US20070167290A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20070167290A1
Application number: US10/589,810
Authority: US
Inventors: Jae-Chul Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-12-07
Filing date: 2005-12-05
Publication date: 2007-07-19
Also published as: EP1718375A4; JP2007525301A; EP1718375A1; WO2006062319A1

Abstract

A multi-functional running machine adopted to perform various exercises such as running, walking, wrenching, stretching, stopping and so on in accordance with the condition of the user's health or the exercise taste of the user by allowing a running belt to reciprocately move a prescribed distance and permitting the user to input directly reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of the running belt or use them selectively programmed with various combinations. A method for controlling the running belt to be reciprocately moved at a predetermined distance is also disclosed. The multi-functional running machine includes a lower frame installed with a running belt rotated by a motor; a support frame installed on one side of the lower frame; a handle attached to the support frame; and a scale plate wherein the running belt is reciprocately moved in a predetermined scope and a method for controlling allows a running belt in a running machine to be reciprocately moved and wherein forward and reverse rotations of the running belt is controlled by a motor driver to thereby allow the running belt to be reciprocately moved at a predetermined reciprocating length, reciprocating times and reciprocating speed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a multi-functional running machine and a method for controlling the machine and more particularly to a multi-functional running machine adapted to perform various exercises such as running, walking, wrenching, stretching, stooping and so on in accordance with the condition of user's health or an exercise taste of user by allowing a running belt to be reciprocately moved at a prescribed distance and permitting user to input directly the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of the running belt or use selectively them programmed with various combinations. The present invention also relates to a method for controlling the running belt to be reciprocately moved at a predetermined distance.

BACKGROUND ART

A running machine is an exercise tool adapted for user to gradually walk or run on a running belt which is coupled rotationally and in an endless track to a pair of rotation shafts, and the user can perform the exercise irrespective of a place.

However, in conventional running machines, a motor driving the running belt has only a function uniformly rotating clock-wisely and counter clock-wisely and thus the running belt is moved only in a forward direction or a reverse direction. Accordingly, conventional running machines have only a function allowing an exercise for forwardly walking or running or an exercise for backwardly walking or running, and resultantly problems incapable of performing various exercises.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTIONTechnical Problem

An object of the present invention is to provide a multi-functional running machine capable of performing conventional exercises such as walking or running by controlling the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of the running belt at a predetermined scope so as to allow a reciprocating movement to be performed as well as capable of completely performing, by the running machine, various exercises such as stretching of respective parts of a body, a muscular exercise and the like. Other object of the present invention is to provide a method for variously controlling the running belt to allow it to be reciprocately moved at a predetermined scope.

Technical Solution

A multi-functional running machine according to the present invention is characterized in that the machine is adapted to control the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of a running belt and thus allows user to selectively perform various exercises such as basic running and walking as well as wrenching, stretching, stooping and so on in accordance with the condition of user's health or an exercise taste of user.

In the construction of conventional running machines, arunning belt5 is wound to have an endless-track movement on tworotational shafts6 installed to be spaced at a predetermined gap from each other, any one of therotational shafts6 is coupled via abelt18 to amotor18, and therunning belt5, the rotation shafts and themotor13 and so on are installed inside of thelower frame1 that serves as an external casing. Further, asupport frame2 is installed into the one side of thelower frame1. Thesupport frame2 is attached with ahandle3, and on the upper portion of the running machine, installed is ascale plate4 indicating a running speed, a running time, a calorie consumption amount and so on.

The multi-functional running machine100 according to the present invention adapted for arunning belt5 to perform conventional functions as in the above conventional structure is characterized in that the running belt is reciprocately moved in a given scope by a separate program mode or user's input mode.

As described above, a construction for controlling the reciprocating movement of therunning belt5 comprises asensor9 for variously sensing actuating information including a reciprocating times, a reciprocating distance, a reciprocating speed, forwarding and reversing rotations and the like so on, and amotor driver24 for controlling themotor13 to allow therunning belt5 to be reciprocately moved.

According to the above construction, in estimating the moving distance of therunning belt5 due to the rotation of themotor13, information regarding the forwarding and reversing rotations sensed by thesensor9 and the speed and moving distance of therunning belt5 is transferred to a control unit and then the control unit directs a command to themotor driver24 for allowing therunning belt5 to perform an exact reciprocating movement by analyzing the information in accordance with the actuating program of therunning belt5 inputted in advance. The command of themotor driver24 allows themotor13 to be increased or reduced in its speed, to be forwardly or reversely rotated and to be stopped, and therefore it is possible to control therunning belt5 in the running machine.

As such, the information of therunning belt5 can be obtained by measuring the rotation speed, rotation direction and rotation times of the rotation shaft on which therunning belt5 is wound. Namely, this is because it is possible to detect the most reliable rotation speed and the like of therunning belt5 in theadjacent belt pulley8 in therunning belt5.

The above construction and method according to the present invention were adapted because in case that the rotation speed, rotation direction and rotation times are measured and calculated, the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and the reciprocating speed of therunning belt5 cannot exactly be controlled due to a slip of abelt18 and so on. However, in a structure designed to prevent the slip of thebelt18 and so on, it is possible to adapt a sensor recognition scheme in thebelt pulley8 in themotor13.

Accordingly, a preferred embodiment of theabove sensor9 may be consisted of areflective plate10 attached to therotation shaft6 coupled to themotor13 and adetector11 for making a light incident to thereflective plate10, detecting the reflected light and determining the actuating information. Alternatively, the sensor may be variously constructed using an optical sensor as well as a sensor employing a magnetic field which is not affected with dust. Also, the sensor may be implemented by having thebelt pulley8′ attached with thereflective plate10 or a magnet.

Thereflective plate10 is printed with aA image25 and aB image26 step-wisely to each other, and thedetector11 is a complex sensor for sensing two images and determines a forwarding and reversing rotations in accordance with the detected order of theA mirror25 andB image26.

While the control unit's command indicating the output of themotor13 directs a forwarding rotation and thus therunning belt5 is forwardly rotating, if the control unit directs a reverse rotation command, a very small amount of reciprocating movement may occur in a moment in themotor13 irrespective of the control unit's command due to an over-action of physical power of exercising person and inertia. Therefore, in order to calculate a correct error of the reciprocating distance, it is desirable to increase the number of marks on thereflective plate10, that is, theA image25 andB image26 to thereby reduce the scope of the error.

Therefore, themotor13 is controllably rotated in accordance with the exercise program selected by user via a scale selecting switch and thus the movement of therunning belt5 being moving by the rotation of the rotating shaft coupled via therunning belt5 to themotor13 can appropriately control the reciprocating distance, reciprocating speed and reciprocation times based on the exercise program which was selected by the user.

The present invention may be applied by various constructions and methods for safe in which a recognition table23 is plural-formed on thelower frame1 and therunning belt5, respectively and in an equal interval so that user can easily identify with the naked eye the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed. Accordingly, because the recognition table formed on thelower frame1 is fixed and the recognition table23 indicated on therunning belt5 is moved, the user can estimate the speed, direction and distance by recognizing the relative distance while exercising. As such, thelower flame1 having the recognition table23 indicated thereon and therunning belt5 are shown inFIG. 1.

As other safe device, a safe switch for stopping therunning belt5 is attached on the side surface of thelower frame1 or the surface toward therunning belt5 of thesupport frame2. Accordingly, it is possible to stop therunning belt5 at any time while exercising by operating thesafe switch17. Thesafe switch17 can freely be positioned at any place other than the above mentioned position.

As another safe device, a lamp or speaker alarms any conversion of forwarding or reversing rotation, thereby allowing user to recognize it visually or acoustically. As such, the conversion is alarmed visually or acoustically by a kind of alarming sound or alarming light informing user that he/she is performing an exercise other than walking or running in the running machine100 and thus the alarming function serves to improve a safe by bringing user to an awareness to physically respond at the time when the conversion of the direction of therunning belt5 was made.

In a reciprocating movement based on such safe in exercise, installed is asubsidiary handle22 as a means for causing more various exercising attitudes. That is, thesubsidiary handle22 is detachably coupled to thesupport frame2 or installed to thesubsidiary frame21 of thesupport frame2 so as to be used during various exercises.

User can perform a waist stooping exercise by pulling in hand or loosening thesubsidiary handle22 made of, for example, a rope. Therefore, thanks to thesubsidiary handle22, user can perform a powerful stooping exercise and at the same time avoid an immoderate exercise by pressing or loosening his waist with the pulling of the rope without a separate input of program on thescale plate4 during a reciprocating exercise of therunning belt5. Accordingly, it can provide user with a variability and convenience when user is performing a waist stooping exercise.

As a constitutional element for the extension of such various exercise attitudes, asubsidiary base7 is installed. That is, thesubsidiary base7 is installed on one end of thelower frame1 or the adjacent side thereof so that user can perform a stretching exercise or a muscular power exercise, touching it with his leg, knee or hand. Thesubsidiary base7 may also be constructed to be fixedly coupled to one end of thelower frame1. In a structure located at the bottom to be spaced in a predetermined distance without having the fixedly coupled structure, it is desirable to attach a pad to the lower bottom portion in order to prevent slipping.

Further, therunning belt5 may be attached with adetachable pad16 to be supportably used when performing various exercises. Thepad16 is provided for user so as to make his hands sanitary on therunning belt5, and serves to visually confirm the function of the recognition table23 with the same reciprocating speed and distance.

The present invention having the above structure allows user to perform selectively various exercises including conventional walking and running exercises as well as a stretching exercise of legs, a muscular power exercise of abdominal muscles, a stretching exercise of the side, a stretching exercise of body, a stretching of arms and a muscular power exercise latissimus dorsi by controlling the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of therunning belt5 to be reciprocately moved.

As such, the device for controlling therunning belt5 comprises asensor9 for sensing actuation information of therotation shaft6 and amotor driver24 for controlling the rotation movement of themotor13, which will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 2.

FIG. 2 shows as one preferred embodiment of thesensor9 which comprises areflective plate10 and adetector11. Thereflective plate10, which is a plate having two colors or different materials crossed alternately on its circumference at a given angle, may be made of materials capable of reflecting a light or used as having a pattern printed thereon in order to determine forwarding and reversing rotations. Further, thereflective plate10 is attached to the surface of thebelt pulley8 coupled to therotation shaft6 of therunning belt5 and is coupled viabelt18 to abelt pulley8′ of themotor13, and thus reflects a light with equally rotating therewith. Alternatively, thereflective plate10 may be attached to thebelt pulley8′ of themotor13.

Thedetector11 incidents a light into thereflective plate10 and detects the reflective light to thereby determines the actuation information including the forwarding and reversing rotations and speed of therunning belt5. Thedetector11 is installed on an appropriate position parallel with thereflective plate10 with being spaced with thereflective plate10 in a given distance. Herein, thedetector11 is preferably tightly fixed to thelower frame1.

Accordingly, thesensor9 detects actuation information of therotation shaft6 coupled via thebelt18 to themotor13, wherein since therotation shaft6 is wound and rotationally moved with therunning belt5 at an endless track, it is possible to detect the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of therunning belt5 from the actuation information of therotation shaft6.

As such, the movement information of therunning belt5 detected by thesensor9 is inputted to a control device for controlling the rotation of themotor13 and the control device controls themotor13 by comparing the rotation direction, rotation speed and rotation times of themotor13 which are determined in advance in accordance with running or stretching exercise program selected by user with the actuation information of themotor13 being inputted from thesensor9 to thereby allow the exercise program to be correctly performed.

Themotor driver24 additionally attached to the present invention functions to perform the conversion of the forward or reverse ofmotor13 and stop themotor13 for several seconds. Herein, the several seconds may be three to four seconds and are set as the time for increasing a stress of leg or waist long-stretched by the user's stretching exercise.

Accordingly, themotor13 is rotated with the control of the rotation direction, rotation speed and rotation times thereof by the control device and themotor driver24 in accordance with the exercise program selected by user via a selecting switch of thescale plate4 in the running machine100 and thus the movement of therunning belt5 being moved with the rotation of therotation shaft6 coupled via thebelt18 to themotor13 can be controlled appropriately in accordance with the exercise program selected by the user.

That is, when performing general walking and running exercise, themotor13 is rotated in a predetermined direction and speed, while when performing stretching or muscular power exercise including leg exercise, abdominal muscles exercise, waist exercise and body exercise, themotor13 is rotated with changing the rotation direction at a predetermined time interval to allow therunning belt5 to be reciprocately moved.

As such, the invention which is directed to a method for controlling therunning belt5 of the running machine100 is characterized by calculating the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of therunning belt5 using the rotation times and rotation speed of the rotation shaft having therunning belt5 wound thereon. Accordingly, it is possible to control the reciprocating movement of the runningbelt5 more correctly. Of course, it may be possible to control it by detecting the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed and comparing them with that set in advance. Further, as a control method for safe, when the runningbelt5 is forwardly or reversely rotated, it may be configured for the runningbelt5 to be stopped if it is moved above the set time in any one direction. That is, when a time that calculated the distance and speed in any one direction is over, the runningbelt5 is stopped by estimating the error time on the program. This error time is applied as a time that reaches from thescale plate4 to any side portion of the reciprocating running belt due to the sensor's malfunction or other unclear error and thus the runningbelt5 is prevented from consistently moved in only one direction to thereby protect user from a dangerous situation.

Herein, the error time is set by adding a given redundant time to the settled reachable time of the runningbelt5. The redundant time is an appropriate time to prevent the runningbelt5 from more sensitively responding: if the error time is set more shortly, frequent emergent stops are generated. That is, in case that the movement distance in a direction during reciprocating movement of the runningbelt5 is 30 cm and 50 cm, respectively, and the respective reaching time in one direction is determined in accordance with the speed and the reaching time is summed with the redundant time to thereby set the error time. The redundant time in case of 50 cm is long-set compared with the case of 30 cm.

Also, the actuation pattern of the runningbelt5, that is, various reciprocating length, reciprocating times and reciprocating speed can be used by user with his direct input or used selectively by the user in accordance with the program set in advance with various combinations. An input device for user can be used by installing it on thescale plate4 and by conventional manipulation on thescale plate4, if selectable.

The running machine100 according to the present invention allows the runningbelt5 to perform various exercises including a stretching exercise and muscular power exercise with the reciprocating movement by the method and structure described above. Herein, in order to effectively perform a stretching or muscular power exercise when performing it, asubsidiary base7 may be coupled to the end or positioned adjacent to the side of thelower frame1 in which thesupport frame2 in the running machine100 is not installed, and asubsidiary handle22 may be detachably installed on an appropriate portion such as thesupport frame2 or thesubsidiary frame21 installed on thesupport frame2.

As shown inFIG. 1, acoupling hole20 is formed on both sides of the end of thelower frame1, acoupling pin15 is formed on the end of the rope or chain coupled to the both sides of thesubsidiary base7 and thecoupling pin15 is fixedly inserted into the coupling hole. Resultantly, thesubsidiary base7 can be used integrally with thelower frame1 to thereby have the stability.

Various structures other than the coupling structure described above may be implemented. A pad for preventing only a slipping without having the structure ofcoupling hole20 andcoupling pin15 may be attached to the lower surface of thesubsidiary base7. The scheme for fixing thesubsidiary base7 is not limited only to the above example and can employ any schemes allowing thesubsidiary base7 to maintain a predetermined distance with thelower frame1 during the exercise.

Because thesubsidiary base7 installed adjacent to the rotatably moving runningbelt5 is fixed at its place, a leg stretching exercise can be performed by putting respective leg on thesubsidiary base7 and the runningbelt5 and then reciprocately moving the runningbelt5 within the scope of a predetermined distance. A muscular power exercise of shoulder and abdominal muscles can be performed by putting knees on thesubsidiary base7, putting arms on the runningbelt5 and reciprocately moving the runningbelt5 within the scope of a predetermined distance. Herein, a soft composite resin or textile may be attached to the upper surface of thesubsidiary base7.

And, the subsidiary handle22 is detachably attached to the support frame2: the subsidiary handle22 may be attached directly to thesupport frame2 or coupled to the center of the subsidiary handle coupled detachably to the support frame as shown inFIG. 1. Thesubsidiary frame21 may be used as a handle. User in the running machine100 can grip the subsidiary handle22 and thus stably maintain his upper body when stretching both knees and waist as shown inFIG. 6.

The subsidiary handle22 is preferably a long rope shape as shown inFIG. 1 and its end is preferably branched into two pieces so that both hands can grip the pieces, respectively.

As such, by making the subsidiary handle22 a rope shape, it is possible to appropriately change the grip position in accordance with exercises and thus it can be used stably and conveniently.

Further, according to the present invention, the effect of exercise can be maximized by allowing the actuation pattern of the runningbelt5 to have the following steps: the step of moving the runningbelt5 in a predetermined distance; the step of having an stopping period to stop the runningbelt5; and the step of releasing the runningbelt5 by moving it at a predetermined distance in the same direction. Thus, in case that the leg or arm is putted on the runningbelt5 and thesubsidiary base7, respectively, the widened state is maintained at a predetermined time and then allowed it to be further widened at a predetermined distance to thereby have the release effect.

Also, by making the speed of any one side slow or fast with maintaining the distance during forwarding and reversing rotations, it can hold various stress-mitigating capabilities capable of promptly mitigating the limiting point that the body of user is able to bear.

As an example of exercise, when being slowly pressed in a unbearable distance with an exercise attitude of a commercial product called as “AB slider”, if the runningbelt5 slowly comes at the speed that the runningbelt5 goes, user may fall without keeping his weight and thus in order to prevent it, the coming speed of runningbelt5 is applied fast. This movement is also applied to a leg stretching or other attitudes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of multi-functional running machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a driving section of the running machine;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a stretching exercise of leg using the running machine;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a muscular power exercise of shoulder and abdominal muscles using the running machine;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a stretching exercise of the side using the running machine;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a stretching exercise of both knees and waist using the running machine;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a muscular power exercise of the chest using the running machine;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a stretching exercise of the side and a muscular power exercise of abdominal muscles using the running machine;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a stretching exercise of the waist and legs using the running machine;

FIG. 10 is a view illustrating various actuating patterns of the running belt; and

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating various embodiments of the subsidiary handle.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Now, exercises using the running machine100 of the present invention will be described in detail.

Firstly,FIG. 3 shows a leg stretching exercise. One leg is putted on thesubsidiary base7 fixed without the movement and another leg is putted on the runningbelt5 being moved. Then the runningbelt5 is reciprocately moved in both directions at the speed and distance without causing immoderation on the leg and thus the leg stretching exercise can be performed with the gap between both legs being widened and narrowed.

Of course, if the runningbelt5 is maintained during a predetermined time after the transfer by a predetermined distance, the leg is maintained at the widened state resulting in the maximized effect of its stretching and thereafter if it is transferred in the same direction, the leg is further widened, resulting in the achievement of the release effect.

And, in this case as well as all other exercises, if the runningbelt5 is continuously transferred in the same direction, the transfer of the runningbelt5 can be stopped by automatically breaking a power supply.

FIG. 4 shows a muscular power exercise of shoulder and abdominal muscles. Two legs and a knee are putted on thesubsidiary base7 fixed without the movement and two hands are uniformly putted on the runningbelt5 being moved. Then, the runningbelt5 is reciprocately moved in both directions at the speed and distance without causing immoderation on the leg and the stress and release of the abdominal muscles are repeated. Therefore, the muscular power exercise of the abdominal muscles against the gravity can be performed.

Herein, when two hands uniformly putted on the runningbelt5, the pad is firstly putted on the runningbelt5 and then two hands are putted to thereby protect sanitarily user's hand on the runningbelt5.

FIG. 5 shows a stretching exercise of the side. Thehandle3 attached to thesupport frame2 is gripped so as to maintain the body and user uprightly stands with two foots uniformly concentrated on the runningbelt5. Then, the runningbelt5 is reciprocately moved in both directions at the speed and distance without causing immoderation on the body and the stress and release of the side muscles are repeated with the left and right movement of two legs in the same direction. Therefore, a stretching exercise of the side can be performed.

FIG. 6 shows a stretching exercise of both knees and waist. User sits on the runningbelt5 of thelower frame1 with two legs being stretched and then grips the subsidiary handle22 coupled to thesubsidiary frame21 of thesupport frame2.

After maintaining the above attitude, the runningbelt5 is reciprocately moved in both directions at the speed and distance without causing immoderation on the body and thus user's upper body fixed by the subsidiary handle22 is bent and then stretched. Therefore, a stretching exercise of waist can be performed.

Herein, the subsidiary handle22 is used as that made of a rope or a resilient band having high resilient coefficient to thereby make the displacement due to acting power weak. This is to avoid the problems that if the displacement of the subsidiary handle22 becomes large during exercise, the user's stability in position is not well maintained and if the subsidiary handle22 has no its resilient nature, an immoderation is applied to the user's body when the runningbelt5 is rotated to only one side due to an abrupt malfunction.

FIG. 7 shows a muscular power exercise of the chest. That is, the user puts two hands on thesubsidiary base7 and thepad16 of the runningbelt5, respectively and the runningbelt5 is reciprocately moved. Then, the stretching or concentrating of two arms is repeated. Therefore, the muscular power exercise of the chest can be performed.FIG. 8 shows a stretching exercise of the side and a muscular power exercise of abdominal muscles. Thesubsidiary base7 is positioned on the side of thelower frame1. That is, user puts two knees on thesubsidiary base7 and puts two arms on the runningbelt5 to be widened at a predetermined distance. Then, the side is stretched in accordance with the reciprocating movement of the runningbelt5 and at the same time, the muscular exercise is performed

FIG. 9 shows a stretching exercise of the waist and legs. User performs the exercise with his back against the runningbelt5. That is, user lies with his head putted toward thescale plate4 and puts legs on thesubsidiary handle22. And then, the waist and legs are repeatedly stressed to perform a stretching and then released in accordance with the moving direction of the runningbelt5.

When performing the exercise as shown inFIG. 9, the embodiment of the subsidiary handle22 shown inFIG. 11 can be more useful compared with the embodiment of the subsidiary handle22 shown inFIG. 1.

That is, the subsidiary handle can variously be implemented: the subsidiary handle22 shown inFIGS. 1 and 11 is branched at its one end into two pieces and is fixed at its other end to thesubsidiary frame21. In order to be coupled easily and detachably to thesubsidiary frame21, thesubsidiary frame21 may be installed with a coupling hole formed with a coupling aperture and the other end of thesubsidiary frame22 may be formed with acoupling ring28.

And, other embodiment of the subsidiary handle is the same as shown inFIGS. 9 and 11, wherein acoupling ring28 of a long rope shape is both ends of the subsidiary handle. Two coupling holes are required in order to install it on thesubsidiary frame21.

Such various subsidiary handles22 and22′ can selectively be installed in accordance with the type of the movement thereof and thus it is possible to perform the very convenient, safe and effective movement.

When the movement of runningbelt5 needs to be stopped due to decrease of physical power or an abrupt situation in the course of performing the above respective exercise, stopping the runningbelt5 by actuating a switch installed on thescale plate4 causes inconveniency and is dangerous during exercise and thus asafe switch17 is installed on the one side of thelower frame1 in order to stop the runningbelt5 simply and safely. Accordingly, user can stop the runningbelt15 by actuating thesafe switch17 with a simple bent of his body during a stretching exercise.

The present invention can provide various acting patterns of the runningbelt5. Although one embodiment among them was mentioned above, other embodiments of various acting patterns of the runningbelt5 are shown through (a) to (f) inFIG. 10. InFIG. 10, the starting and arriving points, that is, the points of both ends of the reciprocating movement are indicated as A and Z, and specific points in the reciprocating movement area are indicated as A′, B′, etc. by adding thereto

All acting patterns shown inFIG. 10 can be applied to all exercises shown inFIGS. 3 through 8.

FIG. 10(a) shows the most basic acting pattern which is a pattern reciprocating between the starting point A and arriving point Z at the same time interval.

FIG. 10(b) shows that the runningbelt5 is reciprocately moved between the point A and the point Z, in which the speed of the runningbelt5 when it moves from A to Z is more slowly actuated than when it moves in the opposite direction thereto. Of course, the runningbelt5 can be actuated in the opposite direction thereto.

FIG. 10(c) shows that while the runningbelt5 is reciprocately moving at a short distance, it reciprocately moves to A and Z which is all reciprocating distance and then it reciprocately moves at a short distance again and returns to the point A.

That is, the runningbelt5 reciprocately moves at a short distance from the starting point A to A′ moves to the point Z after reciprocately moving from A to B′, reciprocately moves at a short distance from Z to C′, reciprocately moves short distance to D after moving to the and then moves to Z.

The above AA′, AB′, AD′ and C′Z may be equal to or different from each other in distance. The distance can be selected depending upon various patterns of exercises.

FIG. 10(d) shows a pattern of the state that the runningbelt5 is stopped during a predetermined time in the middle point from A to Z. That is, the runningbelt5 has a stopping period for several seconds after moving from A to A′ and has a stopping period again after moving to B′ and then moves to Z. When returning, it moves to just A. The pattern is also only one embodiment, there may be one or two more stopping points in the route from A to Z and there may be a stopping point in the route returning from Z to A.

FIG. 10(e) is one example that the runningbelt5 is reciprocately moved at a short distance in the route from A to Z. That is,FIG. 10(e) shows a pattern of the state that the runningbelt5 is forwardly moved to A′ and then reversely moved to B′, and again the runningbelt5 is forwardly moved to C′ and then reversely moved to D′, and thereafter the runningbelt5 is forwardly moved to E′ and then reversely moved to F′. And then, the runningbelt5 is forwardly moved to Z and then reversely returned to A.

Of course, in this case, the number of the short reciprocating periods may be freely set and its length may also be set appropriately.

FIG. 10(f) shows a pattern that overall reciprocating movement and a short reciprocating movement are made alternately. That is, after the reciprocating movement of the short period of AA′, the reciprocating movement of AZ is made and again after the reciprocating movement of AB′, the reciprocating movement of AZ is made. Of course, in this case, the length of AA′ and AB′ may be equal to or different from each other.

Various exercises as described above can be implemented by the present invention and user performing his exercise on the runningbelt5 being reciprocately moved can control pressing or releasing his body by moving a little by little on the runningbelt5 without separately operating thescale plate4 during exercise and so on. Therefore, aspects capable of using the running belt are various and thus the variability and convenience of exercise can be provided for user.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As such, the present invention can control the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of the runningbelt5 in accordance with actuation information ofmotor13 detected by thesensor9 and exercise information selected by user to thereby allow the bi-directional movement to be possible. Accordingly, user can perform various exercises including various stretching exercises in addition to walking and running exercises using the running machine of the present invention.

Claims

1. A multi-functional running machine100 comprising a lower frame1 installed with a running belt5 being rotated by motor13; a support frame installed into the one side of the lower frame1; a handle3 attached to the support frame2; and a scale plate4 being characterized in that the running belt5 is reciprocately moved in a predetermined scope.

2. The multi-functional running machine100 according toclaim 1, the scale plate4 indicates is indicated with a reciprocating times, a reciprocating distance and a reciprocating speed of the running belt5 and is installed with a lamp and a speaker alarming the conversion of forwarding and reversing rotations of a motor13.

3. The multi-functional running machine100 according toclaim 1, the scale plate4 indicates is indicated with a reciprocating times, a reciprocating distance and a reciprocating speed of the running belt5 and is installed with a lamp and a speaker alarming the conversion of forwarding and reversing rotations of a motor13.

4. The multi-functional running machine100 according toclaim 1, both edges of the lower frame1 and both edges of the running belt5 are formed with a recognition table23, respectively, the recognition table being for recognizing the reciprocating times, reciprocating distance and reciprocating speed of the running belt5.

5. A method for controlling to be allowed a running belt5 in a running machine100 to be reciprocately moved wherein forwarding and reversing rotations of the running belt5 are controlled by a motor driver24 to thereby allow the running belt5 to be reciprocately moved at a predetermined reciprocating length, reciprocating times and reciprocating speed.

6. The method according toclaim 5, wherein the running belt5 is adapted to stop actuating if it is moved over a settled time in any one direction when forwardly or reversely rotating.

7. The method according toclaim 5, wherein a reciprocating times, a reciprocating distance and a reciprocating speed of the running belt5 are used directly by user or used selectively by the user using a program being set in advance with various combinations.

8. The method according toclaim 5, wherein the speed of a forwarding direction and the speed of a reversing direction during the reciprocating movement of the running belt5 are controlled differently from each other.

9. The method according toclaim 5, wherein the running belt5 is controlled for a reciprocating movement within a reciprocating interval to occur above one time.

10. The method according toclaim 5, wherein the running belt5 is controlled to have a stopping interval above one time within the reciprocating interval.