Patent Publication Number: US-2010120590-A1

Title: Training Apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to improvements in a glutes-exercising type training apparatus for training or developing the gluteus maximus muscle which connects the human pelvis to the femur. 
     As commonly known, the human gluteus maximus is an extensor muscle in the buttocks and acts when rising from the seated position or when climbing stairs. A conventional example of a training machine for strengthening the gluteus maximus, disclosed in “2006 MECCA fitness catalog”, page 5, will be schematically discussed with reference to  FIG. 10 . 
     The machine illustrated in  FIG. 10  includes a rectangular base frame  1  having right-side and left-side frames  1   a ,  1   b . A load application device  2  is erected on the right-side frame  1   a  of the base frame  1 . A seat pad  3  and a pair of elbow pads  4  are disposed on the left-side frame  1   b  to face to the load application device  2 . An L-shaped arm  5  to which a load derived from the load application device  2  is transmitted is pivotably provided. Further, a foot bar  6  is provided attached to a tip portion of the arm  5 . 
     The seat pad  3  is supported by one support bar  7  erected at a corner of the base frame  1  while the elbow pads  4  are supported by a T-shaped bar  8  erected on the base frame  1  at a center of the left-side frame  1   b . The T-shaped bar  8  is provided with a pair of L-shaped grips  9 . 
     The base frame  1  further has a bottom frame  1   c  on which an assistant frame  10  is erected, and additionally the right-side frame  1   a  of the base frame  1  has a rear end portion on which the other support bar  11  is erected. The arm  5  is pivotally supported at its base end portion between the other support bar  11  and a stationary plate  12  of the assistant frame  10 . 
     More specifically, the base end portion of the arm  5  is welded to a peripheral surface of a shaft  13  rotationally attached between the other support bar  11  and the stationary plate  12  of the assistant frame  10 . To one end part of the shaft  13 , a cam  15  to which the load derived from the load application device  2  is transmitted through a wire  14  is fixed. With this arrangement, the load of the load application device  2  is applied to an upward pivotal movement of the arm  5 . 
     In operation, a trainee (or a user) who is in such a posture as to lie with his abdomen on the seat pad  3  and to place his elbows on the elbow pads  4  to grasp the grips  9  kicks up the foot bar  6 , with which the arm  5  is pivotally moved upward thereby achieving the enhancement of the gluteus maximus muscle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     However, drawbacks have been encountered in the conventional training machines. More specifically, in the training machine disclosed in “2006 MECCA fitness catalog”, the gluteus maximus muscle is exercised only by the repetition of motion kicking up the foot bar  6  and therefore there is a fear that an effective training is not accomplished. 
     In other words, motions repeated by kicking up the arm  5  are no better than upward and downward motions so that the gluteus maximus muscle cannot stretch or contract in the direction of muscle fibers. This raises a fear of reducing the efficiency of training. 
     In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved training apparatus for gluteus maximus muscle which apparatus can effectively overcome drawbacks encountered in the conventional training machines. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved training apparatus for effectively developing the gluteus maximus muscle by twisting user&#39;s foot so as to turn the tiptoe outward. 
     An aspect of the present invention resides in a training apparatus for training a gluteus maximus muscle, comprising a load application device for producing a certain load. A seat section is provided for supporting a body of a trainee. A pivotally operative arm section is provided to receive the load produced by the load application device. A step is provided attached to the arm section, for resting a sole of the trainee thereon. The trainee is able to train the gluteus maximus muscle by repeating extending and bending actions of a leg while lying down on the seat section and resting the sole on the step. In this training apparatus, the step is rotated in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of a training apparatus according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a fragmentary enlarged side view of the training apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing an arm section and steps the training apparatus includes; 
         FIG. 3  is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the arm section and the steps of the training apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a fragmentary, partially enlarged view showing a state where a cam and a connecting member provided to the training apparatus of  FIG. 1  are in a start position; 
         FIG. 5  is a fragmentary, partially enlarged view similar to  FIG. 4 , but showing a state where the cam and the connecting member are in a finish position; 
         FIG. 6A  is an elevation of an L-shaped arm provided to the training apparatus of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6B  is partially enlarged view of a wire provided to the training apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing a state where the wire is fastened with nuts; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective side view of the training apparatus of  FIG. 1 , showing a state where a trainee is in the start position; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective side view similar to  FIG. 7 , but showing a state where the trainee is in the finish position; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing a status of gluteus maximus muscle; and 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a conventional training machine, showing an example of operation thereof. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 to 8 , an embodiment of a training apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the training apparatus according to the present invention comprises a base frame  20  (having opposite frames as shown in  FIG. 7  or  8 ). A load application device  21  is provided mounted on one of the opposite frames of the base frame  20 , while a seat section  22  is provided supported on the other of the opposite frames of the base frame  20  so as to face the load application device  21 . An arm section  23  to which a load derived from the load application device  21  is transmitted is pivotally provided. A pair of steps  24  is provided to be driven in the directions opposite to each other in linkage with rotation of the arm section  23 . 
     (i) Load Application Device  21   
     The load application device  21  includes a rectangularly formed weight frame  25  having an upright side frame  25   a , as shown in  FIG. 1 . A plurality of weight blocks  26  are provided stacked in the weight frame  25 . The weight blocks  26  are housed in a weight cover  27  and connected to a belt  28  at one end portion  28   a  of the belt  28  through a connecting element  29 . A support pipe  30  is provided welded to the upright side frame  25   a  of the weight frame  25  thereby supporting the arm section  23  pivotally. An L-shaped connecting pipe  19  is disposed to connect the support pipe  30  to the upright side frame  25   a  of the weight frame  25 . Additionally, the belt  28  is so supported as to be hung on a pair of sheaves  31 . 
     The number of the weight blocks  26  can be selected in accordance with user demands by using a connecting rod and a pin (not shown in the accompanying drawings). The selected number of the weight blocks  26  is lifted upward when the belt  28  is pulled, thereby producing a desired load. 
     (ii) Seat Section  22   
     The seat section  22  includes an end pipe  32  erected on the other of the opposite frames of the base frame  20 . A T-shaped pad receiver  33  is provided attached to an upper end part of the end pipe  32  in such a manner as to be adjustable for height, and supports a seat pad  34  and a pair of elbow pads  35 . 
     The pad receiver  33  is, at its lower portion, welded to a movable plate  36  generally U-shaped and upwardly and downwardly movably attached to the upper end part of the end pipe  32 . The movable plate  36  is fixed by inserting a lock pin (not shown but in linkage with operation of an adjusting lever  37 ) into any one of adjusting holes  39  that an adjusting plate  38  fixed on an upper side surface of the end pipe  32  has. With this arrangement, a height of the pad receiver  33  can be suitably adjusted by changing the position of the lock pin from the one of adjusting holes  39  to any other one. 
     An upper portion of the pad receiver  33  is formed linearly from a forward end portion to a center portion while being formed bent downward at a rearward portion. A supporter  41  for supporting an arcuate handle  40  is disposed on the forward end portion of the pad receiver  33 . A generally U-shaped support post  42  for supporting the elbow pads  35  is welded to the center portion of the pad receiver  33 . Additionally, on the rearward portion of the pad receiver  33 , the seat pad  34  is fixedly mounted. The handle  40  is provided at its both ends with rubber grips  43 . 
     (iii) Arm Section  23   
     The arm section  23  comprises, as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , an arm main body  44  pivotally supported by a tubular journal  52  of the support pipe  30 . The arm main body  44  rotationally supports a pulley  45  at its central region, and an L-shaped arm  46  at its tip region. An L-shaped bar  47  is provided fixed on a side surface of the tip region of the arm main body  44 . The arm section  23  further includes a pivotal support arm  48  for supporting the L-shaped arm  46 . 
     The arm main body  44  is shaped into a pipe and has in its longitudinal direction three holes as shown in  FIG. 3 . Upper, middle and lower rods  49 ,  50  and  51  of different lengths are provided in such a manner as to respectively pierce through the three holes, thereby being attached to the arm main body  44 . The upper rod  49  is rotationally inserted into the journal  52  and an installation arm  53  for a balance weight, through a bearing. 
     The pulley  45  is rotationally supported by the middle rod  50  through a bearing. The belt  28  is wound at its other end portion  28   b  on an outer peripheral surface of the pulley  45  via a pulley  54  located at the upright side frame  25   a  of the weight frame  25 , and is fixed by a fastening member  55 . When the arm main body  44  is pivotally moved upward, therefore, the belt  28  is pulled thereby producing a load of a weight of the selected number of the weight blocks  26 . 
     The L-shaped arm  46  is pivotally pierced at its base end part with the lower rod  51  through a bearing, while the L-shaped bar  47  is welded at its outer peripheral surface of its base end portion to a head  51   a  of the lower rod  51 . When the L-shaped arm  46  is pushed in the direction indicated by an arrow C in  FIGS. 2 and 8  (or when the L-shaped arm is moved from the start position to the finish position), therefore, the L-shaped bar  47  is pivotally moved upward in synchronization with the arm main body  44 . 
     The support arm  48  is formed generally L-shaped as shown in  FIG. 3 , and additionally pivotally supported at its upper end section by the connecting pipe  19  while being pivotally supported at its lower end section by a bearing  56  provided projected from the base end part of the L-shaped arm  46 . This means that the L-shaped arm  46  is supported by the connecting pipe  19  through the support arm  48  so as to be restricted in excessively downward pivotal movement. 
     (iv) Steps  24   
     Since both of the steps  24  are arranged generally symmetrical to each other, a discussion about its arrangement will be made mostly on one of them with reference to  FIGS. 3 to 5 . A step  24  is provided on a tip end part  46   a  of the L-shaped arm  46  to face on the seat pad  34 . A cam  57  is provided to be rotationally supported by the tip end part  46   a  of the L-shaped arm  46 . A step plate  58  on which a trainee (or a user) can rest his sole is provided to cover an upper region of the cam  57 . A wire  59  is wound around both of cams  57 . 
     The cam  57  has a shaft region  61  rotationally piercing through a piercing hole  60  defined in the tip end part  46   a  of the L-shaped arm  46 , and a top region  62  to which the step plate  58  is fastened by screws. The top region  62  of the cam  57  is formed integral with the shaft region  61 , and is bent at an upper edge region and side edge regions toward the seat pad  34  to form a stopper  63 . The top region  62  of the cam  57  further has a cylindrical region  64  on the opposite side of the seat pad  34 . 
     One of cylindrical regions  64  of the cams  57  is provided including, at its outer periphery, an L-shaped support piece  65  protruding to the opposite side of the seat pad  34 . To the support piece  65 , a tip portion  47   a  of the L-shaped bar  47  is connected through a connecting member  67 . 
     Meanwhile, the other of the cylindrical regions  64  of the cams  57  is provided including, at its outer periphery, a bracket  66  for supporting both ends of the wire  59  by piercing the wire  59  therethrough. 
     The connecting member  67  has at one end section one ring  69  into which the tip portion  47   a  of the L-shaped bar  47  is rotationally inserted, and has at the other end section the other ring  68  pivotally supporting the support piece  65  through a bolt stem portion. 
     When the L-shaped arm  46  is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow C in  FIGS. 2 and 8  (or when the L-shaped arm is moved from the start position to the finish position), the L-shaped bar  47  is pivotally moved upward in synchronization with the arm main body  44  as discussed above, with which a distance between the tip end part  46   a  of the L-shaped arm  46  and the tip portion  47   a  of the L-shaped bar  47  is gradually increased so that the connecting member  67  is pulled upward by the tip portion  47   a  of the L-shaped bar  47  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . With this, the support piece  65  is pulled thereby driving the one of the cylindrical regions  64  of the cams  57  rotationally in the direction indicated by an arrow S in  FIG. 6A . 
     The wire  59  is, as shown in  FIG. 6A , wound about both of the cylindrical regions  64  of the cams  57  to have a figure eight appearance. More specifically, the wire  59  is wound around both of the cylindrical regions  64  of the cams  57  to form a ring around each of the cylindrical regions  64 , and is arranged to pierce the bracket  66  at its both ends. The wire  59  is equipped with a male screw respectively at both ends, and fastened thereat with a nut, as shown in  FIG. 6B . 
     Therefore, when the one of the cylindrical regions  64  of the cams  57  is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow S in  FIG. 6A , the other is rotated in synchronization with this in the direction indicated by an arrow T in  FIG. 6A . With this, step plates  58  are driven in the directions opposite to each other, i.e., in the directions indicated by the arrows S and T. 
     (v) Example of Operation of Training Apparatus 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7 to 9 , an example of operation of the training apparatus at the time of performing a training for gluteus maximus muscle will be discussed. First of all, the number of the weight blocks  26  is selected to obtain a load that the trainee requires. Then, the trainee adjusts the heights of the seat pad  34  and the elbow pads  35  by operating the adjusting lever  37  so as to gain a position suitable for his own physique. 
     The trainee thereafter assumes a posture lying down with his abdomen on the seat pad  34  and with his elbows on the elbow pads  35  to grasp the rubber grips  43  while resting his left sole against one of the step plates  58  which is on the trainee&#39;s left. This state of the training apparatus is referred to as “a start position”. 
     When the trainee extends his left leg as shown in  FIG. 8  while keeping the above-discussed posture, the L-shaped arm  46  is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow C to pivotally move the arm main body  44  upward. With this, the selected number of the weight blocks  26  is lifted upward thereby producing a load thereof. This state of the training apparatus is referred to as “a finish position”. By repeating extending and bending actions of the left leg under the load, in other words, by making reciprocations between the start position and the finish position, the left part of gluteus maximus muscle is trained. 
     Simultaneously, the tip portion  47   a  of the L-shaped bar  47  is pivotally moved upward in synchronization with the movement of the arm main body  44  so as to pull the connecting member  67  upward. With this, the support piece  65  is pulled to rotate the one of the cylindrical regions  64  of the cams  57  in the direction indicated by the arrow S in  FIG. 6A , thereby driving the other of the cylindrical regions  64  rotationally in the opposite direction, i.e., in the direction indicated by the arrow T in  FIG. 6A . 
     During this operation, the trainee&#39;s left foot is held at the sole by virtue of the stopper  63 , and therefore the trainee can easily twist his left foot to turn the tiptoe outward following the rotation in the direction indicated in  FIG. 6A  by the arrow T. More specifically, when the trainee pushes the L-shaped arm  46  with his left foot in the direction indicated by the arrow C in  FIGS. 2 and 8  (or when the trainee operatively moves the training apparatus from the start position to the finish position), circularly twisting motions in the direction indicated by an arrow P in  FIG. 9  are imparted to the trainee&#39;s left gluteus maximus muscle thereby exercising it. 
     Separately from the left gluteus maximus muscle training, the trainee can also perform a right gluteus maximus muscle training by resting his right sole against one of the step plates  58  which is on his right and by repeating extending and bending actions of the right leg under the load. 
     In this case, also, circularly twisting motions in the direction indicated by an arrow Q in  FIG. 9  are imparted to the trainee&#39;s right gluteus maximus muscle thereby exercising it since the right one of the step plates  58  rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow S in  FIG. 6A . 
     According to the present invention, circularly twisting motions are imparted to the trainee&#39;s gluteus maximus muscle by twisting the foot at the sole, thereby stretching and contracting the gluteus maximus muscle as a whole in the direction of muscle fibers. With this, the gluteus maximus muscle can be effectively trained and the efficiency in gluteus maximus muscle training is improved. 
     Technical ideas (a) to (e) grasped from the above embodiment will be discussed together with advantages obtained thereby. 
     (a) A training apparatus for training a gluteus maximus muscle comprises: a load application device for producing a certain load; a seat section for supporting a body of a trainee; a pivotally operative arm section to which the load produced by the load application device is transmitted; and a step attached to the arm section, for resting a sole of the trainee thereon. The trainee is able to train the gluteus maximus muscle by repeating extending and bending actions of a leg while lying down on the seat section and resting the sole on the step. In this training apparatus, the step is rotated in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section. 
     According to technical idea (a), the trainee&#39;s gluteus maximus muscle is trained by being stretched and contracted as a whole in the direction of muscle fibers under such circular motions as to turn the sole outward, since the step is rotated in linkage with the pivotal operation of the arm section. 
     (b) In the training apparatus as discussed in technical idea (a), the arm section comprises: an arm main body pivotally supported by a frame that the load application device includes; and an L-shaped arm pivotally supported by the arm main body at a tip region of the arm main body. In this training apparatus, the step is provided in a pair to be a pair of steps, both of which are attached to the L-shaped arm at a tip end part of the L-shaped arm so as to be rotated in the directions opposite to each other. 
     (c) In the training apparatus as discussed in technical idea (b), the steps comprise: driven members rotationally supported at the tip end part of the L-shaped arm; step plates mounted on the driven members, for resting the sole of the trainee thereon; and a wire wound around the driven members to have a figure eight appearance. 
     According to technical idea (c), when one of the driven members is rotated in one direction, the other of the driven members is rotated in the opposite direction. In other words, the steps are driven in the directions opposite to each other. 
     (d) The training apparatus as discussed in technical idea (c) further comprises: an L-shaped bar having a base end portion and a tip portion and fixed at the base end portion to a side surface of the tip region of the arm main body; and a connecting member through which the tip portion of the L-shaped bar is rotationally connected to a side region of one of the driven members. In this training apparatus, the tip portion of the L-shaped bar is adapted to pull the connecting member upward so as to rotate the one of the driven members when the arm main body is pivotally moved upward. 
     According to technical idea (d), the tip portion of the L-shaped bar is adapted to pull the connecting member upward to rotate the one of the driven members, so that the other of the driven members is rotate or driven in the opposite direction in synchronization with the rotation of the one of the driven members. 
     (e) In the training apparatus as discussed in technical idea (c), the step plates are provided with stoppers for holding a position of the sole of the trainee. 
     According to technical idea (e), the circular motions which can effectively stretch and contract the gluteus maximus muscle in accordance with the rotation of the driven members are readily made on the gluteus maximus muscle. In this specification, “sole” refers to, mainly, a sole of a shoe. 
     The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application P2007-206261 (filed Aug. 8, 2007) are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments and examples of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments and examples described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings. For example, the stopper  63  may be taken out. In this case, the trainee&#39;s foot is, by friction between soles of shoes or the like and the step plates  58 , twisted in accordance with the rotation of the step plates  58  so that the gluteus maximus muscle can be stretched and contracted as a whole in the direction of muscle fibers thereby being strengthened. Additionally, it will be understood that the wire  59  is removed and replaced with reversing gears provided with both of the cams  57  to drive the cams  57  in the directions opposite to each other. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.