EP0176819A1 - Mechanotherapy apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Mechanical therapeutic apparatus comprising a vertical beam, a carriage movable with respect to the beam, guides for displacement of this carriage, a brake for the carriage in one direction of its displacement, and a grasping device for the carriage. The brake for the carriage (14) comprises a set of elastic cords (11) of which one extremity of each is retained on a base (6) of the beam (1) and the other extremity, in active position, after passing about a pulley (13) is adapted to be connected by the user to an element of the carriage (14). In the active position, this latter extremity is adapted to be retained by another element (18) itself connected to a cover (16) of the beam (1). The brake for the carriage (14) may comprise in combination with the cords (11), a set of weights (67).

Description

The present invention relates to a mechanotherapy device for the practice of corrective gymnastics of the back and spine and to perform other gymnastic movements both to work the biceps and triceps and to develop the muscles of the legs.

One of the aims of the invention is to produce such an apparatus which can be easily assembled and dismantled by the user. Said apparatus also makes it possible, using various accessories, to engage in multiple exercises.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the weight of the device as much as possible in order to facilitate transport, reduce its size and the manufacturing cost.

Other advantages and features of the invention will emerge from the description which follows.

• La figure 1 montre une vue latérale d'un appareil de mécanothérapie suivant l'invention.
• La figure 2 est une vue de face et par dessous, à plus grande échelle d'une partie dudit appareil.
• La figure 3 également à plus grande échelle est une vue de face et par dessus, avec coupe et arrachement partiels, d'une partie de la figure 1.
• La figure 4 est une vue frontale par l'arrière et à plus grande échelle d'une partie de la figure 1.
• La figure 5 est une vue latérale avec coupe partielle et à plus grande échelle d'un élément de la figure 1.
• La figure 6 est une vue par la face arrière de l'élément montré en figure 5.
• La figure 7 est une vue par la face avant de l'élément montré en figure 5.
• La figure 8 est une vue en bout de la partie inférieure de l'élément représenté en figure 5.
• La figure 9 est une vue en bout de la partie supérieure de l'élément montré en figure 5 avec coupe transversale d'une autre partie de l'appareil représenté en figure 1.
• Les figures 10 et 11 sont des vues latérales et par l'arrière de l'appareil selon la figure 1, pourvu d'un ensemble d'accessoires.

In the attached drawing given by way of example:

• Figure 1 shows a side view of a mechanotherapy device according to the invention.
• Figure 2 is a front view and from below, on a larger scale of a part of said apparatus.
• FIG. 3 also on a larger scale is a front view and from above, with partial section and cutaway, of a part of FIG. 1.
• Figure 4 is a front view through the rear and on a larger scale of part of Figure 1.
• FIG. 5 is a side view with partial section and on a larger scale of an element of FIG. 1.
• FIG. 6 is a view from the rear face of the element shown in FIG. 5.
• FIG. 7 is a view from the front face of the element shown in FIG. 5.
• FIG. 8 is an end view of the lower part of the element shown in FIG. 5.
• FIG. 9 is an end view of the upper part of the element shown in FIG. 5 with cross-section of another part of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
• Figures 10 and 11 are side and rear views of the apparatus according to Figure 1, provided with a set of accessories.

According to the invention, the device shown in FIG. 1 comprises a vertical and rectilinear beam 1 made of aluminum alloy, the cross section of which is shown in FIG. 9. Said beam is provided with recesses 2 which contribute to its lightening, a longitudinal housing 3 of generally rectangular shape, open at the rear, of a second longitudinal housing 4 in the shape of a U, narrower than the first and opening onto the latter. The front face of the beam 1 has over its entire length a slide 5 in dovetail whose purpose will be explained later (Figure 9).

A base 6 (Figure 3), supporting the beam 1, is provided with four holes 7 intended to ensure its attachment to the ground using four screws not shown. It also has an opening elongated and transverse 8 with, in the middle, a clearance 9; L-shaped lugs 10 protrude from the base 6. and are arranged so as to each penetrate into a corresponding recess 2 of the beam 1, with a view to positioning said beam relative to said base.

Elastic links 11 with round section (Figures 1, 2 3) provided at each end with metal cylindrical heads 12 of larger diameter (fig. 3), are each retained by the head of their lower end in the opening 8, after that said head was introduced through the central clearance 9 and that it was made to slide laterally. In the present embodiment, six elastic links 11 are shown in section in FIG. 3, arranged one beside the other on either side of the clearance 9.

The elastic links in the use phase, stretched along the beam 1, each pass through the groove of a pulley 13 and are connected to a carriage 14 (Figures 1, 5, 6) by the head 12. The carriage 14 for this purpose comprises a rake 15 (visible in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 9) provided with teeth 15a in the intervals of which the elastic links 11 are retained by their respective heads 12. To be placed in the non-active phase, the links 11 are easily extracted from the rake 15 (Figures 5, 6 and 9) by the user, when the carriage 14 is in the high position. The apparatus comprises six pulleys 13 rotatably mounted on an axis integral with two flanges 13a which come in one piece with a cover 16.

The cover 16, shown in FIG. 2, seen from below has three lugs 17 introduced into three of the corresponding recesses 2 (FIG. 9) at the top of the beam 1, with a view to positioning the said cover with respect to the upper part of said beam. A set of parallel teeth 18 coming in one piece with the cover 16 protrude below the latter and are capable of retaining in non-active position one or more of the elastic links 11 whose heads 12 are taken between the teeth 18 under the effect of the residual tension of the links 11. In FIG. 2 and by way of example, two elastic links 11 have been shown in the inactive position, the other four, shown in section, being in the active position. A support 19 integral with the cover 16 (Figures 1 and 2) carries at its lower part a damping pad, for example of rubber 20, which constitutes a stop for the carriage 14 in the high position.

The carriage 14 is provided with 2 pairs of lateral rollers 21, 22 carried by parallel axes integral with said carriage. Said rollers are engaged in the longitudinal housing 3 of the beam 1. Two other rollers 23, 24 with axes perpendicular to those of the rollers 21, 22 are engaged in the second longitudinal housing 4 of said beam (Figure 9). It should be noted that the rollers 21, 22, 23 and 24 are dimensioned so as to provide the clearances necessary for their rolling on one or the other of the walls of the housings 3 and 4; moreover, they are coated at their periphery with a rubber ring capable of reducing rolling noise during the movement of the carriage 14 on the beam 1.

The carriage 14 further comprises two lateral flanges 25, preferably made of a resistant thermoplastic material, fixed respectively by four screws (not shown), in the vicinity of the ends of two transverse spacers 26 coming in one piece with the carriage 14. The flanges 25 respectively have two circular orifices .27 of the same diameter and centered on the same axis intended to retain a bar 28 bent symmetrically in the same part plane and on the other side of the carriage 14 and constituting a gripping means for the user.

The ends of the bar 28 make with its central part, engaged in the carriage 14, an angle which can preferably be between five and twelve degrees. The orifices 27 are provided at their periphery with a set of blind and rectangular recesses 29 disposed radially and diametrically opposite, in two of which the ends of a transverse pin 30 secured to the bar 28 engage when the said bar is threaded in the two holes 27 (Figure 5).

In the example shown, the bent bar 28 (in section in Figure 5) can occupy 4 positions at will of the user (Figure 4). A movable lock 31 mounted in rotation about an axis 32 (Figures 5 and 6) integral with the flange 25 is capable of retaining one end of the pin 30 in one of the corresponding recesses 29 and chosen for this purpose, in view of 'prevent any angular and transverse movement of the bar 28 in the position of use.

A locking system 29, 30, 31, 32 as described above can be provided on each of the flanges 25 so as to make it possible to introduce and lock the bar 28 in the orifices 27 both on the right and on the right. 'to the left of the carriage 14.

It will be noted that the rear part of the carriage 14 (the flanges 25 and the rake 15) protrudes at the rear of the beam 1; so are even from the central part of the bar 28. This arrangement results in various advantages among which there will be mentioned easy accessibility by the user to the various members of the carriage 14, as well as the possibility of optimum travel of said carriage over almost all of it. the height of the beam 1.

At its base, the carriage 14 includes an accessory and removable pulley carrier 33, provided with a pulley 34 whose axis 35 is integral with said pulley carrier, itself capable of being introduced by the user into a tail slide. dovetail 36 (FIG. 8) made at the lower part of the carriage 14.

A metal part 37 in the shape of an inverted U (FIG. 3) made integral with the base 6 by two screws 38, is provided in its middle with an orifice 39 capable of receiving and retaining the knotted end of a cord 40. The latter passes through the groove of the pulley 34, then descends to then be applied to the groove of a pulley 41 whose axis 42 is integral with the base 6 by two projecting parts 43 coming from the foundry in one piece with said base. The part 37 carries an elastic damper 37a (for example made of rubber) capable of receiving the carriage 14 in the low position.

A milled opening 44, at the base of the beam 1, allows the rope 40 to go up, externally to said beam, in the slide 5 (Figure 9) and pass between the grooves of two adjacent pulleys 45 and 46 whose parallel axes between them are secured to a slide 47 housed in the slide 5 and capable of being moved to a suitable height by the user, then stopped using a tightening bolt 48 secured to said slide.

It should be noted that the outer end of the rope 40 can be pulled and released in all directions at the option of the user and without significant friction, thanks to the presence of said pulleys 45 and 46 whose two grooves are close one from the other.

A seat 49 (FIG. 1) is fixed, in a suitably inclined position towards the beam 1, on a seat carrier 50 secured to a section 51 in the form of an inverted U. Said profile is capable of sliding in a housing 52 provided for this purpose under the base 6 so as to be able to approach or distance at will the seat 49 from the beam 1. The profile 51 further comprises a set of orifices 52a in each of which can engage a vertical and movable pin 53 (Figure 3) secured to a transverse finger 53a. The pin 53 and the finger 53a are shown in FIG. 3 with a partial cut away of an upper part of the base 6 in an orifice from which said pin can move when the user actuates the finger 53a. The preselected orifice 52a, the pin 53 and its finger 53a constitute a device for locking the seat 49 at a suitable distance from the beam 1.

A steel blade 54 (FIG. 1) provided with a set of orifices 55 is capable of sliding between the side walls of the profile 51 and comprises in front of the seat 49 a footrest consisting of a vertical upright 56 and d 'at least one transverse bar 57 introduced into one of the orifices 58 of said upright. The distance between the footrest 56, 57 and the seat 49 is adjustable by moving the blade 54 under the profile 51. A pin (not shown) manually controlled by a finger 59 is introduced into one of the orifices 55 in order to lock, at suitable distance, the footrest 56, 57. The finger 59, manually controlled, can move in an elongated opening 60 secured to the seat carrier 50.

It follows from these provisions that the seat 49 and the footrest 56, 57 can be separately or in combination, be moved by the user while remaining integral with the beam 1 after blocking each of them, by the two devices lock described above. If necessary, the seat 49 and the footrest 56, 57 can be removed completely by moving each of them to the left after unlocking.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate the device shown in the previous figures, provided with a set of accessories easily placed by the user at the rear of the beam 1.

For this purpose, the base 6 and the cover 16 have two notches 61 and 62 (Figure 1) which can receive respectively rectangular supports 63 and 64 whose ends, protruding on either side of the beam 1 (Figure 11) , are interconnected by vertical and parallel bars 65 and 66. Superimposed steel plates or weights 67 are provided with lateral orifices 68 through which the bars 65 and 66 pass with the clearances necessary to allow a translational movement vertical of said plates. The latter also each comprise a central orifice 69 in which a vertical pin 70 can slide, itself provided with regularly spaced orifices opposite corresponding transverse orifices 71 made in the weights 67.

The spindle 70 can be made integral with all or part of the weights 67 by introducing a pin 72 in one of the holes 71. Said boche is fixed by its upper end to a spindle holder 73 capable, like weights 67, of sliding along the bars 65, 66. The end of a cord 74 is attached to a ring 75 secured to the spindle holder 73.

The rope 74 passes, parallel to the bars 65, 66, in the grooves of two pulleys 75 and 76 (Figures 2 and 10) whose parallel axes are integral with the flanges 13a. It then descends towards the carriage 14 to which it is fixed using a knot made at its end, said knot penetrating into a central notch 77 (FIGS. 6 and 9) of the rake 15.

The lower weight 67 (FIGS. 10 and 11) rests on two shock absorbers constituted by coil springs 78 through which the bars 65 and -66 pass while elastic spacing members 79 are fixed on or under the weights 67.

Finally, it should be noted that the cover 16 has a notch 80 (Figure 2) in the shape of a dovetail which coincides with the end of the slide 5 (Figure 9), when said cover covers the top of the beam 1. Two orifices 81 formed in a rim of the cover 16 make it possible to fix the latter using screws (not shown) against a wall.

The operation of the device is as follows: the user adjusts the position of the seat 49 and that of the footrest 56, 57, at a suitable distance from the beam 1 and introduces, if it is not already there, the bent bar 28 in the orifices 27 of the flanges 25 integral with the carriage 14 (Figures 1 and 4). The angular orientation of the ends of the bar 28 is adapted by immobilizing the pin 30 (Figure 5) in the recesses 29 required using the lock 31.

The judicious orientation of the ends of the bar 28 is essential in order to achieve, by suitable exercise, a progressive corrective effect on the patient's back and an increase in his musculature.

Before the start of the exercise, the carriage 14 is in the high position, pressing against the shock absorber 20. The preselected elastic links 11 have been put in the active position (FIG. 61, while the other links are retained in the non-active position as shown in FIG. 2. The user then grasps the bar 28 in the vicinity of its ends with both hands and pulls down the carriage 14 against the elastic force resulting from the elongation of the links 11, takes place on the seat 49, the feet resting on each side of the bar 57 acting as a footrest.

The user, once installed, practices vertical back and forth movements which have the effect of successively stretching and relaxing the elastic links 11 in the active position. Thanks to the footrest 56, 56 and the suitable inclination of the seat 49, the lower back of the user remains constantly applied against the beam 1, an important condition for the proper conduct of muscle exercise.

It should also be noted that the stroke of the carriage 14 is only limited over the height of the beam 1 by the dampers 20 and 37a which define the maximum amplitude of movement of said carriage.

Using the accessories described and shown in Figures 10 and 11, the user can increase the tensile force on the bar 28 by adding to the elastic force of the links 11, one or several weights 67 carried by the spindle 70 and the spindle holder 73 after insertion of the dowel 72 into one of the orifices 71. By putting all the links 11 in the inactive position, the user can use only constant force of weights 67.

It therefore follows from the invention that the apparatus described makes it possible to combine the action, separately or in combination, of two sets of forces, one elastic, the other constant.

The user being standing, facing the device, can also engage in other muscular exercises by traction on the free end of the rope 40 (Figure 1) passing between the grooves of the pulleys 45 and 47 of the slide 47 To this end, the user can easily extract the bar 28 from the carriage 14 and attach it to the end of said rope to use it as a gripping means.

The slide 47 is brought to a suitable height in the slide 5 and locked by tightening the bolt 48 using a removable key (not shown). In the high position, the slide 47 allows the rope 40 to be pulled down, while in the low position of the slide 47 the pull is exerted upwards. Other exercises make use of the possibility of lateral traction on said rope, the latter in fact being able to be stressed in all directions in front of the beam 1 without harmful friction.

When the rope 40 is not used, the pulley holder 33 is extracted from the slide 36 (Figures 8 and 9) to place it in the vicinity of the device so that the rope 40 is detached from the carriage 14 to allow the practice of the other exercises described above.

It goes without saying that the mechanical therapy device according to the invention has only been described by way of example and that without going beyond the scope thereof, various modifications could be made to it.

Claims (11)

1. Mechanotherapy device comprising a vertical beam, a carriage movable relative to said beam, means for guiding the movements of this carriage, means tending to brake the carriage in one direction of its movements, and means for gripping said carriage , characterized in that the said means tend to brake the carriage (14) comprise a set of elastic links (11), one end of each of which is retained on a base (6) of the beam (1) and the other end, in the active position, after passing over a pulley (13) is capable of being connected by the user to an element of the carriage (14), while in the inactive position, this last end is capable of being retained at a another element (18) itself secured to a cover (16) of the beam (1). 2. Mechanotherapy device according to claim 1, characterized in that the links (11) comprise at each of their ends a head (12), the lower head being retained in an opening (8) in the base (6), while the upper head, in the active position of the links (11), is inserted in the interval of two successive teeth (15a) of a rake (15) secured to the carriage (14). 3. Mechanotherapy device according to claim 1, characterized in that said gripping means comprises a transverse bar (28) capable of being introduced by the user into at least one lateral orifice (27) of the carriage (14), said bar (28) being bent symmetrically on either side of said carriage. 4. Mechanotherapy device according to claim 3, characterized in that the carriage (14) further comprises at least one manual locking device (29,30,31,32) capable of angularly and transversely blocking the bar (28) relative to the carriage (14), 5. Mechanotherapy device according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking device comprises, at the periphery of the lateral orifice (27), a set of blind recesses (29) arranged radially in at least one of which comes engaging a pin (30) integral with the bar (28), a latch (31) movable about an axis (32) being able, by angular displacement, to retain said pin in the recess (29) chosen by the user. 6. Mechanotherapy device according to claim 5, characterized in that the carriage (14) comprises a locking device placed on each side of said carriage so as to make possible the introduction and locking of the bar (28) as well from the right than from the left of the carriage (14). 7. Mechanotherapy device according to claim 1, characterized in that the carriage (14) has at its base a removable pulley holder (33). 8. Mechanotherapy device according to the claim 1, characterized in that the means tending to brake the carriage (14) comprise, in combination with the elastic links (11), a set of weights (67) and means (69 to 77) capable of adding to the elastic force of the links (11), that of at least one of the weights (67), when the carriage (14) is stressed. 9. Mechanotherapy device according to claim 1, provided with a seat, characterized in that said seat (49) comprises means (51 to 53a) able to adjust its horizontal distance to the beam (1) and to lock said seat in proper position. 10. Mechanotherapy device according to claims 1 and 9, characterized in that it comprises in combination with the seat (49), a footrest (56, 57) whose horizontal distance to the beam (1) is adjustable independently of that of said seat, means (55, 59, 60) being provided for locking the footrest in a suitable position. 11. Mechanotherapy device according to claims 1 to 11, as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

Images