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] Further, the exercise assisting devices are designed to require the user to take
different postures depending upon the muscles to be stretched. One example of the
exercise assisting devices is to simulate a walking by the user at a standing posture,
as proposed in
JP 2003-290386 A and
JP10-55131 A.
[0005] JP 2003-290386 A discloses a training device which includes a pair of steps bearing thereon left and
right feet of the user, and is configured to interlock the reciprocating movements
of the left and right steps for providing a skating simulation exercise to the user.
The device is arranged to shift the user's weight along forward/rearward direction
and also along lateral direction such that the user makes the use of one's nervous
reflex to keep a balance with an effect of stretching the muscles. The steps are driven
by a driving mechanism to move so that the user can enjoy the passive exercise simply
by placing one's feet on the steps and without making an effort or active movement.
JP 10-55131 A discloses a walk experience device is designed for walking training or virtual-reality
exercise, and includes a pair of left and right foot plates driven by a horizontal
driving unit.
[0006] The device of
JP 2003-290386 A or
JP 10-55131 A is widely utilized by a user suffering from such as knee pains when training one's
lower limb. By the way, knee osteoarthritis is known to be a main cause of the knee
pains. The knee osteoarthritis may develop as a consequence of that distorted skeleton
of user's lower limbs such as bow-legs and knock-knees is kept over a prolonged period,
i.e., a load axis (passing through the hip joint and ankle joint) is being long kept
out of a knee center. Therefore, it is important to correct skeletal deformity of
the lower limbs for the purpose of preventing the knee pains. However, the device
of
JP 2003-290386 A or
JP 10-55131 A is not intended to correct the skeletal deformity of the lower limbs.
Disclosure of Invention
[0007] In view of above insufficiency, the purpose of the present invention has been accomplished
to provide an exercise assisting device capable of correcting a skeletal deformity
of a lower limb.
[0008] The exercise assisting device in accordance with the present invention includes a
support unit configured to bear a user's body and a drive device. The support unit
includes a pair of foot supports having a bearing member configured to bear the user's
left foot and right foot respectively. The drive device is configured to drive the
support unit 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. The tilting
device is configured to tilt at least one part of the bearing member so as to reduce
a difference between a load applied to an outer portion of the bearing member corresponding
to an outer part of user's foot and a load applied to an inner portion of the bearing
member corresponding to an inner part of the user's foot.
[0009] According to this invention, at least one part of the bearing member is tilted so
as to reduce the difference between the load applied to the outer portion of the bearing
member and the load applied to the inner portion of the bearing member. Therefore,
while the load applied to the outer portion of the bearing member exceeds the load
applied to the inner portion of the bearing member (that is, the user has bow legs),
the load applied to the inner part of the lower limb is increased to a greater extent
than in a condition where the user's foot has its width direction kept parallel to
a horizontal plane. Accordingly, it is possible to intensively train the inner part
of muscles of the lower limb. Meanwhile, while the load applied to the inner portion
of the bearing member exceeds the load applied to the outer portion of the bearing
member (that is, the user has knock knees), the load applied to the outer part of
the lower limb is increased to a greater extent than in a condition where the user's
foot has its width direction kept parallel to the horizontal plane. Accordingly, it
is possible to intensively train the outer part of the muscles of the lower limb.
Thus, it is possible to improve a balance (capacity imbalance) between the outer part
and the inner part of the muscles of the lower limb, even if the user has bow legs
or knock knees. As a result, it is possible to remedy deformed bones of the lower
limb (that is, it is possible to recover a skeletal alignment of the lower limb).
Further, the user can have the exercise while balancing the load applied to the lower
limb (i.e., equalizing the loads applied to the outer and inner parts of the lower
limb), thereby reducing the load acting on the knee joint. Accordingly, the user can
enjoy a comfortable passive exercise (training) while being alleviated of the knee
pain, which means that even the user suffering from knee pains during one's walking
can make the passive exercise.
[0010] In a preferable embodiment, the tilting device includes a load detection unit provided
to the foot support so as to detect a load applied to the bearing member, and a tilting
mechanism unit configured to tilt at least one part of the bearing member inward or
outward with regard to the user's foot. The tilting device further includes a control
unit configured to control the tilting mechanism unit based on the load detected by
the load detection unit.
[0011] According to this embodiment, at least one part of the bearing member is tilted inward
or outward with regard to the user's foot based on the load detected by the load detection
unit. Therefore, it is possible to adjust a tilt of the bearing member to be a tilt
suitable for the user.
[0012] In a more preferable embodiment, the load detection unit includes two load sensors
provided to the outer portion and the inner portion of the bearing member respectively.
The control unit is configured to control the tilting mechanism unit so as to reduce
a difference between loads respectively detected by the two load sensors.
[0013] According to this embodiment, since the load applied to the outer portion of the
bearing member and load applied to the inner portion of the bearing member are detected,
it is possible to estimate a deformation of the user's lower limb precisely. Therefore,
it is possible to adjust a tilt of the bearing member to be a tilt suitable for the
user.
[0014] In a more preferable embodiment, the load detection unit includes a load sensor provided
to either the outer portion or the inner portion of the bearing member. The control
unit is configured to make a comparison of a load detected by the load sensor with
a predetermined threshold, and determine the difference between the load applied to
the outer portion of the bearing member and the load applied to the inner portion
of the bearing member based on the resultant comparison.
[0015] According to this embodiment, the number of the load sensor of the load detection
unit can be reduced to one. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a production cost.
Brief Description of Drawings
[0016]
FIG. 1A is a block diagram illustrating a principle part of an exercise assisting
device in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view showing the principle part of the above exercise
assisting device;
FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the above exercise assisting device;
FIG. 3 is an explanatory view of the above exercise assisting device;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of an exercise assisting device in accordance with a
second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing a principle part of the above exercise assisting
device of another configuration;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing a principle part of the above exercise assisting
device of another configuration;
FIG. 7A is a side view showing the above exercise assisting device of another configuration;
and
FIG. 7B is a top view showing the same.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention
(first embodiment)
[0017] 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.
[0018] 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 have the rectangular parallelepiped shape,
although not limited to a peripheral shape. For a simplified explanation made hereinafter,
the base plate
30 is illustrated to have a top surface parallel to the floor when it is placed on the
floor. Accordingly, a vertical dimension in FIG. 1B is equal to a vertical dimension
of the exercise assisting device to be in use.
[0019] An upper plate
31 is disposed above the base plate
30, and is coupled thereto to constitute a housing
3, It is noted that an arrow X in FIG. 2 denotes a forward direction of the housing
3. The upper plate
31 is not shown in FIG. 2.
[0020] The upper plate
31 is formed with two openings
31 a extending in a thickness direction of the upper plate
31 to expose the foot supports
4, respectively. The openings
31 a are each formed into a rectangular shape. The openings
31a have their longitudinal center lines extending in a crossing relation with respect
to the back-and-forth direction of the housing
3 such that the distance between the center lines is greater at the front ends of the
openings
31a than at the rear ends thereof.
[0021] Each of the foot supports
4 has a bearing member
40 that is a footrest where the user
M rests one's foot. In order to distinguish the foot supports
4, as necessary, the foot support
4 for bearing the left foot of the user
M is represented as the left foot support
4A, and the foot support
4 for bearing the right foot of the user
M is represented as the right foot support
4B. The foot supports
4 are designed in a similar manner. Therefore, an explanation is made to the left foot
support
4A with reference to FIG. 1B, and an explanation concerning the right foot support
4B is omitted.
[0022] The left foot support
4A has the bearing member
40 where the user
M rests one's left foot. The bearing member
40 is formed into a rectangular plate to have such dimensions as to bear the entire
foot of the user
M. The bearing member
40 has a bearing surface (upper surface in FIG. 1B) where the user
M rests ones' foot and is made of a material or shaped to have a large coefficient
of friction.
[0023] There is a load detection unit
5 provided to the bearing member
40. The load detection unit
5 is configured to detect a load applied to the bearing member
40 and has two load sensors
50. One load sensor
50 (represented by a reference number
50A, as necessary) is provided to an outer portion (left portion in FIG. 1B)
40a of the bearing member
40 corresponding to an outer part of user's foot. The other load sensor
50 (represented by a reference number
50B, as necessary) is provided to an inner portion (right portion in FIG. 1B)
40b of the bearing member
40 corresponding to an inner part of the user's foot. That is, the load detection unit
5 includes the load sensor
50A configured to detect a load applied to the outer portion
40a and load sensor
50B configured to detect a load applied to the inner portion
40b. It is noted that a sensor made of semiconductors is adopted as the load sensor
50. Further, a load cell utilizing a strain gauge can be adopted as the load sensor
50.
[0024] There is a basement
41 disposed below the bearing member
40 (between the base plate
30 and the bearing member
40) and rotatively coupled to the bearing member
40. The basement
41 has an opposite surface (upper surface, in FIG. 1B) opposite to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40, and the opposite surface is provided with a side wall portion
42. The side wall portion
42 is provided at its apex with a tilting axle
43 to be rotatively connected to the bearing member
40. The inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 is provided at its lower surface (back surface) with a tilting bearing
44 having an axle hole
44a for the tilting axle
43. The tilting axle
43 is formed such that its central axis extends along a forward/rearward direction of
the foot of the user
M. To rotate the bearing member
40 around the tilting axle
43 can tilt the bearing member outward (leftward, in FIG. 1B) or inward (rightward,
in FIG. 1B) with regard to the foot of the user
M. The bearing surface of the bearing member
40 where the user
M rests one's left foot can be tilted as the bearing member
40 is tilted.
[0025] By the way, there is a tilt adjusting unit
45 provided to the foot support
4. The tilt adjusting unit
45 is configured to adjust a tilt of the bearing member
40. The tilt adjusting unit
45 includes a rack
45a provided to a lower surface of the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40, and further includes a gear
45b provided to the basement
41. The gear
45b meshes with the rack
45a. The tilt adjusting unit
45 further includes an adjusting motor
45c being a stepping motor (pulse motor) configured to rotate the gear
45b clockwise or counterclockwise. The basement
41 has a through hole for the rack
45a extending in a thickness direction thereof.
[0026] The tilt adjusting unit
45 drives the adjusting motor 45c to rotate the gear
45b clockwise or counterclockwise. The rack
45a moves upward or downward in relative to the gear
45b as the gear
45b rotates or counterrotates. A movement of the rack
45a varies a distance between the bearing member
40 and the basement
41 is varied in an opposite end (the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40) in a width direction of the foot support
4. Therefore, the tilt of the bearing member
40 varies. It is noted that the basement
41, side wall portion
42, tilting axle
43, tilting bearing
44, and tilt adjusting unit
45 are not shown in FIG. 2.
[0027] As described in the above, the left foot support
4A is provided with the load detection unit
5 configured to detect the load applied to the bearing member
40 (that is, the load applied by the left foot of the user
M) and the tilting mechanism unit
6 configured to tilt the bearing member
40 inward or outward with regard to the foot (left foot). Likewise, the right foot support
4B is provided with the load detection unit
5 configured to detect the load applied to the bearing member
40 (that is, the load applied by the user
M 's right foot) and the tilting mechanism unit
6 configured to tilt the bearing member
40 inward or outward with regard to the foot (right foot). In the following explanation,
in order to distinguish the load detection unit
5 and tilting mechanism unit
6 of the left foot support
4A from the load detection unit
5 and tilting mechanism unit
6 of the right foot support
4B respectively, a suffix
"A" is attached to the reference number of each of the load detection unit
5 and tilting mechanism unit
6 of the left foot support
4A, and a suffix "
B" is attached to the reference number of each of the load detection unit
5 and tilting mechanism unit 6 of the right foot support
4B, as necessary.
[0028] Further, there is a pair of bearings
46 integrally formed on the lower surface of the basement
41. The bearings
46 are apart from each other in the width direction of the bearing member
40. There is a bearing plate
47 of U-shaped cross section rotatively coupled to the basement
41 to have its open end oriented upwardly. An axle
48 penetrating through the legs
47a of the bearing plate
47 and the bearings
46 is used for a rotative coupling of the bearing member
47. In this manner, the axle
46 is located along a width direction of the bearing member
40. The bearing member
40 can rotate around the axle
48 such that both ends thereof in its longitudinal direction move upwardly or downwardly
relative to the bearing plate
47. It is noted that the bearing
46, bearing plate
47, and axle
48 are not shown in FIG. 1B.
[0029] By the way, the bearing plate
47 is attached to an upper surface of a footrest cover (not shown). The footrest cover
is slidably attached to the base plate
30. A truck
70 of U-shaped cross section is fixed to a bottom of the footrest cover to have its
open end oriented downwardly.
[0030] The truck
70 is provided on each exterior face with two wheels
71. The base plate
30 is formed with two fixed rails
72 for each of the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B. The truck
70 is placed on the rails
72 with the wheels
71 roll in rail grooves
72a in an upper surface of the rails
72. A derailment prevention plate (not shown) is provided on the upper surface of the
rail
72 for preventing the wheels
71 from running off the rail grooves
72a.
[0031] By the way, the rails
72 extend in a direction different from a lengthwise direction of the openings
31a in the housing
3. As described in the above, the openings 31
a have their individual longitudinal center lines crossed with each other so as to
be spaced by a larger distance at the forward ends than at the rearward ends. Also,
the rails
72 have their individual longitudinal directions crossed with each other in the like
manner.
[0032] However, the rails
72 are inclined in relation to the forward/rearward direction of the housing
3 at a large angle than the openings
31a. For example, when the openings
31a have their lengths inclined relative to the forward/rearward direction of the housing
3 at an angle of
15°, the rails
72 have its length inclined at an angle of 45°. In short, the rails
72 are oriented to such a direction as to prevent an increase of shearing force acting
on the knee joints while the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B are moved along the rails
72 in a condition that the user's feet are placed thereon with each center line of the
feet aligned with each of the length of the openings
31a. Further, each of the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B is located such that the longitudinal direction of each of the left and right foot
supports
4A and
4B is inclined, for example, at an angle of 9° relative to the forward/rearward direction
(the direction indicated by the arrow X). Therefore, the user can take a natural posture
without suffering from twisted feet when standing on the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B. Although the present embodiment illustrates a preferred mode that the left and right
foot supports
4A and
4B are moved along the individual travel paths of shifting their positions both in the
forward/rearward direction and the lateral direction, it is possible to determine
the orientation of the rails
72 such that the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B are moved either in the forward/rearward direction or the lateral direction.
[0033] With the above arrangement, the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B are allowed to reciprocate respectively along the length of the rails
72. Because of that the rails
72 have their length crossed respectively with the lengthwise center lines of the openings
31a, the bearing member
40 is allowed to move within the openings
31a along the direction crossing with the lengthwise direction of the openings
31 a. In short, the truck
70, wheels
71, and rails
72 constitute a guide
7 restricting the travel path of each of the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B. It is noted that FIG. 1B shows the simplified guide
7.
[0034] The drive device
2 is provided in order to move the pair of foot supports
4 respectively. The drive device
2 includes a drive motor
20, which is a rotary motor, as a driving source generating a rotary driving force to
move the pair of foot supports
4. The drive device
2 further includes a router
21 and reciprocators
22. The router
21 is configured to transmit the rotary driving force of the motor
20 to the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B. The reciprocators
22 in configured to use the driving force to reciprocate the trucks
70 respectively along the rails
72. Although the present embodiment is configured to divide the driving force at the
router
21 and transmit the divided driving force to the reciprocators
22, it is equally possible to generate the reciprocating driving force at the reciprocator
22 and divide the same at the router
21.
[0035] The router
21 includes a worm (first gear)
21a and a pair of worm wheels (second gears) 21
b. The worm
21a is coupled to an output shaft
20a of the driving motor
20. Each of the worm wheels 21
b meshes with the worm
21 a. The worm
21a and the two worm wheels 21
b are held within a gearbox (not shown) fixed to the base plate
30. A pair of bearings (not shown) is provided inside the gear box. The pair of bearings
is configured to bear the opposite longitudinal ends of the worm
21 a.
[0036] Extending through the worm wheel 21
b is a rotary shaft 21c which is housed in the gear box. The rotary shaft 21 c is coupled
to the worm wheel
21 b to be driven thereby to rotate. The rotary shaft 21 c is formed at its upper end
with a coupling section
21d with non-circular cross-section (rectangular one in the illustrated instance),
[0037] The reciprocator
22 includes a crank plate
22a, a crank shaft
22b, and a crank rod
22c. The crank plate
22a is coupled at its one end to the coupling section 21 d of the rotary shaft
21c. The crank rod
22c is coupled to the crank plate
22a by means of the crank shaft
22b. The crank shaft
22b has its one end fixed to the crank plate
22a and has the other end received in a bearing
22d carried on one end of the crank rod
22c. That is, the crank rod
22c has its one end rotatively coupled to the crank plate
22b, while the other end of the crank rod
22c is coupled to the truck 70 by means of an axle
22e so as to be rotatively coupled thereto.
[0038] As is apparent from the above, the crank rod
22c functions as a motion converter to translate the rotary motion of the worm wheel
21 b into a reciprocatory motion of the truck
70. The crank rod
22c is provided for each of the worm wheels 21
b. The trucks
70 are provided respectively to the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B. Therefore, the crank rods
22c function as the individual motion converters for translating the rotary motion of
the worm wheels
21 b into the reciprocating motions of the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B.
[0039] As described in the above, the truck
70 has its travel path restricted by the wheels
71 and the rails
72. Thus, the truck
70 reciprocates along the length of the rails
72 as the worm wheel
21 b rotates. That is, the rotation of the motor
20 is transmitted to the crank plate
22b by way of the worm
21a and the worm wheel
21b, so that the crank rod
22c coupled to the crank plate
22b causes the truck 70 to reciprocate linearly along the rails
72. Whereby, the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B are driven to reciprocate respectively along the length of the rails
72.
[0040] In the present embodiment, the worm
21 a and the two worm wheels
21 b are responsible for routing the driving force into two channels respectively for
driving the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B so that the drive unit
2 drives the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B in a manner linked to each other. The worm wheels
21 b are engaged with the worm
21a at different portions spaced apart by 180° such that the right foot support
4B comes to the forward end of its movable range when the left foot support
4A comes to the rear end of its movable range. As the left foot support
4a comes to the right end of its movable range when it comes to the rear end of the
movable range, and the right foot support
4B comes to the right end of its movable range when it comes to the forward end of the
movable range, the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B shift in the same direction along the lateral direction.
[0041] As apparent from the above, it is possible to give a desired phase difference of
the movement between the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B by varying positions of engaging the worm wheels
21 b with the worm 21
a. When the device is used by the user at the standing posture with one's feet placed
on the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B, the phase difference of 180° is effective to minimize the shifting of the user's
weight in the forward/rearward direction, enabling the exercise even by the user suffering
from lowered balancing capability. Alternatively, when no phase difference is given,
the device necessitates the shifting movement of the user's weight in the forward/rearward
direction, thereby developing an exercise not only for the leg muscles but also for
lower back muscles of the user maintaining the balancing capability.
[0042] By the way, each of the foot supports
4 is allowed to rotate around the axle
48. Therefore, it is possible to vary the height positions of the forward end as well
as the rearward end of the bearing member
40. Thus, the height positions of the toe and the heel of the foot placed on the bearing
member
40 can be varied for enabling the plantarflexion and dorsiflexion of the ankle joint.
The present embodiment adopts the following structure in order to link the swinging
movement of the bearing member
40 about the axle
48 with the reciprocating movement thereof along the rail
72. That is, the base plate
30 is provided at a portion along the travel path of the bearing member 40 with a guide
surface (not shown) including an inclination. In this connection, the basement
41 is provided on its bottom with a follower projection (not shown) which comes into
engagement with the guide surface. The follower projection has at its top a roller
which comes into rolling contact with the guide surface. Although the follower projection
has the roller, it is suffice that the follower projection is formed from a material
and/or shaped into a configuration to have a tip of small coefficient of friction.
[0043] In this case, the follower projection, which is arranged to come into rolling contact
with the guide surface, rides up and down the inclination of the guide surface while
each of the foot supports
4 is driven by the drive motor
20 to reciprocates, thereby swinging the basement
41 about the axle
48 to vary tilt angles of the bearing member
40 and basement
41 relative to the base plate
30, and therefore enabling the plantarflexion and dorsifilexion at the ankle joint.
[0044] In the exercise assisting device of the present embodiment, the control unit 8 is
configured to perform a control of the drive device
2 (an operation control of the drive motor
20 of the drive device
2) as well as a control of the tilting mechanism unit 6 (an operation control of the
adjusting motor
45c of the tilting mechanism unit
6).
[0045] The control unit 8 is, for example, a micro computer. The control unit
8 controls an electrical power supplied to the drive motor 20 or adjusting motor
45c from a power source not shown, thereby activating the drive motor
20, deactivating the drive motor
20, or adjusting the number of rotations of the drive motor 20. Further, the control
unit
8 is configured to activate the drive motor
20 when a switch (not shown) provided on the housing
3 is turned on, and to deactivate the drive motor
20 when the switch is turned off.
[0046] The control unit
8 further is configured to supply pulse power to the adjusting motor
45c of the tilting mechanism unit
6 from the power source to adjust the tilt of the bearing member
40.
[0047] The control unit
8 adjusts the tilt of the bearing member
40 with reference to detection result of the respective load detection units
5. The control unit
8 controls the tilting mechanism unit
6, that is, tilts the bearing member
40 so as to reduce a difference between loads detected by two load sensors
50A and
50B of the load detection unit
5 respectively. Particularly, in the present embodiment, the control unit
8 controls the tilting mechanism unit
6 such that the difference between the loads detected by two load sensors
50A and
50B respectively becomes around 0 (that is, the load detected by the load sensor
50A becomes equal to the load detected by the load sensor
50B).
[0048] Therefore, in the exercise assisting device of the present embodiment, the load detection
unit 5 including the two load sensors
50, tilting mechanism unit
6, and control unit
8 constitute a tilting device
A configured to tilt the bearing member
40 so as to reduce a difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40.
[0049] Next, an explanation is made to an operation of the exercise assisting device of
the present embodiment. It is assumed that, in an initial condition, the switch is
kept turned off and the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B are located at predetermined initial positions respectively. At the initial positions,
the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B are located at the same level along the forward/rearward direction. That is, the
left and right foot supports
4a and
4B lie on a line extending along the lateral direction when they are at the initial
positions. Accordingly, when the user stands on the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B of the initial positions, a vertical line depending from the weight center of the
user passes through a center between the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B.
[0050] As described in the above, the tilt of the bearing member
40 is adjusted such that the load detected by the load sensor
50A becomes equal to the load detected by the load sensor
50B. Therefore, at the initial condition, the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 is almost kept parallel to a horizontal plane unless the user
M rests one's foot on the foot support
4.
[0051] When the user
M rests one's foot on the foot support
4, a following operation is performed.
[0052] For example, when the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 (that is, the user
M has bow legs as shown in FIG. 3B), the bearing member
40 is tilted so as to raise the outer portion
40a relative to the inner portion
40b (that is, the bearing member
40 is tilted inward) by the tilting device
A (see FIG. 3B). Further, as described in the above, the bearing member
40 is caused to tilt continuously until the difference between the loads respectively
detected by two load sensors
50A and
50B becomes zero While the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 is raised to a higher position than the inner portion
40b, the load applied to the inner part of the lower limb is increased to a greater extent
than in a condition where the user's foot has its width direction kept parallel to
the horizontal plane (i.e., the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 lies in the horizontal plane). Accordingly, it is possible to intensively train the
inner part of the muscles of the lower limb. It is not required that the difference
between the loads is kept 0 in a strict sense. It is sufficient that the difference
between the loads is kept around 0.
[0053] Meanwhile, when the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 (that is, the user
M has knock knees), the bearing member
40 is tilted so as to raise the inner portion
40b relative to the outer portion
40a (that is, the bearing member
40 is tilted outward) by the tilting device
A. Further, as described in the above, the bearing member
40 is kept being tilted until the difference between the loads detected by two load
sensors
50A and
50B respectively becomes zero. While the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 is raised relative to the outer portion
40a, the load applied to the inner part of the lower limb is increased by comparison with
the condition where the foot breadth direction is kept parallel to the horizontal
direction (the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 is kept parallel to the horizontal plane). Accordingly, it is possible to intensively
train the inner part of the muscles of the lower limb. It is not required that the
difference between the loads is kept 0 in a strict sense. It is sufficient that the
difference between the loads is kept around 0.
[0054] When the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 is equal to the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 (that is, the user
M has neither bow legs nor knock knees), the tilting device
A does not tilt the bearing member
40.
[0055] It is sufficient that the switch is turned on in order to operate the exercise assisting
device from the initial condition. When the switch is turned on, the control unit
8 supplies an electrical power to the drive motor
20 to activate the drive motor
20. While the drive motor
20 is activated, the drive motor
20 can drive the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B to move in the forward/rearward direction and at the same time to move in the lateral
direction in the linked manner to each other. The left and right foot supports
4A and
4B are driven to reciprocate linearly along the rails
72, respectively, so as to move in directions different from the lengthwise directions
of the feet. For example, the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B move in the directions inclined at an angle of 45° relative to the forward/rearward
direction of the housing
3, over the travel distance of 20 mm, for example.
[0056] Further, the bearing member
40 and basement
41 is driven to swing about the axle
48 as each of the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B reciprocates along the rail
72. While the bearing member
40 is moving, the follower projection rides up and down the inclination of the guide
surface to cause the dorsiflexion of the ankle joint when each of the left and right
foot supports
4A and
4B comes to its forward end position, and the plantarflexion when it comes to its rearward
end position. The axle
48 is positioned nearer to the heel within the length of the foot bottom. Each of the
dorsiflexion and plantarflexion is realized at the tilt angle of about 10° relative
to a reference plane defined by the upper surface of the base plate
30. The dorsiflexion and the plantarflexion can be made respectively at the rearward
end position and the forward end position of each of the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B in opposite relation to the above. Also, the tilt angle relative to the reference
plane can be selected differently from the above mentioned angle. Such modified operation
can be easily realized by an appropriate shaped guide surface.
[0057] The exercise assisting device of the present embodiment has the user
M make the passive exercise by means of moving the left and right foot supports
4A and
4B as described in the above.
[0058] As described in the above, according to the exercise assisting device of the present
embodiment, the bearing member
40 is tilted so as to reduce the difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. Therefore, while the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 (that is, the user has bow legs), the load applied to the inner part of the lower
limb is increased to a greater extent than in a condition where the user's foot has
its width direction kept parallel to a horizontal plane. Accordingly, it is possible
to intensively train the inner part of muscles of the lower limb. Meanwhile, while
the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 (that is, the user has knock knees), the load applied to the outer part of the lower
limb is increased to a greater extent than in a condition where the user's foot has
its width direction kept parallel to the horizontal plane. Accordingly, it is possible
to intensively train the outer part of the muscles of the lower limb. Thus, it is
possible to improve a balance (capacity imbalance) between the outer part and the
inner part of the muscles of the lower limb, even if the user has bow legs or knock
knees. As a result, it is possible to remedy deformed bones of the lower limb (that
is, it is possible to recover a skeletal alignment of the lower limb). Further, the
user can enjoy a comfortable passive exercise (training) while being alleviated of
the knee pain, which means that even the user suffering from knee pains during one's
walking can make the passive exercise.
[0059] Further, since the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 are detected, it is possible to estimate a deformation of the user's lower limb precisely.
The control unit is configured to control the tilting mechanism unit
6 so as to reduce the difference between loads detected by the two load sensors
50A and
50B respectively, thereby tilting the bearing member
40 inward or outward. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the tilt of the bearing member
40 to be a tilt suitable for the user
M.
[0060] It is noted that a configuration of the tilting mechanism unit 6 is not limited to
the above instance. For example, a conventional configuration such as a set of a rotary
motor and feed screw, a set of a rotary motor and belt, a set of a rotary motor and
pantograph mechanism, a linear movement mechanism utilizing a solenoid coil, and a
liner movement mechanism utilizing an air-bag can be adopted as the configuration
of the tilting mechanism unit
6.
[0061] In the above embodiment, the router
21 is configured to have the worm 21
a and the worm wheels
21 b for realizing the power transmission from the output shaft
20a of the drive motor
20 to the rotary shaft
21c of the worm wheel
21 b with speed reduction. However, a belt can be utilized to transmit the power from
the output shaft
20a of the drive motor
20 to the rotary shaft
21c perpendicular to the output shaft
20a. In this instance, instead of the worm wheel
21b, a pulley is utilized to receive the belt while dispensing with the worm
21 a.
[0062] In the above embodiment, the drive motor
20 has its output shaft
20a extending along the upper surface of the base plate
30. However, when the output shaft
20a is required to extend perpendicular to the upper surface of the base plate
30, spur gearing is adopted to achieve the transmission and routing of the rotary power,
instead the combination of the worm
21a and the worm wheels
21 b. In this instance, pulleys and a belt may be used in place of the spur gearing for transmission
of the rotary power between the pulleys.
[0063] Instead of using the crank plate
22a and the crank rod
22c, the reciprocator
22 may be composed of a grooved cam driven to rotate by the drive motor 20 and a cam
follower engaged in a groove of the cam. In this instance, the grooved cam can be
used instead of the worm wheel
21b and be arranged to have its rotation axis parallel to the output shaft
20a of the drive motor
20 for power transmission from the output shaft
20a to the grooved cam through a pinion.
[0064] Further, when using only one grooved cam for power transmission from the output shaft
20a of the drive motor
20 to the groove cam, two cam followers can be used for engagement respectively with
the cam grooves of the cams such that the grooved cam and the cam followers are cooperative
to function as the router
21 as well as the reciprocators
22.
[0065] Although the illustrated embodiment has the base plate
30 formed with the guide surface and the basement
41 formed with the follower projection, the same operation can be achieved with a configuration
in which the basement
41 is provided with the guide surface and the base plate
30 is provided with the follower projection.
[0066] Since the exercise assisting device of the present embodiment includes the load detection
unit 5, the exercise assisting device sets automatically the tilt of the bearing member
40. However, the load detection unit
5 is optional. That is, the exercise assisting device may be configured to enable the
user to adjust manually the tilt of the bearing member
40 based on one's foot condition (e.g. bow legs or knock knees). In this instance, it
is sufficient that an operation unit (not shown) for operating the tilting mechanism
unit
6 is provided to the housing
3.
[0067] Although the exercise assisting device of the present embodiment is configured to
be adapted in use to be placed on a floor, the exercise assisting device can be used
with its portion embedded in the floor. A selection is made as to whether the exercise
assisting device is placed at a fixed position or movably supported. These respects
can be applied to the exercise assisting device of a below mentioned second embodiment.
(second embodiment)
[0068] 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.
[0069] 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.
[0070] 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 make a comparison of the load detected by the load sensor
50 with a predetermined threshold, and determine the difference between the load applied
to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 based on the resultant comparison. The predetermined threshold is, for example, the
load applied to the inner portion
40b in a condition where the user
M applies the same load to the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. In this instance, the difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a and the load applied to the inner portion
40b is determined by a difference between the predetermined threshold and the load detected
by the load sensor
50. It is noted that the predetermined threshold can be estimated from body weight of
the user
M. It is sufficient that the user
M inputs own body weight to the exercise assisting device in preparation to use the
exercise assisting device. Moreover, the predetermined threshold can be estimated
from the loads detected by the load sensors of the load detection unit
5 of the respective foot supports
4.
[0071] The control unit
8 has not only the predetermined threshold but also a judgment value as a value to
be compared with the load detected by the load sensor
50. The judgment value is a value used for judging whether or not the user
M rests one's foot on the foot support
4. The control unit
8 is configured to judge that the user
M does not rest one's foot on the foot support
4 when the load detected by the load sensor
50 is less than the judgment value. In this case, the control unit
8 controls the tilting mechanism unit
6 such that the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 of each of the foot supports
4 is kept parallel to the horizontal plane.
[0072] The control unit
8 of the present embodiment supplies the pulse power to the adjusting motor
45c of the tilting mechanism unit
6 from the power source to adjust the tilt of the bearing member
40, thereby reducing the difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a and the load applied to the inner portion
40b. As described in the above, in the case where the threshold is the load applied to
the inner portion
40b in a condition where the user
M applies the same load to the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40, the control unit
8 inclines the bearing member
40 such that the load detected by the load sensor
50 becomes equal to the threshold.
[0073] In the exercise assisting device of the present embodiment, the load detection unit
5, tilting mechanism unit
6, and control unit
8 constitute the tilting device
A.
[0074] Next, an explanation is made to an operation of the exercise assisting device of
the present embodiment.
[0075] In the initial condition, the load detected by the load sensor
50 is less than the judgment value unless the user
M rests one's foot on the foot support
4. The control unit
8 controls the tilting mechanism unit
6 such that the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 is kept parallel to the horizontal plane (see FIG. 4A).
[0076] A following operation is performed when the user
M rests one's foot on the foot support
4.
[0077] For example, when the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40, the bearing member
40 is inclined so as to raise the outer portion
40a to a higher position than the inner portion
40b (that is, the bearing member
40 is inclined inward) by the tilting device
A (see FIG. 4B). As described in the above, the bearing member
40 is caused to tilt continuously until the difference between the threshold and the
load detected by the load sensor
50 becomes zero While the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 is raised to a higher position than the inner portion
40b, the load applied to the inner part of the lower limb is increased by a greater extent
than in the condition where the user's foot has its width direction kept parallel
to the horizontal plane (i.e., the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 lies horizontally).. Accordingly, it is possible to intensively train the inner part
of the muscles of the lower limbs.
[0078] Meanwhile, when the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40, the bearing member
40 is inclined so as to raise the inner portion
40b to a higher position than the outer portion
40a (that is, the bearing member
40 is tilted outward) by the tilting device
A (see FIG. 4C). As described in the above, the bearing member
40 is caused to tilt continuously until the difference between the threshold and the
load detected by the load sensor
50 becomes zero. While the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 is raised to a higher position than the outer portion
40a, the load applied to the inner part of the lower limb is increased to a greater extent
than in the condition where the user's foot has its width direction kept parallel
to a horizontal plane (i.e., the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 is kept parallel to the horizontal plane). Accordingly, it is possible to intensively
train the inner part of the muscles of the lower limb.
[0079] When the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 is equal to the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40, the tilting device
A does not incline the bearing member
40 (see FIG. 4A).
[0080] The user
M can make the aforementioned passive exercise by turning on the switch after resting
one's feet respectively on the foot supports
4.
[0081] According to the aforementioned exercise assisting device of the present embodiment,
like the exercise assisting device of the first embodiment, the bearing member
40 is tilted so as to reduce the difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member 40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. Therefore, it is possible to intensively train the inner part of muscles of the lower
limb when the user has bow legs. Further, it is possible to intensively train the
outer part of muscles of the lower limb when the user has knock knees. Thus, it is
possible to improve balancing or remedy capacity imbalance between the outer and inner
parts of the muscles of the lower limb, even if the user has bow legs or knock knees.
As a result, it is possible to remedy the deformed bones of the lower limb (that is,
it is possible to recover the skeletal alignment of the lower limb). Further, the
user can enjoy a comfortable passive exercise (training) while being alleviated of
the knee pain, which means that even the user suffering from knee pains during one's
walking can make the passive exercise.
[0082] Further, the bearing member
40 is inclined inward or outward with regard to the user's foot based on the load detected
by the load sensor
50 of the load detection unit 5. Therefore, it is possible to adjust the tilt of the
bearing member
40 to be a tilt suitable for the user. Notably, according to the present embodiment,
it is possible to reduce a production cost because of that the number of the load
sensor
50 of the load detection unit
5 can be reduced to one.
[0083] In the above mentioned instance, although the load sensor
50 is configured to detect the load applied to the inner portion
40b, the load sensor
50 may be configured to detect the load applied to the outer portion
40a. In this instance, the predetermined threshold can be the load applied to the outer
portion
40a in a condition where the user
M applies the same load to the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. Although the control unit
8 of the above mentioned instance is configured to control the tilting mechanism unit
6 to incline the bearing member such that the load detected by the load sensor
50 becomes equal to the threshold, the control unit
8 of another instance is configured to vary a tilt angle of the bearing member
40 in a stepwise fashion. For example, the control unit
8 inclines the bearing member
40 outward at a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal plane when the load detected
by the load sensor
50 is not less than a first threshold. The control unit
8 inclines the bearing member
40 inward at a predetermined angle relative to the horizontal plane when the load detected
by the load sensor
50 is not greater than a second threshold. The control unit
8 keeps the bearing member
40 horizontal when the load detected by the load sensor
50 exceeds the second threshold and is less than the first threshold.
[0084] By the way, FIGS. 5A to 5C illustrates the exercise assisting device of another embodiment
of the present invention. The exercise assisting device shown in FIG. 5 is different
in the configuration of the foot support
4 from the exercise assisting device shown in FIG. 4 and the exercise assisting device
of the first embodiment. Other components of the exercise assisting device shown in
FIG. 5 are the same as those of the exercise assisting device shown in FIG. 4 and
the exercise assisting device of the first embodiment. Therefore the other components
are designated by like reference numerals and dispensed with duplicate explanations.
[0085] The foot support
4 shown in FIG. 5 is provided with a pair of air bags (air cells)
60 configured to define a distance between the bearing member
40 and the basement
41. The air bags
60 are the same in form. One air bag
60 is located so as to bear the outer portion 40a of the bearing member
40, and another air bag
60 is located so as to bear the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. Therefore, the bearing member
40 is inclined when one air bag
60 expands or shrinks relative to another air bag
60. In short, the exercise assisting device shown in FIG. 5 has the tilting mechanism
unit
6 composed of the pair of air bags
60. Moreover, the housing
3 is configured to house an air pump (not shown) configured to supply air to each of
the air bags
60. Further, the basement
41 is provided at opposite ends in its width direction with a regulation member
41 b. The regulation member 41
b is configured to define a range within which the bearing member
40 is allowed to tilt.
[0086] The air bag 60 is provided with a valve member (not shown). The valve member is configured
to close an exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60 until pressure inside the air bag
60 exceeds a predetermined value. The predetermined value is selected to enable the
air pump to supply sufficient air to the air bag
60 such that the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 of the foot support
4 is kept parallel to the horizontal plane. In other words, the predetermined value
is a value where the air bag
60 which bears the bearing member
40 such that the bearing surface is kept parallel to the horizontal plane does not eject
air.
[0087] A holder
40c is provided to each of the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 shown in FIG. 5. A through hole
40d for an exhaust valve
49 extends through a portion of the bearing member
40 opposite to the holder
40c in a thickness direction thereof. The exhaust valve
49 is formed into a L-shape including a valve portion
49a configured to gate the exhaust port
60 and a load detection portion
49b integrally formed on the valve portion
49a so as to extend laterally from the valve portion
49a. The valve portion
49a penetrates through the through hole
40d. The exhaust valve
49 is adapted in use to forcibly close the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60.
[0088] An elastic member 51 is interposed between the bearing member
40 and the load detection portion
49b of the exhaust valve
49. The elastic member
51 is made of an elastic material such as a rubber so as to shrink upon receiving a
load not less than a prescribed value. While the load applied to the elastic member
51 is not greater than the prescribed value, the elastic member
51 keeps the exhaust valve
49 in a position where the exhaust valve
49 opens the exhaust port
60a. By contrast, when the load applied to the elastic member
51 exceeds the prescribed value, the elastic member
51 shrinks so as to allow the exhaust valve
49 to move to a position where the exhaust valve
49 closes the exhaust port
60. The prescribed value[s] is [a value] slightly less than the load applied to the outer
portion
40a (or inner portion
40b) in a condition where the user
M applies the same load to the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. It is noted that the elastic member
51 may be of known configuration and therefore no detailed explanation thereof is deemed
necessary.
[0089] In the instance shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C, the air bag
60, exhaust valve
49, and elastic member
51 constitute the tilting device
A. In the following explanation, in order to distinguish the air bag
60, exhaust valve
49, and elastic member
51 corresponding to the outer portion
40a from the air bag
60, exhaust valve
49, and elastic member
51 corresponding to the inner portion
40b respectively, a suffix
"A" is attached to the reference number of each of the air bag
60, exhaust valve
49, and elastic member
51 corresponding to the outer portion
40a, and a suffix
"B" is attached to the reference number of each of the air bag
60, exhaust valve
49, and elastic member
51 corresponding to the inner portion
40b, as necessary.
[0090] Next, an explanation is made to an operation of the exercise assisting device shown
in FIG. 5. In an initial condition, the air pump supplies air to each air bag
60 such that the bearing surface of the bearing member
40 is kept parallel to the horizontal plane. At the initial condition, the valve member
closes the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60 before the user
M rests one's foot on the foot support
4. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5A, the pair of air bags
60 bears the bearing member
40 such that the bearing surface is kept parallel to the horizontal plane.
[0091] When the user
M rests one's foot on the foot support 4, a following operation is performed. For example,
when the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 is equal to the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40, the valve members of each of the air bags
60A and 60B open the corresponding exhaust port
60a at an approximately-same timing. After the air bag
60 ejects air from its inside, the elastic members
51A and
51B start to shrink at an approximately-same timing. Therefore, the exhaust valves
49A and
49B close the exhaust ports
60a of each of the air bags
60A and
60B open at an approximately-same timing. As a result, the bearing member
40 is not inclined, and the bearing surface is kept parallel to the horizontal plane.
[0092] When the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40, each of the air bags
60A and
60B ejects air from its inside. However, the elastic member
51A shrinks before the elastic member
51B shrinks. That is, the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60A is closed prior to closing of the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60B. As a result, the air bag
60A acts to keep the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 spaced by a constant distance from the basement
41 (see FIG. 5B). This causes the increase of the load applied to the inner portion
40b, followed by the elastic member
51B being caused to start shrinking. Therefore, the exhaust port
60a of the air bag 60B is closed, and the air bag
60B acts to keep the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 spaced by a constant distance from the basement
41 (see FIG. 5C). While the exhaust ports
60a of each of the air bags
60A and
60B are closed as described in the above, the air bag
60A having its exhaust port
60a closed prior to closing of the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60B holds a greater volume of the air than the air bag
60B whose exhaust port
60a is closed subsequent to closing of the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60A. As a result, the distance between the basement
41 and the bearing member
40 is made greater towards the outer portion
40a than at the inner portion
40b. In short, the bearing member
40 is inclined inward with regard to the foot of the user
M.
[0093] When the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40, each of the air bags
60A and
60B ejects air from its inside. However, the elastic member
51B shrinks before the elastic member
51A shrinks. That is, the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60B is closed prior to closing of the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60A. As a result, the air bag 60B acts to keep the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 spaced by a constant distance from the basement
41. This causes the increase of the load applied to the outer portion
40a, followed by the elastic member
51A being caused to start shrinking. Therefore, the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60A is closed, and the air bag
60A acts to keep the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 spaced by a constant distance from the basement
41. While the exhaust ports
60a of each of the air bags
60A and
60B are closed as described in the above, the air bag
60B having its exhaust port
60a closed prior to closing of the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60A holds a greater volume of the air than the air bag
60A whose exhaust port
60a is closed subsequent to closing of the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60B. As a result, the distance between the basement
41 and the bearing member
40 is made greater towards the inner portion
40b than at the outer portion
40a. In short, the bearing member
40 is inclined inward with regard to the foot of the user
M.
[0094] As apparent from the above, the exercise assisting device shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C
is capable of tilting the bearing member
40 so as to reduce the difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. Therefore, it is possible to improve a balance (capacity imbalance) between the outer
part and the inner part of the muscles of the lower limb. As a result, it is possible
to remedy the deformed bones of the lower limb (that is, it is possible to recover
the skeletal alignment of the lower limb). Further, the user can enjoy a comfortable
passive exercise (training) while being alleviated of the knee pain, which means that
even the user suffering from knee pains during one's walking can make the passive
exercise. Moreover, it is possible to reduce a production cost because an electric
circuit for the load detection unit
5 or the like is made redundant.
[0095] Although the bearing member
40 of the exercise assisting device shown in FIGS. 5A to 5C is a one board, for example,
the bearing member
40 may be divided into two in its width direction as shown in FIG. 6A. The exercise
assisting device shown in FIG. 6A has a basic structure similar to that shown in FIG.
5. Therefore like parts are designated by like reference numerals and dispensed with
duplicate explanations.
[0096] In the instance shown in FIG. 6A, the bearing member
40 is divided into the outer portion
40a formed into a rectangular plate and the inner portion
40b formed into a rectangular plate. The outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b are rotatively coupled to the side wall portions
42 provided on the center of the basement
41 in its width direction by use of the tilting axle
43 and the tilting bearing
44, respectively. Accordingly, in the instance shown in FIG. 6A, the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b are separately inclined each other.
[0097] In the instance shown in FIG. 6A, the air bag
60, exhaust valve
49, and elastic member
51 constitute the tilting device
A.
[0098] The aforementioned configuration concerning the division of the bearing member
40 can be applied to the instance shown in FIG. 4 and the first embodiment. In short,
the tilting device
A may be configured to tilt at least one part of the bearing member
40 so as to reduce the difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. The bearing member
40 is not limited to the above mentioned instance, and may be configured to be capable
of varying a balance between the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40.
[0099] The aforementioned instances shown in FIGS. 5 and FIG. 6 utilize shrinkage of the
air bag
60 in order to incline the bearing member
40. Further, another instance may be configured to control the air pump to supply air
to the air bag
60 so as to expand the same, thereby inclining the bearing member
40.
[0100] In the instance shown in FIG. 6B, the holders
40c are positioned below the rear surfaces of the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 respectively, and are rotatively coupled to the tilting axles
43 together with the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b, respectively. The outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 respectively are formed with protrusions
40e used as a valve for the exhaust port
60a.
The elastic member
51 is interposed between the holder
40c and each of the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b (the elastic member
51 is not shown in FIG. 6B). The elastic member 51 is configured to shrink upon receiving
the load greater than a predetermined load such that the protrusion
40e closes the exhaust port
60a. The predetermined load is equal to the load applied to the outer portion
40a (or inner portion
40b) in a condition where the user
M applies the same load to the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40.
[0101] Further, in the instance shown in FIG. 6B, the air bag
60 is interposed between the holder
40c and the basement
41. Each air bag
60 has an air supply port
60b connected to the aforementioned air pump. The air pump is configured to supply air
to (pressurize) the each air bag
60 such that the bearing surfaces of each of the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 are kept parallel to the horizontal plane while the user
M keeps applying the loads equally to the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40.
[0102] Next, an explanation is made to an operation of the exercise assisting device shown
in FIG. 6B. When the user
M rests one's foot on the foot support 4, and when the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 is equal to the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 (that is, the user has neither bow legs nor knock knees), the elastic members
51A and
51B do not shrink. Therefore, the exhaust ports
60a of each of air bags
60A and
60B is not closed. In this case, to pressurize by the air pump keeps the bearing surfaces
of each of the outer portion
40a and inner portion
40b parallel to the horizontal plane.
[0103] When the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40, the elastic member
51A shrinks before the elastic member
51B shrinks. That is, the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60A is closed prior to closing of the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60B. Therefore, the air bag
60A expands as being supplied with the air from the air pump, thereby lifting the outer
portion
40a. This causes an increase of the load applied to the inner portion
40b (that is, the load applied to the elastic member
51B), thereby shrinking the elastic member
51B. The shrinkage of the elastic member
51B causes closing of the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60B. This causes a decrease of the load applied to the elastic member
51A, thereby opening the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60A. In this case, the air bag
60A shrinks as the air bag
60A expands. Thus, the inner portion
40b is lifted to thereby cause a decrease of the load applied to the inner portion
40b. As a result, the load applied to the outer portion
40a increases so as to make closing of the exhaust port 60a of the air bag
60A as well as opening the exhaust port
60a of the air bag
60B. Alternate repetition of the aforementioned operations is responsible for inclining
each of the outer portion
40a and the inner portion
40b such that the load applied to the outer portion
40a becomes equal to the load applied to the inner portion
40b. Even when the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40 exceeds the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40, the exercise assisting device operates in a similar manner as described in the above.
[0104] As apparent from the above, the exercise assisting device shown in FIG. 6B is capable
of tilting the bearing member
40 so as to reduce the difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. Therefore, it is possible to improve a balance (capacity imbalance) between the outer
part and the inner part of the muscles of the lower limb. As a result, it is possible
to remedy the deformation of bones of the lower limb (that is, it is possible to recover
the skeletal alignment of the lower limb). Further, the user can enjoy a comfortable
passive exercise (training) while being alleviated of the knee pain, which means that
even the user suffering from knee pains during one's walking can make the passive
exercise. Moreover, it is possible to reduce a production cost because an electric
circuit for the load detection unit
5 or the like is made redundant.
[0105] The technical feature of the present invention can be applied to the exercise assisting
device shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B.
[0106] The exercise assisting device shown in FIG. 7 includes a carrier
30 to be placed on a predetermined position such as a floor. There are a supporter
32 and a handle post
33 provided on the carrier
30. The supporter
32 is provided at its upper end with a seat
9 configured to bear the buttocks of the user
M. The handle post
33 has handles
33a adapted in use to be held with the hand of the user
M as necessary. The pair of foot supports
4 is attached to the carrier
30 and between the supporter
32 and the handle post
33. This foot support
4 has the same configuration as the foot support
4 of the first embodiment or the foot support
4 of respective FIGS 4 to 6. In the exercise assisting device shown in FIG. 7, the
pair of foot supports
4 constitutes the support unit
1 together with the seat
9.
[0107] The supporter
32 is provided with the drive device
2 configured to reciprocate the seat
9. The drive device
2 is configured to reciprocate the seat
9 which is one part of the support unit
1 by use of a driving source (not shown), thereby displacing the buttocks of the user
M with one's feet resting respectively on the foot supports
4 and one's buttocks resting on the seat 9. In short, the drive device
2 is configured to vary the weight acting on the legs of the user
M. The drive device 2 displaces the buttocks of the user
M, thereby varying a proportion of bearing the user's weight between the seat
9 and the foot supports
4. In this consequence, the drive device
2 varies the user's weight acting on the buttocks, thereby varying the weight acting
on each of the feet of the user.
[0108] Under the condition that an angle of a knee is kept to a predetermined angle, a load
applied to a femoral region of the user
M is increased as a proportion of bearing the user's weight by the seat
9 is decreased. This is similar to bending user's own knee during a squat exercise
and can trigger muscle contraction of femoral muscles. That is, an oscillation of
the seat
9 induces a passive exercise not an active exercise of the user
M. According to this passive exercise, the femoral muscles repeat tonus and laxity.
Therefore, the user
M can mainly exercise for own femoral muscles.
[0109] As apparent from the above, the exercise assisting device shown in FIG. 7 is capable
of tilting the bearing member
40 so as to reduce the difference between the load applied to the outer portion
40a of the bearing member
40 and the load applied to the inner portion
40b of the bearing member
40. Therefore, it is possible to improve a balance (capacity imbalance) between the outer
part and the inner part of the muscles of the lower limb even if the user has bow
legs or knock knees. As a result, it is possible to remedy the deformed bones of the
lower limb (that is, it is possible to recover the skeletal alignment of the lower
limb). Further, the user can enjoy a comfortable passive exercise (training) while
being alleviated of the knee pain, which means that even the user suffering from knee
pains during one's walking can make the passive exercise.