Device for automatic selection and hooking of dumbbells for physical exercising apparatuses

Abstract: The invention concerns a device for automatically selecting and hooking dumbbells of physical exercising apparatuses, the apparatus providing a single frame, a plurality of single dumbbells (2) to be selected and hooked and a dragging element (4, 4') for the selected and hooked dumbbells (2), said device being characterised in that it provides at least an element (5) for selecting and hooking the chosen dumbbell (2) and the dumbbells (2) upward the chosen one, means to activate said at least one element for selecting and hooking the chosen dumbbell, an electronic circuit for controlling said activation means, and means to set and control said selection and said hooking of the established dumbbell.

Description: The present invention relates a device for automatically selecting and hooking dumbbells of physical exercising apparatuses. More particularly, the invention concerns a device of the above kind allowing to automatically select dumbbells of a physical exercising apparatus before beginning the work, without the need of interrupting the exercising to be able to modify the charge to respect the established program. As it is well known, at present, all the apparatuses for the physical exercising wherein the possibility of changing the charge changing the number of dumbbells dragged during the action of the person performing the physical exercising, either for strengthening or for therapeutic purposes, the dumbbells selection, i.e. the choice of the kind and the number of elements to be lifted occurs by the positioning of a metallic element (fork or pin) on the dragging element (carriage pin), which drags the established dumbbells thank to the work of the user. It is also known that the above operation is any time carried out manually by the user, who therefore, when desires to change the charge between a series and the other must manually intervene on the dumbbell selection system. Really, in order to vary the amount of physical effort, the user must be in a rest position and must physically modify the position of the fork or pin. At first, the fork must e removed from the original position, then it must be inserted in the new position corresponding to the new selection. This operation is clearly not convenient and inconvenient for the user that must interrupt the exercising, let the correct position for the execution of the exercising and only after having positioned again the fork can start again working. Obviously, it is not possible to hypothesize the change of the charge during the execution of a series of repetitions, but only between two following series. Furthermore, it cannot be hypothesised in any way the realisation of a physical exercising apparatus wherein an automatic managing of the charges depending on the specific needings is provided. DE 3332150, which is the closest prior art document, describes a device for automatically selecting and hooking dumbbells of physical exercising apparatuses, the apparatus providing a fixed frame, plurality of single dumbbells to be selected and hooked and a dragging element for the selected and hooked dumbbells, said device being characterised in that it provides at least an element for selecting and hooking the chosen dumbbell and the dumbbells upward the chosen one, means to activate said at least one element for selecting and hooking the chosen dumbbell, an electronic circuit for controlling said activation means, and means to set and control said selection and said hooking of the established dumbbell. In view of the above, the Applicant has realised a device able to solve all the mentioned drawbacks, allowing the automatic selection and hooking of dumbbells on the basis of previously set out instructions without the need that the user must intervene during the execution of the series of exercisings with the apparatus. These and other results are obtained according to the present invention by the realisation of a device of the above kind that substantially provides hooking means for ferrous material and not dumbbells, controlled by a suitable electronic circuit. It is therefore a specific object of the present invention a device for automatically selecting and hooking dumbbells of physical exercising apparatus, the apparatus providing a fixed frame, plurality of single dumbbells to be selected and hooked and a dragging element for the selected and hooked dumbbells, said device being characterised in that it provides at least an element for selecting and hooking the chosen dumbbell and the dumbbells upward the chosen one, means to activate said at least one element for selecting and hooking the chosen dumbbell, an electronic circuit for controlling said activation means, and means to set and control said selection and said hooking of the established dumbbell, the device being characterised in that it further comprises: at least an engine, at least a reduction gear, integral with the selected dumbbell dragging element, at least a worm screw that mates with said at least a reduction gear and crosses said dumbbells and on which said at least an element for selecting and hooking dumbbells is provided and runs supported by a movable support, said at least an element for selecting and hooking dumbbells being comprised of coupling elements, causing the same to interact with teeth provided on or inside said dumbbells, hooking the selected dumbbell according to the height along the worm screw. According to preferred embodiments of the invention, said coupling elements interact with the links of at least a chain, integral with said hooked dumbbell dragging element, causing the chain links to couple with teeth or pins provided or formed in or on said dumbbells, hooking the selected dumbbell according to the height along the worm screw. Preferably, according to the invention, said coupling elements, carried along said at least a worm screw by said movable support, are provided with coupling rollers which interact with the links of said at least a chain. Preferably, according to the invention, the device comprises one reduction gear and one corresponding worm screw and chain, said teeth or pins of the dumbbells being formed inside the same and facing the worm screw. Still preferably, according to the invention, the device comprises two reduction gears and two corresponding worm screws and chains, said teeth or pins of the dumbbells being on the edges of the same and facing the two worm screws. Preferably, according to the invention, said two reduction gears are laterally provided with respect to the dumbbells to be hooked, and a transmission member between the two reduction gears is provided, the two worm screws being coupled with said two reduction gears and extending laterally with respect to said dumbbells, and along which said two elements for selecting and hooking dumbbells slide, supported on corresponding movable supports. According a further preferred embodiment of the invention, said coupling elements cause said at least an element for selecting and hooking dumbbells to interact elettromagnetically with said teeth provided inside the dumbbells. Preferably, according to the invention, said teeth or pins provided inside the dumbbells are movable between a hooking position and a releasing position, the motion of said teeth or pins between the hooking position and the releasing position occurring by modifying the value of the current sent to said at least an element for selecting and hooking dumbbells at the level of the dumbbell to be hooked. Preferably, according to the invention, the motion of said teeth is biased by an elastic element, in particular by a spring. The present invention will be now described, for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, with particular reference to the figures of the enclosed drawings, wherein: figure 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment which is not part of the invention; figure 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment which is not part of the invention; figure 3 is a schematic view of an embodiment which is not part of the invention; figure 4 is a schematic view of a first embodiment of the device according to the invention; figure 5 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the device according to the invention; figure 6 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the device according to the invention; figure 7 is a schematic view of an embodiment which is not part of the invention; figure 8 is a schematic view of an embodiment which is not part of the invention; figure 9 is a schematic view of a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention; figure 10 is a schematic view of a fifth embodiment of the device according to the invention; figure 11 is a schematic view of an embodiment which is not part of the invention; figure 12 is a schematic view of an embodiment which is not part of the invention. Making at first reference to figure 1, a first embodiment is shown, for the hooking and selection of dumbbells in a physical exercising apparatus. Obviously, said apparatus is not shown in any of the enclosed figures, since the device according to the invention can be provided on any apparatus. In the different figures, the corresponding parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers. In figure 1, two slides 2 are shown, for the sliding of dumbbells, as well as a series of dumbbells 2 to be hooked and selected. Centrally, dumbbells 2 provide a hole 3 for the insertion on the carriage pin 4, integrally bearing the carriage 4', to which the dumbbells must be selectively hooked in order to be lifted by the user that will act, by means not shown since not included in the present invention, just on the carriage pin 4. Within the carriage pin 4, in the home position, at a height corresponding to each of the dumbbells 2, electromagnetic elements 5 are provided, in number corresponding to that of the dumbbells 2. Each one of the electromagnetic elements 5 has a couple of metallic pins 6, movable between two positions, respectively for the connection and the disconnection, and each dumbbell 2 provides seats 7 for said pins 6 when they are in the connection position. Changing the polarisation of the electromagnetic elements 5, the change of the position of the pins 6 is determined. Then, it will be sufficient to send the polarisation change signal to the electromagnetic element 6 corresponding to the dumbbell 2 to be hooked to be able to carry out the exercising with the desired charge. Obviously, a computer, not shown, can manage, by the aid of position sensors, the variation of the dumbbell 2 hooked eventually also after every stroke of the carriage 4, and in any case according to a preestablished sequence, chosen on the basis of the specific needing of the user without the need that the latter must intervene but at the beginning. Eventually, it can be provided that all the pins 6 of the dumbbells 2 upward the last one to be hooked are connected, in order to obtain a distribution of the charge between more pins. The device of figure 2 is very similar to the one shown and described with reference to the previous figure. The substantial difference that can be noted in this case consists in the fact that the pins 6 are provided within the seats 7 of the single dumbbells 2, which are physically integral with respect to them. Between the pins 6 and the respective dumbbells 2, counter springs 8 are provided, acting on the pins 6 to maintain them within the seat 7. The working and the principle of this device substantially correspond to that already described with reference to figure 1, in this case being based on the variation of the current send to the electromagnetic elements. Always on the basis of the same principle, but with a slightly different disposition of the elements it is the device shown in figure 3. In this case, the electromagnetic elements 5 are housed within the seats 7 of each dumbbell 2, so that two electromagnetic elements 5 for each dumbbell 2 will be provided, each electromagnetic element being provided with a respective integral pin 6. Besides the opposite stroke of the pins 6 to pass from a connection position to a disconnection position, and vice versa, the working principle of the device shown in figure 3 corresponds to the one of the previous embodiment of figure 1. Observing now figure 4, a first embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown, said device providing an electromechanical system, comprised of a motor 9, two reduction gears 10 and a transmission member 11, integral to the carriage 4'. Two electromagnetic elements 5 are integral to the electromechanical system, being carried by a movable support element 12, slidable along threaded supports 13, rotationally connected to said reduction gears 10. The reduction gears 10 are mounted on two fixed supports 14, provided aside the dumbbell 2 column. Within the seats 7 of each dumbbell, pins 6 are provided, each pin having a counter spring 8. The two electromechanical elements 5 are positioned by the electromechanical system, and particularly by the action of the motor 9, of the reduction gears 10, of the threaded supports 13 and of the movable supports 12, at the height of the dumbbell to be hooked. Afterwards, the electromechanical elements are magnetised to bring the corresponding pins 6 in a connection position, and then to drag the dumbbells upward the chosen dumbbell by the carriage 4'. In this case too a suitable computerisation allows to in advance program any sequence of work. Obviously, in this as well as in the following embodiments, the electromechanical system can be replaced by an equivalent system, such as a pneumatic or hydraulic system, without departing from the scope of the invention. In figure 5, it is shown a further embodiment of the device according to the invention very similar to the solution shown with reference to figure 4. In this case, instead of the electromagnetic elements, mechanical actuators 15 integral to the movable supports are provided, said actuators acting on the pins 6 provided within the seats 7 of each dumbbell. The positioning of the mechanical actuators 15 in correspondence of the dumbbell to be hooked causes the interference with the corresponding pins and thus the hooking of the selected dumbbell 2. However, in this case too the same remarks already set forth for the previous embodiments are valid. Observing now figure 6, a third embodiment of the device according to the invention is shown, said embodiment providing many of the elements already described with reference to the previous figures 4 and 5. The hooking of the selected dumbbells 2 is in this case due to the interaction between teeth 16, laterally placed with respect to each dumbbell 2, with the links of a toothed chain 17, integral to the movable carriage 4', and metallic elements 18, integral with said movable supports 12, and provided with a idle roll 19 and a transmission roll 20. The metallic element is positioned, as in the previous cases, at the height of the dumbbell 2 to be hooked. Said metallic element 18, by the idle roll 19, bears the chain 17 link toward the tooth 16 of the chosen dumbbell 2, hooking the same. In this case too, by suitable devices and programs, it is possible to obtain the desired hooking sequence for the specific case and in function of the training or therapeutic needing of the user. In figure 7 it is shown a device that provides two fixed columns 21, integral with the frame of the apparatus, on both of which electromagnetic elements 5 are arranged, in number corresponding to that of the dumbbells 2 which, at the home position, are hence facing a couple of electromagnetic elements 5. A metallic plate 22, having a central through hole 23, is provided underneath each dumbbell 2. In particular, said hole 23 is suitably shaped so to provide two possible positions for the plate 22 with respect to the axis of the carriage pin 4: in a first position, e.g. with the plate 22 shifted leftwards in the drawing, the carriage pin 4 may freely run through the hole 23; in a second position, e.g. with the plate 22 shifted rightwards in the drawing, the carriage pin 4 is restrained in the profile of the hole 23 and drags, while running, the plate 22 and, consequently, the corresponding dumbbell 2. Sending a suitable polarising signal to one electromagnetic element 5 of the couple, e.g. the left one, the corresponding plate 22 is shifted connection the carriage pin 4 in the profile of the corresponding hole 23. Once the plate 22 is shifted to the connection position, it is no more necessary to keep the electromagnetic field generated by the corresponding electromagnetic element 5. For disconnecting the carriage pin 4, it is necessary to send a polarising signal to the other electromagnetic element 5 of the couple, e.g. the right one, corresponding to the plate 22, causing the motion of the plate 22 to the position wherein the carriage pin 4 freely runs through the hole 23. It is also possible to send phase opposed polarising signals to both electromagnetic elements 5 of the couple corresponding to the plate 22 to make them co-operating in causing the plate 22 to shift from one position to the other. Eventually, it is possible to provide that the carriage pin 4 shall be restrained also in all the plate 22 above the dumbbell 2 to be hooked so as to obtain a weight distribution among a plurality of plates 22. It is evident for those skilled in the art that the electromagnetic elements 5 arranged on one or both columns 21 may be substituted by corresponding mechanical actuators rotating around the relevant column 21. , It is possible to provide a single electromagnetic element 5 per dumbbell 2, suitably calibrating its power, polarising them in different ways to cause the two different shifts of the plates 22. Furthermore, it is possible to provide a single electromagnetic element 5 per column 21, eventually on only one column 21, that are integral with an electromechanical system, similar to the one shown in figure 4, integral with the frame of the apparatus instead of the carriage 4'. The electromagnetic element 5 of each column 21 is arranged, through the electromechanical system, at the level of the plate 22 to be shifted to cause the carriage pin 4 to be restrained into or unrestrained from the profile of the corresponding hole 23. The device shown in figure 8 is similar to the one shown and described with reference to the previous figure. The substantial difference in this case is the fact that the two columns 21 are integral with the carriage 4'. The operation and the principle of this embodiment correspond substantially to the one already described with reference to figure 7, taking into account that in the present case the polarising signal may be kept on for the whole duration of the exercising. Also in this case, the variations outlined with reference to figure 7 are still valid, so as to provide rotating mechanical actuators instead of the electromagnetic elements 5 on one or both columns 21, or to provide a single column of electromagnetic elements 5 or a single electromagnetic element 5 per column, eventually on only one column, integral with an electromechanical system similar to the one in figure 4 and integral with the carriage 4'. In figure 9 it is shown a fourth embodiment of the device according to the invention that is similar to the one described with reference to figure 6, with the difference that the electromechanical system provides a single fixed support 14 and a single threaded support 13, integral with the carriage 4' and arranged, instead of sideways in respect of the column of dumbbells 2, inside central through holes 3 of said dumbbells 2. Similarly, the toothed chains 17 are inserted into the holes 3 and interact with corresponding teeth 16 arranged, in the present case, inside the hole 3 of the selected dumbbell 2 under the control of a single metallic element 18 provided with transmission means, as coupling rollers, for the links of the two chains 17. Said metallic element 18 is movable along the threaded support 13 under the control of an engine and a reduction gear, sketched by the block 24, integral with the carriage 4'. The solution in figure 10 is similar to the one shown and described with reference to figure 4, with the difference that the electromechanical system provides a single fixed support 14 and a single threaded support 13, integral with the carriage (not shown) and arranged, instead of sideways in respect of the column of dumbbells 2, inside central through holes 3 of said dumbbells 2. A single electromagnetic element 5, provided with two pole pieces, is integral with the electromechanical system and running along the threaded support 13 under the control of an engine and a reduction gear (not shown) integral with the carriage. Magnetising the electromagnetic element 5, the corresponding pins 6 are set to connection position, dragging with the carriage the dumbbells 2 above the selected one. In figure 11 it is shown an that provides that an electromagnet 25 is integrally coupled with the lower face of each dumbbell 2, eventually excluding the dumbbell 2 at the bottom of the dumbbell pack. It is evident that the electromagnets 25 may be inserted in corresponding notches in the lower face of the dumbbells 2. The dumbbell 2 at the top of the dumbbell pack is integrally coupled with the carriage pin 4. Each dumbbell 2, eventually excluding the one at the top of the dumbbell pack, has at least one portion of the upper surface made of ferromagnetic material, so as to interact with the electromagnet 25 of the dumbbell 2 just above. In particular, magnetising all the electromagnets 25 above the selected dumbbell 2, all the upward dumbbells 2, starting from the selected one, become integral with the carriage pin 4 so that the carriage pin 4 drags them along its running. In figure 12 it is shown that provides that electromagnets 25, in number corresponding to the number of dumbbells 2, are integrally coupled with the carriage pin 4 at such a level that, with the carriage pin 4 at the home position, each electromagnet 25 is inside the central through hole 3 of a corresponding dumbbell 2. Each dumbbell 2 has at least one portion of the surface of the hole 3 made of ferromagnetic material so as to interact with the corresponding electromagnet 25. In particular, magnetising the electromagnet 25 corresponding to the selected dumbbell 2, such dumbbell 2 becomes integral with the carriage pin 4 that drags also all the other dumbbells 2 above it along its running. Eventually, it is possible to provide that also the electromagnets 25 corresponding to the dumbbells 2 above the selected one are magnetised so as to obtain a weight distribution among a plurality of electromagnets 25. Also in the cases described with reference to the figures 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, it is possible, through suitable equipment and programs, to obtain the desired hooking sequence for the specific case and depending on the user's training or therapeutic requirements. The present invention has been described for illustrative but not limitative purposes, according to its preferred embodiments, but it is to be understood that modifications and/or changes can be introduced by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope as defined in the enclosed claims.

Claims: Device for automatically selecting and hooking dumbbells (2) of physical exercising apparatus (1), the apparatus providing a fixed frame, plurality of single dumbbells (2) to be selected and hooked and a dragging element (4,4') for the selected and hooked dumbbells (2), said device providing at least an element for selecting and hooking (5,6,15,18) the chosen dumbbell and the dumbbells upward the chosen one, means to activate said at least one element for selecting and hooking the chosen dumbbell, an electronic circuit for controlling said activation means, and means to set and control said selection and said hooking of the established dumbbell, the device being characterised in that it further comprises: at least an engine (9), at least a reduction gear (10), integral with the selected dumbbell dragging element (9), at least a worm screw (13) that mates with said reduction gear (10) and crosses said dumbbells (2) and on which said element for selecting and hooking (5,6,15,18) dumbbells is provided and runs supported by a movable support (12, 18), said at least an element for selecting and hooking (5,6,15,18) dumbbells being comprised of coupling elements (5,15, 18, 19, 20), causing the same to interact with teeth or pins (6, 16, 22) provided or formed on or inside said dumbbells, hooking the selected dumbbell according to the height along the worm screw (13). Device according to claim 1, characterised in that said coupling elements (5,15, 18, 19, 20) interact with the links of at least a chain (17), integral with said hooked dumbbell dragging element (4,4'), causing the chain links to couple with teeth or pins (16) provided or formed in or on said dumbbells, hooking the selected dumbbell according to the height along the worm screw (13). Device according to claim 2, characterised in that said coupling elements (15, 18, 19, 20), carried along said at least a worm screw (13) by said movable support (12, 18), are provided with coupling rollers (19, 20) which interact with the links of said at least a chain (17). Device according to any claim from 1 to 3, characterised in that it comprises one reduction gear and one corresponding worm screw (13) and chain (17), said teeth or pins (16) of the dumbbells (P1, P2, P3, ... Pn) being formed inside the same and facing the worm screw (13). Device according to any claim from 1 to 4, characterised in that it comprises two reduction gears (10) and two corresponding worm screws (13) and chains (17), said teeth or pins (16) of the dumbbells being on the edges of the same and facing the two worm screws (13). Device according to claim 5, characterised in that said two reduction gears (10) are laterally provided with respect to the dumbbells to be hooked, and a transmission member (11) between the two reduction gears is provided, the two worm screws (13) being coupled with said two reduction gears (10) and extending laterally with respect to said dumbbells, and along which said two elements for selecting and hooking (5,6,15,18) dumbbells slide, supported on corresponding movable supports (12). Device according claim 1, characterised in that said coupling elements (5) cause said at least an element for selecting and hooking (5) dumbbells to interact elettromagnetically with said teeth (6) provided inside the dumbbells. Device according claim 7, characterised in that said teeth or pins (6) provided inside the dumbbells are movable between a hooking position and a releasing position, the motion of said teeth or pins between the hooking position and the releasing position occurring by modifying the value of the current sent to said at least an element for selecting and hooking (5) dumbbells at the level of the dumbbell to be hooked. Device according claim 8, characterised in that the motion of said teeth (6) is biased by an elastic element (8), in particular by a spring.

Inventors: SCARAMUCCI MAURO, SCARAMUCCI, MAURO
Applicants: VITAWELL S P A, VITAWELL S.P.A.
Application year: 1997
Main classification: A63B21
IPC codes: A63B21