BALANCE BASE FOR ROWING MACHINE

Abstract

The invention relates to a balance base for a rowing machine. The base is used as a stand for the rowing machine, and the rowing machine can be positioned thereon in a fixed manner. At least one spring element is provided, wherein the at least one spring element is arranged between an upper frame and a lower frame, and the at least one spring element comprises an elastic or viscoelastic material, the tilting rigidity of which is both lower than the tensile-compressive rigidity of the spring and lower than the shear stiffness of the spring. Additionally, a form-fitting or force-fitting fixture of the upper frame to the rowing machine is provided.

Claims

1-14 (canceled)

15. A balance base for a rowing machine, which is suitable as a stand for the rowing machine and on which the rowing machine can be fixedly positioned, wherein at least one spring element is provided, which is arranged between an upper frame and a lower frame, wherein a form-fitting or force-fitting fixation is provided for the upper frame with the rowing machine, and wherein the at least one spring element is made of an elastic or viscoelastic material, wherein the at least one spring element is arranged in the region of the geometric center of both the upper frame and the lower frame, wherein the tilting rigidity of the spring element is both lower than the tensile-compressive rigidity of the spring and lower than the shear stiffness of the spring, and wherein the balance base can be positioned under the rowing machine in such a manner that the at least one spring element is arranged along the central longitudinal axis of the rowing machine so that by placing the rowing machine on the balance base no additional movements of the rowing machine, other than the lateral tilting movement about the longitudinal axis of the rowing machine, are possible.

16. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element is an elastomer.

17. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the tilting rigidity is both lower than the tensile-compressive rigidity by at least a factor of 25 and lower than the shear stiffness by at least a factor of 25.

18. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the tilting rigidity is both lower than the tensile-compressive rigidity by at least a factor of 300 and lower than the shear stiffness by at least a factor of 300.

19. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the tilting rigidity is both lower than the, tensile-compressive rigidity by at least a factor of 600 and lower than the shear stiffness by at least a factor of 600.

20. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the fixation for the upper frame, with the rowing machine is formed as a recess in the upper frame for receiving feet of the rowing machine.

21. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the fixation for the upper frame with the rowing machine is designed as a fastening strap, fastening lever, quick-release fastener, clamp connection or screw fastener.

22. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the balance base serves as a stand for one or more rear feet of the rowing machine.

23. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the balance base serves as a stand for one or more front feet of the rowing machine.

24. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein a first balance base comprises a first spring element between a first upper frame and a first lower frame and serves as a stand for one or more rear feet of the rowing machine, and in that a second balance base comprises a second spring element between a second upper frame and a second lower frame and serves as a stand for one or more front feet of the rowing machine.

25. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the upper frame has at least the length between front feet and rear feet of machine and serves as a stand for all feet of the rowing machine.

26. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element is arranged in the center of the balance base.

27. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element is attached to the upper frame and to the lower frame via at least one attachment means, preferably a screw or a damp connection.

28. The balance base according to claim 1, wherein the balance base comprises a motion or acceleration sensor for measuring the tilting motion of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.

29. The balance base according to claim 2, wherein the tilting rigidity is both lower than the tensile-compressive rigidity by at least a factor of 25 and lower than the shear stiffness by at least a factor of 25.

30. The balance base according to claim 2, wherein the tilting rigidity is both lower than the tensile-compressive rigidity by at least a factor of 300 and lower than the shear stiffness by at least a factor of 300.

31. The balance base according to claim 2, wherein the tilting rigidity is both lower than the tensile-compressive rigidity by at least a factor of 600 and lower than the shear stiffness by at least a factor of 600.

32. The balance base according to claim 2, wherein the fixation 2 for the upper frame with the rowing machine is formed as a recess in the upper frame for receiving feet of the rowing machine.

33. The balance base according to claim 3, wherein the fixation 2 for the upper frame with the rowing machine is formed as a recess in the upper frame for receiving feet of the rowing machine.

34. The balance base according to claim 4, wherein the fixation 2 for the upper frame with the rowing machine is formed as a recess in the upper frame for receiving feet of the rowing machine.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The figures show as follows:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a balance base according to the invention in perspective view obliquely from above,

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the central longitudinal axes A-A of the balance base according to the invention of FIG. 1,

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a conventional rowing machine having a first and a second balance base according to the invention in a side view,

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a conventional rowing machine having a further balance base according to the invention in a side view,

[0042] FIG. 5A shows a conventional rowing machine having the balance base according to the invention in a front view,

[0043] FIG. 5B shows a conventional rowing machine having the balance base according to the invention in a front view.

[0044] In the figures, the same reference numerals have been used for the same elements in each case, and first-time explanations apply to all figures unless expressly stated otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a balance base 14 according to the invention having an upper frame 11, a lower frame 12 and a spring element 13 arranged between the upper frame 11 and the louder frame 12. The upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12 have a rectangular shape with a longitudinal side and a transverse side. Two recesses 15 are provided in the upper frame 11 for accommodating two feet of a rowing machine (shown as numerals 2, 2′, 2″ in FIGS. 3 to 5). The two recesses 15 are arranged along the central longitudinal axis A-A of the upper frame 11 and at the same distance from the geometric center of the upper frame 11 and in the outer region of the longitudinal side of the upper frame 11. This ensures that the rowing machine (not shown, illustrated as numeral 1 in FIGS. 3 to 5) is horizontally balanced when at rest, when the rowing machine 1 is not being used as an exercise machine.

[0046] The recesses 15 essentially have the shape of the outline of the feet of a rowing machine. If the rowing machine is placed with the feet on the balance base 14, the feet fill the recesses 15 in a substantially form-fitting manner. This results in a form-fitting fixation so that the rowing machine cannot slip during training.

[0047] In the idle state, the upper frame 11 is arranged parallel to the lower frame 12, in this embodiment, the spring element 13 is shown as a cylindrical round buffer made of can elastomer. The spring element 13 is arranged at the geometric center of both the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12.

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a cross-section through the central longitudinal axis along lines A-A of the balance base 14 of FIG. 1. The upper frame 11 is arranged parallel to the lower frame 12 with a spring element 13 between them. The upper frame 11 has two recesses 15 for receiving two feet of a rowing machine (not shown). The recesses 15 are arranged in the outer region of the longitudinal side of the upper frame 11 at the same distance from the geometric center of the upper frame 11.

[0049] The spring element 13 is connected to the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12 via two attachment means 16, shown here as screws. The spring element 13 is shown as a round buffer and is arranged in the geometric center of the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a conventional rowing machine 1, which is placed with the rear feet 2′ on a first balance base 14′ and with the front feet 2″ on a second balance base 14″, which are placed on a floor 3. The first balance base 14′ has a first spring element 13′, which is arranged between a first upper frame 11′ and a first lower frame 12′. The second balance base 14″ has a second spring element 13″, which is arranged between a second upper frame 11″ and a second lower frame 12″.

[0051] The conventional rowing machine 1 has a frame 17 with standing feet, the rear feet 2′ and the front feet 2″. The user 4 sits on a sliding seat 5 that can be rolled in the longitudinal direction of the rowing machine 1 and relative to the frame 17 and pulls by means of a handle 6 on a pull strap or a pull chain 7, which are connected to a brake resistance system 9 via two deflection pulleys 8. The brake resistance system 9 is mounted in the frame 17 of the rowing machine 1. The user 4 is connected to the frame 17 by a foot support 10.

[0052] FIG. 4 shows a conventional rowing machine 1 as described in FIG. 3, wherein instead of two balance bases only one balance base 14 is placed under the rowing machine 1 and serves as a stand for the rowing machine 1. The balance base 14 has an upper frame 11 and a lower frame 12, which extend over the entire length between the rear feet 2′ and the front feet 2″. In this variant, the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12 are formed as large rectangular plates. The upper frame has two recesses for the rear feet 2′ in the rear region of the plate and two recesses for the front feet 2″ in the front region of the plate. A first spring element 13′ is arranged substantially below the rear feet 2′ between the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12. A second spring element 13″ is arranged substantially under the front feet 2″ between the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12.

[0053] FIG. 5A shows a conventional rowing machine 1 with a balance base 14 according to the invention as described in FIGS. 3 and 4, but in front view and in a training situation with a slight lateral tilting tendency of the rowing machine 1. The upper frame 11 of the balance base 14 has a lateral tilting tendency, so that the distance between one transverse side of the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12 or the floor 3 is lower than in the resting state or in the balanced state of the balance base 14, and so that the distance between the other transverse side of the upper frame 11 and the lower frame 12 or the floor 3 is greater than in the resting state or in the balanced state of the balance base 14.

[0054] FIG. 5B shows a rowing machine 1 on the balance base 14 in front view as described in FIG. 5A, with the user sitting upright and balancing the rowing machine 1. In order for the user 4 to balance the rowing machine 1 and the upper frame 11 of the balance base 14, the user must activate the deep muscles of the center of the body. In the balanced state, the user's upper body, the rowing machine 1 and the spring element 13 of the balance base 14 are substantially aligned in a line, shown here as line B-B.

[0055] Although various embodiments of the present invention have been described and shown, the invention is not restricted thereto, but may also be embodied in other ways within the scope of the subject-matter defined in the following claims.