U.S. patent application number 13/254211 was filed with the patent office on 2012-09-06 for rowing machine exercise-assisting device.
This patent application is currently assigned to SNS Care Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Jung Soo Lim.
Application Number | 20120225753 13/254211 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43429359 |
Filed Date | 2012-09-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120225753 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lim; Jung Soo |
September 6, 2012 |
Rowing Machine Exercise-Assisting Device
Abstract
The present invention relates to an exercise-assisting device,
and more specifically to a seat able to move reciprocally
automatically in the front-to-back direction, which is one of the
constituent elements of a rowing machine constituting a remedial
exercise device for physically disabled individuals, and
particularly paraplegics, while also constituting a whole-body
exercise device able to prevent heterotopic ossification.
Inventors: |
Lim; Jung Soo; (Seongnam-si,
KR) |
Assignee: |
SNS Care Co., Ltd.
Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
43429359 |
Appl. No.: |
13/254211 |
Filed: |
January 4, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
January 4, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/KR10/00008 |
371 Date: |
September 1, 2011 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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61224477 |
Jul 10, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
482/4 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 16/14 20130101;
H04B 7/024 20130101; H04B 7/063 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/4 |
International
Class: |
A63B 24/00 20060101
A63B024/00 |
Claims
1. A rowing machine exercise-assisting device comprising: a guide
rail; a support part adapted to support the guide rail; a seat
mounted on the guide rail in such a manner as to move reciprocally
in forward and backward directions along the length direction of
the guide rail, in which a user sits; a safety belt provided on the
seat to prevent the user from being escaped from the seat;
footboards disposed on left and right sides of the support part to
place the user's feet thereon at the time when the user sits in the
seat; a fixing belt provided on each of the footboards to prevent
the user's foot from being escaped from the footboard; a bar-shaped
handle taken by the both hands of the user; reciprocating exercise
means having a servo motor and a controller controlling the
rotation of the servo motor; and a control panel provided on the
handle and connected to the controller to transmit commands to the
controller such that the controller controls the rotating
direction, the rotating speed and the number of rotation of the
servo motor, the control panel having a switch adapted to control
the start and stop of the reciprocating exercise of the seat, a
switch adapted to adjust the speed of the reciprocating exercise of
the seat and a switch adapted to adjust the reciprocating distance
of the reciprocating exercise of the seat, whereby as the servo
motor rotates forwardly and backwardly, the seat is automatically
moved reciprocally in the forward and backward directions along the
length direction of the guide rail.
2. The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to claim
1, wherein the reciprocating exercise means further comprises a
band-shaped timing belt having concave and convex portions formed
regularly thereon and a pulley adapted to be engaged with the
timing belt to circulate the timing belt therealong, the timing
belt being rotated in accordance with the rotation of the servo
motor in the state of being engaged with the servo motor and the
pulley, and the seat comprises an engagement part connected to the
underside surface thereof and having concave and convex portions
adapted to be engaged with the concave and convex portions formed
on the timing belt, such that as the timing belt is rotated
forwardly and backwardly, the seat is reciprocally moved in the
forward and backward directions along the length direction of the
guide rail.
3. The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to claim
1, wherein the reciprocating exercise means further comprises a
chain and a sprocket adapted to be engaged with the chain to
circulate the chain therealong, the chain being rotated in
accordance with the rotation of the servo motor in the state of
being engaged with the servo motor and the sprocket, and the seat
comprises an engagement part connected to the underside surface
thereof and having protrusions regularly formed thereon in such a
manner as to be insertedly engaged with the empty space portions
regularly arranged along the chain, such that as the chain is
rotated forwardly and backwardly, the seat is reciprocally moved in
the forward and backward directions along the length direction of
the guide rail.
4. The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to claim
1, wherein the reciprocating exercise means further comprises a
disc-shaped circular gear rotatingly connected to the servo motor
and having protrusions regularly formed circumferentially along the
outer periphery thereof and a linear gear having a shape of a
linear band and having protrusions adapted to be engaged with the
circular gear so as to convert a rotating motion of the circular
gear into a linear motion, the linear gear being coupled to the
underside surface of the seat in such a manner as to be disposed
between the underside surface of the seat and the circular gear,
such that as the circular gear is rotated forwardly and backwardly,
the seat is reciprocally moved in the forward and backward
directions along the length direction of the guide rail.
5. The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to claim
2, wherein the reciprocating exercise means is disposed inside the
support part.
6. The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to claim
1, wherein the seat further comprises a back support part adapted
to support the user's back, and the back support part has an
elastic restoring force in such a manner as to be bent backwardly
when a given force is applied thereto and to be returned to its
original position when the given force is removed therefrom.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an exercise-assisting
device, and more particularly, to a rowing machine
exercise-assisting device that is provided with a seat capable of
automatically moving reciprocally in forward and backward
directions, which is one of the components of a rowing machine.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] A rowing machine is a whole body exercise device configured
to consume a substantial large amount of energy within a short
period of time, which is manufactured by obtaining an idea from
rowing operations carried out in rowing races on the water, so as
to lively provide rowing rhythms and feelings to a user using the
rowing machine indoors. The rowing machine has similar exercise
strength to that of a stepper or a running machine focused to lower
body exercises, but it is very effective in performing the whole
body exercise. Further, since the user exercises while sitting in a
seat mounted on the rowing machine, no harm is applied to his knee
areas. In case where the rowing machine is provided with a monitor,
the exercise results can be recorded and stored through the monitor
and a storing device, while the exercise state is being monitored
in real time. The rowing machine is well known in Europe,
Australia, Japan and so on, and some rowing machine products are
capable of performing on-line racing through the connection of
Internet with other countries, thereby avoiding boring during the
exercise. Also, since the rowing machine does not have any noise
generated therefrom and is light in weight, it can be used indoors,
without any trouble in installation areas.
[0003] The rowing machine is usually used for training athletes in
many countries, and as mentioned above, since the exercise is
performed while the user is sitting in the seat, no harm is applied
to the user's body areas, so that the rowing machine is also used
as a remedial exercise machine for a medical purpose.
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, now, an operating method of
the rowing machine is described. A user sits in a seat capable of
reciprocally moving in forward and backward directions on a rail
connected to a body of the rowing machine and then places his soles
of feet on footboards. Next, he takes a handle of the rowing
machine. The user applies a given force to his feet on the
footboards, and at the same time, he bends his back and waist
backwardly, so as to pull the handle toward his chest by using the
force generated from his back and waist. At this time, his knees
and legs are fully stretched out, and the reciprocally moving seat
is moved to the rear side of the rail. This state is maintained for
several seconds after the pulling operation so as to allow his
muscles to be sufficiently contracted. After that, if the force
applied from his back and waist is removed, the handle is moved to
its original position by means of the restoring force thereof. At
this time, his back and waist are bent in a forward direction in
which the body of the rowing machine is placed. Also, the seat is
moved forwardly, so that his knees are automatically bent to return
to the initial state of the rowing operations. The rowing
operations are repeatedly carried out to obtain whole body exercise
effects.
[0005] Through the repetition of the above-mentioned rowing
operations, the muscles on the user's back, shoulder and low body
are strengthened, and aerobic exercise for the user's whole body is
performed, so that the rowing machine is used for the remedial
purposes for disabled persons caused by unexpected accidents as
well as for training purposes for professional athletes.
[0006] In addition to the above-mentioned purposes, especially, the
rowing machine can be used for disabled persons who do not move
their legs at all by the paralysis of the lower body. The
paraplegic disabled person cannot bend his knees willingly, and
thus, he lives in a state where his knees are stretched out. In
this case, calcium accumulates on given joints like knees, and if a
long period of time has passed in this state, the calcium is just
hardened to cause the joints to be interfered in the movements. In
severe cases, new bone pieces form at abnormal positions. This is
called heterotopic ossification. The heterotopic ossification is
the process by which bone tissue forms in connective tissues or
soft tissues since oxygen supply to the tissues is insufficiently
performed and minute injuries are caused on the tissues, and as
mentioned above, the heterotopic ossification often occurs in the
paraplegic disabled persons caused by the spine injury.
Specifically, the heterotopic ossification most commonly occurs in
hip joints, and it is generally found in knee joints. Therefore,
the knees of the paraplegic disabled persons are forcedly bent and
stretched out in hospitals and the like.
[0007] According to the seat attached on the conventional rowing
machine, a user bends his knees and applies a given force to the
footboards. Next, he stretches his knees and pulls the handle,
thereby performing the rowing operations. Therefore, if the user
uses the conventional rowing machine for remedial and medical
purposes, he should apply a given force to the footboards by using
his lower body so as to obtain good exercise effects therefrom.
[0008] The patient having the spine injury, especially, the
paraplegic patient, makes use of the rowing machine in hospitals or
houses for the remedial purposes, but since he cannot use his lower
body, the handle of the rowing machine is repeatedly pulled and
released by using only his upper body, especially his arms. In this
case, therefore, the rowing operations are achieved by the upper
body exercise, especially by the arm exercise, not by the whole
body exercise, which does not have any difference in other arm
exercise machines.
[0009] In this case, also, since the user repeats the simple arm
exercises, he easily feels bored and does not have any fun, thereby
making it difficult to keep exercising. More particularly, the user
cannot take the active rowing motions of the rowing machine.
Therefore, the paraplegic patient does not have excellent whole
body exercise effects and the specific activities of the rowing
machine.
[0010] Further, since the user performs the upper body exercise in
the state where his lower body is fixed to the rowing machine, he
does not have any advantage in the prevention of the heterotopic
ossification commonly occurring to the paraplegic patients, and
therefore, the user's knees should be forcedly bent or stretched by
nurses or caregivers.
DISCLOSURE
Technical Problem
[0011] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of
the above-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and it is
an object of the present invention to provide a rowing machine
exercise-assisting device that is configured to have a seat of a
rowing machine adapted to be automatically moved reciprocally so as
to provide whole body exercise effects and rowing activities even
to patients having spine injury, especially paraplegic
patients.
Technical Solution
[0012] To accomplish the above object, according to the present
invention, there is provided a rowing machine exercise-assisting
device including: a guide rail; a support part adapted to support
the guide rail; a seat mounted on the guide rail in such a manner
as to move reciprocally in forward and backward directions along
the length direction of the guide rail, in which a user sits; a
safety belt provided on the seat to prevent the user from being
escaped from the seat; footboards disposed on left and right sides
of the support part to place the user's feet thereon at the time
when the user sits in the seat; a fixing belt provided on each of
the footboards to prevent the user's foot from being escaped from
the footboard; a bar-shaped handle taken by the both hands of the
user; reciprocating exercise means having a servo motor and a
controller controlling the rotation of the servo motor; and a
control panel provided on the handle and connected to the
controller to transmit commands to the controller such that the
controller controls the rotating direction, the rotating speed and
the number of rotation of the servo motor, the control panel having
a switch adapted to control the start and stop of the reciprocating
exercise of the seat, a switch adapted to adjust the speed of the
reciprocating exercise of the seat and a switch adapted to adjust
the reciprocating distance of the reciprocating exercise of the
seat, whereby as the servo motor rotates forwardly and backwardly,
the seat is automatically moved reciprocally in the forward and
backward directions along the length direction of the guide
rail.
[0013] According to the present invention, preferably, the
reciprocating exercise means like a timing belt, a chain, or a rack
gear and a pinion gear is provided in the interior of the support
part of the rowing machine, and through the reciprocating exercise
means, the seat moves reciprocally in forward and backward
directions along the guide rail at a given speed. If a remedial
patient pulls the handle of the rowing machine in accordance with
the rhythms of the reciprocating movements, even the remedial
patient, especially the paraplegic patient has the rowing feelings
like general persons using their lower body.
[0014] For example, if the timing belt as the reciprocating
exercise means is used, it is rotated in accordance with the
rotation of the motor, and the seat fixed to the timing belt is
moved forwardly and backwardly (in the direction parallel to the
surface on which the rowing machine is placed). The moving
direction of the seat is determined in accordance with the
direction of the rotation of the motor. That is, if the direction
of rotation of the motor is changed reversely, the seat is moved to
the opposite direction thereto. Since the motor should repeat the
forward and backward rotation for a relatively short period of
time, it is generally used as the servo motor having the controller
through which the rotating speed and the rotating direction are
accurately controlled, and specifically, a BLDC (brushless direct
current) motor is most desirably used as the motor of the
reciprocating exercise means in the present invention in that the
speed and torque can be easily adjusted just by varying the time
(phase difference) of the current intermittence period of a basic
driving circuit, no rectifier and brush giving bad influences in
the life term by means of the abrasion caused by the mechanical
friction is used, the life term is semi-permanently extended, and
noise is generated a little therefrom.
[0015] On the other hand, the chain may be used as the
reciprocating exercise means. If the chain is rotated in accordance
with the rotation of the motor, the seat fixed to the chain is
moved forwardly and backwardly. In the same manner as the above,
the moving direction of the seat is determined in accordance with
the direction of rotation of the motor.
[0016] Alternatively, the rack gear and the pinion gear adapted to
be engaged cooperatively with each other are used as the
reciprocating exercise means, thereby moving the seat forwardly and
backwardly. That is, as the motor is rotated, the pinion gear
connected to the shaft of the motor is rotated, and accordingly,
the rack gear engaged with the pinion gear performs a linear
motion. As a result, the seat fixed to the rack gear carries out
the linear motion. In the same manner as the above, the moving
direction of the seat is determined in accordance with the
direction of rotation of the motor.
[0017] Through the above-mentioned reciprocating exercise means,
the remedial patient can have the rowing activities like general
persons, thereby avoiding the simple exercises using only his upper
body, especially his arms.
[0018] Further, only if the remedial patient just places his feet
on the footboards, his knees can be bent and stretched by means of
the seat reciprocating a given distance in the forward and backward
direction.
Advantageous Effect
[0019] According to the present invention, as mentioned above,
there is provided the rowing machine exercise-assisting device that
is provided with the seat automatically moves reciprocally in the
forward and backward directions, such that while a patient having
spine injury, especially a paraplegic patient performs rowing
exercises for remedial and treating purposes, he can enjoy rowing
activities, thereby increasing his interest and fun and allowing
him to keep exercising.
[0020] In addition to the upper body exercise, especially the arm
exercise performed in the conventional rowing machine, the present
invention can provide the lower body exercise to the paraplegic
patient through the automatically reciprocating seat, thereby
giving the whole body exercise to him. Further, his knees are
automatically bent and stretched periodically, thereby preventing
the heterotopic ossification by which the knee joints are hardened
by the accumulation of the calcium on the knees.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0021] FIGS. 1A and 1B are side views showing operating methods of
a conventional rowing machine, wherein FIG. 1A shows an initial
state before a force is applied to the rowing machine and FIG. 1B
shows an exercise state.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a state wherein a handle is
pulled toward a user's body by the application of the force to the
rowing machine.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a partly perspective view showing a support part
that is one of the components of a rowing machine
exercise-assisting device according to a first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a handle of the rowing
machine exercise-assisting device according to the first embodiment
of the present invention.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing reciprocating
exercise means provided in the support part of the rowing machine
exercise-assisting device according to the first embodiment of the
present invention.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing reciprocating
exercise means provided in the support part of a rowing machine
exercise-assisting device according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing reciprocating
exercise means provided in the support part of a rowing machine
exercise-assisting device according to a third embodiment of the
present invention.
BEST MODE FOR INVENTION
[0028] Hereinafter, an explanation on a rowing machine
exercise-assisting device according to preferred embodiments of the
present invention will be in detail given with reference to the
attached drawings. The same reference numerals in the drawings
denote the same components as each other.
[0029] First, FIGS. 1A and 1B are side views showing operating
methods of a conventional rowing machine, wherein FIG. 1A shows an
initial state where a user takes a handle and bends his body
forwardly and FIG. 1B shows an exercise state where the user pulls
the handle toward his chest by applying a force in a state of
taking the handle, while bending his body backwardly. As mentioned
above, the rowing machine is widely used for training purposes for
athletes, and since the user exercises in a state of sitting in the
seat of the rowing machine, there is no harm to his body. Thus, the
rowing machine is also used for remedial purposes. The operating
methods of the conventional rowing machine are carried out
repeatedly through the initial state as shown in FIG. 1A and the
exercise state as shown in FIG. 1B.
[0030] However, even though the patient having spine injury,
especially the paraplegic patient, makes use of the conventional
rowing machine, he cannot move the seat backwardly by applying a
force caused by his feet to the footboards and further cannot
stretch his legs to pull the handle. Therefore, the user places his
feet on the floor and pulls the handle by using only his both arms,
as shown in FIG. 2. Thus, the rowing machine as the whole body
exercise machine serves as just an arm exercise machine, such that
the user cannot enjoy the rowing activities, unlike general persons
having rowing activities through the rowing exercise. Since the
simple arm exercises are repeatedly performed, there are no
exercise effects on the lower body, thereby losing his interest and
fun and failing to keep exercising.
[0031] In order to solve these problems, as shown in FIG. 3, there
is provided a rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to
a first embodiment of the present invention that includes a support
part 10 and a seat 20 disposed on the support part 10 in such a
manner as to be automatically moved reciprocally. The support part
10 has a thin plate-like guide rail 11 disposed on the upper
surface thereof so as to move the seat 20 reciprocally in forward
and backward directions. The guide rail 11 has a width larger than
the width in a direction perpendicular to the length direction of
the support part 10 and has a slot formed at the center thereof
along the length direction thereof. Further, the support part 10
has footboards 12 disposed at the left and right sides thereof so
as to support a user's feet thereagainst in such a manner as to be
protruded outwardly toward the left and right sides thereof. More
particularly, the footboards 12 may be bent to a given slant angle
in a direction distant from the user so as to make the user's feet
conveniently placed thereon. The support part 10 has a shape of a
generally square column lying on the floor, but only if it is
provided with the linear type guide rail 11 and the footboards 12,
it may have any column shapes. The interior of the support part 11
is empty, and reciprocating exercise means 40, 50 or 60 as will be
discussed later is provided in the interior of the support part
11.
[0032] The footboards 12 on which the user's feet are placed have
fixing belts (not shown) mounted on one surface thereof so as to
firmly fix the user's feet thereto, thereby preventing the user's
feet from being escaped therefrom during exercising.
[0033] The seat 20 is disposed on the guide rail 11 in such a
manner as to be automatically moved reciprocally. Preferably, the
seat 20 includes a moving part 21 adapted to be mounted on the
guide rail 11, a plate-shaped seating part 22 in which the user
sits, and a back support part 23 adapted to support the user's back
when sitting. The seating part 22 and the back support part 23 are
coupled to each other by means of elastic members 24 like springs
so as to allow the back support part 23 to be bent backwardly by a
given angle when he leans his back against the back support part
23. Preferably, the moving part 21 is brought into direct contact
with the guide rail 11. Even though not shown in the drawings, the
moving part 21 has an engagement part 25 (See FIGS. 5 to 7)
disposed on the underside surface thereof. Preferably, the
engagement part 25 is engaged with the reciprocating exercise means
40, 50 or 60 like a belt provided in the interior of the guide rail
11 and is moved forwardly and backwardly. As the engagement part 25
of the moving part 21 is moved forwardly and backwardly, the seat
20 having the moving part 21 mounted thereon is also moved
forwardly and backwardly along the guide rail 11. The reciprocating
exercise means is configured into a variety of shapes, which will
be in detail discussed later.
[0034] Generally, since the user of the rowing machine
exercise-assisting device according to the present invention is a
paraplegic patient, he may be fallen from the seat 20 by losing his
body balance thereon during the reciprocating motions of the seat
20 in the forward and backward directions, which gives the risk of
injuries to him. Thus, the seat 20 further has a safety belt (not
shown) mounted thereon to prevent the user from being escaped from
the rowing machine during the reciprocating motions of the seat
20.
[0035] According to the present invention, desirably, the rowing
machine exercise-assisting device further includes a handle 30 to
which a controller is attached to control the automatic reciprocal
motions. The handle 30 has a generally linear or curved rod-like
shape like the handle of the general rowing machine, and only if
the handle 30 is taken by both hands of the user, it may have any
shapes. First, the user takes the handle 30 by his both hands and
pulls the handle 30 toward his chest. At this time, as mentioned
above, since the rowing machine exercise-assisting device according
to the present invention is provided with the automatically
reciprocating seat 20, the seat 20 is moved forwardly and
backwardly at a given speed along the guide rail 11. If the seat 20
moves in the forward direction with respect to the user in the
state where the user's feet are placed on the footboards 12, his
knees are naturally bent, and contrarily, if the seat 20 moves in
the backward direction with respect to the user, his knees are
naturally stretched out.
[0036] Therefore, the handle 30 is pulled by the user in accordance
with the forward and backward movements of the seat 20, such that
the user can have rowing activities and dynamic rhythms like
general persons freely using their lower body. In addition to the
upper body exercise, especially the arm exercise performed in the
conventional rowing machine, the present invention can provide the
lower body exercise to the paraplegic patient through the
automatically reciprocating seat, thereby giving the whole body
exercise to him. Further, his knees are automatically bent and
stretched periodically, thereby preventing the heterotopic
ossification by which the knee joints are hardened by the
accumulation of the calcium on the knees.
[0037] FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the handle 30 of the
rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention. The handle has a control panel
mounted thereon so as to allow the paraplegic user to easily
control the reciprocating motions of the seat 20, but if necessary,
the control panel may be mounted on a separate position and may be
provided in a wired or wireless shape. More particularly, the
control panel mounted inside the handle 30 includes an on/off
switch 31 adapted to control the start and stop of the
reciprocating exercise of the seat 20, a speed adjustment switch 32
adapted to adjust the speed of the reciprocating exercise of the
seat 20 and a distance adjustment switch 33 adapted to adjust the
reciprocating distance of the reciprocating exercise of the seat
20. The positions of the respective switches as shown in FIG. 4 may
be changed freely, and if necessary, additional function switches
may be provided on the handle 30. The distance adjustment switch 33
serves to adjust the reciprocating distance of the seat 20, and in
this case, the reciprocating distance is the maximum movement range
of the seat 20 moving reciprocally along the guide rail 11. That
is, if the reciprocating distance is set large, the seat 20
reciprocates in a relatively large range in forward and backward
directions, and contrarily, if the reciprocating distance is set
small, the seat 20 reciprocates in a relatively small range in
forward and backward directions. Therefore, the reciprocating
distance of the seat 20 is set in consideration of the lengths of
the user's arms and legs.
[0038] Even the paraplegic user easily presses the switches 31 to
33 provided on the handle 30, so that the automatic reciprocating
motions of the seat 20 of the rowing machine exercise-assisting
device can be readily controlled.
[0039] Hereinafter, an explanation on the reciprocating exercise
means 40, 50 and 60 allowing the seat 20 of the rowing machine
exercise-assisting device to be automatically reciprocated will be
given with reference to FIGS. 5 to 7. The reciprocating exercise
means 40, 50 and 60 are disposed in the empty space in the support
part 10, but they may be disposed at an arbitrary position outside
the support part 10.
[0040] FIG. 5 is a side sectional view showing the reciprocating
exercise means 40 provided at the inside of the support part 10 of
the rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to the first
embodiment of the present invention, and in this case, the
reciprocating exercise means 40 includes a timing belt 41. The
timing belt 41 is a band-shaped belt on which concave and convex
portions are formed regularly. In this case, the timing belt 41 is
rotated in accordance with the rotation of a motor 42, and as a
result, the engagement part 25 of the moving part 21, which is
fixed to the timing belt 41, is moved forwardly and backwardly (in
the direction parallel to the surface on which the rowing machine
is placed). Desirably, the concave and convex portions formed on
the timing belt 41 are engaged with the concave and convex portion
formed on the underside surface of the engagement part 25 to allow
the seat 20 to be moved forwardly and backwardly by means of the
timing belt 41 rotated by the motor 42. The engagement part 25 does
not have any limitation in the shape thereof, and only if it has
the concave and convex portions formed on the underside surface
thereof in such a manner as to be engaged with the timing belt 41,
it may have a variety of shapes. Further, preferably, the
engagement part 25 is a protruded portion of the moving part 21,
which may be formed unitarily with the moving part 21, and more
desirably, the engagement part 25 may be connected directly with
the underside surface of the seating part 22 of the seat 20 in such
a manner as to pass through the slot formed along the guide rail
11.
[0041] So as to permit the timing belt 41 to be circulated by means
of the motor 42, moreover, the rowing machine exercise-assisting
device according to the first embodiment of the present invention
includes a pulley disposed at the opposite side to the motor 42 so
as to send the timing belt 41 back to the motor 42. As a result,
the timing belt 41 is rotated around the two shafts of the motor 42
and the pulley. The pulley does not have any limitation in the kind
and shape, and only if it is rotated to be engaged with the timing
belt 41, it may have any kind and shape.
[0042] Therefore, the moving directions of the moving part 21 and
the engagement part 25 are determined in accordance with the
direction of the rotation of the motor 42, and further, the moving
direction of the seat 20 connected integrally with the moving part
21 is determined in accordance with the moving direction of the
moving part 21. Also, the reciprocating speed and distance are
determined in accordance with the rotating speed of the motor 42
and the moving distance of the timing belt 41.
[0043] That is, if the direction of the rotation of the motor 42 is
changed reversely, the seat 20 is moved to the opposite direction
thereto. Since the motor 42 should repeat the forward and backward
rotation for a relatively short period of time, it is generally
composed of the servo motor having the controller through which the
rotating speed and the rotating direction are accurately
controlled. Specifically, a BLDC motor is most desirably used as
the motor 42 of the reciprocating exercise means 40 in the present
invention in that the speed and torque can be easily adjusted just
by varying the time (phase difference) of the current intermittence
period of a basic driving circuit, no rectifier and brush giving
bad influences in the life term by means of the abrasion caused by
the mechanical friction is used, the life term is semi-permanently
extended, and noise is generated a little therefrom.
[0044] As mentioned above, the motor 42 has the controller (not
shown) mounted thereon, and preferably, the controller is connected
to the switches 31 to 33 formed on the control panel of the handle
30 in such a manner as to receive electrical signals transmitted
when the user presses the switches and to set the start/stop, the
reciprocating speed, and the reciprocating distance in accordance
with the received signals. As a result, the motor 42 is operated in
accordance with the set values, thereby allowing the seat 20 to be
moved reciprocally.
[0045] FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing reciprocating
exercise means 50 provided in the support part 10 of a rowing
machine exercise-assisting device according to a second embodiment
of the present invention. In this case, the reciprocating exercise
means 50 includes a chain 51. As mentioned above, the reciprocating
exercise means 50 may be disposed at any positions outside the
support part 10. A motor 52 has the same structure, function and
control method of the signals received from the handle 30 as those
of the motor 42 according to the first embodiment of the present
invention, and therefore, an explanation on them will be avoided.
According to the second embodiment of the present invention,
instead of the timing belt 41, the chain 51 is circulated, and
therefore, instead of the pulley, a chain sprocket is adopted.
[0046] The chain 51 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of
the motor 52, and as a result, the engagement part 25 of the moving
part 21 of the seat 20, which are fixed to the chain 51, is moved
forwardly or backwardly. Desirably, the engagement part 25 of the
moving part 21 has protrusion-like chain insertion portions formed
regularly on the underside surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 6.
Therefore, desirably, the chain insertion portions are inserted
into the empty space portions arranged regularly on the chain 51,
such that as the chain 51 is rotated, the engagement part 25 and
the moving part 21 being engaged with the chain 51 are moved and
the seat 20 is thus moved. Preferably, the engagement part 25 is a
protruded portion of the moving part 21, which is formed unitarily
with the moving part 21, and alternatively, the engagement part 25
may be coupled with the moving part 21 by means of a separate
member and may be coupled directly with the underside surface of
the seating part 22 of the seat 20 in such a manner as to pass
through the slot formed along the guide rail 11.
[0047] In the same manner as the first embodiment of the present
invention, further, the moving direction, reciprocating speed and
the reciprocating distance of the seat 20 are determined in
accordance with the rotating direction (forward/backward rotation),
the rotating speed, and the number of rotation of the motor 52.
[0048] FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing reciprocating
exercise means 60 provided in the support part 10 of a rowing
machine exercise-assisting device according to a third embodiment
of the present invention. In this case, the reciprocating exercise
means 60 has a configuration wherein a linear gear and a circular
gear are engaged with each other. As mentioned above, the
reciprocating exercise means 60 may be disposed at any positions
outside the support part 10. Preferably, the linear gear is a rack
gear 61 and the circular gear is a pinion gear 63. The rack gear 61
is a linear band-like gear having protrusions (gear teeth)
regularly formed along one side surface thereof, and the pinion
gear 63 is a disc-like gear having protrusions (gear teeth)
regularly formed circumferentially along the outer periphery
thereof. The protrusions of the rack gear 61 and the protrusions of
the pinion gear 63 are engaged with each other. That is, the
protrusions of the rack gear 61 are engaged with the slots between
the protrusions of the pinion gear 63, and contrarily, the
protrusions of the pinion gear 63 are engaged with the slots
between the protrusions of the rack gear 61. A motor 62, which is
connected to the pinion gear 63 to rotate the pinion gear 63, has
the same structure, function and control method of the signals
received from the handle 30 as those of the motor 42 according to
the first embodiment of the present invention, and therefore, an
explanation on them will be avoided.
[0049] The rack gear 61 is desirably provided on the underside
surface of the moving part 21 of the seat 20, and alternatively, it
may be provided directly on the underside surface of the seating
part 22 of the seat 20. The rack gear 61 is provided on the
underside surface of the engagement part 25 in FIG. 7, but it may
be provided directly on the underside surface of the seating part
22 of the seat 20. The rack gear 61 and the pinion gear 63 are
engaged with each other, and in more detail, the rack gear 61
performs a linear motion by receiving the rotating motion of the
pinion gear 63. Therefore, in the same manner as the first and
second embodiments of the present invention, the rotation of the
pinion gear 63 is determined in accordance with the rotating
direction (forward/backward rotation), the rotating speed, and the
number of rotation of the motor 62, and the moving direction,
reciprocating speed and the reciprocating distance of the seat 20
connected to the rack gear 61 are determined in accordance with the
rotation of the pinion gear 63.
[0050] While the present invention has been described with
reference to the particular illustrative embodiments, it is not to
be restricted by the embodiments but only by the appended claims.
It is to be appreciated that those skilled in the art can change or
modify the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit
of the present invention.
* * * * *