A device for transforming a linear alternating motion into a working movement and uses for the device Technical Field The present invention relates to a device for transforming a linear alternating movement supplied by a device user into a corresponding working movement.

The present invention also relates to an apparatus for transmitting a propulsive action to a propeller which propels boats and similar objects, in particular using the motion transformation device disclosed.

The present invention also relates to an exercise apparatus for physical and rehabilitative exercise, in particular using the motion transformation device disclosed.

Background Art In the above-mentioned sectors of boats and exercise apparatus the need is felt for motion transmission devices, which allow the transformation of a"natural"movement, for example and alternating movement, which may be imparted with the simple movement of the arms or legs-or, even another part of the body (for example, thanks to the seat'of a rowing boat or rowing machine) -to a respective slider, into a unidirectional rotary movement of a working part, such as a propeller or an energy dissipating device, the device being easy to set up, light, compact and allowing a comfortable and efficient action by the user, substantially in any device operating condition or position. The latter case, for example, may arise with relation to small boats, such as a canoe, while the user, comfortably positioned inside the hull, has only his or her hands available to supply such an active alternating action.

According to another aspect, in the above-mentioned sectors, the need is also felt for a device which, in addition to the aspects stated above, allows easy operation by a plurality of users.

In particular, in the nautical sector the need is felt for an apparatus which may also be used as an emergency propulsion system, when the boat's motor is faulty, and if required, according to another aspect, which allows the propulsive action of two or more users to be added together, irrespective of their type or propulsive capacity, for example a young person and an older person who is, therefore, less physically strong.

Disclosure of the Invention Accordingly, a device was provided for transforming a linear alternating movement, supplied by a device user, into a corresponding working movement, characterised in that it comprises a support, a driven shaft rotatably supported on the support, actuating means which move with a substantially linear alternating movement which has, from a starting position, an active section and a return section for resetting to the start of active section position, and a driven shaft rotation unit designed to transform the active action of the actuating means into a unidirectional rotation of the driven shaft. The driven shaft rotation unit comprises first transformation means designed to transform the alternating linear motion into an alternating angular movement in the two opposite angular directions, and second transformation means which are operatively connected to the first transformation means and designed to transform the bi-directional rotary movement of the first transformation means into the unidirectional rotary motion of the driven shaft. The second means, for transformation into the driven shaft unidirectional rotary motion are freewheel means positioned coaxially on the shaft so as to turn it in said angular direction and to allow a free backward return movement in the opposite angular direction. There are also means for resetting the actuating means in the start of active section position.

The device for transforming linear alternating motion into unidirectional rotary motion disclosed has a simple structure, is compact and not heavy. Therefore, the device disclosed is particularly suitable for use on small boats and, moreover, advantageously in exercise or rehabilitation apparatus, which can advantageously be compact, although effectively exercising the muscles.

Moreover, the device disclosed is the essential unit in a multiple-actuation device, as described more clearly below.

The secondary claims describe other advantageous aspects of the present invention.

Brief Description of the Drawings The technical features and advantages of the invention are more clearly illustrated in the detailed description which follows, with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the invention, without limiting the scope of its application, and in which: Figure 1 is a schematic side view of a device for propelling a boat using the present device for transforming motion; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of the present device for transforming motion; Figure 3A is a perspective view of a third preferred embodiment of the present device for transforming motion, in particular, used in an exercise apparatus, in particular a rowing machine, or a rehabilitative apparatus; Figure 3B is a schematic top view of the third preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 3A of the present device for transforming motion; Figures 4A to 4B illustrate four different operating configurations of the rowing machine using the third embodiment of the device for transforming motion in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a schematic top view of a preferred embodiment, in particular illustrating a possible configuration, which can be coupled or uncoupled, of the means for transforming the motion to the driven shaft ; Figure 6 is a schematic top plan view of another preferred embodiment of the means for transferring the alternating rotary action to the driven shaft.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention Figure 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of an apparatus for propelling a boat, which uses a device for transforming an alternating linear movement into a rotary movement, in a

predetermined angular direction, in conformity with a main aspect of the present invention.

As illustrated in Figure 1, the boat, in particular a canoe, has a hull, labelled S in Figure 1, with opposite side walls, only one labelled Sl being illustrated in Figure 1, and a longitudinal end S2, to which suitable connecting means connect the propulsion device disclosed, supported by an upper plate 15.

The connecting means comprise two pairs of side supporting brackets which make contact with the side wall of the hull (Figure 1 only illustrates the pair of brackets 11,11 which makes contact with the wall S1) and elastic straps, labelled 13,13, which are passed under the hull, connecting the opposite side brackets and hold the means which support the propeller on the hull S.

On the propulsion device support, from the upper plate 15, from which the brackets 11, 11 extend, on both transversal sides of the hull S, there extends a projecting coupling element 17, which forms side resting means for the means which support the propulsion means and which also forms thrust means against the end S2 of the boat.

As illustrated, the supporting plate 15 comprises a first part 15a, supported by the hull S with the insertion of a material which can be shaped 19 in between, and a second portion 15b, connected to the main portion 15a, in such a way that it is jointed, between a raised position, in which the propulsion means supported on the portion 15b are in the home position and completely out of the water, and an active lowered position for the propulsion means, in which the propeller is in the water.

Other means for supporting the device disclosed and fastening it to the boat may be imagined and configured according to the specific type of boat to which the device disclosed must be connected.

The device for transforming alternating linear movement into a rotary motion, in a defined angular direction of a driven shaft 14, comprises actuating means in the form of a flexible continuous linear element 16, with a first part 16a and a second part 16b, which can be operated, for example, by a user's hands, and a third part 16c, which is wound around a pulley 20, rotating in the two angular directions, integral with a lower extension shaft 22 which, at the opposite end has a bevel gear of a mechanism, described in

more detail below, for transmitting a unidirectional rotary movement to the propeller E.

In accordance with the present invention, the pulley and the portion of rope wound around it form the above-mentioned first means for transforming the alternating linear motion into a bi-directional rotary motion.

This transmission mechanism is housed in a shaped hollow support 12a, connected, by an extended hollow support 18b, to the mobile portion 15b of the supporting plate, relative to which it is free to rotate, to angle the propeller in the desired direction, thanks to a pulley 24, which can be made to rotate by actuating means 26, in the form of a cable or continuous linear element, which in turn has a portion 26a and a portion 26b to be gripped by a user's hands and a portion for pulley 24 winding and rotation labelled 26c in Figure 1.

The hollow element 18b has an axial internal cavity, in which the extension shaft 22 is rotatably housed.

As illustrated, the means for transforming the active linear motion, imparted through the portions 16a, 16b from the actuating cable, comprise a second bevel gear 28 positioned coaxially about the driven shaft 14, which bears the propeller E, and a third bevel gear 30, also positioned coaxially about the driven shaft 14.

The bevel gears are integral with freewheel bearings 32,34, which rotate in an angular direction with a shaft 14 pulling action and freely rotate in the opposite direction without interfering with or counteracting the stroke or angular position of the driven shaft 14 and which both pull the shaft 14 in the angular direction labelled with the angular arrow R in Figure 1.

These freewheel means form second transformation means, which transform the bi-directional angular movement of the pulley 20 and the shaft 22, as well as the bevel gear 24', into a unidirectional angular movement.

Advantageously, in a portion 16a pulling step, the freewheel 32 actively rotates, whilst during the active rope traction step 16b, the freewheel 34 actively rotates, both rotating in direction R. It should be noticed that with this system the active step of pulling the portion 16a causes the portion 16b to return to its start of active step position and, vice versa,. the active step of pulling the

portion 16b, causes the portion 16a to return to the start of active step position. In practice, the actuating means 16a, 16b, simultaneously form means for resetting the other part to the start of active step condition.

The subsequent Figure 2 illustrates a second preferred embodiment of the device for transforming an alternating linear movement into a rotary motion in a predetermined angular direction.

This second embodiment of the device is, in particular, used to drive a propeller and propel a boat or craft (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings).

This embodiment of the transformation device is also particularly advantageous for transforming an alternating straight movement with a plurality of actuating sources, in particular a plurality of persons, operating respective actuating means, supplying a propulsive force which is added to the propulsive force supplied by the other persons, without creating problems with action timing, imbalance due to action with different actuating force, which each individual, or each user's limb, imparts to the transformation device disclosed.

This preferred embodiment is also advantageous due to the fact that it provides an attachment for a large number of users in a limited space.

In practice, there are no less than five propulsion units labelled from U1 to U5, each representing a respective actuating mode, which makes the present invention suitable for many uses in different conditions and working environments, starting from any actuating point. Obviously, embodiments which use only part of the present transformation units may be imagined for the present invention.

Looking in more detail, it may be seen how the propeller E is supported at the end of a driven shaft 114, with a longitudinal axis L, rotatably supported on a plate or supporting base 118, by supporting brackets or main bearings, which extend perpendicularly to the bracket, labelled llla and lllb in Figure 2, which support the shaft by means of bearings labelled 113a and 113b in Figure 2.

The numerals lllc, llld and llle denote further brackets for rotatably connecting the supporting base 118 to the supporting parts

or similar parts, labelled 113c, 113d and 113 and described in further detail in the description which follows.

A first unit for transforming'the alternating movement into a unidirectional angular movement is labelled Ul and comprises, as described for the first preferred embodiment, a bevel gear 124, connected to a shaft oscillating in the two opposite angular directions 122, suitably moved in these directions, for example, by a pulley system of the type illustrated in Figure 1 relative to the first preferred embodiment.

The bevel gear 124 engages with corresponding bevel gears 128, 130 coaxial with the driven shaft 114, rotating integrally with freewheel bearings (not illustrated in Figure 2), in such a way that, during each angular rotation of the shaft 122 in one angular direction or in the opposite angular direction, the bevel gears cause the freewheel to rotate the driven shaft 114 in the predetermined direction R of propulsion for the propeller E.

The next transformation unit U2 is actuated directly by means of a flexible element 216, which substantially extends in a plane parallel with the support 118 and which has a first traction section 216a and a second actuating section 216b, driven by a pulley 217, starting from respective actuating sections 216'a, 216'b, and thanks to a section 216'c wound about the guide pulley 217.

The continuous element 116 has a portion which is wound around the pulley 220, on which a bevel gear is coaxially mounted (not illustrated in the accompanying drawings) and, in any case, lying in a plane parallel with the support, which engages with the bevel gears 228,230, that are connected to respective freewheels or freewheel bearings for rotating the driven shaft 114 in angular direction R, as in the first embodiment illustrated in Figure 1.

In Figure 2 the reference U3 denotes a third transmission unit, also actuated by means of a continuous element 316, with active sections or portions 316a, 316b, which can be actuated in a direction perpendicular to the linear element 216 or rope in the previous second unit U2.

As illustrated in Figure 2, this flexible continuous element substantially extends in a plane perpendicular to the support 118 and parallel with the driven shaft 114, remaining close to the driven shaft 114.

This flexible continuous element is wound, by means of a winding and retaining section 316c, on a bi-directional rotation pulley 320, which is coaxially connected to a toothed wheel 324 lying in a plane perpendicular to the support, which can be actuated in the two opposite angular directions and which engages with corresponding bevel gears 328,330, connected to respective freewheels or freewheel bearings (not illustrated) which cause the driven shaft 114 to rotate in the angular direction R, in a way substantially similar to the previous units U1, U2.

In Figure 2 the reference U4 denotes a fourth transmission unit, consisting of a pulley 428, mounted on a freewheel bearing and having an external groove or furrow 428a, on which a section 416c of an actuating rope is wound, with a first traction branch 416a and a second branch 416b exiting a driving pulley 417.

As illustrated, the continuous actuating and return element 416a, 416b substantially extends in a plane perpendicular to the support 118, in a direction transversal to the driven shaft 114.

The tension or driving pulley 417 has an external groove 417a, on which a winding section 416'c of the flexible element is wound, from which the traction branches 416a and 416b extend, forming the extension of the sections 416'a and 416'b operated by the user of the unit disclosed.

Applying traction to these sections 416'a and 416'b causes the pulley 428 to rotate in the two opposite angular directions, actuating, when a rotation concordant with the pulling rotation of the freewheel mechanism on the driven shaft 114 in direction R is produced, and simple resetting of the active part, for example of part 416'a, in the start of active section position when a rotation opposite to the rotation R is imparted, by pulling the rope 416'b, which in this case forms simple means for resetting the active part to the start of active step condition.

This embodiment allows a less tiring, though less efficient action. A single pulling action is used to make the driven shaft 114 rotate, whilst with the previous units, both pulling actions on the ropes were used to drive the propeller E.

A similar actuating mechanism is used for the next unit U5, which has a pulley labelled 528, connected to a freewheel mechanism to make the driven shaft 414 rotate in the direction R and is

actuated by a rope 516, with continuous actuating elements or portions 516a and 516b and a section 516c wound around the pulley 528.

As illustrated in Figure 2, this rope is wound directly around the pulley 528, without the insertion of any rope guide element in between.

As illustrated, the continuous actuating and return element 516a, 516b substantially extends in a plane perpendicular to the support 118, in a direction transversal to the driven shaft 114.

As is partially illustrated in Figure 2, the pulley 528, mounted coaxially on a freewheel bearing, may be fitted with a bevel gear, labelled 628, which can be engaged with or disengaged from the freewheel of the return pulley 528, the gear being suitably actuated using a mechanism similar to that illustrated relative to the second transformation unit U2, when the mechanism is to be used in a similar way.

However, it must be understood that the second embodiment of the invention, or part of it, could be used by an exercise or rehabilitative apparatus, in which, obviously, the propeller is substituted by a corresponding energy dissipater.

The following Figures 3A and 3B illustrate a device for transforming an alternating linear movement into a rotary motion in a predetermined angular direction of a driven shaft, labelled 614 in Figures 3A and 3B, which is connected to an energy dissipater, labelled D and only schematically illustrated in Figure 3B and which may, for example, be a fan or an electromagnetic or other device.

The transformation device disclosed is supported on a plate 618, with a base plate 618a and, perpendicular to this, a sheet 618b, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 3A.

The device disclosed has a plurality of transformation units, labelled Vl, V2, V3, V4. The transformation device is preferably applied to a rowing machine, which can be made to work in many operating configurations, illustrated in Figures 4A to 4D and described in more detail below.

The transformation units are supported by the plates 618a by means of L-shaped brackets or main bearings, labelled 611a, 611b, 611c, 611d, 611e, 611f.

The vertical sheet 618b in turn supports brackets, labelled 611g, 611h, 611i, 6111,611m, 611n, used to rotatably support suitable return pulleys, as is better described below.

In this third embodiment of the transformation device, much use is made of the solution with a freewheel which can be coupled to or uncoupled from the actuating means, to make this exercise apparatus very versatile.

For this reason, the unit V1 consists of means 616a, 616b respectively connected to the right-hand oar and the left-hand oar of the rowing machine.

As illustrated, these actuating units consist of a continuous element, in particular a rope, with a pulling section 616a, 616b and a section 616c and 616'c wound on a pulley 628a, 628b, as well as a section 616d for connecting the sections 616 and 616'c which is wound on respective return pulleys, labelled 617a, 617b in Figures 3A and 3B.

The pulleys 628a, 628b are connected, by a toothed coupling sliding axially on the axis of rotation 614, to a freewheel, labelled 629a, 629b, only schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which the toothed coupling is labelled 631a, 631b. The features of this coupling are described in more detail with reference to Figure 5.

When coupled, this transformation unit V1 allows a user to perform the exercise schematically illustrated in Figure 4D, where the user U uses the oars R1 and R2 alternately. Figure 3B illustrates how, when a right-hand oar is moved close to the body of the user U, the connections between the flexible continuous elements 616a and 616b, by means of the intermediate action 616b, cause the left-hand oar to move forward or away from the user U and vice versa when the left-hand oar is moved close to the user U.

In this type of situation the seat C and pedals P1 and P2 are held still and the corresponding motion transformation units are in the uncoupled condition.

The second transformation unit V2 in this embodiment of the device comprises flexible continuous actuating elements 716a, 716b, respectively, for actuating a right-hand pedal and a left-hand user pedal.

As illustrated, the actuating means 717a, 716b, which constitute the means for resetting the other element 716c, 716'c to the active step position, are wound with a portion 716c, 716'c, on pulleys 728a, 728b and extend, at the rear, with a rope connecting portion 716b, wound on return pulleys 717a and 717b.

These pulleys 628a, 628b are connected, by couplings 631a, 631b, which slide axially on the shaft 614, to freewheel bearings, only schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and labelled 629a, 629b in Figure 3B.

Coupling of the freewheel bearings with the pulleys for transforming the alternating movements of the ropes 716a and 716b into a bi-directional rotary movement, allows the rower to move the pedals P1 and P2 alternately, as illustrated in Figure 4B. In this configuration the other system components can be conveniently uncoupled and not operating.

A third transformation unit is labelled V3 in Figures 3A and 3B. This third transformation unit has a first continuous actuating element 816a and a second continuous element 816b, wound with portions labelled 816c and 816'c on bi-directional rotation pulleys 828a, 828b, and extending, at the back of these pulleys, in an intermediate connecting section 816d in turn wound on return pulleys 817a, 817b, similarly to the previous transformation units described above.

This third unit V3 allows movement of the carriage C, as illustrated particularly in Figure 4A and as can be used in the next Figure 4C.

In practice, the actuating branch 816a is connected to the carriage outward section, that is to say, to the front of the carriage, so as to exert a traction action, when the carriage C is moved away from the footrests, with stretching of the user's U legs, whilst the branch 816b is connected to the back of the carriage C by means of a suitable transmission schematically illustrated and labelled 817c in Figure 4D.

In this way, the carriage can be actively used in both directions, outwards or away from the footrest and return or towards the footrest.

In Figures 3A and 3B the reference V4 denotes a fourth transformation unit, which can be used on the rowing machine in a

classic way. This fourth unit comprises an actuating section 916a of a flexible continuous element, with a section 916c, wound on a pulley 928, which transforms the rope 916a alternating motion in both linear directions into alternating rotary motion and which, as schematically illustrated in Figure 3B, is directly and integrally connected to a freewheel bearing 931 on the shaft 114, which thus transforms a pulley 928 rotation in a predetermined direction into an active shaft 114 rotation.

Another portion 916b of the continuous element is connected on the opposite side of the oars to recall the movement 916a, when the oars return forward towards the footrest and so achieve the start rowing position, for the rotation pulley 928. This rowing machine operating configuration is schematically illustrated in Figure 4C.

In Figure 3B, the freewheel bearing in this unit is illustrated with a dashed line and labelled 929.

Figure 5 is a detailed but schematic illustration of the coupling system which allows the coupling or uncoupling of a given unit.

In practice, by means of a traction or actuating rope wound in the peripheral groove or furrow 1028a of a pulley 1028, the unit drives rotation of the pulley, in the two opposite angular directions, thanks to a bearing 1027 for free rotation of the pulley relative to the shaft 1014.

On one side of the pulley 1028 there is toothing or a gear wheel, labelled 1033a, designed to mesh or engage with corresponding toothing 1033b on a flange 1031a, applied to the end of a tube 1031b of a slider 1031 positioned circumferentially around the shaft 1014.

The slider 1031 slides axially on the shaft 1014, between two longitudinally distanced positions, as illustrated by the bi- directional arrows in Figure 5.

This axially sliding coupling 1031 supports a freewheel bearing 1029 (illustrated with a dashed line), which allows connection of the coupling to the pulley 1028, pulling this coupling with a predetermined angular rotation and the free movement of this coupling and, therefore, of the pulley connected to it in the opposite angular direction. This means that the user can distance or uncouple, or bring towards and couple this coupling 1031.

Other coupling or uncoupling means different to the above- mentioned preferred means, may be imagined for this invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a more simple and compact solution of a connection between the bi-directional pulley 1128 and the driven shaft 1114.

In this embodiment the pulley is mounted directly on a freewheel bearing 1129, schematically illustrated with a dashed line in Figure 6, and, therefore, in this embodiment the pulley cannot be coupled or uncoupled by simply moving along the longitudinal shaft 1114.

However, it should be understood that the above-mentioned preferred embodiments of devices for transforming motion disclosed may be applied without distinction to a boat or to an exercise or rehabilitative apparatus, obviously making the appropriate adjustments in each case. For example, the transforming device in the third preferred embodiment illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 could be applied to a boat and connected to corresponding oars, seat and pedals on the boat.

The device disclosed, in the version in which both limb strokes are actively used, is mechanically very efficient and allows physiologically balanced use of the muscles. It exercises one set of muscles in one direction and the antagonistic set of muscles in the opposite direction. The mechanical work performed being the same, a larger muscle mass is exercised.

Moreover, in particular as illustrated by the second preferred embodiment of the device, the user can also select the particular activity to be performed, to suit the effort that he or she wants to apply. The user can choose to apply an effort in both directions, or in a single direction of effort by the limb or similar.

The present invention is, therefore, particularly suitable for use in rehabilitative apparatus.

In another embodiment, not illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a"rowing"unit or device made in accordance with the present invention may be placed at the bridge which connects two hulls of a catamaran. Since this rowing system, which drives a propeller by means of cables or similar items, does not require the use of oars, manual propulsion of the catamaran can be obtained by placing the"rowing devices"in the particularly balanced and

advantageous position constituted by the intermediate bridge which transversally connects the two separate hulls of the catamaran. For this purpose, the connecting bridge should be suitably configured with elements which extend between the transversally separated hulls of the catamaran, suitable for supporting a rowing unit comprising one or more rowing locations preferably aligned with one another in the longitudinal direction, parallel with the longitudinal axis of the hulls.

In the claims herein the number references and similar are provided by way of example only and in no way limit the scope of application of the claims to the specific embodiments of the present invention illustrated.

The invention described can be subject to modifications and variations without thereby departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by technically equivalent elements.