MUSCLE EXERCISING EQUIPMENT

Abstract

Disclosed is a piece of muscle exercising equipment that includes at least one shaft mounted rotatably about its own axis, at least one inertial mass connectable to the shaft, at least one flexible element constrained to the shaft and configured to be wound around it when the shaft is rotated, in which the flexible element is put under tension by a user to cause rotation of the shaft and of the inertial mass. The inertial mass includes a supporting element, connectable to, or integral with, the shaft, and at least one casing, sustained by the supporting element, which defines at least one inner chamber fillable with a loose material.

Claims

1. Muscle exercising equipment comprising: at least one shaft (10) mounted rotatably about its own axis (X); at least one inertial mass (50) connectable to said shaft (10); at least one flexible element (30) constrained to said shaft (10) and configured to be wound around it when the shaft is rotated; where said flexible element (30) is put under tension by a user to cause rotation of the shaft (10) and of the inertial mass (50), wherein said inertial mass comprises a supporting element (51), connectable to, or integral with, the shaft (10), and at least one casing (52), sustained by said supporting element, this casing (52) defining at least one inner chamber (55) fillable with a loose material.

2. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said casing (52) is provided with at least one sealable mouth (53), which allows said at least one chamber (55) to be filled with said loose material, or to be emptied.

3. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said loose material is selected from a liquid or a granular solid.

4. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said at least one casing (52) is integral with the supporting element (51) or is removably couplable thereto.

5. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said casing (52) comprises one or more rigid, semi-rigid or flexible walls.

6. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said at least one casing (52) comprises at least one wall at least partially transparent or translucent, there being applied to said wall at least one indicator to measure the amount of loose material inserted into the casing (52).

7. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said casing (52) comprises several chambers (55) separated by partitions (56).

8. Equipment according to claim 1, further comprising several casings (52) arranged in a circular series around the rotation axis (X) of the shaft (10).

9. Equipment according to claim 8, wherein the supporting element (51) is provided with one or more seats (58) adapted to at least partially receive said casings (52).

10. Equipment according to claim 9, wherein said seats have a shape at least partially complementary to the shape of the casings (52).

11. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said supporting element (51) and said at least one casing (52) are provided with locking means (57, 59, 60) for the coupling and decoupling thereof.

12. Equipment according to claim 9, wherein said seats (58) or said locking means (57, 59, 60) are configured to constrain said at least one casing (52) in different positions with respect to the rotation axis (X) so as to vary the inertia of the inertial mass.

13. Equipment according to claim 11, wherein said locking means (57) are selected from laces, hoop and loop fasteners, belts, elastic clips and magnets.

14. Equipment according to claim 11, wherein said locking means (59) comprise interlocking profiles obtained respectively on the casing (52) and on the supporting element (51), said interlocking profiles allowing sliding of the casing with respect to the support along a direction parallel to the rotation axis (X), to attach or remove it.

15. Equipment according to claim 11, wherein said locking means (60) comprise slides or sliders sliding in respective guides (61), obtained on the supporting element (51), toward or away from the rotation axis (X) of the shaft (10).

16. Equipment according to claim 1, wherein said supporting element (51) comprises a chamber (62) in communication with at least one mouth (63), through which the loose material is inserted or removed, and at least one outlet (64) in communication with at least one casing to transfer the loose material inside this casing.

17. Equipment according to claim 2, wherein said loose material is selected from a liquid or a granular solid.

18. Equipment according to claim 2, wherein said at least one casing (52) is integral with the supporting element (51) or is removably couplable thereto.

19. Equipment according to claim 3, wherein said at least one casing (52) is integral with the supporting element (51) or is removably couplable thereto.

20. Equipment according to claim 2, wherein said casing (52) comprises one or more rigid, semi-rigid or flexible walls.

Description

[0060] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the description of an example of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of muscle exercising equipment of isoinertial type, as illustrated in the accompanying figures, wherein:

[0061] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of muscle exercising equipment according to the invention;

[0062] FIGS. 2a and 2b are a side view and a front view of the inertial mass according to a variant of the invention;

[0063] FIGS. 3a to 3d are front views of the inertial mass according to a further variant of the invention;

[0064] FIGS. 4a and 4b are two perspective views of the inertial mass according to another variant of the invention;

[0065] FIGS. 4c to 4e are front views of the inertial mass of FIG. 4b in different configurations of use;

[0066] FIGS. 5a and 5b are respectively a perspective view and a front view of the inertial mass according to another variant of the invention;

[0067] FIG. 5c is a front view of the inertial mass of FIG. 5b in a different configuration of use;

[0068] FIGS. 6a and 6b are two front views of the inertial mass according to another variant of the invention, in respective configurations of use;

[0069] FIGS. 7a and 7b are two front views of the inertial mass, according to another variant of the invention, in respective configurations of use;

[0070] FIGS. 8a and 8b are two front views of the inertial mass according to another variant of the invention.

[0071] The accompanying FIG. 1 schematically illustrates muscle exercising equipment for isoinertial training.

[0072] The equipment, indicated as a whole with 1, is provided with at least one shaft 10 supported with a frame 20 so as to rotate about its axis X.

[0073] Preferably, the shaft 10 is sustained by rolling means 21 of known type, such as bearings, or by bushings or the like.

[0074] At least one flexible element 30 is constrained at a first end to the shaft 10 and is configured to be wound around it and unwound from it, at least partially, while carrying out an exercise.

[0075] Said flexible element 30 can comprise, for example, a rope, a cable, a belt or similar flexible elements. The flexible element 30 can also comprise more than one of the aforesaid elements.

[0076] A tension device 40, schematized in the figure, allows a user to exert a tension force on the flexible element 30, by means of a limb or another part of the body, while carrying out an exercise.

[0077] The tension element 40 can be connected to the opposite end of the flexible element, as shown in the example of FIG. 1. Alternatively, the tension element can be mounted sliding in an intermediate stretch of the flexible element 30 by means of pulleys or other sliding means.

[0078] Further guides, such as pulleys or the like, can be mounted on the frame 20 to guide the flexible element 30.

[0079] An inertial mass, indicated as a whole with 50, is connectable to the shaft 10 so as to be able to rotate integral therewith.

[0080] According to the invention, this inertial mass 50 comprises at least one supporting element 51 that sustains at least one casing 52.

[0081] The supporting element can be integral with the shaft 10 or removably connectable thereto.

[0082] This supporting element can be made of metal, or more preferably of a plastic material.

[0083] To reduce the weight of the supporting element 51, and facilitate its transport, the supporting element can also be made of composite material, such as carbon fiber, fiberglass, Kevlar or the like.

[0084] Connection of the supporting element 51 can take place with means of known type, such as screw means, interlocking means, elastic means or other means that allow the supporting element 51 to be rotated by the shaft 10, and vice versa.

[0085] Similarly, also the casing 52 can be integral with the support 51 or removably connectable with the aforesaid connection means.

[0086] According to the invention, in the casing 52 there is defined at least one inner chamber fillable with a loose material.

[0087] Examples of suitable loose materials are liquids, such as water or water-based mixtures, granular solids, such as sand, fine gravel, rice (or similar cereals), or mixtures thereof.

[0088] The loose material can be inserted into and extracted from the inner chamber through a mouth 53, preferably sealable with closing means 54.

[0089] The casing can be filled completely, or only partially, as a function of the type of loose material used and of the total mass that the inertial mass must reach.

[0090] For this purpose, the casing can be provided with means adapted to indicate the amount of loose material inserted.

[0091] These means preferably comprise one or more indicators, not illustrated in the figure, applied to at least one of the walls of the casing 52.

[0092] According to a preferred variant, at least one of the walls of the casing 52 is made of a transparent or translucent material to allow the level of loose material inside the chamber to be viewed.

[0093] According to the invention, the casing 52 can be made of various materials, such as plastic materials, glass, laminated or resin-coated fabrics, or similar.

[0094] In preferred variants, the casing 52 is made of a rigid, semi-rigid or flexible plastic material, or of a laminated fabric made impermeable to liquid and gas.

[0095] Examples of suitable materials are polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP) or the like. The casing can also be made of composite materials, such as carbon fiber, Kevlar or the like.

[0096] FIGS. 2a and 2b illustrate the inertial mass 50 according to a first variant of the invention.

[0097] In this variant, the casing 52 comprises a hollow disc-shaped element in which there are obtained several inner chambers 55 separated by partitions 56, dividers or similar.

[0098] More in detail, the partitions 56 are placed radially in the disc-shaped element so as to define the same number of chambers 55 arranged circumferentially with respect to the rotation axis X of the shaft 10.

[0099] This solution allows the loose material to be rotated together with the disc-shaped element and not to rotate inside it. Therefore, in this variant the inner chambers are preferably at least two.

[0100] Each chamber is provided with a mouth 53, for filling it with loose material, and for emptying it, and with closing means 54.

[0101] The casing 52 is sustained by a supporting element 51 in the shape of a hub, bushing or the like, mountable on the shaft 10.

[0102] In the variant of FIGS. 3a and 3b, the casing 52 comprises an annular or toroidal element in which several chambers 55 separated by partitions 56 are obtained.

[0103] Said annular element is preferably made of an at least partially flexible material, which allows the bulk to be reduced when the casing is not in use to facilitate storage or transport thereof.

[0104] In the variant illustrated, the supporting element 51 comprises a substantially rigid disc provided with locking means 57 that allow the casing 52 to be fixed and maintained in position.

[0105] These means are, for example, laces, hoop and loop fasteners (for example Velcro), belts, elastic clips, magnets or the like.

[0106] In this variant the casing 52 is positioned on a face of the supporting element 51. In place of a disc, the supporting element 51 can comprise a plurality of arms that extend radially from a central portion at the rotation axis. These arms are at least two or, preferably, at least four.

[0107] The support 51 can be made of a single element or, to reduce the bulk, of several parts hinged or joinable to one another.

[0108] In the variant illustrated in FIGS. 3c and 3d, the supporting element 51 comprises a disc-shaped element provided with a perimeter edge with a seat adapted to allow positioning of the casing 52.

[0109] In this variant, the casing 52 can comprise at least one flexible tubular container, with a single chamber 55 or several chambers, which, once filled, can be wrapped circularly around the supporting element 51.

[0110] Fixing of the casing can take place through locking means 57 such as those described above.

[0111] In the variants described above, two or more casings 52 can also be arranged concentrically on the supporting element 51 to vary the inertia of the inertial mass.

[0112] FIGS. 4a and 4b illustrate a variant of the invention in which the inertial mass comprises several casings 52.

[0113] In this variant, the supporting element 51 is provided with a plurality of seats 58, where each casing 52 is received, at least partially.

[0114] The casings 52 can have various shapes and sizes with respect to the supporting element 51. In the example in FIGS. 4a-4e, the casings comprise substantially cylindrical containers with the mouth 53 placed at one of the ends.

[0115] This variant allows the user to use dedicated containers, provided by the manufacturer, or generic containers of known volume, such as large or small bottles.

[0116] The equipment thus structured is even more practical to transport, as suitable casings can be obtained directly in the place in which training is to be carried out without having to transport them together with the machine.

[0117] The seats 58 are structured so as to define a stable position of the casing 52 with respect to the supporting element 51. This ensures correct balancing of the inertial mass and allows a reduction of the vibrations of the equipment while carrying out the exercises.

[0118] In the example of FIG. 4a, the supporting element 51 comprises a drum in which the seats 58 are positioned at the outer perimeter thereof.

[0119] These seats 58 comprise semi-circular cradles, aligned along the rotation axis X of the shaft 10, in which the casings 52 rest.

[0120] Fixing of the casings 52 in the seats 58 can be obtained with locking means 57 such as, for example, belts, ropes, hoop and loop fasteners, or the like.

[0121] In the variant illustrated in FIG. 4c, the casings 52 are each constrained by a belt 57, a rope, a hoop and loop fastener, or the like.

[0122] FIG. 4d illustrates a variant in which one of the aforesaid elements winds around all the casings 52 to constrain them to the supporting element 51.

[0123] These locking elements are particularly practical as they are adaptable to casings of different shapes and sizes.

[0124] FIG. 4e illustrates the variant of FIG. 4c in which a different number of casings 52 is installed on the supporting element 51 so as to obtain an inertial mass with a different moment of inertia.

[0125] FIGS. 5a and 5b illustrate a further variant of the invention. In this variant the casings 52 comprise containers in the shape of a circular sector.

[0126] The supporting element 51 comprises a cylindrical bell around which the casings are arranged.

[0127] In this variant the locking means of the casings comprise interlocking profiles 59 obtained respectively on the casing and on the circular wall of the cylindrical bell.

[0128] These interlocking profiles allow the casing to slide on the bell, along a direction parallel to the rotation axis X, to attach or remove it.

[0129] Alternatively, also in this variant, the casings 52 can be constrained with belts, hoop and loop fasteners, screw means or magnets.

[0130] Also in this case, the number of the casings 52 installed on the supporting element 51 can vary, as in the example of FIG. 5c.

[0131] Preferably, to maintain the inertial mass balanced, the casings 52 must be at least four.

[0132] In the variant of FIGS. 6a and 6b, the casings 52 comprise tubular containers, with a circular or polygonal section, constrained on a supporting element 51 similar to that of the variant of FIGS. 5a-5c.

[0133] Also in this example, the locking means comprise interlocking profiles 59 that cooperate with respective profiles on the peripheral edge of the bell.

[0134] These locking elements 59 can be integral with the container or removably attachable thereto. In this last variant these means can also be attached to common containers, such as large or small bottles or the like.

[0135] With respect to the variant of FIGS. 5a-5c, in this variant the casings 52 can be placed in two different positions with respect to the supporting element 51.

[0136] In the first position (FIG. 6b?), the containers are arranged so as to project beyond the circular wall of the bell.

[0137] In the second position (FIG. 6a) the containers remain inside said wall.

[0138] The shift of the center of gravity of the casings with respect to the rotation axis allows the inertial mass to be configured with different moments of inertia.

[0139] These different configurations are reachable both by varying the number of casings 52 installed on the supporting element 51, and by arranging these latter in one of the positions described above.

[0140] A further example of embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7a and 7b. In this variant the casings 52 are retained on the supporting element 51 by locking means 60 movable toward or away from the rotation axis X of the shaft 10.

[0141] Therefore, this variant allows modification of the moment of inertia of the inertial mass in a simple and rapid manner, by shifting the locking means 60 and therefore the casings 52, without removing these latter from the supporting element 51.

[0142] For this purpose, the locking means 60 can comprise slides or sliders, not illustrated in the figure, sliding in respective guides 61 obtained on the supporting element 51 and arranged radially with respect to the rotation axis X of the shaft 10.

[0143] Alternatively, the supporting element 51 can be provided with a plurality of housings arranged at increasing distances with respect to said rotation axis X, adapted to receive the locking means 60 in which the casings 52 are constrained.

[0144] Also in these variants the casings can have various shapes and sizes. Therefore, said casings can be supplied by the manufacturer of the equipment or can be common containers commercially available. For this purpose, the locking means 60 are preferably structured to adapt to casings of different shapes and sizes.

[0145] FIGS. 8a and 8b illustrate a further variant in which the supporting element 51 acts as collector for filling the casings 52 with loose material, or for emptying thereof.

[0146] In this variant the supporting element 51 comprises a chamber 62 accessible via a mouth 63 through which the loose material is inserted or removed.

[0147] The chamber 62 is also provided with a plurality of outlets 64 to which the mouths of the casings 52 are connectable.

[0148] In this way the loose material inserted through the mouth 63 of the support is distributed in all the connected casings 52.

[0149] This solution makes filling and emptying of the loose material more practical and rapid.

[0150] Fixing of the mouths of the casings 52 to the outlets 64 can take place through interlocking means, screw means or the like.

[0151] Other locking elements 57, such as belts, hook and loop fasteners, hooks or the like can be provided to better constrain the casings 52 during rotation of the inertial mass 50.

[0152] In another variant of the invention, the machine can be provided with a pumping system to transfer or remove the loose material, preferably liquid, from a storage tank to the casings 52, or vice versa.

[0153] This system thus allows the user to vary the amount of loose material in the casings in a practical and rapid manner, without having to remove them from the support.

[0154] The system can also function when the equipment is in use so as to be able to vary the inertia of the inertial mass also while carrying out an exercise.

[0155] As will be apparent from the description above, with the equipment of the invention it is possible to solve the problems of transport that affect prior art devices.

[0156] In particular, due to present invention, it is possible to use common and easily available loose materials, such as water or sand, to contribute to reaching the final mass of the inertial mass.

[0157] The particular structures of the supporting elements and of the casings also allow inertial masses with different moments of inertia to be obtained in a rapid manner and with the same parts.

[0158] The invention has been described for illustrative and non-limiting purposes according to some preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art may find numerous other embodiments and variants, all falling within the scope of protection of the claims below.