U.S. patent application number 10/908316 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-08 for exercise machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to TECHNOGYM S.P.A.. Invention is credited to ALESSANDRI, Nerio, DELLA VITTORIA, Francesco, FABBRI, Gianmatteo, FERRETTI, Fabio.
Application Number | 20050272562 10/908316 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35449711 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050272562 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ALESSANDRI, Nerio ; et
al. |
December 8, 2005 |
EXERCISE MACHINE
Abstract
Exercise machine in which a resistance element and an exercise
station unit are arranged side by side to exchange energy; the
resistance element having at least one arm carried rotatably by a
frame around a fixed shaft, and a footboard coupled rotatably to
the arm; each footboard being movable over an open trajectory P and
shaped in such a way as to be interfaceable with a particular
portion of an extremity of a user; the exercise station including
at least one mechanism suitable for controlling the rotation of the
corresponding footboard with respect to the corresponding arm in
such a way that each footboard is inclined inwards on the outward
thrust stroke of the relative arm, and is simultaneously rotated
forward, so as to lower its respective front section and raise its
respective rear section.
Inventors: |
ALESSANDRI, Nerio; (Longiano
(FC), IT) ; DELLA VITTORIA, Francesco; (Cesena,
IT) ; FERRETTI, Fabio; (Livorno, IT) ; FABBRI,
Gianmatteo; (Rimini, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SCHOLL PATENT AGENCY, INC.
DR. MATTHIAS SCHOLL
14781 MEMORIAL DRIVE
SUITE 1319
HOUSTON
TX
77079
US
|
Assignee: |
TECHNOGYM S.P.A.
Via G. Perticari 20
Gambettola (FC)
IT
|
Family ID: |
35449711 |
Appl. No.: |
10/908316 |
Filed: |
May 6, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/157 20130101;
A63B 21/225 20130101; A63B 69/182 20130101; A63B 2022/0038
20130101; A63B 22/0069 20130101; A63B 21/0628 20151001; A63B 21/055
20130101; A63B 21/154 20130101; A63B 2022/0041 20130101; A63B
2022/0071 20130101; A63B 69/0022 20130101; A63B 21/005
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/052 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 21, 2004 |
EP |
04012143.6 |
Sep 16, 2004 |
IT |
RA2004A000044 |
Claims
1. An exercise machine for the use by a user for the execution of a
physical exercise comprising: a frame; at least one resistance
element supported by said frame; and an exercise station supported
by said frame, said exercise station comprising (a) at least one
pair of linkage members, each said linkage member having (i) an arm
carried rotatably by said frame around an axis of rotation, and
(ii) a footboard coupled rotatably to said arm; and (b) a means of
constraint supported by said frame and associated with said linkage
members to control the movement of said footboards with respect to
said arms; wherein said exercise station is capable of exchanging
mechanical energy with said resistance element; each said footboard
is shaped in such a way as to be interfaceable with a particular
portion of an extremity of a user, and said means of constraint
comprises at least one elongated member coupled to said frame and
to said footboard by joints in such a way that, when said arm is
actuated outwards, each said footboard moves along its own open
trajectory P and simultaneously experiences a rotational movement,
said rotational movement being a combination of a tilting movement
inwards and forwards of each said footboard.
2. The machine of claim 1, comprising at least two pairs of said
linkage members, wherein any one said trajectory P is substantially
symmetrical and congruent to any other said trajectory P; said
joints are skewed with respect to each other; and said rotational
movement of said footboards resembles a movement of eversion of a
human foot.
3. The machine of claim 2, wherein said means of constraint
comprises, for each said arm, at least one first quadrilateral
including said elongated member to control the angular position of
said footboard with respect to said arm, said first quadrilateral
being supported by said frame.
4. The machine of claim 3, wherein said first quadrilateral
comprises, for each said arm at least one elongated member coupled
to said frame and/or to said footboard; each said elongated member
being delimited longitudinally by joints; and that each said
composite movement is capable of simulating an eversion of a human
foot.
5. The machine of claim 4, wherein said trajectory P is inclined
downwards.
6. The machine of claim 1, wherein each said footboard comprises an
upper face profiled in such a way as to receive the sole of a
user's foot; said footboard being capable of operating as a lever
for the corresponding said first quadrilateral according to a
modality of operation in which the sole of a user's foot and said
upper face are constantly in reciprocal contact in conditions of
rest so as to exploit to the full a movement of outward thrust
exerted by said user on each said arm.
7. The machine of claim 5, wherein said means of constraint
comprises a second quadrilateral, said first and said second
quadrilaterals sharing one of their respective levers for
controlling the angular position of said footboards with respect to
said arm by means of a first and second elongated member subjected
to normal stress only.
8. The machine of claim 6, wherein said means of constraint
comprises a second quadrilateral; said first and said second
quadrilaterals sharing one of their respective levers for
controlling the angular position of the relative said footboards
with respect to said arm by means of a first and a second elongated
member subjected to normal stress only.
9. The machine of claim 7, wherein said second quadrilateral is
supported by said arm.
10. The machine of claim 8, wherein said second quadrilateral is
supported by said arm.
11. The machine of claim 9, wherein said lever of said first
quadrilateral is capable of acting as a moving component for said
second quadrilateral.
12. The machine of claim 10, wherein said lever of said first
quadrilateral is capable of acting as a moving component for said
second quadrilateral.
13. The machine according to claim 1, wherein each said arm is
carried rotatably by said frame around said axis of rotation in
such a way as to be capable of crossing a longitudinal median plane
L starting from a rest position R, in which rest position R said
footboard is arranged on the side opposite to the respective axis
of rotation with respect to said plane L so as to render said
exercise station more compact in design.
14. The machine of claim 4, wherein each said elongated member has
an adjustable longitudinal extension for adjusting the movement of
said footboard with respect to said arm.
15. The machine of claim 13, comprising, further a means of
reaction for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards
a respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal
plane L.
16. The machine of claim 4, comprising further a means of reaction
for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a
respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane
L.
17. The machine of claim 15, wherein said means of reaction
comprises at least one damper joining said arms, and connected in
such a way so as to bring about a constraining action between said
arms as a function of their angular distance, and such as to bring
said footboards to a minimum distance with respect to each other
when said arms are in their respective rest positions R, or to
return said footboards in proximity to said longitudinal plane L
while in use, and such that the amplitude of the angle between said
arms is prevented from exceeding a fixed value so as to ensure that
a user is maintained in a condition of equilibrium.
18. The machine of claim 16, wherein said means of reaction
comprises at least one damper joining said arms, and connected in
such a way so as to bring about a constraining action between said
arms as a function of their angular distance, and such as to bring
said footboards to a minimum distance with respect to each other
when said arms are in their respective rest positions R, or to
return said footboards in proximity to said longitudinal plane L
while in use, and such that the amplitude of the angle between said
arms is prevented from exceeding a fixed value so as to ensure that
a user is maintained in a condition of equilibrium.
19. The machine of claim 17, wherein said damper is connected to
said arm by means of its relative end sections and includes a pair
of first springs arranged in series, which springs have fixed and
different from each other elastic constant.
20. The machine of claim 19, wherein at least one said damper
includes a torsion spring.
21. The machine of claim 17, wherein said means of reaction
comprises further at least one flexible restraining component
arranged between said arms and kept constantly in tension in an
elastic manner with respect to said frame by means of said damper
in order to modulate said return action exerted on said arm towards
the corresponding rest position (R) on the basis of outward thrusts
exerted on each footboard.
22. The machine of claim 21, wherein said flexible restraining
component is wound onto a pulley carried by a tensioning arm, said
pulley being connected to said frame by means of said damper.
23. The machine of claim 17, wherein said means of reaction
includes at least three dampers for each of said arms.
24. The machine of claim 19, wherein said means of reaction
comprises further a return component arranged between two said arms
to connect them elastically to each other in a direct manner.
25. The machine of claim 5, wherein said trajectory P is
substantially symmetrical and includes at least one stretch in
common with at least one other said trajectory P, and said arms are
shaped dissimilarly from each other in such a way as to prevent a
collisions between said footboards.
26. The machine of claim 1, wherein said resistance element and
said exercise station are connected to each other by means of a
mechanical transmission capable of transforming an alternating
rotary motion of each said arm into a rotation of at least one
rotatable component; said mechanical transmission comprising at
least one bolt for each of said arm; said belt being wound onto at
least one pulley supported by said frame in a freely rotatable
manner between said arm and said resistance element.
27. The machine of claim 1, wherein said resistance element
comprises means for controlling power delivered to each said
footboard.
28. The machine of claim 26, wherein said rotatable component is
suitable for storing rotational energy, said rotatable component
being mechanically connected to a means for dissipating adjustable
values of energy.
29. The machine of claim 28, wherein said rotatable component
comprises a flywheel.
30. The machine of claim 27, wherein said means for controlling
power delivered to each said footboard comprises an electromagnetic
brake.
31. The machine of claim 1, wherein said resistance element
comprises counterweights.
32. The machine of claim 1, wherein said rotational movement: (i)
reduces varus of a knee, (ii) improves the stability of an ankle,
and (iii) stabilizes the center of gravity of said user during the
exercise.
33. An exercise machine for the use by a user for the execution of
a physical exercise comprising: a frame; at least one resistance
element supported by said frame; and an exercise station supported
by said frame, said exercise station comprising (a) at least one
pair of linkage members, each said linkage member having (i) an arm
carried rotatably by said frame around an axis of rotation, and
(ii) a footboard coupled rotatably to said arm; and (b) a means of
constraint supported by said frame and associated with said linkage
members to control the movement of said footboards with respect to
said arms; wherein said exercise station is capable of exchanging
mechanical energy with said resistance element; each said footboard
is shaped in such a way as to be interfaceable with a particular
portion of an extremity of a user; and said means of constraint
comprises at least one elongated member coupled to said frame and
to said footboard by joints in such a way that, when said arm is
actuated outwards, each said footboard moves along its own open
trajectory P.
34. The machine of claim 33, comprising further a means of reaction
for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a
respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane
L.
35. The machine of claim 34, wherein said means of reaction
comprises at least one damper joining said arms, and connected in
such a way so as to bring about a constraining action between said
arms as a function of their angular distance, and such as to bring
said footboards to a minimum distance with respect to each other
when said arms are in their respective rest positions R, or to
return said footboards in proximity to said longitudinal plane L
while in use, and such that the amplitude of the angle between said
arms is prevented from exceeding a fixed value so as to ensure that
a user is maintained in a condition of equilibrium.
36. The machine of claim 1, comprising further a means of reaction
for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a
respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane
L, wherein said means of reaction comprises at least one damper
joining said arms, and connected in such a way so as to bring about
a constraining action between said arms as a function of their
angular distance, and such as to bring said footboards to a minimum
distance with respect to each other when said arms are in their
respective rest positions R, or to return said footboards in
proximity to said longitudinal plane L while in use, and such that
the amplitude of the angle between said arms is prevented from
exceeding a fixed value so as to ensure that a user is maintained
in a condition of equilibrium.
37. The machine of claim 35, wherein said damper is connected to
said arm by means of its relative end sections and includes a pair
of first springs arranged in series, which springs have fixed and
different from each other elastic constant.
38. The machine of claim 36, wherein said damper is connected to
said arm by means of its relative end sections and includes a pair
of first springs arranged in series, which springs have fixed and
different from each other elastic constant.
39. The machine of claim 34, wherein said means of reaction
includes at least three dampers for each of said arms.
40. The machine of claim 1, comprising further a means of reaction
for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a
respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane
L, said means of reaction including at least three dampers for each
of said arms.
41. The machine of claim 39, wherein said means of reaction
comprises further a return component arranged between two said arms
to connect them elastically to each other in a direct manner.
42. The machine of claim 40, wherein said means of reaction
comprises further a return component arranged between two said arms
to connect them elastically to each other in a direct manner.
43. The machine of claim 33, wherein said means of constraint
comprises, for each said arm, at least one first quadrilateral
including said elongated member to control the angular position of
said footboard with respect to said arm, said first quadrilateral
being supported by said frame.
44. The machine of claim 1, wherein said means of constraint
comprises, for each said arm, at least one first quadrilateral
including said elongated member to control the angular position or
said footboard with respect to said arm, said first quadrilateral
being supported by said frame.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119 and the Paris Convention
Treaty, this application claims the benefit of European Community
Patent Application No. 04012143.6, filed on May 21, 2004, and the
benefit of Italian Patent Application No. RA2004A000044, filed on
Sep. 16, 2004 (to the extent the subject matter disclosed therein
is different from that disclosed in the European Community Patent
Application), both of which applications are incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a machine which may be used
for the execution of physical exercises, and more particularly to
an exercise machine aimed at muscular development and/or at the
development of resistance to prolonged physical exertion via the
repeated execution of alternating movements over an open
trajectory.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Various exercise machines for the execution of physical
exercises are well known in the art and include exercise machines
directed at the development of single or multiple muscle groups,
either simultaneously or in succession and exercise machines which
enable the development of resistance to prolonged muscular
exertion. Normally, machines of the first type are equipped with
means to provide resistance which provide for a succession of
eccentric and concentric exercises, while machines of the second
type are equipped with means to provide resistance which can
exchange energy with the user continuously while he carries out a
cyclical movement without a break in continuity. Among the latter,
the most widely spread are stationary bicycles, treadmills for
walking or running, the so-called "steppers" for simulating a step
climbing motion, and elliptical machines for walking and/or running
on mobile footboards on closed elliptical trajectories.
[0006] Stationary bicycles, steppers and elliptical machines have
means to provide resistance designed to absorb energy exerted by a
user, while treadmills may be either of the type actuated by a user
or motorized with an actuator which determines the delivery of
power by the user. Steppers, also, are of the "floating" type, in
the sense that the power transmitted to the resistance means during
operation of the footboards determines the average distance of the
center of gravity of the user with respect to the base of the
machine, and therefore influences the amplitude of the
movement.
[0007] Among cyclical training machines, skating simulators, such
as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,718,658, are also well-known.
Such skating simulators have a pair of substantially identical arms
side by side, pivoting on vertical axes; each arm carries a
footboard which pivots on it near one relative free extremity; each
footboard has a transverse strip designed to prevent transverse
slippage from the footboard itself, and therefore for restraining
the relative foot. Each lever acts on a flywheel by means of a
mechanical transmission fitted with a belt, which is wound along
its route around a free wheel, to cooperate with the flywheel, and
is connected at its respective extremities to a lever and to the
frame, and at this end the connection is made through the
interposition of a spring. Each lever is therefore braked in
rotation by a belt, and the return of the levers to a central rest
position is effected by the respective springs.
[0008] This design concept presents several disadvantages: first of
all, there is the sensation of awkwardness experienced by a user
lifted off the ground on two footboards supported by long
activating levers; and secondly, the user's ankles are subjected to
unnatural movements and the user's feet move in ways different from
those in skating as the user's feet are kept oriented forward
during the displacement of the arm from the rest position to a
distal position. Especially, in case of particularly large
movements, the user can lose his balance and be injured as a result
of exercising on a conventional skating stimulator.
[0009] To remedy some of the above disadvantages, skating machines
have been developed, (e.g., see U.S. Patent Application No.
2002/0042329), in which each footboard is supported bilaterally by
an incurved prismatic guide. This guide-footboard pair, besides
determining the shape of the trajectory of the said footboard, is
shaped in such a way as to vary the inclination of its upper face
used by the foot of a user. This guide-footboard pair, therefore,
is arranged so as to increase the grip between foot and footboard
during the execution of the thrusting movement, and thus to offer
the user greater safety in executing the movement of each foot
outwards. The means to provide resistance of the machine utilizes a
flywheel which can be activated by means of a coaxial freewheel. In
addition, an elastic return device is provided to bring the
footboards back to their relative center position. In particular,
this return mechanism is provided with a flexible component
including a belt and a spring arranged in series and running around
pulleys.
[0010] Nevertheless, these improved skating stimulators still
suffer from various problems such as the high production costs of
the guide rails/shuttles and significant wear problems, which
impact negatively the costs of operation because of the need to
carry out frequent adjustments. Furthermore, the extreme rigidity
of the structure limits the flexibility of the amplitude and angle
settings of the footboard while carrying out exercising movement
because these dimensions are directly tied to the length of the
user's limbs.
[0011] Clearly there is a need for further improvements in the art
because the type of movement which can be simulated on the
conventional skating machines does not represent the real skating
movement, because the machines are poorly adaptable to the
anthropometric dimensions of users of different heights, and
because the conventional machines are cumbersome, rather
ineffective, and very costly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] The invention will now be described by reference to the
annexed drawings, which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the
invention, as follows:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic view in lateral elevation of one
embodiment of an exercise machine 1;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a rear schematic view on an enlarged scale and
with parts removed for clarity of the machine in FIG. 1,
illustrated in an operating position useful for illustrating some
of its structural characteristics;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view, on an enlarged scale
and with parts removed for clarity, of the machine in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a structural diagram of another
embodiment of the machine in FIG. 1;
[0017] FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate diagrams of additional
embodiments of the machine in FIG. 1;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a diagram derived from FIG. 1 in which the machine
is illustrated in a particular operating position, with the
relative implements arranged side by side in their respective rest
positions;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a view in lateral elevation of a third embodiment
of FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a view on plan, with parts removed for clarity, of
FIG. 7;
[0021] FIG. 9 is a view in longitudinal section, on an enlarged
scale, of a detail taken from FIG. 8.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0022] This invention is directed to an exercise machine for the
use by a user for the execution of a physical exercise comprising:
a frame; at least one resistance element supported by said frame;
and an exercise station supported by said frame, the exercise
station comprising: (a) at least one pair of linkage members, each
linkage member having (i) an arm carried rotatably by the frame
around an axis of rotation, and (ii) a footboard coupled rotatably
to the arm; and (b) a means of constraint supported by the frame
and associated with the linkage members to control the movement of
the footboards with respect to the arms; wherein the exercise
station is capable of exchanging mechanical energy with the
resistance element; each footboard is shaped in such a way as to be
interfaceable with a particular portion of an extremity of a user;
and the means of constraint comprises at least one elongated member
coupled to the frame and to the footboard by joints in such a way
that, when the arm is actuated outwards, each footboard moves along
its own open trajectory P and simultaneously experiences a
rotational movement, the rotational movement being a combination of
a tilting movement inwards and forwards of each said footboard.
[0023] In one embodiment, the exercise machine described herein
comprises at least two pairs of the linkage members, wherein any
one trajectory P is substantially symmetrical and congruent to any
other trajectory P; the joints are skewed with respect to each
other; and the rotational movement of said footboards resembles a
movement of eversion of a human foot.
[0024] In a class of this embodiment the means of constraint
comprises, for each arm, at least one first quadrilateral including
the elongated member to control the angular position of the
footboard with respect to the arm, the first quadrilateral being
supported by the frame.
[0025] In a subclass of this class the first quadrilateral
comprises, for each arm, at least one elongated member coupled to
the frame and/or to the footboard; each elongated member being
delimited longitudinally by joints; and that each composite
movement is capable of simulating an eversion of a human foot.
[0026] In another subclass of the first class, the trajectory P is
inclined downwards.
[0027] In another subclass of the first class, the trajectory P is
substantially symmetrical and includes at least one stretch in
common with at least one other said trajectory P, and said arms are
shaped dissimilarly from each other in such a way as to prevent
collisions between the footboards.
[0028] In another class of this embodiment, each footboard
comprises an upper face profiled in such a way as to receive the
sole of a user's foot; the footboard being capable of operating as
a lever for the corresponding first quadrilateral according to a
modality of operation in which the sole of a user's foot and said
upper face are constantly in reciprocal contact in conditions of
rest so as to exploit to the full a movement of outward thrust
exerted by the user on each arm.
[0029] In one subclass of this class, the means of constraint
comprises a second quadrilateral, the first and said second
quadrilaterals sharing one of their respective levers for
controlling the angular position of the footboards with respect to
the arm by means of a first and second elongated member subjected
to normal stress only.
[0030] In another subclass of this class, the second quadrilateral
is supported by the arm.
[0031] In another class of this embodiment, the lever of said first
quadrilateral is capable of acting as a moving component for the
second quadrilateral.
[0032] In another class of this embodiment, the resistance element
and the exercise station are connected to each other by means of a
mechanical transmission capable of transforming an alternating
rotary motion of each arm into a rotation of at least one rotatable
component; said mechanical transmission comprising at least one
belt for each arm; said belt being wound onto at least one pulley
supported by the frame in a freely rotatable manner between the arm
and the resistance element.
[0033] In a subclass of this class, the rotatable component is
suitable for storing rotational energy, the rotatable component
being mechanically connected to a means for dissipating adjustable
values of energy. In one instance, the rotatable component
comprises a flywheel.
[0034] In a subclass of this class, the means for controlling power
delivered to each footboard comprises an electromagnetic brake.
[0035] In another class of this embodiment, the resistance element
comprises means for controlling power delivered to each said
footboard.
[0036] In one class of this embodiment, the rotational movement:
(i) reduces the varus of a knee, (ii) improves the stability of an
ankle, and (iii) stabilizes the center of gravity of said user
during the exercise.
[0037] In another embodiment, each arm of the exercise machine is
carried rotatably by the frame around the axis of rotation in such
a way as to be capable of crossing a longitudinal median plane L
starting from a rest position R, in which rest position R the
footboard is arranged on the side opposite to the respective axis
of rotation with respect to said plane L so as to render the
exercise station more compact in design.
[0038] In a class of this embodiment, the machine comprises further
a means of reaction for exerting a return action on each of said
arms towards a respective rest position R in proximity to said
longitudinal plane L.
[0039] In another embodiment, each elongated member has an
adjustable longitudinal extension for adjusting the movement of the
footboard with respect to the arm.
[0040] In a class of this embodiment, the machine comprises further
a means of reaction for exerting a return action on each of said
arms towards a respective rest position R in proximity to said
longitudinal plane L.
[0041] In a subclass of this class, the means of reaction comprises
at least one damper joining the arms, and connected in such a way
so as to bring about a constraining action between the arms as a
function of their angular distance, and such as to bring the
footboards to a minimum distance with respect to each other when
the arms are in their respective rest positions R, or to return the
footboards in proximity to the longitudinal plane L while in use,
and such that the amplitude of the angle between said arms exceeds
a fixed value so as to ensure that a user is maintained in a
condition of equilibrium.
[0042] In another subclass of this class, the damper is connected
to the arm by means of its relative end sections and includes a
pair of first springs arranged in series, which springs have fixed
and different from each other elastic constant.
[0043] In another subclass of this class, at least one damper
includes a torsion spring.
[0044] In another class, the means of reaction comprises further at
least one flexible restraining component arranged between the arms
and kept constantly in tension in an elastic manner with respect to
the frame by means of the damper in order to modulate the return
action exerted on the arm towards the corresponding rest position
(R) on the basis of outward thrusts exerted on each footboard.
[0045] In a subclass of this class, the flexible restraining
component is wound onto a pulley carried by a tensioning arm, the
pulley being connected to the frame by means of the damper.
[0046] In another class of this embodiment, the means of reaction
includes at least three dampers for each one of the arms.
[0047] In another class of this embodiment, the means of reaction
comprises further a second spring arranged between two arms to
connect them elastically to each other in a direct manner.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0048] Referring to FIG. 1, 1 indicates, in its entirety, an
exercise machine having a frame 10 which supports a resistance
element 20 and an exercise station 30 arranged side by side.
Station 30 is capable of exchanging mechanical energy with the
resistance element 20 and has at least one pair of linkage members
31 articulated together (also referred to as mechanical
components), among which are an arm 35 carried rotatably by the
frame 10 around an axis 36 inclined with respect to the vertical,
and a footboard 40 shaped so as to be interfaceable with a
particular portion of an extremity of a user and coupled to the arm
35 in a freely rotatable manner.
[0049] For example, in FIG. 2, it may be seen how, for safety
reasons, the footboard 40 has an upstand 42 (also referred to as
upper face) in the relative central section, capable of functioning
as a buffer for the other footboard 40, and capable of preventing
direct impacts between the malleoli of the feet of a user, or
similar problems connected with possible interference during the
use of the machine 1. Footboard 40 is therefore rotatable on its
own axis and movable over a curved and open trajectory P, visible
in FIG. 2, in which it is represented by a dashed and dotted line.
This trajectory P, which will be more fully described below, is
laid out around axis 36, and inclined downwards in such a way that
each footboard 40 is movable starting from a higher elevation near
the longitudinal plane L on the centerline of the machine 1
(illustrated in the central part of FIG. 2) to a lower level
located to the side, i.e., at a position where the footboard is
present after the user has made an outward stroke (illustrated at
the periphery of FIG. 2).
[0050] This is to say that the terms "inclined downwards" and
"sloped downwards", as used herein to refer to the trajectory P,
mean that the footboard 40 moves to a lower vertical elevation as
the user completes the outward exercising stroke. The "outward
exercising stroke" as used herein refers to an exercise movement
wherein one foot of a user moves away from the other foot of a
user.
[0051] For convenience, it will be generally referred herein to the
concrete case of a machine 1 employable for the simulation of the
skating movement. However, this choice does not in itself
constitute a limitation of the invention described herein. Other
exercise machines contemplated within the scope of this invention
can be used for other forms of training, e.g., rollerblading,
skiing, running, walking, dancing, etc. In line with what has been
stated, machine 1 has two pairs of linkage members 31 arranged side
by side and located on opposite sides of plane L, fully analogously
with what occurs in the known machines for simulating the skating
movement. Plane L is made visible in FIG. 2.
[0052] The footboard 40 may also be referred to as "implement,"
"foot rests," "means for proving foot support," "foot supporting
means," etc., to emphasize that there are various designs and
embodiments used to provide support for the feet of a user and
allowing for interaction of the user with the exercising
machine.
[0053] Again for reasons of convenience, it is preferred not to
complicate the annexed drawings and the present description with
the addition of a device, known and not illustrated, for the
command and control of the machine 1. Such a device is normally
indicated by the term "console". In fact, notwithstanding that such
a console normally has instruments for regulating particular
functional aspects of the machine connected with physiological
parameters of the user, the description of such a device would have
added nothing to the inventive content of the invention described
herein.
[0054] Exercise station 30 includes, for each pair of linkage
members 31, at least one elongated member 51 limited longitudinally
by spherical couplings (also known as joints) 52, each one of which
links elongated member 51 to frame 10 and to the footboard 40. In
particular, the spherical coupling which links component 51 to the
frame is displaced with respect to the axis of rotation 36 of arm
35; therefore the elongated member 51 is capable of constraining
the rotation of each footboard 40 relative to the respective arm 35
(and to control the rotation of a user's foot resting on a face 41
of the said footboard 40 with respect to the corresponding arm 35).
In case that it is necessary to adapt the behavior of footboard 40
to the needs of the user, elongate member 51 can also have its
length adjustable at will. This has the effect that each foot of a
user is supported by the corresponding footboard 40 in
matching/bilateral manner along an open and circular trajectory P,
both on the thrust stroke and on the return stroke to a rest
position R of the footboard 40 alongside plane L. By virtue of what
is described above, this situation occurs even when the trajectory
P is sloped downwards in its relative outward part, such as, e.g.,
for the purpose of increasing the safety of machine 1 for careless
or inadequately trained/skilled users.
[0055] On the basis of what has been described above, each
footboard 40 connects together the respective elongated member 51
and the respective arm 35, and both are connected rotatably to
frame 10. Footboard 40, therefore, which connects arm 35 and the
respective elongated member 51 in relatively rotatable manner is
capable of functioning as a lever, and the assembly of each pair of
linkage members 31, the frame 10, and the elongated member 51,
besides forming a quadrilateral 43, can be interpreted as a
constraining device 50, capable of controlling the rotation of
footboard 40 relative to the respective arm 35. This quadrilateral
43 constrains face 41 of footboard 40 in such a way that a foot
placed on top of footboard/lever 40 is guided in space along a
composite trajectory in conditions of contact and relative rest
with face 41, by means of the combination of rotation movements
around axis 36.
[0056] By virtue of what is described above, in certain embodiments
of the present invention, each elongated member 51 is capable of
producing a rotational movement of the respective footboard 40 and
in particular of inclining the respective footboard 40 inwards on
the outward thrust stroke of the relative arm 35 (tilting movement
from side to side), and simultaneously of rotating footboard 40
forwards (tilting movement from back to front), to lower its front
section 44 and raise its rear section 45. This is to say that as
the footboard 40 moves on a downward-sloped trajectory P starting
from the longitudinal plane L on the centerline of the machine 1
outwards (i.e., away from the longitudinal plane L), the footboard
40 is progressively skewed towards the front inward part, i.e.,
towards the front left part of the footboard for the footboard
supporting the right foot of the user, and toward the front right
part of the footboard for the footboard supporting the left foot of
the user. "Skewed towards the front inward part," as referring to a
footboard, means that the front inward part of the footboard is at
a vertically lower elevation then the other parts of the footboard.
Another words,
[0057] The inclination of footboard 40 inwards reduces the varus of
the knee and favors the stability of the ankle in the lateral
thrust, while the forward inclination of the footboard favors the
stabilization of the user's center of gravity over the foot which
remains in the central position. In the event that footboards 40
were to remain parallel to one another, the user would have to
displace his center of gravity on the rearward thrust stroke,
weakening the capacity of the leg left in a forward position to
provide support. The inclination of footboard 40 also allows the
sole of each of the user's feet to remain substantially parallel
and at rest with respect to an upper face 41 of the relative
footboard 40, and therefore constantly fitting this face 41. In
this way, it will be possible to fully exploit the movement
imparted by the user to arm 35 in full respect of joint
biomechanics, with the result that the thrust produced will be the
maximum producible by a user in full dynamic equilibrium. In
addition, this design therefore makes optional a holding component
capable of embracing at least one transverse portion of the foot,
and thus allows the construction of the individual footboards to be
simplified, with the added advantage of a reduction in cost.
[0058] The compound movement of footboard 40 may also be summed up
by the term "eversion movement," because of the affinity which this
movement has with the movement of flexion and pronation which the
sole of a foot can execute when the relative leg is maintained in a
static condition. At all events, it may be stated that, in use,
moment by moment, while footboard 40 rotates with respect to axis
36 of the relative arm 35, the two joints 52 behave as couplings
instantaneously rotoidal and skewed with respect to each other.
[0059] The layout of both arms 35 across the longitudinal median
plane L has significant advantages from the point of view of bulk
and functionality for machine 1 as a whole, because it allows
stations 30 to be constructed in smaller dimensions. Also, this
design allows each trajectory P to be more aligned with the
biomechanics of the lower limbs of a user, and in particular of the
ankle and the foot, for a given length of the relative arm 35, by
comparison with the case in which the footboard and its axis 36 are
arranged on the same side of plane L. Furthermore, this design
allows a user to deliver a substantially constant power during the
execution of the outward movement of the leg and the relative foot,
and in particular in the zone of trajectory P which corresponds to
the term "eversion movement" of the foot, as described above.
[0060] It should be borne in mind, however, that the particular
conformation of arms 35 allows a user to bring each footboard 40
onto the same side of plane L as the one on which its respective
axis is located, in particular conditions of operation, to suit the
skating style of each user. Lastly, it is obvious, as is seen in
FIG. 2, that arms 35 are shaped dissimilarly to each other in such
a way as to prevent collisions between arms 35 or between
footboards 40 during use of machine 1. The same is true for arms
which carry stops 37 for each arm 35.
[0061] Notwithstanding the fact that trajectories P traced by the
footboards are necessarily symmetrical with respect to plane L,
given that machine 1 is usable for the training of the lower limbs,
which are normally symmetrical, arms 35 must be shaped dissimilarly
to each other, in order to prevent possible interference with each
other. Pairs of linkage member 31 are therefore asymmetrical, and
each arm 35 is supported by its own shaft 36 on the opposite side
with respect to plane L from its respective footboard 40, and is
operable in this segment of space starting from its respective
position of rest R. It should also be noted that trajectories P of
footboards 40, besides being circular and centered on shafts 36,
can have at least one stretch of minimal length in common, in the
area of plane L. In the case of machine 1, the particular
geometrical configuration of arms 35 and the orientation of their
respective axes 36 determine the fact that trajectories P of
footboards 40 intersect at one point, which point is geometrically
positioned with respect to plane L.
[0062] According to FIGS. 1 and 3, resistance element 20 includes a
rotatable component 25, which is typically a flywheel, shaped in
such a way as to be suitable for storing rotational energy, which
rotatable component 25 is supported by the frame 10 by means of a
shaft, known and not illustrated, which carries attached to it a
disc 23 of an electromagnetic brake 24 capable of dissipating
adjustable amounts of power in a continuous fashion.
[0063] Machine 1, furthermore, has disposed between the resistance
element 20 and the exercise station 30 a mechanical transmission
21, capable of transforming an alternating rotary motion of each
arm 35 into a rotation of flywheel 25. This transmission 21
includes an idle wheel 27 which is keyed in cantilever onto a
horizontal shaft 38 which is carried by frame 10 between two
supports which are visible together only in FIG. 2. This wheel 27
is capable of rotating in phase with flywheel 25 by means of a belt
29 and a pinion 32, coaxial with the said flywheel 25.
[0064] Transmission 21, comprises further at least one belt 33 for
each arm 35, and each belt 33 is wound around a plurality of
pulleys 22, supported by frame 10 in freely rotatable manner to
connect a corresponding arm 35 and a free wheel 34 to resistance
element 20. Each wheel 34, capable of transmitting torque in one
direction only while being capable of rotating idly if activated in
the opposite direction, is keyed onto shaft 38 to transmit motive
power to flywheel 25 by means of belt 29 of transmission 21.
Accordingly, each footboard 40, and the corresponding arm 35, can
be activated independently of the condition of motion or rest of
the other footboard 40, even though, as will be seen below, it is
possible to think of constraining the rotation of footboards 40 by
means of that of the relative arms 35.
[0065] It is appropriate to point out that the type of resistance
element 20 can vary in relation to the type of training which it is
intended to carry out on the said machine 1, and in particular
aerobic/cardiovascular or muscular/anaerobic. A resistance element
may also be described as "means of providing resistance" and
"resistance means" to emphasize that there are various designs and
embodiments used to provide resistance in exercise machines. A
resistance element may include a mechanism for selecting any
variety of weight amounts depending on a particular user and
exercise. The resistance element may also include the weight of the
user himself.
[0066] Accordingly, resistance element 20 can be of electromagnetic
type and include brake 24 as in FIGS. 1 and 3, if it is intended to
carry out training of aerobic type, or resistance element 20 can be
of mechanical type and have at least one device 70 with
counterweights for muscular/anaerobic training, as illustrated in
the diagram in FIG. 4. In any event, both device 23 and device 70
can be considered as devices 60 for controlling the power delivered
by a user to each footboard 40.
[0067] For simplicity, the detailed descriptions of brake 24 and
device 70 are omitted, firstly because both devices are
structurally known, and secondly because the embodiment of the
present invention is independent of the choice of type of
resistance element. In any event, in FIG. 4 it was thought
appropriate to illustrate a portal structure 71 for resistance
element 20 supporting a group 72 of weight packs 73 for each arm
35, each group 72 being vertically actuable under the action of
footboards 40 by means of a cable 74.
[0068] Regarding the skating movement, it is worth observing that
normally skaters perform a thrust on each foot alternately, and
therefore impose an equal pause on each foot. Accordingly, for an
effective reproduction of this movement it may be appropriate to
exert a return force towards the center to the inactive footboard
41; machine 1 includes, furthermore, a reaction device 80 visible
in FIGS. 3 and 5, capable of exerting, on each arm 35, a return
action directed inwards, and tending to bring each arm 35 back to
the central position; therefore, the reaction device 80 is
interpretable as a safety device.
[0069] This return action must have an intensity suitably
proportionate to the amplitude of an angle of rotation outwards of
each said arm 35, for which reason device 80 must have mechanical
characteristics of an elastic type. In this regard, device 80 may
have different embodiments, which have in common at least one
elastic return unit acting on arms 35 through transmission 21.
[0070] According to the embodiment described in FIG. 3, reaction
device 80 includes at least one belt 82 arranged in an inverted `U`
between arms 35 so as to connect them together in a substantially
rigid fashion, and has relative end sections wound onto shaft 38 in
the opposite direction to how each belt 33 is wound onto its
respective pulley 34. In this way, belt 82 is capable of being
wound onto shaft 38 while belt 33 is unwound through the
application of tension to belt 29 during the active stroke of
footboard 40. Belt 82 is kept constantly subjected to an action of
traction by means of a pulley 83 which is supported elastically by
frame 10 by means of a bracket 84 carried by an arm 85 which is
hinged to frame 10 at the opposite end to pulley 83, and restrained
elastically by elastic return unit 81 including at least one spring
86, connected to frame 10 by its relative end section. In this case
the elastic return force is exerted on each arm 35 by reaction
device 80 by means of each spring 86. In this way, upon each
displacement outwards of each footboard 40, spring 86 exerts
through arm 85 an elastic reaction on the other footboard 40 which
is a function of the length of arm 85 and of the elastic constant
of elastic return unit 81.
[0071] By virtue of what is described above, device 80, in its
diverse embodiments, is interpretable as a safety device, which
makes machine 1 usable without risk even by users not trained in
the execution of the skating movement, or by users who do not have
much practice in this movement.
[0072] Furthermore, from the description above, it is easy to
understand that the lack of activity by the user on machine 1,
similar to some machines for carrying out the movement of climbing
stairs, or steppers, leads to a loss of height through gravity. For
this reason frame 10 has a front section 11 usefully shaped for
allowing a user to lean on during the process of climbing onto and
descending from the said machine 1, or for being employed for
exerting a bilateral reaction force to the thrust of the legs
during training.
[0073] If the spring 86 were to be combined with a rigid body 86b
of longitudinal extension substantially equivalent to that of
spring 86 when undeformed, illustrated alongside spring 86 only in
FIG. 3, it would be possible to prevent the rotation of arm 85 with
respect to frame 10, and therefore to restrict the rotation
relative to each other of arms 35, making machine 1 of interest to
a less expert category of users.
[0074] Solely for reasons of clarity, machine 1 described above has
been described for an active movement for the purpose of delivering
power only in the eccentric thrust stroke in which each footboard
40 is thrust outwards, and not active in the act of returning
footboard 40 towards the center, given that this is the case during
the execution of the skating movement. However, the present
invention may also be embodied by means of machines which provide
for the absorption of energy also on the stroke which returns
footboard 40 towards the centre, for example by adding resistance
elements 20 substantially identical with those already installed,
but operating in a reverse direction.
[0075] For example, if it were considered necessary to adapt the
elastic action exerted by the version described above of device 80
to the characteristics of a user, it is possible to modify device
80 according to the diagram in FIG. 5a, providing for elastic
return unit 81 to include a spring 87 for each arm 35, or according
to the diagram in FIG. 5b, in which the device 80 includes a spring
87 for each arm 35 and a spring 88 which is arranged between arms
35 to connect them elastically together. In FIG. 5b, spring 88 has,
for convenience, been divided into two elastic sections 90 arranged
on opposite sides with respect to a pulley 89 carried by frame 10,
but could be implemented differently without altering its
operation.
[0076] The choice of a model of reaction force according to FIG. 3,
or according to FIGS. 5a or 5b, will depend on the type of effect
which the user believes most satisfactory for his/her type of
training, and the set of three alternatives described must not be
interpreted as exhaustive of the possible embodiments of reaction
device 80, but only as exemplifying the possible embodiments of the
said device 80.
[0077] In accordance with what is described above, it must be noted
that in machine 1 it is not possible to exclude the possibility of
elongated member 51 of each arm 35 being stressed also in flexion
rather than by normal stress only. As is well known, the
quadrilaterals stably maintain the constancy of the trajectories of
their vertices when their shafts are in the condition of operating
while subject only to normal stress, and only when this occurs with
reference to machine 1 will less trained or practiced users be able
to find the use of this machine comfortable and safe.
[0078] To prevent the trajectories of footboards 40 from undergoing
variations which are unpredictable and potentially dangerous for
users, in certain embodiments, machine 1 can be illustrated by
machine 101, visible in FIGS. 7 and 8, in which, in order to
distinguish components similar to those already described for
machine 1, reference numbers will be used for clarity which differ
by adding a 100 to those used to describe machine 1, unless
specified otherwise.
[0079] In particular, machine 101 includes a pair of arms 135 with
elbows (corresponding to arms 35 in machine 1), each of which is
pivoted on a shaft 136 and has, for each relative straight-line
stretch, a constraining device 150 having a mechanism analogous to
the quadrilateral 43. In particular, with reference to FIG. 8, each
arm 135 has corresponding to it an elbow 137 and two quadrilaterals
153 and 154, capable of cooperating with each other to control the
angular position of the respective footboard 140 with respect to
the corresponding arm 135 by means of a common lever 157. This
lever 157, which is also a connecting rod for quadrilateral 154 and
a crank for quadrilateral 153, is carried freely rotatably by the
relative arm 135 in proximity to the corresponding elbow 137.
[0080] At this point, with reference to FIG. 8, for completeness,
it may be verified that, quadrilateral 153 shares with machine 1
the respective frame 110, while the frame of the second
quadrilateral 154 is constituted by the respective arm 135.
Furthermore, still with reference to these figures, quadrilateral
153 includes an elongated member 155, capable of functioning as a
connecting rod, and quadrilateral 154 includes, in its turn, an
elongated member 156 which functions as an equalizer. Components
155 and 156 are delimited by respective spherical joints 152 and,
analogously with component 51, can have adjustable lengths to allow
adjustments to the movement of the respective footboard 140 and of
the respective upper face 141.
[0081] In this case also, each component 155/156 is capable of
producing a composite movement of the respective footboard 140 and
in particular of inclining the respective footboard 140 inwards
during the outwards thrust stroke of the relative arm 135, and
simultaneously of rotating footboard 140 forwards, to lower its
front section 144 and simultaneously raise its rear section
145.
[0082] In certain embodiments, machine 101 comprises further a
reaction device 180 (corresponding to device 80 in machine 1),
being similarly interpretable as a safety device. In particular,
with reference to FIG. 7, machine 101 has a mechanical transmission
121, which is placed between resistance element 120 and exercise
station 130, and is capable of transforming an alternating rotary
movement of each arm 135 into a rotation of a flywheel 125. This
transmission 121 includes, by analogy with machine 1, at least one
belt 133 for each arm 135, and each belt 133 is wound onto a free
wheel 134 carried by a shaft 138 through the interposition of a
single pulley 122 supported by the frame 110 below shaft 138. Each
wheel 134 is keyed onto shaft 138 alongside flywheel 125 to
transmit torque to the said flywheel 125, which is mechanically
connected to a brake 124 through the interposition of a coupling
139 with parallel axes.
[0083] It may be observed that machine 1 and machine 101 differ
also by the fact that transmission 21 and transmission 121 have one
and two stages of parallel-axis couplings, respectively. In the
case of machine 101, this allows the use of a brake 124 which can
rotate much more quickly than brake 24, and can therefore be much
more accurately controllable.
[0084] Still with reference to FIG. 7, reaction device 180 has an
elastic return component 186 for each arm 135, tending in use to
bring the relative arm 135 back to its respective rest position R.
Each component 186 is actuated preferably, but not as a limitation,
by a large-diameter torsion spring, and the two springs 186 are
carried coaxially to each other by frame 110 below pulleys 122
between shaft 138 and brake 124.
[0085] According to FIG. 7, the use of large-diameter torsion
springs 186 contributes to reducing considerably the longitudinal
dimensions of machine 101, with the advantage of greater rigidity
and less bulk for the machine. As a result, device 180 of machine
101 is more compact than device 80 of machine 1.
[0086] In addition, device 180 includes a damper 195 (also referred
to as an elongated component) which, as appears on FIG. 8, is
arranged between arms 135 to connect them to each other and, as
will be described more fully below, has a length variable as a
function of the force exerted on footboards 140, in such a way as
to bring about a constraining action in proportion to the angular
distance between the two arms 135. With reference to FIG. 9,
elongated component 195 is constructed substantially as a damper
and, according to FIG. 8, is connected to each arm 135 by relative
end sections 152.
[0087] In particular, damper 195 includes a casing 198 which houses
a rod 199 in axially free manner and casing 198 and rod 199 are
connected to each other by a pair of first springs 196 and 197 of
different and fixed elastic constant. Spring 196 has the lower
elastic constant, and springs 196 and 197 are arranged in series
with each other and are capable of functioning as a single elastic
body with a fixed value for shortening of the damper up to the
point when rod 199 is in its end-of-stroke position inside casing
198, and springs 197 and 196 are coil bound.
[0088] By virtue of what is described above, damper 195 is designed
to react principally through spring 196 of lower elastic constant
for small angles of relative rotation between the two arms 135,
while damper 195 is designed to react only through spring 197 for
large angles of relative rotation between the two arms 135. In this
event the angular distance between arms 135 is at its maximum,
damper 195 is equivalent to a rod of fixed length, the two arms 135
are rigidly related to each other, and can therefore rotate through
equal angles in equal times. In this event, the operation of one
footboard 140 causes the operation of the other in dual manner. If
this was a desired objective, it would then be possible to think of
replacing damper 195 with a rigid rod, even though this could
entail operational problems in the initial transitory stage,
because of the fact that a user would have to start the exercise
with the footboards at minimum distance from each other, and
therefore in precarious conditions of static equilibrium.
[0089] For this reason, damper 195 is capable of imposing
compliance on footboards 140 with a minimum distance between them
when the relative arms 135 are in their respective rest positions
or, in use, are placed in proximity to plane L, and of preventing
the amplitude of the angle between arms 135 from exceeding a fixed
value which may be established by means of known and not
illustrated devices for calibrating springs 196 and 197 and the
minimum length specified for component 195, in such a way as to
ensure that a user is maintained in conditions of equilibrium.
[0090] From the description given above, it may clearly be deduced
that machine 101 also represents an embodiment of the inventive
concept described above, and is such as to represent a valid
solution to the technical problems illustrated above, being as a
result particularly uncumbersome and safe even for users little
trained or expert in skating.
[0091] It should be noted that in certain embodiments, the exercise
machines described herein allow for each individual footboard to be
freely and independently operable. Specifically, the resistance
member can be engaged by a single footboard at a time or both
footboards simultaneously. This is of particular advantage to more
expert users and those more gifted from a muscular and balance
point of view.
[0092] The term "eccentric exercise", as used herein, refers to the
muscles' lengthening during a contraction. The term "concentric
exercise," as used herein refers to the muscles' shortening during
a contraction. Both are essential during resistance training.
[0093] The particular embodiment having thus been described, it
will now be evident to those skilled in the art that further
modifications and variation thereto may be contemplated. Such
modifications and variations are not regarded as a departure from
the invention.
[0094] All publications and patent applications mentioned in this
specification are indicative of the level of skill of those skilled
in the art to which this invention pertains. All publications and
patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein
incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual
publication or patent application mentioned in this specification
was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by
reference.
* * * * *