Multifunctional exercise equipment with a rocking pedestal and ball-jointed handle members

The present invention relates to field of the exercise equipments. More specifically, it refers to a new multifunction equipment for carrying out different types of gymnastics and reeducation exercises for all the parts of the body.

There are known multifunction gymnastics equipments comprising - among other components - a pedestal with a seat, possibly slidable, and a couple of posts, standing on the pedestal and supporting at the free ends respective disk-shaped rotors with handles for being gripped by a user sat, or arranged in any other way, on the seat. The handles are fixed at the relevant rotor in an off-center position with respect to the rotation axis, integral to the post. In this way, the user makes to rotors spin by means of a rhythmic reciprocating movement of the arms, somehow similar to that required for turning a winch, possibly assisted by, and combined with, a cyclical flexion of the spine.

The object of the present invention is to provide an equipment which, although generally similar to the one briefly described above, is remarkably more effective, dynamic, and versatile, namely as to the possibility of most adequately fitting the physical characteristics of any user, as well as his needs and muscular/articular capabilities.

This object is achieved with the exercise equipment according to the present invention, comprising a pedestal, sitting means supported by said pedestal, and at least a couple of handle members standing at two opposite sides of said pedestal, for being gripped at a top end by a user arranged on said sitting means, characterized in that said pedestal has a curved base so as to permit the rocking thereof around an intermediate axis, normal with respect to said opposite sides on which said handle members are arranged, and in that said handle members are bar-shaped structures hinged to said pedestal via respective ball joints.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pedestal defines a top plane on which the sitting means are slidably mounted, thereby the user can assist the manual action on the handle members with a spine flexion movement. The handle members, besides being extensible in a telescopic way in order to adjust the height of the grip, can in their turn be mounted so as to be displaceable over the pedestal, possibly also along an arc-shaped structure projecting sideways from the pedestal, coplanarly to said top plane of the same. The handle members can also be provided with further, respective, ball joints nearby the top ends so as to permit a further hinge of the grip with respect to the body of the handle member.

Features and advantages of the multifunction exercise equipment with a rocking pedestal and ball-jointed handle members according to the present invention will be apparent from the following description of embodiments thereof, made purely as an example and not limitative, with reference to the attached drawings in which:

• figure 1 is a side view of the exercise equipment according to the invention;
• figure 2 is another side view of the equipment, from the opposite side and a more elevated point of view with respect to the previous figure;
• figure 3 shows, in the same way of figure 2, a different embodiment of the equipment according to the invention; and
• figures from 4a to 4f show further embodiments of the equipment, exemplifying some types of uses, with the assistance of various auxiliary implements.

With reference to figures 1 and 2, the exercise equipment according to the present invention comprises a pedestal 1, having a metallic network structure, essentially formed by a top frame 1a and two base arc-shaped beams 1b, projecting along respective longer sides of the top frame 1a, in a direction which is orthogonal to the plane where the same frame lies. The arc shape of base beams 1b clearly lets pedestal 1 rock around an axis X parallel to the ground plane, said axis being oriented crossways (that is, orthogonally to the longer sides of frame 1a), and in a substantially intermediate position.

Pedestal 1 supports a seat 2, in the depicted embodiment consisting for instance of an adjustable ergonomic stool, of a type known as such, with a sitting board 2a and a front support 2b for the knees of the user, connected in a stable manner to the longer sides of the frame 1a in an intermediate position, that is to say substantially in correspondence to the rocking axis X.

Frame 1a also supports two handle members 3, in a frontally displaced position, for being gripped by a user arranged on seat 2 when extending his arms forwards. The handle members 3 stand on respective longer sides, at points transversally in-line, close to the front shorter side of frame. Each handle member 3 essentially consists of a bar 4, connected in a stable manner (but reversibly, for instance by means of a screw system) to the frame at the lower end via a ball joint 5 that permits a free articulation of the bar in any direction. Bar 4, thanks to a telescopic structure with a locking system, not visible, may be adjusted in length. It can also be provided with rings 4a, for attaching auxiliary elastic straps aimed at increasing the resistance that hinders the articulation of member 3 around joint 5, as will be made clearer shortly.

The top end of the bar is the one precisely designed for allowing the grip by a user, and to such purpose it is provided with a knob 6 for assisting the manual clutch and making it more comfortable. In the example, the knobs 6 are integral with the body of the member, that is to say to bar 4. However, knobs 6, or analogous grip means, can be in their turn articulated to the bar by means of respective, further ball joints. In this way, thanks to a further internal articulation, the degrees of freedom of movement of the grip point are increased.

The user, gripping the handle members 3 and driving them according to predetermined and coordinated sequences, may then carry out with his arms generally circular or elliptical movements, linearly reciprocating, zigzag, winding movements and many others, all with the utmost variety, freedom and dynamism. All the muscles and articulations of the body can be actually involved, all the more so if one considers that the rocking pedestal urges the assistance of the balancing action of the lower part of the body: muscles and articulations of the abdomen, of the pelvis and of the lower limbs.

With reference now to figure 3, in a different embodiment the ball joints 5 at the base of the handle members 3 are mounted, rather than directly on the frame 1a, on brackets 7 which are slidable and lockable in a desired position along the whole periphery of frame 1a. Moreover, there can be provided an auxiliary, generally arc-shaped structure lying coplanarly to frame 1a and suitable for allowing the displacement of the handle members even at a sideways increased distance from the user. In the example of figure 3, said structure simply consists of a couple of arc-shaped rods 8, projecting outwards from the longer sides of frame 1a. Thanks to such solution, besides further increasing the range of movements and exercises that can be carried out (considering also the possibility of an asymmetrical placement of the two handle members), a further advantage is achieved in terms of adaptability of the equipment due to the different anthropometric characteristic of the user.

With reference now to figures from 4a to 4f, the invention is suitable for several further embodiments of the equipment, with the pedestal 1 that can be used for supporting various auxiliary implements. In figures from 4a to 4c there can be noticed how, in an equipment substantially analogous to the embodiment of figure 3, the seat 2 has been removed and replaced by an inflatable sphere 12, simply laid over a circular ring, not visible, coplanar to the frame 1a, and integral or slidable with respect to the same frame. Sphere 12 provides for a sitting which is clearly less stable than seat 2, and as such advantageously usable for training the balance and increasing the proprioceptive sensibility of the user.

Again in figures from 4a to 4c, besides ball-jointed knobs 6 at the top end of bar 4 as mentioned above, two fixed uprights 13 integrally stand on pedestal 1 for being gripped at the top ends; the fixed uprights can be used as an auxiliary support, brace or abutment. Finally, the two longitudinal ends of pedestal 1 comprise two hinged structures that can be pivoted downwards in an adjustable manner, so as to abut on the ground plane and provide a limit to the extent of the rocking, or even for preventing the same.

Turning to figures from 4d to 4f, in this case the seat 2 is replaced by a slidable platform 22, supported by longitudinal sliding guides formed in the frame 1a and made available precisely by the removal of seat 2. The movement of the upper limbs can then be coordinated with exercises requiring the flexion of the trunk and/or of the lower limbs, even similar to those which can be carried out in a rowing simulation apparatus. The rowing action can be personalized by suitably adjusting the height of handle members 3 or even, as shown in figure 4e, by detaching the same members from pedestal 1, and screwing them back on supplementary supports 23, designed to this purpose, projecting sideways from the pedestal in a pivotable and elastically hindered manner. As can be seen in figure 4f, the movable lateral supports 23 may be used not only for the rowing movement, but also for exercises involving the lower limbs.

Further auxiliary devices/supports - as such belonging to the prior art or in any case having an obvious configuration - can be mounted on the base structure of the equipment, namely the oscillating pedestal 1, in order to make its versatility even greater. For example, there can be provided a weight-lifting tower with pulleys and elastic cable systems, in its turn provided with pedals and/or support boards, all the above mainly intended for use by the lower limbs, with exercises that can be carried out by the user arranged in a suitable position over an appropriate seat.

It is then apparent that the equipment according to the invention, with respect to similar solutions in the prior art, results advantageous in terms of versatility, dynamicity and adaptability to the user. The freedom of movement offered by the ball joints, advantageously displaceable over the pedestal, permits to drive the handle members in all the directions and inclinations, without being restrained by predetermined trajectories. In summary, the movement is not conditioned, because the articulations are not forced to follow an obliged trajectory, differently than equipments in which the trajectory can not be changed during the same movement. The versatility is also a result of the different positions that the user may assume (standing, sitting, on his knees, lying on his back, etc.) always finding an advantageous interaction with the handle members, of the rocking support of the pedestal so as to combine the training of the limbs with a work on the balance and on the proprioceptive sensibility, and also of the possibility of associating the equipment with a variety of auxiliary implements.

The equipment according to the invention is particularly suitable for prevention and reeducation exercises of the whole body: in fact, if in case of a healthy articulation (with particular reference to the arm and shoulder) the handle members will be driven with wide range movements, an articulation that has suffered an injury will adapt the movement naturally to its possibilities. The movements/exercises that can be carried out with equipment, in addition to the traditional physiotherapy, will be derived more generally from, and be introductory to, disciplines like dancing, yoga, tai chi chuan and similar.

Variants and/or modifications can be brought to the multifunction exercise equipment with a rocking pedestal and ball-jointed handle members according to the present invention without departing from the scope of the invention itself.