower arm 6b.

The thus mounted spring 17 provides a variable effort between the start and the end of the movement of arm 6, and in order to allow rod 19 to follow the path of arm- 6 said rod 19 is connected to sleeve 5b through a cardan joint 21. Spring 17 is substantially unloaded in the start position, and while the exercise is performed arm 6 follows the path set by cam 7 whereas rod 19, that is pivoted at an offset position with respect to the center of rotation of arm 6, pulls the top end 18a of the rotatable plate 18. In this way, spring 17 is gradually loaded since its bottom end 17b rotates outwards with respect to the top end 17a. When the user reaches the end position with his/her arms before the chest, he/she can exert a little forward push for the maximum contraction of the pectoral muscles against the resistance of the pre-loaded spring 17. hi this position it is the top end 17a that is rotated, by pushing on handle 9, with respect to the bottom end 17b that remains still. It is clear that the above-described and illustrated embodiment of the machine according to the invention is just an example susceptible of various modifications. In particular, the additional members allowing the user to perform the final push phase may be replaced by other equivalent members or they may be arranged differently, for example with the torsion spring 17 inside hinge 6c. Similarly, the articulated lever system of the "easy start" system could be made in other ways, for example with the vertical posts 15 pivoted in turn to the machine frame to provide a greater stability during the push of arms 6.

Therefore, possible additions and/or modifications may be made to the machine of the present invention, yet without departing from the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAMS

1. Machine for exercising the pectoral muscles, including a weight pack (1) suitable to be lifted by the user through a cable (3) that passes around a plurality of pulleys (4, 4') until it connects to a pair of wheels (5) pivoted to the machine frame, each of said wheels (5) being rotated by a relevant arm (6) connected thereto, characterized in that it includes under each of said arms (6) a constant radius guiding cam (7) obtained from a sphere, said guiding cam (7) being suitable to guide the relevant arm (6) from a start position to an end position following a spiral path along the surface of a sphere centered in the center of rotation of the arm (6).

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that each arm (6) is divided into an upper arm (6a) and a lower arm (6b) connected by a hinge (6c).

3. Machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the hinge (6c) of the arm (6) is a hub and fork hinge.

4. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each arm (6) is connected through a bottom fork (6d) to the bottom end of a pivot (5 a) on which the relevant wheel (5) is keyed.

5. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a support roller (8) is secured under each lower arm (6b) so as to support the movement of the arm (6) along the relevant cam (7).

6. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a handle (9) is arranged at the top of each arm (6) and is made up of an external ring (9a) and an internal ring (9b) that rotates with respect to said external ring (9a), which in turn rotates around the longitudinal axis of the upper arm (6a) on which it is mounted through a rotatable support (9c)

7. Machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the internal ring (9b) rotates with respect to the external ring (9a) thanks to spheres arranged therebetween.

8. Machine according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a grip crossbar (9d) is secured in the diametral direction across the internal ring (9b).

9. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further includes an "easy start" system suitable to allow the user sitting on the machine to move the arms (6) forward from the start position by pushing with his/her feet on a lever (12) pivoted on the machine frame and connected to a pair of articulated lever systems terminating with push members resting against the rear side of the arms (6).

10. Machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the lever (12) is pivoted on the machine frame through a horizontal pivot (13) arranged approximately under the seat and extending backwards to a position behind the start position of the arms (6).

11. Machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the articulated lever systems include a transverse bar (14) secured at the rear end of the lever (12) and connected through end joints to the bottom ends of a pair of substantially L-shaped vertical posts (15).

12. Machine according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the push members consist of push rollers (16) mounted at the top ends of the vertical post (15).

13. Machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further includes a torsion spring (17) arranged between the upper arm (6a) and the lower arm (6b) of each arm (6).

14. Machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the spring (17) is arranged at the hinge (6c) with a top end (17a) integral with the upper arm (6a) and a bottom end (17b) integral with a vertical plate (18) arranged between the spring (17) and the hinge (6c), said plate (18) being free to rotate around the same axis of rotation of the hinge (6c) and having a top end (18a) pivoted to a rigid rod (19) extending downwards until it connects to the frame sleeve (5b) that houses the pivot (5a) of the relevant wheel (5).

15. Machine according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rigid rod (19) is connected to the sleeve (5b) through a cardan joint (21).

16. Machine according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that it includes a device suitable to limit the outward rotation of the upper arm (6a), said device consisting of a disk (18b), secured at the bottom end of the rotatable plate (18), that abuts against a stop (20) secured on the lower arm (6b).

17. Machine according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the spring (17) is substantially unloaded in the start position and during the movement of the arm (6) from the start position to the end position the spring (17) is gradually loaded.