U.S. patent application number 10/578801 was filed with the patent office on 2007-05-10 for exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs.
Invention is credited to Davide Susta.
Application Number | 20070105695 10/578801 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34586996 |
Filed Date | 2007-05-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070105695 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Susta; Davide |
May 10, 2007 |
Exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs
Abstract
An exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs, in particular
for exercising lower limbs to perform a cyclic muscular exercise,
or consisting of an alternating succession of concentric and
eccentric steps, comprises a carrying structure (12), to which at
least one seat for the user (13) and a support and guide member
(14) of two footboards (15), or support bases for feet, are
constrained, as well as an actuator (16) connected to the support
and guide, member (14) of the footboards (15), wherein the support
and guide member (14) is constrained to the carrying structure (12)
by a pin or fulcrum (17) and is adapted for performing a hunting
motion on a plane at least on one side relative to a longitudinal
axis of the apparatus, the footboards (15) describing a curvilinear
trajectory around the fulcrum (17).
Inventors: |
Susta; Davide; (Biella,
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
James V Costigan;Hedman & Costigan
1185 Avenue of the Americas
New York
NY
10036-2646
US
|
Family ID: |
34586996 |
Appl. No.: |
10/578801 |
Filed: |
November 10, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
November 10, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/13053 |
371 Date: |
October 16, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/92 ;
482/112 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/18 20130101;
A63B 23/08 20130101; A63B 23/0405 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/092 ;
482/112 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/00 20060101
A63B021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 14, 2003 |
IT |
MI2003A002219 |
Claims
1. Exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs, in particular for
exercising lower limbs to perform a cyclic muscular exercise, or
consisting of an alternating succession of concentric and eccentric
steps, characterised in that it comprises a carrying structure
(12), to which at least one seat for the user (13) and a support
and guide member (14) of two footboards (15), or support bases for
feet, are constrained, as well as an actuator (16) connected to
said support and guide member (14) of the footboards (15), wherein
said support and guide member (14) is constrained to the carrying
structure (12) by a pin or fulcrum (17) and is adapted for
performing a hunting motion on a plane at least on one side
relative to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus, said footboards
(15) describing a curvilinear trajectory around the fulcrum
(17).
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said plane
is horizontal.
3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said
support and guide member (14) of the footboards (15) comprises at
least one bar, which forms a lever arm, connected at opposed ends
to the carrying structure (12) in said fulcrum (17) as well as to
said footboards (15), respectively.
4. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said
footboards (15) are turnably fixed to a plate (18) by an
articulated joint (19) which allows their rotation around their
axis.
5. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said plate
(18) is connected to the support and guide member (14) of the
footboards (15) by a shaft or connecting element (23).
6. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said
articulated joint (19) imposes an adjustment and a restriction to
the rotation of the footboards (15).
7. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it
comprises means for adjusting the reciprocal distance (20) between
said footboards (15).
8. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that said
support plate (18) is free to rotate around the axis of shaft
(23).
9. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said
actuator (16) is connected in an articulated manner at opposed ends
to said carrying structure (12) and to said support and guide
member (14) of the footboards (15), respectively.
10. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said
actuator (16) is a pneumatic piston moving inside a cylinder.
11. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said
actuator (16) is connected to the support and guide member (14) of
the footboards (15) by a connecting element (21), the position of
said element (21) being adjustable relative to the member (14).
12. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said
actuator (16) exerts a variable and adjustable power.
13. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said
actuator (16) has an adjustable stroke.
14. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that it
comprises a means for adjusting (26) the position of the footboard
carrying plate (18) on the support and guide member (14).
15. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that said seat
(13), rotating around the axis of a support pin (24), comprises
means for adjusting (30) the distance between said pin (24) and the
fulcrum (17) of the support and guide member (14) of the footboards
(15).
16. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it
comprises a safety device for the automatic or controlled
deactivation of the actuator (16).
17. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that it
comprises adjustable locking means (44) for locking said support
plates (18) of the footboards during the exercise at a fixed angle
relative to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, characterised in that said
locking means comprises an additional bar (44) hinged to said
carrying structure (12) and to said at least one support plate (18)
of the footboards (15), said additional bar (44) being arranged
parallel relative to said support and guide member (14) for keeping
said at least one support plate (18) at a fixed angle relative to a
longitudinal axis of the apparatus during the exercise.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18, characterised in that said
additional bar (44) has an adjustable height.
20. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that said
footboards (15) are connected to one another by a bar (43).
21. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterised in that each of
said footboards (15) comprises a frame (41) connected by said
articulated joint (19) to a top plate (18) and to a bottom plate
(18) integral to one another, as well as a support surface (42) for
the foot, hinged to said frame (41) according to a horizontal
axis.
22. Apparatus according to claim 5, characterised in that it
comprises a braking device (45) for restricting the relative
rotation motion around said shaft (23) between said support and
guide member (14) of the footboards (15) and said at least one
support plate (18) of the footboards (15).
23. Apparatus according to claim 22, characterised in that said
braking device (45) comprises a disc (46) adapted for being pressed
against said at least one plate (18) by an adjustable stem
(47).
24. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it
comprises an electronic control system for said actuator (16).
25. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that each of
said footboards (15) is provided with a loading cell (33), adapted
for measuring the load exerted at any moment by the user on each
footboard (15), said loading cells (33) being interfaced with a
display (34).
26. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that it
comprises means for measuring (48) the relative rotation between
said support plates (18) of the footboards and said support and
guide member (14) of the same.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus for
exercising lower limbs. In particular, the object of the present
invention is an exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs for
practicing ski touring, activity wherein the same work concurrently
at different bending/extension angles performing an alternating
eccentric and concentric muscular exercise.
[0002] By eccentric muscular exercise it is meant a muscular
contraction performed in extension, that is, when the muscle is
extended by an external strength exceeding that it develops. By
concentric muscular exercise it is meant a muscular contraction
with subsequent shortening of the muscle concerned. For example, in
practicing ski touring at the beginning of the curve the legs are
extended and feet are at the maximum distance from the pelvis. The
first curve step (bending) corresponds to eccentric exercise for
lower limbs until the maximum bending level is reached such that,
even if standing at the minimum distance from the pelvis, the
"downstream" foot is farther from the "upstream" foot and the two
lower limbs are at different bending angles. The second curve step
(bending), on the other hand, is characterized by a concentric
exercise of both lower limbs, which begin to contract starting from
different bending angles and end the concentric contraction when
the lower limbs are at the maximum extension and the foot-pelvis
distances are maximum. In particular, ski touring is characterized
by movements called "of counter-resistance" of both lower limbs of
the human body at different bending/extension angles of the pelvis,
hip, knee and ankle joints, variable during the movement.
[0003] In addition, in performing curves in ski touring, the
movement of shortening/extension of the distance between food and
hip occurs concurrently, but in a differentiated manner for the two
lower limbs of the human body. Machines for exercising lower limbs,
in particular for performing ski touring, of the known type, which
are generally provided with a complex structure, do not
satisfactorily reach the exercising targets illustrated above.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to realise an
exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs, the use of which by
the user should be safe, simple and comfortable.
[0005] Another object of the present invention is to realise an
exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs which should allow
obtaining a specific training for an exercise wherein lower limbs
work concurrently at different bending/extension angles performing
an eccentric and concentric muscular exercise in an alternating
manner.
[0006] Another object of the present invention is to realise an
exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs which should be
particularly simple and functional, with low cost.
[0007] These objects according to the present invention are
achieved by realising an exercise apparatus for exercising lower
limbs as illustrated in claim 1.
[0008] Further features are disclosed in the dependent claims. The
features and advantages of an exercise apparatus for exercising
lower limbs according to the present invention will appear more
clearly from the following exemplificative non-limiting
description, made with reference to the attached schematic
drawings, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an exercise apparatus for
exercising lower limbs object of the present invention in a central
starting position;
[0010] FIGS. 2 and 3 show plan view of the exercise apparatus of
FIG. 1 respectively in working positions on opposed sides;
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a side elevation view of the exercise apparatus
of FIG. 3;
[0012] FIGS. 5 and 6 respectively show plan and elevation views of
a second embodiment of an exercise apparatus for exercising lower
limbs according to the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 7 shows an enlarged detail of the apparatus of FIGS. 5
and 6.
[0014] With reference to the figures, there is shown an exercise
apparatus for training lower limbs globally indicated with
reference numeral 10 and comprising a carrying structure 12 to
which a seat for the user 13, a support and guide member 14 of two
footboards 15, or support bases for feet, are constrained. An
actuator 16, in the example shown, is connected at opposed ends to
the carrying structure 12 and to the support and guide member 14 of
footboards 15 respectively. The carrying structure 12, which is
made of metal or of another material, and whose shape is
unimportant for the objects of the invention, must only be capable
of withstanding the stresses generated during the use of apparatus
10 and of providing firm anchoring to the fixed or oscillating
elements that make up such apparatus, without hampering its
motion.
[0015] In a first embodiment, shown in figures from 1 to 4 by way
of an example, the support and guide member 14 of footboards 15 is
shaped as a bar, which is constrained to the carrying structure 12
with a pin or fulcrum 17 and forms a lever arm, adapted for
performing a hunting motion around fulcrum 17 on a preferably
horizontal plane.
[0016] Footboards 15 applied to bar 14 at the opposed end relative
to fulcrum 17, describe a curvilinear trajectory around fulcrum 17
and exert a power, schematised in FIGS. 2 and 3 with arrow F,
directed towards the user sitting on seat 13 during the entire
performance of the exercise.
[0017] The two footboards 15, one for the right foot and the other
for the left foot, are turnably applied to a plate 18 by an
articulated joint 19, which allows their controlled rotation around
an axis. Articulated joint 19 can, moreover, impose an adjustment
and a restriction to such rotation of footboards 15. The footboards
are further provided with a means for adjusting the reciprocal
distance 20, in approach and in removal, schematically shown in
figures from 1 to 3. The distance of footboards 15, in fact, can be
changed on the basis of the user's anthropometrical features to
improve comfort during the exercise performance and to change the
working conditions.
[0018] Moreover, footboards 15 consist of a suitable material for
withstanding mechanical stresses and they can have an anti-slip
coating, such as for example a rubber or abrasive material surface.
Always to improve the user's safety and comfort in performing the
exercise, the footboards may be provided with foot locking members,
such as for example straps or other means not shown.
[0019] The footboard support plate 18 is applied to the support and
guide member 14, for example by a shaft or connecting member 23,
protruding from the guide member 14, and is free to rotate around
the axis of shaft 23 relative to a starting position shown in FIG.
1. The rotation occurs with an angular travel equal to +/-.alpha.,
with .alpha. variable on the basis of the user's needs, relative to
the position of FIG. 1, wherein plate 18 is perpendicular to the
directrix, shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 with a dash-dot line, generated
between the centre of rotation of plate 18, determined by the axis
of shaft 23, and the centre of rotation of seat 13 consisting of a
support pin 24.
[0020] The position of shaft 23, and thereby of the footboard
carrying plate 18, relative to the support and guide member 14 of
footboards can be changed by an adjustment means, or slide 26
schematically shown in the figures, for example for adapting the
exercise apparatus 10 to the exercise to be performed or to the
user's physical structure. During the performance of the exercise
for training lower limbs, the footboard carrying plate 18 arranges
in angled position relative to the starting position, so as to
allow a higher extension of the external leg with respect to the
internal one, and simulate the natural movement of lower limbs
during ski touring.
[0021] In the embodiment shown, actuator 16, for example, is a
pneumatic piston mobile in a cylinder and constrained to the
support and guide member 14 of footboards 15 by a connecting
element, or shaft, 21, whose position on member 14 is preferably
adjustable, for example. Such adjustment, which allows changing the
exercise performance speed or the exerted power, is realised by a
further adjustment means, or slide, not shown, which is located on
the opposite side of bar 14 relative to slide 26 for adjusting the
footboard carrying plate 18. Optionally, actuator 16 can consist of
an electrical motor or other equivalent means adapted for
interacting with the lever arm 14 as described.
[0022] The point of application of actuator 16 to bar 14, which in
the example is located in the proximity of footboards 15, could
also be arranged in the proximity of fulcrum 17 or even at the
opposite side relative to it.
[0023] At the opposed end, actuator 16 is turnably constrained to
the support structure 12, or to another support, for example by a
hinge 25. By varying the power exerted by the actuator, the
strength the user must oppose during the exercise is changed, that
is, a quantity which actually corresponds to the strength to which
the skier's lower limb muscles are subject during the curve.
Moreover, it is possible to change the speed at which footboards 15
approach the user's body, a quantity that actually corresponds to
the muscle's extension speed during the first step of performance
of the curve. This is realised, for example, by changing the
position of the constraint point of actuator 16 to the support and
guide member 14 of footboards 15, for example by adjusting the
position of connecting shaft 21 on the slide. Such change also
affects the strength transmitted to the user.
[0024] Further possible adjustments consist in changing the piston
stroke of actuator 16, as well as in restricting the angular travel
of the lever arm 14. In fact, the lever arm 14 rotates around
fulcrum 17 describing a hunting motion with angle +/-.beta.
relative to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus determined by the
generatrix between fulcrum 17 and the pin of rotation of seat 24,
wherein angle .beta. varies on the basis of the user's needs.
According to a first exercising method, the hunting motion is
performed alternately on opposed sides relative to the apparatus'
longitudinal axis. The exercise apparatus 10 can also be used for
performing a hunting motion on a single side, for example for
rehabilitation purposes.
[0025] The speed and the power applied by actuator 16 can,
moreover, be variable in an irregular manner, through rotation of
actuator 16, to simulate as much as possible the irregularities
felt on the legs during the downhill race on a ski slope.
[0026] An electronic control system of actuator 16 allows
developing different powers on the basis of the eccentric and/or
concentric muscular working step, moreover according to customised
schedules for each user.
[0027] Moreover, according to a further embodiment of the apparatus
according to the invention shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, loading cells 33,
schematically shown in FIG. 7, are applied to each footboard 15,
which measure the load distributed at any moment by the user on
each footboard. The loading cells, interfaced in a known manner
with a display 34 allow the user to check and improve the ability
of distributing the load on both lower limbs.
[0028] The user's seat 13, which can be adjusted so as to vary the
angle between seat 27 and back 28, is connected to the carrying
structure 12 by a support pin 24, which allows the rotation of seat
13 around the axis of pin 24. In a possible embodiment shown in the
figures by way of an example, the support pin 24 is fastened to a
plate or base 32 integral with the support structure 12.
[0029] There are also provided means for adjusting the position of
seat 30, placed between pin 24 and plate 32, in particular the
distance between the rotation pin 24 of seat 13 and fulcrum 17 of
the support and guide member 14 of footboards 15, which must be
changed on the basis of the user's anthropometric features or of
the training method, as schematically shown with a dashed line in
FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0030] Seat 13 is provided with two handles 31 that allow the user
to perform the exercise in a more comfortable and safe manner.
Moreover the exercise apparatus 10, to ensure higher use safety,
comprises a safety device, not shown, for example actuable by the
user by a button located on one of the two handles 31, which
controls the actuator to allow its user-controlled deactivation.
The safety device can also cause the automatic deactivation of the
actuator when a fixed threshold value of the exerted power is
reached.
[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 show a further embodiment of an exercise
apparatus for exercising lower limbs 10' according to the present
invention. Only additional components shall be described below
compared to what described for the first embodiment of apparatus
10, to which reference shall be made for common parts.
[0032] The figures show a carrying structure 12 that can be made
modular for transport reasons, comprising a safety case 32 for
actuator 16, a plurality of seats 36 for a member 37 for stopping
the hunting motion arranged on a curved track 38 and a
strengthening member 39 on which the support and guide member 14 of
footboards 15 is pivoted.
[0033] The support and guide member 14 of footboards 15 comprises,
in fact, two parallel bars, which in the example shown are
connected by a vertical stiffening plate 40 pivoted to the carrying
structure 12. The bars for a C-shaped structure to which the top
and bottom support plates 18 of footboards 15 are constrained
through the connecting shaft 23. Plates 18, integral with one
another, are turnable around the vertical axis of shaft 23.
[0034] Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that each
of said footboards (15) comprises a frame (41) connected by said
articulated joint (19) to a top plate (18) and to a bottom plate
(18) integral to one another, as well as a support surface (42) for
the foot, hinged to said frame (41) according to a horizontal axis.
Footboards 15 are connected to one another by a bar or cam 43
which, as shown in FIG. 5, connects the bottom portion of the two
frames 41. The integral motion of footboards 15 is intended to make
the apparatus use safer, that is, reduce the risk of accidents.
[0035] Moreover, in the exercise apparatus 10' of the present
invention, footboards 15, or plates 18, are connectable to the
carrying structure 12 by an additional bar 44, removable and with
adjustable height, which arranges as pantograph parallel to bars 14
to keep the support plates 18 of the footboards orthogonal relative
to a longitudinal axis of the apparatus during the exercise, as
shown in FIG. 5, or at a different fixed angle, which in any case
remains constant during the exercise. This expedient allows quicker
learning of the proper method of use of the apparatus while
maintaining the function of power training unchanged, in particular
when high loads are applied for training. Different methods for
power training are thereby realised, by locking the support plates
18 at a fixed angle, either orthogonal or not, relative to the
longitudinal axis of apparatus 10', which allows the lower limbs to
exercise starting from different bending/extension degrees, as well
as to control the distribution of strength on the two footboards
when apparatus 10' is used without locking the support plate
18.
[0036] Alternatively to the additional bar 44 there can be provided
other adjustable means for locking the support plates 18 of the
footboards during the exercise at a fixed angle relative to a
longitudinal axis of the apparatus. Apparatus 10' further comprises
a braking device 45 for restricting the relative motion between the
support and guide member 14 of footboards 15 and the support plates
18 of footboards 15 themselves. A disc 46 pressed against the top
plate 18 by an adjustable stem 47 brakes by friction the rotating
motion of plates 18, or of footboards 15 with a strength adjustable
by the user. Means 48 for measuring the relative rotation between
the support plates 18 of the footboards and the support and guide
member 14 of the same, for example consisting of an encoder, are,
moreover, schematically shown in FIG. 6.
[0037] From the measurement of the relative clockwise and
counter-clockwise rotation of plates 18 relative to the support
member 14 it is possible to obtain and optionally view on display
34 both the exercise performance speed and the motion control
ability, intended as reduction of the oscillations of relative
rotation. The exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs 10,
object of the present invention, is used by sitting on seat 13,
gripping handles 31 and placing the feet on footboards 15. At this
point, with a free movement of extension of lower limbs, the user
moves footboards 15 for example alternately to his/her right and to
his/her left, making the same perform a curvilinear trajectory with
an angular travel with angle .beta. on each side. In performing
this exercise, the user will have to oppose the power exerted by
actuator 16 that returns footboards 15 to the starting
position.
[0038] According to a further operating method, the actuator exerts
resistance also against the extension movement.
[0039] The exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs 10 object
of the present invention, advantageously allows very accurate
reproduction of the movement of lower limbs of the human body
during the practise of ski touring, activity wherein the same work
concurrently at different bending/extension angles performing an
alternating eccentric and concentric muscular exercise. In fact,
the apparatus advantageously allows making both lower limbs of the
human body work with a movement called of "counter resistance", at
different and adjustable bending/extension angles of the pelvis,
hip, knee and ankle joints.
[0040] Moreover, the exercise apparatus according to the present
invention exhibits the advantage of exerting a direct power to the
user sitting on the seat, thereby allowing the performance of an
eccentric muscular workout alternating to the concentric one.
Another advantage of the exercise apparatus is that of allowing the
performance of a movement of shortening/extension of the distance
between food and hip in a concurrent manner, so as to simulate the
muscular action characterising the performance of curves in ski
touring.
[0041] Moreover, advantageously, the exercise apparatus according
to the present invention allows both a power training and a control
exercise. The exercise apparatus for exercising lower limbs thus
conceived can be subject to several changes and variants, all
falling within the scope of the invention; moreover, all details
can be replaced with technically equivalent elements. In the
practice, the materials used as well as sizes, can be of any type
according to the technical requirements.
* * * * *