Patent Application
20100234198
The present invention is related to a foot plate device for a training machine, especially a leg press, for strengthen training and rehabilitation of the kind which is defined in the pre-characterising portion of claim 1.
The training machine known as leg extension machine has a foot plate device with a foot plate surface against which the user presses his feet when exercising. The general leg extension machine has a weight stack with weights whereas the user selects a weight package to be lifted, normally consisting of a selected number of weights from the top of the rack. The weights are then lifted by means of a non-elastic wire or belt.
Such leg extension machines with foot plate devices are, e.g., disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,081, U.S. Pat. No. 6,605,024, U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,715, U.S. Pat. No. D 438,918, US 2006/020957 and US 2004/0009857. In these known training machines of the leg extension kind having a foot plate and used for anaerobic training the user exercises intended muscles of the legs by performing pre-determined movements so that a weight package of a weight stack is lifted or lowered. At efficient training with double-joint movements, as by means of a leg press machine, it is important that the user of the machine can perform a number of positive and negative working cycles intended for the personal capacity of the training person. The positive work means that weights of the selected weights of the weight stack are being lifted and the negative work means that selected weights are being lowered.
Most of the known machines have a foot plate which is mounted in such a way that the ankles of the user are loaded because the foot plate, upon which the feet of the user rests, does not follow the natural movement of the bent leg, i.e., automatically keeping the right ankle angle through the exercise, thereby possibly causing injuries and premature exhaustion.
The object of the present invention is to provide a foot plate device for a training machine of the type mentioned above which sets aside the above mentioned problems.
The object is achieved by means of a foot plate device having the characteristics defined in the characterising portion of claim 1.
Preferred embodiments of the invention have been given the characteristics which are apparent in the sub claims.
When a person lowers and lifts a selected number of weights of a weight package, no consideration is taken to the fact that the angle between the calves and the feet when moving the feet backwards and forwards on the foot plate. By means of a foot plate device according to the invention the feet can move to take the most desired position in relation to the lower part of the leg (crus) which will spare leg joints, as the knees, from injuries. The fact is that the knees can be subjected to shearing stresses in a leg press which can lead to grave consequences. A training machine with a foot plate device according to the invention results in that the user carries out a more natural movement during the exercise. The device is applicable to all kind of sizes of users.
The invention is described in the following with reference to the appended drawings showing a preferred embodiment.
In
The foot plate device 2 comprises a substantial planar portion 18 provided with two ribbed foot zones 18a, b and on each lateral side thereof a flange 19, 20. A Y-formed curved arm 21 is at the bottom end thereof fixed to a substantial cylindric member 22 through which a shaft 22a extends. The shaft 22a is journalled in flanges 23 fixed to beams 12 and 13 of the frame. A pulley 24 is journalled between two flanges 25 fixed at approximately the mid section of the curved arm 21. A non-elastic wire or belt 26, preferably made by the material Kevlar®, is fixed at the frame at 27 and thereafter led around the pulley 24 and back parallel to the first part of the belt and to a power transmission device 28 which is best illustrated in
The belt 26 is fixed at 34 in a recess 35 in the circumference of a disc 36 which is fixed to a shaft 37 of the transmission device 18. At the other end of the shaft 37 a similar disc 38 is fixed with a recess 39 in the circumference thereof. A further non-elastic wire or belt 40, preferably made by the material Kevlar®, is fixed at 41 in the recess 39 of the disc 38. This belt 40 is led over not shown pulleys to the weight stack 8. The discs 36, 38 are journalled in bearings in brackets 41 and 42 which are fixed to the frame of the machine 1.
At least one damper 43 can be provided on the flange 19 facing the weight section 4 to prevent the foot plate 18 to vibrate when a user presses his feet to make a positive force movement or to resist the pressure from the increased load at the negative force movement without starting to shake. A further damper (not shown) could be provided if necessary on the opposite flange 20 on the foot plate 18. It should be noted that the foot plate 18 can be tilted in a comfortable way even without any damper. A stop 44, preferably of an elastic durable material is provided at the end of a shaft 45 which is fixed to the beam 14 of the frame of the machine 1.
As illustrated in
Reference number 49 denotes a selection device to select a desired group of weights of the weight stack 8 to be lifted. Reference number 50 denotes shields, preferably made of transparent plastic mounted around the weight section 4 to protect the user or other persons from injuries due to the movement of the frame portion 7 and the weight stack 8. Reference number 51 denotes handles to be hold by the user during the exercise.
Although one embodiment is disclosed in the description and drawings, the training machine according to the invention can be modified within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0950139-6 | Mar 2009 | SE | national |
