Apparatus for physical exercise

Abstract

An exercising apparatus is provided and configured for physical exercise that allows a person to exercise several muscles, either simultaneously or individually, ascending and/or descending a ladder, while providing a variety of exercises to develop different muscle groups properly and efficiently.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An exercising apparatus for ascent and descent physical exercise, comprising:
 at least one chassis that forms a support structure;   at least one tiltable climbing module mounted to said support structure by at least one module pivot shaft and at least one tilting actuator for tilting said tiltable climbing module, said tiltable climbing module being pivotable about said at least one module pivot shaft, relative to a vertical geometric axis;   wherein said tiltable climbing module comprises a plurality of rungs spaced apart from each other and mounted between respective side chains actuated by at least one chain driving mechanism, wherein said side chains are mounted on corresponding side ladder beams arranged on sides of a central ladder section; and   at least one rung presence sensor in said tiltable climbing module and at least one floor presence sensor on a floor.   
     
     
         2 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said chassis has a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion, and corresponding structural chassis reinforcement bars being arranged between said front chassis portion and said rear chassis portion. 
     
     
         3 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said support structure comprises:
 a plurality of structural support reinforcing bars;   at least one pair of pivot shaft bearing supports, said at least one module pivot shaft being rotatably mounted in said at least one pair of pivot shaft bearing supports; and   at least one shock absorber connecting the at least one tiltable climbing module with the support structure.   
     
     
         4 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein,
 said central ladder sector is divided by at least one ladder closing plate, defining an open front ladder portion and an opposite open rear ladder portion;   said side ladder beams being arranged on sides of said central ladder section, each of said side ladder beams being provided with at least one chain guide slide through which said side chains run; and   an upper ladder cover that interconnects an upper part of said side ladder beams, closing an upper part of the central ladder section.   
     
     
         5 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said chain driving mechanism comprises:
 at least one upper chain pulley disposed at an upper end portion of each ladder side beam;   at least one lower chain pulley disposed at a lower end portion of each ladder side beam;   wherein said upper chain pulleys are mounted on an upper pulley drive shaft which in turn is mounted between said side ladder beams by means of respective rotating supports;   said lower chain pulleys are mounted on a lower pulley drive shaft which in turn is mounted between said side ladder beams by means of respective rotating supports; and   each one of said side chains being mounted between and around said upper and lower chain pulleys.   
     
     
         6 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein a pulley drive motor is provided at a bottom of said central ladder section and is operatively connected to said lower pulley drive shaft. 
     
     
         7 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tilting actuator comprises a tilt drive motor mounted on said chassis and having an extendable tilt drive shaft operatively connected to a lower tilt crossbar mounted between said ladder side beams. 
     
     
         8 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said tiltable climbing module is mounted on said module pivot shaft through a pair of pivot shaft bearing supports arranged in said support structure of the chassis. 
     
     
         9 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tilting actuator is selected from the group consisting of pneumatic cylinders, hydraulic cylinders, electrical actuator and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         10 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein a display screen is mounted on said ladder closing plate. 
     
     
         11 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one chassis cover covering said chassis and supporting structure;   at least one beam cover covering each side ladder beam; and   a grab bar being mounted in each of said ladder side beams.   
     
     
         12 . Exercising apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one upper and lower height limit sensor, at least one front ladder presence sensor, at least one floor presence sensor and at least one inclination sensor.