Patent Application
20250135267
The invention relates to a gymnastics ring with the basic shape of a rotation torus, which, in addition to being used for ring gymnastics, can be used for a variety of bodyweight exercises for fitness and strength training. As a versatile training device, the gymnastics ring is suitable for performing pressure, pulling and many other exercises. The invention also relates to a training system comprising the gymnastics ring.
A form of fitness and strength training that includes physical exercises and strength exercises performed using only your own body weight is known as calisthenics or calisthenia. Since a large number of muscle groups are regularly used during bodyweight training, calisthenics not only strengthens the individual muscles, but also the interaction between the muscles, the so-called intermuscular coordination. Muscular imbalances therefore occur less frequently than with conventional strength training. In addition to strength and endurance, calisthenics also trains mobility, sense of balance, body tension, body control and coordination as well as the deep muscles through balance exercises. With such exercises, healing processes can be significantly promoted as part of rehabilitation, for example after an operation.
The bodyweight exercises used for calisthenics include, among other things, elements from gymnastics. Weights and fitness equipment are largely avoided in this form of fitness and strength training. If at all, only simple aids are used, such as the bars, handles and rings used in gymnastics.
The sports equipment used in calisthenics includes the gymnastics rings known from ring gymnastics. These gymnastics rings-according to mathematical definition-always have the basic shape of a rotation torus created by rotating a base circle around an axis of rotation, whereby the base circle, i.e. the ring cross section, usually has a diameter in the range of 2 cm to 4 cm and a ring diameter in the range of 15 cm to 40 cm.
The essential feature of the gymnastics rings is the circular ring cross-section, i.e. the design as a simple rotation torus, which ensures that the athlete is not hindered by edges of the cross-sectional profile when gripping the gymnastics ring. This means that cross-sectional profiles other than circular shapes are not very suitable for ring gymnastics.
The conventional gymnastics rings for ring gymnastics are usually made monolithically from wood. In addition, gymnastics rings made of composite materials are also known, for example from DE 90 02 784 U1.
The sports equipment used in calisthenics also includes push-up handles, which can be used not only for performing push-ups, but also for other floor exercises, such as headstands, handstands and similar holding exercises. Such push-up handles are known, among others, from U.S. Pat. No. 3,115,338 A, DE 101 51 616 A1, US 2010/0279833 A1, US 809 615 S, US 302 195 S and US 2019/0 143 168 A1. They regularly have a handle that is attached to a support element to be placed on the floor.
An important aspect for athletes who practice calisthenics is that they want to carry out their bodyweight exercises as far as possible from any location. Sports equipment used in calisthenics should therefore be light, handy and easy to carry.
The invention relates to a gymnastic ring and a training system which can be used in a variety of body weight exercises for fitness and strength training in addition to ring gymnastics. The gymnastic ring comprises a torus shaped ring body (1) and a belt holder (6) for mounting a belt (5), wherein the belt holder (6) can be fitted within the ring body (1) in a form-fitting manner. As a widely applicable training device, the gymnastic ring is suitable for carrying out pushing and pulling exercises as well as many other exercises.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide sports equipment based on a gymnastics ring, which is as versatile as possible and can be used for various bodyweight exercises without additional aids or assistants.
This object is achieved by a gymnastics ring with the features according to claim 1 and the training system according to claim 13. Appropriate embodiments of the invention are described in claims 2 to 12.
The proposed gymnastics ring comprises a ring body which has the well-known basic shape of a rotation torus generated by rotating a base circle around a rotation axis. In the sense of the mathematical definition of terms usual for rotation torus, the ring body has an equatorial plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the ring body (or the rotation torus) and runs through the center of the base circle of the ring body (or the rotation torus). In the axial section, the ring body has the circular cross-sectional profile that is usual and necessary for gymnastics rings.
According to the invention, the gymnastics ring comprises a belt holder for holding a belt, for example on a belt sling. To fasten the belt, the ring body has at least one belt holder pocket formed within the ring body and aligned in the equatorial plane. The belt can be fixed in or on the ring body by means of the form-fitting insertable belt holder. The form-fitting connection is achieved by means of the belt holder pocket, which is geometrically suitable for the belt holder and is formed between the two ring body half-shells.
In the present context, a belt is any elongated, tensile, slack, flexible elastic element designed or suitable for carrying, securing or handling loads. These include, among other things, conventional webbing and ropes, but also chains, cables or other comparable load-bearing elements that can fulfill a similar purpose.
It can be provided that the ring body is divided into two separate ring body half-shells at the equatorial plane. It can preferably be separated into the two ring body half-shells at the equatorial plane, which acts as a dividing plane, for dismantling purposes. During assembly, the two ring body half-shells are either permanently connected to one another or releasably fixed to one another, for example by plug, dowel or screw connections. With dismountable design, the ring body can be dismantled again if necessary.
The gymnastics ring is particularly suitable for training with belted gymnastics rings, i.e. for hanging exercises similar to classic ring gymnastics. In contrast to the conventional belt attachment as a loop around the circular cross-sectional profile of the ring body, skin injuries that often occur during ring gymnastics, namely abrasions on the forearm are almost unavoidable with conventional belt routing, can be effectively suppressed by using the internal belt holder, i.e. for example with the belt end fastened between the ring body half-shells.
The gymnastics ring with a split ring body offers another advantage: the ability to easily integrate additional components into the ring body. These can include inserts for improved grip, electronic components for data acquisition, data evaluation and data communication as well as other add-on parts for expanding, changing and adapting the geometric outer surface.
The belt holder can, for example, be a rod-shaped element around which the belt is placed. The belt holder pocket in this case is a belt holder groove that geometrically matches the belt holder. The belt holder groove can, for example, also be formed on the inner radius of the ring body, so that the belt holder can be inserted into the belt holder groove and also removed without separating the two ring body half-shells. This means that the belt can be quickly attached to the ring body and removed again. When used, the belt holder is securely locked in the belt holder groove by the tensile loaded belt.
The belt holder can also be designed as a quick-release fastener in the form of a two-part locking system. A part of the belt holder, called the belt lock, is permanently installed in the belt holder pocket, while the other part of the belt holder, called the lock tongue, is attached to the belt. To fasten the belt, a portion of the lock tongue is preferably designed as a belt buckle, as a clamp buckle or as a clamp lock, through which the belt is guided in the form of a belt sling or belt loop. The lock tongue is designed in such a way that it snaps into the belt lock located in the belt holder pocket by inserting it, so that the locking end region of the lock tongue attached to the belt lies within the ring body, i.e. between the two ring body half-shells, after snapping in. In addition to creating a mechanical connection when the lock tongue snaps into the belt lock, electrical contacts can be integrated into the belt holder designed as quick-release fastener, which are closed when locked and can be used for data and power transmission.
To carry out exercises, the athlete regularly needs a set, i.e. a pair, of gymnastics rings. These two gymnastics rings are preferably designed to be mirror images of each other.
In terms of the size of the ring body, the gymnastics ring according to the invention preferably corresponds to the size of commercially available gymnastics rings. It can therefore easily be carried in standard sports bags.
A suitable material for the ring body is, for example, wood, especially birch wood or beech wood. Various plastics, fiber composite materials or metals, such as aluminum materials, can also be used.
The ring body can also have an internal hollow structure with stiffening elements, wherein the stiffening elements preferably forming a truss or framework within the ring body with cavities between the stiffening elements. Ring bodies designed in this way are characterized by a low weight and at the same time great mechanical stability and rigidity.
According to a preferred embodiment of the gymnastics ring, a bow handle is attached to the ring body in a cantilevered manner and at a distance from the equatorial plane of the ring body. The bow handle has a handle center piece located between two bow handle ends. It is also designed to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to a handle center plane that longitudinally intersects the bow handle.
According to this embodiment of the invention, the bow handle and the ring body are aligned or arranged with respect to one another in such a way that the handle center plane of the bow handle lies in an axial sectional plane of the ring body which runs through the axis of rotation of the ring body. This axial section plane of the ring body intersects the ring body at two radially opposite sectioning positions, in the area of which a fastening location is formed on the ring body for attaching one of the bow handle ends. The two bow handle ends are attached to the ring body in such a way that both bow handle ends point towards the same side of the equatorial plane of the ring body. This means that the bow handle is aligned transversely to the ring body and protrudes vertically from it. The respective end of the bow handle is positioned at its fastening location away from the surface of the ring body.
The belt holder pocket is preferably arranged centrally between the two fastening locations on the ring body. The bow handle, which is vertically aligned due to the longitudinal extension of the belt, can be used as an alternative handle element (instead of the ring body) when performing hanging exercises.
The distance of the handle center piece from the axial sectional plane is preferably larger than the diameter of the base circle forming the rotation torus, that is, larger than the ring body cross section.
The bow handle can be attached to the ring body in a detachable manner, for example by means of a plug-in and/or a screw connection, or in a non-detachable manner, for example by means of an adhesive connection. Preferably, the bow handle ends are designed to match the shape of the ring body, that is, the respective bow handle end and the ring body are geometrically coordinated with one another in the area of the fastening location. For this purpose, the ring body can also be slightly flattened in this fastening location area, that is, it can deviate from the circular cross-sectional profile of the ring body.
The gymnastics ring according to the embodiment with a bow handle is characterized in that, in addition to being used for ring gymnastics, it can be used for a number of bodyweight exercises, for example for holding exercises, similar to those that are commonly carried out on parallel bars. It can also be used as a push-up handle. The support formed by the ring body directs the weight forces on a circular contact line and thus largely evenly into the support surface (for example the floor) and thus ensures the safe and stable position required for the bodyweight exercises; The risk of tipping over or twisting an ankle during training is therefore greatly reduced. The bow handle also offers additional grip options that allow balancing on the floor. In addition, wrist-supporting hanging exercises can be carried out for the first time.
In addition, the gymnastics ring according to the invention itself, i.e. similar to a dumbbell, can be used for weight exercises, and additional weights can also be added to make the exercise more demanding. The water resistance exercises typical for rehabilitation purposes can also be carried out with the gymnastics ring.
The cross-section of the handle center piece is preferably dimensioned similarly to the ring body cross section, that is, the ring body and the handle center piece have the same or similar cross-sectional dimensions.
According to one embodiment of the gymnastics ring, the handle center piece of the bow handle is straight in its longitudinal extent. The straight handle center piece is preferably aligned at an angle of 83°±2° to the axis of rotation of the ring body, that is, the handle center piece is inclined by 7°±2° with respect to the equatorial plane. This enables training to be particularly gentle on the wrists.
According to another embodiment of the gymnastics ring, the handle center piece has a straight section in its longitudinal extent, which is aligned parallel to the equatorial plane. One of the handle ends is located at one of the end regions of the straight section, which extends approximately half the length of the handle center piece. Between the other end of the handle and the other end region of the straight section there is a transition section that is angled towards the straight section. The transition piece can also be ergonomically shaped.
It can be provided that at least the handle center piece of the bow handle has an oval or elliptical cross-sectional profile. Preferably, with an oval, i.e. egg-shaped, cross-sectional profile of the handle center piece, the side of the bow handle facing the ring body is more strongly curved and the side of the bow handle facing away from the ring body is less curved, that is, slightly flattened. The handle center piece with an oval or elliptical cross-sectional profile enables particularly ergonomic gripping of the bow handle. Other screw attachments can also be used for handle variations (for example a higher bow handle).
According to one embodiment of the gymnastics ring with a bow handle, the bow handle is divided into two parts along the bow line, with each part of the bow handle forming an integral component with one of the ring body half-shells. The ring body half-shells and the parts of the bow handle preferably have an inner hollow structure with stiffening elements, which, for example, form a truss or framework.
The same materials that are preferred for the ring bodies are suitable as the material for the bow handle. Preferably, the ring body and bow handle are made of the same material.
It can also be provided that the bow handle is releasably attached to the ring body with connecting elements hidden between the two ring body half-shells. For example, the bow handle can be screwed with screw connections from the inner surface of one of the ring body half-shells. The screw connections remain invisible to the outside and do not hinder training. In addition to screw connections, other separable connections, such as magnetic connections or locking hook connections, can also be used to connect the ring body half-shells. A permanent, non-separable connection, for example by gluing, soldering or welding, as well as a casting from a form-fitting upper body is also possible.
Alternatively, connecting elements can also be arranged specifically as a style element on the visible surface of the ring body, for example to enable easier opening of the ring body after production.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the gymnastics ring and the belt are components of a training system with a hanging ring body. The training system also has a belt adjustment unit connected to the belt holder, which in turn includes a clamp lock and a release belt. The training system is used as intended so that the ring body of the gymnastics ring hangs from the belt. The belt, which is fixed in the clamp lock at one end, the belt fixed end, is guided around a suspension (rod, hook, branch, etc.) located above the exercise position and the other end, the belt free end, is guided through the clamp lock. The double part of the belt between the suspension and the clamp lock forms the load-bearing part of the belt in the form of a belt sling or belt loop. The belt free end of the belt is guided through the clamp lock in such a way that when the load is applied via the belt holder—by means of a spring-loaded lock—the clamp lock automatically clamps the belt through friction or force fitting and fixes the belt length of the load-bearing belt sling through self-locking. This means that the belt is prevented from slipping through by the clamp lock. The belt free end of the belt is also guided in the clamp lock in such a way that a pull on the unloaded belt free end of the belt overcomes the clamping force and allows the belt to be pulled through the clamp lock towards the belt free end of the belt. This means that when the belt free end is pulled, the belt can be pulled through without the locking being unlocked, since the locking is designed in such a way that the frictional engagement in the clamp lock is overcome with little effort when the belt is pulled in the direction of the belt free end. The belt length of the load-bearing belt sling is thus shortened by pulling on the unloaded belt free end of the belt, which means that the belt adjustment unit hanging on the load-bearing part of the belt and with it the ring body attached via the belt holder can be pulled upwards in a stepless variable manner. The release belt of the belt adjustment unit is attached to the clamp lock in such a way that when the release belt is pulled, the self-locking of the belt is released by unlocking the lock, which in turn moves the clamp lock continuously along the belt respectively the belt free end is pulled through the clamp lock towards the belt sling side. This increases the belt length of the load-bearing belt sling, which means that the belt adjustment unit hanging on the load-bearing part of the belt and with it the ring body attached via the belt holder can be pulled downwards in a stepless variable manner. The belt adjustment unit makes it possible to continuously adjust the height of the ring body to a height desired for the sport to be practiced by either pulling on the unloaded belt free end of the belt or on the release belt. In particular, by changing the length of the belt sling, the ring body or the ring bodies can be brought to a height that is higher than the length of the athlete with his arm stretched upwards, that is, the athlete can practice hanging with his arms stretched out without touching the ground. The load-bearing length of the belt can be adjusted solely by the athlete without any aids. The proposed belt adjustment unit can also be used advantageously for fine adjustment of the gymnastics rings, which usually hang next to each other in pairs, to the same height.
The belt adjustment unit can be motorized, that is, it is equipped, for example, with an electric motor for belt adjustment. The control can be implemented via a remote control (for example using a smartphone) or via a control unit integrated into the ring body. Furthermore, a pressure sensor can also be integrated into the belt adjustment unit.
Preferably, the belt adjustment unit is attached to the belt holder designed as a quick-release fastener, with the belt adjustment unit being integrated into the part of the belt holder known as the lock tongue. This version of the training system is suitable for quickly switching between hanging and floor exercises.
The training system may further include a retractor mechanism for rewinding the belt.
In addition, the training system can be provided with a skin-protecting device that largely prevents skin contact with metal parts during training.
The belt adjustment unit of the training system preferably has an internal belt guide, which ensures optimal sliding of the belt and locking it in the desired position. For this purpose, the belt can, for example, have a stiffener at the end piece. Herewith, the belt slides largely in a straight line through the belt adjustment unit. It also prevents the belt tip from rolling back or pointing in the wrong direction.
In the gymnastics ring, a number of components, in particular electronic components, can be integrated if they can be divided into the ring body half-shells. For example, a number of different sensors, actuators and processors can be installed in the ring body and/or in the bow handle.
Acceleration sensors, rotation rate sensors and magnetometers, also combined within an inertial measurement unit (IMU for short), are used to detect movement, to determine the position in space, to determine the belt length and/or to determine the relative position of the gymnastics rings of a pair of rings. Capacitive sensors can be used for presence or user detection. They are also suitable for establishing a connection or detecting gymnastics rings used as a pair, also known as “pairing”. Pressure or force sensors, for example strain gauges or piezo force transducers, can be used, among other things, to determine the athlete's weight, the mechanical load and, if the time course is also recorded, to determine the number of exercises. Heart rate sensors are used to detect the athlete's exertion and other physiological parameters. Using integrated luminosity sensors, brightness control for integrated display elements can be carried out.
According to an embodiment of the gymnastics ring with a bow handle, the gymnastics ring can have a pressure sensor at at least one of the fastening locations between the ring body and the bow handle end of the bow handle that attaches to this fastening location. The pressure sensor can be used to record the loading and/or unloading of the gymnastics ring. A transmission unit connected to the pressure sensor for wireless signal transmission of the signals detected by the pressure sensor is also installed in the gymnastics ring. The transmitted signals can be sent to a display and evaluation unit, for example a smartphone, in order to visualize the signals as real-time feedback, for example during training, and if necessary, also to analyze them after training. This embodiment of the gymnastics ring makes it possible to record training data, for example the number and quality of push-ups or dips. The athlete can therefore concentrate more on the qualitative execution of the exercises and at the same time achieve the quantitative training goal without having to count.
It can also be provided that a position sensor is installed within the gymnastics ring, preferably within the ring body between the ring body half-shells. The position sensor is set up to detect the orientation of the gymnastics ring in space, that is, in relation to the effect of gravity, the earth's magnetic field and/or another absolute positioning or orientation reference. The detected signals can in turn be connected to a transmitting unit connected to the position sensor for wireless signal transmission. By evaluating and monitoring the position of the ring body, the athlete can specifically optimize their posture during training.
RFID transponders, near field communication chips (NFC) or other components for radio signal transmission can also be integrated into the gymnastics ring, for example for owner recognition, theft detection, establishing a connection or coupling with a mobile phone, with small computer systems that are worn directly on the body (wearables)—such as smartwatch, fitness tracker, data glasses—or can be used with another gymnastics ring.
The gymnastics ring can also include various feedback or feedback components, for example illuminants, indicators or displays for visual feedback, speakers for acoustic feedback or vibration motors for haptic feedback.
The illuminants can be, for example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), LED strips or
LED arrays. They are used, among other things, for aesthetic adjustment, for personalization, for identification, for issuing training instructions and training progress, as a pacemaker, for displaying the system status and much more.
Furthermore, the gymnastics ring can include processors for processing the data collected via the sensors.
It can also be provided that the gymnastics ring has inlays or inserts made of elastomer, for example rubber or silicone rubber. For example, two elastomer handle parts can be connected both separably and inseparably to the handle center piece of the bow handle. For this purpose, pockets can be embedded in the handle center piece into which the elastomer handle parts are inserted.
The invention is explained in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and with reference to the schematic drawings, where the same or similar features are provided with the same reference numerals; show this
The two gymnastics rings according to the first embodiment according to
The gymnastics rings of the first embodiment, which are attached to the belts 5 in pairs and mirror images next to one another as shown in
In
According to
Four through holes are made at the fastening location 3, through which the screws 10 for fastening the bow handle 2 are guided through the ring body half-shell 1.1. Similar to a washer, the reinforcement plates 8 inserted between the ring body half-shells 1.1, 1.2 serve as a support for the screw head of the screws 10.
The curved, rod-shaped belt holder 6 is guided through the belt loop formed at the end of the belt 5. The belt holder 6 is then inserted between the two ring body half-shells 1.1, 1.2, with the belt holder 6 lying in a form-fitting manner in the belt holder groove 7 and the belt 5 in the belt holder pocket 4. This creates the internal belt fastening mechanism illustrated in
The drawings in
The two ring body half-shells 1.1, 1.2 of the ring body 1 are connected with pin connections. One of the pins 9 used for this is designated as an example. The ring body half-shells 1.1, 1.2 can be connected separably or inseparably.
While the ring body 1 is designed largely identically, the belt holder according to
The side view in
Further variants of the belt holder are shown in
The belt holder according to the third embodiment of the gymnastics ring shown in
According to the fourth embodiment of the gymnastics ring shown in
When the belt 5 is guided through the belt holder pocket 4, the belt holder 6 snaps into the belt holder groove 7 in this position and thus locks the (tensile loaded) belt 5 in the ring body 1. The belt 5 can be used in the embodiment of the belt fastening mechanism shown in
A belt fastening mechanism with similar functionality is shown in the fifth embodiment of the gymnastics ring in
The belt holder according to the sixth embodiment of the gymnastics ring shown in
The training system with hanging ring bodies 1 according to
The functionality of the training system according to the embodiment of
In
According to the
The pulling down of the ring body 1 attached to the clamp lock 11 is illustrated in
The ring body 1 according to
The ring body half-shell 1.1 of the ring body 1 according to
In the gymnastics ring according to
In the gymnastics ring according to
The two ring body half-shells 1.1, 1.2 of the ring body 1 according to
The gymnastics ring according to
The gymnastics ring according to the training shown in
In
In
The embodiment of the belt adjustment unit according to
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202022103942.9 | Jul 2022 | DE | national |
This application is the U.S. national stage of International Application No. PCT/DE2023/150020, filed on 2023 Jul. 12. The international application claims the priority of DE 202022103942.9 filed on 2022 Jul. 13; all applications are incorporated by reference herein in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/DE2023/150020 | 7/12/2023 | WO |
