Background Art In modern society, since the number of people who stay in a limited indoor space most of a day is on the increase, and especially a civilization pursuing only the convenience of life has been developed, the health condition of modern people is going from bad to worse due to the lack of exercise and the deterioration of physical strength.

Therefore, various kinds of exercise using various appliances such as a jump rope as well as other exercise not using the appliances, for example, jogging or swimming, have been proposed and performed in accordance with tastes of individuals. Especially, treadmills, sliders and other multi-functional health machines, which can be used indoors, are in fashion.

However, most health machines developed until now can perform only the training of specific regions of the body, the training of cardiopulmonary organs, simulation of horizontal movements of the body, etc. For this reason, it has been impossible to achieve any effects of exercise

relating to the internal organs, for example, the improvement of muscular strength of digestive organs.

Besides, most existing health machines are constructed so that the user should actuate or manipulate the machine by applying his/her strength in order to perform any motion. This troublesome manipulating procedure may weaken a will of the user to exercise, thereby preventing the user from continuously exercising.

Disclosure of the Invention Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a jumping machine for improving muscular strength of digestive organs on the basis of the training of the internal organs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a jumping machine for allowing a user to perform exercise automatically to achieve a desired effect of exercise without exerting the least effort, for example, without moving his/her body or manipulating the machine.

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a jumping machine comprising: a power generating unit for generating power; a power transmission unit for performing vertical reciprocating movements using the power supplied from the power generating unit; a foot plate adapted to move upwardly in a state of supporting the weight of the user, and then move downwardly to cause the body of the user to fall freely, in accordance with the vertical reciprocating movements of the power transmission unit; a casing for receiving the power generating unit and power

transmission unit therein; a handle unit mounted to the casing, and adapted to support the user so that the user keeps his/her balance; and a control unit for controlling an operation of the power generating unit.

Preferably, the power generating unit may include a motor and speed reducer, and the power transmission unit may include a crank mechanism.

Alternatively, the power generating unit may include a hydraulic motor and hydraulic pump, and the power transmission unit may include a hydraulic cylinder device.

Alternatively, the power generating unit may include a voltage transformer and rectifier, and the power transmission unit may include an electromagnet and solenoid.

Alternatively, the power transmission unit may include both an eccentric disk and a roller. The eccentric disk is adapted to be driven and rotated eccentrically by the power generating unit. The roller is installed under the foot plate and adapted to be rotated by the eccentric disk to move the foot plate upwardly and downwardly.

Preferably, the foot plate may include a concavo- convex portion formed at a top surface thereof. The concavo-convex portion relieves any excessive shock applied to the sole of the foot of the user, and performs an acupressure action against the sole of the foot.

The casing may include rails extending vertically along an upward/downward movement direction of the foot plate. The foot plate includes linear movement bearings sliding along the rails. The linear movement bearings induce the foot plate to smoothly reciprocate along the rails without allowing irregular fluctuation of the foot plate in any direction, during the vertical reciprocating

movements of the power transmission unit.

Preferably, the handle unit may be of a multistage telescopic type so that a whole height thereof can be adjusted in a stepwise manner.

Preferably, the handle unit may include a control panel and monitor for allowing the user to set an appropriate degree of motion, and to control and recognize an operating situation of the control unit.

Brief Description of the Drawings The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an exterior appearance of a jumping machine in accordance with the present invention; Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the jumping machine in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view of the jumping machine in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view of the jumping machine in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view of the jumping machine in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of the jumping machine in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the

present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an exterior appearance of a jumping machine in accordance with the present invention. As shown in this drawing, the jumping machine comprises a foot plate 10, on which a user stands, a handle unit 20 for allowing the user standing on the foot plate to keep his/her balance, and a casing 30 for receiving a power device (not shown) and a control unit (not shown) therein. The power device is adapted to move the foot plate 10 upwardly and downwardly, and the control unit is adapted to control the power device.

The construction of the present invention is shown in detail in both an exploded perspective view of Fig. 2 and a cross sectional view of Fig. 3. These drawings show a first embodiment of the present invention, which comprises a power generating unit including a motor/speed reducer 40, and a power transmission unit including a crank mechanism 50.

The motor/speed reducer 40, which serves as the power generating unit, and the crank mechanism 50, which serves as the power transmission unit, are mounted inside the casing 30. The casing 30 is constructed with a firm frame. The motor/speed reducer 40 and crank mechanism 50 are provided with belt pulleys 41 and 51, respectively. These pulleys are connected with each other by means of a timing belt 42.

Although a V-belt or chain may be used instead of the timing belt 42, it is preferable to use the timing belt 42 in view of reduction of noise and vibration.

The crank mechanism 50 comprises a crank shaft 52, a crank plate 53 and a crank arm 54. The crank shaft 52

includes the pulley 51, around which the timing belt 42 is coupled. The crank plate 53 is adapted to perform rotating movements by receiving the power from the motor/speed reducer 40 through the timing belt 42 and crank shaft 52, in accordance with a driving operation of the motor/speed reducer 40. The crank arm 54 is coupled to the crank plate 53 via a bearing and adapted to perform vertical reciprocating movements, in accordance with the rotating movements of the crank plate 53.

The crank arm 54 has its upper end coupled to the foot plate 10 via a bracket 10a. The foot plate 10 is linked with the crank arm 54, and made of materials having enough strength to endure the weight of the user and a load of exercise. More particularly, the foot plate 10 has a concavo-convex portion lOb formed on its top surface, which will be in contact with the sole of the foot of the user.

The concavo-convex portion lOb includes a plurality of bosses or raised portions of a certain curvature. This concavo-convex portion is required to relieve any excessive shock applied to the sole of the foot during the vertical movements of the foot plate 10, and to perform an acupressure action against the sole of the foot.

A pair of parallel rails 60 is extended vertically on a vertical panel 30a of the casing 30 at one side of the foot plate 10. The foot plate 10 is installed with linear movement bearings 61. The linear movement bearings induce the foot plate 10 to reciprocate vertically along the rails without allowing irregular fluctuation of the foot plate 10 in any direction, during the vertical reciprocating movements of the crank arm 54. As a result, the foot plate 10 can slide smoothly along the rails 60.

The control unit 70 is mounted inside the casing 30 to

control the power generating unit including the motor/speed reducer 40. The control unit 70 has a voltage/phase conversion circuit and an inverter circuit for controlling a voltage and frequency. The control unit effectively performs various functions, for example, the supply of power and the prevention of overload. Further, the control unit 70 controls a rotation speed of the motor/speed reducer 40, so that the foot plate 10 is raised gradually in a state of supporting the weight of the user, and then lowered instantaneously to cause the body of the user to fall freely.

Preferably, in order to absorb vibrations caused by operations of the motor/speed reducer 40 and crank mechanism 50 and to keep a horizontal state of the casing 30, vibration-proof members 30b, made of urethane or rubber materials, may be attached to the bottom surface of the casing 30.

Preferably, in order to increase the convenience of storage of the jumping machine, the handle unit 20 may be of a multistage telescopic type such that a whole height thereof can be adjusted in two or three stages.

The handle unit 20 may be provided, on the center region of its upper end, with a control panel/monitor 80.

The control panel/monitor 80 enables the user to set an appropriate degree of motion (on the basis of speed, jumping rate/frequency and so on) corresponding to his/her body conditions, for example, the weight of the user and his/her physical strength, and to control or recognize an operating state of the control unit 70 and the like.

Hereinafter, the operation of the first embodiment of the present invention with the above-described construction will be explained.

Firstly, the user keeps his/her balance by gripping the handle unit 20 in a state of standing on the foot plate 10, and then sets an appropriate degree of motion corresponding to his/her body conditions and physical strength by manipulating the control panel/monitor 80 on the handle unit 20.

When the control unit 70 operates the power generating unit, which includes the motor/speed reducer 40, on the basis of the user's desired degree of motion inputted by manipulating the control panel/monitor 80, the motor/speed reducer 40 is driven at a speed and force of rotation proportional to the inputted motion degree, and, at the same time, the crank mechanism 50, connected to the motor/speed reducer 40 via the timing belt 42, is actuated to vertically reciprocate the crank arm 54.

The foot plate 10, coupled to the upper end of the crank arm 54, is moved upwardly and downwardly in accordance with the vertical reciprocating movements of the crank arm 54. At this time, the linear movement bearings 61, installed to the rear portion of the foot plate 10, slide along the rails 60, installed on the vertical panel 30a of the casing 30. As a result, the foot plate 10 can slide smoothly along a normal linear course defined by the vertical rails, without allowing irregular fluctuation of the foot plate 10 in any direction.

The foot plate 10 is raised together with the body of the user during its upward movement, and then alone lowered instantaneously earlier than the body of the user during its downward movement. Thus, the body of the user impacts the foot plate 10 with a force proportional to his/her weight.

The body of the user gets a shock of falling as soon as the sole of the foot of the user reaches the top surface

of the foot plate 10. By virtue of the shock of falling, the body of the user can experience an outstanding effect of exercise corresponding to several times an effect of jumping rope. In turn, the user can anticipate the improvement of muscular strength of internal organs and abdominal muscle if he/she continuously uses the jumping machine of the present invention.

The concavo-convex portion lOb, formed on the top surface of the foot plate 10, is configured to relieve any excessive shock applied to the sole of the foot and to perform the acupressure action against the sole of the foot.

This configuration can increase the effect of exercise of the jumping machine.

The jumping machine of the present invention is operated automatically via a control manipulation using the control panel/monitor 80, so that the user can achieve the effect of exercise as stated above without exerting the least effort.

Although, in the described first embodiment, the power generating unit was embodied as the motor/speed reducer 40, and the power transmission unit was embodied as the crank mechanism 50, they may be embodied as the following devices in other embodiments.

Fig. 4 shows a second embodiment wherein the power generating unit includes a hydraulic motor/hydraulic pump 40'and the power transmission unit includes a hydraulic cylinder device 50'. The hydraulic motor/hydraulic pump 40' generates an operating hydraulic pressure exactly corresponding to certain conditions inputted by the user, and supplies it to the hydraulic cylinder device 50'through pipe 41'. The operating hydraulic pressure, supplied to the hydraulic cylinder device 50', causes vertical reciprocating

movements of a piston 51'of the hydraulic cylinder device 50', thereby vertically moving the foot plate 10 coupled to the piston 51'.

Fig. 5 shows a third embodiment wherein the power generating unit includes a voltage transformer/rectifier 40" and the power transmission unit includes both an electromagnet 50"and a solenoid 51". The voltage transformer/rectifier 40"adjusts a current strength and voltage, and supplies them to the electromagnet 50", thereby causing the electromagnet 50"to attain or lose magnetism repeatedly. As a result of such repeated magnetism producing cycles, the solenoid 51'moves upwardly and downwardly, thereby vertically moving the foot plate 10 connected with the solenoid 51".

Fig. 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the present invention wherein the power transmission unit includes both an eccentric disk 50'''and a roller 51'''. The eccentric disk 50'''is adapted to be rotated by the power generating unit. The roller 51'''is installed under the foot plate 10 and adapted to be rotated in accordance with the rotation of the eccentric disk 50'''. The power generating unit of the fourth embodiment can be selected freely from among any devices capable of rotating the eccentric disk 50'''. Thus, various power generating devices, including the motor/speed reducer 40 adopted as stated above embodiments, may be used.

Respective components in the above embodiments, except the power generating unit and power transmission unit, are the same in structure and operation as those of the first embodiment, so a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a jumping machine for producing a falling shock energy proportional to the weight of a user and the speed of falling, through the free falling of the user's body. This falling shock energy can harden the body of the user, especially abdominal muscles of the body and muscular strength of the internal organs, resulting in various beneficial effects, for example, the promotion of health, the reduction of weight and the removal of surplus fat of the body of the user.

In addition, the jumping machine of the present invention is operated automatically to allow the user to perform exercise to achieve a desired effect of exercise without exerting the least effort, for example, without moving his/her body or manipulating the machine.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.