U.S. patent application number 11/654844 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-30 for gymnastic machine.
Invention is credited to Nerio Alessandri, Matteo Comandini.
Application Number | 20070202994 11/654844 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38444718 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070202994 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Alessandri; Nerio ; et
al. |
August 30, 2007 |
Gymnastic machine
Abstract
Gymnastic machine having a frame (10) and an exercise station
(20) provided with at least one footrest (30) movable with respect
to the frame (10) along a first open trajectory (P1); each footrest
(30) being supported rotatably by a first rocker arm (42) in turn
supported by a second rocker arm (44) coupled rotatably to the
frame (10); a device (50) to control rotation of the first rocker
arm (42) being carried on the second rocker arm (44) to minimise
the size of the volumes engaged by movable masses in the exercise
station (20) and around each footrest (30).
Inventors: |
Alessandri; Nerio; (Longiano
(FC), IT) ; Comandini; Matteo; (Cesena (FC),
IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ABELMAN, FRAYNE & SCHWAB
666 THIRD AVENUE, 10TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10017
US
|
Family ID: |
38444718 |
Appl. No.: |
11/654844 |
Filed: |
January 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/51 ;
297/79 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0069 20130101;
A63B 69/0022 20130101; A63B 21/045 20130101; A63B 2022/0071
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/051 ;
297/079 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/00 20060101
A63B022/00; A47C 1/02 20060101 A47C001/02; A63B 71/00 20060101
A63B071/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 18, 2006 |
IT |
RA2006A000002 |
Claims
1. A gymnastic machine having a frame (10) and an exercise station
(20) provided with at least one footrest (30) movable with respect
to said frame (10) along a first open trajectory (P1); each said
footrest (30) being supported by an articulated mechanism (40)
having a first rocker arm (42) and a second rocker arm (44) coupled
in a rotatable manner to each other, and with said second rocker
arm (44) coupled in a rotatable manner to said frame (10);
characterized by comprising means (50) to control rotation of said
first rocker arm (42) suitable to minimise the size of the volumes
engaged by movable masses in said exercise station (20) and around
each said footrest (30).
2. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said
control means (50) comprise a transmission (52) with parallel axes
provided with a first wheel (54) associated with said second rocker
arm (44) and a second wheel (56) associated with said first rocker
arm (42); said first and second wheels (54, 56) being mechanically
coupled to each other to cause, in use, counter-rotation of said
first and second rocker arm (42, 44) with respect to each other
following actuation of the corresponding said footrest (30) from a
respective idle position (P), and consequently rotation of one of
two said first and second rocker arms (42, 44) with respect to said
frame (10).
3. A machine according to claim 2, characterised in that said first
and second wheels (54, 56) are shaped to define a determined
transmission ratio .tau. of said articulated mechanism (40), to
make, in use, instant by instant, each position of said first
rocker arm (42), and of said footrest (30), conditional to a
position taken by said second rocker arm (44).
4. A machine according to claim 2, characterised in that said first
and second wheels (54, 56) are shaped to define a determined
transmission ratio .tau. of said articulated mechanism (40), to
univocally associate, in use, instant by instant, each position of
said first rocker arm (42) and of said footrest (30) with a
determined position of said second rocker arm (44), also as a
function of an angle (.alpha. ) between said first and second
rocker arms (42, 44).
5. A machine according to claim 2, characterised in that said
transmission (52) with parallel axes extends parallel to said
second rocker arm (44).
6. A machine according to claim 2, characterised in that said
transmission (52) comprises a belt (58) suitable to mechanically
couple to each other said first and second wheels (54, 56) and said
first and second rocker arms (42, 44).
7. A machine according to claim 2, characterised in that said first
wheel (54) is fixed with respect to said frame (10).
8. A machine according to claim 7, characterised by comprising
means (60) to dissipate power suitable to cause resistance to the
movement of each said footrest (30) for the purpose of promoting
the muscular development of a user during training.
9. A machine according to claim 8, characterised in that said
dissipating means (60) comprise a first elastic component (62) that
connects said first rocker arm (44) and said frame (10) to each
other.
10. A machine according to claim 8, characterised by comprising
return means (62) suitable to position said second rocker arm (44)
in a determined starting position if there is no load acting on
said corresponding footrest (30).
11. A machine according to claim 10, characterised in that said
return means (62) comprise a second elastic component (62) that
connects said second rocker arm (44) and said frame (10) to each
other.
12. A machine according to claim 11, characterised in that said
first elastic component (62) comprises said second elastic
component (62).
13. A method for constructing a gymnastic machine having a frame
(10) and an exercise station (20) provided with at least one
footrest (30) movable with respect to said frame (10) along a first
open trajectory (P1); each said footrest (30) being supported by an
articulated mechanism (40) having a first rocker arm (42) and a
second rocker arm (44) coupled in a rotatable manner to each other,
and with said second rocker arm (44) coupled in a rotatable manner
to said frame (10); and means (50) to control rotation of said
first rocker arm (42) suitable to minimise the size of the volumes
engaged by movable masses in said exercise station (20) and around
each said footrest (30), characterised in that it comprises the
step to associate means (50) to control rotation of said first
rocker arm (42) with each said second rocker arm (44) to minimise
the size of the volumes engaged by movable masses (42, 44) around
each relative footrest (30).
14. A training method on a gymnastic machine having a frame (10)
and an exercise station (20) provided with at least one footrest
(30) movable with respect to said frame (10) along a first open
trajectory (P1); each said footrest (30) being supported by an
articulated mechanism (40) having a first rocker arm (42) and a
second rocker arm (44) coupled in a rotatable manner to each other,
and with said second rocker arm (44) coupled in a rotatable manner
to said frame (10); and means (50) to control rotation of said
first rocker arm (42) suitable to minimise the size of the volumes
engaged by movable masses in said exercise station (20) and around
each said footrest (30), characterized in that a step to exert an
outward thrust on each said footrest (30) is associated with a step
to impose on said first rocker arm (42) a counter-rotation with
respect to said second rocker arm (44) to condition, in use,
instant by instant, each position of said first rocker arm (42) and
of said footrest (30) with respect to a position of said second
rocker arm (44) with respect to said frame (10), also as a function
of an angle (.alpha.) between said first and second rocker arms
(42)(44) corresponding to an idle position of said first and second
rocker arms (42)(44).
15. A method according to claim 14, characterized in that said
first and second rocker arms (42)(44) are constrained to each other
to rotate with respect to each other by an angle determined
according to a transmission ratio (.tau.) to condition, in use,
instant by instant, each position of said first rocker arm (42) and
of said footrest (30) with respect to a determined position of said
second rocker arm (44) with respect to said frame (10).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a machine effectively
usable for performing physical exercises. In particular, the
present invention relates to a gymnastic machine having at least
one pair of footrests for the repeated performance of alternating
movements along an open trajectory. In more detail, the present
invention relates to a gymnastic machine provided with at least a
pair of footrests for repeatedly performing alternating movements
along an open trajectory for training with prolonged cyclical
exertions of the lower limbs.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] In the field of gymnastic machines there are well-known
skating simulators for training of the lower limbs particularly
suitable for cardiovascular training sessions.
[0005] Some machines of this type are produced in implementation of
patents whose teachings have already been described and discussed
in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/908,316 filed on May 6, 2005
which is incorporated herein for reference thereto. Furthermore,
the teachings that can be drawn from this patent application have
enabled the construction of a machine called "Cardio Wave", in
which a pair of footrests, each of which supported by an arm is
hinged to a frame and is movable along an open trajectory according
to a composite movement when each arm is moved outward. This
composite movement is governed for each arm by an articulated
mechanism, which connects the frame to the respective footrest. The
arms of the two footrests are positioned crossing over each other
and therefore have a considerable extension but, to avoid coming
into reciprocal contact or, even worse, knocking against each other
during movement, they are shaped asymmetrically. Therefore, both
the arms and the relative articulated mechanisms are constructed in
a different manner. This peculiarity makes the bill of materials of
the gymnastic machine constructed according to the dictates of
application Ser. No. 10/908,316 particularly intricate and complex,
and consequently the machine can only be produced with high
production investments, due to the large amount of equipment
required by the considerable number of pieces of different shapes
and dimensions, even if for identical functions. To limit these
problems, the applicant has varied the machine concept to make it
symmetrical and has described it in U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 11/494,994 filed on Jul. 28, 2006. In this case, the machine is
symmetrical and each footrest is supported by the connecting rod of
an articulated quadrilateral, and is movable with respect to this
connecting rod according to the aforesaid composite movement
through a lever carried by the connecting rod.
[0006] It must be observed that in the case of the U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/494,994 the pivot axis of the footrest is
not positioned on the centre line of the connecting rod eyes.
Therefore, the pivot axes of the connecting rod and of the footrest
on the connecting rod are arranged in a triangle, and the
connecting rod, triangular in shape, should be produced as a
box-shaped body in order to present the necessary rigidity and a
reasonable weight. Therefore, each footrest must have a
corresponding support with a considerable cost and a particularly
compact mechanism in which the respective components frequently
overlap one another.
[0007] With regard to the description above, both in the case of
inventive concept pursuant to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/908,316 and in the case of the inventive concept pursuant to
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/494,994 the construction of a
protective casing for the mechanisms/articulated quadrilaterals
supporting the footrests is undoubtedly necessary to avoid serious
injuries in the event of the user losing his/her balance and
placing a foot or limb in general in the space swept by the
footrests and/or by the quadrilateral components. Furthermore, the
design and production of this casing will be particularly complex,
and will involve a considerable commitment in relation to the cost
for the respective design, production, assembly and maintenance
operations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention relates to a machine effectively
usable for performing training exercises. In more detail, the
present invention relates to a gymnastic machine having at least
one pair of footrests for the repeated performance of alternating
movements along an open trajectory. Therefore, this invention can
be effectively applied both to gymnastic machines aimed principally
at muscular development and to machines suitable for the training
with prolonged cyclical exertions of the lower limbs.
[0009] The object of the present invention is to construct a
gymnastic machine that allows the disadvantages described above to
be solved, and which is suitable to satisfy a plurality of
requirements that to date have still not been addressed, and
therefore, suitable to represent a new and original source of
economic interest and capable of modifying the current market of
skating simulators.
[0010] According to the present invention, a gymnastic machine is
constructed, whose main characteristics are described in at least
one of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] Further characteristics and advantages of the machine
according to the present invention will be more apparent from the
description below, set forth with reference to the accompanying
drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of
embodiment, in which identical or corresponding parts of the
machine itself are identified by the same reference numbers. In
particular:
[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic side elevation view of a
preferred embodiment of the machine according to the present
invention;
[0013] FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of FIG. 1, with parts
removed for clarity;
[0014] FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view in an enlarged scale
of a portion of FIG. 1, with parts removed for clarity;
[0015] FIG. 4 is a view in an enlarged scale of FIG. 3, with parts
removed for clarity; and
[0016] FIG. 5 schematically illustrates some geometrical details of
FIG. 1 in two different operating positions, with parts removed for
clarity.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] In FIG. 1, no. 1 indicates a gymnastic machine effectively
usable for performing skating training exercises. This machine 1
comprises a frame 10 and an exercise station 20 provided with at
least one footrest 30 movable with respect to the frame 10 along an
open trajectory P1. Each footrest 30 is supported rotatably by an
articulated mechanism 40, which comprises a first rocker arm 42 and
a second rocker arm coupled to each other. The first rocker arm 42
presents a free end 48 supporting a respective footrest 30 and is
supported, at the opposite side from the free end 48 thereof, by a
second rocker arm 44, which is rotatably coupled to the frame 10 by
a respective support 12, substantially cylindrical and provided
with a turning pair 14. The machine 1 also comprises a device 50 to
control relative rotation of the two rocker arms 42 and 44 which is
associated with the second rocker arm 44. The decision to install
this control device 50 on the rocker arm 44 has the purpose of
minimising the size of the volumes engaged by the moving masses of
the station 20, and consequently the two rocker arms 42 and 44 and
the footrest 30 for each mechanism 40.
[0018] In particular, the control device 50 comprises a
transmission 52 with parallel axes which, in use, following a
rotation imposed on the first rocker arm 42 caused by outward
actuation of the respective footrest 30, is suitable to produce a
relative counter-rotation of the first and second rocker arms 42
and 44 with respect to each other according to a determined
transmission ratio .tau. which, owing to the particular
construction, conditions operation of the articulated mechanism 40.
This transmission 52 can be mechanical or of any other type. In any
case, for simplicity, it could be constructed as illustrated in
FIG. 3 and therefore comprises a first wheel 54 associated with the
second rocker arm 44 and carried fixed by the frame 10 at the level
of the pivot axis of said second rocker arm 44; a second wheel 56
carried by the second rocker arm 44 in a freely rotatable manner
and angularly rotatable jointly with the first rocker arm 42; and a
belt 58 which is wound in a ring on the periphery of the wheels 54
and 56 to mechanically couple the wheels 54 and 56 themselves, and
consequently the rocker arms 42 and 44, to control the rotations
thereof in a reciprocally opposite direction. As is known, the
transmission ratio .tau. can be calculated as the ratio between the
diameters of the wheels 56 and 54 in the case of a belt 58 suitable
to act by friction, or as the ratio between the teeth of the wheel
of lesser diameter and the teeth of the wheel of greater diameter
known and not illustrated, or between the teeth of two toothed
wheels coupled directly to each other or coupled remotely through a
toothed belt. In the case of a generic belt 58, in order to make
the mechanical coupling between the wheels 54 and 56 rigid, a
tensioning pulley 59 has been provided, which presents an axis
parallel to the axis of the wheels 54 and 56 and is carried idle by
the second rocker arm 44. In the case of users with a considerable
mass, the wheels 54 and 56, the pulley 59 and the belt 58 could be
toothed, in order to entirely eliminate the risk of friction and
loss of phase between the two rocker arms 42 and 44.
[0019] With regard to the above description, when in use an outward
thrust is exerted on each footrest 30, and therefore indirectly on
the first rocker arm 42, the presence of the transmission 52
imposes a counter-rotation on the first rocker arm 42 with respect
to the second rocker arm 44, with the result that the first rocker
arm 42 tends to rotate less than the second rocker arm 44 with
respect to a rigid body motion of the first rocker arm 42 with
respect to the second rocker arm 44. To better clarify the above
description, reference is made to FIG. 5, which shows the second
rocker arm 44 and the first rocker arm 42 of the articulated
mechanism 40 in two positions P, idle, and a generic position P',
unequivocally determined by the determined position taken by the
second rocker arm 44, by the value of the transmission ratio .tau.
between the wheels 56 and 54 and by the initial value of the angle
.alpha. between the first and the second rocker arm 42 and 44 in
the idle position P. In the same FIG. 5, the first rocker arm 42
has also been illustrated by a dashed line, to represent the
position in which said first rocker arm 42 would be located if it
were rigidly connected to the second rocker arm 44. This situation
is without doubt undesirable, as the user could not perform
training correctly. It is clear that the value of the angle .alpha.
between the first and the second rocker arm 42 and 44, together
with the value of .tau. condition the position of the end 48 of the
first rocker arm 42 supporting the footrest 30 with respect to the
circumference that said free end 48 would trace if the first and
the second rocker arm 42 and 44 were rigidly connected to each
other.
[0020] Naturally, the machine 1 comprises a load device 60 suitable
to dissipate power to allow a user to perform a training exercise,
as well as a correct skating movement. For simplicity, a torsion
spring 62 coaxial with the turning pair 14 has been positioned
between the rocker arm 44 and a respective cylindrical support to
confer resistance to the movement of the assembly comprising the
two rocker arms 42 and 44 and of the footrest 30, and therefore
promote the muscular development of a user during training.
[0021] Naturally, this spring 62 exerts a force that tends to
oppose relative rotation of the two rocker arms 42 and 44 triggered
by actuation of the relative footrest, and therefore this spring 62
can also be interpreted as a return component, suitable to maintain
and re-position said second rocker arm in a determined starting
position when no load is acting on the respective footrest 30 and
therefore on the spring 62 intended as belonging to the load device
60. Naturally, it is advantageous to number the spring considered
as belonging to the device 60 and the spring intended as return
component in the same way, with the same number 62.
[0022] Furthermore, it should be specified that this machine 1 can
be produced according to a constructional method having the step to
associate the device 50 to control rotation of the first rocker arm
42 with the respective second rocker arm 44 to minimise the size of
the volumes engaged by movable masses, and consequently by said
rocker arms 42 and 44 in the station 20 and around each relative
footrest 30.
[0023] Finally, it is clear that modifications and variants can be
made to the machine 1 described and illustrated herein without
however departing from the protective scope of the present
invention.
[0024] It must nonetheless be noted that the machine 1 described
above is particularly interesting from the user safety point of
view. In fact, each rocker arm 42 and 44 is supported in a
cantilevered fashion, and therefore it is very simple to provide a
casing that encloses the underlying space to minimise the risk of
an user suffering a trauma to a limb caused by lateral striking,
and being knocked down by one of the two rocker arms 42 and 44, or
by a moving footrest 30.
* * * * *