US20060046915A1

US20060046915A1 - Powered body inversion exerciser

Info

Publication number: US20060046915A1
Application number: US10/974,993
Authority: US
Inventors: Chin-Lien Huang
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-27
Filing date: 2004-10-28
Publication date: 2006-03-02
Also published as: TWM261246U

Abstract

A powered body inversion exerciser includes a body having a base and an inversion table pivoted to the base, a power controller, which has a power-generating circuit, a spare power circuit, a power drive circuit for driving the inversion table to rotate relative to the base, and a safety control circuit all electrically connected together, and a hand control display electrically connected to the power controller. The spare power circuit provides electricity to the safety control circuit for returning the inversion table from an inversion position to an upright position when the supply of electricity of the power-generating circuit is abnormal. The hand control display is operated by a user to send a control signal to the power controller for controlling operation of the power controller.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an electrically powered inversion exercise apparatus for inversing human body and more particularly, to a safety powered body inversion exerciser that automatically returns the inversion table to the upright position when the power supply is abnormal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional body inversion exerciser essentially comprises a base, and a table pivotally mounted on the base and turnable relative to the base between an upright position and an inversion position. When in use, the user has the back supported on the table, and then shifts the center of gravity of the body to bias the table relative to the base from the upright position to the inversion position. When a user uses an inversion exerciser at the first time, the user may be not familiar with the biasing action of the table. At this time, the user may push the body against the table heavily or in a rush, causing the body inversion exerciser to fall to the floor. An accident or injury may occur in this case.
Because it is difficult to control the biasing speed and positioning of the table of a conventional inversion exerciser, many people are afraid of using a conversion exerciser. In order to eliminate this problem, electrically powered inversion exercisers are developed. These powered inversion exercisers commonly use a power drive unit to control biasing of the table between the upright position and the inversion position. However, this humanized design is still not satisfactory in function. Because the power drive unit is electrically operated, the user cannot move away from the table of the powered inversion exerciser in time or return the table of the powered inversion exerciser to the upright position during exercise when the power supply is abnormal.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the primary objective of the present invention to provide a powered body inversion exerciser, which automatically returns the inversion table to the upright position when the power supply is abnormal.
To achieve this objective of the present invention, the powered body inversion exerciser comprises a body having a base and an inversion table pivotally mounted on the base and turnable relative to the base between an upright position and an inversion position, a power controller having a power-generating circuit, a spare power circuit, a power drive circuit and a safety control circuit all electrically connected together, and a hand control display. The power-generating circuit provides electricity to the spare power circuit, the power drive circuit and the safety control circuit, and the spare power circuit stores electricity from the power-generating circuit during normal functioning of the power-generating circuit. The power drive circuit actuates the inversion table to rotate relative to the base. The safety control circuit is capable of stopping the inversion table from rotation relative to the base and actuating the power drive circuit to return the inversion table to the upright position. The spare power circuit provides electricity to the safety control circuit for returning the inversion table to the upright position when the supply of electricity of the power-generating circuit is abnormal. The hand control display is electrically connected to the power controller for sending a control signal to the power controller for controlling operation of the power controller.
Preferably, the hand control display comprises a key entry circuit, a system processing circuit and a signal output circuit. The key entry circuit is operated by a user to output a first signal to the system processing circuit, and then the system processing circuit outputs a second signal to the signal output circuit after the first signal is processed, and then the signal output circuit outputs the control signal to the power controller for controlling operation of the power controller.
Preferably, the power controller further comprises a position detection circuit for detecting the position of the inversion table relative to the base, and the hand control display further comprises a detection display circuit for indicating detection result of the position detection circuit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a powered body inversion exerciser according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system block diagram of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing the power-generating circuit, spare power circuit, power drive circuit, safety control circuit, and position detection circuit of the power controller according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of the key entry circuit, system processing circuit, and detection display circuit of the hand control display according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of the signal output circuit of the hand control display according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a powered body inversion exercise 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown comprised of a body 10, a power controller 20, and a hand control display 40.
The body 10 comprises a base 12, and an inversion table 14 pivotally mounted on the base 12 and turnable between an upright position and an inversion position (not shown).
The power controller 20 is installed in the body 10, comprising a power-generating circuit 22, a spare power circuit 24, a power drive circuit 26, a safety control circuit 28, and a position detection circuit 30 all electrically connected together (see FIG. 3). The power-generating circuit 22 provides electricity to the spare power circuit 24, the power drive circuit 26, the safety control circuit 28, and the position detection circuit 30. During normal functioning of the power-generating circuit 22, the spare power circuit 24 stores electricity supplied by the power-generating circuit 22. The power drive circuit 26 is adapted to actuate the inversion table 14 to rotate relative to the base 12. The safety control circuit 28 is adapted to stop the inversion table 14 from rotation relative to the base 12 and to actuate the power drive circuit 26 to return the inversion table 14 to the aforesaid upright position. The position detection circuit 30 is adapted to detect the position of the inversion table 14 relative to the base 12. When the supply of electricity of the power-generating circuit 22 is abnormal, the spare power circuit 24 provides electricity to the safety control circuit 28, actuating the power drive circuit 26 to return the inversion table 14 to the aforesaid upright position.
The hand control display 40 is installed in the body 10 and electrically connected to the power controller 20. The hand control display 40 comprises a key entry circuit 42, a system processing circuit 44, a signal output circuit 46, and a detection display circuit 48 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The key entry circuit 42 can be operated by a user to output a first signal to the system processing circuit 44, and then a second signal is outputted by the system processing circuit 44 to the signal output circuit 46 after the first signal is processed by the system processing circuit 44, and then the signal output circuit 46 outputs a control signal to the power controller 20 for controlling the operation of the power controller 20. When the position detection circuit 30 of the power controller 20 detected the inversion table 14 in the inversion position, the system processing circuit 44 drives the detection display circuit 48 to indicate the inversion position status of the inversion table 14.
During normal electricity supply status of the power-generating circuit 22, the user can use the key entry circuit 42 of the hand control display 40 to control the power drive circuit 26 of the power controller 20, causing it to turn the inversion table 14 relative to the base 12 from the upright position to the inversion position. At this time, the position detection circuit 30 of the power controller 20 detects the position of the inversion table 14 relative to the base 12, and the detection result is indicated through the detection display circuit 48 of the hand control display 40. Therefore, the user knows the position status of the inversion table 14 relative to the base 12 during exercise. Further, when the user feels uncomfortable during exercise, the user can control the safety control circuit 28 to stop the inversion table 14 from biasing relative to the base 12. If the supply of electricity of the power-generating circuit 22 is abnormal, the spare power circuit 24 will immediately provide electricity to the safety control circuit 28, causing it to stop the inversion table 14 from biasing relative to the base 12 and to return the inversion table 14 to the upright position.
As indicated above, the power controller 20 of the powered body inversion exerciser 1 comprises a spare power circuit 24 and a safety control circuit 28 to give an added protection to the user. Further, the design of the position detection circuit 30 enables the user to know the position status of the inversion table 14 relative to the base 12. Therefore, the user can use the powered body inversion exerciser 1 safely.
Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A powered body inversion exerciser comprising:

a body having a base and an inversion table pivotally mounted on said base and turnable relative to said base between an upright position and an inversion position;

a power controller installed in said body, said power controller having a power-generating circuit, a spare power circuit, a power drive circuit and a safety control circuit all electrically connected together, said power-generating circuit providing electricity to said spare power circuit, said power drive circuit and said safety control circuit, said spare power circuit storing electricity from said power-generating circuit during normal functioning of said power-generating circuit, said power drive circuit actuating said inversion table to rotate relative to said base, said safety control circuit being capable of stopping said inversion table from rotation relative to said base and actuating said power drive circuit to return said inversion table to said upright position, said spare power circuit providing electricity to said safety control circuit for returning said inversion table to said upright position when the supply of electricity of said power-generating circuit is abnormal; and

a hand control display installed in said body and electrically connected to said power controller for sending a control signal to said power controller for controlling operation of said power controller.

2. The powered body inversion exerciser as defined in claim 1, wherein said hand control display comprises a key entry circuit, a system processing circuit and a signal output circuit, said key entry circuit being operated by a user to output a first signal to said system processing circuit, and then said system processing circuit outputting a second signal to said signal output circuit, and then said signal output circuit outputting the control signal to said power controller for controlling operation of said power controller.

3. The powered body inversion exerciser as defined in claim 2, wherein said power controller further comprises a position detection circuit for detecting the position of said inversion table relative to said base; said hand control display further comprises a detection display circuit for indicating detection result of said position detection circuit.