A crawling-inspired fitness device

Abstract

This invention relates to a crawling-inspired fitness device, belonging to the fields of pain relief and rehabilitation measures for spinal diseases, as well as fitness equipment for general exercise. The device comprises upper limb and lower limb movement sections, connected by a synchronous belt drive. The upper limb movement section includes a front pivot, a front synchronous belt pulley, a wheel, a wheel axle, a support rod, an arm tray, and a hinge restraint device, enabling the arms to perform irregular elliptical movements such as lifting, raising, extending, pressing down, and pulling back. The lower limb movement section includes a rear pivot, a rear synchronous belt pulley, cranks, and foot pedals, enabling circular movements adapted to the human body. The device achieves a diagonal movement pattern (left lower limb-right upper limb linkage) mimicking animal crawling, keeping the upper body nearly horizontal and the spine in a state of gravity unloaded. Through alternating weight-bearing by the limbs, the device drives full-body movement, closely resembling animal crawling motion, achieving the effects of spinal rehabilitation and overall fitness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model belongs to the field of pain relief and rehabilitation measures for specific types of spinal diseases, as well as fitness equipment for whole-body exercise. Background Technology

[0002] Spinal diseases trouble many people in life. The core mechanisms mainly include two aspects: First, intervertebral disc compression. When standing upright, the lumbar and cervical vertebrae bear axial pressure, and long-term compression can easily lead to the leakage of the nucleus pulposus. Second, muscle dysfunction. The deep stabilizing muscle groups such as erector spinae and multifidus are weak and cannot form effective dynamic protection for the vertebral body.

[0003] Quadrupedal reptiles rarely suffer from spinal problems, and their crawling posture has significant biomechanical advantages: in the quadrupedal position, the intervertebral pressure can be reduced to 0.1-0.2 MPa (compared to 1.0-1.5 MPa in the upright position), which can improve the efficiency of metabolic waste excretion by 37% (Urban et al., 2004); when upright, the lumbar spine load is about 80% of the body weight, while in the quadrupedal position, the lumbar spine load is only 25% of the body weight, and the body weight is effectively distributed through the limbs; at the same time, the three-dimensional movement of quadrupedal crawling is a multi-dimensional and efficient primitive mode of exercise, which can build a stronger, more stable, coordinated and flexible body foundation at the physical level.

[0004] Imitation crawling exercises are an excellent form of exercise. However, due to limitations imposed by space and weather conditions, crawling aids are often necessary when humans attempt these exercises. During animal crawling, the limbs make diagonal, back-and-forth movements, engaging the entire body in forward, backward, up-and-down motions. Sometimes the limbs move synchronously, sometimes asynchronously, but they must maintain a basic diagonal balance, thereby engaging the lumbar spine, cervical spine, and the entire body.

[0005] Existing related technologies (such as CN202010651311.X, CN202123051683.8, CN202120474685.9, etc.) and other reptilian fitness devices all involve linear, circular, or a combination of two movements in the upper and lower limbs. These movements differ significantly from the actual reptilian movements of animals and are difficult to achieve the desired fitness and rehabilitation effects. Summary of the Invention

[0006] There is a need to provide a biomimetic fitness device that, under conditions of spinal gravity unloading, moves the cervical and lumbar vertebrae in an effect closer to that of animal crawling.

[0007] This invention differs from existing bionic fitness equipment in that the upper limbs perform irregular elliptical movements. The upper half of the irregular elliptical trajectory has a slightly higher, more curved arc, while the lower half is flatter, creating a lifting, raising, extending, pressing down, and pulling-back motion that more closely resembles the bionic movements of animal crawling. The lower limbs perform circular movements, similar to those adapted to cycling. The movements of the upper and lower limbs are coordinated via front and rear synchronous pulleys and belts, achieving synchronized movement. This allows for diagonal movements (right upper limb - left lower limb linkage) that mimic animal walking patterns, changing the current state of bionic fitness equipment where the upper limb movements are primarily circular, making the fitness process more closely resemble animal crawling. In the specification, "front" refers to the direction of the upper limb movement, and "back" refers to the direction of the lower limb movement.

[0008] Preferably, the overall structure includes a base supported on the ground, a frame mounted on the base, a front support for supporting the upper limb movement components and a rear support for supporting the lower limb movement components on the frame; a beam of a certain strength can be installed between the front and rear supports to reinforce the structure and provide safety protection; a swing arm frame base can also be installed on the frame to fix the swing arm axle support; a small lead screw and a matching damping friction block can be installed above the front support, the small lead screw being used to increase the friction pressure of the damping friction block.

[0009] Preferably, the upper limb movement components include a front pivot, a front synchronous pulley, a wheel, a wheel axle, a support rod, an auxiliary support rod (optional), an arm tray, and a hinge restraint device. The front pivot is mounted on a front support via a bearing seat. The front synchronous pulley is located on the front pivot. The wheel is fixed at both ends of the front pivot. The wheel edge has a wheel axle. The front pivot, wheel, and wheel axle constitute a wheel-axle structure. The wheel axles of the two wheel discs are set at a 180-degree angle to each other. The support rod has a support bearing in the middle or near the middle, and is mounted on the wheel axle via the support bearing. The support rod can be a single rod structure or a combination of a single rod and an auxiliary support rod. Its upper end is hinged to the arm tray via the pivot, and its lower end is hinged to the hinge restraint device. The arm tray includes a handle and a tray. The tray has a support surface (which can be padded) for the forearm to lean against, assisting the wrist in bearing the weight of the body. The handle is easy to grip. In addition, the front synchronous pulley can be equipped with a boss to provide a friction surface for the damping friction block, which can meet the needs of those with better physical fitness to increase their exercise load (non-essential component).

[0010] Preferably, the hinge constraint device can be a rocker arm device or a slider pair device, used to limit the movement of the lower end of the support rod and the range of motion in the horizontal direction (or approximately horizontal direction). The rocker arm device can be a single-rod component or a frame structure; the rocker arm shaft is fixed to the frame through a shaft seat and a rocker arm shaft seat bracket, with the fixed end of the rocker arm at the rear and the swinging end at the front. If an auxiliary support rod is provided, hinge mounting points are provided at the end and secondary end of the rocker arm, respectively, and are hinged to the auxiliary support rod and the lower end of the support rod. The swing arc length of the end of the rocker arm is greater than that of the secondary end, so that the lifting and lowering amplitude of the front end of the arm tray is greater than that of the rear end, which is more in line with the crawling action; the single-rod component rocker arm is suitable for single support rod structures, and also suitable for combined structures of single rod and auxiliary support rod. The slider pair device includes a slider and a guide rail. The guide rail guides in a vertical or approximately vertical direction. The lower end of the support rod is hinged to the slider, limiting the back-and-forth swing of the lower end of the support rod.

[0011] Preferably, the lower limb movement components include a rear axle, a rear timing pulley, cranks, and pedals. The rear axle is mounted on a rear support via bearing seats. The rear timing pulley is fixed to the rear axle. The cranks are fixed at 180-degree angles to both ends of the rear axle. Pedals are mounted on the cranks (with threaded holes compatible with bicycles). When fixing the cranks, the angles of the left crank and the right wheel axle are approximately the same, and the angles of the right crank and the left wheel axle are approximately the same. Angular deviations that do not affect diagonal movement are permissible to allow for diagonal movement of the limbs.

[0012] Preferably, the transmission and auxiliary structure is as follows: the upper limb movement part and the lower limb movement part are connected by a front synchronous pulley, a rear synchronous pulley and a synchronous belt. The front synchronous pulley and the rear synchronous pulley can also be replaced with sprockets, and the corresponding transmission components can be replaced with chains. A front handle can be set on the front side of the frame and a simple seat can be set on the rear side for temporary support and moving of equipment (the front handle and the simple seat are not necessary components). The wheel can be designed as a disc, which also functions as a flywheel. Adding a shell can improve the fit and aesthetics.

[0013] Preferably, the friction resistance adjustment structure includes: a boss on the front synchronous belt pulley, a damping friction block installed on the boss, and a small lead screw on the frame. Tightening the lead screw increases the pressure of the damping friction block on the boss, generating frictional resistance at the boss of the front synchronous belt pulley. This configuration is only suitable for individuals with exceptionally good physical condition who require increased load. The front synchronous belt pulley boss, the damping friction block, and the small lead screw acting on the damping friction block are optional components and not essential for achieving the core function of this invention.

[0014] Exercise effects: The upper limb movement drives the arms to make irregular elliptical movements, while the lower limbs make circular movements. The upper and lower limbs move in unison to form diagonal movements of the limbs. The relative height of the upper and lower limb movement parts makes the upper body close to horizontal, and the spine is in a state of unloading gravity. The limbs alternately bear the weight of the body, and the movement is similar to the crawling of a quadruped. It can effectively activate the spinal joints and strengthen the muscles around the spine. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Appendix Figure 1 Example 1: Overall structural appearance of the device.

[0016] Appendix Figure 2 Example 1: Appearance of the frame structure of the device.

[0017] Appendix Figure 3 Example 1: A partial structural view of the device including an arm tray, support rod, auxiliary support rod, frame-type swing arm, and swing arm axle support.

[0018] Appendix Figure 4 Appendix Figure 3 Another perspective view.

[0019] Appendix Figure 5 Example 1: A cross-sectional view (viewed from front to back) through the front pivot axis and through the side pivot axes of both wheels, and also includes a partial cross-sectional view of the support rod.

[0020] Appendix Figure 6 Example 1: A partial view of the front structure of the device.

[0021] Appendix Figure 7 It is attached. Figure 5 A magnified view of a wheel and related components extracted from it.

[0022] Appendix Figure 8 : This is an image of the outer side of the roulette wheel with the obstruction removed, and a partial image of the friction block with the obstruction removed.

[0023] Appendix Figure 9 Example 1: A cross-sectional view (viewed from front to back) through the rear shaft axis and the crank centerline.

[0024] Appendix Figure 10 Example 1: External structural diagram of the front bottom and lower limb movement part of the device.

[0025] Appendix Figure 11 Example 1: An external view of the manufactured trial device with a simple outer casing.

[0026] Appendix Figure 12 Example 2: External structural diagram of a pendulum rod and a single support rod using a single rod component.

[0027] Appendix Figure 13 Example 3: External structural diagram using slider pair and single support rod.

[0028] Appendix Figure 14 Example 4: External structural diagram of the pendulum rod, support rod, and auxiliary support rod using a single-rod component. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To more clearly illustrate this technical solution, the embodiments of this utility model are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are only used to explain the present invention and do not constitute a limitation on the protection scope of this utility model. Example 1

[0030] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 1 Appendix Figure 2 It includes a base 01 fixed on the ground, a frame on the base 01, a simple seat 19 set on the frame, a front support 09 for the upper limb movement component, a rear support 02 for the lower limb movement component, a beam 30, a small lead screw 15, a front handle 16, and a swing arm frame base 20.

[0031] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 5 Appendix Figure 7 A front bearing seat 25 is provided on the front support 09. The front shaft 23 is mounted on the front bearing seat 25 through a bearing. A front synchronous pulley 17 is provided on the front shaft 23. Wheel discs 08 are fixed at both ends of the front shaft 23. Wheel disc side shafts 21 are provided at the edges of the wheel discs 08 on both sides. The wheel disc side shafts 21 on both sides are set at a 180-degree angle to each other.

[0032] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 5 Appendix Figure 7 Appendix Figure 8 The components on both sides are symmetrical. Please let us attach... Figure 5 Taking the right-side component as an example, see attached. Figure 7 It is attached Figure 5On the right side, threaded holes are evenly distributed around the axis at both ends of the front rotating shaft 23, and threaded holes are evenly distributed around the axis near the inner hole of the wheel 08. This embodiment also includes a fixed end cap 231 (the fixed end cap 231 can also be integrated with the wheel 08). The disc-shaped fixed end cap 231 has light holes evenly distributed on two circles of different radii around the center of the disc. The light holes on the inner circle are adapted to the threaded holes on the front rotating shaft 23, and the light holes on the outer circle are adapted to the threaded holes on the wheel 08. The screw 232 secures the fixed end cover 231 and the wheel 08 through the outer circular hole of the fixed end cover 231 and the threaded hole on the wheel 08; the screw 233 secures the fixed end cover 231 and the front rotating shaft 23 through the inner circular hole of the fixed end cover 231 and the threaded hole on the shaft end of the front rotating shaft 23, thus fixing the wheel 08 to the front rotating shaft 23; when fixing the wheel 08 at both ends of the front rotating shaft, the wheel side shafts on both sides should be at a 180-degree angle to each other.

[0033] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 3 Appendix Figure 4 The bottom of the arm tray is equipped with bearing seats for fixed support rods and auxiliary support rods. A handle is located on the front side of the upper end. The tray is covered with a soft pad. When using it, hold the handle and rest your forearm on the soft pad on the tray.

[0034] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 1 Appendix Figure 2 Appendix Figure 3 Appendix Figure 4 Appendix Figure 5 Appendix Figure 7 Appendix Figure 10 The frame-type swing rod 10 is fixed to the swing rod base 20 on the frame via the swing rod axle seat bracket 12; the support rod 05 is mounted on the wheel disc side shaft 21 via the support bearing 22 (attached). Figure 5 Appendix Figure 7 The small shafts at the upper ends of support rod 05 and auxiliary support rod 07 are mounted on the bearing seats below the arm tray 06 (see attached). Figure 4 The lower ends of support rod 05 and auxiliary support rod 07 are mounted on the frame-type swing rod 10 via spherical bearings (see attached). Figure 3 Appendix Figure 4 ).

[0035] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 9 Appendix Figure 10A bearing seat 27 is installed on the rear support 02 of the lower limb movement component. The rear shaft 28 is mounted on the bearing seat 27 via a bearing. A rear synchronous pulley 13 is installed on the rear shaft 28. Threaded holes are evenly distributed around the axis on both end faces of the rear shaft. Screws 281 fix the crank 03 to both ends of the rear shaft 28. The left and right cranks are positioned at a 180-degree angle to each other. When fixing the crank 03, the angle of the left foot-side crank should be basically consistent with the angle of the right-side wheel axle to form diagonal movement of the limbs. The end of the crank 03 has a threaded hole 29 for mounting the foot pedal 26. The threaded hole 29 for mounting the foot pedal is compatible with the threaded mounting holes of bicycle pedals on the market. Figure 10 External view of the installation of foot pedal 26.

[0036] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 1 Appendix Figure 6 The front synchronous pulley 17 on the front shaft and the rear synchronous pulley 13 on the rear shaft are connected by a synchronous belt 11.

[0037] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 8 A damping friction block 18 is provided on the frame at the outer edge of the boss near the front synchronous pulley 17, and a small lead screw 15 is provided above the damping friction block 18. When the small lead screw 15 presses against the damping friction block 18, the damping friction block 18 will generate frictional resistance at the boss of the front synchronous pulley 17, increasing the motion load. It is suitable for use when the motion load needs to be increased.

[0038] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 11 Example 1 shows the appearance of a trial fitness device with a simple outer shell. This manufacturing example adopts a simplified manufacturing method while ensuring technical performance. Example 2

[0039] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 12 The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the auxiliary support rod is omitted and a single support rod structure is adopted. At the same time, the swing rod 31 with a single rod component is used, which simplifies the structure of the device and is suitable for people with good arm control. The exercise effect is basically the same as that of embodiment 1. Example 3

[0040] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 13 The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that the auxiliary support rod, swing rod and swing rod installation-related components are omitted. The lower end of the support rod 05 is constrained by a slider pair device. The lower end of the support rod 05 is hinged to the pivot of the slider 32. The guide rail 33 is vertically fixed on the frame base. By sliding the slider 32 along the guide rail 33, the back-and-forth swing of the lower end of the support rod 05 is restricted, so that the upper limb forms an irregular elliptical motion. Example 4

[0041] Please refer to the attached document. Figure 14The difference between this embodiment and embodiment 1 is that a single-rod pendulum 36 is used below the support rod 05 and the auxiliary support rod 07. The lower ends of the support rod 05 and the auxiliary support rod 07 are respectively installed at the secondary end and the end of the pendulum 36 through joint bearings. This simplifies the pendulum structure and ensures that the upper limb movement trajectory meets the requirements of bionics. It is a typical application of a single-rod pendulum.

[0042] The above-disclosed embodiments are merely preferred embodiments of the present technology and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present technology. Those skilled in the art will understand that implementing all or part of the processes of the above embodiments and making equivalent changes to the claims of the present technology are still within the scope of the present technology.

Claims

1. A crawling-simulating exercise machine characterized by: The system includes a base for fixing to the ground, a frame on the base, a front support on the frame supporting an upper limb movement component, and a rear support on the frame supporting a lower limb movement component. The upper limb movement component includes a front pivot, a front synchronous pulley on the front pivot, wheel discs at both ends of the front pivot, wheel disc axles at the edges of the wheel discs at both ends, support rods driven by the two wheel disc axles, an arm tray above the support rods, and a hinge restraint device at the lower end of the support rods. The lower limb movement component includes a rear pivot, a rear synchronous pulley on the rear pivot, cranks on both sides of the rear pivot, and foot pedals on the cranks on both sides. The upper limb movement component and the lower limb movement component are connected by a synchronous belt drive.

2. A body-building machine for simulating a crawling motion as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The arm tray is supported above the support rod, and the support rod and the arm tray are connected by a pivot hinge; the arm tray includes a handle and a tray, the tray having a support surface for the forearm to lean against, the support surface being used to assist the wrist in bearing the weight of the human body.

3. A body-building machine for simulating a crawling motion as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The two wheel axles are arranged at a 180-degree angle to each other on the wheel, and the front axle, the wheel discs on both sides of the front axle, and the wheel axles on the wheel constitute a wheel and axle structure.

4. The crawling-inspired fitness equipment as described in claim 1, characterized in that: A support bearing is provided at the middle or near the middle of the support rod, and the support bearing is installed on the wheel disc side axle; the support rod is a single rod structure or a combination structure of a single rod plus an auxiliary support rod, and the arm tray is supported by a single support rod or by the support rod and the auxiliary support rod together; the upper ends of the support rod and the auxiliary support rod are hinged to the arm tray pivot, and the lower ends of the support rod and the auxiliary support rod are hinged to the hinge constraint device.

5. A body-building machine for simulating a crawling motion as claimed in claim 4 wherein: The hinge constraint device is a rocker arm or a slider pair. Both the rocker arm and the slider pair are used to limit the movement of the lower end of the support rod and limit the range of movement of the lower end of the support rod in the horizontal or near-horizontal direction.

6. A body-building machine for simulating a crawling motion as claimed in claim 5 wherein: The shaft end of the pendulum is fixed to the frame; when the support rod is a single-rod structure, the swing end of the pendulum is hinged to the lower end of the support rod; when the support rod is a combination structure of a single rod and an auxiliary support rod, hinge mounting points are respectively provided at the end and the secondary end of the pendulum, and the two hinge mounting points are respectively hinged to the auxiliary support rod and the lower end of the support rod; the support rod drives the pendulum to swing up and down, and the pendulum is a single-rod component or a frame structure with a pendulum effect.

7. A body-building machine for simulating a crawling motion as claimed in claim 5 wherein: The slider assembly includes a slider and a guide rail. The guide rail is directed in a vertical or approximately vertical direction. The slider is hinged to the lower end of the support rod.

8. A body-building machine for simulating a crawling motion as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The rear shaft is mounted on the rear support, and the cranks on both sides are fixed at 180-degree angles to the two ends of the rear shaft. The relative positions of the cranks and the wheel axles are as follows: the angles of the left crank and the right wheel axle are roughly the same, and the angles of the right crank and the left wheel axle are roughly the same. An angular deviation that does not affect the diagonal movement is allowed between the two, so that the diagonal movement of the limbs is formed when the device moves.

9. A body-building machine for simulating a crawling motion as claimed in claim 1 wherein: The upper limb movement component and the lower limb movement component are connected by a front synchronous pulley, a rear synchronous pulley, and a synchronous belt; the front synchronous pulley and the rear synchronous pulley are synchronous pulleys or sprockets, and the corresponding transmission components are synchronous belts or chains.

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