Patent Publication Number: US-10773121-B2

Title: Gymnastic machine having a sliding belt provided with a resisting device to the motion of the user

Description:
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO ANY PRIORITY APPLICATIONS 
     Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present invention relates to a sliding belt gymnastic machine equipped with a device resistant to the user&#39;s motion, used in particular during the execution of a gymnastic exercise. 
     More in specifically, the invention concerns a passive sliding belt gymnastic machine, i.e. a non-motorized belt, moved by the user&#39;s legs push. The belt can be braked by the action of an motor with the additional braking function, or by the action of a brake, which exerts a variable resistance on the belt itself, studied and designed in particular for performing gymnastic exercises, referred to as “pulling” exercises, wherein the user moves the walking belt with the legs, having the abdomen constrained to the resistant device and the arms free to move in a coordinated manner with the movement of the legs, but which can be used for any exercise, for which it is required the movement of a passive sliding belt. 
     In the following, the description will be directed to a passive sliding belt machine for the execution of “pulling” gymnastic exercises, but it is apparent that it must not be considered limited to this specific use. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     As is well known, there are currently passive sliding belt exercise machines comprising devices that can be worn by a user to oppose resistance to the user&#39;s motion during the gymnastic exercise, such as running on the spot. 
     The resistant device used is usually installed on a structure outside the exercise machine, positioned behind the user during the gymnastic exercise. 
     The use of said external structure involves a remarkable overall bulk within the space, wherein the exercise machine is installed. 
     Moreover, in case of user&#39;s accidental fall, the user could hit against the external structure, thus causing damage due to the impact. 
     There are other known gymnastic machines, in which said resisting device is coupled with the supporting structure or to the frame of the exercise machine and is worn by the user in correspondence with the lower limbs. 
     It is apparent that coupling the resisting device to the user&#39;s legs makes difficult the gymnastic exercise to be performed, since the user has the legs placed under the resisting device. 
     SUMMARY 
     In light of the above, it is therefore object of the present invention that of providing an exercise machine, equipped with a resistant device that has a reduced encumbrance. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine provided with a resisting device, which only constrains the user&#39;s abdomen and leaves the lower and upper limbs free to move in a coordinated manner with each other, an essential condition for performing an accelerating movement, and thus ensuring the correct execution of the exercise. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide an exercise machine safe for the user, even in case of accidental falls from the sliding belt. 
     A further object of the invention is providing a gymnastic machine provided with a resisting device that can be coupled with the machine so as to have a free space for easy access to the exercise machine, also laterally, without encumbrance. 
     It is therefore specific object of the present invention a gymnastic machine of the type having a closed circuit sliding belt comprising a base structure, a sliding belt, sliding according to a sliding direction installed on said base structure upon which a user performs a gymnastic exercise, a supporting structure coupled to said base structure, a first and a second handle for supporting said user, coupled to said supporting structure, a resisting device wearable by the user, wherein each of said first and a second handle comprises a respective coupling member for coupling with said resisting device. 
     Further according to the invention, said base structure comprises a frame, comprising a first and a second end, on which said sliding belt is installed, sliding according to a sliding direction from said first end towards said second end of said frame, and in that said first and second handle are each provided with a first end, fixed to said supporting structure in correspondence of said first end of said frame, and of a second end, whose orthogonal projection on said sliding belt falls in correspondence of the half or two-thirds of said base structure. 
     Preferably according to the invention, said resisting device is deformable according to the position taken by the user on said sliding belt during the execution of the gymnastic exercise. 
     Still according to the invention, said resisting device exercises a force on the user in the opposite direction to the user&#39;s running direction during the execution of the gymnastic exercise. 
     Further according to the invention, said coupling member is a lever which can be coupled to the respective second end, of each of said first and second handle. 
     Preferably according to the invention, said lever is provided with a first end, which can be coupled to each of said first and second handle, and a second free end on which a through hole is provided for coupling with said resisting device. 
     Still according to the invention, said lever is coupled to the respective second end of each of said first and second handle, by means of respective friction elements which exercise a friction to the rotation of said lever. 
     Further according to the invention, said gymnastic machine may comprise a fixed screw integral with the respective second ends of each of said first and second handle, on said first end of said lever is obtained a through hole in which said fixed screw goes through, about which said lever can rotate, and said friction elements are arranged between said through hole and said fixed screw. 
     Preferably according to the invention, on said second ends of each of said first and second handle, a cavity is obtained, and said lever moves from a rest position, in which it is provided within said cavity, to a working position in which it is raised with respect to said second ends of each of said first and second handle and it is external to said cavity. 
     Finally according to the invention, said coupling member is a through ring or a hook which can be coupled to each of said first and second handle, for coupling with said resisting device. 
     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: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a side view of the sliding belt exercise machine provided with a device resistant to the user&#39;s motion, object of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a front perspective view of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows a further front perspective view of the machine of  FIG. 1  with a detail without a covering casing; 
         FIG. 4  shows an exploded view of the detail of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a sectional perspective front view of the detail of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a front perspective view of a second embodiment of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 7  shows a rear perspective view of a third embodiment of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a rear perspective view of a fourth embodiment of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 9  shows a rear perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the machine of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 10  shows a rear perspective view of a sixth embodiment of the machine of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     In the various figures, similar parts will be indicated by the same reference numbers. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-5 , the sliding belt gymnastic machine provided with a device resistant to the user&#39;s motion object of the present invention comprises several embodiments. 
     The first preferred embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , concerns an exercise machine  1  comprising a base structure  2 , having a frame  21 , comprising a first  211  and a second  212  end, on which said sliding belt  22  is installed according to a sliding direction X, from said first end  211  to said second end  212 , a resisting device  5 , wearable by the user during the performance of the exercise, and a coupling member  4  between said exercise machine  1  and said resisting device  5 . 
     Said sliding belt  22  comprises a plurality of strips placed side-by-side and coupled one next the other according to a direction transversal to that of the sliding direction X of said sliding belt  22 . 
     Said sliding belt  22  can also be a continuous surface sliding belt. 
     Said sliding belt  22  is passive, since the exercise machine  1  is provided with a drive motor with additional braking function, or in the base structure  2  an adjustable brake is installed, which generates a variable resistance opposing the sliding of the sliding belt  22  according to a training program pre-set by a user, for example, simulating the race real condition with a parachute-type accessory, hooked to the user which, inflating, creates a resistance, which increases increasing the running speed. 
     The brake applied can be a magnetic or electromagnetic brake. 
     The sliding belt  22  provided with a motor can also be applied in active mode, i.e. the motor rotates the sliding belt  22  according to a training program preset by the user. 
     Therefore the user, in order to perform an exercise, typically runs on said sliding belt  22  according to a running direction Y, opposite to said sliding direction X of said sliding belt  22 , overcoming all the inertia of the sliding belt  22 , which is initially steady, and overcoming the frictions due to the sliding of the sliding belt  22  on said frame  21  and the resistance opposed by the adjustable brake, thus simulating a typical sprint of a running race. 
     Said gymnastic machine  1  comprises a supporting structure  3 , coupled with said base structure  2 , to which a first  31  and a second  32  curved handle are coupled for supporting said user during the ascending and desending phases of the exercise machine  1  or even during the development of the gymnastic exercise. 
     Curved handle means a handle  31 ,  32  having a substantially elongated shape, wherein the first end  311 ,  321  is coupled with the support structure  3  the second end  312 ,  322  is curved and is connected again with said support structure  3  by a third end  313 ,  323 . 
     Said second curved end  312 ,  322  is positioned approximately at the half or two-thirds of said base structure  2 , in particular, its orthogonal projection on said sliding belt  22  falls to half or two-thirds of said support structure  2 . 
     In said curved second end  312 ,  322  of each of said first  31  and second  32  handle a cavity is formed, defined by a pair of lateral flanges  45 , in which is fixed, on each of said first  31  and second  32  handle, the respective coupling member  4  between said exercise machine  1  and said resisting device  5 . 
     Said coupling member  4  comprises a lever provided with a first end  411  and a second  412  free end. 
     A lever  41  is coupled with each one of said second curved ends  312 ,  322  of each one of said first  31  and second handle  32 . 
     In particular, on said first end  411  of said lever  41  a through hole is obtained, in which a fixed screw  42  passes, around which said lever  41  can rotate. 
     Said fixed screw  42  is integral with said pair of lateral flanges  45  of said second curved end  312 ,  322  of each of said first  31  and second  32  handle. 
     Between said through hole and said screw  42  a pair of bushing  43  are arranged, fixed to said pressure lever  41 , and friction elements, in particular a pair of disc springs  44 , interposed between said pair of bushings  43  and said pair of flanges  45 . 
     The fixed screw  42  packages and closes the lever  41  between the pair of flanges  45  with the interposition of said two disc springs  44  elastically deformed. 
     On said second free end  412  of said lever  41  a through hole is obtained for the passage of a hook, which connects said resisting device  5 . 
     Said lever  41  is movable from a rest position, wherein it is arranged within said cavity, when the user does not perform the pulling gymnastic exercise with the resisting device  5 , to a working position, wherein it is lifted and exits from said cavity during the performing of the gymnastic exercise. 
     In the working position, said first end  411  of said lever  41  abuts against an end stroke surface of the respective second curved end  311 ,  312 , which it is coupled with. 
     The transition from the rest position to the working position, and vice versa, is manual and it is performed by the user before performing the gymnastic exercise, bringing said lever  41  from said rest position to said working position, overcoming the friction exerted by said pair of disc springs  44  on said lever  41 , therefore the movement of the lever  41  is frictioned by said pair of disc springs  44 . 
     Said lever  41  could also include a known quick coupling and releasing element for keeping the lever  41  in a fixed intermediate working positions during the performance of the gymnastic workout and selectable by the user before performing the gymnastic workout, on the basis of the height of his or her own abdomen. 
     Said resisting device  5  comprises a pair of hooks  51 , each one hooking to the respective through hole of said second free end  412  of said lever  41 , and a belt  52 , which can be worn by the user. 
     Said resisting device  5  can be deformed, in particular it is elastic and, depending on the position assumed by the user on said sliding belt  22  during the performing of the gymnastic exercise, and generates a resisting force on the user, having a direction opposite to the user&#39;s running direction Y. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , in a second embodiment of said exercise machine  1 ′, for each one of first  31  and second  32  handle, said coupling member  4 ′ is a through ring or hook  41 ′, that can be coupled to said second curved end  312 ,  322  respectively of each of said first  31  and second  32  handle. 
     The respective hook of the pair of hooks  51  of said resisting device  5  is inserted in said through ring  41 ′. 
     Said through ring  41 ′ may be fixed or movable with respect to the end, which it is fixed to, without however falling out of the scope of protection of the present invention. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a third embodiment of the exercise machine  1 ″ object of the present invention differs from the first embodiment, for the structure of said first  31 ′ and second  32 ′ handle, wherein said second end  312 ′ and  322 ′ is straight and not curved, therefore it does not join with said support structure  3 . 
     In this case, for each one of said first  31 ′ and second  32 ′ handle, in correspondence of the respective second ends  312 ′ and  322 ′ a cavity  313  and  323  is provided, in which said lever  412  arranges in rest position. 
     Moreover, in this embodiment, the fixed element  42  is integral with said first ends  312 ′,  322 ′ of each of said first  31 ′ and second  32 ′ handle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a fourth embodiment of the exercise machine  1 ′″ according to the present invention differs from the third embodiment, for the structure of the coupling member  4 ′ comprising a through ring  41 ′ coupled to said second ends  312 ′,  322 ′ respectively of each of said first  31 ′ and second  32 ′ handle. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a fifth embodiment of the exercise machine  1   IV  object of the present invention differs from the first embodiment, for the support structure  2 ″. 
     In this fifth embodiment, the support structure  2 ″ is curved and the sliding belt  22 ″ comprises a plurality of strips placed side-by-side and coupled one next to the other according to a direction transverse to the sliding direction X of said sliding belt  2 . 
     The shape of the handles  31  and  32  and of the coupling member  4  structure are unchanged with respect to the previously described first embodiment. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a sixth embodiment of the exercise machine  1   V  object of the present invention differs from the fifth embodiment solely for the structure of the coupling member  4 ′, which comprises a through ring  41 ′ that can be coupled to said second end  312 ,  322  respectively of each one of said first  31  and second  32  handle. 
     For all the embodiments  1 ″,  1 ′″,  1   IV  and  1   V  described above, the sliding belt  22 ,  22 ′,  22 ″ may be a mat, having therefore a continuous surface or a belt comprising a plurality of strips. 
     Moreover, for all the embodiments  1 ″,  1 ′″,  1   IV  and  1   V  described above, the sliding belt  22 ,  22 ′,  22 ″ can operate passively, thus being controlled by a drive motor with the additional braking function, or by an adjustable brake that generates a variable resistance, or can operate actively, i.e. the motor rotates the sliding belt  22 ,  22 ′,  22 ″ according to a training program preset by the user. 
     Alternatively, for all the embodiments  1 ″,  1 ′″,  1   IV  and  1   V  described above using a sliding belt  22 ,  22 ′,  22 ″ in manual mode is also possible, namely without motor and brake. 
     The operation of the exercise machine  1 ,  1 ″,  1 ′″,  1   IV  and  1   V  described above is as follows. 
     When a user aims to perform a “pulling” gymnastic exercise to train for example a typical running sprint, he or she accesses said exercise machine  1  by positioning himself or herself on said sliding belt  22  and wearing said resisting device  5 . 
     The user moves said coupling member  4 , and in particular said lever  41 , from said rest position to said working position, which remains fixed during the performing of the exercise, due to the friction exerted by said pair of disc springs  44  on said lever  41  and then, for the force exerted by said resisting device  5  due to the thrust of the user on said belt  52 . 
     The user starts moving said sliding belt  22  with the legs, overcoming the initial inertia, the frictions due to the sliding of the running belt  22  on said frame  21  and the adjustable force exerted by the brake. 
     The sliding belt  22  moves according to the sliding direction X, while the user moves according to a running direction Y, opposite to said sliding direction X. 
     Said resisting device  5  then exerts a resisting force on the user having a direction opposite to the running direction Y and therefore according to the sliding direction X of said sliding belt  22 . 
     In this way, the user has the abdomen constrained and stabilized by the resisting device  5 , and therefore the user can freely move the arms in a manner coordinated with the legs, to perform correctly the gymnastic exercise, even at high acceleration. 
     In fact, the correct performance of the gymnastic exercise consists of moving the right arm together with the left leg, alternately with the movement of the left arm together with the right leg. 
     Without the resisting device  5  the user could not correctly perform the gymnastic exercise. 
     The operation of the further embodiments of the exercise machine described above is analogous to the operation of the first embodiment just described. 
     As is evident from the description above, the gymnastic machine  1  object of the present invention, on which performing “pulling” exercises by means of a resisting device, has a small encumbrance and it is safe in case of accidental falls of the user while performing the gymnastic exercise. 
     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.