U.S. patent application number 10/818125 was filed with the patent office on 2005-10-13 for adjustable handle support of an exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Wang, Leao, Wu, Peter.
Application Number | 20050227824 10/818125 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35061298 |
Filed Date | 2005-10-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050227824 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu, Peter ; et al. |
October 13, 2005 |
Adjustable handle support of an exercise apparatus
Abstract
The invention relates to an adjustable handle support of an
exercise apparatus having a main frame, two rocker arms on the main
frame and two planks in connection with power source (e.g. motor,
flywheel, hydraulic cylinder, etc.). The rocker arms are
individually movable in a swing motion or jointly movable with the
planks. An adjusting mechanism is interposed between the handle
support and the rocker arm for adjusting the handle support to
suitable angles for different operators.
Inventors: |
Wu, Peter; (Taiping, TW)
; Wang, Leao; (Taiping, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KUO-HSIUNG CHIU
13F., NO.23, JIUN-HO STREET, PEITUN DISTRICT
TAICHUNG
406
TW
|
Family ID: |
35061298 |
Appl. No.: |
10/818125 |
Filed: |
April 6, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/62 ;
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/001 20130101;
A63B 2022/067 20130101; A63B 22/0664 20130101; A63B 2225/09
20130101; A63B 23/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/062 ;
482/052 |
International
Class: |
A63B 022/04; A63B
071/00; A63B 022/12; A63B 069/16 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An adjustable handle support for an exercise apparatus having a
main frame, two rocker arms on the main frame and two planks in
connection with power source, wherein the rocker arms are
individually movable in a swing motion or jointly movable with the
planks, and wherein an adjusting mechanism is interposed between
the handle support and the rocker arm for adjusting the handle
support to a suitable angle for different operators.
2. The adjustable handle support of claim 1 wherein the adjusting
mechanism comprising: a) an adjusting knob having a stepped middle
projection and a shaft, the shaft having a threaded head at the
free end thereof; b) a U-shaped frame rigidly sitting on the rocker
arm, a pair of shaft holes being formed in the side walls of the
U-shaped frame, a plurality of notches and teeth being provided on
the semicircular top of each side wall, two locating holes being
formed beneath each of the shaft holes of the U-shaped frame; c)
two clamping elements each having teeth on one of its sides around
a shaft hole thereof, a series of uniformly spaced ridges being
disposed on the rim of the other side of the clamping element, a
notched part being formed adjacent to the ridges, at least one
outwardly extending post being located on the outer side of the
clamping element, whereby the clamping element are mounted on two
side walls of the U-shaped frame in such a manner that the ridges
are received in the notches and the posts are introduced into the
locating holes so that both clamping elements are rigidly fixed in
position on the two side walls of the U-shaped frame; and d) a
cubic body mounted on the end of the handle support opposing to the
handle, two sides of the cubic body communicating with each other
through a shaft hole, a series of uniformly spaced teeth around the
shaft hole of the cubic body being formed on each of two sides of
the cubic body, whereby the handle support with the cubic body is
clamped between the clamping elements on both sides of the U-shaped
frame; then, the shaft of the adjusting knob is inserted through
the shaft holes of the U-shaped frame, the clamping elements and
the cubic body, and a nut is screwed on to the threaded head of the
shaft to undergo the assembly of the adjusting mechanism.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to an adjustable handle support of an
exercise apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus for
adjusting the handle support to a suitable angle for different
operators.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Conventional oval-tracked exercise apparatuses include
rocker arms that are jointly movable with the motion of the
operators' feet. The rocker arms are rigidly located at a normal
height to suit most operators. Due to different heights of
operators, this kind of the exercise apparatus is not suitable for
operators with a lower height. Therefore, it's uncomfortable for
them to use the oval-tracked exercise apparatus.
[0005] In order to eliminate the aforementioned problem, the
manufacturer produce different models to meet the requirement of
different heights to raise their revenue. However, to reduce or to
raise the height of the apparatus means that more components are
required. Accordingly, this can't raise profits, but increase the
manufacture cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In light of the demerits of the prior art, the invention
provides an adjustable handle support of an exercise apparatus that
aims to ameliorate at least some of the disadvantages of the prior
art and to provide a useful alternative.
[0007] A primary objective of the invention is to provide a handle
support that is adjustable to suitable heights for different
operators.
[0008] Another objective of the invention is to provide a handle
support that is adjustable on the rocker arm of the exercise
apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The accomplishment of this and other objects of the
invention will become apparent from the following description and
its accompanying drawings of which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention installed to
an exercise apparatus;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded view of an adjusting mechanism in
accordance with the invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a cutaway view of the adjusting mechanism in
accordance with the invention, wherein one clamping element is
spaced from the cubic body;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cutaway view of the adjusting mechanism in
accordance with the invention, wherein the clamping element is
engaged with the cubic body; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side view of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring to FIG. 1, the oval-tracked exercise apparatus 10
has a main frame 11. Two rocker arms 12 are linked to the front end
of two planks 13, respectively while the rear end of the two planks
13 are attached to both sides of a flywheel 14 in such a manner so
that both planks 13 are alternately movable.
[0016] The middle part of the rocker arms 12 is pivotably coupled
to one end of a connecting strip 18 while the other end of the
connecting strip 18 is pivotally connected to an auxiliary rod 17
and a connecting rod 19. The whole movable configuration of the
oval-tracked exercise apparatus 10 is controlled by a positioning
rod 16 which is activated by a driving unit 15. In this way, the
rocker arms 12 can be moved with the planks 13 to undergo the swing
motion.
[0017] In operation, the operator holds with his hands the handle
21 of the handle support 20 at the top of the rocker arms 12 for
simulating a climbing action. Meanwhile, the feet of the operator
tread on the planks 13 for simulating an exercise of the whole
body.
[0018] Meanwhile, an adjusting mechanism 30 is interposed between
the handle supports 20 and the rocker arms 12, respectively and
serves to adjust the handle 21 on the handle support 20 to suitable
heights for different operators.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 2, the adjusting mechanism 30 includes an
adjusting knob 31 in form of a cap, a stepped middle projection 32
extending toward the free end of the adjusting knob 31, a shaft 33
extending from the middle stepped projection 32 and a threaded head
34 at the free end of the shaft 33. A U-shaped frame 40 rigidly
sits on the rocker arm 12. A pair of shaft holes 41 is formed in
the side walls of the U-shaped frame 40. A plurality of notches 42
and teeth 43 are formed on the semicircular top of each side wall.
Moreover, two locating holes 44 are formed beneath each of the
shaft holes 41.
[0020] Two clamping elements 50 each have teeth 52 on one of its
sides around a shaft hole 51. A series of uniformly spaced ridges
53 is disposed on the rim of the other side of the clamping element
50. A notched part 54 is formed adjacent to the ridges 53. At least
one outwardly extending post 55 is located on the outer side of the
clamping element 50. The ridges 53 and the posts 55 on one of the
clamping element 50 are longer than the ridges 53 and the posts 55
on the other clamping element 50. The clamping element 50 are
mounted on two side walls of the U-shaped frame 40 in such a manner
that the ridges 53 are received in the notches 42 (or the teeth 43
are positioned in the notched part 54) and the posts 55 are
introduced into the locating holes 44. In this way, both clamping
elements 50 are rigidly fixed in position on the two side walls of
the U-shaped frame 40.
[0021] A cubic body 60 is mounted on the end of the handle support
20 opposing to the handle 21. Two sides of the cubic body 60
communicate with each other through a shaft hole 61. A series of
uniformly spaced teeth 62 around the shaft hole 61 are formed on
each of two sides of the cubic body 60. A bolt 63 is screwed to the
top of the cubic body 60.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, the assembly of the
aforementioned members of the adjusting mechanism 30 is done in
such a way that the handle support 20 with the cubic body 60 is
clamped between the clamping elements 50 on both sides of the
U-shaped frame 40. Then, the shaft 33 of the adjusting knob 31 is
inserted through the shaft holes 41, 51, 61, and a nut 35 is
screwed on to the threaded head 34 of the shaft 33.
[0023] After assembly of the adjusting mechanism 30, the cubic body
60 is slightly spaced from the clamping element 50 with the longer
ridges 53 so that the cubic body 60 is rotatable on the shaft 33
for adjusting the cubic body 60 to a most suitable position for the
operator.
[0024] After the adjustment of the cubic body 60, the adjusting
knob 31 with the threaded head 34 can be further screwed to the nut
35 for allowing the clamping element 50 with the longer ridges 53
to move inwardly toward the cubic body 60 in such a way that the
teeth 52 of the clamping elements 50 engage with the teeth 62 of
the cubic body 60 in place.
[0025] For a further adjustment of the handle support 20, it's only
necessary to loosen the joint between the adjusting knob 31 and the
nut 35 and, therefore, to disengage the teeth 52 of the clamping
element 50 from the teeth 62 of the cubic body 60. The steps in
adjusting the handle support 20 are the same to the
above-mentioned.
[0026] Concluded from the aforementioned, the invention has
following effects and merits:
[0027] 1. A like model of rocker arm exercise apparatuses provided
with the invention suits different operators with different
heights. Thus, the adjustable handle support makes the exercise
apparatus more universal. In addition, the adjustment of the handle
support can be done by operators themselves to meet the
requirements of simple operation.
[0028] 2. A fine adjustment is possible so that the handle support
is adjustable to suitable heights for more operators.
[0029] 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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