US20090286656A1 - Rotary exercise apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a rotating sports apparatus capable of keeping safety even if the user has protruding limbs or the like. The rotating sports apparatus comprises a contour frame (2) forming a regular icosahedron, ball members (3) rotatably supported individually at the outer side positions of the individual vertices of the icosahedron of the contour frame (2), and a pedestal (5) having a hemispherical face (4) inscribing the balls (3) of the contour frame (2). The rotating sports apparatus keeps predetermined spaces between the individual faces of the contour frame (2) and the hemispherical face (4). Thus, the rotating sports apparatus can keep the safety, even in case the limbs or the like of the user (P) protrude more or less during a practice from the individual faces of the contour frame (2).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a rotary exercise apparatus which a user enters and with which a user rotates for carrying out muscle training and enhancing the sense of equilibrium.
BACKGROUND ART
• As a rotary exercise apparatus which a user enters and with which a user rotates for carrying out muscle training and enhancing the sense of equilibrium, those suggested in thepatent references 1 to 4 are known, for instance. Each of the rotary exercise apparatuses suggested in thepatent references 1 to 3 is comprised of a gimbal comprised of three rings and supported on the ground. A user entering the rotary exercise apparatuses can rotate in any direction merely by moving his/her weight.
• The rotary exercise apparatus suggested in thepatent reference 4 includes grips disposed at an upper area in a spherical frame comprised of vertical and horizontal frames, and feet fixture disposed at a lower area both in a spherical frame comprised of vertical and horizontal frames. A plurality of hard balls is rotatably mounted over an outer surface of the frame defining a sphere. The spherical frame is rotatably mounted on a pedestal having a semispherical recessed surface corresponding to a semispherical outer surface of the spherical frame.
• Patent reference 1: U.S. Pat. No. 4,799,667
  Patent reference 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 62-64377
  Patent reference 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 57-203947
  Patent reference 4: Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 52-11455
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTIONProblems to be Solved by the Invention
• In the rotary exercise apparatuses suggested in thepatent references 1 to 3, a user puts his/her body within an innermost ring for rotation exercise. In rotation exercise, the three rings rotate relative to one another in the vicinity of one another. Accordingly, if a user's limbs mistakenly protruded out of an innermost ring, the limbs would be dangerously in the orbit path of other rings. In the rotary exercise apparatus suggested in thepatent reference 4, since the spherical frame and the semispherical recessed surface are quite close to each other with almost no space between them, it would be dangerous if a user's limbs mistakenly protruded out of the spherical frame.
• In view of the above-mentioned problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a rotary exercise apparatus which is capable of keeping a user safe, even if the user's limbs mistakenly protruded out of a frame.
Solution to the Problems
• The rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a contour frame defining a regular polyhedron, balls each rotatably supported at a position outside of each of the vertices of the contour frame defining a regular polyhedron, and a pedestal having a semispherical surface inscribing the balls of the contour frame therein, and rotatably supporting the contour frame therein. In the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention, when the contour frame defining a regular polyhedron is rotating within the semispherical surface of the pedestal, a certain space is formed between each of planes of the contour frame and the semispherical surface. Thus, even if a user's limbs protrude while exercising, out of planes of the contour frame, it would be possible to keep a user safe.
• Preferably the polyhedron is a regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron. A regular polyhedron includes a regular tetrahedron, a regular hexahedron, a regular octahedron, a regular dodecahedron and a regular icosahedron. Since a regular tetrahedron, hexahedron and octahedron has 4, 8 and 6 vertices, respectively, a number of vertices making contact with the semispherical surface is too small to allow the contour frame to rotate in the semispherical surface, resulting in difficulty in smooth rotation. In contrast, since a regular dodecahedron and icosahedron has 20 and 12 vertices, respectively, it is possible to sufficiently disperse loads acting on the balls disposed at the vertices, ensuring smooth rotation in the semispherical surface.
• Preferably the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a feet fixture for fixating feet of a user at a position inside of a frame of the contour frame defining a regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron, and a hands fixture for fixating hands of the user at a position inside of a frame disposed in facing relation to the frame at which the feet fixture is arranged. In a frame defining a regular icosahedron or dodecahedron, since a pair of frames facing each other is parallel to each other, it is possible to readily mount a feet fixture and a hands fixture at the pair of frames, ensuring that a user entering the contour frame can fix his/her hands and feet, by stretching his/her hands and feet.
• Preferably the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a protection ring for restricting an area in which a body of the user moves, the protection ring being arranged within a plane perpendicular to a plane including the frame at which the feet fixture is arranged and the frame at which the hands fixture is arranged, a belt wound around a body of the user within the protection ring, and a rope for connecting the protection ring to the belt. The belt wound around a body of a user within the protection ring is connected to the protection ring through the rope. This ensures that since hands, feet and body of a user are caused to stay in the protection ring in a plane including a frame at which the feet fixture is arranged and a frame at which the hands fixture is arranged, even if a user fainted or lost consciousness while exercising, it would be possible to prevent the user from protruding out of the contour frame.
Advantages Provided by the Invention
• (1) Since the rotary exercise apparatus may include a contour frame defining a regular polyhedron, balls each rotatably supported at a position outside each vertices of the contour frame defining a regular polyhedron, and a pedestal having a semispherical surface inscribing the balls of the contour frame therein, and rotatably supporting the contour frame therein, a certain space is formed between each of the planes of the contour frame and the semispherical surface. Thus, even if the limbs of a user protruded outside the planes of the contour frame while exercising, it would be possible to keep a user safe.
• (2) By designing the polyhedron to be a regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron, it is possible to sufficiently disperse loads acting on the balls disposed at the vertices, ensuring smooth rotation in the semispherical surface.
• (3) Since the rotary exercise apparatus may include a feet fixture for fixating the feet of a user at a position inside of a frame of the contour frame defining a regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron, and a hands fixture for fixating the hands of the user at a position inside of a frame disposed in facing relation to the frame at which the feet fixture is arranged, it is possible to readily mount a feet fixture and a hands fixture at the frames, ensuring that a user entering the contour frame can fix his/her hands and feet, by stretching his/her hands and feet.
• (4) Since the rotary exercise apparatus may include a protection ring for restricting an area in which a body of the user moves, the protection ring being arranged within a plane perpendicular to a plane including the frame at which the feet fixture is arranged and the frame at which the hands fixture is arranged, a belt wound around the body of the user within the protection ring, and a rope for connecting the protection ring to the belt, it is ensured that since hands, feet and body of a user are caused to stay in the protection ring in a plane including a frame at which the feet fixture is arranged and a frame at which the hands fixture is arranged, even if a user fainted or fell unconscious while exercising, it would be possible to prevent the user from protruding out of the contour frame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view in which the main body of the rotary exercise apparatus and a pedestal are separated from each other.
• FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main body of the rotary exercise apparatus, taken along a plane including a center and four vertices of the main body.
• FIG. 4 is a plan view as viewed from an arrow “A” inFIG. 3.
• FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a detail of a connector illustrated inFIG. 1.
• FIG. 5B is a plan view of a detail of a connector inFIG. 1.
• FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B inFIG. 5B.
• FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an edge of the pedestal.
• FIG. 7 is a side view showing a detail of the feet fixture.
• FIG. 8A illustrates the rotary exercise apparatus in use.
• FIG. 8B illustrates the rotary exercise apparatus into which a user enters or out of which a user exits.
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
INDICATION BY REFERENCE NUMERALS
• 1 Main body of the rotary exercise apparatus
• 2,10 Contour frame
• 2a,10aPipe
• 3 Ball
• 3a,10bConnector
• 3bArm
• 3cScrew
• 4 Semispherical surface
• 4aBuffer
• 5 Pedestal
• 6 Feet fixture
• 6aFoot plate
• 6bToe case
• 6c,6dBand
• 7 Hands fixture
• 7aGrip
• 7bString
• 7cWrist band
• 8 Protection ring
• 8aSupport pipe
• 9 Belt
• 9aRope
• 11 Fixture
• 12 Arm
• 13 Rubber
BEST EMBODIMENT FOR REDUCING THE INVENTION TO PRACTICE
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a main body of the rotary exercise apparatus and a pedestal separated from each other,FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main body of the rotary exercise apparatus, taken along a plane including a center and four vertices of the main body,FIG. 4 is a plan view as viewed from an arrow “A” inFIG. 3,FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a detail of a connector illustrated inFIG. 1,FIG. 5B is a plan view of the connector,FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B inFIG. 5B,FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an edge of the pedestal, andFIG. 7 is a side view showing a detail of the feet fixture.
• As illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 3, the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprises acontour frame2 in the form of a regular icosahedron as a polyhedron defining amain body1 of the rotary exercise apparatus,balls3 each rotatably supported at a position outside of each of12 vertices of thecontour frame2 defining a regular polyhedron, and apedestal5 having asemispherical surface4 inscribing theballs3 of thecontour frame2 therein, and rotatably supporting thecontour frame2 therein.
• Thecontour frame2 is comprised of30pipes2aas frames for connecting each of12 vertices of the icosahedron to five vertices therearound, andconnectors3aeach rotatably supporting theball3 thereon. Thecontour frame2 has twenty equilateral-triangular outer planes. As illustrated inFIGS. 5A and 5B, theconnector3aincludes fivearms3binto which thepipes2aare inserted, in which case, thepipes2aare fixed to thearms3bby means of a fastener such as ascrew3c.Theconnectors3aand thepipes2acan be separated from each other while the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is not in use or is being carried.
• As illustrated inFIG. 5C, only theballs3 rotatably supported by theconnectors3amake contact with thesemispherical surface4 to thereby allow thecontour frame2 to rotate on thesemispherical surface4. As illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, thesemispherical surface4 has an edge which is smoothly curved outwardly to ensure that thecontour frame2 in rotation can smoothly enter thesemispherical surface4 when theconnectors3aenter thesemispherical surface4 from upward. As illustrated inFIG. 6, abuffer4amay be formed on the edge of thesemispherical surface4.
• As illustrated inFIG. 3, thecontour frame2 is designed to includefeet fixtures6 therein at a position inside of acertain pipe2afor fixing feet of a user P entering thecontour frame2. As illustrated inFIG. 7, each of thefeet fixtures6 is comprised of, for instance, afoot plate6afixed on thepipe2a,atoe case6bto cover a toe of the user therein, andbands6cand6dfixing feet there to thereby positioning and fixing the feet so as to keep them from moving.
• Thecontour frame2 further includeshands fixtures7 for fixating hands of the user P at a position inside of apipe2adisposed in facing relation to thepipe2aon which thefeet fixtures6 are mounted. Each of thehands fixtures7 is comprised of, for instance, agrip7a,and awrist band7cconnected to thegrip7athrough astring7b.The user P puts thewrist bands7caround his/her wrists, and grasps thegrips7aduring exercise. This ensures that even if the user P releases his/her hands off thegrips7a,thestrings7band thewrist bands7cprevent the user's hands from protruding out of thecontour frame2.
• Thecontour frame2 includes therein aprotection ring8 disposed in a plane including both thepipe2aat which thefeet fixtures6 are mounted and thepipe2aat which thehands fixtures7 are mounted, and abelt9 to be wound around the body of the user P inside of theprotection ring8. Theprotection ring8 restricts an area in which a body of the user P moves, and has an inner diameter greater than a body size of the user P. Theprotection ring8 is supported in thecontour frame2 by means ofsupport pipes8a.Thebelt9 is comprised of, for instance, a hook-and-loop fastener for fitting to and fixing a body of the user P. Theprotection ring8 and thebelt9 are connected throughconnection ropes9asuch that thebelt9 can move only within theprotection ring8.
• In use of the rotary exercise apparatus having the above-mentioned structure, the user P enters themain body1 of the rotary exercise apparatus through an opening of thecontour frame2, and then, fixes his/her feet to thefeet fixtures6 and puts thewrist bands7caround his/her wrists, and then, grasps thegrips7a.Thereafter, moving his/her center of gravity by twisting or shaking his/her body, themain body1 of the rotary exercise apparatus rotate on thesemispherical surface4 of thepedestal5. Thus, the user P can carry out muscle training and enhance the sense of equilibrium.
• Since the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is comprised of thecontour frame2 defining a regular icosahedron, theballs3 each rotatably supported at a position outside of each of vertices of thecontour frame2 defining a regular icosahedron, and thepedestal5 having thesemispherical surface4 inscribing theballs3 of thecontour frame2 therein, there are formed spaces between peripheral planes of the contour frames2 and thesemispherical surface4. Accordingly, even if the limbs of the user P protruded out of the peripheral planes of thecontour frame2 to some degree while exercising, it would be possible to keep the user P safe.
• Furthermore, it is possible to separate theconnectors3aand thepipes2afrom each other while the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is not in use or is being carried, the rotary exercise apparatus is more suitable in storage and carriage than the conventional rotary exercise apparatuses.
• Thecontour frame2 in the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment is in the form of a regular icosahedron, and has twelve (12) vertices supported by. theballs3. Accordingly, if thesemispherical surface4 of thepedestal5 defines an intrinsic semispherical surface, that is, one of halves obtained by dividing a ball into two pieces with a plane passing a center of the ball, a half of the vertices, that is, the six vertices always make contact with thesemispherical surface4, ensuring to the possibility of sufficiently dispersing loads acting on theballs3 supported at the vertices. Thesemispherical surface4 illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2 defines a smaller one among halves of a ball obtained when the ball is divided into two pieces with a plane passing out of a center of the ball, even in which case, the three vertices make contact with thesemispherical surface4, ensuring that themain body1 of the rotary exercise apparatus is able to smoothly rotate within thesemispherical surface4.
• Furthermore, the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment may be designed to includefixture11 as illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B in order to prevent themain body1 of the rotary exercise apparatus from rotating when the user enters or leaves the contour frame.FIG. 8A illustrates how thefixture11 operates when the rotary exercise apparatus is in use, andFIG. 8B illustrates how thefixture11 operates when the user enters or leaves the rotary exercise apparatus. As illustrated inFIGS. 8A and 8B, thefixture11 is comprised of, for instance,arms12 supported at thefoot plate6asuch that thearms12 can raise and lower, andrubbers13 mounted at distal ends of thearms12 for preventing slip. When the user enters or leaves the rotary exercise apparatus, as illustrated inFIG. 8B, thearms12 are lowered to compress therubbers13 onto thesemispherical surface4 of thepedestal5, resulting in that thecontour frame2 is kept not moved. When the rotary exercise apparatus is in use, as illustrated inFIG. 8A, thearms12 are raised to thereby release therubbers13 from thesemispherical surface4, resulting in that thecontour frame2 can rotate.
• In place of thecontour frame2, there may be employed acontour frame10 defining a regular dodecahedron which is one of polyhedrons, as illustrated inFIG. 9. Thecontour frame10 is comprised of thirtypipes10aeach connecting each of twenty vertices of the regular dodecahedron to three vertices therearound, andconnectors10bsimilar in structure to theconnectors3a.Thecontour frame10 has twelve peripheral planes which are in the form of a regular pentagon. Thecontour frame10 includesballs3 each rotatably supported at a position outside of each of the twenty vertices of the regular polyhedron, similarly to thecontour frame2. Though not illustrated, thecontour frame10 includes thefeet fixtures6 and thehands fixtures7, similarly to thecontour frame2.
• Since thecontour frame10 defining a regular dodecahedron has twenty vertices which are greater in number than the twelve vertices of thecontour frame2 defining a regular icosahedron, it is possible to cause threeballs3 to always make contact with thesemispherical surface4, even if thesemispherical surface4 is formed smaller, ensuring that it is possible to form thepedestal5 smaller in size. Thus, it is possible to lessen an area in which the field of view of the user is shut out by the pedestal while the user P entering the contour frame is rotating with his/her head directing downwardly, ensuring that a sense of oppression caused by the field of view of the user being shut out can be lessened.
• Thecontour frame2 defining a regular icosahedron has high intensity, because the peripheral planes define a regular triangle which is dynamically most stable. Furthermore, since thecontour frame2 defining a regular icosahedron has a small number of vertices, specifically, twelve vertices, it is possible to arrange a small number of theballs3. Since the rotatably supportedballs3 increase fabrication costs and cause the rotary exercise apparatus to be heavy in weight, it is possible to reduce fabrication costs of the rotary exercise apparatus by reducing a number of theballs3.
• Furthermore, since the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment may be designed to include thefeet fixtures6 for fixating the feet of the user at a position inside of thepipe2aor10aof thecontour frame2 defining a regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron, and thehands fixtures7 for fixating the hands of the user at a position inside of thepipe2aor10adisposed in facing relation to thepipe2aor10aat which the feet fixtures are arranged.
• In the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment, if the contour frames2 and10 had a common outer diameter (a diameter measured from a center to the balls3), it would be possible to use acommon pedestal5, ensuring that the user P can select any one of them by his/her preference.
• Furthermore, since the rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment may be designed to include theprotection ring8 for restricting an area in which a body of the user P moves, the protection ring being arranged within a plane perpendicular to a plane including both thepipe2aat which thefeet fixtures6 are arranged and thepipe2aat which thehands fixtures7 are arranged, thebelt9 wound around a body of the user P within theprotection ring8, and therope9afor connecting theprotection ring8 and thebelt9 to each other, it is ensured that since hands, feet and body of the user P are caused to stay in theprotection ring8 in a plane including thepipe2aat which thefeet fixtures6 are arranged and thepipe2aat which thehands fixtures7 are arranged, even if the user P fainted or fell unconscious during exercise, preventing the user from protruding out of thecontour frame2.
INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY
• The rotary exercise apparatus in accordance with the present invention is useful as an exercise apparatus which a user enters and with which a user rotates for carrying out muscle training and enhancing the sense of equilibrium.

Claims (4)

1. A rotary exercise apparatus comprising:

a contour frame defining a regular polyhedron;

balls each rotatably supported at a position outside of each of vertices of said contour frame defining a regular polyhedron; and

a pedestal having a semispherical surface inscribing said balls of said contour frame therein, and rotatably supporting said contour frame therein.

2. The rotary exercise apparatus as set forth inclaim 1, wherein said polyhedron is a regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron.

3. The rotary exercise apparatus as set forth inclaim 2, further comprising:

a feet fixture for fixating feet of a user at a position inside of a frame of said contour frame defining a regular icosahedron or a regular dodecahedron; and

a hands fixture for fixating hands of said user at a position inside of a frame disposed in facing relation to said frame at which said feet fixture is arranged.

4. The rotary exercise apparatus as set forth inclaim 3, further comprising:

a protection ring for restricting an area in which a body of said user moves, said protection ring being arranged within a plane perpendicular to a plane including said frame at which said feet fixture is arranged and said frame at which said hands fixture is arranged;

a belt wound around a body of said user within said protection ring; and

a rope for connecting said protection ring to said belt.

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