U.S. patent application number 13/747430 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-30 for height adjusting mechanism for a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser.
The applicant listed for this patent is Chien-Hsiang Huang. Invention is credited to Chien-Hsiang Huang.
Application Number | 20140031174 13/747430 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48088677 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140031174 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Huang; Chien-Hsiang |
January 30, 2014 |
HEIGHT ADJUSTING MECHANISM FOR A PEDALING DEVICE OF A PEDAL
EXERCISER
Abstract
A pedal exerciser includes a base having a coupling tube
extending substantially vertically from a bottom of the base. The
coupling tube includes a coupling hole and a first notch extending
vertically and in communication with the coupling hole. A pedaling
device includes a column having a rack. The column is received in
the coupling hole of the base. The rack is received in the first
notch and has a toothed portion extending outside of the first
notch. A height adjusting mechanism includes a motor and a
reduction gear box having an output shaft driven by the motor. A
transmission gear is mounted on the output shaft and meshes with
the toothed portion of the rack. The motor is operable to drive the
output shaft to move the rack in a vertical direction via the
transmission gear, adjusting a height of the pedaling device in the
vertical direction.
Inventors: |
Huang; Chien-Hsiang;
(Tai-Pao City, TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Huang; Chien-Hsiang |
|
|
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48088677 |
Appl. No.: |
13/747430 |
Filed: |
January 22, 2013 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
482/62 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2208/0252 20130101;
A63B 22/0605 20130101; A63B 2208/0247 20130101; A63B 22/0087
20130101; A63B 22/0007 20130101; A63B 2210/50 20130101; A63B
2208/0238 20130101; A63B 2225/09 20130101; A63B 2022/0611 20130101;
A63B 2022/0652 20130101; A63B 2022/0623 20130101; A63B 2225/093
20130101; A63B 2225/096 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
482/62 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/00 20060101
A63B022/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 27, 2012 |
TW |
101214528 |
Claims
1. A pedal exerciser comprising: a base adapted to be located on a
ground, with the base including a coupling tube extending
substantially vertically from a bottom of the base, with the
coupling tube including a coupling hole and a first notch extending
vertically and in communication with the coupling hole; 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 a rack having a toothed portion, with the
column received in the coupling hole of the base, with the rack
received in the first notch, with the toothed portion extended
outside of the first notch; a height adjusting mechanism including
a motor, with the motor adapted to be controlled by a controller,
with the height adjusting mechanism further including a reduction
gear box having an output shaft driven by the motor, with a
transmission gear mounted on the output shaft and meshed with the
toothed portion of the rack, with the motor operable to drive the
output shaft to move the rack in a vertical direction via the
transmission gear, adjusting a height of the pedaling device in the
vertical direction.
2. The pedal exerciser as claimed in claim 1, with the base
including a seat on a rear end thereof, with the height adjusting
mechanism further including a sleeve and a coupling seat, with the
sleeve having a bottom portion received in the coupling hole of the
base, with the column received in the sleeve, with the sleeve
having a second notch, with the rack received in the second notch,
with the coupling seat mounted around an upper portion of the
sleeve, with the coupling seat including a coupling section coupled
with the reduction gear box, with the coupling section including a
compartment, with the transmission gear rotatably received in the
compartment, with the compartment including an opening facing the
second notch, with the column of the pedaling device extending
through the sleeve and the coupling hole of the coupling tube of
the seat, with the transmission gear meshed with the rack via the
opening of the compartment.
3. The pedal exerciser as claimed in claim 1, with the coupling
seat further including a third notch, with the coupling seat
further including a first tightening bolt hole in a location
corresponding to the opening of the compartment and a second
tightening bolt hole in a location corresponding to the third
notch, with first and second tightening bolts mounted in the first
and second tightening bolt holes.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a height adjusting
mechanism for a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser and, more
particularly, to a height adjusting mechanism for automatically
adjusting a vertical position of a pedaling device 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, adjustment of the height of the pedaling
device is inconvenient to the user and is difficult to patients or
people having difficulty getting about.
[0004] Some of currently available pedal devices allow adjustment
in the resistance to rotational movement by using magnetic control
or a damping mechanism. The damping mechanism increases the overall
weights of the pedaling devices and increases the difficulty of
height adjustment.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An objective of the present invention is to provide a height
adjusting mechanism for automatically adjusting a vertical position
of a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser to provide convenient
adjustment and enhanced utility.
[0006] A pedal exerciser according to the present invention
includes a base adapted to be located on a ground. The base
includes a coupling tube extending substantially vertically from a
bottom of the base. The coupling tube includes a coupling hole and
a first notch extending vertically and in communication with the
coupling hole. A pedaling device includes a column on a lower
portion thereof. The column includes a rack having a toothed
portion. The column is received in the coupling hole of the base.
The rack is received in the first notch. The toothed portion
extends outside of the first notch. The pedaling device is adapted
to be rotated by legs or hands or a user. A height adjusting
mechanism includes a motor. The motor is adapted to be controlled
by a controller. The height adjusting mechanism further includes a
reduction gear box having an output shaft driven by the motor. A
transmission gear is mounted on the output shaft and meshes with
the toothed portion of the rack. The motor is operable to drive the
output shaft to move the rack in a vertical direction via the
transmission gear, adjusting a height of the pedaling device in the
vertical direction.
[0007] In a form shown, the base includes a seat on a rear end
thereof. The height adjusting mechanism further includes a sleeve
and a coupling seat. The sleeve has a bottom portion received in
the coupling hole of the base. The column is received in the
sleeve. The sleeve has a second notch receiving the rack. The
coupling seat is mounted around an upper portion of the sleeve. The
coupling seat includes a coupling section coupled with the
reduction gear box. The coupling section includes a compartment
rotatably receiving the transmission gear. The compartment includes
an opening facing the second notch. The column of the pedaling
device extends through the sleeve and the coupling hole of the
coupling tube of the seat. The transmission gear meshes with the
rack via the opening of the compartment.
[0008] In the form shown, the coupling seat further includes a
third notch. The coupling seat further includes a first tightening
bolt hole in a location corresponding to the opening of the
compartment and a second tightening bolt hole in a location
corresponding to the third notch. First and second tightening bolts
are mounted in the first and second tightening bolt holes.
[0009] 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
[0010] FIG. 1 shows an exploded, perspective view of a height
adjusting mechanism for a pedaling device of a pedal exerciser
according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the height adjusting
mechanism of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a pedal exerciser including
the height adjusting mechanism according to the present
invention.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken along section line
A-A of FIG. 2.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along section line
B-B of FIG. 2.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a side view of the height adjusting mechanism of
FIG. 2, with a pedaling device in a lower position.
[0016] FIG. 7 is a side view similar to FIG. 6, with the pedaling
device in an upper position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] With reference to FIGS. 1-5, a pedal exerciser according to
the present invention includes a base 1, a pedaling device 2, and a
height adjusting mechanism 3. The base 1 is adapted to be located
on the ground. The base 1 includes a seat 11 on a rear end thereof.
A user can sit or lie on the seat 11 while using the pedal
exerciser. An engagement portion 12 is provided in front of the
seat 11 and includes a coupling tube 13 extending substantially
vertically from a bottom of the base 1. The coupling tube 13 can be
fixed to the base 1 or adjustable to change a relative angular
position between the coupling tube 13 and the base 1. The coupling
tube 13 includes a coupling hole 131 and a first notch 132
extending vertically and in communication with the coupling hole
131.
[0018] The pedaling device 2 is adapted to be rotated by legs or
hands or the user. The pedaling device 2 includes a column 21 on a
lower portion thereof. The column 21 includes a rack 22 having a
toothed portion 221. The column 21 is received in the coupling hole
131 of the base 1. The rack 22 is received in the first notch 132,
and the toothed portion 221 extends outside of the first notch
132.
[0019] The height adjusting mechanism 3 includes a motor 31, a
sleeve 32, and a coupling seat 33. The motor 31 is adapted to be
controlled by a controller. The height adjusting mechanism 3
further includes a reduction gear box 311 having an output shaft
312 driven by a rotating shaft of the motor 31. A transmission gear
313 is mounted on the output shaft 312 and meshes with the toothed
portion 221 of the rack 22. The sleeve 32 receives the column 21
and has a bottom portion received in the coupling hole 131 of the
base 1. The sleeve 32 further has a second notch 321 receiving the
rack 22. The coupling seat 33 is mounted around an upper portion of
the sleeve 32. The coupling seat 33 includes a coupling section 330
coupled with the reduction gear box 311. The coupling section 330
includes a compartment 331 having an opening 3311 facing the second
notch 321. Transmission gear 313 is rotatably received in the
compartment 331. The coupling seat 33 further includes a third
notch 332. The coupling seat 33 further includes a first tightening
bolt hole 333 in a location corresponding to the opening 3311 of
the compartment 331 and a second tightening bolt hole 334 in a
location corresponding to the third notch 332. First and second
tightening bolts 335 and 336 are mounted in the first and second
tightening bolt holes 333 and 334.
[0020] The column 21 of the pedaling device 2 is extended through
the sleeve 32 and the coupling hole 131 of the coupling tube 13 of
the seat 1. The transmission gear 313 meshes with the rack 22 via
the opening 3311 of the compartment 331.
[0021] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the motor 31 is operable to
drive the output shaft 312 to move the rack 22 in a vertical
direction via the transmission gear 313. Thus, the pedaling device
2 is moved in the vertical direction, providing convenient
adjustment of a height of the pedaling device 2 in the vertical
direction. After adjustment, the first and second tightening bolts
335 and 336 can be rotated such that the sleeve 32 clamps and
tightens the column 21. The second and third notches 321 and 332
and the opening 3311 of the compartment 331 provides room for
deformation of the sleeve 32 clamping the column 21, providing
reliable positioning.
[0022] The pedal exerciser according to the present invention
allows easy adjustment of the height of the pedal device 2 by
providing the height adjusting mechanism 3, which is suitable for
patients or weak users. The motor 31 can be mounted to a side of
the column 21 through other provisions with the transmission gear
313 meshed with the rack 22.
[0023] 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.
* * * * *