EXERCISE APPARATUS INCLUDING ELASTIC BODY

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an exercise apparatus which may be easily manipulated by a physically disabled patient on a bed. An exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an elastic band and a pair of balls connected to both ends of the elastic band, wherein the elastic band includes a hanging portion forming a closed-loop in each of both sides of the elastic band, and the pair of balls each comprise a penetration portion into which the hanging portion is inserted and fixed.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to an exercise apparatus including an elastic body and used by patients in need of rehabilitation.

BACKGROUND ART

Patients, such as seriously ill patients, who have difficulty moving while lying on beds use bed exercise equipment. For example, patients use, as bed exercise equipment, balls formed of a soft material, such as sponge or rubber, or an elastic body, such as a rubber band and the like.

However, balls are small and difficult to handle by patients whose are physically disabled, and thus, there is a high risk of losing them while used by patients. Furthermore, a rubber band is used by tying the same to a bed, etc., but the rubber band may easily tear because resistance is concentrated in a portion where the rubber band is tied. In particular, a rubber band needs to be newly tied whenever the rubber band is used, and it is inconvenient as the rubber band needs to be untied again after use. A rubber band needs to be fixed at various positions so that patients may exercise with various actions, but such inconvenience restricts use of the rubber band.

The aforementioned related art is technical information possessed by the inventor for derivation of the present disclosure or acquired by the inventor during the derivation of the present disclosure, and is not necessarily prior art disclosed to the public before the application of the present disclosure.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

To solve the problems described above, the present disclosure may provide an exercise apparatus with improved convenience of use for a patient.

However, such an objective is an example, and objectives to be solved by the disclosure are not limited thereto.

Technical Solution

An exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an elastic band and a pair of balls connected to both ends of the elastic band, wherein the elastic band include a hanging portion forming a closed-loop in each of both sides of the elastic band, and the pair of balls each include a penetration portion into which the hanging portion is inserted and fixed.

In an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the elastic band may include one or more opening portions that are arranged apart from the hanging portion and into which each of the pair of balls is inserted or pulled out.

In an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more opening portions may each include a first slit formed in the elastic band and an additional member, the additional member including a second slit corresponding to the first slit, including a material with no elasticity, and being arranged outside the elastic band, and the one or more opening portions being provided in a pair respectively apart from the pair of hanging portions inside a longitudinal direction of the elastic band.

In an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more opening portions may further include a reinforcement member arranged along edges of the first slit and the second slit.

In an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the one or more opening portions may include a plurality of opening portions between the pair of hanging portions, and the pair of balls may be selectively inserted into or pulled out from the plurality of opening portions.

In an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the penetration portion may have a slit shape through which to insert the elastic band, and an adhesive or a fixing member is arranged inside the penetration portion to fix the elastic band.

In an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, each of the pair of balls may further include a fixed portion arranged inside the penetration portion, connecting both inner ends of the penetration portion, and to which the hanging portion is tied.

In an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the hanging portion may be inserted into the penetration portion, may be wound around an outer surface of the fixed portion, and then may pass through the penetration portion.

Other aspects, features, and advantages than those described above will become apparent from the following drawings, claims, and detailed description of the disclosure

Advantageous Effects

The exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may enable bedbound patients to easily exercise. In particular, according to the exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the tension of an elastic band may be easily adjusted using the elastic band and a ball, and the exercise apparatus may be fixed at an appropriate position.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a ball according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an opening portion according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates that a ball according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is inserted or pulled out through an opening portion.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an exercise apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

BEST MODE

An exercise apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes an elastic band and a pair of balls connected to both ends of the elastic band, wherein the elastic band includes a hanging portion forming a closed-loop in each of both sides of the elastic band, and the pair of balls each include a penetration portion into which the hanging portion is inserted and fixed.

Mode for Invention

As the present disclosure allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the disclosure to particular modes of practice, and it is to be appreciated that all changes, equivalents, and substitutes that do not depart from the spirit and technical scope of the disclosure are encompassed in the disclosure. In the description of the present invention, even though illustrated in other embodiments, the same identification numbers are used for the same components.

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in the description with reference to the drawings, the same or corresponding constituents are indicated by the same reference numerals and redundant descriptions thereof are omitted.

In the following embodiment, it will be understood that although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These elements are only used to distinguish one element from another.

In the following embodiment, as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In the following embodiment, it will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising” used herein specify the presence of stated features or elements, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features or components.

Sizes of elements in the drawings may be exaggerated for convenience of explanation. For example, since sizes and thicknesses of elements in the drawings are arbitrarily illustrated for convenience of explanation, the following embodiments are not limited thereto.

In the following embodiment, the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis are not limited to three axes of the rectangular coordinate system, and may be interpreted in a broader sense. For example, the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis may be perpendicular to one another, or may represent different directions that are not perpendicular to one another.

When a certain embodiment may be implemented differently, a specific process order may be performed differently from the described order. For example, two consecutively described processes may be performed substantially at the same time or performed in an order opposite to the described order.

The terms used in the specification are merely used to describe embodiments, and are not intended to limit the disclosure. In the disclosure, it is to be understood that the terms such as “including,” “having,” and “comprising” are intended to indicate the existence of the features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof disclosed in the specification, and are not intended to preclude the possibility that one or more other features, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts, or combinations thereof may exist or may be added.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an exercise apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 3 illustrates a ball 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 4 illustrates an opening portion 130 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 5 illustrates the ball 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is inserted or pulled out through the opening portion 130.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the exercise apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may be used by patients needing rehabilitation on beds. For example, patients, such as critically ill patient and the like, who need rehabilitation exercise, but are difficult to get out of beds, may perform rehabilitation exercise by using the exercise apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the exercise apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may not be limited to rehabilitation exercise, and may be used for various operations and exercises, such as strength exercise, corrective exercise, stretching, and the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, the exercise apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an elastic band 100 and the ball 200.

The elastic band 100, which is a band formed of an elastic body such as rubber and the like, may be contracted and extended in various directions including a longitudinal direction and a width direction. A user may perform resistance exercise by holding the elastic band 100 with hands or foot and contacting or extending the same.

In an embodiment, the elastic band 100 may include a main body portion 110, a hanging portion 120, and the opening portion 130.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the main body portion 110 extends long in the longitudinal direction of the elastic band 100. The main body portion 110 may have a certain or different width in the longitudinal direction.

The hanging portion 120 is arranged in an end portion of the main body portion 110 and supports the ball 200. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hanging portion 120 is arranged one in each of both ends of the main body portion 110 in the longitudinal direction, and may have a hook or loop shape. The hanging portion 120 forms a closed-loop and is connected to the ball 200 to prevent the ball 200 from escaping from a set position. For example, the ball 200 may be fixed to one side of the hanging portion 120 or may move within the hanging portion 120. Accordingly, a user in a state of holding the ball 200 may easily contract or extend the elastic band 100.

In an embodiment, the hanging portion 120 is inserted into a penetration portion 210 of the ball 200 so that one side of the hanging portion 120 may be fixed to the penetration portion 210. For example, the inner side of the penetration portion 210 is coated with an adhesive, and thus, when the hanging portion 120 is inserted through the penetration portion 210, one surface of the hanging portion 120 may be fixed to the inner side of the penetration portion 210 coated with the adhesive. Accordingly, a fixed area 121 that is a portion of the hanging portion 120 inserted into the penetration portion 210 may be fixed to the penetration portion 210. Alternatively, the penetration portion 210 may fix the hanging portion 120, in detail, the fixed area 121, to the penetration portion 210, via a separate clamping member.

In another embodiment, the hanging portion 120 may not include a device to fix the ball 200. In other words, the ball 200 is inserted through the hanging portion 120, not escaping from the hanging portion 120, but freely moving along the hanging portion 120.

In an embodiment, the hanging portion 120 may be formed as one end of the elastic band 100 is bonded to the inner side of the elastic band 100. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, one end of the main body portion 110 is bent to be bonded to the inner portion of the main body portion 110, and a corresponding portion ma form a bonding portion 140.

In an embodiment, the hanging portion 120 may include a material that is the same as or different from the material of the main body portion 110.

The opening portion 130 may include one or more opening portions disposed in one side of the elastic band 100, for example, one side of the main body portion 110. The opening portion 130 is arranged a part from the hanging portion 120, and the ball 200 may be inserted or pulled out through the opening portion 130.

In an embodiment, the opening portion 130 may include one or more opening portions between a pair of the hanging portions 120. For example, the opening portion 130 may include two opening portions respectively adjacent to a pair of the hanging portions 120. A user may adjust tension by adjusting the length of the elastic band 100 by inserting the ball 200 arranged in the end portion of the elastic band 100 into the opening portion 130 or pulling out the ball 200 from the opening portion 130.

For example, when the elastic band 100 is contracted and extended with stronger tension to increase exercise strength, a user may insert the ball 200 into the opening portion 130 and then pull the elastic band 100 in the longitudinal direction, thereby reducing the total length of the elastic band 100. Furthermore, when the elastic band 100 is contracted and extended with weaker tension to finish exercise or decrease exercise strength, a user may pull out the ball 200 from the opening portion 130, thereby increase the total length of the elastic band 100.

In an embodiment, the opening portion 130 may include three or more opening portions. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the opening portion 130 may include three or more opening portions arranged between a pair of the hanging portions 120 may be disposed. These opening portions 130 may be arranged apart at the same or different intervals from each other. As the distance between the opening portion 130 into which the ball 200 is inserted and the hanging portion 120 increases, the length of the elastic band 100 decreases. A user may appropriately adjust the tension of the elastic band 100 by selecting one of a plurality of the opening portions 130 into which the ball 200 is inserted.

Through the above configuration, a user may easily adjust the tension of the elastic band 100 by inserting or pulling out the ball 200 through the opening portion 130.

In an embodiment, the opening portion 130 may be arranged at an inner side than the bonding portion 140 in the longitudinal direction of the elastic band 100. In other words, the opening portion 130 may be arranged inside the main body portion 110 not to overlap an area formed by the hanging portion 120.

In an embodiment, the opening portion 130 may include a first slit 131 and an additional member 133.

The first slit 131, which is a slit formed in one side of the main body portion 110 of the elastic band 100, may extend long in the longitudinal direction and/or width direction of the elastic band 100. For example, the first slit 131 may be of a narrow and long type that penetrates the main body portion 110 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the main body portion 110. Accordingly, when the ball 200 fixed to the hanging portion 120 is inserted into the first slit 131 and then pulled in the longitudinal direction of the elastic band 100, the main body portion 110 is caught in an end portion of the first slit 131 and fixed thereto.

FIG. 4 illustrates that the first slit 131 has a rectangular or cuboid shape, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the first slit 131 may have a circular, oval, or other polygonal shape.

The additional member 133 may be arranged in one side of the main body portion 110. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the additional member 133 may be arranged outside the main body portion 110 to correspond to the first slit 131. The additional member 133 may include a material that is more rigid and less elastic than the main body portion 110 or has no elasticity. Accordingly, when the ball 200 passes through the first slit 131, the first slit 131 may not be excessively open or damaged.

FIG. 4 illustrates only a case in which the additional member 133 is arranged outside the main body portion 110, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the additional member 133 may be arranged inside the main body portion 110 or both outside and inside the main body portion 110.

In an embodiment, the additional member 133 may include a second slit 132 corresponding to the first slit 131. The second slit 132 may be arranged inside the additional member 133 and may have the same or similar size and shape to the first slit 131. The ball 200 may sequentially pass through the first slit 131 and the second slit 132.

In an embodiment, the additional member 133 may be attached to the main body portion 110 by a press method. For example, the outer side of the additional member 133, that is, a portion other than the second slit 132, may be press-attached to one surface of the main body portion 110.

A reinforcement member 134 is arranged around the first slit 131 and/or the second slit 132, and thus, the first slit 131 and/or the second slit 132 may not be damaged in a process in which the ball 200 passes therethrough. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the reinforcement member 134 may be arranged to certain width and thickness along the edges of the first slit 131 and the second slit 132. The type of the reinforcement member 134 is not specially limited, and may include a material having higher rigidity and less elastic than the main body portion 110 and the additional member 133.

The reinforcement member 134 may be continuously or discontinuously arranged along the inner edge of the first slit 131 or the inner edge of the second slit 132. Alternatively, the reinforcement member 134 may be arranged in both of the main body portion 110 and the additional member 133. For example, the reinforcement member 134 may be a stitched thread by penetrating the edges of the first slit 131 and the second slit 132. Accordingly, the additional member 133 may be firmly fixed to the main body portion 110, and the first slit 131 and the second slit 132 may be prevented from being damaged by the ball 200.

The ball 200 may include one or more balls in the end portion of the elastic band 100. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the ball 200 is arranged one in each of both end portions of the elastic band 100 in the longitudinal direction, and a user may exercise pulling the elastic band 100 while holding the ball 200 by hands. Alternatively, a user may use the ball 200 to fix the exercise apparatus 10 to a bed rail and the like.

In an embodiment, the ball 200 may be arranged in the hanging portion 120. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ball 200 may be arranged in the hanging portion 120 provided in each of both end portions of the elastic band 100. The hanging portion 120 penetrating through the ball 200 may be bonded to the elastic band 100 in the bonding portion 140 to form a closed-loop, and the ball 200 may be maintained in the hanging portion 120.

The ball 200 may include, in one side, the penetration portion 210 into which the hanging portion 120 is inserted. The penetration portion 210 is a hole or slit formed in one side of the ball 200 and may have a size large enough for the elastic band 100 to pass. FIG. 3 illustrates that the penetration portion 210 is apart from the center of the ball 200, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. The penetration portion 210 may be formed including the center of the ball 200, or may be apart from the center of the ball 200.

In an embodiment, the hanging portion 120 may be fixed to one side of the penetration portion 210. For example, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, in the penetration portion 210, a surface facing the center of the ball 200 and/or a surface apart from the center of the ball 200 are flat. An adhesive and the like may be coated on these surfaces, and the hanging portion 120, in detail, the fixed area 121, may be inserted into the penetration portion 210 and then attached and fixed thereto.

In another embodiment, a mechanical configuration for fixing the hanging portion 120 may be arranged in one side of the penetration portion 210. For example, as a fixing member, protrusions extending toward the inside may be arranged both edges in one surface of the penetration portion 210, and the hanging portion 120 may slide with the protrusions inserted thereinto.

In another embodiment, the penetration portion 210 may not fix the hanging portion 120. Accordingly, the ball 200 may freely move in a state of being inserted in the hanging portion 120.

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate an exercise apparatus 10A according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

The exercise apparatus 10A illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7, compared with the exercise apparatus 10 the embodiment described above, the configuration of a ball 200A is different, and the other configurations may be the same as those of the exercise apparatus 10. In the following description, for convenience of explanation, different configurations from the exercise apparatus 10 are mainly described.

The exercise apparatus 10A according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include an elastic band 100A and the ball 200A. The elastic band 100A may include a main body portion 110A, a hanging portion 120A, an opening portion 130A, and a bonding portion 140A. These configurations may be the same as that of the exercise apparatus 10 according to the embodiment described above, and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.

The ball 200A may include a penetration portion 210A and a fixed portion 220A.

The penetration portion 210A is arranged to include the center of the ball 200A, and may have a circular, oval, or polygonal shape when seen from the front side. FIG. 6 illustrates that the penetration portion 210A communicates with one surface and the other surface of the ball 200A, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the penetration portion 210A may be formed to be concave through one surface of the ball 200A in which the hanging portion 120A is inserted, while not communicating with the other surface of the ball 200A.

The fixed portion 220A is arranged inside the penetration portion 210A and may fix the hanging portion 120A. For example, the fixed portion 220A is arranged to connect both inner surfaces of the penetration portion 210A, and the hanging portion 120A is caught by the fixed portion 220A so that the ball 200A may not escape from the elastic band 100A.

FIG. 6 illustrates that the fixed portion 220A has a cylindrical shape, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the fixed portion 220A may have a shape in which a diameter varies according to a height direction as concave portions and convex portions are repeatedly arranged on the outer surface of the fixed portion 220A. Alternatively, the fixed portion 220A may be a polygonal column.

In an embodiment, the outer surface of the fixed portion 220A is coated with an adhesive, and thus, the hanging portion 120A may be adhesively fixed to the fixed portion 220A. Alternatively, a separate adhesive is not coated on the outer surface of the fixed portion 220A, and the hanging portion 120A may rotate while being wound around the fixed portion 220A.

In another embodiment, the hanging portion 120A may be arranged along the circumferential direction of the fixed portion 220A. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the hanging portion 120A may be inserted through the penetration portion 210A, may be wound around the fixed portion 220A one or more turns, and then may pass through the penetration portion 210A. As the penetration portion 210A is formed to communicate with one side and the other side of the ball 200A, the hanging portion 120A may be inserted from one side of the penetration portion 210A, may be wound around the fixed portion 220A, and then may pass through the other side of the ball 200A. Alternatively, as the penetration portion 210A is formed to be recessed in one side of the ball 200A, the hanging portion 120A may be inserted into one side of the penetration portion 210A, may be wound around the fixed portion 220A, and then may escape from the ball 200A to the outside through the one side of the penetration portion 210A into which the hanging portion 120A was first inserted. Accordingly, the hanging portion 120A may be fixed to the fixed portion 220A.

Through the above configurations, the exercise apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may enable patients living on the beds to easily exercise. In particular, the exercise apparatus 10 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may easily adjust the tension of the elastic band 100 by using the elastic band 100 and the ball 200, and fix the exercise apparatus 10 at an appropriate position.

As such, the present disclosure is described based on the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, but this is an example. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein from the embodiments. Accordingly, the true technical protection range may be determined based on the following claims.

The specific technical contents described in the embodiments do not limit the technical range of the embodiments. To concisely and clearly describe the disclosure, the general technology according to the related art and the descriptions on the configuration may be omitted. Furthermore, connection lines or connection members between the constituent elements shown in the drawings are merely illustrative of functional connections and/or physical or circuit connections. In an actual device, a connection between the constituent elements may be indicated by various functional connections, physical connections, or circuit connections that can be replaced or added. Furthermore, no item or component is essential to the practice of the disclosure unless the element is specifically described as “essential” or “critical.”

The use of the terms “a,” “an,” “the,” and similar referents in the context of describing the disclosure are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural. Furthermore, recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range (unless otherwise indicated herein), and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. Furthermore, the operations of all methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The disclosure is not limited to the described order of the operations. The use of any and all examples, or language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. Furthermore, numerous modifications and adaptations will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present disclosure may be used in the industries related to exercise apparatuses for patients.

Claims

1. An exercise apparatus comprising an elastic band and a pair of balls connected to both ends of the elastic band, wherein the elastic band comprises a hanging portion forming a closed-loop in each of both sides of the elastic band, andthe pair of balls each comprise a penetration portion into which the hanging portion is inserted and fixed.

2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the elastic band includes one or more opening portions that are arranged apart from the hanging portion and into which each of the pair of balls is inserted or pulled out.

3. The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more opening portions each include a first slit formed in the elastic band and an additional member, the additional member including a second slit corresponding to the first slit, including a material with no elasticity, and being arranged outside the elastic band, and the one or more opening portions being provided as a pair respectively apart from the pair of hanging portions inside a longitudinal direction of the elastic band.

4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more opening portions further comprise a reinforcement member arranged along edges of the first slit and the second slit.

5. The exercise apparatus of claim 2, wherein the one or more opening portions comprise a plurality of opening portions between the pair of hanging portions, and the pair of balls are selectively inserted into or pulled out from the plurality of opening portions.

6. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein the penetration portion has a slit shape through which to insert the elastic band, and an adhesive or a fixing member is arranged inside the penetration portion to fix the elastic band.

7. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of balls further comprises a fixed portion arranged inside the penetration portion, connecting both inner ends of the penetration portion, and to which the hanging portion is tied.

8. The exercise apparatus of claim 7, wherein the hanging portion is inserted into the penetration portion, is wound around an outer surface of the fixed portion, and then passes through the penetration portion.