FOLDABLE MULTIFUNCTIONAL TRAINING EQUIPMENT

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

It is an object of the present invention to provide a solution to sportsmen and women, whether professionals or amateurs, who live in the city or in flats of few square metres and want to have a bodybuilding equipment at home, offering them a more complete bodybuilding equipment and configured to occupy the smallest possible space.

STATE OF THE ART

In the current state of the art, there are different bodybuilding equipment for home use, but they are not designed for use in small spaces, and those that are, do not meet the minimum requirements for progressive muscle development, lacking important elements, for example, the lack of more weights to increase the load, or specific exercises important for lower body muscle development, such as a 45° press, quadriceps extensions and lying femoral curl. Therefore, to train the lower body at home, for a bodybuilder, the current home machines are insufficient, limiting their training to private gyms.

More specifically, the following exercises are important for working the lower body, and currently, it is not possible to perform them with a home machine.

Thus, for example, the 45° leg press is an indispensable element for any gym, as it involves practically all the muscles of the legs, focusing more on the quadriceps and calves, so a high volume of load is needed (i.e., more weight to lift). The main disadvantages why these presses are not used in domestic use are:

• • In the case of multifunctional home equipment, no press tools or accessories are included that are reliable and sufficiently loaded for professional training (which requires heavy weight loads).
  • The cost and volume of a stand-alone leg press is high (minimum cost of 1,000 EUR) and measures approximately 200 cm-250 cm in length, 140 cm-150 cm in height; and 70 cm-190 cm in width, which makes it unfeasible in many homes.
  • It is necessary to have a lot of weighted discs stored (between 400 kg and 600 kg maximum load for professional equipment). It is true that there is leg press equipment with a tower of guided weights, where it is not necessary to carry the discs, but they tend to increase their price and decrease their maximum load, since it is a system that works by pulling the weights by means of a steel cable and pulleys.

Another essential leg exercise is leg extensions, as they work the quadriceps, which is the most powerful and voluminous muscle in the leg, occupying almost a third of its volume. The disadvantages for home training are:

• • Multifunctional home equipment lacks sufficient load (weight) for professional quadriceps training.
  • They are uncomfortable, as the seat back is not adjustable and are (often) not large enough to work comfortably.
  • The cost and volume of professional equipment for leg extensions is also too high to have one at home exclusively for this exercise.

The lying femoral curl trains the femoral leg muscles, which are the muscles at the back of the legs, also known as the hamstrings. The problems that make it impossible to train the femoral leg curl lying down include:

, In the multifunctional equipment available on the market, the femoral curl is usually worked standing, using the leg extension tool, but it is more uncomfortable and complicated to work.

• • There are benches for femoral curls and leg extensions to which weight discs are added as a load, but there is the same disadvantage, i.e. too little weight for the extensions, too many discs to store, impractical and uncomfortable, as the benches are insufficiently sized.
  • Again, as with the other exercises described above, having professional equipment to train the femoral leg muscle lying down is expensive and takes up too much volume for a single exercise.

The power rack or power cage is a tool that allows you to perform a variety of strength and power exercises, allowing you to lift very heavy loads safely. It is a great help, both to develop muscles and simply to tone up. The disadvantages of these machines for use in a domestic environment are:

• • The main problem is the volume it takes up, which is unfeasible for most homes. Foldable power cages are known to avoid this problem. However, these devices lack the structure to expand with more accessories and remain foldable, so their volume also increases with each accessory added to the equipment. Furthermore, folding systems also do not allow for convenient training of all muscle groups, so they are limited only to the specific exercises that each accessory allows, in addition to those specific to the folding equipment, such as the pull-up bar and barbell exercises using this structure as a support.
  • This type of machine is usually used to perform pull-ups and squats, among other exercises, as well as to support a barbell (which can optionally be an Olympic bar), with weight discs for different exercises. Its use is limited only to those exercises, unless the equipment is complemented with other tools or accessories such as rings, climbing ropes, bars for triceps bottoms, a bench to do pectorals, a pulley system with guided weight plates for load-bearing exercises, among others. In this case, the problem is that you increase the volume with each accessory, which makes the product more and more expensive. A lot of weight discs are also stored, as there are a variety of exercises that require the use of this type of load.

In short, the weight training equipment available on the market for general training of the entire musculature (multifunctional equipment) is not effective or sufficient for lower body weight training. To overcome these shortcomings, a large financial investment is currently required, with the use of independent equipment that takes up a large amount of space, which prevents its use in domestic environments, particularly in private homes in large cities.

Therefore, there is a need for a single piece of equipment that allows a complete and sufficiently loaded training of the lower body, so that it can be used by bodybuilders and/or professional athletes in a domestic environment, which requires that it takes up as little space as possible.

Explanation of the Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide a foldable multifunctional training equipment that makes it possible to reduce the volume occupied by a multifunctional bodybuilding equipment, at the same time as it is supplemented with a foldable equipment configured to perform the exercises most commonly used in the training of the lower body, increasing the load with the weights corresponding to this type of exercises. It is another object of the invention that the foldable multifunctional training equipment can be closed in a drawer or cupboard, in such a way that it can be stored as if it were a piece of furniture. These objects are achieved with the equipment of claim 1. Particular and/or preferred solutions of the invention are described in the dependent claims.

More specifically, the equipment of the invention comprises a foldable power cage, configured to add to it a system of pulleys and towers of weights guided as a load, designed for folding the whole assembly in the smallest possible space, to which is added a removable tool for a guided bar and a second foldable assembly for leg training comprising: a bench and a seat with adjustable position; a 45° leg press; a set configured to train quadriceps extensions; and a set configured to train the lying femoral curl.

Thanks to the equipment of the invention, a multifunctional training equipment is obtained that is different from those described in the state of the art, more complete and in a smaller space. It is, therefore, a more versatile piece of equipment, as it allows all the muscle groups to be exercised in reduced spaces, facilitating access to those athletes who, because they live in cities or small houses, do not have enough space for a complete gym at home.

Throughout the description and the claims, the word “comprises” and variants thereof are not intended to exclude other technical features, additives, components or steps. To those skilled in the art, other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be apparent in part from the invention and in part from the practice of the invention. The following examples and drawings are provided by way of illustration and are not intended to restrict the present invention. Furthermore, the invention covers all possible combinations of particular and preferred embodiments indicated herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following is a very brief description of a series of drawings which help to better understand the invention, and which relate expressly to an embodiment of the invention, which is illustrated as a non-limiting example of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a view of the foldable multifunctional training equipment according to the present invention.

FIG. 1.1 shows the equipment of the invention in folded position, with the cabinet doors open.

FIG. 1.2 shows the equipment of the invention folded into a closed cabinet.

FIG. 2 shows an isolated view of the main structure of the training equipment of the invention, i.e., the foldable power cage (100).

FIG. 3 shows in detail the locking system of the hinges (103) that facilitate the folding of the power cage (100).

FIG. 4 shows in detail the means of training the lower body (200).

FIG. 5 shows the bench structure and the adjustable seat that are formed by the lower body training means (200) of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the lower body training aids (200) to perform the leg press exercise at 45°.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the lower body training aids (200) for use in leg extensions.

FIG. 8 shows the configuration of the lower body training aids (200) to perform the lying femoral curl exercise.

FIG. 9 shows in detail the means for positioning a guided rod (300).

FIG. 10 shows in detail the distribution of the power transmission means (500).

DETAILED EXPLANATION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The training equipment according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 1. This figure identifies the main parts, technical means or assemblies comprising the equipment of the invention. The training equipment comprises, at least:

• • a collapsible power cage (100);

lower body training aids (200) that are foldable and transformable for performing the exercise of leg press at 45° (FIG. 6), leg extensions (FIG. 7) and/or lying femoral curl (FIG. 8);

• • means for positioning a guided rod (300);
  • at least two parallel towers of guided weights (400); and power transmission means (500) comprising a plurality of pulleys and steel wire ropes—preferably—and which are configured to enable folding of the training equipment and which, in turn, comprise at least:
  • two height adjustable pulleys (501, 502); and
  • two central lower pulleys (503, 504);
    in such a way that the foldable power cage (100) is configured as the main structure of the lower body training means (200), as well as the means for positioning a guided bar (300), using the weights arranged in the parallel towers of guided weights (400) to configure the load of each exercise;
    and wherein, in addition, the lower body training means (200) and the guided barbell (300) are connected via the power transmission means (500) to the guided weight towers (400).

Thanks to this structure, the different parts that make up the training equipment of the invention do not interfere with each other, facilitating the performance of the different training exercises. Furthermore, the training means (200) and the guided bar (300) can be used independently of each other.

FIG. 2 shows an isolated view of the main structure of the training equipment, i.e. the foldable power cage (100), whose main characteristic that the cage structure must have is that its folding must not interfere with the other elements incorporated in the machine, i.e. the lower body training means (200), the means for positioning the guided bar (300); the guided weight towers (400) and the power transmission means (500). To this end, the foldable power cage structure (100), in turn, comprises:

• • a first arm (101) and a second arm (102) positioned respectively to the left and to the right comprising of bars with an “L” shaped profile, said arms (101,102) being foldable by means of a plurality of hinges (103) provided with locking means (as shown in detail in FIG. 3), and being, furthermore, the arms (101,102) are configured to support the means for positioning the guided bar (300) and the power transmission means (500), for which said arms are provided with a square iron or profile, chromium-plated or stainless steel with holes that allow the aforementioned means to be positioned at a height; Y
  • a first central longitudinal member (104) and a second central longitudinal member (105) which are a U-shaped profile configured to fix and/or anchor the undercarriage training means (200) as well as to guide the wheels in the deployment of the undercarriage means (200).

FIG. 3 shows in detail the locking system of the hinges (103) that facilitate the folding of the power cage (100). The arms (101,102) in addition to their “L” profile are designed with an upper clearance and locking protrusions (106) configured to block the opening and closing movement of the arms (101,102) of the cage (100) at different angles.

Thanks to this arrangement, the arms (101, 102) can be opened depending on the exercise to be performed at the time. In fact, to open or close the arms (101, 102), the arms (101, 102) are simply lifted, folded or unfolded, and then dropped downwards so that they engage the locking lugs (106) and are retained in position. Finally, a clamping nut or pin (a retainer, 107) secures the locking position at the chosen angle of the power cage (100).

In a particular embodiment, the locking system of the arms (101, 102) will comprise of a single pin, the presence of the locking bosses (106) not being necessary.

The lower body training means (200) are shown in FIG. 4.

The lower body training means (200) are configured as a folding seat or bench (FIG. 5) with which three of the most important exercises for working the leg muscles can be performed, the bench can be folded out into three different pieces of equipment in the smallest possible space and can be loaded with weight with the towers (400).

In addition, working the lower body requires robust and strong equipment that can bear a lot of weight, so it is not obvious to integrate it into a single foldable piece of equipment. More specifically, the lower body training equipment (200) comprises, at least:

• • guides (201), preferably two, U-shaped, with folding legs and with wheels and/or bearings, wherein the guides (201) are configured as the support structure for the lower body training aids (200);
  • a guided carriage (202) and movable between the guides (201) thanks to a plurality of wheels and/or bearings;

a foldable and collapsible press base (203), wherein said base (203) is configured as a seat on one of its sides and is divisible into two parts for performing the lying femoral curl exercise (best described in FIG. 8);

• • a removable and tilt-adjustable seat backrest (204);
  • a first tool (205) configured to train the quadriceps and femoral muscles, this first tool (205) being independent of the structure of the lower body training equipment (200) and positionable according to the exercise to be performed; and
  • a second independent tool (206) that can be fixed to the guide carriage (202) and is configured to increase the load of the press when performing the 45° leg press exercise (see detail in FIG. 6) with external weight discs.

The structure of the bench and the adjustable seat are shown in FIG. 5.

The first function which is available only by unfolding the lower body training means (200) in its use as a bench and/or adjustable seat, since without unfolding any other element, a bench with a padded upholstery is obtained for performing various types of exercises such as, for example, and without limitation, the bench press lying down, seated shoulder press, among others, for which there is a rod (207) configured to hold the backrest (204) at the appropriate angle with respect to the seat (203).

FIG. 6 shows the configuration for performing the leg press exercise at 45°.

To carry out this exercise, the lower face of the base (203) configured as a seat is used and the removable backrest (204) is placed in its corresponding anchorage, thus configuring the typical structure of a leg press at 45°. Its weight load would be regulated by means of the towers (400) whose power would be transmitted through the power transmission means (500) and, specifically, through the two lower central pulleys (503,504) and their corresponding transmission cables. Likewise, during the configuration of the structure we have the option of blocking the guided carriage (202) using retaining bars or supports that are operated by means of levers located on the sides of the “U” shaped guides (201).

Optionally, it is possible to place the second tool (206) to add additional weights or loads and increase the load even more if necessary. Thanks to the two guided weight towers (400), however, the number of additional weights or loads will always be much lower than would be required with a separate machine specifically for this exercise.

FIG. 7 shows the configuration for performing the leg extensions exercise.

In this case, the reclining or adjustable seat shown in the configuration of FIG. 5, will be used with the lower body support structure (201) in its horizontal position, deploying legs, to which only the first tool (205) configured to train the quadriceps and femoral muscles will be incorporated, in such a way that it is possible to lift the load configured on the guided weight towers (400) by means of the power transmission means (500) and, specifically, by means of the two lower central pulleys (503, 504) and their corresponding transmission cables.

FIG. 8 shows the setup for performing the lying femoral curl exercise.

As for training the quadriceps, the first tool (205) is also used, configured for the exercise of the femoral “curl”, completely tilting the bench for its practice. The load is configured on the guided weight towers (400) by means of the power transmission means (500) and, specifically, by means of the two lower pulleys central (503, 504) and their corresponding transmission cables. The particularity in this exercise, as shown in FIG. 8, is that the base (203) can be divided into two parts and raised at the junction area, so that the user can give the necessary inclination to the bench, which is typical of this type of equipment, for the best use of the load and user comfort.

FIG. 9 shows the means for positioning a guided rod (300).

In the state of the art, guided bar equipment has a fixed bar attached to two bearing guides on each side. This structure poses a problem, as it would be impossible to fold the device with a fixed cross bar, which would make it undesirable to dispense with it.

Therefore, in order to provide the equipment with a guided bar without losing the folding capacity of the equipment as a whole, it has been necessary to design an accessory (the positioning means (300), located on the arms (101,102) of the cage (100)) that allows the guided bar to be positioned and removed, in such a way that it is possible to fold the equipment and, in addition, to use the loose bar for other exercises, either as an Olympic bar or as a non-Olympic straight bar.

The means for positioning a guided rod (300) comprises:

• • a clamp (301) with bearings configured for different profile sizes; and
  • a latch (302) configured to grasp or anchor the guided rod.

In a particular embodiment, the positioning means (300) will be materialised by means of nylon sheets on the inside which will act as a sliding element.

FIG. 10 shows the power transmission means (500). The power transmission means (500) are composed of a plurality of pulleys (501 to 505) and cables, preferably of steel, which allow the structure of the equipment, i.e., the power cage (100), to be folded. For this purpose, it has been necessary to solve the following technical problems:

• • a) The steel cables do not allow the structure of the equipment to be folded and unfolded. During the folding and unfolding movements, the cables become taut and slack, slipping out of the guides and pulleys and not allowing the structure to be closed.
  • b) Being a small piece of equipment, there is little space available to place the pulleys and the stretch points (the points through which the power of the exercise is transmitted to the weights) without getting in the way or interfering with the other elements of the set.

In order to overcome these disadvantages, the power transmission means (500) have been designed in such a way that the transmission cables are passed through a conduit (506) located in the opening axis of the arms (101, 102) of the power cage (100) by adding a double pulley (505), so that the combination between the conduit and the double pulley allows the arms (101,102) to be folded without untensioning the transmission cables (507). This configuration also means that the other elements are not hindered and increases the number of stretching points necessary for working with the equipment of the invention, even if the space available is very limited.