Piece of fitness equipment

Abstract

A piece of fitness equipment, which is suitable for fitting to a body part of a person comprising a pressure chamber to which a fluid can be applied and a pump that is connected with the pressure chamber and is suitable for applying the fluid to the pressure chamber. Furthermore, the device comprises a controller for controlling the pump and a wearable holder that is detachably connectable with the pressure chamber and serves for holding the pressure chamber to the body part. The pressure chamber is formed in the shape of a hose.

Claims

1. A piece of fitness equipment comprising: first and second pressure chambers which can be supplied with a fluid and are suitable for wrapping around a body part of a person; a pump that is connected with the first and second pressure chambers and is suitable for supplying the fluid to the first and second pressure chambers; a wearable holder that is detachably connectable with the first and second pressure chambers and includes adjacent channels for holding the first and second pressure chambers to the body part with the first and second pressure chambers each being formed in the shape of a hose; the first and second pressure chambers within the adjacent channels of the wearable holder being arranged so as to wrap spirally around the body part so that the first and second pressure chambers alternate along the body part; and the pump being arranged for alternately supplying fluid to the first and second pressure chambers so that peak pressures in the first pressure chamber alternate with peak pressures in the second pressure chamber, wherein each of the first and second pressure chambers includes a base section and two branch sections with a splitter connecting the base section with the two branch sections, and wherein the wearable holder is in the form of trousers and the body part includes first and second leg portions to which the trousers are arranged to fit, and wherein one of the two branch sections of the first pressure chamber and one of the two branch sections of the second pressure chamber are arranged so as to wrap spirally around the first leg portion and the other of the two branch sections of the first pressure chamber and the other of the two branch sections of the second pressure chamber are arranged so as to wrap spirally around the second leg portion.

2. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second pressure chambers has an approximately circular cross-section.

3. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second pressure chambers is made of silicone.

4. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second pressure chambers includes a fitting for connecting the pump to the first and second pressure chambers.

5. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second pressure chambers includes at least one closure for closing an end of each of the first and second pressure chambers.

6. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein a diameter of at least one of the base section and the two branch sections is between 10 mm and 40 mm.

7. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein a wall thickness of at least one of the base section and the two branch sections is between 0.1 mm and 2 mm.

8. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the wearable holder is made of an elastic material.

9. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the wearable holder is made of a textile comprising a breathable material.

10. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 1, wherein the wearable holder includes at least one opening through which the first and second pressure chambers are insertable into the adjacent channels.

11. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 9, wherein the wearable holder includes a first layer and a second layer made of a textile material.

12. The piece of fitness equipment according to claim 11, wherein the adjacent channels are separated by a seam connecting the first layer and the second layer with each other.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

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

(2) FIG. 1 the inventive apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment in a front view;

(3) FIG. 2 the inventive apparatus according to one exemplary embodiment in a rear view;

(4) FIG. 3 a perspective view of the inventive apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment

(5) FIG. 4 a schematic representation of the wearable holder of the second exemplary embodiment;

(6) FIG. 4a a part view of section A of the wearable holder represented in FIG. 4; and

(7) FIG. 5 a schematic representation of the principle of effect of the piece of fitness equipment according to the invention;

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

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

(10) FIG. 8 a tube;

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

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

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

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

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

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

(17) FIGS. 15a to 15c different views of a charger;

(18) FIGS. 16a to 16b sections through the charger as indicated in FIG. 15a;

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

(20) FIGS. 18a to 18p different perspective views of a hanger;

(21) FIGS. 19a to 19c top view of the hanger;

(22) FIGS. 20a to 20b further perspective views of the hanger;

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

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

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(25) The device 10a according to the invention serves for intensification of fat burning in a body part 110a of a person 100a. The body part 110a comprises the buttocks and the thighs in the present case. Preferably, the person 100a maintains a pulse that is within the fat burning zone. The fat burning pulse is usually 60% to 70% of the maximum heart rate of the exercising person 100a. Within this zone, the body obtains its energy particularly from the intramuscular fat and from the free blood fat. The fat burning pulse particularly depends on the sex and on the age of the exercising person 100a. Thus, a female person at the age of 25 years usually has a fat burning pulse between 121 and 141 heart beats per minute.

(26) The device 10a according to the first exemplary embodiment has two pressure chambers 20a, which are also referred to as first pressure chamber 26 and second pressure chamber 28 to which a fluid can be applied. The fluid is introduced into the pressure chamber 20a by a pump 16. The device according to the first exemplary embodiment further comprises a controller 99 for controlling the pump 16. A wearable holder 30a serves for holding the pressure chambers 20a against the body part 110a. The pressure chambers 20a are detachably connectable with the wearable holder 30a. The pressure chambers 20a are formed in the shape of a hose. The device can comprise a carrier which is not shown, that serves to fit the pump 16 to the body of the person 100a.

(27) As FIGS. 1 and 2 show, the device 10a according to the first exemplary embodiment includes two pressure chambers 20a running parallel and extending in a longitudinal direction. Thereby, both pressure chambers 20a run along the body part 110a. The pressure chambers 20a according to the first exemplary embodiment thereby run linearly without branch. The pressure chambers 20a provide a fitting 21a at one of their ends and a closure 25a at their other end, as is shown in FIG. 3.

(28) The device 10a according to the second exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 3. The device 10a includes two pressure chambers 20a that are each separated into a base section 23a and two branch sections 24a. A splitter 22a is arranged between the base section 23a and the branch sections 24a and separates the pressure chambers 20a into the two branch sections 24a. The pump 16 is connectable to the pressure chamber 20a by the fitting 21a. A closure 25a is arranged at each of the ends of the branch sections 24a for closing the ends of the hose-shaped branch sections 24a distal of the splitter 22a.

(29) The fitting 21a preferably comprises a reducer, which is not shown. The reducer comprises a connecting portion and a junction portion. The reducer is preferably made of silicone.

(30) In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, the base sections 23a of the pressure chambers 20a run above the waist line of the person 100a. In a further exemplary embodiment, which is not shown, the fitting directly merges into the splitter. Preferably, the closure is thereby formed integrally with the branch sections.

(31) The branch sections 24a of the corresponding pressure chambers 20a run each run around one of the legs of the person 100a. The pressure chambers 20a are insertable via insertion openings 35a into the wearable holder 30a.

(32) FIG. 4 shows a wearable holder 30a according to the second exemplary embodiment. The wearable holder 30a depicted in FIG. 4 is formed as trousers and is represented as turned inside out. The wearable holder 30a consists of a first layer 32a and a second layer 33a. Two channels 31a run between the first layer 32a and the second layer 33a and serve for receiving the pressure chambers 20a. The first layer 32a and the second layer 33a are connected to each other by at least one seam 34a. The channel 31a is defined by the first layer 32a, the second layer 33a and the seam 34a.

(33) Two channels 31a run substantially parallel to each other. The wearable holder 30a is preferably made of an elastic, textile and breathable material.

(34) The carrier is preferably made of an elastic, textile and breathable material.

(35) The cut-out of FIG. 4 enlarged in FIG. 4a shows how the pressure chambers 20a run along the channels 31a. The pressure chambers 20a are freely located on the outer sides of the wearable holder 30a turned inside out and are thus shiftable and positionable in simple manner along the entire channel. Along these places, when the wearable holder is turned back to the outside, the pressure chamber 20a is placed in direct contact with the body part 110a.

(36) As is shown in FIG. 16, the pump 16 comprises at least one compressor 84 and a first valve 86a as well as a second valve 86b. Initially, the first valve 86a, which is connected with the first pressure chamber 26, is opened and the compressor 84 is operated until a prescribed pressure is reached. The pressure situated inside a first pressure chamber 26 of the pressure chamber 20a is maintained. Subsequently, the first valve 86a and the second valve 86b are opened so that the pressure prevailing inside the first pressure chamber 26 assimilates with the pressure prevailing inside the second pressure chamber 28 of the pressure chamber 20a. Subsequently, the first valve 86a is closed again and the second pressure chamber 28 is applied with the fluid by the pump 16. Then, the first valve 86a is opened again for achieving a pressure compensation between both pressure chambers 26, 28. Thereafter, the second valve 86b is closed again and the cycle begins again with an open first valve 86b. The compressor 84, as well as the valves 86a, 86b, is controlled by a controller 99.

(37) Preferably, the first pressure chamber 26 is applied with pressure for 2 to 10 seconds. The pressure is then preferably maintained for 10 to 30 seconds. In the following step, the pressure inside the second pressure chamber 20a is increased for 2 to 10 seconds and maintained for 10 to 20 seconds.

(38) Preferably, the pressure chambers 20a are alternatingly applied with a pressure of 0.3 bar to 0.8 bar, preferably with a pressure of 0.6 bar.

(39) The device according to the invention in shape of trousers distinguishes itself by the following advantages.

(40) The trousers are embodied double-layered, wherein both layers are sewn with each other in such a way that two parallel, separate channels result.

(41) These channels spirally embrace the waist portion and the legs. The design of the hose channels is done in such a way that covers as much as possible of the legs- and buttocks-portion. The hoses can be threaded in through openings in the inner layer at the leg's outer sides and leg's inner sides that are not visible from outside. Distributional, ending and beginning pieces are inserted into hoses at the necessary places.

(42) Strongly simplified, trousers comprise a front part and a rear part. In this case, each of these parts is double-layered, wherein both layers are sewn together with each other in such a way that two parallel, separate channels result. The seam is interrupted at a suitable point in order to make a straight threading in of the hoses also after completion of the trousers with a simple tool as possible. At the unsewn points, the hoses come out of the hose channels and have direct skin contact at these points.

(43) The trousers contain two layers of sufficient elasticity, which are identical in terms of cut. The inner layer is sewn with the outer layer along basically rather straight lines. The so prepared cuts are sewn to trousers. Trousers with channels or paths for the hoses result. These paths provide small openings at the main seams of the cut-parts. In reversed condition, the hose can now be threaded in the paths. The openings avoid that the threading in must be done spirally, which would practically not be sensibly implementable.

(44) Silicone hoses of thin wall strength and fitting diameter embrace the desired body parts wavy respectively spirally and a massage effect is achieved around the leg, also inside. The air chambers are reduced to a product of material sold by the meter. The silicone hose is elastic and can, above all, strongly extend axially. Thereby, an insertion into elastic trousers material becomes possible, which again relaxes the correct fit issue.

(45) In FIG. 5 the arrangement of the piece of fitness equipment at the body part of the person 100a is shown. If now, the first pressure chamber 26 is applied with fluid by the pump 16 and air is sucked from the second pressure chamber 28 at the same time or it is not applied with pressure, portions at the body part 110 result to which pressure is applied and portions at which no pressure is applied to the body part 110a. By alternating appliance of fluid into and out of the first pressure chamber 26 and the second pressure chamber 28, the blood circulation in the body part can so be stimulated. Most different pumping cycles for the first pressure chamber 26 and the second pressure chamber 28 are contemplated, which particularly differ by the time period and frequency of the pressure appliance to the body part 110a.

(46) FIG. 6 shows an outer side of the carrier 12. The object holder 22 is attached to the carrier 12. The object holder 22 is represented in closed conditions. The carrier 12 comprises a main body 60 that is provided with a loop tape 63, 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.

(47) 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 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 34 and the second tube 36.

(48) 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 and the second tube 34, 36 each provide an end piece 54 in form of a plug for fittings.

(49) 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.

(50) FIGS. 12a to 12g show respective side views of the pump 16. The pump 16 has two connections 80 and a switch 77. The first 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 and 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 provides 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 suspended in a circumferential frame 95 of soft plastic, recognizable in FIG. 12, which itself is clamped between the base plate 88 and the lid 94. Additionally, a damping layer 90 of neoprene is laid in the base plate 88 as well as in the lid 94 for achieving a further sound damping.

(51) As is recognizable in FIG. 14, the pump 16 further provides 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 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. The controller 99 controls the pump 16.

(52) As can also be recognized from FIG. 14, the pump 16 further includes a detector for detecting the state of charge 97 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 embodiment shown. This one makes a buzzing noise.

(53) 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.

(54) FIG. 17 illustrates the electrical connection between the single ports 102. Therefore, the port 102 provides a contact surface 105 on the lowerside and a contact peg 107 on the upper side that touch each other, if two ports 102 are stacked above each other. As particularly can be recognized in FIG. 22, the charger 100 includes 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 an ID. 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 until a 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.

(55) 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 and that the pump 16 can be securely arranged.

(56) 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 provides 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 are 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 a particularly thick fastening section 124 can be used.

(57) 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 provide openings, through which fastening sections 124 can be led for securing the hanger. 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 nondistortedly receive the pump 16.

(58) 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. Therefore, the stand 142 provides horizontal rods 144 over which the carrier 12 can be laid.

(59) TABLE-US-00001 List of References 10a device 24 lid 20a pressure chamber 26 first pressure chamber 21a fitting 28 second pressure chamber 22a splitter 34 first tube 23a base section 36 second tube 24a branch section 38 welding 25a closure 40 first end portion 30a wearable holder 41 hook section 31a channel 42 first base section 44 32a first layer first branch section 33a second layer 46 second base section 34a seam 48 second branch section 35a insertion opening 50 second end portion 100a person 51 loop portion 110a body part 52 hose 10 piece of fitness 54 first end piece equipment 56 first connecting portion 12 carrier 58 angle piece 16 pump 60 main body 18 object holder 62 second end 20 object 63 loop tape 22 pouch 63a further loop tape 64 holder 98 notifier 66 strap 99 controller 68 first end 100 charger 69 hook tape 102 port 70 first opening 104 counter-contact portion 72 second opening 105 contact surface 74 pocket 106 contact portion 76 lock 107 contact peg 77 switch 108 detector 78 hook tape 109 retainer 80 connection 110 hanger 82 battery 112 holding portion 84 compressor 114 attachment portion 86a first valve 116 base section 86b second valve 118 contact section 87 tube 120 abutting section 88 bottom plate 122 rod 90 damping layer 124 fastening section 92 circuit board 126 abutting surfaces 93 bracket 128 abutting protrusion 94 lid 130 hole 95 circumferential frame 132 recess 96 sensor 134 reinforcement 97 detector 140 rack 142 stand 144 horizontal rod