Gymnastic apparatus

The present invention relates to a gymnastic apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a gymnastic apparatus is known and comprises a rigid bar, which has at least two gripping areas for manual holding by a user. There are also at least two elastic ropes fitted to end regions of the bar.

Such gymnastic apparatuses enable the user to perform numerous exercises, such as are carried out for invalid or patient gymnastics or in the fitness studio. Such exercises increase endurance, strength, the coordination capacity and the fitness of a user.

An object of the invention is to provide a gymnastic apparatus making it possible to perform difference exercises. As a function of the user, the apparatus must allow gymnastic exercises to take place with different expenditures of energy.

This object is achieved by the gymnastic apparatus having the features of claim 1.

Preferred developments of the inventive apparatus form the subject matter of the dependent claims and are also explained in the description, particularly relative to the drawing.

The gymnastic apparatus of the aforementioned type is inventively further developed in that for the detachable fastening of the ropes to the end regions of the bar fastening means are provided, that the fastening means are set up for manual release and attachment of the ropes by a user, so that for different gymnastic exercises ropes with a first elasticity can be replaced by ropes with a second elasticity, different from the first elasticity, by a user of the gymnastic apparatus.

This further development is based on the finding that it is expedient to use ropes having different elasticities for different exercises. As a result a gymnastic apparatus is provided, which can e.g. be rapidly converted into a gymnastic apparatus for a different user with a different physical strength.

It is an essential advantage of the invention that a gymnastic apparatus of the aforementioned type is provided, which permits training possibilities with corresponding expenditure of energy for users having different strengths.

A further advantage of the invention is that the gymnastic apparatus can be used more easily compared with the prior art.

The elastic ropes can in particular be rubber ropes or bands. The vital point is the elastic properties of the materials. The ropes consequently act in the manner of expanders. It is fundamentally possible to use for this purpose known elastic materials and semifinished products.

In a particularly preferred development of the invention the gymnastic apparatus can be split up into at least two parts, so that the gymnastic apparatus can be easily transported and packed away by a user.

In the case where the gymnastic apparatus is split up into two or more parts, this can take place with the aid of a screw coupling, a locking plug connection and/or a bayonet joint. These three variants allow a rapid splitting up or a rapid assembly of the gymnastic apparatus and are also inexpensive to manufacture.

In another preferred variant the bar of the gymnastic apparatus is made from an aluminium tube and/or a plastics material, particularly a glass fibre composite. It is advantageous that such a bar is light, robust and inexpensive to manufacture.

For some gymnastic exercises it is particularly advantageous if the end regions of the bar can be rotated relative to the gripping areas. In a variant such a rotation only takes place within a limited angular range. In a further variant there can be a complete rotation by 360° about the bar axis. This increases the number of exercises which can be performed and increases the range of uses of the gymnastic apparatus.

For better gripping of the gymnastic apparatus the bar gripping areas have in a preferred embodiment of the invention a rubber sleeve. It is also possible to use other materials, such as e.g. plastics, cork or corrugated metal. The gripping areas can be given a shape facilitating easy manual holding of the bar.

In another preferred variant of the invention at least one of the fastening means with which the ropes are fastened to the end regions of the bar is constituted by a spring hook. This allows a rapid release and refastening of the rope to the particular end region of the bar. Particularly if ropes having a different elasticity have to be frequently changed, such spring hooks are advantageous. For example, a spring hook fitted to the rope is fastened to a ring fixed to the gymnastic apparatus bar.

In another embodiment of the invention the ropes are so fitted to the bar that they can be rotated about the same, i.e. about the bar axis. This allows gymnastic exercises in which the ropes are rotated about the bar axis without said ropes winding round the bar, which would lead to undesired rotational forces on the bar. If the ropes are fitted in rotary manner, it is e.g. possible to perform exercises where two loops are held by the user\'s feet and the bar is freely moved with both hands. The ropes can be rotated about the bar within a given angular range or also by 360°.

In another preferred variant the gymnastic apparatus has pairs of ropes with different lengths and/or different strengths. This makes it possible for an individual user to perform different exercises or for the users with different physical conditions to perform the same exercise.

In another embodiment, for each rope there is at least one loop and preferably several, especially two loops. The gymnastic apparatus can be very advantageously used both with and without loops. When used without loops, the loose rope end of the apparatus can be fastened by knotting in dwellings, e.g. to door or window handles, so as in this way to enable exercises to be performed. If loops are used it is in particular possible to perform exercises where the loops are held by hands or feet. The presence of at least two loops per rope can be advantageous for certain gymnastic exercises.

Additionally or alternatively it is e.g. possible to in each case fit a loop to one or both end regions of the bar.