JPH067476A - Bicycle ergometer - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow a user to exercise according to his physical strength or the physical condition at the time of usage and improve safety. CONSTITUTION:A pressure sensor 8 installed on a saddle 3 detects the magnitude of the sway of the upper half body of a user. A controller 6 controls the pedal load not to increase or to decrease the load applied to a pedal 2 when the output of the pressure sensor 8 is continuously kept larger than a preset value for the preset period. The user aiming to maintain or improve the physical strength or to reduce the weight can exercise at the exercise intensity according to his physical strength.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a bicycle ergometer for easily exercising indoors for the purpose of maintaining, improving and reducing physical strength.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 3, a conventional bicycle ergometer comprises a main body 1 incorporating a belt friction type load device, a pedal 2, a saddle 3 and a handle 4, and the load of the pedal 2 can be adjusted according to the purpose. This is set so that the exercise effect can be obtained by exercising for a predetermined time. In addition, a bicycle ergometer has also been put into practical use in which an ear sensor is attached to the earlobe of an exerciser to detect a pulse, and the pedal load is increased / decreased by microcomputer control according to a set target pulse rate.

By the way, in an exercise program using a bicycle ergometer, a pedal load is set in advance, exercise for a predetermined time and a target pulse rate are set in advance, and the pedal load is set so as to reach the target pulse rate. Can be categorized as a program in which the exercise is increased or decreased and exercise is performed for a predetermined time. The load value in the case of performing the above pedal load setting varies depending on the purpose of the exercise and the physical strength level of the exerciser. For example, when performing the exercise for the purpose of weight reduction, exercise with a pedal load of about 40 W to 120 W for 10 minutes or more. It is common to do Moreover, when setting the above-mentioned target pulse rate, it is general to set based on the maximum heart rate according to the age statistically obtained. Various regression formulas for finding the maximum heart rate according to age have been proposed. For example, in the case of men, [209-0.69 _X age (beats / m
in)], and in the case of women, there is one calculated as [205-0.75 _X age (beats / min)]. Based on this maximum heart rate, the target pulse rate is [(maximum heart rate-resting pulse rate)
_X A + resting pulse rate]. A in the above formula represents the intensity of exercise and is usually 30% to 70% (0.3 to 0.
7) is used. When exercising with such a target pulse rate set, the pedal load is increased or decreased based on the pulse detected by the ear sensor to adjust the pulse to the target pulse rate.

In order to prevent accidents during exercise, when exercise is performed with a target pulse rate set, an upper limit pulse rate is often set. The upper limit pulse rate is represented by, for example, (200-age), and when it exceeds this value and becomes a dangerous pulse rate, an accident prevention measure such as reducing the pedal load and notifying that it is in a dangerous state is taken. It is often done.

[0005]

By the way, in the conventional bicycle ergometer, exercise is performed by presetting an exercise load such as a pedal load or a target pulse rate. The exercise load is determined in consideration of the age and sex of the exerciser. Statistical indicators are used as a guide. Therefore, if the physical strength, muscular strength, endurance, etc. of the exerciser are significantly different from the standard values, or even if the person has standard physical strength, the standard value may be a load depending on the physical condition during use. I think enough. That is, when the above-mentioned person exercises, the exercise intensity is too large with a preset exercise load, which may lead to an accident.

Further, when the upper limit pulse rate is set and the pulse is detected by the ear sensor to prevent accidents, the accuracy of the pulse measuring means is a problem, and when the accurate pulse cannot be measured for some reason, in particular, In some cases, you may measure a pulse rate that is less than the actual pulse rate as the pulse rate,
There is no point in setting the upper limit pulse rate, which may lead to an accident in some cases.

The present invention has been made in view of the above conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a bicycle ergometer which is capable of exercise according to the physical strength of an exerciser and the physical condition during use and is highly safe. To provide.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a detection means for detecting the movement of the upper body of an exerciser, and the output of this detection means is larger than a predetermined value and continues for a predetermined time. It is provided with means for increasing or decreasing the load applied to the pedal 2 at times.

The detecting means may be a pressure sensor 8 installed on the saddle 3 or an acceleration sensor that can be attached to the upper half of the body of an exerciser.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the magnitude of the swing of the upper body of the exerciser is detected, and the pedal load is not increased or reduced when the swing increases to a certain extent. Therefore, the physical strength can be maintained, improved or reduced. When the exerciser aiming at is given a load that exceeds physical strength, for example, if the pedal load is greater than muscle strength, or if a pedal load that subjectively feels very tight is given, When the movement of the lower half of the body becomes unbearable, and when the shaking of the upper half of the body becomes large, it is possible to perform exercise with exercise intensity according to the physical strength of the exerciser. In addition, a safety device used in a conventional bicycle ergometer, that is, a pulse rate is detected, and when it is used in addition to a method of reducing the pedal load when the set upper limit pulse rate is exceeded, a double safety device can be used. There are things that can increase safety.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the bicycle ergometer of the present embodiment is a main body 1 incorporating a belt friction type load device.
A pedal 2, a saddle 3, a pressure sensor 8 installed inside the saddle 3, a handle 4, a photoelectric ear sensor 5 attached to an ear lobe and detecting a pulse, and its cord 7.
And the main body 1 based on the pulse rate detected based on the signal from the ear sensor 5 and the signal from the pressure sensor 8.
And a control unit 6 for controlling the load of the pedal 2 to adjust the load of the pedal 2.

The exerciser wears the ear sensor 5 on the earlobe, sets the target pulse rate or the load of the pedal 2 in the control unit 6, and then starts the exercise. Pedal 2 has a load of 2
The control unit 6 controls the pedal load so that the value gradually increases at about 5 W / min, and when the set value (set load amount or target pulse rate) is reached, the value is maintained. When the load is set to exceed the physical strength of the exerciser, when the load on the pedal 2 becomes too great, the movement of the upper body of the exerciser becomes large, and the saddle 3 follows the large swing of the upper body.
The signal of the pressure sensor 8 installed at the position also becomes large. When this large signal continues for a certain time (30 seconds in this embodiment), the control unit 6 reduces the load on the pedal 2 (25 in this embodiment).
W), the load exceeding the pedal load value is not applied until the end of the exercise. The exercise ends when the exerciser has consumed a predetermined amount of time or calories.

Another embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The bicycle ergometer of this embodiment is provided with the main body 1, the pedal 2, the saddle 3, the handle 4, the photoelectric ear sensor 5 and the cord 7 thereof used in the above-mentioned embodiment, and a cord for preventing the ear sensor 5 from shaking. The clip 9 for fixing 7 to clothes, the acceleration sensor (not shown) attached to the clip 9, and the pulse rate detected based on the signal from the ear sensor 5 and the signal from the acceleration sensor The control unit 6 controls the load device of the main body 1 to adjust the load of the pedal 2. The exerciser wears the ear sensor 5 on the earlobe, and the control unit 6 controls the target pulse rate,
Alternatively, the exercise is started after the load of the pedal 2 is set.
The load on the pedal 2 gradually increases at about 25 W / min,
When the set value (set load amount or target pulse rate) is reached, the control unit 6 controls the pedal load so that the value is maintained. When the load is set to exceed the physical strength of the exerciser, when the load on the pedal 2 becomes too large, the movement of the upper body of the exerciser becomes large, and the clip 9 is attached following the large swing of the upper body. The signal of the acceleration sensor used is also large. When this large signal continues for a certain period of time (30 seconds in this embodiment), the load on the pedal 2 is reduced (25 W in this embodiment) so that no load exceeding this pedal load value is applied until the end of the exercise. The exercise ends when the exerciser consumes the calorie count for a predetermined time.

[0014]

As described above, the present invention does not increase the load on the pedal when the movement of the upper body of the exerciser is detected and the output of the detection means is larger than a predetermined value and continues for a predetermined time. Or, if the pedal load becomes too large for the exerciser, that is, the movement of the body of the exerciser becomes too large, the pedal is judged from the movement of the upper body. By not further increasing or reducing the load of No. 1, it is possible to allow the exerciser to exercise with an appropriate exercise intensity. Also, when used with a safety device that detects the conventional pulse rate and reduces the pedal load when it exceeds the set upper limit pulse rate, it can be a double safety device, and it is a safer bicycle ergometer. can do.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a conventional bicycle ergometer.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Main body 2 Pedal 3 Saddle 4 Handle 5 Ear sensor 6 Control unit 8 Pressure sensor 9 Clip

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A detection means for detecting the movement of the upper body of an exerciser, and a means for not increasing or reducing the load applied to the pedal when the output of the detection means is larger than a predetermined value and continues for a predetermined time. Bicycle ergometer characterized by having. 2. The bicycle ergometer according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is a pressure sensor installed in a saddle. 3. The bicycle ergometer according to claim 1, wherein the detection means is an acceleration sensor that can be attached to the upper body of an exerciser.