Piece of fitness equipment

Abstract

A piece of fitness equipment comprises a carrier for carrying a pump on a body part of a person. The carrier comprises a main body having a first end and a second end, a fastener capable of connecting the first end and the second end with each other, and a holder for detachably attaching the pump to the main body.

Claims

1. A piece of fitness equipment for increasing fat burning in a body part of a person by stimulating the blood circulation within the body part comprising: a pressure belt for applying pressure to the body part that can fit closely to the body part and comprises at least one pressure chamber, to which fluid can be applied and that includes a fitting forming an air passageway that is bent; a pump that is capable of applying the fluid to the at least one pressure chamber; at least one tube that connects the at least one pressure chamber with the pump and is releasably connected to the fitting by a fluid-tight quick-release coupler; a carrier for carrying the pump on the body part, the carrier comprising a main body having a first end and a second end as well as an inner side facing towards the body part and an outer side facing away from the body part, a fastener for connecting the first end and the second end with each other in such a way that the body part is surrounded, the pump being detachable from and attachable to the main body, and the carrier being capable of being arranged above the pressure belt, thereby further increasing the pressure applied to the body part as a result of the pressure applied by the pressure belt no longer being effective in a direction leading away from the body part.

2. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, further comprising a holder for the pump being arranged at the inner side.

3. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 2, wherein the holder has a first opening and a second opening with the second opening being arranged oppositely to the first opening.

4. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 2, wherein the main body has at least one strap configured to fasten the at least one tube at the inner side.

5. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the main body is made of a textile comprising a breathable material that is elastic.

6. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a hook tape, which is arranged at an inner side of the main body at the first end, and a loop tape, which is arranged at an outer side of the main body at the second end, with the hook tape being engageable with the loop tape for connecting the first end with the second end.

7. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 6, wherein the main body is provided with a further loop tape at the outer side.

8. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 7, further comprising an object holder for attaching an object, with the object holder being made of an elastic textile material.

9. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 8, wherein the object holder is detachably attached to the main body with the object holder having a second hook tape for the detachable attachment to at least one of the loop tape and the further loop tape of the carrier.

10. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1 further comprising: a controller for controlling the pump.

11. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pressure chamber comprises a first pressure chamber and a second pressure chamber, the fitting being one of a first fitting and a second fitting, the at least one tube comprising a first tube and a second tube, the fluid-tight quick-release coupler being one of a fluid-type first quick-release coupler and a fluid-type second quick-release coupler, and the pressure belt further comprising: the first fitting including a first connecting portion and being connected with the first pressure chamber; the second fitting including a second connecting portion and being connected with the second pressure chamber; the first tube being arranged to connect the first pressure chamber with the pump and having a first end piece; the second tube being arranged to connect the second pressure chamber with the pump and having a second end piece with the second connecting portion and the second end piece forming the fluid-tight second quick-release coupler, and with the first fitting and the second fitting each being bent.

12. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the fitting is bent by 90.

13. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the pressure belt has a first end portion, a second end portion and a lock by which the first end portion and the second end portion are connectable and with the lock being configured to be a detachable connection.

14. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 11, wherein: the first pressure chamber includes a first base section, which extends linearly, and at least two first branch sections which branch off the base section, and the second pressure chamber includes a second base section, which extends linearly, and at least two second branch sections, which branch off the second base section, with the second branch sections being respectively arranged between the first branch sections.

15. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber is manufactured of two layers, which are welded together for separating the first pressure chamber and the second pressure chamber.

16. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the pump includes a sensor that measures the pressure of the fluid inside the at least one tube.

17. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the pump includes a rechargeable battery, a detector provides for detecting a state of charge of the battery, and a notifier provides for issuing of a message.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) Further features and advantages of the piece of fitness equipment according to the invention result from the examples for embodiments described in the following. In the drawings representing the examples for embodiments only schematically, it is in detail illustrated:

(2) FIG. 1 a fitness arrangement;

(3) FIG. 2 an outer side of the pressure belt;

(4) FIG. 3 an inner side of the pressure belt;

(5) FIG. 4 a schematic representation of the functioning of the pressure belt;

(6) FIG. 5 an exploded view of a connecting portion;

(7) FIG. 6 an outer side of the carrier;

(8) FIG. 7 an inner side of the carrier with a pump;

(9) FIG. 8 a tube;

(10) FIG. 9 a front side of the holder;

(11) FIG. 10 a back side of the holder;

(12) FIG. 11 a perspective view of the pump with two tubes;

(13) FIG. 12a-12g most different views of the pump;

(14) FIG. 13 an exploded view of the pump;

(15) FIG. 14 an inner part of the pump;

(16) FIG. 15a-15c different views of a charger;

(17) FIG. 16a-16b sections through the charger as indicated in FIG. 15a;

(18) FIG. 17 an enlarged illustration of a contact surface and a contact peg;

(19) FIG. 18a-18p different perspective views of a hanger;

(20) FIG. 19a-19c top view of the hanger;

(21) FIG. 20a-20b further perspective views of the hanger;

(22) FIG. 21 a charger with a rack and

(23) FIG. 22 an enlarged part from FIG. 21 showing a detector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(24) FIG. 1 shows a piece of fitness equipment 10 with a carrier 12, a pressure belt 14, a pump 16, and an object holder 18. An object 20, in this case an MP3 player, is arranged inside the object holder 18. The object holder 18 has a pouch 22 and a lid 24. The lid 24 is connected with the pouch 22 at the back side of the object holder 18 whereas at the front side, a hook and loop fastener establishes a connection between the pouch 22 and the lid 24. The object 20 is entirely enclosed by the object holder 18 when the lid 24 is closed.

(25) The pressure belt 14 has a first pressure chamber 26 and a second pressure chamber 28. The first pressure chamber 26 is connected with a first fitting 30. The second pressure chamber 28 is connected with a second fitting 32. A first tube 34 and a second tube 36 are associated with the pump 16. As can easily be seen from FIG. 1, the pressure belt 14 contains two layers that are connected with each other by welds 38.

(26) The first fitting 30 and the second fitting 32 are bent by 90. The pressure belt 14 has, at an outer side at a first end portion 40, a hook portion 41 for a hook and loop fastener, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The first pressure chamber 26 extends to more than 50 percent of the length of the pressure belt 14 and has a first base section 42 and first branch sections 44, which essentially lead away perpendicular from the base section 42. The second pressure chamber 28 has a second base section 46, from which second branch sections 48 lead away perpendicular. The first and second branch sections 44, 48 are interleaved.

(27) At the inner side of the pressure belt 14 shown in FIG. 3, loop portions 51 are arranged at the opposite second end portion 50 for the hook and loop fastener.

(28) In FIG. 4, the arrangement of the pressure belt 14 to the body part of the person is illustrated. If now the first pressure chamber 26 is pumped by the pump 16 and at the same time air is sucked out of the second pressure chamber 28 or no pressure is applied to it, pressure is applied to some portions of the body part and no pressure is applied to other portions of the body part. By alternating pumping and discharging of the first pressure chamber 26 and second pressure chamber 28, the blood circulation can be stimulated. Most different pumping cycles are conceivable for the first pressure chamber 26 and second pressure chamber 28, which particularly differ by the time period and frequency of the appliance of pressure to the body part.

(29) As is illustrated in FIG. 5, the first tube 34 has a hose 52 of a bendable plastic and a first end piece 54 of metal. The end piece 54 is non-detachably plugged into the hose 52. The first fitting 32 has a first connecting portion 56, which is made of metal. The first fitting 32 further has an angle piece 58, which is made of plastic. The angle piece 58 is bent by a 90-angle and connected in a fluid-tight manner the first pressure chamber 26. The first connecting portion 56 is non-detachably plugged into the angle piece 58. For connection of the first tube 34 with the fitting 32, the first end piece 54 is plugged into the first connecting portion 56 in order to form a fluid-tight plug fastener.

(30) FIG. 6 shows an outer side of the carrier 12. The pouch 22 is attached to the carrier 12. The pouch 22 is represented in a closed state. The carrier 12 comprises a main body 60 that is provided with a loop tape, except for a middle section at the outer side. A loop tape 63 is particularly provided at a second end 62 of the main body 60. A further loop tape 63a is provided at a first end 68 and at the middle section. Hook tape 69 and loop tape 63 as well as a further loop tape 63a together form a fastener.

(31) As can be recognized from FIG. 7, the main body 60 has a holder 64 and two straps 66 at its inner side. The hook tape 69 is provided at the first side 68 of the main body 60. The holder 64 comprises a first opening 70 and a second opening 72, wherein the first tube 34 and the second tube 36 can be led out of the holder 64 through the first opening 70. A switch 77 of the pump 16 can be operated through the second opening 72. The straps 66 serve for holding and leading the first tube 34 and the second tube 36.

(32) The holder 64 is firmly attached to the main body 60 and formed as a pocket 74. The pocket 74 has a lock 76 for closing the pocket 74. As can be well recognized in FIG. 8, the first tube 34 and the second tube 36 each comprise an end piece 54 in form of a plug for the fittings 30, 32.

(33) As is well illustrated in FIG. 10, the object holder 18 has at its back side two hook tapes 78 at the pouch 22, by which the object holder 18 can be attached to the loop tape 63a of the main body 60.

(34) FIGS. 12a to 12g show each side views of the pump 16. The pump 16 has two connections 80 and a switch 77. The first tube 34 and the second tube 36 are connected with the connections 80. As can be well seen in FIGS. 13 and 14, the pump 16 has a battery 82, two compressors 84, which are in fluid connection with a first valve 86a and a second valve 86b via tubes 87. The compressors 84 are connected with the connections 80 via the tubes 87 with the valves 86a, 86b opening or closing the single connections 80. Furthermore, the pump 16 comprises a bottom plate 88, a damping layer 90, a circuit board 92 and a lid 94. The circuit board 92 carries the compressors 84, the battery 82 and the valves 86a and 86b, as is recognizable in FIG. 14. Therefore, brackets 93 and/or a cable tie is used. The circuit board 92 is supported in a circumferential frame 95 of soft plastic, recognizable in FIG. 12, which itself is clamped between the bottom plate 88 and the lid 94. Additionally, a damping layer 90 of neoprene is laid in the bottom plate 88 as well as in the lid 94 for achieving a further sound damping.

(35) As is recognizable in FIG. 14, the pump 16 further comprises a sensor 96 that measures the pressure of the fluid inside the first tube 34 and inside the second tube 36. The sensor 96 is connected with the controller 99 for terminating the operation of the pump 16 if the pressure measured inside the first tube 34 and the second tube 36 reaches a pressure limit or the pressure limit is not reached within a prescribed time period. The controller 99 can be arranged on the circuit board 92 as a separate part. Alternatively, the controller 99 can be provided by the circuit board 92 itself.

(36) As can also be recognized from FIG. 14, the pump 16 further comprises a detector 97 for detecting the state of charge that measures the state of charge of the battery 82. If the state of charge of the battery 82 is below a prescribed value, a signal is given to a notifier 98, which is a speaker in the shown embodiment. This one then makes a buzzing noise.

(37) As can be seen in FIGS. 15a to 15c, a charger 100 has two ports 102 with a pump 16 being inserted into each of them. The port 102 is sloped to a horizontal so that the pump 16 cannot slip out of the port 102. The ports 102 are arranged one above the other. A counter contact portion 104 in form of a pin is provided in the port 102, as can be seen in FIG. 15a. The counter contact portion 104 touches a contact portion 106 of the pump 16, which is recognizable in FIGS. 12d and 12e in form of a socket. The contact portion 106 and the counter contact portion 104 are made of metal and establish an electrical connection between a charger not shown and the battery 82 of the pump 16.

(38) FIG. 17 establishes the electrical connection between the single ports 102. Therefore, the port 102 comprises a contact surface 105 on the lower side and a contact peg 107 on the upper side that touch each other, if two ports 102 are stacked above each other.

(39) As particularly can be recognized in FIG. 22, the charger 100 comprises a detector 108 at each of its ports 102. The detector 108 is formed as a card reader in the shown embodiment which detects a membership card in form of a card as a means of identification. If a valid ID is detected, a signal is given to a retainer 109 shown in FIGS. 16a and 16b. The retainer 109 engages behind the pump 16 so that it cannot be removed from the port 102, as far as no signal is received from the detector 108. If the retainer 109 receives a signal from the detector 108, the pump 16 is released so that the user can remove the pump 16 from the port 102.

(40) As can be seen in FIGS. 18a to 18p, a hanger 110 has a holding portion 112 and an attachment portion 114. The holding portion 112 is open at its top in vertical direction so that the pump 16 can be inserted into the holding portion 112 from above. The inner dimensions of the holding portion 112 are adapted to the outer dimensions of the pump 16 so that the pump 16 can be inserted into the holding portion 112 so that the pump 16 can be securely arranged.

(41) The attachment portion 114 has a base section 116 and a contact section 118. The base section 116 and the contact section 118 form an abutting section 120. A rod 122 of an apparatus is pressed against the abutting section 120 by a fastening section 124 in form of a cable tie. Therefore, the attachment portion 114 comprises holes 130, through which the fastening section 124 can be led. The abutting section 120 comprises an abutting surface 126, as can be seen in FIGS. 19 to 19c, or abutting protrusions 128, as can be seen in FIGS. 18a to 18p and 19a. The abutting protrusions 128 a formed as rubber pimples. Depending on the size of the rod 122, the abutting surface 126 or the abutting protrusions 128, serving as contact section 118, can be plugged or screwed into the base section 116. The fastening sections 124 can be led through holes 130. The holes 130 are arranged in recesses 132 of the holding portion 112 so that even particularly thick fastening section 124 can be used.

(42) The recesses 132 are reinforced by reinforcements 134 which can also be formed by an abutting section 120 in case of horizontally arranged rods 122. Moreover, the reinforcements 134 form an abutting section 120 for attachment to vertical rods, wherein this one is particularly suitable for rods with a large diameter. The reinforcements 134 furthermore comprise openings, through which fastening sections 124 can be led for fastening. By support of the holes 130 and the reinforcements 134 the fastening sections 124 can be arranged variously for adapting the attachment of the hanger 110 to the present situation. The different attachment possibilities of the fastening sections 124 are exemplified in FIGS. 18a to 18p. Furthermore, the holding portion 112 is dimensioned so that it can non-distortedly receive the pump 16.

(43) A rack 140 is assigned to the charger 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 21, the rack 140 is provided by three stands 142 with each of them being able to receive the carrier 12 or the pressure belt 14. Therefore, the stand 142 comprises horizontal rods 144, over which the carrier 12 or the pressure belt 14 can be laid.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(44) TABLE-US-00001 10 piece of fitness equipment 12 carrier 14 pressure belt 16 pump 18 holder 20 object 22 pouch 24 lid 26 first pressure chamber 28 second pressure chamber 30 first fitting 32 second fitting 34 first tube 36 second tube 38 welding 40 first end portion 41 hook section 42 first base section 44 first branch section 46 second base section 48 second branch section 50 second end portion 51 loop portion 52 hose 54 first end piece 56 first connecting portion 58 angle piece 60 main body 62 second end 63 loop tape 63a further loop tape 64 holder 66 strap 68 first end 69 hook tape 70 first opening 72 second opening 74 pocket 76 lock 77 switch 78 hook tape 80 connection 82 battery 84 compressor 86a first valve 86b second valve 87 tube 88 bottom plate 90 damping layer 92 circuit board 93 bracket 94 lid 95 circumferential frame 96 sensor 97 detector 98 notifier 99 controller 100 charger 102 port 104 counter contact portion 105 contact surface 106 contact portion 107 contact peg 108 detector 109 retainer 110 hanger 112 holding portion 114 attachment portion 116 base section 118 contact section 120 abutting section 122 rod 124 fastening section 126 abutting surfaces 128 abutting protrusion 130 hole 132 recess 134 reinforcement 140 rack 142 stand 144 horizontal rod