Technical field

The present invention concerns a gymnastic apparatus having the general configuration of an indoor or gym bicycle and therefore comprising a frame and a saddle, a handlebar and a central mechanism with pedal cranks allowing to pedal with the cooperation of a flywheel. Background art

Traditional indoor and gym bicycles for gymnastic activity are usually actuated, both for the pedal stroke and a rowing movement with the handlebar, by the active power of the person who uses them. However, they are not suitable, or at least inappropriate for persons with serious motor or muscular impairment of lower limbs. Moreover these bicycles are generally positioned on stands or in any case are provided with a frame and a central movement that are somewhat uplifted from the ground and the user must step over them to reach the saddle and the pedals when using the apparatus. Also this aspect of traditional bicycles represents a limitation and a disadvantage in that it makes them inaccessible, and therefore unusable in an autonomous way by people

suffering from motor and muscular impairment of lower limbs and in any case unable to raise their feet beyond a certain extent. Disclosure of the invention

An object of the present invention is now to provide a gymnastic apparatus similar to an indoor and gym bicycle, but modified in its structure and operation in such a way that it can be comfortably and advantageously used even by people with limitations of motor and muscular nature in their lower limbs.

Such an object is essentially achieved by means of a motorisation of the central mechanism of the apparatus, a motorisation of the saddle in order to adjust the height thereof, and a configuration of the frame such as to leave a free passage on the ground, without raises or steps, between the central mechanism and the handlebar.

Actually, the herein proposed apparatus is designed to work also in presence of a user's passive force. In fact, the motorisation of the pedal cranks can cause the movement of the user's legs even when he is deprived of his own strength in to autonomously operate the apparatus. Thanks to the relevant motorisation, the saddle height can be easily adjusted without any effort by the user himself for sitting thereon. Furthermore, the passage on the ground between the central mechanism and the

handlebar allows an easy access to the apparatus to anybody, even to persons who are disabled or have difficulties in raising their feet.

Therefore the apparatus can be advantageously used to win passive force and to treat people suffering from motor and muscular impairment of limbs, particularly lower limbs. Said impairment can be caused by arthrosis, articular rigidity, limbs paralysis, surgical operations, traumas, etc. Since the herein proposed apparatus causes the movement of lower limbs by forcing said movement, it becomes a useful tool in post-operative, post-traumatic motor rehabilitation, to stimulate muscular activity, to treat articular rigidity, to prevent muscular atrophy, to stimulate blood circulation, etc. Best mode for carrying out the invention

The accompanying drawings illustrate an example of embodiment of the gymnastic apparatus according to the invention, that will be described more in detail hereinbelow. In said drawings:

Figure 1 shows a side view (without protective case) of the apparatus according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a plan view of the apparatus of Fig. 1; and Figure 3 shows a detailed view of the handlebar according to arrow A of Fig. 1.

The gymnastic apparatus looks substantially like an indoor and gym bicycle and comprises a frame 11, a saddle 12, a handlebar 13, a flywheel 14 and a central mechanism 15 with pedal cranks of the type adjustable in length.

The frame 11 is formed by a plate 16 with a cross member and end feet 17, which extends horizontally at the level of the supporting plane. Towards the back portion of the plate 16 two vertically extending stirrups 18 are provided for, on which a flywheel 14 is mounted and rotates. In the middle portion of the plate 16 there is fixed a static support 19 bearing the saddle 12 and the central mechanism with pedal cranks 15. In the front portion of the plate 16 a vertical rod 20 is fixed, to which the handlebar 13 is articulated with possibility of oscillating on a transverse axis 13' and with manually adjustable height fixable by means of a screw 13".

More particularly, the flywheel 14 and the central mechanism with pedal cranks 13 are actuated by a low- tension electric motor 21 through a reduction unit 21' and through belt drives 22,23 that conect a pulley on the outlet axis of the reduction unit 21' with a double pulley on the axis of the flywheel 14 and then with a pulley on the axis of the pedal cranks. The gearmotor 21,21' is connected to one of the stirrups 18 and can be positioned by means of an adjusting screw 24 also acting as belt

tightener. Gearmotor, flywheel and central mechanism with pedal cranks are enclosed in a protective case 11'.

The saddle 12 is mounted on the intermediate static support 19 by means of a telescopic steering column 25 having a variable deployment to adjust the height of the saddle itself. Said deployment of the telescopic steering column 25 is controlled by a screw coupling - not shown - actuated by a low-tension motor 26 placed in the bottom side and coaxial with the steering column. The saddle can also be provided with a wrapping back seat.

The handlebar 13 is articulated on an axis 13' and is susceptible of rowing movements against the force of at least one spring 27 and limited by lock means known per se. The handlebar can be provided with measuring instruments of different kind and also with switches 28,29 for the control of the gearmotor 21,21' operating the pedal cranks and of the motor 26 for the adjustment in height of the saddle 12, as well as with a rheostat 30 to change the speed of the gearmotor 21,21' and therefore of the pedal cranks.

What above is studied for the maximum comfortableness of use of the apparatus even by persons who are disabled and suffering from serious motor and muscular impairments and in order to achieve the above stated object and advantages.

Finally it must be noted that the apparatus can be provided with means to exclude the gearmotor operation and therefore to use the same as a traditional indoor and gym bicycle.