FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an apparatus that enables Pilates exercises to be performed in a pool or in similar places.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, in the field of gymnastics training in the water of a pool, Pilates exercises in water are also proposed, both free-body and with the help of floating equipment.

The discipline of Pilates, which was developed in the early twentieth century by Joseph Pilates, combines movements and positions with deep mental concentration on the body and breathing during performance of the exercises.

Pilates exercises are more effective if they are performed in water as the muscles are able to work several times more than in air, improving muscular oxygenation. Further, the resistance offered by water helps maintain the positions of Pilates exercises more stably.

Pilates exercises in water are very suitable for persons with osteoarticular problems inasmuch as the exercises performed in water entail a load on the lower joints that is less than for exercises performed on the ground.

For these reasons, it is desirable to improve the exercises that can be performed in the water of a pool, in view of the advantages that this entails. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to propose an apparatus that enables Pilates exercises to be performed in a correct and guided manner in the water of a pool. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This object is achieved by an apparatus for performing Pilates exercises in a pool according to the first claim.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to better understand the invention, a description is given below of a non- limiting exemplary embodiment thereof, illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

fig.1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for performing Pilates exercises in a pool according to the invention;

fig.2 is a perspective view of the apparatus of fig.l provided with an accessory; figs 3,4 show the use of the apparatus of fig. 1 for performing Pilates exercises in a pool;

fig.5 shows the use of the apparatus of fig. 1 with the accessory of fig. 2 for performing a Pilates exercise in a pool;

fig.6 shows the apparatus of fig.l with the accessory of fig.2 modified.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus for performing Pilates exercises in a pool of fig.l is indicated generally with 10.

With reference to the operating position, the apparatus 10 provides a structure composed of two shaped tubular elements 11, which are vertical and parallel to one another, joined by a horizontal support base 12 in an intermediate position and composed of a bar 41 in a lower position.

The tubular elements 11 are curved in the upper part and have at the upper ends two respective flanges 13 drilled for fixing the apparatus 10 to an edge of the pool. In a lower position, below the support base 12, from the tubular elements 11 two further respective tubular elements 14 extend horizontally that have at the free ends two respective flanges 15 for resting the apparatus 10 on a side wall of the pool.

A pedal 16 is provided in a lower position that is hinged on the two tubular elements 11 so as to rotate between a closed position and an open position. The pedal 16 is composed of a support bar 16A and of two bars 16B hinged at one end on the bar 41 and are fixed at the other end to the support bar 16A.

The tubular elements 11 have a series of connection points 17 to which accessories commonly used for Pilates can be fixed removably, such as springs, elastic bands and the like. Similarly, for the same purposes, the support base 12 has two opposite connection points 18 in a lower position, and the pedal 16 has two opposite connection points 19 on the support bar 16A.

In the illustrated embodiment, to two opposite connection points 17 of the tubular elements 11 the ends of two respective springs 20 are anchored that are provided with respective handles 21 at the other ends; to the connection points 18 of the support base 12 and to the connection points 19 of the pedal 16 the ends of two parallel respective springs 22 are anchored.

In fig.2, the apparatus 10 is provided with an accessory composed of an L-shaped tubular frame 30 having a horizontal part 31 and a vertical part 32.

The horizontal tubular part 31 of the frame 30 is releasably coupled with the tubular elements 11 by pins that are inserted into special holes corresponding to the connection points 17, placed at different heights, of the tubular elements 11 and that are locked by nuts.

The vertical tubular part 32 of the frame 30 is intended to rest on the bottom of the pool and is provided with telescopic legs 42 for adjusting the height of the frame 30 with respect to the bottom of the pool and maintain the frame 30 in the correct position. To the horizontal tubular part 31 of the frame 30 a carriage 33 is fitted slidably on guides. A series of parallel springs 34 is fixed at one end to the horizontal part 31 and at the other end to the carriage 33. To the carriage 33 two opposite vertical pegs 35 are fixed. Then two belts 36 are provided that wind partially around respective pulleys 37 fitted to the vertical tubular part 32 of the frame 30; an end of each belt 36 is fixed to the carriage 33 whereas the other end of the belt 36 is provided with a handle 38.

On the tubular elements 11 a U-shaped tubular element 39 is hinged that can rotate between a raised position and a lowered position and is provided with connection points 43 for removably fixing accessories for Pilates such as springs, elastic bands and the like.

In figs 3,4, the way of use of the apparatus 10 is illustrated in a pool indicated by P.

In fig. 3, the person performing the Pilates exercise is sitting on the support base 12 of the apparatus 10 and is partially immersed in the water of the pool P. The hands of the person maintain a grip on the knobs 21 and the exercise performed by the person concerns the extension of the arms to oppose the elastic resistance of the springs 20 and the flexion of the arms with the help of the elastic return of the springs 20.

In fig. 4, the person performing the Pilates exercise is standing up and is partially immersed in the water of the pool P. The person holds with the hands the tubular elements of the apparatus 10, rests a foot on the bar 16A of the pedal 16 and performs the extension of the corresponding leg with opening rotation of the pedal 16 to the outside of the apparatus 10 opposing the elastic resistance of the springs 22 and the flexion of the leg with closing rotation return of the pedal 16 to the inside of the apparatus 10 with the help of the elastic return of the springs 22.

In fig.5, the way of use of the apparatus 10 is illustrated with the additional accessory illustrated in fig.2, in the pool P. The person performing the Pilates exercise is stretched out on the carriage 31 with the shoulders resting on the pegs 35 and is immersed in the water except the head, which is kept raised by a special headrest 40. The feet of the person are inserted into the handles 38 and the exercise that the person performs relates to the extension of the legs with movement of the carriage 31 away from the edge of the pool P opposing the elastic resistance of the springs 34 and flexion of the legs with movement of the carriage 31 approaching the edge of the pool P with the help of the elastic return of the springs 34. The U-shaped tubular element 39 can be used in combination with the slidable carriage 33 as footrest, for performing exercises in a lying down position on the carriage. The U-shaped tubular element 39 can be further used in general to perform exercises with the legs or with the arms.

In fig. 6, a version is shown of the frame 30, in which the springs 34 are removed, the carriage 33 is slid to the end of the frame 30 at the vertical part 32 and in combination with the carriage 33 a table 44 is fitted to the frame 30 consecutively to the carriage 33. The carriage 33 and the table 44 form a single resting plane that extends over the entire length of the frame 30.

In the apparatus illustrated in fig. 6, the person can lie down or sit on the resting plane formed by the carriage 33 and by the table 44 and perform different types of exercise. The U-shaped tubular element 39 can be used to perform exercises with the legs or the arms. For example, in order to perform the exercises, in the first case the person places himself or herself in a lying down position and rests the soles of the feet on the horizontal part of the tubular element 39, whereas in the second case the person places himself or herself in a sitting position and grasps the horizontal part of the tubular element 39.

Those illustrated in figs 3-5 are merely examples of exercises that are performable using the apparatus 10 with or without the accessory, but it is obvious that it is possible to perform a large number of Pilates exercises in the pool with the apparatus 10 with or without the accessory.

The advantages of the apparatus 10 with or without the accessory is that the exercises are performed in a correct and guided manner, as occurs in exercises in air with apposite machines as are now provided in all gyms. To this, the advantages are added of performing the exercises in water as seen in the introduction.

It should be emphasised that the apparatus 10 also acts as a pool ladder. In fact, the tubular elements 11 constitute handrails and the support base 12 constitutes a ladder step. In this manner, the person who has to perform Pilates exercises uses the apparatus 10 as a ladder to enter to water, after which the person uses the apparatus 10 to perform Pilates exercises in water. By performing a dual function, the apparatus 10 avoids additional costs.

As already mentioned above, the various connection points 17-19 of the apparatus 10 can be used to connect the most disparate accessories to the apparatus to perform Pilates exercises.

The flanges 13 and 15 can be used to anchor the apparatus 10 to a wall outside the water both if one wants to put away the apparatus in a safe manner and if one wants to have the person try the exercises outside the water.

It is clear that variations on and/or additions to what has been disclosed and illustrated in the attached drawings can be provided.

The general configuration of the apparatus can vary.

Two or more support bases may be provided, also forming two or more steps in the ladder function.

The number of springs used can vary according to the desired intensity of the exercise.

The connections of the apparatus to the pool consist in the embodiment of flanges but can consist of any connecting element.

The apparatus can be rest on the bottom part of the pool by apposite resting elements. The structure and the way of hinging the pedal can vary with respect to what has been seen in the embodiment. The springs can be replaced by any other elastic element performing the same functions or by a hoist consisting of ropes and weights.