Site News  |   Monitor Keywords  |   Monitor Archive  |   Organizer  |   Account Info  |

Rocking type exercising apparatus

Rocking type exercising apparatus description/claims

The present invention relates to a rocking type exercising apparatus for providing a user with an exercising effect similar to a horse riding by rocking a seat on which the user sits and for urging the user to maintain a balance by rocking treadles on which the user straddles.

A rocking type exercising apparatus for providing a user with an exercising effect similar to a horse riding is an easy-to-use exercising apparatus that is widely used among users of various generations from children to elderly persons and is spread to general households as well as rehabilitation purpose medical facilities. Examples of the conventional rocking type exercising apparatus are disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent No. 3394890 and Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2001-286578.

Japanese Patent No. 3394890 discloses a prophylactic training apparatus for lumbago that can realize rhythmical rocking motions using a parallel mechanism having a leeway of movement in six different directions or the like. Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2001-286578 discloses a balance training apparatus that can realize a forward/backward rocking motion and a leftward/rightward rocking motion using a motor and a link.

Typically, the rocking type exercising apparatus employs a motor as a power source and operates a drive unit with a speed reduced output power of the motor. However, if an external force is applied to a movable unit when the motor is stopped and the apparatus is not in use, the motor may be rotated by the external force to move the movable unit. This is undesirable from the safety standpoint because a user riding on the movable unit may encounter an unexpected motion.

In view of the above, the present invention provides a rocking type exercising apparatus capable of preventing a movable unit from being unintentionally moved when the apparatus is not in use.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a rocking type exercising apparatus including: a movable unit on which a user rides; and a driving unit for causing the movable unit to perform a rocking motion, wherein the driving unit includes a motor having power supply terminals, a speed reduction means for reducing a rotational speed of the motor, and a brake circuit for electrically short-circuiting the power supply terminals of the motor when the motor is stopped.

When the power supply terminals are electrically short-circuited by the brake circuit, the motor is in a state that it can generate a counter electromotive force upon rotation thereof. Thus, the motor is braked against rotation, thereby avoiding undesirable movement of the movable unit when the apparatus is not in use.

With the present invention, the motor as a power source is prevented from rotation during non-use of the rocking type exercising apparatus. Therefore, even if an external force is applied to the movable unit when the apparatus is not in use, there is no possibility that the movable unit is moved unwantedly. This makes it possible to assure enhanced safety.

The object and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of a rocking type exercising apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rocking type exercising apparatus;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are top plan and right side views of the rocking type exercising apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the rocking type exercising apparatus;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a main body unit of the rocking type exercising apparatus;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view showing a seat of the rocking type exercising apparatus;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view showing a driving unit of the rocking type exercising apparatus;

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

• What Is a Patent?
• What Is a Trademark or Servicemark?
• What Is a Copyright?
• Patent Laws