Fitness apparatus

Abstract

The present application relates to a fitness apparatus having a housing on which are arranged a first supporting element and also a second supporting element. The first and the second supporting elements can be moved linearly in each case in two spatial dimensions located at right angles to one another. The housing has at least one active element, by means of which a movement of the first supporting element or of the second supporting element out of a respective starting position is counteracted by a force. The housing also has at least one coupling element, which couples the linear movement of the first supporting element in a first direction of a first of the two spatial dimensions to a linear movement of the second supporting element in the second direction, which opposes the first direction in this first of the two spatial dimensions.

Claims

1. A fitness apparatus having a housing, the housing comprising a first supporting element which is configured as a platform for supporting a foot or a part of an arm, and a second supporting element arranged thereon, the first supporting element and the second supporting element being each movable linearly in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension, the first spatial dimension and the second spatial dimension being located at right angles to one another, wherein the housing has at least one spring, by which a movement of the first supporting element or the second supporting element out of a respective starting position is counteracted by a force, wherein the housing further comprises: a) a first coupling element, which couples the linear movement of the first supporting element in a first direction of a first of the two spatial dimensions to a linear movement of the second supporting element in a second direction, which opposes the first direction in the first of the two spatial dimensions, the first coupling element comprising: i) a first gearwheel, which is arranged centrally on a surface area of the housing, and which has an axis of rotation which is at right angles to the first spatial dimension and to the second spatial dimension; ii) a first rack fastened to the first supporting element and extending in the direction of the first spatial dimension; iii) a second rack fastened to the second supporting element and extending in the direction of the first spatial dimension; b) wherein the first rack and the second rack engage with the first gearwheel on opposite sides of the first gearwheel; c) a second coupling element, the second coupling element comprising: i) a second gearwheel, which is arranged centrally on the surface area of the housing and which has an axis of rotation which is at right angles to the first spatial dimension and to the second spatial dimension, the second gearwheel being arranged above or beneath the first gearwheel; ii) a third rack fastened to the first supporting element and extending in the direction of the second spatial dimension; iii) a fourth rack fastened to the second supporting element and extending in the direction of the second spatial dimension; d) wherein the third rack and the fourth rack engage with the second gearwheel on opposite sides of the second gearwheel.

2. The fitness apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first supporting element and the second supporting element are guided in the first spatial dimension or in the second spatial dimension by at least one first linear guide.

3. The fitness apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one first linear guide extends in the first spatial dimension and a carriage is arranged in a movable manner on the at least one first linear guide, and at least one second linear guide extending in the second spatial dimension, and wherein the first supporting element and the second supporting element are arranged in a movable manner on the at least one second linear guide.

4. The fitness apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one spring is configured such that the force thereof, which counteracts a movement of the first supporting element or of the second supporting element out of the starting position acts on the first gearwheel and/or on the second gearwheel.

5. The fitness apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the force of the at least one spring which counteracts a movement of the first supporting element or of the second supporting element out of the starting position is adjustable.

6. The fitness apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first supporting element and the second supporting element each have a handle, which each extends in a third spatial dimension, which is located at right angles to the first spatial dimension and to the second spatial dimension.

7. The fitness apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the handle has a first part and a second part, and wherein the first part can be displaced linearly relative to the second part in the third spatial dimension, and wherein displacement of the first part relative to the second part takes place counter to a spring force.

8. An arrangement comprising two fitness apparatuses, wherein each fitness apparatus of the two fitness apparatuses include: a housing, the housing including a first supporting element which is configured as a platform for supporting a foot or a part of an arm, and a second supporting element arranged thereon, the first supporting element and the second supporting element being each movable linearly in a first spatial dimension and in a second spatial dimension, the first spatial dimension and the second spatial dimension being located at right angles to one another, wherein the housing has at least one spring, by which a movement of the first supporting element or the second supporting element out of a respective starting position is counteracted by a force, wherein the housing further comprises: a) a first coupling element, which couples the linear movement of the first supporting element in a first direction of a first of the two spatial dimensions to a linear movement of the second supporting element in a second direction, which opposes the first direction in the first of the two spatial dimensions, the first coupling element comprising: i) a first gearwheel, which is arranged centrally on a surface area of the housing, and which has an axis of rotation which is at right angles to the first spatial dimension and to the second spatial dimension; ii) a first rack fastened to the first supporting element and extending in the direction of the first spatial dimension; iii) a second rack fastened to the second supporting element and extending in the direction of the first spatial dimension; b) wherein the first rack and the second rack engage with the first gearwheel on opposite sides of the first gearwheel; c) a second coupling element, the second coupling element comprising: i) a second gearwheel, which is arranged centrally on the surface area of the housing and which has an axis of rotation which is at right angles to the first spatial dimension and to the second spatial dimension, the second gearwheel being arranged above or beneath the first gearwheel; ii) a third rack fastened to the first supporting element and extending in the direction of the second spatial dimension; iii) a fourth rack fastened to the second supporting element and extending in the direction of the second spatial dimension; d) wherein the third rack and the fourth rack engage with the second gearwheel on opposite sides of the second gearwheel; wherein the housing of a first of the two fitness apparatuses is configured for placing on a floor and the first supporting element and the second supporting element of the housing of the first of the two fitness apparatuses are suitable for having feet placed in position on them, wherein the first spatial dimension and also the second spatial dimension are oriented essentially parallel to the floor, and wherein a second of the two fitness apparatuses is connected in a releasable manner to the first of the two fitness apparatuses, and is spaced apart therefrom by a first distance, via an upright, which extends essentially in a third spatial dimension, which is located at right angles to the first spatial dimension and to the second spatial dimension.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In the drawings used for the purpose of explaining the exemplary embodiment:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a fitness apparatus according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows an isometric view of the embodiment according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a fitness apparatus according to the invention; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows an arrangement made up of two fitness apparatuses according to the invention.

(6) In principle, identical parts are provided with identical reference signs in the figures.

WAYS OF IMPLEMENTING THE INVENTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a fitness apparatus 1 according to the invention, while FIG. 2 illustrates an isometric view of the same embodiment of the fitness apparatus 1. The fitness apparatus 1 has a frame 2 (not shown in FIG. 2, for illustrative reasons). A first supporting element 3.1 and also a second supporting element 3.2 (not shown in FIG. 2, for illustrative reasons) are arranged on the frame 2. The two supporting elements 3.1, 3.2 can be moved in two spatial dimensions x, y on the frame 2. This movement is made possible by a combination of a first linear guide, which extends in the first spatial dimension x, and of a second linear guide, which extends in the second spatial dimension y.

(8) The first linear guide has four rails 6.1-6.4, which extend in the first spatial dimension x. Two carriages 8.1, 8.2 are arranged in a linearly displaceable manner on the four rails 6.1-6.4 of the first linear guide. A first carriage 8.1 is mounted in a displaceable manner on the first rail 6.1 and on the second rail 6.2 of the first linear guide by means of a first, second, third and fourth roller guide 7.1-7.4. A second carriage 8.2 is mounted in a displaceable manner on the third rail 6.3 and on the fourth rail 6.4 by means of a fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth roller guide 7.5-7.8.

(9) The two carriages 8.1, 8.2 have located on them a second linear guide, which extends in the second spatial dimension y and on which the two supporting elements 3.1, 3.2 are arranged in a linearly displaceable manner. In a manner analogous to the first linear guide, the second linear guide comprises four rails 9.1-9.4, which extend in the direction of the second spatial dimension y. A first rail 9.1 and also a second rail 9.2 of the second linear guide are arranged on the first carriage 8.1. The first supporting element 3.1 is arranged in a linearly displaceable manner on the first rail 9.1 and also the second rail 9.2 of the second linear guide via four roller guides (not shown). A third rail 9.3 and also a fourth rail 9.4 of the second linear guide are arranged on the second carriage 8.2. The second supporting element 3.2 is arranged in a linearly displaceable manner on the third rail 9.3 and also the fourth rail 9.4 of the second linear guide via four roller guides (not shown).

(10) Four springs 10.1-10.4 serve as a first active element, by means of which a movement of the first supporting element 8.1 or of the second supporting element 8.2 out of a rest position is opposed by a force. A first spring 10.1 and also a second spring 10.2 of the first active element are connected to the housing 2 and also to the first carriage 8.1, wherein the first spring 10.1 and the second spring 10.2 extend in the direction of the first spatial dimension x. A third spring 10.3 and also a fourth spring 10.4 of the first active element are connected to the housing 2 and also to the second carriage 8.2, wherein the third spring 10.3 and the fourth spring 10.4 extend in the direction of the first spatial dimension x.

(11) The fitness apparatus 1 also has a second active element, by means of which a movement of the two supporting elements 3.1, 3.2 out of the starting position in the direction of the second spatial dimension y is opposed by a force. This second active element likewise has springs, which are connected to the first carriage 8.1 or the second carriage 8.2 and to the first supporting element 3.1 or the second supporting element 3.2. These springs cannot be seen on the plan view shown in FIG. 1, since they are located beneath the supporting elements 3.1, 3.2. The fifth spring 10.5 and sixth spring 10.6, which belong to the second active element, can be seen in FIG. 2.

(12) The fitness apparatus also has two coupling elements, which couples a movement of the first supporting element 3.1 in a first direction in the first spatial dimension or in the second spatial dimension y to a movement of the second supporting element 3.2 in a second direction, which opposes the first direction.

(13) A first coupling element couples the movement of the first supporting element 3.1 to the movement of the second supporting element 3.2 in the first spatial dimension x. This first coupling element has a first gearwheel 4.1, which is located essentially centrally on the surface area of the housing 2. The axis of rotation of the first gearwheel 4.1 is located a right angles to the first spatial dimension x and to the second spatial dimension y. A first rack 5.1 and also a second rack 5.2 engage in the toothing formation of the first gearwheel 4.1. The first rack 5.1 is connected to the first carriage 8.1, whereas the second rack 5.2 is connected to the second carriage 8.2. The first rack 5.1 and the second rack 5.2 here engage in the first gearwheel 4.1 at an angle of 180 in relation to one another in the circumferential direction, wherein they are oriented parallel to the first spatial dimension x.

(14) A second coupling element couples the movement of the first supporting element 3.1 to the movement of the second supporting element 3.2 in the second spatial dimension y. This second coupling element has a second gearwheel 4.2, which is located essentially centrally on the surface area of the housing 2. The axis of rotation of the second gearwheel 4.2 is located at right angles to the first spatial dimension x and to the second spatial dimension y. The second gearwheel 4.2 is arranged above the first gearwheel 4.1. A third rack 5.3 and also a fourth rack 5.4 engage in the toothing formation of the second gearwheel 4.2. The third rack 5.3 is connected to the first carriage 8.1, whereas the fourth rack 5.4 is connected to the second carriage 8.2. The third rack 5.3 and the fourth rack 5.4 here engage in the second gearwheel 4.2 at an angle of 180 in relation to one another in the circumferential direction, wherein they are oriented parallel to the second spatial dimension y.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a second embodiment of a fitness apparatus 1 according to the invention. The fitness apparatus 1 of this embodiment is constructed essentially in the same way as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, in the case of this embodiment, the first and the second linear guides each have only two rails 6.1, 6.2, 9.1, 9.2. In addition, the supporting elements 3.1, 3.2 each have a handle 12.1, 12.2. The handles project from the supporting elements in a third spatial dimension z, which is located at right angles to the first spatial dimension x and to the second spatial dimension y. A person using the fitness apparatus 1 can grip the handles 12.1, 12.2 by hand, whereby effective isometric training of the arm muscles is made possible.

(16) The handles 12.1, 12.2 each have a first part 13.1, 13.2, which is connected to the respective supporting element 3.1, 3.2. A second part 14.1, 14.2 of the handles 12.1, 12.2 is connected to the respective first part 13.1, 13.2 in a linearly movable manner in the third spatial dimension z. The second part 14.1, 14.2 of each handle 12.1, 12.2 can be displaced counter to a spring force in the third spatial dimension z. This means that training of the arm muscles in all three spatial dimensions is made possible by the embodiment of the fitness apparatus 1 according to the invention which is shown in FIG. 3. The spring force can be generated by a respective tension spring and compression spring being arranged within the first parts 13.1, 13.2 of the handles 12.1, 12.2. These springs generate a force which opposes a movement of the respective second part out of a starting position. It is also the case that a holding loop 15.1, 15.2 is fitted on the second part 14.1, 14.2 of each handle 12.1, 12.2, said loop making it easier for a user to hold the handles 12.1, 12.2.

(17) FIG. 4 shows an arrangement 16 made up of two fitness apparatuses 1.1, 1.2 according to the invention. A first fitness apparatus 1.1 has a first frame 2.1, which is configured for positioning the first fitness apparatus 1.1 on a floor. Accordingly, the supporting elements of the first fitness apparatus 1.1 are dimensioned such that a user can position his/her feet thereon. The first fitness apparatus 1.1 is connected to a second fitness apparatus 1.2 via an upright 17. The second fitness apparatus has a second housing, wherein the supporting elements of the second fitness apparatus are configured for supporting the forearm or upper arm and/or for being held by hand. Both the first housing 1.1 and also the second housing 1.2 are connected to the upright 17 in a releasable manner, in particular via a quick-release fastener. This also allows the two fitness apparatuses 1.1, 1.2 to be used independently of one another. The upright 17 has a length-adjustment mechanism. This means that the second fitness apparatus can be positioned at different distances from the first fitness apparatus 1.1 by virtue of the length of the upright 17 being altered, and this allows the arrangement to be used by users of different heights.

(18) The second fitness apparatus 1.2 also has a display 19, which is connected to the second housing 1.2 via a stand 18. This display 19 can be used to show information relating to a training session, for example calorie consumption or a time display. The display 19 preferably also has input means, for example via a touch screen, so that a user can also input data.