EXERCISE APPARATUS FOR EXERCISING THE NECK MUSCLES

Abstract

An exercise apparatus for exercising the neck muscles with a frame and an exercise mechanism which is mounted on the frame, which can be coupled to a coupling member that can be worn on or around the head of a person who is exercising, wherein the exercise mechanism comprises a cross slide which makes available two translation axes on which a rail is mounted so as to be adjustable in height and rotatable, in such a way that, by means of the exercise mechanism, the coupling member is rotatable about three rotation axes and is movable in translation along three translation axes.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus for exercising neck muscles, the exercise apparatus comprising: a frame; and an exercise mechanism which is mounted on the frame and which is adapted to be coupled to a coupling member that is adapted to be worn on or around the head of a person who is exercising, wherein the exercise mechanism comprises a cross slide which makes available two translation axes on which a rail is mounted so as to be adjustable in height and rotatable such that via the exercise mechanism, the coupling member is rotatable about three rotation axes and is movable in translation along three translation axes.

2. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cross slide comprises a first slide and a second slide arranged orthogonally to the first slide and movable on the first slide, and wherein a translator is present, which is mounted so as to be movable on the first slide.

3. The exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the rail is guided in a guide, wherein the rail is arranged orthogonally to the cross slide, and wherein the rail is mounted on the translation agent so as to rotate about a first of the rotation axes.

4. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axes of rotation have a common intersection in the region of the cervical spine of the person who is exercising.

5. The exercise apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the intersection of the axes of rotation is near the center of the base of the dens axis of the person who is exercising.

6. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rail carries a bracket, which makes available a second of the rotation axes and a third of the rotation axes.

7. The exercise apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the bracket is formed as an arch running horizontally at the level of the cervical spine of the person who is exercising or as a U-piece, which is connected to the rail by a rotary joint directly or indirectly for the rotation of the coupling member about the second axis of rotation.

8. The exercise apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one of the free ends of the arch or the U-piece are rotatably coupled to the coupling member about the third axis of rotation at a level of the ear canal of the person who is exercising.

9. The exercise apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the arch or the U-piece are connected to the rail via an angled connecting piece.

10. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one training resistance is present, the force of which transferred to the coupling member is adjustable as a function of the movement and/or the angular position of the coupling member.

11. The exercise apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the at least one training resistance transfers the force to the coupling member via a rope pull.

12. The exercise apparatus according to claim 11, wherein at least one length compensator is present, over which the rope pull is guided such that the length of the rope pull and thus the force transferred by the at least one training resistance on the coupling member is adjusted as a function of the translational movement and/or the rotational movement.

13. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the at least one length compensator is formed as a plate on which two rope guides are arranged which are rotatably mounted, guide the rope pull and are pre-tensioned by a spring force.

14. The exercise apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the length compensator is formed as a disc, on the outer circumference of which a groove is formed in which the rope pull is guided.

15. The exercise apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the at least one training resistance is formed by a resistor which generates resistance by a change in position of its at least one end against a force, wherein its other end is eccentrically attached to a disc.

16. The exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one training resistance is formed by a resistor which generates resistance by a change in position of its at least one end against a force, wherein its other end is attached via a further rope pull to a non-circular disc frictionally connected to a disc.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

[0028] FIG. 1 is a front view of the exercise apparatus,

[0029] FIG. 2 is a detailed view of the cross slide,

[0030] FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the exercise mechanics,

[0031] FIG. 4 is a rear view of a part of the frame and the exercise mechanism of the exercise apparatus,

[0032] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the rear view with the length compensator and the training resistances,

[0033] FIG. 6 is an embodiment for the generation of the training resistance, and

[0034] FIG. 7 is an alternative embodiment for the generation of the training resistance.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows the exercise apparatus 1 for exercising the neck muscles, which has a frame 2 and an exercise mechanism 3 attached to the frame 2. The coupling member, not further shown, which can be worn on or around a head of a person who is exercising, can be coupled to the exercise mechanism 3. The coupling member can be formed as a helmet or as at least two interconnected shells adjustable by means of a ring. In the present embodiment, the apparatus has a seat 21 or a chair, so that the person who is exercising exercises while sitting. In a particularly simple embodiment, only a seating surface or a stool may be provided. Furthermore, it is also possible that the person who is exercising exercises while standing or kneeling.

[0036] The exercise mechanism 3 includes a cross slide 4, which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. The cross slide 4 has a first slide 6 and a second slide 7 arranged orthogonally to the first slide 6 and movable on the first slide 6. On the first slide 6, a translator 8 is movably arranged, so that the translator 8 is movable along a first translation axis T1 on the first slide 6 and can also be moved on the second slide 7 along a second translation axis T2, which lies orthogonally on the first translation axis T1, via the movement of the first slide 6. In the present case, the two slides 6,7 and the translator 8 are arranged in one plane. However, it is also possible to arrange the slides 6,7 on top of each other or below each other. In the middle of the translator 8, a rail 5 guided in a guide can be rotated about a first of the axes of rotation. The rail 5 is also height-adjustable in the guide, which enables an up and down movement of the coupling member, i.e., a translational movement along a third translation axis T3. In the present case, the rail 5 is arranged in the middle with respect to the translator 8 and centrally with respect to the coupling member or the head of the person who is exercising. This allows for a movement of the head of the person who is exercising or of the coupling member to the right and to the left, so that the first axis of rotation R1 corresponds to the anatomical axis of rotation of the cervical spine.

[0037] The rail 5 and/or the guide further carry a bracket 9, which makes available a second rotation axis R2 and a third rotation axis R3. For this purpose, the free leg of the rail 5 is connected via a connecting piece 12 preferably angled at 90° with a U-piece 10 at least partially guided around the coupling member. The U-piece 10 runs horizontally at the level of the cervical spine of the person who is exercising. The free end of the connecting piece 12 is connected to the U-piece 10 by means of a rotary joint 11, so that a rotational movement about the second rotation axis R2, which lies orthogonally on the first rotation axis R1, is possible.

[0038] On the free legs of the U-piece 10, as can be seen from FIG. 3, a further rotary joint 22 or a rotary disc is arranged in each case, by means of which the U-piece 10 can preferably be coupled to the coupling member at the level of the ear canal of the person who is exercising. By means of this additional rotary joint 22, a rotation of the coupling member, i.e., of the head of the person who is exercising about the third axis of rotation R3, which in turn stands orthogonally on the other axes of rotation R1, R2, is made possible. Due to this arrangement, it is possible for the coupling member to be rotated about the three rotation axes R1, R2, R3 by means of the exercise mechanism 3 and to be translated along three translation axes T1, T2, T3. Furthermore, the rotation axes R1, R2, R3 thereby have a common intersection, which is in the area of the cervical spine of the person who is exercising, preferably at the center of the base of the dens axis of the person who is exercising. This prevents injuries or incorrect exercising and also simulates the natural movement of the head or neck muscles consisting of flexion/extension/rotation and lateral flexion movements.

[0039] The neck muscles can be exercised by means of a training resistance 13. For this purpose, the exercise apparatus 1 has at least one training resistance 13, which can be designed, for example, as a spring or as a weight. In the present case, the training resistance 13 is formed as a weight, namely as a disc 19 and as a plate 16, in this case as a trapezoidal plate, as shown in more detail in FIGS. 4 and 5. The plate 16 and the disc 19 are movably mounted outside the cross slide 4 on another rail 23. The further rail 23 is arranged on a rear wall of the frame, i.e., behind the coupling member or behind the person who is exercising. FIG. 4 also shows that the frame may have a second or several additional rails 23, on which another plate 16 and/or another disc 19 is movably mounted. This increases the number of training resistances 13.

[0040] In order to adjust the force transferred to the coupling member as a function of the angular position of the coupling member, the weight force of the training resistance 13 is transferred to the coupling member by means of a rope pull 14. In the present case, the training resistances 13 are also formed as length compensator 15, over which the rope pull 14 is guided such that the length of the rope pull 14 and thus the force transferred to the coupling member by means of the training resistances 13 is adjusted as a function of the translational movement and/or the rotational movement. A groove is formed on the outer circumference of the disc 19 around which the rope pull 14 is guided to the trapezoidal plate 16.

[0041] The trapezoidal plate 16 has, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 5 in detail, two rope guides 17, each of which is movably guided in a receptacle 24, which is formed laterally by the symmetry axis of the trapezoidal plate 16. The receptacle 24 is formed as a slotted hole that extends parallel to the longer base side of the trapezoidal plate 16. The rope guides 17 have rollers 25, 26 at their respective ends, at which the outer circumference a groove is preferably formed. The rope of the rope pull 14 is guided from the outside of the first roller 25, which is not arranged in the receptacle 24, to the inside of the second roller 26. Due to the rope guides 17 being mounted in the respective receptacle 24, the rope guide 17 is mounted so as to be rotatable. The first rollers 25 are mounted on the plate 16 in a rotatable manner. Furthermore, in the receptacle 24, an elastic spring force 18 connected to the rope guide 17 is arranged in each case, which can also be moved in the receptacle and can be fixed in it by means of a screw. This makes it possible to pre-tension the rope guide 17 by means of the spring force 18. By means of the movable and pre-tensioned rope guide 17, compensation in length of the rope pull 14 is thus possible as a function of the rotation movement and the translational movement.

[0042] In an alternative embodiment, the disc 19 may also be elliptically formed or not in the center of the additional rail 23, but instead guided laterally offset, so that a rotation of the disc 19 entails an elliptical movement. This also leads to a compensation in length for the rope pull 14. The compensation in length leads to a physiological force curve, so that the force of the training resistances 13 transferred to the coupling member changes as a function of the angle of movement.

[0043] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment for the generation of the training resistance 13. The training resistance 13 is generated by a resistor 28, in this case a weight, the one end of which is eccentrically attached to the disc 19 by means of a pin 27. To vary the training resistance 13, the pin 27 can also be used in differently positioned pin receptacles of the disc 19. Due to the rotation of the disc 19, the weight 28 is moved against gravity, thus creating resistance. The angular circumference of the exercise movement preferably corresponds to a rotation of disc 19 by less than 180°. The change in height of the resistor 28 corresponds approximately to the sine of the angular change of the disc 19, which in turn approximates a force curve advantageous for physiological exercise. The resistor 28 may be formed as a weight or as a spring or as a rubber band or as hydraulics or the like.

[0044] FIG. 7 shows another alternative embodiment for the generation of a training resistance. On the round disc 19, a non-circular disc 29, in this case an elliptical disc 29, with a groove formed on the outer circumference is attached, over which another rope pull 30 is guided, the one upper end of which is attached to the non-circular disc 29. At the lower end of the further rope pull 30, a resistor 28, in this case a weight, is attached which is moved against gravity during a rotation of the disc 19. An advantage of this embodiment is that the curve of the change in height of the weight 28 relative to a ground is determined via the change in angle and the angular position of the discs 19, 29 and by the outer (non-circular) shape of the non-circular disc 29. Differently shaped non-circular discs 29 thus produce different force-angle curves.

[0045] In order to achieve a change in length and movement of the rope pull 14 in the case of rotational movements, but not in the case of translational movements of the coupling member, a tapered bridge construction 20, the two elements of which are jointly connected to each other and over which the rope pull 14 is guided in particular via deflection pulleys, is arranged on one side of the cross slide 4, namely on the top of the frame 2, i.e., on the side of the frame 2 facing away from the ground. The rope pull 14 is guided from the plate 16, over the bridge construction 20 about a deflection disc 27 formed on the translator 8. The deflection disc 27 is arranged on a rotary joint between the translator 8 and the rail 5.

[0046] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.