This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to Swedish Patent Application No. 0950821-9, filed on 3 Nov. 2009, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a training machine for strength training and rehabilitation of the kind described in the preamble of claim 1.
Previously known training machines of the kind mentioned above include most known training machines where the user loads the muscles intended in its body by performing predetermined movements so that weights in a weight stack are lifted or lowered. At efficient training with both single-joint movements, such as by a biceps curl machine or a leg kick machine, and with multiple-joint movements, such as by a rowing machine, a bench press machine or 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. The positive work implies that weights are being lifted and the negative work implies that weights are being lowered.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,189, a training machine is described which consists of a weight stack which is articulated at the bottom by means of pivots arranged on each side of the weight stack. Hence, the entire weight stack may be moved between a vertical position and a predetermined inclined position by means of a motor being able to turn one of the pivots. In the inclined position, the positive movement is performed as it will be “lighter” for the user to lift the weights in the weight stack. When the user has moved the weights to an end position, the weight stack is moved to its vertical position, wherein it will be “heavier” for the user in the negative movement to return the weights to the original position. Then, the same cycle is repeated a number of times. In the construction described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,189, the motor has to be very powerful to be able to lift the weight stack from the inclined position and up to the vertical position. In addition, a considerable force is required to keep the stack in the inclined position after the movement from the vertical position. Such a construction has to be oversized to a very large extent to last during the life of the machine.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,611 a training machine is described wich is turnable between different positions to effect different forces in the positive and negative movements. This machine is very complicated with regard to its construction and also to its function.
A training machine is known through WO 2007/037755, at which pivots for a turnable weight stack are arranged at the centre of the weight stack, wherein a motor at the lower end of the stack is arranged to push the stack between a vertical position and a predetermined inclined position.
GB-A-2227676 describes a device for increasing the weight at a machine to enable that the machine can be loaded additionally, without the need of exchanging weights, so it can be used by both beginners and well-trained persons. This exchange takes place by means of an additional device with a lever system and a gas spring and may be performed between the exercises. Thus, one person will not be able to change the mass of weight considerably during use.
To change the load with the machine described in the preamble together with a device according to GB-A-2227676 described above, the user must take a break and change the mass of weight by means of the additional device. However, this implies that an optimal training cannot be achieved without it being possible to reduce the total weight of the machine.
The object of the present invention is to provide a training machine of the kind mentioned in the preamble, at which the drawbacks with known machines mentioned above can be overcome and which is simple with regard both to construction and function.
The object is achieved with a training machine which has the features according to the characterizing portion of claim 1.
Preferred embodiments of the training machine according to the invention have the characteristics set forth in the sub-claims.
By varying the load so that the positive cycle will be lighter to perform, i.e. a smaller force is required to lift the weights than to lower them during the same movement cycle, the training person can lift a larger number of weights than is possible with a normal machine. Possibly, a training session can alternatively be performed in such a manner that a person can perform lifts more times than previously with the same number of weights.
The problems with conventional training machines where one lowers and lifts the same number of weights is that such a training machine do not consider the negative—the lowering force is larger than the positive one—lifting force. Consequently, the efficiency of such a training machine is limited. At the training with conventional training machines the number of weights has to be chosen in accordance with the weaker, lifting force. The same number of weights is then lowered at the negative portion of the movement. This number of weights is not on a level with the negative force.
With the training machine according to the invention, the negative force can be practised with a more optimal weight. The result will be that the fatigue rate of the muscle trained increases. With this invention, it is possible to stimulate a capacity improvement with a less training amount than at training with conventional training machines. Scientific studies have proved that training where the weight is adapted to the negative force gives a quicker and larger strength growth than training where the weight is adapted to the positive force.
By mounting the motor above the horizontal centre of the frame supporting the weight stack, specially at the upper end of this frame, a smaller motor may be used to move the weight stack between the vertical position and the predetermined inclined position, and vice versa.
The invention will below be described more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show a preferred embodiment.
In
A horizontal beam 11 is via vertical beams 12a, 12b fixedly connected to a beam, not shown, arranged between the beams 6, 7 and the frame construction 13 of the training section. The lower end of the inclined beam 5 is fixedly connected to the beam 11. The parts included in the frame construction of the training machine 1, which parts are firmly connected to each other, are advantageously welded to each other to achieve a stable construction, which will stand high loads with respect to both tension and pressure loads and vibrations.
Two parallel, substantially vertical guide bars 14 and 15 are at their ends attached to the frame 8 at the top and at the bottom. Weights 16, 16a run along these guide bars 14 and 15. The weights have besides openings for the guide bars also a centre opening for a lifting bar 17 (see
The equalization device 29 with the additional belt 34 has in a known manner been mounted to equalize the power from the arms of the training person at loading towards the arms 42 and 43 of the machine, which accordingly do not need to be moved away from the person by the same distance to achieve effect. This depends on the fact that a person is often not equally strong in both right and left arm.
At the opposite upper ends of the arms 36 and 37, linkage arms 37 and 39 are mounted, which are movable in all directions, e.g. by means of a ball-and-socket joint. The arms 38 and 39 are in turn at their other ends in all directions freely movably connected to couplings 40 and 41 mounted on pull and press arms 42 and 43, which in turn are freely turnably journalled at their upper ends on the frame construction 12 at 44 and 45, respectively. Handles 46 are provided at the lower ends of the arms 42 and 43. The turning arms 36 are journalled on a common through shaft 47, which is attached to the frame construction 13. The turning arms 36 are freely journalled independent of each other on said shaft 47. A stop 47a restrains the movements of the turning arms in one direction of rotation. In
A person which is to train with the strength training device 1 according to the first embodiment of the invention sits down on the chair 52 and grips the handles 46 of the arms 42 and 43, as may be seen from
At the embodiment shown of the training machine according to the invention, described above, it is achieved that the training person may either lift more weights than is possible with a normal, previously known machine, or lift more times with the same weight as was earlier used.
The training machine according to the invention may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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0950821 | Nov 2009 | SE | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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4600188 | Bangerter et al. | Jul 1986 | A |
4609189 | Brasher | Sep 1986 | A |
4765611 | MacMillan | Aug 1988 | A |
5336148 | Ish, III | Aug 1994 | A |
5749813 | Domzalski | May 1998 | A |
6482135 | Ish et al. | Nov 2002 | B1 |
20070149367 | Thulin | Jun 2007 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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2227676 | Aug 1990 | GB |
2007037755 | Apr 2007 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20110105284 A1 | May 2011 | US |