SCULLING SIMULATOR

Abstract

A sculling simulator includes a base, a slide rail to which a foot stretcher is adjustably mounted and a movable seat is mounted, a pair of wings attached on their front side to the base of the simulator, with an oar pivotally attached to each of the wings on the other side, each oar being connected by its own gearbox to its own resistance fan, allowing realistic training of the movements used in a real rowing boat.

Claims

1. A sculling simulator comprising a base (1), a slide rail (4) to which a foot stretcher (5) is adjustably mounted and a movable seat (7) is mounted, a pair of wings (2) fixedly attached at their front side to the base (1) of the simulator, each of the wings (2) having an oar (3) pivotally attached to an other side, wherein each oar (3) is connected by its own transmission system (8) to its own resistance fan (9), wherein the resistance fans (9) and at least parts of the transmission systems (8) are located in or on the base (1).

2. The sculling simulator according to claim 1, wherein the resistance fan (9) is an air resistance fan (9) with a resistance regulator (10).

3. The sculling simulator according to claim 1, wherein the oar (3) is connected to the wing (2) by an oarlock (14) and an axle (15).

4. The sculling simulator according to claim 3, wherein the axle (15) is longitudinally perforated for height adjustment of the oar (3).

5. The sculling simulator according to claim 3, wherein the oar (3) is further connected to the oarlock (14) by a spring system (16).

6. The sculling simulator according to claim 1, wherein the slide rail (4) is composed of two or more parts and is collapsible.

7. The sculling simulator according to claim 1, wherein the sculling simulator it further comprises two stands (11) located under the slide rail (4) and the base (1).

8. The sculling simulator according to claim 7, wherein at least one stand (11) is sprung.

9. The sculling simulator according to claim 1, wherein the sculling simulator it further comprises a control unit (12).

10. The sculling simulator according to claim 1, wherein the sculling simulator it further comprises a touch screen display (13).

Description

CLARIFICATION OF DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the simulator from above.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the simulator from the side.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the simulator from the front.

[0035] FIG. 4A, FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C are schematic representations of the transmission system.

EXAMPLES OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0036] It is to be understood that the examples described below are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the invention to these examples. Certainly, a person skilled in the art will be able to prepare equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein by means of routine experimentation. These equivalents are also included within the scope of protection defined by the following patent claims.

Example 1

[0037] A sculling simulator comprises a solid base 1 in the form of a metal housing positioned in front of an athlete. The base 1 houses two gearboxes 18 in the form of gear sets and two air resistance fans 2 with a resistance regulator 10. The resistance of the fans 9 can be adjusted by mechanically opening or closing the grid of the regulator 10.

[0038] A slide rail 4 is firmly attached to the base 1. A ladder structure 6 for adjustable attachment of a foot stretcher 5 is provided at the slide rail 4 near the base 1. The continuing part of the slide rail 4 is bare and a seat 7 in the form of a rowing, ergonomically shaped seat fitted with castors for smooth movement of the seat Z along the slide rail 4 is attached thereto. The limitation of the range of movement of the seat Z is secured by stops in the form of bolts provided on their upper side with rubber capsone stop being located behind the ladder structure 6, the other at the opposite end of the slide rail 4.

[0039] Attached to the base 1 is a pair of wings 2, each at an angle of 45 from the plane of the base 1, each pointing to the opposite side from the base 1. The wings 2 are formed by a pair of aluminium tubes which form the reinforcement of the wings 2 and a space in the middle in which is located a steel rod 17 which transmits the force from the oars 3 via a lever 19 to the gearbox 18.

[0040] To each of the wings 2 an oar 3 is pivotally attached by an oarlock 14 and an axle 15, the oar 3 being provided at its free end with a rubber sleeve for better gripping the oar 3. A steel rod 17 in the wing 2 is connected to the axle 15 via a lever 19. A spring system 16 is attached to the oar 3 at the end of the oarlock 14 to compensate for the weight of the oar 3 and to simulate the water surface.

[0041] Each oar 3 is connected by means of a transmission system 8 in the form of an oarlock 14, an axle 15, a rod 17, levers 19 and its own gearbox 18 with its own resistance fan 9. The transmission system 8 and resistance fan 9 for the left oar 3 are located in the left part of the simulator, the transmission system 8 and resistance fan 9 for the right oar 3 are located in the right part of the simulator.

[0042] Two metal stands 11 are attached to the simulator by means of screws, one in the part below the beginning of the slide rail 4 at the base 1 of the simulator, the other at the opposite free end of the slide rail 4.

Example 2

[0043] A sculling simulator comprises a solid base 1 in the form of a metal housing positioned in front of an athlete. The base 1 houses two gearboxes 18 in the form of gear sets and two air resistance fans 2 with a resistance regulator 10. The resistance of the fans 2 can be adjusted by mechanically opening or closing the grid of the resistance regulator 10.

[0044] A slide rail 4 is firmly attached to the base 1. A ladder structure 6 for adjustable attachment of a foot stretcher 5 is provided at the slide rail 4 near the base 1. The continuing part of the slide rail 4 is bare and a seat 7 in the form of a rowing, ergonomically shaped seat fitted with castors for smooth movement of the seat Z along the slide rail 4 is attached thereto. The limitation of the range of movement of the seat Z is secured by stops in the form of bolts provided on their upper side with rubber capsone stop being located behind the ladder structure 6, the other at the opposite end of the slide rail 4.

[0045] Attached to the base 1 is a pair of wings 2, each at an angle of 47 from the plane of the base 1, each pointing to the opposite side from the base 1. The wings 2 are formed by a pair of steel tubes which form the reinforcement of the wings 2 and a space in the middle in which is located a steel rod 17 which transmits the force from the oars 3 via a lever 19 to the gearbox 18. The wings 2 are equipped with a plastic cover to prevent the rods 17 from becoming clogged with dust or other small particles.

[0046] To each of the wings 2 an oar 3 is pivotally attached by an oarlock 14 and an axle 15, the oar 3 being provided at its free end with a rubber sleeve for better gripping the oar 3. A steel rod 17 in the wing 2 is connected to the axle 15 via a lever 19. A spring system 16 is attached to the oar 3 at the end of the oarlock 14 to compensate for the weight of the oar 3 and to simulate the water surface.

[0047] Each oar 3 is connected by means of a transmission system 8 in the form of an oarlock 14, an axle 15, a rod 17, levers 19 and its own gearbox 18 with its own resistance fan 9. The transmission system 8 and resistance fan 9 for the left oar 3 are located in the left part of the simulator, the transmission system 8 and resistance fan 9 for the right oar 3 are located in the right part of the simulator.

[0048] Two metal stands 11 are attached to the simulator by means of screws, one in the part below the beginning of the slide rail 4 at the base 1 of the simulator, the other at the opposite free end of the slide rail 4. This rear stand 11 is sprung, which simulates the movement of the boat on the water.

[0049] The simulator is further provided with a control unit 12 having a processor and a memory module and a touch screen display 13. The processor processes the data on the transmitted forces and further stores the data on the memory module. Intermediate and overall training data is displayed on the touch screen display 13. This data includes speed data, number of strokes per minute, difference in stroke between the left and right oars, including visualization of any turning due to unequal oar stroke. The touch screen display 13 also allows for user adjustments to the simulator, such as setting the duration of the training session, etc.

Example 3

[0050] A sculling simulator comprises a solid base 1 in the form of a metal cage positioned behind an athlete. The base 1 houses two gearboxes 18 in the form of gear sets and two air resistance fans 2 with a resistance regulator 10. The resistance of the fans 2 can be adjusted by mechanically opening or closing the grid of the resistance regulator 10, controlled manually.

[0051] A collapsible slide rail 4 consisting of two parts is bolted to the base 1. A ladder structure 6 for adjustable attachment of a foot stretcher 5 is provided at the slide rail 4 at the opposite side from the base 1. The continuing part of the slide rail 4 is bare and a seat 7 in the form of a rowing, ergonomically shaped seat fitted with rollers for smooth movement of the seat 7 along the slide rail 4 is attached thereto. The limitation of the range of movement of the seat 7 is secured by stops in the form of bolts provided on their upper side with rubber caps-one stop being located behind the ladder structure 6, the other at the opposite end of the slide rail 4.

[0052] Attached to the base 1 is a pair of wings 2, each at an angle of 45 from the plane of the base 1, each pointing to the opposite side from the base 1. The wings 2 are formed by an aluminium profile which forms the reinforcement of the wings 2 and a space in the middle in which is located a steel rod 17 which transmits the force from the oars 3 via a lever 19 to the gearbox 18.

[0053] To each of the wings 2 an oar 3 is pivotally attached by an oarlock 14 and an axle 15, the oar 3 being provided at its free end with a rubber sleeve for better gripping the oar 3. A steel rod 17 in the wing 2 is connected to the axle 15 via a lever 19. A spring system 16 is attached to the oar 3 at the end of the oarlock 14 to compensate for the weight of the oar 3 and to simulate the water surface. The axle 15 connecting the wing 2 and the oar 3 is perforated for height adjustment of the oar 3.

[0054] Each oar 3 is connected by means of a transmission system 8 in the form of an oarlock 14, an axle 15, a rod 17, levers 19 and its own gearbox 18 with its own resistance fan 9. The transmission system 8 and resistance fan 2 for the left oar 3 are located in the left part of the simulator, the transmission system 8 and resistance fan 9 for the right oar 3 are located in the right part of the simulator.

[0055] Two metal stands 11 are attached to the simulator by means of screws, one in the part below the beginning of the slide rail 4 at the base 1 of the simulator, the other at the opposite free end of the slide rail 4. This rear stand 11 is sprung, simulating the movement of a boat on the water. The simulator is further mounted in standard rails used for rowing machines.

[0056] The simulator is further provided with a control unit 12 having a processor and a memory module and a touch screen display 13. The processor processes the data on the transmitted forces and further stores the data on the memory module. Intermediate and overall training data is displayed on the touch screen display 13. This data includes speed data, number of strokes per minute, difference in stroke between the left and right oars, including visualization of any turning due to unequal oar stroke. The touch screen display 13 also allows for user adjustments to the simulator, such as setting the duration of the training session, etc.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0057] The sculling simulator according to the present invention brings improvement in winter training and racing and realistic training of movements used in real boat rowing. It will be particularly useful for rowing clubs, associations and organizers of rowing competitions. It will also find its use in gyms. The use of oars in indoor rowing training is more fun in contrast to the bar on current machines. Athletes after winter training will smoothly move to boats and will achieve better performances because their training will not be disturbed by the change of movement.

[0058] Children, complete novices and top athletes preparing to represent their countries in international competitions can learn and train rowing on the simulator. The machines are also designed for racing. The simulator is designed to visually match as closely as possible the shape and curves of rowing boats, and thus have a better effect on the psyche of athletes.

[0059] The main advantages of the sculling simulator according to the present invention include, in particular, the faithful simulation of all movements in the boat, whereby the movement of the athletes' shoulder joint is not limited and their muscles can be stretched in the same way as in the boat. At the same time, it allows coaches to observe whether the athletes hold the oars correctly in their hands and pull them properly against their body, thus maximizing the execution of the rowing movement even subsequently in the summer season during boat racing. Therefore, athletes do not have to train hard again after winter training to get the correct rowing motion back and just switch to boats.

[0060] The simulator can be used not only for winter training, but also in clubs that have, for example, limited access to the water only on designated days, while training must be carried out more often than the possibilities of training on the water.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0061] 1 . . . base [0062] 2 . . . wing [0063] 3 . . . oar [0064] 4 . . . slide rail [0065] 5 . . . foot stretcher [0066] 6 . . . ladder structure for adjustable foot stretcher attachment [0067] 7 . . . seat [0068] 8 . . . transmission system [0069] 9 . . . resistance fan [0070] 10 . . . resistance regulator [0071] 11 . . . stand [0072] 12 . . . control unit [0073] 13 . . . touch screen display [0074] 14 . . . oarlock [0075] 15 . . . axle [0076] 16 . . . spring system [0077] 17 . . . rod [0078] 18 . . . gearbox [0079] 19 . . . lever