EXERCISE AID

Abstract

 An auxiliary exercise equipment comprises a footrest for supporting a foot of a user. The footrest is configured so that a part of the footrest relatively retreats from a remaining part of the footrest and thereby is made apart from the foot while the remaining part of the footrest supports the foot.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates generally to auxiliary exercise equipment which assists a user to stretch user's leg muscles with an aid of external forces.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] In the past, there have been proposed various types of auxiliary exercise equipments which assist a user to stretch user's muscles without effort but with an aid of external forces being applied to the user in order to give an exercise effect. These equipments are known to be configured to apply a force of bending a joint of the user for stretching the muscles associated with the joint (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-37850). This auxiliary exercise equipment assists a user to contract the muscles of the user's femoral area almost without bending the user's knee. It is possible to strengthen the muscles of the femoral area even if the user has knee pain. In addition, because a volume of the femoral area's muscles is large, sugar metabolism associated with muscles contraction is efficiently enhanced. Therefore, it's expected to contribute to the improvement of lifestyle diseases such as diabetes.

[0003] However, in this configuration, the user exercises to keep the user's body weight on an entire sole of the user's foot with an aid of external forces. Thus, this equipment has a problem that only particular parts of the muscles can be strengthened and it is impossible to stimulate broader parts of the muscles.

[0004] Another auxiliary exercise equipment comprises a foot support platform for supporting the user's foot, and a seat. The equipment assists the user to strain and relax the muscles of the user's femoral area by moving the seat almost without bending the user's knee while supporting the user's buttocks on a contact surface of the seat (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-181731). This equipment moves a position of the seat and changes a rate of a weight supported by the seat to the user's body weight. This allows a weight acting on the user's leg to change. When the weight acting on the user's leg increases, a mounting surface of the foot support platform descends. Thus, a bending angle of the user's knee is kept at almost a constant angle.

[0005] Compared with an equipment which is configured so that almost the user's full body weight acts on the leg, the above equipment can reduce a load by such operation. And even if the user is, for example, a diabetic patient and has knee pain, it becomes possible for the user to strengthen the muscles of the femoral area by contracting said muscles almost without bending the user's knee. In addition, because a volume of said muscles is large, it is also expected that sugar metabolism associated with muscles contraction contributes to improvement of lifestyle diseases. Furthermore, the user can exercise passively without effort by using a driving source and moving the seat. Thus, coupled with a light load, it becomes possible for the user to use the above equipment even if the user has a poor exercise capacity or no interest in exercise.

[0006] By the way, in order to give an effect of exercise for quadriceps femoris muscles while reducing a load of the user's knee joint, it is important for the equipment having the described above configuration to contract hamstrings (a biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle) and a crural muscle at the same time and to reduce a shear force acting on the knee joint. Therefore, in the old equipment described in patent document 1, a mounting surface of the foot support platform (that is, a top surface) slants downward so that a toe side of the user descends (in a downward direction along a direction from a heel toward a toe), and thereby a load is applied to the toe side larger while a foot joint of the user is plantarflexed. By such configuration, triceps surae muscles (a gastronemius muscle and a soleus muscle) can be contracted, and at the same time hamstrings being coordination muscles can also be contracted. As a result, muscles around the knee can be contracted simultaneously.

[0007] However, in the above mentioned prior art, the mounting surface of the foot support platform only slants downward along the direction from the heel toward the toe. As a result, the prior art has a problem that a load is rarely applied to a heel side of the user according to how the user rides on the seat or an individual difference of a physique, when the seat is moved and the weight acting on the user's leg increases. When the load is applied to the heel side larger than the toe side, there is a possibility that too much load may be applied to the knee joint of the user. Therefore, it's expected to prevent too much load from being applied to the knee joint and to strengthen the muscles around the knee.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide an auxiliary exercise equipment which is capable of strengthen a particular muscle, by concentrating a user's body weight in a part of a user's sole and preventing the body weight from being applied to a remaining part of the sole.

[0009] An auxiliary exercise equipment of the present invention comprises a footrest 21 for supporting a foot of a user (M). The footrest 21 is configured so that a part of the footrest 21 relatively retreats from a remaining part of the footrest 21 and thereby is made apart from the foot while the remaining part of the footrest 21 supports the foot.

[0010] In this configuration (hereinafter, called a first configuration), when the foot of the user (M) is rested on the footrest 21, the part of the footrest 21 on which the foot is rested is made apart from the foot and the remaining part of the footrest 21 supports the foot. As a result, the user (M) has to support almost the user (M)'s full body weight with the remaining part of the footrest 21, and thus a particular muscle can be strengthened.

[0011] In an embodiment, the footrest 21 comprises a plurality of members. The footrest, 21 is configured so that at least one of the plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the plurality of members and thereby is made apart from the foot of the user (M). In this configuration, the part of the footrest 21 can be relatively moved with respect to the remaining of the footrest by a simple configuration.

[0012] In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are separately arranged back and forth. In this configuration, if a front member 21F of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with a back side of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or if a back member 21B of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with a front side of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.

[0013] In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are a front half 21F and a back half 21B. The footrest 21 is configured so that the front half 21F is bent downward with respect to the back half 21B. In this configuration, mainly an anterior tibial muscle and muscles of a toe can be strengthened.

[0014] In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are a front half 21F and a back half 21B. The footrest 21 is configured so that the back half 21B is bent downward with respect to the front half 2F. In this configuration, mainly muscles of a toe, a sole and a calf can be strengthened.

[0015] In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are separately arranged to right and left. In this configuration, when an outside member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports user (M)'s body weight with an inside of the foot of the user (M) and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or when an inside member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the body weight with an outside of the foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.

[0016] In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are an inside half and an outside half. The footrest 21 is configured so that the inside half is bent downward with respect to the outside half. In this configuration, when an inside member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, outside muscles of the foot of the user (M) can be strengthened and thereby knock-knee can be corrected.

[0017] In an embodiment, the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are an inside half and an outside half. The footrest 21 is configured so that the outside half is bent downward with respect to the inside half. In this configuration, when an outside member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, inside muscles of the foot of user (M) can be strengthened and thereby bow-legs can be corrected.

[0018] In an embodiment, the footrest, 21 is configured so as to support the foot of the user (M) in the standing position. In this configuration, a full body weight of the user (M) can be applied to the foot of the user (M) and thereby highly-loaded and high-efficient training can be achieved.

[0019] In the first configuration, the auxiliary exercise equipment further comprises a foot support platform 2 for supporting the footrest 21, a seat 51 for supporting buttocks of the user (M) while a sole of the user (M) is rested on a rest-surface 21A of the footrest 21, and a seat driving unit 52 being configured to displace the seat by using a driving source so as to change a weight acting on a leg of the user (M) by the user (M)'s body weight. It's preferred that the foot support platform 2 comprises a supporting base 1a located in a fixed position, and a supporting mechanical part 210 configured to support the footrest 21 with respect to the supporting base 1a while biasing the footrest upward so that the footrest 21 can reciprocate in the vertical direction. It's preferred that the rest-surface 21A of the footrest 21 is formed so as to slant downward along the direction from a heel of the user (M) toward a toe of the user (M), and the supporting mechanical part 210 is configured to relatively move a part back 21B of the footrest 21 larger than a front part 21F of the footrest 21 when the weight acting on the leg increases.

[0020] In this configuration (hereinafter, called a second configuration), the supporting mechanical part 210 is configured to relatively move the back part 21B larger than the front part 21F when the weight acting on the leg increases. Thus, a load can be applied to the toe side larger than the heel side, regardless of how the user (M) rides on the seat 51 or an individual difference of a physique. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent too much load from being applied to the knee joint, and to strengthen the muscles around the knee.

[0021] In the second configuration, the auxiliary exercise equipment may comprises a detector 61 for detecting a muscle activity of the user (M)'s leg, and a controller 62 being configured to control a movement distance of the footrest 21 moved by the supporting mechanical part 210 according to a result of the muscle activity detected by the detector 61. In this configuration, the movement distance of the footrest 21 is controlled according to the degree of the muscle activity of the user (M)'s leg, and thereby an appropriate load can be applied to the muscles around the knee.

[0022] In the second configuration, the detector 61 may be configured to detect a muscle activity of either hamstrings or triceps surae muscles of a user (M). The hamstrings include a biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle. The triceps surae muscles include a gastrocnemius muscle and a soleus muscle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described in further details. Other features and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following detailed description and accompanying drawings where:

Fig. 1A is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a footrest, which is set up in a central position, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 1B is a front sectional view showing said footrest;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing said footrest which is moved forward from said central position;

Fig. 3 is an overall schematic side view according to said embodiment;

Fig. 4 is a plane perspective view showing a housing according to said embodiment;

Fig. 5 is an overall exploded perspective view according to said embodiment;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section view of an essential part seen from the back of said housing;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section view of an essential part of a guide section according to said embodiment;

Fig. 8A and 8B are block diagrams of a drive unit according to said embodiment, respectively;

Fig. 9 is a cross-section view of an essential part of a foot support platform according to said embodiment;

Fig. 10A is a longitudinal sectional side view showing a footrest, which is set up in a central position, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 10B is a front sectional view showing said footrest;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional side view showing said footrest which is moved forward from said central position according to said embodiment;

Fig. 12 is a front view of a footrest according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 13 is a front view of a footrest according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 14A and 14B are schematic side views showing a foot support platform according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively;

Fig. 15 is a schematic side view according to said embodiment;

Fig. 16 is a schematic plane view according to said embodiment;

Fig. 17 is a block diagram of a control system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

Fig. 18 is a schematic side view showing a foot support platform according to said embodiment.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0024] An embodiment of an auxiliary exercise equipment of the present invention is explained based on Figs. 1 to 9. As shown in Fig. 3, the equipment comprises a base 10 located on a fixed position, such as a floor. A handle post (HP) is arranged on the base 10, and comprises a handle (HD), which a user (M) in standing position grips with a hand if needed, at the top. In addition, the base 10 is provided with a foot support platform 2 (a left foot support platform 2a and a right foot support platform 2b), a guide section 4 for restricting a travel path of each of the left and right support platforms 2a and 2b, and a drive unit 3 for driving the foot support platform 2. A top surface of the foot support platform 2 is called a rest-surface, and left and right feet of the user (M) are rested on the rest-surface, respectively. The handle (HD) and the handle post (HP) are not indispensable.

[0025] As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the base 10 comprises a housing 1 which is composed of a supporting base 1a and an upper plate 1b. The supporting base 1a shown in the figure is configured to have a rectangular parallelepiped shape, although not limited to such a shape. For a simplified explanation made hereinafter, the supporting base 1a is illustrated to have a top surface parallel to the floor when it is placed on the floor.

[0026] The upper plate 1b is disposed on the supporting base 1a, and is coupled thereto to constitute the housing 1. The supporting base 1a is provided with a left foot support platform 2a and a right foot support platform 2b on which left and right feet of the user (M) are rested, respectively. Also, the drive unit 3 is disposed on the supporting base 1a, for moving the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b. It is noted that an arrow X shown in Figs. 2 and 3 denotes a forward direction of the equipment.

[0027] The upper plate 1b is formed with two openings 11a and 11b extending in a thickness direction of the plate so as to expose the left and right support platforms 2a and 2b, respectively. Each of the openings 11a and 11b is formed into a rectangular shape. Each of center lines along longitudinal directions of the openings 11a and 11b slants with respect to forward/rearward direction of the housing 1 so that the distance between the center lines is larger at the front ends of the openings than at the rear ends thereof.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 6, slide grooves 12 are provided on opposite width ends of each of the openings 11a and 11b in communication therewith for receiving flange 22b formed on each of footrest frames 22. Each of the footrest frames 22 is cooperative with a footrest 21, on which a foot of the user (M) is rested, to define each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b, and comprises a main section 22a in the shape of a rectangular barrel. Also, each of the footrest frames 22 is formed with the flange 22b extending around an open face (upper face) over the entire periphery of the main section 22a. In addition, each of the footrest frames 22 has an integrally formed attachment plate 22c at a lower end within the main section 22a.

[0029] The main section 22a has a longitudinal dimension as well as a width dimension respectively less than those of the openings 11a and 11b, while the flange 22b has such dimensions larger than those of the openings 11a and 11b. Further, a distance between opposed bottoms of the slide grooves 12 is larger than a distance between opposite edges of the flange 22b. Thus, each of the footrest frames 22 is allowed to move within the confines of the slide groove 12 with respect to a width direction as well as a longitudinal direction.

[0030] Each of footrests 21 is formed into a rectangular plate slightly smaller than an inner periphery of the main section 22a to have such dimensions as to rest a entire foot of the user (M). As will hereinafter be described, a front half 21F and a back half 21B are connected by a hinge 21C to constitute a footrest 21. An upper surface of the footrest 21 is made of a material or shaped to have a large coefficient of friction. The footrest 21 is integrally formed around its lower periphery with almost square bracket shaped frame members 21a and 21b.

[0031] A bearing plate 23 of square bracket shaped cross-section is fixed to the top of a attachment plate 22c of a footrest frame 22 to have its open end oriented upwardly. Axles 24 are provided at both ends of a hinge 21C in an extended condition to penetrate through leg members 23a of the bearing plate 23, respectively. Consequently, the axles 24 are located so as to extend in a width direction of the footrest 21, and the footrest 21 is allowed to swing about the axles 24 so as to move up and down at forward and rearward ends of its longitudinal direction with respect to the footrest frame 22. The above frame members 21a and 21b are provided to conceal a gap formed between the footrest 21 and the footrest frame 22 when the footrest 21 swings relative to the footrest frame 22.

[0032] A truck 41of square bracket shaped cross-section is fixed to the bottom of the attachment plate 22c through the footrest frame 22 to have its open end oriented downwardly. Each of leg members 41a located at the truck 41 is provided on its exterior face with two wheels 42. The supporting base 1a is formed on its upper surface with two fixed rails 43 for each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b. The truck 41 is placed on the rails 43 so that the wheels 42 rolls in the rail grooves 43a provided in the upper end of the rails 43. Derailment prevention plates 44 are provided on top of the rails 43 for preventing the wheels 42 from running off the rail grooves 43a, respectively (see Fig. 7).

[0033] By the way, each of the rails 43 extends in a direction different from a longitudinal direction of each of the openings 11a and 11b in the housing 1. As described in the above, each of center lines along longitudinal directions of the openings 11a and 11b slants so as to be larger at the front ends of the housing 1 than at the rear ends thereof. Also, each of longitudinal directions of the rails 43 slants in the like manner.

[0034] However, each of longitudinal directions of the rails 43 slants at a larger angle than each of longitudinal directions of the openings 11a and 11b, in relation to the forward/rearward direction of the housing 1. For example, if each of longitudinal directions of the openings 11a and 11b slants at an angle of 30° in relation to said forward/rearward direction, each of longitudinal directions of the rails 43 slants at an angle of 45°. In other words, when the feet are rested on the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b so that center lines of the feet are aligned with longitudinal directions of the openings 11a and 11b, respectively, each of longitudinal directions of the rails 43 is oriented to such a direction as to prevent a shear force from acting on the knee joint even if the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b are moved along the rails 43 and thereby a position of each of the feet is moved. Although the present embodiment illustrates a preferred mode that the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b 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 43 such that the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b are moved either in the forward/rearward direction or the lateral direction.

[0035] With the above arrangement, the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b are allowed to reciprocate along the longitudinal directions of the rails 43, respectively. Because the longitudinal directions of the rails 43 slant relative to the longitudinal center lines of the openings 11a and 11b, respectively, the footrests 21 and the footrest frames 22 are allowed to move within the openings 11a and 11b along the directions slanting with the longitudinal directions of the openings 11a and 11b, respectively. In other words, the above trucks 41, the wheels 42, the rails 43 and the derailment prevention plates 44 function as guide sections 4 for restricting travel paths of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b, respectively.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 8, a drive unit 3 shifts the position of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b. The drive unit 3 comprises a driving source 31 for generating a driving force, a router 32 for transmitting the driving force to the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b, and reciprocator(s) 33 for using the driving force to reciprocate the trucks 41 respectively along the rails 43. Although the equipment of the present embodiment is configured to divide the driving force at the router 32 and transmit the divided driving force to two reciprocators 33, as shown in Fig. 8(a), it is equally possible to generate the reciprocating driving force at one reciprocator 33 and divide the same at the router 32, as shown in Fig. 8(b).

[0037] Details of the drive unit 3 are now explained. A rotary motor is used as the driving source 31 (hereinafter, called a motor 31), and the router 32 is coupled to an output shaft 31a of the motor 31.

[0038] The router 32 comprises a worm (a first gear) 32a coupled to the output shaft 31a of the motor 31, and a pair of worm wheels (second gear wheels) 32b engaging with the worm 32a. The worm 32a and the two worm wheels 32b are held within a gearbox 34 fixed to the supporting base 1a. The gearbox 34 is composed of a gear case 34a with a top opening and a lid 34b fitted in the opening of the gear case 34a. A pair of bearings 32c is mounted between the gear case 34a and the lid 34b to bear the opposite longitudinal ends of the worm 32a.

[0039] A rotary shaft 35 is held by the gear case 34a and the lid 34b and extends through the worm wheel 32b. And the rotary shaft 35 is coupled to the worm wheel 32b to be driven thereby to rotate. Furthermore, the rotary shaft 35 is formed at its upper end with a coupling section 35a with non-circular cross-section (rectangular one in the illustrated instance).

[0040] The motor 31 is mounted on a holder member 34c of the gear case 34a and on a holder plate 13a secured to the supporting base 1a, and is fixed to the supporting base 1a by means of the lid 34b fitted over the gear case 34a and a retainer plate 13b coupled to the holder plate 13a.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 9, the reciprocator 33 comprises a crank plate 36 coupled at its one end to the coupling section 35a of the rotary shaft 35, and a crank rod 38 coupled to the crank plate 36 by means of a crank shaft 37. The crank shaft 37 has its one end fixed to the crank plate 36 and has the other end received in the bearing 38a carried on one end of the crank rod 38. That is, the crank rod 38 has its one end rotatively coupled to the crank plate 36, while the other end of the crank rod 38 is coupled to the truck 41 by means of an axle 38b so as to be rotatively coupled thereto.

[0042] As is apparent from the above, the crank rod 38 functions as a motion converter to translate the rotary motion of the worm wheel 32b into a reciprocatory motion of the truck 41. The crank rod 38 is provided for each of the worm wheels 32b, and the trucks 41 are provided to the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b, respectively. Thus, the crank rods 38 function as the individual motion converters for translating the rotary motion of the worm wheels 32b into the reciprocating motions of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b, respectively.

[0043] As described in the above, the truck 41 has its travel path restricted by the wheels 42 and the rails 43. Therefore, the trucks 41 reciprocate along longitudinal directions of the rails 43, respectively, as the worm wheels 32b rotate. That is, the rotation of the motor 31 is transmitted to the crank plate 36 by way of the worm 32a and the worm wheels 32b, so that the crank rod 38 coupled to the crank plate 36 makes the trucks 41 reciprocate linearly along the rails 43. As a result, the footrest, frames 22 coupled to the trucks 41 are driven to reciprocate along the rails 43. In other wards, the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b are driven to reciprocate along the longitudinal directions of the rails 43, respectively.

[0044] In the present embodiment, the worm 32a and the two worm wheels 32b are responsible for routing the driving force into two channels respectively for driving the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b. Thus, the drive unit 3 drives the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b in a manner linked to each other. Here, the worm wheels 32b are engaged with the worm 32a at different portions spaced apart by 180°. Therefore, the right foot support platform 2b comes to a forward end of its movable range when the left foot support platform 2a comes to a rear end of its movable range. As the left foot support platform 2a 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 platform 2b 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 support platforms 2a and 2b shift in the same direction along the lateral direction.

[0045] As apparent from the above, it is possible to give a desired phase difference of the movement between the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b by varying positions of engaging the worm 32a with the worm wheels 32b. The phase difference of 180° is effective to minimize the shifting of a weighted center of the user (M) along the forward/rearward direction, enabling the exercise even by the user (M) suffering from lowered balancing capability. Alternatively, when no phase difference is given, the equipment necessitates the shifting movement of the weighted center along the forward/rearward direction, thereby developing an exercise not only for the leg muscles but also for lower back muscles of the user (M) maintaining the balancing capability.

[0046] As apparent from the above, the drive unit 3 can drive the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b 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. Here, the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b are driven to reciprocate linearly along the rails 43 so as to move in directions different from forward/rearward directions of the feet, respectively. For example, the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b move in directions inclined at an angle of 45° relative to the forward/rearward direction of the housing 1. This travel distance is over 20 mm, for example.

[0047] Now, the footrest 21 provided on each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b is allowed to swing about the axle 24 relative to the footrest frame 22, enabling to vary height positions of the forward end as well as the rearward end of the footrest 21. That is, it's possible to vary height positions of the toe and the heel of the foot rested on the footrest 21, and this enables the plantar flexion and dorsal flexion of an ankle joint.

[0048] Here, in order to link the swinging movement of the footrest 21 about the axle 24 with the reciprocating movement thereof along the rail 43, the supporting base 1a is provided at a portion along the travel path of the footrest 21 with a guide rail 17 as a guide section 4, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0049] As shown in Fig. 1, the guide rail 17 formed in the base 10 restricts the travel path of each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b. The guide rail 17 allows each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b to move with respect to nearly the forward/rearward direction, and makes a portion of the foot support platform 2 go backward when the foot support platform 2 moves along the travel path.

[0050] Caves 15 are formed within the base 10 so as to extend along the travel path of each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b. Grooves 16 are formed so as to pass through an upper wall of the caves 15, respectively, and their longitudinal directions extend along nearly the forward/rearward direction. In the present embodiment, the more the left foot support platform 2a goes forward, the more its travel path slants leftward. Therewith, the more the right foot support platform 2b goes forward, the more its travel path slants rightward. The grooves 16 are formed along such travel paths.

[0051] A footrest 21 of each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b is composed of a front half 21F and a back half 21B. A forward/backward length of the front half 21F is almost twice as long as that of the back half 21B. A hinge 21C connects a back end of the front half 21F with a front end of the back half 21B. Thus, the footrest 21 is configured to be bent at the hinge 21C which is arranged at about one third of a length of footrest 21 away from a back end of the foot support platform 2. The front half 21F is a rest section on which a toe is rested, and the back half 21B is a rest section on which a central part of the foot and a heel are rested. At a lower surface of the front half 21F, a front drooping section 25a is formed so as to project downward from a center of a forward section of the lower surface, and a central drooping section 25b is formed so as to project downward from a center of a backward section of the lower surface. A back drooping section 25c is formed so as to project downward from a center of a lower surface of the back half 21B. The drooping sections 25 (25a∼c) are inserted into the grooves 16, respectively, and each of bottom ends of the sections 25 is arranged into the cave 15 of the base 10. Each of said bottom ends is provided with a crossbar 26. In the cave 15, the crossbar 26 has a length longer than a width of the groove 16 and its longitudinal direction is directed parallel to a width direction of the groove 16. The guide rail 17 is formed on the bottom surface of the cave 15 arranged along the travel path of the base 10. That is, the guide rail 17 is composed of a front guide rail 17a for guiding the crossbar 26 of the front drooping section 25a, a central guide rail 17b for guiding the crossbar 26 of the central drooping section 25b, and a back guide rail 17c for guiding the crossbar 26 of the back drooping section 25c.

[0052] The guide rail 17 houses the crossbars 26 within, and determines vertical positions of the crossbars 26 according to front-back positions of the crossbars 26. In the present embodiment, the guide rail 17 is roughly shaped like a box, and its inside is provided with travel spaces 18 which allow the crossbars 26 to move in a forward/backward direction, respectively. Grooves 19 are formed so as to pass through upper walls of the travel spaces 18 and to extend along longitudinal directions (that is, travel directions) of the travel spaces 18, respectively. A width of each of the grooves 19 is shorter than a length of each of the crossbars 26 and is a little longer than a width of each of the drooping sections 25. The drooping sections 25 are inserted into the travel spaces 18 through the grooves 19 and the crossbars 26 are arranged within the travel spaces 18, respectively, and thereby the crossbars 26 can be prevented from falling out of the grooves 19. The front guide rail 17a extends diagonally downward front so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located downward. The central guide rail extends diagonally upward front so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located upward. A front half of the back guide rail extends flatly, and a back half thereof extends diagonally downward back so that the more a travel space 18 goes backward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located downward.

[0053] Herewith, an upper surface of the front half 21F is almost flush with that of the back half 21B and their upper surfaces are almost horizontal, as shown in Fig. 1, when each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b is located at almost a center relative to a forward/ backward direction of the travel path (called a central position).

[0054] As shown in Fig. 2, when a footrest 21 moves forward (in the figure, rightward) relative to said central position, a front half 21F slants diagonally downward front and a back half 21B slants diagonally downward back and a foot is plantarflexed. The length of the front half 21F is longer than that of the back half 21B, and a toe maintains to be rested on the front half 21F, and a heel is away from the back half 21B, and thereby muscles including a sole and a calf can be strengthened.

[0055] When the footrest 21 moves backward relative to said central position, both of the front half 21F and the back half 21B, not shown, slant diagonally downward back. The footrest 21 keeps a condition that an upper surface of the front half 21F is almost flush with that of the back half 21B, and the foot is dorsiflexed, but an entire foot maintains to be rested on the footrest 21.

[0056] As described above, the footrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof can go backward. That is, the footrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof relatively retreats from a remaining part thereof and thereby is made apart from a foot while said remaining part supports the foot. Herewith, a body weight of the user (M) is focused in a part of the sole, and thus a particular muscle can be strengthened. In addition, the footrest 21 comprises a plurality of members, and at least one of the plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the plurality of members. Therefore a part of the footrest 21 can be relatively moved with respect to a remaining part of the footrest 21 by a simple configuration.

[0057] Furthermore, the plurality of members of the footrest 21 are separately arranged back and forth, and at least one of the members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s). Therefore if a front member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user (M)'s body weight with a back side of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or if a back member of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user (M)'s body weight with a front side of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. For example, when the front member of the footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to the back member, muscles including a sole and a calf can be strengthened.

[0058] Then, another embodiment is explained based on Fig. 10. If some members shown in Fig. 10 are the same as members explained in the above embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 9, said some members are putted the same numerals on, respectively, and the explanation thereof is omitted. Members other than members explained in the above embodiment are explained mainly.

[0059] A footrest 21 of each of a left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b is composed of a front half 21F and a back half 21B. In the present embodiment, a forward/backward length of the front half 21F is almost half as long as that of the back half 21B. A hinge 21C connects a back end of the front half 21F with a front end of the back half 21B. Thus, the footrest 21 is configured to be bent at the hinge 21C which is arranged at about one third of a length of the footrest 21 away from a front end of the foot support platform 2. The front half 21F is a rest section on which a toe and a central part of the foot are rested, and the back half 21B is a rest section on which a heel is rested. A front drooping section 25a is formed so as to project downward from a center of the lower surface of the front half 21F At a lower surface of the back half 21B, a central drooping section 25b is formed so as to project downward from a forward section of the lower surface, and a back drooping section 25c is formed so as to project downward from a backward section of the lower surface. A bottom surface of the base 10 is provided with a front guide rail 17a for guiding a crossbar 26 of the front drooping section 25a, a central guide rail 17b for guiding a crossbar 26 of the central drooping section 25b, and a back guide rail 17c for guiding a crossbar 26 of the back drooping section 25c.

[0060] The front guide rail 17a comprises a front half part and a back half part. The front and back half parts extend diagonally downward front, respectively, so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located downward. However, a slant of the front half part is larger than that of the back half part. The central guide rail extends diagonally downward front so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located downward. The back guide rail extends diagonally upward front so that the more a travel space 18 goes forward, the more a position of a crossbar 26 is located upward.

[0061] Herewith, when the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b are located at a central position of the travel path, respectively, an upper surface of the front half 21F is almost flush with that of the back half 21B and their upper surfaces are almost horizontal, as shown in Fig. 10.

[0062] As shown in Fig. 11, when the footrest 21 moves forward (in the figure, rightward) relative to said central position, the front half 21F and the back half 21B slant diagonally downward front, respectively. However, a slant of the front half 21F is larger than that of the back half 21B. A length of the front half 21F is shorter than that of the back half 21B, with respect to a longitudinal direction of the foot support platform 2. A heel maintains to be rested on the back half 21B and a toe is away from the front half 21F. As a result, muscles of an anterior tibial and a toe can be strengthened.

[0063] When the footrest 21 moves backward relative to said central position, the front half 21F and the back half 21B, not shown, slant diagonally downward back. The footrest 21 keeps a condition that an upper surface of the front half 21F is almost flush with that of the back half 21B, and the foot is dorsiflexed, but an entire foot maintains to be rested on the footrest 21.

[0064] Herewith, a front member of the footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to a front member thereof, and thereby the muscles of an anterior tibial and a toe can be strengthened.

[0065] Now, yet another embodiment is explained. If some members are the same as members explained in the above embodiment shown in Figs. 1 to 9, said some members are putted the same numerals on, respectively, and the explanation thereof is omitted. Members other than members explained in the above embodiment are explained mainly.

[0066] In the present embodiment, a footrest 21 is configured so that a part thereof relatively retreats from a remaining part thereof and thereby is made apart from a foot while said remaining part supports the foot. For example, the footrest 21 is composed of separate members relative to right and left, and these members are arranged adjacently each other. The footrest 21 is configured that at least one of a plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the members and thereby is made apart from a user (M)'s foot. Herewith, when an outside half of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user (M)'s body weight with an inside of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened. Or when an inside half of the footrest 21 is bent downward, the user (M) supports the user (M)'s body weight with the outside of the user (M)'s foot and thereby a particular muscle can be strengthened.

[0067] In the present embodiment shown in Fig. 12, the inside half is bent downward with respect to the outside half. A footrest 21 of each of the left and right foot support platforms 2a and 2b is composed of a right and left side members 21R and 21L. A hinge 21C connects a left end of the right side member 21R and a right end of the left side member 21L. Thus, the footrest 21 is configured to be bent at the hinge 21C which is arranged at a central part with respect to a horizontal direction of the foot support platform 2. As shown in Fig. 12, the left foot support platform 2a is configured that the right side member 21R of a fifth finger side is bent downward. Not shown, the right foot support platform 2b is configured that the left side member 21L of a fifth finger side is bent downward.

[0068] Herewith, the inside half of the footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to the outside half and thereby outside muscles of the foot can be strengthened and knock-knee can be corrected.

[0069] Also, in the present embodiment shown in Fig. 13, the outside half is bent downward with respect to the inside half. As shown in Fig. 13, the left foot support platform 2a is configured that the left side member 21L of a first toe side is bent downward. Not shown, the right foot support platform 2b is configured that the right side member 21R of a first toe side is bent downward.

[0070] Herewith, an outside half of the footrest 21 is bent downward with respect to an inside half and thereby inside muscles of the foot can be strengthened and bow-legs can be corrected.

[0071] Figs. 14 to 16 show an auxiliary exercise equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figs. 15 and 16, the equipment of the present embodiment comprises a base 10 located on a fixed position, such as a floor. A seat support 50 and a handle post (HP) are arranged on the base 10. An upper end of the seat support 50 is provided with a seat 51 for supporting buttocks of a user (M). An upper of the handle post (HP) is provided with a handle (HD) which the user (M) in standing position grips with a hand if needed. On the base 10, a foot support platform 2, of which a top surface is a rest-surface 21A, is formed at a position between the seat support 50 and the handle post (HP). A sole of the user (M) is rested on the rest-surface 21A and thereby a foot position is regulated.

[0072] The seat support 50 is provided with a seat driving unit 52 for swinging the seat 51, and a elevator mechanical part 53 for moving up and down the seat 51 and the seat driving unit 52 with respect to the base 10. That is, the elevator mechanical part 53 moves up and down the seat 51 and the seat driving unit 52 with respect to the base 10, and thereby a flexion angle "θ" of a knee of the user (M) can be adjusted when the buttocks is put on a contact surface 51a of the seat 51 and the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21A.

[0073] The seat driving unit 52 swings the seat 51 to move a position of the buttocks, for the user (M) of which the buttocks is put on the contact surface 51a and of which the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21A. Therefore, a weight acting on the leg of the user (M) by the user (M)'s body weight is changed. That is, when the equipment supports the user (M) while dispersing a weight acting on by the user (M)'s body weight into the buttocks and the legs, a weight supported by the buttocks is increased or decreased by moving the position of the buttocks. As a result, a weight acting on the legs by the user (M)'s body weight can be changed.

[0074] Here, when the knee is bent to a predetermined angle and a rate of the user (M)'s body weight supported by the seat 51 decreases, a load acting on the user (M)'s femoral area increases as bending the knee like a squat exercise. Thus, it becomes possible to contract muscles of the femoral area. That is, when the seat driving unit 52 swings the seat 51, muscles of the femoral area alternates between excitation and relaxation through not so much a spontaneous exercise but a passive exercise. In other words, the seat driving unit 52 swings the seat 51 and thereby it becomes possible to exercise muscles of the femoral area mainly.

[0075] It is preferred to set a swing direction of the seat 51 so as to prevent a shear force from acting on a knee joint. As shown in Fig. 16, when the buttocks of the user (M) are supported by the contact surface 51a of the seat 51, the feet of the user (M) becomes a condition that a distance between toes is larger than a distance between heels and such condition is natural attitude. An opening angle "θ2" between the feet can be determined by positions of the foot support platform 2 on which the feet are rested. Consequently, the seat 51 is swung along a direction of a center line connecting a toe and a heel of each of the feet when the feet are rested on the foot support platform 2, and thereby the user (M) can exercise passively without the shear force acting on the knee joint. That is, periods of moving diagonally frontward right and diagonally frontward left is set up when the seat 51 moves forward from a back end of a swing range, and thereby almost the user (M)'s body weight can act on the femoral area of each of the legs without the shear force acting on the knee joint.

[0076] In addition, the contact surface 51a of the seat 51 is almost a horizontal surface in an example shown in Fig. 15. However, the user (M) performs passively an exercise, which induces contracting muscles of the femoral area by means of changing a weight acting on the legs by the user (M)'s body weight, and thus it's preferred that the contact surface 51a slants diagonally downward front along a swing direction of the seat 51. That is, it's preferred that in regard to a front end of the seat 51 a part supporting right buttocks of the user (M) slants downward and diagonally frontward right, and a part supporting left buttocks of the user (M) slants downward and diagonally frontward left. The seat 51 having such a shape allows the weight acting on the leg to increase easily, and thereby high-efficient training can be achieved.

[0077] Then, a foot support platform 2 of this embodiment is explained. As shown in Figs. 14A and 14B, the foot support platform 2 comprises a supporting base 1a which is fastened to a base 10 and thereby is arranged in place, a footrest 21 which is provided with a rest-surface 21A slanting downward along a direction from a heel of the user (M) toward a toe of the user (M) (in Fig. 14, leftward), and a supporting mechanical part 210 which is configured to support the footrest 21 with respect to the supporting base 1a while biasing the footrest 21 upward so that the footrest 21 can reciprocate in the vertical direction. The footrest 21 is composed of two members, and the division between the members is near a center in a longitudinal direction of the footrest 21. That is, the footrest 21 is divided in a front half 21F located in a toe side and a back half 21B located in a heel side. A connection mechanism (not shown) connects the front half 21Fand the back half 21B so that they can move with respect to a vertical direction.

[0078] The supporting mechanical part 210 comprises a first movable plate 211, a second movable plate 212, a first spring 213 and a second spring 214. The first and second movable plates 211 and 212 are formed by narrow and long plate members, respectively, and have the same shape and the same size each other. A front end of the first movable plate 211 is supported pivotally by a projection part which projects downward from an end part of the front half 21F, and a back end thereof is supported pivotally by a back end of the supporting base 1a. On the other hand, a front end of the second movable plate 212 is supported pivotally by a projection part which projects upward from an end part of the supporting base 1a, and a back end thereof is supported pivotally by a back end of the back half 21B. The first and second movable plates 211 and 212 are connected rotatably with a pin 215 which is located at some distance forward from a center in a longitudinal direction. The first spring 213 biases the front half 21F upward with respect to the supporting base 1a, and the second spring 214 biases the back half 21B upward. However, a spring constant of the second spring 214 is smaller than that of the first spring 213.

[0079] Therefore, when the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21A of the footrest 21 and the weight acting on the leg increases and the front half 21F, which contacts with the sole in a toe side, resists the stress of the first spring 213 to move downward (descent), the first movable plate 211 rotates in the counterclockwise direction around the back end supported pivotally by the supporting base 1a and thereby the second movable plate 212, which is connected the first movable plate 211 with the pin 215, rotates in the clockwise direction around the front end supported pivotally by the supporting base 1a. Here, a position, where the first and second movable plates 211 and 212 are connected, (that is, a position of the pin 215) is located at some distance forward from a center in a longitudinal direction of each of the first and second movable plates 211 and 212. Thus, a downward travel distance (descent distance) of the back half 21B is larger than that of the front half 21F.

[0080] In order to this configuration, the sole in a heel side is away from the back half 21B of the footrest 21 and the weight acts on only the sole in the toe side which contacts with the front half 21F of the footrest 21 when the sole is rested on the rest-surface 21A of the footrest 21 and the weight acting on the leg increases.

[0081] And then, in the present embodiment, the supporting mechanical part 210 allows the back half 21B to move downward relatively larger than the front half 21F when the weight acting on the leg increases. Thus, a load can be applied to the toe side larger than the heel side, regardless of how the user (M) rides on the seat 51 or an individual difference of a physique. As a result, it becomes possible to prevent too much load from being applied to the knee joint, and to strengthen the muscles around the knee.

[0082] Figs. 17 and 18 show a control system and a foot support platform of an auxiliary exercise equipment according to an embodiment of the present invention, respectively. The present embodiment is characterized that the equipment comprises a detector 61 for detecting a muscle activity of the user (M)'s legs, and a controller 62. The controller 62 is configured to control a movement distance of the footrest 21 (the back half 21B) moved by the supporting mechanical part 210 according to a result of the muscle activity detected by the detector 61. However, members other than these members are the same as the members of the above embodiment shown in Figs. 14 to 16. Thus, such members are putted the same numerals on, respectively, and the illustration and explanation thereof are omitted.

[0083] As shown in Fig. 18, the supporting mechanical part 210 of the present embodiment comprises a first spring 213, which supports the front half 21F of the footrest 21 while biasing the front half 21F upward so that the front half 21F can move in the vertical direction, and an actuator 216, which supports the back half 21B of the footrest 21 movably in the vertical direction.

[0084] The detector 61 is composed of a known means like an electromyograph for detecting a active contractile activity of muscles electrically, a muscle hardness meter for detecting the active contractile activity of muscles dynamically, or a measurement equipment for detecting oxygen consumption depending on a muscle contraction by using near-infrared spectroscopy. The detector 61 is configured to convert a detection value of the muscle activity into an electrical signal (a detection signal) and to output the electrical signal into the controller 62. In addition, it's preferred that the muscle activity detected by the detector 61 is at least activity of either hamstrings (a biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle), or triceps surae muscles (a gastrocnemius muscle and a soleus muscle).

[0085] The controller 62 is an electrical circuit constructed mainly from a microcomputer, and controls the actuator 216 according to the detection signal (a detection value of the muscle activity) received from the detector 61, and controls the movement distance of the back half 21B.

[0086] As explained in the above background art, it's important for an auxiliary exercise equipment to contract the hamstrings (the biceps femoris muscle, the semimembranosus muscle and the semitendinosus muscle) and a crural muscle at the same time, and to reduce a shear force acting on the knee joint, in order to give an effect of exercise for a quadriceps femoris muscle while reducing a load of the knee joint. The load is applied to the toe side larger than the heel side while the foot joint is plantarflexed, and thereby the triceps surae muscles (the gastronemius muscle and the soleus muscle) can be contracted and at the same time the hamstrings being coordination muscles can also be contracted, and thus muscles around the knee can be contracted simultaneously. As a result, if the muscle activity of the hamstrings or the triceps surae muscles is detected by the detector 61 and the controller 62 controls the actuator 216 so that the detection value is larger within a predetermined appropriate range and the back half 21B of the footrest 21 is moved downward, muscles around the knee can be strengthened safely and efficiently. In addition, when the detector 61 detects both the muscle activity of a quadriceps femoris muscle and the muscle activity of the hamstrings or the triceps surae muscles and the latter muscle activity is less than the former muscle activity, the controller 62 may be configured to increase a downward movement distance of the back half 21B to balance the latter muscle activity with the former muscle activity.

[0087] Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of this invention, namely claims.

Claims

1. An auxiliary exercise equipment, comprising a footrest for supporting a foot of a user,
wherein the footrest is configured so that a part of the footrest relatively retreats from a remaining part of the footrest and thereby is made apart from the foot while the remaining part of the footrest supports the foot.

2. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, wherein the footrest comprises a plurality of members,
wherein the footrest is configured so that at least one of the plurality of members is bent with respect to a remaining member(s) of the plurality of members and thereby is made apart from the user's foot.

3. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of members of the footrest, are separately arranged back and forth.

4. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are a front half and a back half,
wherein the footrest is configured so that the front half is bent downward with respect to the back half.

5. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 3, wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are a front half and a back half,
wherein the footrest is configured so that the back half is bent downward with respect to the front half.

6. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 2, wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are separately arranged to right and left.

7. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are an inside half and an outside half,
wherein the footrest is configured so that the inside half is bent downward with respect to the outside half.

8. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 6, wherein the plurality of members of the footrest are an inside half and an outside half,
wherein the footrest is configured so that the outside half is bent downward with respect to the inside half.

9. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the footrest is configured so as to support the user's foot in the standing position.

10. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

a foot support platform for supporting the footrest;

a seat for supporting buttocks of the user while a sole of the user is rested on a rest-surface of the footrest; and

a seat driving unit being configured to displace the seat by using a driving source so as to change a weight acting on a use's leg by the user's body weight;

wherein the foot support platform comprises a supporting base located in a fixed position, and a supporting mechanical part configured to support the footrest with respect to the supporting base while biasing the footrest upward so that the footrest can reciprocate in the vertical direction,

wherein the rest-surface of the footrest is formed so as to slant downward along the direction from a heel of the user toward a toe of the user,

wherein the supporting mechanical part is configured to relatively move a part of the back of the footrest larger than a part of the front of the footrest when the weight acting on the user's leg by the user's body weight increases.

11. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 10, further comprising:

a detector for detecting a muscle activity of the user's leg; and

a controller being configured to control a movement distance of the footrest moved by the supporting mechanical part according to a result of the muscle activity detected by the detector.

12. The auxiliary exercise equipment as claimed in claim 11, wherein the detector is configured to detect a muscle activity of either hamstrings or triceps surae muscles of the user, the hamstrings including a biceps femoris muscle, a semimembranosus muscle and a semitendinosus muscle, the triceps surae muscles including a gastrocnemius muscle and a soleus muscle.

Drawing