Exercise assisting device

Abstract

The exercise assisting device includes a support unit (1) configured to bear a user's body and a drive device (2). The support unit (1) includes a pair of foot supports (4) having a bearing member (40) configured to bear the user's left foot and right foot respectively. The drive device (2) is configured to drive the support unit (1) to move the user's body so as to vary a load applied to user's lower limb. The exercise assisting device further includes a tilting device (A). The tilting device (A) includes a load detection unit (5), a tilting mechanism unit (6), and a control unit (8). The load detection unit (5) includes two load sensors (50) provided to an outer portion (40a) and an inner portion (40b) of the bearing member (40) respectively. The tilting mechanism unit (6) is configured to tilt the bearing member (40) inward or outward with regard to the user's foot. The control unit (8) is configured to control the tilting mechanism unit (6) so as to reduce a difference between loads detected by two load sensors (50) respectively.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise assisting device which gives an exercise effect to a user without the user's voluntary (active) exercise.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the past, there have been proposed various types of exercise assisting devices which have a user make a passive exercise so as to give an exerciser effect to the user. The passive exercise is an exercise where the user's muscles are stretched without effort but with an aid of external forces being applied to the user. Therefore, these exercise assisting devices can give the exercise effect to the user in a like fashion as the user exercises voluntarily.

[0003] The exercise assisting devices are known to be classified into two types, one being configured to apply a force of bending joints of the user for stretching the muscles associated with the joints, and the other configured to apply a stimulus to a user's body to cause a nervous reflex by which associated muscles are forced to stretch.[0004...

Examples

first embodiment

[0025]There is an exercise assisting device in accordance with the first embodiment adapted in use to be placed on a floor. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exercise assisting device includes a support unit 1 configured to bear a body of a user M (see FIG. 3), a drive device 2, and a housing 3. The support unit 1 includes a pair of foot supports 4 respectively configured to bear the left foot and right foot of the user M. The drive device 2 is configured to move the foot supports 4 to move the body of the user M with one's feet resting on the foot supports 4 respectively so as to vary a load applied to a lower limb of the user M. The support unit 1 and drive device 2 are housed in the housing 3.

[0026]The housing 3 includes a base plate 30 used as a carrier to be placed on a floor, and designed to have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The pair of the foot supports 4 and drive device 2 are disposed on the base plate 30. The base plate 30 in the present embodiment is configured to hav...

second embodiment

[0076]The exercise assisting device of the present embodiment is different in the configuration of the tilting device A from the exercise assisting device of the first embodiment. Other components of the exercise assisting device of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore the other components are designated by like reference numerals and dispensed with duplicate explanations.

[0077]In the tilting device A of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the load detection unit 5 includes the load sensor 50 configured to detect the load applied to the inner portion 40b of the bearing member 40. In short, unlike the load detection unit 5 of the first embodiment, the load detection unit 5 of the present embodiment includes only one load sensor 50.

[0078]The control unit 8 of the present embodiment is configured to control the tilting mechanism unit 6 based on the load detected by the one load sensor 50. The control unit 8 is configured to mak...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise assisting device which gives an exercise effect to a user without the user's voluntary (active) exercise.BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the past, there have been proposed various types of exercise assisting devices which have a user make a passive exercise so as to give an exerciser effect to the user. The passive exercise is an exercise where the user's muscles are stretched without effort but with an aid of external forces being applied to the user. Therefore, these exercise assisting devices can give the exercise effect to the user in a like fashion as the user exercises voluntarily.

[0003] The exercise assisting devices are known to be classified into two types, one being configured to apply a force of bending joints of the user for stretching the muscles associated with the joints, and the other configured to apply a stimulus to a user's body to cause a nervous reflex by which associated muscles are forced to stretch.[0004...

Examples

first embodiment

[0025]There is an exercise assisting device in accordance with the first embodiment adapted in use to be placed on a floor. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exercise assisting device includes a support unit 1 configured to bear a body of a user M (see FIG. 3), a drive device 2, and a housing 3. The support unit 1 includes a pair of foot supports 4 respectively configured to bear the left foot and right foot of the user M. The drive device 2 is configured to move the foot supports 4 to move the body of the user M with one's feet resting on the foot supports 4 respectively so as to vary a load applied to a lower limb of the user M. The support unit 1 and drive device 2 are housed in the housing 3.

[0026]The housing 3 includes a base plate 30 used as a carrier to be placed on a floor, and designed to have a rectangular parallelepiped shape. The pair of the foot supports 4 and drive device 2 are disposed on the base plate 30. The base plate 30 in the present embodiment is configured to hav...

second embodiment

[0076]The exercise assisting device of the present embodiment is different in the configuration of the tilting device A from the exercise assisting device of the first embodiment. Other components of the exercise assisting device of the present embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment. Therefore the other components are designated by like reference numerals and dispensed with duplicate explanations.

[0077]In the tilting device A of the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the load detection unit 5 includes the load sensor 50 configured to detect the load applied to the inner portion 40b of the bearing member 40. In short, unlike the load detection unit 5 of the first embodiment, the load detection unit 5 of the present embodiment includes only one load sensor 50.

[0078]The control unit 8 of the present embodiment is configured to control the tilting mechanism unit 6 based on the load detected by the one load sensor 50. The control unit 8 is configured to mak...

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