Exercise machine

Abstract

Exercise machine in which a resistance element and an exercise station unit are arranged side by side to exchange energy; the resistance element having at least one arm carried rotatably by a frame around a fixed shaft, and a footboard coupled rotatably to the arm; each footboard being movable over an open trajectory P and shaped in such a way as to be interfaceable with a particular portion of an extremity of a user; the exercise station including at least one mechanism suitable for controlling the rotation of the corresponding footboard with respect to the corresponding arm in such a way that each footboard is inclined inwards on the outward thrust stroke of the relative arm, and is simultaneously rotated forward, so as to lower its respective front section and raise its respective rear section.

1 . An exercise machine for the use by a user for the execution of a physical exercise comprising: 
 a frame;    at least one resistance element supported by said frame; and    an exercise station supported by said frame, said exercise station comprising 
 (a) at least one pair of linkage members, each said linkage member having (i) an arm carried rotatably by said frame around an axis of rotation, and (ii) a footboard coupled rotatably to said arm; and  
 (b) a means of constraint supported by said frame and associated with said linkage members to control the movement of said footboards with respect to said arms;  
   wherein said exercise station is capable of exchanging mechanical energy with said resistance element; each said footboard is shaped in such a way as to be interfaceable with a particular portion of an extremity of a user, and said means of constraint comprises at least one elongated member coupled to said frame and to said footboard by joints in such a way that, when said arm is actuated outwards, each said footboard moves along its own open trajectory P and simultaneously experiences a rotational movement, said rotational movement being a combination of a tilting movement inwards and forwards of each said footboard.    
     
     
         2 . The machine of  claim 1 , comprising at least two pairs of said linkage members, wherein any one said trajectory P is substantially symmetrical and congruent to any other said trajectory P; said joints are skewed with respect to each other; and said rotational movement of said footboards resembles a movement of eversion of a human foot.  
     
     
         3 . The machine of  claim 2 , wherein said means of constraint comprises, for each said arm, at least one first quadrilateral including said elongated member to control the angular position of said footboard with respect to said arm, said first quadrilateral being supported by said frame.  
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 3 , wherein said first quadrilateral comprises, for each said arm at least one elongated member coupled to said frame and/or to said footboard; each said elongated member being delimited longitudinally by joints; and that each said composite movement is capable of simulating an eversion of a human foot.  
     
     
         5 . The machine of  claim 4 , wherein said trajectory P is inclined downwards.  
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein each said footboard comprises an upper face profiled in such a way as to receive the sole of a user's foot; said footboard being capable of operating as a lever for the corresponding said first quadrilateral according to a modality of operation in which the sole of a user's foot and said upper face are constantly in reciprocal contact in conditions of rest so as to exploit to the full a movement of outward thrust exerted by said user on each said arm.  
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein said means of constraint comprises a second quadrilateral, said first and said second quadrilaterals sharing one of their respective levers for controlling the angular position of said footboards with respect to said arm by means of a first and second elongated member subjected to normal stress only.  
     
     
         8 . The machine of  claim 6 , wherein said means of constraint comprises a second quadrilateral; said first and said second quadrilaterals sharing one of their respective levers for controlling the angular position of the relative said footboards with respect to said arm by means of a first and a second elongated member subjected to normal stress only.  
     
     
         9 . The machine of  claim 7 , wherein said second quadrilateral is supported by said arm.  
     
     
         10 . The machine of  claim 8 , wherein said second quadrilateral is supported by said arm.  
     
     
         11 . The machine of  claim 9 , wherein said lever of said first quadrilateral is capable of acting as a moving component for said second quadrilateral.  
     
     
         12 . The machine of  claim 10 , wherein said lever of said first quadrilateral is capable of acting as a moving component for said second quadrilateral.  
     
     
         13 . The machine according to  claim 1 , wherein each said arm is carried rotatably by said frame around said axis of rotation in such a way as to be capable of crossing a longitudinal median plane L starting from a rest position R, in which rest position R said footboard is arranged on the side opposite to the respective axis of rotation with respect to said plane L so as to render said exercise station more compact in design.  
     
     
         14 . The machine of  claim 4 , wherein each said elongated member has an adjustable longitudinal extension for adjusting the movement of said footboard with respect to said arm.  
     
     
         15 . The machine of  claim 13 , comprising, further a means of reaction for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane L.  
     
     
         16 . The machine of  claim 4 , comprising further a means of reaction for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane L.  
     
     
         17 . The machine of  claim 15 , wherein said means of reaction comprises at least one damper joining said arms, and connected in such a way so as to bring about a constraining action between said arms as a function of their angular distance, and such as to bring said footboards to a minimum distance with respect to each other when said arms are in their respective rest positions R, or to return said footboards in proximity to said longitudinal plane L while in use, and such that the amplitude of the angle between said arms is prevented from exceeding a fixed value so as to ensure that a user is maintained in a condition of equilibrium.  
     
     
         18 . The machine of  claim 16 , wherein said means of reaction comprises at least one damper joining said arms, and connected in such a way so as to bring about a constraining action between said arms as a function of their angular distance, and such as to bring said footboards to a minimum distance with respect to each other when said arms are in their respective rest positions R, or to return said footboards in proximity to said longitudinal plane L while in use, and such that the amplitude of the angle between said arms is prevented from exceeding a fixed value so as to ensure that a user is maintained in a condition of equilibrium.  
     
     
         19 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein said damper is connected to said arm by means of its relative end sections and includes a pair of first springs arranged in series, which springs have fixed and different from each other elastic constant.  
     
     
         20 . The machine of  claim 19 , wherein at least one said damper includes a torsion spring.  
     
     
         21 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein said means of reaction comprises further at least one flexible restraining component arranged between said arms and kept constantly in tension in an elastic manner with respect to said frame by means of said damper in order to modulate said return action exerted on said arm towards the corresponding rest position (R) on the basis of outward thrusts exerted on each footboard.  
     
     
         22 . The machine of  claim 21 , wherein said flexible restraining component is wound onto a pulley carried by a tensioning arm, said pulley being connected to said frame by means of said damper.  
     
     
         23 . The machine of  claim 17 , wherein said means of reaction includes at least three dampers for each of said arms.  
     
     
         24 . The machine of  claim 19 , wherein said means of reaction comprises further a return component arranged between two said arms to connect them elastically to each other in a direct manner.  
     
     
         25 . The machine of  claim 5 , wherein said trajectory P is substantially symmetrical and includes at least one stretch in common with at least one other said trajectory P, and said arms are shaped dissimilarly from each other in such a way as to prevent a collisions between said footboards.  
     
     
         26 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said resistance element and said exercise station are connected to each other by means of a mechanical transmission capable of transforming an alternating rotary motion of each said arm into a rotation of at least one rotatable component; said mechanical transmission comprising at least one bolt for each of said arm; said belt being wound onto at least one pulley supported by said frame in a freely rotatable manner between said arm and said resistance element.  
     
     
         27 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said resistance element comprises means for controlling power delivered to each said footboard.  
     
     
         28 . The machine of  claim 26 , wherein said rotatable component is suitable for storing rotational energy, said rotatable component being mechanically connected to a means for dissipating adjustable values of energy.  
     
     
         29 . The machine of  claim 28 , wherein said rotatable component comprises a flywheel.  
     
     
         30 . The machine of  claim 27 , wherein said means for controlling power delivered to each said footboard comprises an electromagnetic brake.  
     
     
         31 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said resistance element comprises counterweights.  
     
     
         32 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said rotational movement: (i) reduces varus of a knee, (ii) improves the stability of an ankle, and (iii) stabilizes the center of gravity of said user during the exercise.  
     
     
         33 . An exercise machine for the use by a user for the execution of a physical exercise comprising: 
 a frame;    at least one resistance element supported by said frame; and    an exercise station supported by said frame, said exercise station comprising 
 (a) at least one pair of linkage members, each said linkage member having (i) an arm carried rotatably by said frame around an axis of rotation, and (ii) a footboard coupled rotatably to said arm; and  
 (b) a means of constraint supported by said frame and associated with said linkage members to control the movement of said footboards with respect to said arms;  
   wherein said exercise station is capable of exchanging mechanical energy with said resistance element; each said footboard is shaped in such a way as to be interfaceable with a particular portion of an extremity of a user; and said means of constraint comprises at least one elongated member coupled to said frame and to said footboard by joints in such a way that, when said arm is actuated outwards, each said footboard moves along its own open trajectory P.    
     
     
         34 . The machine of  claim 33 , comprising further a means of reaction for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane L.  
     
     
         35 . The machine of  claim 34 , wherein said means of reaction comprises at least one damper joining said arms, and connected in such a way so as to bring about a constraining action between said arms as a function of their angular distance, and such as to bring said footboards to a minimum distance with respect to each other when said arms are in their respective rest positions R, or to return said footboards in proximity to said longitudinal plane L while in use, and such that the amplitude of the angle between said arms is prevented from exceeding a fixed value so as to ensure that a user is maintained in a condition of equilibrium.  
     
     
         36 . The machine of  claim 1 , comprising further a means of reaction for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane L, wherein said means of reaction comprises at least one damper joining said arms, and connected in such a way so as to bring about a constraining action between said arms as a function of their angular distance, and such as to bring said footboards to a minimum distance with respect to each other when said arms are in their respective rest positions R, or to return said footboards in proximity to said longitudinal plane L while in use, and such that the amplitude of the angle between said arms is prevented from exceeding a fixed value so as to ensure that a user is maintained in a condition of equilibrium.  
     
     
         37 . The machine of  claim 35 , wherein said damper is connected to said arm by means of its relative end sections and includes a pair of first springs arranged in series, which springs have fixed and different from each other elastic constant.  
     
     
         38 . The machine of  claim 36 , wherein said damper is connected to said arm by means of its relative end sections and includes a pair of first springs arranged in series, which springs have fixed and different from each other elastic constant.  
     
     
         39 . The machine of  claim 34 , wherein said means of reaction includes at least three dampers for each of said arms.  
     
     
         40 . The machine of  claim 1 , comprising further a means of reaction for exerting a return action on each of said arms towards a respective rest position R in proximity to said longitudinal plane L, said means of reaction including at least three dampers for each of said arms.  
     
     
         41 . The machine of  claim 39 , wherein said means of reaction comprises further a return component arranged between two said arms to connect them elastically to each other in a direct manner.  
     
     
         42 . The machine of  claim 40 , wherein said means of reaction comprises further a return component arranged between two said arms to connect them elastically to each other in a direct manner.  
     
     
         43 . The machine of  claim 33 , wherein said means of constraint comprises, for each said arm, at least one first quadrilateral including said elongated member to control the angular position of said footboard with respect to said arm, said first quadrilateral being supported by said frame.  
     
     
         44 . The machine of  claim 1 , wherein said means of constraint comprises, for each said arm, at least one first quadrilateral including said elongated member to control the angular position or said footboard with respect to said arm, said first quadrilateral being supported by said frame.