Gymnastic machine

Abstract

Gymnastic machine having a frame ( 10 ) and an exercise station ( 20 ) provided with at least one footrest ( 30 ) movable with respect to the frame ( 10 ) along a first open trajectory (P 1 ) and carried by a first rocker arm ( 42 ) supported in a cantilevered fashion by the frame ( 10 ) by means of at least one turning pair ( 45 ); the exercise station ( 20 ) being provided with a supporting device ( 50 ) associated with the first rocker arm ( 42 ) to minimise the amount of stress that can be transmitted to said footboard ( 30 ).

1 . A gymnastic machine having a frame ( 10 ) and an exercise station ( 20 ) provided with at least one footboard ( 30 ) movable with respect to said frame ( 10 ) along a first open trajectory (P 1 ); each said footboard ( 30 ) being carried by a first rocker arm ( 42 ) supported in a cantilevered fashion by said frame ( 10 ) by means of at least one turning pair ( 45 ); characterised in that said station ( 20 ) is provided with supporting means ( 50 ) associated with said first rocker arm ( 42 ) to minimise the amount of stress that can be transmitted to said footboard ( 30 ).  
     
     
         2 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said supporting means ( 50 ) are shaped in order to minimise the amount of stress that can be transmitted to said footboard ( 30 ) by means of a reduction of the extension of the effective length of said first rocker arm ( 42 ).  
     
     
         3 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said first rocker arm is connected rotatably to said frame ( 10 ) by means of interposition of a second rocker arm ( 44 ); said first and second rocker arms ( 42 ,  44 ) being coupled rotatably with each other by means of said turning pair ( 45 ).  
     
     
         4 . A machine according to  claim 3 , characterised in that said supporting means ( 50 ) comprise a prismatic pair ( 52 ) provided with a slide ( 54 ) movable along a second trajectory (P 2 ) and connected in a freely rotatable manner to said first rocker arm ( 42 ).  
     
     
         5 . A machine according to  claim 4 , characterised in that said slide ( 54 ) is connected to said first rocker arm ( 42 ) at the level of a respective intermediate portion ( 43 ) in a freely rotatable manner.  
     
     
         6 . A machine according to  claim 5 , characterised in that said supporting means ( 50 ) comprise a guide ( 56 ) shaped so that said second trajectory (P 2 ) is substantially rectilinear.  
     
     
         7 . A machine according to  claim 5 , characterised in that said supporting means ( 50 ) comprise a guide ( 56 ) for said slide ( 54 ) shaped similarly to said second trajectory (P 2 ).  
     
     
         8 . A machine according to  claim 7 , characterised in that said first and second trajectory (P 1 , P 2 ) are substantially similar to each other.  
     
     
         9 . A machine according to  claim 6 , characterised in that said guide ( 56 ) is positioned according to a direction that lies on a plane (D) inclined with respect to a longitudinal median plane (M) of said frame ( 10 ), so as to guide said slide ( 54 ) between a first and a second end position (A, B).  
     
     
         10 . A machine according to  claim 9 , characterised in that said first end position (A) is located at the front at a maximum height and at a minimum distance from said median plane (M), and said second end position (B) is located at the rear at a minimum height and at a maximum distance from said median plane (M).  
     
     
         11 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterised by comprising a load unit ( 60 ) suitable to exchange power with each said footboard ( 30 ).  
     
     
         12 . A machine according to  claim 11 , characterised in that said load unit ( 60 ) comprises a return device ( 70 ) having at least one return component ( 72 ) associated with each said footboard ( 30 ).  
     
     
         13 . A machine according to  claim 12 , characterised in that each said return component ( 72 ) is associated with each said footboard ( 30 ) by means of a transmission ( 73 ) having a flexible component ( 74 ).  
     
     
         14 . A machine according to  claim 11 , characterised in that said load unit ( 60 ) comprises an electromagnetic load device ( 62 ) provided with at least one rotating disc ( 64 ).  
     
     
         15 . A machine according to  claim 11 , characterised in that said load unit ( 60 ) comprises a load device ( 62 ) of gravitational type.  
     
     
         16 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said footboard ( 30 ) is connected to said first rocker arm ( 42 ) by means of a further turning pair ( 48 ) shaped so that an upper face ( 32 ) of each said footboard ( 30 ) is substantially horizontal when, in use, said footboard ( 30 ) is actuated along said first trajectory (P 1 ).  
     
     
         17 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterised by comprising safety means ( 80 ) suitable to minimise the free space available under said first and second rocker arms ( 42 ,  44 ) in said exercise station ( 20 ).  
     
     
         18 . A machine according to  claim 9 , characterised in that each said intermediate portion ( 43 ) of said respective first rocker arm ( 42 ) is movable over, and at a minimum distance from, said inclined plane (D), to contain the volume in the freely accessible space under said first and second rocker arms ( 42 )( 44 ) and, in use, to minimise the risk of crushing a foot under said first and/or said second rocker arms ( 42 ,  44 ), at the level of said exercise station ( 20 ), or of said first rocker arm ( 42 ) in movement knocking against the side of a calf, again at the level of said exercise station ( 20 ).  
     
     
         19 . A machine according to  claim 18 , characterised in that said safety means comprise a casing ( 12 ) supported by said frame ( 10 ) and suitable to act, in use, as a support for at least one foot of the user.  
     
     
         20 . A method for stiffening a rocker arm ( 42 ) provided with a movable end supporting a footboard ( 30 ) on a curved and open trajectory, characterised in that it comprises the step to connect an intermediate portion of said rocker arm ( 42 ) by means of a substantially linear prismatic pair ( 52 ).