U.S. patent application number 13/854407 was filed with the patent office on 2013-10-03 for exercise apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to REXON INDUSTRIAL CORP., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is REXON INDUSTRIAL CORP., LTD.. Invention is credited to Benjamin CHIA, Yi-Chun LIAO.
Application Number | 20130260965 13/854407 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49235804 |
Filed Date | 2013-10-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130260965 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHIA; Benjamin ; et
al. |
October 3, 2013 |
EXERCISE APPARATUS
Abstract
An exercise apparatus includes a base having a bracket member
and a wheel pedal unit mounted at the base at a location far apart
from the bracket member. A moving arm member is retractably coupled
to the bracket member and movable relative to the bracket member in
an angle of inclination between a first position and a second
position. A seat unit is mounted at the moving arm member. Moving
the moving arm member between a first location and a second
location can change the elevation difference between the seat unit
and the wheel pedal unit in both the vertical and horizontal
directions, thus enabling the user to selectively perform different
exercise modes in either a normal sitting posture or a recumbent
sitting posture.
Inventors: |
CHIA; Benjamin; (San Jose,
CA) ; LIAO; Yi-Chun; (Taichung, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
REXON INDUSTRIAL CORP., LTD. |
Taichung |
|
TW |
|
|
Assignee: |
REXON INDUSTRIAL CORP.,
LTD.
Taichung
TW
|
Family ID: |
49235804 |
Appl. No.: |
13/854407 |
Filed: |
April 1, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61618915 |
Apr 2, 2012 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/57 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2022/0652 20130101;
A63B 22/06 20130101; A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 2208/0233
20130101; A63B 22/0046 20130101; A63B 22/0015 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/57 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/06 20060101
A63B022/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 2, 2012 |
TW |
101111711 |
Claims
1. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a base including a bracket
member; a wheel pedal unit installed on said base and configured to
be spaced apart from said bracket member at a distance for pedaling
by the legs of a user; a moving arm member retractably mounted in
said bracket member, said moving arm member comprising a movable
part movable in and out of said bracket member in a predetermined
angle of inclination between a first position located far apart
from said bracket member and a second position located close to
said bracket member; and a seat unit mounted at said movable part
of said moving arm member for sitting by the user, said seat unit
being movable with said movable part between said first and second
positions to change the elevation difference between said seat unit
and said wheel pedal unit in both a horizontal direction and a
vertical direction.
2. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base
further comprises a rail holder coupled with said bracket member,
and an upright support located at said rail holder and kept apart
from said bracket member at a distance.
3. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising
a locking member mounted in said bracket member and adapted to lock
said moving arm member to said bracket member.
4. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
upright support is movable along said rail holder and said wheel
pedal unit is mounted at said upright support.
5. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
upright support is slidingly mounted to the rail holder.
6. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the rail
holder further comprises a first stop block and a second stop block
respectively located at two opposite ends thereof, such that the
first stop block is located adjacent to the bracket member and the
second stop block is located farther away from the bracket
member.
7. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising
a handle assembly pivotally connected to one of said wheel pedal
unit and said upright support, and movable between a falling down
position located adjacent to said seat unit and an upright position
located far apart from said seat unit.
8. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein said
handle assembly comprises a sleeve pivotally connected to said
wheel pedal unit, and a handlebar coupled to said sleeve for
holding by the hands of the user.
9. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
handle assembly further comprises a movable bar having one end
thereof coupled to said sleeve and an opposite end thereof
terminating in said handlebar.
10. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said
movable bar is telescopically movable in and out of said
sleeve.
11. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said
movable bar is arranged parallel to said moving arm member when
said handle assembly is in said upright position.
12. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said
handlebar of said handle assembly comprises two grips spaced from
each other at a distance larger than the width of said seat unit so
that said grips are located at two opposite lateral sides relative
to said seat unit when said handle assembly is in said falling down
position.
13. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said
seat unit is moved with said moving arm member to said first
position, the elevation difference between said seat unit and said
wheel pedal unit reaches the maximum point in the vertical
direction and the minimum point in the horizontal direction; and
when said seat unit is moved with said moving arm member to said
second position, the elevation difference between said seat unit
and said wheel pedal unit reaches the minimum point in the vertical
direction and the maximum point in the horizontal direction.
14. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a base including a bracket
member and a rail holder coupled with said bracket member; an
upright support located at said rail holder and kept apart from
said bracket member at a distance, wherein said upright support is
movable along said rail holder; a wheel pedal unit installed on
said base and configured to be spaced apart from said bracket
member at a distance for pedaling by the legs of a user; a moving
arm member retractably mounted in said bracket member, said moving
arm member comprising a movable part movable in and out of said
bracket member in a predetermined angle of inclination between a
first position located far apart from said bracket member and a
second position located close to said bracket member; and a seat
unit mounted at said movable part of said moving arm member for
sitting by the user, said seat unit being movable with said movable
part between said first and second positions to change the
elevation difference between said seat unit and said wheel pedal
unit in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction.
15. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
upright support is slidingly mounted to the rail holder, and said
wheel pedal unit is mounted at said upright support.
16. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rail
holder further comprises a first stop block and a second stop block
respectively located at two opposite ends thereof, such that the
first stop block is located adjacent to the bracket member and the
second stop block is located farther away from the bracket
member.
17. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the
moving arm member is telescopically movable in and out of the
bracket member.
18. An exercise apparatus, comprising: a base including a bracket
member; an upright support slidingly mounted to the base; a wheel
pedal unit installed on said base and configured to be spaced apart
from said bracket member at a distance for pedaling by the legs of
a user; a moving arm member retractably mounted in said bracket
member, said moving arm member comprising a movable part movable in
and out of said bracket member in a predetermined angle of
inclination between a first position located far apart from said
bracket member and a second position located close to said bracket
member; a seat unit mounted at said movable part of said moving arm
member for sitting by the user, said seat unit being movable with
said movable part between said first and second positions to change
the elevation difference between said seat unit and said wheel
pedal unit in both a horizontal direction and a vertical direction;
and a handle assembly pivotally connected to one of said wheel
pedal unit and said upright support, and movable between a falling
down position located adjacent to said seat unit and an upright
position located far apart from said seat unit.
19. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said
handle assembly comprises a sleeve pivotally connected to said
wheel pedal unit, and a movable bar having one end thereof
slidingly coupled to said sleeve and an opposite end thereof
pivotally coupled to a handlebar for holding by the hands of the
user.
20. The exercise apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the
handlebar comprises two distal ends terminating in respective grips
and defining a gap therebetween, such that the gap between the two
grips is larger than the width of the seat unit.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)
[0001] This application claims, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e),
priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/618,915, filed Apr.
2, 2012, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety, inclusive of the specification, claims, and
drawings.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus and
more particularly, to a support frame for an exercise apparatus,
which allows for changes in seating position to perform different
exercise modes.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, U.S. Pat. No. 6,071,215
discloses a multi-mode exercise machine 1, which includes an
exercise base station 11, a pedal unit 12 mounted to the exercise
base station 11, a cycle seat 13 supported on the pedal unit 12, an
arm 14 pivotally mounted to the exercise base station 11 at one
side relative to the pedal unit 12. Handlebars 15 are mounted to
one end of the arm 14, and a second seat 16 is slidably coupled to
the arm 14. A receivable pull rope unit 17 is pivotally mounted to
the pedal unit 12, and a footrest unit 18 is pivotally mounted to
the other end of the arm 14. The pull rope unit 17 includes a pull
rope 171 passing around a guide roller inside the pedal unit 12,
and a pull bar 172 connected to one end of the pull rope 171 and
disposed outside the pedal unit 12.
[0004] When the arm 14 is set in a vertical position, a user can
sit on the cycle seat 13 and hold the handlebars 15 with their
hands, and then operate the pedal unit 12 with their feet for
performing a first exercise mode. Alternatively, when the arm 14 is
set in a horizontal position, the user can sit on the second seat
16 in a recumbent posture to hold the pull bar 172 with their two
hands and then place their feet in the foot rest unit 18. By means
of pulling up or letting off the pull rope 171, the second seat 16
is moved along the arm 14 for performing a second exercise
mode.
[0005] The aforesaid prior art multi-mode exercise machine 1 can
provide both upright and recumbent exercise modes. However, it must
provide two seats (the cycle seat 13 and the second seat 16), two
handles (the handlebars 15 and the pull bar 172) and two foot
portions (the pedal unit 12 and the foot rest unit 18). Including
two versions of each of these components disadvantageously
complicates the structure and operation of this prior art exercise
machine 1.
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 an exercise apparatus, which has a simple
structure that facilitates operation, and which allows a user to
easily change exercise modes.
[0007] To achieve this and other objects of the present invention,
an exercise apparatus is disclosed comprising a base, a wheel pedal
unit, a moving arm member, and a seat unit. The base provides a
bracket member. The wheel pedal unit is installed on the base and
spaced apart from the bracket member at a sufficient distance to
allow for pedaling by the legs of a user. The moving arm member is
retractably mounted in the bracket member, and comprises a movable
part that can be moved in and out of the bracket member at a
predetermined angle of inclination between a first position where
the movable part is extended far away from the bracket member and a
second position where the movable part is located closer to the
bracket member. A user can sit on the seat unit, which is mounted
at the movable part of the moving arm member. The seat unit is
movable along with the movable part between the first position and
the second position to change the elevation difference, i.e. the
distance, between the seat unit and the wheel pedal unit in both a
horizontal direction and a vertical direction.
[0008] In view of the above, there are numerous benefits of moving
the moving arm member in and out of the bracket member to change
the elevation difference between the seat unit and the wheel pedal
unit. For example the relative position between the wheel pedal
unit and the saddle unit is relatively changed, thus allowing the
user to selectively perform different exercise modes in a normal
upright, or elevated, sitting posture or in a recumbent sitting
posture.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present disclosure will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying
drawings.
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional multi-mode
exercise machine.
[0011] FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the conventional
exercise machine of FIG. 1, illustrating the arm changed from the
vertical position to the horizontal position.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of an exercise apparatus
in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the first embodiment of
the present invention, illustrating the elevation difference
between the wheel pedal unit and the saddle unit is increased in
the vertical direction and reduced in the horizontal direction.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic elevational view of the first
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating a user sitting on
the seat unit in a normal sitting posture.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of the first embodiment
of the present invention, illustrating the elevation difference
between the wheel pedal unit and the saddle unit is minimized in
the vertical direction and maximized in the horizontal
direction.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic elevational view of the first
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the user sitting
on the seat unit in a recumbent sitting posture.
[0017] FIG. 8 is a schematic elevational view of a second
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the seat unit in
a normal sitting position.
[0018] FIG. 9 is a schematic elevational view of the second
embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the seat unit in
a recumbent sitting position.
[0019] It should be noted that the drawing figures are not
necessarily drawn to scale, but instead are drawn to provide a
better understanding of the components thereof, and are not
intended to be limiting in scope, but rather to provide exemplary
illustrations. It should further be noted that the figures
illustrate exemplary embodiments of an exercise apparatus and the
components thereof, and in no way limit the structures or
configurations of an exercise apparatus and components thereof
according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] Other and further advantages and features of the present
invention will be understood by reference to the following
specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
[0021] While the disclosure may be susceptible to various
modifications and alternative constructions, certain illustrative
embodiments are shown in the drawings and are described in detail
below. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention
to limit the disclosure to the specific embodiments disclosed, but
on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications,
alternative constructions, combinations, and equivalents falling
within the spirit and scope of the disclosure.
[0022] It will be understood that, unless a term is expressly
defined in this disclosure to possess a described meaning, there is
no intent to limit the meaning of such term, either expressly or
indirectly, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning.
[0023] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an exercise apparatus in
accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is
shown, comprising a base 2, a wheel pedal unit 3, a moving arm
member 4, a locking member 5, a seat unit 6, and a handle assembly
7.
[0024] The base 2 comprises a rail holder 21, an upright support 22
coupled to and movable along the rail holder 21, and a bracket
member 23 vertically mounted at the rail holder 21 and inclined in
direction toward the upright support 22 at a predetermined angle of
inclination .theta.. The rail holder 21 comprises a first stop
block 24 and a second stop block 25 respectively located at two
opposite ends thereof. The first stop block 24 is located at one
end of the rail holder 21 adjacent to the bracket member 23. The
second stop block 25 is located at the other end of the rail holder
21 farther away from the bracket member 23.
[0025] The wheel pedal unit 3 is mounted at the upright support 22
for pedaling by the user's legs. The moving arm member 4 is
retractably mounted in the bracket member 23 at the aforesaid angle
of inclination .theta.. The moving arm member 4 further comprises a
movable part 41 movable relative to the bracket member 23 between a
first position located far apart from the bracket member 23 (see
FIGS. 3 through 5) and a second position located closer to the
bracket member 23 (see FIGS. 6 and 7).
[0026] The locking member 5 in this embodiment may be a holding
down screw threaded through the bracket member 23 and stopped
against the moving arm member 4 to lock the moving arm member 4 to
the bracket member 23. The seat unit 6 comprises a seat cushion 61
for sitting by the user, and a back cushion 62 for supporting the
back of the user sitting on the seat cushion 61.
[0027] With movement of the movable part 41 to the first position,
the seat unit 6 reaches a first pedaling position (see FIGS. 3
through 5) where the elevation difference between the seat unit 6
and the wheel pedal unit 3 is minimized in the horizontal direction
and maximized in the vertical direction. On the contrary, with
movement of the movable part 41 to the second position, the seat
unit 6 reaches a second pedaling position (see FIGS. 6 and 7) where
the elevation difference between the seat unit 6 and the wheel
pedal unit 3 is maximized in the horizontal direction and minimized
in the vertical direction.
[0028] The handle assembly 7 comprises a sleeve 71 pivotally
coupled to the wheel pedal unit 3, a movable bar 72 movable in and
out of the sleeve 71, and a handlebar 73 fastened to one end of the
movable bar 72 outside the sleeve 71. The handlebar 73 has two
distal ends respectively terminating in a respective grip 731. The
gap between the two grips 731 is larger than the width of the seat
cushion 61.
[0029] During application, the movable bar 72 can be moved in and
out of the sleeve 71 to adjust the length of the handle assembly 7.
The sleeve 71 can be biased relative to the wheel pedal unit 3 to
adjust the handle assembly 7 between a falling down position (see
FIGS. 6 and 7) located adjacent to the seat unit 6, and an upright
position located farther apart from the seat unit 6 (see FIGS. 3
through 5).
[0030] Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, the horizontal distance
between the seat unit 6 and the wheel pedal unit 3 is minimized
when the moving arm member 4 is extended along the bracket member
23 relative to the wheel pedal unit 3 in the aforesaid angle of
inclination .theta.. Doing this correspondingly lets the seat unit
6 be moved by the movable part 41 far away from the bracket member
23 to the first position. In this first position, the upright
support 22 is also moved along the rail holder 21 toward the
bracket member 23 to the first stop block 24, and the seat unit 6
is held in the first pedaling position. Because the movable part 41
synchronously moves the seat unit 6, the elevation difference h
between the seat unit 6 and the wheel pedal unit 3 in the vertical
direction is maximized, and the elevation difference d between the
seat unit 6 and the wheel pedal unit 3 in the horizontal direction
is minimized. Thus, when the handle assembly 7 is adjusted to the
upright position, the user can sit on the seat unit 6 in a normal
sitting posture and hold the grips 731 with their two hands located
in front of the seat unit 6, and then use their legs to pedal the
wheel pedal units 3 located under the seat unit 6.
[0031] Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the moving arm member 4 is moved
toward the bracket member 23 subject to the aforesaid angle of
inclination .theta. so that it is received into the inside of the
bracket member 23. This correspondingly lets the seat unit 6 be
moved by the movable part 41 to the second position so that it is
located closer to the bracket member 23. The upright support 22 is
also moved along the rail holder 21 in a direction away from the
bracket member 23 toward the second stop block 25 where the seat
unit 6 reaches the second pedaling position. At this second
position, the elevation difference h between the seat unit 6 and
the wheel pedal unit 3 in the vertical direction is minimized, and
the elevation difference d between the seat unit 6 and the wheel
pedal unit 3 in the horizontal direction is maximized. Thus, the
handle assembly 7 can be adjusted to the falling down position at
this time such that the user can sit on the seat unit 6 in a
recumbent sitting posture and hold the grips 731 with their two
hands below the seat unit 6, and then use their legs to pedal the
wheel pedal units 3 located in front of the seat unit 6. This is
advantageously possible due to the effect that the gap between the
two grips 731 is larger than the width of the seat cushion 61, and
the handlebar 73 does not protrude over the seat unit 3 in the
vertical direction.
[0032] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, an exercise apparatus in
accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is
shown. This second embodiment is substantially similar to the
aforesaid first embodiment, and also comprises a base 2, a wheel
pedal unit 3, a moving arm member 4, a locking member 5, a seat
unit 6, and a handle assembly 7. The main feature of this second
embodiment is that the upright support 22 of the base 2 is fixedly
mounted at the rail holder 21.
[0033] Thus, the seat unit 6 can be moved with the movable part 41
to the first position to minimize the elevation difference d
between the seat unit 6 and the wheel pedal unit 3 in the
horizontal direction and to maximize the elevation difference h
between the seat unit 6 and the wheel pedal unit 3 in the vertical
direction. Alternatively, the seat unit 6 can be moved with the
movable part 41 to the second position to maximize the elevation
difference d between the seat unit 6 and the wheel pedal unit 3 in
the horizontal direction and to minimize the elevation difference h
between the seat unit 6 and the wheel pedal unit 3 in the vertical
direction. The first position enables the user to sit on the seat
unit 6 in a normal sitting posture and to hold the grips 731 in
front of the seat unit 6, and then to pedal the wheel pedal unit 3
with their two legs under the seat unit 6. Conversely, the second
position allows the user to sit on the seat unit 6 in a recumbent
sitting posture and to hold the grips 731 below the seat unit 6,
and then to pedal the wheel pedal unit 3 with their two legs in
front of the seat unit 6.
[0034] It is therefore apparent that the exercise apparatus of the
present invention described herein has many benefits. By means of
moving the moving arm member 5 to change both the elevation
difference d in the vertical direction and the elevation difference
h in the horizontal direction, the relative position between the
wheel pedal unit 3 and the seat unit 6 can be relatively changed.
This allows the user to perform different exercise modes in either
a normal sitting posture or a recumbent sitting posture. Thus, the
simplified structure of the exercise apparatus of the present
invention has enhanced practicality since it facilitates operation
by advantageously incorporating only one single wheel pedal unit 3
and one single seat unit 6 for performing different exercise
modes.
[0035] Although particular embodiments 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.
* * * * *