JP2012005718A - Passive exercise apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a passive exercise apparatus allowing a user to contract the muscle of the whole leg even in a seated posture on a chair.SOLUTION: The passive exercise apparatus 1 is installed at the feet of the user 5 seated on the chair 4. The passive exercise apparatus 1 includes a foot support base 2 supporting the user's feet, and a driving device for driving the foot support base 2 by driving force generated by a drive source. The driving device has a swing mechanism for moving the foot support base 2 through a trajectory so that the foot support base 2 located at the feet of the user 5 in a knee bent posture is separated from a floor face as it moves forward. The swing mechanism moves the foot support base 2 like a pendulum based on the knee position of the user 5. The user 5 can raise and lower the feet while bending and stretching the knees when seated on the chair 4, to extend/contract muscle groups in the thighs.

Description

  The present invention relates to a passive exercise device that causes a user to exercise dynamically by moving a foot support that supports the user's foot.

  Conventionally, as this type of passive motion equipment, when the drive unit (motor) is energized, the end part on the toe side is rotated with the end part on the heel side of the foot support base (foot rest base) as a fulcrum. There has been proposed a device (ankle exercise device) configured to drive a foot support base (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  By using the above-described passive exercise apparatus, the user can perform an exercise of rotating the ankle even when sitting on a chair, by simply placing the left and right feet on each foot support. Therefore, the user can obtain the relaxation effect and the blood circulation promotion effect of the foot without spending time only for exercise by using the above-described passive exercise equipment.

JP 2004-261256 A (paragraphs 0011 to 0020)

  However, since the passive exercise apparatus described in Patent Document 1 only rotates the user's ankle, the effect of expanding and contracting the muscle group of the user's thigh cannot be expected so much. Although simple bending and stretching of the ankle may have some effects on blood circulation, if the sitting posture continues for a long time, the weight of the upper body concentrates on the thighs and obstructs the blood circulation. It cannot be expected to improve the blood circulation of the entire leg or body.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described reasons, and an object of the present invention is to provide a passive exercise device that can allow a user to exercise with muscle contraction of the entire leg even in a posture while sitting on a chair. .

  A passive motion apparatus of the present invention is a passive motion apparatus used by a user in a posture sitting on a seat surface away from a floor surface, wherein a foot support base for supporting the user's foot and a drive source are provided. And a driving device that drives the foot support base by a driving force generated by the drive source, wherein the foot support base located at the foot of the user in a posture in which a knee is bent is forward. The foot support is moved through a trajectory that moves away from the floor surface as it moves.

  In this passive motion apparatus, the driving device has a first movable part and a second movable part that receive different driving forces from the driving source and move differently from each other. Preferably, the foot support is moved through the locus by a combination of the movement of the first movable part and the movement of the second movable part.

  In this passive motion apparatus, the driving device moves the first movable part around a support axis in a plane including the locus, and the second movable part in the plane. More preferably, the foot support base is supported by the second movable portion. The linear support mechanism moves linearly with respect to the first movable portion.

  In this passive motion apparatus, the drive device is configured to move the first movable portion in a first direction in a plane including the locus, and move the first movable portion linearly, and the first movable portion. And a second linear movement mechanism that linearly moves the second movable part in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the plane, and the foot support is More preferably, it is supported by the movable part.

  In this passive motion apparatus, the drive device has a single movable part that moves in response to the drive force generated by the drive source, and the swing mechanism is moved by the movement of the movable part. More preferably, the foot support is moved through the trajectory.

  In this passive motion apparatus, the swing mechanism has a support member that supports the foot support, and the drive device uses the axis that intersects the plane including the locus as a rotation axis, and the support member. On the other hand, it is more desirable to have a bottom dorsiflexion mechanism that rotates the foot support around the rotation axis.

  In this passive motion apparatus, the bottom dorsiflexion mechanism is configured so that an end of the user's toe side of the foot support base approaches the user's knee as the foot support base moves away from the floor surface. More preferably, the foot support is rotated in conjunction with the movement of the foot support by the swing mechanism so that the foot support is rotated.

  In this passive exercise apparatus, a pair of the foot support bases are provided for the left foot and the right foot, and the foot support base is driven by the drive device so that the left foot and the right foot move differently. desirable.

  The present invention stretches the muscles on the entire back side (back side) of the leg, so that the sitting posture is continuous for a long time and the blood vessels in the thigh are compressed for a long time, thereby improving the blood flow promotion failure. There is an advantage that the blood circulation promotion effect of the whole part or the whole body can be expected.

It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the usage example of the passive exercise apparatus of Embodiment 1. It is a block diagram which shows a structure same as the above. The same structure as above is shown, (a) is a perspective view of a state where the foot support is lowered, and (b) is a perspective view of a state where the foot support is raised. It is a side view which shows operation | movement same as the above. It is a perspective view which shows the accommodation state same as the above. The principal part of the other structural example same as the above is shown, (a) is a side view and (b) is a perspective view. The principal part of other structural example same as the above is shown, (a) is a side view, (b) is a perspective view. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the usage example of the passive exercise apparatus of Embodiment 2. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the other usage example same as the above. It is a schematic explanatory drawing which shows the other usage example same as the above. The structure of the passive exercise apparatus of Embodiment 3 is shown, (a) is the perspective view seen from the left side, (b) is the perspective view seen from the right side. It is a perspective view which shows the usage example same as the above.

  In the following embodiment, a passive exercise apparatus used in a posture in which a user sits on a chair will be described. However, the user can use the passive exercise equipment as long as he / she sits on the seat surface away from the floor surface. For example, he / she can use the passive exercise equipment while sitting on the bed or sofa. May be. In addition, the user may use the passive exercise device in a posture in which the upper body is laid on his back.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 2, the passive exercise apparatus 1 of the present embodiment includes a left foot support base 21 and a right foot support base 22 on which the left and right feet of the user are respectively placed (hereinafter, “foot support base” is simply referred to unless otherwise distinguished). 2 ”) and a driving device 3 for driving the foot support 2. In the following description, front and back viewed from the user 5 (see FIG. 1) in a posture sitting on the chair 4 (see FIG. 1), with the up and down state in a state where the passive exercise device 1 is installed on the floor. The left and right will be described as front, back, left and right.

  The driving device 3 has a position in which the foot 5 is bent when the user 5 is bent (see FIG. 1A), and the knee 3 is extended (see FIG. 1). The position of the foot support 2 in (c) is set as the second position, and the foot support 2 is moved between the first position and the second position.

  Here, the drive device 3 includes a swing mechanism 6 that raises and lowers the foot support 2 between a first position and a second position, and a control unit 7. The swing mechanism 6 has a trajectory that moves away from the floor as the foot support 2 located at the foot of the user 5 in a bent posture moves away from the floor, here, centering on the position of the knee of the user 5. The foot support 2 is moved through a trajectory along the arc. The controller 7 controls the swing mechanism 6 to reciprocate the foot support 2 between the first position and the second position. Note that a pair of swing mechanisms 6 are provided corresponding to the left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22, respectively.

  Next, specific configurations of the driving device 3 and the foot support 2 will be described with reference to FIG.

  That is, the driving device 3 includes a main body portion 31 placed on the floor surface and an arm 32 that is in the shape of a square bar and has one end portion in the longitudinal direction (hereinafter referred to as “base end portion”) held by the main body portion 31. And have. The main body 31 includes a rectangular thin box-shaped base 33 that is long in the left-right direction, and a raised portion 34 provided on a part of the upper surface of the base 33. The raised portion 34 is a saddle shape (semi-cylindrical shape) that is long in the left-right direction, and is formed across the left and right ends of the base 33, and the base end portion of the arm 32 is held at a substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction. ing.

  The arm 32 supports the foot support 2 at an end portion (hereinafter referred to as “tip portion”) opposite to the base end portion in the longitudinal direction. That is, the arm 32 constitutes a support member that supports the foot support 2. Here, two arms 32 are provided corresponding to each of the left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22 so as to cause the left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22 to move differently.

  Specifically, both arms 32 are held at the raised portions 34 at the base ends thereof with a predetermined spacing in the left-right direction. The left arm 32 supports the left foot support 22 via a pivot shaft 35 protruding leftward from the left side surface of the tip portion, and the right arm 32 is a rotation protruding rightward from the right side surface of the tip portion. The right foot support base 22 is supported via the moving shaft 35. The left arm 32 and the left foot support base 21, and the right arm 32 and the right foot support base 22 are formed symmetrically.

  A pair of cutouts are formed at a substantially central portion of the raised portion 34 with a predetermined interval therebetween, and each arm 32 is supported by the raised portion 34 so that the base end portion is fitted into the corresponding cutout. . Here, the arm 32 is rotatably supported with respect to the raised portion 34 around a support shaft 36 (see FIG. 4) extending in the longitudinal direction (left and right direction) of the raised portion 34. The main body 31 has a rotation mechanism 61 (see FIG. 2) that rotates each arm 32 around the support shaft 36 with respect to the raised portion 34.

  The rotation mechanism 61 has a motor (not shown) as a drive source, and transmits the driving force generated by the motor to the arm 32 from a gear (not shown) fixed to the output shaft of the motor. The arm 32 is rotated around the rotation axis. Here, a geared motor (motor with a reduction gear) capable of outputting high torque is used as the motor.

  The arm 32 is configured by nesting a plurality of (three in this case) cylindrical boom pieces 321, 322, and 323 having different thicknesses so that they can expand and contract in the longitudinal direction. That is, the plurality of boom pieces 321, 322, and 323 are combined so as to be able to advance and retreat so that the thinner the boom piece, the more the boom piece is located, so that one arm 32 is formed.

  The main body 31 has an expansion / contraction mechanism 62 (see FIG. 2) that expands and contracts each arm 32 in the longitudinal direction. The expansion / contraction mechanism 62 is configured to expand / contract the arm 32 by moving a drive cord (not shown) inserted inside the arm 32, for example, or by winding a wire passing through the arm 32. Adopting a structure that expands and contracts. The expansion / contraction mechanism 62 has a motor (not shown) as a drive source, and realizes an expansion / contraction operation of the arm 32 by transmitting a driving force generated by the motor to a drive cord or a wire.

  According to the above configuration, the control unit 7 supports the arm 32 with respect to the main body 31 as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. While rotating around the shaft 36, the arm 32 can be expanded and contracted in the longitudinal direction. In the present embodiment, a motor as a drive source for the rotation mechanism 61 and a motor as a drive source for the telescopic mechanism 62 are provided separately, but the motors of both mechanisms may be shared.

  In the present embodiment, the swing mechanism 6 is configured by combining the rotation mechanism 61 and the expansion / contraction mechanism 62 described above. That is, the drive device 3 moves the foot support base 2 up and down through the locus along the arc centered on the position of the knee of the user 5 as described above by interlocking the rotation mechanism 61 and the expansion and contraction mechanism 62. .

  Specifically, when the foot support 2 in the first position is moved to the second position as shown in FIG. 4, the driving device 3 causes the arm 32 in a substantially horizontal state to be moved by the rotation mechanism 61. The arm 32 is appropriately expanded and contracted by the expansion and contraction mechanism 62 at that time. Here, the passive exercise apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is installed on the floor surface with the base end of the arm 32 (the end on the side supported by the main body 31) facing away from the user 5. Used in the state.

  For example, in FIG. 4, the intermediate state in which the arm 32 in the substantially horizontal first state is rotated about 45 degrees by the rotation mechanism 61 and the second state in which the arm 32 is rotated about 90 degrees are two points. It is shown with a chain line. Here, the telescopic mechanism 62 gradually contracts the arm 32 from the first state to the intermediate state, and gradually extends the arm 32 from the intermediate state to the second state. As a result, the foot support 2 supported on the tip of the arm 32 via the rotation shaft 35 moves between the first position and the second position through an arcuate locus as shown in FIG. To do.

  The foot support 2 has a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction in plan view, and is formed to have a size on which the foot of the user 5 (the entire sole) is placed. The user 5 uses the passive exercise device 1 with the left and right feet placed on the respective foot supports 2. Here, the foot support 2 is made of a material or shape having a large friction coefficient on the surface (upper surface), thereby preventing the foot of the user 5 placed on the foot support 2 from slipping.

  Specifically, the foot support 2 includes a main plate 23 having a size on which a user's 5 foot can be placed, and side plates 24 formed on the left and right sides of the main plate 23. The main plate 23 has a plurality of slits extending over the entire length of the upper surface in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the foot support 2 includes a cylindrical bearing 25 that extends between the side plates 24 at a substantially central portion in the front-rear direction, and a column-shaped heel that extends between the side plates 24 at the rear end portion (back side) in the front-rear direction. A pad 26. The bearing portion 25 and the flange pad 26 protrude from the upper surface of the main plate 23.

  Therefore, when the user 5 puts his / her foot on the main plate 23, the user 5 adjusts the position of the foot so that the bearing portion 25 hits the arch and the padding 26 hits the heel. Legs become hard to slip.

  Further, the foot support 2 is supported by the distal end portion of the arm 32 by inserting the above-described rotation shaft 35 into the bearing portion 25 through the side plate 24. Here, the bearing portion 25 is rotatably supported with respect to the rotation shaft 35. As a result, the foot support 2 can be rotated with respect to the arm 32 as a support member, as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 3A, around a rotation axis 35 orthogonal to the plane including the locus described above. It becomes. In other words, the foot support 2 is moved to the arm 32 so that the front end portion (end portion on the toe side) and the rear end portion (end portion on the heel side) are alternately moved up and down around the rotation shaft 35. On the other hand, it can swing.

  Next, the movement of the foot support 2 when using the passive exercise apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 shows, as an example, a state in which the user 5 sits down at the desk 7 and uses the passive exercise device 1 placed under the desk 7.

  That is, the swing mechanism 6 moves the foot support 2 like a pendulum around the knee position of the user 5 as shown in FIG. When the foot support base 2 is driven by the swing mechanism 6, the user's 5 leg (portion below the knee) supported by the foot support base 2 swings like a pendulum with the knee as a fulcrum.

  At this time, if the angle of the ankle of the user 5 is kept substantially constant, the inclination of the foot support 2 with respect to the floor surface changes according to the position of the foot support 2. In short, the foot support 2 has almost no inclination with respect to the floor surface at the first position as shown in FIG. 1 (a), but gradually with respect to the floor surface as it rises as shown in FIG. 1 (b). As shown in FIG. 1C, the inclination increases, and the second position is substantially perpendicular to the floor surface.

  In the present embodiment, the driving device 3 causes the left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22 to move in the same manner, but drives the left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22 to move differently. May be. In the case of causing the two foot support bases 2 to move differently, the drive device 3 may alternately drive the left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22, for example, or may be switched between the first position and the second position. The left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22 may be driven so as to move.

  If the passive exercise apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration is used, the user 5 performs an exercise of raising and lowering his / her foot (a part below the knee) in a posture while sitting on the chair 4 as shown in FIG. Can do. At this time, the user 5 bends and stretches the knee, so that the thigh muscle group (shaded portion in FIG. 1C) expands and contracts. As a result, the user 5 can be expected to have a relaxation effect and a blood circulation promotion effect of the leg, and further, an improvement in blood circulation of the entire leg or the whole body due to muscle contraction of the thigh.

  In addition, the user 5 simply puts his / her foot on the foot support 2 without voluntarily or actively exercising, and the user 5 moves in response to the movement of the foot support 2 receiving the driving force of the drive device 3. Can exercise. That is, the exercise using the passive exercise device 1 is less burdensome on the user 5 than the exercise that the user 5 performs spontaneously or actively, and it is easy to perform the exercise continuously. Furthermore, since the user 5 is bending and stretching the knee, the weight is not applied to the knee as in the case of performing the bending and stretching exercise in a standing state, so that the burden on the knee can be reduced.

  In addition, the passive exercise apparatus 1 can cause the user 5 to perform exercise accompanied by muscle contraction of the thigh muscles only by driving the foot support base 2 that supports the portion of the user 5 from the ankle to the end of the calf. There is no need for a means of restraining. Therefore, the passive exercise device 1 can reduce the scale of the device as compared with a general massage chair or the like. Therefore, the user 5 can exercise even while working or studying at the desk 7 by placing the passive exercise device 1 under the desk 7, etc., without spending time only for exercise. There is an advantage that you can exercise easily.

  Furthermore, the drive device 3 sets the foot support 2 to the first position and the second position by the swing mechanism 6 with the position substantially the same as the seat surface of the chair 4 on which the user 5 is sitting as the second position. You may raise and lower between positions. Thus, when the second position is set to substantially the same height as the seating surface, the passive exercise device 1 moves the foot support base 2 to the second position, so that the user 5 The part can be lifted from the seating surface. Therefore, even when the user 5 continues to sit on the chair 4 for a long time, it is difficult for the user 5 to cause poor blood circulation in the leg due to the thigh being compressed.

  Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the driving device 3 drives the left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22 simultaneously, so that the user 5 can exercise both feet at the same time, enabling efficient exercise. Become. In particular, the driving device 3 can provide the user 5 with more diverse movements by causing the left foot support base 21 and the right foot support base 22 to move differently.

  Further, the passive exercise device 1 having the above-described configuration can be made relatively compact as shown in FIG. 5 by retracting the arm 32 to the limit by the expansion / contraction mechanism 62. It can be secured widely and does not disturb the user 5. Alternatively, when the passive exercise device 1 is arranged at the bottom of the desk 7, as shown in FIG. 3 (b), the arm 32 is raised and lowered substantially vertically, and the foot support 2 is set up substantially vertically. Even if it is in the state, it is possible to secure a wide foot space and not to disturb the user 5. Therefore, the passive exercise device 1 can be placed under the desk 7 regardless of whether it is in use or not in use, and it does not take time to move. Moreover, in the example shown in FIG. 5, the foot support 2 is inclined at an appropriate angle with respect to the floor surface, so that the user 5 can also use the passive exercise device 1 as a footrest.

  In addition, the foot support 2 may include a heater (not shown) such as a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heater or a cooling element (not shown) such as a Peltier element. Improvement of the comfort of the user 5 who is using the passive exercise device 1 can be expected by operating the heater or the cooling element to warm or cool the feet of the user 5. Furthermore, the effect of promoting blood circulation can be expected by warming the user's 5 feet. These heaters and cooling elements are operated not only while the user 5 is exercising using the passive exercise device 1 but also while the passive exercise device 1 is used as a footrest as described above. Also good.

  By the way, the swing mechanism 6 is configured by combining a rotation mechanism 61 that rotates the arm 32 as the first movable portion and an expansion / contraction mechanism 62 that moves the rotation shaft 35 in the longitudinal direction of the arm 32. ing. In other words, the expansion / contraction mechanism 62 constitutes a linear motion mechanism that linearly moves the rotation shaft 35 that is the second movable portion in the longitudinal direction of the arm 32 that is the first movable portion with respect to the first movable portion. To do. However, the present invention is not limited to this example, and the driving device 3 includes a first movable portion and a second movable portion that receive different driving forces from the driving portion and move differently from each other. The movement of the swing mechanism 6 may be realized by a combination of the movement and the movement of the second movable part.

  That is, for example, as shown in FIG. 6, in the driving device 3, a slide mechanism (linear motion mechanism) 63 that moves the foot support 2 straight in the longitudinal direction of the arm 32 instead of the expansion / contraction mechanism 62 is combined with the rotation mechanism 61. As a result, the swing mechanism 6 may be realized. In the configuration of FIG. 6, the arm 32 has a slit 324 formed from the base end portion to the tip end portion, and the slide mechanism 63 moves the rotating shaft 35 inserted into the slit 324 within the slit 324. Thus, the arm 32 is moved straight along the longitudinal direction.

  The slide mechanism 63 has a motor (not shown) as a driving source, and transmits the driving force generated by the motor to the rotating shaft 35 by a timing belt or the like, thereby realizing the rectilinear movement of the rotating shaft 35. Note that the drive source of the slide mechanism 63 may be a linear motor.

  Alternatively, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the driving device 3 includes a combination of a vertical slide mechanism 64 that slides the foot support 2 in the vertical direction and a front / rear slide mechanism 65 that slides the foot support 2 in the front-rear direction. Thus, the swing mechanism 6 may be realized. In the configuration of FIG. 7, the vertical slide mechanism 64 moves the rotation shaft 35 in the longitudinal direction of the arm 32 using the slit 324 as in the slide mechanism 63 in the example of FIG. 6. That is, the vertical slide mechanism 64 moves the rotation shaft 35 that is the second movable portion straightly with respect to the first movable portion in the longitudinal direction (second direction) of the arm 32 that is the first movable portion. A second linear motion mechanism to be moved is configured.

  In the configuration of FIG. 7, a carriage 326 that moves in the front-rear direction along the rail 325 is provided, and the front-rear slide mechanism (first linear motion mechanism) 65 includes the arm 32 as the first movable part. The carriage 326 is moved straight in the front-rear direction (first direction). The front / rear slide mechanism 65 has a motor (not shown) as a drive source, and transmits a driving force generated by the motor to the carriage 326 by a timing belt or the like, thereby realizing a straight movement of the carriage 326. The drive source of the front / rear slide mechanism 65 may be a linear motor.

  In these configurations, the control unit 7 links the rotation mechanism 61 and the slide mechanism 63, or the vertical slide mechanism 64 and the front and rear slide mechanism 65, so that the position of the user's knee as described above is set as the center. The foot support 2 is moved up and down through a trajectory along the arc.

  In addition, the locus | trajectory by which the swing mechanism 6 moves the foot support base 2 is not restricted to the locus | trajectory along the circular arc centering on the position of the user's 5 knee, but is located in the leg | foot of the user 5 of the attitude | position which bent the knee. The trajectory may be a trajectory that moves away from the floor as the foot support 2 moves forward, and can be set as appropriate. For example, the swing mechanism 6 may reciprocate the foot support 2 along a substantially linear trajectory between the first position and the second position. Further, the first position and the second position may not be fixedly determined, and may vary during the operation of the passive exercise apparatus 1.

(Embodiment 2)
The passive movement apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is provided with a bottom dorsiflexion mechanism (not shown) that rotates the foot support 2 with respect to the arm 32 around the rotation axis 35 in the drive device 3. It differs from the passive exercise apparatus 1 of the first embodiment.

  The bottom dorsiflexion mechanism has a motor (not shown) as a drive source in any of the main body 31, the arm 32, and the foot support 2, and the foot support 2 is armed by the driving force generated by the motor. Rotate with respect to 32. Here, the bottom dorsiflexion mechanism is controlled by the control unit 7 so as to rotate the foot support 2 in conjunction with the reciprocation of the foot support 2 by the swing mechanism 6. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the control unit 7 moves the foot support 2 by the bottom dorsiflexion mechanism in conjunction with the operation of the swing mechanism 6 moving the foot support 2 from the first position to the second position. Is turned to cause the ankle joint of the user 5 to dorsiflex.

  Specifically, the bottom dorsiflexion mechanism gradually moves the front end portion (toe side end portion) of the foot support base 2 as the foot support base 2 rises from the first position toward the second position. The inclination of the foot support 2 with respect to the floor is gradually increased. When the foot support 2 is lifted to the second position by the swing mechanism 6, the sole dorsiflexion mechanism supports the foot so that the front end (end of the toe side) of the foot support 2 approaches the knee of the user 5. The table 2 is further rotated. Thereby, the user 5 can exercise to expand and contract a wide range of muscle groups from the thigh to the calf and the Achilles tendon.

  In the state of FIG. 8, the strength of the stretch is adjusted by the relative positional relationship between the main body 31 and the user 5, the angle of the arm 32, and the like. That is, even if the angle of the foot support 2 is constant, for example, as the main body 31 approaches the chair 4 on which the user 5 sits or the seat surface of the chair 4 rises, the ankle of the user 5 becomes greatly dorsiflexed and stretched. Strength increases.

  In addition, the control unit 7 operates the bottom dorsiflexion mechanism regardless of the operation of the swing mechanism 6, and moves the front end portion and the rear end portion about the rotation shaft 35 alternately up and down with respect to the arm 32. The foot support 2 may be rocked. As a result, the foot support 2 can alternately move up and down the toe side and the heel side of the user's 5 foot, and the ankle joint can be moved in a state where the front end portion is lifted (the state shown in FIG. 9A). The ankle joint can be bent to the bottom with the back end bent and the rear end portion lifted (the state shown in FIG. 9B).

  Furthermore, the controller 7 is not limited to the case where the foot support 2 is in the first position as shown in FIG. 9, and the bottom dorsiflexion mechanism is used when the foot support 2 is in a position other than the first position. The structure which act | operates and rock | fluctuates the foot support stand 2 may be sufficient. That is, the bottom dorsiflexion mechanism can be used even when the foot support 2 is swung while the foot support 2 is lifted from the first position so that the knee of the user 5 extends as shown in FIG. Good.

  When the sole dorsiflexion mechanism causes the ankle joint to bend and dorsiflex by swinging the foot support 2, the calf muscle group (gastrocnemius muscle) expands and contracts, and the venous return from the leg accompanies this. Therefore, it can be expected to promote blood circulation throughout the body.

  Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 3)
As shown in FIG. 11, the passive exercise apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is different from the passive exercise apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1 in the shape of the foot support 2 and the configuration of the drive device 3.

  That is, the drive device 3 is configured so that the slide mechanism 63 that moves the foot support 2 straight in the longitudinal direction of the arm 32 is combined with the rotation mechanism 61 in the same manner as the configuration of FIG. The mechanism 6 is realized. That is, the drive device 3 rotates the arm 32 around the support shaft with respect to the main body 31 as indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 11B and moves the rotation shaft 35 straight in the longitudinal direction of the arm 32. be able to.

  Compared with the configuration of the first embodiment, the foot support base 2 is omitted in the main plate and the padding between the side plates 24, provided with a toe holding portion 27 in front of the bearing portion 25, and behind the bearing portion 25. A heel holding portion 28 is provided on the heel. Each of the toe holding portion 27 and the heel holding portion 28 is formed in a rectangular frame shape, and is configured to be rotatable about one side of the bearing portion 25 side spanned between the both side plates 24. Accordingly, the user 5 rotates the toe holding part 27 and the heel holding part 28 so that the toe is caught on the toe holding part 27 and the heel is caught on the heel holding part 28 with the foot placed on the foot support 2. By doing so, it becomes difficult to remove the foot from the foot support 2.

  Further, the passive exercise device 1 is formed so that the length of the main body 31 in the front-rear direction is substantially the same as the entire length of the arm 32, and as shown in FIG. The foot support 2 is accommodated between the front end portion and the rear end portion of the main body portion 31.

  As shown in FIG. 12, the passive exercise apparatus 1 of the present embodiment is installed on the floor surface with the base end of the arm 32 (the end on the side supported by the main body 31) facing the user 5. Used in the state. In this state, the control unit 7 moves the foot support base 2 up and down through a locus along an arc centered on the position of the knee of the user 5 by interlocking the rotation mechanism 61 and the slide mechanism 63.

  The passive exercise apparatus 1 having the above-described configuration has the main body portion 31 with the length in the front-rear direction being substantially the same as the entire length of the arm 32. There is an advantage that the posture of the user 5 is stabilized.

  Other configurations and functions are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  By the way, in each said embodiment, the movement of the swing mechanism 6 is implement | achieved by the combination of the movement of a 1st movable part, and the movement of a 2nd movable part using the rotation mechanism 61, the expansion-contraction mechanism 62, etc. FIG. However, it may be realized only by the movement of a single movable part.

  For example, the swing mechanism 6 has an arm that rotates with a member installed near the knee of the user 5 on the seat surface of the chair 4 as a fulcrum, and is attached to the tip (movable part) of the arm. The structure etc. which rotate the stand 2 can be considered. In this case, the member serving as the fulcrum of the arm may be attached to the chair 4. Further, the swing mechanism 6 has a rail formed along the trajectory of the foot support base 2, and is configured to drive the foot support base 2 attached to a cart (movable part) that runs on the rail. May be.

  Moreover, in each said embodiment, although the left foot support stand 21 and the right foot support stand 22 were provided and the passive exercise device 1 which can drive the both foot support stand 2 separately was illustrated, the passive exercise device 1 is restricted to this structure. Absent. That is, the passive exercise apparatus 1 may include one foot support 2 that supports, for example, both feet of the user. Alternatively, the passive exercise apparatus 1 may have a configuration including one foot support 2 that supports only one of the legs so that the user can use one leg at a time.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Passive exercise equipment 2 Foot support base 3 Drive device 4 Chair 5 User 6 Swing mechanism 21 Left foot support base 22 Right foot support base 32 Arm (1st movable part)
35 Rotating shaft (second movable part)
61 Rotating mechanism 62 Telescopic mechanism (linear motion mechanism)
63 Slide mechanism (linear motion mechanism)
64 Vertical slide mechanism (second linear motion mechanism)
65 Forward / backward slide mechanism (first linear motion mechanism)

Claims (8)

  A passive exercise device used by a user in a posture sitting on a seat surface away from the floor surface, comprising: a foot support base that supports the user's feet; a drive source that generates the drive source; A driving device that drives the foot support base by force, and the driving device moves away from the floor surface as the foot support base positioned at the foot of the user in a posture of bending a knee moves forward. A passive exercise apparatus having a swing mechanism for moving the foot support base through a trajectory.   The drive device includes a first movable part and a second movable part that receive different driving forces from the drive source and move differently, and the swing mechanism includes the first movable part. The passive exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the foot support is moved through the trajectory by a combination of a movement of the second movement part and a movement of the second movable part.   The drive device includes: a rotation mechanism that rotates the first movable portion around a support axis in a plane including the locus; and the second movable portion in the plane with respect to the first movable portion. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a linear motion mechanism that linearly moves, wherein the foot support is supported by the second movable portion.   The drive device includes: a first linear movement mechanism that linearly moves the first movable part in a first direction within a plane including the locus; and the second movable part with respect to the first movable part. And a second linear movement mechanism for moving the linear movement in a second direction intersecting the first direction in the plane, and the foot support is supported by the second movable portion. The passive exercise apparatus according to claim 2, wherein:   The drive device has a single movable part that moves in response to a driving force generated by the drive source, and the swing mechanism supports the foot through the locus by the movement of the movable part. The passive exercise apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the stage is moved.   The swing mechanism includes a support member that supports the foot support base, and the drive device uses the axis that intersects the plane including the locus as a rotation axis, and the rotation axis with respect to the support member. The passive exercise apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a bottom dorsiflexion mechanism for rotating the foot support base around.   The bottom dorsiflexion mechanism is configured such that as the foot support base moves away from the floor surface, the foot support base rotates in a direction in which the end of the user's toe side of the foot support base approaches the user's knee. The passive exercise apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the foot support base is rotated in conjunction with the movement of the foot support base by the swing mechanism. A pair of the foot support bases are provided for the left foot and the right foot, and are respectively driven by the driving device so as to move differently for the left foot and the right foot. The passive exercise equipment according to any one of Items 7.

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