Multifunctional training apparatus for the lower limb muscles

[0010]It is therefore a feature of the present invention to provide a multifunctional training apparatus for the lower limb muscles that allows carrying out a complete, various and effective training without resorting to different machines.

[0011]It is another feature of the present invention to provide a multifunctional training apparatus for the lower limb muscles that is structurally easy and of simple use.

[0013]It is also a feature of the present invention to provide a multifunctional training apparatus for the lower limb muscles with high modularity such that a plurality of different configurations can be achieved that can guide correctly the movement concerning a specific training exercise for the lower limbs.

[0025]In particular, contrast members of two groups are connected pneumatically to each other. This way, training exercises can be effected moving the limbs either contemporaneously or alternatively. In the first way, the cylinders are compressed simultaneously, then the available volume, for example of air, in the circuit is low and the pressure increases coherently with the reduction of volume. In the latter way, the two cylinders are compressed alternatively, and each cylinder acts as reservoir for the other cylinder. The volume of air available in the circuit is reduced, then, less than the previous case and therefore the pressure increases less. In this case the action of contrast of the cylinders is lower. In view of the above, an athlete can start the training exercises in the first way, i.e. moving the legs contemporaneously, carrying out a stronger exercise. Then, without stopping the training exercise, the athlete continues in the second way, i.e. moving alternatively the legs, where the action of contrast is much lighter. The exercise of decreasing the training load is a very effective technique especially for losing weight or increasing muscular tone and resistance.

[0035]In particular, the extension element is an extension sleeve that slides in the support element and the lock means consists of a bolt that engages respective holes correspondingly in the extension sleeve and in the support element, to allow locking sliding movements in the first and second position and in the intermediate positions. In particular, the bolt has an end that can be easily gripped by the user, for example having the shape of a ring or of a key.

[0036]This way, by causing the extension sleeve to slide within the support element it is possible to translate the application point of the contrast member with respect to the support element, thus avoiding the need of disconnecting the end of the pneumatic cylinder from the disc. In a same way, by displacing the movable fastening point of the cylinder, the disc can be put in the correct and desired positions for each single exercise. This solution allows furthermore adjusting the starting position of the exercise.

However, owing to low available space, fitness facilities are often equipped with multifunctional machines.

In view of the above the drawback of the presently available multifunctional machines is that of not providing a full variety of exercises for the lower limbs suitable for developing completely each muscle group of the lower limbs in a single machine, but only with a plurality of machines.

Further drawbacks are that in a multifunctional machine a user, when switching from an exercise to another, has to carry out a plurality of manual operations, such as addition or subtraction of components, in order to change the structure and achieve a configuration that is adapted to the desired exercise.

As a consequence, much time is wasted to modify the machine, limiting thus the efficiency of the whole training.