US20100035735A1

US20100035735A1 - Multifunction apparatus for execution of exercises of strengthening of muscle systems

Info

Publication number: US20100035735A1
Application number: US12/186,456
Authority: US
Inventors: Donato VENTRELLA
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-05
Filing date: 2008-08-05
Publication date: 2010-02-11

Abstract

The present invention is a multifunction apparatus to carry out muscle system strengthening to be used in both inside gymnasium and in “home gym” environments. The invention is made of a main metallic frame with a parallelepiped shape and provided with a support base made of three parallel tubular elements. A quadrangular cross section is either welded together or connected by means of bolts perpendicular to two tube shaped parts, which have a quadrangular cross section. Two cylinder-shaped columns are connected by either welding or of bolts. The last one is made up by three tube shaped parallel parts, which each have a quadrangular cross section, either welded or bolted perpendicular to two tube shaped parts. The lower support base and higher platform provide strength and capacity to prevent the main frame from being deformed, and they allow a perfect verticality of cylindrical columns and quadrangular shaped columns.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED U.S. APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO AN APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
Present invention consists of a multifunction apparatus for practicing exercises for strengthening of muscular systems of any type of user, either an athlete or an amateur.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98.
In details, present invention has, as a subject, a multifunction apparatus that besides allowing hooking of pulleys, cables, bars, handles, and other attachments useful to the development of gymnastic exercises, it gives a comfortable, adequate and safe placement of attachments which are to it connected, for example swing-wheels, dumb-bells and weights after their use.
As well known, among various tools used in gymnasium for strengthening of muscle systems, most widespread ones, especially in exercising of weights lifting and of body building, are swing-wheels and dumb-bells.
They are mainly made up by a steel bar, of various lengths and weight as a function of models and typology of exercises which must be carried out, which can be loaded on its ends by cast iron disks and connected by means of clips.
Gymnastic exercises that can be carried out are many, and they can be done both by dumb-bells and by swing-wheels either in a standing position or in seated position or in an inclined-plane position, or stretched on a bench in order to strengthen or differentiate muscle system load.
Strong for this wide range of use possibilities and of their low cost, dumb-bells and swing wheels are the most sold tools in the “home gym” applications.
For the most expert users, swing-wheels and dumb-bells are known among the most used tools and also among the more appreciated ones just for their versatility in application and for ample range of muscle systems that can be trained. Particularly their application can be carried out with or without help of tools of support and/or help.
For beginners, on the contrary, especially when dumb-bells and swing-wheels are used without help from support tools, it comes to be rather difficult to find out which are correct positions to take. As a consequence, it is often required to have a trainers assistance or in any case, expert people, in order to teach correct positions and especially body balancing necessary for a correct use of the tool.
Besides, for safety reasons, there is the necessity, where it is not possible to provide assistance from expert people, to be in a position to use a solid, safe and comfortable location in which to place either swing wheels or dumb-bells, in complete autonomy, at exercise end.
Besides, in case of use in “home gym” environments of above mentioned tools, there is the necessity to have available adequate locations where it is possible to place in a safe way swing-wheels, dumb-bells and weights after their use.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject of the present invention is to supply a multifunction apparatus, to carry out muscle system strengthening and to be used both inside gymnasium and in “home gym” environments.
Another purpose of present invention is to supply a tool that allows execution, in full security, of exercises with high loads of weights on swing-wheels and/or dumb-bells, without the necessity of having available assistance from a trainer.
A further purpose of present invention is to supply a tool that provides a location for attachments and weights when they are not used.
At the end, a further purpose is to provide a multifunction tool that allows carrying-out of traction exercises by the use of bars connected to a system of pulleys.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other purposes are reached by this multifunction apparatus for exercises of strengthening of muscle system, subject of present invention, which is described in the following, in a preferred execution which is not limiting of further developments within this patent, with the help of enclosed tables of drawings that describe following figures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multifunction apparatus in a basic configuration.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the main frame, showing the apparatus being executed according to FIG. 1 and describing the carrying out of exercise done by means of a lower traction bar.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the apparatus in the execution which includes two couples of supports for swing-wheels.

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of the apparatus provided with an horizontal traction bar for carrying out exercises of the lat and high pulley type.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus realized to carry out exercises with a dumb-bell.

FIG. 6 is an isolated perspective view in detail of the moving element upon which weights are loaded during carrying out of traction exercises.

FIG. 7 is another isolated perspective view in detail of a hooking system of clamps to move horizontal shafts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Multifunction apparatus 1 for strengthening exercises of muscles systems is the subject of the present invention. As described in a preferred execution in FIG. 1, the invention is made of a main metallic frame 2 with a parallelepiped shape and provided with a support base 3 made of three parallel tubular elements 301, 302 and 303. A quadrangular cross section is either welded together or connected by means of bolts perpendicular to two tube shaped parts 304 and 305, which have a quadrangular cross section.
Two cylinder- shaped columns 201 and 202 are connected, by means of either welding or of bolts, being lower than base 3 and higher than platform 4. The last one is made up by three tube shaped parallel parts 401, 402 and 403, which each having a quadrangular cross section, either welded or bolted perpendicular to two tube shaped parts 404 and 405, and which each have a quadrangular cross section.
The lower support base 3 and higher platform 4 provide strength and capacity to prevent the main frame 2 from being deformed, and they allow a perfect verticality of cylindrical columns 201 and 202 and quadrangular shaped columns 203, 204, 205 and 206.
Cylindrical columns 201 and 202 are provided in their front part of circular holes 207 at the same distance for insertion of pins 509 whose function will be explained later on. Columns at the back 204 and 206, which have a quadrangular cross section, are provided with a series of dowels 208 and 209 connected perpendicularly to the same columns whose purpose is to give a location to weights when these are not being used.
Dowels 208 and 209 are located at the back of cylindrical columns 201 and 202 so that weights P are to be found inside the frame, avoiding the same ones being a cause of a bigger obstruction to apparatus, and at the same time, not causing a possibility of danger and difficulties to people.
Front cylindrical columns 201 and 202 allow vertical displacement under control of a couple of frames 5, each one of them made up by a couple of tubular and parallel shaped elements 501 and 502 which are connected together by means of two horizontal bars 505 and 506.
Vertical displacement of frames 5 along columns 201 and 202 can be stopped at any height by means of insertion of pins 509 in a couple of holes 207 located at the same height. Horizontal bars 505, 506, 507 and 508 connected to movable frames 5 have the function to allow a safe placement/hooking of mountings 8 described in assembly in FIGS. 3, 4, 5 and 7.
FIGS. 3 and 5 are described as assembled in four supports 8 that, hooked at same height on higher horizontal bars 507 and 506 of each one of two moving frames 5, can make up a bracket for location of two swing-wheels B. As an alternative, the same supports 8 are come nearer for location of dumb-bells M.
In FIG. 7, it is described, in details, that support for swing-wheel 8 in a side view is as given in FIG. 4. It is mainly made up by a horizontal location 802 to base 3, by a parapet 803, by a wing 801 perpendicular to support 802, by a strengthening clamp 804 and by a hook 805.
Traction of bar 702 and with it the relevant weights P located on pins 606 and 607 connected to moving element 603, by means of cable 705, allows carrying out of exercises of the lat and high pulley kind for strengthening either pectoral or back muscles systems (FIG. 4).
In FIG. 2, it is described that another execution of this apparatus, similar to that of FIG. 4, is provided with traction bar 701 used for carrying out exercises of a low pulley type.
As already mentioned, FIGS. 3 and 5 describe two other executions of this apparatus for the support of either two swing-wheels in FIG. 3 or two dumb-bells in FIG. 5. When the apparatus has this structure, it allows, among other ones, various exercises of weight lifting by means of stretching and bending of arms, for example on a horizontal bench, or an inclined one, and exercises of weights lifting by means of bending of legs.
Generally speaking, this multifunction apparatus, according to present invention, allows the carrying out of a various number of exercises of muscle systems for strengthening following a specific training program chosen by the user, either expert or beginner, in full autonomy.
As a matter of fact, the possibility to change position and type of attachments allows various execution types and therefore a big flexibility of use for strengthening a lower muscle system or higher muscle system.
Owing to its structure, relative dimensions, and easiness of assembly of attachments, the multifunction apparatus is the subject of the present invention, having a practical and economic benefits. It is, therefore, usable both in “home gym” environments and in gymnasium based environments.
The multifunction apparatus of present invention is described by help of a few examples or preferred embodiments. It is understood that this invention is not confined only to these embodiments, and, on the contrary, it is understood that other possible changes and similar adaptations and embodiments are also protected by the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. A multifunction exercise apparatus for strengthening of muscles, the apparatus comprising:

a completely metallic main frame having a parallelepiped shape, said main frame having a support base with feet extending downwardly therefrom, said main frame having four quadrangular columns supported by said support base in which a first two of said four quadrangular columns is at a front of said main frame and in which a second two of said four quadrangular columns is at back of said main frame, said main frame having a pair of cylindrical columns in which respective upper ends of said pair of cylindrical columns are connected by tubular members of quadrangular cross section;

a pair of movable frames each having a pair of tubular elements, said pair of movable frames having a rectangular shape, the pair of tubular elements being hollow and extending in a vertical orientation in parallel relation to each other, the pair of tubular elements respectively receiving said pair of cylindrical columns therein, said pair of movable frames having a first horizontal bar and a second horizontal bar extending in parallel relation between the pair of tubular elements, said first horizontal bar connected at an upper end of the pair of tubular elements, said second horizontal bar connected to a lower end of the pair of tubular elements, the pairs of tubular elements being vertically movable along said pair of cylindrical columns so as to cause a corresponding movement of the first and second horizontal bars; and

a pair of supports supporting barbells thereon, said pair of supports being hooked to said pair of movable frames.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, said pair of cylindrical columns having a plurality of circular holes formed at a front thereof, said plurality of circular holes being equally spaced from each other, the apparatus further comprising:

a plurality of pins received by at least some of said plurality of circular holes so as to fix said pair of movable frames at a desired height along said pair of said cylindrical columns.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a pulley system affixed at a center of said main frame, said pulley system comprising a movable element with disks received thereon, said pulley system having a pair of vertical bars having said movable elements slidably mounted thereon, said pulley system having a traction bar connected thereto, said traction bar suitable for causing a lifting of said movable element.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, said movable element comprising a pair of tube-shaped members receiving respectively said pair of vertical bars so as to be slidably movable along said pair of vertical bars.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, said support base having a central element extending thereacross, said central element having a small frame extending upwardly therefrom, said small frame having a vertical bars extending upwardly therefrom so as to limit a downward movement of said movable element.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, each of said second two of said four quadrangular columns having at least a pair of rods extending perpendicular thereto.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, each of said first two of said four quadrangular columns having a pair of springs extending from a back thereof, said pair of springs suitable for supporting a vertical position of the barbells.

16. The apparatus of claim 9, each of said pair of supports having a rectangular plate bent at 90° so as to define a horizontal bracket and a hammering element, said horizontal bracket having an end bent upwardly, a strengthening bar extends transversely between said horizontal bracket and said hammering element, each of said pair of supports having a hook at an end thereof.