Abstract:
An exercise training system primarily comprises a guiding-track generating unit and a controlling unit wherein the controlling unit can direct the guiding-track generating unit to produce a variable circulative guiding track for an exerciser to move accordingly and detect the exerciser&#39;s motion to provide objective data of performance assessment.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present invention is related to exercise training systems, and more particularly, to an exercise training system providing programmable circulative guiding track (e.g. circular or elliptical guiding track) for an exerciser to move accordingly and detecting the exerciser&#39;s performance. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Taijiquan is known for being beneficial to health and has become a popular exercise nowadays. It&#39;s also highly evaluated by general exercisers and sports scientist for its sports effect. Practicing Pushing-hands is one form of Taijiquan training. Through practicing Pushing-hands, the sensitivity, sense of balance, limb coordination and reaction rate can be substantively improved. 
         [0005]    In a traditional training method, Pushing-hands is typically practiced through sparring. To practice Pushing-hands, two exercisers face each other and contact the opponent&#39;s wrist and make the contacted wrists circling repeatedly in a circular or elliptical guiding track synchronously. During practicing, both the exercisers detect the opponent&#39;s motion by his hand, wrist as well as lower arm and give proper reaction. It is important for the exercisers to keep the wrists intercontacting lightly yet avoiding mutual resistance. Thus, Pushing-hands facilitates training for generalized sensitivity, limb coordination and reaction rate. However, one fundamental problem of such traditional training method of Pushing-hands is that the practice requires two participants. Additionally, an exerciser may not get objective data of performance assessment from his opponent as a reference material. Thus the popularization of Pushing-hands is limited. 
         [0006]    Some sport facilities have therefore been developed to overcome foresaid limitation in Pushing-hands and benefit the popularization of Taijiquan. However, such prior art facilities are usually noninteractive, unadjustable and nonprogrammable, hence such facilities are inadequate to provide satisfactory training effect. 
         [0007]    On the other hand, though Taiwan Patent M064330 provides an interactive Taijiquan simulator whereby an exerciser can practice dodging and parrying, such prior art interactive Taijiquan simulator has no detecting element or means to monitor the exerciser&#39;s performance and the guiding track and operating mode thereof are not adjustable. Thus, a need exists for an exercise training system for Pushing-hands practice that provides interactive operating mode and programmable circulative guiding track. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention has been accomplished under these circumstances in view and discloses an exercise training system for simulating an opponent in Pushing-hands practice to provide different guiding tracks and practicing mode and respond to the exerciser with objective data of performance assessment. 
         [0009]    It is one object of the present invention to provide an exercise training system for training an exerciser&#39;s sensitivity, sense of balance, limb coordination and reaction rate with Pushing-hands practice. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide an exercise training system that allows an exerciser to practice Pushing-hands without the need of a practicing partner. 
         [0011]    It is still another object of the present invention to provide an exercise training system that utilizes adjustable linkage system to perform variable guiding track for meeting an exerciser&#39;s need and leading effective training of Pushing-hands exercise. 
         [0012]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an exercise training system that is equipped with sensing elements to detect an exerciser&#39;s performance of Pushing-hands for warning the exerciser of the inappropriate exertion or exporting the detecting results as training reference material. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the exercise training system according to the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the upper part of the exercise training system according to the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the lower part of the exercise training system according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  is an assembly drawing of the upper part of the exercise training system according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  is a top view of the upper part of the exercise training system according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing the extension arm stretching out of the third link according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing the fourth link sliding against the pivot set according to the present invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of the present invention wherein a flywheel system is attached to the motor. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0021]      FIGS. 1 to 7  are provided for describing one embodiment of the present invention wherein an exercise training system primarily comprises a guiding-track generating unit and a controlling unit which is explained in more detail below. 
         [0022]    In  FIGS. 1 and 2 , according to the present embodiment, the guiding-track generating unit includes a base frame  10  whereon a power device  11  that may be an electric motor or an electric geared motor is installed; a transmission shaft  12  is connected to the power device  11 ; a crank  13  is connected to the transmission shaft  12  and a linkage system is fixed on the crank  13 . 
         [0023]    As can be seen in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the linkage system is composed of a first link  14 , a second link  15 , a third link  16  a fourth link  17  and a pivot set  18  wherein each said link is pivotly connected to the adjacent links to form a quadrilateral shape wherein the first link  14  is fastened to the crank  13  with the middle part at a crank joint (g) and is combined with the second link  15  with one end at a first link joint (a); the second link  15  with one end remote from the first link joint (a) connected to the third link  16  at a second link joint (b); the third link  16  with one end remote from the second link joint (b) connected to the fourth link  17  at a third link joint (c); and the fourth link  17  with one end remote from the third link joint (c) connected to the first link  14  at a fourth link joint (d). Further, the fourth link  17  is pivotly fastened to the base frame  10  with the pivot set  18  assembled to the fourth link  17  at a pivot joint (f) located beyond the fourth link joint (d). Thereupon, when the linkage system is operated, a circulative guiding track can be depicted by the extreme of the third link  16  adjacent to the second link joint (b) which is referred to a track point (e) hereinafter. 
         [0024]    Additionally, according to the present embodiment, the third link  16  further comprises a frame  162  and an extension arm  161  wherein the frame  162  is pivotly connected to the second link  15  and fourth link  17  respectively at the second link joint (b) and third link joint (c) and the extension arm  161  is slidably installed in the frame  162  and operatively connected to an actuator  163  so that the extension arm  161  can extend or retract with respect to the frame  162  and in turn render the distance between the third link joint (c) and the track point (e) altered, as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0025]    Also, according to the present embodiment, the fourth link  17  is assembled with the pivot set  18  in a slidable way and operatively connected to an actuator  171  which is fixed on the pivot set  18  so that the fourth link  17  can slide against the pivot set  18  to render the distance between the fourth link joint (d) and the pivot joint (f) altered. As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the fourth link  17  slides against the pivot set  18  under the impetus of the actuator  171 , the distance between pairs of links are varied. 
         [0026]    According to foregoing structure, when the power device  11  drives the transmission shaft  12  to rotate the crank  13 , the linkage system is hauled to move, and meantime the length alterations of the third link  16  and fourth link  17  result in variation of the circulative moving path of the track point (e). 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , as previously discussed, when the distance between the second link joint (b) and third link joint (c) is equal to the distance between the first link joint (a) and the fourth link joint (d) (i.e. bc=ad), and the distance between the first link joint (a) and the second link joint (b) is equal to the distance between the third link joint (c) and the fourth link joint (d) (i.e. ab=cd), the track point (e) moves along a approximately elliptical guiding track. Alternatively, when the value derived from dividing the distance between the third link joint (c) and the track point (e) by the distance between the crank joint (g) and the fourth link joint (d) is equal to the value derived from dividing the distance between the third link joint (c) and the pivot joint (f) by the distance between the fourth link joint (d) and the pivot joint (f) (i.e. ce/dg=cf/df), the track point (e) moves along a round guiding track. 
         [0028]    According to another concept of the present invention, an extendable track  19  or linking rod  191  can be arranged respectively between the links  14 ,  15 ,  16 ,  17  in the way that each track  19  or linking rod  191  can swing horizontally with respect to the base frame  10  so as to bear the weight and ensure a stable movement of the linkage system. 
         [0029]    Furthermore, the disclosed exercise training system may comprise a guide device  40  settled at foresaid track point (e) so that an exerciser can lean his hand thereon and move his hand following the guiding track formed by the moving path of the track point (e). According to one concept on the present invention, the guide device  40  can be a sway stick system that includes a sway stick  401  and a sway stick stand  402  wherein the sway stick  401  can freely sway with respect to the sway stick stand  402  under an external pushing force and right itself when the pushing force is relieved. Said sway stick  401  further comprises a touch sensing element or circuit that is communicated with the controlling unit for detecting contact and exertion of an exerciser&#39;s hand. 
         [0030]    Besides, between the power device  11  and transmission shaft  12 , a torque limiter (not shown) may be equipped as a safety device or a transmission mechanism (not shown) such as a coupler or a belt pulley may be provided for steadying the rotary speed of the transmission shaft  12 . As shown in  FIG. 8 , the flywheel system comprises a flywheel shaft  24  deposited on the base frame  10 , a flywheel  23  mounted on the flywheel shaft  24 , a belt pulley  22  provided on the transmission shaft  12  and a drive belt  25  connecting the belt pulley  22  and flywheel  23 . 
         [0031]    The disclosed exercise training system may further include a brace  20  and a foundation  30  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3  wherein the brace  20  can be a vertical translation mechanism composed of an actuator  201  arranged on the brace  20  and a pair of guide rails  301  provided on the foundation  30 . As depicted in the figures, the brace  20  is basically an X-shaped structure with the upper end pivotly fastened to the bottom of the base frame  10  while with the lower end slidably coupled with the guide rails  301  so that when the actuator  201  drives the lower end of the brace  20  sliding along the guide rails  301 , the vertical distance between the base frame  10  and the foundation  30  can be adjusted. 
         [0032]    In addition, the controlling unit of the exercise training system according to the present invention comprises a controlling circuit operatively connected to the power device  11 , actuator  163  of the third link  16 , actuator  171  of the third link  17 , and the actuator  201  of the brace  20 , a detecting system communicated with the guide device  40 , a database, a computing unit and a input device, a display device and an alarm device which are communicated with the controlling circuit, database and computing unit and performs following functions: 
         [0033]    1. controlling the guiding track: controlling the scope, shape and altitude of the moving path of the track point (e) with a constant-track mode or a variable-track mode wherein the constant-track mode leads a training course with the guiding track retaining constant scope, shape and altitude throughout while the variable-track mode leads a training course with the guiding track varied in a preprogrammed range at preprogrammed time points. 
         [0034]    2. controlling the operating speed: controlling the moving speed of the linkage system with a constant-speed mode or a variable-speed mode wherein the constant-speed mode leads a training course with the track point (e) moving stably at a preset speed while the variable-speed mode leads a training course with the moving speed of the track point (e) varied within a preprogrammed range at preprogrammed time points. 
         [0035]    3. detecting motion: utilizing the touch sensing element or circuit of the guide device  40  to detect the relationship between an exerciser&#39;s hand and the guide device  40  and generate a feedback signal as an evaluating material of the consistence of the moving speed and moving path between the exerciser&#39;s hand and the guide device  40 . 
         [0036]    4. implementing database for programming a training parameter: comprising one or more databases the may record human physiological information and corresponding machine operating speed, track and fault tolerance so that an exerciser can input individual physiological information and easily get the exercise training system programmed with a training parameter. 
         [0037]    5. computing and gauging an exerciser&#39;s performance: taking the information recorded in the database as a parameter to gauge an exerciser&#39;s performance detected by the detecting system; figuring out the failure that is defined as a motion rushing or delayed beyond the tolerance; performing a warning sign through the display device or the alarm device; and recording the failure occurrence frequency and time points. 
         [0038]    Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described in detail for purposes of illustration, it will be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations will be possible to the disclosed embodiments without going outside the scope of the invention as disclosed in the claims.