Exercise device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an exercise device to simulate a leg swing motion. The device comprises a frame, a longitudinal guide supported by the frame, and a moveable body reciprocally moveable along the guide. The moveable body has a pivot axis defined thereon. A swing arm is pivotally coupled to the moveable body about the pivot axis such that the moveable body moves rearwardly when the swing arm swings forwardly by a forwardly leg swing motion and the moveable body moves forwardly when the swing arm swings rearwardly by a rearwardly leg swing motion.

1 . An exercise device comprising a swing arm defining a fulcrum of rotation, the swing arm moveable forwardly and rearwardly via the fulcrum of rotation, 
 wherein the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is reciprocally moveable forwardly and rearwardly such that the fulcrum of rotation moves rearwardly when the swing arm swing forwardly and the fulcrum of rotation moves forwardly when the swing arm swings rearwardly.    
   
   
       2 . The exercise device of  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is coupled to a moveable body capable of reciprocal movement forwardly and rearwardly.  
   
   
       3 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein the exercise device is provided with a forwardly and rearwardly extending guide member, and the moveable body is guided by the guide member so as to move forwardly and rearwardly.  
   
   
       4 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein swinging of the swing arm and movement of the moveable body is synchronized.  
   
   
       5 . The exercise device of  claim 4 , further comprising a detector for detecting swinging of the swing arm, a drive for moving the moveable body, and a controller for controlling movement of the moveable body.  
   
   
       6 . The exercise device of  claim 5 , wherein the swing arm may also swing via a rotational shaft, and the detecting means detects the angle and speed of the rotational shaft.  
   
   
       7 . The exercise device of  claim 2 , wherein load applying device for applying load to rotation of the swing arm is provided at the moveable body.  
   
   
       8 . The exercise device of  claim 3 , wherein the height of the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is adjustable.  
   
   
       9 . The exercise device of  claim 8 , wherein the guide member is vertically moveable, and adjustment of the height of the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is carried out by adjusting the height of the guide member.  
   
   
       10 . An exercise device comprising: 
 a swing arm having a rotational shaft, the arm capable of swinging forwardly and rearwardly via the rotational shaft;    a moveable body provided with the rotational shaft, the moveable body capable of reciprocating forwardly and rearwardly;    a drive for moving the moveable body forwardly and rearwardly;    a detector for detecting rotation angle and rotation speed of the rotational shaft in accordance with swinging movement of the swing arm; and    a controller for controlling movement of the moveable body in accordance with the rotation angle and rotation speed of the rotational shaft detected by the detector,    wherein the drive is driven via the controller so as to move the moveable body rearwardly when a swing arm swings forwardly, and the drive is driven via the controller so as to move the moveable body forwardly when the swing arm swings rearwardly.    
   
   
       11 . The exercise device of  10 , wherein the exercise device is provided with a forwardly and rearwardly extending guide member, and the moveable body is guided by the guide member so as to move forwardly and rearwardly.  
   
   
       12 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , the apparatus further comprising load applying device for applying a load with respect to rotation of the rotational shaft.  
   
   
       13 . The exercise device of  claim 10 , wherein the height of the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is adjustable.  
   
   
       14 . The exercise device of  claim 13 , wherein the guide member is vertically moveable, and adjustment of the height of the fulcrum of rotation of the swing arm is carried out by adjusting the height of the guide member.  
   
   
       15 . An exercise device to simulate a leg swing motion, comprising: 
 a frame;    at least one longitudinal guide supported by the frame;    at least one moveable body reciprocally moveable along the guide, the moveable body having a pivot axis defined thereon; and    at least one swing arm pivotally coupled to the moveable body about the pivot axis such that the moveable body moves rearwardly when the swing arm swings forwardly by a forwardly leg swing motion and the moveable body moves forwardly when the swing arm swings rearwardly by a rearwardly leg swing motion.    
   
   
       16 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , wherein said swing arm has a portion contacting a leg and the portion travels along a U-shaped path of travel with forward and rearward leg swing motion.  
   
   
       17 . The exercise device of  claim 15 , said device further comprising: 
 a drive for moving the moveable body along the guide;    a detector for obtaining information on swinging movement of the swing arm; and    a controller for controlling the drive in accordance with the information.    
   
   
       18 . The exercise device of  claim 16 , wherein said information includes rotation angle and rotation speed of the pivot shaft.  
   
   
       19 . An exercise machine comprising: 
 at least one swing arm having an axis of rotation, the swing arm swinging forwardly and rearwardly by forward and rearward leg swing motion; 
 wherein the axis of rotation is reciprocally moveable forwardly and rearwardly such that the axis of rotation moves rearwardly when the swing arm swing forwardly and the axis rotation moves forwardly when the swing arm swings rearwardly.