Body exercise device

• US 9,925,084 B2
• Filed: 02/23/2015
• Issued: 03/27/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Omron Healthcare Company Limited (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Omron Corporation
• Inventors: Tanaka, Kenshin, Ogawa, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): WINTER, GREGORY J
• Application Number:
  US14/629,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20150173931A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 29745241, 2972846
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 5/04 Devices for stretching or reducing fractured limbs; Devices for distractions; Splints plaster of Paris bandages A61F13/04; with surgery A61B17/60
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/006 for stretching exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0093 the load of the exercise apparatus being controlled by performance parameters, e.g. distance or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0652 Visualisation or indication relating to symmetrical exercise, e.g. right-left performance related to spinal column
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/0088 by moving the surrounding air
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/068 using user's body weight
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/16 Platforms for rocking motion about a horizontal axis , e.g. axis through the middle of the platform; Balancing drums; Balancing boards or the like exercising apparatus with cantilevered support elements pivoting about an axis A63B22/0056; other exercising apparatus for improving balance A63B26/003
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/18 with elements, i.e. platforms, having a circulating, nutating or rotating movement, generated by oscillating movement of the user, e.g. platforms wobbling on a centrally arranged spherical supporthoop exercising apparatus A63B19/00; eccentric weights put into orbital motion by nutating movement of the user A63B21/0608; pots rotating or rocking by moving the whole body A63G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/0233 in 90/90 position, like on a chair
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/56 Pressure
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/01 Special aerodynamic features, e.g. airfoil shapes, wings or air passages
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/54 Transponders, e.g. RFID
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0238 Spinal column for the neck A63B23/025
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0244 with signalling or indicating means, e.g. of incorrect posture, for deep-breathing exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load

Abstract

A body exercise device includes a seat portion having a seat face, a pair of left and right airbags and a pair of front and rear airbags causing the seat face of the seat portion to be left-right and front-rear inclined, and an air supply unit that supplies pressurized air to the airbags. An air supply/discharge switching unit switches between supplying air to and discharging air from the airbags, and a pressure detection unit detects pressure in the airbags. A balance determination unit, in a process of supplying air to or discharging air from the right and left or front and rear airbags according to the switching operation of the air supply/discharge switching unit, determines the left-right or front-rear balance state of the user based on a difference in pressure change in the pair of left and right airbags or the pair of front and rear airbags.

Claims

1. A body exercise device comprising:

a seat portion having a seat surface for a user to sit on;

a pair of left and right airbags and a pair of front and rear airbags provided such that the pair of left and right airbags are located on left and right sides with respect to a center of the seat surface and that the pair of front and rear airbags are located on front and rear sides with respect to the center of the seat surface in order to cause the seat surface of the seat portion to be inclinable in a left-right direction and/or in a front-rear direction;

an air supply unit configured to supply compressed air to the pair of left and right airbags and the pair of front and rear airbags;

an air supply and discharge switching unit configured to switch between supplying air to and discharging air from the pair of left and right airbags and the pair of front and rear airbags;

a pressure detection unit configured to detect pressure in the pair of left and right airbags and the pair of front and rear airbags; and

a balance determination unit configured to, in a process of supplying air to or discharging air from the pair of left and right airbags or the pair of front and rear airbags using a switching operation performed by the air supply and discharge switching unit, determine a left-right balance state or a front-rear balance state of the user based on a difference in pressure change over time in the pair of left and right airbags or the pair of front and rear airbags, detected by the pressure detection unit,

wherein stretches and/or exercises that correspond to a result of determination performed by the balance determination unit are output to the user by a display.

2. A body exercise device comprising:

a seat portion having a seat surface for a user to sit on;

a pair of left and right airbags and a pair of front and rear airbags provided such that the pair of left and right airbags are located on left and right sides with respect to a center of the seat surface and that the pair of front and rear airbags are located on front and rear sides with respect to the center of the seat surface in order to cause the seat surface of the seat portion to be inclinable in a left-right direction and/or in a front-rear direction;

an air supply unit configured to supply compressed air to the pair of left and right airbags and the pair of front and rear airbags;

an air supply and discharge switching unit configured to switch between supplying air to and discharging air from the pair of left and right airbags and the pair of front and rear airbags;

a pressure detection unit configured to detect pressure in the pair of left and right airbags and the pair of front and rear airbags; and

a balance determination unit configured to, in a process of supplying air to or discharging air from the pair of left and right airbags or the pair of front and rear airbags using a switching operation performed by the air supply and discharge switching unit, determine a left-right balance state or a front-rear balance state of the user based on a difference in pressure change over time in the pair of left and right airbags or the pair of front and rear airbags, detected by the pressure detection unit,

wherein stretches and/or exercises that correspond to a result of determination performed by the balance determination unit are presented to the user.