U.S. patent application number 11/883650 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-01 for balance fitness machine.
Invention is credited to Teruo Mihara, Satoru Shiraishi, Zhenhai Zhang.
Application Number | 20080103034 11/883650 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36240982 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080103034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mihara; Teruo ; et
al. |
May 1, 2008 |
Balance Fitness Machine
Abstract
A balance fitness machine is provided which is capable of
automatically and stably and also uniformly effecting muscle
exercise and stretch exercise and exercise for increasing sense of
balance. This balance fitness machine has a platform 1 capable of
carrying a user H mounting thereof in a standing posture, a rocking
mechanism 2 for rocking this platform 1 in front-rear, left-right,
and up-down directions, and a drive motor 20 for driving this
rocking mechanism 2. The platform 1 has a long-by-narrow shape and
is linked to the rocking mechanism 2 through support members 48
formed of resilient bodies.
Inventors: |
Mihara; Teruo; (Osaka,
JP) ; Shiraishi; Satoru; (Osaka, JP) ; Zhang;
Zhenhai; (Osaka, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
36240982 |
Appl. No.: |
11/883650 |
Filed: |
October 5, 2005 |
PCT Filed: |
October 5, 2005 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP05/18409 |
371 Date: |
August 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/146 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/16 20130101;
A63B 26/003 20130101; A63B 69/0093 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/146 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/14 20060101
A63B022/14 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 15, 2005 |
JP |
2005-073971 |
Claims
1. A balance fitness machine comprising: a platform capable of
carrying a user mounting thereon in a standing posture; a rocking
mechanism for rocking the platform in a front-rear, left-right, or
up-down direction; and driving means for driving the rocking
mechanism.
2. A balance fitness machine according to claim 1, wherein the
platform has a long-by-narrow shape.
3. A balance fitness machine according to claim 1, wherein the
platform is connected to the rocking mechanism through a supporting
member formed of a resilient body.
4. A balance fitness machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
wherein the rocking mechanism is disposed below the platform and
the driving means is disposed on a side of the rocking
mechanism.
5. A balance fitness machine according to claim 4, wherein the
rocking mechanism comprises: a support plinth on which the platform
is mounted; a first support shaft and a second support shaft that
support the support plinth from below; and a support part that
supports the first support shaft and the second support shaft, the
first support shaft having a first axle projecting from both ends
in an axial direction thereof for eccentrically rotatably
supporting the first support shaft, the second support shaft having
a second axle projecting from both ends in an axial direction
thereof for oscillatably supporting the second support shaft, the
first axle and the second axle being supported by the support part
horizontally and with a predetermined spacing between them.
6. A balance fitness machine according to claim 5, wherein the
driving means rotationally drives the first axle of the first
support shaft of the rocking mechanism.
7. A balance fitness machine according to claim 6, wherein the
rocking mechanism has oscillating means for oscillating the support
plinth in the axial direction of the first support shaft, the
oscillating means comprising: an oscillating member connected to
the support plinth; a slide support shaft disposed along the axial
direction of the first support shaft for slidably supporting the
oscillating member; and a guide member for oscillating the
oscillating member along the slide support shaft, the guide member
being formed in a cylindrical shape and being rotatable about an
axis parallel with the axis of the first support shaft, the guide
member having an outer circumferential face formed with a spiral
cam groove, the oscillating member being provided with a guide pin
to be slidably fitted in the cam groove.
8. A balance fitness machine according to claim 6, wherein the
rocking mechanism has oscillating means for oscillating the support
plinth in the axial direction of the first support shaft, the
oscillating means comprising: an oscillating member connected to
the support plinth; a slide support shaft disposed along the axial
direction of the first support shaft for slidably supporting the
oscillating member; and a guide member for oscillating the
oscillating member along the slide support shaft, the guide member
being formed in a cylindrical shape and being rotatable about an
axis parallel with the axis of the first support shaft, the guide
member having an outer circumferential face formed with a spiral
cam groove, the oscillating member being provided with a guide pin
to be slidably fitted in the cam groove, the first axle, the second
axle, and the guide member being disposed such as to be
horizontally parallel to each other.
9. A balance fitness machine according to claim 6, wherein the
rocking mechanism has oscillating means for oscillating the support
plinth in the axial direction of the first support shaft, the
oscillating means comprising: an oscillating member connected to
the support plinth; a slide support shaft disposed along the axial
direction of the first support shaft for slidably supporting the
oscillating member; and a guide member for oscillating the
oscillating member along the slide support shaft, the guide member
being formed in a cylindrical shape and being rotatable about an
axis parallel with the axis of the first support shaft, the guide
member having an outer circumferential face formed with a spiral
cam groove, the oscillating member being provided with a guide pin
to be slidably fitted in the cam groove, the ratio of the
rotational speed of the guide member to the rotational speed of the
first axle being set as 1:2.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] This invention relates to a balance fitness machine for
contributing to improvement of the fitness of a user by promoting
muscle exercise and stretch exercise of the user as well as
developing the sense of balance of the user.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] Along with the fitness boom of recent years, various fitness
machines have been developed and marketed. For example, an
exercise-assisting device provided with a forwardly and backwardly
rotatable circular plate on which a user (person) mounts in a
standing posture so that the user can perform an exercise of
twisting the hips to the left and right alternately is known (see
for example Patent Document 1).
[0003] This exercise-assisting device is one that promotes twisting
movement and stretching movement of the user's lower back.
Consequently, exercising other parts such as for example thigh
muscle and abdominal muscle with it has been difficult.
[0004] Examples of activities that involve exercising the whole
body including the thigh muscles and the abdominal muscles include
swimming and skiing. In particular, with skiing and the like it is
possible to move the whole body about the lower body and to develop
the sense of balance. And, as exercises similar to skiing, there
are snowboarding and surfing, and skateboarding, which is popular
among young people, and so on. With these exercises it is possible
to obtain an exercise effect similar to that of skiing (muscle
strengthening and stretch exercise of the whole body).
[0005] A along with the above-mentioned fitness boom, there have
been growing needs for the development of a fitness machine with
which it is possible to obtain at home the exercise effects that
can be gained through snowboarding and surfing.
[0006] In Patent Document 2, a snowboard training apparatus is
disclosed which would seem to be able to meet the above needs. This
training apparatus has an arch-shaped rail, a turning part
consisting of a pair of elastic bodies positioned at the
length-direction ends of this rail, a snowboard having a rear end
engaged with the rail, a support part for rotatably and rockably
supporting a front end of this snowboard, and a handle provided in
the vicinity of this supporting part.
[0007] By using this training apparatus, it is possible to learn
basic turns necessary in snowboarding, an effect of exercising the
whole body about the lower body can be obtained, and the sense of
balance can be developed.
[0008] Patent Document 1: JP-A-55-26946
[0009] Patent Document 2: JP-A-2001-149518
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0010] However, when ordinary users use the snowboard training
apparatus of Patent Document 2, it is expected that most of them do
not know how to glide with a snowboard, and it is quite conceivable
that they will have difficulty due to not knowing how to use the
apparatus.
[0011] And, this snowboard training apparatus is operated by moving
the snowboard with intent and movements of the user himself or
herself. Consequently, there is no predetermined individual
movement, and exercise rate and exercise duration time of the
different parts of the body may differ every time.
[0012] For above reasons, users may fail to do whole body exercise
and stretch exercise effectively, resulting in not only failure of
achieving targets for dieting, shaping-up and the like, but also
damages in muscles of the users themselves.
[0013] The present invention was made in view of the circumstances
described above, and an object of the invention is to provide a
balance fitness machine capable of automatically and stably and
also uniformly effecting muscle exercise and stretch exercise and
exercise for increasing sense of balance, so that a user can obtain
an intended effect (diet effect, shape-up effect, effect of
resolving a lack of exercise) without excess or deficiency.
Means for Solving the Problems
[0014] To achieve the above-mentioned object, in the invention the
following technological means were devised.
[0015] That is, a balance fitness machine according to the
invention is characterized in having:
[0016] a platform capable of carrying a user mounting thereon in a
standing posture;
[0017] a rocking mechanism for rocking this platform in a
front-rear or left-right direction; and
[0018] driving means for driving this rocking mechanism.
[0019] With this arrangement, when the driving means is driven, the
platform undergoes complex rocking motion via the rocking
mechanism. Since the rocking motion causes the user mounting on the
platform in a standing posture to lose balance, the user tries to
maintain the balance by moving the muscles of all parts of the body
so as to resist the imbalance. Consequently, the user's sense of
balance is developed, and muscle exercise and stretch exercise is
effected. As a result, the user can obtain various effects such as
a dieting effect, a shape-up effect, and a resolution of a shortage
of exercise.
[0020] Preferably, the platform has a long-by-narrow shape.
[0021] With forming the platform in a long-by-narrow shape like the
shapes of a surfboard, a snowboard, or a skateboard, the user can
perform the balance exercise described above with a feeling of
actually riding one of those boards.
[0022] More preferably, the platform is linked to the rocking
mechanism by way of support members formed of resilient bodies.
[0023] With this arrangement, the platform undergoes more complex
rocking motion.
[0024] It is also desirable that the rocking mechanism is disposed
below the platform and for the driving means is disposed on a side
of the rocking mechanism.
[0025] With this arrangement, an apparatus with reduced size can be
obtained.
[0026] Further, the rocking mechanism has
[0027] a support plinth on which the platform is mounted,
[0028] a first support shaft and a second support shaft supporting
this support plinth from below, and
[0029] a support part for supporting the first support shaft and
the second support shaft, in which
[0030] the first support shaft has a first axle projecting from
both ends in an axial direction thereof for eccentrically rotatably
supporting the first support shaft,
[0031] the second support shaft has a second axle projecting from
both ends in an axial direction thereof for oscillatably supporting
the second support shaft, and
[0032] the first axle and the second axle are supported by the
support part horizontally and with a predetermined spacing between
them.
[0033] The driving means preferably rotationally drives the first
axle of the first support shaft of the rocking mechanism.
[0034] Further, the rocking mechanism has oscillating means for
oscillating the support plinth in the axial direction of the first
support shaft, and this oscillating means has
[0035] an oscillating member connected to the support plinth;
[0036] a slide support shaft disposed along the axial direction of
the first support shaft for slidably supporting this oscillating
member; and
[0037] a guide member for oscillating the oscillating member along
this slide support shaft, in which
[0038] the guide member is formed in a cylindrical shape and is
rotatable about an axis parallel with the axis of the first support
shaft, a spiral cam groove is formed in an outer circumferential
face of this guide member, and a guide pin to be slidably fitted in
the cam groove is provided on the oscillating member.
[0039] Additionally, in the rocking mechanism, it is very desirable
that the first axle, the second axle, and the guide member are
disposed such as to be horizontally parallel to each other.
[0040] With this arrangement, the thickness of the rocking
mechanism in the up-down direction can be made thinner.
[0041] Preferably, the ratio of the rotational speed of the guide
member to the rotational speed of the first axle is set as 1:2.
[0042] With this arrangement, the rocking motion of the platform
can be made more complex.
EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0043] According to this invention, it becomes possible to
automatically and stably and also uniformly effect muscle exercise
and stretch exercise extending over a whole human body and exercise
for increasing sense of balance.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0044] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exterior of a balance
fitness machine;
[0045] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the balance fitness
machine;
[0046] FIG. 3 is a front view of the balance fitness machine;
[0047] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a rocking mechanism;
[0048] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rocking mechanism;
[0049] FIG. 6 is another perspective view of the rocking
mechanism;
[0050] FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the rocking
mechanism;
[0051] FIG. 8 is a front view of a balance fitness machine
according to a second embodiment;
[0052] FIG. 9 is a front view of a balance fitness machine
according to a third embodiment; and
[0053] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a mode of use of a
balance fitness machine.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0054] 1: platform [0055] 2: rocking mechanism [0056] 3: driving
means [0057] 7: first support shaft [0058] 8: second support shaft
[0059] 9: support parts [0060] 10: support plinth [0061] 12: first
axle [0062] 13: second axle [0063] 25: oscillating means [0064] 26:
oscillating member [0065] 27: slide support shafts [0066] 28: guide
member [0067] 33: guide pin [0068] 34: cam groove [0069] 48:
support members
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0070] An embodiment of the invention will now be described with
reference to the drawings.
[0071] Hereinafter, in FIG. 1 to FIG. 4, the direction X will be
called the front-rear direction, the direction Y will be called the
left-right direction, and the direction Z will be called the
up-down direction.
[0072] FIG. 1 through FIG. 7 show a first embodiment of the
invention.
[0073] As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a balance fitness machine of
this embodiment has a platform 1 on which a user H stands in an
upright posture. Below this platform 1, there is provided a rocking
mechanism 2 for rocking the platform 1 in the left-right direction
or the front-rear direction or the up-down direction. This rocking
mechanism 2 is driven by driving means 3 shown in FIG. 3. The
rocking mechanism 2 and the driving means 3 are disposed on a
machine bed 4.
[0074] Normally, the rocking mechanism 2 and the driving means 3
are covered by a cover 11, as shown in FIG. 1.
[0075] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the machine bed 4 has a pair
of base plates 5, 5 extending in the front-rear direction, and a
substantially rectangular machine plate 6 that connects the pair of
the base plates 5, 5 at intermediate portions thereof, and the pair
of base plates 5, 5 and the machine plate 6 form an H shape in plan
view.
[0076] The rocking mechanism 2 is mounted on the machine plate 6.
This rocking mechanism 2, as shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, has a
first support shaft 7, a second support shaft 8, and support parts
9 that support the first support shaft 7 and the second support
shaft 8. On the first support shaft 7 and the second support shaft
8, a support plinth 10 is disposed to be supported by them.
[0077] The first support shaft 7 has a first axle 12 projecting
from both ends in an axial direction thereof and eccentrically
rotatably supporting the first support shaft 7. The second support
shaft 8 has a second axle 13 projecting both ends in an axial
direction thereof and capable of oscillatably supporting the second
support shaft 8. The first axle 12 and the second axle 13 are
supported by the support parts 9, 9 with a predetermined spacing
between them in the front-rear direction.
[0078] Specifically, the support parts 9 extending in the
front-rear direction are uprightly mounted on side portions of the
machine plate 6 in the left-right direction. Each of the first
axles 12 extending on left and right sides is rotatably fitted in
each of front portions of this left and right pair of support parts
9, 9, so that the first support shaft 7 is supported with its axis
oriented in the left-right direction. The first support shaft 7 is
eccentric with respect to the first axle 12, and when the first
axle 12 is rotated, the first support shaft 7 rotates
eccentrically.
[0079] Each of the second axles 13 extending on left and right
sides is rotatably fitted in each of rear portions of the support
parts 9, so that the second support shaft 8 is supported with its
axis oriented in the left-right direction. The second support shaft
8 also is eccentric with respect to the second axle 13, and, as
shown by the arrow A in FIG. 4, the second support shaft 8
oscillates in the front-rear direction.
[0080] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the support plinth 10, which
is formed in a rectangular parallelopiped box shape with its
underside opened, is disposed above the first support shaft 7 and
the second support shaft 8. The support plinth 10 and the support
shafts 7, 8 are connected by way of a plurality of support shaft
receiving members 14.
[0081] Specifically, the support shaft receiving members 14 project
downward from four points in front/rear and left/right,
respectively, of the underside of the support plinth 10. A boss
part 15 is provided on each end of two support shaft receiving
members 14 on the front side. The boss part 15 fits rotatably on
the first support shaft 7. Similarly, a boss part 15 provided on
each end of two support shaft receiving members 14 on the rear side
fits rotatably on the second support shaft 8.
[0082] The boss parts 15 are slidable in the axial directions of
the first support shaft 7 and the second support shaft 8, and
enable the support plinth 10 to reciprocate in the left-right
direction, which will be described later.
[0083] The platform 1 on which a user H stands is attached to an
upper face of this support plinth 10. Specifically, as shown in
FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, extension plates 16 are disposed on the front
and rear portions of the support plinth 10 such as to project in
the front and rear directions from positions a predetermined
distance below the upper face of the support plinth 10,
respectively. And the platform 1 is attached to the upper face of
this extension plate 16 by way of an unresilient connecting member
17.
[0084] The platform 1 of this embodiment has a long-by-narrow plate
shape that is substantially the same shape as a rideable board such
as a snowboard or a skateboard, and each of its length-direction
ends is formed to curve upward.
[0085] The driving means 3, which rotationally drives the first
axle 12, is provided on a side of the rocking mechanism 2.
[0086] That is, as shown in FIG. 5, an electric motor 20 is mounted
on the outer side of the support member 9 on the right side in plan
view. Rotation of the drive shaft of this electric motor 20 is
converted into rotation about the first axle 12 by a worm gear
mechanism 22 provided in a gearbox 21 mounted at the front end of
this drive shaft, and rotates this first axle 12.
[0087] With this construction, driving the electric motor 20 causes
the first axle 12 to rotate. And, along with that, the eccentric
first support shaft 7 rotates eccentrically up and down and to the
front and rear. Consequently, the support plinth 10 and the
platform 1 oscillate up and down and to the front and rear.
[0088] And, in cooperation with (following) the rotation of the
first support shaft 7, the second support shaft 8 oscillates
forward and rearward about the second axle 13, as shown by the
arrow A in FIG. 4, and the platform 1 performs a motion similar to
this.
[0089] The rocking mechanism 2 of this embodiment has oscillating
means 25 for oscillating the support plinth 10 and the platform 1
in the left-right direction (axial direction of each of the support
shafts), which is disposed between the first support shaft 7 and
the second support shaft 8 disposed at the front and rear
positions.
[0090] This oscillating means 25, as shown in FIG. 6, has an
oscillating member 26 for oscillating the support plinth 10 to the
left and right, slide support shafts 27 for supporting this
oscillating member 26 slidably in the left-right direction, and a
guide member 28 for sliding the oscillating member 26 in the axial
direction of the slide support shafts 27.
[0091] The oscillating member 26 has a main body part 29 attached
to the slide support shafts 27, and a pair of projecting parts 30,
30 projecting upward from this main body part 29. The main body
part 29 is formed in a plate shape or a box shape that is square in
plan view. And, through holes 31 for passing the slide support
shafts 27 therethrough are formed in the main body part 29 such as
to pass therethrough in the left-right direction. The through holes
31 are formed in two front-and-rear locations of the main body part
29.
[0092] The projecting parts 30 are provided as a left-right pair,
and the projecting parts 30 of this left-right pair are disposed
apart from each other by a predetermined spacing in the left-right
direction.
[0093] On the other hand, an engaging shaft (not shown) to be
sandwichingly held between the pair of projecting parts 30 is
provided on an intermediate position of the support shaft receiving
members 14 of the support plinth 10. This engaging shaft is
disposed with its axis oriented in a direction (the front-rear
direction) perpendicular to the slide support shafts 27. And, both
ends of this engaging shaft are respectively fixed to front and
rear wall parts of the support shaft receiving members 14. By the
engaging shaft sandwichingly held between the pair of projecting
parts 30 as explained above, the support plinth 10 moves in linkage
with the oscillation of the oscillating member 26.
[0094] In this way, by means of a construction in which the support
plinth 10 is connected to the oscillating member 26 by way of an
engaging shaft, attachment and removal of the support plinth 10 to
and from the oscillating member 26 is facilitated.
[0095] The slide support shafts 27 are disposed as a pair spaced to
each other in the front-rear direction, and support the oscillating
member 26. The slide support shafts 27 are mounted in parallel with
the first support shaft 7 and the second support shaft 8, and pass
through the through holes 31 in the oscillating member 26. The ends
of the slide support shafts 27 are supported by support brackets 32
mounted on the upper faces of the support parts 9,
respectively.
[0096] As shown in FIG. 7, the main body part 29 is provided with a
guide pin 33 downwardly projecting from the underside thereof for
engaging the guide member 28. The guide member 28 is formed in a
cylindrical shape having an outer circumferential face formed with
an endless cam groove 34 for receiving the guide pin 33 which
slants with respect to the axis of a guide member axle 37.
[0097] On the other hand, an engaging ring 35 for engaging with the
cam groove 34 is fitted about the guide pin 33, and this engaging
ring 35 is rotatable about the axis of the guide pin 33.
[0098] The guide member 28 is rotatably supported in an
intermediate position of each of the support members 9 by the guide
member axle 37, which is formed to project from both its axial
direction ends. The axis of the guide member axle 37 is
substantially parallel with the axes of the first support shaft 7
and the second support shaft 8.
[0099] And, as shown in FIG. 4, a following gear 38 is mounted on
one end of the guide member axle 37. This following gear 38 is
driven by a driving gear 39 mounted on one end of the first support
shaft 7 (on an end opposite to the end on which the worm gear
mechanism 22 is mounted). The ratio of the number of teeth of this
driving gear 39 to the number of teeth of the following gear 38 is
1:2.
[0100] When the first axle 12 is rotated by the above-mentioned
electric motor 20 (driving means 3), the first support shaft 7
rotates eccentrically to cause the support plinth 10 to reciprocate
in the up-down direction and the front-rear direction. At the same
time, the support plinth 10 is caused to reciprocate in the
left-right direction (the axial direction of the support shafts or
the axial direction of the slide support shafts 27) by the
oscillating means 25. At this time, since the ratio of teeth
numbers of the driving gear 39 to the following gear 38 is 1:2,
while the first support shaft 7 rotates through 2 revolutions, the
guide member 28 rotates through 1 revolution. Since the front-rear,
up-down and left-right reciprocating motions of the support plinth
10 are performed simultaneously, when it is seen in plan view, the
support plinth 10 oscillates in a direction slanting with respect
to the front-rear direction. That is, it reciprocates in the
direction of arrow B or C of FIG. 6. The directions of the arrow B,
C are at .theta.=approximately 45.degree. in the left-right
direction.
[0101] The axis of the guide member 28 and the axes of the
above-mentioned first support shaft 7 and second support shaft 8
are disposed so as to be substantially horizontal.
[0102] Referring to FIG. 10, an operating mode of the balance
fitness machine will be explained.
[0103] The balance fitness machine is provided with a remote
controller 40 to be remotely controlled. A user H standing on the
platform 1 can control ON/OFF-operation of the balance fitness
machine and the strength of the rocking movement of the support
plinth 10 with the remote controller 40. As shown in FIG. 10, it is
very desirable that the controller of the remote controller 40 is
formed to be worn on arms like a wristwatch.
[0104] When the controller of the remote controller 40 is operated
to turn ON the balance fitness machine, the rocking mechanism 2 is
driven by the driving means 3. Specifically, the electric motor 20
rotationally drives the first axle 12 to cause the first support
shaft 7 to rotate eccentrically about an axis oriented in the
left-right direction. The second support shaft 8 oscillates forward
and rearward about the second axle 13 in correspondence with this
rotation of the first support shaft 7.
[0105] As a result of the movements of the first support shaft 7
and the second support shaft 8, the support plinth 10 and the
platform 1 linked to the support plinth 10 undergo complex
reciprocating movements in the front-rear direction and the up-down
direction. Further, the platform 1 is reciprocated in the
left-right direction by the oscillating means 25 of the rocking
mechanism 2.
[0106] As a result of the above, the platform 1 undergoes a complex
rocking motion and the posture of the user H standing on the
platform 1 is collapsed due to the rocking motion of the platform
1, thereby causing the user to move his whole body to gain his
balance. Consequently, the user can obtain an exercising effect
effective in dieting and recovering from back fatigue and the like,
and also the user's sense of balance is developed.
[0107] FIG. 8 shows a second embodiment of the invention.
[0108] In this second embodiment, the attachment structure of the
platform 1 to the support plinth 10 is different from that in the
first embodiment.
[0109] That is, between the extension plate 16 (the support plinth
10) and the platform 1, instead of the connecting member 17,
supporting means 45 for supporting the platform 1 so as to allow
rocking of the platform 1 with respect to the support plinth 10 are
provided.
[0110] The supporting means 45 has upper projecting arms 46
provided on the underside of the platform 1 at front and rear
positions thereof, and lower projecting arms 47 projecting from the
upper face of the extension plate 16, and these upper and lower
projecting arms 46, 47 are connected to be rotatable about an axis
oriented in the front-rear direction.
[0111] Further, the supporting means 45 has multiple support
members 48 formed of resilient bodies such as coil springs, which
are provided on either side of the lower projecting arms 47 in the
left-right direction in front view. The upper ends of the support
members 48 are connected to the underside of the platform 1, while
the lower ends of the support members 48 are connected to the
support plinth 10, such that the support members 48 are disposed
substantially vertically in the up-down direction.
[0112] With this construction, the platform 1 is rockable to the
left and right (about an axis oriented in the length direction)
with respect to the support plinth 10, and when the platform 1
tilts to the right a force tending to push the platform 1 back to
the left side arises in the support members 48, and when the
platform 1 tilts to the left a force tending to push the platform 1
back to the right side arises in the support members 48.
Consequently, the balance of a user H standing on this platform 1
can be collapsed still more complexly than in the first
embodiment.
[0113] FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the invention.
[0114] This embodiment is a variation of the second embodiment, and
the attachment positions of the support members 48 are different.
That is, the upper ends of the support members 48 are connected to
the underside of the platform 1, while the lower ends of the
support members 48 are connected to the vicinities of the lower
projecting arms 47, such that their configuration forms V shape in
plan view.
[0115] With this construction also, the platform 1 is rockable to
the left and right (about an axis oriented in the length direction)
with respect to the support plinth 10, and when the platform 1
tilts to the right a force tending to push the platform 1 back to
the left side arises in the support members 48, and when the
platform 1 tilts to the left a force tending to push the platform 1
back to the right side arises in the support members 48.
Consequently, the balance of a user H standing on this platform 1
can be collapsed still more complexly than in the second
embodiment.
[0116] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described above, and the following variations and modifications are
possible.
[0117] For example, the resilient bodies used for the supporting
means 45 are not limited to coil springs, and alternatively, plate
springs, air springs, or ones formed of a material such as rubber
may be employed. They may also be ones using hydraulic cylinders or
the like or reaction forces of magnets.
[0118] And, the platform 1 is not limited to a long-by-narrow
shape, and alternatively, rectangular or circular shape may be
employed without any problem.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0119] This invention provides a balance fitness machine suitable
for obtaining a muscle-exercising effect extending over a whole
human body and/or developing the sense of balance of the body.
Therefore, the invention can be used in products for providing a
muscle-exercising effect extending over a whole human body and/or
developing the sense of balance of the body.
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