U.S. patent application number 11/391383 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-11 for pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer.
Invention is credited to Leao Wang.
Application Number | 20070238580 11/391383 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38576045 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070238580 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang; Leao |
October 11, 2007 |
Pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer
Abstract
A pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer having
a U-shaped coupling rod pivotally and laterally disposed on a
bottom support frame. An electric adjusting mechanism is interposed
between the U-shaped coupling rod and the frame unit. The electric
adjusting mechanism includes a motor, a guide spindle sleeve and a
telescopic spindle. When the telescopic spindle is driven to be
moved, it results in the adjustment of the relative angle of the
U-shaped coupling rod, and wherein an L-shaped connecting rod is
pivotally coupled to each top side of the U-shaped coupling rod
while the end of the L-shaped connecting rod is pivotally attached
to a treadle plank so that the vertical position of the treadle
planks is adjustable by changing the angle of the U-shaped coupling
rod and, therefore, the adjustment of the exercise pace is
achieved.
Inventors: |
Wang; Leao; (Taiping,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KUO-HSIUNG CHIU
13F., NO.23, JIUN-HO STREET, PEITUN DISTRICT
TAICHUNG
406
TW
|
Family ID: |
38576045 |
Appl. No.: |
11/391383 |
Filed: |
March 29, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/225 20130101;
A63B 2022/0623 20130101; A63B 22/001 20130101; A63B 22/0664
20130101; A63B 22/0015 20130101; A63B 2022/067 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/052 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/04 20060101
A63B022/04 |
Claims
1. A pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer,
comprising a U-shaped coupling rod pivotally and laterally disposed
on a bottom support frame, an electric adjusting mechanism being
interposed between the U-shaped coupling rod and the frame unit,
the electric adjusting mechanism having a motor, a guide spindle
sleeve and a telescopic spindle, wherein, when the telescopic
spindle is driven to be moved, it results in the adjustment of the
relative angle of the U-shaped coupling rod, and wherein an
L-shaped connecting rod is pivotally coupled to each top side of
the U-shaped coupling rod while the end of the L-shaped connecting
rod is pivotally attached to a treadle plank so that the vertical
position of the treadle planks is adjustable by changing the angle
of the U-shaped coupling rod and, therefore, the adjustment of the
exercise pace is achieved.
2. The pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer as
claimed in claim 1 wherein a telescopic support element is
interposed between the treadle plank and the U-shaped coupling rod.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Fields of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a pace-adjusting mechanism of an
elliptical cross trainer, and more particularly, to a mechanism
that can rapidly adjust the movement pace at will.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] The elliptical cross trainer is so used that the operator's
feet can make an elliptical movement path, thereby simulating the
real running and walking path. Moreover, the horizontal pace
(simulating the movement on a flat ground) and the inclined pace
(simulating the uphill and downhill movement) can be changed when
the vertical position of the treadles of the elliptical cross
trainer changes. This is the main intention of the invention.
[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,013 discloses such a mechanism that
employs a plurality of selection holes in treadle planks. By
selecting a desired hole in the treadle plank for connection, the
coupling angle of the treadle plank can be changed to achieve the
above-mentioned pace-adjusting effect.
[0006] In fact, the manual adjustment of the aforementioned prior
art is not a practical solution. This is because the operator has
to stop the exercise for adjustment of the movement pace, thereby
reducing the desire of using the elliptical cross trainer.
Meanwhile, this adjustment way must affect the exercise rhythm.
Thus, it is hardly possible to use the pace-adjusting mechanism
during the exercise sessions so that this kind of the
pace-adjusting mechanism is not so practical and valuable as
expected.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is a primary object of the invention is to provide a
pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer that
employs an electric adjusting mechanism instead of a manual
adjusting mechanism. In this way, the operator can easily perform a
desired adjustment during the exercise session without stopping the
exercise and affecting the movement rhythm. Accordingly, the
pace-adjusting mechanism of an elliptical cross trainer can be
easily and practically used.
[0008] In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an electric
adjusting mechanism is employed to ensure a change of the
supporting angle of a U-frame relative to a frame unit pivotally
coupled thereto. Meanwhile, connecting rods are pivotally connected
to treadle planks, respectively, thereby adjusting the position of
the treadles and changing the movement pace.
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 a preferred embodiment of
the invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of the embodiment according to FIG.
1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of the adjustment of the
invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment
of the invention; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a further preferred
embodiment of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, a preferred embodiment of
the invention includes a frame unit 10 and an electric adjusting
mechanism 30.
[0016] The frame unit 10 of the elliptical cross trainer has a
bottom support frame 18 at the front end thereof and a flywheel
transmission unit at the rear end thereof. The flywheel
transmission unit is covered by a protection hood 11 so that it is
hidden in the figures. The flywheel transmission unit works in
cooperation with two treadle planks 12 on which a treadle 21 is
disposed for taking a treading exercise. Two movable handle rods 15
are interposed between two upright posts and pivotally mounted on a
first crossbar 14. The bottom of the movable handle rods 15 is
pivotally attached to a connecting rod 16. The other end of the
connecting rod 16 is pivotally connected to the front section of
the treadle plank 12, thereby creating a coupling action. Moreover,
the top of the frame unit 10 is provided with a fixed handle rod
17.
[0017] The electric adjusting mechanism 30 is installed at the
bottom of a front side of the frame unit 10. The electric adjusting
mechanism 30 includes a motor 31, a guide spindle sleeve 32, and a
telescopic spindle 33. A U-shaped coupling rod 19 is pivotally and
laterally disposed on the bottom support frame 18. The electric
adjusting mechanism 30 is interposed between the U-shaped coupling
rod 19 and the frame unit 10.
[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the guide spindle sleeve 32
is driven by the motor 31 to create a reciprocating in-place
displacement of the telescopic spindle 33, it results in the
adjustment of the relative angle of the U-shaped coupling rod 19.
Besides, an L-shaped connecting rod 20 is pivotally coupled to each
top side of the U-shaped coupling rod 19. The other end of the
L-shaped connecting rod 20 is pivotally attached to the treadle
plank 12. Therefore, the vertical position of the treadle planks 12
is adjustable by changing the angle of the U-shaped coupling rod
19. In this way, the adjustment of the exercise pace is
achieved.
[0019] As shown in FIG. 4, the electric adjusting mechanism 30 can
be alternatively installed at the middle section of the frame unit
10. In this way, a direct connection to the top of the U-shaped
coupling rod 19 is ensured to achieve the same effect. Moreover, as
shown in FIG. 5, an assembly allowance (or assembly gap) is
existing when a pivoting element or a sliding element is installed.
Therefore, the vibration is created between the pivoting and the
sliding elements. In order to efficiently avoid the vibration, a
telescopic support element 21 is interposed between the treadle
plank 13 and the U-shaped coupling rod 19 for constantly support
the U-shaped coupling rod 19 in place and protecting from
vibration. The telescopic support element 21 can be a spring
hydraulic cylinder, a pneumatic cylinder, or the like.
[0020] Many changes and modifications in the above-described
embodiment 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
claim.
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