Gymnastic machine

• US 7,867,153 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 01/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Original Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Inventors: Zaccherini, Leo, Roman, Maurizio
• Primary Examiner(s): Thanh; Loan
• Assistant Examiner(s): BIDDER, ALLANA LEWIN
• Application Number:
  US11/705,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20070225136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,432 Days
• Field of Search: 482/72, 482/95, 482/96, 482/129, 482/133, 482135-138, 482/140
• US Class Current: 482/137
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0244 Hip A61H1/0255 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0628 for vertical array of weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0252 supine
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/833 Sensors arranged on the exercise apparatus or sports implement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/30 Maintenance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0211 moving torso with immobilized lower limbs
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0233 Muscles of the back, e.g. by an extension of the body against a resistance, reverse crunch
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0482 primarily by articulating the hip joints A63B23/0211, A63B23/0405, A63B23/0476 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

A gymnastic machine (1) includes a first frame (10), a first support member (22) carried by the first frame (10) by means of a guiding device (20) to be movable along at least one given direction (D), the first support member (22) being shaped to be interfaced with a first body region of a user and a bearing member (30) being rotatably supported by the first frame (10) around an axis (32) transverse to the given direction (D), the bearing member (30) being shaped to be interfaced to a second body region.

Claims

1. A gymnastic machine, comprising

a frame;

a support member comprising a slide carried in a freely slidable manner along a given direction by said frame through a guiding device comprising at least one guide extending longitudinally in said given direction; and

a first bearing member rotatably supported by said support member around a first axis transverse to said given direction to assume, in use, a respective inclination as a function of a position of said support member relative to said frame;

said slide comprising a backrest and a seat shaped to be interfaced, in use, with body region of a user, and said first bearing member comprising a cradle carried by a shelf rotatably supported by said slide at said first transverse axis and able to support user'"'"'s legs;

regulating means being provided for setting the relative inclination between said cradle and said backrest as a function of the position of said support member relative to said frame in such a way that to each position of said slide on said at least one guide corresponds to a given inclination angle between said backrest and said cradle, to determine a given stretching action on at least one rear muscle region of the user;

wherein said regulating means comprises an actuating member rotatably carried around a second axis transverse to said given direction, and a transmission unit mutually coupled in such a way that, in use, said actuating member is able to determine a rotation of said shelf around said first transverse axis through said transmission unit.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said guiding device is shaped to constrain said support member to be movable along said given direction by gravity.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said given direction is rectilinear.

4. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said given direction is curved.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said given direction is inclined.

6. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said transmission unit comprises a device for rotating said actuating member in a direction that is opposite to a direction of rotation of said shelf.

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said actuating member is rotatably carried by said slide by means of a shaft movable with said backrest relative to said frame along said given direction under the action of gravity;

a retaining member being associated with said actuating member to determine rotation of the actuating member as the position of said slide along said guide relative to said frame varies.

8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein said retaining member comprises a cable partially wound on a periphery of said actuating member and having a first end thereof rigidly connected to said frame and a second end thereof rigidly connected with said actuating member to apply thereto a torque capable to determine the rotation of said shelf through said transmission unit.

9. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said actuating member comprises a cam shaped to modulate said torque in such a way as to facilitate the rotation of said shelf starting from a respective reference position in which respective legs of a user extend substantially horizontal.

10. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said transmission unit comprises at least one compass mechanism having a first lever hinged to said shelf and a second lever hinged to said first lever and coupled integrally to said shaft.

11. A machine according to claim 6, comprising a control device suitable, in use, to act directly on said shelf for regulating the rotation of said cradle.

12. A machine according to claim 11, wherein said control device comprises a handle carried rigidly by said shelf.

13. A machine according to claim 12, wherein said handle presents substantially circular shape.

14. A machine according to claim 12, wherein said control device comprises limiting means for regulating the speed of displacement of said slide along said guide.

15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein said limiting means comprises at least one shock absorber that connects said slide to said frame.

16. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said limiting means comprises at least one shock absorber positioned between said slide and said shelf.

17. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said regulating means comprises a blocking device to maintain said slide rigidly fixed relative to said frame in a given position in such a way as to facilitate access to said seat and make possible, in use, execution of muscle stretching exercises with pauses.

18. A machine according to claim 17, wherein said blocking device comprises a pair of jaws facing each other and switchable from and to a position of engagement by friction of at least one of said guides through a longitudinal key against a spring biasing force.

19. A machine according to claim 18, wherein said longitudinal key is rotatably carried between said jaws, and said key can be actuated by a third lever.

20. A machine according to claim 18, wherein said jaws are mutually hinged to each other.

21. A machine according to claim 17, wherein said blocking device comprises at least a hydraulic brake positioned between said slide and said frame.

22. A machine according to claim 1, wherein a contrast device is provided, in combination with said first bearing member, to induce, in use, a stretching action of a user'"'"'s leg muscles.

23. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said contrast device comprises a substantially L-shaped tubular body, carried by said shelf transversely to said given direction and capable to serve as contrast for soles of a user'"'"'s feet to induce a stretching of the rear muscles of the user'"'"'s legs.

24. A machine according to claim 23, wherein said contrast device comprises a substantially L-shaped tubular body, carried by said shelf transversely to said given direction and capable to serve as contrast for soles of a user'"'"'s feet to induce a stretching of the rear muscles of the user'"'"'s legs.

25. A machine according to claim 23, wherein said tubular body is carried by said shelf in a freely rotatable manner transversely to said given direction and comprises a circular sector provided with a plurality of radial holes;

a plate being carried rigidly by said shelf in a position facing the circular sector and provided with a transverse abutment member capable to be selectively aligned with each of the holes to fasten, in use, the circular sector/the tubular body in a predetermined angular position relative to the shelf.

26. A machine according to claim 25, wherein said contrast device comprises a switching device for adjusting a position of the transverse abutment member actuated through a Bouden cable.

27. A machine according to claim 26, wherein said shelf supports at least a second bearing member for user'"'"'s feet to enable execution of muscle stretching exercises with bent knees.

28. A machine according to claim 27, wherein said second bearing member comprises a footrest carried laterally in a cantilevered fashion by said shelf.

29. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said cradle is supported laterally in a cantilevered fashion by said shelf in such a way as to give rise to a free space between said backrest and said cradle for providing an easy access to said backrest.