Rope adjustment mechanism for Pilates machines

Abstract

A rope adjustment mechanism for Pilates machines, applicable to machines of the type that include a horizontal frame with longitudinal guides along which a carriage (1) moves against the tension of springs (2) by means of wheels (3) movable along said guides, the carriage being linked on its underside to a pair of ropes (4) by means of an automatic rewinding mechanism materialized in two cylindrical housings (5) with a vertical axis and provided with an internal strip to which the end of each of the ropes (4) is attached, characterized in that the ropes (4) are passed through respective selective and independent locking and release mechanisms after passing through two rope (4) guide elements (6) located in correspondence with one of the longitudinal edges of the carriage, the locking and release mechanisms comprising a fixed wedge (7) and a movable wedge (8), arranged transversely to the rope, wherein the movable wedge (8) is linked to the fixed wedge by means of a bridge (10) under which the rope passes, and in which a pivot axis (11) is established for said movable wedge, which in turn is linked to a connecting rod (12) articulated to a longitudinal plate (13) longitudinally displaceable by means of guide holes (15) in which stops (16) play, against a spring (14), which makes the connecting rod (12) tend at all times towards the position of locking the movable wedge (8) against the corresponding rope, with the particularity that each longitudinal plate (13) is terminated at one of its ends in a handle (17) manually accessible under the edge of the carriage, determining a means of pulling and releasing the movable wedge (8).

Description

Rope adjustment mechanism for Pilates machines TECHNICAL SECTOR The present invention relates to a mechanism that has been specially designed to allow independent regulation of the operating length of the ropes used to perform Pilates exercises on machines commonly called "reformers", with the aim of incorporating the technique used in Pilates exercises usually practiced on the floor into a more intense workout. The invention is therefore applicable to machines of the type that include a frame in which a carriage moves horizontally against the tension of springs, and which includes ropes linked to the carriage, passing through guide elements and ending in handles that make it possible to carry out different types of carriage displacement exercises. The object of the invention is to provide a mechanism that allows the operating length of the ropes to be adjusted quickly, conveniently and easily, independently for each one. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Pilates exercise machines are known to include a horizontal frame with longitudinal guides along which a carriage moves against the tension of springs. This frame includes a support bar for feet or hands, and optionally a vertical column with a series of accessories to increase the number of exercises that can be performed with the machine. The cart is movable by means of support from different parts of the body, offering a great versatility of exercises, including the movement of the cart by means of ropes linked to the cart itself that are passed through pulleys attached to a structure linked to the main frame and that end in handles or straps for the insertion of hands or feet allowing traction through these elements of the cart against the tension of the aforementioned springs. However, as mentioned, this is one of the many types of exercises that these machines allow, so these elements (ropes) are not always necessary. When not in use, they can be an obstacle to other exercises, so they are linked to a self-winding mechanism that allows them to be hidden when not needed. In this sense, current mechanisms do not allow regulating the operational length of the ropes, defining maximum extension lengths calculated for an "average" user, which do not always adequately adapt to the specific needs of each user. EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION The rope adjustment mechanism for pilates machines proposed by the invention fully and satisfactorily solves the problem described above, allowing the degree of extension of each rope to be adjusted and locked independently, so that they adapt to the specific needs of each user and type of exercise to be performed. To this end, the mechanism of the invention starts from the conventional structure described above, in which the machine includes a horizontal frame with longitudinal guides along which a carriage is movable against the tension of springs, a carriage to whose lower face a pair of ropes are linked through an automatic collection mechanism materialized in two cylindrical housings, which are fixed by their base or upper end to the lower face of the carriage, the collection mechanism being protected inside, housings in which two reels are established on a vertical axis of rotation to which the ends of the ropes are fixed, by means of two strips that rotate them when the ropes are not being pulled to the position of maximum collection of the same on said reels. The strings come out of the casing through a pair of holes drilled in it, with the rest of the mechanism completely hidden inside the casing. Well, in accordance with the essence of the invention, it has been planned that each of the ropes, before reaching the guiding elements established on the lower edge of the carriage in which they are applied, will be passed through separate independent selective locking mechanisms. More specifically, each of the mechanisms is made up of a pair of wedges, a fixed wedge, and a movable wedge, which are arranged transversely to the rope. In this sense, the movable wedge tends at all times to the wedge position and consequent locking of the rope by the effect of a spring-assisted mechanism, so that this mechanism can be temporarily unlocked as long as a plate is pulled which releases the tension of the spring and causes the opening of the movable wedge, facilitating the movement of the rope, either for its retrieval or to adjust the operating length to the specific needs of each case. In this way, along with the rope guide elements, on the edge of the machine carriage, the two plates will be established as handles that the user can selectively operate with their hands to adjust one rope and the other in a simple, comfortable and quick way. This creates a rope adjustment mechanism that optimizes the exercises to be performed based on the user's size and the type of exercise, making these exercises much more effective and without risk of injury due to poor adaptation to the user's physique. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS To complement the description that follows and to aid in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment thereof, a set of drawings is included as an integral part of said description, in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a Pilates machine carriage that includes a rope adjustment mechanism made in accordance with the object of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a bottom perspective view of the assembly in Figure 1. Figure 3 shows an enlarged detail of the set in Figure 2. Figure 4 shows, finally, a detail from a different perspective of the means of selectively locking the strings. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION In view of the figures described, it can be observed how the mechanism of the invention is intended to be implemented in the carriage (1) of a Pilates machine, of the type that includes a horizontal frame with longitudinal guides along which the carriage (1) is movable against the tension of springs (2), by means of wheels (3) movable along said guides. As is also conventional, a pair of ropes (4) are attached to the lower face of the carriage (1) through an automatic collection mechanism materialized in two cylindrical housings (5) equipped with an inner strap to which the end of each of the ropes (4) is attached. Well, according to the invention, the ropes (4) are passed through separate selective locking and release mechanisms, before passing through the guiding elements (6) of the same located in correspondence with one of the longitudinal edges of the carriage. As can be seen especially in figures 3 and 4, these locking and release mechanisms involve a fixed wedge (7) and a movable wedge (8). The fixed wedge (7) is fixed by screws or rivets (9) to the lower face of the carriage, and is linked to the movable wedge (8) by means of a bridge (10) under which the rope passes, and in which a pivot axis (11) is established for said movable wedge, which allows its approach and distance from the fixed wedge, the assembly acting as a clamp that locks the rope passing through said bridge in the closed position. For this purpose, the movable wedge (8) is linked to a connecting rod (12) which in turn is articulated to a longitudinal plate (13) that can be moved longitudinally by means of guide holes (15) in which stops (16) play, said plate being associated with a spring (14) which makes the connecting rod (12) tend at all times towards the locking position of the movable wedge (8). The longitudinal plate (13) is terminated at its opposite end in a handle (17) that is manually accessible under the edge of the carriage, so that the user can pull one or the other handle (17) with their hands to unlock one or the other rope and regulate its degree of extension to perfectly suit their height and type of exercise to be performed, since when releasing the handle (17) the rope associated with said mechanism will be locked again. The fact that the ropes can be adjusted independently is especially important when the exercises to be performed on the trolley are not symmetrical for each of the ropes, facilitating the specific adjustment of each of the ropes.

Claims

1. Rope adjustment mechanism for Pilates machines, applicable to machines of the type that include a horizontal frame with longitudinal guides along which a carriage (1) is movable against the tension of springs (2), by means of wheels (3) movable along said guides, the carriage being linked on its lower face to a pair of ropes (4) through an automatic retraction mechanism materialized in two cylindrical housings (5) with a vertical axis and provided with an internal strip to which the end of each of the ropes (4) is linked, characterized in that the ropes (4) are passed through respective selective and independent locking and release mechanisms after passing through two guide elements (6) of the ropes (4), located in correspondence with one of the longitudinal edges of the carriage, locking and release mechanisms in which a fixed wedge (7) and a movable wedge (8) participate,arranged transversely to the rope, where the movable wedge (8) is linked to the fixed wedge through a bridge (10) under which the rope passes, and in which a pivot axis (11) is established for said movable wedge, which in turn is linked to a connecting rod (12) articulated to a longitudinal plate (13) longitudinally displaceable by means of guide holes (15) in which stops (16) play, against a spring (14), which makes the connecting rod (12) tend at all times towards the position of locking the movable wedge (8) against the corresponding rope, with the particularity that each longitudinal plate (13) is terminated at one of its ends in a handle (17) manually accessible under the edge of the carriage, determining a means of pulling and releasing the movable wedge (8).