WO2004004841A1

WO2004004841A1 - Exercising apparatus capable of playing a computer-video game

Info

Publication number: WO2004004841A1
Application number: PCT/KR2003/001330
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang Ho Kim
Original assignee: Humus Mog Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2002-07-06
Filing date: 2003-07-07
Publication date: 2004-01-15
Also published as: AU2003245103A1

Abstract

Disclosed is an exercising apparatus capable of simultaneously playing a computer or video game while taking exercise. The exercising apparatus capable of playing a computer-video game, comprises a body of the exercising apparatus; a handle bar rotatably mounted on the body; and a handle bar-returning means for returning the handle bar to an initial position with respect to the body. And, the apparatus further comprise a rotation angle detection unit for detecting the rotation angle of the handle bar. In the exercising apparatus, a handle bar is mounted on a conventional exercising apparatus such as an indoor cycle, and the game is controlled by using the movement of the handle bar. The exercising apparatus for training of physical strength can be utilized for various uses. The use of a returning member results in improvement of applicability to the game and reality.

Description

EXERCISING APPARATUS CAPABLE OF PLAYING A COMPUTER-VIDEO

GAME

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an exercising apparatus, and more particularly, to an exercising apparatus capable of playing a computer- video game, wherein motions of the exercising apparatus are transmitted to an external game unit to control a game in progress.

Background Art

People who take exercise regularly have increased as they take interests in the promotion of health and the improvement of their figures. However, thriving towns have limitation on spaces where people can properly take exercise, and there are only few such spaces in the towns. Further, they avoid outdoor exercise in consideration of environmental pollution that has become a social issue. For these reasons, they tend to take exercise indoors. Due to such a tendency, exercising apparatuses for indoor exercise have been continuously developed. Such exercising apparatuses for indoor exercise include bench presses, running machines, health bikes, and the like. However, since users utilizing such indoor exercising apparatuses should repeatedly take simple exercise in limited spaces, they are difficult to steadily take exercise and may easily lose interest in exercise even while taking exercise. That is, although indoor exercising apparatuses have an advantage in that users can take exercise at any places without limitation on places, there is a problem in that they may easily lose interest in exercise and be difficult to achieve the desired object of exercise since the strong will is required.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention is conceived to solve the aforementioned problems. An object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus for allowing a user to play a computer or video game through exercise so that the user can pleasantly take exercise. Another object ofthe present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus that can be connected to conventional game units such as computer and video game machines so as to be adapted to conventional different games and thus can be properly applied to a variety of games that are currently continuously developed. A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus that helps youths to promote their physical strength by adding dynamic exercise factors to static computer and video games.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus capable of strengthening muscles of the upper part of a user's body by providing an exercise load to a steering system ofthe exercising apparatus.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an exercising apparatus, wherein footholds move along circular loci and simultaneously slide along guide rails to make the movement of the footholds complex, thereby enhancing a cardiopulmonary function and strengthening muscles of the lower part of a user's body while avoiding overstrain of knee j oints.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention for achieving the objects, an exercising apparatus capable of playing a computer- video game comprises a body, a handle bar rotatably mounted on the body, and a handle bar-returning member for returning the handle bar to an initial position with respect to the body. Since the object of a conventional exercising apparatus is to train physical strength of a user, the conventional exercising apparatus does not require a steering element such as a handle bar. In practice, although an indoor cycle machine for indoor exercise has a handle bar to establish a configuration similar to that of an actual cycle, this handle bar is used for allowing hands of a user to be put thereon rather than providing a steering function and thus is different from that of the actual cycle. Accordingly, the handle bar ofthe indoor cycle machine is generally fixed to the body so as not to move.

The exercising apparatus of the present invention comprises a handle bar and a handle bar-returning member. The handle bar is rotatably mounted, and the handle bar- returning member returns the handle bar to the initial position when the handle bar is pivoted, in order to provide a feel similar to that of riding an actual cycle. Since the rotatable handle bar and the handle bar-returning member are provided to the indoor cycle machine in practice, a user of the indoor cycle machine can also feel the same tendency that causes wheels of an actual cycle to be maintained in an initial state.

Moreover, since the exercising apparatus further comprises a rotation angle detection unit for detecting the rotation angle ofthe handle bar to apply the movement of the handle bar to a game, thereby controlling a game unit.

The handle bar-returning member comprises power cylinders that connect both sides ofthe handle bar to both sides of the body of the exercising apparatus with respect to a rotational axis of the handle bar. Since the power cylinders on the both sides exert restoring forces, they can provide restoring forces for returning the handle bar to the initial position against pivoting of the handle bar. To provide the restoring forces, hydraulic cylinders, spring-loaded cylinders and the like can be used.

More specifically, each power cylinder may comprise a cylinder body including first and second opposite cylinder tubes, and first and second pistons installed corresponding to the first and second cylinder tubes, respectively. An end of the first piston is connected to the body of the exercising apparatus, and an end of the second piston is connected to the handle bar. An unloaded cylinder can be used for the second cylinder tube so as to facilitate stroke adjustment ofthe power cylinder.

Further, the handle bar-returning member using the power cylinders can be usefully utilized for training the upper part of a user's body. The user can train muscles of the upper part of his/her body by means of forces for pushing and pulling the pistons.

In addition, the user can also adjust strength of exercise based on a scale such as 10 kg,

15 kg or 20 kg by regulating the pressure ofthe power cylinders.

Brief Description of Drawings FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercising apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial, enlarged perspective view illustrating the handle bar and a handle bar-returning member ofthe exercising apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged plan view illustrating the handle bar and the handle bar-returning member ofthe exercising apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are partial, enlarged plan views illustrating cooperative operations ofthe handle bar and the handle bar-returning member of FIG. 3. FIG. 6 is a partial, exploded perspective view illustrating the cycle machine- driving unit ofthe exercising apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the process of controlling a game unit by using the exercising apparatus of FIG. 1.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments. Particularly, terms used herein for indicating directions such as "upper," "lower," "upper end," "lower end," "left" and "right" are associated with the accompanying drawings for the sake of convenience of description and do not limit the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exercising apparatus according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a cycle-type exercising apparatus comprising a handle bar 10 formed in such a manner that it extends a predetermined distance on both sides with respect to an upper end of an upper supporting member and is then bent upward twice at both side portions thereof so that a user can feel turning the cycle and simultaneously hold the handle bar with his/her hands to keep his/her balance upon exercise, and footholds 20 that move along circular loci.

First, the cycle-type exercising apparatus ofthe present invention stands upright due to a lower supporting member 30 formed to be partitioned in the four directions so as to be in contact with an indoor floor. Further, crossbars 31 are coupled to a front end and a midpoint of the lower supporting member 30 to provide line support for the front end and the midpoint, and calipers 35 partially surrounded by protection caps 33 are supported through shafts at a rear end ofthe lower supporting member.

Further, a cycle machine-driving unit 40, which comprises a main rotational wheel 41 and an exercise load wheel 43 coupled through a power transmission means to the main rotational wheel 41 to be rotatably interlocked therewith, is mounted on the lower supporting member 30.

Moreover, the upper supporting member 50 stands upright at a front portion of the lower supporting member 30 to support the handle bar 10 in a rotatable state while supporting the cycle machine-driving unit 40.

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged perspective view illustrating the handle bar and a handle bar-returning member of the exercising apparatus of FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged plan view illustrating the handle bar and the handle bar-returning member of the exercising apparatus of FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4 and 5 are partially enlarged plan views illustrating cooperative operations of the handle bar and the handle bar-returning member of FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle bar 10 is hingedly coupled to the upper end of the upper supporting member 50 to resiliently pivot on the upper supporting member 50 due to a central shaft portion, which is disposed at the center of the handle bar and laterally and rotatably supported on the upper supporting member 50, and first and second power cylinders 150a and 150b of which both ends are hingedly coupled through hinge members 10a and 50a to one of both sides of the upper supporting member 50 and one of both sides of the handle bar 10 to extend and contract therebetween, respectively.

Each of the power cylinders 150a and 150b comprises a first cylinder tube 152, a second cylinder tube 154, a first piston 156 and a second piston 158. The first and second tubes 152 and 154 unitarily form a cylinder body. Specifically, the first and second cylinder tubes 152 and 154 are divided by a partition. The first tube 152 and the first piston 156 form a hydraulic cylinder filled with oil and generate a restoring force against compression. The second cylinder tube 154 and the second piston 158, opposite to the first tube and the first piston, form an unloaded cylinder to adjust a stroke thereof nearly without resistance to an external load.

Further, the handle bar 10 can be returned smoothly by installing the power cylinders 150 on the both sides. That is, the power cylinders 150 each of which comprises the hydraulic cylinder and the unloaded cylinder are installed on the both sides to mutually damp the returning movement of each other. Thus, it is possible to prevent one of the power cylinders 150 from being rapidly returned and to assure stable control ofthe handle bar. Hereinafter, cooperative operations ofthe handle bar 10 and the power cylinders

150 will be described.

Referring to FIG. 4, if the handle bar 10 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction, the first piston 156 ofthe first power cylinder 150a on the left side is retracted and the second piston 158 of the second power cylinder 150b on the right side extends outside so that the second power cylinder 150b is elongated.

At this time, a reaction force is generated within the first cylinder tube 152 in response to the retraction ofthe first piston 156 in the first power cylinder 150a. When a force exerted by the user is then removed, the handle bar 10 is returned to an initial state as shown in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, if the handle bar 10 is pivoted in a clockwise direction, the first piston 156 ofthe second power cylinder 150b is retracted and the second piston 158 of the first power cylinder 150a extends outside so that the first power cylinder 150a is elongated.

At this time, a reaction force is generated within the first cylinder tube 152 in response to the retraction of the first piston 156 in the second power cylinder 150b. When a force exerted by the user is then removed, the handle bar 10 is returned to the initial state as shown in FIG. 3.

By providing a proper reaction force to the pivoted handle bar 10 in such a manner, the return of the handle bar to the initial state is facilitated and the user can be provided with a feel of riding an actual cycle.

Further, the handle bar-returning member using the power cylinders 150 can be usefully utilized for training the upper part of the user's body. The user can train muscles ofthe upper part of his/her body by means of forces for pushing and pulling the pistons 156. Moreover, the user can also adjust strength of exercise based on a scale such as 10 kg, 15 kg or 20 kg by regulating the pressure ofthe power cylinders 150.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a rotation angle detection unit SI is installed at a connection between the upper supporting member 50 and the handle bar 10. The rotation angle detection unit SI detects the direction and angle of rotation of the handle bar 10 with respect to the upper supporting member 50 to transmit characteristics ofthe rotation ofthe handle bar 10 to the outside.

FIG. 6 is a partial, exploded perspective view illustrating the cycle machine- driving unit of the exercising apparatus of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 6, each foothold 20 is mounted on a sliding bracket 100 slidably coupled to a relevant one of guide rails 60 that is hingedly connected to a lower portion of the upper supporting member 50 to pivot in an upward and downward direction on a hinge at the lower portion ofthe upper supporting member 50.

Further, the sliding bracket 100 comprises a lower frame 110 and an upper frame 130. The lower frame 110 comprises first and second suspension rollers 111 and 113 that move along guide grooves 61 longitudinally formed on both sides of the guide rail 60. The lower frame 110 is slidably suspension-supported by the guide grooves 61 through a pair of each ofthe first and second suspension rollers 111 and 113. A bottom surface ofthe lower frame 110 is rotatably connected to and supported by a relevant one of crank arms 45 ofthe cycle machine-driving unit 40.

The upper frame 130 covers a top surface of the guide rail 60 while facing the lower frame 110. The upper frame 130 comprises supporting rollers 132 moving along the longitudinally formed guide grooves 61 and slidably moves over the guide rail 60 through the supporting rollers 132. At this time, an end of the upper frame 130 opposite to the supporting rollers is formed to surround the entire periphery ofthe guide rail 60 and then fixed to a supporting member 120 secured to an end ofthe lower frame 110.

The foothold 20 is mounted on the upper frame 130 and slides on the guide rail 60 together with the sliding bracket 100. Here, the cycle machine-driving unit 40 comprises a rotational shaft ofthe main rotational wheel 41 connected through the shaft to the lower supporting member 30, and the pair of crank arms 45 each of which protrudes outward and has an end freely rotatably coupled to one of both ends of the rotational shaft. Each crank arm 45 is rotatably supported at a side ofthe bottom surface ofthe lower frame 110. Therefore, the footholds 20 and the sliding brackets 100 are rotated with the crank arms 45 and thus move along circular loci. At the same time, the footholds 20 and the sliding brackets 100 slide on the guide rails 60 that pivot in the upward and downward on the lower portion of the upper supporting member 50. That is, each of the footholds 20 performs a complex motion in which a circular motion and a sliding motion are combined.

Further, the exercise load wheel 43 is engaged with the main rotational wheel 41 in such a manner that it is installed to be rotatably interlocked with the main rotational wheel 41. The exercise load wheel 43 is connected to the main rotational wheel through a power transmission means such as a belt or chain so that a force required when a user depresses the footholds 20 can vary according to a load ofthe exercise load wheel

43. Moreover, the main rotational wheel 41 or exercise load wheel 43 may comprise a rotation detection sensor S2 for detecting the number of revolutions or a rotational speed.

Characteristics of the rotation of the main rotational wheel 41 such as the number of revolutions, rotation direction and rotational speed output from the rotation detection sensor S2 may be used as signals for controlling a game unit in cooperation with the characteristics ofthe rotation ofthe handle bar 10 detected by the rotation angle detection unit SI.

In addition, the load of the exercise load wheel 43 may be adjusted in response to external signals. That is, in a case where the exercising apparatus is connected to the game unit and then used, when a user passes along regions in a game, such as inclined places, mountain passages or other obstacles, requiring an exercise load relatively higher than that required for flat lands, a relatively higher exercise load can be reflected in the exercise load wheel 43. An exercise load may be variously changed by adjusting a gap or pressure between the wheel and an exercising load-adjusting device. Alternatively, the exercising load-adjusting device may be controlled by receiving external signals such as game signals.

When a player alternately depresses the pair of footholds 20, the footholds 20 move along circular loci. At this time, the opposite footholds 20 move while the positions thereof are alternately switched to those reaching uppermost positions or lowermost positions ofthe circular loci.

Furthermore, since the handle bar 10 at the upper end of the upper supporting member 50 stands upright, the player can alternately depress the footholds 20 in a stable state where the player holds the handle bar 10.

Moreover, by making a connection with the exercise load wheel 43, for example, by means of a rotational force transmitting means such as a belt or chain, it is possible to adjust strength of exercise by changing a force required when the player depresses the footholds 20 according to the degree of a load. In this embodiment, the footholds 20 slide on the guide rails 60 in association with the lower frame 110 while being rotated along the circular loci. However, the present invention is not limited thereto and the technical spirit of the present invention can be applied to other exercising apparatus. Further, the main rotational wheel 41 may be provided with a detection function for allowing game application programs to utilize signals corresponding to the amount of motions of the player, which is measured by using the number of revolutions and a rotational speed from a detection means, e.g. a digital tachometer, for detecting the number of revolutions and the rotational speed ofthe main rotational wheel 41. FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the process of controlling a game unit by using the exercising apparatus of FIG. 1. Although signals input into the game unit are processed in a software manner in this embodiment, the input signals may be processed using TTL logic in other embodiments ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 7, in the exercising apparatus, the steering direction and rate of the handle bar 10 can be detected through the rotation angle detection unit SI of the handle bar 10, and the rotation direction, the number of revolutions and the rotational speed of the main rotational wheel 41 can be detected by using the rotation detection sensor S2 for detecting the characteristics ofthe rotation ofthe main rotational wheel 41.

The characteristics of the motions detected by the sensors SI and S2 are converted into electrical signals that can be read through the signal-processing unit 180 for performing amplification, filtering and the like. The electrical signals are transmitted to the game unit 190 through an I/O interface unit 192. The game unit 190 further comprises a display device 194 in addition to the I/O interface unit 192, and may contain its own game software therein or receive game data through connection to an external network in an online manner.

The signal-processing unit 180 comprises an amplifier 182 for amplifying small- amplitude input signals, a filter unit 184 for filtering out unnecessary signals such as noises, an S/H unit 186 for sampling filtered signals, an A/D converter 188 for converting sampled signals into digital signals, and a microprocessor (CPU) for transmitting the digital signals to the game unit and for controlling the above procedures.

The game unit may be a computer with game software installed therein or a video game machine manufactured for game playing. Moreover, although the game unit may be connected to a single exercising apparatus for one player, it may be connected to two or more exercising apparatuses to support multi-playing of a game by two or more players. In addition, two or more game units may be connected to an external network so that the game units can be connected to one another and then used. Signals output through the microprocessor (CPU) go through the I O interface unit 192. The I/O interface unit 192 is used for the connection of the exercising apparatus to the game unit 190. For example, in case ofthe use of a conventional game unit, the I/O interface unit 192 can be used for connecting the exercising apparatus to a connection terminal of an input device such as an exclusive controller of a game unit or a computer keyboard or mouse.

As a player operates the footholds 20, displacement or rotation is produced. Signals corresponding to such displacement or rotation detected by the sensors SI and S2 are transmitted to the game unit 190 through the interface unit 192.

In an aircraft or vehicle simulation game, a traveling direction and steering characteristics of an aircraft or vehicle can be set by detecting the rotation of the handle bar 10. Further, a change in the traveling direction and an increase or decrease in the moving speed of the aircraft or vehicle can be controlled by detecting the rotational speed ofthe main rotational wheel 41 in response to the movement ofthe footholds 20.

According to the exercising apparatus capable of playing a computer-video game, a user is allowed to play a computer or video game through exercise so that the user can pleasantly take exercise.

Further, since the exercising apparatus can be connected to conventional game units such as computer and video game machines so as to be adapted to conventional different games, the exercising apparatus can be properly applied to a variety of games that are currently continuously developed.

Furthermore, the exercising apparatus helps youths to promote their physical strength by adding dynamic exercise factors to static computer and video games.

Moreover, the exercising apparatus is constructed such that the footholds move along circular loci and simultaneously slide along the guide rails to make the movement of the footholds complex, thereby enhancing a cardiopulmonary function and strengthening muscles of the lower part of a user's body while avoiding overstrain of knee joints. Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the exemplified embodiments and the drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. It will be apparent that those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains can make various changes and modifications thereto. Therefore, the present invention should be construed only based on the appended claims and equivalents thereof will fall within the scope ofthe present invention.

Claims

1. An exercising apparatus capable of playing a computer- video game, comprising: a body ofthe exercising apparatus; a handle bar rotatably mounted on the body; and a handle bar-returning means for returning the handle bar to an initial position with respect to the body.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a rotation angle detection unit for detecting the rotation angle ofthe handle bar.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the handle bar-returning means comprises power cylinders that connect both sides of the handle bar to both sides of the body of the exercising apparatus symmetrically with respect to a rotational axis of the handle bar, respectively.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of the power cylinders comprises a cylinder body including a first and a second cylinder tube, a first piston installed corresponding to the first cylinder tube, and a second pistons installed corresponding to the second cylinder tubes, respectively; and the first and second cylinder tubes are opposite to each other; and an end of the first piston is pivotably com ected to the body of the exercising apparatus; and an end of the second piston is pivotably connected to the handle bar.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first cylinder tube includes at least one selected from a group consisting of oil, a spring and compressed air, and the second cylinder tube is an unloaded cylinder.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a cycle machine-driving unit including a main rotational wheel, an exercise load wheel operatively coupled with main rotational wheel to rotate interlocked therewith, and pedal members for rotating the main rotational wheel; a lower supporting member for supporting the cycle machine-driving unit; and an upper supporting member for supporting the handle bar in a rotatable state while supporting the cycle machine-driving unit on the lower supporting member.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the pedal members comprises: guide rails of which one ends are connected through hinges to a lower portion of the upper supporting member to pivot in an upward and downward direction on the hinges at the lower portion ofthe upper supporting member; sliding brackets coupled to the guide rails to be slid therealong; and footholds mounted on the sliding brackets.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the sliding brackets comprises: a lower frame which includes pairs of first and second suspension rollers moving along guide grooves, the guide grooves longitudinally formed on both sides of a respective one of the guide rails, is slid while both ends of the lower frame are suspension-supported through the pairs of the first and second suspension rollers, and is connected through a hinge to a relevant one of crank arms of the cycle machine-driving unit; and an upper frame which includes supporting rollers moving along the guide grooves formed in the relevant guide rail at a side opposite to the lower frame and slidably moves while one end of the upper frame is supported through the supporting rollers, the other end of said upper frame being fixed to the lower frame.

9. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising: a signal processing unit for processing signals output from a rotation angle detection unit ofthe handle bar; a game unit electrically connected to the signal processing unit; and a display device for causing images output from the game unit to be displayed thereon.