U.S. patent application number 11/787703 was filed with the patent office on 2008-10-23 for adjusting exercise device.
Invention is credited to Jin Chen Chuang, Lung Fei Chuang.
Application Number | 20080261778 11/787703 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39872825 |
Filed Date | 2008-10-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080261778 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chuang; Jin Chen ; et
al. |
October 23, 2008 |
Adjusting exercise device
Abstract
An exercise device includes two cranks rotatably coupled to a
rear portion of a upright support and each having a pivot rod, two
handles having a middle portion pivoted to a front portion of the
upright support with a spindle, two foot supports pivotally coupled
to the handles and each having a middle portion pivotally coupled
to the pivot rod of the cranks with a link, and two levers
pivotally coupled to the pivot rod and the handle and spaced away
from the spindle for allowing the foot supports to be moved
elliptically relative to the upright support of the base. The
levers may be adjustably coupled to the handles with a motorized
threaded member for adjusting the moving stroke of the foot
supports.
Inventors: |
Chuang; Jin Chen; (Taichung
Hsien, TW) ; Chuang; Lung Fei; (Taichung Hsien,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
CHARLES E. BAXLEY, ESQUIRE
90 JOHN STREET, SUITE 309
NEW YORK
NY
10038
US
|
Family ID: |
39872825 |
Appl. No.: |
11/787703 |
Filed: |
April 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/0664 20130101;
A63B 22/0015 20130101; A63B 21/225 20130101; A63B 21/0051 20130101;
A63B 22/001 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/52 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/02 20060101
A63B022/02 |
Claims
1. An exercise device comprising: a base including an upright
support extended upwardly from said base, said upright support
including a front portion and a rear portion, a spindle disposed on
said front portion of said upright support, two cranks rotatably
coupled to said rear portion of said upright support with a shaft
which is spaced away from said spindle, and said spindle is located
in front of said shaft and said cranks, said cranks each including
a pivot rod attached to said crank and spaced away from said shaft,
two handles including a middle portion attached to said spindle for
allowing said handles to be pivotally coupled to said front portion
of said upright support with said spindle and for allowing said
handles to be pivoted and swung relative to said upright support of
said base, said handles each including a hand grip provided on an
upper portion for being grasped or held by a user and each
including a lower portion, two foot supports each including a front
portion pivotally coupled to said lower portion of said handles,
and each including a foot pedal disposed on a rear portion for
supporting said user's feet, and each including a middle portion
pivotally coupled to said pivot rod of said cranks with a link for
allowing said middle portions of said foot supports to be moved
cyclically relative to said upright support by said cranks, two
levers each including a first end pivotally coupled to said pivot
rod of said crank, and each including a second end adjustably
coupled to said middle portion of said handle and spaced away from
said spindle for forming a changeable polygonal coupling structure
together with said handles and said foot supports and said links,
and for allowing said foot pedals of said foot supports to be moved
with changeable and elliptical moving stroke relative to said
upright support of said base, and means for moving said second end
of said lever along said middle portion of said handle and toward
and away from said spindle for adjusting a moving stroke of said
foot pedals of said foot supports.
2. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second
ends of said levers are each coupled to said middle portions of
said handles respectively with a securing device.
3. The exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said handles
each include a channel formed in said middle portion of said handle
for slidably engaging with said securing device.
4. The exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said levers
each include a bracket provided on said second end of said lever
for supporting said securing device.
5. The exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said moving
means includes a threaded member rotatably supported in said middle
portion of said handle for engaging with said securing device and
for moving said securing device along said middle portion of said
handle when said threaded member is rotated relative to said middle
portion of said handle.
6. The exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said moving
means includes a motor attached to said middle portion of said
handle and coupled to said threaded member for rotating said
threaded member relative to said middle portion of said handle.
7. The exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said motor
includes a reduction gearing coupled to said threaded member.
8. The exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said levers
each include a block attached to said securing device and slidably
engaged in said middle portion of said handle.
9. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
means for resisting a rotational movement of said shaft and said
cranks.
10. The exercise device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said
resisting means includes a wheel rotatably attached to said rear
portion of said upright support with said shaft.
11. The exercise device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
resisting means includes a rotary member rotatably attached to said
upright support with an axle and coupled to said wheel.
12. The exercise device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a follower
is attached to said axle and moved in concert with said axle, and
said follower is coupled to said wheel with a coupling device.
13. The exercise device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said
coupling device is a belt.
14. The exercise device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a flywheel
is rotatably attached to said upright support with a pivot rod and
coupled to said rotary member with a coupling device.
15. The exercise device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
coupling device is a belt.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an adjusting exercise
device, and more particularly to an elliptical exercise device
including an arrangement for allowing the exercise device to have
changeable or adjustable or different moving strokes.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical exercise devices, such as stepping exercisers
comprise a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly
extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot
supports pivotally coupled to the handles and arranged for allowing
the foot supports to be stepped or moved up and down relative to
the base support device.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,211 to Stearns discloses
one of the typical exercise devices also comprising a pair of
handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of
a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally
coupled to the handles, and a pair of force resisting device
pivotally coupling the foot supports to the upwardly extending
frame member for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved
up and down relative to the base support device.
[0006] However, normally, the middle portion of the foot supports
is pivotally coupled to the upwardly extending frame member such
that the middle portion of the foot supports is pivoted relative to
the base support device but may not be moved cyclically or in
reciprocating relative to the base support device, and such that
the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be
suitably increased. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical
exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,956 to Habing et al. discloses a typical
articulated lower body exercise device comprising a pair of foot
supports pivotally coupled to the upwardly extending frame member
of a base support device with a pair of vertical linkage arms, and
a device for swinging the vertical linkage arms and the foot
supports relative to the upwardly extending frame member of the
base support device for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or
moved elliptically relative to the base support device.
[0008] However, the middle portion of the foot supports is only
pivoted relative to the base support device but may not be moved
cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device,
and such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may
not be suitably increased. In addition, the moving stroke of the
typical exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,985 to Miller discloses a typical
stationary exercise device comprising a pair of guide links or
handles pivotally attached to an upright support, and a pair of
foot supports each pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of
cranks pivotally coupled to the handles and the foot supports with
an intermediate link and a control link, for swinging the handles
and the foot supports relative to the base support device and for
allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically
relative to the base support device.
[0010] However, the middle portion of the foot supports is only
pivotally coupled to the handles, and may not be moved cyclically
or in reciprocating relative to the base support device such that
the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be
suitably increased or adjusted. In addition, the moving stroke of
the typical exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.
[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,553 to Rodgers, Jr. discloses another
typical stationary exercise device also comprising a pair of
handles pivotally attached to an upright support, and a pair of
foot supports each pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of
cranks pivotally coupled to the foot supports with a reciprocating
member for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative to
the base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be
stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support
device.
[0012] However, similarly, the foot supports is only pivotally
coupled to the handles, and may not be moved cyclically or in
reciprocating relative to the base support device such that the
moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably
increased or adjusted.
[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,760 to Lin et al. discloses a further
typical stationary exercise device comprising a pair of foot
supports including a front portion pivotally coupled to an upright
support, and a pair of handles also pivotally attached to the
upright support, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupled to the
handles for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative to
the base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be
stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support
device.
[0014] However, the handles are located closer to the users, and
are pivotally coupled to the upright support and may also be moved
cyclically relative to the upright support of the base support
device such that the handles will also be moved cyclically relative
to the upright support and such that the handles may not be
suitably or easily grasped and handled by the users. In addition,
the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be
changed or adjusted.
[0015] U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,296 to Yu discloses a further typical
stepping exercise device comprising a pair of handles pivotally
coupled to an upright support with a pair of cranks, and a pair of
foot supports including a middle portion pivotally attached to the
base support and including a front portion pivotally coupled to the
handles.
[0016] However, the foot supports are only coupled to the upright
support or the base support such that the foot supports may only be
stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device,
but may not be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the
upright support of the base support device. In addition, the moving
stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be changed or
adjusted.
[0017] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional elliptical
exercise devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an adjusting exercise device including an arrangement for allowing
the exercise device to be adjusted to different moving strokes.
[0019] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided an adjusting exercise device comprising a base including
an upright support extended upwardly from the base, a spindle
disposed on the upright support, two cranks rotatably coupled to
the rear portion of the upright support with a shaft which is
spaced away from the spindle, the cranks each including a pivot rod
attached to the crank and spaced away from the shaft, two handles
including a middle portion attached to the spindle for allowing the
handles to be pivotally coupled to the front portion of the upright
support with the spindle and for allowing the handles to be pivoted
and swung relative to the upright support of the base, the handles
each including a hand grip provided on an upper portion for being
grasped or held by a user and each including a lower portion, two
foot supports each including a front portion pivotally coupled to
the lower portion of the handles, and each including a foot pedal
disposed on a rear portion for supporting the user's feet, and each
including a middle portion pivotally coupled to the pivot rod of
the cranks with a link for allowing the middle portions of the foot
supports to be moved cyclically relative to the upright support by
the cranks, two levers each including a first end pivotally coupled
to the pivot rod of the crank, and each including a second end
adjustably coupled to the middle portion of the handle and spaced
away from the spindle for forming a changeable polygonal coupling
structure together with the handles and the foot supports and the
links, and for allowing the foot pedals of the foot supports to be
moved with changeable and elliptical moving stroke relative to the
upright support of the base, and a moving device for moving the
second end of the lever along the middle portion of the handle and
toward and away from the spindle for adjusting a moving stroke of
the foot pedals of the foot supports.
[0020] The second ends of the levers are each coupled to the middle
portions of the handles respectively with a securing device. The
handles each include a channel formed in the middle portion of the
handle for slidably engaging with the securing device. The levers
each include a bracket provided on the second end of the lever for
supporting the securing device.
[0021] The moving device includes a threaded member rotatably
supported in the middle portion of the handle for engaging with the
securing device and for moving the securing device along the middle
portion of the handle when the threaded member is rotated relative
to the middle portion of the handle.
[0022] The moving device includes a motor attached to the middle
portion of the handle and coupled to the threaded member for
rotating the threaded member relative to the middle portion of the
handle. The motor includes a reduction gearing coupled to the
threaded member. The levers each include a block attached to the
securing device and slidably engaged in the middle portion of the
handle.
[0023] A resisting device may further be provided for resisting a
rotational movement of the shaft and the cranks. The resisting
device includes a wheel rotatably attached to the rear portion of
the upright support with the shaft. The resisting device includes a
rotary member rotatably attached to the upright support with an
axle and coupled to the wheel.
[0024] A follower may further be provided and attached to the axle
and moved in concert with the axle, and the follower is coupled to
the wheel with a coupling device. The coupling device may be a belt
or the like.
[0025] A flywheel may further be provided and rotatably attached to
the upright support with a pivot rod and coupled to the rotary
member with a coupling device. The coupling device may also be a
belt or the like.
[0026] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0027] FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an adjusting exercise
device in accordance with the present invention;
[0028] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the adjusting exercise
device;
[0029] FIG. 3 is a partial exploded view of the adjusting exercise
device as seen from the front portion of the adjusting exercise
device;
[0030] FIG. 4 is a partial exploded view of the adjusting exercise
device as seen from the rear portion of the adjusting exercise
device;
[0031] FIG. 5 is a side plan schematic view of the adjusting
exercise device;
[0032] FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial side plan schematic view, in
which a portion of the adjusting exercise device has been cut off
for illustrating the adjusting device of the adjusting exercise
device;
[0033] FIG. 7 is a side plan schematic view similar to FIG. 5,
illustrating the operation of the adjusting exercise device;
and
[0034] FIG. 8 is a side plan schematic view similar to FIGS. 5 and
6, illustrating the adjustment of the adjusting exercise
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0035] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, an
adjusting exercise device 1 in accordance with the present
invention comprises a base 10, an upright support 11 extended
upwardly from the base 10, a spindle 12 disposed or provided on the
front portion 13 of the upright support 11, a rotary member or
pulley or wheel 20 rotatably attached to the rear portion 14 of the
upright support 11 with a shaft 21 which is spaced away from the
spindle 12, another wheel or pulley or rotary member 22 rotatably
attached to the middle portion of the upright support 11 with an
axle 23, a further wheel or rotary member or pulley or follower 24
attached or secured to the axle 23 and moved in concert with the
axle 23, and the follower 24 is coupled to the wheel 20 with a
coupling device 25, such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or
a gearing coupling device (not shown), or a belt 25 for allowing
the follower 24 and the rotary member 22 to be rotated or driven by
the wheel 20.
[0036] A weight or flywheel 26 may further be provided and attached
to the middle or lower portion of the upright support 11 with a
pivot rod 27 which is coupled to the rotary member 22 with another
coupling device 28, such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or
a gearing coupling device (not shown), or a belt 28 for allowing
the flywheel 26 to be rotated or driven by the follower 24 and the
rotary member 22 that are rotated or driven by the wheel 20. The
follower 24 and the rotary member 22 and/or the flywheel 26 may
apply a resistive force against the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 for
resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21.
It is to be noted that the flywheel 26, the follower 24, the rotary
member 22, the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 are coupled together to
form a resistive means or device for resisting the rotational
movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21, however, the other
resistive device, such as the hydraulic or pneumatic resistive
devices (not shown), or the magnetic retarding devices (not shown)
may also be used to apply the resistive force against the wheel 20
and the shaft 21.
[0037] A pair of or two cranks 30 are secured to the shaft 21 such
that the cranks 30 may be rotatably coupled to the rear portion 14
of the upright support 11 with the shaft 21, the cranks 30 each
include a pivot rod 31 provided or attached thereto or extended
outwardly therefrom and spaced away from or distal to the shaft 21,
a pair of or two handles 40 include an upper or middle portion 41
attached or secured to the spindle 12 for allowing the handles 40
to be pivotally coupled to the front portion 13 of the upright
support 11 with the spindle 12 and for allowing the handles 40 to
be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base
10. The handles 40 each include a hand grip 42 formed or provided
on the upper portion thereof for being grasped or held or operated
by the users. The handles 40 each may include a tubular member 43
formed or provided in the middle portion 41 of the handles 40 and
an oblong hole or channel 44 formed in the middle portion 41 or the
tubular member 43 of the handles 40 for adjusting the moving stroke
of the adjusting exercise device 1.
[0038] A pair of or two foot supports 50 each include a middle
portion 51 pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 31 of the cranks 30
with a link 52 for allowing the middle portions 51 of the foot
supports 50 to be moved cyclically relative to the upright support
11 of the base 10 by the cranks 30, and each include a front
portion 53 pivotally coupled the lower portion 45 of the handles 40
respectively for allowing the foot supports 50 and the handles 40
to be pivotally coupled or attached to the upright support 11 of
the base 10, and for allowing the foot supports 50 and the handles
40 to be moved or pivoted or swung relative to the upright support
11 of the base 10. The foot supports 50 each include a foot pedal
54 disposed or provided on the rear portion thereof for supporting
the feet of the users and for allowing the feet of the users to
step and to operate or to actuate the foot supports 50.
[0039] A pair of or two arms or levers 32 may further be provided,
and each include one end or first end or rear portion 33 pivotally
coupled to the pivot rod 31 of the cranks 30, and each include the
other end or second end or front portion 34 selectively coupled to
the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 respectively with a
bracket 35 and/or a fastener or securing device 36 which is spaced
away from the spindle 12, for forming a polygonal pivot coupling
structure together with the handles 40 and the foot supports 50 and
the links 52. For example, the securing device 36 may be
selectively or adjustably coupled to the channel 44 or the middle
portion 41 or the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 respectively
with the bracket 35 and/or the securing device 36, for adjusting
the distance between the spindle 12 of the upright support 11 and
the front portion 34 of the levers 32, and for adjusting the
coupling between the handles 40 and the cranks 30 and/or the link
52, and thus for adjusting the moving strokes of the foot supports
50.
[0040] For example, the moving stroke of the foot supports 50 may
be increased when the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are
adjusted closer to the spindle 12 of the upright support 11, and
may be decreased when the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are
moved or adjusted farther away from the spindle 12 of the upright
support 11. The securing device 36 is slidably engaged in the
channel(s) 44 or the middle portion 41 or the tubular member 43 of
the handles 40 for guiding the securing device 36 to move or to
slide along the channel(s) 44 or the middle portion 41 or the
tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and/or to move toward or away
from the spindle 12 of the upright support 11. As shown in FIG. 6,
a block 37 is attached to the securing device 36 and slidably
engaged in the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of the handles 40,
and a moving or adjusting means or device 60 is coupled to the
block 37 and/or the securing device 36 for moving the securing
device 36 along the channel(s) 44 or the middle portion 41 or the
tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and/or toward or away from the
spindle 12 of the upright support 11.
[0041] For example, the moving or adjusting means or device 60
includes a bolt or threaded member 61 rotatably supported or
engaged in the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 or the middle
portion 41 of the handles 40 and threaded or engaged with the block
37 and/or the securing device 36 for moving the block 37 and/or the
securing device 36 along the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of
the handles 40 when the threaded member 61 is rotated relative to
the tubular member 43 of the handles 40, and includes a motor 62
attached to the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and coupled to
the threaded member 61 directly or indirectly via a reduction
gearing 63 for allowing the threaded member 61 to be driven or
rotated relative to the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 in
order to move the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 along the
bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of the handles 40. A control
switch (not shown) may be disposed in either of the hand grips 42
for allowing the user to operate the moving means or device 60
while operating the adjusting exercise device 1. The threaded
member 61 and/or the motor 62 may thus be formed as the moving
means for moving the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 along
the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and/or
toward or away from the spindle 12 of the upright support 11.
[0042] In operation, the handles 40 and the front portion 53 of the
foot supports 50 may be pivoted or swung relative to the upright
support 11 of the base 10 with the spindle 12 of the upright
support 11, and the middle portions 51 of the foot supports 50 may
be moved cyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base
10 by the cranks 30, such that the foot pedals 54 of the foot
supports 50 may be moved elliptically relative to the upright
support 11 of the base 10. It is to be noted that the provision and
the coupling of the levers 32 between the handles 40 and the cranks
30 and/or the link 52 may form a polygonal pivot coupling structure
together with the handles 40 and the foot supports 50 and the links
52 for allowing the swinging stroke of the handles 40 to be
controlled or determined by the rotational movement of the cranks
30, and also for allowing the moving stroke of the foot supports 50
to be controlled or determined by the rotational movement of the
cranks 30.
[0043] The provision and the coupling of the wheel 20, and the
rotary member 22, and the follower 24, and the flywheel 26 may be
formed or acted as a resisting means or device for applying a
resistive force or a retarding force against the wheel 20 and the
shaft 21 and thus the cranks 30 and the link 52 and the foot
supports 50 and the levers 32 and the handles 40, and thus for
resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21
and the cranks 30 and also for resisting the swinging movement of
the link 52 and the handles 40. A magnetic retarding device (not
shown) may further be provided and coupled to the wheel 20 and/or
the rotary member 22 and/or the follower 24 and/or the flywheel 26
for further applying a resistive force against the wheel 20 and/or
the rotary member 22 and/or the follower 24 and/or the flywheel 26
and for further resisting the swinging movement of the link 52 and
the handles 40.
[0044] In addition, when the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are
adjusted closer to the spindle 12 of the upright support 11 with
the moving means or device 60, the swinging stroke of the handles
40 may be increased by the rotational movement of the cranks 30,
and the moving stroke of the foot supports 50 may also be
increased. On the contrary, when the front portion 34 of the levers
32 are moved or adjusted farther away from the spindle 12 of the
upright support 11, the swinging stroke of the handles 40 may be
decreased by the rotational movement of the cranks 30, and the
moving stroke of the foot supports 50 may also be decreased. It is
further to be noted that the front portion 34 of the levers 32 may
also be solidly and pivotally coupled to the middle portions 41 of
the handles 40 with the securing device 36 at the predetermined
position without being moved or adjusted relative to the middle
portions 41 of the handles 40 for such as marketing purposes, or
manually adjusted relative to the middle portions 41 of the handles
40 in which the fixed mode and the manual mode have been filed in
the co-pending US patent applications.
[0045] Accordingly, the exercise device in accordance with the
present invention includes an arrangement for allowing the exercise
device to have an increased moving stroke, and/or for allowing the
exercise device to be adjusted to different moving strokes.
[0046] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *