Exercise device

An exercise device for use by a user having ankle portions, the device comprising:

• a base frame having a stable self-supporting strut structure;
• a mat frame rotatably mounted on an upper end of the base frame for supporting a mat on which a user can lean or lay;
• a length-adjustable extension member fixed at one end thereof to one longitudinal end of the mat frame;
• ankle holding means installed on a free end of the extension member and adapted to hold the ankle portions of the user utilizing the device, the ankle holding means including a pair of footholds fixedly mounted to the free end of the extension member while extending laterally from the free end of the extension member in opposite directions, respectively, a pair of support bars fixedly mounted to an end portion of the extension member disposed near the free end of the extension member while extending laterally from the free end of the extension member in opposite directions, respectively, and a pair of foot holders hingably mounted to the free end of the extension member in such a manner that the foot holders move with respect to the support bars, respectively;
• mat rotating means provided with a first geared motor and adapted to rotate the mat frame through a desired angle by a drive force from the first geared motor in a speed-reduced manner;
• and
• foot holder moving means provided with a second geared motor and adapted to move the foot holders between an ankle holding position where the foot holders are positioned near the support bars, respectively, to hold the ankle portions of the user therebetween and a release position where the foot holders are spaced away from the support bars, respectively, to allow the ankle portions of the user to be released, the movement of the foot holders being provided by a drive force from the second geared motor in a speed-reduced manner.