US20150283419A1

US20150283419A1 - Body-shape correction apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20150283419A1
Application number: US14/436,721
Authority: US
Inventors: Kyung Bae Seo
Original assignee: Ed Beau Co Ltd
Current assignee: Ed Beau Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-10-19
Filing date: 2013-10-21
Publication date: 2015-10-08
Also published as: JP2015532177A; HK1210934A1; KR20150073178A; IN2015DN03863A; KR102158401B1; WO2014062042A1; RU2015118589A; CN104994813A; EP2910222A1; EP2910222A4

Abstract

The present invention is a body-shape correction apparatus comprising: a left foot-associated rotation unit on which the left foot of a user is loaded and supported, and which rotates in the counter-clockwise direction and returns in the clockwise direction; a right foot-associated rotation unit on which the right foot of the user is loaded and supported, and which rotates in the clockwise direction and returns in the counter-clockwise direction; and a pair of spring units and a pair of deformation distribution units arranged to correspond to the pair of left and right foot-associated rotation units. Hand-associated rotation units are also provided along with left and right elastic units that apply restoring forces to resist displacement of the left right hand-associated rotation units.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a body shape correction apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a body-shape correction apparatus able to correct one's body shape by strengthening external rotation muscles of the hip joints and/or the shoulder joints by applying resistance against the external rotation of feet and/or hands.

BACKGROUND ART

The hip joint refers to a joint positioned inside a protruding bone on the side of the hip to connect the pelvis and the femur. The internal rotation deformity of hip joints causes the genu varum in which legs are bent in a O-shape. In the related art, this has been corrected by surgery. However, surgery has a high cost in terms of money and time, as well as being a complicated procedure with risks involved, which is problematic.
Therefore, the applicant proposed an apparatus that corrects the legs by strengthening the external rotation muscles of the hip joint through external rotation of the feet. This correction apparatus can realize three levels of exercise intensity using three springs selected according to the individual levels. For example, the three levels of exercise intensity can be realized by selecting the weakest spring for the exercise intensity of the first level and the strongest spring for the exercise intensity of the third level.
Therefore, the correction apparatus of the related art has not been able to realize a variety of exercise levels. In order to realize a variety of exercise levels, a corresponding number of springs has been required, leading to an increase in the price of the correction apparatus. This also increases the size and weight of the correction apparatus, which are problematic. In addition, as the number of the exercise levels required increases, it is more difficult to obtain suitable springs able to realize such various exercise levels. For example, one hundred springs are required when fabricating a correction apparatus able to realize 100 exercise levels, and these springs must have different spring constants that are required for the springs. It is not only difficult to fabricate or purchase such precision springs, but also costs required for fabricating or purchasing the precision springs significantly increase the price of the correction apparatus even if precision springs can be fabricated or purchased.
In addition, when the muscles behind the shoulders required for external rotation of the shoulder joints are weakened, the shoulders are rolled forward, and the problems involving the shape of the upper half body and the spinal health are caused. This is frequently observed among seniors and teenagers having bad posture.

DISCLOSURE

Technical Problem

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the invention is to provide a body shape correction apparatus able to simultaneously correct the shape of the upper half of the body and the shape of the lower half of the body by combining a structure strengthening the external rotation muscles of the hip joints required for correction of the legs in the lower half of the body and a structure strengthening the shoulder muscles required for correction of the upper half of the body. In addition, the body shape correction apparatus can realize various exercise levels by simplifying the structure without an increase in manufacturing costs, size, or weight.
Furthermore, an object of the invention is to provide a body shape correction apparatus that seniors, having problems in the elbow joints or shoulder joints can easily use, since a user can exercise with almost no movement in the elbows or shoulder joints.

Technical Solution

In order to accomplish the above object, the present invention provides a body shape correction apparatus including: a left foot-accompanying rotator, on which the left foot of a user is seated and supported, rotating forward in a counterclockwise direction, and returns in clockwise direction; a right foot-accompanying rotator, on which the right foot is seated and supported, rotating forward in clockwise direction, and returns in counterclockwise direction; and a pair of spring parts and a pair of deformation distributing unit corresponding to the pair of foot-accompanying rotators.
Each of the pair of spring parts may include first to nth springs, where n≧2. Each of the first to the nth springs is deformed following forward rotation of the pair of foot-accompanying rotators, where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2. Restoring force due to the net-deformation applies resistance against the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators.
The pair of deformation distributing units distribute the net-deformations required for applying a required amount of the restoring force against forward rotation of the pair of foot-accompanying rotators to the first to nth springs.
The spring constant of jth springs may be greater than the spring constant of (j-1)th springs, where j ranges from 2 to n.
The body shape correction apparatus may have first to mth exercise levels at which different amounts of restoring force are applied to the pair of foot-accompanying rotators, where m is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, wherein a greater restoring force is applied to the pair of foot-accompanying rotators at a kth exercise level than at a (k-1)th exercise level.
The spring constant of jth springs may be greater than a spring constant of (j-1)th springs, where j ranges from 2 to n. The pair of deformation distributing unit distributes the amount of the net-deformation such that the net-deformation of the first springs is smaller at the kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level and the net-deformation of the nth springs is greater at the kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level.
At least one pair of the first to nth springs may have an initial deformation at the kth exercise level, wherein the initial deformation is greater at a k′th exercise level than at a (k′-1)th exercise level, where k′ is k satisfying the relationship: k≧3.
Each of the pair of deformation distributing units may include a lever arm.
The lever arm may rotate about a first point, and have a pulley on a second point.
The n may be 2. One end of each of the second springs may form a fixed end regardless of forward rotation of the pair of foot-accompanying rotators. The other ends of the second springs are connected to the foot-accompanying rotators to form movable ends which move following forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators. The intermediate part between the one end and the other end is looped over the pulley such that each second spring rotates the lever arm in a first direction following the forward rotation of each foot-accompanying rotator. The first spring is connected to the lever arm at a third point between the first and second points, and can resist the rotation of the lever arm in the first direction.
The angle of rotation of the lever arms rotating following forward rotation of the pair of foot-accompanying rotators may be smaller at the kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level.
The second springs have an initial deformation at the k exercise level. An initial position of the one end of the second spring is set such that the initial deformation is greater at the k′th exercise level than at the (k′-1)th exercise level, where k′ is k satisfying the relationship: k≧3.
In an aspect of the present invention, provided is a body shape correction apparatus including: a left hand-accompanying rotator rotating together with a left hand of a user who has let a left arm freely hung from a left shoulder joint and has stretched a left elbow joint, wherein the left hand-accompanying rotator rotates forward in counterclockwise direction following external rotation of the left hand, and returns in clockwise direction; a right hand-accompanying rotator rotating together with a right hand of the user who has let a right arm freely hung from a right shoulder joint and has stretched a right elbow joint, wherein the right hand-accompanying rotator rotates forward in clockwise direction following external rotation of the right hand, and returns in counterclockwise direction; a left elastic unit applying clockwise restoring force against counterclockwise rotation of the left hand-accompanying rotator; and a right elastic unit applying counterclockwise restoring force against clockwise rotation of the right hand-accompanying rotator.
Each of the left and right elastic units may be one of a spiral spring, a torsion coil spring, and a torsion bar.

Advantageous Effects

According to the present invention as set forth above, it is possible to simultaneously correct the upper half and the lower half of the body instead of performing a body shape correction exercise for only either the lower half or the upper half at one time. In addition, the body shape correction apparatus can realize various exercise levels using a simple structure without an increase in manufacturing costs, size, or weight.
In addition, it is possible to conveniently and easily strengthen the external rotation muscles of the shoulder joints with an easy action without moving the shoulder joint or the elbow joint. In particular, since exercise is performed at the neutral position of the shoulder joint and the elbow joint, a person having an ache in the shoulder joint or the elbow joint or weak muscular strength in the shoulder joint or the elbow joint can use the correction apparatus with no difficulties. Furthermore, due to the simple structure, manufacturing costs can be advantageously reduced.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic views illustrating the concept of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an exterior view illustrating a body shape correction apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are inner configuration views illustrating exercise level a in the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are inner configuration views illustrating exercise level b in the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 3 (a<b);

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are inner configuration views illustrating exercise level c in the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 3 (a<b<c);

FIG. 10 is an exterior view illustrating a body shape correction apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 illustrates the initial state of a hand-accompanying rotator of the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 10; and

FIG. 12 is illustrates the hand-accompanying rotator of the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 10 that has rotated forward.

BEST MODE

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
In a body shape correction apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the following environments of use were considered.
The maximum intensity of movement is determined according to the body conditions of the users. For example, seniors must have a relatively weak maximum intensity of exercise, whereas young men can have a relatively strong maximum intensity of exercise. In this manner, users can obtain maximum correction effects without stress on the bodies.
In addition, even the same user preferably starts with warming up at an initial stage, gradually increasing the intensity of exercise. At the middle stage, it is preferable to maintain a strong intensity of exercise as the main exercise mode. At the final stage, it is preferable to gradually decrease the intensity of exercise as a finishing mode.
In addition, even at the initial stage in which the intensity of exercise is increased macroscopically, the middle stage in which the intensity of exercise is maintained macroscopically, or the final stage in which the intensity of exercise is reduced macroscopically, it is preferable to increase, maintain, or reduce the intensity of exercise macroscopically while repeating an increase and decrease in the intensity of exercise in a microscopic fashion such that exercises are not boring. For example, it is more preferable to macroscopically increase the intensity of exercise at the initial stage while continuously varying the intensity of exercise in a microscopic fashion as in first exercise level→second exercise level→third exercise level→second exercise level→third exercise level→fourth exercise level→third exercise level, instead of linearly increasing the intensity of exercise, as in first exercise level→second exercise level→third exercise level, or gradually increasing the intensity of exercise, as in first exercise level→first exercise level→second exercise level→second exercise level→third exercise level. For example, assuming that a user has to repeat the forward rotation/return 50 times in a single set of exercise and the maximum exercise level is exercise level 7, it is not preferable that the exercise level 7 is maintained at the middle stage of exercise without a change in intensity. it is preferable that the intensity of exercise is set to vary among exercise level 6 and exercise level 7, such that a user may not feel boring when exercising
In order to obtain various effects of exercise, the exercise intensity can be adjusted.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are schematic views illustrating the concept of the invention.
The present invention basically uses a plurality of springs, and distributes a suitable degree of deformation to each of the springs, thereby producing various amounts of resistance using the combination of restoring forces of the springs. This concept will be described below with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 use two springs including a first spring 210 and a second spring 220. The spring constant of the second spring 220 is greater than the spring constant of the first spring 210. It is appreciated that, when the same degree of deformation is applied, a greater amount of restoring force is generated by the second spring 220 than by the first spring 210.
The shape correction apparatus of the invention includes a deformation distributing unit in order to distribute suitable degrees of deformation to the plurality of springs. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the deformation distributing unit includes a lever arm 310.
The lever arm 310 rotates about a first point 310 a. In FIG. 1, the first spring 210 is connected to the lever arm 310 adjacent to a second point 310 b, and the second spring 220 is connected to the lever arm 310 adjacent to the first point 310 a. In FIG. 2, the first spring 210 is connected to the lever arm 310 adjacent to the first point 310 a, and the second spring 220 is connected to the lever arm 310 adjacent to the second point 310 b.
Consequently, when pulling the second point 310 b of the lever arm 310 by the same rotational displacement, a greater amount of deformation is applied to the first spring than the second spring in FIG. 1, and a greater amount of deformation is applied to the second spring than the first spring in FIG. 2.
Therefore, FIG. 2 has a greater amount of force A required to pull the second point 310 b of the lever arm 310 by the same rotational displacement than FIG. 1. This indicates that FIG. 2 has a greater amount of resistance against a foot-accompanying rotator 101 than FIG. 1, as will be described later.
From the point of view of the deformation distributing unit, a greater exercise level of displacement is distributed to the first spring 210 having a smaller spring constant in order to produce a smaller amount of resistance as in FIG. 1, but a greater exercise level of displacement is distributed to the second spring 220 having a greater spring constant in order to produce a greater amount of resistance as in FIG. 2.
Correction apparatuses illustrated in FIG. 3 to FIG. 9 are more practical examples of the correction apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.
FIG. 3 is an exterior view illustrating a body shape correction apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the body shape correction apparatus according to the foot-accompanying rotators 101 includes, as external components, handles 10, a backrest 20, a housing 30, and foot-accompanying rotators 101.
The handles 10 help a user use the correction apparatus, while standing and mounting on the foot-accompanying rotators 101. The backrest 20 supports the back of the user to improve the convenience of the user. The housing 30 protects inner components illustrated in FIG. 4 to FIG. 9.
A pair of the foot-accompanying rotators 101 includes a right foot-accompanying rotator and a left foot-accompanying rotator. The foot-accompanying rotator 101 depicted on the left of FIG. 3 is a right foot-accompanying rotator on which the right foot of the user is supported, and the foot-accompanying rotator 101 depicted on the right of FIG. 3 is a left foot-accompanying rotator on which the left foot of the user is supported. The user steps on the foot-accompanying rotators 101, stretches the knee at the neutral position of the hip joints, and rotates feet forward together with the foot-accompanying rotators.
Protrusions 103 and 104 are provided on the left and right peripheries of each of the foot-accompanying rotators 101.
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are inner configuration views illustrating exercise level a in the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 3 before and after the foot-accompanying rotators rotates forward. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are inner configuration views illustrating exercise level b in the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 3 (a<b) before and after the foot-accompanying rotators rotates forward. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are inner configuration views illustrating exercise level c in the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 3 (a<b<c) before and after the foot-accompanying rotators rotates forward.
The left foot-accompanying rotator (illustrated on the left in FIG. 4 to FIG. 9) turns counterclockwise and returns clockwise. The right foot-accompanying rotator (illustrated on the right in FIG. 4 to FIG. 9) turns clockwise and returns counterclockwise. The correction apparatus includes a left spring part corresponding to the left foot-accompanying rotator and a right spring part corresponding to the right foot-accompanying rotator. The correction apparatus includes a left deformation distributing unit corresponding to the left foot-accompanying rotator and a right deformation distributing unit corresponding to the right foot-accompanying rotator.
The spring part includes the first spring 210 and the second spring 220. The spring constant of the second spring 220 is greater than the spring constant of the first spring 210. When the springs are deformed by the same displacement, the restoring force of the second spring 220 is greater than that of the first spring 210. Although the springs are illustrated as being coil springs in FIG. 4 to FIG. 9, this is illustrative only, and the present invention is not limited thereto.
The deformation distributing unit includes the lever arm 310. The lever arm 310 turns about a stationary first point 310 a, and has a pulley at a second point 310 b.
One end of the second spring 220 forms a fixed end that is not influenced by the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators 101, and the other end of the second spring 220 is connected to the foot-accompanying rotators 101, forming a movable end that moves following the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators 101. The intermediate part between the one end and the other end of the second spring 220 are looped over the pulley 320, and rotate the lever arm 310 in the first direction in cooperation with the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators 101. The second spring 220 has a spring body 221 and a connector 223, in which the connector 223 is preferably wound on the pulley 320. For example, when the coil spring is used as a spring body, the coil spring may be caught by the pulley, preventing smooth operation. However, the spring body may be positioned at any portion except for the portion of the spring wound on the pulley. Although FIG. 4 to FIG. 9 illustrate that the spring body is positioned at the portion close to one end of the second spring, the spring body may be positioned at the portion close to the other end, or the spring body may be positioned close to both one and the other ends.
One end of the first spring 210 is fixed to one stationary point 210 a, and the other end of the first spring 210 is fixed to the third point 310 c between the first point 310 a and the second point 310 b of the lever arm 310, resisting the rotation of the lever arm 310 in the first direction.
When the foot-accompanying rotator rotates forward about a point 105, the second spring is deformed. When the second spring pulls the second point 310 b of the lever arm while being deformed, the lever arm rotates in the first direction about the first point 310 a. Consequently, the first spring is also deformed. When the foot-accompanying rotator rotates forward, the first spring is deformed following the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotator. A net-deformation indicates the amount of deformation produced by deducting an initial deformation from a total deformation. The first spring 210 has a restoring force due to the net-deformation of the first spring 210, and the second spring 220 has a restoring force due to the net-deformation of the second spring 220. Due to the restoring force of the first spring 210 and the restoring force of the second spring 220, resistance is applied to the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators 101.
The body shape correction apparatus has first to mth exercise levels (m is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) in which different amounts of resistance are applied to the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators 101. At the kth exercise level (k ranges from 2 to m), a greater amount of resistance than at the (k-1)th exercise level is applied to the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators 101. FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 show a higher exercise level than FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, and FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show a higher exercise level than FIG. 6 and FIG. 7.
The deformation distributing unit distributes the amount of net-deformation required for applying required resistance to the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotators 101 to the first spring 210 and the second spring 220. The deformation distributing unit distributes the amount of net-deformation such that the net-deformation of the first spring 210 in the kth exercise level is smaller than that in the (k-1)th exercise level and the net-deformation of the second spring 220 in the k exercise level is greater than that in the (k-1) exercise level. That is, the amount of net-deformation of the first spring 210 is greatest in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 (smallest resistance is applied to the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotator) and is smallest in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 (greatest resistance is applied to the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotator). In contrast, the amount of net-deformation of the second spring 220 is smallest in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 and is greatest in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.
At a lower exercise level, the lever arm 310 is rotated about the first point 310 a by a large rotation angle to distribute a greater amount of net-deformation to the first spring 210 and a smaller amount of net-deformation to the second spring 220. However, at a higher exercise level, the lever arm 310 is rotated about the first point 310 a by a small rotation angle to distribute a smaller amount of net-deformation to the first spring 210 and a greater amount of net-deformation to the second spring 220. Consequently, at an exercise level in which a large amount of net-deformation is distributed to the second spring having a large spring constant, a significant amount of resistance can be applied against the forward rotation of the foot-accompanying rotator.
The first spring 210 and the second spring 220 may have an initial deformation at the kth exercise level. It is preferable that the initial deformation at the k′th exercise level is greater than that at the (k′-1)th exercise level (where k′ is k satisfying the relationship: k≧3). For this, the higher the exercise level is, the more the initial position of the one end of the second spring 220 is moved, such that that the second spring 220 has a greater amount of initial deformation. When the second spring 220 has a greater amount of initial deformation and pulls the second position 310 b of the lever arm 310 with a greater amount of force, the lever arm 310 is further rotated in the first direction, and the first spring 210 also has a greater amount of initial deformation. When the first spring 210 and the second spring 220 have initial deformations, the initial restoring force due to the initial deformations requires greater amounts of force to rotate the foot-accompanying rotators 101 forward.
A motor 410, a screw shaft 420, and a movable block 430 may be provided in order to impart the initial deformation to the second spring by moving the one end of the second spring. The motor rotates the screw shaft that has threads on the outer circumference thereof. When the screw shaft rotates, the movable block having a screw-hole into which the screw shaft is screwed moves along the screw shaft. The one end of the second spring is fixed to the movable block.
FIG. 10 is an exterior view illustrating a body shape correction apparatus according to a second embodiment of the invention.
Referring to FIG. 10, the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 10 differs from the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 3 in that the handles 10 are substituted by hand-accompanying rotators 50. The left hand-accompanying rotator rotates together with the left hand of a user who has let the left arm hung from the left shoulder joint and has stretched the left elbow joint. The left hand-accompanying rotator rotates forward in the counterclockwise direction following external rotation of the left hand, and returns in the clockwise direction. The right hand-accompanying rotator rotates along with the right hand of a user who has let the right arm hung from the right shoulder joint and has stretched the right elbow joint. The right hand-accompanying rotator rotates forward in the clockwise direction following external rotation of the right hand, and returns in the counterclockwise direction.
Although FIG. 10 illustrates the structure in which the user grasps and rotates the hand-accompanying rotators 50, the present invention is not limited thereto. Rather, a variety of other embodiments are possible. For example, the user can fixedly insert hands into the hand-accompanying rotators while opening the hands, and rotates the hand-accompanying rotators together with the hands.
FIG. 11 illustrates the initial state of a hand-accompanying rotator of the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 10, and FIG. 12 is illustrates the hand-accompanying rotator of the body shape correction apparatus shown in FIG. 10 that has rotated forward.
Each of the hand-accompanying rotators 50 is hinged to a stationary bar 60. For this, the stationary bar 60 has a stationary ring 61 on one end thereof. In addition, the hand-accompanying rotator 50 has a rotary shaft 51 on one end thereof. The rotary shaft 51 of the hand-accompanying rotator 50 rotates in the state in which it is fitted into the stationary ring 61 of the stationary bar 60.
The correction apparatus illustrated in FIG. 10 includes a left elastic unit and a right elastic unit in order to apply restoring force to the pair of hand-accompanying rotators 50. The left elastic unit applies clockwise restoring force against the counterclockwise rotation of the left hand-accompanying rotator, whereas the right elastic unit applies counterclockwise restoring force against the clockwise rotation of the right hand-accompanying rotator.
The elastic unit 70 is typically implemented as a spring. FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 illustrate the embodiment in which a spiral sprig is used as the elastic unit 70. Alternatively, a torsion coil spring, a torsion bar, or the like can be used. The inner end of the spiral spring is fixed to the fixing ring 61, whereas the outer end of the spiral spring is fixed to the hand-accompanying rotator 50 at a position spaced apart from the rotary shaft 51.
The body shape correction apparatus illustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 may have first to mth exercise levels (m is a natural number equal to or greater than 2) in which different amounts of restoring force are applied to the pair of hand-accompanying rotators 50. It is possible to apply a greater amount of restoring force to the pair of hand-accompanying rotators 50 at the kth exercise level (k ranges from 2 to m) than at the (k-1) exercise level.
For example, the pair of elastic units 70 has an initial deformation at the kth exercise level, and the initial deformation may be greater at the k′th exercise level than at the (k′-1)th exercise level (k′ is k satisfying the relationship k≧3). For this, for example, at the second exercise level, the spiral spring is given the initial deformation by rotating the stationary ring 61 counterclockwise by 10°. At the third exercise level in which a greater amount of restoring force is required, the spiral spring is given a greater amount of initial deformation by further rotating the stationary ring 61 counterclockwise by 10°. (In this structure, the stationary ring 61 must have a structure rotatable with respect to the remaining portion of the fixing bar 60 (the remaining portion except for the fixing ring 61).)
The hand-accompanying rotators illustrated in FIG. 10 to FIG. 12 can correct the upper body shape of a user by strengthening muscles for external rotation of the shoulder joints.
Although FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment in which the hand-accompanying rotators and the foot-accompanying rotators are provided in a single apparatus, this is not intended to be limiting. For example, a dedicated correction apparatus including only the hand-accompanying rotators without the foot-accompanying rotators may also be embodied.

Claims

1-9. (canceled)

10. A body shape correction apparatus comprising:

a left hand-accompanying rotator rotating together with a left hand of a user who has let a left arm hung from a left shoulder joint and has stretched a left elbow joint, wherein the left hand-accompanying rotator rotates forward in counterclockwise direction following external rotation of the left hand, and returns in clockwise direction;

a right hand-accompanying rotator rotating together with a right hand of the user who has let a right arm hung from a right shoulder joint and has stretched a right elbow joint, wherein the right hand-accompanying rotator rotates forward in clockwise direction following external rotation of the right hand, and returns in counterclockwise direction;

a left elastic unit applying clockwise restoring force against counterclockwise rotation of the left hand-accompanying rotator; and

a right elastic unit applying counterclockwise restoring force against clockwise rotation of the right hand-accompanying rotator.

11. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 10, wherein each of the left and right elastic units comprises a spring.

12. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the spring comprises one of a spiral spring, a torsion coil spring, and a torsion bar.

13. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 10, having first to mth exercise levels at which different amounts of the restoring force is applied to each hand-accompanying rotator, where m is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, wherein the restoring force is greater at a kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level, where k ranges from 2 to m.

14. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 13, wherein each elastic unit has an initial deformation at the kth exercise level, wherein the initial deformation is greater at a k′th exercise level than at the (k′-1)th exercise level, where k′ is k satisfying the relationship: k≧3.

15. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising:

a left foot-accompanying rotator rotating together with a left foot of the user who has let a left hip joint in a neutral position and has stretched a left knee joint, wherein the left foot-accompanying rotator rotates forward in counterclockwise direction following external rotation of the left foot, and returns in clockwise direction;

a right foot-accompanying rotator rotating together with a right foot of the user who has let a right hip joint in a neutral position and has stretched a right knee joint, wherein the right foot-accompanying rotator rotates forward in clockwise direction following external rotation of the right foot, and returns in counterclockwise direction; and

a pair of spring parts and a pair of deformation distributing units corresponding to the pair of foot-accompanying rotators,

wherein each spring part comprises first to nth springs, where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, the first to the nth springs are deformed following forward rotation of each foot-accompanying rotator, where n is a natural number equal to or greater than 2, such that clockwise restoring force resisting the counterclockwise rotation of the left foot-accompanying rotator is applied to the left foot-accompanying rotator and counterclockwise restoring force resisting the clockwise rotation of the right foot-accompanying rotator is applied to the right foot-accompanying rotator,

wherein each deformation distributing unit distributes net-deformations required for applying a required amount of the restoring force to each foot-accompanying rotator to the first to the nth springs.

16. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 15,

wherein a spring constant of a jth spring is greater than a spring constant of the (j-1)th spring, where j ranges from 2 to n.

17. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 15, having first to mth exercise levels at which different amounts of the restoring force are applied to each foot-accompanying rotator, where m is a natural number equal to or greater than 2,

wherein the restoring force is greater at a kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level, where k ranges from 2 to m.

18. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein a spring constant of a jth spring is greater than a spring constant of the (j-1)th spring, where j ranges from 2 to n,

wherein each deformation distributing unit distributes the net-deformations such that the net-deformation of the first spring is smaller at the kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level and the net-deformation of the nth spring is greater at the kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level.

19. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 17, wherein at least one of the first to nth springs has an initial deformation at the kth exercise level, wherein the initial deformation is greater at a k′th exercise level than at a (k′-1)th exercise level, where k′ is k satisfying the relationship: k≧3.

20. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 15, wherein

each deformation distributing unit comprises a lever arm,

the lever arm rotates about a first point, and has a pulley on a second point,

the n is 2,

one end of each second spring forms a fixed end regardless of the forward rotation of each foot-accompanying rotator, the other end of each second spring is connected to each foot-accompanying rotator to form a movable end which moves following the forward rotation of each foot-accompanying rotator, an intermediate part of each second spring between the one end and the other end is looped over the pulley such that each second spring rotates the lever arm in a first direction following the forward rotation of each foot-accompanying rotator, and

each first spring is connected to the lever arm at a third point between the first and second points, and resists rotation of the lever arm in the first direction.

21. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 20, having first to mth exercise levels at which different amounts of the restoring force are applied to each foot-accompanying rotator, where m is a natural number equal to or greater than 2,

wherein the restoring force is greater at a kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level, where k ranges from 2 to m, and

wherein an angle of rotation of the lever arm rotating following the forward rotation of each foot-accompanying rotator is smaller at the kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level.

22. The body shape correction apparatus according to claim 20, having first to mth exercise levels at which different amounts of the restoring forces are applied to each foot-accompanying rotator, where m is a natural number equal to or greater than 2,

wherein the restoring force is greater at a kth exercise level than at the (k-1)th exercise level, where k ranges from 2 to m,

wherein each second spring has an initial deformation at the kth exercise level, and an initial position of the one end is set such that the initial deformation is greater at the k′th exercise level than at the (k′-1)th exercise level, where k′ is k satisfying the relationship: k≧3.