U.S. patent application number 12/311979 was filed with the patent office on 2009-11-19 for rotary exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Etsuji Okamoto.
Application Number | 20090286656 12/311979 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39324285 |
Filed Date | 2009-11-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090286656 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Okamoto; Etsuji |
November 19, 2009 |
Rotary exercise apparatus
Abstract
Provided is a rotating sports apparatus capable of keeping
safety even if the user has protruding limbs or the like. The
rotating sports apparatus comprises a contour frame (2) forming a
regular icosahedron, ball members (3) rotatably supported
individually at the outer side positions of the individual vertices
of the icosahedron of the contour frame (2), and a pedestal (5)
having a hemispherical face (4) inscribing the balls (3) of the
contour frame (2). The rotating sports apparatus keeps
predetermined spaces between the individual faces of the contour
frame (2) and the hemispherical face (4). Thus, the rotating sports
apparatus can keep the safety, even in case the limbs or the like
of the user (P) protrude more or less during a practice from the
individual faces of the contour frame (2).
Inventors: |
Okamoto; Etsuji; (Saitama,
JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WENDEROTH, LIND & PONACK, L.L.P.
1030 15th Street, N.W.,, Suite 400 East
Washington
DC
20005-1503
US
|
Family ID: |
39324285 |
Appl. No.: |
12/311979 |
Filed: |
October 12, 2007 |
PCT Filed: |
October 12, 2007 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2007/001110 |
371 Date: |
April 21, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/78 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 19/04 20130101;
A63B 2208/0204 20130101; A63B 19/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/78 |
International
Class: |
A63B 26/00 20060101
A63B026/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 24, 2006 |
JP |
2006/288621 |
Claims
1. A rotary exercise apparatus comprising: a contour frame defining
a regular polyhedron; balls each rotatably supported at a position
outside of each of vertices of said contour frame defining a
regular polyhedron; and a pedestal having a semispherical surface
inscribing said balls of said contour frame therein, and rotatably
supporting said contour frame therein.
2. The rotary exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein
said polyhedron is a regular icosahedron or a regular
dodecahedron.
3. The rotary exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further
comprising: a feet fixture for fixating feet of a user at a
position inside of a frame of said contour frame defining a regular
icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron; and a hands fixture for
fixating hands of said user at a position inside of a frame
disposed in facing relation to said frame at which said feet
fixture is arranged.
4. The rotary exercise apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further
comprising: a protection ring for restricting an area in which a
body of said user moves, said protection ring being arranged within
a plane perpendicular to a plane including said frame at which said
feet fixture is arranged and said frame at which said hands fixture
is arranged; a belt wound around a body of said user within said
protection ring; and a rope for connecting said protection ring to
said belt.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary exercise apparatus
which a user enters and with which a user rotates for carrying out
muscle training and enhancing the sense of equilibrium.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As a rotary exercise apparatus which a user enters and with
which a user rotates for carrying out muscle training and enhancing
the sense of equilibrium, those suggested in the patent references
1 to 4 are known, for instance. Each of the rotary exercise
apparatuses suggested in the patent references 1 to 3 is comprised
of a gimbal comprised of three rings and supported on the ground. A
user entering the rotary exercise apparatuses can rotate in any
direction merely by moving his/her weight.
[0003] The rotary exercise apparatus suggested in the patent
reference 4 includes grips disposed at an upper area in a spherical
frame comprised of vertical and horizontal frames, and feet fixture
disposed at a lower area both in a spherical frame comprised of
vertical and horizontal frames. A plurality of hard balls is
rotatably mounted over an outer surface of the frame defining a
sphere. The spherical frame is rotatably mounted on a pedestal
having a semispherical recessed surface corresponding to a
semispherical outer surface of the spherical frame.
Patent reference 1: U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,667 Patent reference 2:
Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 62-64377 Patent
reference 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 57-203947
Patent reference 4: Japanese Utility Model Application Publication
No. 52-11455
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0004] In the rotary exercise apparatuses suggested in the patent
references 1 to 3, a user puts his/her body within an innermost
ring for rotation exercise. In rotation exercise, the three rings
rotate relative to one another in the vicinity of one another.
Accordingly, if a user's limbs mistakenly protruded out of an
innermost ring, the limbs would be dangerously in the orbit path of
other rings. In the rotary exercise apparatus suggested in the
patent reference 4, since the spherical frame and the semispherical
recessed surface are quite close to each other with almost no space
between them, it would be dangerous if a user's limbs mistakenly
protruded out of the spherical frame.
[0005] In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of
the present invention to provide a rotary exercise apparatus which
is capable of keeping a user safe, even if the user's limbs
mistakenly protruded out of a frame.
Solution to the Problems
[0006] The rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present
invention includes a contour frame defining a regular polyhedron,
balls each rotatably supported at a position outside of each of the
vertices of the contour frame defining a regular polyhedron, and a
pedestal having a semispherical surface inscribing the balls of the
contour frame therein, and rotatably supporting the contour frame
therein. In the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the
present invention, when the contour frame defining a regular
polyhedron is rotating within the semispherical surface of the
pedestal, a certain space is formed between each of planes of the
contour frame and the semispherical surface. Thus, even if a user's
limbs protrude while exercising, out of planes of the contour
frame, it would be possible to keep a user safe.
[0007] Preferably the polyhedron is a regular icosahedron or a
regular dodecahedron. A regular polyhedron includes a regular
tetrahedron, a regular hexahedron, a regular octahedron, a regular
dodecahedron and a regular icosahedron. Since a regular
tetrahedron, hexahedron and octahedron has 4, 8 and 6 vertices,
respectively, a number of vertices making contact with the
semispherical surface is too small to allow the contour frame to
rotate in the semispherical surface, resulting in difficulty in
smooth rotation. In contrast, since a regular dodecahedron and
icosahedron has 20 and 12 vertices, respectively, it is possible to
sufficiently disperse loads acting on the balls disposed at the
vertices, ensuring smooth rotation in the semispherical
surface.
[0008] Preferably the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with
the present invention includes a feet fixture for fixating feet of
a user at a position inside of a frame of the contour frame
defining a regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron, and a
hands fixture for fixating hands of the user at a position inside
of a frame disposed in facing relation to the frame at which the
feet fixture is arranged. In a frame defining a regular icosahedron
or dodecahedron, since a pair of frames facing each other is
parallel to each other, it is possible to readily mount a feet
fixture and a hands fixture at the pair of frames, ensuring that a
user entering the contour frame can fix his/her hands and feet, by
stretching his/her hands and feet.
[0009] Preferably the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with
the present invention includes a protection ring for restricting an
area in which a body of the user moves, the protection ring being
arranged within a plane perpendicular to a plane including the
frame at which the feet fixture is arranged and the frame at which
the hands fixture is arranged, a belt wound around a body of the
user within the protection ring, and a rope for connecting the
protection ring to the belt. The belt wound around a body of a user
within the protection ring is connected to the protection ring
through the rope. This ensures that since hands, feet and body of a
user are caused to stay in the protection ring in a plane including
a frame at which the feet fixture is arranged and a frame at which
the hands fixture is arranged, even if a user fainted or lost
consciousness while exercising, it would be possible to prevent the
user from protruding out of the contour frame.
Advantages Provided by the Invention
[0010] (1) Since the rotary exercise apparatus may include a
contour frame defining a regular polyhedron, balls each rotatably
supported at a position outside each vertices of the contour frame
defining a regular polyhedron, and a pedestal having a
semispherical surface inscribing the balls of the contour frame
therein, and rotatably supporting the contour frame therein, a
certain space is formed between each of the planes of the contour
frame and the semispherical surface. Thus, even if the limbs of a
user protruded outside the planes of the contour frame while
exercising, it would be possible to keep a user safe.
[0011] (2) By designing the polyhedron to be a regular icosahedron
or a regular dodecahedron, it is possible to sufficiently disperse
loads acting on the balls disposed at the vertices, ensuring smooth
rotation in the semispherical surface.
[0012] (3) Since the rotary exercise apparatus may include a feet
fixture for fixating the feet of a user at a position inside of a
frame of the contour frame defining a regular icosahedron or a
regular dodecahedron, and a hands fixture for fixating the hands of
the user at a position inside of a frame disposed in facing
relation to the frame at which the feet fixture is arranged, it is
possible to readily mount a feet fixture and a hands fixture at the
frames, ensuring that a user entering the contour frame can fix
his/her hands and feet, by stretching his/her hands and feet.
[0013] (4) Since the rotary exercise apparatus may include a
protection ring for restricting an area in which a body of the user
moves, the protection ring being arranged within a plane
perpendicular to a plane including the frame at which the feet
fixture is arranged and the frame at which the hands fixture is
arranged, a belt wound around the body of the user within the
protection ring, and a rope for connecting the protection ring to
the belt, it is ensured that since hands, feet and body of a user
are caused to stay in the protection ring in a plane including a
frame at which the feet fixture is arranged and a frame at which
the hands fixture is arranged, even if a user fainted or fell
unconscious while exercising, it would be possible to prevent the
user from protruding out of the contour frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotary exercise
apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which the main body of the
rotary exercise apparatus and a pedestal are separated from each
other.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the
rotary exercise apparatus, taken along a plane including a center
and four vertices of the main body.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a plan view as viewed from an arrow "A" in FIG.
3.
[0018] FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a detail of a connector
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 5B is a plan view of a detail of a connector in FIG.
1.
[0020] FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B
in FIG. 5B.
[0021] FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an edge of the
pedestal.
[0022] FIG. 7 is a side view showing a detail of the feet
fixture.
[0023] FIG. 8A illustrates the rotary exercise apparatus in
use.
[0024] FIG. 8B illustrates the rotary exercise apparatus into which
a user enters or out of which a user exits.
[0025] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rotary exercise apparatus
in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
INDICATION BY REFERENCE NUMERALS
[0026] 1 Main body of the rotary exercise apparatus
[0027] 2, 10 Contour frame
[0028] 2a, 10a Pipe
[0029] 3 Ball
[0030] 3a, 10b Connector
[0031] 3b Arm
[0032] 3c Screw
[0033] 4 Semispherical surface
[0034] 4a Buffer
[0035] 5 Pedestal
[0036] 6 Feet fixture
[0037] 6a Foot plate
[0038] 6b Toe case
[0039] 6c, 6d Band
[0040] 7 Hands fixture
[0041] 7a Grip
[0042] 7b String
[0043] 7c Wrist band
[0044] 8 Protection ring
[0045] 8a Support pipe
[0046] 9 Belt
[0047] 9a Rope
[0048] 11 Fixture
[0049] 12 Arm
[0050] 13 Rubber
BEST EMBODIMENT FOR REDUCING THE INVENTION TO PRACTICE
[0051] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotary exercise
apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a main body of
the rotary exercise apparatus and a pedestal separated from each
other, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main body of the
rotary exercise apparatus, taken along a plane including a center
and four vertices of the main body, FIG. 4 is a plan view as viewed
from an arrow "A" in FIG. 3, FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a
detail of a connector illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 5B is a plan view
of the connector, FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the
line B-B in FIG. 5B, FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of
an edge of the pedestal, and FIG. 7 is a side view showing a detail
of the feet fixture.
[0052] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, the rotary exercise
apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
comprises a contour frame 2 in the form of a regular icosahedron as
a polyhedron defining a main body 1 of the rotary exercise
apparatus, balls 3 each rotatably supported at a position outside
of each of 12 vertices of the contour frame 2 defining a regular
polyhedron, and a pedestal 5 having a semispherical surface 4
inscribing the balls 3 of the contour frame 2 therein, and
rotatably supporting the contour frame 2 therein.
[0053] The contour frame 2 is comprised of 30 pipes 2a as frames
for connecting each of 12 vertices of the icosahedron to five
vertices therearound, and connectors 3a each rotatably supporting
the ball 3 thereon. The contour frame 2 has twenty
equilateral-triangular outer planes. As illustrated in FIGS. 5A and
5B, the connector 3a includes five arms 3b into which the pipes 2a
are inserted, in which case, the pipes 2a are fixed to the arms 3b
by means of a fastener such as a screw 3c. The connectors 3a and
the pipes 2a can be separated from each other while the rotary
exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is not
in use or is being carried.
[0054] As illustrated in FIG. 5C, only the balls 3 rotatably
supported by the connectors 3a make contact with the semispherical
surface 4 to thereby allow the contour frame 2 to rotate on the
semispherical surface 4. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the
semispherical surface 4 has an edge which is smoothly curved
outwardly to ensure that the contour frame 2 in rotation can
smoothly enter the semispherical surface 4 when the connectors 3a
enter the semispherical surface 4 from upward. As illustrated in
FIG. 6, a buffer 4a may be formed on the edge of the semispherical
surface 4.
[0055] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the contour frame 2 is designed to
include feet fixtures 6 therein at a position inside of a certain
pipe 2a for fixing feet of a user P entering the contour frame 2.
As illustrated in FIG. 7, each of the feet fixtures 6 is comprised
of, for instance, a foot plate 6a fixed on the pipe 2a, a toe case
6b to cover a toe of the user therein, and bands 6c and 6d fixing
feet there to thereby positioning and fixing the feet so as to keep
them from moving.
[0056] The contour frame 2 further includes hands fixtures 7 for
fixating hands of the user P at a position inside of a pipe 2a
disposed in facing relation to the pipe 2a on which the feet
fixtures 6 are mounted. Each of the hands fixtures 7 is comprised
of, for instance, a grip 7a, and a wrist band 7c connected to the
grip 7a through a string 7b. The user P puts the wrist bands 7c
around his/her wrists, and grasps the grips 7a during exercise.
This ensures that even if the user P releases his/her hands off the
grips 7a, the strings 7b and the wrist bands 7c prevent the user's
hands from protruding out of the contour frame 2.
[0057] The contour frame 2 includes therein a protection ring 8
disposed in a plane including both the pipe 2a at which the feet
fixtures 6 are mounted and the pipe 2a at which the hands fixtures
7 are mounted, and a belt 9 to be wound around the body of the user
P inside of the protection ring 8. The protection ring 8 restricts
an area in which a body of the user P moves, and has an inner
diameter greater than a body size of the user P. The protection
ring 8 is supported in the contour frame 2 by means of support
pipes 8a. The belt 9 is comprised of, for instance, a hook-and-loop
fastener for fitting to and fixing a body of the user P. The
protection ring 8 and the belt 9 are connected through connection
ropes 9a such that the belt 9 can move only within the protection
ring 8.
[0058] In use of the rotary exercise apparatus having the
above-mentioned structure, the user P enters the main body 1 of the
rotary exercise apparatus through an opening of the contour frame
2, and then, fixes his/her feet to the feet fixtures 6 and puts the
wrist bands 7c around his/her wrists, and then, grasps the grips
7a. Thereafter, moving his/her center of gravity by twisting or
shaking his/her body, the main body 1 of the rotary exercise
apparatus rotate on the semispherical surface 4 of the pedestal 5.
Thus, the user P can carry out muscle training and enhance the
sense of equilibrium.
[0059] Since the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the
present embodiment is comprised of the contour frame 2 defining a
regular icosahedron, the balls 3 each rotatably supported at a
position outside of each of vertices of the contour frame 2
defining a regular icosahedron, and the pedestal 5 having the
semispherical surface 4 inscribing the balls 3 of the contour frame
2 therein, there are formed spaces between peripheral planes of the
contour frames 2 and the semispherical surface 4. Accordingly, even
if the limbs of the user P protruded out of the peripheral planes
of the contour frame 2 to some degree while exercising, it would be
possible to keep the user P safe.
[0060] Furthermore, it is possible to separate the connectors 3a
and the pipes 2a from each other while the rotary exercise
apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is not in use
or is being carried, the rotary exercise apparatus is more suitable
in storage and carriage than the conventional rotary exercise
apparatuses.
[0061] The contour frame 2 in the rotary exercise apparatus in
accordance with the present embodiment is in the form of a regular
icosahedron, and has twelve (12) vertices supported by. the balls
3. Accordingly, if the semispherical surface 4 of the pedestal 5
defines an intrinsic semispherical surface, that is, one of halves
obtained by dividing a ball into two pieces with a plane passing a
center of the ball, a half of the vertices, that is, the six
vertices always make contact with the semispherical surface 4,
ensuring to the possibility of sufficiently dispersing loads acting
on the balls 3 supported at the vertices. The semispherical surface
4 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 defines a smaller one among halves
of a ball obtained when the ball is divided into two pieces with a
plane passing out of a center of the ball, even in which case, the
three vertices make contact with the semispherical surface 4,
ensuring that the main body 1 of the rotary exercise apparatus is
able to smoothly rotate within the semispherical surface 4.
[0062] Furthermore, the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance
with the present embodiment may be designed to include fixture 11
as illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B in order to prevent the main body
1 of the rotary exercise apparatus from rotating when the user
enters or leaves the contour frame. FIG. 8A illustrates how the
fixture 11 operates when the rotary exercise apparatus is in use,
and FIG. 8B illustrates how the fixture 11 operates when the user
enters or leaves the rotary exercise apparatus. As illustrated in
FIGS. 8A and 8B, the fixture 11 is comprised of, for instance, arms
12 supported at the foot plate 6a such that the arms 12 can raise
and lower, and rubbers 13 mounted at distal ends of the arms 12 for
preventing slip. When the user enters or leaves the rotary exercise
apparatus, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the arms 12 are lowered to
compress the rubbers 13 onto the semispherical surface 4 of the
pedestal 5, resulting in that the contour frame 2 is kept not
moved. When the rotary exercise apparatus is in use, as illustrated
in FIG. 8A, the arms 12 are raised to thereby release the rubbers
13 from the semispherical surface 4, resulting in that the contour
frame 2 can rotate.
[0063] In place of the contour frame 2, there may be employed a
contour frame 10 defining a regular dodecahedron which is one of
polyhedrons, as illustrated in FIG. 9. The contour frame 10 is
comprised of thirty pipes 10a each connecting each of twenty
vertices of the regular dodecahedron to three vertices therearound,
and connectors 10b similar in structure to the connectors 3a. The
contour frame 10 has twelve peripheral planes which are in the form
of a regular pentagon. The contour frame 10 includes balls 3 each
rotatably supported at a position outside of each of the twenty
vertices of the regular polyhedron, similarly to the contour frame
2. Though not illustrated, the contour frame 10 includes the feet
fixtures 6 and the hands fixtures 7, similarly to the contour frame
2.
[0064] Since the contour frame 10 defining a regular dodecahedron
has twenty vertices which are greater in number than the twelve
vertices of the contour frame 2 defining a regular icosahedron, it
is possible to cause three balls 3 to always make contact with the
semispherical surface 4, even if the semispherical surface 4 is
formed smaller, ensuring that it is possible to form the pedestal 5
smaller in size. Thus, it is possible to lessen an area in which
the field of view of the user is shut out by the pedestal while the
user P entering the contour frame is rotating with his/her head
directing downwardly, ensuring that a sense of oppression caused by
the field of view of the user being shut out can be lessened.
[0065] The contour frame 2 defining a regular icosahedron has high
intensity, because the peripheral planes define a regular triangle
which is dynamically most stable. Furthermore, since the contour
frame 2 defining a regular icosahedron has a small number of
vertices, specifically, twelve vertices, it is possible to arrange
a small number of the balls 3. Since the rotatably supported balls
3 increase fabrication costs and cause the rotary exercise
apparatus to be heavy in weight, it is possible to reduce
fabrication costs of the rotary exercise apparatus by reducing a
number of the balls 3.
[0066] Furthermore, since the rotary exercise apparatus in
accordance with the present embodiment may be designed to include
the feet fixtures 6 for fixating the feet of the user at a position
inside of the pipe 2a or 10a of the contour frame 2 defining a
regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron, and the hands
fixtures 7 for fixating the hands of the user at a position inside
of the pipe 2a or 10a disposed in facing relation to the pipe 2a or
10a at which the feet fixtures are arranged.
[0067] In the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the
present embodiment, if the contour frames 2 and 10 had a common
outer diameter (a diameter measured from a center to the balls 3),
it would be possible to use a common pedestal 5, ensuring that the
user P can select any one of them by his/her preference.
[0068] Furthermore, since the rotary exercise apparatus in
accordance with the present embodiment may be designed to include
the protection ring 8 for restricting an area in which a body of
the user P moves, the protection ring being arranged within a plane
perpendicular to a plane including both the pipe 2a at which the
feet fixtures 6 are arranged and the pipe 2a at which the hands
fixtures 7 are arranged, the belt 9 wound around a body of the user
P within the protection ring 8, and the rope 9a for connecting the
protection ring 8 and the belt 9 to each other, it is ensured that
since hands, feet and body of the user P are caused to stay in the
protection ring 8 in a plane including the pipe 2a at which the
feet fixtures 6 are arranged and the pipe 2a at which the hands
fixtures 7 are arranged, even if the user P fainted or fell
unconscious during exercise, preventing the user from protruding
out of the contour frame 2.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
[0069] The rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present
invention is useful as an exercise apparatus which a user enters
and with which a user rotates for carrying out muscle training and
enhancing the sense of equilibrium.
* * * * *