Adjustable Active and Passive Exercise Training Equipment for Upper Limb Weight-Bearing in an Upright Position

The present invention relates to a piece of exercise training equipment, and more particularly, to a piece of adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position, allowing a user to simultaneously utilize an upper limb weight-bearing device and a pedal device to efficiently perform whole-body strength training.

Due to modern-day pressures, busy daily routines, and sedentary lifestyles, people's physical activity levels tend to decrease, while poor posture issues increase with age, resulting in the muscle weakness. Because of long-term muscle weakness, the body becomes less capable of handling physically demanding tasks in daily life. Over time, this can result in persistent fatigue, muscle soreness, and a gradual decline in physical function. Therefore, people need to engage in physical training to improve their muscle strength, contributing to preventing chronic diseases and musculoskeletal pain affecting the body, including shoulders, abdomen, back, trunk and lower limbs.

As fitness becomes increasingly popular, fitness enthusiasts have higher expectations for the functionality and effectiveness of their training, especially the functionality of compound exercises targeting the abdomen, lumbar, and back (e.g., back and lumbar muscle group), upper limb (e.g., shoulder joint muscle group), and lower limbs (e.g., thighs and gluteus) has been steadily improving.

Fitness equipment in the prior art is almost configured to train only a specific body region or multiple muscle groups surrounding the body region, for example, a user only trains the upper limbs or associated back muscle groups when performing the weight-bearing training for upper limb. However, since all body muscle groups coordinate with each other during daily activities, the fitness equipment designed for one specific body region cannot provide comprehensive body and core training, resulting in limitation of the training gains. Furthermore, the fitness equipment of prior art is almost configured to train muscle groups in the single direction, the user will form the muscle memory resulting in the training plateau after engaging in the fitness equipment of prior art with one direction during long-term training. If fitness equipment can enable the user to maintain dynamic balance of the body during training, it can not only train a specific body but also engage the body core and improve dynamic balance of the body, thereby enhancing training gains across the entire body.

Therefore, it is necessary to provide a piece of exercise training equipment, which can enable the user to engage in multiple muscle groups training and maintain body dynamic balance.

Therefore, the present invention provides a piece of adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position to solve the problems of the prior art.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position comprises an upper limb weight-bearing device and a pedal device. The upper limb weight-bearing device comprises a weight-bearing element and a holding element connected to the weight-bearing element. The holding element is configured to be held by a user to apply force to the weight-bearing element. The pedal device is connected to the upper limb weight-bearing device, and the pedal device further comprises a plurality of pedals for the user to place the user's feet thereon. The pedals are configured to change a pedaling angle and move along at least one direction.

Wherein, the pedal device further comprises a plurality of slide rail structures, and the pedals are connected to the slide rail structures respectively; the slide rail structures extend along the at least one direction respectively, and the pedals move along the at least one direction through the slide rail structures.

Wherein, the pedal device further comprises at least one controller and at least one motor connected to the at least one controller, and the at least one motor is connected to the pedals. Wherein, the at least one controller is configured to control the at least one motor to drive the pedals moving along the at least one direction through the slide rail structures according to a force applied by the user to the holding element.

Wherein, the pedal device further comprises a linkage bar structure connected to the pedals, and the pedals move along the at least one direction through the linkage bar structure.

Wherein, the pedal device further comprises at least one controller and at least one motor connected to the at least one controller. Wherein, the at least one controller is configured to control the at least one motor to drive the pedals moving along the at least one direction through the linkage bar structure according to a force applied by the user to the holding element.

Wherein, the pedal device further comprises at least one angle adjustment component connected to the pedals respectively, and the pedals are configured to change the pedaling angle through the at least one angle adjustment component.

Wherein, the upper limb weight-bearing device further comprises a lever structure connected to the weight-bearing element and the holding element, and the lever structure is configured to change a direction of the force applied to the weight-bearing element.

Wherein, the upper limb weight-bearing device further comprises a rope and at least one pulley. The rope is configured to connect the weight-bearing element and the holding element, and the rope changes a direction of the force applied to the weight-bearing element through the at least one pulley.

Wherein, the holding element comprises a linkage handle.

Wherein, the holding element further comprises a left handle and a right handle, and the weight-bearing element comprises a left weight-bearing element and a right weight-bearing element. The left handle is connected to the left weight-bearing element and the right handle is connected to the right weight-bearing element.

In summary, the invention of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position allows a user to simultaneously perform weight-bearing training and achieve stable whole-body training gains through the upper limb weight-bearing device and the pedal device. Furthermore, the invention provides several embodiments to allow the user to change collocation according to their needs to obtain the different training gains. On the other hands, the invention of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can also further comprises a controller and a motor. The controller can drive the motor to adjust the movement pattern, the oscillation range, the oscillation angle and the oscillation frequency of the pedals according to the posture positioning of the user's upper limb, comprising flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation and internal rotation, through its connection to both the upper limb weight-bearing device and the pedal device. Wherein, the movement pattern, the oscillation range, the oscillation angle and the oscillation frequency of the pedals comprise a turning, a rotary movement, a swing, a pedaling, a sliding movement, a two-dimensional and three-dimensional regular translation, a two-dimensional and three-dimensional irregular translation, a two-dimensional and three-dimensional regular rotation, a two-dimensional and three-dimensional irregular rotation and any combination thereof. Otherwise, because of the pedal oscillation driven by the motor, the upper limb of the user can drive the whole body to perform elbow extension and elbow flexion in comprehensive direction and angle, thereby enhancing both body and core strength. The invention of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position further provides the upper limb weight-bearing device in different types, thereby allowing the user to achieve the different weight-bearing effect by engaging in the upper limb weight-bearing device in different types.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE APPENDED DRAWINGS

is a schematic diagram illustrating the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement direction of the pedals according to the other embodiments of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position of.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the upper limb weight-bearing device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the upper limb weight-bearing device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the upper limb weight-bearing device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the upper limb weight-bearing device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention.

For the sake of the advantages, spirits and features of the present invention can be understood more easily and clearly, the detailed descriptions and discussions will be made later by way of the embodiments and with reference of the diagrams. It is worth noting that these embodiments are merely representative embodiments of the present invention, wherein the specific methods, devices, conditions, materials and the like are not limited to the embodiments of the present invention or corresponding embodiments.

Please refer to.is a schematic diagram illustrating the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipmentfor upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in, in this specific embodiment, the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipmentfor upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position comprises the upper limb weight-bearing deviceand the pedal device. The upper limb weight-bearing devicecomprises a weight-bearing element, such as a plurality of bumper plate, and a holding elementconnected to the weight-bearing element. The holding elementis configured to be held by a user. The user can apply force to the holding elementby holding the holding element, and the user pulls down the holding elementto further apply force to the weight-bearing element. In practice, the upper limb weight-bearing device can be designed to provide weight-bearing to the user in reverse direction, such as the weight of the weight-bearing can be directly translated to the holding element, while the user pushes the holding elementupward to apply force to weight-bearing element. The pedal deviceis connected to the upper limb weight-bearing device, and the pedal device comprises a plurality of pedalsfor the user to place the user's feet thereon. The pedals are configured to change a pedaling angle or move along at least one direction, such as the direction dl shown in.

In this specific embodiment, the upper limb weight-bearing devicefurther comprises a ropeand at least one pulley, and the holding elementcomprises a linkage handle. The ropeis connected to two pulleys at the same time. The ropechanges a direction of the force applied to the weight-bearing element through the at least one pulley. Therefore, the combination of the pulleyand the ropeapply an upward force to the weight-bearing elementto raise it when the user handles the linkage handleand applies a downward force by their hands. In this specific embodiment, the number of the pulleys is two, but it is not limited to this.

In this specific embodiment, the pedal devicefurther comprises a plurality of slide rail structuresand a linkage bar structure. The linkage bar structureis connected to the pedals, and the pedalscan provide the movement in the specific direction for the user through the assist of the slide rail structuresand the linkage bar structure. In practice, the number of the pedalsis two: one left pedal and one right pedal. The left pedal and right pedal are connected to the linkage bar structurerespectively and comprise slide rail structures. In practice, the user can simultaneously utilize the upper limb weight-bearing deviceto actively perform the upper limb weight-bearing training and allow pedal move along front-to-back direction (direction d) through stampeding the pedalsby the left feet and right feet when utilizing the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position. In this specific embodiment, the user can perform compound exercises that engage the upper limbs, back, abdomen, gluteal muscles, thighs and calves.

In another specific embodiment, the pedal devicecan further comprise at least one controller and at least one motor. The controller can drive the motor to actuate the slide rail structure and the linkage bar structure within the pedal device, enabling movement in a specific direction.

Therefore, the motor drive the left pedal and right pedal to move along the slide rail structure and linkage bar structure when the user stands on the left pedal and right pedal, enabling movement in the front-to-back direction. In other words, the user's lower limbs can passively undergo pronounced oscillation.

In another specific embodiment, the controller of the pedal device is connected to the upper limb weight-bearing device and the motor simultaneously. The controller drives the motor to adjust the movement pattern, the oscillation range, the oscillation angle and the oscillation frequency of the pedals according to the upper limb posture of the user, including flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation and internal rotation. Then, the oscillation of the motor enables the user's upper limb to perform elbow flexion and extension, thereby activating the whole body and core muscles, contributing to comprehensive physical training.

In summary, the invention of the pedal device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can detects the usage condition of the user immediately by the sensor within the controller. The controller drives the motor to adjust the oscillation range and the oscillation frequency of the pedals in the specific direction when utilizing the upper limb weight-bearing device alone or utilizing the pedals alone. Therefore, the invention can provide the user with training gains for stabilizing the whole-body core, as the user shifts their center of gravity to adjust the training strength when the user performs upper limb training by utilizing the upper limb weight-bearing device.

The invention of the pedal device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipmentfor upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position enables the lower limb of the user to move in the front-to-back direction (direction d) to train the anterior and posterior thigh muscles of the user. The invention also provides different foot movement directions for the user to train other foot muscle groups of the user. Please refer to.is a schematic diagram illustrating the movement direction of the pedals according to the other embodiments of the present invention. As shown in, in this specific embodiment, the pedal of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can undergo medio-lateral oscillation along a direction dto train the anterior and posterior thigh muscles of the user. In the other specific embodiments, the pedal of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can also undergo oscillation along a direction dor a direction dto train the coordination of the user's lower limbs. In another specific embodiment, the pedal of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can also undergo oscillation along a direction d. In the other specific embodiments, the pedal of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can also undergo oscillation along a direction dor a direction d. The invention can train the whole-body muscles and body coordination of the user base on the aforementioned linear or non-linear movement direction of the pedal. The aforementioned embodiments can also be simultaneously connected to the upper limb weight-bearing device, the controller, and the motor to enable the user to actively perform the upper limb weight-bearing training, while their lower limbs are enabled to move passively in a specific direction to satisfy different training requirements for the user, contributing to achieving a more comprehensive exercise outcome.

Furthermore, the invention of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipmentfor upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can train the different muscle groups from the user to lead to significant training gains according to the above slide rail structure and linkage bar structure. Additionally, the pedal deviceof the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipmentfor upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can also comprises at least one angle adjustment componentconnected to the pedals. Please refer toand.is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal deviceof the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipmentfor upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position of. As shown inand, in this specific embodiment, the pedal deviceof the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipmentfor upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position further comprises at least one angle adjustment componentconnected to the pedalsrespectively. The pedals are configured to change the pedaling angle through the at least one angle adjustment component. In detail, as shown in, the left pedal and the right pedal enable the user's left foot and right foot to extend in different angles (pedaling angle a). This allows for the coordination training for the ankle in the process of the training according to the angle adjustment componentsof the pedalswhen the user places their feet thereon.

Furthermore, the invention can enable the user to extend with different method and different angle according to the angle adjustment component snapped into the different connecting joints of the left pedal and the right pedal. Please refer to,and.is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device according to another embodiment of the present invention.is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device according to another embodiment of the present invention.is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the pedal device according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in, the user applies a downward force with the back of both heels to the pedals respectively when the user stands facing a latch, enabling the generation of the pedaling angle a. As shown in, the user applies a downward force with the back of both heels to the pedals respectively when the user stands facing a latch, enabling the generation of the pedaling angle a. As shown in, the user applies a downward force with the back of both heels to the pedals respectively when the user stands facing a latch, enabling the generation of the pedaling angle a.

In practical application, the invention of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position can be selected in different types by the user requirements. The invention allows the user to utilize the upper limb weight-bearing device to perform the upper limb weight-bearing training and to press on the left pedal and right pedal, enabling the pedals movement in specific direction (e.g., d, d, d, d, d, dand d) or the generation of the pedaling angle (e.g., a, a, aand a). In other words, the invention allows the user to perform the coordination exercises for the upper limbs, back, abdomen, gluteal muscles, thighs and calves simultaneously. For example, the invention can simulate the user walking situation base on the above pedaling angle and provide calf muscle strengthening training for the user. Additionally, the invention allows the user to perform the whole-body synergistic and balance exercises simultaneously.

Furthermore, the aforementioned specific embodiments can comprise a motor and a controller. The controller can drive the motor to actuate the pedals through the slide rail structure, the linkage bar structure and the angle adjustment component according to the level of the force from the user applied to the weight-bearing, enabling movement in the specific direction and different pedaling angle. The user can actively perform the upper limb weight-bearing training with the upper limb weight-bearing device, while their lower limbs enable passive movement in a specific direction and at different pedaling angle through the pedals to satisfy the different training requirements for the user, contributing to achieving a more comprehensive exercise outcome.

Besides, all the controllers of the aforementioned specific embodiments can detect the user's usage conditions and identify whether the user is utilizing them, but the detection method is not limited to this. In practice, the invention can further comprise a switch disposed on the pedals or the upper limb weight-bearing device. Then, the user can turn on or turn off the movement function of the pedal base on their training requirements. The switch can also further comprise an adjustment button, providing the user to adjust the oscillation range, the oscillation frequency and the oscillation angle of the pedals according to their training requirements or their body conditions.

In this specific embodiment, the pulley of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipmentfor upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position is configured to change a direction of the force applied to the upper limb weight-bearing device. The number of the pulleys is two, but it is not limited to this. Please refer to.is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the upper limb weight-bearing deviceof the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in, in this specific embodiment, the upper limb weight-bearing deviceof the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position further comprises a lever structureconnected to the weight-bearing element (the figure is not shown) and the holding element. Wherein, the middle part of the lever structureis connected to a fixed pulley, enabling the lever structureto change the direction of the force applied to the weight-bearing element. In practice, the user can pull down the handle after holding it to train the upper limb muscles when the user utilizes the upper limb weight-bearing device.

Please refer to.is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the upper limb weight-bearing device of the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in, in this specific embodiment, the upper limb weight-bearing deviceof the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position further comprises a pulleyand the lever structureconnected to the holding element. The difference between the upper limb weight-bearing deviceand the upper limb weight-bearing deviceof this specific embodiment is that one of the pulleysin the upper limb weight-bearing devicelimits the range of the lever's movement by a limit structure. This specific embodiment enables the user to perform upper limb weight-bearing training by pushing in the upward direction utilizing the upper limb weight-bearing device.

Moreover, the holding elementof the above specific embodiment is linkage handle, but it is not limited to this. Please refer to.is a partial schematic diagram illustrating the upper limb weight-bearing deviceof the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position according to another embodiment of the present invention. As shown in, in this specific embodiment, the holding element of the upper limb weight-bearing devicewithin the adjustable active and passive exercise training equipment for upper limb weight-bearing in an upright position further comprises two handles, including left handleand right handle, providing the user to hold respectively. The weight-bearing element correspondingly comprises a left weight-bearing elementand a right weight-bearing element. Wherein, the left handleis connected to the left weight-bearing elementand the right handleis connected to the right weight-bearing element. In this specific embodiment, the user can hold the left handleand right handlesimultaneously to perform bilateral weight-bearing upper limb training, and the user can also hold the left handleor right handleto perform unilateral weight-bearing upper limb training. In this specific embodiment, the coordinated movement, generated from the upper limb weight-bearing deviceand the pedal device, can provide the user with muscle stimulation that is different from the stimulation generated by the linkage handle of the aforementioned embodiment, leading to different training gains.