Patent ID: 7887425

Claim:
A balance training apparatus for applying an exercise load to a subject, comprising: a seat to allow the subject to sit thereon; a driving source to generate a driving force; a rocking mechanism for rockingly moving the seat, the rocking mechanism including: a first converter having a first drive member for receiving the driving force transmitted from the driving source and a first converting mechanism for converting the driving force from the driving source to a rocking motion having a first axis; a second converter having a second drive member for receiving the driving force from the first drive member, and a second converting mechanism for converting the driving force from the first drive member to a rocking motion having a second axis intersecting with the first axis; and a transmitting mechanism to transmit the driving force from the first drive member to the second drive member; a detector to detect a phase relationship between the first drive member and the second drive member; and a controller to control the transmission of the driving force from the first drive member to the second drive member based on the phase relationship detected by the detector, wherein the transmitting mechanism includes: a first gear mechanism formed in the first drive member; a second gear mechanism mounting on the second drive member in the shape of a shaft; a switching member provided between the second gear mechanism and the second drive member; and a cam for actuating the switching member; and a drive mechanism for driving the cam, the drive mechanism being controlled by the controller, wherein: the first gear mechanism includes: a driven gear for receiving the driving force from the driving source; a first transmitting gear for transmitting the driving force to the second gear mechanism; a second transmitting gear for transmitting the driving force to the second gear mechanism; the second gear mechanism includes: a first driven gear for receiving the driving force from the first transmitting gear at a first gear ratio; a second driven gear for receiving the driving force from the second transmitting gear at a second transmitting gear at a second gear ratio greater than the first gear ratio; the switching member includes a cylinder which is: mounted on the second drive member; axially movable between the first driven gear and the second driven gear; and switchably engageable with the first driven gear and the second driven gear.