U.S. patent application number 11/893399 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-19 for handlebar mechanism.
Invention is credited to Joseph Immordino, Marcos D. Roimicher.
Application Number | 20090048073 11/893399 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39933979 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090048073 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Roimicher; Marcos D. ; et
al. |
February 19, 2009 |
Handlebar mechanism
Abstract
An operator selectable mechanism for adjusting a moveable handle
for use with an exercise apparatus is described. The handle can be
selectively lowered or the upper portion of the handle can be moved
laterally with respect to the apparatus in order to vary the motion
of the upper portion of the handle.
Inventors: |
Roimicher; Marcos D.;
(Lombard, IL) ; Immordino; Joseph; (Hoffman
Estates, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Michael B. McMurry
1210 Astor Street
Chicago
IL
60610
US
|
Family ID: |
39933979 |
Appl. No.: |
11/893399 |
Filed: |
August 17, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/52 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 22/001 20130101;
A63B 2022/067 20130101; A63B 22/0664 20130101; A63B 2225/093
20130101; A63B 21/4017 20151001 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/52 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/04 20060101
A63B022/04 |
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus comprising: a body structure including a
mounting portion; a foot pedal assembly including a foot pedal; a
rocker rotatably coupled to said foot pedal assembly and said
mounting portion; and a handle assembly coupled to said rocker for
movement therewith, said handle assembly including a handle
selectively movable between an extended position and a retracted
position relative to said mounting portion.
2. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, including a guide bracket
secured to said rocker wherein said handle is slidably coupled to
said guide bracket.
3. The exercise apparatus of claim 1, wherein said handle assembly
includes an actuator operatively coupled to said handle and adapted
to selectively translate said handle between said extended and
retracted positions.
4. The exercise apparatus of claim 3, wherein said rocker includes
first and second guide brackets securing said actuator therebetween
and wherein said handle is slidably coupled to said guide
brackets.
5. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle assembly
additionally includes a mechanism for selectively moving an upper
portion of said handle laterally away from said body structure.
6. The exercise apparatus of claim 5, wherein said handle assembly
includes a receptacle for receiving at least a portion of said
handle and wherein said receptacle is pivotally connected to said
rocker so as to permit said movement of said upper portion of said
handle laterally away from said body structure.
7. The exercise apparatus of claim 6, wherein said handle assembly
includes an actuator operatively connected between said rocker and
said receptacle effective to selectively move a lower portion of
said receptacle toward said body portion resulting in said movement
of said upper portion of said handle laterally away from said body
structure.
8. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said handle extends a
first distance relative to a center of rotation of said rocker when
in said extended position and extends a second distance relative to
the center of rotation of said rocker when in said retracted
position, said first distance being greater than said second
distance.
9. The exercise apparatus of claim 1 wherein said foot pedal moves
in an elliptical path.
10. An exercise apparatus comprising: a body structure including a
pivot coupling; a foot pedal assembly including a foot pedal; a
rocker rotatably coupled to said pivot coupling and said foot pedal
assembly; and a handle assembly coupled to and for rotation with
said rocker, said handle assembly including a handle and a
mechanism for selectively moving an upper portion of said handle
laterally from a first position to a second position with respect
to said body structure.
11. The exercise apparatus of claim 10, wherein said foot pedal
moves longitudinally with respect to said body structure in an
elliptical path.
12. The exercise apparatus of claim 10, wherein said handle
assembly includes an actuator effective to selectively translate
said upper portion of said handle between said first and second
positions.
13. The exercise apparatus of claim 10, wherein said handle
assembly includes a receptacle configured to receive at least a
portion of said handle rotatably coupled to said pivot coupling at
a first end, an actuation mechanism coupled to a second end of said
receptacle and said rocker and configured to rotate said receptacle
relative to said rocker about said pivot coupling thereby being
effective to selectively translate said upper portion of said
handle between said first and second positions.
14. An exercise apparatus comprising: a body structure including a
mounting portion; a rocker member rotatably coupled to said
mounting portion; and a handle assembly coupled to said rocker
member for movement therewith said handle assembly including a
handle, and an adjustment mechanism adapted to permit said handle
to be selectively raised to an extended position or lowered to a
retracted position with respect to said mounting portion.
15. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein said adjustment
mechanism includes an actuator operatively connected to said
handle.
16. The exercise apparatus of claim 15, wherein said handle
assembly includes at least one guide bracket secured to said rocker
member wherein said handle is slidably coupled to said guide
bracket.
17. The exercise apparatus of claim 16, wherein said adjustment
mechanism includes a mechanical locking mechanism operatively
connected to said handle.
18. The exercise apparatus of claim 17, wherein said mechanical
locking mechanism includes a collar member secured to said body
structure and encompassing said handle and a set screw effective to
retain said handle in said extended or retracted positions.
19. The exercise apparatus of claim 14, wherein said rocker member
is rotatable about a pivot point on said mounting portion, said
handle being rotatable relative to said rocker member about said
pivot point.
20. The exercise apparatus of claim 19 including a foot pedal
assembly having a foot pedal operatively connected to said rocker
member wherein said foot pedal moves in an elliptical path.
Description
FIELD
[0001] The present disclosure relates to handles for use with an
exercise apparatus, and more particularly to handles that move with
pedals.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The statements in this section merely provide background
information related to the present disclosure and may not
constitute prior art.
[0003] In certain elliptical step type exercise machines arm
handles are connected to the machine's pedals such that the handles
move in synchronism with the pedals to provide a total body
workout. When connected for motion with the pedals, the handles
generally travel back and forth along an arcuate path as the pedals
move. However, in some cases this motion of the handles can be
bothersome or distracting to a user when he does not desire to use
the moving handles.
[0004] One approach to this problem has been to provide a mechanism
to allow the user to selectively fix the handles to the frame of
the apparatus to prevent movement of the handles. Examples of this
approach are provide by the Star Trac Elite Cross Trainer and as
shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,272.
DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an elliptical type exercise
machine showing one handle assembly described in this
disclosure;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear plan view of a handle assembly
of the exercise machine of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is an additional fragmentary rear plan view of the
handle assembly of FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side plan view of another handle
assembly described in the disclosure;
[0009] FIG. 5 is an additional fragmentary side plan view of the
handle assembly of FIG. 4;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side plan view of another handle
assembly described in the disclosure; and
[0011] FIG. 7 is an additional fragmentary side plan view of the
handle assembly of FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0012] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and
is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or
uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings,
corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding
parts and features.
[0013] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an elliptical type
cross-trainer exercise apparatus 10 that is used as a
representative environment for the handle mechanisms described in
this disclosure. It will be appreciated that handle mechanisms of
the type described herein can be used in a wide variety of exercise
machines such as climbing machines where the movement of arm
handles is coordinated with foot pedals. In this example, which is
the type of elliptical apparatus shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,846,272,
the apparatus 10 includes a main body portion 12, a right and a
left foot pedal assembly indicated respectively at 14 and 16, a
pair of rocker members 18 and 20, and a pair of right and left
handle assemblies 22 and 24. The main body portion 12 includes a
base 26, a resistance mechanism 28 secure to a rear portion of the
base 26, and a support assembly indicated generally at 30 secured
to a front portion of the base 26. Here, the support assembly 30
includes a generally upright structure 32 having a horizontal
portion 34 that serves as a pivot axel.
[0014] The right foot pedal assembly 14 and the handle assembly 22
will be described in detail with the understanding that the
description applies equally to the left foot pedal assembly 16 and
the handle assembly 24. The right foot pedal assembly 14 includes a
first and a second end 36 and 38 and a foot pedal 40 located
therebetween. The first end 36 is coupled to the resistance
mechanism 28. In this case the right rocker 18 includes an elongate
portion 42 having a first and a second end 44 and 46. The first end
44 of the rocker 18 is rotatably coupled to the second end 38 of
the right foot pedal assembly 14 and the second end 46 is rotatably
coupled to the pivot axel 34 at a point 48. In this type of machine
10 the foot pedal assemblies 14 and 16 will move in an elliptical
path. For purposes of describing the handle assemblies, the term
rocker is used herein to represent at least one mechanical link
between a foot pedal and an arm handle and could apply, for
example, to a member in climber mechanism that forms part of a
mechanical link between a reciprocating pedal and an arm handle
that pivots on a portion of the frame of the climber so as to move
in synchronism with the foot pedal.
[0015] FIGS. 2 and 3 provide an illustration of a first embodiment
22 of a handle assembly for use with the apparatus 10. Here, the
second end 46 of the rocker 18 can include a pair of mounting
brackets 50 and 52. Each of the mounting brackets 50 and 52
preferably include a guide bushings 54 and 56 respectively. The
handle assembly 22 is coupled to the rocker's second end 46 by
mounting brackets 50 and 52 for rotation about pivot point 48.
[0016] The handle assembly 22 includes a handle member 58 and an
actuator 60. In this arrangement, the handle member 58 includes a
portion 62 that is substantially linear which is slidably engaged
with the guide bushings 54 and 56 along with a handgrip 64 secured
to its upper end. Preferably the actuator 60 is mounted between the
mounting brackets 50 and 52 having the linear portion 62 of the
handle member 58 passing therethrough. As a result, the actuator 60
can be used to essentially retract the handle member 58 thus
reducing the upward extent of the handle member 58 and handgrip 64
relative to pivot point 48. The actuator 60 can be a linear
actuator or any one of a number of well known electrical,
mechanical or hydraulic devices capable moving a linear member.
[0017] FIG. 2 depicts the handle member 58 in an extended state and
FIG. 3 depicts the handle member 58 in a retracted state. Since the
handle member 58 is coupled for rotation with the rocker 18, the
handle member 58 will travel along a generally arcuate path toward
and away from a user occupied area generally located between the
front and rear portions of base 26. The height and length of the
arcuate path traced by the upper end of the handle member 58
including the handgrip 64 is reduced when the handle member 58 is
moved by the actuator 60 from the extended state (FIG. 2) to the
retracted state (FIG. 3) due to the reduced radially outward or
upward extension of the handle member 58.
[0018] FIGS. 4 and 5 provide an illustration of a second embodiment
122 of a handle assembly for use with the apparatus 10. This
arrangement includes a rocker 118 that is rotatably coupled at a
pivot point 148 and which is generally similar in operation to the
rocker 18 described above. Also, the handle assembly 122 includes a
handle member 158 along with an actuation mechanism generally
indicated at 160.
[0019] The handle member 158 includes a substantially linear
portion 162 and can include a handgrip 164 secured to the upper end
of the portion 162. In this example of the preferred embodiment,
the actuation mechanism 160 includes a handle receptacle 166, in
this case configured as a cylindrical housing, along with a first
actuator 168 and a second actuator 170. Here, the receptacle 166
has its first or upper end 172 pivotally coupled to the rocker 118
at the pivot point 148. A second or lower portion 174 of the
receptacle 166 can be coupled to rocker 118 through the first
actuator 168. In this embodiment, the first actuator 168 includes a
first end portion 176 pivotally coupled to rocker 118 and a second
end portion 178 pivotally coupled to the receptacle 166. Here, the
first actuator 168 is linearly extendable and retractable, so as to
cause lateral rotation of the receptacle 166 and hence the handle
member 158 thereby effectively moving the upper portion of the
handle member 158 containing the handgrip 164 latterly away from
the body portion 12. Although the receptacle 166 is shown as an
enclosed cylinder in the preferred embodiment, it need only provide
enough structure to provide support for the first actuator 168 and
need not be an enclosed housing.
[0020] In addition or alternatively, the portion 162 of the handle
member 158 can be configured to be slidably disposed within the
receptacle 166. The second actuator 170 can in one embodiment be
located near the first or upper end 172 of the receptacle and can
operate to advance and retract the handle member 158 thereby
varying the radially outward extent of the handle member 158 in a
similar manner to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Various
arrangements for the second actuator 170 can be used such as a
mechanical locking arrangement that includes a collar 171 secured
to the first or upper end 172 of the receptacle 166 with a set
screw 173 that can be used by a user to lock the handle member 158
in position with respect to the receptacle 166.
[0021] FIGS. 6 and 7 provide an illustration of an alternate handle
assembly 222 for use with the apparatus 10. Handle assembly 222 may
be generally similar to handle assembly 122 with the exception of a
second actuator 270. As such, only the second actuator 270 will be
discussed in detail with the understanding that the description of
handle assembly 122 applies equally to the remainder of handle
assembly 222.
[0022] A portion 262 of a handle member 258 can be configured to be
slidably disposed within a receptacle 266. The second actuator 270
can be located on the receptacle 266 near a lower portion 274 and
can operate to advance and retract the handle member 258 thereby
varying the radially outward extent of the handle member 258 in a
similar manner to the arrangement shown in FIGS. 2-5.
[0023] FIG. 4 depicts the handle member 158 in an extended state
and the receptacle 166 in a non-rotated state. FIG. 5 depicts
handle member 158 in a retracted state and receptacle 166 in a
rotated state. Since in this embodiment, the handle member 158 is
coupled for rotation with the rocker 118, the handle member 158
will travel along a generally arcuate path toward and away from the
user occupied area generally located between the upright structure
32 and the resistance mechanism 28 portions of the exercise
apparatus 10. In this example of a handle assembly 122, the length
of the arcuate path traced by the handle member 158 and handgrip
164 can be reduced by moving the handle member 158 from the
extended state as shown in FIG. 4 to the retracted state as shown
in FIG. 5. Additionally, or alternatively, the inward extent of the
handle member 158, and more specifically the handgrip 164, can be
reduced utilizing the first actuator 168. Here extending the first
actuator 168 will result in the handgrip 164 rotated outward
relative the user occupied area as shown in FIG. 5.
[0024] It will be appreciated that the disclosure describes the
preferred embodiment of two mechanisms 22 and 122 that allow for
the physical adjustment of handles, but various modifications might
be desirable based on various criteria including the nature, type
and configuration of the exercise apparatus along with variations
in components such as locking mechanisms and actuators.
* * * * *