Multifunctional exercise machine

Abstract

A multifunctional exercise machine has columns ( 1, 2 ) extending in the vertical direction and, for example, a foot part ( 12, 17 ) resting on the floor ( 13 ) over which there is arranged, at a certain vertical distance from the floor ( 13 ), a sitting or lying surface ( 9 ) and a backrest ( 10 ) extending above the sitting and lying surface ( 9 ). The machine has actuating devices ( 24, 28, 29 ) to be operated with bodily extremities—foot, hand, arm or the like—which transmits the force exerted by the user via at least one flexible tension means ( 37 )—chain or rope—to one or selectably also to a plurality of rod- or strip-shaped spring elements ( 31 ), clamped in at one end and extending in a vertical plane in the space ( 32 ) bounded by the column parts ( 1, 2 ). The force applied by the user, in each case via the flexible tension means ( 37 ), engages the free upper end portion of the spring element ( 31 ) concerned and elastically deforming this spring element ( 31 ) in the specified vertical plane in the space ( 32 ) bounded by the column parts ( 1, 2 ).

1 . A multifunctional exercise machine having columns extending in the vertical direction and, for example, a foot part resting on the floor over which there is arranged, at a certain vertical distance from the floor, a sitting or lying surface and a backrest extending above the sitting and lying surface, having actuating devices to be operated with bodily extremities—foot, hand, arm or the like—which transmits the force exerted by the user via at least one flexible tension means—chain or rope—to one or selectably also to a plurality of rod- or strip-shaped spring elements, clamped in at one end and extending in a vertical plane in the space bounded by the column parts, the force applied by the user, in each case via the flexible tension means, engaging on the free upper end portion of the spring element concerned and elastically deforming this spring element in the specified vertical plane in the space bounded by the column parts.  
   
   
       2 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of the rod- or bow-shaped spring elements are arranged in a quiver, which is arranged on the column in the region of the floor, preferably inside the space bounded by the column parts, and accommodates in upright position the plurality or a multiplicity of spring elements, whose end portions can be coupled as required to a coupler, on which the flexible tension means engages.  
   
   
       3 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 2  wherein the coupler exhibits a cavity in which the free ends of the spring elements are to be arranged in such fashion that they can be coupled as required.  
   
   
       4 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 2  wherein assigned to the coupler there is a detachable connecting element, by which the end portions of the spring elements that are to be coupled with the coupler are detachably restrained therewith.  
   
   
       5 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 2 , wherein the coupler is fashioned in box shape and, on its side wall facing toward the flexible spring elements, exhibits a preferably slot-shaped penetration through which pass the free end portions of the spring elements to be coupled or uncoupled.  
   
   
       6 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 4  wherein the connecting element is fashioned as a pin, which can be stuck through a preferably keyhole-shaped opening in the side walls of the coupler having corresponding profilings and can be rotated for the purpose of restraint in such fashion that it cannot be lost.  
   
   
       7 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of the rod- or strip-shaped spring elements are arranged one next to another and/or one behind another in the, for example, roughly triangular space bounded by the column parts.  
   
   
       8 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the column comprises pipes, spaced apart, which form the column parts, and form a frame, which is so fashioned that, for the purpose of transport or storage, it can be folded up in space-saving fashion about a pivot axis arranged roughly in the region of the vertex of the roughly triangular bounding space.  
   
   
       9 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 2 , wherein the quiver exhibits one or a plurality of cavities in which the spring elements are arranged one next to another and/or one behind another—preferably centered—insertably with their end portions, and wherein the quiver is connected in materially or functionally unitary fashion to a foot part of one column part.  
   
   
       10 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein one column part is equipped with an offset extending in the direction toward the sitting or lying surface, which offset also extends above the backrest with a vertical clearance, and wherein there is arranged in this region a diverting roller via which the tension means can be guided, and wherein a handlebar is connected to the end of the tension means.  
   
   
       11 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the column part facing toward the backrest comprises two pipes arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart, to which pipes handles for the performance of butterfly exercises are connected about a pivot axis.  
   
   
       12 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein a leg curler is assigned to the lying surface.  
   
   
       13 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein, besides the column parts, the leg curler is also arranged in such fashion that it can be folded against the column part.  
   
   
       14 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the frame parts or pipes of the column part concerned, facing toward the sitting and lying surface, are unitarily connected to a foot with which the machine rests on the floor, and wherein the foot is connected via stretchers to a further foot, which also exhibits the quiver for the spring elements, and wherein the stretchers are arranged collapsibly, both at the foot and at the foot exhibiting the quiver, about pivot axes running parallel to one another.  
   
   
       15 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the column parts  2 ) comprise pipes of circular, oval or polygonal cross section and wherein the pipe portions exhibiting the offset are telescopable into outer pipes of the column part concerned and are also so arranged that they can be restrained at the height position in question.  
   
   
       16 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic rod- or strip-shaped spring elements are made of spring steel, or of plastic, or of glass fibers, or of carbon fibers, or of fiber-reinforced carbon fibers.  
   
   
       17 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sitting and/or lying surface is so arranged as to be collapsible and/or adjustable in height.  
   
   
       18 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sitting and/or lying surface is adjustable and/or restrainable via a mechanism on the front of the pipes by means of hooks located at various heights.  
   
   
       19 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 18  wherein the sitting and/or lying surface is braced at  21  with its adjusting mechanism behind the pipes fashioned as main pipes.  
   
   
       20 . The multifunctional exercise machine of  claim 18  wherein the sitting and/or lying surface is intermittently adjustable in height and is also restrainable at the height position desired in each case.