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 ); each footrest ( 30 ) being supported rotatably by a first rocker arm ( 42 ) in turn supported by a second rocker arm ( 44 ) coupled rotatably to the frame ( 10 ); a device ( 50 ) to control rotation of the first rocker arm ( 42 ) being carried on the second rocker arm ( 44 ) to minimise the size of the volumes engaged by movable masses in the exercise station ( 20 ) and around each footrest ( 30 ).

1 . A gymnastic machine having a frame ( 10 ) and an exercise station ( 20 ) provided with at least one footrest ( 30 ) movable with respect to said frame ( 10 ) along a first open trajectory (P 1 ); each said footrest ( 30 ) being supported by an articulated mechanism ( 40 ) having a first rocker arm ( 42 ) and a second rocker arm ( 44 ) coupled in a rotatable manner to each other, and with said second rocker arm ( 44 ) coupled in a rotatable manner to said frame ( 10 ); characterized by comprising means ( 50 ) to control rotation of said first rocker arm ( 42 ) suitable to minimise the size of the volumes engaged by movable masses in said exercise station ( 20 ) and around each said footrest ( 30 ).  
     
     
         2 . A machine according to  claim 1 , characterised in that said control means ( 50 ) comprise a transmission ( 52 ) with parallel axes provided with a first wheel ( 54 ) associated with said second rocker arm ( 44 ) and a second wheel ( 56 ) associated with said first rocker arm ( 42 ); said first and second wheels ( 54 ,  56 ) being mechanically coupled to each other to cause, in use, counter-rotation of said first and second rocker arm ( 42 ,  44 ) with respect to each other following actuation of the corresponding said footrest ( 30 ) from a respective idle position (P), and consequently rotation of one of two said first and second rocker arms ( 42 ,  44 ) with respect to said frame ( 10 ).  
     
     
         3 . A machine according to  claim 2 , characterised in that said first and second wheels ( 54 ,  56 ) are shaped to define a determined transmission ratio τ of said articulated mechanism ( 40 ), to make, in use, instant by instant, each position of said first rocker arm ( 42 ), and of said footrest ( 30 ), conditional to a position taken by said second rocker arm ( 44 ).  
     
     
         4 . A machine according to  claim 2 , characterised in that said first and second wheels ( 54 ,  56 ) are shaped to define a determined transmission ratio τ of said articulated mechanism ( 40 ), to univocally associate, in use, instant by instant, each position of said first rocker arm ( 42 ) and of said footrest ( 30 ) with a determined position of said second rocker arm ( 44 ), also as a function of an angle (α ) between said first and second rocker arms ( 42 ,  44 ).  
     
     
         5 . A machine according to  claim 2 , characterised in that said transmission ( 52 ) with parallel axes extends parallel to said second rocker arm ( 44 ).  
     
     
         6 . A machine according to  claim 2 , characterised in that said transmission ( 52 ) comprises a belt ( 58 ) suitable to mechanically couple to each other said first and second wheels ( 54 ,  56 ) and said first and second rocker arms ( 42 ,  44 ).  
     
     
         7 . A machine according to  claim 2 , characterised in that said first wheel ( 54 ) is fixed with respect to said frame ( 10 ).  
     
     
         8 . A machine according to  claim 7 , characterised by comprising means ( 60 ) to dissipate power suitable to cause resistance to the movement of each said footrest ( 30 ) for the purpose of promoting the muscular development of a user during training.  
     
     
         9 . A machine according to  claim 8 , characterised in that said dissipating means ( 60 ) comprise a first elastic component ( 62 ) that connects said first rocker arm ( 44 ) and said frame ( 10 ) to each other.  
     
     
         10 . A machine according to  claim 8 , characterised by comprising return means ( 62 ) suitable to position said second rocker arm ( 44 ) in a determined starting position if there is no load acting on said corresponding footrest ( 30 ).  
     
     
         11 . A machine according to  claim 10 , characterised in that said return means ( 62 ) comprise a second elastic component ( 62 ) that connects said second rocker arm ( 44 ) and said frame ( 10 ) to each other.  
     
     
         12 . A machine according to  claim 11 , characterised in that said first elastic component ( 62 ) comprises said second elastic component ( 62 ).  
     
     
         13 . A method for constructing a gymnastic machine having a frame ( 10 ) and an exercise station ( 20 ) provided with at least one footrest ( 30 ) movable with respect to said frame ( 10 ) along a first open trajectory (P 1 ); each said footrest ( 30 ) being supported by an articulated mechanism ( 40 ) having a first rocker arm ( 42 ) and a second rocker arm ( 44 ) coupled in a rotatable manner to each other, and with said second rocker arm ( 44 ) coupled in a rotatable manner to said frame ( 10 ); and means ( 50 ) to control rotation of said first rocker arm ( 42 ) suitable to minimise the size of the volumes engaged by movable masses in said exercise station ( 20 ) and around each said footrest ( 30 ), characterised in that it comprises the step to associate means ( 50 ) to control rotation of said first rocker arm ( 42 ) with each said second rocker arm ( 44 ) to minimise the size of the volumes engaged by movable masses ( 42 ,  44 ) around each relative footrest ( 30 ).  
     
     
         14 . A training method on a gymnastic machine having a frame ( 10 ) and an exercise station ( 20 ) provided with at least one footrest ( 30 ) movable with respect to said frame ( 10 ) along a first open trajectory (P 1 ); each said footrest ( 30 ) being supported by an articulated mechanism ( 40 ) having a first rocker arm ( 42 ) and a second rocker arm ( 44 ) coupled in a rotatable manner to each other, and with said second rocker arm ( 44 ) coupled in a rotatable manner to said frame ( 10 ); and means ( 50 ) to control rotation of said first rocker arm ( 42 ) suitable to minimise the size of the volumes engaged by movable masses in said exercise station ( 20 ) and around each said footrest ( 30 ), characterized in that a step to exert an outward thrust on each said footrest ( 30 ) is associated with a step to impose on said first rocker arm ( 42 ) a counter-rotation with respect to said second rocker arm ( 44 ) to condition, in use, instant by instant, each position of said first rocker arm ( 42 ) and of said footrest ( 30 ) with respect to a position of said second rocker arm ( 44 ) with respect to said frame ( 10 ), also as a function of an angle (α) between said first and second rocker arms ( 42 )( 44 ) corresponding to an idle position of said first and second rocker arms ( 42 )( 44 ).  
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , characterized in that said first and second rocker arms ( 42 )( 44 ) are constrained to each other to rotate with respect to each other by an angle determined according to a transmission ratio (τ) to condition, in use, instant by instant, each position of said first rocker arm ( 42 ) and of said footrest ( 30 ) with respect to a determined position of said second rocker arm ( 44 ) with respect to said frame ( 10 ).