Gymnastic Apparatus

Abstract

A gymnastic apparatus for accommodating exercises by a person with selective alternative positioning of the person's head. The apparatus includes a pair of substantially horizontally extending bars connected to a second pair of vertically extending bars forming an upright frame. A pair of shoulder supports are mounted on the horizontal bars and a knee support is mounted at the top of the bars forming the vertical frame. Adjacent the upper end of the vertical frame, a cantilever having a foot support at the outer end thereof is adjustably attached. The vertical frame is inclined upwardly in direction toward the shoulder support so as to accommodate positioning of a person with his shoulders on the shoulder support and his legs or knees adjacent the knee support without having the upright frame against the person's back. Screw type adjusting means are provided for accommodating adjustment of both the vertical extent of the vertical frame and of horizontal movement in all directions of the shoulder supports. In a further preferred embodiment, a second upright frame is attached to the end of the horizontal bars opposite the first upright frame and inclined toward the first upright frame. A second set of horizontal bars are connected between the first and second vertical frames, which second set of bars can be used for exercises. Further modifications of the invention include a modified cantilever with a bottom support arranged outwardly of the foot support for accommodating tilting of the apparatus such that the horizontal bars extend vertically and the vertical frame lies horizontally for accommodating horizontal positioning of a person's back against the now horizontal vertical frame. A further modification includes detachable connection of the upper portion of the vertical frame so that the lower portion can be removed and a further bottom support substituted for accommodating exercises with the normally vertical frame lying horizontally.

Description

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a gymnastic apparatus for a person for performing exercises with changing position of the head. An apparatus of this type is suited not only for physiotherapy and gymnastics but particularly also for Yoga exercises.

From German Pat. No. 2,004,932 there is known a device for treating the spine, in which a forwardly cantilevered arm is mounted on a frame, the arm carrying at its free end a pivotal traverse with supports for the bends of the knees. With the known device it is possible to dispose the patient in a position with his head down whereby the knees are strapped to pans in order rigidly to support the patient. This known device is limited to such suspended position of the body and is thus limited in its application.

The present invention contemplates providing a gymnastic apparatus which allows not only the performance of the inverted head position which is particularly suited for Yoga exercises but which can be used also for exercises by which an active cooperation of the body and its muscular system is to be achieved.

Preferred embodiments of this invention include a gymnastic apparatus of the type mentioned above which comprises two substantially horizontally extending bars each being provided with a shoulder support, an upright frame connected to the bars and having a support for the bends of the knees disposed at its upper end, and a cantilever connected to the frame and having a support for engagement by the feet. With such apparatus, the inverted head position may be assumed by a shoulder stand on the lower shoulder supports whereby the legs of the person are either held freely upright or may be leaned to the support for the bends of the knees. In this position, the person's body's weight is fully supported by the shoulders while simultaneously a pressure relief is achieved in the zone of the neck vertebrae. On the other hand, the inverted head position may also be assumed with the apparatus according to the invention in that the legs are bent over the support for the bend of the knees with the feet engaging from behind the support mounted on the cantilever. In this position, the body is suspended from the legs, and a tension is exerted on the entire spine. Both positions may advantageously be assumed alternatingly and transiently. The apparatus according to the invention furthermore permits exercises for strengthening the abdomen, particularly the ventral muscular system.

In advantageous preferred embodiments of the invention, the various supports are adjustable as to their mutual distances so that the apparatus can be exactly adapted to every size and structure of the body of persons using same.

The above discussed and further features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purposes of illustration only, several embodiments in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective side view which shows a gymnastic apparatus according to a first embodiment of the invention with a single upright frame at the end of the horizontal bars;

FIG. 2 is a perspective side view which shows a gymnastic apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention which is similar to the apparatus of FIG. 1 but more stable than the latter and has two upright frames disposed at respective opposite ends of the horizontal bars;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view which shows another embodiment of a cantilever for use with either of the FIG. 1 or 2 embodiments;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view which shows the cantilever of FIG. 3 in combination with a modified support frame as compared to the FIG. 1 and 2 embodiments which is used horizontally; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further modified apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to FIG. 1, the apparatus consists of a substantially horizontal base frame 1 and an upright frame 2 connected thereto. The base frame comprises two nearly horizontally extending bars 3 which are bent down at their front ends and are connected at their front lower ends to a traverse 4. The traverse 4 is again bent down at its front or side ends and provided with feet 5 to prevent skidding when in use with the feet 5 engaged with a gym floor or other support.

The upright frame 2 comprises two parallel rods 6 welded to the bars 3; the welds being preferably reinforced by triangular plates 7 welded thereto. The two rods 6 are in their upper zone connected to each other by one or two traverses 8. At their lower ends, the rods 6 are also provided with feet 5 for preventing skidding.

The upright frame 2 is inclined with respect to the horizontal bars 3 at an angle of about 80.degree. so that the rods 6 are inclined upwardly towards the bars 3.

A shoulder support 9 is provided on each of the two horizontally extending bars 3. The upper ends of the upright rods 6 carry support 10 for supporting the bends of knees of a person using the apparatus. A cantilever 11 is mounted on an upper traverse 8 at an angle of about 45.degree. with respect to the horizontal; the cantilever 11 carrying, at its free end approximately on the vertical level of the support 10, a further support 12 formed like a both-sided handle for engagement by the feet.

The shoulder supports 9 are mounted on the bars 3 for adjustment as to their mutual distance from one another and as to their distance from the upright rods 6. The adjustment may be achieved by adjusting screws 13 each extending through a longitudinal slot (not shown) in the bar 3 and a transverse slot provided in a lower plate (not shown) of the support 9.

The rods 6 are telescopically extensible in a middle zone and can be fixed in their respective position by clamps 14. The cantilever 11 is passed through a sleeve or tube 15 welded to the respective traverse 8 and can be shifted within this sleeve and fixed in its respective position by a tubular clamp 16.

The bars 3, the rods 6, the traverses 4 and 8 and the cantilever 11 consist of steel tube having a suitable diameter selected in the range of 20 to 40 mm in accordance with the material used and the exerted or expected loads. The supports 9 and 10 are upholstered in a suitable manner such as by a foam rubber pad coated with a sheet of plastics material. The support 12 consists of a steel tube welded to the free end of the cantilever 11 and having sleeves of rubber or plastics fitted and fastened to it. The feet 5 are elements suitably formed from rubber or plastics material and fitted onto or inserted into the tube ends.

In a typical embodiment, the width of the traverses 8 is about 350 mm, the length of the bars 3 about 1,000 mm, the height of the bars 3 above the feet 5 about 420 mm, the fully extended length of the upright rods 6 about 1,500 mm and the mean distance of the supports 9 from the upright rods 6 about 300 mm.

The apparatus is intended to be used for the following four basic positions:

1. Shoulder stand on the supports 9 with the person's hands gripping the bars 3 in front of the supports 9 and the perons's legs being either held freely or leaned against the support 10. Due to the inclination of the upright frame 2 with respect to the base frame 1, the patient's back does not contact the upright frame 2. In this position, the body's weight is fully supported by the shoulders so that a pressure relief is achieved in the area of the neck vertebrae.

2. Knee hang from the support 10 with the feet engaging the support 12 from below. With the length of the upright rods 6 properly adjusted, the shoulders lie in this position no longer on the supports 9 so that the entire body's weight is freely suspended. In this position the entire spine is released.

3. Knee hang with the supper part of the body horizontal and the arms extending upwardly. In this position, the lower legs engage the supports 10 and 12 like in position (2) so that the entire body's weight is suspended from the legs.

4. Knee hang with the upper part of the body bent upwardly, the arms extending forwardly and the hands reaching to the tips of the feet. This position is assumed by further bending the upper part of the body upwardly from position (3).

The above mentioned four basic positions can be assumed transiently one after the other whereby the body may be intermediately held in each position. The position (4) or the positions (3) and (4) may also be omitted. While the two positions (1) and (2) mainly serve for relief, the positions (3) and (4) are mainly exercises for strengthening the abdomen and the ventral muscular system.

The embodiment of the gymnastic apparatus shown in FIG. 2 comprises substantially the same elements as the apparatus of FIG. 1; and many of the corresponding individual elements in FIG. 2 have therefore not again been provided with reference numbers. In addition to the apparatus of FIG. 1, the embodiment of FIG. 2 includes a second upright frame 20 which is mounted opposite to the frame 2 at the other ends of the horizontal bars designated in FIG. 2 by 3'. The two upright frames 2 and 20 are connected by two further horizontal bars 21 at a vertical level of about 100 mm above the floor.

An essentially more stable apparatus is thus achieved in FIG. 2 as compared to FIG. 1 wherein the reinforcing triangles at the connections of the upright frames with the horizontal bars may optionally be omitted. Upright frame 6' of FIG. 2 includes a further reinforcing traverse 8' adjacent the connection to the bars 21. For further increasing the stability, the two upright frames 2 and 20 are each upwardly inclined towards each other. The horizontal bars 21 not only serve to reinforce the structure but may also be used for further exercises and body positions such as whatever exercise can be done on conventional parallel bars.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of a cantilever 11' which can be used in place of cantilever 11 on the FIG. 1 and 2 embodiments. The cantilever 11' carrier a foot support 12' formed as a roll of foam material which may be coated by a sheet of plastics material. A bottom support 25 is mounted on the end of the cantilever 11' and is formed as a traverse provided with rubber feet 26 at both ends. The distance between the support 12' and the bottom support 25 corresponds at least to the inset of the foot so that the support 12' can be engaged by the feet from behind with the bottom support feet 26 engaged on a floor or other support.

When the cantilever 11 of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is withdrawn from the sleeve 15 and replaced by the cantilever 11' according to FIG. 3, the thus obtained apparatus may also be used in a position in which it rests on both feet 26 of the bottom support 25 and on the feet 5 mounted on the ends of the rods 6. In this position, the bars 3 are sloped upwardly. The patient can now perform the exercises such that, in a starting position [referred to hereinafter as position (5)], he lies with his back on the frame 2 (frame 2 now extending horizontally). For greater comfort, a back cushion may be provided in a manner similar to cushion 30 in the embodiment of FIG. 4 and which is for instance suspended from the lower traverse 8 shown in FIG. 1 and rests on the rods 6 (see FIG. 5).

FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment of the apparatus adapted for exercises from the last mentioned position (5). The apparatus of FIG. 4 comprises the upper portion of the upright frame 2 of FIG. 1 including the support 10 for the bends of the knees, and the upper telescoping portion of the rods 6. The cantilever 11' according to FIG. 3 is utilized in place of cantilever 11. The lower portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 which includes the base frame 1 and the lower portion of the rods 6 is removed and a further bottom support 27 is detachably fitted onto the lower end of the upper telescoping rod portions 6. The bottom frame 27 consists of two substantially horizontally extending (when apparatus is tilted to engage feet 26 with floor) rods 28 with their ends bent downwardly as well as a traverse 29 connecting the bent-down ends of the rods 28. Rubber feet 26' are provided at both lateral ends of the traverse 29 similarly to feet 26 at the ends of the bottom support 25 of FIG. 3. In order to fasten the bottom support 27 to the upper portion of the apparatus according to FIG. 4, clamps 14' which correspond to the clamps 14 of FIG. 1 are provided at the upper ends of the rods 28.

The effects intended to be obtained by the apparatus are particularly an increased supply of bood to the brain, a reduction of the blood pressure in the lower half of the body, an actuation of the respiration and a strengthening of the muscular system, resulting in physio and psychotherapeutic effects.

While we have shown and described only several embodiments in connection with the present invention, it is understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as would be known to those skilled in the art given the present disclosure of the invention, and we therefore do not wish to be limited to the details shown and described herein only schematically but intend to cover all such changes and modifications.

Claims

What we claim is:

1. A gymnastic apparatus for accommodating exercises by a person with selective alternative positioning of the person's head; said apparatus comprising:

substantially horizontally extending bar means,

shoulder support means mounted on said bar means for supporting shoulders of said person,

an upright frame connected to said bar means,

knee support means disposed adjacent an upper end of said upright frame for supporting bends of knees of said person,

cantilever means connected to said upright frame,

and feet support means mounted in spaced relation from said knee support means by said cantilever means for supporting the feet of said person,

wherein said upright frame is inclined at an angle with respect to said bar means such that the knee support means are spaced in the horizontal direction from said shoulder support means by a distance less than the horizontal distance between said shoulder support means and lower portions of said upright frame.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said cantilever means includes a bottom support at its end remote from the upright frame for accommodating optional use of the apparatus with said bottom support engageable with a floor and said horizontal bars extending vertically, said bottom support being spaced from the feet support means by a distance corresponding to the instep of a foot of said person.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said angle is approximately 80.degree..

4. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said bar means includes two substantially horizontally extending bars, and wherein said shoulder support means includes two separate shoulder supports mounted one each on respective ones of said bars.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said shoulder supports are attached to said bars by shoulder attaching means including means for accommodating adjustment of the lateral distance between said shoulder supports.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said shoulder supports are attached to said bars by shoulder attaching means including means for accommodating horizontal adjustment of the distance between each of said shoulder supports and the upright frame.

7. An apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said shoulder attaching means includes means for accommodating horizontal adjustment of the lateral distance between said shoulder supports in a direction transverse to the horizontal adjustment between each of the shoulder supports and the upright frame.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said angle is approximately 80.degree..

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein cantilever adjusting means are provided for accommodating cantilever adjustment for varying the distance between the knee support means and the foot support means.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said upright frame includes frame adjusting means for accommodating adjustment of the vertical distance between said knee support means and said shoulder supports.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said upright frame includes frame adjusting means for accommodating adjustment of the vertical distance between said knee support means and said shoulder supports.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said upright frame is connected to both of said bars at respective first ends of said bars, and wherein a second upright frame is connected to both of said bars at respective second ends of said bars, said second ends of said bars being opposite said first ends.

13. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said cantilever means includes a bottom support at its end remote from the upright frame for accommodating optional use of the apparatus with said bottom support engageable with a floor and said horizontal bars extending vertically, said bottom support being spaced from the feet support means by a distance corresponding to the instep of a foot of said person.

14. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said upright frame includes frame adjusting means for accommodating adjustment of the vertical distance between said knee support means and said shoulder supports.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said frame adjusting means includes tubes telescopically disposed in one another for movement relative to one another.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said cantilever adjusting means includes tubes telescopically disposed in one another for movement relative to one another.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said upright frame is connected to both of said bars at respective first ends of said bars, and wherein a second upright frame is connected to both of said bars at respective second ends of said bars, said second ends of said bars being opposite said first ends.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said second upright frame is inclined upwardly towards the first mentioned upright frame.

19. An apparatus according to claim 17, wherein said upright frames are connected to each other by a furtherr pair of horizontal bars.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein said second upright frame is inclined upwardly towards the first mentioned upright frame.

21. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein cantilever adjusting means are provided for accommodating cantilever adjustment for varying the distance between the knee support means and the foot support means.

22. An apparatus according to claim 21, wherein said cantilever adjusting means includes tubes telescopically disposed in one another for movement relative to one another.

23. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said upright frame is connected to both of said bars at respective first ends of said bars, and wherein a second upright frame is connected to both of said bars at respective second ends of said bars, said second ends of said bars being opposite said first ends.

24. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said second upright frame is inclined upwardly towards the first mentioned upright frame.

25. An apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said upright frames are connected to each other by a further pair of horizontal bars.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein said further pair of horizontal bars are spaced vertically from and substantially parallel to said first mentioned bars.

27. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said angle is approximately 80.degree..

28. An apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said second upright frame is inclined upwardly towards the first mentioned upright frame.

29. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said angle is approximately 80.degree..

30. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said upright frame includes frame adjusting means for accommodating adjustment of the vertical distance between said knee support means and said shoulder supports.

31. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein cantilever adjusting means are provided for accommodating cantilever adjustment for varying the distance between the knee support means and the foot support means.

32. An apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said upright frame is connected to both of said bars at respective first ends of said bars, and wherein a second upright frame is connected to both of said bars at respective second ends of said bars, said second ends of said bars being opposite said first ends.

33. An apparatus according to claim 32, wherein said cantilever means includes a bottom support at its end remote from the upright frame for accommodating optional use of the apparatus with said bottom support engageable with a floor and said horizontal bars extending vertically, said bottom support being spaced from the feet support means by a distance corresponding to the instep of a foot of said person.

34. An apparatus according to claim 33, wherein said upright frame includes a back cushion support for accommodating the suspension of a back cushion thereon.

35. An apparatus according to claim 34, further comprising a back cushion on said back cushion support for cushioning the back of said person when said apparatus is used with said horizontal bars extending vertically and said bottom support engaged with a floor.

36. An apparatus according to claim 35, wherein detachable connecting means are provided for connecting a lower portion of the apparatus including the horizontal bars and a lower part of the upright frame to an upper part of the upright frame, said upper part including said knee support, back cushion support, and cantilever means, and wherein a further bottom support is provided which is connectible to said upper part of the upright frame when said lower portion of the apparatus is disconnected, said further bottom support including means engageable with a floor when said apparatus is used with said vertical frame extending horizontally and said first mentioned bottom support engaged with said floor.

37. A gymnastic apparatus for accommodating exercises by a person with selective alternative positioning of the person's head; said apparatus comprising:

substantially horizontally extending bar means,

shoulder support means mounted on said bar means for supporting shoulders of said person,

an upright frame connected to said bar means,

knee support means disposed adjacent an upper end of said upright frame for supporting bends of knees of said person,

cantilever means connected to said upright frame,

and feet support means mounted in spaced relation from said knee support means by said cantilever means for supporting the feet of said person,

wherein said cantilever means includes a bottom support at its end remote from the upright frame for accommodating optional use of the apparatus with said bottom support engageable with a floor and said bar means extending vertically, said bottom support being spaced from the feet support means by a distance corresponding to the instep of a foot of said person.

38. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said bat means includes two substantially horizontally extending bars, and wherein said shoulder support means includes two separate shoulder supports mounted one each on respective ones of said bars.

39. An apparatus according to claim 37, wherein said upright frame includes a back cushion support for accommodating the suspension of a back cushion thereon.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein said bar means includes two substantially horizontally extending bars, and wherein said shoulder support means includes two separate shoulder supports mounted one each on respective ones of said bars.

41. An apparatus according to claim 40, wherein detachable connecting means are provided for connecting a lower portion of the apparatus including the horizontal bars and a lower part of the upright frame to an upper part of the upright frame, said upper part including said knee support, back cushion support, and cantilever means, and wherein a further bottom support is provided which is connectible to said upper part of the upright frame when said lower portion of the apparatus is disconnected, said further bottom support including means engageable with a floor when said apparatus is used with said vertical frame extending horizontally and said first mentioned bottom support engaged with said floor.

42. An apparatus according to claim 40, further comprising a back cushion on said back cushion support for cushioning the back of said person when said apparatus is used with said horizontal bars extending vertically and said bottom support engaged with a floor.

43. An apparatus according to claim 42, wherein detachable connecting means are provided for connecting a lower portion of the apparatus including the horizontal bars and a lower part of the upright frame to an upper part of the upright frame, said upper part including said knee support, back cushion support, and cantilever means, and wherein a further bottom support is provided which is connectible to said upper part of the upright frame when said lower portion of the apparatus is disconnected, said further bottom support including means engageable with a floor when said apparatus is used with said vertical frame extending horizontally and said first mentioned bottom support engaged with said floor.