U.S. patent application number 10/303723 was filed with the patent office on 2004-03-18 for hand support controlling device for an elliptical exercise apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to Kun-Chuan Lo. Invention is credited to Chen, Fu-An, Chen, Kuei-Sen, Lo, Kun-Chuan.
Application Number | 20040053748 10/303723 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29708885 |
Filed Date | 2004-03-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040053748 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lo, Kun-Chuan ; et
al. |
March 18, 2004 |
Hand support controlling device for an elliptical exercise
apparatus
Abstract
A hand support controlling device includes two hand support rod
members and two controlling units. Each of the rod members has
upper and lower rod sections, which are disposed rotatably on a
base. Each controlling unit is rotatable between a first position,
wherein the respective upper rod section is connected fixedly to
the respective lower rod section so that the respective upper rod
section can swing back and forth about a pivot axis, and a second
position, wherein the respective upper rod section is fixed
relative to the base and wherein the respective lower rod section
is rotatable about the pivot axis.
Inventors: |
Lo, Kun-Chuan; (Taichung
City, TW) ; Chen, Kuei-Sen; (Ta-Ya Hsiang, TW)
; Chen, Fu-An; (Ta-Tsun Hsiang, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BANNER & WITCOFF
1001 G STREET N W
SUITE 1100
WASHINGTON
DC
20001
US
|
Assignee: |
Kun-Chuan Lo
Taichung City
TW
|
Family ID: |
29708885 |
Appl. No.: |
10/303723 |
Filed: |
November 26, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 ;
482/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4017 20151001;
A63B 2022/0676 20130101; A63B 22/0007 20130101; A63B 21/225
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/052 ;
482/057 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/04; A63B
022/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 12, 2002 |
TW |
091214363 |
Claims
We claim:
1. A hand support controlling device for an elliptical exercise
apparatus, which includes a base positioned on a ground surface and
having a front end, an upright post connected fixedly to the front
end of the base, and a pair of shafts capable of movement on the
base in elliptical motions, said controlling device comprising: a
pair of hand support rod members, each of which has an upper rod
section with a lower end, and a lower rod section with an upper
end, said lower ends and said upper ends being adapted to be
connected pivotally to the post so that said upper rod sections and
said lower rod sections are rotatable about a horizontal pivot
axis, rotation of said lower rod sections about said pivot axis
resulting in the elliptical motions of the shafts; and a pair of
controlling units disposed respectively and rotatably on said rod
members, each of said controlling units being rotatable between a
first position, wherein said upper rod section of a respective one
of said rod members is connected fixedly to a respective one of
said lower rod sections so that a respective one of said upper rod
sections can swing back and forth about said pivot axis, and a
second position, wherein said upper rod section of the respective
one of said rod members is fixed relative to the base and wherein
said lower rod section of the respective one of said rod members is
rotatable about said pivot axis.
2. The controlling device of claim 1, wherein each of said
controlling units includes: a limiting piece mounted rotatably on
the respective one of said upper rod sections; and an L-shaped
rotary lever connected non-rotatably to said limiting piece and
operable to rotate a respective one of said controlling units to
said first and second positions.
3. The controlling device of claim 2, wherein said rotary levers
have a semicircular cross-section, said limiting pieces being
formed with semicircular holes for receiving said rotary levers
respectively and fittingly so that each of said limiting pieces can
rotate synchronously with a respective one of said rotary
levers.
4. The controlling device of claim 3, further comprising a pair of
positioning units, each of which includes: an outer positioning
member connected fixedly to said upper end of said lower rod
section of the respective one of said rod members and disposed at
one side of said upper rod section of the respective one of said
rod members; and an inner positioning member disposed at the other
side of said upper rod section and adapted to be fixed relative to
the post so that said limiting piece of the respective one of said
controlling units can engage a selected one of said inner and outer
positioning members by rotating a respective one of said rotary
levers, thereby locating the respective one of said controlling
units at a selected one of said first and second positions.
5. The controlling device of claim 4, wherein each of said
positioning units further includes an intermediate positioning
member which is connected fixedly to said lower end of said upper
rod section of the respective one of said rod members, and which
includes an axial slot that extends horizontally through said
intermediate positioning member and that is parallel to said pivot
axis, and an annular outer surface formed with a lever hole that is
in communication with said axial slot and that is transverse to
said pivot axis, each of said axial slots being provided for
receiving said limiting piece of the respective one of said
controlling units therein so as to permit 180.degree. rotation of
said limiting pieces within said axial slots, said lever hole in
each of said positioning units being provided for extension of said
rotary lever of the respective one of said controlling units
therethrough so as to engage said hole in a respective one of said
limiting pieces, each of said inner and outer positioning members
having a limiting slot, said limiting piece of each of said
controlling units having a free end, which is engaged within said
limiting slot in a respective one of said outer positioning members
when the respective one of said controlling units is disposed at
said first position, and within said limiting slot in a respective
one of said inner positioning members when the respective one of
said controlling units is disposed at said second position.
6. The controlling device of claim 5, wherein said limiting slot in
each of said inner and outer positioning members has an enlarged
upper portion to facilitate engagement of said free end of said
limiting piece of the respective one of said controlling units
therein, and a lower portion that is narrower than said upper
portion and that is shaped so as to receive fittingly said free end
of said limiting piece of the respective one of said controlling
units.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an elliptical exercise apparatus,
more particularly to a hand support controlling device for an
elliptical exercise apparatus.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional elliptical exercise
apparatus 1 is shown to comprise a base seat 11, a flywheel
assembly 12, a pair of shafts 13, a pair of hand support rod
members 14, and a pair of linking rods 15. The base seat 11
includes a base 111 and an upright post 112 extending upwardly and
integrally from a front end of the base 111. The flywheel assembly
12 includes a flywheel 121 and a pair of cranks 122 (only one is
visible) connected respectively to two opposite sides of the
flywheel 12. Each of the shafts 13 has a front end 131 connected
pivotally to a respective one of the cranks 122, and a rear end 132
disposed slidably on the base 111. The hand support rod members 14
are connected pivotally and respectively to the left and right
sides of the post 112. Each of the rod members 14 has an upper end
141 that serves as a hand support, and a lower end 142 that is
opposite to the upper end 141. Each of the linking rods 15 has a
rear end portion 152 connected pivotally to a respective one of the
shafts 13, and a front end 151 connected pivotally to a respective
one of the rod members 14 so that the rod members 14 can swing back
and forth relative to the base 111. The rear end portion 152 of
each of the linking rods 15 is provided with a pedal member
153.
[0005] In use, when the user stands on the pedal members 153 and
exerts foot pressures alternately on the shafts 13, the front ends
131 of the shafts 13 follow rotation of the cranks 122, while the
rear ends 132 of the shafts 13 move slidably on the base 111 so
that forward and rearward sliding movements of the shafts 13 can
guide the linking rods 15 to move in elliptical motions. The user
grasps the hand support rod members 14 at the same time so that the
hands of the user can swing back and forth relative to the base
111. As such, exercise of the leg and arm muscles is attained.
[0006] However, the design of the conventional elliptical exercise
apparatus 1 requires the user to exercise the hand portions aside
from exercising the leg portions such that those users who do not
want to exercise their hand portions have to release their grips on
the hand support rod members 14 during exercise, thereby resulting
in the possibility that the user may fall off from the exercise
apparatus 1.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to
provide a hand support controlling device for an elliptical
exercise apparatus that is capable of overcoming the aforementioned
drawback of the prior art.
[0008] According to the present invention, a hand support
controlling device is adapted to be used on an elliptical exercise
apparatus, which includes a base positioned on a ground surface and
having a front end, an upright post connected fixedly to the front
end of the base, and a pair of shafts capable of movement on the
base in elliptical motions. The controlling device comprises a pair
of hand support rod members and a pair of controlling units
disposed respectively and rotatably on the rod members. Each of the
hand support rod members has an upper rod section with a lower end,
and a lower rod section with an upper end. The lower ends and the
upper ends are adapted to be connected pivotally to the post so
that the upper rod sections and the lower rod sections are
rotatable about a horizontal pivot axis. Each of the controlling
units is rotatable between first and second positions. When the
controlling unit is disposed at the first position, the upper rod
section of a respective one of the rod members is connected fixedly
to a respective one of the lower rod sections so that the
respective one of the upper rod sections can swing back and forth
about the pivot axis. When the controlling unit is disposed at the
second position, the upper rod section of the respective one of the
rod members is fixed relative to the base, and the lower rod
section of the respective one of the rod members is rotatable about
the pivot axis.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings,
of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional elliptical
exercise apparatus, illustrating how elliptical motions of two
pedal members can be achieved during exercise;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an elliptical exercise
apparatus incorporating the preferred embodiment of a hand support
controlling device of the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a partly exploded perspective view, illustrating a
hand support rod member of the preferred embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the exercise apparatus shown
in FIG. 2, illustrating how operation of L-shaped rotary levers of
the controlling units can fix the position of upper rod sections of
the hand support rod members relative to a base, while permitting
rotation of lower rod sections of the rod members about a pivot
axis, as shown by the arrows;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the hand support
rod member shown in FIG. 3, illustrating how a limiting piece
engages a limiting slot in an inner positioning member so as to fix
the position of the upper rod section relative to the base of the
exercise apparatus;
[0015] FIG. 6 is another schematic view of the elliptical exercise
apparatus, illustrating how the operation of the rotary levers of
the controlling units results in simultaneous movement of the upper
and lower rod sections of the hand support rod members; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the hand support
rod member shown in FIG. 3, illustrating how the limiting piece
engages a limiting slot in an outer positioning member so as to
connect the upper rod section fixedly to the lower rod section.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment of a
hand support controlling device 100 according to the present
invention is adapted to be used on an elliptical exercise apparatus
2, and is shown to comprise a pair of hand support rod members 3, a
pair of positioning units 4, and a pair of controlling units 5 (see
FIGS. 3 and 6). The exercise apparatus 2 includes a base 21
positioned on a ground surface and having a front end 211, an
upright post 213 connected fixedly to the front end 211 of the base
21, a horizontal shaft 214 extending through the post 213, a
flywheel assembly 22 connected rotatably to the post 213, a pair of
pedal shafts 23 capable of movement on the base 213 in elliptical
motions, a pair of pedal members 24, and a pair of linking rods 25.
The base 21 further has a pair of rail seats 212 disposed opposite
to each other at the rear ends of the base 21. The flywheel
assembly 22 has a flywheel 221 and a pair of cranks 222 (only one
is visible in FIG. 2) disposed respectively on left and right sides
of the flywheel 221. Each of the pedal shafts 23 has a front end
portion 231 connected pivotally to a respective one of the cranks
222, and a rear end portion 232 that moves slidably along a
respective one of the rail seats 212. Each of the pedal members 24
is connected pivotally to a respective one of the pedal shafts 23.
Each of the linking rods 25 has a rear end portion 252 connected to
a respective one of the pedal members 24 in a known manner, and a
front end portion 251 opposite to the rear end portion 252.
[0018] Each of the hand support rod members 3 of the preferred
embodiment has an upper rod section 31 with a lower end 311, and a
lower rod section 32 with an upper end 321 (see FIG. 3). The lower
ends 311 and the upper ends 321 are adapted to be connected
pivotally to the post 213 so that the upper rod sections 31 and the
lower rod sections 32 are rotatable about a horizontal pivot axis
(X).
[0019] Each of the positioning units 4 of the preferred embodiment
includes an outer positioning member 42, an inner positioning
member 43, and an intermediate positioning member 41 (see FIG. 3).
Each of the outer positioning members 42 has an annular outer wall
421 that surrounds the pivot axis (X) and that is connected fixedly
to the upper end 321 of the lower rod section 32 of the respective
one of the rod members 3, an annular inner end wall 422 connected
fixedly to an inner end of the outer wall 421, an annular inner
wall 424 surrounding the pivot axis (X) so as to define a shaft
hole 423 for receiving the horizontal shaft 214 rotatably, and a
limiting slot 425 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) that extends through the
inner end wall 422. The outer positioning member 42 of each of the
positioning units 4 is disposed at one side of the respective upper
rod section 31.
[0020] The inner positioning member 43 of each of the positioning
units 4 is disposed at the other side of the respective upper rod
section 31, has a limiting slot 431 (see FIG. 3) that is aligned
with and that is substantially similar in shape to the limiting
slot 425 in the outer positioning member 42 of a respective one of
the positioning units 4, and is sleeved fixedly on the horizontal
shaft 214.
[0021] The intermediate positioning member 41 of each of the
positioning units 4 is connected fixedly to the lower end 311 of
the upper rod section 31 of the respective one of the hand support
rod members 3, and includes a first side surface 411 abutting
against the side surface 422 of a respective one of the outer
positioning members 42, a second side surface 412 opposite to the
first side surface 411 and adjacent to a respective one of the
inner positioning members 43, an axial hole 413 that extends along
the pivot axis (X) and that engages the horizontal shaft 214, an
axial slot 414 that extends horizontally through the intermediate
positioning member 41 in alignment with the limiting slots 425, 431
and that is parallel to the pivot axis (X), and an annular outer
surface 416 formed with a lever hole 415 that is in communication
with the axial slot 414 and that is transverse to the pivot axis
(X). The intermediate positioning member 41 of each of the
positioning units 4 is sleeved rotatably on the horizontal shaft
214.
[0022] Each of the controlling units 5 of the preferred embodiment
includes a limiting piece 51 and an L-shaped rotary lever 52 (see
FIG. 3). Each of the limiting pieces 51 is mounted rotatably on a
respective one of the upper rod sections 31, and has a free end
513. Each of the rotary levers 52 is connected non-rotatably to a
respective one of the limiting pieces 51, and is operable to rotate
a respective one of the controlling units 5 to first and second
positions. When the controlling unit 5 is disposed at the first
position, as shown in FIG. 7, the upper rod section 31 of the
respective one of the rod members 3 is connected fixedly to a
respective one of the lower rod sections 32 so that the respective
one of the upper rod sections 31 can swing back and forth about the
pivot axis (X), as shown in FIG. 6. When the controlling unit 5 is
disposed at the second position, as shown in FIG. 5, the upper rod
section 31 of the respective one of the rod members 3 is fixed
relative to the base 21, and the lower rod section 32 of the
respective one of the rod members 3 is rotatable about the pivot
axis (X), as shown in FIG. 4. The rotary levers 52 have a
semicircular cross-section. The limiting pieces 51 include
semicircular holes 512 for receiving the rotary levers 52
respectively and fittingly so that each of the limiting pieces 51
can rotate synchronously with a respective one of the rotary levers
52.
[0023] Each of the axial slots 414 in the intermediate positioning
members 41 is provided for receiving the limiting piece 51 of the
respective one of the controlling units 5 therein so as to permit
180.degree. rotation of the limiting pieces 51 within the axial
slots 414. Each of the lever holes 415 in the intermediate
positioning members 41 is provided for extension of the rotary
lever 52 of the respective one of the controlling units 5
therethrough so as to engage the hole 512 in a respective one of
the limiting pieces 51.
[0024] The free end 513 of each of the limiting pieces 51 is
engaged within the limiting slot 425 in a respective one of the
outer positioning members 42 when the respective one of the
controlling units 5 is disposed at the first position, and within
the limiting slot 431 in a respective one of the inner positioning
members 43 when the respective one of the controlling units 5 is
disposed at the second position. The limiting slot 431, 425 in each
of the inner and outer positioning members 43, 42 has an enlarged
upper portion 432 to facilitate engagement of the free end 513 of
the limiting piece 51 of the respective one of the controlling
units 5 therein, and a lower portion 433 that is narrower than the
upper portion 432 and that is shaped so as to receive fittingly the
free end 513 of the limiting piece 51 of the respective one of the
controlling units 5.
[0025] Because the horizontal shaft 214 is fixed to the post 213,
the inner positioning member 43 of each of the positioning units 4
is fixed relative to the post 213 so that the limiting piece 51 of
the respective one of the controlling units 5 can engage a selected
one of the inner and outer positioning members 43, 42 by rotating
the respective one of the rotary levers 52, thereby locating the
respective one of the controlling units 5 at a selected one of the
first and second positions.
[0026] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the user rotates the rotary
levers 52 toward the post 213 of the exercise apparatus 2, the free
ends 513 of the limiting pieces 51 can rotate within the axial
slots 414 until the free ends 513 engage the limiting slots 431 in
the inner positioning members 43, thereby fixing the intermediate
positioning members 41 relative to the inner positioning members
43. As such, the upper rod sections 31 of the hand support rod
members 3 are prevented from swinging relative to the base 21,
while the lower rod sections 32 of the rod members 3 can still
swing back and forth relative to the base 21. Thus, it is only
necessary for the user to step on the pedal members 24 with both
hands gripping the upper rod sections 31 to start the exercise. The
user pedals in frontward and rearward directions so as to rotate
the cranks 222 and the flywheel assembly 22 subsequently such that
the pedal members 24 follow generally elliptical motions, thereby
achieving exercise of the user's leg muscles.
[0027] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, when the user rotates the rotary
levers 52 from the positions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 away from the
post 213 of the exercise apparatus 2 by an angle of 180.degree.
about the pivot axis (X), the free ends 513 of the limiting pieces
51 can rotate within the axial slots 414 until the free ends 513
engage the limiting slots 425 in the respective outer positioning
members 42. As such, the upper rod sections 31 of the rod members 3
are connected fixedly to the lower rod sections 32, and can swing
back and forth relative to the base 21. Similarly, it is only
necessary for the user to step on the pedal members 24 with both
hands gripping the upper rod sections 31 to start the exercise. In
this exercise, the hands and the feet of the user can move
simultaneously, thereby achieving exercise of the user's leg
muscles and hand portions.
[0028] From the above description of the preferred embodiment of
the hand support controlling device 100 of the present invention,
it is apparent that the upper rod sections 31 of the hand support
rod members 3 can be connected fixedly to the lower rod sections 32
so that the upper and lower rod sections 31, 32 can swing back and
forth, or separated from the lower rod sections 32 so as to be
fixed relative to the base 21. As such, the user can choose to have
his hands moving with the feet at the same time, or simply holding
the upper rod sections 31 steadily for support during exercise so
as to maintain balance and enhance safety.
[0029] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and
equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *