Gymnastic machine having a sliding belt provided with a resisting device to the motion of the user

Abstract

The present invention relates to a gymnastic machine having a closed circuit sliding belt comprising a base structure, a sliding belt, sliding according to a sliding direction installed on the base structure upon which a user performs a gymnastic exercise, a supporting structure coupled to the base structure, a first and a second handle for supporting the user, coupled to the supporting structure, a resisting device wearable by the user, the gymnastic machine being characterized in that each of the first and second handles comprises a respective coupling member for coupling with the resisting device.

Claims

1. A gymnastic machine having a sliding belt, the gymnastic machine comprising: a base structure; the sliding belt being slidable according to a sliding direction (X), the sliding belt installed on said base structure and configured such that a user performs a gymnastic exercise thereupon; a supporting structure coupled to said base structure; a first and a second handle for supporting said user, the first and second handles coupled to said supporting structure; and a resisting device wearable by the user, wherein each of said first and said second handle comprises a respective coupling member for coupling with said resisting device, wherein said base structure comprises a frame, the frame comprising a first and a second end on which said sliding belt is installed, the sliding belt being slidable according to the sliding direction (X) from said first end towards said second end of said frame, wherein said first and second handles are each provided with a first end and a second end, the first end of each of the first and second handles fixed to said supporting structure, the second end of each of the first and second handles having an orthogonal projection on said sliding belt, wherein the orthogonal projections are aligned with a region of said base structure corresponding to a half or two-thirds distance between the first and second ends of the frame, and wherein the half or two-thirds distance is measured from the first end of the frame, wherein said respective coupling member is a lever configured to be coupled to the respective second end of each of said first and second handles, and wherein said levers are each provided with a first end, the first ends of said levers configured to be respectively coupled to said first and second handles, and a second free end on which a through hole is provided for coupling with said resisting device.

2. The gymnastic machine according claim 1, wherein said resisting device is configured to be deformable according to a position taken by the user on said sliding belt.

3. The gymnastic machine according to claim 1, wherein said resisting device is configured to exert a force on the user in a direction opposite to a running direction (Y) of the user.

4. The gymnastic machine according claim 1, wherein said levers are respectively coupled to the second ends of said first and second handles by friction elements which respectively exert a friction to rotation of said levers.

5. The gymnastic machine according to claim 4, further comprising: a pair of fixed screws respectively integral with the second ends of said first and second handles, wherein each fixed screw is respectively insertable through a through hole in the first end of each lever, each lever being rotatable about the respective fixed screw, and wherein said friction elements are arranged between said respective through holes in the first ends of said levers and said respective fixed screws.

6. The gymnastic machine according to claim 1, wherein: a pair of cavities are respectively located in said second ends of said first and second handles; and said levers are respectively movable between a rest position and a working position, wherein in said rest position, said levers are respectively provided within said pair of cavities, and wherein in said working position, said levers are respectively raised with respect to said second ends of said first and second handles and are respectively external to said pair of cavities.

7. The gymnastic machine according to claim 1, wherein each of said respective coupling members is a through ring or a hook, said respective coupling members configured to be respectively coupled to said first and second handles for coupling with said resisting device.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a side view of the sliding belt exercise machine provided with a device resistant to the user's motion, object of the present invention;

(2) FIG. 2 shows a front perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 3 shows a further front perspective view of the machine of FIG. 1 with a detail without a covering casing;

(4) FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the detail of FIG. 3;

(5) FIG. 5 shows a sectional perspective front view of the detail of FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 6 shows a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the machine of FIG. 1;

(7) FIG. 7 shows a rear perspective view of a third embodiment of the machine of FIG. 1;

(8) FIG. 8 shows a rear perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the machine of FIG. 1;

(9) FIG. 9 shows a rear perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the machine of FIG. 1; and

(10) FIG. 10 shows a rear perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the machine of FIG. 1.

(11) In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(12) Referring to FIGS. 1-5, the sliding belt gymnastic machine provided with a device resistant to the user's motion object of the present invention comprises several embodiments.

(13) The first preferred embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, concerns an exercise machine 1 comprising a base structure 2, having a frame 21, comprising a first 211 and a second 212 end, on which said sliding belt 22 is installed according to a sliding direction X, from said first end 211 to said second end 212, a resisting device 5, wearable by the user during the performance of the exercise, and a coupling member 4 between said exercise machine 1 and said resisting device 5.

(14) Said sliding belt 22 comprises a plurality of strips placed side-by-side and coupled one next the other according to a direction transversal to that of the sliding direction X of said sliding belt 22.

(15) Said sliding belt 22 can also be a continuous surface sliding belt.

(16) Said sliding belt 22 is passive, since the exercise machine 1 is provided with a drive motor with additional braking function, or in the base structure 2 an adjustable brake is installed, which generates a variable resistance opposing the sliding of the sliding belt 22 according to a training program pre-set by a user, for example, simulating the race real condition with a parachute-type accessory, hooked to the user which, inflating, creates a resistance, which increases increasing the running speed.

(17) The brake applied can be a magnetic or electromagnetic brake.

(18) The sliding belt 22 provided with a motor can also be applied in active mode, i.e. the motor rotates the sliding belt 22 according to a training program preset by the user.

(19) Therefore the user, in order to perform an exercise, typically runs on said sliding belt 22 according to a running direction Y, opposite to said sliding direction X of said sliding belt 22, overcoming all the inertia of the sliding belt 22, which is initially steady, and overcoming the frictions due to the sliding of the sliding belt 22 on said frame 21 and the resistance opposed by the adjustable brake, thus simulating a typical sprint of a running race.

(20) Said gymnastic machine 1 comprises a supporting structure 3, coupled with said base structure 2, to which a first 31 and a second 32 curved handle are coupled for supporting said user during the ascending and desending phases of the exercise machine 1 or even during the development of the gymnastic exercise.

(21) Curved handle means a handle 31, 32 having a substantially elongated shape, wherein the first end 311, 321 is coupled with the support structure 3 the second end 312, 322 is curved and is connected again with said support structure 3 by a third end 313, 323.

(22) Said second curved end 312, 322 is positioned approximately at the half or two-thirds of said base structure 2, in particular, its orthogonal projection on said sliding belt 22 falls to half or two-thirds of said support structure 2.

(23) In said curved second end 312, 322 of each of said first 31 and second 32 handle a cavity is formed, defined by a pair of lateral flanges 45, in which is fixed, on each of said first 31 and second 32 handle, the respective coupling member 4 between said exercise machine 1 and said resisting device 5.

(24) Said coupling member 4 comprises a lever provided with a first end 411 and a second 412 free end.

(25) A lever 41 is coupled with each one of said second curved ends 312, 322 of each one of said first 31 and second handle 32.

(26) In particular, on said first end 411 of said lever 41 a through hole is obtained, in which a fixed screw 42 passes, around which said lever 41 can rotate.

(27) Said fixed screw 42 is integral with said pair of lateral flanges 45 of said second curved end 312, 322 of each of said first 31 and second 32 handle.

(28) Between said through hole and said screw 42 a pair of bushing 43 are arranged, fixed to said pressure lever 41, and friction elements, in particular a pair of disc springs 44, interposed between said pair of bushings 43 and said pair of flanges 45.

(29) The fixed screw 42 packages and closes the lever 41 between the pair of flanges 45 with the interposition of said two disc springs 44 elastically deformed.

(30) On said second free end 412 of said lever 41 a through hole is obtained for the passage of a hook, which connects said resisting device 5.

(31) Said lever 41 is movable from a rest position, wherein it is arranged within said cavity, when the user does not perform the pulling gymnastic exercise with the resisting device 5, to a working position, wherein it is lifted and exits from said cavity during the performing of the gymnastic exercise.

(32) In the working position, said first end 411 of said lever 41 abuts against an end stroke surface of the respective second curved end 311, 312, which it is coupled with.

(33) The transition from the rest position to the working position, and vice versa, is manual and it is performed by the user before performing the gymnastic exercise, bringing said lever 41 from said rest position to said working position, overcoming the friction exerted by said pair of disc springs 44 on said lever 41, therefore the movement of the lever 41 is frictioned by said pair of disc springs 44.

(34) Said lever 41 could also include a known quick coupling and releasing element for keeping the lever 41 in a fixed intermediate working positions during the performance of the gymnastic workout and selectable by the user before performing the gymnastic workout, on the basis of the height of his or her own abdomen.

(35) Said resisting device 5 comprises a pair of hooks 51, each one hooking to the respective through hole of said second free end 412 of said lever 41, and a belt 52, which can be worn by the user.

(36) Said resisting device 5 can be deformed, in particular it is elastic and, depending on the position assumed by the user on said sliding belt 22 during the performing of the gymnastic exercise, and generates a resisting force on the user, having a direction opposite to the user's running direction Y.

(37) Referring now to FIG. 6, in a second embodiment of said exercise machine 1, for each one of first 31 and second 32 handle, said coupling member 4 is a through ring or hook 41, that can be coupled to said second curved end 312, 322 respectively of each of said first 31 and second 32 handle.

(38) The respective hook of the pair of hooks 51 of said resisting device 5 is inserted in said through ring 41.

(39) Said through ring 41 may be fixed or movable with respect to the end, which it is fixed to, without however falling out of the scope of protection of the present invention.

(40) Referring now to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of the exercise machine 1 object of the present invention differs from the first embodiment, for the structure of said first 31 and second 32 handle, wherein said second end 312 and 322 is straight and not curved, therefore it does not join with said support structure 3.

(41) In this case, for each one of said first 31 and second 32 handle, in correspondence of the respective second ends 312 and 322 a cavity 313 and 323 is provided, in which said lever 412 arranges in rest position.

(42) Moreover, in this embodiment, the fixed element 42 is integral with said first ends 312, 322 of each of said first 31 and second 32 handle.

(43) Referring now to FIG. 8, a fourth embodiment of the exercise machine 1 according to the present invention differs from the third embodiment, for the structure of the coupling member 4 comprising a through ring 41 coupled to said second ends 312, 322 respectively of each of said first 31 and second 32 handle.

(44) Referring now to FIG. 9, a fifth embodiment of the exercise machine 1.sup.IV object of the present invention differs from the first embodiment, for the support structure 2.

(45) In this fifth embodiment, the support structure 2 is curved and the sliding belt 22 comprises a plurality of strips placed side-by-side and coupled one next to the other according to a direction transverse to the sliding direction X of said sliding belt 2.

(46) The shape of the handles 31 and 32 and of the coupling member 4 structure are unchanged with respect to the previously described first embodiment.

(47) Referring now to FIG. 10, a sixth embodiment of the exercise machine 1.sup.V object of the present invention differs from the fifth embodiment solely for the structure of the coupling member 4, which comprises a through ring 41 that can be coupled to said second end 312, 322 respectively of each one of said first 31 and second 32 handle.

(48) For all the embodiments 1, 1, 1.sup.IV and 1.sup.V described above, the sliding belt 22, 22, 22 may be a mat, having therefore a continuous surface or a belt comprising a plurality of strips.

(49) Moreover, for all the embodiments 1, 1, 1.sup.IV and 1.sup.V described above, the sliding belt 22, 22, 22 can operate passively, thus being controlled by a drive motor with the additional braking function, or by an adjustable brake that generates a variable resistance, or can operate actively, i.e. the motor rotates the sliding belt 22, 22, 22 according to a training program preset by the user.

(50) Alternatively, for all the embodiments 1, 1, 1.sup.IV and 1.sup.V described above using a sliding belt 22, 22, 22 in manual mode is also possible, namely without motor and brake.

(51) The operation of the exercise machine 1, 1, 1, 1.sup.IV and 1.sup.V described above is as follows.

(52) When a user aims to perform a pulling gymnastic exercise to train for example a typical running sprint, he or she accesses said exercise machine 1 by positioning himself or herself on said sliding belt 22 and wearing said resisting device 5.

(53) The user moves said coupling member 4, and in particular said lever 41, from said rest position to said working position, which remains fixed during the performing of the exercise, due to the friction exerted by said pair of disc springs 44 on said lever 41 and then, for the force exerted by said resisting device 5 due to the thrust of the user on said belt 52.

(54) The user starts moving said sliding belt 22 with the legs, overcoming the initial inertia, the frictions due to the sliding of the running belt 22 on said frame 21 and the adjustable force exerted by the brake.

(55) The sliding belt 22 moves according to the sliding direction X, while the user moves according to a running direction Y, opposite to said sliding direction X.

(56) Said resisting device 5 then exerts a resisting force on the user having a direction opposite to the running direction Y and therefore according to the sliding direction X of said sliding belt 22.

(57) In this way, the user has the abdomen constrained and stabilized by the resisting device 5, and therefore the user can freely move the arms in a manner coordinated with the legs, to perform correctly the gymnastic exercise, even at high acceleration.

(58) In fact, the correct performance of the gymnastic exercise consists of moving the right arm together with the left leg, alternately with the movement of the left arm together with the right leg.

(59) Without the resisting device 5 the user could not correctly perform the gymnastic exercise.

(60) The operation of the further embodiments of the exercise machine described above is analogous to the operation of the first embodiment just described.

(61) As is evident from the description above, the gymnastic machine 1 object of the present invention, on which performing pulling exercises by means of a resisting device, has a small encumbrance and it is safe in case of accidental falls of the user while performing the gymnastic exercise.

(62) The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.