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Gymnastic machineRelated Patent Categories: Exercise Devices, Involving User Translation Or Physical Simulation ThereofGymnastic machine description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070027001, Gymnastic machine. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a machine effectively usable for executing physical exercises. In general, this invention can have application both in gymnastic machines for the execution of exercises aimed principally at muscular development, and in machines set up for the execution of training of cyclical type, and therefore aimed principally at the development of resistance to prolonged exertion. In more detail the present invention relates to a gymnastic machine having at least one implement usable for the repeated execution of reciprocating movements over an open path through the use of an articulated device. [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0004] In the field of gymnastic machines there are known machines for the execution of exercises which involve/recruit a single muscle area; machines for the execution of exercises which recruit several muscle areas simultaneously or in succession, and for this reason are designated "functional"; and machines which enable the development of resistance to prolonged muscular exertion, by means of which it is possible to perform repetitive aerobic/cardiovascular exercises. Normally, machines of the first type are equipped with load units with counterweights, in which the exercise provides for the execution of a succession of eccentric and concentric efforts, while machines of the second type are equipped with load units which can exchange energy with the user continuously while he/she carries out a cyclical movement without break in continuity. Among the latter, the most widespread are stationary bicycles, treadmills for walking or running, so-called "steppers" for simulating a route with steps, and elliptical machines for walking and/or running on movable footboards on closed elliptical trajectories. [0005] Stationary bicycles, steppers and elliptical machines have load units designed to operate by absorbing the power exerted by a user, while treadmills may be either of the type actuated by a user, or motorized with an actuator which determines the delivery of power by the user. Steppers, also, are of the `floating` type, in the sense that the power transmitted to the load unit during the operation of the footboards determines the average height of the user's centre of gravity with respect to the base of the machine, and therefore influences the amplitude of the movement. [0006] Among machines for cyclical training, the gymnastic machine is known described with reference to Italian patent application no. RA2004A000044, filed on 16 Sep. 2004 by the applicant, whose text is incorporated for brevity, both with reference to the criticism of the prior art, and with reference to the description of devices usable for the execution of gymnastic exercises which imitate the typical movement of skating. In the description in application No. '044 by the applicant, the teachings are discussed of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,718,658 and 6,786,850, and the inventive concept is explained of an articulated device with crossed arms. This inventive concept leads to the construction of a machine having arms which at rest are mutually crossed, each of which supports a footboard usable by the foot of a user. Each footboard is constrained to rotate with respect to a fulcrum carried integrally with the free end of the corresponding arm through an articulated device fitted with asymmetrical levers owing to the necessity of limiting the longitudinal dimensions of the machine itself. Naturally this produces a significant complication in production, with a corresponding considerable economic impact, for example because of the need to produce asymmetrical frames, having fulcrum pins inclined differently. This aspect contributes to increasing the cost of the machine, particularly because of the numerous pieces of workshop equipment which must be provided in order to simplify production work, particularly in the case of small production volumes. In fact, it should be noted that in the case of specialist gymnastic machines such as the one in question, it is rare to reach production volumes sufficient to justify investment in automatic production plant, where the welding and the positioning of the portions to be rigidly connected to each other are carried out through the use of robotic tools. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] An object of the present invention is to create a gymnastic machine for the simulated execution of the movement of skating, having compact dimensions and free of the disadvantages described above. [0008] Another object of the present invention is to create a gymnastic machine having a high degree of structural symmetry and limited overall measurements in relation to the extent of the movement which may be carried out on it, in such a way as to simplify the production procedure and therefore allow the costs of production to be minimized. [0009] A further object of the present invention is to construct a gymnastic machine for the simulated execution of the movement of skating, which should be usable indifferently by users who are already practiced in the movements of skating, and by users who are not practiced in this movement. [0010] These and other objects of the present invention, which will become apparent hereinafter, are achieved by providing a gymnastic machine having a frame supporting a load unit and including an exercise station having at least one functional group mechanically connected to the load unit to exchange mechanical energy with the load unit. The functional group includes at least one articulated quadrilateral coupled to the frame, and an implement connected to the articulated quadrilateral and movable with respect to the frame to exchange mechanical energy with the load unit. The implement is shaped in such a way as to be interfaceable with a particular portion of an extremity of a user and is movable over an open path. Each articulated quadrilateral includes a first equalizer and a second equalizer carried rotatably by the frame around respective first and second axes and rotationally linked to each other by a connecting rod in line with respective third and fourth axes. The implement is coupled to the connecting rod in rotatable manner around a determinate axis. The machine includes means of restraint supported by the connecting rod to control, in use, the displacement of the implement relative to the frame. The means of restraint includes articulated means having a first lever integral with the implement in such a way that, in use, the implement is movable along the path according to a substantially curvilinear composite movement. [0011] The novel features of the present invention, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional advantages and objects thereof, will be best understood from the following detailed description of preferred embodiment, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The invention will now be described by reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting examples of its embodiment, in which: [0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, of the machine in FIG. 1; [0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic rear view, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, of the machine in FIG. 1; [0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic view seen from below, on an enlarged scale and with parts removed for clarity, of the machine in FIG. 1; [0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a front portion of FIG. 1 from a lateral point of view; and [0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a rear portion of FIG. 1 from a lateral point of view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0019] In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 indicates, in its entirety, a gymnastic machine having a frame 10 which supports a load unit 20 and an exercise station 30 arranged side by side. This station 30 is capable of exchanging mechanical energy with load unit 20 and has a group 31 of mechanical components articulated together, which include at least one articulated quadrilateral 32 coupled to the frame 10, and an implement 40 shaped so as to be interfaceable with a particular portion of an articular extremity of a user. In the example used to illustrate the present invention, it was decided to opt for a solution in which the extremity of a user is the lower one, therefore a foot, without this choice being considered limiting for the possibility of applying the invention itself to other articular extremities of a user. Each articulated quadrilateral 32 includes some mechanical members, which have been designated here and in what follows according to the terminology used in the field of general mechanics, to facilitate the interpretation of the text. In particular, each articulated quadrilateral 32 includes a first equalizer 33, coupled rotationally to frame 10 along an axis 36, a second equalizer 34, also coupled rotationally to frame 10 on an axis 37 and a connecting rod 35 linked to equalizers 33 and 34 by means of known rotational joints 38 and 39. Each implement 40 is coupled to the respective connecting rod 35 in freely rotatable manner around an axis 41 inclined in a particular manner with respect to a face 42 of footboard 40 itself, which defines a support plane of footboard 40, as will be better explained in what follows the present description. [0020] As is well-known, each point of each connecting rod 35 describes curves in space shaped in a particular way, whose conformation depends on the position of the point itself on the connecting rod 35. For example: curvilinear, convex or biconvex, and in particular, not just curvilinear shapes but even ovoidal or extended Fig.-of-eight shapes, and therefore having a crossing. Seeing that connecting rod 35 is suitably shaped and has the implement 40 coupled to it in a suitable position, the implement 40 itself is movable along a particular path P, visible in FIG. 2, which in the case in question is curved and open, as will be better described further on. For greater clarity, FIG. 2 shows the path of one of the two axes 41 of the rotational kinematic pair between connecting rod 35 and footboard 40 of the articulated quadrilateral 32 illustrated on the right in FIG. 2 itself. Continue reading about Gymnastic machine... Full patent description for Gymnastic machine Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Gymnastic machine patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Gymnastic machine or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Breaking plateaus multi-evaluation computerized weight-training log and system Next Patent Application: Exercise treadmill Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Gymnastic machine patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.12302 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
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