COMPACT INERTIAL MUSCLE TRAINING DEVICE

Abstract

Compact inertial device for muscle training, consisting of a pulling body (1) and a drive rope (2). The pulling body (1) in turn comprises a rotating main shaft (4), a reel (8) mounted on the main shaft (4), an inertia element (6) linked solidly to one end of the main shaft (4) for accumulation of kinetic energy from the rotation of the main shaft (4), and a planetary gear (5), which in turn comprises a central gear mounted on the main shaft (4), for multiplication of the transmission speed from the main shaft (4) driven by the reel (8) to the inertia element (6). In its preferred embodiment, the spool (8) is a conical spool with a smaller diameter sector to which one end of the rope (2) is solidly attached.

Claims

1. A compact inertial muscle training device comprising: a pulling body (1), further comprising: a rotating main shaft (4), a reel (8) mounted solidly and coaxially on the main shaft (4), and an inertia element (6) solidly linked to one end of the main shaft (4) for accumulation of kinetic energy from the rotation of the main shaft (4), and a drive rope (2), attached at one end to the reel (8), which can be rewound and unwound on the reel (8), the inertial device being characterised in that it additionally comprises a planetary gear (5) which in turn comprises a central gear linked solidly to the main shaft (4) for multiplication of the transmission speed from the main shaft (4) to the inertia element (6).

2. Inertial device according to claim 1, wherein the reel (8) is a conical reel having a sector of smaller diameter to which one end of the rope (2) is solidly attached.

3. Inertial device according to claim 1 wherein the pulling body (1) additionally comprises an external casing (3) comprising in turn: a through opening (9) for passage of the rope (2), and a coupling (11).

4. Inertial device according to claim 3, wherein the casing (3) additionally comprises an attachment hook (10).

5. Inertial device according to claim 3 characterised in that the coupling (11) comprises: a prominent section (13) projecting from the casing (3), and a groove (14) that surrounds the prominent area (13) perimetrically.

6. Inertial device according to claim 3, characterised in that it incorporates a handle (12) which can be temporarily inserted into the coupling (11) for gripping the pulling body (1).

7. Inertial device according to claim 1, characterised in that it additionally comprises a ratchet (16) attachable to the rope (2) for adjusting the length of the rope (2) windable and unwindable on the reel (8).

8. Inertial device according to claim 7 characterised in that the ratchet (16) comprises a through hole (17) for attachment of an anchor element, and an attachment ring (19) for attaching a pulley.

9. Inertial device according to claim 1, characterised in that it incorporates a pulley (20) linkable to the rope (2) to increase the pulling resistance.

10. Inertial device according to claim 3, characterised in that it incorporates a support platform (21) linkable to the coupling (11) for fixing the pulling body (1).

11. Inertial device according to claim 10 characterised in that the platform (21) is foldable.

12. Inertial device according to claim 3 characterised in that it additionally comprises a fastening element (15) linkable to the coupling (11) for immobilisation of the pulling body (1).

13. Inertial device according to claim 1, characterised in that it incorporates a force limiting clutch for decoupling the main shaft (4) from the central gear of the planetary gear (5).

14. Inertial device according to claim 13, characterised in that the force limiting clutch consists of a pre-calibrated spring and wheels facing the main shaft (4).

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] In order to complement the description being made and in order to assist in a better understanding of the features of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is attached hereto as an integral part of the said description, in which the following is illustratively and non-limitingly depicted:

[0028] FIG. 1. —Shows a front perspective view of the pulling body and the rope of the inertial device.

[0029] FIG. 2. —Shows a rear perspective view of the pulling body.

[0030] FIG. 3. —Shows a detail view of a cross-section of the pulling body.

[0031] FIG. 4. —Shows a detailed exploded view of the drawbar body.

[0032] FIG. 5. —Shows a detail view of the ratchet for the rope of the device.

[0033] FIG. 6. —Shows a view of the device in individual use according to a first option.

[0034] FIG. 7. —Shows a view of the device in individual use according to a second option.

[0035] FIG. 8. —Shows a view of the device in shared use.

[0036] FIG. 9. —Shows a detail view of a support platform.

[0037] FIG. 10. —Shows a detail view of the device in use with an incorporated pulley.

[0038] FIG. 11. —Shows a view of the device in individual use according to a third option.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0039] A detailed explanation of an example of a preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the present invention is given below with the aid of the figures referred to above.

[0040] The described compact inertial muscle training device, shown in FIG. 1, basically consists of a pulling body (1) and a transmitter rope (2), which is solidly linked at one end to the pulling body (1), from which it is wound and unwound.

[0041] The pulling body (1), the exploded view of which is shown in FIG. 4, comprises an external casing (3) inside which is housed a transversely oriented rotating main shaft (4). A central gear of a planetary gear (5), which in turn comprises external gears or planets, is solidly coupled to this main shaft (4).

[0042] Likewise, an inertia element (6), consisting in this case of an inertia disc, is solidly coupled to said main shaft (4). In the preferred embodiment described here, the opposite end of the main shaft (4) incorporates an additional inertia element (7), consisting of another inertia disc solidly linked through its centre to said main shaft (4), without the interposition of any type of intermediate gear or multiplier element.

[0043] Mounted solidly and coaxially on a central sector of the main shaft (4) is a reel (8), which in the preferred embodiment described here is a conical reel, which in turn has a sector of smaller diameter, to which one end of the rope (2) is solidly attached. This rope (2) is automatically wound and unwound on the reel (8), thus producing a rotation on the main shaft (4) on which the reel (8) is solidly mounted.

[0044] The inertia element (6) accumulates rotational energy from the rotation of the main shaft (4). As the device incorporates the planetary gear (5), the rotational energy transmitted by the main shaft (4) is multiplied in the planetary gear (5) before being transmitted to the inertia element (6), to which it is solidly coupled. Thus, with an inertia element (6) of small dimensions, high values of moment of inertia are achieved thanks to the intermediate action of the planetary gear (5).

[0045] In the preferred embodiment described here, the planetary gear (5) used has a transmission ratio of 13.5, so that one revolution of the spool (8) causes the inertia element (6) to rotate 13.5 turns.

[0046] The casing (3) includes a through opening (9) through which the rope (2) passes for its deployment and retraction on the reel (8), as well as a hook (10) which projects from the casing (3) in the vicinity of the through opening (9). The casing (3) also comprises a coupling (11) for temporary attachment of the pulling body (1) to various external elements. For example, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a grip handle (12) is temporarily attachable to said coupling (11) for manual actuation of the pulling body (1).

[0047] In the preferred embodiment of the device, the coupling (11) consists of a prominent sector (13) of quadrangular geometry starting from the casing (3), which has a groove (14) that surrounds the prominent sector (13) perimetrically, designed to house the corresponding couplings of the handle (12) or of a fastening element (15) in which it is desired to immobilise the pulling body (1), as illustrated in FIG. 7.

[0048] The device also incorporates a ratchet (16), shown in detail in FIG. 5, which can be attached to the rope (2) for adjusting the length that can be rewound and unwound on the reel (8). As can be seen in the aforementioned FIG. 5, the ratchet (16) has a through hole (17) for coupling an anchoring element, such as a carabiner, which allows connection to external elements such as a handle (18), shown in FIG. 8, which allows it to be gripped by a second user. The ratchet (16) also incorporates a latching ring (19).

[0049] It is also envisaged that a pulley (20) is incorporated into the rope (2) to increase the pulling resistance, this pulley (20) being particularly suitable for performing exercises involving the work of large muscle groups, such as squats or weightlifting, without the need to modify the inertia elements (6, 7). For this purpose, the rope (2) must pass through the pulley (20) and return to the pulling body (1), as illustrated in FIG. 10, so that the ratchet (16) is fixed to it by means of a carabiner that can be inserted into the hook (10).

[0050] It is also envisaged that a number of additional elements will be incorporated to improve and add functionalities to the device. For example, first of all, it is envisaged to incorporate a safety element to prevent entrapment and return strokes at the start of the rope retraction phase (2). This element consists in its preferred version of a force limiting clutch, consisting of a pre-calibrated spring and two opposing wheels which disengage the main shaft (4) from the central gear of the planetary gear (5), in the event of exceeding a pre-established limit force value.

[0051] It is also foreseen the additional incorporation of an externally operable gear change, linked to the central shaft (4) and designed to vary the transmission ratio of the planetary gear (5) to obtain different previously established reduction ratios. Optionally, it is also envisaged the inclusion of a remotely operated brake for blocking the rotation of the inertia element (6) and, if applicable, the additional inertia element (7), in the final dead centre phase, which allows the user to carry out additional isometric (static) exercises, thus increasing the versatility of the device.

[0052] It is also possible to incorporate electronic elements to increase the performance of the device. For example, a revolution counter consisting of an electronic module that detects, by means of a sensor, preferably optical, the revolutions and direction of rotation of the reel (8), in order to subsequently analyse the work curves and extract parameters such as caloric consumption, time, speed, force, performance, and other parameters. It is also foreseen to add a wireless transmitter connected to the lap counter to send the data collected by it to a mobile device equipped with a computer application that acts as an operational interface with the user.

[0053] It is also envisaged that various elements for attaching the pulling body (1) to the device will be incorporated into the device to enable various types of exercises to be carried out. For example, a support platform (21), shown in FIG. 6, equipped with elements for coupling with the coupling (11), and designed to support the feet during the execution of exercises such as squats or weightlifting. In its preferred embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 9, the platform (21) is foldable and has a curved geometry face, with a central sector higher than the perimeter edges.

[0054] It is also envisaged that additional inertia discs can be temporarily attached to the main shaft (4) by means of bolts or similar quick coupling means.

[0055] FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 11 show the device in different uses, both individual use and shared use, which show its great versatility, as indicated in the description.