Training device

Abstract

The invention relates to an exercise equipment (1) specifically for the muscles of the hand and arm, which has a long equipment axis (6), a longitudinal housing with a circular inner cross-section containing at least one ball (4), the end portions of which are fixed to a grip section (3), where the housing and the grip section (3) lie in at least one plane and the housing forms a hub (9), and is structured to be flexible, where at least one ball can move freely between the housing. To improve the exercise effect, the end portions of the housing are oriented to each other at an angle between 70° and 120°, preferably around 90°, and the grip section (3) includes a grip zone (8), and the grip section (3) is structured in a double twisted manner so that the grip zone (8) runs along the contour of the exercise equipment and is closer to the long equipment axis (6) than to the hub (9).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a training device according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] EP 2 029 241 A1 discloses a training device, particularly for the hand, arm, and upper body muscles, with an elongated casing having a substantially circular inner cross-section, inside which at least one ball is freely movable between its ends. The opposing ends of the casing, which is curved in a plane, are connected to a straight, cylindrical handle with a soft outer surface. Although good training results are consistently achieved with this device, there is a desire for even greater training efficiency.

[0003] Training devices with movable internal bodies, in which handles protrude from a plane of movement of the internal body, are known from US 6,099,444 A and JP 2005 / 278840 A. The former discloses a variety of training devices with movable spheres or egg-shaped bodies inside differently shaped tracks with a closed cross-section. A basic distinction can be made between closed (oval, figure-eight, etc.) tracks and straight tracks. Only the latter have shock absorbers at their ends to prevent the transmission of impacts to the joints of the subjects.

[0004] Another training device is known from GB 855,312 A. This consists of a tube inside a straight, closed-section tube that serves as a guide and handle, with the inner tube being linearly movable between shock absorbers. Other training devices exist in the form of dumbbells, expanders, and similar items. A disadvantage of these devices is the generally monotonous nature of the training and the difficulty or impossibility of performing this training while engaged in another activity, such as running.

[0005] The invention aims to create a training device that does not have these disadvantages and that can be used in a variety of ways, with a particular desire for an increase in the training effect compared to EP 2 029 241.

[0006] According to the invention, the main objective is achieved by the features of claim 1.

[0007] In principle, it should be noted that the handle can be constructed as a single piece or from several components. The handle area can be foamed or molded on as a kind of "cover," or it can form a separate central section between the end parts of the handle. The transition from the handle to the hose can be achieved in various ways, and intermediate elements can also be incorporated here. All of these elements can be freely combined, as the hose connection and the handle design are technically independent of each other.

[0008] This creates an essentially oval, but "recessed" training device, where, for example, the closed casing consists of a spiral tube containing one or more spheres made of a solid material with sufficient inertia (e.g., steel balls). The ends of the spiral tube are then pushed over the handle and secured. This can be achieved, if necessary, by means of a connecting tube, which is itself pulled over (or inserted into) a pipe, thus shaping the spiral tube into an approximately oval form. A handle or grip made of suitable material is attached or formed within the pipe to allow for a firm and comfortable grip.

[0009] In general, both in exercise equipment and occupational medicine, efforts are made to reduce the occurrence and intensity of vibrations to an absolute minimum. Such vibrations are often perceived as unpleasant in exercise equipment. In occupational medicine, avoiding vibrations, for example in the case of pneumatic hammers, is even a primary concern. Surprisingly, therapeutic trials with Parkinson's patients have now revealed that, with this particular exercise device, increasing the vibrations can lead to increased muscle tone, resulting in a more effective training effect. Even more surprising was the finding that training with this newly developed device can lead to a significant reduction in symptoms for Parkinson's patients. A handle, or at least a handle section, made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS) has proven particularly beneficial in this context.

[0010] Due to its design, the training device has no sharp edges and can therefore be used safely during hikes, jogging or other activities where the muscles of the upper body and especially the arms and hands are not usually trained.

[0011] The flexibility of the tube and the mobility of the inertia balls (e.g., steel balls) result in a constantly changing grip, prompting a response from the muscles involved in holding the training device, thus also training fine motor skills and reflexes. The training effect is further enhanced by the relatively rigid handle section, which directly transfers all force peaks (absorbing excessive force when the balls strike the end of the tube) from the training device to the user's arms, creating an additional training stimulus.

[0012] When a spiral hose is used—this includes all types of hoses with a spiral (actually helical) reinforcement—the balls moving inside the spiral hose are caused to vibrate and rotate due to the helical protrusions on the inner surface of the hose. This particularly stimulates the nerves in the user's palms and activates the corresponding muscles. Combined with a firm grip, this further enhances the training effect.

[0013] The tube forming the handle, which does not need to have a circular cross-section, can be made of copper, steel, aluminum, or their alloys, or even mechanically stable plastics up to and including PVC. At both ends, the hose either extends beyond the tube for a certain length or encircles it. This ensures that the spiral hose does not kink at the tube end but is supported by the handle with as much spring as possible. The hose can be a standard garden hose or have similar mechanical properties. Of course, it is also possible to manufacture a special, one-piece handle onto which the spiral hose is pushed (and possibly glued) with a slight elastic deformation that secures it in place. This handle can also be designed with damping or spring-loaded ends.

[0014] In one embodiment of the invention, mechanically damping or spring elements are inserted at both ends of the spiral hose to dampen the impact when a ball strikes it, thus reducing the stress on the user's joints. A plug-like piece of foam rubber can be used most simply as a damper; coil springs, foam rubber, and other elastically deformable elements can also be used. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, this shock absorber can be omitted if the end of the hose itself is designed to provide damping or spring action. In a further alternative embodiment of the invention, the damping element is deliberately omitted to increase the training effect through an even stronger impulse.

[0015] The handle is designed so that, when viewed from above while the device is lying down, it is not tubular or rod-shaped with a substantially straight axis, but rather has a strongly curved shape, similar to a (possibly inverted) "W," with the central point of the W being elongated to form a grip area. The ends of the tube thus merge into the diagonally positioned end arms of the W. This allows the grip area of ​​the training device to be positioned closer to its center of gravity (if the balls are considered to be located in the middle of the tube's length or simply disregarded), which users describe as comfortable.Furthermore, it is possible to influence the curvature of the hose solely through the shape of the handle, so that the impact of the balls on the handle during training is dampened or massively reduced, or even prevented, thereby influencing the intensity of the ball impulses.

[0016] The different designs of the handle part can be combined in any way with the different designs of the damping properties.

[0017] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. The single figure shows a training device according to the invention, partly in side view and partly in section.

[0018] A training device 1 comprises a flexible tube 2, which forms the casing, and a dimensionally stable handle 3. The tube 2 has a flat, curved shape, the end regions of which form an angle between 70° and 120°, preferably approximately 90° as shown. "Flat shape" means that the plus / minus deviations of the curved tube axis from an imaginary central plane (in the figure, the plane of the paper) are no greater than the outer diameter of the tube 2.

[0019] The handle section 3 is designed such that its ends (legs) are aligned with the ends of the hose, thus at an angle between 70° and 120°, preferably approximately 90° as shown, and then, through a double bend, forms an actual grip area 8 that is closer to the long axis of the device 6 than the belly 9 of the hose 2. In more detail, this means that the outer surface of the grip area 8 is closer to the axis of the device 6 than the outer surface of the hose 2 in the region of its belly. It also means that the grip area 8 lies at a distance within an outer plane 7 of the training device 1, which contains the two points of the handle section 3 that are furthest from the long axis 6.

[0020] This design places the grip area 8 close to the center of gravity of the device (without regard to [the current position] of the balls), which improves the handling and training with the device compared to state-of-the-art devices and also allows and encourages exercises that cannot be performed, or cannot be performed easily, with state-of-the-art devices.

[0021] Even in the prior art closest to the invention, EP 2 029 241, the handle is located closer to the long axis of the device than the belly of the hose. Furthermore, in that prior art, the straight handle is aligned with the opposing ends of the hose, so that at the end of the ball's movement, an impulse can only be transmitted in the longitudinal direction of the handle. In the training device according to the invention, the sudden, albeit damped, impulse occurring at the end of the ball's movement is also transmitted with a component in the direction of the transverse axis 5 (which runs approximately horizontally during use). This results in an additional angular impulse and significantly improves the training effect.

[0022] The grip area 8 is advantageously adapted, as shown, to the inner shape of a gripping hand and accordingly has recesses for the fingers and a curvature for the palm of the hand.

[0023] The handle section 3 preferably has damping elements, so-called shock absorbers 10, or stoppers in its two end regions for the balls 4 that roll freely inside the hose 2. This allows unpleasant shocks to be absorbed without reducing the usability of the device. In the simplest case, these damping elements can consist of foam rubber, foam rubber, or similar materials. It is also possible, of course, to provide spring-loaded stop plates or similar devices. A person skilled in the art, familiar with the invention, will have no problem taking the appropriate measures here, which are completely independent of those relating to hose assembly and the design of the handle section / grip area.

[0024] The freely moving spheres 4 in the tube 2 are preferably steel spheres, since the density of the steel produces a noticeable training effect due to their relatively large mass. Their diameter is matched to the inner diameter of the tube 2 in such a way that getting stuck is not a concern, while any movement in the radial direction within the circular inner cross-section of the tube 2 is barely perceptible.

[0025] Hose 2, as mentioned earlier, is preferably a spiral hose; it should actually be called a screw hose, and can be an ordinary garden hose or similar, reinforced in this way. Due to the ribbed structure of the inner surface, possibly created by the screw threads of the hose's reinforcement, a rattling sound is transmitted to the handle area and consequently to the user during training. This, as explained above, produces beneficial effects or strengthens various health conditions.

[0026] Handle section 3 and grip area 8 are preferably (each) manufactured in one piece from plastic or metal; of course, different parts can be used / combined, for example, to adapt to different hand sizes. The hose 2 is either directly connected to the handle section 3 or at each end by means of a connector that holds the end of the hose, preferably with a certain degree of flexibility. Preferably two to five, and particularly preferably four, steel balls can be used.

[0027] Typical external dimensions are approximately 30 cm ± 10% along the long axis of the device 6 and between 18 and 25 cm perpendicular to this axis, thus between the outer surface of the abdomen 9 and a handle-side outer plane 7. The inner diameter of the tube 2 is 3.5 cm ± 0.5 cm; the size and exact shape of the handle section 3 and the grip area 8 depend on the user and can be adjusted accordingly. These dimensions represent a typical training device. It is, of course, possible to manufacture devices that deviate from the above dimensions, possibly even significantly.

[0028] The invention thus relates to a training device 1, in particular for the hand, arm and upper body muscles, with a long device axis 6, with an elongated shell having an at least substantially circular inner cross-section, inside of which at least one ball 4 is located, and end regions of the shell are attached to a handle part 3, wherein the shell and the handle part 3 lie at least substantially in one plane and the shell forms a bulge 9, wherein the shell is flexible over at least part of its longitudinal extent, and wherein the at least one ball is freely movable between the ends of the shell, characterized in that the end regions of the casing are directed towards each other at an angle between 70° and 120°, preferably about 90°, that the handle part 3 includes or forms an actual grip area 8, and that the handle part 3 is double-bent, thus having the shape of a "W", such that the grip area 8 runs within the outline of the training device and is closer to the long axis of the device 6 than the belly 9.

[0029] A further training is characterized by the fact that the casing is a hose 2 made of plastic, preferably a spiral hose.

[0030] One embodiment is characterized by the fact that shock absorbers 10 are provided at both ends of the shell in its end region.

[0031] A training course is characterized by the fact that at least one ball 4 is made of steel.

[0032] A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the handle part 3 is made of plastic or metal.

[0033] A further development thereof is characterized by the fact that the handle part 3 in the handle area 8 includes a covering or covering made of softer material such as softer plastic, sponge rubber, foam rubber, polyurethane. Reference symbol list:

[0034] 1 Training device 2 Hose 3 Handle part 4 Ball(s) 5 Transverse axis 6 Long device axis 7 Outer plane 8 Grip area 9 Abdomen 10 Shock absorber

Claims

1. Training device (1), in particular for the training of the hand, arm and upper body muscles, with a long device axis (6), comprising an elongated shell with a at least substantially circular inner cross-section, inside which there is at least one ball (4), and with ends that are attached to a handle part (3), wherein the shell and the handle part (3) are at least substantially in one plane and furthermore the casing is forming a belly (9), wherein the casing is designed to be flexible over at least part of its longitudinal extent, and wherein the at least one ball is freely movable between the ends of the casing, characterised in that - the ends of the shell are directed towards each other at an angle between 70° and 120°, preferably of approximately 90°, that - the handle part (3) comprises or forms an actual handle area (8), and that - the handle part (3) is designed with a double bend, thus having substantially the shape of a "W", so that the handle area (8) is within the outline of the training device and is closer to the long device axis (6) than the belly (9).

2. Training device according to claim 1, characterised in that the shell is a plastic tube (2), preferably a spiral tube.

3. Training device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that shock absorbers (10) are provided in their end regions of both ends of the shell.

4. Training device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the at least one ball (4) is made of steel.

5. Training device according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the handle part (3) is made of plastic or metal.

6. Training device according to claim 5, characterised in that the handle part (3) comprises a covering or overlay made of a softer material such as soft plastic, foam rubber or polyurethane in the grip area (8).