FR2843543A1 - Physical exercise machine has ramp on which carriage slides and leg crank connected to pivoting rack - Google Patents

Abstract

The physical exercise machine has a base (1) with a ramp (2) and a carriage (4) mounted for travelling on the ramp. A back support is connected to the carriage and a rack (11) has a crank (12) pivoted on the end. There are retainers on the crank to receive the users legs. The rack is pivotable on either side of a central position. The carriage can have a damper.

Description

IMPROVEMENT TO A DEVICE FOR PERFORMING EXERCISES

PHYSICAL

  The present invention relates to an improvement to a device 5 making it possible to perform physical exercises, in particular weight training and stretching between the distal end of a leg and the trunk of a human body,

  like that described and illustrated in FR-A-2 755 022.

  The device described in this document essentially comprises means for moving the distal end of the leg of a human body in a first movement, means for moving the trunk in a second

  movement, and means for applying a couple of forces respectively to the distal end of the leg and to the trunk to tend to distance them from each other.

  It is further provided that the means for moving the distal end of the leg in the first movement and the means for moving the trunk in the second movement are arranged so that these first and second movements are both out of phase alternating movements. one over the other

  of a determined value and advantageously of the same amplitude.

  The means for moving the distal end of the leg in the first reciprocating movement, they comprise a plate, a crank, means for mounting the crank in rotation about an axis relative to the plate, a hooking pad from the distal end of the leg, means for mounting the hooking pad in rotation on the crank at a hooking point, the point

  hooking is not located on the axis of rotation of the crank.

  The means for moving the trunk in the second reciprocating movement 25 comprise a plate, a trolley capable of receiving the trunk, means mounted in cooperation with the trolley to allow relative movement of the trunk relative to the trolley, means for mounting the trolley in translation on the plate, means for mounting an edge of the plate in cooperation with the plate at at least one point of cooperation, this point of cooperation not being confused with the point of attachment and not being located on the axis of rotation of the crank, a flexible link and means for mounting the two ends of the flexible link respectively in cooperation with the attachment point and a reference point on the carriage, the link defining a line not confused with the right

  constantly passing through the snap point and the reference point.

  It is also provided that, when the device is placed on a substantially horizontal ground in a place where there is a gravitational force, the means for applying a couple of forces respectively to the distal end of the leg and to the trunk to tend to away from each other have 5 means for tilting the tray relative to the horizontal so that the end

  distal of the leg is in the high position relative to the trunk.

  The use of the device described in this prior document has shown that it gives very good results, but the aim of the present invention is to improve this device to give it a structure which allows it to adapt more easily. to the morphology of its potential users and to give even better results compared to those obtained with the device recalled above, and which in addition allows it to present a more beautiful

  aesthetic than that of the prior device.

  More specifically, the subject of the present invention is a device 15 making it possible to perform physical exercises, in particular weight training and stretching between the distal end of the legs linked to the pelvis of the body of a human being and the trunk of this body. , in an environment where there is a gravitational force as on Earth, characterized by the fact that it comprises: a base, a ramp secured to the base, the inclined plane of the ramp forming with the horizontal direction an angle cx, a carriage, means for mounting the carriage in translation along the ramp in a given direction between a first high point and a second low point of this ramp, a file secured to the carriage, said file being capable of receiving the trunk of the human body, the plane of the backrest making with the horizontal direction an angle o2 defined so that the lowest part of the backrest capable of receiving the pelvis of the human body is located towards the first point, 30 p otence, a crank, means for mounting the crank in rotation at a first end of the bracket, about a first axis substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the given direction, this first axis being located at a level higher than the level at which the first point is located, means for hooking the distal end of each leg respectively into two third and fourth points of the crank, and means for mounting the stem in rotation at its second end relative to the base, around a second axis substantially parallel to the first axis, said second axis passing through a fifth point substantially located in the vertical plane passing through the first and second points, said fifth point being located, with respect to the ramp, so that the vertical 10 passing through the first point is located between the vertical passing through this fifth point and the vertical passing through the second point, said potenc e being arranged so that it is able to pivot around the second axis between two limit positions defined on either side of a median position, said median position being that in which the first straight line perpendicular to the first and second axes and passing through the fifth point is substantially perpendicular to the second straight line perpendicular to the first axis and passing

  noticeably through the lowest part of the backrest.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent during

  of the following description given with reference to the drawings which are given by way of illustration 20 but in no way limitative, in which:

  Figure 1 shows the block diagram of the improved device according to the invention for performing physical exercises including weight training and stretching between the distal end of a leg and the trunk of a human body, and Figure 2 shows a side view of an embodiment of the device according to the invention in accordance with the diagram in FIG. 1, which also makes it possible to

  highlight the aesthetics of the device according to the invention.

  It is clearly specified that, in the figures, the same references designate the same elements, whatever the figure in which they appear and whatever the form of representation of these elements. Similarly, if elements are not specifically referenced in one of the figures, their references

  can be easily found by referring to the other figure.

  The Applicant also wishes to specify that the figures represent a single embodiment of the object according to the invention, but that there may be

  other embodiments that meet the definition of this invention.

  It further specifies that, when, according to the definition of the invention, the object 5 of the invention comprises "at least one" element having a given function, the embodiment described may comprise several of these elements.

  It also specifies that, if the embodiment of the object according to the invention

  as illustrated comprise several elements of identical function and if, in the description, it is not specified that the object according to this invention must necessarily contain a particular number of these elements, the object of

  the invention could be defined as comprising "at least one" of these elements.

  The device according to the invention, an embodiment of which is shown in the two figures 1 and 2, makes it possible to carry out physical exercises in particular of musculation and stretching between the distal end Ed of the legs J 15 linked to the pelvis B of the body C of a human being and the trunk T of this body, in an environment where there is a gravitational force as on Earth Gt, as for example described and explained in FR-A-2 755 022 mentioned in the preamble of the

present description.

  This device comprises a base 1, a ramp 2 secured to the base, the inclined plane 3 of the ramp making an angle with the horizontal direction (o, a carriage 4, means 5 for mounting the carriage 4 in translation along of the ramp 2 in a given direction Dd between a first high point 6 and a second low point 7 of this ramp 2, a backrest 8 secured to the carriage 4, the backrest being able to receive the trunk T of the human body C, the plane 9 of the backrest 25 making with the horizontal direction Dh an angle oC2 defined so that the lowest part 10 of the backrest, capable of receiving the pelvis B of the human body C, is

located towards the first point 6.

  The device further comprises a bracket 11, a crank 12, means 13 for mounting the crank 12 in rotation at a first end 14 30 of the bracket 11, around a first axis 18 substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the given direction Dd , this first axis being located at a level higher than the level at which the first point 6 is located, and means for hooking 15 of the distal end Ed of each leg J respectively into two third 16 and fourth 17 points of the crank 12 which can be diametrically opposite with respect to the first axis 18 or at the same level by

  example on both sides of the crank 12.

  The hooking means 15 of the distal end of each leg are for example constituted by two stirrups in which the feet of the user of the device can be accommodated, these two stirrups being mounted free to rotate

  respectively in the third and fourth points 16, 17 defined above.

  The crank may for example be constituted by a double plate situated on either side of a motor, the output shaft of which is coupled by a bevel gear 10 to an axis integral with the two plates to drive them in rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the motor shaft. This configuration makes it possible to minimize the bulk and to give the device a particularly attractive aesthetic, in particular by hiding the motor from the view of the users of the device, the third and fourth points 16, 17 of the crank 15 defined above then being respectively located. on the two opposite sides

of the two trays.

  According to an important characteristic of the invention, the device comprises means 19 for mounting the stem 11 in rotation, at its second end 21, relative to the base 1, around a second axis 20 substantially parallel 20 to the first axis 18, this second axis 20 passing through a fifth point 22 substantially situated in the vertical plane passing through the first and second

points 6, 7.

  In addition, this fifth point is located, relative to the ramp 2 and therefore also the base 1, so that the vertical V1 passing through the first point 6 is located between the vertical V2 passing through this fifth point and the vertical V3 passing through the second point 7, the bracket 11 being arranged so that it is able to pivot around the second axis 20 between two limit positions P1, P2 defined on either side of a median position Pm, this position median being that in which the first straight line D1 perpendicular to the first and second 30 axes 18, 20 and passing through the fifth point 22 is substantially perpendicular to the second straight line D2 perpendicular to the first axis 18 and

  passing substantially through the lowest part 10 of the backrest 8.

  Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the first axis 18 describes an arc of a circle AC delimited between the two limit positions Pl and P2 illustrated by the angular sector of angle oa4, this arc of circle A, being represented on the Figure 1 in bold broken lines. As the median position Pm is perpendicular to the straight line D2, this arc of a circle can be considered, depending on the length of the stem 11, to be substantially linear and therefore therefore the angular position OC3 of the 5 legs J relative to the horizontal direction Dh, whatever their length, remains substantially the same, the limit position P2 of the bracket corresponding to the shortest leg length, the position P1 corresponding to the length

longest of legs.

  Optionally, to obtain a greater amplitude of the circular arc 10 A. defined above, for a greater difference between the largest and the shortest leg length, while maintaining the angular position of the legs at the value o (3, just move the fifth point 22 away from the first

axis 18 on the first straight line D1.

  The Applicant has found that the device gives the best results when the second straight line D2 makes, with the horizontal direction Dh, a

  angle 0 (3 substantially equal to twenty-five degrees.

  Therefore, it is also advantageous that the first high point 6 is at a relatively large level relative to the base 1 so that, possibly, the fifth point 22 can be moved away from the first axis 18 while retaining the difference in level between this first axis 18 and the first point

  6 and / or the lower part 10 of the file defined above.

  In addition, in order to simplify the structure of the device according to the prior art as defined in FR-A-2 755 022 mentioned above, the cable which connects the crank to the carriage is very advantageously replaced by means 25 30 to exert damping forces opposing the translation of the carriage 4 in the given direction Dd on the ramp 2. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, these means 30 are constituted by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder 31, one end 32 is attached to ramp 2

  and the other end 33 is integral with the carriage 4.

  A double-acting pneumatic cylinder very schematically comprises a cylinder, a piston mounted sliding inside this cylinder to delimit, inside the cylinder, two sealed chambers filled with a compressible fluid, like a gas, the piston comprising means for bringing the two chambers into communication, with a high pressure drop so that, whatever the direction in which the piston moves, the two chambers tend to exert a compressive force which gradually decreases due to the passage of the fluid from one room to another. Such an actuator is well known in itself and will therefore not be described more fully here. In addition, in order to help people comfortably and more effectively use the device as defined above, it is preferable that this device comprises at least one lever arm 40 (advantageously two located on either side of the carriage 4), means for mounting the lever arm in rotation at a first 41 of its two ends relative to the ramp 2, around a third axis 44 parallel to the first and second axes 18, 20, substantially below from the first high point 6 defined above, the second end 42 of the lever arm 40 being able to be located at the level of the lower part 10 of the backrest 8, and elastic means 43 for tending to move the lever arm 40 away of the stem 11. These elastic means 43 are for example

  constituted by a single acting pneumatic cylinder or the like.

  These lever arms 40 allow the user of the device, when he takes

  support with his hands on these lever arms, to increase the stretching effect between the top of the trunk at the shoulders and the distal end of the legs, but in a more damped and less brutal manner thanks to the elastic means 43 .

  To avoid the trunk T of the body C of the user of the device from being subjected, for whatever reason, to displacements of too great an amplitude, it is preferable that the device comprises means for limiting the rotation of the lever arm. These latter means can be constituted for example by limiting the stroke of the single-acting cylinder in the direction of its compression. The Applicant has moreover found that the device with the characteristics described above gives optimum results when the

  angles ac, and OC2 are respectively substantially equal to ten and twelve degrees.

  Similarly, in a configuration of the device which can respond to a large number of cases, the length of the bracket 11, taken between the first and second axes 18, 20, is substantially equal to eighty centimeters and the angle oa4 that between them the two limit positions Pl, P2 of the stem is

  substantially equal to twenty degrees.

  It is more advantageous that the position of the bracket can be adapted automatically, and not manually, so that, after having taken position 5 on the backrest 8, the user of the device can easily, without having to get up, adapt the position of the stem to the length of its legs as

explained above.

  For this purpose, the device may advantageously include means 50 for controlling the angular position of the bracket 11 relative to the base 1 10 and therefore to the ramp 2, as a function of the length of the legs J of the body C of l user of the device. These control means 50 are constituted for example by a gas cylinder or the like with a step-by-step movement of the rack type. The device described above operates in substantially the same way as that described in the prior document mentioned in particular in

  preamble to this description, and its operation will therefore not be

more fully explained here.

  In addition, the structure described above of the device according to the invention, allows

  to produce this device by giving it a very particular and attractive aesthetic, like that which is illustrated in FIG. 2.

Claims (11)

  1. Device making it possible to perform physical exercises, in particular bodybuilding and stretching between the distal end (Ed) of the legs (J) linked to the pelvis (B) of the body (C) of a human being and the trunk (T) of this body, in a medium where there is a gravitational force as on Earth (Gt), characterized in that it comprises: a base (1), a ramp (2) integral with the base, the inclined plane (3) of the ramp making with the horizontal direction (Dh) an angle ocI, a carriage (4), means (5) for mounting the carriage (4) in translation along the ramp (2) following a given direction (Dd) between a first high point (6) and a second low point (7) of this ramp (2), a backrest (8) integral with the carriage (4), said backrest being able to receive the trunk (T) of the human body (C), the plane (9) of the backrest making with the horizontal direction (Dh) an angle (2 defined so that the lowest part (10) of the backrest capable of receiving the pelvis (B ) of the horn ps (C) human is located towards the first point (6), a bracket (11), a crank (12), means (13) for mounting the crank (12) in rotation at a first end (14) of the bracket (11), around a first axis (18) substantially horizontal and perpendicular to the given direction (Dd), this first axis being located at a level higher than the level at which the first point (6) is located , means for hooking (15) the distal end (Ed) of each leg (J) respectively at two third (16) and fourth (17) points of the crank (12), and means (19) for mount the stem (11) in rotation at its second end (21) relative to the base (1), around a second axis (20) substantially parallel to the first axis (18), said second axis (20) passing by a fifth point (22) substantially located in the vertical plane passing through the first and second points (6, 7), said fifth point being located, relative to the ramp (2 ), so that the vertical (Vl) passing through the first point (6) is located between the vertical (V2) passing through this fifth point and the vertical (V3) passing through the second point (7), said bracket (11 ) being arranged so that it is able to pivot about the second axis (20) between two limit positions 5 (Pi, P2) defined on either side of a median position (Pm), said median position being that in which the first straight line (Di) perpendicular to the first and second axes (18, 20) and passing through the fifth point (22) is substantially perpendicular to the second straight line (D2) perpendicular to the first axis (18) and passing substantially through the lowest part (10) of the backrest (8). 10 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the second straight line (D2) makes, with the horizontal direction (Dh), an angle (c3 substantially equal to twenty-five degrees.   3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that   the fifth point (22) is located at a level below the level at which the first point (6).   4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises means (30) for exerting damping forces opposing   the translation of the carriage (4) in the given direction (Dd) on said ramp (2).   5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the means (30) for exerting damping forces opposing the translation of the carriage in the direction given on said ramp, consist of a double pneumatic cylinder effect (31) of which one end (32) is integral with said   ramp (2) and the other end (33) is integral with said carriage (4).   6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one lever arm (40), means for mounting the arm of   lever rotating at a first (41) of its two ends relative to the ramp (2), around a third axis (44) parallel to the first and second axes (18, 20), the second end (42) of the lever arm (40) being able to be located at the bottom part (10) of said backrest (8), and elastic means (43)   to tend to move the lever arm (40) away from the bracket (11).   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the elastic means (43) for tending to move the lever arm away from the bracket consist of a single-acting pneumatic cylinder.   8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises   means for limiting the rotation of the lever arm against said elastic means.   9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the   fact that the angles oai that the inclined plane (3) of the ramp makes with the horizontal direction (Dh) and o2 that the plane (9) of the backrest makes with the horizontal direction 15 (Dh) are respectively substantially equal to ten and twelve degrees.   10. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by   fact that it comprises means (50) for controlling the angular position of the bracket (11) as a function of the length of the legs (J) of the human body (C). 20   11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by   fact that the length of the bracket (11), taken between the first and second axes (18, 20), is substantially equal to eighty centimeters and that the angle OC4 which the two limit positions make between them (P1, P2 ) of the stem is substantially equal to twenty degrees.