U.S. patent application number 11/328412 was filed with the patent office on 2007-07-12 for foldable exerciser.
Invention is credited to Lung-Huei Lee.
Application Number | 20070161467 11/328412 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38233394 |
Filed Date | 2007-07-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070161467 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lee; Lung-Huei |
July 12, 2007 |
Foldable exerciser
Abstract
A foldable exerciser includes a main frame and a prop member
disposed to stand on a ground surface, a saddle mounting frame
having a pivot end pivotally connected to the main frame and a
saddle mounting segment for mounting a saddle, an operating unit
having a fulcrum pivotally connected to the main frame, and weight
and force ends at two sides of the fulcrum, and a coupler having an
end coupled to the saddle mounting frame, and an opposite end
detachably coupled to the weight end such that a pivoting movement
of the force end results in turning of the saddle forwardly and
upwardly for simulating a horse-riding action. The operating unit
and the saddle mounting frame can be folded toward the main frame
when the coupler is disengaged from the weight end.
Inventors: |
Lee; Lung-Huei; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOWE HAUPTMAN BERNER, LLP
1700 DIAGONAL ROAD
SUITE 300
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
38233394 |
Appl. No.: |
11/328412 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 ;
482/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 69/04 20130101;
A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 2210/50 20130101; A63B 22/0023
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/057 ;
482/095 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/06 20060101
A63B022/06; A63B 21/068 20060101 A63B021/068; A63B 69/16 20060101
A63B069/16 |
Claims
1. A foldable exerciser comprising: an elongated main frame having
top and bottom ends opposite to each other, and a middle portion
interposed therebetween; a prop member having a rest end and a
propping end opposite to each other, and an intermediate portion
interposed therebetween, said propping end being pivotally
connected to said middle portion about a first axis such that said
rest end is pivotable about the first axis between a straddle
position, where said rest end is remote from said bottom end, and a
folded position, where said rest end is closer to said bottom end,
and such that in the straddle position, said bottom and rest ends
are disposed to sit on a ground surface while said top end is
disposed upwardly and forwardly of said bottom end; a saddle
mounting frame including a front pivot end which is pivotally
connected to said middle portion about a second axis parallel to
the first axis and between said top and propping ends, an arm
segment which extends from said front pivot end in a radial
direction relative to the second axis to terminate at a juncture,
and a saddle mounting segment which extends rearwardly from said
juncture such that said juncture is turnable about the second axis
between proximate and distal positions relative to said top end; a
saddle mounted on said saddle mounting segment; an operating unit
including a fulcrum which is pivotally connected to said top end
about a third axis parallel to the first axis, and a force end and
a weight end at two sides of said fulcrum; and an upper coupler
having a first coupled end which is coupled to said juncture, and a
second coupled end which is detachably coupled to said weight end
such that in the straddle position, a rearward pivoting movement of
said force end about the third axis toward said saddle mounting
segment results in turning of said juncture from the distal
position to the proximate position so as to move said saddle
mounting segment forward for simulating a horse-riding action, and
such that said second coupled end is disposed to be turnable
relative to said juncture between an engaging position, where said
second coupled end is retained with said weight end to thereby
result in the rearward pivoting movement, and a disengaging
position, where said second coupled end is disengaged from said
weight end.
2. The foldable exerciser of claim 1, wherein said arm segment is
disposed to extend upwardly and rearwardly from said front pivot
end when said second coupled end of said upper coupler is in the
engaging position.
3. The foldable exerciser of claim 1, wherein said main frame
includes two elongated side bars spaced apart from each other, each
of said propping end of said prop member, said front pivot end of
said saddle mounting frame, and said fulcrum of said operating unit
being disposed between and extending transverse to said side
bars.
4. The foldable exerciser of claim 3, further comprising a
restricting unit which is disposed to releasably restrict pivoting
movement of said rest end of said prop member to the folded
position.
5. The foldable exerciser of claim 4, wherein said restricting unit
includes a mounting plate which is secured between said side bars
adjacent to said propping end of said prop member, and a lock pin
which is mounted on said mounting plate and which is extendable
relative to said mounting plate in a radial direction relative to
the first axis, said propping end having a locking hole which
extends towards the first axis, and which is configured to receive
said lock pin when said lock pin is extended so as to arrest said
prop member in one of the straddle and folded positions.
6. The foldable exerciser of claim 1, further comprising a pedaling
unit which is mounted on said intermediate portion of said prop
member, and which includes a pair of cranks journalled on said
intermediate portion about a fourth axis parallel to the first
axis, a pair of pedals connected to opposite ends of said cranks,
respectively, for treading by a user, and a resistance mechanism
surrounding the fourth axis to deliver a resistance force to said
cranks.
7. The foldable exerciser of claim 1, further comprising a
reinforcing shank which has lower and upper shank ends opposite to
each other, and a middle shank portion interposed therebetween,
said lower shank end being pivotally connected to said main frame
proximate to said bottom end about a fifth axis parallel to the
first axis such that said upper shank end is pivotable about the
fifth axis between a holding position where said upper shank end
braces said saddle mounting segment, and a collapsed position where
said upper shank end is placed closer to said front pivot end; and
a lower coupler disposed to releasably retain said upper shank end
in the holding position.
8. The foldable exerciser of claim 7, wherein said lower coupler
has a first connecting end which is pivotally coupled to said
middle portion, and a second connecting end which is detachably
coupled to said middle portion of said main frame between said
lower shank end and said propping end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to a foldable exerciser, more
particularly to a foldable exerciser which can simulate a
horse-riding action and which can be folded and unfolded
conveniently.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, in co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 11/152,159, the applicant disclosed a foldable
exerciser that includes an elongated main frame 11, a prop member
12, a pedaling unit 14, an operating unit 15, a saddle unit 16, and
a saddle supporting unit 17.
[0005] The main frame 11 has a bottom end 111 disposed to sit on a
ground surface, a top end 112 opposite to the bottom end 111, and a
middle portion 113 interposed therebetween. The prop member 12 has
an end pivotally connected to the middle portion 113, and an
intermediate portion coupled to the main frame 11 by virtue of an
elbow joint member 13 so as to be displaceable between straddle and
folded positions relative to the main frame 11. The pedaling unit
14 is mounted on the intermediate portion of the prop member 12,
and includes a pair of cranked pedals 141 for performing a pedaling
exercise. The operating unit 15 includes an upper segment 151, a
lower segment 152, an interconnecting segment 153 pivotally
connected to the top end 112 to interconnect the upper and lower
segment 151,152, and two handlebars 154 mounted on the upper
segment 151. The saddle unit 16 includes a saddle mounting frame
161 having an end pivotally connected to the main frame 11, and a
saddle 162 mounted on the saddle mounting frame 161. The saddle
support unit 17 includes a supporting bar 171 having an end
pivotally connected to the main frame 11 adjacent to the bottom end
111, and an opposite end provided with a roller 172 rollable on a
bottom surface of the saddle mounting frame 161, a pulley 174
mounted on the supporting bar 171, and a rope 175 extending around
the pulley 174 and secured to the lower segment 152.
[0006] In use, the foldable exerciser can be operated as a
stationary exercise bicycle or a horse-riding exerciser. When the
exerciser is to be folded, a plurality of pins 18 have to be
detached therefrom, thereby causing inconvenience to the user. In
addition, as the rope 175 is subjected to a relatively large force
during the horse-riding exercise, wearing of the rope 175 may
result after prolonged use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a foldable
exerciser which has a simple and robust coupling structure and
which can be folded and unfolded conveniently.
[0008] According to this invention, the foldable exerciser includes
an elongated main frame having top and bottom ends opposite to each
other, and a middle portion interposed therebetween, and a prop
member having a rest end and a propping end opposite to each other,
and an intermediate portion interposed therebetween. The propping
end is pivotally connected to the middle portion about a first axis
such that the rest end is pivotable between straddle and folded
positions, where the rest end is remote from and closer to the
bottom end, respectively, and such that in the straddle position,
the bottom and rest ends are disposed to sit on a ground surface
while the top end is disposed upwardly and forwardly of the bottom
end. A saddle mounting frame includes a front pivot end which is
pivotally connected to the middle portion about a second axis
parallel to the first axis and between the top and propping ends,
an arm segment which extends from the front pivot end in a radial
direction relative to the second axis to terminate at a juncture,
and a saddle mounting segment which extends rearwardly from the
juncture such that the juncture is turnable about the second axis
between proximate and distal positions relative to the top end. A
saddle is mounted on the saddle mounting segment. An operating unit
includes a fulcrum which is pivotally connected to the top end
about a third axis parallel to the first axis, and a force end and
a weight end at two sides of the fulcrum. An upper coupler has a
first coupled end which is coupled to the juncture, and a second
coupled end which is detachably coupled to the weight end such that
in the straddle position, a rearward pivoting movement of the force
end about the third axis toward the saddle mounting segment results
in turning of the juncture from the distal position to the
proximate position so as to move the saddle mounting segment
forward for simulating a horse-riding action, and such that the
second coupled end is disposed to be turnable relative to the
juncture between an engaging position, where the second coupled end
is retained with the weight end to thereby result in the rearward
pivoting movement, and a disengaging position, where the second
coupled end is disengaged from the weight end.
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 of the invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a foldable exerciser of the
aforesaid co-pending U.S. patent application;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the foldable exerciser of
FIG. 1 in a straddle position;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of the foldable exerciser of
FIG. 1 in a folded position;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of
a foldable exerciser according to this invention;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment
in a straddle state;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment
in a horse-riding simulating state; and
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic side view of the preferred embodiment
in a folded state.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the preferred embodiment of a
foldable exerciser according to the present invention is shown to
comprise an elongated main frame 20, a prop member 30, a saddle
unit 60, an operating unit 50, an upper coupler 63, a pedaling unit
40, and a reinforcing unit 70.
[0018] The main frame 20 has top and bottom ends 21,22 opposite to
each other, and a middle portion 23 interposed therebetween. In
this embodiment, the main frame 20 includes two elongated side bars
24 spaced apart from each other, and a crossbar 25 disposed between
the side bars 24 at the middle portion 23.
[0019] The prop member 30 has a rest end 33 and a propping end 31
opposite to each other, and an intermediate portion 35 interposed
therebetween. The propping end 31 is pivotally connected to the
middle portion 23 about a first axis between the side bars 24 such
that the rest end 33 is pivotable about the first axis between a
straddle position, where the rest end 33 is remote from the bottom
end 21, and a folded position, where the rest end 33 is closer to
the bottom end 21, and such that in the straddle position, as shown
in FIG. 5, the bottom and rest ends 21,33 are disposed to sit on a
ground surface while the top end 22 is disposed upwardly and
forwardly of the bottom end 21.
[0020] A restricting unit includes a mounting plate 27 which is
secured between the side bars 24 adjacent to the propping end 31 of
the prop member 30, and a lock pin 26 in the form of a screw bolt
which is mounted on the mounting plate 27 and which is extendable
relative to the mounting plate 27 in a radial direction relative to
the first axis. The propping end 31 has a locking hole 311 which
extends towards the first axis, and which is configured to receive
the lock pin 26 when the lock pin 26 is extended so as to arrest
the prop member 30 in one of the straddle and folded positions.
[0021] The saddle unit 60 includes a saddle mounting frame 61 and a
saddle 62. The saddle mounting frame 61 includes a front pivot end
611 which is disposed between and which extends transverse to the
side bars 24 and which is pivotally connected to the middle portion
23 about a second axis parallel to the first axis and between the
top and propping ends 22,31, an arm segment 612 which extends
upwardly and rearwardly from the front pivot end 611 in a radial
direction relative to the second axis to terminate at a juncture
613, and a saddle mounting segment 614 which extends rearwardly
from the juncture 613. Thus, the juncture 613 is turnable about the
second axis between proximate and distal positions relative to the
top end 22. The saddle 62 is mounted on the saddle mounting segment
614, and is adjustable relative thereto by means of a fastening
bolt 621.
[0022] The operating unit 50 includes a fulcrum 53 which is
disposed between and which extends transverse to the side bars 24
and which is pivotally connected to the top end 22 about a third
axis parallel to the first axis, a force end 51 and a weight end 52
at two sides of the fulcrum 53, and two handlebars 54 which are
mounted on two opposite sides of the force end 51. The force end 51
is adjustable relative to the weight end 52 along a length thereof
by means of a fastening bolt 55.
[0023] The upper coupler 63 has a first coupled end 633 which is
coupled to the juncture 613, and a second coupled end 631 which
anchors the weight end 52 such that when the prop member 40 is in
the straddle position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a rearward
pivoting movement of the force end 51 about the third axis toward
the saddle mounting segment 614 results in turning of the juncture
613 from the distal position to the proximate position so as to
move the saddle mounting segment 614 forward for simulating a
horse-riding action.
[0024] Moreover, the second coupled end 631 of the upper coupler 63
is disposed to be turnable relative to the juncture 633 between an
engaging position, as shown in FIG. 6, where the second coupled end
631 is retained with the weight end 52 to thereby result in the
rearward pivoting movement, and a disengaging position, as shown in
FIG. 7, where the second coupled end 631 is disengaged from the
weight end 52 so as to permit collapsing of the saddle unit 60 and
the operating unit 50.
[0025] The pedaling unit 40 is mounted on the intermediate portion
35 of the prop member 30, and includes a pair of cranks 42 which
are journalled on the intermediate portion 35 about a fourth axis
parallel to the first axis, a pair of pedals 41 which are connected
to opposite ends of the cranks 42, respectively, for treading by a
user, and a resistance mechanism 43 which surrounds the fourth axis
to deliver a resistance force to the cranks 42.
[0026] The reinforcing unit 70 includes a reinforcing shank 71 and
a lower coupler 72. The reinforcing shank 71 has lower and upper
shank ends 711,712 opposite to each other, and a middle shank
portion 713 interposed therebetween. The lower shank end 711 is
pivotally connected to the main frame 20 proximate to the bottom
end 21 about a fifth axis parallel to the first axis such that the
upper shank end 712 is pivotable about the fifth axis between a
holding position, as shown in FIG. 5, where the upper shank end 712
braces the saddle mounting segment 614, and a collapsed position,
as shown in FIG. 7, where the upper shank end 712 is placed closer
to the front pivot end 611. The lower coupler 72 has a first
connecting end 721 which is pivotally coupled to the middle portion
713 of the reinforcing shank 71, and a second connecting end 722
which is detachably coupled to the crossbar 25 of the main frame 20
between the lower shank end 711 and the propping end 31 so as to
retain the upper shank end 712 in the holding position.
[0027] In use, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the user can sit on the
saddle 62 and grip the handlebars 54 while treading the pedals 41
for performing a stationary bicycle exercise. The user may also
pull the handlebars 54 rearwardly so that the saddle 62 is raised
and turned toward the handlebars 54 to simulate a horse-riding
action.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 7, to fold the foldable exerciser,
the second coupled end 631 of the upper coupler 63 and the second
connecting end 722 of the lower coupler 72 are disengaged from the
weight end 52 and the crossbar 25, respectively, such that the
operating unit 50, the saddle unit 60, and the reinforcing unit 70
can turn and collapse toward the main frame 20. Subsequently, the
lock pin 26 is screwed-out to permit turning of the prop member 30
to the folded position. Thus, the folding and unfolding operations
are convenient to conduct. Moreover, by virtue of the upper and
lower couplers 63,72, the structure of the saddle unit 60 is
strengthened.
[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
interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *