Patent Publication Number: US-9415259-B2

Title: Training device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for training the body of a user, including a mechanism arranged to be operated by limbs of the user. 
     Such devices, sometimes called crosstrainers, are, in general, in use in fitness centres or sport schools for condition or strength training. Crosstrainers are devices provided with a combination of foot pedals and movement arms, by means of which a flywheel configuration can be driven by the user. By means of the foot pedals the apparatus (i.e. the flywheel configuration) is brought into and kept in movement, wherein the movement arms move along with the foot pedals. The movement arms are not primarily used to bring the apparatus into and keep in movement. The strength is especially originating from and exercised by the user&#39;s legs, exercising a circular/elliptic driving movement to the foot pedals or foot bars, due to which the known crosstrainer is fit for condition training but not for strength and muscle training (the flywheel configuration is mainly actuated/driven by the foot pedals or foot bars and the arm movements are mainly auxiliary/dependent). 
     U.S. Pat. No. 2,603,486 discloses a training apparatus comprising two arms, where, however, each of them must (simultaneously) be operated by both arms and legs of the user (each lever has a hand grip and a foot pedal). In this well-known apparatus a flywheel is operated via connection rods linked to a large pulley. By means of a belt between the large pulley and a small pulley, which is attached to the flywheel, the movement of the levers is transferred to the flywheel. This arrangement of two connecting rods positioned 180.degree. apart on a pulley or crank has the disadvantage that two dead centre positions are obtained when the levers, moving in opposite phase, are in their extreme positions. These dead centre positions also cause a non-smooth movement of the levers in their extreme positions, which is unpleasant for the user. Furthermore the training apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 2,603,486 suffers from the disadvantage that the user must stop the movement of flywheel and the linked levers by applying considerable effort. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,728,099 discloses another training apparatus, which must be operated with the legs of the user. In this well-known apparatus belts and belt wheels are used for operating a flywheel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention is a new device, wherein the flywheel is brought into movement and kept in movement by means of a maximum of two movement arms or levers and —contrary to crosstrainers—not by means of foot pedals or foot bars and dependently moving hand levers. By exerting a push-and-pull movement of only the hands/arms—or possibly only the feet/legs- to the maximum of two movement arms/levers, much more strength and muscle power must be used by the user of the new device in comparison to the known devices provided with arm and leg levers. 
     The device according to the present invention has no foot pedals like the known devices (crosstrainers) and, preferably, can be actuated and operated both horizontally and vertically: the movement arms can move then forward/backward or upward/downward. This optional feature according to the invention is not possible in the known devices, which are driven by foot pedals or by a combination of legs and arms (a combination of foot pedals or bars and arm levers). 
     The invention thus provides a device for training the body of a user, operated by a maximum of two limbs at the same time, including two levers and a flywheel configuration linked to said two levers. The flywheel configuration is actuated/driven by periodic push and/or pull forces exercised by the user&#39;s two limbs to those two levers. 
     Preferably, two levers linked to the flywheel configuration are arranged such that the levers move dependently of each other and in opposite phase. Furthermore the mechanism preferably comprises means for varying the rotation resistance of the flywheel configuration, for example by an adjustable brake shoe or brake band around the flywheel. Preferably, e.g. by means of oil or air cylinders with adjustable leak, means may be provided for varying the motion resistance of said two levers. 
     The mechanism may be arranged so that one or both levers make a movement in a mainly geometrical flat plane or possibly in a geometrically bent plane. 
     Preferably, the device is provided with means arranged to set, move or mount either the mechanism including the two levers or the whole device (including its housing) into different positions with respect to its horizontal floor plate. Preferably the mounting allows the user to choose whether the two levers can be actuated by the user either in mainly forward/backward or in upward/downward direction. The device may include a housing, which is fit to cooperate with a ground frame and arranged to be connected to the frame in various different positions, horizontally, vertically or slanted to the floor. A tilting mechanism can allow movement of the mechanism (including the levers) and/or the complete device into various desired positions. 
     The levers can be arranged to be actuated by the user&#39;s hands or, possibly, by the user&#39;s feet, however, not simultaneously by the user&#39;s legs and arms as in well-known devices. 
     According to a preferred embodiment of the invention each lever is hinged at a first location to the fixed frame of the device, whereas each lever is linked at a second location by means of a connection rod to the flywheel configuration. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention the flywheel configuration of the device comprises a freewheel mechanism. 
     Advantageously the mechanism comprises a crank, a crank axle and connecting rods, mounted between the crank and the levers, wherein an auxiliary mechanism provides momentum to the crank in dead centre positions of the connecting rods on the crank. 
     In particular the auxiliary mechanism comprises a cam on the crank axle and a spring-loaded follower on the cam surface; preferably the follower comprises a support lever, a wheel and a spring; more preferably the spring is a torsion spring mounted between an end of the support lever and the device frame. 
     With these measures the dead centre positions, being responsible for the (to the user) unpleasant non-smooth movement of the levers in their extreme positions, are forcibly counteracted by a momentum exerted on the cam plate and the coupled crank axle. 
     With the device according to the invention the following practical advantages are reached: 
     Time Profit 
     Condition- and strength training is carried out with this apparatus in one movement. At the current form of fitness nearly all muscles and the condition is trained separately from each other and approx. 60-90 minutes is needed for a complete training. With the device according to the invention condition, strength and several muscle groups of the body are trained in one movement (and one apparatus). A complete effective training can be done in only 10-15 minutes. 
     Preventing of Injuries and Overload 
     The new device presented here prevents/limits injuries and overload of muscles and/or joints. In the current form of strength training one trains on devices with weights. To make the movement more difficult one must increase the weight. Training with weights is in and of itself already dangerous. The heavier the weight the more dangerous this becomes for the muscles and joints. In consequence overload and injuries occur regularly. Also many movements are needed to train/charge a muscle group. Many people, in particular new customers, do not know the right movements and frequently copy their movements from others. This, however, often leads to incorrect movements, further increasing the incidence of injuries and overload of muscles and joints (among other things back pain). 
     By use of the new device for strength training presented here, only one determined movement is used. A wrong movement is excluded because of this. By the fluent and natural push and pull movement and by gradually increasing the resistance, overload and injuries are prevented. 
     Fit for Rehabilitation 
     This apparatus is ideal for rehabilitation. The fluent, continuing repetitive movement and the gradually increasing resistance makes this apparatus ideal for rehabilitation training. The muscles will be made gradually stronger with this apparatus. For people with restrictions of the lower part of the body (knees, hips etc.) this apparatus offers very good and more extended possibilities in doing condition training. With the current apparatuses condition training is generally only possible by actively moving legs or a combination of legs and arms. This new apparatus offers the possibility of training the condition with only the arms or only with the legs. 
     Suitability for Adolescents 
     In the current form of strength training insufficient account is taken with adolescents. It has not desirable for adolescents to train with (heavy) weights. Due to the natural push and pull movements, the device according to the invention is a good alternative for adolescents who want to do fitness/strength training. 
     Suitability for the Elderly 
     This apparatus is suitable for all age groups. However specific for the elderly this apparatus offers the possibility of keeping and reinforcing the muscles and muscle functions optimum in a natural way of movement. Especially for the elderly natural movement is very important. 
     More Effective Training/Faster Result 
     Not only by the combination of condition and strength training but especially by the fluent repetitive movement, duration training for the muscles is realised. This includes that a faster strength increase and combustion will be realised than using the current form of strength training. 
     The use of no more than two driving levers is essential in the present invention, with which (two) levers, actuated by two arms or two legs of the user (never his/her arms and legs at the same time), a flywheel (configuration) is driven via connection rods linked between the flywheel configuration and the levers. 
     The invention, preferably, provides means which are arranged to enable to put (move/mount) the training apparatus into different positions, thus enabling the apparatus to be fit for training various, completely different muscle groups. Such means arranged for (dynamically or more statically) setting the training apparatus into different positions is also neither known from nor suggested in any of said disclosures. Provisions to enable setting the (base) apparatus into different positions forms an important aspect of the invention: because of this aspect various, completely different muscle groups can be trained with the same (base) training apparatus, set/mounted in different (horizontal, vertical) positions. 
     In this way a range of fitness apparatuses, as it were, can be formed, where every apparatus from that range is based on the same principle and uses basically the same basis module, however provided with means by which (the basis module of) the training apparatus can be put into different positions, as a result of which several muscle groups can be trained, always by bringing into movement and keeping in movement a flywheel with adjustable resistance and using (in all cases) not more than two back-and-forth or up-and-down moving actuation levers. 
     Every model in the range-formed by the (base) training apparatus mounted/established in its different positions-requires a specific physical body attitude (posture) of its user, invites or challenges the user to exercise a specific movement or appeals to a specific muscle group. 
     The ongoing repetition of the movements of the arms or legs keeping the flywheel in rotation, stimulates the blood circulation, raises the condition, ensures fat combustion in the concerning muscle group and promotes, in case of injuries, rehabilitation in the concerning muscle group. The range of apparatuses can be used by all target groups: adolescents, elderly, disabled, injured, beginning and advanced users. By adjusting the resistance of the flywheel the muscle strength and muscle mass is stimulated. 
     The flywheel principle was so far applied within the cardio area of the fitness branch. It becomes also applied now within the strength training and bodybuilding area. In this way the flywheel principle can mainly or even completely replace training with weights. Strength training is no longer characterized by lifting weights, but putting into and keeping in rotation a flywheel with controlled rotation resistance. An additional aspect is that the risk of injuries will be reduced. Moreover, any (psychological and/or physical) threshold to strength training (which rather has a macho imago) is considerably reduced. Particularly for women this will be of importance: it is much more attractive for women now to train their abdomen, buttocks, legs and arms. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Hereafter the invention will further be discussed by means of some exemplary embodiments, with reference to some figures. 
         FIG. 1  shows schematically an exemplary embodiment of a device according to the invention in perspective, both in exploded view and in assembled situation; 
         FIG. 2  shows schematically the same exemplary embodiment as shown in  FIG. 1 , established for (curvilinear) forward and backward movements of the arms of the user; 
         FIG. 3 a - b    show schematically two alternatives of the same exemplary embodiment of the device, by tilting of the housing established for performing up and downward movements of the arms of the user; 
         FIG. 4  shows schematically the same exemplary embodiment, in a tilted-back housing and established here for performing movements of the legs of the user; 
         FIG. 5  shows, considered technically, the same exemplary embodiment, however here more attractively designed, established for performing forward and backward movements of the arms of the user; 
         FIG. 6  shows the same exemplary embodiment as  FIG. 5 , established for performing up and downward movements of the arms of the user; 
         FIG. 7  shows the same exemplary embodiment as  FIG. 5 , established here for performing movements of the legs of the user. 
         FIGS. 8A &amp; 8B  show in two opposing side views an alternative embodiment of the mechanism and the flywheel configuration of the device according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The  FIGS. 1-8B  all show a device for training the body of a user  1  (only explicitly shown in the  FIGS. 2-4 ), including a mechanism  2  which is arranged to be operated (actuated/energized) by limbs of the user  1 , which mechanism  2  is provided with two levers  3  which can be operated by the user  1  and which levers  3  are in connection with means which are arranged for exerting a force to those levers. The mechanism  2  includes a flywheel configuration  4  that is linked such with said two levers  3  that the flywheel configuration  4  rotates as a result of periodic push and/or pull forces exercised by (no more than) two limbs of the user, i.e. the user&#39;s arms or the user&#39;s legs, to those two levers  3 . The two levers are connected such with the flywheel configuration  4 —by means of connection rods  5  that the levers  3  move in mutual opposite phase. Preferably the flywheel configuration  4  is provided with a freewheel mechanism like a freehub, which disengages the flywheel from the driving crank or the pulley, linked with the connection rods  5 , when the driving crank rotates slower than the flywheel. As a result the user is not forced to stop the movement of the levers  3  by stopping the flywheel, but may stop at any moment with the training, because due to the freewheel the levers will not continue with moving when user stops exerting force to the levers. Not visible in the figures is that the mechanism includes means for varying the rotation resistance of that flywheel configuration  4 , for example an adjustable brake shoe against the flywheel configuration  4 . Optionally the mechanism  2  can also include means for varying the movement resistance of the levers  3 , for example cylinders with an adjustable leak between both cylinder chambers. The mechanism  2  is arranged such, by the bearing/conductance of the levers  3 , that the levers each make a movement in a mainly geometrically flat plane. The mechanism may also, by a modification of the bearing of the levers  3  into a not-flat guiding path, arranged such that the two levers  3  each make a movement in a geometrically bent area or arc. 
       FIG. 1  shows that each lever  3  is pivotally connected, at a first location  6 , to a fixed point  7  of the device, in this case a housing  8  that also serves as a frame, and through which a bearing axle  9  extends. Furthermore each lever  3  is joined with the flywheel configuration  4  at a second location  10  by means of the connection rod  5 . That flywheel configuration  4  is installed in the frame  8  by means of two connection rods  11  inserted into the housing  8  and the frame  12  of the flywheel configuration  4 . Furthermore  FIG. 1  shows a floor or base plate  13 , provided with a pair of slides  14  for catching the housing  8 , both in the lying (horizontal) position as well as in the standing (upright) position which will be discussed below. In both positions the housing  8  is bolted then between the slides  14  to the base plate  13 , for example by means of locking rods (not shown) inserted into openings in the slides  14  and the housing  8 . 
     Further, a locking plate  15  is visible, provided for locking the head part of the housing  8 . Furthermore two elongated stationary handrails  16  are provided at both sides of the housing  8 , and a movable body support  17 . The levers  3  are each provided with a handgrip  18  and with a transversely placed footrest  19 . 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show an alternative embodiment of the flywheel configuration  4  of the device of the present invention. In this example the levers  3  are linked to a crank or pulley  30  by means of connecting rods  5 . By means of a belt  31  pulley  30  drives a small pulley  32  attached onto the flywheel  4 . The flywheel is preferably provided with a freehub (freewheel) so that the rotational motion of the flywheel is not returned to the small pulley  32  when the rotational movement of the flywheel is higher than that of the (small) pulley  32 , thereby preventing continued movement of the linked levers  3 . 
     In order to overcome both dead centre positions due to the arrangement of the two connecting rods  5  180° apart (moving in opposite phase) on the pulley crank  30 , the dead centres being responsible for the (to the user) unpleasant non-smooth movement of the levers in their extreme positions, an auxiliary mechanism is provided acting on the crank axle  33 . The auxiliary mechanism provides an additional force onto the crank axle  33  dependent upon the position of the connecting rods  5  on the crank  30 . Because for each revolution of the crank  30  two dead centre points must be passed, the auxiliary mechanism must act in a twice as high frequency as the rotational frequency of the crank  30 . This can be accomplished, for example, by driving a (sprocket) wheel in double ratio by a chain or a belt, the wheel being provided eccentrically with a spring attached to the frame  8  or housing of the device. In an alternative embodiment of the auxiliary mechanism, shown in  FIGS. 8A &amp; 8B , the crank axle  33  is provided with a cam plate  34  having two bumps  35  for double frequency. The cam plate rotates with the same frequency as the crank  30 . A spring-loaded follower  36  is positioned upon the cam surface  37 , such that the follower  36  in the dead centre positions of the crank  30  exerts additional rotational momentum to the crank axle  33 . In this example the follower  36  is constructed from a support lever  38 , with its first end  40  pivotally connected to the device frame  8  and with its second end  41  connected to the frame by means of a tension spring  39 . Alternatively the follower  36  can also be connected to the frame by using a compression spring. In this example the follower comprises a wheel  42 , which is arranged to roll over the cam surface  37 . When the crank approaches a dead centre position the support lever  38  is moved upwards by bump  35  of the cam plate  34  thereby stretching the tension spring  39  so that an opposing force or momentum is exerted by the wheel  42  on the cam plate  34  and the coupled crank axle  33 , whereby the crank is forcibly moved through its dead centre position. 
       FIG. 2  shows the same exemplary embodiment as  FIG. 1 , established for performing upward and downward movements of the arms of the user  1 . In this situation the body support  17  is turned, with its slanting side, to the body of the user  1  and functions thereby as a breast support. It is noted that, of course, in practice both the body support  17  has a more rounded design and is provide with an elastic material, which is better visible in the last three figures. 
     The housing  8  including the mechanism  2  can be mounted and then bolted in several positions on the base plate  13  by using the slides  14 .  FIG. 2  shows the situation where the two levers  3  are moved mainly forwardly and backwardly by the user  1 . 
       FIG. 3 a    shows the same device, where the housing  8  is tilted now over 90° and thus mounted vertically on the base plate  13 , as a result of which the two levers  3  are located mainly above the torso of the user  1  and must be moved (curvilinearly) up and down. The user  1  can carry out this movement sitting, by means of sitting module  20  that is also introduced between the slides  14  and then fixed. 
       FIG. 3 b    shows the same device, where the tilted housing  8  is mounted now so that the two levers  3  must be moved up and down by the user  1  below the user&#39;s torso. The user  1  can perform this movement by sitting on a sitting module  20 ′ that in this case is extended with a console (left part in the figure) on which the vertical housing  8  has been mounted. In this implementation the levers  3  are located therefore lower than in the (vertical) implementation shown in  FIG. 3   a.    
       FIG. 4  shows the same device, however now established for performing movements of the legs of the user  1 . To that end the body support  17  is moved backwards and is used in this embodiment as a back support. The feet of the user  1  will bring the flywheel configuration (not shown here) within the housing  8  into rotation by kicking alternatively against the one and the other lever  3 , by means of the footrests  19 . 
     The same module is always used in the various implementations, substantially formed by the housing  8  and the mechanism  2 , including the levers  3 , the flywheel configuration  4 , the connection rods  5  etc., however adapted so that the user  1  can carry out different movements to train different muscles. An overview of the various different muscle groups which can be trained in the different embodiments/configurations of the device, successively shown in the  FIGS. 2-4 , follows below. The underlined muscle groups are in particular trained in the referenced embodiment/configuration: 
     Embodiment Shown in FIG.  2   
     
         
         Position apparatus: horizontal 
         Movement: forward push movement and a simultaneously backward pull movement 
         Active muscles: 
       
    
     Breast and Back Muscles 
     Shoulder muscles, particularly the frontside shoulder muscles 
     Arm muscles; triceps, biceps and forearm muscles. 
     Embodiment Shown in FIG.  3   a    
     
         
         Position apparatus: vertical, movement arms up 
         Movement: upward push movement and a simultaneously downward pull movement 
         Active muscles: 
       
    
     Shoulder, Back and Breast Muscles 
     Arm muscles; triceps, biceps and forearm muscles. 
     Embodiment Shown in FIG.  3   b    
     
         
         Position apparatus: vertical, movement arms on sitting level or something higher 
         Movement: upward pull movement and a simultaneously downward push movement 
         Active muscles: 
       
    
     Arm muscles; triceps, biceps and forearm muscles 
     Shoulder and back muscles 
     Breast muscles 
     Abdomen muscles (particularly the obliques) 
     Embodiment Shown in FIG.  4   
     
         
         Position apparatus: horizontal, legs 
         Movement: forward push movement of the one leg and a simultaneous returning movement of the other leg 
         Active muscles: 
       
    
     Leg muscles; front and back side (quadriceps/hamstring) and calves 
     Buttock muscles 
     Abdomen muscles 
     Finally still some figures showing an improved design of a number of the above discussed configurations will briefly be discussed. 
       FIG. 5  shows the same embodiment as in  FIGS. 2-4 , here—as far as can be shown by means of the (regulative) black-line drawings—having an improved design, arranged for exercising forward and backward movements by the arms of the user. The body support  7  is provided with a padded sitting part  7   a , which is adjustable by means of a connection rail  21 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the same device, however, established now for performing of up and downward movements of the arms of the user  1 . The connection rail  21  can be coupled to the sitting module  20  for increasing the rigidity of the whole device, of which the housing  8  stands upright in this situation. 
     Finally,  FIG. 7  shows the same device, however now established for performing movements of the legs of the user  1 . When the device is used to be operated/actuated by the arms of the user  1 , namely for training of the torso and the internal organs such as heart and lungs, the footrests  19  can alternatively be used as hand grips if the user  1  prefers so. The design of the hand grips  18  and footrests  19  is such that either the hand grips  18  or the footrests  19  can be used by either the hands or the feet, for example alternatively, which certainly will advance the exercises. 
     Thus the invention provides a training apparatus (or an integrated series of training apparatuses always using the same base module) which is intended and arranged for condition training and strength training, in particular intended for average and in a certain way somewhat vulnerable user groups which, by using this new apparatus, can improve, within limited time, their condition and muscle strength substantially without chance on injuries or overload. To this end the apparatus provides the means to train only (maximum) two limbs always by means of a fluent and regular movement, with which both muscles and the heart and lung functions are perfectly trained.