Gymnastic machine

Abstract

Gymnastic machine (1) provided with a frame (10) and with a support device (20) carried by the frame (10) to support, in use, a user's body portion (100) through respective bearing means (21) suitable to deform under the action of said body portion (100); the bearing means (21) comprise an interface (21) provided to couple to said respective body portion (100) in a substantially conjugate manner in order to minimise the specific pressure exchanged in all reciprocal contact points.

Description

The present invention relates to a gymnastic machine for training a given first body region. In particular, the present invention relates to a gymnastic machine for training a given first body region and comprising a support device of the deformable type for supporting at least a second body region; the support device being able to allow a mobilisation of this second body region.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

In the field of sport practice or of motor rehabilitation it is known to equip gymnastic machines with support devices able, in use, to support a user, as in the case of seats or backrests, or to act as rest for a body portion of the user. Consider, for example, stationary bikes or rowing machines, which are typically provided with a respective seat, or benches to be used for supporting a user during vertical lifting of dumbbells or of a barbell. In general, these devices comprise a cushion supported by a rigid structure serving the function of supporting a user, whilst the cushion has the function of interacting with a body portion of the user. In particular, with reference to figure A, this cushion is deformable under the action of the pressure exerted by the user to adapt to the shape of the body portion and to make the support device more comfortable for the user.

At this point it should be noted that these cushions are typically produced by using foam rubber or polyurethane foam, and thus produced with materials provided with limited elasticity and suitable to emphasize an accentuated variation of the rigidity above a given value of the acting specific pressure. Therefore these cushions, in use, can be very rigid and badly affect the mobility of the supported body portion, compromising the correct execution of gymnastic exercises involving a movement of this body portion. The fewer muscles the user employing the gymnastic machine has, the more evident this becomes, and therefore all movements substantially perpendicular to and directed against these cushions will be hampered.

To overcome the problem of the limited possibility of movement with respect to the cushions of the support device, it has been decided to reduce as much as possible the dimension of the contact area between the given body portion and the respective cushion/rest. Consider for example the benches used for vertical lifting of dumbbells or barbells, in which the transverse extension of the support cushion is particularly reduced in such a way as to support only a central region of the user's back so as not to interfere with the movement of the shoulder blades during the execution of the exercise. Unfortunately, this choice does not allow adequate stability for the user during performance of the respective gymnastic exercises. For instance, the execution of a session for training the pectoral muscles on the bench will require observance of the maximum attention and, preferably, the presence of a skilled instructor to maintain the load to be lifted constantly balanced, in order to prevent the user from falling laterally from the bench under the unbalanced action exerted by this load. It is easily understood that standardisation in the dimensions of the benches means that the greater the body size of the user, or the greater the load associated with the barbells, the more unsafe these benches become.

Therefore, in view of the above description, the problem of having available a gymnastic machine equipped with at least a support device which comprises at least a bearing member suitable to interact stably with a user's body portion in such a way as to maximise the contact area, in order to minimise the intensity of the specific pressures reciprocally exchanged, and to allow a mobilisation of the body portion maintained stably in contact with this bearing member, is currently unsolved.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention relates to a gymnastic machine for training a given first body region. In particular, the present invention relates to a gymnastic machine for training a given first body region and comprising a support device of the deformable type for supporting at least a second body region, the support device being able to allow a mobilisation of this second body region.

The object of the present invention is to provide a gymnastic machine provided with a support device for supporting at least a user's body portion, which allows the disadvantages described above to be solved, and which is suitable to satisfy a plurality of requirements that to date have still not been addressed, and therefore, suitable to represent a new and original source of economic interest and capable of modifying the current market of gymnastic machines.

According to the present invention a gymnastic machine is provided, equipped with a support device suitable to interact with at least a user's body portion, whose main characteristics are described in at least one of the appended claims.

Furthermore, the present invention relates to a support device effectively usable in a gymnastic machine for supporting at least a user's body portion.

According to the present invention a support device is provided, whose main characteristics are described in at least one of the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the gymnastic machine according to the present invention will be more apparent from the description below, set forth with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate at least one non-limiting example of embodiment, in which identical or corresponding parts of the device are identified by the same reference numbers. In particular:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a first preferred embodiment of a gymnastic machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view in enlarged scale according to the line II-II of FIG. 1 of a detail extracted from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows FIG. 2 in two subsequent phases of use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In FIG. 1, number 1 indicates, in its entirety, a gymnastic machine provided with a frame 10 carrying a support device 20 suitable to interact by contact with at least a user's first body portion 100. In particular, without however limiting the generality of the present invention, the machine 1 is provided with a load group 15 and with an implement 16 connected to this load group 15 by means of a respective transmission device 17. For the sake of practicality, it has been considered advantageous to illustrate the present invention with reference to a rowing machine, which hereinafter shall be indicated with the reference number 1 of the gymnastic machine. Therefore, the support device 20 will comprise a single seat, although the solution illustrated can also be effectively applied in the case of a bench or a backrest and in any bearing member for bearing the solar plexus or other body regions.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, the support device 20 comprises at least a substantially rigid base 25 and a bearing member 21 stably coupled to the base 25 and suitable to be engaged by the body portion 100. This bearing member 21 is deformable under the action of the load exerted through the body region 100 so as to assume a shape substantially conjugate with the respective body portion 100 to support it in a stable manner and to prove comfortable.

With particular reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, the bearing member 21 presents preferably, although without limitation, a multi-layer structure 24, which comprises a plurality of adjacent layers coupled to each other. In more detail, the multi-layer structure 24 comprises at least a first layer 22 suitable to interact directly with the body portion 100 and at least a second layer 23 interposed between this first layer 22 and the substantially rigid base 25. This second layer 23, is suitable to stiffen under the compression exerted by the body portion 100 to give high bearing capacity to the bearing member 21 and, at the same time, to attenuate mechanical interactions exchanged between the body portion 100 and the base 25. For this purpose, the second layer 23 is produced with a first material 27 comprising, alternatively or in combination, polyurethane foam, foam rubber, latex or a material of different nature, provided that, at least in the interval of compression loads to which it must normally be subjected in use, and therefore above a given compression value, the respective deformation degree or, with an equivalent term, the respective compression deformation percentage is substantially constant and, thus, substantially unrelated to the value of the exerted compression. Therefore, this second layer 23 cannot be considered an elastic layer as, in use, it tends to be compressed to a given depth in a manner substantially unrelated to the applied load, although being suitable to deform instantaneously under the action of the compression and to promptly return to its given shape when this action ceases.

On the contrary, the first layer 22 is produced through a second material 26 of the elastic or viscoelastic type, and thus suitable to deform through compression in a progressive manner and continuously under the action of the load exerted through the body portion 100. Consequently, the first layer 22, and thus also the bearing member 21 as a whole, is suitable to deform so as to couple with the body portion 100 in a substantially conjugate manner, as it comprises this second material 26. In more detail, when the second material 26 is of the elastic type, the first layer 22 and the bearing member 21 are suitable to deform continuously to actively follow postural variations and/or movements of the body portion 100 in a substantially matching fashion in order to support it continuously during the progress of a gymnastic exercise. Furthermore, it should be noted that the deformation percentage of the first layer 22 is substantially proportional to the compression load transmitted through the body portion 100 and, in view of the above description, the first layer 22 is suitable to maintain the contact with the body portion 100 to support it continuously during the execution of each respective gymnastic exercise above the base 25.

At this point it should be noted that, if the second material 26 is of the substantially viscoelastic type, it may comprise a material with slow shape memory, i.e. a material that, after having been deformed by a compression load and subsequently relieved of the action of the compression that deformed it in use, is suitable to exhibit a substantially constant residual deformation for a given time interval, the duration of which is greater than the time that was required to acquire it. This second material 26 may comprise for example, although without limitation, polyurethane gel or foam of the flexible type, known in the literature with the acronym FPF. Therefore, a bearing member 21 provided with a first layer 22 produced with a second material 26 with slow shape memory will be able to deform under the action of the body portion 100 and to maintain this deformation for a given time period, which is greater than the time necessary to perform at least a cyclic movement of the body portion 100, for example a flexion or an extension of a limb associated with this body portion 100.

In the case in question, as a user takes his or her place on the bearing member 21, the respective first layer 22 transmits the load exerted through the body portion 100 to the second layer 23 and to the base 25; the second layer 23 is compressed to a substantially given depth and the first layer 22 is deformed taking a shape substantially conjugate with that of the buttocks of the user and, at the front, of a part of the thighs. The fact that the material 26 of the first layer 22 is of the slow shape memory type allows the user to move the thighs freely away from and toward the front portion of the bearing member 21 and to adjust the position of the buttocks as desired given that the first layer 22 remains deformed during the execution of the exercise; this facilitates the cyclic rotation of the thighs with respect to the pelvis, thus minimising the energy absorption of the seat with the result that the user manages to maintain his or her energy reserve for a longer time, and to perform longer or more intense training sessions.

Furthermore, with reference to FIG. 3, it should be noted that the first layer 22 is suitable to shape couple in a substantially matching fashion to the body portion 100 and thus, in use, the specific pressure exerted by the bearing member 21 on the body portion 100 is distributed over the entire region of contact between this member and the body portion 100. Taking into account that this specific pressure is exerted on the user by a first layer 22 produced with substantially viscoelastic material, and that materials of this type are suitable to exhibit conditions of balance substantially similar to those of the viscous fluids, this specific pressure exchanged between the bearing member 21 and the body portion 100 can be interpreted as a substantially hydrostatic pressure, i.e. a pressure that in each respective point of application is directly perpendicular to the surface of the body portion 100 and presents a substantially constant intensity. Therefore, in view of the above description, it is considered possible to implement the teaching provided through a bearing member 21 delimited at the top by any material suitable to react hydrostatically to the application of a load.

Lastly, it is apparent that, in view of the above description, the base 25 can be interpreted as an integral part of the frame 10, being integrally carried by this latter, whilst the bearing member 21 can be interpreted as an interface 21 suitable to couple in an interactive manner the body portion 100 to the frame 10. Use of the machine 1 and of the support device 20 is easily understood from the description above and requires no further explanations. Nonetheless, it may be advisable to specify some advantages deriving from the use of this machine and/or this device. First of all, as shown in FIG. 3, the bearing member 21 is designed for shape coupling with the body portion 100 and it can be suitable to deform so as to adhere to this latter also during the respective movements and/or changes in posture; in this way, it is possible to distribute the load of the user, and of any additional compression action due to the execution of exercises with gravitational loads or loads of another nature, over the entire contact region between the body portion 100 and the bearing member 21 so as to minimise the intensity of a specific pressure exchanged between the user and the support device 20. Furthermore, by using a first viscoelastic layer 22, this specific pressure will be substantially hydrostatic and, therefore, it will present constant intensity in all points of contact between the body portion 100 and the bearing member 21. It should be noted that the characteristics described above prevent the pressure exerted by the bearing member 21 from being concentrated exclusively on limited muscle regions of the body portion 100 in order to prevent the occurrence of numbness or inflammation of these muscle regions. Furthermore, again with reference to FIG. 3, it is possible to note that, if the bearing member 21 is dimensioned in such a way as to contain, in use, the body portion 100 in a bilateral manner along a given direction, the support device 20 is suitable to stabilise a user with respect to actions acting along this given direction.

Lastly, it is apparent that modifications and variants can be made to the gymnastic machine 1 and to the device 21 described and illustrated herein, without however departing from the protective scope of the present invention.

Lastly, it should be noted that the present invention allows the technical problem described above to be solved, i.e. it allows a gymnastic machine to be produced, which is equipped with at least a support device which comprises at least a bearing member suitable to interact stably with a user's body portion in such a way as to maximise the contact area, in order to minimise the intensity of the specific pressures mutually exchanged, and to allow a mobilisation of the body portion maintained stably in contact with this bearing member.

Claims

1. A gymnastic machine (1) provided with a frame (10) and with a support device (20) carried by the frame (10) to support, in use, a user's body portion (100) through respective bearing means (21) suitable to deform under the action of said body portion (100); characterised in that said bearing means (21) comprise an interface (21) provided to couple to said body portion (100) in a substantially conjugate manner in order to minimise a specific pressure exchanged in all reciprocal contact points.

2. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said interface (21) is designed to exert, in use, a substantially hydrostatic action on said body portion (100) in such a way as to make an intensity of the specific pressure exchanged constant in all reciprocal contact points between said interface (21) and said body portion (100) and to actively follow postural variations and/or movements of said body portion (100) in a substantially matching fashion in order to support it continuously during progress of a gymnastic exercise.

3. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said interface (21) comprises at least a first material (26) of the elastic type to be suitable to deform through compression in a progressive manner and continuously under the action of said body portion (100).

4. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said interface (21) comprises at least a first material (26) of the viscoelastic nature to be suitable to deform through compression in a progressive manner and continuously under the action of said body portion (100).

5. A machine according to claim 3, characterised in that the deformation degree of said first material (26) is substantially proportional to the compression load to which it is subjected.

6. A machine according to claim 4, characterised in that the deformation degree of said first material (26) is substantially proportional to the compression load to which it is subjected.

7. A machine according to claim 4, characterised in that said first material (26) is a slow shape memory material so that, once deformed in use by the action of said body portion (100), and when relieved of the action of said body portion (100), said interface (21) is suitable to exhibit a substantially constant residual deformation with no load for a given first time interval of greater duration than a second time interval necessary to acquire this deformation.

8. A machine according to claim 1, characterised in that said interface (21) is dimensioned so as to contain, in use, said body portion (100) in a bilateral manner along a given direction to stabilise said user with respect to actions acting along this given direction.

9. A machine according to claim 3, characterised in that said interface (21) presents a multi-layer structure (24).

10. A machine according to claim 9, characterised in that said multi-layer structure (24) comprises at least a first layer (22) produced with said first material (26), and at least a second layer (23) produced with a second material (27) of a given nature, suitable, in use, to stiffen under the load of said body portion (100) to attenuate mechanical interactions between said body portion (100) and said frame (10).

11. A machine according to claim 10, characterised in that said first layer (22) is interposed between said body portion (100) and said second layer (23) and is suitable to interact directly with said body portion (100).

12. A machine according to claim 3, characterised in that said first material (26) comprises at least flexible polyurethane foam and/or gel.

13. A machine according to claim 10, characterised in that said interface (21) comprises polyurethane foam and/or rubber foam and/or latex.

14. A machine according to claim 13, characterised in that said second material (27) comprises polyurethane foam and/or rubber foam and/or latex.

15. A machine according to claim 6, characterised in that said interface (21) is suitable to exhibit said residual deformation with no load for a said first time interval in the order of seconds; said second time interval being in the order of hundredths of a second.

16. A support device (20 for a gymnastic machine (1) provided with a frame (10); said support device (20) being carried by said frame (10) and being suitable to support, in use, a user's body portion (100) through respective bearing means (21) suitable to deform under the action of said body portion (100); characterised by comprising an interface (21) provided to couple to said body portion (100) in a substantially conjugate manner in order to minimise said specific pressure exchanged in all reciprocal contact points.

17. A device according to claim 16, characterized in that said interface (21) comprises at least a first material (26) of viscoelastic nature to be suitable to deform by compression in a progressive manner and continuously under the action of said body portion (100).

18. A device according to claim 17, characterised in that said first material (26) is a slow shape memory material so that, once deformed in use by the action of said body portion (100), and when relieved of the action of said body portion (100), said interface (21) is suitable to exhibit a substantially constant residual deformation with no load for a given first time interval of greater duration than a second time interval necessary to acquire said deformation.

19. A device according to claim 16, characterised in that said interface (21) is dimensioned so as to contain, in use, said body portion (100) in a bilateral manner along a given direction to stabilise said user with respect to actions acting along this given direction.