Training apparatus

Abstract

A training apparatus comprises a seat 32 mounted on an apparatus body, a training mechanism disposed in front of the seat 32 and provided with a mechanism adapted to exercise legs of a user, a load-applying unit adapted to apply a braking force to a movement of the training mechanism in an electrically adjustable manner, and a tilt adjustment unit adapted to tiltingly move a front end of the seat in a vertical direction. The training apparatus of the present invention allows a user, even an elderly person or a person who requires assistance to readily sit on the seat without an unnatural or forced physical posture.

1 . A training apparatus comprising:
 a seat mounted on an apparatus body;   a training mechanism disposed in front of said seat and provided with a mechanism adapted to exercise legs of a user;   a load-applying unit adapted to apply a braking force to a movement of said training mechanism in an electrically adjustable manner; and   a tilt adjustment unit for tilting said seat so as to move a front end of said seat in a vertical direction.   
   
   
       2 . The training apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said training mechanism including:
 a pair of roller pads each adapted to be disposed in a horizontal posture so as to hold the user's legs therebetween; and   a posture shifting mechanism adapted to allow said pair of roller pads to be shifted between a first posture for holding the user's legs therebetween and a second posture for releasing said leg holding state.   
   
   
       3 . The training apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein said posture shifting mechanism being provided at an end of a front one of said roller pads and said posture shifting mechanism sets said pair of roller pads in parallel relation to each other and in front & rear relation with respect to the user in top view in said first posture and sets said front roller pad of said roller pads in standing state in said second posture. 
   
   
       4 . The training apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a lock mechanism for locking said front roller pad in said second posture; and   a manual operation unit for releasing the locked state of said front roller pad by said lock mechanism, said manual operation unit being arranged at a position where the user can manually operate it while sitting on said seat.   
   
   
       5 . The training apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an arm for supporting said pair of roller pads, said arm being swingably supported by a shaft which extends in a lateral direction of said apparatus body; and   an intermediate member interposed between said arm and said pair of roller pads for adjusting the position thereof along said arm.   
   
   
       6 . The training apparatus according to  claim 2 , further comprising a detection unit which detects the posture of said pair of roller pads whether it is in said first posture or not, wherein said tilt adjustment unit is operable, when said detection unit detects the posture of said pair of roller pads being in said first posture, to prohibit said tilt movement of said seat. 
   
   
       7 . The training apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein said pair of roller pads are disposed in front and rear relation with respect to the user in top view; and said detection unit detects a posture of a front one of said pair of roller pads. 
   
   
       8 . The training apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising an input device which accepts a control input for said apparatus body by the user, wherein said tilt adjustment unit is operable to tilt said seat only during an input operation period of said input device. 
   
   
       9 . A training apparatus comprising:
 a seat mounted on an apparatus body;   a training mechanism disposed in front of said seat and provided with a mechanism adapted to exercise legs of a user; said training mechanism including:
 a pair of roller pads, each adapted to be disposed in a horizontal posture so as to hold the user's legs therebetween; said roller pads including a front roller pad and a second roller pad; and 
 a posture switching mechanism for switching a posture of a front roller pad between a first posture where said front roller pad and said second roller pad both extend horizontally for enabling holding of the user's legs therebetween and a second posture where said front roller pad having been swung upward and said second roller pad maintaining the horizontal posture for releasing the holding state of the user's legs therebetween; 
   a load-applying means for applying a braking force to a movement of said training mechanism in an electrically adjustable manner; and   a tilt adjustment means for tilting said seat so as to move a front end of said seat in a vertical direction.   
   
   
       10 . The training apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising a swingable arm for holding said roller pairs thereto via a support plate mounted on the swingable arm; and wherein said front roller pad having one longitudinal end rotatably supported around a front support shaft horizontally extending from the support plate in said first posture thereof and said one end of the front roller pad being so connected to said support plate such that said front roller pad is pivotable around a coupling pin extending in a direction orthogonal to that of said front support shaft.