Gymnastics gear

Abstract

Gymnastics gear for performance of gymnastic exercises, where the gymnastics gear comprises at least a twisting belt, where the twisting belt comprises a first ring, typically an outer ring, and a second ring, typically an inner ring, where the two said rings are concentrically joined and can rotate in regard to each other about a common axis, where the first ring furthermore comprises at least two connection devices, where said connection devices are preferably arranged symmetrically at the outer periphery of the first ring and adapted for joining to a high-tensile or elastic rope, where the second ring also comprises connection devices at the periphery, where these connection devices are adapted for direct or indirect mounting of connection elements to a somersault belt, where the somersault belt is an inflatable somersault belt comprising at least one chamber and at least one valve, which achieves both a good centering of the somersault belt and a good tightening to the body of the gymnast, and where one and the same somersault belt can be adapted to gymnasts of different size as optimally as possible.

Claims

1. Gymnastics gear for performance of gymnastic exercises, where the gymnastics gear comprises at least a twisting belt and a somersault belt, where the twisting belt comprises a first ring as an outer ring, and a second ring as an inner ring, where the two said rings are concentrically joined and rotatable in regard to each other about a common axis, where the first ring furthermore comprises at least two connection devices, where said connection devices are arranged on the outer periphery of the first ring (3) and adapted for joining to a high-tensile or elastic rope, where the second ring also comprises connection devices at the periphery for connecting to complementary connection elements of the somersault belt, wherein the somersault belt is an inflatable somersault belt comprising at least one chamber and at least one valve, and wherein the at least one chamber comprises at least a number of wires placed between an outer side and an inner side of the inflatable somersault belt.

2. Gymnastics gear according to claim 1, wherein the gymnastics gear furthermore comprises a number of the connection elements in the form of straps, where one or more of the straps include a joining device for connecting to a complementary joining device on either the strap itself, on the second ring, or on an inflatable somersault belt.

3. Gymnastics gear according to any claim 1, wherein the second ring comprises a recess along the periphery, where the recess comprises an opening, where the opening is adapted to receive one or more connection elements, where said opening has a size which is narrower than the recess itself.

4. Gymnastics gear according to claim 1, wherein the connection elements comprise a joining device, where the joining device comprises mechanical coupling elements.

5. Gymnastics gear according to claim 1, wherein the first ring is of fiber composite.

6. Gymnastics gear according to claim 1, wherein there is arranged between the first ring and the second ring a number of bearing balls and/or bearing rollers, where said bearing balls and bearing rollers are made of steel, ceramics, or some other suitable shape-stable and friction-resistant material.

7. Inflatable somersault belt for use in the gymnastics gear according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable somersault belt comprises at least one chamber and at least one valve and a number of connection elements to connect the inflatable somersault belt to the twisting belt, and wherein the at least one chamber comprises at least a number of wires placed between the outer side and the inner side of the inflatable somersault belt.

8. Method for use of a gymnastics gear according to claim 1, where the method involves at least the following steps: at least the inflatable somersault belt is placed around the body of a gymnast, a gas species is pumped via a valve into the at least one chamber of the inflatable somersault belt.

9. Method for use of a gymnastics gear according to claim 8, wherein the gas species is air.

10. Gymnastics gear according to claim 2, wherein the joining device is selected from the group consisting of hook-and-loop fasteners (VELCRO), buckles, couplings or combinations thereof.

11. Gymnastics gear according to claim 1, wherein the gymnastics gear furthermore comprises a number of the connection elements in the form of four or more straps, where one or more of the straps include a joining device for connecting to a complementary joining device on either the strap itself, on the second ring, or on an inflatable somersault belt.

12. Gymnastics gear according to claim 11, wherein all the four or more straps comprise the joining device.

13. Gymnastics gear according to claim 11, wherein the joining device is selected from the group consisting of hook-and-loop fasteners (VELCRO), buckles, couplings or combinations thereof.

14. Gymnastics gear according to claim 5, wherein the fiber composite includes fibers selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, vegetable fibers or combinations thereof.

15. Gymnastics gear according to claim 1, wherein the second ring is of fiber composite.

16. Gymnastics gear according to claim 15, wherein the fiber composite includes fibers selected from the group consisting of glass fibers, carbon fibers, vegetable fibers or combinations thereof.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows a twisting belt with a somersault belt according to the prior art.

(2) FIG. 2 shows a twisting belt with a somersault belt with adjustable straps.

(3) FIG. 3 shows an adjustable click buckle between an inflatable somersault belt and a twisting belt.

(4) FIG. 4 shows an inflatable somersault belt with click buckle parts mounted on it.

(5) FIG. 5 shows the inner ring of a twisting belt.

(6) FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the inner ring.

(7) FIG. 7 shows yet another cross section of the inner ring with recesses, strap and lock element.

(8) FIG. 8 shows a twisting belt with inflatable somersault belt with gymnast.

(9) FIG. 9 shows a twisting belt with inflatable somersault belt in a preferred embodiment.

(10) In the description of the figures, identical or corresponding elements will be designated with the same reference symbol in the various figures. Thus, an explanation will not be given for all details in connection with each individual figure or embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(11) 1 Twisting belt 2 Inflatable somersault belt 3 First/outer ring 4 Connection devices on the first/outer ring 5 Second/inner ring 6 Connection devices on the second/inner ring 7 High-tensile or elastic rope in the second/inner ring 8 Connection elements/straps 9 Joining means/coupling elements 10 Eyes in inner ring 11 Adjustment means 12 Locking means 13 Recess for bearing balls/rollers at outer periphery on the second/inner ring 14 Bearing balls/rollers 15 Recess in the internal periphery of the second/inner ring 16 Inner area in inner recess 17 Opening in the inner recess 18 Insert opening in the inner recess 19 Locking device in the inner recess 20 Valve 21 Wire 22 Outer side, inflatable somersault belt 23 Inner side, inflatable somersault belt 24 Chamber

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(12) FIG. 1 shows a twisting belt 1 with somersault belt 2 according to the prior art. The outer ring 3, also called the first ring 3, is shown here with two connection devices 4, in which the twisting belt 1 can be suspended from ropes, not shown. The outer ring 3 is connected coaxially and rotatably to the inner ring 5, also called the second ring 5. On the second ring 5 there are arranged connection devices 6 for the somersault belt 2. In the variant shown, these connection devices 6 are comprised of a number of eyes, there being arranged in these eyes an elastic rope 7, to which the somersault belt 2 itself is secured. By using an elastic rope 7, the somersault belt 2 can be more easily pulled toward the body of the gymnast in order to achieve an optimal tightening. However, this results in a suboptimal centering of the gymnast in the twisting belt 1 itself.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a twisting belt 1 with mounted inflatable somersault belt 2, where there are adjustable straps 8 between the inflatable somersault belt 2 and the inner ring 5 of the twisting belt. On the mentioned straps 8 there are arranged joining means/coupling elements 9, one of which is shown open, enabling a quick and easy joining between an inflatable somersault belt 2 and a twisting belt 1. The gymnast can thus be wearing an inflatable somersault belt 2 and when it comes time he can be easily connected firmly to the twisting belt 1. The mentioned joining means/coupling elements 9 have one part 9 secured to the aforementioned connection devices 6 in the inner ring 5, which consists here of a high-tensile rope 7, mounted in eyes 10. The other part 9 of the joining means/coupling elements 9 is secured to the inflatable somersault belt 2.

(14) FIG. 3 shows joining means/coupling elements 9 in the form of an adjustable click buckle between an inflatable somersault belt 2 and a twisting belt 1. One part of the joining means/coupling element 9 is secured to the high-tensile rope 7, and the other part 9 is secured to an inflatable somersault belt 2. Between the high-tensile rope 7 and the one part 9 of the joining means/coupling element 9, the strap 8 itself is mounted in adjustment means 11 in relation to the one part 9 of the joining means/coupling element. This makes it possible to adjust the length of the strap and thus to center the inflatable somersault belt perfectly in relation to the twisting belt 1, while at the same time the inflatable somersault belt 2 is perfectly tightened against the body of the gymnast.

(15) FIG. 4 shows an inflatable somersault belt 2 with joining means/coupling elements 9 mounted on it. This is an inflatable somersault belt 2 which is outfitted with the advantageous joining means/coupling elements 9 and thus can be easily and quickly coupled to the inner ring 5 on also other twisting belts. The strap 8 on the inflatable somersault belt 2 is led here through a slot in the joining means/coupling element 9 and then blocked with a locking element 12. The figure furthermore shows a valve 20, which can be connected to a compressor or a manual pump, optionally via a hose.

(16) FIG. 5 shows the inner ring 5 of a twisting belt 1, where there is arranged on the outer periphery a recess 13 for bearing balls/rollers 14, not shown. This is essentially a recess 13 which largely corresponds to the one present on common types of ball or roller bearings. On the internal periphery of the inner ring 5 there is seen a recess 15 for entirely arbitrary placement of the straps 8 connecting an inflatable somersault belt 2 to the twisting belt 1.

(17) FIG. 6 shows a cross section of the same inner ring 5 as seen in FIG. 5. The recess 15 is shown here with a greater internal height 16 than the height of the opening 17 itself. Furthermore, there is shown an insert opening 18, through which straps 8 or the like can be inserted into the recess 15. This will be shown and described in further detail in FIG. 7. FIG. 6 also shows the previously mentioned outer recess 13 for bearing balls/rollers 14, not shown.

(18) FIG. 7 shows a cross section of part of the outer ring 3 and the inner ring 5 with recesses 13 and with bearing balls/rollers 14. In the recess 15 in the inner ring 5 there is arranged a strap 8, where the strap 8 forms an eye, and where there is arranged in this eye a locking device 19. In this way, it becomes possible to shift the strap 8there will usually be four straps 8 between the inner ring 5 and an inflatable somersault belt 2 and perhaps one or two straps 8 for each of two leg beltsalong the periphery of the inner ring 5. In this way, the straps 8 can be placed entirely as the user desires, and it is thus possible to achieve an optimal and heretofore unprecedented perfect tightening of the inflatable somersault belt 2 against the gymnast, while at the same time achieving a perfect centering of the gymnast in the twisting belt 1.

(19) FIG. 7 also shows a cross section of an inflatable somersault belt 2, where in a chamber 24 there are a number of wires 21 connecting the outer side 22 of an inflatable somersault belt 2 to the inner side 23 of an inflatable somersault belt 2, thereby ensuring that the outer side 22 of the inflatable somersault belt and the inner side 23 of the inflatable somersault belt can only move for a distance from each other that is defined by the lengths of the wires.

(20) FIG. 8 shows a twisting belt 1 with inflatable somersault belt 2, in which a gymnast is tightened up, and where there is a visible connection device on the first/outer ring 4 and a valve 20 on the somersault belt 2.

(21) FIG. 9 shows a twisting belt 1 with inflatable somersault belt 2 in a preferred embodiment, where the inflatable somersault belt 2 is not pumped up, but where the valve 20 is visible on the inflatable somersault belt 2.