Adjustment device for exercise apparatuses

Abstract

An adjustment device for exercise apparatuses which comprises a flange, a coupling body coupled to the flange by a pressure bar, an adjustment protrusion and a pressure pin, a coupling ring through which the coupling body is passed, a vertical arm connected to the coupling body so as to be adjusted in the back and forth direction and rotationally, and a coupling arm connected to the vertical arm.

Claims

1. An adjustment device for an exercise apparatus, comprising: a flange; a flange protrusion provided on the flange and is configured for being invisible following assembly and remaining within a side wall of the exercise apparatus; adjustment holes provided on the flange protrusion at defined intervals; a coupling body coupled to said flange by means of a pressure bar; an adjustment protrusion placed into said adjustment holes and a pressure pin; a channel being provided on said coupling body, wherein the channel has a width and a depth to receive the pressure bar in a movable manner; a coupling ring comprising two through openings through which the coupling body is passed and a pin hole where only the pressure pin is passed, wherein the coupling ring covers the channel, the pressure bar and the pressure pin; a vertical arm connected to said coupling body so as to be adjusted in a back and forth direction and rotationally; and a coupling arm connected to said vertical arm.

2. The adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling body further comprises a pressure spring disposed in said channel and below the pressure bar, a pin seat to receive the pressure pin, an arm seat to receive the vertical arm, and a screw hole to receive a a-tightening screw and a tightening bar.

3. The adjustment device according to claim 2, wherein the pressure bar comprises said adjustment protrusion and a pressure arm, wherein the pressure pin is connected to said pressure arm.

4. The adjustment device according to claim 1 wherein the pressure bar comprises said adjustment protrusion and a pressure arm, wherein the pressure pin is connected to said pressure arm.

5. The adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling body is kept within the coupling ring and that the pressure pin is kept within the pin hole during assembly.

6. The adjustment device according to claim 1, further comprising a tightening apparatus, wherein the tightening apparatus includes a tightening screw and a tightening bar.

7. The adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein a part of the vertical arm disposed in an arm seat has a square profile, a hexagonal profile or a circular profile, wherein the said part of the vertical arm comprises a tightening seat configured to receive a tightening bar and a coupling arm seat configured to receive an arm protrusion; wherein the tightening seats are opened on different surfaces of the vertical arm by 90 degrees with respect to each other.

8. The adjustment device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling arm includes an arm extension, an arm sheath surrounding said arm extension, spring fastening holes passing through said arm extension and the arm sheath, a coupling arm protrusion disposed in a tightening seat, a tightening nut or segment connecting said coupling arm extension to the vertical arm.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 illustrates the case in which the device according to the present invention is fastened to the base part of a large-size Pilates apparatus.

(2) FIG. 2 provides an enlarged illustration of the case shown in FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 illustrates the case in which the device according to the present invention is applied to a sort of Pilates apparatus which allows performing physical exercises in a standing manner.

(4) FIG. 4 illustrates the case in which the device according to the present invention is applied to a central-side body of a sort of Pilates apparatus which allows performing physical exercises in a standing or leaning manner.

(5) FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of the device according to the present invention.

(6) FIG. 6 is a side perspective illustration of the device according to the present invention.

(7) FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective illustration of the device according to the present invention.

(8) FIG. 8 is a side perspective illustration of the device according to the present invention.

(9) FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective illustration of the device according to the present invention.

REFERENCE NUMBERS OF PARTS AND SECTIONS IN FIGURES ILLUSTRATING THE PRESENT INVENTION

(10) 10Body of the Pilates apparatus 11Side wall of the Pilates apparatus 12Adjustment device 13Flange

(11) 4aCoupling screw hole

(12) 4bAdjustment holes

(13) 4cBody seat

(14) 4dFlange protrusion 14Coupling ring

(15) 5aPin hole 15Coupling body

(16) 6aChannel

(17) 6bPin seat

(18) 6cArm seat

(19) 6dPressure bar

(20) 6eAdjustment protrusion

(21) 6fPressure bar

(22) 6gPressure pin

(23) 6hPressure spring

(24) 6iScrew hole 16Tightening apparatus

(25) 7aTightening screw

(26) 7bTightening bar 17Vertical arm

(27) 8aTightening seat

(28) 8bCoupling arm seat 18Coupling arm

(29) 9aCoupling arm protrusion

(30) 9bTightening nut or segment

(31) 9cSpring fastening holes

(32) 9dArm sheath

(33) 9eArm extension

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(34) The adjustment device for exercise apparatuses according to the present invention can be used in any kind of Pilates and similar sport apparatuses or physiotherapy devices. However, to make clear the subject matter herein, only some figures will be given and the description will be made referring to these figures only. The present invention, however, should not be limited to these figures. Accordingly, FIG. 1, FIG. 2, FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 show a Pilates exercise apparatus. Here, an adjustment device (3) according to the present invention is mounted to a side wall (2) of a body (1) of the Pilates apparatus. However, when it is required or desired to do so, it can also be mounted to any part of the body (1) of the Pilates apparatus or to the body of another exercise apparatus. The adjustment device (3) is mounted to the body (1) of the Pilates apparatus by means of a flange (4) provided on the device (3). The flange (4) of the adjustment device (3) is similar to those known from the prior art. The coupling of the flange (4) to a side wall (2) of the Pilates apparatus is achieved by means of screw holes (4a) and screws. The focus of the present invention is the inner structure of the flange (4) and the manner of coupling the body (6) of the coupling ring (5) to the flange (4), as illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7. It is also focused here on how the tightening device (8) tightens the vertical arm (8) and on the construction of the coupling arm (9), as will be described below.

(35) As illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, a body seat (4c) is disposed in the flange (4). The coupling body (6) is introduced into the body seat (4c). The body seat (6) is passed through the coupling ring (5) and rests against the flange (4). The vertical arm (8), in turn, is passed through the arm seat (6c) disposed on the coupling body (6). The coupling arm protrusion (9a) which connects the coupling arm (9) to the vertical arm (8) is introduced into the coupling arm seat (8b) on the vertical arm (8). The perspective illustration in FIG. 8 and the exploded illustration in FIG. 9 provide a clear view of the parts and how these parts are coupled to each other.

(36) The first feature providing an easy adjustment in the adjustment device for exercise apparatuses according to the present invention is the manner the coupling body (6) is mounted to the flange (4) and the constriction thereof. Here, a flange protrusion (4d) is provided on the flange (4), said protrusion being invisible following assembly and remaining within the side wall (2) of the Pilates apparatus. Adjustment holes (4b) are opened on the flange protrusion (4d) at defined intervals. The adjustment protrusion (6e) is placed into these adjustment holes (4b), as will be described below. The flange (4) comprises the body seat (4c). One tip of the coupling body (6) is introduced into the body seat (4c). The coupling body (6) is further provided with a coupling ring (5) and this coupling ring (5) rests against the flange (4). A channel (6a) is provided on the coupling body (6), wherein the channel (6a) has a width and depth to receive a pressure bar (6d) in a movable manner. An adjustment protrusion (6e) is provided on a tip of the pressure bar (6d) to be introduced into the adjustment holes (4b). The other part is a pressure bar (6f), and a pressure pin (6g) which is a pin-like part is connected to this arm. A pressure spring (6h) is provided under the pressure bar (6d). During assembly, the pressure bar (6d) and the pressure pin (6f) are placed together so as to be introduced into the pressure bar (6d) channel (6a), and the pressure pin (6f) into the pin seat (6b). According to this placement, the pressure spring (6h) is disposed below the pressure bar (6d) so that the pressure spring (6h) can always push the pressure bar (6d) outward. In order to restrict this outward push action, the coupling ring (5) is placed out of the coupling body (6). The coupling ring (5) covers the channel (6a) and the pressure bar (6d) thereon (therein). However, only the pressure pin (6g) is passed through the pin hole (5a), a hole provided on the coupling ring (5), and is introduced out. In this case, when the pressure pin (6g) is depressed, it exerts pressure to the pressure bar (6d) and thus to the adjustment protrusion (6e) and brings it in. While the coupling body (6) is within the body seat (4c) in the flange (4) during assembly, the adjustment protrusion (6e) is within the adjustment holes (4b) the flange protrusion (4d). Thus, the coupling body (6) is rigid and cannot move. On the other hand, when the pressure pin (6g) is depressed by the band of a user, the adjustment protrusion (6e) will be released from the adjustment holes and the coupling body (6) can be freely turned in the body seat (4c) within the flange (4). This system is quite different from that of the prior art.

(37) An arm seat (6c) is cut on the coupling body (6) to couple the vertical arm (8) to the coupling body (6). A gap is formed in the arm seat (6c) so that the vertical arm (8) is easily moved in the arm seat (6c). In order to keep the arm seat (6c) at a desired adjustment, however, a screw hole (6i) is opened on a tip portion of the coupling body (6) corresponding to the arm seat (6c). The tightening screw (7a) coupled to the tightening apparatus (7) and the tightening bar (7b) at the tip thereof are introduced through this screw hole (6i). The tightening screw (7a) can be connected to the tightening apparatus (7) in any type of assembly (e.g. welding, screwing, tightening or tight-fit etc.) or may be produced together during manufacture. The tightening bar (7b) is disposed in front of the tightening screw (7a). The tightening bar (7b) is moved through the screw hole (6i) when the tightening apparatus (7) and therefore the tightening screw (7a) are turned and is introduced into the tightening seats (8a) on the vertical arm (8) so that it tightens the vertical arm (8). Thus, the vertical arm (8) is made rigid. But if it is desired, the vertical arm (8) can also be moved freely within the arm seat (8c). In order to make it also possible to rotate the vertical arm (8) in the arm seat (6c), besides the back and forth movement, the tightening seats (8a) are opened on different surfaces of the vertical arm (8) by 90 degrees with respect to each other. For this reason, the profile of the vertical arm (8) which enters into the arm seat (6c) is in the form of a square. This form can obviously be a hexagonal form as well, or it may be a square form and the tightening seats (8a) may be formed at different angles. A coupling arm seat (8b) is formed on the tip of the vertical arm (8) in order to introduce the coupling arm protrusion (9a) which corresponds to the tip of the coupling arm (9). The coupling arm (9) is the place where a spring or flexible ropes are fastened in Pilates or other type of exercise apparatuses. For this reason, spring fastening holes (9c) are formed, which are provided with areas where the springs are connected (the springs are not illustrated in the figures). The coupling arm (9) is basically in the form of a tube with a filled or empty interior, One tip of the coupling arm (9) has a diameter which is sized to be introduced into the seat of the tightening arm (8b). The assembly of this part is completed by introducing the coupling arm protrusion (9a) into the tightening arm seat (8b) and tightening the coupling arm protrusion (9a) by means of a tightening nut or segment (9b). The coupling arm (9) is composed of an arm extension (9e) which is a tube with a filled or empty interior. The exterior of the area extension (9e) is covered by an arm sheath (9d). The spring fastening holes (9c) are passed through the arm sheath (9d) and arm extension (9e). Thus, the springs are fastened without deteriorating the appearance of the coupling arm (9), as is the case of the prior art.

(38) The adjustment device for exercise apparatuses according to the present invention can be used in any type of sports and physiotherapy apparatuses, but primarily in Pilates apparatuses. The coupling manner of the adjustment device (3) between the flange (4) and the coupling body (6) allows to make an easy and rapid adjustment of the coupling body (6) and therefore the vertical arm (8) and the coupling arm (9). Additionally, the coupling manner of the vertical arm (8) to the coupling body (6) allows to connect the vertical arm (8) at any desired angle, so that it is not made movable in the back and forth direction only, but also rotationally. The connection manner of the coupling arm (9) to the vertical arm (8), in turn, both improves the aesthetical appearance and allows to fasten the springs (not illustrated in the figures) to the coupling arm (9). Hence, the present invention allows adjustments to be made by users of any age groups and of any health status.