US20080207405A1

US20080207405A1 - Parallel Bars Instrument For Walking Exercise

Info

Publication number: US20080207405A1
Application number: US11/993,998
Authority: US
Inventors: Bu Hwan Jung
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-06-28
Filing date: 2006-06-02
Publication date: 2008-08-28
Also published as: JP2008543519A; KR200394977Y1; WO2007001122A1

Abstract

A parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise or a gait training is provided for the purpose of enhancing a rehabilitation will of disabled or handicapped persons due to various kinds of diseases or accidents. The parallel bars instrument includes: a bottom portion; rotating plates which are respectively installed into rotating plate insertion portions and rotated; support stands each including a number of height control latches; vertical rods each including a number of height control holes; handle rods; and horizontal rods. The supplementary rotational parallel bars instruments rotate and stop together with rotations of the respective rotating plates. Accordingly, the handicapped person can easily turn back. As a result, the handicapped person can repeatedly perform a reciprocating gait training alone without the help of an assistant, and prevent the safety accident in advance.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise for rehabilitation of the disabled persons who need to have a walking exercise, and more particularly, to a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise in which rotating plates which are placed at both sides of the parallel bars instrument rotates by 180°, to thereby enable a user to perform a gait training by his or her desired distance without being under restraint to the length of the parallel bars instrument and in safety, with convenience, and in a reciprocating manner, during the walking exercise time.

BACKGROUND ART

Presently, there are many auxiliary instruments such as a walking stick and crutch for the physically handicapped persons who are unable to walk for themselves due to various kinds of diseases or accidents and need to have a gait training. But, in order for the disabled persons to use such auxiliary aids or to properly walk, firstly many efforts and ambulatory exercises are needed in the parallel bars instrument. The disabled sufferers from the relatively severe disease perform the ambulatory exercise in the parallel bars instrument.
But the parallel bars instrument for the walking exercise which are used in the conventional hospitals are not sufficiently long in practice, due to the spatial restriction. Thus, the disabled persons make a reciprocating exercise in the parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise which are not sufficiently long. In this case, it is very difficult or nearly impossible for the disabled persons to perform a gait exercise in a reciprocating manner, in the parallel bars instrument, without having the help of an assistant.
Moreover, the severely handicapped persons who need to make a walking exercise in the parallel bars instrument feel or have many difficulties when they rotate in order to return at the ends of the parallel bars instrument. In practice, the disabled persons are apt to fall down or get hurt.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise in which since circular rotating plates are positioned at both sides of the bottom portion of the parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise and handle rods are positioned at both upper portions of the parallel bars instrument, a disabled person catches the handle rods by the hands and stands on the rotating plate, the rotating plate rotates by 180 degrees, with an electric motor rotating at a low speed and then stops, to make the disabled person automatically turn round and safely make a gait training in a reciprocating manner, and to thus solve the conventional problem that the length of the parallel bars instrument is not sufficiently long due to the obstacle of the space.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise, in which when the disabled person makes a walking exercise in the parallel bars instrument, he or she can easily and safely rotate in a reciprocating manner, and can perform a reciprocating gait training alone without the help of an assistant thereby enhancing the confidence and rehabilitation will to the disabled person.
To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, according to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise comprising: rotating plate insertion portions which are respectively formed on both sides of a bottom portion of the parallel bars instrument in which each rotating plate insertion portion is formed of a circular groove; rotating plates which are respectively installed into the rotating plate insertion portions and rotated; motor insertion portions which are positioned in the respective lower-inner portions of the rotating plate insertion portions wherein respective electric motors are installed in the motor insertion portions, to then support the respective rotating plates from downward; support stands which are respectively fixed on both upper portions of the respective rotating plates and the bottom portion, and rotated together with rotation of the respective rotating plates; vertical rods connected to the upper portions of the support stands, respectively; handle rods combined on the upper portions of the vertical rods connected to the upper portions of the support stands formed on the respective rotating plates; and horizontal rods combined on the upper portions of the vertical rods connected to the upper portions of the respective support stands formed on the bottom portion.
Here, each rotating plate rotates by 180 degrees and then stop.
Here, a concavo-convex portion is formed on top of the bottom portion so that a user does not slide.
Here, a ground floor can be used as the bottom portion.
Here, the bottom portion is made of timber.
Here, each support stand comprises a number of height control latches which latch each vertical rod to control height of each handle rod.
Here, each vertical rod comprises a number of height control holes through the number of height control latches are fitted to control height of each handle rod.
Here, the parallel bars instrument further comprises a controller which controls the electric motors which makes the rotating plates rotate, respectively, in which the electric motors rotate at a low speed.
The electric motor and the controller which make the rotating plate rotate by 180 degrees and stop are available in the market. However, the rotating plate can be designed to rotate manually without using the electric motor. Meanwhile, the driving method of the rotating plate in the present invention can be a little changed according to specification of the electric motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall shape of a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing configuration of a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views respectively showing operations of the parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a rotating plate which is an essential element of the parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinbelow, a parallel bars instrument according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The features and advantages of the present invention will become more clear to the following detailed description based on the accompanying drawings. Terms or words which are used in the detailed description and claims have to be interpreted as meanings and concepts complying with the technical concept and spirit of the invention based on the principle that can appropriately define the concepts of terms so that the inventor illustrates its own invention as the best mode.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the overall shape of a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention. The parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise includes: a bottom portion 10 which is formed using a ground floor or made of timber; rotating plates 20 which are respectively installed into rotating plate insertion portions (which is denoted as a reference numeral 11 of FIG. 2) and rotated; support stands 30 which are respectively fixed on both upper portions of the respective rotating plates 20 and the bottom portion 10, and rotated together with rotation of the respective rotating plates 20, each support stand 30 including a number of height control latches 34; vertical rods 31 connected to the upper portions of the support stands 30, respectively, each vertical rod including a number of height control holes 33; handle rods 21 combined on the upper portions of the vertical rods 31 connected to the upper portions of the support stands 30 formed on the respective rotating plates 20; and horizontal rods 32 combined on the upper portions of the vertical rods 31 connected to the upper portions of the respective support stands 30 formed on the bottom portion 10.
As shown in FIG. 1, in both ends of the bottom portion 10 are installed the circular rotating plates 20. On the upper portions of the rotating plates 20 are installed the support stands 30 and the vertical rods 31 which are same as those installed on the bottom portion 10. The handle rods 21 which are shorter than the horizontal rods 32 in length are installed on the upper portions of the vertical rods 31 connected to the upper portions of the support stands 30 formed on the respective rotating plates 20, respectively. In FIG. 1, a controller 40 operates the electric motors in order to rotate the rotating plates 20.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing configuration of a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a rotating plate 20 is installed in a rotating plate insertion portion 11 which they is circularly recessed on the end of the bottom portion 10. A motor insertion portion 12 positioned at the lower portion of the rotating plate insertion portion 11 supports the rotating plate 20. The electric motor 50 is mounted in the motor insertion portion 12. As shown, the electric motor 50 and the rotating plate 20 are engaged with each other by means of a cogwheel 22 and a turning gear 51. Moreover, on the upper portion of the rotating plate 20 and the bottom portion 10 are fixedly installed the support stands 30 each having a number of height control latches 34. In addition, the vertical rods 31 each having a number of height control holes 33 are connected to the upper portions of the support stands 30, respectively. Horizontal rods 32 are installed on the upper portions of the vertical rods 31. Meanwhile, handle rods 21 are installed on the upper portions of the vertical rods 31 which are located especially on the rotating plate 20.
The rotating plate 20 is tooth-engaged with a cogwheel 22 equipped in the lower surface of the rotating plate 20. The rotating plate 20 rotates together with rotation of a turning gear 51 which is axially installed with the electric motor 50 by 180° and then stops.
It is preferable that the electric motor 50 which is a power generator which is inserted in the motor insertion portion 12 and makes the rotating plate 20 rotate by 180° employs a speed reduction motor at a low speed of 10 rpm or less.
The reason is to prevent any safety accident which may occur when the handicapped person is unable to keep his or her balance, and thus tumbles down in the case that the handicapped person stands up on the rotating plate 20, and the rotating plate 20 rapidly rotates.
FIGS. 3 and 4 are perspective views respectively showing operations of the parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention. Here, the rotating plate 20 gets to rotate. In addition, the support stand 30 fixed on both upper portions of the rotating plate 20, the vertical rod 31 connected to the upper portion of the support stand 30 and the handle rod 21 combined in the upper portion of the vertical rod 31 get to rotate with rotation of the rotating plate 20. Also, the rotating plate 20 necessarily rotates by 180°, and stops.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the rotating plate according to the present invention. In both side ends of the bottom portion 10 are provided rotating plate insertion portions 11 in which the rotating plated 20 can be respectively inserted. And the rotational axis 22 of the rotating plate 20 is inserted into a rotational axis hole 13. Also, the motor insertion portion 12 supports the rotating plate 20 on the inner-bottom of the rotating plate insertion portion 11.
As described above, the parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention enables the handicapped person to go up in one direction on the bottom portion 10, take the hold of the horizontal rods 32, advance slowly to the other direction, and then make a walking exercise.
As described above, the circular rotating plates 20 are positioned at both sides of the bottom portion 10 of the parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise and handle rods 21 are positioned at both upper portions of the parallel bars instrument. Here, a disabled person makes a walking exercise while advancing forward and finally reaches the rotating plate 20 which is inserted into the rotating plate insertion portion 11 which is recessed on both upper sides of the bottom portion 10. The disabled person manipulates the controller 40 to make the rotating plate 20 rotate, at the state where he or she catches the handle rods 21 firmly by the hands and stands on the rotating plate 20. Here, the disabled person turns round by 180° so that he or she can make a walking exercise repeatedly to the other direction. Accordingly, the disabled person can repeatedly perform a reciprocating gait training alone without the help of an assistant thereby enhancing the confidence and rehabilitation will to the disabled person, and preventing a safety accident such as falling due to compulsive turning of his or her body.
The rotating plate 20 rotates by 180° through manipulation of the controller 40, Accordingly, the handicapped person gets to turn back. For this purpose, the electric motor 50 inserted inside the motor insertion portion 12 gets to rotate at a low speed of 10 rpm or less by the controller 40, and the turning gear 51 which is axially installed with the electric motor 50 and the cogwheel 22 engaged with the turning gear 51 operate together, and the rotating plate 20 on the lower portion of which the cogwheel 22 is axially installed gets to rotate. As a result, the handicapped person turns back by 180°.
As described above, the rotating plates which each rotate by 180° and stop and the supplementary rotational parallel bars instruments which rotate and stop together with rotations of the respective rotating plates to the same direction are further provided in the parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise according to the present invention. Accordingly, the handicapped person who cannot turn back for himself or herself can easily turn back. As a result, by using the parallel bars instrument whose the entire installation length cannot help being restricted, the handicapped person can repeatedly perform a reciprocating gait training alone without the help of an assistant. In addition, the handicapped person can naturally turn back by 180° at the state where he or she keeps his or her balance with the rotating plate and supplementary rotational parallel bars instrument to thus prevent the safety accident in advance.
Moreover, the handicapped person can repeatedly perform a reciprocating gait training alone without the help of an assistant, to thereby enhance the confidence and rehabilitation will to the handicapped person.
As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to particularly preferred embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and it is possible for one who has an ordinary skill in the art to make various modifications and variations, without departing off the spirit of the present invention. Thus, the protective scope of the present invention is not defined within the detailed description thereof but is defined by the claims to be described later and the technical spirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, the present invention provides a parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise in which rotating plates which are placed at both sides of the parallel bars instrument rotates by 180°, to thereby enable a user to perform a gait training by his or her desired distance without being under restraint to the length of the parallel bars instrument and in safety, with convenience, and in a reciprocating manner, during the walking exercise time.

Claims

1. A parallel bars instrument for a walking exercise comprising:

rotating plate insertion portions which are respectively formed on both sides of a bottom portion of the parallel bars instrument in which each rotating plate insertion portion is formed of a circular groove;

rotating plates which are respectively installed into the rotating plate insertion portions and rotated;

motor insertion portions which are positioned in the respective lower-inner portions of the rotating plate insertion portions wherein respective electric motors are installed in the motor insertion portions, to then support the respective rotating plates from downward;

support stands which are respectively fixed on both upper portions of the respective rotating plates and the bottom portion, and rotated together with rotation of the respective rotating plates;

vertical rods connected to the upper portions of the support stands, respectively;

handle rods combined on the upper portions of the vertical rods connected to the upper portions of the support stands formed on the respective rotating plates; and

horizontal rods combined on the upper portions of the vertical rods connected to the upper portions of the respective support stands formed on the bottom portion.

2. The parallel bars instrument according to claim 1, wherein each rotating plate rotates by 180 degrees and then stop.