Training Apparatus

Abstract

A training apparatus for training a gluteus maximus muscle. The training apparatus includes a load application device for producing a certain load. A seat section is provided for supporting a body of a trainee. A pivotally operative arm section is provided to receive the load produced by the load application device. A step is provided attached to the arm section, for resting a sole of the trainee thereon. The trainee is able to train the gluteus maximus muscle by repeating extending and bending actions of a leg while lying down on the seat section and resting the sole on the step. In this training apparatus, the step is rotated in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in a glutes-exercising type training apparatus for training or developing the gluteus maximus muscle which connects the human pelvis to the femur.

As commonly known, the human gluteus maximus is an extensor muscle in the buttocks and acts when rising from the seated position or when climbing stairs. A conventional example of a training machine for strengthening the gluteus maximus, disclosed in “2006 MECCA fitness catalog”, page 5, will be schematically discussed with reference to FIG. 10.

The machine illustrated in FIG. 10 includes a rectangular base frame 1 having right-side and left-side frames 1a, 1b. A load application device 2 is erected on the right-side frame 1a of the base frame 1. A seat pad 3 and a pair of elbow pads 4 are disposed on the left-side frame 1b to face to the load application device 2. An L-shaped arm 5 to which a load derived from the load application device 2 is transmitted is pivotably provided. Further, a foot bar 6 is provided attached to a tip portion of the arm 5.

The seat pad 3 is supported by one support bar 7 erected at a corner of the base frame 1 while the elbow pads 4 are supported by a T-shaped bar 8 erected on the base frame 1 at a center of the left-side frame 1b. The T-shaped bar 8 is provided with a pair of L-shaped grips 9.

The base frame 1 further has a bottom frame 1c on which an assistant frame 10 is erected, and additionally the right-side frame 1a of the base frame 1 has a rear end portion on which the other support bar 11 is erected. The arm 5 is pivotally supported at its base end portion between the other support bar 11 and a stationary plate 12 of the assistant frame 10.

More specifically, the base end portion of the arm 5 is welded to a peripheral surface of a shaft 13 rotationally attached between the other support bar 11 and the stationary plate 12 of the assistant frame 10. To one end part of the shaft 13, a cam 15 to which the load derived from the load application device 2 is transmitted through a wire 14 is fixed. With this arrangement, the load of the load application device 2 is applied to an upward pivotal movement of the arm 5.

In operation, a trainee (or a user) who is in such a posture as to lie with his abdomen on the seat pad 3 and to place his elbows on the elbow pads 4 to grasp the grips 9 kicks up the foot bar 6, with which the arm 5 is pivotally moved upward thereby achieving the enhancement of the gluteus maximus muscle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, drawbacks have been encountered in the conventional training machines. More specifically, in the training machine disclosed in “2006 MECCA fitness catalog”, the gluteus maximus muscle is exercised only by the repetition of motion kicking up the foot bar 6 and therefore there is a fear that an effective training is not accomplished.

In other words, motions repeated by kicking up the arm 5 are no better than upward and downward motions so that the gluteus maximus muscle cannot stretch or contract in the direction of muscle fibers. This raises a fear of reducing the efficiency of training.

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

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved training apparatus for effectively developing the gluteus maximus muscle by twisting user's foot so as to turn the tiptoe outward.

An aspect of the present invention resides in a training apparatus for training a gluteus maximus muscle, comprising a load application device for producing a certain load. A seat section is provided for supporting a body of a trainee. A pivotally operative arm section is provided to receive the load produced by the load application device. A step is provided attached to the arm section, for resting a sole of the trainee thereon. The trainee is able to train the gluteus maximus muscle by repeating extending and bending actions of a leg while lying down on the seat section and resting the sole on the step. In this training apparatus, the step is rotated in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side view of an embodiment of a training apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged side view of the training apparatus of FIG. 1, showing an arm section and steps the training apparatus includes;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the arm section and the steps of the training apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, partially enlarged view showing a state where a cam and a connecting member provided to the training apparatus of FIG. 1 are in a start position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary, partially enlarged view similar to FIG. 4, but showing a state where the cam and the connecting member are in a finish position;

FIG. 6A is an elevation of an L-shaped arm provided to the training apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6B is partially enlarged view of a wire provided to the training apparatus of FIG. 1, showing a state where the wire is fastened with nuts;

FIG. 7 is a perspective side view of the training apparatus of FIG. 1, showing a state where a trainee is in the start position;

FIG. 8 is a perspective side view similar to FIG. 7, but showing a state where the trainee is in the finish position;

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing a status of gluteus maximus muscle; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a conventional training machine, showing an example of operation thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 8, an embodiment of a training apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated. As shown in FIG. 1, the training apparatus according to the present invention comprises a base frame 20 (having opposite frames as shown in FIG. 7 or 8). A load application device 21 is provided mounted on one of the opposite frames of the base frame 20, while a seat section 22 is provided supported on the other of the opposite frames of the base frame 20 so as to face the load application device 21. An arm section 23 to which a load derived from the load application device 21 is transmitted is pivotally provided. A pair of steps 24 is provided to be driven in the directions opposite to each other in linkage with rotation of the arm section 23.

(i) Load Application Device 21

The load application device 21 includes a rectangularly formed weight frame 25 having an upright side frame 25a, as shown in FIG. 1. A plurality of weight blocks 26 are provided stacked in the weight frame 25. The weight blocks 26 are housed in a weight cover 27 and connected to a belt 28 at one end portion 28a of the belt 28 through a connecting element 29. A support pipe 30 is provided welded to the upright side frame 25a of the weight frame 25 thereby supporting the arm section 23 pivotally. An L-shaped connecting pipe 19 is disposed to connect the support pipe 30 to the upright side frame 25a of the weight frame 25. Additionally, the belt 28 is so supported as to be hung on a pair of sheaves 31.

The number of the weight blocks 26 can be selected in accordance with user demands by using a connecting rod and a pin (not shown in the accompanying drawings). The selected number of the weight blocks 26 is lifted upward when the belt 28 is pulled, thereby producing a desired load.

(ii) Seat Section 22

The seat section 22 includes an end pipe 32 erected on the other of the opposite frames of the base frame 20. A T-shaped pad receiver 33 is provided attached to an upper end part of the end pipe 32 in such a manner as to be adjustable for height, and supports a seat pad 34 and a pair of elbow pads 35.

The pad receiver 33 is, at its lower portion, welded to a movable plate 36 generally U-shaped and upwardly and downwardly movably attached to the upper end part of the end pipe 32. The movable plate 36 is fixed by inserting a lock pin (not shown but in linkage with operation of an adjusting lever 37) into any one of adjusting holes 39 that an adjusting plate 38 fixed on an upper side surface of the end pipe 32 has. With this arrangement, a height of the pad receiver 33 can be suitably adjusted by changing the position of the lock pin from the one of adjusting holes 39 to any other one.

An upper portion of the pad receiver 33 is formed linearly from a forward end portion to a center portion while being formed bent downward at a rearward portion. A supporter 41 for supporting an arcuate handle 40 is disposed on the forward end portion of the pad receiver 33. A generally U-shaped support post 42 for supporting the elbow pads 35 is welded to the center portion of the pad receiver 33. Additionally, on the rearward portion of the pad receiver 33, the seat pad 34 is fixedly mounted. The handle 40 is provided at its both ends with rubber grips 43.

(iii) Arm Section 23

The arm section 23 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, an arm main body 44 pivotally supported by a tubular journal 52 of the support pipe 30. The arm main body 44 rotationally supports a pulley 45 at its central region, and an L-shaped arm 46 at its tip region. An L-shaped bar 47 is provided fixed on a side surface of the tip region of the arm main body 44. The arm section 23 further includes a pivotal support arm 48 for supporting the L-shaped arm 46.

The arm main body 44 is shaped into a pipe and has in its longitudinal direction three holes as shown in FIG. 3. Upper, middle and lower rods 49, 50 and 51 of different lengths are provided in such a manner as to respectively pierce through the three holes, thereby being attached to the arm main body 44. The upper rod 49 is rotationally inserted into the journal 52 and an installation arm 53 for a balance weight, through a bearing.

The pulley 45 is rotationally supported by the middle rod 50 through a bearing. The belt 28 is wound at its other end portion 28b on an outer peripheral surface of the pulley 45 via a pulley 54 located at the upright side frame 25a of the weight frame 25, and is fixed by a fastening member 55. When the arm main body 44 is pivotally moved upward, therefore, the belt 28 is pulled thereby producing a load of a weight of the selected number of the weight blocks 26.

The L-shaped arm 46 is pivotally pierced at its base end part with the lower rod 51 through a bearing, while the L-shaped bar 47 is welded at its outer peripheral surface of its base end portion to a head 51a of the lower rod 51. When the L-shaped arm 46 is pushed in the direction indicated by an arrow C in FIGS. 2 and 8 (or when the L-shaped arm is moved from the start position to the finish position), therefore, the L-shaped bar 47 is pivotally moved upward in synchronization with the arm main body 44.

The support arm 48 is formed generally L-shaped as shown in FIG. 3, and additionally pivotally supported at its upper end section by the connecting pipe 19 while being pivotally supported at its lower end section by a bearing 56 provided projected from the base end part of the L-shaped arm 46. This means that the L-shaped arm 46 is supported by the connecting pipe 19 through the support arm 48 so as to be restricted in excessively downward pivotal movement.

(iv) Steps 24

Since both of the steps 24 are arranged generally symmetrical to each other, a discussion about its arrangement will be made mostly on one of them with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5. A step 24 is provided on a tip end part 46a of the L-shaped arm 46 to face on the seat pad 34. A cam 57 is provided to be rotationally supported by the tip end part 46a of the L-shaped arm 46. A step plate 58 on which a trainee (or a user) can rest his sole is provided to cover an upper region of the cam 57. A wire 59 is wound around both of cams 57.

The cam 57 has a shaft region 61 rotationally piercing through a piercing hole 60 defined in the tip end part 46a of the L-shaped arm 46, and a top region 62 to which the step plate 58 is fastened by screws. The top region 62 of the cam 57 is formed integral with the shaft region 61, and is bent at an upper edge region and side edge regions toward the seat pad 34 to form a stopper 63. The top region 62 of the cam 57 further has a cylindrical region 64 on the opposite side of the seat pad 34.

One of cylindrical regions 64 of the cams 57 is provided including, at its outer periphery, an L-shaped support piece 65 protruding to the opposite side of the seat pad 34. To the support piece 65, a tip portion 47a of the L-shaped bar 47 is connected through a connecting member 67.

Meanwhile, the other of the cylindrical regions 64 of the cams 57 is provided including, at its outer periphery, a bracket 66 for supporting both ends of the wire 59 by piercing the wire 59 therethrough.

The connecting member 67 has at one end section one ring 69 into which the tip portion 47a of the L-shaped bar 47 is rotationally inserted, and has at the other end section the other ring 68 pivotally supporting the support piece 65 through a bolt stem portion.

When the L-shaped arm 46 is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIGS. 2 and 8 (or when the L-shaped arm is moved from the start position to the finish position), the L-shaped bar 47 is pivotally moved upward in synchronization with the arm main body 44 as discussed above, with which a distance between the tip end part 46a of the L-shaped arm 46 and the tip portion 47a of the L-shaped bar 47 is gradually increased so that the connecting member 67 is pulled upward by the tip portion 47a of the L-shaped bar 47 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. With this, the support piece 65 is pulled thereby driving the one of the cylindrical regions 64 of the cams 57 rotationally in the direction indicated by an arrow S in FIG. 6A.

The wire 59 is, as shown in FIG. 6A, wound about both of the cylindrical regions 64 of the cams 57 to have a figure eight appearance. More specifically, the wire 59 is wound around both of the cylindrical regions 64 of the cams 57 to form a ring around each of the cylindrical regions 64, and is arranged to pierce the bracket 66 at its both ends. The wire 59 is equipped with a male screw respectively at both ends, and fastened thereat with a nut, as shown in FIG. 6B.

Therefore, when the one of the cylindrical regions 64 of the cams 57 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG. 6A, the other is rotated in synchronization with this in the direction indicated by an arrow T in FIG. 6A. With this, step plates 58 are driven in the directions opposite to each other, i.e., in the directions indicated by the arrows S and T.

(v) Example of Operation of Training Apparatus

Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, an example of operation of the training apparatus at the time of performing a training for gluteus maximus muscle will be discussed. First of all, the number of the weight blocks 26 is selected to obtain a load that the trainee requires. Then, the trainee adjusts the heights of the seat pad 34 and the elbow pads 35 by operating the adjusting lever 37 so as to gain a position suitable for his own physique.

The trainee thereafter assumes a posture lying down with his abdomen on the seat pad 34 and with his elbows on the elbow pads 35 to grasp the rubber grips 43 while resting his left sole against one of the step plates 58 which is on the trainee's left. This state of the training apparatus is referred to as “a start position”.

When the trainee extends his left leg as shown in FIG. 8 while keeping the above-discussed posture, the L-shaped arm 46 is pushed in the direction indicated by the arrow C to pivotally move the arm main body 44 upward. With this, the selected number of the weight blocks 26 is lifted upward thereby producing a load thereof. This state of the training apparatus is referred to as “a finish position”. By repeating extending and bending actions of the left leg under the load, in other words, by making reciprocations between the start position and the finish position, the left part of gluteus maximus muscle is trained.

Simultaneously, the tip portion 47a of the L-shaped bar 47 is pivotally moved upward in synchronization with the movement of the arm main body 44 so as to pull the connecting member 67 upward. With this, the support piece 65 is pulled to rotate the one of the cylindrical regions 64 of the cams 57 in the direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG. 6A, thereby driving the other of the cylindrical regions 64 rotationally in the opposite direction, i.e., in the direction indicated by the arrow T in FIG. 6A.

During this operation, the trainee's left foot is held at the sole by virtue of the stopper 63, and therefore the trainee can easily twist his left foot to turn the tiptoe outward following the rotation in the direction indicated in FIG. 6A by the arrow T. More specifically, when the trainee pushes the L-shaped arm 46 with his left foot in the direction indicated by the arrow C in FIGS. 2 and 8 (or when the trainee operatively moves the training apparatus from the start position to the finish position), circularly twisting motions in the direction indicated by an arrow P in FIG. 9 are imparted to the trainee's left gluteus maximus muscle thereby exercising it.

Separately from the left gluteus maximus muscle training, the trainee can also perform a right gluteus maximus muscle training by resting his right sole against one of the step plates 58 which is on his right and by repeating extending and bending actions of the right leg under the load.

In this case, also, circularly twisting motions in the direction indicated by an arrow Q in FIG. 9 are imparted to the trainee's right gluteus maximus muscle thereby exercising it since the right one of the step plates 58 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow S in FIG. 6A.

According to the present invention, circularly twisting motions are imparted to the trainee's gluteus maximus muscle by twisting the foot at the sole, thereby stretching and contracting the gluteus maximus muscle as a whole in the direction of muscle fibers. With this, the gluteus maximus muscle can be effectively trained and the efficiency in gluteus maximus muscle training is improved.

Technical ideas (a) to (e) grasped from the above embodiment will be discussed together with advantages obtained thereby.

(a) A training apparatus for training a gluteus maximus muscle comprises: a load application device for producing a certain load; a seat section for supporting a body of a trainee; a pivotally operative arm section to which the load produced by the load application device is transmitted; and a step attached to the arm section, for resting a sole of the trainee thereon. The trainee is able to train the gluteus maximus muscle by repeating extending and bending actions of a leg while lying down on the seat section and resting the sole on the step. In this training apparatus, the step is rotated in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section.

According to technical idea (a), the trainee's gluteus maximus muscle is trained by being stretched and contracted as a whole in the direction of muscle fibers under such circular motions as to turn the sole outward, since the step is rotated in linkage with the pivotal operation of the arm section.

(b) In the training apparatus as discussed in technical idea (a), the arm section comprises: an arm main body pivotally supported by a frame that the load application device includes; and an L-shaped arm pivotally supported by the arm main body at a tip region of the arm main body. In this training apparatus, the step is provided in a pair to be a pair of steps, both of which are attached to the L-shaped arm at a tip end part of the L-shaped arm so as to be rotated in the directions opposite to each other.

(c) In the training apparatus as discussed in technical idea (b), the steps comprise: driven members rotationally supported at the tip end part of the L-shaped arm; step plates mounted on the driven members, for resting the sole of the trainee thereon; and a wire wound around the driven members to have a figure eight appearance.

According to technical idea (c), when one of the driven members is rotated in one direction, the other of the driven members is rotated in the opposite direction. In other words, the steps are driven in the directions opposite to each other.

(d) The training apparatus as discussed in technical idea (c) further comprises: an L-shaped bar having a base end portion and a tip portion and fixed at the base end portion to a side surface of the tip region of the arm main body; and a connecting member through which the tip portion of the L-shaped bar is rotationally connected to a side region of one of the driven members. In this training apparatus, the tip portion of the L-shaped bar is adapted to pull the connecting member upward so as to rotate the one of the driven members when the arm main body is pivotally moved upward.

According to technical idea (d), the tip portion of the L-shaped bar is adapted to pull the connecting member upward to rotate the one of the driven members, so that the other of the driven members is rotate or driven in the opposite direction in synchronization with the rotation of the one of the driven members.

(e) In the training apparatus as discussed in technical idea (c), the step plates are provided with stoppers for holding a position of the sole of the trainee.

According to technical idea (e), the circular motions which can effectively stretch and contract the gluteus maximus muscle in accordance with the rotation of the driven members are readily made on the gluteus maximus muscle. In this specification, “sole” refers to, mainly, a sole of a shoe.

The entire contents of Japanese Patent Application P2007-206261 (filed Aug. 8, 2007) are incorporated herein by reference.

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 stopper 63 may be taken out. In this case, the trainee's foot is, by friction between soles of shoes or the like and the step plates 58, twisted in accordance with the rotation of the step plates 58 so that the gluteus maximus muscle can be stretched and contracted as a whole in the direction of muscle fibers thereby being strengthened. Additionally, it will be understood that the wire 59 is removed and replaced with reversing gears provided with both of the cams 57 to drive the cams 57 in the directions opposite to each other. The scope of the invention is defined with reference to the following claims.

Claims

1. A training apparatus for training a gluteus maximus muscle, comprising:

a load application device for producing a certain load;

a seat section for supporting a body of a trainee;

a pivotally operative arm section to which the load produced by the load application device is transmitted; and

a step attached to the arm section, for resting a sole of the trainee thereon,

wherein the trainee is able to train the gluteus maximus muscle by repeating extending and bending actions of a leg while lying down on the seat section and resting the sole on the step,

wherein the step is rotated about a rotation axis perpendicular to a pivot of a pivotal operation of the arm section in linkage with the pivotal operation of the arm section, and

wherein the step includes a step plate on which the sole of the trainee is to be rested, the step plate facing perpendicular to the rotation axis.

2. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the arm section comprises:

an arm main body pivotally supported by a frame that the load application device includes; and

an L-shaped arm pivotally supported by the arm main body at a tip region of the arm main body,

wherein the step is provided in a pair to be a pair of steps, both of which are attached to the L-shaped arm at a tip end part of the L-shaped arm so as to be rotated in directions opposite to each other.

3. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the steps comprise:

driven members rotationally supported at the tip end part of the L-shaped arm;

step plates mounted on the driven members, for resting the sole of the trainee thereon; and

a wire wound around the driven members to have a figure eight appearance.

4. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 3, further comprising: wherein the tip portion of the L-shaped bar is adapted to pull the connecting member upward so as to rotate the one of the driven members when the arm main body is pivotally moved upward.

an L-shaped bar having a base end portion and a tip portion and fixed at the base end portion to a side surface of the tip region of the arm main body; and

a connecting member through which the tip portion of the L-shaped bar is rotationally connected to a side region of one of the driven members,

5. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step plates are provided with stoppers for holding a position of the sole of the trainee.

6. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step comprises a pair of steps coupled to each other so that said rotation in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section comprises an opposite rotation of the steps relative to each other.

7. A training apparatus for training a gluteus maximus muscle, comprising:

a load application device for producing a certain load;

a seat section for supporting a body of a trainee with the abdomen of the trainee supported by the seat section;

a pivotally operative arm section to which the load produced by the load application device is transmitted;

a step attached to the arm section, for resting a sole of the trainee thereon,

wherein the trainee is able to train the gluteus maximus muscle by repeating extending and bending actions of a leg while lying down on the seat section and resting the sole on the step, and

wherein the step is rotated relative to the arm section in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section.

8. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step comprises a pair of steps coupled to each other so that said rotation in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section comprises an opposite rotation of the steps relative to each other.

9. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the pivotally operative arm section comprises:

an arm main body having a first pivot relative to a support of a frame and a second pivot relative to the step; and

a pivotal support arm having a first pivot and a second pivot coupling the pivotal support arm to the step to provide said rotation of the step in linkage with the pivotal operation of the arm section.

10. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein the steps comprises a pair of steps and the relative rotation is about a respective axis of each step.

11. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the pivotally operative arm section comprises:

an arm main body having a first pivot relative to a support of a frame and a second pivot relative to an L-shaped arm to which the steps are mounted.

12. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein the pivotally operative arm section further comprises a link coupling the steps to the arm main body to drive the relative rotation.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising:

a footrest positioned so that the trainee can rest one said sole on the footrest while the other said sole is rested on the step.

14. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the steps comprises a pair of steps and the relative rotation is about a respective axis of each step.

15. The training apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the step comprises a pair of steps coupled to each other so that said rotation in linkage with a pivotal operation of the arm section comprises an opposite rotation of the steps relative to each other.

16. A training apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pivotally operative arm section comprises:

an arm main body having a first pivot relative to a support of a frame and a second pivot relative to the step; and

a pivotal support arm having a first pivot and a second pivot coupling the pivotal support arm to the step to provide said rotation of the step in linkage with the pivotal operation of the arm section.