EP1033151A2 - Exercising apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The physical exercise apparatus has a frame (2) with a central beam (3) supporting a slidable seat (6) and footrests (7). Arms (8a,b) are connected to the sides of the beam by resistances (12a,b). The arms have handgrips (11) placed adjacent to the vertical plane containing the middle axis of the beam.

Description

The present invention relates to an apparatus for performing physical exercises, especially exercises similar to those developed in the practice of rowing, of the type comprising a frame including a longitudinal central beam that can be placed substantially in horizontal position in service, a seat mounted sliding on said beam, support means for the feet of the user, who are linked to the beam towards its front end, a lever articulated provided on at least one side of the beam, and a resistant means which connects said lever to the frame to slow down the movement of the lever controlled by the user.

There are already many devices of the type listed above, usually called "rowers", which include, in most case, two articulated levers, namely a lever on each side of the longitudinal central beam, each lever simulating a train of one rowing boat. In some known models of rowing machine, such as example the "HYDRO-ROWER" model marketed by plaintiff, each lever is articulated on the frame so as to be able pivot around a vertical or substantially vertical pivot axis. In this case, in service, each lever moves in a plane horizontal or substantially horizontal when operated by the user of the device. Under these conditions, the device allows the user to carry out movements almost identical to those which would be carried out by handling the oars of a real boat to oars. However, as the two levers simulating the oars have necessarily a certain length and as they extend roughly horizontally and transversely with respect to the median axis longitudinal of the central beam of the frame of the device, the cross built on the ends of which the two are articulated respectively levers must itself have a relatively large length. It As a result, the device has a relatively large size in width and that, in order to be easily stored or transported, the frame of the device must be made in a foldable form, which makes its more complicated and costly to manufacture and may adversely affect stability of the device.

We also know devices of the above-mentioned kind, in which the lever or each lever is pivotally mounted on the frame around a pivot axis which is horizontal or substantially horizontal and orthogonal to the longitudinal median axis of the central beam of the frame the device. This is particularly the case in the devices described in the documents EP-A-0 095 226, EP-A-0 681 854 and GB-A-2 191 103 or still in the "HYDRO-STAR" device marketed by the plaintiff. In these last known devices, in service, each lever moves in a vertical plane parallel to the median axis longitudinal of the central beam of the device, when activated by the user. Such known devices have a space requirement width significantly smaller than that of the known device mentioned in the first place in which the levers are articulated so as to be able to pivot around a vertical or substantially vertical axis. In however, the movements it allows to perform are more distant of those that are actually performed by handling the oars of a real rowing boat.

The present invention therefore aims to provide an apparatus of the above-mentioned genre, which allows both close to those performed by handling the oars of a real rowing boat, while having a space requirement in width relatively small.

To this end, the apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that the pivot axis of the lever makes a predetermined angle, less than 90 °, with the longitudinal median axis of the said central beam longitudinal, so that the free end of the lever, provided a handle that can be grasped by the user, is located in or at immediate proximity to the vertical plane containing the median axis longitudinal of said beam, when the lever is pushed into its position extreme forward, and is moved away from said vertical plane when said lever is pulled into its extreme rear position.

The apparatus according to the invention can include, like the apparatuses known, two articulated levers arranged respectively on the side and on the other side of the longitudinal central beam of the frame, a resistant means being associated with each articulated lever. The pivot axis of each of the two articulated levers then makes said predetermined angle with the axis longitudinal median of said central beam, and this so symmetrical with respect to said longitudinal median axis. In these conditions, in service, when the two levers are pushed into their extreme forward position, the user's two hands are grouped together in or in the immediate vicinity of the plane containing the median axis longitudinal of said beam, while, if the predetermined angle above was chosen appropriately, the hands of the user are moved away from said vertical plane and lie respectively at the level of his shoulders when the two levers are pulled into their extreme rear position. Under these conditions, the movements made by the user's arms when the user pulls the two levers from their extreme forward position to their extreme position backwards and vice versa when he pushes them from their extreme position rear to their extreme front position, correspond well to movements carried out by handling the oars of a real boat oars.

The aforementioned predetermined angle can be between 82 ° and 86 °. For a given device, i.e. for a device whose two levers have a given length and have articulation points located at a given distance from the longitudinal median axis of the said central beam, the aforementioned predetermined angle may have a fixed value which is chosen so that when the two levers are pulled into their extreme rear position, the handles of the levers are spaced from each other by a distance corresponding to a value average shoulder widths of users. For example, in a embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention which will be described in detail below, said predetermined angle may be approximately equal to 84 °.

However, according to another embodiment of the invention, arrangements can also be made as discussed in detail below so that the aforementioned predetermined angle is adjustable, so that each user can adjust the device according to its own morphology.

The frame of the apparatus may advantageously comprise, in addition, two crosspieces fixed in their middle to the longitudinal central beam, transversely thereto while being spread in the direction longitudinal. Each lever can then be articulated on the face upper of one of the two crosspieces, near one of its ends outside or at selectable locations along the crosspiece to allow the above adjustment according to the user morphology.

That of the two crosspieces on which the two are articulated levers can have an arcuate shape in a horizontal plane. In this case, the pivot axis of each lever can be substantially perpendicular to the radius of the arc which is formed by the arched cross member and which passes through the location where the lever is articulated on said crosspiece arched.

According to another embodiment of the invention, each of the two levers can be articulated on the frame, for example on the crosspiece arched above, by means of a two-degree articulation of freedom ; a first of the two degrees of freedom corresponds to said axis of pivoting which makes said predetermined angle with the median axis longitudinal of the longitudinal central beam; the second degree of freedom can be provided by a second horizontal pivot axis or substantially horizontal, which is perpendicular to the first axis of pivoting. Such an arrangement also allows adaptation of the device, more precisely an adaptation of the spacing of the lever handles at the width of the user's shoulders. This adaptation can be done automatically in operation if each lever is left free, in use, to pivot around said second axis of pivoting. However, it is also possible to provide that said adaptation is done before each use of the device, for example at using a joint with two degrees of freedom including the second degree of freedom can be blocked, for example using as a second axis swivel a bolt-nut assembly with operating knob for tightening the bolt or nut.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective montrant un premier mode de réalisation de l'appareil selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle, à plus grande échelle et en coupe suivant la ligne A-A de la figure 1, montrant un détail de l'appareil ;
• la figure 3 est une vue en plan de l'appareil de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue partielle en perspective semblable à celle de la figure 1, montrant un autre mode de réalisation de l'appareil selon l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly during the following description of exemplary embodiments given with reference to the appended drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a partial view, on a larger scale and in section along the line AA of Figure 1, showing a detail of the apparatus;
• Figure 3 is a plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a partial perspective view similar to that of Figure 1, showing another embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention.

Referring to Figures 1 and 3 of the drawings, one can see a device 1 for performing physical exercises, in particular exercises similar to those developed in the practice of rowing. The apparatus 1 comprises a frame 2 comprising a central beam 3 longitudinal. The beam 3 has a hollow, rectangular or square. Two crosspieces 4 and 5 are fixed, in the middle, to the face bottom of beam 3. The two crosspieces 4 and 5 are spaced in the longitudinal direction of the beam 3 and oriented in a direction orthogonal or substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of said beam. The crosspiece 4 preferably has an arcuate shape in a horizontal plane and is roughly in the middle of the length of the beam 3. Cross member 5, which is shorter than cross member 4, is straight and is near the front end of beam 3. The sleepers 4 and 5 preferably consist of hollow sections, which have, in the example of embodiment shown, a round section but could also have a rectangular cross section or square. The two crosspieces 4 and 5 of the frame 2 serve as feet for support for this frame, when it is placed on the ground. In a manner known per se, the crosspieces 4 and 5 may comprise, at each of their ends, non-slip elements (not shown) for example in material elastomer. A third support leg (not shown) may still be provided, if desired, at the rear end of beam 3.

A seat 6 is slidably mounted on the beam 3, towards the rear of this one. The guidance and the maintenance of the seat 6 can be ensured by guiding and holding means which are conventional and which, for this reason were not shown. For example, these means of guiding and holding can consist of wings making projection on the edges of the upper surface of the beam 3, cooperating with rollers provided under the seat 6, as described, for example, in document EP-A-0 681 854.

Towards the front end of the beam 3, distant from the seat 6 in the configuration illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 3, support means 7 are provided for the feet of the user. These support means 7 comprise, for example, a footrest 7a, 7b provided on each side of the beam 3 and provided optionally, straps for clamping the foot. The footrests 7 a and 7 b are fixed, in a known manner, to the lateral faces of the beam 3 or to the cross-member 5.

On each side of the beam 3 is provided a lever 8 a , 8 b articulated at its lower end on a horizontal axis 9 a , 9 b , fixed to the upper face of the cross member 4 in a manner which will be described in detail more far. Each lever 8 a, 8 b is provided at its free upper end, a handle 11, 11b facing towards the inside. A resistant means, advantageously constituted by a hydraulic damper 12 a , 12 b , connects each lever 8 a , 8 b to the frame 2. Each damper 12 a , 12 b , comprises a cylinder 13 a or 13 b and a rod 14 a or 14 b of piston. Each cylinder 13 a, 13 b is provided, the frame side 2, an eyelet 15 a, 15 b, articulated by a horizontal axis 16a, 16b on a clevis 17 a, 17 b fixed to the cross member 5 at one end of the latter. Each piston rod 14 a , 14 b is provided with an eyelet which is articulated by an axis 18 a , 18 b on a yoke 19 a , 19 b carried by the corresponding lever 8 a , 8 b . As is known, each yoke 19, 19b can be displaced along the lever 8 a, 8 b corresponding and immobilized in any desired position along thereof with a locking known means (not shown) to to adjust the force multiplier effect of the corresponding lever 8 a , 8 b , therefore in order to adjust the resistant force felt by the user of the device 1 when he actuates the levers 8 a and 8 b .

In accordance with the present invention, the pivot axis 9 a , 9 b of each lever 8 a , 8 b makes a predefined angle α (FIG. 3) with the longitudinal median axis 20 of the beam 3. This angle α is chosen in such a way that the handles 11 a and 11 b of the levers 8 a and 8 b lie in the vertical median plane of the beam 3, as shown in the right part of FIG. 1, or close to this vertical median plane, as shown in FIG. 3, when the two levers 8 a and 8 b have been pushed by the user into their extreme front position, and in such a way that the two handles 11 a and 11 b are spaced from said vertical median plane and located approximately at the shoulders of the user when it pulled the levers 8 and 8b back, as shown in dashed lines in Figure 3.

The angle α can be fixed. In this case, the yokes 21 a and 21 b , which respectively carry the axes 9 a and 9 b can be rigidly fixed, for example by welding, to the cross member 4 near the ends of the latter. By fixing the yokes 21 a and 21 b to the cross member 4 and the yokes 17 a and 17 b to the cross member 5, care must be taken that the axis 9 a is parallel to the axis 16 a and that axis 9 b is parallel to axis 16 b . To facilitate the fixing of the yokes 21 a , 21 b and 17 a , 17 b , respectively on the crosspieces 4 and 5, and in order to be able to give the axes 9 a , 9 b and 16 a , 16 b a correct orientation, instead to weld the aforementioned yokes to the crosspieces 4 and 5, each yoke can be provided with a cylindrical tail 22, as illustrated in FIG. 2 in connection with the yoke 21 a . In this case, the crosspieces 4 and 5 comprise, in correspondence with each of the yokes 21 a , 21 b and 17 a , 17 b , two holes 23 and 24 aligned, of vertical axis, in which is engaged and fixed a sheath 25 suitable for receiving the cylindrical tail 22 of the yoke 21 a , 21 b , 17 a or 17 b concerned. Locking means, for example means cooperating by elastic snap-fastening, can be provided respectively on the cylindrical tail 22 and in the sheath 25 to axially retain the tail 22 in the sheath 25 after it has been engaged therein, but while allowing the extraction of said rod out of said sheath, if necessary, by exerting a predefined axial traction on the corresponding yoke. It will be noted that, in all cases, the yokes 17 a and 17 b are closer to the longitudinal central axis 20 than the yokes 21 a and 21 b .

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the angle α can be adjustable. For this purpose, each of the two yokes 17 a and 17 b can be fixed to the cross-member 5 in a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 2 in connection with the yoke 21 a , so that they can pivot around the vertical axis of their respective tails 22. In addition, in this case, the cross-member 4 can be provided, in the region of each of its ends, with a series of pairs of holes 23, 24, each containing a sheath 25 , as in Figure 2. Under these conditions, by rotating the yoke 17 a or 17 b around the vertical axis of its tail and inserting the cylindrical tail 22 of the yoke 21 a or 21 b in a selected sleeve 25 from one of the holes 23 in the series of holes in the cross-member 4, it is possible to adjust, by leaps and bounds, the value of the angle α. For example, it can be set in the range of 82 ° to 86 °.

Instead of adjustment by hops, one could of course provide a continuous adjustment of the angle α. To this end, each of the two yokes 21 a and 21 b could be secured to a slide which can slide in a slide fastened to the cross-member 4 or formed therein.

In another embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 4, each lever 8 a , 8 b is articulated on the cross-member 4 by means of an articulation having two degrees of freedom, for example an articulation of the universal joint type as the joint 26 a shown in FIG. 4. The joint 26 a comprises a first yoke 21 a , which is similar to the yoke 21 a of the embodiment described above and which is fixed to the cross member 4, for example d in a manner similar to that shown in Figure 2. the yoke 21 has a door axis 9 on which is articulated a second yoke 27 a carrying a second pivot axis 28 is orthogonal to the pivot axis 9a . The lever 8 a is articulated on this second pivot axis 28 a . Thus, by pivoting the lever 8 a (or, correspondingly, the lever 8 b ) around the axis 28 a , the spacing of the handles 11 a and 11 b of the two levers 8 a and 8 b can be set to any desired value and adapted to the morphology of the user, in particular the width of his shoulders. As already indicated, by leaving the levers 8 a and 8 b free to pivot around the corresponding axis 28 a , the abovementioned adaptation can be done automatically and at any time during the use of the device. However, if desired, the adaptation can be made before each use, for each user, by providing a locking means making it possible to lock, in a releasable manner, the lever 8 a , 8 b in a desired angular position relative to clevis 27 a . For example, the pivot axis 28 a can be constituted by a bolt and nut assembly, the bolt or the nut being provided with an operating button so that, by tightening the bolt or the nut with the using the operating button, the angular position of the lever 8 a , 8 b relative to the yoke 27 a can be fixed.

In all the cases described above, the cross-member 4 can have a total length equal to that of the two crosspieces of the apparatus described, by example in document EP-A-0 681 854, while the cross-member 5 may have a shorter length than that of the known device. It therefore results that the device according to the invention has a space requirement in width of the same order of magnitude or even less than that of the known device mentioned above.

It goes without saying that the embodiments of the invention, which have have been described above, have been given as examples purely indicative and in no way limitative, and that numerous modifications can be easily made by those skilled in the art without necessarily depart from the scope of the invention.

Thus, in particular, the articulation 26 a with two degrees of freedom, described in connection with FIG. 4, can be combined with the embodiment of the device shown in FIG. 3, in which a series of holes 23 at each end of the cross-member 4.

In a variant, not shown in the drawing, it is possible to replace the arcuate cross member 4 of the embodiment of FIG. 1 by a tube, for example rectilinear, telescopic; this tube has a central part welded under the central beam and two end parts capable of sliding inside the central part, an appropriate locking means being provided to prevent or release the sliding. This locking means can be a pin and, in this case, the central part can comprise, on each side of the central beam, a hole, while each end part comprises a plurality of holes, the introduction of the pin in the holes allowing symmetrically to block the end parts with respect to the central part. The articulation of the levers (of the type 8 a , 8 b ) relative to the cross member is then carried out at a determined point of each of the end parts of the cross member and the adjustment of the angle α results from the positioning of the parts end of the crosspiece with respect to the central part of said crosspiece. This articulation can in particular be produced as provided for the device of FIG. 1 or the device of FIG. 4. The advantage of this variant is that, for the packaging of the device, there is less space since the crosspiece which carries the lever joints can be conditioned in the disassembled state, resulting in a smaller packaging size.

Of course, in all cases, the tubes used for the realization of the sleepers of the device can have a cross section any, in particular circular or square.

Claims (10)

Apparatus for performing physical exercises, in particular exercises similar to those developed in the practice of rowing, comprising a frame (2) including a central central beam (3) which can be placed substantially in a horizontal position in service, a seat ( 6) slidably mounted on said beam, support means (7) for the feet of the user, which are related to the beam towards its front end, an articulated lever (8, 8b) provided on at least one side of the beam, and a resistant means (12 a , 12 b ) which connects said lever (8 a , 8 b ) to the frame (2) to slow the movement of the lever controlled by the user, said lever (8 a , 8 b ) able to pivot about a pivot axis (9 a , 9 b ) horizontal or substantially horizontal, characterized in that the pivot axis (9 a , 9 b ) of the lever (8 a , 8 b ) makes a predetermined angle (α), less than 90 °, with the longitudinal central axis (20) of said central beam longitudinal (3), so that the free end of the lever (8 a , 8 b ), provided with a handle (11 a , 11 b ) which can be grasped by the user, is located in or in the immediate vicinity the vertical plane containing the longitudinal central axis (20) of said beam (3) when the lever (8 a, 8 b) is pushed into its front end position, and is spaced from said vertical plane when said lever is pulled in its extreme rear position. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that said angle (α) is between 82 ° and 86 °. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said angle (α) is equal to 84 °. Apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that said angle (α) is adjustable. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the frame (2) comprises two crosspieces (4, 5) fixed in their middle to the longitudinal central beam (3), transverse thereto, while being spaced apart in the longitudinal direction, an articulated lever (8 a , 8 b ) being provided on each side of the beam (3) with associated means (12 a , 12 b ), each lever (8 a , 8 b ) being articulated on the upper face of one (4) of the two crosspieces, near one of its outer ends or at selectable locations (23) along the crosspiece. Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that one (4) of the two webs (4, 5) on which are articulated the two levers (8 a, 8 b) has an arcuate shape in a horizontal plane and in that the pivot axis (9, 9b) of each lever is substantially perpendicular to the radius of the arc formed by the arcuate cross (4) and which passes through the location (23) where the lever (8 a, 8 b ) is articulated on said arcuate crosspiece (4). Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that each of the two levers (8 a , 8 b ) is articulated on said arcuate crosspiece (4), by means of an articulation (26 a ) with two degrees of freedom, one of the two degrees of freedom corresponding to said pivot axis (9 a , 9 b ) which makes said predetermined angle (α) with the longitudinal central axis (20) of the longitudinal central beam (3), while the other degree of freedom is provided by another pivot axis (28 a ) horizontal or substantially horizontal which is orthogonal to the first pivot axis (9 a , 9 b ). Apparatus according to one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that the resistant means (12 a , 12 b ) associated with each lever (8 a , 8 b ) consists of a hydraulic damper, one of the ends of which is articulated on the lever (8 a, 8 b) associated and whose other end is articulated on the other (5) of two webs (4, 5) at or near one end thereof, said other cross member (5) having a shorter length than that of the arched cross member (4), and the articulation (16 a , 17 a ; 16 b , 17 b ) of said hydraulic damper (12 a , 12 b ) on said other cross member (5) being closer to said central longitudinal axis (20) that the articulation (9a, 21a; 9b, 21b) of the lever (8 a, 8 b) associated on the arcuate web (5). Apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that of the two crosspieces on which the two levers are articulated constituted by a telescopic tube comprising a central part integral with the central beam and two end portions capable of to slide inside said central part, the levers being each articulated on an end part of the telescopic cross member by means of a joint with two degrees of freedom, the positioning of each end part with respect to the central part being held by a locking means. Apparatus according to claim 5 taken alone or in combination with one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that that each cross member is made up of tubular element (s).

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