Exercise machine

Abstract

An exercise machine comprises: a mounting frame ( 1 ); at least two user positions ( 18, 181, 205 ); power transmission means ( 2 ) designed to connect corresponding machine actuators ( 3 ) in such a way that the power applied by the users to the actuators ( 3 ) and transmitted by the transmission means ( 2 ) reciprocally and alternately produces an active force and a resistant force.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An exercise machine comprising: a mounting frame ( 1 ); at least two user positions ( 18 ,  181 ,  205 ,  413 ); power transmission means ( 2 ) designed to connect corresponding machine actuators ( 3 ) and accessible by the users in such a way that the power applied by the users on one or more of the actuators ( 3 ) is transmitted by the transmission means ( 2 ) to one or more of the remaining actuators and reciprocally and alternately constitutes for the users an active force and a resistant force for moving the actuators relative to the user positions.  
     
     
         2 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the frame ( 1 ) consists of a portal frame ( 11 ) supported at the bottom by a base ( 19 ) and having, at the top of it, a crossbeam ( 12 );    each user position consists of a seat ( 18 ) and upper rest rollers ( 17 );    the transmission mechanism ( 2 ) consists of a system of pulleys ( 22 ) rotating on pins ( 23 ) fixed to the crossbeam ( 12 ), and having trained around them a flexible cable ( 24 ) with a handlebar ( 30 ) at each end where the user work positions are.    
     
     
         3 . The machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the rollers ( 17 ) are made of soft material and can be adjusted in height by means of a telescopic support ( 171 ) that can be locked in a desired position using a height selector block ( 172 ).  
     
     
         4 . The machine according to  claim 2 , comprising force detecting means consisting of a load sensor ( 241 ) located on the cable ( 24 ) and designed to indicate when the load reaches a predetermined threshold value.  
     
     
         5 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the frame consists of an upturned U-shaped structure ( 100 ) supported at the bottom by a beam ( 101 ) and a crossbeam ( 102 ), on which there are mounted two pairs of uprights, the first pair ( 103 ) being vertical and the second pair ( 104 ) being inclined and upwardly converging, joined at the top of the frame by respective bars ( 105 ), which converge at the center of the frame where they join the upturned U structure ( 100 );    each user work position consists of a seat ( 181 ) fixed to a respective upright ( 104 ) and a rest ( 173 ) for the user's chest fixed to a respective upper bar ( 105 ); the actuators consist of curved arms ( 106 ) facing the user position and having two joints ( 107 ) fitted at the ends of them, which have pivoted on them the first ends of a pair of handlebars ( 108 ) each of which is fitted with a handle ( 109 ) and which are mounted crossways relative to each other and can be rotated towards each other by the user;    the transmission mechanism consists of a system of pulleys and cables extending from the joints ( 107 ) and through the arms ( 106 ) and the bars ( 105 ) to connect the pair of handlebars ( 108 ) of one user work position with the pair of handlebars ( 108 ) of the other user work position.    
     
     
         6 . The machine according to  claim 5 , wherein the seat ( 181 ) is adjustably mounted for height on the upright ( 104 ) and the chest rest ( 173 ) is adjustably mounted for distance from the user by means of a support ( 174 ) that slides inside the bars ( 105 ).  
     
     
         7 . The machine according to  claim 5 , comprising force detecting means consisting of a load sensor located on the cable and designed to indicate when the load reaches a predetermined threshold value.  
     
     
         8 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the frame consists of a U-shaped structure ( 201 ) supported at the bottom by a main beam ( 202 ) and a crossbeam ( 203 ), the main beam ( 202 ) having mounted at the ends of it two curved uprights ( 204 ) with an upper horizontal section ( 206 );    each user work position consists of a seat ( 205 ) mounted on the horizontal section ( 206 ) of the uprights ( 204 ); each actuator consists of a pair of shafts ( 207 ) fixed at the bottom to a transversal support ( 219 ) and about which two structures ( 208 ) rotate symmetrically in such a way as to resist the spreading out movement of the legs of the users sitting in the seats ( 205 );    the power transmission mechanism consists of a system of pulley and cables passing through the shafts ( 207 ) and the beam ( 202 ) in such a way as to connect the opening movement of the structure ( 208 ) at one user work position to the corresponding closing movement of the structure ( 208 ) at the other user work position.    
     
     
         9 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein each of the structures ( 208 ) consists of a pair of arms ( 210 ) which can rotate with a first end about a shaft ( 207 ) and which, at the other end, is attached to the intermediate vertical section ( 213 ) of a bar ( 211 ) having an upper horizontal section ( 214 ) to which there is fixed a rest ( 215 ) for engaging the user's thighs, and a lower inclined section ( 216 ) fitted with a footrest ( 217 ).  
     
     
         10 . The machine according to  claim 8 , wherein at the sides of each seat ( 205 ) there are handles ( 218 ), which the user holds for stability, and an adjustment lever ( 220 ).  
     
     
         11 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the frame consists of an upturned U-shaped structure ( 100 ) supported at the bottom by a beam ( 101 ) and a crossbeam ( 102 ), at one end of which there are mounted two uprights, the first ( 103 ) being vertical and the second ( 104 ) being inclined and upwardly converging, the uprights being joined at the top of the frame by a bar ( 105 ), which joins the U-shaped structure ( 100 ) at the center of the frame, the second end of the beam ( 101 ) having mounted on it a side upright ( 301 ) fixed at the bottom to the beam ( 101 ) and joined by an intermediate section ( 302 ) to a second upright ( 303 ), also fixed to the bottom beam ( 101 ), where the upper end of the upright ( 301 ) has a crossbeam ( 309 ) that is curved inwardly with its concave section facing the center of the machine;    the first user work position consists of a seat ( 181 ) fixed to a respective upright ( 104 ) and a rest ( 173 ) for the user's chest fixed to a respective upper bar ( 105 ) and the second user work position consists of a seat, adjustably mounted for height on the upright ( 303 ) and a backrest ( 305 ) fixed to the upright ( 303 );    the first actuator consists of curved arms ( 106 ) facing the user position and having two joints ( 107 ) fitted at the ends of them, which have pivoted on them the first ends of a pair of handlebars ( 108 ) each of which is fitted with a handle ( 109 ) and which are mounted crossways relative to each other and can be rotated towards each other by the user, and the second actuator consists of a pair of arms ( 308 ) mounted crossways and able to counter-rotate about pins located at the ends of the crossbeam ( 309 ); the transmission mechanism consists of a system of pulleys and cables extending in succession through the frame to connect the pair of handlebars ( 108 ) of one user work position with the pair of arms ( 308 ) of the other user work position.    
     
     
         12 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises an upright ( 403 ) and the transmission means consist of at least one cable ( 412 ,  412 ′) passing in succession through a plurality of pulleys; the actuating means consisting of at least two handles ( 414   a,b ;  415   a,b ) fitted at the ends of the cable ( 412 ,  412 ′) on each side of the upright ( 403 ) for use by at least two users in their respective work positions ( 413 ).  
     
     
         13  The machine according to  claim 12 , comprising a first and a second cable ( 412 ,  412 ′) having handles at their ends, so that two pair of handles ( 414   a - 415   a ;  414   b - 415   b ) are available at two respective user work positions ( 413 ), each of said pair of handles being formed by two handles which are fitted respectively to an end of said first and of said second cable ( 412 ,  412 ′).  
     
     
         14 . The machine according to  claim 12  or  13 , wherein the plurality of pulleys comprises an initial pulley ( 407 ) mounted on the upright ( 403 ), at least one intermediate pulley ( 409 ,  410 ) vertically offset from the first pulley and an end pulley ( 407 ) mounted on the upright ( 403 ) and vertically offset from the intermediate pulley.  
     
     
         15 . The machine according to  claim 14 , wherein either the initial or the end pulley ( 407 ) or both are adjustably mounted for height on the upright.  
     
     
         16 . The machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the initial and end pulleys ( 407 ) are adjustable in height independently of each other.  
     
     
         17 . The machine according to  claim 14 , wherein the upright consists of a central tubular element ( 403 ) on which there slides a work unit ( 404 ) mounting the initial and end pulleys ( 407 ) and comprising at least two pairs of handles ( 414   a - 415   a ;  414   b - 415   b ) fitted at respective user work positions ( 413 ) at the respective ends of two transmission cables ( 412 ,  412 ′).  
     
     
         18 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein at the connecting means there are means ( 214 ,  216 ) for detecting the applied force designed to detect a value proportional to the force itself and to send it to display means.  
     
     
         19 . The machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the detecting means consist of an extensometric cell connected in series on a cable.  
     
     
         20 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the means for connecting the actuators ( 3 ) comprise means (M,  23 ×,  419 ) for correcting their length according to the physical characteristics of the users.  
     
     
         21 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting means comprise elastic or damping means designed to smooth the transient effects of passing from an active force to a resistant force and vice versa.  
     
     
         22 . The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising force detecting means consisting of one or more load sensors ( 214 ,  216 ) located on a cable or joint and designed to indicate when a predetermined load has been reached.  
     
     
         23 . The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising a device (D) for displaying the level of the load (C) reached, as a progressive value or as a value compared to a reference level (R) representing the training program.  
     
     
         24 . The machine according to  claim 1 , comprising additional means for applying a resistant force to oppose the active force exerted by a user on one or more actuators.  
     
     
         25 . The machine according to  claim 23 , wherein the additional resistant means consist of one or more weights (P) applied to the actuator ( 3 ) of at least one of the user work positions in such a way as to increase the resistant force exerted on the other actuators.  
     
     
         26 . The machine according to  claim 24 , wherein the additional resistant means consist of one or more weights (P) applied to one of the two actuators by means of an additional system of cables and pulleys.  
     
     
         27 . The machine according to  claim 2 , comprising a load cell (CC) applied to a point ( 29 ) where one of the pulleys ( 22 ) is fixed to the frame ( 1 ).  
     
     
         28 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting means comprise means ( 215 ) for damping the load.  
     
     
         29 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the connecting means comprise articulated levers ( 2 ) and/or pulley systems ( 22 ) with one or more cables ( 24 ) connecting the actuators ( 3 ).