Rowing machine

• US 4,735,410 A
• Filed: 08/12/1987
• Issued: 04/05/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mizuno Corporation
• Inventors: Nobuta, Yoshiji
• Primary Examiner(s): Apley, Richard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Crow, S. R.
• Application Number:
  US07/084,981
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• Field of Search: 272/69, 272/72, 272/73, 272/129, 272/130, 272/DIG. 5, 272/DIG. 6
• US Class Current: 482/9
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0041 one hand moving independently from the other hand, i.e. there is no link between the movements of the hands
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2022/0084 pivoting about a horizontal axis
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/009 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled in synchronism with visualising systems, e.g. hill slope
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0641 with a marker advancing in function of the exercise
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0644 with display speed of moving landscape controlled by the user's performance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/00069 Setting or adjusting the resistance level; Compensating for a preload prior to use, e.g. changing length of resistance or adjusting a valve
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0052 induced by electromagnets A63B21/0056 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/008 using hydraulic or pneumatic force-resisters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0083 of the piston-cylinder type using pneumatic piston-cylinder type force resistors A63B21/0087
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/157 Ratchet-wheel links; Overrunning clutches; One-way clutches
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/4047 Pivoting movement weight pivoting A63B21/0615
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0076 Rowing machines for conditioning the cardio-vascular system seats moving during exercise A63B22/0087; training appliances for rowing or sculling on boats A63B69/06
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/34 Angular speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/062 used as a control parameter for the apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/65 skin conductivity
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/03533 : With separate means driven by each limb, i.e. performing different movements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8005 : Athletics
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 9/063 : by using visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/901 : having computer circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 482/902 : Employing specific graphic or video display

Abstract

The inventive rowing machine detects angular velocity of a pair of oars pulled by an exerciser to move a moving image appearing on a CRT display on the basis of the detection output while controlling the display to change the direction of movement of the moving image in response to pulling of one of the pair of oars when the moving image on the CRT display threatens to run against an obstacle image. Further, physiological condition of the exerciser is detected by the physiological condition detector to reduce the resistance force against rotation of the pair of oars by loading device in response to detection of small reserve strength of the exerciser with respect to the loading device, and to increase the resistance force against rotation of the pair of oars by loading device in respone to detection of large reserve strength of the exerciser with respect to the loading device.

Claims

1. A rowing machine comprising:

display means;

a frame provided in front of said display means;

a seat slidably mounted on said frame;

a pair of oars rotatably supported in portions of said frame on both sides of said seat to be pulled by an exerciser seated on said seat;

angular velocity detecting means provided in correspondence to respective ones of said pair of oars for detecting angular velocity values of respective said oars upon pulling of the same;

picture signal generating means for generating a moving image signal for displaying a moving image on said display means and a picture signal for displaying an image for influencing movement of said moving image;

load means for applying resistance against rotation of respective ones of said pair of oars;

physiological condition detecting means for detecting physiological condition of said exerciser; and

control means for displaying said moving image and said influencing image on the basis of picture signals generated from said picture signal generating means to control display so that relative display positions of said moving image and said influencing image displayed on said display means are changed in response to relative angular velocity values detected by said respective oar angular velocity detecting means while altering said resistance force provided by said load means against said rotation of respective ones of said pair of oars in response to the physiological condition of said exerciser with respect to said load means by said physiological condition detecting means.

2. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said picture signal generating means includes means for generating a travel path image signal for displaying the image of a travel path for said moving image and an obstacle image signal for displaying the image of an obstacle for obstructing movement of said moving image,

said display means includes means for displaying a travel path image and an obstacle image on said display means on the basis of said travel path image signal and said obstacle image signal generated from said picture signal generating means, and

said control means includes means for controlling display so that said moving image is moved along said travel path image on the basis of detection output from said angular velocity detecting means and controlling said moving image to be moved to the left or the right in response to detection of angular velocity of one of said pair of oars.

3. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said picture signal generating means includes means for generating a signal indicating a water current or the direction of the wind as said travel path image, and

said control means includes means for increasing resistance force provided by said load means against said rotation of respective ones of said pair of oars in response to generation of a picture signal simulating a swift current or a head wind from said picture signal generating means and reducing said resistance force provided by said load means against said rotation of respective ones of said pair of oars in response to generation of a picture signal simulating a slow current or a tail wind.

4. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 3, wherein

each of said load means includes a cylinder provided between said frame and the corresponding one of said pair of oars for applying resistance to said corresponding one of said oars by a piston driven by hydraulic pressure.

5. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 4, wherein

each of said angular velocity detecting means includes:

a second piston linearly moved by hydraulic pressure following operation of said piston;

encoder means coupled with said second piston; and

optical sensor means for outputting an encode signal responsive to the amount of load on said piston in response to operation of said encoder means.

6. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 3, further comprising support members for rotatably mounting said pair of oars on said frame,

each of said support members including a disc rotated interlockingly with the corresponding one of said oars,

each of said load means including a brake for applying resistance by being in contact with said disc.

7. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 3, further including support members for rotatably mounting said pair of oars on said frame respectively,

each of said support members including a disc rotated interlockingly with the corresponding one of said oars,

each of said load means including eddy current generating means for applying resistance against rotation of said disc by generating an eddy current in said disc.

8. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 3, further including support members for rotatably mounting said pair of oars on said frame respectively,

each of said support members including a disc rotated interlockingly with the corresponding one of said oars,

each of said angular velocity detecting means including an optical sensor for optically detecting the angle of rotation of said disc.

9. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said control means includes means for operating the travel speed on the basis of angular velocity values detected by said angular velocity detecting means to make said display means display said operated travel speed.

10. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said control means includes means for operating the travel distance on the basis of angular velocity values detected by said angular velocity detecting means to make said display means display said operated travel distance.

11. A rowing machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein

said display means includes CRT display means.