EXERCISE DEVICE AND SPORTING EQUIPMENT WITH SAID DEVICE

Abstract

Exercise device for a sporting device, including at least a fixed structure and a movable element and optionally a mass hanging from the movable element, wherein: a) the fixed structure, extending at least partially longitudinally along an axis X, is connectable by way of an end portion to a portion of a rod of the sporting device, this structure including at least one limit stop positioned at the free end or between the free end and the movable element, and b) a movable element connectable to the fixed structure and adapted to carry out at least a sliding translation movement with respect to the fixed structure along the axis X.

Claims

1. An exercise device (1), connectable to a sporting device (100) comprising at least one portion (5) in the form of a rod, said exercise device comprising at least one fixed structure (2), and a movable element (3), wherein: a) the fixed structure extends at least partially longitudinally along an axis X and is connectable by means of an end portion (4) to said portion (5) of the sporting device (100), this fixed structure (2) comprising at least a first limit stop (6) positioned at a free end (8) thereof or between said free end (8) and said movable element (3); and b) the movable element (3) is connectable to said fixed structure so as to carry out at least a sliding translation movement with respect to the fixed structure (2) along said axis X.

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixed structure (2) comprises at least one portion (10) in the form of a bar, and the movable element (3) comprises a sleeve inserted sliding on said bar (10).

3. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the fixed structure (2) comprises a second limit stop (7) positioned between said end portion (4) and said movable element (3).

4. The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein said second limit stop (7) is movable along said axis X.

5. The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein said second limit stop (7) comprises a threaded bushing screwed onto a threaded portion (11) of the fixed structure (2).

6. The device (1) according to claim 1 wherein the movable element (3) comprises bearing means that slide on said portion (10), said means being selected from a bushing made of plastic or metal material or roller or ball bearings.

7. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein an elastic element (13) is interposed between the movable element (3) and at least one of the limit stops (6, 7).

8. The device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a spacer means (20) of rigid type or of flexible type connectable to and interposed between said movable element (3) and a mass (9) hanging from this movable element.

9. The device (1) according to claim 8, wherein said flexible spacer means (20) is elastic.

10. The device (1) according to claim 9, wherein the mass (9) comprises a through hole (21) in which at least one portion of said flexible and elastic spacer means (20) is housed.

11. A sporting device (100) comprising the device (1) according to claim 1.

12. A sporting device (100), according to claim 11, comprising a bar (5) at the ends of which the device (1) according to claim 1 is fastened.

13. A sporting device (100), according to claim 12, wherein said device (1) is connected to a mass (9) by means of a flexible and elastic spacer means (20).

14. A sporting device (100), according to claim 13, wherein said spacer means (20) comprises an elongated flexible element (27) connected at one end to the device (1) and having at the opposite end a housing (28) for a mass (9), said housing comprising at least two bands (25, 26) adapted to surround the perimeter of the mass (9) along two directions crossing over each other so as to retain said mass.

15. The device of claim 6, wherein the movable element further comprises adjustable braking means.

16. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the fixed structure (2) comprises a second limit stop (7) positioned between said end portion (4) and said movable element (3).

17. The device (1) according to claim 2, wherein the movable element (3) comprises bearing means that slide on said portion (10), said means being selected from a bushing made of plastic or metal material or roller or ball bearings.

18. The device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the movable element (3) comprises bearing means that slide on said portion (10), said means being selected from a bushing made of plastic or metal material or roller or ball bearings.

19. The device (1) according to claim 4, wherein the movable element (3) comprises bearing means that slide on said portion (10), said means being selected from a bushing made of plastic or metal material or roller or ball bearings.

20. The device (1) according to claim 5, wherein the movable element (3) comprises bearing means that slide on said portion (10), said means being selected from a bushing made of plastic or metal material or roller or ball bearings.

Description

[0054] Further features and details of the invention will be better understood from the description below, provided by way of non-limiting example, and from the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0055] FIGS. 1a, 1b and 1c are representations of side views of the device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0056] FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c are representations of front views of the device according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

[0057] FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d and 3e are representations of top views of the device according to the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIGS. 2a, 2b and 2c;

[0058] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c are representations of side views of the device according to a further embodiment of the present invention;

[0059] FIG. 5 is a side view of the device according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[0060] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the spacer means according to another variant of the present invention.

[0061] With reference to FIG. 1, the reference numeral 1 indicates as a whole the interchangeable device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0062] FIG. 1a illustrates the device according to the present invention, in which the first limit stop 6, at the free end 8, is fixed and integral with the bar 10. The second limit stop 7 instead comprises a threaded bushing that can be screwed onto a threaded portion 11 integral with the bar 10. Therefore, the second limit stop can move along the axis X as a function of the extent to which the threaded bushing is screwed onto the threaded portion 11.

[0063] In the example of FIG. 1a, said threaded bushing 7 is completely screwed onto the threaded portion 11. In this configuration, the movable element 3 has available the maximum sliding length along the bar 10 between the limit stops 6 and 7.

[0064] In FIGS. 1b and 1c the bushing 7 is moved with respect to the illustration of FIG. 1a and is closer to the first limit stop 6. The movable element 3 has available a smaller portion (FIG. 1b) of the bar 10 on which to slide or is blocked against the first limit stop 6 (FIG. 1c).

[0065] According to a preferred embodiment, the movable element 3 is provided with bearing means (not visible in the accompanying figures). Sliding of said bearing means on the outer surface of said bar 10 of the fixed structure 2 allows the movable element 3 to be moved along the bar 10.

[0066] In the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the movable element 3, of symmetrical type, is provided with a seat 12 to which to connect the mass 9 by means of the spacer means 20, such as a tape or a cord.

[0067] As mentioned previously, movement of the movable element 3 along the bar 10 causes movement of the point of application of the weight of the mass 9 connected to the spacer element 20. This movement causes a different distribution of the load that weighs on the person performing the exercise, generating a motor interference.

[0068] The movement of the movable element 3 is generally free, or optionally braked. Therefore, the person performing the exercise is not able to predict its movement and, consequently, to predict the variation of the load of the device. In these conditions the person is subject to sudden and unexpected motor interferences.

[0069] In particular, the accompanying FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate, respectively, the oscillation and rotation movements of the mass 9 during an exercise. In these examples illustrated, the mass 9, spherical in shape, is for example a medicine ball.

[0070] In this latter embodiment, the tape is elastic for the purpose of also allowing the mass to perform a stretching movement, in addition to the translation movement and, optionally, to the rotation movement about the axis X of the fixed structure 2.

[0071] FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c illustrate an exercise device 100 in the form of a bar or barbell, at the ends of which the exercise device 1 is fastened.

[0072] In turn, the exercise device is connected to the spacer means 20, flexible and preferably elastic, that supports the mass 9, for example the medicine ball as in the example illustrated.

[0073] As can be seen in the aforesaid figure, the medicine ball can be moved to different distances from the body of the device as a function of the extent to which the elastic element 20 is stretched.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment, to make the most of the elastic potentials of the elastic spacer means, said ball 9 comprises a through hole 21 in which at least one portion of said tape 20 is housed. More in particular, a through hole 21, having an inlet opening 23 at one end of said through hole 21 and an outlet opening at 24 at the opposite end of this through hole 21 passes diametrically through the ball 9 (FIGS. 2a, 4c. Said tape 20, which is only fastened at the level of the outlet opening 24, is inserted into this hole 21, as can be seen in FIGS. 2a, 2b, 2c and 4a, 4b and 4c.

[0075] FIG. 5 illustrates another variant of the device according to the invention.

[0076] In this variant the device is substantially identical to the one illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1a-1c. In addition, the device comprises at least one elastic element 13, typically a spring, interposed between the movable element 3 and at least one of the limit stops 6, 7. Alternatively, the elastic element 13 can be an elastomeric pad or an elastic tape.

[0077] This elastic element 13 opposes the movement of the movable element 3 exerting thereon a thrust to maintain it in a position at rest, more or less stable as a function of the rigidity of said elastic element. Therefore, this elastic element acts as limiter of the travel of the movable element 13.

[0078] In the variant illustrated, the device comprises two elastic elements 13, 13 each interposed between the movable element 3 and the limit stops 6 and 7, respectively.

[0079] According to this variant, the elastic elements 13 exert opposing forces on the movable element 3. In the absence of further external forces, for example in a condition at rest, the movable element 3 is maintained in an intermediate position between the two limit stops 6, 7.

[0080] Also in this variant, by changing the rigidity of the elastic elements 13 it is possible to limit to a greater or lesser extent the movements of the movable element 3 with the same forces applied along a direction parallel to the axis X.

[0081] According to a further variant, both the limit stops 6, 7 can be of fixed type, i.e. their distance can be constant.

[0082] FIG. 6 illustrates the spacer means 20 according to another variant of the invention.

[0083] This spacer means 20 comprises an elongated flexible element 27 connectable at one end to an exercise device 100.

[0084] More in detail, the elongated flexible element 27 can be connected to a device 1 such as that of the present invention or to any other device in the form of a bar, dumbbell or grip, or it can be gripped directly by a person.

[0085] The elongated flexible element 27 is preferably elastic.

[0086] A housing 28 for a mass, typically spherical in shape, for example a medicine ball or the like, is fastened to the opposite end of the elongated flexible element 27.

[0087] The housing 28 comprises at least two bands 25, 26 that surround the perimeter of the mass, preferably along direction crossing over each other. In practice, said bands 25, 26 form a sort of harness that surrounds the mass to maintain it suspended.

[0088] In the variant illustrated, one of said bands 25 comprises an extension of the elongated flexible element 27 that is bent and closed at said opposite end.

[0089] The bands 25, 26 can be made of the same material as the elongated flexible element or of different materials, for example not elastic. Plastic materials or synthetic or natural fibers are preferred.

[0090] The invention has been described purely for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, according to some preferred embodiments. Therefore, a person skilled in the art can make modifications or variations, all of which are considered as falling within the scope of protection of the present invention.