This invention relates to an exercise device known as a body weight exercise device or “suspension trainer”.
Such exercise devices have become popular and are generally based on gymnastic rings including an inelastic adjustable strap or rope centrally supported by an anchor that provides distribution between two arms of the strap or rope with a handle at an end of each opposed arms. Such an exercise device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,896. This device enables a wide variety of exercises to be performed where a user's weight provides resistance that may be varied by the angle of the user's body in relation to the floor and anchor point—the more upright the user stands the less resistance and the more the user leans their body away from the anchor point, the greater the resistance. The aforesaid exercise device disclosed in the U.S. patent is relatively easy to use and can provide a user with a full body workout.
However, the device of the said U.S. patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,896 has a number of disadvantages, namely:
1. Adjustment of the length of the strap is achieved by using individual, separate buckles located on each side of the strap between an anchor point and each handle. Thus, each side requires separate adjustment which is both difficult and time consuming to achieve equal strap lengths.
2. The device can be suspended only in line with the anchor point or mounting structure. If an anchor point or mounting structure is at right angles to the area in which a user wishes to workout, the device is twisted by 90° during use.
3. The minimum strap length achievable is limited to approximately half of the maximum strap length. Shorter lengths are not possible which limits the number of configurations and exercises that may be performed.
4. Because the strap is a single length, it can become tangled, especially when the exercise device is being packed for storage.
5. By virtue of using buckles, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,044,896, when the separate lengths of the strap are shortened, so the loosened portion may dangle into the exercise zone of a user and become tangled or become an annoyance.
WO2013/004734 overcomes some of these problems and discloses an inelastic strap that is wound around a shaft that is controlled by a ratchet wheel that has the rotation thereof governed by a pawl. Where two straps are utilised, each is wound around a separate, independent rotatable shaft, the shafts being connected together through a transmission.
The present invention seeks to provide a simpler construction which also at least partially mitigates one or more of the fore-noted problems.
According to this invention there is provided an exercise device including a single rotatable reel arranged to be selectably rotated against the bias of spring means in dependence upon manually operable locking means, said reel having a pair of inelastic straps arranged to be rotationally wound thereabout from opposite directions, whereby when the locking means permits rotation of the reel, pulling on one or both straps against the bias of the spring means causes the straps to be unwound evenly and reducing the pulling force below that of the spring means causes the straps to be contra-rotationally wound around the reel.
Preferably, the reel has a longitudinally extending diametric slot therein and an axle, wherein the straps are inserted through the slot from differing diametric locations and secured in overlapping manner about the axle.
Advantageously, the locking means comprises a toothed sprocket wheel attached to the reel and a spring biased manually operable shaft slideably mounted in a barrel, said shaft and barrel each having a cut-out therein disposed along a longitudinal axis thereof, said cut-outs having a width greater than a width of the toothed sprocket wheel, whereby the toothed sprocket wheel is arranged to locate through the cut-out in the barrel, and the shaft has at least a portion thereof having a full diameter sufficient to locate between the teeth of the toothed sprocket wheel, and translational motion of the shaft within the barrel permits the toothed sprocket wheel to rotate within the cut-outs of the barrel and shaft, or to have rotation thereof arrested by said full diameter of the shaft engaging between adjacent teeth of the toothed sprocket wheel.
Advantageously, the shaft is prevented from rotation within the barrel by a pin located transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shaft, which said pin engages within a diametric slot in the barrel.
Preferably, the device includes a swivel mount for attaching the device to support means.
Advantageously, the swivel mount includes a mechanism to permit the device to rotate through 360°, locking under load at 90° increments. Conveniently, an end of each strap remote from the reel is terminated with handle means which may include a karabiner.
Advantageously, door mount means is provided comprising a further strap having opposing ends thereof secured to a bar about which is located a pad, whereby the further strap is positional between a door and door frame, the mount means is locatable on one side of the door and the exercise device is attachable to the further strap means on an opposite side of the door.
Advantageously, a lashing strap is provided having a plurality of hoops formed therein, into each of which may be inserted a karabiner.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
In the Figures, like reference numerals denote like parts.
The exercise device 100 of this invention, shown in
Each strap 113a, 113b has a hoop 121 which is secured at a remote end by, for example, stitching or riveting or gluing, to handle means which may include a karabiner 114a, 114b. A manually operable push button 106 is provided to lock the extension of the straps 113a, 113b or to permit adjustment in the length thereof, as will be described later herein.
On an underside of the casings 101, 102 diametrically opposite the swivel mount 116 is a foot 115, preferably made of a rubber material.
Referring to the exploded view of
The reel bolt 105 also axially secures a toothed sprocket wheel 104 to the reel 103. Opposing ends of the reel 103 are mounted in annular ball race bearings 109, the bearings 109 being fixedly secured in the front casing 101 and the rear casing 102, respectively.
The reel 103 has a spigot 135 that extends through the rear casing 102 into a spiral spring unit 111, whereby the reel 103 is rotatable against the bias of a spiral spring within the spiral spring unit 111.
As shown in
In the operative position shown in
Thus, the reel 103 is able to rotate against the spring bias provided by the spiral spring unit 111 and, when rotated, the straps 113a, 113b are wound, or unwound, evenly, i.e. equally, in contra-directions on to or off the reel 103 at the same rate, in dependence upon whether or not the button 106 is pressed or released.
Thus, the desired length of the straps 113a, 113b is achieved by holding one or both strap ends and pressing and holding the button 106 against the bias of spring 110 to unlock the reel 103 by moving the cut-away portion 136 into registration with the sprocket wheel 104. As long as the button 106 is pushed inwardly of the casing 101, so the straps 113a, 113b can be adjusted to be longer by pulling them away from the casing 101, 102 and overcoming the spring bias of the spiral spring unit 111. Because the two ends of straps 113a, 113b are unwound centrally from the same point, so they are always adjusted evenly and at the same rate. When at the desired length, the button 106 is released to lock the reel 103 and the straps 113a, 113b are thereby locked at the predetermined length. If it is desired to adjust the straps to be shorter, then by holding one or both straps 113a, 113b and pressing the button 106, the spiral spring unit 111 recoils the straps 113a, 113b to wind them onto the reel 103 evenly at a rate which is controlled by the user.
Many different strap attachments and handles may be provided which are attached by the karabiners 114a, 114b. One such attachment is a handle with a foot strap 120, shown in
Referring to
In
Referring now to
It is to be understood that the lashing strap 119 may be used in conjunction with the door mount 122 and the ceiling/wall bracket 126 if extra length is required. The stitched hoops 121 allow for predetermined length adjustment so that the device 100 can be suspended at a desired height. The lashing strap 119 may also be used over frames or structures such as the beam B or a tree branch to provide an anchor point for the device 100.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1405865.5 | Apr 2014 | GB | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/GB2015/050924 | 3/27/2015 | WO | 00 |