GB2043465A - Exercising device - Google Patents

Abstract

An exercising device of the chest expander type (referred to as a sandow) comprises an elastic strand (10) formed with a loop (13) at one end and a hook (16) having an open sleeve (15) slidable along the strand. The loop (13) may be engaged with the hook (16) to provide a larger loop (19) for attachment to fixtures of greater dimensions. The loop and hook arrangement may also be used in a device of the "octopus" type. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Exercising device This invention relates to an exercising device hereinafter referred to as a "sandow" of the kind comprising a core of elastic material which may or may not be protected by a sheath.

Sandows are already known comprising one or several strands having at each of their ends fixing rings to fix the elastic core to the protective braid. Each extremity of the sandows of the prior art is provided with a hook of synthetic material or of coiled metal wire.

Thus each of the ends presents only one hanging point. It is possible to fold the sandow and to pass the strand through the hanging hook to form a loop forming an attachment point of greater dimensions than those of the hook alone. However, such a folding produces frictional forces which rapidly damage the protective sheath as well as the elastic core of the sandow.

An object of the present invention is to remedy these disadvantages by providing a sandow with one or more elastic strands of which each end terminates in a loop augmenting the dimension of the attaching head and adapted to form a dual holding device, allowing the sandow to be hung on a support of any dimensions not limited by the dimensions of the hook.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sandow having a more efficient suspension, of simple conception and longer life and of greater security.

The invention provides a sandow formed of an elastic member of which at least one end is provided with a reversed hook in which at at least one end, the elastic member forms a loop and this corresponding hook is terminated by an open sleeve traversed by the elastic member, the loop being adapted to rest on the sleeve.

According to a feature of the invention, the sleeve is conical and a part at least of the loop is adapted to be inserted in the sleeve.

According to another feature of the invention, the end of the elastic member forming a loop is fixed on the corresponding part of the elastic member by a collar.

The present invention will be better understood by means of an example of a sandow according to the invention which is represented schematically by way of non-limitative example on the attached drawing, in which : Figure 1 is a side view of an end of a sandow according to the prior art; Figure 2 is a side view of one end of a sandow in folded-position according to the prior art; Figure 3 is a side view of one end of a sandow according to the invention; and Figure 4 is a side view of one end of a sandow folded back according to the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the sandow 1 according to the prior art, is provided with an elastic member comprising an elastic core 2 protected by a woven sheath 3. The end 4 of of the sandow is provided with a fixing ring 5 serving to fix the sheath 3 on the elastic core 2. There is also provided at the end 4 a hook 6 turned back towards the outside in relation to the bell mouth end of the sleeve, not inverted (Fig. 2), towards the interior in relation to the bell mouth end of the sleeve carried by a member 7 of synthetic material or of rolled metal wire. The ring 5 serves as an abutment to the member 7 when the sandow is extended. It follows from this conception of the prior art that it is only possible to have one point of suspension by means of the hook 6.Thus, for a simple suspension the dimensions of the member with which the hook is to be engaged cannot be greater than the dimensions of the hook 6.

Referring to Fig. 2, the sandow 1 is similar to that as shown in Fig. 1 but the hook 6 is not inverted. It is turned towards the inside in relation to the bell mouth end of the sleeve so as to allow passage of the elastic member (2, 3) to form a loop 8 allowing the hooking of the sandow on a member of greater dimensions than the hook 6. In this way, it is only possible to obtain a simple suspension as in the preceding case of Fig. 1. Further it produces on the sandow, friction at the point of contact with the hook 6 which rapidly causes deterioration of the sheath 3 and elastic core 2.

According to Fig. 3, the sandow 0, partially shown, comprises an elastic core 11 protected by a woven sheath 1 2. Each end of the sandow is folded back on itself to form a loop 1 3. This loop 1 3 is retained in place by an attachment ring 14.

The end of each strand of sandow 10 is provided with a sleeve 1 5 comprising at least one hook 1 6. It is possible to provide several hooks. The sleeve 1 5 slides on the strand of the sandow 10 and covers the junction 1 7 of the loop 13. The hook 16 is inverted.

Such a form of sandow permits a dual suspension of each of the ends of the strand or strands of the sandow 10. A first suspension is provided by the loop 1 3 whilst a second point of suspension is obtained by engagement of the hook 1 6 on the chosen element of fixation.

Thus the ends of each strand of the sandow 10 form an organ of retention of which the dimensions are clearly greater than the suspension points of the sandows of the prior art.

Further the sandow 10 allows a dual suspension at each end of the sandow.

According to Fig. 4, the sandow 10 has a looped end 1 3. The sleeve 1 5 carrying the hook 1 6 has been displaced by sliding on the strand 1 8. The hook 1 6 is engaged in the loop 1 3 so that the end of the sandow forms a large loop 1 9. It can thus hook on to elements of large dimensions, making more efficient the suspension of the sandow which is held on the one hand by the loop 1 3 and on the other hand by the hook 16. It is also possible to form a loop of different type, the hook 1 3 and the hook 1 6 not being engaged with one another but in distinct fashion on two different suspension elements.

The co-operation of the loop 1 3 and hook 1 6 notably improves the efficiency of the suspension of the sandow whilst ensuring a greater life thereof especially by eliminating frictional forces.

The force on the suspension (Fig. 4) is not transmitted by the sleeve 1 5 which is slidable but uniquely by the hook 1 6 and by the assembly of the elastic member or strand 1 8 of the sandow. Further the hook, the fixing ring and the sleeve are subjected only to part of the force or tension of the fixing since the elastic member surrounds the suspension point (post, pole or the like) and rubs directly on it.

As the intervention of the hook, the sleeve and the ring are reduced, the safety and reliability of the sandow is considerably increased, one avoids accidents due to opening or breaking of the hook or release of the ring under the effect of disproportionate force.

The idea of attaching sandow 10 as shown in Fig. 3 or 4 can be applied to all kinds of multistrand sandows (such as sandows in the form of an octopus and sandows in the form of millipede).

Claims (4)

1. A sandow formed of an elastic member of which at least one end is provided with a reversed hook in which at at least one end the elastic member forms a loop and this corresponding hook is terminated by an open sleeve traversed by the elastic member, the loop being adapted to rest on the sleeve.

2. A sandow according to Claim 1, in which the sleeve is conical and a part at least of the loop is adapted to be inserted in the sleeve.

3. A sandow according to either of the preceding claims, in which the end of the elastic member forming a loop is fixed on the corresponding part of the elastic member by a collar.

4. A sandow substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.