Rowing Machine Exercise-Assisting Device

Abstract

The present invention relates to an exercise-assisting device, and more specifically to a seat able to move reciprocally automatically in the front-to-back direction, which is one of the constituent elements of a rowing machine constituting a remedial exercise device for physically disabled individuals, and particularly paraplegics, while also constituting a whole-body exercise device able to prevent heterotopic ossification.

1 . A rowing machine exercise-assisting device comprising:
 a guide rail;   a support part adapted to support the guide rail;   a seat mounted on the guide rail in such a manner as to move reciprocally in forward and backward directions along the length direction of the guide rail, in which a user sits;   a safety belt provided on the seat to prevent the user from being escaped from the seat;   footboards disposed on left and right sides of the support part to place the user's feet thereon at the time when the user sits in the seat;   a fixing belt provided on each of the footboards to prevent the user's foot from being escaped from the footboard;   a bar-shaped handle taken by the both hands of the user; reciprocating exercise means having a servo motor and a controller controlling the rotation of the servo motor; and   a control panel provided on the handle and connected to the controller to transmit commands to the controller such that the controller controls the rotating direction, the rotating speed and the number of rotation of the servo motor, the control panel having a switch adapted to control the start and stop of the reciprocating exercise of the seat, a switch adapted to adjust the speed of the reciprocating exercise of the seat and a switch adapted to adjust the reciprocating distance of the reciprocating exercise of the seat,   whereby as the servo motor rotates forwardly and backwardly, the seat is automatically moved reciprocally in the forward and backward directions along the length direction of the guide rail.   
     
     
         2 . The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating exercise means further comprises a band-shaped timing belt having concave and convex portions formed regularly thereon and a pulley adapted to be engaged with the timing belt to circulate the timing belt therealong, the timing belt being rotated in accordance with the rotation of the servo motor in the state of being engaged with the servo motor and the pulley, and the seat comprises an engagement part connected to the underside surface thereof and having concave and convex portions adapted to be engaged with the concave and convex portions formed on the timing belt, such that as the timing belt is rotated forwardly and backwardly, the seat is reciprocally moved in the forward and backward directions along the length direction of the guide rail. 
     
     
         3 . The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating exercise means further comprises a chain and a sprocket adapted to be engaged with the chain to circulate the chain therealong, the chain being rotated in accordance with the rotation of the servo motor in the state of being engaged with the servo motor and the sprocket, and the seat comprises an engagement part connected to the underside surface thereof and having protrusions regularly formed thereon in such a manner as to be insertedly engaged with the empty space portions regularly arranged along the chain, such that as the chain is rotated forwardly and backwardly, the seat is reciprocally moved in the forward and backward directions along the length direction of the guide rail. 
     
     
         4 . The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the reciprocating exercise means further comprises a disc-shaped circular gear rotatingly connected to the servo motor and having protrusions regularly formed circumferentially along the outer periphery thereof and a linear gear having a shape of a linear band and having protrusions adapted to be engaged with the circular gear so as to convert a rotating motion of the circular gear into a linear motion, the linear gear being coupled to the underside surface of the seat in such a manner as to be disposed between the underside surface of the seat and the circular gear, such that as the circular gear is rotated forwardly and backwardly, the seat is reciprocally moved in the forward and backward directions along the length direction of the guide rail. 
     
     
         5 . The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to  claim 2 , wherein the reciprocating exercise means is disposed inside the support part. 
     
     
         6 . The rowing machine exercise-assisting device according to  claim 1 , wherein the seat further comprises a back support part adapted to support the user's back, and the back support part has an elastic restoring force in such a manner as to be bent backwardly when a given force is applied thereto and to be returned to its original position when the given force is removed therefrom.