US20100279835A1 - Auxiliary exercise equipment - Google Patents
Auxiliary exercise equipment Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20100279835A1 US20100279835A1 US12/810,138 US81013808A US2010279835A1 US 20100279835 A1 US20100279835 A1 US 20100279835A1 US 81013808 A US81013808 A US 81013808A US 2010279835 A1 US2010279835 A1 US 2010279835A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- footrest
- user
- foot
- exercise equipment
- auxiliary exercise
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- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H1/00—Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus ; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A61H1/02—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
- A61H1/0237—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising for the lower limbs
- A61H1/0266—Foot
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/00178—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices for active exercising, the apparatus being also usable for passive exercising
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/06—User-manipulated weights
- A63B21/068—User-manipulated weights using user's body weight
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B23/00—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body
- A63B23/035—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously
- A63B23/04—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for lower limbs
- A63B23/10—Exercising apparatus specially adapted for particular parts of the body for limbs, i.e. upper or lower limbs, e.g. simultaneously for lower limbs for feet or toes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H1/00—Apparatus for passive exercising; Vibrating apparatus ; Chiropractic devices, e.g. body impacting devices, external devices for briefly extending or aligning unbroken bones
- A61H1/02—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising
- A61H1/0237—Stretching or bending or torsioning apparatus for exercising for the lower limbs
- A61H1/0266—Foot
- A61H2001/027—Toes
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/12—Driving means
- A61H2201/1207—Driving means with electric or magnetic drive
- A61H2201/1215—Rotary drive
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/14—Special force transmission means, i.e. between the driving means and the interface with the user
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
- A61H2201/1602—Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
- A61H2201/1635—Hand or arm, e.g. handle
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
- A61H2201/1602—Physical interface with patient kind of interface, e.g. head rest, knee support or lumbar support
- A61H2201/164—Feet or leg, e.g. pedal
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2201/00—Characteristics of apparatus not provided for in the preceding codes
- A61H2201/16—Physical interface with patient
- A61H2201/1657—Movement of interface, i.e. force application means
- A61H2201/1664—Movement of interface, i.e. force application means linear
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2230/00—Measuring physical parameters of the user
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2230/00—Measuring physical parameters of the user
- A61H2230/60—Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user, e.g. Electromyography [EMG]
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
- A61H—PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY
- A61H2230/00—Measuring physical parameters of the user
- A61H2230/65—Impedance, e.g. skin conductivity; capacitance, e.g. galvanic skin response [GSR]
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/02—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using resilient force-resisters
- A63B21/023—Wound springs
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B21/00—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices
- A63B21/02—Exercising apparatus for developing or strengthening the muscles or joints of the body by working against a counterforce, with or without measuring devices using resilient force-resisters
- A63B21/05—Linearly-compressed elements
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2208/00—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player
- A63B2208/02—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player posture
- A63B2208/0204—Standing on the feet
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
- A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
- A63B2208/00—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player
- A63B2208/02—Characteristics or parameters related to the user or player posture
- A63B2208/0228—Sitting on the buttocks
- A63B2208/0233—Sitting on the buttocks in 90/90 position, like on a chair
Definitions
- the present invention relates generally to auxiliary exercise equipment which assists a user to stretch user's leg muscles with an aid of external forces.
- auxiliary exercise equipments which assist a user to stretch user's muscles without effort but with an aid of external forces being applied to the user in order to give an exercise effect.
- These equipments are known to be configured to apply a force of bending a joint of the user for stretching the muscles associated with the joint (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-37850).
- This auxiliary exercise equipment assists a user to contract the muscles of the user's femoral area almost without bending the user's knee. It is possible to strengthen the muscles of the femoral area even if the user has knee pain.
- a volume of the femoral area's muscles is large, sugar metabolism associated with muscles contraction is efficiently enhanced. Therefore, it's expected to contribute to the improvement of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.
- Another auxiliary exercise equipment comprises a foot support platform for supporting the user's foot, and a seat.
- the equipment assists the user to strain and relax the muscles of the user's femoral area by moving the seat almost without bending the user's knee while supporting the user's buttocks on a contact surface of the seat (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No, 2007-181731).
- This equipment moves a position of the seat and changes a rate of a weight supported by the seat to the user's body weight. This allows a weight acting on the user's leg to change.
- a mounting surface of the foot support platform descends.
- a bending angle of the user's knee is kept at almost a constant angle.
- the above equipment can reduce a load by such operation. And even if the user is, for example, a diabetic patient and has knee pain, it becomes possible for the user to strengthen the muscles of the femoral area by contracting said muscles almost without bending the user's knee. In addition, because a volume of said muscles is large, it is also expected that sugar metabolism associated with muscles contraction contributes to improvement of lifestyle diseases. Furthermore, the user can exercise passively without effort by using a driving source and moving the seat. Thus, coupled with a light load, it becomes possible for the user to use the above equipment even if the user has a poor exercise capacity or no interest in exercise.
- a mounting surface of the foot support platform (that is, a top surface) slants downward so that a toe side of the user descends (in a downward direction along a direction from a heel toward a toe), and thereby a load is applied to the toe side larger while a foot joint of the user is plantarflexed.
- triceps surae muscles a gastron-emius muscle and a soleus muscle
- hamstrings being coordination muscles can also be contracted.
- muscles around the knee can be contracted simultaneously.
- the mounting surface of the foot support platform only slants downward along the direction from the heel toward the toe.
- the prior art has a problem that a load is rarely applied to a heel side of the user according to how the user rides on the seat or an individual difference of a physique, when the seat is moved and the weight acting on the user's leg increases.
- the load is applied to the heel side larger than the toe side, there is a possibility that too much load may be applied to the knee joint of the user. Therefore, it's expected to prevent too much load from being applied to the knee joint and to strengthen the muscles around the knee.
- An auxiliary exercise equipment of the present invention comprises a footrest 21 for supporting a foot of a user (M).
- the footrest 21 is configured so that a part of the footrest 21 relatively retreats from a remaining part of the footrest 21 and thereby is made apart from the foot while the remaining part of the footrest 21 supports the foot.
- a first configuration when the foot of the user (M) is rested on the footrest 21 , the part of the footrest 21 on which the foot is rested is made apart from the foot and the remaining part of the footrest 21 supports the foot. As a result, the user (M) has to support almost the user (M)'s full body weight with the remaining part of the footrest 21 , and thus a particular muscle can be strengthened.
- the footrest 21 comprises a plurality of members.
- the footrest 21 is configured so that at least one of the plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the plurality of members and thereby is made apart from the foot of the user (M). In this configuration, the part of the footrest 21 can be relatively moved, with respect to the remaining of the footrest by a simple configuration.
- the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are separately arranged back and forth.
- the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with a back side of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.
- a back member 21 B of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with a front side of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.
- the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are a front half 21 F and a back half 21 B.
- the footrest 21 is configured so that the front half 21 F is bent downward with respect to the back half 21 B.
- mainly an anterior tibial muscle and muscles of a toe can be strengthened.
- the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are a front half 21 F and a back half 21 B.
- the footrest 21 is configured so that the back half 21 B is bent downward with respect to the front half 2 F.
- muscles of a toe, a sole and a calf can be strengthened.
- the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are separately arranged to right and left.
- the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with an inside of the foot of the user (M) and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.
- the user (M) supports the body weight with an outside of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.
- the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are an inside half and an outside half.
- the footrest 21 is configured so that the inside half is bent downward with respect to the outside half in this configuration, when an inside member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, outside muscles of the foot of the user (M) can be strengthened and thereby knock-knee can be corrected.
- the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are an inside half and an outside half.
- the footrest 21 is configured so that the outside half is bent downward with respect to the inside half in this configuration, when an outside member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, inside muscles of the foot of user (M) can be strengthened and thereby bow-legs can be corrected.
- the footrest 21 is configured so as to support the foot of the user (M) in the standing; position. In this configuration, a full body weight of the user (M) can be applied to the foot of the user (M) and thereby highly-loaded and high-efficient training can be achieved.
- the auxiliary exercise equipment further comprises a foot support platform 2 for supporting the footrest 21 , a seat 51 for supporting buttocks of the user (M) while a sole of the user (M) is rested on a rest-surface 21 A of the footrest 21 , and a seat driving unit 52 being configured to displace the seat by using a driving source so as to change a weight acting on a leg of the user (M) by the user (M)'s body weight.
- the foot support platform 2 comprises a supporting base 1 a located in a fixed position, and a supporting mechanical part 210 configured to support the footrest 21 with respect to the supporting base 1 a while biasing the footrest upward so that the footrest 21 can reciprocate in the vertical direction.
- the rest-surface 21 A of the footrest 21 is formed so as to slant downward along the direction from a heel of the user (M) toward a toe of the user (M), and the supporting mechanical part 210 is configured to relatively move a part back 21 B of the footrest 21 larger than a front part 21 F of the footrest 21 when the weight acting on the leg increases.
- the supporting mechanical part 210 is configured to relatively move the back part 21 B larger than the front part 21 F when the weight acting on the leg increases.
- a load can be applied to the toe side larger than the heel side, regardless of how the user (M) rides on the seat 51 or an individual difference of a physique.
- the auxiliary exercise equipment may comprises a detector 61 for detecting a muscle activity of the user (M)'s leg, and a controller 62 being configured to control a movement distance of the footrest 21 moved by the supporting mechanical part 210 according to a result of the muscle activity detected by the detector 61 .
- the movement distance of the footrest 21 is controlled according to the degree of the muscle activity of the user (M)'s leg, and thereby an appropriate, load can be applied to the muscles around the knee.
- the detector 61 may be configured to detect a muscle activity of either hamstrings or triceps surae muscles of a user (M).
- the hamstrings include a biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle.
- the triceps surae muscles include a gastrocnemius muscle and a soleus muscle.
- FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a footrest, which is set up in a central position, according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 1B is a front sectional view showing said footrest
- FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing said footrest which is moved forward from said central position;
- FIG. 3 is an overall schematic side view according to said embodiment
- FIG. 4 is a plane perspective view showing a housing according to said embodiment
- FIG. 5 is an overall exploded perspective view according to said embodiment
- FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of an essential part seen from the hack of said housing
- FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of an essential part of a guide section according to said embodiment.
- FIGS. 8A and 8B are block diagrams of a drive unit according to said embodiment, respectively;
- FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of an essential part of a foot support platform according to said embodiment.
- FIG. 10A is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a footrest, which is set up in a central position, according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 10B is a front sectional view showing said footrest
- FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing said footrest which is moved forward from said central position according to said embodiment
- FIG. 12 is a front view of a footrest according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 13 is a front view of a footrest according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic side views showing a foot support platform according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively;
- FIG. 15 is a schematic side view according to said embodiment.
- FIG. 16 is a schematic plane view according to said embodiment.
- FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 18 is a schematic side view showing a foot support platform according to said embodiment.
- the equipment comprises a base 10 located on a fixed position, such as a floor.
- a handle post (HP) is arranged on the base 10 , and comprises a handle (HD), which a user (M) in standing position grips with a hand if needed, at the top.
- the base 10 is provided with a foot support platform 2 (a left foot support platform 2 a and a right foot support platform 2 b ), a guide section 4 for restricting a travel path of each of the left and right support platforms 2 a and 2 b , and a drive unit 3 for driving the foot support platform 2 .
- a top surface of the foot support platform 2 is called a rest-surface, and left and right feet of the user (M) are rested on the rest-surface, respectively.
- the handle (HD) and the handle post (HP) are not indispensable.
- the base 10 comprises a housing 1 which is composed of a supporting base 1 a and an upper plate 1 b .
- the supporting base 1 a shown in the figure is configured to have a rectangular parallelepiped shape, although not limited to such a shape.
- the supporting base 1 a is illustrated to have a top surface parallel to the floor when it is placed on the floor.
- the upper plate 1 b is disposed on the supporting base 1 a , and is coupled thereto to constitute the housing 1 .
- the supporting base 1 a is provided with a left foot support platform 2 a and a right foot support platform 2 b on which left and right feet of the user (M) are rested, respectively.
- the drive unit 3 is disposed on the supporting base 1 a , for moving the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b . It is noted that an arrow X shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 denotes a forward direction of the equipment.
- the upper plate 1 b is formed with two openings 11 a and 11 b extending in a thickness direction of the plate so as to expose the left and right support platforms 2 a and 2 b , respectively.
- Each of the openings 11 a and 11 b is formed into a rectangular shape.
- Each of center lines along longitudinal directions of the openings 11 a and 11 b slants with respect to forward/rearward direction of the housing 1 so that the distance between the center lines is larger at the front ends of the openings than at the rear ends thereof.
- each of the footrest frames 22 is cooperative with a footrest 21 , on which a foot of the user (M) is rested, to define each of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b , and comprises a main section 22 a in the shape of a rectangular barrel. Also, each of the footrest frames 22 is formed with the flange 22 b extending around an open face (upper face) over the entire periphery of the main section 22 a . In addition, each of the footrest frames 22 has an integrally formed attachment plate 22 c at a lower end within the main section 22 a.
- the main section 22 a has a longitudinal dimension as well as a width dimension respectively less than those of the openings 11 a and 11 b , while the flange 22 b has such dimensions larger than those of the openings 11 a and 11 b . Further, a distance between opposed bottoms of the slide grooves 12 is larger than a distance between opposite edges of the flange 22 b . Thus, each of the footrest frames 22 is allowed to move within the confines of the slide groove 12 with respect to a width direction as well as a longitudinal direction.
- Each of footrests 21 is formed into a rectangular plate slightly smaller than an inner periphery of the main section 22 a to have such dimensions as to rest a entire foot of the user (M).
- a front half 21 F and a back half 21 B are connected by a hinge 21 C to constitute a footrest 21 .
- An upper surface of the footrest 21 is made of a material or shaped to have a large coefficient of friction.
- the footrest 21 is integrally formed around its lower periphery with almost square bracket shaped frame members 21 a and 21 b.
- a bearing plate 23 of square bracket shaped cross-section is fixed to the top of a attachment plate 22 e of a footrest frame 22 to have its open end oriented upwardly.
- Axles 24 are provided at both ends of a hinge 21 C in an extended condition to penetrate through leg members 23 a of the bearing plate 23 , respectively Consequently the axles 24 are located so as to extend in a width direction of the footrest 21 , and the footrest 21 is allowed to swing about the axles 24 so as to move up and down at forward and rearward ends of its longitudinal direction with respect to the footrest frame 22 .
- the above frame members 21 a and 21 b are provided to conceal a gap formed between the footrest 21 and the footrest frame 22 when the footrest 21 swings relative to the footrest frame 29 .
- a truck 41 of square bracket shaped cross-section is fixed to the bottom of the attachment plate 22 c through the footrest frame 22 to have its open end oriented downwardly.
- Each of leg members 41 a located at the truck 41 is provided on its exterior face with two wheels 42 .
- the supporting base 1 a is formed on its upper surface with two fixed rails 43 for each of the left and right fool support platforms 2 a and 2 b .
- the truck 41 is placed on the rails 43 so that the wheels 42 rolls in the rail grooves 43 a provided in the upper end of the rails 43 .
- Derailment prevention plates 44 are provided on top of 43 a , respectively (see FIG. 7 ).
- each of the rails 43 extends in a direction different from a longitudinal direction of each of the openings 11 a and 11 b in the housing 1 .
- each of center lines along longitudinal directions of the openings 11 a and 11 b slants so that the distance between the center lines is larger at the front ends of the housing 1 than at the rear ends thereof.
- each of longitudinal directions of the rails 43 slants in the like manner.
- each of longitudinal directions of the rails 43 slants at a larger angle than each of longitudinal directions of the openings 11 a , and 11 b , in relation to the forward/rearward direction of the housing 1 .
- each of longitudinal directions of the openings 11 a and 11 b slants at an angle of 30° in relation to said forward/rearward direction
- each of longitudinal directions of the rails 43 slants at an angle of 45°.
- each of longitudinal directions of the rails 43 is oriented, to such a direction as to prevent, a shear force from acting on the knee joint even if the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b are moved along the rails 43 and thereby a position of each of the feet is moved.
- the present embodiment illustrates a preferred mode that the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b are moved along the individual travel paths of shifting their positions both in the forward/rearward direction and the lateral direction, it is possible to determine the orientation of the rails 43 such that the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b are moved either in the forward/rearward direction or the lateral direction.
- the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b are allowed to reciprocate along the longitudinal directions of the rails 43 , respectively. Because the longitudinal directions of the rails 43 slant relative to the longitudinal center lines of the openings 11 a and 11 b , respectively, the footrests 21 and the footrest frames 22 are allowed to move within the openings 11 a and 11 b along the directions slanting with the longitudinal directions of the openings 11 a and 11 b , respectively in other words, the above trucks 41 , the wheels 42 , the rails 43 and the derailment prevention plates 44 function as guide sections 4 for restricting travel paths of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b , respectively.
- a drive unit 3 shifts the position of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b .
- the drive unit 3 comprises a driving source 31 for generating a driving force, a router 32 for transmitting the driving force to the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b , and reciprocator(s) 33 for using the driving force to reciprocate the trucks 41 respectively along the rails 43 .
- the equipment of the present embodiment is configured to divide the driving force at the router 32 and transmit the divided driving force to two reciprocators 33 , as shown in FIG. 5A , it is equally possible to generate the reciprocating driving force at one reciprocator 33 and divide the same at the router 32 , as shown in FIG. 8B .
- a rotary motor is used as the driving source 31 (hereinafter, called a motor 31 ), and the router 32 is coupled to an output shaft 31 a of the motor 31 .
- the router 32 comprises a worm (a first gear) 32 a coupled to the output shaft 31 a of the motor 31 , and a pair of worm wheels (second gear wheels) 32 b engaging with the worm 32 a .
- the worm 32 a and the two worm wheels 32 b are held within a gearbox 34 fixed to the supporting base 1 a .
- the gearbox 34 is composed of a gear case 34 a with a top opening and a lid 34 b fitted in the opening of the gear case 34 a .
- a pair of bearings 32 c is mounted between the gear case 34 a and the lid 34 b to bear the opposite longitudinal ends of the worm 32 a.
- a rotary shaft 35 is held by the gear case 34 a and the lid 34 b and extends through the worm wheel 32 b . And the rotary shaft 35 is coupled to the worm wheel 32 b to be driven thereby to rotate. Furthermore, the rotary shaft 35 is formed at its upper end with a coupling section 35 a with non-circular cross-section (rectangular one in the illustrated instance).
- the motor 31 is mounted on a holder member 34 c of the gear case 34 a and on a holder plate 13 a secured to the supporting base 1 a , and is fixed to the supporting base 1 a by means of the lid 34 b fitted over the gear case 34 a and a retainer plate 13 b coupled to the holder plate 13 a.
- the reciprocator 33 comprises a crank plate 36 coupled at its one end to the coupling section 35 a of the rotary shaft 35 , and a crank rod 38 coupled to the crank plate 36 by means of a crank shaft 37 .
- the crank shaft 37 has its one end fixed to the crank plate 36 and has the other end received in the bearing 38 a carried on one end of the crank rod 38 . That is, the crank rod 38 has its one end rotatively coupled to the crank plate 36 , while the other end of the crank rod 38 is coupled to the truck 41 by means of an axle 38 b so as to be rotatively coupled thereto.
- the crank rod 38 functions as a motion converter to translate the rotary motion of the worm wheel 32 b into a reciprocatory motion of the truck 41 .
- the crank rod 38 is provided for each of the worm wheels 32 b , and the trucks 41 are provided to the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b , respectively.
- the crank rods 38 function as the individual motion converters for translating the rotary motion of the worm wheels 32 b into the reciprocating motions of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b , respectively.
- the truck 41 has its travel path restricted by the wheels 42 and the rails 43 . Therefore, the trucks 41 reciprocate along longitudinal directions of the rails 43 , respectively as the worm wheels 32 b rotate. That is, the rotation of the motor 31 is transmitted to the crank plate 36 by way of the worm 32 a and the worm wheels 32 b , so that the crank rod 38 coupled to the crank plate 36 makes the trucks 41 reciprocate linearly along the rails 43 . As a result, the footrest frames 22 coupled to the trucks 41 are driven to reciprocate along the rails 43 . In other wards, the left and right foot, support platforms 2 a and 2 b are driven to reciprocate along the longitudinal directions of the rails 43 , respectively.
- the worm 32 a and the two worm wheels 32 b are responsible for routing the driving force into two channels respectively for driving the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b .
- the drive unit 3 drives the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b in a manner linked to each other.
- the worm wheels 32 b are engaged with the worm 32 a at different portions spaced apart by 180°. Therefore, the right foot support platform 2 b comes to a forward end of its movable range when the left foot support platform 2 a comes to a rear end of its movable range.
- the left foot support platform 2 a comes to the right end of its movable range when it comes to the rear end of the movable range
- the right foot support platform 2 b comes to the right, end of its movable range when it comes to the forward end of the movable range
- the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b shift in the same direction along the lateral direction.
- phase difference of 180° is effective, to minimize, the shifting of a weighted center of the user (M) along the forward/rearward direction, enabling the exercise even by the user (M) suffering from lowered balancing capability.
- the equipment necessitates the shifting movement of the weighted center along the forward/rearward direction, thereby developing an exercise not only for the leg muscles but also for lower back muscles of the user (M) maintaining the balancing capability.
- the drive unit 3 can drive the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b to move in the forward/rearward direction and at the same time to move in the lateral direction in the linked manner to each other.
- the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b are driven to reciprocate linearly along the rails 43 so as to move in directions different from forward/rearward directions of the feet, respectively.
- the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b move in directions inclined at an angle of 45° relative, to the forward/rearward direction of the housing 1 . This travel distance is over 20 mm, for example.
- the footrest 21 provided on each of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b is allowed to swing about the axle 24 relative to the footrest frame 22 , enabling to vary height positions of the forward end as well as the rearward end of the footrest 21 . That is, it's possible to vary height positions of the toe and the heel of the foot rested on the footrest 21 , and this enables the plantar flexion and dorsal flexion of an ankle joint.
- the supporting base 1 a is provided at a portion along the travel path of the footrest 21 with a guide rail 17 as a guide section 4 , as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the guide rail 17 formed in the base 10 restricts the travel path of each of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b .
- the guide rail 17 allows each of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b to move with respect to nearly the forward/rearward direction, and makes a portion of the foot support platform 2 go backward when the foot support platform 2 moves along the travel path.
- Caves 15 are formed within the base 10 so as to extend along the travel path of each of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b .
- Grooves 16 are formed so as to pass through an upper wall of the caves 15 , respectively, and their longitudinal directions extend along nearly the forward/rearward direction.
- the more the left foot support platform 2 a goes forward the more its travel path slants leftward.
- the more the right foot support platform 2 b goes forward, the more its travel path slants rightward.
- the grooves 16 are formed along such travel paths.
- a footrest 21 of each of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b is composed of a front half 21 F and a back half 21 B.
- a length of the front half 21 F is almost twice as long as that of the back half 21 B, with respect to a longitudinal direction of the footrest 21 .
- a hinge 21 C connects a back end of the front half 21 F with a front end of the back half 21 B.
- the footrest 21 is configured to be bent at the hinge 21 C which is arranged at about one third of a length of footrest 21 away from a back end of the foot support platform 2 .
- the front half 21 F is a rest section on which a toe and a central part of the foot are rested
- the back half 21 B is a rest section on which a heel is rested.
- a front drooping section 25 a is formed so as to project downward from a center of a forward section of the lower surface
- a central drooping section 25 b is formed so as to project downward from a center of a backward section of the lower surface.
- a back drooping section 25 c is formed so as to project downward from a center of a lower surface of the back half 21 B.
- the drooping sections 25 are inserted into the grooves 16 , respectively, and each of bottom ends of the sections 25 is arranged into the cave 15 of the base 10 .
- Each of said bottom ends is provided with a crossbar 26 .
- the crossbar 26 has a length longer than a width of the groove 16 and its longitudinal direction is directed parallel to a width direction of the groove 16 .
- the guide rail 17 is formed on the bottom surface of the cave 15 arranged along the travel path of the base 10 .
- the guide rail 17 is composed of a front guide rail 17 a for guiding the crossbar 26 of the front drooping section 25 a , a central guide rail 17 b for guiding the crossbar 26 of the central drooping section 25 b , and a back guide rail 17 c for guiding the crossbar 26 of the back drooping section 25 c.
- the guide rail 17 houses the crossbars 26 within, and determines vertical positions of the crossbars 26 according to front-back positions of the crossbars 26 , in the present embodiment, the guide rail 17 is roughly shaped like a box, and its inside is provided with travel spaces 18 which allow the crossbars 26 to move in a forward/backward direction, respectively.
- Grooves 19 are formed so as to pass through upper walls of the travel spaces 18 and to extend along longitudinal directions (that is, travel directions) of the travel spaces 18 , respectively.
- a width of each of the grooves 19 is shorter than a length of each of the crossbars 26 and is a little longer than a width of each of the drooping sections 25 .
- the drooping sections 25 are inserted into the travel spaces 18 through the grooves 19 and the crossbars 26 are arranged within the travel spaces 18 , respectively, and thereby the crossbars 26 can be prevented from falling out of the grooves 19 .
- the front guide rail 17 a extends diagonally downward front so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located downward.
- the central guide rail 17 b extends diagonally upward front so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located upward.
- a front half of the back guide rail 17 c extends flatly, and a back half thereof extends diagonally downward hack so that the more a travel space 18 goes backward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located downward.
- an upper surface of the front half 21 F is almost flush with that of the back half 21 B and their upper surfaces are almost horizontal, as shown in FIG. 1 , when each of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b is located at almost a center relative to a forward/backward direction of the travel path (called a central position).
- a front half 21 F slants diagonally downward front and a back half 21 B slants diagonally downward back and a foot is plantarflexed.
- the length of the front half 21 F is longer than that of the back half 21 B, and a toe maintains to be rested on the front half 21 F, and a heel is away from the back half 21 B, and thereby muscles including a sole and a calf can be strengthened.
- both of the front half 21 F and the back half 21 B slant diagonally downward back.
- the footrest 21 keeps a condition that an upper surface of the front half 21 F is almost flush with that of the back half 21 B, and the foot is dorsiflexed, but an entire foot maintains to be rested on the footrest 21 .
- the footrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof can go backward. That is, the footrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof relatively retreats from a remaining part thereof and thereby is made apart from a foot, while said remaining part supports the foot.
- a body weight of the user (M) is focused in a part of the sole, and thus a particular muscle can be strengthened.
- the footrest 21 comprises a plurality of members, and at least one of the plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the plurality of members. Therefore a part of the footrest 21 can be relatively moved with respect to a remaining part of the footrest 21 by a simple configuration.
- the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are separately arranged back and forth, and at least one of the members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s). Therefore if a front member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user (M)'s body weight with a back side of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or if a hack member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user MA body weight with a front side of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle, can be strengthened. For example, when the front member of the footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to the back member, muscles including a sole and a calf can be strengthened.
- FIG. 10 Another embodiment is explained based on FIG. 10 . If some members shown in FIG. 10 are the same as members explained in the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 , said some members are putted the same numerals on, respectively, and the explanation thereof is omitted. Members other than members explained in the above embodiment are explained.
- a footrest 21 of each of a left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b is composed of a front half 21 F and a back half 21 B.
- a length of the front half 21 F is almost half as long as that of the back half 21 B, with respect to a longitudinal direction of the footrest 21 .
- a hinge 21 C connects a back end of the front half 21 F with a front end of the back half 21 B.
- the footrest 21 is configured to be bent at the hinge 21 C which is arranged at about one third of a length of the footrest 21 away from a front end of the foot support platform 2 .
- the front half 21 F is a rest section on which a toe is rested
- the back half 21 B is a rest section on which a heel and a central part of the foot are rested.
- a front drooping section 25 a is formed so as to project downward from a center of the lower surface of the front half 21 F.
- a central drooping section 25 b is formed so as to project downward from a forward section of the lower surface
- a back drooping section 25 c is formed so as to project downward from a backward section of the lower surface.
- a bottom surface of the base 10 is provided with a front guide rail 17 a for guiding a crossbar 26 of the front drooping section 25 a , a central guide rail 17 b for guiding a crossbar 26 of the central drooping section 25 b , and a back guide rail 17 c for guiding a crossbar 26 of the back drooping section 25 c.
- the front guide rail 17 a comprises a front half part and a back half part.
- the front and back half parts extend diagonally downward front, respectively, so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located downward.
- a slant of the front half part is larger than that of the back half part.
- the central guide rail 17 b extends diagonally downward front so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located downward.
- the back guide rail 17 c extends diagonally upward front so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located, upward.
- the footrest 21 moves backward relative to said central position, if) the front half 21 F and the back half 21 B, not shown, slant diagonally downward back.
- the footrest 21 keeps a condition that an upper surface of the front half 21 F is almost flush with that of the back half 21 B, and the foot is dorsiflexed, but an entire foot maintains to be rested on the footrest 21 .
- a front member of the footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to a back member thereof, and thereby the muscles of an anterior tibial and a toe can be strengthened.
- a footrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof relatively retreats from a remaining part thereof and thereby is made apart from a foot while said remaining part supports the foot.
- the footrest 21 is composed of separate members relative to right and left, and these members are arranged adjacently each other.
- the footrest 21 is configured that at least one of a plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the members and thereby is made apart from a user (M)'s foot.
- the user (M) supports the user (M)'s body weight with an inside of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.
- the user (NI) supports the user (M)'s body weight with the outside of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.
- a footrest 21 of each of the left and right foot support platforms 2 a and 2 b is composed of a right and left side members 21 R and 21 L.
- a hinge 21 C connects a left, end of the right side member 21 R and a right end of the left side member 21 L.
- the footrest 21 is configured to be bent at the hinge 21 C which is arranged at a central part with respect to a horizontal direction of the foot support platform 2 .
- the right foot support platform 2 b is configured that the right side member 21 R of a fifth finger side is bent downward.
- the left foot support platform 2 a is configured that the left side member 21 L of a fifth finger side is bent downward.
- the outside half of the footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to the inside half and thereby inside muscles of the foot can be strengthened and bow-legs can be corrected.
- the inside half is bent downward with respect to the outside half.
- the right foot support platform 2 b is configured that the left side member 21 L of a first toe side is bent downward.
- the left foot support platform 2 a is configured that the right side member 21 R of a first toe side is bent downward.
- an inside half of the footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to an outside half and thereby outside muscles of the foot, can be strengthened and knock-knee can be corrected.
- FIGS. 14 to 16 show an auxiliary exercise equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- the equipment of the present embodiment comprises a base 10 located on a fixed position, such as a floor.
- a seat support 50 and a handle post (HP) are arranged on the base 10 .
- An upper end of the seat support 50 is provided with a seat 51 for supporting buttocks of a user (M).
- An upper of the handle post (HP) is provided with a handle (HD) which the user (M) in standing position grips with a had if needed.
- a foot support platform 2 of which a top surface is a rest-surface 21 A, is formed at a position between the seat support 50 and the handle post (HP).
- a sole of the user (M) is rested on the rest-surface 21 A and thereby a foot position is regulated.
- the seat support 50 is provided with a seat driving unit 52 for swinging the seat 51 , and a elevator mechanical part 53 for moving up and down the seat 51 and the seat driving unit 52 with respect to the base 10 . That is, the elevator mechanical part 53 moves up and down the seat 51 and the seat driving unit 52 with respect to the base 10 , and thereby a flexion angle “ ⁇ ” of a knee of the user (M) can be adjusted when the buttocks is put on a contact surface 51 a of the seat 51 and the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21 A.
- the seat driving unit 52 swings the seat 51 to move a position of the buttocks, for the user (M) of which the buttocks is put on the contact surface 51 a and of which the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21 A. Therefore, a weight acting on the leg of the user (M) by the user (M)'s body weight is changed. That is, when the equipment supports the user (M) while dispersing a weight acting on by the user (M)'s body weight into the buttocks and the legs, a weight supported by the buttocks is increased or decreased by moving the position of the buttocks. As a result, a weight acting on the legs by the user (M)'s body weight can be changed.
- a swing direction of the seat 51 so as to prevent a shear force from acting on a knee joint.
- the feet of the user (M) becomes a condition that a distance between toes is larger than a distance between heels and such condition is natural attitude.
- An opening angle “ ⁇ 2 ” between the feet can be determined by positions of the foot support platform 2 on which the feet are rested.
- the seat 51 is swung along a direction of a center line connecting a toe and a heel of each of the feet when the feet are rested on the foot support platform 2 , and thereby the user (M) can exercise passively without the shear force acting on the knee joint. That is, periods of moving diagonally frontward right and diagonally frontward left is set up when the seat 51 moves forward from it back end of a swing range, and thereby almost the user (M)'s body weight can act on the femoral area of each of the legs without the shear force acting on the knee joint.
- the contact surface 51 . a of the seat 51 is almost a horizontal surface in an example shown in FIG. 15 .
- the user (M) performs passively an exercise, which induces contracting muscles of the femoral area by means of changing a weight acting on the legs by the user (M)'s body weight, and thus it's preferred that the contact surface in slants diagonally downward front along a swing direction of the seat 51 . That is, it's preferred that in regard to a front end of the seat 51 a part supporting right buttocks of the user (M) slants downward and diagonally frontward right, and a part supporting left buttocks of the user (M) slants downward and diagonally frontward left.
- the seat 51 having such a shape allows the weight acting on the leg to increase easily, and thereby high-efficient training can be achieved.
- the foot support platform 2 comprises a supporting base 1 a which is fastened to a base 10 and thereby is arranged in place a footrest 21 which is provided with a rest-surface 21 A slanting downward along a direction from a heel of the user (M) toward a toe of the user (M) (in FIG. 14 , leftward), and a supporting mechanical part 210 which is configured to support the footrest 21 with respect to the supporting base 1 a while biasing the footrest 21 upward so that the footrest 21 can reciprocate in the vertical direction.
- the footrest 21 is composed of two members, and the division between the members is near a center in a longitudinal direction of the footrest 21 . That is, the footrest 21 is divided in a front half 21 F located in a toe side and a back half 21 B located in a heel side.
- a connection mechanism (not shown) connects the front half 21 F and the back half 21 B so that they can move with respect to a vertical direction.
- the supporting mechanical part 210 comprises a first movable plate 211 , a second movable plate 212 , a first spring 213 and a second spring 214 .
- the first and second movable plates 211 and 212 are formed by narrow and long plate members, respectively, and have the same shape and the same size each other.
- a front end of the first movable plate 211 is supported pivotally by a projection part which projects downward from an end part of the front half 21 F, and a back end thereof is supported pivotally by a back end of the supporting base 1 a .
- a front end of the second movable plate 212 is supported pivotally by a projection part which projects upward from an end part, of the supporting base 1 a , and a back end thereof is supported pivotally by a back end of the back half 21 B.
- the first and second movable plates 211 and 212 are connected rotatably with a pin 215 which is located at some distance forward from a center in a longitudinal direction.
- the first spring 213 biases the front half 21 F upward with respect to the supporting base 1 a
- the second spring 214 biases the back half 21 B upward.
- a spring constant of the second spring 214 is smaller than that of the first spring 213 .
- the sole when the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21 A of the footrest 21 and the weight acting on the leg increases and the front half 21 F, which contacts with the sole in a toe side, resists the stress of the first spring 213 to move downward (descent), the first movable plate 211 rotates in the counterclockwise direction around the back end supported pivotally by the supporting base 1 a and thereby the second movable plate 212 , which is connected the first movable plate 211 with the pin 215 , rotates in the clockwise direction around the front end supported pivotally by the supporting; base 1 a .
- a position, where the first and second movable plates 211 and 212 are connected, (that is, a position of the pin 215 ) is located at some distance forward from a center in a longitudinal direction of each of the first and second movable plates 211 and 212 .
- a downward travel distance (descent distance) of the back half 21 B is larger than that of the front half 21 F.
- the sole in a heel side is away from the back half 21 B of the footrest 21 and the weight acts on only the sole in the toe side which contacts with the front half 21 F of the footrest 21 when the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21 A of the footrest 21 and the weight acting on the leg increases.
- the supporting mechanical part 210 allows the back half 21 B to move downward relatively larger than the front half 21 F when the weight acting on the leg increases.
- a load can be applied to the toe side larger than the heel side, regardless of how the user (M) rides on the seat 51 or an individual difference of a physique.
- FIGS. 17 and 18 show a control system and a foot support platform of an auxiliary exercise equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively.
- the equipment comprises a detector 61 for detecting a muscle activity of the user (M)'s legs, and a controller 62 .
- the controller 62 is configured to control a movement distance of the footrest 21 (the back half 21 B) moved by the supporting mechanical part 210 according to a result of the muscle activity detected by the detector 61 .
- members other than these members are the same as the members of the above embodiment shown in FIGS. 14 to 16 . Thus, such members are putted the same numerals on, respectively, and the illustration and explanation thereof are omitted.
- the supporting mechanical part 210 of the present embodiment comprises a first spring 213 , which supports the front half 21 F of the footrest 21 while biasing the front half 21 F upward so that the front half 21 F can move in the vertical direction, and an actuator 216 , which supports the back half 21 B of the footrest 21 movably in the vertical direction.
- the detector 61 is composed of a known means like an electromyograph for detecting as active contractile activity of muscles electrically, a muscle hardness meter for detecting the active contractile activity of muscles dynamically, or a measurement equipment for detecting Oxygen consumption depending on a muscle contraction by using near-infrared spectroscopy.
- the detector 61 is configured to convert, a detection value of the muscle activity into an electrical signal (a detection signal) and to output the electrical signal into the controller 62 .
- the muscle activity detected by the detector 61 is at least activity of either hamstrings as biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle), or triceps surae muscles gastrocnemius muscle and a soleus muscle).
- the controller 62 is an electrical circuit constructed mainly from a microcomputer, and controls the actuator 216 according to the detection signal (a detection value of the muscle activity) received from the detector 61 , and controls the movement distance of the back half 21 B.
- the load is applied to the toe side larger than the heel side while the foot joint is plantarflexed, and thereby the triceps surae muscles (the gastronemius muscle and the soleus muscle) can be contracted and at the same time the hamstrings being coordination muscles can also be contracted, and thus muscles around the knee can be contracted simultaneously.
- the muscle activity of the hamstrings or the triceps surae muscles is detected by the detector 61 and the controller 62 controls the actuator 216 so that the detection value is larger within a predetermined appropriate range and the back half 21 B of the footrest 21 is moved downward, muscles around the knee can be strengthened safely and efficiently.
- the controller 62 may be configured to increase a downward movement distance of the back half 21 B to balance the latter muscle activity with the former muscle activity.
Abstract
An auxiliary exercise equipment comprises a footrest for supporting a foot of a user. The footrest is configured so that a part of the footrest relatively retreats from a remaining part of the footrest and thereby is made apart from the foot while the remaining part of the footrest supports the foot.
Description
- The present invention relates generally to auxiliary exercise equipment which assists a user to stretch user's leg muscles with an aid of external forces.
- In the past, there have been proposed various types of auxiliary exercise equipments which assist a user to stretch user's muscles without effort but with an aid of external forces being applied to the user in order to give an exercise effect. These equipments are known to be configured to apply a force of bending a joint of the user for stretching the muscles associated with the joint (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-37850). This auxiliary exercise equipment assists a user to contract the muscles of the user's femoral area almost without bending the user's knee. It is possible to strengthen the muscles of the femoral area even if the user has knee pain. In addition, because a volume of the femoral area's muscles is large, sugar metabolism associated with muscles contraction is efficiently enhanced. Therefore, it's expected to contribute to the improvement of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.
- However, in this configuration, the user exercises to keep the user's body weight on an entire sole of the user's foot with an aid of external forces. Thus, this equipment has a problem that only particular parts of the muscles can be strengthened and it is impossible to stimulate broader parts of the muscles.
- Another auxiliary exercise equipment comprises a foot support platform for supporting the user's foot, and a seat. The equipment assists the user to strain and relax the muscles of the user's femoral area by moving the seat almost without bending the user's knee while supporting the user's buttocks on a contact surface of the seat (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No, 2007-181731). This equipment moves a position of the seat and changes a rate of a weight supported by the seat to the user's body weight. This allows a weight acting on the user's leg to change. When the weight acting on the user's leg increases, a mounting surface of the foot support platform descends. Thus, a bending angle of the user's knee is kept at almost a constant angle.
- Compared with an equipment which is configured so that almost the user's full body weight acts on the leg, the above equipment can reduce a load by such operation. And even if the user is, for example, a diabetic patient and has knee pain, it becomes possible for the user to strengthen the muscles of the femoral area by contracting said muscles almost without bending the user's knee. In addition, because a volume of said muscles is large, it is also expected that sugar metabolism associated with muscles contraction contributes to improvement of lifestyle diseases. Furthermore, the user can exercise passively without effort by using a driving source and moving the seat. Thus, coupled with a light load, it becomes possible for the user to use the above equipment even if the user has a poor exercise capacity or no interest in exercise.
- By the way, in order to give an effect of exercise for quadriceps femoris muscles while reducing a load of the user's knee joint, it is important for the equipment having the described above configuration to contract hamstrings (a biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle) and a crural muscle at the same time and to reduce a shear force acting on the knee joint. Therefore, in the old equipment described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-181731, a mounting surface of the foot support platform (that is, a top surface) slants downward so that a toe side of the user descends (in a downward direction along a direction from a heel toward a toe), and thereby a load is applied to the toe side larger while a foot joint of the user is plantarflexed. By such configuration, triceps surae muscles (a gastron-emius muscle and a soleus muscle) can be contracted, and at the same time hamstrings being coordination muscles can also be contracted. As a result, muscles around the knee can be contracted simultaneously.
- However, in the above mentioned prior art, the mounting surface of the foot support platform only slants downward along the direction from the heel toward the toe. As a result, the prior art has a problem that a load is rarely applied to a heel side of the user according to how the user rides on the seat or an individual difference of a physique, when the seat is moved and the weight acting on the user's leg increases. When the load is applied to the heel side larger than the toe side, there is a possibility that too much load may be applied to the knee joint of the user. Therefore, it's expected to prevent too much load from being applied to the knee joint and to strengthen the muscles around the knee.
- It is an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary exercise equipment which is capable of strengthen a particular muscle, by concentrating a user's body weight in a part of a user's sole and preventing the body weight from being applied to a remaining part of the sole.
- An auxiliary exercise equipment of the present invention comprises a
footrest 21 for supporting a foot of a user (M). Thefootrest 21 is configured so that a part of thefootrest 21 relatively retreats from a remaining part of thefootrest 21 and thereby is made apart from the foot while the remaining part of thefootrest 21 supports the foot. - In this configuration (hereinafter, called a first configuration), when the foot of the user (M) is rested on the
footrest 21, the part of thefootrest 21 on which the foot is rested is made apart from the foot and the remaining part of thefootrest 21 supports the foot. As a result, the user (M) has to support almost the user (M)'s full body weight with the remaining part of thefootrest 21, and thus a particular muscle can be strengthened. - In an embodiment, the
footrest 21 comprises a plurality of members. Thefootrest 21 is configured so that at least one of the plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the plurality of members and thereby is made apart from the foot of the user (M). In this configuration, the part of thefootrest 21 can be relatively moved, with respect to the remaining of the footrest by a simple configuration. - In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the
footrest 21 are separately arranged back and forth. In this configuration, if afront member 21F of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with a back side of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or if aback member 21B of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with a front side of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. - In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the
footrest 21 are afront half 21F and aback half 21B. Thefootrest 21 is configured so that thefront half 21F is bent downward with respect to theback half 21B. In this configuration, mainly an anterior tibial muscle and muscles of a toe can be strengthened. - In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the
footrest 21 are afront half 21F and aback half 21B. Thefootrest 21 is configured so that theback half 21B is bent downward with respect to the front half 2F. In this configuration, mainly muscles of a toe, a sole and a calf can be strengthened. - In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the
footrest 21 are separately arranged to right and left. In this configuration, when an outside member of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with an inside of the foot of the user (M) and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or when an inside member of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the body weight with an outside of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. - In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the
footrest 21 are an inside half and an outside half. Thefootrest 21 is configured so that the inside half is bent downward with respect to the outside half in this configuration, when an inside member of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, outside muscles of the foot of the user (M) can be strengthened and thereby knock-knee can be corrected. - In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the
footrest 21 are an inside half and an outside half. Thefootrest 21 is configured so that the outside half is bent downward with respect to the inside half in this configuration, when an outside member of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, inside muscles of the foot of user (M) can be strengthened and thereby bow-legs can be corrected. - In an embodiment, the
footrest 21 is configured so as to support the foot of the user (M) in the standing; position. In this configuration, a full body weight of the user (M) can be applied to the foot of the user (M) and thereby highly-loaded and high-efficient training can be achieved. - In the first configuration, the auxiliary exercise equipment further comprises a
foot support platform 2 for supporting thefootrest 21, aseat 51 for supporting buttocks of the user (M) while a sole of the user (M) is rested on a rest-surface 21A of thefootrest 21, and aseat driving unit 52 being configured to displace the seat by using a driving source so as to change a weight acting on a leg of the user (M) by the user (M)'s body weight. It's preferred that, thefoot support platform 2 comprises a supportingbase 1 a located in a fixed position, and a supportingmechanical part 210 configured to support thefootrest 21 with respect to the supportingbase 1 a while biasing the footrest upward so that thefootrest 21 can reciprocate in the vertical direction. It's preferred that the rest-surface 21A of thefootrest 21 is formed so as to slant downward along the direction from a heel of the user (M) toward a toe of the user (M), and the supportingmechanical part 210 is configured to relatively move a part back 21B of thefootrest 21 larger than afront part 21F of thefootrest 21 when the weight acting on the leg increases. - In this configuration (hereinafter, called a second configuration), the supporting
mechanical part 210 is configured to relatively move theback part 21B larger than thefront part 21F when the weight acting on the leg increases. Thus, a load can be applied to the toe side larger than the heel side, regardless of how the user (M) rides on theseat 51 or an individual difference of a physique. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent too much load from being applied to the knee joint and to strengthen the muscles around the knee. - In the second configuration, the auxiliary exercise equipment may comprises a
detector 61 for detecting a muscle activity of the user (M)'s leg, and acontroller 62 being configured to control a movement distance of thefootrest 21 moved by the supportingmechanical part 210 according to a result of the muscle activity detected by thedetector 61. In this configuration, the movement distance of thefootrest 21 is controlled according to the degree of the muscle activity of the user (M)'s leg, and thereby an appropriate, load can be applied to the muscles around the knee. - In the second configuration, the
detector 61 may be configured to detect a muscle activity of either hamstrings or triceps surae muscles of a user (M). The hamstrings include a biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle. The triceps surae muscles include a gastrocnemius muscle and a soleus muscle. - Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in further details. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings where:
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FIG. 1A is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a footrest, which is set up in a central position, according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 1B is a front sectional view showing said footrest; -
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing said footrest which is moved forward from said central position; -
FIG. 3 is an overall schematic side view according to said embodiment; -
FIG. 4 is a plane perspective view showing a housing according to said embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is an overall exploded perspective view according to said embodiment; -
FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of an essential part seen from the hack of said housing; -
FIG. 7 is a cross-section view of an essential part of a guide section according to said embodiment; -
FIGS. 8A and 8B are block diagrams of a drive unit according to said embodiment, respectively; -
FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of an essential part of a foot support platform according to said embodiment; -
FIG. 10A is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a footrest, which is set up in a central position, according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 10B is a front sectional view showing said footrest; -
FIG. 11 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing said footrest which is moved forward from said central position according to said embodiment; -
FIG. 12 is a front view of a footrest according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 13 is a front view of a footrest according to an embodiment of the present invention; -
FIGS. 14A and 14B are schematic side views showing a foot support platform according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively; -
FIG. 15 is a schematic side view according to said embodiment. -
FIG. 16 is a schematic plane view according to said embodiment; -
FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and -
FIG. 18 is a schematic side view showing a foot support platform according to said embodiment. - An embodiment of an auxiliary exercise equipment of the present invention is explained based on
FIGS. 1 to 9 . As shown inFIG. 3 , the equipment comprises a base 10 located on a fixed position, such as a floor. A handle post (HP) is arranged on thebase 10, and comprises a handle (HD), which a user (M) in standing position grips with a hand if needed, at the top. In addition, thebase 10 is provided with a foot support platform 2 (a leftfoot support platform 2 a and a rightfoot support platform 2 b), aguide section 4 for restricting a travel path of each of the left andright support platforms drive unit 3 for driving thefoot support platform 2. A top surface of thefoot support platform 2 is called a rest-surface, and left and right feet of the user (M) are rested on the rest-surface, respectively. The handle (HD) and the handle post (HP) are not indispensable. - As shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5 , thebase 10 comprises a housing 1 which is composed of a supportingbase 1 a and anupper plate 1 b. The supportingbase 1 a shown in the figure is configured to have a rectangular parallelepiped shape, although not limited to such a shape. For a simplified explanation made hereinafter, the supportingbase 1 a is illustrated to have a top surface parallel to the floor when it is placed on the floor. - The
upper plate 1 b is disposed on the supportingbase 1 a, and is coupled thereto to constitute the housing 1. The supportingbase 1 a is provided with a leftfoot support platform 2 a and a rightfoot support platform 2 b on which left and right feet of the user (M) are rested, respectively. Also, thedrive unit 3 is disposed on the supportingbase 1 a, for moving the left and rightfoot support platforms FIGS. 2 and 3 denotes a forward direction of the equipment. - The
upper plate 1 b is formed with twoopenings right support platforms openings openings - As shown in
FIG. 6 ,slide grooves 12 are provided on opposite width ends of each of theopenings flange 22 b formed on each of footrest frames 22. Each of the footrest frames 22 is cooperative with afootrest 21, on which a foot of the user (M) is rested, to define each of the left and rightfoot support platforms main section 22 a in the shape of a rectangular barrel. Also, each of the footrest frames 22 is formed with theflange 22 b extending around an open face (upper face) over the entire periphery of themain section 22 a. In addition, each of the footrest frames 22 has an integrally formedattachment plate 22 c at a lower end within themain section 22 a. - The
main section 22 a has a longitudinal dimension as well as a width dimension respectively less than those of theopenings flange 22 b has such dimensions larger than those of theopenings slide grooves 12 is larger than a distance between opposite edges of theflange 22 b. Thus, each of the footrest frames 22 is allowed to move within the confines of theslide groove 12 with respect to a width direction as well as a longitudinal direction. - Each of
footrests 21 is formed into a rectangular plate slightly smaller than an inner periphery of themain section 22 a to have such dimensions as to rest a entire foot of the user (M). As will hereinafter be described, afront half 21F and aback half 21B are connected by ahinge 21C to constitute afootrest 21. An upper surface of thefootrest 21 is made of a material or shaped to have a large coefficient of friction. Thefootrest 21 is integrally formed around its lower periphery with almost square bracket shapedframe members - A bearing
plate 23 of square bracket shaped cross-section is fixed to the top of a attachment plate 22 e of afootrest frame 22 to have its open end oriented upwardly.Axles 24 are provided at both ends of ahinge 21C in an extended condition to penetrate throughleg members 23 a of the bearingplate 23, respectively Consequently theaxles 24 are located so as to extend in a width direction of thefootrest 21, and thefootrest 21 is allowed to swing about theaxles 24 so as to move up and down at forward and rearward ends of its longitudinal direction with respect to thefootrest frame 22. Theabove frame members footrest 21 and thefootrest frame 22 when thefootrest 21 swings relative to the footrest frame 29. - A
truck 41 of square bracket shaped cross-section is fixed to the bottom of theattachment plate 22 c through thefootrest frame 22 to have its open end oriented downwardly. Each ofleg members 41 a located at thetruck 41 is provided on its exterior face with twowheels 42. The supportingbase 1 a is formed on its upper surface with two fixedrails 43 for each of the left and rightfool support platforms truck 41 is placed on therails 43 so that thewheels 42 rolls in therail grooves 43 a provided in the upper end of therails 43.Derailment prevention plates 44 are provided on top of 43 a, respectively (seeFIG. 7 ). - By the way, each of the
rails 43 extends in a direction different from a longitudinal direction of each of theopenings openings rails 43 slants in the like manner. - However, each of longitudinal directions of the
rails 43 slants at a larger angle than each of longitudinal directions of theopenings openings rails 43 slants at an angle of 45°. In other words, when the feet are rested on the left and rightfoot support platforms rails 43 is oriented, to such a direction as to prevent, a shear force from acting on the knee joint even if the left and rightfoot support platforms rails 43 and thereby a position of each of the feet is moved. Although the present embodiment illustrates a preferred mode that the left and rightfoot support platforms rails 43 such that the left and rightfoot support platforms - With the above arrangement, the left and right
foot support platforms rails 43, respectively. Because the longitudinal directions of therails 43 slant relative to the longitudinal center lines of theopenings footrests 21 and the footrest frames 22 are allowed to move within theopenings openings above trucks 41, thewheels 42, therails 43 and thederailment prevention plates 44 function asguide sections 4 for restricting travel paths of the left and rightfoot support platforms - As shown in
FIG. 8A , adrive unit 3 shifts the position of the left and rightfoot support platforms drive unit 3 comprises a drivingsource 31 for generating a driving force, arouter 32 for transmitting the driving force to the left and rightfoot support platforms trucks 41 respectively along therails 43. Although the equipment of the present embodiment is configured to divide the driving force at therouter 32 and transmit the divided driving force to tworeciprocators 33, as shown inFIG. 5A , it is equally possible to generate the reciprocating driving force at onereciprocator 33 and divide the same at therouter 32, as shown inFIG. 8B . - Details of the
drive unit 3 are now explained. A rotary motor is used as the driving source 31 (hereinafter, called a motor 31), and therouter 32 is coupled to anoutput shaft 31 a of themotor 31. - The
router 32 comprises a worm (a first gear) 32 a coupled to theoutput shaft 31 a of themotor 31, and a pair of worm wheels (second gear wheels) 32 b engaging with theworm 32 a. Theworm 32 a and the twoworm wheels 32 b are held within agearbox 34 fixed to the supportingbase 1 a. Thegearbox 34 is composed of agear case 34 a with a top opening and alid 34 b fitted in the opening of thegear case 34 a. A pair ofbearings 32 c is mounted between thegear case 34 a and thelid 34 b to bear the opposite longitudinal ends of theworm 32 a. - A
rotary shaft 35 is held by thegear case 34 a and thelid 34 b and extends through theworm wheel 32 b. And therotary shaft 35 is coupled to theworm wheel 32 b to be driven thereby to rotate. Furthermore, therotary shaft 35 is formed at its upper end with acoupling section 35 a with non-circular cross-section (rectangular one in the illustrated instance). - The
motor 31 is mounted on aholder member 34 c of thegear case 34 a and on aholder plate 13 a secured to the supportingbase 1 a, and is fixed to the supportingbase 1 a by means of thelid 34 b fitted over thegear case 34 a and aretainer plate 13 b coupled to theholder plate 13 a. - As shown in
FIG. 9 , thereciprocator 33 comprises acrank plate 36 coupled at its one end to thecoupling section 35 a of therotary shaft 35, and acrank rod 38 coupled to the crankplate 36 by means of acrank shaft 37. Thecrank shaft 37 has its one end fixed to the crankplate 36 and has the other end received in the bearing 38 a carried on one end of thecrank rod 38. That is, thecrank rod 38 has its one end rotatively coupled to the crankplate 36, while the other end of thecrank rod 38 is coupled to thetruck 41 by means of anaxle 38 b so as to be rotatively coupled thereto. - As is apparent from the above, the
crank rod 38 functions as a motion converter to translate the rotary motion of theworm wheel 32 b into a reciprocatory motion of thetruck 41. Thecrank rod 38 is provided for each of theworm wheels 32 b, and thetrucks 41 are provided to the left and rightfoot support platforms rods 38 function as the individual motion converters for translating the rotary motion of theworm wheels 32 b into the reciprocating motions of the left and rightfoot support platforms - As described in the above, the
truck 41 has its travel path restricted by thewheels 42 and therails 43. Therefore, thetrucks 41 reciprocate along longitudinal directions of therails 43, respectively as theworm wheels 32 b rotate. That is, the rotation of themotor 31 is transmitted to the crankplate 36 by way of theworm 32 a and theworm wheels 32 b, so that thecrank rod 38 coupled to the crankplate 36 makes thetrucks 41 reciprocate linearly along therails 43. As a result, the footrest frames 22 coupled to thetrucks 41 are driven to reciprocate along therails 43. In other wards, the left and right foot,support platforms rails 43, respectively. - In the present embodiment, the
worm 32 a and the twoworm wheels 32 b are responsible for routing the driving force into two channels respectively for driving the left and rightfoot support platforms drive unit 3 drives the left and rightfoot support platforms worm wheels 32 b are engaged with theworm 32 a at different portions spaced apart by 180°. Therefore, the rightfoot support platform 2 b comes to a forward end of its movable range when the leftfoot support platform 2 a comes to a rear end of its movable range. As the leftfoot support platform 2 a comes to the right end of its movable range when it comes to the rear end of the movable range, and the rightfoot support platform 2 b comes to the right, end of its movable range when it comes to the forward end of the movable range, the left and rightfoot support platforms - As apparent from the above, it is possible to give a desired phase difference of the movement, between the left and right
foot support platforms worm 32 a with theworm wheels 32 b. The phase difference of 180° is effective, to minimize, the shifting of a weighted center of the user (M) along the forward/rearward direction, enabling the exercise even by the user (M) suffering from lowered balancing capability. Alternatively, when no phase difference is given, the equipment necessitates the shifting movement of the weighted center along the forward/rearward direction, thereby developing an exercise not only for the leg muscles but also for lower back muscles of the user (M) maintaining the balancing capability. - As apparent from the above, the
drive unit 3 can drive the left and rightfoot support platforms foot support platforms rails 43 so as to move in directions different from forward/rearward directions of the feet, respectively. For example, the left and rightfoot support platforms - Now, the
footrest 21 provided on each of the left and rightfoot support platforms axle 24 relative to thefootrest frame 22, enabling to vary height positions of the forward end as well as the rearward end of thefootrest 21. That is, it's possible to vary height positions of the toe and the heel of the foot rested on thefootrest 21, and this enables the plantar flexion and dorsal flexion of an ankle joint. - Here, in order to link the swinging movement, of the
footrest 21 about theaxle 24 with the reciprocating movement thereof along therail 43, the supportingbase 1 a is provided at a portion along the travel path of thefootrest 21 with a guide rail 17 as aguide section 4, as shown inFIG. 1 . - As shown in
FIG. 1 , the guide rail 17 formed in thebase 10 restricts the travel path of each of the left and rightfoot support platforms foot support platforms foot support platform 2 go backward when thefoot support platform 2 moves along the travel path. - Caves 15 are formed within the
base 10 so as to extend along the travel path of each of the left and rightfoot support platforms foot support platform 2 a goes forward, the more its travel path slants leftward. Therewith, the more the rightfoot support platform 2 b goes forward, the more its travel path slants rightward. The grooves 16 are formed along such travel paths. - A
footrest 21 of each of the left and rightfoot support platforms front half 21F and aback half 21B. A length of thefront half 21F is almost twice as long as that of theback half 21B, with respect to a longitudinal direction of thefootrest 21. Ahinge 21C, connects a back end of thefront half 21F with a front end of theback half 21B. Thus, thefootrest 21 is configured to be bent at thehinge 21C which is arranged at about one third of a length offootrest 21 away from a back end of thefoot support platform 2. Thefront half 21F is a rest section on which a toe and a central part of the foot are rested, and theback half 21B is a rest section on which a heel is rested. At a lower surface of thefront half 21F, a front droopingsection 25 a is formed so as to project downward from a center of a forward section of the lower surface, and acentral drooping section 25 b is formed so as to project downward from a center of a backward section of the lower surface. A back droopingsection 25 c is formed so as to project downward from a center of a lower surface of theback half 21B. The drooping sections 25 (25 a˜c) are inserted into the grooves 16, respectively, and each of bottom ends of thesections 25 is arranged into the cave 15 of thebase 10. Each of said bottom ends is provided with acrossbar 26. In the cave 15, thecrossbar 26 has a length longer than a width of the groove 16 and its longitudinal direction is directed parallel to a width direction of the groove 16. The guide rail 17 is formed on the bottom surface of the cave 15 arranged along the travel path of thebase 10. That is, the guide rail 17 is composed of afront guide rail 17 a for guiding thecrossbar 26 of the front droopingsection 25 a, acentral guide rail 17 b for guiding thecrossbar 26 of the central droopingsection 25 b, and aback guide rail 17 c for guiding thecrossbar 26 of theback drooping section 25 c. - The guide rail 17 houses the
crossbars 26 within, and determines vertical positions of thecrossbars 26 according to front-back positions of thecrossbars 26, in the present embodiment, the guide rail 17 is roughly shaped like a box, and its inside is provided withtravel spaces 18 which allow thecrossbars 26 to move in a forward/backward direction, respectively.Grooves 19 are formed so as to pass through upper walls of thetravel spaces 18 and to extend along longitudinal directions (that is, travel directions) of thetravel spaces 18, respectively. A width of each of thegrooves 19 is shorter than a length of each of thecrossbars 26 and is a little longer than a width of each of the droopingsections 25. The droopingsections 25 are inserted into thetravel spaces 18 through thegrooves 19 and thecrossbars 26 are arranged within thetravel spaces 18, respectively, and thereby thecrossbars 26 can be prevented from falling out of thegrooves 19. Thefront guide rail 17 a extends diagonally downward front so that the more atravel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of acrossbar 26 is located downward. Thecentral guide rail 17 b extends diagonally upward front so that the more atravel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of acrossbar 26 is located upward. A front half of theback guide rail 17 c extends flatly, and a back half thereof extends diagonally downward hack so that the more atravel space 18 goes backward, the more a position of acrossbar 26 is located downward. - Herewith, an upper surface of the
front half 21F is almost flush with that of theback half 21B and their upper surfaces are almost horizontal, as shown inFIG. 1 , when each of the left and rightfoot support platforms - As shown in
FIG. 2 , when afootrest 21 moves forward (in the figure, rightward) relative, to said central position, afront half 21F slants diagonally downward front and aback half 21B slants diagonally downward back and a foot is plantarflexed. The length of thefront half 21F is longer than that of theback half 21B, and a toe maintains to be rested on thefront half 21F, and a heel is away from theback half 21B, and thereby muscles including a sole and a calf can be strengthened. - When the
footrest 21 moves backward relative to said central position, both of thefront half 21F and theback half 21B, not shown, slant diagonally downward back. Thefootrest 21 keeps a condition that an upper surface of thefront half 21F is almost flush with that of theback half 21B, and the foot is dorsiflexed, but an entire foot maintains to be rested on thefootrest 21. - As described above, the
footrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof can go backward. That is, thefootrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof relatively retreats from a remaining part thereof and thereby is made apart from a foot, while said remaining part supports the foot. Herewith, a body weight of the user (M) is focused in a part of the sole, and thus a particular muscle can be strengthened. In addition, thefootrest 21 comprises a plurality of members, and at least one of the plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the plurality of members. Therefore a part of thefootrest 21 can be relatively moved with respect to a remaining part of thefootrest 21 by a simple configuration. - Furthermore, the plurality of members of the
footrest 21 are separately arranged back and forth, and at least one of the members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s). Therefore if a front member of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user (M)'s body weight with a back side of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or if a hack member of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user MA body weight with a front side of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle, can be strengthened. For example, when the front member of thefootrest 21 is bent downward with respect to the back member, muscles including a sole and a calf can be strengthened. - Then, another embodiment is explained based on
FIG. 10 . If some members shown inFIG. 10 are the same as members explained in the above embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 9 , said some members are putted the same numerals on, respectively, and the explanation thereof is omitted. Members other than members explained in the above embodiment are explained. - A
footrest 21 of each of a left and rightfoot support platforms front half 21F and aback half 21B. In the present embodiment, a length of thefront half 21F is almost half as long as that of theback half 21B, with respect to a longitudinal direction of thefootrest 21. Ahinge 21C connects a back end of thefront half 21F with a front end of theback half 21B. Thus, thefootrest 21 is configured to be bent at thehinge 21C which is arranged at about one third of a length of thefootrest 21 away from a front end of thefoot support platform 2. Thefront half 21F is a rest section on which a toe is rested, and theback half 21B is a rest section on which a heel and a central part of the foot are rested. A front droopingsection 25 a is formed so as to project downward from a center of the lower surface of thefront half 21F. At a lower surface of theback half 21B, acentral drooping section 25 b is formed so as to project downward from a forward section of the lower surface, and a back droopingsection 25 c is formed so as to project downward from a backward section of the lower surface. A bottom surface of thebase 10 is provided with afront guide rail 17 a for guiding acrossbar 26 of the front droopingsection 25 a, acentral guide rail 17 b for guiding acrossbar 26 of the central droopingsection 25 b, and aback guide rail 17 c for guiding acrossbar 26 of theback drooping section 25 c. - The
front guide rail 17 a comprises a front half part and a back half part. The front and back half parts extend diagonally downward front, respectively, so that the more atravel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of acrossbar 26 is located downward. However, a slant of the front half part is larger than that of the back half part. Thecentral guide rail 17 b extends diagonally downward front so that the more atravel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of acrossbar 26 is located downward. Theback guide rail 17 c extends diagonally upward front so that the more atravel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of acrossbar 26 is located, upward. - Herewith, when the left and right
foot support platforms front half 21F is almost flush with that of theback half 21B and their upper surfaces are almost horizontal, as shown inFIG. 10 . - As shown in
FIG. 11 , when thefootrest 21 moves forward (in the figure, rightward) relative to said central position, thefront half 21F and theback half 21B slant diagonally downward front, respectively. However, a slant of thefront half 21F is larger than that of theback half 21B. A length of thefront half 21F is shorter than that of theback half 21B, with respect to a longitudinal direction of thefoot support platform 2. A heel maintains to be rested on theback half 21B and a toe is away from thefront half 21F. As a result, muscles of an anterior tibial and a toe can be strengthened. - When the
footrest 21 moves backward relative to said central position, if) thefront half 21F and theback half 21B, not shown, slant diagonally downward back. Thefootrest 21 keeps a condition that an upper surface of thefront half 21F is almost flush with that of theback half 21B, and the foot is dorsiflexed, but an entire foot maintains to be rested on thefootrest 21. - Herewith, a front member of the
footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to a back member thereof, and thereby the muscles of an anterior tibial and a toe can be strengthened. - Now, yet another embodiment is explained. If some members are the same as members explained in the above embodiment shown in
FIGS. 1 to 9 , said some members are putted the same numerals on, respectively, and the explanation thereof is omitted. Members other than members explained in the above embodiment, are explained mainly. - In the present embodiment, a
footrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof relatively retreats from a remaining part thereof and thereby is made apart from a foot while said remaining part supports the foot. For example, thefootrest 21 is composed of separate members relative to right and left, and these members are arranged adjacently each other. Thefootrest 21 is configured that at least one of a plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the members and thereby is made apart from a user (M)'s foot. Herewith, when an outside half of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user (M)'s body weight with an inside of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or when an inside half of thefootrest 21 is bent downward, the user (NI) supports the user (M)'s body weight with the outside of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. - In the present embodiment shown in
FIG. 12 , the outside half is bent downward with respect to the inside half. Afootrest 21 of each of the left and rightfoot support platforms side members hinge 21C connects a left, end of theright side member 21R and a right end of theleft side member 21L. Thus, thefootrest 21 is configured to be bent at thehinge 21C which is arranged at a central part with respect to a horizontal direction of thefoot support platform 2. As shown inFIG. 12 , the rightfoot support platform 2 b is configured that theright side member 21R of a fifth finger side is bent downward. Not shown, the leftfoot support platform 2 a is configured that theleft side member 21L of a fifth finger side is bent downward. - Herewith, the outside half of the
footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to the inside half and thereby inside muscles of the foot can be strengthened and bow-legs can be corrected. - Also, in the present embodiment shown in
FIG. 13 , the inside half is bent downward with respect to the outside half. As shown inFIG. 13 , the rightfoot support platform 2 b is configured that theleft side member 21L of a first toe side is bent downward. Not shown, the leftfoot support platform 2 a is configured that theright side member 21R of a first toe side is bent downward. - Herewith, an inside half of the
footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to an outside half and thereby outside muscles of the foot, can be strengthened and knock-knee can be corrected. -
FIGS. 14 to 16 show an auxiliary exercise equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown inFIGS. 15 and 16 , the equipment of the present embodiment comprises a base 10 located on a fixed position, such as a floor. A seat support 50 and a handle post (HP) are arranged on thebase 10. An upper end of the seat support 50 is provided with aseat 51 for supporting buttocks of a user (M). An upper of the handle post (HP) is provided with a handle (HD) which the user (M) in standing position grips with a had if needed. On thebase 10, afoot support platform 2, of which a top surface is a rest-surface 21A, is formed at a position between the seat support 50 and the handle post (HP). A sole of the user (M) is rested on the rest-surface 21A and thereby a foot position is regulated. - The seat support 50 is provided with a
seat driving unit 52 for swinging theseat 51, and a elevatormechanical part 53 for moving up and down theseat 51 and theseat driving unit 52 with respect to thebase 10. That is, the elevatormechanical part 53 moves up and down theseat 51 and theseat driving unit 52 with respect to thebase 10, and thereby a flexion angle “θ” of a knee of the user (M) can be adjusted when the buttocks is put on acontact surface 51 a of theseat 51 and the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21A. - The
seat driving unit 52 swings theseat 51 to move a position of the buttocks, for the user (M) of which the buttocks is put on thecontact surface 51 a and of which the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21A. Therefore, a weight acting on the leg of the user (M) by the user (M)'s body weight is changed. That is, when the equipment supports the user (M) while dispersing a weight acting on by the user (M)'s body weight into the buttocks and the legs, a weight supported by the buttocks is increased or decreased by moving the position of the buttocks. As a result, a weight acting on the legs by the user (M)'s body weight can be changed. - Here, when the knee is bent to a predetermined angle and a rate of the user (M)'s body weight supported by the
seat 51 decreases, a load acting on the user (M)'s femoral area increases as bending the knee like a squat exercise. Thus, it becomes possible to contract muscles of the femoral area. That is, when theseat driving unit 52 swings theseat 51, muscles of the femoral area alternates between excitation and relaxation through not so much a spontaneous exercise but a passive exercise. In other words, theseat driving unit 52 swings theseat 51 and thereby it becomes possible to exercise muscles of the femoral area mainly. - It is preferred to set a swing direction of the
seat 51 so as to prevent a shear force from acting on a knee joint. As shown inFIG. 16 , when the buttocks of the user (M) are supported by thecontact surface 51 a of theseat 51, the feet of the user (M) becomes a condition that a distance between toes is larger than a distance between heels and such condition is natural attitude. An opening angle “θ2” between the feet can be determined by positions of thefoot support platform 2 on which the feet are rested. Consequently theseat 51 is swung along a direction of a center line connecting a toe and a heel of each of the feet when the feet are rested on thefoot support platform 2, and thereby the user (M) can exercise passively without the shear force acting on the knee joint. That is, periods of moving diagonally frontward right and diagonally frontward left is set up when theseat 51 moves forward from it back end of a swing range, and thereby almost the user (M)'s body weight can act on the femoral area of each of the legs without the shear force acting on the knee joint. - In addition, the contact surface 51.a of the
seat 51 is almost a horizontal surface in an example shown inFIG. 15 . However, the user (M) performs passively an exercise, which induces contracting muscles of the femoral area by means of changing a weight acting on the legs by the user (M)'s body weight, and thus it's preferred that the contact surface in slants diagonally downward front along a swing direction of theseat 51. That is, it's preferred that in regard to a front end of theseat 51 a part supporting right buttocks of the user (M) slants downward and diagonally frontward right, and a part supporting left buttocks of the user (M) slants downward and diagonally frontward left. Theseat 51 having such a shape allows the weight acting on the leg to increase easily, and thereby high-efficient training can be achieved. - Then, a
foot support platform 2 of this embodiment is explained. As shown inFIGS. 14A and 14B , thefoot support platform 2 comprises a supportingbase 1 a which is fastened to abase 10 and thereby is arranged in place afootrest 21 which is provided with a rest-surface 21A slanting downward along a direction from a heel of the user (M) toward a toe of the user (M) (inFIG. 14 , leftward), and a supportingmechanical part 210 which is configured to support thefootrest 21 with respect to the supportingbase 1 a while biasing thefootrest 21 upward so that thefootrest 21 can reciprocate in the vertical direction. Thefootrest 21 is composed of two members, and the division between the members is near a center in a longitudinal direction of thefootrest 21. That is, thefootrest 21 is divided in afront half 21F located in a toe side and aback half 21B located in a heel side. A connection mechanism (not shown) connects thefront half 21F and theback half 21B so that they can move with respect to a vertical direction. - The supporting
mechanical part 210 comprises a firstmovable plate 211, a secondmovable plate 212, afirst spring 213 and asecond spring 214. The first and secondmovable plates movable plate 211 is supported pivotally by a projection part which projects downward from an end part of thefront half 21F, and a back end thereof is supported pivotally by a back end of the supportingbase 1 a. On the other hand, a front end of the secondmovable plate 212 is supported pivotally by a projection part which projects upward from an end part, of the supportingbase 1 a, and a back end thereof is supported pivotally by a back end of theback half 21B. The first and secondmovable plates pin 215 which is located at some distance forward from a center in a longitudinal direction. Thefirst spring 213 biases thefront half 21F upward with respect to the supportingbase 1 a, and thesecond spring 214 biases theback half 21B upward. However, a spring constant of thesecond spring 214 is smaller than that of thefirst spring 213. - Therefore, when the sole is rested on the rest-
surface 21A of thefootrest 21 and the weight acting on the leg increases and thefront half 21F, which contacts with the sole in a toe side, resists the stress of thefirst spring 213 to move downward (descent), the firstmovable plate 211 rotates in the counterclockwise direction around the back end supported pivotally by the supportingbase 1 a and thereby the secondmovable plate 212, which is connected the firstmovable plate 211 with thepin 215, rotates in the clockwise direction around the front end supported pivotally by the supporting; base 1 a. Here, a position, where the first and secondmovable plates movable plates back half 21B is larger than that of thefront half 21F. - In order to this configuration, the sole in a heel side is away from the
back half 21B of thefootrest 21 and the weight acts on only the sole in the toe side which contacts with thefront half 21F of thefootrest 21 when the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21A of thefootrest 21 and the weight acting on the leg increases. - And then, in the present embodiment, the supporting
mechanical part 210 allows theback half 21B to move downward relatively larger than thefront half 21F when the weight acting on the leg increases. Thus, a load can be applied to the toe side larger than the heel side, regardless of how the user (M) rides on theseat 51 or an individual difference of a physique. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent too much load from being applied to the knee joint, and to strengthen the muscles around the knee. -
FIGS. 17 and 18 show a control system and a foot support platform of an auxiliary exercise equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The present embodiment is characterized that the equipment comprises adetector 61 for detecting a muscle activity of the user (M)'s legs, and acontroller 62. Thecontroller 62 is configured to control a movement distance of the footrest 21 (theback half 21B) moved by the supportingmechanical part 210 according to a result of the muscle activity detected by thedetector 61. However, members other than these members are the same as the members of the above embodiment shown inFIGS. 14 to 16 . Thus, such members are putted the same numerals on, respectively, and the illustration and explanation thereof are omitted. - As shown in
FIG. 18 , the supportingmechanical part 210 of the present embodiment comprises afirst spring 213, which supports thefront half 21F of thefootrest 21 while biasing thefront half 21F upward so that thefront half 21F can move in the vertical direction, and anactuator 216, which supports theback half 21B of thefootrest 21 movably in the vertical direction. - The
detector 61 is composed of a known means like an electromyograph for detecting as active contractile activity of muscles electrically, a muscle hardness meter for detecting the active contractile activity of muscles dynamically, or a measurement equipment for detecting Oxygen consumption depending on a muscle contraction by using near-infrared spectroscopy. Thedetector 61 is configured to convert, a detection value of the muscle activity into an electrical signal (a detection signal) and to output the electrical signal into thecontroller 62. In addition, it's preferred that the muscle activity detected by thedetector 61 is at least activity of either hamstrings as biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle), or triceps surae muscles gastrocnemius muscle and a soleus muscle). - The
controller 62 is an electrical circuit constructed mainly from a microcomputer, and controls theactuator 216 according to the detection signal (a detection value of the muscle activity) received from thedetector 61, and controls the movement distance of theback half 21B. - As explained in the above background art, its important for an auxiliary exercise equipment to contract the hamstrings (the biceps femoris muscle, the semimembranosus muscle and the semitendinosus muscle) and a crural muscle at the same time, and to reduce a shear force acting on the knee joint, in order to give an effect of exercise for a quadriceps femoris muscle while reducing a load of the knee joint. The load is applied to the toe side larger than the heel side while the foot joint is plantarflexed, and thereby the triceps surae muscles (the gastronemius muscle and the soleus muscle) can be contracted and at the same time the hamstrings being coordination muscles can also be contracted, and thus muscles around the knee can be contracted simultaneously. As a result, if the muscle activity of the hamstrings or the triceps surae muscles is detected by the
detector 61 and thecontroller 62 controls theactuator 216 so that the detection value is larger within a predetermined appropriate range and theback half 21B of thefootrest 21 is moved downward, muscles around the knee can be strengthened safely and efficiently. In addition, when thedetector 61 detects both the muscle activity of a quadriceps femoris muscle and the muscle activity of the hamstrings or the triceps surae muscles and the latter muscle activity is less than the former muscle activity, thecontroller 62 may be configured to increase a downward movement distance of theback half 21B to balance the latter muscle activity with the former muscle activity. - Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention, namely claims.
Claims (19)
1. An auxiliary exercise equipment, comprising a footrest for supporting a foot of a user,
wherein the footrest is configured so that a part of the footrest relatively retreats from a remaining pan of the footrest and thereby is made apart from the foot while the remaining pan of the footrest supports the foot.
2. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the footrest comprises a plurality of members,
wherein the footrest is configured so that at least one of the plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the plurality of members and thereby is made apart from the user's foot.
3. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are separately arranged back and forth.
4. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are a front half and a back half,
wherein the footrest is configured so that the front half is bent downward with respect to the back half.
5. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are a front half and a back half,
wherein the footrest is configured so that the back half is bent downward with respect to the front half.
6. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are separately arranged to right and left.
7. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are an inside half and an outside half,
wherein the footrest is configured so that the inside half is bent downward with respect to the outside half.
8. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are an inside half and an outside half,
wherein the footrest is configured so that the outside half is bent downward with respect to the inside half.
9. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed claim 1 , wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing position.
10. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:
a foot support platform for supporting the footrest;
a seat for supporting buttocks of the user while a sole of the user is rested on a rest surface of the footrest; and
a seat driving unit being configured to displace the seat by using a driving source so as to change a weight acting, on a use's leg by the user's body weight;
wherein the foot support platform comprises a supporting base located in a fixed position, and a supporting mechanical part configured to support the footrest with respect to the supporting base while biasing the footrest upward so that the footrest can reciprocate in the vertical direction,
wherein the rest-surface of the footrest is formed so as to slant downward along the direction from a heel of the user toward a toe of the user,
wherein the supporting mechanical part is configured to relatively move a part of the back of the footrest larger than a part of the front of the footrest when the weight acting on the user's leg by the user's body weight increases.
11. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 10 , further comprising:
a detector for detecting a muscle activity of the user's leg and
a controller being configured to control a movement distance of the footrest moved by the supporting mechanical part according to a result of the muscle activity detected by the detector.
12. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 11 , wherein the detector is configured to detect a muscle activity of either hamstrings or triceps surae muscles of the user, the hamstrings including a biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle, the triceps surae muscles including a gastrocnemius muscle and a soleus muscle.
13. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing position.
14. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing, position.
15. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing position.
16. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing position.
17. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing position.
18. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing position.
19. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 8 , wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing position.
Applications Claiming Priority (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2007333251A JP5179164B2 (en) | 2007-12-25 | 2007-12-25 | Exercise assistance device |
JP2007333251 | 2007-12-25 | ||
JP2007341325 | 2007-12-28 | ||
JP2007341325A JP2009160170A (en) | 2007-12-28 | 2007-12-28 | Exercise assisting device |
PCT/JP2008/073423 WO2009081935A1 (en) | 2007-12-25 | 2008-12-24 | Exercise aid |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20100279835A1 true US20100279835A1 (en) | 2010-11-04 |
Family
ID=40801235
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/810,138 Abandoned US20100279835A1 (en) | 2007-12-25 | 2008-12-24 | Auxiliary exercise equipment |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20100279835A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2233177A4 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20100105728A (en) |
CN (1) | CN101939063A (en) |
TW (1) | TW200930432A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2009081935A1 (en) |
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US20100216369A1 (en) * | 2006-08-24 | 2010-08-26 | Yasushi Ochi | Playing device |
US20100248922A1 (en) * | 2007-10-31 | 2010-09-30 | Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. | Exercise assisting apparatus |
US20100248921A1 (en) * | 2007-10-26 | 2010-09-30 | Panasonic Electric Works Co., Ltd. | Exercise assisting apparatus |
DE202012006963U1 (en) * | 2012-07-18 | 2012-12-10 | Karlheinz Schneider | Device for foot muscle training |
US20170043211A1 (en) * | 2012-08-27 | 2017-02-16 | Prism Alliance Group Inc. | Device and method for strengthening and rehabilitating the ankle joint |
WO2018106883A1 (en) * | 2016-12-09 | 2018-06-14 | Proven Fitness Solutions, Llc | Exercise assist device |
USD846666S1 (en) | 2017-04-28 | 2019-04-23 | Proven Fitness Solutions, Llc | Exercise assist platform |
US10772783B2 (en) * | 2018-01-22 | 2020-09-15 | Adrian Dunca | Ankle rehabilitation device |
US11723556B1 (en) * | 2022-07-21 | 2023-08-15 | University Of Houston System | Instructional technologies for positioning a lower limb during muscular activity and detecting and tracking performance of a muscular activity |
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CH703438A1 (en) * | 2010-07-01 | 2012-01-13 | Roland Treier | Device for motor coordination. |
WO2014201584A1 (en) * | 2013-06-19 | 2014-12-24 | 翔天电子实业有限公司 | Fitness device having stepping and hip-lifting functions |
CN106473900A (en) * | 2016-12-04 | 2017-03-08 | 郑州东辰科技有限公司 | A kind of acra device for rehabilitation |
CN113144531B (en) * | 2021-05-11 | 2022-02-08 | 温州医科大学附属第二医院(温州医科大学附属育英儿童医院) | Foot joint wound rehabilitation training device |
CN114813198B (en) * | 2022-06-27 | 2022-11-08 | 橙象医疗科技(广州)有限公司 | Foot pressure and turnover angle detection device and detection method |
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- 2008-12-24 US US12/810,138 patent/US20100279835A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2008-12-24 WO PCT/JP2008/073423 patent/WO2009081935A1/en active Application Filing
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US10772783B2 (en) * | 2018-01-22 | 2020-09-15 | Adrian Dunca | Ankle rehabilitation device |
US11723556B1 (en) * | 2022-07-21 | 2023-08-15 | University Of Houston System | Instructional technologies for positioning a lower limb during muscular activity and detecting and tracking performance of a muscular activity |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN101939063A (en) | 2011-01-05 |
EP2233177A1 (en) | 2010-09-29 |
WO2009081935A1 (en) | 2009-07-02 |
KR20100105728A (en) | 2010-09-29 |
EP2233177A4 (en) | 2012-02-08 |
TW200930432A (en) | 2009-07-16 |
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AS | Assignment |
Owner name: PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO., LTD., JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:OZAWA, TAKAHISA;SHINOMIYA, YOUICHI;OCHI, KAZUHIRO;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:024577/0160 Effective date: 20100603 |
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Owner name: PANASONIC CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNOR:PANASONIC ELECTRIC WORKS CO.,LTD.,;REEL/FRAME:027697/0525 Effective date: 20120101 |
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