Technical field

The invention relates to an exercise device comprising a fixed frame with a left-hand side-bar, right-hand side-bar and a front handle, whereas in the fixed frame (1) there are placed two parallel rails, which wheel-carriage surface is of continuous- concave arch-shape, and two stepping trolleys are placed on the surface of the rails.

Background art

In number of exercise and fitness equipment and devices there is not any device allowing the user to imitate the motion of a sportsman on snowboard or on downhill skis. This motion is very suitable for relaxing of the lumbar and pelvic zones and it would be advisable to practice such kinetic skills even in relation to rehabilitation exercise and the like.

US 2006179938 A1 describes a device for measuring the force produced by the leg and assessing the ' needs of an athlete when choosing suitable skis, snowboards and ski boots. However, this device is not suitable for producing cyclic relaxed motion, which, by contrast, is expected from an exercise device.

EP 1510236 B1 solves a training device for downhill skiers and snowboarders. The device enables to simulate edging on a skiing or snowboarding simulator and to detect the action of the force produced by the exercising person on the simulator. However, not even such a device enables to reach the motion imitating a ski or snowboard ride.

The goal of the technical solution is to design a device enabling the user to get on the device easily and facilitating the variability of exercise with a special focus on downhill skiing and snowboarding.

Principle of the invention

The goal of the technical solution is achieved by means of an exercise device according to the invention, which principle rests in that each of the stepping trolleys comprises two traversings unitable with a stepping plate in a demountable way, whereas each stepping plate is unitable with two traversings placed on the same rail, or with two traversings placed each on different rail.

The device enables the user to perform sliding motions of his legs on the given rails, by means of which simultaneously suitable motions of the spine, head etc. are achieved. Thereat, the exercising person has safe support provided by parts of the frame surrounding him, being able to hold them in various ways. The stepping trolley comprises two wheel carriages connected to a stepping plate in a demountable way. The unification of the wheel carriages increases the serial production capacity of the wheel carriages, whereas brings other advantages mentioned below and resulting from that the wheel carriages of one stepping trolley can be connected to the stepping plate in such a way that the stepping trolley is positioned by both wheel carriages on one rail in direction of its length, or the stepping trolley is positioned by its wheel carriages on both rails crosswise to its length. This enables to range the variations of exercising, because by simple modification the device can be used by a user facing the direction of the rails and their arch, or sideways to that direction.

It is advantageous if each rail is formed by two parallel wheel-carriage surfaces. Especially it is advantage in this case, if the wheel-carriage surfaces is formed by a tube of a circular section. This embodiment provides for the rigidity of the rails and stability of the wheel-carriage means and therefore of the exercising person, moreover this solution is economical for production.

The sufficient rigidity of the rails and stability of the wheel-carriage means can also be achieved ifthe rail is formed by a flat profile, in the upper surface of which there are in direction of the flat profile made two parallel grooves for wheels of the wheel carriages of the stepping trolleys.

In addition to that, the stepping trolley can be connected to an adjustable brake, by means of which the exercise load exerted by the exercising person can be changed.

The exercise can also be modified based on the fact that at least one of the wheel carriages is equipped with an eye, by means of which and a connecting means the stepping trolley can be blocked in a fixing sleeve permanently joined to the frame of the device. That way, one foot fixed at the stepping trolley can be blocked against the rail and use only one leg to move the whole body. Thereat, it is also advantageous if the frame of the device is fast connected with at least two mutually successive fixing sleeves to in the lengthwise direction of the rail. That way, the position of the fixed foot against the curved rail can be changed after a certain time of exercising.

Further features and advantages of the invention are defined in the dependent patent claims.

Description of the drawing

The examples of embodiment of the exercise device and its parts are schematically shown in the drawing, where Fig. 1 shows the fixed part of the device according to the first example of embodiment, Fig. 2 shows a side-view of the central part of the device shown in Fig. 1 , Fig. 3a shows a front view of the inner part of the wheel carriage, Fig. 3b shows a side-view of the inner part of the wheel carriage shown in Fig. 3a, Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the mutual position of the wheel carriages and stepping plates of the stepping trolleys, Fig. 5a shows a front view of the inner part of the wheel carriage of the second example of embodiment and Fig. 5b shows a side-view of the inner part of the wheel carriage shown in Fig. 5a.

Examples of embodiment

The stationary part of the exercise device according to the technical solution is shown in Fig. 1 where the front part of the device is directed leftwards.

The base of the stationary part of the device is a frame 1 made of tubes of circular section. The frame 1 comprises two cross-bars H equipped on their ends with bushes 111 which are used to fix the device to the floor. To the front cross-bar H a upwards directed curved pillars 12 are permanently joined, the upper ends of which are permanently joined to the shaped left-hand side-bar 13 and the shaped right-hand side-bar 14. The side-bars 13, 14 are in the front joined by a handle 15.

Towards the back the left-hand side-bar 13 is bent lower to a curved pillar 131 which passes into a horizontal part 132 near the floor. Further, the left-hand side-bar 13 follows upwards into a curved pillar 133, a horizontal part 134 and acurved pillar 135 downwards into a permanent joint with the back cross-bar H.

The right-hand side-bar 14 is in its front part shaped in the same way as the left-hand side-bar 13 and then continue by a horizontal handrail 141 into a curved pillar 142 directed downwards into a permanent joint with the back cross-bar H

The areas of connection of the front curved pillars 12 with the front cross-bar 11 are connected to the areas of connection of the back curved pillars 135, 142 by means of the left- and right-hand connecting bar 16. To increase the rigidity of the exercise device, the connecting, bars 16 are connected by means of a central crossbar 17 approximately in the middle of their length.

The front curved pillars 12 are interconnected by means of a front hanging cross-bar 18 and the back curved pillars 135, 142 are interconnected by means of a back hanging cross-bar 19.

As an integral part of the stationary part of the exercise device, there are two rails 2 of the stepping trolleys 4, 7, which are fixed in the hanging cross-bars 18, 19 of the frame 1 of the device, in the embodiment according to Fig. 3a, 3b each rail 2 is formed by two parallel tubes 21, 22 of a circular section and a diameter of 42 mm. The tubes 21, 22 are bent into an arch which is of the same shape in both rails. On the outer sides of the rails 2 and between them, there are walking surfaces 3 formed by plastic belts which are supported by non-represented foundation steel bands anchored in the hanging cross-bars 18, 19. In the back part of the exercise device between the tubes 21, 22 there are placed fixing sleeves 24, being permanently joined to the tubes 21 , 22 or in a non-represented way to the frame 1. of the device so that they do not obstruct the motion of the wheel carriages 41.

Thereat, in the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 the diameter Ri of the tubes' bend 21 , 22 in the front part of the rail 2 starting from the lowest point 23 (defined by a tangent point with a horizontal bisector) is smaller than the diameter R ₂ of the tubes' bend 21 , 22 in the back part of the rail 2. In the embodiment the j¾ = 1800 mm and R ₂ = 2300 mm.

All the described elements of the frame 1_ of the device are permanently fixed in the points of their mutual connections. Depending on the used production technology with regard to the assembly and handling at production and possible repairs, in some cases, those are not demountable welded joints. In other cases, those are demountable for example clamp joints, which are not described in detail.

The stepping trolley 4 (Fig. 2, 3a, 3b) has two wheel carriages 41 being mutually joint by a stepping plate 42. Fig. 2 shows the connection of the stepping plate 42 to the wheel carriages in the direction of the rail 2. In Fig. 4 the connection of the stepping plate 42 to the wheel carriages 41 in the direction of the rail 2 is represented by a continuous line and the connection of the stepping plate 42 to the wheel carriages 41 in the direction perpendicular to the rail 2 is represented by a dotted line. The body of the wheel carriage 41 comprises an upper plate 412 and two side-bars 413. In parallel with the upper plate 412 there are under the upper plate 412 between the side-bars 413 fixed two parallel pegs 414 and under them in the middle of their distance there is another peg 415 placed in parallel with them. On each peg 414, 415 there are rotatably placed two pulleys 416, 417, being led by flanges on the tubes so that the pulleys 416 of the two upper pegs414 touch the tubes 211 , 221 from above and the pulley 417 touches the tubes 211 , 221 from below. In the upper plate 4l2, there are four through openings 418 intended for connecting screws 419 not represented in detail. In a non-represented embodiment, the pair of pulleys 416, 417 op each peg 414, 415 is replaced by a single long pulley with outer flanges, which touches both tubes 21., 22 of one rail 2. The stepping plate 42 is equipped on both of its ends with openings 421 , which position corresponds to the through openings 418 of the upper plate 412 of the wheel carriage 41. Further, the stepping plate 42 is equipped with non-represented instep straps to fix the foot of the exercising person. On at least one wheel carriage 41. an eye 43 is fixed, by means of which and a non-represented pin the stepping trolley 4 can be fixed in some of the fixing sleeves 24 placed between the pair of tubes 21 , 22. Below the level of each rail 2 there is another eye 44 fixed on at least one wheel carriage 41 of the stepping trolley 4.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 2, a brake 5 is fixed on the central cross-bar 17. On the shaft of the brake 5 there is placed a non-represented winch with a string 51 , the end of which can be connected to the eye 44 of the wheel carriage. The winch is held by a non-represented spirai torsion spring in the position of the inserted string 51. The rigidity of the spring is adjustable.

In contrast to the first embodiment according to Fig. 3a and 3b, in an alternative embodiment according to Fig. 5a and 5b, each rail 6 id formed by a flat profile 61 , in which two parallel guiding V-shaped grooves 611 are made. The profile 61 is bent to form an arch.

Similar to the first example of embodiment, on the outer sides of the rails 6 and between them there are walking surfaces formed by plastic belts , which are supported by non-represented foundation steel bands anchored in the hanging crossbars. In the back part of the exercise device, there are in the central part of the profile 61 placed fixing sleeves or openings 62, being placed in a way not obstructing the motion of the wheel carriages.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 5a and 5b, the stepping trolley 7 has a different rail 6 and position of wheel carriage 71., which are again interconnected by means of a schematically represented stepping plate 72. The frame of the wheel carriage 71 comprises an upper plate 712 and two side-bars 713. In parallel with the upper plate 712 there are under the upper plate 712 between the side-bars 713 fixed two parallel pegs 714. On both pegs 714 there are rotatably mounted two pulleys 715 being led in guiding grooves 61†. In the lower part the frame 711 of the wheel carriage 71 is closed by the lower plate 716, which is in an assembled condition located under the flat profile 61 of the rail 6 in a distance which is smaller than the depth of the guiding groove 6_H, this prevents the pulley 715 from jumping off the guiding groove 611.

In the upper plate 712 there are four openings 717 for a non-represented connection with the stepping plate 72· In the economical example of embodiment the pulleys 715 are formed by in-line skate wheels.

Analogical to the first embodiment the stepping plate 72 is equipped on both of its ends with openings, which position corresponds to the through openings 717 of the upper plate 712 of the wheel carriage 71. Even in this embodiment the positioning of the stepping plates 72 as shown in Fig. 4 is valid, i.e. either in the direction of the rail 6 or the direction crosswise to the rail 6. At least one of the wheel carriages Ί of the stepping trolley 7 is equipped with an eye 718, by means of which and a non-represented pin the stepping trolley 7 can be fixed in some of the fixing sleeves 62 located in the profile 61 of the rail 6. Below the level of the rail 6 at least one of the wheel carriages 71 of the stepping trolley 7, is equipped with another eye 719.

The ground-plan distribution of the connecting openings in the upper plates 412, 712 of the wheel carriages 41 , 71 and in the stepping plates 42, 72 in relation to the length of the stepping plate 42, 72 and the mutual distance of the rails 2, 6 allows for two different orientation of the stepping trolleys 4, 7 in respect of the direction of the rails 2, 6, either in parallel, or crosswise. In the first case, both wheel carriages 41 , 71 placed on a one rail are connected by each of the two stepping plates 42, 72 and the stepping plates are directed concurrently with the rail. In the second case, the stepping plate 42, 72 connects two wheel carriages placed on two different rails and the stepping plates 42, 72 are directed crosswise to the direction of the rail 2, 6.

To get on the exercise device the space between the curved pillars 131 , 133 in the left-hand side-bar 13 is used. In the first embodiment the stepping trolleys 4, 7 are fixed to the legs by means of instep straps so that the feet are directed lengthwise or crosswise to the rails 2, 6, at which the legs can move by sliding motions. The exercising person stands facing the front and holds the handle 15 when exercising. The motion is either alternating, or close-feet, whereas the different radiuses of the rails 2 in their front and back part produces especially during the close-feet motion an additional motion in the lumbar area of the body of the exercising person.

If the stepping trolleys 4, 7 are placed crosswise to the rails 2, 6, the exercising person moves from side to side with their feet close, which is a motion similar to making turns when skiing or snowboarding. The stepping trolley 4, 7 can be by means of an eye 43, 718 and a pin fixed in some of the fixing sleeves 24, 62 fastened between the pair of tubes 211_, 221 or in the profile 61. In that case, the exercising person performs a motion of only one leg starting from a stridden position and reaching the position of his feet close in the place of fixed stepping trolley 4, 7 and back, whereas he is holding by hands for example the horizontal handrail 141. After connecting the string 5t of the _. brake 5 and adjusting the pre-load of the spiral torsion spring it is possible to set the load, which the exercising person has to overpower when moving the stepping trolley 4, 7 regardless of the current exercising mode.

In a non-represented embodiment the left-hand side-bar is the same as the right-hand side-bar, i.e. both of them comprise a long handrail 141 and it is necessary to sneak under one of the handrails when getting on the device. It is an advantage that with an exercising person standing sideways (stepping trolleys 4, 7 are directed crosswise to the rails 2, 6) the exercising person can 'hold the handrail of either one or the other side-bar 13, 14 and, thus utilize the unsymmetrical design of the rail 2 (different radiuses of the front and back part of the rail ¾ and Rg) _,

It is obvious that the construction of the exercise device can be modified within the range of the protection given by the patent claims. That applies to the frame Λ_ of the device which can be made of different steel profiles, or the frame can be made partly or completely of high-strength plastic, wood. etc. Also the rails 2 can be made of tubes of sections different from circular-shaped ones, eventually of tubes or of bands. The pair of tubes 2t, 22 of. the rail 2 can be replaced by one wider band profile ensuring the stability of the pulleys of the wheel carriages. Also the radiuses Ri, Rg can differ from the examples of embodiment, for example the size of the device varying when intended for use by adults or children. List of reference marks

1 device frame

11 cross-bar

111 bush (of the cross-bar)

12 curved pillar

13 left-hand side-bar

131 curved pillar

132 horizontal part (of the left-hand side-bar)

33 curved pillar

134 horizontal part (of the left-hand side-bar)

135 curved pillar

14 right-hand side-bar

141 handrail (of the right-hand side-bar)

142 curved pillar

15 handle (front cross)

16 connecting bar

17 central cross-bar

18 front crossbar

19 back drawbar

2 rail

21 rail tube

22 rail tube

23 lowest rail point

24 fixing sleeves (in the rail)

3 walking surface

4 stepping trolley

41 wheel carriage

411 wheel carriage body

412 upper plate (of the wheel carriage body)

413 side-plate (of the wheel carriage body)

414 pulley peg (upper)

415 pulley peg (lower)

416 pulley (upper)

417 pulley (lower)

418 opening (in the wheel carriage, for the connecting screw)

419 connecting screw

42 stepping plate

421 opening (in the stepping plate, for the connecting screw)

43 wheel carriage eye (for wheel carriage blockage)

44 wheel carriage eye (for the brake string)

5 brake

51 brake string

6 rail

61 flat profile

611 guiding groove (of the flat profile)

62 sleeve (blockage opening in the rail)

7 stepping trolley

71 wheel carriage

711 trolley frame 712 upper plate (of the frame)

713 side-bar (of the plate)

714 pulley peg

715 pulley

716 lower plate (of the frame)

717 opening (in the upper plate - connecting)

718 eye (blockage)

719 eye (of the brake string)

72 stepping plate