ES2975938B2 - MACHINE FOR OUTDOOR BICEPS PHYSICAL TRAINING - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION

Outdoor biceps training machine

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is a new machine for physical training of the biceps designed specifically for outdoor use, such as in parks and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Outdoor sports are currently on the rise, with the use of bio-health parks being one of the most popular activities. These so-called bio-health parks are public areas with exercise equipment designed to promote physical activity and improve health. The exercise equipment typically used in bio-health parks is relatively similar to that used in gyms, although adapted for outdoor use. A machine adapted for outdoor use must be sufficiently resistant to both weather and vandalism, and must also be safe enough to allow unsupervised use by trained personnel.

An important difference between the exercise machines used in gyms and those used in bio-health parks is that the latter rely on the movement of body weight through a system of levers. The use of this type of mechanism is advantageous for manufacturers in this context due to the difficulty of designing weight towers similar to those in conventional gyms that are adapted for outdoor use.

A major drawback of this system is that it doesn't allow the load to be adapted to the needs and goals of each user, making it difficult to control the intensity and progression of training safely and effectively.

Furthermore, it is unusual to find equipment that focuses on the biceps (the main flexor of the elbow), since most involve movements that involve several parts of the body at the same time, which, combined with a lack of technical supervision, can lead to injuries.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The inventors of this invention have solved the aforementioned problems, as there was no existing machine for outdoor biceps training, and propose this new one. It is a machine for strength training the elbow flexor muscles in isolation by mobilizing a specific external load through a system of pulleys and levers instead of the body's own weight. This machine can be installed outdoors. This allows for training progression, optimizing the benefits that physical exercise can offer and training safety.

In this document, the directions “front” and “back” are interpreted based on the natural position of the user when using the machine of the invention.

The outdoor biceps training machine of the present invention is therefore configured to be connected to a weight tower located behind the machine, which allows for the selection of an external load to be moved. The weight tower is not the subject of this document and is therefore not described in detail here. The machine essentially comprises the following elements: post, seat, handles, and cable. Each of these elements is described in greater detail below.

a) Post

This is a post, typically square in cross-section, with a lower end configured for attachment to a rigid base. The post can be made of any weather-resistant material with sufficient rigidity, such as stainless steel or similar. Attachment to a rigid base, such as a small footing, can be achieved by means of an anchor plate provided with holes for screws or bolts, arranged at the lower end of the post. The post is configured for installation in a vertical orientation.

b) Seat

The seat is attached to a front side of the post to accommodate a forward-facing user with his or her back toward the front face of the post.

The seat can be configured in various ways, although it preferably comprises a horizontal plate and a vertical backrest. This seat can be attached to the post in various ways, although preferably two parallel bars are used, each having a lower end connected to a lower area of the post, a horizontal section facing forward, a 180° bend followed by another horizontal section facing backward to which the horizontal plate is attached, a 90° bend followed by an upward vertical section to which the vertical backrest is attached, and a horizontal section facing backward that is connected to an upper area of the post.

c) Handholds

The handles are arranged in front of the seat to be grasped by the user when seated. These handles rotate around two joints connected to a fixed structure attached to the post around horizontal axes parallel to a front face of the post. During use, the joints remain on either side of the user, thus allowing ergonomic movement of the forearm. The handles are also connected to a bar located behind the seat, so that when the handles move upward from an initial resting position to an actuated final position, the assembly consisting of handles and bar rotates around the joints, consequently moving the bar downward.

Preferably, the handles are L-shaped. This way, the user can grab one arm of the L that is oriented horizontally, parallel to the front face of the pole, to perform the exercise.

d) Cable

The cable is connected to the bar in such a way that, after passing through a routing assembly, it can be connected to the weight tower at its bottom. The cable is preferably made of steel and coated with plastic.

Thanks to this configuration, the movement of the handles from the initial resting position to the final position activated when the user pulls upward causes the cable to pull. In turn, the cable pull causes a set of weights arranged inside the weight tower to rise.

In principle, the cable routing assembly could be configured in various ways, provided that it is capable of guiding the cable from its connection to the bar to a connection point with the weight tower. In particular, according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the routing assembly comprises a first pulley fixed to the front face of an upper region of the post, a second pulley fixed behind the seat, and a third pulley fixed to the front face of a lower region of the post. Thus, the cable has a first section inclined upwardly and backwardly between its connection to the bar and the first pulley, a second section inclined downwardly and downwardly between the first pulley and the second pulley, a third section inclined backwardly and downwardly between the second pulley and the third pulley, and finally a fourth section passing essentially horizontally through the post from the third pulley to a cable inlet of the weight tower. Preferably, the cable is fixed to the bar by means of a hooking element arranged on said bar (7).

According to another particularly preferred embodiment, the machine of the invention further comprises a locking assembly configured to prevent the handles from rotating uncontrollably. This is important because it prevents potential harm to the user if, for example, the user releases the handles and the load applied by the weights of the weight tower causes them to return uncontrollably to their initial resting position.

In principle, the locking assembly could be implemented in different ways, although according to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the locking assembly comprises a fixed plate provided with a circular arc-shaped hole along which a rod fixed to the handle moves. In this way, the angular length of the circular arc-shaped hole restricts the permissible rotational travel of the handle, preventing it from harming the user.

Furthermore, the fixed structure could be implemented in a variety of ways, provided that it provides firm support that ensures that the joints remain at a fixed point at all times. For example, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the fixed structure comprises a first U-shaped bar, the ends of which are connected to the joints and the base of which is connected to an upper region of the post, and a second U-shaped bar, the ends of which are connected to arms of the first U-shaped bar and the base of which is connected to an intermediate region of the post.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 2 shows another perspective view of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 3 shows a profile view of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 4 shows a profile view of a central portion of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of the rear area of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of the area behind the seat of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of the handles of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the bar of the machine of the present invention.

Fig. 9 shows a perspective view of some of the guide pulleys of the machine of the present invention.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

An example of the present invention is described below with reference to the attached figures, which show different views of the machine (1) of the present invention. In general, with the exception of the post and some other additional elements, the components that make up the machine (1) of the invention are formed from stainless steel tubes welded together.

The machine (1) comprises a post (2) anchored to a footing arranged in the ground. The post (2) is anchored by means of a circular plate located at the lower end of the post (2) and provided with holes for screws, bolts or the like. The post (2) has a square cross-section with a thickness sufficient to withstand the stresses to which it will be subjected during its useful life, and is made of stainless steel.

From the lower part of the post (2) emerge a pair of parallel bars (10) which, in a first section, extend horizontally in a forward direction away from the front surface of the post (2). Once at a distance of approximately 80 cm or so from the post (2), both parallel bars (10) curve backwards and provide support for a horizontal plate (3a) of a seat (3). They then curve upwards to support a vertical backrest (3b) which also forms part of the seat (3), and finally they curve backwards again to be fixed to an upper portion of the post (2). This structure provides support for the seat (3) on which the user sits at a sufficient distance from the post (2) to provide sufficient space for the different elements of the mechanism.

A fixed structure (6) firmly attached to the post provides support for joints (5) with a horizontal axis parallel to the front face of the post (2). The structure is formed by a first U-shaped bar (6a) having the base of the U fixed to an upper area of the post (2) and the ends of the arms connected to the joints (5), and a second U-shaped bar (6b) having the base of the U fixed to an intermediate area of the post (2) and the ends of the U fixed to the arms of the first bar (6a). This structure (6) has sufficient rigidity to ensure that the joints (5) remain in position regardless of the force exerted by the user and the weights.

Each of the joints (5) is located on both sides of the seat (3), slightly forward of the backrest (3b) and at a height greater than the horizontal plate (3a). A U-shaped bar (7) with handles (4) at its ends is rotatably coupled to the joints (5) such that the bar (7) is located behind the backrest (3b) and the handles (4) are located on both sides of the user. When the user pulls up on a handle (4), the bar (7) correspondingly lowers, and this movement is used to pull a cable (8) to lift weights from a weight tower (100).

The joints (5) are further provided with a locking assembly designed to prevent the handles (4) from rotating uncontrollably if the user suddenly releases them while subjected to the force of the weights of the weight tower (100). The locking assembly comprises a fixed plate provided with a circular arc-shaped hole along which a rod fixed to a handle (4) moves, such that the angular length of the circular arc-shaped hole restricts the permitted rotational path of the handles (4). In this way, the handles (4) cannot rotate beyond certain established limits. The lower limit corresponds to a lower rest position of the handles (4), from which the user will perform the exercise. The upper limit corresponds to an upper position of the handles (4) slightly higher than the final actuated position reached by the user.

The cable (8) has one end fixed to a hooking element (11) arranged in the center of the base of the U-shaped bar (7). A steering assembly (9) directs the cable (8) from that point to a connection point of the weight tower (100) located at its bottom. To do this, the cable (8) has a first section in a diagonal direction upwards and backwards to a first pulley (9a) fixed to the front face of the post (2) in an upper area thereof. From this pulley (9a), the cable (8) has a second section oriented diagonally forwards and downwards to a second pulley (9b) fixed to a piece arranged behind the seat (3), at a height similar to that where the horizontal plate (3a) of the same is located. A third section of cable (8) leads diagonally backwards and downwards to a third pulley (9c) located at the bottom of post (2), from which it passes through the post (2) through a hole (not shown in the figures). The fourth section leads the cable (8) from this third pulley (9c) to the entrance to the weight tower (100).

Thus, when the user sits on the seat (3) and pulls up on the handles (4) to exercise the elbow flexor muscles, this causes the assembly formed by the handle (4) and bar (7) to rotate around the joints (5). This rotation causes the bar (7), to which the cable (8) is connected, to descend. This causes a pull on the cable (8) which, directed by the steering assembly (9), is transmitted to the entrance of the weight tower (100) to cause the desired weights to be lifted.

Claims (8)

1. Machine (1) for physical training of the biceps for outdoor spaces, characterized in that it is configured for connection to a weight tower (100) located behind that allows selecting an external load to be moved, where the machine (1) comprises: - a post (2) having a lower end configured for fixing to a rigid base in a vertical orientation; - a seat (3) on a front side of the post (2) to accommodate a user facing forward with his back facing said front face of the post (2); - two handles (4) arranged in front of the seat to be grasped by the user when sitting on said seat (3), where the handles (4) are rotatable around two joints (5) connected to a fixed structure (6) attached to the post (2) around two horizontal axes parallel to a front face of the post (2), the handles (4) being connected to a bar (7) located behind the seat (3), such that when the handles (4) move upwards from an initial rest position to an actuated final position, the bar (7) moves downwards; - a cable (8) connected to the bar (7) and which, after passing through a steering assembly (9), can be connected to the weight tower (100) at its lower part, in such a way that a movement of the handles (4) from the initial resting position to the final position activated when the user pulls it upwards causes a pull on the cable (8) which, in turn, causes a set of weights arranged inside the weight tower (100) to rise, characterized in that it also comprises locking assemblies to prevent the handles (4) from rotating in an uncontrolled manner, where each locking assembly comprises a fixed plate provided with a hole in the form of a circular arc along which a rod fixed to a handle (4) moves, such that the angular length of the hole in the form of a circular arc restricts the permitted rotational path of the handles (4). 2. Machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the steering assembly (9) comprises a first pulley (9a) fixed to the front face of an upper area of the post (2), a second pulley (9b) fixed behind the seat (3), and a third pulley (9c) fixed to the front face of a lower area of the post (2), where the cable (8) has a first section inclined upwardly and backwardly between its connection with the bar (7) and the first pulley (9a), a second section inclined downwardly and forwardly between the first pulley (9a) and the second pulley (9b), a third section inclined backwardly and downwardly between the second pulley (9b) and the third pulley (9c), and a fourth section that crosses the post (2) essentially horizontally from the third pulley (9c) to a cable inlet (8) of the weight tower (100). 3. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a hooking element (11) arranged on the bar (7) for fixing one end of the cable (8). 4. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the seat (3) comprises a horizontal plate (3a) and a vertical backrest (3b). 5. Machine (1) according to claim 4, wherein the seat (3) is fixed to the post (2) by means of two parallel bars (10) having a lower end connected to a lower area of the post (2), a horizontal section facing forward, a 180° bend followed by another horizontal section facing backward to which the horizontal plate (3a) is fixed, a 90° bend followed by an upward vertical section to which the vertical backrest (3b) is fixed, and a horizontal section facing backward which is connected to an upper area of the post (2). 6. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixed structure (6) comprises a first U-shaped bar (6a) whose ends are connected to the joints (5) and whose base is connected to an upper area of the post (2) and a second U-shaped bar (6b) whose ends are connected to the arms of the first U-shaped bar (6a) and whose base is connected to an intermediate area of the post (2). 7. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the handles (4) are L-shaped. 8. Machine (1) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cable (8) is made of steel and is plastic coated.