Physical training apparatus suitable for scrum training

IMPROVED PHYSICAL TRAINI NG APPARATUS FI ELD OF THE I NVENTION

The present invention relates to physical training apparatus and , more particularly, to apparatus for developing and testing the strength and technique of athletes.

For the sake of convenience, the invention will be described in relation to the use of the apparatus in developing the strength and technique of players in the sport of rugby union football , but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto as it will find application in other sports and athletic activities.

BACKGROUND ART

Hitherto, physical training machines for developing the strength and technique of forward players in the sport of rugby union football consist of a ground engaging carriage which carries spaced apart pads against which the players push, with resistance to the push being created by the contact of the carriage with the ground. A disadvantage of such scrum training machines is that they do not simulate the dynamic forces encountered in a rugby scrum.

There is a need for a physical training apparatus which provides measured resistance in a horizontal plane to simulate effectively the body position and dynamic forces encountered in a rugby scrum and thus develop the requisite specific muscular strength.

There is also a need for a physical training apparatus which simulates the muscle contraction and extension provided at least partly by the squat exercise, and which also exercises other muscles, such as the abdominal muscles, by providing for variable and increasing resistance as the athlete moves from deep contraction of the knee and hip joints to full extension of those joints when assuming various body positions.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or at ieast substantially ameliorate, the aforementioned shortcomings and disadvantages of the prior art, or at least provide a useful alternative. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a physical training apparatus comprising a main frame, a moveable carriage connected to the main frame, an arm assembly having an end connected to the moveable carriage and another end connected to a weight, the weight pivotal [y connected to a fixed pivot point whereby, in use, a force exerted by a user on the carriage causes the weight to rise about the pivot point, the force being transmitted through the arm assembly, and whereby continued rising of the weight requires a variation in the force to at least compensate for a variation in the resistance to movement of the weight as it rises about the pivot point.

Preferably, the moveable carriage is slidable along a horizontal path. Alternatively, the moveable carriage is pivotable about a horizontal axis. it is preferred that the arm assembly includes means for selectably adjusting the position at which the weight is connected to the arm assembly. In a preferred form, the position adjusting means includes a selectably positionable pin and a plurality of apertures in a rigid connecting arm of the arm assembly.

The arm assembly preferably includes first and second rigid connecting arms being so connected as to convert the gravitational resistance of the weight into horizontal resistance against the force exerted by the user.

Preferably, the weight includes a pivotable weight arm member to which is mounted a weight bar for supporting a desired weight plate, the weight arm member being so connected to the moveable carriage by the first and second rigid connecting arms as to pivot upwardly in a range of motion where the

resistive torque increases in the same ratio as the moment arm from the weight bar to the pivot point is increasing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a physical training apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the physical training apparatus of Fig. 1 .

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a physical training apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention in a final position.

Fig. 4 is another perspective view of the physical training apparatus of Fig. 3 on which is supported an athlete in an initial position of an exercise motion. Fig. 5 is a view similar to that of Fig. 4, with the athlete in a final position of the exercise motion.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a physical training apparatus according to a third embodiment of the invention in an initial position.

Fig. 7 is another perspective view of the physical training apparatus of Fig. 6 on which is supported an athlete in an initial position of an exercise motion.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 7, with the athlete in a final position of the exercise motion.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE I NVENTION

The physical training apparatus 1 0 shown in Figs 1 and 2 has a stationary main frame 1 1 , a movable carriage 12, a weight 13, and rigid connecting arms 14, 1 5 connected between the carriage 12 and the weight 13. The main frame 1 1 has a front portion 40 and an upright portion 41 .

The upright portion 41 has a pair of spaced apart, front upright posts 1 7 connected together at the tops by cross piece 1 8. Mounted to the front upright

posts 1 7 is a pivot rod 50 which pivotally supports a transfer arm member 51 and a weight arm member 52. The transfer arm member 51 has a pair of spaced apart bars 53 connected at the bottom by a cross piece 54. The weight arm member 52 has a pair of spaced apart bars 55, connected at the bottom by a circular tube 56. A weight bar 57 is removably connected through the bore of the circular tube 56, and weight plates 58 are removably connected to the weight bar 57.

In the front portion 4O, the carriage 12 travels along horizontal rails 25 mounted on pairs of uprights 27 and 28 which are interconnected by a base member 29.

The carriage 12 has a pair of slide members 31 interconnected by a cross piece. The braced uprights 34 each carry a pad 35. Each slide member 31 has a pair of upper wheels 32, and a lower wheel 36, which engage the upper and lower faces, respectively, of the rails 25. The rigid connecting arm 14 has a first end pivotally connected to the carriage 12, and a second end pivotally connected to the cross piece 54 of the transfer arm member 51 . The rigid connecting arm 15 has a first end pivotally connected to the transfer arm member 51 and a second end selectably connected to the weight arm member 52 proximate to the circular tube 56. The rigid connecting arm 15 has a plurality of apertures 59 adjacent to the end attached to the weight arm member 52. The apertures 59 represent spaced apart, variable fixing points through which the weight arm member 52 may be attached to the rigid connecting arm 15, thereby allowing for variation in the distance between the transfer arm member 51 and the weight arm member 52. Varying the fixing point of the rigid connecting arm 1 5 to the weight arm member 52 varies the starting point of the weight 13, and hence the force and the direction of force that is required to cause the weight to rise.

At the start of an exercise motion, an athlete assumes a crouched position normally assumed by forwards in a rugby scrum with their back horizontal. The athlete places their feet against a selected traction block 1 90, a pair of which are mounted to an adjustably positioned mounting rod 1 91 , that is selectably connected by a pin and apertures arrangement to the main frame 1 1 .

The athlete then pushes with their shoulders against the pads 35, so as to move the carriage 12 rearwardly in the direction of arrow A in Fig 2 with the rigid connecting arms 14 and 1 5 causing the weight 13 to rise by pivotal motion. The weight, in turn, provides a resistance to the push or driving force of the athlete. The rigid connecting arms 14 and 15 convert the vertical or gravitation resistance of the weight 13 into horizontal resistance against the driving force exerted on the carriage 12.

As the weight 1 3 is raised, the resistive torque increases in the same ratio as the moment arm from the weight bar 57 to the pivot point through the pivot rod 50 is increasing. The effect of this is that the apparatus 10 provides less resistance at the start of the range of motion, where the relevant muscles can apply less torque, and more resistance and the end of the range of motion where those muscles can apply more torque. In this way, the athlete encounters an increasing resistance to the force they apply during the range of motion, and thus needs to exert increasing force throughout that range to at least compensate for the increasing resistance so as to maintain or even increase the momentum of the body extension.

By placing a pin 42 through a selected aperture 59 in the rigid connecting arm 1 5 and through a hole in the weight arm member 52, this selects the angle which the pivoted weight arm member 52 at rest, or prior to the start of the exercise motion, makes with the vertical. Changing that angle

causes changes in the moment arm or resistive torque about the pivot poi nt of the weight arm member 52.

The practical effect of changing the position of the weight bar 57 at rest is to cause the ratio of the moment arm, or resistive torque, at the beginning of the exercise motion to that at the end of the exercise motion to change. I n other words, the rate of change of the moment arm, or resistive torque, throughout the exercise motion varies with changes in the positron of the weight bar at rest.

The physical traini ng apparatus 60 shown in Fig. 3, 4 and 5 has a stationary mai n frame 61 , a moveable sub-frame 62 , weight 63 , and rigid connecting arms 64 and 65 connected between the moveable sub-frame 62 and the weight 63.

The stationary main frame 61 has a front portion 66 and a rear portion 67. The rear portion 67 has a pair of feet 68 with respective upright stem pieces 69. Mounted between the stem pieces 69 is a pivot rod 70 , which pivotally supports a transfer arm 71 and a weight arm member 72. The weight arm member 72 has a pair of space apart bars 73 connected at the top by a circular 74.

A weight bar 75 is removably connected through the bore of the ci rcular tube 74, and weight pl ates 80 are removably connected to the weight bar 75.

In the front portion 66 , there is a foot 76 to which is pivotally connected one end of a control upright 77 of the moveable sub-frame 62. The other end of the control upright 77 is pivotal ly connected to one end of a control link 78. The other end of the control l i nk 78 is pivotally connected to an upper cross piece 79 of a pivotal carriage 80 that includes a pair of spaced apart uprig hts 96 that are pivotal ly connected to respective feet 93.

The rigid connecting arm 64 has a first end pivotal Iy connected to a middle cross piece 81 of the pivotal carriage 80, and a second end pivotally connected to the transfer arm 71 . The rigid connecting arm 65 has a first end pivotally connected to the transfer arm 71 and a second end selectably connected to the weight arm member 72 proximate to the circular tube 74.

The rigid connecting arm 65 has plurality of apertures 75 adjacent to the end attached to the weight arm member 72. The apertures 75 represent spaced apart, variable fixing points through which the weight arm member 72 may be attached to the rigid connecting arm 65, thereby allowing for variation in the distance between the transfer arm 71 and the weight arm member 72. Varying the fixing point of the rigid connecting arm 65 to the weight arm member 72 varies the starting point of the weight 63, and hence the force and the direction of force that is required to cause the weight to rise.

Referring to Fig 4, during an exercise motion, an athlete 94 lies on their back on the padded table 85 with their feet wedged between each respective pair of padded rollers 86 which are mounted on a supporting arm 87 that is rigidly connected to the upper cross piece 79. At the start of the exercise motion, as shown in Fig. 4, the athlete 94 has their legs fully extended. The exercise motion involves the athlete 94 retracting their legs to assume a horizontal squat position. During the retraction, the carriage 80 pivots in the direction of arrow B with the rigid connecting arms 64 and 65 causing the weight 63 to rise by pivotal motion.

The weight 63, in turn, provides a resistance to the pulling force of the athlete 94. The rigid connecting arms 64 and 65 convert the vertical or gravitational resistance of the weight 63 into horizontal resistance against the pulling force exerted on the carriage 80.

As the weight 63 is raised , the resistive torque i ncreases in the same ratio as the moment arm from the weight bar 75 to the pivot point of the pivot rod 70 is increasing . The effect is that the apparatus 60 provides less resistance at the start of the range of motion , where the relevant muscles can apply less torque, and more resistance at the end of the range of motion (see Fig . 5), where those muscles can exert more torque.

In this way, the athlete 94 encounters an i ncreasing resistance to the force they apply during the range of motion , and thus needs to exert increasing force throughout that range to maintain or even increase their momentum of the body retraction.

By placing a pin (not shown) through a selected aperture in the rigid connecting arm 65 and through a hole i n the weight arm member 75 , this selects the angle which the pivoted weight arm member 72 at rest, or prior to the start of the exercise motion , makes with the vertical. Changing that angle causes changes in the moment arm or resistive torque about the pivot point of the pivot rod 7O.

The practical effect of changing the positron of the weight bar 75 at rest is to cause the ratio of the moment arm, or resistive torque, at the beginni ng of the exercise motion to that at the end of the exercise motion to change. I n other words, the rate of change of the moment arm, or resistive torque, throughout the exercise motion varies with changes in the position of the weig ht bar at rest.

The physical training apparatus 100 shown in Fig. 6, 7 and 8 has a stationary main frame 1 61 , a moveable sub-frame 162 , weight 163, and rigid connecting arms 1 64 and 1 65 connected between the moveable sub-frame 1 62 and the weight 1 63.

The stationary main frame 161 has a front portion 166 and a rear portion 167. The rear portion 167 has a pair of feet 168 with respective upright stem pieces 169. Mounted between the stem pieces 169 is a pivot member 1 70, which rigidly supports a weight arm 1 71 . The weight arm 1 71 has a circular tube 174 at its end remote of the pivot member 1 70.

A weight bar 175 is removably connected through the bore of the circular tube 1 74, and weight plates 1 80 are removably connected to the weight bar 175.

Rigidly connected to the pivot member 1 70 is an upright transfer member 1 77 of the weight 1 63 such that the upright transfer member 1 77 has a fixed angle with respect to the pivot member 1 7O throughout the range of pivotal motion.

The upright transfer member 177 has a pair of spaced apart uprights 1 78 connected at the top by a cross piece 1 79. The cross piece 1 79 is pivotally connected to one end of the rigid connecting arm 164. The other end of the rigid connecting arm 1 64 is selectably connected to one end of the rigid connecting arm 165.

The other end of the rigid connecting arm 1 65 is pivotally connected to an upright bracket 1 83 of an upper crosspiece 1 81 of a pivotal carriage 182 that include a pair of spaced apart uprights 176 that are pivotally connected to respective feet 1 73.

There is a foot plate 184 which is rigidly connected to the upright bracket 183.

The rigid connecting arm 1 64 has plurality of apertures (not shown) adjacent to the end attaching rigid connecting arm 165. The apertures represent spaced apart, variable fixing points through which the rigid connecting arms 164 and 165 may be attached , thereby allowing for variation

in the distance between the pivot carriage 1 82 and the upright transfer member 1 77 of the weight 163. Varying the fixing point of the rigid connecting arm 164 to the rigid connecting arm 165 varies the starting point of the weight 1 63, and hence the force and the direction of force that is required to cause the weight to rise.

Referring to Fig 7, an athlete 194 lies on their back on the padded table 185 and their shoulders abutting the pads 186 and with soles of their feet pressing against the footplate 184, thereby assuming a horizontal squat position. The pads 186 are mounted on a slidably adjustable locator assembly 1 87 with braced uprights 1 88.

The locator assembly 187 has a pair of slide members 189 interconnected by a cross piece (not shown). Each slide member 189 engages a respective rail 190 to allow the locator assembly 1 87 to travel thereaiong. Each slide member 189 has a pair of upper wheels (not shown) and a lower whee! (not shown), which engage the upper and lower faces, respectively, of the rails 190.

Rigidly mounted beneath the padded table 185 is a locator rack 191 having a plurality of variable location teeth 1 92. To a selected one of the teeth 192 is engaged with one end of a locator member 193, the other end of which is pivotally connected to the slide members 189.

When an athlete 194, in the horizontal squat position , pushes with their feet against the footplate 184 the carriage 182 pivots rearwardly in the direction of arrow C with the rigid connecting arms 164 and 1 65 causing the weight 163 to rise by pivotal motion. The weight 163, in turn, provides a resistance to the push or driving force of the athlete 1 94. The rigid connecting arms 164 and 165 convert the vertical or gravitational resistance of the weight 1 63 into horizontal resistance

against the driving force exerted on the carriage 1 82.As the weight 163 is raised, the resistive torque increases in the same ratio as the moment arm from the weight bar 175 to the pivot point of the pivot member 1 70 is increasing. The effect is that the apparatus 160 provides less resistance at the start of the range of motion, where the relevant muscles can apply less torque, and more resistance at the end of the range of motion (see Fig. 8), where those muscles can exert more torque. in this way, the athlete 1 94 encounters an increasing resistance to the force they apply during the range of motion, and thus needs to exert increasing force throughout that range to maintain or even increase their momentum of the body extension.

By placing a pin 195 through a selected aperture in the rigid connecting arm 164 and through a hole in the rigid connecting arm 165, this selects the angle which the pivoted weight arm 1 71 at rest, or prior to the start of the exercise motion, makes with the vertical. Changing that angle causes changes in the moment arm or resistive torque about the pivot point of the pivot rod 1 70.

The practical effect of changing the position of the weight bar 175 at rest is to cause the ratio of the moment arm, or resistive torque, at the beginning of the exercise motion to that at the end of the exercise motion to change. In other words, the rate of change of the moment arm, or resistive torque, throughout the exercise motion varies with changes in the position of the weight bar at rest.

It will be readily apparent to persons skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in details of design and construction of the physical training apparatus without departing from the scope or ambit of the present invention.