EXERCISE EQUIPMENT WITH CONVERGENT HAND GRIPS
An exercise machine comprising a frame, a first hand grip, and a second hand grip. The first and second hand grips are each operably associated with the frame for traveling along converging first and second hand paths respectively.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/694,723, filed Jun. 28, 2005.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis invention relates to exercise equipment, more specifically to stationary cardiovascular exercise equipment, and most specifically to stationary cardiovascular exercise equipment with arm links movable along a reciprocating or closed loop path.
BACKGROUNDStationary exercise equipment designed to work the upper-body typically includes pivoting arm links attached to a workload. Such stationary exercise equipment includes both weight training equipment and cardiovascular equipment.
Pivoting arm links on conventional stationary exercise equipment are sometimes configured to travel concurrently (e.g., a bench press station or a rowing machine) and sometimes configured to travel counter currently (e.g., elliptical exercise machines, ski simulation machines, stationary bicycles, etc.), but are always configured to travel along paths which are parallel to one another and parallel to the path traveled by any associated foot support links. Such parallel arm motion, while generally effective for providing the desired weight lifting or cardiovascular exercise, can feel clumsy and awkward to the user causing some users to reduce or even discontinue use of the exercise machine.
Accordingly, a need exists for stationary cardiovascular exercise equipment which provides a more natural movement of the arms when exercising the upper-body.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA first embodiment of the claimed invention is an exercise machine comprising a frame, a first hand grip, and a second hand grip. The first and second hand grips are each operably associated with the frame for traveling along converging first and second hand paths respectively.
A second embodiment of the claimed invention is an exercise machine comprising a frame, a first foot support, a second foot support, a right hand grip, and a left hand grip. The frame defines a primary transverse axis. The first and second foot supports are each operably associated with the frame for traveling along a foot path configured orthogonally relative to the primary transverse axis. The right and left hand grips are each operably associated with a foot support for traveling along converging hand paths when the foot supports travel along the foot paths, wherein each hand path is angled relative to each foot path.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Nomenclature
- 10 Exercise Machine
- 20 Frame
- 21 Cross Beam
- 22 First Mounting Bracket
- 30 Drive Shaft
- 40 Crank Arm
- 50 Foot Link
- 56 Foot Support
- 60 Roller on Foot Link
- 70 Rocker Arm
- 80 Connector Link
- 90 Guide Rail
- 100 Arm Link
- 100a First End of Arm Link
- 100b Second End of Arm Link
- 110 Intermediate Link
- 110a First End of Intermediate Link
- 110b Second End of Intermediate Link
- 120 Coupling Link
- 120a First End of Coupling Link
- 120b Second End of Coupling Link
- 130 Hand Grips
- 130r Right Hand Grip
- 130s Left Hand Grip
- 131p Path Traveled by the Right Hand Grip
- 132p Path Traveled by the Left Hand Grip
- 200 Bracket Connecting Arm Link to Frame
- 210 Primary Shaft
- 210a First End of Primary Shaft
- 210b Second End of Primary Shaft
- 220 Primary Bearing
- 230 Secondary Shaft
- 230a First End of Secondary Shaft
- 230b Second End of Secondary Shaft
- 240 U-Joint
- 250 Housing
- 260 Fitting
- 270 Bearing Unit
- 300 Axle
- 310 Turnbuckle
- 310a First End of Turnbuckle
- 310b Second End of Turnbuckle
- 320 Bent Crank
- 320a First End of Bent Crank
- 320b Second End of Bent Crank
- 330 Bearing Housing
- 340 Flanged Bearing
- 350 Arm Axle
- 320a First End of Arm Axle
- 320b Second End of Arm Axle
- 351 Mounting Plate on Arm Axle
- 352 Post on Arm Axle
- 360 Arm Mounting Bracket
- p1 First End Foot Link Pivot Point
- p2 Second End Foot Link Pivot Point
- p3 Rocker Pivot Point
- p4 Crank Pivot Point
- p5 First End Intermediate Link Pivot Point
- p6 Second End Intermediate Link Pivot Point
- p7 Arm Link Pivot Point
- p8 Coupling Link Pivot Point
- p9 First Turnbuckle Pivot Point
- p10 Second Turnbuckle Pivot Point
- w Angled Axis
- x Lateral Axis
- y Longitudinal Axis
- y1 Forward Longitudinal Direction
- z Transverse Axis
- z1 Primary Transverse Axis
- z2 Secondary Transverse Axis
- r Right Hand Grip Axis of Rotation
- s Left Hand Grip Axis of Rotation
- α Angle of Convergence
Referring to
The exercise machine 10 may be substantially any type of exercise machine having arm links 100 which travel forward and backward relative to a user (not shown) for working the upper-body. Suitable exercise machines 10 includes specifically, but not exclusively, bench press stations, stationary bicycles equipped with arm links, elliptical exercise machines equipped with arm links, rowing machines, stair climbers equipped with arm links, treadmills equipped with arm links, ski simulation machines, etc. Preferred exercise machines 10 are stationary cardiovascular exercise machines having arm links 100. Without intending to be limited thereby, the balance of the disclosure shall be provided in connection with elliptical exercise machines. A wide variety of elliptical exercise machines equipped with arm links for working the upper body are known, such as those described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,752,744, 6,733,419, 6,726,600, 6,719,665, 6,689,019, 6,645,129, 6,629,909, 6,620,079, 6,612,969, 6,579,210, 6,575,877, 6,569,061, 6,565,486, 6,554,750, 6,551,218, 6,544,146, 6,540,646, 6,527,680, 6,527,677, 6,500,096, 6,482,132, 6,482,130, 6,461,277, 6,450,925, 6,440,042, 6,436,007, 6,422,977, 6,422,976, 6,416,442, 6,409,635, 6,409,632, 6,398,695, 6,390,953, 6,368,252, 6,361,476, 6,350,219, 6,340,340, 6,338,698, 6,312,362, 6,302,830, 6,302,825, 6,277,054, 6,254,514, 6,248,046, 6,248,045, 6,248,044, 6,238,321, 6,217,485, 6,210,305, 6,206,804, 6,196,948, 6,183,397, 6,171,215, 6,168,552, 6,152,859, 6,149,551, 6,142,915, 6,135,923, 6,126,574, 6,113,518, 6,099,439, 6,090,014, 6,090,013, 6,083,143, 6,080,091, 6,080,086, 6,077,198, 6,077,197, 6,077,196, 6,063,009, 6,053,847, 6,045,488, 6,045,487, 6,042,512, 6,042,512, 6,030,320, 6,027,431, 6,027,430, 6,024,676, 6,017,295, 6,013,011, 5,997,445, 5,993,359, 5,989,159, 5,967,954, 5,957,814, 5,947,872, 5,938,570, 5,938,568, 5,938,567, 5,924,963, 5,924,962, 5,921,894, 5,919,118, 5,916,064, 5,911,649, 5,910,072, 5,895,339, 5,893,820, 5,882,281, 5,879,271, 5,876,307, 5,857,941, 5,848,954, 5,846,166, 5,836,855, 5,823,919, 5,803,871, 5,792,028, 5,792,026, 5,788,610, 5,788,609, 5,766,113, 5,755,643, 5,755,642, 5,746,683, 5,743,834, 5,738,614, 5,733,227, 5,722,558, 5,692,994, 5,690,589, 5,685,804, 5,683,333, 5,653,662, 5,611,758, 5,611,756, 5,595,553, 5,593,371, 5,591,107, 5,577,985, 5,573,480, 5,562,574, 5,540,637, 5,529,554, 5,518,473, 5,516,471, 5,454,772, 5,423,729, 5,401,226, 5,290,211, 5,261,294, 5,254,059. and United States Published Patent Numbers, 2002/0019298, 2003/0022763, 2003/0027690, 2001/0036886, 2001/0051562, 2004/0053748, 2002/0055420, 2004/0077463, 2004/0097339, 2004/0097340, 2004/0102291, 2002/0165066. All may be modified to provide converging hand grips in accordance with this invention.
One embodiment of an elliptical exercise machine 10 equipped with converging handgrips 130 is shown in
The first connection system includes (i) a connector link 80 pivotally attached at a first end (unnumbered) to the first end of the foot link 50 at a first end foot link pivot point p1 and pivotally attached at a second end (unnumbered) to a second end (unnumbered) of a rocker arm 70 at a rocker pivot point p3, (ii) a rocker arm 70 pivotally attached at a first end (unnumbered) to the frame 20 and pivotally attached at a second end (unnumbered) to the connector link 80 at the rocker pivot point p3, and (iii) a crank arm 40 attached at a first end (unnumbered) to the drive shaft 30 and pivotally attached at a second end (unnumbered) to the connector link 80 at a crank pivot point p4 which is positioned on the connector link 80 intermediate the first end foot link pivot point p1 and the rocker pivot point p3.
The second connection system includes (i) the crank arm 40, (ii) an intermediate link 110 pivotally attached at a first end 110a to the second end of the crank arm 40 at a first end intermediate link pivot point p5 and pivotally attached at a second end 110b to the first end 120a of a coupling link 120 at a second end intermediate link pivot point p6, and (iii) a coupling link 120 pivotally attached at a first end 120a to the second end 110b of the intermediate link 110 and pivotally attached at a second end 110b to the first end 100a of the arm link 100 at the arm link pivot point p7.
As shown in
A secondary shaft 230 is attached at a first end 230a to the second end 210b of the primary shaft 210 through a U-joint 240 and fixedly attached at a second end 230b to a fitting 260 which is fixedly attached to the first end 100a of the arm link 100. The secondary shaft 230 is rotatably supported at an angle (unnumbered) relative to the secondary transverse axis z2 by a bearing unit 270 which is attached to the frame 20 at the appropriate angle by housing 250.
This assembly (not collectively numbered) translates pivoting of the coupling links 120 about the secondary transverse axis z2 to converging reciprocating longitudinal y motion of the hand grips 130 by allowing the secondary shafts 230 to be longitudinally y angled relative to the associated primary shaft 210 with pivoting of the coupling link 120 translated to longitudinal y motion of the hand grips 130 through a sequence of (i) rotation of the primary shaft 210 about the secondary transverse axis z2, (ii) rotation of the secondary shaft 230 about a hand grip axis of rotation (i.e., a right hand grip axis of rotation r for the right hand grip 130r and a left hand grip axis of rotation s for the left hand grip 130s), (iii) rotation of the fitting 260 about the corresponding hand grip axis of rotation r or s, and (iv) pivoting of the arm link 100 about the corresponding hand grip axis of rotation r or s.
Another embodiment of an elliptical exercise machine 10 equipped with converging handgrips 130 is shown in
The first connection system includes (i) a connector link 80 pivotally attached at a first end (unnumbered) to the first end of the foot link 50 at a first end foot link pivot point p1 and pivotally attached at a second end (unnumbered) to a second end (unnumbered) of a rocker arm 70 at a rocker pivot point p3, (ii) a rocker arm 70 pivotally attached at a first end (unnumbered) to the frame 20 and pivotally attached at a second end (unnumbered) to the connector link 80 at the rocker pivot point p3, and (iii) a crank arm 40 attached at a first end (unnumbered) to the drive shaft 30 and pivotally attached at a second end (unnumbered) to the connector link 80 at a crank pivot point p4 which is positioned on the connector link 80 intermediate the first end foot link pivot point pi and the rocker pivot point p3.
As shown in
A standard linkage member may be used to operably interconnect the coupling link 120 and the bent crank arm 320 rather than a turnbuckle 310, but a turnbuckle 310 type linkage is generally preferred as it can accommodate a modest misalignment of the interconnected parts.
The turnbuckle 310 and bent crank arm 320 may alternatively be configured and arranged to attach the first end 310a of the turnbuckle 310 to a pivoting member other than the coupling link 120 (i.e., attachment to the crank arm 40, the rocker arm 70, the connector link 80, etc.) in which case the intermediate link 110 and coupling link 120 are no longer needed.
A bearing housing 330 and flanged bearing 340 are employed to rotatably secure the arm axle 350 to the frame 20. The bearing housing 330 is secured to the frame 20 by a first mounting bracket 22 attached to a crossbeam 21 on the frame 20.
The angled mounting of the arm axle 350 relative to the transverse axis z of the exercise machine 10 alters the path traveled by the right and left hand grips 130r and 130s (collectively hand grip 130) from the conventional paths of travel (i.e., paths which are parallel to one another, parallel to the path traveled by the foot support 56 and orthogonal to the primary transverse axis z1) to converging paths 131p and 132 p (i.e., paths which converge towards one another when traveling forward y1 and are angled relative to the path traveled by the foot support 56).
Claims
1. An exercise machine comprising:
- (a) a frame; and
- (b) first and second hand grips each operably associated with the frame for traveling along converging first and second hand paths respectively.
2. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the exercise machine is a stationary cardiovascular exercise machine.
3. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein the hand paths converge at an angle of between about 5° to 150° relative to one another.
4. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein (i) each hand grip reciprocates about an axis of rotation, and (ii) the axes of rotation converge at an angle of between about 175° to 30° relative to one another.
5. The exercise machine of claim 4 wherein the axes of rotation are angled between about 170° to 135° relative to one another.
6. The exercise machine of claim 1 wherein (i) the exercise machine is configured and arranged to accommodate a user on the exercise machine in a particular orientation relative to the exercise machine, and (ii) the right and left hand grips converge when traveling along the hand paths away from a user exercising on the exercise machine.
7. An exercise machine comprising:
- (a) a frame defining a primary transverse axis;
- (b) first and second foot supports each operably associated with the frame for traveling along a foot path configured orthogonally relative to the primary transverse axis; and
- (c) right and left hand grips each operably associated with a foot support for traveling along converging hand paths when the foot supports travel along the foot paths, wherein each hand path is angled relative to each foot path.
8. The exercise machine of claim 7 wherein the exercise machine is a stationary cardiovascular exercise machine.
9. The exercise machine of claim 7 wherein each hand path is angled between about 5° to 45° relative to the primary transverse axis.
10. The exercise machine of claim 7 wherein (i) the exercise machine is configured and arranged to accommodate a user on the exercise machine in a particular orientation relative to the exercise machine, and (ii) the right and left hand grips converge when traveling along the hand paths away from a user exercising on the exercise machine.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 28, 2006
Publication Date: Dec 28, 2006
Inventors: Timothy Porth (Edina, MN), Nathan Luger (Roseville, MN), Joseph Halfen (Woodbury, MN), Charles Rosenow (Anoka, MN)
Application Number: 11/427,118
International Classification: A63B 22/04 (20060101); A63B 22/12 (20060101);