Abstract:
The present invention relates to an exercise device to simulate a leg swing motion. The device comprises a frame, a longitudinal guide supported by the frame, and a moveable body reciprocally moveable along the guide. The moveable body has a pivot axis defined thereon. A swing arm is pivotally coupled to the moveable body about the pivot axis such that the moveable body moves rearwardly when the swing arm swings forwardly by a forwardly leg swing motion and the moveable body moves forwardly when the swing arm swings rearwardly by a rearwardly leg swing motion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an exercise device, and particularly relates to an exercise device with the purpose of strengthening leg muscles, hip joints, and muscle groups of the waist.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     “Hip extension machine hip”, “flexing machines” and etc. are known as exercise devices for working leg muscles and muscle groups of the waist in a standing posture. With these exercise devices, a swing arm rotation fulcrum is fixed.  
         [0005]     However, with exercise devices where the arm rotation fulcrum is a fixed type, there is the drawback that the range of movement of the hip joints is restricted. Further, with exercise devices where the rotation fulcrum is fixed, swinging of the arm traces a locus that is part of a circular arc. When the arm travels along such a circular arcuate path, there is risk involved in that a relatively strong load is placed on the waist that may cause the waist to be damaged as the arms are lifted up from a vertical position to the horizontal.  
         [0006]     In recent years, it has been recognized that exercising of the psoas major not only improves running ability but can also bring about improvements in overall sports performance. For example, it has been reported that from the results of a cross sectional view of an abdomen taken using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), short distance athletes have a psoas major of a larger cross-sectional area, and there is a high correlation between substantial running ability and the area of the cross-section of the psoas major. Further, it has also been reported that it is easy for middle-aged to older people with a psoas major of a smaller cross-sectional area to become bedridden (Shinya Kuno: “Simple muscle exercise for preventing people from becoming bedridden”), Japan Broadcasting Publishing Co. Ltd., 2002). Working of the psoas major can therefore be confirmed to be important not just for athletes, but for the elderly and the infirm.  
         [0007]     Further, it has been reported that the use of “knee/waist same side type actions” is effective as a way of using your body for improving sports performance (Kando Kobayashi: “creating sports actions to increase running performance”, Published by Kyorin-Shoin Publishers, 2001). A “knee/waist same side type action” is based on moving the waist of the same side to the front while drawing out your leg to the front. At this time, working of the pelvis, lumbar vertebrae, and the muscles located deep to the abdomen (such as the psoas major and iliacus, together called the iliopsoas) connecting part of the thoracic vertebrae (twelfth thoracic vertebrae) and the thighbone is extremely important. However, study of “knee/waist same side type actions” is difficult depending on the person.  
         [0008]     In the related art, with a “hip extension machine” and “hip flexing machine”, it is not possible to effectively exercise the muscles located deep to the abdomen such as the psoas major and the iliacus. Further, supplementary exercise and training drills are also employed with the object of strengthening psoas major but exercise equipment capable of effectively working psoas major have yet to be developed.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide an exercise device capable of effectively working the muscles located deep to the abdomen such as the psoas major and the iliacus.  
         [0010]     A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercise device that does not place unnecessary loads on the waist.  
         [0011]     The present invention relates to an exercise device where a leg is placed on a swing arm provided so as to be able to swing forwardly and rearwardly via a fulcrum of rotation so that the leg is lifted up forwardly and rearwardly while the swing arm is swung forwardly and rearwardly. The fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is reciprocally moveable forwardly and rearwardly such that the fulcrum of rotation moves rearwardly when the swing arm swing forwardly and the fulcrum of rotation moves forwardly when the swing arm swings rearwardly.  
         [0012]     In a preferred mode, the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is coupled to a moveable body capable of reciprocal movement forwardly and rearwardly. Preferably, the exercise device is provided with a forwardly and rearwardly extending guide member, and the moveable body is guided by the guide member so as to move forwardly and rearwardly.  
         [0013]     In a preferred mode, swinging of a swing arm and movement of a moving body forwardly and rearwardly are in synchronism. The exercise device is preferably comprised of detecting means for detecting swinging of the swing arm, drive means for moving the moveable body, and control means for controlling movement of the moving body by the drive means based on information from the detecting means. Swinging of the swing arm and forwardly and rearwardly movement of the moveable body are then synchronized as a result of the control means controlling the drive means. The swing arm may also swing via a rotational shaft, with the detecting means detecting the angle and speed of the rotational shaft.  
         [0014]     It is also possible to provide load applying means for resisting rotation of the swing arm at the moveable body. As a result, while the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm moves forwardly and rearwardly, the load applying means therefore does not hinder movement of the fulcrum of rotation.  
         [0015]     It is also possible to adjust the position of the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm in the height direction. In one mode, the guide member is constructed so as to be freely moveable in the height direction. Adjustment of the position in the height direction of the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is then carried out by adjusting the height of the guide member guiding the moveable body provided at the fulcrum of rotation.  
         [0016]     By adopting a configuration where the rotational shaft of the swing arm moves in a horizontal direction forwardly and rearwardly in line with the angle of rotation of the swing arm, the present invention achieves the following results. First, it is possible to ensure the size of the range of operation of the leg and trunk containing the hip joints, pelvis and thoracic vertebrae. In the event that the fulcrum of rotation of the prior art is fixed, the locus of movement of the swing arm traces a circular arc taking the length of the swing arm as a radius. In this respect, with the apparatus of the present invention, the path of travel of the swing arm can be made to be a U-shape by having the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm move forwardly and rearwardly in synchronization with swinging of the swing arm forwardly and rearwardly. Giving a more detailed description, according to the exercise device of the present invention, with the swinging of the swing arm forwardly and rearwardly, a pad portion restraining the leg of the user travels along a U-shaped path of travel with the position of a vertical posture being the bottom. As a result of the pad portion traveling along a U-shaped path of travel, an action point (position of the pad) moves at a position relatively close to the body when the leg is raised high. Because of this, there is no localized load on the waist and muscles. It is therefore possible to perform exercise that strengthens the muscular power of the trunk and legs with the leg and waist together.  
         [0017]     By performing a forwardly and rearwardly swinging operation of the leg taking the leg and waist together, the exercise device of the present invention is capable of working leg muscles, gluteal muscles such as the musculus gluteus maximus and the musculus gluteus minimums, and the muscles located deep to the abdomen such as the psoas major and the iliacus. According to the device of the present invention, it is possible to effectively strengthen the muscles such as the psoas major and the iliacus by working the leg and the waist at the same time in the same direction.  
         [0018]     According to the exercise device of the present invention, it is possible to effectively work the muscle groups of the legs and waist across a broad range of movement centered on the hip joints. It is also possible for not only athletes but frail and elderly people to use this apparatus. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0019]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the whole of an exercise device of the present invention;  
         [0020]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the whole of an exercise device of the present invention;  
         [0021]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of the whole of an exercise device of the present invention;  
         [0022]      FIG. 4  is a side view of the whole of the exercise device showing a state where the swing arms are swung up forwardly as a result of swinging up the legs forwardly;  
         [0023]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the whole of the exercise device showing a state where the swing arms are swung up forwardly as a result of swinging up the legs forwardly;  
         [0024]      FIG. 6  is a side view of the whole of the exercise device showing a state where the swing arms are swung up rearwardly as a result of swinging up the legs rearwardly;  
         [0025]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of the whole of the exercise device showing a state where the swing arms are swung up rearwardly as a result of swinging up the legs rearwardly;  
         [0026]      FIG. 8  is a view showing an internal configuration of a moveable body;  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  is an outline front view of the exercise device of the present invention and is analogous to  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 10  is an outline side view of the exercise device of the present invention and is analogous to  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0029]      FIGS. 11A, 11B  and  11 C are views illustrating the relationship between swinging forwardly and rearwardly of the swing arm and movement of the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm; and  
         [0030]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating control of the exercise device of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     A description is given of the present invention based on taking a standing operation-type exercise device as an embodiment.  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3  are an overall front view, overall side view, and overall plan view of the present invention. An exercise device has a box-shaped frame body comprised of a pair of front vertical frames  1 , a pair of rear vertical frames, a plurality of lateral frames  3 ,  4 ,  5  and  6  linking the bottom ends and top ends of the vertical frames  1  and  2  from the front to rear, and the left to right, a pair of vertical frames  7  linking between the front lateral frames  3  in a vertical direction, and a pair of lateral frames  8  linking between the front and rear lateral frames forwardly and rearwardly.  
         [0032]     A pair of left and right front posts  9  and a pair of left and right rear posts  10  stand up in parallel with the vertical frames  1  and  2  between forwardly and rearwardly extending the upper and lower lateral frames  5  and  6 . Guide members  11  extending horizontally forwardly and rearwardly are provided between the posts  9  and  10  at the left side and right side respectively. Moveable bodies  12  are provided in a manner capable of moving horizontally forwardly and rearwardly on the guide members  11 .  
         [0033]     The guide member  11  comprises an LM guide, and the moveable body  12  is fixed to a slider of the LM guide via a lower end part. A ball screw  14  is then driven by a servo motor  13 , and the moveable body  12  is reciprocally driven horizontally forwardly and rearwardly. The horizontally extending LM guide constituting the guide member  11  is fixed and horizontally supported at a forward end part and a rear end part by a support member  15  provided at side surfaces of the forward posts  9  and rearward posts  10 . The support member  15  is linked to posts  9 ,  10  in a state where vertical movement is possible using vertically extending LM guides  16  provided at side surfaces of the forward posts  9  and rearward posts  10 . The LM guide  16  is made to extend up and down by driving of an electric actuator  17  employing a motor so as to cause the support members  15  to move upwardly and downwardly. This enables the vertical position of the moveable body  12  to be adjusted. Movement of the moveable body  12  forwardly and rearwardly, and upwardly and downwardly is driven by driving devices  13 ,  14  and  17  receiving instructions from a controller  28 . The speed and distance of forwardly and rearwardly movement of the moveable body  12  can be adjusted using the controller  28 . Means for guiding the moveable body  12  forwardly and rearwardly and means for driving the guide means are not limited to that shown in the drawings. For example, it is possible for the moveable body  12  to be made to move horizontally forwardly and rearwardly by utilizing a rack and pinion, or to cause the moveable body  12  to move horizontally forwardly and rearwardly using a link mechanism.  
         [0034]     The moveable body  12  is provided with a swing arm  18  capable of swinging forwardly and rearwardly. The swing arm  18  is coupled to a movable body  12  so as to swing freely like a pendulum forwardly and rearwardly taking an upper end side as a fulcrum of rotation. The swing arm  18  is provided with a horizontally extending pad  19  at lower end thereof. The pad  19  extends orthogonally with a swing direction of the swing arm  18 . The attaching position of the pad  19  with respect to the swing arm  18  is capable of being adjusted in a longitudinal direction of the swing arm  18 . Further, a support arm  20  is attached to the swing arm  18 . The support arm  20  is provided with a horizontally extending pad  19  extending orthogonally with a swing direction of the swing arm  18 . The support arm  20  is coupled to the swing arm  18  in such a manner that the direction of extension of the support arm  20  maintains an angle with respect to the direction of extension of the swing arm  18 , with each pad  19  extending in an opposed manner at a prescribed spacing. The attaching position of the support arm  20  with respect to the swing arm  18  is capable of being adjusted in a longitudinal direction of the swing arm  18 . At the time of use, the leg is sandwiched between the pad  19  of the swing arm  18  and the pad  19  of the support arm  20 , then swinging the swing arm  18  by swinging the leg forwardly or rearwardly. A description is given of a leg placing section having the swing arm  18  and the support arm  19  but the configuration of the leg placing section is by no means limited to that shown in the drawings, provided that it is possible for a user to place their leg on a swing arm so that the leg can be lifted up forwardly and rearwardly while swinging the swing arm forwardly and rearwardly.  
         [0035]     A moveable body  12  comprises a box having a hollow section. The moveable body  12  is provided with a rotational shaft  21  (extending orthogonally to forwardly and rearwardly) of an upper end of the swing arm  18 , and the swing arm  18  is attached in a forwardly and rearwardly swinging manner to the moveable body  12  via the rotational shaft  21 . Load applying device  22 A for applying resistance to rotation of the rotational shaft  21  is installed within the moveably body  12 . The load applying device is comprised of a braking shaft  23  equipped with an electromagnetic brake  22  taken as braking means and an acceleration gear  24  meshing with the braking shaft  23 . Strength applied to the rotational shaft  21  by the electromagnetic brake  22  can be varied by instructions from the controller  28 . Load applying device for braking of the swing arms  18  is by no means limited to using magnetic brakes and other braking means may also be adopted.  
         [0036]     A rotary encoder  26  for detecting rotation angle and rotational speed (including rotation direction) is arranged within the moveable body  12 . The rotation angle and rotational speed of the rotational shaft  21  are detected in accordance with swing movement of the swing arm  18  forwardly and rearwardly. The detected information is then transmitted to the controller  28  and a drive instruction is transmitted from the controller  28  to the servo motor  13 . The ball screw  14  is then driven and the moveable body  12  is made to move forwardly and rearwardly in synchronism with the swing movement of the swing arm  18 .  
         [0037]     Specifically, a starting point for the angle of the swing arm  18  (rotational shaft  21 ) is such that the swing arm  18  extends in a substantially vertical direction (state in  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11B ). When the swing arm  18  then swings forwardly (the state in  FIG. 4  and  FIG. 11A ), the angle becomes positive, and when the swing arm  18  swings rearwardly (the state in  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 11 ), the angle becomes negative.  
         [0038]     At the time that the swing arm  18  swings forwardly, the servo motor  13  is driven via the controller  28  based on detection results for rotation of the braking shaft  21  of the rotary encoder  26  and the moveable body  12  is made to move rearwardly at a prescribed speed. At the time that the swing arm  18  swings rearwardly, the servo motor  13  is driven via the controller  28  based on detection results for rotation of the braking shaft  21  of the rotary encoder  26  and the moveable body  12  is made to move forwardly at a prescribed speed.  
         [0039]     A torque meter  27  is provided within the moveable body  12 . The torque meter  27  acquires rotation torque (power data) for the braking shaft  23  (rotational shaft  21 ) using rotation of the gear  25  meshing with the braking shaft  23 , and sends the acquired power data to the controller  28  and computer  31 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 12  is a view illustrating control of the exercise device of the present invention. The operation of the exercise device is controlled by the controller  28 . Strength adjustment of load resistance with respect to rotation of the swing arm  18 , adjustment of driving of movement of the moveable body  12  forwardly and rearwardly and of the movement speed, and adjustment of the height of the moveable body  12  are carried out based on output instructions from the controller  28 . Input to the controller  28  is carried out using information acquired from a rotary encoder  26  constituting detection means monitoring rotation of the swing arm  18  and the torque member  27 , and input from the operation unit  30 .  
         [0041]     When the angle and speed of the rotational shaft  21  are received from the rotary encoder  26 , the controller  28  outputs an instruction to the servo motor  13  and the moveable body  12  is moved at a prescribed speed. When an input to adjust height of the moveable body  2  is received from the operation panel  30 , the controller  28  outputs an instruction to a linear actuator  17  and the support member  15  supporting the guide members  11  on which the moveable body  12  slides are caused to move in a vertical direction. When input strength of the load resistance with respect to the rotational shaft  21  is received from the operation panel  30 , the controller  28  provides a prescribed load resistance to the rotational shaft  21  via the electromagnetic brake  22 . The controller  28  is therefore constructed from a load strength adjustment apparatus, height adjustment apparatus, and movement speed adjustment apparatus.  
         [0042]     Further, each type of information (for example, angle, power, speed) is sent to a computer  31  electrically connected to the controller  28  and is stored in a storage unit of the computer  31 . If necessary, the information is analyzed by an arithmetic unit of the computer  31 , and stored information or calculated information is displayed at a display unit of the computer  31  as necessary.  
         [0043]     A description is given of an exercise operation employing exercise device of the above configuration based on  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11B  shows start conditions, with the swing arms  18  being substantially vertical with respect to the floor when a person exercising holds operation in a standing position. The fulcrum of rotation (rotational shaft) of the swing arm  18  can be adjusted to the height of the lower end of the sternum of the person exercising by adjusting the position of the height of the moveable body  12 . As a result, forwardly and rearwardly movement of the swing arm  18  enables a swing operation of the leg and waist of the same side taking the height of the flank of the person training as an axis. The positions of the pads  19  attached to the swing arm  18  and the support arm  20  are adjusted, and the pads  19  are adapted to sandwich a leg (the left leg in the drawings), and a pendulum-like movement of the swing arm  18  is implemented in accordance with a forwardly and rearwardly swing operation of the leg from a standing operation.  
         [0044]     From the state in  FIG. 11B , the hand rails  29  are grasped with both hands. When the thigh of the left leg is then lifted up forwardly, the swing arm  18  swings forwardly and an inclined posture is adopted. The rotation angle and speed of the rotational shaft  21  of the swing arm  18  is then detected by the rotary encoder  26 . By then sending this information to the controller  28 , the servo motor  13  is driven according to instructions from the controller  28 , and the fulcrum of rotation (rotational shaft  21 ) of the swing arms  18  moves forwardly ( FIG. 11A ) in accordance with the moveable body  12  moving rearwardly in synchronism with the swing movement of the swing arm  18  forwardly.  
         [0045]     From the state in  FIG. 11B , when the thigh of the left leg is then lifted up rearwardly, the swing arm  18  swings rearwardly and an inclined posture is adopted. The rotation angle and speed of the rotational shaft  21  of the swing arm  18  is then detected by the rotary encoder  26 . By then sending this information to the controller  28 , the servo motor  13  is driven according to instructions from the controller  28 , and the fulcrum of rotation (rotational shaft  21 ) of the swing arm  18  moves forwardly ( FIG. 11C ) in accordance with the moveable body  12  moving forwardly in synchronism with the swing movement of the swing arm  18  rearwardly.  
         [0046]     According to this apparatus, it is possible to cause the swing arm  18  to swing so as to work the muscles such as the psoas major and the iliacus by adjusting the fulcrum of rotation (rotational shaft  21 ) of the swing arm  18  to the height of the twelfth thoracic vertebrae and operating the leg and waist at the same time.  
         [0047]     The exercise device of the present invention is provided with an operation panel  30  at the top of the front of the frame. The operation panel  30  is constructed from a touch panel. Input from the operation panel  30  is sent to the controller  28  and each operation is then controlled via the controller  28 . In the initial state, it is possible to adjust the position in a direction from front to rear of the moveable body  12  and the vertical position of the moveable body  12  at the time of starting by operating each of the various touch-buttons on the operation panel  30 . For example, in the event that it is wished to move the position in a direction from front to rear of the moveable body of the left side slightly forwardly, it is possible to move the moveable body  12  of the left side along the guide member  11  slightly in a horizontal direction towards the front via the controller  28  and driver  13  by continually pressing the forward button switch of the left unit. Further, in the event that it is wished to move the vertical position of the moveable body  12  of the left side slightly upwards, it is possible to move the moveable bodies  12  of the left side slightly upwards via the controller  28  and driver  17  by continually pressing the up button switch of the left unit.  
         [0048]     The operation pane includes an exercise setting screen. Load setting (deciding load of stroke forwardly and rearwardly), arm selection (selection as to whether to exercise using the left leg or the right leg), and mode selection (selection of M mode, S mode) may be included in the exercise setting procedure. The electromagnetic brake  22  is controlled via the controller  28  based on load settings inputted from the operation panel  30 . Here, M mode refers to a mode of moving the fulcrum of rotation in accordance with swinging of the swing arm  18  during training. S mode refers to a mode where the fulcrum of rotation does not move according to swinging of the swing arm  18  during training. In this mode, the forwardly and rearwardly movement of the moveable body  12  is locked. In the event that S mode is selected, the swing arm  18  swings forwardly and rearwardly in a state where the fulcrum of rotation is fixed.  
         [0049]     When the exercise setting is complete, an exercise start screen is displayed at the operation panel  30 . If a right angle lamp or a left angle lamp flashes green (this is a lamp for making it known when the angle of the arms is in a state where the exercise can be started), the exercise can be started by pressing the exercise start switch.  
         [0050]     Each type of information is monitored and displayed in real time during exercise and this information can be stored in the storage unit of a computer. After training is complete, the exercise results are displayed at the operation panel  30 . In addition to working the muscles such as the psoas major and the iliacus, the exercise device of the present invention is also capable of calculating and measuring muscular power and exercising power used to work the muscles.