WO1998022187A1

WO1998022187A1 - Fixation device for a training apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1998022187A1
Application number: PCT/NL1997/000626
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ingeborg Pauline Margarette Griffioen-Van Dijk
Original assignee: Nucletron Holdings BV; Enraf Nonius BV
Current assignee: Nucletron Holdings BV; Enraf Nonius BV
Priority date: 1996-11-18
Filing date: 1997-11-17
Publication date: 1998-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 1999-05-18
Also published as: NL1004548C2

Abstract

A fixation device for a training apparatus is provided with a carrier (12) and a fixation arm (13) which is hinged to the carrier (12) and can be moved to an fro between an idle position and a fixation position. A one-way clutch is fitted between the carrier (12) and the fixation arm (13), which one-way clutch freewheels during movement of the fixation arm (15) from the idle position to the fixation position and blocks when a force is exerted on the fixation arm (13) in the opposite direction. A releasing element (23) can be operated for releasing the movement of the fixation arm (13) from the fixation position to the idle position.

Description

Fixation device for a training apparatus

The invention relates to a fixation device for a training apparatus, and to a training apparatus equipped with a fixation device. During different exercises with the upper part of the body and/or the legs^" on a training apparatus the pelvis has to be fixed relative to the training apparatus. Such exercises are used in, for example, physiotherapy for training the abdominal and back muscles. The known fixation devices have the drawback that they are very awkward to use, are found disagreeable by users, or even cause irritation and/or provide inadequate fixation, or do provide adequate fixation, but in an incorrect exercising posture caused by the fixation device. Inad- equate fixation of the pelvis means that during exercising the hip muscles are also active, with the result that the back and abdominal muscles are being insufficiently exercised.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved fixation device of the type mentioned in the preamble.

According to the invention, the fixation device is characterized by a carrier and a fixation arm, which is hinged to the carrier and can be moved to and fro between an idle position and a fixation position, a oneway clutch being fitted between the carrier and the fixation arm, which one-way clutch freewheels during movement of the fixation arm from the idle position to the fixation position and blocks when a force is exerted on the fixation arm in the opposite direction, and in which a controllable releasing element is fitted, for releasing the movement of the fixation arm from the fixation position to the idle position.

It has been found that the use of a fixation arm hinged to a carrier permits a surprisingly efficient fixation of the desired part of the user's body, for example the pelvis.

The one-way clutch can be designed in various ways. Advantageous embodiments are described in greater detail in the subclaims.

At the end facing away from the carrier, the fixation arm is preferably provided with a cushion, which is preferably adapted to the shape of a part of the body to be fixed.

The invention also relates to a training apparatus provided with a support for a user, such as a seat support, a back support or the like, in which a fixation device according to the invention is also present, the carrier being immovably fixed relative to a support for the user, and the fixation arm in the fixation position being able to fix a part of the body of the user relative to the support. The support can be movable relative to the training apparatus, for example for providing a guided movement of a part of the body which is fixed in a certain position by the fixation device during the movement . The invention is explained in greater detail with reference to the drawing, in which a number of exemplary embodiments of the fixation device according to the invention and an exemplary embodiment of a training apparatus according to the invention are shown diagra - matically.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatically shown perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a training apparatus according to the invention, in which an embodiment of the fixation device according to the invention has been used. Fig. 2 shows the fixation device of the training apparatus from Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 shows a part of the fixation device from Fig. 2 in cross-section, on a larger scale.

Fig. 4 shows in cross-section a part of a second embodiment of the fixation device according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows a part of a third embodiment of the fixation device according to the invention.

Figs. 6 and 7 show a part of a fourth embodiment of the fixation device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a training apparatus which is intended for training the back and abdominal muscles of a user. The device shown comprises a housing 1 and a bearing column 2 which supports a seat support 3 and a back support 4. The housing 1 has an arm 5 with a display 6 and is also provided with a rotatably supported arm 7, the free end of which bears a back support 8 and shoulder supports 9. For training the back and abdominal muscles a user sits on the seat support 3, and the back support 8 is placed against the top of the back and the shoulder supports 9 against the front of the shoulders. The user can then move the upper part of the body up and down against a counterforce supplied by the arm 7 , the centre of rotation 10 of the arm 7 approximately coinciding with the centre of rotation of the back.

In order to ensure that the user does actually use only the back and abdominal muscles for moving the upper part of the body up and down, it is important that the pelvis should be properly fixed. For this purpose, the training apparatus shown is provided with two fixation devices 11, which are shown in greater detail in Figs. 2 and 3.

Each fixation device 11 comprises a bearing arm 12, which is immovably fixed to the seat support 3. The fixation device also comprises a fixation arm 13 which is hinged to the bearing arm 12 at 14. The fixation arms 13 can be moved to and fro between an idle position which is drawn in Fig. 2, but is not shown in Fig. 1, in which idle position the user can sit down on the seat support 3, and a fixation position indicated by a broken line in Fig. 2 and drawn in Fig. 1, in which fixation position a cushion 15 fitted on the free end of each fixation arm fixes the pelvis of the user relative to the seat support 3. This means that the user cannot use the hip muscles for generating a movement, so that the abdominal and back muscles in particular have to be used for the movement of the upper part of the body. As can be seen in Fig. 2, the shape of the cushion 15 is adapted to the shape of the part of the body to be fixed, in this case the pelvic area.

A one-way clutch is fitted between the bearing arm 12 and the fixation arm 13, which one-way clutch freewheels during movement of the fixation arm 13 from the idle position to the fixation position, and which blocks when a force is exerted on the fixation arm 13 in the opposite direction. In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to Figs. 1 - 3, the one-way clutch is in the form of a ratchet wheel mechanism 16 which can be seen in Fig. 3. Said ratchet wheel mechanism 16 comprises a wheel 17 with teeth 18, which wheel 17 is immovably connected to the bearing arm 12. The fixation arm 13 is provided with a lever 19 which is rotatably supported at 20 and has teeth 21 at one end, which teeth are held in mesh with the teeth 18 by a spring 22 acting on the other end. By means of a push-button 23 acting as a releasing element, the lever can be rotated against the action of the spring 22, with the result that the teeth 21 are moved away from the teeth 18, so that the fixation arm 13 can be rotated from the fixation position to the idle position.

It is pointed out that, instead of the ratchet wheel mechanism 16 described, other types of one-way clutches can also be used in the hinge 14 between the fixation arm 13 and the bearing arm 12. Figs. 4 - 7 show a number of alternative embodiments of the fixation device 11 with various one-way clutches partially shown.

Fig. 4 shows a fixation device 11 in which the bearing arm 12 is immovably connected to the inner race 24 of a freewheeling bearing 25. The outer race 26 bears a coupling ring 27 which is immovably connected thereto, and on which a bush 28 of the fixation arm 13 is rotatably mounted. Said coupling ring 27 is provided with four openings 29 which are uniformly distributed over the circumference and in which a locking pin 30 can engage. The locking pin 30 can be operated by a button 31. During movement of the fixation arm in the clockwise direction, the freewheeling bearing 25 freewheels, so that the fixation arm 13 can be moved freely from the idle position to the fixation position. When a force is exerted in the opposite direction on the fixation arm, the freewheeling bearing 25 blocks. For release of the move- ment in the opposite direction, the button 31 is operated, so that the locking pin 30 is pushed out of the opening 29 lying in line with the axis of the fixation arm 13. A spring element (not shown) can press the locking pin 30 automatically into the following opening 29.

Fig. 5 shows an embodiment of the fixation device 11, in which a friction clutch 32 is used. In this case the fixation arm 13 is provided with a round disk 33, which interacts with a friction block 34 which is rotatably mounted in the bearing arm 12 and is pressed by a spring 35 against the circumference of the disk 33. The friction block 34 is rotatable about an axis 36 and can be moved away from the disk 33 against the action of a spring 35 by means of a button 37. During rotation of the fixation arm 13 from the idle position to the fixation position in the clockwise direction, the fixation arm 13 can move freely. When there is a movement in the opposite direction, the friction block 34 is pressed against the circumference of the disk 33, through the fact that the contact face with the circumference of the disk 33 in the point 38 according to the. view of Fig. 5 lies below the axis 36.

Finally, a fourth embodiment of the fixation device 11 is shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which the fix- ation arm 13 is connected to a nut 39 which is rotatable on a threaded shaft 40. Said threaded shaft consists of two shaft halves 41, 42, the shaft half 42 of which is immovably connected to the bearing arm 12. The other shaft half 41 is connected to a control element 43. The shaft halves 41, 42 have shaft parts 44, 45 which lie within the nut 39 and overlap each other in the axial direction and connect to each other with play at right angles to the axial direction. During movement of the fixation arm from the idle position to the fixation po- sition in the clockwise direction, the shaft parts 44 and 45 are forced against each other, with the result that the nut 39 can rotate freely on the shaft 40. During movement in the opposite direction the shaft parts 44, 45 are forced apart, with the result that the circumference of the threaded shaft 40 increases and the nut 39 - and consequently the fixation arm 13 - is blocked. Loading the control element 43 in the clockwise direction ensures that the nut 39 remains freely rotatable on the shaft 40 and the fixation arm can be swung back to the idle position.

It is pointed out that in the case of the embodiments described the various parts of the one-way clutches used can also be connected to the fixation arm 13, instead of to the bearing arm 12, and vice versa.

The invention is therefore not restricted to the exemplary embodiments described above, which can be varied in different ways within the scope of the invention. In particular, it will be clear that the training apparatus shown in Fig. 1 is given only by way of example, and that the fixation devices described can also be used in the case of other training apparatuses, for fixing many different parts of the body relative to such training apparatuses.

Claims

1. Fixation device for a training apparatus, characterized by a carrier and a fixation arm which is hinged to the carrier and can be moved to and fro between an idle position and a fixation position, a one-way clutch being fitted between the carrier and the fixation arm, which one-way clutch freewheels during movement of the fixation arm from the idle position to the fixation position, and blocks when a force is exerted on the fix- ation arm in the opposite direction, and in which a controllable releasing element is fitted, for releasing the movement of the fixation arm from the fixation position to the idle position.

2. Fixation device according to Claim 1, character- ized in that the one-way clutch comprises a ratchet wheel mechanism.

3. Fixation device according to Claim 2, characterized in that of the carrier and the fixation arm one is provided with a fixed gearwheel, while the other is provided with a swivellably supported lever, which at one end has teeth which can mesh with the gearwheel, while at the other end of the lever means are provided which load the lever in such a way that the teeth are in mesh with the gearwheel, and the releasing element can release the meshing between the teeth and the gearwheel.

4. Fixation device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the one-way clutch comprises a freewheeling bearing, a coupling ring being fitted on the race of the freewheeling bearing belonging to the fixation arm or the carrier, on which coupling ring the fixation arm or the carrier is rotatably mounted, while the fixation arm or the carrier in various positions of the clutch can be detachably connected to the coupling ring by means of the releasing element.

5. Fixation device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the one-way clutch is in the form of a friction clutch.

6. Fixation device according to Claim 5, characterized in that of the fixation arm and the carrier one bears a round disk and the other a rotatably supported friction block which is forced by a spring onto the circumference of the disk and can be swung away from the disk by the releasing element, the centre of rotation of the friction block being situated in such a way that when a force is exerted on the fixation arm in the direction of the idle position the friction block swings in the direction of the disk.

7. Fixation device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the one-way ^"clutch is provided with a nut and a threaded shaft on which the nut is rotatably mounted, the circumference of the threaded shaft being variable between a first, smaller value, where the nut is freely rotatable, and a second, greater value, where the nut is blocked, the diameter of the threaded shaft assuming the second value when a force is exerted on the fixation arm from the fixation position to the idle position, and the circumference of the threaded shaft being adjustable to the first value by the releasing element.

8. Fixation device according to Claim 7, characterized in that the threaded shaft consists of two shaft halves, one of which is fixed on the carrier or the fixation arm, while the other shaft half is connected to the releasing element, which shaft halves have shaft parts which overlap each other in the axial direction and connect to each other with play in the transverse direction.

9. Fixation device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the end facing away from the carrier the fixation arm is provided with a cushion which is preferably adapted to the shape of a part of the body to be fixed.

10. Training apparatus provided with a support for a user, such as a seat support, back support or the like, and with a fixation device according to one of the preceding claims, the carrier being immovably fixed relative to a support for the user, and the fixation arm in the fixation position being able to fix a part of the body of the user relative to the support.