Gymnastic machine

• US 7,878,951 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 02/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Original Assignee: Technogym SpA
• Inventors: Zaccherini, Leo, Roman, Maurizio
• Primary Examiner(s): Mathew; Fenn C
• Application Number:
  US11/708,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20070202995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 482 70- 73, 482/51, 482 95- 96, 482/907
• US Class Current: 482/72
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 1/0259 moved by translation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0214 Kneeling
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03508 For a single arm or leg, A63B21/0726 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0417 with guided foot supports moving parallel to the body-symmetrical-plane by translation
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0488 by spreading the legs

Abstract

Gymnastic machine (1) includes a frame (10), a slide (20) carried movable by the frame (10) along a given direction (D) from and to a starting station (30), with the slide (20) being suitable for coupling with a first limb in such a way as to guide it along the given direction (D) and to enable, in use, to control a scissor movement of the first limb with respect to a second limb retained at the starting station (30).

Claims

1. A gymnastic machine, comprising:

a frame;

a longitudinal guide supported on the frame;

a starting station attached to the frame;

a slide displaceable along said longitudinal guide in a given direction from and to the starting station;

a support member associated with said slide for supporting a user'"'"'s first limb to guide it along said given direction to enable a scissor movement of said first limb with respect to a user'"'"'s second limb which is housed at the starting station; and

regulating means for regulating the position of said support member with respect to said frame in order to control a stretching action exerted, in use, on said first limb during said scissor movement, wherein said regulating means comprises a first regulating device for varying the inclination of said support member with respect to said frame, in relation to the current distance between said slide and said starting station;

wherein said first regulating device comprises a roller tappet carried by said slide and a shaped member delimited by a profile suitable for controlling the rotation of said support member with respect to said frame.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said profile is shaped like a plane decreasing towards said starting station.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said regulating means comprises a second regulating device for adjusting the starting position of said support member with respect to said frame.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said second regulating device comprises a support for said roller tappet that is adjustable in at least two positions in order to determine reference inclinations/starting inclinations of said support member with respect to said given direction.

5. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said starting station comprises housing means for stably housing said second limb, and that said frame comprises a rigid rest associated with said starting station.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said housing means comprises a retaining member that can be selectively disengaged for holding a joint of said second limb.

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said retaining member is movably carried by said frame by means of an upright so that it can be selectively disengaged.

8. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said retaining member comprises at least a first cushion for the reference of said second limb.

9. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said support member presents an anterior portion shaped so as to provide support for a knee of said first limb and a posterior portion comprising a tibial cushion, suitable for supporting the neck of the foot of said first limb.

10. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising controlling means for controlling the position of said slide with respect to said starting station in order to prevent any straining of the musculature of the lower limbs.

11. A machine according to claim 10, wherein said regulating means for regulating the position of said slide comprises a braking device normally engaged and selectively switchable to be disengaged, and thereby enabling, in use, the alternate locking and release of the movement of said slide from and to said starting station.

12. A machine according to claim 11, wherein said braking device comprises an elongated member rigidly connected to said slide and carried parallel to said given direction between a pair of jaws, at least one of which is movable transversally to said given direction against the force of a spring in order to inactivate said braking device and enable the actuation of said slide.

13. A machine according to claim 12, wherein said braking device comprises a manually-operated member carried by said frame for controlling the movement of at least one of said jaws from and to a respective locking position wherein said elongated member is firmly held by said pair of jaws so as to prevent any movement of said slide along said given direction.

14. A machine according to claim 12, wherein said elongated member comprises a foil wound in a ring around two transmission elements carried by said frame, said foil being connected to said slide by means of respective ends and being provided with a braking branch that engages a space delimited by said jaws in order to be alternately locked in place or left free to move with respect to said jaws.

15. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising measuring means for measuring the position of said slide with respect to the said starting station.

16. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said measuring means comprises a transducer provided with a rigid reference element integrally connected to the frame, and with a movable element connected directly or indirectly to said slide, and with a calculating device for calculating the relative position between said movable element and said rigid reference element in order to generate data to indicate the instantaneous position of said slide with respect to said starting station.

17. A machine according to claim 16, wherein said movable element is enabled to remotely exchange data with said calculating device.

18. A machine according to claim 16, wherein said transducer comprises an encoder.

19. A machine according to claim 18, wherein said encoder is of the linear type and that said movable element is associated with said foil.

20. A machine according to claim 18, wherein at least one of said transmission elements comprises a pulley, wherein said encoder is of the rotating type and wherein said respective movable element is associated with said pulley.

21. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said measuring means comprises an analogical measuring device connected to said slide and calibrated so as to identify the current position of the slide itself with respect to said starting station.

22. A machine according to claim 21, wherein said measuring device comprises a metal tape measure provided with one end connected to said slide, which can be unwound against a spring return mechanism and which is at least partially protected by a casing for safety reasons.

23. A machine according to claim 22, wherein said casing is associated with said frame.

24. A machine according to claim 23, wherein said tape measure comprises a tape provided with a graduated scale wound in a spiral inside a box, said tape being provided with one end connected to said slide to enable the latter'"'"'s current position to be measured with respect to said starting station;

said tape being wound around a plurality of pulleys supported by said frame in order to define a given path so as to facilitate the user'"'"'s reading of said graduated scale during the training session.

25. A machine according to claim 11, further comprising timer means for timing the duration of an exercise or of the time interval during which said slide is held locked with respect to said starting station by means of said braking device.

26. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said rigid rest comprises a second cushion for the upper part of the user'"'"'s body.

27. A machine according to claims 5, wherein said rigid rest comprises a handle suitable for frontal gripping.

28. A machine according to claim 1, further comprising actuating means for actuating said slide with respect to said starting station.

29. A machine according to claim 28, wherein said actuating means comprises, in use, the action of gravity on said first limb.

30. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said slide is carried by a guide of the rectilinear motion provided with at least two elongated members;

said slide being supported bilaterally by means of the interposition of a plurality of rollers.

31. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said first limb comprises a first lower limb and that said second limb comprises a second lower limb distinguished from said first lower limb.