U.S. patent application number 12/721866 was filed with the patent office on 2011-09-15 for universal fitness machine.
Invention is credited to San-Ching Wu.
Application Number | 20110224057 12/721866 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44560521 |
Filed Date | 2011-09-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110224057 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu; San-Ching |
September 15, 2011 |
UNIVERSAL FITNESS MACHINE
Abstract
A universal fitness machine includes an upright frame formed of
a base and a post, a swivel arm mechanism, which has a transverse
bar fastened to the top end of the post and two cantilever units
respectively rotatably connected to the two distal ends of the
transverse bar, each cantilever unit having an elastic rope that
has an inner end connected to the respective cantilever unit and an
outer end extending to the free end of the respective cantilever
and mounted with a grip, a lifter, which has a slide coupled to the
post, a seat pad affixed to the front side of the slide and two
handles fastened to two opposite lateral sides of the seat pad. By
means of pulling the elastic rope or lifting the lifter, the
universal fitness machine is used for multiple weight-training
exercises.
Inventors: |
Wu; San-Ching; (Sindien
City, TW) |
Family ID: |
44560521 |
Appl. No.: |
12/721866 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/130 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 21/4045 20151001;
A63B 21/4035 20151001; A63B 2023/0411 20130101; A63B 21/4043
20151001; A63B 23/03566 20130101; A63B 23/1272 20130101; A63B
2208/0223 20130101; A63B 21/0442 20130101; A63B 23/1245 20130101;
A63B 21/0557 20130101; A63B 2208/0233 20130101; A63B 21/0552
20130101; A63B 23/1209 20130101; A63B 21/4047 20151001; A63B
23/1218 20130101; A63B 21/156 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/130 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/04 20060101
A63B021/04 |
Claims
1. A universal fitness machine, comprising: an upright frame, said
upright frame comprising a post, said post having a top end and a
bottom end opposing the top end, and a base affixed to the bottom
end of said post; a swivel arm mechanism, said swivel arm mechanism
comprising a transverse bar fastened to the top end of said post
and two cantilever units respectively rotatably connected to two
distal ends of said transverse bar, each said cantilever unit
having at least one first elastic rope mounted therein, each said
first elastic rope having an inner end connected to the respective
cantilever unit and an outer end extending to the free end of the
respective cantilever and mounted with a respective grip; and a
lifter, said lifter comprising a slide coupled to and movable up
and down along said post, a seat pad affixed to a front side of
said slide and two handles respectively fastened to two opposite
lateral sides of said seat pad.
2. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a support frame for supporting said upright frame in
vertical on a flat surface, said support frame comprising a floor
plate for positioning on a flat surface, said floor plate having
tow upright lugs located on a top wall thereof, a strut connected
between said post and said floor plate, said strut having a top
end, a bottom end opposite to said top end and two lugs
respectively bilaterally extended from the top end, a first pivot
member fastened to the lugs of said strut to pivotally connect the
top end of said strut to said post, a second pivot member fastened
to the upright lugs of said floor plate and the bottom end of said
strut to pivotally connect said floor plate to said strut, and a
lock pin insertable through the upright lugs of said floor plate
and the bottom end of said strut to lock said strut and said floor
plate.
3. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said swivel arm mechanism further comprises two axles respectively
perpendicularly extended from the two distal ends of said
transverse bar, and an axle sleeve fixedly provided at the fixed
end of each of said cantilever units and respectively coupled to
said axles.
4. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein
said swivel arm mechanism further comprises two graduated discs
respectively fixedly mounted on said axles at the two distal ends
of said transverse bar, each said graduated disc having a plurality
of positioning holes spaced from one another at different angles,
and a lock pin movably mounted in the fixed end of each of said
cantilever units and selectively insertable into one positioning
hole of one said graduated disc to lock the associating cantilever
unit to said transverse bar, and a spring member loaded on the lock
pin at the fixed end of each of said cantilever units and adapted
for forcing the associating lock pin into one positioning hole of
the associating graduated disc.
5. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein
each said cantilever unit further comprises a long tube and a wheel
holder, said long tube having a fixed end and a free end, said
wheel holder comprising a connection tube connected to the free end
of said long tube, two locating frames extended from the periphery
of said connection tube in a parallel manner, at least one first
pulley pivotally mounted in between the two locating frames, and an
end cover covered on said connection tube and said two locating
frames at a bottom side; each first elastic rope of each cantilever
unit has the inner end thereof inserted into the inside of the long
tube of the associating cantilever unit and affixed to the fixed
end of the long tube and the outer end thereof wound round the at
least one first pulley and connected to the associating grip.
6. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the
long tube of each said cantilever unit has two locating frames
fixedly located on the fixed end thereof in a parallel manner and
at least one second pulley pivotally arranged between the two
locating frames at the fixed end thereof; the inner end of each
first elastic rope of each said cantilever unit is wound round the
at least one second pulley of the associating cantilever unit and
then fastened to the fixed end of the long tube of the associating
cantilever unit.
7. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said slide of said lifter is formed of a channel bar slidably
coupled to said post, having a plurality of rollers mounted on top
and bottom sides thereof and kept in contact with front and back
sides of said post.
8. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein
said lifter further comprises two lugs forwardly extended from a
bottom side of said slide, a seat bar fixedly mounted on a bottom
side of said seat pad and fixedly connected with said handles, a
pivot member transversely fastened to said seat bar and said slide
to pivotally connect said seat bar to said slide, and a lock pin
insertable through said slide and said seat bar to lock said seat
bar and said slide.
9. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising two first hangers fixedly mounted on said base of said
upright frame at two opposite sides relative to said post, two
second hangers fixedly mounted on said transverse bar of said
swivel arm mechanism at two opposite sides relative to said post,
two third hangers fixedly mounted on said slide at two opposite
lateral sides, and a plurality of second elastic ropes selectively
connectable between said first hangers and said third hangers or
between said second hangers and said third hangers.
10. The universal fitness machine as claimed in claim 9, wherein
said lifter further comprises a back pad fixedly mounted on said
slide, and a fourth hanger fixedly mounted on a back side of said
back pad.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] (a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to exercising machines and
more particularly, to a universal fitness machine that allows the
user to perform various different weight training exercises.
[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art
[0004] People may use simple exercising apparatus at home to
perform simple exercises. For performing weight training exercises
to exercise the muscles of different parts of the body, different
exercising apparatus may be used. For example, a sit-up bench or
chair may be used for sit-up exercise; a push-up bar may be used
for push-up exercise; dumbbells may be used for training arm
muscles; a horizontal bar may be used for training the muscles of
the back; a chest developer may be used for training the muscles of
the chest; a footplate may be used for training calf muscles; a
hand grip may be used for training the muscles of the hands.
However, it is expensive to prepare many different exercising
apparatus for training different parts of the body. When prepared
various exercising apparatus are not used, the storage of these
exercising apparatus is another problem to be settled.
[0005] Therefore, it is desirable to provide a universal fitness
machine, which is practical for training different parts of the
body and, which is collapsible to reduce the storage space when not
used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention has been accomplished under the
circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present
invention to provide a universal fitness machine, which is formed
of an upright frame, a swivel arm mechanism and a lifter for
enabling the user to pull elastic ropes in the swivel arm mechanism
in training the muscles of the arms, chest, back and legs, or to
keep in a half squat posture and then to push up the legs and pull
up the hands in training the muscles of the legs.
[0007] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
universal fitness machine, which can be collapsed to reduce the
dimension when not in use.
[0008] To achieve these and other objects of the present invention
a universal fitness machine comprises an upright frame formed of a
base and a post, a swivel arm mechanism, which has a transverse bar
fastened to the top end of the post and two cantilever units
respectively rotatably connected to the two distal ends of the
transverse bar, each cantilever unit having mounted therein at
least one elastic rope that has an inner end connected to the
respective cantilever unit and an outer end extending to the free
end of the respective cantilever and mounted with a grip, a lifter,
which has a slide coupled to the post, a seat pad affixed to the
front side of the slide and two handles fastened to two opposite
lateral sides of the seat pad. By means of pulling the elastic rope
or lifting the lifter, the universal fitness machine is used for
multiple weight-training exercises.
[0009] Thus, the user can hold the grips with the hands to stretch
the elastic ropes, thereby exercising the muscles of different
parts of the body in one of a variety of exercising postures. The
user can also sit on the seat pad to perform different weight
training exercises, or keep in a half squat posture with the hips
rested on the seat pad of the lifter and then push up the legs,
thereby training the muscles of the legs. When not in use, the
major parts of the universal fitness machine can be collapsed,
reducing the dimension of the universal fitness machine for
storage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is an oblique elevational view of a universal fitness
machine in accordance with the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a rear side view of the universal fitness machine
in accordance with the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the universal fitness machine
in accordance with the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the swivel arm mechanism for
the universal fitness machine in accordance with the present
invention.
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of one cantilever unit of the
swivel arm mechanism for the universal fitness machine in
accordance with the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the slide of the lifter for
the universal fitness machine in accordance with the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the seat pad and seat bar of
the lifter for the universal fitness machine in accordance with the
present invention.
[0017] FIG. 8 is an exploded view of the back pack and the
associating hanger of the lifter for the universal fitness machine
in accordance with the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
showing the cantilever units in operation.
[0019] FIG. 10 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
showing the lifter in operation.
[0020] FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
showing one mounting arrangement of the second elastic ropes.
[0021] FIG. 12 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
showing another mounting arrangement of the second elastic
ropes.
[0022] FIG. 13 is a schematic drawing of the present invention,
showing a horizontal bar connected between the two cantilever units
for horizontal bar gymnastics.
[0023] FIG. 14 illustrates a collapsed status of the universal
fitness machine in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a universal fitness machine in
accordance with the present invention is shown comprising an
upright frame 1, a swivel arm mechanism and a lifter 4.
[0025] The upright frame 1, as shown in FIG. 3, comprises a post 11
that has, for example, a rectangular shape, and a base 12 affixed
to the bottom end of the post 11. The base 12 can be formed of, for
example, a round bar 121.
[0026] The swivel arm mechanism, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is
adapted for enabling the user to train the muscles by pulling
elastic ropes, comprising a transverse bar 2 and two cantilever
units 3. The transverse bar 2 can be, for example, a rectangular
bar fixedly fastened to the top end of the post 11 of the upright
frame 1. Thus, the transverse bar 2 and the post 11 form a T-bar.
The two cantilever units 3 are rigid bars each having a fixed end
respectively rotatably connected to the two distal ends of the
transverse bar 2. One cantilever unit 3 is rotatable clockwise. The
other cantilever unit 3 is rotatable counter-clockwise. Further, as
shown in FIG. 5, each cantilever unit 3 has mounted therein at
least one first elastic rope 31. According to this embodiment, two
first elastic ropes 31 are mounted in each cantilever unit 3. Each
first elastic rope 31 has an inner end 311 connected to the inside
of the respective cantilever unit 3 and an outer end 312 extending
to the outside of the free end of the respective cantilever unit 3
and mounted with a grip 32.
[0027] The lifter 4, as shown in FIG. 3, is adapted for allowing
the user to sit thereon and to train the muscles of the legs. The
lifter 4 comprises a slide 41 coupled to the post 11 of the upright
frame 1 and movable along the post 11, a seat pad 42 affixed to the
front side of the slide 41 and two handles 43 respectively fastened
to two opposite lateral sides of the seat pad 42.
[0028] The universal fitness machine, as shown in FIG. 3, further
comprises a support frame 5. The support frame 5 comprises a strut
51 and a floor plate 52. The strut 51 has its top end pivotally
connected to the post 11 of the upright frame 1. The floor plate 52
is pivotally connected to the strut 51 near the bottom end of the
strut 51. As illustrated, the strut 51 has two lugs 511 bilaterally
arranged near the top end thereof and pivotally connected to the
post 11 of the upright frame 1 by connection means, for example, a
pivot pin 512. Thus, the strut 51 can be closely received to the
post 11 or extended out of the post 11. The floor plate 52 has two
upright lugs 521 located on the middle of the top wall near the
rear side thereof. Connection means, for example, a pivot pin 522
is transversely inserted through the upright lugs 521 and the
bottom end of the strut 51 to pivotally connect the floor plate 52
to the strut 51. Further, a lock pin 523 is transversely insertable
through the upright lugs 521 above the pivot pin 522 and the strut
51 to lock the strut 51 and the floor plate 52, enabling the
support frame 5 to support the upright frame 1 stably on a flat
surface.
[0029] As shown in FIG. 3, the upright frame 1 further comprises
two stop blocks 13 bilaterally located on the post 11 for stopping
the lifter 4 to limit downward movement of the lifter 4 to a
predetermined elevation.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 4, the swivel arm mechanism further
comprises two axles 21 respectively perpendicularly extended from
the two distal ends of the transverse bar 2. Further, each
cantilever unit 3 has an axle sleeve 33 located on the fixed end
thereof and coupled to one axle 21 at one end of the transverse bar
2. Thus, the cantilever units 3 can be turned about the respective
axles 21 to the desired angle. Further, two graduated discs 22 are
respectively fixedly located on the two distal ends of the
transverse bar 2. The two axles 21 are respectively located on the
center of each of the two graduated discs 22. Each graduated disc
22 has a plurality of positioning holes 23 spaced at different
angles. Each cantilever unit 3 further has a lock pin 34 movably
arranged at the fixed end below the axle sleeve 33, a spring member
36 loaded on the lock pin 34 and adapted to force the lock pin 34
into one positioning hole 23 on the associating graduated disc 22,
and a knob 39 fixedly fastened to one end of the lock pin 34 and
exposed to the outside of the fixed end for pulling by the user to
move the lock pin 34 out of the graduated disc 22. Thus, the user
can lock the cantilever units 3 to the transverse bar 2 at one of a
series of angles.
[0031] Referring to FIG. 5, each cantilever unit 3 further
comprises a long tube 37 and a wheel holder 38. The long tube 37
has one end forming the fixed end of the respective cantilever unit
3. The other end of the long tube 37 is the free end. The at least
one first elastic rope 31 is inserted into the inside of the long
tube 37 with the inner end 311 fastened to a part inside the long
tube 37. The wheel holder 38 comprises a connection tube 381
connected to the free end of the long tube 37, two locating frames
382 extended from the periphery of the connection tube 381 in a
parallel manner, at least one, for example, two first pulleys 383
pivotally mounted in between the two locating frames 382, and an
end cover 384 covered on the connection tube 381 and the two
locating frames 382 at the bottom side. Each first elastic rope 31
is wound round one respective first pulley 383 with the respective
outer end 312 extended to the outside of the wheel holder 38 and
connected to the respective grip 32. The long tube 37 has two
locating frames 371 fixedly located on the fixed end in a parallel
manner, and at least one, for example, two second pulleys 372
pivotally arranged between the two locating frames 371. The inner
ends 311 of the first elastic ropes 31 are respectively wound round
the second pulleys 372 and then fastened to the fixed end of the
long tube 37.
[0032] The aforesaid lifter 4 is adapted for enabling the user to
exercise the muscles of the legs in a sitting posture. Preferably,
as shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the slide 41 is formed of a channel bar
slidably coupled to the post 11. The slide 41 has a plurality of
rollers 411 mounted on the top and bottom sides thereof and kept in
contact with the front and back sides of the post 11, facilitating
movement of the slide 41 along the post 11. Further, as shown in
FIG. 7, the two handles 43 are respectively fastened to two
opposite lateral sides of the seat pad 42. Further, as shown in
FIG. 3, the slide 41 has two lugs 412 forwardly extended from the
bottom side and clamped on two opposite sides of a seat bar 44 of
the seat pad 42. A pivot pin 413 is inserted through the lugs 412
and the seat bar 44 to pivotally connect the seat pad 42 to the
slide 41, allowing the seat pad 42 to be turned about the pivot pin
413 between a collapsed position and an extended operative
position. Further, a lock pin 414 is insertable through the lugs
412 and the seat bar 44 to lock the seat pad 42 and the slide
41.
[0033] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 again, the base 12 (round bar
121) of the upright frame 1 has two first hangers 14 disposed at
two sides relative to the post 11. The transverse bar 2 has two
second hangers 24 disposed at two sides relative to the post 11.
The slide 41 has two third hangers 45 respectively located on the
two opposite lateral sides thereof. Second elastic ropes 6 are
selectively connected between the first hangers 14 at the base 12
and the third hangers 45 at the slide 41, or the second hangers 24
at the transverse bar 2 and the third hangers 45 at the slide 41,
to impart an extra load to the lifter 4. Further, each second
elastic rope 6 has a hook 61 at each of the two distal ends thereof
for hanging. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 8, a back pad 46 is
fastened to the front side of the slide 41 of the lifter 4 for
supporting the user's back. The back pad 46 has a fourth hanger 47
located on the back side. When the second elastic ropes 6 are not
used, the elastic ropes 61 can be hung between the third hangers 45
at the slide 41 and the fourth hanger 47 at the back pad 46. When
the second elastic rope 61 are hung between the third hangers 45 at
the slide 41 and the fourth hanger 47 at the back pad 46, they give
no pressure to the lifter 4.
[0034] When using the universal fitness machine, as shown in FIG.
13, the user can adjust the cantilever units 3 to the desired
angle. At this time, the user can sit on the seat pad 42 or keep in
the standing posture with the hands holding the outer ends of the
first elastic ropes 31 or the feet hooking in the grips 32 at the
outer ends of the first elastic ropes, and then stretch the first
elastic ropes 31 to exercise the muscles of the hands or legs.
Thus, the user can perform different weight training exercises to
stretch the first elastic ropes 31 in different directions and
angles. The user can also sit on the seat pad 42 of the lifter 4 to
perform other exercises to train the muscles of the legs or the
muscles of the lower rectus abdominis. Further, as shown in FIG.
10, the user can keep in a half squat posture with the hips rested
on the seat pad 42 of the lifter 4 and the feet rested on the floor
plate 52, and then hold the two handles 43 at the two opposite
lateral sides of the seat pad 42 with the hands, and then push up
the legs and pull up the hands to lift the lifter 4, thereby
training the muscles of the legs. Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the
second elastic ropes 6 can be hung between the first hangers 14 and
the third hangers 45 to impart a downward pull force to the seat
pad 42, thereby adding a load to the lifter 4. Further, as shown in
FIG. 12, the second elastic ropes 6 can be hung between the second
hangers 24 and the third hangers 45 to impart an upward pull force
to the seat pad 42, thereby reducing the load from the lifter 4.
Further, as shown in FIG. 13, the two cantilever units 3 can be
adjusted to the highest position, and then a horizontal bar 7 is
connected between the two end covers 384 of the cantilever units 3.
At this time, the user can sit on the knees at the seat pad 42 of
the lifter 4, and then hold the horizontal bar 7 with the hands to
exercise horizontal bar gymnastics. Further, the user can change
the mounting position of the second elastic ropes 6 to reduce the
load from the lifter 4 so that the user can exercise horizontal bar
gymnastics for a long period of tie with less effort. By means of
the aforesaid various methods, the universal fitness machine allows
the user to perform different weight training exercises.
[0035] Further, as shown in FIG. 14, when the universal fitness
machine is not in use, the user can collapse the seat pad 42 and
the strut 51 and floor plate 52 of the support frame 4, reducing
the dimension of the universal fitness machine for storage.
[0036] Although particular embodiment of the invention have been
described in detail for purposes of illustration, various
modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention
is not to be limited except as by the appended claims.
* * * * *