Patent Application
20100190616
The present invention belongs to a technical field of an exercising apparatus for providing a user with an exercise load.
In recent years, great attentions have been paid for an exercising apparatus providing a user with an exercise load similar to a horse riding by rocking a sheet on which the user straddles. The exercising apparatus is widely used among users of various generations from children to elderly persons and spread to general households as well as rehabilitation purpose medical facilities.
This type of the exercising apparatus is, for example, disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Application No. 2007-260184 (Patent Document). The Patent Document discloses a technique for varying an inclination angle of an upper half body of a user who straddles on a seat by means of changing a position of the seat portion on which the user's hip portion is placed by expanding and contracting an airbag built in the seat. Further, in the Patent Document, there is described “Preferably, a storage part stores preset operation patterns of the airbag 4, and a period, a cycle, and a degree of expansion of the air bag 4 set by a user “A” through the control panel 35 and operation patterns thereof. With such configuration, a type of exercise and exercise strength can be selected by every user “A” at the time whenever the user uses the exercising apparatus, which assists to optimize and maintain the exercise effects.
In order for a user to perform an effective exercise by using such an exercising apparatus, the user needs to take an appropriate posture depending on a movement (e.g., an inclination state and a rocking speed) of the seat. However, user's actual posture is often displaced from the appropriate posture.
Thus, when the user's actual posture is displaced from the appropriate posture, an exercise load applied to the user's body will possibly be excessive or less. In this case, it becomes difficult for the user to perform effective and efficient exercise.
In view of the above, the present invention provides an exercising apparatus capable of allowing a user to perform an effective and efficient exercise.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided an exercising apparatus including: a movable unit on which a user straddles; a driving unit for driving the movable unit, the driving unit changing a state of the movable unit to provide the user with an exercising load; a message output part for outputting a message corresponding to the user's posture repeatedly during a period of providing the user with the exercise load; an output timing determination part for determining an output timing of the message by the message output part; a storage part stores corresponding relationships between the states of the movable unit and the messages; and a state detector for detecting the state of the movable unit at approximately the same timing as the output timing determined by the output timing determination part. The message output part extracts a message corresponding to the state of the movable unit detected by the state detector from the storage part and outputs the message at the output timing determined by the output timing determination unit.
According to such configuration, a state of the movable unit is detected at the output timing determined by the output timing determination part, and simultaneously a message corresponding to the state of the movable unit is outputted. Accordingly, the message can provide a user with an advice for his or her posture which should be taken, thereby guiding the user's posture to be appropriate.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the state of the movable unit includes an inclination state of the movable unit. The storage part stores the messages prepared depending on the inclination state of the movable unit. The message output part extracts one of the messages corresponding to the inclination state detected by the state detector from the storage part to output the message.
According to such configuration, the message corresponding to the inclination state of the movable unit is outputted, thereby enabling to guide the user's posture affected by the inclination state to be appropriate.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the state of the movable unit includes a rocking speed of the movable unit. The storage part stores the messages prepared depending on the rocking speed of the movable unit. The message output part extracts one of the messages corresponding to the rocking speed detected by the state detector from the storage part to output the message.
According to such configuration, the message corresponding to the rocking speed of the movable unit is outputted, thereby enabling to guide the user's posture affected by the rocking speed to be appropriate.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, a number of user's postures to be taken are determined with respect to each of the states of the movable unit. Further, a number of messages are prepared with respect to each of respective combinations of the user's postures to be taken and the states of the movable unit. The storage part stores the user's postures and the messages. The message output part randomly selects one message, among the messages, corresponding to the user's posture to be taken, which is determined with respect to the state of the movable unit detected by the state detector, and outputs the message.
According to such configuration, one message that is randomly selected among the messages corresponding to the user's postures to be taken is outputted as if an instructor guides, wherein the user's postures are determined with respect to the state of the movable unit detected by the state detector. Accordingly the exercising apparatus in accordance with the present invention allows users to hold such a feeling that the users, themselves, are guided by the instructor, thereby improving its attractiveness.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the output timing determination part determines an output timing of a message at random.
According to such configuration, since the output timing determination unit determines the output timing of the message at random as if an instructor is guiding and outputs the message, the exercising apparatus in accordance with the present invention allows users to hold such a feeling that the users, themselves, are guided by the instructor. Thus, attractiveness of the exercising apparatus can be improved.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the messages stored in the storage part are prepared depending on an elapsed time after starting to drive the movable unit by the driving unit. Here, the elapsed time from the starting point of the movable unit is equivalent to the output timing determined by the output timing determination part. The message output part extracts the messages in association with the elapsed time from the storage part, and outputs the extracted messages.
According to such configuration, the message output part outputs the message in association with the elapsed time from the starting point of the movable unit driven by the driving unit. Therefore, the exercising apparatus can output the message with considerations of user's fatigue that is caused as the time passes, or the like. Thus, the user is allowed to perform an effective exercise.
In still another embodiment of the present invention, the storage part stores: a plurality of user's postures to be taken determined with respect to each of the states of the movable unit; the messages prepared with respect to each of respective combinations of the user's postures to be taken and the states of the movable unit; and an output order of the messages with respect to each state of the movable unit. The message output part outputs the messages corresponding to the state of the movable unit detected by the state detector, according to the output order of the messages stored in the storage part.
According to the present invention, it is possible for a user to perform an effective and efficient exercise by outputting the messages in accordance with the pre-determined output order. Here, the output order may be, for example, determined based on the probability of occurrence of user's posture to be taken with regard to the state of the movable unit. Further, the output order may be determined as an order capable of guiding the user's posture to be appropriate effectively. According to the present invention, the exercising apparatus allows a user to perform an effective and efficient exercise.
The objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments, given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
A first embodiment of the exercising apparatus in accordance with the present invention will be described in the following.
As shown in
A seat connection member 9 on which the seat 2 is mounted is pivotally supported on a pivotal support member 11 via pairs of link members 10 respectively provided on the left side and the right side of the exercising apparatus 1, so that the seat connection member 9 rocks forward and backward. The pivotal support member 11 is pivotally supported on a base member 12, so that the pivotal support member 11 rocks leftward and rightward. A driving unit 13 is disposed between the seat connection member 9 and the pivotal support member 11. The link members 10 include front link members 10a and rear link members 10b. An upper end of the front link member 10a is pivotally connected to an upper pin 9a attached to a front end of the seat connection member 9, and a lower end of the front link member 10a is pivotally connected to a lower pin 15a attached to a front end of a side wall 16 of the pivotal support member 11. An upper end of the rear link member 10b is pivotally connected to an upper pin 9b attached to a rear end of the seat connection member 9, and a lower end of the rear link member 10b is pivotally connected to a lower pin 15b attached to a rear end of the side wall 14 of the pivotal support member 11. The front and rear lower pins 15a, 15b constitute lateral axes 15, 15 extending in the left-right direction. The link members 10, 10 are pivotally supported by the front and rear lateral axes 15, 15 about the Y axis extending in the left-right direction. With this arrangement, the seat connection member 9 is able to make reciprocating rotational motions about the lateral axes 15, in forward and backward directions as indicated by the arrows “M” in
As shown in
The driving unit 13 includes a motor 19 of a stand alone type, and a first and a second driver 13a, 13b for converting a rotation torque of an output shaft 20 of the motor 19 into rectilinear reciprocating motions in the forward and backward direction, i.e., in the X-directions of the seat connection member 9, reciprocating rotational motions about the lateral axes 15, 15, and reciprocating rotational motions about the shafts 18 to drive the seat 2 by combining these three different motions. The motor 19 in this embodiment is installed upright on the base member 12, with the output shaft 20 extending vertically upward.
The first driver 13a is used to make rectilinear reciprocating motions in the X-direction, and reciprocating rotational motions about the lateral axes 15, 15. The second driver 13b is used to make reciprocating rotational motions about the shafts 18. As shown in
As shown in
In the above construction, when the output shaft 20 extending upward from the motor 19 is rotated, the first shaft 23 is rotated through the first gear 22 in mesh with the motor gear 21. Simultaneously, the second shaft 28 is rotated through the second gear 27 in mesh with the association gear 26 of the first shaft 23. In association with the rotation of the first shaft 23, the eccentric crank connected to the one end of the first shaft 23 makes eccentric rotation, with the result that the front link member 10a swings in the X-directions about the front lateral axis 15 via the arm link member 25. At this time, the rear link member 10b swings about the rear lateral axis in cooperation with the pivotal rotation of the front link member 10a. Thereby, the seat connection member 9, i.e., the seat 2 rocks while making reciprocating movements in the X-directions. On the other hand, the upper end 29a of the eccentric rod 29 makes eccentric rotation as the second shaft 28 is rotated, whereby the seat connection member 9, i.e., the seat 2 makes reciprocating rotational motions about the shafts 18.
In this way, the seat 2 makes rocking motions in forward and backward directions, i.e., in X-directions, leftward and rightward directions, i.e., in Y-directions, upward and downward directions, i.e., in Z-directions, as well as swing motions in θX-directions, θY-directions, and θZ-directions (see
As shown in
The display part 32 has an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display), which displays a video, message to a user (e.g., exercise levels, residual time and consumed calorie) and so on. Note that the display part 32 may have a plasma display device instead of an LCD. Further, the display part 32 may be provided with an LED (Light Emitting Diode) serving as light emitting body, a seven-segment LED, or the like.
Besides, as shown in
The sound output part 33, for example, is composed of a loudspeaker converting electric signal (sound signal) into audible sound, which outputs sounds such as music, message to a user.
The input operation part 34 is configured to include: a power button for turning on and off the main power supply of the exercising apparatus 1; a switch for selecting one of the plurality of modes having various difficulties and loads in strength and speed of rocking the seat 2; a switch for regulating a height and an angle of the seat 2; and so on, which are not shown in the drawings. Further, the input operation part 34 may be configured to affix a touch panel to the LCD panel, wherein the touch panel is configured such that striped pressure-sensitive elements made of transparent material are longitudinally and laterally arranged at a predetermined pitch respectively and are covered with a transparent cover.
The sensor part 35 serves for detecting movement of the exercising apparatus 1 and, for instance, is composed of an acceleration sensor with a piezo-electric element. Note that the sensor part 35 serves for detecting acceleration of the rocking motion in the forward and backward direction (the left and right direction in
The storage part 36, for example, is composed of a nonvolatile memory or HDD, which memorizes various kinds of data. The storage part 36 may not only be accommodated in the exercising apparatus 1, but also be attached to the body of the exercising apparatus 1 detachably via connecting terminal, such as USB connector.
The control unit 37 has a microcomputer provided with: CPU (Central Processing Unit) (not shown); ROM (Read Only Memory) that stores a program regulating operations of the CPU; and RAM (Random Access Memory) having function for storing data temporarily or serving as a workspace. Thus the control unit 37 can manage whole control of the exercising apparatus 1.
In the exercising apparatus 1 with the above configurations, this embodiment is different from a conventional exercising apparatus in that the embodiment outputs the message in association with user's posture which should be taken in a real-time manner when the exercising apparatus 1 is utilized (during a play).
In order to realize this function, in this embodiment, the storage part 36 includes a message storage part 36a that stores pre-determined messages to be outputted from the sound output part 33. Further, the control unit 37 includes a message output timing determination part 38, a time counting part 39, a rocking speed detector 40, an inclination state detector 41, an output message determination part 42, and an output message control part 43.
The message storage part 36a stores a plurality of messages. The messages are, mainly, advice and instruction for guiding the user's posture to be appropriate. For instance, in the case where the inclination state of the seat 2 is a “forward inclination” and the rocking speed of the seat 2 has a certain level (e.g., level “1”), messages corresponding to such advices as “Stretch your upper half body upward straightly” and “Move your waist according to the movement so as not to swing your head” are stored in the message storage part 36a. Such messages are prepared for every combination of the inclination state and the rocking speed of the seat 2.
The message output timing determination part 38 determines the timing that carries out an operation of outputting the message stored in the message storage part 36a. In the embodiment, the message output timing determination part 38 determines a time interval from the last message output timing to next message output timing at random, as if an instructor guides. Further, the message output timing determination part 38 determines the next message output timing by using the determined time interval.
The time counting part 39 counts an elapsed time from the last message output timing, in order to check whether or not the present time reaches the message output timing determined by the message output timing determination part 38.
The rocking speed detector 40 detects rocking speed of the seat 2. The inclination state detector 41 detects an inclination state of the seat 2. In the exercising apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the inclination state and the rocking speed of the seat 2 at each point of time are programmed by a pre-designed program. The rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detector 41 extract the rocking speed and the inclination state of the seat 2 at approximately the same timing as the message output timing determined by the message output timing determination part from the above-mentioned program. Alternatively, the rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detector 41 may detect the rocking speed and the inclination state of the seat 2 by using a sensor.
The output message determination part 42 selects one message among a plurality of messages at random as if an instructor guides, wherein the plurality of messages are prepared with regard to the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41. Thus, the output message determination part 42 determines the selected message as a target message to be outputted.
When the time counted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message output timing determined by the message output timing determination part 38, the message output control part 43 causes the sound output part 33 to output the message determined by the output message determination part 42.
As shown in
Next, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time interval, determined by the above-mentioned message output timing determination part 38, is less than or equal to a residual time from the present time to the time of completing the play (Step S2). If the time interval exceeds the residual time (“NO” in Step S2), the process proceeds to Step S9.
On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the time interval determined by the message output timing determination part 38 is less than or equal to the residual time in step S2 (“YES” in Step S2), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S3), and the inclination state detector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S4). Strictly speaking, the rocking speed and the inclination state of the seat 2 detected in Steps S3 and S4 are not identical to those at the message output timing determined by the message output timing determination part 38. However, since the process as shown in the flow chart of
Next, the output message determination part 42 extracts, from the message storage part 36a, the messages prepared with regard to the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 in Step S3 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41 in Step S4 (Step S5). Among the extracted messages, one message is selected as if an instructor guides, and the message is determined as a target message to be outputted (Step S6).
The message output control part 43 checks whether or not the time counted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message output timing specified by the time interval, which is determined by the message output timing determination part 38 in Step S1 (Step S7). When checking that the time has reached to the message output timing, the message output control part 43 causes the sound output part to output the message determined by the output message determination part 42 (Step S8). On the other hand, in Step S7, when the message output control part 43 checks that the time has not reached to the message output timing, the process returns to Step S3 and Steps S3 to S6 are carried out.
Then, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time has reached to the timing of completing the play (Step S9). When checking that the time has not reached to the timing of completing the play (“NO” in Step S9), the process returns to Step S1. On the other hand, when checking that the time has reached to the timing (“YES” in Step S9), the control unit 37 turns off the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S10) to complete a series of process.
As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the function capable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guiding user's postures to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that the user's posture can be guided to be appropriate.
Further, since the present embodiment determines the message and the output timing thereof at random as if an instructor guides, the exercising apparatus 1 allows users to hold such a feeling that an instructor guides themselves, thereby improving its attractiveness.
The second embodiment is identical to the first embodiment in that these embodiments output a message pre-associated with a combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41. However, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the second embodiment pre-determines an output order of outputting each message such that a user can perform more effective exercises and outputs a message according to the output order, whereas the first embodiment randomly selects one message from a plurality of messages and outputs the message as if an instructor guides.
Note that only the difference from the first embodiment will be explained and an explanation about the other configurations same as those of the first embodiment will be omitted. Since the exercising apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment has the same structure as that shown in
Further, as shown in
For instance, as shown in
When the exercising apparatus 1 is provided with two modes having different difficulties and loads in strength and speed of the rocking motion,
The output message determination part 42 selects a message having the output order in which the message should be outputted at this time and determines the message as a target message to be outputted, wherein the message is selected among the plurality of messages corresponding to the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41.
For instance, in the advanced mode shown in
As shown in
On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the time interval determined by the message output timing determination part 38 is less than or equal to the residual time in step S111 (“YES” in Step S111), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S12), and the inclination state detector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S13).
The output message determination part 42 selects a message having the output order in which the message should be outputted at this time, according to the order data stored in the message storage part 36a, and determines the message as a target message to be outputted, wherein the message is selected from a plurality of messages corresponding to the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 in Step S12 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41 in Step S13 (Step S14).
The message output control unit 43 checks whether or not the time counted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message output timing specified by the time interval, which is determined by the message output timing determination part 38 in Step S11 (Step S15). When checking that the time has reached to the message output timing (“YES” in Step S15), the message output control part 43 causes the sound output part 33 to output the message determined by the output message determination part 42 (Step S16). On the other hand, in Step S15, when the message output control part 43 checks that the time has not reached to the message output timing, the process returns to Step S12 and Steps S12 to Step S14 are carried out.
Then, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time has reached to the timing of completing the play (Step S17). When checking that the time has not reached to the play completing timing yet (“NO” in Step S17), the process returns to Step S11. When checking that the time has reached to the timing of completing the play (“YES” in Step S17), the control unit 37 turns off a power supply of the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S18), and a series of process is completed.
As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the function capable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guiding a user's posture to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that the user's posture can be guided to be appropriate.
Further, since the present embodiment determines the output timing of the message at random as if an instructor guides, the exercising apparatus 1 allows users to hold such a feeling that an instructor guides themselves, thereby improving its attractiveness.
Furthermore, the output order of the messages is pre-determined such that a user is provided with an effective exercise, and the messages are outputted according to the order. Thus, the user can perform more effective exercise than the first embodiment.
Generally, in the exercising apparatus 1, an amount of displacement from the appropriate posture increases as it comes closer to user's head among portions of user's body. Accordingly, providing the user with an advice or instruction with regard to the posture of user's head or portion close to user's head is considered to be more effective for correcting user's posture, compared with providing the user with an advice or instruction with regard to the posture of user's portion far from user's head (a portion close to user's waist).
In consideration of this point, by pre-setting an order in which messages should be outputted and outputting the messages according to the order, a user is allowed to perform an effective and efficient exercise.
The third embodiment is identical to the first and second embodiments in that these embodiments output a message corresponding to the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41. However, the third embodiment is different from the first and second embodiments in that a time schedule for outputting messages is pre-determined and the messages are outputted according to the time schedule.
Note that only the difference from the first and second embodiments will be explained and an explanation about the other configurations same as those of the first and second embodiments will be omitted. Since an exercising apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment also has the same structure as that shown in
As shown in
For instance, as indicated by a mark “A” in
The output message determination part 42 extracts a plurality of messages corresponding to the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40, the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41, and the elapsed time from the start point of the play. Further, the output message determination part 42 randomly selects one message among the plurality of extracted messages as if an instructor guides, and determines the selected message as a target message to be outputted.
For instance, in the case where the inclination state of the seat 2 is a “forward inclination”, the rocking speed of the seat 2 has a level “1”, and an elapsed time from a start point of a play is “60 to 90 seconds”, the output message determination part 42 extracts the plurality of messages indicated by a mark “A”. Next, the output message determination part 42 randomly selects one message among the plurality of messages as if an instructor guides. In this case, the message is, for example, “look forward straightly with your eyes” as indicated by a mark “B”. Finally, the output message determination part 42 determines the message as a target message to be outputted.
Further, in the same inclination state and rocking speed, when the elapsed time from the start point of the play becomes “more than 90 seconds”, one message is selected at random among a plurality of messages corresponding to the combination as if an instructor guides, and the message is outputted.
As shown in
On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the time interval determined by the message output timing determination part 38 is less than or equal to the residual time in step S211 (“YES” in Step S211), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S22), and the inclination state detector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S23). Further, the output message determination part 42 detects the elapsed time from a start point of the play (Step S24).
The output message determination part 42 extracts a plurality of messages corresponding to a combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40, the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41, and the time elapsed from the start point of the play. Then, the output message determination part 42 randomly selects one message among the extracted messages and determines the message as a target message to be outputted (Step S25).
Subsequently, the message output control part 43 checks whether or not a time counted by the time count part 39 reaches to a message output timing specified by the time interval determined by the message output timing determination part 38 (Step S26). When checking that the time has reached the message output timing (“YES” in Step S26), the message output control section 43 causes the sound output part 33 to output the message determined by the output message determination part 42 (Step S27). On the other hand, in Step S26, when the message output control section 43 checks that the time has not reached to the message output timing, the process returns to Step S22, and Steps S22 to Step S24 are carried out.
Next, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time has reached to the timing of completing the play (Step S28). When checking that the time has not reached to the message output timing (“NO” in Step S28), the process returns to Step 21. On the other hand, when checking that the time has reached the timing of completing the play (“YES” in Step S28), the control part 37 turns off the power supply of the exercise apparatus 1 (Step S29), and a series of process is completed.
As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the function capable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guiding a user's posture to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that the user's posture can be guided to be appropriate.
By outputting messages according to the time schedule, this embodiment can output the message depending on user's fatigue or the like, thereby enabling the user to perform more effective exercises than that of the first embodiment.
Here, as an aspect of outputting the messages according to the time schedule, the elapsed time from the start point of the play is divided into a plurality of time ranges, and a plurality of messages are prepared for each of the time ranges. One message is selected at random among the plurality of messages corresponding to the time range including the present time, and the message is outputted. However, the present invention is not limited to the above. For instance, as shown in
In this embodiment, a plurality of inappropriate postures occurring in a combination of an inclination state and a rocking speed of the seat 2 (hereinafter referred to as “inappropriate posture”) are previously set. Besides, a message that should be outputted for each of the inappropriate postures is pre-assumed. For the inappropriate postures, occurrence ranks are sequentially assigned thereto from one having a higher probability of occurrence, and messages therefor are outputted according to the ranks.
Note that only the difference from the above-mentioned embodiments will be explained and an explanation about the other configurations same as those of the aforementioned embodiments will be omitted. Since an exercising apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment also has the same structure as that shown in
As shown in
As indicated by a mark “C” in
Furthermore, the seven inappropriate postures, i.e., “upper half body inclines forward”, “face turns downward”, “shoulders are stiffened”, “head swings”, “one relies on handle”, “foot rest swings”, and “foot rest rises in an opposite direction”, occur in the order of increasing its probability, so that the occurrence ranks are determined in this order. Note that, with regard to the levels of “1” to “3” of the rocking speed shown in
The output message determination part 42 determines the occurrence ranks of the inappropriate postures as the output order of the messages prepared for the respective inappropriate postures, wherein the messages correspond to the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41.
Namely, the output message determination part 42 determines the output order of the messages prepared for the inappropriate postures, i.e., “stretch your upper half body straightly”, “look straight forwardly with your eyes”, “relieve your shoulders”, “move your waist according to the motion so as not to swing your head”, “keep your balance with your waist without relying on the handle”, “keep raising the foot rest up forwardly a little”, and “raise the foot rest up forwardly” in this order, in the case where the inclination state of the seat 2 is a “forwardly inclination” and the rocking speed of the seat 2 has the level “1”.
The output message determination part 42 selects a message to be outputted according to this output order of the message. For instance, the case is supposed that the inclination state of the seat 2 is a “forwardly inclination” and the rocking speed of the seat 2 has the level “1”. When outputting the third message among the plurality of messages indicated by a mark “C”, the output message determination part 42 selects the message of “relieve your shoulders” corresponding to the inappropriate posture of “shoulders are stiffened” having the third probability of occurrence.
As shown in
On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the time interval determined by the message output timing determination part 38 is less than or equal to the residual time in step S211 (“YES” in Step S211), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S32), and the inclination state detector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S33).
The output message determination part 42 determines the message to be outputted based upon the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 in Step S32, the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41 in Step S33, and the output order of the message (Step S34).
The message output control unit 43 checks whether or not the time counted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message output timing specified by the time interval, which is determined by the message output timing determination part 38 (Step S35). When checking that the time has reached to the message output timing (“YES” in Step S35), the message output control part 43 causes the sound output part 33 to output the message determined by the output message determination part 42 (Step S36). On the other hand, in Step S35, when the message output control part 43 checks that the time has not reached to the message output timing, the process returns to Step S32 and Steps S32 to S34 are carried out.
Then, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the time has reached to the timing of completing the play (Step S37). When checking that the time has not reached to the play completing timing yet (“NO” in Step S37), the process returns to Step S31. On the other hand, when checking that the time has reached the timing of completing the play (“YES” in Step S37), the control unit 37 turns off a power supply of the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S38), and a series of process is completed.
As described above, the present embodiment is provided with the function capable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guiding a user's posture to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that the user's posture can be guided to be appropriate.
Further, since the present embodiment determines the output timing of the message at random as if an instructor guides, the exercising apparatus 1 allows users to hold such a feeling that an instructor guides themselves, thereby improving its attractiveness.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the inappropriate postures occurring in the combination of the inclination state and the rocking speed of the seat 2 are previously set. Besides, the messages for the respective inappropriate postures are prepared, the output order thereof is determined in accordance with the degree of the probability of occurrence, and the messages are outputted in accordance with the output order. Accordingly, the user can take more appropriate postures than in the first embodiment, thereby enabling the user to perform more effective exercises.
The fifth embodiment is identical to the fourth embodiment in that these embodiments previously set a plurality of inappropriate postures occurring in a combination of an inclination state and a rocking speed of the seat 2 and pre-determine a message that should be outputted for each of the inappropriate postures. However, the fifth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that a message corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a higher probability of occurrence is outputted more frequently than a message corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a lower probability of occurrence while the messages corresponding to the inappropriate postures are outputted in the order of increasing the probability of occurrence in the forth embodiment.
Note that only the difference from the above-mentioned embodiments will be explained and an explanation about the other configurations same as those of the aforementioned embodiments will be omitted. Since an exercising apparatus in accordance with the present embodiment also has the same structure as that shown in
The message storage part 36a of this embodiment stores a table similar to that of the fourth embodiment (e.g., the table as shown in
Based on the rocking speed and the inclination state detected by the rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detector 41, the output message determination part 42 recognizes the probability of occurrence of the inappropriate postures associated with the combination of the rocking speed and the inclination state. Subsequently, the output message determination part 42 determines an output sequence of the massages prepared for the respective inappropriate postures, according to a predetermined rule in which a message corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a higher probability of occurrence is outputted more frequently than a message corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a lower probability of occurrence.
As indicated by a mark “C” in
As shown in
On the other hand, when the control unit 37 checks that the time interval determined by the message output timing determination part 38 is less than or equal to the residual time in step S211 (“YES” in Step S211), the rocking speed detector 40 detects the rocking speed of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S42), and the inclination state detector 41 detects the inclination state of the seat 2 at the present time (Step S43).
The output message determination part 42 recognizes messages corresponding to the combination of the rocking speed detected by the rocking speed detector 40 in Step S32 and the inclination state detected by the inclination state detector 41 in Step S43 (Step S44), and determines the output sequence of the massages prepared for the inappropriate postures, according to the predetermined rule in which a message corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a higher probability of occurrence is outputted more frequently than a message corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a lower probability of occurrence (Step S45).
The message output control unit 43 checks whether or not the time counted by the time counting part 39 reaches to the message output timing specified by the time interval, which is determined by the message output timing determination part 38 in Step S41 (Step S46). When checking that the time has reached to the message output timing (“YES” in Step S46), the message output control part 43 causes the sound output part 33 to output the message determined by the output message determination part 42 (Step S47). On the other hand, in Step S46, when the message output control part 43 checks that the time has not reached to the message output timing, the process returns to Step S42 and Steps S42 to Step S45 are carried out.
The control unit 37 checks whether the time has reached the timing of completing the play (Step S48). When the control section 37 checks that the time has not reached to the timing of completing the play, the message output timing determination part 38 randomly determines the time interval from the last message output timing to the next message output timing as if an instructor guides. The rocking speed detector 40 and the inclination state detector 41 detect the rocking speed and the inclination state of the seat 2 at the present time, respectively (Steps S50, S51).
In the case where both the rocking speed and the inclination state have no change from the last detection values (“NO” in Step S52), the process returns to Step S46. On the other hand, in the case where at least one of the rocking speed and the inclination state has any change from the last detection value (“YES” in Step S52), the process returns to Step S44.
Meanwhile, when checking that the time has reached to the timing of completing the play in Step S48 (“YES” in Step S48), the control unit 37 turns off the power supply of the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S53) and a series of process is completed.
As described above, the present embodiment is also provided with the function capable of outputting the messages with regard to advices for guiding a user's posture to be appropriate in a real time manner, so that the user's posture can be guided to be appropriate.
Further, since the present embodiment determines the output timing of the message at random as if an instructor guides, the exercising apparatus 1 allows users to hold such a feeling that an instructor guides themselves, thereby improving its attractiveness.
Furthermore, in the present embodiment, inappropriate postures, which are possible to occur in the combination of the inclination state and the rocking speed of the seat 2, are previously set and the messages for the respective inappropriate postures are prepared. Besides, the output sequence of the massages are determined such that a message corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a higher probability of occurrence is outputted more frequently than a message corresponding to the inappropriate posture having a lower probability of occurrence, and the messages are outputted in this sequence. As a result, the user can take a posture more appropriate than in the first embodiment, and further the user can perform effective exercises.
The following modifications can be made instead of the above-mentioned embodiments, or in addition to the above-mentioned embodiments.
[1] Although each of the embodiments outputs messages by using audible sound, without being limited to this, it is possible to output the messages visually by using a display or the like.
[2] It is more preferable that the exercising apparatus 1 of each above-mentioned embodiment is provided with the following functions:
(1) a function of pre-storing a plurality of messages depending upon a time of one day and outputting the message corresponding to the time when the time comes.
As shown in
For instance, when the time becomes 6:00, the message output control part 43 causes the sound output part 33 to output the message of “Good morning!!, you are recommended to ride horizontally at a speed level of “1” to “3” for waking up”.
Adding such a function to the exercising apparatus 1 can stimulate the user to use it.
(2) a function of alerting a user when the same user utilizes the exercising apparatus 1 excessively.
As shown in
Next, the control unit 37 checks whether or not the same user successively uses the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S62). If not so (“NO” in Step S62), the control unit 37 waits for the user to input the start command of the play. On the other hand, when checking that the same user is going to use the exercising apparatus 1 successively (“YES” in Step S62), the control section 37 calculates the use time of the user who is going to use the exercising apparatus 1 (Step S63) and checks whether or not the using of the user within a predetermined duration exceeds a predetermined use limit time (e.g., whether or not the user will use the exercising apparatus 1 more than 30 minutes within 1 hour) (Step S64).
If not so (“NO” in Step S64), the control unit 37 waits for the user to input the start command of the play. On the other hand, when checking that the user will use the exercising apparatus 1 more than the predetermined use limit time within the predetermined duration (e.g., the user will use the exercising apparatus 1 more than 30 minutes within 1 hour) (“YES” in Step S64), the control unit 37 causes the sound output part 33 to output the message such as “It's not so good for your health to exercise for a long time”, and waits for the user to input the start command of the play.
The addition of such function can prevent a user from excessively exercising by using the exercising apparatus 1.
Although it is described that the rocking speed and inclination state of the seat 2 are detected at the present time, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may be configured to detect the rocking speed and inclination state of the seat 2 at the message output timing by a program.
Furthermore, although it is described in the above-mentioned embodiments that the rocking speed and the inclination state of the seat 2 are detected and the message corresponding thereto is extracted from the message storage part 36a, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may be configured to detect either of the rocking speed and the inclination state of the seat 2 and extract the message corresponding thereto from the message storage part 36a.
While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009-015709 | Jan 2009 | JP | national |
