AN APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING

Abstract: An apparatus for physical training comprising a pair of crank mechanisms (2) each having a crank (4) and a connecting rod (3), a pair of foot rests (10) each having a bearing surface (15) for a user's foot and means (9) for pivotally fastening each foot rest (10) to the respective connecting rod (3). Each foot rest (10) is fastened to said means (9) above said bearing surface (15). The fastening means (9) comprise a pair of brackets (11) each having an end rigidly engaged to the corresponding connecting rod (3) and the opposite end pivotally engaged to one of said foot rests (10). Each foot rest (10) comprises a base (14), elastic means (21) are operatively active between each base (14) and the respective bracket (11).

Description: Description An Apparatus for Physical Training Technical Field The present invention relates to an apparatus for physical training comprising, in particular, a machine that allows to simulate, in a stationary manner, movements corresponding to those effected by the user when walking and running. Background Art Numerous sporting equipment items are known, destined to training purposes and differing from each other according to the specific exercise which the user has to perform in order to develop or rehabilitate a particular muscle band. Also known are machines destined to the training and/or rehabilitation of the cardiovascular system which are used also for enhancing respiratory capacity. Disclosure of the Invention In particular, this type of equipment is dedicated to an aerobic type of training, which requires continuous natural movements closely connected with respiration (for instance, walking, running or simulating a sort of pedalling motion) and repeated for a long period of time. This type of machine allows the user to pedal or walk while bearing down on appropriate supports or pedals, remaining in place and maintaining the erect position. In particular, structures are manufactured in which the pedals constitute a portion of respective connecting rods belonging to mechanisms articulated by a crank, able to swivel about a fixed pivot, and to a pad provided with rollers which is able to translate on a guide. By virtue of the kinematic structure of the mechanisms, the user's feet are moved in such a way as to described in a mutually alternative fashion, and cyclically, annular trajectories. The latter approximate more a circular path or an elliptical path depending on whether the user's feet are located on the connecting rod in a position more or less proximate to the articulation with the rotating crank or, vice versa, to the articulation with the translatable pad. Such realisations entail a fundamental drawback represented by the fact that in some positions of the trajectory described by the foot rests the foot is not correctly positioned on the foot rest. The user, in order to maintain a certain stability, is forced to raise the ball of his/her foot or the heel depending on the position of the foot rest and also depending on his/her anthropometric characteristics which do not necessarily coincide with the obligated kinematic mechanisms of the manufacturer of the machine. This incoherent, or in any case incorrect, walking motion can entail continuous anomalous stresses to the ankle which, in some particular situations, for instance of a traumatic or pathological type, makes the exercise unsuitable or even inadvisable for the user. In a second solution, described in document WO 96/22814, the foot rests are constructed in a separate body from the connecting rods of the crank mechanisms. The foot rests are articulated to the connecting rods and are integrated in a single body with the rods of a second mechanism, which, in turn, are - or are not - actuated by the user's arms through a system of levers. This solution should allow a more natural motion, closer to a normal walk, alleviating stresses to knees and ankles; however, this solution too is not free from drawbacks. The main drawback derives from the fact that, in correspondence with the execution of a step forward, the foot of the leg that remains to the rear relative to the load-bearing foot tends in any case to become detached from the foot rest in correspondence with the heel. Moreover, also the foot of the leg that takes the step tends to push only on the forward part of the foot, since in this situation the body leans forward and needs to balance on the foot rest. The user, also in consideration of a lack of adaptability to the machine, could tend to stress the forward part of the foot more, causing, by way of example, a constant contracture of the triceps surae, as well as the consequent hyperextension of the antagonistic tibial muscles. Description of the Drawings The description shall be made hereafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, provided purely by way of non limiting indication, in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective and exploded view of a foot rest associated to the respective connecting rod belonging to an apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 shows a sectioned elevation view of the foot rest; - Figure 3 shows an elevation view of a connecting rod inserted in the crank mechanism. Description of the Illustrative Embodiment According to the figures of the accompanying drawings, the reference number 1 globally indicates a physical training apparatus according to the invention. The apparatus 1 comprises a pair of crank mechanisms 2 each having a connecting rod 3 engaged to a respective crank 4. Each crank 4 is driven and set in motion by actuating means 5 sustained, in turn, by a load-bearing structure of the apparatus, not visible in the accompanying figures. Each connecting rod 3 has a substantially rod-like development in which a first end 3a is defined, engaged to said crank and opposite to a second end 3b. In proximity to the end 3b are engaged sliding means 6 comprising an anti-friction element 7 operatively movable on a guide 8. More specifically the anti-friction element 7 is constituted by sliding rollers along the development of the guide 8 which in turn is positioned parallel to the development of the connecting rod 3, as Figure 3 more clearly shows. Each connecting rod 3, moreover, is structured in such a way as to include two segments corresponding to the first end 3a and to the second end 3b; these segments are mutually angled and concurring in a common vertex 3 c. In proximity to said vertex 3 c are rigidly engaged means 9 for pivotally fastening a foot rest 10 to the respective connecting rod 3. More specifically said fastening means 9 are constituted by a bracket 11 having substantially "U" shaped development and presenting, in correspondence with its lower end, a body irremovably anchored to the connecting rod 3 in correspondence with the vertex 3c. In the upper end, two support elements 12, mutually parallel and having substantially rod- like development, extend transversely to the connecting rod. Moreover, in said support elements 12 are obtained holes 13, said holes 13 of each support element 12 being mutually coaxial. Between the support elements 12 of each bracket is interposed the foot rest 10. In particular said foot rest 10 comprises a base 14 having substantially plate-like development in which on the upper face is defined a bearing surface 15 able to sustain the sole of a user's foot, with or without shoe. The bearing surface 15 preferably has substantially rectangular peripheral development to favour the housing of the sole of the foot on the foot rest. In correspondence with the longer sides of the peripheral development of said bearing surface 15 are engaged a pair of mutually parallel lateral supports 16. More specifically, each of said lateral supports 16 is fastened in proximity to the centrelme of said longer side and extends above said bearing surface 15. In correspondence with each lateral support 16 is drilled a hole 17; said holes 17 of each pair of lateral supports 16 are, moreover, mutually coaxial. The lateral supports 16 of each foot rest are then engaged to the support elements 12 of the respective bracket 11 by means of a hinge 18. More in detail each hinge 18 is constituted by a pivot pin 19 passing through the coaxial holes 13 and 17 of each support element 12 and lateral support 16; thus maintaining pivotally engaged each foot rest 10 to the corresponding fastening means 9. Each pair of hinges 18 located on each individual foot rest 10 determines an axis of rotation 20 corresponding to the longitudinal axis of said hinges 19. Between the axis of rotation 20 and the upper bearing surface 15 of the foot rest there is an offset OS which favours the maintenance of the foot rest itself in a position of stability even when empty. As Figure 3 more clearly shows, preferentially, between each of said foot rests 10 and the corresponding bracket 11 are interposed elastic support means 21. More specifically said elastic means 21 comprise compressible elements positioned between the surface opposite to the bearing surface 15 of the base 14 and the body of the bracket 11. Said compressible elements are made of a material having a variable coefficient of deformation. According to a preferential embodiment, said deformation coefficient varies according to the user's training methodologies or physical characteristics. Advantageously, said coefficient is variable according to the temperature, to a power supply current, to the pressure of a fluid inside the elements or to the user's weight. According to a preferred embodiment, the two elastic means can have mutually different characteristics of elasticity, i.e. the forward one 21a can react differently to stresses from the rear one 21b. The apparatus further comprises an electronic control system, not shown in the figures, operative on the actuating means 5 and adjustable by the user during the training session. Preferably, said electronic control system is integrated in a self-regulation system of the TGS type, as described in document US - 5916063 in the name of the same Applicant. In the operation of the apparatus 1, when the cranks 4 are set in rotation by the actuation means 5, the connecting rods 3 are made to slide by the sliding means 7 on the guides 8, thereby determining, with their own oscillation in the vertical plane, a cyclical motion. Said cyclical motion causes the foot rests 10 to move in mutually alternative fashion along closed, substantially elliptical, annular trajectories. Whilst the foot rests 10 are positioned, instant by instant, in the various points of the respective trajectories, the hinges 18 keep the foot rests 10 disengaged from the connecting rod 3 and allow the foot rests themselves to be able to swivel about the axis of rotation 20. The orientation of said foot rests 10 is dictated by the motion assumed by the user's foot when walking or rurming. Such an orientation therefore allows the user advantageously to have a available a bearing that is constantly distributed along the entire sole of the foot, for the entire duration of the exercise, and for any position assumed by the foot during the walk. To customise the apparatus to each user's training requirements and physical characteristics, the swivelling motion carried out by the foot rests 10 is regulated by the elastic support means 21. In this way, the pressure that the sole of the foot has to impart on the extreme portions of the bearing surface 15 is adapted, increasing or decreasing the deformation coefficient of each individual compressible element. Moreover, the variation of the deformation coefficient, as well as the velocity of rotation of the actuation means, is controlled by an electronic control system, which advantageously includes provisions for its integration in a self-regulating TGS system (as described in document US - 5916063). The invention achieves important advantages. First of all, the simulation of the running or walking motion is very faithful to reality, since no element imposes a precise obligated motion to the foot rests, which fundamentally depend on the positioning of the foot during the training session. A further advantage is given by the fact that the absence of irremovable engagements on the foot rest allows the user a greater freedom of movement without particular efforts or stresses. Particular attention should also be given to the fact that, as shown, the foot rest is substantially suspended to the related pivot pins in a nearly central position, so as to allow the user, also under conditions of minimal resistance offered by the elastic support means 21, a natural balance and a corresponding natural stress on all muscles of the leg and of the ankle. Advantageously, such a condition entails a lesser joint and muscle stress for the ankles and the knees both when walking and during the actions that are characteristic of running. An additional, important advantage is given by the fact that the apparatus allows for a greater versatility of use according to the user's training methodologies and physical characteristics. Lastly, a no less important advantage derives from the fact that the apparatus is regulated by an automatic electronic control system integrated with a TGS system. The invention thus conceived can be subject to numerous modifications and variations, without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all components can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. For instance, although the entire discussion has been based on an "elliptical" type of machine, the foot rest support kinematic mechanism can also be applied to different types of machines, for instance, steppers, bikes, and wherever a free articulated motion is required.

Claims: Claims 1. A physical training apparatus, comprising: - a pair of crank mechanisms (2) each having a crank (4) and a connecting rod (3); - a pair of foot rests (10) each having a bearing surface for a user's foot; and - means (9) for pivotally fastening each foot rest with the respective connecting rod; characterised in that each foot rest (10) is fastened to said means (9) above said bearing surface. 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that said fastening means (9) comprise a pair of brackets (11) each having an end rigidly engaged to the corresponding connecting rod and the opposite end pivotally fastened to one of said foot rests. 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that each bracket comprises two substantially rod-like and parallel support elements (12) and a pivot pin for connecting said support elements (12) mounted transversely on said connecting rod (3). 4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterised in that each foot rest (10) comprises: - a base (14) having substantially plate-like development; - a pair of lateral supports (16) mutually parallel and extending transversely from the base above the support surface, each lateral support being pivotally supported to the respective support element (12) of the corresponding bracket (11). 5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , characterised in that it comprises means (7) for making said connecting rod (3) slide on a respective sliding guide (8). 6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, characterised in that said sliding means comprise at least a roller mounted at an end (3b) of said connecting rod (3). 7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that it further comprises elastic support means (21) operatively active between the base (14) and the respective bracket (11). 8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said elastic support means (21) comprise compressible elements interposed between each base (14) and the respective bracket (11). 9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said compressible elements are made of a material with variable deformation coefficient. 10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said compressible elements are made of a material whose deformation coefficient is variable according to temperature. 11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said compressible elements are made of a material whose deformation coefficient is variable according to a power supply current. 12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said compressible elements are made of a material whose deformation coefficient is variable according to a fluid contained therein. 13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, characterised in that said compressible elements are made of a material whose deformation coefficient is variable according to the user's weight. 14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that it comprises an electronic control system operative on said actuating means. 15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that said electronic control system is integrated in a TGS system. 16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, characterised in that the foot rest is substantially suspended to the related pivot pins in nearly central position, so as to allow the user a natural balance and a corresponding natural stressing of all muscles of the leg and of the ankle. 17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterised in that said forward (21a) and rear (21b) elastic means present mutually different characteristics of elasticity in relation to the stresses provided thereon.

Inventors: ALESSANDRI NERIO, MASSARINI MASSIMO, ALESSANDRI, NERIO, MASSARINI, MASSIMO
Applicants: ALESSANDRI NERIO, MASSARINI MASSIMO, TECHNOGYM SRL, ALESSANDRI, NERIO, MASSARINI, MASSIMO, TECHNOGYM S.R.L.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: A63B23
IPC codes: A63B23