WO2007069801A1

WO2007069801A1 - Exercising apparatus for stretch gymnastics

Info

Publication number: WO2007069801A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000136
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seung-Moo Han
Original assignee: B.M.Tech Worldwide Co., Ltd
Priority date: 2005-12-13
Filing date: 2006-01-12
Publication date: 2007-06-21
Also published as: KR100678659B1

Abstract

A stretching apparatus comprises a fixed frame, a bed secured to an upper surface of the fixed frame, a pair of grips positioned on respective sides of the bed, a driving section slidingly arranged to the fixed frame, and an ankle fixing section installed on the driving section to be rotated by the driving section on a plane which is parallel to the bed. According to this invention, stretching can be implemented in a simple, convenient and repetitive manner and in all directions, whereby stretching effects can be maximized.

Description

EXERCISING APPARATUS FOR STRETCH GYMNASTICS

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to an exercising apparatus for stretch gymnastics, and more particularly to a stretching apparatus which is a kind of exercise apparatus capable of stretching the waist, knees and ankles. Background Art

[2] Stretching has been developed from setting-up gymnastics which have been known as warming-up exercises until this time. Stretching is done by slowly extending a muscle, etc. until a gentle pulling sensation is felt in the muscle and then by relaxing the muscle. Stretching increases the flexibility of the muscle and expands the movable range of a joint, thereby enhancing athletic performance. In consideration of this, stretching has been used as conditioning or warm-up exercise for reducing the risk of injury.

[3] In addition, if stretching is done properly, the softness and comfort of a human body are ameliorated, motions and movements of a joint become smooth and natural, musculoskeletal diseases can be prevented or treated, injuries such as spasms and damage to ligaments which may occur while taking exercise can be avoided, the human body is prevented from becoming stiff as a person grows older, tension is eased and a pleasant feeling is obtained, blood circulation is facilitated, and oxygen supply to the muscle is increased to promote circulation of waste products. As a result, stretching provides useful means of relieving fatigue, muscle knotting, joint pain, etc.

[4] Also, if a child or a younger adult who is growing regularly stretches, a growth plate, which is included in an articulating joint is stimulated, and secretion of growth hormones is stimulated, as a result of which physical growth is accelerated. As a consequence, these days, in view of the effects, stretching has drawn considerable attention.

[5] However, in order to obtain the effects, while it is necessary to stretch regularly, due to lack of time and desire, it is difficult to stretch regularly in order to satisfactorily obtain the effects. Therefore, under these circumstances, various types of stretching apparatuses which allow stretching to be conducted in an easy and efficient manner have been disclosed in the art.

[6] One type of stretching apparatus has a simple construction in which a user simply grasps portions of the apparatus and conducts stretching using his or her own force. In another type of stretching apparatus, while some portions of the human body are fixedly maintained, stretching is conducted using force generated by a driving mechanism of the stretching apparatus.

[7] In a typical exemplary stretching apparatus, in a state in which a user lies on a support part and the ankles of the user are fixed, the fixed ankle portions are repeatedly moved forward and backward in the lengthwise direction of the stretching apparatus to allow the user to stretch. In this type of stretching apparatus, since the stretching is implemented while the user lies in a comfortable posture, it is easy to use the stretching apparatus and it is possible to watch TV or read a book while stretching, so that it is possible to avoid the tediousness of stretching.

[8] Nevertheless, because the stretching can be implemented only in one direction, stretching effects for a joint, etc. cannot but be limited to a certain degree, and a mechanical construction for enabling forward and backward movement is complicated. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a stretching apparatus which has a simple mechanical construction and allows stretching to be implemented in all directions, including forward, backward, leftward and rightward directions. Technical Solution

[10] In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a stretching apparatus comprising a fixed frame; a bed secured to an upper surface of the fixed frame; a pair of grips positioned at both sides of the bed; a driving section slidingly arranged on the fixed frame ; and an ankle fixing section installed on the driving section and rotated by the driving section on a plane which is parallel to the bed.

[11] Preferably, the bed comprises an upper body bed and a lower body bed which are located adjacent to each other, and a frame provided at a lower surface of the upper body bed is arranged in the fixed frame foldingly.

[12] Also, the driving section may comprises an outer case; a driving motor disposed in the outer case; and a crank having one end which is coupled to a rotation shaft of the driving motor and the other end which is projected out of the outer case, and the ankle fixing section is installed on the other end of the crank.

[13] Furthermore, the ankle fixing section may comprises a cylindrical frame which is rotatably fitted into the outer end of the crank; a first fixing bar which is provided in a lower portion of the cylindrical frame and extends in a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical frame; a second fixing bar which is installed on an upper portion of the cylindrical frame movably in upward and downward directions; and a sole of foot support bar which is positioned separately from the center of the cylindrical frame.

[14] Furthermore, the second fixing bar is fastened to a movable frame which is inserted into the cylindrical frame, a plurality of saw teeth, each of which has a sectional shape of a right-angled triangle and is inclined downward to have a downward slope, is formed in series on the outer of the movable frame, and a locking element is installed on the outer of the cylindrical frame such that the locking element can pass through the cylindrical frame and can be meshed with one of the plurality of saw teeth to prevent unintentional upward movement of the movable frame.

[15] Furthermore, a pair of slide bars slidingly inserted into the fixing frame is provided at one side of the driving section, a plurality of length adjustment holes is defined through the slide bar, and a length adjustment knob is installed on the fixed frame in a manner such that the length adjustment knob can be inserted through the fixed frame into one of the plurality of length adjustment holes.

[16] Furthermore, the length adjustment knob is installed on an 'L'-shaped bracket which is fastened to a side of the fixed frame, a stepped portion is formed adjacent to the distal end of the length adjustment knob, and a spring is disposed between the 'L'-shaped bracket and the stepped portion of the length adjustment knob.

[17] Furthermore, a plurality of protuberances are formed on the surface of the sole of foot support bar.

Advantageous Effects

[18] The stretching apparatus according to the present invention provides advantages in that stretching can be conducted using the stretching apparatus in a simple, convenient and repetitive manner and in all directions including forward, backward, leftward and rightward directions, whereby stretching effects can be maximized.

[19] Also, due to the fact that the stretching apparatus has a relatively simple construction, the possibility of the stretching apparatus to break down is decreased, repair and maintenance work can be easily conducted, and the lifetime of the stretching apparatus can be extended. Brief Description of the Drawings

[20] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a stretching apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

[21] FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[22] FIG. 3 is a cut-away perspective view illustrating the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;

[23] FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a locking part in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 ;

[24] FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view illustrating a length adjustment part in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 ; [25] FIG. 6 is a plan view illustrating the operational states of the embodiment shown in

FIG. l; and [26] FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a variation of a sole support bar.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[27] Hereafter, an embodiment of a stretching apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.

[28] Referring to FIGs. 1 and 2, an embodiment of a stretching apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated. The embodiment includes a lower body bed 100 which supports a user's lower body, buttocks and waist. While FIG. 1 illustrates the lower body bed 100 which is completely made of the same material, in an example, the portion of the lower body bed 100 on which the user's buttocks are positioned may be formed of an anti-slip material such as rubber or ure thane. A first frame 102 which comprises a hollow beam having a quadrangular sectional shape is secured to the lower surface of the lower body bed 100 so that the lower body bed 100 can support the user's weight. A pair of pipes 104 is fastened to each side of the first frame 102, and an arch-shaped leg 106 is coupled to the pair of pipes 104.

[29] A grip 108 extending in a vertical direction to the ground is fastened to the upper surface of each arch-shaped leg 106. The grip 108 has the shape of an arc to be easily gripped and have an aesthetically pleasing appearance. While not shown in the drawings, various switches for controlling the operation of the entire stretching apparatus, for example, a power switch, an actuation switch, and the like, may be provided to the grip 108 so that the user can conveniently operate the stretching apparatus in a lying posture. The left end of the first frame 102 (when viewed from FIG. 1) is open. A length adjustment knob 112 is provided to a side of the first frame 104 adjacent to the open end of the first frame 104, which will be described later in detail.

[30] An upper body bed 120 is arranged adjoining the lower body bed 100. The upper body bed 120 functions to support the user's back, shoulder and head. A second frame 122 which comprises a hollow beam having a quadrangular sectional shape is secured to the lower surface of the upper body bed 120 so that the upper body bed 120 can support the user's weight, as in the case of the lower body bed 100. Here, since the second frame 122 is rotatably connected to the first frame 102, it can be used in a state in which it is unfolded from the first frame 102 as shown in FIG. 1. When the stretching apparatus is not used, the upper body bed 120 can be folded to the lower body bed 100 to be stored while occupying a reduced volume.

[31] A U-shaped support frame 124 is fastened to the lower surface of the first frame

102 so as to cooperate with the legs 106 to thereby support the first frame 102 on the ground.

[32] An ankle support section 130 is positioned adjacent to the left end of the lower body bed 100 (when viewed from FIG. 1), and a driving case 132 in which a driving motor is received is positioned below the ankle support section 130 and supports the ankle support section 130. When viewed in its entirety, the driving case 132 has a rectangular box-shaped configuration, and casters 134 are installed on the lower surface of the driving case 132 to allow easy movement of the stretching apparatus. A pair of slide bars 136 each having a rectangular sectional shape is fastened to respective sides of the driving case 132. One end of each of the slide bars 136 is inserted into the open end of the first frame 102. Thus, depending upon the insertion depth of the slide bars 136 into the open end of the first frame 102, the interval between the ankle support section 130 and the lower body bed 100 can be adjusted.

[33] Adjacent to the ends of the slide bars 136 which face the first frame 102, a plurality of length adjustment holes 138 are defined through the slide bars 136. As a length adjustment knob 112 installed on the first frame 102 is inserted into one of the length adjustment holes 138, the ankle support section 130 can be reliably maintained in a fixed state. Due to this fact, the overall length of the stretching apparatus can be adequately adjusted in conformity with the height of the user.

[34] A hollow cylindrical frame 140 which extends in the vertical direction is positioned on the ankle support section 130. A locking element insertion part 142 is formed through the cylindrical frame 140. A pair of slits 146 is defined in the upper portion of the cylindrical frame 140 and extends in the axial direction of the cylindrical frame 140. A first fixing bar 150 is fastened to the lower portion of the cylindrical frame 140 and extends in a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical frame 140. The first fixing bar 150 is formed of a cushioning material and functions to support the lower surface of the user's ankle.

[35] A second fixing bar 160 is installed on the upper portion of the cylindrical frame

140 and extends parallel to the first fixing bar 150. The center shaft 162 of the second fixing bar 160 projects outward through the pair of slits 146. The shaft 162 is fastened to a movable frame 164 which is disposed in the cylindrical frame 140 to be moved upward and downward.

[36] A sole of foot support bar 170 is disposed at a position which is horizontally separated from the first and second fixing bars 150 and 160. The sole of foot support bar 170 is connected to the cylindrical frame 140 by way of an arch-shaped bracket 172. With the first and second fixing bars 150 and 160 respectively supporting the lower and upper surfaces of the user's ankle, the sole of foot of the user is brought into contact with the sole support bar 170, whereby the user's ankle can be stably held.

[37] Referring to FIG. 3, the center shaft 152 of the first fixing bar 150 is fastened to the outer surface of the cylindrical frame 140. A plurality of saw teeth 166, each having the sectional shape of a right-angled triangle, is formed on a surface of the movable frame 164. Each saw tooth 166 is inclined toward the ground to have a downward slope. Each saw tooth 166 can be meshed with a locking element 154 (See FIG. 4) to ensure that the second fixing bar 160 can be moved downward but cannot be moved upward.

[38] A driving motor 180 is disposed in the driving case 132 and extends in the vertical direction. A crank 182 is coupled at one end thereof to the rotation shaft of the driving motor 180, and the cylindrical frame 140 is fitted into the other end of the crank 182 by the medium of a bearing. As the driving motor 180 is actuated, the cylindrical frame 140 revolves along a circular orbit which is defined around the rotation shaft of the driving motor 180.

[39] FIGs. 1 through 3 illustrate a state in which the locking element 154 is not inserted into the locking element insertion part 142. The locking element 154 will be described below in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

[40] The locking element 154 has a configuration similar to a rod having a flat head, and is formed with a flange 156 adjacent to the distal end 158 thereof. The distal end 158 of the locking element 154 has the sectional shape of a right-angled triangle which has an upward slope oppositely corresponding to the saw teeth 166. The locking element 154 is inserted into the locking element insertion part 142, and a release prevention washer 148 is fastened to the outer end of the locking element insertion part 142. A coil spring 159 is arranged between the washer 148 and the flange 156 of the locking element 154. The coil spring 159 applies elastic force for biasing the locking element 154 toward the saw teeth 166. If the second fixing bar 160 is pushed downward, as the locking element 154 is moved leftward in FIG. 4, the second fixing bar 160 can be moved downward. On the contrary, if the second fixing bar 160 is pushed upward, as one of the saw teeth 166 is meshed with the distal end 158 of the locking element 154, the second fixing bar 160 cannot be moved upward. Therefore, in this situation, in order to move the second fixing bar 160 upward, the locking element 154 must be pulled outward to unlock the distal end 158 of the locking element 154 from the saw tooth 166.

[41] As a consequence, in a state in which the user's ankle is fixed and the second fixing bar 160 is in a locked position, since the second fixing bar 160 cannot be moved upward unless the locking element 154 is intentionally pulled outward, it is possible to stably maintain the user's ankle in a fixed state.

[42] FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the length adjustment knob 112.

[43] The length adjustment knob 112 is installed on the first frame 102 adjacent to the open end of the first frame 102. The length adjustment knob 112 also has the con- figuration of a rod having a flat head and is inserted into a knob insertion part 192 which is defined through the first frame 102. The distal end of the length adjustment knob 112 extends through the knob insertion part 192 into one of the plurality of length adjustment holes 138 which are defined through the slide bar 136.

[44] In order to support the length adjustment knob 112, a bracket 190 having an

'L'-shaped cross-section is fastened to the lower surface of the first frame 102. A stepped portion 196 is formed adjacent to the distal end of the length adjustment knob 112, and a coil spring 194 is arranged between the bracket 190 and the stepped portion 196. Accordingly, the knob 112 is elastically biased toward the slide bar 136 by the coil spring 194 and is thereby maintained inserted into the length adjustment hole 138 unless the length adjustment knob 112 is intentionally pulled outward.

[45] The operation of the stretching apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described with reference to FIG. 6.

[46] When the driving motor 180 is not actuated, the first fixing bar 150 and the second fixing bar 160 are placed at a position shown by the solid line in FIG. 6 in which stretching does not occur at all. If the user turns on a power switch, the driving motor 180 is actuated, and the first fixing bar 150 and the second fixing bar 160 are rotated along the path shown by the dotted line in FIG. 6. If the first fixing bar 150 and the second fixing bar 160 are placed at the position indicated by 'a' in FIG. 6, the user's lower body is stretched to some extent in the lengthwise direction of the stretching apparatus and in the downward direction too in FIG. 6, whereby the user can experience stretching in two directions.

[47] As the driving motor is continuously driven, if the first fixing bar 150 and the second fixing bar 160 are placed at the position indicated by 'b' in FIG. 6, the user's lower body is stretched to the maximum in the lengthwise direction of the stretching apparatus. Therefore, as the cylindrical frame 140 is repeatedly rotated, the user can experience stretching in all directions including forward, backward, leftward and rightward directions. As the case may be, in order to maximize the stretching effect, instead of continuously actuating the driving motor, the actuation of the driving motor may be interrupted for several seconds at intervals of 90°, or a rotation pattern of the cylindrical frame 140 may be changed through the manipulation of a switch.

[48] FIG. 7 illustrates a variation of the sole of foot support bar 170.

[49] The sole of foot support bar 170 shown in FIG. 7 is formed, on the outer surface thereof, with a plurality of protuberances 171. As described above, with the first and second fixing bars 150 and 160 respectively supporting the lower and upper surfaces of the user's ankle, the sole support bar 170 is brought into contact with the sole of the user to stably hold the user's ankle. At this time, as the plurality of protuberances 171 is formed on the sole support bar 170 as shown in FIG. 7, acupressure can be conducted on the sole of the user, whereby advantageous effects such as the activation of blood circulation can be accomplished. As the occasion demands, the protuberances 171 may be designed to have an appropriate cross-sectional shape, such as a circular, cylindrical or rectangular shape. Preferably, the number of protuberances 171 may be appropriately selected as desired.

Claims

[1] A stretching apparatus comprising: a fixed frame; a bed secured to an upper surface of the fixed frame; a pair of grips positioned at both sides of the bed; a driving section slidingly arranged on the fixed frame ; and an ankle fixing section installed on the driving section and rotated by the driving section on a plane which is parallel to the bed. [2] The stretching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the bed comprises an upper body bed and a lower body bed which are located adjacent to each other, and a frame provided at a lower surface of the upper body bed is arranged in the fixed frame foldingly. [3] The stretching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the driving section comprises: an outer case; a driving motor disposed in the outer case; and a crank having one end which is coupled to a rotation shaft of the driving motor and the other end which is projected out of the outer case, and the ankle fixing section is installed on the other end of the crank. [4] The stretching apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the ankle fixing section comprises: a cylindrical frame which is rotatably fitted into the outer end of the crank; a first fixing bar which is provided in a lower portion of the cylindrical frame and extends in a direction perpendicular to the cylindrical frame; a second fixing bar which is installed on an upper portion of the cylindrical frame movably in upward and downward directions; and a sole of foot support bar which is positioned separately from the center of the cylindrical frame. [5] The stretching apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein the second fixing bar is fastened to a movable frame which is inserted into the cylindrical frame, a plurality of saw teeth, each of which has a sectional shape of a right-angled triangle and is inclined downward to have a downward slope, is formed in series on the outer of the movable frame, and a locking element is installed on the outer of the cylindrical frame such that the locking element can pass through the cylindrical frame and can be meshed with one of the plurality of saw teeth to prevent unintentional upward movement of the movable frame. [6] The stretching apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a pair of slide bars slidingly inserted into the fixing frame is provided at one side of the driving section, a plurality of length adjustment holes is defined through the slide bar, and a length adjustment knob is installed on the fixed frame in a manner such that the length adjustment knob can be inserted through the fixed frame into one of the plurality of length adjustment holes. [7] The stretching apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein the length adjustment knob is installed on an 'L'-shaped bracket which is fastened to a side of the fixed frame, a stepped portion is formed adjacent to the distal end of the length adjustment knob, and a spring is disposed between the 'L'-shaped bracket and the stepped portion of the length adjustment knob. [8] The stretching apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein a plurality of protuberances are formed on the surface of the sole of foot support bar.