Improved handle for sports machine and sports machine comprising improved handle

Abstract

Improved handle (1) able to be coupled to at least one cable (C) of a sports machine (M) of the type comprising a resistance unit (R) operable by a user through the cable (C) for physical exercise, the handle (1) comprising: at least one hollow housing (11) comprising an upper end (111) and a lower end (112), the housing (11) being able to be gripped by the user for physical exercise; at least one hollow inner sheath (2), said sheath (2) being insertable in a cavity of said at least one shell (11) and being coupleable to said at least one shell (11), said at least one sheath (2) being able to accommodate said at least one cable (C) in said cavity; wherein the at least one sheath (2) is withdrawn from a predetermined portion (P) with respect to the upper end (111) of the at least one shell (11).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an improved handle for a sports machine, in particular for a sports machine of the type comprising at least one cable.

[0002] The invention also relates to a gymnastics machine comprising the improved handle.

[0003] In more detail, the present invention relates to handles of the above type, which are specifically designed and created to allow the user to grip the cables of a gym machine while performing pulling exercises, but which can also be used for any type of exercise involving pulling a cable connected to a resistive load unit and routed by one or more pulleys.

[0004] In the following, the description will relate to the improved handle employed in a sports machine for simulating the movements performed during the sport of skiing, but it is clear that it should not be considered limited to this specific use. Background Art

[0005] Currently, gym machines are known that include cables connected to a resistive load unit, routed through one or more pulleys or other transmissions, which the user can grasp by grips or handles to facilitate gripping and thus physical exercise.

[0006] Known handles usually comprise a rigid housing inside which the cable is inserted.

[0007] A disadvantage of these handles is that the cable tends to bend and slide over the edges of the rigid housing when the user performs physical exercises, particularly exercises that involve tilting the cable relative to the direction indicated by the orientation of the handles.

[0008] Over time, repeated sliding leads to wear and tear, and even to cable breakage which may also occur during the performance of an exercise, thereby creating a hazard for the user who is suddenly threatened with losing his grip on the cable via the handles.

[0009] Another disadvantage of the known handles is that, when the user releases the handles at the end of the exercise and the cables return due to elastic forces to reach the start / end stroke position, the housing of the handles comes into contact with the frame of the machine to which the cables are anchored.

[0010] Over time, repeated impacts between the handle and the frame of the sports machine may cause the outer shell of the handle to crack.

[0011] In view of the drawbacks and unsolved problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved handle for a gymnastics machine comprising at least one cable, said handle allowing the cable to be protected from abrasive contact with the housing of the handle.

[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved handle for a gymnastics machine comprising at least one cable, said handle allowing to mitigate the impacts between the housing of the handle and the frame of the machine during the cable recovery phase.

[0013] Therefore, the technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a handle that allows to extend the life cycle of the cable of the sports machine on which it is mounted and of the handle itself. Summary of the invention

[0014] The basic idea of ​​the present invention is to provide an improved handle, which can be connected to at least one cable of a sports machine of the type including a resistance unit, and the resistance unit can be operated by a user through the cable to perform physical exercise. The handle includes at least one hollow outer shell, which in turn includes an upper end and a lower end, and the shell can be grasped by a user to perform physical exercise. The handle also includes at least one hollow inner sheath, which can be inserted into the cavity of the at least one shell and can be connected to the at least one shell, and the at least one sheath can accommodate the at least one cable into the cavity, and the at least one sheath can withdraw a predetermined part relative to the upper end of the at least one shell.

[0015] Furthermore, according to the invention, the at least one jacket can be coupled to the at least one shell by means of a positive coupling.

[0016] According to the present invention, preferably, the rigidity of the at least one sheath is smaller than that of the at least one shell, so that when a user operates the cable, the predetermined portion can be folded over the upper end of the at least one shell.

[0017] Also in accordance with the present invention, the housing includes a relief portion therein.

[0018] Still according to the invention, the sheath comprises an abutment portion.

[0019] Furthermore, according to the present invention, the coupling between the shell and the sheath is achieved by a shape coupling between the abutment portion and the release portion.

[0020] Preferably, according to the present invention, the handle may include a closing member fixable to the lower end of the housing.

[0021] According to the present invention, the closure member comprises a groove for accommodating the cable.

[0022] Still according to the invention, the closing member comprises a fixing portion for locking the cable.

[0023] Another object of the invention is a gymnastics machine comprising a resistance unit which can be operated by a cable by a user to perform a physical exercise and which comprises a handle according to the preceding features.

[0024] Furthermore, according to the invention, the machine may comprise a hook member to which the handle may be hooked when the machine is not in use.

[0025] Preferably, according to the present invention, the hook member is hook-shaped.

[0026] Also according to the invention, the machine may comprise at least one output element for the passage of the cable.

[0027] Also according to the invention, inside the at least one output element, a first pulley guiding the cable inside the machine is coupled in a freely rotatable manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] In the attached picture:

[0029] - Figure 1 An exploded view showing the improved handle for a gymnastics machine, object of the present invention;

[0030] - Figure 2 shows an axonometric view of a gymnastics machine object of the invention comprising said handle;

[0031] - Figure 3 Shows that when the cable is pulled Figure 1 A side view of the handle;

[0032] - Figure 4 shows a cross-sectional side view of a handle connected to an output element;

[0033] - Figure 5 Shows Figure 4 Axonometric view of the handle;

[0034] - Figure 6 shows an axonometric view of a gymnastics machine including said handle, including a hook member;

[0035] - Figure 7 A detailed view of the hook member is shown;

[0036] - Figure 8 shows a front view of the gymnasium machine, with details of the output element partially shown; and

[0037] - Fig. 9 Shows Figure 8 A sectional side view of a detail of the output element shown in FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] refer to Figure 1 , an improved handle 1 for a sports machine M, object of the present invention, is mentioned.

[0039] The gym machine M is of the type comprising a resistance unit R which can be operated by a user via ropes or cables C in order to perform a gymnastic exercise.

[0040] The cable C is connected to the gymnasium machine M via an output element E, which may be rotating (such as, for example, a joint) or fixed. The output element E has a housing A with an abutment A1 which is the end stroke of the handle 1 when the restoring elastic force causes the cable C to rewind.

[0041] like Figure 8 and Fig. 9 As shown in FIG. 1 , inside the output element E, a first pulley P1 guiding a cable C inside the machine M is coupled in a freely rotatable manner towards the resistance unit R via a second pulley P2 coupled in a freely rotatable manner to the frame.

[0042] refer to Figure 6 and Figure 7 The machine M further comprises a hook member O to which the handle 1 can be hooked when the machine is not in use.

[0043] Particularly, the hook member O is hook-shaped, and the handle 1 can be inserted into the hook member O.

[0044] In particular, the sports machine M is a machine that allows the user to simulate skiing and comprises a first output element E1 for a first cable C1 and a second output element E2 for a second cable C2, which can be grasped by a first handle 1 and a second handle 1 ', respectively.

[0045] The first cable C1 and the second cable C2 are connected to the resistance unit R through a transmission member (such as a pulley) not shown in the figure.

[0046] However, the sports machine M may also be of a different type without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0047] The handle 1 mainly comprises a hollow outer shell 11 and an inner sheath 2, wherein the hollow outer shell 11 can be grasped by a user for physical exercise.

[0048] The handle 1 may further comprise a cap or closure member 3 .

[0049] When the user releases the handle 1 at the end of exercise, the cap 3 prevents the sheath 2 from being withdrawn from the lower end 112 of the handle 1 when the sheath 2 hits the abutment A1 .

[0050] The housing 11 includes an upper end 111 and a lower end 112 .

[0051] The housing 11 extends from the upper end 111 toward the lower end 112 .

[0052] At the lower end 112, there is an enlarged portion 112a to facilitate an ergonomic grip by a user when performing physical exercises.

[0053] Inside the shell 11 there is arranged a release 113 allowing coupling with the sheath 2 .

[0054] In particular, when the user performs a pulling exercise of the cable C through the handle 1 , the release portion 113 is shape-coupled with the abutment portion 23 of the sheath 2 to prevent it from being withdrawn from the upper end 111 .

[0055] The housing 11 is made of a rigid plastic material.

[0056] The shell 11 has a shape similar to a hollow cylinder.

[0057] The hollow inner sheath 2 includes an upper end 21 and a lower end 22 , and extends from the upper end 21 toward the lower end 22 .

[0058] The cable C enters the sheath 2 from the upper end 21 toward the lower end 22 .

[0059] The sheath 2 has an abutment portion 23 on its surface, and the abutment portion 23 can abut on the release portion 113 of the shell 11 so that the sheath 2 is coupled to the shell 11 .

[0060] In particular, the sheath 2 is inserted into the shell 11 through the lower end 112 of the shell 11 until the abutment portion 23 encounters the release portion 113 .

[0061] When the sheath 2 is inserted into the housing 11 , the upper end 21 thereof is withdrawn by a predetermined portion P relative to the upper end 111 of the housing 11 .

[0062] The sheath 2 is made of an elastically deformable plastic material having a stiffness less than that of the plastic material of the shell 11, so that when the user pulls the handle 1 to cause it to tilt relative to the cable C, the predetermined portion P can bend until it contacts the upper end 111 of the shell 11, thereby protecting the cable C from direct contact with the shell 11 and thus from wear.

[0063] In particular, when the machine M is not in use, the predetermined portion P may be inserted into the hook member O to protect the cable from contacting the hook member O.

[0064] The closing member 3 is coupled to the lower end 112 of the shell 11 at the enlarged portion 112a.

[0065] In particular, the coupling is performed by a pair of screws 31 , or a snap fit may be provided, so that the closure member 3 does not withdraw from the housing during use of the handle 1 .

[0066] A groove 32 for accommodating the cable C is obtained on the closing member 3 .

[0067] Furthermore, the closing member 3 comprises an output portion 33 for the end of the cable C.

[0068] Therefore, the closing member 3 is capable of accommodating and locking the cable C.

[0069] The operation of the handle 1 of the present invention is as follows. For the sake of simplicity of description, only the function of one handle 1 is described herein.

[0070] When a user wishes to perform physical exercise using the gym machine M, he / she grips the handle 1 , causing the cable C to be pulled.

[0071] During traction, if Figure 3 As shown in , an angle α is created between the cable C and the direction D identified by the orientation of the handle 1 .

[0072] The predetermined portion P of the sheath 2 is inclined and bent on the upper end 111 of the shell 11 under the tension of the cable C, thus protecting the cable C from abrasion.

[0073] When the user finishes the physical exercise, he / she releases the handle 1. The cable C is restored by the elastic force generated by the transmission member, and the handle abuts against the output element E.

[0074] In particular, said predetermined portion P of the sheath 2 is inserted into the housing A of the output element E of the machine, thus relieving the impacts between the shell 11 and the frame of the sports machine M.

[0075] From the description written above it is clear that the advantage of the handle 1 lies in the following dual function: protecting the cable from wear, because the cable never comes into contact with the shell of the handle, and protecting the shell itself from impacts with the machine frame when the elastic force restores the cable at the end of the physical exercise.

[0076] Obviously, a person skilled in the art may make numerous changes and variants to the support described above in order to satisfy contingencies and specific needs, in all the ways comprised within the scope of protection of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An improved handle (1) capable of being coupled to at least one cable (C) of a sports machine (M) of the type comprising a resistance unit (R), the resistance unit (R) being operable by a user via the cable (C) to perform a physical exercise, the handle (1) being characterized in that: The handle (1) comprises at least one hollow shell (11), the shell (11) comprising an upper end (111) and a lower end (112), the shell (11) being capable of being grasped by a user for physical exercise; The handle (1) comprises at least one hollow inner sheath (2), the sheath (2) being insertable into the cavity of the at least one shell (11) and being connectable to the at least one shell (11), the at least one sheath (2) being capable of accommodating the at least one cable (C) into the cavity; and The at least one sheath (2) is withdrawn by a predetermined portion (P) relative to the upper end (111) of the at least one shell (11).

2. Handle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The at least one sheath (2) can be coupled to the at least one shell (11) by a form coupling.

3. The handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that: The rigidity of the at least one sheath (2) is lower than that of the at least one shell (11), so that when the user operates the cable, the predetermined portion (P) can be folded over the upper end (111) of the at least one shell (11).

4. The handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that: The housing (11) includes a release portion (113) therein.

5. The handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that: The sheath (2) comprises an abutment portion (23).

6. Handle (1) according to the preceding claim, when it is dependent on claim 4, characterized in that The coupling between the shell (11) and the sheath (2) is achieved by a form coupling between the abutment portion (23) and the release portion (113).

7. The handle (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The handle (1) comprises a closure member (3) fixable to the lower end (112) of the housing (11).

8. Handle (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that The closure member (3) comprises a groove (32) for accommodating the cable (C).

9. The handle (1) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, characterized in that: The closing member (3) comprises a fixing portion (33) for locking the cable (C).

10. A sports machine (M) comprising a resistance unit (R) operable by a user via a cable (C) for performing a physical exercise, characterized in that The sports machine (M) comprises an improved handle (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1-9.

11. Machine (M) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that The machine (M) comprises a hook member (O) capable of hooking the handle (1) when the machine is not in use.

12. Machine (M) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that The hook member (O) is hook-shaped.

13. A machine (M) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that The machine (M) comprises at least one output element (E) for the passage of the cable (C).

14. Machine (M) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that Inside the at least one output element (E), a first pulley (P1) guiding the cable (C) inside the machine (M) is coupled in a freely rotatable manner.

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