Exercise apparatus

Abstract

To provide an exercise apparatus which is suitable for the capacity improvement of a user with reduced walking ability.SOLUTION: An exercise apparatus comprises: a crank shaft extending in a longitudinal direction; a pair of crank arms extending in an opposite direction in a side view from each end of the crank shaft; a pair of pedals connected to each end part side of the crank arms and on which a user's feet rest from above and behind; and a pair of rotation mechanisms rotating the pedals, respectively, between a standing state without internal rotation and an internal rotation state with internal rotation by a specified angle in a front view. The rotation mechanisms, in a process where the crank arms rotate from a back position with the crank arms extending backwards to a front position with them extending forwards, internally rotate the pedals by the specified angle from the standing state so as to be the internal rotation state, and in a process where the crank arms rotate from the front position to the back position, externally rotate the pedals from the internal rotation state so as to be the standing state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise device for performing lower limb exercises. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, many configurations have been proposed as exercise devices for exercising the lower limbs. For example, there is an exercise device that is configured so that the toes can swing up and down (see Patent Document 1). With this configuration, you can perform foot pedaling exercises at any inclination angle, and you can train the parts of your body that correspond to that inclination angle.

[0003] There is also an exercise machine in which the pedals are configured so that the angle of the surface on which the feet are placed can be variably driven relative to the radius line as the pedals rotate (see Patent Document 2). With this configuration, the feet and ankles can be forcibly moved in accordance with the pedaling motion, thereby training the feet and ankles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2022-150398 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2001-299959 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the above-mentioned exercise device has the problem that the pedaling exercise places a large burden on the knees, and is therefore not necessarily suitable for improving the walking ability of users whose walking ability has deteriorated due to aging or illness.

[0006] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and its object is to provide an exercise device suitable for improving the walking ability of a user with reduced walking ability. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A first aspect for solving the above problem is an exercise device comprising a crank shaft extending in a left-right direction, a pair of crank arms extending in opposite directions from each end of the crank shaft in a side view, a pair of pedals connected to each end of the crank arms and on which a user's feet are placed from above and rearward, and a pair of rotation mechanisms that rotate the pedals between an upright state in which they are not rotated inward in a front view and an inwardly rotated state in which they are rotated inward by a predetermined angle, wherein the rotation mechanisms rotate the pedals inward from the upright state to the inwardly rotated state as the crank arms swing from a rear position extending rearward to a front position extending forward, and rotate the pedals outward from the inwardly rotated state to the upright state as the crank arms swing from the front position to the rear position.

[0008] In the exercise device of this aspect, when a pedaling exercise is performed using the pedals, the pedals can be rotated in conjunction with the pedaling exercise.

[0009] When the human lower limbs bend and extend the knee, the tibia internally and externally rotates at a certain angle relative to the femur (screw-home motion), so each time the knee is flexed and extended during pedaling, loads are generated in the external and internal rotation directions on the knee.

[0010] With foot-pedaling exercise equipment, the load can accumulate unintended damage in the knees and cause discomfort during exercise, so it cannot necessarily be said to be suitable for improving the walking ability of users with reduced walking ability.

[0011] In this regard, in the exercise device of the above aspect, the pedal rotates in a direction that offsets the load generated on the knee during flexion and extension. Specifically, the pedal displaces from an upright position to an internally rotated position during the process of bending to extension of the knee accompanying the pedaling motion, while it rotates outward from an inclined position to an upright position during the process of extension to flexion.

[0012] In this way, the exercise device in the above aspect can reduce the load on the knees that accompanies pedaling exercise, making it suitable for improving the walking ability of users with reduced walking ability. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front and bottom perspective view of an exercise device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a front view of an exercise device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of an exercise device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 4] FIG. 13 is a front view showing a state in which a pedal of an exercise device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure rotates; [Diagram 5] 1A and 1B are a plan view, a front view, and a side view of a guide member according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. (1) Overall structure

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the exercise device 1 comprises a frame 10 extending in the front-rear direction, a crank shaft 20 extending in the left-right direction, a pair of crank arms 30 extending in opposite directions from each end of the crank shaft 20 in a side view (see Figure 2), a pair of pedals 40 connected to the end sides of the crank arms 30, a pair of rotation mechanisms 50 that rotate the pedals 40, a chair 60 arranged on the rear side of the frame 10, and a torque application mechanism 70 that applies torque to the swinging motion caused by the pair of crank arms 30.

[0016] The pedals 40 are connected to the respective ends of the crank arms 30, and as shown in FIG. 3, the user's feet 100 are placed on them from the rear and above (rear and above; the same applies below).

[0017] The rotation mechanism 50 includes a connecting body 51 that connects the pedal 40 to the end side of the crank arm 30, a protrusion 53 that protrudes inward in the left-right direction from the pedal 40, and a guide portion 55 that guides the rotation and pivoting of the pedal 40.

[0018] Of these, the connecting body 51 has an axle 51a extending outward in the left-right direction from the end of the crank arm 30, surrounded by a cylindrical body 51b that is rotatable about its axis 210. As shown in Fig. 4, the connecting body 51 is connected to the cylindrical body 51b so as to be rotatable about an axis 220 that passes through the pedal 40 in the front-to-back direction.

[0019] In addition, in the pedal 40 in which the foot support surface 41 faces rearward and upward, the protrusion 53 protrudes inward in the left-right direction from a region below the connection point with the connector 51. In this embodiment, the protrusion 53 protrudes from the back surface of the pedal 40.

[0020] The protruding portion 53 is provided at its tip with a roller 57 that rotates in contact with the guide portion 55 .

[0021] In addition, the guide portion 55 is a plate-shaped member that extends around the axis from the connecting body 51 along a plane that intersects with the axis, and by contacting the protrusion 53 with its surface, it guides the rotation and pivoting of the pedal 40.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 5, this guide portion 55 has a surface extending around the axis 210 of the connecting body 51, and a first region 55a thereof, which covers an angular range in which it comes into contact with the protrusion 53 when the crank arm 30 reaches a forward position (see the rear crank arm 30 in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4(b)) where it extends forward, and which is an inclined surface that approaches the pedal 40 as the crank arm 30 approaches the forward position.

[0023] In addition, this guide portion 55 has a second region 55b, which covers an angular range in which the crank arm 30 contacts the protrusion 53 as it moves away from the forward position, and which is an inclined surface that moves away from the pedal 40 side as the region of contact occurs when the crank arm 30 moves away from the forward position.

[0024] In this embodiment, the first region 55a and the second region 55b are configured as a single inclined surface having the same inclination angle.

[0025] Furthermore, of the surface of guide portion 55 extending around the axis of connector 51, third region 55c, excluding first region 55a and second region 55b, has a surface shape that follows a plane that intersects with the axis of connector 51.

[0026] The rotation mechanism 50 also includes a spring 59 that biases the pedal 40 in an outward rotation direction relative to the cylindrical body 51b.

[0027] The rotation mechanism 50 rotates the pedal 40 between an upright state (FIG. 4(a)) in which the pedal is not rotated inward when viewed from the front and an inwardly rotated state (FIG. 4(b)) in which the pedal is rotated inward by a predetermined angle. Specifically, in the process of the crank arm 30 swinging from a rear position (see the crank arm 30 on the near side in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4(a)) in which the crank arm 30 extends rearward to a front position, the pedal 40 is rotated inward by a predetermined angle from the upright state to the inwardly rotated state, whereas in the process of the crank arm 30 swinging from the front position to the rear position, the pedal 40 is rotated outward from the inwardly rotated state to the upright state.

[0028] The torque applying mechanism 70 includes a gear 73 that rotates following the rotation of the crankshaft 20, and a motor 75 that generates torque in a direction that hinders the rotation of each of the gears 73, and these apply torque to the swinging of the crank arm 30.

[0029] (2) Variations Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the gist of the invention.

[0030] For example, in the above embodiment, the protrusion 53 is brought into contact with the guide portion 55 to be displaced, thereby guiding the rotation and turning of the pedal 40. However, the configuration for guiding the rotation and turning of the pedal 40 is not limited to this configuration.

[0031] In the above embodiment, the first region 55a and the second region 55b of the guide portion 55 are configured as the same inclined surface having the same inclination angle. However, the first region 55a and the second region 55b of the guide portion 55 may be configured as different surfaces having different inclination angles.

[0032] (3) Effects In the exercise device 1 of the above embodiment, in the process of the crank arm 30 swinging from the rear position (FIG. 4(a)) to the front position (FIG. 4(b)), that is, when the knee is extended due to pedaling, the pedal 40 displaces from an upright state to an inwardly rotated state. On the other hand, in the process of the crank arm 30 swinging from the front position to the rear position, that is, when the knee is bent, the pedal 40 rotates outward and returns from the inwardly rotated state to an upright state.

[0033] When the human lower limbs extend and flex the knee, the tibia internally and externally rotates at a certain angle relative to the femur (screw-home motion). Therefore, if you perform pedaling without taking this into consideration, a strain will be placed on the knee in the rotational direction each time it is extended and flexed.

[0034] Such strain can easily accumulate unintended damage to the knees and cause discomfort during exercise, so pedaling exercise, which does not take into account the screw-home motion, is not necessarily suitable for improving the abilities of users with reduced walking ability.

[0035] In this regard, the exercise device 1 of the present embodiment can rotate the pedals 40 inward and outward in response to the screw home motion, thereby reducing the load on the knee in the rotational direction when the knee is extended and flexed in accordance with the pedaling motion. This makes the exercise device 1 suitable for improving the walking ability of users with reduced walking ability.

[0036] In addition, in the exercise device 1 of the above embodiment, the protrusion 53 fixed to the pedal 40 can be brought into contact with the guide portion 55 fixed to the crank arm 30 and displaced along the surface of the guide portion 55, thereby allowing the pedal 40 to rotate and turn.

[0037] Specifically, in the guide part 55, the first region 55a expanding around the axis 210 of the connecting body 51 has an inclined surface that approaches the pedal as the region that comes into contact with the crank arm 30 approaches the forward position. As a result, as the crank arm 30 approaches the forward position, the lower region of the pedal 40 is more significantly pressed outward by the protruding part 53, causing the pedal 40 to rotate inward (see FIG. 4(b)).

[0038] Meanwhile, in the guide portion 55, the second region 55b expanding around the axis 210 of the connecting body 51 forms an inclined surface that is further away from the pedal 40 as the region that comes into contact when the crank arm 30 moves away from the forward position becomes larger. As a result, the amount of pressure applied to the pedal 40 by the protruding portion 53 becomes smaller as the crank arm 30 moves away from the forward position, so that the pedal 40 rotates outward and returns to the upright state (see FIG. 4(a)).

[0039] In the guide portion 55, the third region 55c expanding around the axis 210 of the connecting body 51 has a surface shape along a plane intersecting with the axis 210 of the connecting body 51. As a result, when the crank arm 30 is in the vicinity of the rear position, the amount of pressure applied to the pedal 40 by the protrusion 53 remains small, and the pedal 40 is maintained in an upright state.

[0040] Furthermore, in the exercise device 1 of the above embodiment, the rollers 57 are provided at the tips of the protruding parts 53, so that the rotation and turning of the protruding parts 53 along the surface of the guide parts 55 can be achieved more smoothly. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1...exercise device, 10...frame, 20...crankshaft, 30...crank arm, 40...pedal, 41...support surface, 50...rotation mechanism, 51...connecting body, 51a...shaft body, 51b...cylindrical body, 53...protrusion, 55...guide part, 55a...first region, 55b...second region, 55c...third region, 57...roller, 59...spring, 60...chair, 70...torque application mechanism, 73...gear, 75...motor, 100...foot, 210...axis, 220...axis.

Claims

1. A crankshaft extending in the left-right direction; a pair of crank arms extending in opposite directions from respective ends of the crankshaft in a side view; A pair of pedals connected to end sides of the crank arms, respectively, on which a user's feet are placed from above and behind; a pair of rotation mechanisms for rotating the pedals between an upright state in which the pedals are not rotated inward when viewed from the front and an inwardly rotated state in which the pedals are rotated inward by a predetermined angle; the rotation mechanism rotates the pedal inward from the upright state to the inwardly rotated state during a process in which the crank arm swings from a rear position extending rearward to a front position extending forward, and rotates the pedal outward from the inwardly rotated state to the upright state during a process in which the crank arm swings from the front position to the rear position. Exercise equipment.

2. The rotation mechanism includes: a connecting member that connects the shaft extending outward in the left-right direction from the end of the crank arm to the cylindrical body rotatable about its axis and that connects the pedal to the cylindrical body so as to be rotatable about an axis that passes through the pedal in the front-rear direction; a protrusion protruding inward in a left-right direction from a region below a connection point with the connecting body in the pedal having a foot placement surface facing rearward and upward; a guide portion which is a plate-like member extending from the connecting body around the axis along a plane intersecting the axis of the connecting body and which guides the rotation and turning of the pedal by bringing the protrusion into contact with a surface of the guide portion; The guide portion is a first region of the surface extending around the axis of the connecting body, the first region being in an angular range where the crank arm comes into contact with the protruding portion as the crank arm reaches the forward position, is an inclined surface that approaches the pedal as the crank arm comes into contact with the protruding portion when the crank arm approaches the forward position; a second region covering an angle range in which the crank arm contacts the protrusion while moving away from the forward position, the second region being an inclined surface that is farther away from the pedal side as the crank arm contacts the protrusion when moving away from the forward position; Furthermore, a third region, excluding the first region and the second region, of a surface extending around the axis of the connector has a surface shape along a plane intersecting the axis of the connector.

10. The exercise device of claim 1.

3. The protruding portion has a roller at its tip which rotates in contact with the guide portion.

3. The exercise device of claim 2.

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