Equipment for exercises with elastic bands

Abstract

Piece of equipment (1) for exercises with elastic bands, that it comprises: a base (10), comprising two parallel longitudinal members (11) and at least one bar (12) orthogonal to the longitudinal members (11); a pair of uprights (13), each of which is perpendicular and rigidly securable to a longitudinal member (11); at least one crossbar (14) orthogonal to the uprights (13) and adapted to mutually connect the latter; wherein at least one upright (13) and at least one longitudinal member (11) are provided with at least one hook (15); wherein the piece of equipment (1) comprises at least one elastic band (21) provided with at least one first end (22), associated with the hook (15), and with at least one second free end (23) graspable by a user (O) of said piece of equipment (1); wherein a free area of work (24) is defined between the longitudinal members (11), in which area the user (O) can position him / herself during the use of the piece of equipment (1) and while grasping said elastic band (21); wherein the crossbar (14) is associated with the uprights (13) in a movable manner along a direction of sliding (D) substantially parallel to the uprights (13); wherein the piece of equipment (1) comprises removable blocking means which are operable to block the crossbar (14) with respect to the uprights (13) along the direction of sliding (D), the crossbar (14) being released from the second free end (23) and being stationary with respect to said uprights (13) during the movement of the second end (23) by the user (O); wherein the crossbar (14) comprises at least one supporting body (20) which develops substantially vertically and intended to receive and support at least one portion of the body of the user (O) when it is positioned in the area of work (24).

Description

[0001] EQUIPMENT FOR EXERCISES WITH ELASTIC BANDS

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] This invention relates to a piece of equipment for exercises with elastic bands, or more briefly, elastics.

[0004] Background Art

[0005] The use of elastic bands in functional and rehabilitative recovery has been common practice for decades thanks to the numerous advantages of the type of work known as auxotonic: it reduces the risk of injury, eliminates post -workout muscle pain, known as DOMS, and allows the load to be adjusted as desired, either by modifying the tension of the elastic band by reducing its length or by using a more resistant elastic band; furthermore, elastic bands are easy to transport and take up little space.

[0006] Thanks to these characteristics, elastic bands are commonly used in the fitness world and in many gym classes, such as “Postural Gymnastics”, “Pilates” and “Functional Training”, which exploit the type of muscle contraction that can be developed with them.

[0007] While with overloads the muscles work with the same tension, with elastic bands the tension increases proportionally to the stretch, thus offering progressive resistance during the exercises that are performed.

[0008] The use of elastic bands is therefore suitable for all ages: avoiding trauma, it is perfect during childhood, when the skeleton is still developing, but also in old age, when bone and tendon problems may arise.

[0009] Thanks to the type of contraction, the elastic bands allow increasing muscle tone without trauma, thus allowing the performance of exercises in which the number of muscle fibers involved gradually increases, stimulating bone and muscle growth and counteracting osteoporosis.

[0010] Finally, elastics allow working the whole body out, enable you to train on your own in complete autonomy, and are easy to carry wherever you go, even if there are no gyms or equipped centers.

[0011] However, there is no equipment specifically designed for the use of elastics and the common practice is to attach one end to any fixed structure while holding theother end to perform the exercises.

[0012] The utmost variability of the fixed structures to which one end of the elastics is actually attached implies, first of all, a limitation of the working space because it requires performing the exercises standing up or setting up seats at a correct distance, making the work uncomfortable and discontinuous. Furthermore, there is a risk of performing exercises with incorrect posture and using compensations, i.e., working with muscles other than those identified as the target, thus reducing the effectiveness of the exercises or even, if performed in a rehabilitation setting, causing the problems to worsen.

[0013] Description of the Invention

[0014] The object of this invention is therefore to eliminate the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0015] The invention, as it is characterized by the claims, achieves this object thanks to a newly designed piece of equipment.

[0016] The main advantage obtained by this invention essentially consists in the fact that it requires the user to take on a correct posture during the performance of the exercises.

[0017] It therefore allows hundreds of existing exercises to be performed while ensuring better posture thanks to its structure and to its support cushions.

[0018] Thanks to the invention, it is possible to perform exercises in different postures, all designed to reduce body compensations, both those that we naturally maintain and those even greater that are developed during muscle work.

[0019] Another new feature is the possibility of performing many exercises for different parts of the body even in gravitational unloading, thus eliminating the load on the spine and any postural compensations.

[0020] While in zero gravity and performing the exercises, the invention allows for stretching the posterior kinetic chain, with enormous benefits for the body, as this is a very common problem at all ages, considering the increasingly sedentary lifestyle of human beings in recent decades.

[0021] The shortening of the posterior kinetic chain, in fact, implies a shortening of the posterior muscles of the legs and of the back, and it has been proved that it cancause problems in the back, hips, knees and ankles due to the incorrect posture it induces.

[0022] Therefore, the invention aims to allow performing safe exercise for all ages, maintaining a high standard and thus greater effectiveness, with a special focus on improving posture.

[0023] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024] Further advantages and characteristics of the invention will be more evident in the detailed description that follows, with reference to the attached drawings, which represent a non-limiting example of its execution, in which:

[0025] Figure 1 illustrates the invention in a perspective view and at a position of use;

[0026] Figure 2 illustrates the invention in Figure 1 during a phase of use by a user; Figure 3 illustrates a detail of the invention;

[0027] Figure 4 illustrates the invention in a perspective view at a position of storage. Embodiments of the Invention

[0028] With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 1 globally denotes a piece of equipment for exercises with elastic bands.

[0029] According to the invention, the piece of equipment 1 comprises:

[0030] a base 10, comprising two parallel longitudinal members 11 and at least one bar 12 orthogonal to the longitudinal members 11;

[0031] a pair of uprights 13, each of which is perpendicular and rigidly securable to a longitudinal member 11;

[0032] at least one crossbar 14 orthogonal to the uprights 13 and adapted to mutually connect the latter;

[0033] wherein at least one upright 13 and at least one longitudinal member 11 are provided with at least one hook 15;

[0034] wherein the piece of equipment 1 comprises at least one elastic band 21 provided with at least one first end 22, associated with the hook 15, and at least one second free end 23 graspable by a user O of the piece of equipment 1;

[0035] wherein a free area of work 24 is defined between the longitudinal members 11, in which area the user O can position him / herself during the use of the piece ofequipment 1 and while grasping the elastic band 21;

[0036] wherein the crossbar 14 is associated with the uprights 13 in a movable maimer along a direction of sliding D substantially parallel to the uprights 13; wherein the piece of equipment 1 comprises blocking means operable to block the crossbar 14 with respect to the uprights 13 and along the direction of sliding D, the crossbar 14 being released from the second end 23 and being stationary with respect to the uprights 13 during the movement of the second end 23 by the user O;

[0037] wherein the crossbar 14 comprises at least one supporting body 20 which develops substantially vertically and is intended to receive and support at least one portion of the body of the user O when it is positioned in the area of work 24. With reference to the figures, the crossbar 14 comprises at least one bar-shaped body 25, arranged transversely, preferably orthogonally, to the uprights 13 and adapted to support the supporting body 20.

[0038] Preferably, the supporting body 20 is made of soft material in order to make it more comfortable for a portion of the body of the user O to rest thereon.

[0039] The bar-shaped body 25 is mounted in a sliding manner on the uprights 13 along the direction of sliding D, so as to allow the position of the supporting body 20 to be adjusted according to the user’s needs.

[0040] In particular, the bar-shaped body 25 and the supporting body 20 are positionable at different heights above the ground which, e.g., can be chosen so that the user, positioned in the area of work 24, may rest their back or sternum on the supporting body 20.

[0041] Once the predetermined height has been reached, the bar-shaped body 25 and the supporting body 20 are blocked at the chosen height via the blocking means. The following section describes in greater detail the operational modes through which the bar-shaped body 25 and the supporting body 20 are made to slide and then blocked along the direction of sliding D.

[0042] Before or after adjusting the height of the supporting body 20, the user O secures the first end 22 of the elastic band 21 to the hook 15, positions him / herself in the area of work 24, possibly leaning their back or sternum against the supportingbody 20, grasps the second end 23 and moves it away from the first end 22 in order to exert physical effort.

[0043] The elastic band 21 exerts a force that counteracts the pulling away of the second end 23 from the first end 22, thus requiring the user O to apply a certain amount of force.

[0044] The second end 23 can be grasped with one hand or constrained to another part of the body which may vary depending on the muscle exercise that the user O wishes to perform.

[0045] Usefully, the uprights 13 and the longitudinal members 11 comprise a plurality of hooks 15.

[0046] With reference to the possible embodiment shown in the figures, the piece of equipment 1 comprises at least two elastic bands 21, wherein the first end 22 of one of the elastic bands 21 is associated with a respective longitudinal member 11 or upright 13 and the first end 22 of the other of the elastic bands 21 is associated with the other longitudinal member 11 or upright 13.

[0047] This particular technical expedient allows multiple parts of the body of the user O to be trained simultaneously.

[0048] For example, the user O, after securing one of the first ends 22 to one of the uprights 13 and the other first end 22 to the other of the uprights 13, can sit down in the area of work 24, grasp a respective second end 23 with each hand, and pull the latter so as to move it away from the respective first end 22; in this way, it is possible to train both arms in a single training session.

[0049] Usefully, each of the longitudinal members 11 comprises a first ending portion and a second ending portion, each of the ending portions being provided with a relevant hook 15.

[0050] In other words, the user O can secure one of the first ends 22 to the hook 15 associated with one of the ending portions and the other of the first ends 22 to the hook 15 associated with the other of the ending portions.

[0051] The user can then lie down in the area of work 24, grasping a respective second end 23 with each hand, and then perform abdominal crunches.The elastic bands 21 will offer resistance to back rising, allowing the trunk muscles to be trained.

[0052] Advantageously, each of the uprights 13 comprises at least a first body 13a, associated with a respective longitudinal member 11, and at least a second body 13b, associated with the first body 13a in a removable maimer.

[0053] More specifically, the second bodies 13b have an elongated shape and are associated with the respective first body 13a at one end, and have a free end opposite the end connecting to the first body 13a and provided with the hook 15. Usefully, the first body 13a is movable between a first position, wherein it is associated with the first body 13a, and a second position, wherein it is coupled to the first body 13 a.

[0054] Advantageously, the piece of equipment 1 can be positioned at at least one position of use, wherein the first bodies 13a are at the first position, and a position of storage, wherein the first bodies 13a are at the second position and superimposed on the longitudinal members 11.

[0055] The particular technical expedient of positioning the piece of equipment 1 at the position of storage makes it possible to significantly reduce the overall dimensions of the piece of equipment 1 itself and to store it easily, even in confined spaces, when it is not in use.

[0056] Usefully, the longitudinal members 11 comprise at least a first portion Ila, which is substantially hollow, and at least a second portion 1 lb at least partly inserted within the first portion Ila and associated with the latter in a sliding manner so as to modify the position of the hooks 15 associated with the ending portions. This technical expedient allows the overall length of the longitudinal members 11 to be modified and to be adjusted to the physical characteristics of the user, such as, e.g. the length of their legs.

[0057] In particular, the first portion Ila and the second portion 11b are mutually associated in a telescopic manner.

[0058] At the position of storage, the second portion 1 lb is arranged at the position of maximum insertion within the first portion Ila.

[0059] In this way, it is possible to further reduce the overall dimensions of the piece ofequipment 1 when not in use.

[0060] With reference to the possible embodiment shown in the figures, each of the first bodies 13a is associated with a respective first portion Ila.

[0061] Still with reference to the figures, each of the first bodies 13a is locked together with a respective first portion Ila.

[0062] Alternative embodiments of the piece of equipment 1 cannot however be ruled out wherein the first bodies 13a are associated with the respective first portions 1 la in a removable maimer.

[0063] With reference to the possible embodiment shown in the figures, the crossbar 14 comprises at least one pair of sliding tubular elements 16, where each of the sliding tubular elements 16 is fitted in a sliding manner onto a respective upright 13 and along the direction of sliding D.

[0064] Each of the sliding tubular elements 16 is locked together with a respective end of the bar-shaped body 25.

[0065] Each of the sliding tubular elements 16 is fitted substantially to size around a respective upright 13.

[0066] Usefully, the blocking means comprise two spring pins 17, where each of the spring pins 17 is associated with a respective sliding tubular element 16 and where the spring pins 17 are configured to engage into corresponding holes 18 made on the uprights 13 so as to position the crossbar 14 at a discrete plurality of predefined positions.

[0067] The holes 18 are positioned at different heights along the longitudinal development of the uprights 13, so as to allow the crossbar to be blocked at different heights from the ground during the use of the piece of equipment 1. Advantageously, the crossbar 14 comprises a horizontal bearing body 19, configured to hold and support one part of a user’s body.

[0068] Preferably, the bearing body 19 is made of soft material in order to make it more comfortable for a portion of the user’s body to rest thereon.

[0069] For example, the users standing or kneeling in the area of work 24 can rest their elbows or forearms on the bearing body 19 while grasping the elastic bands 21. Preferably, the supporting body 20 faces the area of work 24.Furthermore, according to the particular embodiment shown in the figures, the bearing body 19 protrudes from the opposite side with respect to the area of work 24.

[0070] In this way, the users can rest their chest on the supporting body 20 while resting part of their arms on the bearing body 19.

[0071] It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the above-mentioned objects and, in particular, it should be emphasized that the piece of equipment according to the invention allows an endless number of exercises to be performed while maintaining optimal posture during their execution thanks to its structure and the presence of the supporting and bearing bodies.

[0072] Furthermore, the piece of equipment according to the invention allows exercises to be performed in different postures, all intended to reduce body compensations, both those that we naturally maintain and those even greater that are developed during muscle work.

[0073] Furthermore, the piece of equipment according to the invention allows many exercises to be performed for different parts of the body even in gravitational unloading, thus eliminating the load on the spine and any postural compensations.

Claims

CLAIMS1) Piece of equipment (1) for exercises with elastic bands, characterized by the fact that it comprises:a base (10), comprising two parallel longitudinal members (11) and at least one bar (12) orthogonal to the longitudinal members (11);a pair of uprights (13), each of which is perpendicular and rigidly securable to a longitudinal member (11);at least one crossbar (14) orthogonal to the uprights (13) and adapted to mutually connect the latter;wherein at least one upright (13) and at least one longitudinal member (11) are provided with at least one hook (15);wherein said piece of equipment (1) comprises at least one elastic band (21) provided with at least one first end (22) associated with said hook (15) and with at least one second free end (23) graspable by a user (O) of said piece of equipment (1);wherein a free area of work (24) is defined between said longitudinal members (11), in which area the user (O) can position him / herself during the use of said piece of equipment (1) and while grasping said elastic band (21);wherein said crossbar (14) is associated with said uprights (13) in a movable maimer along a direction of sliding (D) substantially parallel to said uprights (13); wherein said piece of equipment (1) comprises removable blocking means which are operable to block said crossbar (14) with respect to said uprights (13) along said direction of sliding (D),said crossbar (14) being released from said second free end (23) and being stationary with respect to said uprights (13) during the movement of said second end (23) by the user (O);wherein said crossbar (14) comprises at least one supporting body (20) which develops substantially vertically and intended to receive and support at least one portion of the body of the user (O) when it is positioned in said area of work (24).2) Piece of equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that said uprights (13) and said longitudinal members (11) comprise a plurality of saidhooks (15).3) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that it comprises at least two of said elastic bands (21), wherein the first end (22) of one of said elastic bands (21) is associated with a respective longitudinal member (11) or upright (13) and the first end (22) of the other of said elastic bands (21) is associated with the other longitudinal member (11) or upright (13).4) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each of said longitudinal members (11) comprises a first ending portion and a second ending portion, each of said ending portions being provided with a relevant said hook (15).5) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each of said uprights (13) comprises at least a first body (13a), associated with a respective said longitudinal member (11), and at least a second body (13b), associated with said first body (13a) in a removable maimer.6) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said second body (13b) is movable between a first position, wherein it is associated with said first body (13a), and a second position, wherein it is uncoupled from said first body (13a).7) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said piece of equipment (1) can be positioned at at least one position of use, wherein said first bodies (13a) are at said first position, and a position of storage, wherein said first bodies (13a) are at said second position and superimposed on said longitudinal members (11).8) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the longitudinal members (11) comprise at least a first portion (Ila), which is substantially hollow, and at least a second portion (11b) at least partly inserted within said first portion (Ila) and associated with the latter in a sliding manner so as to modify the position of the hooks (15) associated with said ending portions.9) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said first portion (Ila) and said second portion (11b) are mutually associated in a telescopic manner.10) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that, at said position of storage, said second portion (11b) is arranged at the position of maximum insertion within said first portion (Ila).11) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each of said first bodies (13a) is associated with a respective first portion (Ila).12) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the crossbar (14) comprises at least one pair of sliding tubular elements (16), where each of said sliding tubular elements (16) is fitted in a sliding manner onto a respective upright (13) along the direction of sliding (D).13) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said blocking means comprise two spring pins (17), where each of said spring pins (17) is associated with a respective sliding tubular element (16) and where said spring pins (17) are configured to engage into corresponding holes (18) made on the uprights (13) so as to position the crossbar (14) at a discrete plurality of predefined positions.14) Piece of equipment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the crossbar (14) comprises a horizontal bearing body (19), configured to hold and support one part of a user’s body.15) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said supporting body (20) faces said area of work (24).16) Piece of equipment (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that said bearing body (19) protrudes from the opposite side with respect to said area of work (24).

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