PHYSICAL EXERCISE MACHINE

Description

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention refers to a physical exercise machine, of the type commonly known as a reformer, for incorporating the technique used in physical exercises such as Pilates, normally practised on the floor, into a more intensive workout.

The machine, therefore, is of the type that includes a frame on which a horizontally mobile carriage works against the tension of springs, and which includes ropes connected to the carriage that pass through pulleys and finished off with loops that make it possible to carry out different types of carriage displacement exercises.

The invention incorporates several of the elements that make up the machine, such as a foot-securing bar, a tower that is connected to one end of the main frame, ropes that are connected to the carriage, a means of regulating the carriage travel limit as well as means for securing the user on the machine.

The invention therefore has multiple objectives, among which the following should be highlighted:

To provide a machine that includes a foot-securing bar with means of regulating both angle and position along the machine, in order to adapt the machine to different size users and to permit a greater number of exercises given the relative position of said foot-securing mechanism, and all this in an extremely comfortable and easy way.

That the accessories incorporated in the tower, adjustable along the vertical bars, can be safely immobilised without the risk of any accidental angular displacement.

To provide a machine that includes safe, low-maintenance, long-life, easily replaceable and dirt-preventing means of rope retraction.

To permit carriage displacement regulation in a physical exercise machine via its travel limit, machines commonly known as ‘reformer’, with the aim of incorporating the technique used in exercises such as Pilates, usually practiced on the floor, into a more intense workout, so that the carriage travel change facilitates an increase in the number of possible exercises to be performed with the machine, and so that the carriage does not suffer major knocks that might be transmitted to the user's body when it reaches the end-of-stroke, accomplished by means of a damping mechanism.

To provide a machine that includes a mechanism for securing the user, with means of adjustment along the machine, in order to adapt the machine to different size users, as well as allowing a greater number of exercises given the relative position of said support mechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Physical exercise machines are known that have a horizontal frame with longitudinal rails along which a carriage can slide against the tension of springs, a frame that includes a securing bar for hands and feet, as well as optionally a vertical column with a series of accessories to increase the number of possible exercises to be performed with the machine.

The carriage can be moved using the support of different parts of the body, offering great versatility of exercises.

As for the footbar, it is usually adjustable in angle to better adapt to the specific needs of each case.

Utility model ES 1077615 U describes an apparatus of this type, with the problem that in order to change the angular position of the foot-securing bar it is necessary to use both hands, requiring accessing the underside of the mechanism, involving effort and discomfort for the user.

A similar situation arises in the case of the machines described in documents ES 2343574 T3 and ES 2278594 T3.

At the same time, these types of machine are complemented by a vertical structure or tower with a series of accessories to increase the number of possible exercises to be performed.

These accessories need to be adjustable in height, for which purpose the tower comprises two vertical bars, of greater or lesser height, having a circular cross-section, along which a cylindrical bushing or collar can be displaced, to which the accessories in question are connected externally, so that said bushing or collar is stabilised at the desired height by means of a set screw.

The problem with this system is that the bushing or collar tends to rotate on the vertical bar itself, as both are cylindrical, possibly leading to incorrect arrangement of the accessories connected to the bushings, which might negatively affect the performance of the corresponding exercises.

Another problem with these types of machine is that, in some exercises, to displace the carriage ropes are used which are not always necessary, so while not in use they can pose a hindrance to the practice of other exercises.

At the same time, and with regard to the machine's carriage, whether because of the size of the user or the type of exercise to be performed, the carriage travel limit is not always appropriate, so it would be desirable to have a mechanism that would allow its position to be adjusted along the length of the machine.

Furthermore, as the carriage moves against the tension of the springs, when it reaches the end of its return stroke (back towards the springs) it knocks against an element that acts as a buffer, which, although it may be covered with an elastic material, such as rubber or foam, it is not sufficiently elastic to completely absorb the impact that may occur during this movement, so a large part of the energy generated on impact is transmitted to the user's body, with the corresponding risk of injury that this entails.

Finally, the extreme position of the footbar included in these types of machine is not always appropriate, so it would be desirable to have a mechanism that would allow the foot-securing means to be adjusted throughout the length of the machine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The proposed exercise apparatus, of the same type as those mentioned in the previous section, has a first novel characteristic, namely that the means of adjusting the positioning the U-shape footbar can be done comfortably, easily and simply with just one hand, additionally including means for selective positional adjustment throughout the longitudinal frame of the machine.

To do so, the ends of said bar have an oblong slot into which the pivot shaft of this bar sits, said shaft being connected to a spring which at one end is attached to this shaft, and at the other to the lateral arm of the footbar, in such as way that, to achieve the locking and corresponding angular fastening of the aforementioned footbar, a lug has been provided near the lower or free end of the arms of the bar that can be selectively inserted into a set of radial slots arranged for this purpose in an arched groove on a plate that is longitudinally displaceable on rails fixed to the sides of the chassis, duly stabilisable by means of the corresponding set screw so that, in order to unlock the position of this lug from the corresponding notch or slot, it is necessary to pull the bar against the tension of the spring which connects it to the fixed shaft and to position said lug in the arched groove from which the aforementioned slots protrude radially, position in which said lug can move at an angle to the desired position, so that once the user stops exerting pressure against the spring, the lug will lock into the desired position, leaving the bar perfectly stabilised and locked.

As well as being able to carry out this operation with one hand, it does not require bending down as much as with other existing systems, thus resulting in an easier, more comfortable and faster manoeuvre.

However, to adjust the longitudinal position of the footbar with regard to the machine frame, it is necessary to manipulate the corresponding set screws arranged on the parts that connect the footbar mechanism to the lateral rails of the chassis, which are provided with an alignment of holes in which to selectively position the aforementioned set screws.

This structure results in an extremely versatile machine, easy to handle/adjust to the needs of each user, ideal for performing a large number of physical exercises with greater physical intensity, achieving better results.

In accordance with another of the characteristics of the invention, the machine includes a tower in which the vertical bars of the tower have a polygonal cross-section, preferably octagonal, complementary to the internal cross-section of the bushings that constitute the locking collars for the tower accessories, which prevent the relative rotation between these collars and the corresponding vertical bars.

In this way, the correct relative position of the locking collars on the tower and consequently of the accessories connected to it, such as U-bars collapsible against the spring resistance, or other conventional accessories, is ensured at all times.

Another improvement in the machine of the invention refers to the inclusion of a mechanism for the automatic retraction of the ropes that are connected to the mobile carriage, which prevents them from being a hindrance when not being used

The mechanism takes the form of a cylindrical housing, open at the top, which is attached at this upper end to the underside of the carriage, in this way protecting the retraction mechanism on the inside, avoiding the accumulation of dirt and protecting the mechanism against knocks, while also making it safer for the users, increasing its useful life and requiring less maintenance which in itself is extremely simple as the mechanism can easily be detached from the carriage assembly for such operations.

More specifically, within the cylindrical housing there are two reels arranged on a shared vertical rotation shaft to which the rope ends are fixed, the reels being connected to the aforementioned vertical shaft by means of coil-springs which, when the ropes are not being pulled, make them rewind to the position of maximum retraction.

The ropes exit to the outside through two holes in the housing, the rest of the mechanism being completely concealed inside the housing.

The rope retraction stopper is defined by pulleys themselves incorporated in the fixed structure of the main frame, although in keeping with the front end of the underside of the carriage, there are additional stoppers onto which the ropes are hooked once they have been disconnected from the pulleys, so they are easily accessible from the carriage when they need to be used.

Another additional improvement offered by the machine of the invention is the inclusion of an end-of-stroke regulation and damping mechanism for its carriage.

More specifically, the longitudinal beams of the frame, whether made of aluminium or wood, include on their inner side a section with a longitudinal alignment of holes into which an element acting as a buffer can be selectively fitted, based on a lug insertable into the selected hole, finished off at the front end with a prolongation covered with an elastic material such as rubber or similar.

On the sides of the carriage and in relation to its underside, two damping mechanisms are included, designed to impact on the end-of-stroke as described above.

These damping mechanisms take the form of a housing which is screwed to the side end of the carriage opposite the springs, a housing in which a longitudinally mobile rod operates against the resistance of an internal spring, a rod disposed to emerging and inserting itself partially into the housing when its free end knocks against the end-of-stroke, against the resistance of the aforementioned springs, the free end also having an elastic covering such as rubber or similar, which defines the contact surface against the end-of-stroke.

In this way, not only is it possible to adjust the travel limit of the carriage in its rearward movement driven by the corresponding springs against which physical effort is exerted, but also to prevent the transmission of knocks to the body of the user on reaching the end-of-stroke, as this impact is slightly cushioned.

Finally, the machine optionally includes an adjustable support mechanism, where the frame beams include a rail that constitutes a longitudinal channel in which a platen with a horizontal groove at its free end is selectively movable, which serves as a fastening element for a transversal strap or belt that constitutes the means of support for the user's feet or another part of the body and which, obviously, is connected at the other end to a complementary mobile platen in the longitudinal channel on the opposite frame beam.

The aforementioned support for each of the platens that secure the ends of the user's support strap may be stabilised by means of a manually operated set screw.

In this way, the transversal strap supporting the user can be selectively positioned along the entire length of the frame of the exercise machine, depending on the type of exercise to be performed or the size of the user.

This structure results in an extremely versatile machine that is ideal for performing a large number of physical exercises such as Pilates with greater physical intensity, achieving better results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description given below and with the aim of providing a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in line with a preferred example of a practical embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes:

FIG. 1.—Shows a side perspective view of a physical exercise machine including a foot support mechanism made in accordance with the object of the present invention.

FIG. 2.—Shows a side profile view of the machine illustrated in the previous figure.

FIG. 3.—Shows an enlarged close-up of the machine at the point of the angular and longitudinal adjustment means for the footbar, in which the set screw has been removed so that the hole where it is housed can be seen.

FIG. 4.—Shows an overhead side view of a variant of a physical exercise machine that includes a tower made in accordance with the object of the present invention, in this case of considerable height, although this tower could also be of lesser height.

FIG. 5.—Shows a close-up of a detail on one of the vertical bars of the tower, where the octagonal cross-section of said vertical bar can be seen. Substitute Sheets (Cleaned) FIG. 6.—Shows a cross-sectional close-up of the vertical bar at the point of one of the height-adjustable collars along one of the vertical bars of the tower.

FIG. 7.—Shows an overhead side view of a variant embodiment of the physical exercise machine of the invention.

FIG. 8.—Shows an underside lateral perspective of the device of the previous figure.

FIG. 9.—Shows a perspective of the rope retraction mechanism in a single and inverted position.

FIG. 10.—Shows an exploded view of the element in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11.—Shows an underside perspective of a variant embodiment of the machine of the invention, which includes an end of travel regulation and damping mechanism for its carriage.

FIG. 12.—Shows an enlarged close-up of the element in FIG. 11 at the point of the mechanism.

FIG. 13.—Shows an overhead side view of a variant embodiment of the machine of the invention that includes a mechanism for securing the user in accordance with the object of the present invention.

FIG. 14.—Shows an underside close-up of the machine at the point of one of the adjustable platens that are connected to the transversal strap for securing the user, an element that is not shown in this figure.

FIG. 15.—Shows a side perspective close-up of the element in the previous figure.

FIG. 16.—Shows a plan view of the machine at the point of the fastening mechanism.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures shown, and in particular FIGS. 1 to 3, it can be seen how the mechanism of the invention is intended to be integrated in a physical exercise machine that includes a rectangular horizontal frame (101), generally provided with legs (102) at its ends, whose longitudinal beams include rails for horizontal displacement of a carriage (103) working against springs, a carriage (103) which includes shoulder pegs (104), possibly having at one of its ends a tower (113) with other accessories for other types of exercises, having a U-shaped foot bar (106) opposite said tower.

In accordance with the invention, the footbar (106) is attached to a system for adjusting the angular position of this bar, for which purpose, on the sides of the chassis, there are two plates (107) longitudinally mobile along rails (105) and provided with an orifice (110) into which a set screw (112) fits, which can also be selectively locked into an alignment of holes (111) provided on the external rail (105), thus allowing the longitudinal position of the mechanism attached to the footbar (106) to be adjusted at will.

For the angular adjustment of the footbar (106), on plates (107) there is an arched groove (109) that has a series of radial slots (109′) into which a lug (108) can be selectively fitted, finishing with the extremity of the lateral arms of the footbar (106), these arms having a slotted aperture (114) into which a shaft (115) housing all the parts (107), fits.

The lug (108) is designed to be selectively housed in one of the radial notches or slots (109′) and thus provide the secure locking of the footbar (106) or, positioned in line with the arched groove (109), to facilitate changing the angular position of the footbar (106).

For this purpose, the shaft (115) that fits into the slotted aperture (114) includes an attachment (116) that is connected to the side arm of the footbar (106) by means of a spring (117) that maintains the locking position for the footbar (106).

Consequently, to release the footbar (106) it is necessary to pull this bar backwards, against the resistance of the spring, until the shaft (115) comes up against the lower end of the slotted aperture (114), a position in which the lug (108) lines up with the arched groove (109) and can move along it, thus allowing the angular movement of the footbar (106). When pressure against the spring (117) is no longer applied, the lug (108) will gravitate towards its locking position in the radial slot (109′) to which it ends up facing, thus immobilising the mechanism, all this resulting in an operation that can be carried out comfortably using one hand, from the central piece of the U-shape of the footbar (106).

According to the variant embodiment of FIGS. 4 to 6, the machine is comprised of a rectangular horizontal frame (201), equipped with legs (203) at its ends, whose longitudinal beams (202) include rails for the horizontal displacement of a carriage (204) which has shoulder pegs, a frame (201) that has an adjustable footbar (205) at one end, the opposite end of the frame having a tower (206) with a range of accessories for performing other types of exercises, in such a way that said accessories are connected to the vertical bars (209) of the tower by means of locking collars (210) that can be stabilised by means of set screws (212), it being possible to connect the vertical bars horizontally by means of one or more crossbars (213).

These accessories, by way of example, may take the form of a U-shaped bar (207) which is hinged with respect to its own locking collars (210) which connect it to the vertical bars (209), and tends towards a horizontal position, being attached both above and below at the ends of its middle section by means of two springs (208) which are also connected at their opposite ends to locking collars (210) which are also adjustable in height along the vertical bars (209). This makes it possible to regulate both the vertical rest position of the ‘U’ bar (207) and the tension of the springs (208) to perform the exercises, depending on the greater or lesser vertical distance at which the locking collars (210) are placed with respect to said U-bar (207).

The layout on the horizontal plane of the locking collars (210) with respect to the vertical bars (209) is a determining factor for the correct functioning of the accessories connected to the tower, such as the case of the U-shaped bar (207), so that if any of said locking collars (210) were to rotate with respect to their intended operating position, the distribution of forces via the springs (208) would be unbalanced, and could even cause muscular injuries to the user.

To avoid this problem, and in accordance with FIGS. 5 and 6, both the cross-section of the vertical bars (209) and the interior cross-section (211) of the locking collars (210) have a polygonal configuration of at least five sides, preferably octagonal and complementary, which allows the locking collars to slide vertically along the vertical bars (209), provided the set screws (212) are released, preventing at all times the relative rotation on the horizontal plane of the locking collars (210) with respect to the longitudinal shaft of the vertical bars (209).

This ensures the correct positioning of the locking collars (210) at all times and, consequently, the correct functioning of the accessories connected to them, thus avoiding any malfunction that could cause injury.

Although in the example of a chosen practical embodiment, a pair of springs (208) is connected to the U-shaped bar (207) above and below by means of the corresponding locking collars (210); these elastic elements or springs (208) may be employed in greater or lesser number, to further increase the effort required to lower the U-shaped bar (207), without affecting the essence of the invention.

In the example of a practical embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, the physical exercise machine of the invention consists of a rectangular horizontal frame (301), provided with legs (302) at its ends, whose longitudinal beams include rails for the horizontal displacement of a carriage (303), which includes shoulder pegs (304), the frame (301) having at one of its ends a bar (305) which can be adjusted to different angular positions as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, and at its opposite end there is a tower (306) with additional accessories for other types of exercises.

As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, the carriage (303) resists its horizontal displacement by means of a series of elastic elements or springs (308) which connect it to one of the ends of the frame (301).

This makes it possible to exert a degree of effort to move the carriage, either by using the bar (305) as a support or by pulling a pair of ropes (309) which are attached to the underside of the carriage (303) and pass through a pair of pulleys (310) attached to upright bars (311) secured to one of the ends of the frame (301), specifically the end opposite the springs (308).

More specifically, one end of the ropes (309) finishes in loops (312) that can be used either with the hands or feet or even other parts of the body, while the opposite end is connected to a mechanism for the automatic retraction of the ropes, as shown in detail in FIGS. 9 and 10.

This retraction mechanism takes the form of a cylindrical housing (313) open at one end, where it has a perimeter flange (314) by means of which it rests on a base (315) provided with holes (316) to screw it to the underside of the carriage (303).

The cylindrical housing (313) has a pair of holes (317) through which the ropes (309) pass and wind onto reels (318) mounted on a common vertical rotation shaft (319), each reel being fastened to the shaft by means of coil-springs (307) which, when the ropes (309) are not being tensed, make the reel rewind to the position of maximum retraction.

As shown in FIG. 9, the shaft (319) protrudes slightly through a hole (320) in the base of the housing (313) in this way the assembly is immobilised by a cotter pin (321), with a spacer (322) being positioned between the two reels (318).

The arrangement of the reels in parallel on a shared shaft makes it possible to use larger coil-springs and consequently the rope retraction mechanism is less strained and less subject to fatigue, which results in a longer useful life of the device.

In keeping with the front end of the underside of the carriage (303) there are additional stoppers (323) onto which the ends of the ropes are hooked in the event that they become disengaged from the pulleys (310), being easily accessible at this side of the carriage but without being an obstacle.

In this way, the ropes (309) are fully retracted in rest position, avoiding being a hazard for the performance of other types of exercises which can be performed on the machine of the invention.

In accordance with the variant embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12, the machine includes a rectangular horizontal frame (401), generally fitted with legs (402) at its ends, whose longitudinal side beams include rails (406) the for horizontal displacement of a carriage (403), against the resistance of springs (404), and may be fitted with a footbar (405), as well as other accessories which are not the object of the present invention.

In accordance with the essence of the invention, the travel of the carriage in reverse movement caused by the springs (404) is limited and regulated by means of stoppers (408) which in this case are practicable, that is, their position can be changed by selectively inserting them into an alignment of orifices (407) provided along the rails (406).

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the carriage does not strike directly against said stoppers (408), but does so by means of a pair of damping mechanisms (410), comprising a housing which by means of screws (411) is attached to the lateral end (409) of the carriage (403), a housing in which a rod (412) moves longitudinally against the resistance of an internal spring. The free end of the rod terminates in an attachment (413), preferably covered with or made of an elastic material, intended to come into contact with the stopper (408) in the carriage reverse movement caused by the springs (404), so that on impact with said stopper (408) the rod (412) will retract against the spring provided inside the housing of the damping mechanism (410) absorbing much of the energy generated on impact, slightly limiting the force transmitted to the user, with the beneficial repercussions for health this entails.

In another embodiment not shown in the figures, the damping elements (410) and the stoppers (408) interchange their respective positions, the stoppers (408) in this case being located at the lateral ends (409) of the carriage (403) next to the positioning orifices (407), while the damping elements (410) are attached to the rails (406).

Likewise, and in order to ensure the reduction of impact as well as the noise produced as a consequence, the stopper (408) can be made of elastic material instead of the attachment (413) or both can be elastic.

The alignments of orifices (407) for the stoppers (408) may be provided in keeping with the rails (406) with the damping mechanisms (410) being located on both lateral ends (409) of the carriage (403), or with the alignments of orifices (407) being provided at the lateral ends (409) of the carriage (403), in which case the damping mechanisms (410) would be located on the rails (406).

With this structure it is possible to offer an extremely versatile physical exercise machine, adaptable to different size users and to different types and intensity of exercises depending on the selective arrangement of the stoppers (408), all in a way that is safe for the user's health, as the transmission of strong impacts on the user's body is avoided.

According to the variant embodiment of FIGS. 13 to 16, the machine has a rectangular horizontal frame (501), generally equipped with legs (502) at its ends, whose longitudinal beams (503) include rails (504) for horizontal displacement of a carriage (505), which includes shoulder pegs (506) and may have at one of its ends a tower (507) with other accessories to perform different types of exercises.

The carriage (505) resists horizontal displacement by means of a series of elastic elements or springs (508) that connect it to one of the ends of the frame (501), although in FIG. 16 these elastic elements appear detached from said frame (501).

However, in keeping with the longitudinal beams (503) of the frame, either independently or as an additional feature of the carriage (505) displacement rails (504) and clearly visible in FIG. 14, rails (509) are provided that define a blind groove into which an element (510) is inserted of a width corresponding to the internal width of said groove, element (510) from which a platen (511) protrudes having a horizontal groove (512) at its free extremity, and which constitutes a means of fastening a transversal strap (513), clearly visible in FIG. 16.

This transversal strap (513) is attached to both platens (511) in such a way as to constitute the means of securing the user in different positions along the frame (501) of the machine, and in order to stabilise the user each element (510) will include a threaded orifice accessible through the blind groove of the rails (509), into which a set screw (514) is inserted to stabilise said element and, consequently, the transversal strap (513) for securing the user, whether at the feet, the hands or another part of their body.

This structure, and as previously mentioned, the transversal strap (513) may be arranged in any position along the longitudinal beams (503) of the machine without interfering with any other functional element, in order to increase the degree of adaptability of the machine to different types of users, in addition to increasing the number of possible exercises to be performed with said machine.