(19)
(11) EP 2 077 140 B1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION

(45) Mention of the grant of the patent:
28.07.2010 Bulletin 2010/30

(21) Application number: 08100157.0

(22) Date of filing: 07.01.2008
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A63B 22/14(2006.01)
A63B 21/02(2006.01)

(54)

Hip training apparatus

Trainingsgerät für die Hüfte

Appareil d'entraînement des hanches


(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC MT NL NO PL PT RO SE SI SK TR

(43) Date of publication of application:
08.07.2009 Bulletin 2009/28

(73) Proprietor: Wang, Shao-Hua
Banciao City 220, Taipei (TW)

(72) Inventor:
  • Wang, Shao-Hua
    Banciao City 220, Taipei (TW)

(74) Representative: Lippert, Stachow & Partner 
Patentanwälte Postfach 30 02 08
51412 Bergisch Gladbach
51412 Bergisch Gladbach (DE)


(56) References cited: : 
WO-A-02/087705
FR-A- 2 875 706
FR-A- 2 826 583
US-A1- 2006 073 942
   
       
    Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention).


    Description

    Background of the Invention


    Technical Field



    [0001] The present invention is to provide a hip training apparatus according to the generic part of claim 1, particularly for one that employs contracting exercise of legs for activating the hip movement so as to achieve the hip training effect.

    Prior Arts



    [0002] To have a physical figure with a pair of elastic beautiful legs in slender manner together with sex-appealing hips in elevated and well-rounded contour is always coveted by most of women friends. However, for those white-collar people of stationary jobs, who are confined by the office desk or computer table, may get fat on the hips and legs because assimilate too much animal-based fat cumulated in lower extremities other than lack of physical exercises to become distressed look in clumsy fatness due to accumulation of too much flesh on the hips and legs. The best way to improve such distressed look is physical exercise. For people living in the current jungle-like city, who are hindered by the limited time and space, the best way to do physical exercise is do it at home.

    [0003] Currently, the physical training apparatus pinpointed on hips are always too bulky in structure and difficult to collect. For prior art of WO/2002/087705, neither the exterior appearance has esthetical sensibility with complicated structure nor the stretch of entire body is capable with physical balance. That proves the conventional athletic apparatus aforesaid are not good contrivances with many existing drawbacks, which become the critical issues to be urgently improved and solved. In view of suck facts and derivative issues mentioned above, the applicant of the present invention is eager to solve them by painstaking study and research as well as development for many years. Eventually, the contrivance of the present invention is successfully created.

    Summary of the Invention



    [0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a hip training apparatus so as to contract the hips by means of leg movement, which comprises a chassis and a pair of pivotable treadle, which is interlocked with an elastic belt adjusting mechanism in the chassis. Said pivotable treadle, whose front end of back side is set in the chassis, has a roller disposed at its rear end of back side thereof. Thereby, each pivotable treadle can do pivotal movement in ascending inwards back and forth manner in each corresponding prefabricated curved track of the curved trough on the deck cover. Besides, at the heel holding position of the rear end around each said pivotable treadle, an arched heel aligning ledge is erected for enabling the user to perform inwards pressing exercise by two feet other than prevention from falling down. Moreover, the adjusting wing nut on the chassis is served to adjust the torsional tension of two pivotable treadles. By means of such elastic belt adjusting mechanism, the torsional tension exerting on two pivotable treadles is arbitrarily altered at user's will in gradient manner accordingly in accordance with various requirements of different users.

    [0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a hip training apparatus having a spring cushion disposed between the sole of the pivotable treadle and the roller to offer buffer function so that the athletic injure to the exerciser can be avoided.

    [0006] Another object of the present invention is to provide a hip training apparatus having plural nipple studs and arched heel aligning ledge disposed so that the user of different size and shape in human sole can stably stand thereon for properly performing exercise to achieve the hip training effect and purpose, which is superior to the corresponding prior art of WO/2002/087705.

    [0007] The other object of the present invention is to provide a hip training apparatus having a stretchable elastic strap supplied so that the user can arbitrarily perform stretch and twist physical exercise with entire body in balance manner at will.

    Brief Description of the Invention



    [0008] 

    FIG. 1 is the perspective view of external shape for the present invention.

    FIG. 2 is the exploded illustrative view of primary parts for the present invention.

    FIG. 3 is the cross section view of curved trough for the present invention.

    FIG. 4 is the exploded view showing the internal structure of the deck cover for the present invention.

    FIG. 5 is the combinational view showing the internal structure of the soleplate for the present invention.

    FIG. 6 is the schematic view showing the adjusting mechanism of the elastic belt for the present invention.

    FIG. 7 is the exploded view showing the back structure of the pivotable treadle for the present invention.

    FIG. 8 is the illustrative view showing the operational status of the elastic strap for the present invention.

    FIG. 9 is the illustrative view showing the operational status of the other elastic strap for the present invention.

    FIG. 10 is the illustrative view showing the structure of the aperture on the handle for the present invention.

    FIG. 11 is the cross section view showing the structure of the slit on the handle for the present invention.


    Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments



    [0009] Please refer to the FIGS. 1 through 7, which are the exploded and combinational illustrative views showing the structures of the hip training apparatus for the present invention.

    [0010] The hip training apparatus comprises a chassis 1 and a pair of pivotable treadles 2, wherein, said chassis 1 includes a deck cover 10 and a soleplate 10'. At the both front sides of the deck cover 10, two symmetrical perforated holes 11 are configured for holding each of two pivotable treadles 2 therein; at the breech portion of the deck cover 10, a ramp 14 is symmetrically formed at each left and right side descending from the central line outwards laterally such that one curved trough 12 with curved track 121 therein is configured at each ramp 14.

    [0011] For the purpose of enabling the user to carry the hip training apparatus on if necessary, at the front rim of the chassis 1, a carrying handle 13 is built on the deck cover 10 such that an aperture 131 with two lateral symmetrical slits 132 are configured thereon for having an elastic strap 4 passed inside the aperture 131 with two ends staying outside of the slits 132 for user to grasp; at the rear rim of the deck cover 10 for the chassis 1, an adjusting wing nut 15 is built on the deck cover 10.

    [0012] Said pair of pivotable treadles 2, which are symmetrically pivot juxtaposed on the chassis 1, have plural nipple studs 21 formed on the top surface so as to correspond to the plantar reflective acupuncture points for both of physiological massaging to the plantar tissue and supporting the anti-slipping friction during inwards pressing exercise by two feet of the user. At the front end and rear end of each back side of the pair of pivotable treadles 2 are a pivot axle 22 and a roller 23 respectively, which is securely fixed on the bottom thereof by a fitting frame 231 and a spring cushion 232. At the heel holding position of the rear end around each said pivotable treadle 2, an arched heel aligning ledge 25 is erected for enabling the user to perform inwards pressing exercise by two feet. Because the size of human sole is different from person to person, only heel holding position instead of toe holding position, the heel aligning ledge 25 is formed thereon to avoiding the confinement of the toe holding position, which is different from person to person due to different sole size.

    [0013] During assembly, each pivot axle 22 of the pivotable treadle 2 is firstly set in each corresponding perforated holes 11 for deck cover 10 of the chassis 1 so that each roller 23, which is disposed on the pivotable treadle 2 with a spring cushion 232, is just lodged in each corresponding curved trough 12 of the deck cover 10; Then, each locking bore 242, which is to set on the joint lever slat 24 at the sole of the deck cover 10, is securely fitted and locked on each corresponding pivot peg 221 on the pivot axle 22 at the bottom of the pivotable treadle 2 by each locking screw 241 so that each pivotable treadle 2 can do pivotal movement in ascending inwards back and forth manner with each pivot axle 22 as center in each corresponding prefabricated curved track 121 of the curved trough 12 on the deck cover 10.

    [0014] Please refer to the FIGS. 5 and 6, the both ends of the elastic belt 17 is secured on the joint lever slats 24. By suitably turning the adjusting wing nut 15, which drives the nut 152 via threaded rod 151 interconnecting the front bored angle piece 181 of the J-shape hook slat 18 in and out via associated threaded rod 151, the rear hook end 182 of the J-shape hook slat 18 will accordingly pull and release the middle section of the elastic belt 17 transversely for turning the joint lever slats 24 connected so that torsional tension exerting on two pivotable treadles 2 is altered in gradient manner accordingly; wherein, the nut 152 on the threaded rod 151 is used as tension adjuster and a holding plate 153 is disposed beneath the threaded rod 151 for preventing it from bounce due to exceeding pulling force.

    [0015] Please refer to FIGS. 8 and 9, which are the operational views for the hip training apparatus of the present invention. During operation, each foot of the exerciser stands on each corresponding pivotable treadle 2 of the chassis 1 with heel abut with the heel aligning ledge 25 over the roller 23 and performs inwards pressing exercise by two feet simultaneously so that each pivotable treadle 2 follows the foot movement doing pivotal movement in ascending inwards back and forth manner in the curved trough 12 on the deck cover 10 with each pivot axle 22 as center. During non-operation status, both rear ends of the pivotable treadles 2 are borne the torque to laterally outmost position because the pivot axle 22 at the bottom front end of the pivotable treadle 2 is pulled by the elastic belt 17. Therefore, the greater is the tension of the elastic belt 17, the more exerting effort is required by the exerciser to draw the two pivotable treadles 2 together so as to enhance the hip training. Moreover, to only turn the adjusting wing nut 15 on the chassis 1 in proper degree, the torsional tension of the pivotable treadles 2 can be suitably adjusted in gradient manner via pulling force of the J-shape hook slat 18, which being driven by the connected nut 152 with threaded rod 151, acting on the elastic belt 17 with two pivotable joint lever slats 24. When the elastic belt 17 is pulled tightly, each end of both joint lever slats 24 is pulled towards the adjusting wing nut 15 so that the pivot peg 221 on the pivot axle 22 at the bottom of the pivotable treadle 2 is borne the torque from the connected locking bore 242 of the joint lever slat 24. Thereby, both rear ends of the pivotable treadles 2 follow the torque being tensely twisted towards laterally; contrarily, when the elastic belt 17 is released loosely, the pivotable treadles 2 become more movable due to less of the torsional tension borne on the joint lever slats 24. Thus, the user can achieve the gradient adjustment in such way.

    [0016] Please further refer to the FIGS. 10 and 11, which show the structures of the aperture 131 and slit 132 on the handle 13. The stretchable elastic strap 4 is put in two apertures 131 via the associated slit 132 thereof. Because of the slant-cut shape in the slit 132, the elastic strap 4 is difficult to get off once it has been put in the carrying handle 13 so that the user can arbitrarily perform stretch and twist physical exercise with entire body in balance manner at will.


    Claims

    1. A hip training apparatus comprises: a chassis (1) including a deck cover (10) and a soleplate (10'), at its breech portion, one ramp (14) being symmetrically formed at each left and right side descending from the central line outwards laterally such that one curved trough (12) with a curved track (121) therein being configured at each ramp; a pair of pivotable treadles (2) being interlocked with an elastic belt adjusting mechanism in the chassis (1), each treadle having at the rear end and front end of its back side, respectively a roller (23) and a pivot axle (22), which pivot axle being pivotally set in perforated holes (11) on the chassis (1); a carrying handle (13) being built at a front rim of the chassis with an aperture (131) and two lateral symmetrical slits (132); an adjusting wing nut (15), which being disposed in the central rear portion of the chassis (1), connecting to a threaded rod (15); said threaded rod (151) having a nut (152) screwed on its end; and a stretchable elastic strap (4) to be put in two apertures (131) via a slit (132) with two ends staying outside of the slits (132), characterized in that the adjusting mechanism is provided with a J-shape hook slat (18) having a threaded bore and hook end on its front end and rear end respectively for being driven by said adjusting wing nut (15) to hook an elastic belt (17); said elastic belt (17) having both ends connected to a pair of joint lever slats (24); each of said joint lever slats (24) having one end securely connected with said elastic belt (17) and the other end having a locking bore to set with pivot peg (221) on the pivot axle (22) of the pivotable treadle (2) by means of the locking screw.
     
    2. The hip training apparatus as recited in the claim 1, wherein, said pivotable treadle (2) has plural nipple studs (21) formed thereon and an arched heel aligning ledge (25) erected at the heel holding position of the rear end around thereof.
     
    3. The hip training apparatus as recited in the claim 1, wherein, said slit (132) on the carrying handle (13) is slant-cut shape.
     
    4. The hip training apparatus as recited in the claim 1, wherein, said adjusting wing nut (15) drives the nut via threaded rod interconnecting the front bored angle piece of the J-shape hook slat (18) in and out via associated threaded rod, the rear hook end of the J-shape hook slat accordingly pulls and releases the middle section of the elastic belt (17) transversely for turning the joint lever slats connected so that the pivot peg on the pivot axle (22) at the bottom of the pivotable treadle is borne the torque from the connected locking bore of the joint lever slat and torsional tension exerting on two pivotable treadles (2) is altered in gradient manner accordingly.
     
    5. The hip training apparatus as recited in the claim 1, wherein a counter (3) is provided.
     


    Ansprüche

    1. Trainingsgerät für die Hüfte, umfassend: einen Rahmen (1) mit einer Deckplatte (10) und einer Grundplatte (10'), eine in deren Mittelabschnitt symmetrisch ausgebildete Rampe (14), die von der Mittellinie seitlich nach außen abfällt, so dass in jeder Rampe eine gekrümmte Mulde (12) mit einer gekrümmten Laufrille (121) darin ausgebildet ist; ein Paar drehbare Pedale (2), die mit einer Einstellmechanik mit einem elastischen Band (17) im Rahmen (1) verbunden sind, wobei jedes Pedal am hinteren und am vorderen Ende seiner Rückseite einen Rollkörper (23) bzw. ein Drehlager (22), das in Durchgangslöcher (11) im Rahmen (1) drehbar eingesetzt ist, aufweist; einen an einem vorderen Rand des Rahmens ausgebildeten Traggriff (13) mit einer Öffnung (131) und zwei symmetrischen seitlichen Schlitzen (132); eine Einstell-Flügelmutter (15), die im hinteren Mittelabschnitt des Rahmens (1) angebracht ist und mit einem Gewindestab (151) verbindet, wobei auf den Gewindestab (151) an dessen Ende eine Mutter (152) aufgeschraubt ist; und einen dehnbaren elastischen Gurt (4), der über einen Schlitz (132) in zwei Öffnungen (131) eingesetzt ist, wobei seine beiden Enden außerhalb des Schlitzes (132) bleiben, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass die Einstellmechanik mit einer J-förmigen Hakenlasche (18) versehen ist, die am vorderen bzw. hinteren Ende eine Gewindebohrung und ein Hakenende aufweist, damit sie mit der Einstell-Flügelmutter (15) betätigt und werden und ein elastisches Band (17) aufhaken kann; wobei das elastische Band (17) an den Enden mit zwei Gelenkhebeln (24) verbunden ist, deren eines Ende jeweils mit dem elastischen Band (17) fest verbunden ist und deren anderes Ende eine Sicherungsbohrung zum Festlegen am Drehzapfen (221) des Drehlagers (22) des drehbaren Pedals (2) mittels der Sicherungsschraube aufweist.
     
    2. Trainingsgerät für die Hüfte nach Anspruch 1, wobei das drehbare Pedal (2) viele auf diesem ausgebildete Noppen (21) und eine an der die Ferse haltenden Position seines hinteren Endes aufgerichtete gebogene Fersenführungsleiste (25) aufweist.
     
    3. Trainingsgerät für die Hüfte nach Anspruch 1, wobei der Schlitz (132) auf dem Traggriff (13) von schräg geschnittener Gestalt ist.
     
    4. Trainingsgerät für die Hüfte nach Anspruch 1, wobei die Einstell-Flügelmutter (15) über die mit dem vorderen durchbohrten abgewinkelten Teil der J-förmigen Hakenlasche (18) verbindende Gewindestange (151) die Mutter (152) einwärts und auswärts bewegt, das hintere Hakenende der J-förmigen Hakenlasche den Mittelabschnitt des elastischen Bands (17) entsprechend seitwärts bewegt, um die angeschlossenen Gelenkhebel zu drehen, so dass der Drehzapfen des Drehlagers (22) auf der Unterseite des drehbaren Pedals mit dem Drehmoment von der verbundenen Sicherungsbohrung des Gelenkhebels beaufschlagt und die auf die beiden drehbaren Pedale (2) einwirkende Torsionsspannung entsprechend stufenlos geändert wird.
     
    5. Trainingsgerät für die Hüfte nach Anspruch 1, wobei ein Zähler (3) vorgesehen ist.
     


    Revendications

    1. Appareil d'entraînement des hanches, comprenant : un châssis (1) incluant un couvercle de plateau (10) et une plaque de base (10'), à sa partie fondement, une rampe (14) formée de manière symétrique à chaque côté gauche et droit, descendant de l'axe central, extérieurement latéralement, de manière qu'un creusement (12) incurvé, avec une piste (121) incurvée formée en son sein, soit réalisée à chaque rampe ; une paire de pédales (2) pivotantes étant verrouillées réciproquement à un mécanisme d'ajustement de courroie élastique disposé dans le châssis (1), chaque pédale ayant, à l'extrémité arrière et à l'extrémité avant de son côté arrière, respectivement, un galet (23) et un axe de pivotement (22), ledit axe de pivotement étant monté à pivotement dans des trous (11) percés sur le châssis (1); une poignée de transport (13) étant construite sur une bordure avant du châssis, avec une ouverture (131) et deux fentes latérales (132) symétriques ; un écrou d'ajustement à oreilles (15), disposé dans la partie arrière centrale du châssis (1), reliant à une tige filetée (151) ; ladite tige filetée (151) comprenant un écrou (152) vissé sur son extrémité ; et une bande élastique (4) étirable, à placer dans deux ouvertures (131), via une fente (132), avec deux extrémités situées à l'extérieur des fentes (132), caractérisé en ce que le mécanisme d'ajustement est muni d'une lame à crochet (18) en forme de J, ayant un trou fileté et une extrémité de crochet sur son extrémité avant et son extrémité arrière, respectivement, de manière à être entraîné par ledit écrou d'ajustement à oreilles (15), afin d'accrocher une courroie (17) élastique ; ladite courroie (17) élastique ayant ses deux extrémités reliées à une paire de lames formant levier d'articulation (24) ; chacune desdites lames formant levier d'articulation (24) ayant une extrémité reliée fermement à ladite courroie (17) élastique, et l'autre extrémité ayant un perçage de verrouillage pour être montée, avec une clavette de pivot (221), sur l'axe de pivotement (22) de la pédale (2) pivotante, au moyen de la vis de verrouillage.
     
    2. Appareil d'entraînement des hanches selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite pédale (2) pivotante comprend une pluralité de picots (21) formés sur elle, et une moulure d'alignement de talon (25) arquée, érigée à la position de maintien de talon de l'extrémité arrière, autour d'elle.
     
    3. Appareil d'entraînement des hanches selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ladite fente (132) réalisée sur la poignée de transport (13) est de forme coupée obliquement.
     
    4. Appareil d'entraînement des hanches selon la revendication 1, dans lequel ledit écrou d'ajustement à oreilles (15) entraîne l'écrou via une tige filetée, inter-connectant la pièce d'angle avant percée de la lame à crochet (18) en forme de J, avec une possibilité de pénétration et d'extraction, via une tige filetée associée, l'extrémité arrière de crochet de la lame à crochet en forme de J tirant et relâchant de manière correspondante la section médiane de la courroie (17) élastique, transversalement, pour faire tourner les lames formant levier d'articulation, reliées de manière que la clavette de pivot, située sur l'axe de pivotement (22), au fond de la pédale pivotante, supporte le couple de rotation provenant du perçage de verrouillage connecté de la lame formant levier d'articulation, et que la contrainte par effet de torsion, s'exerçant sur les deux pédales (2) pivotantes, soit modifiée progressivement de manière correspondante.
     
    5. Appareil d'entraînement des hanches selon la revendication 1, dans lequel est prévu un compteur (3).
     




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    Cited references

    REFERENCES CITED IN THE DESCRIPTION



    This list of references cited by the applicant is for the reader's convenience only. It does not form part of the European patent document. Even though great care has been taken in compiling the references, errors or omissions cannot be excluded and the EPO disclaims all liability in this regard.

    Patent documents cited in the description