U.S. patent application number 13/041448 was filed with the patent office on 2012-01-26 for adjustable cable machine.
Invention is credited to Bob HSIUNG.
Application Number | 20120021876 13/041448 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43993399 |
Filed Date | 2012-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120021876 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HSIUNG; Bob |
January 26, 2012 |
ADJUSTABLE CABLE MACHINE
Abstract
The adjustable cable machine contains a frame member raised on a
base member having two ground bars. A seat member is configured in
the front and a weight member capable of sliding vertically on the
frame member. Two extension members are configured oppositely to
the lateral sides of the frame member. Each extension member
contains an adjustment element fixed to the frame member and an
extension rod pivotally joined to the adjustment element. Each
extension rod could be turned to adjust its angle relative to the
frame member. A traction member composed of pulleys and cables is
configured between the weight member and the extension members. A
handle could be configured to an upper actuating ends at a top end
of each extension rod or a lower actuating end in a front section
of a ground bar.
Inventors: |
HSIUNG; Bob; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Family ID: |
43993399 |
Appl. No.: |
13/041448 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 23/1245 20130101;
A63B 21/0628 20151001; A63B 2208/0233 20130101; A63B 21/151
20130101; A63B 21/156 20130101; A63B 23/12 20130101; A63B 23/1272
20130101; A63B 21/4035 20151001; A63B 23/1209 20130101; A63B
21/4043 20151001; A63B 23/03541 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/93 |
International
Class: |
A63B 21/06 20060101
A63B021/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 23, 2010 |
TW |
099124317 |
Claims
1. A cable machine, comprising: a base member; a frame member
raised on a back portion of said base member, said frame member
having a front bar and a back bar; two extension members configured
oppositely on said front bar's lateral sides, respectively, each
extension member comprising an adjustment element fixed to said
front bar and an adjustment rod pivotally joined to said adjustment
element, each adjustment rod's angle to said front bar being
adjustable; a weight member comprising a running element along said
back bar; and a traction member comprising a plurality of pulleys
and cables configured between said extension member and said weight
member, wherein an upper actuating end of said traction member is
provided at a top end of each extension rod; a handle is optionally
configured on each upper actuating end; and said running element is
capable of sliding vertically along said back bar under the control
of a user pulling said handle through said traction member.
2. The cable machine according to claim 1, wherein said base member
comprising two ground bars roughly in parallel but spaced wider
apart towards a front direction; a footboard is placed between said
ground bars' front sections; and a lower actuating end of said
traction member is provided in said front section of each ground
bar.
3. The cable machine according to claim 1, further comprising a
seat member on said front bar; said seat member comprising a seat
detachable from said front bar and a backrest.
4. The cable machine according to claim 1, wherein a static disc of
said adjustment element is fixed on said front bar with a plurality
of limiting holes spaced around said static disc's circumference; a
bottom end of each extension rod is fixedly sandwiched between two
rotating discs of said adjustment element; each extension rod is
pivotally connected to said front bar by pin-joining said static
and rotating discs together; a through tube is configured between
said rotating discs; a front end of said tube and a bolt have
corresponding threads and grooves so that said bolt is screwed on
said front end; said bolt has a through channel so that a limiting
rod is threaded through said tube and said bolt; an elastic element
is placed between said limiting rod and said bolt; and a front end
of said limiting rod is joined to a knob; when said limiting rod is
aligned with a limiting hole, said limiting rod is embedded into
said limiting hole by said elastic element; and, by pulling said
knob, said limiting rod is removed from a confining limiting
hole.
5. The cable machine according to claim 1, wherein two horizontal
pins are extended from said running element's lateral sides,
respectively, for loading and removing weights.
Description
(a) TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to cable machines
for weight and functional trainings, and more particular to an
adjustable cable machine to fit the needs of various users.
(b) DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0002] A cable machine is used in weight training or functional
training. It allows a user to pull a weight stack by the arms so as
to exercise the arm muscle. A cable machine usually contains a
frame, a seat member on the frame, a weight member on the frame, a
traction member on the frame composed of pulleys and cables, and
handles above the seat member connecting to the traction member's
actuating ends. As such, a user could sit on the seat member and
pull the handles downwards by the arms to overcome the resistance
rendered from the weight member through the traction member. Taiwan
Patent No. M364523 teaches a cable machine further providing left
and right swing elements connected to the traction member for
different exercising styles such as chest expansion.
[0003] Conventionally, the handles are hung from the frame above
the seat member. To reserve space for the arms' up/down movement
and to prevent the user's head from bumping to the handles when
standing up, the frame has a substantial height. Together with the
expanded lateral space required by the swing elements as in the
prior art, the cable machine takes up a significantly sizable
space, making it very difficult for transportation and placement.
In addition, the cable machine usually has a complex structure,
thereby leading to high product cost and difficult assembly. The
cable machine as such is more common in professional gymnasiums,
but is rare in households.
[0004] Further more, the conventional cable machine only offers
limited exercising styles, failing to satisfy various users' needs.
A user could easily get bored after a short while. Additionally,
the positions of the handles and the swing elements, as well as
their trajectories, are usually fixed. For a user with a posture
not quite compatible with the design of the cable machine, the user
could be easily injured.
[0005] In other words, the cable machine with its existing design,
dimension, cost, and exercising styles, has a significant room for
improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Therefore, a novel cable machine is provided herein which
takes up a limited space, requires fewer parts, and reduces
production and transportation costs.
[0007] Another major objective of the present invention is to
provide an adjustable cable machine capable of offering additional
exercising styles, satisfying the needs of various users,
preventing the chances of injuries, and enhancing the exercising
effects.
[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention's
handles are hung from extension rods that could be pivotally turned
behind the seat member. As such, the handles could be raised high
above the seat member or lowered low to the lateral sides of the
seat member. The cable machine therefore offers versatile
exercising styles, with a simplified structure and reduced
dimension for easier and low-cost transportation and storage.
[0009] The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief
introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these
and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention
itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the
art, the following detailed description of the invention and the
claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical
reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
[0010] Many other advantages and features of the present invention
will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making
reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets
of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment
incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by
way of illustrative example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective break-down diagram showing the
various components of a cable machine according to an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 2 is a perspective diagram showing the cable machine of
FIG. 1 after its assembly.
[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective diagram showing the cable machine of
FIG. 2 from a different viewing angle.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a perspective break-down diagram showing an
extension member of the cable machine of FIG. 1.
[0015] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional diagram showing the
extension member of FIG. 4.
[0016] FIG. 6 is a schematic front-view diagram showing the
extension member of FIG. 4.
[0017] FIG. 7 is a schematic front-view diagram showing a first
exercising style offered by the cable machine of FIG. 1.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a schematic front-view diagram showing a second
exercising style offered by the cable machine of FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a schematic front-view diagram showing a third
exercising style offered by the cable machine of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0020] The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only,
and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or
configuration of the invention in any way. Rather, the following
description provides a convenient illustration for implementing
exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the
described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement
of the elements described without departing from the scope of the
invention as set forth in the appended claims.
[0021] As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a cable machine according to an
embodiment of the present invention contains a base member 10, a
frame member 15, a seat member 20, two extension members 30, a
weight member 40, and a traction member 50.
[0022] The base member 10 is roughly shaped like an inversed "A"
with two ground bars 11 roughly in parallel but spaced wider apart
as they are extended towards a front direction of the cable machine
to provide a solid ground support to the cable machine. A footboard
12 is placed between the ground bars 11's front sections. The frame
member 15 is raised on a back portion of the base member 10 for the
configuration of the traction member 50. The frame member 15 is
roughly shaped like an inversed "V" with a front bar 16 for the
configuration of the seat member 20 and the extension members 30,
and a back bar 18 for the configuration of the weight member
40.
[0023] The seat member 20 contains a seat 21 and a backrest 25,
both configured on the front bar 16. The seat 21 could be
dynamically removed so as to make space for a user standing on the
footboard 12 to operate the cable machine.
[0024] The extension members 30 are configured oppositely on the
front bar 16's lateral sides, respectively. Each extension member
30 contains an adjustment element 31 and an extension rod 38. As
shown in FIG. 4, each adjustment element 31 contains a static disc
32 fixed on the front bar 16 with a number of limiting holes 320
spaced around the static disc 32's circumference. A bottom end of
each extension rod 38 is fixedly sandwiched between two rotating
discs 33 of the adjustment element 31. Each extension rod 38 is as
such pivotally positioned on the front bar 16 by pin-joining the
static and rotating discs 32 and 33 together. Each extension rod
38's angle to the front bar 16 could be easily adjusted as follows.
A through tube 330 is configured between the rotating discs 33 that
could be aligned with a limiting hole 320. A front end 331 of the
tube 330 and a bolt 34 have corresponding threads and grooves so
that the bolt 34 could be screwed on the front end 331. The bolt 34
has a through channel so that a limiting rod 35 could be threaded
through the tube 330 and the bolt 34 with its two ends exposed
outside. An elastic element 350 is placed between the limiting rod
35 and the bolt 34 and a front end of the limiting rod 35 is joined
to a knob 351. As such, when the limiting rod 35 is aligned with a
limiting hole 320, the limiting rod 35 could be embedded into the
limiting hole 320 by the elastic element 350. As shown in FIGS. 5
and 6, by pulling the knob 351, the limiting rod 35 could be
removed from the confining limiting hole 320. The extension rod 38
then could be turned to a new position and the limiting rod 35
could be embedded into a limiting hole 320 there.
[0025] The weight member 40 contains a running element 41 capable
of sliding up and down along the back bar 18 under the control of
the traction member 50. Two horizontal pins 42 are extended from
the running element 41's lateral sides, respectively. Various kinds
of weights 45 could be placed on or removed from each pin 42 so as
to conveniently fit a user's exercising requirement.
[0026] The traction member 50 contains a number of pulleys and
cables running through the pulleys, and is configured between the
weight member 40 and the extension members 30. At a top end of each
extension rod 38, the traction member 50 provides an upper
actuating end 51. Similarly, within a front section of each ground
bar 11, the traction member 50 provides a lower actuating end 52.
The upper and lower actuating ends 51 and 52 are connected to the
weight member 40 through the cables and pulleys of the traction
member. A handle 55 could be optionally connected to any of the
upper and lower pulling ends 51 and 52 so that, as shown in FIGS. 7
to 9, a user could grasp the handles 55 and perform various
exercises and weight trainings.
[0027] As described, a versatile, small-dimensional cable machine
is thereby achieved.
[0028] When the cable machine is put to use, as shown in FIGS. 7 to
9, a user could sit on the seat member 20 and pulls the handles 55
to exercise the muscle of various body parts. As illustrated, the
cable machine provides a number of exercising styles so that the
user would not be bored from using the cable machine.
[0029] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, depending on the user's build,
the extension rods 38 of the extension members 30 could be turned
to a desired angle. To alter the angles of the extension rods 38,
as described earlier and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, by pulling the
knob 351, the limiting rod 35 could be removed from a confining
limiting hole 320. The extension rod 38 then could be turned to a
new position around the static disc 32 and, by releasing the knob
351, the limiting rod 35 could be embedded into an aligned limiting
hole 320 there. As such, the cable machine not only offers
versatile exercising styles but also prevent the user from
injury.
[0030] Further more, when the cable machine is required to be
transported or stored, the extension rods 38 could be completely
lowered and locked behind the seat member 20. The cable machine
therefore has a limited height and takes up the least amount of
space for easier transportation and storage. Additionally, the same
extension members 30 provides up/down pulling exercise and lateral
swing exercise as well, without the installation of additional
parts. The cable machine therefore enjoys a simpler structure and
lower cost than the prior arts.
[0031] More over, the pins 42 of the weight member 40 is
structurally open so that a user could easily and conveniently add
or remove different weights 45 to meet the user's exercising or
training requirement.
[0032] While certain novel features of this invention have been
shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is
not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be
understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and
changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in
its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without
departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.
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