WO2013117960A1

WO2013117960A1 - Gymnastics apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO2013117960A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/050535
Authority: WO
Inventors: Paolo DI NISIO
Original assignee: Di Nisio Paolo
Priority date: 2012-02-06
Filing date: 2012-02-06
Publication date: 2013-08-15

Abstract

A gymnastics apparatus (1) is disclosed comprising two bars (2, 3) of rigid material. Said bars (2, 3) are pivoted on opposite ends (4, 5) of a rigid connection element (6), arranged in home position perpendicularly to said bars (2, 3). The movement of said bars (2, 3) is possible against the action of elastic return elements (9, 10).

Description

GYMNASTICS APPARATUS

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a gymnastics apparatus, in particular a portable gymnastics apparatus, suitable also to gymnastics practice at home.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The practice of gymnastics has always been considered, especially by amateurs, as an important source of wellbeing, allowing to keep muscles tonic, joints elastic and allowing to get rid of excess energy, toxins and fat. In more recent years, medicine has allowed to highlight how much exercise in general is beneficial to health, helping to reduce the risk of heart attack, tumours, prostate disorders, osteoporosis and others. A home gymnastics apparatus is hence a helpful tool to keep fit and to put oneself in the condition to enjoy these benefits.

Various types of gymnastics equipment for domestic use exist. The one which has been known longest is the so-called exercise bike, consisting of a wheel-less bicycle, which allows to make the effort of a ride (it is generally possible also to adjust a certain resistance to the pedalling thrust, thus reproducing the conditions found during an ascent by bicycle) , without moving from the room where it is installed. Of the same type are also steppers and tapis roulant, which allow to walk, march or run, always remaining in the same room. It is evident that equipment of this sort require wide spaces to be installed at home. Moreover, such equipment allows to exercise only leg muscles .

It is possible to exercise creating less bulk in a room, resorting to handlebars, weights and the like. However, the exercises performed allow mostly to keep in motion only arm muscles .

Equipment which allows the use of multiple muscles is wall bars and other equipment which allows the movement of weights with belts or ropes. However, this equipment has the disadvantage of having to be wall-mounted or floor-mounted, so that, in addition to creating bulk, it requires a high cost of installation and cannot be moved elsewhere without having to renovate the wall or the floor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The problem at the basis of the invention is to propose a gymnastics apparatus which overcomes the mentioned drawbacks and which allows to move a large number of muscles without being bulky and, possibly, being able to be moved simply, without requiring complex and costly installations and which can be removed from the place where it is found without complications and additional costs. This object is achieved by a gymnastics apparatus comprising two bars of rigid material, characterised in that said bars are pivoted on opposite ends of a rigid joining element, arranged in the home position perpendicularly to said bars and in that the movement of said bars is possible against the action of elastic return means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention are in any case more evident from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment, given purely as a non-limiting example and illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein:

fig. 1 shows a plan view, partly exploded, of a gymnastics apparatus according to the present invention, in a home condition;

fig. 2 is a view perpendicular to that of fig. 1;

fig. 3 is a partial view of the apparatus of the previous drawings;

fig. 4 is a view similar to fig. 1, but following a movement;

fig. 5 is a view similar to fig. 2, but following a movement ;

fig. 6 is a schematic drawing of a use of the apparatus of the previous drawings for exercising biceps muscles;

fig. 7 is a schematic drawing of a use of an apparatus of figs. 1 to 5 for exercising the muscles located in the rear of the thigh; fig. 8 is a schematic drawing of a use of the apparatus of figs. 1 to 5 for exercising the pectoral muscles;

fig. 9 is a schematic drawing of a use of the apparatus of figs. 1 to 5 for exercising dorsal muscles;

fig. 10 is a schematic drawing of a use of the apparatus of figs. 1 to 5 for exercising triceps;

fig. 11 is a schematic drawing of a use of the apparatus of figs. 1 to 5 for exercising of adductor muscles;

fig. 12 is a schematic drawing of an alternative embodiment of the present invention, in home condition; and

fig. 13 is a view similar to fig. 12, but in active condition.

BEST WAY TO CARRY OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a gymnastics apparatus 1. Apparatus 1 comprises a pair of arms 2, 3, pivoted at 4, 5 on opposite ends of a connection body 6. Preferably, connection body 6 has a C section. Still preferably, connection body 6 is shaped or apt to be shaped so as to be able to house the back or the chest of a human being.

Preferably, at the free end of arms 2, 3 handles 7, 8 are found. Said handles can be fixed or disassemblable; if handles 7, 8 are disassemblable, the number of possible exercises increases .

Rubber bands 9, 10 are located at the centre of connection body 6 and are fastened at the other end to arms 2, 3. Of course, instead of rubber bands 9, 10 groups of rubber bands 9, 10 may be found. Such rubber bands can of course be replaced by springs .

Advantageously, each one of arms 2, 3 is formed of at least two sections, 11, 12 and 13, 14, respectively. Preferably, such sections are mutually pivoted so to form said arms 2, 3. In this case too, however, the presence of sliding stops, 15, 16, possibly capable of being recalled springwise, allows to stiffen arms 2, 3 keeping the uniqueness of each one of arms 2, 3.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention is schematically shown in figs. 12 and 13, therein, rubber bands 9, 10 are replaced by a pair of springs 17, 18. Moreover, arms 2, 3 are capable of partial or full rotation, about pivoting points 4, 5. In pivoting points 4, 5 adjustment and tightening knobs 19 are provided on arms 2, 3.

As far as the use of gymnastics apparatus 1 according to the present invention is concerned, it consists in trying to spreading apart arms 2, 3, against the action of the rubber bands or groups of rubber bands 9, 10, which will bring the arms back to their original position once the effort applied by the user has been released.

When arms 2, 3 are divided in sections, 11, 12 and 13, 14, respectively, the movement, after having removed stops 15, 16, provides also a first spreading apart of the end sections, possibly also in this case against the force of rubber bands (not shown in the drawings for clarity's sake) . In this case, two different levels of effort to be applied will be possible, obtaining a greater graduation of fatigue and, hence, of the exercise.

As far as the embodiment according to figs. 12 and 13 is concerned, it allows a rotation of arms 2, 3 about points 4, 5, so as to increase the versatility of the apparatus and the number of exercises which can be done therewith. Knobs 19 allow to adjust arm resistance to the user's force. They allow, once tightened, to adjust an exercise-start position of the apparatus .

Figs. 6 to 11, where a user is schematically shown while he uses apparatus 1, are an evident proof of the versatility of the apparatus according to the present invention, which is hence suitable to exercise muscles even very different from one another. It can be seen how an embodiment of connection body 6 apt to contain the user's back or chest facilitates the involvement of back and chest muscles, with non negligible health advantages .

The present invention, moreover, is evidently very handy, requires no installation whatsoever, is not bulky (it can even be contained in a gymnastics bag) , can be transported very eas- ily, thus perfectly solving the problems it is set to overcome.

However, it is understood that the invention must not be considered limited to the particular arrangement illustrated above, which represents only an exemplifying embodiment thereof, but that a number of variants are possible, all within the reach of a person skilled in the field, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1) Gymnastics apparatus (1) comprising two bars (2, 3) of rigid material, characterised in that said bars (2, 3) are pivoted on opposite ends (4, 5) of a rigid connection element (6) , arranged in the home position perpendicularly to said bars (2, 3) and in that the movement of said bars (2, 3) is possible against the action of elastic return elements (9, 10) .

2) Apparatus as claimed in claim 1) , characterised in that said rigid return connection element (6) has a C section.

3) Apparatus as claimed in 1) or in 2), characterised in that said connection element (6) is shaped or apt to be shaped so as to be able to house the back or the chest of a human being .

4) Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that handles (7, 8) are located at the free end of the arms (2, 3) preferably being disassemblable .

5) Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that rubber bands or groups of rubber bands (9, 10) , fixed at the other end to arms (2, 3) , are located at the centre of the connection element (6) .

6) Apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1) to 4), characterised in that springs (17, 18) fixed at the other end thereof to arms (2, 3) are located at the centre of connection element (6) .

7) Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each one of said arms (2, 3) is formed by at least two sections (11, 12 and 13, 14, respectively) .

8) Apparatus as claimed in claim 7) , characterised in that said sections {11, 12 and 13, 14, respectively) are mutually pivoted to form said arms (2, 3) and are lockable or releasable due to sliding stops (15, 16) , possibly capable of being recalled through springs.

9) Apparatus (1) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that said arras (2, 3) are capable of rotating .

10) Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the pivoting points (4, 5) of said arms (2, 3) onto said element (6) adjustment and tightening knobs (19) are provided.