Training Apparatus

[0001] This invention relates to improvements in a training apparatus for training or exercising a muscle of a certain body part, and more particularly to improvements in a crunch training apparatus for strengthening the rectus abdominis muscle or the abdominal muscle.

[0002] Referring now to a perspective view of FIG. 8, an example of a conventional crunch training machine will be discussed.

[0003] In FIG. 8, a training machine having an operation part 90 and a load application device 91 is illustrated by reference numeral 9. The operation part 90 is provided with a seat section 901 and a crank arm 902. The seat section 901 is height-adjustably erected on the floor or a frame 900, while the crank arm 902 is pivotally attached at the rear of the seat section 901 to a strut 903 supported by the load application device 91 and the frame 900. The load application device 91 is erected on the floor or the frame 900 on the opposite side of the seat section 901 and provided with a weight stack 911 composed of a plurality of weight blocks. The weight of the weight stack 911 is freely adjusted by selecting the number of the weight blocks.

[0004] The seat section 901 includes a seat 904 adjustable for height, and a lower back pad 905 adjustable in a fore-and-aft direction toward the seat 904. Additionally, a foothold 906 having a plurality of bars 907 with which the user (who is to train his rectus abdominis muscle in the use of the training machine 9) can engage his feet is provided in front of the seat section 901.

[0005] The crank arm 902 is shaped to be gently curved to the side of the seat section 901 generally at the center of the longitudinal direction of the crank arm 902. Further, the crank arm 902 is extended parallel with the seat 904 of the seat section 901 at its upper end region and provided with a breast round pad 908 thereat, while connected to a counterweight 909 at its lower end region. The breast round pad 908 is pivotally attached at its one end portion to a connecting member 913 which connects a cable 912 to the weight stack 911 of the load application device 91.

[0006] Then, how to use the training machine 9 will be discussed. First of all, the user sits on the seat 904 upon adjusting the height of the seat 904 and the position of the lower back pad 905. The user engages his feet with any of the bars 907 of the foothold 906 and leans forward with folding the breast round pad 908 in his arms, upon which the crank arm 902 is pivotally moved forward about a pivot axis or pivot shaft to which the crank arm 902 is pivotally attached. With this, a load of the weight stack 911 of the load application device 91, previously determined, is applied on the user's rectus abdominis muscle thereby permitting the training of the rectus abdominis muscle.

[0007] The training machine 9 as discussed above is disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2730881.

[0008] However, drawbacks have been encountered in conventional crunch training machines. More specifically, in the conventional crunch training machines such as the above-mentioned training machine 9 the load of the weight stack 911 tends to concentrate on the upper part of the rectus abdominis muscle, so that sometimes the user is not able to strengthen the whole of the rectus abdominis muscle evenly unless familiar with handling the training machine 9.

[0009] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved training apparatus for rectus abdominis muscle which apparatus can effectively overcome drawbacks encountered in conventional training machines.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved training apparatus for rectus abdominis muscle which apparatus is effective for a beginner.

[0011] An aspect of the present invention resides in a training apparatus for performing a training of a rectus abdominis muscle. The training apparatus comprises an operation arm supported to be swingable by receiving a contact pressure from an arm of a user. A rotary section is provided carrying a load of a weight stack and supported to be rotatable by a swing of the operation arm. A seat section is provided to be swingably supported. A push section is provided to be swingably supported, and arranged to swing the seat section while supporting the seat section at a lower end portion of the seat section. In this training apparatus, the push section is adapted to swing in one of a first state uncooperative with a rotation of the rotary section and a second state cooperative with the rotation of the rotary section.

[0020] Referring now to the accompanying drawings, an embodiment of a training apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated by the reference numeral 1. FIG. 1 is a side view of the embodiment of the training apparatus 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a front view of the training apparatus 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the training apparatus 1 of FIG. 1.

[0021] The training apparatus 1 is a crunch training apparatus for training the rectus abdominis muscle and includes an operation part 2 and a load application device 3.

[0022] The operation part 2 has an operation arm 11, a rotary section 12, a seat section 13 and a push section 14. The operation arm 11 is so provided as to swing by receiving a contact pressure from the arms of the user who is to train his rectus abdominis muscle in the use of the training apparatus 1. The rotary section 12 carries a load of a weight stack 82 of the load application device 3 and can be rotated by the operation arm 11. The seat section 13 is provided in order that the user sits thereon. The push section 14 is arranged to swing while supporting a lower end portion of the seat section 13 thereby swinging the seat section 13, which is allowed either when the push section 14 is in a state cooperative with the rotation of the rotary section 12 (a cooperative state) or when the push section 14 is in a state uncooperative with the same (a uncooperative state). Further, a switching device 4 is provided as a device which allows switching between the cooperative and uncooperative states.

[0023] The operation arm 11 includes a main arm 21, a back pad 22, a pair of elbow pads 23 and a pair of handles 24. The main arm 21 is formed U-shaped as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and additionally connected to a bearing portion 25 coaxially supported by a rotating shaft 31 of the rotary section 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The rotating shaft 31 is supported by an installation bracket 88 provided to a frame 81 of the load application device 3. Further, a locating knob 26 for adjusting the inclination angle of the main arm 21 is connected to the bearing portion 25. The elbow pads 23 are respectively disposed at opposite ends of the main arm 21. The back pad 22 is disposed at the center of the main arm 21 such that the inclination angle of the back pad 22 is suitably adjustable following a movement of the back of the user. The handles 24 are connected to the main arm 21 at both sides of the back pad 22, respectively, having a certain spacing from each other and having a suitable angle.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, the rotary section 12 is connected to a cable 84 linked with the weight stack 82 of the load application device 3. Additionally, the rotary section 12 is formed with a groove at its outer peripheral side surface though not shown, onto which the cable 84 is wound by the rotation of the rotary section 12. Further, the rotary section 12 is provided with a locating plate 32 for adjusting the inclination angle of the operation arm 11. The locating plate 32 is formed with locating holes 33 selectable by the locating knob 26, and an elongate slot 34 for restricting an operating range of the locating knob 26.

[0025] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the seat section 13 includes a seat 41, a stationary pad 42, footrests 43 and a counterweight 44. The seat 41 is provided in order that the user sits thereon. The stationary pad 42 is for receiving the user's lower back. A plurality of the footrests 43 are provided to a side surface of a holding portion 45 at a lower part of the holding portion 45, at a certain interval to each other. The seat 41, the footrests 43 and the counterweight 44 are supported by the holding portion 45. The stationary pad 42 is fixed to a support portion 46. The holding portion 45 is a pipe having a rectangular main surface and is formed bent to have an obtuse angle. The support portion 46 is a pipe having a rectangular main surface and formed bent to have an acute angle as shown in FIG. 1, and is rested on the floor. The holding portion 45 is pivotally supported at its upper end region by a pivot shaft 48 connected to the installation bracket 88. The pivot shaft 48 is supported by a support assistant plate 50 mounted on a connecting plate 49 which connects the support portion 46 to the load application device 3. The counterweight 44 is disposed behind the stationary pad 42 at a certain distance therefrom and connected to the upper end region of the holding portion 45 through a link plate 441, as shown in FIG. 3. Additionally, the seat 41 is adjustable for height by an adjusting lever 47. The height-adjusting mechanism of the seat 41 may be a known one employed in the conventional training machine.

[0026] As shown in FIG. 1, the push section 14 includes a push roller 51 which pushes a lower end region of the holding portion 45 upward, a rotational shaft 52 for pivoting the push roller 51, and a first plate 53 which rotates the rotational shaft 52 and connected to the switching device 4. The push roller 51 is attached to the rotational shaft 52 through a second plate 54. The first and second plates 53 and 54 are connected to the rotational shaft 52 in such a manner that, when the lower end region of the holding portion 45 is pushed upward, one end part of the first plate 53 pivotally attached to a main shaft 62 acts as an effort point while the rotational shaft 52 and the push roller 51 act as a fulcrum and a load point, respectively. The rotational shaft 52 is supported by a pair of support plates 55 to be parallel with the rotating shaft 31 of the operation arm 11.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 4, the switching device 4 is provided including a sleeve 61, the main shaft 62 and an obstruction member 63. The sleeve 61 is provided with an external or male screw section 611 at its upper end part, the external screw section 611 being to be fitted into a connecting metal member pivotally attached to the locating plate 32 included in the rotary section 12. Meanwhile, the main shaft 62 is provided with another external screw section 621 at its lower end part, the external screw section 621 being to be fitted into another connecting metal member pivotally attached to the first plate 53 of the push section 14. An upper end part of the main shaft 62 is telescopically inserted into the sleeve 61, as shown in FIG. 4. Further, the sleeve 61 is provided with a slide ring 64 on an inner peripheral surface and at a lower end part of the sleeve 61, thereby stabilizing the motion of the sleeve 61 which reciprocates in the axial direction of the main shaft 62. The obstruction member 63 is provided for switching between ensuring and obstructing an insertion path defined in the sleeve 61 for the main shaft 62, and therefore the sleeve 61 is formed with a side bore 65 through which the obstruction member 63 is insertable into the sleeve 61. In ensuring the insertion path, the main shaft 62 does not receive a contact pressure from the obstruction member 63, and more specifically, the push section 14 is not cooperative with the rotation of the rotary section 12 so as not to swing. Meanwhile, when the obstruction member 63 is inserted into the sleeve 61 through the side bore 65 to obstruct the insertion path, the main shaft 62 receives the contact pressure from the obstruction member 63 and therefore the push section 14 is brought into cooperation with the rotation of the rotary section 12 so as to be allowed to swing. Additionally, the obstruction member 63 is fitted in a first cylindrical member 68 (a component of a first grip 66 as shown in FIG. 5).

[0028] Further, the switching device 4 includes the first grip 66 and a second grip 67 as shown in FIG. 5. The first grip 66 is a device for ensuring or obstructing the insertion path defined in the sleeve 61 for the main shaft 62 by the obstruction member 63 thereby switching the push section 14 between the cooperative and uncooperative states with the rotary section 12. Meanwhile, the second grip 67 is a device for fastening the obstruction member 63 who ensures or obstructs the insertion path thereby establishing the cooperative or uncooperative states.

[0029] The first grip 66 is provided including the first cylindrical member 68, a first shaft 69, a first spring 70 and a first knob 71. The first cylindrical member 68 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the sleeve 61. The first shaft 69 is inserted in the first cylindrical member 68 in the axial direction of the first cylindrical member 68, and attached at its one end to the obstruction member 63. The obstruction member 63 is formed to have a diameter larger than that of the first shaft 69 and smaller than the inner diameter of the first cylindrical member 68, and is biased in the direction of the sleeve 61 by the first spring 70 housed in the first cylindrical member 68. Additionally, the obstruction member 63 is adapted to be fastened by a second shaft 73 included in the second grip 67, at the time of bringing the push section 14 being uncooperative with the operation of the rotary section 12. Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the obstruction member 63 is formed with a channel 631 at its peripheral surface. When bringing the push section 14 into the uncooperative state, the second shaft 73 is engaged at its one end with the channel 631 by virtue of the biasing force of a second spring 74 included in the second grip 67 thereby fastening the obstruction member 63, as shown in FIG. 5. The first knob 71 is a knob which is to be pulled by the user and is attached to one end section of the first shaft 69 protruding from a bottom surface of the first cylindrical member 68.

[0030] The second grip 67 is provided including a second cylindrical member 72, the second shaft 73, the second spring 74, a spring seat 75 and a second knob 76. The second cylindrical member 72 is connected to the outer peripheral surface of the first cylindrical member 68 of the first grip 66. The second shaft 73 is inserted in the second cylindrical member 72 in the axial direction of the second cylindrical member 72, and additionally biased by the second spring 74 housed in the second cylindrical member 72 in order to fasten the obstruction member 63 in the first cylindrical member 68 at least when bringing the push section 14 into the uncooperative state. The spring seat 75 is attached to the second shaft 73 to receive the contact pressure from the second spring 74, thereby biasing the second shaft 73. The second knob 76 is a knob which is to be pulled by the user and is attached to one end section of the second shaft 73 protruding from a bottom of the second cylindrical member 72. The second knob 76 is to be pulled when bringing the push section 14 being cooperative with the motion of the operation arm 11. With this, the obstruction member 63 is released from the state fastened by the second shaft 73 and is inserted into the sleeve 61 through the side bore 65 by virtue of the biasing force of the first spring 70, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 1, the load application device 3 includes the frame 81 and the weight stack 82 housed in the frame 81. The weight stack 82 is arranged such that a load to be applied is freely selectable, and is mounted on a reinforcement frame (not shown but installed in the frame 81). The frame 81 is supported on the floor. The weight stack 82 is composed of a plurality of weight blocks 83 and is connected to the cable 84. The load of the weight stack 82 is determined by selecting the number of the weight blocks 83 in accordance with user demands. The cable 84 is connected to the weight stack 82 at one end, and to the rotary section 12 of the operation arm 11 at the other end through guide pulleys 85a, 85b installed in the load application device 3. Further, a pair of slide rails is provided inside the frame 81 though not shown, for stably operating an upward or downward movement of the weight stack 82. The frame 81 is provided with a cover 86 for protecting the user from accidents, i.e., for protecting the user's hand from being caught between the weight blocks 83. However, the cover 86 is formed with a clearance only just enough to allow setting a load to be applied and checking the same. The frame 81 is further equipped, at its upper portion, with a box 87 for shielding the guide pulleys 85a, 85b. On the box 87, directions for use of the training apparatus 1 or the like is posted.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1, 5, 6 and 7, operation of the training apparatus 1 will be now discussed.

[0033] At the beginning of the abdominal muscle training, the seat 41 as shown in FIG. 1 is adjusted by the adjusting lever 47 to have a comfortable height while the operation arm 11 is adjusted by the locating knob 26 to have a suitable starting position (or a suitable starting inclination angle). In a case of performing the training without bringing the push section 14 being cooperative with the operation of the operation arm 11, the push section 14 is previously brought into the uncooperative state by the switching device 4. More specifically, the obstruction member 63, when fastened by the second shaft 73 of the second grip 67 in a state where the first knob 71 of the first grip 66 is pulled in the direction of a user 10 (see FIG. 7) as shown in FIG. 5, is brought into a condition of ensuring the insertion path defined in the sleeve 61 for the main shaft 62. With this, the sleeve 61 is allowed to telescopically reciprocate on the main shaft 62 in the axial direction of the main shaft 62 so as to bring the push section 14 uncooperative with the operation arm 11. Then, the user 10 who attempts to train his abdominal muscle in the use of the training apparatus 1 is seated himself on the seat 41 to bring his back into contact with the back pad 22 and the stationary pad 42, and additionally rests his feet on any of the footrests 43 and grasps the handles 24 to bring his respective elbows into contact with the elbow pads 23, as shown in FIG. 7. When the user 10 in this state leans forward, the operation arm 11 is pivoted about the rotating shaft 31 in the direction indicated by an arrow X. With this pivotal movement of the operation arm 11, the load of the weight stack 82 previously determined with the load application device 3 and applied to the operation arm 11 is transmitted to the upper part of the user's abdominal muscle thereby permitting the training thereof.

[0034] On the other hand, in a case of performing the training while bringing the push section 14 being cooperative with the operation of the operation arm 11, the push section 14 is previously brought into the cooperative state by the switching device 4. More specifically, when the second knob 76 of the second grip 67is pulled in the direction indicated in FIG. 6 by an arrow Z, the obstruction member 63 disposed inside the first cylindrical member 68 is inserted into the sleeve 61 by the biasing force of the first spring 70 through the side bore 65 thereby obstructing the insertion path defined in the sleeve 61 for the main shaft 62. This allows the main shaft 62 to receive at its upper end part a contact pressure from the obstruction member 63, and therefore brings the push section being cooperative with the operation arm 11. Then, the user 10 seated on the seat 41 to bring his back into contact with the back pad 22 and the stationary pad 42 rests his feet on any of the footrests 43 and grasps the handles 24 to bring his respective elbows into contact with the elbow pads 23, as shown in FIG. 7. When the user 10 in this state leans forward, the push section 14 is pivoted upward together with the pivotal movement of the operation arm 11. More specifically, the sleeve 61 of the switching device 4 is reciprocated with the pivotal movement of the operation arm 11, which cooperatively reciprocate the main shaft 62. Since the main shaft 62 is pivotally attached at its lower end part to the first plate 53 of the push section 14, the second plate 54 attached to the push roller 51 is pivoted about the rotational shaft 52 with the reciprocation of the main shaft 62. With this, the push roller 51 pivotally swings upward and downward about the rotational shaft 52 while supporting the lower part of the holding portion 45 of the seat section 13. In other words, the lower part of the holding portion 45 is rotationally moved upward in the direction indicated by an arrow Y, with the pivotal movement of the operation arm 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow X. With this, the user 10 is brought into such a posture as to lean forward at his lower back. Further, with this forward-leaning motion of the user, the load of the weight stack 82 previously determined with the load application device 3 and applied to the operation arm 11 is transmitted to the upper and lower parts of the user's abdominal muscle. Thus, the training is achieved not only on the upper part but also on the lower part of the rectus abdominis muscle.

[0035] Technical ideas (a) to (d) disclosed in the above embodiment will be discussed together with advantages obtained thereby.

[0036] (a) A training apparatus for performing a training of a rectus abdominis muscle comprises an operation arm supported to be swingable by receiving a contact pressure from an arm of a user. A rotary section is provided carrying a load of a weight stack and supported to be rotatable by a swing of the operation arm. A seat section is provided to be swingably supported. Additionally, a push section is provided to be swingably supported, and arranged to swing the seat section while supporting the seat section at a lower end portion of the seat section. In this training apparatus, the push section is adapted to swing in one of a first state uncooperative with a rotation of the rotary section and a second state cooperative with the rotation of the rotary section.

[0037] (b) The training apparatus as discussed in the idea (a) further comprises a switching device for switching the push section between the first and second states. The switching device includes a sleeve pivotally attached to the rotary section and formed with a side bore. A main shaft is provided to be pivotally attached to the push section and inserted in the sleeve. Additionally, an obstruction member is provided arranged to be insertable into the sleeve through the side bore of the sleeve thereby switching between ensuring and obstructing an insertion path defined in the sleeve for the main shaft. In the training apparatus of the idea (b), the push section is brought into the first state uncooperative with the rotation of the rotary section so to be swingable when the obstruction member ensures the insertion path for the main shaft, or into the second state cooperative with the rotation of the rotary section so as to be swingable when the obstruction member is inserted into the sleeve through the side bore to obstruct the insertion path.

[0038] (c) In the training apparatus as discussed in the idea (b), the switching device further comprises a device for taking the obstruction member to one of a first position ensuring the insertion path for the main shaft and a second position obstructing the insertion path, and a device for fastening the obstruction member taken to one of the first and second positions.

[0039] (d) In the training apparatus as discussed in the idea (a), the operation arm is arranged to be adjustable for a starting position at which the swing of the operation arm starts.

[0040] According to the ideas (a) to (d), in a case where the push section is not made cooperative with the rotary section, the load of the weight stack is applied to the upper part of the user's abdominal muscle when the operation arm is pivotally moved. On the other hand, in a case where the push section is made cooperative with the rotary section, the user is brought into such a posture as to lean forward at his lower back when the operation arm is pivotally moved, which transmits the load of the weight stack to the upper and lower parts of the user's abdominal muscle. Particularly according to the idea (c), it is allowed to reliably bring the push section being uncooperative with the rotary section while reliably bringing the push section being cooperative with the rotary section. Additionally, according to the idea (d), the extent of the user's forward-leaning is adjustable.

[0041] In addition to the above, according to the ideas (a) to (b), an abdominal muscle training can be effectively performed even if the user is a beginner. Particularly according to the idea (d), the abdominal muscle training can be further effectively performed.

[0042] As discussed above, the training apparatus 1 according to the present invention makes it possible to train the rectus abdominis muscle readily and evenly, which is effective even for a beginner.

[0043] The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application P2006-131423 (filed May 10, 2006) are incorporated herein by reference.

[0044] Although the invention has been described above by reference to certain embodiments and examples of the invention, the invention is not limited to the embodiments and examples described above. Modifications and variations of the embodiments and examples described above will occur to those skilled in the art, in light of the above teachings. For example, the switching device according to the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned arrangement. More specifically, it will be understood that the switching device for switching between the cooperative and uncooperative states may be arranged for a left-handed user, though it is discussed to be arranged for a right-handed user in the training apparatus 1. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.