Angle Adjusting Mechanism For A Pedaling Device Of A Pedal Exerciser

Abstract

A pedal exerciser includes a base having a coupling board and a compartment. A pedaling device includes a column pivotably mounted to the coupling board. An adjusting mechanism is mounted in the compartment and includes a toothed plate and a transmission device. The toothed plate includes an upper end fixed to the column. The toothed plate further includes an arcuate toothed portion at a lower end thereof. The transmission device includes a motor, a reduction gear train, and a transmission gear. The transmission gear is coupled to an output shaft of the reduction gear train and meshes with the toothed portion of the arcuate toothed plate. The motor is operable to drive the reduction gear train, the transmission, and the arcuate toothed plate. The pedaling device pivots to adjust an angle of the pedaling device relative to the base.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to an angle adjusting mechanism for pedaling device of a pedal exerciser and, more particularly, to an adjusting mechanism for automatically adjusting an angle of a pedal pedaling device relative to a base of a pedal exerciser to provide convenient adjustment and enhanced utility.

[0002] Indoor exercisers are popular in modem societies by providing exercising effects without going to the outside. The exercisers also provide rehabilitation functions for patients or people having difficulty in getting about.

[0003] A pedal exerciser generally includes a pedaling device providing a pedaling function like a bicycle and a mat on which a user can sit or lie while proceeding with pedaling with his or her hands or legs. However, the pedaling device can not suit different users of different body sizes if the pedaling device is at a fixed angle to a base of the pedal exerciser. Although angle adjusting devices have been provided to allow manual adjustment by the user, the adjustment is inconvenient to the user and is difficult to patients or weak people.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] An objective of the present invention is to provide an angle adjusting mechanism allowing easy adjustment of the angle of a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser.

[0005] Another objective of the present invention is to provide an angle adjusting mechanism providing a reliable positioning effect after adjustment.

[0006] A pedal exerciser according to the present invention includes a base having a mounting seat at a front end thereof and a seat at a rear end thereof. The mounting seat includes a coupling board and a compartment. The coupling board includes an axle coupling portion. A pedaling device is adapted to be rotated by legs or hands or a user. The pedaling device includes a column on a lower portion thereof. The column includes an axle portion pivotably engaged with the axle coupling portion. An adjusting mechanism is mounted in the compartment of the base and includes a toothed plate and a transmission device. The toothed plate includes an upper end fixed to a lower end of the column. The toothed plate further includes an arcuate toothed portion at a lower end thereof. The transmission device includes a motor, a reduction gear train, and a transmission gear. The transmission gear is coupled to an output shaft of the reduction gear train and meshes with the toothed portion of the arcuate toothed plate. The motor is adapted to be controlled by a controller. The motor is operable to drive the reduction gear train, the transmission, and the arcuate toothed plate. The pedaling device pivots about a pivot axis defined by the axle portion to adjust an angle of the pedaling device relative to the base.

[0007] Preferably, the pedal exerciser further includes an auxiliary positioning mechanism mounted in the compartment of the base. The base includes a control lever and a cable connected to the control lever. The auxiliary positioning mechanism includes a toothed block, a follower device, and at least one elastic element. The toothed block includes a toothed portion releasably engaged with the arcuate toothed portion of the toothed plate. The follower device is connected to the cable and the toothed block. The at least one elastic element is attached to the coupling board and the follower device. The at least one elastic element biases the follower device to a locked position in which the toothed block engaged with the toothed plate. The control lever is operable to move the follower device to engage the toothed block with the toothed plate or disengage the toothed block from the toothed plate.

[0008] Preferably, the coupling board of the base includes a first guiding slot. A guiding pin extends through the toothed block and slideably extends through the first guiding slot. The follower device includes a connection plate and an actuation plate. The connection plate includes a second guiding slot and a guiding peg. A bolt is slideably extended through the second guiding slot of the connection plate and fixed to the toothed block. The actuation plate includes a guiding groove. The guiding peg of the connection plate is slideably received in the guiding groove of the actuation plate. The actuation plate is coupled to the cable and pivotably connected to the coupling board. The at least one elastic element includes a first elastic element and a second elastic element. The first elastic element is attached between the connection plate and the coupling board. The second elastic element is attached between the actuation plate and the coupling board.

[0009] Preferably, the axle coupling portion of the coupling board of the base includes a notch. The axle portion of the pedaling device includes an axle pivotably received in the notch. The axle portion includes a tightening knob and a tightening plate for clamping and tightening the coupling board.

[0010] The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a portion of a pedal exerciser including an inclination adjusting mechanism according to the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 2 shows a partial, perspective view of the pedal exerciser of FIG. 1.

[0013] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the pedal exerciser according to the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 4 is a partial, side view of the pedal exerciser, with the angle adjusting mechanism in a locked state.

[0015] FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, with the angle adjusting mechanism in an unlocked state.

[0016] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5, illustrating adjustment of an angle of a pedaling device of the pedal exerciser.

[0017] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6, with the pedaling device locked in place by an auxiliary positioning mechanism after adjustment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] With reference to FIGS. 1-4, a pedal exerciser according to the present invention includes a base 1, a pedaling device 2, an adjusting mechanism 3, and an auxiliary positioning mechanism 4. The base 1 includes a mounting seat 11 at a front end thereof and a seat 12 at a rear end thereof. A user can sit or lie on the seat 12 while using the pedal exerciser. The mounting seat 11 includes two coupling boards 13, with a compartment 131 defined between the coupling boards 13. Each coupling board 13 includes a top end having an axle coupling portion 132 with a notch 133. At least one of the coupling boards 13 further includes a plurality of guiding slots 134 and a plurality of pegs 135. A control lever 14 is pivotably mounted to the base 1 and attached to an end of a cable 141.

[0019] The pedaling device 2 is adapted to be rotated by the legs or hands or the user. The pedaling device 2 includes a column 21 on a lower portion thereof. The column 21 includes mounting holes 22. The column 21 further includes an axle portion 23 engaged with the axle coupling portion 132 of each coupling board 13. The axle portion 23 has an axle 231 pivotably engaged in the notches 133 of the axle coupling portions 132. The axle portion 23 further includes a tightening knob 232 and a tightening plate 233 for clamping and tightening one of the coupling boards 13.

[0020] The adjusting mechanism 3 is received in the compartment 131 of the base 1 and includes a toothed plate 31 and a transmission device 32. The toothed plate 31 includes mounting holes 311 at an upper end thereof. Fasteners are extended through the mounting holes 311 and the mounting holes 22 of the column 21, fixing the toothed plate 31 to the column 21. The toothed plate 31 further includes an arcuate toothed portion 312 at a lower end thereof. The transmission device 32 includes a motor 321, a reduction gear train 322, and a transmission gear 33. The motor 321 is connected to the reduction gear train 322 and controlled by a controller. The transmission gear 33 is coupled to an output shaft 3221 of the reduction gear train 322 and meshes with the arcuate toothed portion 312 of the toothed plate 31. The motor 321 is operable by the controller to drive the reduction gear train 322, the transmission gear 33, and the toothed plate 31. The pedaling device 2 is pivotably connected to the mounting seat 11, with the axle portion 23 defining a pivot axis of the pedaling device 2 to allow adjustment of an angle of the pedaling device 2 relative to the base 1, providing convenient adjustment.

[0021] The auxiliary positioning mechanism 4 is mounted in the compartment 131 of the base 1 and includes two toothed blocks 41, a follower device 42, and three elastic elements 45. Two guiding pins 412 are provided for each toothed block 41, with each guiding pin 412 extending through one of the guiding slots 134. Each guiding slot 134 extends in a direction transverse to the arcuate toothed portion 312 such that each toothed block 41 can be moved to engage with or disengage from the toothed plate 31 through movement of the guiding pins 412 in the guiding slots 134.

[0022] The follower device 42 is connected to the cable 141 and the toothed blocks 41. The control lever 14 can be operated to control the toothed blocks 41 to engage with or disengage from the toothed plate 31 through transmission by the cable 141. The follower device 42 includes a connection plate 43 and an actuation plate 44. The connection plate 43 includes guiding slots 431 and 432. A bolt 413 is slideably extended through each guiding slot 431 and fixed to one of the toothed blocks 41. Another bolt 414 is slideably extended through the guiding slot 432 of the connection plate 43 and fixed to one of the coupling boards 13. The connection plate 43 can move upward and downward relative to the coupling boards 13, moving the toothed blocks 41 upward to engage with the toothed plate 31 or moving the toothed blocks 41 downward to disengage from the toothed plate 31. The connection plate 43 further includes a guiding peg 433 and attachment holes 434. The actuation plate 44 is connected to the other end of the cable 141 and includes an end pivotably connected to one of the coupling boards 13. The actuation plate 43 includes a guiding groove 441 in which the guiding peg 433 is slideably received. The actuation plate 44 further includes an attachment hole 442. The springs 45 are attached to the pegs 135 of the coupling board 13 of the base 1 and the attachment holes 434 and 442 of the connection plate 43 and the actuation plate 44.

[0023] With reference to FIG. 4, before operation of the control lever 14, the connection plate 43 and the actuation plate 44 are biased by the elastic elements 45 to a locked position. The toothed blocks 41 mesh with the toothed plate 31 to assist in positioning of the pedaling device 2 in a desired angular position.

[0024] With reference to FIG. 5, when adjustment of the angle of the pedaling device 2 relative to the base 1 is required, the control lever 14 is operated to move the actuation plate 44 via the cable 141. A peripheral wall of the guiding slot 441 presses against the guiding peg 433 to move the connection plate 43 downward. Furthermore, a peripheral wall of each guiding slot 431 presses against one of the bolts 413, disengaging the toothed blocks 41 from the toothed plate 31.

[0025] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the motor 321 is activated to adjust the angle (or angular position) of the pedaling device 2 relative to the base 1 through transmission of the toothed plate 31. With reference to FIG. 7, after adjustment, the control lever 14 is moved in a reverse direction to return the connection plate 43 and the actuation plate 44 to the locked position under the action of the elastic elements 45. The toothed blocks 41 reengage with the toothed plate 31 to fix the angular position of the pedaling device 2. The tightening knob 232 is rotated to tightly clamp the coupling board 13 with the tightening plate 233, providing a reliable positioning effect.

[0026] In view of the foregoing, the adjusting mechanism 3 provides convenient adjustment of angle of the pedaling device 2 while providing a reliable positioning effect. If desired, the pedal exerciser does not have to include the auxiliary positioning mechanism 4. The transmission gear 33 meshes with the toothed plate 31 to provide a positioning effect when the motor 321 is not activated. The number of the toothed blocks 41, the guiding slots 134, the attachment holes 434 and 442, and the elastic elements 45 can be varied according to need.

[0027] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications and variations are still possible without departing from the essence of the invention. The scope of the invention is limited by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A pedal exerciser comprising: a base including a mounting seat at a front end thereof and a seat at a rear end thereof, with the mounting seat including a coupling board and a compartment, with the coupling board including an axle coupling portion; a pedaling device adapted to be rotated by legs or hands or a user, with the pedaling device including a column on a lower portion thereof, with the column including an axle portion pivotably engaged with the axle coupling portion; an adjusting mechanism mounted in the compartment of the base, with the adjusting mechanism including a toothed plate and a transmission device, with the toothed plate including an upper end fixed to a lower end of the column, with the toothed plate further including an arcuate toothed portion at a lower end thereof, with the transmission device including a motor, a reduction gear train, and a transmission gear, with the transmission gear coupled to an output shaft of the reduction gear train and meshed with the toothed portion of the arcuate toothed plate, with the motor adapted to be controlled by a controller, with the motor operable to drive the reduction gear train, the transmission, and the arcuate toothed plate, with the pedaling device pivoting about a pivot axis defined by the axle portion to adjust an angle of the pedaling device relative to the base.

2. The pedal exerciser as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an auxiliary positioning mechanism mounted in the compartment of the base, with the base including a control lever and a cable connected to the control lever, with the auxiliary positioning mechanism including a toothed block, a follower device, and at least one elastic element, with the toothed block including a toothed portion releasably engaged with the arcuate toothed portion of the toothed plate, with the follower device connected to the cable and the toothed block, with the at least one elastic element attached to the coupling board and the follower device, with the at least one elastic element biasing the follower device to a locked position in which the toothed block engaged with the toothed plate, with the control lever operable to move the follower device to engage the toothed block with the toothed plate or disengage the toothed block from the toothed plate.

3. The pedal exerciser as claimed in claim 2, with the coupling board of the base including a first guiding slot, with a guiding pin extending through the toothed block and slideably extending through the first guiding slot, with the follower device including a connection plate and an actuation plate, with the connection plate including a second guiding slot and a guiding peg, with a bolt slideably extending through the second guiding slot of the connection plate and fixed to the toothed block, with the actuation plate including a guiding groove, with the guiding peg of the connection plate slideably received in the guiding groove of the actuation plate, with the actuation plate coupled to the cable and pivotably connected to the coupling board, with the at least one elastic element including a first elastic element and a second elastic element, with the first elastic element attached between the connection plate and the coupling board, with the second elastic element attached between the actuation plate and the coupling board.

4. The pedal exerciser as claimed in claim 1, with the axle coupling portion of the coupling board of the base including a notch, with the axle portion of the pedaling device including an axle pivotably received in the notch, with the axle portion including a tightening knob and a tightening plate for clamping and tightening the coupling board.