Training apparatus

Abstract

A training apparatus is disclosed that will enable a trainee to exercise with a load that is suited to his or her physical build in the forward path and return path of a repetitive exercise. A motor applies a load to a bar (corresponds to a moving unit) that moves repetitively due to a trainee's exercise. The load that is applied by the motor is not fixed, but rather varies during the repetitive exercise. The width of the repetitive exercise, i.e., the width of the range of motion of the bar, takes into account differences in the physique of individual trainees. Consequently, varying the method by which the load changes in accordance with the width of the range of motion makes it possible to apply a load that is suited to the physique of each individual trainee, thereby enabling each trainee to exercise effectively.

1 . A training apparatus that is provided for exercise, wherein an electrically powered load generator applies a load to a moving unit, which is capable of repetitive motion, comprising:
 a range of motion determining unit configured to determine a range of motion, which is a range through which the moving unit performs repetitive motion, in accordance with a trainee; and   a load controlling unit configured to vary the load, which is applied to the moving unit by the load generator, in accordance with the position of the moving unit in the determined range of motion.   
   
   
       2 . A training apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a reference load determining unit configured to determine a reference load, which is a load that is suited to the trainee;   
     wherein,
 the load controlling unit gradually varies the load applied to the moving unit in a range of values that are greater than or equal to the reference load, which was determined by the reference load determining unit, and less than N times (1<N<2) the reference load. 
 
   
   
       3 . A training apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a long and deformable power transferring member that transfers the load of the load generator to the moving unit;   
     wherein,
 the load controlling unit performs the steps of:
 increasing the load generated by the load generator and applied to the moving unit at an arbitrary position along the return path of the repetitive exercise so that it is greater than the load generated by the load generator and applied to the moving unit at the identical position along the forward path of the repetitive exercise; and 
 adjusting the increase in the load along the return path commensurate with the decrease in the load due to the kinetic frictional force generated by the power transferring member along the return path. 
 
 
   
   
       4 . A training apparatus as recited in  claim 2 , wherein
 the load controlling unit linearly increases the load of the moving unit as it moves from the start point to the end point of the repetitive motion in accordance with the positional change of the moving unit, and linearly decreases the load of the moving unit as it moves from the end point to the start point of the repetitive motion in accordance with the positional change of the moving unit.   
   
   
       5 . A training apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the load controlling unit varies the load that is applied to the moving unit based further on a body weight offset load, which changes in accordance with the body weight of the trainee and the position of the moving unit in the range of motion.   
   
   
       6 . A training apparatus as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a selection receiving unit configured to receive the selection of any one among a plurality of exercise types;   
     wherein,
 the load controlling unit comprises a load pattern storage unit that associates and stores the exercise type and the variation pattern of the load, and varies the load that is applied to the moving unit based on the variation pattern that corresponds to the selected exercise type.