EXERCISE DEVICE FOR PLANCHE

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention patent application No. 113122551, filed on Jun. 18, 2024, and Taiwanese Invention patent application No. 114106606, filed on Feb. 21, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to an exercise device, and more particularly to an exercise device for planche.

BACKGROUND

Nowadays, common street workouts may involve bodyweight training using public facilities, such as pull-up bars, the ground, ladders, etc. Common street workouts include the human flag, the planche, the front lever, the muscle-up, etc.

However, those exercises require significant physical strength and excellent performance because an individual's own bodyweight is used as a resistance against gravity. For ordinary exercisers, those exercises are highly difficult moves, and a conventional exercise device may not be adequate enough for the ordinary exercisers to practice and achieve those highly difficult moves.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide an exercise device for planche that can alleviate the drawback of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the exercise device includes a frame unit, a support pad unit, an assistance unit, and two grip units. The support pad unit is movably mounted to the frame unit and movable relative to the frame unit in an up-down direction, and includes a support pad module. The assistance unit is mounted to the frame unit and connected to the support pad unit. The assistance unit is operable to urge the support pad unit to move upward. The grip units are mounted to the frame unit opposite to each other in a left-right direction, and are located below the support pad module in the up-down direction. Each of the grip unit includes a handle. The handles of the grip units are operable to move so as to adjust a relative position between the handles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment(s) with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is noted that various features may not be drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an exercise device for planche according to the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but some casing components of the embodiment are hidden for clearer illustration.

FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view of a support pad unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating a height adjustment unit of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic front view of the embodiment, illustrating the height adjustment unit.

FIG. 6 is a schematic side view, illustrating a support pad module of the support pad unit at a highest position.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, but illustrating the support pad module of the support pad unit at a lowest position.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of the embodiment, illustrating one of two grip units of the embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary, exploded perspective view illustrating the one of the grip units.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 5, illustrating that a position of the one of the grip units is adjustable in a front-rear position.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the embodiment, illustrating that an angular position of a handle of each of the grip units is adjustable.

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 11, but illustrating that a position of the handle of each of the grip units is adjustable in a left-right direction.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view illustrating that a user uses the embodiment to train for a planche.

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but illustrating that the user performs the planche using the embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a schematic view illustrating the user in FIG. 14 from another viewing angle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It should be noted herein that for clarity of description, spatially relative terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “on,” “above,” “over,” “downwardly,” “upwardly” and the like may be used throughout the disclosure while making reference to the features as illustrated in the drawings. The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an embodiment of an exercise device 100 for planche according to the present disclosure includes a frame unit 10, a support pad unit 20, an assistance unit 30, a height adjustment unit 40, and two grip units 50.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the frame unit 10 includes two side frames 11 that are arranged opposite to each other in a left-right direction (Z), and a front frame 12 that is connected to the side frames 11.

In this embodiment, each of the side frames 11 includes an upper crossbar 111, a lower crossbar 112, two guide rods 113 each of which interconnects the upper crossbar 111 and the lower crossbar 112, and two base position pins 114 that are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction (X) and that are mounted to the lower crossbar 112. The front-rear direction (X) is perpendicular to the left-right direction (Z). For each of the side frames 11, each of the base position pins 114 is formed with a position groove 115 (see FIG. 9).

The front frame 12 includes two posts 121 that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z) and that extend in an up-down direction (Y), and two height adjustment guide rods 122 that are located between the posts in the left-right direction (Z), that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z), and that extend in the up-down direction (Y). The up-down direction (Y) is perpendicular to the left-right direction (Z) and the front-rear direction (X).

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the support pad unit 20 is movably mounted to the frame unit 10 and movable relative to the frame unit 10 in the up-down direction (Y). In this embodiment, the support pad unit 20 includes a connection frame 21 that is movably mounted to the side frames 11 and movable relative to the side frames 11 in the up-down direction (Y), and a support pad module 22 that is mounted to the connection frame 21.

The connection frame 21 has a mount portion 211 that extends in the front-rear direction (X), and two side arm portions 212 that are connected to the mount portion 211.

The side arm portions 212 of the connection frame 21 are respectively and movably mounted to the side frames 11 and movable relative to the side frames 11 in the up-down direction (Y). In this embodiment, each of the side arm portions 212 of the connection frame 21 includes four rolling members 213 that are arranged in pairs. The pairs of the rolling members 213 of each of the side arm portions 212 of the connection frame 21 are respectively in rolling contact with the guide rods 113 of the respective one of the side frames 11.

The support pad module 22 includes a mount seat 221 that is mounted to the mount portion 211 of the connection frame 21, and three rollers 222 that are rotatably mounted to the mount seat 221 and that are arranged in the front-rear direction (X). The rollers 222 are for a user's body to abut thereagainst. In this embodiment, the rollers 222 may be at least partially made of a foam material.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 4, and 5, the assistance unit 30 is mounted to the frame unit 10 and connected to the support pad unit 20. The assistance unit 30 is operable to urge the support pad unit 20 to move upward.

In this embodiment, the assistance unit 30 includes a plurality of counterweight blocks 31 that are disposed on the front frame 12 and that are stacked along the up-down direction (Y), two pulley sets 32, two connection ropes 33, and an adjustment rod module 34. Each of the pulley sets 32 includes a start pulley 321 that is rotatably mounted to a respective one of the side arm portions 212 of the connection frame 21, two relay pulleys 322 that are rotatably mounted to the upper crossbar 111 of a respective one of the side frames 11, a high level pulley 323 that is rotatably mounted to the front frame 12, and a final pulley 324 that is rotatably mounted to the front frame 12. Each of the connection ropes 33 has a first end portion 331 that is connected to the start pulley 321 of a respective one of the pulley sets 32, a second end portion 332 that is connected to at least one of the counterweight blocks 31, and an intermediate portion 333 that interconnects the first end portion 331 and the second end portion 332. The intermediate portion 333 of each of the connection ropes 33 passes over the relay pulleys 322, the high level pulley 323, and the final pulley 324 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32 (i.e., the intermediate portion 333 of each of the connection ropes 33 at least partially surrounds the relay pulleys 322, the high level pulley 323, and the final pulley 324 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32).

In this embodiment, for each of the pulley sets 32, the relay pulleys 322 are higher than the start pulley 321 in the up-down direction (Y), and the high level pulley 323 is higher than the relay pulleys 322 in the up-down direction (Y). The final pulleys 324 of the pulley sets 32 are arranged coaxially and are located between the high level pulleys 323 of the pulley sets 32 in the left-right direction (Z). For each of the pulley sets 32, the final pulley 324 is slightly higher than the high level pulley 323 in the up-down direction (Y).

In this embodiment, the assistance unit 30 is used to provide an upward supporting force (F) (see FIG. 14) to the support pad module 22 of the support pad unit 20 in the up-down direction (Y). When the user selects a certain number of the counterweight blocks 31, the adjustment rod module 34 is operable to link the selected counterweight block(s) 31 so that the selected counterweight block(s) 31 may move together. The second end portions 332 of the connection ropes 33 are connected to the selected counterweight block(s) 31 via the adjustment rod module 34. The user may connect the second end portions 332 of the connection ropes 33 to different numbers of the counterweight blocks 31 to adjust magnitude of the upward supporting force (F). Weight of the selected counterweight blocks 31 is equal to the upward supporting force (F).

The height adjustment unit 40 includes two slide seats 41 that are respectively and slidably mounted to the height adjustment guide rods 122 and that are slidable relative to the height adjustment guide rods 122 in the up-down direction (Y), an operation module 42 that is mounted to the slide seats 41, and two level position subunits 43 that are respectively mounted to the posts 121.

Each of the slide seats 41 has a guide tube portion 411 that is slidably connected to the respective one of the height adjustment guide rods 122, and a connection tube portion 412 that is connected to the guide tube portion 411.

The operation module 42 includes an operation rod 44 that is rotatably mounted to the slide seats 41, two adjustment pulleys 45 that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z) and that are mounted to the operation rod 44, and two engagement hooks 46 that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z) and that are mounted to the operation rod 44.

Each of the level position subunits 43 includes a plurality of level blocks 431 that are spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction (Y) and that are mounted to the respective one of the posts 121.

The operation rod 44 has two rotation portions 441 that are respectively and rotatably mounted to the connection tube portions 412 of the slide seats 41, an interconnection portion 442 that interconnects the rotation portions 441, and two handle portions 443 that are respectively connected to the rotation portions 441.

The adjustment pulleys 45 are respectively and rotatably mounted to the handle portions 443 of the operation rod 44. In this embodiment, each of the adjustment pulleys 45 is located below the relay pulleys 322 of a respective one of the pulley sets 32 in the up-down direction (Y) and between the high level pulley 323 and the relay pulleys 322 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32 in the front-rear direction (X).

Each of the handle portions 443 of the operation rod 44 has an inner end and an outer end that are respectively proximate to and distal to another one of the handle portions 443 of the operation rod 44. Each of the engagement hooks 46 is fixedly mounted to the outer end of a respective one of the handle portions 443 of the operation rod 44 and is adjacent to a respective one of the adjustment pulleys 45. Each of the engagement hooks 46 is operable to engage a selected one of the level blocks 431 of a respective one of the level position subunits 43. It may be understood that, the user may disengage each of the engagement hooks 46 from the one of the level blocks 431 of the respective one of the level position subunits 43 when the user holds the handle portions 443 of the operation rod 44 to rotate the operation rod 44.

In this embodiment, the intermediate portion 333 of each of the connection ropes 33 extends downward to pass over a respective one of the adjustment pulleys 45 after passing over the relay pulleys 322 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32, and then extends upward to pass over the high level pulley 323 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32. That is to say, the intermediate portion 333 of each of the connection ropes 33 sequentially passes over the relay pulleys 322 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32, the respective one of the adjustment pulleys 45, and the high level pulley 323 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32 (i.e., the intermediate portion 333 of each of the connection ropes 33 sequentially and at least partially surrounds the relay pulleys 322 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32, the respective one of the adjustment pulleys 45, the high level pulley 323 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32, and the final pulley 324 of the respective one of the pulley sets 32).

As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, the height adjustment unit 40 is operable to adjust a height of the support pad module 22 of the support pad unit 20 in the up-down direction (Y) via the connection ropes 33. As shown in FIG. 6, when the user urges each of the engagement hooks 46 to engage a lowermost one of the level blocks 431 of the respective one of the level position subunits 43, the intermediate portion 333 of each of the connection ropes 33 is pulled downward by the respective one of the adjustment pulleys 45 so that the support pad module 22 of the support pad unit 20 is moved upward to a highest position. As shown in FIG. 7, when the user moves the height adjustment unit 40 upwardly and urges each of the engagement hooks 46 to engage an uppermost one of the level blocks 431 of the respective one of the level position subunits 43, the intermediate portions 333 of the connection ropes 33 are transiently loosened such that the support pad module 22 of the support pad unit 20 pulls the intermediate portion 333 of each of the connection ropes 33 and descends to a lowest position. Thus, the user may adjust a position of the support pad module 22 of the support pad unit 20 in the up-down direction (Y) to an appropriate position according to a length of the user's arm.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 8, and 9, the grip units 50 are mounted to the frame unit 10 opposite to each other in the left-right direction (Z), and are located below the support pad module 22 of the support pad unit 20 in the up-down direction (Y).

Each of the grip units 50 includes a base seat 51 that is disposed on a respective one of the side frames 11, an adjustment seat 52 that is disposed on the base seat 51, a handle 53 that is rotatably mounted to the adjustment seat 52, and two seat position pins 54. In this embodiment, the base seat 51 of each of the grip units 50 is operable to move relative to the respective one of the side frames 11 in the front-rear direction (X), and is adjustably positioned at the respective one of the side frames 11.

The base seat 51 of each of the grip units 50 includes an adjustment guide rail 511 that extends in the left-right direction (Z), and a side plate 512 that is connected to the adjustment guide rail 511.

The adjustment guide rail 511 of the base seat 51 of each of the grip units 50 is formed with a plurality of seat position holes 513 that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z).

The side plate 512 of the base seat 51 of each of the grip units 50 is formed with two dentate grooves 514 that respectively correspond in position to the base position pins 114 of the respective one of the side frames 11 and that extend in the front-rear direction (X), and has a protrusion block portion 516 that is for the user to hold. For each of the grip units 50, each of the dentate grooves 514 of the side plate 512 of the base seat 51 has a plurality of groove portions 515. For each of the side frames 11, the position groove 115 of each of the base position pins 114 engages a selected one of the groove portions 515 of the respective one of the dentate grooves 514 of the side plate 512 of the base seat 51 of the respective one of the grip units 50 so that the base seat 51 of each of the grip units 50 is positioned at the respective one of the side frames 11.

For each of the grip units 50, the adjustment seat 52 is operable to move relative to the adjustment guide rail 511 of the base seat 51 in the left-right direction (Z), and is adjustably positioned at the adjustment guide rail 511 of the base seat 51. In this embodiment, for each of the grip units 50, the adjustment seat 52 has a guide seat portion 521 that is connected to the adjustment guide rail 511 of the base seat 51, and a rotation seat portion 522 that is connected to the guide seat portion 521. For each of the grip units 50, the handle 53 is operable to rotate about an imaginary axis (L) (see FIGS. 8 and 9) that extends therethrough in the up-down direction (Y) and that extends through the rotation seat portion 522 of the adjustment seat 52 in the up-down direction (Y), and the rotation seat portion 522 of the adjustment seat 52 is formed with a plurality of handle position holes 523 that are arranged about the imaginary axis (L) (i.e., in a circumferential direction of the imaginary axis (L)). For each of the grip units 50, the guide seat portion 521 of the adjustment seat 52 has a lug 524 that is for the user to grab.

For each of the grip units 50, the handle 53 is operable to be positioned at the adjustment seat 52 in the circumferential direction of the imaginary axis (L). In this embodiment, for each of the grip units 50, the handle 53 has an abutment end portion 531, a rotation end portion 532 that is opposite to the abutment end portion 531 and that is rotatably connected to the rotation seat portion 522 of the adjustment seat 52, and a spring loaded pin 533 that is disposed on the rotation end portion 532. For each of the grip units 50, the imaginary axis (L) extends through the rotation end portion 532 of the handle 53, and the spring loaded pin 533 is operable to extend into a selected one of the handle position holes 523 so that the handle 53 is positioned at the rotation seat portion 522 of the adjustment seat 52.

For each of the grip units 50, the seat position pins 54 are operable to be inserted in the guide seat portion 521 of the adjustment seat 52 and selected two of the seat position holes 513 to position the adjustment seat 52 at the adjustment guide rail 511.

Referring to FIG. 8 and FIG. 10, when the user wants to adjust a position of the handle 53 of one of the grip units 50 relative to the support pad module 22 in the front-rear direction (X), the user may hold the protrusion block portion 516 of the side plate 512 of the base seat 51 and grab the lug 524 of the guide seat portion 521 of the adjustment seat 52 with two hands, respectively, so that the position groove 115 of each of the base position pins 114 of the respective one of the side frames 11 is disengaged from one of the groove portions 515 of the respective one of the dentate grooves 514 of the side plate 512 of the base seat 51 of the one of the grip units 50. Afterwards, the user may move the one of the grip units 50 in the front-rear direction (X) to a preferred position, and then release the base seat 51 and the adjustment seat 52 of the one of the grip units 50, so as to engage the position groove 115 (see FIG. 9) of each of the base position pins 114 of the respective one of the side frames 11 to another one of the groove portions 515 of the respective one of the dentate grooves 514 of the side plate 512 of the base seat 51 of the one of the grip units 50. The one of the grip units 50 is thus positioned at the respective one of the side frames 11 again. In this way, the user may adjust the position of the handle 53 of each of the grip units 50 in the front-rear direction (X) to an appropriate position according to the user's height and/or arm length.

The handles 53 of the grip units 50 are operable to move so as to adjust a relative position between the handles 53. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the user may rotate the handle 53 of each of the grip units 50 relative to the adjustment seat 52 of the grip unit 50 to adjust an angle between the handle 53 and the adjustment guide rail 511 of the base seat 51 of the grip unit 50 so as to adjust an angle between the handles 53 (i.e., an angular position of the handle 53 of each of the grip units 50 is adjustable), thereby training different muscles in the arms by different hand grip postures, and/or by changing an angle formed by the user's outstretched arms. As shown in FIG. 12, the user may urge the adjustment seat 52 and the handle 53 of each of the grip units 50 to move relative to the adjustment guide rail 511 of the base seat 51 of the grip unit 50 so as to adjust a distance between the handles 53 of the grip units 50 in the left-right direction (Z). Consequently, the user may adjust the position of the handle 53 of each of the grip units 50 in the left-right direction (Z) to an appropriate position according to the user's height and/or arm length. By virtue of the distance between the handles 53 of the grip units 50 in the left-right direction (Z) being adjustable, and by virtue of the angle between the handles 53 being adjustable, it is convenient for the user to train the muscles with different grips (e.g., a wider grip or a narrower grip).

Referring to FIG. 13, when the user uses the embodiment to train for a planche, the user may first lie on the rollers 222 of the support pad module 22 with his/her toes on the ground, push the support pad module 22 downward with his/her own weight, and grab the handles 53 of the grip units 50 with his/her arms bending. At this time, a portion of the counterweight blocks 31 that is selected by the user and that is connected to the connection ropes 33 (a total weight of the portion of the counterweight blocks 31 is usually less than the user's bodyweight) is lifted as the support pad unit 20 descends. Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, when the user exerts strength to straighten his/her arms and hold his/her body parallel to the ground with his/her toes off the ground (the user's legs are off the ground), the portion of the counterweight blocks 31 connected to the connection ropes 33 moves downward due to gravity to provide the upward supporting force (F), thereby causing the support pad unit 20 to rise and to assist the user in raising his/her body in the up-down direction (Y) via the support pad module 22 thereof. Consequently, the user may easily achieve the planche because a portion of the user's bodyweight is supported by the weight of the portion of the counterweight blocks 31.

It may be understood that, because the upward supporting force (F) is equal to the weight of the selected counterweight block(s) 31, when the user selects a larger number of the counterweight blocks 31, the upward supporting force (F) becomes greater, which makes it easier for the user to achieve the planche. Conversely, in order to enhance training effects, the user may select a smaller number of the counterweight blocks 31.

Through the above description, advantages of the exercise device 100 according to the present disclosure can be summarized as follows:

1. By virtue of the support pad unit 20 being connected to the assistance unit 30, the assistance unit 30 may provide the upward supporting force (F) to the user when the user uses the exercise device 100 to train for the planche. Therefore, the user may exert less strength. In addition, because the user's body is supported by the support pad module 22, a center of gravity of the user's body is more stable, which is helpful for the user to continuously hold the planche, thereby improving the training effects.

2. By virtue of the height adjustment unit 40 being operable to adjust the height of the support pad module 22 of the support pad unit 20 in the up-down direction (Y) via the connection ropes 33, the user may easily adjust the position of the support pad module 22 of the support pad unit 20 in the up-down direction (Y) to an appropriate position according to the length of the user's arm, which makes the exercise device 100 suitable for a wide range of users.

3. By virtue of the base seat 51 of each of the grip units 50 being adjustably positioned at the respective one of the side frames 11 and operable to move relative to the respective one of the side frames 11 in the front-rear direction (X), the user may adjust the position of the handle 53 of each of the grip units 50 relative to the support pad module 22 in the front-rear direction (X) to an appropriate position according to the user's height and/or arm length, which makes the exercise device 100 suitable for a wide range of users.

4. By virtue of the adjustment seat 52 of each of the grip units 50 being adjustably positioned at the base seat 51 of the grip unit 50 and operable to move relative to the base seat 51 of the grip unit 50 in the left-right direction (Z), and by virtue of the handle 53 of each of the grip units 50 being operable to be positioned at the adjustment seat 52 of the grip unit 50 at different angles, the user may adjust the distance between the handles 53 of the grip units 50 in the left-right direction (Z) and the angle between the handles 53 of the grip units 50, which is convenient for the user to train with different hand grip postures, different grips (e.g., a wider grip or a narrower grip), and/or different angles formed by the user's outstretched arms, which makes the exercise device 100 user-friendly and improves the training effects.

In summary, the exercise device 100 of the present disclosure may assist the user in achieving the planche with less strength, and help the user to continuously hold the planche, thereby improving the training effects. Moreover, the exercise device 100 is adjustable to suit different users, has a wide range of applications, and is user-friendly. Therefore, the purpose of the present disclosure is indeed achieved.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is (are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.