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Training apparatusTraining apparatus description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070219051, Training apparatus. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001]This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-061528. The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-061528 is hereby incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002]1. Field of the Invention [0003]The present invention relates to a training machine that is used by an individual to exercise in order to improve physical strength. [0004]2. Background Information [0005]A variety of training machines have been proposed in the past that enable an individual to exercise with an appropriate load. Among these various training machines, there are machines with which a trainee performs repetitive exercise while a load is applied to certain muscles in order to work the muscles that he or she has targeted. For example, Japanese Examined Utility Model Application No. S7-41083 proposes an apparatus for the purpose of training by performing repetitive exercise. This training apparatus uses a direct drive motor as the power source to provide a load that works against the trainee's muscular force, and comprises a muscle load providing apparatus that adjusts the load by controlling the rotation of the direct drive motor in accordance with its torque and rotational speed. [0006]The load controlling method disclosed in 2006-061528 adjusts the load by controlling the rotation of the direct drive motor in the same manner for every trainee. However, in actuality, individual trainees have different physiques. Differences in physique result in differences in, for example, the amplitude and the width of the rotation of the repetitive exercise. Consequently, the posture taken by each trainee varies when the rotational speed of the direct drive motor is a prescribed fixed value V1. However, if the load is applied uniformly to every trainee in accordance with the torque and the rotational speed of the direct drive motor, then the control of the load will be perfect for trainees who have a standard physique, but the change in the load will be inappropriate for trainees who have a build that is smaller or larger than the standard physique. Consequently, the latter trainees cannot exercise appropriately and, therefore, cannot, for example, sufficiently increase the effectiveness of the exercise or are forced into overexertion. [0007]In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved training machine wherein a trainee can exercise with a load that is in accord with his or her build in the forward and return paths of a repetitive exercise. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008]To solve the abovementioned problems, a first aspect of the invention provides a training apparatus for exercising wherein an electrically powered load generator applies a load to a moving unit that is capable of repetitive motion. This apparatus comprises: [0009]a range of motion determining unit configured to determine a range of motion, which is a range through which the moving unit performs repetitive motion, in accordance with a trainee; and [0010]a load controlling unit configured to vary the load, which is applied to the moving unit by the load generator, in accordance with the position of the moving unit in the determined range of motion. [0011]To take the trainee's physique into account in the range of motion, a load that is suited to the trainee's physique is applied by varying the load in accordance with the position in the range of motion, and thereby the trainee can be made to exercise effectively. The range of motion is preferably determined by measurement. This is because the range of motion that is obtained by measurement can take into account the trainee's physique, joints, etc. The range of motion of each individual trainee is measured at least once, and is preferably measured continuously or intermittently. For example, it may be measured at prescribed time intervals, or prior to or at the start of every exercise. If the range of motion is measured prior to or at the start of every exercise, then it is possible to apply a load in accordance with the trainee's condition, which changes daily, and therefore the trainee improves his or her form when performing exercises. [0012]The method of varying the load is not particularly limited. For example, a reference load is applied at the start point of the forward path in an abdominal muscles exercise, wherein the trainee leans his or her upper body forward, and a terminal load (terminal load>reference load) is applied at the end point of the forward path. When performing a forward bend exercise, it becomes easier for the trainee to exert his or her abdominal muscles at the end point of the forward path and, consequently, the training becomes commensurately easier; therefore, the load is conversely increased just to the extent that the training has become easier, and it is therefore possible to maintain substantially the same training effect throughout the entire repetitive exercise and thereby make the trainee train effectively. In addition, for example, the load is increased in the vicinity of the center of the forward path in a barbell exercise. The reference load is applied at the start point and the end point of the forward path, and the reference load.times.N (1<N<2) is applied in the vicinity of the center of the forward path. Applying a heavy load at the sticking point in a barbell exercise makes it possible to effectively stimulate the target muscle. [0013]A training apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention provides a training apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention, further comprising a reference load determining unit configured to determine a reference load, which is a load that is suited to the trainee. In this apparatus, the load controlling unit gradually varies the load applied to the moving unit in a range of values that are greater than or equal to the reference load, which was determined by the reference load determining unit, and less than N times (1<N<2) the reference load. [0014]Because the load curve is determined based on the range of motion and the reference load, the reference load is preferably determined by measurement. For example, the trainee's 1 RM is measured, and the reference load is set to a value that is the product of the measured 1 RM and a prescribed coefficient. Of course, instead of determining the reference load by measurement, the reference load may be associated in advance with the trainee's body weight, gender, age, body fat percentage, and the like, and thereby the reference load may be determined based on the trainee's individual body data. Furthermore, the abovementioned load curve also includes changes in the load that vary linearly. In other words, it also includes the case wherein the forward path and the return path of the moving unit both vary linearly. [0015]A training apparatus according to a third aspect of the invention provides a training apparatus according to a second aspect of the invention, further comprising a long and deformable power transferring member that transfers the load of the load generator to the moving unit. In this apparatus, the load controlling unit increases the load generated by the load generator and applied to the moving unit at an arbitrary position along the return path of the repetitive exercise so that it is greater than the load generated by the load generator and applied to the moving unit at the identical position along the forward path of the repetitive exercise. The increase in the load along the return path is adjusted commensurate with the decrease in the load due to the kinetic frictional force generated by the power transferring member along the return path. [0016]The magnitude of the load that is generated by the motor varies between the forward path and the return path. Let us consider an example of a training apparatus for abdominal muscles exercise, which is performed by leaning the upper body forward, wherein the training apparatus is constituted so that a motor is used as the load generator, and a load is applied to the moving unit by coupling the motor and the moving unit with a chain. [0017]In the forward path, a kinetic frictional force f is generated by the coupling part of the chain structure. The kinetic frictional force f is generated when the trainee tries to lower the moving unit forward, and is generated in the direction opposite the direction in which the object is moved. Because of the kinetic frictional force f, the total load F1 that is felt by the trainee is the sum (M1+f) of the load M1, which is applied to the moving unit by the motor, and the kinetic frictional force f. [0018]In the return path, the trainee moves so as to raise his or her upper body upward while lightly pushing back the moving unit, which is trying to return to the near side. At this time, the total load F2 felt by the trainee is lighter than the load M2 that is applied to the moving unit by the motor. This is because the motor continuously applies a load in the upward direction, which is the direction in which the moving unit is pushed. Accordingly, if the loads M1, M2 that are applied to the moving unit by the motor are the same value, then the load in the return path will be lighter than that in the forward path. Accordingly, if the value of the load that is applied by the motor in the return path is, for example, M2=(M1+2f), then the load applied by the motor will change between the forward path and the return path. The magnitude of the 2f load is, for example, approximately 5 kg. Thereby, the trainee can be made to feel a load that is substantially uniform in both the forward path and the return path. [0019]A training apparatus according to a fourth aspect of the invention provides a training apparatus according to a second or third aspect of the invention, wherein the load controlling unit configured to linearly increase the load of the moving unit as it moves from the start point to the end point of the repetitive motion in accordance with the positional change of the moving unit, and linearly decrease the load of the moving unit as it moves from the end point to the start point of the repetitive motion in accordance with the positional change of the moving unit. [0020]For example, in the abovementioned abdominal muscles exercise, the load increases the more the upper body is leaned forward, and decreases the more the upper body is raised upward. Even in this case, if the chain structure couples the motor and the moving unit, then the load generator can apply a load to the moving unit that takes the generation of the kinetic frictional force f into account and is greater in the forward path than in the return path. In addition, if the variation of the load is made linear in this manner, the design of the load control can be simplified. Namely, the change in the load can be unambiguously determined based on the data of the reference load, the terminal load, and the trainee's range of motion, as discussed in detail later. [0021]A training apparatus according to a fifth aspect of the invention provides a training apparatus according to a first aspect of the invention, wherein the load controlling unit varies the load that is applied to the moving unit based further on a body weight offset load, which changes in accordance with the body weight of the trainee and the position of the moving unit in the range of motion. Continue reading about Training apparatus... Full patent description for Training apparatus Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Training apparatus patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Training apparatus or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Control device for a continuously variable transmission and control method thereof Next Patent Application: Method and system for continuous monitoring and training of exercise Industry Class: Exercise devices ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Training apparatus patent info. 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