Adjusting exercise device
An exercise device includes two cranks rotatably coupled to a rear portion of a upright support and each having a pivot rod, two handles having a middle portion pivoted to a front portion of the upright support with a spindle, two foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles and each having a middle portion pivotally coupled to the pivot rod of the cranks with a link, and two levers pivotally coupled to the pivot rod and the handle and spaced away from the spindle for allowing the foot supports to be moved elliptically relative to the upright support of the base. The levers may be adjustably coupled to the handles with a motorized threaded member for adjusting the moving stroke of the foot supports.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjusting exercise device, and more particularly to an elliptical exercise device including an arrangement for allowing the exercise device to have changeable or adjustable or different moving strokes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical exercise devices, such as stepping exercisers comprise a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles and arranged for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,211 to Stearns discloses one of the typical exercise devices also comprising a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upwardly extending frame member of a base support device, and a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of force resisting device pivotally coupling the foot supports to the upwardly extending frame member for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device.
However, normally, the middle portion of the foot supports is pivotally coupled to the upwardly extending frame member such that the middle portion of the foot supports is pivoted relative to the base support device but may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device, and such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,956 to Habing et al. discloses a typical articulated lower body exercise device comprising a pair of foot supports pivotally coupled to the upwardly extending frame member of a base support device with a pair of vertical linkage arms, and a device for swinging the vertical linkage arms and the foot supports relative to the upwardly extending frame member of the base support device for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support device.
However, the middle portion of the foot supports is only pivoted relative to the base support device but may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device, and such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,985 to Miller discloses a typical stationary exercise device comprising a pair of guide links or handles pivotally attached to an upright support, and a pair of foot supports each pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupled to the handles and the foot supports with an intermediate link and a control link, for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative to the base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support device.
However, the middle portion of the foot supports is only pivotally coupled to the handles, and may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased or adjusted. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,595,553 to Rodgers, Jr. discloses another typical stationary exercise device also comprising a pair of handles pivotally attached to an upright support, and a pair of foot supports each pivotally coupled to the handles, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupled to the foot supports with a reciprocating member for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative to the base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support device.
However, similarly, the foot supports is only pivotally coupled to the handles, and may not be moved cyclically or in reciprocating relative to the base support device such that the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be suitably increased or adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,769,760 to Lin et al. discloses a further typical stationary exercise device comprising a pair of foot supports including a front portion pivotally coupled to an upright support, and a pair of handles also pivotally attached to the upright support, and a pair of cranks pivotally coupled to the handles for swinging the handles and the foot supports relative to the base support device and for allowing the foot supports to be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the base support device.
However, the handles are located closer to the users, and are pivotally coupled to the upright support and may also be moved cyclically relative to the upright support of the base support device such that the handles will also be moved cyclically relative to the upright support and such that the handles may not be suitably or easily grasped and handled by the users. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,022,296 to Yu discloses a further typical stepping exercise device comprising a pair of handles pivotally coupled to an upright support with a pair of cranks, and a pair of foot supports including a middle portion pivotally attached to the base support and including a front portion pivotally coupled to the handles.
However, the foot supports are only coupled to the upright support or the base support such that the foot supports may only be stepped or moved up and down relative to the base support device, but may not be stepped or moved elliptically relative to the upright support of the base support device. In addition, the moving stroke of the typical exercise devices may not be changed or adjusted.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional elliptical exercise devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe primary objective of the present invention is to provide an adjusting exercise device including an arrangement for allowing the exercise device to be adjusted to different moving strokes.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an adjusting exercise device comprising a base including an upright support extended upwardly from the base, a spindle disposed on the upright support, two cranks rotatably coupled to the rear portion of the upright support with a shaft which is spaced away from the spindle, the cranks each including a pivot rod attached to the crank and spaced away from the shaft, two handles including a middle portion attached to the spindle for allowing the handles to be pivotally coupled to the front portion of the upright support with the spindle and for allowing the handles to be pivoted and swung relative to the upright support of the base, the handles each including a hand grip provided on an upper portion for being grasped or held by a user and each including a lower portion, two foot supports each including a front portion pivotally coupled to the lower portion of the handles, and each including a foot pedal disposed on a rear portion for supporting the user's feet, and each including a middle portion pivotally coupled to the pivot rod of the cranks with a link for allowing the middle portions of the foot supports to be moved cyclically relative to the upright support by the cranks, two levers each including a first end pivotally coupled to the pivot rod of the crank, and each including a second end adjustably coupled to the middle portion of the handle and spaced away from the spindle for forming a changeable polygonal coupling structure together with the handles and the foot supports and the links, and for allowing the foot pedals of the foot supports to be moved with changeable and elliptical moving stroke relative to the upright support of the base, and a moving device for moving the second end of the lever along the middle portion of the handle and toward and away from the spindle for adjusting a moving stroke of the foot pedals of the foot supports.
The second ends of the levers are each coupled to the middle portions of the handles respectively with a securing device. The handles each include a channel formed in the middle portion of the handle for slidably engaging with the securing device. The levers each include a bracket provided on the second end of the lever for supporting the securing device.
The moving device includes a threaded member rotatably supported in the middle portion of the handle for engaging with the securing device and for moving the securing device along the middle portion of the handle when the threaded member is rotated relative to the middle portion of the handle.
The moving device includes a motor attached to the middle portion of the handle and coupled to the threaded member for rotating the threaded member relative to the middle portion of the handle. The motor includes a reduction gearing coupled to the threaded member. The levers each include a block attached to the securing device and slidably engaged in the middle portion of the handle.
A resisting device may further be provided for resisting a rotational movement of the shaft and the cranks. The resisting device includes a wheel rotatably attached to the rear portion of the upright support with the shaft. The resisting device includes a rotary member rotatably attached to the upright support with an axle and coupled to the wheel.
A follower may further be provided and attached to the axle and moved in concert with the axle, and the follower is coupled to the wheel with a coupling device. The coupling device may be a belt or the like.
A flywheel may further be provided and rotatably attached to the upright support with a pivot rod and coupled to the rotary member with a coupling device. The coupling device may also be a belt or the like.
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.
Referring to the drawings, and initially to
A weight or flywheel 26 may further be provided and attached to the middle or lower portion of the upright support 11 with a pivot rod 27 which is coupled to the rotary member 22 with another coupling device 28, such as a sprocket-and-chain coupling device or a gearing coupling device (not shown), or a belt 28 for allowing the flywheel 26 to be rotated or driven by the follower 24 and the rotary member 22 that are rotated or driven by the wheel 20. The follower 24 and the rotary member 22 and/or the flywheel 26 may apply a resistive force against the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21. It is to be noted that the flywheel 26, the follower 24, the rotary member 22, the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 are coupled together to form a resistive means or device for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21, however, the other resistive device, such as the hydraulic or pneumatic resistive devices (not shown), or the magnetic retarding devices (not shown) may also be used to apply the resistive force against the wheel 20 and the shaft 21.
A pair of or two cranks 30 are secured to the shaft 21 such that the cranks 30 may be rotatably coupled to the rear portion 14 of the upright support 11 with the shaft 21, the cranks 30 each include a pivot rod 31 provided or attached thereto or extended outwardly therefrom and spaced away from or distal to the shaft 21, a pair of or two handles 40 include an upper or middle portion 41 attached or secured to the spindle 12 for allowing the handles 40 to be pivotally coupled to the front portion 13 of the upright support 11 with the spindle 12 and for allowing the handles 40 to be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. The handles 40 each include a hand grip 42 formed or provided on the upper portion thereof for being grasped or held or operated by the users. The handles 40 each may include a tubular member 43 formed or provided in the middle portion 41 of the handles 40 and an oblong hole or channel 44 formed in the middle portion 41 or the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 for adjusting the moving stroke of the adjusting exercise device 1.
A pair of or two foot supports 50 each include a middle portion 51 pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 31 of the cranks 30 with a link 52 for allowing the middle portions 51 of the foot supports 50 to be moved cyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 30, and each include a front portion 53 pivotally coupled the lower portion 45 of the handles 40 respectively for allowing the foot supports 50 and the handles 40 to be pivotally coupled or attached to the upright support 11 of the base 10, and for allowing the foot supports 50 and the handles 40 to be moved or pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. The foot supports 50 each include a foot pedal 54 disposed or provided on the rear portion thereof for supporting the feet of the users and for allowing the feet of the users to step and to operate or to actuate the foot supports 50.
A pair of or two arms or levers 32 may further be provided, and each include one end or first end or rear portion 33 pivotally coupled to the pivot rod 31 of the cranks 30, and each include the other end or second end or front portion 34 selectively coupled to the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 respectively with a bracket 35 and/or a fastener or securing device 36 which is spaced away from the spindle 12, for forming a polygonal pivot coupling structure together with the handles 40 and the foot supports 50 and the links 52. For example, the securing device 36 may be selectively or adjustably coupled to the channel 44 or the middle portion 41 or the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 respectively with the bracket 35 and/or the securing device 36, for adjusting the distance between the spindle 12 of the upright support 11 and the front portion 34 of the levers 32, and for adjusting the coupling between the handles 40 and the cranks 30 and/or the link 52, and thus for adjusting the moving strokes of the foot supports 50.
For example, the moving stroke of the foot supports 50 may be increased when the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are adjusted closer to the spindle 12 of the upright support 11, and may be decreased when the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are moved or adjusted farther away from the spindle 12 of the upright support 11. The securing device 36 is slidably engaged in the channel(s) 44 or the middle portion 41 or the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 for guiding the securing device 36 to move or to slide along the channel(s) 44 or the middle portion 41 or the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and/or to move toward or away from the spindle 12 of the upright support 11. As shown in
For example, the moving or adjusting means or device 60 includes a bolt or threaded member 61 rotatably supported or engaged in the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 or the middle portion 41 of the handles 40 and threaded or engaged with the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 for moving the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 along the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 when the threaded member 61 is rotated relative to the tubular member 43 of the handles 40, and includes a motor 62 attached to the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and coupled to the threaded member 61 directly or indirectly via a reduction gearing 63 for allowing the threaded member 61 to be driven or rotated relative to the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 in order to move the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 along the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of the handles 40. A control switch (not shown) may be disposed in either of the hand grips 42 for allowing the user to operate the moving means or device 60 while operating the adjusting exercise device 1. The threaded member 61 and/or the motor 62 may thus be formed as the moving means for moving the block 37 and/or the securing device 36 along the bore 46 of the tubular member 43 of the handles 40 and/or toward or away from the spindle 12 of the upright support 11.
In operation, the handles 40 and the front portion 53 of the foot supports 50 may be pivoted or swung relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 with the spindle 12 of the upright support 11, and the middle portions 51 of the foot supports 50 may be moved cyclically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10 by the cranks 30, such that the foot pedals 54 of the foot supports 50 may be moved elliptically relative to the upright support 11 of the base 10. It is to be noted that the provision and the coupling of the levers 32 between the handles 40 and the cranks 30 and/or the link 52 may form a polygonal pivot coupling structure together with the handles 40 and the foot supports 50 and the links 52 for allowing the swinging stroke of the handles 40 to be controlled or determined by the rotational movement of the cranks 30, and also for allowing the moving stroke of the foot supports 50 to be controlled or determined by the rotational movement of the cranks 30.
The provision and the coupling of the wheel 20, and the rotary member 22, and the follower 24, and the flywheel 26 may be formed or acted as a resisting means or device for applying a resistive force or a retarding force against the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 and thus the cranks 30 and the link 52 and the foot supports 50 and the levers 32 and the handles 40, and thus for resisting the rotational movement of the wheel 20 and the shaft 21 and the cranks 30 and also for resisting the swinging movement of the link 52 and the handles 40. A magnetic retarding device (not shown) may further be provided and coupled to the wheel 20 and/or the rotary member 22 and/or the follower 24 and/or the flywheel 26 for further applying a resistive force against the wheel 20 and/or the rotary member 22 and/or the follower 24 and/or the flywheel 26 and for further resisting the swinging movement of the link 52 and the handles 40.
In addition, when the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are adjusted closer to the spindle 12 of the upright support 11 with the moving means or device 60, the swinging stroke of the handles 40 may be increased by the rotational movement of the cranks 30, and the moving stroke of the foot supports 50 may also be increased. On the contrary, when the front portion 34 of the levers 32 are moved or adjusted farther away from the spindle 12 of the upright support 11, the swinging stroke of the handles 40 may be decreased by the rotational movement of the cranks 30, and the moving stroke of the foot supports 50 may also be decreased. It is further to be noted that the front portion 34 of the levers 32 may also be solidly and pivotally coupled to the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 with the securing device 36 at the predetermined position without being moved or adjusted relative to the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 for such as marketing purposes, or manually adjusted relative to the middle portions 41 of the handles 40 in which the fixed mode and the manual mode have been filed in the co-pending US patent applications.
Accordingly, the exercise device in accordance with the present invention includes an arrangement for allowing the exercise device to have an increased moving stroke, and/or for allowing the exercise device to be adjusted to different moving strokes.
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.
Claims
1. An exercise device comprising:
- a base including an upright support extended upwardly from said base, said upright support including a front portion and a rear portion,
- a spindle disposed on said front portion of said upright support,
- two cranks rotatably coupled to said rear portion of said upright support with a shaft which is spaced away from said spindle, and said spindle is located in front of said shaft and said cranks, said cranks each including a pivot rod attached to said crank and spaced away from said shaft,
- two handles including a middle portion attached to said spindle for allowing said handles to be pivotally coupled to said front portion of said upright support with said spindle and for allowing said handles to be pivoted and swung relative to said upright support of said base, said handles each including a hand grip provided on an upper portion for being grasped or held by a user and each including a lower portion,
- two foot supports each including a front portion pivotally coupled to said lower portion of said handles, and each including a foot pedal disposed on a rear portion for supporting said user's feet, and each including a middle portion pivotally coupled to said pivot rod of said cranks with a link for allowing said middle portions of said foot supports to be moved cyclically relative to said upright support by said cranks,
- two levers each including a first end pivotally coupled to said pivot rod of said crank, and each including a second end adjustably coupled to said middle portion of said handle and spaced away from said spindle for forming a changeable polygonal coupling structure together with said handles and said foot supports and said links, and for allowing said foot pedals of said foot supports to be moved with changeable and elliptical moving stroke relative to said upright support of said base, and
- means for moving said second end of said lever along said middle portion of said handle and toward and away from said spindle for adjusting a moving stroke of said foot pedals of said foot supports.
2. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second ends of said levers are each coupled to said middle portions of said handles respectively with a securing device.
3. The exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said handles each include a channel formed in said middle portion of said handle for slidably engaging with said securing device.
4. The exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said levers each include a bracket provided on said second end of said lever for supporting said securing device.
5. The exercise device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said moving means includes a threaded member rotatably supported in said middle portion of said handle for engaging with said securing device and for moving said securing device along said middle portion of said handle when said threaded member is rotated relative to said middle portion of said handle.
6. The exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said moving means includes a motor attached to said middle portion of said handle and coupled to said threaded member for rotating said threaded member relative to said middle portion of said handle.
7. The exercise device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said motor includes a reduction gearing coupled to said threaded member.
8. The exercise device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said levers each include a block attached to said securing device and slidably engaged in said middle portion of said handle.
9. The exercise device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for resisting a rotational movement of said shaft and said cranks.
10. The exercise device as claimed in claim 9, wherein said resisting means includes a wheel rotatably attached to said rear portion of said upright support with said shaft.
11. The exercise device as claimed in claim 10, wherein said resisting means includes a rotary member rotatably attached to said upright support with an axle and coupled to said wheel.
12. The exercise device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a follower is attached to said axle and moved in concert with said axle, and said follower is coupled to said wheel with a coupling device.
13. The exercise device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said coupling device is a belt.
14. The exercise device as claimed in claim 11, wherein a flywheel is rotatably attached to said upright support with a pivot rod and coupled to said rotary member with a coupling device.
15. The exercise device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said coupling device is a belt.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 17, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 23, 2008
Inventors: Jin Chen Chuang (Taichung Hsien), Lung Fei Chuang (Taichung Hsien)
Application Number: 11/787,703
