Exercise Device for Planche

This application claims priority to Taiwanese Invention patent application No. 113122551, filed on Jun. 18, 2024, and Taiwanese Invention patent application No. 114106606, filed on Feb. 21, 2025, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The disclosure relates to an exercise device, and more particularly to an exercise device for planche.

Nowadays, common street workouts may involve bodyweight training using public facilities, such as pull-up bars, the ground, ladders, etc. Common street workouts include the human flag, the planche, the front lever, the muscle-up, etc.

However, those exercises require significant physical strength and excellent performance because an individual's own bodyweight is used as a resistance against gravity. For ordinary exercisers, those exercises are highly difficult moves, and a conventional exercise device may not be adequate enough for the ordinary exercisers to practice and achieve those highly difficult moves.

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide an exercise device for planche that can alleviate the drawback of the prior art.

According to the disclosure, the exercise device includes a frame unit, a support pad unit, an assistance unit, and two grip units. The support pad unit is movably mounted to the frame unit and movable relative to the frame unit in an up-down direction, and includes a support pad module. The assistance unit is mounted to the frame unit and connected to the support pad unit. The assistance unit is operable to urge the support pad unit to move upward. The grip units are mounted to the frame unit opposite to each other in a left-right direction, and are located below the support pad module in the up-down direction. Each of the grip unit includes a handle. The handles of the grip units are operable to move so as to adjust a relative position between the handles.

It should be noted herein that for clarity of description, spatially relative terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “on,” “above,” “over,” “downwardly,” “upwardly” and the like may be used throughout the disclosure while making reference to the features as illustrated in the drawings. The features may be oriented differently (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative terms used herein may be interpreted accordingly.

Referring toand, an embodiment of an exercise devicefor planche according to the present disclosure includes a frame unit, a support pad unit, an assistance unit, a height adjustment unit, and two grip units.

As shown in, the frame unitincludes two side framesthat are arranged opposite to each other in a left-right direction (Z), and a front framethat is connected to the side frames.

In this embodiment, each of the side framesincludes an upper crossbar, a lower crossbar, two guide rodseach of which interconnects the upper crossbarand the lower crossbar, and two base position pinsthat are spaced apart from each other in a front-rear direction (X) and that are mounted to the lower crossbar. The front-rear direction (X) is perpendicular to the left-right direction (Z). For each of the side frames, each of the base position pinsis formed with a position groove(see).

The front frameincludes two poststhat are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z) and that extend in an up-down direction (Y), and two height adjustment guide rodsthat are located between the posts in the left-right direction (Z), that are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z), and that extend in the up-down direction (Y). The up-down direction (Y) is perpendicular to the left-right direction (Z) and the front-rear direction (X).

Referring to, the support pad unitis movably mounted to the frame unitand movable relative to the frame unitin the up-down direction (Y). In this embodiment, the support pad unitincludes a connection framethat is movably mounted to the side framesand movable relative to the side framesin the up-down direction (Y), and a support pad modulethat is mounted to the connection frame.

The connection framehas a mount portionthat extends in the front-rear direction (X), and two side arm portionsthat are connected to the mount portion.

The side arm portionsof the connection frameare respectively and movably mounted to the side framesand movable relative to the side framesin the up-down direction (Y). In this embodiment, each of the side arm portionsof the connection frameincludes four rolling membersthat are arranged in pairs. The pairs of the rolling membersof each of the side arm portionsof the connection frameare respectively in rolling contact with the guide rodsof the respective one of the side frames.

The support pad moduleincludes a mount seatthat is mounted to the mount portionof the connection frame, and three rollersthat are rotatably mounted to the mount seatand that are arranged in the front-rear direction (X). The rollersare for a user's body to abut thereagainst. In this embodiment, the rollersmay be at least partially made of a foam material.

As shown in, the assistance unitis mounted to the frame unitand connected to the support pad unit. The assistance unitis operable to urge the support pad unitto move upward.

In this embodiment, the assistance unitincludes a plurality of counterweight blocksthat are disposed on the front frameand that are stacked along the up-down direction (Y), two pulley sets, two connection ropes, and an adjustment rod module. Each of the pulley setsincludes a start pulleythat is rotatably mounted to a respective one of the side arm portionsof the connection frame, two relay pulleysthat are rotatably mounted to the upper crossbarof a respective one of the side frames, a high level pulleythat is rotatably mounted to the front frame, and a final pulleythat is rotatably mounted to the front frame. Each of the connection ropeshas a first end portionthat is connected to the start pulleyof a respective one of the pulley sets, a second end portionthat is connected to at least one of the counterweight blocks, and an intermediate portionthat interconnects the first end portionand the second end portion. The intermediate portionof each of the connection ropespasses over the relay pulleys, the high level pulley, and the final pulleyof the respective one of the pulley sets(i.e., the intermediate portionof each of the connection ropesat least partially surrounds the relay pulleys, the high level pulley, and the final pulleyof the respective one of the pulley sets).

In this embodiment, for each of the pulley sets, the relay pulleysare higher than the start pulleyin the up-down direction (Y), and the high level pulleyis higher than the relay pulleysin the up-down direction (Y). The final pulleysof the pulley setsare arranged coaxially and are located between the high level pulleysof the pulley setsin the left-right direction (Z). For each of the pulley sets, the final pulleyis slightly higher than the high level pulleyin the up-down direction (Y).

In this embodiment, the assistance unitis used to provide an upward supporting force (F) (see) to the support pad moduleof the support pad unitin the up-down direction (Y). When the user selects a certain number of the counterweight blocks, the adjustment rod moduleis operable to link the selected counterweight block(s)so that the selected counterweight block(s)may move together. The second end portionsof the connection ropesare connected to the selected counterweight block(s)via the adjustment rod module. The user may connect the second end portionsof the connection ropesto different numbers of the counterweight blocksto adjust magnitude of the upward supporting force (F). Weight of the selected counterweight blocksis equal to the upward supporting force (F).

The height adjustment unitincludes two slide seatsthat are respectively and slidably mounted to the height adjustment guide rodsand that are slidable relative to the height adjustment guide rodsin the up-down direction (Y), an operation modulethat is mounted to the slide seats, and two level position subunitsthat are respectively mounted to the posts.

Each of the slide seatshas a guide tube portionthat is slidably connected to the respective one of the height adjustment guide rods, and a connection tube portionthat is connected to the guide tube portion.

The operation moduleincludes an operation rodthat is rotatably mounted to the slide seats, two adjustment pulleysthat are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z) and that are mounted to the operation rod, and two engagement hooksthat are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z) and that are mounted to the operation rod.

Each of the level position subunitsincludes a plurality of level blocksthat are spaced apart from each other in the up-down direction (Y) and that are mounted to the respective one of the posts.

The operation rodhas two rotation portionsthat are respectively and rotatably mounted to the connection tube portionsof the slide seats, an interconnection portionthat interconnects the rotation portions, and two handle portionsthat are respectively connected to the rotation portions.

The adjustment pulleysare respectively and rotatably mounted to the handle portionsof the operation rod. In this embodiment, each of the adjustment pulleysis located below the relay pulleysof a respective one of the pulley setsin the up-down direction (Y) and between the high level pulleyand the relay pulleysof the respective one of the pulley setsin the front-rear direction (X).

Each of the handle portionsof the operation rodhas an inner end and an outer end that are respectively proximate to and distal to another one of the handle portionsof the operation rod. Each of the engagement hooksis fixedly mounted to the outer end of a respective one of the handle portionsof the operation rodand is adjacent to a respective one of the adjustment pulleys. Each of the engagement hooksis operable to engage a selected one of the level blocksof a respective one of the level position subunits. It may be understood that, the user may disengage each of the engagement hooksfrom the one of the level blocksof the respective one of the level position subunitswhen the user holds the handle portionsof the operation rodto rotate the operation rod.

In this embodiment, the intermediate portionof each of the connection ropesextends downward to pass over a respective one of the adjustment pulleysafter passing over the relay pulleysof the respective one of the pulley sets, and then extends upward to pass over the high level pulleyof the respective one of the pulley sets. That is to say, the intermediate portionof each of the connection ropessequentially passes over the relay pulleysof the respective one of the pulley sets, the respective one of the adjustment pulleys, and the high level pulleyof the respective one of the pulley sets(i.e., the intermediate portionof each of the connection ropessequentially and at least partially surrounds the relay pulleysof the respective one of the pulley sets, the respective one of the adjustment pulleys, the high level pulleyof the respective one of the pulley sets, and the final pulleyof the respective one of the pulley sets).

As shown in, the height adjustment unitis operable to adjust a height of the support pad moduleof the support pad unitin the up-down direction (Y) via the connection ropes. As shown in, when the user urges each of the engagement hooksto engage a lowermost one of the level blocksof the respective one of the level position subunits, the intermediate portionof each of the connection ropesis pulled downward by the respective one of the adjustment pulleysso that the support pad moduleof the support pad unitis moved upward to a highest position. As shown in, when the user moves the height adjustment unitupwardly and urges each of the engagement hooksto engage an uppermost one of the level blocksof the respective one of the level position subunits, the intermediate portionsof the connection ropesare transiently loosened such that the support pad moduleof the support pad unitpulls the intermediate portionof each of the connection ropesand descends to a lowest position. Thus, the user may adjust a position of the support pad moduleof the support pad unitin the up-down direction (Y) to an appropriate position according to a length of the user's arm.

As shown in, the grip unitsare mounted to the frame unitopposite to each other in the left-right direction (Z), and are located below the support pad moduleof the support pad unitin the up-down direction (Y).

Each of the grip unitsincludes a base seatthat is disposed on a respective one of the side frames, an adjustment seatthat is disposed on the base seat, a handlethat is rotatably mounted to the adjustment seat, and two seat position pins. In this embodiment, the base seatof each of the grip unitsis operable to move relative to the respective one of the side framesin the front-rear direction (X), and is adjustably positioned at the respective one of the side frames.

The base seatof each of the grip unitsincludes an adjustment guide railthat extends in the left-right direction (Z), and a side platethat is connected to the adjustment guide rail.

The adjustment guide railof the base seatof each of the grip unitsis formed with a plurality of seat position holesthat are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction (Z).

The side plateof the base seatof each of the grip unitsis formed with two dentate groovesthat respectively correspond in position to the base position pinsof the respective one of the side framesand that extend in the front-rear direction (X), and has a protrusion block portionthat is for the user to hold. For each of the grip units, each of the dentate groovesof the side plateof the base seathas a plurality of groove portions. For each of the side frames, the position grooveof each of the base position pinsengages a selected one of the groove portionsof the respective one of the dentate groovesof the side plateof the base seatof the respective one of the grip unitsso that the base seatof each of the grip unitsis positioned at the respective one of the side frames.

For each of the grip units, the adjustment seatis operable to move relative to the adjustment guide railof the base seatin the left-right direction (Z), and is adjustably positioned at the adjustment guide railof the base seat. In this embodiment, for each of the grip units, the adjustment seathas a guide seat portionthat is connected to the adjustment guide railof the base seat, and a rotation seat portionthat is connected to the guide seat portion. For each of the grip units, the handleis operable to rotate about an imaginary axis (L) (see) that extends therethrough in the up-down direction (Y) and that extends through the rotation seat portionof the adjustment seatin the up-down direction (Y), and the rotation seat portionof the adjustment seatis formed with a plurality of handle position holesthat are arranged about the imaginary axis (L) (i.e., in a circumferential direction of the imaginary axis (L)). For each of the grip units, the guide seat portionof the adjustment seathas a lugthat is for the user to grab.

For each of the grip units, the handleis operable to be positioned at the adjustment seatin the circumferential direction of the imaginary axis (L). In this embodiment, for each of the grip units, the handlehas an abutment end portion, a rotation end portionthat is opposite to the abutment end portionand that is rotatably connected to the rotation seat portionof the adjustment seat, and a spring loaded pinthat is disposed on the rotation end portion. For each of the grip units, the imaginary axis (L) extends through the rotation end portionof the handle, and the spring loaded pinis operable to extend into a selected one of the handle position holesso that the handleis positioned at the rotation seat portionof the adjustment seat.

For each of the grip units, the seat position pinsare operable to be inserted in the guide seat portionof the adjustment seatand selected two of the seat position holesto position the adjustment seatat the adjustment guide rail.

Referring toand, when the user wants to adjust a position of the handleof one of the grip unitsrelative to the support pad modulein the front-rear direction (X), the user may hold the protrusion block portionof the side plateof the base seatand grab the lugof the guide seat portionof the adjustment seatwith two hands, respectively, so that the position grooveof each of the base position pinsof the respective one of the side framesis disengaged from one of the groove portionsof the respective one of the dentate groovesof the side plateof the base seatof the one of the grip units. Afterwards, the user may move the one of the grip unitsin the front-rear direction (X) to a preferred position, and then release the base seatand the adjustment seatof the one of the grip units, so as to engage the position groove(see) of each of the base position pinsof the respective one of the side framesto another one of the groove portionsof the respective one of the dentate groovesof the side plateof the base seatof the one of the grip units. The one of the grip unitsis thus positioned at the respective one of the side framesagain. In this way, the user may adjust the position of the handleof each of the grip unitsin the front-rear direction (X) to an appropriate position according to the user's height and/or arm length.

The handlesof the grip unitsare operable to move so as to adjust a relative position between the handles. For example, as shown in, the user may rotate the handleof each of the grip unitsrelative to the adjustment seatof the grip unitto adjust an angle between the handleand the adjustment guide railof the base seatof the grip unitso as to adjust an angle between the handles(i.e., an angular position of the handleof each of the grip unitsis adjustable), thereby training different muscles in the arms by different hand grip postures, and/or by changing an angle formed by the user's outstretched arms. As shown in, the user may urge the adjustment seatand the handleof each of the grip unitsto move relative to the adjustment guide railof the base seatof the grip unitso as to adjust a distance between the handlesof the grip unitsin the left-right direction (Z). Consequently, the user may adjust the position of the handleof each of the grip unitsin the left-right direction (Z) to an appropriate position according to the user's height and/or arm length. By virtue of the distance between the handlesof the grip unitsin the left-right direction (Z) being adjustable, and by virtue of the angle between the handlesbeing adjustable, it is convenient for the user to train the muscles with different grips (e.g., a wider grip or a narrower grip).

Referring to, when the user uses the embodiment to train for a planche, the user may first lie on the rollersof the support pad modulewith his/her toes on the ground, push the support pad moduledownward with his/her own weight, and grab the handlesof the grip unitswith his/her arms bending. At this time, a portion of the counterweight blocksthat is selected by the user and that is connected to the connection ropes(a total weight of the portion of the counterweight blocksis usually less than the user's bodyweight) is lifted as the support pad unitdescends. Subsequently, as shown inand, when the user exerts strength to straighten his/her arms and hold his/her body parallel to the ground with his/her toes off the ground (the user's legs are off the ground), the portion of the counterweight blocksconnected to the connection ropesmoves downward due to gravity to provide the upward supporting force (F), thereby causing the support pad unitto rise and to assist the user in raising his/her body in the up-down direction (Y) via the support pad modulethereof. Consequently, the user may easily achieve the planche because a portion of the user's bodyweight is supported by the weight of the portion of the counterweight blocks.

It may be understood that, because the upward supporting force (F) is equal to the weight of the selected counterweight block(s), when the user selects a larger number of the counterweight blocks, the upward supporting force (F) becomes greater, which makes it easier for the user to achieve the planche. Conversely, in order to enhance training effects, the user may select a smaller number of the counterweight blocks.

Through the above description, advantages of the exercise deviceaccording to the present disclosure can be summarized as follows:

1. By virtue of the support pad unitbeing connected to the assistance unit, the assistance unitmay provide the upward supporting force (F) to the user when the user uses the exercise deviceto train for the planche. Therefore, the user may exert less strength. In addition, because the user's body is supported by the support pad module, a center of gravity of the user's body is more stable, which is helpful for the user to continuously hold the planche, thereby improving the training effects.

2. By virtue of the height adjustment unitbeing operable to adjust the height of the support pad moduleof the support pad unitin the up-down direction (Y) via the connection ropes, the user may easily adjust the position of the support pad moduleof the support pad unitin the up-down direction (Y) to an appropriate position according to the length of the user's arm, which makes the exercise devicesuitable for a wide range of users.

3. By virtue of the base seatof each of the grip unitsbeing adjustably positioned at the respective one of the side framesand operable to move relative to the respective one of the side framesin the front-rear direction (X), the user may adjust the position of the handleof each of the grip unitsrelative to the support pad modulein the front-rear direction (X) to an appropriate position according to the user's height and/or arm length, which makes the exercise devicesuitable for a wide range of users.

4. By virtue of the adjustment seatof each of the grip unitsbeing adjustably positioned at the base seatof the grip unitand operable to move relative to the base seatof the grip unitin the left-right direction (Z), and by virtue of the handleof each of the grip unitsbeing operable to be positioned at the adjustment seatof the grip unitat different angles, the user may adjust the distance between the handlesof the grip unitsin the left-right direction (Z) and the angle between the handlesof the grip units, which is convenient for the user to train with different hand grip postures, different grips (e.g., a wider grip or a narrower grip), and/or different angles formed by the user's outstretched arms, which makes the exercise deviceuser-friendly and improves the training effects.

In summary, the exercise deviceof the present disclosure may assist the user in achieving the planche with less strength, and help the user to continuously hold the planche, thereby improving the training effects. Moreover, the exercise deviceis adjustable to suit different users, has a wide range of applications, and is user-friendly. Therefore, the purpose of the present disclosure is indeed achieved.

In the description above, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details have been set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiment(s). It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that one or more other embodiments may be practiced without some of these specific details. It should also be appreciated that reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” an embodiment with an indication of an ordinal number and so forth means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic may be included in the practice of the disclosure. It should be further appreciated that in the description, various features are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of various inventive aspects; such does not mean that every one of these features needs to be practiced with the presence of all the other features. In other words, in any described embodiment, when implementation of one or more features or specific details does not affect implementation of another one or more features or specific details, said one or more features may be singled out and practiced alone without said another one or more features or specific details. It should be further noted that one or more features or specific details from one embodiment may be practiced together with one or more features or specific details from another embodiment, where appropriate, in the practice of the disclosure.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what is (are) considered the exemplary embodiment(s), it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment(s) but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.