U.S. patent application number 14/735178 was filed with the patent office on 2016-12-15 for athletic apparatus having adjustable track.
The applicant listed for this patent is Sports Art Industrial Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Hai Pin KUO.
Application Number | 20160361588 14/735178 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 57515624 |
Filed Date | 2016-12-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160361588 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
KUO; Hai Pin |
December 15, 2016 |
ATHLETIC APPARATUS HAVING ADJUSTABLE TRACK
Abstract
An athletic apparatus includes a supporting base, a pair of
tracks disposed on the supporting base and tilted relative to the
supporting base, two foot support slidably attached onto the
tracks, a transmitting device coupled between the foot supports for
guiding the foot supports to move alternatively relative to each
other, and a resistive device coupled to the foot supports for
applying a resistive force to the foot supports. The transmitting
device includes two rollers engaged onto a spindle, and two belts
are coupled between the foot supports and engaged with the rollers
for rotating the spindle in an active direction when the foot
supports are stepped along the track by the user.
Inventors: |
KUO; Hai Pin; (Tainan,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Sports Art Industrial Co., Ltd. |
Tainan |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
57515624 |
Appl. No.: |
14/735178 |
Filed: |
June 10, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 2225/093 20130101;
A63B 2022/206 20130101; A63B 21/015 20130101; A63B 2022/0038
20130101; F03G 7/08 20130101; A63B 22/205 20130101; A63B 22/0664
20130101; A63B 2022/0676 20130101; A63B 21/154 20130101; A63B
21/0053 20130101; A63B 21/159 20130101; A63B 2225/09 20130101; A63B
21/157 20130101; A63B 22/0015 20130101; A63B 21/225 20130101; A63B
71/0622 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A63B 22/00 20060101
A63B022/00; A63B 22/06 20060101 A63B022/06; A63B 21/22 20060101
A63B021/22; A63B 24/00 20060101 A63B024/00 |
Claims
1. An athletic apparatus comprising: a supporting base including a
column extended upwardly from a front portion of said supporting
base, two tracks disposed on said supporting base and tilted
relative to said supporting base, and said tracks including a
curved and non-linear structure having rear ends located below
front ends of said tracks, and said rear ends of said tracks being
spaced farther away from each other then said front ends of said
tracks, a first foot support and a second foot support slidably
attached onto said tracks and movable up and down along said tracks
respective, a transmitting device coupled between said first and
said second foot supports for guiding said first and said second
foot supports to move up and down along said tracks and to move
alternatively relative to each other, and a resistive device
coupled to said first and said second foot supports for applying a
resistive force to said first and said second foot supports.
2. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
transmitting device includes a spindle rotatably attached to said
column, a first roller and a second roller engaged onto said
spindle and rotatable unidirectionally relative to said spindle, a
first belt coupled between said first and said second foot supports
and engaged with said first roller for coupling said first and said
second foot supports together and for rotating said spindle in an
active direction when said first foot support is stepped downwardly
along said track, and a second belt coupled between said foot
supports and engaged with said second roller for rotating said
spindle in the active direction when said second foot support is
stepped downwardly along said track.
3. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
transmitting device includes a first follower and a second follower
disposed beside said second roller and engaged with said second
belt for allowing said spindle to be rotated by said second roller
and said second belt in the active direction when said second foot
support is stepped downwardly along said track.
4. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
resistive device includes a flywheel attached to said spindle and
rotated in concert with said spindle for applying a resistive force
to said spindle and said first and said second foot supports.
5. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein said
resistive device includes an idle wheel rotatably attached to said
supporting base and having a shaft coupled to said flywheel with a
strap for allowing said idle wheel to be rotated by said flywheel
and said spindle.
6. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein an
electric generator is attached to said supporting base and coupled
to said shaft of said idle wheel for allowing said electric
generator to be rotated by said idle wheel and to generate an
electric energy.
7. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein a
resistive device is attached to said supporting base and located
beside said idle wheel for braking said idle wheel.
8. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first
and said second foot supports each include a carrier slidably
attached onto said track and movable up and down along said track
respectively, and a plate pivotally attached to said carrier and
pivotable relative to said carrier to selected angular
positions.
9. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
tracks each include two parallel beams having front ends attached
to a common linking member which is pivotally attached to said
column, and having rear ends coupled together with a second linking
member for forming a parallelogramic structure.
10. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
a coupling mechanism coupling said rear ends of said tracks
together.
11. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
coupling mechanism includes an arm pivotally attached to said
supporting base, said arm includes two end portions pivotally
coupled to said rear ends of said tracks with coupling stems
respectively for allowing said rear ends of said tracks to be moved
toward and away from each other when said arm is rotated relative
to said supporting base.
12. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
supporting base includes a panel having an aperture formed therein,
and a spring biased latch attached to said arm and engageable with
said aperture of said panel for anchoring said arm to said
supporting base at a selected angular position.
13. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 1 further comprising
a handle mechanism attached to said column for supporting an upper
portion of a user.
14. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein said
handle mechanism includes two handle members pivotally coupled to
said column with levers for forming a parallelogramic structure and
for allowing said handle members to be pivoted and adjusted up and
down relative to said column.
15. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
handle mechanism includes two handle bars attached to said handle
members respectively.
16. The athletic apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said
column includes a board having a cavity formed in said board, and a
spring biased catch is attached to one of said levers and
engageable with said cavity of said board for anchoring said levers
to said column at a selected angular position.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an athletic apparatus, and
more particularly to an athletic apparatus including a pair of
non-linear sliding tracks movable relative to the supporting base
and having a pair of foot pedals slidably attached or mounted on
the tracks for supporting the user's legs or feet and for allowing
the user to conduct an elliptical moving or stepping or walking
exercise or operation.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Typical athletic apparatuses or exercise devices comprise a
pair of rotatably positionable tracks each having a stirrup movable
back and forth thereon for supporting the user's legs or feet and
for allowing the user to conduct sliding or skiing or skating or
other types of exercise operations.
[0005] For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,372 to McCormack, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,741,205 to Doll et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 7,014,595 to Bruno
disclose several of the typical ice-skating exercise devices each
comprising a pair of rotatably positionable and angularly
adjustable tracks, and a pair of foot pedals slidably attached or
mounted on the tracks for supporting the user's legs or feet and
for allowing the user to conduct sliding or skiing or skating or
other types of exercise operations.
[0006] However, the tracks are supported horizontally relative to
the supporting base and the foot pedals may not be moved along an
elliptical moving stroke, or the foot pedals and the pedal members
may only be moved or stepped up and down relative to the supporting
base, but may not be moved along an elliptical moving stroke.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 7,806,808 to Kuo, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,033,961
to Kuo discloses the other typical exercise apparatus each
comprising a pair of pedal members slidably attached or mounted to
a supporting base with sliding tracks, and a pair of foot pedals
rotatably attached or mounted to the pedal members and coupled to
the supporting base with pulleys and cables for keeping the
vertical motion of the foot pedals.
[0008] However, the sliding tracks and the foot pedals may not be
moved or adjusted relative to each other and/or the handle may not
be moved or adjusted relative to the supporting base such that the
typical exercise apparatus may not be suitably actuated or operated
by the users of different shape or size or dimension or height or
the like.
[0009] The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate
the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional athletic
devices or apparatuses.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
an athletic apparatus including a pair of non-linear sliding tracks
movable relative to the supporting base and having a pair of foot
pedals slidably attached or mounted on the tracks for supporting
the user's legs or feet and for allowing the user to conduct an
elliptical moving or stepping or walking exercise or operation.
[0011] The other objective of the present invention is to provide
an athletic apparatus including a pair of sliding tracks movable
relative to the supporting base for supporting the foot supports,
and a coupling mechanism coupling the lower ends of the beams or of
the tracks together.
[0012] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is
provided an athletic apparatus comprising a supporting base
including a column extended upwardly from a front portion of the
supporting base, two tracks disposed on the supporting base and
tilted relative to the supporting base, and the tracks including a
curved and non-linear structure having rear ends located below
front ends of the tracks, and the rear ends of the tracks being
spaced farther away from each other then the front ends of the
tracks, a first foot support and a second foot support slidably
attached onto the tracks and movable up and down along the tracks
respective, a transmitting device coupled between the first and the
second foot supports for guiding the first and the second foot
supports to move up and down along the tracks and to move
alternatively relative to each other, and a resistive device
coupled to the first and the second foot supports for applying a
resistive force to the first and the second foot supports.
[0013] The transmitting device includes a spindle rotatably
attached to the column, a first roller and a second roller engaged
onto the spindle and rotatable unidirectionally relative to the
spindle, a first belt coupled between the first and the second foot
supports and engaged with the first roller for coupling the first
and the second foot supports together and for rotating the spindle
in an active direction when the first foot support is stepped
downwardly along the track, and a second belt coupled between the
foot supports and engaged with the second roller for rotating the
spindle in the active direction when the second foot support is
stepped downwardly along the track.
[0014] The transmitting device includes a first follower and a
second follower disposed beside the second roller and engaged with
the second belt for allowing the spindle to be rotated by the
second roller and the second belt in the active direction when the
second foot support is stepped downwardly along the track. The
resistive device includes a flywheel attached to the spindle and
rotated in concert with the spindle for applying a resistive force
to the spindle and the first and the second foot supports.
[0015] The resistive device includes an idle wheel rotatably
attached to the supporting base and having a shaft coupled to the
flywheel with a strap for allowing the idle wheel to be rotated by
the flywheel and the spindle.
[0016] An electric generator is further provided and attached to
the supporting base and coupled to the shaft of the idle wheel for
allowing the electric generator to be rotated by the idle wheel and
to generate an electric energy. A resistive device is further
provided and attached to the supporting base and located beside the
idle wheel for braking the idle wheel.
[0017] The first and the second foot supports each include a
carrier slidably attached onto the track and movable up and down
along the track respectively, and a plate pivotally attached to the
carrier and pivotable relative to the carrier to selected angular
positions. The tracks each include two parallel beams having front
ends attached to a common linking member which is pivotally
attached to the column, and having rear ends coupled together with
a second linking member for forming a parallelogramic
structure.
[0018] A coupling mechanism is further provided for coupling the
rear ends of the tracks together. The coupling mechanism includes
an arm pivotally attached to the supporting base, the arm includes
two end portions pivotally coupled to the rear ends of the tracks
with coupling stems respectively for allowing the rear ends of the
tracks to be moved toward and away from each other when the arm is
rotated relative to the supporting base.
[0019] The supporting base includes a panel having one or more
apertures formed therein. a spring biased latch is attached to the
arm and engageable with either of the apertures of the panel for
anchoring the arm to the supporting base at selected angular
positions.
[0020] A handle mechanism is further provided and attached to the
column for supporting an upper portion of a user. The handle
mechanism includes two handle members pivotally coupled to the
column with levers for forming a parallelogramic structure and for
allowing the handle members to be pivoted and adjusted up and down
relative to the column.
[0021] The handle mechanism includes two handle bars attached to
the handle members respectively. The column includes a board having
one or more cavities formed in the board, and a spring biased catch
is attached to one of the levers and engageable with either of the
cavities of the board for anchoring the levers to the column at
selected angular positions.
[0022] Further objectives and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed
description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of an athletic apparatus
in accordance with the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 2 is another rear perspective view of the athletic
apparatus, in which a portion or some of the parts or elements of
the athletic apparatus has been cut off for showing the inner
structure of the athletic apparatus;
[0025] FIG. 3 is a right side plan schematic view of the athletic
apparatus as shown in FIG. 1;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a right side plan schematic view of the athletic
apparatus as shown in FIG. 2;
[0027] FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial side plan schematic view
illustrating a foot support of the athletic apparatus;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a partial exploded view illustrating a foot
support of the athletic apparatus;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating a
transmitting mechanism of the athletic apparatus;
[0030] FIG. 8 is a partial exploded view illustrating the
transmitting mechanism of the athletic apparatus;
[0031] FIG. 9 is a rear side plan schematic view of the athletic
apparatus;
[0032] FIG. 10 is a partial top plan schematic view illustrating
the tracks and the pedals of the athletic apparatus;
[0033] FIG. 11 is another partial top plan schematic view similar
to FIG. 10, illustrating the operation of the athletic
apparatus;
[0034] FIG. 12 is a partial exploded view illustrating a coupling
mechanism of the athletic apparatus;
[0035] FIG. 13 is a right side plan schematic view similar to FIG.
3, illustrating the operation of the athletic apparatus;
[0036] FIG. 14 is a partial right side plan schematic view of the
athletic apparatus; and
[0037] FIG. 15 is a partial exploded view illustrating the handle
mechanism of the athletic apparatus.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0038] Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-4 and 9,
an athletic apparatus in accordance with the present invention
comprises a supporting base 10 including a front portion 11 having
a standing rod or column 12 extended upwardly from the front
portion 11 of the supporting base 10, a seat 13 disposed on the
upper or middle portion of the column 12, and a control panel 15
disposed on the upper portion 14 of the column 12 for controlling
or operating the athletic apparatus, the supporting base 10
includes a middle bottom rod 16 located and laterally extended at a
intermediate portion 17 of the supporting base 10, and includes a
rear bottom rod 18 located and laterally extended at a rear portion
19 of the supporting base 10.
[0039] A pair of handles or hand grips or a frame 20 is attached
between the column 12 and the supporting base 10, such as mounted
between the seat 13 or the middle portion of the column 12 and the
middle bottom rod 16 or the intermediate portion 17 of the
supporting base 10 for reinforcing the supporting base 10 of the
athletic apparatus. Another frame or two stays 21 may further be
provided and also attached between the column 12 and the supporting
base 10, such as mounted between the lower portion of the column 12
and the middle bottom rod 16 or the intermediate portion 17 of the
supporting base 10 for further reinforcing the supporting base 10
of the athletic apparatus. An inverted and U-shaped strut 22 may
further be provided and attached to the stays 21 for further
reinforcing the supporting base 10 of the athletic apparatus.
[0040] A pair of separated tracks 3, 4 are disposed oppositely on
the supporting base 10 and are preferably arranged in a mirror
symmetric to each other and secured or coupled between the column
12 and the supporting base 10, such as mounted between the seat 13
or the middle portion of the column 12 and the rear bottom rod 18
or the rear portion 19 of the supporting base 10 for allowing the
tracks 3, 4 to be tilted or inclined relative to the supporting
base 10, and for example, the tracks 3, 4 each include two curved
and parallel beams 30, 31; 40, 41 each having a non-linear
structure, best shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 9-12, and the beams 30, 31;
40, 41 of the tracks 3, 4 include front or upper ends 300, 400
fixed or attached or mounted to a common or first linking member
32, 42 which is pivotally attached to the seat 13 or the middle
portion of the column 12 with pivot joints 33, 43 for allowing the
tracks 3, 4 to be pivoted relative to the supporting base 10.
[0041] The beams 30, 31; 40, 41 of the tracks 3, 4 each include the
rear or lower ends 301, 401 coupled or connected together with
another or second linking member 34, 44 respectively for allowing
the beams 30, 31; 40, 41 of each track 3, 4 form a substantially
parallelogramic structure. The rear or lower ends 301, 401 of the
beams 30, 31; 40, 41 of the tracks 3, 4 are located below and
spaced farther away from each other then the front or upper ends
300, 400 of the beams 30, 31; 40, 41 of the tracks 3, 4. The tracks
3, 4 each include a carrier 35 slidably attached onto the beams 30,
31; 40, 41 of the tracks 3, 4 and movable up and down along the
tracks 3, 4 respectively, the carriers 35 each include one or more
(such as two) ears 36 extended upwardly therefrom (FIG. 6), and
each include a protrusion 37 also extended upwardly therefrom and
separated from the ears 36, and each include one or more (such as
two) orifices 38, 39 formed therein and located one above the
other.
[0042] As best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a foot support 5 is attached
onto each of the carriers 35 and thus slidably attached onto the
respective track 3, 4 for supporting the user, for example, the
foot supports 5 each include a plate 50 having a front portion 51
pivotally attached to the ears 36 of the carrier 35 with a pivot
axle 52 for allowing the plate 50 to be pivoted relative to the
carrier 35 and the track 3, 4, the plates 50 each include an
extension or block 53 extended downwardly from the rear portion 54
thereof and having an oblong hole 55 formed in the block 53 for
slidably engaging with a stop 56 which is attached to the
protrusion 37, for guiding and limiting the plate 50 to rotate
relative to the carrier 35 and the track 3, 4.
[0043] A spring biased projection 57 is attached to the block 53
and engageable with either of the orifices 38, 39 of the protrusion
37 for anchoring the plate 50 to the carrier 35 at selected angular
positions. The spring biased projections 57 each include a knob 58
coupled to the spring biased projections 57 for pulling and
actuating or operating the spring biased projection 57 to engage
with either of the orifices 38, 39 of the protrusion 37. A foot
pedal 59 may further be provided and attached or engaged onto the
plate 50 for supporting the user and for allowing the user to
comfortably step onto the foot pedal 59 or the plate 50 of the foot
support 5, and to move the foot support 5 up and down along the
tracks 3, 4 respectively.
[0044] As shown in FIGS. 1-4 and 7-8, a transmitting device 6 is
coupled between the carriers 35 or the foot supports 5 for limiting
or guiding the pedal supports 5 to move up and down along the
tracks 3, 4 and to move alternatively relative to each other, and
include two pulleys or rollers 60, 61 engaged onto a spindle 600
which is rotatably attached to the seat 13 or the middle portion of
the column 12, with unidirectional bearing or the like, for
allowing the rollers 60, 61 to be rotated freely in one direction
relative to the spindle 600 and to be rotated in concert with the
spindle 600 in a reverse direction, the transmitting device 6
includes a first belt 63 coupled between the carriers 35 or the
foot supports 5 and frictionally engaged with the first roller 60
for allowing the carriers 35 or the foot supports 5 to be coupled
or connected together with the first belt 63.
[0045] The spindle 600 is arranged to be rotated by the first
roller 60 and the first belt 63 in one or active direction, such as
clockwise (FIG. 8) due to the unidirectional bearing or the like
when the right foot support 5 is stepped downwardly and when the
left foot support 5 is moved upwardly, and the first roller 60 is
arranged to be rotated freely relative to the spindle 600 in the
opposite or reverse direction, such as counterclockwise when the
left foot support 5 is stepped downwardly and when the right foot
support 5 is moved upwardly. A stationary first follower 64 and a
spring biased second follower 65 are disposed beside the second
roller 61, and a second belt 66 also coupled between the carriers
35 or the foot supports 5 and engaged with the second roller 61 and
the followers 64, 65 for allowing the spindle 600 also to be
rotated by the second roller 61 and the second belt 66
selectively.
[0046] It is to be noted that, when the right foot support 5 is
stepped downwardly and when the left foot support 5 is moved
upwardly and when the spindle 600 is rotated by the first roller 60
and the first belt 63, the second roller 61 is arranged to be
rotated freely relative to the spindle 600 in the opposite or
reverse direction, such as counterclockwise, such that the spindle
600 may not be rotated by the second roller 61 at this moment. On
the contrary, when the left foot support 5 is stepped downwardly
and when the right foot support 5 is moved upwardly, the spindle
600 may be rotated by the second roller 61 and the second belt 66
in the one direction, such as clockwise due to the unidirectional
bearing or the like, and at this moment or when the left foot
support 5 is stepped downwardly and the right foot support 5 is
moved upwardly, the first roller 60 and the first belt 63 are
rotated freely in the opposite or reverse direction, such as
counterclockwise relative to the spindle 600 and may not rotate or
drive the spindle 600.
[0047] Accordingly, the spindle 600 may be rotated by the first
roller 60 and the first belt 63 in the one direction, such as
clockwise when the right foot support 5 is stepped downwardly and
the left foot support 5 upwardly, and the spindle 600 may also be
rotated by the second roller 61 in the one direction, such as
clockwise when the left foot support 5 is stepped downwardly and
the right foot support 5 is moved upwardly, such that the spindle
600 may be continuously rotated by the first roller 60 and the
second roller 61 alternatively. The second roller 61 is rotated
freely relative to the spindle 600 and may not be used to rotate or
drive the spindle 600 when the spindle 600 is rotated or driven by
the first roller 60; and the first roller 60 is rotated freely
relative to the spindle 600 and may not rotate or drive the spindle
600 when the spindle 600 is driven by the second roller 61.
[0048] A resistive device 62 includes a flywheel 620 attached to
the spindle 600 and rotated in concert with the spindle 600, and
the resistive device 62 is coupled to the foot supports 5 for
applying a resistive force to the spindle 600 and the foot supports
5, an idle wheel 67 may be rotatably attached to the stays 21 or
the strut 22 of the supporting base 10 and includes a shaft 670
coupled to the flywheel 620 with another belt or strap 671 for
allowing the idle wheel 67 to be rotated by the flywheel 620 and
the spindle 600. An electric generator 68 may further be provided
and attached to the supporting base 10 and coupled to the shaft 670
of the idle wheel 67 with a further belt or strap 680 for allowing
the electric generator 68 to be rotated by the idle wheel 67 and to
generate the electric energy. A brake or resistive device 69 may
further be provided and attached to the supporting base 10 and
located beside the idle wheel 67 for selectively braking the idle
wheel 67.
[0049] As shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 9-12, a coupling mechanism 7 is
provided for coupling the lower ends of the beams 30, 31; 40, 41 or
of the tracks 3, 4 or the linking members 34, 44 together, and
includes an arm 70 having a middle portion pivotally attached to
the rear bottom rod 18 or the rear portion 19 of the supporting
base 10 with a pivot pin 71, the arm 70 includes one or first end
portion 72 pivotally coupled to the lower ends of the beams 40, 41
or of the track 4 or the linking member 44 with a coupling stem 73
and pivot joints 74, and another or second end portion 75 pivotally
coupled to the lower ends of the other beams 30, 31 or of the other
track 3 or the other linking member 34 with another coupling stem
76 and pivot joints 77 for allowing the lower ends of the beams 30,
31; 40, 41 or of the tracks 3, 4 or the linking members 34, 44 to
be moved toward or away from each other when the arm 70 is rotated
relative to the supporting base 10.
[0050] As shown in FIG. 9, the supporting base 10 includes a panel
190 disposed on the rear bottom rod 18 or the rear portion 19 of
the supporting base 10 and includes one or more apertures 191
formed therein. A spring biased latch 78 is attached to the other
or second end portion 75 of the arm 70 and engageable with either
of the apertures 191 of the panel 190 for anchoring the arm 70 to
the supporting base 10 at selected angular positions and for
retaining the lower ends of the beams 30, 31; 40, 41 or of the
tracks 3, 4 or the linking members 34, 44 at selected spacing
distances. The lower ends of the beams 30, 31; 40, 41 or of the
tracks 3, 4 or the linking members 34, 44 may be moved and adjusted
relative to each other when the spring biased latch 78 is
disengaged from the apertures 191 of the panel 190. The spring
biased latch 78 includes a knob 79 coupled to the spring biased
latch 78 for actuating or operating the spring biased latch 78 to
engage with either of the apertures 191 of the panel 190.
[0051] As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 9 and 13-15, a handle mechanism 8
includes one or more (such as two) handle members 80, 81 pivotally
coupled to the upper portion 14 of the column 12 with levers 82, 83
and pivot axles 84, 85 (FIGS. 14, 15) for forming a substantially
parallelogramic structure (FIGS. 13, 14) and for allowing the
handle members 80, 81 to be pivoted and adjusted up and down
relative to the column 12 or the supporting base 10, and includes a
handle bar 86, 87 attached to each of the handle members 80, 81 for
supporting the upper portion of the user. As shown in FIGS. 1, 9
and 15, the supporting base 10 and/or the column 12 includes a
board 90 disposed thereon and includes one or more cavities 91
formed in the board 90. A spring biased catch 92 is attached to one
of the levers 83 and engageable with either of the cavities 91 of
the board 90 for anchoring the levers 82, 83 to the supporting base
10 and/or the column 12 at selected angular positions.
[0052] In operation, as shown in FIGS. 1-2 and 9, the user may hold
or grasp the handle bars 86, 87 to support the upper portion of the
user on the handle bars 86, 87, and the user may step on the foot
pedals 59 or the foot supports 5 to move the foot supports 5 up and
down along the tracks 3, 4 respectively, in order to drive the idle
wheel 67 and the electric generator 68 so as to generate the
electric energy. The plate 50 and the foot pedal 59 may be pivoted
and adjusted up and down relative to the tracks 3, 4 (FIGS. 3-5)
for allowing the user to comfortably step onto the foot pedal 59 or
the plate 50 of the foot support 5. The lower ends of the beams 30,
31; 40, 41 or of the tracks 3, 4 or the linking members 34, 44 may
be moved or adjusted toward or away from each other by rotating the
arm 70 relative to the supporting base 10 for allowing the user of
different shape or size or dimension or height or the like to
comfortably step onto the foot pedal 59 or the plate 50 of the foot
support 5. The handle members 80, 81 may also be moved or adjusted
up and down relative to the column 12 or the supporting base 10 to
the selected angular positions for comfortably supporting the user
of different shape or size or dimension or height or the like.
[0053] Accordingly, the athletic apparatus in accordance with the
present invention includes a pair of non-linear sliding tracks
movable relative to the supporting base and having a pair of foot
pedals slidably attached or mounted on the tracks for supporting
the user's legs or feet and for allowing the user to conduct an
elliptical moving or stepping or walking exercise or operation, and
includes two tracks movable relative to the supporting base for
supporting the foot supports.
[0054] Although this invention has been described with a certain
degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present
disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous
changes in the detailed construction and the combination and
arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *