U.S. patent application number 11/644920 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-26 for exercise training system providing programmable guiding track.
This patent application is currently assigned to Cycling & Health Tech Industry R & D Center. Invention is credited to Chun-Ho Chen, Chia-Hsiun Chuang.
Application Number | 20080153682 11/644920 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39543681 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080153682 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chen; Chun-Ho ; et
al. |
June 26, 2008 |
Exercise training system providing programmable guiding track
Abstract
An exercise training system primarily comprises a guiding-track
generating unit and a controlling unit wherein the controlling unit
can direct the guiding-track generating unit to produce a variable
circulative guiding track for an exerciser to move accordingly and
detect the exerciser's motion to provide objective data of
performance assessment.
Inventors: |
Chen; Chun-Ho; (Taiping
City, TW) ; Chuang; Chia-Hsiun; (Changhua City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQ.
90 JOHN STREET, THIRD FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Assignee: |
Cycling & Health Tech Industry
R & D Center
|
Family ID: |
39543681 |
Appl. No.: |
11/644920 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/136 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/12 20130101;
A63B 23/1209 20130101; A63B 21/225 20130101; A63B 21/28 20130101;
A63B 21/4047 20151001; A63B 69/0053 20130101; A63B 21/0058
20130101; A63B 23/16 20130101; A63B 2220/801 20130101; A63B 21/4035
20151001; A63B 2208/0204 20130101; A63B 23/03508 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/136 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/22 20060101
A63B021/22 |
Claims
1. An exercise training system comprising a guiding-track
generating unit and a controlling unit wherein the controlling unit
can direct the guiding-track generating unit to produce a variable
circulative guiding track and detect the consistence of an
exerciser's motion and the movement of the guiding-track generating
unit.
2. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
guiding-track generating unit comprises a base frame, a power
device, a transmission shaft, a crank and a linkage system wherein
the power device drives the transmission shaft to rotate the crank
under the control of the controlling unit and renders the linkage
system to move so that a circulative guiding track is formed along
the moving path of an extreme of the linkage system.
3. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
linkage system comprises a first link, a second link, a third link
and a fourth link wherein the first link is fastened to the crank
and the circulative guiding track is formed along the moving path
of an extreme of the third link.
4. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
linkage system is pivotly fastened to the base frame with a pivot
set assembled to one end of the fourth link.
5. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 2 further
comprising a flywheel system for steadying the rotary speed of the
transmission shaft wherein the flywheel system comprises a flywheel
shaft deposited on the base frame, a flywheel mounted on the
flywheel shaft, a belt pulley provided on the transmission shaft
and a drive belt connecting the belt pulley and flywheel.
6. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
third link further comprises a frame, an extension arm and an
actuator that is fasten to the frame so that the actuator can drive
the extension arm to extend or retract with respect to the frame
the frame under the control of the controlling unit and therefore
vary the length of the third link.
7. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
fourth link is assembled with the pivot set in a slidable way and
operatively connected to an actuator which is fixed on the pivot
set so that the actuator can drive the fourth link to slide against
the pivot set.
8. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 2, wherein a
brace and a foundation are provided under the base frame.
9. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the
brace is a vertical translation mechanism that can be controlled by
the controlling unit to adjust the vertical distance between the
base frame and the foundation.
10. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
third link further comprises a guide device for an exerciser to
lean his hand thereon and move his hand correspondingly.
11. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 10, wherein
the guide device comprises a touch sensing element or circuit which
is communicated with the controlling unit.
12. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 11, wherein
the guide device is a sway stick system that includes a sway stick
and a sway stick stand wherein the sway stick can freely sway with
respect to the sway stick stand under an external pushing force and
transform the sway angle into a signal for being delivered to the
controlling unit and right itself when the pushing force is
relieved.
13. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 3, wherein an
extendable track or linking rod is arranged respectively between
the links in the way that each track or linking rod can swing
horizontally with respect to the base frame so as to bear the
weight and ensure a stable movement of the linkage system.
14. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
controlling unit comprises: a guiding track controlling function
for controlling the guiding-track generating unit to perform a
preprogrammed constant or variable guiding track for leading an
exerciser to move accordingly; an operating speed controlling
function for controlling the guiding-track generating unit to move
under a constant-speed mode or a programmable variable-speed mode;
and a motion detecting function for detect the relationship between
an exerciser's hand and the guide device to gauging the consistence
of the moving speed and moving path between the exerciser's hand
and the guide device.
15. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 14, wherein
the controlling unit is communicated with a human physiological
database.
16. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 15, wherein
the controlling unit can program a training course according to the
human physiological database.
17. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 16, wherein
the controlling unit comprises a computing function to gauge an
exerciser's performance detected by the detecting system with
respect to the human physiological database.
18. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
controlling unit comprises an input device.
19. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
controlling unit comprises a display device.
20. The exercise training system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
controlling unit comprises an alarm device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Technical Field
[0002] The present invention is related to exercise training
systems, and more particularly, to an exercise training system
providing programmable circulative guiding track (e.g. circular or
elliptical guiding track) for an exerciser to move accordingly and
detecting the exerciser's performance.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Taijiquan is known for being beneficial to health and has
become a popular exercise nowadays. It's also highly evaluated by
general exercisers and sports scientist for its sports effect.
Practicing Pushing-hands is one form of Taijiquan training. Through
practicing Pushing-hands, the sensitivity, sense of balance, limb
coordination and reaction rate can be substantively improved.
[0005] In a traditional training method, Pushing-hands is typically
practiced through sparring. To practice Pushing-hands, two
exercisers face each other and contact the opponent's wrist and
make the contacted wrists circling repeatedly in a circular or
elliptical guiding track synchronously. During practicing, both the
exercisers detect the opponent's motion by his hand, wrist as well
as lower arm and give proper reaction. It is important for the
exercisers to keep the wrists intercontacting lightly yet avoiding
mutual resistance. Thus, Pushing-hands facilitates training for
generalized sensitivity, limb coordination and reaction rate.
However, one fundamental problem of such traditional training
method of Pushing-hands is that the practice requires two
participants. Additionally, an exerciser may not get objective data
of performance assessment from his opponent as a reference
material. Thus the popularization of Pushing-hands is limited.
[0006] Some sport facilities have therefore been developed to
overcome foresaid limitation in Pushing-hands and benefit the
popularization of Taijiquan. However, such prior art facilities are
usually noninteractive, unadjustable and nonprogrammable, hence
such facilities are inadequate to provide satisfactory training
effect.
[0007] On the other hand, though Taiwan Patent M064330 provides an
interactive Taijiquan simulator whereby an exerciser can practice
dodging and parrying, such prior art interactive Taijiquan
simulator has no detecting element or means to monitor the
exerciser's performance and the guiding track and operating mode
thereof are not adjustable. Thus, a need exists for an exercise
training system for Pushing-hands practice that provides
interactive operating mode and programmable circulative guiding
track.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The present invention has been accomplished under these
circumstances in view and discloses an exercise training system for
simulating an opponent in Pushing-hands practice to provide
different guiding tracks and practicing mode and respond to the
exerciser with objective data of performance assessment.
[0009] It is one object of the present invention to provide an
exercise training system for training an exerciser's sensitivity,
sense of balance, limb coordination and reaction rate with
Pushing-hands practice.
[0010] It is another object of the present invention to provide an
exercise training system that allows an exerciser to practice
Pushing-hands without the need of a practicing partner.
[0011] It is still another object of the present invention to
provide an exercise training system that utilizes adjustable
linkage system to perform variable guiding track for meeting an
exerciser's need and leading effective training of Pushing-hands
exercise.
[0012] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
an exercise training system that is equipped with sensing elements
to detect an exerciser's performance of Pushing-hands for warning
the exerciser of the inappropriate exertion or exporting the
detecting results as training reference material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the exercise training system
according to the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the upper part of the exercise
training system according to the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the lower part of the exercise
training system according to the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 4 is an assembly drawing of the upper part of the
exercise training system according to the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a top view of the upper part of the exercise
training system according to the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the extension arm
stretching out of the third link according to the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing the fourth link sliding
against the pivot set according to the present invention; and
[0020] FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating one embodiment of
the present invention wherein a flywheel system is attached to the
motor.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] FIGS. 1 to 7 are provided for describing one embodiment of
the present invention wherein an exercise training system primarily
comprises a guiding-track generating unit and a controlling unit
which is explained in more detail below.
[0022] In FIGS. 1 and 2, according to the present embodiment, the
guiding-track generating unit includes a base frame 10 whereon a
power device 11 that may be an electric motor or an electric geared
motor is installed; a transmission shaft 12 is connected to the
power device 11; a crank 13 is connected to the transmission shaft
12 and a linkage system is fixed on the crank 13.
[0023] As can be seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, the linkage system is
composed of a first link 14, a second link 15, a third link 16 a
fourth link 17 and a pivot set 18 wherein each said link is pivotly
connected to the adjacent links to form a quadrilateral shape
wherein the first link 14 is fastened to the crank 13 with the
middle part at a crank joint (g) and is combined with the second
link 15 with one end at a first link joint (a); the second link 15
with one end remote from the first link joint (a) connected to the
third link 16 at a second link joint (b); the third link 16 with
one end remote from the second link joint (b) connected to the
fourth link 17 at a third link joint (c); and the fourth link 17
with one end remote from the third link joint (c) connected to the
first link 14 at a fourth link joint (d). Further, the fourth link
17 is pivotly fastened to the base frame 10 with the pivot set 18
assembled to the fourth link 17 at a pivot joint (f) located beyond
the fourth link joint (d). Thereupon, when the linkage system is
operated, a circulative guiding track can be depicted by the
extreme of the third link 16 adjacent to the second link joint (b)
which is referred to a track point (e) hereinafter.
[0024] Additionally, according to the present embodiment, the third
link 16 further comprises a frame 162 and an extension arm 161
wherein the frame 162 is pivotly connected to the second link 15
and fourth link 17 respectively at the second link joint (b) and
third link joint (c) and the extension arm 161 is slidably
installed in the frame 162 and operatively connected to an actuator
163 so that the extension arm 161 can extend or retract with
respect to the frame 162 and in turn render the distance between
the third link joint (c) and the track point (e) altered, as shown
in FIG. 6.
[0025] Also, according to the present embodiment, the fourth link
17 is assembled with the pivot set 18 in a slidable way and
operatively connected to an actuator 171 which is fixed on the
pivot set 18 so that the fourth link 17 can slide against the pivot
set 18 to render the distance between the fourth link joint (d) and
the pivot joint (f) altered. As shown in FIG. 7, when the fourth
link 17 slides against the pivot set 18 under the impetus of the
actuator 171, the distance between pairs of links are varied.
[0026] According to foregoing structure, when the power device 11
drives the transmission shaft 12 to rotate the crank 13, the
linkage system is hauled to move, and meantime the length
alterations of the third link 16 and fourth link 17 result in
variation of the circulative moving path of the track point
(e).
[0027] Referring to FIG. 5, as previously discussed, when the
distance between the second link joint (b) and third link joint (c)
is equal to the distance between the first link joint (a) and the
fourth link joint (d) (i.e. bc=ad), and the distance between the
first link joint (a) and the second link joint (b) is equal to the
distance between the third link joint (c) and the fourth link joint
(d) (i.e. ab=cd), the track point (e) moves along a approximately
elliptical guiding track. Alternatively, when the value derived
from dividing the distance between the third link joint (c) and the
track point (e) by the distance between the crank joint (g) and the
fourth link joint (d) is equal to the value derived from dividing
the distance between the third link joint (c) and the pivot joint
(f) by the distance between the fourth link joint (d) and the pivot
joint (f) (i.e. ce/dg=cf/df), the track point (e) moves along a
round guiding track.
[0028] According to another concept of the present invention, an
extendable track 19 or linking rod 191 can be arranged respectively
between the links 14, 15, 16, 17 in the way that each track 19 or
linking rod 191 can swing horizontally with respect to the base
frame 10 so as to bear the weight and ensure a stable movement of
the linkage system.
[0029] Furthermore, the disclosed exercise training system may
comprise a guide device 40 settled at foresaid track point (e) so
that an exerciser can lean his hand thereon and move his hand
following the guiding track formed by the moving path of the track
point (e). According to one concept on the present invention, the
guide device 40 can be a sway stick system that includes a sway
stick 401 and a sway stick stand 402 wherein the sway stick 401 can
freely sway with respect to the sway stick stand 402 under an
external pushing force and right itself when the pushing force is
relieved. Said sway stick 401 further comprises a touch sensing
element or circuit that is communicated with the controlling unit
for detecting contact and exertion of an exerciser's hand.
[0030] Besides, between the power device 11 and transmission shaft
12, a torque limiter (not shown) may be equipped as a safety device
or a transmission mechanism (not shown) such as a coupler or a belt
pulley may be provided for steadying the rotary speed of the
transmission shaft 12. As shown in FIG. 8, the flywheel system
comprises a flywheel shaft 24 deposited on the base frame 10, a
flywheel 23 mounted on the flywheel shaft 24, a belt pulley 22
provided on the transmission shaft 12 and a drive belt 25
connecting the belt pulley 22 and flywheel 23.
[0031] The disclosed exercise training system may further include a
brace 20 and a foundation 30 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 wherein the
brace 20 can be a vertical translation mechanism composed of an
actuator 201 arranged on the brace 20 and a pair of guide rails 301
provided on the foundation 30. As depicted in the figures, the
brace 20 is basically an X-shaped structure with the upper end
pivotly fastened to the bottom of the base frame 10 while with the
lower end slidably coupled with the guide rails 301 so that when
the actuator 201 drives the lower end of the brace 20 sliding along
the guide rails 301, the vertical distance between the base frame
10 and the foundation 30 can be adjusted.
[0032] In addition, the controlling unit of the exercise training
system according to the present invention comprises a controlling
circuit operatively connected to the power device 11, actuator 163
of the third link 16, actuator 171 of the third link 17, and the
actuator 201 of the brace 20, a detecting system communicated with
the guide device 40, a database, a computing unit and a input
device, a display device and an alarm device which are communicated
with the controlling circuit, database and computing unit and
performs following functions:
[0033] 1. controlling the guiding track: controlling the scope,
shape and altitude of the moving path of the track point (e) with a
constant-track mode or a variable-track mode wherein the
constant-track mode leads a training course with the guiding track
retaining constant scope, shape and altitude throughout while the
variable-track mode leads a training course with the guiding track
varied in a preprogrammed range at preprogrammed time points.
[0034] 2. controlling the operating speed: controlling the moving
speed of the linkage system with a constant-speed mode or a
variable-speed mode wherein the constant-speed mode leads a
training course with the track point (e) moving stably at a preset
speed while the variable-speed mode leads a training course with
the moving speed of the track point (e) varied within a
preprogrammed range at preprogrammed time points.
[0035] 3. detecting motion: utilizing the touch sensing element or
circuit of the guide device 40 to detect the relationship between
an exerciser's hand and the guide device 40 and generate a feedback
signal as an evaluating material of the consistence of the moving
speed and moving path between the exerciser's hand and the guide
device 40.
[0036] 4. implementing database for programming a training
parameter: comprising one or more databases the may record human
physiological information and corresponding machine operating
speed, track and fault tolerance so that an exerciser can input
individual physiological information and easily get the exercise
training system programmed with a training parameter.
[0037] 5. computing and gauging an exerciser's performance: taking
the information recorded in the database as a parameter to gauge an
exerciser's performance detected by the detecting system; figuring
out the failure that is defined as a motion rushing or delayed
beyond the tolerance; performing a warning sign through the display
device or the alarm device; and recording the failure occurrence
frequency and time points.
[0038] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, it will be
understood by one of ordinary skill in the art that numerous
variations will be possible to the disclosed embodiments without
going outside the scope of the invention as disclosed in the
claims.
* * * * *