SMART EXERCISE DEVICE CAPABLE OF MEASURING MUSCLE STRENGTH IN REAL TIME

Abstract

The invention is a smart exercise device capable of measuring and displaying the muscle strength of a user in real time for the user to systematically perform progressive overload exercise with a load that suits the user, and managing data, having a simple structure and various exercise being performed with a constant load, and comprising: a support means (10) which is stepped on by the foot or which is connected to a structure; a strap (25) that can be pulled by a user; a first sensor (12) connected between the support means (10) and the strap (25) to sense the muscle strength pulling the strap (25); and an electronic circuit (13) connected to the first sensor (12) to process sensed muscle strength data so that the data can be displayed on the outside through a display window (13a) or a display means (40).

Claims

1. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time, comprising: a support means 10 which is stepped on by the foot or connected to other structure; a strap 25 that can be pulled by a user; a first sensor 12 connected between the support means 10 and the strap 25 to sense the muscle strength pulling the strap 25; and an electronic circuit 13 connected to the first sensor 12 and processing sensed muscle strength data so that the data can be displayed on a display means 40 including a display window 13a, a smart phone, a computer and TV; wherein if a user performs the muscle strength exercise by pulling the strap 25, the pulling force of the strap 25 is sensed by the first sensor 12 to be displayed quantitatively through the display means 40, so that the user can systematically perform progressive overload exercises with the exercise load proper to the user.

2. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the strap 25 includes an elastic portion 26 positioned on one side of it and being elastically expandable in proportion to the pulling force by user's arm or foot; and a length adjusting portion 27 positioned on the other side of it and not being expandable or being relatively less expandable than the elastic portion 26 by pulling and the length of it being adjustable according to the user's height or change of posture, so that the elastic portion 26 should keep constant length and elasticity even though the length adjusting portion 27 is adjusted depending on the user's height or posture change to achieve a muscle strength exercise with constant exercise load.

3. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 2, wherein; the elastic portion 26 includes a plurality of elastic bands 28 having different elasticity, and one or more of the elastic bands 28 are detachably attached to the length adjusting portion 27; and the display means 40 includes a band recommending portion 42 calculating proper elasticity of the elastic band 28 based on the user's muscle strength data measured by the first sensor 12 and displaying it.

4. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a rotating bracket 14 vertically extending from the support means 10, and a rotating support 15 engaged on a first axis 16 horizontally mounted on the rotating bracket 14 and being rotatable upward and downward; and a first sensor 12 provided on the rotating support 15, so that the first sensor 12 should sense the pulling force of the strap 25 while the rotating support 15 and the first sensor 12 being rotated upward and downward according to the pulling direction of the strap 25.

5. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 4, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a second axis 18 vertically mounted on the support means 10, and a turntable 18 engaged on the second axis 18 and rotatable horizontally, so that the first sensor 12 should sense the pulling force with being freely rotated horizontally and vertically depending on the pulling direction of the strip 25.

6. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 5, wherein; the support means 10 and the turntable 18 have ball plungers 18a and recesses 18b respectively, so that angle of the turntable 18 should be regularly adjusted by engaging the ball plungers 18a with the recesses 18b.

7. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 5, wherein; the first axis 16 and the second axis 17 each have tubular axis holes 19, 20, and a signal line 21 of the first sensor 12 extends through the axis holes 19, 20, so that the signal line 21 should not be cut or twisted even though the first sensor 12 is rotated horizontally and vertically.

8. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a length adjusting means 30 at one end of the strap 25, the length adjusting means 30 including a cover 31, a spool 32 being rotatable in the cover 21 and wound by the strap 25, an elastic member 32a connected to the spool 32 so that the strap 25 is elastically wound around the spool 32, a plurality of stop recess 34 formed in constant interval on the periphery of the flange 33 provided on the spool 31, and an operating key 35 provided on one side of the cover 31 and being moved linearly or rotated and having a fixing projection 36 being engaged with the stop recess 34 to stop the spool 32 and being released from the stop recess 34 for the spool 32 to be rotated so that the length of strap 25 is adjusted.

9. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 8, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a key operating means 39 connected to the operating key 35 to engage the fixing projection 36 with the stop recess 34 or release the fixing projection 36 from the stop recess 34, and a key switch 39a to switch on/off the key operating means 39.

10. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes an exercise result display 43 shown through the display means 40 and displaying the increase/decrease of muscle strength for each body part after exercise, and an exercise item recommending portion 45 shown through the display means 40 and recommending exercise items for a relatively non-exercised part, a low increased part of muscle strength or other predetermined important part of muscle based on the exercise result data.

11. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the first sensor 12 and the strap 25 are installed on both sides of the support means 10, and the display means 40 further includes a balance checking portion 44 to compare the left muscle strength and the right muscle strength and check the strength balance.

12. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a handle 29 at the upper end of the strap 20, and the handle 29 having a plurality of grips 29a spaced apart wider than the thickness of the human hand so that the distance between the support means 10 and the grip 29a can be easily adjusted only by changing the grip 29a.

13. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a click switch 13c installed on the support means 10 to remotely click selection buttons 41b on the display means 40, and a communication protocol input in the electronic circuit 13 to transmit the signal of the click switch 13c to the display means 40, so that the user can remotely click on the selection buttons 41a on the display means 40 by touching the click switch 13c on the support means 10 during exercise.

14. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a remote click function block 41a in the application 41 of the display means 40 to remotely click the selection buttons 41b on the display when the signal that the strap 25 be pulled with higher strength or quicker speed than the predetermined value is received from the electronic circuit 13.

15. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a plurality of item selection switches 13d on the support means 10, a communication protocol input in the electronic circuit 13 to transmit the signal of the exercise item selection switch 13d to the display means 40, an item matching portion 47 shown on the display means 40 to match the item selection switches 13d with proper exercise items, a memory 48 in the display means 40 to save the data of muscle strength measured by the first sensor 12, and an exercise result display 49 shown on the display means 40 and displaying the data of the user's muscle strength saved in the memory 48, so that as the user touches the item selection switch 13d and performs exercise, then the data of muscle strength measured by the first sensor 12 is saved and managed.

16. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a push plate 22 on the upper of the support means 10, a second sensor 23 provided between the push plate 22 and the support means 10 to measure the pushing force on the push plate 22, an electronic circuit 13 to process the data about the pulling or pushing force of the first sensor 12 and the second sensor 23 to display through a display means 40 including a display window 13a, a smart phone, a computer or a TV.

17. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time, wherein; the smart exercise device includes; a support means 10 which is stepped on by the foot or connected to a structure; a rotating bracket 14 vertically extending from the support means 10; a rotating support 15 engaged on a first axis 16 horizontally mounted on the rotating bracket 14 and being rotatable upward and downward; a first sensor 12 provided on the rotating support 15 and connected to a strap 25 pulled by user to sense the pulling force of the strap 25, and an electronic circuit 12 connected to the first sensor 12 to process the muscle strength data to display through a display means 40 including a display window 13a, a smart phone, a computer and a TV, so that the first sensor 12 should sense the pulling force of the strap 25 while the rotating support 15 and the first sensor 12 being rotated upward and downward according to the pulling direction of the strap 25.

18. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 17, wherein; the smart exercise device further includes a second axis 18 vertically mounted on the support means 10, and a turntable 18 engaged on the second axis 18 and rotatable horizontally, so that the first sensor 12 should sense the pulling force while being freely rotated horizontally and vertically depending on the pulling direction of the strip 25.

19. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time of claim 1817 or 18, wherein; the first axis 16 and the second axis 17 each have tubular axis holes 19, 20, and a signal line 21 of the first sensor 12 extends through the axis holes 19, 20, so that the signal line 21 should not be cut or twisted even though the first sensor 12 is rotated horizontally and vertically.

20. A smart exercise device capable of measuring muscle strength in real time, comprising: a support means 10 which is stepped on by the foot or connected to a structure; a strap 25 that can be pulled by a user; a first sensor 12 connected between the support means 10 and the strap 25 to sense the muscle strength pulling the strap 25; an electronic circuit 13 connected to the first sensor 12 and processing sensed muscle strength data so that the date can be displayed on a display means 40 including a display window 13a, a smart phone, a computer and a TV; a cover 31 of a length adjusting means 30 at one end of the strap 25; a spool 32 being rotatable in the cover 21 and wound by the strap 25; an elastic member 32a connected to the spool 32 so that the strap 25 is elastically wound on the spool 32; stop recesses 34 regularly formed the flange 33 provided on the spool 31; and an operating key 35 provided on one side of the cover 31 and being moved linearly or rotated and having a fixing projection 36 being engaged with the stop recess 34 to stop the spool 32 and being released from the stop recess 34 for the spool 32 to be rotated so that the length of strap 25 is adjusted.

21. (canceled)

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] FIG. 1 is a front view of the first preferred embodiment of the invention

[0065] FIG. 2 is a used state side view of the first embodiment of the invention

[0066] FIG. 3 is a front section view of A portion in FIG. 1

[0067] FIG. 4 is a section view of sensor body of linear moving type operating key

[0068] FIG. 5 is a section view of sensor body of rotary type operating key

[0069] FIG. 6 is a view showing display type of the invention

[0070] FIG. 7 is a plan view of the support means and display means of the invention

[0071] FIG. 8 is a side view of used state of the invention together with a bench

[0072] FIG. 9 is a perspective of the display means separated from the bench

[0073] FIG. 10 is a partial side and front view of the second embodiment of the invention

[0074] FIG. 11 is a view of used state of the second embodiment

[0075] FIG. 12 is a view of the third embodiment of the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0076] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIGS. 1 to 12 show the various embodiments of the invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the first embodiment of the invention includes a support means 10, two sensor bodies A positioned on both end of the support means 10 and connected to the strap 25, and a control box C on the center of the support means 10. The strap 20 is a means to transfer the use's force to the first sensor 12 in FIG. 3 and includes an elastic portion 26 on one side of the strap 25 and elastically expandable by pulling of the user while moving user's arms or legs, and a length adjusting portion 27 connected on the elastic portion 26 and the length of it being adjusted according to the use's posture and height. The length adjusting portion 27 is not expandable or is relatively less expandable than the elastic portion 26 by pulling and the length of it should be freely adjusted for matching the user's height or change of posture.

[0077] Meanwhile, the length of the elastic portion 26 is constant as long as pulling force is not applied on the elastic portion 26, and as shown in FIG. 1, comprising of a plurality of elastic bands 28 having different diameter or thickness. For example, a yellow band is proper for 1 kg pulling force, a red band for 3 kg, a blue band for 5 kg, a violet band for 10 kg, and a black band for 20 kg respectively. Therefore, if a user of 8.3 kg muscle strength is to exercise, a red band of 3 kg and a blue band of 5 kg should be connected to the strap 25.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 1, rings 60 and snap buttons 61 detachably hung on the ring 60 are mounted on the connecting part between the elastic portion 26 and the length adjusting portion 27 or on the handle 29. The handle 29 is attached on the upper end of the strap 25, and has plurality of grip 29a spaced apart wider than the thickness of the human hand, therefore, the user can easily adjust the distance between the support means 10 and the grip 29a without adjusting the length of the strap 25.

[0079] The support means 10 is in the shape of foot plate which is stepped on as shown in FIG. 1, and includes length adjusting means 30 on both side of it, and a sensor body A comprising of a first sensor 12 and a rotating support 14 as shown in FIG. 3. A control box C containing an electronic circuit 13 connected to the first sensor 12 is disposed on the center of the support means 10.

[0080] The length adjusting means 30 is connected to the sensor body A on both side of the support means 10 as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, and performs function of adjusting the length of strap 25 and connecting the first sensor 12 and the strap 25. The length adjusting means 30 includes a spool 32 rotatable in the cover 31, and the length adjusting portion 27 of the strap 25 is wound around the spool 32. Disc type flanges 33 are formed on both end of the spool 32, and a plurality of stop recesses 34 are formed on the periphery of the flange 33 with constant interval, and a operating key 35 installed on one side of the cover 31 is engaged into or released from the stop recess 34 to control the rotation of the spool 32. The position of the stop recess 34 can be properly selected if it can stop the rotation of the spool 32 in constant interval. If so, it can be positioned on the periphery of the flange 33 or on middle part of the flange 33, or any part of the spool 32.

[0081] The operating key 35 is installed on one side of the cover 31, and is movable linearly or rotated. In linear moving type operating key, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a fixing projection 36 is formed on one side of the operating key 35, can be selectively engaged with the stop recess 34 of the spool 32 to fix the spool 32, and a spring 38a is inserted on the rear end of it and a pushing nob 38 extending outside of the cover 31 is formed on the front end of the operating key 35. According to this type, the operating key 35 is ordinarily pushed forward by spring 38a and the fixing projection 36 is engaged with the stop recess 34 to stop the rotation of the spool 32. If the pushing nob 38 is pushed, the operating key 35 retreats and the fixing projection 26 is released from the stop recess 34, so the spool 32 can be rotated by elastic means 32a such as a coil spring, and the length adjusting portion 27 of the strap 25 is automatically wound around the spool 32 to achieve length adjusting of the strip 25.

[0082] In rotary type operating key, as shown in FIG. 5, the middle part of the operating key 35 is hinged on the cover 31, and a fixing projection 36 is formed at one end of it, and a key operating means 39 such as solenoid or motor is connected to the other end of it. The key operating means 39 is operated in association with the key switch 39a on the surface of the support means 10. Therefore, in the ordinary case on which the key switch 39a is not pushed, the fixing projection 36 of the operating key 35 is engaged with the stop recess 34 so that the spool 32 is fixed and cannot be rotated. If the user pushes down the key switch 39c, the fixing projection is released from the stop recess 35 and the key operating means 39 could operates, and the spool 32 can be rotated by the elastic means 32a to automatically wind the length adjusting portion 37 of the strap 25 around the spool 32. If the key switch 39a is released, the key operating means 39 is extended again, and the fixing projection 36 of the operating key 35 is engaged with the stop recess 34 to stop the spool 32.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of sensor body A is provided on both end of the support means 10, and a second axis 17 is vertically and rotatably attached on the support means 10 by way of a bearing on the center of the sensor body A, and a horizontal turntable 18 is provided on the upper end of the second axis 17. A U-shaped rotating bracket 14 is vertically attached on the turntable 18, and a U-shape rotating support 15 is inserted in the rotating bracket 14 and rotatably engaged with the rotating bracket 14 through the first axis 16 extending the upper part of the rotating bracket 14. And the length adjusting means 30 is inserted and connected in the rotating support 15.

[0084] The first sensor 12 is installed on the sensor mount 37 in the length adjusting means 30. According to the above structure, the first sensor 12 can be freely rotated horizontally and vertically around the first axis 16 and the second axis 17 even though the user may pull the strap 25 in any direction, so that the first sensor 12 can be oriented perpendicular to the pulling force of the strip 25 so accurate measuring for muscle strength is possible.

[0085] And, the first axis 16 and the second axis 17 each have tubular axis holes 19, 20, and a signal line 21 of the first sensor 12 extends through the axis holes 19, 20, so that the signal line 21 may not be cut or twisted even though the first sensor 12 is rotated horizontally and vertically.

[0086] The first sensor 12 is connected to the strap 25 and senses the pulling force of the strap 25, and various sensors such as a load cell or a pressure sensor can be used for the first strap 12. The first sensor 12 can be directly attached on one end of the strap 24, or it can be connected to strap 25 by way of length adjusting means 30 or any other member such as bar member.

[0087] The display means 40, as shown in FIG. 1 or 7, is to display the measured muscle strength, and it can be separate digital device such as a smart phone, a computer and a TV, and it can be a display window 13a of LCD, LED or FND embedded on the control box C.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 1, a balance checking portion 44 is provided on the display means 40 to compare the left muscle strength and the right muscle strength and check the strength balance so that the user can perform the muscle exercise while checking the right and left balance in real time.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 6, an exercise result display 43 is provided on the display means 40 to display the increase/decrease of the muscle strength for each body parts shown in human body diagram, so that the user can easily figure out which body part is increased and how much in-creases. And an exercise item recommending portion 45 is provide on the display means 40 to recommend exercise items for a relatively non-exercised part, a low increased part of muscle strength or other predetermined important part based on the exercise result data, so that amateur user can perform systematic exercises.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 7, a plurality of switches is provided on the surface of the support means 10, which include a power switch, a mode switch 13b, and plural function switches. The function switches may function as a click switch 13c and an item selection switch 13d mentioned below. Plural function switches can be used as the click switch 13a and the item selection switch 13d at the same time. In this case, for example, the user may firstly push the mode switch 13b and push the function switch later, then the function switch will function as an item selection switch 13d. If the user pushes the function switch without pushing the mode switch 13b, it will function as click switch 13c, or vice versa. Otherwise, the click switch 13c and the item selection switch 13d can be provided separately.

[0091] The click switch 13c is connected to the electronic circuit 13, and the electronic circuit 13 transmits the signal to the display means 40 to click the selection button 41b on the display. That is, the user can click the selection button 41b on the remote display means 40 through the click switch 13c while the user is exercising on the support means 10.

[0092] The invention further includes a remote click function block 41a in the application 41 of the display means 40 to remotely click the selection buttons 41b on the display when the signal that the strap 25 is pulled with higher strength or quicker speed than the predetermined value is received from the electronic circuit 13. Therefore, the user can easily operate the selection button of the display means 40 by pulling with higher strength or quicker speed.

[0093] The item selection switch 13d is connected to the electronic circuit 13, and the electronic circuit 13 transmits the signal to the display means 40. The display means 40 includes an item matching portion 47 for the user to select and match the item selection switches 13d with proper exercise items. For example, if the user push No. 1 switch and then click one of the exercise item displayed on the screen, the No. 1 switch is matched to that item. If any item is matched, and the user push the above item selection switch 13d and performs that exercise item, the muscle strength data measured by the first sensor 12 is automatically saved in the memory of the display means 40, and displayed on the exercise result display 49.

[0094] The support means 10 may be the type of foot plate on which the user may step on as shown in FIGS. 1 to 7, or it may be any type such as a bolt or a channel if it could be firmly fixed on a horizontal panel, a vertical post or a door frame (D) as shown in FIG. 11a or 11b.

[0095] As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a bench 50 can be engaged on the support means 10 and the user may lie down on the bench 50 to perform a muscle strength exercise. The bench 50 includes a plate 51 and legs 52 extending downward from the plate 51, and the plate 51 is in the rectangular shape, and is placed perpendicular to the support means 10, and the leg 52 on one side of bench 50 is placed on the upper surface of the support means 10. The leg 52 may have projection 55 and the support means 10 may have recess 10c to be engaged with the projection 55 of the leg 52. In this case, the user can lie down on the bench 50 to perform a muscle exercise, and the weight of the bench 50 and the user body will be loaded and on firmly fix the support means 10. The opposite legs 50 of the bench 50 connected to each other by a cross bar 53. The leg 50 can be fixed vertically by a fastener 54 such as bolt and pin, or it can be folded. If the bench 50 is to be stored, the bench 50 may be overturned, and the exercise device can be placed on the bottom of the plate 51 and the leg 50 is folded, then the cross bar 53 will push down and fix the support means 10, therefore the storage volume will be compact and reduce the logistical cost.

[0096] In the second embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b, only one sensor body is provided which comprises of the length adjusting means 30, the first sensor 12, and the rotating support 15. Two bundles of the elastic bands 28 are connected on left and right side of the upper end of the length adjusting portion 27, and the handle 29 are connected at the other end of the elastic band 3. A barbell bar may be inserted into the elastic band 28 or the handle 29 to be gripped by two hands of the user. If the user wants to exercise with one hand, then the elastic band 28 may be connected on one side of the length adjusting portion 27. A thread shaft 17b and a nut 17c may be provided on the bottom of the sensor body A, so that the sensor body A can be installed on a separate foot plate, a door D or a post. In this case, the thread shaft 17b and the nut 17c function as the support means 10 of the first embodiment. In the secand embodiment of the invention, the electronic circuit 13 to process the muscle strength data and transmit them to the display means 40 are provided inside the sensor body A and is connected to the first sensor 12.

[0097] The third embodiment of the invention, as shown in FIG. 12, also measures the pulling force of the strap 25 as the first embodiment, but further includes a push plate 22 on the upper of the support means 10, and a second sensor 23 provided between the push plate 22 and the support means 10 to measure the pushing force on the push plate 22. In this embodiment, the user can perform the aerobic exercise on the push plate 22, e.g. by jumping on the push plate 22, then the aerobic exercise can be measured by the second sensor 23 and to be displayed through the display means 40. The first sensor 12 can measure the pulling force of the strap 25 of anaerobic exercise, but it cannot measure the pushing force by hand or foot by user. But the second sensor 23 can measure the pushing force additionally and display, so that more various exercise items can be performed, measured and processed by the invention.

[0098] The invention is not restricted by the above mentioned embodiment or the drawings, and various modifications or substitutions can be possible within the technical idea of the invention, which will be included in the protective scope of the invention.