U.S. patent application number 11/320243 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-28 for weight training machine having a selector device that is operated easily and conveniently.
Invention is credited to Hai-Pin Kuo.
Application Number | 20070149366 11/320243 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42671577 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070149366 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kuo; Hai-Pin |
June 28, 2007 |
Weight training machine having a selector device that is operated
easily and conveniently
Abstract
A weight training machine includes a support frame, and a
selector. The support frame includes two parallel guide rods, a
plurality of weights, and a drive shaft. The selector device
includes a selector that is inserted into a gap between any two
adjacent weights and connected to the drive shaft, and a reel
mounted on the selector and having a retractable pull wire having a
distal end secured to the support frame. Thus, the pull wire of the
reel is kept at a straight state constantly during movement of the
selector, so that the pull wire will not interfere with operation
of the selector and will not tangle with the weights, thereby
facilitating the user operating the selector, and thereby
protecting the user's safety.
Inventors: |
Kuo; Hai-Pin; (Tainan City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIKOLAI & MERSEREAU, P.A.
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
SUITE 820
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
42671577 |
Appl. No.: |
11/320243 |
Filed: |
December 28, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/98 ;
482/99 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/0628 20151001;
A63B 21/063 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/098 ;
482/099 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/062 20060101
A63B021/062 |
Claims
1. A weight training machine, comprising a support frame, and a
selector device mounted on the support frame, wherein: the support
frame includes two parallel guide rods, a plurality of weights
movably mounted on the two guide rods, and a drive shaft movable
between the two guide rods and extended through each of the weights
to move the weights upward and downward; the selector device
includes a selector that is inserted into a gap between any two
adjacent weights and connected to the drive shaft to move
determined weights, and a reel mounted on the selector and having a
retractable pull wire having a distal end secured to the support
frame so that the pull wire of the reel is kept at a straight state
constantly when the selector is inserted into the gap between any
two adjacent weights and connected to the drive shaft.
2. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the support frame further includes a support plate movably mounted
on the two guide rods, and a positioning plate mounted on the
support plate, and the distal end of the pull wire of the reel is
provided with a stop head locked on the positioning plate of the
support frame.
3. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein
the support plate is rested on an uppermost one of the weights.
4. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein
the stop head of the pull wire has a spherical shape.
5. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein
the positioning plate has a mediate portion formed with an
elongated stop slit, and the stop head of the pull wire is locked
in the stop slit of the positioning plate.
6. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 5, wherein
the distal end of the pull wire is extended through the stop slit
of the positioning plate.
7. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein
the positioning plate of the support frame is substantially
U-shaped.
8. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein
the positioning plate of the support frame has two distal ends each
secured to the support plate by a locking screw.
9. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein
the support frame further includes an operation plate movably
mounted on the two guide rods and located above the support plate,
and two mounting tubes each movably mounted on a respective one of
the two guide rods and each located between the operation plate and
the support plate.
10. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the selector is substantially Z-shaped.
11. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the selector has a first portion formed with an operation plate
that is inserted into the gap between any two adjacent weights and
connected to the drive shaft, a mediate portion formed with an
upright section and a second portion formed with a flat plate.
12. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 11,
wherein the drive shaft of the support frame has an outer wall
formed with a plurality of annular retaining grooves, and the
operation plate of the selector has a forked distal end formed with
two opposite retaining plugs inserted into and retained in either
one of the retaining grooves of the drive shaft to secure the
operation plate to the drive shaft, and a clamping opening located
between the two retaining plugs to clamp the drive shaft.
13. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 11,
wherein the flat plate of the selector has a distal end provided
with a handle parallel with the upright section to facilitate a
user operating the selector.
14. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 11,
wherein the reel is mounted on the upright section of the
selector.
15. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 11,
wherein the upright section of the selector is formed with two
threaded locking holes, the reel has a periphery provided with two
ears each formed with a fixing hole, and the selector device
further includes two locking bolts each extended through the fixing
hole of the reel and each screwed into the respective locking hole
of the selector to secure the reel to the selector.
16. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 11,
wherein the flat plate of the selector is formed with a through
hole, and the pull wire of the reel is extended through and
protruded outward from the through hole of the selector.
17. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the pull wire is retractably mounted on the reel and is extended
through and protruded outward from an outlet hole of the reel.
18. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the pull wire of the reel is kept at a straight state constantly
when the selector is detached from the weights and the drive
shaft.
19. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 1, wherein
the pull wire of the reel is kept at a straight state constantly
during movement of the selector, so that the pull wire of the reel
does not interfere with operation of the selector and does not
tangle with the weights.
20. The weight training machine in accordance with claim 2, wherein
the selector is limited to the positioning plate of the support
frame by the pull wire of the reel.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a
weight training machine and, more particularly, to a weight
training machine having a selector device.
[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] A conventional weight training machine in accordance with
the prior art shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 comprises a support frame, and
a selector 86 mounted on the support frame. The support frame
includes two parallel guide rods 81, a plurality of weights 84
movably mounted on the two guide rods 81, a drive shaft 89 movable
between the two guide rods 81 and extended through each of the
weights 84 to move the weights 84 upward and downward, and a drive
belt 83 mounted on the drive shaft 89 to move the drive shaft 89.
The drive shaft 89 has a plurality of through holes (not shown),
and each of the weights 84 has a through hole 85 aligning with a
respective one of the through holes of the drive shaft 89. The
selector 86 is attached to the drive shaft 89 by an elastic
connecting cord 87.
[0004] In operation, the selector 86 is inserted into the through
hole 85 of a respective one of the weights 84 and a respective one
of the through holes of the drive shaft 89 to lock a determined
number of weights 84 onto the drive shaft 89. In such a manner,
when the drive shaft 89 is pulled upward by the drive belt 83 which
is pulled by a user, the determined number of weights 84 are pulled
upward by the drive shaft 89 to move along the two guide rods 81.
Thus, the user can exercise his muscle by counteracting the weights
84 successively, thereby achieving the weight training effect.
[0005] However, the connecting cord 87 is moved with the drive
shaft 89, thereby extending the whole length of the connecting cord
87, so that the connecting cord 87 easily produces an elastic
fatigue during a long-term utilization. In addition, the connecting
cord 87 is easily tangled with the weights 84, thereby interfering
with operation of the weights 84, and thereby causing danger to the
user's safety.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a weight training machine, comprising a support frame, and a
selector device mounted on the support frame. The support frame
includes two parallel guide rods, a plurality of weights movably
mounted on the two guide rods, and a drive shaft movable between
the two guide rods and extended through each of the weights to move
the weights upward and downward. The selector device includes a
selector that is inserted into a gap between any two adjacent
weights and connected to the drive shaft to move determined
weights, and a reel mounted on the selector and having a
retractable pull wire having a distal end secured to the support
frame so that the pull wire of the reel is kept at a straight state
constantly when the selector is inserted into the gap between any
two adjacent weights and connected to the drive shaft.
[0007] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a weight training machine having a selector device that is operated
easily and conveniently.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
weight training machine, wherein the pull wire of the reel is kept
at a straight state constantly during movement of the selector, so
that the pull wire of the reel will not interfere with operation of
the selector and will not tangle with the weights, thereby
facilitating the user operating the selector, and thereby
protecting the user's safety.
[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
weight training machine, wherein the two retaining plugs of the
selector are retained in the respective retaining groove of the
drive shaft, and the clamping opening of the selector is clamped on
the drive shaft, so that the selector is combined with the drive
shaft rigidly and stably, thereby facilitating the user operating
the selector to move the weights smoothly.
[0010] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a weight training machine in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present
invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a selector device of the
weight training machine as shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the selector
device of the weight training machine as shown in FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of the weight training
machine as shown in FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a partially plan cross-sectional view of the
weight training machine as shown in FIG. 4.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic operational view of the weight
training machine as shown in FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic operational view of the weight
training machine as shown in FIG. 6.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a partially perspective view of a conventional
weight training machine in accordance with the prior art.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic operational view of the conventional
weight training machine as shown in FIG. 8.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-5, a
weight training machine in accordance with the preferred embodiment
of the present invention comprises a support frame 9, and a
selector device mounted on the support frame 9.
[0021] The support frame 9 includes an arc-shaped post 91, an
upright post 92 having an upper end connected with an upper end of
the arc-shaped post 91, a transverse post 90 mounted between lower
ends of the arc-shaped post 91 and the upright post 92, two
parallel guide rods 93 mounted between the arc-shaped post 91 and
the transverse post 90, a plurality of weights 4 movably mounted on
the two guide rods 93, a drive shaft 53 movable between the two
guide rods 93 and extended through each of the weights 4 to move
the weights 4 upward and downward, a drive belt 95 mounted on the
drive shalt 53 to move the drive shaft 53, a support plate 50
movably mounted on the two guide rods 93 and rested on an uppermost
one of the weights 4, an operation plate 5 movably mounted on the
two guide rods 93 and located above the support plate 50, two
mounting tubes 51 each movably mounted on a respective one of the
15 two guide rods 93 and each located between the operation plate 5
and the support plate 50, and a positioning plate 6 mounted on the
support plate 50.
[0022] The drive shaft 53 of the support frame 9 has an outer wall
formed with a plurality of annular retaining grooves 54 as shown in
FIG. 5. The positioning plate 6 of the support frame 9 is
substantially U-shaped and has two distal ends each secured to the
support plate 50 by a locking screw 62. The positioning plate 6 has
a mediate portion formed with an elongated stop slit 61.
[0023] The selector device includes a selector 2 that is inserted
into a gap 40 between any two adjacent weights 4 and connected to
the drive shaft 53 to move determined weights 4, and a reel 1
mounted on the selector 2 and having a retractable pull wire 13
having a distal end secured to the support frame 9 so that the pull
wire 13 of the reel 1 is kept at a straight state constantly when
the selector 2 is connected to the drive shaft 53.
[0024] The selector 2 is substantially Z-shaped. The selector 2 has
a first portion formed with an operation plate 22 that is inserted
into the gap 40 between any two adjacent weights 4 and connected to
the drive shaft 53, a mediate portion formed with an upright
section 26 and a second portion formed with a flat plate 20. The
operation plate 22 of the selector 2 has a forked distal end formed
with two opposite retaining plugs 23 inserted into and retained in
either one of the retaining grooves 54 of the drive shaft 53 to
secure the operation plate 22 to the drive shaft 53, and a clamping
opening 25 located between the two retaining plugs 23 to clamp the
drive shaft 53. Thus, the two retaining plugs 23 of the selector 2
are retained in the respective retaining groove 54 of the drive
shaft 53, and the clamping opening 25 of the selector 2 is clamped
on the drive shaft 53, so that the selector 2 is combined with the
drive shaft 53 rigidly and stably, thereby facilitating the user
operating the selector 2 to move the weights 4 smoothly. The
upright section 26 of the selector 2 is formed with two threaded
locking holes 27. The flat plate 20 of the selector 2 is formed
with a through hole 200 and has a distal end provided with a handle
21 parallel with the upright section 26 to facilitate a user
operating the selector 2.
[0025] The reel 1 is mounted on the upright section 26 of the
selector 2 and has a periphery provided with two ears 10 each
formed with a fixing hole 11, and the selector device further
includes two locking bolts 7 each extended through the fixing hole
11 of the reel 1 and each screwed into the respective locking hole
27 of the selector 2 to secure the reel 1 to the selector 2. The
pull wire 13 is retractably mounted on the reel 1 and is extended
through and protruded outward from an outlet hole 14 of the reel 1.
The pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is extended through and protruded
outward from the through hole 200 of the selector 2. The distal end
of the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is provided with a spherical stop
head 12 locked on the positioning plate 6 of the support frame 9.
The distal end of the pull wire 13 is extended through the stop
slit 61 of the positioning plate 6, and the stop head 12 of the
pull wire 13 is locked in the stop slit 61 of the positioning plate
6.
[0026] In operation, referring to FIGS. 1-7, the selector 2 is
inserted into the gap 40 between any two adjacent weights 4 and
connected to the drive shaft 53 to lock a determined number of
weights 4 onto the drive shaft 53. In such a manner, when the drive
shaft 53 is pulled upward by the drive belt 95 which is pulled by a
user, the determined number of weights 4 are pulled upward by the
drive shaft 53 to move along the two guide rods 93. Thus, the user
can exercise his muscle by counteracting the weights 4
successively, thereby achieving the weight training effect.
[0027] As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the reel 1 is mounted on the
selector 2, and the stop head 12 of the pull wire 13 of the reel 1
is locked in the stop slit 61 of the positioning plate 6, so that
the selector 2 is limited to the positioning plate 6 of the support
frame 9 by the pull wire 13 of the reel 1.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 6, the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is kept
at a straight state constantly when the selector 2 is detached from
the weights 4 and the. drive shaft 53.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 7, the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is also
kept at a straight state constantly when the selector 2 is inserted
into the gap 40 between any two adjacent weights 4 and connected to
the drive shaft 53.
[0030] Accordingly, the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 is kept at a
straight state constantly during movement of the selector 2, so
that the pull wire 13 of the reel 1 will not interfere with
operation of the selector 2 and will not tangle with the weights 4,
thereby facilitating the user operating the selector 2, and thereby
protecting the user's safety. In addition, the two retaining plugs
23 of the selector 2 are retained in the respective retaining
groove 54 of the drive shaft 53, and the clamping opening 25 of the
selector 2 is clamped on the drive shaft 53, so that the selector 2
is combined with the drive shaft 53 rigidly and stably, thereby
facilitating the user operating the selector 2 to move the weights
4 smoothly.
[0031] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood
that many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is,
therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will
cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
* * * * *