Exercise device

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 wais...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[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.

[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.

[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.

Problems solved by technology

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.

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.

However, study of “knee / waist same side type actions” is difficult depending on the person.

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.

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