MUSCLE-STRETCHING APPARATUS

Abstract

A muscle-stretching apparatus, which comprises a frame that incorporates a first and a second group of rods, wherein the frame is in turn made up of two parts mutually linked by said rods through fastening means; and the second group of rods is longer than the first group of rods; the parts being flat in nature and having a similar geometry, and being adapted for resting on the ground; and in use, the parts are arranged symmetrically to one another, relative to a plane perpendicular to the ground; the variable height of the second group of rods relative to the ground in their arrangement between the parts determining the useful height H of the frame relative to the ground.

Claims

1. A muscle-stretching apparatus, characterized in that it comprises a frame (1), which incorporates a first group of rods (2) and a second group of rods (3), wherein the frame (1) is in turn made up of two parts (11, 12) spaced apart and mutually linked by said rods (2, 3) through fastening means; and wherein the first group of rods (2) comprises at least one rod (2) of a given length, and the second group of rods (3) comprises at least another rod (3), which is longer than the first group of rods (2); the parts (11, 12) being flat in nature and having a similar geometry, and being adapted for resting on the ground (5), and in use the parts (11, 12) are arranged symmetrically to one another, relative to a plane perpendicular to the ground (5); the first group of rods (2) being arranged between the parts (11, 12) to link the two parts (11, 12) at the portion thereof opposite to the portion that is in contact with the ground (5) and providing the possibility of mutual variable inclination between said two parts (11, 12); and the second group of rods (3) also being arranged between the two parts (11, 12) for their mutual linking and in a position that varies in height relative to the ground (5); the variable height of the second group of rods (3) relative to the ground (5) in their arrangement between the parts (11, 12) determining the inclination and mutual angular aperture between the two parts (11, 12) and therefore the useful height H of the frame (1) relative to the ground (5).

2. The muscle-stretching apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the parts (11, 12) have a trapezoidal geometry.

3. The muscle-stretching apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the parts (11, 12) have a parallelogram geometry.

4. The muscle-stretching apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means comprise elongated recesses (4) or holes arranged in the parts (11, 12), suitable for inserting and positioning the ends of the rods (2, 3).

5. The muscle-stretching apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that the recesses (4) and the rods (2, 3) have a mutual arrangement of the male-female coupling type.

6. The muscle-stretching apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the rods (2, 3) have a U-shaped geometry.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1—Is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the muscle-stretching apparatus of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2—Is a schematic view of the cross-section A-A indicated in FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 3—Is a schematic view indicating the use of the muscle-stretching apparatus of the present invention, as compared with FIG. 2.

[0021] FIG. 4—Is a schematic perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the muscle-stretching apparatus of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 5—Is a schematic view of a side perspective B-B of the preferred embodiment of the muscle-stretching apparatus of the present invention represented in FIG. 4.

[0023] FIG. 6—Is a schematic view indicating the use of the muscle-stretching apparatus of the present invention, as compared with FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0024] As schematically shown in FIG. 1, the muscle-stretching apparatus of the present invention, comprises a frame 1 that incorporates a first group of rods 2 and a second group of rods 3. Likewise, the same frame 1 is made up of two parts 11, 12 spaced apart and mutually linked by said rods 2, 3 through fastening means.

[0025] In this preferred embodiment, the rods 2, 3 have a U-shaped general geometry. So it can be best appreciated, the rods 2, 3 are represented separately in the same FIG. 1.

[0026] The first group of rods 2 comprises at least one rod 2 of a given length. The second group of rods 3 comprises at least another rod 3, longer than the first group of rods 2.

[0027] In this preferred embodiment, the first group of rods 2 comprises two rods 2, and the second group of rods 3 comprises two rods 3.

[0028] Parts 11, 12 are flat in nature and have a similar geometry, and are adapted for coming into contact with and resting on the ground 5.

[0029] In this preferred embodiment, the parts 11, 12 have a trapezoidal geometry, and are arranged symmetrically to one another, relative to a plane perpendicular to the ground and interposed between the two parts 11, 12. In other preferred embodiments, the parts 11, 12, may have a parallelogram geometry, for example.

[0030] In this preferred embodiment, the fastening means comprise elongated recesses 4 by way of holes arranged in the parts 11, 12, and suitable for inserting and positioning the rods 2, 3, which are represented with a broken line in FIG. 1 as they are hidden inside the parts 11, 12.

[0031] In other preferred embodiments, the recesses 4 and the rods 2, 3 may have a mutual arrangement in a male-female type of coupling.

[0032] The first group of rods 2 is arranged between the parts 11, 12 through the recesses 4, the ends of the rods 2 being inserted into said recesses 4, which act as a link between those two parts 11, 12 at the section thereof opposite to the portion that is in contact with the ground 5. In addition, said first group of rods 2 provides the possibility of a mutual variable inclination between said two parts 11, 12, as represented by the arrows in FIG. 1.

[0033] As can be observed in the diagram of FIG. 1 and also in the cut A-A made in FIG. 1, the cross-sectional cut A-A of which has been represented in FIG. 2, the second group of rods 3 is also arranged between the two parts 11, 12 upon the insertion of the ends of the rods 3 in said recesses 4, and in a position above the ground, which varies in height depending on the recesses 4 of the parts 11, 12 used for the positioning thereof.

[0034] As can be observed in FIGS. 1 and 2, the variable height relative to the ground 5 at which the second group of rods 3 is positioned, depending on the recesses 4 of the parts 11, 12 that have been used, therefore determines the mutual inclination between the two parts 11, 12 and the degree of their mutual angular aperture.

[0035] As can be observed when comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, when the second group of rods 3 is positioned higher up, depending on the recess 4 chosen, the degree of angular aperture increases between the two parts 11, 12, which implies that the useful height of the upper edge of parts 11, 12 decreases, and therefore the useful height H of the frame 1, relative to the ground 5.

[0036] As explained above, said variable degree of angular aperture between the two parts 11, 12 of the frame 1 determines the useful height H of the upper edge of the frame 1 itself relative to the ground 5, according to the different needs of the user.

[0037] In use, the user must rest the tip of the foot against the upper portion of the frame 1, and the heel directly onto the ground 5, in order to carry out the muscle stretches in said area of his/her body.

[0038] Depending on the positioning of the second group of rods 3, the useful height H of the frame 1 of the upper portion thereof wherein the users place the tip of their foot, may vary according to the specific needs of the users, as can be observed, particularly when comparing FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0039] In another preferred embodiment of the same invention, schematically represented in FIG. 4, and from a side perspective B-B of the same FIG. 4, in FIGS. 5 and 6, the recesses 4 corresponding to the positioning of the rods 2 are arranged at the ends of parts 11, 12.

[0040] The described arrangement of the muscle-stretching apparatus of the present invention makes it possible to be very easily assembled and disassembled by the users themselves, which is also due to the absence of bolting elements.

[0041] When the apparatus is not in use and is in a disassembled state it can be very easily moved, as it is made of light materials. Moreover it takes up very little space, such that it is perfectly possible to carry the apparatus inside a suitcase and when traveling, for example.

[0042] The details, shapes, dimensions and other accessory elements, as well as the materials used to manufacture the muscle-stretching apparatus of the invention, may be suitably substituted for others which are technically equivalent, and do not diverge from the essential nature of the invention, nor the scope defined by the claims included below.