U.S. patent application number 10/627700 was filed with the patent office on 2005-02-03 for pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser.
Invention is credited to Lo, Chiu-Hsiang.
Application Number | 20050026751 10/627700 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34103275 |
Filed Date | 2005-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050026751 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lo, Chiu-Hsiang |
February 3, 2005 |
Pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser
Abstract
The invention relates to a pivoting mechanism for a link rod of
an elliptical exerciser having a handle rod and a crank. A pair of
handles is arranged on top of the handle rod. A sliding rod with
pedals is connected to the crank by a pivoting mechanism while the
other end of the sliding rod slides along a sliding base. Moreover,
a driving mechanism is linked to a shaft connected with the crank.
The pivoting mechanism includes a sleeve with bearings and a
projecting collar disposed on the sleeve and having a mounting hole
with inner diameter larger than outer diameter of the projecting
collar. One end of the crank inserts through the bearings and the
projecting collar is fitted into the sliding rod. A fixing bolt is
inserted through the sliding rod and the projecting collar so that
the projecting collar is movable with the sliding rod.
Inventors: |
Lo, Chiu-Hsiang; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
34103275 |
Appl. No.: |
10/627700 |
Filed: |
July 28, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 ;
482/51 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0664 20130101;
A63B 22/203 20130101; A63B 22/001 20130101; A63B 2022/0676
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/052 ;
482/051 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser
having a handle rod pivoted on a main body, a pair of handles
disposed on top of the handle rod, a link rod positioned on bottom
of the handle rod and movably coupled to a sliding rod with pedals,
a driving mechanism mounted on the main body and linked to a shaft
with one end connected with a crank, the crank being connected to
one end of the sliding rod by a pivoting mechanism while the other
end of the sliding rod is movable in a guiding slot on a sliding
base, the pivoting mechanism comprising: a) a sleeve mounted on the
crank with bearings disposed within the sleeve; b) a projecting
collar perpendicularly extended from one side of the sleeve,
wherein the sliding rod has a mounting hole with a larger inner
diameter than the outer diameter of the projecting collar such that
a clearance is formed between the sliding rod and the projecting
collar when the projecting collar is fitted in the sliding rod; and
c) a pivotal rod for pivoting the sliding rod and the projecting
collar such that the projecting collar is movable rotatable with
the sliding rod.
2. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser
as claimed in claim 1, wherein a plurality of elastic strips are
positioned on the inner wall of the mounting hole of the sliding
rod.
3. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser
as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole of the sliding rod
has an elliptic cross-section.
4. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser
as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting hole of the sliding rod
has an orthogonal cross-section.
5. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser
as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two sides of the projecting
collar have an arched cross-section, and wherein the projecting
collar is slightly rotatable about the pivotal rod.
6. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser
as claimed in claim 1, wherein the a projecting collar has a
mounting hole with a larger inner diameter than the outer diameter
of the sliding rod such that a clearance is formed between the
sliding rod and the projecting collar when the sliding rod is
fitted in the projecting collar.
7. The pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical exerciser
as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivotal rod is a bolt.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a pivoting mechanism for a
link rod of an elliptical exerciser, especially to a kind of
structure that can simplify the structure, reduce the cost, is easy
to maintain and stable to operate.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIG. 6, the linking structure of a conventional
elliptical exerciser includes a main body 10 on which a handle rod
12 is pivotally mounted and a crank 14. A pair of handles 13 are
disposed on top of the handle rod 12 while one end of the crank 14
is connected to a sliding rod 15 with pedals 16 by a pivoting
mechanism. The other end of the sliding rod 15 slides along the
sliding base 17 positioned on the main body 10. A driving mechanism
11 arranged on the bas 10 links to a shaft 110 with one end part
connected with the crank 14. For improving the stability of
sliding, Taiwan Patent No.: 362507, as shown in FIG. 7, discloses a
configuration having a sleeve 30 arranged on one end of the sliding
rod 15 and a sleeve pipe 31 fitted therein. Each of two ends of the
sleeve 30 is a flared opening whose diameter is larger than that of
the sleeve pipe 31 so as to form a clearance between the sleeve 30
and the sleeve pipe 31.
[0005] Several bearings 32 are fitted inside the sleeve pipe 31
while one end of the crank 14 is movably received in the bearing 32
and fixed by a shim 33 and clasps. Due to the clearance between the
sleeve 30 and the sleeve pipe 31, the sliding rod 15 has certain
space to roll and the stability of the sliding rod 15 sliding on
the sliding base 17 is also improved. However, such design still
has following disadvantages:
[0006] 1. In addition to the bearing 32 and the sleeve 30, the
sleeve pipe 31 is disposed inside the sleeve 30 and the shim 33
positioned on two ends of the sleeve 30. In order to form the
clearance with the sleeve pipe 31, the two ends of the sleeve 30
have flared openings that are difficult to manufacture and process.
Moreover, such structure is easy to be damaged, thereby having high
defect rate and stress concentration.
[0007] 2. Due to a plurality of components, it difficult to
assemble, labor-consuming and hard to maintain.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to
provide a pivoting mechanism for a link rod of an elliptical
exerciser that has simplified structure, low manufacturing cost,
easy assembling, and convenient maintenance. The present invention
has a crank with one end thereof connected to a sliding rod by a
pivoting mechanism. The pivoting mechanism is composed of a sleeve
with a bearing arranged inside. One end of the crank is inserted
through the bearing. A projecting collar is positioned on one side
of the sleeve while a mounting hole whose inner diameter is larger
than the outer diameter of the projecting collar is arranged on one
end of the sliding rod. The projecting collar inserts the mounting
hole on the sliding rod. A pivotal rod is inserted through the
sliding rod and the projecting collar so that the projecting collar
can rotate with the sliding rod.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the
invention will become apparent from the following descriptions and
its accompanying drawings of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elliptical exerciser in
accordance with the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the featured structure of the
present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the featured structure
of the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of another featured
structure of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of an embodiment of the
present invention wherein the projecting collar slightly rotates
about the pivotal rod;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a lateral schematic view of a prior art of an
elliptical exerciser; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is an explosive schematic view of a prior art.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Refer to FIGS. 1 and 2, a pivoting mechanism for a link rod
of an elliptical exerciser of the present invention is composed of
a handle rod 12 and a crank 14 pivoted on a main body 10. A pair of
handles 13 disposed on top of the handle rod 12 while one end of
the crank 14 is connected to a sliding rod 15 with pedals 16 by a
pivoting mechanism. The other end of the sliding rod 15 slides
along the sliding base 17 positioned on the main body 10. A driving
mechanism 11 arranged on the main body 10, together with a shaft
110 having one end part connected with the crank 14, form a link
system.
[0018] The pivoting mechanism includes a sleeve 20 with a bearing
21 disposed inside. One end of the crank 14 is inserted and
positioned inside the bearing 21 while a projecting collar 200
projects outwardly from one side of the sleeve 20. A mounting hole
150 whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the
projecting collar 200 is disposed on one end of the sliding rod 15.
Thus the projecting collar 200 is inserted into the mounting hole
150 of the sliding rod 15 with a clearance 151 between the
projecting collar 200 and the inner wall of the sliding rod 15. A
pivotal rod 22 is inserted through the sliding rod 15 and the
projecting collar 200 so as to allow the sleeve 20 and the
projecting collar 200 to rotate with the sliding rod 15.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 4, an embodiment of the present invention
is shown. A plurality of elastic strips 23 are positioned on the
inner wall of the sliding rod 15 for cushioning and avoiding the
collision when the projecting collar 200 is moved with the sliding
rod 15.
[0020] Besides, the mounting hole 150 of the sliding rod 15 has an
elliptic cross-section.
[0021] For a further embodiment of the present invention, the
cross-section of the mounting hole 150 of the sliding rod 15 is
orthogonal.
[0022] Furthermore, referring to FIG. 5, the two sides of the
projecting collar 201 on the sleeve 20 can be designed to a curved
surface 202 such that the projecting collar is slightly rotatable
about the pivotal rod 22. Thus, the sleeve 20 and the projecting
collar 201 can more smoothly move with the sliding rod 15 with
minimized friction.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2 through 4, when operated, the sliding
rod 15 moves elliptically by the crank 14. Due to the clearance 151
between the projecting collar 200 of the sleeve 20 and the inner
wall with the mounting hole 150 of the sliding rod 15, both of the
projecting collar 200 and the sliding rod 15 can slightly rotate
about pivotal rod 22. Accordingly, less obstructive effect is
created between the crank 14 and the sliding rod 15 and the
stability of the sliding rod 15 on the sliding base 17 is
improved.
[0024] The present invention has the following advantages:
[0025] 1. In addition to the improvement of the stability of the
sliding rod on the main body, it's not required to change the
specification of the sleeve, the bearing and the crank of the
present invention. It is only required to fit the projecting collar
into the mounting hole of the sliding rod in a manner that a proper
clearance therebetween is reserved. Moreover, the elliptic mounting
hole of the sliding rod is easy to manufacture and process so that
the cost is minimized.
[0026] 2. The number of the components is less than traditional
structure. The structure is also more simplified and easy to
maintain.
[0027] Many changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiments of the invention can, of course, be carried out without
departing from the scope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the
progress in science and the useful arts, the invention is disclosed
and is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended
claims.
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