BACKGROUND ART Generally, a digital-compression is a medical treatment for correcting a variation of living body, promoting health and for treating a disease by suppressing a predetermined region of body surface with the thumb or the palm of the hand.

A variety of endeavors for applying the digital-compression effect to a human body have been proposed. One approach, an air cushion with a finger-pressure therapy like effect, has been proposed on U. S. Patent No. 5,911,656 issued to Taneaki Futagami on June 15, 1999. Since this air cushion is mainly used for the back of the body, it is used, which is

practically limited by the application, to the abdominal region of the body. Accordingly, if the air cushion is used for the back of the body, it must be disposed on a chair before the use.

Next, U. S. Patent No. 6,074,410 issued to Chi-Kyung Kim on June 13,2000 discloses a finger-pressure functioning health-aid instrument for improving blood circulation in the human body. However, this instrument is used which is practically limited by the application of finger-pressure functioning to a single point. Since this instrument uses infrared rays and anions in order to improve blood circulation, it is difficult to promote health through exercise.

Meanwhile, U. S. Patent No. 6,217,482 of this applicant, which was issued on April 17,2001, discloses an entertainment and exercise device which allows waist and neck exercise by placing it at a person's midsection or head and swiveling the body. This applicant designs to develop an entertainment and exercise instrument, which is capable of providing a user with a massage effect such as a digital-compression like function and of giving the pleasure of exercising to the user, on the basis of this disclosure.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION The present invention solves the foregoing problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a healthful entertainment and exercise instrument capable of providing a user with a massage effect such as a digital-compression like function to the user's

abdominal muscles and waist muscles.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a healthful entertainment and exercise instrument capable of giving the pleasure of exercising to the user, which allows waist exercise by placing it at the user's midsection and swiveling the body.

In order to achieve these objects, the present invention provides a healthful entertainment and exercise instrument comprising: a ring-shaped upper plate having a digital-compression assembly which is installed at a radial inner surface of the upper plate and protrudes radial inwards therefrom; a ring-shaped lower plate being assembled to become a one body with the upper plate ; and a ring-shaped rotating plate being rotatably installed between the upper plate and the lower plate, the rotating plate being assembled to become a one body with the upper plate and the lower plate.

A plurality of pressing pads are attached to a radial inner side surface of the upper plate. A plurality of first pressing protrusions project radial inwards from the surface of pressing pad, respectively.

The digital-compression assembly is installed to the radial inner surface of the upper plate and is generally opposite to the pressing pads. The digital-compression assembly can be pivoted up to 90 degrees with respect to the upper plate.

An entertainment ball is connected to the one side of the rotating plate through a

string.

As described above, in the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating plate is disposed between the upper plate and the lower plate, and the digital-compression assembly for stimulating the user's abdominal and waist muscles is installed at the inner side of the upper plate. Further, pressing pads to stimulate back muscles of the user are attached to the radial inner side surface of the upper plate. In addition, the entertainment ball capable of emitting a light is connected to the one side of the rotating plate through a string. With this structure, the entertainment and exercise instrument can provide a user with a massage effect such as a digital-compression like function to the user's abdominal and waist muscles. Further, it can give the pleasure of exercising to the user, which allows waist exercise by placing it at the user's midsection and swiveling the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The above objects and other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing in detail preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a healthful entertainment and exercise instrument with digital-compression like function according to a preferred embodiment of

the present invention; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument with digital-compression like function according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 111-111 in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2; FIG. SA is an exploded view of a digital-compression assembly as shown in FIGS.

1 and 2 ; FIG. 5B is a longitudinal sectional view for showing an assembled state of digital- compression assembly as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of an entertainment ball capable of emitting a light; FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of a printed circuit board of the entertainment ball as shown in FIG. 6 ; FIGS. 8A and 8B show an operating state of the entertainment ball as shown in FIG.

6; FIGS. 9A to 9C are perspective views showing the operating states of the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument with digital-compression like function according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 9D is a perspective view showing the healthful entertainment and exercise

instrument with digital-compression like function placed at a user's waist.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, a healthful entertainment and exercise instrument with digital- compression like function according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention mainly includes a ring- shaped upper plate 100, a ring-shaped lower plate 300, and a ring-shaped rotating plate 200 which is disposed there between and is assembled to become a one body with them.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a first guide groove 101 is formed on a bottom inner surface of the upper plate 100 for allowing the rotating plate 200 to be rotated up to 360 degrees. As shown in FIG. 1, pluralities of first screw holes 103 are formed through the upper plate 100 at a radial inner position in front of the first guide groove 101. A plurality of pressing pads 110 are attached to a radial inner side surface of the upper plate 100. A plurality of first pressing protrusions 112 project radially inwards from the surface of pressing pad 110, respectively. A digital-compression assembly 120 is installed to the radial inner surface of the upper plate 100 and is generally opposite to the pressing pads 110. A pair of protrusions 102a, 102b project from the radial inner surface of the upper plate 100 in order to mount the

digital-compression assembly 120.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, fixing members 121 a, 121b of the digital-compression assembly 120 are fitted into the protrusions 102a, 102b. The fixing members 121a, 121b are provided with main bodies 123a, 123b and fitting protrusions 125a, 125b which protrude from one sides of the main bodies 123a, 123b. Arch-shaped fitting grooves 126a, 126b are formed at the center of the main bodies 123a, 123b. Pin insertion holes 127 are formed through the main bodies 123a, 123b at positions adjacent to both sides of fitting grooves 126a, 126b.

The fixing members 121a, 121b are fixed in the protrusions 102a, 102b by inserting the fitting protrusions 125a, 125b into fixing grooves (not shown) which are formed in the protrusions 102a, 102b of the upper plate 100. Joining fixtures 128 are fitted into the fitting grooves 126a, 126b of the fixing members 121 a, 121b. The joining fixtures 128 are provided with smooth joining portions 122a, 122b to be located within the fitting grooves 126a, 126b and first male thread portions 124 formed at radial outer sides of one ends of the joining portions 122a, 122b. Joining fixtures 128 are assembled to become a one body with each other by means of a joining pin 105 passing through pin insertion holes 127 and the lower portion of joining portions 122a, 122b in a state that the joining portions 122a, 122b are fitted into the fitting grooves 126a, 126b of the fitting members 121a, 121b. At this time, the joining fixtures 128 can be pivoted around the joining pin 105 up to 90 degrees within the fitting grooves 126a, 126b.

Meanwhile, the digital-compression assembly 120 is provided with a pair of outer

sleeves 130a, 130b which are integrally from with each other, a pair of inner sleeves 140a, 140b which are fitted into the outer sleeves 130a, 130b and can slide longitudinally within the outer sleeves 130a, 130b, and operating rods 150a, 150b which are fitted into the inner sleeves 140a, 140b and can slide longitudinally within the inner sleeves 140a, 140b.

First bores 131a, 131b for allowing the inner sleeves 140a, 140b to longitudinally slide within the outer sleeves 130a, 130b are longitudinally formed through the center of the outer sleeves 130a, 130b. At this time, the first bores 131a, 131b are tapered from one end to the other end thereof, respectively. An arch-shaped reinforcing rib 132 extends between the outer sleeves 130a, 130b. The reinforcing rib 132 prevents the digital-compression assembly 120 from being distorted during the use of entertainment and exercise instrument 10. Handle portions 134a, 134b are formed at predetermined positions in front of the reinforcing rib 132 on the surface of the outer sleeves 130a, 130b. A plurality of second pressing protrusions 135 are formed to protrude from the surface of the handle portions 134a, 134b.

The inner sleeves 140a, 140b located in the first bores 131a, 13 lb of the outer sleeves 130a, 130b are assembled with the joining fixtures 128 through the fixing end portions 148a, 148b. For this purpose, a female thread portion 142 corresponding to the first male thread portion 124 of the joining fixtures 128 is formed at an inner side surface of the fixing end portions 148a, 148b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b. First locking stages 144a, 144b protrude from outer side of one end of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b wherein the female thread portion 142 is formed. When the inner sleeves 140a, 140b longitudinally slide within the first

bores 131a, 131b formed at the center of outer sleeves 130a, 130b, the first locking stages 144a, 144b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b and outer surfaces of the fixing end portions 148a, 148b are contacted with a part of the radial inner side surface of the outer sleeves 130a, 130b due to the tapered shape of the first bore 131a, 131b. As a result, the movement of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b is restricted.

Second bores 149a, 149b for allowing the operating rods 150a, 150b to longitudinally slide within the inner sleeves 140a, 140b are longitudinally formed through the center of inner sleeves 140a, 140b. Shoulders 146a, 146b are formed to radially inwardly protrude from the radial inner surface of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b at the other end of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b. Second locking stages 154a, 154b are formed at radial outer surfaces of one end of the operating rods 150a, 150b, respectively. When the operating rods 150a, 150b longitudinally slide within the second bores 149a, 149b, the second locking stages 154a, 154b of the operating rods 150a, 150b are locked at the shoulders 146a, 146b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b and thereby the moving range of the operating rods 150a, 150b is restricted.

In the meantime, the third bores 155a, 155b are longitudinally formed through the interior of the operating rods 150a, 150b. A coiled spring 141 and a supporting rod 143 are disposed in the second bores 149a, 149b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b and the third bores 155a, 155b of the operating rods 150a, 150b.

As best seen in FIG. 5A, a second male thread portion 145 is formed at a radial outer side of one end of the supporting rod 143. A locking nut 147 is engaged with the second male

thread portion 145. The locking nut 147 can be longitudinally moved along the second male thread portion 145. When the coiled spring 141 and the supporting rod 143 are disposed in the second bores 149a, 149b and the third bores 155a, 155b, the coiled spring 141 is fitted onto the other end of supporting rod 143, and thereafter one end of the coiled spring 141 is supported by the locking nut 147. If the fixing end portions 148a, 148b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b are engaged with the joining fixture 128 of the digital-compression assembly 120, then the one end of supporting rod 143 is supported by the inner surface of fitting grooves 126a, 126b of the digital-compression assembly 120.

Meanwhile, a shaft 152 is disposed between the exposed ends of the operating rods 150a, 150b perpendicularly to the operating rods 150a, 150b. For this purpose, both ends of the shaft 152 are fitted into shaft insertion holes 151, which are formed through the exposed ends of the operating rods 150a, 150b. If the both ends of the shaft 152 are exposed to an outside after passing through the shaft insertion holes 151, then fixing nuts 153 are fitted onto the both ends of the shaft 152. Within the third bores 155a, 155b of the operating rods 150a, 150b, free end of the coiled spring 141 is supported by a radial outer surface of the shaft 152 which is disposed between the exposed ends of the operating rods 150a, 150b with perpendicularly to the coiled spring 141.

A plurality of pressing balls 156 and a plurality of buffer balls 158 are disposed at the middle portion of the shaft 152. The buffer balls 158 have a function for preventing the pressing balls 156 from being contacted with the operating rods 150a, 150b or for preventing

the pressing balls 156 from being contacted with each other. Thereby, the pressing balls 156 may not be damaged. Preferably, the buffer balls 158 are disposed at positions close to the operating rods 150a, 150b on the shaft 152.

The pressing balls 156 and the buffer balls 158 are alternately disposed on the shaft 152. Preferably, the pressing balls 156 are made of ceramic materials, and more preferably it is made of a natural jade. Preferably, the buffer balls 158 are made of rubber. The radius of the pressing balls 156 supported on the shaft 152 is greater than the distance between the centerline of the shaft 156 and the apex of the operating rods 150a, 150b. Accordingly, the pressing balls 156 are exposed to head of the exposed end of the operating rods 150a, 150b at a predetermined distance (L) (referred to FIG. 5B).

Referring now to FIG. 1, the rotating plate 200 may be rotated by the response to a rotating force generated due to the rotating motion of a user's body. For this purpose, the rotating plate 200 is rotatably disposed between the upper plate 100 and the lower plate 300.

The rotating plate 200 has a shape corresponding to shapes of the lower surface of upper plate 100 and the upper surface of the lower plate 300.

In detail, a second guide groove 201 is formed on the upper surface of the rotating plate 200. At this time, the second guide groove 201 corresponds to the first guide groove 101 formed on the lower surface of the upper plate 100. Likewise, the third guide groove 203 is formed on the lower surface of the rotating plate 200 (referred to FIG. 3). The third guide groove 203 corresponds to a fourth guide groove 301 formed on the upper surface of the

lower plate 300 on the preferred embodiment, as also explained in more detail late herein.

When the upper plate 100, the rotating plate 200 and the lower plate 300 are assembled together, a plurality of ball bearings 202 and a plurality of flexible bearing members 204 having a rod shape are alternately disposed between the first guide groove 101 and the second guide groove 201, and also alternately disposed between the third guide groove 203 and the fourth guide groove 301. The ball bearings 202 and the bearing members 204 have a function of smoothly rotating the rotating plate 200. Preferably, the ball bearings 202 are made of a metal, whereas the bearing members 204 are made of a flexible plastic.

When a user makes the rotating plate 200 to be rotated by swiveling of the user's body, the ball bearings 202 and the bearing members 204 allow the rotating plate 200 to be smoothly rotated between the upper plate 100 and the lower plate 300.

A first connecting loop 205 is formed on a radial one side of the rotating plate 200.

As best seen in FIG. 3, a first string insertion hole 206 is formed through the center of first connecting loop 205. One end of the string 208 is inserted into the first string insertion hole 206. An entertainment ball 210 is attached to the other end of the string 208.

FIGS. 6 to 8B show the entertainment ball 210 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

At first, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the entertainment ball 210 is provided with a hemisphere shape of hollow upper case 211 and a lower case 212. Preferably, the upper case 211 is made of a flexible rubber or a synthetic resin.

Lower case 212 is provided with a case body 212a and a protective cap 212b.

Preferably, the lower case 212 is made of a hardened plastic whereas the protective cap 212b is made of a flexible rubber or a synthetic resin. An upper portion of the protective cap 212b is expanded at a predetermined shape such as a morning glory shape in order to enclose the case body 212a. As the upper case 211 is assembled with the lower case 212, the lower end of the upper case 211 encloses an upper outer side of the case body 212a of the lower case 212, and also the upper portion of the protective cap 212b encloses the joining part between the upper case 211 and the lower case 212.

A plate-shaped bottom cap 217 is detachably mounted to an outer bottom of the case body 212a. The bottom cap 217 is assembled to the lower end of the case body 212a by means of a first joining screw 209b which passes through a first joining hole 209a formed through the bottom cap 217, and thereafter it is inserted into the lower end of the case body 212a. A second connecting loop 218 is formed at the lower portion of the bottom cap 217.

A second string insertion hole 219 is formed through the center of the second connecting loop 218. One end of the string 208 is fitted into the second string insertion hole 219.

As best seen in FIGS. 8A and 8B, dry cells (B), an operation piece 220 responsive to an acceleration and a printed circuit board 230, are disposed in the case body 212a of the lower case 212. A pair of vertical grooves 215a, 215b for receiving the dry cells (B) are formed at the center portion of the lower case 212. At this time, a lower terminal 214 is disposed at the bottom of the vertical grooves 215a, 215b.

A third joining hole 207 is formed at a radial outer side of the vertical grooves 215a, 215b, and a depressed groove 216 is formed at the outer side of the third joining hole 207. A ring-shaped operating piece 220 is disposed in the depressed groove 216. As the entertainment ball 210 connected to the one side of the rotating plate 200 through the string 208 is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the rotating plate 200, the entertainment ball 210 moves upwards and downwards within the depressed groove 216 with response to the centrifugal force. The printed circuit board 230 is mounted to the upper portion, and thereby it is located above the vertical grooves 215a, 215b and the depressed groove 216.

Referring now to FIGS. 6 and 7, a pair of light emitting diodes 232a, 232b (hereinafter, expressed simply as"LED") are attached to the upper surface of the printed circuit board 230. Also, a circuit pattern 231 is printed on the upper surface of the printed circuit board 230. A pair of contacting terminals 236a, 236b are disposed at the radial outer side of the printed circuit board 230. The lower portions of the contacting terminals 236a, 236b protrude downwards from the bottom surface of the printed circuit board 230. A third joining hole 233 is formed at a radial inner side surface of the contacting terminals 236a, 236b. The printed circuit board 230 is mounted to the upper portion of the lower case 212 by means of a second joining screw 234 which passes through the third joining hole 233, and thereafter it is inserted into the third joining hole 207 of the case body 212a.

A pair of coiled springs 238a, 238b are mounted to the lower surface of the printed circuit board 230. The coiled spring 238a is contacted with an anode of the dry cells (B)

disposed in the vertical grooves 215a. Whereas the coiled spring 238b is contacted with a cathode of the dry cells (B) disposed in the vertical grooves 215b. On the lower surface of the printed circuit board 230, a pair of spring terminals 235 are disposed at the radial outer side of the coiled springs 238a, 238b by being radially opposite each other.

Spring terminals 235 downwardly protrude from the lower surface of the printed circuit board 230 at a predetermined length. At this time, the length of the spring terminals 235 is greater than that of the contact terminals 236a, 236b. When the printed circuit board 230 is mounted to an upper inner side of the case body 212a, the spring terminals 235 and the contact terminals 236a, 236b are positioned in the depressed groove 216 of the case body 212a. During the rotation of the entertainment ball 210 in accordance with the rotation of the rotating plate 200, the operating pieces 220 are moved within the depressed portion 216 and overcome. the elastic force of the spring terminal 235, and thereby they may be contacted with the contacting terminals 236a, 236b. Consequently, LED 232a, 232b begin to illuminate a light. As the rotating plate 200 stops rotating, the entertainment ball 210 also stops rotating.

Thereby, the operating piece 220 cannot overcome the elastic force of the spring terminal 235 and is not contacted with the contacting terminals 232a, 232b. Consequently, the LED 232a, 232b may not illuminate the light (referred to FIG. 8A).

Referring now to FIG. 1, the lower plate 300 has a predetermined shape and a predetermined structure which correspond to the shapes and the structures of the upper plate 100 and the rotating plate 200. A plurality of second screw holes 303 are formed through the

outer periphery of the lower plate 300. The fourth guide groove 301 is formed on the upper surface of the lower plate 300. The upper plate 100, the rotating plate 200 and the lower plate 300 are integrally assembled together by means of a third joining screw 107 passing through the first screw holes 103 of the upper plate 100 and the second screw holes 303 of the lower plate 300 under the state that the ball bearings 202 and the bearing members 204 are disposed in the second and the third guide grooves 201,203 which are formed on the upper surface and the lower surface of the rotating plate 200.

Hereinafter, the operation of the entertainment and exercise instrument 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as above will be described in detail with reference drawings FIGS. 9A to 9E.

At first, when a user wants to stimulate the user's abdominal muscles and waist muscles by using the entertainment and exercise instrument 10, as shown in FIG. 9A, he or she makes the outer sleeves 130a, 130b to be moved toward the protrusions 102a, 102b of the upper plate 100 by grasping the handle portions 134a, 134b of the digital-compression assembly 120 by the hands. From this state, the user also makes the operating rods 150a, 150b to be moved toward the protrusions 102a, 102b by grasping the pressing balls 156 disposed on the shaft 152 of the digital-compression assembly 120 or the operating rods 150a, 150b.

Thereafter, the users make the operating rods 150a, 150b to be moved backwardly along the arrow direction within the second bores 149a, 149b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b.

After complete withdrawl of the operating rods 150a, 150b, the user makes the digital-

compression assembly 120 to be moved upwardly at a right angle. At this time, as the joining fixture 128 engaged with the fixing end portion 148a, 148b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b pivots at an angle of 90 degrees around the joining pin 105 within the fitting grooves 126a, 126b of the fixing members 121a, 121b, the digital-compression assembly 120 stands erect, as shown in FIG. 9B. From this state, the operating rods 150a, 150b return to their initial positions by receiving an elastic force of the coiled spring 141.

When the digital-compression assembly 120 stands erect, the user inserts the user's body into a space provided within the upper plate 100. And then the user makes the digital- compression assembly 120 to be moved downwards by grasping the handle portions 134a, 134b, as shown in FIG. 9C. At this time, the pressing ball 156 is contacted with the user's abdominal region, and the shaft 152 supporting the pressing ball 156 is transformed along some rounded surfaces of the user's body. Also, the operating rods 150a, 150b overcome the elastic force of the coiled spring 141 disposed in the operating rods 150a, 150b, and thereafter they go back toward the handle portions 134a, 134b within the second bores 149a, 149b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b.

From this state, the user makes the handle portions 134a, 134b to be moved downwards so as to be level with the upper plate 100. Then, the operating rods 150a, 150b are disposed at a position within the second bore 149a, 149b of the inner sleeves 140a, 140b, which coincides with a body condition of the user.

If the digital-compression assembly 120 returns to its initial position after rotating

downwards up to 90 degrees, the user makes the outer sleeves 130a, 130b and the operating rods 150a, 150b to be closely contacted with the user's body, so that the inner sleeves 140a, 140b and the operating rods 150a, 150b cannot be moved. At this time, the pressing ball 156 stimulates the user's abdomen and intestines due to the elastic force of the coiled spring 141 and the push force applied by the user. From this state, if the user makes the digital- compression assembly 120 to be moved upwards and downwards by grasping the handle portions 134a, 134b of the digital-compression assembly 120, the pressing balls 156 move upwards and downwards and rotate around the shaft 152 so as to stimulate the user's abdomen and intestines. If the user's body is inserted into the space of the upper plate 100, back muscles of the user are stimulated by means of pressing pad 110 which is positioned opposite to the digital-compression assembly 120. Accordingly, a massage effect such as a digital-compression like function is provided to the body part of the user with which the pressing pad 110 is contacted.

As shown in FIG. 9D, if the user swivels his body by wearing the entertainment and exercise instrument 10 on his body, the rotating plate 200 and the entertainment ball 210 connected to the rotating plate 200 through the string 208 rotate, so that the entertainment ball 210 emits a light. Accordingly, the user may take an interest in exercise upon using the entertainment and exercise instrument 10 according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

If the user wants to stimulate muscles of the other part of the user's body after

performing the digital-compression to the user's abdomen and intestines, he may use the entertainment and exercise instrument 10 in accordance with the operating process as illustrated referred to FIGS. 9A and 9D.

As described above, in the healthful entertainment and exercise instrument according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the rotating plate 200 is disposed between the upper plate 100 and the lower plate 300, and the digital-compression assembly 120 is installed at the inner side of the upper plate 100. From this structure, the entertainment and exercise instrument can provide a user with a massage effect such as a digital- compression like function to the user's abdominal and waist muscles. Further, it can give the pleasure of exercising to the user, which allows waist exercise by placing it at the user's midsection and swiveling the body. In addition, the pressing pad 110 disposed at the radial inner side surface of the upper plate 100 stimulates the spots on the body suitable for acupuncture. Furthermore, as the entertainment ball 210 emits a light during the rotation of the rotating plate 200 in accordance with the swiveling of the user's body, the user takes an interest in exercise upon using the entertainment and exercise instrument.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be effected therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.