EXERCISING MACHINE WITH ADJUSTABLE STRIDE LENGTH AND HEIGHT
An exercising machine includes a base frame, a rotary member, left and right rocker link units, left and right cross links, and front and rear coupling units. The rotary member is mounted rotatably on the base frame. The left and right rocker link units are coupled pivotably to the base frame. The front coupling unit couples pivotably the rotary member to a selected one of engaging segments of each of the left and right cross link units to thereby permit adjustment of stride height. The rear coupling unit couples pivotably each of the left and right cross links to a selected one of engaging segments of each of the left and right rocker link units to thereby permit adjustment of stride length.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an exercising machine, more particularly to an elliptical exercising machine.
2. Description of the Related Art
When the conventional exercising machine is in use, that is, when the user (not shown) steps on the left and right foot pedals 13, the striding movement performed by the user corresponds to motion made while walking. Alternatively, when each of the rear rocker links 102 is secured to the base frame 11 via a securing pin 15, and other minor connection adjustments are made, an exercise simulating motion while climbing can be performed by the user.
The aforementioned conventional exercising machine is disadvantageous in that the stride length and height thereof are fixed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONTherefore, the main object of the present invention is to provide an exercising machine with adjustable stride length and height.
According to the present invention, an exercising machine comprises a base frame, a resistance-imparting rotary member, left and right rocker link units, left and right foot pedals, left and right cross links, and front and rear coupling units. The rotary member is mounted rotatably on the base frame, and has left and right sides. Each of the left and right rocker link units is coupled pivotably to the base frame and has a plurality of engaging segments disposed along the length thereof. Each of the left and right foot pedals is coupled pivotably to a respective one of the left and right rocker link units. Each of the left and right cross links has a plurality of engaging segments disposed along the length thereof. The front coupling unit includes left and right couplers, each of which couples pivotably a respective one of the left and right sides of the rotary member to a selected one of the engaging segments of a respective one of the left and right cross links. The rear coupling unit includes left and right couplers, each of which couples pivotably a respective one of the left and right cross links to a selected one of the engaging segments of a respective one of the left and right rocker link units.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that like elements are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the disclosure.
Referring to
The exercising machine of this embodiment, such as an elliptical exercising machine, permits adjustment of stride height and stride length thereof, in a manner that will be described hereinafter.
The base frame 20 includes front and rear frame members 21, 22, each of which includes left and right arcuate legs. In this embodiment, each of the left and right arcuate legs of the front frame member 21 has a first end 211 (only the first end 211 of the left arcuate leg of the front frame member 21 is shown in
The base frame 20 further includes an upright frame member 213 that is mounted securely on the front frame member 21 thereof.
The exercising machine further includes a console 24 that is mounted on an upper end portion of the upright frame member 213 of the base frame 20, and that is used by the user (not shown) for monitoring and controlling operations of the exercising machine, in a manner well known in the art.
The exercising machine further includes a pair of stationary grips 25 that are mounted on the upper end portion of the upright frame member 213 of the base frame 20.
The resistance-imparting rotary member 23 is mounted rotatably on the front frame member 21 of the base frame 20, has left and right sides 231 (only the left side 231 of the rotary member 23 is shown in
With further reference to
The front rocker link 51 of the left rocker link unit 50, as best shown in
Since the construction of the right rocker link unit 50 is similar to that of the left rocker link unit 50, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
The exercising machine further includes left and right handle units 32, each of which is coupled to the front rocker link 51 of a respective one of the left and right rocker link units 50 so to be co-rotatable therewith. In particular, as best shown in
Since the construction of the right handle unit 32 is similar to that of the left handle unit 32, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
The left foot pedal 33, as best shown in
Since the construction of the right foot pedal 33 is similar to that of the left foot pedal 33, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein.
The left cross link 41 has front and rear end portions 411, 412, and has a pair of engaging segments 413 that are disposed along the length of the front end portion thereof, as best shown in
Since the construction of the right cross link 41 is similar to that of the left cross link 41, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein.
The front coupling unit 42 includes left and right couplers 421. In this embodiment, as best shown in
The front fastening member 423 of the left coupler 421 of the front coupling unit 42 is operable so as to fasten releasably the front pivoting member 422 of the left coupler 421 of the front coupling unit 42 to a selected one of the engaging segments 413 of the left cross link 41. In particular, the front fastening member 423 of the left coupler 421 of the front coupling unit 42 includes a front bolt 4231 that is attached, such as by welding, to the front pivoting member 422, and that extends through the engaging hole 4130 in the selected one of the engaging segments 413 of the left cross link 41, and a front nut 4232 that engages threadedly the front bolt 4231.
Since the construction of the right coupler 421 of the front coupling unit 42 is similar to that of the left coupler 421 of the front coupling unit 42, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
The rear coupling unit 43 includes left and right couplers 431. In this embodiment, as best shown in
Since the construction of the right coupler 431 of the rear coupling unit 43 is similar to that of the left coupler 431 of the rear coupling unit 43, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
From the above description, as illustrated in
In addition, as best shown in
It is noted herein that the exercising machine of this invention is configured such that, when in operation, the first pivot axis (A) is always located above the second axis (B). In other words, as illustrated in
The left foot pedal 33 further includes pair of cushioning members 334, each of which is disposed on a respective one of the front and rear ends of the bottom part 331 of the left foot pedal 33.
The top part 332 of the left foot pedal 33 is disposed on the cushioning members 334, and is provided with a pair of ears 3321 that are sleeved rotatably on the second segment 5122 of the lower end portion 512 of the front rocker link 51 of the left rocker link unit 50 and that is retained thereon with the use of a screw 3322.
Since the construction the right foot pedal 33 is similar to that of the left foot pedal 33 of this embodiment, a detailed description thereof is omitted herein for the sake of brevity.
From the above description, when the exercising machine of this invention is in use, the top part 332 of each of the left and right foot pedals 33 alternately presses against the cushioning members 334 of a respective one of the left and right foot pedals 33, thereby providing comfort for the user.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what are considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. An exercising machine, comprising:
- a base frame;
- a resistance-imparting rotary member mounted rotatably on said base frame, and having left and right sides;
- left and right rocker link units, each of which is coupled pivotably to said base frame and each of which has a plurality of engaging segments disposed along the length thereof;
- left and right foot pedals, each of which is coupled pivotably to a respective one of said left and right rocker link units;
- left and right cross links, each of which has a plurality of engaging segments disposed along the length thereof;
- a front coupling unit including left and right couplers, each of which couples pivotably a respective one of said left and right sides of said rotary member to a selected one of said engaging segments of a respective one of said left and right cross links; and
- a rear coupling unit including left and right couplers, each of which couples pivotably the respective one of said left and right cross links to a selected one of said engaging segments of the respective one of said left and right rocker link units.
2. The exercising machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said left and right couplers of said front coupling unit includes
- a front pivoting member,
- a front pivot joint that interconnects the respective one of said left and right sides of said rotary member and said front pivoting member, and
- a front fastening member that is operable so as to fasten releasably said front pivoting member to the selected one of said engaging segments of the respective one of said left and right cross links.
3. The exercising machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said engaging segments of each of said left and right cross links is formed with an engaging hole, said front fastening member of each of said left and right couplers including
- a front bolt that is provided on said front pivoting member of the respective one of said left and right couplers, and that extends through said engaging hole in the selected one of the engaging segments of the respective one of said left and right cross links, and
- a front nut that engages threadedly said front bolt.
4. The exercising machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said left and right couplers of said rear coupling unit includes
- a rear pivoting member,
- a rear pivot joint that interconnects the respective one of said left and right cross links and said rear pivoting member, and
- a rear fastening member that is operable so as to fasten releasably said rear pivoting member to the selected one of said engaging segments of the respective one of said left and right rocker link units.
5. The exercising machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said engaging segments of each of said left and right rocker link units is formed with an engaging hole, each of said rear fastening member of each of said left and right couplers including
- a rear bolt that is provided on said rear pivoting member of a respective one of said left and right couplers, and that extends through said engaging hole in the selected one of said engaging segments of the respective one of said left and right rocker link units, and
- a rear nut that engages threadedly said rear bolt.
6. The exercising machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising left and right handle units, each of which is coupled to a respective one of said left and right rocker link units so to be co-rotatable therewith, each of said left and right handle units including
- a tubular member that extends from the respective one of said left and right rocker link units,
- a handle that extends removably into said tubular member, and
- a retainer that extends into said tubular member and that engages said handle.
7. The exercising machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said front and rear coupling units defines a pivot axis, said pivot axis of said front coupling unit being disposed above said pivot axis of said rear coupling unit.
8. The exercising machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein said left and right rocker link units constitute a four-bar linkage.
9. The exercising machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said left and right foot pedals includes
- a bottom part that is mounted securely on the respective one of said left and right rocker link units,
- a cushioning member that is disposed on said bottom part, and
- a top part that is disposed on said cushioning member and that is coupled pivotably to said bottom part.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 27, 2007
Publication Date: Oct 30, 2008
Inventor: Sunny LEE (Nan-Tou Hsien)
Application Number: 11/741,368