sports equipment

Abstract

To provide an exercise device with excellent practicality that allows various exercises to be performed by moving the lower limbs without causing positional deviation during exercise. [Solution] The exercise equipment comprises a base 1 to be placed on the floor, and a main body 2 positioned relative to the base 1 and swingable, the base 1 having a spherical shaft 3 in the centre of its upper surface, the main body 2 having a ship-bottom shape with a rectangular upper surface in a plan view and a curved lower surface, and foot rests 4 on which the user places their feet are provided at both longitudinal ends of the upper surface, and a bearing 5 into which the spherical shaft 3 slides freely is recessed in the centre of the curved lower surface, the main body 2 being configured to be rotatable horizontally and swingable in 360° directions relative to the base 1 via the spherical shaft 3.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This invention relates to an exercise machine that allows users to perform exercises that move the lower limbs, such as stepping exercises, while sitting on a chair, sofa, etc. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, as this type of exercise equipment, for example, equipment disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 (hereinafter referred to as "prior art examples") has been proposed.

[0003] In these conventional examples, the feet are placed on either side of the main body, which has an arc-shaped bottom, and by stepping alternately, the main body swings relative to the ground surface, allowing for continuous mechanical stepping movements. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-73597 [Patent Document 2] Patent No. 7016530 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the conventional example disclosed in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as "Conventional Example 1") can perform exercises that move the knee joint, in addition to stepping exercises in which both feet step alternately, by thrusting both feet forward alternately (moving the feet alternately back and forth) and rotating the main body horizontally with the top of the arc-shaped bottom surface as a fulcrum. However, during exercise, the main body may move from its installed position, making it impossible to perform continuous exercises smoothly.

[0006] Furthermore, in the conventional example disclosed in Patent Document 2 (hereinafter referred to as "Conventional Example 2"), the main body is positioned by a convex portion provided on the base (substrate), so there is no need to worry about the main body shifting position during exercise as in Conventional Example 1. However, it is not possible to perform exercises such as conventional Example 1 in which the main body is rotated horizontally to move the knee joint.

[0007] As described above, Conventional Example 1 has the problem of positional misalignment, and Conventional Example 2 has limitations on movement (movement of the main body), and both conventional examples have problems in terms of practicality.

[0008] The present invention was developed in consideration of the current situation, and aims to solve the problems of conventional examples and propose a highly practical exercise device that allows users to perform various exercises that move the lower limbs without causing misalignment during exercise. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The gist of the present invention will be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0010] This exercise equipment comprises a base 1 to be placed on the floor, and a main body 2 positioned relative to the base 1 and swingable, wherein the base 1 has a spherical shaft 3 at the center of its upper surface, the main body 2 having a rectangular upper surface in a plan view and a ship-bottom-shaped body with a curved lower surface, and foot rests 4 on which the user's feet are placed are provided at both longitudinal ends of the upper surface, and a bearing 5 into which the spherical shaft 3 is slidably fitted is recessed at the center of the curved lower surface, and the main body 2 is configured to be rotatable horizontally and swingable in 360° directions relative to the base 2 via the spherical shaft 3.

[0011] The present invention also relates to an exercise equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that the base body 1 and the main body 2 are made of wood, and the spherical shaft body 3 and the bearing portion 5 are made of bamboo.

[0012] In addition, in the exercise equipment described in claim 2, the base 1 is characterized in that the upper surface portion is formed in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid, and further, a spherical shaft fitting portion 6 into which the spherical shaft 3 is fitted is provided in the center of the upper surface portion.

[0013] The present invention also relates to an exercise equipment as set forth in claim 3, wherein the shaft insertion portion 6 is made of bamboo. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] Because the present invention is configured as described above, it is an exercise device with excellent practicality that allows you to perform various exercises that move your lower limbs without causing them to shift position during exercise. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the present embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing the present embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is an explanatory exploded perspective view showing the present embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing the state of use of the present embodiment. [Figure 5] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific usage state (left and right swinging movement) of this embodiment. FIG. [Figure 6] 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific usage state (front and back swing movement) of this embodiment. FIG. [Figure 7] 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a specific usage state (horizontal rotation movement) of the present embodiment. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be briefly described with reference to the drawings, illustrating the operation of the present invention.

[0017] In this device, the main body 2 is mounted on a base 1 placed on the floor surface via a spherical shaft 3 so that the main body 2 can swing freely. This means that the main body 2 is positioned relative to the base 1, preventing positional deviation during movement and allowing for smooth continuous movement.

[0018] Furthermore, in this device, the underside of the main body 2 is configured as a ship-bottom-shaped body formed into a curved surface, and further, a bearing portion 5 is recessed in the center of this curved underside, and the spherical shaft 3 provided on the base 1 is configured to slidably fit into this bearing portion 5. As a result, the main body 2 is freely rotatable horizontally and swingable in 360° directions relative to the base 1 via the spherical shaft 3. As a result, it is possible to perform the following exercises: a stepping exercise in which the feet placed on each foot rest 4 step alternately to swing the main body 2 left and right; an ankle exercise in which the feet placed on the foot rest 4 step forward and backward at the same time to swing the main body 2 forward and backward; and an exercise in which the feet placed on each foot rest 4 are thrust forward alternately (the feet are moved forward and backward alternately) to rotate the main body 2 horizontally around the spherical shaft 3 as the axis of rotation, thereby moving the knee joint.

[0019] In this way, the present invention is a highly practical exercise device that allows you to perform a variety of exercises that move your lower limbs without causing them to shift position during exercise. [Example]

[0020] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0021] This example is an exercise machine that allows users to perform exercises that move the lower limbs, such as stepping exercises, while sitting on a chair. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, it is composed of a base 1 that is placed on the floor and a main body 2 that is attached to this base 1 via a spherical shaft 3 so that it can swing freely.

[0022] Each component of this embodiment will be described in detail below.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 3, the base 1 has a rectangular shape in plan view, with the upper surface formed in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid.

[0024] Furthermore, at the center of the upper surface of the base body 1, a spherical shaft fitting portion 6 into which the spherical shaft 3 is fitted is provided.

[0025] Specifically, the shaft fitting portion 6 is configured as a substantially hemispherical concave surface (a concave surface that is slightly shallower than a hemisphere).

[0026] In addition, an anti-slip member 9 is provided on the bottom surface (ground contact surface) of the base body 1.

[0027] Specifically, the anti-slip member 9 is a sheet made of a material capable of exhibiting anti-slip properties, such as sponge rubber or urethane, and in this embodiment, is provided so as to cover the entire bottom surface of the base 1. Note that the anti-slip member 9 does not have to be provided on the entire bottom surface of the base 1, and may be provided partially (for example, on both the left and right sides).

[0028] The base 1 is made of wood, specifically, the shaft fitting portion 6 is made of bamboo, and the rest of the base 1 is made of cedar.

[0029] The main body 2 has an upper surface that is rectangular in plan view, and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, has a bottom surface that is curved like the bottom of a ship.

[0030] In addition, foot rests 4 on which the user's feet are placed are provided at both longitudinal ends of the upper surface.

[0031] Specifically, each foot rest 4 is configured as a recess (approximately 8mm to 10mm deep) with wall portions 7 on both the left and right sides, and is configured to prevent the placed foot from shifting position (falling off) in the left-right direction during exercise.

[0032] Furthermore, the foot rest surface of the foot rest 4 is covered with a cushioning sheet material 8 made of sponge rubber, urethane or the like, so that when the feet are placed on the foot rest 4, they do not feel hard or cold, and furthermore, it has an anti-slip effect, allowing for comfortable exercise.

[0033] In addition, a bearing portion 5 into which the spherical shaft 3 is slidably fitted is recessed in the center of the lower surface formed into the curved surface like the bottom of a ship.

[0034] Specifically, the bearing portion 5 is configured as an approximately hemispherical concave surface (a concave surface that is slightly shallower than a hemisphere), similar to the shaft fitting portion 6 provided on the base 1, and when the spherical shaft body 3 fitted into the shaft fitting portion 6 of the base 1 is fitted into this bearing portion 5 and the main body 2 is axially attached to the spherical shaft body 3, a predetermined gap (approximately 5 mm) is formed between the base 1 and the main body 2, as shown in Figure 2.

[0035] The main body 2 is made of wood, specifically, the bearing portion 5 is made of bamboo, and the rest of the body is made of cedar.

[0036] The spherical shaft body 3 is a perfect sphere with a diameter of 45 mm to 50 mm, and is made of bamboo, just like the bearing portion 5 and the shaft fitting portion 6.

[0037] In this embodiment, the spherical shaft body 3 is configured to be detachably fitted into the shaft fitting portion 6 of the base body 1 and the bearing portion 5 of the main body 2, but it may also be configured to be fixed (non-detachable) to either one (including both a configuration in which a separate body is fixed and a configuration in which it is integrally molded) (when fixed to the main body 2, the shaft fitting portion 6 of the base body 1 becomes the bearing).

[0038] Furthermore, the spherical shaft body 3 is not limited to a perfect sphere, but may be any shape as long as the portion that fits the bearing portion 5 of the main body 2 is spherical. Therefore, for example, the upper side may be semi-spherical and the lower side may be cylindrical (in this case, the shape of the recess in the shaft fitting portion 6 of the base body 1 will also be changed appropriately).

[0039] The effects of the present embodiment configured as above will be described below.

[0040] In this embodiment, the main body 2 is mounted on a base 1 placed on the floor surface via a spherical shaft 3 so that the main body 2 can swing freely, so that the main body 2 is positioned relative to the base 1. As a result, no positional deviation occurs during movement, and continuous movement can be performed smoothly.

[0041] In this embodiment, the underside of the main body 2 is configured to have a curved surface shaped like the bottom of a ship, and furthermore, a bearing portion 5 is recessed in the center of the curved underside, and the spherical shaft 3 provided on the base body 1 is configured to slidably fit into this bearing portion 5. Therefore, the main body 2 is provided so as to be freely rotatable horizontally and swingable in 360° directions relative to the base body 1 via the spherical shaft 3. As a result, as in the conventional example, when a person sits on a chair or sofa as shown in FIG. 4, and places their feet on the footrest 4 in a chair-sitting position as shown in FIG. The foot-stepping motion can be mechanically continued by alternately stepping on the placed feet and swinging the main body 2 left and right, or as shown in Figure 6, the ankle movement can be mechanically continued by simultaneously stepping on the foot rests 4 in the forward and backward directions (towards the toes and heels) and swinging the main body 2 back and forth, and further, as shown in Figure 7, the knee joint movement can be mechanically continued by alternately thrusting the feet placed on each foot rest 4 forward and rotating the main body 2 horizontally with the spherical shaft 3 as the fulcrum.

[0042] Moreover, in this embodiment, the underside of the main body 2, which is provided with a bearing portion 5 that fits into the spherical shaft 3, is formed in the shape of a ship's bottom, and the upper surface of the base 1 is formed in the shape of a quadrangular pyramid.Furthermore, an appropriate gap is provided between the base 1 and the main body 2, which is attached to the base 1 via the spherical shaft 3, so that the range of movement of the main body 2 relative to the base 1 is widened, allowing for more effective movement.

[0043] Furthermore, in this embodiment, all of the components of the base 1, main body 2, and spherical shaft 3 are made of wood, so no metal or plastic waste is generated when the product is disposed of, which contributes to the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals).

[0044] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the spherical shaft body 3, the shaft fitting portion 6 of the base body 1 which serves as a bearing for this spherical shaft body 3, and the bearing portion 5 of the main body 2 are made of bamboo, so that it is possible to obtain the same sliding action as when these are made of metal, and to realize smooth movement.

[0045] That is, in this embodiment, in order to achieve smooth movement of the main body 2, an appropriate frictional resistance (dynamic frictional resistance) is required between the bearing portion 5 of the main body 2 and the spherical shaft 3, and generally, this dynamic frictional resistance is achieved by using a metal member. However, when a metal member is used, as mentioned above, metal waste is generated when it is disposed of, which causes environmental problems.

[0046] In this regard, in this embodiment, instead of metal components, bamboo material is used, which has a similar coefficient of dynamic friction to that of metal components (common metals, for example, the coefficient of dynamic friction between iron and aluminum is about 0.8, the coefficient of dynamic friction between steel and steel is about 0.5, and the coefficient of dynamic friction between bamboo and bamboo is about 0.7), thereby achieving movement equivalent to that achieved when metal components are used while overcoming environmental issues.

[0047] In addition, in this embodiment, by sitting on the main body 2 and swinging your hips from side to side, the main body 2 is rotated horizontally with the spherical shaft body 3 as a fulcrum, so-called twisting exercise can be performed continuously mechanically, which makes it easier to burn fat around the abdomen and is expected to have the effect of slimming the waist.

[0048] In this way, this embodiment allows various exercises that move the lower limbs to be performed in a complex manner while the user is sitting in a chair. For example, if used during an earthquake when one is sitting for a long period of time in a small space such as an evacuation shelter or in a car, it can help prevent the onset of economy class syndrome. It can also be used while doing office work or watching television, allowing the user to move the lower limbs on a daily basis, which provides muscle training and is also useful for preventing lifestyle-related diseases. Furthermore, since it can be used to exercise the arms and waist (abdomen) in addition to the lower limbs (feet, ankles, knees, etc.), it is an innovative exercise device with excellent practicality that can be used in a variety of ways to suit the user's purposes.

[0049] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment, and the specific configuration of each component can be designed as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0050] 1 Base 2 Main unit 3 Spherical shaft 4 Foot rest 5 Bearing section 6 Shaft insertion part

Claims

1. 1. An exercise device comprising: a base to be placed on the floor; and a main body positioned relative to the base so as to be able to swing freely, wherein the base has a spherical shaft at the center of its upper surface; the main body is configured as a ship-bottom shaped body with an upper surface that is rectangular in plan view and a curved lower surface; foot rests on both longitudinal ends of the upper surface for placing the user's feet; and a bearing recess in which the spherical shaft slidably fits is provided at the center of the curved lower surface; the main body is configured to be able to rotate horizontally and swing 360° relative to the base via the spherical shaft.

2. 2. The exercise equipment according to claim 1, wherein said base and said main body are made of wood, and said spherical shaft and said bearing portion are made of bamboo.

3. 3. The exercise equipment according to claim 2, wherein the upper surface of the base is formed in a truncated quadrangular pyramid shape, and further, a spherical shaft fitting portion into which the spherical shaft is fitted is provided at the center of the upper surface.

4. 4. The exercise equipment according to claim 3, wherein the shaft receiving portion is made of bamboo.

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