WO2002083054A1

WO2002083054A1 - Healthful entertainment and exercise instrument with digital-compression like function

Info

Publication number: WO2002083054A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001783
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dae-Sik You
Original assignee: Dae-Sik You
Priority date: 2001-04-13
Filing date: 2001-10-23
Publication date: 2002-10-24
Also published as: CN1381288A

Abstract

Disclosed is an entertainment and exercise instrument capable of providing a user with a massage effect such as a digital-compression like function to the user's abdominal muscles and waist muscles and of giving the pleasure of exercising to the user, which allows waist exercise by placing it at the user's midsection and swiveling the body. In the entertainment and exercise instrument, a ring-shaped rotating plate is disposed between a ring-shaped upper plate and a ring-shaped lower plate. A digital-compression assembly is installed to the radial inner surface of the upper plate and may be pivoted up to 90 degrees with respect to the upper plate. A plurality of pressing pads are attached to the radial inner surface of the upper plate and are generally opposite to the digital-compression assembly. An entertainment ball is connected to the one side of the rotating plate through a string. The entertainment ball can emit a light during the use of entertainment and exercise instrument, so that the user may take an interest in exercise upon using the entertainment and exercise instrument.

Description

HEALTHFUL ENTERTAINMENT AND EXERCISE INSTRUMENT WITH

DIGITAL-COMPRESSION LIKE FUNCTION

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an entertainment and exercise instrument, and more

particularly to a healthful entertainment and exercise instrument capable of providing a user

with a massage effect such as a digital-compression like function to the user's abdominal

muscles and waist muscles and of giving the pleasure of exercising to the user, which allows

waist exercise by placing it at the user's midsection and swiveling the body.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, a digital-compression is a medical treatment for correcting a variation of

living body, promoting health and for treating a disease by suppressing a predetermined

region of body surface with the thumb or the palm of the hand.

A variety of endeavors for applying the digital-compression effect to a human body

have been proposed. One approach, an air cushion with a finger-pressure therapy like effect,

has been proposed on U.S. Patent No. 5,911,656 issued to Taneaki Futagami on June 15,

1999. Since this air cushion is mainly used for the back of the body, it is used, which is practically limited by the application, to the abdominal region of the body. Accordingly, if

the air cushion is used for the back of the body, it must be disposed on a chair before the use.

Next, U.S. Patent No. 6,074,410 issued to Chi-Kyung Kim on June 13, 2000 discloses

a finger-pressure functioning health-aid instrument for improving blood circulation in the

human body. However, this instrument is used which is practically limited by the application

of finger-pressure functioning to a single point. Since this instrument uses infrared rays and

anions in order to improve blood circulation, it is difficult to promote health through

exercise.

Meanwhile, U.S. Patent No. 6,217,482 of this applicant, which was issued on April

17, 2001, discloses an entertainment and exercise device which allows waist and neck

exercise by placing it at a person's midsection or head and swiveling the body. This applicant

designs to develop an entertainment and exercise instrument, which is capable of providing

a user with a massage effect such as a digital-compression like function and of giving the

pleasure of exercising to the user, on the basis of this disclosure.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention solves the foregoing problems. It is an object of the present

invention to provide a healthful entertainment and exercise instrument capable of providing

a user with a massage effect such as a digital-compression like function to the user's abdominal muscles and waist muscles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a healthful entertainment and

exercise instrument capable of giving the pleasure of exercising to the user, which allows

waist exercise by placing it at the user's midsection and swiveling the body.

In order to achieve these objects, the present invention provides a healthful

entertainment and exercise instrument comprising:

a ring-shaped upper plate having a digital-compression assembly which is installed

at a radial inner surface of the upper plate and protrudes radial inwards therefrom;

a ring-shaped lower plate being assembled to become a one body with the upper plate;

and

a ring-shaped rotating plate being rotatably installed between the upper plate and the

lower plate, the rotating plate being assembled to become a one body with the upper plate

and the lower plate.

A plurality of pressing pads are attached to a radial inner side surface of the upper

plate. A plurality of first pressing protrusions project radial inwards from the surface of

pressing pad, respectively.

The digital-compression assembly is installed to the radial inner surface of the upper

plate and is generally opposite to the pressing pads. The digital-compression assembly can

be pivoted up to 90 degrees with respect to the upper plate.

An entertainment ball is connected to the one side of the rotating plate through a string.

As described above, in the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument according

to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating plate is disposed between

the upper plate and the lower plate, and the digital-compression assembly for stimulating the

user's abdominal and waist muscles is installed at the inner side of the upper plate. Further,

pressing pads to stimulate back muscles of the user are attached to the radial inner side

surface of the upper plate. In addition, the entertainment ball capable of emitting a light is

connected to the one side of the rotating plate through a string. With this structure, the

entertainment and exercise instrument can provide a user with a massage effect such as a

digital-compression like function to the user's abdominal and waist muscles. Further, it can

give the pleasure of exercising to the user, which allows waist exercise by placing it at the

user's midsection and swiveling the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The above objects and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention

will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with

reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a healthful entertainment and exercise

instrument with digital-compression like function according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument with

digital-compression like function according to the preferred embodiment of the present

invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 A is an exploded view of a digital-compression assembly as shown in FIGS.

1 and 2;

FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view for showing an assembled state of digital-

compression assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an entertainment ball capable of emitting

a light;

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a printed circuit board of the entertainment ball

as shown in FIG.6;

FIGS. 8 A and 8B show an operating state of the entertainment ball as shown in FIG.

6;

FIGS. 9 A to 9C are perspective views showing the operating states of the healthful

entertainment and exercise instrument with digital-compression like function according to

the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9D is a perspective view showing the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument with digital-compression like function placed at a user's waist.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, a healthful entertainment and exercise instrument with digital-

compression like function according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will

be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument

according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a ring-

shaped upper plate 100, a ring-shaped lower plate 300, and a ring-shaped rotating plate 200

which is disposed there between and is assembled to become a one body with them.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a first guide groove 101 is formed on a bottom inner surface

of the upper plate 100 for allowing the rotating plate 200 to be rotated up to 360 degrees. As

shown in FIG. 1, pluralities of first screw holes 103 are formed through the upper plate 100

at a radial inner position in front of the first guide groove 101. A plurality of pressing pads

110 are attached to a radial inner side surface of the upper plate 100. A plurality of first

pressing protrusions 112 project radially inwards from the surface of pressing pad 110,

respectively. A digital-compression assembly 120 is installed to the radial inner surface of

the upper plate 100 and is generally opposite to the pressing pads 110. A pair of protrusions

102a,102b project from the radial inner surface of the upper plate 100 in order to mount the digital-compression assembly 120.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, fixing members 121a,121b of the digital-compression

assembly 120 are fitted into the protrusions 102a,102b. The fixing members 121a,121b are

provided with main bodies 123a,123b and fitting protrusions 125a,125b which protrude from

one sides of the main bodies 123a,123b. Arch-shaped fitting grooves 126a,126b are formed

at the center of the main bodies 123a, 123b. Pin insertion holes 127 are formed through the

main bodies 123a,123b at positions adjacent to both sides of fitting grooves 126a,126b.

The fixing members 12 la, 12 lb are fixed in the protrusions 102a, 102b by inserting

the fitting protrusions 125a, 125b into fixing grooves(not shown) which are formed in the

protrusions 102a,102b of the upper plate 100. Joining fixtures 128 are fitted into the fitting

grooves 126a,126b of the fixing members 121a,121b. The joining fixtures 128 are provided

with smooth joining portions 122a,122b to be located within the fitting grooves 126a,126b

and first male thread portions 124 formed at radial outer sides of one ends of the joining

portions 122a, 122b. Joining fixtures 128 are assembled to become a one body with each

other by means of a joining pin 105 passing through pin insertion holes 127 and the lower

portion of joining portions 122a, 122b in a state that the joining portions 122a, 122b are fitted

into the fitting grooves 126a,126b of the fitting members 121a,121b. At this time, the joining

fixtures 128 can be pivoted around the joining pin 105 up to 90 degrees within the fitting

grooves 126a,126b.

Meanwhile, the digital-compression assembly 120 is provided with a pair of outer sleeves 130a, 13 Ob which are integrally from with each other, a pair of inner sleeves

140a, 140b which are fitted into the outer sleeves 130a, 130b and can slide longitudinally

within the outer sleeves 130a, 130b, and operating rods 150a, 150b which are fitted into the

inner sleeves 140a, 140b and can slide longitudinally within the inner sleeves 140a, 140b.

First bores 131 a, 131 b for allowing the inner sleeves 140a, 140b to longitudinally slide

within the outer sleeves 130a, 130b are longitudinally formed through the center of the outer

sleeves 130a,130b. At this time, the first bores 131a,131b are tapered from one end to the

other end thereof, respectively. An arch-shaped reinforcing rib 132 extends between the outer

sleeves 130a,130b. The reinforcing rib 132 prevents the digital-compression assembly 120

from being distorted during the use of entertainment and exercise instrument 10. Handle

portions 134a, 134b are formed at predetermined positions in front of the reinforcing rib 132

on the surface of the outer sleeves 130a, 130b. A plurality of second pressing protrusions 135

are formed to protrude from the surface of the handle portions 134a, 134b.

The inner sleeves 140a, 140b located in the first bores 131a,131b of the outer sleeves

130a,130b are assembled with the joining fixtures 128 through the fixing end portions

148a,148b. For this purpose, a female thread portion 142 corresponding to the first male

thread portion 124 of the joining fixtures 128 is formed at an inner side surface of the fixing

end portions 148a,148b of the inner sleeves 140a,140b. First locking stages 144a,144b

protrude from outer side of one end of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b wherein the female thread

portion 142 is formed. When the inner sleeves 140a, 140b longitudinally slide within the first bores 131a,131b formed at the center of outer sleeves 130a,130b, the first locking stages

144a, 144b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b and outer surfaces of the fixing end portions

148a, 148b are contacted with a part of the radial inner side surface of the outer sleeves

130a, 130b due to the tapered shape of the first bore 131 a, 131b. As a result, the movement

of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b is restricted.

Second bores 149a,149b for allowing the operating rods 150a,150b to longitudinally

slide within the inner sleeves 140a, 140b are longitudinally formed through the center of inner

sleeves 140a, 140b. Shoulders 146a, 146b are formed to radially inwardly protrude from the

radial inner surface of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b at the other end of the inner sleeves

140a, 140b. Second locking stages 154a, 154b are formed at radial outer surfaces of one end

of the operating rods 150a, 150b, respectively. When the operating rods 150a, 150b

longitudinally slide within the second bores 149a,149b, the second locking stages 154a,154b

of the operating rods 150a,150b are locked at the shoulders 146a,146b of the inner sleeves

140a, 140b and thereby the moving range of the operating rods 150a, 150b is restricted.

In the meantime, the third bores 155a, 155b are longitudinally formed through the

interior of the operating rods 150a,150b. A coiled spring 141 and a supporting rod 143 are

disposed in the second bores 149a, 149b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b and the third bores

155a,155b of the operating rods 150a,150b.

As best seen in FIG. 5 A, a second male thread portion 145 is formed at a radial outer

side of one end of the supporting rod 143. A locking nut 147 is engaged with the second male thread portion 145. The locking nut 147 can be longitudinally moved along the second male

thread portion 145. When the coiled spring 141 and the supporting rod 143 are disposed in

the second bores 149a,149b and the third bores 155a,155b, the coiled spring 141 is fitted onto

the other end of supporting rod 143, and thereafter one end of the coiled spring 141 is

supported by the locking nut 147. If the fixing end portions 148a,148b of the inner sleeves

140a, 140b are engaged with the joining fixture 128 of the digital-compression assembly 120,

then the one end of supporting rod 143 is supported by the inner surface of fitting grooves

126a,126b of the digital-compression assembly 120.

Meanwhile, a shaft 152 is disposed between the exposed ends of the operating rods

150a, 150b perpendicularly to the operating rods 150a, 150b. For this purpose, both ends of

the shaft 152 are fitted into shaft insertion holes 151, which are formed through the exposed

ends of the operating rods 150a, 150b. If the both ends of the shaft 152 are exposed to an

outside after passing through the shaft insertion holes 151, then fixing nuts 153 are fitted onto

the both ends of the shaft 152. Within the third bores 155a,155b of the operating rods

150a,150b, free end of the coiled spring 141 is supported by a radial outer surface of the shaft

152 which is disposed between the exposed ends of the operating rods 150a, 150b with

perpendicularly to the coiled spring 141.

A plurality of pressing balls 156 and a plurality of buffer balls 158 are disposed at the

middle portion of the shaft 152. The buffer balls 158 have a function for preventing the

pressing balls 156 from being contacted with the operating rods 150a, 150b or for preventing the pressing balls 156 from being contacted with each other. Thereby, the pressing balls 156

may not be damaged. Preferably, the buffer balls 158 are disposed at positions close to the

operating rods 150a, 150b on the shaft 152.

The pressing balls 156 and the buffer balls 158 are alternately disposed on the shaft

152. Preferably, the pressing balls 156 are made of ceramic materials, and more preferably

it is made of a natural jade. Preferably, the buffer balls 158 are made of rubber. The radius

of the pressing balls 156 supported on the shaft 152 is greater than the distance between the

centerline of the shaft 156 and the apex of the operating rods 150a, 150b. Accordingly, the

pressing balls 156 are exposed to head of the exposed end of the operating rods 150a, 150b

at a predetermined distance(L)(referred to FIG. 5B).

Referring now to FIG. 1, the rotating plate 200 may be rotated by the response to a

rotating force generated due to the rotating motion of a user's body. For this purpose, the

rotating plate 200 is rotatably disposed between the upper plate 100 and the lower plate 300.

The rotating plate 200 has a shape corresponding to shapes of the lower surface of upper

plate 100 and the upper surface of the lower plate 300.

In detail, a second guide groove 201 is formed on the upper surface of the rotating

plate 200. At this time, the second guide groove 201 corresponds to the first guide groove

101 formed on the lower surface of the upper plate 100. Likewise, the third guide groove 203

is formed on the lower surface of the rotating plate 200(referred to FIG. 3). The third guide

groove 203 corresponds to a fourth guide groove 301 formed on the upper surface of the lower plate 300 on the preferred embodiment, as also explained in more detail late herein.

When the upper plate 100, the rotating plate 200 and the lower plate 300 are

assembled together, a plurality of ball bearings 202 and a plurality of flexible bearing

members 204 having a rod shape are alternately disposed between the first guide groove 101

and the second guide groove 201, and also alternately disposed between the third guide

groove 203 and the fourth guide groove 301. The ball bearings 202 and the bearing members

204 have a function of smoothly rotating the rotating plate 200. Preferably, the ball bearings

202 are made of a metal, whereas the bearing members 204 are made of a flexible plastic.

When a user makes the rotating plate 200 to be rotated by swiveling of the user's body, the

ball bearings 202 and the bearing members 204 allow the rotating plate 200 to be smoothly

rotated between the upper plate 100 and the lower plate 300.

A first connecting loop 205 is formed on a radial one side of the rotating plate 200.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a first string insertion hole 206 is formed through the center of first

connecting loop 205. One end of the string 208 is inserted into the first string insertion hole

206. An entertainment ball 210 is attached to the other end of the string 208.

FIGS. 6 to 8B show the entertainment ball 210 according to the preferred embodiment

of the present invention.

At first, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the entertainment ball 210 is provided with a

hemisphere shape of hollow upper case 211 and a lower case 212. Preferably, the upper case

211 is made of a flexible rubber or a synthetic resin. Lower case 212 is provided with a case body 212a and a protective cap 212b.

Preferably, the lower case 212 is made of a hardened plastic whereas the protective cap 212b

is made of a flexible rubber or a synthetic resin. An upper portion of the protective cap 212b

is expanded at a predetermined shape such as a morning glory shape in order to enclose the

case body 212a. As the upper case 211 is assembled with the lower case 212, the lower end

of the upper case 211 encloses an upper outer side of the case body 212a of the lower case

212, and also the upper portion of the protective cap 212b encloses the joining part between

the upper case 211 and the lower case 212.

A plate-shaped bottom cap 217 is detachably mounted to an outer bottom of the case

body 212a. The bottom cap 217 is assembled to the lower end of the case body 212a by

means of a first joining screw 209b which passes through a first joining hole 209a formed

through the bottom cap 217, and thereafter it is inserted into the lower end of the case body

212a. A second connecting loop 218 is formed at the lower portion of the bottom cap 217.

A second string insertion hole 219 is formed through the center of the second connecting

loop 218. One end of the string 208 is fitted into the second string insertion hole 219.

As best seen in FIGS. 8 A and 8B, dry cells(B), an operation piece 220 responsive to

an acceleration and a printed circuit board 230, are disposed in the case body 212a of the

lower case 212. A pair of vertical grooves 215a,215b for receiving the dry cells(B) are

formed at the center portion of the lower case 212. At this time, a lower terminal 214 is

disposed at the bottom of the vertical grooves 215a,215b. A third joining hole 207 is formed at a radial outer side of the vertical grooves

215a,215b, and a depressed groove 216 is formed at the outer side of the third joining hole

207. A ring-shaped operating piece 220 is disposed in the depressed groove 216. As the

entertainment ball 210 connected to the one side of the rotating plate 200 through the string

208 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the rotating plate 200, the entertainment ball

210 moves upwards and downwards within the depressed groove 216 with response to the

centrifugal force. The printed circuit board 230 is mounted to the upper portion, and thereby

it is located above the vertical grooves 215a,215b and the depressed groove 216.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of light emitting diodes 232a,232b(hereinafter,

expressed simply as "LED") are attached to the upper surface of the printed circuit board

230. Also, a circuit pattern 231 is printed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board

230. A pair of contacting terminals 236a,236b are disposed at the radial outer side of the

printed circuit board 230. The lower portions of the contacting terminals 236a,236b protrude

downwards from the bottom surface of the printed circuit board 230. A third joining hole

233 is formed at a radial inner side surface of the contacting terminals 236a,236b. The

printed circuit board 230 is mounted to the upper portion of the lower case 212 by means of

a second joining screw 234 which passes through the third joining hole 233, and thereafter

it is inserted into the third joining hole 207 of the case body 212a.

A pair of coiled springs 238a,238b are mounted to the lower surface of the printed

circuit board 230. The coiled spring 238a is contacted with an anode of the dry cells(B) disposed in the vertical grooves 215a. Whereas the coiled spring 238b is contacted with a

cathode of the dry cells(B) disposed in the vertical grooves 215b. On the lower surface of

the printed circuit board 230, a pair of spring terminals 235 are disposed at the radial outer

side of the coiled springs 238a,238b by being radially opposite each other.

Spring terminals 235 downwardly protrude from the lower surface of the printed

circuit board 230 at a predetermined length. At this time, the length of the spring terminals

235 is greater than that of the contact terminals 236a,236b. When the printed circuit board

230 is mounted to an upper inner side of the case body 212a, the spring terminals 235 and

the contact terminals 236a,236b are positioned in the depressed groove 216 of the case body

212a. During the rotation of the entertainment ball 210 in accordance with the rotation of

the rotating plate 200, the operating pieces 220 are moved within the depressed portion 216

and overcome the elastic force of the spring terminal 235, and thereby they may be contacted

with the contacting terminals 236a,236b. Consequently, LED 232a,232b begin to illuminate

a light. As the rotating plate 200 stops rotating, the entertainment ball 210 also stops rotating.

Thereby, the operating piece 220 cannot overcome the elastic force of the spring terminal

235 and is not contacted with the contacting terminals 232a,232b. Consequently, the LED

232a,232b may not illuminate the light(referred to FIG. 8A).

Referring now to FIG. 1, the lower plate 300 has a predetermined shape and a

predetermined structure which correspond to the shapes and the structures of the upper plate

100 and the rotating plate 200. A plurality of second screw holes 303 are formed through the outer periphery of the lower plate 300. The fourth guide groove 301 is formed on the upper

surface of the lower plate 300. The upper plate 100, the rotating plate 200 and the lower plate

300 are integrally assembled together by means of a third joining screw 107 passing through

the first screw holes 103 of the upper plate 100 and the second screw holes 303 of the lower

plate 300 under the state that the ball bearings 202 and the bearing members 204 are disposed

in the second and the third guide grooves 201,203 which are formed on the upper surface

and the lower surface of the rotating plate 200.

Hereinafter, the operation of the entertainment and exercise instrument 10 according

to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as above will be described in detail with

reference drawings FIGS.9A to 9E.

At first, when a user wants to stimulate the user's abdominal muscles and waist

muscles by using the entertainment and exercise instrument 10, as shown in FIG. 9A, he or

she makes the outer sleeves 130a, 130b to be moved toward the protrusions 102 a, 102b of the

upper plate 100 by grasping the handle portions 134a, 134b of the digital-compression

assembly 120 by the hands. From this state, the user also makes the operating rods 150a, 150b

to be moved toward the protrusions 102a,102b by grasping the pressing balls 156 disposed

on the shaft 152 of the digital-compression assembly 120 or the operating rods 150a,150b.

Thereafter, the users make the operating rods 150a, 150b to be moved backwardly along the

arrow direction within the second bores 149a,149b of the inner sleeves 140a,140b.

After complete withdrawl of the operating rods 150a, 150b, the user makes the digital- compression assembly 120 to be moved upwardly at a right angle. At this time, as the joining

fixture 128 engaged with the fixing end portion 148a, 148b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b

pivots at an angle of 90 degrees around the joining pin 105 within the fitting grooves

126a,126b of the fixing members 121a,121b, the digital-compression assembly 120 stands

erect, as shown in FIG. 9B. From this state, the operating rods 150a, 150b return to their

initial positions by receiving an elastic force of the coiled spring 141.

When the digital-compression assembly 120 stands erect, the user inserts the user's

body into a space provided within the upper plate 100. And then the user makes the digital-

compression assembly 120 to be moved downwards by grasping the handle portions

134a, 134b, as shown in FIG. 9C. At this time, the pressing ball 156 is contacted with the

user's abdominal region, and the shaft 152 supporting the pressing ball 156 is transformed

along some rounded surfaces of the user's body. Also, the operating rods 150a, 150b

overcome the elastic force of the coiled spring 141 disposed in the operating rods 150a,150b,

and thereafter they go back toward the handle portions 134a, 134b within the second bores

149a,149b of the inner sleeves 140a,140b.

From this state, the user makes the handle portions 134a, 134b to be moved

downwards so as to be level with the upper plate 100. Then, the operating rods 150a, 150b

are disposed at a position within the second bore 149a, 149b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b,

which coincides with a body condition of the user.

If the digital-compression assembly 120 returns to its initial position after rotating downwards up to 90 degrees, the user makes the outer sleeves 130a, 130b and the operating

rods 150a, 150b to be closely contacted with the user's body, so that the inner sleeves

140a, 140b and the operating rods 150a, 150b cannot be moved. At this time, the pressing ball

156 stimulates the user's abdomen and intestines due to the elastic force of the coiled spring

141 and the push force applied by the user. From this state, if the user makes the digital-

compression assembly 120 to be moved upwards and downwards by grasping the handle

portions 134a,134b of the digital-compression assembly 120, the pressing balls 156 move

upwards and downwards and rotate around the shaft 152 so as to stimulate the user's

abdomen and intestines. If the user's body is inserted into the space of the upper plate 100,

back muscles of the user are stimulated by means of pressing pad 110 which is positioned

opposite to the digital-compression assembly 120. Accordingly, a massage effect such as a

digital-compression like function is provided to the body part of the user with which the

pressing pad 110 is contacted.

As shown in FIG.9D, if the user swivels his body by wearing the entertainment and

exercise instrument 10 on his body, the rotating plate 200 and the entertainment ball 210

connected to the rotating plate 200 through the string 208 rotate, so that the entertainment

ball 210 emits a light. Accordingly, the user may take an interest in exercise upon using the

entertainment and exercise instrument 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the

present invention.

If the user wants to stimulate muscles of the other part of the user's body after performing the digital-compression to the user's abdomen and intestines, he may use the

entertainment and exercise instrument 10 in accordance with the operating process as

illustrated referred to FIGS. 9A and 9D.

to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating plate 200 is disposed

between the upper plate 100 and the lower plate 300, and the digital-compression assembly

120 is installed at the inner side of the upper plate 100. From this structure, the entertainment

and exercise instrument can provide a user with a massage effect such as a digital-

compression like function to the user's abdominal and waist muscles. Further, it can give

the pleasure of exercising to the user, which allows waist exercise by placing it at the user's

midsection and swiveling the body. In addition, the pressing pad 110 disposed at the radial

inner side surface of the upper plate 100 stimulates the spots on the body suitable for

acupuncture. Furthermore, as the entertainment ball 210 emits a light during the rotation of

the rotating plate 200 in accordance with the swiveling of the user's body, the user takes an

interest in exercise upon using the entertainment and exercise instrument.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference

to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that

various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit

and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A healthful entertainment and exercise instrument comprising:

at a radial inner surface of said upper plate and protrudes radial inwards therefrom;

a ring-shaped lower plate being assembled to become a one body with said upper

plate; and

a ring-shaped rotating plate being rotatably installed between said upper plate and said

lower plate, said rotating plate being assembled to become a one body with said upper plate

and said lower plate.

2. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 1, wherein a

first guide groove is formed on a bottom inner periphery surface of said upper plate, a

plurality of first screw holes are formed through said upper plate at positions located in the

circumferential direction in front of the first guide groove, and at least two pressing pads are

attached to a radial inner side of said upper plate.

3. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 2, wherein a

plurality of first pressing protrusions are formed to protrude radial inwards from the surface

of the pressing pads, the digital-compression assembly is mounted to a pair of protrusions, the protrusions being formed to protrude radial inwards from the radial inner side of said

upper plate at positions opposite to the pressing pads, the digital-compression assembly is

provided with a pair of outer sleeves which are integrally formed to become a one body with

each other, a pair of inner sleeves which are fitted into the outer sleeves and can slide

longitudinally within the outer sleeves, a pair of operating rods which are fitted into the inner

sleeves and can slide longitudinally within the inner sleeves, and a pair of fixtures which are

fixed in fixing grooves formed in the protrusions.

4. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 3, wherein first

bores for allowing the inner sleeves to longitudinally slide within the outer sleeves are

longitudinally formed through the center of the outer sleeves, the cross sectional shape of

the first bores is changed in tapered form such that width reduces toward the other end from

one end, an arch-shaped reinforcing rib extends between the outer sleeves, handle portions

are formed at predetermined positions in front of the reinforcing rib on the surface of the

outer sleeves, and a plurality of second pressing protrusions are formed on the surface of the

handle portions.

5. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 4, wherein a

first locking stage protrudes from an outer side of one end of the inner sleeves, when the

inner sleeves longitudinally slide within the first bore formed through the center of the outer sleeves, the first locking stage and an outer surface of a fixed end disposed at positions close

to the first locking stage are contacted with a part of the radial inner surface of the outer

sleeves due to the tapered shape of the first bore, so that the moving range of the inner

sleeves is restricted.

6. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 5, wherein a

second bore for allowing the operating rods to longitudinally slide within the inner sleeves

is longitudinally formed through the center of the inner sleeves, a shoulder is formed to

protrude radial inwards from the radial inner surface of the inner sleeves at the other end of

the inner sleeves, a second locking stage is formed at radial outer surfaces of one end of the

operating rods, when the operating rods longitudinally slide within the second bore formed

through the center of the inner sleeves, the second locking stage of the operating rods is

locked at the shoulder of the inner sleeves, so that the moving range of the operating rods

is restricted.

7. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 6, wherein a

third bore is longitudinally formed through the operating rods, a coiled spring and a

supporting rod are disposed in the second bore of the inner sleeves and the third bore of the

operating rods, a second male thread portion is formed at a radial outer side of one end of

the supporting rod, a locking nut is engaged with the second male thread portion, the locking nut being longitudinally slideably moved along the second male thread portion, when the

coiled spring and the supporting rod are disposed in the second bore and the third bore, the

coiled spring is fitted onto the other end of the supporting rod, and thereafter it is supported

by the locking nut.

8. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 3, wherein

the fixture is provided with a main body and a fitting protrusion which is formed to protrude

from one side of the main body, an arch-shaped depressed fitting groove is formed at the

center of the main body, pin insertion holes are formed through the main body at positions

adjacent to both sides of the fitting groove, and the fixture is fixed in the protrusion by

inserting the fitting protrusion into the fixing groove formed in the protrusion of said upper

plate.

9. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 3, wherein a

joining fixture is engaged in the fitting groove of the fixture, the joining fixture is provided

with a smooth joining portion located within the fitting groove and a first male thread portion

forming a radial outer side of one end of the joining portion, the first male thread portion

being corresponding to a female thread portion formed in the fixing end of the inner sleeves,

when the inner sleeves are assembled with the fixture, the first male thread portion is

engaged with the female thread portion.

10. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 9, wherein the

joining fixture is assembled to become a one body with the joining portion by means of a

joining pin passing through the pin insertion hole and the lower portion of the joining portion

under the state that the joining portion is fitted into the fitting groove, the joining fixture can

be pivoted around the joining pin up to 90 degrees within the fitting groove.

11. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 7, wherein a

shaft is disposed between the exposed ends of the operating rods, at this time, both ends of

the shaft are fitted into the shaft insertion hole formed through the exposed ends of the

operating rods, a fixing nut is fitted onto both ends of the shaft which are exposed to an

outside of the operating rods through the shaft insertion hole, a plurality of pressing balls and

a plurality of buffer balls are alternately disposed on the shaft.

12. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 11, wherein

the pressing balls are made of a ceramic, and the buffer balls are made of a rubber.

13. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 12, wherein

the pressing balls are made of a natural jade.

14. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 11, wherein the radius of the pressing balls supported on the shaft is greater than the distance between

the centerline of the shaft and the apex of the operating rods, so that the pressing balls are

exposed to head of the exposed end of the operating rods at a predetermined distance.

15. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 1, wherein the

upper surface of said rotating plate corresponds to the lower surface of said upper plate, the

lower surface of said rotating plate corresponds to the upper surface of said lower plate, a

second guide groove is formed at the upper surface of said rotating plate, the second guide

groove corresponds to the first guide groove formed at the lower surface of said upper plate,

a third guide groove is formed at the lower surface of said rotating plate, the third guide

groove corresponds to the fourth guide groove formed at the upper surface of said lower

plate, when said upper plate, said rotating plate and said lower plate are assembled to become

a one body together, a plurality of ball bearings and a plurality of flexible bearing members

having a rod shape are located between the first guide groove and the second guide groove

and also are located between the third guide groove and the fourth guide groove.

16. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 15, wherein

a first connecting loop is formed to protrude from a radial one side of said rotating plate, a

first string insertion hole is formed through the center of the first connecting loop, one end

of the string is inserted into the first string insertion hole, and thereafter it is fixed therein, and an entertainment ball for emitting a light in response to a centrifugal force is attached

to the other end of the string.

17. The healthful entertainment and exercise instrument as in claim 15, wherein

said lower plate has a predetermined shape and a predetermined structure which correspond

to the shapes and the structures of said upper plate and said rotating plate so as to assemble

to become a one body with said upper plate and said rotating plate, a plurality of second

screw holes are formed through an outer periphery of said lower plate, a fourth guide groove

is formed on the upper surface of said lower plate, in which said upper plate, said rotating

plate and said lower plate are integrally assembled together by means of a third j oining screw

passing through the first screw hole formed at said upper plate and the second screw hole

formed at said lower plate under the state that the ball bearings and the bearing members are

disposed in the second guide groove and the third guide groove which are formed on the

upper surface and the lower surface of said rotating plate, respectively.